The 2020 ASSE International Annual Meeting was held Oct. 26-29 online via Zoom. This year’s Annual Meeting was open to all, free of charge, and was a great opportunity for members who had never attended a national meeting to join us – no travel, lodging, or registration fees were required. Although the format was different this year, we still accomplished a lot. See below for screenshots and brief re-caps of each meeting.
Service Plumber/Residential Mechanical (13000) Technical Committee Meeting
The Service Plumber/Residential Mechanical Technical Committee reviewed information on the schools, instructors, and proctors that are approved to offer the ASSE 13010 Service Plumber Certification. There has been little activity in the promotion of this program primarily due to COVID restrictions. Service Plumber certifications are expected to pick up in 2021. It was difficult to hold classes with the COVID-19 restrictions, but the need for service plumbers is growing.
Seal Control Board (SCB) Committee Meeting
The Seal Control Board Meeting was held on Oct. 28 and presented online on Zoom due to the Covid-19 pandemic. After introductions, the SCB took a moment to acknowledge Barry Pines, a longtime member of the SCB who passed away during the summer of 2020. ASSE product standards and product listing program updates were presented by Terry Burger and Chris White, respectively. White discussed what affect the pandemic has had on the product certification program – annual renewals of existing seals remain strong, while new applications were down from 2019. Modifications to existing seals were up significantly. A training on ASSE 1055, Chemical Dispensing Systems with Integral Backflow Protection, was then led by Sean Cleary (IAPMO, BPI).
ASSE Board of Directors President, John Parizek, recommended Matt King and Brianne Hall remain in their positions of SCB Chair and Vice-Chair through 2021. These recommendations were referred to the ASSE BOD for approval.
Fire Protection (15000) Technical Committee Meeting
An update of the program was given, including the total number of certified individuals and the number of schools approved to offer the program. It was reported that the revision of the Series 15000-2020, Professional Qualifications Standard for the Inspection, Testing and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems, is complete. The ASSE 15010 Certification is now accepted in Illinois and Washington and will be required in the City of Philadelphia starting Jan. 1, 2022.
IAPMO Plumbing Standards Committee Meeting
The IAPMO Plumbing Standards Committee Meeting was held on Monday, Oct. 26. This was the first time that the IAPMO Plumbing Standards Committee has met at an ASSE Annual Meeting. The first portion of this meeting was a review of IAPMO PP-1, Policies and Procedures for Consensus Development of American National Standards. The committee also review and discussed various IAPMO standards, including IAPMO Z1002-2020, Rainwater Harvesting Tanks, IAPMO Z1349, Devices for Detection, Monitoring or Control of Plumbing Systems, and IAPMO Z124, Water Closet and Urinal Partitions.
Code Development Committee Meeting
Chairman Jason Shank began the meeting by informing the committee, along with guests in attendance, of the timeline for code comments and proposals to the 2024 IPC, IRC, NSPC, and UPC. During the meeting, the Code Development Committee shared the committee’s approved proposals for existing and new code language. Those in attendance had the opportunity to ask questions and make recommendations. These conversations brought forth two additional proposals, which have been approved and included. The approved proposals will be forwarded to the ASSE Board of Directors for their approval.
Cross-Connection Control Technical Committee Meeting
During the Cross-Connection Control Technical Committee meeting, application and exam statistics were reviewed. ASSE allows portions of the recertification class to be conducted virtually. Progress on the revision of the ASSE Series 5000, Cross-Connection Control Professional Qualifications Standard, was discussed with a projected completion date of early 2021. The revision includes changes to the requirements for the written and practical exams for the Surveyor Program Administrator recertification requirements. Recommendations for an online proctor training class were also presented.
Product Standards Committee Meeting
2020 has been a year abounding with uncertainty, disruption, and challenges. Despite this chaos, the 2020 product standards activities have managed to be efficient and very productive. At the Product Standards Committee Meeting, the accomplishments in ASSE standards development were summarized.
Since April, an unprecedented number of revisions have been published, or are soon to be published. Nine new editions of the ASSE standards have been published with an additional two standards having been reviewed and reaffirmed. There are five revisions that are complete and scheduled to be published. Additionally, work was completed on three Listing Evaluation Criteria (LEC) documents.
