Julius Ballanco: It's been a fun ride
This month marks the 28th anniversary of the founding of PM Engineer magazine. The magazine was started by four individuals: George Zebrowski, my publisher; Tim Fausch, the group publisher; Jim...
View ArticleJulius Ballanco: Thermostatic mixing valve changes
At the recent ASPE Convention and Expo, I visited friends at the Leonard booth. I was invited to see their new electronic thermostatic mixing valves. Simply stated, it was cool. The adjustment of the...
View ArticleJulius Ballanco: Outvoted at IAPMO
I am often asked, “How do you remove the stranglehold that the union has on the Uniform Plumbing Code and Uniform Mechanical Code?” My answer is always the same — you outvote them at the Annual...
View ArticleJulius Ballanco: NSPC update completed
The National Standard Plumbing Code (NSPC) is often called the New Jersey Plumbing Code. That is because New Jersey is the only state that adopts this code on a statewide basis. Other adoptions are by...
View ArticleJulius Ballanco: How private is your plumbing?
The first time I heard the terms “paruresis” and “parcopresis” was in the mid-1980s at a plumbing code hearing. In those days, there was no Google to look up the words. I listened to the chief plumbing...
View ArticleJulius Ballanco: Government report ignores Uniform Codes
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued a document in March entitled, “Building Codes Strategy.” I finally received a copy in late April. I would encourage you to download the document...
View ArticleJulius Ballanco: Right-sizing plumbing systems for large arenas and stadiums
The 7th Emerging Water Technology Symposium (EWTS) was held in San Antonio the second week of May. The Symposium is sponsored by the leading plumbing groups: IAPMO, ASPE, PMI, World Plumbing Council,...
View ArticleJulius Ballanco: Struggling to regulate Legionella
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...
View ArticleJulius Ballanco: Showerheads: New administration, new definition
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...
View ArticleJulius Ballanco: The most powerful code section
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...
View ArticleJulius Ballanco: Heat pumps in your future
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...
View ArticleJulius Ballanco: Chicago allowing no-hub?
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...
View ArticleJulius Ballanco: IPC strange results
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...
View ArticleJulius Ballanco: The ICC system needs to change
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...
View ArticleWater chemistry
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...
View ArticleWho controls the UPC and UMC
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)?”
View ArticleJulius Ballanco: Chairing the UPC Technical Committee
Over the last 30 years, I have attempted to bring the readers into the middle of the code change hearings to understand the process as plumbing and mechanical code requirements are developed and...
View ArticleJulius Ballanco: Less than stellar virtual hearings
ICC held its very first virtual code change hearings in April and May. Let us hope it is the last time they hold them virtually. While technology has advanced, I think everyone got tired of the...
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