Plumbing & Mechanical articles from October 2006

Plumbing & Mechanical archives from October 2006

PMI: don't fear faucets.(Letters TO THE EDITOR)(Letter to the editor)
October 1, 2006... Editor's note: Barbara C. Higgens, executive director of the Plumbing Manufacturers Institute, sent the following letter to the editor of The Sacramento Bee in response to the paper's editorial on legislative efforts in California. The...

Negotiations halted in single code venture, time running out.(Around THE INDUSTRY)(International Code Council)(International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials)
October 1, 2006... On Sept. 5, the International Code Council effectively terminated negotiations to develop a single U.S. plumbing and mechanical code in conjunction with the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, even though...

What is your favorite part about your plumbing truck?(PM Trends)
October 1, 2006... Each month, PMmag.com explores unique industry trends that affect our PHC industry. The results of this informal survey represent PM's online community's opinions. To vote for the current question, log on to www.PMmag.com. Comfy Cab ...

California lead bill's fate up to governor.(Around THE INDUSTRY)
October 1, 2006... As PM went to press, controversial California legislation designed to drastically eliminate the lead content of faucets sold in that state was awaiting a final decision by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. "I've heard confident predictions on...

ICC, NFPA reach settlement.(Around THE INDUSTRY)(International Code Council)(National Fire Protection Association)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... The International Code Council and the National Fire Protection Association reached an out-of-court settlement in three lawsuits. The cases--one brought by ICC and two by NFPA--involved copyright and trademark issues. Neither party admitted any...

Grainger, college association team up to help trade students.(Around THE INDUSTRY)
October 1, 2006... The American Association of Community Colleges and distributor Grainger recently announced the national launch of Grainger's Tools for Tomorrow scholarship program. The pilot program will award outstanding students at seven selected AACC member...

NSPC committee approves code changes.(Briefs)
October 1, 2006... The National Standard Plumbing Code committee recently approved significant changes to the NSPC. The approved changes will appear in the 2007 Supplement to the 2006 NSPC. Chairman Dick Wagner said one of the most significant changes to the code...

Clockwork Home Services buys Nashville franchise.(Briefs)
October 1, 2006... Clockwork Home Services recently bought Nashville, Tenn.-based Tab Hunter's One Hour Air Conditioning and Heating, and Benjamin Franklin Plumbing franchises. Both franchises had combined 2005 revenues of nearly $5 million. Hunter will join...

NARI launches Green Remodeling program.(Briefs)(National Association of the Remodeling Industry)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) recently launched the pilot of its new Green Remodeling program. The course is designed to provide remodelers with everything they need to enable them to start using green and...

Second quarter shows slight remodeling slowdown.(Briefs)(National Association of Home Builders of the United States)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Remodeling activity slowed in the second quarter of 2006, according to the National Association of Home Builders' Remodeling Market Index, which measures remodeler perceptions of market demand for current and future renovation projects. The...

EMCOR records reduction in workplace accidents.(Briefs)
October 1, 2006... EMCOR Group recorded a 46 percent reduction in its Total Recordable Incident Rate since 2002, during a time when labor hours increased and recordable injuries decreased by 28 percent. Through the company's Safety and Quality Management...

J.F. Ahern expands fire protection services.(Briefs)(J.F. Ahern Co.)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Fond du Lac, Wis.-based J.F. Ahern recently expanded its fire protection business into western Michigan, focusing on the Grand Rapids area. The office will provide fire sprinkler inspections, service and system installations. In other...

PHCC allies with marketing firm for member benefits.(Briefs)
October 1, 2006... Plumbing-heating-Cooling Contractors--National Association entered an agreement with marketing solutions company Hudson, Ink. The alliance will provide PHCC members with marketing services, including customer retention programs, lead-generating...

Find Biodiesel anywhere.(Briefs)
October 1, 2006... The National Biodiesel Board launched a 24/7 toll-free hotline (866-BIODIESEL) to help truckers and other motorists find retail availability of biofuel anywhere in the United States. Retail pump locations also can be found at www.biodiesel.org....

Engineering achievements: water supply, distribution.(Briefs)
October 1, 2006... Advances in water treatment, supply and distribution systems in developed nations were selected as the fourth greatest engineering achievement of the 20th century in a survey by the National Academy of Engineering in conjunction with the...

MCAA, UA launch new marketing program.(Briefs)
October 1, 2006... The Mechanical Contractors Association of America and the United Association, through the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, are working on a joint television ad geared toward new entrants to the industry. It began airing Sept. 29 on...

CIPHEX West coming soon.(Briefs)
October 1, 2006... CIPHEX West 2006 will take place Nov. 14-15 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada,. It will include its "Gallery of New Products," a free comprehensive seminar program, a "Green Stage," and a two-day Introduction to Hydronic Heating Installation course....

