The term plumbing is hereby defined to include all potable water supply and distribution pipes, all plumbing fixtures and traps, all drainage and vent pipes, including all respective joints and connections, devices, receptacles and appurtenances within the private property lines of the user premises, and shall include potable water pipes, drains, sewer lines, potable water treating or using equipment, fuel gas pipes, water heater, vents and pumps, whether connected permanently or temporarily in the system. Additionally, the term shall encompass all pipes, fixtures and appurtenances which are used to connect water from the city water main and distribute about any premises for any use whatsoever whether within or outside foundation walls and connected through private drains, laterals or lines to the public sewer system or private sewage disposal system.
(Ord. 887, Sec. 1)
Any person now or hereafter engaging or working at the business of plumbing in the city either as master plumber or employing plumber or as a journeyman plumber, shall first receive a certificate therefor in accordance with the provisions of this article.
(Ord. 243, Sec. 1)
Any person desiring to engage or work at the business of plumbing, either as a master plumber or employing plumber or as a journeyman plumber in the city shall make application to the board of examiners hereinafter provided for and shall at such times and place as the board may designate be compelled to pass such examination as to his qualifications as the board may direct. The examination may be made in whole or in part in writing and shall be of a practical and elementary character, but sufficiently strict to test the qualifications of the applicant.
(Ord. 243, Sec. 2)
There shall be in the city a board of examiners of plumbers, consisting of three members:
(a) One of whom shall be chairman of water and sewer committee, who shall be ex officio chairperson of the board of examiners;
(b) A second member, who shall be a superintendent of water and sewers;
(c) A third member, who shall be a local plumber. The second and third members shall be appointed by the mayor and approved by the council of the city for the term of one year from the 1st day of May in the year of appointment thereafter annually before the 1st day of May, and shall be paid from the treasury of the city, the same as other officers in such sum as the authorities may designate.
(Ord. 243, Sec. 3)
The salary of the second and third members of the board of examiners shall be $1.00 for each candidate examined for certificates of plumbing.
(Ord. 243, Sec. 17)
The board of examiners shall as soon as may be after their appointment, meet, and shall then designate the times and places for examination of all applicants desiring to engage in or work at the business of plumbing within their respective jurisdiction. The board shall examine the applicant as to the practical knowledge of plumbing, house drainage and plumbing ventilation, and if satisfied of the competency of such applicant, shall thereupon issue a certificate to such applicant, authorizing him to engage in or work at the business of plumbing, either, as a master plumber or employing plumber or as a journeyman plumber. The fee for a certificate of:
(a) A master plumber or employing plumber shall be set forth in Section 1-1101.
(b) Journeyman plumber shall be set forth in Section 1-1101
All nonresident plumbers doing work in the city shall have a master plumber license, issued in accordance with this article. The certificate shall be valid and have force throughout the city. All fees received for the certificates shall be paid into the treasury of the city.
(Ord. 699, Sec. 4; Ord. 1400)
All fees and license charges payable to the city by master plumbers, employing plumbers, journeymen and such individuals, partnerships or corporations wishing to engage in the business of plumbing in the city, shall be as provided in section 4-405 of this article; provided, that after the fees and license charges set out in section 4-405 have been paid once, all renewals for succeeding years of the privileges to operate in the city, shall be subject to the following reduced rates:
(a) Master plumber renewal certification fee as set forth in Section 1-1101 annually;
(b) Employing plumber renewal certification fee as set forth in Section 1-1101 annually;
(c) Journeyman plumber renewal certification fee as set forth in Section 1-1101 annually;
(d) Operating license for the business of plumbing renewal certification fee as set forth in Section 1-1101 annually;
(Ord. 273; Ord. 1400)
All persons who are required by this article to take an examination and procure a certificate as required in this article, shall apply to the board of the city where employed.
(Ord. 243, Sec. 5)
In addition to the above duties of the examining board, it shall act as an arbitration board in deciding any question that may arise between the plumbing inspector and master plumbers that is not covered in this article, and the decision of the board in such matters shall be final, unless appeal is taken to the mayor and councilmen of the city.
(Ord. 243, Sec. 6)
(a) Any person, firm or corporation desiring to engage in the business of plumbing in the city shall pay yearly a license fee at the rate set forth in Section 1-1101, but in no case shall a license be issued for less than one year. The license shall expire on the 31st day of December of the year of issuance. All licenses of plumbers to be issued by the city clerk, and the applicant shall present his examination certificate to the city clerk.
(b) Applicants for issuance or renewal of license must verify completion of six continuing education hours for the applicable skilled trade as prescribed by the State of Kansas.
(Ord. 243; Ord. 1172; Code 2022:Ord. 1400)
(a) In addition to the license fee stated in section 4-410, and before the license is issued, the person, firm or company or corporation shall file a surety bond with the city clerk. The bond shall be in the sum of $10,000 and for the benefit of the city and property owners damaged by substandard plumbing work, failure to protect excavations and plumbing performed in noncompliance with the ICBO Plumbing Code in effect and adopted by the city. Provided, that this section shall not apply to any person in the employ of the city who shall do plumbing work under the direction of the superintendent of the water department.
