In the jargon of the building codes a sink is a “lavatory,” and the drain is a “waste outlet.” With that out of the way, we can investigate what the codes say about drain stoppers:

    The Residential Edition of The Florida Building Code (FBC P2711.3) and the International Residential Code (IRC) specify that a lavatory waste outlet must have a “strainer, pop-up stopper, crossbar or other device” to restrict the opening of the drain. Their purpose is to keep an object that is the same diameter as the drain pipe from going down the drain and instantly clogging it. 

    A pop-up stopper, which lets you seal-off the drain when you want, is one of the options offered, but any other device that just “restricts the clear opening” is acceptable. So the strainer shown above, that will keep your diamond ring from disappearing down the drain but not allow you to fill the sink, complies with the code. 

    Also, see our blog post Can a laundry sink drain be installed without a trap under it?

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Here’s links to a collection of some of our blog posts about BATHROOM FIXTURES:

• Honey, who shrunk the toilet? 

• Why is it a problem when a trap under a sink is installed backwards? 

• What are the code requirements for layout of drain piping under sinks?

• Why is there sand in the bottom of my toilet tank?  

• What is a "fixture unit" for plumbing? 

• Are drop-in toilet bowl cleaner tablets safe?

• What are the minimum requirements for a shower?

• Why is there mold inside my toilet tank?  

• What are the pros and cons of a wall-mounted toilet?

• Is a shut off valve in-line on a supply line to a plumbing fixture acceptable?

• Is a hot water faucet handle required to be on the left? 

• What is an escutcheon plate? 

• Why is the European-style bottle trap not approved by the plumbing codes in the U.S.? 

• What is an auto vent, air admittance valve, or check vent?

• What are the minimum clearances around a toilet? 

• Can I make a trap under the sink from straight pipe and 90º elbows?  

• How do you test a shower pan for leaks?

• If all the plumbing drains have water in them and you can still smell sewer gas, what's causing the problem?  

• Why is there a flexible accordion pipe under the sink? 

• What is that big thing in the toilet tank? 

• What is the difference between a plumbing fixture, a plumbing appliance, and a plumbing appurtenance?

• Why are shower water valves all single-handle nowadays? 

• What is an "S-Trap" under my sink? Why is it a problem? 

• What is a P-trap?

• Is a shower pan leak test a required part of a home inspection?

• Can I install a commercial (wall-mounted flushometer) toilet in my home? 

     Visit our PLUMBING page for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles.