Engineered Systems articles from April 2008

Engineered Systems archives from April 2008

www.esmagazine.com: www.esmagazine.com/blog.(ES online)
April 1, 2008... WHITE PAPERS CURE PERFORMANCE BLUES - Check out two new white papers this month - Electro Static Technology contributes a piece on preventing damage to AC motor bearings, while Eaton chimes in with 10 ways to save energy in your data center....

Correction.(Correction notice)
April 1, 2008... In the article titled, "The Modern Unit Ventilator," in the March 2008 issue, ANSI Standard S12.60 was misidentified. Engineered Systems regrets the error.

Semi-professional reading: sometimes, a must-see is anything but a how-to.(Editor's Note)(Column)
April 1, 2008... What do you read in your spare time? I know, that's assuming you even have spare time. Personally, I've tried to carve a little more time for this in 2008. My selections are usually non-fiction, and occasionally a little offbeat. In past years,...

Calendar of events.
April 1, 2008... SPRING 2008 For more events and details, visit ESOnline at www.esmagazine.com. APRIL 22-24 16th National Conference on Building Commissioning PECI Newport Beach, CA. For info, visit www.peci.org/ncbc. MAY 4-6 Niagara Summit 2008...

Owner's project requirements and basis of design.(Back 2 Basics: Based on Cx-3 ATC/FPT software)
April 1, 2008... For April's "Back2Basics" and "HVACR Designer's Tips," the HVAC system will be based on the 2007 ASHRAE Handbook--Applications, Chapter 3, "Commercial and Public Buildings." The majority of HVAC systems are decentralized, and for this...

Modular central plant meets mission-critical challenge.(Case In Point)
April 1, 2008... Positioning itself as the ultimate data center, Herakles Data of Sacramento, CA, offers uninterruptible power, improved cooling, and redundant Internet bandwidth to its co-location customers seeking to outsource their primary or disaster...

Emergency cooling units rescue cancer research center's freezer farm.(Case In Point)
April 1, 2008... As a world leader in biomedical research, Seattle's Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center is dedicated to understanding, treating, and preventing cancer, HIV/AIDS, and other life-threatening diseases. The center was a pioneer in bone-marrow...

Retrofit makes 35% fuel savings a habit for Dominican Sisters.(Case In Point)
April 1, 2008... Standard Plumbing Heating Controls Corporation of Spokane, WA, recently designed a new heating and domestic hot water system for the Dominican Center, which was constructed in 1969 to house the Dominican Sisters, who work with charity...

VAV diffusers critical to green agency's Platinum building.(Case In Point)
April 1, 2008... For over 30 years, StopWaste.org has been helping Alameda County, CA, residents and businesses adopt sustainable consumption and disposal habits. Therefore, there was no question that the 14,000-sq-ft, two-story Oakland, CA, building that it...

UVC technology grabs LEED[R] points at city hall project.(Case In Point)
April 1, 2008... When the City of Sammamish (WA) asked the design team to provide a LEED[R] Silver certified building for the new city hall at the 25-acre Sammamish Commons redevelopment project, Notkin Mechanical Engineers believed IAQ was of paramount...

Submittal reviews: redundant? Not if difference experts look for different problems.(Commissioning)(U.S. Green Building Council)
April 1, 2008... > Reviewing contractors' equipment submittals has been a staple of the commissioning process since the beginning of building systems commissioning. Even the USGBC requires the Commissioning Authority (CA) to review contractor submittals in...

Writing control specs--one of life's great challenges: and even then, there are more critical elements of a good design.(Building Automation)
April 1, 2008... > Several years ago, we had the unique experience to be members of an ASHRAE committee that was charged with developing a guideline for specifying DDC systems. Committee work is often frustrating, involving volunteers with different...

Design review / design build: commercial and public buildings.(HVACR Designer Tips)
April 1, 2008... DESIGN REVIEW [Y] [N] * Verify there is adequate outdoor ventilation. () () * Spot-check air quantity based on cfm/sq ft. () () * Spot-check...

This time, water cooled was all wet: cooled all wet.
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A data center the size of the football field and an owner with sustainable mandates made it hard for this project team to just take the conventional wisdom and run with it. In part one of two, the author winds up...

