For the first time, a standard has been developed that establishes uniform testing procedures for key components of landscape irrigation systems. It also institutes minimum design and performance requirements for those components and classifies sprinkler and drip irrigation systems.

The International Code Council and the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers recently announced the release of a new ANSI consensus standard to classify sprinkler and drip irrigation systems, set uniform testing procedures, and establish minimum design and performance requirements for commercial and residential landscape irrigation components.

The ASABE/ICC 802-2014 Landscape Irrigation Sprinkler and Emitter Standard represents collaboration among a wide range of industry stakeholders, including major manufacturers, the U.S. EPA WaterSense Program, the Irrigation Association, the Alliance for Water Efficiency, major water utilities, landscape architects, regulators and academia.

"Assembly and publication of this new ANSI-accredited sampling and reporting standard for landscape irrigation sprinklers is timely," said Timothy Malooly, president of Water in Motion Inc. and chairman of the standard development team. "The information made available by its use will result in improved decision-making when considering component products used in landscape irrigation system design, installation, maintenance and operation."

Brent Q. Mecham, industry development director from the Irrigation Association and vice chairman of the team added, "Because the process included a diverse group of stakeholders and allowed for public input and review, the standard should be recognized as supporting best practices for efficient irrigation in the urban environment."

The standard specifically defines and categorizes various types of devices, including sprays, rotors, multi-stream/multi-trajectory nozzles, bubblers, drip emitters and microsprays. It also addresses standardized test procedures for common test parameters including flow rate, distance of throw and uniformity.

"For the first time, the industry has a standard that establishes uniform testing procedures for key components of landscape irrigation systems," said Dominic Sims, CBO, ICC CEO.

The new standard is cited by the U.S. EPA WaterSense program, and a number of other organizations and jurisdictions are evaluating the document as a way to improve minimum standards of installed landscape irrigation systems.

The ASABE/ICC 802-2014 Landscape Irrigation Sprinkler and Emitter Standard is available in the ICC Online Store.