The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) last week concluded Technical Committee meetings toward the ANSI-accredited consensus development of the 2012 editions of the Uniform Solar Energy Code® (USEC) and Uniform Swimming Pool, Spa and Hot Tub Code® (USPSHTC). The meetings were held at IAPMO’s new World Headquarters West building in Ontario, Calif.
The technical committees, consisting of a broad coalition of industry experts — installers, inspection officials, contractors, engineers and manufacturers — considered public proposals to amend the USEC and USPSHTC in advance of the release of the 2012 editions. Their actions to accept, modify or reject these proposals now go to ballots mailed to each technical committee member for formal voting between Nov. 11 and Dec. 10. The results of these votes will be published in the Report on Proposals to be published for review in February 2011 and opened for public comment in April 2011.
The USPSHTC Technical Committee considered proposals seeking to amend the code in such areas as:
• Public swimming pool and spa facilities
• Decks, diving boards and slides
• More in-depth water chemistry provisions
• Chemical storage and handling
• Safety requirements, including means of entry and exit, signage, barriers, life safety and rescue equipment, and lightning protection systems
• Indoor pool and spa HVAC and ventilation
• More in-depth design and material provisions for pools, spas and hot tubs
The USPSHTC governs the installation and inspection of both public and private swimming pools, spas and hot tubs to ensure the safety of their operation.
The USEC Technical Committee considered proposals seeking to amend the code in such areas as:
• Regulations of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and the flood resistant provisions of ASCE 24
• Definition of “Essentially Nontoxic Transfer Fluid”
• Clarification on vacuum relief valve used in solar systems
• Freeze protection that correlates with other industry standards
• Classification of fluids recognized as safe as grade food by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
• Prohibition of galvanized steel where in contact with glycol heat transfer fluid
• Plastic thermal storage (non-fiberglass storage tanks and fiber-reinforced storage tanks)
• Thermal insulation in R-value
• Solar systems for swimming pools, spas, and hot tubs
• Solar photovoltaic installation guidelines
• Requirements for battery room — location and ventilation
The USEC is a model code developed by IAPMO to govern the installation and inspection of solar energy systems as a means of promoting the public’s health, safety and welfare.
For questions about the USEC, contact Adam Muliawan, by phone at (909) 472-4111 or by e-mail at adam.muliawan@iapmo.org. For questions about the USPSHTC, contact Matt Sigler by phone at (909) 230-5535 or by e-mail at matt.sigler@iapmo.org.
Last modified: October 25, 2010