Letter to Your City Alderman
I am a professional plumber performing my craft in the City of St. Louis and I ask that you not change our plumbing code from the Uniform Plumbing Code to the International Plumbing Code
I also ask that you keep our Committee of Plumbing Code Review.
In <your ward> last year, there were <enter number> plumbing permits issued for projects worth <enter number>.
Make no mistake, it’s Building Officials behind the push for the International Code Council (ICC) codes in your city that that will eliminate the benefits you and your constituents currently enjoy from the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) water quality and community resiliency provisions. You can read more about that influence and the related Congressional inquiry into ICC in this New York Times article from earlier this year.
Despite misguided perceptions, changing our plumbing code will not create a “family of codes,” since the St. Louis electrical code is separate and governed by those with expertise as electricians. We don’t understand why you wouldn’t similarly want the same technical oversight in the area of plumbing health and safety? Why are plumbers different?
Changing to ICC’s codes will increase the workload of the plumbing inspector. The International Plumbing Code (IPC) is a performance-based code, subject to interpretation. That means the job site inspector not only has to enforce the code, the inspector also needs to interpret the intent of the code. And defend it to a contractor who interpreted the code in a different way.
Unlike the IPC, the Uniform Plumbing Code is designated as an American National Standard by the American National Standards Institute, grounded in that third-party oversight that assures consensus throughout the entire process. Changes to the UPC must be approved by a supermajority of diverse stakeholders.
We’re not seeking undue influence. We’re seeking recognition that the work we do for the city of St. Louis has value and we believe the Uniform Plumbing Code delivers value every day for all of us who live and work here.