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Home » Authors » Julius Ballanco P.E., CPD
Julius Ballanco P.E., CPD

Julius Ballanco P.E., CPD

Julius Ballanco, P.E., CPD, F-ASPE, is president of J.B. Engineering and Code Consulting, P.C. in Munster, Ind. He can be reached at by email at jbengineer@aol.com.

Articles

ARTICLES

Decarbonization and electrification

Julius Ballanco: Decarbonization and electrification — are we there yet?

Electrification will not result in decarbonization when using fossil fuels to generate electricity.
Ballancojuliusvwhite 200
Julius Ballanco P.E., CPD
May 2, 2022
2 Comments
bacteria
CODES

Julius Ballanco: Struggling to regulate Legionella

Code bodies do not deal in risk management.
Ballancojuliusvwhite 200
Julius Ballanco P.E., CPD
April 4, 2022
One Comment

My first encounter in dealing with combating Legionnaires’ disease through code regulations dates back to 1977. Older individuals will recall that the disease got its name after the outbreak in 1976 in Philadelphia at the American Legion Convention.


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showerhead as a single device that discharges water
CODES

Julius Ballanco: Showerheads: New administration, new definition

Rather than conserving water, the Trump-era definition of showerhead would allow for an increase in water usage.
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Julius Ballanco P.E., CPD
March 3, 2022
No Comments

In a previous column last year, I identified a change in definition, by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), regarding showerheads, body sprays and safety shower showerheads. In December 2020, during the Trump administration, DOE basically redefined “showerhead” as a single device that discharges water. Hence, if you installed two showerheads installed on a single shower valve, DOE would consider them two showerheads.


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codes and standards
CODES

Julius Ballanco: The most powerful code section

The alternative approval section has remained a mainstay in all model building codes since the 1930s… until this year.
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Julius Ballanco P.E., CPD
February 1, 2022
No Comments

The most powerful section of any code is the alternative approval section. This section is typically found in either the administrative chapter of the code or the general requirements chapter. Every code has an alternative approval section. Basically, the alternative approval section allows an applicant to file a request for acceptance of anything that is either not allowed in the code or is restricted in the code.


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road to the future

Julius Ballanco: Heat pumps in your future

New SNAP rules issued by the EPA are resulting in numerous changes taking place to the mechanical codes, ASHRAE 15 and product standards.
Ballancojuliusvwhite 200
Julius Ballanco P.E., CPD
January 3, 2022
No Comments

I recently attended a Chicago ASPE Chapter meeting that had a presentation on heat pump water heaters. The presentation was excellent. The information and the way it was presented was extremely beneficial to the plumbing and mechanical engineering community.


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Chicago Plumbing Code

Julius Ballanco: Chicago allowing no-hub?

The city’s plumbing code changes become mandatory in March 2022.
Ballancojuliusvwhite 200
Julius Ballanco P.E., CPD
December 3, 2021
One Comment

Chicago has been known as the last major city in the United States that still mandates lead and oakum cast iron systems in buildings. No-hub fittings have never been allowed in the Chicago Plumbing Code. What is interesting is that caulking tools used to make lead and oakum joints are normally found in the plumbing museum.


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codes and standards

Julius Ballanco: IPC strange results

A recap of what happened during ICC’s annual conference and public comment hearings.
Ballancojuliusvwhite 200
Julius Ballanco P.E., CPD
November 2, 2021
No Comments

With the first in-person code hearing since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a question of how many people would show up for the ICC meeting. Walking in on the first morning, it was shocking to see a full room. 


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Codes and standards

Julius Ballanco: The ICC system needs to change

Codes and standards should be as up-to-date as possible.
Ballancojuliusvwhite 200
Julius Ballanco P.E., CPD
October 1, 2021
No Comments

Last month, ICC completed the technical code changes to the 2024 Edition of the International Plumbing Code (IPC), International Mechanical Code (IMC) and International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC). Yes, you read that correctly — the 2024 editions of these codes.


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Woman running

Water chemistry

A new promising standard, ASHRAE 514 will regulate the quality of water.
Ballancojuliusvwhite 200
Julius Ballanco P.E., CPD
September 3, 2021
No Comments

During the last few months, I have heard a number of debates about the use of the term “potable water” versus “drinking water.” What has been interesting is everyone actively involved in the plumbing profession insists on using the term “potable water.” While others think that “drinking water” is more understood by the general public.


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Old Way, New Way

Who controls the UPC and UMC

Influencing changes to the plumbing and mechanical codes.
Ballancojuliusvwhite 200
Julius Ballanco P.E., CPD
August 3, 2021
No Comments
After every IAPMO Technical Committee meeting discussing code changes, engineering colleagues always ask, “Does the union control the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) and the Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC)?”
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