IAPMO and the Pace Energy and Climate Center at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University (Pace) have agreed to jointly publish Chapter 17 of the Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC) as a standalone document (IAPMO/UMC/Chapter 17-2024) to address the needs for enforceable safety provisions for geothermal district ambient temperature loop systems. Pace advised IAPMO on the development of this document.

A district ambient temperature loop is an endless closed-loop system comprised of centralized pumping for the circulation of the contained fluid between multiple heat exchange devices installed on the loop. The endless loop may run outside of conditioned spaces to serve multiple structures and the heat exchange devices installed within.

Parts I through V of this document apply to geothermal energy systems and district ambient temperature loop systems (ATL) that circulate ground-ambient-temperature water to be used in end-use buildings as thermal source or sink via water source heat pump or reversing chillers. This includes systems utilizing multiple hybrid systems. It addresses the general requirements such as permitting, operating, and metering; and design requirements such as thermal resources, performance, and diversity factors.

A copy of IAPMO/UMC/Chapter 17-2024 may be purchased at: IAPMO/UMC/Chapter 17/purchase.

A read-only version may be viewed at: IAPMO/UMC/Chapter 17/read-only.

“With the Pace Energy and Climate Center’s long history of focusing on renewable energy and decarbonization, along with IAPMO’s leadership in the geothermal district systems with its consensus-based Uniform Mechanical Code, this joint effort greatly strengthens our industry,” IAPMO CEO Dave Viola said.

“IAPMO’s leadership in standards development for district geothermal systems meets an urgent need among municipalities seeking to accelerate adoption of clean heating and cooling technologies, and Pace is very happy to support IAPMO in developing a standard that can support those municipalities,” Pace Executive Director Craig Hart said.

Since its founding in 1987, the Pace Energy and Climate Center has been a leader working at the intersection of energy and the environment. The Center is a program of the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University. The Center engages government decision makers, civil society, industry and other stakeholders with robust research and analysis in law and policy. Since its founding, the Center’s work has focused on renewable energy and decarbonization. The Center’s work on district geothermal has included preparing studies of the legal, regulatory and economic aspects of geothermal systems, conducting feasibility studies of the legal and regulatory aspects of proposed district geothermal projects throughout New York State, and facilitating the New York State Thermal Energy Network Charrette for municipal leaders, sponsored by the New York State Energy Research & Development Authority. In addition to being a force for legal and policy change, the Center trains the next generation of clean energy professionals through involvement in the Center’s projects. 

IAPMO, a global team of experts engaging industry and government for a safer built environment, develops codes and standards, including the flagship Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) and Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC), and offers the UPC and UMC certification marks, which serve as a consistent model for building professionals, manufacturers and researchers. Deep expertise in codes and standards is applied to rigorous product testing, certification and inspection services, professional development offerings, policy and advocacy work.