Section 712.1/Sewage Ejectors and Pumps
IPC 712 covers sewage ejector requirements for fixtures below the building sewer elevation.
When plumbing fixtures are located below the elevation of the building sewer or public sewer, a sewage ejector or sewage pump must be provided to lift the waste to the gravity sewer. Sewage ejectors must discharge into an approved gravity drainage system. The ejector basin must be sealed and vented. The basin must be sized to handle the connected fixture load with adequate storage capacity. A check valve and gate valve must be installed on the discharge pipe. Duplex (two-pump) systems are required for buildings with specific occupancies or fixture counts.
Why this section exists
Basements, lower levels, and areas below the public sewer elevation cannot drain by gravity. Without an ejector pump, waste accumulates and backs up into the fixtures. The sealed and vented basin prevents sewer gases from entering the building. The check valve prevents backflow from the gravity system into the basin when the pump cycles off. Duplex systems provide redundancy in case one pump fails.
What plan reviewers look for
Plan reviewers check the plumbing drawings for ejector pumps wherever fixtures are shown below the sewer elevation. They verify the basin size, pump capacity, vent connection, check valve, and gate valve on the discharge piping. They check whether a duplex system is required based on the number and type of fixtures served. They also verify that the discharge connects to the gravity system above the flood level rim of the highest fixture served.
Common violations
Related IPC requirements
Section 702 covers drainage system sizing for the gravity system the ejector discharges into. Section 903 covers the vent system that must serve the ejector basin. Section 712.3 covers sewage pump requirements (for clear water or gray water only). Section 712.2 covers the specific ejector basin requirements.