(a) The plumbing code adopted in section
4.02.191 is amended as follows:
(1) Plumbing inspectors.
6-158.1 Plumbing inspectors. The office of plumbing inspector is hereby created to administer and enforce this code. The city’s plumbing inspector(s) shall be licensed by the Texas state board of plumbing examiners (or its successor). The person chosen to fill this office shall be of good moral character; and shall be possessed of such executive ability, training and experience as is required for the performance of his duties in the enforcement of this code. He shall receive such compensation and serve for such term as may be fixed by the governing body; and execute and deliver to the city a surety bond in the principal amount of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) conditioned upon the diligent and honest performance of the duties required by this code, or any other ordinance or law. The bond premium shall be paid by the city and the bond shall be satisfactory to the governing body. He shall hold and keep in force a plumbing inspector’s license issued by the state board of plumbing examiners.
(2) Replacement of water heaters.
Permits and inspections shall be required for the replacement of water heaters, where change in rough-in is required.
(3) Permit and inspection fees.
Fees for plumbing and gas permits and inspections are as set forth in the fee schedule in appendix
A of the Code of Ordinances.
(4) Drainage and vent system tests.
(A) All the piping of new installations, and of major additions, or renovations of existing systems, shall be tested with water. The water test shall be applied to the drainage system either in its entirety or in sections. All openings in the portion under test shall be tightly plugged except the highest opening and the system filled with water to point of overflow at the top floor level.
(B) The water shall be kept in the system, or portion of the system under test, for a period of at least fifteen (15) minutes before inspection and shall then be tight at all points.
(5) Building sewer test.
All building sewers shall be inspected and approved prior to backfill. Building sewers shall be tested with a top floor level head pressure of water and proved tight.
(6) Gas system test.
The test on house piping shall be made by closing all openings and subjecting the pipes to an air pressure that will support a column of mercury ten (10) inches in height or twenty (20) pounds air pressure, using a 0 to 30 psi gauge (zero to thirty pounds per square inch). If this column of mercury is supported by the air pressure for at least twenty (20) minutes, during periods of constant temperature, the piping shall be considered tight.
(7) Final inspection of gas system.
Final inspection shall be made on the gas system after the water heater, furnace and gas cocks have been installed. When changes of extensions are made to a gas system from a point where no gas stop has been provided in the original gas system, the plumber must prepare the entire system for test. Test must be on the system for a minimum of fifteen (15) minutes before inspection. On repair work, a test by company gas meter shall be sufficient if witnessed and approved by the inspector.
(8) Delete use of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) on water service.
Delete use of PVC for water lines under all floors and inaccessible places. Copper, rigid, or PEX pipe for water lines shall extend three (3) feet outside the house foundation and at least five feet from the metering point.
(9) Inaccessible water pipes.
Inaccessible water piping in or under floor slabs shall be minimum weight Type L, or better, copper tubing. Copper piping shall be continuous through the floor having no fittings or joints below the surface of the floor. Five (5) feet of copper, rigid, or PEX pipe will be required before reaching the meter location.
(10) New material required.
All pipe used for the installation, extension, alteration, or repair of any gas piping shall be new, standard-weight wrought iron, black steel, galvanized steel, tin lined copper or plastic, free from splits, internal obstructions or other defects. Burred ends shall be reamed to the full bore of the pipe. All fittings shall conform to the type of pipe used. All materials shall meet the requirements of the applicable standards as listed in the adopted IFGC, International Fuel Gas Standard, “Piping Materials,” or the standards listed in this chapter.
(11) Outside gas lights.
(A) Tin-lined copper or polyethylene tubing may be used for underground piping to outdoor appliances such as gas lights, gas grills, incinerators, etc. Polyethylene tubing shall be manufactured in accordance with requirements for PE 3306 tubing in Specifications for Plastic Gas Pressure Tubing, Pipe and Fittings, ASTM Designation D-2513-66T.
(B) The polyethylene extrusion compound from which the tubing is made shall meet the requirements of Type III, Grade 3, as described in ASTM D-1248-60T, Specifications for Polyethylene Molding and Extrusion Compounds, which are referred to in C.S. 255-63.
(C) The tubing shall be homogeneous throughout and free of visible cracks, holes, foreign inclusions or other defects. It shall also be uniform in color, opacity, density and other physical properties. This material shall be connected together by use of flared fittings and screwed connections and be installed in accordance with manufacturer’s recommendations.
(12) Underground service lines.
Service lines underground shall be tin-lined copper, standard weight wrought iron, galvanized steel, black steel protected against soil corrosion with an approved-type protective coating, or polyethylene pipe, tubes and fittings conforming to ASTM D-2513-57 and C.S. 255-63, and shall be installed according to manufacturer’s recommendations.
(13) Ditch for gas pipe.
Gas piping shall not be run in the same ditch with water, sewer, or any other utility line. A lateral clearance of not less than two (2) feet shall be maintained. Gas piping shall not be located in cinder fill, or have less than a twelve-inch cover.
(14) Location of appliance stops.
Each and every gas stove, range, cooking stove, water heater, and other gas-consuming appliance shall be provided with a stopcock located in the riser above the floor, and on the upstream side of the union, at the appliance. Such stopcock shall be readily accessible at all times.
(Ordinance 639 adopted 12/28/71; Ordinance 1087, sec. 3, adopted 9/25/07; Ordinance 1221, sec. 4, adopted 11/24/15; 1972 Code, sec. 6-158; Ordinance 1285 adopted 4/27/21; Ordinance adopting 2023 Code)