Current through Register Vol. 63, No. 9, September 1, 2024
(1) Scope. To
promote effective and uniform enforcement of the Oregon Plumbing Specialty Code
by improving the competence of plumbing inspectors, this rule establishes
minimum training and experience qualifications to make inspections for
compliance with the Oregon Plumbing Specialty Code. Rules regarding the scope
of work, qualifications, practicum and examinations for plumbing inspectors
must be approved by the State Plumbing Board.
(2) Notwithstanding OAR
918-098-1210, a residential
plumbing inspector:
(a) May conduct
inspections for plumbing work regulated by the Oregon Residential Specialty
Code, and where connection to the building is not a separate plumbing system;
and
(A) Plumbing work on manufactured
dwellings, manufactured structure accessory buildings and structures under the
Oregon Manufactured Dwelling Installation Specialty Code;
(B) The provisions of OAR chapter 918,
division 500;
(C) The Manufactured
Home Construction and Safety Standards located in 24 CFR 3280 and 3282 ;
and
(D) Any portion of a solar
water heating system installation up to 180 gallons of storage tank
capacity.
(b) To qualify
to take a board approved exam to become a residential plumbing inspector, a
person must meet one of the following:
(A) Be
an Oregon journeyman plumber;
(B) A
certificate of completion from an apprenticeship program meeting the
equivalency requirements of OAR
918-695-0030, plus two years
experience as a licensed journeyman plumber;
(C) Be a licensed journeyman plumber and have
four years experience as a licensed journeyman plumber;
(D) Have six years experience as a
residential or commercial plumbing inspector possessing a nationally recognized
certification or its equivalent; or
(E) Successfully complete the division's
board approved residential plumbing inspector practicum;
(c) To receive a certification under this
rule, the person must successfully pass the board approved examination with a
minimum grade of 75 percent.
(3) A Plumbing Specialty Code Inspector:
(a) Inspects plumbing installations regulated
by the Oregon Plumbing Specialty Code;
(b) Inspects plumbing installations regulated
by the Oregon Residential Specialty Code; and
(c) May do plumbing plan reviews as provided
in OAR 918-780-0040.
(4) To qualify to take a board
approved exam to become a plumbing specialty code inspector, a person must meet
one of the following:
(a) Oregon journeyman
experience:
(A) Four years of employment and
experience as an Oregon journeyman plumber; or
(B) Two years of employment and experience as
an Oregon journeyman plumber, plus successful completion of the division's
board approved commercial plumbing inspector practicum;
(b) Out of state journeyman experience:
(A) A certificate of completion from an
apprenticeship program meeting the equivalency requirements of OAR
918-695-0030, plus four years
experience as a journeyman plumber working on commercial, industrial, or
multi-family structures; or
(B) Be
a licensed journeyman plumber, plus eight years experience as a licensed
journeyman plumber working on commercial, industrial, or multi-family
structures, plus successful completion of the division's board approved
commercial plumbing inspector practicum;
(c) Out of state inspection experience:
(A) 10 years of work experience in the
inspection of plumbing installations of which at least five years is of
commercial, industrial, or multi-family structures as a certified inspector
possessing a nationally recognized certification or its equivalent;
or
(B) Eight years of work
experience in the inspection of plumbing installations of which at least four
years is of commercial, industrial, or multi-family structures as a certified
inspector possessing a nationally recognized certification or its equivalent
plus successful completion of the division's board approved commercial plumbing
inspector practicum;
(d)
Engineer experience:
(A) A degree in
mechanical engineering with two years of work experience in plumbing design,
installation, or inspection; or
(B)
Be a certified professional mechanical engineer.
(e) Experience and training equivalent to
paragraphs (a), (b), (c), or (d) of this subsection as determined by the State
Plumbing Board;
(f) Persons
certified as Oregon one- and two-family dwelling plumbing inspectors as of
April 1, 1998, and completing five years of plumbing inspection experience are
considered qualified to sit for examinations as a plumbing inspector.
(g) Examination: To become certified, a
person qualified under subsection (4) of this rule must pass a board approved
examination with a minimum score of 75 percent on the Oregon Plumbing Specialty
Code covering plumbing theory, inspection techniques, communication skills,
public relations, design, installation, statutory rules, authority, and
materials.
(5) Limited
Plumbing Inspector - Building Sewers. Limited certification for plumbing
inspection of building sewers from five feet outside the building to the
disposal terminal or connection with a main sewer line may be issued. To be
certified, an applicant must have the following qualifications:
(a) A Journeyman Plumber License;
(b) Two years experience in sewer design,
installation, or inspection; or
(c)
Experience and training equivalent to paragraph (A) or (B) of this subsection
approved by the board; and
(d)
Passing a board approved examination with a minimum score of 75 percent on
code, materials, and installation practices for building sewers and
sewers.
(6) Limits on
Municipalities. Nothing in the rules prohibits a local government from
establishing additional requirements in the selection and hiring of plumbing
inspectors.
(7) Plumbing inspectors
must meet continuing education requirements established by the division under
OAR 918-098-1450.
(8) Application for Certification. A person
seeking certification under this rule must apply for an Oregon Code
Certification as provided in OAR
918-098-1025.
(9) A person issued a plumbing specialty code
inspector certification, a residential plumbing inspector certification, or a
limited plumbing inspector-building sewers certification under this rule must
also possess a valid Oregon Inspector Certification issued under OAR
918-098-1025 prior to performing
plumbing inspections or plan reviews.
(10) For purposes of this rule, one year of
experience is equal to 2,000 hours.
Publications: Publications referenced are available from the
agency.]
Statutory/Other Authority: ORS
455.720
Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS
455.720
