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Town of Bel Air, MD
Harford County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Code
New Laws (6) Index Notes (5)
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Town Commissioners of the Town of Bel Air 3-1-2021 by Ord. No. 799-21.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Ch. 353, Plumbing and Gas Fitting Standards, adopted Ord. No. 769-15.
For the purpose of establishing rules and regulations for the proper design, acceptable installation and adequate maintenance of plumbing and fuel-operated systems within the Town of Bel Air, permits and the fixing of penalties and fees, the Town of Bel Air hereby adopts the 2018 International Plumbing Code, the 2018 International Fuel Gas Code, published by the International Code Council and the American Gas Association and the section of the 2018 International Residential Code, saving and excepting such portions as are deleted, modified or amended by this chapter, and the same are hereby adopted and made part of this chapter with the same force and effect as though set forth in full herein. A copy of the Plumbing Code and supplements thereto are on file with the Town of Bel Air and open for public use, examination, and inspection.
The purpose of this chapter is to provide practical plumbing and gas fitting requirements to safeguard persons and gas fitting conditions in the Town of Bel Air.
The provisions of this chapter shall apply to and govern plumbing and gas fitting work performed in the Town of Bel Air and are designed to safeguard persons and property in the Town of Bel Air.
A. 
Definitions. As used in this code, the term "authority having jurisdiction" means the Town of Bel Air, Director of Public Works.
B. 
The following sections are changes or additions to certain sections of the 2018 International Plumbing Code.
(1) 
Subsection 101.1, Title, is hereby amended by substituting the words "Town of Bel Air" for the words "NAME OF JURISDICTION."
(2) 
Subsection 103.1, General, is deleted in its entirety.
(3) 
Subsection 103.2, Appointment, is amended by adding "and the Deputy Director" after the word "official" in the first line.
(4) 
Subsection 103.3 is deleted in its entirety.
(5) 
Subsection 103.4 is deleted in its entirety.
(6) 
Subsection 106.3, Application for permit, is hereby amended by adding "who shall meet with the requirements of § 202-5 of the Harford County Plumbing Code" after the word "agent" in the sixth line.
(7) 
Subsection 105.2, Alternative materials, design and methods of construction and equipment, is deleted and the following is inserted in lieu thereof:
105.2 Alternative materials, methods and equipment. The provisions of this code are not intended to prevent the installation of any material or to prohibit any method of construction not specifically prescribed by this code, provided that any such alternative has been approved. An alternative material or method of construction shall be approved where the code official finds that the proposed alternative material, method or equipment complies with the intent of the provisions of this code and is not less than the equivalent of that prescribed in this code. Where the alternative material, design or method of construction is not approved, the code official shall respond in writing, stating the reasons why the alternative was not approved.
(8) 
Subsections 106.1.1, Annual permit, and 106.1.2, Annual permit records, are deleted in their entirety.
(9) 
Subsection 106.3, Application for permit, is amended by adding "in writing or electronically" after the word "furnished" in the third line and by adding "who shall meet the requirements of this chapter" after the word "agent" in the sixth line.
(10) 
Subsection 106.3.1, Construction documents, is hereby amended by adding "All plans shall be prepared in accordance with § 202-7 of the Harford County Plumbing Code" in the fourth line after "for a permit."
(11) 
New Subsection 106.3.4 is added as follows:
106.3.4 Emergency work. When work of an emergency nature, other than sewage disposal work, must be performed to rectify a condition that is potentially unsanitary or hazardous to life, health or property, the master plumber, master natural gas fitter, water pump contractor or on-site contractor, as the case may be, may undertake such work prior to the issuance of a permit, but he or she shall notify the authority having jurisdiction over the emergency and shall obtain a permit for such work within 48 hours of the commencement of the work.
