Public Meeting Notice  Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters Code Subcommittee Meeting - 5.13.26

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In accordance with the provisions of G.L. c. 30A § 20, notice is hereby given that the Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters will be convening their Plumbing Code Subcommittee meeting.

In accordance with the provisions of G.L. c. 30A § 20, the Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters convened plumbing subcommittee meeting: 

Microsoft Teams Meeting Wednesday May 13, 2026, at 10:00 am

The topics shown below were discussed at the aforementioned meeting: 10:00 am the Chair Joseph McNamee called the open meeting to order. 

Informational note: All votes were taken by roll call. Where each member voted in favor, the vote will be reported as unanimous.

Board members present: 

• Mr. Joseph McNamee, Chairman, Master Gas Fitter
• Mr. John Cruz, Member, LP Installer
• Mr. Bahig A. Kaldas, P.E., Member, plumbing Engineer
• Mr. Wayne Thomas, Member, Journeyman Gas Fitter
• Ms. Ruth Alfasso, Member, Department of Public Health
• Ms. Sarah Badway, Public Member
• Mr. Dan Kilburn, Member, DOL Designee
• Ms. Kimberly Garside, Member, Master Plumber

Board members absent:

• Mr. Harold Knight, Vice-Chairman, Journeyman Plumber

DOL Staff present:

• Mr. Bruce Johnson, Associate Deputy Commissioner 
• Mr. Michael Guida, Board Plumbing & Gas Code Consultant 
• Ms. Caitlyn Berry, Licensing Coordinator 
• Mr. Charles Kilb, Board Legal Counsel
• Mr. Marc Zade State Plumbing and Gas Inspector

Approval of previous Meeting Minutes

• 10:11 a.m. Open Meeting Called to Order
  • Note Meeting Recording 
  • Roll Call by Chair for Quorum
• Approval of Meeting Minutes
  • March 25, 2026, Subcommittee Meeting:

Tabled

• April 15, 2026, Subcommittee Meeting:

  Tabled

• Legal / Board Counsel Report – Charles Kilb

                            Nothing to report

• Discussion

Reviewed proposed changes for the following sections

• 248 CMR 10.01, Scope and Jurisdiction

No changes made at this meeting

• 248 CMR 10.02, Basic Principles

  • Members and staff reviewed the accessibility requirements for common laundry facilities, including whether access should be provided directly through the main building. The group also discussed the potential use of an outbuilding. Staff were asked to draft possible revised language for consideration and to review 521 CMR to identify any accessibility conflicts. 
  • 248 CMR 10.03, Definitions 
  • 248 CMR 10.04, Testing and Safety
  • 248 CMR 10.05, General Regulations 
  • 248 CMR 10.06, Materials
  • 248 CMR 10.07, Joints and Connections

  Staff presented the proposed addition to the definition of Dedicated system. The proposed addition would include all storm retention or management systems that discharge into the storm or sanitary. 

           Vote: WT to approve JP second

    Results:unanimously

  Staff presented the proposed addition to 10.04(2)(a) i e Smoke testing. The addition to the section would be to add the conversion one inch of water column to a PSI measurement. 

        Vote: JC to approve RA second

       Results: unanimously

  Staff presented the proposed addition to 10.05 (7)(c)1 Rodent Proofing to state all pipe penetrations shall be sufficiently sealed by means of caulking or other approved materials After discussion members removed the section that stated by means of caulking or other approved materials. Members also removed this language from 10.05(2)(f)3.

       Vote: WT to approve JK second

      Result: unanimously

  Staff presented 10.06(2)(f)1 CPVC Pipe and PEX Tubing and Fittings raising the height limitations from six stories to ten stories. Members discussed if there was a potential limitation from manufactures of these products and whether there was any technical restriction. Staff did contact manufacturers and found no technical restriction on those materials. Furthermore, staff also explained increasing these products to ten stories would keep all plastic products uniformed.

       Vote: JC to approve JP second

      To approve: JC, BK, WT, KG, RA, JP, JK- Against: JM

     Result: 7 to approve 1 against. Motion to approve passes.

  Staff presented to add Polypropylene (PP) and Polyethylene (PE) to 10.06(2)(h)3 as allowable commercial and residential drains waste and vent material (DWV).

      Vote: WT to approve JC second

      Result: unanimously

                 No changes made at this meeting

• 248 CMR 10.08, Traps and Cleanouts

               No changes made at this meeting

• 248 CMR 10.09, Interceptors, Separators and Holding Tanks

        Staff presented the following proposed additions or changes.