ASSE Standards Published Since Mid-Year Meeting: 1002, Anti-Siphon Fill Valves; 1008, Plumbing Aspects of Residential Food Waste Disposer Units; 1023, Electrically Heated or Cooled Water Dispensers; 1035, Laboratory Faucet Backflow Preventers; 1037, Pressurized Flushing Devices for Plumbing Fixtures; 1044, Reaffirmed Trap Seal Primer – Drainage Types and Electronic Design Types; 1061, Push-Fit Fittings; 1070, Water Temperature Limiting Devices; 1072, Barrier Type Floor Drain Trap Seal Protection Devices; 1081 (Reaffirmed), Backflow Preventers with Integral Pressure Reducing Boiler Feed Valve and Intermediate Atmospheric Vent Style for Domestic and Light Commercial Water Distribution Systems; 1086, Reverse Osmosis (RO) Water Efficiency – Drinking Water; 1090, Drinking Water Atmospheric; LEC 2006, Water Generators (AWG); LEC 2010, Proportional Flow Control Devices, with Protection from Cross-Contamination via Hydronic Water, for use in Drinking Water Installations.
With this impressive list, one would think that the work is complete. This is not the case. There are 16 more standards that are under revision with working groups. Two of these are in the review process for approval. Four more standards are in queue for work and ASSE is seeking volunteers to participate in the working groups. See the working groups that are currently forming here: https://asse-plumbing.org/asse/standards/working-groups.
At the PSC meeting, recommendations were made to open another four existing standards for revision and approved the development of two new standards. Additionally, the PSC agreed to reaffirm four standards.
This seems like a lot of work. But it is important to acknowledge that ANSI stipulates that ANSI approved standards are reviewed every five years or less, requiring revision or reaffirmation. ASSE International is committed to keeping its standards current and relevant to the changing needs of the industry.
Professional Qualifications Standards Committee Meeting
The PQ Standards Committee reviewed the status of each professional qualifications standard, both current and draft. The Series 12000 (ICRA) is currently in revision. An overview of the proposed changes was reviewed with the committee. The standard will be balloted to the PQSC before the end of this year. The Series 5000 (Cross-Connection Control) is also in revision with an expected completion of January 2021. The proposed changes were discussed with the committee. The Series 6000 (Medical Gas) will begin the revision process with a call for working group members in November 2020. Expected completion is July 2021. Uniformity of terms and definitions within the standards and the ASSE Plumbing Dictionary was discussed.
School Forum
During the School Forum, ASSE discussed how it is now allowing certain classes to be conducted virtually. Schools must inform ASSE if they are planning to have their class virtually and they must confirm students in attendance and do roll call at the beginning and end of class. They must have interactive questions and answers throughout the class and be able to answer student questions in real time. It was also announced that electronic credentials have replaced mailed hard copies.
Manufacturers’ Forum
The Manufacturers’ Forum was held on Tuesday, Oct. 27 and included standards updates, certifications updates, and code update as they relate to ASSE listees. At the end of the Forum, ASSE listees had the opportunity to ask questions to ASSE and IAPMO staff during the ASSE Product Standards and Listing Program Q&A session.
ICRA (ASSE 12000) Technical Committee Meeting
The ICRA program includes the ASSE 12000 Infection Control Certification, ASSE 12060 Water Quality Program Certification, and now the ASSE 12080 Legionella Management Certification. An update of the three programs was given, including the total number of certified individuals and the number of schools approved to offer the programs. There was discussion concerning COVID-19 being a factor in the need for water quality programs in all building types. Buildings that sit idle have a greater chance of pathogens, including Legionella, multiplying within the water systems.
Al Cohen Memorial Chapter Presidents’ Liaison Conference
The Al Cohen Chapter Memorial Chapters President’s meeting was well attended with some great feedback. The primary focus was centered around engaging members on virtual platforms, such as Zoom, with topics of interest and/or education for those unable or not interested in attending a chapter meeting. Brianne Hall, ASSE Region 8 Director, lead the meeting. Many members agreed that education should be the primary focus. Notifications and setup for the virtual meetings would be coordinated through ASSE International.
