Interpretation #: CEB-2018-09-2005-IRC-P3007.1

Building or Fire Safety Law Interpreted

675 IAC 14-4.3, the 2005 Indiana Residential Code.

P3007.1 Sewage ejectors or sewage pumps. A sewage ejector, sewage pump, or grinder pump receiving discharge from a water closet shall have minimum discharge velocity of 1.9 feet per second (0.579 m/s) throughout the discharge piping to the point of connection with a gravity building drain, gravity sewer, or pressure sewer system. A nongrinding pump or injector shall be capable of passing a 1.5-inch-diameter (38 mm) solid ball, and the discharge piping shall be not less than 2 inches (51 mm) in diameter. The discharge piping of grinding pumps shall be not less than 1.25 inches (32 mm) in diameter. A check valve, and a full way valve located on the discharge side of the check valve, shall be installed in the pump or ejector discharge piping between the pump or ejector and the drainage system. Access shall be provided to such valves. Such valves shall be located above the sump cover or, when the discharge pipe from the ejector is below grade, the valves shall be accessibly located outside the sump below grade in an access pit with a removable access cover.

P3001.1.1 Sewage ejectors that discharge by means of automatic pumping equipment shall be provided with an approved, electrically operated high water indicating alarm. A remote sensor shall activate the alarm when the fluid level exceeds a preset level that is less than the maximum capacity of the pit. The alarm shall function to provide a signal to occupants within the dwelling. Electrical power for the alarm shall be supplied through a branch circuit separate from that supplying the pump motor.

Interpretation of the State Building Commissioner

The dispute in this instance arises from the required location of the notification device for an alarm on a septic system dosing tank. IRC Section P3007.1 was listed as the subject of the interpretation request, although it is Section P3007.1.1 that discusses required alarms. For this reason, both citations have been provided for reference. For further reference, we provide the following definitions from Chapter 2 of the 2005 IRC:

BUILDING DRAIN. The lowest piping that collects the discharge from all other drainage piping inside the house and extends 30 inches (762 mm) in developed length of pipe, beyond the exterior wall and conveys the drainage to the building sewer.

BUILDING SEWER. That part of the drainage system that extends from the end of the building drain and conveys its discharge to a public sewer, private sewer, individual sewage disposal system, or other point of disposal.

INDIVIDUAL SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM. A system for disposal of sewage by means of a septic tank or mechanical treatment, designed for use apart from a public sewer to serve a single establishment or building.

As stated above, the specific request is for an interpretation on the required alarm notification device when used within or in conjunction with a septic system dosing tank. A septic system, an "individual sewage disposal system" by definition, is located after the building drain and is not governed by the rules of the Indiana Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission, which include the 2005 Indiana Residential Code. Therefore the sections cited above, which deal with sewage ejectors and sewage pumps located prior to connection to the building drain, do not apply to septic systems or their components. P3007.1 discusses ejectors in the context of a device receiving discharge from a water closet, not from the building itself. P3007.1.1 regulates alarms in reference specifically to their use with the ejectors discussed in P3007.1, and not for ejectors or sumps located after the building drain.