The term plumbing shall be construed to mean the installation of gas or water pipes, fixtures, apparatus and the necessary connections either for supplying gas or water to premises or for the removing of liquid and water-borne wastes from premises in the city, or both such purposes, and shall also denote installed fixtures, drainage and vent systems and gas or water distribution systems as the case may be.
(Code 2012)
(a) There
is hereby incorporated by reference for the purpose of providing minimum
regulations for the installation, alteration, repair and maintenance of
plumbing, drainage and gas-fitting systems, the
“International Plumbing Code,” 2009 Edition including all appendices to each,
prepared and published in book form by the International Code Council, Inc. Any
errata officially published by the International Code Council, Inc., shall become
part of the International Plumbing Code when placed on file by the
administrative authority. If any conflict or discrepancy exists between this
article and the referenced International Plumbing Code, the provisions of this
article shall rule. No fewer than three copies of the International Plumbing
Code shall be marked or stamped “Official Copy as Incorporated by Reference by
the Code of the City of Moundridge, Kansas” and to which shall be attached a
copy of this ordinance and filed with the City Clerk to be open to inspection
and available to the public at all reasonable hours. All administrative departments
of the City charged with the enforcement of the ordinance shall be supplied, at
the cost of the City, such number of official copies of such International
Plumbing Code as may be expedient.
(b) A violation of any of the provisions of this article is hereby declared to be an offense and any party, upon conviction hereof, shall be fined in any sum not less than $10.00 nor more than S100.00 or be imprisoned not to exceed 30 days or be both so fined and imprisoned for each offense. Each day during which any violation of any provision of this article is committed, continued or permitted shall constitute a separate offense.
(Ord. 741; Code 2012; Ord. 1016)
The following sections are in addition to the provisions of the standard code incorporated by reference in Section 4-402.
(Code 2012)
The Superintendent of Utilities or his or her authorized designee shall be responsible for the administration and enforcement and appointment of a plumbing inspector in accordance with Section 4, which apply in a like manner.
(Ord. 741; Code 2012)
The Superintendent of Utilities may assume the responsibilities of or appoint some qualified officer or employee of the city to be and perform the duties of plumbing inspector as may be required, subject to the consent and approval of the governing body.
(Ord. 741; Code 2012)
The plumbing inspector shall have the following duties:
(a) To enforce all regulations relating to plumbing construction, alteration, repair or removal;
(b) May permit, with the approval of the governing body, on the basis of duly authenticated reports from recognized sources, the use of new materials or modes of construction, for the purpose of carrying out the intent of this ordinance adopt an accepted standard of material or workmanlike practices of federal or state bureaus, national, technical organizations or fire underwriters;
(c) To examine all buildings in the process of erection, construction, alteration or relocation in the city for the purpose of determining whether the work is in compliance with the plumbing permit given and in compliance with the regulations of the city pertaining to such work, including zoning regulations; and
(d) To keep comprehensive records of applications, of permits or certificates issued, of inspections made, of reports rendered, and of notices or orders issued. All such records shall be open to public inspection during stated office hours, but shall not be removed from the office of the building official or plumbing inspector without his or her written consent.
(Code 2012)
The plumbing inspector shall have the following powers:
(a) To enter any building or structure or premises at any reasonable hour, whether complete or in the process of erection, to perform the duties contained in this ordinance;
(b) To adopt and enforce all such prudent emergency measures as he or she may deem necessary and expedient for the public safety under the laws of the city;
(c) May cause any work done in violation to be discontinued until he or she shall have satisfactory evidence that the work will be done in accordance with the plumbing regulations of the city, subject to the right of any plumber, plumbing contractor or owner to appeal to the governing body.
(Code 2012)
(a) The plumbing inspector, or his or her agent, upon proper identification, shall have authority to enter any building, structure or premises at any reasonable hour to perform his or her duties.
(b) The authority granted to the public officer by subsection (a) of this section is subject to the following:
(1) If the building, structure or premises is occupied, the public officer shall first present proper credentials, explain the purpose for which admittance is desired and demand entry.
