The February 2022 issue of PM Engineer features Infrastructure improvements on the horizon, Protect CPVC and PEX pipes from harm, Top 20 Products of 2021, and much more!
The United States is failing, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) 2021 Infrastructure Report Card. The nation’s 2.2 million miles of underground pipes delivering clean drinking water is aging and underfunded.
See what tools and equipment caught readers’ attention throughout 2021 in our Top 20 Products list.
February 23, 2022
Each year, Plumbing & Mechanical Engineer editors receive thousands of product releases from industry manufacturers. The 20 products highlighted here have earned the distinction of being PM’s Top Products of 2021 based on the number of page views on pmengineer.com Congratulations to those products on this year’s list.
On a military base in east-central Alaska — where the average winter temperature is 16° F with lows that fall well below minus 50° at times — dependable, low-maintenance winter heating systems are critical for the active-duty military families and Department of Defense civilians who live on the military post.
Over the past 60 years, plastic piping materials have evolved from a new alternative to the material of choice for building and construction applications such as hot- and cold-water plumbing distribution, fire protection and mechanical systems like hydronics and chilled water.
In the hospitality industry, the last thing you want to do to a hotel full of guests is shut off the water. But when you have no choice, you want that inconvenience to be over as quickly as possible.
Last month, two multi-family residential buildings 100 miles away from each other caught fire just days apart, resulting in the deaths of nearly 30 people.
I read somewhere that the most prevalent machine in the world is the electric motor. I thought about that for a while and it made sense. Just look around. But then I began to wonder what the second-most prevalent machine in the world is. Turns out it’s the pump!
Recently, there was a discussion on the ASPE Open Forum regarding, “Plumbing Pipe Thermal Expansion and Expansion Fitting.” Generally, this topic would be found within your specifications under Section 22 05 16, “Expansion Fittings and Loops for Plumbing Piping;” this topic is under-discussed, and in many cases, poorly understood by many designers and engineers.
“Drain carry” is a catchy term for the more technical phrase “The Drainline Transport of Solid Waste in Buildings.” Plumbing contractors and drain-line specialists will understand the challenges associated with clogged drains better than anyone since they are the ones who get the calls and see what gets put down the drain.
As interest and incentives build to transition space heating and domestic water heating systems away from fossil fuels and toward electricity, a somewhat predictable but only marginally quantified problem is developing. Two words describe it: Peak demand.
The most powerful section of any code is the alternative approval section. This section is typically found in either the administrative chapter of the code or the general requirements chapter. Every code has an alternative approval section. Basically, the alternative approval section allows an applicant to file a request for acceptance of anything that is either not allowed in the code or is restricted in the code.
Rheem has acquired DEJONG, an independent manufacturer and supplier of stainless-steel hot water tanks, from Nordian Capital. Founded in 1859 and based in Gorredijk, the Netherlands, DEJONG produces hot water tanks for multiple applications including solar, heat pump and boiler configurations
For buildings in any seismic zone, the ICC-ES certification will simplify the requirements for pipe supports and seismic bracing of these piping systems.
Founded in 1990, VEP provides a patented shield product designed for all types of piping, as well as seismic applications, and has built its reputation on providing responsive customer service and innovative product design.
Napolean’s NS18 heat pump and air handler is an all-in-one heating and cooling system for year-round comfort—100% heat in the winter and 100% cool in the summer.
Bradford White’s KwickShot is a reliable and easily installed tankless electric water heater available in thermostatic and non-thermostatic models to meet a range of water temperature needs in a variety of everyday applications, the company explains.
Green Link has changed the composition of its straps and caps from urethane to injection molded glass-reinforced nylon, still retaining the striking “safety yellow” color.
Grundfos’ CR 255 features a new hydraulic design improves everything from impeller to guide vanes to inlet, discharge port, sleeve, and diffuser, taking current energy efficiency and performance standards for vertical multi-stage inline pumps to the next level, the company notes.
Engineers have a safe and reliable solution for wastewater transfer with the NCX series of explosion-proof submersible non-clog pumps from FPS, a brand of Franklin Electric.