The 2021 International Plumbing Code (IPC) establishes minimum requirements for plumbing systems while also allowing the use of innovative products, materials, and technologies. In October 2019, the Code Council released an independent study comparing model plumbing codes. The study found that, over a 12-year period, jurisdictions using the IPC achieved significant benefits, including $38 billion in construction cost savings, a reduction of 1 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions, the creation of 166,000 additional jobs, and the conservation of 880 million feet of piping.

For a typical single-family home, the IPC can reduce construction costs by as much as $4,000 through savings in labor, materials, and overhead expenses when compared with other plumbing codes. The 2021 edition of the IPC introduces several important updates and revisions designed to improve safety, efficiency, sustainability, and overall code usability.