Fixtures, Fixture Fittings, and Water Heaters
Fixtures
Fixtures must be listed, of nonabsorbent cleanable material, and set level and secure. Water closets need the centerline at least 15 inches from a side wall or partition and 15 inches from an adjacent fixture, with accessible fixtures following the adopted accessibility standard clear-floor-space rules. Each fixture gets a supply stop, a trap, and a connection that does not stress the pipe. Floor drains and food-service fixtures need the air gaps or backflow protection covered under potable water protection.
Fixture fittings
Shower and tub-shower valves must be pressure-balancing or thermostatic and must limit delivered temperature to 120 degrees F. Faucets and flush valves must be lead-free, a weighted average of 0.25 percent lead or less in wetted surfaces. Vacuum breakers are required on hose bibbs and on flushometer valves where backflow is possible.
Water heaters
- A temperature and pressure relief valve is required, mounted within the top 6 inches of the tank, with a full-size discharge pipe.
- Discharge terminates no more than 6 inches above the floor, or outside above grade, flowing by gravity, with no valve, no threads at the end, and no trap.
- A drain pan with a drain is required where leakage would cause damage.
- Closed systems need thermal expansion control.
- In seismic areas, two straps: one on the upper third and one on the lower third of the tank.
Worked example
A tech pipes a relief valve to a floor drain with a half-inch reduction and a threaded cap. Three defects: the pipe must be full size, must not be reduced, and must not be capped or threaded, since the cap defeats the relief function.
Traps that cost marks
Relief discharge routed with an upward run, a missing expansion tank on a check-valve service, and shower valves with no scald limit.