(b) In the alternative, the applicant may file a certificate of liability insurance coverage in the amount of $500,000 each occurrence / $1,000,000 aggregate; establishing that the stated amount of insurance is in force and will not be terminated without written notice to the city. The insurance shall state that to the limits of its coverage it shall inure to the benefit of persons and property damaged as a result of negligence on the part of applicant, in construction, repair and installation of plumbing work covered by the ICBO Plumbing Code.
(Ord. 968, Secs. 1 :2)
The plumbing inspector or his assistant shall have the right and privilege to enter any building within reasonable hours, in the city for the purpose of making inspection of the plumbing, drainage or ventilation system constructed or under construction in such building. Each and every system of plumbing, drainage or ventilation in any building shall have been constructed and before same is covered from view, the plumber or firm doing such work shall notify the plumbing inspector in writing or otherwise, that the work is ready for inspection. No inspection shall be called for until the job is ready; the inspector shall make the inspection within 24 hours after the inspection has been called for. If the work shall be found by the inspector to comply with the existing ordinance or ordinances of this city, and shall stand the required test as hereinafter provided, then the inspector shall stamp the work as being approved; the work may then be covered. In case the work shall not comply with existing ordinances, the plumber or licensee shall make such changes as are necessary to be made, to cause the work to comply with ordinances as directed by the plumbing inspector or his or her assistant. In failing to make necessary changes within 48 hours, the licensee forfeits his rights to obtain permits until the changes are made and approved by the plumbing inspector. In case the inspector of plumbing is called to inspect stipulated work and upon his arrival the work or test of the work is not ready for inspection, then the licensee shall pay to the plumbing inspector the sum of $1.00 for each unnecessary call.
(Ord. 243, Sec; 9)
The plumbing inspector shall be a qualified voter and shall have resided in the city at least prior to his or her appointment. He or she shall be removed only by a majority vote of the council on charges preferred.
(Ord. 243, Sec. 10)
Plumbing work concealed by cement, concrete, marble, tile or other permanent material, shall before being covered, have a plan made thereof setting up clearly the location; measurements, grade and nature of materials and sizes of all such concealed work; such plans to be furnished by the plumber responsible for the job and to be filed and approved by the plumbing inspector.
(Ord. 243, Sec. 11)
It shall be the duty of every person doing work as plumber in the city to show his or her certificate issued by the board of examiners, hereinbefore provided, and his city license and permit to arty inspector of plumbing, sanitary police or regular police officers who shall ask to see the same. The board of examiners are hereby authorized to cancel and recall the certificates or the city license respectively of any plumber who has been twice convicted of violation of the plumbing code requirements of the city or who shall refuse to do any specified job work in accordance with the plans and specifications approved by the plumbing inspector. No work done by any plumber without first having procured a permit therefor shall be accepted by the plumbing inspector. It shall be the duty of the plumbing inspector to report each and every such case to the person for whom such work is being done.
(Ord. 243, Sec. 12)
It shall be the duty of any architect or architects, builder or builders, or other person interested in any projected lodging house or other place of habitation in the city to submit plans or sketches and specifications of any such building or buildings to the sewer and plumbing inspectors of the city. Sewer and plumbing inspectors may examine the plans, sketches and specifications and recommend a system for ventilation, water closets, sewer under buildings, drainage and plumbing.
(Ord. 243, Sec. 13)
Bad faith or unreasonable delay in the performance of plumbing work shall be deemed a sufficient reason for subjecting the plumber so offending to a suspension of his or her license, and every plumber shall be held responsible for the violation of these regulations and of laborers and help employed by him.
(Ord. 243, Sec. 14)
All plumbing plans shall show clearly the location of every pipe, fixture and trap, and the ventilation of rooms in which the plumbing fixtures are to be placed. Plans will not be required in cases of removal of stoppage, repairs of leaks, broken fixtures, tanks and faucets.
(Ord. 243, Sec. 15)
There is hereby adopted and incorporated by reference, for the purpose of establishing rules and regulations for the practice of plumbing and gas-fitting, including the installation, maintenance, extension and alteration of all pipes, fixtures, appliances and appurtenances in connection with sanitary sewers and public and private water and fuel gas systems, the 2021 Editions of the International Plumbing Code and the International Fuel Gas Code, as published by the International Code Council, such codes being made as a part of the ordinances and code of the city as if the same had been set out in full herein, all as authorized and in the manner prescribed by K.S.A. 12-3009 through 12-3012 including any amendments thereto. Any person violating any provisions of such code shall be punished as provided in section 1-118 of this code.
(Ord. 1147; Ord. 1224; Ord. 1338; Code 2022)