HEALTH AND SANITATION 31
New collaboration targets counterfeit plumbing products
By
By Mike Flenniken
IAPMO and DPHA are exploring new educational initiatives aimed at helping showroom professionals identify compliant products and guide consumers toward safer choices.
When IAPMO business development director Brenda Madonna attended a recent Decorative Plumbing and Hardware Association( DPHA) meeting, a comment she made during a roundtable discussion stopped the room.
As attendees learned more about the volume of noncompliant and potentially unsafe plumbing products entering the US marketplace – including water filtration systems seized for failing to meet code requirements – the reaction was immediate. For many showroom professionals, it was the first time they had considered the scale of the issue or the role they could play in preventing it.
The discussion reinforced a growing concern across the industry: as counterfeit and non-compliant products become more common online, education at the point of sale is increasingly important in protecting consumers and supporting code-compliant installations. The conversation has since sparked interest in closer collaboration between IAPMO and DPHA around education, awareness and product safety.
Niche, broad influence DPHA represents a specialised but influential segment of the plumbing and building industry. Its membership includes decorative plumbing showrooms, manufacturers and independent representatives, with growing engagement from designers, builders and other allied professionals.
Phil Hotarek, president of DPHA and owner of Lutz Plumbing, has worked both in the showroom and in the field and sees firsthand how product decisions made in showrooms affect installations on the jobsite.“ While DPHA was founded as a niche association for showrooms and manufacturers, we are evolving into a connective tissue for the broader industry. Our mission has shifted toward integration – bringing designers, builders and trade organisations into the fold to ensure we aren ' t operating in isolation, but rather connecting all the‘ puzzle pieces’ of a project from the start,” Hotarek said.
DPHA’ s annual showcase draws roughly 400 attendees, with overall membership approximately double that number.
While smaller than large-scale trade events such as KBIS, the organisation’ s focused scope allows for deeper engagement on issues directly affecting decorative plumbing and hardware professionals.
Showrooms on front lines While showroom professionals often serve as a primary point of contact for homeowners, designers and builders selecting plumbing fixtures and systems, Hotarek said there can be a disconnect between product sales and code and safety awareness.“ There is often a gap between the point of sale and the point of installation. My goal is to integrate safety and code compliance directly into the sales process so that the‘ beauty’ of a decorative fixture is matched by its performance in the field,” he said.
That gap can have real-world consequences once products reach the jobsite. Decorative plumbing fixtures – including faucets, filtration systems, shower components and smart toilets – are increasingly available through online marketplaces at steep discounts. In many cases, the products appear identical to those sold through authorised channels but may not meet code or performance standards.
Hotarek said showroom professionals who understand plumbing codes and certification requirements can help prevent installation problems long before products reach the jobsite.
Counterfeit risks grow During IAPMO’ s participation in the DPHA meeting, discussions around product compliance – particularly in the filtration category – resonated strongly with attendees. Many were unaware of the extent to which non-compliant or counterfeit products are entering the market through online sales channels.“ It was a rare moment where an‘ obvious’ truth stopped the room. We realised that despite our expertise, there was a level of market risk regarding non-compliant products that we simply weren ' t aware of, and that realisation has completely shifted our focus toward better education,” Hotarek said.
David Viola, IAPMO CEO In the spirit of the sharing of unique experiences that shape the plumbing industries in our respective nations, the following article looks at how collaboration and education can empower showroom professionals to identify compliant plumbing products and guide consumers toward safer choices. Written by IAPMO Senior Communications Specialist Mike Flenniken, it is the next in a regular series of similar articles that will run in this magazine.
Dave Viola IAPMO CEO
“ Consumers often do not realise the risks.”
November 2026 Volume 32 I Number 09 www. plumbingafrica. co. za