10.09 (1) (a) d that all hand sinks installed within a motor vehicle or maintenance area must go through a separation system. The venting would also be allowed to connect to the chamber vent of the separator. Members discussed whether this would also include sinks in the bathrooms. Staff clarified only sinks within the work area would need to meet this requirement.

Staff also presented adding to 10.09 (2) (c) 5 Special use Interceptors and Separators adding all residential and commercial pet washing stations discharge through an accepted hair separator. 

    Vote: WT to approve RA second

   Results: unanimously

• 248 CMR 10.10 (14), Plumbing Fixtures 

  Staff presented the following proposed additions or changes.

   10.10 (3) (b) 8 Bathtubs and Shower units and showers to add animal washing tubs or showers do not require product acceptance.

  10.10 (3) (b) a ii 1, change to human or animal use regarding hand held showers. 

  10.10 (3) (b) a iv 4 c Controls, to add a minimum and maximum temperature to hair washing sinks.

  10.10 (13) Emergency Wash Systems (c) Staff and members discussed adding possible language allowing one emergency shower to be sized independently and all other installations to be sized with two discharging simultaneously. Staff will present possible language at the next meeting for review.

  10.10 (13) Emergency Wash Systems (e) Staff and members discussed adding language defining the measurement. Staff will present possible language at the next meeting for review.

        Vote: WT to approve JP second

       Result: unanimously

  • 248 CMR 10.11, Hangers and Supports

                 Staff presented the following proposed additions or changes.

                10.11(4) (a) 8 Intervals of Support, to add any material not listed shall follow the         manufacturers installation instructions.

               10.11 (4) (b) 6 a-c Horizontal piping, adding support measurements for PEX tubing

               10.11 (4) (b) 12 Horizontal piping, to add any material not listed shall follow the         manufacturers installation instructions.

                      Vote: JP to approve JC second

  Results: unanimously

• 248 CMR 10.12, Indirect Waste Piping

             Staff presented the following proposed additions or changes.

               10.12 (1) (f) 1 Safe Waste Pans, remove the boiler requirement for requiring safe waste.

              10.12 (1) (f) 1 Safe Waste Pans, add language below to require only metal safe waste pans for use with gas or electric water heaters and rated plastic safe waste pans may be used on electric water heaters. Staff will present proposed language at the next meeting.

            10.12 (5) Installation of Indirect Waste Piping, Staff discussed adding language to allow clear water waste to discharge into the inlet of a trap. Members asked staff to present at the next meeting new language allowing clear water waste to discharge to the inlet side of a properly sized and vented trap

                      Vote: WT to approve JC second

                     Results: unanimously

• 248 CMR 10.13, Piping and Treatment of Special Waste

  Not covered at this meeting

  • 248 CMR 10.14, Water Supply and Water Distribution System

 Not covered at this meeting

• 248 CMR 10.15, Sanitary Drainage System

Not covered at this meeting

Adjournment

Vote: Motion made by JC, WT second

Results: Unanimous

11:59 AM

Items relied upon during the open meeting

• Agenda
• Draft Topics

Note: If you need reasonable accommodation to participate in the meeting, please reach out to Cheryl Yebba at 617- 701-8711. The Agency will make best efforts to accommodate requests received in a timely manner.

Addendum:  Minutes were approved by a unanimous roll call vote by the Subcommittee on June 17, 2026

• 10:00 a.m. Open Meeting Called to Order
  • Note Meeting Recording 
  • Role Call by Chair for Quorum

• Approval of Meeting Minutes
  • March 25, 2026, Subcommittee Meeting
  • April 15, 2026, Subcommittee Meeting
• Legal / Board Counsel Report – Charles Kilb
• Discussion

Reviewed proposed changes for the following sections

• 248 CMR 10.01, Scope and Jurisdiction
  • 248 CMR 10.02, Basic Principles
  • 248 CMR 10.03, Definitions
  • 248 CMR 10.04, Testing and Safety
  • 248 CMR 10.05, General Regulations 
  • 248 CMR 10.06, Materials
  • 248 CMR 10.07, Joints and Connections
  • 248 CMR 10.08, Traps and Cleanouts
  • 248 CMR 10.09, Interceptors, Separators and Holding Tanks
  • 248 CMR 10.10 (14), Plumbing Fixtures 
  • 248 CMR 10.11, Hangers and Supports
  • 248 CMR 10.12, Indirect Waste Piping
  • 248 CMR 10.13, Piping and Treatment of Special Waste
  • 248 CMR 10.14, Water Supply and Water Distribution System
  • 248 CMR 10.15, Sanitary Drainage System

Adjournment

Note: If you need reasonable accommodation to participate in the meeting, please reach out to Cheryl Yebba at 617- 701-8711. The Agency will make best efforts to accommodate requests received in a timely manner.