PM Engineer articles from January 2003

PM Engineer archives from January 2003

Letters.
January 1, 2003... More to Say on Fire Suppression Agents We saw a discussion in the PME Letters "Technical Q&A" section of the October issue regarding fire suppression agents. As the manufacturer of FM-200(r), we would like to add to the information offered...

NFPA 5000--building safety for years to come. (Sound Off).
January 1, 2003... In response to an opinion piece that ran in October in this space, NFPA's executive vice president presents his opinion on the industry consensus process and the importance of NFPA's new building code. Editor's Note: We offer "Sound Off"...

Geberits Chicago Faucet Co. acquires WC Technology Corp. (News).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... The Chicago Faucet Co. has acquired W/C Technology Corp. (WCTC) from Masco Corp. Based in Farmington Hills, MI, WCTC is a development and sales company specializing in pressure tank technology for toilet flushing, with annual sales of around $3...

Researchers produce strong copper that retains ductility. (News).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Engineers at The Johns Hopkins University announced that they have produced a form of pure copper metal that is six times stronger than normal, with no significant loss of ductility. The achievement, reported in the Oct. 31 issue of the journal...

Copper Development Association celebrates 75th anniversary of copper plumbing. (News).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... The Copper Development Association (CDA) has announced a nationwide search to determine the oldest copper plumbing installation to commemorate the 75th anniversary of copper plumbing. To commemorate the anniversary, CDA is holding a...

The Radiant Panel Association (RPA). (News Briefs).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... The Radiant Panel Association (RPA) has announced that it will offer certification testing for radiant system designers and installers at AHR Expo 2003 in Chicago on Tuesday, Jan. 28. Pre-registration for the RPA Certification Exam is required...

Elkay Manufacturing Co. (News Briefs).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... The Elkay Division of Elkay Manufacturing Co. has announced that it has achieved certification to ISO 9001:2001 standards for total quality management. The certification includes the division's seven domestic plants and distribution center, as...

Willoughby Industries, Inc. (News Briefs).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Willoughby Industries, Inc., has appointed A&W Sales, LTD, to represent the company's line of stainless steel and solid surface plumbing fixtures in Indiana.

Watts Regulator Co. (News Briefs).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Watts Regulator Co. has made available selected reprints from the 2000 International Plumbing Code, 2000 Uniform Plumbing Code and 2000 National Standard Plumbing Code. Each code book reprint includes selected code sections and the Watts...

In memoriam.(Thomas P. Konen)(Brief Article)(Obituary)(Biography)
January 1, 2003... Thomas P. Konen, 66, died of a brain aneurysm Dec. 17 at the Somerset Medical Center, Somerville, NJ. He was a research professor at Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ, and a professional engineer. Active in national and international...

IAPMO consensus--not yet: the IAPMO/NFPA consensus process differs greatly from the ANSI process, with some disappointing results. (Codes).
January 1, 2003... I have been involved in the ANSI consensus process for 25 years. It has been an interesting journey. Like most engineers, I like the consensus process because it is based on the technical merits of an issue. Politics are supposed to be put...

What's good (and what needs a little work). (Fire Protection).
January 1, 2003... Engineers need to promote the use of fire sprinklers more diligently in all areas of residential, commercial, healthcare and educational facility design. Conventional wisdom tells us that the present state of fire protection engineering...

Code committees--gatekeepers or pathfinders? Engineers must be aware of the dangers of not recognizing and nurturing innovation, even if it conflicts with pre-conceived conceptions. (Thoughts from Abroad).
January 1, 2003... Progress requires innovation to be recognized and accepted. History is full of examples of venerable committees who refused to accept new paradigms simply because those departures conflicted with their pre-conceptions of what was or could be...

10 things to avoid when designing hydronic heating systems: there is room for improvement in how engineers design hydronic heating systems.
January 1, 2003... It never ceases to amaze me how much there is to know about hydronic heating. I've been at it for 25 years, and still come across little nuances that when ignored can bring a system that is 99.9% correctly designed and installed to a virtual...

Stuff--a guide to through penetration firestop systems: a review of firestop materials, methods, ratings, requirements and applications.
January 1, 2003... Forty years ago, when I started practicing engineering, through penetration firestops were very simple. Once the opening through the fire barrier was made, and the pipe or other item was installed, the annular space was "stuffed" with a...

