In this issue
Archives
Side Articles
October 2026 Newsletter
Chapter President Report
Fall is officially here! We're deep into pumpkin spice latte season, Halloween candy is everywhere, and somehow we're already approaching the final stretch of 2026. It's hard to believe how quickly this year has flown by, but there's plenty happening within ASPE, both nationally and right here in Charlotte, that I'm excited to share with everyone.
ASPE Convention & Expo — One for the Record Books!
What an incredible experience at this year's ASPE Convention & Expo in Oklahoma City! By all accounts, this was our most successful convention yet, with record attendance and more exhibitors than ever before. The energy throughout the convention and on the expo floor was outstanding.
One of the things that stood out to me most was the number of young professionals and first-time attendees. Seeing the next generation of plumbing engineers and designers getting involved, building relationships, and taking advantage of everything ASPE has to offer is incredibly encouraging.
As I've said before, one of my priorities as Chapter President is to help grow our membership while creating opportunities for younger professionals to become more involved. Seeing that enthusiasm firsthand at the national level reinforces just how important that mission is. The future of our society looks bright, and it's our responsibility to continue building on that momentum.
Beyond the educational sessions and packed expo floor, it was great catching up with old friends, making new connections, and seeing the innovation happening throughout our industry. A tremendous thank-you goes out to the Oklahoma City Chapter, ASPE National, the exhibitors, sponsors, our local reps who attended and everyone who helped make this event such a success.
National Leadership — Looking Ahead
Another important part of this year's convention was the election of our new ASPE Society Board of Directors. These individuals will help guide the direction of our organization, strengthen our chapters, advance educational opportunities, and continue advocating for the plumbing engineering profession.
Leadership at the national level plays a vital role in supporting what we do locally, and I look forward to seeing the initiatives and opportunities that come from our newly elected board.
December 4th Clay Shoot — Don't Miss Out!
Our annual Charlotte ASPE Clay Shoot is right around the corner, and the response has been fantastic!
Friday, December 4, 2026 — Rocky Creek Sporting Clays
Registration has been strong, and we only have a handful of spots remaining. If you're planning to put together a team or become an event sponsor, please don't wait until the last minute!
We sold out last year, and I'd hate to see anyone miss out on what has become one of our chapter's most enjoyable events.
I'm also excited to share that we'll have several participants joining us from the Columbia ASPE Chapter, along with a guest from the Greenville Chapter. It's great to see our events bringing together members from neighboring chapters and strengthening relationships beyond Charlotte.
Whether you're an experienced shooter or someone who's never picked up a shotgun, this event is about much more than hitting clay targets. It's an opportunity to get outside, enjoy some friendly competition, strengthen professional relationships, and have a great time with others in our industry.
Get your team registered and secure your sponsorship before we're sold out!
Free Educational Opportunity — October 28th
Our friends at BeaconMedaes are hosting a FREE High Purity Gas and Vacuum System Design Seminar for Research Facilities on Wednesday, October 28, 2026.
This is an excellent opportunity for engineers and designers working in research facilities, laboratories, and other specialized environments to expand their technical knowledge.
The seminar will cover design fundamentals, applicable codes, and industry best practices for high-purity gas, process vacuum, and clean compressed air systems.
Attendees will receive:
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Six hours of technical instruction, including a collaborative design exercise.
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Six PDH credits, documented through a Certificate of Completion.
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Technical design resources, including BeaconMedaes' newly released Laboratory Gas System Design Handbook.
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Instruction from industry experts with a combined 50 years of experience.
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Complimentary breakfast and lunch.
For those who attended the successful Medical Gas Design Seminars, this event will follow a similar format, combining technical instruction with practical applications and opportunities to collaborate with your peers.
Space may be limited, so I encourage anyone interested to register soon.
Register for the FREE BeaconMedaes Seminar
Keeping the Momentum Going
As we head into the final months of the year, I want to thank everyone who continues to support the Charlotte Chapter. Whether you're attending our monthly meetings, participating in events, sponsoring chapter activities, or simply encouraging a coworker to get involved, you're helping make our chapter stronger.
Our mission remains focused on growing and retaining membership, expanding educational opportunities, supporting the next generation of plumbing engineers and designers, and finding meaningful ways to give back to our profession and community.
I encourage each of you to bring a colleague to an upcoming meeting, introduce someone new to ASPE, or reach out to our board with ideas on how we can continue improving. This is your chapter, and its success depends on the participation and involvement of its members.
Enjoy the cooler weather, don't eat too much Halloween candy, and I look forward to seeing everyone at our upcoming events!
We look forward to seeing you on October 27th!
Our chapter meeting will be located at:
Hoffman Hydronics
Steve Cannon
Chapter Technical Report
This month we have fire protection expert John Denhardt of American Fire Sprinkler Association. Where we will be discussing the installation requirements of Diesel Fire Pump Installations per NFPA 20. Related to the automatic relief valves, ventilation, exhaust, fuel, batteries and the controller.
Les Scott, CPD, GPD
Chapter Legislative Report
- Automatic Sprinkler Systems: Under NFPA 88A (2023 and the active 2027 edition), automatic sprinkler systems are required in all new parking structures, including open garages, removing previous square-footage or open-air exceptions. The International Building Code (IBC) requires sprinklers in open parking garages exceeding 48,000 square feet (and enclosed garages exceeding 12,000 square feet).
- Sprinkler Density & Classification: NFPA 13 classifies parking structures as Ordinary Hazard Group 2 (OH2) rather than Group 1. This increases the design density requirement to a minimum of 0.20 GPM/sq. ft. over the remote area (a 33% increase from 0.15 GPM/sq. ft.) to better handle high-intensity plastic and battery fires.
- Automated & Stacked Parking Systems: The 2027 edition of NFPA 88A introduces specific design rules for automated structures, requiring Ordinary Hazard Group 2 ceiling sprinklers (capped at 12 ft 6 in spacing) plus flue sprinklers at every vehicle platform level (located within 3 feet of the front and back of each platform) flowing a minimum of 20 gpm per sprinkler across the two most demanding levels.
