Section 641.29.1. Definitions.

For purposes of these rules, the following definitions shall apply:

“Applicable” means having relevance; appropriate.

“Apprentice” means any person, other than a helper, journeyperson, or master, who, as a principal occupation, is engaged in working as an employee of a plumbing, mechanical, HVAC-refrigeration, sheet metal, or hydronic systems contractor under the supervision of either a master or a journeyperson and is progressing toward completion of an apprenticeship training program registered by the Office of Apprenticeship of the United States Department of Labor while learning and assisting in the design, installation, and repair of plumbing, HVAC, refrigeration, sheet metal, or hydronic systems, as applicable.

“Board” means the plumbing and mechanical systems board.

“Corresponding” means the same discipline.

“Department” means the Iowa department of public health.

“Disconnect/reconnect plumbing technician specialty license” means a sublicense under a plumbing license to perform work from the appliance shutoff valve or fixture shutoff valve to the appliance or fixture and any part or component of the appliance or fixture, including the disconnection and reconnection of the existing appliance or fixture to the water or sewer piping and the installation of a shutoff valve no more than 3 feet from the appliance or fixture.

“Emergency repairs” means the repair of water pipes to prevent imminent damage to property.

“Hearth systems specialty license” means a sublicense under an HVAC-refrigeration or mechanical license to perform work in the installation of gas burning and solid fuel appliances that offer a decorative view of the flames, from the connector pipe to the shutoff valve located within 3 feet of the appliance. This sublicense is further allowed to perform work in the venting systems, log lighters, gas log sets, fireplace inserts, and freestanding stoves.

“HVAC” means heating, ventilation, air conditioning, ducted systems, or any type of refrigeration used for food processing or preservation. “HVAC” includes all natural, propane, liquid propane, or other gas lines associated with any component of an HVAC system.

“Hydronic” means a heating or cooling system that transfers heating or cooling by circulating fluid through a closed system, including boilers, pressure vessels, refrigerated equipment in connection with chilled water systems, all steam piping, hot or chilled water piping together with all control devices and accessories, installed as part of, or in connection with, any heating or cooling system or appliance whose primary purpose is to provide comfort using a liquid, water, or steam as the heating or cooling media. “Hydronic” includes all low-pressure and high-pressure systems and all natural, propane, liquid propane, or other gas lines associated with any component of a hydronic system. For the purposes of this definition, “primary purpose is to provide comfort” means a system or appliance in which at least 51 percent of the capacity generated by its operation, on an annual average, is dedicated to comfort heating or cooling.

“Inactive license” means a license that is available for a plumbing, mechanical, HVAC-refrigeration, sheet metal, or hydronic professional who is not actively engaged in running a business or working in the business in the corresponding discipline at that license level.

“Journeyperson” means any person, other than a master, who, as a principal occupation, is engaged as an employee of, or otherwise working under the direction of, a master in the design, installation, and repair of plumbing, mechanical, HVAC-refrigeration, sheet metal, or hydronic systems, as applicable.

“Licensee” means a person or entity licensed to operate as a contractor or work in the plumbing, mechanical, HVAC-refrigeration, sheet metal, or hydronic disciplines or work as a certified medical gas system installer or work in the specialty license disciplines developed by the board.

“Master” means any person who works in the planning or superintending of the design, installation, or repair of plumbing, mechanical, HVAC, refrigeration, or hydronic systems and is otherwise lawfully qualified to conduct the business of plumbing, mechanical, HVAC, refrigeration, or hydronic systems, and who is familiar with the laws and rules governing the same.

“Mechanical systems” means HVAC, refrigeration, sheet metal, and hydronic systems.

“Medical gas system installer” means any person who installs or repairs medical gas piping, components, and vacuum systems, including brazers, who has been issued a valid certification from the National Inspection Testing Certification (NITC) Corporation, or an equivalent authority approved by the board.

“Plumbing” means all potable water building supply and distribution pipes, all plumbing fixtures and traps, all drainage and vent pipes, and all building drains and building sewers, storm sewers, and storm drains, including their respective joints and connections, devices, receptors, and appurtenances within the property lines of the premises, and including the connection to sanitary sewer, storm sewer, and domestic water mains. “Plumbing” includes potable water piping, potable water treating or using equipment, medical gas piping systems, fuel gas piping, water heaters and vents, including all natural, propane, liquid propane, or other gas lines associated with any component of a plumbing system.

“Refrigeration” means any system of refrigeration regardless of the level of power, if such refrigeration is intended to be used for the purpose of food processing and product preservation and is also intended to be used for comfort systems. “Refrigeration” includes all natural, propane, liquid propane, or other gas lines associated with any component of refrigeration.

“Routine maintenance” means the maintenance, repair, or replacement of existing fixtures or parts of plumbing, mechanical, HVAC, refrigeration, sheet metal, or hydronic systems in which no changes in original design are made. Fixtures or parts do not include smoke and fire dampers or water, gas or steam piping permanent repairs except for traps or strainers. Routine maintenance shall include emergency repairs. “Routine maintenance” does not include the replacement of furnaces, boilers, cooling appliances, or water heaters more than 100 gallons in size.

“Service technician HVAC specialty license” means a sublicense under an HVAC-refrigeration or mechanical license to perform work from the appliance shutoff valve to the appliance and any part and component of the appliance, including the disconnection and reconnection of the existing appliance to the gas piping and the installation of a shutoff valve no more than 3 feet away from the appliance.

“Sheet metal” means heating, ventilation, air conditioning, pollution control, fume hood systems and related ducted systems or installation of equipment associated with any component of a sheet metal system. “Sheet metal” excludes refrigeration and electrical lines and all natural gas, propane, liquid propane, or other gas lines associated with any component of a sheet metal system.

“Surety bond” means a performance bond written by an entity licensed to do business in this state which guarantees that a contractor will fully perform the contract and which guarantees against breach of that contract.

[ARC 8530B, IAB 2/24/10, effective 1/26/10; ARC 9604B, IAB 7/13/11, effective 6/21/11; ARC 9849B, IAB 11/16/11, effective 12/21/11; ARC 1220C, IAB 12/11/13, effective 5/1/14]