Buildings311Search all NYC.gov websites
Design Professional Requirements: Plumbing
New York State issues licenses for Professional Engineers (PE) and Registered Architects (RA). A State-licensed PE or RA must submit the required plans and work permit applications to the Department – for plumbing installation and modification projects, design professionals may submit professionally certified project application to certify that their plans satisfy applicable laws and Codes. Starting July 2019, all plumbing job filing and permit requests must be submitted in DOB NOW: Build. Applicants can no longer submit paper filing to the Department. As a result, all stakeholders, such as Registered Design Professionals and Owners associated with a job filing will need to create an NYC.ID account in order to submit a filing or permit request in DOB NOW: Build. Visit nyc.gov/dobnowtips for resources and step-by-step instructions. Owners will be required to access the system in order to provide approval for the filing.
Submission details are summarized below:
-
Application Intake. An online submission of project application by completing the intake form with key project information. Based on the project’s scope, the applicant may be required to complete the following sections:
- Project Work Details (former PW-1 and Schedule B Forms)
- Project Cost Summary (former PW-3 Form)
- Special Inspections (former TR-1 Forms)
- Energy Code Progress Inspections (former TR-8 Form)
- Remittance of Project Application Fees
-
Department Review or Professional Certification. When submitting, the applicant of record may either submit for Standard Plan Examination Review, or based on owner’s consent, may elect to professionally certify.
-
Plan Review or Audits for Approval or Acceptance. Following submission, the application is assigned for review to a Department Plan Examiner. If professionally certified, application may be subject to audit. Plan review or audit of the submission by Plan Examiner or Auditor may result in either approval or disapproval, or in acceptance or fail, respectively. Following plan review disapproval or audit fail, a Notice of Objections is sent to the Applicant of Record and Owner. Objections must be resolved through appointments with the Department Plan Examination or Audit staff following which the application is approved or accepted.
-
Post Approval Amendments. Any changes to approved scope of work that is significant and substantive will require submission of revised plans for Post Approval Amendment (PAA). Approval for an amendment must be obtained before the work or equipment is completed. Changes that are not substantive do not require a PAA; however these changes must be shown on plans and included in the ‘as built’ submission at the end of the project (§28.104.3)
-
As Built Submission. All changes must be submitted in an ‘as built’ drawing at the end of the project.
For existing buildings, plumbing work should comply with NYC Construction codes: Building (BC), Plumbing (PC), Fuel Gas (FGC) and Mechanical Codes (MC). Per the current 2014 Administrative Code, section 28-101.4.3, additions, alterations or modifications to plumbing systems shall conform to what’s required for new portions without requiring the remaining existing system to comply with all of the current code requirements. Additions, alterations or repairs must not cause an existing installation to become unsafe, hazardous or overloaded.
You may also need to comply with Local Laws, rules and other codes such as NYS Multiple Dwelling Law, Housing Maintenance Code, NYC Electrical Code, NYC Fire Code and NYC Energy Conservation Code (NYCECC).
NOTE: While the following is a list of key code and other regulations that may be relevant in the project’s design, it does not cover ALL applicable regulations.
|
Project Element |
Applicable Code and Regulations |
|
Construction Document Requirements, including a complete description of proposed scope of work on the plans. |
|
|
Water Piping |
|
|
Sanitary Drainage |
|
|
Storm Drainage |
|
|
Vents |
|
|
Plumbing Fixtures |
|
|
Gas Piping and Gas Appliances |
|
|
Sprinkler |
|
|
Standpipe |
|
|
Penetrations of Fire-rated assemblies |
|
|
Seismic Compliance |
|
|
General Requirements |
PC Chapters 1, 3 and 13 |
|
List of all required Special and Progress Inspections on construction documents |
|
|
NYCECC – Energy Code compliance analysis with supporting documents |
NYCECC Sections 101, C403, C404, C408 and 1 RCNY 5000-01 |
Other Regulation(s) for Reference
You may also need to comply with other City Agency requirements, for example: Fire Department (FDNY), Departments of Environmental Protection (DEP), Transportation (DOT), Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, among others.
