Plumbing, Mechanical & Fire Codes

Water flowing out of a kitchen stainless steel tap into the sink. Wasting water by leaving a chrome faucet tap running. Water misuse in domestic duties and activities. Overusing household water.

Guard on Compliance | Misty Guard

Understanding U.S. state-level PFAS legislation

Answering questions regarding per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.

August 5, 2024

A client recently asked about PFAS legislation in the U.S. You can find more information in my columns "PFAS: A Growing Concern" and "Forever Chemicals in the News." I'm also looking into state-level PFAS legislation for my readers.

Motion blur of flushing water in toilet bowl. Plumbing, home repair and water conservation concept.

Guard on Compliance | Misty Guard

'The ramifications of EPA’s revisions to WaterSense specifications

Changes to high-efficiency faucets and toilets aim to reduce water consumption.

Misty Guard

July 1, 2024

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making changes to the voluntary WaterSense program for high-efficiency faucets and tank-type water closets (toilets) in 2024. These changes aim to promote water conservation and sustainability but may pose significant challenges for product manufacturers and the building industry.

Guard on Compliance | Misty Guard

Dissecting IAPMO’s proposed code change monographs

The UPC and UMC received over 650 code change proposals.

Misty Guard

June 3, 2024

The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials' (IAPMO) monographs of proposals for modifications to the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) and Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC).

Compliance rule law and regulation graphic interface for business quality policy.

Guard on Compliance | Misty Guard

Navigating product access in the US

Decoding the relationship between standards and regulations.

Misty Guard

May 3, 2024

Join us in unraveling product access complexities in the US. Whether you're a seasoned pro or a newcomer, we'll provide insights for successful product compliance. Thank you for embarking on this journey with us!

Misty Guard column feature image of industry acronyms

Guard on Compliance | Misty Guard

Code Council proposals for Group A code modifications

A deeper look into the propsals being discussed the most.

Misty Guard

April 2, 2024

While exploring International Code Council's first report of proposals for modifications to the Group A Codes, I became curious about which codes are being discussed the most. I decided to take a deeper look and get answers to three questions.

International Code Council’s Committee Action Hearings for I-Codes Group A scheduled for April

March 6, 2024

Proposed changes to the 2024 Group A I-Codes are available for public view on the Code Council’s website.

March 2024 Misty Guard Column feature image: A globe of the earth with trash over white background, the concept of ecology problem

Guard on Compliance | Misty Guard

Packaging laws and a circular economy

What you need to know about single-use packaging rules for mechanical and plumbing products.

Misty Guard

February 29, 2024

Have you heard of terms like "circular economy" or "EPR"? They describe regulations aimed at reducing packaging waste and promoting recycling. Let's explore California's draft regulation for implementing the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act.

Misty Guard column feature image of Compliance Concept on Blackboard

Guard on Compliance | Misty Guard

The lowdown on energy, water systems, refrigerants and product standards activity

Industry standards closed 2023 with a flurry of activity.

Misty Guard

February 2, 2024

In February, Standards Development Organizations review end-of-year activities. Energy, water systems, refrigerants, and products had a lot of activity in 2023. See lists for new, revised, or reaffirmed standards, standards in development, and withdrawn standards.