California approves Water Demand Calculator as alternate standard for sizing water supply piping
The California Building Standards Commission has approved the adoption of IAPMO’s Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) Appendix M — the Water Demand Calculator —into the California Plumbing Code (CPC) as an alternative methodology for sizing water pipes in single- and multifamily buildings. The alternative approach will be available for statewide use on a voluntary basis starting July 1, 2024.
A revolutionary tool, the Water Demand Calculator accurately predicts peak water demand in single-family homes and apartment buildings, reducing the carbon footprint of the structure and saving consumers on both their water and water heating-related energy utility bills for the entire life of the plumbing system. At the same time, proper sizing greatly minimizes the potential threat of bacterial growth within the system, which can lead to such serious health risks as Legionnaire’s disease.