Florida Administrative Code › 62 - DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION › 62 - Departmental › Chapter 62-6 - STANDARDS FOR ONSITE SEWAGE TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL SYSTEMS › Part I - General Provisions except those specific to Parts II and IV › Section 62-6.013 - Construction Materials and Standards for Tanks

Current through Reg. 50, No. 138; July 16, 2024
(1) Onsite sewage tank design. The following
				  requirements must apply to all onsite sewage tanks manufactured for use in
				  Florida unless specifically exempted by other provisions of these rules:
(a) Onsite sewage tanks include: septic
				  tanks, graywater tanks, laundry tanks, grease interceptors, pump tanks, aerobic
				  treatment unit tanks, tanks containing treatment media and stationary holding
				  tanks not described in paragraph
				   62-6.0101(7)(p),
				  F.A.C. Tanks must be constructed of concrete, fiberglass or
				  polyethylene.
(b) Design and
				  testing of concrete treatment tanks:
1.
				  Structural design of tanks must be by calculation or by performance.
2. Structural design must be verified by
				  actual vacuum load or hydrostatic test in accordance with the Department's
				  policy for Test Requirements for Structural Proofing, February 28, 2022, herein
				  adopted and incorporated by reference at
http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-14367
.
				  Copies of this policy are available as provided in subsection (12) below. The
				  vacuum test must be followed by a flow and water tightness test.
3. Tanks must be watertight as defined in
				  ASTM C1227-20, Standard Specification for Precast Concrete Septic Tanks,
				  paragraph 9.2., (2020) herein adopted and incorporated by reference. This
				  standard has been deemed copyright protected and is available from the
				  publisher at ASTM International, P.O. Box C700 West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania
				  19428-2959, or at publisher's website at
www.astm.org
/, and is available for
				  inspection as provided in subsection (12) below. ASTM C1227-20, paragraph
				  9.2.2, must be modified to read as follows: Water tightness testing - Fill the
				  tank with water to the invert of the outlet and let stand for 24 hours. Refill
				  the tank. The tank is approved as water tight if the water level is held for
				  one hour.
4. Manufacturers may use
				  calculations provided by the design engineer in lieu of proof testing for tanks
				  using reinforcement bars for structural strength and having a wall thickness of
				  5 inches or greater. Design by calculation must be completed using the Strength
				  Design Method outlined in Chapters 4, 5 and 6 of the American Concrete
				  Institute (ACI) publication ACI 318-19, Building Code Requirements for
				  Structural Concrete and Commentary (2019), herein adopted and incorporated by
				  reference. This document has been deemed copyright protected and is available
				  from the publisher at American Concrete Institute, 38800 Country Club Drive,
				  Farmington Hills, MI 48331-3439, or at publisher's website at
www.concrete.org/
, and is available for
				  inspection as provided in subsection (12) below. For the design strength a
				  strength reduction factor will be applied per ACI 318-19 Chapter
				  21.
(c) Design and
				  testing of fiberglass and polyethylene tanks:
1. Vacuum testing must be conducted in
				  accordance with the Department's policy for Test Requirements for Structural
				  Proofing, February 28, 2022, adopted and incorporated by reference in
				  subparagraph  62-6.013(1)(b) 
				  2., F.A.C. Copies of this policy are available as provided in subsection (12),
				  below and at
http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-14367
.
				  The vacuum test will be followed by a water-tightness test.
2. Vacuum testing must demonstrate a
				  distortion of volume of no more than 1% at a safety factor of 1.0 and 2% at a
				  safety value of 1.4 followed by passing a water-tightness test to be considered
				  satisfactory. To determine the vacuum at a 1.0 safety factor, divide the
				  required total vacuum values by 1.4. There must be no distortion of the access
				  hatch perimeters at the full vacuum load and the access hatch must be able to
				  be removed and reinstalled at the conclusion of the test.
3. Flow and water-tightness testing must be
				  performed as follows: Fill the tank with water to the invert of the outlet. The
				  tank is approved as water tight if the water level is held for one
				  hour.
(d) Testing must be
				  performed by or witnessed by an engineer licensed in the state of Florida, or
				  by an employee of the Department that has been authorized to perform or witness
				  tank testing. Test results must be certified by the witnessing engineer or
				  Department employee.
(e) Tank lids
				  for non-traffic residential installations must be designed for a dead load of
				  12'' inch earth cover with a dry soil density of 100 pounds per cubic foot or a
				  live load of two concentrated loads of 1, 750 pounds at a 60'' inch spacing or
				  a concentrated load of 1, 750 pounds located at the center of the lid,
				  whichever provides the greater shear and moment stresses to the lid. The
				  required strength must be per ACI 318-19, Chapter 5, incorporated by reference
				  in subparagraph  62-6.013(1)(b) 
				  4., F.A.C., effective 06-21-2022. Structural integrity proof test or
				  calculations for the 12 inch overburden earth load and the 1750 pound
				  concentrated loading must be provided. Designs sealed by an engineer licensed
				  in the state of Florida will be acceptable for design proof of tank lid
				  designs.
(f) Tanks and tank lids
				  for traffic installations must be designed, signed and sealed by an engineer
				  licensed in the state of Florida. Whenever vehicular traffic is anticipated to
				  cross over the tank, traffic lids must be installed with manhole covers to
				  finished grade. Traffic tanks and lids must be designed in accordance with ASTM
				  C 890-21, Standard Practice for Minimum Structural Design Loading for
				  Monolithic or Sectional Precast Concrete Water and Wastewater Structures
				  (2021), herein adopted and incorporated by reference, for the appropriate
				  loading. This standard has been deemed copyright protected and is available
				  from the publisher at ASTM International, P.O. Box C700 West Conshohocken,
				  Pennsylvania 19428-2959, or at publisher's website at
www.astm.org
, and is available for inspection as
				  provided in subsection (12) below. Application of paragraph 5.2.4 of ASTM C
				  890-21, will be at the discretion of the design engineer.