§1377. Definitions; exceptions

A. Master plumber. A "master plumber" is a natural person who possesses the necessary qualifications and knowledge to plan and lay out plumbing systems; who supervises journeyman plumbers in the installation, alteration, and/or repair of plumbing systems; and who is licensed as such by the board.

B.(1) Journeyman plumber. A "journeyman plumber" is a natural person who possesses the necessary qualifications and knowledge to install, alter, or repair plumbing systems; is licensed as such by the board; is supervised by a master plumber; and is in the employ of an employing entity.

(2) Tradesman plumber. A "tradesman plumber" is a natural person who possesses the necessary qualifications and knowledge to repair existing plumbing systems and is licensed by the board to repair existing plumbing systems in one- and two-family dwellings at the direction of a master plumber, without the supervision of a journeyman plumber.

C. Apprentice plumber. An "apprentice plumber" is a natural person engaged in learning the plumbing trade by working under the direct on-the-job supervision of a journeyman plumber and in the employ of an employing entity. Apprentice plumbers shall be indentured in an apprenticeship program approved by the Louisiana Workforce Commission.

D. Plumbing. "Plumbing" is the work or business of installing in buildings and on premises the pipes, fixtures, and other apparatus for supplying water, or removing liquid waste and/or water-borne waste, and fixtures, vessels and process piping that is in direct contact with products for human consumption. The term is also used to designate the installed fixtures, drainage fixtures and water distribution systems of buildings or premises. For purposes of this Chapter the definition of plumbing given above will not include:

(1) Water used in manufacturing establishments for processing products that are not for human consumption.

(2) Drilling of water wells.

(3) Community water supply distribution system or systems.

(4) Community sewage collection or treating system or systems.

(5) Fixtures, vessels or piping used by manufacturing establishments for removal of any waste other than human, vegetable or animal waste.

(6) All piping used for heating or cooling where it is not directly connected with a potable water supply system.

(7) All piping used for conveying oil, gas or other hydrocarbons.

(8) Work done by an individual on his own personal residence.

(9) Work done by an owner, management company, its agents, employees, or assigns for maintenance work to be carried out upon the owner's property, as such maintenance work is defined by rules of the State Plumbing Board. Such maintenance work shall specifically not include construction or installation.

E. Exceptions. Provided, however, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the term "plumbing" shall not include pipes, fixtures, and other apparatus of any nature whatsoever used in manufacturing plants, or used in the exploration for, production of, or transportation of oil, gas, or other minerals, whether before, during, or after installation.

F. Medical gas piping. "Medical gas piping installation" is the work or business of installing in buildings and premises piping used solely to transport gases for medical purposes.

G. Water supply protection. "Water supply protection" is the work or business of installing, repairing, or maintaining backflow prevention devices hooked directly to a drinking water supply system and located on the property of the entity owning the water supply system and associated with "plumbing" as that term is defined in this Section.

H. Medical gas and vacuum systems verifier. A "medical gas and vacuum systems verifier" is a natural person who possesses the necessary qualifications and knowledge to test and verify the operation of medical gas and vacuum pipeline systems, subject to the professional qualifications standard established by the American Society of Sanitary Engineering Series 6000, Standard No. 6030, and who is licensed as such by the board.

I. Gas fitter. A "gas fitter" includes any natural person who possesses the necessary qualifications and knowledge to install, alter, repair, improve, remove, or test natural gas piping, tanks, and appliances annexed to real property but does not include any person who is licensed by the Louisiana Liquefied Petroleum Gas Commission or any services or work performed pursuant to such a license.

J. Master gas fitter. A "master gas fitter" includes any natural person who possesses the necessary skills, abilities, proficiency, and qualifications to plan and lay out the details for installing and supervising the work of installing, repairing, and maintaining types of materials and equipment used for the construction, repair, removal, or improvement to natural gas piping systems and tanks annexed to real property but does not include any person who is licensed by the Louisiana Liquefied Petroleum Gas Commission or any services or work performed pursuant to such a license.

K. Gas fitting. "Gas fitting" means the work or business of installing, repairing, improving, altering, or removing natural gas piping, fittings, valves, or tanks used for conveying fuel gas for appliances on or in premises or in buildings annexed to immovable property. For purposes of this Chapter, gas fitting does not include the following:

(1) The installation or maintenance of piping by any entity of a municipal or gas district system that is subject to the regulatory authority of the Public Service Commission, the New Orleans City Council, or the office of pipeline safety in the Department of Natural Resources.

(2) Any work done by a person who is licensed by the Louisiana Liquefied Petroleum Gas Commission or any other services performed pursuant to such a license.

(3)(a) Piping connection, disconnection, or reconnection from the outlet side of the appliance shutoff valve to the appliance inlet.

(b) The following persons or entities shall not be construed as a gas fitter or master gas fitter for any purposes of this Chapter solely due to the performance of services described in Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph:

(i) Any person or business entity licensed by the State Licensing Board for Contractors as a mechanical contractor.

(ii) Any person or business entity classified under the heating, air conditioning, ventilation, duct work, and refrigeration subclassification of mechanical contractors pursuant to R.S. 37:2156.2.

Acts 1964, No. 498, §1; Acts 1968, No. 298, §1; Acts 1990, No. 752, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1991; Acts 1990, No. 771, §1; Acts 1992, No. 447, §4; Acts 1995, No. 824, §1; Acts 1999, No. 1020, §1, eff. July 9, 1999; Acts 2008, No. 743, §7, eff. July 1, 2008; Acts 2016, No. 297, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2017; Acts 2016, No. 515, §1; Acts 2018, No. 253, §1, eff. May 17, 2018.