The IAPMO Group is pleased to announce the hiring of John Watson as vice president of Industry Relations and Business Development.
Watson has more than 30 years of plumbing industry experience in product development and compliance management. Prior to joining IAPMO, he was the senior manager of Compliance & Sustainability for Elkay Manufacturing. Before that he was the director of Water Efficiency & Technical Services for Sloan Valve. He also held several positions at Chicago Faucet, where he started in engineering and completed his tenure in operations.
“John is well known and respected in the industry and his manufacturing experience will serve IAPMO well in our efforts to further enhance and solidify our relationships with customers,” IAPMO Executive Vice President of Industry Relations and Business Development Lee Mercer said.
Watson earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration and management from Elmhurst University and an Associate of Applied Science degree in engineering design/drafting from Triton College. He is involved in multiple professional volunteer associations, serving on the ASME A112 Main Committee, the ASME/CSA Joint Harmonization Task Group (JHTG) for plumbing products, and several ASME working groups, and is a member at large of the KCMA A161.1 Standards Committee. He is also a past board member of Plumbing Manufacturers International (PMI) and served on several Water Quality Association (WQA) committees when he was active in the WQA.
“I’m happy to be part of the IAPMO team, where I plan to use my knowledge in product compliance, engineering and manufacturing to bolster industry initiatives and client services that provide added value,” Watson said. “I’m looking forward to continuing my work within the industry, albeit from a slightly different perspective, but with the same intent of providing insight and value to this wonderful industry.”
IAPMO®, developer of the Uniform Solar, Hydronics and Geothermal Code (USHGC®) and Uniform Swimming Pool, Spa and Hot Tub Code (USPSHTC®), has posted online the 2025 Report on Proposals for the 2027 editions of these prospective American National Standard-designated model codes.
IAPMO® and the American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE) have renewed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), now incorporating ASSE International and ARCSA International, to jointly advance and promote the mutual interests of education, regulations, design, specifications, installation, and inspection of plumbing systems, as well as training, testing and certifying qualified professionals to perform design work responsive to the need to conserve and protect water supplies, and reduce energy use connected to delivery and use of water.
IAPMO®, developer of the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC®) and Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC®), has posted online the 2025 Report on Comments (ROC) for the 2027 editions of these American National Standard-designated model codes. The ROC includes the committee actions as discussed during the May 6-8 technical committee meetings, the electronic ballot results as balloted between May 19-June 16, and the Technical Correlating Committee actions on all comments received for the 2027 editions.