PM Engineer articles from May 2002

PM Engineer archives from May 2002

Letters.
May 1, 2002... Fill Out the Card Now that you are reading this month's issue of PM Engineer, you must have noticed the card on the front of the magazine. You ignored it? Allow us to tell you the significance of this card. PM Engineer is free to you,...

Now they tell us! Catastrophe causes the EPA to fess up about asbestos. (On the Record).(agency may have overstated danger of asbestos)
May 1, 2002... "The asbestos threat appears to be overrated, and the billions spent on removal projects wasted." So I wrote in April 1990, inspired by a report in the Jan. 1990 edition of Science magazine concluding the health hazard presented by casual...

GSW, Inc. acquires American Water Heater Co. (News).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... GSW, Inc. of Oakville, ON, a manufacturer of water heaters, pumps and building products, has purchased American Water Heater Co. from Southcorp, an Australian company that has divested its holdings in water heater manufacturing companies. ...

Nominations sought for Engineering Firm of the Year. (News).
May 1, 2002... PM Engineer is now accepting nominations for its Engineering Firm of the Year award. The award was established to identify and honor an outstanding plumbing or mechanical engineering company. Six criteria will be used to select what best...

ISH NA announces additional seminars. (News).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Organizers of ISH North America, scheduled to debut Oct. 31-Nov. 2 in Toronto, have developed a conference program featuring 29 speakers, 48 seminars, and two morning kick-off events. Topics covered include plumbing/PVF, hvac/hydronics, kitchen...

The NFPA has announced the election of James M. Shannon. (Appointments).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... The NFPA has announced the election of James M. Shannon as president and chief executive officer of the organization effective June 1, 2002. Shannon will succeed George D. Miller, who will retire after 10 years. The association also promoted...

MIFAB Inc. has appointed Donna Britton. (Appointments).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... MIFAB Inc. has appointed Donna Britton, operations manager, to the new position of vice president of operations.

Ken Clark has been named director of Sales & Marketing for Sunroc's Pressure Division. (Appointments).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Ken Clark has been named director of Sales & Marketing for Sunroc's Pressure Division, and Joe Rabanus was hired as the new northeast regional sales manager.

Thomas O. (Tom) May has been appointed president/CEO of Wolverine Brass Inc. (Appointments).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Thomas O. (Tom) May has been appointed president/CEO of Wolverine Brass Inc. For the past six years, May served as president of Weil-McLain.

Victaulic has named John F. Malloy president and chief operating officer. (Appointments).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Victaulic has named John F. Malloy president and chief operating officer. Malloy was also elected to the board of directors.

Rheem Water Heaters has promoted David R. Martin. (Appointments).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Rheem Water Heaters has promoted David R. Martin to vice president, marketing.

Spiers and Waltz announced that Angel Gray. (Appointments).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Spiers and Waltz announced that Angel Gray has joined the firm as an electrical designer.

Briggs has named Greg Carlson president and CEO. (Appointments).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Briggs has named Greg Carlson president and CEO. He replaced Dan Umbs, who resigned to pursue personal interests in the Northeast where his family resides.

Symmons Industries has appointed Michael Davidson. (Appointments).(regional manager)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Symmons Industries has appointed Michael Davidson regional manager for its southeastern region.

Flomatic Valves has promoted Nick Farrara. (Appointments).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Flomatic Valves has promoted Nick Farrara from field sales manager to national sales manager.

David C. Ernst, director of strategy and business development for ProQuest/Bell & Howell. (Appointments).(appointments, Watts Radiant, U.S.)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... David C. Ernst, director of strategy and business development for ProQuest/Bell & Howell, Publication Services, has been named to the Board of Directors at Watts Radiant. Watts also announced the naming of Doug White to group vice president;...

Jorge Solorio has joined the Flow-Guard Gold plumbing systems. (Appointments).(U.S.)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Jorge Solorio has joined the Flow-Guard Gold plumbing systems national sales team as a piping systems consultant.

Syska Hennessy Group has named Philip Trinh. (Appointments).(U.S.)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Syska Hennessy Group has named Philip Trinh, P.E., to senior vice president.

John G. Lowe has joined Vanderweil Engineers. (Appointments).(U.S.)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... John G. Lowe has joined Vanderweil Engineers as executive director of client relations.

Protection Knowledge Concepts, Inc., a subsidiary of The Rolf Jensen & Associates Group, Inc. (News Briefs).(introduces firestopping video tape series, U.S.)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Protection Knowledge Concepts, Inc., a subsidiary of The Rolf Jensen & Associates Group, Inc., has introduced a four-tape video series on "The Basics of Firestop Systems." The program is designed to provide basic knowledge of firestopping...

