Code Council Statement on NJ Plumbing Code Decision

By now, many of you have seen the news this morning that the state of New Jersey announced its decision to use the 2021 edition of the National Standard Plumbing Code (NSPC). You can view the full statement in the New Jersey Register here. The decision to maintain its current legacy plumbing code will mean many missed opportunities for the state which is deeply disappointing and will ultimately shortchange the people of New Jersey.

Modernizing the plumbing code in this state should be of critical importance as it directly impacts the health and safety of the residents of New Jersey. The International Plumbing Code (IPC), the predominant plumbing code used throughout the northeast and most of the U.S., is the best fit to achieve this priority.

Adopting the IPC would modernize NJ plumbing regulations by including the most recent technological advances and best practices derived by all interested stakeholders. Additionally, the IPC would help streamline the design, permitting and review process not only in New Jersey, but across the entire region, thus eliminating confusion and bringing consistency and uniformity to the Garden State. Adopting the IPC would ultimately be more affordable for all New Jerseyans.

We will continue to support the IPC with the hope that New Jersey’s decisionmakers reconsider.

The below New Jersey organizations and business leaders share the Code Council’s position on this issue and provided the below statements:

John Cwikla, president, NJ Chapter of The American Institute of Architects (AIA)

We are extremely disappointed to have recently learned that the state of New Jersey will be maintaining the current legacy plumbing code – NSPC. The members of AIA-NJ have been steadfast in our support for the adoption of the International Plumbing Code (IPC) - the predominant plumbing code used throughout the northeast and the U.S.

Adopting the IPC would have helped streamline the design process and thus eliminate potential confusion. It also would dramatically help our efforts by bringing uniformity to our work as the IPC works in concert with all other I-Codes currently in place in the state of New Jersey.

Updated codes are crucial for maximizing the health and safety of New Jersey’s residents. This should be a high priority for the plumbing code in this state. We strongly encourage New Jersey’s officials to reconsider and adopt the IPC for a safer and more affordable New Jersey.

John Fiedler, President, New Jersey Building Officials Association (NJBOA)

The New Jersey Building Officials Association is a not-for-profit organization devoted to protecting the health, welfare, and safety of the public by promoting professionalism, education and ethics. We understand the importance of a coordinated set of codes in reducing potential confusion, delay and additional costs in the construction and remodeling of buildings and infrastructure in New Jersey.

As such, we are disappointed that the Department of Community Affairs disregarded the Code Advisory Board’s vote to move forward with the adoption of the International Plumbing Code (IPC). The members of NJBOA were looking forward to not having to go from one code book to the other during the code review process as they do now. Being able to use one unified set of codes would avoid conflicting and overlapping requirements with the other I-Codes that the state has already adopted.

The fact that New Jersey is not using the most widely adopted plumbing code in the U.S. and that the DCA continues to push forward a different code such as the NSPC, goes against what our organization stands for and is contrary to what we believe is best for our state and its residents.

Brian Miller, Chairman, The Municipal Construction Officials Association (MUNCO)

The Officers and Members of The Municipal Construction Officials Association (MUNCO) are disappointed with the decision that DCA Commissioner, Sheila Oliver, made in opting to remain with the NSPC instead of adopting the International Plumbing Code. We had the opportunity to lead the country in comprehensive and uniform code enforcement throughout the state. MUNCO would prefer to use a coordinated set of codes and standards that would allow symmetry for all stakeholders including design professionals, business owners, contractors and residents. For such a progressive state it is mind-boggling that we continue to use a code that the rest of the country has decided to abandon. New Jersey’s residents deserve better.

Henry J. Kelly Jr., President and CEO, The Kelly Group, Inc.

As a builder it is disappointing that New Jersey has proposed adoption of the NSPC instead of the International Plumbing Code (IPC) utilized by over 35 states including all of our neighboring states. At one time, the NSPC was the plumbing code of choice, but the majority of states realize the IPC is a better option because it aligns with all the other International Code Council (I-Codes) that states across the country, including New Jersey, adopt. New Jersey is now the only state that adopts the NSPC as their statewide plumbing code.