Bristol County Plumbing & Gas Inspector Association

09/03/2026

The DOL is seeking a qualified individual to fill a vacant State Plumbing Inspector position.

Click on this link for more info: https://massanf.taleo.net/careersection/ex/jobdetail.ftl?job=260005R0&tz=GMT-04%3A00&tzname=America%2FNew_York

There is also an opening for a Plumbing Instructor at Greater NB Reg. Voc. Tech. H.S.

The job description forwarded to us is attached:

09/03/2026

For anyone that may have known him, Tom Pecoraro, Long-time Plumbing Inspector for the City of Quincy, has passed away.

https://thesweeneybrothers.com/obituary/thomas-f-pecoraro-age-67/

Tom was very helpful in establishing the continuing education program for inspectors, from lobbying in support of the legislation, to the implementation of the program from the beginning. He was always a vocal advocate for the inspectors, often speaking before the State Plumbing Board and the state legislature. He was instrumental in the office during the Merrimack Valley gas disaster in 2018. Tom will certainly be missed in the industry. May he rest in Peace.

09/03/2026

One of the items on the agenda of yesterday's State Plumbing Board meeting was Comstar products Copper Lock.

If you are an inspector, or use this product, this will affect you... Apparently, when it was originally accepted back in 2007, it was only for a few test sites and never approved beyond that. Originally, it was approved for joining WATER PIPING ONLY, for RESIDENTIAL ONLY, and ONLY UP TO 1½" pipe.

The product manufacturer has modified its permitted use since then, without contacting the Board for approval, and has since, allowed it on drainage, and from what was said at the meeting, can be used up 6" without issues. The packaging on the product has conflicting info, one section reads it can seal up 2", and on the bottle on the same instructions, reads good up to 1½". (Attached for reference)

This is what originally brought up questioning. They also have only done in house testing, and not gone for 3rd party testing which is required for product approval.

So as of today, Sept. 3rd, it is ONLY ALLOWED to be used as it was originally allowed for the test sites, until the company applies for approval for drainage use, and for sizes over 1½". If you check on the product approval page, it will be updated today with the restrictions listed where it is approved for use.

This will take at the very best outcome, months to be allowed differently.

If you are an inspector, word from Boston is if an inspection occurs and Copper Lock is used on anything over 1½", or on drainage on any size, or on water piping or drain piping for commercial, the job should be a fail. If the system fails for a something outside of what it was approved for, there could liability concerns.

This will be covered on the next CE class coming up for both inspectors and licensees.

08/23/2026

Ran across this photo today, from a final gas inspection I was doing in Lawrence from the gas disaster in 2018. The tenant was cooking on this outdoor propane stove in their kitchen when we arrived. We all felt dizziness when we went into the apartment to inspect, which had some low levels of CO in there and two young kids as well. We got the windows open just in time... luckily the final gas passed and a approval tag to get their gas back on that day.

08/16/2026

The early set up crew, thank you guys!

08/16/2026

Great day for a clamboil!

08/09/2026

One week to go till our clamboil at the Holy Ghost Club in Westport. Food served at apx. 2:00PM. The co****le tournament will begin before that so get there early if you want to play and a chance to win and get your name engraved on the Francis Reilly cup displayed at the Fall River Plumbing Inspector's office.
$150.00 1st place and $75.00 runner up, no fees to enter.

Just going over some numbers from last year:
40-gallons of clam chowder
300-lbs of potatoes
90-lbs of onions
17-bushels of clams between chowder and clamboil
and a pickup bed full of corn
500 tickets sold
Just over 22k to host it.

with 500 tickets sold at $40.00 ea, that's $2,000 short on the bill. With the raffle proceeds and vendors it tips us over a bit in the black. It's a lot of work for a lot of people..

We are going to ask this year for any meals getting wrapped for take out get picked up after the line moves thru. It slows down the servers.

Don't forget to write your name and tel number on the back of your meal ticket for a chance to win 4 Redsox tickets for September 23rd game vs Cleveland Guardians, courtesy of Plumbers' Supply Company

All to bring the trade together, and raise a few bucks for our scholarship fund.

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08/05/2026

It was announced at today's Board meeting, after many years serving, Ruth Alfasso who represented as the Member of the Dept. of Public Health, will be stepping down and retiring from the Board. She brought many years of experience and knowledge and will be missed.

She will be replaced by Katharine Dagle, who currently serves as the Deputy Director for the Department of Public Health.

We would like to wish you both health and success in this next chapter of your life, and thank you both for serving on our Board.

Send a message to learn more

08/05/2026

MA Plumbing Board meeting today at 9:00 am. Link to the agenda and virtual meeting is here: https://www.mass.gov/event/board-of-state-examiners-of-plumbers-and-gas-fitters-meeting-8526-08-05-2026

If you log into the meeting, be sure to turn off you microphone unless called to speak, cameras are also not required unless you are speaking.

This is a remote meeting. You can participate from your computer, laptop, or smartphone. See the Meeting Agenda for details.

08/01/2026

This will give you high carbon monoxide readings in cooking equipment. If you have commercial kitchen customers, do them a favor and bring your combustion analyzer with you when you do a service call.. and if it's an older kitchen w/o CO detectors, sell them a battery operated one.