Plumbers raise health, safety concerns over county proposal

Some local plumbers are worried that a proposed change to Sedgwick County’s plumbing code would endanger public safety.

Sedgwick County may decide to adopt two different plumbing codes – the Uniform Plumbing Code and the International Plumbing Code – and allow plumbers to choose which code to follow. A public hearing is set for Wednesday.

But some argue the international code allows a type of valve that can fail and let hazardous vapors seep back into a building.

“When and if they fail, it allows sewer gas to enter the building,” said Chris Brown, a plumber. “They are designed to be swapped out and changed. The IPC allows them in the attics and in areas that the next homeowner would never know they were there.”

The county’s plumbing board voted last week to oppose the dual code system. Dozens of plumbers signed a petition to the county saying they want only the Uniform Plumbing Code.

Brown said a dual code would lead to plumbers flocking to the weaker international code to cut costs for builders. He thinks the uniform code does a better job of protecting public health.

Sedgwick County Commission Chairman Jim Howell said safety concerns are overblown and that other cities and counties allow the international code or some type of dual code system. He also said some independent plumbers prefer the international code.

“We ought to allow consumers and businesses to not spend more money than necessary,” Howell said.

“When you turn on the faucet, water comes out. That’s what people care about.”

Howell told county staff members on Monday that the county needs to “aggressively” get its message out about the code change.

“This is turning out to be more political than it should be,” Howell said at the staff meeting. “The idea that this is a code that’s going to cause people to die is misinformation.

“I feel like I’m being attacked once again, and I’d like to set the record straight,” Howell added.

Lonny Wright, a retired plumber who often attends county meetings, argued with Howell in the hallway after the staff meeting.

Wright said commissioners are trying to push through the code change before a possible new commission majority takes over in January. Wright compared it to the split vote last month that de-regulated some wastewater inspections despite concerns from Realtors and the county’s Wastewater Advisory Board.

“It’s another case of the commission ignoring a citizen’s board and lowering standards,” Wright said.

This story was originally published October 3, 2016 at 5:37 PM with the headline "Plumbers raise health, safety concerns over county proposal."