CHAPTER 18 PLUMBING CODE

Transcription

1 CHAPTER 18 PLUMBING CODE Section Title Definitions Plumbing Inspector Reports on Violations Inspection of Plumbing Work Plumbing Permits Plumber's Bond Insanitary Plumbing Conditions Sewer and House Drains Water Service and Distribution Water Meter and Cut-off valves Penalties

2 PLUMBING CODE Sec TITLE. This chapter to be known as the Plumbing Code of the City of Stevens Point, shall include the provisions, rules and plumbing regulations of chapter 145 of the Wisconsin statutes and the Wisconsin state administrative plumbing code adopted by the Wisconsin Department of Commerce, and the Wisconsin well construction and pump installation code adopted by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, which are hereby adopted and made a part of this code. It shall extend over and govern the construction, installation, and repairing of all plumbing installed, altered or repaired in the City of Stevens Point DEFINITIONS. (1) Plumbing. Plumbing as defined in section of the Wisconsin statutes. (2) Fixtures. Fixtures include water closets, bath tubs, sinks, wash basins, floor drains, drinking fountains, urinals, water heaters, laundry tubs, catch basins, grease traps, water softeners, shower stalls, storage tanks, bar connections, and range boilers. (3) Licensed master plumber. A person who has a valid master plumber's license from the Wisconsin Department of Commerce under Chapter 145 of the Wisconsin Statutes PLUMBING INSPECTOR. (1) Duties. The plumbing inspector shall perform the duties identified in the Wisconsin statutes, Wisconsin administrative code and the municipal code, as an employee or by contracting with the city. In the event of performance by contract the plumbing inspector s duties, work schedule, compensation, benefits, and term of service shall be governed by the contract and shall not be governed by civil service rules or any policy other than that specified in the contract. (2) Plumbing Inspector's Power and Authority. The plumbing inspector shall have the power and authority at all reasonable times for any proper purpose to enter upon any private or public premises and make inspection thereof and to require any person or persons doing plumbing work to produce the license and permit therefor. Any person who shall resist or obstruct any lawful exercise of authority by said plumbing inspector shall be subject to the penalty provided in this chapter REPORTS ON VIOLATIONS. It shall be the duty of any police officer, the plumbing inspector or his/her agent, the health officer, or either or any of them, to inquire into causes of violation of this chapter and report the same to the common council for investigation and prosecution.

3 PLUMBING CODE Sec INSPECTION OF PLUMBING WORK. (1) Notification to Inspector. No soil, waste, vent and water piping shall be used until inspected by the plumbing inspector. The plumber or property owner receiving the permit shall notify the plumbing inspector whenever any work is ready for inspection. The inspector shall thereupon make final inspections within 48 hours after being notified that the fixtures are set and ready for inspection. All plumbing work shall be left exposed until such time as the inspector has completed his/her inspection. The inspector may require the plumber or property owner receiving the permit to make a water or air test on the whole or any part of the entire installation. (2) Access for Inspection. The plumbing inspector, upon written notice stating the reason therefor, and within a reasonable time from the presentation of such notice to the property owner, shall have free and unobstructed access to any part of a private home or premises wherein a house sewer or drain, plumbing or appliance in connection therewith, have been installed, during the working hours of the inspection department, and shall have free access at any time to any building under construction and to any public building without notification if the conditions warrant doing so for the purpose of examining plumbing, water supply piping and appliances, and the construction, condition and usage with relation to sewage or waste disposal. (3) Interference with Inspection. No person shall interfere in any way with the work of inspection or permit any plumbing or drainage to be used until it has been inspected and approved by the inspector unless special permission therefor is given by the common council PLUMBING PERMITS. (1) Permits Required. No person shall install, repair, alter or allow to be installed, repaired or altered any plumbing of any kind or character unless a permit therefor shall first be granted by the plumbing inspector. (2) Application for Permits. Application for a plumbing permit shall be filed with the plumbing inspector on forms furnished by him/her and shall be accompanied by a plan or sketch showing in detail the work to be done. The inspector shall issue to the applicant a statement showing the fee to be paid for the permit. (3) Issuance of Permits. Upon approval by the plumbing inspector of the application and upon presentation by the applicant of the receipt of the city treasurer showing payment of the required fees, a permit shall be issued by the inspector, or such other person duly authorized to act on his/her behalf, for the work set forth in the application. Permits shall be issued to licensed master plumbers only, except that permits may be issued for plumbing in a single family residence building to the owner of such building when such building is occupied by him as his home.

