DWV rough inspection on a two-story house in Jacksonville.

Jacksonville (Florida Building Code – Plumbing, 8th Ed. / 2021 FBC-P) requires a 10-ft head of water for the DWV water test. FBC-P §712.2.2 (mirroring IPC §712.2.2): “The water test shall be applied to the drainage and vent system… by filling the system with water to a point not less than 10 feet (3048 mm) above the highest fitting connection.”

Key Jacksonville/Florida nuances:

1. Test height: 10 ft above the highest fixture connection (not just the highest floor). On a two-story, that usually means filling from a cleanout or test tee on the roof vent stack.
2. Duration: Hold for 15 minutes minimum (FBC-P §712.2.2).
3. No leaks: Zero leakage at joints, traps, or fixtures.
4. Roof vents: Must be terminated and capped for test; inspector will verify water at roof level.
5. Alternate air test: 5 psi air for 15 min allowed only if water test is impractical (FBC-P §712.3), but most Jacksonville inspectors prefer water.

Bottom line: Same 10-ft head as model IPC. Prep roof access, cap vents, fill to 10 ft above top-floor fixture flood rim, hold 15 min. Call for inspection with water in system.

In Jacksonville, Florida, the plumbing code adopted is the Florida Building Code, Plumbing (FBC-P), which is based on the 2021 International Plumbing Code (IPC) with Florida-specific amendments. For a DWV (Drain, Waste, and Vent) rough-in water test, the inspector expects a head of water of 10 feet (approximately 4.3 psi) as specified in FBC-P Section 312.2 and IPC Section 312.2.

This test requires:

• All openings in the DWV system to be plugged or capped except the highest opening.
• The system filled with water to a point not less than 10 feet above the lowest point in the system.
• The water level maintained for 15 minutes without leakage.

Is it the same as the model IPC? Yes — the FBC-P adopts the IPC’s 10-foot head requirement verbatim for DWV water tests. Florida has not amended this section. Therefore, the inspector in Jacksonville will expect the same 10-foot head of water as the model IPC.

Note: This applies to rough-in testing. Final testing may involve air or water tests per Section 312.3, but rough-in specifically uses the 10-foot water head. Always verify local jurisdictional amendments, though none exist for this provision in Duval County or Jacksonville as of the 2021 FBC-P adoption.

If the system includes fixtures above the second floor (e.g., a third floor or attic), the 10-foot head is still measured from the lowest point (typically the building drain) to the test water level, not the fixture height. Ensure test plugs are rated for the pressure and that no traps are subjected to excessive vacuum or pressure during the test.

For complex systems or if unsure, consult a licensed Florida plumbing contractor — but for standard two-story DWV rough-in, 10 feet of head is the code-compliant expectation.