Licensing Issues

[Debra Shliapa]

My first question: Can anyone tell me, if in nj an a/c contractor can install or replace an gas furnace without been an licensed gas fiiter? I am talking about the Natural gas. Is there any law or license required? A/c contractors in NJ don’t require any license but what about working on gas equipment and gas piping? I am talking about the gas furnace, what is the legal issue on this? As per NJ law?

My second question: To install or to replace a water heater, we do need a Plumber. Now what about the Steam Boilers? Do those plumbers have any experience in working with steam boilers? Or do we need a Steam Boiler License Contractor to do any installation or repair or replacement job? And what about the electrical work involved in this, on controls and so on. On an installation job let say, the Electrician came and provide the necessary power supply, but now I am talking about the service, repair or a replacement job. How the code and the law apply here? Is that plumber or Gas fitter contractor allowed to work on the electricity? How this work?

And my third question is this: The HVAC/R contractors are not the NJ license contractors. They are known as License Technicians. They are EPA Certified Technicians for Refrigerant use. They are neither plumbers nor electricians, but their major work is involved in electricity or in electrical field, and they know exactly what they are doing and how to diagnose the problems. I read somewhere saying a person work more than 10 volts must be a license electrician as per the NJ law, how this works here? Hvac/r technicians are not electricians but they know the trade. How the law applied here? As per the law, we know that the electrician supply the main power line to the hvac/r contractors or technicians and then hvac/r guys takes the leads, if that the situation, how this nj law is applied here? It’s bit confusing and not clear.

And my last concerns is, why can’t HVAC contractor or technician can’t do the steam Boiler heating system or Hot Water Boiler heating system / Hydronic Heating system? They know this, and they are the most one who attend the training classes than plumbers. If HVAC contractor is not going to interfere with the main plumbing line, he will just start from the shut-off line or valve just like Electrician does his job up to the disconnect switch and rest leaves to the HVAC contractor to do, then why can’t an HVAC contractor can’t do the Steam Boiler and Hot Water Boiler system or replace them? Why do we need a Licensed Plumber for this job? Certainly, HVAC contractor is more trained in the heating system than plumbers.

I mean this issue is not to critize any one. I am talking about the legal, code and licensing issue here. It’s not fully clear and understandable here. In any case, if I misunderstand myself all these issues, I would request someone to explain me in details. THANKS.

[SelgasParticipant]

Goenkar

I can’t wait to see the reply from the American’s on this set of questions you have asked but, I can answer for those in the Plumbing and Gasfitting trades down here in New Zealand. Any gas servicing work that does not involve disconnection or removal of any main gas controls can be done by persons not necessarily qualified as gasfitters, but only qualified gasfitters (craftsman) can disconnect, reconnect, install and certify gas installations and remove main gas valves etc. Most of our Craftsman also hold electrical service technician licences that permit them to undertake electrical repair work to appliances but will not allow them to run electrical wiring with a current greater than 400 volts or do any fixed wiring to a power supply distribution board. The same qualification electrical that is is available to Craftsman Plumbers who work with electric water heaters solenoid valves etc.
To undertake work on steam boilers here the fitter has to have a boilermans ticket which covers all the nesessary training and examinations needed for this specalised work – Plumbers down here do not usually have this extra qualification as we prefer to leave steam work to those that work with it full time.
Down here an Electrical Service Technician can undertake as I have said specified electrical works only and HVAC refrigeration engineers are required to hold this qualification.
Hope this helps you and like I said I am keen to hear the outcome from the USA end.

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Selgas Services Ltd
Craftsman Gasfitters, Plumbers, Electrical Service Technicians

[DUNBARParticipant]

The only one that can answer these questions are the local authorities of New Jersey.

My question would be why are you so concerned, and how did you arrive at so many specific questions, not unless you are running into dead ends of contractors stating the above.

Governing codes in your area are what the final say is.

I would say that following the codes implied should be your best investment in hiring services.

[Author]

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