Section 892.50  Inspection, Testing, and Registration of Lawn Sprinkler Systems

All lawn sprinkler systems installed in Illinois shall be registered with the Department on forms provided by the Department.

a)         Inspection and Testing of Lawn Sprinkler Systems. Upon completion of installation of a lawn sprinkler system, a licensed plumber representing the irrigation contractor shall inspect and test the system to ensure that the provisions of Section 2.5 of the Law have been met and that the system works mechanically.  The property owner or a representative shall witness the inspection and testing.  Any defects in the installation determined during the inspection and testing shall be corrected before the test is considered complete.

b)         No person shall attach to a lawn sprinkler system any fixture intended to supply water for human consumption.  No person shall attach to a lawn sprinkler system any fixture other than the backflow prevention device, sprinkler heads, valves, and other parts integral to the operation of the system, unless the fixture is clearly marked as being for non-potable use only. (Section 2.5(e) of the Law)

c)         No person shall cause the installation of a lawn sprinkler system by attaching any fixture to any water source except from a public water system, as defined by Section 3.365 of the Illinois Environmental Protection Act, or a water well, as defined by Section 3(e) of the Water Well Construction Code, without prior written approval from the Department.  An irrigation contractor or licensed plumber may request written approval for using an alternative water source by providing a written request to the Department and by submitting written plans and specifications, sealed by an Illinois Registered Architect or Licensed Professional Engineer.

d)         Registration of Lawn Sprinkler Systems.  The irrigation contractor or licensed plumber responsible for the installation of the lawn sprinkler system shall complete the contractor's test certificate provided by the Department and return the certificate to the Department within 30 days after completion of the inspection and test and shall include all of the following information:

1)         Name of the owner of the property at which the lawn sprinkler system is located, address of the property, and date that the installation was completed.

2)         Information on the installation of lawn sprinklers:

A)        Make, model and quantity of sprinklers installed;

B)        Static pressure;

C)        Gallons per minute (gpm) per largest zone;

D)        Water source (public water system, as defined by Section 3.365 of the Illinois Environmental Protection Act, or water well, as defined by Section 3(e) of the Water Well Construction Code or any alternative water source, with a copy of the prior approval from the Department, described in subsection (c));

E)        Type of pipe used in installation (copper, PVC, polyethylene);

F)         Manufacturer; type, and size of pump used in installation; and

G)        Type, size, serial number and inspection date of backflow prevention device (RPZ valve) to which the lawn sprinkler system is connected.

3)         Name, registration number, and signature of the irrigation contractor or licensed plumber responsible for the installation of the lawn sprinkler system.

4)         Name and license number of the licensed plumber responsible for the physical connection between the lawn sprinkler system and the backflow prevention device.

5)         Date that a licensed plumber inspected the lawn sprinkler system to ensure compliance with the Illinois Plumbing License Law and Illinois Plumbing Code.

e)         A $25 nonrefundable registration fee shall be submitted with each registration of a lawn sprinkler system.

f)         All automatically operated lawn sprinkler systems shall have furnished and installed technology that inhibits or interrupts operation of the landscape irrigation system during periods of sufficient moisture or rainfall.

1)         The technology must be adjustable either by the end user or the irrigation contractor. This subsection (f) does not apply to systems operating on golf courses or agricultural lands.

2)         The requirements of this subsection (f) apply to all landscape irrigation systems installed after January 1, 2009. (Section 2.5(g) of the Law)

(Source:  Amended at 38 Ill. Reg. 22222, effective November 12, 2014)