§ 12-51. Same—Old sewers; installation of new sewers.

(a)

Old building sewers may be used in connection with new buildings only when they are found, on examination and test by the inspector, to meet all requirements of this article.

(b)

The building sewer shall be constructed of the following: (1) cast-iron soil pipe conforming to the latest ASTM specifications; (2) poly vinyl chloride (PVC) schedule 40; or (3) polystyrene, 1,000-pound crushing strength. Cast-iron pipe with the mechanical joints may be required by the inspector where the building sewer is exposed to damage by tree roots. If installed in filled or unstable ground, the building sewer shall be of cast-iron soil pipe, except that nonmetallic material as provided in this subsection may be accepted if laid on a suitable concrete bed or cradle as approved by the inspector. All joints shall be tight and waterproof.

(c)

The size and slope of the building sewer shall be subject to the approval of the inspector, but in no event shall the diameter be less than four (4) inches. The slope of such four-inch pipe shall be not less than one-eighth-inch per foot.

(d)

Whenever possible the building sewer shall be brought to the building at an elevation below the basement floor. No building sewer shall be laid parallel to or within three (3) feet of any bearing wall, which might thereby be weakened. The depth shall be sufficient to afford protection from frost. The building sewer shall be laid at uniform grade and as far as possible in straight alignment. Changes in direction shall be made only with properly curved pipe and fittings.

(e)

In all buildings in which any building drain is too low to permit gravity flow to the public sewer, sanitary sewage carried by the drain shall be lifted by approved artificial means and discharged to the building sewer.

(f)

All excavations required for the installation of a building sewer shall be open trench work unless otherwise approved by the inspector. Pipe laying and backfill shall be performed in accordance with the latest ASTM specifications, except that no backfill shall be placed until the work has been inspected.

(Code 1979, § 7-3015(e)—(j); Ord. No. 2007-4, 6-26-07)