Contractor articles from February 2002

Contractor archives from February 2002

Innovation not missing: at off-year AHR Expo.(International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigeration Exposition)(includes related article with company telephone numbers)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- The turnout for the 2002 International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition Jan. 14-16 exceeded most expectations, attracting 28,513 visitors here from around the world. With 15,636 exhibitor personnel,...

Housing setting records.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... WASHINGTON -- Both the existing- and new-home markets will set records for 2001 and near-record activity is expected to continue in 2002, the National Association of Realtors said in January. David Lereah, NAR's chief economist, said...

Eljer, Zurn parent: selling off assets.(U.S. Industries Inc.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... SPECIAL TO CONTRACTOR ISELIN, N.J. -- U.S. Industries Inc., the parent company of Jacuzzi, Zurn, U.S. Brass, Sundance Spas and Eljer, lost hundreds of millions of dollars last year and may not be able to survive as a going concern,...

PHCC Pro Product Line: Amtrol, Power Line U.S.A. join. (Industry News).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... SCHILLER PARK, ILL. -- In a press conference Jan. 23 here, the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors -- National Association announced that Amtrol and Power Line U.S.A. have joined its Professional Product Line. Don Morin, PPL chairman,...

Tyco plans four-way company split. (Industry News).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... SPECIAL TO CONTRACTOR PEMBROKE, BERMUDA -- Tyco International Ltd. in late January announced a plan to separate into four independent, publicly traded companies: Fire Protection and Flow Control; Security and Electronics; Healthcare; and...

Fast-track snow-melt job: slows down ramp's track. (Industry News).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... EVANSTON, ILL.-- The prospect of a retiree's car skidding down an icy ramp into a garage door was enough for the owners of The Presbyterian Home here to invest in a snow-melt system late last year. "You could just imagine the trouble that...

copper gas tube, CSST. (California Oks).(corrugated stainless steel tubing)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... SACRAMENTO, CALIF. -- In a turnabout that has gratified proponents of corrugated stainless steel tubing and flexible copper gas tubing, the California Department of Housing and Community Development has voted to accept the materials in the...

Industrial market: shows life. (Industry News).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... THE PRICES OF industrial metals used by manufacturers gained strength in January, leading some analysts to believe that the industrial market would rebound in 2002. The increases in prices of copper, aluminum, nickel and lead -- which...

Settlements in newly negotiated labor agreements reported to the Construction Labor Research Council in 2001 averaged $1.37 or 4.5% for their first year.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... Settlements in newly negotiated labor agreements reported to the Construction Labor Research Council in 2001 averaged $1.37 or 4.5% for their first year. The average second-year increase for multiyear agreements was $1.56 or 4.7%. These amounts...

PHCC-NA.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... The PHCC-NA's Legislative Day and Leadership Conference will take place March 7-9 in Washington and Virginia. The "Day on Capitol Hill" March 7 will feature presentations from several government officials and visits to legislators. Membership...

The 2000 International Building, Residential, Mechanical, Plumbing, Private Sewage Disposal, Fire, Fuel Gas, Energy Conservation, Property Maintenance, Zoning, ICC Performance Code for Buildings and Facilities, Existing Buildings and ICC Electrical codes will be on the agenda.
February 1, 2002... The 2000 International Building, Residential, Mechanical, Plumbing, Private Sewage Disposal, Fire, Fuel Gas, Energy Conservation, Property Maintenance, Zoning, ICC Performance Code for Buildings and Facilities, Existing Buildings and ICC...

The Kitchen/Bath Industry Show and Conference.
February 1, 2002... The Kitchen/Bath Industry Show and Conference will take place April 4-7 at McCormick Place in Chicago. The show will feature plumbing products and accessories for the kitchen and bathroom as well as design trends.

Contractor's plumbing columnist Dave Yates will be a guest speaker Feb. 21 at Danfoss' national sales conference in Orlando, Fla.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... CONTRACTOR's plumbing columnist Dave Yates will be a guest speaker Feb. 21 at Danfoss' national sales conference in Orlando, Fla. He will talk to the manufacturer's sales reps about what contractors want, need and expect from them and how to...

