PM Engineer articles from October 2003

PM Engineer archives from October 2003

All codes need continuous improvement.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2003... The letters in the July 2003 PME from Scott Steindler (CA uses the IAPMO Codes) and Russ Chaney (IAPMO executive director) appear to be biased towards IAPMO. Mr. Steindler does not appear to have taken the time to investigate and analyze the...

In defense of ICC-ES.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2003... Julius Ballanco's July PME column, "Model Code Listings--IAPMO Is the Leader," attempted to compare the IAPMO listing program with the former model building code evaluation report programs and the newly conceived ICC-ES program. It is like...

MIC and Sprinkler Systems.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2003... The article published in the June 2003 PME by Mark Bromann, "Forecasting the Lifespan of a Sprinkler System," pertaining to the detrimental effects of corrosion in metal sprinkler systems was very thorough and informative. However, we feel it...

Looking at engineering history.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2003... I always enjoy Dan Holohan's articles and can relate to many of his tales. The article in the August 2003 issue, "Doctor Bob's Radiator," brought back old memories. I recently retired after 40 years in a mechanical design/consulting office and...

Second edition of Siegenthaler's Modern Hydronic Heating text released.(News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... PME contributor John Siegenthaler has completed the second edition of his text, Modern Hydronic Heating. In addition to the fundamentals, the second edition includes detailed coverage of contemporary hydronic heating topics such as: radiant...

IAPMO/WPC announce symposium examining SARS connection to plumbing systems.(News)(International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials)(World Plumbing Council)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... The IAPMO Group and the World Plumbing Council (WPC) will host a two-day international symposium on Feb. 11-12, 2004, in Los Angeles, CA, exploring the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in relation to plumbing system design....

NFPA Fall Education Conference to focus on homeland security.(News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... The 2003 Fall Education Conference of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), to be held Nov. 16-19 at the Reno Hilton in Reno, NV, will focus on homeland security, to guide professionals in fire service, engineering, facility...

The Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) and Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC) have been designated as American National Standards as of Sept. 8, 2003.(Uniform Plumbing Code)(Uniform Mechanical Code)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... The Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) and Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC) have been designated as American National Standards as of Sept. 8, 2003. Except for the "A40 Safety Requirements for Plumbing" code, the UPC and UMC are the only plumbing and...

REHAU.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... REHAU has announced its 2003 schedule of Skill Builders training classes, including a new set of advanced training classes specifically focused on the RFH WarmSource[R] design software. For location information on the Skill Builders basic and...

Charlotte Pipe and Foundry Co. recently received ISO 9001:2000 Certification for its cast iron foundry.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Charlotte Pipe and Foundry Co. recently received ISO 9001:2000 Certification for its cast iron foundry. The foundry produces predominantly cast iron soil pipe and fittings for the plumbing industry. The company received certification during a...

PMI announces Fall Meeting and new workshop.(News)
October 1, 2003... The Plumbing Manufacturers Institute (PMI) has announced the agenda for its 2003 Fall Meeting at the Capital Hilton in Washington, DC, on Oct. 26-29. The schedule will include a presentation by Carl Cullotta and Scott Sims from Frank Lynn &...

Lois Roberts, P.E., founding principal of Westport, CT-based Lois Roberts Consulting Engineers, was voted Member Engineer of the Year by the American Council of Engineering Companies of Connecticut for her long-term contributions to the profession and industry.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Lois Roberts, P.E., founding principal of Westport, CT-based Lois Roberts Consulting Engineers, was voted Member Engineer of the Year by the American Council of Engineering Companies of Connecticut for her long-term contributions to the...

BE&K Engineering Co. announced that its As Built Data group was one of six global innovators honored with a NOVA Award at the Construction Innovation Forum (CIF).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... BE&K Engineering Co. announced that its As Built Data group was one of six global innovators honored with a NOVA Award at the Construction Innovation Forum (CIF). CIF is an international, non-profit organization that identifies innovative...

The Hydraulic Institute (HI) has released its 2003 Standards Cross-Reference Guide and annual subscriber service for ANSI/HI Pump Standards, making it possible for users to receive the latest pump standards as soon as they are published.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... The Hydraulic Institute (HI) has released its 2003 Standards Cross-Reference Guide and annual subscriber service for ANSI/HI Pump Standards, making it possible for users to receive the latest pump standards as soon as they are published. HI...

Reliable Automatic Sprinklers.(Appointments)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Edward R. Smith has been appointed regional manager of Reliable Automatic Sprinklers' Los Angeles Branch. Smith has 16 years sales and marketing experience.

