Building

Chief Building Official
25 Fifth Ave.
Box 158
Sioux Lookout, ON P8T 1A4

Phone: (807) 737-2700 ext. 2227
Fax: (807) 737-3436
Email: cbo@siouxlookout.ca

Contents:

Installation of Plumbing: A Guide for Homeowners
The Building Permit Process
Sewage Systems

Installation of Plumbing: A Guide for Homeowners

The Plumbing System

The plumbing system in a dwelling comprises four basic elements as follows:

The water supply and distribution system. This system is composed of the water pipes, which transport fresh water from the source of supply, and conveys it to the fixtures and appliances and in the case of hot water, from the water heater to the fixtures and appliances. The source of supply may be the municipal system or a private well or cistern etc.
The drainage and waste system. This system consists of the drain and sewer pipes that convey waste fluids from the fixtures to a place of disposal, which may be the municipal sewer system, or a septic tank or holding tank, etc.
The venting system. This system consists of pipes which terminate in open air above the roof connected to the drainage system and which introduces air into the drainage system.
The fixtures and appliances. These consist of the sinks, lavatories (washbasins), water closets (toilets), laundry tubs, water heaters, washing machines etc. All fixtures are required to be vented and equipped with a trap that provides a water seal in the drain and thus prevents the emission of sewer gases.

The Code

Part 7 of the Ontario Building Code and the Building By-Law of the Municipality of Sioux Lookout regulate the installation of plumbing.

The Code is administered and enforced locally by the Building Department of the Municipality of Sioux Lookout. The Department receives inquiries and applications, issues permits and performs inspections of plumbing installations.

Before any plumbing work commences an application for a building permit should be made and a permit obtained. A line drawing of the plumbing system is required before a permit can be issued. It is the responsibility of the property owner to ascertain whether or not a permit is required and to ensure that the work is inspected at the appropriate stages.

Plumbing Permit Information

A permit is required for the following work:

The installation of plumbing in a new building.
The installation of new plumbing in an existing building.
The alteration of existing plumbing.
The repair of existing plumbing except for the repair of existing fixtures, leaks or blockages.
The replacement of existing plumbing except for the repair of existing fixtures, or existing water heater.

A plumbing permit can only be issued to a qualified, licensed plumber except where the owner/occupier of a residence is performing the work himself, in that residence for his own use.

To obtain a permit, an application, duly completed, should be presented to the Building Department. The application should be accompanied by a floor plan of the dwelling showing the proposed drainage and venting layout.

Some of the more common terms used in plumbing and defined in the code are as follows:

Building Drain: The horizontal pipe at the lowest point in the building (generally under the basement floor), which receives the discharge from the other drainage piping.

Cleanout: A fitting access in a drainage pipe for cleaning and inspection provided with an airtight cover.

Drainage Piping: All piping, which conveys sanitary waste and liquid to a building drain.

Fixture: A receptacle that receives water and which discharges into drainage piping.

Horizontal: departing from the true horizontal by not more than 45 degrees.

Potable Water: Water fit for human consumption.

Stack: A vertical drain, waste or vent pipe that serves one or more fixtures.

Trap: A fitting or device that provides a liquid seal t prevent the emission of sewer gas without affecting the flow of wastewater.

Vent: A pipe that is installed to provide a flow of air, to or from drainage piping, and which terminates in open air at a vent stack or at a stack vent above the rim of the highest fixture that drains into the soil stack.

Vent Stack: A vertical pipe that runs from the building drain to above the roof and is a minimum of 3" diameter where it goes through the roof and does not carry any wastewater. Other vent pipes are tied into this pipe.

Stack Vent: That part of the waste pipe or soil pipe that is above the rim of any fixture and does not carry any wastewater and is a minimum of 3" diameter for its full length. Other vent pipes are tied into this pipe.

Soil Stack: A pipe of 3" minimum diameter that carries waste from a W.C. (toilet) to the building drain. This pipe has a stack vent continuation to above the roof.

The minimum size of piping, in general, which is required to serve a specific fixture or appliance, is as follows:

Water Pipes: The minimum size of water service pipe entering a dwelling form the exterior is required to be 1" diameter. The Building Control or shut off valve is connected to this 1" pipe. The pipe after the valve is 3/4"diameter to the water meter and should be maintained 3/4" to the hot water tank and the first takeoff or branch and thereafter it can be reduced to 1/2" diameter. The hot and cold water distribution system requires a minimum diameter of 1/2". The Municipality service entry is a minimum of 1" diameter at the Curb Stop Valve.

Drainage Pipes: The minimum size of pipe serving the various fixtures is as follows:

Description	Minimum Diameter (inches)
Building drain and clean out	4
Floor drain	3
Soil stack	3
Bath tub	1½
Bidet	1¼
Dish washer	1½
Laundry tub	1½
Wash basin	1¼
Shower stall	1½
Sink (kitchen)	1½
Water closet (toilet)	3

Vent Pipes: Vent stack (through roof) 3" minimum diameter. Stack vent (top part of Soil Stack that goes through roof) 3" minimum diameter.

All other vent pipes in a dwelling are generally required to be a minimum diameter of either 1½" or 1¼".

Materials

The most commonly used materials in plumbing in a dwelling are copper water pipes, ABS plastic drainage waste and vent pipes (DWV) above ground, and PVC plastic drainage pipes below ground. However, a wide variety of other materials as listed in the Code can be used.