(12) 
Subsection 106.5.3, Expiration, is deleted and the following is inserted in lieu thereof:
106.5.3 Expiration. Every permit issued by the code official under the provisions of this code shall expire by limitation and become null and void if the work authorized by such permit is not commenced within one year from the date of such permit, or if the work authorized by such permit is suspended or abandoned at any time after the work is commenced for a period of 180 days and by deleting "180" in the fourth line and inserting, in lieu thereof, "365."
(13) 
Subsection 106.5.4, Extensions, is amended by deleting the last two sentences.
(14) 
New Subsection 106.5.5.1 is added as follows:
106.5.5.1 Withholding permits. The Building Official may withhold the issuance of a plumbing or fuel gas permit if the applicant has failed to remedy or correct any violations of this code on any previous permits within 90 calendar days from the time for which the applicant has been cited by the Department of Building Safety.
(15) 
Subsection 106.5.7, Previous approvals, is amended by deleting the language beginning with the "," in the fifth line down through the word "abandoned" in the seventh line.
(16) 
Subsection 106.6.1, Work commencing before permit issuance, is amended by deleting the language beginning with "100" in the fourth line down through the word "fees" in the fifth line and inserting in lieu thereof "a fee established by the code official that shall be in addition to the required permit fees unless waived by the code official pursuant to established policy."
(17) 
Subsections 106.6.2 and 106.6.3 are deleted and the following shall be inserted in lieu thereof:
106.6.2 Fee schedule. The fees for all plumbing and fuel gas work shall be in accordance with Chapter 157 of the Harford County Code, as amended.
106.6.3 Fee refunds. Refunds shall be administered in accordance with Chapter 157 of the Harford County Code, as amended.
(18) 
Subsection 108.1, Unlawful acts, is amended by adding "or fuel gas" after the word "plumbing" in the third line.
(19) 
Subsection 108.4, Violation penalties, is hereby amended by deleting "[SPECIFY OFFENSE], punishable by a fine of not more than [AMOUNT] dollars or by imprisonment not exceeding [NUMBER OF DAYS], or both such fine and imprisonment" in the seventh line and inserting, in lieu thereof, and replacing with "misdemeanor, punishable as provided in Chapter 1, Article II, of the Bel Air Town Code."
(20) 
Subsection 108.5, Stop work orders, is hereby amended by deleting "of not less than [AMOUNT] dollars or more than [AMOUNT] dollars" in the fourteenth line and inserting in lieu thereof, and replacing with, "misdemeanor, punishable as provided in Chapter 1, Article II, of the Bel Air Town Code."
(21) 
Subsection 108.7, Unsafe plumbing, is amended by adding "or fuel gas" after the word "plumbing" in the title on the first line, and by adding "or fuel gas system" after the word "plumbing" in the first line.
(22) 
Subsection 108.7.1, Authority to condemn equipment, is amended by adding "or fuel gas system" after the word "plumbing" in the second line of the first paragraph and in the first line of the second paragraph.
(23) 
Subsection 109.1, Application for appeal, is amended by adding "as established in Section 113 of Chapter 82 of the Harford County Code" after "Board of Appeals" in the second and third lines.
(24) 
Subsections 109.2 through 109.7 are deleted.
(25) 
Section 202, General Definitions, is hereby amended by deleting the definition of "plumbing" and inserting the following in lieu thereof:
PLUMBING. The practice, materials and fixtures used in the installation, maintenance, extension, alteration and removal of all piping, plumbing fixtures, plumbing appliances, and plumbing appurtenances in connection with any of the following: sanitary drainage, storm facilities, venting systems, public or private water supply systems, within or adjacent to any building structure or conveyance; also the practice and materials used in the installation, maintenance, extension, alteration or removal of stormwater, refrigeration and air conditioning drainage, liquid waste or sewage, and water supply, of any premises to their connection with the water supply system or to an acceptable disposal facility. "Plumbing" also means the practice and materials in the installation, repair, service and replacement of gas piping, gas utilization equipment, and associated accessories.
