Industry News
We would like to take this opportunity to give a special thanks to this edition's sponsor -- Metraflex...For pipes in motion. Vibration isolation. Noise dampening. Thermal expansion and contraction. Pipe alignment and seismic movement. Pump connections and flow conditioning. Metraflex has been supplying piping specialty products to the commercial HVAC industry since 1958.
View www.metraflex.com for further information.
To find out more about special e-newsletter advertising opportunities, please contact your Plumbing Engineer sales rep by visiting www.plumbingengineer.com.
Trends, techniques and technology to be addressed at ’09 AHR Expo
The latest trends, technologies and techniques impacting all segments of the HVAC/R industry will be addressed as part of the extensive educational programming offered at the 2009 AHR EXPO, January 26-28, 2009 at Chicago’s McCormick Place.
Featuring 70 sessions and workshops presented by the industry’s leading trade associations, topics range from achieving sustainability and energy reduction to the economics of energy, best practices and the latest trends and techniques in HVAC/R.
In addition to 30 educational sessions and workshops offered by the ASHRAE Learning Institute, 29 free sessions will be presented by 18 associations during AHR. For more info, www.ahrexpo.com.
Inspectors prefer Uniform Plumbing Code says survey
The Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) is considered the most applicable plumbing code in the United States by a majority of plumbing inspectors in the nation’s most populous cities recently surveyed by the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign’s Institute of Labor and Industrial Relations.
The survey titled “National Report on Plumbing Licensure, Codes and Quality of Workmanship” and commissioned by the Plumbing Industry Council (PIC) queried inspectors from 74 major metropolitan cities representing one-sixth of the nation’s population.
Inspectors found the UPC to be the most “efficient and least confusing” of codes, according to the survey, and more inspectors believe the UPC protects quality plumbing and workmanship “extremely well” on commercial (89.5 percent of those surveyed) and residential (90 percent) sites than do so about other codes.
Another aspect of the survey indicated a definitive preference (90.1 percent) among inspectors for the work of licensed plumbers over that of certified or non-certified/non-licensed plumbers. The results indicated a perceived connection between stricter license requirements and higher quality workmanship. More respondents indicated that the licensing standard protects quality workmanship “extremely well” when each journeyman was licensed than when one plumber was licensed or the contractor only was licensed.
Among survey participants, an overwhelming majority of respondents (65.8 percent) indicated they’d like to see the commercial and residential codes combined. Of those who stated a preference, nearly twice as many said they’d prefer that be done under the UPC as those who favored other codes.
Residential fire sprinkler market potential exceeds $3 billion annually
A national market potential for the installation of residential fire sprinklers is examined in a new report Residential Fire Sprinklers Market Growth and Labor Demand Analysis (PDF, 913 KB), authored by fire protection industry expert Russ Leavitt, SET, CFPS, with contributions by Steven Scandaliato, SET, and Ryan J. Smith. According to the report, the required installation of residential fire sprinklers in newly constructed one and two family houses has the potential to exceed $3 billion annually.
Using three different methods of calculating market potential, results for residential fire sprinkler installations in the United States ranged from $2.9 billion to $3.2 billion annually. Further, four types of labor were analyzed to project the number of additional positions needed as residential fire sprinkler requirements are adopted across the country.
“There’s no question that the recent passing of residential fire sprinkler requirements to the International Residential Code will change the industry in a breath and timeline never experienced before,” said Russ Leavitt, SET, CFPS. “How the industry responds to the need for additional skilled labor will determine how quickly this market potential can be fully realized.”
The report considers the extent of design, installation and jurisdictional enforcement labor that will be needed to accommodate the residential fire sprinkler market growth. Most staggering is the projected amount of sprinkler installation labor that will be required as the conservative analysis calculates over 7000 additional positions.
The Residential Fire Sprinklers Market Growth and Labor Demand Analysis, published by Fire Smarts, LLC, is available for download at www.ResidentialFireSprinklers.com.
New Products
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FIRELOOP expansion joint Protect fire sprinkler systems across seismic separations and building joints with the Fireloop. The Metraflex® FIRELOOP expansion joint simplfies designing movement into your system. It takes less space. It installs faster and easier. And it effectively protects critical sprinkler piping systems from breaking during a seismic event. Metraflex. |
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Rainwater harvesting technology Simple to install, operate, and maintain. It is convenient in the sense that it provides water at the point of consumption and operating costs are negligible. Water collected from the roof catchment is available for use in non-potable applications such as toilets and urinal flushing, laundries, mechanical systems, custodial uses, and for site irrigation. Since rainwater is collected using existing structures, i.e., the roof, rainwater harvesting has few negative environmental impacts compared to other water supply project technologies. Jay R. Smith Mfg. Co. |
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Pro-Fit offerings for larger size pumps Taco has been supplying replacement parts for Armstrong and B&G pumps since 2002 under its PRO-FIT name. Now Taco has expanded its PRO-FIT replacement parts program providing parts for larger size pumps – specifically the A size B&G 60 Series and the Armstrong H60 Series. Taco’s ProFit replacement parts program includes five maintenance free bearing assemblies for the bronze and cast iron pump versions. The replacement PRO-FIT bearing assemblies include a quiet running, permanently sealed ball bearing cartridge assembly with a stainless steel shaft. Additional PRO-FIT replacement parts include bearing covers, motors, coupler kits, seals, replacement cartridge kits and body gaskets. Taco.
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Convalescent product guide Convalescent product guide highlights items designed to cater to the needs of this growing market. The guide features information on Moen’s extensive line of showering products and bathroom faucets to meet facility managers’ needs for durability, safety and style. These ADA approved products are ideal for nursing homes, hospitals and even in-home heath care. Moen Commercial.
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Movers & Shakers
Anvil International, a manufacturer of pipe fittings, pipe hangers and supports, announced the following new hires and sales promotion. Matt Lux of Auburn, Alabama has joined Anvil as its U.S. director of Commodity Account Sales. He will focus on Anvil’s domestic iron fitting and pipe nipple products with existing accounts and work with Anvil’s regional sales teams to identify and develop new business opportunities. Mitch Bevill of Birmingham, Alabama has been promoted to director of sales, Eastern U.S., for the AnvilStar Fire Products Division. Bobby Brown of Montgomery, Texas has joined Anvil’s mechanical/industrial sales team for the Southwest region, focusing on sales within the Greater Houston area. |