PM Engineer articles from June 2005

PM Engineer archives from June 2005

More on scalding concern.(PME Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2005... Julius Ballanco's column on domestic hot water in the March 2005 PME was excellent as usual. I wish to add to the last paragraph regarding "other areas where scalding can occur." I am a forensic engineer and have had many cases...

Remembering coal-fired boilers.(PME Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2005... I just read Dan Holohan's Dec. 2004 column, "The Evolution of Boiler Sizing." I was raised on coal-fired boilers in Montana during WWII. As a kid, when I first could drive at age 13, one duty I had was to take the pickup out to Sutters Hill and...

Venting and energy costs.(PME Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2005... To Dan Holohan: Great ideas at ISH regarding ISH NA. I vote for Chicago. I think it is the right place. Regarding Dan's article, "The Fitting," in the Sept. 2004 PME, it was one of the best articles I have ever read regarding heating. I...

Seattle leads 'green' wave in building.(PME News)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... According to an article in the Apr. 22 edition of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Washington has become the first state in the nation to require new prisons, offices, schools, colleges and other publicly funded buildings to meet a national...

MEC seminars qualify for CECs.(PME News)(Modern Engineering Concepts )(continuing education credits )(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... The BNP Media seminar series, Modern Engineering Concepts for Hydronic Heating Design, now qualifies for continuing education credits (Profession Development Hours) in the following states: * Illinois, June 21 * Oregon, July 13 *...

Show off your stuff in PME's design contest.(PME News)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... The PME "2005 Excellence in Design Awards" contest is now accepting entries. Exceptional designs will be judged in the areas of plumbing, piping, hydronics and/or fire protection. Criteria should include: 1. Innovation in design 2....

RPA announces East Coast Radfest seminar.(PME News)(Radiant Panel Association)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... The Radiant Panel Association (RPA) has announced an upcoming Radfest seminar in the Washington, D.C. area. The East Coast Radfest is designed to gather RPA members, contractors, suppliers and reps together to discuss the radiant heating trade....

The Construction Specifications Institute.(News Briefs)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... The Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) certification exams will be offered on July 28, 2005, in conjunction with the North Central Region Conference in Des Moines, IA. For more information, visit www.csinet.org/certification.

Sloan Valve.(employee appraisal)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Sloan Valve recently honored Ren Owen, vice president of business development, with an award recognizing his 40 years of service to the company.

Sun Capital Partners, Inc.(affiliate purchases controlling interest in Crane Plumbing)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Sun Capital Partners, Inc. (SCP), a Boca Raton, FL-based private investment firm, has announced that one of its affiliates has purchased a controlling interest in Crane Plumbing. Reid Beidler will continue as president of Crane and a major...

Technical Concepts, LLC.(appoints Jack Vresics)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Jack Vresics has been named president and CEO of Technical Concepts, LLC (TC), a leading designer and manufacturer of touch-free, automated product systems used for hygiene and odor control in "away-from-home" washrooms.

Tomkins Industries.(appoints Stuart Leigh)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Tomkins Industries, a global engineering group, has appointed Stuart Leigh as the new president of Lasco Bathware. Lasco is a division of Tomkins and is the industry's largest manufacturer of fiberglass and acrylic bath fixtures. In his new...

Final touches on UPC come close--are we adding bombs to a building? It makes no sense for NFPA to pass off a breathing air system to the Plumbing Code.(National Fire Protection Association)(Universal plumbing Code)
June 1, 2005... It is always interesting writing about the IAPMO Plumbing Technical Committee meeting. Not only do I attend, I fully participate, having submitted numerous public comments. In addition, I am a voting member of the Technical Committee,...

An in-depth look at the formulas: code questions are often answered with the question, "What does the book say?" These are a little different.(Fire Protection)
June 1, 2005... Q. I was recently on a survey at an older industrial plant that has an existing pressure tank with a 4-foot diameter. As best as I can determine, it is about 12'6" long with one rounded end. How can I compute the gallon capacity of this tank?...