Except for the initial connection to a potable water supply downstream of the backflow preventer and the final connection that discharges indirectly into a public or private disposal system, the following are excluded from the definition: all piping, equipment or material used exclusively for environmental control, for incorporation of liquids or gases into any product or process for use in the manufacturing or storage of any product, including product development, or for the installation, alteration, repair or removal of automatic sprinkler systems installed for fire protection only or their related appurtenances or standpipes connected to automatic sprinkler systems or overhead or underground fire lines beginning at a point where water is used exclusively for fire protection.
(26) 
Section 202, General Definitions, is amended by adding the definition of "Plumbing Board" between the terms "plumbing appurtenance" and "plumbing fixture":
PLUMBING BOARD. The Harford County Plumbing Board as defined in § 16-7 of the Harford County Plumbing Code, as amended.
(27) 
Section 202, General Definitions, is amended by deleting the definition of "vent stack" and inserting the following in lieu thereof:
VENT STACK. A vent stack provides positive pressure relief from the base of individual drain stacks having five or more branch intervals.
(28) 
Subsection 301.3, Connections to drainage system, is hereby amended by adding the following to the end of the sixth line: "The drainage system of any building in which plumbing fixtures are installed shall be connected to a public sewer system if the public sewer system is within 10 feet of any property line of the premises, or other reasonable distance as determined by the authority having jurisdiction."
(29) 
Subsection 301.4, Connections to water supply, is hereby amended by adding the following to the end of the fifth line: "The water distribution system of any building in which plumbing fixtures are installed shall be connected to a public water supply system if the public water supply system is within 10 feet of any property line of the premises, or other reasonable distance as determined by the authority having jurisdiction."
(30) 
New Subsection 404.2 is added as follows:
404.2 Maryland Accessibility Code. Plumbing fixtures, materials and clearances for those fixtures shall be accessible to individuals with disabilities as specified in the Maryland Accessibility Code, COMAR 05.02.02 et seq.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See now COMAR 09.12.53.
(31) 
New Subsection 405.3.6 is added as follows:
405.3.6 Faucet installations. Fiberglass or plastic tub and shower enclosures cannot be installed with faucets back-to-back unless approved by the authority having jurisdiction.
(32) 
Subsection 504.6, Requirements for discharge piping, is hereby amended by deleting item 5 and inserting in lieu thereof, "Discharge to a waste receptor or to the outdoors."
(33) 
Subsection 504.7, Required pan, is hereby amended by adding the words ", clothes washing machine" after the word "heater" in the first line.
(34) 
New Subsection 603.3 is added as follows:
604.8 Water meters. Each dwelling unit which meets the definition of a "dwelling, carriage court" contained in § 267-4 of the Harford County Plumbing Code, as amended, shall be provided with a private, individual water meter.
(35) 
New Subsection 603.4 is added as follows:
603.4 Underground nonmetallic water service. Underground nonmetallic water service piping shall be made detectable by the installation of tracer wiring that complies with Public Utilities Article, § 12-129, of the Annotated Code of Maryland. The wire shall be an insulated copper tracer wire suitable for direct burial, at least 10 AWG, or equivalent. Insulation shall be 30 mil minimum thickness, HMWPE or HDPE polyethylene, color coded blue. The wire shall be installed in the same trench as the piping, tied or taped to the pipe every five to eight feet in the 3:00 position or installed within 12 inches of the pipe in fill. One end of the wire shall terminate within five feet of the building served, at or above grade, accessible for use, and resistant to physical damage. Tracer wiring installations shall be tested by location with line tracing equipment upon completion of rough grading and again prior to final acceptance.
(36) 
Subsection 604.8 is deleted and the following is inserted in lieu thereof:
604.8 Water pressure reducing valve or regulator. When connected to a public water supply system, an approved pressure-reducing valve shall be installed in the building water service pipe near its point of entrance to the building. Pressure to the building water distribution piping shall be limited to a maximum pressure of 80 PSI under no-flow conditions. The water distribution piping shall be relieved of excessive pressure due to thermal expansion by one of the following methods:
1.
