2015 IPC Expands Approved Grease Interceptors

The 2015 International Plumbing Code (IPC) has been out since the summer of 2014 and for the first time it has expanded the approved types of grease interceptors to include gravity grease interceptors (GGI) and fats, oils and grease (FOG) disposal systems.

Lets take a look at what's changed and note some problems that will have to be addressed.

Section 1003.3.6 was added to the code as a distinct new category for grease interceptors titled, "Gravity grease interceptors and gravity grease interceptors with fats, oils and greases disposal systems."

Note that these are actually two different categories for gravity interceptors with different requirements for approval.

• GGIs are required to comply with IAPMO/ANSI Z1001
• GGIs with FOG disposal systems are required to comply with ASME A112.14.6. 

I have covered all of the recognized standards for grease interceptors previously here: http://theinterceptorwhisperer.blogspot.com/2014/03/the-standards-that-govern-grease.html

As I explain in the post linked above, IAPMO/ANSI Z1001 doesn't have a performance test protocol, but rather only mandates leak testing.

Another problem with the standard is that it doesn't provide any sizing guidelines, which forces specifiers to look elsewhere for help sizing these devices.

The problem with the 2015 IPC is that it doesn't adequately address sizing of GGIs in the new section. Here is what it says, "the required capacity...shall be determined by multiplying the peak drain flow into the interceptor in gallons per minute by a retention time of 30 minutes."

Okay, so which method is approved for determining the peak drain flow into the interceptor?

It doesn't say.

I can outline the options for you though:

Fixture volume
The formula for determining the flow rate from a fixture is as follows: (((LxWxH)/231)*0.75)/1 (1 minute) or (((LxWxH)/231)*0.75)/2 (2 minute).

Calculate the flow rate from each fixture connecting to the interceptor and sum them together and then add the flow rates from any other fixtures, such as dishwashers or woks, etc. This is the maximum flow rate to the interceptor.

Pipe diameter
Using pipe diameter is another method for determining the peak flow rate into an interceptor. Pipe diameters in gravity drainage systems are determined by drainage fixture units (DFU) according to chapter 7 of the code. Maximum DFUs are calculated to ensure that the pipe will never be more than 50% full during peak flow periods. Maximum flow rates in horizontal drainage piping is calculated by Manning's Formula with the following results:



The design flow or half pipe flow values should be selected for sizing GGIs since they represent the peak horizontal flow for each pipe diameter.

The real fun begins when you actually take the peak flow rate you have selected and multiply it by a 30 minute retention time.

This will raise all kinds of interesting questions that your local plumbing inspector may have to answer:

• When using fixture volume sizing, if the jurisdiction requires a one minute drainage period calculation, how do you account for intermittent use of all of the connected fixtures, since the calculation doesn't account for it?
• Are you allowed to use a two minute drainage period for fixture volume calculations?
• Are you allowed to use a two minute drainage period for pipe diameter calculations?
• What if the jurisdiction mandates 6" diameter drainage piping outside of the building, requiring 6" connections on the interceptor; do you use pipe diameter or fixture volume sizing?

There is another area of the 2015 IPCs new section that bears consideration and that is regarding GGIs with FOG disposal systems.
ASME A112.14.6 does not mandate gravity grease interceptors as the required type of interceptor.  In fact the standard requires separation/retention efficiency in accordance with ASME A112.14.3 which GGIs are not required to be tested and rated to.

The last area of concern in the 2015 IPC is section 1003.3 which states, "Grease Interceptors shall comply with the requirements of sections 1003.3.1 through 1003.3.5, leaving out the new section 1003.3.6.

This oversight leaves the specifier with unclear and vague requirements as stated under 1003.1 and 1003.2 only.  Thus while hydromechanical grease interceptors and automatic grease removal devices have clear requirements spelled out regarding which fixtures are to be routed to them and how to handle food waste disposers and dishwashers, GGIs have no stated requirements.

Hey, even if you get all of that down for your project, regardless how you determine the size of the grease interceptor, how does an owner know that the interceptor is the right one for his facility?

Oh yeah, that's why we developed the Grease Production Sizing Method!

Grease Interceptors; 2009 UPC vs 2006 UPC

In the 2006 Uniform Plumbing Code the term 'Grease Trap' was replaced by a new term 'Hydromechanical Grease Interceptor' which is defined as:  "A plumbing appurtenance or appliance that is installed in a sanitary drainage system to intercept nonpetroleum fats, oil, and greases (FOG) from a wastewater discharge and is identified by flow rate, and separation and retention efficiency.  The design incorporates air entrainment, hydromechanical separation, interior baffling, and / or barriers in combination or separately..."  Hydromechanical Grease Interceptors are required to control the flow rate entering the device with either an external flow control or a built-in flow control (non-external), either directly connected or indirectly connected to the sewer system.  These devices are allowed a maximum of 720 drainage fixture units (DFU) according to Table 10-2 of the code.

The 2009 Uniform Plumbing Code revised the sizing requirements for Hydromechanical grease interceptors and eliminated the application of Drainage Fixture Units in sizing considerations.  In chapter 10 Table 10-2 was revised to size these devices by either using Gravity Flow Rates or Fixture Capacity.

2009 Uniform Plumbing Code, Table 10-2

There is some confusion about whether to use the One-Minute Drainage Period or the Two-Minute Drainage Period.  Lets clear that up.

Plumbing Engineers (specifiers) rely on the American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE) for instruction and guidance on industry best practices for sizing plumbing piping systems.  In the Plumbing Engineering Design Handbook 2, chapter 1 Sanitary Drainage Systems, ASPE instructs engineers to size their gravity flow waste piping systems at half-full capacity to minimize the generation of pneumatic pressure fluctuations, to prevent self-siphonage of traps, and reduce noise, while providing enough flow to rapidly carry away the soiled water without clogging the pipes or leaving solids in the pipes.

Bearing in mind the instruction to engineers to design their gravity flow sanitary drainage systems at half-full capacity, we can easily see that the Two-Minute Drainage Period more closely reflects the actual flow rates the piping system was designed to deliver.  Thus when sizing an interceptor using the pipe size exiting the building you should use the Two-Minute Drainage Period.

When using Fixture Capacity the same rule applies.  Notice the total load in gallons in the example given is 49.9 gpm.  The One-Minute Drainage time assumes that the tail piece at the bottom of each compartment will allow the full contents of the sink to empty in one minute.  In reality this is not the case.  Most of the multi-compartment sinks either use a 1-1/2" or 2" tail piece.  The maximum flow rate of a 2" tail piece is 24 gpm.  Therefore you should use the Two-Minute Drainage Period which more closely reflects the actual flow rate coming from the fixture.

Whether it takes the sinks a minute or two to drain into the sanitary system makes little difference in the normal operation of a commercial kitchen.  The more important issue to consider when sizing grease interceptors is how much grease they should be expected to separate and store.  The plumbing code makes no allowance for determining this "FOG loading" and as such has done a poor job of correctly sizing grease interceptors.  For information on grease production sizing please see Schier Product's website at www.schierproducts.com.