Cleanroom design in 10 easy steps.
April 1, 2008... OK, so "easy" may not be a word that comes to mind for designing such sensitive environments. However, that doesn't mean you can't produce a solid cleanroom design by tackling issues in a logical sequence. This article covers each key step,...

It's not the heat, it's the humidity.
April 1, 2008... Environmental control in critical facilities faces a few hurdles, but here's one you don't hear much: We just haven't been doing it that long. Learning about real effects of different conditions on equipment is another key to saving energy and...

Chiller plant and boiler operations highlighted in NAPE convention.(Issues & Events)
April 1, 2008... The Philadelphia 76 Chapter of the National Association of Power Engineers (NAPE), in association with Tozour-Trane and Delval Equipment will be conducting two full-day seminars titled "Chiller Plant Operations" and "Boiler Operator's...

2008 CABA Intelligent Buildings Leadership Forum set for June.(Issues & Events)
April 1, 2008... The 2008 CABA Intelligent Buildings Leadership Forum will be held in conjunction with InfoComm 08 and NXTcomm08 in Las Vegas on June 17, 2008. The forum will provide the latest developments in the intelligent buildings industry, allowing...

ISH North America 2008 to offer many new seminars and events.(Issues & Events)
April 1, 2008... ISH North America (ISH NA), through its industry association partnerships, will add a wide range of educational and networking opportunities to the upcoming ISH North American 2008 this fall. By partnering with four trade associations to run...

The Grundfos Group.(Industry News)
April 1, 2008... The Grundfos Group, with headquarters in Denmark, acquired Peerless Pump Company, an Indianapolis-based manufacturer of pumps and fire protection systems.

Tridium Inc.(Industry News)
April 1, 2008... Tridium Inc. announced the total number of instances for the company's Niagara Framework has surpassed 100,000 worldwide.

Tomkins PLC.(Industry News)
April 1, 2008... Tomkins PLC, of London and parent company of Ruskin and Titus, announced that it has acquired a controlling interest in Rolastar Private Limited, a Mumbai, India company, and a manufacturer of hollow profiles and related accessories for...

Daikin AC (Americas), Inc.(Industry News)
April 1, 2008... Daikin AC (Americas), Inc. announced that the company has joined Crestron's Integrated Partner Program and the availability of a new software module that gives Daikin's VRV[R] customers and Crestron's dealers the ability to manage their heating...

Uponor.(Industry News)
April 1, 2008... Uponor announced that its 2008 Factory Training Program dates are now available and ready for reservations. For more information or to register, visit www.uponor-usa.com.

Watt Stopper/Legrand.(Industry News)
April 1, 2008... Watt Stopper/Legrand announced a companywide initiative to make all aspects of the organization more environmentally friendly, outlining ambitious goals that go well beyond the company's longtime tradition of putting a stop to energy waste.

Metal Industries, Inc.(Industry News)
April 1, 2008... Metal Industries, Inc. acquired NCA Manufacturing, Inc., a manufacturer of louvers, fire, smoke, and control dampers for the HVAC industry.

McQuay.(Industry News)
April 1, 2008... McQuay released its 2008 training class schedule for courses that are designed to help service contractors, building engineers, and maintenance personnel operate and maintain the company's chillers, rooftop units, self-contained systems, and...

Steril-Aire, Inc.(Industry News)
April 1, 2008... Steril-Aire, Inc. announced that Sammamish Commons (located in Washington State) has become the first project to earn a LEED[R] point for the use of germicidal ultraviolet or "UVC" lights in AHUs.

Luvata.(Industry News)
April 1, 2008... Luvata, a manufacturer of tubes, coils and coolers for the HVACR industry, announced the official groundbreaking on its $40 million-plus copper-tube manufacturing plant in Guadalupe, Nuevo Leon, Mexico.

ASHRAE Webcast to focus on integrated building design.(Issues & Events)
April 1, 2008... Integrated Building Design: Bringing the Pieces Together to Unleash the Power of Teamwork," will be presented by ASHRAE on April 16, 1-4 p.m. EDT. This Webcast/ satellite broadcast will explain what members of the building team must do to...

Newcomb & Boyd.(Engineering Beat)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Newcomb & Boyd announced the licensure of three of its mechanical engineers. Kristina L. Taylor, P.E., has become a licensed professional engineer and a LEED[R] Accredited Professional (AP); Kasey P. Mitchell, P.E., an associate of the firm,...

