22 Tex. Admin. Code § 535.231

Current through Reg. 49, No. 43; October 25, 2024
Section 535.231 - Standards of Practice: Minimum Inspection Requirements for Plumbing Systems
(a) Plumbing systems.
(1) The inspector shall:
(A) report:
(i) location of water meter;
(ii) location of homeowners main water supply shutoff valve; and
(iii) static water pressure;
(iv) visible material used for water supply lines and drain lines;
(B) report as Deficient:
(i) the presence of active leaks;
(ii) water pressure exceeding 80 PSI;
(iii) the lack of a pressure reducing valve when the water pressure exceeds 80 PSI;
(iv) the lack of a visible expansion tank when a pressure reducing valve, check valve, or backflow preventer is in place at the water supply line/system;
(v) the absence of:
(I) fixture shutoff valves;
(II) dielectric unions, when applicable;
(III) back-flow devices, anti-siphon devices, or air gaps at the flow end of fixtures; and
(vi) deficiencies in:
(I) water supply pipes and waste pipes;
(II) the installation and termination of the vent system;
(III) the performance of fixtures and faucets not connected to an appliance;
(IV) water supply, as determined by viewing functional flow in two fixtures operated simultaneously;
(V) fixture drain performance;
(VI) orientation of hot and cold faucets;
(VII) installed mechanical drain stops;
(VIII) commodes, fixtures, showers, tubs, and enclosures; and
(IX) the condition of the gas distribution system.
(2) The inspector is not required to:
(A) operate any main, branch, or shut-off valves;
(B) operate or inspect sump pumps or waste ejector pumps;
(C) verify the performance of:
(i) the bathtub overflow;
(ii) clothes washing machine drains or hose bibbs; or
(iii) floor drains;
(D) inspect:
(i) any system that has been winterized, shut down or otherwise secured;
(ii) circulating pumps, free-standing appliances, solar water heating systems, water-conditioning equipment, filter systems, water mains, private water supply systems, water wells, pressure tanks, sprinkler systems, swimming pools, or fire sprinkler systems;
(iii) inaccessible gas supply system components for leaks;
(iv) for sewer clean-outs; or
(v) for the presence or performance of private sewage disposal systems; or
(E) determine:
(i) quality, potability, or volume of the water supply; or
(ii) effectiveness of backflow or anti-siphon devices.
(b) Water heaters.
(1) General Requirements.
(A) The inspector shall:
(i) report:
(I) the energy source;
(II) the capacity of the units;
(ii) report as Deficient:
(I) inoperative units;
(II) leaking or corroded fittings or tanks;
(III) damaged or missing components;
(IV) the absence of a cold water shutoff valve;
(V) if applicable, the absence of a pan or a pan drain system that does not terminate over a waste receptor or to the exterior of the building above the ground surface;
(VI) inappropriate locations;
(VII) the lack of protection from physical damage;
(VIII) burners, burner ignition devices or heating elements, switches, or thermostats that are not a minimum of 18 inches above the lowest garage floor elevation, unless the unit is listed for garage floor installation;
(IX) the absence of an opening that would allow access to equipment for inspection, service, repair or replacement without removing permanent construction or building finish;
(X) when applicable; a floored passageway and service platform that would allow access for equipment inspection, service, repair or replacement;
(XI) the absence of or visible deficiencies in the temperature and pressure relief valve and discharge piping; and
(XII) a temperature and pressure relief valve that failed to operate, when tested manually.
(B) The inspector is not required to:
(i) verify the effectiveness of the temperature and pressure relief valve, discharge piping, or pan drain pipes;
(ii) operate the temperature and pressure relief valve if the operation of the valve may, in the inspector's reasonable judgment, cause damage to persons or property; or
(iii) determine the efficiency or adequacy of the unit.
(2) Requirements for electric units. The inspector shall report as Deficient deficiencies in:
(A) performance of heating elements; and
(B) condition of conductors; and
(3) Requirements for gas units. The inspector shall report as Deficient:
(A) gas leaks in water heater not associated with the gas distribution system;
(B) flame impingement, uplifting flame, improper flame color, or excessive scale build-up; and
(C) deficiencies in:
(i) combustion and dilution air; and
(ii) vent pipe, draft hood, draft, proximity to combustibles, and vent termination point and clearances.
(c) Hydro-massage therapy equipment.
(1) The inspector shall report as Deficient:
(A) inoperative units;
(B) the presence of active leaks;
(C) deficiencies in components and performance;
(D) missing and damaged components;
(E) the absence of an opening that would allow access to equipment for inspection, service, repair or replacement without removing permanent construction or building finish; and
(F) the absence or failure of operation of ground-fault circuit interrupter protection devices.
(2) The inspector is not required to determine the adequacy of self-draining features of circulation systems.
(d) Gas distribution systems.
(1) The inspector shall:
(A) report:
(i) location of gas meter; and
(ii) visible material used for gas distribution system;
(B) report as Deficient:
(i) noticeable gas leaks;
(ii) the absence of a gas shutoff valve within six feet of the appliance;
(iii) the absence of a gas appliance connector or one that exceeds six feet in length;
(iv) gas appliance connectors that are concealed within or extended through walls, floors, partitions, ceilings or appliance housings;
(v) deficiencies in:
(I) gas shutoff valves;
(II) access to a gas shutoff valves that prohibits full operation;
(III) gas appliance connector materials; and
(IV) the condition and type of gas distribution lines and fittings;
(vi) lack of visible bonding on gas distribution system, including corrugated stainless steel tubing (CSST); and
(vii) lack of visible sediment traps.
(2) Specific limitation for gas lines. The inspector is not required to:
(A) inspect sacrificial anode bonding or for its existence;
(B) pressurize or test gas system, drip legs or shutoffvalves;
(C) operate gas line shutoff valves; or
(D) light or ignite pilot flames.

22 Tex. Admin. Code § 535.231

The provisions of this §535.231 adopted to be effective January 1, 2014, 38 TexReg 3350; amended to be effective May 21, 2014, 39 TexReg 3863; Amended by Texas Register, Volume 41, Number 36, September 2, 2016, TexReg 6742, eff. 9/7/2016; Amended by Texas Register, Volume 46, Number 37, September 10, 2021, TexReg 5770, eff. 2/1/2022