• Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
  • PRODUCTS
  • CONTRACTORS
  • ENGINEERS
  • RADIANT & HYDRONICS
  • INSIGHTS
  • MEDIA
  • RESOURCES
  • EMAGAZINE
  • SIGN UP!
cart
facebook instagram twitter linkedin youtube
  • CONTRACTORS
  • BATH & KITCHEN PRO
  • BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
  • HIGH EFFICIENCY HOMES
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • WATER TREATMENT
  • PMC COLUMNS
  • PMC COLUMNS
  • Dave Yates: Contractor’s Corner
  • John Siegenthaler: Hydronics Workshop
  • Kenny Chapman: The Blue Collar Coach
  • Matt Michel: Service Plumbing Pros
  • Scott Secor: Heating Perceptions
  • ENGINEERS
  • CONTINUING EDUCATION
  • DECARBONIZATION | ELECTRIFICATION
  • FIRE PROTECTION
  • GEOTHERMAL | SOLAR THERMAL
  • PIPING | PLUMBING | PVF
  • PME COLUMNS
  • PME COLUMNS
  • Christoph Lohr: Strategic Plumbing Insights
  • David Dexter: Plumbing Talking Points
  • James Dipping: Engineer Viewpoints
  • John Seigenthaler: Renewable Heating Design
  • Lowell Manalo: Plumbing Essentials
  • Misty Guard: Guard on Compliance
  • RADIANT & HYDRONICS
  • RADIANT COMFORT REPORT
  • THE GLITCH & THE FIX
  • INSIGHTS
  • CODES
  • GREEN PLUMBING & MECHANICAL
  • PROJECT PROFILES
  • COLUMNS
  • SPONSOR INSIGHTS
  • COLUMNS
  • Codes Corner
  • Natalie Forster: Editorial Opinion
  • Guest Editorial
  • MEDIA
  • PODCASTS
  • VIDEOS
  • WEBINARS
  • RESOURCES
  • INDUSTRY CALENDAR
  • DIRECTORIES
  • EBOOKS
  • PM BOOKSTORE
  • CE CENTER
  • MARKET RESEARCH
  • CLASSIFIEDS
  • EMAGAZINE
  • EMAGAZINE
  • ARCHIVE ISSUES
  • CONTACT
  • ADVERTISE
  • PME EMAGAZINE ARCHIVES
search
cart
facebook instagram twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
  • PRODUCTS
  • CONTRACTORS
    • BATH & KITCHEN PRO
    • BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
    • HIGH EFFICIENCY HOMES
    • TECHNOLOGY
    • WATER TREATMENT
    • PMC COLUMNS
      • Dave Yates: Contractor’s Corner
      • John Siegenthaler: Hydronics Workshop
      • Kenny Chapman: The Blue Collar Coach
      • Matt Michel: Service Plumbing Pros
      • Scott Secor: Heating Perceptions
  • ENGINEERS
    • CONTINUING EDUCATION
    • DECARBONIZATION | ELECTRIFICATION
    • FIRE PROTECTION
    • GEOTHERMAL | SOLAR THERMAL
    • PIPING | PLUMBING | PVF
    • PME COLUMNS
      • Christoph Lohr: Strategic Plumbing Insights
      • David Dexter: Plumbing Talking Points
      • James Dipping: Engineer Viewpoints
      • John Seigenthaler: Renewable Heating Design
      • Lowell Manalo: Plumbing Essentials
      • Misty Guard: Guard on Compliance
  • RADIANT & HYDRONICS
    • RADIANT COMFORT REPORT
    • THE GLITCH & THE FIX
  • INSIGHTS
    • CODES
    • GREEN PLUMBING & MECHANICAL
    • PROJECT PROFILES
    • COLUMNS
      • Codes Corner
      • Natalie Forster: Editorial Opinion
      • Guest Editorial
    • SPONSOR INSIGHTS
  • MEDIA
    • PODCASTS
    • VIDEOS
    • WEBINARS
  • RESOURCES
    • INDUSTRY CALENDAR
    • DIRECTORIES
    • EBOOKS
    • PM BOOKSTORE
    • CE CENTER
    • MARKET RESEARCH
    • CLASSIFIEDS
  • EMAGAZINE
    • EMAGAZINE
    • ARCHIVE ISSUES
    • CONTACT
    • ADVERTISE
    • PME EMAGAZINE ARCHIVES
  • SIGN UP!
Columns

The Green Plumbing Codes

By Julius Ballanco P.E., CPD
July 1, 2010
Comparing the IAPMO and ICC versions.



I receive many questions regarding the green plumbing codes; the most asked question is, “What’s going on?”

Over the past few months, there have been many announcements regarding green plumbing codes. These announcements have come from the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials and the International Code Council. The two organizations have taken different approaches to the green code. Hence, it will be important as to which document we’ll be dealing with.

Both organizations developed their green codes to supplement their current codes - under IAPMO, the Uniform Plumbing Code would still be the base document. For ICC, the International Plumbing Code would be the base document. Basically, the green code goes beyond these codes in an effort to encourage sustainable construction practices.

