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Earlier editions: 20222019

Chapter 6 — WATER SUPPLY AND DISTRIBUTION

605.12 PVC

California Plumbing Code (Title 24, Part 5) · 2025 edition · updated 2026-09-12 · California

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

Plastic Pipe and Joints. PVC plastic pipe and fitting joining methods shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s installation instructions and shall comply with Section 605.12.1 through Section 605.12.3. PVC piping shall not be exposed to direct sunlight.

Exception: PVC piping in a location exposed to direct sunlight shall not exceed 24 inches (610 mm) in length and be wrapped with not less than 0.04 of an inch (1.02 mm) thick UV resistant tape or otherwise protected from UV degradation . 605.12.1 Mechanical Joints. Mechanical joints shall be designed to provide a permanent seal and shall be of the mechanical or push-on joint. The mechanical joint shall include a pipe spigot that has a wall thickness to withstand without deformation or collapse; the compressive force exerted where the fitting is tightened. The push-on joint shall have a minimum wall thickness of the bell at any point between the ring and the pipe barrel. The elastomeric gasket shall comply with ASTM D3139, and be of such size and shape as to provide a compressive force against the spigot and socket after assembly to provide a positive seal.

605.12.2 Solvent Cement Joints. Solvent cement joints for PVC pipe and fittings shall be clean from dirt and moisture. Pipe shall be cut square and pipe shall be deburred. Where surfaces to be joined are cleaned and free of dirt, moisture, oil, and other foreign material, apply primer purple in color that complies with ASTM F656. Primer shall be applied to the surface of the pipe and fitting is softened. Solvent cement that complies with ASTM D2564 shall be applied to all joint surfaces. Joints shall be made while both the inside socket surface and outside surface of pipe are wet with solvent cement. Hold joint in place and undisturbed for 1 minute after assembly.

[HCD 1 & HCD 2] Plastic pipe and fittings joined with solvent cement shall utilize Low VOC primer(s), if a primer is required, and Low VOC solvent cement(s) as defined in Section 214.0. 605.12.3 Threaded Joints. Threads shall comply with ASME B1.20.1. A minimum of Schedule 80 shall be permitted to be threaded; however, the pressure rating shall be reduced by 50 percent. The use of molded fittings shall not result in a 50 percent reduction in the pressure rating of the pipe provided that the molded fittings shall be fabricated so that the wall thickness of the material is maintained at the threads. Thread sealant compound that is compatible with the pipe and fitting, insoluble in water and nontoxic shall be applied to male threads. Caution shall be used during assembly to prevent over tightening of the PVC components once the thread sealant has been applied. Female PVC threaded fittings shall be used with plastic male threads only.

