The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) has completed Technical Committee Meetings toward the development of the 2024 editions of the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) and Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC), which will update the 2021 UPC and UMC, American National Standards governing the installation and maintenance of plumbing and mechanical systems nationwide.

During the virtual May 3-7 and May 17-21 meetings, the committees acted on 699 proposed amendments to the 2024 editions of the Uniform Codes.

The UPC committee acted on 347 proposals. Topics generating the most debate included rehabilitation of existing building sewers, Legionella risks, new fixtures and facility requirements, dishwashing machine waste requirements, adult changing stations, water heater connectors, drainage fixture units for bathroom groups, maximum drainage loading and pipe size for drainage piping, horizontal lengths of trap arms, and roof drainage systems.

The UMC committee acted on 349 proposals and generated three committee proposals. A2L systems, exhaust systems, and duct systems generated robust debate. Heavy discussion ensued on plastic piping and combustibles within plenums, use of press-connect fittings, fuel gas piping, Legionella risks, hydronic systems, and geothermal systems.

Due to compelling discussion regarding indoor horticultural facilities and condensate waste, both the UPC and UMC Technical Committees requested that two new task groups be formed to address such topics in the Uniform Codes. The Condensate Task Group's scope includes condensate waste piping, drainage and point of discharge locations. The Indoor Horticultural Facilities Task Group's scope includes reviewing and developing recommendations on Item No. 044 of the UPC and Item No. 283 of the UMC to determine applicability and accuracy of such facilities' requirements. The task groups recommendations will be forwarded to the UPC and UMC technical committees, respectively, for consideration. A call for participation on these task groups will be published soon.

In accordance with IAPMO's American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited consensus development process, balloting through the UPC and UMC technical committees will begin on June 18 and conclude on July 14. The Report on Proposals (ROP) will be created from these balloted actions and distributed to committee members on Sept. 10.

All suggested code amendments/additions/deletions published in the ROP will be available for public review on Sept. 10. Eligible IAPMO members in attendance during the UPC and UMC Assembly Consideration Session in September will have the opportunity to vote on an Assembly Comment. This session will take place at IAPMO's 92nd annual Education and Business Conference, Sept. 28, and will be held virtually.

For specific information about the UPC, contact Enrique Gonzalez at (909) 230-5535 or email your questions to enrique.gonzalez@iapmo.org. For the UMC, contact Zalmie Hussein at 909-218-8122 or email your questions to zalmie.hussein@iapmo.org.