MARCH 2010
$5.00
www.hpacmag.com
CMX•CIPHEX 2010 IN THIS ISSUE
IN THIS Proper Pipe Sizing ISSUE
>
Earth Tube Heat Exchangers The Resurgence of CO2 How Green Are You? About Tankless Solar Drainback Systems PM 40070230 R10815 Returns: HPAC P.O. Box 720 Stn. K, Toronto, ON M4P 3J6
The revolution in whole-home comfort continues. You already know Zuba-Central as the ground-breaking Canadian innovation in year-round residential HVAC with Energy Star compliance. This year, the evolution continues with impressive improvements, including and a new user-friendly digital thermostat. So make the intelligent choice. Give your customers the advanced level of comfort and dramatic savings that only Zuba-Central can provide.
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liability. Figures may vary depending on application and energy provider. For an accurate account of potential savings, Mitsubishi Electric Canada recommends a thorough energy audit to be completed by a qualified dealer or technician.
†
Mike Miller, Business Development Manager
Simply Controls At Uponor, we believe that our controls offerings provide the most innovative solutions in the industry. This commitment is reinforced by the people who represent our product. People like Mike Miller, a controls expert who shares his extensive knowledge and experience with our customers. It’s that commitment to customers and innovation that helps to ensure we deliver results that exceed your expectations. That’s because at Uponor we offer Simply More.
Uponor Climate Cŏntrol Network System
www.uponor.com
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Refrigeration Back To The Future
VOL. 84 NO. 2
44
Dave Demma discusses the worldwide resurgence of CO2 in the refrigeration landscape.
CMX/CIPHEX 2010
SHOW GUIDE Introduction p 44 Seminar Schedule p 48 Learning Forum p 53
28
Floorplan p 64 Exhibitor List p 66 Product Showcase p 74
Plumbing Sizing Is Everything Two of the most common customer complaints are easily solved by properly sizing water supply pipe, according to Steve Goldie.
FEATURES 20 Hydronics
38 Plumbing
Practice What You Preach John Siegenthaler on stepping up to the plate and delivering green hydronic systems.
Seeking A National Solution Mark Evans outlines efforts by industry stakeholders to standardize codes and standards.
32 Wiring & Controls Enhance System Performance Mike Miller on the features and benefits to look for in a control system.
34 HVAC & IAQ
40 Hydronics Coming Of Age Raman Chauhan explains the history behind the referencing of CSA B214 in NBC 2010.
Down To Earth Robert Bean explores why earth tube heat exchangers do and do not make sense.
PRODUCTS 74 CMX/CIPHEX Product Showcase DEPARTMENTS 7 Upfront 9
Industry News
16
MSN
125
Calendar
122
Training
123
The Source
heatfab
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The industry leader in Special Gas Vent introduces new alternative alloy SGV/DGV Special Gas Vent Systems. Available in both Single Wall and Double Wall designs, SGV/DGV features a proprietary stainless steel alloy - 4X3™ that offers superior corrosion resistance at an economical price point. These new systems feature installer-friendly connections and built-in silicone seals, so field applied RTV is not required. NEW • 3 & 4 inch sizes for • Single Wall and • Listed to UL1738 and 4X3 STAINLESS residential applications Double Wall Systems ULC S-636
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VOL. 84 NO. 2
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Plumbing Exploring A New Profit Centre
HPAC MAGAZINE One Mount Pleasant Rd. Toronto, ON M4Y 2Y5 TEL: 416-764-2000 FAX: 416-764-1746 www.hpacmag.com EDITOR Kerry Turner (416) 764-1549 kerry.turner@hpacmag.rogers.com ACCOUNT David Skene (416) 764-1590 MANAGER david.skene@hpacmag.rogers.com ACCOUNT John Chiasson 416-764-1557 MANAGER john.chiasson@hpacmag.rogers.com
Pat Martin discusses the benefits that tankless water heaters bring to the marketplace.
SALES & MARKETING Kim Rossiter (416) 764-1787 COORDINATOR kim.rossiter@rci.rogers.com ART DIRECTOR Melissa Crook (416) 764-1545 mel.crook@rci.rogers.com PRODUCTION MANAGER Jennifer Reinhardt (416) 764-3842 jennifer.reinhardt@rci.rogers.com CIRCULATION MANAGER Bibi Khan (416) 764-1450 bibi.khan@rci.rogers.com PUBLISHER Peter Leonard (416) 764-1510 peter.leonard@hpacmag.rogers.com EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER Tim Dimopoulos
46 Management On The Block
110
Mark Groulx lets you know what to expect when you take your business to market.
106
Human Resources Interviewing and Selection, It’s Worth Doing Right Christa Hale shares the key elements to making a well-informed hiring decision.
46
Robert Bean, Hank Bulmash, Raman Chauhan, CONTRIBUTORS Dave Demma, Mark Evans, Steve Goldie, THIS ISSUE: Mark Groulx, Christa Hale, Heather Koehn, Pat Martin, Mike Miller, John Siegenthaler ROGERS MEDIA INC. PRESIDENT AND CEO Anthony P. Viner ROGERS PUBLISHING LTD. PRESIDENT AND CEO Brian Segal SENIOR VICE-PRESIDENT BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL PUBLISHING John Milne SENIOR VICE-PRESIDENTS Michael Fox VICE-PRESIDENTS Immee Chee Wah, Patrick Renard
PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40070230, REGISTRATION NO. 10815 Return undeliverable items to: Heating Plumbing Air Conditioning, Circulation Dept., 8th Floor–1 Mount Pleasant Road, Toronto, ON M4Y 2Y5 Heating Plumbing Air Conditioning (established 1923) is published 7 times per year by Rogers Publishing Limited, a division of Rogers Media Inc. HPAC Magazine is the leading Canadian business publication for the owner/manager of mechanical contracting businesses and their supply partners. ISSN: 0017-9418 Contents Copyright © 2010 by Rogers Publishing Limited, may not be reprinted without permission. SUBSCRIBER SERVICES: To subscribe, renew your subscription or to change your address or information… please visit us at rogersb2bmedia.com/hpac. Subscription Price per year: $40.00 CDN; Outside Canada per year: $80.00 US; Single copy Canada: $5.00 CDN. Heating Plumbing Air Conditioning is published 7 times per year except for occasional combined, expanded or premium issues, which count as two subscription issues.
114
Solar Panel
Anatomy Of A Solar Drainback System – Part I Of the two anti-freezeless design options, drainback is the clear leader, contends John Siegenthaler.
118
Plumbing
Ensuring Accessibility In An Emergency A changing workforce means changing requirements for fixtures, reports Heather Koehn.
MAIL PREFERENCES: Occasionally we make our subscriber list available to reputable companies whose products or services may be of interest to you. If you do not want your name to be made available please contact us at rogers@cstonecanada.com or update your profile at rogersb2bmedia.com/hpac. HPAC Magazine receives unsolicited materials (including letters to the editor, press releases, promotional items and images) from time to time. HPAC Magazine, its affiliates and assignees may use, reproduce, publish, re-publish, distribute, store and archive such unsolicited submissions in whole or in part in any form or medium whatsoever, without compensation of any sort. NOTICE: HPAC Magazine, Rogers Publishing Limited, their staff, officers, directors and shareholders (hence known as the “Publisher”) assume no liability, obligations, or responsibility for claims arising from advertised products. The Publisher also reserves the right to limit liability for editorial errors, omissions and oversights to a printed correction in a subsequent issue. HPAC Magazine’s editorial is written for management level mechanical industry personnel who have documented training in the mechanical fields in which they work. Manufacturers’ printed instructions, datasheets and notices always take precedence to published editorial statements. Our environmental policy is available at rogerspublishing.ca.
126
Finance
Evolution…And Capital Gains Tax Ignore the capital gains exemption at your own peril cautions Hank Bulmash.
6
HPAC | MARCH 2010
We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP) toward our mailing costs.
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HPACMAG.COM
Upfront
TAMING THE BEAST By
all accounts our industry is on
an upswing. AHR Expo reported good numbers, both in terms of exhibitors and visitors. CMX/CIPHEX is reporting a flurry of activity in the final lead up to the show. The shock of the economic crisis is over and businesses and individuals are learning to live with the resultant uncertainty. The question is how long will that uncertainty remain a factor? It will not be a speedy recovery according to Peter G. Hall, Export Development Canada vice-president and chief economist, who believes it is the lagging indicators we need to be aware of. “They are the final waves that recessions send crashing into an economy, and depending on their timing, can wreak havoc with nascent recovery,” noted Hall in his February 24, 2010 weekly commentary. The weakening of the commercial construction sector is a key indicator cited by Hall. “Long lead-times ensure that recessions are always well underway before the commercial
construction sector reacts. In Canada’s last two recessions, private non-residential construction saw some of its largest declines up to eight quarters after the technical recession ended,” he said. “U.S. investment in non-residential structures saw steep declines persist for a year or more after the 1981-82 and 1990-91 recessions, and the sector sustained six successive scathing declines in the 2001 economic slowdown. In all cases, declines were still occurring as robust recovery kicked in.” The current recession is no different but continued drops in this segment of the economy are unlikely to directly derail recovery, contended Hall. Reassuring words as we continue to hope that the leading indicators tame the lagging indicators (and the unease) over the next few months. In the interim, the enthusiasm around and participation in events such as CMX/CIPHEX, remain a reasonable barometer of the industry's health. Editor
“New” Primary/SecoNdary control Station Simplify your installations and increase profits with the new “PSS” Control Station from HPS ControlS • Primary loop with pump and the choice of 1 to 4 secondary zone pumps all within a 32” x 32” footprint! • “NEW” Circuitry allows each zone to be set, supplying either high or low temperature output from a condensing boiler. • All field settings can be adjusted using jumpers. • Upgraded pumps available. • Contact us for more information.
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March 2010 | HPAC
7
ŏ Climate Control™ Zoning System Offers Wireless Control of Radiant Zones for Faster Installation, Greater Comfort Control The Climate Co˘ntrol™ Zoning System uses the latest wireless
The wireless thermostats offer battery
technology for complete radiant control in every room of
status indication - running on two
a home or building — offering users a system that is more
standard AAA batteries - and are
convenient to control and requires less time for contractors to
available in a white or silver finish.
set up and install.
For flexible placement and integration with interior décor, the thermostats can mount on a wall or sit on a stand on tables or shelves. An ideal solution for retrofits and remodels, the Zoning System installs easily and is intuitive to set up. It offers competitive savings, beating installation costs once one base unit controls three or more zones or even on a traditional five zone install on hardware alone – not to mention additional labour savings. Offering significantly less wiring from remote to actuator location – relocation of thermostats is also made easy.
The Zoning System includes a radio-controlled base unit, an interface module and wireless thermostats. The base unit uses a special FCC-approved radio protocol to ensure consistent signal quality. Connecting up to 12 wireless thermostats, the unit can also accommodate and control up to 14 thermal actuators. Additional base units are also able to link together for larger installations. The interface module can control up to three base units, offering remote monitoring of setpoints and room
User- and contractor-friendly, Uponor’s Climate Co˘ntrol™
temperatures with the ability to set adjustment limits for the
Zoning System offers dependability, convenience and the
thermostats. Able to assign a
ultimate in comfort control.
room name to each thermostat and speed troubleshooting by displaying status issues, the device also has an exercising feature for valves and pumps, automatic
Formerly Wirsbo
summer and winter settings and night setbacks for thermostats.
8
HPAC | March 2010
hpacmag.com
SEE THE LATEST HPAC e-newsletter @ hpacmag.com
Industry News
NEWS
AIR CONDITIONING SETBACK BYLAW UNREALISTIC
A proposed residential setback zoning bylaw for residential air conditioning units in the City of Toronto has raised industry concern. Most units in the city are installed on the ground and the proposed requirement of 1.5 m clearance from the side property lines is thought to be onerous. In the comments submitted to the city's zoning committee, the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute (HRAI) noted that that there are very few homes in Toronto that have enough property to allow 1.5 m between the outermost edge of the unit and the property line. HRAI added, "taking into account the typical width of the outdoor portion of the air conditioner, the house would have to be more than six metres from the property line to allow for this requirement to be met. This increase in distance from 0.8 m is simply not realistic in Toronto." The HRAI submission recognized that Toronto has a separate noise bylaw that includes requirements for residential air conditioning and because of this, the association does not understand why the proposed bylaw includes such excessive setback requirements. HRAI recommended that the sections in question contain a minimum side yard and corner lot setback of 0.9 m. This will ensure new and replacement air conditioning systems can be offered to homeowners in Toronto. For more information, contact Warren Heeley at 800-267-2231 ext. 227 or e-mail warren.heeley@hrai.ca.