Plumbing Project Plan Submission
Prior to submitting the DOB permit application, a pre-design review should cover all existing plumbing systems and components affected by the proposed scope of work to verify code-compliant work, or modifications to the plumbing systems within the building. Based upon the complexity and scale of the project, the information provided on the plumbing drawings should show a clear description of the work required for the project. (Refer to the NYC Plumbing Code section PC 106).
Although DOB does not mandate the organization and style of construction documents, the guidelines outlined in this chapter should provide a consistent approach for preparation of construction documents that will facilitate the plan review process. In many cases, the project may involve the documentation of existing plumbing systems and should clearly identify new versus existing systems.
Complete Submission of Plumbing Work Drawings
The drawings represent work that is closely coordinated with many other disciplines such as architectural, structural, electrical, and mechanical, to ensure coordination with other disciplines. Details essential for a complete submission of drawings include (Refer to the NYC Plumbing Code section PC 106.5):
Construction Documents
Drawings necessary to convey essential information such as schedules, riser diagrams, floor layout, mounting details and control diagrams. The title page should clearly define the project location and vicinity by graphical means. The applicable Building Codes and notes should be stated on the drawings. A drawing index is recommended to clearly identify all the unique systems that may be involved.
- Site Plan. If the project involves exterior or underground plumbing work, exterior to the building, then it should be clearly documented. For example, Storm, Sanitary, Drywell installations, Yard Drains, domestic water supplies, and backflow devices should be clearly indicated.
- Floor Plans. Plumbing floor plans showing existing and proposed conditions with location of sprinkler off domestic, standpipe, all fixtures, including gas, water and sanitary, storm piping and appliances must be specified on the drawings. Traditionally, the floor plans provide the documentation of the architectural features as a shaded background and the plumbing fixtures are prominently shown on top of these locations.
However, it is important to clearly identify room names and penetrations of fire-rated walls and other assemblies. It is recommended to follow the architectural floor plan nomenclature for sheet order and sheet numbering in order to simplify the logical sequence of cross-coordination with all trades (disciplines).
- Riser Diagrams. If the project involves alterations to existing or installation of new piping: stacks (sanitary, storm and vent); main water supply lines (hot and cold); sprinkler off domestic, standpipe and gas supply, a riser diagram must show these details, including elevations across floors.
- Detail Drawings. These drawings contain significant information required to clearly communicate the scope of work, in a magnified form. In addition, these drawings may also comprise several elevations and sections to convey the proposed scope of work.
- Energy Analysis. If project scope includes one of the following, than an energy analysis is required on the plans: alterations to existing or installation of new piping carrying mechanically heated fluid, penetration through thermal envelope, equipment replacement, equipment controls replacement, and/or dampers. Commissioning is required when permitted equipment replacement exceeds a combined input capacity of 600kBTU/h.
Some key elements required on plans for all projects include:
- Validation that existing equipment and distribution services have the necessary capacity during remodel or expansion projects
- Sanitary, storm, water and gas riser diagrams showing the entire building from basement/cellar to roof. Please note that storm water systems include on-site drywells or similar, and/or connection to public street main, while sanitary systems may include on-site septic systems if public street system connections are not available or feasible.
- Plumbing sizing criteria, including all pipe and trap sizes, on floor plans and riser diagrams
- Indicate equipment/device/appliance approval numbers (UL or other Listings), efficiency rating, and mounting detail locations
- Proper identification of piping and valves – schedules showing color coding, labeling and tagging
- Equipment Schedules, domestic hot water distribution temperatures
- Heating and domestic water temperatures alarm and high limit location
- Where applicable, clearly indicate provisions for NYCECC commissioning and completion requirements
- Piping insulation rating
- Accessibility to comply with BC Chapter 11 (persons with physical disabilities).
