PM Engineer articles from May 2005

PM Engineer archives from May 2005

New information regarding fire pumps.(PME Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2005... I just read with interest the article, "Zoning of High-Rise Fire Protection Systems," by Matthew Roy of S. A. Armstrong, Ltd. in the March 2005 issue. I found this article both timely and informative, especially since many of the points covered...

Praise for PME.(PME Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2005... I just received the March 2005 edition of PM Engineer. This is one of the best and most informative magazines I have seen. It is filled with great articles. It seems as though you can tell what I am thinking about next. The articles are great,...

Sunroc to close permanently in June.(PME News)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Sunroc Corp., which less than two years ago reported annual sales in excess of $50 million, announced that it will close permanently June 30. The statement followed a March 1 announcement by company CEO Anthony Salamone that Sunroc would...

10 education tracks highlight NFPA World Safety Conference & Exposition[R].(PME News)(National Fire Protection Association)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... The 2005 World Safety Conference & Exposition[R] of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) will open June 6 in Las Vegas, NV, with a keynote performance by Regis Philbin. Best known as the co-host of "Live with Regis and Kelly" and...

UL testing of large drop sprinklers completed.(PME News)(Underwriters Laboratories Inc.)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... In a report from Viking, Factory Mutual (FM) has suspended its approval of all manufacturers' large drop fire sprinklers. In accordance with this action by FM, all manufacturers, including Viking, immediately ceased production of large drop...

Show off your stuff in PME's design contest.(PME News)
May 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....

Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors--National Association (PHCC).(News Briefs)(American Supply Association)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... The American Supply Association (ASA) and the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors--National Association (PHCC) announced plans to co-produce Network 05 Sept. 7-10 in Orlando at the Disney Swan and Dolphin Hotels. Network 05 will combine both...

Noveon, Inc.(News Briefs)(BlazeMaster CPVC and FlexHead)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Noveon, Inc., producer of BlazeMaster[R] CPVC, and FlexHead[R] Industries, inventor and patent holder of flexible sprinkler connection systems, have entered into an exclusive co-marketing agreement promoting the use of an innovative fire...

Charles J. Lafferty.(In Memorium)(Pennsylvania Machine Works and Texas PMW)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
May 1, 2005... Charles J. Lafferty, Sr., 78, died March 28 in Delaware County, PA. Lafferty, a World War II veteran in the Merchant Marines, was the co-owner and former president of both Pennsylvania Machine Works and Texas PMW, known in the industry as Penn...

Ralph McDonnell.(In Memorium)
May 1, 2005... Ralph McDonnell, a partner in Westmark Enterprises Inc. passed away on March 31, 2005, from cancer. McDonnell was 59. Along with Roger Peterson, he was one of the founding partners of Westmark, a successful manufacturers' representative agency...

T & S Brass and Bronze Works.(Appointments)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... T & S Brass and Bronze Works announced that Ken Gallagher has been promoted to director of sales; Linda Seigler has been promoted to national sales manager; and Bill Stella has been hired as international sales manager.

Watts Water Technologies, Inc.(Appointments)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Kris Munson has joined Watts Water Technologies, Inc., in the position of national marketing manager--Backflow Products. In addition, the company appointed Jackie McCormick to the position of associate marketing manager for Watts Regulator.

FlowGuard Gold[R] plumbing systems national sales team.(Appointments)
May 1, 2005... Mark E. Lemire of Lecanto, FL, and Chris Spencer of Lake Mary, FL, have joined the FlowGuard Gold[R] plumbing systems national sales team as piping systems consultants.

Laughter & applause.(Guest Editorial)
May 1, 2005... PME may be the only engineering publication in the world with a sense of humor. I'm referring to the "Take a Break" section that periodically fills the last page of this magazine. It's been around since 1997, when I began a two-year stint as...

ASPE's One Code Summit.(Codes)(American Society of Plumbing Engineers)(Column)
May 1, 2005... On May 20, 2005, ASPE will be sponsoring a One Code Summit at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Rosemont, IL, just outside of O'Hare Airport. Everyone is invited to attend this summit. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The concept of the One Code Summit...

