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Chapter 6 — WATER SUPPLY AND DISTRIBUTION

612.4 Sprinkler Piping System. Sprinkler piping systems

California Plumbing Code (Title 24, Part 5) · 2019 edition · updated 2026-09-10 · California

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

shall be installed in accordance with Section 612.4.1 through Section 612.4.5.

HEAT SOURCE DISTANCE FROM HEAT
SOURCE1
HEAT SOURCE
 MINIMUM
DISTANCE2
(inches)
 MAXIMUM
DISTANCE
(inches)
Fireplace, Side of Open or Recessed
Fireplace
 12
 36
Fireplace, Front of Recessed Fireplace
 36
 60

Coal and Wood Burning Stove
 12
 42

Kitchen Range Top
 9
 18

Oven
 9
 18
Vent Connector or Chimney Connector
 9
 18

Heating Duct, Not Insulated
 9
 18

Hot Water Pipe, Not Insulated
 6
 12

Side of Ceiling or Wall Warm Air
Register
 12
 24
Front of Wall Mounted Warm Air
Register
 18
 36
Water Heater, Furnace, or Boiler
 3
 6

Luminaire up to 250 Watts
 3
 6


Luminaire 250 Watts up to 499 Watts		 6 12

Notes: 1 Distances shall be measured in a straight line from the nearest edge of the heat source to the nearest edge of the sprinkler. 2 Sprinklers shall not be located at distances less than the minimum table distance unless the sprinkler listing allows a lesser distance.

612.3.6 Obstructions to Sprinkler Coverage. The water discharge from a sprinkler shall not be blocked by obstructions unless additional sprinklers are installed to protect the obstructed area. Additional sprinklers shall not be required where sprinkler separation from obstructions is in accordance with the requirements of Table 612.3.6, or the minimum distances specified in the sprinkler manufacturer’s installation instructions.

dent Sprinklers.612.3.6.1 Additional Requirements for Pen- Pendent sprinklers located within 3 feet (914 mm) of the center of a ceiling fan, surface-mounted ceiling luminaire, or similar object shall be considered to be obstructed, and additional sprinklers shall be provided. 612.3.6.2 Additional Requirements for Side-wall Sprinklers. Sidewall sprinklers located within 5 feet (1524 mm) of the center of a ceiling fan, surface-mounted ceiling luminaire, or similar object shall be considered to be obstructed, and additional sprinklers shall be provided. 612.3.7 Sprinkler Modifications Prohibited. Sprinklers shall not be painted, caulked, or modified. A sprinkler that has been painted, caulked, modified, or damaged shall be replaced with a new sprinkler.

within 5 feet (1524 mm) of the center of a ceiling fan, surface-mounted ceiling luminaire, or similar object shall be considered to be obstructed, and additional sprinklers shall be provided. 612.3.7 Sprinkler Modifications Prohibited. Sprinklers shall not be painted, caulked, or modified. A sprinkler that has been painted, caulked, modified, or damaged shall be replaced with a new sprinkler.

612.4.1 General. Sprinkler piping shall be installed in accordance with the requirements for water distribution piping. Sprinkler piping shall comply with the material requirements for cold water distribution piping. For multipurpose piping systems, the sprinkler piping shall connect to and be a part of the cold water distribution piping system. 612.4.2 Nonmetallic Pipe and Tubing. Nonmetallic pipe and tubing, such as CPVC, PEX-AL-PEX, PE-RT, and PEX, shall be certified for residential sprinkler installations and shall have a pressure rating of not less than 130 psi (896 kPa) at 120°F (49°C). 612.4.2.1 Nonmetallic Pipe Protection. Nonmetallic pipe and tubing systems shall be protected from exposure to the occupied space by a layer of not less than 3 ⁄8 of an inch (9.5 mm) thick gypsum wallboard, 1 ⁄2 of an inch (12.7 mm) thick plywood, or other material having a 15-minute fire rating. Exceptions: (1) Pipe protection shall not be required in areas

that are not required to be protected with sprin

(1) Pipe protection shall not be required in areas

that are not required to be protected with sprinklers in accordance with Section 612.3.1. (2) Pipe protection shall not be required where

exposed piping is permitted by the pipe third

(2) Pipe protection shall not be required where

exposed piping is permitted by the pipe third party listing. 612.4.2.2 Sprinkler Installation on SystemsAssembled with Solvent Cement. The solvent cementing of fittings shall be completed, and threaded adapters for sprinklers shall be verified as being clear of excess cement before the installation of sprinklers on systems assembled with solvent cement. 612.4.3 Shutoff Valves Prohibited. Shutoff valves shall not be installed in a location where the valve would isolate piping serving one or more sprinklers. Shutoff valves shall only be permitted for the entire water distribution system. 612.4.4 Single Dwelling Limit. The sprinkler piping beyond the service valve located at the beginning of the water distribution system shall serve only one dwelling unit. 612.4.5 Drain. A 1 ⁄2 inch (15 mm) drain for the sprinkler system shall be provided on the system side of the water distribution shutoff valve.

