Section 382.21. Testing and inspection.

 

(1)   Testing of plumbing systems. Except as provided in par. (a) , all new plumbing and all parts of existing systems which have been altered, extended or repaired shall be tested as specified in sub. (2) to disclose leaks and defects before the plumbing is put into operation.

(a) Waiver of testing.

1. The testing of the plumbing shall not be required where the installation does not include the addition, replacement, alteration or relocation of any water distribution, drain or vent piping.

2.

a. Field testing the installation of a storm building sewer and a storm private interceptor main sewer is not required.

b. The joints and connections to be employed for storm building sewer piping shall conform with s. SPS 384.40 (1) (a) .

(b) Local inspection. Where the plumbing is installed in a municipality having a local inspector, the testing of the plumbing shall be done in the presence of a plumbing inspector, except as provided in subd. 1. b.

1. `Notice of inspection.'

a. The plumber responsible for the installation shall notify the plumbing inspector in person, by telephone or in writing when the work is ready for inspection.

b. Except as permitted in par. (c) , if the inspection is not made by the end of the normal business day following the day of notification, not including Saturday, Sunday or legal holidays, the plumber may proceed with the testing and the installation.

c. Testing may be done without the presence of the inspector, if the master plumber responsible for the installation obtains the inspector's permission to provide a written test report in a format acceptable to the inspector.

2. `Preparations for inspection.' When the installation is ready for inspection, the plumber shall make such arrangements as will enable the plumbing inspector to inspect all parts of the plumbing system. The plumber shall have present the proper apparatus and appliances for making the tests, and shall furnish such assistance as may be necessary in making the inspection.

3. `Rough-in inspection.' A rough-in inspection shall be made when the plumbing system is roughed-in and before fixtures are set. Except as provided in subd. 1. , plumbing work shall not be closed in, concealed, or covered until it has been inspected and approved by the plumbing inspector and permission is granted to do so.

4. `Final inspection.'

a. Upon completion of the plumbing installation and before final approval is given, the plumbing inspector shall inspect the work.

b. Municipalities may require that a final test be conducted in accordance with sub. (2) (h) and that the final test, when required by the municipality, shall be observed by the plumbing inspector.

5. `Reinspections.' Whenever the plumbing official finds that the work or installation does not pass any initial test or inspection, the necessary corrections shall be made to comply with this chapter. The work or installation shall then be resubmitted for inspection to the plumbing inspector.

(c) Inspection of one-and 2-family dwellings. The inspection of plumbing installations for one- and 2-family dwellings shall be in accordance with ss. SPS 320.08 to 320.11 .

(d) The initial testing of cross connection control assemblies shall comply with s. SPS 382.22 (8) .

(2)   Testing provisions.

(a) General. The testing of plumbing installations shall be conducted in accordance with this paragraph.

1. `Equipment, material and labor for tests.' All equipment, material and labor required for testing a plumbing system or part thereof shall be furnished by the plumber responsible for the installation.

2. `Exposure of work.' Except as provided in pars. (b) and (e) , all new, altered, extended or replaced plumbing shall be left uncovered and unconcealed until it has been tested. Where the work has been covered or concealed before it is tested, it shall be exposed for testing.

(b) Sanitary building sewer and sanitary private interceptor main sewer. A sanitary building sewer and a sanitary private interceptor main sewer shall be tested for leaks and defects with water or air before or after being covered in accordance with either subd. 1. or 2. The test for leaks and defects may be applied to the entire building sewer or private interceptor main sewer or in sections. For the purposes of this subdivision, the testing of a building sewer or private interceptor main sewer is not required to include the manholes serving the sewer.

1. The building sewer or private interceptor main sewer shall be tested by insertion of a test plug at the point of connection with the public sewer. The sewer shall then be filled with water under a head of not less than 10 feet. The water level at the top of the test head of water shall not drop for at least 15 minutes.

2. The air test shall be made by attaching an air compressor testing apparatus to any suitable opening, and, after closing all other inlets and outlets to the system, forcing air into the system until there is a uniform gauge pressure of 3 pounds per square inch. This pressure shall be held without introduction of additional air for a period of at least 15 minutes.

(c) Building drain. The entire building drain with all its branches, receptacles and connections shall be brought so far as practical to the surface or grade of the basement floor and shall be tested with water or air in accordance with par. (g) .

(d) Drain and vent systems. The piping of a drain and vent systems, including conductors, shall be tested upon completion of the rough piping installation with water or air in accordance with par. (g) .