Brass Craft.(Appointments)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Brass Craft has announced the realignment of its sales-management staff to enhance the company's customer-service capabilities. Jim Whiteherse has been appointed senior vice president, sales; Tom Carey has been promoted to vice president of...

TempRite[R] Plumbing Products.(Appointments)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Alan Watson has been appointed business director for TempRite[R] Plumbing Products, a unit of Noveon, Inc. Formerely Noveon's director of global supply chain/Six Sigma, Watson will head the company's FlowGuard Gold[R] CPVC pipe and fittings and...

Moen.(Appointments)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Moen promoted Gary Pember to director of bath marketing. He joined the company in July 1999 as group product manager of bath.

Bradford White Corp.(Appointments)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Bradford White Corp. announced the promotion of Nicholas J. Giuffre to the position of executive vice president.

Single stack and waterless approved: that fact that ICC has gelled as a single entity with a common interest was evident at the recent code change hearings.(Codes)
October 1, 2003... The ICC held their first conference since the official formation of the organization. Gone are BOCA, ICBO and SBCCI. Furthermore, gone were any inklings that everyone wasn't working together. The organization has gelled as a single entity with...

About ventilation and good health.
October 1, 2003... Dan Holohan's June 2003 article, "The Air We Breathe" is one of the finest articles I have read in all the publications that I subscribe to. This article is not technical in nature; it is a red flag flying and a notice of great import to the...

Batteries not included, some assembly required: fair questions from unassuming consumers.(Fire Protection and sprinkler systems)
October 1, 2003... Q. Mark, a quick question. NFPA 13 section 3.2.1 states that only new sprinklers shall be installed. Is it permitted to modify the location of existing sprinklers during a building renovation? I couldn't find anything in NFPA addressing that,...

Third party certification of pumping systems: compliance, risk and business sense: here are the reasons why one manufacturer believes third party certification is necessary for all packaged pump systems.(Pumping Systems)(Cover Story)
October 1, 2003... OSHA regulations issued more than 30 years ago caused a paradigm shift in accountability for worker safety. Under the law, all involved with mechanical systems--owners, engineers, installers and operators--directly or indirectly share liability...

Sizing diaphragm-type expansion for large radiant heating & snowmelting systems: if you're using conventional approaches, chances are you're oversizing.
October 1, 2003... How do you size expansion tanks for larger closed-loop radiant heating systems? Chances are you use the same methods you would for other hydronic systems. The classic sizing procedure for a diaphragm-type expansion tank compares the volume of...

Plastic pipe and fire safety: how does the use of plastic pipe in a structure impact the safety of its occupants during a fire?
October 1, 2003... As the use of plastic piping (such as ABS, CPVC, PE and PVC) in construction gained popularity, considerable testing and research took place to address issues related to fire performance. Likewise, installation technologies and building codes...

Water safety for the elderly and infirm: combining bather safety and bacterial control.
October 1, 2003... It's a classic Catch 22. Safer technology and Legionella liability have stirred a trend, moving accepted commercial and institutional plumbing toward the need for running water in excess of 140 degrees F thought potable system lines. At...

Manifold systems and scald protection: resident safety is one reason this assisted-living facility has a manifold system.(Logan House)
October 1, 2003... The residents of The Logan House, a new assisted-living facility in Logan, Utah, may not know a lot about plumbing, but many do remember what it feels like to be scalded in the shower if someone else should flush a nearby toilet or start a load...

Coming clean on sink specifications: the design and accessibility of hand-washing stations are important to consider in healthcare settings.(Coming Clean)
October 1, 2003... Society is increasingly becoming aware of all of the ways people contaminate their hands, but even still, many people do not wash when they know they should. For example, the American Society for Microbiology says that only two out of three...

New designs for WAGD systems: international standards have changed the way these systems are designed and installed.(Waste Anesthetic Gas Disposal )
October 1, 2003... Engineers have issues with Waste Anesthetic Gas Disposal (WAGD) systems. The assumptions engineers have been using to design WAGD systems are being upset by some changes in the anesthesia machines that are being connected. Clients are calling...

www.neoperl.com.(Information Showcase)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Discover new solutions to control flow rate, flow direction and stream quality at www.neoperl.com. The redesigned site (launched September 2002) provides additional technical information and search criteria such as size, flow rate and stream...

REHAU's new RAUPANEL[TM] system provides easy installation of radiant heating.(Information Showcase)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... REHAU introduces its RAUPANEL system for radiant heating. Ideal for retrofit and new construction applications, the RAUPANEL system provides a quick and effective method of installing radiant heating over new or existing plywood subfloors, or...

