Section 535.231 - Standards of Practice: Minimum Inspection Requirements for Plumbing Systems(a) Plumbing systems. (1) The inspector shall: (A) report: (i) location of water meter;(ii) location of homeowners main water supply shutoff valve; and(iii) static water pressure;(iv) visible material used for water supply lines and drain lines;(B) report as Deficient: (i) the presence of active leaks;(ii) water pressure exceeding 80 PSI;(iii) the lack of a pressure reducing valve when the water pressure exceeds 80 PSI;(iv) the lack of a visible expansion tank when a pressure reducing valve, check valve, or backflow preventer is in place at the water supply line/system;(v) the absence of: (I) fixture shutoff valves;(II) dielectric unions, when applicable;(III) back-flow devices, anti-siphon devices, or air gaps at the flow end of fixtures; and(vi) deficiencies in: (I) water supply pipes and waste pipes;(II) the installation and termination of the vent system;(III) the performance of fixtures and faucets not connected to an appliance;(IV) water supply, as determined by viewing functional flow in two fixtures operated simultaneously;(V) fixture drain performance;(VI) orientation of hot and cold faucets;(VII) installed mechanical drain stops;(VIII) commodes, fixtures, showers, tubs, and enclosures; and(IX) the condition of the gas distribution system.(2) The inspector is not required to: (A) operate any main, branch, or shut-off valves;(B) operate or inspect sump pumps or waste ejector pumps;(C) verify the performance of:(i) the bathtub overflow;(ii) clothes washing machine drains or hose bibbs; or(D) inspect: (i) any system that has been winterized, shut down or otherwise secured;(ii) circulating pumps, free-standing appliances, solar water heating systems, water-conditioning equipment, filter systems, water mains, private water supply systems, water wells, pressure tanks, sprinkler systems, swimming pools, or fire sprinkler systems;(iii) inaccessible gas supply system components for leaks;(iv) for sewer clean-outs; or(v) for the presence or performance of private sewage disposal systems; or(E) determine: (i) quality, potability, or volume of the water supply; or(ii) effectiveness of backflow or anti-siphon devices.(b) Water heaters. (1) General Requirements. (A) The inspector shall: (i) report: (II) the capacity of the units;(ii) report as Deficient: (II) leaking or corroded fittings or tanks;(III) damaged or missing components;(IV) the absence of a cold water shutoff valve;(V) if applicable, the absence of a pan or a pan drain system that does not terminate over a waste receptor or to the exterior of the building above the ground surface;(VI) inappropriate locations;(VII) the lack of protection from physical damage;(VIII) burners, burner ignition devices or heating elements, switches, or thermostats that are not a minimum of 18 inches above the lowest garage floor elevation, unless the unit is listed for garage floor installation;(IX) the absence of an opening that would allow access to equipment for inspection, service, repair or replacement without removing permanent construction or building finish;(X) when applicable; a floored passageway and service platform that would allow access for equipment inspection, service, repair or replacement;(XI) the absence of or visible deficiencies in the temperature and pressure relief valve and discharge piping; and(XII) a temperature and pressure relief valve that failed to operate, when tested manually.(B) The inspector is not required to:(i) verify the effectiveness of the temperature and pressure relief valve, discharge piping, or pan drain pipes;(ii) operate the temperature and pressure relief valve if the operation of the valve may, in the inspector's reasonable judgment, cause damage to persons or property; or(iii) determine the efficiency or adequacy of the unit.(2) Requirements for electric units. The inspector shall report as Deficient deficiencies in:(A) performance of heating elements; and(B) condition of conductors; and(3) Requirements for gas units. The inspector shall report as Deficient: (A) gas leaks in water heater not associated with the gas distribution system;(B) flame impingement, uplifting flame, improper flame color, or excessive scale build-up; and(C) deficiencies in: (i) combustion and dilution air; and(ii) vent pipe, draft hood, draft, proximity to combustibles, and vent termination point and clearances.(c) Hydro-massage therapy equipment. (1) The inspector shall report as Deficient: (B) the presence of active leaks;(C) deficiencies in components and performance;(D) missing and damaged components;(E) the absence of an opening that would allow access to equipment for inspection, service, repair or replacement without removing permanent construction or building finish; and(F) the absence or failure of operation of ground-fault circuit interrupter protection devices.(2) The inspector is not required to determine the adequacy of self-draining features of circulation systems.(d) Gas distribution systems. (1) The inspector shall: (A) report: (i) location of gas meter; and(ii) visible material used for gas distribution system;(B) report as Deficient:(i) noticeable gas leaks;(ii) the absence of a gas shutoff valve within six feet of the appliance;(iii) the absence of a gas appliance connector or one that exceeds six feet in length;(iv) gas appliance connectors that are concealed within or extended through walls, floors, partitions, ceilings or appliance housings;(v) deficiencies in:(II) access to a gas shutoff valves that prohibits full operation;(III) gas appliance connector materials; and(IV) the condition and type of gas distribution lines and fittings;(vi) lack of visible bonding on gas distribution system, including corrugated stainless steel tubing (CSST); and(vii) lack of visible sediment traps.(2) Specific limitation for gas lines. The inspector is not required to: (A) inspect sacrificial anode bonding or for its existence;(B) pressurize or test gas system, drip legs or shutoffvalves;(C) operate gas line shutoff valves; or(D) light or ignite pilot flames.22 Tex. Admin. Code § 535.231
The provisions of this §535.231 adopted to be effective January 1, 2014, 38 TexReg 3350; amended to be effective May 21, 2014, 39 TexReg 3863; Amended by Texas Register, Volume 41, Number 36, September 2, 2016, TexReg 6742, eff. 9/7/2016; Amended by Texas Register, Volume 46, Number 37, September 10, 2021, TexReg 5770, eff. 2/1/2022