As IAPMO celebrates our 100th anniversary, the milestone is far more than a marker of time — it is a testament to a century of collaboration, shared purpose, and unwavering belief that safe plumbing and mechanical systems are fundamental to public health. From our beginnings in Southern California, IAPMO’s influence has grown across the nation and around the world, but never in isolation. Our greatest achievements have been shaped by the many partners who stood beside us: labor organizations, contractor associations, engineering societies, manufacturers, safety advocates, and the very municipal departments that helped bring IAPMO into existence. Together, these partners have strengthened the Uniform Codes, elevated the skilled trades, and advanced the science and practice of plumbing and mechanical systems.
These relationships, some reaching back to IAPMO’s founding and others forged as the industry evolved, have each proven essential to the association’s success. As IAPMO enters its second century, partnerships remain the foundation of our work and a reminder that progress in public health, safety, and sustainability is achieved not by any one organization alone, but through a united industry committed to protecting communities everywhere.
In that spirit, Official will highlight many of these invaluable partnerships in each of our quarterly issues this year, beginning with longstanding relationships that helped shape IAPMO’s identity from its earliest days and continue to guide its mission a century later.
UA (United Association)
The UA stands as one of IAPMO’s most enduring and influential partners, with a relationship stretching nearly the full length of IAPMO’s 100-year history. In the earliest decades, UA members stood shoulder to shoulder with IAPMO’s founders as they worked to professionalize the plumbing inspection field, secure fair pay for inspectors, and advocate for safe, uniform practices across municipalities. These early efforts helped establish a shared belief that welltrained workers and sound codes are inseparable pillars of public health and safety.
Today, the UA remains deeply connected to IAPMO through ongoing collaboration at the national and local levels. Regular dialogue between IAPMO leadership and UA national officers ensures that both organizations stay aligned in promotion of their numerous common goals. UA members have also been invaluable allies during local adoption efforts, often appearing alongside IAPMO’s field staff to explain the real-world importance of proper installation and oversight.
The UA’s world-class training programs, especially the Instructor Training Program in Ann Arbor, continue to strengthen the partnership by elevating the skill level of the workforce that installs to IAPMO’s codes. Their training model has influenced international collaborations and has played an integral role in securing well-trained volunteers for projects such as the IWSH Community Plumbing Challenge and the Plumbing Champions charity work held in conjunction with WorldSkills competitions. Whether through workforce development, international competitions like WorldSkills, or joint advocacy for safe plumbing practices, the UA has been a long-standing partner in enforcing the principle that the Uniform Codes serve their adopting communities most effectively when highly trained professionals carry them out.
“The relationship between the United Association and IAPMO spans more than dates on a calendar — it spans generations of tradespeople who believe that their work matters,” UA Director of Plumbing Services Tom Bigley said. “UA members and IAPMO’s leaders have shared a simple conviction for nearly a century: that strong codes, fair standards, and world class training are not abstractions, but the very difference between vulnerability and security for millions of people. The UA and IAPMO have helped apprentices become instructors, journeyworkers become inspectors, and local advocates become global leaders, all under a framework we built together. As IAPMO celebrates 100 years, the UA reflects with gratitude on a partnership that has honored the dignity of labor, elevated our profession, and proven that when we collaborate, we can quite literally change the way the world lives with clean water and sanitation. We look forward to working with IAPMO for the next 100 years in preparing future generations to protect the health of all nations.”
PHCC (Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association)
PHCC has been an important partner to IAPMO for decades, representing the contractor community that relies on the Uniform Codes for clarity, safety, and consistency in the field. While the relationship has naturally evolved with changes in PHCC leadership over the years, PHCC chapters have consistently supported IAPMO through code purchases, event participation, and public advocacy. This long-standing collaboration helped solidify the contractor voice as a core component of IAPMO’s code development process.
A pivotal moment in the partnership occurred in 2017 when PHCC entrusted IAPMO with the ownership of the National Standard Plumbing Code (NSPC). This hand-off demonstrated the depth of PHCC’s confidence in IAPMO’s stewardship of codes and standards, and IAPMO continues to maintain and publish the NSPC for the jurisdictions that rely on it. PHCC also remains active on IAPMO committees and serves as one of the three organizations — along with the UA and MCAA — with dedicated seats on IAPMO’s Board of Directors, ensuring contractor perspectives remain central.
Today, under the leadership of CEO
Cindy Sheridan, PHCC continues to balance its broad industry relationships while maintaining strong ties with IAPMO. The organizations regularly collaborate on workforce initiatives, technical discussions, and most recently the selection and support of the U.S. representative for the WorldSkills plumbing competition. Through these efforts, PHCC continues to be an essential voice helping IAPMO ensure that the codes are both technically sound and practical for those installing plumbing systems every day.
