Appendix M of the IAPMO Uniform Plumbing Code, or the Water Demand Calculator, was integrated into the California Plumbing Code on July 1. It provides a new method for sizing water pipes in residential buildings. For Villara Corp., a leading plumbing and HVAC contractor in Northern California, it remains business as usual, having used the calculator for over five years to construct over 5,000 single-family homes.

Dairy farming is vital for rural communities and household nutrition. Durable materials like REHAU PEXa plumbing systems are essential for dairy barn construction. Three WRC dairy barn projects feature these systems.

The Water Demand Calculator consensus body members will assist IAPMO with the development of this new American National Standard and National Standard of Canada. Industry stakeholders — including installers, manufacturers, plumbing professionals, building owners and managers, engineers, AHJs, and the general public — are invited and encouraged to apply to participate.

Plumbing involves providing clean water, managing wastewater, and ensuring water quality for safe use. It also includes handling various other systems such as gas distribution, drainage, and laboratory systems.

Point-of-use (POU) water disinfection isn't just about public health; it's also an essential engineering strategy in modern water systems, tackling waterborne diseases by ensuring safe drinking water directly at the point of consumption.

Builders often overlook local water chemistry when selecting materials. Water chemistry and plumbing materials require more attention.

The alternative approach will be available for statewide use on a voluntary basis starting July 1.

Prepared by PPI’s Building & Construction Division, PPI TN-31 Differences Between Crosslinked Polyethylene (PEX) and Polybutylene (PB) Piping Systems for Potable Water Plumbing Applications discusses the advantages of modern PEX tubing and fittings as compared with PB tubing and fittings, which were last sold in the U.S. during the late 1990s.  

When a plumbing engineer receives the design of a health care building — our minds gravitate to designing the system to optimize all the different considerations I mentioned above — with the fixture layout the architect has developed. But what if the layout changed? What if the amount of fixtures were reduced? 

The Water Demand Calculator has been adopted in several states and cities, including California and Seattle, and is expanding peak flow rate calculations into commercial buildings. The future looks bright as version 3.0 is in the works for commercial buildings.