- Interceptor pits, sumps, and drainage pit details
- Penetrations through fire rated assemblies and locations
- Penetrations through the thermal envelope assemblies and locations
- Gas booster pumps
- Where applicable, locations of medical gas and equipment, zone valves and alarms
- Primary and secondary roof drainage
- Indicate sprinkler off domestic (30 heads or less) and standpipe when not connected to sprinkler heads
- Seismic / expansion certification
- Flood zone compliance
Submission of Construction Documents
1. Drawings: The plumbing drawings should reflect clear scope of work and include all affected systems. Examples of this are as follows:
| Designator - Sheet Number: |
Sheet Description: |
|---|---|
| P-001.00 | Plumbing Title Sheet, Site Plan with required information, Drawing Index, Plumbing General Notes stating compliance with the 2014 BC, PC and FGC |
| P-002.00 | Plumbing and Equipment Schedules, Notes, Water Calculations |
| P-101.00 | Floor Plan – Plumbing Fixture and Piping Layout Plans |
| P-102.00 | Floor Plan – Plumbing and Medical Gas Plans |
| P-201.00 | Enlarged Plumbing Floor Plans – if applicable |
| P-301.00 | Piping – Riser Diagrams for Water Supply, Waste, Gas lines, and Ventilation |
| P-401.00 | Details and Fixture Schedules |
| SD-101.00 | Standpipe plans and details |
| EN-101.00 | Energy Analysis – if applicable |
Plumbing Legend to include: Symbols, abbreviations, notes and definition, and list all applicable Building Code section numbers.
Recommended Drawing Designators:
P: Plumbing: Mandatory designation if Plumbing work is filed separately from other work.
SD: Standpipe: Mandatory designation if Standpipe equipment/work is filed separately from other fire protection work.
EN: Energy Analysis: Mandatory designation if an Energy Analysis is required.
2. Schedule of Building Systems. A new schedule, which allows the Department to better record and track key building systems and devices, is being established to replace the current Schedule B and other schedules submitted with job filings. This will provide DOB and other city agencies, including utilities, with pertinent system or device details. For plumbing installation and modification work, applicable details for the following systems may need to be submitted:
- Gas and Meters
- Medical Gas
- Private onsite sanitary drainage (Septic)
- Private onsite storm water (Detention, Retention/Drywell Systems)
3. Required Documents.Based on the scope of the project the following submissions may have to accompany the drawings at intake:
- FDNY (Letter of No Objection)
- DEP (Tap letter, meter permit, SCP/HCP, and MS4 - Municipal Separate Storm Sewer)
- Con Edison/National Grid (Gas Authorization)
- DEP, and OER authorization
- Tenant/Occupant Protection Plan (only if applicable)
- SRO MD Anti-Harassment checklist
4. Post Approval Amendments. Any changes to approved scope of work that is significant and substantive will require submission of revised plans for Post Approval Amendment (PAA). Approval for an amendment must be obtained before the work or equipment is completed. Changes that are not substantive do not require a PAA; however these changes must be shown on plans and included in the ‘as built’ submission at the end of the project (§28.104.3). Substantive changes that meet the following criteria should be submitted for review to amend the approved plans:
- Removal of risers, providing less than minimum code required fixtures, and removal of roof drains
5. As Built Submission. All changes must be submitted in an ‘as built’ drawing at the end of the project.
Special Inspections
Plumbing work may require, per Building Code Ch. 17, certain Special and Progress Inspections, and other construction requirements to be performed during, and at the end of construction. The Registered Design Professional is responsible for indicating which Special Inspections are required at application intake. It is the owner’s responsibility to engage the Special Inspection Agencies, as required by Fuel Gas Code (FGC) Section 406, for such Special and Progress Inspections.
|
High Pressure Gas Piping |
Per FGC Section 403.1.1, all welded gas distribution piping is subject to a special inspection. |
|
Fire-resistance penetrations and joints |
Per BC 1704.27, special inspections - all penetrations of walls must be sealed to maintain fire-rating; similarly piping joints and insulation may need to be fire-rated. |
|
Seismic Isolation of Piping |
Per BC 1707.8 – Compliance of piping with PC 106.5 to ensure earthquake protection of building and occupants. |
|
Private on-site Sanitary/Storm Water Systems (Septic/Drywell) |
When private on-site sanitary OR storm water disposal systems and detention (drywell and septic) are installed or repaired the following Special Inspections may be required per BC 1704.21 and BC 1704.22:
|
|
Post-Installed Anchors |
Per BC 1704.32
|
|
NYC Energy Code: Progress Inspections, as required by BC 110.3.5 and NYCECC |
|