02 M.R.S. § 395-4-1 - PLUMBING INSTALLATIONS

1. PLUMBING INSTALLATIONS

A. The Plumbers' Examining Board adopts and incorporates herein by reference the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code, Copyright © 2020, 29th edition, Third Printing, May 2021, as the standard for plumbing installations in the State of Maine, subject to the exclusions and amendments as set forth in this chapter.

The aforementioned 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code, hereinafter referred to as the "UPC," may be purchased from:

International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials

4755 E. Philadelphia Street

Ontario, CA 91761-2816

Telephone: (909) 472-4208 or 1-800-854-2766

Webpage: www.iapmo.org

B. All plumbing installations must comply with the UPC as adopted herein with the exclusions and amendments set forth in this chapter; Title 32, Chapter 49 of the Maine Revised Statutes; and the rules of the board. Plumbing installations must also comply with all applicable statutes or rules of the State and all applicable ordinances, orders, rules and regulations of local municipalities.

C. Exclusions and Amendments

(1) Chapter 1, Administration

a. The board adopts Chapter 102.8, Appendices, as amended below:

102.8 Appendices. The board does not adopt the provisions in the appendices as part of the code.

b. The board adopts Chapter 104.1, Permits Required, as amended below:

104.1 Permits Required. It shall be unlawful for a person, firm, or corporation to make an installation, alteration, repair, replacement, or remodel a plumbing system regulated by this code except as permitted in Section 104.2, or to cause the same to be done without first obtaining a separate plumbing permit for each separate building or structure.

Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, and for the purposes of this Chapter, only the following persons may apply for and obtain plumbing permits:

i. A person with a valid and current master plumber license issued by the board pursuant to Title 32, Section3501, subsection 2-A;

ii. Pursuant to Title 32, Section3302, subsection 1(C), any person in a single-family residence occupied or to be occupied by that person as that person's bona fide personal abode as long as the installation conforms with the board laws and rules; or

iii. A dealer or mechanic, who is duly licensed pursuant to 10 M.R.S. §9022 (1) or (3), for connection to existing water supply and sewage systems necessary for the use of HUD-code homes or pre-HUD-code homes for dwelling purposes in accordance with 10 M.R.S. §9002 (6).

c. The board adopts Chapter 104.2, Exempt Work as amended below:

104.2 Exempt Work. A permit shall not be required for the following:

(3) Installation of heating appliances and fuel fired (direct or indirect) water heaters by master or journeyman oil burner technicians or propane and natural gas technicians licensed pursuant to Title 32, Chapter 139 of the Maine Revised Statutes.

(4) The work excluded from the definition of "plumbing" in Title 30-A, Section4201, subsection 3.

(5) Plumbing by regular employees of public utilities as defined in Title 35-A, Section102, when working as such.

(6) Plumbing by a pump installer who is duly licensed pursuant to Title 32, Section4700-I, subsection 2, except that this exception is limited to installing piping from the cold water distribution pipe at the pressure tank's main shut-off valve to the existing water supply piping as long as the piping is located in the same room as the tank, the length of the piping is no longer than 15 feet and the piping does not extend beyond any existing branches. Such plumbing must conform to the board's laws and rules.

d. The board adopts Chapter 104.3.1, Construction Documents, as amended below:

104.3.1 Construction Documents. Construction documents, engineering calculations, diagrams, and other data may be required to be submitted in two or more sets with each application for a permit.

e. The board does not adopt Chapter 104.3.2, Plan Review Fees.

f. The board does not adopt Chapter 104.3.3, Time Limitation of Application.

g. The board does not adopt Chapter 104.4.3, Expiration.

h. The board does not adopt Chapter 104.4.4, Extensions.

i. The board adopts Chapter 104.5, Fees, as amended below:

104.5 Permit Fees.

104.5.1 General. Permit fees shall be charged for the following permits.

(1) Fixture fee, per fixture.

(2) When only new water distribution and/or drainage pipes are installed or relocated in a building, but no fixtures installed.

(3) Testable backflow prevention assembly.

(4) A hookup fee shall be charged for the connection of a mobile home, which bears the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) seal or a modular home which bears the Manufactured Housing Board seal, to a building sewer.

(5) A hookup fee shall be charged for connection to a public sewer when piping is installed outside the jurisdiction of the sanitary district. A hookup is considered a fixture when calculating the fee.

(6) Relocated mobile homes, modular homes or any other similar structures shall be considered as new conventional stick built structures. A plumbing fixture fee shall be charged based on this section.

