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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20001ORDINANCE NO. 20,001 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING AND RECODIFYING CHAPTER 8 OF THE LITTLE ROCK ARKANSAS REVISED CODE (1988) CONCERNING PLUMBING CODE REQUIREMENTS; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. WHEREAS, the Building Codes staff has met on numerous occasions to review and discuss the current provisions of the plumbing as they relate to new and existing conditions in structures and other related plumbing and natural gas installations; and WHEREAS, the Building Codes staff has developed the following set of amendments to the Plumbing Code which are recommended for adoption by the Little Rock Board of Directors in order to strengthen and clarify standards of code compliance for all plumbing installations in the City; and WHEREAS, such amendments are appropriate and necessary for the health, safety and welfare of our citizens. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CITY OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS: SECTION 1. Division 1. LRC (1988) is hereby amended by deleting only the phrase Article VI. Plumbing and Gas and the following language substituted therefore: Article VI. Plumbing, Natural Gas. LRC Section 8 -471 shall be deleted in its entirety and the following language shall be substituted therefore. PLUMBING, NATURAL GAS DIVISION 1. GENERALLY Section 8 -471. Short Title A. This article may be cited as the "plumbing code ". B. Definitions 1. Administrative Authority — The individual inspector, board, department or agency established and authorized by the City of Little Rock Board of Directors to administer and enforce the provisions of the plumbing and natural gas code as adopted or amended. 2. Department — shall mean the Department of Planning and Development. 3. Inspector — The term plumbing and gas inspector's supervisor, plumbing and gas inspector, for enforcement purposes of this Code shall have the same meaning as that of the City Manager or his /her duly authorized representatives. 4. Jurisdiction— shall mean all buildings and structures to include underground services new or old and any part there -of, private or public, rural or urban that is or will be after completion, connected to the Central Arkansas Water system, located in Pulaski County south of the Arkansas River. 5. Plumbing — includes all piping, fixtures, appliances and appurtenances in connection with the water supply and the drains, waste and venting system within the building perimeter and the underground water service line from building to the water meter, the underground sewer service line from building to the wastewater utility connection. (Jurisdiction of Little Rock Wastewater Utility) All natural gas piping beginning at the outlet side of the meter up to and within the building perimeter, all appliances utilizing natural gas and their connection to the gas housepiping including the venting, air distribution system and the combustion air source to the appliance. 6. Alterations — The alteration of any such systems except minor repairs to faucets, valves, piping, appliances and removal of stoppages from the drain, waste and vent system. 7. Minor Repairs — the term minor repairs shall be limited to removing stoppages from the drain, waste and vent system including the sewer service. Repairing leaks in the water piping, drains waste and vent system by placing a temporary clamping device on the pipe to stop or retard the leak pending permanent repair or replacement. Rewashering of faucets and valves, lubricating and /or replacing O rings of same. 8. Roughing -in — Is the installation of all parts of the plumbing, gas piping, system which can be completed prior to the installation of fixtures and appliances. This includes drainage, water supply, vent piping, gas housepiping, air distribution ducts, and the necessary supports and anchors for same. 9. Unlawful — The term unlawful as used in this Code shall mean unlawful insofar as the City has jurisdiction within it's police powers. LRC Section 8 -472 shall be deleted in its entirety and the following language shall be substituted therefore: Section 8 -472. Penalty Any person, firm or corporation who engages in or follows the business or occupation of, or advertises or holds himself or itself out as or acts as a plumbing, gas fitter contractor without first having obtained the required licenses and permits or who otherwise violates any provisions of this Codes shall be punished as provided in Section 1 -9, Penalty Section. LRC Section 8 -473 shall be deleted in its entirety and the following language shall be substituted therefore: Section 8 -473. Civil Liability This article shall not be construed to relieve from or lessen the responsibilities of any person owning, operating or installing plumbing and gas pipes, appliances, apparatus, construction or equipment for the damage to property or person injured by any defect therein. The City or any agent thereof shall not be deemed to assume any such liability by reason of the inspection authorized herein of the certificate of inspection issued by the Plumbing Inspection Supervisor. LRC Section 8 -474 shall be deleted in its entirety and the following paragraphs and language shall be substituted therefore: Section 8 -474. State Codes Adopted A. The 2006 Edition of the