[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Galax 7-8-1985.
Section 94-6C amended at time of adoption of Code; see Ch. 1, General Provisions,
Art. I. Other amendments noted where applicable.]
This chapter shall be known as "Certification of Plumbers, Electricians
and Building-Related Mechanical Workers."
The purpose of this chapter is to establish uniform standards and procedures
to be used determining and certifying the ability, proficiency and qualification
of persons engaging in plumbing, electrical or building-related mechanical
work for the general public for compensation.
The authority for this chapter is Title 15.1, Chapter 1, § 15.1-11.4 and Title 36, Chapter 6, § 36-99, Code of Virginia.
As used in this chapter, the following words and terms shall have the
following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
The designated authority charged by the governing body to examine and determine a person's qualifications for certification in accordance with standards and procedures established pursuant to Title 15.1, Chapter 1, § 15.1-11.4, Code of Virginia.
Any person who engages in or offers to engage in for the general
public, for compensation, the installation, maintenance or alteration of mechanical
systems, including heating systems; ventilating systems; cooling systems;
steam and hot-water heating systems; water heaters; process piping; boilers
and pressure vessels; appliances utilizing gas, liquid or solid fuel; chimneys
and vents; mechanical refrigeration systems; fireplaces; barbecues; incinerators;
crematories; fire suppression systems; and air pollution systems.
The process whereby a duly appointed local agent issues a certificate to an applicant certifying that person's ability, proficiency and qualifications to engage in a certain trade in accordance with the standards and procedures established pursuant to Title 15.1, Chapter 1, § 15.1-11.4, Code of Virginia.
Any person who engages in or offers to engage in for the general
public, for compensation, erecting, installing or repairing all forms of electric
wiring, electric devices, electric fixtures, electric motors and electric
materials, but who shall not engage in the designing of electrical layouts
or systems.
Any person who is under the supervision of and assists a plumber,
electrician or building-related mechanical worker in the performance of his
duties and, by reason of experience and education, is not able to satisfy
the ability and proficiency standards established in this chapter for a Level
One certification.
Any person who engages in or offers to engage in for the general
public, for compensation, installing, maintaining, extending and altering
all piping, fixtures, plumbing appliances and plumbing appurtenances in connection
with sanitary drainage or storm drainage, venting systems and public or private
water supply systems, within or adjacent to any building or structure.
This chapter shall apply to any person who engages in or offers to engage
in for the general public, for compensation, plumbing, electrical or building-related
mechanical work in the City of Galax. Virginia, such that his practice requires
a specialized skill or training and that the public needs and will benefit
by the assurance of his professional and occupational ability. Furthermore,
no helper or laborer shall be employed to assist with any electrical, plumbing
or building-related mechanical work requiring a building permit unless a certified
plumber, electrician or building-related mechanical worker is present.
The following shall be exempted from certification:
A.
Any person holding a valid certification issued after
July 1, 1978, by another County, City or Town in the commonwealth in accordance
with the provisions of § 15.1-11.4, Code of Virginia.
B.
Any person certified or licensed in his trade prior to
July 1, 1978, in accordance with provisions made by any local governing body
in the commonwealth.
D.
Any person holding a valid Class A contractor's
license in the appropriate classification, as duly registered by the State
Registration Board for Contractors, pursuant to Title 54, Chapter 7, Code
of Virginia.
E.
Any person employed as a helper or laborer, as defined
within this chapter.
F.
Any person issued a certificate of journeymanship after
completing an apprenticeship program approved by the Virginia Apprenticeship
Council.
G.
Any person doing work on his or her own property.
The Building Official is hereby appointed under the authority of the governing body as the agent for the purpose of examining and determining applicants' qualification for certification in their trades. The agent shall have the power, and it shall be his duty, to receive applications for certification as plumbers, electricians or building-related mechanical workers, to examine all such applicants, to grant certificates in accordance with the standards established pursuant to Title 15.1, Chapter 1, § 15.1-11.4, Code of Virginia, and to deny certification to those applicants who fail to meet these standards. The agent shall enforce all the provisions of this chapter and shall utilize the procedures for certification as prescribed herein.
A.