(2) If such property is unoccupied, the public officer shall first make a reasonable effort to locate the owner or other person having charge or control of the property, present proper credentials, explain the purpose for which admittance is desired and demand entry.
(3) If the public officer is refused admission or cannot locate the owner or occupant, the public officer shall refrain from entering until authorized to do so by proper judicial authority.
(Code 2012)
(a) The governing body shall be the final determiner of the scope and meaning of all provisions of the plumbing code which may be unclear, ambiguous, or requiring interpretation.
(b) The plumbing inspector shall have power to modify any of the provisions of the plumbing code upon application in writing by the owner or lessee or his or her authorized agent, when there are practical difficulties in the way of carrying out the strict letter of the code. In approving modifications, the plumbing inspector shall see that the spirit of the code is observed, public safety secured and substantial justice done. The particulars of a modification when granted or allowed and the decision of the inspector thereon shall be entered upon the records of the plumbing inspector and a signed copy shall be furnished to the applicant.
(Code 2012)
(a) It shall be unlawful to install, alter or reconstruct any plumbing or plumbing system, as defined by the plumbing code and Section 4-401, in any building in the city without first making application to and receiving a permit therefor from the city clerk, after approval by the chief building official or his or her authorized assistant. The application for such permit shall be made and the permit obtained before any plumbing work is commenced.
(b) No permit shall be required for making minor repairs of any plumbing including repair of leaks in water pipes, traps or cocks, opening up stoppage in waste or supply pipes, traps or drains, replacing fixtures when waste pipes are not disturbed, or replacing frozen pipes inside the building, and like repair work not involving original installation or reconstruction.
(Code 2012)
(a) A plumbing permit shall be issued upon an application in writing to the office of city clerk on a form or forms provided for the purpose. This application shall, among other things, disclose the following:
(1) The name of the owner of the lot or tract of ground;
(2) The location of the building or structure;
(3) The plumbing work proposed;
(4) The class of occupancy;
(5) The class of construction;
(6) The kind of materials to be used;
(7) The estimated cost of the work;
(8) The date work will commence;
(9) Expected date of completion;
(10) Name and address of plumber, plumbing contractor or contractors doing the work;
(11) Such other information as may be pertinent to the issuance of the required permit.
(b) An application for a plumbing permit shall be signed by the owner or his or her duly authorized agent, or a plumber or plumbing contractor licensed by the city. If the application is made by the owner or his or her agent, it shall contain the name or names of the licensed plumber, plumbing contractor or contractors doing the work described, or a plumbing permit may be issued to the owner upon his or her application disclosing satisfactory evidence that the proposed work will be performed by the owner, himself or herself and not by a licensed plumber or plumbing contractor, and likewise subject to the final approval of the plumbing inspector for work performed.
(c) Upon approval of the completed application and a determination that a permit should be issued, the chief building official or his or her assistant shall issue a permit to the owner or contractor authorizing the plumbing work covered by the application.
(d) Any permit issued shall be valid and subsisting for a period of not more than six months from the date of issuance unless the permittee shall have commenced, within the period so limited, the plumbing work authorized by such permit. Plumbing work commenced for the purpose of this section shall mean the beginning of plumbing work other than the preparation of plans or the letting of a plumbing contract.
(Code 2012)
Whenever an application for a plumbing permit is made, the chief building official or the plumbing inspector may, if he or she finds it necessary to determine whether work described in the application will comply with the laws pertaining to such work, require that the applicant file a written description or drawing of the proposed plumbing construction as may be prepared for the purpose. If such drawing or description is insufficient for the purposes of determining whether a permit should be issued, the chief building official or the plumbing inspector may require the applicant to file complete architectural and engineering plans and specifications for such building or construction, or any part thereof, as may be necessary for the inspector to determine compliance with this ordinance. The filing of such plans and specifications and the approval thereof in connection with an application for a permit shall not in any way affect the authority of the city to deny or issue a permit, or to inspect any plumbing work for conformity with this ordinance.
(Code 2012)
See Section 4-101.
(Code 2012)
A copy of the plumbing permit shall be kept on the premises for public inspection during the performance of the work and until the completion of the same. The plumbing inspector may require a certified copy of the approved plans to be kept on the premises at all times from the commencement of the work to the completion thereof.
