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Master Plumbers Council of the City of New York, Inc. * 240-21 Braddock Avenue, Bellerose, NY 11426 * (718) 793-6300

A NEWSLETTER PUBLICATION OF THE MASTER PLUMBERS COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK, INC.

VOICEThe

o f t h e L i c e n s e d M a s t e r P l u m b e r

Vol. 14, Issue 3September 2014

In this Edition:Boiler Service Training

Oil Tank AffadavitsAdvanced Gas Heating Technologies

Fuel Gas Code Changes ComingEvents and News

IMPORTANT LAA UPDATES

As written in the prior issue, the LAA Division is understaff ed and this is the main cause for the long delays in obtaining manually fi led permits.

At press time the wait is approaching 14 – 16 weeks weeks for some permits to be issued. We have written a letter to the commissioner to implore him to rectify this situation. Winter is approaching and the volume of permits will surely increase. As stated by the editor in the previous issue of Th e Voice, the staff working at the LAA Division is not the problem. We have been working closely with them over the past two months to implement the new LAA changes. Th ey are making an extra eff ort to help plumbers when the projects involve restoration of gas in both residential and commercial cooking applications and especially when domestic hot water and heat are involved. To take advantage of their generosity, plumbers should bring their application to the window and request to see a supervisor. We realize this is a very frustrating for everyone involved but please be mindful of this information if and when you do go to the counter and ask for help.

LAA TRAINING

Th e LAA Division has started training classes to go over the new changes to the LAA.

Th e categories covered were:1. Introduction to the LAA form2. Category 1 vs Category 2 work3. Common work proposals4. Electronic fi ling5. LAA Audits6. Service Updates / Comments

Many of our members have reported that the classes were informative and conducted in a professional manner. Th ere was a very detailed PowerPoint presentation covering all of the changes in fi ling and procedures. Th e staff provided ample time for questions and answers. Attendees who had additional or job-specifi c questions were aff orded the opportunity to submit them on a form at the end of the session. Th ere were many DOB Hub inspectors and enforcement inspectors in attendance. Th ey participated in the question and answer session as well. Th e MPC would like to thank the entire LAA staff for all of the hard work they put into the development of the presentation.

NEW LAA FORM

A draft version of the new LAA form was presented at the training session and discussed. A copy of the form is available for review on our website. Please note that this is a draft form and some changes may be made before the fi nal version is posted. You will notice many changes to the new form. In the fi ling status box you will see a box for renewal and a box for amendment. Th e amendment box is the new name for the existing PAA. Th e renewal box does not mean that you can actually renew an LAA. Th e fee assessment box is divided into two categories: Category 1 and Category 2. Another important change is that you will be required to submit the actual ACP#5 DEP control number on your application. Th is will re-quire you to obtain that number prior to submission of the application. In addition, in the appliance date section you will now be required to provide a listing number for any appliance installed. MEA numbers will no longer be accepted aft er the code change goes into eff ect. Th e listing number can be a UL number or a CSA number

Continued on Page 7

Master Plumbers Council of the City of New York, Inc. Th e Voice of the Licensed Master Plumber 2

Master Plumbers Council of theCity of New York, Inc.

240-21 Braddock Avenue, Bellerose, NY 11426Phone: 718-793-6300 * Fax: 718-343-0759

www.nycmpc.org

The Voice of the Licensed Master Plumber,a membership publication of the NYCMPC.

All text for articles is due by the 1st day of themonth prior to publication.

We welcome your suggestions and contributions.

NYCMPC Board PresidentMichael Loise

Executive DirectorJohn F. DeLillo, Jr.

