In this chapter:
(1) “Board” means the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners.
(1-a) “Control valve” means a valve that operates each time water is supplied to, or shut off from, a receptacle or plumbing fixture. The term does not include a stop valve that may be installed in the water supply branch to the control valve.
(1-b) “Executive director” means the executive director of the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners.
(2) “Drain cleaner” means a person who:
(A) has completed at least 4,000 hours working under the supervision of a responsible master plumber as a drain cleaner-restricted registrant;
(B) has fulfilled the requirements of and is registered with the board; and
(C) installs cleanouts and removes and resets p-traps to eliminate obstructions in building drains and sewers under the supervision of a responsible master plumber.
(3) “Drain cleaner-restricted registrant” means a person who:
(A) has worked as a plumber’s apprentice under the supervision of a responsible master plumber;
(B) has fulfilled the requirements of and is registered with the board; and
(C) clears obstructions in sewer and drain lines through any code-approved existing opening under the supervision of a responsible master plumber.
(4) “Journeyman plumber” means a person licensed under this chapter who:
(A) has met the qualifications for registration as a plumber’s apprentice or for licensing as a tradesman plumber-limited license holder;
(B) has completed at least 8,000 hours working under the supervision of a responsible master plumber;
(C) installs, changes, repairs, services, or renovates plumbing or supervises any of those activities under the supervision of a responsible master plumber;
(D) has passed the required examination; and
(E) has fulfilled the other requirements of the board.
(5) “Master plumber” means a person licensed under this chapter who:
(A) is skilled in the design, planning, and superintending of plumbing and in the practical installation, repair, and servicing of plumbing;
(B) has worked as a journeyman plumber:
(i) for at least four years; or
(ii) for at least one year and has successfully completed a training program approved by the United States Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship or another nationally recognized apprentice training program accepted by the board;
(C) performs or supervises plumbing work;
(D) has passed the required examination; and
(E) has fulfilled the other requirements of the board.
(5-a) “Multipurpose residential fire protection sprinkler specialist” means a person who holds an endorsement issued under § 1301.3565.
(6) “Plumber’s apprentice” means a person other than a master plumber, journeyman plumber, or tradesman plumber-limited license holder who, as the person’s principal occupation, learns about and assists in the installation of plumbing, has fulfilled the requirements of and is registered by the board, and works under the supervision of a responsible master plumber and the direct supervision of a licensed plumber.
(7) “Plumbing” means:
(A) a fixture, appurtenance, appliance, or piping, including a disposal system, used to:
(i) supply, distribute, circulate, or recirculate water, other liquid, or gas; or
(ii) eliminate sewage for a personal or domestic purpose;
(B) a fixture, appurtenance, appliance, or piping used outside a building to connect the building to:
(i) a supply of water, other liquid, medical gases and vacuum, or other gas on the premises; or
(ii) the main in the street or alley or at the curb;
(C) a fixture, appurtenance, appliance, or piping, including a drain or waste pipe, used to carry wastewater or sewage from or within a building to:
(i) a sewer service lateral at the curb or in the street or alley; or
(ii) a disposal or septic terminal that holds private or domestic sewage; or
(D) the installation, repair, service, or maintenance of a fixture, appurtenance, appliance, or piping described by Paragraph (A), (B), or (C).
(8) “Plumbing inspector” means a person who:
(A) is employed by a political subdivision or state agency, or contracts as an independent contractor with a political subdivision or state agency, to inspect plumbing in connection with health and safety laws, including ordinances, and plumbing and gas codes;
(B) has passed the required examination; and
(C) has fulfilled the other requirements of the board.
(9) “Residential utilities installer” means a person who:
(A) has completed at least 2,000 hours working under the supervision of a master plumber as a plumber’s apprentice;
(B) has fulfilled the requirements of and is registered with the board; and
(C) constructs and installs yard water service piping for one-family or two-family dwellings and building sewers under the supervision of a responsible master plumber.
(9-a) “Responsible master plumber” means a person licensed as a master plumber under this chapter who:
(A) allows the person’s master plumber license to be used by one plumbing company for the purpose of offering and performing plumbing work under the person’s master plumber license;
(B) is authorized to obtain permits for plumbing work;
(C) assumes responsibility for plumbing work performed under the person’s license; and
(D) has submitted a certificate of insurance as required by § 1301.3576.
(10) “Tradesman plumber-limited license holder” means a person who:
(A) has:
(i) completed at least 4,000 hours working under the direct supervision of a journeyman or master plumber as a plumber’s apprentice; or
(ii) successfully completed a coherent sequence of courses in the plumbing trade that are offered through a career and technology education program, as described by § 1301.3542;
(B) has passed the required examination;
(C) constructs and installs plumbing for one-family or two-family dwellings under the supervision of a responsible master plumber; and
(D) has fulfilled the other requirements of the board.
(11) “Water supply protection specialist” means a person who holds an endorsement issued by the board to engage in:
(A) customer service inspections, as defined by rule of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality; and
(B) the installation, service, and repair of plumbing associated with the treatment, use, and distribution use of rainwater to supply a plumbing fixture or appliance.
(12) “Water treatment” means a business conducted under contract that requires ability, experience, and skill in analyzing water to determine how to treat influent and effluent water to change or purify the water or to add or remove minerals, chemicals, or bacteria. The term does not include treatment of rainwater or the repair of systems for rainwater harvesting. The term includes:
(A) installing and servicing fixed or portable water treatment equipment in a public or private water treatment system; or
(B) making connections necessary to install a water treatment system.