The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO®) is calling for public comments on formal proposals toward the development of the 2017 Water Efficiency and Sanitation Standard (WE•Stand).

The comment form, with instructions and background on IAPMO's ANSI-accredited consensus process, as well as the WE•Stand draft document, Report on Proposals, Monograph, and a development timeline, can be found online.

All comments should indicate the exact wording recommended as accepted as submitted, accepted as modified or rejected, as well as state the problem the recommendation will resolve and the specific reason for making the comment.

No comments will be accepted after the 5 p.m. PDT Nov. 28 deadline.

The standard, which will use as its basis the water and sanitation provisions within IAPMO's 2015 Green Plumbing and Mechanical Code Supplement (GPMCS), draws upon IAPMO's core competency and industry expertise in plumbing systems for the purpose of providing comprehensive requirements to optimize water use practices attributed to the built environment while maintaining protection of the public health, safety and welfare.

IAPMO is employing a voluntary consensus development process accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for the development of WE•Stand, enabling anyone to have a voice in the development of the standard. In September 2015, IAPMO was granted Audited Designator status by ANSI in the development of the standard. Accordingly, WE•Stand will be designated as an American National Standard immediately upon finalization, without the need for review by the ANSI Board of Standards Review.

IAPMO urges its members and other interested parties to get involved in the development process to ensure effectiveness in preserving the public health, safety, and welfare through strict governance of its codes and standards. Manufacturers, potential users of the standard, installers and maintainers, labor representatives, design professionals, enforcing authorities, and consumers all benefit from a cooperative effort in developing codes and standards.

For questions about submitting public comments for the WE•Stand, contact Dan Cole at (708) 995-3009 or dan.cole@iapmo.org; or Maria Bazan at (708) 995-3007 or maria.bazan@iapmo.org.