[email protected]

EditorsGeorge Bassolino

Chris Biscuiti

GraphicsJanene Meyerowitz

JM Image Management, [email protected]

GENERAL DISCLAIMER STATEMENT:The information provided in this newsletter is to be used only to

educate businesses and the general public on plumbing and related construction issues that may affect their daily business or personal

lives. All opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors only and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the NYCMPC, its officers, Board of Directors, the NYCMPC newsletter or its editors. The NYCMPC does not guarantee the accuracy or

the correctness of advertising, articles or references to information sources herein, nor does the NYCMPC intend to endorse, rate, or

otherwise officially comment on products available. Therefore, the readers are cautioned to rely on information contained herein at their own risk. All information that is available to you through this newsletter is provided “as is” without warranty or condition of any kind, either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. The information contained in the newsletter is believed

to be correct and accurate. However, the NYCMPC cannot and will not assume responsibility for the consequences of errors contained

in the articles or misapplication of any information provided. NYCMPC expressly disclaims any liability for any special, incidental, or consequential damages, including without limitation, lost revenues,

or lost profits, resulting from the use or misuse.

A Message from theExecutive Director of theMaster Plumbers Council

Hello and welcome to the latest edition of Th e Voice of the Licensed Master Plumber. We have some important updates in this edition of the newsletter and are excited about upcoming events.

At our latest Chapter Membership Meeting we reviewed our progress with Department of Buildings in regards to the changes to the LAA permit that are scheduled to go into eff ect on October 1st, 2014. We met with the LAA Division to clarify the LAA permit process and to ascertain what can be done to reduce the long wait period for manually fi led permit applications. We are continuing to fi nalize a list of what can and cannot fi led on an LAA. Th is list will be available to our members this year. For more information regarding this change please see page 1.

In September, National Grid hosted some seminars for our members in Basic Gas Heating and Advanced and High Effi ciency Troubleshooting. Th e seminars were a success and the feedback from the members who attended has been positive. We hope to work with National Grid, as well as other companies, to provide similar seminars in the future. For more information regarding the National Grid seminars please see page 4.

Our Annual Educational & Energy Effi ciency Trade Expo is just around the corner on October 7th from 1:30 – 9:00 pm. An extremely important event for our council, the expo will be fi lled with tables hosted by the Department of Buildings, National Grid, and ConEd, as well as many of our affi liate members. Various educational presentations will be made throughout the evening, including an MPC presentation regarding the code changes that you will not want to miss. Our MPC booth will have great prizes and giveaways. Your support at this event will be greatly appreciated. Please register at www.nycmpc.org/2014expo.

Our next Chapter Membership Meeting is on November 5th at 5:00 pm at Vetro’s Restaurant and Lounge in Howard Beach and don’t forget to mark your calendars for our Holiday Dinner Dance on December 6th at Th e Inn at New Hyde Park.

I look forward to seeing you all at our upcoming Trade Expo. Stop by the booth and say hello!With Warm Regards,

John F. DeLillo, Jr.NYCMPC Executive Director

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Recently there have been some questions about when oil tank affi davits are required, who is licensed to provide and affi davit and the format of the affi davit.

WHEN IS AN AFFIDAVIT REQUIRED?

Whenever an oil to gas conversion is completed and the tanks are taken out of service the licensed plumber is required to provide the Fire Department with an affi davit for the removal or abandonment of the tanks. A copy of the letter must also be provided to the DOB plumbing division in order to obtain signoff .

WHO CAN FILE AN AFFIDAVIT FOR AN OIL TANK REMOVAL?

A licensed master plumber is qualifi ed to seal or remove fuel-oil tank(s) less than or equal to 330 gallons in size (< or =330 gallons). For all tanks in excess of 330 gallons the sealing or removal must be completed by a person holding a certifi cate or license or by a person who is employed and supervised by a person holding such certifi cate, or a person holding an oil-burning equipment installer license issued by the Department of Buildings or by a person who is employed by and under the direct supervision of a person holding such license.

