PM Engineer articles from August 2006

PM Engineer archives from August 2006

Frangible bulb help needed.(PME Letters)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2006... Dear Mark, I've just joined the Federal Civil Defense School in Karachi and right now am near the end of my first firefighter course. I have read your past articles in PM Engineer about fire sprinklers, in which you have written that the first...

Flow testing follow-up.(PME Letters)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2006... I am an ardent reader of your magazine and found a few typographical errors in the article, "Hydrant Flow Testing," (July 2006) by Dr. Sang H. Wong. The errors are as follows: 1. Figure 1. Deriving the Equation of Flow (page 45). Pi is...

Industry groups challenge CA legislation to reduce lead in pipes.(PME News)
August 1, 2006... California Assembly Bill 1953, which calls for the reduction of lead content in plumbing pipes, fittings and fixtures to no more than 0.25%, passed the state House by one vote on May 31. The current law allows up to 8% lead for pipes and...

Interactive online Tool offers resources for component specification.(GF Piping Systems )(www.gfsignet.com)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... GF Piping Systems recently added a comprehensive, interactive System Selection Tool and Application Library for its Signet product line at www.gfsignet.com to help design engineers, customers and distributors quickly select appropriate products...

First 'innovative thinking' conference focuses on hiring, retention and training.(PME News)
August 1, 2006... The inaugural "Innovative Thinking" conference drew 80 participants to the lush resort of Lake Lanier Islands near Atlanta last June 12-13. Sponsored by BNP Media Co.'s Plumbing Group of magazines--Plumbing & Mechanical, Supply House Times, and...

NIST sends grants to aid in Gulf Coast recovery.(PME News)
August 1, 2006... The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announced it has awarded grants totaling $4.5 million to five organizations affiliated with NIST's Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) to assist manufacturers in Gulf...

Roth Industries completes first phase of New York production facility.(Roth Industries)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Roth Industries has completed the first phase of building its new $8 million production facility in Watertown, NY. The company, which has been operating in the North American market since 1997, says the new building represents an important...

Thermodynetics.(Appointments)
August 1, 2006... Thermodynetics announced that Floyd J. Lewis has been named Turbotec's director of sales and marketing.

T & S Brass.(Appointments)
August 1, 2006... T & S Brass announced the following changes in its marketing staff. Richard Fahey is marketing product manager for the foodservice division of T & S. Jane VanBergen is marketing product manager for the company's commercial plumbing products....

Uponor North America.(Appointments)
August 1, 2006... Uponor North America announced a few appointments in sales and marketing. Jane Doyon is senior manager of Customer Loyalty, a newly created function. Jackie Sharrock is Western U.S. sales manager. Jason O'Neill is regional sales manager for the...

Uponor North America.(News Briefs)
August 1, 2006... Jim Bjork, executive vice president of Uponor North America (formerly Wirsbo), has announced his resignation to pursue other interests. Bjork has served Uponor in a variety of management positions since joining the company in 1990, and has been...

Hodes Co.(Hodes Co. opens a distribution centre)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Hodes Co. announced the opening of its new North East Regional Distribution (N.E.R.D.) Center, located in the greater Philadelphia metropolitan area. Combined with its Kansas City location, the Hodes Co. now has the ability to deliver the...

John R. Lindahl.(John R. Lindahl Sr.chief executive officer of State Industries Inc. no more)(Brief article)(Biography)
August 1, 2006... John R. Lindahl Sr., 84, former chairman and CEO of State Industries, Ashland City, TN, died July 5. Lindahl established the company as State Stove and Mfg Co. in 1946. Lindahl was renowned for spurring numerous technical advances in the water...

Can these two truly become one? ICC sells out to IAPMO, and their proposed agreement is a recipe for disaster.(International Code Council)
August 1, 2006... (Julius's scheduled column regarding the ICC Mechanical and Fuel Gas code changes will appear next month, so that he can present this breaking news regarding the joining of the two codes, IAPMO and ICC.) A Town Hall meeting sponsored by...

Skyhooks and room-stretchers: for your consumption and perusal, more probing questions from PME readers.(Fire Protection)
August 1, 2006... Q. Our firm is handling modifications to a middle school, and we discovered that when the original fire sprinkler system was installed, sprinklers were installed above and below the drop-ceilings. This was a 1983 installation. Every bit of...

Design considerations for fire pump systems in high-rise buildings, Part 1: sprinklers, structural documents and standpipes are the first factors to be addressed during the design process.
August 1, 2006... Determining the proper size and arrangement for sprinkler/standpipe/fire pump systems in high-rise buildings can be a straightforward task, but it requires establishing the correct code and insurance requirements before beginning the design...