Arkansas State Plumbing Code with Appendices "A ", B, C, D, E, G, H and 2006 Revision is adopted by reference. In the event of a conflict between such publication and the provisions of this article, the provision of this article shall take preference. B. The 2006 Edition of the Arkansas Fuel Gas Code with Appendices "A ", B, D and 2006 Revision is adopted by reference. In the event of a conflict between such publication and the provisions of this article, the provision of this article shall take preference. SECTION 2. DIVISION 2. Administration & Enforcement Part A — General Provisions LRC Section 8 -475 shall be deleted in its entirety and the following language shall be substituted therefore: Section 8 -475. Supervision and Authority of Department The Planning and Development Department of the City of Little Rock under the supervision and direction of the City Manager shall be responsible for carrying out the provisions of this code. The Department shall act in an advisory capacity to the Board of Directors in the preparation of Ordinances pertaining to this Code. The formulation of rules and regulations pertaining to enforcement of the ordinances shall be made by the Department with approval of the City Manager. LRC Section 8 -476 shall be deleted in its entirety and the following language shall be substituted therefore: Section 8 -476. Liability of the Plumbing, Gas Inspectors Where action is taken by the Plumbing and Gas Inspector to enforce the provision of this Code, such action shall be in the name of and on behalf of the City of Little Rock and the inspectors in so acting for the City shall not render themselves personally liable for any damage which may occur to persons or property as a result of an action committed in good faith in the discharge of their duties and any suits brought against any inspector by reason thereof shall be defended by the City Attorney until termination of the proceedings contained therein. LRC Section 8 -477 shall be deleted in its entirety and the following language shall be substituted therefore: Section 8 -477. Limitations of the Plumbing, Gas Inspectors. The plumbing, gas inspectors shall not be interested in any business engaged in Plumbing, and gas piping systems or the sale of same or any part thereof either directly or indirectly. LRC Section 8 -478 shall be deleted in its entirety and the following language shall be substituted therefore: Section 8 -478. Duties of the Plumbing, Gas Inspectors It shall be the duty of the Plumbing, Gas Inspectors to inspect all plumbing, natural gas piping systems for compliance with this Code and all other Codes having jurisdiction in all buildings, old or new to include underground service lines, private or public, rural or urban, where such buildings an underground service lines are located within the inspection jurisdiction of the City of Little Rock Arkansas. LRC Section 8 -479 shall be deleted in its entirety and the following language shall be substituted therefore: Section 8 -479. Inspector's Right of Entry Should the inspectors be denied entry to any building that they have reason to believe an unsafe or hazardous situation may exist, the inspector shall have the authority to call upon the Little Rock Police Department for aid and assistance in securing warrants for the right to enter and inspect such buildings. LRC Section 8 -480 shall be deleted in its entirety and the following language shall be substituted therefore: Section 8 -480. Disconnection of Utilities by City The administrative authority may cause the turning off of all water and gas utilities or discontinuance of sewer services which are deemed by same to be in an unsafe condition or which have not been installed in conformity with the provisions of this article. No persons shall supply or cause to be supplied any Public water, gas or sewer utility which has been deemed by the administrative authority to be in an unsafe condition or which has not been installed in conformity with the provisions of this article and from which the administrative authority has caused the Public Utility to be turned off. LRC Section 8 -481 shall be deleted in its entirety and the following language shall be substituted therefore: Section 8 -481. Final Clearance before Furnishing Utility Service It shall be unlawful for any person to furnish natural gas or water to any new building, tent, structure or outdoor piping of any kind, nature or description without first obtaining a clearance from the administrative authority stating that such plumbing is approved and a permit has been issued where necessary. Section 8 -482 to 8 -500. Reserved SECTION 3. DIVISION 3 The following phrase is hereby deleted "Division 2 Plumbing" and the following language shall be substituted therefore: "Division 3 - Licenses, Permits and Fees" Division 3 - Licenses, Permits and Fees LRC Section 8 -501 shall be deleted in its entirety and the following language shall be substituted therefore: Section 8 -501. Licensing of Contractors, Plumbers, Gas Fitters No person firm or corporation shall install any part of the plumbing, gas piping system where such systems are located in the inspection jurisdiction of the City of Little Rock, Arkansas unless at all times a currently licensed Master Plumber, HVACR/Mechanical Gas Fitter, and /or a Supervising Gas Fitter, that resides in the State of Arkansas of whom shall be responsible