Though the COVID-19 pandemic is far from over, most of our nearly 100,000 public schools across the country have opened full-time again to ensure a sense of normalcy for both children and their parents.

PM Engineer did a quick spot check with a few valve manufacturers to get their take on the commercial/industrial landscape heading into the new year and beyond.

In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, Thermo Fisher Scientific, a biotechnology company, needed to scale up its operations to match the rapidly increasing demand for its products, specifically those used for COVID-19 sample collection and transportation.

The revised software, available online at no charge, adds the ability to compare projected costs and energy usage for all HVAC systems and hot water consumption in any building based on what is known before money is spent on selection of the HVAC and water heating systems, and almost all inputs may be adjusted once the design process begins. 

The deadline to submit a presentation proposal is February 28.

Tubbs has been an SFPE member since 1995, elected a Fellow of SFPE in 2010 and has served on and/or chaired numerous SFPE committees and boards.

Heat pumps move heat from low-temperature sources to higher temperature loads. There are many types of heat pumps, but they all perform this basic thermodynamic mission.

As the year comes to a close, I have been reflecting on the past year, one filled with challenge and growth for me. In order to grow, we have to learn how to overcome challenges. 

When I first entered the trades in 1972, residential tank-style water heaters shipped with the aquastat set to approximately 140° F. Dishwashers had no need to incorporate a sanitizing cycle. Around 1977, water heater manufacturers were required to lower the aquastat temperature setting to approximately 120°, and now, dishwashers needed to incorporate a sanitizing cycle where rinse water in their reservoir was raised to 140° or higher.

I recently attended a Chicago ASPE Chapter meeting that had a presentation on heat pump water heaters. The presentation was excellent. The information and the way it was presented was extremely beneficial to the plumbing and mechanical engineering community.

Napoleon’s NS18 heat pump and air handler series is an all-in-one heating and cooling system for year-round comfort—100% heat in the winter and 100% cool in the summer, the company states.

Viega’s Radiant Auto-Balancing System (RABS) delivers an unprecedented level of control and consistency in radiant heating systems, the company explains.

Grundfos’ new CR 255 pump features a hydraulic design that improves everything from impeller and guide vanes to inlet, discharge port, sleeve and diffuser, taking current energy efficiency and performance standards for vertical multi-sage inline pumps to the next level, the company notes.

U.S. Boiler Co. proudly introduces the Alta boiler. Available in heating and combi models, the all-new Alta offers next-generation gas adaptive technology, providing no touch 5-minute startup, automatic self-calibration, and sensor-less outdoor reset.