GREEN ROOFS RULE IN TORONTO The City of Toronto Green Roof Bylaw was adopted by Toronto City Council on May 26, 2009 and went into effect for all new building permit applications made after January 31, 2010 (residential, commercial and institutional) and January 31, 2011 for all new industrial development. A green roof is required for development above 2,000 m2 gross floor area with the graduated coverage requirement ranging from 20-60 per cent of the available roof space (excluding industrial). The coverage requirement for industrial buildings, which starts in 2011, is equal to 10 per cent of the available roof space up to a maximum of 2,000 m2. The city is also offering incentives through the EcoRoof Incentive Programs to retrofit existing buildings with a cool or green roof. toronto.ca/greenroofs
BRIGHT LIGHT ON HORIZON WITH RECORD-BREAKING ATTENDANCE The 2010 AHR Expo in Orlando, FL exceeded pre-show attendance estimates with nearly 45,000 registered attendees. The 28,582 registered visitors represented a nearly eight per cent increase from the 2005 AHR Expo in Orlando and set a record for southeast HVAC/R shows. Visitors came from 120 countries to see products on display from 1,823 exhibiting companies. More than 200 companies were firsttime exhibitors at AHR Expo.
NEXT GENERATION HOUSING INITIATIVES Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), together with stakeholders, is working to set the direction for the next generation of energy efficiency programs. This will include a next generation EnerGuide Rating System (ERS) to accommodate advances in both existing and new housing technologies (including net zero homes), and the growing needs of the many stakeholders and partners involved with ERS. The target is to have the renewed system in place by April of next year. With the introduction of provincial building codes requiring an EnerGuide rating for new houses at or near 80, the goal is to develop the most effective next generation energy rating system for new and existing houses that is supported by the best tools and is acceptable to and recognized by all stakeholders. continued on page 12
Visit HPAC at CMX/CIPHEX booth N11/N12
HPACMAG.COM
MARCH 2010 | HPAC
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HPAC | March 2010
hpacmag.com
© 2009 Masco Corporation of Indiana
THIS IS 0ne very responsive faucet.
Proximity™ Sensing Technology is the next generation in responsive hands-free functionality that contributes to water efficiency. This revolutionary technology transforms the entire faucet into a sensor, automatically responding when approached. There are no optics or infrared to maintain. All backed by the industry’s best 5-year limited warranty. Another way that Delta is more than just a faucet. deltafaucet.com/commercial/proximity
Industry News
continued from page 9
As part of the housing initiative, NRCan has issued a draft ENERGY STAR for New Homes technical specification that will apply to all ENERGY STAR qualified new homes built in Ontario until at least March 2011, and likely until the implementation of the ERS 80 levels in the building code. Contact David Terlizzi at HRAI, dterlizzi@hrai.ca or tel. 800-267-2231 ext. 263. http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/
ASHRAE Publishes Green Standard A standard for the design of high-performance green buildings has been published by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), in conjunction with the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IES) and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Standard 189.1, Standard for the Design of HighPerformance, Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, covers everything from site location to energy
use to recycling, and covers key topic areas similar to green building rating systems. A readable copy and more information is available at ashrae.org/greenstandard.
WHAT WERE THEY THINKING? This is truly a case of a commercial washroom design gone amuck. Located in a very large office building, this restroom could easily carry a couple of segments of You're On Candid Camera. In fact, it has become sport for the experienced user of the facilities to watch as perplexed visitors eyeball the situation, then run their hands under, around and over the mirrors, vanities and sinks, still frequently unsuccessful in finding the soap. Some enterprising and thoughtful person later removed the sticker provided for the no-touch paper towel dispenser to assist those who cannot find the soap. But, you must hit the magic spot, which is about the size of a dime to get your dose of foamy soap. Veterans now turn their attention to the novices who can't figure out how to operate the paper towel dispenser.
2010 Venues On The Podium The International Media Centre at Robson Square in Vancouver, BC was the host venue for the recent Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) awards ceremony. The ceremony and press conference highlighted the achievements of the green builders and innovators in reaching for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) status for over 31 Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic venues. In partnership with BC Hydro, CaGBC honoured the Province of British Columbia, VANOC, the cities of Vancouver, Richmond and the Resort Municipality of Whistler for their global leadership in sustainability. "By committing to building venues and Athletes villages to the LEED Canada building rating system, the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games have created an environmental legacy which will benefit British Columbians and Canadians for years to come," said Thomas Mueller,
FOR MORE NEWS CHECK OUT
hpacmag.com
12
HPAC | MARCH 2010
hpacmag.com
Photo Viessmann
With its green roof system and solar array, the Southeast False Creek Community Centre rooftop is just one example of the sustainable features in construction of games facilities and venues.
CaGBC president and CEO. Bev Van Ruyven, acting president and CEO, BC Hydro noted that, "The conservation measures implemented at a number of these venues are expected to save more than 18 gigawatt hours of electricity annually, enough to power more than 1,600 homes for an entire year.” New facilities like the Richmond Olympic Oval are demonstrating savings of 878,000 kWh or 15 per cent and most impressively the Vancouver Olympic Village is designed for a reduction in energy use by 53 per cent or savings of 11,500,000 kWh. "These facilities not only made improvements in energy performance but a range of environmental measures including water efficiency, healthy materials and better indoor air quality. They demonstrate the growing commitment and expertise in Canada to constructing environmentally responsible buildings," added Mueller. Visit hpacmag.com to see more on the sustainable features of the venues in HPAC's Building To 2010. cagbc.org
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MARCH 2010 | HPAC
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HPAC | March 2010
hpacmag.com
At KeepRite Refrigeration, we know all about building a solid reputation for quality, service and value – we’ve been doing it for more than 60 years. One of the ways we ensure that we progress is to continually raise the standard we set for our products and our people. We design and manufacture a complete line of commercial refrigeration products, which continuously evolves to anticipate our customers’ needs. Our quality control standards continue to be among the most stringent and progressive in the industry, and our goal is to always exceed our customers’ expectations. Our people are challenged to become better, and we provide them with the tools and training they need to excel. Every member of our team takes pride in doing their very best to ensure our customers’ complete satisfaction. As we move forward, we will continue raising the standard we set for ourselves and our products. In turn, we will provide our customers the assurance of quality, service and value they have come to expect, and continue to be...
The Right Choice for the Refrigeration Professional
KQ-Line Quiet
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Visit us at the CMX Show, Booth 1523 to preview our Award Winning New Products Canada: 159 Roy Blvd., Brantford, ON N3R 7K1 1-800-463-9517 or 519-751-0444 Fax: 519-753-1140 USA: 985 Wheeler Way, Langhorne, PA 19047 1-888-KEEPUS1 or 1-888-533-7871 Fax: 215-633-9595 NATIONAL REFRIGERATION & AIR CONDITIONING CANADA CORP.
www.keepriterefrigeration.com
Mechanical Supply News
MSN Danfoss’ Performer VSD, a variable speed compressor for residential use was selected as the AHR Expo Product of the Year Award. The award ceremony was held during the 62nd AHR Expo, January 25-27, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL. The compressor was chosen from among the nine category-winners of the 2010 AHR Expo Innovation Awards, an industry-wide competition designed to promote and encourage product innovation. Danfoss won the award in the Green Building category and then was selected from among the nine winners to earn the ultimate honour (see sidebar). Thirty-two products received honourable mentions. “We are proud to receive this award because it is welcome proof of the continuing Danfoss commitment to energy efficiency achieved through engineering innovation,” said Stephen Gugliotta, director of sales for Danfoss Air Conditioning.
Photo Oscar Einzig
Product Of The Year Award Goes To Danfoss
From l to r: Clay Stevens, show manager, AHR Expo; Ray Hoglund, chairman, AHRI; John Galyen, vice president sales, NAM, Danfoss; Ole Nielsen, project director, variable speed compressors; and Gordon Holness, president, ASHRAE.
The Innovation Awards are jointly sponsored by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and AirConditioning Engineers (ASHRAE); the Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI); and International Exposition Company (IEC), producers and organizers of the AHR Expo. Only one product per company may be submitted in each category and winning products from previous years cannot be re-entered. For more information on the awards, visit ahrexpo.com.
Team To Optimize Performance IBM and Johnson Controls are teaming up to provide the Smart Building Solution, an offering which is designed to address critical building performance areas including systems integration, energy management, enterprise reporting, space utilization, and asset management. Building on a relationship formed between the two organizations in 2007 to create energy efficient datacentres, this offering is intended for any building or portfolio of buildings. ibm.com/smarterplanet johnsoncontrols.com
Halocarbon Issues Top Of Agenda Warren Heeley, president of the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI) met with members of the Commercial Chemicals Branch of Environment Canada in Ottawa recently to discuss halocarbon issues. The meeting addressed the proposed federal extended producer responsibility (EPR) regulations, changes in the HCFC regulations, potential regulations concerning HFCs and refillable containers. 16
HPAC | MARCH 2010
HPACMAG.COM
M
MSN Heeley reiterated the association’s commitment to the proposed federal EPR regulations and the positive impact these regulations will have on the Refrigerant Management Canada (RMC) program. Environment Canada confirmed that the EPR regulations are a priority based on the EPR resolution that the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment agreed to in 2009. Environment Canada also confirmed that they are looking at and participating in the international progress on HFC controls, including legislation being considered in the U.S. The international and U.S. direction will impact the approach Canada will be taking on HFCs. Concerning HCFC regulations, Environment Canada confirmed that Canada will be taking the same approach as the U.S. on TX valves that contain small amounts of R22 imported after January 1, 2010. These components can continue to be imported into Canada as service parts until December 31, 2014. Environment Canada will be sending out an interpretation on this.
Environment Canada also confirmed that there may be an opportunity under the federal ODS regulations to include a requirement mandating refillable containers for all halocarbons imported into Canada. This is an issue HRAI has been discussing with Environment Canada for a number of years to ensure a level playing field in the market for all halocarbon refrigerants manufacturers and distributors. For more information, contact Warren Heeley at 800-2672231 ext. 227, or e-mail warren.heeley@hrai.ca.
Manufacturer Growth Brings Duct System To Canada Firespray International is expanding into Canada with its Flamebar BW11 brand. The factory-coated, fire-resistant grease duct system for commercial kitchens is tested and evaluated to ASTM E2336 and UL1978 standards and complies with requirements of the International Mechanical Code the Uniform Mechanical Code and the NFPA 96. firesprayusa.com continued on page 18
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March 2010 | HPAC
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MSN
continued from page 17
Distribution news Alliance Expands Product Reach Superior Radiant Products (SRP) has entered into a strategic alliance with GoGaS Goch GmbH & Co. KG to market the GoGaS High Efficiency Heater KMI Novus to the North American market. GoGaS will in turn market SRP offerings into its regional markets, including Russia where is has a subsidiary company. “We are excited about the prospects of introducing European heating technology into the North American market. Europe has, for a long period, been more advanced in high efficiency heating requirements and now that North America is placing more priority on reduced emissions, we feel the timing of this alliance is very good,” said Kevin Merritt, president of SRP. »» Mainstream Engineering, a manufacturer of aftermarket service/maintenance HVAC/R products located in Rockledge, FL, has named HRC Services of Bramalea, ON, as its manufacturer’s representative across Canada. HRC will handle its complete QwikProducts line and PuraClean a filter enhancing electrostatic spray. »» Spectrum Sales Agency of Edmonton (780-486-2525) and Calgary (403-255-8332) has joined the NCI Marketing team as sales agent for Alberta. Mick DeLauw, Doug Franklin and Scott Coxford will cover the province and
Program Manager Named Ken Tomihiro has joined the Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating (CIPH) as program manager (The Plumbing Industry Advisory Council and the Canadian Hydronics Council) while Jason Bourque is on leave. Tomihiro brings 25 years of management experience related to the business world and the not-for-profit trade association environment. “Ken has built good relationships and has served on various committees at the following organizations including Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Health and Training, Colleges and Universities, TSSA, CSA, and ESA that will be an asset to the Institute,” reported Ralph Suppa, CIPH president.
