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PLUMBING CODE CHANGES
The Interim Plumbing Board of Appeals reviewed and updated the plumbing
code. We wish to thank the members who participated, Jerry Cable, Mark
Speck and Chris Kayser.
State Health Department Plumbing Code
641-25.1(135) Adoption. Chapters 1 to 13 and Appendix D of the Uniform
Plumbing Code, 1991 Edition, as published by the International Association of
Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, 20001 South Walnut Drive, Walnut,
California 91789, are hereby adopted by reference with amendments as the
state plumbing code authorized by Iowa Code section 135.11(5) .
Local ordinances or rules and regulations may provide for higher but not
lower standards than those found in the state plumbing code. Local
ordinances or rules and regulations shall be consistent with Iowa code
section 364.3(3) .
All state code amendments are included in the City of Ames, Chapter 21,
Plumbing Code. Changes from the Uniform Plumbing Code and the State Code
Amendments are listed below:
Sec. 21-101
Appendices A, B, C and H have been added. We refer to these
appendices and have been advised by the legal department that we should
adopt these sections if we are going to use them. Appendix A - Rules
for water pipe sizing. Appendix B - Combination waste and vent system.
Appendix C - Minimum plumbing facilities. Appendix H - Procedures for
sizing commercial, kitchen grease interceptors, installation standards.
Sec. 21.201(2)
Wording was changed from "only registered plumbing contractors" to
mean: Only licensed Master Plumbers from a registered firm may apply
for a plumbing permit.
Sec. 21.302(2)(f)
Added "When the registrant is the property owner, proof of general
liability insurance coverage of $500,000 is required in lieu of contractors
commercial liability coverage and no registration number is required."
Sec. 21.302(2)
Last paragraph the wording was changed from "the plumbing
contractor. . ." to mean the master plumber must come into the inspection
division office to register in person each year.
Sec. 21.303(1)
Added last sentence to allow the board to render judgment on an
applicant's qualifications if the inspector has reservations.
Sec. 21.401
Added ". . .or one who has professional teaching experience or study in
engineering of plumbing systems, . . ." and "Only one (1) employee,
associate or representative per business or firm shall be on the Board at
a time." Also, ". . .and one person from the Building Code Board of
Appeals shall be members. . ."
Sec. 21.501
(15)(a) Deleted "vitrified clay pipe" from UPC, plastic pipe has replaced
the clay pipe as a material.
(18) Delete from state code addendum "In single-family dwelling, sump to
which no fixture except one floor drain is connected and which receive
only laundry wastes or basement drainage need not be airtight or vented.
(Sump needs to be airtight and vented to prevent odor from laundry
water and basement drainage. )
(32) "Water pipe and fittings shall be of brass, copper, cast iron, or
other approved materials for water distribution inside of a building."
Deleted "CPVC and PB water pipe and tubing may be used for hot and
cold water distribution within a building." This means plastic water
distribution pipe was deleted as an alternative on the inside of
structures. It was the board's understanding that this was not supposed
to be included, but was because of some miscommunication. We asked for
input at the public hearing and no one raised any concern with its
deletion. Plastic water service lines are allowed to within 2 feet of
foundation walls where they must convert to copper to go under footings
and floors. Plastic sewer lines are allowed both inside and outside of
buildings.
(33) Added ". . .CPVC. . ." to ". . .the relief valve outlet of galvanized
steel or hand drawn copper or CPVC piping and fittings and shall not. . ."
This means that plastic pipe may be used on relief valve drops on
appliances, such as, water heaters.
(37)(A) Continues to allow plastic water service, but changed the
standard of the pipe. Subsection (1) notes the specifications for the
types and methods of installation and fittings. It also discusses the need
to install a tracer wire so that the pipe can be located.
(37)(M) Changed the brand of fitting from "Glauber" to "Ford" because
the local wholesale stores stock this type. Also, changed the type of
joint allowed from a flared joint to a compression joint for plastic pipe.
(45)(K) Changed type of plastic and added "with gaskets" to the table
titled "Approved Materials for Sanitary Service."
(49)(A) Changed the length of test from one minute to five minutes to
allow the inspector a better opportunity to check for leaks.
(49)(E) Changed the type of saddle (saddle acts as a Y in the pipe) that
will eliminate the chance for the pipe to envelope.
The staff recommends the Council adopt these changes to Chapter 21 -
Plumbing Code.