Code and standard update
By Ron George,CPD,
President, Ron George Design & Consulting Svcs.
This time of year is a busy time of year for the codes and standards industry. Each late summer and fall, I spend a significant amount of time attending the code organization meetings and standards writing organization meetings. The following is a summary of some of the happenings at the various code and standard writing organizations.
ASME news
ASME A112 Plumbing Material and Equipment Committee Update: The ASME Main Committee, (A112 Plumbing Material and Equipment committee) is in the process of issuing revisions to several standards.
The revised ASME standards are: ASME A112.18.1 / CSA B125.1 Plumbing Supply Fittings; ASME A112.18.7 Deck Mounted Bath/Shower Transfer Valves With Internal Backflow Protection.
The first proposed change to the A112.18. 1 / CSA B125.1 Plumbing Supply Fittings standard was a proposal to address language dealing with the rounding off of decimal equivalents to the translation between metric and English units. The proposed change included the following note: For purposes of determining compliance with these specifications, an observed or calculated value shall be rounded “to the nearest unit” in the last right-hand digit used in expressing the specification limit in accordance with the Rounding Method of ASTM E29 “Using Significant Digits in Test data to Determine Conformance with Specifications.”
There was a concern that rounding may allow a product to pass the standard that exceeds the Energy policy act maximum flow volumes because of rounding.
There are two flow rate specifications in the Flow Rate table, which have values smaller than 0.1. One is a 1.25 gallons per minute and the other is a 0.25 gallons per cycle, hence just rounding to the nearest 0.1 gpm could have allowed flow rates of 1.3 or 0.3 respectively and there was concern that the language in the standard would allow a maximum allowable flow rate to exceed the flow rates in the federal energy policy act.
Another proposed change to the A112.18. 1 / CSA B125.1 Plumbing Supply Fittings standard language was added to address low-lead fittings in the ASME A112.18.1 / CSA B125.1 Plumbing Supply Fittings. The proposed change is as follows:
4.9 Toxicity and Lead Content
4.9.1: Fittings covered by this standard shall comply with the applicable requirements of NSF/ANSI 61.
4.9.2: Solders and Fluxes in contact with potable water shall not exceed, by mass, 0.2% lead content. Metal alloys in contact with potable water shall not exceed 8% lead content.
4.9.3: Fittings intended to convey or dispense water for human consumption through drinking or cooking shall not contain a weighted average lead content in excess of 0.25% when evaluated in accordance with NSF/ANSI 372.
The task force agreed to propose the change to 4.9.1. This change would avoid a situation whereby the scope of the ASME/CSA standard included a fitting that doesn’t fall under Section 9 of NSF 61. It would ensure that any fitting in contact with drinking water needs to meet the toxicity requirement, even if it didn’t fall under the scope of Section 9, as has occurred in the past. The requirement is also consistent with CSA standard B125.3.
A separate and new clause (4.9.3) was needed to address this requirement. This proposed language is consistent with the new U.S. legislation S.3874 dealing with “lead-free” content.
Another proposed change to the A112.18. 1 / CSA B125.1 Plumbing Supply Fittings standard language was in section 4.1.3 dealing with seating members of the faucet valves. The seating members section was modified as follows:
4.1.3 Seating members
4.1.3.1: The following fittings shall have replaceable seats:
(a) supply valves for bath and shower fittings, except concealed stops;
(b) combination lavatory fittings;
(c) combination kitchen sink fittings;
(d) bidet fittings;
(e) single lavatory faucets; and
(f) exposed valve-type bath and shower fittings.
4.1.3.2: Seat disc arrangements shall be replaceable.
4.1.3.3: Seat disc arrangements shall not vibrate in service. When a threaded device is used to secure the disc, it shall remain secure after the disc has been removed and replaced five times.
4.1.3.4: In lieu of a replaceable seat as required in 4.1.3.1 and 4.1.3.2, a replaceable cartridge that includes both seat and seal shall be acceptable.
4.1.3.5: Solenoid valve used to open and close the flow of water shall be replaceable.
