PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Melissa Barbour, Representative of Mechanical Contractors Association of New York
2:02:28
·
122 sec
Melissa Barbour, representing the Mechanical Contractors Association of New York, testified on Intro 925 and Intro 429. She supported the intent of Intro 925 but suggested expanding the scope of qualified inspectors beyond licensed master plumbers. Regarding Intro 429, she emphasized the importance of reinstating the license board and disagreed with changes to the definition of fire suppression piping work.
- Advocated for including mechanical contractors in radiator inspections under Intro 925
- Supported reinstating the license board to address illegal plumbing practices
- Opposed changes to the definition of fire suppression piping work, preferring to address it through the existing code process
Melissa Barbour
2:02:28
Okay.
2:02:29
Hi.
2:02:29
I'm Melissa Barber.
2:02:30
I'm with the Mechanical Contractors Association of New York.
2:02:34
Our contractors employ local 638 steamfitters labor, performing heating ventilation, air conditioning, fire sprinkler work, refrigeration throughout New York City.
2:02:44
I wanted to comment quickly on the two bills regarding 925.
2:02:49
We While we're in favor of the legislation seeking to proactively reduce serious injury or death, we believe the legislation can be improved upon to it by expanding the scope of individuals who could perform these inspections.
2:03:01
We believe that the scope of a licensed master plumber is too narrow.
2:03:05
A portion of heating and mechanical contractors happen to also be a licensed master plumbers, but there's nothing about a licensed master plumber that signifies that they work on steam heating systems.
2:03:16
New York City does not currently require mechanical contractor license.
2:03:20
However, there are a significant amount of local mechanical contractors that would also be qualified to perform that type of work.
2:03:27
As far as 429, I don't wanna be repetitive to what the plumbing foundation said regarding the license board, but we also feel it served a really important purpose.
2:03:37
And one of those purposes was to proactively talk about illegal and legal plumbing practices fire suppression practices, and we feel that that was something unilaterally taken out of the code, and we would like to see that reinstated.
2:03:53
I differ from the testimony regarding 429 regarding fire suppression piping work.
2:03:59
That was the definition of fire suppression piping work was thoroughly vetted by the Code Committee.
2:04:05
It was discussed multiple times, and the Code Committee, DOB, and outside of the plumbing industry all felt that those are 2 distinct trades and with different qualifications and chose to leave that definition the way it was.
2:04:19
So if that was going to be discussed again, I'd like to see it happen through the code process.
2:04:24
Where it was originally discussed.
2:04:27
But that's it.
2:04:28
Those are my comments.
2:04:29
Thank you.
