PM Engineer articles from August 2008

PM Engineer archives from August 2008

S(p)ray a little, mist a lot.(Editor's Note)(National Fire Protection Association)(Editorial)
August 1, 2008... In early June, I attended my third National Fire Protection Association World Safety Conference and Exposition. This four-day event, held most recently in Las Vegas, has a special significance to me. Not only does it allow me to find out the...

In agreement on residential sprinklers.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2008... I just re-read Julius Ballanco's articles on residential sprinkler systems in PM Engineer over the past year and couldn't agree with him more. It seems there are a lot of decisions that are "no brainers," but for some reason (maybe for the sake...

Higher efficiency means higher savings?(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2008... My question is in regards to the article by Francis Dietz in the May 2008 issue on the new boiler standards ("Modified Standards For Boilers"), which talks about how we save money with the higher efficiency boilers. I question some of the ideas...

IAPMO/WPC hosts Emerging Technology Symposium.(News)(International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials)(World Plumbing Council)
August 1, 2008... The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials and World Plumbing Council will host an Emerging Technology Symposium Aug. 19-20 in Chicago, with Stephen L. Johnson, administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,...

Report says commercial construction to dip 8% in 2008.(News)
August 1, 2008... The Construction Outlook Midyear Update report has been released by McGraw-Hill Construction and it predicts commercial building will retreat 8% in dollar volume and 16% in square feet through 2008. According to author Robert Murray, vice...

Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute.
August 1, 2008... The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) recently announced its accreditation by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) as a standards developing organization.

Charlotte Pipe and Foundry Co.
August 1, 2008... Charlotte Pipe and Foundry Co. has opened its new plastic pipe manufacturing plant in Cedar City, UT. The plant will manufacture PVC and ABS pipe for drain, waste and vent systems and FlowGuard Goldr CPVC CTS pipe for domestic water...

PPFA creates online resource for green builders.(The Green Corner)
August 1, 2008... The Plastic Pipe and Fittings Association has created a new online resource for National Association of Home Builders green builders and others looking for current information regarding green and sustainable plumbing and piping systems. PPFA's...

Organizations announce new members.(The Green Corner)
August 1, 2008... Both the United States Green Building Council and Green Mechanical Council (GreenMech) announced new members recently. Apollo Valves has formally joined the USGBC through its parent company Conbraco Industries, Inc. Zurn and Viega have joined...

One step forward, two steps back: IAPMO Letter Ballot changes some of the outcome from Denver meeting.(Codes)(International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials)
August 1, 2008... The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) has announced the results of the Letter Ballot on the public comments that were discussed at the code change hearing this past May in Denver. You may recall that those...

Competing collectors (part 2): comparing numerical performance data has its place, just be sure to remember that the numbers don't tell the whole story.(SOLAR DESIGN NOTEBOOK)
August 1, 2008... In the June Solar Design Notebook we looked at the construction of flat plate and evacuated tube collectors. The distinct differences between these types of collectors beg the question: Which is better? There are both qualitative and...

Doing a double-take [part 2]: this brief panorama is courtesy of your average fire inspector.(Fire Protection)(Column)
August 1, 2008... Last month, I presented Part 1 of this photo essay that showcases some of the most incredible things I've seen. Pictures clearly tell the story of incredible things one finds during sprinkler system inspections. Here's one that "baffled"...

Automatic sprinkler systems: commissioning vs. acceptance testing: although sometimes used interchangeably, these terms are distinct. Understanding each one will help ensure that a building's fire protection features operate as designed.(Cover story)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Since the early 1980s, automatic sprinkler systems have gradually increased in complexity. Advances in sprinkler technology have lead to the development of extended coverage, residential, quick-response and ESFR...

Getting better acquainted with solar water systems: maybe it's time we learned more about our biggest planetary neighbor--and took advantage of some of its energy bounty.(Green Plumbing & Design)(Statistical data)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Fact one: The Sun bestows enough energy upon the Earth every second to meet the needs of the entire world's population for an entire year. Fact two: Buildings are energy hogs. They use 40% of the world's energy;...

The time has come to win the sprinkler battle: to achieve this success, America's fire service personnel must overcome apathy and become part of the code-development process.(Special Commentary Section: Mandating Sprinklers at the ICC Code Hearings)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] What is the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety? Have you ever attended any of its events? Have you ever visited its Web site? If not, you should. Why? Because, every cut-and-rescue in your jurisdiction has been...