18
HPAC | March 2010
backing them up on the inside will be Tim Young in the Edmonton office. Gary Niven of G.R. Niven Sales will assist the team in Alberta and will continue to service the irrigation industry. »» Thermo 2000 has named Gary Morgan Sales as its Turbomax agent for the Greater Toronto Area and east to Kingston, ON.
PEOPLE »» Joe Vincenti has joined Firespray International, a designer and manufacturer of fire resistant ductwork systems for commercial buildings under the Flamebar BW11 brand, as vice president of its North American operations. He will lead U.S. and Canadian market expansion for the company.
Vincenti
»» Munters has hired Stuart Lawrence as national account sales engineer for North America. A mechanical engineer, Lawrence has 10 years of HVAC industry experience working throughout Europe. »» Rotobrush International LLC, has named Lane Jeffryes CEO and president. Prior to this appointment, Jeffryes was with Lennox, where he held leadership and business development roles. »» William (Bill) Root has been appointed vice president and general manager of Laars Heating Systems Company. He assumes the role following the retireRoot O'Donnell ment of Angelo Sinisi. Charles (Chuck) O’Donnell recently joined Laars as product marketing manager. O’Donnell has more than 11 years experience in engineering, applications and marketing management. »» After 32 years with the IPEX Group, Alain Lanthier has retired. Russ Morgan has been named vice-president, sales and marketing — Canada. Morgan will be celebrating 25 years of service with IPEX this year. He was most recently the general sales manager for Eastern Canada.
hpacmag.com
The 27th COHA conference will only have one focus:
MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS New Player In Quebec Specialized Plumbing Market
Established in 1976, les Boutiques Eaudace in Repentigny and Boucherville offer luxury plumbing products, including imported product from Europe such as Newform faucets and cast iron baths from Portugal. The company is also a leading distributor of Toto products in Quebec.
Photos courtesy of Plomberie Payette & Perreault
RONA inc. has acquired the assets of Plomberie Payette & Perreault inc. through its subsidiary Noble Trade. Plomberie Payette & Perreault inc., which specializes in the distribution and retail sales of finishing plumbing products, has a 20,000-square-foot distribution centre in Le Gardeur, QC, and two retail outlets operating under Les boutiques Eaudace banner, one in Repentigny and one in Boucherville, QC. The transaction closed March 1, 2010.
“This transaction, a breakthrough for Noble Trade, our subsidiary specialized in the Ontario plumbing market, also represents the first step in our development plan for this market in Quebec,” said Michael Storfer, vice president of RONA’s commercial and professional market division. “This will be Noble Trade’s first foray outside of Ontario and an initial step in building a comprehensive wholesale network that will engage both the consumer, but more important, the traditional contractor customer that has been the basis of Noble Trades success in Ontario.” Former Payette & Perreault owners Claude Thibault and Alain Payette will stay on to help develop Rona’s commercial and professional market division. eaudace.com nobletrade.ca rona.ca
hpacmag.com
The future of the Oilheat industry and you
Oilheat 2010 June 16-18
, YOUR FUTURE. BE THERE! ITS Charlottetown, PEI
Oilheat 2010 in PEI will deliver valuable knowledge and information you can’t miss:
» » » » » »
Technology of the Future Be The News: Harnessing the Power of Editorial Best Practices and Reducing Risks Strategic Future of Oilheat PCI Compliance How to Up Sell Equipment
Visit us at www.symposium.coha.ca for further information.
Delta Prince Edward 18 Queen Street Charlottetown, PEI, C1A 8B9 Tel: 1-800-268-1133
Canadian Oil Heat Association 115 Applecreek Blvd. #202 | Markham, ON, L3R 6C9 Tel: 905-946-0264 March 2010 | HPAC
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Hydronics
Practice What You Preach... How Green Do You Want to Be? BY JOHN SIEGENTHALER
A
few months ago I attended a session on solar water heating at an international conference on solar energy use. The conference had record attendance, and the room where the session took place was packed with upwards of 100 people, people who made time in their schedules and paid good money to be there.
HOW GREEN ARE YOU?
If you design, sell, or install energy efficient equipment, you should make a diligent effort to use some or all of this hardware in your own home and/or place of business. The fact that you personally use what you sell is also a huge confidence booster for most consumers. Want proof? How often – after describing multiple options to a potential customer – have they responded: “if this was your house, what would you use?” As a green professional you also have the responsibility to teach your customers how to operate the systems you provide to maximize their benefits. Challenge them to use these systems in ways that optimizes their benefits. Keep in mind that this sometimes involves compromises in what most North Americans are accustomed to. For example, the system shown in Figure 1 is a solar thermal combisystem. It uses a combination of solar energy and conventional (gas) energy to supply a home with heating and hot water.
A speaker began the session by asking how many in the audience had a solar water heating system installed on their home. By a show of hands I estimated no more than 10 per cent of the people in that room lived with solar water heating. Granted, some of those present were new to the subject and wanted to get more involved. Some may also have lived in rented quarters where such a commitment was not theirs to make. On the other hand, modern solar domestic water heating systems have been available in North American for over three decades. Government–based financial incentives for such systems have also FIGURE 1 been in place for several years. Fuel prices did not just become unstable last year. The speaker’s implication was that many of those present have had ample opportunity to demonstrate what they advocate and in many cases, what they hope to profit from. In short – to practice what you preach. Over the years I’ve had opportunity to do this by installing a wide range of what are now considered green energy systems in my home. They include solar energy systems (active thermal, passive thermal and photovoltaic), a ground source heat pump, a heat recovery ventilator and a wood– burning stove. Living with these systems has exposed their benefits as well as their weaknesses in ways I would never have discovered by reading through literature, surfing websites, or making occasional site visits. The knowledge gained from this experience has been invaluable in influencing how I currently design systems and what I write about. 20
HPAC | MARCH 2010
SOLAR THERMAL COMBISYSTEM
HPACMAG.COM
An external, stainless steel brazed plate heat exchanger is used to transfer heat from the antifreeze–filled collector circuit to system water in the storage tank. A second stainless steel brazed plate heat exchanger is used to separate domestic water from system water. It is mounted adjacent to the storage tank and has its own circulator (P3), which moves water from the tank through the hot side of the heat exchanger. Circulator (P3) is turned on by a flow switch, which closes whenever there is a domestic hot water demand of 0.5 gpm or more. When operating, (P3) only draws about 10 watts of electrical power. Cold domestic water is instantly heated as it flows through the brazed plate heat exchanger.
A DEEPER SHADE OF GREEN The standard way to operate this system would be to maintain the top of the storage tank at or above a temperature that assures domestic hot water is always available. With a properly sized heat exchanger, that temperature would likely be in the range of 125F to 130F. If the sun has been out, the tank may be at or above this temperature during the afternoon and evening. If not, the boiler operates as necessary to maintain the necessary temperature. Most North Americans would assume that domestic hot water should be available 24/7, whenever they choose to open the tap. Herein lies a great opportunity to alter conventional thinking in a way that would eventually have a profound impact on how our North American culture uses energy. This system could have another operating mode, one that is in effect when normal domestic hot water service is not deemed necessary, lets say from 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. During this time, the temperature at the top of the tank is maintained based on an outdoor reset curve appropriate for the low temperature space heating system. This temperature will usucontinued on page 24 hpacmag.com
Green in the mechanical sense The word “green” is now unavoidable during an average day in North America.You are likely to first read this word on the front page of the morning newspaper. Later, you will see it repeatedly used in trade journals, as well as consumer magazines.That afternoon you will notice it on several products or advertisements at the local store. By the end of the day chances are you will hear it used as the focus of a new government job incentive program. Our culture now interprets being green as having achieved a heightened sense of consciousness about how we should relate to and protect our environment. We have been relentlessly conditioned to view green as something we should aspire to, a never– ending quest to minimize any adverse impact we may impose on our planet. Many people now view themselves as needing more of whatever green happens to mean to them. Going green can be anything from installing a bike rack at a public building, to using glass mulch made from crushed bottles for landscaping, to adding insulation to one’s attic.The word green has become an envelope for older terms such as reduce, conserve and recycle. Going green also describes actions such as increased use of renewable energy, planting grass and flowers on your roof, or bringing your own bags to the grocery store. Within the context of mechanical systems I see “green” categorized as: Low Energy Use: • High thermal efficiency • High distribution efficiency • Low or no standby heat loss • Interior comfort that reduces occupant induced wasted energy • Appropriate use of renewable energy Long Equipment Life: • Minimal maintenance and simple serving • Reduces travel to/from installation site • Reduced installation energy (electrical use, temporary heat, soldering fuel) Reduces use of expendables Less soldering flux Less VOC emissions Less stripped wire insulation Less unusable lengths of tubing Less packaging materials to dispose of Less clean up materials Less need for replacement components (filters, nozzles) Environmental Stewardship: • Low emissions • Use of recyclable materials march 2010 | HPAC
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T A H E ?FO AR Y D U R VI 0 9 1 # O B E H IP X M C T A L SW :To zco Ilig en p m u starP Ic. d an C LO WI N D C ILO W 6 8 1.m d can ilw @ fo in m d can .ilo w ww
Hydronics
continued from page 21
“Perhaps you are worried that customers would complain about having to push a button and wait five to 10 minutes if they want to shower in the middle of the night.” ally be lower than that required for normal domestic hot water delivery, especially during spring and fall. During this reduced temperature mode the system retains some ability to heat domestic water, but not necessarily to normal delivery temperature. If the occupant has to take a shower at say 3:00 a.m. and there was insufficient solar gain during the previous day, a temporary override button – one that could be placed on the bathroom wall – could fire the boiler in a time–limited priority mode to quickly boost upper tank temperature and restore normal hot water delivery temperature. Sufficient hot water would be produced for the shower provided the occupant was willing to wait five to 10 minutes. That is the only compromise. The reduced temperature mode allows greater use of solar energy input to the tank during the previous day. It also improves the efficiency of the modulating/condensing boiler when operated in that mode. The top of the tank would be increased back to normal DHW delivery mode before the typical morning demand for domestic hot water. Following this high demand period the system could revert to reduced temperature mode to improve collector efficiency during the midday period. Adaptive controls could even monitor domestic hot water usage trends and adjust tank temperatures to optimize solar utilization and provide high satisfaction with domestic hot water delivery. Perhaps you are worried that customers would complain about having to push a button and wait five to 10 minutes
if they want to shower in the middle of the night. Herein lies the opportunity to challenge them about their greenness. Rather than complaining about a very minimal compromise, those who really want to be green should embrace such a scheme once they understand the benefits. This is a way for people who profess a green lifestyle to demonstrate their commitment and influence others about appropriate use of resources. Eventually, the North American cultural mindset of “convenience at any cost,” such as hot water standing ready for instant use in a 3:00 a.m. shower, could be changed to champion responsible energy use with minimal compromise. As I see it, hydronic heating has always been a greener choice compared to other heating methods. Emerging technology and modified use patterns such as described above, could paint hydronics technology a new shade of deep green. John Siegenthaler, P.E. is the author of Modern Hydronic Heating. Visit hydronicpros.com for reference information and software to assist in hydronic system design. He can be reached at siggy@dreamscape.com.
Visit hpacmag.com to see more hydronic columns by John Siegenthaler.
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HPAC | March 2010
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Plumbing
Sizing Is Everything This year we will see the release of an updated version of the National Plumbing Code (NPC). Considering that water pipe sizing is getting a revamp (see HPAC January/February p. 22), I thought it would be worthwhile reviewing this topic. I am of the opinion that water pipe sizing does not get the attention it deserves. BY STEVE GOLDIE
I
n any plumbing system there are three major components: the plumbing fixtures; the water lines bringing potable water to the fixtures; and drainage system that takes the waste water away from the fixtures. There are a multitude of different types of plumbing fixtures, and many different types of applications and usages. It would seem reasonable to assume that the rules pertaining to the piping on the supply side of any fixture would be as varied and complex as those pertaining to the piping used to drain the waste away from these same fixtures. As
with many assumptions, this one is quite simply wrong for a couple of simple reasons. The first one is obvious really. What goes in is always just water -- hot, cold or both, but always clean, potable water. What comes out the other end on the other hand, well that is another matter all together. The other reason is pressure. The supply side of the plumbing piping system is a pressurized system, whereas the drainage side relies on gravity. This is reflected in the code, which very specifically prescribes pipe sizing and continued on page 30
Photo iStockphoto
Undersized supply lines can result in very unhappy customers, particularly if it takes hours to fill the fancy new bathtub.
