CHAPTER 1 ADMINISTRATION - oregon.gov

1 1 CHAPTER 1 ADMINISTRATION Title, Scope, and General. Title. This document shall be known as the oregon Plumbing Specialty Code, may be cited as such, and will be referred to herein as this code. Purpose. This code is an administrative rule providing provides minimum plumbing requirements and standards for the protection of the public health, safety, and welfare. The purpose of this code is not to create or otherwise establish or designate any particular class or group of persons who will or should be especially protected or benefited by the terms of this code.

2 Statutory and Administrative Rule references. This code is adopted pursuant to oregon Revised Statute (ORS) and the administrative rules adopted thereunder (OAR). Where in any specific case this code and the statutes or rules specify different requirements, the statute or rule shall govern. Statutes related to this code include, but are not limited to, ORS chapters 447, 455 and 693. Statutes referenced may be obtained from the Building Codes Division, 1535 Edgewater St NW, Salem OR 97304, or Box 14470, Salem OR 97309 at a nominal cost or read online at Plans Required.

3 The Authority Having Jurisdiction building official shall be permitted to require the submission of plans, specifications, drawings, and such other information as required by OAR 918-780-0040, prior to the commencement of, and at any time during the progress of, any work regulated by this code. The issuance of a permit upon plans and specifications shall not prevent the Authority Having Jurisdiction building official from thereafter requiring the correction of errors in said plans and specifications or from preventing construction operations being carried on thereunder when in violation of this code or of any other pertinent rule or from revoking any certificate of approval when issued in error.

4 Alternative materials, design and methods of construction and equipment. The provisions of this code are not intended to prevent the installation of any material or to prohibit any design or method of construction not specifically prescribed by this code, provided that any such alternative has been approved. An alternative material, design or method of construction shall be approved where the authority having jurisdiction building official finds that the proposed design is satisfactory and complies with the intent of the provisions of this code, and that the material, method or work offered is, for the purpose intended, at least the equivalent of that prescribed in this code in quality, strength, effectiveness, fire resistance, durability and safety.

5 2 Request for ruling. ORS provides for state rulings on acceptable materials, designs and methods of construction. When a ruling has been issued, ORS (4) applies. ORS is not part of this code but is reproduced here for the reader s convenience: Rulings on acceptability of material, design or method of construction; effect of approval; fees. (1) Any person who desires to use or furnish any material, design or method of construction or installation in the state, or any building official, may request the Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services to issue a ruling with respect to the acceptability of any material, design or method of construction about which there is a question under any provision of the state building code.

6 Requests shall be in writing and, if made by anyone other than a building official, shall be made and the ruling issued prior to the use or attempted use of such questioned material, design or method. (2) In making rulings, the director shall obtain the approval of the appropriate advisory board as to technical and scientific facts and shall consider the standards and interpretations published by the body that promulgated any nationally recognized model code adopted as a specialty code of this state.

7 (3) A copy of the ruling issued by the director shall be certified to the person making the request. Additional copies shall be transmitted to all building officials in the state. The director shall keep a permanent record of all such rulings, and shall furnish copies thereof to any interested person upon payment of such fees as the director may prescribe. (4) A building official or inspector shall approve the use of any material, design or method of construction approved by the director pursuant to this section if the requirements of all other local ordinances are satisfied.

8 [Formerly ] Scope. The provisions of this code shall apply to the erection, installation, alteration, repair, relocation, replacement, addition to, or use, or maintenance of plumbing systems within this jurisdiction as provided in ORS and OAR 918-008-0000. ORS is not part of this code but is reproduced here for the reader s convenience: Plumbing to conform to state building code; rules; enforcement. (1) All installations of plumbing and drainage in buildings and structures in this state and all potable water supply, drainage, and waste installations, within or serving buildings or structures, except in temporary construction camps, and except as otherwise provided in ORS to and , shall be made in accordance with the requirements of ORS to and and ORS CHAPTER 455.

9 (2) The Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services with the approval of the State Plumbing Board shall make rules pursuant to ORS CHAPTER 183 for the purpose of setting standards for plumbing and defining compliance with the provisions of ORS to and particularly pertaining to installation of piping, protection and adequacy of the water supply, workmanship and materials, traps and cleanouts, domestic hot water storage tanks and devices, drinking fountains, solar heating and cooling systems, approval of devices, equipment and fixtures, hangers and supports, drainage and venting, house drains and house sewers, storm water drains, special wastes, light and ventilation of water closets and bathrooms, and excavation and grading.

10 (3) The director shall appoint an adequate staff experienced and trained to serve as plumbing inspectors to enforce rules adopted under this section. [Amended by 1957 2; 1971 48; 1973 2; 1973 222; 1981 29; 1993 66; 2001 26] 3 OAR 918-008-000 is not part of this code but is reproduced here for the reader s convenience: 918-008-0000 Purpose and Scope (1) The Department of Consumer and Business Services, Building Codes Division, adopts model building codes, standards and other publications by reference, as necessary, through administrative rule to create the state building code.