Don't neglect boiler protection in you next system design! This article examines the factors that lead to premature boiler failure, and presents some practical solutions.
January 1, 2003... Many articles have been written over the last decade about various hydronic system designs. The focus has almost always been on the load and delivery design characteristics. Very little attention has been given to the source of energy...the...

LoadMatch circulator.
January 1, 2003... Mechanical Specification Furnish and install in-line wet rotor circulator as shown on the plans. Circulator shall be Taco Load-Match[R] circulator or approved equal. The circulator shall be repairable in-line without removal of the...

Injection mixing control panel.
January 1, 2003... * 2- 10 loops * 1" supply manifold with on/off valves * 1" return manifold with balancing valves and flow rate indicators * WarmRite variable speed control * Outdoor sensor * Universal sensors * secondary circulator...

Tyco Fire Products LFII Sprinkler meets new UL listings.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... As in nature, adaptation is the key to providing the best in residential fire-protection technology. As demand has increased, new standards have been set and Tyco Fire & Building Products has adapted in the form of "low flowing", LFII,...

Multiple Boiler Controls.
January 1, 2003... This past fall, tekmar Control Systems introduced two new boiler-staging controls the 264 and 268. These controls are for 4 stages and 9 stages respectively. The controls can operate 1, 2, 3 or 4 stage on / off boilers. Large, easy to read...

The Gastite system is the solution.
January 1, 2003... Gastite XR Fitting, XRFTG Titeflex Corporation 603 Hendee Street P.O. Box 90054 Springfield, MA 01139-0054 Telephone 413-739-5631 Facsimile 413-739-7325 www.gastite.com Descripion (Sample Specification...

Halsey Taylor Contour series. (Product Focus Water Coolers).
January 1, 2003... Halsey Taylor's Contour Series has been expanded to include the new HCRFER-Q water cooler. Designed specifically to meet the requirements of ADA for children, the HCRFER-Q features softly rounded corners, for a safer and more attractive water...

Sunroc ADA-compliant water coolers. (Product Focus Water Coolers).
January 1, 2003... Sunroc Corp. has the industry's only child and adult ADA-compliant water coolers. with 304 stainless steel tops. Options for the series include an ANSI/ADA-compliant skirt that meets both the blind accessibility requirements and Texas...

Elkay EZ water cooler. (Product Focus Water Coolers).
January 1, 2003... Elkay's "EZ" water cooler line includes 19 models which can be installed to meet adult and child ADA accessibility guidelines, and to comply with the entire ANSI/NSF 61, Section 9 standard. Other features include a removable, one-piece lower...

Centrifugal Pumps. (ASPE Product Overview).
January 1, 2003... Grundfos has announced the expansion of its CR series of centrifugal pumps. With the release of the CR 1s, 1, 3, and 5, the CR range has been supplemented with new sizes and a narrower interval between sizes, as well as technology and...

Pre-assembled sewage system with alarms. (Product Focus Water Coolers).
January 1, 2003... Liberty Pumps has added alarm options to its 370 series sewage package. The alarm feature offers the added protection of early warning in the event of pump failure. When ordered with the alarm option, Liberty pre-mounts the alarm float at the...

Wall hydrants. (Product Focus Water Coolers).
January 1, 2003... MIFAB has introduced its MHY-40 and MHY-45 (encased version) series of hot and cold mixing wall hydrants. The MHY-40 and -45 series are nonfreeze, heavy-duty hot and cold mixing hydrants for commercial applications. Fully vacuum breaker...

Deluge and flow control valves. (Product Focus Water Coolers).
January 1, 2003... Viking now offers straight-through deluge and flow control valves in 4", 6" and 8" nominal sizes. UL listed and FM approved, Viking's new valves feature grooved inlets and outlets. They are compatible with Viking's EZ or Conventional trim and...

Patient Care Unit. (Product Focus Water Coolers).
January 1, 2003... Willoughby Industries, Inc., has expanded its product line with four new products for patient care, including the WH1700 Series. The standard WH1700 module Patient Care Unit is free standing and includes a 304 stainless steel welded cabinet...

Test for design engineers. (Take a Break).
January 1, 2003... You have two hours to complete this exam. Read each question carefully. Answer every question. Begin immediately. Math: Derive a set of differential equations for effects of gravity, inertia, temperature, photon bombardment and precessional...