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HPAC | MARCH 2010
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WATCO
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Always A Step Ahead
WATCO
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Always A Step Ahead
Plumbing
continued from page 28
practice in order to ensure properly functioning drain and vent systems, whereas much of the sizing of the supply system is left up to the individual installer or designer. The code specifies minimum supply pipe size for fixtures, the overwhelming majority of which are all the same: ½” (notable and rare exceptions being direct flush urinal and toilet valves at ¾” and 1” respectively). Minimum flow pressures that need to be maintained at fixtures are also specified: 50 Kpa for just about everything, again with the exception of direct flush valves, which need to have a minimum of 100Kpa. Other than establishing that no water service pipe can be less than ¾” and that from the meter to the branch for a hot water tank must also be a minimum of ¾”, there is no other specific water pipe size prescribed. The onus is on the designer or installer to size the system in order to allow for the system to operate at “peak demand flow.” System static pressures vary, but are typically in the
the size of the connection. Large Roman bathtub fillers are a good example of this. Most Roman bathtub fillers have valve connection sizes of ½”, but if you connect them via ½” hot and cold lines all the way from the basement, 50’ away from the hot water tank, chances are your customer won’t be happy with how long it will take to fill the tub. You can blame the “poor water pressure” if you like, but the real reason would be undersized supply lines. Run ¾” lines instead, using ½” for just the last couple of feet at the connection and you will see a dramatic increase in performance, a faster tub fill and a much happier customer. Increasing the size of the supply line from ½” to ¾” has no affect on “static” water pressure. Static pressure is the pressure in the system when no taps are open and the water is not moving. Once the tap is opened, the flowing water creates friction on the pipe walls. This friction force in effect “uses up” some of the pressure
“…the size and accumulated length of a water line has a much greater affect on the flow at pressure than the size of the connection.” range of 450 to 500 Kpa, which allows for a certain amount of flexibility in pipe sizing. Sizing charts and guidelines included in the 2010 NPC will help designers and installers to properly size water lines, but again will stop short of actually prescribing actual minimum pipe sizes beyond what already exists. This is not to say that proper sizing is not important, but rather, the pertinent facts can be reduced down to some fairly basic and universal principles that can be applied to virtually every application. Pressurized systems allow us to move significant amounts of water through relatively small pipes, but there are always limitations. One of the mistakes I often see with regard to pipe sizing occurs when installers size their water lines according to connection size rather than flow requirement. We see this very often relating to pipe sizing in hydronic heating systems, but the same physics apply in water distribution systems. Many people believe that if a fixture or component has a connection size of ½” for example, then there is no advantage in running anything other than a ½” line to that fixture or component. In reality, the size and accumulated length of a water line has a much greater affect on the flow at pressure than 30
HPAC | March 2010
as the water moves through the line. The smaller the line and the longer the run, the more pressure is used getting from the source to the tap, and the lower the flow rate. A larger pipe size for the longest section of the run means lower friction losses and more pressure available to move the water faster, resulting in larger flow rates. The two most common complaints I hear with regards to plumbing systems are too much noise and too little pressure. In truth, both of these complaints are often symptoms of the same problem, undersized supply water pipe size. When we try to push too much water, too fast through water lines that are too small for the task, this is the kind of result we can expect. Hopefully the NPC 2010 will help eliminate any of the confusion that has resulted in these kinds of mistakes.
Steve Goldie worked as a plumbing and heating contractor for almost 20 years before joining Noble Trade as manager of the heating department. In his current position Goldie focuses on product specification and system design solutions. Reach him at stevegoldie@nobletrade.ca. hpacmag.com
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Wiring & Controls
Enhance System Performance BY MIKE MILLER
Control capabilities
Some outdoor reset controls allow the starting water temperature to be changed differently from the starting outdoor temperature in order to allow fine-tuning of the heating curve by manipulating its slope. Instead of entering a reset ratio into a controller, some outdoor reset controls ask you for the specific temperatures that are used in the formula right in the setup and then provide the right reset ratio automatically.
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HPAC | March 2010
Reset Curve – Reset Ratio
Figure 1
Design Supply Water Temperature
120F 110F
Heating Curve Reset Ratio = 0.5
100F 90F 80F
70F
50F
Indoor Design / Starting Water Temperature
30F
10F
Outdoor Design Temperature
- 10F
70F
- 30F
E
very modern hydronic heating system should be controlled by smart technology, whether it already comes with a heat source or if it is an external controller that is added to the system. At the very least systems should have weather responsive water temperature control. In our industry, this is most often referred to as outdoor reset. In simplistic terms, outdoor reset controls adjust the supply water temperature provided for a heating system based on outdoor air temperature (see Figure 1). The heating load of a building is directly related to outdoor air temperature, where the heat output of a heat emitter is directly related to water temperature it is provided with. For example, a building has its heat loss assessed based on the type of building construction and the harshest climate it is located in, while still being able to maintain a comfortable indoor air temperature, usually near 70F. Let’s look at an example. If you are in an area where the coldest day of the year (outdoor design temperature) would be -30F, you would still want to maintain a desired indoor air temperature (indoor design or room temperature) of 70F. If radiant floor heating was the heat emitter, a heat loss conducted on the building may suggest you need to deliver 120F water to the system on the coldest day of the year to maintain the desired indoor air temperature. Now, even though we live in Canada, luckily, not every day is at -30F. As the outdoor temperature increases
Water Temperature
What to look for in a hydronic control system.
Outdoor Temperature
(warmer), the heat loss of the building is reduced. The most efficient radiant floor heating system would provide continuous flow while the water temperature is adjusted. An outdoor reset control would then lower the water temperature supplied based on a calculated reset ratio as the outdoor temperature rises. The reset ratio can be calculated with Formula 1.
FORMULA 1 Design Supply Water Temp. – Indoor Design Temp. Indoor Design Temp. – Outdoor Design Temp. Design Supply Water Temp. – Indoor Design Temp. Reset Ratio = 120F – 70F 50F Indoor – Outdoor Design Temp. Now, let’s add the numbers from=Temp. the example: Reset Ratio = = Design 0.5Fabove 70F – -30F 100F 120F – 70F 50F Reset Ratio = = = 0.5F 70F – -Starting 30F 100F + (Outdoor Starting Target Water Temp. = Outdoor Temp. Temp. – Outdoor Temp. × Reset Ratio) What that means, is that= beginning at 70F outdoor start- Starting Target Water Temp. Outdoor Starting Temp. + (Outdoor × Resetshut Temp. – Outdoor Temp. Ratio) ing temperature (or warm weather down), the water Target Water Temp. = 70F + (70F – 10F × 0.5) = 100F Reset Ratio =
temperature will increase by 0.5F for every 1F the outdoor temperature drops. Target Water Temp. = 70F + (70F – 10F × 0.5) = 100F To calculate a target water temperature based on a current outdoor temperature, you would use Formula 2. hpacmag.com
“Most often if the building is tight, indoor feedback control systems Design Supply Water Temp. – Indoor Design Temp. Reset Ratio = Indoor Temp. temperatures – Outdoor Design Temp. than with outdoor reset alone.” run atDesign lower 120F Design – 70F Supply 50FWater Temp. – Indoor Design Temp. Reset Reset Ratio Ratio = = – -30F = 100F = 0.5F 70F Indoor Design Temp. – Outdoor Design Temp. FORMULA 2 Target Water Temp. = Outdoor Temp. + (Outdoor Starting 120F – 70FStarting 50F Reset Ratio = = = 0.5F Temp. – Outdoor Temp. 70F × – -Reset 30F Ratio) 100F
With the same example as above andTemp. a current outdoor Target Water Temp. = Outdoor Starting + (Outdoor Starting Target Water Temp. = 70F + (70F – 10F × 0.5) = 100F × Reset Temp. – Outdoor Ratio) temperature of 10F, Temp. the water target temperature calculation looks like this: Target Water Temp. = 70F + (70F – 10F × 0.5) = 100F
Without outdoor reset, in order to eliminate overheating when the heat loss of the building is reduced due to higher outdoor temperatures, the flow to the building or zones would have to be cycled On and Off if the water temperature provided was constant. The warmer it gets outside, naturally, the longer the Off times and the shorter the On times would be. The usual result is temperature swings in the space, and depending on heat emitter, expansion noises due to warming and cooling (expansion and contraction) of the piping and/or components used. Installing a heating system without outdoor reset is comparable to making a car with nothing more than an On/Off switch, rather than a gas pedal and accelerator.
ADDITIONAL BENEFITS While outdoor reset is the easiest to implement and creates energy savings, indoor temperature feedback can gain additional savings. Indoor feedback allows a control to fine tune its outdoor reset curve (water temperature being supplied) based on indoor condition as well. Indoor feedback gathers internal heat gains from lighting, solar gain through windows, stoves, fireplaces, people and so on. It can also gather added losses to a building related to additional loading, such as cold wind storms on the exterior of a building. The end result will be that the outdoor reset control combined with indoor feedback will always run your system at the lowest possible water temperature and continuous flow to satisfy the desired indoor temperature at any given time. Most often if the building is tight, indoor feedback control systems run at lower temperatures than with outdoor reset alone. Indoor feedback to a system can be gained by installing an indoor air sensor on a single zone system in the common area of the building. More sophisticated conhpacmag.com
Figure 2
trols utilize supply and return water temperature sensors (see Figure 2), installed on the distribution piping to the building combined with a control algorithm, to account for internal and external heat gains and losses, but adjusting the water temperature to maintain a constant deltaT (temperature difference). In multi-zone systems, a more complex and fully integrated control system that utilizes communicating thermostats for each zone can provide indoor feedback based on the hardest to heat zone in the building at any given time. This type of system considers every zone of the building at any elevation or exposure. As the sun travels around the building throughout the day, the highest heat load of the building may shift with it. For example: In the morning – west of the building is in the shade and the east may be in the sun, thus experiencing solar heat gain. In the evening, this could be opposite. Once you are using a sophisticated control system with multi-zone indoor feedback, it is easy to integrate air based heating and cooling, and to harmonize the control of a full building. This subject will be explored in an upcoming article. Mike Miller is a controls specialist with experience in the manufacturing, distribution and contracting sectors of the industry. He can be reached at mike.miller@uponor.com. March 2010 | HPAC
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&
An ‘Exhumination’ of Earth Tube Heat Exchangers The earth tube heat exchanger (ETHE) is an energy conservation system from the past that, along with other specialized energy systems which desperately need professional engineering, is often treated as another modern experiment du jour. BY ROBERT BEAN
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HPAC | MARCH 2010
What you have are the results of good intentions gone bad ( maybe I could make millions selling this DVD on late night TV against Girls Gone Wild). Perhaps all of this is a little melodramatic but I did write “worst case” scenario. So what is the upside to the downside? There is none (and here is the caveat) unless you explicitly understand that the ETHE is a H-E-A-T exchanger as I have emphasized already. As history has revealed, most weekend engineers have a propensity to confuse heat with indoor environmental quality (IEQ). Now that we have the grit and grime out of the way, the upside to these low down systems is that they can be an altruistic and maybe even a practical way of shaving the peaks off heating and cooling loads on some projects in some climates. They can and do contribute to the global quest of reducing energy use by eliminating or at least reducing the need for compression and combustion to condition occupants and spaces. Of particular interest to those way out on the limb of renewable energy, is the use of solar chimneys to induce draft through the ETHE eliminating the need for power during daylight hours. These chimneys also offer the opportunity to generate electrical power with turbines.