(Code 2012)
Upon the completion of any plumbing work covered by this ordinance, it shall be the duty of the person doing such work to notify the plumbing inspector and request that it be inspected; after which such work shall be inspected promptly as hereinafter provided.
(Code 2012)
(a) When any plumbing is to be hidden from view by the permanent placement of parts of the building, the person, firm or corporation installing the plumbing shall notify the plumbing inspector and such equipment shall not be concealed until it has been inspected, approved or authorized by the plumbing inspector or until 24 hours, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, shall have elapsed from the time of such notification. On large installations, where the concealment of plumbing proceeds continuously, the person, firm or corporation installing the plumbing shall give the plumbing inspector due notice and inspections shall be made periodically during the progress of the work.
(b) The plumbing inspector shall have the authority to require owners or contractors to open such work which, in any manner, conceals plumbing that has been closed without his or her knowledge or permission, and in no case shall the inspector issue a certificate of approval until satisfied that the work is in accordance with the provisions of this ordinance. The inspector shall also have the right to refuse to issue a certificate of approval on any plumbing, that is concealed in such manner that it cannot be fully determined that it has been done in accordance with this ordinance.
(Code 2012)
(a) When the plumbing inspector finds plumbing construction to be in conformity with the provisions of this ordinance, he or she shall issue to the person, firm, or corporation performing the plumbing construction, a certificate of approval, with duplicate copy for delivery to the owner, authorizing the use of the plumbing system and connection to the supply of gas or water, as the case may be.
(b) When a certificate of approval is issued authorizing the connection and use of a temporary gas or water supply, the certificate shall expire at a time to be stated therein and shall be revocable for cause by the plumbing inspector.
(c) In no case shall certificates of approval be issued on plumbing or plumbing systems or parts of systems where the work installed does not conform to the requirements of this ordinance.
(d) If, upon inspection, the plumbing or plumbing system is not found to be fully in conformity with the provisions of this ordinance, the plumbing inspector shall immediately notify the person, firm, or corporation making the installation of the existing defects.
(e) No certificate of approval shall be issued unless the plumbing or plumbing system has been installed in strict conformity with the provisions of this ordinance and unless the plumbing or plumbing system is made in compliance with nationally approved methods of construction for safety to life and property as herein set forth.
(f) The plumbing inspector shall be deemed the judge of whether the plumbing or plumbing system has been made in accordance with the requirements of this ordinance.
(g) No certificate of approval shall be required for making minor repairs of any plumbing including repair of leaks in water pipes, traps or cocks, opening up stoppage in waste or supply pipes, traps or drains, replacing fixtures when waste pipes are not disturbed, or replacing frozen pipes inside the building, and like repair work not involving original installation or reconstruction.
(Code 2012)
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to make connection to a supply of gas or water for which an inspection is required, or which has been disconnected by the order of the plumbing inspector, until a certificate of approval has been issued by the plumbing inspector authorizing the connection and use of such plumbing or plumbing system. The plumbing inspector may, at his or her discretion, authorize a temporary connection.
(Code 2012)
(a) If in the judgment of the plumbing inspector, after inspection, the plumbing or plumbing system in any building are unsafe or dangerous to persons or property, the inspector shall have the power to cause the plumbing or plumbing system to be disconnected from the supply of gas or water and may, at his or her discretion, seal the control valves for the same in a closed or disconnected position, whereupon he or she shall give notice to the owner, or his or her agent, or by posting such notice at the site and shall also notify the utilities serving the premises. Thereafter, it shall be unlawful for any person to cause or permit gas or water to be supplied to the plumbing or plumbing system so sealed until they shall have been made safe and the inspector shall have issued a certificate of approval to that effect.
(b) When the plumbing inspector condemns all or part of any plumbing system, the owner may, within 10 days after receiving written notice thereof, file a petition in writing for review of the action of the plumbing inspector by the governing body, upon the receipt of which the governing body shall at once proceed to determine the facts, and within 10 days from receiving the petition make a decision in accordance with their findings.
(Code 2012)