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The Department of Buildings has prepared a brochure - "Plumbing Work: The Guide to Successful Plumbing Inspections".
Reprinted below is the information contained in the brochure.
Plumbing Inspections at a glance
Plumbing work is defined by the NYC Building Code as the "Installation, maintenance, repair, modification, extension or alteration of any waste,
domestic water, gas or fire standpipes in any building or piping system." All permitted plumbing work requires an inspection. Follow these tips
to make your plumbing inspection successful:
- Be on time and ready. Wait in front of the building, not inside or around the corner- unless you specified differently when the appointment was made.
- Inform building security and personnel about the inspection so the inspector can access the building without delay.
- Be sure to have the appropriate personnel (LMFSC, LMP or Authorized Representative) on site.
- The representative meeting the inspector should have a picture ID and a letter of representation signed and sealed.
- The approved, perforated plans, or a clear copy, must be available for inspection and must include a water, sanitary and gas riser diagram.
- If the inspection cannot be performed, e.g., plans not available, no letter of representation, etc., you must call to cancel the appointment.
Tips for a successful roughing and finish inspection
- "FERNCO" couplings or "JIM" caps are not acceptable.
- A grease trap located on floor below fixtures, must vent both sides of grease trap.
- 2- & 3-compartment sink drains (food prep sinks), individual air gaps are required.
- For lavatories with no overflow, a 2" trap and grid strainer is required.
- A laundry standpipe must be 18"- 30" (not 48").
- A tub/shower body (and pressure-balancing valve when required) must be piped at the time of roughing inspection.
- Stall shower venting & traps (not shower pan) are required for roughing inspection.
- There must be an air gap on all make-up water, DDC or RPZ connections.
- For condensation waste (HVAC,Walk in Box, etc), there must be an indirect drain, minimum of 1" copper.
- Pressure relief valves must be piped down with unthreaded end not directly connected to drainage or vent.
- If a tub connection inspection is not completed during the roughing inspection, a separate inspection is required.
- For tub or jacuzzi connection, PVC overflows are not permitted, unless supplied by manufacturer.
- All traps and clean outs must be accessible or have access panels.
Gas Authorization Requirements
- All gas-fired equipment must be fully installed.
- For dryers, hot water heaters, boilers and HVAC units, all flue, air venting and safety control wiring must be complete.
- Standpipe (SD), Sprinkler (SP) and Fire Protection (FP) inspections and/or tests must be successfully completed when associated with a request for gas authorization.
- A successful gas pipe test, not more than 1 year old.
- For boilers with >350,000 B.T.U. or commercial boilers, either a 900-A report or the Boiler (BL) work type signed off by department.
- For non-residential cooking equipment, an Ansul Letter from Fire Department. For residential stoves and dryers, a Licensed Master Plumber (LMP) affidavit.
REMINDER: If gas-fired equipment is not ready for gas authorization, it must be separated by a lock wing valve.
Tips for a successful gas pipe test
- Be sure meter bars or flanges are installed.
- There should be no future tees and all appliance valves must be installed.
- The system should have 5 PSI gauge with 3 PSI of pressure.
- The gas test must include: (a) the outlet side of the meter, (b) bar and/or flange, or (c) test tee to the appliances valve.
- Drip leg on new gas piping is prohibited, except for 3/4 lines for Boilers and Hot Water Heaters.
- Steel sleeves are required for foundation, footing or bearing wall penetrations. All other penetrations must have fire stopping.
- If Gas Test not performed, do not paint gas piping. Galvanized pipe is acceptable.
- Painted pipe requires a 90-PSI gas test.
- For Commercial Cooking Equipment, use of approved gas flex is acceptable only when equipment is on wheels with restraint chains.
NOTE: There is no partial inspection for a gas test.
Tips for a successful sprinkler and standpipe inspection
- The automatic ball drip valve must be installed in a horizontal position.
- The O.S.Y. valve on automatic sprinkler supply lines must be sealed open.
- Heads and head covers must not be painted.
- The sprinkler should be tested through the siamese connection (for a new building) or drain line/test tee for a renovated floor.
- Hydrostatic tests must include any new siamese connections.
- Hydrostatic tests cannot be conducted from the sprinkler heads.
- Test standards: (a) Sprinkler Hydro @ 200 lbs for 1 hr.
(b) Standpipe Hydro @ 300 lbs for 1 hr.
- Have all required paperwork at time of inspection, including, FP85, FP84, FP86, FP10, tap letter, meter permit, RPZ/DDC test, and licensed electrician letter signed and sealed.
REMINDER:
- No Schedule B amendment is required for "minor variations"in fixture count.
- Details available on-line at www.nyc.gov/buildings; Go to "resources" and then PIPES.
- Does not apply to Gas (PL), Sprinkler (SP or PL), Medical (PL), or Standpipe (SD)
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