On and after the passage of this chapter, it
shall not be lawful for any person to carry on the business of plumbing,
house or building drainage in the Township of Nether Providence until
a master plumber certificate or license shall have been granted said
person or persons by the Nether Providence Township Health Officer
or its authorized agent.
[Amended 3-9-1978 by Ord. No. 483; 12-13-1990 by Ord. No. 568; 12-10-1992 by Ord. No.
581; 4-10-1997 by Ord. No. 616]
A. For each and every new installation, alteration and
addition; or any fixture, soil, waste or vent pipe; or main building
drain, a plan shall be filed with the Plumbing Inspector for his approval
prior to commencing the work, showing in detail all fixtures, traps,
pipes and all work to be performed.
B. The fees set forth by resolution of the Board of Commissioners
from time to time include inspection of the work shown on the plan filed.
In case the work is not ready for inspection after the Plumbing Inspector
has been notified, or if the work does not pass the inspection tests
as prescribed in Township ordinances, an additional charge as set
forth by resolution of the Board of Commissioners from time to time shall be paid.
C. No persons or person, other than a registered master
plumber or a journeyman or working apprentice in his employ or under
his or their supervision, shall construct, alter or repair any connection
with any sewer, drain, soil, waste, vent or water pipe or any pipe
connected with any fixture or unit which is a part of the plumbing
and/or drainage system as set forth in this chapter, including all
types of domestic hot-water boilers, heaters or heating coils, gas,
oil and electric water heaters, electric dishwashers, electric washing
machines, garbage disposal units or any water-supplied and/or waste-connected
fixture or unit. However, where cesspools by special permission are
allowed, they may be dug and walled by persons other than plumbers,
but all permits and piping connections shall be under a bonded and
licensed master plumber's supervision.
D. No owner, builder or other interested party shall
permit any plumbing work, subject to Township regulation, by anyone
other than a qualified master plumber possessing a certificate of
registration as required in the Township and until proper permit has
been obtained hereunder.
As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
BRANCH
The "branch" of any system of piping is that part of the
system which extends horizontally at a slight grade, with or without
lateral or vertical extensions or vertical arms, from the main to
receive fixture outlets not directly connected to the main.
DEAD END
A branch leading from a soil, waste, vent, house drain or
house sewer, which is terminated at a developed distance of two feet
or more by means of a cap, plug or other fitting not used for admitting
water to the pipe.
HOUSE DRAIN
That part of the lowest horizontal piping of a house drainage
system which receives the discharge from soil waste and other drainage
pipes inside the walls of any building and conveys the same to the
house sewer beginning five feet outside of the inner face of the building
wall.
HOUSE SEWER
That part of the horizontal piping of a house drainage system
extending from the house drain five feet outside of the inner face
of the building wall to its connection with the main sewer or cesspool
and conveying the drainage of but one building site.
MAIN
The "main" of any system of horizontal, vertical or continuous
piping is that part of such systems which receives the wastes, vent
or back vents, from fixture outlets or traps, direct or through branch
pipes.
MASTER PLUMBER
A person or persons who has served four years' apprenticeship
and two years as a journeyman plumber and has a bona fide place of
business. The term "bona fide place of business" is further defined
as follows: the home or residence of the person holding the license
and conducting the business; the home or residence of a member of
the firm or corporation; a shop or store or portion of the same; an
office or space in an office building displaying a sign on the front
of his or their place of business REGISTERED MASTER PLUMBER, bearing
the name or names of the person, firm or corporation.
PLUMBING
The art of installing in buildings the pipes, fixtures and
other apparatus for bringing in the water supply and removing liquid
and water-carried wastes.
PLUMBING FIXTURES
Receptacles intended to receive and discharge water, liquid
or water-carried wastes into a drainage system with which they are
connected.
PLUMBING SYSTEM
The "plumbing system" of a building includes the water supply
distributing pipes; the fixtures and fixture traps; the soil, waste
and vent pipes; the house drain and house sewer; the stormwater drainage;
with their devices, appurtenances and connections all within or adjacent
to the building.
