I-12.1 - Act respecting piping installations

Updated to 22 October 1999

This document has official status.

chapter I-12.1

Act respecting piping installations

This Act was formerly entitled: “Pipe-Mechanics Act”. The title was replaced by section 106 of chapter 53 of the statutes of 1975.

1975, c. 53, s. 106.

DIVISION I DECLARATORY AND INTERPRETATIVE PROVISIONS

1. This Act shall not apply to mines governed by the Mining Act (chapter M-13.1).

R. S. 1964, c. 154, s. 1; 1987, c. 64, s. 344.

2. In this Act:

(1)  the word “Minister” designates the Minister of Labour;

(2)  the word “contractor” designates a person who, for another, carries out, or causes to be carried out, installation, renovation, alteration or repair work on piping systems included in the following:

(a)  heating systems used for producing motive power or heat in any form whatsoever, in any building or construction; such systems including among others gravity or forced hot water systems, and high, low or vacuum steam systems and likewise any firing system;

(b)  refrigerating systems of any warehouse, building or premises, used for cooling the air, chilling articles or for making ice, having a capacity to be fixed by the Régie du bâtiment;

(c)  mechanical sprayers utilized to prevent and fight fires in any building or construction;

(d)  plumbing systems, in any building or construction, including piping and all accessories used for drainage or draining, for the back air vent, for supplying hot or cold water or gas;

(3)  the word “journeyman” means any person who has completed his apprenticeship, holds a certificate of qualification issued under the Act respecting manpower vocational training and qualification (chapter F-5) or a journeyman competency certificate issued under the Act respecting labour relations, vocational training and manpower management in the construction industry (chapter R-20) and who, as such, carries out for a contractor the work of installing, altering or repairing of one, several or all of the systems of piping contemplated in subparagraphs a, b, c and d of paragraph 2 of this section;

(4)  the word “Régie” designates the Régie du bâtiment du Québec, established by section 87 of the Building Act (chapter B-1.1);

(5)  the word “regulations” designates the regulations adopted in virtue of this Act.

R. S. 1964, c. 154, s. 2; 1968, c. 43, s. 17; 1969, c. 51, s. 78; 1975, c. 53, s. 107; 1981, c. 9, s. 34; 1982, c. 53, s. 58; 1986, c. 89, s. 28; 1994, c. 12, s. 68; 1996, c. 29, s. 43; 1997, c. 83, s. 5, s. 11; 1999, c. 40, s. 154.

DIVISION II RÉGIE DU BÂTIMENT

1997, c. 83, s. 6.

3. (Repealed).

R. S. 1964, c. 154, s. 3; 1978, c. 55, s. 1; 1997, c. 83, s. 7.

4. The functions of the Régie du bâtiment shall, in particular, be

(1)  to collect fees, keep registers, direct the work of the inspectors appointed under this Act and see to the administration of this Act;

(2)  to prepare reports on its activities pertaining to the application of this Act whenever required by the Minister.

The Régie du bâtiment may delegate to a member of its board of directors or of its personnel or to a committee composed of members of its board of directors or of its personnel, in writing and to the extent specified, the functions assigned to the Régie by this Act.

R. S. 1964, c. 154, s. 4; 1975, c. 53, s. 108; 1997, c. 83, s. 8.

DIVISION III LICENCES

5. (Repealed).

R. S. 1964, c. 154, s. 5; 1969, c. 51, s. 79; 1975, c. 53, s. 109; 1978, c. 55, s. 14.

6. (Repealed).

R. S. 1964, c. 154, s. 6; 1969, c. 51, s. 80; 1975, c. 53, s. 110.

7. (Repealed).

R. S. 1964, c. 154, s. 7; 1969, c. 51, s. 81; 1975, c. 53, s. 111.

8. (Repealed).

R. S. 1964, c. 154, s. 10; 1969, c. 51, s. 83; 1975, c. 53, s. 112.

9. (Repealed).

R. S. 1964, c. 154, s. 11; 1969, c. 51, s. 84; 1975, c. 53, s. 113.

10. (Repealed).

R. S. 1964, c. 154, s. 13; 1969, c. 51, s. 86; 1975, c. 53, s. 114.

11. (Repealed).

R. S. 1964, c. 154, s. 14; 1975, c. 53, s. 115.

12. The Régie du bâtiment may suspend the licence issued under the Building Act (chapter B-1.1) of any person who fails to make alterations to plumbing installations effected contrary to the regulations.

Such power shall be exercised by the Corporation des maîtres mécaniciens en tuyauterie du Québec where it has entered into an agreement under section 129.3 of the Building Act.

R. S. 1964, c. 154, s. 15; 1969, c. 51, s. 87; 1978, c. 55, s. 3; 1975, c. 53, s. 116; 1978, c. 55, s. 15; 1997, c. 83, s. 9; 1998, c. 46, s. 66.

DIVISION IV FEES

13. (1)  The Government may, by regulation,

(a)  establish fees for the inspection of work;

(b)  (subparagraph repealed);

(c)  (subparagraph repealed).

