Rhode Island Code of Regulations
Title 260 - Department of Labor and Training
Chapter 30 - Workforce Regulation and Safety
Subchapter 15 - Professional Regulation
Part 2 - Bureau of Pipefitters, Refrigeration Technicians, Sprinklerfitters, Sheet Metal Workers and Oil Heat Contractors
Section 260-RICR-30-15-2.3 - Definitions

1. "Air" means all air supplied to mechanical equipment and appliances for combustion, ventilation, cooling exhausting, etc.

2. "Air distribution system" means any system of ducts, plenums, and air-handling equipment that circulate air within a space or spaces and include systems made up of one or more handling units.

3. "Air exhaust" means air being removed from any space, appliance, or piece of equipment and conveyed directly to the atmosphere by means of openings or ducts.

4. "Air makeup" means air that is provided to replace air that is being exhausted.

5. "Apprentice" means a person employed with a sponsor receiving skilled training under a written agreement which provides specific terms of apprenticeship and employment including, but not limited to wage progression; specific hours of job training processes; hours and courses of school instruction which satisfactory completion thereof provides recognition as a qualified professional, technical, craft or trade worker.

6. "Apprentice pipefitter" or "Ap-P" means a person who is engaged in learning the trade of pipefitting by working with and assisting a qualified journeyperson on heating systems, process piping and steam systems. This person shall be indentured to a Master Pipefitter who shall have an approved registered program with the State of Rhode Island and shall conform to R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 28-27.

7. "Apprentice refrigeration" or "Ap-R" means a person who is engaged in learning the trade of refrigeration by working with and assisting a qualified journeyperson on the installation and service of refrigeration and air conditioning systems. This person shall be indentured to a Master Refrigeration Technician who shall have an approved registered program with the State of Rhode Island and shall conform to R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 28-27.

8. "Apprentice combination" or "Ap-C" means a person who is engaged in the trade of pipefitting and refrigeration by working with and assisting a qualified journeyperson on heating systems, process piping, steam systems, and all types of refrigeration and air conditioning systems. This person shall also work on large systems such as absorption and centrifugal units to qualify for this classification. This person shall be indentured to a Master Pipefitter and Refrigeration Master or a Master Mechanical Contractor. They shall have an approved registered program with the State of Rhode Island and shall conform to R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 28-27.

9. "Apprentice sprinkler fitter" or "Ap-S" means a person who is engaged in learning the trade of sprinkler fitting working with and assisting a qualified journeyperson on sprinkler systems. This person shall be indentured to a Master Sprinkler Fitter who shall have an approved registered program with the State of Rhode Island and shall conform to R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 28-27.

10. "Apprentice sheet metal" or "Ap-SM" means a person who is engaged in learning the trade of sheet metal installations working with and assisting a qualified journeyperson on sheet metal installations. This person shall be indentured to a Master Sheet Metal Contractor who shall have an approved registered program with the State of Rhode Island and shall conform to R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 28-27.

11. "Class II restrictions on ratios" means a company shall be permitted to train one (1) apprentice per two (2) properly licensed persons for on-the-job training. Exception, sheet metal class ll has a one (1) apprentice per one (1) properly licensed person for on the job training. Properly licensed individuals may be a combination of Rhode Island Licensed Masters or Journeypersons.

12. "Direct supervision" means that the Class II licensed individuals shall be working with a Master Class I or Class II, or licensed individual with a Journeyperson Class I or Class II license.

13. "Installation" means the handling, moving or locating of any device equipment or material referring to the heating, cooling, process piping, sheet metal or sprinkler fitter industry. This does not mean to refer to the final resting place for hook up, but refers to any stage of the handling of said above equipment or material to where the final location may be for the piping of the equipment.

14. "Lapsed license" means if a license has lapsed for a period of less than two (2) years, said license may be reinstated upon payment of all license fees, which are due to the Division of Professional Regulation. If licenses are not renewed before the two (2) years have lapsed, the applicant will be subjected to re-examination. However, in the case of military service personnel, who are licensees, their validity will continue for the duration, not to exceed four (4) years.

15. "Louver, architectural" means an opening provided with one or more slanted fixed fins that does not provide for any air movement, for aesthetic purposes only.

16. "Louver, mechanical" means a finned or vaned device to provide air.

17. "Maintenance" means preserving or repairing anything that exists. Maintenance does not cover the replacement of piping or equipment, which is normally covered under R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-27-28, entitled "Practices for which a license is required". Also as referred to in R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-27-29(b).

18. "Natural ventilation" means the movement of air into and out of a space through intentionally provided openings, such as windows or doors or through non-powered ventilators.

19. "Outdoor opening" means a door, window, louver or skylight openable to the outside atmosphere.

20. "Pipefitter" means a person employed as a pipefitter. The work of a pipefitter includes laying out piping systems for their construction and installation; supporting pre-fabricated items; assembling equipment and appurtenances (both new and existing), maintaining the systems and equipment; Systems may include steam, condensation, air, gas, chemical, hydraulics, lubrication, heating and process piping.

21. "Process" means any piping used in a system, which results in a series of actions or operations directed toward a particular result. Examples are, the manufacturing of a product, water and waste water treatment plants or the generating of energy.

22. "PJF" means Pipefitter Journeyperson Fuel.

23. "Service" means work performed by properly licensed and qualified tradespersons. As referred to in R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-27-29(c).