Enhancing public and firefighter safety: what is it going to take? Consider this question in light of needed residential fire sprinklers and stronger wood trusses--and be sure to vocalize your views at the ICC meeting in Minneapolis.(Special Commentary Section: Mandating Sprinklers at the ICC Code Hearings)
August 1, 2008... On December 4, 2006, the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) issued a Member Alert notifying their membership about the hazards associated with the lightweight construction in residential occupancies. In that alert titled, Caution...

Bell & Gossett provides unique flow at Denver Aquarium.(2008 Case History)
August 1, 2008... Replicating several real-life environments--ranging from an Indonesian rain forest to Mexico's Sea of Cortez--within a new state-of-the-art building presented serious engineering challenges to the developers of Denver's Downtown Aquarium [top...

PowerStation[TM]: the "all in one" water tempering and recirculation solution for commercial and institutional facilities.(2008 Case History)
August 1, 2008... 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...

CPVC acid waste systems combine productivity and performance.(2008 Case History)
August 1, 2008... "How are you going to save me time and money?" It's a question plumbing contractors hear from their customers nearly every day. For acid waste systems, the answer for an increasing number of contractors is CPVC. A thermoplastic that's been...

Sustainable building authority uses Phoenix Solar to 'walk the walk' on green products.(2008 Case History)
August 1, 2008... The Campus Center for Appropriate Technology (CCAT) at Humboldt State University has been an authority on sustainable building for more than 30 years. Consequently, when the Arcata, CA-based CCAT decided to remodel its live-in demonstration...

Stiebel Eltron products have found enthusiastic acceptance.(2008 Case History)
August 1, 2008... Stiebel Eltron On-Demand Tankless Electric Water Heaters The Stiebel Eltron company has been in existence for more than 80 years and is currently the largest manufacturer of tankless electric water heaters in the world. Over the last 60...

Watts OneFlow ... a viable alternative to water softening for hardness and scale control.(2008 Case History)
August 1, 2008... Problem Building owners, property managers, chief engineers and facility maintenance personnel all face the same challenge in battling the ill-effects of hard water. Protecting a commercial plumbing system from damaging lime deposits,...

Texas sprinkler contractor profitably retrofits five schools in record time with FlexHead.(2008 Case History)
August 1, 2008... 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-the heads in five different schools in Plano. The bad news? They had only a month from...

Indoor comfort in new Smoky Mountains Events Center provided by York Shipley, Trane and Taco Equipment.(2008 Case History)
August 1, 2008... Since its opening in the fall of 2007, business has surely increased in the Sevierville, TN, area--southeast of Knoxville among the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains--with the opening of the new Sevierville Events Center at Bridgemont...

Tankless system serves all hot water needs of laundromat.(2008 Case History)
August 1, 2008... When enterprising cousins Jesus Ortiz and Laury Rosario decided to open the first combined cafe/laundromat business in Connecticut, there was a lot of research to do and countless decisions to make. Choosing a manifold (connected) six-unit,...

tekmar Solar Thermal test site.(2008 Case History)
August 1, 2008... No doubt you've heard rumours of the benefits of 'Solar Thermal' water heating. While terminology and methods differ, the idea of using the sun's energy to heat domestic hot water has universal appeal. With the increasing popularity of solar...

The easy way to get it right: a new system prevents toilet seats from loosening while cutting installation time by one-third.(2008 Case History)
August 1, 2008... Installing a commercial toilet seat seems straightforward. But no matter how carefully it's done, toilet seats in these venues eventually come loose and someone pays for a callback to fix the seat. Why Do Seats Always Loosen? It could...

Choosing the right plumbing fixtures for an educational facility.(2008 Case History)
August 1, 2008... When it comes to choosing the right plumbing fixtures, it is important to specify high-quality equipment that is well-suited for its intended use. Many educational facilities and learning environments, especially elementary and middle schools,...

Focused on being the best commercial fixture trim manufacturer ... for 50 years.(2008 Case History)
August 1, 2008... 1958-2008 For 50 years McGuire Manufacturing Co., Inc. has provided professional plumbing designers with the highest-quality competitively priced commercial fixture trim products. A great deal has changed in 50 years, including the...

Heliodyne[TM] & the Lucky Labrador Brewery.(2008 Case History)
August 1, 2008... When the Lucky Labrador Brewing Co. decided to incorporate alternative energy into their beer-making process, they set their sights on harnessing energy from the sun. As the most cost-effective form of renewable energy, solar hot water was...

Liberty Pumps--innovation fuels growth.(2008 Case History)
August 1, 2008... While many companies are cutting back as a result of the down-turned economy, one industry leader is expanding. Liberty Pumps, of Bergen, NY, has recently broken ground on an expansion [bottom photo] that more than doubles its current...