“PHCC values its long-standing partnership with IAPMO, and the shared commitment we have to protecting public health while remaining practical for the contractors who work in the field every day,” Sheridan said. “From our collaborations on workforce development to PHCC’s continued engagement in the code development process, our work with IAPMO helps ensure that contractor expertise remains central to advancing safe, consistent, and effective plumbing standards nationwide.”
MCAA (Mechanical Contractors Association of America)
MCAA brings the perspective of large mechanical and plumbing contractors, firms responsible for some of the nation’s most complex commercial and industrial projects. Their longstanding relationship with IAPMO provides critical feedback on how the Uniform Codes and other IAPMO standards affect large-scale installations, workforce management, and jobsite safety. For decades, MCAA’s leaders have contributed to IAPMO’s Standards Council and technical committees, reinforcing the importance of contractor insight in every phase of the code development process.
Throughout IAPMO’s growth, MCAA has been a reliable partner in ensuring the Uniform Codes remain relevant to the realities of the modern mechanical contracting workforce. Their participation in committees and advocacy efforts has helped IAPMO strike the right balance between safety, practicality, and innovation. MCAA holds a designated seat on IAPMO’s Board, a reflection of the trust and enduring collaboration shared between the organizations.
Beyond codes, MCAA extends its influence through support for IWSH’s global mission. The association’s engagement underscores a shared commitment to improving access to safe plumbing for everybody everywhere.
“For 100 years, IAPMO has advanced public health through strong, practical codes shaped by industry collaboration and consensus,” said MCAA CEO Timothy Brink. “MCAA is proud of our long-standing partnership with IAPMO, of our members’ service on its Board and committees, and of our shared commitment with IWSH to expanding access to safe plumbing and sanitation worldwide.”
ASPE (American Society of Plumbing Engineers)
ASPE has long been IAPMO’s closest engineering partner, providing the technical rigor and design expertise essential to the development of modern plumbing codes and standards. The society’s deep involvement in technical committees and research initiatives ensures that plumbing engineering principles remain central to the Uniform Codes. This collaboration has strengthened both organizations, helping them serve as credible technical voices in the broader industry.
IAPMO and ASPE maintain a productive and mutually supportive relationship, renewed most recently through an updated Memorandum of Understanding. ASPE members bring a level of analytical precision and design knowledge that greatly enhances IAPMO’s work, especially as plumbing systems become more integrated, efficient, and technologically advanced.
ASPE’s value to IAPMO lies not only in its engineering contributions but also in its commitment to advancing plumbing science as a whole. The society’s involvement ensures that the Uniform Codes reflect emerging research, sound design principles, and a thoughtful approach to system performance. As the industry evolves, ASPE remains a steady and indispensable partner in shaping codes that meet modern demands while upholding public health protections.
“ASPE values its long-standing and productive partnership with IAPMO, which continues to strengthen the technical foundation of the Uniform Codes,” said ASPE CEO Billy Smith, FASPE. “IAPMO and ASPE share a common goal: advancing safe, efficient, and well engineered plumbing systems. As plumbing systems become more integrated and technologically advanced, the role of engineering expertise in code development is critical. Through our continued collaboration, ASPE engineers contribute analytical precision and design knowledge that help keep the Uniform Codes technically sound and responsive to emerging research. Additionally, ASPE members are dedicated to the advancement of the science of plumbing engineering, to the health, welfare, and safety of the public. This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to advancing plumbing science and system performance across the industry.”
PMI (Plumbing Manufacturers International)
PMI represents the product manufacturers whose innovations make modern plumbing systems possible, and their partnership with IAPMO has long been rooted in shared priorities: safety, performance, and water efficiency. Through decades of collaboration, PMI has provided manufacturers’ perspectives that help IAPMO understand how new technologies, materials, and testing data should influence the evolution of the Uniform Codes and other IAPMO standards.
Together with IAPMO and ASPE, PMI serves as a key co-leader of the Plumbing Industry Leadership Coalition (PILC), offering a unified platform for discussing national issues that affect plumbing research, policy, and regulation. Its insights into manufacturing trends and product certification processes continue to shape IAPMO’s approach to standardization and third-party testing.
PMI has also worked closely with IAPMO for years on the Emerging Water Technology Symposium (EWTS), which showcased leading research and future-forward innovations.
PMI’s ongoing contributions — spanning technical insight, data sharing, and industry foresight — help IAPMO remain at the forefront of evaluating and integrating new technologies into safe plumbing practice.
