Call for Committee: Two New Plumbing Standards

The International Code Council is currently seeking contractors, engineers, code officials, academics, manufacturers, health authority experts, and other industry stakeholders to volunteer for two new ICC committees to help develop new plumbing standards.

Sizing Water Distribution, Drainage and Venting Standard Consensus Committee 

Once appointed, this committee will convene to develop ICC 815, Standard for Sizing Water Distribution, Sanitary Drainage and Vent Piping Systems.  This new international standard would establish minimum requirements for a comprehensive design methodology for sizing water distribution, sanitary drainage, and vent piping systems for residential, mixed-use, and institutional occupancies.  The standard will consider the technical advances in estimating water usage patterns and post-COVID-19 societal changes. 

This committee will have primary responsibility for the development of minimum requirements and standards to safeguard public health, safety, and the general welfare and address societal and industry challenges through sizing water distribution, sanitary drainage, and vent piping systems for residential, mixed-use, and institutional occupancies. 

Private Sewage Disposal Systems Standard Consensus Committee 

Once appointed, this committee will convene to develop ICC 825, Private Sewage Disposal Systems.  This new standard would provide minimum requirements for designing, constructing, operating and maintaining private sewage disposal systems which include septic tank and effluent absorption systems, or other treatment tank and effluent disposal systems, where a public sewer is not available.  Furthermore, the new standard will focus on the impacts of climate change, and how better to design and install such systems to be more resilient to extreme weather events. 

This committee will have primary responsibility for the development of minimum requirements and standards to safeguard the public health, safety, general welfare and address societal and industry challenges through designing, constructing, operating and maintaining private sewage disposals systems which include septic tanks and effluent absorption systems, or other treatment tank and effluent disposal systems, where a public sewer is not available. 

Why You Should Consider Applying for a Committee 

Because current plumbing piping is sized based on plumbing fixtures from the 1940s, lower flow rates of modern plumbing fixtures and fittings result in wasted water and energy as well as potential for the build-up of biofilm. ICC-815 will address these issues by focusing on proper velocity through water piping and proper disposal of waste in sanitary drainage systems with lower flow rates.   

ICC-825 will address situations where, if a public sewer is not available, the code requires a private sewage disposal system to be installed. Furthermore, ICC-825 will work hand-in-hand with the sanitary drainage aspect of ICC-815.  

ICC Standards are developed to address building industry challenges as they relate to compliance with the I-Codes. Participating in these committees will help shape these standards used to ensure safe, affordable and sustainable communities and buildings worldwide.  

The application deadline to apply is October 30, 2022. You can visit the ICC committee application webpage.  

For more information, contact Matt Sigler, PMG Executive Director.