Water system testing question

path1 wrote:
OK, thanks folks...I was wondering if there was any newer changes to NFPA chapter 1192 para 7.7.2.1. because I'm working out of a 2003 edition. Don't know if newer edition has been approved yet? They are always years behind. Older version.

"The test shall be preformed by subjecting the pressure water piping system to either air or water pressure for 10 min without leakage or loss of pressure".


"The entire piping system shall be filled with water and pressure test with air or water at 80 psi to 100 psi. The entire piping system shall include the hot water storage tank and the pressurized potable water storage tank". (pressurized potable tank is not the fresh water tank).

Acceptance test pressures are always higher than regular test pressure which is higher than normal operating pressure. 50 PSI is what your rig should be getting from the faucet.

OK, thanks folks...I was wondering if there was any newer changes to NFPA chapter 1192 para 7.7.2.1. because I'm working out of a 2003 edition. Don't know if newer edition has been approved yet? They are always years behind. Older version.

"The test shall be preformed by subjecting the pressure water piping system to either air or water pressure for 10 min without leakage or loss of pressure".


"The entire piping system shall be filled with water and pressure test with air or water at 80 psi to 100 psi. The entire piping system shall include the hot water storage tank and the pressurized potable water storage tank". (pressurized potable tank is not the fresh water tank).

I quit running on city water hook up a few years ago. I run only on my fresh water tank and on-board pump. Once at a KOA the manager told me to be sure to use a regulator because the water pressure at the campground was around 70 psi. He said for most campers that is too much and would blow the lines out. I had only a simply regulator that screws on the end of a garden hose so decided not to take any chances on blowing out my lines. So I filled the fresh water tank and pumped from it. And.... I've been doing that ever since. As long as the on-board water pump pressure does not cause any leaks, I think that about the expected pressure. Any more and you're taking a risk.

I would air test to about 150-percent of the pressure rating of the pipe for a couple of hours.

What is the goal of this testing? For a used RV, I'd just check it with pressure from the built-in pump. If it doesn't leak, it's good enough for me.

If I were selling an RV, and the plumbing worked just fine until a perspective buyer came along and pressurized it to 100 psi--well in excess of what it should reasonably be exposed to in operation--and that caused it to start leaking, I would be none too happy and certainly not very willing to deduct the cost of repair from the selling price as though it were a defect in the unit.

SoundGuy wrote:

path1 wrote:
Are 80-100 psi still good numbers?

Good numbers for what? :h

Good for a campsite tap but way too high for your trailer ... many water pressure regulators are preset for 45 p.s.i. for good reason. ;)

"Good numbers for what"?

"Good numbers" of what the reg's say that OEM's test to.


(Neighbors Dad became a widower last year. And now has his eye on a used 5th wheel to see the country. He wants to make sure RV is up to OEM spec's).

I wouldn't want anything near that!

I like 30 or 40 PSI

Just enough to get a decent shower

Jack L

downtheroad wrote:
Is this the pressure you are running into your camper???
PEX is rated to handle it, BUT...for my money I think it's too high (for fittings, etc) and risky.

I run ours at about 50 psi and it supplies excellent pressure at the faucets.

Yes, I understand those are high numbers. We run ours at 35 psi. Anything below 35 the shower doesn't give good pressure.

Wondering if 80-100 are still what OEM's test to.

path1 wrote:
Are 80-100 psi still good numbers?

Good numbers for what? :h

Good for a campsite tap but way too high for your trailer ... many water pressure regulators are preset for 45 p.s.i. for good reason. ;)

Is this the pressure you are running into your camper???
PEX is rated to handle it, BUT...for my money I think it's too high (for fittings, etc) and risky.

I run ours somewhere between 40-50 psi and it supplies excellent pressure at the faucets.