Grinnell case file: putting more "in the pipeline" for you.(2008 Case History)
August 1, 2008... In the fall of 2004, a major city in Northern Ohio was faced with the choice to build a new high school to meet their growing needs, or add multiple new facilities to an existing high school, while at the same time renovate the current...

Submersible system using ABS pumps prevents hotel clogging.(2008 Case History)
August 1, 2008... The New York Palace is an 800-room luxurious hotel on Madison Avenue in Manhattan across the street from St. Patrick's Cathedral. We service most of the mechanical equipment in the building and upgrade the systems as funding becomes available....

Kennel owner uses geothermal/radiant technology to create perfect canine getaway.(2008 Case History)
August 1, 2008... Should Martine and Carr Pepler ever decide to get out of the dog kennel business, they may have a career in radiant heating. The couple accrued a wealth of design knowledge about radiant heat and snowmelt systems since incorporating both into...

Snowmelt system exceeds expectations.(2008 Case History)
August 1, 2008... J. B. Hunt, one of the largest trucking companies in North America, takes transportation seriously. Their reputation for safety and efficiency played into a decision they made to install an extensive snow melt system for their new headquarters...

NSF Intl.: working with the plumbing industry since 1965.(2008 Case History)
August 1, 2008... For more than 60 years, NSF Intl. has been known for its protection of public health in the areas of food and water safety. What began as a concept of three University of Michigan School of Public Health professors back in 1944, has today...

ProPress[R] System used in Lucas Oil Stadium--saves time and money.(2008 Case History)
August 1, 2008... Faced by a tight time schedule, construction crews are working around the clock to finish a new playing field for the Super Bowl Champion Indianapolis Colts. Lucas Oil Stadium, designed by HKS of Dallas, TX, will replace the RCA Dome as the...

Oatey FireMaster[TM] fire-rated supply boxes.(2008 Case History)
August 1, 2008... Since 1916, Oatey has been manufacturing quality products for the plumbing industry. Oatey's market-leading products include solvent cements for joining plastic pipe and fittings, vent stack roof flashings, solder and flux for joining copper...

Woodford Manufacturing: high-quality, American-made.(2008 Case History)
August 1, 2008... For 79 years, the Woodford Manufacturing Co. has been supplying the plumbing industry with the highest-quality American-made products. Our wide range of well-built wall faucets and hydrants are not the only reason to do business with Woodford....

Pre-assembled sewage packages by Zoeller.(2008 Case History)
August 1, 2008... From sump pumps to packaged lift stations to de-centralized wastewater treatment systems, Zoeller Pump Co. has one of the largest and broadest offerings of pumps and related equipment in the industry. Since 1939, the Zoeller name has been...

Moen's Commercial division flushes out water hammer at Utah Valley State College.(2008 Case History)
August 1, 2008... The Challenge Water hammer. The name accurately describes the loud, repetitive banging sound that can occur when toilets or urinals are flushed and a pipe is suddenly closed at the outlet (downstream). The resulting mass of water before...

Precision hydronic products: Mini-Hydro[TM] Kit design options abound.(2008 Case History)
August 1, 2008... Application: The Mini-HYDRO[TM] System is very versatile since it can be configured to accommodate various system requirements. Using the 1-1/4" Mini-Sep Plus[TM] as the base component, the boiler connection, zone transition, and zone packages...

Grease+Gard[R] Grease Recovery Device restaurant application.(2008 Case History)
August 1, 2008... Problem The Boka Restaurant in Seattle, WA, was having problems with its standard grease interceptor. Thomas Dotson, Assistant Manager of Boka, had experienced complications from grease interceptors in the past and knew the headaches they...

Commercial sprinklers.(Products)
August 1, 2008... Senju Comtek Corp. showcased two commercial flush-mount pendent sprinklers: the ZN-QR K5.6 (shown) and ZN-UF K5.6. Low-profile and decorative, both these sprinklers feature a solder heat element, metal seat and 1/2-inch thread size. The...

Triple-setting nozzle.(Products)
August 1, 2008... The Flex Attack nozzle from Elkhart Brass allows users to quickly switch between wet foam, dry foam and water only without shutting down. From the wet CAF attack setting, users can click left for a big open waterway and dry foam or click right...

Vertical inline fire pump.(Products)
August 1, 2008... Available in sizes from two to 10 inches, the Model FP-REI vertical inline fire pump from American-Marsh Pumps flows up to 5,000 gpm with heads to 500 feet. The unit features back pump out vanes that prohibit materials from building up behind...

Hybrid fire suppression system.(Products)
August 1, 2008... Victaulic Vortex generates a hybrid liquid and gaseous agent delivery system to suppress fire. The system discharges the extinguishing agents in a homogenous suspension from a single outlet and features emitters that operate on less than 25psi...