§ 12-101

(a) In this title the following words have the meanings indicated.

(b) “Apprentice natural gas fitter” means, unless the context requires otherwise, an individual who is licensed by the Board to assist a master natural gas fitter in providing natural gas services while:

(1) under the direction and control of the master natural gas fitter; and

(2) in training to become a journeyman natural gas fitter.

(c) “Apprentice plumber” means, unless the context requires otherwise, an individual who is licensed by the Board to assist a master plumber or a holder of a limited master plumber license in providing plumbing services while:

(1) under the direction and control of the master plumber or holder of the limited master plumber license; and

(2) in training to become a journey plumber.

(d) “Board” means the State Board of Plumbing.

(e) “Certified propane gas fitter” means an individual who has been certified by the Board to provide propane gas services.

(f) “Gas” means natural gas, propane gas, or any other gas used for any purpose, including residential, medical, commercial, or industrial purposes.

(g) “Journey plumber” means, unless the context requires otherwise, an individual who is licensed by the Board to provide plumbing services while under the direction and control of a master plumber or holder of a limited master plumber license.

(h) “Journeyman natural gas fitter” means, unless the context requires otherwise, an individual who is licensed by the Board to provide natural gas services while under the direction and control of a master natural gas fitter.

(h–1) “Lead–free” means:

(1) containing not more than 0.2% lead for solder and flux;

(2) except as provided in item (3) of this subsection, containing not more than:

(i) 4% lead by dry weight for individual plumbing fittings and fixtures; or

(ii) 8% lead by dry weight for individual pipes and pipe fittings;

(3) containing a percentage of lead for plumbing fittings and fixtures that is in compliance with standards established under 42 U.S.C.A. § 300g–6(e) of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act; and

(4) containing not more than a weighted average lead content of 0.25% for the wetted surfaces of a pipe, pipe fitting, plumbing fitting, or fixture intended to dispense water for human consumption through drinking or cooking.

(i) (1) “License” means, unless the context requires otherwise, a license issued by the Board to:

(i) provide plumbing services;

(ii) assist in providing plumbing services;

(iii) provide propane gas services; or

(iv) provide natural gas services.

(2) “License” includes, unless the context requires otherwise, each of the following licenses:

(i) a master plumber license;

(ii) a journey plumber license;

(iii) an apprentice plumber license;

(iv) a limited license;

(v) a propane gas fitter certificate;

(vi) a master natural gas fitters license;

(vii) a journeyman natural gas fitters license; and

(viii) an apprentice natural gas fitters license.

(j) (1) “Limited license” means a license issued by the Board as limited by § 12–310 of this title to:

(i) provide plumbing services as a master plumber; or

(ii) provide plumbing services as a journey plumber.

(2) “Limited license” includes:

(i) a limited master plumber license; and

(ii) a limited journey plumber license.

(k) “Master natural gas fitter” means, unless the context requires otherwise, an individual who is licensed by the Board to provide natural gas services.

(l) (1) “Master plumber” means, unless the context requires otherwise, an individual who is licensed by the Board to provide plumbing services and natural gas services.

(2) “Master plumber” includes a master plumber gas fitter.

(m) (1) “Provide natural gas services” means the installation, maintenance, extension, alteration, and removal of piping, gas–fired equipment, appliances, or appurtenances in connection with a natural gas supply system downstream of the gas utility point of delivery.

(2) “Provide natural gas services” does not include the installation, maintenance, extension, alteration, or removal of any of the following with respect to the plumbing water supply and drainage system:

(i) fixtures that require additional energy sources, including clothes washers, dishwashers, food grinders, humidifiers, ice pumps, sterilizers, water coolers, and water heaters; and

(ii) operational devices, including aerators, backflow preventers, expansion tanks, filters, flow controls, heat exchangers, interceptors, meters, separators, and relief valves.

(n) (1) “Provide plumbing services” means to install, maintain, extend, alter, or remove piping, a plumbing fixture, a plumbing appliance, a plumbing appurtenance, or other plumbing apparatus:

(i) within or adjacent to a building, structure, or property; and

(ii) in connection with:

1. a public or private disposal system, sanitary drainage facility, or storm drainage facility;

2. a venting system; or

3. a public or private water supply system.

(2) “Provide plumbing services” includes installing, repairing, servicing, and replacing gas piping, gas utilization equipment, and associated accessories.

(3) Except for the first connection to a potable water supply that is downstream of a backflow preventer and the final connection that discharges indirectly into a public or private disposal system, sanitary drainage facility, or storm drainage facility, “providing plumbing services” does not include using piping, equipment, or material only for:

(i) environmental control;

(ii) the incorporation of a liquid or gas into a product or into a process, including product development, in the manufacture or storage of a product;

(iii) the installation, alteration, repair, or removal of an automatic sprinkler system, related apparatus, or standpipe that is used only for fire protection; or

(iv) an overhead or underground fire line beginning from where water is used only for fire protection.

(o) “Provide propane gas services” means to install, repair, service, and replace propane gas piping, propane gas utilization equipment, and associated accessories.

(p) “State Plumbing Code” means the regulations adopted by the Secretary, as amended by the Board, to provide standards that:

(1) are based on principles of environmental sanitation and safety; and

(2) provide for properly designed, acceptably installed, and adequately maintained plumbing systems.

(q) “Weighted average lead content” means a calculation determined by:

(1) identifying each component of a pipe, pipe fitting, plumbing fitting, or fixture that water flows through and comes into contact with during normal operation;

(2) identifying the percentage of lead content of each component of the pipe, pipe fitting, plumbing fitting, or fixture;

(3) determining the wetted surface area of each component of the pipe, pipe fitting, plumbing fitting, or fixture;

(4) determining the percent of total wetted surface area of the pipe, pipe fitting, plumbing fitting, or fixture, represented in each component;

(5) calculating the contributing percent lead for each component that comes into contact with water by multiplying the percentage of lead content of the component by the percent of total wetted surface area represented by the component; and

(6) calculating the sum of each contributing percent lead value determined for each component under item (5) of this subsection.