Vents and Venting
Subject guide — a code subject several of the state exam outlines declare.
Vents and Venting
Reference text for the venting area. Every rule below is written from the printed line of the
2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC 2024) that carries it, and each rule names the section it comes
from. Where the printed line does not state a value, no value is stated here.
1. General
The chapter governs the materials, design, construction and installation of vent systems (IPC 2024,
901.1). The plumbing system must be provided with a system of vent piping that permits the admission
or emission of air so that the seal of any fixture trap is not subjected to a pressure differential of
more than 1 inch of water column (249 Pa) (IPC 2024, 901.2), and traps and trapped fixtures must be
vented in accordance with one of the venting methods specified in the chapter (IPC 2024, 901.2.1).
The purpose stated by the code for the whole chapter: the proper operation of a gravity flow drainage
system depends on maintaining an air path throughout the system, to prevent waste and odor blow back
into fixtures and siphoning of the trap seal in fixture traps (IPC 2024, Chapter 9, About this
chapter).
The vent system for a chemical waste drainage system must be independent of any sanitary drainage vent
system; its termination must be through the roof to the outdoors or to an air admittance valve
complying with ASSE 1049, and air admittance valves for chemical waste drainage systems must be
constructed of one of the materials indicated in Table 702.6 and be tested for chemical resistance in
accordance with ASTM F1412 (IPC 2024, 901.3). The plumbing vent system must not be used for purposes
other than the venting of the plumbing system (IPC 2024, 901.4). The vent system is tested in
accordance with Section 312 (IPC 2024, 901.5), and engineered venting systems must conform to
Section 919 (IPC 2024, 901.6).
2. Materials
Materials and methods for venting systems comply with the applicable provisions of Section 702
(IPC 2024, 902.1). For a chemical waste drainage vent system, pipe and fitting materials follow
Section 702.6 and the construction and installation methods follow the pipe and fitting manufacturer's
instructions (IPC 2024, 902.1.1).
Flashing materials carry their own weights: sheet copper for vent pipe flashings must conform to
ASTM B152 and weigh not less than 8 ounces per square foot (2.5 kg/m²) (IPC 2024, 902.2), and sheet
lead for vent pipe flashings must weigh not less than 3 pounds per square foot (15 kg/m²) for
field-constructed flashings and not less than 2 1/2 pounds per square foot (12 kg/m²) for
prefabricated flashings (IPC 2024, 902.3).
3. Vent terminals
The vent pipe must terminate by extending to the outdoors through the roof or the side wall in
accordance with one of the methods of Sections 903.1.1 through 903.1.4 (IPC 2024, 903.1).
this document does not carry a numeric height on that line (IPC 2024, 903.1.1).
deck, or for similar purposes, open vent pipes must terminate not less than 7 feet (2134 mm) above
the roof (IPC 2024, 903.1.2).
(such as a solar collector or photovoltaic panel mounted over the vent opening) or a roof element
(such as an architectural feature or a decorative shroud), the vent pipe must terminate not less
than 2 inches (51 mm) above the roof surface. Such roof elements must be designed to prevent the
adverse effects of snow accumulation and wind on the function of the vent. The placement of a panel
over a vent pipe, and the design of a roof element covering it, must provide an open area for the
vent pipe to the outdoors not less than the area of the pipe as calculated from the inside diameter
of the pipe, and such vent terminals must be protected by a method that prevents birds and rodents
from entering or blocking the vent pipe opening (IPC 2024, 903.1.3).
line and 10 feet (3048 mm) above the highest adjacent grade within 10 feet (3048 mm) horizontally of
the vent terminal. They must not terminate under the overhang of a structure with soffit vents, and
sidewall vent terminals must be protected to prevent birds and rodents from entering or blocking the
vent opening (IPC 2024, 903.1.4).
