2022 ASSE International Annual Meeting Recaps

After holding its Annual Meeting online via Zoom for the past two years, ASSE International brought the event back in person for 2022!

The 2022 ASSE International Annual Meeting, held Oct. 25-27 at San Diego Marriott Mission Valley, was a great success. Attendees from across the country came together, got some work done, learned a few things, celebrated colleague achievements, and shared some laughs with friends. And, to top it all off, the weather was fantastic (as it always is in San Diego).

For those who couldn’t attend, below are brief recaps of each meeting and event, along with some photos. To see even more photos, visit our 2022 ASSE International Annual Meeting Flickr album at https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAhiJo.

Each morning of the 2022 ASSE International Annual Meeting began with a Networking Breakfast, sponsored by our friends at Sprinkler Fitters Local 483.

OCTOBER 25, 2022

Fire Protection (ASSE 15000) Technical Committee Meeting
The Fire Protection Technical Committee met and reviewed statistics concerning pass/fail rates and the number of approved schools, instructors, and proctors to the ASSE 15010 Water-Based Fire Protection Certification. This committee is also responsible for reviewing the guidelines and exams for the new certification to ASSE Series 27000, Professional Qualifications Standard for Hybrid Fire Extinguishing Systems Personnel. The first exam for that program was given in October 2022. The task group met several times to review questions for the 27010 (installers) written exam, and they will continue to meet to review the written exam questions for the 27020 (ITM) and 27030 (designers).

Seal Control Board Meeting
The Seal Control Board (SCB) Meeting was called to order at 9:04am by SCB Chairperson Brianne Hall. John Higdon was introduced as a new SCB member. A call for candidates to serve on the SCB in the categories of engineer, contractor, or inspector was announced. ASSE product standards and product listing program updates were presented by Terry Burger and Chris White, respectively. The ASSE, ANSI/ANAB audit was discussed, followed by nominations for SCB chair and vice chair. Brianne Hall and Jaimie Valdivia were nominated for these positions, respectively, and were referred to the ASSE Board of Directors for approval. The meeting concluded with a training session, which covered Advancing Technologies and Industry Trends.

Professional Qualifications Standards Committee Meeting
The Professional Qualifications Standards Committee (PQSC) reviewed current and draft PQ standards. The ASSE Series 21000 (Rainwater Catchment) standard revision was just completed. ASSE Series 12000 (Infection Control) is currently in revision and three new standards are being added — these new standards address air quality and construction risk assessment for engineers, inspectors, designers, and commissioning agents. A new standard for water treatment equipment personnel is in development.

Membership Committee Meeting
The Membership Committee Meeting was held on Tuesday, October 25 and called to order by ASSE Region 4 Director Brianne Hall. The meeting began with an overview of the new database system that will be utilized by ASSE staff beginning in early 2023. The database will include member demographic information and improved reporting capabilities to better serve the individual needs of members. To provide additional membership benefits, there were several educational seminar topics suggested and discussed. The committee also discussed the best length for seminars, as well as how the seminars should be provided and distributed. There was then an overview of additional benefits that could be provided to ASSE Members, and a discussion on ways to get new members involved.

Al Cohen Memorial Chapter Presidents’ Liaison Conference
The Al Cohen Memorial Chapter Presidents’ Liaison Conference was well attended with some great feedback. Chris Cheek, ASSE Region 1 Director, lead the meeting. There were discussions on how the Membership Department can provide support to the chapters and examples were given. Additionally, there were many suggestions for videos that could be shown at ASSE chapter meetings. There was also discussion about a survey that will be provided to the members to better understand their demographics, interests, and level of involvement with ASSE.

Code Development Committee Meeting
The Code Development Committee met on Tuesday, October 25. The committee was informed that the IPC and UPC code cycles have been completed. Overall, ASSE was very successful with their proposed code revisions. Future cycles for the UPC, IPC, NSPC, and Canadian code was discussed. A reminder was given that the ASSE Code Development Committee is available to assist with any state codes or state amendments. An NFPA subcommittee was formed to further ASSE standards in NFPA codes. A reminder was given to all those interested to submit their application if they’d like to serve on the 2023 ASSE Code Development Committee.

Welcome Reception
Day one of the Annual Meeting ended with the 2022 Welcome Reception, which was sponsored by our friends at National Inspection Testing and Certification Corporation (NITC) and Southern California Pipe Trades District Council 16. Held outdoors in a beautiful, palm tree lined courtyard, the Welcome Reception was a fun networking event that included cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.

OCTOBER 26, 2022

Cross-Connection Control Technical Committee Meeting
During the Cross-Connection Control Technical Committee meeting, the committee reviewed statistics on schools, proctors, instructors, classes held, exams taken, and pass/fail rates. It was reported that there are approximately 20,500 current ASSE Backflow Certified professionals. The ASSE proctor application was reviewed and revised by the committee. ASSE/IAPMO/ANSI Series 5000-2022, Cross-Connection Control Professional Qualifications Standard, and the ASSE Field Test Procedures Booklet, Seventh Edition, have both been published and made electronically available to the ASSE Approved backflow schools. 

Product Standards Committee Meeting
The Product Standards Committee (PSC) Meeting was called to order on October 26. The PSC was presented with updates on product standards that have been recently revised. Since the 2022 ASSE International Mid-Year Meeting in April 2022, three standards have been revised. Additionally, the PSC discussed the status of several standards that are currently in revision or development: 14 are in working group, and four are in public review – three of which are also being balloted by the PSC. There are five standards that are in queue.  

ASSE is accepting working group applications for the following standards. Applications can be found online at https://asse-plumbing.org/media/1246/workinggroupapp.pdf.

