CIB W062 Symposium 2024: Addressing Critical Issues in Water Supply and Drainage

The 49th International Symposium of the International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction (CIB) W062 Commission on Water Supply and Drainage for Buildings was held in Northampton, United Kingdom, from August 20-22, 2024. Organized by Aliaxis, this event brought together academics, researchers and industry professionals from around the globe to discuss the latest advancements and challenges in the field of water supply and drainage systems for buildings.

The primary aim of the CIBW062 Symposium is to foster collaboration among experts in water supply and drainage systems. This year’s symposium focused on addressing the pressing issues of sustainability, efficiency and public health in water management.

With these aligned objectives, the International Code Council was the main sponsor of the Symposium, and several staff members attended to share their expertise and experiences. One of the attendees included Stuart Tom, P.E., CBO, President of the Code Council Board of Directors.

“The Code Council acknowledges the important role that the academic community plays across the construction sector and the importance of codes and standards to address global issues through research and innovation,” said Tom.

CIB W062 Symposium 2024 Showcases Innovations, Research and International Collaboration

The symposium was well attended this year, with many attendees from the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, the United States and more.

Day 1 featured several sessions covering subjects on:

• Innovations in drainage system performance
• Advances in water supply and demand management
• Optimization and testing of drainage systems
• Sustainable water solutions and technologies

Day 2 focused on research undertaken in the following areas:

• Sustainable practices in building and water management
• Innovative approaches to water usage and conservation
• Cutting-edge research in drainage and wastewater systems
• Emerging trends in water heating and supply systems

Several attendees from academia, engineering and members of the Code Council’s 815 Standard Committee (working on a comprehensive design methodology for sizing water distribution, sanitary drainage and vent piping sizing in residential buildings) and 825 Standard Committee (working on design, construction and operation requirements for residential onsite wastewater treatment systems that are resilient to climate change) were in attendance from around the world  and many presented on research being undertaken in their own countries.

“Some of the challenges currently facing the plumbing industry are extremely important ones, however they are equally as complex. Only by collaborating internationally are we able to bring the best minds and experienced professionals together to develop solutions in the form of new standards, which are essential tools for the industry,” said Tom Roberts, Code Council Global Director of PMG.

CIBW062 Symposium: (From left to Right) Bart Bleys, Dr Michael Gormley, Ross Wakefield, Tom Roberts, Dr Esber Andiroglu, Stuart Tom, Drew Rich, John Lansing, Jassim Daureeawo, Frank Schmidt, Ramiro Mata, Nick Post, Tom Wise and Matt Sigler.  

Highlights from the CIB W062 Symposium 2024

Highlights from the CIB W062 Symposium 2024 included:

• John Lansing from the U.S. presented on recommended velocities in domestic hot water return piping. John is also the chair of the sanitary drainage and measurement working groups for the new ICC 815 standard.
• Ross Wakefield from New Zealand presented his paper on managing expansion in storage water heating systems and compared the use of temperature and pressure relief valves and expansion vessels in heated water services. Ross is also a committee member for the new ICC 815 standard.
• A couple of presentations focused on water conservation. An important discussion point was the increasing number of regions that are facing water scarcity issues. Bart Bleys from Belgium discussed the reuse potential of drainage water from construction sites and Nick Post from the Netherlands presented a case study for circular water use across three different housing types.
• Dr. Michael Gormley from the United Kingdom presented his paper which focused on the development of a test methodology for the verification of system design at the commissioning stage of tall building drainage systems.
• Austin Perry presented his paper on the need for updated international standards for onsite wastewater treatment and disposal systems and the work that the University of Miami is undertaking to support the new ICC 825 standard.

“The Code Council was pleased to be the major sponsor of the 2024 CIB062 Symposium,” said Matt Sigler, Code Council Executive Director of PMG. “We strongly believe that research should play a key role in the development of codes and standards used throughout the world, and we were pleased to see several of our key collaborators at the symposium again this year.”

The CIB W062 Symposium 2024 in Northampton was a resounding success, providing a platform for meaningful discussions and knowledge exchange on critical issues in water supply and drainage. The insights and innovations shared at the symposium will undoubtedly contribute to the advancement of sustainable water management practices globally.

As we look forward to future symposia, the collaborative spirit and dedication of the participants continue to drive progress in this vital field. The 2025 symposium will be hosted by the Code Council’s research partners at the University of Miami.

“We are looking forward to welcoming everyone to Florida for the 50^th CIBW062 Symposium next year,” said Dr Esber Andiroglu. “We are honored to be able to host the event in 2025 and celebrate 50 years of collaboration and research in the water and wastewater fields.”

To stay updated on PMG-related news, subscribe to the Code Council’s PMG newsletter here. To learn more about or how you can get involved in the development of ICC’s 815 and 825 standards, please contact Ramiro Mata at rmata@iccsafe.org.