Air chambers when equipped with an accessible means restoring the air.
2.
Approved mechanical devices. Pressure at any fixture shall be limited to no more than 80 PSI under no-flow conditions.
Exceptions: Where the water service pipe supplies water directly to:
1.
A water pressure booster system; or
2.
An elevated water gravity tank; or
3.
Pumps provided in connection with a hydropneumatic or elevated gravity water supply tank system.
(37) 
Subsection 605.3 is deleted and the following is inserted in lieu thereof:
605.3 Water service pipe. Approved water service pipe to the point of the entrance of a building, including piping to the pressure-reducing valve, shall have a minimum pressure rating of 200 PSI, 73° F. Acceptable materials for a water service include brass pipe, copper tube or copper pipe, cast iron water pipe, polyethylene plastic tubing and chlorinated polyvinyl chloride service pipe. Copper tube or copper pipe, when used underground, may not be less than Type L. All threaded ferrous pipe and fitting shall be galvanized or cement lines and, when used underground in corrosive soil or filled ground, shall be coal tar enamel coated, or the equivalent, and threaded joints shall be coated and wrapped when installed.
(38) 
New Subsection 605.3.2 is added as follows:
605.3.2 Backflow prevention on commercial properties. For a commercial property with multiple tenants, the water service for each tenant space shall be separate and shall have a testable backflow preventer installed.
(39) 
Subsection 605.4 is deleted and the following is inserted in lieu thereof:
605.4 Water distribution pipe. Water distribution pipe shall be of brass pipe, copper tube or cooper pipe, galvanized steel pipe, polyethylene and chlorinated polyvinyl plastic when approved for hot or cold use. Copper tube or copper pipe, when used underground, may not be less than Type L and, when used above ground, may not be less than Type M.
(40) 
Subsection 605.5, Fittings, is amended by adding "push-fit joints shall not be installed below grade" after the last sentence in the seventh line.
(41) 
Subsection 606.2, Location of shutoff valves, is amended by adding "and/or hose bib" after the word "sillcock" in numbered paragraph 2.
(42) 
Subsection 607.2, Hot or tempered water supply to fixtures, is amended by deleting "50" in the fourth line and inserting in lieu thereof "75."
(43) 
Subsection 607.3, Thermal expansion control, is amended by adding the following at the end of the paragraph:
Exception:
(1)
Instantaneous water heaters.
(2)
Well systems with water pressure tanks.
(44) 
New Subsection 703.7 is added as follows:
703.7 Building sanitary sewer tracer wiring. Underground building sanitary sewer nonmetallic piping shall be made detectable by the installation of tracer wiring that complies with Public Utilities Article, § 12-129, of the Annotated Code of Maryland. The wire shall be an insulated copper tracer wire suitable for direct burial, at least 10 AWG, or equivalent. Insulation shall be 30 mil minimum thickness, HMWPE or HDPE polyethylene, color coded green. The wire shall be installed in the same trench as the piping, tied or taped to the pipe every five to eight feet in the 3:00 position or installed within 12 inches of the pipe in fill. One end of the wire shall terminate within five feet of the building served, at or above grade, accessible for use, and resistant to physical damage. Tracer wiring installations shall be tested by location with line tracing equipment upon completion of rough grading and again prior to final acceptance.
(45) 
Table 710.1(2) is amended by deleting note "B," and inserting in lieu thereof the following: "B. The size of the drain stack should be maintained full-size to its stack vent to provide the air associated with the high velocity drain flow that the vent stack is relieving at its base."
(46) 
Subsection 714.1, Sewage backflow, is amended by adding "or private" after the word "public" in the fourth, eighth and twelfth lines.
(47) 
Subsection 904.3, Vent termination, is amended by deleting "to the open air or to a stack-type air admittance valve in accordance with section 918" in the second and third lines.
(48) 
Subsection 918.3.1 is deleted.
