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Plumbing Walls - Do's and Don'ts

Special accommodations should be made (or at least considered) for all walls that will contain plumbing.  These walls would include the obvious domestic water, sewer and vent lines, and also the less obvious rainwater leaders, gas lines, hydronic lines, condensate lines, and other plumbing.  These accommodations include:

  1. Wall/framing thickness - depending on the design requirements and local building codes, the plumbing lines can be larger than you first might assume.  This is especially true of sewer drain and vent lines that are called out as no-hub cast iron or other pipe that has a much larger outside diameter and fitting diameter size than the nominal pipe size called out.  So, first check the line sizes of all plumbing and verify the actual space required for the pipe and fittings.  Then, check the wall framing thickness called out for these plumbing walls and make sure there is enough room.  Six inch studs or a plumbing chase (two parallel framed walls) are often needed to accommodate this plumbing.
  2. Structural Supports - When wall-hung sinks and toilets are called out, structural supports (such as "carriers") may be required which take up space.  Make sure these support requirements are spelled out, and there is enough room for the supports, the framing and the plumbing to make it all work.
  3. Access Panels - These are often an afterthought, but advanced planning can make sure that all access panels are where they need to be and are located in a place that is aesthetically pleasing.  Access needs include shut-off valves, metering valves, trap priming valves, cleanouts, etc.
  4. Concrete Curbs - Less frequent, but still important is to allow for concrete curbs at the base of plumbing walls.  Most often used to limit or contain a water leak and to minimize water-related damage to framing members, concrete curbs can complicate the assembly of plumbing walls.  If these curbs are called out, make sure the curb thickness matches the wall thickness, and that anchor bolts and hold-downs do not interfere with plumbing and other work within the wall.  Also, don't neglect the wall and flooring finishes.  Often, the wall board is intended to extend below the top of curb to allow for wall finishes, but that is not always the case.  Make sure this is planned out for a smooth finished wall to base to floor transition.