Frost closure and cold climate: where the 97.5 percent value for outdoor design temperature is 0°F
(-18°C) or less, vent extensions through a roof or wall must be not less than 3 inches (76 mm) in
diameter, and any increase in the size of the vent must be made not less than 1 foot (305 mm) inside
the thermal envelope of the building (IPC 2024, 903.2). In climates where the 97.5 percent value for
outside design temperature is less than 0°F (-18°C), vent pipes installed on the exterior of the
structure must be protected against freezing by insulation, heat or both (IPC 2024, 903.6).
The juncture of each vent pipe with the roof line must be made watertight by an approved flashing
(IPC 2024, 903.3), and a vent terminal must not be used for any purpose other than a vent terminal
(IPC 2024, 903.4).
Location: an open vent terminal from a drainage system must not be located directly beneath any door,
openable window, or other air intake opening of the building or of an adjacent building, and such a
vent terminal must not be within 10 feet (3048 mm) horizontally of such an opening unless it is
3 feet (914 mm) or more above the top of that opening (IPC 2024, 903.5).
4. Outdoor vent extensions
The vent system serving each building drain must have not less than one vent pipe that extends to the
outdoors (IPC 2024, 904.1). That required vent must be a dry vent connecting to the building drain or
to an extension of a drain that connects to the building drain, and must not be an island fixture vent
as allowed by Section 916 (IPC 2024, 904.1.1). It must be sized in accordance with Section 906.2
based on the required size of the building drain (IPC 2024, 904.1.2).
A vent stack is required for every drainage stack that has five branch intervals or more, except for
drainage stacks installed in accordance with Section 913 (IPC 2024, 904.2). Vent stacks or stack vents
must terminate outdoors to the open air or to a stack-type air admittance valve in accordance with
Section 918 (IPC 2024, 904.3). Vent stacks must connect to the base of the drainage stack, at or below
the lowest horizontal branch; where the vent stack connects to the building drain, the connection must
be located downstream of the drainage stack and within a distance of 10 times the diameter of the
drainage stack (IPC 2024, 904.4).
Stack vents and vent stacks connected into a common vent header at the top of the stacks and extending
to the open air at one point must be sized in accordance with Section 906.1, with the number of
fixture units equal to the sum of all fixture units on all stacks connected to the header, and the
developed length equal to the longest vent length from the intersection at the base of the most
distant stack to the vent terminal in the open air, as a direct extension of one stack (IPC 2024,
904.5).
5. Vent connections and grades
Individual, branch and circuit vents must connect to a vent stack, stack vent, air admittance valve or
extend to the open air (IPC 2024, 905.1). Vent and branch vent pipes must be graded and connected so
as to drain back to the drainage pipe by gravity (IPC 2024, 905.2). Every dry vent connecting to a
horizontal drain must connect above the centerline of the horizontal drain pipe (IPC 2024, 905.3).
Every dry vent must rise vertically to a point not less than 6 inches (152 mm) above the flood level
rim of the highest trap or trapped fixture being vented (IPC 2024, 905.4); the exception is vents for
interceptors located outdoors. A connection between a vent pipe and a vent stack or stack vent must be
made at not less than 6 inches (152 mm) above the flood level rim of the highest fixture served by the
vent, and horizontal vent pipes forming branch vents, relief vents or loop vents must be located not
less than 6 inches (152 mm) above the flood level rim of the highest fixture served (IPC 2024, 905.5).
Where drainage piping has been roughed-in for future fixtures, a rough-in connection for a vent must
be installed, of a size not less than one-half the diameter of the rough-in drain to be served; the
vent rough-in must connect to the vent system or be vented by other means provided for in the chapter,
and the connection must be identified to indicate that it is a vent (IPC 2024, 905.6).
6. Vent pipe sizing
6.1 Stack vents and vent stacks
The minimum required diameter of stack vents and vent stacks is determined from the developed length
and the total drainage fixture units connected to them in accordance with Table 906.1; in no case
may the diameter be less than one-half the diameter of the drain served, or less than 1 1/4 inches
(32 mm) (IPC 2024, 906.1). Table 906.1 is a grid of maximum developed length of vent per soil or waste
stack diameter, total fixture units being vented and vent diameter; the value is read at the
intersection of those conditions (IPC 2024, Table 906.1).
