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Backflow
The University has a strong reputation for research and innovation in many fields related to the prevention of backflow incidents:
Viterbi School of Engineering has a dedicated Environmental Engineering program that focuses on water quality and management. This program has faculty members who are experts in water treatment and distribution systems, including backflow prevention technologies. The school also offers research opportunities for graduate students to work on water-related projects, including those related to backflow prevention.
Keck School of Medicine has a Department of Preventive Medicine that conducts research on environmental health, including waterborne diseases and contamination. This department has published research on the prevention of waterborne disease outbreaks and the importance of backflow prevention measures in protecting public health.
The USC Environmental Health and Safety department is responsible for overseeing the safety and compliance of the university’s facilities, including its water systems. EH&S works closely with the university’s Facilities Management Services to ensure that backflow prevention measures are in place and maintained.
The USC Foundation drafts definitions and specifications covering cross-connection control and the assemblies required for the prevention of backflow.
What are Plumbing Codes?
IAPMO develops codes and standards in collaboration with industry experts, government officials, and other stakeholders. These codes and standards are designed to promote public health, safety, and welfare by establishing minimum requirements for the design, installation, and maintenance of plumbing and mechanical systems.
FREE ACCESS: 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code
While the IAPMO catalog may be less well-known beyond its home waters the path through their periodic revision process is very transparent; one of the most transparent accredited standards developers in the land. We get to say that because there is no one else on earth that has been slicing horizontally through so many “domain silos” for so long. (We have practically created an original academic discipline).
For example:
The IAPMO ANSI-Accredited Development Process
2024 Uniform Plumbing Code Report on Proposals (1200 pages)
2022 Uniform Plumbind Code Report on Comments (1056 pages)
TENTATIVE – 2027 UPC/UMC CODE DEVELOPMENT TIMELINE
We maintain the IAPMO catalog on our periodic Water 200/Water 400 colloquia. See our CALENDAR for the next online meeting; open to everyone.
There were several barriers to the adoption of interior plumbing systems throughout history. Here are some of the key factors that contributed to the slow adoption of indoor plumbing:
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Lack of technology: In the early days of plumbing, there was a lack of technological advancement, making it difficult to design and install effective plumbing systems. The development of new technologies such as water pumps, water heaters, and pipes made it easier to bring water into buildings and distribute it throughout the space.
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High cost: Building indoor plumbing systems was a significant expense, and many people simply couldn’t afford it. Installing plumbing required digging trenches, installing pipes, and connecting to a reliable water source, all of which were expensive undertakings.
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Health concerns: In the past, there were concerns about the safety and cleanliness of indoor plumbing systems. There was a fear that standing water in pipes could lead to the growth of bacteria and other harmful microorganisms, and that indoor plumbing could increase the risk of waterborne diseases.
- Cultural attitudes: For many years, there was a cultural stigma associated with using indoor plumbing facilities. Some people believed that it was unsanitary or even immoral to use a toilet inside the home, and others preferred to use outhouses or other outdoor facilities.
- Lack of knowledge: In many cases, people simply didn’t know how to build or maintain indoor plumbing systems. Without the proper knowledge or skills, it was difficult to design and install a reliable and effective system.
Despite these barriers, the adoption of indoor plumbing systems slowly increased over time, as new technologies and innovations made it easier and more affordable to install plumbing in buildings. Today, indoor plumbing is considered an essential component of modern living, and is a standard feature in homes and buildings around the world.
Milestones:
- William Feetham (1767): An English stove maker who designed the first shower in 1767. Seen largely as a luxury at the time since most people did not have access to indoor plumbing and the requisite metal tank required to be heated over a fire.
- H.L Booth (1853): Inventor of the first practical showerhead in 1853 that allowed for a steady, controlled stream of water to be directed onto the bather.
- Thomas Crapper (1836-1910): Inventor of several refinements to the interior shower; although known more widely as the inventor of the modern flush toilet.
International Energy Conservation Code
2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) | April, May 2025
2024/2025/2026 ICC CODE DEVELOPMENT SCHEDULE
2024 GROUP A PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE I-CODES
Public Comment Period on the IECC
AIA Michigan Comment on ICC Code Development Process
National Electrical Manufacturers Association
Shouldn’t energy conservation measures be determined by market forces rather than building construction regulations?
Energy codes in the United States are adopted and enforced at the state level, and the stringency of the energy codes can vary widely from state to state. For example, as of September 2021, four states (Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina, and West Virginia) had not adopted statewide energy codes at all, according to the Building Codes Assistance Project. Other states may have adopted energy codes but have not updated them to the latest version, which could be less stringent than more recent versions.
