The International Code Council (ICC) announced its 30th anniversary at a special event held at its booth during the International Builders Show (IBS) and Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) in February.

“It really is an important event for us to be able to celebrate our 30 years,” said Dominic Sims, CEO of ICC. “A little-known fact about the Code Council — our first plumbing code was developed in 1993. It was a consolidation of the three legacy organizations that came together to try and smooth out some of the bumps in the regulatory road. I think we’re making progress, but obviously, we have a little further to go. The plumbing industry plays a critical role in creating safe and sustainable communities around the world. Our Plumbing, Mechanical and Flue Gas (PMG) team who are here with us today, is dedicated to exploring innovative ideas, helping stakeholders find solutions and advancing best practices to contribute to the industry’s growth.”

“Together, we hope to bring the industry to new levels of excellence by advancing gender inclusivity in the trades,” he said.

Tim Goff, president of ASSA ABLOY Americas Residential, whose brand group includes Pfister Faucets and “American Plumber Stories,” speaks to the crowd during the event. All images courtesy of Nicole Krawcke/Plumbing & Mechanical.

Additionally, he announced the Code Council will sponsor Season 5 of the docuseries, “American Plumber Stories,” which is expected to air later this year.

“American Plumber Stories” celebrates the lives and work of all plumbers by sharing their passion, advice to the next generation of plumbers, and their plans to reshape the industry.

“The decision to sponsor the series is rooted in our deep commitment to the plumbing industry,” Sims said. “We are proud to help elevate the stories of plumbing professionals around the world. We hope that this season inspires young people to consider a career in the industry.”

Season 5 will feature perspectives from plumbing experts in Australia, Alaska, Canada, Hawaii, and more and will highlight some of the common challenges faced by plumbers across the world. This is the first time the show has traveled outside of the United States and there is great excitement about reaching an international audience — especially the next generation of plumbers. Country music icon and Army Reserve Soldier Craig Morgan will return as the show’s host.

“The plumbing industry is an amazing trade but we all know that getting labor is an issue,” said Tim Goff, president of ASSA ABLOY Americas Residential, whose brand group includes Pfister Faucets and “American Plumber Stories,” during the event. “Educating the younger generation about what an amazing trade plumbing is, is something that needs a lot of help. So, Spencer Brown hatched the idea of ‘American Plumber Stories’ which is aimed at education, entertainment and reaching the younger generation. Pfister Plumbing is proud to have started this effort and we are very proud to now have a partnership with the Code Council moving forward.”

ICC CEO Dominic Sims shakes hands with Craig Childress, lead plumber at Boston University, who in 2023, achieved the title of America’s Best Plumber. Childress won both the National Plumbing and HVAC Championships in Tampa during the Elite Trades Championship Series this past October. All images courtesy of Nicole Krawcke/Plumbing & Mechanical.

Also in attendance in the ICC booth was Craig Childress, lead plumber at Boston University, who in 2023, achieved the title of America’s Best Plumber. Childress won both the National Plumbing and HVAC Championships in Tampa during the Elite Trades Championship Series this past October. 

“I’m so grateful for the support from the Code Council. I can’t thank them enough for building up our trade. I like working with people like that. Their passion for the success of the trades is unmatched,” said Childress. 

The Code Council will support the 2024 Plumbing National Championship competition later this year in West Palm Beach, Florida. 

“The IBS and KBIS tradeshows present a lot of opportunity not only to show what we do at the Code Council but also to support the industry,” Sims added. “We’re excited to join you at KBIS where professionals in the design and plumbing industry come together to share their experience and learn about the latest products and trends. The Code Council works hard to support the building safety community through updating our codes and standards on a regular basis.”