Section 395-4-1 - PLUMBING INSTALLATIONSA. The Plumbers' Examining Board adopts and incorporates herein by reference the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code, Copyright © 2020, 29th edition, Third Printing, May 2021, as the standard for plumbing installations in the State of Maine, subject to the exclusions and amendments as set forth in this chapter. The aforementioned 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code, hereinafter referred to as the "UPC," may be purchased from:
International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials
4755 E. Philadelphia Street
Ontario, CA 91761-2816
Telephone: (909) 472-4208 or 1-800-854-2766
Webpage: www.iapmo.org
B. All plumbing installations must comply with the UPC as adopted herein with the exclusions and amendments set forth in this chapter; Title 32, Chapter 49 of the Maine Revised Statutes; and the rules of the board. Plumbing installations must also comply with all applicable statutes or rules of the State and all applicable ordinances, orders, rules and regulations of local municipalities.C.Exclusions and Amendments(1)Chapter 1, Administrationa. The board adopts Chapter 102.8, Appendices, as amended below: 102.8Appendices. The board does not adopt the provisions in the appendices as part of the code.b. The board adopts Chapter 104.1, Permits Required, as amended below: 104.1Permits Required. It shall be unlawful for a person, firm, or corporation to make an installation, alteration, repair, replacement, or remodel a plumbing system regulated by this code except as permitted in Section 104.2, or to cause the same to be done without first obtaining a separate plumbing permit for each separate building or structure. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, and for the purposes of this Chapter, only the following persons may apply for and obtain plumbing permits:
(i) A person with a valid and current master plumber license issued by the board pursuant to Title 32, Section 3501, subsection 2- A; or(ii) Pursuant to Title 32, Section 3302, subsection 1(C), any person in a single-family residence occupied or to be occupied by that person as that person's bona fide personal abode as long as the installation conforms with the board laws and rules.c. The board adopts Chapter 104.2, Exempt Work as amended below: 104.2Exempt Work. A permit shall not be required for the following: ...
(3) Installation of heating appliances and fuel fired (direct or indirect) water heaters by master or journeyman oil burner technicians or propane and natural gas technicians licensed pursuant to Title 32, Chapter 139 of the Maine Revised Statutes.(4) The work excluded from the definition of "plumbing" in Title 30-A, Section 4201, subsection 3. (5) Plumbing by regular employees of public utilities as defined in Title 35-A, Section 102, when working as such.(6) Plumbing by a pump installer who is duly licensed pursuant to Title 32, Section 4700- I, subsection 2, except that this exception is limited to installing piping from the cold water distribution pipe at the pressure tank's main shut-off valve to the existing water supply piping as long as the piping is located in the same room as the tank, the length of the piping is no longer than 15 feet and the piping does not extend beyond any existing branches. Such plumbing must conform to the board's laws and rules.d. The board adopts Chapter 104.3.1, Construction Documents, as amended below: 104.3.1Construction Documents. Construction documents, engineering calculations, diagrams, and other data may be required to be submitted in two or more sets with each application for a permit.e. The board does not adopt Chapter 104.3.2, Plan Review Fees.f. The board does not adopt Chapter 104.3.3, Time Limitation of Application.g. The board does not adopt Chapter 104.4.3, Expiration.h. The board does not adopt Chapter 104.4.4, Extensions.i. The board adopts Chapter 104.5, Fees, as amended below:104.5Permit Fees. 104.5.1General. Permit fees shall be charged for the following permits. (1) Fixture fee, per fixture.(2) When only new water distribution and/or drainage pipes are installed or relocated in a building, but no fixtures installed.(3) Testable backflow prevention assembly.(4) A hookup fee shall be charged for the connection of a mobile home, which bears the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) seal or a modular home which bears the Manufactured Housing Board seal, to a building sewer.(5) A hookup fee shall be charged for connection to a public sewer when piping is installed outside the jurisdiction of the sanitary district. A hookup is considered a fixture when calculating the fee.(6) Relocated mobile homes, modular homes or any other similar structures shall be considered as new conventional stick built structures. A plumbing fixture fee shall be charged based on this section.104.5.2Fixtures. For the purpose of this section, a sanitary plumbing outlet on or to which a plumbing fixture or appliance may be set or attached shall be construed to be a fixture. Fees for reconnection and retest of existing plumbing systems in relocated buildings shall be based on the number of plumbing fixtures that require a permit to be issued.104.5.3Work Commencing Before Permit Issuance. Any person who begins any work for which a permit is required by this Code without first having obtained a permit shall, if subsequently eligible to obtain a permit for that work, pay double the permit fee for such work. Exception: This provision shall not apply to any emergency work when it can be proved to the satisfaction of the Local Plumbing Inspector ("LPI") that such work was necessary and that it was not practical to obtain a permit before the commencement of the work. In all emergency cases, a permit must be obtained within four (4) working days or a double permit fee shall be charged.