A primer on process piping facility design: the procedures discussed in this article can be modified to fit projects of various sizes.
August 1, 2006... This article has been written to show the general procedures that are often followed for the design of a large chemical-processing facility. In modified form, this design process is suitable for a smaller project or a smaller firm. It is not...

Back to basics: plumbing specifications; MasterFormat's new structure strategically resolves the overcrowded cohabitation of plumbing and HVAC work results within a common "mechanical" division.(Column)
August 1, 2006... Editor's Note: "Back to Basics" is a column that will run periodically in PME reviewing the basic principles of plumbing engineering. In MasterFormat[TM] 2004 (MF04), Division 15--Mechanical is gone. So where do we specify plumbing...

Automatic grease-removal devices: whether electrical or mechanical, these units minimize maintenance requirements at new or existing facilities.
August 1, 2006... The control of FOG (fats, oil and grease) has long been a requirement of many industrial wastewater treatment programs at wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). The primary regulation of FOG occurs at the local level to address maintenance...

Invisible touch, visible benefits: hands-free plumbing fixtures prevent germs, conserve water and provide access to disabled users.
August 1, 2006... With regular warnings about the threat of a bird flu pandemic, plus periodic scares over local E. coli outbreaks, especially in warm weather, the public has grown increasingly aware, and wary, of germs--particularly in public restrooms and...

UNL & Spirotherm team up to prevent air & dirt.(Case History 2006)
August 1, 2006... It isn't always easy to sell the idea of preventive maintenance to folks who have to answer to budgets and ROI. John Heise, housing special projects manager for the University of Nebraska Lincoln, however, is a firm believer. To Heise, it's all...

Cambridge-Lee enhances record of innovation with new copper linesets packaging and new distribution center.(Case History 2006)
August 1, 2006... Cambridge-Lee Industries' new copper linesets packaging provides a number of advantages for customers, according to Ed Kerins, Jr., vice president of sales and distribution. "Our new packaging," Kerins said, "will help to eliminate...

Rheem water heating solutions: storage tanks, tankless, commercial, solar systems.(Case History 2006)
August 1, 2006... Rheem is one of the best-known and most respected names among plumbing professionals today. For almost 100 years, installers have looked to us to deliver reliable water heaters with cutting-edge features. As the world's leading manufacturer of...

New and improved safety mixing valves.(Case History 2006)
August 1, 2006... Since 1874, Watts Regulator Co. has set the standard for the latest valve technology. Whether it is our pressure-reducing valves to regulate steam or water, relief valves to ensure safe operation of water heaters or boilers, or backflow...

TOTO and the W Hotels: a study in savings, sustainability and style.(Case History 2006)
August 1, 2006... "You can't have a five-star hotel with a one-star toilet," said Harvey, chief engineer at the Seattle W Hotel. So, imagine the surprise of the engineering staff of the Seattle W when the toilets in one of the W's few new construction hotels...

Hospital, contractor discover long-term solution for grease and waste systems.(Case History 2006)
August 1, 2006... In a kitchen that serves more than 2,000 meals a day, one thing that has to function well is the drainage system serving the drains and equipment in the kitchen. The kitchen that serves Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital, a regional hospital in...

Studor Air Admittance valves (AAVs) provide a reliable venting system alternative.(Case History 2006)
August 1, 2006... Since the existence of modern plumbing systems utilizing drain waste and vent (DWV) technology, there have been difficulties associated with excessive vent piping arrangements and roof penetrations. Studor has addressed this problem with a...

McGuire's Convertible[TM] making it easier for plumbing designers to specify commericial-quality quarter-turn ball valves.(Case History 2006)
August 1, 2006... Since its introduction in 2003, McGuire's Convertible[TM] has provided plumbing designers a commercial-quality quarter-turn ball valve that's easy to specify. Specifiers simply use the prefix BV in front of any commonly specified McGuire stop...

Liberty pumps introduces the LSG-series Omnivore[TM] grinder pump.(Case History 2006)
August 1, 2006... The Omnivore[TM] by Liberty Pumps is the Industry's newest 2-hp grinder pump with new V-Slice[TM] Cutter Technology. This new innovation provides more cuts per revolution for superior shredding performance in demanding sewage applications. The...

