Section 27-896
§ 27-896 Scope. The provisions of this subchapter shall establish and
control the minimum requirements for the design, installation,
alteration, repair, and maintenance of plumbing systems, including gas
piping, sanitary and storm drainage, industrial and special wastes,
sanitary facilities, water supplies and storm water and sewage disposal,
except where specific exemptions are made in the code. All installation,
alteration, repair, and maintenance work shall be performed by or under
the direct supervision of a licensed master plumber, except as follows:
(a) Minor alterations and ordinary repairs as defined and delimited in
article five of subchapter one of this chapter.
(b) Installation of gas service piping and gas meter piping may be
performed by a utility corporation that is subject to the jurisdiction
of the public service commission, provided that the corporation
maintains and services such piping.
(c) Emergency repairs to alleviate hazardous conditions in gas
distribution piping may be performed by a utility corporation which is
subject to the jurisdiction of the public service commission, subject to
the requirements of section 27-176 of article fifteen of subchapter one
of this chapter.
Section 27-897
§ 27-897 Standards. The provisions of reference standard RS-16 shall
be a part of this subchapter.
Section 27-898
§ 27-898 Definitions. For definitions to be used in the interpretation
of this subchapter, see subchapter two of this chapter.
Section 27-899
§ 27-899 Plans. For the requirements governing the filing of plans and
the work to be shown on plans, see subchapter one of this chapter.
Section 27-900
§ 27-900 Permits. For the requirements governing application for
building permits and plumbing permits, see subchapter one of this
chapter.
Section 27-901
§ 27-901 General requirements. Plumbing and gas piping shall be
designed and installed so as to satisfy the following conditions and the
requirements of reference standard RS-16:
(a) All occupied premises shall have potable water. Every building
intended for human habitation, occupancy, or use shall be provided with
a supply of potable water.
(b) Sufficient water required. Plumbing fixtures, devices, and
appurtenances shall be supplied with water in sufficient volume and at
pressures adequate to enable them to function properly. The pipes
conveying the water shall be of sufficient size to provide the water
required without undue pressure reduction and without undue noise under
all normal conditions of use.
(c) Water conservation. Plumbing shall be designed and adjusted to use
the minimum quantity of water consistent with proper performance and
cleansing of the fixture of plumbing appurtenance.
(d) Safeguarding against explosion. Devices for heating and storing
water shall be designed, installed, and maintained to guard against
rupture of the containing vessel through overheating.
(e) Connection to public water supply systems and to sanitary or
combined sewer systems.
(1) GENERAL. a. The water distribution system and system for conveying
sewage from any building in which plumbing fixtures are installed shall
be connected, respectively, to a public water main and a sanitary or
combined sewer if either or both are available and, regarding the sewer,
if the department determines that connection thereto is feasible. The
department shall determine that connection is feasible if:
1. the sewer is of adequate capacity to receive all sewage flowing
from the building;
2. the sewer is in adequate physical condition to receive such sewage;
3. no physical obstacles exist, between the boundaries of the lot or
tract of land on which the building is located and the sewer, which
would make connection to the sewer impracticable;
4. the elevation of the sewer in relation to the lot or tract of land
on which the building is located is such that conveyance of the sewage
from the building to the sewer is not impracticable;
5. the sewer is located in the same drainage area as all or most of
the lot or tract of land on which the building is located; and
6. no other factor reasonably related to the conveyance of sewage from
the building to the sewer would make such connection impracticable or
undesirable as a proper means of sewage disposal.
b. Where a public water main is not available, an individual potable
water supply shall be provided, and where neither a sanitary nor a
combined sewer is available to which the department determines that
connection is feasible, a private sewer or private sewage disposal
system shall be provided. All such private systems shall be provided
subject to the approval of the commissioner and of any other agency or
agencies having jurisdiction, and constructed in accordance with the
requirements of reference standard RS-16 and, with respect to the
construction of individual on site private sewage disposal systems, in
accordance with the specifications and standards prescribed by the
commissioner, in consultation with the commissioner of environmental
protection, pursuant to section six hundred forty-three of the charter.
c. Extensions of public sewers and water mains shall be made in
accordance with the regulations of the department of environmental
protection.
