Typically, when writing articles for this feature, I talk about new standards and detail the requirements found within. Or I might discuss the revisions to existing standards and the implications of those changes. For this article, I am going to depart from that format and talk about the activities undertaken to get two new ASSE standards accepted into the plumbing codes.
The two standards, ASSE 1103, Pilot Operated Water Pressure Reducing Valves for Potable Water, and ASSE 1379, Proportional Flow Control Devices, with Protection from Cross-Connection via Hydronic Water, for use in Potable Water Installations, were published in mid-2024. Each is an American National Standard and a Canadian National Standard. The standard ASSE 1103 was the subject of an article found in the July-September 2024 edition of Working Pressure and will not be discussed here.
ASSE 1379, as the title implies, is for proportional flow control devices. I will briefly describe these devices. These are dynamic flow control devices used in hydronic water systems and are installed in conjunction with a heat exchanger to provide domestic hot water. The purpose of the device is to maintain the ratio of flow between the two fluid streams of the heat exchanger to provide consistent hot potable water. The 1379 device has added cross-connection protection to protect the potable water.
These two standards cover plumbing industry segments for which there were no performance standards. The creation of performance standards for these devices is a step in the right direction. However, the acceptance and adoption of these standards into the code(s) is equally important.
There has been an initiative to get these standards adopted into the U.S. and Canadian plumbing codes. The Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC®) and the International Plumbing Code (IPC) are in the process of making revisions for their respective 2027 editions. The Canadian National Plumbing Code is finalizing its code cycle for 2030.
At the beginning of this year, proposals to reference these standards were submitted to IAPMO and ICC for inclusion into the UPC and IPC respectively. These proposals were given to each of the code bodies for consideration. Unfortunately, while the standards had been nearly completed, they were not published in time for consideration. Therefore, the proposals failed.
The good news is all is not lost. There is another opportunity to still get these standards into the codes. In October, ICC held a Committee Action Hearing in which comments and proposed changes relative to the Technical Committee hearing results were considered.
The ASSE 1103 and ASSE 1379 standards have since been published. This allows individuals to submit comments on the committee’s actions. These comments can recommend reversals of the previous action. This is precisely what has happened. Proposals have been submitted to reverse the committee’s rejection of the standards’ inclusion. The ASSE 1103 proposals were approved for inclusion in the IPC. Unfortunately, ASSE 1379 was not.
A similar process occurs with IAPMO’s code development. The committee action hearing for the UPC will be in May 2025. It is anticipated that comments will also be submitted concerning the technical committee’s rejection of these standards.
Additionally, code change proposals for inclusion of these standards into the 2035 Canadian National Plumbing Code will be submitted when the call for proposals opens.
It is a reasonable proposal to have these standards included in the codes. So far in the process, there has not been opposition to the standards themselves. The rejections were for administrative reasons. While nothing is guaranteed, it is with some confidence that I anticipate the ASSE 1103 and ASSE 1379 will be part of the next publication of the UPC.
