HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 4874 w
ORDINANCE, NO. 4874
AN ORDINANCE GOVERNING AND REATULATING THE INSTALLATION 0? PIPE, OF:WO
L RECORD
FI VIT7:-,3, APPURTENANCES AND AP?LIANCES FDR WATER, SEWAGE AID CITECRETARY
GAS IN THE CITY OF FO�iT WORTH, TEXAS, BY Afi LADING ORDINANCE NO.
2978 AS AHE—NDEID, KNOWN AS THE PLIT,�ING CODE, REQUIRING THE PER ON FTRrH� TEX.
HOLDING A PLUMBING PE = TO NOTIFY THE INSPECTOR WHEN THE WORK
IS (READY FOR INSPECTION; REJULATIN3 T4E INSTALLATION OF LAWN
SPRINKLERt SYSTEMS; CHANGING THE RE,QITIREM7�NT FOR CITSHION U14DEi
CAST IRON SOIL PIPE; CHAvGING THE REQUIRE ENT3 FnR CLEAN-OUTS;
R.sGJJLATING GAS METE%S; PROVIDING FcIJLES R)R GA3 PIPING, PROVIDING
PENALTIES; PROVIDING THAT EACH DAY 3HALI, CONSTITUTE A SEPARATE
OFFENSE; MAKING THIS ORDINANCEZ CJJMUiATIVS WITH PRIOR ORDINANCES;
PIf)VIDING A 3EVERABILITY CLAUSE; MAKING THE ENFORCE JFENT HEAZOF
GOVERNr1;:NTAL; DIRIsCTING THE CITY SECRETARY TO P?BLISH THIS
ORDINANCE IN PAMPHLET -`JRM; PRO'7IDINv FOR INJUNCTIONS, AND PRO-
VIDINii AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
BE IT 0RJAIPED BY 1E CITY CC'INCI�, OF THE CITY OF FORT ',IORTH, TEXAS:
SE=ON 1.
That sub-paragraph 6-11 -- UNLAWTPIJL NOT TO HAVE INSPEICTIIN of Section
6 -- it&i4ITS, FEES, IN3PECTIONS AND PESTS, of Ordinance No. 2)78 is hereby
amended, and after having been so amended shall hereafter read as follows:
Paragraph 6-11 -- UNLAWFUL NOT TO HAVE INSPECTION
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation owning or
c,)ntrolling any building in the City, or outside the boundaries of the City,
if same be connected to either the City water or sewerage systems, in which
new gas, water or sewage piping may be installed or existing piping altered,
or any plumber, or any other person to knowingly allow or permit water, gas,
or sewage to flow through such piping until the same aas been inspected,
tested, and inspection certificate issued by the Plumbing Inspector. It
shall be the duty of the person in whose name the permit is issued to notifyy
the City Plumbing Inspector or his representative at the time the work is
ready .for each of Lhe inspections required by this ordinance.
When any gas piping, appliances, fixtures, or apparatus have been dis-
connected and rendered inoperative by the City Plumbing Inspector of the
service discontinued, as set forth in the foregoing provisions, it shall be
unlawful for any person or persons to in any manner reconnect the same or
cause Lhe same to be reconnected to any supply of gas or to use the same
as a part of any gas piping system until a certificate of acceptance has
been issued by the City Plumbing Inspector.
SECTION 2.
That paragraph 8-10 -- LAW14 SPRINKLER SYSTEMS, of Section 8 -- WATER
SUPPLY, of Ordinance No. 2978 as amended ty Ordinance No. 3337, is hereby
amended and after having been so amended shall hereafter read as follows:
Paragraph 8-10 -- LAWN SPRINKLER SYSTEMS
a. Definitions.
The term "Lawn Sprinkler System" shall mean the entire pipeline,
connections, and attachments from the outlet side of a water service line
connection making up an underground system for watering lawns.
The term "Water Service Line" shall mean the pipe from the water
main or other source of water supply to the building or premises served.
The term "Secondary Service Line" shall mean the pipe and its
attachments which are directly connected with the water service line.
The term "Sprinkler-Head Line" shall mean the pipe and its attach-
ments which are connected with the secondary service line, but does not
include any anti-syphon safety devices as may be hereinafter required.
b. Material and Installation Requirements for Sprinklerhead Lines.