6.2 Vents other than stack vents or vent stacks
The diameter of individual vents, branch vents, circuit vents and relief vents must be not less than
one-half the required diameter of the drain served, with the required size of the drain determined in
accordance with Table 710.1(2). Vent pipes must be not less than 1 1/4 inches (32 mm) in diameter.
Vents exceeding 40 feet (12 192 mm) in developed length must be increased by one nominal pipe size for
the entire developed length of the vent pipe, and relief vents for soil and waste stacks in buildings
having more than 10 branch intervals are sized in accordance with Section 908.2 (IPC 2024, 906.2).
The developed length of individual, branch, circuit and relief vents is measured from the farthest
point of vent connection to the drainage system, to the point of connection to the vent stack, stack
vent or termination outside of the building (IPC 2024, 906.3). Where multiple branch vents are
connected to a common branch vent, the common branch vent must be sized on the basis of the size of
the common horizontal drainage branch that is, or would be, required to serve the total drainage
fixture unit load being vented (IPC 2024, 906.4).
Sump vents: drainage piping below sewer level must be vented in the same manner as that of a gravity
system, and building sump vent sizes for sumps with sewage pumps or sewage ejectors, other than
pneumatic, are determined in accordance with Table 906.5.1 (IPC 2024, 906.5.1).
7. Vents for stack offsets and relief vents
Horizontal offsets of drainage stacks must be vented where five or more branch intervals are located
above the offset; the offset is vented by venting the upper section and the lower section of the
drainage stack (IPC 2024, 907.1). The upper section must be vented as a separate stack with a vent
stack connection installed in accordance with Section 904.4, and the offset is considered to be the
base of the stack (IPC 2024, 907.2). The lower section must be vented by a yoke vent connecting
between the offset and the next lower horizontal branch; the yoke vent connection may be a vertical
extension of the drainage stack, and the size of the yoke vent and connection must be not less than
the size required for the vent stack of the drainage stack (IPC 2024, 907.3).
Soil and waste stacks in buildings having more than 10 branch intervals must be provided with a relief
vent at each tenth interval installed, beginning with the top floor (IPC 2024, 908.1). The size of the
relief vent must be equal to the size of the vent stack to which it connects; the lower end of each
relief vent must connect to the soil or waste stack through a wye below the horizontal branch serving
the floor, and the upper end must connect to the vent stack through a wye not less than 3 feet
(914 mm) above the floor (IPC 2024, 908.2).
8. Fixture vents
Each fixture trap must have a protecting vent located so that the slope and the developed length in
the fixture drain from the trap weir to the vent fitting are within the requirements of Table 909.1;
the developed length of the fixture drain from the trap weir to the vent fitting is not limited for
self-siphoning fixtures, such as water closets (IPC 2024, 909.1 and Exception).
| Size of trap (inches) | Slope (inch per foot) | Maximum distance from trap (feet) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 1/4 | 1/4 | 5 |
| 1 1/2 | 1/4 | 6 |
| 2 | 1/4 | 8 |
| 3 | 1/8 | 12 |
| 4 | 1/8 | 16 |
The total fall in a fixture drain due to pipe slope must not exceed the diameter of the fixture drain,
and the vent connection to a fixture drain, except for water closets, must not be below the weir of
the trap (IPC 2024, 909.2). A vent must not be installed within two pipe diameters of the trap weir
(IPC 2024, 909.3).
