General News

The American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE) is pleased to announce that CSA Group, a global testing and certification organization and standards development organization (SDO), has joined ASPE’s Affiliate Sponsorship program. As an ASPE Affiliate Sponsor, CSA Group will benefit from numerous opportunities to build name recognition within the North American plumbing engineering community. “We Read more

The American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE) is pleased to announce that CSA Group, a global testing and certification organization and standards development organization (SDO), has joined ASPE’s Affiliate Sponsorship program. As an ASPE Affiliate Sponsor, CSA Group will benefit from numerous opportunities to build name recognition within the North American plumbing engineering community.
“We are very excited to become an ASPE Affiliate Sponsor,” says Glenn Tubrett, Global Business Leader of Plumbing for CSA Group. “CSA Group has a long history developing standards and encouraging best practices within the plumbing industry. Working with the other ASPE sponsors, we will be able to reach more industry groups and continue to help make plumbing products and services safer for everyone.”
As Canada’s largest SDO, CSA Group has developed more than 3,000 standards, codes, and related products in a wide range of subject areas affecting product safety and performance, process improvement, best practices, and safer work environments. In addition, CSA Group provides consumer product testing and certification services for a broad range of industries including industrial equipment, plumbing and construction, electro-medical and healthcare, appliances and gas, alternative energy, lighting, and sustainability.
“By becoming an ASPE Affiliate Sponsor, CSA Group joins an impressive list of prestigious plumbing industry manufacturers and service organizations,” says David Jern, ASPE’s Director of Affiliate Relations. “We look forward to working with CSA Group to increase awareness of the importance of plumbing system standards and product certification.”
ASPE Affiliate Sponsors gain a direct connection with ASPE’s 6,000 members via exposure in ASPE’s official publication, Plumbing Engineer, and its e-newsletter, ASPE Pipeline, on ASPE.org, and in other print and digital media outlets, as well as at Society events. To learn more about becoming an ASPE Affiliate Sponsor, contact David Jern at djern@aspe.org or 847-296-0002 x235.

IAPMO’s Uniform Evaluation Service (UES) is pleased to announce that Arizona-based San Juan Products was granted UES Evaluation Report ER-298 to reference the 2012, 2009 and 2006 International Building Code® (IBC) and the 2012, 2009 and 2006 International Residential Code®(IRC). ER-298 states that the San Juan Pools as shown in the report satisfy applicable code Read more

IAPMO’s Uniform Evaluation Service (UES) is pleased to announce that Arizona-based San Juan Products was granted UES Evaluation Report ER-298 to reference the 2012, 2009 and 2006 International Building Code® (IBC) and the 2012, 2009 and 2006 International Residential Code®(IRC). ER-298 states that the San Juan Pools as shown in the report satisfy applicable code requirements. This allows for the specification of San Juan Pools by architects, contractors, specifiers, and designers, and approval of installations by code officials. It also provides code officials with a concise summary of the products’ attributes and documentation of code compliance.

Products recognized with an IAPMO UES Evaluation Report have successfully undergone evaluation based on applicable requirements within the Uniform Family of Codes and the International Family of Codes, as well as codes published by other entities. UES staff thoroughly examined San Juan Products’ product information, test reports, calculations, quality control methods, and other factors to determine the products are code compliant.

“San Juan Products is extremely pleased with ER-298 on our pools,” said Kirk Sullivan, president. “UES worked with us every step of the way and provided us a report second to none — really world class. It is refreshing to work with such a professional group.”

The UES program is built upon IAPMO’s more than 70 years of experience in evaluating products for code compliance. Accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the program operates under ISO/IEC Guide 65, “General Requirements for Bodies Operating Product Certification Systems.”

UES Director Richard Beck, PE, CBO, MCP, explains why Uniform Evaluation Reports are so valuable: “San Juan Products can now reference its ER-298 for their pools to ensure that code officials quickly have the necessary documentation for their decision on approval. Our program also stands out because of stellar customer service and the utilization of in-house staff along with the technical expertise of professional engineering firms, who are leaders in each area of recognition.”

IAPMO’s UES offers a full range of recognition opportunities, including recognition for the applicable national model codes, as well as Florida, California, and various other state codes. The UES program lowers the cost and increases the value to code officials of these reports by combining all of these recognitions in one concise report prepared by an internationally recognized product certification body.

