January 8, 2026
From the 2024 UPC Illustrated Training Manual, Chapter 13, HEALTH CARE FACILITIES AND MEDICAL GAS AND MEDICAL VACUUM SYSTEMS
1314.4 Accessibility. Zone valves shall be installed in valve boxes with removable covers large enough to allow manual operation of valves.
Zone valves for use in certain areas, such as psychiatric or pediatric areas, shall be permitted to be secured with the approval of the Authority Having Jurisdiction to prevent inappropriate access. [NFPA 99:5.1.4.1.4]
Zone valves shall be arranged so that shutting off the supply of medical gas to one zone will not affect the supply of medical gas to the rest of the system. All station outlets and inlets shall be supplied through zone valves located on the same story. Zone valves cannot be located within the same room as outlets and inlets, and should be placed so that a wall provides separation. Zone valves shall be installed where they are visible and accessible at all times and not installed in closed or locked rooms. Be careful not to install zone valves behind normally open or normally closed doors or otherwise hidden from plain view.
From the 2024 UMC Illustrated Training Manual, Chapter 10, BOILERS AND PRESSURE VESSELS
1001.4 Drainage. For heating or hot-water-supply boiler applications, the boiler room shall be equipped with a floor drain or other approved means for disposing of the accumulation of liquid wastes incident to cleaning, recharging, and routine maintenance. No steam pipe shall be directly connected to a part of a plumbing or drainage system, nor shall a water having a temperature above 140°F (60°C) be discharged under pressure directly into a part of a drainage system. Pipes from boilers shall discharge by means of indirect waste piping as determined by the Authority Having Jurisdiction or the boiler manufacturer’s instructions.
The floor drain should be sized large enough and close enough to handle the temperature and pressure-relief valve at full flow.
The following should be taken into account when considering drainage size and location:
- Is there a slipping or injury hazard when the water drains from the relief pipe to the floor drain?
- What happens if the floor drain is blocked and flooding begins?
- How is the boiler condensate going to be handled? Is the piping able to handle the acid nature of the condensate? Will it be diluted or neutralized in some way?
The key phrase regarding the restriction of direct piping to the plumbing system for water above 140°F (60°C) is “under pressure.” This allows for piping to a floor drain, provided it is exposed to the atmosphere prior to entry into the plumbing system.
(This is not to be considered the official position of IAPMO, nor is it an official interpretation of the Codes.)
IAPMO
IAPMO develops and publishes the Uniform Plumbing Code®,the most widely recognized code of practice used by the plumbing industry worldwide; Uniform Mechanical Code®; Uniform Swimming Pool, Spa and Hot Tub Code®; and Uniform Solar Energy, Hydronics and Geothermal Code™ — the only plumbing, mechanical, solar energy and swimming pool codes designated by ANSI as American National Standards — and the Water Efficiency Standard (WE-Stand)™. IAPMO works with government, contractors, labor force, and manufacturers to produce product standards, technical manuals, personnel certification/educational programs and additional resources in order to meet the ever-evolving demands of the industry in protecting public health and safety.
Last modified: January 8, 2026