The 2020 ASSE International Mid-Year Meeting was held April 14-15. For the first time, the Mid-Year Meeting – which was originally scheduled to be held at Plumbers Local 130 Training Center in Chicago – was held online via GoToMeeting’s online meeting and web conferencing tool. Out of an abundance of caution and concern for the health and safety of our members, staff, and community, we took this precaution to protect our event attendees and the general public following recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Although this was certainly a little different than normal, the meetings were all very productive and well attended. An added bonus of holding meetings online was that we had many people attend who would normally not have been able to, including some first timers who have never attended a national ASSE Meeting.
On all calls, there was much discussion about COVID-19 and its impact, both positive and negative, that the pandemic will have on ASSE programs – especially concerning the extension of certification expiration dates and additional grace period for rectifying existing ASSE certifications.
For those who couldn’t attend, below are brief re-caps of each meeting.
Service Plumber/Residential Mechanical Technical Committee Meeting
The Service Plumber Technical committee discussed promotion of the ASSE Service Plumber (13010) Certification. There is a need to add additional content concerning infection control to the service plumber curriculum. We also need to promote that ASSE 13010 Certified plumbers are trained and certified on infection control protocols to contractors and homeowners. In the current environment, homeowners want to know that the plumber entering their home understands how to protect them from potential infection.
Seal Control Board Meeting
The Seal Control Board (SCB) meeting was called to order at 9:30 a.m. on April 24. ASSE staff gave the SCB an overview of the current product listing program. During the update, proposed changes to the Product Listing Program and Seal Control Procedures were reviewed and discussed, and ASSE staff explained that a shared copy of the Seal Control Procedures would be made available for comments during the following week. Towards the end of the meeting, a training session was held on ASSE 1069, Performance Requirements for Automatic Temperature Control Mixing Valves. At the conclusion of the training, there was a brief discussion concerning the future implementation of a more in-depth training format. This format would be recorded and archived for the onboarding of new SCB members. The meeting adjourned at 10:45 a.m.
FPTC (15000) Technical Committee Meeting
The Fire Protection Technical committee approved changes to the certification guidelines regarding recertification requirements for technicians certified to the ASSE 15010 Certification and for ASSE Provider Mark usage. The task group for the recertification exam questions reviewed the categories of questions for the exam. New questions based on the revised NFPA codes are also being developed. A working group has been formed for the revision ASSE/IAPMO/ANSI 15000, Professional Qualifications Standard for the Inspection, Testing and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems. The first meeting will be held in May. Illinois and Washington State both have legislation accepting the ASSE 15010 certification. There was discussion about how to get the certification accepted in additional states and cities.
Product Standards Committee Meeting
The Product Standards Committee (PSC) was called to order at 2:00 p.m. on April 14. The PSC spent approximately 45 minutes discussing an interpretation of ASSE 1055, Performance Requirements for Chemical Dispensing Systems with Integral Backflow Protection. Three questions were posed to the committee and all three were responded to with unanimous decisions. These responses will be forwarded to the individual who posed the questions.
The PSC was then presented with updates on product standards that have been revised. These include ASSE 1014, Performance Requirements for Backflow Prevention Devices for Hand-held Showers, ASSE 1020, Performance Requirements for Pressure Vacuum Breaker Assemblies, ASSE 1069, Performance Requirements for Automatic Temperature Control Mixing Valves, and ASSE 1093 / WSC PAS-97(2019), Performance Requirements for Pitless Adapters, Pitless Units, and Well Caps, which were recently published. Additionally, the PSC discussed the status of several standards that are currently in working groups, as well as those currently being reviewed by the PSC. Three new Listing Evaluation Criteria (LEC) documents were recently published, and five new LECs are in the developmental phase. Open project teams were discussed; two of the open project teams disbanded and the other two project teams were converted to a working groups. Finally, the committee reviewed four standards that are now four years old and approved opening them for revision.
Cross-Connection Control Technical Committee Meeting
The CCCTC reviewed statistics on schools, proctors, instructors, classes held, and exams that were taken, as well as pass/fail rates. It was reported that there are 16,383 current ASSE Backflow Certifications. Credentials, certification cards, and certificates will now be provided as PDFs, which will be emailed. Field test procedures for backflow assemblies that meet ASSE 1047, Performance Requirements for Reduced Pressure Detector Fire Protection Backflow Prevention Assemblies, and ASSE 1048, Performance Requirements for Double Check Detector Fire Protection Backflow Prevention Assemblies, were completed and approved by the committee. Revision of ASSE/IAPMO/ANSI Series 5000, Cross-Connection Control Professional Qualifications Standard, which has begun, was discussed.
Professional Qualifications Standards Committee Meeting
The PQSC reviewed all of the current and draft PQ standards and decided to reaffirm four standards that are nearing five years since they were developed, revised, or reaffirmed. They also approved the development of a new standard for inspectors and operators of cannabis extractor equipment.
ASSE 12000 Technical Committee (ICRA, Water Quality, and Legionella Programs) Meeting
The ICRA Technical Committee reviewed statistics concerning training providers, instructors, and certified individuals for both the Infection Control Certification Program and the Water Quality Certification Program. There has been a significant increase in the number of schools offering these two programs. The current COVID-19 pandemic brings to light how necessary these certifications are and additional topics that should be considered in the revision of the standard, including temporary field overflow hospitals and all their associated systems. The committee was informed about how the UA is meeting the need for online training, while training centers remain closed. The Infection Control and Water Quality Certifications will be more important than ever, especially in nursing homes and smaller medical facilities where the lack of proper infection control procedures is being seen.