j. The board does not adopt Table 104.5, Plumbing Permit Fees.k. The board adopts Chapter 105.2.6, Reinspections, as amended below: 105.2.6Reinspections. A reinspection fee shall be permitted to be assessed for each inspection or reinspection where such portion of work for which inspection is called is not complete or where required corrections have not been made. This provision shall not be interpreted as requiring reinspection fees the first time a job is rejected for failure to be in accordance with the requirements of this code, but as controlling the practice of calling for inspections before the job is ready for inspection or reinspection.
Reinspection fees shall be permitted to be assessed where the approved plans are not readily available to the inspector, for failure to provide access on the date for which the inspection is requested, or for deviating from plans requiring the approval of the Authority Having Jurisdiction.
In instances where reinspection fees have been assessed, no additional inspection of the work will be performed until the required fees have been paid.
l. The board adopts Chapter 105.3, Testing of Systems, with the following addition:105.3.4Testing of Plastic Pipe With Air. The board allows the testing of plastic schedule 40 DWV (drainage waste and vent) piping systems with 5 psi (pounds per square inch) maximum of air. For safety purposes, when testing with air, a listed 6 psi relief valve is required. Co-extruded ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) and PVC (Poly Vinyl Chloride) schedule 40 (cellular core) piping systems with referenced standards ASTM F1488 and ASTM F891 shall not be tested with air.
PVC and CPVC (Chlorinated Poly Vinyl Chloride) building supply and water distribution piping systems shall not be tested by air.
m. The board does not adopt Chapter 105.4, Connection to Service Utilities.n. The board does not adopt Chapter 106.3, Penalties.o. The board does not adopt Chapter 107.0, Board of Appeals.p. The board does not adopt Chapter 107.1, General.q. The board does not adopt Chapter 107.2, Limitations of Authority.(2)Chapter 2, Definitionsa. The board does not adopt the following definitions:(i) Chapter 203.0: Appliance, Low-Heat; Appliance, Medium-Heat; Appliance Categorized Vent Diameter/Area; Appliance Fuel Connector.(ii) Chapter 204.0: Boiler Blowoff; Bonding Conductor or Jumper.(iii) Chapter 205.0: Category 1; Category 2; Category 3; Category 3 Vacuum System; Category 4; Chimney; Chimney, Factory-Built; Chimney, Masonry; Chimney, Metal; Chimney Classifications; Chimney, High-Heat Appliance-Type; Chimney, Low-Heat Appliance-Type; Chimney, Medium-Heat Appliance-Type; Chimney, Residential Appliance-Type; Combustible Material; Confined Space; Critical Care Area.(iv) Chapter 206.0: Direct-Vent Appliances.(v) Chapter 207.0: Effective Ground-Fault Current Path; Excess Flow Valve (EFV).(vi) Chapter 208.0: Flammable Vapor or Fumes; Flue Collar.(vii) Chapter 209.0: Gas Piping; Gas Piping System; General Anesthesia and Levels of Sedation/Analgesia; Deep Sedation/Analgesia; General Anesthesia; Minimal Sedation (Anxiolysis); Moderate Sedation/Analgesia (Conscious Sedation); Grounding Electrode.(viii) Chapter 214.0: Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LP-Gas) Facilities.(ix) Chapter 215.0: Medical Air; Medical Gas; Manifold; Medical Gas System; Medical Support Gas; Medical-Surgical Vacuum; Medical-Surgical Vacuum System.(x) Chapter 216.0: Nitrogen, NF.(xi) Chapter 218.0: Patient Care Space; Category 1 Space; Category 2 Space; Category 3 Space; Category 4 Space; Patient Medical Gas; Proportioning System for Medical Air USP.(xii) Chapter 219.0: Quick-Disconnect Device (Fuel Gas).(xiii) Chapter 221.0: Scavenging; Service Piping; Standard Cubic Feet per Minute (SCFM); Station Inlet; Station Outlet.(xiv) Chapter 222.0: Transition Gas Riser.(xv) Chapter 223.0: User Outlet.(xvi) Chapter 224.0: Vacuum System-Level-1; Valve, Service; Vent Connector, Gas; Vent Offset; Venting System; Vent, Gases; Type B Gas Vent; Type BW Gas Vent; Type L Gas Vent.b. The board adopts Chapter 218.0, Plumbing System, as amended below: Plumbing System. Includes all potable water, alternate water sources, building supply, and distribution pipes; all plumbing fixtures and traps; all drainage and vent pipes; and all building drains and building sewers, including their respective joints and connections, devices, receptors, and appurtenances within the property lines of the premises and shall include potable water piping, potable water treating or using equipment, and water heaters.
