The topic of water shortages is nothing new, as cities around the globe struggle with drought, water quality, supply constraints, and failing infrastructures. However, the idea of new plumbing codes and design standards working together to assist plumbing engineers in adding harvested rainwater systems to their design arsenal has been uncharted territory--until now.
With the publication of the 2010 IAPMO Green Plumbing and Mechanical Code Supplement (GPMCS), 2012 IAPMO Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC), and the Rainwater Catchment Plumbing Engineering Design Standard by the American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA) and American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE), the plumbing industry now has authoritative tools at its disposal to standardize the safe and reliable use of rainwater for potable and nonpotable applications.
Rainwater harvesting provisions were introduced in the GPMCS and the UPC by the IAPMO Green Technical Committee (GTC) as part of a broader effort to reduce the energy and water consumption of plumbing and mechanical systems while ensuring that these systems are safe and reliable. The GTC is comprised of the broadest group of expert stakeholders ever assembled to develop sustainable plumbing and mechanical requirements. ASPE and ARCSA are well represented on the GTC and played a critical role in the development of the first model code provisions for rainwater harvesting.
Jeffrey L. Ingertson, CPD, FASPE, ASPE's vice president of membership, serves as ASPE's official representative, while Bob Boulware, immediate past president of ARCSA (and an ASPE member), represents ARCSA. Larry N. Oliver, CPD, FASPE, former ASPE president, and April K. Trafton, president of Donald Dickerson and Associates, round out the slate of plumbing engineering members of the GTC. Additionally, more than 20 sustainable plumbing engineering experts serve among the more than 125 members of the 12 task groups that operate under the GTC.
Click here to view the white paper. +
Related Stories
| Nov 17, 2011
Hollister Construction Services renovating bank in Union City, N.J.
Project is part of a series of ground-up construction and renovation assignments.
| Nov 16, 2011
Project completion of BRAC 132, Office of the Chief Army Reserve Building, Ft. Belvoir, Va.
This fast-tracked, design-build project consists of a three-story, 88,470 sf administrative command building housing approximately 430 employees.
| Nov 16, 2011
Architecture Billings Index moves upward
The Architecture Billings Index climbed nearly three points in October.
| Nov 16, 2011
CRSI recommends return to inch-pound markings
The intention of this resolution is for all new rollings of reinforcing steel products to be marked with inch-pound bar markings no later than January 1st, 2014.
| Nov 16, 2011
John Patelski joins Ghafari as executive vice president
As executive vice president, Patelski will be responsible for expanding the firm’s services in new strategic markets.
| Nov 15, 2011
Struggling economy demands construction industry embrace enterprise-wide risk management
In today’s business environment of high supply and limited demand, it has become especially vital for organizations in the construction sector to effectively manage risk.
| Nov 15, 2011
Suffolk Construction breaks ground on the Victor housing development in Boston
Project team to manage construction of $92 million, 377,000 square-foot residential tower.
| Nov 15, 2011
Miller joins Perkins Eastman as regional manager, Middle East and Northern Africa
Miller joins Perkins Eastman with more than 48 years of experience in architecture, design management, and construction administration for planning and infrastructure.
| Nov 14, 2011
Summit Design+Build selected at GC for new Office Concepts headquarters
The new headquarters will include 17,000 sf of office space and 15,000 sf of warehouse and feature 24 ft ceilings, an open floor plan, two conference rooms and one training room and will feature sustainable finishes throughout.
