Inspector is requiring shower Isolation Valve...

Heya forum,

The building inspector has stumped me. He's saying I need a shower mixer with isolation valves for a main bath in the new downstairs of a remodel.

I asked if I could add in-line ball valves to a access panel. He said yes, but didn't recommend it. I concur only because my hot and cold come from completely opposite directions.

I asked if I could add on valves to the mixer I already have installed (a mid-range Moen unit). He said typically the cover plate needs to be bigger to provide access, and I should just buy a mixer with the isolators built in.

Well a quick trip to the Home Depot and there doesn't seem to be a single shower mixer with built-in isolation valves. Reading through past topics here on the forums seems to indicate this is neither popular nor necessary, and nowhere did I see an inspector calling for them due to code requirements.

Can you clue me in?

Shower valves with integral stops are very common....but not at home depot. It is true that we might consider stops to be an unnecessary expense in a single family residence. I am not aware that codes require it...but maybe in your town they do.