There shall be no requirements as to materials used in the sprinkler
head line portion of a lawn sprinkler system on the discharge side of the
preventor. Sprinkler heads shall be installed so as to direct water spray
away from any public street or sidewalk.
c. Valve and Drain Requirements.
Every lawn sprinkler system shall be provided with a master shut-
off valve and drain, both of which shall be installed in a cast iron box
with a removable cover, the valve and drain being at least 12 inches under
ground. Back flow preventors shall be installed for each section that is
separately controlled.
Back flow preventors shall be installed so that they will be not
less than 6 inches above finished grade and at no time shall they be installed
where the pressure stands against the back-flow preventor when it is not in use.
Rotary or plug-in type sprinklers shall be installed independent of
other control valves and connected directly to the main service line and they
shall be of the same material as the water service line.
d. Sprinkler Systems Permitted Between the Sidewalk and Curb.
Nothing in this ordinance shall prohibit the installation of a lawn
sprinkler system in the public parkway between the sidewalk and street. How-
ever, the City of Fort Worth shall not be held liable for any damage to such
system which results from the installation, maintenance or repair of any
sewer or water mains, or from the widenitig or improvement of any street.
Nor shall this permission in any way affect existing easements in said
parkway of any individual or corporation.
e. Plans and Specifications.
A permit shall be obtained and fee paid as set out in Section 6
of the Plumbing Code for the installation of a lawn sprinkler system. A
complete plan and specifications shall be filed with the Plumbing Inspector
for the entire sprinkler installation. No work shall be started until said
plan and specifications are approved by the Plumbing Inspector. Any change
in such approved plan and specifications shall also require the prior approval
of the Plumbing Inspector.
f. Sprinkler-Head Line Dealers Considered Appliance Dealers.
Dealers in the sprinkler-head line portions of a lawn sprinkler
system shall be considered appliance dealers for all purposes of the plumbing
code.
SECTION 3.
That subparagraph A -- GENERAL, of Paragraph 9-1 -- BUILDING SEWERS
(HOUSE SEWERS), of Section 9 -- SEWERS, of Ordinance No. 2978 as amended by
Ordinance No. 4749 is hereby amended and after having been so amended shall
hereafter read as follows:
Building Sewers shall not be constructed of pipe less than 4 inches in
internal diameter and such pipe shall be equipped with factory made joints
meeting the requirements herein specified. All fitting used in the construc-
tion of building sewers shall be regulation wyes and bends of a type approved
by the Chief Plumbing Inspector.
Building sewers shall be laid in a direct line in a trench of smooth
uniform grade, the portion of the building sewer that is to be constructed
by the plumber or the person securing the permit, shall not be constructed
prior to the completion of the sewer tap and/or sewer service lateral by City
forces. A minimum grade of 1/4 inch to the foot shall be required. In
cases where the minimum specified grade cannot be obtained, the Chief Plumbing
Inspector shall be consulted and his approval obtained prior to the laying
of any pipe. Building Sewers having a grade in excess of 12 inches to the foot shall
be constructed of standard weight or heavier cast iron pipe.
Sewer pipe, other than cast iron, shall have not less than 12 inches
of-cover. When laid in a street or alley or beneath a curb, a minimum of
24 inches of cover will be required. Building sewers shall not be constructed
on filled ground unless such fill is compacted gravel. If sewer trenches
are excavated below grade, the trench bottom shall be restored to proper
grade with compacted gravel prior to the laying of the pipe.
In the construction of building sewers, the trench shall be excavated
to a minimum depth of 3 inches below the bottom of the barrel of the pipe
and a uniform cushion composed of not less than 3 inches of "sandy gravel
material" as herein specified shall be provided except that 2 inches of sandy gravel
material shall be required under cast iron soil pipe unless the trench is in rock or
was excavated below grade. After the cushion has been graded, the pipe shall be
laid from the main to the building drain with the bells of the pipe pointed
upstream. Pipe shall be laid and joints made in accordance with the manufacturer's
instructions and the specifications herein contained. After the laying of the pipe
has been completed, the trench shall be left open with pipe and cushion exposed
until after the work has been inspected, tested and approved by the Plumbing Inspector.
