ICC, ASHRAE publish code resource for water efficiency

by Brianna Crandall — November 2, 2015—The International Code Council (ICC) and global building technology society ASHRAE have partnered to publish 2015 WEP: Water Efficiency Provisions of the International Green Construction Code (IgCC). The publication is the most complete code resource on water conservation and efficiency. It includes water-related IgCC provisions to support jurisdictions facing critical water challenges and drought.

Dominic Sims, CBO, chief executive officer of the ICC, said:

The updated WEP provides the most contemporary requirements for designers, policy makers and the construction community who are looking for ways to deal with severe droughts and the need to better conserve one of life’s most precious resources — water. The WEP provides a concise and comprehensive resource to address the challenges associated with water scarcity.

WEP cpde resource

The publication includes water-related IgCC provisions to support jurisdictions facing critical water challenges and drought.

This compact, easy-to-use reference includes indoor and outdoor water efficiency and conservation provisions from throughout the 2015 IgCC, as well as 2015 International Plumbing Code, Chapter 13 on Nonpotable Water Systems and water use provisions from ANSI/ASHRAE/USGBC/IES 189.1-2014 Standard for the Design of High-Performance Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings.

David Underwood, president of ASHRAE, added:

Water efficiency and conservation is a critical factor in the design and operation of buildings. Given that buildings consume 20 percent of the world’s available water, this update to the Water Efficiency Provisions is vital in helping our industry save significant amounts of water. It contains water efficiency provisions from Standard 189.1, which deals with all aspects of sustainable building design.

2015 WEP: Water Efficiency Provisions of the International Green Construction Code (IgCC) covers water efficient plumbing, appliances, landscape irrigation, and mechanical systems. Plus, it features the latest provisions for alternate water sources like rainwater, graywater and reclaimed water. It promotes water conservation associated with both the building and the building site addressing numerous systems and components. It can be purchased online in soft cover format or PDF download.