NFPA and ASHRAE have announced an agreement to partner on an energy code. (News Briefs).(National Fire Protection Association)(American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers)(U.S.)(Abstract)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... NFPA and ASHRAE have announced an agreement to partner on an energy code. The code will incorporate ASHRAE's widely used energy standards, Standard 90.1 and 90.2, and reflect any updates or addenda to those standards. The code will apply to all...

Watts Industries has agreed to form a joint venture with the Yuhuan County Cheng Guan Metal Hose Factory. (News Briefs).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 1, 2002... Watts Industries has agreed to form a joint venture with the Yuhuan County Cheng Guan Metal Hose Factory located in Taizhou, Zhejiang Province of the Peoples Republic of China. Cheng Guan, with annual sales of approximately $13 million, is a...

The RJA Group, Inc. has announced a Memorandum of Understanding with the Institute of Building Fire Research. (News Briefs).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... The RJA Group, Inc. has announced a Memorandum of Understanding with the Institute of Building Fire Research of the China Fire Academy of Building Research (CABR) on the sharing of knowledge and technical services. The MOU allows The RJA Group...

The Michigan Department of Consumer & Industry Services (CIS) presented the Brass Craft Manufacturing Co.'s Brownstown plant. (News Briefs).(awards, U.S.)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... The Michigan Department of Consumer & Industry Services (CIS) presented the Brass Craft Manufacturing Co.'s Brownstown plant, a Masco Corp. subsidiary, with the Silver Award for outstanding safety and health achievement. CIS also awarded the...

The Gorman-Rupp Co. has announced the merger of Flo-Pak, Inc. (News Briefs).(with Patterson Pump Co., Toccoa, Georgia, U.S.)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... The Gorman-Rupp Co. has announced the merger of Flo-Pak, Inc. of Atlanta, GA, with Patterson Pump Co., Toccoa, GA, a Wholly-owned subsidiary of The Gorman-Rupp Co. Packaged pumping stations, produced by Flo-Pak, Inc. for the hvac, fire,...

Governor George E. Pataki announced that the State of New York has formally adopted the International Codes[TM]. (News Briefs).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Governor George E. Pataki announced that the State of New York has formally adopted the International Codes[TM]. It is anticipated that the newly adopted State Fire Prevention and Building Code may be used beginning July 2002.

Turner Construction Co. (News Briefs).(celebrating its 100th anniversary this year)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Turner Construction Co., based in New York City, announced that it is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. Turner is the major subsidiary of The Turner Corporation, Dallas, a leading general builder in the industry.

Crane Valves' technical paper TP-410. (Internet News).(is available online)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Crane Valves' technical paper TP-410, Flow of Fluids Through Valves, Fittings and Pipe, originally developed in 1942, is now available online, along with Flow of Fluids software, via www.vervante.com/crane/.

Several manufacturers have announced the launching of newly redesigned Web sites. (Internet News).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Several manufacturers have announced the launching of newly redesigned Web sites, including Haws Corp. at www.hawsco.com, Charlotte Pipe and Foundry at www.charlottepipe.com, Bradley Corp. at www.bradleycorp.com and Clampco Products Inc. at...

Plenty of IAPMO comments. (Codes).(plumbing code, International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials)(Brief Article)(Column)
May 1, 2002... As we continue with the IAPMO development of a consensus plumbing code, one of the questions asked is, "How many people are going to comment on the proposed changes?" The answer is, "Lots!" With the publication of the comments on the...

World news notices: here are some fire protection-related news items gathered from around the world. (Fire Protection).(Statistical Data Included)
May 1, 2002... Sacramento, CA--Legislation has been passed in California that will more stringently regulate mattress and box spring fire safety requirements. Governor Gray Davis signed into law the new regulation, which will take effect on January 1, 2004....

The two faces of government: can governmental policy, like the Roman god Janus, face both ways at once? (Thoughts from Abroad).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... In this column over the past two years, the vagaries of the U.K. governmental approach to research funding and the problems of industry/university collaboration on research have been mentioned on several occasions. The completion and...

Multi-purpose piping in townhouses: designing a sprinkler system for a townhouse project afforded one engineer the chance to compare multipurpose sprinkler piping.
May 1, 2002... One of the changes in sprinkler requirements occurred with three-story townhouses. Most building codes, including the International Building Code, require residential structures more than two stories in height to be protected with automatic...