The inspection fees provided for in subparagraph a are payable by the contractor.

The fees payable by such contractor may be fixed according to a fixed annual amount, to which is added a variable amount based on a percentage of the annual wage bill paid by such contractor to persons engaged in the work of installing piping.

(2)  The rate of interest contemplated in section 28 of the Act respecting the Ministère du Revenu (chapter M-31) is applicable to the inspection fees contemplated in this section. The Government may by regulation fix a discount rate on inspection fees paid before they become due.

(3)  The inspection fees provided for by this Act shall be collected by the Régie du bâtiment and remitted to the Minister of Finance.

R. S. 1964, c. 154, s. 16; 1969, c. 51, s. 88; 1978, c. 55, s. 4; 1975, c. 53, s. 117; 1978, c. 55, s. 16; 1996, c. 74, s. 15; 1997, c. 83, s. 11.

DIVISION V

Repealed, 1975, c. 53, s. 118.

1975, c. 53, s. 118.

14. (Repealed).

R. S. 1964, c. 154, s. 17; 1969, c. 51, s. 89; 1975, c. 53, s. 119.

DIVISION VI PENAL PROVISIONS

1990, c. 4, s. 498.

15. Every person is guilty of an offence who

(a)  (paragraph repealed);

(b)  hinders or molests an inspector or other officer in the performance of his duties;

(c)  (paragraph repealed);

(d)  (paragraph repealed);

(e)  has not paid the inspection fees established under the regulations;

(f)  infringes a prescription of this Act or of a regulation hereunder.

R. S. 1964, c. 154, s. 18; 1969, c. 51, s. 90; 1978, c. 55, s. 5; 1975, c. 53, s. 120; 1978, c. 55, s. 17; 1996, c. 74, s. 16.

15.1. Every person who is guilty of an offence contemplated in section 15 is liable, if no other sentence is provided for such offence,

(a)  in the case of a natural person, to a fine of not less than $325 nor more than $700;

(b)  in the case of a legal person, to a fine of not less than $700 nor more than $1 400;

(c)  for a first subsequent conviction, to a fine the amount of which must not be less nor greater than twice the fines provided for in paragraph a or b, as the case may be;

(d)  for every additional subsequent conviction, to a fine the amount of which must not be less nor greater than three times the fines provided for in paragraph a or b, as the case may be.

1978, c. 55, s. 5; 1986, c. 58, s. 56; 1990, c. 4, s. 499; 1991, c. 33, s. 68; 1999, c. 40, s. 154.

15.2. Every person who fails to comply with an order given by an inspector under section 20.3 is guilty of an offence and liable, for every day during which the offence continues,

(a)  in the case of a natural person, to a fine of not less than $325 nor more than $700;

(b)  in the case of a legal person, to a fine of not less than $700 nor more than $1 400.

1978, c. 55, s. 5; 1986, c. 58, s. 57; 1990, c. 4, s. 500; 1991, c. 33, s. 69; 1999, c. 40, s. 154.

15.3. (Repealed).

1978, c. 55, s. 5; 1990, c. 4, s. 501; 1992, c. 61, s. 353.

16. (Repealed).

R. S. 1964, c. 154, s. 19; 1978, c. 55, s. 6.

17. (Repealed).

R. S. 1964, c. 154, s. 20; 1969, c. 51, s. 91; 1978, c. 55, s. 7.

18. (Repealed).

R. S. 1964, c. 154, s. 21; 1978, c. 55, s. 8.

DIVISION VII JURISDICTION OF CERTAIN COURTS, AND PROCEDURE

19. (1)  (Subsection repealed).

(2)  (Subsection repealed).

(3)  No evidence shall be admitted to establish that a prosecution was brought as the result of a complaint by an informer or to discover the identity of the latter.

(4)  Penal proceedings for an offence under a provision of this Act shall be prescribed by one year from the date on which the prosecutor became aware of the commission of the offence. However, no proceedings may be instituted where more than five years have elapsed from the commission of the offence.

(5)  (Subsection repealed).

R. S. 1964, c. 154, s. 22; 1974, c. 11, s. 44; 1978, c. 55, s. 9; 1990, c. 4, s. 502; 1992, c. 61, s. 354.

DIVISION VIII GENERAL PROVISIONS

20. In order to ensure the observance of this Act and of the regulations, and to ascertain whether the persons or associations comply with the law and regulations, there may be appointed a number of inspectors whose work shall consist in making inspections, in making the law known to the interested parties and reporting to the Régie du bâtiment whatever infringements they may establish.

R. S. 1964, c. 154, s. 23; 1978, c. 55, s. 10; 1975, c. 53, s. 123; 1978, c. 55, s. 20; 1997, c. 83, s. 11; 1999, c. 40, s. 154.

20.1. Every contractor must, before beginning work contemplated by this Act or the regulations, declare to the Régie du bâtiment the work he intends to carry out.

The declaration shall be transmitted by means of a document approved by the Régie du bâtiment.

In case of superior force, the contractor who cannot transmit a declaration before the beginning of the work shall do so as soon as possible.