After approval by the Plumbing Inspector, the pipe shall be blinded with
sandy gravel material as herein specified to a level at least six inches above
the toje of the pipe except that no blinding shall be required over cast iron soil
pipe. The blinding material shall be worked or shovel tamped around the barrel
of the pipe in such a manner that the entire pipe is enclosed and supported.
After the blinding operation has been completed, the trench shall be
back-filled. No rock larger than 3 inches in its greatest diameter, no organic
matter and no large lumps of clay shall be permitted in the back-fill. Where
the trench excavation is in rock and the material removed from such excavation
is not acceptable for backfill, it shall be hauled away and the trench shall be
backfilled to ground surface or sub-grade with sandy gravel mat.erial.
No connection between a Building Drain and a Building Sewer shall be made
under a building. The Building Drain shall be extended to a point at least
I,hree feet outside of the building wall. When any building or addition to a
building is constructed over an existing building sewer, such building sewer
shall be replaced with service weight cast iron soil pipe.
No building shall be constructed over an existing sewer main unless
or until said sewer has been replaced with either cast iron water pipe or
extra-heavy cast iron soil pipe of a type and class specified by the Water
Department.
Whenever it is necessary to relocate or replace an existing sewer main
to permit the construction of a building, such relocation or replacement
shall be accomplished by the City at the expense of the Owner or under the
supervision of the City by a contractor employed by the owner and approved
by the Director of the Water Department.
SECTION 4.
That paragraph 10-7 -- CLEAN-OUTS, of Section 10 -- SOIL AND WASTE PIPES,
of Ordinance No. 2978, shall be amended and after having been amended shall
hereafter read as follows:
A clean-out shall not be less than 2" and shall not be smaller than
the waste line served. At least a 4" clean-out shall be placed on the end
of the building drain with wye branch where same connects with the building
sewer, and in all cases the clean-out shall be brought to the finish grade,
provided the top of the clean-out shall be constructed 6 or more inches below
the floor being served. A clean-out shall be placed at the base of each sink
stack. Sink waste clean-outs will be permitted under a building, only when the
floor is more than 2' above the ground and the foundation wall has an access opening
not less than 16" x 18" for entering. Otherwise clean-outs as required shall
be brought through outside wall of'building into full view. All drain and waste
pipes constructed under concrete floors shall be provided with clean-outs at the
end of each branch, and in all cases they shall be accessible. It is definitely
specified that no clean-out screw shall be installed in any position or in any
location except where accessible for use. Base of all stacks shall be con-
structed with Y and 1/8 bends or long sweep 1/4 bends. In no case will a
short 1/4 bend tee, or combination T Y be permitted at base of stack.
SECTION 5.
That paragraph 13-1 -- GAS METERS, of Section 13 -- GAS, of Ordinance
No. 2978 is hereby amended and after having been so amended shall hereafter
read as follows:
Paragraph 13-1 -- GAS METERS
Gas meters shall not be set or gas turned on in any building until a
certificate of inspection has been issued by the Plumbing Inspector.
Natural gas shall be delivered at the outlet of the consumer's metering
device at a pressure of not less than four (4) ounces above atmospheric
pressure and not more than eight (8) ounces above atmospheric pressure,.
unless some higher pressure has been agreed upon between the person, firm,
or corporation distributing the gas and the individual consumer. Gas shall
not be furnished to a consumer at a pressure in excess of sixteen (16)
ounces above atmospheric pressure, except by special approval as hereafter
stated. Where it is proposed to use gas having a pressure in excess of
sixteen (16) ounces above atmospheric pressure, a complete set of plans and
specifications shall be furnished to the Chief Plumbing Inspector who shall
review with the Building Commissioner and Public Works Director for final
decision. No work shall be started on such installation unless and until
approval has been given by the Chief Plumbing Inspector.
The gas meter is the property of the company furnishing gas and shall
not be disconnected for any cause by any one other than those specifically
authorized to do so by said company. No work shall be done on a service
line to a gas meter until the Gas Company has been notified and the gas has
been shut off at the main, provided that such work may be done under the
direct supervision of a Gas Company representative without shutting off the
gas.