4 PLUMBING CODE Sec The plumbing inspector may, as a condition precedent to issuing a permit to the property owner, request the property owner to file with the inspector a signed statement that the owner is thoroughly familiar with the theory and practice of plumbing and that all provisions of this chapter will be complied with. (4) Permit Restriction. Whenever the installation of any plumbing is being carried out contrary to the regulations of this chapter, the plumbing inspector shall send a written notice to the violator at his/her last known business address as shown in the register of licensed master plumbers or home owners to remedy such defective work. Failure to comply with such notice shall be deemed sufficient reason for withholding future permits. If, after the issuance of a permit, there is an unreasonable delay in the performance of plumbing work, or if there is a failure to promptly respond to official communications, then such acts shall also be deemed sufficient reason for withholding future permits. (5) Expiration of Permits. All permits shall automatically expire when work authorized under the permit is not started within six (6) months after the issuance of the permit or when the work, after having been commenced, ceases for a period of sixty (60) days unless an extension of time has been granted by the plumbing supervisor for good and reasonable cause. (6) Schedule of Fees. The fee charged for permits will be in the amount as indicated in the most recently Common Council adopted Department of Community Development Fee Schedule PLUMBER'S BOND. (1) Any person, firm or corporation herein authorized and engaged in the business of plumbing and drain laying in the City of Stevens Point shall file with the city clerk a surety bond in the sum of $1, for plumbing before any permits may be issued to such person, firm or corporation for the opening of any public street, alley, or other public place for the purpose of laying, extending, altering, or repairing any sewer, drain, or water service pipe. Such bond shall be renewed on January 1st of each year to remain in effect until December 31st of the same year. In lieu of a bond, any person, firm or corporation may provide a certificate of insurance to be approved by the board of public works as to the sufficiency of sureties and by the city attorney as to form and execution. (2) Such bond or certificate of insurance shall indemnify and save harmless the City of Stevens Point and the owner of the premises affected from all accidents and damages caused by any negligence, unfaithful, imperfect, or inadequate work done by virtue of his/her or their license and that he/she or they will pay all fines imposed upon him/her or them for the violation of any rule or regulation of the City of Stevens Point. Every person, firm or corporation so bonded or insured shall record the actual place of business and the name under which the business is transacted

5 PLUMBING CODE Sec and shall immediately notify the City of Stevens Point of every change of such place or name thereafter INSANITARY PLUMBING CONDITIONS. Whenever it shall be reported to the health officer that the plumbing in any building is contrary to the ordinances of the city or is of faulty or inadequate construction and liable to breed disease or sickness, or is a menace to health, then the health officer shall direct the plumbing inspector to examine all the plumbing in said building and report his/her findings in writing to the health officer suggesting such changes as are necessary to put the same in proper sanitary condition. The health officer thereupon shall direct such changes to be made as he/she deems necessary and shall fix a time for doing same. Any person neglecting or refusing to comply with such direction shall be deemed guilty of a violation of this section and each day's continuance thereof shall constitute a separate offense SEWER AND HOUSE DRAINS. All house sewers shall extend to the center of the side of the lot served when there is no building on the lot. (1) The plumbing inspector shall keep a record of all sewer connections and positions of all house drains, connections, junctions and other data necessary for the efficient operation of his/her department. (2) Drain Ends and Connections Guarded. The ends of all sewer and drain pipes not immediately connected shall be securely closed so as to prevent the introduction of sand or earth; and where the end of the sewer or drain pipes is connected with a temporary catch basin for draining foundations during the erection of any buildings or for other purposes, the plumber shall guard the same against the introduction therein of sand and earth. (3) Defective or Inferior Pipe. No plumber or other authorized person shall lay or connect with any public sewer a pipe that is cracked, damaged or not in conformance with the plumbing code, under penalty as is herein provided. Should any property owner or agent thereof furnish non-code complying pipe for laying the same to connect with a public sewer the plumber shall refuse to lay and connect with the same and immediately notify the plumbing inspector of all the circumstances connected therewith in writing. (4) Change of Direction or Alignment. All sewer and drain pipes are to be laid carefully in a trench with perfect alignment where the bottom is trimmed to a perfect grade and any deviation or change of direction from a straight run must be made by the use of proper fittings. No cover or drain pipes shall be clipped where proper fittings can be used for change of direction. (5) Backfilling. Backfilling must be done in a workmanlike manner according to approved standards and methods so as to prevent the settling of the drain or sewer.

