National Plumbing Code 2015 CIPHEX, St. John’s NL Presenter: Philip Rizcallah , P. Eng Director Building Regulations, National Research Council

Outline

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National Code Process Technical Changes Plumbing Codes 2010-2015 Ongoing and Future Activities

Why model codes?

Historically … •  1937

•  no national codes •  no provincial codes •  multiplicity of municipal codes •  Federal Finance Department asked NRC to develop model codes for greater uniformity

•  First Building Code: 1941

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•  Model Codes Process is … •  … open, transparent, accessible, continuous and

consensus-based.

•  Key Features −  one common process for all codes −  balanced by region and interest categories −  substantial public/stakeholder involvement

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National Model Codes Development Process •  Request •  Review and decision •  Consider priorities and approve work plans •  Develop changes •  P/T pre-public review •  Public review •  Revise changes •  P/T post-public review •  Decision •  Publication

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SMART Regulation Principles

•  Proposed change criteria •  Within scope and objectives of code •  Need to regulate •  Minimum level of performance •  Enforceable & measurable •  Satisfies cost-benefit analysis

= effective regulation

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Consensus-based decision making

Consensus … … requires that all opinions be considered and weighed and that any statement of committee agreement should be reached only after full and fair discussion of the issues involved

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Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes

CCBFC

Executive Committee

PTPACC

SC-HSB SC-EEB SC-FP SC-HP SC-UE

SC-SD SC-ED SC-ES SC-HMA

9 Standing Committees •  HVAC and Plumbing (SC-HP) •  Energy Efficiency in Buildings (SC-EEB) •  Earthquake Design (SC-ED) •  Environmental Separation (SC-ES) •  Fire Protection (SC-FP) •  Hazardous Materials and Activities (SC-

HMA) •  Housing and Small Buildings (SC-HSB) •  Structural Design (SC-SD) •  Use and Egress (SC-UE)

Task Groups and Working Groups

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Joint Task Groups and Working Groups

Policy Advice

NRC’s strategic focus

•  NRC: Restructuring Complete •  Align with needs of the Canadian innovation system •  Bridge gaps between early-stage R&D and deployment •  Focus our effort where we should rather than could •  Position NRC vis-à-vis other innovation players

•  Program: Building Regulations for Market Access

•  Develop and deploy model regulations and alternative solutions to o  accelerate product adoption, o  reduce compliance costs o  address societal requirements

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Stakeholders

•  Balanced Input =  General Interest =  Industry =  Regulators

Manufactures Installers suppliers

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National Plumbing Code (NPC) 2010- interim change

•  Significant interim changes to 2010 NPC −  Low lead plumbing fittings

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Interim Change- low lead requirements

•  Reference to the 2012 editions of: − CSA B125.3 “Plumbing Fittings” −  ASME A112.18.1/B125 “Plumbing Supply Fittings”

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National Plumbing Code (NPC) 2015

•  Major changes for 2015 −  Stainless steel − Mandatory water-use efficiency requirements

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Why stainless steel?

•  Common plumbing material •  Acceptable in many Canadian jurisdictions

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Stainless steel piping requirements- general

•  Must conform to ASTM and ASME Standards •  Grade of steel specified •  Restrictions on where tubing is allowed

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Stainless steel requirements- welded joints

Welded joints must conform to ASME B31.9 Qualified welder

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Stainless steel piping requirements- supports

Same Material: Non-Insulated

Different material: Insulated

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Water-use efficiency

•  New requirements for water-use efficiency

•  New objectives and sub-objectives

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Water-use efficiency- new objective and sub-objective

OE Environment An objective of this Code is to limit the probability that, as a result of the design or installation of the plumbing system, the environment will be affected in an unacceptable manner.

OE1 Resources An objective of this Code is to limit the probability that, as a result of the design or installation of the plumbing system, resources will be used in a manner that will have an unacceptable effect on the environment. The risks of unacceptable effect on the environment due to use of resources addressed in this Code are those caused by— OE1.2 - excessive use of water

Water-use efficiency requirements

NPC 2015: mandatory NPC 2020: enabling

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Water-use efficiency requirements- fixtures

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•  Flush per cycle requirements for:

Residential WCs Industrial, commercial or institutional WCs Urinals

Water-use efficiency requirements- fixtures

Fixtures Maximum Water Usage per Flush Cycle, Lpf

Water closets – residential

single-flush 4.8

dual-flush: 6.0/4.1 Lpf 4.8 (effective)

Water closets – industrial, commercial, institutional 6.0

Urinals 1.9

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Residential retrofits Maximum Water Usage per Flush Cycle, Lpf

Single-flush water closets 6

Water-use efficiency requirements- supply fittings and shower heads

•  Flow rate requirements for:

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Lavatory fittings Kitchen fittings Shower heads

Water-use efficiency requirements- supply fittings and shower heads

Supply Fittings Maximum Water Flow Rate, L/min

Lavatory supply fittings

private 5.7

public 1.9

Kitchen supply fittings (except those in industrial, commercial or institutional kitchens)

8.3

Shower heads 7.6

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Water-use efficiency requirements- performance levels

•  Reflect market direction •  Incremental cost not significant

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Future work- rainwater harvesting requirements

•  Restricted to non-potable water applications

•  Design requirements specified

•  Enabling requirements only

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Future work- non-potable water systems

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Future work- other

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Glass fixtures Bidets Discharge temperature

Stakeholder Feedback

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Code Process

Survey

NPC

Looking Forward

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