A WORKABLE SOLUTION In order to specify a workable solution designers of ETHE systems should evaluate: Location: If the system is predominantly cooling you will want the collector in a permanently shaded area near a lake or river. If the system is predominately heating it should be located in a sunny area without some aquifer competing to steal away the heat. Intakes have to be located away from sources of pollutants. These include vehicle emissions, products of combustion from fire pits, lanterns, barbeques, boilers and furnaces, exhaust fumes from bath fans and continued on page 36 HPACMAG.COM
Graphics iStockphoto
F
or the uninitiated, ETHEs are air to earth heat exchangers employed to shave the peaks off heating and cooling loads, thereby lowering combustion and compression needs. Outside air (of seasonal temperature) is drawn down into relatively constant earth temperatures at 1.5 m to 3 m below grade into a buried air duct installed in similar fashion to PEX pipe in a radiant slab…think 150 mm to 300 mm buried conduit placed in a serpentine or reverse return system. In the hot summer, the heat in the outdoor air is conducted along the buried exchanger to the earth resulting in cooler entering air temperatures into the building’s HVAC system and in the winter, heat from the ground is conducted into the cooler incoming air resulting in warmer air temperatures into the building’s HVAC system. That is as complicated as it gets for members of the society of experimenters but wait, there is more. ETHEs are not air quality control systems. Anyone making, designing or installing such a system would be illadvised to guarantee the quality of air being delivered to the indoor space. In the worst case scenario, the outside air might contain moisture and particulates, including mold spores, pollen, virus and bacteria, and smoke and debris from forest and field fires and the occasional volcano eruption. Add in some ozone ala shortwave radiation from the sun and products of combustion via the di and mon oxides of sulfur, nitrogen, hydrogen and carbon. Stir in some farm fresh herbicides or pesticides with odours from the compost pile, local dump or meat packing plant. Then pay for the electricity to run the fan that draws the smorgasbord under negative pressure into the buried duct work embedded in soils emitting radon and methane, condense the mix into condensate and let it ferment into a toxic soufflé…and the only thing left to do to yourself or client is to blow the entire recipe into the home.
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continued from page 34
dryer vents, or sources of odours, such as garbage bins, compost piles and sewer vents. Depth of pipe (temperature): Available shortwave radiation on the collector surface is directly related to the mode the system favours most with consideration for the depth of pipe and can typically be between 1.5 m to 3 m. A system that is designed predominately for cooling in an area without shading will need the pipes buried deeper than a system designed for heating in the same locale. Soil conductivity (heat transfer): I am disappointed at the papers and literature that promote the use of sand as the bedding material for ducts. Dry sand is the worst thing one would want in the process of conducting heat to and from buried ducts. Dense, wet and conductive (can you say moist compacted clay) is the trick. Duct material and tube connections: Options include concrete, metal, plastics – with or without conductive fins or antimicrobial agents. It is a case of equifinality (another way of saying there are many ways to skin a cat). The ducts cannot sag under loading. The connections have to be robust and of the highest quality as they and the ducts have to deal with ground moisture and soil gases. They must be of the most conductive material for the lowest cost with the least air flow resistance but offer the best characteristics against corrosion. For the cost evaluators I ask: What else is new? Temperatures, flow, velocity, diameter, friction, length, layout and drainage (the thermal to hydraulic part of the calculation): According to application engineers, velocities between 6m/s to 10m/s are typical. This means the diameter has to be picked based on flows and friction losses. To optimize designs based on the thermal and pressure requirements, using several shorter lengths in parallel in a reverse return arrangement can in some cases be better than a single longer serpentine loop or it may be more suitable to use a loop that follows the perimeter of the buildings foundation. Air entering the ground duct and the HVAC system will need
to be conditioned: This means it has to be suitable for inhalation by the occupants through the decontamination of particulates, moisture, odours, gases and biological concerns. Decontamination is a continuous process with both outdoor intake filters and indoor components and systems needing monitoring and maintenance. Energy analysis: The designer will need to evaluate the capital and operating costs of the system, including the electricity to run the fan and decontamination equipment to assure the energy used is lower than the cooling or heating power offered by the system. Researchers are reporting the ability to shave off 10 to 20C from heating and cooling loads with one source reporting COPs of 3.3 in cooling and 3.8 in heating. Building science issues: Depending on the type of system there could be issues with infiltration and short circuiting of the ground exchanger. It is necessary that both building and ducts are sealed tightly to prevent differential pressures across and within the home from interfering with the required differential pressures in the ETHE.
SHORT STROKES ETHEs are not new and have always been a good idea but given all the construction effort and IAQ concerns with them, one has to consider whether it might be better to place a sufficiently-sized glycol coil in the air handler and feed it from a closed geothermal earth loop. This takes care of the heat and IAQ issues. Until I can get my hands on some good comparisons between these two options, the jury will be out on the down in the ground ground to air exchangers. Robert Bean is registered engineering technologist in the building construction engineering discipline. An ASHRAE Distinguished Lecturer, he can be reached at warmfloors@shaw.ca or visit healthyheating.com. Don't miss Robert's sessions at CMX/CIPHEX on March 25 and 26.
Bibliography Leopold Legacy Center, Construction Journal, Report 15.1 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Mechanical Systems, July 28, 2006 Wang, G., et al, Analysis, design, and preliminary testing of solar chimney for residential air-conditioning applications, Solar 2004, Solar Harvest: Growing Opportunities, Portland, Oregon, July 2004 Sharan, G., Jadhav, R., Performance of single pass earth-tube heat exchanger: An experimental study, Gujarat Energy Development Agency (GEDA), Vadodara / Ministry of Agriculture, New Delhi, July 2003 U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Energy savers earth cooling tubes <http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/space_heating_cooling/index.cfm/mytopic=12460...> accessed 2/7/2010 Santamouris, M., Use of earth to air heat exchangers for cooling, Paper no. 11, Air infiltration and ventilation centre, International Energy Agency Energy, Conservation in Buildings and Community Systems Programme, January 2006
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HPAC | MARCH 2010
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Plumbing
Seeking A National Solution Stakeholders work toward standardized codes and standards training for plumbing inspectors. BY MARK EVANS
T
he Canadian Advisory Council on Plumbing (CACP) was formed in 1970 and consists of industry, all provincial and territorial chief plumbing inspectors, representation from the Standards Council of Canada, Accredited Certification Organizations, NRC and Health Canada. At the August 2006 meeting of CACP, the concept of standardized training for plumbing inspection officials was presented. From this a task force was struck, co-chaired by Ralph Suppa, president and general manager of the Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating (CIPH) and Jim Holt, team leader-building inspections, Halifax Regional Municipality. According to information from CIPH, the task force had a mandate to examine the issues and potential solutions to them. A questionnaire was circulated, which solicited input from all provinces and territories. At the September 26, 2008, meeting of the National Plumbing Inspectors Association, Suppa made a presentation that addressed the findings of the questionnaire. Many common threads were identified, including: »» Concerns regarding counterfeit products. »» The use of non-approved plumbing products in regard to applicable existing Standards. »» The quality of installations. »» Fragmentation of codes. »» National certification/training program for plumbing inspectors. »» Time pressures on plumbing inspectors in the field. »» Training on interpretation of Codes. With the questionnaire complete, the task force was expanded to include Gordon Jensen, representing the Plumbing Inspection Officials Association of BC and John Gunn of the Ontario Plumbing Inspectors Association (OPIA), as well as representatives from the Canadian Standards Association (CSA), CIPH and several regulator/members of CACP. In his presentation, Suppa noted that, “However, there is no comprehensive national program in place to support the industry. Identified issues, gaps in knowledge, and ability to interpret codes and standards are not regional in nature.
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The development of a national program would provide jurisdictions with a foundation program to address these needs. Delivery of such programs could reside with training organizations in each region and elements customized, as necessary, to meet their specific context. “Also, as standards, regulations and codes are being harmonized, and labour barriers are relaxed, we believe that this training will help harmonize labour and provide a uniform labour mobility marketplace,” added Suppa. Fast forward to the September 22, 2009 meeting of the OPIA and a joint presentation by CIPH and CSA - “National Plumbing Inspectors Education and Training Program – Pilot Project.” The presentation outlined a process of consultation that culminates with the proposal for a pilot project providing education and training, the intent of which is to provide a “National solution that builds on existing body of work to support inspectors and provide for improved application of codes, standards, and regulatory requirements, and improves consistency and quality of inspections.” The proposal brief outlined the elements of this pilot program consisting of an: »» Interactive, self-paced, and modularized e-learning training program that can also be delivered in classroom setting. • Available in both official languages. • P rogram would include: Initial self assessment test ~ F ive modules each with a self-check tests. Final evaluation. Linear and/or non-linear ability to move through program. Foundation national content with provincial deviations. Unlimited 24-7 access for a prescribed period. The proposed curriculum for this program was conceived during a three-day curriculum design workshop, which was hosted by CSA, April 1-3, 2009. According to the proposal brief, the workshop was attended by plumbing inspectors, educators and representatives from the building and manufacturing community from every region of Canada and from hpacmag.com
the United States. From this workshop a very detailed curriculum was developed and subsequently sent out to survey. This resulted in a proposed curriculum that will be used to guide the development of the education and training materials. In closing, the presentation outlined the next steps in this process as being a tender by CSA for the development of the content for the training program. Once the content has been written, it would be converted to an e-learning format that will be able to be deployed online or in a classroom setting for initial delivery in 2010. With its intent to provide consistency in the application of codes and standards between authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs) across the country, this initiative is one that should be lauded and supported by manufacturers and contractors alike. It builds on the intent of programs such as the Red Seal Program, which provide skills validation and proof of competency for installing contractors as they cross provincial boundaries to work outside their home jurisdiction. It is validation for the fact that with the emergence of performance-based codes, and the evolution of standards to keep pace with technological innovation, industry stakeholders are effectively represented by their constituent associations as they act in anticipation of the need to improve and keep pace with change; while in the pursuit of the enhancement of life safety, system performance and the opportunity for interprovincial commerce. During the course of his career in the mechanical industry Mark Evans has worked on the wholesaler and manufacturer side in sales and marketing positions. Contact him at mark@markevans.net or visit markevans.net. hpacmag.com
March 2010 | HPAC
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Hydronics
Coming Of Age A backgrounder on the referencing of CSA B214 in NBC 2010. BY RAMAN CHAUHAN
T
he development of a standard for hydronic heating systems was prompted by industry stakeholders who recognized the need to fill a serious void. Hydronic systems were being installed at an increased rate in smaller residential and commercial buildings while regulators and installers did not have a tool to deal with the design and approval of such systems. A technical committee at CSA had been created to work on a draft standard for hydronic heating systems. This standard was needed by the installers to guide them and by the regulators to provide them with an assurance of safety and of good installation practice. The standard was also needed to deal with installations that were being installed as combination hydronic space heating and water heating systems.
CONSENSUS STANDARD CSA undertook to develop a consensus standard with the hydronic industry. Once it was developed a request was made to reference it in Parts 6 and 9 of the National Building Code. When the completed standard was reviewed by the appropriate committees at the National Research Council (NRC) Codes Centre, which looks after the content of the NBC, the 2001 edition of the CSA-B214, “Installation Code for Hydronic Heating Systems” was found to be inappropriate for referencing in the 2005 NBC because the standard included: • Best practice requirements • Design requirements • Energy efficiency requirements • Administrative requirements In other words instead of being a standard for hydronic heating systems it had become a handbook for hydronic systems. This was not acceptable for a reference standard. A joint task group on hydronic heating initiated a review of the draft standard. Its purpose was to determine if the revised standard should be referenced in the 2010 NBC. This group reviewed the standard and suggested revisions to ensure that it was purely a standard for installing hydronic systems and not a handbook of hydronic systems. The reason for obtaining a reference was to fill a void as seen by 40
HPAC | March 2010
the authorities having jurisdiction who were being asked to accept the installed systems without any tools or guidance for accepting them. This standard was supposed to fill the void for the industry and give it an enforceable standard for use by the hydronic heating systems designers, installers and regulatory agencies. The joint task group on hydronic heating reviewed the 2007 edition of the CSA-B214, “Installation Code for Hydronic Heating Systems” and was satisfied that CSA had adequately addressed the concerns raised by the building code committees and that it fills the void created by the lack of an enforceable standard.
