(a)Plumbing systems. [The inspector shall:]
(1)The inspector shall: [report:]
(A)report: [location of water meter;]
(i)[(A) location of water meter;
(ii)[(B)] location of homeowners
main water supply shutoff valve; and
(iii)[(C)] static water pressure;
(B)[(2)] report as Deficient:
(i)[(A)] the presence of active
leaks;
(ii)[(B)] the lack of a pressure
reducing valve when the water pressure exceeds 80 PSI;
(iii)[(C)] the lack of an expansion
tank at the water heater(s) when a pressure reducing valve is in place
at the water supply line/system;
(iv)[(D)] the absence of:
(I)[(i)] fixture shut-off valves;
(II)[(ii)] dielectric unions,
when applicable;
(III)[(iii)] back-flow devices,
anti-siphon devices, or air gaps at the flow end of fixtures; and
(v)[(E)] deficiencies in:
(I)[(i)] water supply pipes
and waste pipes;
(II)[(ii)] the installation
and termination of the vent system;
(III)[(iii)] the performance
of fixtures and faucets not connected to an appliance;
(IV)[(iv)] water supply, as
determined by viewing functional flow in two fixtures operated simultaneously;
(V)[(v)] fixture drain performance;
(VI)[(vi)] orientation of hot
and cold faucets;
(VII)[(vii)] installed mechanical
drain stops;
(VIII)[(viii)] commodes, fixtures,
showers, tubs, and enclosures; and
(IX)[(ix)] the condition of
the gas distribution system.
(2)[(3)] The inspector is not
required to:
(A)operate any main, branch, or shut-off valves;
(B)operate or inspect sump pumps or waste ejector
pumps;
(C)verify the performance of:
(i)the bathtub overflow;
(ii)clothes washing machine drains or hose bibbs;
or
(iii)floor drains;
(D)inspect:
(i)any system that has been winterized, shut down
or otherwise secured;
(ii)circulating pumps, free-standing appliances, solar
water heating systems, water-conditioning equipment, filter systems,
water mains, private water supply systems, water wells, pressure tanks,
sprinkler systems, swimming pools, or fire sprinkler systems;
(iii)inaccessible gas supply system components for
leaks;
(iv)for sewer clean-outs; or
(v)for the presence or performance of private sewage
disposal systems; or
(E)determine:
(i)quality, potability, or volume of the water supply;
or
(ii)effectiveness of backflow or anti-siphon devices.
(b)Water heaters. [The inspector shall:]
(1)General Requirements. [report:]
(A)The inspector shall:
(i)report:
(I)[(A)] the energy source;
(II)[(B)] the capacity of the
units;
(ii)[(2)] report as Deficient:
(I)[(A)] inoperative units;
(II)[(B)] leaking or corroded
fittings or tanks;
(III)[(C)] damaged or missing
components;
(IV)[(D)] the absence of a cold
water shut-off valve;
(V)[(E)] if applicable, the
absence of a pan or a pan drain system that does not terminate over
a waste receptor or to the exterior of the building above the ground
surface;
(VI)[(F)] inappropriate locations;
(VII)[(G)] the lack of protection
from physical damage;
(VIII)[(H)] burners, burner
ignition devices or heating elements, switches, or thermostats that
are not a minimum of 18 inches above the lowest garage floor elevation,
unless the unit is listed for garage floor installation;
(IX)[(I)] the absence of an
opening that would allow access to equipment for inspection, service,
repair or replacement without removing permanent construction or building
finish;
(X)[(J)] when applicable; a
floored passageway and service platform that would allow access for
equipment inspection, service, repair or replacement;
(XI)[(K)] the absence of or
deficiencies in the temperature and pressure relief valve and discharge
piping;
(XII)[(L)] a temperature and
pressure relief valve that failed to operate, when tested manually;
(B)The inspector is not required
to:
(i)verify the effectiveness of the temperature and
pressure relief valve, discharge piping, or pan drain pipes;
(ii)operate the temperature and pressure relief valve
if the operation of the valve may, in the inspector's reasonable judgment,
cause damage to persons or property; or
(iii)determine the efficiency or adequacy of the unit.
(2)[(M)] Requirements for [
in] electric units. The inspector shall report as Deficient[
,] deficiencies in:
(A)[(i)] performance of heating
elements; and
(B)[(ii)] condition of conductors;
and
(3)[(N)] Requirements for [
in] gas units. The inspector shall report as Deficient:
(A)[(i)] gas leaks;
(B)[(ii)] flame impingement,
uplifting flame, improper flame color, or excessive scale build-up;
(C)[(iii)] the absence of a
gas shut-off valve within six feet of the appliance;
(D)[(iv)] the absence of a gas
appliance connector or one that exceeds six feet in length;
(E)[(v)] gas appliance connectors
that are concealed within or extended through walls, floors, partitions,
ceilings or appliance housings;
(F)[(vi)] deficiencies in:
(i)[(I)] combustion and dilution
air;
(ii)[(II)] gas shut-off valves;
(iii)[(III)] access to a gas
shutoff valves that prohibit full operation;
(iv)[(IV)] gas appliance connector
materials; and
(v)[(V)] vent pipe, draft hood,
draft, proximity to combustibles, and vent termination point and clearances.
[(3)The inspector is not required
to:]
[(A)verify the effectiveness of the temperature and
pressure relief valve, discharge piping, or pan drain pipes;]
[(B)operate the temperature and pressure relief valve
if the operation of the valve may, in the inspector's reasonable judgment,
cause damage to persons or property; or]
[(C)determine the efficiency or adequacy of the unit.]
(c)Hydro-massage therapy equipment. [The inspector
shall:]
(1)The inspector shall report as Deficient
:
(A)report as Deficient:
(i)[(A)] inoperative units;
(ii)[(B)] the presence of active
leaks;
(iii)[(C)] deficiencies in components
and performance;
(iv)[(D)] missing and damaged
components;
(v)[(E)] the absence of an opening
that would allow access to equipment for inspection, service, repair
or replacement without removing permanent construction or building
finish; and
(vi)[(F)] the absence or failure
of operation of ground-fault circuit interrupter protection devices;
and
(2)The inspector is not required to determine the
adequacy of self-draining features of circulation systems.
The agency certifies that legal counsel
has reviewed the proposal and found it to be within the state agency's
legal authority to adopt.
Filed with the Office
of the Secretary of State on May 3, 2016
TRD-201602112 Kristen Worman
Deputy General Counsel
Texas Real Estate Commission
Earliest possible date of adoption: June 19, 2016
For further information, please call: (512) 936-3093
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