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anyone up on codes for carroll county md?

7K views 16 replies 9 participants last post by  Ghostmaker 
#1 ·
had a plumbing code question and wanted to know if anyone was up on the residential codes for md?
 
#12 · (Edited)
you absolutely need a permit in carroll county md to REPLACE a water heater- not just to instal a new 1 for the first time..... just ask A1plumbing.......

i work for a general contractor doing commercial work. so i researched the code books- studied and took my "homeowners exam" in order to pull my permit for my project(addition). in CC you are able to take a homeowners exam for a project requiring a permit and it is good for that project only....... i believe there are more inspections done from inspectors opinion rather then code--
recently failed a plumbing rough-in inspection..... reason? he wanted to see the installed tub for the rough-in. i was not present but called in later and asked why- answer i need to see the rough-in. i stated the rough-in was inspected during the ground work and passed and when i called for a plumbing final he would see the tub connections thru the access panel- he replied in CC you need to instal the tub. i asked ok--- what about the toilet? you inspected the ground work (pipe stubbed up and capped off) now the next look will be during the final when it is set and you will never have seen the closet flange--- answer- well a toile is a fixture and covered under the final- what is a tub then? answer- something required during rough in inspection. i personally cant find this in a code book but maybe i missed something? so i am framed and under roof and now need to install a tub and protect for the rest of the time? dumb
side note= in CC you frame then rough plumb and electric and inspect then install windows and doors then get a framing inspection- no framing till all this is done. god help the framer if he has a mistake that needs fixed..... should be-
footer= inspect
foundation= inspect
frame= inspect
plumb= inspect
electric= inspect
insulate= inspect (quick check around plumbing- electric to make sure framing wasnt destoyed by work)
finishes and finals......
the building inspector doesnt want to have felt paper on the roof so he can see the nailing- electical wont allow ANY work unless it is dried in------ i aske the question and was told to Tyvek the roof for electric then tear off for framing and roof immediately- ummmmmm no. finally they allowed me to paper and shingle. during ground work- plumbing the inspector failed me for my vent line and said he thought i should "wet vent" the work. i called in for an explanation and wentr round and round till i had to meet him on site the next day to discuss. my work was to code if not better and he wanted it his way because he thought it would be better...... i explained the diference to him and why his way was not the better way- he passed me but didnt elaborate on why and didnt thank me for the education........
inspections are good if done by inspectors following the book.
 
#5 ·
I am from Carrol County and they pretty much go by the standard codes, but they do have some caveats. They go with the IRC which in several cases is inadequate here but they are Bone Heads and don't know the difference between life safety and water tight. The IRC does not address detailing that is often necessary to keep water out of your home, like Building Wrap or Felt below Vinyl Siding, so the idiots in charge here don't require it.
 
#6 ·
Does your plumbing question relate to some work you want to do on you plumbing?? I used to live in MD (Frederick County) and know that there are at least some jurisdictions where it is illegal for an unlicensed person to do plumbing or electrical work even on their own home.
 
#7 · (Edited)
Oh this being Maryland I am sure that we have been OMalley'd regarding permits too. That guy has his hand in every pocket available. As far as working on my own home doing anything. I will do what I want when I want, because I always do it better than code, because codes are minimal, and the day somebody tries to stop me is the day you will read about it in the papers. I shot expert in the military. All we need to do to succeed in this country again is get the government and Lawyers out of our faces, and our pocketbooks. Anybody with a brain will build something that they are going to use themselves properly. If they dont, and it falls on their head, well thats OK too. Thats called survival of the fittest. If you are too dumb to educate your self before you stick your hand into a circuit breaker box, well you get what you deserve. OK Lawyers, lets hear about how its not the persons fault if they electrocute themselves. Slimy Btards
 
#10 · (Edited)
Wow, struck a nerve, didn't I? The problem with your argument is that most people are NOT smart enough to educate themselves before attempting work they have no clue about. The permit process is to protect the lowest common denominator folks from themselves and whoever later buys their house.

Though I am not a pro, my wife and I built our house almost entirely by ourselves. You can bet I spent a lot of time with the code books before even beginning the job. The "average" person probably won't.

Shooting Expert in the military is nothing to brag about. I know; I did it many times with several different weapons in my 24-year career. Police academy qualification was much harder.
 
#8 ·
After reading some of the first time DIY's post on here and the things there trying to do, and you still feel it's ok for them to work on there own stuff?
At some point it may not be there's any more and the next person has to suffer or die from there mess up.
 
#9 · (Edited)
No, but we all have to know our own limitations. Screwing up is how some people learn, even engineers. I just do not like governmental control of everything Joe. Our forefathers dictated what the government should be responsible for, and it is not to make sure Sam Sawhorse dosen't build a deck that falls down.

