PM Engineer articles from October 2005

PM Engineer archives from October 2005

E-Z does it!
October 1, 2005... With the NEW E-Z Series for Fast and Durable ADA undersink compliance! E-Z Tear-to-Fit trimming feature! E-Z Grip internal fasteners! [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The best has just gotten better! The NEW and Improved Lav Guard[R]2 E-Z...

My opinion: now's the time for SCBA replenishment systems.(PME Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2005... In an open letter, Ron Murray responds to a number of points Julius Ballanco made in his column in the June 2005 issue of PM Engineer. The subject is self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) replenishment systems, in which air is made...

Focus on performance: specify full protection against pressure and temperature changes ...
October 1, 2005... No more impractical limit stop adjustments. It used to be you could specify a pressure-balancing valve and not worry about the manufacturer's fine print warning about seasonal limit stop adjustments. But not any more. Due to an aging...

Katrina impacts construction now and in the future.(PME News)
October 1, 2005... While the full extent of Katrina's wrath has yet to be determined, the number of homes and businesses lost to the hurricane surpasses any previous storm in U.S. history. (Destroyed houses by Hurricane Andrew in 1992 was estimated at more than...

Help hurricane-displaced ASPE members in need.(PME News)
October 1, 2005... ASPE has arranged a central clearing house to help its members seriously affected by Hurricane Katrina. ASPE is asking for help in three ways: 1. Temporary Jobs. It is looking for consulting/engineering/architectural firms and...

IAPMO becomes fifth ISH North America show partner.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... At this year's Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors-National Association convention, President Mary Garvelink announced that IAPMO will become an ISH partner beginning with next year's show in Chicago. "The IAPMO group has agreed in...

Munters.(Lennart Evrell is appointed as ceo in Munters)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... Munters, an air treatment company manufacturing products that humidify, dehumidify, control emissions and dry water-damaged environments, reorganized its corporate structure this past summer. Munters created three global divisions:...

Unilux Advanced Manufacturing LLC.(Justin Brown is appointed as regional sales manager in Unilux Advanced Manufacturing LLC )(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... Unilux Advanced Manufacturing LLC announced the addition of Justin Brown to the newly created position of regional sales manager. He has more than 15 years of professional experience, including more than five years involved with design, sales...

Arrowhead Brass Products LLC.(Appointments)
October 1, 2005... Arrowhead Brass Products LLC announced George Long as director of sales. He has been a member of the plumbing industry for more than 35 years, also serving as owner and president of George Long Sales. For the last 15 years, he represented Red...

Uponor Wirsbo.(PME News)
October 1, 2005... Uponor Wirsbo broke ground in September for a 43,500-sq.-ft. addition to its Apple Valley, MN, headquarters that will expand its office and manufacturing space. Pictured, left to right: Tom Lawell, Apple Valley city administrator; Jan Lang,...

IAPMO-ICC close to single code: as IAPMO and ICC continue to meet toward a 2009 goal, equal representation and looking at the similarities within the codes can create a fair joint decision.(International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials)(Interstate Commerce Commission)
October 1, 2005... IAPMO and ICC issued similar statements last month indicating that they were speaking. That hasn't really been a secret. What has been a secret is the progress and content of those discussions. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] By admitting that...

Fielding questions at the engineers inquisition: more probing questions from readers on codes and applications.(Fire Protection)
October 1, 2005... Q. The bulk of our stored commodities are copper products, and we are naturally very sensitive about water damage. What precautions should we take before awarding a fire sprinkler system contract? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A. Water damage...

Piping system analyzed for residential high rise: choosing CPVC pipe for a 21 story condo has its advantages in costs and performance.(Cover Story)
October 1, 2005... The Gulf Cost of Florida continues to have a residential building boom. In Bonita Springs, FL, just outside Ft. Meyers, a new 21-story condominium, called The Navona, is being constructed at The Colony. The Navona has five dwelling units per...

A primary concern: when does a parallel primary loop make sense?
October 1, 2005... It's hard to have a discussion on modern hydronic heating and not talk about primary/secondary (P/S) piping. Listening in on such a conversation, someone new to hydronics might conclude that P/S is one of the latest innovations in hydronics....

How low can you (really) go? To maximize master tempering valve selection, engineers need to understand minimum flow.
October 1, 2005... In the world of a plumbing systems design engineer, few tasks are as critical as properly selecting the thermostatic valve(s) that will temper water throughout a new facility. An engineer must consider many important factors when choosing large...

Geothermal HVAC system with acclamation tank: an environmentally friendly HVAC system can end up paying for itself season after season.
October 1, 2005... One way to save on monthly utilities while heating/cooling your home and irrigating your yard is with an open loop geothermal system. Additionally, geothermal systems are environmentally responsible because they reduce the energy required to...

Waterless "water": a new era in clean agent fire suppression; After decades of searching for an alternative clean agent, the SAPPHIRE system now changes views on fire safety and protection.
October 1, 2005... Sprinkler systems have been around since the 1870s and certainly have enhanced life safety and property protection. Without question, sprinkler systems should be used to protect every commercial building in this country. They hold a major key...

The "art" within the practice of engineering: engineers need certain creative skills to make sense of what they design, and also to communicate their concepts to clients.
October 1, 2005... Whenever some engineering calamity occurs (bridge collapse, Hyatt Regency skywalks collapse, too hot/cold in the house), my response has always been that "engineering is not an exact science." It usually is perceived as a cop-out, but in fact...

