IAPMO Green Technical Committee

IAPMO’s (the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials) leadership in sustainable initiatives predates current trends among other organizations. The Uniform Codes have long included provisions such as water-efficient plumbing products, greywater and reclaimed water systems, solar energy systems and environmentally friendly refrigerants.

During this dramatic transition to increasingly sustainable construction practices, IAPMO remains dedicated to ensuring it is a leader in sustainable model construction and maintenance codes that are safe and reliable.

In 2007, the IAPMO Board of Directors established the Committee for Awareness and Understanding of a Sustainable Environment (IAPMO CAUSE) and the IAPMO Green Technical Committee (GTC) to identify opportunities to make the Uniform Codes more sustainable and achieve IAPMO’s sustainability goals.

The GTC is a diverse group of experts in the Green plumbing and mechanical fields, including water and energy conservation authorities, plumbers, contractors, engineers and code inspectors.

The GTC objectives include identifying opportunities to make the Uniform Codes more sustainable and the development a Green Plumbing and Mechanical Supplement.

The Green Plumbing and Mechanical Supplement

The Green Supplement will be a separate document from the Uniform Plumbing Code and Uniform Mechanical Code and will establish requirements for green building and water efficiency applicable to plumbing, mechanical and solar energy (both hydronic and photovoltaic) systems.

The Green Supplement will serve as an adjunct to the Uniform Codes or any of the other plumbing and mechanical codes used in the United States.

The supplement will not be a “greener” version of the Uniform Codes, but rather the Green Supplement will:

• Serve as a repository for provisions that ultimately will be integrated into the Uniform Codes. The Green Supplement is a logical transitional home for green requirements until they are fully accepted by industry and are ready to be included into the code.

• Serve as a resource for progressive jurisdictions that are implementing green building and water efficiency programs, including enforcement aid for existing green ordinances and serving as a model for jurisdictions implementing green ordinances.

• Serve as a resource for code officials, plumbers, contractors, engineers and manufacturers in designing, installing and approving green plumbing and mechanical systems.

• Be written in voluntary language and in a format similar to the Uniform Codes.

• Maintain IAPMO’s philosophy of a focused industries specific document to minimize the need for additional codes and standards.

• Coordinate and resolve conflicts among other green building and water efficiency program requirements.

Where applicable, the Green Supplement will establish:

• Minimum sustainability provisions – “raise the bar” as with all Uniform Codes.

• Health and safety provisions to ensure green practices are safe and reliable.

• Minimum performance, design, installation and maintenance requirements.

The target date of completion for the Green Plumbing and Mechanical Supplement is January 2010.

Research Provisions

In order to ensure safety and reliability, scientific research is required on a number of issues including:

• Drain line carry capabilities of High Efficiency Toilets

• Greywater and rain water reuse systems

• Non-water consuming urinals; installation and cost benefit studies

• Efficient plumbing system design

IAPMO is brokering an agreement with other industry associations in order to obtain cooperation, bring the best stakeholder talent together and align efforts to get the needed research done effectively and efficiently.

Benefits

The Green Supplement will provide the most comprehensive information available on plumbing and mechanical provisions that work toward water and energy efficiency. All provisions contained in the Green Supplement will be proven safe and reliable.

Where possible, the Green Supplement will provide commentary detailing the water and energy savings associated with the provisions called out in the Supplement.