Colombia revises plumbing standard based on 2018 International Plumbing Code

The Instituto Colombiano de Normas Técnicas y Certificación (ICONTEC) recently released the Colombian technical standard 1500 Hydraulic and Sanitary Installations (NTC 1500). This was adopted and modified from the 2018 International Plumbing Code (IPC), which is developed and published by the International Code Council.

The Code Council and ICONTEC have had a long-standing collaboration since 2008 when the two organizations set the initial framework for developing the Colombian Plumbing Code. The previous edition of the Colombian Plumbing Code was based on the 2009 IPC, which the Code Council and ICONTEC had signed into agreement in March 2011. In November 2020, the two organizations signed a new agreement to update the Colombia Plumbing Code based on the 2018 IPC.

The NTC 1500 standard includes provisions applicable to the assembly, installation, modification, repair, relocation, replacement, extension, use and maintenance of hydraulic and sanitary installation systems. The appendices are non-mandatory unless specifically adopted.

While NTC 1500 is voluntary, the Colombian Ministry of Housing, City and Territory is consulting it in order to elaborate a mandatory regulation.

“The Code Council is proud to continue working alongside ICONTEC to ensure Colombian design and construction professionals in the plumbing field are up-to-date with the International Codes,” said Code Council Executive Vice President Mark Johnson, “Water and sanitation standards are a global priority to maintain public health. Our continual collaboration to update the Colombian Plumbing Code helps us move forward with this mission.”

“ICONTEC appreciates the support given by the ICC throughout the process of adoption and ratification of our NTC 1500 standard. We look forward to continuing working with the ICC to stay at the forefront of hydraulic and sanitary issues.”