104.5.2 Fixtures. For the purpose of this section, a sanitary plumbing outlet on or to which a plumbing fixture or appliance may be set or attached shall be construed to be a fixture. Fees for reconnection and retest of existing plumbing systems in relocated buildings shall be based on the number of plumbing fixtures that require a permit to be issued.

104.5.3 Work Commencing Before Permit Issuance. Any person who begins any work for which a permit is required by this Code without first having obtained a permit shall, if subsequently eligible to obtain a permit for that work, pay double the permit fee for such work.

Exception: This provision shall not apply to any emergency work when it can be proved to the satisfaction of the Local Plumbing Inspector ("LPI") that such work was necessary and that it was not practical to obtain a permit before the commencement of the work. In all emergency cases, a permit must be obtained within four (4) working days or a double permit fee shall be charged.

j. The board does not adopt Table 104.5, Plumbing Permit Fees.

k. The board adopts Chapter 105.2.6, Reinspections, as amended below:

105.2.6 Reinspections. A reinspection fee shall be permitted to be assessed for each inspection or reinspection where such portion of work for which inspection is called is not complete or where required corrections have not been made.

This provision shall not be interpreted as requiring reinspection fees the first time a job is rejected for failure to be in accordance with the requirements of this code, but as controlling the practice of calling for inspections before the job is ready for inspection or reinspection.

Reinspection fees shall be permitted to be assessed where the approved plans are not readily available to the inspector, for failure to provide access on the date for which the inspection is requested, or for deviating from plans requiring the approval of the Authority Having Jurisdiction.

In instances where reinspection fees have been assessed, no additional inspection of the work will be performed until the required fees have been paid.

l. The board adopts Chapter 105.3, Testing of Systems, with the following addition:

105.3.4 Testing of Plastic Pipe With Air. The board allows the testing of plastic schedule 40 DWV (drainage waste and vent) piping systems with 5 psi (pounds per square inch) maximum of air. For safety purposes, when testing with air, a listed 6 psi relief valve is required.

Co-extruded ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) and PVC (Poly Vinyl Chloride) schedule 40 (cellular core) piping systems with referenced standards ASTM F1488 and ASTM F891 shall not be tested with air.

PVC and CPVC (Chlorinated Poly Vinyl Chloride) building supply and water distribution piping systems shall not be tested by air.

m. The board does not adopt Chapter 105.4, Connection to Service Utilities.

n. The board does not adopt Chapter 106.3, Penalties.

o. The board does not adopt Chapter 107.0, Board of Appeals.

p. The board does not adopt Chapter 107.1, General.

q. The board does not adopt Chapter 107.2, Limitations of Authority.

(2) Chapter 2, Definitions

a. The board does not adopt the following definitions:

(i) Chapter 203.0: Appliance, Low-Heat; Appliance, Medium-Heat; Appliance Categorized Vent Diameter/Area; Appliance Fuel Connector.

(ii) Chapter 204.0: Boiler Blowoff; Bonding Conductor or Jumper.

(iii) Chapter 205.0: Category 1; Category 2; Category 3; Category 3 Vacuum System; Category 4; Chimney; Chimney, Factory-Built; Chimney, Masonry; Chimney, Metal; Chimney Classifications; Chimney, High-Heat Appliance-Type; Chimney, Low-Heat Appliance-Type; Chimney, Medium-Heat Appliance-Type; Chimney, Residential Appliance-Type; Combustible Material; Confined Space; Critical Care Area.

(iv) Chapter 206.0: Direct-Vent Appliances.

(v) Chapter 207.0: Effective Ground-Fault Current Path; Excess Flow Valve (EFV).

(vi) Chapter 208.0: Flammable Vapor or Fumes; Flue Collar.

(vii) Chapter 209.0: Gas Piping; Gas Piping System; General Anesthesia and Levels of Sedation/Analgesia; Deep Sedation/Analgesia; General Anesthesia; Minimal Sedation (Anxiolysis); Moderate Sedation/Analgesia (Conscious Sedation); Grounding Electrode.

(viii) Chapter 214.0: Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LP-Gas) Facilities.

(ix) Chapter 215.0: Medical Air; Medical Gas; Manifold; Medical Gas System; Medical Support Gas; Medical-Surgical Vacuum; Medical-Surgical Vacuum System.

(x) Chapter 216.0: Nitrogen, NF.

(xi) Chapter 218.0: Patient Care Space; Category 1 Space; Category 2 Space; Category 3 Space; Category 4 Space; Patient Medical Gas; Proportioning System for Medical Air USP.

(xii) Chapter 219.0: Quick-Disconnect Device (Fuel Gas).

(xiii) Chapter 221.0: Scavenging; Service Piping; Standard Cubic Feet per Minute (SCFM); Station Inlet; Station Outlet.

