Boban John
2. Resource Constraints
Many plumbing businesses operate with tight margins, making it hard to allocate time and money for compliance research and training. But this can lead to costly mistakes. Missing a crucial update to backflow prevention standards, for instance, can result in a hefty fine that sets smaller businesses back. Investing in compliance tools and resources, even on a tight budget, can save money in the long run.
Industry Publications and Resources
Engaging with industry nonprofits like PHCC through their publications and websites gives you updates and ongoing insights into compliance changes. For example, the American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE) provides certification courses and publishes valuable resources like the “Plumbing Engineering Design Handbook.”
3. Lack of Awareness
What you don’t know can cost you. For some professionals, plumbing codes can be as elusive as finding and fixing a pinhole leak in a huge, dark space. A lack of understanding often leads to costly non-compliance.
Take the case of a plumbing business that installed PVC pipes for a drain line, relying on the old standard of using regular PVC cement without knowing a new code mandated stronger joints for waste lines. This oversight resulted in an expensive rework. The plumber had to disassemble and redo the pipe connections with the correct solvent cement.
Staying current on plumbing code changes prevents such errors, saving your business time, labor and materials. Regular training sessions and consultations with experts can illuminate these blind spots too.
Online Education
Online training platforms offer state-approved continuing education courses that plumbers can complete at their own pace, ensuring they meet state-specific licensing requirements. The National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) offers a comprehensive plumbing curriculum that features online courses and aligns with US Department of Labor standards. You can also look to manufacturer e-newsletters and blogs for valuable updates and insights into plumbing product compliance.
4. New Tools, New Rules
The rapid pace of technological advancement presents both opportunities and challenges. With global competition, the US plumbing industry is undergoing major technology changes. New materials, designs or functionalities are emerging almost every month of the year as innovation accelerates. Aligning product development with evolving code requirements can be difficult, as codes don’t always keep pace with innovation.
Products like RWC’s SharkBite push-to-connect fittings, which meet both UPC and IPC standards, offer innovative solutions with a simple, easy installation process to ensure compliance. One plumbing business that did not follow manufacturer installation instructions and incorrectly installed push fittings faced leaks and customer dissatisfaction. Making sure your staff and coworkers are well-trained in using new equipment and tools will prevent these kinds of issues and enhance efficiency along with service quality.
