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l . l DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING A N D URBAN D .E VELOPMENT PEACHTREE SEVENTH BUILDING, ATLANTA , GEORG IA 30323 REGION Ill September 5, 1969 IN REPLY R E FER TO: 3CW Mr. Dan E. Sweat, Jr. Chief Administrative Officer City of Atlanta City Hall Atlanta, Georgia 30303 •, : Dear Mr. Sweat: .l ..... This will acknowledge ' your letter da t ed August 22, 1969, addressed to Mr. Edward H. Baxter, Regional Administrator, concerning the interpretation of Section 114 of the City of Atlanta's Plumbing Code, which reads as follows: Sec. 114. Fixture connections be t ween drainage pipes and water clos ets, Floor- outlet service sinks, pedestal urinals, and earthenware trap standards sha ll be made by means of brass, hardlead _or iron flanges, calked, soldered or screwed to the drainage pipe. The connection shall be bolted, with an approved gasket or washer or setting compound between the earthenware and the conne ction. The floor flange shall be set on approved firm ba s e . The use of comme rcia l putty or plaster is prohibited. ' ·1 I . I •. ...,. •..j .l lI Your letter outlines two opposing interpretations of this Section, both of which are cente r ed around the provision that "the floor flange shall be set on an a pproved firm base." The first interpretat i on is that the choice of materials is restricted to a · slab on gr ade, which, according to t his interpretation, is the only slab that const itutes " an a pproved firm base" insofar as the us e of brass o r iron flanges is concerned. The second interpretation is that t he intent of the Section is to permit the . choice of materials ("bras s, hard- l ead or iron flanges, c a l ked, soldered, or screwed to the d rainage pipe") on slab fl oors above grade. As interpreted by Regional Office codes specialists, the purpose of the Section is to permit the choice of all allowable mat erials on all floors constructed in accordance with building code standards. They point out that any floor of a building constructed in accordance with building code standards s hould constitute "an approved £inn bas e" and thus, according to the Section as now written, the choice of all allowable materials should apply to any floor so constructed. - ....__,....... --- ·.,~ 0 • ,· �.' .-..:;,• -2 In our judgment, tne intent, purpose, and correct interpretation of this Section of Atlanta 1 s Plumbing Code can be clarified by amending the code to contain a definition of the term 11 an approved firm base. 11 A suggested de finition is 11 any base constructed in accordance with building code specifications." ..-,·. ,, The Section is identical to Section 606.1 of the 1967 Edition of the Southern Standard Plumbing Code. It is also identical with Section P-503.0 of the 1968 Edition of the BOCA Basic Plumbing Code with one exception. The BOCA Plumbing Code specified a "structura lly firm base 11 instead of 11 an approved firm base. 11 The Department encourages the adoption of codes which contain s tandards comparable to those contained in nationally recognized model st andard codes such as the Southern St andard and the BOCA codes. Thus Section 114 of the Atlanta Plumbing Code me e ts pres ent Depart me ntal st anda rds as to content and intent if the section is interpreted to permit the choice of allowable materials on all floors construct ed to building code specifications. Such an int e rpretation would also make this Section consist ent with a policy of pe rmitting the construction of housing at the lowest possible cost without lowering reasonabl e standards of safety and durability • 0 . ~ .· . We trust tha t our comments on this matt e r will be of some benefit in arriving at an interpretation that will be satisfactory to all parties concerned. Sincerely yours, . ;rW ~ -~~{Z,__ ~ A . Frederick Smith Assist ant Regional Administrator Program Coordination & Services Office tJ ·,1 -·. ,4j cc: Mayor Ivan Allen, Jr • .·.., -I· ..: ..

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