Clarification.(correction, pp. 22-24)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... CLARIFICATION: All but one of the photographs in the Fallingwater feature story in the January issue ("Remodel of the Century," pgs. 22-24) were taken by Tim Ryan, Cleveland.

Of Kinsey's 3 M's, money should be first. (Schmitt on Management).
February 1, 2002... LONGTIME READERS will remember how much I respect the contributions of my predecessor on these pages, industry management guru Bert Kinsey. He sharpened the management skills of many in the industry with his regular reminder that your business...

Utility covers plumbing, HVAC repairs. (Schmitt on Management).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... RALEIGH, N.C. -- Carolina Power & Light has introduced its Appliance Service Plus program that aids consumers in finding a qualified service technician and guaranteeing to replace a covered appliance if it can't be repaired. CP&L has...

Disabled woman faces precarious situation. (Letters).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Iowa City, Iowa -- A few weeks ago I had an experience that reminded me of the old silent movie scene where the train is coming toward the lady tied to the railroad tracks. What will she do? To survive, Pauline has to remove herself from the...

More details on bar codes. (Letters).
February 1, 2002... ST. LOUIS -- I read with a great deal of interest Bob Miodonski's article on bar coding in the December issue ("Step up to bar codes," pg. 16). Unfortunately, it did not provide nearly enough information to whet my appetite. We have been...

Wright's ego doomed design. (Letters).
February 1, 2002... BALLWIN, MO. -- I read the article in the January issue about Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater ("Remodel of the century," pg. 22). Leave it to the architects to name this the Building of the Century, a building that has to be redesigned...

Holohan doesn't amuse reader. (Letters).
February 1, 2002... LANNON, WIS. -- I have often found the reading of CONTRACTOR an enjoyable and informative experience, and I congratulate you on the generally high quality of your publication. There is one area in your publication, unfortunately, where I cannot...

Heating the high life: these contractors cater to homeowners who want comfort, efficiency and only the best hydronic equipment. (High-End Hydronics).
February 1, 2002... What motivates a homeowner to spend $50,000, $100,000 or more on a heating system? The contractors we interviewed for this story say that price has little to do with the decision, if price even comes up at all. Some buyers of high-end hydronic...

Sizing of DHW systems critical to performance. (Hydronics).(domestic water heaters)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... WE BEGAN last month's column (pg. 32) exploring missed opportunities for heating domestic hot water. This month let's look into the different types and styles. The sizing of "side-arm" DHW units, as they are referred to in the industry, is...

Two solutions allow information sharing. (Feldmans On Computers).(Coastal Computer Corp.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... ELECTRONIC SERVICE Control ($495, Coastal Computer Corp., www.ccc-soft.com, 800/226-7529) is a business operations and communications product for small- to medium-sized service companies. It addresses various aspects of service management,...

One terrific tax-free way the rich get richer. (Blackman on Taxes).(life insurance)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... Regular readers of this column know my modus operandi: discover the tax secrets of the wealthy and then adapt those secrets to enrich the family business owner. Now, I can't do it alone. But as a member of a network of professionals (who share...

Case shows need for pass-through clause. (McGreevy on Law).(Werner v. Ashcraft Bloomquist Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... CONTRACTORS HATE to be told by attorneys that they need long, written contracts and subcontracts. They want to return to the old days when everyone did business on a handshake. The trouble is (as they know in their heart) that as long as owners...

What color is your project manager? (Craig On Project Management).(few African Americans in mechanical trades)(Brief Article)(Column)
February 1, 2002... IN 25-PLUS YEARS of being a project manager I have yet to sit across a job conference table from an African-American project manager and I've often wondered why. Please don't have a typical knee-jerk reaction and say it's because I was raised...

Kohler recalls shower doors.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... KOHLER, WIS. -- Kohler Co., in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, is voluntarily recalling about 41,000 shower doors. The door hinges can fail, causing the shower door to fall and injure nearby consumers. Kohler...

