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Chapter 12 — HYDRONICS

1211.4 Copper or Copper Alloy Pipe and Tubing.

California Mechanical Code (Title 24, Part 4) · 2019 edition · updated 2026-09-10 · California

Italicized text is a California amendment to the model code, as printed in the official publication.

Joints between copper pipe, tubing, or fittings shall be installed in accordance with one of the following methods: (1) Brazed joints between copper or copper alloy pipe, tub ing, or fittings shall be made with brazing alloys having

(5) Removable and nonremovable push fit fittings for copper

or copper alloy tubing or pipe that employ quick assembly push fit connectors shall be in accordance with ASSE 1061. Push fit fittings for copper pipe or tubing shall have an approved elastomeric o-ring that forms the joint. Pipe or tubing shall be cut square, chamfered, and reamed to full inside diameter. The tubing shall be fully inserted into the fitting, and the tubing marked at the shoulder of the fitting. The fitting alignment shall be checked against the mark on the tubing to ensure the tubing is inserted into the fitting and gripping mechanism has engaged on the pipe. (6) Soldered joints between copper or copper alloy pipe, tub ing, or fittings shall be made in accordance with ASTM

(1) Brazed joints between copper or copper alloy pipe, tub ing, or fittings shall be made with brazing alloys having a liquid temperature above 1000°F (538°C). The joint surfaces to be brazed shall be cleaned bright by either manual or mechanical means. Tubing shall be cut square and reamed to full inside diameter. Brazing flux shall be applied to the joint surfaces where required by manufacturer’s recommendation. Brazing filler metal in accordance with AWS A5.8 shall be applied at the point where the pipe or tubing enters the socket of the fitting. (2) Flared joints for soft copper or copper alloy tubing shall

be made with fittings that are in accordance with the

(2) Flared joints for soft copper or copper alloy tubing shall

be made with fittings that are in accordance with the applicable standards referenced in Table 1210.1. Pipe or tubing shall be cut square using an appropriate tubing cutter. The tubing shall be reamed to full inside diameter, resized to round, and expanded with a proper flaring tool. (3) Mechanically formed tee fittings shall have extracted col lars that shall be formed in a continuous operation con

made with fittings that are in accordance with the applicable standards referenced in Table 1210.1. Pipe or tubing shall be cut square using an appropriate tubing cutter. The tubing shall be reamed to full inside diameter, resized to round, and expanded with a proper flaring tool. (3) Mechanically formed tee fittings shall have extracted col lars that shall be formed in a continuous operation con

(6) Soldered joints between copper or copper alloy pipe, tub ing, or fittings shall be made in accordance with ASTM B828. Pipe or tubing shall be cut square and reamed to the full inside diameter including the removal of burrs on the outside of the pipe or tubing. Surfaces to be joined shall be cleaned bright by manual or mechanical means. Flux shall be applied to pipe or tubing and fittings and shall be in accordance with ASTM B813, and shall become noncorrosive and nontoxic after soldering. Insert pipe or tubing into the base of the fitting and remove excess flux. Pipe or tubing and fitting shall be supported to ensure a uniform capillary space around the joint. Solder in accordance with ASTM B32 shall be applied to the joint surfaces until capillary action draws the molten solder into the cup. Joint surfaces shall not be disturbed until cool, and any remaining flux residue shall be cleaned. (7) Threaded joints for copper or copper alloy pipe shall be

made with pipe threads in accordance with ASME

Mechanically formed tee fittings shall have extracted col lars that shall be formed in a continuous operation consisting of drilling a pilot hole and drawing out the pipe or tube surface to form a collar having a height not less than three times the thickness of the branch tube wall. The branch pipe or tube shall be notched to conform to the inner curve of the run pipe or tube and shall have two dimple depth stops to ensure that penetration of the branch pipe or tube into the collar is of a depth for brazing and

(7) Threaded joints for copper or copper alloy pipe shall be

made with pipe threads in accordance with ASME B1.20.1. Thread sealant tape or compound shall be applied only on male threads, and such material shall be of approved types, insoluble in water, and nontoxic.