NSF International: protecting Public Health for more than 60 years.(Public Health Services)
June 1, 2005... In 2004, NSF International celebrated its 60th anniversary as the premier Public Health and Safety Company. What started out as the vision of three professors in the University of Michigan's School of Public Health to improve food and water...

NSF/ANSI Standard 61: getting the lead out of plumbing; NSF Standard 61 was developed to help regulate plumbing products for better control of the leaching of lead into water distribution systems.
June 1, 2005... Over the last 15 years, a regulatory framework has been developed across the U.S. and Canada for controlling the leaching of lead and other contaminants from plumbing and other products used in municipal water distribution systems. This...

NSF/ANSI Standard 14: 40 years of service to the plumbing industry.(National Science Foundation)(American National Standards Institute)
June 1, 2005... In 2005, NSF/ANSI Standard 14: Plastic Piping System Components and Related Materials celebrates 40 years in existence. This standard, first published in October of 1965, was established to create criteria for physical and performance...

Oxidative stability requirements for PEX pipe: NSF addresses the oxidative resistance of PEX piping for hot water use in its P171 Protocol.(Oxidative Resistance Crosslinked Polyethylene pipes)(National Sanitation Foundation)
June 1, 2005... In 2002, ASTM F876, Standard Specification for Cross-linked Polyethylene (PEX) Tubing, was updated to include a requirement for the oxidative stability in potable chlorinated water application. This was based on the test method F2023-03,...

NSF now testing and certifying grease interceptors: a new lab was constructed at NSF to test and certify grease interceptors.(National Science Foundation)(Fat, Oils and Grease)
June 1, 2005... Grease is clogging up our veins and our drains. While doctors prescribe proper diets to prevent large quantities of fat, oils and grease (FOG) from entering our systems, regulatory authorities are prescribing grease interceptors to do the same...

The state of FOG--an Ohio perspective: Ohio authorities are having a hard time sorting out which agency is responsible for enforcing or adopting rules relating to grease interception.(Fats, Oil and Grease)(Department of Commerce's Board of Building Standards )
June 1, 2005... Several individuals, organizations and I have been involved in Fats, Oil & Grease (FOG) control and regulation over the last 30 months or so. While it has been a challenging and interesting period, the state of Ohio's enforcement and adopting...

Getting hot water in a commercial kitchen: when designing commercial kitchens, it is critical to determine exactly how much hot water is needed for the equipment and to maintain high sanitary standards.
June 1, 2005... Hot water is critical to the safe and sanitary operation of a foodservice establishment. In order to take full advantage of the more sophisticated cleaning and sanitizing equipment available, a commercial kitchen must have plenty of hot water....

A simulation model for diverter tee systems: this theoretical performance model can be used for predicting the flow rate in a hydronic branch circuit when using one or two diverter tees.
June 1, 2005... Ask anyone who's been involved in hydronic heating for a few decades if they know what a "Monoflo[R] system" is, and you'll get a familiar nod. Such systems use special fittings called Monoflo tees made by Bell & Gossett. They first appeared in...

Tankless water heater service valves.(Information Showcase)
June 1, 2005... Webstone has revolutionized the method in which tankless water heaters will be installed forever. Its new Isolator EXP service valves are so innovative that they have a patent pending. This valve set contains an inlet and outlet valve that...

IDEAL[R] No-Hub Couplings.(Information Showcase)
June 1, 2005... IDEAL[R] No-Hub Couplings are precision engineered and made with the highest quality tested and certified materials. Available in standard, MD, HD and 12" & 15" designs, our couplings feature a unique bi-directional shield for greater holding...

Bryan BH Series electric boilers.(Information Showcase)(Buyers Guide)
June 1, 2005... Bryan BH Series electric hot water or steam boilers are compact, completely packaged and wired units with automatic controls and featuring long-life Incoloy sheathed elements. Applications include hot water, steam and process heating, and...