A CREDIBLE TOOL A proposal to reference this standard in Part 9 of the NBC was accepted by the relevant committee. With a reference to this standard being provided in Part 9 of the NBC, the regulatory agencies have access to a credible and an enforceable tool for hydronic heating systems, to support their enforcement activities and reduce ambiguity in the application of the building codes. Also, hydronic heating systems installers and designers are able to follow the rules of the game without having to deal with any misunderstandings or problems when dealing with the regulating authorities for such installations. However, when it came to referencing this standard in Part 6 of the NBC, which is under the Standing Committee on Building and Plumbing Services (SCBPS), they chose a different method. It is important to remember that Part 6 of the NBC is not very prescriptive and is generally used by professional designers and engineers who have more information and expertise at their disposal. Therefore, when it was recommended that CSA-B214, “Installation Code for Hydronic Heating Systems” be included in Sentence 6.2.1.4.(1) “Installation Standards” concerns were expressed by the public when this standard was subjected to public review. If this proposal was to get approved, the standard would no longer need to be referenced in Sentence 6.2.1.1.(1) which is generally a list of “good engineering practice” documents. The committee even considered adding a qualifier if it were to reference this standard in Sentence 6.2.1.4.(1) by adding hpacmag.com
Hydronics the words “for non-engineered systems.” Being an administrative requirement this was not allowed in the enforceable wording by established protocol of model codes. The change to include it as a reference in the list of installation standards was not accepted. The committee felt that the standard had deficiencies when considered for larger commercial or institutional building systems and was inferior compared to the guidance provided by ASHRAE documents. Therefore, it was more appropriate for referencing in Part 9, which tends to be prescriptive and the users have limited design resources. Generally the applications are limited to smaller residential and commercial buildings.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
cally-based practices on service water/space heating waterbased combination systems. The main concern of the NBC is the health and safety of the occupants and it applies to all systems. Thus, with regards to referencing the standard in Part 6 of the NBC, the Standing Committee on Building and Plumbing Services (SCBPS) committee responsible for Part 6 decided to include it as a referenced document in the requirement dealing with “good engineering practice.” The committee did not feel that the standard was technically adequate to have a separate reference in Part 6 of the NBC. In summary, the standard is referenced in Part 9 and in Part 6 it is in a reference with other standards under the “good engineering practice” label.
The committee also heard that the CSA B214 for the greater part deals with design and installation practices for the equipment and only a minimal part deals with health and safety. Specifically, the standard’s focus is on the issue of cross-contamination of potable water from the heating circuit water and does not contribute to establish scientifi-
Prior to establishing Chauhan Consulting, Raman Chauhan, P. Eng., was a technical advisor with the National Research Council (NRC) of Canada. Chauhan can be reached at ramanchauhan@gmail.com. Don't miss his session at CMX/CIPHEX.
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details
THE
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Ready To Roll This year a 2010 Nissan Titan, outfitted and customized for the winner with tool racks, bins and one year of complimentary GPS service, will be won by a show visitor. Every attendee to the show is provided with a ballot to enter the draw, which will take place at the close of the show on March 27.
HPACMAG.COM
SHOW DATES: March 25-27 2010 LOCATION: North Building, Metro Toronto Convention Centre Thursday, March 25 SHOW HOURS: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. FORUM: 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Friday, March 26 SHOW HOURS: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. FORUM: 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday, March 27 SHOW HOURS: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. FORUM: 10:30 a.m.-12p.m.
CONTENTS
ith more than 500 exhibiting companies in more than 850 booths, CMX/CIPHEX 2010 offers an opportunity for delegates to see trends, new technology and innovative solutions, and learn from industry experts. Slated for March 25- 27 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, the show is one of the largest in North America for the mechanicals industry. Geared to specifiers, consulting engineers, building managers, contractors, manufacturers, architects and wholesalers/reps/ agents in the air conditioning, heating (forced air and hydronic), hearth, plumbing, piping, refrigeration and ventilation industries, the show offers an extensive seminar component (see page 48). Educational presentations run throughout the event. Topics on the schedule include: How to Integrate New Technologies For Better Performance, Retrofits Using LEED Strategies, Energy Efficiency In Existing Buildings, and more. The forum also offers attendees insight and updates on the National Building Code, business management, and government programs such as the Local Energy Efficiency Partnership. Speakers include Gordon Holness, current president of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), Gord Cooke of Air Solutions, Evgueniy Entchev of Natural Resources Canada, and HPAC contributors Robert Bean, Raman Chauhan, Mark Groulx and Christa Hale. More learning opportunities exist on the show floor at the Show Theatre area where exhibitors cast the spotlight on products for show visitors. Presentations are on the roster for bio-mass boilers, solar domestic water heating systems, and electronic wireless systems for contractors.
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SEMINAR SCHEDULE
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LEARNING FORUM: SPEAKERS AND DESCRIPTIONS
66
EXHIBITOR LIST
74
PRODUCT SHOWCASE
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Seminar Schedule
Thursday, March 25 Morning Program 10:30 a.m.
Hybrid Systems And The Fuels To Power Them In Cold Climates Integrating different HVAC, renewables and micro-generation technologies in one system to improve performance, efficiency and component utilization without affecting the overall system’s reliability and availability. Technologies to be reviewed include Stirling engines, fuel cells and IC engines. Plumbing Code Changes: Installing Hydronic Heating (CSA B214); Defining Mechanically Vented Appliances Get the straight facts on upcoming changes to the National Plumbing Code. Included will be details on major changes for plumbing and a review of definitions for mechanicallyvented appliances. True Or False? Efficiency Claims For Commercial Equipment Heat loss and potential efficiency improvements of rooftop units, boilers, commercial water heaters, unit heaters and infra-red heaters will be discussed. How might they be better integrated to work together to enhance overall efficiency and client satisfaction? Residential Construction: The Five Key Elements Of Indoor Air Quality Learn how each step in the construction process influences IAQ. Sustaining Our Future By Rebuilding Our Past An in-depth look at the importance of addressing existing buildings in order to achieve ASHRAE’s Sustainability Goals. The role of ASHRAE’s Advanced Energy Design Guides, Standards 90.1 and Standard 189.1 and the potential for Standard 100 to be redeveloped are also on the agenda.
Afternoon Program 1:30 p.m.
Solar? Alcohol? Wood? Energy Output For Residential System Design Using Renewable Energy Sources What you need to know when designing a system that employs different renewable technologies. The Technologies Of Wastewater: Collection, Treatment And Reuse Define the quality characteristics of today’s water sources to determine the treatment technologies appropriate for the end use. Indoor Air Quality: Challenges and Opportunities This session covers Indoor Air Quality basics in residential buildings. New opportunities for marketing HVAC services for healthier homes will be identified. The Push Toward Green: Keeping The Customer Happy The latest updates, the newest developments and some straightforward advice on how to meet aggressive targets for building energy performance. Radon: Is It In Your Customer’s Home And What Can You Do About It? This session provides an overview of the five components of the National Radon Program, details on the development of a Canadian certification program for remediation professional, and remediation techniques. continued on p. 50
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Instant hot water using only as much power as a night-light. Think about ITT.
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For more information, contact your Bell & Gossett Representative or visit www.bellgossett.com
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Seminar Schedule continued from p. 48
Friday, March 26 Morning Program 10:30 a.m.
Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s New In Hot Water Use And Water Heating Technologies How consumersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; hot water usage may affect the efficiency of water heaters and what technologies are available. Residential Graywater Reuse Learn the basics surrounding this opportunity including graywater quality characteristics, selecting the right treatment technology and system design and economic considerations. Moisture Movement: Psychometrics 101 This program prepares attendees to diagnose simple moisture problems through the use of the psychometric chart and gain insight on avoiding moisture problems. High Performance HVAC For High Performance Buildings What are the risks, opportunities and specifications for HVAC contractors and manufacturers when applying systems to high performance houses? Sustaining Our Future by Rebuilding Our Past See Thursday, March 25 a.m.
Afternoon Program (Start Times: 1:30 and 3:30) 1:30 p.m.
Selling Your Contracting Business: From Establishing Value to Negotiating the Sale The crucial steps to take to sell a business successfully. Maximizing efficiency in combination and integrated mechanical systems Find out the relative performance of: furnace and water heater systems; water heater based combo systems; condensing water heater based combo systems; instantaneous water heater based combo systems; and integrated mechanical systems. Making Complex Controls Simple: The Quick And Basic Approach Take the confusion out of electrical control wiring for hydronic systems. GPS: Technology How It Can Help You to Sleep Peacefully at Night Get the latest information on working with GPS business applications. Geothermal/Earth Energy For Residential And Commercial Applications This session takes a detailed look at geothermal system designs appropriate for residential and commercial applications.
3:30 p.m.
Minimizing The Impact Of Summer Utility Peaks - For New Home And Retrofit Markets A discussion of best practices for efficient hot weather cooling and the options that are available. The Role of Copper In Renewable Energy Applications for C-I-I Projects An overview of new applications. Inspecting Hydronic Heating Systems Learn the basics of modern hot water heating systems, their proper arrangement, codes, standards and best practices. continued on p. 52
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HPAC | March 2010
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Imagine a home with surfaces that are warm to the touch, the air is free of dust, and the mechanical system is quietly working in the background to save energy. tekmarNet® House Control systems can make this ideal a reality! Easy to install, easy to use, and easy to live with... - The Perfect Radiant System
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• Set back temperatures throughout the system at the press of one button • Away setting can also setback DHW operation
Better Mechanical Control
• Lower water temperatures associated with outdoor reset & indoor feedback improve condensing boiler efficiency • Zone synchronization reduces wear on the boiler
For more information about tekmarNet ® House Controls & Accessories, download the P523 from the literature section of tekmarcontrols.com hpacmag.com
March 2010 | HPAC
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Seminar Schedule continued from p. 50
The Size of Your Company Doesn’t Matter: Your Ability To Manage Employees Does Create a productive, progressive and legally-sound work environment. Installing Photovoltaic Systems Under The Ontario Micro-FIT Program An introduction to solar photovoltaic systems, and in particular, utility-interactive systems.
Saturday, March 27 Morning Program 10:30 a.m.
Shouldn’t Gas Furnaces Heat With Gas, Not Electricity The impact and issues related to the introduction of “approved” variable speed DC blower motors for retrofit into existing PSC-motor equipped furnaces. Ask TSSA - The Top Ten Questions On Fuel Safety Fuel oil safety, code and regulation interpretations, plus an open forum for discussion. LEEP: A New Way To Speed Up The Market Uptake of Efficient New HVAC Products This session outlines how Local Energy Efficiency Partnerships works. Radon: Is It In Your Customer’s Home And What Can You Do About It? See Thursday, March 25 a.m. Installing Photovoltaic Systems under the Ontario Micro-FIT Program See Friday, March 26 p.m.
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learning forum
Speakers and Session Descriptions Thursday, March 25 10:30 a.m.
Room 201D
Hybrid Systems and The Fuels To Power Them In Cold Climates Evgueniy Entchev of CanmetENERGY explains how to integrate HVAC, renewables and micro-generation technologies in one system to get better performance, high efficiency and better component utilization without affecting the overall system’s reliability and availability. Technologies to be reviewed include stirling engines, fuel cells and IC engines. He will also discuss hybrid system applications in cold climate while utilizing a range of different fuels. Learn about the latest developments in micro-generation that can produce enough power and heat to satisfy home energy needs. Get the results from latest field trials in Canada and around the world.
Room 201F
Plumbing Code Changes: Installing Hydronic Heating (CSA B214); Defining Mechanically Vented Appliances Raman Chauhan, who is principal of Chauhan Consulting and the technical advisor for codes and standards with the Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating (CIPH), provides the straight facts on upcoming changes to the National Plumbing Code. A review of definitions for mechanically-vented appliances is included. Chauhan developed his code expertise over more than 24 years as a technical advisor with the National Research Council of Canada. See Raman’s articles on this topic in the January/February 2010 issue of HPAC and in this issue on page 40.
Room 202B
True or False? Efficiency Claims for Commercial Equipment Martin Thomas of CanmetENERGY discusses the efficiencies and performance of rooftop units, boilers, commercial water heaters, unit heaters and infrared heaters. Heat loss and potential efficiency improvements will be addressed for these technologies, as well as how they might be better integrated to work together to enhance overall efficiency and client satisfaction. The potential of very new, higher efficiency equipment will be discussed.