The new CP 620 fire foam. (editor's choice).
February 1, 2002... THE NEW CP 620 FIRE FOAM allows the installer to access through penetrations, cable trays, cable bundles, cable runs and multiple penetrations with combustible and non-combustible pipes. It must be used in conjunction with CP 645 wrap strip for...

This fire suppression system. (editor's choice).
February 1, 2002... THIS FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM features flexible polymer tubing that ruptures when exposed to flame, forming a nozzle that dispenses the suppression agent at the fire's source. The automatic, stand-alone system can be configured and installed...

The ESI 2000 electronic tankless water heater. (editor's choice).
February 1, 2002... THE ESI 2000 ELECTRONIC TANKLESS WATER HEATER uses microprocessor technology and flow sensors to heat water only as needed, yet supply hot water instantly on demand, virtually eliminating standby costs.The heater is fully compliant with UL...

The hytool enhanced ratchet. (editor's choice).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... THE HYTOOL ENHANCED RATCHET features custom-molded ergonomic handles and four color-coded die grooves to accommodate a wide range of lugs and splices, as well as the related copper C-Tap connectors. FCI CIRCLE 104 ON INQUIRY CARD

Crimpsert fittings and vanex pex tubing. (editor's choice).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... CRIMPSERT FITTINGS AND VANEX PEX TUBING provide homes with a corrosion-resistant water distribution system. They are ideal for areas unsuitable for metallic pipe or fittings due to acidic water or electrolysis. The system is NSF certified. ...

Flamecheck duct insulation. (editor's choice).(from Certain Teed)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... FLAMECHECK DUCT INSULATION is a high-temperature insulating blanket designed for use in passive fire-protection applications such as kitchen exhaust grease ducts in commercial kitchens. It is designed to provide one- and two-hour fire ratings...

Handi-seal FR 136 fireblock. (editor's choice).(from Fomo Products)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... HANDI-SEAL FR 136 FIREBLOCK is for use in residential and commercial construction where a non-combustible sealant is required. It is easily applied with a caulk gun using standard caulking techniques, contains no volatile solvents and is water...

The surelock B-vent locking system. (editor's choice).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... THE SURELOCK B-VENT LOCKING SYSTEM keeps installed pipe from coming apart on the job, secures pipes after installation and allows for easy disassembly if needed. No sheet metal screws are required. Disassembly requires only a small screwdriver....

The dominator sealed combustion boiler. (editor's choice).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... THE DOMINATOR SEALED COMBUSTION BOILER features special alloy burners, multi-speed blowers and a more efficient staging control. Models are available ranging from 300 MBH to 2,100 MBH to handle a wide range of applications. RBI CIRCLE...

The caddy WC812 wall clip. (editor's choice).(made by Erico)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... THE CADDY WC812 WALL CLIP provides fast attachment of various pipe, conduit, cable or tube to wall or stud surfaces. Services can be snapped into the clip without tools. The clip itself can be secured with powder-actuated tools, self-tapping...

The coralis acrylic faucet. (editor's choice).(from Kohler)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... THE CORALIS ACRYLIC FAUCET collection features a full line of faucets for the shower, lavatory, tub and deck-mounted baths. They are available with polished chrome or polished brass finishes, and single-control or two-handle styles. All faucets...

These multi-port check valves. (editor's choice).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... THESE MULTI-PORT CHECK VALVES are used to control lines of vacuum or pressure by permitting flow in one direction only. They will operate in any orientation and can be used for liquid service. They are manufactured with nylon bodies and...

This light-duty high-input direct-vent water heater.(from Bradford White)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... THIS LIGHT-DUTY HIGH-INPUT DIRECT-VENT WATER HEATER is ideal for installations with an insufficient supply of combustion air. It uses a telescopic, coaxial (pipe inside a pipe) venting system; the air for combustion is introduced through the...

The loft series.
February 1, 2002... THE LOFT SERIES of fixtures and accessories were specified for the Dumont Plaza Hotel and feature an elegant style geared to the business traveller. The series includes a lavatory widespread faucet, towel bar, towel ring, robe hook,...

