To protect the citizens of Arkansas by amending chapters 3 and 12 of the Arkansas State Plumbing Code and establish standards for D.W.V. venting systems using air admittance valves that conform to the requirements of the American Society of Sanitary Engineers (A.S.S.E.) performance standards ANSI/ASSE 1051 and 1050.

For the purposes of these Regulations, the following words and phrases when used herein shall be construed as follows:

1. Access

That which enables a fixture, appliance equipment, fitting, or pipe to be reached by ready access or by a means that first requires the removal or movement of panel, door or similar obstruction.

2. Adapter Fitting

An approved connecting device that suitably and properly joins or adjusts pipes and fittings that do not otherwise fit together.

3. Air Admittance Valve

One way valve designed to allow air to enter the plumbing system when negative pressures develop in the piping system. The device shall close by gravity and seal the vent terminal at zero differential pressure (no flow conditions) and under positive internal pressures. The purpose of an air admittance valve is to provide a method of allowing air to enter the plumbing drainage system without the use of a vent extended to open air and to prevent sewer gases from escaping into a building.  

4. Approved

Acceptable to the provisions of this code or the authority having jurisdiction.

5. Authority Having Jurisdiction

The administrative authority or authority having jurisdiction is the State of Arkansas, county or city plumbing inspection department that administers or enforces the provisions of Act 200 of 1951, as adopted or amended.

6. Drainage System

A drainage system (drainage piping) includes all the piping within public or private premises which conveys sewage, rain water or other liquid wastes to a legal point of disposal, but does not include the mains of a public sewer system or a private or public sewage-treatment or disposal plant.

7. D.W.V.

Acronym for drainage, waste and vent system.

8. Relief Vent

A relief vent is a vent the primary function of which is to provide circulation of air between drainage and vent systems.

9. Vent System

1. The air admittance valves shall be made of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic. A factory installed screening shall protect the moving and sealing components against the entrance of vermin, foreign objects and materials from inside and outside.
2. Valve components shall be constructed entirely of new and unused parts and materials.
3. Valve components and materials shall have been evaluated and found suitable for their intended usage by a testing agency recognized by the authority having jurisdiction.
4. When requested, the manufacturer of the air admittance valve shall furnish evidence acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction concerning the composition of the materials used in all components of the piping system.
5. The construction of parts not specifically covered by this regulation shall be in accordance with reasonable concepts of safety, substantially and durability.
6. Installing and joining of valves shall be done in compliance with the manufacturer’s recommendation and the applicable state/local plumbing codes and regulations.

1. Each valve or packaged unit shall bear a permanent marking of the following:

1. Manufacturer’s name, trademark, or symbol.
2. Code number identifying the compound and date of manufacture.
3. Symbol of the organization making the test for compliance with the regulation.
4. ASSE seal of approval (attached).

1. The manufacturer shall provide complete detailed instructions, including appropriate illustrations, necessary for proper installation and use of the valves. Included in the instructions shall be statements to the effect that:

1. The installation must be in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations and the applicable state/local plumbing codes and regulations.
2. Air admittance valves shall be installed in a vertical position only.
3. Only the components provided or specified by the manufacturer and in accordance with the applicable state/local plumbing codes as part of the piping system are to be used in the installation.
4. Vent systems using air admittance valves shall comply with applicable plumbing codes.

1. Air admittance valves may only be installed in DWV plumbing systems that have been designed by an Arkansas registered professional engineer. Detailed schematics shall be made available to the plumbing inspector at the time inspections are made. No variations from the engineered designed system may be made unless approved by the authority having jurisdiction. Air admittance valves are to be used only on systems conforming to waste and vents requirements of Arkansas State Plumbing Code.
2. The air admittance valve shall not be installed as a vent terminal for any sump vent.
3. The air admittance valve shall not be used to vent a special waste or chemical waste system.
4. The air admittance valve shall not be located in a supply or return plenum.
5. The maximum height of drainage stack being vented by a stack pipe air admittance valve shall be six (6) branch intervals.
6. The air admittance valve shall not be used when the soil stack provides the only ventilation for septic tanks.
7. A minimum of one (1) vent shall extend to the outdoors to the open air for every building drainage system and must be at least three (3) or four (4) inches in size.
8. The air admittance valve shall be rated for the size of the vent to which the valve is connected. Determining the size of the air admittance valve is based on the pipe size required for the vent. The vent pipe size is based on the size required by the Arkansas State Plumbing Code.
9. Cleanouts shall be provided in accordance with the Arkansas State Plumbing Code.
10. Each air admittance valve shall be accessible for service, repair, or replacement.
11. The air admittance valve shall be located to allow adequate air to enter the valve. When located in a wall space or attic space, ventilation openings shall be provided. All air admittance valves installed in an attic areas shall be located a minimum of six (6) inches above any ceiling insulation.
12. The valve shall connect to the drain with a vertical connection to maintain an unblocked opening in the piping system and shall be installed after the DWV testing required by section 14.8. Arkansas State Plumbing Code has been performed.
13. Individual, branch and circuit vents shall be permitted to terminate with a connection to an air admittance valve. The air admittance valve shall only vent fixtures that are on the same floor level and connect to a horizontal branch drain with a maximum of four branch intervals. The horizontal branch drain shall conform to section 11.5. of the Arkansas State Plumbing Code.
14. The horizontal branch drain shall connect to the drainage stack or building drain a maximum of four branch intervals from the top of the stack.
15. The horizontal branch shall be provided with a relief vent that shall connect to a vent stack, stack vent, or extend outdoors to the open air. The relief vent shall connect to the horizontal branch drain between the stack or building drain and the most downstream fixture drain connected to the horizontal branch drain. The relief vent shall be sized in accordance with Section 12.17.3. and 12.17.5 of the Arkansas State Plumbing Code and installed in accordance with Section 12.5 Arkansas State Plumbing Code. The vent shall be permitted to serve as the vent for other fixtures.
16. The air admittance valve shall be located within the maximum developed length permitted for the vent. The air admittance valve shall be installed at least six (6) inches above the flood rim of the fixture served.
17. No vent terminal from a drainage system shall be directly beneath any door, window or other ventilating opening of the building, or an adjacent building, nor shall any such vent terminal be within ten (10) feet horizontally of such an opening unless it is at least two (2) feet above the top of such opening.
18. No air admittance valves shall be installed in attics or any place, unless adequate provisions are made to protect such valves, where necessary, from freezing.

SECTION VIII. SEVERABILITY.

If any provision of these Rules and Regulations, or the application thereof to any person is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or application of these regulations which can give effect without the invalid provisions or applications, and to this end the provisions hereto are declared to be severable.

SECTION IX. REPEAL.

All regulations and parts of regulations in conflict with this regulation are hereby repealed.