Room 202D
Room 203D
hpacmag.com
Residential Construction: The Five Key Elements Of Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Robert Bean of Healthy Heating explains how each step in the construction process, from land selection and construction systems to HVAC maintenance, influences an occupant’s respiratory system. See Robert’s column in this issue on page 34. Visit our archive at hpacmag.com for more of his insights on IAQ. Sustaining Our Future By Rebuilding Our Past In this presidential address ASHRAE’s (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers) Gordon Holness looks at the importance of addressing existing buildings in order to achieve ASHRAE’s sustainability goals. In addition to ASHRAE’s Advanced Energy Design Guides, Standards 90.1 and Standard 189.1 and the potential for Standard 100 to be redeveloped to address current technology for building renovation will be addressed as well as using Commissioning and Retro-Commissioning, Operation and Maintenance as key tools in keeping green buildings green. continued on p. 56 March 2010 | HPAC
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learning forum continued from p. 53 1:30 p.m. Room 201B
Solar? Alcohol? Wood? Energy Output For Residential System Design Using Renewable Energy Sources Learn what you need to know when designing a system that employs different renewable technologies. Evgueniy Entchev of CanmetENERGY discusses the energy delivered and other results from field and laboratory trials.
Room 201F
The Technologies of Wastewater: Collection, Treatment And Reuse Peter Cartwright of the Canadian Water Quality Association identifies today’s sources of water, defines the quality characteristics of each, and outlines the treatment technologies appropriate for a range of end uses.
Room 202B
Indoor Air Quality: Challenges and Opportunities Gord Cooke of Air Solutions Inc. covers IAQ basics in residential buildings including strategies for controlling and improving IAQ, and how to avoid potential risks. He will identify opportunities for marketing HVAC services for healthier homes.
Room 202D
The Push Toward Green: Keeping The Customer Happy Bob Bach of Energy Profiles offers the latest updates, the newest developments and some straightforward advice on meeting expectations. He will cover upcoming targets for energy efficiency, trends in client expectations and developments in markets and regulations. continued on p. 58
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Visit us at CMX 2010 booth # 1118
hpacmag.com
March 2010 | HPAC
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learning forum continued from p. 56 Room 203B
Radon: Is It In Your Customer’s Home And What Can You Do About It? Health Canada (HC) and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) join together to raise awareness about radon, an invisible, odourless and tasteless gas that causes lung cancer. This session offers an overview of the National Radon Program, progress made to date and details on the development of a Canadian certification program for remediation professionals. HC’s Lorie Whitcombe and CMHC’s Jamie Shipley also provide an overview of remediation techniques for new and existing homes and share results from information collected on a research test home in Ottawa.
Friday, March 26 10:30 a.m.
1:30 p.m.
58
Room 201B
What’s New In Hot Water Use And Water Heating Technologies? Martin Thomas of CanmetENERGY discusses how consumers’ hot water usage may be changing, how this may affect the efficiency of water heaters and what new water heating technologies are (or soon will be) available on the market.
Room 201F
Residential Graywater Reuse Peter Cartwright of the Canadian Water Quality Association offers the basics on residential graywater including the quality characteristics of graywater, selecting the right treatment technology and system design and economic considerations.
Room 202B
Moisture Movement: Psychometrics 101 John Harris of Diversified Services Group prepares attendees to diagnose and explain simple moisture problems through the use of the psychometric chart. Gain insight into avoiding moisture problems stemming from well intentioned building envelope upgrades. Learn how to predict/troubleshoot moisture problems in the building envelope.
Room 202D
High Performance HVAC For High Performance Buildings An overview of high performance and green housing programs from Gord Cooke of Air Solutions Inc. leads into an outline of the risks, opportunities and specifications for HVAC contractors and manufacturers in applying their systems to high performance houses.
Room 203B
Sustaining Our Future by Rebuilding Our Past See Thursday, March 25 a.m.
Room 202D
Selling Your Contracting Business: From Establishing Value to Negotiating the Sale Want to know if you can sell your business? What it is worth? How to position it for sale? Financial expert Mark Groulx of A.I.M. Group shares his expertise and advice in a brass tacks session designed to educate and inform business owners in the crucial steps of successfully selling a business. From preparing for the sale, selecting prospective buyers and dealing with term sheets, to handling due diligence, legal issues and getting to a closing, this fact-packed session is one no business owner wants to miss. Questions and answers will follow. See the first in a series of articles on this topic by Mark in HPAC January/February 2010. The second article is on page 110 of this issue. continued on p. 60
HPAC | March 2010
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If you buy, sell or install gas water heaters…this is a game changer! The New Bradford White ICON System™ is much more than a gas control valve. It’s an installation, operation and diagnostic dream come true. The Bradford White ICON System™ provides many energy and time– saving benefits to the homeowner, contractor and wholesaler. And, it’s available as standard equipment on Bradford White Residential and Light Duty Commercial products* at no extra cost! The Bradford White ICON System™ requires no external electricity (millivolt powered) and offers an advanced temperature control system, exclusive performance software, intelligent diagnostics, pilot-on-indication, a separate immersed thermowell, an integrated piezo igniter and universal replacement capability. With over 150,000 units already in the field, it’s a technology that’s proven durable, reliable and simple. We urge you to go to www.bradfordwhite.com for full details. You’ll see how the Bradford White ICON System™ can change your business for the better. ™
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March 2010 | HPAC
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learning forum continued from p. 58 Room 201D
3:30 p.m.
60
Maximizing Efficiency In Combination And Integrated Mechanical Systems James Glouchkow of CanmetENERGY and Peter Edwards of Peter Edwards Co. discuss results, which are based primarily on testing comparing gas-fired furnaces with fan coil systems that use boilers and water heaters at the Canadian Centre for Housing Technology (CCHT). Find out the relative performance of: furnace and water heater systems; water heater based combo systems; condensing water heater based combo systems; instantaneous water heater based combo systems; and integrated mechanical systems. What can be done in the design and installation of combination systems to save customers money on their energy bills. Learn about related efficiency standards and the impact they can have (CSA P.9 and P.10) and how you can use this knowledge to help win contracts.
Room 202B
Making Complex Controls Simple: The Quick & Basic Approach Carol Fey of Carol Fey & Associates takes the confusion out of electrical control wiring for hydronic systems. You will hear why thinking in circles is good; how every hydronic control is a power supply, a switch or a load; how limit controls are like a safety committee; and how to see the friendly side of control panels.
Room 202D
GPS: Technology How It Can Help You to Sleep Peacefully at Night Pinpoint Technologies’ Bob Farrell discusses the do’s and don’ts of implementing GPS in your business and the benefits to the bottom line and customer service.
Room 203B
Geothermal/Earth Energy For Residential And Commercial Applications Randy Palach of NextEnergy Inc. takes a detailed look at geothermal system designs appropriate for residential and commercial applications. He reviews how new technology can enhance system performance, the cost-benefit of geothermal systems and installation costs, timelines and maintenance.
Room 201D
Minimizing The Impact Of Summer Utility Peaks - For New Home And Retrofit Markets Skip Hayden and Jeremy Sager of CanmetENERGY, together with Dara Bowser of Bowser Technical, discuss best practices for efficient hot weather cooling through envelope fix-ups, proper equipment sizing, efficient duct design (or duct system retrofit), duct sealing, and zoning. They also review options available to offset HVAC loads during utility peaks and traditional air conditioning approaches, new zoned approaches and new mini-split technologies.
Room 201F
The Role of Copper in Renewable Energy Applications For C-I-I Projects Arnold Knapp of the Canadian Copper & Brass Development Association (CCBDA) looks at new applications for copper in solar thermal collectors, drain water heat recovery units, direct exchange geothermal units and variant refrigerant flow heating-cooling systems.
Room 202B
Inspecting Hydronic Heating Systems Learn the basics of modern hot water heating systems, their proper arrangement, codes, standards and best practices from Robert Bean of Healthy Heating. This seminar is geared to home inspectors, builders, insurance agents, inspectors and firemen. See Robert’s columns in HPAC at hpacmag.com and on page 34 of this issue. continued on p. 62
HPAC | March 2010
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The world’s first digital multimeter with detachable display is here.
Convenient: Position the display in a place that allows you to focus on the probes.
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Safety: Take measurements in any environment.
The Fluke 233 Remote Display Multimeter stands apart.
Fluke tools are designed for the way you want to work. The New Fluke 233 wireless remote display digital multimeter with removable magnetic display allows you to be 30 feet away from the measure point, allowing you to get more done, faster and more safely. Imagine the possibilities. For more information visit www.flukecanada.ca or call 800-363-5853. ©2009 Fluke Corporation. 3498988A T-EN-N
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learning forum continued from p. 60 Room 202D
Room 203B
The Size Of Your Company Doesn’t Matter: Your Ability To Manage Employees Does! Christa Hale of Peoplefx presents an employee management seminar designed to equip attendees with the essential tools required to create a productive, progressive and legally sound work environment. Points of interest include: making your company an employer of choice; why employment letter/contracts for part time, hourly and salaried staff are important; the art of selecting and retaining the best talent; essential Human Resource practices and policies that provide the framework for your company’s operations; the importance and benefits of performance reviews; and performance management - a win-win strategy. See Christa’s column on p. 106 of this issue. Search hpacmag.com’s archive for previous columns. Installing Photovoltaic Systems under the Ontario Micro-FIT Program Thinking about exploring the growth opportunities related to solar power? Per Drewes of Sol Source Partners Inc. introduces solar photovoltaic systems and in particular, utility-interactive photovoltaic systems. He describes photovoltaic modules, utility interactive inverters and array support structures and explains the new Ontario Feedin-Tariff (FIT) program focusing on the Micro-FIT program and how it can benefit your business. An experienced system designer and installer, Drewes covers system design, array installation, balance-of-system installation, utility interconnection including metering options, system commissioning and other practical design considerations. He will also help you to understand the sales process for solar applications, including dealing with the customer expectations, dealing with the Ontario Power Authority, local utilities and the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA).
Saturday, March 27 10:30 a.m.
62
Room 201D
Shouldn’t Gas Furnaces Heat with Gas, Not Electricity? Presented by the Canadian Oil Heat (COHA) and the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA), this session speaks to the impact and issues related to the introduction of “approved” variable speed DC blower motors for retrofit into existing PSC-motor equipped furnaces. Findings from lab evaluations, motor technologies and performance, potential energy savings, are among the subjects to be covered.
Room 201F
Ask TSSA - The Top Ten Questions on Fuel Safety This open forum will cover fuel oil safety, and code and regulation interpretations.
Room 202B
LEEP: A Way To Speed Up The Market Uptake of Efficient New HVAC Products The Local Energy Efficiency Partnerships (LEEP) is an initiative designed to engage builders and contractors in introducing new, energy efficient products to the marketplace. Jamie Glouchkow and Corey McBurney of CanmetENERGY outline how the program works, the approach it takes in evaluating new generic classes of HVAC equipment and new building envelope components, and how products are selected for it. Learn about related demonstrations that are getting started and how the results can be used to help the product selection process.
Room 201D
Radon: Is It In Your Customer’s Home And What Can You Do About It? See Thursday, March 25 p.m.
Room 203B
Installing Photovoltaic Systems under the Ontario Micro-FIT Program See Friday March 26, p.m.
HPAC | March 2010
hpacmag.com
Rising to the Challenge
The HCFC phase-out is now underway and Arkema is leading the transition with next-generation refrigerants Forane® 407A, 407C and 427A. With solutions for OEM and existing equipment the Forane® team is rising to meet any challenge – especially yours.
Visit us at CMX 2010 Booth #1122
Arkema Canada Inc. 1100 Burloak Drive, Suite 107, Burlington, ON L7L 6B2
www.arkema.ca For more information call 905-331-5500 or 1-800-567-5726 www.forane-na.com
Explore the possibilities ©Arkema Inc. 2010. All rights reserved. Forane ® is a registered trademark belonging to Arkema.
