PM Engineer articles from May 2003

PM Engineer archives from May 2003

Letters.(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2003... Materials and Codes How many of you ever think about how the material approval process works? Who is involved in the submitting and approval of the materials permitted for installation in the plumbing systems we design? I imagine that each...

PMI survey uncovers Internet habits of specifier, contractor and supplier. (News).(Plumbing Manufacturers Institute)
May 1, 2003... PM Engineer, PM and Supply House Times recently helped the Plumbing Manufacturers Institute to analyze the Internet habits among players in the traditional channel of distribution. Last year, we sent a survey to 1,000 randomly selected readers...

Four more groups endorse ISH North America. (News).(International Sanitation and Heating trade show)
May 1, 2003... ISH North America show organizers have announced that four additional professional trade organizations have lent their group's endorsement to the ISH North America trade show and its continuing efforts of show consolidation in the Kitchen &...

ASPE opposes ANSI accreditation of UPC: ASPE has filed a comment with ANSI to oppose the accreditation of the Uniform Plumbing Code, which it considers to be a flawed document. (Codes).(American Society of Plumbing Engineers files comment with American National Standards Institute)
May 1, 2003... In a very bold move, ASPE filed a comment with ANSI opposing the accreditation of the Uniform Plumbing Code. This step is rather unique since the ANSI procedures have no formal means of commenting on the accreditation of a standard until the...

A tale of two nightclubs: Mark examines the circumstances that led to the recent fire at the Station nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island. (Fire Protection).
May 1, 2003... You'd have to go back over 10 years to the Happy Land Social Club fire on March 25, 1990, (New York City, 87 deaths) to find the last nightclub fire in the U.S. that even approached the scale of the horrific tragedy that took place last...

PME/Viega ISH tourists have a grand time. (News).(International Sanitation and Heating trade show)
May 1, 2003... Warm weather and plenty of cold beer made it a pleasant journey for more than 30 travelers who spent a week in Germany March 23-30. The 2003 ISH Trip tour, co-sponsored by PME and the German fittings manufacturer Viega Pro-Press, paid a visit...

Inventors 'R' us: John introduces a new positive air pressure attenuator to the American engineering community. (Though from Abroad).(Column)
May 1, 2003... This column has always advocated innovative solutions to design problems, whether likely to achieve instant standards approval or not. In order to move our profession forward, it is essential that we are open to persuasion and willing to accept...

Victaulic Co. (Appointments).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Victaulic Co. of Canada has named Gary Moore president. He had been vp and general manager for the company. Also, Victaulic of Canada has named Baljit Virdee VP, foundry operations.

Plumbing Manufacturers Institute (PMI). (Appointments).(members elected to the Executive Committee and Board of Directors)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... The following individuals have been elected to the 2003 Plumbing Manufacturers Institute (PMI) Executive Committee and Board of Directors: President Ralph Herrbach, Cifial USA; First Vice President Jim Westdorp, Kohler Co.; Second Vice...

Syska Hennessy Group. (Appointments).(New York senior vice president and vice president announcements)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Syska Hennessy Group has named Richard A. Fincher, Brittany Dianat and Michael Rozenbium, P.E., senior vice presidents, while Kenneth Klein, P.E., and Keith Fitzpatrick, P.E., have been named vice presidents of the firm's New York office. The...

CSA International. (Appointments).(George Gruss Certification Services director)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... CSA International has appointed George Gruss to director, Certification Services, U.S. Operations, overseeing responsibility for gas-fired, electric and plumbing product certification services provided by CSA's Cleveland, OH, and Irvine, CA,...

HVAC. (Appointments).(Wilbur Kranz retires)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Wilbur "Bil" Kranz, CEO of Utility, is retiring. The manufacturer of plumbing, HVAC, sanitation and janitorial chemical compounds was started by Kranz and his late partner, Peter Tofte in 1971.

The Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co. (Appointments).(David Asplund )(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... David L. Asplund, P.E., has been promoted to regional manager of The Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co.'s Chicago Branch.

In Memoriam.(Jay R. Smith and Lee Martin)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
May 1, 2003... Jay R. Smith, chairman of the board and former president of Jay R. Smith Mfg. Co. from 1942 to 1978, died of natural causes at his home in West Palm Beach, FL, on Friday, March 28,2003. He was 92 years old. Smith's legacy lives on with his...

