248 Mass. Reg. 10.13

Current through Register 1523, June 7, 2024

Section 10.13 - Piping and Treatment of Special Wastes

(1)General.

(a) In no case shall special wastes discharge into the plumbing system without being thoroughly neutralized or treated by passing through a properly constructed and acceptable diluting or neutralizing device.

(b) Only special wastes shall be discharged into neutralization systems. Exception: Hand washing sinks and floor drains within a laboratory as designed by a Massachusetts professional engineer.

(c) The required neutralizing device shall be automatically provided with sufficient intake of neutralizing medium to make its contents non-injurious before being discharged into the drainage system. The neutralizing device shall have an accessible cover for maintenance.

(d) Special waste piping and treatment systems shall be designed by a Massachusetts professional engineer with reference to 314 CMR 12.00: Operation and Maintenance and Pretreatment Standards for Wastewater Treatment Works and Indirect Dischargers, 310 CMR 30.00: Hazardous Waste, 314 CMR 7.00: Sewer System Extension and Connection Permit Program, 257 CMR 2.00: Certification of Operators of Wastewater Treatment Facilities and 105 CMR 480.00: Minimum Requirements for the Management of Medical or Biological Waste (State Sanitary Code Chapter VIII) which contain others requirements applicable to wastewater discharges. No provision of 248 CMR 10.13 is intended to modify or affect the regulation of applicable wastes pursuant to the above regulations.

1. Plans stamped by a Massachusetts professional engineer with a list of special waste material to be discharged into the system shall be submitted to the local inspector prior to a plumbing permit being issued.

2. The design shall include a pH monitoring system with an audio/visual alarm. The installation, including pipe sizing, dimension, and other aspects shall meet the requirements for proper functioning, safety, and 248 CMR 10.00. See 10:13: Example 3.

3. Once the installation is complete but prior to final inspection, the installer must provide the plumbing inspector with written certification by the designing Massachusetts professional engineer stating the installation complies with the stamped drawings and specifications. The Inspector shall not be responsible for approving or inspecting design specifications, but must ensure the installation adheres to the provisions of 248 CMR 10.00.

4. All special waste piping shall be labeled in the following manner:

a. At a minimum of every ten feet;

b. At all changes of direction;

c. On each side of a penetration through a partition, wall, ceiling, or roof;

d. The labels shall be yellow with black lettering that:

i. indicate "Special Waste"; and

ii. the letters shall be sized equal to a minimum, the pipe diameter. However, for piping with a diameter exceeding two inches, said lettering does not need to be larger than two inches.

(e) Treatment and/or disposal of special waste shall be conducted in conformance with 310 CMR 30.00: Hazardous Waste (DEP) or other authorities if applicable.

(2)Materials.

(a)Primary. Materials used for primary ping systems shall include, but not limited to:

1. High silicon (14.5% cast iron);

2. Polypropylene;

3. Polyethylene;

4. Glass;

5. Chemical stoneware;

6. Stainless Steel Type #316-18-8;

7. Chemical resistant monolith epoxy resins.

(b)Secondary Containment. Materials for secondary piping systems shall include but not be limited to;

1. Poly-Vinyl Chloride (PVC);

2. All materials allowed for primary piping.

(3)Design and Installation Special Waste Systems.

(a) Special waste systems shall be designed to adjust the pH of waste to a level of between six and nine.

(b) Discharge from special waste treatment systems may connect to either the building sanitary drain or building sanitary sewer but in no case less than ten feet from the neutralization system.

(c) Venting systems for special wastes shall be piped independent of the building sanitary venting system.

(d) Pumps discharging special waste shall be designed specifically for a special waste system.

(e) Fume Hoods and enclosed equipment shall be individually trapped and vented.

(f)Battery Waste and Vent Piping. See 10.13: Example 1

1. The main horizontal branch drain shall be one pipe size larger than that required by the fixture units connected to it. Cup sinks shall be figured as one fixture unit.

2. The vent shall be connected to the drain between the last two fixture traps.

3. A relief vent shall be connected to the branch upstream of the first fixture on all, but the highest branch connected to the stack.

4. Additional relief vents are required on battery systems of waste and vent piping when the total number of traps served on any one main drain or branch main drain exceeds six, and each additional relief vent may serve from one to five additional traps.

5. The minimum size relief vent shall be two inches.

6. Any branch from a main battery waste which has a separate trap vent may be considered a relief vent.

7. Every branch waste having a developed length exceeding ten feet shall be individually vented.

8. The vent for a main battery waste shall be at least ½ the diameter of the horizontal branch drain.

9. Floor drains may be connected to the horizontal main battery drain with traps below the floor provided:

a. the minimum size of the branch shall be not less than three-inch.

b. a separate trap vent is not required unless the developed length from the floor drain trap weir to the horizontal main battery drain exceeds 15 feet.

c. Floor drain traps shall be included in determining relief vent requirements.

10. Whenever the main horizontal branch of battery waste piping is below the floor on which the fixtures occur, either a drum trap or a P trap may be used. A cleanout shall be installed in the vertical waste above the floor.

(g) When a secondary containment system for special waste is specified, it must be installed in compliance with 248 CMR 10.13 and tested in compliance with 248 CMR 10.04.

Example 1 - Special Waste Piping System

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(4)Installation of Point-of-use Limestone Chip Tanks.

(a) Product-accepted limestone chip tanks may be used when a full special waste system is not necessary. These tanks function on a flow-through basis and generally involve a vertical cylindrical tank filled with calcium carbonate (more commonly known as limestone). See 10.13: Example 2.

(b) Tank installations shall comply with 248 CMR 10.13(1)(d)1., 2., and 3.

(c) Point-of-Use tanks with a capacity of 15 gallons or larger must be chamber vented.

(d) All tank installations shall include a pH monitoring system with an audio/visual alarm.

(e) A laminated sign shall be stenciled on or in the immediate area of each chip tank in letters one inch high. This sign shall state the following:

IMPORTANT

"This tank must be inspected on a regular basis and the neutralizing media replenished when necessary.

Failure to do so may result in serious damage to the building drainage system."

10.13: Example 2 - Chip Tank

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(5)Industrial Wastewater. Industrial wastewater treatment systems shall be designed by a Massachusetts professional engineer and plans and specifications shall be submitted to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) or other authorities as required.