N.J. Admin. Code § 13:32-1.4 - Scope of practice

(a) This section prescribes the permissible scope of plumbing practice which shall include that which is defined as plumbing in N.J.A.C. 13:32-1.3.

(b) Plumbing shall only be performed by a master plumber, an authorized plumbing contractor, or by employees whose remuneration is reported on a Form W-2 to the Internal Revenue Service and who work under the supervision of a master plumber as permitted by N.J.S.A. 45:14C-1 et seq., and N.J.A.C. 13:32-3.3(a)3.

(c) For purposes of this section, the following shall also be considered within the scope of the practice of plumbing and shall only be performed by individuals designated in (b) above:

1. Performing of plumbing work, including minor work and ordinary repairs even though a permit is not required;

2. Installation and service of storm, sanitary, and water piping to the final point of connection within three feet of the exterior of a building or structure located on private property;

3. Installation, extension, alteration, repair, maintenance and removal of water service piping or water distribution piping, approved backflow prevention devices and assemblies, including:

i. Fire protection and suppression systems that are connected to plumbing systems (the performance of such work also requires certification from the Division of Fire Safety in the Department of Community Affairs pursuant to N.J.A.C. 5:74-2.2);

ii. Irrigation systems;

iii. Mechanical equipment; or

iv. Any cross connection between the potable water supply and any potential pollutant, contaminant or hazardous substance;

4. Plumbing work performed at a place of business by employees of that business on property owned by the business;

5. Disconnection and sealing of water and sewer lines;

6. Installation, extension, alteration, repair, maintenance, testing and removal of all direct and indirect drain piping associated with or connected to mechanical equipment that discharges to a sewer system;

7. Installation or disconnection of water filtration or water softening equipment, water heaters, humidifiers, ice making equipment or backflow preventers;

8. Installation of water piping on the house side of a well water compression tank;

9. Installation, extension, alteration, repair, maintenance, testing, and removal of storm, sanitary, and water piping between buildings or structures on a property;

10. Installation and service of closed loop, non-potable water systems, such as gray water or rain collection systems of any sort, not including geothermal heating and cooling systems or fire protection and suppression systems that are not connected to plumbing systems; and

11. The provision of propane services.

(d) If an individual does not charge for the services listed in (c) above, or if he or she provides such services for a non-profit organization, the provision of these services is the practice of plumbing and the individual shall be a licensed master plumber.

(e) For purposes of this section, the following may be performed by both licensed master plumbers and individuals who are not licensed master plumbers:

1. The clearance of stoppages and installation or removal of a cleanout or cleanout equivalent necessary to clear the stoppage;

2. The installation and service of storm, sanitary, and water piping from the final point of connection more than three feet from the exterior of a building or structure located on private property;

3. The installation, service and maintenance of irrigation systems and hydronic and solar systems piping regulated under N.J.S.A. 45:16A-1 et seq., downstream from an approved backflow prevention device or assembly;

4. The demolition or removal of plumbing, provided the water and sewer utilities are first disconnected and sealed outside the building;

5. The installation and service of transmission piping by water or sewer utilities;

6. The installation, maintenance and repair of water piping to mechanical equipment downstream from an approved backflow prevention device or assembly; and

7. The testing of backflow prevention devices and assemblies by individuals certified by an entity regulated under N.J.A.C. 7:10-10.8.

(f) The provisions of this section shall not apply to:

1. A single-family home owner who performs plumbing work in his or her own dwelling; and

2. Plumbing work performed by full-time employees of a public agency on property owned by that agency.

(g) A licensed master plumber may perform a task listed in (e) above, as long as he or she performs the task in a manner consistent with professional plumbing standards.

(h) An individual who is licensed pursuant to N.J.S.A. 58:4A-23 et seq. is not engaged in the unlicensed practice of plumbing when he or she is performing the tasks that he or she is licensed to perform.

(i) A licensed master plumber may perform construction work that is necessary for the completion of plumbing work a licensed master plumber has contracted to perform.

(j) Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 45:16A-27, a licensed master plumber may, without obtaining a license as a master heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration contractor, engage in:

1. The installation, maintenance and repair of power boiler systems, hot water and steam heating systems, fire tube and water tube boilers, pressure steam and hot water boilers, space heaters, unit heaters and appurtenances utilizing electricity, fossil fuel or solar energy;

2. The installation, maintenance and repair of steam, hot water and chilled water pipe, condensate piping, valves, fittings, burners and piping, expansion tanks, pumps and gauges on the load side of a meter;

3. The installation, maintenance and repair of thermostatic controls;

4. The installation, maintenance and repair of natural or manufactured gas piping;

5. The installation, maintenance or connection of pneumatic controls and control piping for the control of air, liquid or gas temperatures, radiators, convectors, cabinet unit heaters, fan coil units, air handlers utilizing hydronic coils, mechanical ventilation for radon mitigation, humidifiers, flues and patented chimneys;

6. The installation, maintenance or connection of pneumatic controls and control piping of automatic oil, gas or coal burning equipment, gasoline or diesel oil dispensing equipment and, in replacement cases only, the connection thereof of the wiring from a dedicated electrical service disconnect box of adequate size to accommodate the equipment and controls;

7. The testing and balancing of hydronic systems; and

8. The installation, repair, testing or closure of waste oil underground storage tanks.

Notes

N.J. Admin. Code § 13:32-1.4

Amended by 48 N.J.R. 658(c), effective 4/18/2016 Amended by 50 N.J.R. 208(a), effective 1/2/2018 Amended by 52 N.J.R. 2009(a), effective 11/2/2020