Yea okay, a bit tricky. First “approved” as defined by VCC Chapter 2 is “acceptable to the building official” (sure, the def was taken out of the 2015 VCC by mistake, it should be coming back in the 2018). Every jurisdiction in Virginia will have a building official, so some BO’s will approve a method whereas others will not. They have that authority. Second, the requirements referenced by 3007.3 and 3008.3 are basically applicable to high-rise buildings only (see 403.6 and 3008.1, 120′ and 420′ respectively). Many BO’s will never have to be concerned with this section. Those that do will review any proposed methods that can produce compliance with these sections. If a proposal was to use a trench drain to satisfy this requirement, other details would have to be provided (and approved) such as connection location (sanitary/storm), trap/no trap, trap primer, ADA considerations, waste receptor or emergency floor drain. Any one of these factors inaccurately designed can produce a denial from the BO ……. or an approval.
Not quite what you’re looking for Wesley, but because there can be many alternate methods that could satisfy this requirement, we, as building officials, must remain neutral to these possibilities. If you have an opportunity to introduce this topic again on a specific project in my jurisdiction, I would be happy to further entertain your proposed use of a trench drain to satisfy these requirements.