IAPMO has announced the formal initiation of its new consensus code development process. The newly appointed IAPMO Standards Council has adopted the framework of the process to be utilized in the development of the 2003 editions of the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) and Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC). Standards Council members include J. Kenneth Richardson, Joseph Brewer, John Fischer, Jr., Mike Gorham, L. Jeffrey Mattern, Ron Ridenour, Edward Saltzberg and J. Richard Wagner.

As its first order of business, the Council approved the Regulations Governing Committee Projects, along with a set of Guidelines for the Conduct of Participants in the IAPMO Codes & Standards Development Process, and a set of IAPMO Technical Meeting Convention Rules. All of these documents are available for download at www.iapmo.org. In addition to these approvals, the Standards Council began the process of classifying all of the Plumbing Code Technical Committee and Mechanical Code Technical Committee applicants into one of the following nine interest group categories: Manufacturer, User, Installer/Maintainer, Labor, Special Expert, Applied Research/Testing Laboratory, Enforcing Authority, Insurance or Consumer.

The criteria for inclusion in a specific category is presented in more detail on IAPMO's Web site. The Council announced that although the application process for membership on the Technical Committees will remain permanently open, those candidates wishing to be considered for appointment on the initial committee roster must have submitted their application by December 31, 2000.

Southern Code Extension

In response to repeated requests from various jurisdictions to extend the Uniform Codes into the South, IAPMO has hired Linden Raimer, formerly of St. Tammany Parish, LA, as its new director of codes, Southern Region. Linden brings the experience from his roles as chief plumbing inspector, building official, and director of permits and regulatory to the position, and has been an instructor for the United Association, where he gained familiarity with the intricacies of the Uniform codes.

Seeking ANSI Accreditation

In other news, IAPMO announced that it has submitted an "Application for Accreditation as a Standards Developer by the American National Standards Institute" under the Organization Method. This application seeks to have the UPC and UMC designated as American National Standards. Although IAPMO has been continually accredited under the Committee Method as a Standards Developing Organization since October 1978 in the development of the ANSI Z124 set of Plastic Fixture Standards, it is now seeking to have the UPC and UMC developed as true consensus codes under the Organization Method.