Where it comes to the attention of the Chief Plumbing Inspector that a
gas meter is unsafe or inaccessibly by reason of repairs, enlargements or
alterations of buildings or structures or by other cause, he shall give notice
to the agent or owner of the premises to rearrange and relocate the piping
so that the gas meter will be in a safe and accessible location. The location
of said meter shall be designated by the Chief Plumbing Inspector, after
consulting with the utility company furnishing the service.
Swing joint connection shall be provided at base of both risers on all
meter loops except welded loops.
Commercial gas meters located in traffic ways shall be protected when
necessary by substantial guards to provide protection from moving vehicles.
SECTION 6.
That paragraph 13-6 -- RULES FOR GAS PIPING, of Section 13 -- GAS, of
i
Ordinance No. 2978, is hereby amended and after having been so amended shall
hereafter read as followsr
Paragraph 13-6 -- RULES FOR GAS PIPING
All buildings shall be piped or fitted according to the following rules
and regulations.
All gas pipe in buildings above the first floor shall be laid above
timbers instead of beneath them where practicable to do so.
No gas pipe or fitting shall be covered or concealed from view until
inspected and approved by the Plumbing Inspector. No pipes shall be laid
so as to support any weight except fixtures or meters, or be subject to any
strain. All outlets shall be securely fastened. All outlets, not connected
to fixtures, shall be left capped. All pipes laid in cold or damp places
shall be properly dripped and covered. No split pipe or broken fittings
which have been repaired in any way shall be permitted, and all-such work
shall be removed and replaced by new material.
No valves or unions shall be placed in the wall, ceiling or floor in
such a position that the stuffing box or valve cannot be repacked or the
union gasket replaced. All globe and angle valves shall be placed on line
with gas pressure under valve seat.
In every gas installation all piping and attachments shall be at least
of such capacity as will supply gas up to the full maximum ,pequirements of
all appliances contemplated to be connected thereto according to the require-
ments of this ordinance. No gas piping; appliances, fixtures or apparatus,
which have been installed, constructed, reconstructed or repaired shall be
put into use in connection with any supply o£.gas until inspected and
approved by the City Plumbing Inspector.
Plans and specifications for installations which are not specifically
covered in the following table shall be submitted to the Plumbing Inspector.
Written approval of said plans and specifications shall be secured from the
Plumbing Inspector before the installation is made.
Pipe sizes and maximum lengths for each size pipe are as follows:
Number of Openings Length in Feet Size in Inches
1 10 1/2
1 30 3/4
1-2 100 1
2 20 3/4
3 40 1
4 20 1
5-10 70 1 1/4
10-20 100 1 1/2
20-40 100 2
No ,yard or service line from utility main to house shall be less than
14" pipe. Dwellings shall be piped with a gas opening for each room except
those rooms heated by a central heating system. Dwellings heated by a
central heating system shall have at least one gas opening in a room, not
including gas openings that may be installed in the bathroom or kitchen. No
plug fitting will be permitted for future extension in piping, but the pipe
shall be run to the opening and capped. Gas supply pipes to central heating
plants and other appliances shall not be smaller than the manifold opening
on the unit.
All risers to appliances shall not be less than J" pipe. Lead pipe
shall not be used under any circumstances. Running a gas line through a
flue is prohibited. No second-hand gas pipe or fittings shall be put into use
in any building without the written approval of the City Plumbing Inspector.
No cast iron fittings smaller than 3" shall be used in gas fitting. No plain
malleable fittings shall be used for gas piping, but beaded fittings shall be
used. No bushings shall be installed in gas fitting, but reducing fittings
shall be used.
All water heaters, kitchen ranges, floor furnaces, heating plants, etc.,
shall be connected with steel pipe of a size not less than the inlet connection
for such appliances. Kitchen ranges in residences may be connected with an
A. G. A. approved range connector.
When a gas meter or meters are not located adjacent to the building
which they serve, a stop cock shall be installed in each service line
where the gas line enters the building. This stop cock shall be accessibly
located at least 41, above the finished grade. When two or more apartments
located in a building or buildings not exceeding two stories in height are
served by one meter, a stop cock shall be installed on the house line serving
each apartment and shall be located just outside the building at least 4"
above the finished grade and shall be tagged with a metal tag indicating
the apartment served. When a meter is installed for each apartment in a
building, a stop cock shall be installed on each house line and located as
decribed above, provided that a stop cock is not required if the meters are
installed adjacent to the point where the house lines enter the building.
