14/Plumbing Engineer February 2022
T
his month, I'll be catching you up on the code activities over the last few months. We'll start off with the International Association of Plumbing & Mechanical Officials (IAPMO), which sought Canadian input in the development of IAPMO Z1117, Press Connections , and IAPMO Z1154, Shower and Tub/ Shower Enclosures, Bathtubs with Glass Pressure Sealed Doors, and Shower/Steam Panels , as national standards of Canada. The IAPMO Z1117 press connections standard covers press connections made with: Copper or copper alloy fittings and Type K, L and M copper tube; Carbon-steel fittings and Schedule 10 and 40 carbon- steel pipe; Stainless-steel fittings and Schedule 5, 10, and 40 stainless-steel pipe; Stainless-steel fittings and stainless-steel pipe com- plying with the dimensions specified in the standard. Z1117 specifies requirements for materials, physical characteristics, performance testing and markings. It includes products such as fittings, tube and pipe with press connection ends combined with other types of connections (e.g., threaded, soldered and push fit). Keep in mind that carbon-steel fittings and pipe covered by Z1117 are not intended to be used in plumbing systems. IAPMO Z1154 covers shower/steam panels, enclo- sures for showers and tub/shower combinations, bathtubs and tub/shower combinations with glass pressure sealed doors, and floor mounted shower stalls intended for new and retrofit applications. It also specifies requirements for materials, physical characteristics, performance test- ing and markings. Shower/steam panels and enclosures covered by Z1154 can include: Factory installed supply and waste fittings; Factory formed shower thresholds; Factory plumbed shower doors. UPC Adoptions In December, Lincoln, Neb., adopted the 2018 edi- tion of the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC), updating from the 2012 editions of the UPC, and was effective Dec. 27, 2021. "After careful review of the plumbing code, amend- ments were drafted to fit the needs of the industry and citizens the code serves," said Rex Crawford, Lincoln chief plumbing inspector. "The 2018 UPC with amend- ments embodies the provisions, guidelines and inno- vative methods that will best serve our residents. We recognized our industry prefers using the UPC and feel this code, as adopted, brings the greatest benefits for residential and commercial buildings." The Sedgwick County, Kan., Board of Commissioners voted to end the adoption of a dual plumbing code, which allowed residents to choose which code they wanted to follow. The code officials had previously used the UPC, and there was a trial period allowing the choice of either the International Plumbing Code or the UPC. The com- missioners chose to follow the 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code , with county-specific amendments, because they were familiar with the UPC and the liberties it offers them with respect to approvals. Soon after the action, the city of Wichita, Kan., also voted to adopt the 2021 UPC and align its plumbing code with the surrounding county. New Sanitary Facilities for Munazi Primary School On Nov. 30, the International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH) worked with the Rwanda Plumbers Organization (RPO) to launch the construction of new toilet and hand-washing facilities for Munazi Primary School in Gisagara District, Southern Province. Throughout 2021, with assistance from IWSH, the RPO teams visited numerous potential project sites, and selected this site for a new IWSH project. Plans are for volunteers to go to Munazi Primary School with a group that includes RPO volunteers, IWSH staff, the Munazi Primary School principal, and plumbing, architectural and engineering volunteers who worked together to develop plans over various digital platforms as part of a remote design workshop - a first of its kind for IWSH. Through the funds raised by the #GivingTuesday cam- paign and the IWSH/RPO collaboration, more than 800 children will soon have access to safe and clean drinking water, wastewater and hygiene facilities. The school's old outdoor pit toilets did not have doors, and there are no hand-washing facilities near the toilets. The IWSH/RPO work calls for seven toilets for girls, five for boys (plus four urinals), two for disabled stu- dents, and one each for female and male staff members. The girls' and boys' hygiene facilities will each have seven hand-washing taps and a low tap at each end, as well as ramps leading into the buildings. About 14,000 liters of water will be drawn from wells, disinfected and stored nearby in a water tower for flushing and hand- washing. RPO is now finalizing engineering plans and construc- tion drawings and will then connect its volunteers with local contractors to build the facilities. I had a chance to spend the month of November in Ghana, Africa, a few years ago doing a similar project through the Rotary Foundation (Monroe Chapter and the Windsor/Essex Canada Chapter). The mission trip
Code Events Roundup
Code Classroom
By Ron George, CPD
A summary of recent developments and activities in the plumbing code world.
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