“For a century, IAPMO has been a trusted steward of public health and safety, and PMI is proud to have been a partner in that journey for so many years. Our collaboration has always been grounded in a shared commitment to innovation, sound science, and water efficiency — ensuring that codes and standards evolve alongside advancing technology,” said Kerry Stackpole, PMI CEO and executive director. “Whether through our work on codes, research, or industry leadership initiatives like PILC and EWTS, we value the open dialogue and mutual respect that define our relationship with IAPMO. As the industry continues to innovate, we look forward to building on this strong foundation together for the next 100 years.”
NFPA (National Fire Protection Association)
Few partners have had an impact on IAPMO’s code development as profound as NFPA. When IAPMO sought ANSI accreditation in the early 2000s to formalize the UPC and UMC as American National Standards, NFPA stood as a key mentor and supporter. Its staff guided IAPMO through essential ANSI processes, including procedural structuring, public review, and appeals, support that was instrumental in shaping IAPMO’s code development framework as it exists today.
NFPA’s influence extended beyond guidance. During early ANSI challenges and appeals, NFPA representatives literally sat beside IAPMO leadership, lending credibility and technical backing at a moment when the organization was still proving its place in the national standards community. For a time, NFPA’s Standards Council even functioned as IAPMO’s de facto oversight body, reinforcing the integrity of IAPMO’s emerging consensus process.
Today, the relationship remains strong, bolstered by ongoing communication and standards leadership with leaders like NFPA Vice President and Chief Engineer, Christian Dubay. NFPA continues to be a respected technical resource for IAPMO, collaborating with IAPMO on issues ranging from standards interpretation to post-disaster recovery.
“The long-standing relationship and trust between staff and our standards volunteers ensures that NFPA’s and IAPMO’s common global safety missions have the greatest reach and impact,” Dubay said.
LADBS (Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety)
The relationship between IAPMO and LADBS runs all the way back to IAPMO’s founding, when Los Angeles plumbing inspectors, LADBS employees, came together to improve installation practices and protect public health. This deep historical connection has shaped IAPMO’s identity as an organization built for and by inspectors, making LADBS an essential ally for a full century.
Today, LADBS continues to support IAPMO through active participation in technical committees. The department’s frontline perspective on enforcement and code interpretation provides invaluable feedback that helps keep the Uniform Codes grounded in real-world inspection and installation challenges. LADBS also plays an important role in local adoption discussions, providing a municipal lens on code implementation.
Although LADWP and LADBS operate independently, both remain crucial to IAPMO’s work. LADBS, in particular, symbolizes the heart of IAPMO’s mission: the protection of public health and safety through strong codes and consistent enforcement. Their partnership bridges IAPMO’s earliest inspector-based roots with its modern influence in plumbing standards and global code development.
“The longstanding collaboration between IAPMO and LADBS exemplifies how building departments and code bodies work together to protect public health,” said Osama Younan, PE, LADBS general manager. “LADBS’s handson implementation experience ensures that codes are not only technically sound, but also practical, enforceable and effective.”
LADWP (Los Angeles Department of Water and Power)
LADWP embodies the close connection between IAPMO’s origins and its modern mission. As the home of the La Kretz Innovation Campus testing lab, LADWP provides a critical environment where emerging water technologies can be evaluated, validated, and refined. IAPMO’s daily presence on-site through staff member Jeffrey Yu, combined with the collaborative development of displays and educational materials, reflects a hands-on partnership grounded in technical progress and public education.
This relationship allows IAPMO to explore the future of water conservation and efficiency alongside one of the largest municipal water agencies in the country. Frequent engagement with LADWP leaders such as Manager of Efficiency Solutions Engineering Amir Tabakh helps IAPMO anticipate the needs of utilities and municipalities as new products and conservation measures come to market. The partnership strengthens both organizations’ ability to encourage responsible water use without compromising performance or public health protections.
For IAPMO, LADWP represents more than a technical collaborator — it is part of the organization’s geographic and historical DNA. By working together on testing, education, and innovation, the two entities continue to advance Los Angeles’ role as a leader in sustainable water management while honoring IAPMO’s roots in the region’s plumbing and building safety ecosystem.
“Our century-long partnership with IAPMO stands as a model of collaboration in advancing public health, safety, and sustainability,” Tabakh said. “Together, we have rigorously tested emerging technologies, strengthened plumbing codes and standards, and jointly developed critical manuals of recommended practice that guided the City of Los Angeles through challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic. From our Urban Water Management Plan to development of the Water Demand Calculator, this collaboration has delivered real-world solutions that protect communities and resources. Looking ahead, LADWP remains firmly committed to working with IAPMO to accelerate innovation, support climate resilience, and ensure a more sustainable future for our city, state, and nation.”
Geoff Bilau
Last modified: February 19, 2026