PM Engineer

Low-Flow Toilets Need Love

By this time, consumers are used to seeing EnergyStar labels on big appliances such as refrigerators. Now it's time to start expecting similar efficiency labels for toilets. For more on this hot topic, click here to read Karen Lovett's entire story at nashuatelegraph.com.

First Pressurized New World Plumbing Discovered

It seems as though scientists have discovered the earliest known example of plumbing with pressurized water in the New World, located in the ancient Mayan city of Palenque, Mexico.

The New And Improved pme!
Starting with the June 2010 issue, pme will be relaunched with a redesigned look (print, digital and online) and an expanded editorial focus. For more information on these exciting changes, click here.

New & Improved Rep Directory
The 2010 Rep Locator, created in collaboration by pme, Plumbing & Mechanical and Supply House Times magazines and AIM/R, provides a comprehensive, user-friendly database of manufacturers reps in the plumbing market that will be available in print, online and in digital format. The new rep directory will be published in the June print editions of pme, Plumbing & Mechanical and Supply House Times and will be available in digitial format on the three magazines' Web sites.

Grundfos Opens Testing Facility
Grundfos Pumps recently added a 4,000-sq.-ft., state-of-the-art testing facility (Pictured, right) alongside its production plant located in Wahlstedt, Germany.

Field Tester Requirement Changes
The American Society of Sanitary Engineering has made changes to the requirements for field tester applicants of the ASSE One Year Field Test Program in order to provide clarity within the industry.

Reviewers Sought For Updated Standard
The Hydraulic Institute, under the approval of the American National Standards Institute, is seeking qualified individuals in North America to participate in the review process for the draft of update Standard, American National Standard for Rotodynamic (Centrifugal and Vertical) Pump Tests (ANSI/HI 14.6-201x). To participate in the ANSI/HI canvass, contact Karen Anderson at kanderson@pumps.org or call 973/267-9700, extension 123.

Kason Industries Decision
The U.S. Department of Justice, Antitrust Division announced Kason Industries has agreed to plead guilty to violating antitrust laws. The investigation was prompted by Component Hardware Group's notification of certain communications between CHG (a manufacturer and distributor of premium commercial plumbing and hardware products) and Kason. To read more on this case via the FBI's Atlanta bureau Web site, click here. 

Silent Knight Fire Alarm Training
Silent Knight by Honeywell recently announced the nationwide Knight School series of educational seminars covering introductory fire alarm information to hands-on technical training on its IntelliKnight systems.

Green Scene
Mandatory Green Building Code
California has adopted mandatory building regulations for all new construction in the state that will achieve major reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption and water use. The CALGREEN Code is the nation's first statewide green building standards code and will take effect Jan. 1, 2011.

New Green Group Formed 
The U.S. Regenerative Network, led by green-building pioneer David Gottfried, held its inaugural forum in Berkeley, Calif., in late April. Gottfried, the founder of the U.S. Green Building Council, created the network to develop a highly dynamic, collaborative business consortium of leading green building project manufacturers and service providers.

Firm Honored
Armistead Mechanical, Inc., a fourth-generation mechanical contracting and engineering firm with offices in New Jersey and New York, was recently presented with the Gold Safety Award by the Northeastern Subcontractors Association (NESCA) in recognition of outstanding jobsite safety in 2009. Photo: Armistead Mechanical President and 2010 MCAA President Robert T. Armistead

Mestek Appoints Executive
Mestek recently hired Doug Bolasevich as its new sales manager-boiler products. Bolasevich will work on the national level supporting all Mestek boiler lines and will support all regional managers as well as explore new market segments and territories.


ASHRAE Certification
ASHRAE recently awarded Comfort Systems USA Energy Services Senior Vice President Timothy P. Staley a Commissioning Process Management Professional (CPMP) certification.

Eemax Names Distributor
Eemax has named Billingsley and Associates of Kenner, La., its primary distributor of Eemax commercial electric tankless water heaters for the Louisiana territory.

CHG Appoints EVP
Component Hardware Group (CHG) recently appointed Ed Whartnaby as its new executive vice president. Whartnaby has over two decades of experience in strategic leadership and implementing sales and marketing campaigns for the technical equipment and hardware industries in North America.

Bradley Names Engineering Director
Bradley Corp. recently appointed Richard G. Dykowski to the position of director of engineering. He will lead all aspects of Bradley's product and project design and development. Dykowski is both a professional engineer and attorney.