We do not spend too many resources challenging the zietgeist. Engineers, by nature, seek to do more with less but it is worth reminding our colleagues that energy conservation practices vary widely around the globe and not every nation supports what amounts to an energy police state.
“The Conquest of Energy” / José Chávez Morado / Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
The International Energy Conservation Code is a model building code developed by the International Code Council for incorporation by reference into state and local energy conservation legislation. Free access to the current edition is linked below:
2021 International Energy Conservation Code
Sell Sheet: Leading the Way to Energy Efficiency
2024 International Energy Conservation Code Update: Appeals Deadline Extended
Apart from product prescriptive passages IECC is a largely a performance code which draws its inspiration from other energy-related catalogs developed by United States standards developers; notably ASHRAE International. Several accessory titles supporting the current 2021 edition which address energy efficiency on several fronts including cost, energy usage, use of natural resources and the impact of energy usage on the environment are linked below:
Many of the ideas in play can be tracked in the transcripts linked below:
Complete Monograph: 2022 Group B Proposed Changes
Complete Monograph: 2022 Group B Public Comment Agenda
Note the pre-occupation with products such as insulation, fenestration, power outlets and lighting — reflecting the financial support of energy activists advocating on behalf of manufacturers who tend build the cost of their advocacy in the price of their product.
A commonly overlooked energy conservation measure is reducing standby power consumption, also known as “vampire power.” Many electronic devices, such as televisions, computers, and chargers, consume energy even when they are not actively being used but are still plugged in. This standby power can account for up to 10% of a building’s energy consumption.
While our focus tends to be on the commercial facility docket, we keep an eye on the residential docket because, a) many colleges and universities own and operate square-footage on the periphery of their campuses that is classified as residential, b) many student rental houses are obviously classified as residential and we want property owners to be able to afford reasonable energy conservation measures for the houses they rent to students.*
From previous posts we explained we summarized our priorities for the Group B cycle and the IECC in particular:
- Education facilities as storm shelters
- Laboratory ventilation
- Classroom lighting
- Expansion of lighting controls
- Expansion of receptacle controls
- Expansion of electrical power system design requirements above beyond National Electrical Code minimums.
We encourage our colleagues in energy enterprises in education communities to participate directly in the ICC Code Development Process.*
2024/2025/2026 ICC CODE DEVELOPMENT SCHEDULE
The IECC is a standing item on our periodic Energy 200, Power, Mechanical and Hello World! colloquia. See our CALENDAR for the next online meeting; open to everyone.
University of Michigan
Issue: [Various]
Category: Architectural, Facility Asset Management, Space Planning
Colleagues: Mike Anthony, Jim Harvey, Jack Janveja, Richard Robben, Larry Spielvogel
* More:
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Nettle Soup
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The Seven Sins of Greenwashing
“Eco-friendly”, “Green”, “Bio”… Companies are increasingly using those tags as a signal to consumers of their environmental awareness. Yet also on the rise is a public concern about potential corporate lies in this subject, a phenomena labelled as “greenwashing”.
According to IESE professor Pascual Berrone, “many companies highlight one green positive aspect of their product or service, and hide the true impact that its production has on the environment”. With more and more NGO’s act as public watchdogs, “the consequences of getting caught can be, in terms of reputation but also economically, severe”, he says.
Universidad de Navarra | Iruña
Norsk Salmebok
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Kokkekaffe
Standards Norway | University of Oslo Statement of Cash Flows: NOK (000) 677 989
Coffee and cardiovascular disease: From epidemiological to etiological perspective | Ulsaker, Hilde
“The Strange Death of Europe” | Douglas Murray
God morgen #arendalsuka ! På MS Sunnhordaland er kaffen og vaflene klare. Kl 8:30 er står følgende på blokka: Hvem har ansvaret når den offentlige debatten flyttes til Facebook? https://t.co/WVBFxqWR5P… @OsloMet @UniOsloHF pic.twitter.com/Eq97wFNxmb
— Universitetet i Oslo (@UniOslo) August 16, 2018
New update alert! The 2022 update to the Trademark Assignment Dataset is now available online. Find 1.29 million trademark assignments, involving 2.28 million unique trademark properties issued by the USPTO between March 1952 and January 2023: https://t.co/njrDAbSpwB pic.twitter.com/GkAXrHoQ9T
— USPTO (@uspto) July 13, 2023
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