9. Individual and common vents
Each trap and trapped fixture may be provided with an individual vent, which must connect to the
fixture drain of the trap or trapped fixture being vented (IPC 2024, 910.1). An individual vent may
vent two traps or trapped fixtures as a common vent, provided the traps or trapped fixtures being
common vented are located on the same floor level (IPC 2024, 911.1). Where the fixture drains being
common vented connect at the same level, the vent connection must be at the interconnection of the
fixture drains or downstream of the interconnection (IPC 2024, 911.2). Where the fixture drains
connect at different levels, the vent must connect as a vertical extension of the vertical drain; the
vertical drain pipe connecting the two fixture drains is considered to be the vent for the lower
fixture drain and must be sized in accordance with Table 911.3, and the upper fixture must not be a
water closet (IPC 2024, 911.3).
| Pipe size (inches) | Maximum discharge from upper fixture drain (dfu) |
|---|---|
| 1 1/2 | 1 |
| 2 | 4 |
| 2 1/2 to 3 | 6 |
10. Wet venting
Any combination of fixtures within two bathroom groups located on the same floor level may be vented
by a horizontal wet vent. The wet vent is considered to be the vent for the fixtures and must extend
from the connection of the dry vent along the direction of the flow in the drain pipe to the most
downstream fixture drain connection to the horizontal branch drain. Each wet-vented fixture drain must
connect independently to the horizontal wet vent; only the fixtures within the bathroom groups may
connect to the wet-vented horizontal branch drain, and any additional fixtures must discharge
downstream of the horizontal wet vent (IPC 2024, 912.1).
Any combination of fixtures within two bathroom groups on the same floor level may also be vented by a
vertical wet vent, which extends from the connection of the dry vent down to the lowest fixture drain
connection, each wet-vented fixture connecting independently. Water closet drains must connect at the
same elevation, other fixture drains must connect above or at the same elevation as the water closet
fixture drains, and the dry-vent connection to the vertical wet vent must be an individual or common
vent serving one or two fixtures (IPC 2024, 912.1.1).
The dry-vent connection for a horizontal wet-vent system must be an individual vent or a common vent
for any bathroom group fixture, except an emergency floor drain; where the dry-vent connects to a
water closet fixture drain, the drain must connect horizontally to the horizontal wet-vent system, and
not more than one wet-vented fixture drain may discharge upstream of the dry-vented fixture drain
connection (IPC 2024, 912.2.1). For a vertical wet-vent system, the dry-vent connection must be an
individual vent or common vent for the most upstream fixture drain (IPC 2024, 912.2.2).
The dry vent serving the wet vent must be sized on the basis of the largest required diameter of pipe
within the wet-vent system served by the dry vent, and the wet vent must be of a size not less than
Table 912.3 specifies, based on the fixture unit discharge to the wet vent (IPC 2024, 912.3).
| Wet vent pipe size (inches) | Drainage fixture unit load (dfu) |
|---|---|
| 1 1/2 | 1 |
| 2 | 4 |
| 2 1/2 | 6 |
| 3 | 12 |
11. Waste stack vent
A waste stack is considered to be a vent for all of the fixtures discharging to the stack where
installed in accordance with Section 913 (IPC 2024, 913.1). The waste stack must be vertical, and both
horizontal and vertical offsets are prohibited between the lowest fixture drain connection and the
highest fixture drain connection; fixture drains must connect separately to the waste stack, and the
stack must not receive the discharge of water closets or urinals (IPC 2024, 913.2).
A stack vent must be provided for the waste stack, of a size not less than the size of the waste
stack. Offsets are permitted in the stack vent, must be located not less than 6 inches (152 mm) above
the flood level of the highest fixture and must be in accordance with Section 905.2; the stack vent
may connect with other stack vents and vent stacks in accordance with Section 904.5 (IPC 2024, 913.3).
The waste stack must be sized on the basis of the total discharge to the stack and the discharge
within a branch interval in accordance with Table 913.4, and must be the same size throughout its
length (IPC 2024, 913.4).
| Stack size (inches) | Total discharge into one branch interval (dfu) | Total discharge for stack (dfu) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 1/2 | 1 | 2 |
| 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 2 1/2 | No limit | 8 |
| 3 | No limit | 24 |
| 4 | No limit | 50 |
| 5 | No limit | 75 |
| 6 | No limit | 100 |
12. Circuit venting
Not more than eight fixtures connected to a horizontal branch drain may be circuit vented. Each
fixture drain must connect horizontally to the horizontal branch being circuit vented, and the
horizontal branch drain is classified as a vent from the most downstream fixture drain connection to
the most upstream fixture drain connection to the horizontal branch (IPC 2024, 914.1). Circuit-vented
horizontal branch drains may be connected together, each group of not more than eight fixtures being
considered a separate circuit vent conforming to the section (IPC 2024, 914.1.1).
