PM Engineer articles from September 2007

PM Engineer archives from September 2007

We can make a difference.(Publisher's Note)
September 1, 2007... Dale Carnegie used to say that a man's favorite topic of conversation is himself. So, writing a column to introduce myself as the new publisher of PM Engineer should be easy. It also runs the risk of getting boring in a hurry. If you missed...

Experts discuss possible solutions to U.S. energy situation.(News)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Some 25 experts from the HVAC&R industry addressed growing concerns about the U.S. energy situation at the Danfoss EnVisioneeringSM Symposium, held in June. Called "Making Dollars and Sense of Energy Efficiency: A Focus on Conservation," the...

How new media will transform your business in '08.(News)
September 1, 2007... 1. Online Training and Certification Online training has come of age and keeps getting better. Today, high-speed connections, in-house projection, enhanced software, improved two-way communication, and experienced providers make Web-based...

Leonard Valve Co.(Appointments)
September 1, 2007... Leonard Valve Co. has appointed Peter Gobis III as national sales manager, responsible for all sales in the U.S. and Canada. Gobis will be responsible for Leonard's sales growth. Gobis was previously employed as sales manager for Senior...

Weil-McLain.(Appointments)
September 1, 2007... Weil-McLain has named John Way as president. Way comes to Weil-McLain from Thermal Product Solutions (TPS), a unit of SPX Corporation, where he served as president. A graduate of Western Michigan University with a B.A. in mechanical...

The forgotten code: although not as well known as the IPC or UPC, the NSPC still impacts many millions of people.(Codes)(National Standard Plumbing Code)
September 1, 2007... Through all of the discussions about a single plumbing code, the third code in the group, the PHCC-NA National Standard Plumbing Code (NSPC), seems to be the forgotten code. The NSPC, however, is alive and kicking. While the use of this code is...

Below the surface (Part 2): tubing depth DOES affect the performance of heated slabs.(Hydronics Notebook)
September 1, 2007... Last month, we began a discussion of how tubing depth affects the thermal performance of heated slabs. Based on computer simulations, we found the effect is significant. This month we'll continue the discussion with a look at bare slabs. We'll...

Two unsprinklered catastrophes: fires that occur in unsprinklered structures on windy days are relentless, unforgiving--and often, very deadly.(Fire Protection)
September 1, 2007... Jupiter Aluminum, Hammond, IN Shortly after 5:30 a.m. on Nov. 24, 2006, sparks and a machine malfunction ignited a small fire inside the Jupiter Aluminum rolling mill in Hammond, IN. The massive refinery recycles scrap aluminum for...

Protection from high-challenge fires using large K-factor sprinklers: since the 1980s, warehouse operators have rapidly increased their use of these sprinklers because of their larger-than-normal orifices and flow rates.
September 1, 2007... For decades, limited fire sprinkler tools were available to protect a wide variety of fire risks ranging from office environments to the high-challenge fires that may exist in warehouse storage facilities. For the most part, all types of fire...

Hydraulic separation: rediscovering the same old physics: as hardware and electricity prices continue to rise, it's likely that new approaches to this traditional technology will soon become the standard.
September 1, 2007... For decades, most boilers used in North America had large internal fluid passages and exhibited very low flow resistance. When these boilers were combined with generously sized supply and return headers, the overall flow resistance of the...

Public swimming pool and water attraction design: make sure you develop a system that maximizes water quality, provides accurate level control and maintains minimum required flow rates/turnover rates.
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] So you've been awarded the contract for the design of a facility that will include a swimming pool. Should you just hire a pool design firm as a sub? My recommendation is that you, a design professional, need to know...

A single plumbing code: is it still possible? Reexamining the issue by comparing the UPC and IPC in light of sanitary building drain system capacities and safety ratios.
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Are you surprised that last year the International Code Council (ICC) withdrew its preliminary deal with the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO)? The deal was to create a single...