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▸Contents — California Plumbing Code (Title 24, Part 5)
California Plumbing Code (Title 24, Part 5)
  1. Chapter 1 — GENERAL CODE PROVISIONS
  2. Chapter 2 — DEFINITIONS
  3. Chapter 3 — GENERAL REGULATIONS
  4. Chapter 4 — PLUMBING FIXTURES AND FIXTURE FITTINGS
  5. Chapter 5 — WATER HEATERS
  6. ▸Chapter 6 — WATER SUPPLY AND DISTRIBUTION
    Overview
    1. 601.1 Applicability.
    2. 601.2 Water Supply and Flushing.
    3. 601.3 Identification of a Potable and Nonpotable Water System.
    4. 601.4 Schools of Cosmetology and Cosmetological
    5. 601.5 Meat and Poultry Processing Plants.
    6. 601.6 Collection Centers and Facilities. [AGR]
    7. 601.7 Renderers. [AGR]
    8. 601.8 Horse Meat and Pet Food Establishments. [AGR]
    9. 602.1 Prohibited Installation.
    10. 602.2 Cross-Contamination.
    11. 602.3 Backflow Prevention.
    12. 602.4 Approval by Authority.
    13. 603.1 General.
    14. 603.2 Approval of Devices or Assemblies.
    15. 603.3 Backflow Prevention Devices, Assemblies, and Methods.
    16. 603.4 General Requirements.
    17. 603.5 Specific Requirements.
    18. 604.1 Pipe, Tube, and Fittings.
    19. 604.2 Lead Content.
    20. 604.3 Copper or Copper Alloy Tube.
    21. 604.4 Hard-Drawn Copper or Copper Alloy Tubing.
    22. 604.5 Flexible Connectors.
    23. 604.6 Cast-Iron Fittings.
    24. 604.7 Malleable Iron Fittings.
    25. 604.8 Previously Used Piping and Tubing.
    26. 604.9 Epoxy Coating.
    27. 604.10 Plastic Materials.
    28. 604.11 Solder.
    29. 604.12 Flexible Corrugated Connectors.
    30. 604.13 Water Heater Connectors.
    31. 605.1 Copper or Copper Alloy Pipe, Tubing,
    32. 605.2 CPVC Plastic Pipe and Joints.
    33. 605.3 CPVC/AL/CPVC Plastic Pipe and Joints.
    34. 605.4 Ductile Iron Pipe and Joints.
    35. 605.5 Galvanized Steel Pipe and Joints.
    36. 605.6 PE
    37. 605.7 PE-AL-PE Plastic
    38. 605.8 PE-RT.
    39. 605.9 PEX
    40. 605.10 PEX-AL-PEX Plastic Tubing and Joints.
    41. 605.11 Polypropylene (PP) Piping and Joints.
    42. 605.12 PVC
    43. 605.13 Stainless Steel Pipe
    44. 605.14 Slip Joints.
    45. 605.15 Dielectric Unions.
    46. 605.16 Joints Between Various Materials.
    47. 606.1 General.
    48. 606.2 Fullway Valve.
    49. 606.3 Multidwelling Units.
    50. 606.4 Multiple Openings.
    51. 606.5 Control Valve.
    52. 606.6 Accessible.
    53. 606.7 Multiple Fixtures.
    54. 606.8 [OSHPD 1, 1R, 2, 3, 4 & 5]
    55. 606.9 Check Valve Required.
    56. 606.10 Leak Detection Devices.
    57. 607.1 General.
    58. 607.2 Private Well Water Tanks.
    59. 607.3 Potable Water Tanks.
    60. 607.4 Venting.
    61. 607.5 Overflow.
    62. 607.6 Valves.
    63. 608.1 Inadequate Water Pressure.
    64. 608.2 Excessive Water Pressure.
    65. 608.3 Expansion Tanks, and Combination Tempera-ture and Pressu…
    66. 608.4 Pressure Relief Valves.
    67. 608.5 Discharge Piping.
    68. 608.6 Water-Heating Devices.
    69. 608.7 Vacuum Relief Valves.
    70. 609.1 Installation.
    71. 609.2 Trenches.
    72. 609.3 Under Concrete Slab.
    73. 609.4 Testing.
    74. 609.5 Unions.
    75. 609.6 Location.
    76. 609.7 Abutting Lot.
    77. 609.8 Pumps.
    78. 609.9 Low-Pressure Cutoff Required on Booster Pumps for Water …
    79. 609.10 Disinfection of Potable Water System.
    80. 609.11 Water Hammer.
    81. 609.12 Pipe Insulation.
    82. 610.1 Size.
    83. 610.2 Pressure Loss.
    84. 610.3 Quantity of Water.
    85. 610.4 Sizing Water Supply and Distribution Systems.
    86. 610.5 Sizing per Appendices A, C,
    87. 610.6 Friction and Pressure Loss.
