Top ICC-PMG Initiatives for 2011
By Jay Peters, Executive Director,
Plumbing, Mechanical and Fuel Gas, ICC
Since the International Code Council’s Plumbing, Mechanical and Fuel Gas (PMG) Group was formed four years ago, our staff has been consistently engaged in development activities with new partners, projects, products and services. The number of states in which jurisdictions have adopted one or more PMG codes has increased steadily in this short time. The selection of codes and related products and services has expanded to over 200 PMG offerings. The PMG Group has also forged dozens of critical new relationships with highly regarded industry organizations, all leaders in their respective fields.
Swim safety
For instance, we’ve teamed up with the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals (APSP) to develop the 2012 International Swimming Pool Code. This comprehensive code will be the only one used for public and residential pools and spas – in ground, above ground or portable – as well as aquatic recreation facilities. It also will encompass construction, design and inspection of pools and spas and include extensive provisions for dramatically increased pool safety. The goal is to create a code that offers broad provisions and ensures the highest possible level of safety, positioning it to become the code of choice for pool and spa professionals, both locally and worldwide.
Irrigation systems
After kicking off discussions with landscape irrigation industry experts at the 2010 WaterSmart Innovations Conference, the PMG Group continues to work closely with them to expand irrigation provisions in the International Green Construction Code (IGCC) Public Version 2.0. Once the Code Council discovered that ANSI consensus standards lacked these types of systems and products, the PMG Group reached out to the Irrigation Association, the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers and other related professionals. The purpose was to spearhead an effort whereby various experts could provide invaluable input to help develop these enhanced provisions and begin the creation of five new ANSI standards. Irrigation is responsible for most water usage in the United States. Enhancements to standards that improve conservation of this precious resource are invaluable.
Fire sprinkler systems
One of the key provisions in the 2009 International Residential Code® (IRC) requires that approved fire sprinkler systems be installed in all one- and two family dwellings constructed after the 2009 IRC is adopted, or by January 1, 2011 – whichever is later. The Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE), the Code Council, the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) and the National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in July 2010. The purpose was to enhance further the ability of jurisdictions that are adopting the provisions set forth in this and future editions of the IRC related to fire sprinkler systems, and to provide training for accreditation for the installation of these systems. The Code Council and these highly respected organizations are coordinating multiple efforts in 2011, all designed to further improve the life safety benefits of residential fire sprinkler systems.
Tribal lands MOU
After months of meetings, the Code Council and Native American Construction Training Management, Inc. (NACTM) signed a historic MOU late last year that centers on strategies for creating a single, complete system of sustainable commercial and residential codes for all inhabitants and users of Tribal lands. While the strength and safety of the built environment is tantamount, wise and efficient use of natural resources is also a key goal. The Tribal Nation is proud of its long-standing heritage of respect for the land and its resources. By ensuring buildings are constructed based on the Code Council’s comprehensive resource conservation provisions, the Nation will continue to demonstrate sustainable practices, setting an example for its Tribal residents, the entire nation and the world.
Water conservation
Although the general focus for PMG codes incorporates plumbing, mechanical and fuel gas collectively, since the release of the IGCC Public Version 1.0 in March 2010, a good deal of our efforts have centered around the water conservation (i.e., plumbing) attributes of these new provisions. For jurisdictions wishing to implement water provisions right away but are not ready to commit to total sustainable construction, an extract document that only includes IGCC’s water provisions was developed. While we will naturally continue to promote ever greater water efficiency, in 2011 we will also strongly promote the outstanding attributes of the mechanical provisions in both the IGCC and International Mechanical Code® (IMC). The Code Council is discussing possible formal collaborations with the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA), the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association (SMACNA) and the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors (NBBI). The relationships with which the Code Council is engaged through our strategic memoranda can influence the industry for improvement in safety and technological advancement.
Global teamwork
Of course, we will continue to work with the Code Council’s Global Services department, teaming up for a stronger alliance with key countries seeking to adopt PMG codes, as well as complementary organizations, particularly in the sanitation, water-efficiency arenas. A key example of a successful major collaborative effort with global and national sanitation organizations and a United States plumbing organization was the first ever U.S.-based World Toilet Summit in Philadelphia. The Code Council organized and presented the Summit, in conjunction with the American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE) annual convention, on behalf of the World Toilet Organization (WTO). Speakers and attendees from six continents met to discuss life-critical topics. Our energized, devoted staff looks forward to continuing to build upon the successes of the past several years. The initiatives outlined are just a sample of what is planned for the coming year, all designed to offer our members and other industry professionals more PMG resources with greater convenience, resource conservation, ease of use and safety.
The International Code Council (ICC) publishes building safety, fire prevention and energy efficiency codes that are used in the construction of residential and commercial buildings. Most U.S. cities, counties and states choose the I-Codes based on their outstanding quality. The ICC’s Plumbing, Mechanical and Fuel Gas (PMG) Group is devoted exclusively to providing PMG products and support to jurisdictions and construction industry professionals across the country and around the globe, with one or more PMG codes adopted in all 50 states. The more than 200 superior products and related services were developed specifically by and for plumbing and mechanical professionals. Contact the PMG Group for additional information at 1-888-ICC-SAFE, x4PMG, PMGResourceCenter@iccsafe.org, or visit iccsafe.org.
This article originally appeared in the February 2011 issue of the Building Safety Journal, copyright International Code Council, and is reprinted with permission.