Industry News
We would like to take this opportunity to give a special thanks to this month's sponsor -- Josam. Josam’s products have become a staple in the nonresidential construction market. Their name has become synonymous with quality and dependability. Their engineering and customer service teams specialize in both standard and customized solutions.
Josam offers a robust line of plumbing drainage products in an assortment of materials with unlimited applications. Items include cast-iron carriers and roof drains; cast-iron and stainless-steel floor drains and cleanouts; manual and automatic grease interceptors; grease sensing and alarming devices; trench drains in a range of materials including cast iron, stainless steel, polymer concrete, and fiberglass and the most complete stainless-steel drainage system available to the marketplace. Josam Co. products provide solutions for various industries including pharmaceutical, food service, light- and heavy-duty commercial, industrial and marine areas.
For more information, please visit Josam at www.josam.com.
To find out more about special e-newsletter advertising opportunities, please contact your Plumbing Engineer sales rep by visiting www.plumbingengineer.com.
State Water Heaters Honors Armed Services Members in Tribute
State Water Heaters and driver Ward Burton helped lead NASCAR fans in a Memorial Day tribute to America's Armed Forces. Held at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, NC, the salute kicked off a nationwide effort to raise funds for military families in need.
Distinguished members of the military began the tribute with a military color guard presentation and an unveiling of the newly designed cars. The NASCAR team owners, sponsors and drivers donated the space on their cars to collectively thank the Armed Forces. The #4 State Water Heaters Chevy owned by Morgan-McClure Motorsports proudly displayed a U.S. Air Force 60th anniversary paint scheme.
I was honored to participate in this salute to America's troops," Burton said. "The men and women of the Armed Forces were recognized as true American heroes, and the NASCAR community honored their efforts and their families at this special event."
Nine other NASCAR drivers participated in the event, each supporting a particular branch of the military. In addition to Burton, participating drivers included Greg Biffle, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin, Shane Huffman, Jimmie Johnson, Mark Martin, Casey Mears and Bill Elliott.
For more information, visit www.statewaterheaters.com.
SFPE Reports Americans React Incorrectly to Fire
A nationwide survey conducted by Society for Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE) reveals Americans' first reactions to fire could place them in greater danger.
When asked: "If there were a fire in your building, what would be your first action?" 39% of respondents said they would call the fire department.
"At first glance this seems like a sensible response," says Chris Jelenewicz, SFPE Engineering Program Manager. "However, people should first exit the building and then call the fire department once in a safe location."
Only 28% of Americans answered that their first action would be to leave the burning building.
Other responses included notifying others (24%), fighting the fire (4%), searching for the source of fire (3%), and search for more information (2%).
"The results of this survey are concerning," says Jelenewicz. "Delays before deciding to evacuate, time spent searching for the fire, gathering belongings and trying to fight the fire are behaviors that have been observed repeatedly in real fire situations."
When comparing the results of this survey to research on how humans behave in fire, a study of 335 fire incidents that occurred in the U.S. found the top three first reactions were: notifying others (15%), fighting the fire (10%) and searching for the fire (10%). Exiting the building, was not even among the top five things people do when they know there is a fire.
The survey also revealed that the elderly, who are statistically a high-risk group from fires, generally respond incorrectly. More than half of people 65 years old or older would first call the fire department, compared to 30% who would exit the building first.
The survey also shows that men are much more likely to try to fight the fire than women. Seven percent of men said that they would fight the fire, compared to less than 1% of women.
"There are significant differences in the way that men and women react to a fire," says Jelenewicz. "Generally, men are more likely to try and fight a fire. On the other hand, women are more likely to alert others and evacuate the building."
The survey was commissioned by the Society for Fire Protection Engineers in January 2007 by Synovate, and polled more than 1,000 American adults. The findings have a margin of error of plus (+) or minus (-) 3%.
Understanding how people might behave in fire emergencies is an important field of research in the fire protection engineering profession. This research is used by fire protection engineers to make buildings safer from fire.
For more information, visit www.sfpe.org.
ASHRAE, DOE Partner to Improve Energy Efficiency
Under a new agreement, ASHRAE and the U.S. Dept. of Energy (DOE) will work to increase building energy efficiency standards for the year 2010 by 30% over 2004 standards.
A new memorandum of understanding commits ASHRAE and DOE to improving the efficient use of energy and the viable and widespread use of renewable energy sources and to minimizing the impact of energy use on the environment.
Under the agreement, ASHRAE and the DOE are committed to working together toward the following goals:
- Promoting and supporting the continuing development of ASHRAE standards related to energy efficiency, indoor air quality and sustainability
- Supporting implementation of ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1, Energy Standard for Buildings except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, through training programs.
- Supporting the development of guidance for exceeding the minimum efficiencies set by Standard 90.1 and new performance metrics and protocols for building energy efficiency and environmental impact.
- Cooperating in and supporting research into clean and renewable sources of energy, energy efficiency in buildings and equipment and environmental impact of energy and material use.
- Cooperating in promotion of ANSI/ASHRAE standards adoption in International Organization of Standardization standards.
- Working within the building community and related professions to encourage the interoperability of building related software and integrated solutions to increase energy efficiency, health and productivity in new and existing buildings.