BIM Video Checkout

  Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago is building the new Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago and is using Building Information Modeling (BIM). Click here to see a 30-second demonstration of how 3D animation is used to plan for construction of an operating room.

It's Time To Get Serious About Sprinkler Retrofits...Again!
by Bob Miodonski

IAPMO Begins 2010 Code Cycle
by Julius Ballanco, P.E., CPD

Safety Gone Wrong
by Tim Fausch

Why I'm Bullish on America
by Jim Olsztynski

Reverse Mentoring
by Joel Roel--Construction Links 

The Fire Sprinkler Debate
The newest installment of the Institute of Business & Home Safety's Disaster Safety Blog features a debate on the hot topic of fire sprinklers being required to be installed in newly built townhouses in 2010 and single-family homes in 2011.

Got something to get off your chest? You, too, can be a blogger sharing opinions, insights and experiences with fellow professionals.
Send us your article or just tell us what you want to say by contacting Mike Miazga at miazgam@bnpmedia.com, or Bob Miodonski at miodonskib@bnpmedia.com.

AEC Store Corner Featured Product
Further your technical education and industry knowledge at the AEC Store.

Radiant Precision Manual // $91.65
John Siegenthaler, one of the undisputed leading experts in the field of radiant heating and cooling, has rewritten this book from cover to cover. RADIANT PRECISION is the manual for the RPA's advanced course in the design and control of radiant panel heating systems. It is also designed for self study.This book is not for the faint at heart. It is designed for the serious student or consummate expert of radiant heating and cooling. It is filled with the formulas, graphics and excellent schematics that John has become known for. Within its pages can be found everything from simple tube layout to intense calculations for flow restrictors in manifold assemblies. System design and wiring schematics for the latest in controls are explained in detail. Zoning, hydraulic separation, flow and pressure balancing, buffer tanks, mixing controls, mini-tube systems, proportional- integral-derivative (PID) controls and multi-load systems are just a few of the topics covered. CLICK HERE for more info.

Visit AECStore.com to view view more products for PVF Pros. 

Electronic Dual-Flush Functionality
Sloan's hardwire ECOS retrofit kit is suitable for converting most manual and electronic single-flush valves and provides immediate water savings with its reduced flush cycle. Converting a 1.0 gpf urinal to a 0.5 gpf high-efficiency urinal flushometer like the Sloan ECOS could potentially save 20,000 gallons of water per year in an average men's restroom. The kit is powered by a low-voltage AC line.

Cast Iron Roof Drains
Sioux Chief's new 20-inch large-capacity roof drains are available with 10-inch and 12-inch no hub connections. A 15-inch model is used in most standard roof drain applications, while the 20-inch model is designed for large-capacity or high-volume applications.
  
Saniflo Marine Toilets
SFA Saniflo's SANIMARIN upflush toilets, all specially designed for marine applications, combine comfort, efficiency and reliability while eliminating excessive noise associated with vacuum-operated or hand-pump units.

Bottle Filling Station
Ideal for education, fitness, hospitality and healthcare facilities, the new HYROBOOST™ Bottle Filling Station from Halsey Taylor provides end users with a rapid fill of cold, clean filtered water for their existing bottles and cups, offering an alternative to drinking and discarding plastic bottles of water.

Flexible Lavatory
USA Fixtures' flexible lavatory meets the requirements of rigorous daily use and provides ADA-approved access at all faucets when needed. The lavatory is fabricated out of high-grade stainless steel and mounted on secure wall-mounted brackets. The backsplash is designed to allow for a mirror to be at the correct ADA height.

Installation Diagram
Webstone's 11 x 17-inch laminated reference diagram depicts proper plumbing of systems and easily highlights the amount of time and leak paths saved by using the proper Webstone products in hydronic heating systems.

Digital 2010 Radiant Flooring
Guide Now Available
The 2010 Radiant Flooring Guide is an indispensable tool for engineers and other project team members. It provides all the information for making proper choices on flooring over radiant heating systems, including an updated directory of radiant floor product manufacturers.

To purchase printed copies of the 2010 Radiant Flooring Guide for $15, contact Stephanie Weingartz at weingartzs@bnpmedia.com, phone 248-244-1275, or visit www.AECstore.com.