(49) 
Subsection 918.3.2, Stack, is amended by deleting "or stack vents" in the third line.
(50) 
Subsection 918.8, Prohibited installations, is amended by deleting the third sentence of the paragraph.
(51) 
Subsection 1002.4.1.4 is deleted.
(52) 
Subsection 1003.3.1, Grease interceptors and automatic grease removal devices required, is amended by adding, prior to the word "A" in the second line, "except in special cases as determined by the authority having jurisdiction."
(53) 
Subsection 1003.3.1, Grease interceptors and automatic grease removal devices required, is hereby amended by inserting the following sentence after "to be discharged" in the fourteenth line, "Upon request by the authority having jurisdiction or the Harford County Health Department, the owner of the establishment shall provide a copy of a pumping contract or pumping receipts for the interceptor. The minimum size of a grease interceptor shall be 1,000 gallons. The grease interceptor shall be located outside of the building unless otherwise determined by the authority having jurisdiction. The discharge from a commercial dishwasher shall not pass through a grease interceptor unless approved by the authority having jurisdiction."
(54) 
Subsection 1003.3.1, Grease interceptors and automatic grease removal devices required, is hereby amended by inserting the following sentence at the end of the subsection: "Where installed inside a building, a grease interceptor shall be located in a separate room which has outside access."
(55) 
New Subsection 1101.10 is added as follows:
1101.10. Parking and fuel island storm drainage. On parking lots, fuel islands or parking garages where oil waste product is subject to mixing with rainwater, ice and melting snow, drains for the runoff shall not be connected to the sanitary sewer. Any stormwater runoff shall be drained separately to the storm sewer.
(56) 
Subsection 1202.1, Nonflammable medical gases, is amended by deleting numbered exception "2."
C. 
The following sections are changes or additions to certain sections of the 2015 International Fuel Gas Code.
(1) 
Subsection 101.1, Title, is hereby amended by substituting the words "Town of Bel Air" for the words "[NAME OF JURISDICTION]."
(2) 
Subsection 101.3, Appendices, is hereby deleted and the following is inserted in lieu thereof:
101.3 Appendices. The provisions of Appendix A, Appendix B, Appendix C and Appendix D are hereby adopted as part of this code.
(3) 
New Subsection 102.12 is added as follows:
102.12 Alternative compliance. When approved by the Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits, gas installations may comply with NFPA 58.
(4) 
Sections 103 through 110 are deleted and the following is inserted in lieu thereof: "Administration of the 2018 International Fuel Gas Code shall be in accordance with Chapter 353 of this code."
(5) 
Section 202 (IFGC), General Definitions, is amended by deleting the definition of "code official" and replacing with the following in lieu thereof:
CODE OFFICIAL. The Director of Public Works for the Town of Bel Air or his/her designee.
(6) 
Section 202 (IFGC), General Definitions, is amended by adding the following definition of "Department of Inspection" between the terms "demand" and "design flood elevation":
DEPARTMENT OF INSPECTION. The Harford County Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits.
(7) 
Section 202 (IFGC), General Definitions, is amended by adding the definition of "Plumbing Board" between the terms "plumbing appurtenance" and "plumbing fixture":
PLUMBING BOARD. The Harford County Plumbing Board as defined in § 16-7 of the Harford County Plumbing Code, as amended.
(8) 
Subsection 310.1, Pipe and tubing other than CSST, is amended by adding "For existing gas piping installations," at the beginning of the second sentence before the word "gas."
(9) 
Subsection 310.3, ARC-resistant CSST, is deleted.
D. 
The following sections are changes or addition as to certain sections of the 2018 International Residential Code:
(1) 
The following appendices of the 2018 International Residential Code are hereby adopted: Appendices A through 3, Appendix I and Appendix P.
(2) 
Table P2906.4, Water Service Pipe, is amended by deleting "M" in the fifth line.
