The new house we're constructing (in NC) has a large open attic space we plan to finish one day. For now, it will be covered in plywood for storage.

We asked that some preplumbing be done for a kitchenette area leaving the pipes capped and ready just below the surface of the attick plywood. The plumber agreed and did that. But several weeks later, we discovered that he had run the pipes up through the plywood and that they were now stubbed about 2-3 feet high (capped) in the middle of the attic storage area.

We asked why, and he said that code required that it was an inspection violation unless the pipes were stubbed up that high.

So my questions are:

1) Is that true? Will inspectors not allow pre-plumbing to be located under the surface of the attic plywood?

2) Is it the sort of thing that the plumber can (ethically) change after the inspection? i.e. if it's just stubbed that high for a drain test or something similar, could it pass insepection, and then be cut back down to fit under the plywood?

Thanks to anyone who can help!

It is not required by code. It is easier on the plumber later on when the kitchenette is to be finished.
If it makes your plumber happier, leave the pipes sticking up until all the inspections are passed, then you can cut the pipes off below the subfloor and cap them.
You do not want any water lines exposed in an unfinished attic. They will freeze and possibly burst.



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you could cut the pipe 3/4" off the deck and temporarily cap them with a removable cap all. you will have about 1 inch of material to stub your toe on. why work backwards? the plumbing is done and thru the floor. You do want this future kitchen?



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what is required is that the pipes below the floor are visible for an inspection.
how could the inspector have seen them if only stubs were visible above the plywood?

For water testing purposes, he would want them to be "vent high", but after the rough ins were complete, they would have to be retested anyway, but usually only from the fixture connections upward.

I appreciate your replies, folks. (As to how the inspector knew they were there, I'm guessing he just followed the pipes on the ceiling below and then couldn't find them in the attic, which he wrote up.)

I went back to our builder and he told us that even after inspection, the pipes would have to remain stubbed out and visible. We've asked whether it would be possible to keep them visible but flush with the surface of the plywood, but haven't heard back.

Would it cause problems in the future to have them cut back that far? We do want the possibility of the kitchenette, but it's probably at least 5-10 years out (if ever), and we'd like the unencumbered attic space till then.

If the NC code/inspection requirements are available online, could someone point me to the relevant section of the code? i.e. if it IS possible to stub it flush to the plywood floor, is there something I can print off and bring to the builder?

And if it helps to visualize it, here's a picture. The pipes are right in the middle.

[i.imgur.com]

Thank you again for the help!



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The issue I have with what you are doing is that you are leaving dead runs of water line in the system that can get stagnant and breed bacteria. I recommend getting a countertop and installing the sink so that water can be run and the lines cleared of old water. If you want to stack stuff on top of the counter, so be it. If I made the incorrect assumption and the lines aren't connected in the basement to the supplies, then my apologies. If the water supplies aren't charged, then I would build a 2x4 and plywood box around the pipes. It is no different for storage than walking around a box that someone put down.

We are under UPC with NC Amendments. There is no code requirement that the pipes must be above the floor.