Green Code Supplement Ushers in New Era
By Geoff Bilau
The Sustainable Building Industry today has a powerful and revolutionary new tool at its disposal with the formal release of IAPMO’s Green Plumbing and Mechanical Code Supplement, the most comprehensive document ever created to standardize sustainable residential and commercial plumbing and mechanical systems.
“The building codes are perhaps the biggest hindrance to the adoption of green buildings,” said Dave Viola, IAPMO director of Special Services and staff liaison to the Green Technical Committee (GTC) that developed the document. “There’s so little information about how to do green systems properly and safely within existing building codes, so we’ve rolled out a document that shows exactly how it’s done.”
The Green Supplement serves as a complement to any adopted plumbing and mechanical code, smoothly bridging the previously troublesome gap between existing codes and established green building programs. Where code language and green building concepts lack cohesion, the Green Supplement creates harmony by addressing such areas as:
Use of alternate water sources (graywater, rainwater harvesting)
“The biggest void in the industry is how to safely use alternate water sources,” said Viola. “Inspectors and code officials think it’s best to avoid using graywater because they’re very conservative and feel it’s best to avoid the risk of something bad happening.” Many green building rating systems give points for using alternate water sources, but they don’t prescribe how to use the graywater correctly. “That’s where the supplement fits in. We show you how to replace potable water, earn your points, and do it safely.”
Proper use of high-efficiency plumbing products
With water conservation comes the potential for drain line clogging. The Supplement establishes more efficient flow rates and consumption limits for plumbing fixtures, faucets and appliances while providing product specifications and installation requirements necessary to achieve the necessary performance and anticipated water savings.
Conservation of hot water
The Supplement contains measures to increase the efficiency of hot water generation, hot water distribution and hot water usage. This includes setting minimum appliance efficiencies, enhancing insulation provisions and establishing design criteria that minimize water waste while waiting for hot water to arrive at the tap.
Energy conservation in HVAC systems
Though provisions dealing with sustainable plumbing are prominent, Amir Tabakh, director of Environmental Engineering, Environmental Affairs Division of the City of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, and a member of the GTC, contends the mechanical aspects should not be overlooked. “According to the California Energy Commission, 30 percent of the state’s energy consumption within commercial buildings is mechanical equipment,” said Tabakh. “If that 30 percent is positively impacted, it means many more electrical systems will become highly efficient. So, this document ultimately touches national standards for electrical efficiency.”
The Supplement achieves a significant reduction in energy use for heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems from that permitted by mechanical codes. In most cases, the reduction is more than 20 percent. The cornerstones for these provisions are ASHRAE 90.1-2007 Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings and ASHRAE 90.2-2007 Energy Efficient Design of Low-Rise Residential Buildings.
Training/education in green plumbing systems
“The existing infrastructure for training professionals lacks the green element,” said Viola. The Green Supplement recommends that jurisdictions look for examples of specific competency from professionals involved in designing, installing, and inspecting green systems.
The Green Supplement was developed in response to the IAPMO Board of Directors’ call for a reduction in energy and water consumption currently permitted in the Uniform Codes. In January 2008, the Board established the Green Technical Committee (GTC) and charged these individuals with the development of the Green Supplement. The 25-member GTC is chaired by IAPMO Board Member Bill Erickson of CJ Erickson Plumbing and comprised of the leading authorities in all facets of the sustainable plumbing and mechanical fields. Operating under the leadership of the GTC, an additional 60 members that include plumbers, contractors, engineers, inspectors and energy/water conservation experts serve on nine task groups.
The Green Supplement serves as an invaluable resource for code officials, plumbers, contractors, engineers and manufacturers in designing, installing and approving more sustainable plumbing and mechanical systems. Among its features:
• Provides the most comprehensive collection of plumbing and mechanical provisions available toward increased water and energy efficiency;
• All provisions contained in the Green Supplement are proven safe and reliable;
• Provides related installation and maintenance requirements; and
• Where possible, the Green Supplement provides commentary detailing the water and energy savings associated with the provisions detailed within its language.
“Many of the provisions in the Green Supplement are very advanced,” said Tabakh. “These standards are 5-7 years ahead of the local codes. As you know, a code cycle takes 3-5 years and we cannot wait for products that are advanced or highly sophisticated before they are approved by the code. The Green Supplement gives a local jurisdiction the opportunity to adopt a superior product, a superior standard without waiting 5-7 years.”
The Green Supplement is designed as a transitional suppository for these concepts that are perceived as being ahead of their time. The end game, according to Viola, is ultimately for the supplement to go away as Green becomes the mainstream industry standard and these provisions are rolled into the codes.
With the Supplement complete, the Green Technical Committee has fulfilled the next step of the Board charge by submitting proposals that would incorporate the applicable portions of the Green Supplement into the 2012 Uniform Plumbing Code and 2012 Uniform Mechanical Code as non-mandatory appendices. The Uniform Plumbing and Mechanical Code Technical Committees will consider these proposals at their meetings, April 26-30, in Milwaukee, Wis.
Because there is no rest for the weary, the GTC has already made plans to start the maintenance process of the Green Supplement at its upcoming meeting in Chicago, April 14-15.
Geoff Bilau is senior writer, marketing & communications for IAPMO.
For more information about the Green Supplement and/or IAPMO’s commitment to a sustainable environment, visit www.iapmo.org/Pages/IAPMO_Green.aspx or contact Maria Bazan at (708) 995-3000 or maria.bazan@iapmo.org.