(2) SYSTEMS AVAILABLE. a. A public water main, and a sanitary or
combined sewer for the purpose of conveying sewage, shall be deemed
available to a building in which plumbing fixtures are installed, except
to a one- or two-family dwelling, if a property line of such building is
within five hundred feet (measured along a street, alley, or
right-of-way) of the public water supply system or the sewer. The
connection shall be made in accordance with the applicable standards of
the department of environmental protection.
b. A public water supply system, and a sanitary or combined sewer for
the purpose of conveying sewage, shall be deemed available to a one- and
two-family dwelling if a property line of such dwelling is within one
hundred feet (measured along a street, alley, or right-of-way) of the
public water supply system or the sewer. The connection shall be made in
accordance with the applicable standards of the department of
environmental protection, provided, however, that such one- and
two-family dwelling need not connect directly to the sewer if the common
elements of an internal private drain are located in a dedicated,
unobstructed right-of-way that extends to the sewer with a minimum width
of ten feet located entirely outside of the building footprint and
outside of all overhangs and projections that are less than fourteen
feet in height above grade.
c. Where two or more one- or two-family dwellings are to be
constructed on a tract of land, or where a substantial improvement of
any other type of building or buildings is contemplated on a tract of
land, the public water supply system and/or the sanitary or combined
sewer may be declared available thereto by the agencies having
jurisdiction thereon even though the distances specified in
subparagraphs a and b of this paragraph are exceeded.
(f) Well water systems. No well or individual water supply may be
installed for any purpose without the approval of the commissioner and
of the department of health and mental hygiene and the department of
environmental protection.
(g) Design and maintenance of system for conveying sewage from
building. The system for conveying sewage from the building shall be
designed, constructed and maintained to guard against fouling, deposit
of solids, and clogging, and shall be provided with adequate cleanouts
so arranged that the pipes may be readily cleaned.
(h) Exclusion of certain substances from the plumbing system.
(1) DETRIMENTAL OR DANGEROUS MATERIAL. No person shall deposit, by any
means, any of the following into the building drainage system or sewer:
ashes, cinders, rags, flammable, poisonous, or explosive liquids, gases,
oils, grease, or any other material that could obstruct, damage, or
overload such system, or that could interfere with the normal operation
of the sewage treatment processes.
(2) INDUSTRIAL WASTES. Wastes from hospitals, chemical plants,
laundries, abattoirs, or any other industrial wastes that could be
detrimental to the public sewer or public health, shall be treated
before such wastes are discharged into the public sewer. At the time of
the filing of plumbing plans for any hospital, chemical plant, laundry,
abattoir, or any other industrial structure, a statement shall be filed
with the commissioner indicating the substances, ingredients, or matter,
that will be discharged into the sewer, together with written approval
of the department of environmental protection for the method of
treatment of said substance, ingredient or matter, before it is
discharged into the public sewer.
(i) Prevention of contamination. Plumbing fixtures, devices, and
appliances shall be provided with adequate protection to prevent
contamination of food, water, sterile goods, and similar materials by
backflow of sewage. The fixture, device, or appliance shall be connected
indirectly with the building drainage system when necessary.
(j) Drainage below street level. The drainage of all sanitary and
storm water below the crown level of the street sewer, or below a level
where backflow from the street sewer is possible, shall be conveyed to a
sewage ejector and/or sump through a system of subhouse drains, and
lifted into the street sewer or disposal system.
(k) Disposal of storm water. Storm water falling or coming to rest on
property on which new buildings or substantial horizontal enlargements
are to be constructed, and on all streets and other paved areas
constructed or altered in connection with the construction of such new
buildings or substantial horizontal enlargements, shall be disposed of
in accordance with the requirements of reference standard RS-16 and the
rules and regulations of the department of environmental protection. No
person providing a system for disposing of storm water, as required by
this subdivision, shall in any way alter, relocate or affect any
existing drainage system on the property, except in accordance with the
provisions of section 19-137 of title nineteen of the administrative
code. Except as otherwise permitted by this code, no person shall
perform land contour work, as defined in section 19-137 of this code,
which work causes storm water to flow across sidewalks or onto an
adjacent property. For purposes of this subdivision, the term
"substantial horizontal enlargement" shall have the meaning given such
term in subdivision (a) of section P110.2 of reference standard RS-16.
(l) Required plumbing fixtures. Every dwelling unit in buildings
classified in occupancy groups J-2 and J-3 shall have at least one water
closet, one lavatory, one kitchen-type sink, and one bathtub or shower.
All other buildings shall be equipped with the number and types of
plumbing fixtures required by reference standard RS-16; provided,
however, that the minimum required number of water closets in any arena,
bar, concert hall, convention hall, motion picture theatre, public dance
hall, stadium, or theatre shall be in accordance with article eight of
this subchapter.
(m) Smooth surfaces required. Plumbing fixtures shall be made of
smooth, nonabsorbent material and shall be free from fouling surfaces.
(n) Location of fixtures.
(1) LIGHT AND VENTILATION. For light and ventilation requirements of
rooms or spaces containing plumbing fixtures, see subchapter twelve of
this chapter.
