2012 Plumbing Code Update
By Ron George, CIPE, CPD
President, Ron George Design & Consulting Services
Both model code organizations have held their recent code hearings for the 2012 edition of the model plumbing Codes. The International Code Council held their final action Plumbing Code hearings on May 14 - 23, 2010 at the Dallas Sheraton Hotel. The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO), which published the Uniform Codes, held their meetings April 26 - 30 in Milwaukee. Both model code organizations are introducing “green” code requirements. In the past, these green initiatives might have been called “energy and water conservation” or “sustainable” building design requirements, but now in the green marketing era, everyone needs to have a green product. The green codes have sections on alternative water and waste water system requirements such as gray water, reclaimed water, rainwater harvesting, and on-site treated water. There are still a few code activities that need to take place before the 2012 editions of the codes will be printed. The following text discusses the code activities in the two model plumbing code development cycles.
Code Development Process notes:
The code change process is being slightly modified; revised Code Development Process includes maintaining the current 3-year publication cycle with a single cycle of code development proposals and hearings between code editions. In the past, the code cycle had two 18-month-long code development and hearing cycles per 3-year code cycle. The new code change process for ICC and IAPMO will implemented as follows:
ICC Code Change Process
1. Transitional Process – 2009/2010 only
A. Single Code Development Hearing (CDH) for all codes in 2009
B. Two Final Action Hearings (FAH) in 2010 – modified Groups A and B (see below)
C. Publish 2012 edition in April/2011
2. New Process – 2012/2013 and going forward for the 2015 edition of the International Codes
A. Code committee application deadline (all codes): June 1, 2011
B. Codes split into two groups:
Group A and Group B
1. Group A: International Building Code (IBC); International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC); International Mechanical Code (IMC); International Plumbing Code (IPC); International Private Sewage Disposal Code (IPSDC):
a. Code change deadline: January 3, 2012
b. Code Development Hearing: April/May 2012
c. Final Action Hearing: October/November 2012 (in conjunction with Annual Conference)
2. Group B: Admin (Ch. 1 of all International Codes); International Existing Building Code (IEBC); International Energy Conservation Code (IECC); International Fire Code (IFC); International Green Construction Code (IGCC); International Performance Code (IPerfPC) (Performance Code for Buildings and Facilities); International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC); International Residential Code (IRC); International Wildland, Urban Interface Code (IWUIC); International Zoning Code (IZC):
a. Code change deadline: January 3, 2013
b. Code Development Hearing: April/May 2013
c. Final Action Hearing: October/November 2013 (in conjunction with Annual Conference)
C. Publish 2015 edition in April/2014
D. Repeat for subsequent editions
ICC 2009/2010 Cycle Notes:
1. Revised code change deadline of June 1 posted on March 16.
2. Distribution: Because of the huge expense of printing and shipping, and in an effort to be green, complimentary code development cycle document distribution will be limited to CDs mailed to those who are on ICC’s code change document mailing list and those who submit a return coupon. The proposed code changes are available for download online. Published versions of the code change documents will not be distributed or supplied at the hearings.
3. Code Development Hearings: The Baltimore Code Development Hearings included all 13 I-Codes. The hearings were held in the conventional two track format with the hearings split before and after the Annual Conference during the periods of October 24 – 31 and November 4 – 11.
