Thread: water shut off valves for built in washer

I reported a washer as not having a readily accessible shut off. The washer was built into the cabinet and no shut off was present at either side or above etc. I usually find valve handles somewhere other than behind it which would require removing from under the cabinet. Stack units in condos are often difficult to get to as well. Is there a code for access and presence of this shut off for a washer?

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Jerry,
Would #4 from FBC cover the washer supply shut offs?

P2705.1 General.
The installation of fixtures shall conform to the following:

1. Floor-outlet or floor-mounted fixtures shall be secured to the drainage connection and to the floor, when so designed, by screws, bolts, washers, nuts and similar fasteners of copper, brass or other corrosion-resistant material.

2. Wall-hung fixtures shall be rigidly supported so that strain is not transmitted to the plumbing system.

3. Where fixtures come in contact with walls and floors, the contact area shall be watertight.

4. Plumbing fixtures shall be functionally accessible.

Originally Posted by Jerome W. Young

Would #4 from FBC cover the washer supply shut offs?

4. Plumbing fixtures shall be functionally accessible.

Jerome,

Yes.

Now, though, define "functionally accessible".

Q. What is the purpose of those valves?

A. To allow shutting the water off when the appliance is not connected.

Q. Does that means that the valves will be open and exposed prior to connecting the clothes washer hoses?

A. Yes.

Q. Does that mean the valves will need to be accessible prior to disconnecting the clothes washer hoses?

A. Yes.

Q. Does that mean that the clothes washer can block the valves as long as the clothes washer can be moved out to provided access to the valves - i.e., as long as the hoses are long enough to allow full access to the valves when the clothes washer is moved?

A. Yes. As long as the clothes washer can be readily moved to provide access. That means the "built-in" clothes washer is actually just "slid in" and does not take removing any part of the cabinets, trim, etc., just to be able to move the clothes washer out for access to those hose bibbs.

Probably not the answer you were looking for.

However, being as HIs are not really "code inspectors", the HI can be expected to address things 'above code' and 'for which no code addresses'.

Code is "minimum", the absolute minimum crappiest one is legally allowed to build. Code is not "good", nor "better" and certainly not "Best" building practices. Code is simply what you wake up in the morning and say 'I'm not allowed to do it any worse than that.'

Code does not address stupidity nor convenience.

Think of "code" as the minimum the builder must be held to, but there is no "maximum" the builder can be held to. That depends on how they advertised the property when it was being built and sold.

I've never seen a builder advertise to 'We build the crappiest we legally can get away with'. Most will state ("overstate" and "exaggerate" are better words) "Luxury Homes", "Custom Homes" or things like that, which can then be used against the builder in court (should it come to that) for not meeting the standard *THEY* set in their advertising and promotional material.