Ontario, California — IAPMO® has launched WDC-Pro, a web-based tool designed to improve the efficiency and accuracy of water pipe sizing for multi-family, high-rise, and residential buildings.
Building on the success of the original IAPMO Water Demand Calculator®, which has been adopted in 10 states and multiple cities, WDC-Pro streamlines complex calculations, particularly for multi-family applications, reducing design time by 50% or more while optimizing pipe sizing to reduce construction costs and enhance water efficiency. This reduces calculation time from six hours to just two or three for large-scale projects.
The primary benefit of WDC-Pro is that it uses templates to compute the instantaneous water demand expected during the period of peak indoor water use in multi-family buildings such as apartments and condominium complexes. The user provides the number and flow rate for each type of indoor fixture in the residential building. WDC-Pro summarizes the input data and returns an estimate of the corresponding 99th percentile of the instantaneous water demand.
“While the base Excel version of the Water Demand Calculator will remain free to download, there was a need for an enhanced tool to streamline water calculations, especially for design professionals of multi-family buildings,” said IAPMO Vice President of Technical Services and Research Christoph Lohr, PE. “This need has resulted in the creation of a subscription-based WDC-Pro, a tool that aims to fit into the normal design process for most design professionals.
“Additionally, this tool aims to simplify the process to report calculations to the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ). We are excited for this initial version to be released and look forward to continuing to improve the functionality of this tool to better support and align with the plumbing design professional, plumbing installer, and plumbing AHJ needs.”
The traditional method for sizing plumbing pipes, developed in the 1940s, assumes simultaneous use of all fixtures — an outdated approach that leads to oversized pipes, increased costs, and unnecessary water waste. The Water Demand Calculator methodology, now expanded with WDC-Pro, uses modern water usage data to determine the right pipe sizes, reducing material costs and water stagnation risks linked to biofilm growth and Legionella bacteria.
Key benefits of using the Water Demand Calculator in multi-family calculations include:
WDC-Pro is available now through a monthly or annual subscription at https://wdcpro.iapmo.org.
The Austin, Texas, city council has formally adopted the 2024 editions of the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC®) and Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC®) as the plumbing and mechanical codes of practice protecting the health and safety of the city’s nearly 1 million residents. The Texas state capital and 11th most populous city in the United States has utilized the Uniform Codes since 1974.
The Iowa Public Health Department has updated Chapter 25 of the Iowa Administrative Code, “State Plumbing Code,” from the 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC®) to the 2024 edition. The update went into effect on March 26.
IAPMO® is proud to announce the official launch of the IAPMO Innovation and Research Fund, a dedicated initiative designed to fuel pioneering research, develop innovative solutions, and launch impactful projects that address critical issues in the plumbing, water, and mechanical industries. The fund aims to improve public health, strengthen climate resiliency, and increase housing affordability, while contributing to a more sustainable future.