The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) recently completed Technical Committee Meetings toward the development of the 2024 editions of the Uniform Solar, Hydronics and Geothermal Code (USHGC) and Uniform Swimming Pool, Spa and Hot Tub Code (USPSHTC), preceding editions of which are American National Standards.

During the June 20-21 meetings held at IAPMO’s World Headquarters West in Ontario, California, the committees acted on 228 proposed amendments to the 2021 editions of these Uniform Codes.

The USHGC Technical Committee acted on 128 public proposals and generated two technical committee proposals. Topics discussed included: heat transfer fluid quality for closed-loop hydronics systems; restrictions on ethylene glycol; minimum surface floor temperatures for radiant heating and cooling; glycol concentrations; stagnation prevention for hydronic heating systems utilizing potable water; expansion tanks; material standards for piping, tubing, and fittings; oxygen diffusion corrosion; PE and PE-RT piping and tubing minimum bend radii, pressure ratings, and wall thicknesses; solar thermal piping slopes; district ambient temperature loops; district load profiles; thermal resources; thermal metering; makeup water quality for closed-loop ground source heat pumps systems; six-pipe heat pump systems; setbacks for vertical and horizontal ground heat exchangers; geothermal system start-up; net zero and net positive buildings; and solar ready building.

The USPSHTC Technical Committee acted on 98 public proposals. Topics discussed included: slip-resistant walkway surfaces and classifications; swimming pool floor slopes; handholds; decking materials and construction requirements; deck drainage and slopes; turnover times for artificial lagoons and therapy pools; chemical feed equipment; primary, secondary, and supplemental disinfection; water conditioning chemicals; updated water quality parameters; increased risk aquatic venues; surge tank storage capacity; entrapment prevention; heat pumps; barrier locations and alarms; electrical safety; pool and spa safety covers; diving equipment; wave pool safety; stationary wave pools; interactive water play venues and equipment; float tanks; artificial white water courses; artificial lagoons; surf pools; lazy rivers; elevated pools; and transportation and conveyor systems.

The USHGC Technical Committee requested that the Hydronics Systems and the Geothermal Energy Systems task groups reconvene to review their respective proposals, revise current definitions pertaining to these systems, and address Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC®) correlation items to generate public comments for technical committee consideration.

In accordance with IAPMO’s American National Standards Institute (ANSI)-accredited code development process, balloting through the USHGC and USPSHTC technical committees will begin on July 8 and conclude on July 29. The Report on Proposals (ROP) will be created from these balloted actions and published on Sept. 9. All consensus body actions will be published in the ROP and will be available for public review.

For specific information about the USHGC Technical Committee, contact Taylor Duran at 909-218-8126 or e-mail your question to [email protected]. For specific information about the USPSHTC Technical Committee, contact Enrique Gonzalez at 909-230-5535 or e-mail your question to [email protected].