The lock'n load drybox.
February 1, 2002... THE LOCK'N LOAD DRYBOX has a water-resistant seal that keeps out moisture and dirt. It features three compartments to store tools and accessories, including an easy-open top for fast access to small tools and parts. A removable tray with...

Pilkington pyrostop.
February 1, 2002... PILKINGTON PYROSTOP is a fire-rated, impact safety-rated, transparent wall panel that helps block heat transfer. While fire-rated glass typically contains the spread of flame and smoke, some locations (such as stairwells and elevator lobbies)...

The Royal press retrofit valve kit.
February 1, 2002... THE ROYAL PRESS RETROFIT VALVE KIT can be used to convert the manual Royal Flushometer to a battery-powered Optima Plus Flushometer (an automatic flushometer with infrared sensor) within minutes. The kit includes: a dual filtered bypass...

The dune console lavatory.
February 1, 2002... THE DUNE CONSOLE LAVATORY combines Asian-influenced styling with European design. It features a white marble top with ample space for displaying decorative items or toiletries, wedge finished wood drawers, a glass shelf and a chrome frame with...

Finesse tub/shower doors.
February 1, 2002... FINESSE TUB/SHOWER DOORS with the EX Install system can reduce installation time by as much as three hours. The adjustable frame accommodates a wide range of openings, so there is no cutting required. The design requires none of the tools...

These heavy-duty cast-iron and cast-bronze y strainers.
February 1, 2002... THESE HEAVY-DUTY CAST-IRON AND CAST-BRONZE Y STRAINERS are for liquid, gas or steam services. Designed for industrial applications, iron models available in pipeline sizes up to 10" in ratings from 200 psi to 500 psi, and bronze models...

The speedrooter 91.
February 1, 2002... THE SPEEDROOTER 91 features a frame braced at key stress points, a drum supported front and rear for longer bearing wear and a reinforced cable. The unit is light enough for one person to easily load it into a truck. An adjustable height and...

Gastite corrugated stainless steel tubing.
February 1, 2002... GASTITE CORRUGATED STAINLESS STEEL TUBING, used for the distribution of natural gas and liquified petroleum in residential and commercial buildings, is now available in 1 1/2" and 2" sizes. Both new sizes are sold in 150-ft. coils, with other...

A new 20-page catalog. (Literature showcase: February 2002).
February 1, 2002... A NEW 20-PAGE CATALOG includes over 240 water coolers, drinking fountains, sinks and faucets that comply with accessibility guidelines of the Americans with Disabilities Act. All coolers and fountains feature no-lead design. Sinks include...

A new brochure "Like Having the Power of Two Water Heaters in One". (Literature showcase: February 2002).
February 1, 2002... A NEW BROCHURE "LIKE HAVING THE POWER OF TWO WATER HEATERS IN ONE" highlights the benefits of the BTI and BTN models of commercial gas water heaters. It describes how the heaters can be used for retrofit or replacement applications, and the...

Spirovent and spirotap high velocity air, dirt and air/dirt eliminators. (Literature showcase: February 2002).
February 1, 2002... SPIROVENT AND SPIROTAP HIGH VELOCITY AIR, DIRT AND AIR/DIRT ELIMINATORS are outlined in this brochure. The air and dirt eliminators described are designed especially for large volume fluid systems such as central plants and district...

The safety mixing valves product guide. (Literature showcase: February 2002).
February 1, 2002... THE SAFETY MIXING VALVES PRODUCT GUIDE features information on preventing thermal shock and scalding, a description of how mixing valves work and design considerations. It also has information on an extensive line of safety mixing valves,...

What we can learn from companies in trouble. (Editorial).(Brief Article)(Editorial)
February 1, 2002... DURING THE unprecedented run of good times in the mid-to late-'90s and into 2000, I couldn't help but get the feeling that the strong economy convinced a lot of men and women that they were really smart business people. I'm not referring...