Code Classroom Continued from page 27


came very close to having one model code. the presenta- tion made by each organization showed that there was an enormous amount of money spent on the “code wars.” Money was spent flying model code representatives to meet with and lobby for adoption of the model codes in many battleground states. It was determined that this money could be better used and could go toward educa- tional programs. In the end, the two sides came very close to merging,


but the sticking point had to do with which organization would control the plumbing code. the voting process and the makeup of the committees would not have been con- sistent between the codes. one group would control the makeup of the plumbing code committee and the voting processes independent from the standardized procedures for all the other codes. since that time, the two organiza- tions have continued with business as usual. I for one would like to see one model code in the future, but I am not sure that I will see it in my lifetime. I sure hope that I am wrong.


2012 code release schedule the 2012 edition of the International codes is through


all of the hearings and in the process of being published in book and electronic format. the 2012 International Codes are scheduled to be published around April 30, 2011. this should give local governments plenty of time to review the 2012 code and adopt the codes through local ordi- nances in late 2011 or early 2012. 2015 International Codes the 2015 edition of the International codes will soon be


in the code development process. Following are the dead- lines for the 2015 code development cycle as of this date: Committee application deadline: June 1, 2011 Group A code deadlines Group A codes = International Building Code, International Fuel Gas Code, International Mechanical Code, International Plumbing Code, International Private sewage Disposal Code 1. Code change proposal deadline: January 3, 2012 2. Web posting of proposed changes to the I-codes:


March 12, 2012. 3. Code development hearings: April 29 – May 6, 2012, sheraton Dallas Hotel, Dallas, tX 4. Web posting of the Report on the Public Hearing:


June 8, 2012 5. Deadline for receipt of public comments: August 1,


2012 6. Web posting of public comments in final action agenda 7. Annual conference: october 21 – 24, 2012, Portland,


ore. Convention Center 8. Final action hearings: october 24 – 28, 2012, Portland, ore. Group B code deadlines Group B codes = Administrative sections from all


codes, International Existing Building Code, International Energy Conservation Code, International Fire Code, International Green Construction Code, International Performance Code, International Pool Code, International Property Maintenance Code, International Residential


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Code, International Wildland/Urban Interface Code, International Zoning Code 1. Code change proposal deadline: January 3, 2013 2. Web posting of proposed changes to the I-codes:


March 11, 2013 3. Code development hearings: April 21 – 28, 2013, sheraton Dallas Hotel, Dallas, tX 4. Web posting of the Report on the Public Hearing:


June 7, 2013 5. Deadline for receipt of public comments: August 1,


2013 6. Web posting of public comments in final action agen-


da: september 9, 2013 7. Final action hearings: late oct/early november, loca-


tion tBD. n


Ron George is president of Ron George Design & Consulting Services. He has served as Chairman of the International Residential Plumbing & Mechanical Code Committee. To contact Ron, write him at rgdc@ron georgedesign.com.


The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not reflect those of Plumbing Engineer nor its publisher, TMB Publishing.


Massachusetts adopts UMC as basis of statewide sheet metal code


Boston — the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Board of Examiners of sheet Metal Workers voted 5–1 in favor of adopting the 2009 Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC®) as the basis for the commonwealth’s newly created Massachusetts sheet Metal Code (271 CMR). slated for publication in January 2012, the new code will govern the installation, inspection and maintenance of air handling systems throughout Massachusetts. thrice designated as an American national standard,


the UMC is a model code developed and published since 1967 by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical officials (IAPMo) as a means of promoting the public’s health, safety and welfare through sound materials and practices. IAPMo will work with the Board of Examiners of sheet Metal Workers to amend the most recently published 2009 edition of the UMC into a docu- ment that best suits the needs of Massachusetts. the 15th most populated state in the union, Massachusetts’ plumbing industry is regulated by the Massachusetts Board of Examiners of Plumbers and Gasfitters. For the past nine years, IAPMo has been the exclusive administrator of the continuing education (CEU) program for each of the nearly 500 municipal plumbing and gas inspectors and is one of the board- approved organizations certified to provide CEU training for licensees in Massachusetts. IAPMo will provide education to all of the state and municipal inspectors in the commonwealth and will con- duct code training for all sheet metal licensees on the new Massachusetts sheet Metal Code. In excess of 6,000 licensees are projected by February 2011.


January 2011


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