The circuit vent connection must be located between the two most upstream fixture drains; the vent
must connect to the horizontal branch and be installed in accordance with Section 905, and the circuit
vent pipe must not receive the discharge of any soil or waste (IPC 2024, 914.2). The slope of the vent
section of the horizontal branch drain must be not greater than one unit vertical in 12 units
horizontal (8.3 percent slope), and the entire length of the vent section of the horizontal branch
drain must be sized for the total drainage discharge to the branch (IPC 2024, 914.3). Each separate
circuit-vented horizontal branch that is interconnected must be sized independently, and the
downstream circuit-vented horizontal branch must be sized for the total discharge into the branch,
including the upstream branches and the fixtures within the branch (IPC 2024, 914.3.1).
A relief vent must be provided for circuit-vented horizontal branches receiving the discharge of four
or more water closets and connecting to a drainage stack that receives the discharge of soil or waste
from upper horizontal branches (IPC 2024, 914.4). The relief vent must connect to the horizontal
branch drain between the stack and the most downstream fixture drain of the circuit vent, and be
installed in accordance with Section 905 (IPC 2024, 914.4.1); it may be a fixture drain or fixture
branch for fixtures located within the same branch interval as the circuit-vented horizontal branch,
and the maximum discharge to a relief vent is four fixture units (IPC 2024, 914.4.2). Fixtures other
than the circuit-vented fixtures may discharge to the horizontal branch drain, provided they are
located on the same floor as the circuit-vented fixtures and are either individually or common vented
(IPC 2024, 914.5).
13. Combination waste and vent system
A combination waste and vent system must not serve fixtures other than floor drains, sinks, lavatories
and drinking fountains, and must not receive the discharge from a clinical sink (IPC 2024, 915.1). The
only vertical pipe of the system is the connection between the fixture drain and the horizontal
combination waste and vent pipe, and that vertical distance must not exceed 8 feet (2438 mm)
(IPC 2024, 915.2). The slope of a horizontal combination waste and vent pipe must not exceed one-half
unit vertical in 12 units horizontal (4 percent slope) and must be not less than Table 704.1
indicates (IPC 2024, 915.2.1).
The size of a combination waste and vent pipe must be not less than Table 915.2.2 indicates, and the
horizontal length of the system is unlimited (IPC 2024, 915.2.2):
| Diameter pipe (inches) | Maximum dfu, connecting to a horizontal branch or stack | Maximum dfu, connecting to a building drain or building subdrain |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 3 | 4 |
| 2 1/2 | 6 | 26 |
| 3 | 12 | 31 |
| 4 | 20 | 50 |
| 5 | 160 | 250 |
| 6 | 360 | 575 |
The system must be provided with a dry vent connected at any point within the system, or must connect
to a horizontal drain that serves vented fixtures located on the same floor; combination waste and
vent systems connecting to building drains receiving only the discharge from one or more stacks must
be provided with a dry vent. The vent connection to the combination waste and vent pipe must extend
vertically to a point not less than 6 inches (152 mm) above the flood level rim of the highest fixture
being vented before offsetting horizontally (IPC 2024, 915.2.3). The vent must be sized for the total
drainage fixture unit load in accordance with Section 906.2 (IPC 2024, 915.2.4), and the fixture
branch or drain must connect to the combination waste and vent within a distance specified in
Table 909.1, the combination waste and vent pipe being considered to be the vent for the fixture
(IPC 2024, 915.2.5).