SSOE.(Engineering Beat)
April 1, 2008... SSOE continued its expansion announcing two new hires for the company's headquarters in Toledo, OH: Matthew Oberts as mechanical department manager and Timothy Lajiness, P.E., as senior project manager.

Albert Kahn Associates, Inc.(Engineering Beat)
April 1, 2008... Albert Kahn Associates, Inc. has been commissioned to serve as A/E of Record for construction of a new 2-million-sq-ft freight car manufacturing complex for National Industries, in Shoals, AL.

Affiliated Engineers, Inc.(Engineering Beat)
April 1, 2008... Affiliated Engineers, Inc. announced the opening of a new office in Houston, complementing its practices in Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Washington, DC, North Carolina, Washington, and Wisconsin.

Smith Seckman Reid, Inc.(Engineering Beat)
April 1, 2008... Smith Seckman Reid, Inc. hired Mike Mooney, P.E. as senior mechanical engineer in the firm's Denver office.

Syska Hennessy Group, Inc.(Engineering Beat)
April 1, 2008... Syska Hennessy Group, Inc. announced the appointment of Gary Brennen and Cyrus Izzo as co-chief executive officers and co-chief operating officers.

Alberici Constructors' General Building Division.(Engineering Beat)
April 1, 2008... Alberici Constructors' General Building Division announced that James G. Klingensmith, P.E., LAP, CCM, has joined the company as a new project director.

Flack + Kurtz.(Engineering Beat)
April 1, 2008... Flack + Kurtz acquired SEi Companies, a mechanical and electrical consulting engineering firm with 150 employees.

RDK Engineers.(Engineering Beat)
April 1, 2008... RDK Engineers announced that Matt Stelmach, P.E. and Scott Henriques, P.E., have joined the company's team of senior engineering project managers.

Boiler industry official predicts good year for members.(Issues & Events)(American Boiler Manufacturers Association)(Randy Rawson)
April 1, 2008... "Any economic slowdown in 2008 will not appreciably affect this industry," predicted American Boiler Manufacturers Association (ABMA) president Randy Rawson in his Annual Report to his members during ABMA's Annual Meeting, earlier this year in...

ABB.(Places And Faces)
April 1, 2008... ABB announced that CEO Fred Kindle left the company due to irreconcilable differences about how to lead the company, and chief financial officer Michel Demare was named as interim CEO.

Lenze-AC Tech.(Places And Faces)
April 1, 2008... Lenze-AC Tech has appointed Christine Clancy as customer service manager.

TAC.(Places And Faces)
April 1, 2008... TAC has completed the acquisition of six operating units of Yamas Controls Group Inc. and appointed Gerald Blackmore vice president for the new Systems Integration (SI) Pac-Atlantic region.

Gamewell-FCI.(Places And Faces)
April 1, 2008... Gamewell-FCI, of Honeywell's Life Safety division, has hired Mark Wicks, as its new southeast regional sales manager.

UltraViolet Devices, Inc.(Places And Faces)
April 1, 2008... UltraViolet Devices, Inc. (UVDI) has promoted Martin G. Albert to national sales manager for distribution.

Steamist.(Places And Faces)
April 1, 2008... Steamist has appointed Tom Walker as director of operations.

Heat Transfer Products.(Places And Faces)(promotions and retirements)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Heat Transfer Products announced the retirement of southeastern and Midwestern U.S. sales manager Clifford S. Greaves and five promotions and appointments: Steve Wilson was promoted to sales and marketing manager for the entire company; John...

Big Ass Fans.(Places And Faces)
April 1, 2008... Big Ass Fans announced that outside engineering sales managers Josh Eddy and John Plumley received their USGBC LEED[R] AP status; and Jason Dawson, engineering sales manager, passed his P.E. test.

ECR International.(Places And Faces)
April 1, 2008... ECR International has hired David Engley as the regional sales manager for New England.

WaterFurnace International Inc.(Places And Faces)
April 1, 2008... WaterFurnace International, Inc. announced that Michael Albertson joined the company as vice president of commercial marketing and sales.