Th e affi davit shall contain the following information:

• Must be on company letterhead and notarized

• Th e name of the licensee sealing and/or removing the tank

• Th e type of license sealing and/or removing the tank(s)

• Th e number location and size of the tanks

• Th e type of product removed

• State whether the system is a temporary or permeant seal

• Th e affi davit shall state whether the storage system was sealed and/or removed in accordance with the guidelines described R3404-01 and FC3404.2.13

Th e affi davit should be sent to:Fire Department City of New YorkBureau of Fire PreventionAttn: Deputy Chief Inspector J. Martinez9 Metro Tech CenterBrooklyn, NY 11201

GUIDELINES FOR OIL TANK AFFIDAVITS

On September 8th and 9th eight Master Plumber Council member employees attended the Basic Gas Heating Troubleshooting course hosted

by National Grid at their Queens Service Station in Springfi eld. It was followed by the Advanced and High Effi ciency course on September 17th and 18th. Th ese two-day courses were presented by National Grid and the Master Plumbers Council to provide training for our members. Th e courses consisted of classroom training with power point presentations and hands-on training with working gas appliances and controls. Th e instructor was Kevin Dunn who was a past supervisor for the company. Kevin came up through the ranks of the company, troubleshooting residential and commercial boilers. His teaching style made his communication and lessons clear as he made his presentation. He blended technical knowledge with real world experience and made the class very interesting for the students.

It had been a couple of years since these courses were last off ered. Th e Master Plumbers Council believes

strongly that continuing education for the industry is very important. Our education committee identifi ed the need to off er members the option to do training on gas appliances and controls. Th ey met with National Grid offi cials and came up with a plan to off er these courses.

Th e Master Plumbers Council would like to thank National Grid for graciously donating their facilities and instructor to make this possible. National Grid is a valued industry partner and they too recognize the need for continued training and education. Special thanks go out to Rosella Brugnoli and Anthony Massimino, whose eff orts were essential to make this valuable learning experience possible.

Th e courses were a success and we are planning to meet with National Grid to schedule more classes in the future.

MPC Education Committee

MPC PRESENTS BOILER SERVICE TRAINING CLASSES


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KEY POINTS

• Th e increasing popularity of gas for home heating has led to improved effi ciencies.

• Energy factors of natural gas water heaters range from 0.67 (storage) to 0.96 (tankless).

• ENERGY STAR Most Effi cient 2014 furnaces have annual fuel utilization effi ciencies of 97 to 98 percent.

More than half of all US homes have natural gas service and residential consumption is expect-ed to reach 7.4 quads by 2020, according to the

U.S. Department of Energy. Part of this growth is being driven by the increasing popularity of gas home heating. Gas technologies, whether for space or water heating, continue to improve in effi ciency and features, providing builders with a variety of options from which to choose.

COMBINATION SPACE AND WATER HEATERS

Th ese systems combine high-effi ciency, storage water heaters or boilers with hydronic air handlers. When space heating is needed, the thermostat activates a small pump, which circulates hot water (from the water heater) through an air handler coil. Th en, a fan blows air through these coils and into the duct system. Advantages include less maintenance and space. Installation requires a contractor who has the training and experience to handle the integrated plumbing and HVAC installation.

CONDENSING STORAGE WATER HEATERS

Gas condensing water heaters recover heat from combustion gases through a submerged helical coil or multiple pass baffl ed fl ues. Th is increases thermal effi ciencies as much as 96 percent. Products typically have fi ring rates ranging from 76,000 to 120,000 Btu/hour with power or direct venting. While these systems cost more upfront, they reduce water heating bills nearly 30 percent. Suffi cient space is required to accommodate a condensate drain and special venting. National Grid now off ers incentives of up to $200 for NYC & LI customers.

CONDENSING TANKLESS WATER HEATERS

Tankless product manufacturers introduced condensing products with energy factors (EF) of up to 0.96 starting

in 2009. Like condensing storage types, additional heat is extracted from the exhaust gases, reducing the temperature to around 100°F. At this temperature, a less expensive venting material, like PVC, can be used.