Labor Saver.(Information Showcase)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... The Labor Saver Fixture Supports from Jay R. Smith Mfg. Co. have been designed to speed up the installation process by using one-piece, rigid frame, pre-assembled steel construction. This innovative support allows for installation in narrow...

Charlotte Pipe and Foundry's new AutoCAD CD helps improve efficiency.(Information Showcase)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Charlotte Pipe and Foundry's new AutoCAD 2.0 CD is now available. The 2.0 version features updated 2D and 3D drawings for all Charlotte Pipe and Foundry products, including our new PVC large-diameter fittings. The CD also includes all the...

Square Max.(Information Showcase)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... The heavy-walled body of the Square Max large capacity square floor sink is one-piece molded from bacteria- and chemical-resistant, high-impact, white PVC and is available with glue hub connections for 2", 3" (3 x 4), 4" and 6" Schedule 40 PVC....

Drainage spec sheets.(Information Showcase)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Sioux Chief's spec sheets for drainage products are now available on the Sioux Chief Web site (www.siouxchief.com) in PDF format for quick and easy downloading. A quick link on the home page takes users to the "Literature in PDF format" page....

SoloSet[TM] EB-25 from Cash Acme.(Information Showcase)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... SoloSet EB-25 from Cash Acme brings state-of-the-art technology to pressure regulators. A convenient pressure adjustment twist-cap and numerical indicator makes installation a quick, one-man job. Innovative "micro-fingers" dissipate noise as...

Introducing PowerStation[TM].(Information Showcase)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Powers has introduced PowerStation, a fully assembled and tested water tempering and recirculation station featuring optimized valve performance for safe water distribution (and return) throughout a facility's plumbing system. PowerStation is a...

Anvil pipe hanger catalog.(Information Showcase)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... The most comprehensive catalog of pipe hangers and supports available to the industry has now been published by Anvil International. Anvil, formerly known as Grinnell, offers the most complete selection of engineered hangers and supports, as...

Grice Soffi-Steel[TM] System.(Information Showcase)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... The Soffi-Steel System is today's premier modular steel pipe concealment system, designed to provide a durable, maintenance-free facing that is attractive and quickly installed. It can be used to conceal fire sprinkler, plumbing, hvac and...

Airtherm HVAC.(Information Showcase)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Airtherm fan coils are the smart solution for institutional, commercial and multiresidential heating and cooling applications. Airtherm units are extremely durable with 18-gauge casing standard and the industry's only 14-gauge option. With its...

Radiant ceiling panels.(Information Showcase)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Sterling radiant panel ceiling systems are an energy- and cost-saving method of heating and cooling. They are available in three basic types: linear for wall-to-wall installation, modular for installation in standard t-bar ceiling grids, and...

More cast iron means better performance.(Information Showcase)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... The Series 8, with its rugged cast-iron construction, offers commercial quality in a residential boiler. With cast iron sections, thicker and deeper than in other leading boilers, the Series 8 offers a multitude of performance advantages,...

The first name in kickspace heaters.(Information Showcase)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Beacon/Morris Kickspace heaters are the space-saving alternative to hot water baseboard. Designed to fit inconspicuously under a cabinet, in the floor, or on or in the wall, kickspace heaters are ideal for hard-to heat areas such as foyers,...

RBI Dominator Series boilers and water heaters.(Information Showcase)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... RBI Dominator Series boilers and water heaters offer Btu sizes from 300 to 2,100 mbh, with thermal efficiencies up to 85 percent. Proportional firing up to four stages provides built-in redundancy and high turndown for system efficiency....

Beacon/Morris horizontal serpentine hot water unit heaters.(Information Showcase)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Beacon/Morris is pleased to offer hot water horizontal unit heaters for residential, commercial and industrial use. With pipe connections from the side, these units are ideal for installation in areas where ceiling space is limited such as...

Futera II.(Information Showcase)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... The Futera II, the next generation of innovative, advanced hot-water-supply boilers, provides 85 percent efficiency, noncondensing with industry leading NOx levels of less than 10 ppm. The Futera II operates a step-by-step cycle of operation in...

Hydrotherm Sabre Boiler.(Information Showcase)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Introducing the Hydrotherm Sabre Boiler, with its brushed stainless-steel jacket and its all on-top connections. A boiler that is sure to be well-received by contractors and homeowners alike. The brushed stainless-steel jacket gives an...