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Contents — California Mechanical Code (Title 24, Part 4)
California Mechanical Code (Title 24, Part 4)
  1. Chapter 1 — GENERAL CODE PROVISIONS
  2. Chapter 2 — DEFINITIONS
  3. Chapter 3 — GENERAL REGULATIONS
  4. Chapter 4 — VENTILATION AIR
  5. Chapter 5 — EXHAUST SYSTEMS
  6. Chapter 6 — DUCT SYSTEMS
  7. Chapter 7 — COMBUSTION AIR
  8. Chapter 8 — CHIMNEYS AND VENTS
  9. Chapter 9 — INSTALLATION OF SPECIFIC APPLIANCES
  10. Chapter 10 — BOILERS AND PRESSURE VESSELS
  11. Chapter 11 — REFRIGERATION
  12. Chapter 12 — HYDRONICS
    Overview
    1. 1204.2 Color and Information. Each system shall be identified …
    2. 1204.3 Potable Water. Potable water systems shall be identifie…
    3. 1204.4 Nonpotable Water. Nonpotable water systems
    4. 1203.1 Heat Source.1203.0 Capacity of Heat Source. The heat so…
    5. 1203.2 Dual Purpose Water Heater. Water heaters utilized for c…
    6. 1201.1 Applicability.1201.0 General. This chapter shall apply …
    7. 1201.2 Insulation. Surfaces within reach of building occupants…
    8. 1201.3 Water Hammer. The piping system shall be
    9. 1201.4 Terminal Units. Terminal units, valves, and flow
    10. 1201.5 Return-Water Low-Temperature Protection.
    11. 1202.1 Prohibited Sources.1202.0 Protection of Potable Water S…
    12. 1202.2 Chemical Injection. Where systems include an
    13. 1202.3 Compatibility. Fluids used in hydronic systems
    14. 1203.3 Tankless Water Heater. Tankless water heaters
    15. 1206.2 Discharge Piping. The discharge piping serving a
    16. 1204.5 Location of Piping Identification. The background color…
    17. 1204.6 Flow Directions. Flow directions shall be indicated
    18. 1205.1 Operating Instructions.1205.0 Installation, Testing, an…
    19. 1205.2 Pressure Testing. System piping and components
    20. 1205.3 Flushing. Heating and cooling sources, system piping an…
    21. 1206.1 General.1206.0 Pressure and Safety Devices. Each closed…
    22. 1207.1 General.1207.0 Heating Appliances and Equipment. Heatin…
    23. 1207.2 Boilers. Boilers and their control systems shall comply…
    24. 1207.3 Dual-Purpose Water Heaters. Water heaters used
    25. 1207.4 Solar Heat Collector Systems. Solar water heating syste…
    26. 1208.2 Mounting. The circulator or pump shall be installed
    27. 1208.3 Sizing. The selection and sizing of a circulator or
    28. 1209.2 Installation. Expansion tanks shall be accessible for
    29. 1209.3 Open-Type Expansion Tanks. Open type expansion tanks sh…
    30. 1209.4 Closed-Type Tanks. Closed-type expansion tanks
    31. 1209.5 Sizing. Expansion tanks shall be sized to accept the
    32. 1210.1 Piping, Tubing, and Fittings.1210.0 Materials. Hydronic…
    33. 1210.2 Expansion and Contraction. Pipe and tubing shall
    34. 1210.3 Hangers and Supports. Pipe and tubing shall be
    35. 1210.4 Oxygen Diffusion Corrosion. PEX and PE-RT tubing in clo…
    36. 1211.1 General.1211.0 Joints and Connections. Joints and conne…
    37. 1211.2 Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride (CPVC) Pipe.
    38. 1211.3 CPVC/AL/CPVC Plastic Pipe and Joints. Joints
    39. 1211.4 Copper or Copper Alloy Pipe and Tubing.
    40. 1211.5 Cross-Linked Polyethylene (PEX) Pipe. Joints
    41. 1211.8 Polyethylene (PE) Plastic Pipe/Tubing. Joints
    42. 1211.6 Cross-Linked Polyethylene/Aluminum/Cross-
    43. 1211.7 Ductile Iron Pipe. Joints between ductile iron pipe
    44. 1211.9 Polyethylene/Aluminum/Polyethylene (PE-AL-
    45. 1211.10 Polyethylene of Raised Temperature (PE-RT).
    46. 1211.11 Polypropylene (PP) Pipe. Joints between
    47. 1211.12 Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Pipe. Joints between
    48. 1211.13 Steel Pipe and Tubing. Joints between steel pipe,
    49. 1211.14 Joints Between Various Materials. Joints
    50. 1212.1 General. 1212.0 Valves. Valves shall be rated for the o…
