Innovation in plumbing is essential for improving water efficiency, safety, and system performance, yet every new technology arrives with a degree of uncertainty. When plumbing products fail, the consequences can be significant, ranging from property damage to public health risks. This reality creates a natural tension between innovation and regulation, and it places product certification at the center of the conversation.
THE CHALLENGE: NEW TECHNOLOGY WITHOUT EXISTING STANDARDS
Regulators, public health officials, and authorities having jurisdiction (AHJ) are tasked with protecting the public. Their responsibility is clear: ensure that any plumbing product installed in their jurisdiction meets recognized safety and performance requirements.
But new technologies often emerge faster than the standards that govern them. When no existing product standard applies, regulators face a dilemma. They are understandably reluctant to approve untested, unproven products, yet they also recognize the value of innovation. This gap between invention and acceptance is where industry standards play a crucial role.
HOW INDUSTRY STANDARDS ARE CREATED
When a new technology lacks an applicable standard, standards development organizations (SDOs), certification bodies, and laboratories frequently step in to create one. Documents such as ASSE/IAPMO IGCs (IAPMO Guide Criteria) and CSA Technical Information Letters (TILs) are widely used in the plumbing industry for this purpose, providing a consistent and efficient way to evaluate emerging technologies. These organizations assemble teams of technical experts who understand the product category, the associated risks, and the performance claims that require validation.
In many cases, these interim or industry‑specific standards fill the gap long before a full national standard is developed. Because the national standard process can take significantly longer to complete, industry standards often become the seed documents from which future national standards are built. A clear example is ASSE/IAPMO IGCs, which are developed jointly by ASSE and IAPMO to address technologies not yet covered by existing standards. These documents frequently evolve into national standards; for instance, IGC 384, Digital Mixing Valves for Recirculating Hot Water Systems, is progressing toward becoming ASSE/ANSI 1118, Digital Mixing Valves (DMV) for Hot Water Recirculating Systems.
These industry standards have a strong track record of helping new technologies gain acceptance because they provide structure, repeatability, and credibility.
WHY SDOS AND CERTIFICATION BODIES ARE WELL‑POSITIONED TO LEAD
Organizations that develop standards and certify plumbing products bring several advantages to the standards‑creation process:
- Deep experience with similar products and established standards
- Access to volunteer technical experts from across the industry
- Familiarity with regulatory expectations and accepted test methods
- The ability to design test protocols that evaluate both performance claims and safety requirements
Industry standards typically blend new test methods with relevant portions of existing American National Standards. This approach ensures continuity with recognized practices while addressing the unique features of the new technology.
Once published, these standards can be used by any accredited certification body to evaluate and certify products.
HOW INDUSTRY STANDARDS BUILD REGULATOR CONFIDENCE
The core purpose of an industry standard is to reduce uncertainty. By providing a structured, repeatable, and transparent evaluation process, these standards help regulators feel confident approving new technologies.
They do this by:
- Being developed by reputable organizations trusted by regulators
- Establishing test methods that validate performance claims
- Requiring evaluation against existing standards and recognized test methods
- Providing clear requirements for third‑party testing and factory inspections
- Enabling accredited certification bodies to certify products and apply their certification marks
Once a product is certified to an industry standard, AHJs are far more likely to permit its installation.
A PATHWAY FOR INNOVATION
The development of industry standards is more than a technical exercise — it is a bridge between innovation and market acceptance. By offering a credible, structured pathway for evaluating new technologies, these standards help innovators bring products to market faster, give manufacturers a clear roadmap for compliance, provide regulators with confidence in safety and performance, and ultimately benefit consumers through access to new, reliable technologies.
In a field where safety and reliability are paramount, industry standards ensure that innovation does not come at the expense of public trust. Instead, they help the plumbing industry evolve responsibly, efficiently, and with the confidence of all stakeholders involved.