Tips to avoid getting burned.(Fire Protection)(Interview)
May 1, 2005... As a result of the increased fire protection awareness that has steadily reduced the fire fatality rate in this country, the rate of reportable burn injuries has dropped from 10 to 4.2 per 10,000 people since 1991. Nevertheless, over one...

Back to Basics: fire protection; What lies beneath; Here are the basic requirements for designing underground piping to supply fire sprinkler systems in commercial buildings.(Cover Story)(Column)
May 1, 2005... Editor's Note: "Back to Basics" is a column that will run periodically in PME reviewing the basic principles of plumbing engineering. It would be a fabulous understatement to say to someone that the private water main supplying a fire...

Water hammer arresters: sizing and placement; Here's a review of the steps for sizing and placement of a water hammer arrester in a plumbing system.
May 1, 2005... There have been various methods devised for the sizing of water hammer arresters. These methods have created confusion regarding the proper sizing and location of water hammer arresters among engineers, contractors, and other persons engaged in...

Unique radiant: the go anywhere, do anything heat form; Radiant heating systems offer designers a chance to design a "work of art" on a grand scale.
May 1, 2005... Radiant heat is the plumbing and mechanical industry's highest life form. Let's face it--there's no other system that offers so much in terms of comfort, efficiency and flexibility. When architects, builders or building owners state their...

Mule Creek Junction: a tale of toilet technology; As water becomes more scarce, engineers are turning to composting toilets for installation in a variety of commercial applications.
May 1, 2005... At the gateway to South Dakota's Black Hills, on the intersection of U.S. 18 and U.S. 85 in Wyoming, sits the Mule Creek Junction Rest Area. Originally constructed in 1985, this rural rest spot serves a variety of travelers: long-haul truckers,...

Top 10 products of 2004.
May 1, 2005... Here are the products run in PME throughout the year 2004 that received the most attention from our readers, according to the number of reader inquiries we received after they appeared. In case you missed the opportunity the first time around,...

Prime-Eze[R] water saver trap primer.(PME Product Focus: Trap Seal Primers)(Buyers Guide)
May 1, 2005... Jay R. Smith Mfg. Co.'s Prime-Eze[R] water saver trap primer utilizes the temporary "head" of the wastewater in the P-trap that occurs during use of certain plumbing fixtures like lavatories and drinking fountains. This temporary head of water...

Series A200 trap primer.(PME Product Focus: Trap Seal Primers)(Buyers Guide)
May 1, 2005... The Watts A200 features a unique new design that assures delivery of water to the trap to prevent the evaporation of the water seal. The design allows for a complete flow cycle through the valve from open to close that will actuate the primer...

Pressure drop activated trap seal primer.(PME Product Focus: Trap Seal Primers)(Buyers Guide)
May 1, 2005... MIFAB's M-500 Series of pressure drop activated trap seal primers deliver water when line pressure changes as little as 3 psi. This is a key benefit given today's fixtures that use less water with a lower pressure drop. An accessible filter...

Air/dirt separator.(PME Products)(Buyers Guide)
May 1, 2005... Spirotherm, Inc. offers Spirovent[R] combination air/dirt separators for hot, chilled and condenser water systems. Available through 36-inch pipe, Spirovent separators will handle flows up to 30,500 gpm. The patented coalescing/barrier medium...

Battery-powered flushing system.(PME Products)(Buyers Guide)
May 1, 2005... This automatic flush valve from Hydrotek offers proven reliability as well as quick and easy installation. Features include: solid brass construction; superior piston flushing mechanism; manual-mechanical override; self-cleaning fine mesh...

Valves.(PME Products)(Buyers Guide)
May 1, 2005... Webstone has announced a full line of professional valves designed to eliminate leak paths as well as the need for additional tees, drains or unions. These forged brass valves include features like full-port quarter-turn drains, built-in tees,...

Tankless water heaters.(PME Products)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Eemax, a leading manufacturer of electric tankless water heaters, has announced its complete collection of ANSI Z358.1 compliant water heaters. These products are specifically designed to provide unlimited "tepid" (60-95[degrees]F) water for...

So you think you know everything?(Take a Break)
May 1, 2005... As a result of some recent letters informing us that our facts were incorrect on the Take a Break page, we've found an entry on the Internet that dispels some of these not-so-true factoids. A cat has 32 muscles in each ear. FALSE. A...