The Catch Basin
Minnesota Plumbing Program News
Minnesota Department of Health - Plumbing Program • Summer 2003 • Volume 27 Number 1
Revisions to the Minnesota
Plumbing Code
The Minnesota Plumbing Code (MPC), Minnesota
Rules, Chapter 4715, was recently revised, effective
August 25, 2003. Some of the changes to the MPC
include:
• approval of cross-linked polyethylene (PEX)
tubing systems for water distribution;
• flux used with soldered joints must comply
with ASTM Standard B813;
• installation requirements for exterior grease
interceptors and chemical/soap dispensing
systems;
• amendments to maintain compatibility with
the International Family of Codes, recently
adopted by the Department of
Administration.
Look for the MPC revisions on our website at
www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/plumbing. An
amended version of the MPC including all the
revisions should be available by late September at:
www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/forms/getrulechap.shtml.
Enter 4715 for chapter number. Until then, that site
will have the 1998 version of the MPC. A printed
version of the 2003 MPC will be available through
the Minnesota Bookstore in the near future. The
Minnesota Bookstore can be contacted at 651/297-
3000 or 800/657-3757 or at this website:
www.comm.media.state.mn.us/bookstore/bookstore2.asp
A complete listing of all building code amendments
can currently be viewed at the following website:
www.buildingcodes.admin.state.mn.us/rules/rules.html.
In This Issue
Inspection Requests, Pg 2
New Website Items, Pg 2
Exam Results, Pg 2
Exam Registration, Pg 3
Enforcement Actions, Pg 3
Sewage Treatment System Plan Review, Pg 3
Plan Submittals, Pg 3
Fee Schedule, Pg 4
Fees to be Collected for
Plumbing Plan Reviews
Legislation was passed in 2003 that allows the
Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) to collect
fees for plumbing plan review. The tentative start
date for fee collection for plumbing plan reviews is
November 1, 2003. The fee schedule was designed
with three major goals:
1. Set and collect a fee based on the amount of
work associated with the plan review;
2. Allow either complete or partial designs to be
submitted for review (for example, water and
sewer service to a building being designed and
constructed under “design/build” principles);
and
3. Allow project proposers an option for a faster
turnaround time on a plan review.
A table describing the fees is shown on page 4 of
this newsletter. Additional information concerning
the new plan review fee, such as a fee calculation
worksheet, etc. will be published on our website and
will be included in upcoming issues of The Catch
Basin.
Personnel Changes
Personnel changes have taken place recently within
the plumbing program. Gary Topp is no longer the
plumbing unit supervisor. After eight years of
supervising, Gary filled a newly opened Plumbing
Standards Representative (PSR) position in the
Fergus Falls District Office. An avid fisherman,
Gary and his family moved to a lake home in the
Pelican Rapids area.
Continued on page 2
Personnel Changes continued

Jim Peterson accepted the position as the new unit

New Website Items
supervisor. Jim has been licensed as a plumber
Since the last Catch Basin announced our new
since 1976 and has been employed as a PSR with
website, several new items have been added. We
the Department since 1993. If you have plumbing
now have a frequently asked questions (FAQ) page,
code or licensure questions or wish to call Jim and
information about small project plan reviews, a
congratulate him on his promotion, you can reach
page about water conditioning, and current postings
him at 651/215-0842.
of the plumbing and water conditioner exam dates.
Changes have been made to the areas where our
Brad Jensen was hired in September of 2001 to fill
plumbing standards representatives do inspections.
the vacancy created by the retirement of Henry
The inspector for your county and a contact phone
Gretsfeld. Brad is working out of the Duluth
number can be found on our website, or the
district office and is conducting inspections in the
illustration shown below. We also have a list of
northeastern portion of the state. Brad was
cities that review plumbing plans for projects in the
previously employed as a plumber by the Minnesota
city, under an agreement with the MDH. All of our
Department of Corrections in Moose Lake.
most current and updated exam applications, bond
applications, apprentice registration forms, and plan
review applications can be downloaded and printed
Inspection Requests as well.

The MDH must be contacted for inspections, e.g.,
on state-funded or licensed facilities. Please contact
the PSR in your area of the state to request
plumbing inspections or answer code or licensure
questions. The following illustration shows the
inspection areas for each PSR and their phone
numbers:
We have a lot more information that we expect to
be updating and adding to the website as time
permits. If you have not done so, remember to
bookmark our page and stop by periodically to see
the changes!
The plumbing engineering website address is:
http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/plumbing/

Exam Results
September 2002 Exam Results

Brad Jensen
Duluth Office
Exam Tested Passed
218/725-7731 Journeyman Plumber 109 32
Master Plumber 61 49
Gary Topp
Fergus Falls Office Water Conditioner Installer 14 9
218/739-1386 Water Conditioner Contractor 5 2
Chuck Olson
Metro Office March 2003 Exam Results
651/215-0856

