City of Columbus Implements Alternative Self-Certification Process as New Ohio Plumbing Code Takes Effect
Notable changes were made to Section 312 Tests and Inspections of the Ohio Plumbing Code (OPC), specifically addressing the testing of systems using compressed air. November 1, 2017, was the official adoption date for the updated OPC, based on the 2015 International Plumbing Code.
Beginning December 1, 2017, any installation tested with compressed air will be disapproved.
There were prior amendments to this OPC section in January and October 2016, which are included in the newest adoption of the code. These original revisions were driven by concerns over increasing litigation stemming from testing systems with compressed air.
Due to the OPC changes, as well as those to the Residential Code of Ohio Section 108.8, the City of Columbus Department of Building and Zoning Services (BZS) decided to implement an alternative self-certification option for plumbing contractors.
The OPC does permit alternative testing methods, if approved by the manufacturer of the plumbing system materials. The Columbus BZS verified all manufacturers are accepting a vacuum test, but no companies will accept a test with compressed air or other compressed gas.
“Approved testing methods must be adhered to as over-pressurizing a system with air instead of a vacuum could result in an inspector requiring all piping to be removed and replaced,” said John McCann, TP Mechanical’s Operations Leader for the Columbus Region. “Staying up-to-date and compliant with codes not only saves our clients time and money, but also ensures their facilities are functional and safe.”
For more information
Visit https://www.columbus.gov/bzs/inspections/Plumbing/ to learn more about the code changes and alternative testing methods.
To learn how TP Mechanical can provide comprehensive, innovative solutions to ensure your plumbing meets code, visit http://www.tpmechanical.com/why-choose-tp-mechanical/.