Any Person or Entity who contracts, engages in, offers to engage in, or conveys the impression that he or she is certified in plumbing.

Any Person or Entity who contracts, engages in, offers to engage in, or conveys the impression that he or she is certified in gas fitting.

Companies (Entities) who contract, engage in, offer to engage in, or convey the impression that they are in the business of plumbing or gas fitting must be properly registered as such by the PGFB. To register a company, there must be a separate Principal Master for each of the respective trades. Companies are required by law to update this registration annually. Every person or company that meets the above criteria must have the business name displayed in a prominent location on both sides of the service or construction vehicle in letters that are a minimum of two inches in height.

No, but the law states that if there are any problems on a job, the Building Official can require them to be onsite during the inspection. The minimum level of supervision on a jobsite is as follows:

• Residential jobsites as defined by our law – Minimum of one Journeyman or Master for up to five apprentices.
• Non-residential jobsites (Anything not defined as residential) – Minimum of one Journeyman or Master for up to three apprentices.

The administrative rules of the PGFB layout the circumstances, locations, etc. where certification is not required. However, be mindful that in some circumstances where the PGFB may not require a Certification, the Onsite Wastewater Board, General Contractors Board and HACR Board’s law and administrative rules may require their respective licenses. The following is a general list of work that does NOT require Certification as a Master Plumber or Master Gas Fitter:

• The building sewer section of pipe of any system connected to a private onsite wastewater disposal system.
  This does NOT apply to piping connected to the public sewer. If connected to public sewer, Must be certified with the PGFB.

  The Onsite Wastewater Board regulates private sewage disposal systems. The private onsite disposal system begins at the two-way cleanout.

• Onsite disposal systems permitted by the Alabama Department of Public Health.
• Any onsite disposal system represented by drawings signed and sealed by an engineer licensed in the State of Alabama.
• Sewage grinder pumps or sewage lift stations that are installed or maintained as a component of an onsite disposal system. (Regulated by the Onsite Wastewater Board)
• Non-residential domestic water supply that is four inches or greater in diameter, and sewer lines six inches or greater in diameter represented by civil drawings signed and sealed by an engineer licensed in the State of Alabama.
• Any sewage grinder pump and sewage lift station with a discharge line four inches or greater.
• Force mains four inches and larger in diameter.
• Cutting, boring and removal of concrete associated with a plumbing job.
• Public utilities.
• Work in easements or public rights-of-way.
• Installation or repair of lavatory fixtures that do not involve removal or replacement of a stop or shut off valve.
• Toilet filler, flapper, or handle repair or replacement.
• Drain cleaning that does not involve breaking the seal of any trap. (Removing a toilet IS considered breaking the seal of a trap)
• Plumbing (Not gas) work performed by anyone who is regularly employed or acting as a maintenance person incidental to and in connection with the business in which he or she is employed and engaged, provided that the plumbing work is performed on the premises of the employer, and who does NOT engage in the occupation of a plumber for the general public.
• Replacement of clothes washing machines that do not involve removal or replacement of any gas piping or valve, or removal or replacement of any water shut off or piping.
• Testing of backflow devices, as long as the testing can be performed without removing the device.
• Plumbing work (Not Gas) performed in or about a building owned, or occupied by the owner.
• Gas supply connectors from the gas valve to the fixture or appliance. (Exception: Gas Fired Water Heaters)
• Gas supply connectors for HVAC equipment DO require a license from the HACR Board.
• Venting of Gas Heating Equipment when installed by a licensee of the HACR Board. If they do NOT hold a license with the HACR Board, then they are NOT exempt from holding certification with the PGFB.
• Gas work that is NOT performed on the customer side of the meter.

No.  A Journeyman is required to be employed by a company that has a Principal Master. Under no circumstance, other than the above listed exemptions, can a Journeyman act as his own contractor. Outside of the exemptions listed above, an apprentice falls under the requirement to be working for a registered company and furthermore, be supervised by a Master or Journeyman.

1.  A property owner is not required to be licensed to change out a water heater. However, if it is a gas water heater, a certified Master Gas Fitter (or certified Journeyman Gas Fitter who is employed by the Master) has to do any piping, gas shutoff valve, and connector associated with the exchange.
2.  A certified Master Gas Fitter (or certified Journeyman Gas Fitter who is employed by the Master) may exchange a water heater as long as he is not installing any new water distribution piping. (Distribution piping added to what is already stubbed out of the wall, floor, ceiling, etc. can be done by a Master Gas Fitter or his Journeyman) T&P relief drains, pan drains, etc. are considered part of the exchange.
3.  Master Plumbers (or certified Journeyman Plumbers who are employed by a Master) may exchange gas or electric water heaters. However, they are NOT allowed to perform any gas piping, install gas shut off valves or install gas connectors.