Ontario, Calif. — The second edition of the Green Plumbing and Mechanical Code Supplement (GPMCS), published by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO®), has been released, ensuring that the GPMCS remains the most comprehensive green construction code in the country for plumbing and mechanical systems.
The culmination of two years of work by IAPMO’s Green Technical Committee, a knowledgeable and diverse group of passionate industry stakeholders, the updated GPMCS contains myriad new or revised provisions addressing a number of areas where greater efficiency can be reasonably achieved, including:
PLUMBING DESIGN, FIXTURES AND FIXTURE FITTINGS
• Reduces the maximum flush volume for non‐residential from 1.6 gpf to 1.28 gpf. The only remaining caveat is that 1.6 gpm toilets are still permitted where installed in remote locations without the benefit of supplemental drain flows to assist drainline carry.
• Reduces the maximum flow rate for kitchen faucets from 2.2 gpm to 1.8 gpm and for pre‐rinse spray valves from 1.6 gpm to 1.3 gpm
• New provisions for dipper well faucets to address unnecessary water waste resulting from the continuous flow of water at high rates
• Maximum consumption limits set for trap primers and requires the use of alternate water source to prime traps where available
ALTERNATE WATER SOURCE SYSTEMS
• Minimum water quality standards added for nonpotable and potable rainwater catchment systems
• Incorporates new standards for water reuse treatment technologies to ensure that systems properly treat water to safe quality levels
• Expands and clarifies provisions allowing gray water, black water, rainwater, storm water, dry weather runoff, swimming pool backwash, condensate, cooling tower blow down, foundation drainage, and commercial kitchen appliance water discharge to be captured, treated and reused for toilet and urinal flushing, irrigation and other approved uses
MECHANICAL AND HVAC DESIGN
• Now requires duct leakage testing for low pressure systems
• New water efficiency measures for evaporative coolers limiting water consumption to 3.5 gallon maximum per ton of cooling and requiring water consumption markings on the equipment Updates HVAC energy efficiency provisions to the 2010 edition of ASHRAE 90.1.
• New provisions intended to prevent HVAC system over‐sizing
ALL NEW REQUIREMENTS FOR LANDSCAPE IRRIGATION SYSTEMS
• Requirement for dedicated water meters on systems servicing 2,500 square feet or more
• Requirements for irrigation controls to respond to climate or soil conditions and to shut off during rain
events
• System performance requirements to prevent run off and spraying onto adjacent properties, impervious
surfaces and buildings
• System design requirements pertaining to supply line drainage and sprinkler head performance
The 2012 GPMCS is available now for purchase in hardcopy form or for instant download as an eBook through the
IAPMO store at www.iapmostore.org.
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