Texas sprinkler contractor profitably retrofits five schools in record time with FlexHead.(Case History 2006)
August 1, 2006... Golden Triangle Fire Protection of Denton, TX, had a big opportunity and a big problem. The good news? They landed a contract to retrofit 4,375 center-of-tile heads in five different schools in Piano. The bad news? They had only a month from...

Leonard Valve keeps water temps Normal at Normal Community H.S.(Case History 2006)
August 1, 2006... The new Normal Community High School in Normal, IL, serving more than 1,700 students, consists of 300,000 sq. ft. of main building with 8,800 sq. ft. of renovated outbuilding space. The spaces contain dozens of classrooms, restrooms, science...

Industry leader expands its line of residential tankless electric water heaters.(Case History 2006)
August 1, 2006... Stiebel Eltron has expanded its line of residential "whole house" tankless electric water heaters from two to five models. The Tempra[TM] line of tankless electric water heaters offers a wide variety of choices that allows homeowners to meet...

Bradford White MAGNUM (R) Series commercial water heaters.(Case History 2006)
August 1, 2006... Light Duty TTW FVIR Bradford White's 50- and 65-gallon TW4 light-duty Through-The-Wall commercial water heaters now feature the Defender Safety System? This change complies with the new ANSI standards regarding Flammable Vapor Ignition...

Viega contractors make radiant comfort a specialty.(Case History 2006)
August 1, 2006... "All of the heating jobs we do these days are Viega radiant installations," says Lee Cook, HVAC Design/Sales of Keyes North Atlantic, located in Newton, MA. The visionary Keyes NA team has seen customer demand for comfortable heating systems...

Unmatched piping products for every industry.(Case History 2006)
August 1, 2006... When You Specify Quality... Specify Anvil First! Anvil's ability to connect pipe to pipe and people to people is what sets us apart in the industry. Our complete and focused product solutions are unmatched. With more than 150 years of...

PowerStation[TM]: the "all in one" water tempering and recirculation solution for commercial and institutional facilities.(Case History 2006)
August 1, 2006... PowerStation is a fully assembled and tested water-tempering and recirculation station designed to save significant time, money and callbacks during installation and set-up. The contractor-friendly PowerStation features proper recirculation...

Jay R. Smith Mfg. Co. celebrates 80 years of commitment.(Case History 2006)
August 1, 2006... It all began in New York City... Jay L. Smith, a New York salesman for the National Lead Company, saw a growing need for brass and bronze specialties. Arranging to have his products manufactured by other foundries, Smith began his...

After 75 years, copper still the standard.(Case History 2006)
August 1, 2006... For 75 years, copper has been the choice of most plumbers, builders and building owners for one reason--it works. While that's not the flashiest product claim, it's true. No other modern plumbing material has performed so well for so long in so...

Vent Category confusion & occupant safety.(Case History 2006)
August 1, 2006... The importance of lab testing has never been greater, but the importance of real-world performance has not changed. In the real world, ineffective venting of high-efficiency gas appliances can lead to grave health risks. It's true that venting...

Wilkins cat is out of the bag.(Case History 2006)
August 1, 2006... Featuring the New Wilkins Spec Wizard! I recently helped a sales representative with a specification for a project he wanted to bid. After some research, I found that the specification was calling out a product that was no longer in...

Caleffi's Hydro Separator: the heart of this high-end system.(Case History 2006)
August 1, 2006... It's no longer uncommon for finely tuned residential hydronic jobs to exceed the complexity of light commercial systems. In this 5,400-sq.-ft. residence-an elegant, 60-year-old stone home in Highland Park, IL, that recently received a...

With Proceptor[TM], a southern-fried seafood restaurant no longer chokes pumping station with grease.(Case History 2006)
August 1, 2006... At a busy, large seafood restaurant that specializes in southern-fried dishes, kitchen grease was moving faster than customers' forks. But the restaurant's concrete grease interceptor couldn't handle the flow, causing kitchen grease to be...

Taco LoadMatch[R] system suits new office building just fine.(Case History 2006)
August 1, 2006... A former single-story warehouse across the Ohio River just south of Cincinnati has been reborn as a new two-story Class A office building. The Dolwick Business Center, 1360 Dolwick Drive, is a 230,000-sq.-ft. office building located in...

Local electric power utility underwrites hydronic heat system for new Hilton Garden.(Case History 2006)
August 1, 2006... A recently opened Hilton Garden Inn in a fast-developing area of Bozeman, MT, features a hydronic LoadMatch[R] system for heating and cooling instead of PTAC units with electric heat and cooling, as proposed to meet the project budget....

