The Plumbing Technical Advisory Group reviewed 2P2012, a proposed change to access and clearance requirements for backwater valves. TAG members said the proposal sought to link backwater-valve access to cleanout clearance requirements to create a measurable compliance standard.

Steve Simpson (TAG member) summarized opposition rooted in residential impacts: the cleanout-clearance requirements could be infeasible in cabinet or other constrained residential locations and would impose “a huge cost and a huge impact to the built environment” on some homeowners. He noted manufacturers’ installation instructions already require access to service the valve, and that adding the strict cleanout-clearance standard could disproportionately affect residential projects.

Dave (proponent) said the change stemmed from jurisdictional experience with hard-to-access installations and was an attempt to create a measurable compliance test so inspectors and homeowners had clearer guidance. After discussion, including suggestions to consider a tailored cleanout table entry or to defer the work to the next code cycle because of scope and time constraints, Dave said he would likely withdraw 2P2012 from the current cycle: “I think that it at this point, that's probably the best option. I don't think we're gonna have enough time to go back and forth and figure something out that kind of works for everybody.”

No formal vote occurred because the group lacked quorum. The TAG discussed possible alternative approaches for future cycles, including adding a focused cleanout entry for backwater valves or pursuing changes in the next code cycle with broader stakeholder input.

Discussion and decisions were kept distinct: members debated technical and cost impacts (discussion), proposed next steps (direction for withdrawal and rework), and the proponent signaled withdrawal (decision to withdraw from current cycle).