Plumbers' body to frame code

In an attempt to set itself at international standards and to create awareness, the Indian Plumbing Association (IPA) will be framing a code for the plumbing industry.

Called 'Uniform Plumbing Code' (UPC), the code is being framed by the IPA jointly with the California-based International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO).

Expected to be framed and released in the next two-three months, UPC will feature guidelines and specifications on designs, products and processes of plumbing.

On the proposed code, Sandeep Engineer, Chairman of IPA Gujarat Chapter said, "The code will be framed jointly with IAPMO but will be Indianised completely. The plumbing sector has been unorganised since long. But now as an association we want to create awareness about plumbing techniques and products that are of international standards."

IPA, presently, has over 800 members across the country who control 80 per cent of the organised plumbing market.

According to Engineer, the overall market of plumbing is around Rs 7,000 crore, of which Rs 5,000 crore is organised.

"The aim is to strengthen the plumbing industry which is quite weak right now and quite unorganised. There are no guidelines except for National Building Code laid by BIS, a code for construction industry which features a chapter on plumbing. Moreover, NBC is not mandatory too," said Engineer.

Engineer added that although the association doesn't intend to make the code mandatory, it will approach the Centre to adopt the code to make it more legalised.

"Even after framing the code, we will not make it mandatory. We would create awareness every now and then. The code will be more of a blueprint for the members to adopt the latest techniques. Also to encourage the customers to go for skilled plumbing services," said Engineer, adding that the industry is so unorganised that Mumbai is the only city in the country where one needs a license to work in the plumbing industry.