flexiblefullpage -
billboard - default
interstitial1 - interstitial
catfish1 - bottom
Currently Reading

Standard establishes best practices for rainwater and stormwater harvesting system

Standards

Standard establishes best practices for rainwater and stormwater harvesting system

The market is seeing an increasing number of residential, commercial, and industrial rainwater and stormwater systems being installed.


By Peter Fabris, Contributing Editor | January 31, 2023
Components of a typical rainwater harvesting system. Illustration: DOE

Components of a typical rainwater harvesting system. Illustration: DOE

ASSE/ARCSA/IAPMO/ANSI Series 21000-2022, Professional Qualifications Standard for Rainwater Catchment Systems Personnel, has been designated as an American National Standard by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

Now available for purchase, the standard was first published in 2017 by ASSE International and the American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA) to address an increasing number of residential, commercial, and industrial rainwater and stormwater systems being installed. The standards within Series 21000 establish best practices and uniform minimum requirements for qualified designers, installers, and inspectors of viable alternative water systems utilizing captured rainwater or stormwater.

Program guidelines and a series of exams have been created for the certification of rainwater catchment system installers, designers and inspectors. The standard complements ARCSA/ASPE/ANSI 63, Rainwater Catchment Systems, and ARCSA/ASPE/ANSI 78, Stormwater Harvesting System Design for Direct End-Use Applications.

“Today, 42.4% of the U.S. and 50.7% of the lower 48 states are in drought. Properly designed, installed, and inspected rainwater catchment systems can help replace the use of potable water for irrigation and allow for watering landscaped and gardened areas during times of drought,” said Kurt Steenhoek, United Association (UA) international representative and ASSE Series 21000 Working Group chairperson. “These systems can help bring water to areas that have development restrictions, depleted ground or surface water sources, or infrastructure that is unable to deliver suitable water quantities or qualities.”

Related Stories

Resiliency | Apr 18, 2023

AI-simulated hurricanes could aid in designing more resilient buildings

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have devised a new method of digitally simulating hurricanes in an effort to create more resilient buildings. A recent study asserts that the simulations can accurately represent the trajectory and wind speeds of a collection of actual storms. 

Green | Apr 18, 2023

USGBC and IWBI unveil streamlined certification pathway for LEED and WELL green building programs

The U.S. Green Building Council, Green Business Certification Inc., and the International WELL Building Institute released a streamlined process for projects pursuing certifications for the LEED green building rating system and the WELL Building Standard. The new protocol simplifies documentation for projects that are pursuing both certifications at the same time or that have already earned one certification and are looking to add the other. 

K-12 Schools | Apr 18, 2023

ASHRAE offers indoor air quality guide for schools

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) has released a guide for educators, administrators, and school districts on indoor air quality. The guide can be used as a tool to discuss options to improve indoor air quality based on existing HVAC equipment, regional objectives, and available funding. 

Smart Buildings | Apr 7, 2023

Carnegie Mellon University's research on advanced building sensors provokes heated controversy

A research project to test next-generation building sensors at Carnegie Mellon University provoked intense debate over the privacy implications of widespread deployment of the devices in a new 90,000-sf building. The light-switch-size devices, capable of measuring 12 types of data including motion and sound, were mounted in more than 300 locations throughout the building.

Sustainability | Apr 4, 2023

ASHRAE releases Building Performance Standards Guide

Building Performance Standards (BPS): A Technical Resource Guide was created to provide a technical basis for policymakers, building owners, practitioners and other stakeholders interested in developing and implementing a BPS policy. The publication is the first in a series of seven guidebooks by ASHRAE on building decarbonization.

Multifamily Housing | Mar 24, 2023

Washington state House passes bill banning single-family zoning

The Washington state House of Representatives recently passed a bill that would legalize duplexes or fourplexes in almost every neighborhood of every city in the state.

Multifamily Housing | Mar 24, 2023

Multifamily developers offering new car-free projects in car-centric cities

Cities in the South and Southwest have eased zoning rules with parking space mandates in recent years to allow developers to build new housing with less parking.

Multifamily Housing | Mar 24, 2023

Coastal multifamily developers, owners expect huge jump in insurance costs

In Texas and Florida, where Hurricane Ian caused $50 billion in damage last year, insurance costs are nearly 50% higher than in 2022.

Concrete | Mar 17, 2023

American Concrete Institute releases new guide for shotcrete construction

The American Concrete Institute, through the work of ACI Committee 506, has released ACI PRC-506-22: Shotcrete—Guide. The newly introduced guide provides information on materials and properties of both dry-mix and wet-mix shotcrete and covers most facets of the shotcrete process including application procedures, equipment requirements, and responsibilities of the shotcrete crew.

Architects | Mar 16, 2023

HKS launches partner diversity program to create a more diverse workforce and partnership network

Design firm HKS has launched a new partner diversity program that will work to build a more diverse AEC ecosystem. The HKS xBE program will give xBE firms (a term encompassing all disadvantaged businesses) and their members “access to opportunities to build relationships, pursue new work, and bolster innovation within the architecture and design professions,” according to HKS.

boombox1 - default
boombox2 -
native1 -

More In Category


Standards

Design guide offers details on rain loads and ponding on roofs

The American Institute of Steel Construction and the Steel Joist Institute recently released a comprehensive roof design guide addressing rain loads and ponding. Design Guide 40, Rain Loads and Ponding provides guidance for designing roof systems to avoid or resist water accumulation and any resulting instability.



halfpage1 -

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021