    88. 610.7 Conditions for Using Table 610.4.
    89. 610.8 Size of Meter and Building Supply Pipe Using Table 610.4.
    90. 610.9 Size of Branches.
    91. 610.10 Sizing for Flushometer Valves.
    92. 610.11 Sizing Systems for Flushometer Tanks.
    93. 610.12 Sizing for Velocity.
    94. 610.13 Exceptions.
    95. 611.1 Application.
    96. 611.2 Air Gap Discharge.
    97. 611.3 Connection Tubing.
    98. 611.4 Sizing of Residential Softeners.
    99. 612.1 Installation.
    100. 613.1 The domestic water-heating equipment and distribu-
    101. 613.2 At least two pieces of hot-water-heating equipment shall
    102. 613.3 Instantaneous heaters are permitted for supplying hot
    103. 613.4 Water storage tanks shall be fabricated of corrosion-
    104. 613.5 Temperature control valves shall be provided to auto-
    105. 613.6 Hot-water distribution system serving patient care areas
    106. 613.7 At fixtures where water exceeding 125°F (52°C) is acces-
    107. 613.8 Sectionalizing valves shall be provided as required by S…
    108. 613.9 Hot water distribution shall include test ports and valved
    109. 614.1 Dialysis water feedlines shall be CPVC (chlorinated
    110. 614.2 All piping for multistation or central dialysis units sh…
    111. 614.3 All valves shall be located in accessible locations.
    112. 614.4 Piping and valves shall be identified according to their…
    113. 614.5 A means of preventing backwashing or flushing of the
    114. 614.6 A continuous audible alarm shall sound at the nurses’
    115. 614.7 Water treatment equipment and water used for dialysis
    116. 614.8 A diagram of all piping as installed shall be posted at …
    117. 615.1 Uses Not Permitted.
    118. 615.2 [OSHPD 1, 1R, 2, 3, 4 & 5]
    119. 615.3 [OSHPD 1, 1R, 2, 3, 4 & 5]
    120. 616.1 For new acute care hospital buildings submitted after
    121. 616.2 The emergency supply of water shall be provided at ade-
    122. 616.3 Storage tank connections and circulation shall be
  7. Chapter 7 — SANITARY DRAINAGE
  8. Chapter 8 — INDIRECT WASTES
  9. Chapter 9 — VENTS
  10. Chapter 10 — TRAPS AND INTERCEPTORS
  11. Chapter 11 — STORM DRAINAGE
  12. Chapter 12 — FUEL GAS PIPING
  13. Chapter 13 — HEALTH CARE FACILITIES AND MEDICAL GAS AND MEDICA…
  14. Chapter 14 — FIRESTOP PROTECTION
  15. Chapter 15 — ALTERNATE WATER SOURCES FOR NONPOTABLE APPLICATIONS
  16. Chapter 16 — NONPOTABLE RAINWATER CATCHMENT SYSTEMS
  17. Chapter 17 — REFERENCED STANDARDS
  18. Appendix A — RECOMMENDED RULES FOR SIZING THE WATER SUPPLY SYS…
  19. Appendix B — EXPLANATORY NOTES ON COMBINATION WASTE AND VENT S…
  20. Appendix C — ALTERNATE PLUMBING SYSTEMS
  21. Appendix D — SIZING STORM WATER DRAINAGE SYSTEMS
  22. Appendix E — MANUFACTURED/MOBILE HOME PARKS AND RECREATIONAL V…
  23. Appendix F — FIREFIGHTER BREATHING AIR REPLENISHMENT SYSTEMS
  24. Appendix G — SIZING OF VENTING SYSTEMS
  25. Appendix H — PRIVATE SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEMS
  26. Appendix I — INSTALLATION STANDARDS
  27. Appendix J — COMBINATION OF INDOOR AND OUTDOOR COMBUSTION AND …
  28. Appendix K — POTABLE RAINWATER CATCHMENT SYSTEMS
  29. Appendix L — SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES
  30. Appendix M — PEAK WATER DEMAND CALCULATOR
  31. Appendix N — IMPACT OF WATER TEMPERATURE ON THE POTENTIAL FOR …
  32. Appendix O — NON-SEWERED SANITATION SYSTEMS
  33. Appendix P — PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
  34. Appendix Q — INDOOR HORTICULTURAL FACILITIES
  35. Appendix R — TINY HOUSES
  36. Appendix S — ONSITE STORMWATER TREATMENT SYSTEMS

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