One design features ultra-low NOx condensing technology, which provides a 0.95 EF. Th e primary heat exchanger is constructed of erosion-resistant copper. Th e secondary heat exchanger is made of stainless steel to protect against corrosion. Units with maximum fl ow rates of up to 10 gallons per minute are available.

ENERGY STAR STORAGE WATER HEATERS

Effi ciency levels have increased from 0.62 to 0.67 EF; some power-vented units are higher at 0.7 EF. Several strategies are used: pressurized combustion or atmospheric combustion with motorized vent damper or power or direct vents with plastic pipe venting. Common features include electronic ignition and advanced electronic control/diagnostics. National Grid now off ers incentives of up to $100 for NYC customers.

Effi ciency is increased by incorporating better insulation, heat traps, and more effi cient burners. Water heating bills are reduced by about 7 percent; no special installation or maintenance is required.

HYBRID (TANK/TANKLESS) WATER HEATERS

Traditional storage water heaters and tankless water heaters are integrated with matched hydronic air handlers. Th ese water heaters address the shortcomings of both tank (center fl ue losses) and tankless (cold water on low/intermittent draws) systems. Effi ciency factors range from 0.70 to 0.80.

Firing rates and storage-only volumes typically range from under 100,000 to up to 200,000 Btu/hour and 4 to 40 gallons, respectively. One design features a patented heat transfer process that utilizes a secondary heat exchanger to capture the heated fl ue gas from the tankless unit and route it through a buff er tank to extract additional heat.

MOST EFFICIENT ENERGY STAR FURNACES

Furnaces with the ENERGY STAR Most Effi cient 2014 designation have annual fuel utilization effi ciencies (AFUEs) of 97 to 98 percent, resulting in a 20 to 23

ADVANCED GAS HEATING TECHNOLOGIES LEAD TOENERGY SAVINGS


percent savings over a standard furnace. Features include automatic adjustment of fan speed, heat and airfl ow for ultimate temperature control, and easy-to-use, programmable Wi-Fi thermostats. Some units come with high-effi ciency gas valves, two-stage heating, and smaller Btu input per burner for quieter startup and operation.

SOLAR HYBRID WATERHEATERS

Th ese heaters take advantage of the free energy provided by the sun via solar-thermal panels in combination with a storage gas heater. Some units combine a power direct vent heater with an internal solar-thermal coil heat exchanger. One system is rated at 76,000 Btu and comes in two sizes, 75 and 100 gallons, with a maximum temperature of 180°F. A helical-fi n heat exchanger provides auxiliary heating.

Another 70-gallon system requires about the same amount of space as a conventional water heater. An 80 percent effi ciency, low NOx backup gas burner supplements solar energy when required. A burner control system allows a large volume of hot water to be drawn from the tank before switching on the auxiliary burner.

WHOLE-HOME GAS TANKLESS WATER HEATERS

Th ese systems cost more, but reduce water heating bills by about 30 percent. Installation requires a large gas line (typically at least 3/4 inch) plus space for the required venting. Maintenance is more complicated; a regular maintenance check every few years is recommended. ENERGY STAR rated units are available.

Visit National Grid’s Energy Effi ciency Services at ngrid.com/nycbiz for more information on rebates or call: 1-877-316-9491.

Th is article previously appeared in the National Grid newsletter, and is used with permission.

depending on the manufacturer. If you fail to list the number your application will be delayed until you comply. We will address all of these new changes in a future issue of Th e Voice. In the meantime our DOB operations committee will be making a presentation on this and other code changes at our Annual Trade show. See details inside of this issue so you can attended and take advantage of this unique opportunity.

EMERGENCY WORK NOTIFICATION APPROVALS

Some important notes and changes to the procedures:

• Follow the proper procedure to obtain the emergency work notifi cation procedures.

• If the EWN application is denied you cannot do any work at that location.

• You cannot expand the scope of work listed on your EWN. If you have to expand the work scope you must fi le another EWN or you may be subject to a WWP violation.