2019 CALIFORNIA PLUMBING CODE 159

WATER SUPPLY AND DISTRIBUTION any other purpose or distributed to any other persons or parti es.

TABLE 612.3.6 MINIMUM SEPARATION FROM OBSTRUCTION

PENDENT SPRINKLERS

DISTANCE FROM DEFLECTOR TO PLANE AT BOTTOM OF OBSTRUCTION (A)
(inches)
 MINIMUM DISTANCE TO OBSTRUCTION (B)
(feet)
12
12
12

SIDEWALL SPRINKLER SIDE OBSTRUCTION

DISTANCE FROM DEFLECTOR TO PLANE AT BOTTOM OF OBSTRUCTION (A)
(inches)
 MINIMUM DISTANCE TO OBSTRUCTION (B)
(feet)
12
12
12

SIDEWALL SPRINKLER FORWARD OBSTRUCTION

DISTANCE FROM DEFLECTOR TO PLANE AT BOTTOM OF OBSTRUCTION (A)
(inches)
 MINIMUM DISTANCE TO OBSTRUCTION (B)
(feet)


160 2019 CALIFORNIA PLUMBING CODE

WATER SUPPLY AND DISTRIBUTION

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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. 601.2 Hot and Cold Water Required. Except where not
    2. 601.3 Identification of a Potable and NonpotableWater System. …
    3. 601.5 [AGR] Meat and Poultry Processing Plants. Except as prov…
    4. 601.4 [CA] Schools of Cosmetology and Cosmeto-
    5. 601.6 [AGR] Collection Centers and Facilities.601.6.1 The wate…
    6. 601.7 [AGR] Renderers. This area shall be provided with
    7. 601.8 [AGR] Horse Meat and Pet Food Establishments.601.8.1 The…
    8. 602.3 Backflow Prevention. No plumbing fixture, device,
    9. 602.4 Approval by Authority. No water piping supplied
    10. 603.0 Cross-Connection Control.603.1 General. Cross-connection…
    11. 603.2 Approval of Devices or Assemblies. Before a
    12. 602.0 Unlawful Connections.602.1 Prohibited Installation. No i…
    13. 602.2 Cross-Contamination. No person shall make a connection o…
    14. 603.3 Backflow Prevention Devices, Assemblies, andMethods. Bac…
    15. 603.4 General Requirements. Assemblies shall comply
    16. 603.5 Specific Requirements. Specific requirements for
    17. 604.0 Materials.604.1 Pipe, Tube, and Fittings. Pipe, tube, fi…
    18. 604.2 Lead Content. The maximum allowable lead content in pipe…
    19. 604.3 Copper or Copper Alloy Tube. Copper or copper
    20. 604.4 Hard-Drawn Copper or Copper Alloy Tubing. Hard-drawn cop…
    21. 604.5 Flexible Connectors. Flexible water connectors
    22. 604.6 Cast-Iron Fittings. Cast-iron fittings up to and
    23. 604.7 Malleable Iron Fittings. Malleable iron water fittings s…
    24. 604.8 Previously Used Piping and Tubing. Piping and
    25. 604.9 Epoxy Coating. The epoxy coating used on existing, under…
    26. 604.10 Plastic Materials. Approved plastic materials shall
    27. 605.0 Joints and Connections.
    28. 604.11 Solder. Solder shall comply with the requirements of
    29. 604.12 Flexible Corrugated Connectors. Flexible corrugated con…
    30. 604.13 Water Heater Connectors. Flexible metallic (copper and …
    31. 605.2 CPVC Plastic Pipe and Joints. CPVC plastic pipe
    32. 605.3 CPVC/AL/CPVC Plastic Pipe and Joints. Chlorinated polyvi…
    33. 605.4 Ductile Iron Pipe and Joints. Ductile iron pipe
    34. 605.5 Galvanized Steel Pipe and Joints. Galvanized
    35. 605.6 PE Plastic Pipe/Tubing and Joints. PE plastic
    36. 605.7 PE-AL-PE Plastic Pipe/Tubing and Joints. PEAL-PE plastic…
    37. 605.8 PE-RT. Polyethylene of raised temperature (PE-RT)
    38. 605.9 PEX Plastic Tubing and Joints. PEX plastic tubing and fi…
    39. 605.11 Polypropylene (PP) Piping and Joints. PP pipe
    40. 605.10 PEX-AL-PEX Plastic Tubing and Joints. PEXAL-PEX plastic…
    41. 605.12 PVC Plastic Pipe and Joints. PVC plastic pipe
    42. 605.13 Stainless Steel Pipe and Joints. Joining methods for st…
    43. 605.14 Slip Joints. In water piping, slip joints shall be perm…
    44. 605.15 Dielectric Unions. Dielectric unions where
    45. 605.16 Joints Between Various Materials. Joints
    46. 606.0 Valves.606.1 General. Valves up to and including 2 inche…
    47. 606.2 Fullway Valve. A fullway valve controlling outlets
    48. 606.3 Multidwelling Units. In multidwelling units, one or
    49. 606.4 Multiple Openings. Valves used to control two or
    50. 606.5 Control Valve. A control valve shall be installed
    51. 606.6 Accessible. Required shutoff or control valves shall
    52. 606.7 Multiple Fixtures. A single control valve shall be
    53. 606.8 [OSHPD 1, 1R, 2, 3, 4 & 5] Each riser or branch
    54. 607.2 Potable Water Tanks. Potable water supply tanks,
