HCR 103 — BUILDING CODES: Requests that certain state agencies study and consider reducing the frequency of inspections and testing of backflow prevention devices, barometric loops, and air gaps

HLSENROLLED 26RS-1220 ENGROSSED Regular Session HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO.

103 BY REPRESENTATIVE CREWS BUILDINGA CODES:CONCURRENT RESOLUTION To urge and request the Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code Council and the Louisiana Department of Health to study and consider amending the provisions of the amended International Plumbing Code, adopted as part of the Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code, and the provisions of the SanitaryCode, regarding the frequency of inspections and testing of backflow prevention devices, barometric loops, and air gaps, and to promulgate any necessary rules or amendments to implement a less frequent inspection and testing schedule.

ProvidesWHEREAS, relativewhile tobackflowprevention backflowis preventionessential inspection frequency A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION To urge and request the Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code Council and the Louisiana Department of Health to studyprotecting and consider amending the provisionspublic ofpotable thewatersupplyfromcontamination, amended International Plumbing Code, adopted as part of the Louisianarequired Stateannual Uniformfrequencyof Construction Code, and the provisions of the SanitaryCode, regarding the frequency of inspections andmayexceed testingwhat ofis backflowreasonablynecessaryto preventionensure devices,continued barometricoperabilityand loops,safetyin andmanyresidential air gaps, and tolow-hazard promulgateapplications, anythereby necessarycreating rulesunnecessary orfinancial amendmentsburdens towithout implementcommensurate apublic lesshealth frequentbenefits; inspection and testing schedule.

and WHEREAS, whilethese backflowpreventionmandatory isannual essentialinspection toand protectingtesting therequirements publicimpose potablesignificant watersupplyfromand contamination,recurring thecosts requiredannualon frequencyofhomeowners, inspectionsproperty mayexceedowners, whattenants, isand reasonablynecessarytoother ensureresponsible continuedparties operabilityandfor safetyinthe manyresidentialhiring andof low-hazardcertified applications,testers, therebydocumentation creatingand unnecessaryrecord-keeping, financialreportingto burdensbuildingofficialsorwatersuppliers,andanynecessaryrepairsorreplacements; without commensurate public health benefits;

and WHEREAS, thesemodern mandatorybackflow annualprevention inspectionassemblies andmanufactured testingto requirementscurrent imposestandards significantof andthe recurringAmerican costsSociety onof homeowners,Sanitary propertyEngineers owners, tenants, and otherthe responsibleAmerican partiesWater forWorks theAssociationareengineeredwithdurablematerialsandreliablecheckvalvemechanismsthat hiringdo ofnot certifiedtypicallydegradetoafailurecondition testers,within documentationasingleyearofnormal andresidential record-keeping,use; reportingtobuildingofficialsorwatersuppliers,andanynecessaryrepairsorreplacements;

and WHEREAS, modern backflow prevention assemblies manufactured to current standards of the American Society of Sanitary Engineers and the American Water Works Associationareengineeredwithdurablematerialsandreliablecheckvalvemechanismsthat Page 1 of 3 HLS 26RS-1220 ENGROSSED HCR NO.

103 doENROLLED notWHEREAS, typicallydegradetoafailureconditionthe risk profile of low-hazard residential connections, which typically serve only potable water uses within asingleyearofnormalsingle-family and small multi-family dwellings, is materially different from and substantially lower than the risk profile of commercial, industrial, and institutional connections, which may involve chemical processes, medical equipment,firesuppressionsystems,andotherhigh-hazardcross-connectionscenarios;and WHEREAS, other states have implemented a reduced testing frequency for residentialbackflowpreventionassemblies,includingthestateofWisconsin,whichrequires testing of low-hazard residential use;service connections once every ten years pursuant to WisconsinAdministrativeCode§NR810.15,andthestateofFlorida,whichrequirestesting of residential service connections after installation or repair and everytwo years thereafter pursuant to Florida Administrative Code Rule 62-555.360;

and WHEREAS, the risk profile of low-hazard residential connections, which typically serve only potable water uses within single-family and small multi-family dwellings, is materially different from and substantially lower than the risk profile of commercial, industrial, and institutional connections, which may involve chemical processes, medical equipment,firesuppressionsystems,andotherhigh-hazardcross-connectionscenarios;and WHEREAS, other states have implemented a reduced testing frequency for residentialbackflowpreventionassemblies,includingthestateofWisconsin,whichrequires testing of low-hazard residential service connections once every ten years pursuant to WisconsinAdministrativeCode§NR810.15,andthestateofFlorida,whichrequirestesting of residential service connections after installation or repair and everytwo years thereafter pursuant to Florida Administrative Code Rule 62-555.360;

40:5, isresponsible forprotectingthepublicagainstfor diseaseprotectingthepublicagainst anddiseaseandinjuriesfromwater injuriesfromwater supplied for drinking, culinary, and other purposes, and for adopting, amending, and promulgating the Sanitary Code to achieve that purpose;

PageTHEREFORE, 2BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of 3Louisiana HLSdoes 26RS-1220hereby ENGROSSEDurgeandrequesttheLouisianaStateUniformConstruction CodeCouncil andtheLouisiana DepartmentofHealthto studythefeasibility,safety,andpublichealthimpactsofamending the International Plumbing Code and the Sanitary Code as adopted to reduce the required Page 2 of 3 HCR NO.

103 THEREFORE,ENROLLED BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urgeandrequesttheLouisianaStateUniformConstructionCodeCouncilandtheLouisiana DepartmentofHealthtostudythefeasibility,safety,andpublichealthimpactsofamending the International Plumbing Code and the Sanitary Code as adopted to reduce the required frequency of backflow prevention assembly, barometric loops, air gap inspections, and testing fromfromannuallyto annuallyto a less frequentperiod, such as everytwo, five, or ten years, or upon the sale or transfer of the affected property.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copycopyof of this Resolution be transmitted to the chair of the Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code Council, the secretary of the Louisiana Departmentof Health, the chair of the StatePlumbingBoard,andthechair of the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors.

DIGESTSPEAKER ThedigestprintedbelowwaspreparedbyHouseLegislativeOF Services.THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE Page 3 of 3

It constitutes nopart of the legislative instrument.

The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent.

[R.S.

1:13(B) and 24:177(E)] HCR 103 Engrossed 2026 Regular Session Crews Requests the La.

State Uniform Construction Code Council and the La.

Dept.

of Health to studywhetherannualrequiredinspectionsofbackflowpreventiondevices,barometricloops, and air gaps are necessary or whether a less frequent testing schedule could maintain adequate safetyand protection of water while reducing costs to property owners.

Summary of Amendments Adopted by House The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Commerce to the original bill:

1.

AddprovisionsurgingandrequestingtheLa.Dept.ofHealthtocontributetothe study by reviewing provisions of the Sanitary Code as it relates to backflow prevention devices.

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