Top ICC-PMG Initiatives for 2011
By Jay Peters, Executive Director, Plumbing, Mechanical and Fuel Gas, ICC S
ince the International Code Council’s Plumbing, Mechanical and Fuel Gas (PMG) Group was formed four years ago, our staff has been consis-
tently engaged in development activities with new part- ners, 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 encom- pass 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 respon- sible for most water usage in the United States. Enhancements to standards that improve conservation of this precious resource are invaluable.
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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 juris- dictions that are adopting the provisions set forth in this and future editions of the IRC related to fire sprinkler sys- tems, 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 sys- tems.
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 sys- tem of sustainable commercial and residential codes for all inhabitants and users of Tribal lands. While the strength and safety of the built environment is tanta- mount, wise and efficient use of natural resources is also a key goal. The Tribal Nation is proud of its long-stand- ing heritage of respect for the land and its resources. By ensuring buildings are constructed based on the Code Council’s comprehensive resource conservation provi- sions, 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 incorpo-
rates 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
Continued on page 36 March 2011
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