IAPMO Annual Meeting Update

By Ron George, CIPE, CPD

President, Ron George Design & Consulting Services

The annual conference for IAPMO was held in Las Vegas, NV, in late September. IAPMO is the parent organization for the Uniform Plumbing and Mechanical Codes. IAPMO Executive Director, Russ Chaney, addressed the assembly with an update on the organization's major activities. Following is a recap of his comments.

Update on Major IAPMO Activities

More than 450 people attended the IAPMO conference. Chaney began his presentation by welcoming the attendees and presenting the executive director's report. Then, he addressed the major activities currently underway at IAPMO.

Chaney reported that the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC), code development department has been reorganized. There are now two divisions under what is now called the "codes and education" department. One division-Code Development-has the usual code development people and services and the other division is called "Member Services" and has the member services, educational seminars, inspector certification exams and chapter support services.

He also announced that all 2006 IAPMO UPC, UMC and other Uniform Codes support publications are available for purchase at www.iapmo.org.

Chaney also addressed the code adoptions in various jurisdictions and said they were going to actively pursue new UPC and UMC adoptions in states where IAPMO has solid membership support. Chaney also mentioned that IAPMO is supporting state requests for individual code amendment packages. This will be helpful to states that need assistance for publishing a code book consisting of the UPC that includes local or state amendments.

Chaney announced that IAPMO has now opened a new regional office in Chicago. The office currently has six staff members including Terry Lepellerre and Dave Viola, both of whom are seasoned code professionals who offer a wealth of knowledge. Lepellerre has more than 20 years with BOCA and ICC. Prior to joining IAPMO, Viola served as technical director for the Plumbing Manufacturers Institute (PMI), where he oversaw all plumbing code, plumbing product standard, product certification and technical training activities. As a vital member of the plumbing industry, Viola has served on numerous committees and boards, including a 5-year term as chair of the ASME A112 Committee on Plumbing. In addition, he is a charter member of the board of directors for the Alliance for Water Efficiency. Prior to his work with PMI, Viola worked on the International Plumbing Code with the Building Official and Code Administrators International and the International Code Council. His responsibilities at those organizations included serving as secretary of the plumbing code, evaluating plumbing products for code compliance and conducting seminars. Thanks to an early start in the family plumbing business, Viola's knowledge of the plumbing industry comes from practical, hands-on experience. He added to this foundation with a mechanical engineering degree from Northern Illinois University.

In their new roles with IAPMO, Lepellerre and Viola will assess what is state-of-the-art in green building and sustainable construction codes and standards, and will spearhead IAPMO's increased coordination and involvement with these activities. One of his key objectives will be to keep the IAPMO membership appraised of the rapidly developing technologies and practices in these areas. Lepellerre's and Viola's backgrounds will be critical in their responsibilities in various areas within the IAPMO Group, including code development, training and education, and promotion of the UPC and UMC.

Chaney also mentioned that the Chicago office is developing a "Career Services Department" website, which will be devoted to enhancing member and career services.

IAPMO has announced a program to offer a 20% discount to IAPMO members on all publications and materials offered by IAPMO.

Plans were announced for IAPMO to develop plan review services. The plan review services are in the developmental stages. Discussions with staff indicated that IAPMO intends to develop and offer a full complement of plan review services. IAPMO has also organized a Training Resource Catalog that details each seminar and instructors that are available to teach each subject. IAPMO is also greatly expanding the number seminar topics that are available. The seminars are listed in the Training Resource Catalog.

By year-end, Chaney stated that IAPMO will have tripled the total number of training days held in 2006. Chaney also announced plans are underway for a major expansion of the "IAPMO Personnel Certification Program." Certification exams will represent all occupational sectors including building and electrical inspector certification plans. He also announced that an "Online Career Center" has been established to list available job openings and resumes.