14. Island fixture venting
Island fixture venting is not permitted for fixtures other than sinks and lavatories; residential
kitchen sinks with a dishwasher waste connection, a food waste disposer, or both, in combination with
the kitchen sink waste, may be vented in accordance with Section 916 (IPC 2024, 916.1). The island
fixture vent must connect to the fixture drain as required for an individual or common vent; it must
rise vertically to above the drainage outlet of the fixture being vented before offsetting horizontally
or vertically downward, and the vent or branch vent for multiple island fixture vents must extend to a
point not less than 6 inches (152 mm) above the highest island fixture being vented before connecting
to the outside vent terminal (IPC 2024, 916.2).
The part of the vent located below the flood level rim of the fixture being vented must be installed
as required for drainage piping in accordance with Chapter 7, except for sizing: it is sized in
accordance with Section 906.2, its lowest point must connect full size to the drainage system, and the
connection must be to a vertical drain pipe or to the top half of a horizontal drain pipe. Cleanouts
must be provided in the island fixture vent to permit rodding of all vent piping located below the
flood level rim of the fixtures, and rodding in both directions must be permitted through a cleanout
(IPC 2024, 916.3).
15. Single-stack vent system
A drainage stack serves as a single-stack vent system where sized and installed in accordance with
Sections 917.2 through 917.9; the drainage stack and branch piping are the vents for the drainage
system, and the drainage stack must have a stack vent (IPC 2024, 917.1). Drainage stacks must be sized
in accordance with Table 917.2, uniformly sized on the basis of the total connected drainage fixture
unit load; the stack vent must be the same size as the drainage stack, and a 3-inch (76 mm) stack
serves not more than two water closets (IPC 2024, 917.2).
| Stack size (inches) | Stacks less than 75 feet in height | Stacks 75 feet to less than 160 feet in height | Stacks 160 feet and greater in height |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 24 | NP | NP |
| 4 | 225 | 24 | NP |
| 5 | 480 | 225 | 24 |
| 6 | 1,015 | 480 | 225 |
| 8 | 2,320 | 1,015 | 480 |
| 10 | 4,500 | 2,320 | 1,015 |
| 12 | 8,100 | 4,500 | 2,320 |
| 15 | 13,600 | 8,100 | 4,500 |
NP = not permitted (IPC 2024, Table 917.2).
Horizontal branches connecting to a single-stack vent system must be sized in accordance with
Table 710.1(2); not more than one water closet may discharge into a 3-inch (76 mm) horizontal branch
at a point within a developed length of 18 inches (457 mm) measured horizontally from the stack, and
where a water closet is within 18 inches measured horizontally from the stack and not more than one
fixture with a drain size of not more than 1 1/2 inches (38 mm) connects to a 3-inch horizontal
branch, the branch drain connection to the stack must be made with a sanitary tee (IPC 2024, 917.3).
Length of horizontal branches: water closet connections must be not greater than 4 feet (1219 mm) in
developed length measured horizontally from the stack, or 8 feet (2438 mm) where the connection is
made with a sanitary tee (IPC 2024, 917.4.1 and Exception); fixtures other than water closets must be
located not greater than 12 feet (3657 mm) in developed length, measured horizontally from the stack
(IPC 2024, 917.4.2); and the length of vertical piping in a fixture drain connecting to a horizontal
branch is not counted in computing the fixture's distance in developed length measured horizontally
from the stack (IPC 2024, 917.4.3).
The vertical portion of piping in a fixture drain to a horizontal branch must be 2 inches (51 mm); the
minimum size of the vertical portion of piping for a water-supplied urinal or standpipe must be
3 inches (76 mm); the maximum vertical drop is 4 feet (1219 mm); and fixture drains that are not
increased in size, or that have a vertical drop in excess of 4 feet, must be individually vented
(IPC 2024, 917.5).
Additional venting must be provided where more than one water closet discharges to a horizontal branch
and where the distance from a fixture trap to the stack exceeds the limits in Section 917.4; where
required, fixtures must be vented by individual vents, common vents, wet vents, circuit vents, or a
combination waste and vent pipe, and the dry vent extensions for that additional venting must connect
to a branch vent, vent stack, stack vent, air admittance valve, or terminate outdoors (IPC 2024,
917.6).