    55. 607.3 Venting. Tanks used for potable water shall be tightly
    56. 607.4 Overflow. Tanks shall have not less than a 16 square
    57. 607.5 Valves. Pressurized tanks shall be provided with a
    58. 608.0 Water Pressure, Pressure Regulators, Pres-
    59. 608.2 Excessive Water Pressure. Where static water
    60. 608.3 Expansion Tanks, and Combination Tempera-ture and Pressu…
    61. 608.4 Pressure Relief Valves. Each pressure relief valve
    62. 608.5 Discharge Piping. The discharge piping serving a
    63. 609.3 Under Concrete Slab. Water piping installed within
    64. 608.6 Water-Heating Devices. A water-heating device
    65. 608.7 Vacuum Relief Valves. Where a hot-water storage
    66. 609.0 Installation, Testing, Unions, and Location.609.1 Instal…
    67. 609.2 Trenches. Water pipes shall not be run or laid in the
    68. 609.4 Testing. Upon completion of a section or of the entire
    69. 609.5 Unions. Unions shall be installed in the water supply
    70. 609.6 Location. Except as provided in Section 609.7, no
    71. 609.7 Abutting Lot. Nothing contained in this code shall
    72. 609.8 Low-Pressure Cutoff Required on BoosterPumps for Water D…
    73. 609.9 Disinfection of Potable Water System. New or
    74. 609.11 Pipe Insulation. Insulation of domestic hot water
    75. 610.2 Pressure Loss. Where a water filter, water softener,
    76. 609.10 Water Hammer. [Not adopted by HCD] Building water suppl…
    77. 610.3 Quantity of Water. The quantity of water required
    78. 610.4 Sizing Water Supply and Distribution Systems. Systems wi…
    79. 610.5 Sizing per Appendices A and C. Except as provided in Sec…
    80. 610.6 Friction and Pressure Loss. Except where the type
    81. 610.7 Conditions for Using Table 610.4. On a proposed
    82. 610.9 Size of Branches. Where Table 610.4 is used, the minimum…
    83. 610.10 Sizing for Flushometer Valves. Where using
    84. 610.8 Size of Meter and Building Supply Pipe UsingTable 610.4.…
    85. 610.13 Exceptions. The provisions of this section relative
    86. 610.12 Sizing for Velocity. Water piping systems shall not
    87. 610.11 Sizing Systems for Flushometer Tanks. The
    88. 611.2 Air Gap Discharge. Discharge from drinking water
    89. 611.3 Connection Tubing. The tubing to and from drinking water…
    90. 611.4 Sizing of Residential Softeners. Residential-use
    91. 612.0 Residential Fire Sprinkler Systems.612.1 Where Required.…
    92. 612.2 Types of Systems. This section shall apply to standalone…
    93. 612.3 Sprinklers. Sprinklers shall be installed in accordance …
    94. 612.4 Sprinkler Piping System. Sprinkler piping systems
    95. 612.5 Sprinkler Piping Design. Sprinkler piping systems
    96. 612.6 Instructions and Signs. An owner’s manual for the
    97. 612.7 Inspection and Testing. The inspection and testing of sp…
    98. 613.0 [OSHPD 1, 1R, 2, 3, 4 & 5] Domestic Hot-Water
    99. 613.2 At least two pieces of hot-water-heating equipment shall
    100. 613.3 Instantaneous heaters are permitted for supplying hot
    101. 613.4 Water storage tanks shall be fabricated of corrosion-
    102. 613.5 Temperature control valves shall be provided to auto-
    103. 613.6 Hot-water distribution system serving patient care
    104. 613.7 At fixtures where water exceeding 125°F (52°C) is acces-
    105. 613.8 Sectionalizing valves shall be provided as required by
    106. 614.2 All piping for multistation or central dialysis units sh…
    107. 614.3 All valves shall be located in accessible locations.
    108. 614.4 Piping and valves shall be identified according to their
    109. 614.5 A means of preventing backwashing or flushing of the
    110. 614.6 A continuous audible alarm shall sound at the nurses’
    111. 614.7 Water used for dialysis treatment shall meet the latest
    112. 614.8 A diagram of all piping as installed shall be posted at …
    113. 615.1 Uses Not Permitted.615.1.1 [OSHPD 1, 1R, 2, 3, 4 & 5] No…
    114. 615.2 [OSHPD 1, 1R, 2, 3, 4 & 5] Non-potable water sys-
    115. 615.3 [OSHPD 1, 1R, 2, 3, 4 & 5] Outlets for non-potable
    116. 615.4 [OSHPD 1] Emergency Water Supply.615.4.1 For new acute c…
  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 STANDARD FOR PEX TUBING SYSTEMS FOR …
  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

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