When it comes to building safety, there must be a standard for professionals to adhere to. This usually refers to building codes and safety measures to protect against fire, chemicals, or other hazards. Still, one hazard many people don’t consider is poor plumbing systems. Whether it’s for a residence, commercial or municipal building, everyone must know the importance of following plumbing codes to ensure the building is safe for occupancy.
What Are Plumbing Codes?
Plumbing codes are special building codes specifically designed to regulate the design, installation, and inspection of plumbing systems. Typically, these residences and commercial buildings employ them to ensure that plumbers adhere to the safety and structural integrity of these buildings. As with any industry, plumbing codes seek to develop new safety features for residents. Plumbing codes, or uniform plumbing codes (UPC), began in 1926 when a group of inspectors noticed no standard plumbing maintenance or installation regulations. In 1945, the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) created the first UPC.
What Plumbing Codes Do
Their main priority is to reduce any common issues that arise, such as noxious fumes or improper sanitation. Plumbing codes also protect residents from dubious building practices that might put residents in harm’s way. Today, plumbers must also abide by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) when installing plumbing systems in public buildings. Drinking fountains, toilets, mirrors, coat hooks, shelves, water closets, dispensers, and all other bathroom amenities must follow these compliances to be disability accessible.
Common Plumbing Code Violations
There are some common plumbing code violations building contractors may ignore that you should notify plumbing inspectors about. These include:
- Improper slope for drainpipes
- Not enough cleanouts or maintenance
- Improperly placed cleanouts
- Improper fittings or direction changes
- Not enough space around the toilet
Most plumbing jobs require a building permit. From there, a city building inspector will investigate the area to see if there are any potential code violations. This helps address any shortcuts taken by the contractors.
As a licensed contractor with the California State License Board (#309313 A, B, C36), Fletcher’s Plumbing & Contracting, Inc. adheres to plumbing codes. We take pride in our work and have the experience, know-how and state-of-the-art equipment for most plumbing services. Whether it’s a basic or municipal plumbing issue or is a more involved sewer, septic, or storm drain repair, our experienced plumbers will get the job done right.