Charlotte Pipe and Foundry ChemDrain[TM] Corzan[R] CPVC Chemical Waste Drainage System technical manual.(Information Showcase)(Buyers Guide)
June 1, 2005... Learn more about Charlotte Pipe's new ChemDrain[TM] CPVC Chemical Waste Drainage System, technical specifications and installation requirements in this convenient manual. Charlotte's ChemDrain System offers a safe, durable and economical...

REHAU updates INSULPEX[R] energy transfer piping system.(Information Showcase)
June 1, 2005... REHAU has updated its INSULPEX[R] energy transfer pipe to include 16 ASTM-compliant inch sizes that meet North American standards. More than 50 new EVERLOC[R] fittings complete the program. Engineered for the efficient transfer of hot or...

Anvil offers Gruvlok[R] catalog on CD.(Information Showcase)(Buyers Guide)
June 1, 2005... Anvil International, Inc. offers a complete CD package that includes an interactive full-product Gruvlok[R] catalog along with Gruvlok submittal packages for the mechanical industrial market, an interactive pipe hanger catalog and submittals,...

New ProPress[R] feature introduced by Viega.(Information Showcase)(Buyers Guide)
June 1, 2005... Viega announces a new class of press technology that provides unique visible safety and faster, more secure connections: Smart Connect, the latest ProPress[R] enhancement. It is a patented fitting indentation that ensures against leakage of...

ProPress G[TM] connects copper fuel gas piping quickly and safely.(Information Showcase)
June 1, 2005... Viega and Ridge Tool offer CSA-approved ProPress G[TM], a copper piping system for natural gas, LP gas and fuel oil. Viega's ProPress G 1/2" to 2" copper fittings with an HNBR sealing element are pressed quickly and safely with Ridgid pressing...

Viega introduces Climate Trak[TM].(Information Showcase)(Buyers Guide)
June 1, 2005... Viega's new aluminum Climate Trak[TM] provides excellent radiant heat transfer. Typically used between joists in retrofit applications where existing floors cannot be removed, the Climate Trak has a patented shape that firmly grips Viega's...

Insulated flexible PEX-a pipes from HeatLink.(Information Showcase)(Buyers Guide)
June 1, 2005... MICROFLEX[R] insulated pipelines are available for underground heat supply. Simply dig a trench and lay the flexible PEX-a pipes in at a minimum depth of 60 cms, cover over with fine earth or sand, and connect to a central heating boiler or...

Uponor Wirsbo's mechanical room solution.(Information Showcase)(Buyers Guide)
June 1, 2005... The Wirsbo proPANEL is a mechanical room in a box. Fully assembled, fully wired and fully piped, the Wirsbo proPANEL comfort management system is designed around the functions and capabilities of the Wirsbo pro Series controls. The controls and...

Elkay triples commercial faucet line offering.(Information Showcase)(Buyers Guide)
June 1, 2005... Elkay's comprehensive line of commercial faucets encompasses 17 base models and more than 400 individual stockkeeping units (SKUs)--which are available through select showrooms nationwide. Seventeen "rigorous-use" lavatory and kitchen models...

Stiebel Eltron introduces TEMPRA[TM] water heaters.(Information Showcase)(Buyers Guide)
June 1, 2005... Stiebel Eltron is a world leader in advanced water heating technology. The company has introduced the TEMPRA[TM] line of tankless electric water heaters for whole-house applications. This new line consists of five models, ranging from 12 kW all...

Stainless steel farmer sink.(Information Showcase)(Buyers Guide)
June 1, 2005... Advance Tabco's new large-capacity "Farmer Sink" undermount has a contemporary style that is comfortable in a country setting. This distinctive sink is made of sturdy, commercial grade stainless steel and has a wrap-a-round stainless front...

Dilbert[R].(Take a Break)
June 1, 2005... Units of Measure [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] For all you engineers (and other geniuses) who have difficulty converting units. 1. Ratio of an igloo's circumference to its diameter =...