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; whats wrong with the plumbing code?

Jurisdictions across the country rely on the Uniform Plumbing Code to help them solve their local grease related problems.  It is becoming increasingly clear that the "code" is not providing adequate solutions in fats, oils, and grease (FOG) abatement efforts.

So what is the problem?  Simply put when it comes to grease interceptors the plumbing code seems more interested in the design of the interceptor and the amount of waste water that can flow through it or be stored in it than the amount of grease it should be expected to efficiently separate and store.

Vague language for specifiers
From the 2009 Uniform Plumbing Code Chapter 10 Paragraph 1014.1:  “…an approved type of grease interceptor(s)… shall be correctly sized and properly installed in grease waste line(s) leading from sinks and drains, such as floor drains and floor sinks and other fixtures or equipment …where grease is introduced into the drainage or sewage system in quantities that can effect line stoppage or hinder sewage treatment or private sewage disposal.” (2009 UPC 1014.1)

Where grease is introduced

The problem with the way this is phrased is that it assumes that all FSE's handle greasy waste the same.  This is absolutely not correct.  Best Management Practices (BMPs) vary dramatically from one kitchen to another.  I have heard countless stories of kitchen staff dumping pots of soup down hand wash sinks, or staff using the grinder sink (food prep) to rinse dirty dishes before loading them into the dishwasher.  A specifier has no control over which fixtures get greasy waste dumped into them.  If the fixture isn't connected to a grease interceptor you can be sure that someone is going to be using it for greasy waste.

In quantities than can effect line stoppage

How is the specifier to know whether the kitchen staff are using the fixtures that are connected to the interceptor and none of the other fixtures?  The specifier has no way of knowing how much greasy waste is being put into any specific fixture.  

Drainage Fixture Units and Gravity Flow Rates only calculate water loading

What is a Drainage Fixture Unit (DFU)?

“A quantity in terms of which the load-producing effects on the plumbing system of different kinds of plumbing fixtures are expressed on some arbitrarily chosen scale.”  The code assigns a numerical value to fixtures installed in a plumbing system that accounts for the amount of waste water the fixture is likely to produce.

The problem with using this method for sizing interceptors is that it doesn't tell us anything about how much grease we can expect from those given fixtures.  This has led to thousands of grease traps to be installed under multi-compartment sinks that are too small in capacity and not being maintained often enough.  More importantly a lot of the grease being produced by the food service establishment is not being routed through the interceptor at all as kitchen staff use fixtures and drains that are not connected to the interceptor to dump greasy waste.

NO consideration given to FOG loading in sizing protocols

The primary function of any grease interceptor is to efficiently separate and store fats, oils, and grease (FOG).  It makes sense that you should size a device to accommodate its primary function.  Unfortunately the plumbing code does not do that.  There are some jurisdictions that have created their own sizing method that attempts to do this because they are frustrated with the lack of effective sizing in the plumbing code.

There is a better way
Schier recommends that you connect as many of the fixtures in the kitchen as possible to the grease interceptor.  This guarantees that kitchen staff will not be circumventing the grease interceptor by using unconnected fixtures for greasy waste.  Schier also recommends using a FOG production sizing method in conjunction with the plumbing code as a two-step process. See the website at www.schierproducts.com.