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2021 Seattle construction codes delayed – As listed on the City of Seattle Code adoption webpage, the 2021 Seattle construction codes will now come into effect no sooner than early 2024. From now until the 2021 Codes come into effect, Public Health will accept projects designed using either the 2021 or 2018 code cycles (the entire project must comply with the chosen code cycle). The Washington State construction codes are still expected to become effective Oct. 29, 2023.
Upcoming plan review and inspection interruptions – We have two staff training days coming up that will limit our availability. All plan review staff will be attending training Aug. 24, 2023. All field inspection staff will be attending training Sept. 11, 2023. We will do our best to accommodate inspection requests and plan review inquiries either before or after these training events.
We are often asked by engineers, installers, designers, and others about the acceptability of specific products or the installation conditions of specific products. This could be the result of a new product or technology coming to market, or it could be the person asking the question has just now learned about a new product and wants to know if it is ok for installation within our jurisdiction. In this article, we'll explain what a Listing is, why it is required, and how to find out if a specific product is “Listed”.
What is a “Standard”? – In the context of this article, we cannot discuss Listings without first discussing Standards. A Standard is a testing or rating protocol developed typically by a trade association with collaboration from industry experts. These Standards, once developed, are updated every so often the same way building codes are. Associations that develop standards include ASME, ANSI, NSF, NFPA, IAPMO, and others. Examples of some common standards referenced in plumbing are NSF 61, ASSE 1070, ASTM E84, etc.
To find out which version of a Standard is applicable to your project, look for the Standard and the version referenced within the Code that is applicable to your project. These are known as “Referenced Standards” and are included in nearly every type of construction code. For example, for projects designed using the 2018 Seattle Plumbing Code, the applicable version of Referenced Standard NSF 61 is NSF 61-2016 (see SPC Table 1701.1).
What is a “Listing”? – When a product is brought to market, there are generally certain requirements that need to be met. For pipes and fittings, there are certain dimensional tolerances required to ensure the fittings will align and connect to fittings from other manufacturers (ASTM D1785). Manufacturers of piping products used in potable water systems need to ensure the product is safe and will not leach harmful substances into the water supply (NSF 61). In order to make these assurances, manufacturers have their products tested to a specific Standard (or many Standards if applicable). The organization conducting the testing or product assessment is known as the “Listing Agency”.
Once the Listing Agency confirms the product meets the requirement of the Standard it is being tested to, the Listing Agency provides some type of proof of compliance. That proof of compliance is known as the product “Listing”. Note: the Listing Agency must not be in any way affiliated with the manufacturer. That is why sometimes you will hear the term “Third-Party Listed” or “Third-Party Certified”.
Why does Public Health ask for this? – Some manufacturers tend to rush products to market without obtaining the appropriate Listings. Often, an unlisted product specification sheet or submittal will use confusing language such as “designed in accordance with ASSE XXX” or “manufactured per ASTM requirements”. In some cases, the product was never meant for sale within the United States and has no listings at all. Some products may be listed, but not to the applicable Standard.
One example could be a water heater with an integral mixing valve. The water heater may be Listed to the appropriate water heater Standard, but the mixing valve is not Listed to the applicable mixing valve standard. The product literature may state “provided with integral ASSE 1070 compliant mixing valve”, but without seeing the ASSE 1070 listing for the mixing valve (or the water heater as a whole), we have no way of confirming if the mixing valve is compliant or not.
Is this a Code requirement? – Yes. Both the 2018 Seattle Plumbing Code and the 2018 Uniform Plumbing Code (upon which the Seattle Code is based), require the various devices within a Plumbing System to be Listed by a Listing Agency (Section 301.2). Generally speaking, the more common items in plumbing systems (pipe, fittings, valves, etc.), when supplied by a reputable manufacturer, have already been proven to have the appropriate Listings in place and we do not normally ask for a copy of the Listing for these items. The question of Listings comes up more often with newly introduced products or products that may be installed in a way that could violate the Listing.
As an example, a tankless water heater may be Listed to the UL 499 Standard which allows the tankless water heater to be installed without a T&P valve. However, if the conditions of the Listing stipulate compliance is achieved only when the water heater is installed at the point of use within a certain distance of a fixture, and the proposed installation is for the reheating of a hot water circulation loop, then the product is being installed in a way that violates the terms of the Listing. In those instances, the proposed installation may be allowable by the AHJ, but the allowance to omit the T&P valve may be rescinded by the AHJ because the installation is not in accordance with the Listing.
How do I know if a product is Listed? – There are many different Listing Agencies that a manufacturer might engage to List their product. The easiest way to find out where to look is to ask the manufacturer or manufacturer’s representative. A Listing may be available directly from the Listing Agency as well. NSF.org includes a current directory of products Listed to various NSF standards for example. In the world of plumbing, IAPMO is the Listing Agency for numerous manufacturers and covers many different types of Standards. You can find this directory with a search of the phrase: “IAPMO Product Listing” in any web browser.
Hopefully this article helps shed some light on the mystery surrounding Standards, Listings, and Listing Agencies. As always, if you have a technical inquiry or a question about enforcement or plan review policies, please feel free to send an email inquiry to: planreviewinfo@kingcounty.gov.
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