Illinois Plumbing Code Practice

For buildings with less than a 36-inch crawl space, where should an accessible 2-way cleanout be installed?

1. Underneath the building

2. In the kitchen

3. In the bathroom

4. In the building drain downstream from the stack

The correct answer is: In the building drain downstream from the stack

The correct answer indicates that for buildings with a crawl space less than 36 inches, an accessible two-way cleanout should be placed in the building drain downstream from the stack. This placement is essential for allowing easy access for cleaning and maintenance of the drainage system. Installing the cleanout downstream from the stack ensures that it is in a location where blockages can be effectively cleared from the building drain, which facilitates both sewage removal and maintenance tasks without creating significant disruptions to the plumbing system. Given the limited space of a crawl space less than 36 inches, positioning the cleanout in this way also helps to ensure that it remains accessible and functional for routine plumbing service, even when the space is confined. Other locations, such as underneath the building, in the kitchen, or in the bathroom, are not ideal due to various practical considerations. Cleanouts placed in actively used areas could become obstructed or difficult to access, while placing them underneath the building might present challenges related to maintenance in tight or inconvenient spaces. Thus, the chosen location is the most effective for the intended purpose within the constraints of the crawl space.