c. The board adopts Chapter 220.0, Roughing-In, as amended below: Roughing-In. The installation of all parts of the plumbing system that can be completed prior to the installation of fixtures. This includes drainage, water supply, vent piping, and the necessary fixture supports.
(3)Chapter 3, General Regulationsa. The board does not adopt Chapter 312.12.3, Tub Waste Openings.b. The board does not adopt Chapter 313.7, Gas Piping.c. The board adopts Chapter 315.1, Unions, as amended below:315.1Unions. Approved unions shall be permitted to be used in drainage piping where accessibly located in the trap seal or between a fixture and its trap; in the vent system, except underground or in wet vents; and at any point in the water supply system.d. The board does not adopt Chapter 319.0, Medical Gas and Vacuum Systems.e. The board does not adopt Chapter 319.1, General.(4)Chapter 4, Plumbing Fixtures and Fixture Fittingsa. The board adopts Chapter 422.2, Separate Facilities, as amended below: 422.2Separate Facilities. Separate toilet facilities shall be provided for each sex. Exceptions:
(1) Residential installations.(2) In occupancies with a total occupant load of 10 or less, including customers and employees, one toilet facility, designed for use by no more than one person at a time, shall be permitted for use by both sexes.(3) In business and mercantile occupancies with a total occupant load of 50 or less, including customers and employees, one toilet facility, designed for use by no more than one person at a time, shall be permitted for use by both sexes.(4) In an eating establishment as provided in Title 22, Section 1686, one toilet facility, designed for use by no more than one person at a time, shall be permitted for use by both sexes.(5)Chapter 5, Water Heatersa. The board does not adopt Chapter 5, Water Heaters, except for the following sections: (i) Chapter 501.0, General.(ii) Chapter 501.1, Applicability, as amended below:501.1Applicability. The regulations of this chapter shall govern the construction, location, and installation of fuel-burning and other types of water heaters heating potable water. The minimum capacity for storage water heaters shall be in accordance with the first-hour rating listed in Table 501.1(2). No water heater shall be hereinafter installed that does not comply with the manufacturer's installation instructions and the type and model of each size thereof approved by the Authority Having Jurisdiction. Listed appliances shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's installation instructions.(iii) Table 501.1(2), First Hour Rating.(iv) Chapter 505.4, Indirect-Fired Water Heaters.(v) Chapter 505.4.1, Single-Wall Heat Exchanger.(vi) Chapter 507.1, Dielectric Insulator.(vii) Chapter 507.4, Ground Support.(viii) Chapter 507.5, Drainage Pan.(ix) Chapter 507.24, Installation Instructions.(6)Chapter 6, Water Supply and Distributiona. The board adopts Chapter 605.12.2, Solvent Cement Joints, as amended below: 605.12.2 Solvent Cement Joints. Solvent cement joints for PVC pipe and fittings shall be clean from dirt and moisture. Pipe shall be cut square and pipe shall be deburred. Where surfaces to be joined are cleaned and free of dirt, moisture, oil, and other foreign material, apply primer that complies with ASTM F656b. The board does not adopt Chapter 609.12, Pipe Insulation, including 609.12.1 and 609.12.2.c. The board does not adopt Chapter 612.0, Residential Fire Sprinkler Systems, which includes Chapter 612.1, Where Required, through Chapter 612.7.2, Final Inspection and does not adopt any tables referenced therein.