So my dad broke the septic clean out cap with the lawn mower. He cannot find a replacement that is lower to the ground so I am printing a new one. Should I use PETG? Or another material. Also I hope this is not violating some form of regulation in the U.S.
Generally, regulations are for construction contractors. You likely won’t pass some kind of plumbing inspection if you hired a contractor to do something that requires a permit, but otherwise you’re free to do whatever. I’m no expert here, and you should be doing due diligence. My old man does inspecting type work in another type of industry and this is how it was explained to me, but that is an unrelated field. Different regions may have very different regulations.
Erm, no? Most municipalities require building permits, even for homeowners to do work on their own home, and those permits require work be done to code.
Does that always happen? Of course not. I also went 5-10 over the speed limit on the freeway yesterday, but that doesn’t mean traffic regulations are for commercial vehicles only.
There is usually a dollar amount involved for what can be done before a permit is required. You’re allowed to make minor changes required in the spirit of maintenance. So something like replacing a refrigerator and the old width being too small. If you cut the countertop to accommodate, no permit is legally required. The same can be said about almost every aspect of the home. That margin of what exactly is considered maintenance versus modification is what varies by area.
The other factor I’ve heard is that the changes must fall into what’s undefined on the blueprints of record. If it is not specified in the blueprints, you are free to make the changes.
Again, I’m no expert here. I really wish I had the option to remove the mod badge when I only wish to post as a user. I could certainly be wrong. This is intended as a helpful but just water cooler talk amongst friends level conversation. When it comes to house mods and permits, this is how everyone I know does things.
Plugging a device into an outlet (be it a refrigerator, phone charger, or even an EV charge cord) does not require a permit. That’s normal expected use. Counters are not regulated by code. There is nothing to get a permit for in your example, and not because of the dollar amount.
Adding an outlet to support that device would to ensure proper wire gauge, space covered by the breaker, GFCI protection, and stuff like that is done correctly.
But to say that regulations don’t apply to homeowners is wrong. You likely don’t need to be a licensed electrician or plumber or whatever to work on your own home, but the regulations of what you do/how you do it almost certainly apply.
Plugging a device into an outlet (be it a refrigerator, phone charger, or even an EV charge cord) does not require a permit.
Want to bet? In my county, it is technically a requirement to pull a permit and get permission from the county government to install a window air conditioner. You know, the kind you slam the window shut on and plug into an outlet as the sum total of its “installation?” And you’re going to remove again in the fall? (Removal requires another permit.) Space heaters fall under this statute as well. Obviously the compliance rate with this is zero, but it legally gives them something to harass just about anyone over any time they feel like it.
Never underestimate the insanity of the petty egos who have small amounts of authority.
ASA is the peak material for outdoor prints with the best uv and weather resistance. It is quite a bit expensive but worth it imo if it’s not something you want to replace every 2 years. Downside is it must be dried before use every time and printed in a good enclosure printer, ideally preheated.
How big is the cap? Is it a threaded pipe clean out cap or a manhole sized cap?
There are codes regulating the loads a septic cap has to support (preventing people from falling in) as well as some need for atmospheric sealing. If you have to print in multiple sections I don’t know how tight you can make it and how strong it can really be if there is glue involved.Agree on ASA. I have some PLA+ prints that have been outdoors 24/7/365 for going on 5 years now and they’re holding up really well, so that’s another good option.
I’ve been printing ASA for about a year and a half and haven’t dried a spool yet. I guess it all hinges on a mix of relative humidity in your area and how much you care about a flawless finish.
Are your PLA+ prints under any load at all? I have some PLA+ pieces that I have printed to repair outdoor Halloween and Christmas decorations which are at some stress points in the decorations and I have to replace them at the start of each season because they get so brittle by the time the holidays are over. Hoping to try PETG next year.
They’re under an intermittent load, but it’s probably not very high. Interestingly, the parts don’t seem very brittle. I suspect the exact materials in PLA+ probably vary wildly between blends/companies, so their material properties likely have some variation.