Stack offsets: where fixture drains are not connected below a horizontal offset in a stack, the
horizontal offset need not be vented; where horizontal branches or fixture drains are connected below
a horizontal offset in a stack, the offset must be vented in accordance with Section 907, and fixture
connections must not be made to a stack within 2 feet (610 mm) above or below a horizontal offset
(IPC 2024, 917.7). Stacks greater than 2 branch intervals in height must not receive the discharge of
horizontal branches on the lower two floors, and there must not be connections to the stack between
the lower two floors and a distance of not less than 10 pipe diameters downstream from the base of the
single stack vented system (IPC 2024, 917.8). The building drain and building sewer receiving the
discharge of a single stack vent system must be sized in accordance with Table 710.1(1) (IPC 2024,
917.9).
16. Air admittance valves
Vent systems using air admittance valves must comply with Section 918. Stack-type air admittance
valves must conform to ASSE 1050, and individual and branch-type air admittance valves must conform to
ASSE 1051 (IPC 2024, 918.1). The valves must be installed in accordance with the section and the
manufacturer's instructions, and air admittance valves must be installed after the DWV testing
required by Section 312.2 or 312.3 has been performed (IPC 2024, 918.2).
Individual, branch and circuit vents may terminate with a connection to an individual or branch-type
air admittance valve (IPC 2024, 918.3), and stack vents and vent stacks may terminate to stack-type
air admittance valves (IPC 2024, 918.3). Individual and branch-type air admittance valves must vent
only fixtures that are on the same floor level and connect to a horizontal branch drain; where the
horizontal branch is located more than four branch intervals from the top of the stack, the horizontal
branch must be provided with a relief vent connecting to a vent stack or stack vent, or extending
outdoors to the open air. That relief vent must connect to the horizontal branch drain between the
stack and the most downstream fixture drain connected to the horizontal branch drain, be sized in
accordance with Section 906.2, be installed in accordance with Section 905, and may serve as the vent
for other fixtures (IPC 2024, 918.3.1). Stack-type air admittance valves are prohibited from serving as
the vent terminal for vent stacks or stack vents that serve drainage stacks having more than six
branch intervals (IPC 2024, 918.3.2).
Location: individual and branch-type air admittance valves must be located not less than 4 inches
(102 mm) above the horizontal branch drain or fixture drain being vented; stack-type air admittance
valves must be located not less than 6 inches (152 mm) above the flood level rim of the highest
fixture being vented; the valve must be located within the maximum developed length permitted for the
vent and installed not less than 6 inches (152 mm) above insulation materials (IPC 2024, 918.4).
Access must be provided to all air admittance valves, and such valves must be installed in a location
that allows air to enter the valve (IPC 2024, 918.5). The valve must be rated in accordance with the
standard for the size of the vent to which it is connected (IPC 2024, 918.6), and within each plumbing
system not less than one stack vent or vent stack must extend outdoors to the open air (IPC 2024,
918.7).
Prohibited installations: air admittance valves must not be installed in nonneutralized special waste
systems as described in Chapter 8 except where such valves comply with ASSE 1049, are constructed of
materials approved in accordance with Section 702.5, and are tested for chemical resistance in
accordance with ASTM F1412; they must not be located in spaces used as supply or return air plenums;
they must not be used to vent sumps or tanks except where the vent system for the sump or tank has been
designed by an engineer; and they must not be installed on outdoor vent terminals for the sole purpose
of reducing clearances to gravity air intakes or mechanical air intakes (IPC 2024, 918.8).
17. Engineered vent systems
Engineered vent systems must comply with Section 919 and with the design, submittal, approval,
inspection and testing requirements of Section 316 (IPC 2024, 919.1). The maximum developed length of
individual fixture vents to vent branches and vent headers is determined in accordance with
Table 919.2 for the minimum pipe diameters at the indicated vent airflow rates, with the individual
vent airflow rate determined by the equation published in the section (IPC 2024, 919.2).
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