PMI Hosts Its 2013 Fall Conference

Rolling Meadows, IL (October 29, 2013)—Plumbing Manufacturers International (PMI) hosted its annual Fall Conference October 13-16 in Washington, D.C. to a record number of first time attendees. Focused on ‘Building a Better Foundation for the Future’ the 2013 PMI Fall Conference, like its attendees, was an exciting mix of tradition and innovation. Included in the 31 Member Companies represented were three new Allied Members and three prospective members; among the more than 100 total attendees were 68 veteran PMI members, 39 first time attendees, 4 VIPs, 14 guest speakers, and 9 certifying companies.

The PMI Fall Conference began with a keynote address on ‘The Current Political Outlook’ by Charlie Cook, editor and publisher of The Cook Political Report and political analyst for the National Journal on the current political environment, which was particularly well-time as the conference took place amidst the recent government shutdown.

PMI’s CEO/Executive Director, Barbara C. Higgens, remarked on the uniqueness of hosting the conference during the shutdown by noting, “Despite the challenges of hosting a conference in Washington, D.C. during the government shutdown, attendee survey results indicate that, thanks to our wonderful network, PMI successfully and effectively ‘filled the gaps’ by finding qualified stand-in speakers for the five who cancelled to deliver another information-rich conference.” Conference attendees also successfully completed a number of visits to Capitol Hill to meet with Congressional Leaders and Policymakers.

Other highlights from the conference included presentations from a range of industry professionals including topics on conflict minerals, China’s current industrial policies, market mapping, the current state of the U.S. water infrastructure, water efficiency and the challenges facing water utilities. Additionally, nine certifying agencies came together to be part of the panel discussion on ‘Universal Conformity Assessment and Certification Issues,’ including: the Canadian Standards Association (CSA), International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO), International Codes Council (ICC), Intertek, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), NSF International, Truesdale Laboratories, Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and the Water Quality Association (WQA).

Tim Keane of Legionella Risk Management, Inc. spoke of the ‘Unintended Consequences of Plumbing Codes and Regulations on Increasing Rates of Legionnaire’s Disease’ shedding light on the risk of looking at products in isolation when plumbing fixtures are integral parts of a larger water system. Conference attendees also took a closer look at the ‘How Low Can You Go? and How Do You Know?’ issue surrounding flow rates of plumbing fixtures. Divided into Dual Tracks, the Technical Track focused on identifying research gaps, while the Advocacy and Outreach Track looked into how to effectively communicate the message to promote safe and responsible practices.

PMI Conferences are open to both members and non-members are they are meant to promote the industry as a whole and help PMI achieve its vision of ‘Safe, responsible plumbing. Always.’ The next conference will be held March 2-5, 2014 in Charleston, S.C.—keep watch on our mobile app and website, www.pmihome.org, for more details on this coming event.

About PMI

Plumbing Manufacturers International is the voluntary, not-for-profit international industry association of manufacturers of plumbing products, serving as the Voice of the Plumbing Industry. Member companies produce a substantial quantity of the nation’s plumbing products.
For more information on PMI or its semi-annual meetings, contact the organization at 1921 Rohlwing Road, Unit G, Rolling Meadows, IL, 60008; tel.: 847-481-5500; fax: 847-481-5501. Visit our website at www.pmihome.org.

PMI Mission Statement

  • To promote the water efficiency, health, safety, quality and environmental sustainability of plumbing products, while maximizing consumer choice and value in a fair and open marketplace.
  • To provide a forum for the exchange of information and industry education.
  • To represent openly the member’s interests and advocate for sound environmental and public health policies in the regulatory/legislative processes.
  • To enhance the plumbing industry’s growth and expansion.

Contact

Barbara C. Higgens, CEO/Executive Director, Plumbing Manufacturers International, bhiggens@pmihome.org, 847-481-5500