• ASSE 1004, Dishwasher Backflow Prevention Requirements
• ASSE 1013, Reduced Pressure Principle Backflow Prevention Assemblies
• ASSE 1015, Double Check Backflow Prevention Assemblies
• ASSE 1072, Barrier Type Floor Drain Trap Seal Protection Devices
• ASSE 1079, Dielectric Pipe Union
• ASSE 1115, Automatic Hot Water Balancing Valve
• ASSE 1376, Ultra and Nano Drinking Water Treatment Systems

Finally, the committee discussed the status of harmonization of ASSE 1003/CSA B356, Water Pressure Reducing Valves for Potable Water Distribution Systems, which would be balloted by the ASSE PSC & CSA TC. ASSE 1013, and ASSE 1015 with CSA B64.4 Reduced pressure principle (RP) backflow preventers and CSA B64.5 Double check valve (DCVA) backflow preventers, respectively harmonized working group meeting in January 2023.

Service Plumber/Residential Mechanical (ASSE 13000) Technical Committee
The Service Plumber/Residential Mechanical Technical Committee reviewed information on schools, instructors, and proctors that are approved to offer the ASSE 13010 Service Plumber Certification. An update of plumbers who have current, or recently expired certifications, was also given. The committee agreed to schedule additional meetings to review the written and practical exams. 

Companion Event: Little Italy Food Tour
At the 2022 Companion Event, registered companions explored Little Italy, San Diego — the historic neighborhood known as the top destination in San Diego for dining on a walking tour. Companions strolled through Little Italy and learned the history of the immigrant fisherman who settled in this area over a hundred years ago. The tour included stops at three notable restaurants for tastes of local favorites, such as fresh pasta, handmade pizza, Italian meatballs, and lamb sliders.

E.J. Zimmer Technical Seminar (Session #1): Plumbing Resiliency and the Water Demand Calculator
Presented by Christoph Lohr, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at IAPMO, this seminar reviewed how to use the IAPMO Water Demand Calculator, the technical benefits of using the calculator, and the opportunity in expanding the usage of this calculation tool into other commercial buildings.

President’s Luncheon / Government Relations Update
Attendees enjoyed lunch while honoring the outgoing International President, Jason Shank. After lunch, current public policy initiatives impacting the industry were presented by Christina Kaeini, Director of Government Relations for The IAPMO Group, along with updates on policy efforts and strategies moving forward.

School Forum
During the School Forum, staff reported on a plan to review exam questions with the technical committee. This will be a continual exam question review process and a non-disclosure form will be needed from the groups reviewing the questions. Incentives for encouraging individuals to get certified and recertified were also discussed.

Manufacturers’ Forum
The Manufacturers’ Forum was held on October 26 and included standards updates, certifications updates, and code updates 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. Tom Lentine was nominated for the position of manufacturers’ representative and was referred to the ASSE Board of Directors for approval.

Business Session #1
The first Business Session included year-end reports from ASSE International’s officers and directors, chapters, and committees, and included nominations for the upcoming year’s Board of Directors. For 2022, the ASSE International Board of Directors submitted proposed revisions to ASSE’s Bylaws, which were voted upon and approved during Business Session #1.

Board of Directors Meeting
This open ASSE International Board of Directors Meeting included reports from technical committee chairmen regarding their meetings held earlier in the week.

OCTOBER 27, 2022

Business Session #2 and Awards Ceremony
The second Business Session included an election of the ASSE International Officers and Directors, and the International President’s address. ASSE International awards were also presented, and Marianne Waickman, ASSE Director of Operations, was recognized and congratulated on her upcoming retirement.

Congratulations to President Daniel Rademacher and our 2022-2023 ASSE International Board of Directors!

• President — Daniel Rademacher
• Vice President — Vincent Gallo
• Immediate Past President — Jason Shank
• Treasurer — Douglas Marian
• Region 1 Director — Chris Cheek
• Region 3 Director — DJ Berger
• Region 4 Director — Donald R. Summers, Jr.
• Region 5 Director — Joseph Fernandez, Jr.
• Region 6 Director — Doreen Cannon
• Region 7 Director — Gregory Beck
• Region 8 Director — Brianne N. Hall, P.E., CPD, LEED AP BD+C, GGP
• Manufacturers’ Representative — Thomas Lentine

Congratulations to our 2022-2023 ASSE International Award Winners!

• Salvatore J. Farrugia Presidential Award — Daniel Rademacher
• Most New Members Award — Wisconsin Chapter
• Certificate of Recognition for Newest Chapter of ASSE — Central Texas Chapter
• Patrick J. Higgins Award — Tsan-Liang Su
• Rand Ackroyd Award — John Jordan
• Fellow (FASSE) Awards — Shabbir Rawalpindiwala and Phil Roach
• Henry B. Davis Award — Kurt Steenhoek

E.J. Zimmer Technical Seminar (Session #2): Commercial Water Auditing
Presented by Doug Pushard, Founder of HarvestH2O.com, this presentation reviewed a commercial water savings program put in place by the City of Santa Fe, N.M., which has saved millions of gallons so far.

ASSE 12000 (ICRA, Water Quality, and Legionella Programs) Technical Committee Meeting
The ASSE 12000 Technical Committee reviews and advises on the certification programs contained within the ASSE/IAPMO/ANSI Series 12000-2021, Professional Qualifications Standard for Water Management and Infection Control Risk Assessment for Building Systems. The committee reviewed statistics concerning training providers, instructors, and certified individuals. These programs are growing, and soon, the Air Quality Certification Program will be added. When applying for 2023 committee appointments, committee members will be asked to identify which of the programs included within the ASSE Series 12000 they would like to be involved with. 

Closing Celebration
The 2022 ASSE International Annual Meeting concluded with the 2022 Closing Celebration, a fun networking event that included food, cocktails, music, and fun.

Thank You to Our 2022 Sponsors!