Allen Inlow
IAPMO Senior Director

Ever Wonder What’s Going On Where

WHen you were sitting around discussing the industry with friends and co-workers, did anyone ever ask, “I wonder how they do this in India or other Asian countries, or perhaps the Middle Eastern countries, say Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia or Jordan?” Chances are you never have, unless of course you are an International IAPMO member from one of those countries.

I was thinking about that recently; in my whole career, before I came to work for IAPMO, I could only recall two instances of wondering what is going on in other countries — basically, how they do it. The first was early in my career when I was working with a number of plumbing contractors, farmers and government officials to solve or at least find solutions to irrigation problems in a water shortage. I had heard or read somewhere about the drip irrigation systems in Israel and wondered out loud just how they did it. When we found out, we also found enough information to formulate our recommendation to the politicians who controlled the water that was available. It took them years to implement it. By that time most of the contractors and farmers had already quietly implemented it and improved upon it for their conditions.

The second instance was still a few years ago, when the U.S. government had the big push on to convert to the metric system. A number of industry representatives were meeting to discuss the impact this mysterious system would have on us. I wondered aloud if any of us in the discussion had any real world, practical experience with the differences and what they entail. Of course, not one of us had that experience. Fortunately, I had a friend who grew up in Germany, trained as an apprentice through journeyman there, and then moved to the United States for love and fortune. Since he had worked with both systems, I called, explained our concerns and asked him how they did it there, what he thought the impact would be. He laughed and said I may have to learn to read the other side of the ruler! Possibly buy a few new hand tools, but not as many as the auto mechanics will need. He did predict that the American manufacturers would resist because of the tooling costs, until the competition forced them to change, and that is exactly how it is working out.

By now, you are likely thinking, “Why has he been sitting around thinking about how they do something in other countries?” Before you decide I do not have enough work to do, let me explain. As I write this, I am in India planning for the release of the Uniform Green Plumbing Code Supplement – India. It will be an international event, coupled with the release of the GreenPlumbers India program. India and the United States will release the new Green Code Supplement on the same day. Many other countries throughout Asia are watching closely and there is also interest in both the Green Code Supplement and GreenPlumbers programs in the Middle East. I anticipate the initiative will rapidly move there when the introduction is complete in India.

Is it possible that people in all of these diverse cultures asked themselves, “I wonder how they are doing it?” I believe so and I believe all the new forms of communication — mobile phones, text messages, instant messaging and the internet — have made it possible for people all over the world not only to wonder, but to receive an immediate answer. It is truly amazing, but we can actually learn from each other, if we only communicate.

I am really proud of IAPMO’s leadership and the leadership exhibited by our friends and partners in the United States and around the world. They have taken the initiative to make the world a better place and our Codes and Standards are leading the way. We have developed a system that allows participation by all, and in a most timely fashion. Its application works everywhere I have been and I have yet to discover another system that meets all of these requirements and needs.

The IAPMO membership can be proud. At times it has been a rough road and certainly a lot of work, but you have successfully stayed the course. Now, when the world looks at us and asks the question, “I wonder how they did that?” not only can we respond, we can carry it right to their door. I am proud of that and proud of you!