My Foray Into Home Services

I have worked in the plumbing industry for 40 years. Most of that time has been in construction – everything from new homes to high-rise commercial buildings. I have owned my own business, worked as a project manager, a designer, an estimator, and a general manager. I have started commercial plumbing divisions, managed large crews of men, and taught classes in plumbing code.

Recently I took an interesting position starting a plumbing division for an HVAC and Electrical service company who wanted to add plumbing services. This article is what I learned about the growing Home Services Industry.

Many established mechanical contractors have added plumbing divisions as a way of cutting cost and allowing them to make combined bids on projects. Some plumbing contractors have moved into HVAC as well, but that is less common. HVAC is generally a much larger piece of the pie on a construction project, and mechanical contractors can often under price plumbing contractors by offering a combined bid for the Plumbing and HVAC.

Heating and Air Service providers have caught on to the same idea. They are adding plumbing and electrical services to their list in order to offer a “Whole Home” approach. And that brought me to a Heating and Air company who had already added electrical services and was ready for plumbing.

Every plumbing company offers some level of service and repair. It is part of servicing warranties and keeping existing customers happy. Some companies are all service and do very little, if any, new construction. There are some businesses who focus mainly on sewer and drain cleaning and only offer limited services beyond that. Each area – construction, remodeling, repairs, and drain cleaning – are virtually separate industries with very different business models.

In the burgeoning Home Services sector the idea is one company that can provide all of your services – a licensed and qualified handyman service. If they are already servicing your Heat and Air why not call them for plumbing and electrical?

Coming from decades in the construction industry one of the interesting things I noticed in the service industry is the emphasis on sales. Service Technicians are expected to be salesmen. Some and often all of their income is generated through commissions. If they are dispatched to a home for a toilet that will not stop running they are far more likely to recommend replacing the $250 toilet – for a hefty commission – than replacing the $15 flush valve. So the technician learns to replace fixtures not repair them.

Wages in the service industry are a good bit lower than in the construction industry as well, though with commissions the Service Tech can make a good bit more with far less experience. The average service tech has only 1-2 years experience and being a good salesman is more important than being a good plumber.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not talking about all service plumbers. There are really good plumbers out there who dedicate their lives to providing good service. My focus here is on the trend of big service companies who are offering Whole Home Services – those who put out slick ads, post billboards, radio and TV spots. They are hiring young people with a talent for sales and teaching them to replace fixtures. They are not training the next generation of plumbers.

These new Whole Home companies are doing the same thing to small plumbing service companies that the multi-bid contractors did to small plumbing companies – freezing them out of the market. The difference is what it does to the plumbing industry. The multi-bid contractors still needed qualified plumbers to do the work. The new service conglomerates only need more salesmen.

Some of these Whole Home companies are even cross-training their techs so they only need to send one person out on a call, so it may be an electrician suggesting you replace that dripping faucet or an HVAC tech recommending a re-pipe to fix that clogged drain line. I have taught courses at the local community college, I can teach anyone how to replace a faucet – that doesn't make them a plumber.

Maybe I'm just getting old, but I remember when the plumber who came out was a seasoned veteran of the plumbing industry. He had seen it all and done most of it himself. It's kinda like the difference between the mechanic who fixes your car and the salesman who just tries to sell you a new one. Next time you need a plumber, call a plumber and not a salesman.

What is an S-Trap and why should I care?

An S-Trap is an arrangement which traps water in a return bend, much like a P-Trap, but has a second return bend into a vertical drain line instead of a J-Bend into a horizontal drain line. This could also include a standard P-Trap which connects to a horizontal drain line which turns down into a vertical drain line without proper venting. In either case the configuration can cause loss of trap seal through siphonage.

Pipes are filled with static air. When a flow of water or waste enters the pipe it displaces the air – pushing it forward down the pipe. As the water travels down the pipe a vacuum is created behind the flow drawing in new air, preferably through a vent in the piping system. In the case of an S-Trap the suction of the water moving down the vertical pipe pulls the water out of the trap until air can be drawn in through the drain.

Water closets are designed to take advantage of this action and are a perfect example of an S-Trap.

Water passing through the trap and down the pipe pulls all of the water and waste out of the bowl until the vacuum is broken by air. Then the tank valve slowly refills the trap and the bowl so that the seal is maintained. An S-Trap can work – as in the case of a water closet – if there is a mechanism to replace the water in the trap, otherwise the trap flushes and the seal is broken.

Today we rarely encounter S-Traps except in flushing fixtures. They are forbidden under the plumbing code. The most common mistake in a plumbing rough is making the drain arm – from trap to waste stack and vent – too long. If the top of the waste pipe at the point where it meets its vent is below the water level (Trap Weir) in the trap, that is technically an S-Trap – and acts as one causing the trap to siphon.