Green Buildings: The New Hot Issue

IAPMO announced the hiring of Pete DeMarco as its new director of Special Programs. After more than 32 years with American Standard, DeMarco will join IAPMO this month, bringing to the organization his expertise in green technologies. While at American Standard, he held many positions in the engineering and marketing departments including technical services manager, manager of codes and standards, and product manager for commercial fixtures. In his last assignment as the director of compliance engineering, DeMarco represented American Standard at all pertinent codes, standards and industry venues as well as overseeing all compliance requirements for the manufacturer's full line of plumbing fixtures. DeMarco also serves the plumbing industry as the chair of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers A112.19.2 standard for vitreous china fixtures, and as the chair of the Canadian Standards Assn. B45 series of standards for plumbing fixtures. DeMarco's expertise is instrumental in defining practical product applications as co-chair of an ad-hoc steering committee for water efficient products that is developing a market initiative for the EPA's WaterSense program. His understanding of the benefits of high-efficiency plumbing products and processes will serve him well in his new position with IAPMO while attending regional, national and international venues. DeMarco will also develop new programs that support green plumbing technology, products, systems and applications.

DeMarco's decision to join IAPMO is especially well timed as the demand for practical expertise in water efficiency continues to rise. He will play a critical role in increasing awareness of IAPMO's support programs for industry and government.

Chaney announced that IAPMO is actively engaged in numerous green initiatives:

• IAPMO has a committee seat on the Alliance for Water Efficiency.
• IAPMO is involved in EPA's Water Sense initiative.
• IAPMO is involved with the California Urban Water Conservation Council.
• IAPMO is involved with the Green Building Initiative.
• IAPMO is involved with California Building Standards Commission Green Building Focus Group.

Backflow Prevention

IAPMO started a Backflow Prevention Institute, which has become a strong legislative advocate addressing cross-connection control and backflow protection programs at the local level.

IAPMO is supporting the Backflow Prevention Institute and Dr. Stu Asay directs the backflow operations from IAPMO's Denver regional office. Dr. Asay has also helped produce the IAPMO Backflow Prevention Reference Manual.

In other backflow prevention industry news, the Backflow Preventer Manufacturer's Assn. (BPMA) and IAPMO are collaborating on Backflow Prevention Initiatives.

Dr. Asay founded Drinking Water and Backflow Prevention Magazine and IAPMO now publishes the magazine. The magazine has doubled its subscription base in the last year.

IAPMO co-hosted a Backflow Symposium in January 2007 to focus attention on industry concerns.

New IAPMO Chapters

Chaney reported on new IAPMO Chapters in the following locations: San Diego; Wichita, KS; Central Nebraska; Texas Panhandle; Miami; and Wisconsin.

New Uniform Code Adoptions

Chaney announced Uniform Code Adoptions in the following locations:

California - Effective in January 2008 for the UPC and UMC.

Hawaii - First statewide adoption - 2006 UPC.

Phoenix and Tucson, AZ adopt - 2006 UPC (Update from the 1991 UPC).

Cities in Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri have adopted the 2006 UPC. In Texas, the cities of Houston, Austin and San Antonio have adopted the 2006 UPC.

In other IAPMO News

Certification are being offered by IAPMO in Montana for masters and journeymen.

Maine sets records for CEU training on the new UPC and they have statewide adoption of Uniform Codes.

IAPMO is working with the state of Louisiana to get the Uniform Plumbing Code adopted.

IAPMO Elects a new Board of Directors

IAPMO elected a new board of directors at their annual meeting

President: Ron Rice

Vice President: Bob Siemsen

Secretary: Ken Carlson

Northern District Director: Gary Hile

Central District Director: Bruce Pfeiffer

Southern District Director: John Roth

Contractor Director at Large: Bud Riestenberg

The IAPMO Group - Annual Report

Testing Labs adds Cell Class testing for manufacturers of plastic pipe and fittings.

The 2006 Uniform Plumbing Code and Uniform Mechanical Code are designated American National Standards in May of 2007

Code Development

IAPMO proceeds with development of the revisions to the Uniform Swimming Pool, Spa and Hot Tub Code and the Uniform Solar Energy Code.

IAPMOs Future meeting dates are as follows:

• 2008 Technical Committee Meeting, Denver - The Adams Mark Hotel, May 5-9, 2008
• 79th Annual Education and Business Conference and ISHNA, Atlanta - The Sheraton Atlanta, Sept. 28 - Oct. 2, 2008
• IAPMO Annual Education and Business Conference, Oct. 1 -3, 2008
• ISHNA 2009 Technical Committee Meeting, St. Louis - Hilton at the Ballpark, May 4-8, 2009

Ron George specializes in plumbing, piping, fire protection and hvac design. He also provides  plumbing/mechanical code and product standard consulting services and forensic investigations of mechanical system failures.