As IAPMO moves through its centennial year, I’ve been thinking a great deal about how far this organization has come and how closely our present work still reflects the purpose that brought a small group of plumbing inspectors together in Los Angeles a century ago.
In 1926, those inspectors were worried about unsafe products, inconsistent practices, and the public health risks created when plumbing systems failed. They responded by creating standards and codes that would protect communities. Today the challenges are more complex and more global, but the principle remains exactly the same: IAPMO exists to keep people safe.
One of the most urgent examples of that mission is the growing fight against counterfeit, fraudulent, and non-compliant plumbing and mechanical products. I’ve been pounding the pavement on this issue for months, raising it at meetings with our Board of Directors, with chapters, with manufacturers, and with policymakers around the world. The response has been remarkable. Almost every time I bring it up, the conversation stops and people say, “Tell me more. How can we help?”
That reaction tells me two things. First, the problem is real. Second, the industry recognizes that IAPMO is uniquely positioned to lead the solution.
What we are experiencing right now is a perfect storm. On one hand, consumers and contractors have more ways than ever to buy products — direct from overseas manufacturers, through online marketplaces, or from social media storefronts. With a few clicks, almost anything can be shipped anywhere. Unfortunately, that includes products that have never been tested, certified, or even designed to meet basic safety standards.
At the same time, many jurisdictions are cutting back on inspections and enforcement because of budget constraints. After natural disasters, communities often feel pressure to rebuild quickly, which can lead to relaxed permitting and reduced oversight. When you combine easy access to cheap products with fewer checks and balances, bad actors find a path of least resistance.
We’ve seen the consequences of this dynamic in very real ways. During recent meetings in Hawaii, local officials and contractors told us they are being flooded with illegal and substandard products — especially as rebuilding efforts continue after the devastating wildfires. People trying to save money on affordable housing projects end up buying “cheap” products that may actually put families at greater risk. The dangers may not show up immediately, but over time they can create long-term public health and life-safety problems.
This is exactly why IAPMO has stepped up its efforts in a coordinated, comprehensive way. Testing and certification are at the core of our response. Manufacturers are increasingly coming to us asking for help identifying counterfeit reproductions of their own products. Some are even funding independent testing so we can validate failures and provide hard data to regulators and distributors. Trade associations such as Plumbing Manufacturers International (PMI) are partnering with us to evaluate suspicious products and take those findings directly to policymakers.
We are also working closely with major retailers and online platforms. Through relationships built by our Government Relations and Business Development teams, we’ve helped educate companies like Amazon, Home Depot, and Lowe’s about how to recognize and remove fraudulent products. Amazon has begun using algorithms to flag products that claim to be certified, and our staff is helping verify thousands of items each week. It is a massive undertaking, but it is making a difference.
At the border, our Government Relations team is collaborating with Customs officials to intercept questionable shipments before they ever reach the marketplace. Inspectors in the field are calling our compliance department regularly to confirm whether a product is legitimately listed. And internationally, our testing labs are seeing unprecedented demand as manufacturers move quickly to meet legitimate certification requirements.
All of these efforts come together in what I call a “village approach.” No single tool will solve this problem. It requires testing, certification, enforcement, education, advocacy, and collaboration across the entire ecosystem. The good news is that IAPMO is uniquely positioned with the expertise and reach to bring all those pieces together. This work is not just a defensive effort; it is also a major opportunity for growth and leadership. Protecting the marketplace from illegal products reinforces the value of legitimate manufacturers, supports inspectors and jurisdictions, and ultimately safeguards the public. It is a natural extension of what IAPMO has done for 100 years.
Our founders could never have imagined a world where unsafe products could be ordered on a smartphone and delivered overnight from across the globe. But they absolutely understood the responsibility we have today: to prevent threats to public health and safety, no matter what form they take. Speaking of our founders, as we celebrate our centennial throughout 2026, we will also be gathering as an industry at the IAPMO Annual Education and Business Conference — returning to Los Angeles, where it all began, Sept. 13-17. The event will be a chance to look back with pride, reconnect with partners from around the world, and focus on the challenges and opportunities ahead. If there was ever an IAPMO conference you don’t want to miss, this is the one. I hope to see you there this September.
I also encourage everyone to participate in the World Plumbing Conference, June 23-25, in Birmingham, United Kingdom. As chair of the World Plumbing Council, I know firsthand how important it is for our global community to share knowledge and work together on issues that affect us all. Whether the topic is illegal products, water efficiency, workforce development, or new code initiatives, the message is the same: collaboration is the key to progress. Your participation would surely enhance that collaboration and I hope you’ll consider joining us.
Dave Viola
Dave Viola is the CEO of The IAPMO Group, a global non-profit membership-based organization focused on the development of codes that govern plumbing quality standards. He has more than 25 years of senior management experience within the plumbing and mechanical industry. He joined IAPMO in 2007 and, served as IAPMO’s chief operating officer with strategic and operational responsibility for the comprehensive array of IAPMO Group programs and services. Dave also serves as Deputy Chairman of the World Plumbing Council. Dave previously worked as Technical Director for the Plumbing Manufacturers Institute (PMI) from 1998 until 2007. He serves or has served on many industry committees and boards in the United States and Canada, including AWE, ASME, ANSI and ASHRAE.
Last modified: April 15, 2026