for proper installation, etc. and shall not * serve as Master Plumber, HVACR/Mechanical Gas Fitter and /or Supervising Gas Fitter for any other person, firm or corporation while serving as such for said company. LRC Section 8 -502 shall be deleted in its entirety and the following language shall be substituted therefore: Section 8 -502. State License Requirements All master plumbers, journeyman plumbers, apprentice plumbers, supervising gas fitters, gas fitters, gas fitter trainees, shall be licensed by the State of Arkansas as same before repairing, replacing, altering or installing any part of the plumbing, and natural gas piping systems where such systems are located within the jurisdiction of the City of Little Rock, Arkansas. LRC Section 8 -503 shall be deleted in its entirety and the following language shall be substituted therefore: Section 8 -503. Gas Fitters Limitations All categories of gas fitters are limited to gas plumbing. LRC Section 8 -504 shall be deleted in its entirety and the following language shall be substituted therefore: Section 8 -504. License Holders Each holder of a master plumber, journeyman plumber, apprentice plumber, supervising gas fitter, gas fitter, and gas fitter trainee's license shall carry evidence of proper registration on their person at all times while engaged in such work and shall produce and exhibit same when requested by an inspector or officer of this City. LRC Section 8 -505 shall be deleted in its entirety and the following language shall be substituted therefore: Section 8 -505. License Fees In addition to individuals being licensed to prove their competency, each person, firm or corporation engaged in the contracting for or the installation of the plumbing, gas piping systems, equipment or appurtenances shall pay to the City Collector's office a privilege license fee set by the City of Little Rock Board of Directors. LRC Section 8 -506 shall be deleted in its entirety and the following language shall be substituted therefore: Section 8 -506. State Contractor's Licensing Board On any project where the cost of work is $20,000 or more, with the exception of a single family residence, an Arkansas State Contractor's License is required by same, located at 4100 Richards Rd, North Little Rock, AR 72202. LRC Section 8 -507 shall be deleted in its entirety and the following language shall be substituted therefore: Section 8 -507. Vehicle Signs All vehicles used by plumbing, and gas fitter contractors and their employees for said business purposes shall have the company name and master plumber, and /or supervising gas fitter's license number stenciled, painted or suitable attached on each side of the vehicle in water proof letters and number of at least two (2) inches in size. LRC Section 8 -508 shall be deleted in its entirety and the following language shall be substituted therefore: Section 8 -508. Job Signs Each location where a plumbing, and /or gas piping permit is required a job sign shall be attached to, or placed on the building premises in a place which can be seen from the street, with the contractor's company name and the State license number of the responsible master plumber, gas fitter and/or supervising gas fitter in water proof letters and numbers of not less than two (2) inches in size. SECTION 4. DIVISION 4 LRC Section 8 -509 shall be deleted in its entirety and the following language shall be substituted therefore: Section 8 -509. Permits A. It shall be unlawful for a person or persons to install plumbing work, and /or gas piping to include underground services in all buildings new or existing or to make any changes on the existing plumbing, and /or gas piping system in all buildings private or public, rural or urban, where such buildings and /or underground services are located within the inspection jurisdiction of the City of Little Rock, Arkansas, without first obtaining a permit for same from the City of Little Rock. B. The following information shall be furnished upon an application for a permit: 1. The address at which the work is to be performed and the phone number. 2. Company name, business address and phone number 3. State license number of the appropriate master plumber, gas fitter and /or supervising gas fitter that is responsible for the plumbing or gas installation. 4. Copy of current City Privilege License. 5. Copy of a current $10,000 bond made out to the City of Little Rock. As per ordinance no. 17,777 C. Exception - No permit shall be required for the following: 1. rodding waste and sewer lines for the purpose of removing stoppages 2. repairing waste and sewer lines by placing a temporary- clamping device on the pipe to stop or retard the leaking pending permanent repair or replacement 3. replacing a fixture trap, fixture water supply lines 4. replacing a clothes washer (AWM) where no rough -in is required 5. the connection to the gas house piping of domestic ranges and ovens, portable heating stoves, space heaters, domestic clothes dryers, gas lights and gas grills where a gas cutoff valve is existing and it is not necessary to alter the gas house piping in any manner to receive the appliance connection as mentioned above D. Should it become necessary to extend, shorten, relocate'or alter any part of the plumbing, gas piping system to receive a plumbing fixture, gas appliance, a permit shall be required. E. All permits required for the installation