(xiv) Chapter 222.0: Transition Gas Riser.

(xv) Chapter 223.0: User Outlet.

(xvi) Chapter 224.0: Vacuum System-Level-1; Valve, Service; Vent Connector, Gas; Vent Offset; Venting System; Vent, Gases; Type B Gas Vent; Type BW Gas Vent; Type L Gas Vent.

b. The board adopts Chapter 218.0, Plumbing System, as amended below:

Plumbing System. Includes all potable water, alternate water sources, building supply, and distribution pipes; all plumbing fixtures and traps; all drainage and vent pipes; and all building drains and building sewers, including their respective joints and connections, devices, receptors, and appurtenances within the property lines of the premises and shall include potable water piping, potable water treating or using equipment, and water heaters.

c. The board adopts Chapter 220.0, Roughing-In, as amended below:

Roughing-In. The installation of all parts of the plumbing system that can be completed prior to the installation of fixtures. This includes drainage, water supply, vent piping, and the necessary fixture supports.

(3) Chapter 3, General Regulations

a. The board does not adopt Chapter 312.12.3, Tub Waste Openings.

b. The board does not adopt Chapter 313.7, Gas Piping.

c. The board adopts Chapter 315.1, Unions, as amended below:

315.1 Unions. Approved unions shall be permitted to be used in drainage piping where accessibly located in the trap seal or between a fixture and its trap; in the vent system, except underground or in wet vents; and at any point in the water supply system.

d. The board does not adopt Chapter 319.0, Medical Gas and Vacuum Systems.

e. The board does not adopt Chapter 319.1, General.

(4) Chapter 4, Plumbing Fixtures and Fixture Fittings

a. The board adopts Chapters 422.0 through 422.7 as amended below:

422.0 Minimum Number of Required Fixtures

422.1 Fixture Count. Plumbing fixtures shall be provided for the type of building occupancy and in the minimum number shown in Table 422.1. The total occupant load and occupancy classification shall be determined in accordance with the building code. Occupancy classification not shown in Table 422.1 shall be considered separately by the Authority Having Jurisdiction.

422.1.1 Fixture Calculations. The minimum number of fixtures shall be calculated at 50 percent male and 50 percent female based on the total occupant load. Where information submitted indicates a difference in the distribution of the sexes such information shall be used to determine the number of fixtures for each sex. Once the occupancy load and occupancy are determined, Table 422.1 shall be applied to determine the minimum number of plumbing fixtures required. Where applying the fixture ratios in Table 422.1 results in fractional numbers, such numbers shall be rounded to the next whole number. For multiple occupancies, fractional numbers shall be first summed and then rounded to the next whole number. For toilet facilities designed for use by all genders, the minimum number of fixtures shall be the aggregate calculated at 50 percent female and 50 percent male in accordance with Table 422.1. Where all-gender fixtures are provided in addition to separate men's and women's facilities, those fixtures shall be included in determining the number of fixtures provided in an occupancy.

422.1.2 Single Use, Family or Assisted-Use Toilet, and Bathing Facilities. Where single use, family or assisted-use toilet, and bathing rooms are required, in applicable building regulations, the facilities shall be installed in accordance with those regulations. Fixtures located in single use, family or assisted-use, and bathing room facilities shall contribute to the total number of required fixtures in accordance with Section 422.1.

422.2 Separate Facilities. Separate toilet facilities shall be provided for each sex.

Exceptions:

(1) Residential installations.

(2) In occupancies with a total occupant load of 10 or less, including customers and employees, one toilet facility, designed for use by no more than one person at a time, shall be permitted for use by both sexes.

(3) In business and mercantile occupancies with a total occupant load of 50 or less including customers and employees, one toilet facility, designed for use by no more than one person at a time, shall be permitted for use by both sexes.

(4) Separate facilities shall not be required where rooms have fixtures designed for use by both sexes and the water closets are installed in privacy compartments. Urinals shall be located in a privacy compartment.

1. In an eating establishment as provided in Title 22, Section1686, one toilet facility, designed for use by no more than one person at a time, shall be permitted for use by both sexes.

2. As provided in Title 22, Section1686-A, any eating establishment regardless of the number of seats that permits on premises consumption of alcoholic beverages is bound by Title 22, Section1686, regarding the provision of a toilet facility. An eating establishment that has a seating capacity of 40 or fewer persons is required to have at least one toilet facility but may not be required to have more than one toilet facility."¯

422.2.1 Single Use Facilities. Single use toilet facilities, bathing facilities, and family or assisted use toilet facilities shall be identified with signage indicating use by either sex.

