Saturday, October 31, 2026
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The Plumbing Brief
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The Plumbing Brief

Codes

Plumbing codes and standards explained: IPC and UPC requirements, backflow, venting, water heaters, and permits, with the code sections cited.

A stainless steel commercial three-compartment sink with drainboards on both sides in a clean restaurant back kitchen, a
Codes

3 Compartment Sink Requirements: Sizes, Drains and Health Code

3 compartment sink rules from the FDA Food Code: bowl size, 110°F wash water, sanitizer ppm, air gap…
A plain gray PVC plumbing vent pipe with a rubber roof flashing boot rising through asphalt shingles on a pitched roof,
Codes

Plumbing Vent Stack: What It Does, Sizes and Code Rules

Plumbing vent stack rules from the 2021 IPC: 6 inches above the roof, 10 feet from windows, trap-to-vent…
A plumber's torpedo level resting on a long run of white PVC drain pipe hung from basement floor joists with metal hange
Codes

Drain Pipe Slope: Code Minimums by Pipe Size (With Chart)

Drain pipe slope minimums from IPC Table 704.1 and IRC P3005.3: 1/4, 1/8 and 1/16 in per ft,…
A laundry room wall with the drywall removed showing a white PVC standpipe rising from a P-trap between wood studs, a gr
Codes

Washing Machine Standpipe Height: Code Minimums and Maximums

Washing machine standpipe height by code: 18 to 42 in above the trap weir (IPC, IRC), a 2…
A compact modern bathroom seen from the doorway, a white toilet centered between a vanity and a tiled wall with even spa
Codes

Toilet Clearance Requirements: Code Distances

Toilet clearance requirements by code: 15 in to the side, 21 in front (24 in UPC), 30 in…
A small square tiled corner shower with a clear glass door, a single chrome shower head and valve trim, a square center
Codes

Minimum Shower Size: Code Rules and Real Layouts

Minimum shower size under the IRC is 900 sq in with no side under 30 in. See the…
Black iron gas pipe runs with tees and a drip leg running along basement joists to an appliance, two different pipe diam
Codes

Gas Pipe Sizing Chart: How to Read It Correctly

Gas pipe sizing chart guide: convert BTU to CFH, read IFGC Table 402.4(2) by longest length, size CSST…
A galvanized metal vent pipe rising from the draft hood on top of a gas water heater toward a masonry chimney connection
Codes

Water Heater Venting Requirements: Atmospheric, Power and Direct Vent

Water heater venting requirements by type: 1/4 in per foot slope, 5 ft minimum vent height, 4 ft…
A white tank water heater secured to a garage wall with two metal seismic straps, one in the upper third and one in the
Codes

Water Heater Earthquake Straps: Code Rules and How to Install Them

Water heater earthquake straps explained: California HSC 19211, CPC 507.2 strap placement, DSA lag screw specs, kit options…
A white tank water heater standing in a round aluminum drain pan on an attic platform with a drain line running from the
Codes

Water Heater Drain Pan: When Code Requires One and How to Install It

Water heater drain pan rules from IRC P2801.6: 1-1/2 in deep, 3/4 in drain, sizing by tank diameter,…