Every new plumbing system and every part of an existing
system which has been altered, extended, renovated or repaired, except
for minor repairs, shall be inspected to ascertain whether it complies
with the requirements of this Code and is in accordance with approved
plans and the permits.
Work for which a permit is required shall not be covered
or concealed in any manner until after it has been inspected and approved
by the Administrative Authority's inspectors.
Notice. The holder of a permit shall give notice to
the Administrative Authority as soon as the plumbing work provided
for in the permit is completed and ready for test or inspection.
Plumber's responsibility. The holder of a permit shall
NOT give notice of readiness for inspection unless he believes that
the work to be inspected is in compliance with the Code. A reinspection
fee shall be charged when an inspection is called for and the work
is not progressed sufficiently to warrant inspection. The fee must
be paid prior to any subsequent reinspection.
Retesting. If on inspection the Administrative Authority determines that the work has not passed any test, it shall submit a report of its findings to the person seeking approval thereof who shall cause all necessary corrections to be made in accordance with § 860-209 of the Code and to resubmit the work for testing.
Representation at test. Tests required by § 860-209A shall be conducted by the holder of the permit or his representative who is knowledgeable of the installed plumbing system. A representative of the Administrative Authority shall be present for the required test.
Reinspections of plumbing installations or any
part thereof shall be made when deemed necessary or desirable by the
Administrative Authority.
New, altered, extended, or repaired systems. New plumbing
systems and parts of existing systems which have been altered, extended,
or repaired shall be tested as prescribed hereinafter to disclose
leaks and defects, except that testing may be waived in any case where
plumbing equipment may be set up temporarily for exhibition purposes.
Defective plumbing. Where there is reason to believe
that the plumbing system of any building has become defective, it
shall be subject to test or inspection and defects found shall be
corrected.
Exposure of work. All new, altered, extended or replaced
plumbing shall be left uncovered and unconcealed until it has been
tested and approved. Where such work has been covered or concealed
before it is tested and approved, it shall be exposed for testing.
Equipment, material and labor for tests. All equipment,
material and labor required for testing a plumbing system or part
thereof shall be furnished by the plumbing contractor responsible
for installing the work.
Rough plumbing. Except for outside conductors and
perforated or open jointed drain tile, the piping of plumbing drainage
and venting systems shall be tested upon completion of the rough piping
installation by water or air and proved watertight or airtight. The
Administrative Authority may require the removal of any cleanout plugs
to ascertain if the pressure has reached all parts of the system.
Either of the following test methods shall be used:
Water test. The water test shall be applied
to the drainage system either in its entirety or in sections after
rough piping has been installed. If applied to the entire system,
all openings in the piping shall be tightly closed, except the highest
opening, and the system filled with water to point of overflow. If
the system is tested in sections, each opening shall be tightly plugged
except the highest opening of the section under test; and each section
shall be filled with water, but no section shall be tested with less
than 10-foot head of water. In testing successive sections at least
the upper 10 feet of the next proceeding section shall be tested,
so that no joint or pipe in the building (except the uppermost 10
feet of the system) shall have been submitted to a test of less than
a 10-foot head of water. The water shall be kept in the system or
in the portion under test for at least 15 minutes before inspection
starts; the system shall then be tight at all points.
Air test. The air test shall be made by attaching
air compressor testing apparatus to any suitable opening and after
closing all other inlets and outlets to the system, forcing air into
the system until there is a uniform gauge pressure of five pounds
per square inch or sufficient to balance a column of mercury 10 inches
in height. This pressure shall be held without introduction of additional
air for a period of at least 15 minutes.
Test of conductors. Conductors and their roof connections
within the walls of building, including inside branches to conductors,
shall be tested by the water or air test.
Water supply system. Upon completion of a section
or of the entire water supply system, it shall be tested and proved
tight under a water pressure not less than the working pressure under
which it is to be used. The water used for tests shall be obtained
from a potable source of supply. "Chlorination of System," AWWA Standard
C-601-81, Revised 6-2-81.
The soil, waste, inside storm and conductors, and
drainage pipes which would be covered, before the building is enclosed
or ready for inspection. The test required for (2) or (3) may be combined.
When minor alterations, repairs or other small projects,
are being inspected, the intent of this Code is that, where it would
be impractical to require air or water tests, the inspector, at his
discretion, may waive such tests. When a dispute occurs between the
inspector and contractor regarding the interpretation of this section,
the Plumbing Supervisor shall review the problem with the inspector
and contractor and decide the test method the Department will accept.
Final tests and certificate of approval. When the
plumbing installation has been installed in a building, the Plumbing
Contractor shall notify the Administrative Authority that the work
is ready for a final inspection. A final smoke test (when deemed necessary
by the Administrative Authority) shall be made of the system. It shall
be made by filling all traps with water and then introducing into
the entire system a pungent thick smoke produced by one or more smoke
machines. When the smoke appears at stack openings on the roof, they
shall be closed and a pressure, equivalent to a one inch water column
shall be built and maintained for the period of the inspection. Except
that single family dwellings, duplexes, and four family apartment
buildings rising not more than two stories above grade, or remodeling
work in old buildings need not comply with the above smoke test, however,
such systems shall be finally inspected and tested by the use of existing
water connections to the satisfaction of the Administrative Authority.
Where there is reason to suspect faulty construction in the finished
work, the Administrative Authority may require a smoke test. When
the final test is completed and found satisfactory, a certificate
of approval of the work shall be issued to the owner and Plumbing
Contractor by the Administrative Authority; but no such plumbing or
drainage work or system shall be used until said certificate has been
issued.
Maintenance. The plumbing and drainage system of every
building under the jurisdiction of the Administrative Authority shall
be maintained in a sanitary and safe operating condition and to be
at all times in compliance with the provisions of this Code which
shall be the responsibility of the owner or his agent, except that
existing plumbing installed under prior regulations or lack thereof,
may remain unchanged unless immediate hazards to health, life or property
are evident.
Inflow and infiltration. Storm, ground, or seepage
water shall not enter the sanitary sewage system through inflow or
infiltration. Where such conditions exists and orders are issued by
the Administrative Authority. it shall be the responsibility of the
owner or his/her agent to repair, replace, or otherwise correct the
piping system.