WAC 296-400A-010   Plumbing certificate types and scope of work.  (1) Journeyman plumber (PL01): A journeyman plumber may work on all phases of plumbing projects including residential, commercial and industrial worksite locations. A plumber trainee must have a training certificate in order to perform plumbing work under the supervision of a certified journeyman plumber.

     (2) Residential specialty plumber (PL02): Installation, maintenance and repair of all phases of plumbing for single-family dwellings, duplexes and apartment buildings which do not exceed three stories. A plumber trainee must have a training certificate in order to perform plumbing work as a residential specialty plumber under the supervision of a certified residential or journeyman plumber.

     (3) Backflow specialty plumber (PL30): 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 do work as a backflow specialty plumber under the supervision of a certified backflow specialty plumber, certified residential specialty plumber or certified journeyman plumber. PT31 trainee requires one hundred percent supervision.

     (4) Pump and irrigation specialty plumber (PL03): 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 (10)(c), only the equipment and piping defined by RCW 18.106.010 (10)(c) are included in this specialty and other parts of the system must be worked on by the appropriate certification.

     (5) Limited volume domestic pump specialty plumber (PL03A): 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 (10)(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.

     (6) 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 journeyman or specialty plumber. A trainee shall keep a record of the hours worked as a trainee as required by WAC 296-400A-120(3).

     (7) Certified journeyman 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 apprentice permit is not required for: Certified journeyman electricians, certified residential specialty electricians, or electrical trainees working for an electrical contractor and performing exempt work under RCW 18.27.090(18). A plumber trainee must have a ET00 certificate in order to work with a journeyman electrician, residential specialty electrician, or electrical trainee.

     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.]