Plumbing Archives - Standards Michigan

Plumbing & Sanitation

“At the Water Trough” 1876 J. Alden Weir

Today we slice horizontally through several vertical catalogs that interact, cross reference and are fairly dynamic in their best practice discovery and promulgation.

Plumbing and sanitation systems in educational settlements – especially those with healthcare and research enterprises are intricately linked, ensuring clean water supply, waste removal, and public health. Plumbing systems deliver potable water to dormitories, academic buildings, dining halls, and recreational facilities through a network of pipes, pumps, and valves. (Kitchens). These systems source water from municipal supplies or campus wells, often treated to meet safety standards (Backflow Prevention). Hot water heaters and pressure regulators maintain consistent supply for showers, sinks, and laboratories.

Sanitation systems, conversely, manage wastewater and sewage. They collect used water from toilets, sinks, and showers, channeling it through drainage pipes to campus treatment facilities or municipal sewer systems. Advanced campuses may employ on-site wastewater treatment plants, using processes like sedimentation and biological treatment to reduce environmental impact. Regular maintenance, including pipe cleaning and septic tank pumping, prevents blockages and contamination.

The interaction requires precise coordination. Plumbing systems must avoid cross-contamination with sanitation lines, using backflow preventers and proper pipe insulation.

Sanitation systems rely on plumbing’s water flow to transport waste efficiently. On large campuses, high demand during peak hours challenges both systems, necessitating robust infrastructure. Sustainable practices, like low-flow fixtures and greywater recycling, enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and align with campus environmental goals, ensuring a hygienic and functional environment.

Join us today at 11 AM when we sort through the settled science and unsettled standards of care. Use the login credentials at the upper right of our home page.

Gallery: Great Lakes

DRINKING, WASTEWATER & STORMWATER SYSTEMS

Physical Security of Water Utilities

Backflow

Water and Sanitation

A day in the life of a full-time plumbing student

International Plumbing Code

The International Plumbing Code (IPC) is developed to harmonize with the full span of ICC’s family of building codes. The IPC sets minimum regulations for plumbing systems and components to protect life, health and safety of building occupants and the public. The IPC is available for adoption by jurisdictions ranging from states to towns, and is currently adopted on the state or local level in 35 states in the U.S, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico.

CLICK HERE for the 2021 Public Access Edition

SOURCE: CLICK ON IMAGE | Contact ICC for most recent IPC adoption map

The IPC is developed in the ICC Group A Code development framework and concluded its revision cycle in late 2021 under the circumstances of the pandemic. The 2023 International Plumbing Code revision cycle will not begin until early 2023 but it is never too soon to understand the issues from previous revision cycles to enlighten approaches to the forthcoming Group A revision cycle. The complete monograph of the Group A Codes is linked below, with comments on IPC proposals starting on Page 1417 of this 1613 page document:

2021 IPC | Group A Public Comment Monograph

Because transgender issues are on the agenda of many facility managers we direct you to Page 1424 of the rather large document linked above.

As always, we persist in encouraging education industry facility managers (especially those with operations and maintenance data) to participate in the ICC code development process. You may do so by CLICKING HERE.

Real asset managers for school districts, colleges, universities and technical schools in the Las Vegas region should take advantage of the opportunity to observe the ICC code-development process during the upcoming ICC Annual Conference in Las Vegas, October 20-23 during which time the Group B c Public Comment Hearings will take place. Even though the IPC has moved farther along the ICC code development process it is still enlightening to observe how it work. The Group B Hearings are usually webcast — and we will signal the link to the webcast when it becomes available — but the experience of seeing how building codes are determined is enlightening when you can watch it live and on site.

Issue: [16-133]

Category: Plumbing, Water, Mechanical

Colleagues: Eric Albert, Richard Robben, Larry Spielvogel

#StandardsNewMexico

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Neutral Public Bathroom Design

pic.twitter.com/gS9EFYlTgc

— Leslie (@Hopeleslie1234) August 10, 2024

Morning Shower

Complete Monograph: 2024 GROUP A PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE I-CODES

“The Bathing Pool” | Hubert Robert (1733–1808)

CLICK IMAGE to access complete text

Design Considerations for Hot Water Plumbing

Baseline Standards for Student Housing

2024/2025/2026 ICC CODE DEVELOPMENT SCHEDULE

Indoor plumbing has a long history, but it became widely available in the 19th and early 20th centuries. In the United States, for example, the first indoor plumbing system was installed in the Governor’s Palace in Williamsburg, Virginia in the early 18th century. However, it was not until the mid-19th century that indoor plumbing became more common in middle-class homes.

One important milestone was the development of cast iron pipes in the 19th century, which made it easier to transport water and waste throughout a building. The introduction of the flush toilet in the mid-19th century also played a significant role in making indoor plumbing more practical and sanitary.

By the early 20th century, indoor plumbing had become a standard feature in most middle-class homes in the United States and other developed countries. However, it was still not widely available in rural areas and poorer urban neighborhoods until much later.

International Plumbing Code

Form v. Function | Function v. Form

Communal Bathrooms

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