Washington Administrative Code › Title 296 - Labor and Industries, Department of › Chapter 296-400A - Plumber certification rules › Section 296-400A-010 - Plumbing certificate types and scope of work

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1)
Journey level plumber (PL
			 01):
A journey level plumber may work on all phases of plumbing projects
			 including residential, commercial and industrial worksite locations.
(2)
Residential specialty plumber (PL
			 02):
Installation, maintenance and repair of all phases of plumbing for
			 residential structures.
(3)
"Residential service plumber (PL 04)"
is limited to performing
			 residential service in single-family dwellings and duplexes and can only repair
			 or replace previously existing fixtures, piping, and fittings that are outside
			 the interior wall or above the floor. Residential service plumbers may not
			 perform electrical work described in
			 RCW
			  19.28.091(8) that is
			 incidentally, directly, and immediately appropriate to the like-in-kind
			 replacement of household appliance or other small household utilization
			 equipment that requires limited electric power and limited waste and/or water
			 connections.
(4)
Backflow
			 specialty plumber (PL 30):
Maintenance and repair of backflow assemblies
			 located within a residential or commercial building or structure. For the
			 purposes of this subsection, "maintenance and repair" includes cleaning and
			 replacing internal parts of an assembly, but does not include installing or
			 replacing backflow assemblies. A plumber trainee must have a PT31 certificate
			 in order to work as a backflow specialty plumber under the supervision of a
			 certified backflow specialty plumber, certified residential specialty plumber
			 or certified journey level plumber. PT31 trainee requires one hundred percent
			 supervision.
(5)
Pump and
			 irrigation specialty plumber (PL 03):
Installation, maintenance and
			 repair of equipment that is used to acquire, treat, store, or move water
			 suitable for either drinking or other domestic purposes, including irrigation
			 or to a domestic water pumping system consisting of the pressurization,
			 treatment, and filtration components of a domestic water system consisting of:
			 One or more pumps; pressure, storage, and other tanks; filtration and treatment
			 equipment. For the purposes of this subsection, if located within the interior
			 space of a residential structure as stated in
			 RCW
			  18.106.010(14)(c), only the
			 equipment and piping defined by
			 RCW
			  18.106.010(14)(c) are
			 included in this specialty and other parts of the system must be worked on by
			 the appropriate certification.
(6)
Limited volume domestic pump specialty plumber (PL 03 A):
Installation, maintenance and repair of equipment that is used to acquire,
			 treat, store, or move water suitable for either drinking or other domestic
			 purposes on pumping systems not exceeding one hundred gallons per minute. A
			 domestic water pumping system consisting of the pressurization, treatment, and
			 filtration components of a domestic water system consisting of: One or more
			 pumps; pressure, storage, and other tanks; filtration and treatment equipment.
			 For the purposes of this subsection, if located within the interior space of a
			 residential structure as stated in
			 RCW
			  18.106.010(14)(c), only the
			 equipment and piping to stated equipment in this locked room can be worked on
			 by this certification; other parts of the system must be worked on by the
			 appropriate certification.
(7)
Plumber trainee (PT00 and PT31):
Is an individual learning the
			 trade or craft of plumbing. Trainees are required to have and maintain a valid
			 plumber's training certificate. Trainees will be accredited for those hours
			 worked within the scope of their supervising plumber. Any plumber trainee may
			 perform plumbing work within the scope of their supervising journey level or
			 specialty plumber. A trainee must keep a record of the hours worked as a
			 trainee as required by WAC
			 296-400A-120(3).
			 A trainee performing electrical work described in
			 RCW
			  19.28.091(8) that is
			 incidentally, directly, and immediately appropriate to the like-in-kind
			 replacement of household appliances or other small household utilization
			 equipment that requires limited electric power and limited waste and/or water
			 connections must be supervised by a journey level plumber (PL 01) or
			 residential specialty plumber (PL 02). In accordance with
			 RCW
			  19.28.161(3), the trainee
			 performing electrical work must be under the direct supervision of a PL 01 or
			 PL 02 certified plumber who is on the same job site as the trainee and remote
			 supervision or supervision by residential service plumbers is not
			 permitted.
(8)
Certified
			 journey level electricians, certified residential specialty electricians, or
			 electrical trainees (EL01 and EL02):
According to
			 RCW
			  18.106.150(2)(b), a current
			 plumbing certificate of competency or plumber trainee card is not required for:
			 Certified journey level electricians, certified residential specialty
			 electricians, or electrical trainees working for a general or residential
			 specialty electrical contractor (EC01 or EC02) and performing exempt work under
			 RCW
			  18.106.150(8). A plumber
			 trainee must have an electrical trainee (ET00) certificate in order to work
			 with a journey level electrician or residential specialty electrician.
The plumbing work must be directly and immediately appropriate
				to the like-in-kind replacement of a household fixture or its component(s) that
				requires limited power and waste/water connections.
An example would be replacing the heating element (a component)
				of an electric hot water heater. An electrician performing a like-in-kind
				replacement of an electric hot water tank could only disconnect and then
				reconnect the water supply lines to the tank and drain line from the
				temperature and pressure relief valve. Gas hot water tanks are not part of the
				electrician's exemption.
Statutory Authority:
				  RCW
				   18.106.040 and
				  18.106.140. 09-10-080, §
				  296-400A-010, filed 5/5/09, effective 6/5/09; 06-24-040, § 296-400A-010,
				  filed 11/30/06, effective 12/31/06.