SpacePak central air conditioning.(Information Showcase)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... SpacePak is the ideal compliment for homes using today's modern radiant heating systems. It is a central air conditioning system for homes unable to accommodate conventional systems. Ideal for older "ductless" homes, SpacePak uses flexible...

Bryan Indirect Water Heaters in larger sizes.(Information Showcase)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Bryan Indirect Water Heaters are now available in sizes to 8,000,000 Btu/hr with water heating capacities to 16,000 gallons per hour (at 60[degrees] temperature rise). A single unit can be used for domestic or commercial hot water and space...

Ridge Tool--booth #2616.(ASPE Technical Symposium Trade Show Enhancers)
October 1, 2003... On display will be products for the pipeworking and plumbing industry, including threading machines, roll groovers, drain cleaners, video inspection systems for drains, the Navi-Track[TM] line locator, hand tools, and the ProPress[R] System for...

Moen's Kingsley[TM] faucets offer a traditional, versatile look for the bath.(ASPE Technical Symposium Trade Show Enhancers)
October 1, 2003... The unique style of the Kingsley faucet--it's a little bit turn-of-the-century ornamental... a little bit antique Shaker... truly timeless. And now available in a new finish: Wrought Iron. Built on M*PACT[R], Moen's common valve system,...

Isolator Drain and Purge Valve.(Products)(Webstone)
October 1, 2003... Webstone, the original designer and builder of The Isolator Uni-Flange Ball Valve, has announced its new isolation valve for circulator pumps. The Isolator Drain & Purge Valve incorporates all of the features and benefits of the original...

Flexible plumbing system.(Products)
October 1, 2003... Uponor Wirsbo announces its AQUAPEX[R] flexible plumbing system. Featuring the crosslinked molecular structure of Wirsbo's Engel Method AQUAPEX tubing (PEX-a), along with the company's ProPEX[R] fitting system, AQUAPEX offers superior strength...

Residential Pendent and Concealed Residential Sprinklers.(Products)
October 1, 2003... The Viking Corp. has introduced a new 4.9K Residential Pendent Sprinkler and 4.9K Concealed Residential Sprinkler. The 4.9 K-Factor Frame-Style Residential Pendent Sprinkler (VK438) can be installed below smooth, flat, horizontal ceilings and...

Universal Reset Control.(Products)
October 1, 2003... tekmar Control's Universal Reset Control 374 is capable of controlling two mixing reset loops (variable speed pump injection or mixing valves), a DHW load, a set-point load and two boiler stages. This control also features a built-in clock with...

Boiler Feedwater Softener Systems.(Products)(Bryan Steam LLC)
October 1, 2003... A new series of Boiler Feedwater Softener Systems has been introduced by Bryan Steam LLC. Standard models supply from six to 180 gallons (22 to 680 liters) of soft water per minute. The Bryan boiler feedwater softener uses the Kinetico[R] non...

Industrial fittings dimensional catalog.(Products)
October 1, 2003... A pocket-sized industrial fittings catalog is available from Charlotte Pipe and Foundry. The guide features dimensional data and product specifications for PVC Schedule 40 and 80 fittings, and Corzan[R] CPVC Schedule 80 fittings, Charlotte...

Steambath generators.(Products)(Amerec Sauna and Steam)
October 1, 2003... Amerec Sauna and Steam, a leading manufacturer of residential steambath generators, is entering the commercial market with the Amerec "AI." Models range from 12-48 kW. Ideal for large steamrooms (500-2,000 cubic feet) with continuous use, these...

Access riser.(Products)(Liberty Pumps)
October 1, 2003... Liberty Pumps has expanded its 370-Series line with the addition of a new access riser. The riser, designed exclusively for the 370-series system, allows burial up to 18" below grade and provides a convenient chamber for all electrical and...

Dilbert[R].(Take a Break)
October 1, 2003... AS YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE IN SLIDE 397... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] GAAAAH! [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "POWERPOINT" POISONING. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Psalm to an Engineer's Sweetheart.(Take a Break)(Poem)
October 1, 2003... Psalm to an Engineer's Seetheart Verily, I say unto ye, marry not an engineer. For an engineer is a strange being and possessed of many evils. Yea, he speaketh always in parables, which he calleth formulae. ...

Lawyer Joke.(Take a Break)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... One afternoon, a wealthy lawyer was riding in the back of his limousine when he saw two men eating grass by the roadside. He ordered his driver to stop and he got out to investigate. "Why are you eating grass?" he asked one man. "We...