Read the latest news in plumbing, mechanical, fuel gas, swimming pool and spa, and more in the U.S. and abroad. ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­    ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­  
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The International Code Council's

PMG Newsletter

May 27, 2026 

Welcome!

This newsletter is part of a continuous series released bi-monthly by the International Code Council's Plumbing, Mechanical and Fuel Gas (PMG) Technical Resources Team. From the latest developments in ICC initiatives within the PMG space, to industry news spanning the globe, this newsletter will help you stay in the know. 

 

Feedback and editorial suggestions can be sent to Jim Cika, Director, PMG Technical Resources, at jcika@iccsafe.org. For advertising information, please email Matt Sigler, PMG Executive Director, at msigler@iccsafe.org. 

The Latest from the PMG Team

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DOE Water Heater and Furnace Efficiency Rules Drive a Nationwide Shift to Condensing Technologies

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has finalized updated federal energy efficiency standards for commercial and consumer water heaters and consumer gas furnaces. These changes will increasingly turn routine replacements into retrofit projects with new venting, condensate and drainage implications.  

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From Temperature Control to Hydraulic Robustness: Rethinking Drinking Water Installations

In many installations, water quality is no longer governed by temperature limits, but by the absence of effective flow. The industry must shift its focus from temperature control to a new leading principle: hydraulic robustness. 

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Sustainable Wastewater Solutions: Constructed Wetlands Versus SBR Systems in Slovenia

The broader lesson from this comparative study is not that one technology is universally superior, but that rational site-specific selection — accounting for available land, capital budget, operational capacity, receiving water sensitivity and whole-life energy cost — should displace the reflexive preference for engineered complexity.  

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How United Association Training Centers Keep North America’s Skilled Labor Projects Moving Forward

United Association's state‑of‑the‑art facilities, standardized curriculum and commitment to lifelong learning ensure that contractors, project owners and communities have access to licensed and certified skilled labor necessary to keep projects on schedule and within scope.

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An Overview of Plumbing Trap Requirements Under the International Plumbing Code

Plumbing traps play a critical role in protecting building occupants from sewer gases, odors and potential health hazards. International Plumbing Code® (IPC) Chapters 10 and 11 set detailed requirements for the design, installation and protection of traps to ensure that every fixture is properly sealed and that trap seals are maintained under various operating conditions.​

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Navigating EPA’s Technology Transitions Program Related to A2L Refrigerants

Our experts address persisting questions within the HVAC industry and building code enforcement world with regards to the HFC refrigerant phasedown and the subsequent transition to A2L refrigerants.

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Savvy Contractors are Betting on the Most Urgent Trade

Plumbing might be urgent for customers, but for contractors, the real wins go to those who take the long view – and those who recognize that the future of the industry is as much about people and adaptability as it is about pipes and profits.

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Nominations Open for 2026 Backflow Hero Award Ahead of National
Backflow Prevention Day

The Backflow Hero Award is an annual program recognizing individuals who demonstrate excellence in protecting drinking water through backflow prevention. Nominations will be accepted through June 30, 2026, with the recipient selected by a panel of Watts backflow experts.

Learn More
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ICC News

  • ICC Community Development Honored with Digital Transformation Award for Second Consecutive Year
  • Early Bird Registration Open for the International Code Council’s 2026 Annual Conference and Expo 
  • The International Code Council’s Building Safety Month Advances Public Safety and Community Resilience

Global Industry News

  • How Much Water Do Data Centers Use? One in Delaware City Could Use up to 20 Million Gallons (~76 million liters) a Year
  • Bathroom Vents May Have Spread COVID Between Apartments, Study Suggests
  • Data Centers Are Making Parts of Phoenix up to 4°F Hotter, Study Finds
  • Heat Pump Research Symposium: From Performance to Practice
  • Italy, Oman Signs 150 MW Green Data Centre Project

ICC and Industry Events

  • June 10: High-Traffic Areas: Where Material Excellence Meets Heavy Use (Webinar)
  • June 10: Backflow MasterClass #3 Standards, Tools & Troubleshooting Tactics (Learn Live)
  • June 23: MEP Leaders Conference - Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  • June 23-25: InstallerSHOW 2026

  • Multiple events: Hydraulic Consultants Association (Australasia)

  • Multiple events: Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers

PMG Hot Topics

  • Preparing for A2L Refrigerants
  • HVAC Efficiency Requirements
  • Advancements in the Implementation of Hydrogen Fuel
  • Water Reuse in the 21st Century
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