Annually, the American Society of Plumbing Engineer’s (ASPE) Tech Symposium aids plumbing industry professionals in gaining new skills from experts in the field. The 2019 symposium will take place at the Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh Downtown from October 24-27.

The week will include a product show, special events and a packed schedule of technical sessions. Each of the 40 sessions slated will offer 0.15 continuing education credits (CEUs) for individuals at all levels, providing numerous opportunities for career growth. New this year, attendees will receive CEU certificates on-site at the conclusion of each session.

Copper Development Association and Zurn are Platinum Sponsors for this year’s symposium, which includes more than 40 sponsors.

Technical Sessions

The 2019 ASPE Tech Symposium’s professional development sessions were designed to help plumbing industry professionals at all career levels learn new skills or refresh their design repertoire. The four educational tracks are: Track 1 - Codes & Standards; Track 2 - System Design & Equipment Exploration; Track 3 - Sustainability/Construction Discussion; Track 4 Legionella/Water Quality; and Track 5 - Fire Protection, Life Safety, & More.

Track topics include: “The Engineer & Code Official Relationship: Common Plumbing Plan Review & Code Violations for Plumbing Systems,” “Available Sprinkler Systems: Make the Right System Choice for Your Project,” “Particulate in US & European Drinking Water - A Nutrient Threat & Infection Risk,” “Product Sustainability Through Design for Environment & Transparency,” “Recirculation System Design - Putting it All Together - Manufacturers, Engineers, & Contractors,” “The Art of Water-Solving Water Delivery Challenges with Bottle Filling Stations,” and more. 

Product Show

This year’s ASPE 2019 Tech Symposium Product Show will take place on October 24, from 4:00pm-8:00pm. The showcase is an opportunity for attendees to get one-on-one face time with industry manufacturers and organizations. Exhibitors will be prepared to answer product and service questions as they work with professionals to influence future product designs. 

There are 40-plus exhibitors that have registered, including the Copper Development Association, International Association of Plumbing Officials (IAPMO), International Code Council (ICC), NSF International, and various manufacturers.

Special Events

The symposium also offers unique ways for attendees to network in order to grow in their careers. ASPE has curated opportunities for attendees to make new connections and learn from one another at this year’s symposium.

A “Welcome Party” will be held on the Empress River Boat on October 25, from 6:30pm-9:30pm. This special party will kick off the symposium in a one-of-a-kind venue that includes music, drinks, food, and dancing. 

The GPD Workshop will be another featured event of the symposium. It will be held at the Engineers’ Society of Western Pennsylvania on October 23 and 24, from 8:00am-5:00pm. ASPE and IAPMO will host this workshop that has been designed for attendees interested in gaining knowledge in performing green plumbing design work. The workshop will explore designing systems that conserve and protect water supplies and reduce energy consumption in the delivery and use of water. 

ASPE Young Professionals (AYPs) will also host special events at the symposium. The AYP Leadership Academy on “Next Level Leadership,” will take place October 24 from 8:00am-4:00pm at the host hotel. The program will begin with a keynote address by Tony Wilcox, the vice president of Product Management & Engineering at Zurn. Wilcox will discuss his leadership journey and lessons learned along the way from his time at Zurn and Harley-Davidson. The program will continue with an interactive and dynamic full day of leadership development by David Colarossi, Ph.D and Liam Ryan, Ph.D of Colarelli, Meyer & Associates, Inc. 

An AYP networking “Trivia Night” event will also be held October 26 from 6:30pm-9:30pm at the Penn Society Social Club. The night of friendly competition and libations will allow young professionals and test trivia knowledge in downtown Pittsburgh. 

As the official publication of ASPE, Plumbing Engineer will be in attendance. Look for live social media coverage on the magazine’s parent brand pages: @phcppros!