IAPMO has published a green supplement to their plumbing and mechanical codes. The text in the supplement is written as mandatory text for a jurisdiction to adopt. The supplement would apply to all buildings, including residential buildings.

The ICC is finalizing a separate green code. The ICC code will only apply to commercial buildings. The initial requirements exempt all residential buildings. The ICC code also leaves it up to the jurisdiction as to what parts of the code are mandatory. Basically, the code is written with elective requirements.

There are goals that a building design must meet to conserve energy, employ renewable energy, conserve natural resources and sustain the environment. Many consider the ICC Green Code draft to be similar in its approach to the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED program. The difference is that the ICC document would be mandated by a jurisdiction.

Comparison Of Water Conservation Provisions

It is impossible to review both of these documents in a single column, so let me start with the water conservation requirements. IAPMO has taken the approach of mandating EPA WaterSense fixtures. For gravity or pressure-assist water closets, that means a maximum flush volume of 1.28 gallons. Flushometer-valve water closets remain at 1.6 gallons per flush.

Urinals would have to flush 0.5 gallon or less. Nonwater-supplied urinals would also be permitted. However, there are additional requirements for nonwater-supplied urinals that are currently not found in the UPC. A water supply would have to be roughed in 56 inches above the floor to facilitate a retrofit. A fixture would have to be installed upstream of the nonwater-supplied urinals to provide flushing and cleaning of the drain line. The fixture must be at least equivalent to a lavatory.

Lavatory faucets would drop from 2.2 gpm to 1.5 gpm. Self-metering faucets would remain the same, with a maximum cycle of 0.25 gallon.

Showerheads would be lowered to 2.0 gpm. The showerhead section goes further in defining a showerhead as a showerhead. In other words, you cannot have multiple showerheads that flow more than a total of 2.0 gpm. When all the showerheads and body sprays are open for an individual shower, you establish the maximum flow rate.

A new fixture with the flow regulated is a commercial pre-rinse spray valve. These valves will be limited to a flow rate of 1.6 gpm. Dishwashers and clothes washers would have to meet the EPA’s Energy Star requirements.

The question that has been raised regarding water conservation is whether the requirements can be lawfully adopted. The federal water conservation requirements for plumbing fixtures is pre-emptive. That means that no law can specify water conservation requirements that are different from the federal requirements.

The ICC Green Code draft takes a different approach to water conservation. The water consumption for the building must be reduced by 20 percent, based on the calculated water demand without implementing any water conservation measures beyond what the plumbing code already requires. Basically, you have to figure out how to reduce the water used for plumbing fixtures.

They have added some requirements to supplement the 20 percent savings. Drinking fountains can discharge a maximum of 0.7 gpm. Commercial kitchen and bar sink faucets can discharge a maximum of 2.2 gpm. A commercial pre-rinse spray head must be spring-activated to close and discharge a maximum of 1.3 gpm. Hold-open devices for the pre-rinse are not permitted. Dishwashers and washing machines must be Energy Star-rated appliances. In addition, clothes washers can use a maximum of 8 gallons of water per cubic foot of clothes volume being washed per cycle.

The ICC Green Code also added requirements for having one or more lavatories upstream of any nonwater-supplied urinal.

Note that the ICC avoided any possibility of conflicting with the federal water conservation requirements. All of the fixtures in which they list maximum flow rates or water use are fixtures that are not regulated by the federal government. The fixtures that are regulated by the federal government are listed with the same water use as the federal law.

The ICC code puts the burden on the design professional or installer to determine how to reduce the total water consumption. It does not mandate 1.28 gallons per flush water closets or 0.5 gallon per flush urinals. It simply makes these fixtures very attractive to use in meeting the 20 percent reduction in water use.

It is important to remember that the ICC Green Code is still a draft document. Comments on the draft will be published on the ICC Web site July 2. You can review those comments at www.iccsafe.org. There will be a meeting in August in Chicago to consider the comments. This is followed by Round 2 of industry comments. The final document is expected to be published in the first part of 2012.

The IAPMO Green Plumbing and Mechanical Code Supplement can be purchased at www.iapmo.org.

Links

  • Follow PM on Twitter!
  • ICC
  • IAPMO

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Ballancojuliusvwhite 200

Julius Ballanco, P.E., CPD, F-ASPE, is president of J.B. Engineering and Code Consulting, P.C. in Munster, Ind. He can be reached at by email at jbengineer@aol.com.

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • Worker using the Milwaukee Tool SWITCH PACK drain cleaner

    Pipeline profits: Drain cleaning, pipe inspection create opportunities

    Drain cleaning and inspection services offer lucrative...
    Plumbing News
    By: Nicole Krawcke
  • Uponor employee, Arturo Moreno

    The reinvestment in American manufacturing and training

    Plumbing & Mechanical Chief Editor Nicole Krawcke and...
    Plumbing News
    By: Nicole Krawcke and Natalie Forster
  • March 2024 Women in Plumbing hero image of woman engineer overlayed by circle of hexagon shapes with numbers from 1 to 10

    Celebrating 10 Influential Women in the Plumbing Industry

    Celebrating Women's History Month and Women in...
    Plumbing News
    By: Nicole Krawcke
close

1 COMPLIMENTARY ARTICLE(S) LEFT

Loader

Already a Registered User? Sign in now.