No welding shall be permitted on any gas line smaller than 1j" pipe.
When gas lines are welded, approved melding type fittings shall be used.
All boilers shall be equipped with gas controls that will shut off all
gas instantly in case of pilot failure (flame control).
SECTION 7.
Any person, firm, corporation or any agent or employee thereof who
violates any of the provisions of this ordinance shall be guilty of a mis-
demeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not to exceed Two
Hundred and no/100 Dollars ($200.00) for each offense. Each day that a
violation is permitted to exist shall constitute a separate offense.
SECTION 8.
This ordinance shall be and is hereby declared to be cumulative of all
other ordinances of the City of Fort Worth providing for the regulation of
plumbing in the City of Fort Worth, and this ordinance shall not operate to
repeal or affect any of such other ordinances except insofar as the provisions
thereof might be inconsistent or in conflict with the provisions of this
ordinance, in which event such conflicting provisions, if any, in such other
ordinance or ordinances are hereby repealed.
SECTION 9.
If any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this ordinance
is for any reason held to be unconstitutional, such holding shall not affect
the validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance, and all of the
remainder of this ordinance not so held to be unconstitutional shall continue
to be in full force and effect.
SECTION 10.
All of the regulations provided in this ordinance are hereby declared to
be governmental and for the health, safety and welfare of the general public.
Any member of the City Council, any City official or employee charged with
the enforcement of this ordinance, acting for the City of Fort Worth in the
discharge of his duties, shall not thereby render himself personally liable,
and he is hereby relieved from all personal liability, for any damage that
might accrue to persons or property as a result of any act required or permitted
in the discharge of his duties.
SECTION 11.
The City Secretary of the City of Fort Worth is hereby directed to
publish this ordinance in pamphlet form for general distribution among the
public, and this ordinance as so published shall be admissible in evidence
in all courts without further proof than the production of said pamphlet,
as provided in Section 3, Chapter XXVI of the Charter of the City of Fort
Worth.
SECTION 12.
Any violation of this ordinance can be enjoined by a suit filed in
the name of the City of Fort Worth in a court of competent jurisdiction,
and this remedy shall be in addition to any penal provision in this ordinance
or in the Fort Worth City Code.
SECTION 13.
This ordinance shall take effect and be in full force from and after
April 1, 1963.
APPROVED AS M FORM AND LEGALITY-
S. G. Johndroe
City Attorney
xr. rwwwLIsi
r„ to
City of Fort Worth, Texas } :
Mayor and Council Commun M ORD
DATE REFERENCE SUBJECT: PAGE
E
NUMBER Amendments to the PlumbinLWCi;�H �/,�/.
4-1-63 G-453 Ordinance of the City of Fort
On January 15, 1963, the Supervising Board of Plumbers reviewed proposed amend-
ments to the Plumbing Ordinance of the City of Fort Worth. After considerable
study and discussion, the Board proposes amendments to the Plumbing Ordinance of
the City of Fort Worth, which includes provisions adopted November 1, 1952 (Ordi-
nance Yn978), and as amended December -1, 1962 (Ordinance 19749). The proposed
amendments are summarized as follows :
Section I
Paragraph 6-11 - Unlawful Not to Have Inspection. This section adds the re-
requirement that a person in whose name the permit is issued shall notify the
City Plumbing Inspector or his representative at the time the work is ready
for each of the inspections required by the ordinance.
Section II
Paragraph 8-10 - Lawn Sprinkler Systems. The paragraph is amended to provide
for the submission of complete plans and specifications for the installation
of the lawn sprinkling system and also requires that back flow preventers
shall be installed for each section of the lawn sprinkling system that is
separately controlled, thereby preventing any cross connection between the
lawn sprinkling system and the city water supply.
Section III
Sub-Paragraph A -- General, of Paragraph 9-1 -- Building Sewers (House
Sewers) of Section 9 -- Sewers. This amendment deletes the requirement of
embedment of cast iron soil pipe with 3" of sandy gravel material under the
pipe and 6" of blinding material above the pipe except when the excavation
is in rock or below grade. With the structural strength of cast iron soil
pipe, the Supervising Board of Plumbers feels that embedment materials are
not necessary for house sewers which are laid entirely on the owners prop-
erty. The embedment provisions were added by the amendment (Ordinance #4749)
in December 1962.
