Work jointly with the Florida Building Commission/Plumbing Technical Advisory Committee on the development of training/educational materials for the Florida Building Code - Plumbing requirements pertaining to copper pipe corrosion.

1. The 1994 Standard Plumbing Code is currently the state minimum plumbing code.
2. The 1998 Legislature mandated the development of the new unified building code, the Florida Building Code, and established the Florida Building Commission (Commission) as the body responsible for the development of the Florida Building Code (FBC).
3. It is the goal of the Commission to adopt the Code by November 2000, effective July 2001.
4. The base document of the FBC - Plumbing is the 1997 International Plumbing Code.
5. The FBC - Plumbing, Chapter 6 Water Supply and Distribution, provides for several provisions which require pipes to be resistant to corrosive action and installed in accordance with up-to-date standards.
6. The FBC is in the process of developing training materials (transition training) on the new requirements of the building codes as early as December 2000.
7. The new FBC does address the copper corrosion problem in a sufficient manner.
   
   

1. August 24, 2000: Interagency Copper Pipe Corrosion ("Black Water") Project Meeting 1

   Initial discussion of proposed project strategy and work group structure.

2. September 8, 2000: Work Group Meeting 1

   General discussion.

3. September 14, 2000: Work Group Meeting 2

   Agreement reached among work group members to:

   1. Develop an education/outreach program on copper corrosion and related FBC requirements through local governments, trade associations, design professional associations, building owner associations, local colleges, utilities, etc., including:
      1. Identification of those needing education
         1. CEU credit related to copper corrosion for the construction industry
      2. Identification of types of training needed
         1. Water pipe compatibility with water supplied by the utilities
         2. Proper sizing of water service pipes
         3. Proper methods of installation of copper pipes including soldered joints and flux (ASTM B 828 & ASTM B 813)
      3. Identification of areas within the state with the hydrogen sulfide problem (in order to emphasize need for training in those areas)
      4. Coordination between utilities, contractors, building departments, etc. with regard to water and pipe compatibility
         1. Require utilities to report premature water pipe failure or other evidence of hydrogen sulfide to building departments or DEP.
         2. Encourage contractors to report pipe failure and possible causes to building departments.
         3. Encourage contractors to report pipe failure and possible causes to utilities.
         4. Require local building departments report problems to the Florida Building Commission.
   2. Identify key stakeholders:
      

      Building departments / building officials

      Copper Development Association, Inc.

      Utilities

      Florida Public Service Commission

      Florida Association of Counties

      Florida League of Cities

      Trade associations

      Design professional / associations

      Florida Department of Environmental Protection

      Florida Department of Community Affairs / Florida Building Commission

      American Water Works Association - Florida Section

      Florida Rural Water Association

      Office of Public Counsel

      Florida Home Builders Association

      Florida Board of Building Codes & Standards

      Developers / realtors

      
      
4. September 29, 2000: Interagency Copper Pipe Corrosion ("Black Water") Project Meeting 2 (FPSC Easley Bldg, Room E-152, Tallahassee)

   Progress report of the work group to the Interagency Project group.

5. October 16-17, 2000: Meeting of the FBC Plumbing Technical Advisory Committee (Orlando)

   Joint meeting of the FBC Plumbing Technical Advisory Committee and stakeholders to further refine and prioritize work group goals concerning the education/outreach program.

6. November 13-14, 2000: Meeting of the Florida Building Commission (West Palm)

   Joint meeting with the FBC Plumbing Technical Advisory Committee to develop recommendations for consideration by the Florida Building Commission. The recommendations will address specific training subject matters for inclusion in the training program of the FBC.

7. December, 2000: Interagency Copper Pipe Corrosion ("Black Water") Project Meeting (Tallahassee)

   Report of work group on the outcome of its activities to Interagency Project group.