Are we heating contractors? - Dave Steinberg

Dave Steinberg

Recently, the State of California Contractors Licensing Board and Chief Deputy Everett Lawson, required that we remove the word "HEATING" from our company name. We are licensed as a C-04 Boiler, Hot Water Heating, Steam Fitting Contractor and (we are in good standing).
According to Deputy Everett Lawson and the State of California Licensing Board, the ONLY VALID heating contractors recognizes by the State, are a class C-20 Warm Air, Ventilating and Air Conditioning contractors.
The State has adopted the policy that ALL water related heating issues are the NEW domain of C-36 Plumbing Contractors.
It appears the State has completely missed the mark here. If the system is a CLOSED SYSTEM it is a BOILER. I think that boiler work is heating, or am I wrong?????
Also, is this the domain of PLUMBERS???
California Licenses plumbers after four years trade experience, as licensed contractors. Does anyone out there want a four year plumber working of a fire tube boiler, HRT or a four pass SM boiler, AS A LICENSED EXPERT?
I think there is a problem here. I am also licensed as a plumber, but I find it hard to believe any plumber who has been primarily a plumber for four years is qualified to be an expert on boilers, including the little packaged units. My first four years in the trade, I spent in trade school, trotting, threading, snaking and just learning my trade (the hard way). I was certainly not a boiler expert.
The State of California has in effect made four year plumbers the authority on Boilers and Hot Water Heating.
I would apperciate your feedback.
I am asking for your help in making an argument to the State Contractors Licensing Board email,
( elawson@dca.cslb.gov ) pleading that they RESTORE the integrity of the C-04 Boiler, Hot Water Heating Contractor.

Chris Brown

dave....

I just sent you an e-mail, and am with you 100% on this issue. we have to stick together to beat the politics!!!

Chris

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Unknown

Went the opposite way in RI

many years ago with the development of a special liscense for installing and servicing heating. You must have a Master Pipefitter I liscense to service anything over 500,000 BTU's and a Pipefitter II for under 500,000 BTU's. There is also a series of limited liscenses for Oil, Propane and Natural Gas Service on Boilers. Many plumbers have all of these liscenses, but had to pass a test to receive them. I am one who is an advocate of not just having a liscense but proving you have the ability to do the job. When did any politician understand what we do. I wish they would conduct hearings and get the whole picture before they establish regulations and liscensing which does not make sense. I agree that anyone working on Large Burners and industrial boilers should be fully qualified. I find many times as a trainer that a lot of plumbers need extra training in order to be able to service some of the complex bouler and furnace systems out there today. I hope you are able to get something sensible accomplished.

hr

Maybe some of the boiler manufactures

could offer an opinion or two to the licensing folks regarding the safe installation and maintenance of boiler systems.

hot rod

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Unknown

I am sure some of the underwriters

would also be interested in who is installing and servicing Large Boilers.

John Ruhnke1

Don't Do that!!!! Sue Him!!!

Do not remove the word heating from your company name!! Tell him you will get a lawyer and sue him!! He has no right to tell you to do that. If as a plumber, you are qualified to do hydonic heat, and You specialize in hydronic heat than by all means you have a right to advertise as a heating contractor. You have a right to only work on hydronics. You have as much right to call yourself a heating contractor as a hot air guy. I would get mad at this inspector and tell him that this is a HUGE INSULT TO YOU. Tell him that if you do remove the name heating from your business you want it in writing to do so. Then you tell him that you will take this to your lawyer and your lawyer will sue for all the possible lost hydronic heating you could have received. The inspector will back away at that time. If he still doesn't back away you will make a fortune from the law suite!! Tell him it would be easier to earn BIG BUCKS watching tv at home from the law suite, than working hard to install quality comfort heating systems. Give him the choice and sound enthusiastic about the easy money from his stupid mistake.

JR

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Tony Conner

To me, situations like this are where associations can/should step in. I don't know much about the residential heating scene (I do mostly industrial), but this would seem to be an ideal spot for somebody like the RPA to get involved. If you have an effective organization (and that requires members to support it), they can be out there, with their ear to the ground, and head off legislation like this before it gets too far.

j_4

heating contractors

only a C-4 contractor can install boilers in san francisco per city code...also, on union jobs, i don't think a tin-knocker would be allowed to install any piping either...as for the rest of the state, i agree that most metal bashers wouldn't be qualified to install or service hydronic systems

Unknown

Hey guys you know everything starts in California

After sleeping on this I find it of great concern. These things that get started on the west coast have a way of drifting east. It needs to stop where it is.