NFPA.(Association Agenda)
April 1, 2008... NFPA announced that the state of Maine has adopted the latest edition of several its fire and life safety codes including: NFPA 1, Uniform Fire Code[TM] (UFC); NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems; NFPA 72, National Fire...

The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO).(Association Agenda)
April 1, 2008... The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) has joined the Green Mechanical Council as a charter member.

ARI.(Association Agenda)
April 1, 2008... ARI announced that its Responsible Use Guide for Minimizing Fluorocarbon Emissions in Manufacturing Facilities was translated into French and Spanish.

The International Facility Management Association (IFMA).(Association Agenda)
April 1, 2008... The International Facility Management Association (IFMA) has joined the EPA's ENERGY STAR program as a partner.

The International Facility Management Association (IFMA).(Association Agenda)
April 1, 2008... The National Environmental Balancing Bureau (NEBB) elected Gerald T. Bauers of Sebesta Blomberg Associates, Rosemont, IL, as president.

The American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA).(Association Agenda)
April 1, 2008... The American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA), announced that Julie Ruth, P.E., and Chuck Anderson, P.E., have been appointed to the International Code Council (ICC) Change Committees during the council's annual conference.

The Vent-Free Gas Products Alliance.(Association Agenda)
April 1, 2008... The Vent-Free Gas Products Alliance has appointed Don Denton as its technical consultant, and annoucned that Mary S. Carson, the alliance's program director, will continue to manage its operations and public relations activities.

The American Filtration and Separations Society (AFS).(Association Agenda)(Conference notes)
April 1, 2008... The American Filtration and Separations Society (AFS) will hold its 21st Annual Technical Conference & Exhibition, which allows attendees from diverse fields to build on common principles, and learn operations involving fluid/particle...

HVAC steam system design.(Computers & Software)
April 1, 2008... HVAC Solution Steam Program Version 4.1 is designed to offer an easy, drag-and-drop method of designing and modeling HVAC steam systems. The standalone, Windows[R]-based program allows for easy modeling of steam generation, steam distribution,...

Design & estimating.(Computers & Software)
April 1, 2008... Right-SuiteTM Universal HVAC design and sales software combines ACCA, ASHRAE, and HRAI technologies with automated bill of materials, proposals, and compliance tools into a single design and estimating product. Designers can now apply the most...

Maintenance management.(Computers & Software)(Eagle Technology Inc. (Winter Park, Florida))(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ProTeus V 9.6.4 is a Windows[R] Vista compliant maintenance management software solution that supports SQL Server, SQL Express (runtime included), and Oracle databases. It provides integration of maintenance...

Engineered Software, Inc.(BITS & BYTES)
April 1, 2008... Engineered Software, Inc. has released PIPE-FLO[R] Compressible 2007 software, an upgrade to the desktop application for designing and simulating the operation of steam and gas piping systems.

Meridian Systems.(BITS & BYTES)
April 1, 2008... Meridian Systems, provider of enterprise project management software for optimizing capital projects, programs and facilities, announced a new System Integrator (SI) relationship with RealFoundations, a full-service management consultancy...

InduSoft.(BITS & BYTES)
April 1, 2008... InduSoft's new offering, InduSoft Secure Viewer, enables secure access to InduSoft Web Studio HMI/SCADA application screens using PCs, handheld PDAs, and tablet PCs over wired or wireless connections.

CyberMatrix Corporation.(BITS & BYTES)
April 1, 2008... CyberMatrix Corporation has released version 9 of Project Clock, a project time-recording and time-billing software application for consultants, lawyers, engineers, contractors, project managers, or anyone else who must accurately track the...

IXNET Holdings, LLC.(BITS & BYTES)
April 1, 2008... IXNET Holdings, LLC completed the acquisition of BlueTree Wireless Data, Inc., a supplier of M2M cellular data products.

Construction Management Software (CMS).(BITS & BYTES)
April 1, 2008... Construction Management Software (CMS) announced that it has earned QuickBooks Gold Developer status, the highest level of recognition available through the Intuit Developer Network (IDN) program.

Contemporary Controls Systems, Inc.(BITS & BYTES)
April 1, 2008... Contemporary Controls Systems, Inc.'s "Tech Tips" on CD-ROM is aimed at busy engineers, and includes extensive information required to perform industrial Ethernet installation without frustration.

