The 2026 ASSE International Mid-Year Meeting was held April 14-15, 2026 at Local 562’s Training Center in St. Louis, MO, an impressive institution of learning in the piping industry. Members of ASSE International and its various committees met to discuss, influence, and guide the important business of ASSE International, including standards, certifications, membership, and code development.
For those who couldn’t attend, below are brief recaps of each meeting and event, along with some photos. To see even more photos, visit our 2026 ASSE International Mid-Year Meeting Flickr album at https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCTEri.
Each day of the Mid-Year Meeting included a networking and hospitality area with coffee, snacks, and a place to relax between meetings and during breaks. Thank you to Local 46 Training Department, Local 75, Local 400, Pipefitters Local 597, National Inspection Testing and Certification Corporation (NITC), and Philadelphia Suburban PHCC for sponsoring this area!
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8
Seal Control Board (meeting held online prior to the in-person Mid-Year Meeting)
Chair Brianne Hall called the meeting to order at 11:33am. The SCB welcomed three new members and then Standards and Product Listing program updates were presented by Terry Burger and Chris White. Listing program activities have significantly increased over the past five years. A brief training course on the ASSE Seal Control Board balloting process was presented by Eric Dickey. The session also included training by Sean Cleary on “Common Installation Issues for Backflow Assemblies and Devices.”
TUESDAY, APRIL 14
First Timers Breakfast
The in-person Mid-Year Meeting kicked off with the ASSE First Timers Breakfast. Attendees enjoyed a light breakfast while President Vince Gallo welcomed attendees and provided an overview of the meetings and events to come. John Higdon, P.E., director of Standards Development for ASSE International, provided information about standards development – what working groups are and how members can actively participate. Attendees had the opportunity to meet the ASSE Board of Directors and ASSE staff.
Membership Committee
The ASSE Membership committee met to review current membership initiatives and discuss strategies to increase member value and engagement. Key updates included progress on “Member Deals,” ongoing discussions around auto-renewal functionality, and logistical considerations for bundled memberships. Committee members and attendees also reviewed a draft ASSE PowerPoint presentation, offering extensive feedback to strengthen calls to action, expand content on membership benefits, committees, standards development, and real-world industry impact. Suggestions emphasized flexibility in presentation use, clearer volunteer commitment expectations, and enhanced presenter notes to better equip members and staff.
Additional discussion covered the availability of a downloadable ASSE membership flyer, continuing education units (CEUs) for committee participation, and upcoming membership webinars. Audience input underscored the need for more apprentice-focused outreach to encourage broader participation in membership. The meeting concluded with reminders about the 2026 Annual Meeting in Colorado Springs in October.
Fire Protection (15000/27000) Technical Committee (Update Meeting)
The ASSE 15000 / 27000 Fire Protection Technical Committee met to review certification activity, exam updates, standards development, and ongoing program promotion efforts. Committee members reviewed certification statistics for both the ASSE 15010 (Inspection, Testing and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems) and ASSE 27010 (Installation of Hybrid Fire Extinguishing Systems) programs and received updates from the Test Development Subcommittee, including the completion of NFPA-based exam item updates for the ASSE 15010 certification.
Updates were provided on standards development and continuous maintenance activities. The committee discussed the status of the ASSE 15010 standard, including next steps following member feedback, and received updates on the development of new and revised standards within the ASSE Series 27000, Professional Qualifications Standard for Hybrid Fire Extinguishing Systems Personnel. Dedicated working groups and subcommittees are actively engaged in developing and aligning standardized language and technical content across documents.
The committee also discussed regulatory outreach and promotional activity supporting the ASSE 15000 certification program, as well as feedback related to exam structure and duration. No items were identified for Board of Directors action. The meeting concluded with an announcement of the 2026 ASSE Annual Meeting.
ASSE Series 18000 (Fuel Gas Systems and Equipment Installers and Repairers) Working Group Meeting
This was the first meeting of the ASSE 18000 Working Group. The Working Group has been tasked with developing a new professional qualifications standard titled Professional Qualifications Standard for Fuel Gas Systems and Equipment Installers and Repairers. During the initial meeting, the group established the scope of the standard and began a development draft outlining the minimum requirements necessary for an individual to obtain certification within the defined scope. Work is ongoing.