Isolation, containment and grease separators: old thinking is new again.
May 1, 2002... Through the use of isolation and containment devices, commercial kitchens are able to reconcile the need for grease removal both inside and outside of the facility. Grease separator usage originally was driven by plumbing code language...

Automizer coil piping package. (Product Focus: Hydronic Controls).(advertisement)
May 1, 2002... When balancing valves are specified for fan coil units, save time and money with Automizer hydronic packages, combining the Automatic Flow Limit Control, Temperature Control and Strainer into one multifunction package whose footprint is small...

ThermalLock Modular Plastic Manifold. (Product Focus: Hydronic Controls).(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
May 1, 2002... RTI has released the ThermalLock Modular Plastic Manifold for distribution and control of hydronic radiant heating systems. ThermalLock's unique modular design provides complete configuration flexibility. Valving is supplied on both the supply...

Smart modular boiler control. (Product Focus: Hydronic Controls).(advertisement)
May 1, 2002... The SC2000 modular boiler control from Slant/Fin uses computer logic to match system output to building heating requirements. The control step-fires additional boiler modules as needed, based on outdoor temperature, system supply water...

Boiler Reset Controls. (Product Focus: Hydronic Controls).(advertisement)
May 1, 2002... Tacos PC700 Series of Add-On Power Controls, including the PC702, provide complete system control and monitoring by regulating the supply water temperature of a heating system based on outdoor temperature. The PC702 is a Two-Stage Boiler Reset...

Boiler/Water heater control. (Product Focus: Hydronic Controls).(advertisement)
May 1, 2002... Laars Heating Systems has introduced the Laars Logic System (LLS) controller. The LLS is a solid-state boiler/water heater control with complete diagnostics and user-programmable options. The LLS features a liquid crystal display of temperature...

Boiler Energy Saver. (Product Focus: Hydronic Controls).(from Watts Regulator Co.)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Watts Regulator Company has introduced the Boiler Energy Saver (BES). The Boiler Energy Saver reduces energy costs by automatically monitoring and adjusting residential hydronic boiler water temperature. Lowering boiler water temperature during...

Heating Controls and zoning systems. (Product Focus: Hydronic Controls).(advertisement)
May 1, 2002... With the introduction of an enhanced radiant heating product line, Stadler-Viega has debuted a full-featured hydronic control offering. A choice of Basic or Advanced Heating Controls and zoning systems offers easy install and outdoor reset...

Zone control panels. (Product Focus: Hydronic Controls).(advertisement)
May 1, 2002... The Danfoss ZCP system is a totally pre-engineered system that provides a prefabricated module at a fixed cost. Using accepted engineering principles for hydronic heating systems, Danfoss produces pre-wired, 100% tested modules man ISO 9001 &...

Thermostatic valves and zone controls. (Product Focus: Hydronic Controls).(advertisement)
May 1, 2002... Honeywell Water Controls Div. offers a broad range of mixing valves, air vents, zone valves and flow control products. SparcoMix anti-scald thermostatic valve? meet both ASSE 1016 and 1017 and IAPMO codes, and feature a Teflon inner, coating....

Snow Detector & Melting Control. (Product Focus: Hydronic Controls).(advertisement)
May 1, 2002... The Snow Detector & Melting Control 664 from tekmar is designed to control a two-zone snowmelting system with two boilers To provide slab and boiler, protection, the 664 can use either a variable speed injection pump, a floating action mixing...

Take a Break.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Dilbert[R] Engineer Identification Test You walk into a room and notice that a picture is hanging crookedly. You... a) Straighten it. b) Ignore it. c) Buy a CAD system and spend the next six months designing a...

Lochinvar Corp. announced that all Lochinvar fan-assisted copper products have been certified. (Internet News).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Lochinvar Corp. announced that all Lochinvar fan-assisted copper products have been certified to comply with the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission statewide NOx emission limits, Chapter 117, Rule Log No. 1999-0551-117-AI.

ZweigWhite announced that its AEC Internet Strategies 2002 information technology and e-business. (Internet News).
May 1, 2002... ZweigWhite announced that its AEC Internet Strategies 2002 information technology and e-business summit will be held in conjunction with the A/E/C Systems 2002 trade show in Anaheim, CA, June 4. For more information or to register, call (800)...

Ecoflex has realized its quest for official recognition with ASTM. (Internet News).(American Society for Testing and Materials)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Ecoflex has realized its quest for official recognition with ASTM approval of new Standard Specification F 2165 for Flexible Pre-Insulated Piping, which describes how the carrier pipe, insulation and outer jacket function as a system. ASTM also...