of the plumbing, natural gas piping covered by the provisions of this code and other codes having jurisdiction shall be obtained by the Master Plumber, Supervising Gas Fitter, and/or their authorized representative prior to the beginning of such work. F. Requesting Inspections - Only the permit holder or their authorized agent are permitted to request inspections. LRC Section 8 -510 shall be deleted in its entirety and the following language shall be substituted therefore: Section 8 -510. Homeowner Permits A. Qualifications of the Homeowner - A qualified homeowner may obtain homeowner's permit to install, repair or replace any part of the plumbing, gas piping system in his /her private home. The homeowner's permit is limited to a one family residence that he or she owns and resides in or will reside in when classified as ready for occupancy. Permits shall be issued in accordance with the following rules and regulations. Homeowners may obtain a homeowner's permit to install, repair, or replace plumbing, and /or the gas piping system. The homeowner shall be physically able to perform all installations by him or herself other than labor used to dig, cover or carry materials and equipment for the permitted work and must have the knowledge to meet all applicable code requirements. 2. The homeowner in person shall make application to obtain the homeowner's permit. Agents or representatives will not be accepted. 3. The homeowner must show to the Permit Office Representative which includes, but is not limited to proof of ownership of said property and proper identification (deed, buyer's contract and driver's license). 4. The homeowner shall be responsible for the securing of all required inspections at the appropriate point of progress .during the job and at the conclusion of the job and for compliance with all rules and regulations of the City of Little Rock's Plumbing Code and all other codes having jurisdiction pertaining to the plumbing, gas piping system. 5. The homeowner's permit is limited to one single family residence that he or she owns and reside in or will reside in when classified as ready for occupancy. 6. Homeowners that have permitted job items turned down twice on requested inspections shall be required to obtain a licensed contractor per Section 8 -501 to complete the job to meet code. 7. Homeowners are prohibited from obtaining permits and performing work on rental or commercial property. LRC Section 8 -511 shall be deleted in its entirety and the following language shall be substituted therefore: Section 8 -511. Permit and Inspection Fees The fee's schedules for plumbing and gas permits and inspections shall be assessed as set forth by the City of Little Rock Board of Directors. In LRC Section 8- 31 III Plumbing Permit Fees. Section 8 -532. Approval of Materials and Methods The City reserves the right to approve or disapprove any material approved by the state or approve or disapprove any methods not specifically covered by the provisions of this article. Section 8 -512 —8 -530. Reserved LRC Section 8 -533 shall be deleted in its entirety and the following language shall be substituted therefore: Section 8 -533. Materials and Apparatus, Generally All materials, devices, equipment and any and all items necessary for the installation of plumbing systems shall bear the label of the independent testing laboratories specifically approved by the authority enforcing this article arid/or be approved by the plumbing inspector. No plumbing apparatus or materials shall be used or placed on sale when the plumbing inspector shall consider it a fire hazard or hazardous to life and property. LRC Section 8 -534 shall be deleted in its entirety and the following language shall be substituted therefore: Section 8 -534. Swimming Pools, etc., Drainage The water from scudder drains and all swimming and wading pools shall be connected to the city storm sewer, if available, in a manner acceptable to the administrative authority. If no storm sewer is available, they shall be connected to the sanitary sewer as prescribed in the Arkansas State Plumbing Code. LRC Section 8 -535 shall be deleted in its entirety. Section 8 -535 to 8 -565. Reserved SECTION 5. All Ordinances or parts of Ordinances in conflict with this provision are hereby repealed to the extent of the conflict. SECTION 6. Severability. In the event any title, section, paragraph, item, sentence, clause, phrase, or word of this ordinance is declared or adjudged to be invalid or unconstitutional, such declaration or adjudication shall not affect the remaining portions of this ordinance, which shall remain in full force and effect as if the portion so declared or adjudged invalid or unconstitutional was not originally a part of this ordinance. SECTION 7. Code Application. Permits obtained prior to the effective date of this ordinance will be enforced under the previous adopted code till final disposition of the permit. SECTION 8. Repealer. All laws, ordinances, resolutions, or parts of the same that are inconsistent with the provisions of this ordinance are hereby repealed to the extent of such inconsistency. SECTION 9. Effective date of this Ordinance shall be September 1, 2008. PASSED: ATTEST: N taki S. Blocker, Assistant City Clerk For Nancy Wood, City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: Tom Carpenter, City AttoWney APPROVED: - '& L' Mark Stodola, Mayor