Cross-Connection Control (5000) Technical Committee (Update Meeting)
The Cross-Connection Control (5000) Technical Committee met and discussed several important topics related to the ongoing support and oversight of the ASSE 5000 certification program. The meeting included updates on regulatory activity and outreach efforts, with emphasis on continued engagement to support the program nationwide.
Key discussion points included promotion of the certification program, continued test question review by the subcommittee, ongoing efforts related to proctor calibration, and subcommittee work focused on refining and clarifying language within the standard.
The committee also approved opening the ASSE Series 5000, Cross-Connection Control Professional Qualifications Standard, for review as part of its responsibility to help ensure the program remains current and relevant. The meeting concluded with items identified for Board awareness and an announcement regarding the 2026 ASSE Annual Meeting.
“The New Frontier: Pipe Rehabilitation” Education Seminar
While attendees enjoyed lunch, Jeff Urbanski from HammerHead Trenchless University educated the audience on Cured-in-Place Pipe (CIPP). This presentation introduced CIPP as an emerging solution for modern pipe rehabilitation, highlighting its ability to restore existing piping systems with minimal disruption, reduced environmental impact, and improved long-term performance. Urbanski outlined how CIPP works, along with key quality control and installation considerations, and will explore the growing role of standards, codes, and certifications in supporting its adoption. The session ended with a live demonstration of CIPP in action.
Product Standards Committee
The Product Standards Committee (PSC) was presented with updates on product standards that have been recently revised. Since the 2025 Mid-Year Meeting, four standards have been revised. Ten standards are in the process of being reaffirmed.
Additionally, the PSC discussed the status of several standards that are in working groups — seven are in working groups, one is being balloted by the PSC, and one is in public review. There are seven standards in queue.
ASSE is accepting working group applications for the standards below. Applications can submitted on the ASSE website at https://asse-plumbing.org/membership/committees/working-group-application.
- ASSE 1051, Individual and Branch Type Air Admittance Valves for Sanitary Drainage Systems — Forming a WG
- ASSE 1115, Automatic Hot Water Balancing Valve — Forming a WG
- ASSE 1119, Legionella Reduction and Treatment Devices — Forming a WG
- ASSE 1376, Ultra and Nano Drinking Water Treatment Systems — Forming a WG
- ASSE 1391, Point of Entry Reverse Osmosis Systems — Forming a WG
The committee received a report on ASSE Mixing Valve Standards as they relate to check valve requirements. This investigation was initiated during the PSC meeting held at the 2025 ASSE Annual Meeting — a task group was charged with developing proposed language for all ASSE mixing valve standards to properly address the check valve requirement while also ensuring consistent terminology and requirements across all applicable standards.
Local 562 Facilities Tour
Two facility tours were given by Local 562 Instructor and ASSE member Kevin McDonough. Located in Earth City, MO on a five-acre lot, this two-story, 89,000 square-foot facility is impressive to say the least. In addition to several technology-equipped classrooms and 50 welding booths, there are offices, conference rooms, training labs, an auditorium style lecture hall, and fabrication and assembly areas. Thank you to Local 562 for allowing us to take a peek into your institution of learning.
Evening Event: “Mid-Year Madness”
The 2026 ASSE Mid-Year Meeting evening event — sponsored by Local 46 Training Department, Local 483 and Local 52 — was held at Chicken N Pickle, a large, unique restaurant, bar and entertainment complex with pickleball courts, a variety of yard and bar games, and space to lounge indoors or outdoors. Food and drinks were served, and a great time was had by all. To take advantage of the games available at the facility, “Mid-Year Madness” tournaments were held for pickleball, cornhole, and bocce ball. Teams of two competed with friends and colleagues to be crowned champions.
Congrats to our 2026 “Mid-Year Madness” winners!
Reuben Westmoreland and Joe Wolff — Pickleball
Joseph Boeger and Rich Lee — Cornhole
Doreen Cannon and Chris Thaxton — Bocce Ball
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15
Infection Control (12000) Technical Committee (Update Meeting)
The ASSE 12000 Water Management and Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) Technical Committee met to review ongoing program updates, standards activity, and strategic opportunities across the certification series. The committee approved the meeting agenda and prior minutes and discussed plans to move forward with a comprehensive update to the program guidelines, including future breakout sessions by specialty area.
