Four of the plumbing industry's leading organizations are joining forces to strengthen training, streamline certification, and advance sustainable water practices.
The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) and the American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE) have renewed their long-standing partnership and expanded it to include ASSE International and ARCSA International.
This expanded collaboration brings more clarity and consistency to commercial plumbing work, especially when it comes to meeting evolving code requirements, delivering green solutions, and keeping crews certified across specialties.
What the Partnership Covers
The updated agreement focuses on several key goals that reflect the needs of today’s commercial plumbing industry:
- Unified standards and code support: The group plans to collaborate on technical products, enforcement efforts, and code advocacy. This could lead to fewer grey areas on jobsites and more consistency across jurisdictions.
- Coordinated training and certification: Contractors can expect expanded access to high-quality education, credentialing, and events from all four organizations. ASPE will focus on design-related education, while ASSE and ARCSA will lead on installation, inspection, and green water system training.
- Green and alternative water practices: With growing demand for sustainable plumbing, the partnership will promote rainwater harvesting, water reuse, and energy-efficient systems. This opens the door to new services that help contractors stand out in competitive bids.
- Industry workforce development: The agreement reinforces support for plumbers, engineers, and inspectors through chapter-level events, technical committees, and shared educational resources.
- Stronger collaboration and resource sharing: Members may benefit from joint programs, cross-promoted resources, and streamlined access to the expertise of all four groups.
Dave Viola, CEO of IAPMO, described the expanded agreement as a necessary step toward building more resilient plumbing systems and a stronger industry overall.
“By bringing ASSE International and ARCSA International into the conversation alongside our longstanding work with ASPE, we’re expanding the impact of our collective expertise to better protect public health, conserve water, and promote energy efficiency worldwide,” he said.
Billy Smith, Executive Director and CEO of ASPE, echoed that sentiment: “By combining our strengths and expertise, we are advancing the science of plumbing engineering, resilient plumbing systems, innovative education, and vital standards development to protect public health, welfare and safety, and our shared water resources for communities everywhere.”
Why It Matters to Commercial Contractors
This kind of alignment matters on the job. When design, inspection, and installation standards are consistent and backed by the same group of organizations it reduces confusion, liability, and rework.
For commercial plumbing contractors, the expanded partnership means:
- Clearer code interpretation and enforcement
- More accessible training across multiple skill areas
- Better credentials to meet client and jurisdiction requirements
- Stronger backing when implementing sustainable or alternative water systems
Whether you’re bidding on new construction or servicing legacy buildings, this collaboration helps provide a common language for safety, performance, and compliance.
It also gives the industry a more unified voice in future code changes and public health standards, which is increasingly important as green building requirements, water conservation targets, and labor pressures continue to grow.
