IAPMOIndia, IPA and IGBC Sign Green Building MoU
New Delhi, India (Nov. 7, 2011) - Recognizing a shared mutual recognition of the environmental issues and concerns related to the plumbing industry, as well as the promotion of public safety and welfare, IAPMO-India, the Indian Plumbing Association (IPA) and the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to work cooperatively to confront and solve environmental issues in the worldwide plumbing industry. The MoU was signed during the Indian Green Building Congress last month in New Delhi.
Through this MoU, the three organizations pledge to develop public awareness campaigns to promote efficient water and energy consumption concepts and technologies, including the Water Efficient Products–India (WEPI) program, a water efficiency ratings scheme developed jointly by IAPMO-India and the IPA.
Other key provisions of the MoU include:
• To work together in the area of codes, certifications and audits as they relate to the plumbing industry
• To lend technical know-how and to support each other in promotional activities and to educate the public on environmental issues within the plumbing industry
• To continue to develop opportunities to leverage complimentary resources between IPA, IAPMO-India and IGBC
“Together we the leaders pledge to make India a role model for the rest of the world in addressing climate change,” said Dr. Prem C. Jain, IGBC chairman.
Also during the Indian Green Building Congress, V. Suresh, chairman of the Housing Committee of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), announced that the National Building Code of India would formally adopt the Uniform Plumbing Code – India (UPC-I) and the Green Plumbing Code Supplement – India into the upcoming revision of the National Building Code.
The first ever plumbing code developed by the Indian plumbing industry itself to achieve the nationwide goal of "Better Plumbing for Better Living," The UPC-I attempts to minimize risk by specifying technical standards of design, materials, workmanship and maintenance for plumbing systems, featuring tried and tested plumbing practices tailored especially for India to ensure best practices are employed for ensuring safe, sanitary plumbing systems.
IAPMO India, with assistance from industry leaders such as the Indian Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ISHRAE) and the Fire and Security Association of India (FSAI), is nearing completion on the development of the Uniform Mechanical Code – India (UMC-I), featuring best practices for the design, installation and maintenance of safe, more energy efficient heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, for release in 2012.