What to expect in healthcare construction/retrofit: as Americans get older, the demand for healthcare increases--followed by the demand for plumbing contractors who know how to conserve water.
October 1, 2005... Based on projections by the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of Americans beyond the age of 65 will more than double from the year 2000 until 2030. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] What that means for the building industry is that as America gets...

Creating green healthcare environments: LEED may be better known, but the Green Guide for Healthcare offers another way to green building for the healthcare sector.
October 1, 2005... Hospitals designed with fresh air and sunlight. Cancer treatment centers built without materials linked to cancer. Pediatric clinics free of asthma-triggering chemicals. Today more healthcare facilities are turning these scenarios into reality...

Kidney dialysis facilities and plumbing systems: backflow preventers are essential for protecting public health. But in the case of dialysis water, where they are placed could potentially be harmful to the patient.
October 1, 2005... Healthcare facilities are designed to protect at-risk patients for a variety of illnesses. This is true of the plumbing system design, especially in systems supplying water to medical equipment. At times there are conflicts between requirements...

The patient safety advocate role of piped anesthesia/medical gas professionals: medical gas professionals must not only be capable designers, installers, inspectors, verifiers, maintenance personnel or instructors, but also committed patient safety advocates.
October 1, 2005... Throughout the United States, engineers are trained to design patient life-supporting piped medical gas distribution systems according to requirements of NFPA 99 consensus standard (2005). Installers, inspectors, verifiers, maintenance...

Gamewell.(News Briefs)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... Gamewell, a manufacturer of commercial fire alarm control panels and emergency life safety systems, is increasing its outreach efforts to architects and engineers through its Box Lunch Program, providing information on the company's...

T-drill.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... T-DRILL is in compliance with the newly issued ASME B31.9--2004. Section 930.2 Mechanically Formed Extruded Outlets in Copper Tube specifies the process and provides reference, also, to ASTM F 2014 and pressure calculations. ASME...

Acorn Engineering Co.(News Briefs)
October 1, 2005... Acorn Engineering Co. announced the introduction of a new product line of drinking fountains and electric water coolers offered by the newly formed division known as Acorn-Aqua[TM]. A complete line of products is scheduled to be released Jan....

Boilermaker Road Race.(News Briefs)
October 1, 2005... Approximately 50 ECR International employees and their families volunteered their time on July 10 for the 28th running of the Boilermaker Road Race, started in 1976 as a way to thank the community for its support of Utica Boilers (now ECR...

TOTO USA.(Toto USA Inc)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... TOTO USA donated high-performance toilets and lavatories to seven New York and Vermont chapters of Habitat for Humanity, outfitting all bathrooms in the houses these affiliates will build during 2005. TOTO's contribution supports the efforts of...

"Commercial-grade" movable gas connectors.(News Briefs)
October 1, 2005... The American and Canadian national standards for gas equipment in commercial kitchens have been updated to require that "commercial-grade" movable gas connectors (based on ANSI Z21.69/CSA 6.16) be used for all equipment that is moved on a...

Heat-Fab, Inc.(News Briefs)
October 1, 2005... Heat-Fab, Inc. entered into an agreement with Selkirk/Canada for distribution of Saf-T Vent AL29-4C[R] special gas vent systems in provinces in Eastern Canada. Selkirk joins Canadian Aqualine Sales Inc., a long time distributor of Saf-T Vent in...

Wal-Mart.(News Briefs)
October 1, 2005... Wal-Mart chose Falcon Waterfree urinals for use in its new environmentally friendly and energy-efficient supercenters in McKinney, TX, and Aurora, CO. They are one of several new features placed in the stores with the goal of making the...

Titeflex Corp.(Appointments)
October 1, 2005... The Gastite Division of the Titeflex Corp. has created two new sales engineer positions to assist mechanical contractors and engineers on the design and specification of gas-distribution systems made with Gastite corrugated stainless steel...

Zone valve/actuator module.(PME Products)
October 1, 2005... Watts Radiant introduces its new control system that operates zone valves or circuit thermal actuators. Master controls are equipped with valve and thermostat terminals, incoming 24 volt power connection and two 8 amp, dry contact terminals for...

K factor sprinkler.(PME Products)
October 1, 2005... Viking Corp. has added a new 7.4 (10,7) K factor pendent fire sprinkler (VK458) to its Freedom[R] line. It provides the lowest starting pressures for NFPA 13 residential applications, including hotels, dormitories, and high-rises. Offerings...

Outdoor speaker and strobe.(PME Products)
October 1, 2005... System Sensor offers a new outdoor application speaker and speaker strobe for use in fire protection voice evacuation systems. The SP201K outdoor speaker and SP2R1224MCK outdoor speaker strobe are Underwriters' Laboratories-listed for...

Electronic mixing valve.(PME Products)
October 1, 2005... Amstrong's BrainWave[TM] is a hands-free electronic mixing valve offering both flow and temperature selection, combining total proactive hot water system control and point-of-use protection from accidental scalding. A programmable "service...

Wall-mounted shower system.(PME Products)
October 1, 2005... Leonard Valve Co.'s Surfashower[R] wall-mounted shower system is available for schools, institutions, clubs, industrial and shipboard applications. The product comes in a range of preassembled models: single temperature, thermostatic, pressure...

Dilbert[R].(Take a Break)
October 1, 2005... Many years ago, in Scotland, a new game was invented. It was ruled "Gentlemen Only... Ladies Forbidden".... and thus the word GOLF entered into the English language. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION...