The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO), the brainchild of a small group of Los Angeles plumbing inspectors, was founded in 1926. The association has grown and changed greatly since that time — but some things stay the same.
What has stayed the same? The primary purpose of the organization — to promote and protect public health and safety, and improve access to safe water and sanitation — and the expertise and spirit of its members.
What has changed? Size and reach, to start. Originally a small, localized group, IAPMO is now a truly international organization with offices, code adoptions, and product certification clients throughout the world. The Uniform Plumbing Code, first published in 1945, was originally only used in California. Now, one half of the world’s population are impacted by IAPMO’s Uniform Codes.
In the beginning, IAPMO only dealt with plumbing codes and membership was only open to plumbing inspectors. Although IAPMO’s history began with a focus on plumbing, our catalog of services now includes standards development, product testing and certification, and workforce training and credentialing – among others – and extends to drinking water treatment and filtration, electrical, gas and solar, building and construction, aerospace, cybersecurity, and beyond.
Why is this history important? Because it is a heritage that we are proud of. And the history of IAPMO is, in part, the history of plumbing in America.