Building / House Traps - IPC / Local Code Conflicts

[ME27272727]

New York State Plumbing Code (2015 IPC) prohibits building (house) traps in chapter 10 of the IPC, 1002.6. However, I've come across certain local building departments that require them, I.E. White Plains, NY. The way I understand code is that the state legislates, and the localities enforce. I understand some localities have supplemental code requirements, but when the supplement clearly conflicts with state code, who is the authority? Unlike other local code supplements which add requirements that are not mentioned in the state code, there is clear conflict with regards to house traps; the state code goes out of it way to mention them as being prohibited, rather than just not mentioning them at all.

 

[dbill74]

That is going to be a question for the AHJ. The superseding code varies by state.

Generally speaking, it is the more "stringent".

 

[ME27272727]

I did more digging on this one. Local governments in NY have to apply to the NY state code council for ordinances more restrictive than the state code for approval. The White Plains local house trap requirement was an amendment to the NY 1986 Building Code. That old NY state code didn't mention house traps, so the more stringent would be the local code that requires it. Since then, NY has adopted the 2015 IPC, which PROHIBITS house traps. So this is where I'm having trouble gauging which is more restrictive. One code outright prohibits house traps, the other requires it. I have since reached out to both state and the local AHJ for comment.