Updates were provided on standards work currently under review through a working group, including alignment of Water Infection Control Risk Assessment (WICRA) forms with updated Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidance and a review of reference materials for continued relevance. Program promotion efforts were also highlighted, with increased visibility at industry conferences and multiple training classes delivered or scheduled.
Specialty groups reported progress across Water Quality, ICRA, and Legionella Management programs, including exam question reviews, committee expansion, and ongoing biweekly meetings. The committee also discussed opportunities to expand access through remote recertification exam options while maintaining program integrity.
The meeting concluded with discussions of strategic collaboration opportunities, increased engagement with committee specialty groups, and an announcement of the 2026 ASSE Annual Meeting.
Professional Qualifications Standards Committee
The Professional Qualifications Standards Committee (PQSC) reviewed the status of all published professional qualifications (PQ) standards, the progress of associated certification programs, and the activities of all working groups responsible for revising existing standards or developing new ones.
There are currently eight PQ series standards with established certification programs, five completed standards awaiting development of certification programs, and two standards with certification programs in progress. One additional standard is being held for future development. In total, ASSE now maintains 18 PQ series standards.
The Committee also reviewed the status of professional qualifications standards undergoing reaffirmation or revision. The following standards are currently in reaffirmation, completing revisions, or in active development:
- ASSE 7000, Residential Potable Water Fire Sprinkler System Installers & Inspectors for One- and Two-Family Dwellings
- ASSE Series 10000, Green Plumbing Systems Installers
- ASSE Series 12000, Water Management and Infection Control Risk Assessment for Building Systems
- ASSE Series 13000, Service Plumber and Residential Mechanical Service Technician
- ASSE Series 15000, Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems
- ASSE Series 18000, Fuel Gas Systems and Equipment Installers and Repairers
- ASSE Series 19000, Hydronic Systems Professional Qualifications Standard
- ASSE Series 21000, Rainwater Catchment Systems Personnel
- ASSE Series 27000, Hybrid Fire Extinguishing Systems Personnel
- ASSE Series 28000, CIPP (Cured-in-Place Pipe) Rehabilitation of Plumbing Drainage Systems Personnel
- ASSE Series 29000, Personnel Performing Safe Pressure Testing of Piping Systems
These standards remain in various stages of reaffirmation, revision, or development as part of the Committee’s ongoing oversight.
Service Plumber and Residential Mechanical Service Technician (13000) Technical Committee (Update Meeting)
The ASSE 13000 Service Plumber and Residential Mechanical Service Technician Technical Committee met to review program activity, standards and guideline development, and ongoing engagement efforts. Certification statistics were reviewed, with discussion around expired recertifications and increasing awareness and adoption of the ASSE 13000 certification.
The committee received updates on program promotion efforts and discussed challenges related to contractor adoption, noting that industry uptake takes time. Members also reviewed progress on updates to the 13000 program guidelines, which is underway with a draft currently under review by the subcommittee.
Standards updates were provided, including progress from multiple working group meetings focused on terminology alignment and structure. The committee also confirmed that ASSE 13010 (Service Plumber) practical exam questions have been fully reviewed and implemented by schools. The committee then announced the formation of a new subcommittee to support exam development and item review work for the ASSE 13020 (Residential Mechanical Service Technician) certification.
The meeting concluded with no items requiring Board action and an announcement of the 2026 ASSE Annual Meeting.
Code Development Committee & Subcommittees
For the first time, newly formed subcommittees of the ASSE Code Development Committee met. These subcommittees include those for the National Plumbing Code of Canada (NPC), National Standard Plumbing Code (NSPC), Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC), International Plumbing Code (IPC), and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) codes. Each subcommittee reviewed its purpose, which is to develop new code language, and review and respond to proposed changes to their assigned code. Since this was the first time most of these subcommittees were meeting, each also discussed and reviewed meeting processes and how the subcommittees are to work. In the main Code Development Committee meeting, the committee discussed state authored codes and amendments, reviewed considerations for the ASSE Board of Directors, and each subcommittee gave a report on their meetings.
Professional Qualifications Technical Committee
The final meeting was the Professional Qualifications Technical Committee, which included reports from each of the technical committees listed above, plus updates on all other Technical Committees.