Since the waste line requires a minimum grade, the longer the horizontal pipe is the greater the difference in elevation. Eventually the top of the pipe at one end is the same elevation as the bottom of the pipe at the other. This is known as being out of the vent. That is because the top half of the pipe is helping air pressure balance between the vent and the trap. When the down side of the pipe gets too low you have created an S-Trap.

There are instances where S-Traps are virtually unavoidable. Most often this occurs on floor drains in a large area such as a commercial kitchen or warehouse. In these instances long combined waste and vent mains are used with the top half of the horizontal main acting as a vent. But as the line gets longer the distance from trap to drain becomes longer due to grade on the main piping.

Long vertical drops between drains and traps can cause another problem. The falling water gains momentum and at a certain point it will have enough momentum to pass straight through the trap leaving it dry. For that reason the code restricts the vertical drop to 24”. But what happens when your main is more than 24” below your drains?

This is one of those gray areas adjudicated by the local official. If you keep your trap within the trap weir then the riser to the drain is too long. If you raise your trap above the main waste/vent then you have created an S-Trap. Most inspectors prefer the S-Trap. In most instances the floor drain will be protected with a primer or other means which will insure the trap seal, so possible siphonage is not an issue, but a long drop in the vertical pipe will risk even the water from the trap primer overrunning the trap and leaving it dry.

We often find situations where piping cannot be installed by the strict letter of the code. That is why the code allows for the discretion of the inspector. This is also why it is important, not simply to memorize the code, but understand the intent of the code.

In our example the intent is to maintain the trap seal. Using an S-Trap, though forbidden by code, and a trap primer to insure sealing the trap is better than a long standpipe, also forbidden by code. By understanding the reasoning behind the code we can find efficient and effective installation techniques that solve the problems, or perhaps – as in the case of the flushable water closet – use the very problems that caused the S-Trap to be forbidden to design a fixture that revolutionized sanitary plumbing design.

The plumbing code is written as a guide to minimum acceptable standards. We should be working toward best possible practices and standards. To do that we need to understand why the code is what it is. We must ask ourselves why something is required or forbidden and then we will know not only what is required as a minimum, but how we can provide a better system. If you are chasing best practices instead of minimum standards you'll never worry about a failed inpection.

One thing to remember, however, if you are studying for the exam – the exam is based on the letter of the code and minimum standards. If a vent can be 1 1/2” by code and you size it 2” you are counted wrong. In practice there would of course be no problem oversizing a vent, and the inspector wouldn't say a word, but the test is a test of your knowledge of the code.  

Chapter 4 - Fixtures : Part 1

Chapter 4 of the North Carolina Plumbing Code begins to delve into the meat of the code. Type and placement of fixtures are generally within the scope of the architect and engineer on most projects, but you will need to know this stuff for the test. Plumbers are also expected to know these regulations on the job. If the engineer doesn't get the fixture count right it is the plumber who will have their inspection failed.

Review all drawings and specifications before you start work.

It is far more expensive to go back and add/change-out fixtures at the end of the job than to catch mistakes early on. Your first step, as the plumber, should be to review the drawings and specifications for compliance with local code. The engineer may be from out of state, or even outside the US.

It is the responsibility of the local plumber to step up and say, early on, that the system will not pass local code and changes need to be made.

This chapter of the code contains information on specific minimum requirements for fixtures and facilities in different types of structures and how to calculate occupancies and expected use. If you are one toilet short the local code official may catch the discrepancy on the initial rough – or they may not. But even if isn't caught until the final inspection it will still need to be added. That could be a major headache in a finished structure.

The chapter's first sentence gives us the scope: “This chapter shall govern the materials, design and installation of plumbing fixtures, faucets and fixture fittings in accordance with the type of occupancy, and shall provide the minimum number of fixtures for various types of occupancies.”

A long sentence. Let's break it down.

In this chapter we are told what the different types of occupancy are. Chart 403.1 breaks it down into 8 different categories which are further divided into occupancy types. For each we are given total fixtures, by type, which are required, based on how many people are expected to use the structure. This is given for male and female occupancy, which can have different ratios depending on structure and occupancy type.

Notice at the bottom of the chart are a long list of notes that provide adjustments to the chart for various situations.

This is a large chart, with a lot of what-ifs. You're not expected to memorize it all. That's why you have your code book handy on the job and when you take the test. The North Carolina Plumbing Code is filled with charts such as this. But you do need to be familiar with the information and know where to find the chart.

The chart is a quick reference.

