Q&As TAKEN FROM THE ONLINE EDITIONS OF THE UPC AND UMC
SUBJECT: Hot and Cold Water Required
SECTION: 601.2.1 (2024 UPC)
Question:
1. Does 601.2.1 allow for cold water only plumbing for hand washing stations that are located e.g. in a structure (i.e. lunch pavilion) that is separate from a building on site, where providing HW is difficultor infeasible?
2. Our design guidelines currently stipulate cold water only plumbing for general and kindergarten classroom sinks where we also mount paper towel holders and hand soap dispensers, does 601.2.1 mean we must also provide tempered water?
Answer:
1. No, per 601.2.1 Hot and Cold Water Required. In occupancies where plumbing fixtures are installed for private use, hot water shall be required for bathing, washing, laundry, cooking purposes, dishwashing, or maintenance. In occupancies where plumbing fixtures are installed for public use, hot water shall be required for bathing and washing purposes.
2. Unless this is an amendment by the AHJ, tempered water would be required per 601.2.1
SUBJECT: Interior Installations for Exhaust Duct Systems
SECTION: 510.7 (2024 UMC)
Question:
In a multi-story high-rise building, is the grease duct required to be firewrappedif the grease duct does notpenetrate the floor or a fire-rated barrier?
Comment: We have a question from a design group, regarding the following code segment:“The enclosure shall be sealed around the duct at the point of penetration of the first fire-rated barrier after the hood, to maintain the fire resistance rating of the enclosure. The enclosure shall be vented to the exterior of the building through weather protected openings. [NFPA 96:7.7.1.2 – 7.7.1.4]” —In this scenario the grease duct and PCU are on the 1st floor mezzanine and do not penetrate any fire-rated barriers and will terminate to the side exterior of the building of the 1st floor. They want to return back to remove the fire wrap from the grease duct so, they don’t have to install an enclosure for the PCU.
Answer:
Yes, the grease duct is required to be fire-wrapped. The existing grease duct is located in an “enclosed space” in a multistory building. Section 510.7 of the 2021 Uniform Mechanical Code specifies that in buildings more than one story in height, or in one-story buildings where the roof or ceiling assembly is required to have a fire resistance rating, the ducts must be enclosed in a continuous enclosure. These are two separate conditions within one section and are mutually exclusive of the other.
Section 510.7.1 of the 2021 UMC states that “buildings less than four stories in height shall have an enclosure with a fire resistance rating of not less than 1 hour.” Additionally, section 510.7.2 states that “buildings four stories or more in height shall have an enclosure with a fire resistance rating of not less than 2 hours.” There are no qualifiers to these code provisions for assembly ratings or grease duct routing.
Grease is highly flammable and the duct conveying it should always be treated conservatively. The consequences are too high not to construct grease duct with safety first and foremost.
The requirement of the enclosure for the PCU would not be decided based on the requirement of the grease duct. Section 507.4 states where enclosures are not required; the applicant is incorrect and not considering that the initial installation required the duct to be within an enclosure in conformance with section 507.4.5 – removing the fire wrap would ignore the requirement that the grease duct would be to be enclosed as originally approved by the AHJ.
Additionally, section 512.3 of the 2021 UMC regulates other equipment including pollution control units. Section 512.3.2 states ‘Downgrading other parts of the exhaust system due to the installation of approved devices, whether listed or not, shall not be allowed.’
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Last modified: April 15, 2026