    51. 1212.2 Where Required. Valves shall be installed in
    52. 1212.3 Heat Exchanger. Isolation valves shall be installed
    53. 1212.4 Pressure Vessels. Isolation valves shall be
    54. 1212.5 Pressure Reducing Valves. Isolation valves shall
    55. 1214.3 Flow-Sensing Devices. A direct-fired heat source,
    56. 1214.4 Automatic Makeup Fluid. Where an automatic
    57. 1214.5 Differential Pressure Regulation. Provisions
    58. 1214.6 Air-Removal Device. Provision shall be made for
    59. 1214.7 Air-Separation Device. To assist with the removal
    60. 1214.8 Secondary Loops. Secondary loops that are isolated from…
    61. 1215.1 General.1215.0 Hydronic Space Heating. Based on the sys…
    62. 1215.2 Installation. Heat-distribution units shall be
    63. 1212.6 Equipment, Components, and Appliances.
    64. 1212.7 Expansion Tank. Isolation valves shall be installed
    65. 1212.8 Flow Balancing Valves. Where flow balancing
    66. 1212.9 Mixing or Temperature Control Valves. Where
    67. 1212.10 Thermosiphoning. An approved type check valve
    68. 1212.11 Air Removal Device or Air Vents. Isolation
    69. 1213.1 Water Temperature Controls.1213.0 System Controls. A he…
    70. 1213.2 Operating Steam Controls. A steam heat source
    71. 1213.3 Occupied Spaces. A temperature-sensing device
    72. 1214.2 Low-Water Control. Direct-fired heat sources
    73. 1215.3 Freeze Protection. Hydronic systems and components shal…
    74. 1215.4 Balancing. System loops shall be installed so that
    75. 1215.5 Heat Transfer Fluid. The ignitable flash point of
    76. 1216.1 Steam Traps.1216.0 Steam Systems. For other than one-pi…
    77. 1216.2 Sloping for Two-Pipe System. Two-pipe steam
    78. 1216.3 Sloping for One-Pipe System. One-pipe steam
    79. 1216.4 Automatic Air Vents. Steam automatic air vents
    80. 1216.5 Condensate Flow. System piping shall be installed
    81. 1216.6 Steam-Distribution Piping. Where multi-row elements are…
    82. 1217.3 Radiant Cooling Systems. Radiant cooling systems shall …
    83. 1217.4 Tube Placement. Hydronic radiant system tubing
    84. 1217.1 Installation.1217.0 Radiant Heating and Cooling. Radian…
    85. 1217.2 Radiant Under-Floor Heating. Floor finished surface tem…
    86. 1217.5 Poured Floor Structural Concrete Slab Sys-tems (Thermal…
    87. 1218.0 Heat Exchangers. 1218.1 General. Systems utilizing heat…
    88. 1217.6 Radiant Heating and Cooling Panels. Radiant
    89. 1219.1 General.Tanks. Domestic hot-water heat exchangers,
    90. 1220.1 Use of Chemical Additives and Corrosive Flu-
    91. 1220.2 Snow and Ice Melt Controls. An automatic thermostatical…
    92. 1220.3 Hydronic Makeup Air Units. Hydronic makeup
    93. 1221.1 General.1221.0 Piping Installation. Piping, fittings, a…
    94. 1221.2 Embedded Piping Materials and Joints. Piping embedded i…
    95. 1221.3 Pressure Testing. Piping to be embedded in concrete sha…
    96. 1221.4 System Drainage. Hydronic piping systems shall
    97. 1221.5 Condensate Drainage. Condensate drains from
    98. 1221.6 Clearance to Combustibles. Hydronic piping
  13. Chapter 13 — FUEL GAS PIPING
  14. Chapter 14 — PROCESS PIPING
  15. Chapter 15 — SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS
  16. Chapter 16 — STATIONARY POWER PLANTS
  17. Chapter 17 — REFERENCED STANDARDS
  18. Appendix A — RESIDENTIAL PLAN EXAMINER REVIEW FORM FOR HVAC SY…
  19. Appendix B — PROCEDURES TO BE FOLLOWED TO PLACE GAS EQUIPMENT …
  20. Appendix C — INSTALLATION AND TESTING OF OIL (LIQUID) FUEL-FIR…
  21. Appendix D — FUEL SUPPLY: MANUFACTURED/MOBILE HOME PARKS AND R…
  22. Appendix E — SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES
  23. Appendix F — SIZING OF VENTING SYSTEMS AND OUTDOOR COMBUSTION …
  24. Appendix G — EXAMPLE CALCULATION OF OUTDOOR AIR RATE

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