Every person desiring to engage in plumbing, building-related
mechanical or electrical work in the City of Galax, Virginia, shall make written
application to the agent for certification, unless exempted under provisions
of this chapter. An application form as prescribed by the agent shall be used.
Such application shall be accompanied by a fee.
B.
Application for certification in specified areas of competence
shall be for one of two levels of certification:
(1)
Level One (Journeyman): a certificate issued to a person
who possesses the necessary ability, proficiency and qualifications to perform
the work of installing, repairing and maintaining specific types of equipment
and related apparatus and is capable of performing such tasks utilizing a
working knowledge sufficient to comply with the pertinent provisions of the
Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code and according to plans and specifications
complying with the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code. The holder of
a Level One certificate shall be limited to the type of work and types of
equipment and related apparatus for which certification is granted.
(2)
Level Two (Master): a certificate issued to a person
who possesses the necessary ability, proficiency and qualifications to supervise
the work of installing, repairing and maintaining specific types of equipment
and related apparatus utilizing a working knowledge sufficient to comply with
the pertinent provisions of the Uniform Statewide Building Code and to plan
and lay out the details of installation of specific types of equipment and
related apparatus according to plans and specifications complying with the
Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code. The holder of a Level Two certificate
shall be limited to the type of work and types of equipment related to apparatus
for which certification is granted.
Each applicant for certification shall be required to fulfill the standards
established for determining ability and proficiency and qualifications in
the area of expertise specified on the application.
A.
Ability and proficiency.
(1)
Level One (Journeyman). Applicants desiring to obtain
certification at Level One shall provide evidence that one of the following
experience and education standards has been attained:
(a)
Four years of practical experience in the specific trade
or directly related area of expertise for which certification is desired.
(b)
Successful completion prior to July 1, 1981, of a registered
apprenticeship established in accordance with the Virginia Voluntary Apprenticeship
Act in the trade for which certification is desired.
(c)
An associate's degree in a curriculum related to
the trade for which certification is desired and two years of practical experience
in the trade for which certification is desired.
(d)
A bachelor's degree in the study of engineering
in a curriculum related to the trade for which certification is desired and
one year of practical experience in the trade for which certification is desired.
(2)
Level Two (Master). Applicants desiring to obtain certification
at Level Two shall furnish evidence that they have met the following experience
or standards: one year of experience supervising the installation or repair
of the specific types of materials, equipment or related apparatus utilized
in the trade for which certification is desired and either:
(a)
Four years of practical experience in the specific trade
or directly related area of expertise for which certification is desired;
(b)
Successful completion prior to July 1, 1981, of a registered
apprenticeship established in accordance with the Virginia Voluntary Apprenticeship
Act in the trade for which certification is desired;
(c)
An associate's degree in the trade for which certification
is desired and two years of practical experience in the specific area of expertise
for which certification is desired; or
(d)
A bachelor's degree in the study of engineering
in a curriculum related to the trade for which certification is desired.
B.
Qualifications.
(1)
The applicant shall be examined by the agent in order
to determine his qualifications.
(a)
The examination shall be based on current pertinent provisions
of the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code and shall correspond to the
level of certification specified in the application.
(b)
The examination may be, in the discretion of the agent,
in a written or oral format.
(c)
The examination shall be offered at least once every
three months.
(d)
An applicant must correctly answer 75% of the questions
on the examination to be deemed qualified.
(2)
Should an applicant fail the qualifications examination,
such person shall be eligible to retake the examination at the next regularly
scheduled testing date.
(3)
If the applicant fails the examination on the second
attempt, then such person shall not be reconsidered for certification within
12 months of the date of such failure.
If upon examination an applicant fulfills the ability, proficiency and
qualification standards within the area and level of certification specified,
the agent shall deliver to such person a certificate to that effect.
Every worker certified pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall
give immediate notice to the agent of any change of address.
A.
The agent shall have the power to revoke the certificate
of any individual who is found guilty of any fraud or deceit in obtaining
the certificate or of willful violation of any provision of this chapter.
B.
Any person convicted of a violation or failure to comply
with any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.
C.
A revoked certificate of certification shall not be renewed until the person from whom the certification was revoked has satisfied the agent that breaches of the provisions of this chapter will not occur again. Reissuance of a certification shall require the successful completion of the certification standards and procedures set forth in § 94-9, including the examination.
