The work outlined below can only be performed by a Licensed Master Plumber. However, if the plumbing project exceeds the work allowed under the categories of limited plumbing alteration work listed below, a Registered Design Professional must submit construction plans for approval by the Department in order to obtain a work permit.
Administrative Code provides the definition of Limited Plumbing Alteration, specifying repair to a plumbing or fuel gas piping system that is limited in scope under two categories:
Category – 1: With Cost and time period limitation – $35,000 cost limitation per building including appliance and labor in any 12 month period – only the following can be done:
Addition of Plumbing Fixtures or Connections. Add five or less fixtures within any 12-month period
New Piping. Installation of new plumbing or fuel gas piping – Not including Category 2 work
New Sprinkler Heads. Installation of up to five new heads, only off an existing domestic water system within any 12-month period
Rearrange Sprinkler Heads. Rearrange not more than twenty (20) sprinkler heads, only off an existing domestic water system and only in areas classified in light or ordinary hazard occupancies, such as residences, restaurant service areas, or mercantile areas
Standpipe Piping and Parts. In-kind replacement of piping and parts required for the operation of a standpipe, provided that a sprinklers are not connected
Standpipe System Parts. Replacement of parts required for the operation of a standpipe system that is not a combined standpipe system
Category – 2: Without cost and time period limitation – only the following can be done:
Piping. Reroute existing plumbing or fuel gas branch piping to serve the same number of existing fixtures and appliances
Replace Fixtures. In-kind replacement of plumbing fixtures and gas appliances, and which exceeds a minor alteration/repair or ordinary plumbing work
Relocate Existing Fixtures. Relocation and mounting of new fixtures on existing roughing, and which exceeds a minor alteration/repair or ordinary plumbing work
Backflow Preventers. Install or replace primary backflow preventers
Gas-fired Boilers. Replace gas-fired boilers [1 million Btu/h (293 kW) or less]
Gas Burners. Replace gas burners [2.8 million Btu/h (821 kW) or less]
Relocate gas burner/boiler. Relocate gas burner/boiler within the same unaltered fire-rated enclosure, or room
Direct-vent Appliances. In-kind replacement of direct-vent appliances including gas-fired boilers, hot water heaters and furnaces, but serving only one or two-family homes that are four stories or less
Direct-vent Gas Dryer (Domestic). Install new single domestic direct-vent gas dryer serving only one or two family homes four stories or less
Temporary Gas-fired Boiler. Placement of a registered gas-fired temporary boiler at a site for emergency heat
Sprinkler Heads. Replace up to thirty (30) existing sprinkler heads provided such heads orifice size, type, and deflector remain the same, and only off of a domestic water system.