Formally founded 90 years ago today as the Los Angeles City Plumbing Inspectors Association, IAPMO owes its existence to a group of plumbing inspectors who got to talking during a coffee break in 1926.

After satisfying their caffeine fix, these 39 city workers concluded that forming an association to deal with the city’s plumbing issues would be beneficial. Would they believe just how beneficial their brainchild has grown to be?

Undergoing numerous name changes that reflected its steadily expanding influenc from the Pacific Coast Plumbing Inspectors Association (1934) to the Western Plumbing Officials Association (1945) to the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (1966) and ultimately The IAPMO Group (1996), IAPMO was founded upon a mission that still governs its work today: “To advance the latest and most improved methods of sanitation; To promote the welfare of and the harmony between the owner, builder, and the craftsman; To accomplish uniformity in the application of the provisions of the ordinances.”

The IAPMO Group today represents a multinational operation with offices in 13 nations offering services spanning from code development, training, and education to product testing and certification. In addition to the UPC, IAPMO publishes the Uniform Mechanical Code, Uniform Solar Energy and Hydronics Code, and Uniform Swimming Pool, Spa and Hot Tube Code – each of which has been designated an American National Standard by the American National Standards Institute – as well as the environmentally conscious Water Efficiency and Sanitation Standard.

IAPMO’s codes are developed using the ANSI consensus development procedures, a process that brings together subject matter experts and volunteers representing a variety of viewpoints and interests to achieve consensus on industry practices. Developed and subsequently republished at the conclusion of each three-year code cycle, the Uniform Codes are designed to provide consumers with safe and sanitary plumbing, mechanical, solar, and swimming pool systems while, at the same time, allowing latitude for innovation and new technologies.

For more information, visit www.iapmo.org.