HeatLink Group announces change to U.S. operations.(Vendor & Supplier NEWS)(breaks with Heatlink USA Inc.)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Canadian manufacturer HeatLink Group Inc., and its family of radiant heating and potable water products, announced a change in its U.S. operations, in which customers will have access to the products directly from the manufacturer under the new...

Basco opens Maryland distribution center.(Vendor & Supplier NEWS)
October 1, 2006... Basco Shower Enclosures opened a new distribution center in Jessup, Md., which will serve the Baltimore/Washington, D.C., area. The 7,500-sq.-ft., state-of-the-art warehouse/showroom provides services to plumbing contractors, wholesalers,...

Flowserve opens Quick Response Centers.(Vendor & Supplier NEWS)
October 1, 2006... Flowserve Corp., a provider of fluid motion and control products, announced the opening of two new Quick Response Centers (QRCs): one in Orland, Calif., and one in Moerdijk, Netherlands. QRCs, located in strategic regions throughout the world,...

Pioneer buys Central Brass.(Vendor & Supplier NEWS)
October 1, 2006... Commerce, Calif.-based plumbing product manufacturer Pioneer Industries recently bought Central Brass Co., Cleveland. Pioneer's products are primarily for the multifamily/residential market, while Central Brass' cast-brass faucets and fixture...

Bonney Forge acquires Italian valve firm.(Vendor & Supplier NEWS)
October 1, 2006... Bonney Forge Valve licensee BFE, headquartered in Italy, and its partner and licensor Bonney Forge Corp. in Mount Union, Pa., announced the acquisition of Alco di Castronno--Varese, Italy. BFE will integrate the Alco assets with the existing...

Spirax-Sarco buys UltraPure majority interest.(Vendor & Supplier NEWS)
October 1, 2006... Spirax-Sarco Inc. (SSI) acquired majority interest in UltraPure Group Ltd., a Florida-based company that manufactures pure steam generators and water stills for the bio-pharmaceutical industry. The company has been renamed Spirax UltraPure LLC,...

VitrA introduces new logo.(Vendor & Supplier NEWS)
October 1, 2006... Bathroom products manufacturer VitrA recently introduced a new logo, which was designed based on views of its customers. The company began using the new logo in June; it intends to transition the new logo gradually, over the next 24 months.

Swiss group purchases Hydro-Air.(Vendor & Supplier NEWS)
October 1, 2006... Switzerland's Zehnder Group AG purchased Hydro-Air Components, a hydronic heating and HVAC manufacturer in Buffalo, N.Y. Zehnder manufacturers HVAC products in some 13 countries and has more than 2,500 employees worldwide.

Spartan Environmental Technologies new distributor of GasTran Systems.(Vendor & Supplier NEWS)
October 1, 2006... Spartan Environmental Technologies, distributor and manufacturer of chemical oxidation and disinfection equipment, was recently appointed as a distributor of GasTran Systems' proprietary ozone injection system for wastewater treatment. ...

Goulds Pumps awards scholarships.(Vendor & Supplier NEWS)
October 1, 2006... Goulds Pumps, a brand of ITT Corp., recently awarded $1,000 college scholarships to 14 high school graduates. All of the graduates are part of the Goulds Professional Dealers Association family, the industry's oldest and largest association...

Sloan celebrates 100 years.(Vendor & Supplier NEWS)
October 1, 2006... Sloan Valve Co. turns 100 this year. In 1906, William E. Sloan, company founder and inventor of the Flushometer, introduced his first model of the Royal[R] Flushometer. However, when it debuted, plumbers were reluctant to forego their tank-type...

AERCO honored for export achievements.(Vendor & Supplier NEWS)(Aerco International Inc.)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Israel Hernandez, assistant secretary for trade promotion and director-general of the U.S. Commercial Service, awarded the U.S. Commerce Department's Export Achievement Certificate to AERCO International. The award is presented to businesses...

Trying to tweak the code: your chances of passing an NFPA 13 code amendment is increased greatly if you have someone in your corner.(Fire PROTECTION)(National Fire Protection Association)(Viewpoint essay)
October 1, 2006... The last several pages of any current NFPA pamphlet contain forms to submit amendment proposals. The various NFPA Technical Committees welcome these proposals. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Chronologically, there...

Igniter benefits: replacing a transformer with another transformer no longer makes sense.(Burner BASICS)
October 1, 2006... Here comes Columbus Day, the final test of how well we've prepared our customer's systems for the winter's snowy blasts. If the phone rings off the wall, we've slipped. If all is quiet, we've passed the test. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

It's not too late: start planning for retirement; Some post-retirement advice from Frank Blau.(Business TIPS)
October 1, 2006... It's been more than 45 years since Frank Blau launched his plumbing company, but Frank's experience as a business innovator spans well over half a century, longer than most Plumbing & Mechanical readers have even been on the planet. Over the...