6 PLUMBING CODE Sec (6) Old Pipe Drain. Whenever necessary to disturb a drain or sewer in actual use, the same shall not be obstructed or disconnected without special permission of the plumbing inspector and it shall be unlawful to make any new connections with or extensions to any old drain without permission of the inspector. (7) Obstruction of Drain Course. In all cases where the course of any sewer or drain is obstructed by water, gas, steam or other pipes or conduits, the question of passing over or under such obstruction or of the raising or lowering thereof so as to permit the construction and installation of the sewer or drain shall be determined by the plumbing inspector. (8) Protection of Pipes and Drains. (a) Against Frost, Injury, or Settling. All water, sewer, drain, gas, conduits, or other piping must be protected from injury, frost, or setting to the satisfaction of the common council or the plumbing inspector. (b) Sand and Other Solids. No person shall permit any earth, sand, or other solid material to enter into any main sewer during the progress of any work in laying drains or sewers, making alterations, extensions or repairs to the same, or in connecting such drains or sewers with the main sewers of the city. (c) Against Breakage and Corrosive Material. All pipes passing under or through walls shall be protected against breakage. (9) Use of Sewers Regulated. No person shall deposit or permit to be deposited in any public sewer or drain or in any sewer or drain connecting with such public sewer or drain any garbage, gas, tar, grease, rags or any other substance likely to cause any obstruction nuisance or explosion therein or to do any act which may cause injury thereto. Any person who shall violate any provision of this section shall, in addition to the penalty hereinafter provided, be liable at the suit of the city for the cost of removing such obstruction and of repairing any injury resulting therefrom. Nothing contained in this section, however, shall prohibit the installation and operation of garbage disposal or any similar device used for grinding and pulverizing kitchen garbage and refuse and the disposal of the remnants thereof in the city sanitary sewage system, provided such installation is approved by the city plumbing inspector. The Plumbing Inspector shall have the authority to require installation of interceptors or other means of preventing prohibited substances including grease from entering the sewer system. The Inspector shall have the authority to require regular maintenance of grease interceptors and may require the regular reporting of such maintenance to the City. Failure to install, maintain or to submit the required reports shall subject the owner to penalties as provided herein.

7 PLUMBING CODE Sec (10) Privies, Waterless Toilets, Drywells Prohibited. No privy or privy vault orprivate sewage system or like appliance shall be constructed when a public sewer is available. All abandoned drywells, septic or other sewage tanks and privy vaults shall be cleaned and refilled with earth. (11) Injury to Sewers, etc. Any person who shall intentionally, wilfully, or maliciously injure or obstruct any sewer, house drain, catch basin or any plumbing fixture or apparatus pipes or other parts of any plumbing in a public building, or any sewer, water, or gas pipes or any parts or apparatus connected therewith, laid or constructed in the alleys, streets, or other public places, or under any sidewalks of the City of Stevens Point shall be subject to the penalty prescribed for violations of this chapter. (12) Duty to Report Violations. It shall be the duty of the police officers, the plumbing inspector, and the health officer to inquire into the causes of violation of this chapter and report the same to the proper officer for investigation and prosecution WATER SERVICE AND DISTRIBUTION. (1) Quality of Pipes. All water pipes or lines laid under ground shall be of approved materials. (2) Service Lines to Buildings. Service lines to a building shall be arranged to enable meter to be set at least one (1) foot above the floor. All underground water service lines must be tested under full water pressure in the presence of the plumbing inspector and approved by him before being covered. (3) Disconnection and Resumption of Service. (a) No plumber shall turn on or leave open any water service curb stop after the completion and trial of his/her work which has been turned off by the water department. No unauthorized person shall turn on or off water after it has been turned on or off from a given service, nor shall any one turn water off or on at the main without a permit. (b) No water service will be turned on or shall a meter be set by the water department until the work has been approved and an order signed by the plumbing inspector that the plumbing installation is satisfactory, except that permission may be given by the plumbing inspector in cases of new construction for a temporary turn on during the period of construction. It shall be unlawful for any person other than an authorized person of the water department to set a water meter.

8 PLUMBING CODE Sec WATER METER AND CUT-OFF VALVES. (1) Service lines to a building shall be arranged to enable the installation of outside readers for water meters. (2) The service lines to a building shall be constructed and so arranged to provide a cutoff valve on both sides of the water meter PENALTIES. A violation of any of the provisions of this chapter shall subject the violator to a fine not to exceed $500, together with costs of prosecution, and in lieu of payment assessed imprisonment in the county jail for a period not to exceed thirty (30) days.