ISH Frankfurt 2025: Plumbing Solutions for a Sustainable Future

ISH Frankfurt, held from March 17-21, 2025, brought together global leaders, innovators and professionals in the water, plumbing and Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) industries for a trade fair and conference in Frankfurt, Germany. The theme of this year’s event was, “Solutions for a Sustainable Future,” and was an incredible showcase of plumbing design, innovation and sustainability.

Alongside showcasing new, innovative industry products, the event also hosted the highly anticipated “Value of Water” conference, which the International Code Council was proud to have played a part in and shared insights on the need to address water scarcity on the global stage.

A Hub of Innovation and Sustainability

Trade Fair and Expo

This year, ISH attracted over 163,000 visitors from 150 countries. The event featured 2,183 exhibitors from 54 nations, filling the exhibition grounds with modern designs and innovative products. Many new products focused on water efficiency, water reuse and energy savings to address global environmental challenges.

The Code Council’s Executive Director of Plumbing, Mechanical and Fuel Gas (PMG), Matt Sigler, highlighted several standout innovations, including:

• New fixture trap configurations
• Fixtures designed to utilize seawater
• Next-generation heating and air-conditioning systems
• Leak detection
• Innovative greywater reuse systems
• Intelligent water management solutions
• Heat recovery devices
• Sustainable bathroom designs

The event also highlighted the integration of digitalization and connectivity of plumbing products, which has the potential of bringing the monitoring and controlling of plumbing services in line with other building services such as electrical, security and HVAC services. 

A video summary of ISH 2025 can be found here. 

The Value of Water Conference: A Global Dialogue

Running parallel to the trade fair, the Value of Water conference, held from March 16-17, was a focal point for discussions on global water management, hygiene and sanitation. The conference aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal No. 6, which advocates for clean water and sanitation for all.

One of the key themes was the role of innovation in addressing the global water crisis. Presentations highlighted best practices and successful strategies from around the world, emphasizing the importance of public-private partnerships and community engagement.

Breakout sessions delved into specific topics, such as water-efficient technologies and innovative sanitation solutions, which fostered a collaborative environment for problem-solving.

The Code Council’s Global Director of PMG, Tom Roberts, participated in a panel discussion which focused on water-smart buildings and circular systems. The panel explored key topics such as how water-smart buildings equipped with systems like rainwater harvesting, greywater recycling and recirculating showers can contribute to a sustainable urban water management plan. They also discussed the role of updated codes and regulations in enabling the widespread adoption of circular water solutions, as well as global incentives that have successfully made these systems more appealing and accessible to building owners and developers.

Valuable insights were provided by Authur Valkieser, CEO/CTO & co-founder of Hydraloop International, and Board member and Vice President of Water Europe, and Bettina Schürmann, Convenor of CEN/TC 165 Working Group 50 – Water Reuse.

The Importance of Testing and Certification When It Comes to Product Innovation

The Code Council’s Evaluation Service (ICC-ES) supported the event with a booth during the expo, which presented allowed certification staff to meet with new and existing clients throughout the week. ISH presents a fantastic opportunity for ICC-ES to grow their partnership with manufacturers who are on the forefront of innovation and have a shared focus on sustainable outcomes, especially in the plumbing and mechanical sectors.

Through rigorous testing, inspection and evaluation, certifications offer manufacturers concrete, credible proof of their commitment to safety and innovation.

Key Takeaways and Future Direction

The ISH Frankfurt expo and the Value of Water conference provided a platform where the Code Council shared their knowledge with attendees and connected with global partners and clients on the critical role of innovation and collaboration in tackling global challenges.

The event reinforced that the transition to sustainable solutions is not only vital, but already well underway, with many technologies already available to reduce environmental impacts without compromising bathroom amenity or public health and safety.

A consistent message throughout the conference was that careful consideration is needed regarding where potable or drinking water is or is not essential. With toilet flushing, irrigation, etc., the use of non-potable water has become more of a widespread practice. Also, future design trends were showcased that included innovation embedded into plumbing and HVAC products such as the connectivity of products and systems.

The week was not just a showcase of products, but an opportunity to engage with thought leaders, explore innovative ideas and form collaborative partnerships that could shape the future of the plumbing and HVAC industries. ISH Frankfurt 2025 offered a glimpse into the future of sustainable living, cutting edge technology and product design.

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