Delany hands-free products.(Case History 2006)
August 1, 2006... Specifications for public and commercial facilities often call for reliable "hands-free" mechanisms to maintain hygienic environments and meet ADA requirements. Delany Flush Valves and Faucets are engineered with reliable electronics and...

Addressing sanitary concerns with classroom sinks.(Case History 2006)
August 1, 2006... The classroom sink, combining the functionality of a utility sink for cleanups with the convenience of a drinking fountain, has been around for many years. Sharing a common sink basin and drain configuration, these applications allow teachers...

Symmons helps Mandarin Oriental shower guests with first-class bathroom experience.(Case History 2006)
August 1, 2006... The 248-room Mandarin Oriental, New York places a great deal of emphasis on its bathrooms. This exclusive facility built its reputation not only on its four-star features, but on the minute details as well. "The hotel industry is highly...

Storage sprinkler options are increasing.(Case History 2006)
August 1, 2006... New materials and commodities, methods and arrangement of storage, increased storage heights, and retrieval methods associated with these occupancies have changed dramatically, demanding more efficient and cost-effective fire protection...

Versatile water coolers from Halsey Taylor designed for a variety of applications.(Case History 2006)
August 1, 2006... Today, more than ever, finding the right water cooler for a specific application isn't always easy. Child ADA requirements, fear of vandalism, indoor and outdoor installations, and concern for water quality are just a few of the factors one has...

Uponor PEX saves time and money for residential high-rise.(Case History 2006)
August 1, 2006... Time is money--especially in the building industry. John Jacobsen of Phoenix Mechanical in Vancouver, B.C., reaffirmed this belief when he began using Uponor's crosslinked polyethylene (PEX) tubing for his plumbing systems. Jacobsen...

New Apollo[R] multi-outlet mixing valve first to comply with ASSE 1069.(Case History 2006)
August 1, 2006... Apollo[R] Valves has outpaced the competition again with the introduction of its new 34HL Series Automatic Temperature Control Mixing Valve--the first hot/cold water-mixing device to meet the strict performance levels specified by the new ASSE...

Apollo Defender RPDA assemblies built for long life and easy installation.(Case History 2006)
August 1, 2006... New compact Apollo[R] Defender[TM] reduced pressure detector assemblies (RPDAs) are designed for fast, trouble-free installation; easy maintenance; low head loss; and extended service life. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Designated the 4D-700...

The Paul Oliver Memorial Hospital, Frankfort, MI, installs Automatic Grease Interceptor to solve FOG problem.(Case History 2006)
August 1, 2006... The Paul Oliver Memorial Hospital will soon celebrate 55 years of continued progress in providing quality health care for the people of Benzie County, MI. The hospital became an affiliate of the Munson Healthcare system in 1986 and is the first...

A century of engineering solutions.(Case History 2006)
August 1, 2006... Leading the flow control industry for more than 100 years, NIBCO Inc. combines its tradition of manufacturing excellence with leading-edge technology and innovation. NIBCO's reputation as a provider of quality products is backed by...

Ensuring the quality of plastic piping products: NSF/ANSI standard 14.(Case History 2006)
August 1, 2006... For more than 40 years, NSF has been an approved listing organization for plumbing products. NSF tests and certifies a wide range of plastic piping and mechanical plumbing products to NSF and other industry standards, and the NSF certification...

Plastic Trends Perfect Fit[TM] DWV fittings offer perfect solutions.(Case History 2006)
August 1, 2006... When installing fittings in a confined space--whether it is in a residence, commercial building, or huge distribution center--dimensional accuracy is key. With large-diameter DWV fittings, typical problems occur when the fittings are...

Potter Roemer company profile.(Case History 2006)(Company overview)
August 1, 2006... About Our Company Potter Roemer was founded in 1937 as a manufacturers representative agency by Glea K. Potter and Ray H. Roemer. Like many small companies, it was started with modest capitalization. Growth in the early years was slow, but...

Pressure boosting made EZ: Grundfos EZ Boost System[TM].(Case History 2006)
August 1, 2006... This compact pressure boosting system with integrated variable speed motor is easy to install and reasonably priced. It provides reliable, constant water pressure every time you turn on the tap and is perfect for medical offices, restaurants,...

Charlotte Pipe and Foundry, a leader in DWV, cast iron, PVC and ABS pipe and fittings.
August 1, 2006... For more than a century, Charlotte Pipe and Foundry has been a leader in producing DWV pipe and fittings, first in cast iron and later adding PVC and ABS pipe and fittings systems. Charlotte[R] provides the broadest line of DWV pipe and...