Mike Freiderich Exam Tested Passed

Mankato Office
507/389-2208 Journeyman Plumber 249 141
Master Plumber 101 65
Water Conditioner Installer 25 15
Water Conditioner Contractor 6 2

Page 2
Exam Registration
Any person interested in taking the plumbing or
water conditioning license exam must contact the
Department or visit our website for an application.
A completed application with a $50 nonrefundable
fee must be postmarked no later than February 15,
2004 to be considered for the March exam. The
registration deadline for the Fall 2004 exam is
August 15, 2004.
Enforcement Actions
Please be reminded that all persons or companies
contracting to do plumbing in Minnesota are
required to file a plumbing code compliance bond
annually with the State of Minnesota and register
the bond with the MDH. A number of companies
listed on license examination applications and
apprentice registrations did not have the required
bond, which has resulted in the MDH issuing an
Administrative Penalty Order (APO) with monetary
penalties to those parties.
During 2002, the MDH took 64 enforcement actions
that led to APO’s against persons and/or companies
for violations of the Minnesota Plumbing Code.
APO’s can include monetary penalties.
Enforcement actions may also lead to license
suspension or revocation. Examples of violations
include the following:
• installing plumbing prior to plan approval;
• installing plumbing without the required
license or bond;
• allowing apprentices to perform plumbing on
a jobsite without the required supervision; and
• attaching an unlicensed plumber’s name to
another plumber’s license, and then installing
plumbing in a city with a population greater
than 5000.
Please remember it is the duty of the responsible
master plumber or plumbing contractor to: ensure
plans have been submitted and approved prior to
installing any plumbing; verify that any person
performing plumbing is properly licensed or
registered prior to performing plumbing onsite;
provide the required immediate and personal
supervision for apprentices performing plumbing;
and properly file evidence of code compliance bond
if contracting to do plumbing.
Page 3
Review of Individual Sewage
Treatment System Construction
Plans Ceases September 1
The MDH Engineering Unit will no longer be able
to provide review services for individual sewage
treatment systems (ISTS). In the past, the MDH
provided reviews of systems proposed for many
licensed food, beverage, and lodging facilities and
manufactured home parks and campgrounds with
flow rates less than 10,000 gallons per day. Due to
a significant increase in program workload and
responsibility, staff will no longer be available to do
these reviews.
This change took place as of September 1, 2003.
ISTS plans received after September 1 will be
returned to the responsible county or local unit of
government.
Please note that this change will not affect review of
plumbing plans by the MDH. That is, plans and
specifications for plumbing systems for public and
commercial buildings and properties, manufactured
home parks, and campgrounds should still be
submitted to the MDH Engineering Unit for review
and approval prior to installation, except where the
local administrative authority has established a
plumbing plan review agreement with the MDH.
This change also does not affect any plan review
related to hospitals, nursing homes, or other MDH
licensed care facilities. Those plans should still be
submitted as required to the MDH Facility and
Provider Compliance Section or other responsible
agency.
Plumbing Plan Submittals
In order to minimize delays in the plan review
process, please remember to include the following
when submitting plumbing plans for review:
• Utility site plan
• Floor plan
• Water and waste and vent riser diagrams
• Fixture and pipe material specifications
• Roof plan
• Signature
Please visit our website for more information.
 Plumbing Plan Review Fee Schedule (see article on page 1)
System reviewed
Water distribution and drain,
waste, and vent systems,
including interceptors,
separators, or catch basins
Building sewer service only
Building water service only
Building water distribution
system only, no drainage system
Storm drainage system
Manufactured home park or
campground
Accelerated review
Revision to previously reviewed
or incomplete plans
Proposer-requested revision
Fee Schedule
(i) 25 or fewer drainage fixture units, $150;
(ii) 26 to 50 drainage fixture units, $250;
(iii) 51 to 150 drainage fixture units, $350;
(iv) 151 to 249 drainage fixture units, $500;
(v) 250 or more drainage fixture units, $3 per drainage fixture unit to a maximum of
$4,000; and
(vi) $70 per interceptor, separator, or catch basin
$150
$150
$5 per supply fixture unit or $150, whichever is greater
a minimum fee of $150 or:
(i) $50 per drain opening, up to a maximum of $500; and
(ii) $70 per interceptor, separator, or catch basin
1 to 25 sites, $300;
26 to 50 sites, $350;
51 to 125 sites, $400;
more than 125 sites, $500
double the regular fee, one-half to be refunded if no response from the commissioner
within 15 business days
review of plans for which commissioner has issued two or more requests for additional
information, per review, $100 or ten percent of the original fee, whichever is greater
(i) with no increase in project scope, $50 or ten percent of original fee, whichever is
greater; and
(ii) with an increase in project scope, $50 plus the difference between the original project
fee and the revised project fee

Environmental Health Services Section Presort

Plumbing Program U.S. Postage
121 East 7th Place, Suite 220 PAID
P.O. Box 64975 Permit No. 171
St. Paul, MN 55164-0975 St. Paul, MN

The Catch Basin

Minnesota Plumbing Program News