1978, c. 55, s. 11; 1996, c. 74, s. 17; 1997, c. 83, s. 11.

20.2. In the cases determined by regulation of the Government, the contractor must, before beginning the work, have in his possession the plans and specifications for a new piping system or for alterations to an existing piping system. A copy of the plans and specifications must be transmitted to the Régie du bâtiment at its request.

The plans and specifications must contain the information required by regulation of the Government.

1978, c. 55, s. 11; 1996, c. 74, s. 17; 1997, c. 83, s. 11.

20.3. An inspector may, in writing, order the contractor or the owner of a piping system to make the necessary alterations to such system within the period established by regulation of the Government. For the purposes of this section, the word “owner” designates a person or an association or the State, as owner, lessee or possessor.

1978, c. 55, s. 11; 1999, c. 40, s. 154.

21. Any inspector appointed under this Act and any member of the Sûreté du Québec, if he has reason to believe a contravention to this Act has been committed in the carrying out of work contemplated by it, may order the immediate stoppage of work; he must notify the Régie du bâtiment of the fact without delay.

R. S. 1964, c. 154, s. 24; 1968, c. 17, s. 97; 1977, c. 5, s. 14; 1975, c. 53, s. 124; 1997, c. 83, s. 11.

21.1. The person to whom an order made under section 20.3 or 21 is notified without prior notice because, in the opinion of the inspector or member of the Sûreté du Québec, urgent action is required or there is a danger of irreparable damage being caused, may, within the time specified in the order, present observations so that the order may be reviewed by an inspector.

1997, c. 43, s. 306.

22. The Régie du bâtiment or any inspector appointed in virtue of this Act may, provided it be at a reasonable hour, have access to, enter upon or cross any lot, building or place for the purpose of ascertaining whether this Act and the regulations are complied with and also to accomplish the duties devolving upon the Régie or the inspector in virtue of this Act.

R. S. 1964, c. 154, s. 25; 1997, c. 83, s. 10.

23. (Repealed).

R. S. 1964, c. 154, s. 26; 1969, c. 51, s. 92; 1975, c. 53, s. 125.

24. The Government may by regulation:

(a)  enact standards relating to the designing and carrying out of work relating to a piping system mentioned in paragraph 2 of section 2;

(b)  determine the materials, accessories or apparatus which must be used, as the case may be, in a piping system;

(c)  allow the use in a piping system of a material, accessory or apparatus recognized or certified by a body designated by him;

(d)  authorize the Régie du bâtiment to accept the use of a material, accessory or apparatus as equivalent to those provided for by a regulation made under this Act;

(e)  authorize the Régie du bâtiment to accept the use of a method of design or of carrying out of work as equivalent to the standards provided for by a regulation made under this Act;

(f)  on the conditions he determines, remove, in whole or in part, from the application of the law or a regulation, work carried out in the territory where a municipal by-law at least equivalent to a regulation under this Act is in force;

(g)  remove from the application of this Act certain categories of refrigerating systems and automatic sprinklers contemplated by subparagraphs b and c of paragraph 2 of section 2;

(h)  remove in whole or in part from the application of a regulation made under this Act work carried out in the territory of a local municipality of not more than 5 000 inhabitants or in a territory having no public sewer system;

(i)  adopt every measure necessary for the carrying out of this Act.

R. S. 1964, c. 154, s. 28; 1969, c. 51, s. 94; 1978, c. 55, s. 12; 1996, c. 2, s. 696; 1997, c. 83, s. 11.

25. Every regulation made under this act must be preceded by a draft which must be published in the Gazette officielle du Québec with a notice specifying that any objection to the adoption of the regulation must be made within forty-five days.

The Minister may order the holding of an examination or inquiry into the merits of any objection filed pursuant to such notice.

1978, c. 55, s. 13.

26. After the period has expired, or after the examination or inquiry referred to in section 25 has been held, as the case may be, the draft regulation is submitted to the Government for adoption. A notice of the adoption of the regulation is published in the Gazette officielle du Québec, accompanied with the text of the amendments, if any.

Such regulation comes into force on the day of such publication or on any later date fixed therein.

1978, c. 55, s. 13; 1999, c. 40, s. 154.

27. (This section ceased to have effect on 17 April 1987).

1982, c. 21, s. 1; U. K., 1982, c. 11, Sch. B, Part I, s. 33.

REPEAL SCHEDULES

In accordance with section 17 of the Act respecting the consolidation of the statutes and regulations (chapter R-3), chapter M-7 of the Revised Statutes, in force on 1 November 1980, is repealed effective from the coming into force of chapter I-12.1 of the Revised Statutes.

In accordance with section 17 of the Act respecting the consolidation of the statutes and regulations (chapter R-3), subsections 4 and 5 of section 22, sections 23a, 23b, 23c, 29 and 30 of chapter 154 of the Revised Statutes, 1964, in force on 1 November 1980, are repealed, effective from the coming into force of chapter I-12.1 of the Revised Statutes.

This Act will be replaced upon the coming into force of section 214 of chapter 34 of the statutes of 1985 on the date fixed by order of the Government.