The code text explains it all and goes into greater detail. If you have noticed the notes under the chart that are underlined, and other sections of code that are underlined, these are additions North Carolina has made to the International Plumbing Code – which our code is based on. These are often the gotchas that trip up out of state engineers who know the International Code very well, but may miss some small provision that North Carolina has changed.

In previous chapters we have seen entire sections of code that have been deleted or moved. This also keeps continuity with the International Code. In the North Carolina Statute, which governs the code, the International Code was adopted with North Carolina revisions. Most of the changes are small, but some change the entire intent of the original code. In all cases the North Carolina Code is the final word.

We must also note that types and occupancies not shown on table shall be determined by the local official.

Numbers and types can also be adjusted if it is shown that the occupancy will be different than the standard assumed in the chart. So an all girl school would not require the same ratio of male to female facilities as the “education” classification on the chart. We would need many more female and far less male facilities.

Prior to delving into the number and types, we are provided with some minimum material requirements for fixtures.

Section 401.2 describes prohibited types of water closets and prohibits trough urinals. I have never encountered a prohibited water closet. Manufacturers are well aware of the International Code standards and design their products accordingly. We saw in a previous chapter that all fixtures and material must comply with various “approved” standards.

Trough urinals were popular decades ago and may still exist in some older structures. These would fall under the code pertaining to existing structures as to whether they would need to be replaced. But they are definitely not allowed in new construction.

If you have never encountered a trough urinal, they are a single trough of varying length that can be used by multiple people – usually with a constant flow of water through the trough. They were outlawed years ago due to privacy and health concerns and also for their inefficiency.

Section 402 lists materials allowed and minimum quality of those materials. Again, manufacturers work to these standards and any major manufacturer's products should meet the minimums. But this could become an issue if off market or foreign goods are used. As said before, all fixtures and materials must meet approved standards as listed by ASTM, ASME, and others. When in doubt check with the local official before installation.

In my next post we will continue in Chapter 4 and drill down into a little more detail.

Chapter 3: General Regulations

Chapter 3 lists general regulations that apply to all plumbing installations. Other chapters in the code address specific aspects of the plumbing system such as waste, vent, and water distribution, but this chapter contains common situations relevant to all installations.

Section 301 gives general requirements for installation. We are told that piping must be installed in a way that does not weaken the structural components they pass through. More specific requirements, such as size of holes that may be cut in the structure, are given elsewhere. Here we are only instructed that the installation must not cause damage to the structure during installation or subsequent use. This will come up again in sections on piping (drilling holes) and fixtures (water heater pan requirements, etc).

All fixtures having water or drains must be properly connected to the main system, which would seem to be obvious, but the code must cover all possibilities. A reference is given to standard pipe sizes and a provision against installing piping inside an elevator shaft is included. In the case of elevators, the only services allowed inside the shaft are those providing shaft drainage such as an elevator sump pump.

Section 302 covers types of waste that are damaging to the piping system. A disclaimer states the provisions are for “informational purposes” because the installer can not control what a future owner or tenant places into the system. But it should be noted that section 302.2 does prohibit drains from hazardous sources being connected to the sanitary system without provision to neutralize the hazard.

Section 303 speaks of markings and labels to show all materials used in the plumbing system meet the requirements for manufacture standards listed elsewhere in the code. These materials also must be installed by the manufacturer's recommendations.

Section 304 references the NC Building Code as it pertains to pipe penetrations. There are many references throughout the Plumbing Code to other parts of the Building Code. The North Carolina Building Code is technically one code divided into multiple parts – Plumbing, Mechanical, Electrical, etc. – which are all taken together as a unified whole.

We also must protect the system itself from damage and excessive wear. Pipes must be protected from corrosion, stresses, and damage from other building components. Other components of the structure must also be protected from damage caused by the installation of use of the plumbing system. Section 305 covers these factors.

Sections 306 through 309 continue the themes of proper installation and protection from damage to both the plumbing system and other components.

Section 310 and 311 presents the minimum fixture requirements and general restrictions. The tables given will be needed during the test, unless you can memorize tables. It's still a good idea to check the tables for accuracy. The code is filled with lists and tables that are valuable for the test and in everyday practice. These tables condense the code into efficient, easily referenced format.

Section 312 outlines testing and inspection requirements. This is important to understand. Failure to comply with these requirements in the field can be costly. You do not want to bust up a slab or remove walls because you failed to test or have concealed piping inspected.

Section 313 is a reference to another source – The International Energy Conservation Code. It would not hurt for you to take a look at that code, but it is something that will seldom come up. All plumbing appliances and equipment must meet this code and be certified by the manufacturer. What you need to know is that the code exists and that equipment you are installing is approved and labeled as discussed in Section 303.