(2) LOCATION. Piping, fixtures, or equipment shall be located so as
not to interfere with the normal operation of windows, or doors and
other exit openings.
(3) ACCESSIBILITY. Plumbing fixtures shall be located so that they are
readily accessible to the users.
(o) Liquid-seal traps required. Each fixture directly connected to the
drainage system shall be equipped with a liquid-seal trap, except as
otherwise provided in this subchapter. The drainage system shall be
designed to provide adequate air circulation in all pipes with no danger
of siphonage, aspiration, or forcing of trap seals under conditions of
ordinary use.
(p) Exhausting of foul air to outside. Each vent terminal shall extend
to the outdoor air and be located and installed so as to minimize the
possibility of clogging and the return of foul air to the building.
(q) Materials and workmanship. All materials and equipment used in the
plumbing and gas systems shall be free from defects, and shall be
designed, constructed, and installed so as to give satisfactory service
for their expected life.
(r) Condemned equipment. Any plumbing materials or equipment condemned
by the commissioner because of wear, damage, defects, or sanitary
hazards shall not be used or re-used for plumbing purposes.
(s) Prevention of sewer flooding. Where a plumbing drainage system is
subject to backflow of sewage from the public sewer, suitable provision
shall be made to prevent its overflow in the building.
(t) Test of plumbing system. The plumbing system shall be subjected to
such tests as will readily disclose all leaks and defects in the work or
in the material used.
(u) Proper maintenance. Plumbing systems shall be maintained in a safe
and serviceable condition from the standpoint of both operation and
health.
(v) Protection of ground and surface water. Sewage or other waste
shall not be discharged into surface or subsurface water unless it has
been discharged by a method subject to the approval of the commissioner
and of the department of health and mental hygiene and the department of
environmental protection.
(w) Weather protection. Water service piping shall be installed at
least four feet below exterior grade, and building house sewers shall be
installed at least three feet below exterior grade. Plumbing piping in
exterior building walls shall be adequately protected against freezing
by insulation or heat, or by both.
(x) Structural safety. The structural safety of a building shall not
be affected or impaired in any way as a result of the installation,
alteration, renovation, or replacement of a plumbing system or any part
thereof. See subchapters nine, ten, eleven and nineteen of this chapter.
(y) Strains and stresses in pipes. Piping shall be installed so as to
prevent strains and stresses that would exceed the structural
limitations of the pipe and so as to prevent deflection or deformation
that would cause the system to malfunction. Provision shall be made for
expansion and contraction and for structural settlement that might
affect the piping.
(z) Installation limitations.
(1) ELEVATOR SHAFTS. No piping shall be installed in any elevator or
counterweight hoistway.
(2) FIRE RATED CONSTRUCTION. No plumbing or gas piping shall be
installed in any construction required to have a fire resistance rating
except in accordance with the provisions of subchapter five of this
chapter.
(3) STAIR ENCLOSURES. No piping of any kind, with the exception of
piping required or permitted under subchapter seventeen of this chapter,
shall be permitted within a stair enclosure.
(aa) Special flood hazard restrictions. Within special flood areas and
below the regulatory flood datum as described in article ten of
subchapter four of this chapter, plumbing installations shall comply
with the applicable provisions of reference standard RS 4-5.
Section 27-902
§ 27-902 Use of nonconforming material or equipment. (a) No person
shall use or install any new or used plumbing material or equipment,
unless it complies with the requirements set forth in this subchapter
and reference standard RS-16.
(b) No person shall use any portable equipment that utilizes mercury
to test the pressure of gas piping, drainage or vent systems.
Section 27-903
§ 27-903 Fire protection. Where pipes pass through construction
required to have a fire-resistance rating, they shall comply with the
requirement of section 27-343 of article five of subchapter five of this
chapter.
Section 27-904
§ 27-904 Establishing gas supply. It shall be unlawful for any utility
company to supply gas to a building, place or premises in which new
meters other than replacement are required until a certificate of
approval of gas installation from the department of buildings is filed
with such utility company. When new gas service piping has been
installed it shall be locked-off by the utility either by locking the
gas service line valve or by installing a locking device on the outside
gas service line valve. The lock shall not be removed until the gas
meter piping (other than utility owned) and gas distribution piping has
been inspected and certified as required by the department of buildings
as being ready for service.
Section 27-905
§ 27-905 Alterations to gas piping systems. When alterations,
extensions or repairs to existing gas meter piping or gas distribution
piping requires the shut-off of gas flow to a building, the utility
shall be notified by the owner or his or her authorized representative.
To the extent possible under law, Friends of Devin Balkind for Public Advocate has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to New York City Administrative Code. This work is published from: United States.
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