We have Libraries where people can go and get information. I agree with you for the most part, but there is a thin line between freedom and complete tyranny.

I am usually the first one to say so in no uncertain terms when it sounds like somebody is over their head. A word to the wise is usually sufficient.

I cannot tell you how many times I have walked into situations that were criminally negligent on commercial roofs. The one that comes to mind is when some idiot sprayed a corrugated metal roof with aluminum coating, and sprayed right over the the Resolite fiberglass skylights that matched the metal panels. That was a very close one for me, as the roof was about 40 feet high at the eaves. I was mad as a hornet, and the owner looked at me like I was crazy. The AH did not even warn me!
 
#11 · (Edited)
Well its good enough to hit a REVNEUWER!

I guess you have to blame places like HD and Lowes with their advertising, making it sound like anybody can do anything.

I like the idea of allowing homeowners to do their own work, as long as it is to code, so I guess you all are right regarding the permit requirement.

Here is the problem with codes, at least with building envelope issues: The IRC is a life safety code, not a No Moisture Intrusion Code, or a "Hey what are all those ridges in my roof from?" Code.

In commercial roofing, many architects use the requirements of Factory Mutual Global. Guess what? Factory Mutual insures buildings, not the lives of people.

A good example: It is acceptable by FM to install Isocyanurate Foam plastic insulation right on top of a metal deck with no fire barrier like gypsum board. Why? because the insulation passes the flame spread and amount of smoke developed by the insulation. I probably do not have to tell you how poisonous the smoke is that is produced by Iso-Cyanurate insulation. Cyanide?

Im off topic here, but I guess I agree with you and Joe. Once the wall is closed up, who can tell what somebody did. SOmebody posting here said that they had to get a permit to replace a water heater, and it cost 175 dollars. That is outrageous, IMO, so I guess that set me off.
 
#13 ·
We install tubs,showers and closet flange for rough in inspections. The tub & showers are flood tested. Valves are checked to insure they are anchored to framing members- not to fiberglass. Drop in tubs are the exception to the inspections due to conflict with other trades.
Sounds like your inspector doesn't like home owners.....
 
#14 ·
thats neat to know on your requirements- our inspectors never even ask for preasure to be on the lines........my water lines are valved off inside the main house with no preasure going to the addition yet and that was ok- he said the leaks would be my problem to deal with----- i am installing a tub and will have the shower head thru the tile wall deal, there will be an access area behing the valves and the slab was boxed out to access the trap so all work is visible after install
my plumbing inspector definitely doesnt like me- wether it is a homeowner issue or not i am unsure-- point= he goes into the addition to look at work, the permit is there with all documentation, he knocks on the door to go inside to look at the tie ins and tells her thanks and have a nice day when done, she thatnked him and didnt ask anything- he came back in 10min and knocked on the door and handed her the red sticker and said nice try....... she thanked him and shut the door then called me flipping out........ i asked him why he did that and his reply was she needed to know so it could be corrected- i said she didnt hand you the permit- dont hand her any stickers, the folder listed permit is for all documentation so it is all kept together....... good liuck with that though.
my building inspector started in on my during footers but we worked thru that quickly- i had left a note with my phone number with the permit to call with questions...... during footer inspection he called and said he wasn't sure if my "z bar" rebar was acceptable to use on the step footing and if i had an adequate number of ladder bars (cross ties)in my rebar runs- i chuckled and replied- in carroll county rebar isnt required in a footing at all and step footings only require that they overlap and are tied together so my 2 continual parrallel #5 bar with cross ties every 2' and z bars for the jumps in elevation in my wider and deeper than required footing was more then adequate. his reply was "what do you do for a living"........ he has since been very nice and helpfull as well.
 
#15 ·
has anyone taken the homeowner exam for plumbing and electrical in Carroll County, MD? I have licensed individuals in neighboring counties that will be doing the work but are not licensed in Carroll, but wanted to take the exam and let them do the work and get inspected. I hear that they are open book, but wanted to know if an average homeowner without much DIY can pass the exam being that it open book 10 question exam for each.
 
#17 ·
IRC was written for residential construction. It is cheaper on your builders. Ohio has IRC but plumbing is damn near 100 percent commercial IPC. I think they got rid of trap primers and shower pan inspections.

It was to much of a hassle to test a shower pan during construction and find the leaks. 45% did leak or were not built to manufacturer specs. Better to find it after a few years later when builder is a fond memory.

Speaking for myself I stick to code. If it ain't in the book I do not enforce it.
 
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