The Dickson Company.(WORLD WIDE WEB)
April 1, 2008... The Dickson Company launched its Compliance-Max[TM] program at www.dicksondata.com, which provides HVAC engineers using dataloggers or chart recorders to ensure that facility temperature and humidity stay in acceptable ranges, with added...

Siemens Building Technologies, Inc.(WORLD WIDE WEB)
April 1, 2008... Siemens Building Technologies, Inc. now offers its Green Building website (www.us.sbt.siemens.com/bau/solutions/ energy/greenbuilding.asp), to provide information that aims to help visitors initiate a meaningful dialogue on how to go green.

Keltech Incorporated.(WORLD WIDE WEB)
April 1, 2008... Keltech Incorporated has made additional enhancements to its website, www.keltech.us, including a comprehensive product spec sheet library, a new residential, and light commercial section, and more.

Uponor, Inc.(WORLD WIDE WEB)
April 1, 2008... Uponor, Inc. has redesigned its website, www.uponor-usa.com, to provide a comprehensive and in-depth learning resource on its four primary business sectors: radiant heating and cooling, plumbing, fire safety, and commercial products.

Turbotec Products, Inc.(WORLD WIDE WEB)
April 1, 2008... Turbotec Products, Inc. unveiled a new company website (www.turbotecproducts.com) with an easy-to-navigate design that offers comprehensive product information, specifications, and literature for the company's line heat transfer and heat...

Rawal Devices.(WORLD WIDE WEB)
April 1, 2008... Rawal Devices' website, www.rawal.com, demonstrates how the company's APR Control provides continuous capacity modulation for DX A/C systems (including VAV and makeup air systems), allowing them to dehumidify without overcooling.

SANYO HVAC Solutions.(WORLD WIDE WEB)
April 1, 2008... SANYO HVAC Solutions, a division of SANYO Commercial Solutions (SCS) launched a new HVAC website (www.sanyohvac.com) with product guides, specs, service, and support.

Cooling systems.(Products In Focus)
April 1, 2008... The company's DS precision cooling system supports data center applications that require cooling delivered from the top of the unit. The system is available in capacities of 28, 35, 42, 53, 70, 77, and 105 kW. Features include the iCOM[R]...

Submetering.(Products In Focus)
April 1, 2008... The D-Mon[R] wireless product line features three-phase kWh submeters with 15-min interval data recording capability. Other features include self-configuring/self-repairing mesh network communications in the 915 MHz band, standard wiring...

Drives.(Products In Focus)
April 1, 2008... The company's VLT[R] HVAC drive features electronically controlled bypass capability which is designed to provide improved protection and operation through a bypass 24 VDC switch mode power supply. The ECB power supply acts as a backup power...

Boilers.(Products In Focus)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The company's HE-AB Series forced-draft, gas-fired flexible watertube boiler features a guaranteed efficiency of 85%, resulting from an integrated extended surface heat extractor that is supported by 7 sq ft of...

Actuators.(Products In Focus)
April 1, 2008... The company's line of non-spring actuators is designed to open and close air dampers at top speed. The line features rugged motors, gearboxes, and NEMA 2 housings for a long service life; automatic current reduction at standstill; and a...

C[O.sub.2] transmitters.(Products In Focus)
April 1, 2008... The eSENSE[TM] II C[O.sub.2] transmitter features a new housing that provides more reliable temperature measurement. The unit is designed to fit directly on top of both U.S. and EU standard electrical wall junction boxes, and is suited for use...

Sprinkler systems.(Products In Focus)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Never*Trip drain valve assembly meets NFPA 13 standards and is suited for use with a building's fire sprinkler system. The unit features an auxiliary drain valve and collection chamber assembly that collects,...

Fire supression systems.(Products In Focus)
April 1, 2008... The company's 732 conventional single-hazard releasing control panel can be used to control its full line of suppression systems, including FM-200[R], 3M[TM] Novec[TM] 1230 fire protection fluid, Argonite[TM], FE-13[TM], Halon 1301, as well as...

Heaters.(Products In Focus)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The company's L Series heater is a 100,000 Btuh infrared tube heater provides 50 ft of even heat with an end-to-end variance of less than 15%. One key feature of the heater is the softening of the radiant output over...