Again, Section 314 references another source – the North Carolina Mechanical Code. This is a book you will want to look at along with the North Carolina Fuel Gas Code. There are many instances of linkage between the three codes. A lot of the provisions on piping in the Mechanical Code pertain to plumbing and Fuel Gas is covered under the State Plumbing License. As anyone in the trades knows the MEP trades often intersect as we have connections to each others equipment. It's a good idea to at least look over the code books of the other trades.  

Overview of the NC Plumbing Code

If you are studying for the exam to qualify for your NC State Plumbing License, being comfortable with the Code Books is crucial. The exam is open book, but it is also timed, so knowing where to find information you are not sure of makes a huge difference. All of the relevant books and materials are provided. You can not bring your own code books with index tabs, highlights, and notes, but those are good practices for study and to have out on the job for quick reference.

The NC Plumbing Code is divided into 13 chapters. Each chapter covers specific information on one aspect of the plumbing system. Chapter one, which has mostly been superseded by a separate book, covers Scope and Administration. A copy of North Carolina Administration and Procedures should be included in your sturdy.

Chapter 2 covers Definitions used throughout the code. Some of the definitions given are trade specific terms and others are common terms used with specific meaning within the code. It is very important to understand all of the terms before continuing.

Chapter 3 covers General Regulations concerning the installation of the plumbing system, requirements for materials, and protection of the piping system. More specific requirements are given in the detailed sections, but the general requirements are assumed throughout.

Chapter 4 covers Fixtures, Faucets, and Fittings. This is where you will find the minimum material requirements for appurtenances used in the plumbing system, and proper use and placement.

Chapter 5 – Water Heaters. This chapter is much like the previous chapter as it pertains to water heaters. Water heaters are an important part of any plumbing system and presents dangers other fixtures do not, which is why water heaters rate a separate chapter.

Chapter 6 takes us into actual design and piping with Water Distribution Systems. There are numerous charts in this section that you will want to reference during the test.

Chapter 7 – Sanitary Drainage. This is perhaps what most people think of as plumbing – the waste pipe. Along with Chapter 9 – Vents, this is the real meat of the code. Waste and vent piping is what the plumbing inspector is going to spend the majority of his time inspecting. The most basic principle of plumbing is to provide the sanitary removal of waste. Problems with waste and vent systems not only cause potential inconvenience, they can cause sickness and spread of disease.

Chapter 8 covers Indirect and Special Wastes and supplements the general requirements of Chapters 7 and 9.

Chapter 9 – Vents. A plumbing system will not function properly without its vents. Improperly vented waste systems will not drain efficiently and can cause toxic gases to be released inside a building.

Chapter 10 covers special components of the drainage system such as traps and interceptors.

Chapter 11 covers Storm Drainage when it is not connected to the sanitary system.

Chapter 12 – Special Piping and Storage Systems covers anything not covered in other sections.

Chapter 13 presents all of the Referenced Standards used in the code. All materials must conform to one or more of these standards.

There are several helpful appendixes given. These are not part of the official code, unless they are specifically referenced within the code, and are given to clarify points in the code. They should be studied for the information they provide and some have charts that will be helpful while taking the exam, so be familiar with where you can find the info you need quickly.

The Plumbing Code exists as a single standard and one section can inform and alter another, so you will need to have a good overall knowledge of the code as a whole. It is also good to know where you can find information quickly during the exam, especially the many charts throughout the code.

I plan to go through each section of the code here on this blog over the next few months. I will tag posts by their Chapter to make searching for specific information easier. As I said earlier - using tabs, highlights, and notes will be helpful as you study and in the field as you work, but you are not allowed to take anything into the exam area. You need to be familiar with where to quickly look something up in a pinch.

Sometimes knowing where to find the answer is as good as knowing the answer.

NC Plumbing Code - Administration

Chapter 1: Scope and Administration

Much of this chapter has moved to another book – North Carolina Administrative Code andPolicies – which should be studied in addition to the Plumbing Code. What is left is general requirements for existing structures, temporary facilities, repair, and remodeling. There is also a section on inspection and jurisdiction.

It often comes into question, “What requires a permit, and what should be inspected?” Those requirements are addressed in this section.

All new construction and additions to existing plumbing systems require a permit and inspections. Some minor repairs and replacements can be completed without a permit, but they are very limited. You can, for example, change out an existing fixture, such as a faucet or toilet, without permit or inspection. You can even replace a water heater if it is the same size and fuel source, but not if the piping needs to be rerouted – so if you are moving the heater to the other side of the laundry room or closet you need a permit.