Corrosion concerns.(HEATINGHELP.COM)
October 1, 2006... Original inquiry: I'm about to install my second G-124 condensing boiler. With the system water temp. at 140-150 degrees F, what keeps the 60-year-old black-iron pipes and cast-iron radiators from corroding? Thanks for any insight on this. ht...

Heating a 'thermos bottle' house: full-coverage radiant floors may not be the best choice.(Hydronics WORKSHOP)
October 1, 2006... Does the term "superinsulated house" ring a bell with some of you? It was a concept first hyped in the 1980s to describe houses with extremely well insulated thermal envelopes. Imagine R-30+ walls, R-50+ ceilings, R-4 windows, and so forth....

What's right and what's wrong.(RADIANT & HYDRONICS E-NEWS)
October 1, 2006... Are You An Ace Troubleshooter? John Siegenthaler, P.E., has been challenging heating professionals to take a closer look at how radiant and hydronic systems should be designed to fit today's efficiency-minded world. His Web site,...

The rigors of mountain hydronics: Justin Johnson put 62,000 miles on his pickup last year driving from one top-notch radiant installation to another.(Cover story)
October 1, 2006... Few and far between only half applies to Justin Johnson--and that half still doesn't do his working conditions justice. Change that phrase to "a lot and very, very far between," and you'll get a better sense of how the 31-year-old owner of...

Riverside pavilion stays warm with radiant: comfortable amenities make new public building a popular spot for city dwellers.
October 1, 2006... A new 12-acre, $15 million dollar building in Columbus, Ohio, is the latest urban renewal project as city officials continue to find ways to attract people to its downtown. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Past improvements have included new...

Sandpiper Plumbing Inc., Cape Coral, Fla.: logo design--just another day at the beach.(TRUCK OF THE MONTH)
October 1, 2006... Sandpiper Plumbing Inc., owned and operated solely by Mark Simone and his wife Janice since August 2003, services the plumbing repair, remodel and renovation needs of Cape Coral, Fla., and its surrounding areas. But even as a small shop, they...

Proper design of plumbing systems can improve patient care: new AIA guidelines for healthcare facility construction offer direction on how to design and install plumbing systems that focus on patient wellness, as well as protect the environment.(HEALTHCARE 2006)
October 1, 2006... The Latin phrase "primum non nocere" gives clear instruction to a physician: "First, do no harm." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Plumbing professionals would do well to follow the same dictum for both the human population and planet Earth by...

LEED in healthcare: a new guide will help explain how to earn LEED credits for new and renovated healthcare projects.(HEALTHCARE 2006)
October 1, 2006... Healthcare buildings (hospitals, nursing homes and outpatient centers) are unique buildings. They hold a special place in our culture and communities. They are centers for healing and wellness, and places where people and their families gather...

Institutional hydrotherapy and hot water--a delicate mix: hydrotherapy, an ancient healing treatment, is still employed in healthcare facilities today. Here are the facts.(HEALTHCARE 2006)
October 1, 2006... Long employed as water treatment for healing purposes, hydrotherapy--the use of water in the treatment of disease--has been around since ancient times. The Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Hindu and Chinese cultures favored hydrotherapy for centuries,...

Co-existing with the plumbing engineer: today's engineers are not 'yidiots.'.(Plumbing PRIMER)
October 1, 2006... One of the first things I learned in the plumbing profession was, "The engineer is a yidiot!" That is how it always sounded when my father said it so quickly. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] We loved the term, because he really meant to say,...

Is it spare parts or junk? Rule of thumb: if you can't find it in 15 minutes, it's junk.(Hydronic CONTROLS)
October 1, 2006... I was traveling with Steve, a plumbing distributor rep. As we pulled into the yard of Aesop's Plumbing and Heating, there was an all-too-common view--junk everywhere. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Most visible were the old vehicles. There was...

Leading the team to victory: different coaches produce different results with the same team.(In The FIELD)
October 1, 2006... Make no mistake, you have a team: technicians, call takers, dispatchers, warehouse people, administrative, accounting and often many others. Think about how the performance of your company could improve if all of them could be counted on for...

The knowledge pig: sharing information makes your employees more productive.(Managing YOUR BUSINESS)
October 1, 2006... Are you a knowledge pig? That means you hog all the knowledge. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Are you the only one who really knows what's going on at your shop? Are you the only one who gets to go to the trade group meetings, the workshops...