(7)Chapter 7, Sanitary Drainagea. The board adopts Chapter 705.6.2, Solvent Cement Joints, as amended: 705.6.2Solvent Cement Joints. Solvent cement joints for PVC pipe and fittings shall be clean from dirt and moisture. Pipe shall be cut square and pipe shall be deburred. Where surfaces to be joined are cleaned and free of dirt, moisture, oil and other foreign material, apply primer that complies with ASTM F656.b. The board does not adopt Chapter 713.5, Permit.c. The board does not adopt Chapter 721.0, Location.d. The board does not adopt Chapter 721.1, Building Sewer.e. The board does not adopt Table 721.1, Minimum Horizontal Distance Required From Building Sewer (feet).f. The board does not adopt Chapter 721.2, Abutting Lot.g. The board does not adopt Chapter 722.0, Abandoned Sewers and Sewage Disposal Facilities, which includes Chapter 722.1 Building (House) Sewer through Chapter 722.5, Disposal Facilities.h. The board does not adopt Chapter 723.0, Building Sewer Test.i. The board does not adopt Chapter 723.1, General.(8)Chapter 8, Indirect Wastesa. The board adopts Chapter 807.3, Domestic Dishwashing Machine, as amended below: 807.3Domestic Dishwashing Machine. Domestic dishwashing machines shall discharge indirectly through an air-gap into a waste receptor or standpipe installed in accordance to this code, or discharge into a wye branch fitting on the tailpiece of the kitchen sink or the dishwasher connection of a food waste disposal unit. The waste line from a domestic dishwashing machine that discharges into a kitchen sink tailpiece wye or food waste disposal unit shall connect though a deck mounted dishwasher air gap fitting, or the waste line shall rise to the underneath of the sink counter and be securely fastened. (9)Chapter 9, Ventsa. The board adopts Chapter 901.0, General, as amended below by adding the following: ...
901.4Future Vents. In the basement of every new building there shall be an accessible future vent connection. Buildings that require a main vent stack shall have a future vent connection full size of the vent stack. In all other buildings (including residential) there shall be a minimum of a two inch future vent connection. All future vent connections shall be drip connected, identified, and labeled "Future Vent".b. The board adopts Chapter 906.0, Vent Termination, as amended below: 906.1Roof Termination. Each vent pipe or stack shall extend through its flashing and shall terminate vertically not less than two (2) feet (610 mm) above the roof nor less than one (1) foot (305 mm) from any vertical surface. ...
906.3Use of Roof. Vent pipes shall be extended separately or combined, of full required size, not less than two (2) feet above the roof or firewall. Flagpoling of vents shall be prohibited except where the roof is used for purposes other than weather protection. Vents within ten (10) feet (3,048 mm) of any part of the roof that is used for such other purposes shall extend not less than seven (7) feet (2134 mm) above such roof and shall securely stay. ...
906.7Frost or Snow Closure. Where frost or snow closure is likely to occur in locations having minimum design temperature below 0°F (-17.8°C), vent terminals shall be not less than two (2) inches (50 mm) in diameter, but in no event smaller than the required vent pipe. The change in diameter shall be made inside the building not less than one (1) foot (305 mm) below the roof in an insulated space and terminate not less than two (2) feet (610 mm) above the roof, or in accordance with the Authority Having Jurisdiction.(10)Chapter 11, Storm Drainagea. The board does not adopt Chapter 1101.6, Subsoil Drains, which includes: (i) Chapter 1101.6.1, Discharge.(ii) Chapter 1101.6.2, Sump.(iii) Chapter 1101.6.3, Splash Blocks.(iv) Chapter 1101.6.4, Backwater Valve.(v) Chapter 1101.6.5, Open Area.b. The board does not adopt Chapter 1101.7, Building Subdrains.c. The board does not adopt Chapter 1101.8, Areaway Drains.d. The board does not adopt Chapter 1101.9, Window Areaway Drains.e. The board does not adopt Chapter 1101.10, Filling Stations and Motor Vehicle Washing Establishments.f. The board does not adopt Chapter 1101.11, Paved Areas.(11)Chapter 12, Fuel Gas Pipinga. The board does not adopt Chapter 12, Fuel Gas Piping.(12)Chapter 13, Health Care Facilities and Medical Gas and Medical Vacuum Systemsa. The board does not adopt Chapter 13, Health Care Facilities and Medical Gas and Medical Vacuum Systems.