2022 August

Technology influences MEP design software

AI, prefabrication help engineers streamline designs.

August 15, 2022

The rapidly evolving software segment for the MEP industry continues to enhance engineers’ designs with more details and collaboration than ever before.

By the numbers: America's hidden water crisis

August 24, 2022

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DigDeep, a human rights non-profit working to ensure that every American has clean, running water forever, recently released a new report entitled: “Draining: The Economic Impact of America’s Hidden Water Crisis.”

John Siegenthaler guest-stars on PBS’ “Ask This Old House.”

PM Engineer Profile: Air-to-water heat pumps gaining national attention

Nicole Krawcke

August 22, 2022

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PM Engineer Columnist John Siegenthaler guest-stars on PBS’ “Ask This Old House.”

Water management programs in health care

Industry sees increasing need for educated analysts and operators to help maintain these critical utilities.

John Mullen

August 19, 2022

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With new and emerging water management standards, critical environments such as health care facilities must retool their systems and retrain their workers to provide better care quality and ensure patient safety throughout the built environment.

Spot check on the boiler market

Decarbonization and access to troubleshooting among peak demands of contractors, specifiers and end users.

Natalie Forster

August 17, 2022

One Comment

According to the experts, there is opportunity and demand in many segments of the boiler market with multi-family and single-family projects driving both the new construction and remodel segments.

Nicole Krawcke: Designing plumbing and mechanical systems in a weird economy

Engineers need to stay current on supply chain delays and material costs.

Nicole Krawcke

August 12, 2022

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This past weekend, my husband and I traveled to beautiful Charlevoix, Michigan — that’s about a four-hour drive North of the metro-Detroit area. Totally worth it — summer and fall are both great times to visit! We drove up to attend a friend’s wedding. Unfortunately, the wedding date was held during an annual summer festival in Charlevoix, and hotel rooms were in high demand.

CAD programs with integrated AI or VR systems

Guest Editorial: 10 ways AI and R are revolutionizing CAD

Stay ahead of the curve.

David Spergel

August 10, 2022

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For more than two decades, computer-aided design (CAD) has been widely used in a variety of industries, from architecture and engineering to product design and manufacturing. The purpose of this technology is to create or modify digital models of three-dimensional objects, making the design process more efficient and accurate.

Dan Holohan: What I learned during the 1930s

Cheap matters.

Dan Holohan

August 8, 2022

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I was, I’m sure, not even in the minds of my someday-to-be parents, but I’ve spent a lot of time in that decade of the Great Depression nonetheless. I like to think of them as teenagers as they wondered what was to be. They truly were the Greatest Generation.

Devid Dexter: The merits of regulations

Don’t throw out the baby with the bath water.

David Dexter

August 5, 2022

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Regulations have been a big topic over the past several years. Politicians, trying to make a public name, have been pushing for the reduction of regulations. They like to claim that these regulations are an impediment to economic growth and entry into certain professions. While some of this may have merit, one needs to “not throw out the baby with the bath water.”

Ethan Grossman: Talking standard deviation using flush rates

Ends justifying the means

Ethan Grossman P.E., CPD

August 3, 2022

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When people say that the “ends justify the means,” it is usually an excuse for screwing something up and shrugging their shoulders as if to say, “Oh well, I got the result I wanted and that’s all that matters.” It reminds me of that impulse you have when you are a kid playing a practical joke that you know is probably a bad idea, but do it anyway because you want that thrill you feel after your plot, usually at someone else’s expense, has been executed. It’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt.

John Siegenthaler: System designs need numbers to guide decisions

Numbers inform design

August 1, 2022

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I’ve written several “Heating with Renewable Energy ”columns covering the benefits of combining modern hydronics technology with modern air-to-water heat pumps.

Julius Ballanco: Government report ignores Uniform Codes

FEMA dislikes IAPMO

Julius Ballanco P.E., CPD

July 28, 2022

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The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued a document in March entitled, “Building Codes Strategy.” I finally received a copy in late April. I would encourage you to download the document and read what FEMA has to say.

Letter to the Editor: August 2022

August 12, 2022

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The following remarks were made regarding the article “Decarbonization and electrification — are we there yet?” written by Julius Ballanco, P.E., CPD, F-ASPE, president of J.B. Engineering and Code Consulting, published in the May 2022 issue of PM Engineer:

ASSE/IAPMO/ANSI 12080 for Legionella Water Safety and Management Personnel now available

July 14, 2022

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All candidates for ASSE 12080 Legionella Water Safety and Management Specialist Certification must successfully complete a 24-hour training course encompassing all aspects of ASSE Standard 12080, and successfully pass a 100-question written exam demonstrating core competencies in environmental testing, risk assessment, water safety and management programs, mitigation and remediation methods, construction and renovation and case investigation.

ASHRAE commits to broad building decarbonization initiatives

July 13, 2022

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The ASHRAE Task Force for Building Decarbonization (TFBD) is seeking working group members for the development of six decarbonization guides and corresponding training courses.

Andres Caballero named president of Uponor North America

July 6, 2022

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He will be based in Apple Valley, Minnesota, reporting to Michael Rauterkus, president and CEO, Uponor Corp.

Product Focus: Radiant Products

tekmar smart boiler control

August 5, 2022

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tekmar Smart Boiler Control 294 provides domestic hot water heating by operating up to four boilers.

Product Focus: Radiant Products

Resideo magnetic hydraulic separator

August 4, 2022

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Resideo’s Magnetic Hydraulic Separator protects modern hydronic installs by providing control and protection through air, debris, dirt and ferrous removal, plus critical flow management between connected hydraulic circuits.

Product Focus: Radiant Products

Taco Comfort Solutions Radiant mixing block

August 3, 2022

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The Taco Radiant Mixing Block is a complete injection mixing system, combining a variable speed injection mixing control, injection circulator, system circulator and air elimination in one unit.