Changing standards for residential sprinklers: recent changes to the national residential sprinkler standards have required manufacturers to develop an entirely new line of sprinklers.
May 1, 2003... Due to changes in the national residential sprinkler standards, the residential market is now more demanding, needing not only an effective sprinkler usually dedicated to a smaller space, but a sprinlder that is subtle and coheres to the...

An overview of Hospitality fixtures.
May 1, 2003... Fixtures are fixtures...and they're not. All plumbing fixtures, whether destined for residential or commercial use, must meet the design, dimensional and functional requirements of ASME/ANSI A112.19.2M. Since the implementation of the Energy...

Process piping and the codes.
May 1, 2003... The term "process piping" generally refers to piping systems that convey chemicals under pressure or vacuum. It also is used to describe utility piping systems that are used in, or in support of, a chemical process, such as plant water. Also,...

Political Detours on the road to construction code acceptance.(use of plastic pipes in New York and California)
May 1, 2003... The decision to include or eliminate a building material in the building code may be argued on its virtues, environmental impact and health issues; in reality, it's more likely a case of political clout. The role of politics regarding the...

Vanguard hydronic radiant heating products. (Product Focus: Hydronic Manifolds).
May 1, 2003... Vanguard provides a full spectrum of products for comfortable, clean, hydronic radiant heating systems. Regardless of the complexity of the application, Vanguard can provide a suitable solution. Vanguard offers a full array of manifolds, plus...

Zurn QickZone manifold. (Product Focus: Hydronic Manifolds).
May 1, 2003... The Zurn QickZone manifold is centered around its fully modular supply and return outlets, Its brass construction greatly reduces expansion and contraction difficulties associated with non-brass heating manifolds, It features reliable and...

REHAU pro-balance[TM] manifold. (Product Focus: Hydronic Manifolds).
May 1, 2003... REHAU provides the pre-assembled PRO-BALANCE brass balancing manifold with gauges for use in hydronic radiant floor heating (RFH) and snow and ice melt (SIM) systems. Available with two to 12 outlets, REHAU's PROBALANCE is installation-ready....

Uponor Wirsbo TruFLOW[TM] Manifolds for radiant systems. (Product Focus: Hydronic Manifolds).
May 1, 2003... Uponor Wirsbo has introduced the preassembled TruFLOW Manifold system, Contractors simply remove the manifold from the box and mount it on the wall. Made of extruded brass, the manifold's high-flow capacity handles up to 12-loop configurations....

Sioux Chief copper manifolds. (Product Focus: Hydronic Manifolds).
May 1, 2003... Sioux Chief offers a full line of copper PEX manifolds for hydronic systems. Trunk connection options include 3/4" PEX, 3/4" and 1" female and male sweat, or spun closed. Branch connections include 3/8" and 1/2" PEX, ball valve, 1/2" MIP, 3/4"...

RTI ThermalLock Modular Plastic Manifold. (Product Focus: Hydronic Manifolds).
May 1, 2003... RTI PEX Piping Systems offers 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...

Watts Radiant Dumser manifolds. (Product Focus: Hydronic Manifolds).
May 1, 2003... For no-compromise installations, Watts Radiant offers the Germancrafted stainless steel radiant heat manifolds by Dumser. The manifolds are constructed of heavy-walled, DIN standard stainless steel tubing from Germany. All seams are robotically...

Stadler-Viega hydronic manifolds. (Product Focus: Hydronic Manifolds).
May 1, 2003... Stadler-Viega offers both 1" and 1 1/2" diameter solid brass supply and return manifolds, They are provided with 6 5/8" spacing brackets for compact remote mounting. The 1" manifold can be attached easily to the Stadler-Viega Injection Station...

New high-output Slant/Fin baseboard. (Product Focus: Hydronic Manifolds).
May 1, 2003... The output, size and strength of new Slant/Fin Baseline 70 baseboard make it ideal for multi-family housing, light commercial and high-output residential heating applications. Its economy price makes Base-line 70 particularly suited for highly...

Heatlink modular plastic manifolds. (Product Focus: Hydronic Manifolds).
May 1, 2003... Heatlink USA offers the TwistSeal[TM] manifold in a 22 gpm high capacity model for commercial construction and snowmelting, and the TwistSeal Mini, an 11 gpm version for residential and light commercial construction. Features include patented...