SIZE and LENGTH
The given caliber or "size" of pipe is for a nominal internal
diameter. Brass pipe of other than one-eighth-inch, one-fourth-inch,
three-eighths-inch, one-half-inch, three-fourths-inch, one-inch, one-and-one-fourth-inch,
one-and-one-half-inch or two-inch will be measured by its outside
diameter as will all tubing. The developed "length" of a pipe is its
length through the center line of pipe and fittings.
SOIL PIPE
Any pipe which conveys the discharge of water-closets, with
or without the discharges from other fixtures, to the house drain.
STACK
A general term for any vertical line of soil, waste or vent
piping.
TRAP
A fitting or device so constructed as to prevent the passage
of air or gas through a pipe without materially affecting the flow
of sewage or wastewater through it.
TRAP SEAL
The vertical distance between the crown weir and the dip
of the trap.
VENT PIPE
Any pipe provided to ventilate a house drainage system and
to prevent trap siphonage and back pressure.
WASTE PIPE and SPECIAL WASTE
A "waste pipe" is any pipe which receives the discharge of
any fixture, except water closets, and conveys the same to the house
drain, soil or waste stacks. When such pipe does not connect directly
with a house drain or soil stack, it is termed a "special waste."
[Added 9-12-1996 by Ord. No. 596]
The fees for on-site sewage disposal systems are set forth in Chapter
A310, Fees.
[Amended 7-12-1962 by Ord. No. 384; 12-15-1983 by Ord. No. 525; 12-13-1990 by Res. No.
90-15; 12-13-1990 by Res. No. 90-16]
A. All gas pipes connected to ranges, heating systems
and hot-water heaters hereinafter installed, altered or extended shall
only be done in accordance with the provisions of Township ordinances
and this section. Application for a license must be in writing to
the Plumbing Inspector, and the required fee as set forth by resolution
of the Board of Commissioners from time to time shall accompany the application.
[Amended 12-10-1992 as Ord. No. 581]
B. Except for the installation or repairing of gas service
pipes, gas meters or gas meter connections, no gas pipe shall be constructed,
altered or extended, nor shall any ranges, heating systems or hot-water
heaters be connected or installed, in any building in the Township
of Nether Providence without first obtaining a permit therefor from
the Plumbing Inspector. Such permits shall be issued only to duly
registered master plumbers.
C. The requirements of this section shall not apply to
any repairs required to be made to any gas pipes or gas appliances,
or to any parts thereof, where the repairs are made by employees of
a public utility duly certified by the Pennsylvania Public Utility
Commission or by any contractors engaged by any such public utility.
All gas systems or devices herein provided for
shall be inspected by the Oil and Gas Burner Inspector of the Township
of Nether Providence, both at the time of installation and thereafter
as may be necessary. In the event that the same shall be determined
to be defective, dangerous or contrary to the provisions of this chapter,
the owner or installer thereof shall immediately make such necessary
changes or alterations as shall be necessary to protect the health
and safety of persons and property.
No person or persons, firm, company or corporation
shall install or operate any system or device for heating any office
building, public building, bank, apartment house, hotel, dwelling
house, place of amusement, club, lodge, garage, stable, store or other
place of commercial or industrial business, or any premises whatsoever,
with fuel oil without first obtaining a permit therefor from the Township
of Nether Providence.
[Amended 12-10-1992 by Ord. No. 581]
Any person or persons, firm, company or corporation
desiring to install, maintain or operate any such system or device
in any such premises shall apply to the Township of Nether Providence
for a permit, which application shall be made on blanks provided by
said Township, and at the time the application is made, shall pay
a permit fee as set forth by resolution of the Board of Commissioners
from time to time.
No piping of any kind shall be allowed to connect
a compartment wherein a mixing tank is located, with any drain or
sewer; and all silt or sediment left in the mixing tank shall be placed
in airtight metal containers and immediately removed from the premises.
All such fuel-oil systems or devices and the
surrounding premises shall be subject to inspection by the agent or
representative of the Township of Nether Providence, both at the time
of installation and from time to time thereafter, and in the event
that the same shall be found defective or dangerous or contrary to
these regulations, either in manner of construction or of repair or
renewal or method of operation, the owner or operator thereof shall
at once and within 24 hours after receiving written notice make such
necessary change or alterations as shall be required to correct the
same.