ABOUT IAPMO’S UNIFORM ES

The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) coordinates the development and adoption of plumbing, mechanical, swimming pool, and solar energy codes to meet the specific needs of individual jurisdictions both in the United States and abroad. IAPMO Uniform ES (UES) is one of the two prominent evaluation service providers (as noted by SEAOC, see Uniform-ES.org for details). UES reports provide evidence that products and systems satisfy code requirements within the scope and conditions of use as noted in each report.

For more information on IAPMO Uniform ES, direct your Web browser to www.Uniform-ES.org or contact Karen Snowden (909) 472-4105 or Karen.Snowden@iapmoes.org.

Every contractor values products that save on labor at any job site. On some jobs, it’s not just about the money saved. Read about the unique challenge Braconier Mechanical & Plumbing Services faced when working on The Children’s Hospital Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, in Aurora, Colorado. Read the MCAA Article Read more

Every contractor values products that save on labor at any job site. On some jobs, it’s not just about the money saved. Read about the unique challenge Braconier Mechanical & Plumbing Services faced when working on The Children’s Hospital Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, in Aurora, Colorado.
Read the MCAA Article

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) on Thursday, April 17, from 2-3:30 EDT, will host an online webinar titled “DOE Certification, Compliance, and Enforcement Overview for Plumbing Products.” Last year, U.S. Customs and Border Protection finalized regulations that allow officials to refuse admission of consumer products and industrial equipment that are found to be noncompliant Read more

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) on Thursday, April 17, from 2-3:30 EDT, will host an online webinar titled “DOE Certification, Compliance, and Enforcement Overview for Plumbing Products.”

Last year, U.S. Customs and Border Protection finalized regulations that allow officials to refuse admission of consumer products and industrial equipment that are found to be noncompliant with energy conservation and labeling standards, including plumbing products.

“This is the second time in the last couple of years that the plumbing industry has partnered with DOE to provide industry specific guidance,” said Dain Hansen, vice president of Government Relations for IAPMO. “With U.S. Customs and Border Protection now increasing its ability to enforce and refuse entry to noncompliant products, this training is coming at an opportune time.”

The webinar will explain the obligations that manufacturers, private labelers and importers must meet to ensure their plumbing products comply with the federal water consumption regulations. These obligations include testing in accordance with the appropriate test procedures to ensure compliance with the applicable standard and annually certifying to DOE the compliance of these products.

DOE will explain how to certify compliance as well as the steps DOE takes to ensure products are indeed compliant with their applicable standards. A recently implemented customs rule regarding importation of products regulated by DOE and the steps importers must take to ensure their products are properly imported prior to sale in the United States will also be discussed.

Under authority from the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 (as amended), DOE regulates the water consumption of specific plumbing products. These products include faucets, showerheads, water closets, urinals, and commercial pre-rinse spray valves.

IAPMO R&T Lab and IAPMO R&T have partnered with DOE for nearly 10 years as a provider of third-party testing and certification services to such DOE consumer product labeling programs as ENERGY STAR® and U.S. EPA’s WaterSense®.

Participants may register at https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/637357752. Webinar requires Windows® 8, 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server; Mac OS®X 10.6 or newer; iPhone®, iPad®, AndroidTM phone or Android tablet.

Axor, the designer brand of Hansgrohe, is set to make a splash at DIFFA’s DINING BY DESIGN 2014. As one of the few bathroom manufacturers to take on the challenge, Axor will show the design world what innovation is all about. The team from Axor NYC, the brand’s dedicated design studio, found just the right Read more

Axor, the designer brand of Hansgrohe, is set to make a splash at DIFFA’s DINING BY DESIGN 2014. As one of the few bathroom manufacturers to take on the challenge, Axor will show the design world what innovation is all about. The team from Axor NYC, the brand’s dedicated design studio, found just the right partner in Slade Architecture. The Tribeca-based award-winning firm, founded by James and Hayes Slade in 2002, is known for creating designs that are simultaneously functional and original. Together, Axor and Slade will transform the blank 11×11 foot space into a unique and visually stimulating dining environment.