(e) Private water mains and water services. Private water mains and water services shall be inspected before being covered. The private water mains and water services shall be tested and proven water tight under water pressure not less than the working pressure under which it is to be used. The water used for testing shall be obtained from a potable source of supply.

(f) Water distribution system. The piping of a water distribution system shall be tested and proved water tight under a water pressure not less than the working pressure under which it is to be used. The water used for tests shall be obtained from a potable source of supply.

(g) Test methods for drain and vent systems. A test for watertightness shall be applied to the entire drain and vent system at one time or to the entire system in sections after the rough piping has been installed in accordance with either subd. 1. or 2.

1. If applied to the entire system, all openings in the piping shall be tightly closed, except the highest opening, and the system shall be filled with water to the point of overflow. If the system is tested in sections, each opening shall be tightly plugged except the highest opening of the section under test, and each section shall be filled with water, but a section shall not be tested with less than a 10 foot head of water. In testing successive sections, at least the upper 10 feet of the next preceding section shall be tested, so that no joint or pipe in the building, except the uppermost 10 feet of the system, is subjected to a test of less than a 10 foot head of water. The water shall be kept in the system or in the portion under test for at least 15 minutes before inspection starts. The system shall then be tight at all points.

2. The air test shall be made by attaching an air compressor testing apparatus to any suitable opening, and, after closing all other inlets and outlets to the system, forcing air into the system until there is a uniform gauge pressure of 5 pounds per square inch or sufficient to balance a column of mercury 10" in height. This pressure shall be held without introduction of additional air for a period of at least 15 minutes.

(h) Final test. Where required by the local plumbing inspector, after the plumbing fixtures have been installed and the traps filled with water, the connections shall be tested and proved gas and watertight by either one of the methods specified in subd. 1. or 2.

1. The smoke test shall be made by introducing a pungent, thick smoke, produced by one or more smoke machines, into the completed system. When the smoke appears at stack openings on the roof, the openings shall be closed and a pressure equivalent to a one inch water column shall be built and maintained for the period of the inspection.

2. The air test shall be made by attaching a gauge to any suitable opening and, after closing all other inlets and outlets in the system, adding air into the system until a pressure equivalent to a one inch water column exists. The pressure shall remain constant for at least a 5-minute test period without the introduction of additional air.

Cr. Register, February, 1985, No. 350 , eff. 3-1-85; r. and recr. (1) (d) 5., am. (1) (d) 7. intro., Register, May, 1988, No. 389 , eff. 6-1-88; correction in (1) (c) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register, May, 1988, No. 389 ; renum. (1) (a) and (2) (b) to (i) to be (1) (a) 1. and (2) (a) to (h), r. (2) (a), cr. (1) (a) 2. and (3), r. and recr. (1) (d) 1. (intro.), am. (1) (d) 2. (intro.), Register, February, 1994, No. 458 , eff. 3-1-94 ; am. (3) (b) 3., Register, October, 1996, No. 490 , eff. 11-1-96; am. (3), Register, February, 1997, No. 494 , eff. 3-1-97; r. and recr. (2) (a) and (3), cr. Table 82.21-1, Register, December, 2000, No. 540 , eff. 1-1-01; CR 02-002 : r. and recr. (1) (b) 4. b. and (2) (d), am. (1) (d) 8. b. Register April 2003 No. 568 , eff. 5-1-03; CR 04-035 : am. Table 82.21-1 Register November 2004 No. 587 , eff. 12-1-04; CR 08-055 : am. (title) and (1) (intro.), r. and recr. (1) (b) 1. b., r. (2) and Table 82.21-1, renum. (1) (d) and (3) to be (2) and Comm 82.22 (9) Register February 2009 No. 638 , eff. 3-1-09; corrections in (1) (b) 4. b., (2) (a) 2., (b) (intro.), (c), (d), (g) (intro.) and (h) (intro.) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register February 2009 No. 638 ; CR 10-064 : renum. (1) (b) 1. b. to be (1) (b) 1. c., cr. (1) (b) 1. b., (d) Register December 2010 No. 660 , eff. 1-1-11; correction in (1) (a) 2. b., (c), (d) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register December 2011 No. 672 .

Note

See ch. SPS 382 Appendix for a sample affidavit form. Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 Standard NFPA 24 for combination water services and combination private water mains may include more stringent requirements for testing. Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1