- Ensuring sufficient numbers of qualified building design professionals by promoting and encouraging the study of mathematics and science to pre-college students, the study of building design within college curricula and the pursuit of continuing education by practicing design professionals.
- Providing and supporting technology transfer to building owners and management about the interrelationships between mechanical systems and building operating costs, noting energy, workplace performance, client satisfaction and public safety.
- Monitoring the operational, energy and environmental impacts of new counter-terrorism design features and promoting minimization of those impacts.
For more information, contact Jodi Dunlop via e-mail at jdunlop@ashrae.org.
Rheem Heating & Cooling Division Purchases Land in Mexico
The Heating and Cooling Division of Rheem Manufacturing Co. has purchased a 37-acre commercial development site in Nuevo Laredo, in the state of Tamaulipas, Mexico. The Rheem Heating and Cooling and Water Heating Divisions currently have manufacturing operations in Nuevo Laredo.
This decision is the latest in a series of strategic business investments designed to put the company in the best position to increase market share and aggressively compete with off-shore competition. Rheem has been realigning and rationalizing manufacturing plant use over the last 36 months to optimize competitiveness, including completion of a manufacturing plant expansion in Milledgeville, GA, and reformatting its Fort Smith plant for improved manufacturing flexibility. Rheem manufacturing plant rationalization is designed to harmonize its facility operations to ensure that each plant is used most effectively in achieving the company’s strategic growth plan.
The Heating and Cooling Division plans for construction of a manufacturing facility on the Nuevo Laredo site that will join the Fort Smith and Milledgeville plants in a harmonized system of world-class manufacturing facilities capable of supplying high-quality products in greater volumes to North American and world markets. In preparation for a new Nuevo Laredo manufacturing facility, Rheem has contracted with a land-use architectural firm to conduct feasibility studies and provide design assistance for the future plant. Specifics related to plant size, construction timetable, estimated completion and occupancy, employment, and products to be manufactured in the future facility are yet to be determined. Rheem will announce future next steps as they are defined. Rheem foresees gradual evolutionary change in normal operations as its plant rationalization plan continues to unfold toward achieving lower cost operations and increased global competitiveness.
New Products
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Grease Sensing and Alarm Device: 60100H-SAP This wireless device from Josam is positioned inside the interceptor and it senses the amount of FOG in the interceptor. Prior to the FOG reaching its rated capacity, the sensor sends a signal to the wall unit and the wall unit‘s red light flashes and the alarm sounds. This alarm alerts the kitchen staff that the interceptor needs to be maintained. The grease sensing and alarm device can be fitted in almost any interceptor prior to installation or retrofitted in an interceptor that is already installed in the kitchen. This inexpensive device will ensure that the kitchen staff is fully aware when the grease interceptor needs to be cleaned. |
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Trap Primer Precision Plumbing Products has developed a battery-operated 12V Mini-Prime electronic floor drain trap priming manifold. Trap primer is designed to prime one to four drains from one location. Primer will operate priming traps once a day for 1 year at which time the battery pack, supplied by PPP is easily changed. |
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AQUAPEX Tubing Uponor has added high-density polyethylene corrugated sleeves to its 1/2 in. Wirsbo AQUAPEX tubing for use in hot and cold water distribution systems. Sleeve provides protection for installations in concrete slabs or soil, and allows for easy removal and replacement of the tubing if required. In addition, the red and blue color-coded sleeves easily identify hot and cold water lines. |
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Water Conservation Faucet Waterdecor’s Bridge faucet is able to monitor the amount of water used each day by only emitting water when necessary. Featuring Radius touch-free technology, the fixture provides automatic control and cleanliness as it enables users to rinse, operate and cleanse without touching the instrument. The control box is mounted under the sink and is designed to automate virtually any design of Waterdecor faucet. |
Movers & Shakers
Victaulic has announced the appointment of Dr. Hsiang-Cheng Kung as research director of engineering. In this role, Dr. Kung will work to advance the level of Victaulic’s research programs in the fire safety market and will apply his extensive international experience in the industry to represent Victaulic in a global capacity on multiple committees and standards bodies. |
Terry Teach has been named as the new vice president/business unit sirector, Residential, for Grundfos Pumps in the U.S. in Olathe, KS. Teach’s new area of responsibility includes the company’s successful line of residential hot water circulators as well as Grundfos core technologies and growing presence in constant pressure in the water systems markets. |
Weil-McLain, a leader in hydronic heating systems for residential and commercial structures, has named John Way as president. Way comes to Weil-McLain from Thermal Product Solutions, a unit of SPX Corp. and a global leader in thermal processing products and cost-effective engineered solutions, where he served as president. A graduate of Western Michigan University with a B.A. in Mechanical Engineering, Way has also held senior executive roles at SPX Contech, Kurdziel Industries and Auburn Foundry Inc. |
Bertrand Bouchard, president of SFA Saniflo Inc., has announced the retirement of Johan Bouwer as head of the company’s Canadian operations, effective July 31. A 20-year veteran with the company, Bouwer was president of Saniflo in Canada since 1987, and held the same post in the U.S. from 1998 until 2006. He will continue to work as a consultant at Euro Sales Inc., advising manufacturers on product certification, plumbing codes and standards. |