It should be noted that all materials, fixtures and appliances in a plumbing system are required to meet prescribed standards, e.g. certified by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) or other accredited testing agency, as applicable. The installation of any element of a plumbing system that does not meet the required standard would not be accepted when the work is inspected.

For reasons of health, recycled pipes are not permitted in a plumbing system.

Inspection

All plumbing for which a permit has been issued is required to be inspected. No plumbing should be covered or concealed until it has been inspected and no plumbing system should be put into use until it has been inspected and the use authorized.

Low Flow Fixtures

Water efficient water closets (toilets of 6 litre flush), showerheads and faucets are now required to be installed in accordance with Section 7.6.4 of the Code.

Scald Prevention

All showers are now required to be equipped with temperature or pressure controlled faucets that are designed to prevent scalding upon the sudden loss or flow of cold water typically caused by the flushing of toilets. Also, water heaters are to have the thermostat set to prevent the water temperature exceeding 140 degrees F, this typically means that the water temperature must be measured with a thermometer, as water heater thermostats are frequently inaccurate.

Summary

If you require further information about installation of plumbing or wish to obtain a permit please contact the Building Department at 25 Fifth Avenue, Sioux Lookout, Ontario (telephone 807-737-2700 ext. 2227). If you wish to obtain a copy of the Plumbing Code, contact the distributors order line at 1-888-361-0003.

The information supplied here is a brief summary of the comprehensive stipulations of the Code and is intended only to give the reader and overview of the main requirements therein. For accurate reference please refer to the appropriate provisions of the Code and/or the Building By-Law.

The Building Permit Process

The Building Code Act, which is enforced by the Municipality of Sioux Lookout, requires that no construction, as defined in the Act and summarized on the attached list, shall take place until a building permit has been applied for, and obtained. The Ontario Building Code, the Zoning By-Law and other By-Laws and statutes regulate the various aspects of construction.

Applications

An application form should be obtained from the Building Department and duly completed. Staff will provide any required information with regard to the application upon request, including zoning, the Building Code and other applicable requirements. Two sets of construction plans as applicable and a plot plan or site plan should be submitted with the application. Construction plans should contain sufficient detail to indicate the proposed construction and to determine compliance with the Ontario Building Code. Other required approvals or verification form any other authority having jurisdiction should be attached as necessary e.g.

Septic Disposal Permit from the Northwestern Health Unit; Building and Land Use Permit form the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario; Entrance Permit for the applicable Road Authority; Other authorizations, if applicable, from Ministry of the Environment, Ontario.

Building Department staff will advise which other approvals etc., as above, are required, prior to the acceptance of the application. The application and plans will be checked for compliance with the Zoning By-Law, the Ontario building Code and any other applicable requirements, and Building Department staff will advise of any necessary modifications which are required in order for the application to conform, or of an other required action prior to acceptance. Other permits for demolition or change in use may also be required.

After any required modifications the application and supporting documents will be accepted and processed and the applicant would be subsequently advised when the permit is ready.

Fees

The scale of fees is available upon request and includes the following:

Building Permit Fee
Other associated permit fees - i.e. Entrance Permit
Private service connection permit for sewer and water
Encroachment Permit
Sign Permit, etc.

The full permit fee is payable upon submission of the application.

Inspections

The person to whom the permit is issued is required to notify the Building Department in advance of the following stages of construction, as applicable to that project:

Excavation and readiness to construct footings;
Completion of sewers, drains and service pipes prior to backfill or covering;
Completion of foundation and drain tile and readiness to backfill;
Completion of framing of a small building;
Completion of the framing of each storey of a large building;
Roughing-in of plumbing - water distribution, drainage, waste and venting;
Completion of insulation and vapour barriers;
Roughing-in of ductwork etc., for heating and air-conditioning systems;
Commencement of construction of stoves, fireplaces, ranges and chimneys.
Completion of fire separations and fire protection and detection systems;
Substantial completion of interior finishes, etc.;
Substantial completion of exterior cladding and fire access routes, etc.

Required Building Permits

The following list sets out some of the projects for which a building permit is required:

New Buildings or Structures
Accessory Buildings and Structures
Wood Decks greater than 24 inches above grade level
Additions to existing structures (e.g. additional floor area, sunrooms, porches, carports, attached garages, dormers, second storeys, etc.)
Renovations (e.g. new rooms, bathrooms, material alterations and repairs)
Structural Alterations (e.g. removing load bearing walls, beams or columns, repairing or reconstructing basement walls, foundations, floor joist, roof rafters, etc.)
Prefabricated Structures (e.g. garages, tool sheds, sunrooms, patio roofs, etc.)
Solid fuel burning appliances (installation of wood stoves, fireplaces and metal or masonry chimneys)
Fire Separations (e.g. new or alterations to fire rated ceilings, walls, floors)
Exit Facilities (e.g. new or alterations to exit doors etc.)
Fire Protection Systems (e.g. fire alarms, sprinklers, stand pipe and hose systems etc.)
Swimming Pools (in-ground and above-ground)
Designated Structures (communication towers, retaining walls, storage tanks, signs etc.)

Sewage Systems

The Northwestern Health Unit is responsible for the enforcement of the Building Code Act relating to sewage systems within the Municipality of Sioux Lookout.

For information on sewage system installation, maintenance, and permits contact:

Doug Vergunst

Northwestern Health Unit
21 Wolsley Street
Kenora ON P9N 3W7

Phone: 1-807-468-3147 or 1-800-830-5978 ext.225

Municipality of Sioux Lookout

The Hub of the North