Subscribe For Free!
  • eNewsletters
  • Online Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service
  • eMagazine
  • Manage My Preferences

AI can boost efficiency and profitability for plumbing, HVAC contractors

AI can boost efficiency and profitability for plumbing, HVAC contractors

Bell & Gossett Illustrates Path to Net-zero at AHR Expo

Bell & Gossett Illustrates Path to Net-zero at AHR Expo

NIBCO Press Solutions

NIBCO Press Solutions

IPEX celebrates grand opening of new Florida distribution center

IPEX celebrates grand opening of new Florida distribution center

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Plumbing & Mechanical audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Plumbing & Mechanical or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • J.J. Keller CMV vehicles on road
    Sponsored byJ. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.

    The dash cam game-changer for small business safety

Popular Stories

Figure 1 is a sketch of the flow problems of the current plumbing system.

Hydronic heating glitch solved: Why adding a circulator won't fix primary loop flow issue

The interior of a government building.

President Trump signs executive order promoting skilled trades and apprenticeships

Underfloor heating installation with drain sewer hole in bathroom close up on water floor heating.

Using hydronics to leverage time-of-use electrical rates

PM BEMIS June 25 Free Webinar: Optimizing Plumbing Solutions for Single-Family, Multi-Family & Public Spaces

Events

November 13, 2024

Future Proofing MEP: Navigating the 2026 High Efficiency Water Heating Standards

Join our deep dive into DOE’s new standards so you can future-proof your MEP practice.

EARN: 0.1 ASPE CEU; 1 AIA LU/HSW; 0.1 IACET CEU*; 1 PDH

View All Submit An Event

Poll

Will business be up or down in 2025?

Do you anticipate business in 2025 to be up or down in comparison to 2024?
View Results Poll Archive

Products

The Water Came To A Stop

The Water Came To A Stop

See More Products

Download the FREE Water Conservation, Quality & Safety eBook: Plumbing Trends Increasing Safe Water Availability

Related Articles

  • The Ultimate Green Plumbing

    See More
  • Ballanco

    Debunking green plumbing myths

    See More
  • Some Practical Questions About Plumbing Codes

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • greening steam.jpg

    Greening Steam: How to Bring 19th-Century Heating Systems into the 21st Century (and save lots of green!)

  • imageServlet.jpg

    Plumbing 401, 2nd edition

See More Products
×

Keep your content unclogged with our newsletters!

Stay in the know on the latest plumbing & piping industry trends.

JOIN TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
    • Supply House Times
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing

search
cart
facebook instagram twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
  • PRODUCTS
  • CONTRACTORS
    • BATH & KITCHEN PRO
    • BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
    • HIGH EFFICIENCY HOMES
    • TECHNOLOGY
    • WATER TREATMENT
    • PMC COLUMNS
      • Dave Yates: Contractor’s Corner
      • John Siegenthaler: Hydronics Workshop
      • Kenny Chapman: The Blue Collar Coach
      • Matt Michel: Service Plumbing Pros
      • Scott Secor: Heating Perceptions
  • ENGINEERS
    • CONTINUING EDUCATION
    • DECARBONIZATION | ELECTRIFICATION
    • FIRE PROTECTION
    • GEOTHERMAL | SOLAR THERMAL
    • PIPING | PLUMBING | PVF
    • PME COLUMNS
      • Christoph Lohr: Strategic Plumbing Insights
      • David Dexter: Plumbing Talking Points
      • James Dipping: Engineer Viewpoints
      • John Seigenthaler: Renewable Heating Design
      • Lowell Manalo: Plumbing Essentials
      • Misty Guard: Guard on Compliance
  • RADIANT & HYDRONICS
    • RADIANT COMFORT REPORT
    • THE GLITCH & THE FIX
  • INSIGHTS
    • CODES
    • GREEN PLUMBING & MECHANICAL
    • PROJECT PROFILES
    • COLUMNS
      • Codes Corner
      • Natalie Forster: Editorial Opinion
      • Guest Editorial
    • SPONSOR INSIGHTS
  • MEDIA
    • PODCASTS
    • VIDEOS
    • WEBINARS
  • RESOURCES
    • INDUSTRY CALENDAR
    • DIRECTORIES
    • EBOOKS
    • PM BOOKSTORE
    • CE CENTER
    • MARKET RESEARCH
    • CLASSIFIEDS
  • EMAGAZINE
    • EMAGAZINE
    • ARCHIVE ISSUES
    • CONTACT
    • ADVERTISE
    • PME EMAGAZINE ARCHIVES
  • SIGN UP!