• If you fi le a EWN and do not do any work you must notify the LAA Division within 2 days to have it withdrawn.

• Indicate the EWN on your LAA Application.

LAA UPDATES CONTINUED


Th e following are important changes to the 2014 FGC that shall be in eff ect on October 01, 20141:

406.1.1.1 WELDER’S QUALIFICATIONS

(5). Th e licensed master plumber employing the welder(s) shall submit a statement to the department including who welded the gas piping along with a copy(s) of the certifi ed welder qualifi cation report(s) witnessed by a representative of the licensed master plumber at the time of the fi rst roughing inspection.

406.1.1.3 WELDING RECORDS

Th e licensed master plumber employing the welder(s) shall assign to each welder an identifi cation symbol or number to identify the welds performed by that particular welder. Th e welder shall identify all welds with his or her symbol or number. Th e licensed master plumber shall maintain records identifying the weld(s) made by each welder for at least six years and shall make such records available to the department upon request.

Th e following is an important rule regarding approved

1 Published date for changes to go into eff ect

testing that shall be in eff ect on October 01, 2014:

RULE RELATING TO APPROVED TESTINGAGENCIES

Section 1. Paragraph (8) and subparagraphs (i) and (ii) of paragraph (8) of subdivision (c) of section 101-07 of the rules of the City of New York are amended to read as follows:

Pipe welder qualifying agencies

An agency shall be deemed an approved agency for qualifying welders of gas piping installations in accordance with section 406.1.1.1 of the Fuel Gas Code and high pressure gas systems.

A pipe welder qualifying agency shall be responsible for the following:

(A) [Verifying that welder performance qualifi cations are in accordance with ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Section IX] Complying with the requirements of section 406.1.1.1 of the Fuel Gas Code and section 1210.2.2 of the Mechanical Code;

IMPORTANT FUEL GAS CODE CHANGES REGARDING WELDING


(B) Positively identifying each welder or welding operator being qualifi ed;

(C) Observing the welder or welding operator during the qualifi cation test;

(D) Verifying that all welder qualifi cation records (e.g., QW-484 forms or equivalent) accurately record the data required by ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Section IX and are certifi ed by the manufacturer or contractor; and

(E) Signing the welder qualifi cation record and submitting a copy to the department when required].

Editors Notes: Th ese important new changes will require increased contractor compliance. Th e most notable changes are the written requirement to have the welder’s documents available at the time of the rough inspection and the labeling of each joint by the welder in the fi led or shop. Also remember that all plumbers employing welders are required to maintain a continuity log that must be made available to the DOB upon request.

LEWSAN CONSULTANTSSERVICING THE PLUMBING INDUSTRY FOR OVER 30 YEARS!

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158-01 CROSSBAY BLVD 2ND FLHOWARD BEACH, NY, 11414

T: 718 848 1500 / F: 718 843 [email protected]@LEWSANCONSULTANTS.COM

[email protected]


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240-21 BRADDOCK AVENUE240-21 BRADDOCK AVENUEBELLEROSE, NY 11426BELLEROSE, NY 11426

T. 718.793.6300T. 718.793.6300F. 718.343.0759F. 718.343.0759

JOHN F. DELILLO, JR.JOHN F. DELILLO, JR.EXECUTIVE DIRECTOREXECUTIVE DIRECTORE. [email protected]. [email protected]

Master Plumbers Councilof the City of New York, Inc.240-21 Braddock AvenueBellerose, NY 11426(718) 793-6300

Gregory T. ChillinoAttorney at Law

Former Director of Prosecutions and Investigative Attorneyfor NYC Department of Buildings

Administrative Hearings, Licensing Matters and DisciplinaryProceedings, Article 78’s, ECB Violations, Civil Litigation.

315 Madison AvenueSuite 901New York, NY 10017

(646) [email protected]

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PERMIT No. 1045

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