Section IV
Paragraph 10-7 - Clean-Outs., of Section 10 -- Soil and Waste Pipes. This
amendment requires at least a 4" clean-out at the end q-f the building drain
with the wye branch where it connects with the building sewer. The tools
used by plumbers for cleaning sewer lines are of such size that a 3" clean-
out will not accommodate such tools thereby requiring the plumber to cut the
building sewer and make a repair in the line whereby infiltration can enter
the pipe.
Section V
Paragraph 13-1 - Gas Meters, of Section 13 -- tas. This paragraph now_zk�es
it unlawful, for a company furnishing gas to install a meter or turn on the
DATE REFERENCE SUBJECT: PAGE
NUMBER Amendments to the Plumbing
4-1-63 G-453 Ordinance of the City of Fort Worth 2 of 3
gas in any building until a certificate of inspection has -been issued by the
Plumbing Inspector. This has been .changed to prohibit any person from
setting a gas meter or turning gas on in any building until a certificate
has been issued by the Plumbing Inspector.
A paragraph has been added providing for the minimum pressure (4 oz; above
atmospheric pressure) and the maximum (8 oz. above atmospheric. pressure') to
be delivered at the outlet of a consumer's metering device. It..-.-further pro-
vides that gas shall not be furnished in excess of 16 oz. above atmospheric
pressure except by submission of a complete set of plans and specifications,
and the approval thereof by the Chief Plumbing Inspector, the Building Com-
missioner and the Director of Public Works.
Section DTI
Paragraph 1.3-6 -- Rules for Gas Piping, of Section 13 -- Gas. The only
change made in this section is in the second sentence of the next to the
last paragraph. This sentence was changed to read - When two or more
apartments located in a building or buildings not exceeding two stories in
height are served by one meter, a stop cock shall be installed on the house
line serving each apartment and shall be located just outside the building
at least 4" above the finished grade and shall be tagged with a metal tag
indicating the apartment served.
The Water Department has reviewed the proposed amendments and submits the
following recommendations:
1. That the proposed amendments to Section 3, exempting cast iron soil
pipe from the present requirement of not less than 3 inches of "sand,
gravel material" cushion under the pipe, not be approved. It is be-
lieved that the prescribed cushion material avoids problems of stagna-
tion of sewage in depressions or dips in a house sewer line, and tends
to avdiid sewage septicity. However, the Water Department does not ob-
ject to reducing the minimum depth from 3 inches to 2 inches.
2. That there is no objection to elimination of requirements for "blind-
ing" over cast iron soil pipe.
3. That the house sewer line clean-out be constructed 6 inches or more
below the floor of the building being served. The purpose of this
change is to perm t the opening of the clean-out so as to prevent a
backup into the building being served.
In general, the Water Department opposes deleting the cushion requirement for
cast iron soil pipe from the plumbing ,ordinance because such action would weaken
existing high standards for house sewer line construction. No other objections
to the proposed amendments are made by the Water Department.
On March 12, 1963, the Supervising Board of Plumbers discussed the findings of
the Water Department, generally approved the addition of provisions for clean-
outs below floor levels, but took no further action regarding the proposed
DATE REFERENCE SUBJECT: PAGE
NUMBER Amendments to the Plumbing
4-1-63 G-453 ordinance -of the City of Fort Worth 3 or 3
elimination of requirements for a "sandy gravel material" cushion beneath cast
iron soil pipe.
In the interest of preserving existing high standards for the installation of
residence sewer leads to preclude stagnation of sewage and reduce overload due
to ground water infiltration, it is recommended that the amendments to Ordinance
#2978 be adopted, incorporating recommendations of the Supervising Board of
Plumbers, except those provisions exempting the use of sandy gravel cushion
material from 3 to 2 inches; and including the provision that clean-outs shall
be constructed six inches or more below the floor of the building served.
JLB:GA
attach.
SUBMITTED BY: DISPOSITION COUNCIL: // PROC ' D BY
PROVED J / DeOTHER (DDEESSCRIrBEE)
�Y O , `/ Y / CITY SECRETARY
DATE
CITY MANAGER / ,G