The basic rule is – you can replace piping and appurtenances exactly as they exist, but if the system must be altered then a permit and inspection is required.

The code also touches on historical structures and new innovation. Since historical structures must remain as they were constructed for historic purposes, the code allows for replacement and repair by historic methods that may now be prohibited by code. It also allows for special engineered designs that may allow new innovations of materials and methods. In all of these special cases a great deal of latitude is given to the local code official to use discretion.

This brings up a point that runs throughout the code – local rulings and the authority of the local inspector. The local inspector is expected to interpret and arbitrate the written code along with possible local ordinances or accepted practices. There may be requirements imposed by the local health department, for example, or minimum standards for a specific type of building. Much is left to the inspectors discretion when performing inspections.

It is always a good idea to check with the local official on anything that doesn't seem clear in the code. It never hurts to ask a question.

If you are working toward your journeyman or technician license there will be less emphasis on administration and more on piping systems on the test. But it is still important to understand the laws and regulations that must be followed. If you are working toward a state contractors or “Masters” license you will need a copy of North Carolina Administrative Code and Policies. In either case there will be questions on administration.

Definitions - First Step to Understanding the Code

Ask any licensed plumber and they will tell you that the first step in learning the code and studying for your exam is LEARNING THE DEFINITIONS.

That may sound really basic, and it is, but the Plumbing Code is a legal document and therefore very precise in scope and meaning. Even the simple words like SHALL or May have important meaning in the code. The section on definitions lists the definitions that pertain to the Plumbing industry, but definitions given in other codes (mechanical, fuel gas, building, etc.) are considered to be included by reference.

When in doubt – LOOK IT UP.

It is important to understand the meanings of technical and trade terms to understand the code. Many trade specific terms are not included in the definitions, but are assumed by experience. If you are not sure of a term look it up or ask your plumber or supervisor.

Some definitions are included below, but study your code book, and look at the definition chapters in other code books. You can view all of the NC State Code Books free online at: http://codes.iccsafe.org/North%20Carolina.html

BATTERY OF FIXTURES Any group of two or more similar adjacent fixtures which

discharge into a common horizontal waste or soil branch.

INDIVIDUAL VENT Vent piping from a single fixture to a branch vent or main vent.

BRANCH VENT Vent piping from a group of fixtures to the main vent pipe.

BUILDING DRAIN That part of the lowest piping of a drainage system that receives the discharge from soil, waste and other drainage pipes and extends 10 feet beyond the exterior walls of the building and conveys the drainage to the building sewer.

DEVELOPED LENGTH Length of piping measured along its center including fittings.

COMBINED BUILDING DRAIN A building drain that conveys both sewage and storm water or other drainage.

SANITARY BUILDING DRAIN A building drain that conveys sewage only.

BUILDING STORM DRAIN A building drain that conveys storm water or other drainage, but not sewage.

DRAINAGE SYSTEM Piping within a public or private premise that conveys sewage, rainwater or other liquid wastes to a point of disposal. A drainage system does not include the mains of a public sewer system or a private or public sewage treatment or disposal plant.

TRAP WEIR The highest point of water in a trap where it begins to flow down the horizontal drain piping.

GRAVITY DRAIN A drainage system that drains by gravity into the building sewer.

INDIRECT WASTE RECEPTOR A plumbing fixture designed specifically to collect

and dispose of liquid waste from other plumbing fixtures, plumbing equipment or

appliances which are required to discharge to the drainage system through an air gap such as floor sinks, mop receptors, service sinks, and standpipe or hub drains with integral air gaps.

LABELED Equipment, devices, fixtures or materials bearing the label of an approved agency.

PIPE SIZES For code purpose this is the nominal pipe sizes available commercially. When in the code, it is instructed to "increase by one pipe size." We should presume the pipe sizes that are available. 1/2, 3/4, 1, 1 1/4. 1 1/2 , 2, 2 1/2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.

SCUPPER An opening in a wall or parapet that allows water to drain from a roof.

TOILET ROOM A room containing a water closet, and frequently, a lavatory, but not a bathtub, shower, spa or similar bathing fixture.

WATER SERVICE PIPE The piping from the water meter to the water distribution system of the building served. Water service pipe terminates 5 feet outside the foundation wall.

There are, of course, many more terms to learn. Read your code book. Google terms you are not sure of. Check the gas pipe and mechanical codes. The more comfortable you are with the common terms the easier it will be to understand the rest of the code. And if the inspector tells you that he is turning down your bathroom group because the developed length to the trap is too long and the branch tee is below the trap weir on your lavatory arm – you'll know what he's talking about.