[Amended 12-10-1992 by Ord. No. 581]
Any person or persons who shall do any plumbing work without complying with the provisions of this chapter regarding the procuring of a license or certificate to engage in or carry on the business of plumbing or house drainage or such other conditions provided for in this chapter and any persons who shall violate any of the rules, regulations or requirements set forth in this chapter shall, upon conviction before any District Justice, be punishable as provided in Chapter
1, General Provisions, Art.
II, Violations and Penalties, §
1-16, Building, health and safety violations. All fines and penalties imposed by this chapter shall be recoverable by summary proceedings before a Justice of the Peace, and all fines and penalties shall be paid to the Treasurer of the Township. Every day that such violations shall continue shall constitute a separate offense.
[Added 4-10-1997 by Ord. No. 616]
A. A certain document, three copies of which are on file in the office of the Township of Nether Providence, being marked and designated as the International Plumbing Code, 1995, and the 1996 Supplement to the International Plumbing Code, as published by the International Code Council, is hereby adopted as part of the Code of the Township of Nether Providence, subject to any amendments or deletions that may be provided by the Township of Nether Providence, for regulating the design, construction, quality of materials, erection, installation, alteration, repair, location, relocation, replacement, addition to, use or maintenance of mechanical systems in the Township of Nether Providence and providing for the issuance of permits and collection of fees therefore. Each and all of the regulations, provisions, conditions and terms of such International Plumbing Code, 1995, and the 1996 Supplement, are hereby referred to, adopted and made a part hereof as if fully set out in §§
195-37 through
195-41. Such document, together with Chapter
195 of the Code of Nether Providence Township, shall constitute the effective Plumbing Code of Nether Providence Township.
B. As the International Plumbing Code, 1995, and the 1996 Supplement, set forth in Subsection
A hereof is amended, supplemented or added to, such amendments, supplements or additions shall also be established as the law of the Township of Nether Providence. As any future amendments or editions of the International Plumbing Code, 1995, and the 1996 Supplement, described in Subsection
A hereof are published, they shall also be adopted by the Township of Nether Providence.
[Added 4-10-1997 by Ord. No. 616]
The following sections of the International
Plumbing Code, 1995, are hereby revised as follows:
A. Section 101.1 Title. Insert "Township
of Nether Providence" as the name of the jurisdiction.
B. Section 106.5.2 Fee schedule. Insert the following: "The fees for all plumbing work shall be in accordance with §
195-2 of the Code of the Township of Nether Providence."
C. Section 106.5.3 Fee refunds. Insert:
"75%" in two places.
D. Section 108.4 Violation penalties.
(1) Delete Section 108.4 and substitute in lieu thereof the following: "Any person who violates any provision of this chapter or the code adopted thereby shall be punishable as provided in Chapter
1, General Provisions, Art.
II, Violations and Penalties, §
1-16, Building, Health and Safety Violations."
(2) Chapter
1, General Provisions, Art.
II, Violations and Penalties, §
1-16, Building, Health and Safety Violations, of the Code of the Township of Nether Providence, is amended to include reference to the Plumbing Code of Nether Providence Township.
E. Section 108.5 Stop-work orders. Insert
"not less than $500 nor more than $1,000."
F. Section 306.6.1 Sewer depth. Insert "36
inches" and "36 inches" in two places.
G. Chapter 14, Codes. Insert "1996 BOCA
National Building Code," and "1996 International Mechanical Code."
[Added 4-10-1997 by Ord. No. 616]
Sections
195-37 through
195-41 shall be supplemented by Chapter 28 (Plumbing Standards), of the 1996 National BOCA Building Code. Whenever any conflict exists between these two documents, the more restrictive standard shall apply.
[Added 4-10-1997 by Ord. No. 616]
Where a conflict exists between any section or part of the International Plumbing Code adopted in §
195-37 and Chapter
195 of the Code of the Township of Nether Providence, the more restrictive standard shall be applicable.
[Added 4-10-1997 by Ord. No. 616]
Nothing in this §§
195-37 through
195-41 or in the International Plumbing Code hereby adopted shall be construed to affect any other suit or proceeding pending in any court or any rights acquired or liability incurred or any cause or causes of action acquired or existing under any act or ordinance hereby repealed as cited in §
195-38; nor shall any just or legal right or remedy of any character be lost, impaired or affected by §§
195-37 through
195-41.