City Council Minutes 2000 02 01 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Plumbers, Sales Representative, and people from the Industry. He also stated that the Uniform Plumbing Code is used to train apprentices. He noted that the International Plumbing Code does not have all the charts, drafts and sizing as that of the Uniform Plumbing Code. The Plumbing and Heating Contractors of Colorado, the Mechanical Contractors Association, the Regional Inspectors Group, and the Colorado State Pipe Trades support the Uniform Plumbing Code. He also noted that the Uniform Plumbing Code is amended every three years, and he felt that there was no reason to adopt the International Plumbing Code. He stated he did not believe fifteen jurisdictions in Colorado have adopted the International Plumbing Code. Chuck Keim, Member of the Board of Appeals, stated that the Board compared the Uniform Plumbing Code to the International Code. He stated that the Board selected the International Plumbing Code because it is a performance-based code, instead of a prescriptive code. It has provisions for performance design as opposed to using the same provisions all the time. He stated that the Board viewed the International Code as a superior code and he urged Council adoption. Davidson closed the public hearing and called for Council comments and questions. Mayer asked Chief Building Official Tom Talboom to respond to the comments voiced by the public. Talboom, stated that most of the concerns center on a difference of philosophy. He noted that the three major Code Development organizations in the United States, ICBO, BOCA, and SBCCI, have always had a consensus process where anyone can give testimony to the code adoption process, which occurs every year. The only parties allowed to vote on the changes are government officials. In the early 1990's IAPMO, the group that co- developed the Uniform Plumbing Code with ICBO, decided dues paying members could vote on a code amendment, therefore any manufacturer or trade person can testify, and vote on amendments. The three major Code organizations decided to develop one family of codes. The first code to be developed was the International Plumbing Code, in1994. The full family of International Codes is now fully developed. The provisions of the International Plumbing Code meet the time-tested standard for health safety and life safety concerns. The three code groups have come together and produced quality code provisions. He agreed with Mr. Keim that the direction of the new set of codes is performance-based. The performance-based codes have International standards that must be met. The code also allows engineered design so that individuals are not limited or confined. It encourages new products and new technologies by setting standards that would have to be met. Sisk asked Talboom if any of the local plumbers testified or offered support of the International Plumbing Code. Talboom stated that the public hearings were advertised, and direct mailing was sent to all the licensed plumbers and general contractors for the last public hearing. Only two plumbers, one of them Mr. Pierce, appeared to testify, however no local plumbers gave 5