Thirteen can be your lucky number: just say 'yes,' and win a free consultation from Paul.(Practical MANAGEMENT)(team building)
October 1, 2006... The first 13 "Just Say Yes" e-mails sent to jcridilla@aol.com become eligible for 13 hours free in company consulting to assure positive implementation of our innovative 13 team-building basics. Those companies will be able to put an end to...

Solder belt.(FIRST PLACE)
October 1, 2006... I've rigged a tool belt for soldering copper pipe that saves time and hassle. On the one hammer loop, I have a metal shower curtain clip, which is connected to a rebar tie that is looped through the holes in the handles of fitting brushes. All...

It's a sna.(FIRST PLACE)(Harris-Dudley Plumbing Co.)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... I have found that when you install a disposal sink flange with a snap right (split ring), it is difficult to hold all of the parts in position while you fit the snap ring in place. It helps to put a small wire nut, such as a blue or grey wire...

Color key.(FIRST PLACE)
October 1, 2006... Use inexpensive plastic dip (available at any hardware store) to dip handles for pliers, screwdrivers, etc. Not only will it give you a better grip, you can "color code" your tools so you don't mix them up with other people's tools. Lisa...

Send us your Tool Tips.(tool tips)
October 1, 2006... If you have an idea that has saved you time and money, Plumbing & Mechanical would like to share your tip with our readers. You can e-mail your idea directly to PM editor Steve Smith at smiths@bnpmedia.com, or mail it to him c/o PM, 1050 IL...

Compact Thermostatic Valve.(Products & LITERATURE)
October 1, 2006... Compact Thermostatic Valve: The new TM5 3/4-inch thermostatic valve from Waterworks with special "Temperature Memory" technology comes in a uniquely compact 5-inch size. It features a bi-metal sensor that offers greater stability of temperature...

Insulating Suspension Clamp.(Products & LITERATURE)
October 1, 2006... Insulating Suspension Clamp: IPS Corp.'s new Single Shot[TM] Insulating Suspension Clamp offers a preloaded nail that cuts installation time in half. It can be used anywhere standard insulating suspension clamps are used, and is available in...

Rodrunner Drain Cleaner.(Products & LITERATURE)
October 1, 2006... Rodrunner Drain Cleaner: The Model "E" gasoline-powered Rodrunner[TM] from General Pipe Cleaners removes clogs in large lines and long runs up to 500 ft. Capable of coupling to either sectional cables to clear up to 14-inch lines, or 5/16-inch...

Anti-Microbial Protection.(Products & LITERATURE)
October 1, 2006... Anti-Microbial Protection: Careguard[R] from Neoperl Inc. is the perfect combination of hygienic features for faucet attachments with built-in AglON[TM] anti-microbial protection, laminar stream (nonaerated) and screenless construction (no...

Integrated Filtration.(Products & LITERATURE)
October 1, 2006... Integrated Filtration: Moen's new integrated filtration system ChoiceFlo[TM] allows both filtered and ordinary tap water from the kitchen faucet without any unsightly attachments, and through separate waterways housed in one faucet spout. This...

Thermostatic Tempering.(Products & LITERATURE)
October 1, 2006... Thermostatic Tempering: Symmons Industries' new Max Line ASSE 1070 Thermostatic Tempering device is a cost-efficient solution for controlling and limiting water temperature to fittings for fixtures. It is a perfect complement to the company's...

SeeSnake With Digital Recording [no photo].(Products & LITERATURE)
October 1, 2006... SeeSnake With Digital Recording [no photo]: Ridge Tool Co. introduces the RIDGID[R] SeeSnake[R] LCD Monitor+DVD for use with all SeeSnake camera reels. The new rugged and durable high-resolution 10.4-inch color, LCD monitor and DVD system...

Stainless-Steel Grooved Fittings [no photo].(Products & LITERATURE)
October 1, 2006... Stanless-Steel Grooved Fittings [no photo]: Anvil International introduces its new and complete line of Gruvlok[R] stain-less-steel formed weldless Type 304 fittings. Featuring full-flow design with ends grooved to Gruvlok specifications, the...

New Pump And Expansion Tanks.(Products & LITERATURE)
October 1, 2006... New Pump And Expansion Tanks: A.O. Smith has an all-new line of ProMax[R] Pump and Expansion Tanks that feature a metal air valve, multiple head construction for added structural strength, and a positive lock retention system for controlled...

Quick Sink Installs.(Products & LITERATURE)
October 1, 2006... Quick Sink Installs: BOSS Clips[TM] allow for fast sink installation completely from above the counter. Saves plumbers and customers time and money. Unique features mean they can be used with any stainless, track bottom sink, providing a snug,...

Failures to communicate.(Editorial)
October 1, 2006... Communication failure" is a catchall term that describes the cause of probably 90 percent of all business problems. Failures to communicate happen in many ways. Let's examine some of these. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 1. Evading...