The finer details of Local Law 152 can be complicated, and when fines for failing LL152 can reach as high as $10,000, the process of completing the inspection can be overwhelming without the proper help. Thankfully, when you hire a master plumber to complete the inspection, you have an expert who is there to make sure your property is good to go. For Local Law 152 help, contact Empire Plumbing, today.
What Makes a Master Plumber Different?
It’s important to understand who is coming to complete your gas pipe inspection for Local Law 152. A Master Plumber has attained an expert-level license in the plumbing industry. This means that they have an education in not only the repair of most plumbing services, but also in the planning and designing of a plumbing or gas system as well.
This sort of certification does not come without years of experience and training in the field. Typically, a Master Plumber has spent seven years working underneath another Master Plumber for education and expertise. This means the individual coming to inspect your property has more than likely spent many more years repairing and inspecting plumbing systems after completing their apprenticeship.
After their time spent learning, the plumber then applies to receive certification as a Master Plumber. There are other ways to qualify to be a Master Plumber well. Those with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering are typically only required to spend five years apprenticing in the trade before applying due to their higher education.
In New York City, Master Plumbers are expected to have specifically worked in New York before they apply to become a Master Plumber as well. This means your Master Plumber will be local. This level of experience also means that the Master Plumber coming to your property is well-versed in plumbing systems for commercial and residential properties. They have proven their knowledge and skills to the New York Department of Buildings (DOB), and their inspections skills are recognized formally for situations like Local Law 152.
Can I Prepare for a Master Plumber?
Nothing is required of you before the inspection is more than can be handled with regular custodial experience. Any of the actual inspection work should be left to the master plumber, as gas lines can be incredibly dangerous if you don’t know what you are doing.
These are some of the steps you can take in anticipation of your local law 152 master plumber inspection:
- Review What Will be Inspected – The inspection will be looking at all exposed gas piping in your building from the entrance to any private tenant spaces. Your Master Plumber will not go inside tenant units, but any public space will be part of the inspection.
- Prepare Access to Inspection Areas – Your master plumber is going to require access to your boiler room, as well as any corridors, hallways, or public spaces. Having the keys required for access is a great way to prepare for your Master Plumber’s inspection.
- Remove Clutter Near Gas Piping – It is incredibly important that your Master Plumber has easy access to the gas piping of your property. Removing any debris will not only lend itself to a faster inspection, but also allow your Master Plumber to perform a more accurate inspection.
- Don’t Leave the Inspection to the Last Minute – This last piece of advice is more for you than the Master Plumber, but they will appreciate not being called out at the last second. Local Law 152 can be complicated if you are not up to date on the district schedule and other requirements. Make sure you know what forms need to filled out and by what date, so that the Master Plumber is only required to focus on the inspection.
If you have any concerns about your Local Law 152 inspection, or feel like the process is still hard to understand, give your Empire Plumbing a call. We have the skills needed to walk you through whatever part of the process you are still unclear on.
We understand that having a Master Plumber come to inspect your property can be a stressful experience in of itself. Without a complete understanding of what they are looking for and how best to accommodate them, an inspection can feel invasive when in reality it is only to your benefit as a homeowner or landlord.