(3) 
Subsection P2906.4.1 is amended by deleting "5 feet" in the eighth and twelfth lines and inserting in lieu thereof "12 inches."
(4) 
New Subsection P2906.4.2 is added as follows:
P2906.4.2 Underground nonmetallic water service. Underground nonmetallic water service piping shall be made detectable by the installation of tracer wiring that complies with Public Utilities Article, § 12-129, of the Annotated Code of Maryland. The wire shall be an insulated copper tracer wire suitable for direct burial, at least 10 AWG, or equivalent. Insulation shall be 30 mil minimum thickness, HMWPE or HDPE polyethylene, color coded blue. The wire shall be installed in the same trench as the piping, tied or taped to the pipe every five to eight feet in the 3:00 position or installed within 12 inches of the pipe in fill. One end of the wire shall terminate within five feet of the building served, at or above grade, accessible for use, and resistant to physical damage. Tracer wiring installations shall be tested by location with line tracing equipment upon completion of rough grading and again prior to final acceptance.
(5) 
Subsection P2906.21 is amended by adding "Push-fit joints shall not be installed below grade" at the end of the section.
(6) 
New Subsection P3002.2.2 is added as follows:
P3002.2.2 Building sanitary sewer tracer wiring. Underground building sanitary sewer nonmetallic piping shall be made detectable by the installation of tracer wiring that complies with Public Utilities Article, § 12-129, of the Annotated Code of Maryland. The wire shall be an insulated copper tracer wire suitable for direct burial, at least 10 AWG, or equivalent. Insulation shall be 30 mil minimum thickness, HMWPE or HDPE polyethylene, color coded green. The wire shall be installed in the same trench as the piping, tied or taped to the pipe every five to eight feet in the 3:00 position or installed within 12 inches of the pipe in fill. One end of the wire shall terminate within five feet of the building served, at or above grade, accessible for use, and resistant to physical damage. Tracer wiring installations shall be tested by location with line tracing equipment upon completion of rough grading and again prior to final acceptance.
(7) 
Subsection P3201.2.1.4 is deleted.
(8) 
Subsection P3114.8 is amended by deleting the first sentence.
All persons performing plumbing or gas fitting services in the Town of Bel Air shall be registered with the Harford County Division of Plumbing Services and certified in accordance with § 202-4, Certificate of registration, of the Harford County Plumbing Code.
The following sections of the Harford County Plumbing Code are adopted by reference and shall apply to plumbing and gas fitting services in the Town of Bel Air: §§ 202-5, Permit applicants, 202-6, Change of registered contractors, 202-7, Plans and specification, and 202-8, Inspection of plumbing, gas fitting and sewage disposal systems.
Sewer, water and gas piping shall not be connected or installed through a property other than the property to be served except as provided herein. Plumbing or gas piping connections which cannot be made except by the crossing of nonserviced property may, with the permission of the Town of Bel Air, be carried through a right-of-way or easement across nonserviced property, provided that:
A. 
All privileges of such right-of-way or easement is obtained by the property owner desiring service, without any cost or liability to the Town of Bel Air; and
B. 
Such easement or right-of-way shall meet all applicable regulatory requirements of the authority having jurisdiction; and
C. 
Such easement or right-of-way shall be granted and conveyed by plat and/or formal deed recorded in the land records of Harford County.
A. 
Plumbing shall be designed and adjusted to use the minimum quantity of water consistent with proper performance and cleaning and in conformity with the water conservation requirements established in the Maryland State Plumbing Code.
B. 
Executive authority. The Board of Town Commissioners may institute measures to adopt plans to increase the water supply of the Town of Bel Air and decrease consumption, such as, but not limited to, requiring the use of fixtures as stated herein and requiring a limited use of potable water for purposes other than for human consumption and use.
Any person, firm or corporation who or which individually, collectively or through others shall construct, erect, alter or repair any plumbing, gas fitting or sewage disposal work in violation of any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be subject to a penalty as provided in Chapter 1, Article II, of this Code.