4. Final Action Hearing Code Groupings:
Modified Group A: Were held May 14 – 23, 2010, in Dallas
IBC — International Building Code (Fire Safety, General, Means of Egress, Structural)
IEBC — International Existing Building Code
IFC — International Fire Code
IFGC — International Fuel Gas Code
IMC — International Mechanical Code
IPC — International Plumbing Code
IRC — International Residential Code (Building, Mechanical, Plumbing)
IWUIC — International Wildland Urban Interface Code
Modified Group B: Will be held Oct 28 – Nov 1, 2010, Charlotte, NC
Administrative sections of all International codes
IECC — International Energy Conservation Code
IPMC — International Property Maintenance Code
IRC — International Residential Code (Energy)
IZC — International Zoning Code
International Association of Plumbing & Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) Uniform Codes update
The International Association of Plumbing & Mechanical Officials is in the process of updating their model codes for Plumbing, Mechanical, Solar Energy and Swimming Pools, Spas and Hot Tubs for the 2012 code cycle. The timeline for updating these codes is shown below:
Uniform Solar Energy Code (USEC) and Uniform Swimming Pool Spa and Hot Tub Code (USPSHTC) Code Development timeline
Uniform Solar Energy Code USEC and Uniform Swimming Pool, Spa and Hot Tub Code (USPSHTC) Code Development Timeline for 2012 Code Cycle
April 12, 2010 — Call for Proposals
August 2, 2010 — Deadline for submission of proposals
September 27, 2010 — Distribute proposals to committees
October 18, 2010 — Technical Committee meetings
November 11, 2010 — Initial ballot to Technical Committee
November 26, 2010 — Receipt of initial ballots, Circulation of comments
December 10, 2010 — Final closing date for ballots, including receipt of vote changes based on re-circulated comments
February 21, 2011 — Distribution of Report on Proposals (ROP)
April 4, 2011 — Call for Comments
August 1, 2011 — Deadline for submission of comments
September 26, 2011 — Distribute comments to committees
October 31, 2011 — Technical Committee meetings
November 21, 2011 — Initial ballots to Technical Committees
December 5, 2011 — Receipt of initial ballots, Circulation of comments
December 26, 2011 — Final closing date for ballots, including receipt of vote changes based on re-circulated comments
February 6, 2012 — Distribution of Report on Comments (ROC)
April 17, 2012 — Receipt of initial ballots, Re-circulate comments to Technical Committee members
April 27, 2012 — Final closing date of ballots and receipt of vote changes based on re-circulated comments
June 8, 2012 — Deadline for notification of intent to file written petition to Executive Committee
July 9, 2012 — Executive Committee meet to address petitions.
Summer/Fall 2012 — Issue 2012 Uniform Codes
Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) and Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC) Code Development timeline
May 4-8, 2009 — Technical Committee Meetings
October 12, 2009 — Call for Code Change Proposals
February 1, 2010 — Deadline for submission of Code Change Proposals
April 26-30, 2010 — Technical Committee Meetings, Code Change Testimony Hearings
June 7, 2010 — Final closing date for Committee Ballots
August 2, 2010 — Distribution of Final Report on Hearings
September 27-30 — IAPMO Annual Education and Business Conference, Assembly consideration Session, Seattle
October 4, 2010 — Call for Comments on code Changes
January 4, 2011 — Deadline for Submission of Comments
March 25, 2011 — Distribute Comments to technical committees
May 2-6, 2011 — Technical Committee Meetings
May 16, 2011 — Initial ballots to Technical Committees
May 30, 2011 — Receipt of initial ballots, Circulation of comments to Technical Committees
June 8, 2011 — Final closing date for ballots
(Including receipt of vote changes based on distribution of comments.)
August 22, 2011 — Distribution of Report on Comments (ROC)
September 25-29, 2011 — IAPMO Annual Education and Business Conference, Technical Meeting Convention
Ballot of Technical Committees on membership amendments from the floor.
(Two-thirds approval required by technical committee)
October 17, 2011 — Technical Committee receives Initial Ballots with re-circulated comments.
October 28, 2011 — Final closing date for ballots and receipt of vote changes based on re-circulated comments.
November 9-11, 2011 — Standards Council Meeting
December 9, 2011 — Deadline for notification of intent to file written petition to the Board of Directors.
January 24, 2012 — Board of Directors meet to discuss petitions.
Summer/Fall 2012 — Issue 2012 Uniform Codes.
Ron George is president of Ron George Design & Consulting Services. He has served as Chairman of the International Residential Plumbing & Mechanical Code Committee. He is active in plumbing code and plumbing product standard development committees with ICC, IAPMO, ASSE, ASME, ISEA and ASTM. His company specializes in plumbing, piping, fire protection and HVAC system design and consulting services. He also provides plumbing and mechanical code consulting services and he provides investigations of mechanical system failures and litigation support. To contact Ron, email: rgdc@rongeorgedesign.com.