IPC vs UPC vs Local Codes

Building codes will vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. While we generally discourage citing building codes in your sewer inspection report, if you need to, or choose to, make sure you are citing the correct building code. Few things will undermine your credibility more than citing the wrong reference material or building code.

Generally speaking, building codes that relate to sewer systems in the United States are based on the International Plumbing Code or the Uniform Plumbing Code. There is no national building code standard. Each state chooses whether to adopt a code, what code to adopt, and what portions of it to adopt. Many states will adopt the code in its entirety, some will adopt it with amendments. Some local jurisdictions will make further changes or alterations to that code. It is up to you to find out what code is in effect in the area where you are doing the sewer inspection.

The following is a map that shows the adoption of building codes across the United States as of May 2014. The information may have changed since then. This map should not be relied upon for final information. It is here to give you a general idea of the state of Plumbing Code adoption across the US.

Because it is the most widely adopted code standard in the United States we will reference the International Plumbing Code (IPC) in this course. Locally adopted plumbing codes and the Uniform Plumbing Code are very similar to the IPC. Because we are only using the code as a general reference and for illustrative purposes, the exact code that is referenced is not important.