422.2.2 Family or Assisted-Use Toilet Facilities. Where a separate toilet facility is required for each sex, and each toilet facility is required to have only one water closet, two family or assisted-use toilet facilities shall be permitted in place of the required separate toilet facilities.

422.3 Fixture Requirements for Special Occupancies. Additional fixtures shall be permitted to be required where unusual environmental conditions or referenced activities are encountered. In food preparation areas, fixture requirements shall be permitted to be dictated by health codes.

422.4 Toilet Facilities Serving Employees and Customers. Each building or structure shall be provided with toilet facilities for employees and customers. Requirements for customers and employees shall be permitted to be met with a single set of restrooms accessible to both groups.

Required toilet facilities for employees and customers located in shopping malls or centers shall be permitted to be met by providing a centrally located toilet facility accessible to several stores. The maximum travel distance from entry to any store to the toilet facility shall not exceed 300 feet (91 440 mm).

Required toilet facilities for employees and customers in other than shopping malls or centers shall have a maximum travel distance not to exceed 500 feet (152 m).

422.4.1 Access to Toilet Facilities. In multi-story buildings, accessibility to the required toilet facilities shall not exceed one vertical story. Access to the required toilet facilities for customers shall not pass through areas designated as for employee use only such as kitchens, food preparation areas, storage rooms, closets, or similar spaces. Toilet facilities accessible only to private offices shall not be counted to determine compliance with this section.

422.5 Toilet Facilities for Workers. Toilet facilities shall be provided and maintained in a sanitary condition for the use of workers during construction.

422.6 Water Closet Compartment. Public water closets shall occupy a separate compartment with walls or partitions and a door enclosing the fixtures to ensure privacy. Partitions for water closets located in separate gender toilet or bathrooms shall comply with the Type B security requirements of IAPMO Z124.10. Partitions for water closets located in all gender toilet or bathrooms shall comply with the Type A security requirements of IAPMO Z124.10.

Exceptions:

(1) Water closet compartments shall not be required in a single-occupant toilet room having a lockable door.

(2) Toilet rooms in day care facilities having more than one water closets shall be permitted to have one water closet without an enclosing compartment.

422.7 Urinal Partitions. Each urinal shall be separated with walls or partitions to provide privacy. The horizontal dimension between walls or partitions at each urinal shall comply with Section 402.5. Partitions for urinals shall comply with the Type C security requirements of IAPMO Z124.10. Walls or partitions shall extend from not less than 12 inches (305 mm) above the finished floor to not less than 60 inches (1524 mm) above the finished floor. Walls shall extend outward from the wall surface not less than 18 inches (457 mm). Urinals located in all gender toilet rooms shall be visually separated from the remainder of the room or each urinal shall be installed in a privacy compartment complying with Type A security requirements of IAPMO Z124.10.

Exception: Urinal partitions shall not be required in a single occupant or family/assisted-use toilet room with a lockable door.

(5) Chapter 5, Water Heaters

a. The board does not adopt Chapter 5, Water Heaters, except for the following sections:

(i) Chapter 501.0, General.

(ii) Chapter 501.1, Applicability, as amended below:

501.1 Applicability. The regulations of this chapter shall govern the construction, location, and installation of fuel-burning and other types of water heaters heating potable water. The minimum capacity for storage water heaters shall be in accordance with the first-hour rating listed in Table 501.1(2). No water heater shall be hereinafter installed that does not comply with the manufacturer's installation instructions and the type and model of each size thereof approved by the Authority Having Jurisdiction. Listed appliances shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's installation instructions.

(iii) Table 501.1(2), First Hour Rating.

(iv) Chapter 505.4, Indirect-Fired Water Heaters.

(v) Chapter 505.4.1, Single-Wall Heat Exchanger.

(vi) Chapter 507.1, Dielectric Insulator.

(vii) Chapter 507.4, Ground Support.

(viii) Chapter 507.5, Drainage Pan.

(ix) Chapter 507.24, Installation Instructions.

(6) Chapter 6, Water Supply and Distribution

a. The board adopts Chapter 605.12.2, Solvent Cement Joints, as amended below:

605.12.2 Solvent Cement Joints. Solvent cement joints for PVC pipe and fittings shall be clean from dirt and moisture. Pipe shall be cut square and pipe shall be deburred. Where surfaces to be joined are cleaned and free of dirt, moisture, oil, and other foreign material, apply primer that complies with ASTM F656.

a. The board does not adopt Chapter 609.12, Pipe Insulation, including 609.12.1 and 609.12.2.

b. The board does not adopt Chapter 612.0, Residential Fire Sprinkler Systems, which includes Chapter 612.1, Where Required, through Chapter 612.7.2, Final Inspection and does not adopt any tables referenced therein.