The underlined language above was proposed to be added because in recent years new valve and cartridge designs have provided several other methods to close a valve other than just a rubber seal on a cartridge stem that is screwed down on a seat enclosed in the valve body. The proposed language adds language addressing other methodologies so that the seating requirement is not limited to the older technology.
Another proposed change to the A112.18. 1 / CSA B125.1 Plumbing Supply Fittings standard language was to update the definitions of terms “flowing pressure” and “supply pressure.”
This item is in regard to the use of the terms “flowing pressure,” which is also referred to as residual pressure and “supply pressure,” which is also referred to as static pressure instead of undefined terms such as simply “water pressure.”
The following definitions apply to uses of the term pressure:
Pressure — Flowing pressure — the pressure in the piping upstream of an open fitting or accessory.
Supply pressure — the static water pressure in the fitting supply piping.
The ASME A112 Plumbing Material and Equipment committee will hold their Winter 2012 meetings January 30 – February 2, 2012 at the Hampton Inn Downtown, 226 Carondelet St., New Orleans. The ASME meetings will be held in conjunction with the Canadian Standards Association meetings to facilitate the Joint Harmonization Task Group (JHTG) meetings for the standards being harmonized between the two organizations.
IAPMO news
The IAPMO standards Council Meets and approves the 2012 UPC and UMC
The International Association of Plumbing & Mechanical Officials met in California in Early November to hear final appeals to the 2012 Code changes and approve the 2012 edition of the Uniform codes for Printing. The 2011 Standards council consists of the following members: Terry Swisher, chairman; Phil Ribbs; Tim Brink; Kurt Steenhoek; Bob Courtnier; Kevin Tindall; Ron George; Linden Raimer; Rex Crawford; Gabriella Davis, secretary; Lynne Simnick, recording secretary. Staff members present were: Neil Bogatz, general counsel; Matt Sigler, UPC staff liaison; Monte Bogatz, associate general counsel; Hugo Aguilar, UMC staff liaison; Leticia Gallegos-Wilson, executive assistant.
2012 Uniform Plumbing Code.
Phil Ribbs is retiring from the IAPMO Standards council and as his last official duty as a member of the IAPMO Standards council, Phil Ribbs made a motion and it was seconded to issue the 2012 edition of the Uniform Plumbing Code as adopted at the Association Technical Meeting Convention and as amended by the appeals decisions. The motion carried unanimously.
2012 Uniform Mechanical Code.
A motion was made and seconded to issue the 2012 edition of the Uniform Mechanical Code as adopted at the Association Technical Meeting Convention and as amended by the appeals decisions. The motion carried unanimously. The Uniform codes will soon be forwarded to the printer for publication.
UPC Technical Committee appointments
A motion was made to accept Len Swatkoski’s application to serve as the Principal member representing the Plumbing Manufacturers International (PMI) on the Plumbing Technical Committee. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously. The council reviewed several other applicants and placed them on hold.
IAPMO Standards Council appointments
IAPMO Standards council chairman Terry Swisher, other Council members and staff thanked Phil Ribbs for his six years of service on the Standards Council. Jed Scheuermann will join the Council in January 2012 to replace Phil Ribbs. Council members reappointed to serve another term include chairman Swisher, Tim Brink and Linden Raimer.
ICC news
The International Code Council completed the 2012 International Code cycle with Green Code Hearings and the International Pool & Spa Code Final Action hearings.
The International Code Council recently held their Final Action code hearings for the 2012 Family of codes with Green Code Hearings and the International Pool & Spa Code hearings in Phoenix. The final editions of the Green Code and the pool and spa code are ready to go to the printer and should be available in the spring of 2012. Most of the 2012 editions of the 2012 ICC codes are available for purchase at the International Code website. www.icc
safe.org.
Ron George is president of Plumb-Tech Design and Consulting Services LLC. He has served as chairman of the International Residential Plumbing & Mechanical Code Committee. Visit www.Plumb-TechLLC.com, email Ron@Plumb-TechLLC.com or phone 734/755-1908.