How high can they go?

On my inspection yesterday the water lines on the hot water tank went approximately 12 feet vertically from the top of the tank without being secured to anything, even at that point they were not connected to anything they had a 90 degree elbow there and the horizontal pipe went about six feet before any kind of attachment.

Is there a requirement on how long vertically a copper pipe can run without being secured to something?

Yes… (UPC 2003)
Copper…
Vert.- 10 ft
Horiz.- Up to 1/2" pipe… 6 ft.

  • Over 1/2" pipe… 10 ft.

Copper pipe: 12’ horizontally. 10’ vertically.

IRC TABLE P2605.1

Thanks, fellas