(7) Chapter 7, Sanitary Drainage

a. The board adopts Chapter 705.6.2, Solvent Cement Joints, as amended:

705.6.2 Solvent Cement Joints. Solvent cement joints for PVC pipe and fittings shall be clean from dirt and moisture. Pipe shall be cut square and pipe shall be deburred. Where surfaces to be joined are cleaned and free of dirt, moisture, oil and other foreign material, apply primer that complies with ASTM F656.

b. The board does not adopt Chapter 713.5, Permit.

c. The board does not adopt Chapter 721.0, Location.

c. The board does not adopt Chapter 721.1, Building Sewer.

d. The board does not adopt Table 721.1, Minimum Horizontal Distance Required From Building Sewer (feet).

e. The board does not adopt Chapter 721.2, Abutting Lot.

f. The board does not adopt Chapter 722.0, Abandoned Sewers and Sewage Disposal Facilities, which includes Chapter 722.1 Building (House) Sewer through Chapter 722.5, Disposal Facilities.

g. The board does not adopt Chapter 723.0, Building Sewer Test.

h. The board does not adopt Chapter 723.1, General.

(8) Chapter 8, Indirect Wastes

a. The board adopts Chapter 807.3, Domestic Dishwashing Machine, as amended below:

807.3 Domestic Dishwashing Machine. Domestic dishwashing machines shall discharge indirectly through an air-gap into a waste receptor or standpipe installed in accordance to this code, or discharge into a wye branch fitting on the tailpiece of the kitchen sink or the dishwasher connection of a food waste disposal unit. The waste line from a domestic dishwashing machine that discharges into a kitchen sink tailpiece wye or food waste disposal unit shall connect though a deck mounted dishwasher air gap fitting, or the waste line shall rise to the underneath of the sink counter and be securely fastened.

(9) Chapter 9, Vents

a. The board adopts Chapter 901.0, General, as amended below by adding the following:

...

901.4 Future Vents. In the basement of every new building there shall be an accessible future vent connection. Buildings that require a main vent stack shall have a future vent connection full size of the vent stack. In all other buildings (including residential) there shall be a minimum of a two inch future vent connection. All future vent connections shall be drip connected, identified, and labeled "Future Vent".

b. The board adopts Chapter 906.0, Vent Termination, as amended below:

906.1 Roof Termination. Each vent pipe or stack shall extend through its flashing and shall terminate vertically not less than two (2) feet (610 mm) above the roof nor less than one (1) foot (305 mm) from any vertical surface.

906.3 Use of Roof. Vent pipes shall be extended separately or combined, of full required size, not less than two (2) feet above the roof or firewall. Flagpoling of vents shall be prohibited except where the roof is used for purposes other than weather protection. Vents within ten (10) feet (3,048 mm) of any part of the roof that is used for such other purposes shall extend not less than seven (7) feet (2134 mm) above such roof and shall securely stay.

906.7 Frost or Snow Closure. Where frost or snow closure is likely to occur in locations having minimum design temperature below 0°F (-17.8°C), vent terminals shall be not less than two (2) inches (50mm) in diameter, but in no event smaller than the required vent pipe. The change in diameter shall be made inside the building not less than one (1) foot (305 mm) below the roof in an insulated space and terminate not less than two (2) feet (610 mm) above the roof, or in accordance with the Authority Having Jurisdiction.

(10) Chapter 11, Storm Drainage

a. The board does not adopt Chapter 1101.6, Subsoil Drains, which includes:

(i) Chapter 1101.6.1, Discharge.

(ii) Chapter 1101.6.2, Sump.

(iii) Chapter 1101.6.3, Splash Blocks.

(iv) Chapter 1101.6.4, Backwater Valve.

(v) Chapter 1101.6.5, Open Area.

b. The board does not adopt Chapter 1101.7, Building Subdrains.

c. The board does not adopt Chapter 1101.8, Areaway Drains.

d. The board does not adopt Chapter 1101.9, Window Areaway Drains.

e. The board does not adopt Chapter 1101.10, Filling Stations and Motor Vehicle Washing Establishments.

f. The board does not adopt Chapter 1101.11, Paved Areas.

(11) Chapter 12, Fuel Gas Piping

a. The board does not adopt Chapter 12, Fuel Gas Piping.

(12) Chapter 13, Health Care Facilities and Medical Gas and Medical Vacuum Systems

a. The board does not adopt Chapter 13, Health Care Facilities and Medical Gas and Medical Vacuum Systems.

Notes

02 M.R.S. § 395-4-1