I'm renovating my bathrooms in my apartment condo unit. Both of them back on to each other with a wet wall between. Everything drains into a 4" stacks and the problem I'm having is that I want to drain

2 tubs. And 1 shower. Except the T off the 4inch stack is a 1 1/2inch threaded cast iron with copper into it. And then there's two traps for the current two tubs. I want to add a separate stand up shower. But the condo will only allow things done to code. And code says you cannot drain 3into a 1 1/2pipe.

I'd like to know if I have any options. I was thinking I could raise the tub on a platform and drain into the same 3'' the backflush toilet drains into. But one plumber says that's a nono by code.


The problem with swapping out the 4'' with the 1 1/2'' T is that part of that T is buried in concrete slab. Probably a full 3inches of that T is.

" I was thinking i could raise the tub on a platform and drain into the same 3'' the backflush toilet drains into. but one plumber says thats a nono by code."
By backflush toilet are you referring to a wall hung blow-out toilet? If you vent the shower you could probably get around code restrictions. However,you're talking mjajor surgery here. In addation to getting the Condo Associations approval you're going to hafta decide if the showers worth the hassle. Good luck, Tom

Toilet is sort of like that. It's not wall hung mind you. But same idea. It's back outlet/back flush. So it's drain is horizontal into the 4'' stack. Everything is overly vented more than what's required i.e.. 1.5inch venting etc.

You're still going to have to vent the shower. You can not install the shower downstream of the toilet without a vent. Regards, om

http://www.terrylove.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8824

Here take a look if you don't mind. I've posted some pictures. I'd like to drain that shower into one of the traps that are there. (which is currently for a bathtub) and I'd like to drain the tub placed on a platform into that 3" which would be extended to get a fitting in there to allow it.

Can you chip out enough concrete to remove the 4"x1"-1/2 sanitary tee?

If you can, and decide to do so, bear in mind that doing so will change the elevation of the closet flange -- Which will mean building up the bathroom floor and altering the W/C vent enough to make up the difference.

Just my two pence.

I had another thought, but you're probably not going to like it, because it would mean greater expense and some slight changes in your original design.

You could go with a Zurn back to back carrier connected to the 3" sanitary tee -- This would scoot the toilets a little closer to the tubs, which will be fine so long as you have 15" of clearance from the center of the toilet to the edge of the tub -- And from your pictures, side clearance doesn't seem to be a concern.

If you go with the Z1203-ND3 carrier, you'll have an extra 3" outlet aimed towards the lavatories, which can be bushed down to 2" and used to pick up the lavatories.

The other 3" sanitary tee picking up the other toilet can be removed and bushed down to 2" and used to pick up the new shower.

The nicest think I can say about this lay-out is you won't have to futz around with the fitting picking up the tubs.

Some drawbacks:

The carrier isn't going to be cheap.

The wall hung toilets aren't going to be cheap -- Or readily available.

The shower will definitely have to be built up.

Your plumbing walls will have to be adjusted to accommodate the carrier.

Depending on the elevation of the 4"x3" sanitary tee picking up the Zurn carrier, the toilet heights may not be optimum.

Adding the shower might be problematic if all you have available is the existing 2" vent for both baths.

There is another solution of course, but this depends on ceiling heights.

You could build both bathrooms up a foot and a half, build steps and have plenty of room for a bath with conventional fixtures.

Just my two pence.