Building Official Determination 19-09: Air Admittance Valves

Building Code Guides (BCGs) and Building Official Determinations (BODs) provide answers about the application of building codes and outline optional alternates. BODs are typically smaller in scope and address simpler questions. Code Guides provide a comprehensive alternative to a complicated set of code requirements.

BOD 19-09: Air Admittance Valves 

QUESTION: Can an Air Admittance Valve (AAV) be installed as an alternate method of venting for new plumbing fixtures in a commercial or industrial building?

RESPONSE:The City of Portland has determined that when an alteration, remodel, addition, or installation of plumbing fixtures occurs in an existing commercial or industrial building, an AAV will be accepted for new plumbing fixtures in lieu of a vent under the following conditions. 

1. An AAV may be installed when installation of a vent is precluded due to:
   1. Structural conditions such as beams, columns, headers, post tension slabs; and/or
   2. Isolated location of the plumbing fixture(s) in relation to an existing vent pipe.
2. The AAV shall be listed by a listing agency such as IAPMO, UL, ICC Evaluation Services Inc., CSA, ASSE, NSF.
3. AAVs shall meet the national consensus standards for materials, NSF 14-2009, and national consensus performance standards ASSE No. 1050-2009 and 1051-2009. 
4. The ASSE standards require testing for endurance, air tightness, pressure containment, and frost closure and are incorporated by reference. 
5. AAVs shall not be installed to serve sumps, chemical wastes, interceptors or in supply or return air plenums.

HISTORY: Implemented April 3, 2019. Revised May 30, 2024.

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