Innovative solutions to real-life challenges faced by HVAC professionals.(Case History 2006)
August 1, 2006... HVAC professionals encounter a wide range of challenges on a daily basis. Solutions to common problems we all face are like a breath of fresh air to many. Have a quick look at the following "challenges" and see if the innovative "solutions"...

Zurn PEX plumbing system enhances appeal of Seattle's Cosmopolitan Towers.(Case History 2006)
August 1, 2006... Residents of The Cosmopolitan Towers in downtown Seattle may never think about the plumbing that lies upstream of their designer faucets, but make no mistake, it is an integral part of this luxury property's appeal. Beneath the hardwood floors...

Where products and service meet innovation.(Case History 2006)
August 1, 2006... Webstone has been providing exceptional quality and service to the professional trades for more than 50 years. Innovation is the core of Webstone's continued success. Creating products and programs that simplify life for the wholesaler,...

Series LFII sprinklers.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS FROM NFPA WORLD SAFETY EXPO)
August 1, 2006... As part of its Rapid Response home fire sprinkler system, Tyco Fire & Building Products offers two models of flat plate concealed pendent sprinklers (Series LFII). The cover plate conceals sprinkler components above the ceiling. Unit TY 2596...

Nail Plate.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS FROM NFPA WORLD SAFETY EXPO)
August 1, 2006... NIBCO introduces the Figure 26 Nail Plate, the company's newest addition to its TOLCO[TM] brand of fire protection products. TOLCO Nail Plates protect plastic pipe from nails and screws that penetrate wood wall studs. The plates are available...

Water Column Switch.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS FROM NFPA WORLD SAFETY EXPO)(Column)
August 1, 2006... Potter Electric Signal Co. has added the Water Column Switch (WCS) to its product line. The WCS is an electronic supervisory switch used to detect the presence of a conductive fluid (water) that can accumulate or become trapped in the piping...

Fire valves.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS FROM NFPA WORLD SAFETY EXPO)
August 1, 2006... Wilkins, a Zurn Company, announces two new additions to its Pressure-Tru fire valve line: ZW4000 and ZW4004. The ZW4000 is a UL-listed pressure-reducing valve for fire hose stations. The ZW4004 is a UL-listed pressure-reducing floor control...

Deluge valves.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS FROM NFPA WORLD SAFETY EXPO)
August 1, 2006... The Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co. Inc. offers new UL-Listed and FM-approved DDX Valves with very compact trim for deluge, preaction and dry system installations. Available sizes include 1 1/2" (40mm), 2 1/2" (65mm), 4" (100mm), 6" (150mm)...

Prepackaged Fire Control System.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS FROM NFPA WORLD SAFETY EXPO)
August 1, 2006... The Patterson Pre-Pac[R] Prepackaged Fire Control System was created to provide highly efficient, quality fire control in an economical package at less cost and in less space. It is self-contained so it saves money by reducing labor,...

Fire detection system.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS FROM NFPA WORLD SAFETY EXPO)
August 1, 2006... Viking Electronic Services showcased its eLAN' fire detection system featuring the security of VESNet[TM], a plug and play communications network that establishes a local, IP-based network for the system. VESNet allows the network to be...

Flexible fire sprinkler connections.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS FROM NFPA WORLD SAFETY EXPO)
August 1, 2006... FlexHead[R] industries manufactures high-quality flexible fire sprinkler connections for commercial, cleanroom, duct and institutional applications. FlexHead connections are said to install at least four times faster than traditional hard-pipe,...

Undermount sink bowls.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS FROM NFPA WORLD SAFETY EXPO)
August 1, 2006... Advance Tabco offers a large selection of undermount sink bowls for use in commercial and residential use. The bowls can be sized to fit any application, according to the company. Customers can choose from a complete line of bar sinks and...

Plumbing systems.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS FROM NFPA WORLD SAFETY EXPO)
August 1, 2006... The Pure-Flow Water System from Viega North America just got bigger with a full product line expansion to include 1 1/4" and 1 1/2" XL sizes for all bronze fittings and adapters, stainless steel sleeves, manifolds, valves and accessories. When...

Water conserving products.(PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS FROM NFPA WORLD SAFETY EXPO)
August 1, 2006... Replacing faucet aerators (from 2.2 gpm to 1.0 gpm) or using water savers on showerheads (from 2.5 to 1.5 gpm) are the most affordable components of a water conservation program for multi-unit housing, commercial or institutional buildings....