When most people think of plumbing, they
think of the pipes underneath their sinks, the sink drains, and the
toilet. However, plumbing encompasses
much more than just the things you see everyday – including waste drainage and water
safety issues – and there are therefore some very strict government guidelines
when it comes to the installation and repair of plumbing systems. Here are some of the most important plumbing
regulations you may not know:
Board
of Health approval.
Any plumbing plan that is installed to deliver or drain water – in any
commercial or residential property – must be approved by the State Board of
Health. Alls plans and specification for
the plumbing job must be submitted to the board for prior approval before the
work begins, and these plans will stay on file with the Board of Health. Additionally, no plumbing work may be covered
or concealed until it has been signed off on by a Board of Health official as
meeting necessary standards and falling in line with the submitted plans and specifications.
Registration
and licensing.
No plumber can do plumbing work, or even advertise plumbing services or
materials, without first being properly registered and licensed by the Board of
Health. Registration requires the
submission of a verified and approved business name and place of business. If a plumber changes business names or
addresses, it is necessary to acquire new licensing and registration with the
updated information before working or advertising plumbing services.
Sewer
or drain connection. Any and all plumbing in both residential and
commercial buildings absolutely must be separately connected, from the outside,
to a public sewer or drainage system (if provided). In the case that there is no public sewage
system to connect to, the plumbing system must be separately and independently
connected to a private drainage and sewage system that is laid fully outside of
the building premises. If a sewage
system is not possible or accessible, then an appropriate purification system,
irrigation system, or cesspool must be in place. Additionally, several buildings may connect
to the same sewage and drainage system, as long as the connections are
separate.