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HPAC | March 2010
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EXHIBITOR LIST* Exhibitor
Booth
3M Canada Company.................... 2117-2121
A
A.D.S. (Alternative Distribution & Sales) ........................................................ 1941 A.M.T.S. Limited ................................1109,1111 A.O. Smith WPC Canada .......................... 2025 AAF International ..................................... 2215 Accubid Systems .............................1917,1919 ACi Distributing Inc. ....................................320 Action Van & Truck World ....................... 1135 Acudor Acorn Limited....................1425,1427 Adams Mfg. Co. ...............................1124,1126 Aeroflo Inc. .............................1106,1108,1110 AIC Heat Exchangers ............................... 1921 Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute ......................... 2415 Air Heat Supplies .........................................211 Air King Limited ..............................1839,1841 Air Solutions Inc. ..........................................337 Airdex Corporation ........................1524,1526 Airex Inc. ............................................2112,2114 Airia Brands Inc. - Lifebreath ................. 1731 Airmax Technologies ............................... 2213 Airtec Products .................................... 936,938 Aitonsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Equipment Inc. ......................823-827 Allied Air Enterprises .................... 1719-1723 Allied Engineering........................................517 Allpriser Ltd. .....................................1434,1436 Alltemp Products Co. Ltd. ...................... 1225 Alpha Controls And Instrumentation ...223 Alsons ........................................................... 1219 Alumavent Inc. .............................................944 American Standard Brands ................... 1619 American Technical Publishers ............ 1419 Amerispec Of Canada ............................. 1736 Amtrol Inc. ............................................. 424,426 Andre HVAC International Inc. ............. 2020 Andy Baumen Associates Ltd. ... 1709,1711 Anvil International Canada .................. 1814 Applied Comfort Products Inc. ...1413,1415 Aris Building Technologies .......................816 Arkema Canada Inc. ................................. 1122 Armco Agencies Inc. c,o Caroma,Aquatic ............................. 2115 Armstrong Limited ......................................731 Arzel Zoning Technology ....................... 1811 ASHRAE ......................................................... N13 Aspen Canada ................................. 2013-2017 Atmosphere Inc. ..............................1007,1009 Axiom Industries Ltd. .................................535
66
HPAC | MARCH 2010
*AS AVAILABLE AT PRESS TIME HIGHLIGHTED EXHIBITORS HAVE ADVERTISEMENTS IN THIS ISSUE
Exhibitor
Booth
B
B & B Trade Dist. ........................................ 1119 Bacharach Inc. ............................................ 1741 Belanger UPT ....................................... 716,718 Belimo .................................................2325,2327 Bibby-Ste-Croix ...............................1935,1937 Biddle Air Systems Ltd. ............................ 2418 Bitzer Canada Inc. ..................................... 2123 BMI Canada ....................................................819 BNP Media ......................................................937 Bosch Thermotechnology ........................303 Boshart Industries ..........................1030,1032 Bradford White Canada Inc. .................. 1313 Braeburn Systems LLC ...............................432 Brant Steel Products ...................................522 Brass Craft ................................................... 1219 Britech Corp. .....................................2245,2344 Brizo .............................................................. 1219 Broan ............................................................. 1331 Brodi Specialty Products Ltd. ............... 2537 Bryan Donkin,Carremm Controls Limited ........................ 1011-1015 Buffalo Booties .............................................205 Burnham ...................................................... 1933
C
Caleffi ...................................................... 525,527 Cambridge Engineering ............................322 CAML-TOMLIN ..............................................441 Camus Hydronics Ltd. ....................... 618,620 Canadian Consulting Engineer Magazine ............................. 1134 Canadian Copper & Brass Development Association ........1437,1439 Canadian General Filters ...........................925 Canadian Hydronics Council .............. N5,N6 Canadian Oil Heat Association .................N1 Canadian Water Quality Association .. 2113 Carlo Gavazzi Inc. .........................................326 Cash Acme ............................................ 836,838 CCTF Corporation ........................................209 Cheminee Lining.E Inc. ..............................521 CIPH - Canadian Institute Of Plumbing & Heating .................... N5,N6 Clean Energy .................................................324 Coaire ...................................................... 539,541 Comfort Connections ............................. 2343 Compco Industries ......................................323 Conbraco,Apollo Valves ......................... 1321 Continental Fan .............................. 1106-1110
Exhibitor
Booth
Continental Fireplaces ................. 1438-1442 Contrac ......................................................... 2238 Contractor Support System .....................537 Cozy,Louisville Tin & Stove .............. 918,920 CPI Industry - North America ................. 534 CPS Products Canada ........................ 543,545 Creatherm LLC ..............................................315 Creotech Industries Inc. ................2411,2413 CSA International ...........................1234,1236 C-Tech-I Canada Ltd. ................................ 2240 CTM Inc. ................................................. 225,227 CTS Cargo Tie-Down Specialty ...............734 Custom Coils Canada .................................935
D
Dafco Filtration Group .............................. 741 Dahl Brothers Canada Ltd. ..........1914,1916 Danfoss Inc. ................................................ 1840 Daro Flooring Constructions ................. 2437 Data-Basics Inc. ......................................... 1923 Dayus Register & Grille Inc. ......................814 De Dietrich Boiler (DDR Americas) ............................... 531,533 Dectron Inc. ................................................ 1807 Dectron Internationale ........................... 1807 Deflecto Canada ............................ 1213-1217 Delany Flush Valves ....................................623 Delhi Industries ...............................2530,2532 Delta .............................................................. 1219 Delta T Components .................... 2330-2334 Direct Energy Business Services .... 231,233 Diversitech Corporation ........................... 915 Dobbin Sales Ltd. ........................... 2422-2426 Don Park ...................................................... 1231 Ductmate Canada Ltd. ..................1208,1210 Duro Dyne Canada Inc. ................ 2007,2009 Dyn Air ............................................... 1530-1534
>>> BE SURE TO STOP BY BOOTH N11/12 AND SAY HELLO TO HPAC STAFF. WHILE YOU ARE THERE, PICK UP YOUR SHOW ISSUE AND A COPY OF BUILDING TO 2010, OUR OLYMPIC COMMEMORATIVE.
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EXHIBITOR LIST Exhibitor
Booth
E
E&E Process Instrumentation . .................916 E.I. DuPont Canada .........................1818,1820 E.S. Gallagher Sales Ltd. .......................... 1512 ebm-papst Inc. ........................................... 1239 ECO Vision Sales Inc. . ............................... 2237 Ecobee...............................................................207 Ecosaire ......................................................... 1807 Ecotherm Inc. . ...................................... 631,633 ECR International . ..................................... 1625 Eden Energy Equipment - Water Furnace ...........................2034,2036 Electro Industries, Northern Heat Pump ........................... 1938 Embodied Systems Inc. ........................... 1541 Emerson . ........................................1509 + 1607 Empire Machinery & Tools Ltd. ............... 431 Enbridge Gas Distribution .......... 2221,2223 Enerco Group Inc. . ...................................... 932 Enersys Sales and Service Inc. . ...... 617,619
Exhibitor
Booth
Enertran Technologies . ........................... 1834 Enerworks Solar Water Heating ...........................................1735,1737 Envira-North Systems Ltd. . .................... 2217 Erico ................................................................. 912 EWC Control ............................................... 1116 Excalibur Water Systems Inc. ................. 2216 Express Radiant Ltd. ....................................523
F
F.E. Myers (Div. Pentair Canada) ..... 831,833 Fairview Fittings & Mfg. Ltd. .....................812 Fantech Limited ............................. 1431-1435 Farmbro Inc. ...................................................625 Fernco Connectors Ltd. ........................... 1535 Fernox - Hydronic Agencies Ltd. .............437 Fielding Chemical Technologies Inc........................................536 Flame Gard .....................................................623 Flexmaster Canada & Z-Flex ........... 715-721
Exhibitor
Booth
Flo Fab Inc. .................................................. 2212 Flow Sales Inc. .....................1634-1640 + 418 Fluke Electronics . ..................................... 1837 Forbest Products Co. ................................ 1939 Fred J.Taylor Sales & Marketing . ............ 930 Freeze Co. Systems Limited ............. 630,632 Fresh Aire - UV ...............................................932 Fuelmaster Div. Pendell Boiler Ltd. ..... 1417 Fujitsu General America . ..............1035,1037 Fulton Boiler Works Canada Inc............. 2032
G
G.F. Thompson Co. Ltd. ...................... 325,327 Gasmaster Industries ..................................641 General Pipe Cleaners ...................2207,2209 Geoflex Systems .......................................... 720 Geosmart Energy ............................1445,1544 Giant Factories Inc. ........................ 1118,1120 Globe Union Canada Inc................... 730,732 Goodman........................................2019 + 2035
WOLV State-of-the-Art Geothermal Training & Testing Facility
We offer a wide range of hands-on geothermal courses designed for homeowners, well drillers and HVAC contractors.
New Name, New Products, New Service Guarantee Come visit us at CMX on March 26th booth #1038 and see the unveiling of our new look. 1010 Clarke Road, London, Ontario, Canada N5Y 5S6 CDN: 1.800.265.9271 US: 1.800.561.7119 FAX: 1.800.216.7266 Web: www.wlvtc.com
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EXHIBITOR LIST Exhibitor
Booth
Goodway Technologies Corp. ............... 1739 Gordon R. Williams Corp. ....................... 2425 Gorski Plener & Associates ........................707 Granby Industries . .......................................416 Green Turtle Technologies Ltd. . .................. 5 Gripple Inc....................................................... 813 Grundfos Canada Inc. ....................... 506,508 GSW Water Heating,John Wood Water Heaters ......................................... 1113 GT Globe Industries . ...................................445
H
H.G. Spec. Inc. ............................................. 1335 Hallowell International............................. 2338 Hansgrohe .................................................. 1219 Hays Fluid Controls ................................... 1138 HCR Heating & Cooling Parts ...................434 Heat Transfer Products ...............................616 HeatLink Group Inc. . ......................... 642,644 Hi Mark Occupational Skills Training Centre Ltd. ............. 800,802 High Performance New Construction ................................. 2219 Honeywell ................................................... 1123 Houghton Chemical Corporation ...... 1920 HPAC Magazine . ................................. N11,N12 HRAI (The Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada)......................... N7-N10 HVAC Xchanger . ........................................ 2116 HVACR Heritage Centre Canada .............116 Hydromatic Pump Co. ................................835 Hydronic Parts Group ........................ 311,313 Hydronic Systems Canada Inc. ............. 1931
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HPAC | March 2010
Exhibitor
Booth
I
IAPMO R&T Inc. ......................................... 1536 ICC Industrial Chimney Company . ......................................1538,1540 Imperial Manufacturing Group...1910,1912 Imperial Tools,Stride Tool ......................... 934 Info-Link,Evniro-Link ...................................635 Ingersoll Rand Industrial Refrigeration ........................................... 1136 In-Sink-Erator ................................... 1325,1327 Insulation Solutions Inc. ............................740 Intellidyne LLC . ......................................... 2414 Invensys Controls ..................................... 1637 Ipex Inc. . ............................................ 2031,2033 Islandaire ...................................................... 1715 ITT Residential & Commercial Water .................................. 413
J
J.J. Downs Industrial Plastics Inc. ............430 JAGA Canada Climate Systems Inc. . ..................................... 837,839 Jay R. Smith ....................................................621 Johnson Controls (York Coleman Luxaire Source1) .................................... 1031 Jonas Software ........................................... 1422 JUDO Water Treatment . .......................... 2041 Jumo Process Control Inc. ............1934,1936
K
Kanex Telescopic Sleeves Ltd. ............... 2318 KCS . ...................................................................939
Exhibitor
Booth
Keeprite Refrigeration ............................. 1523 Kele Inc. . ..........................................................817 Kerr Heating Products................... 1639,1641 Klimatrol Environmental Systems Ltd.........2 Kooljet Refrigeration Inc. . ...................... 2037
L
L.M. Temperature Control Inc. . ............. 2111 L.S. Bilodeau .......................................... 317,319 Lennox Industries Inc. . ...............................339 Lenox ............................................................. 2039 Leonard Valve Company . ......................... 810 LG Electronics ............................................ 2131 Liberty Pumps ...................................... 624,626 Liftsafe Engineering & Service Group Inc. ...................................................722 Little Giant Pump Co. dba Franklin Electric ...........................1242,1244 Lochinvar Corporation ...................... 210,212 Low Energy Systems Canada ......... 711,713 Lucas-Milhaupt Toronto, Handy & Harman Co. . .......................... 1140 Lyncar Products Ltd. . .................... 1925,1927 Lyons Industries . ............................ 1636,1638
M
M.A. Stewart & Sons Ltd. . ....................... 1441 Maax Bath Inc. ..................................2130,2132 Madok Manufacturing Ltd. .................... 1821 Mag Tool Inc. .........................................906-910 Mainline Backflow Products .................. 1045 Manuflow Inc. ....................................... 304,306 Marathon Internâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;l .........................................919 Marketing Launch Innovations ...............840 Masco Canada Ltd. . .................................. 1219 Master Plumber ......................................... 1219 Maxxon Corporation ................................ 1023 Mayekawa,Mycom Canada . ........1245,1344 Mechanical Business ......................... N14,N15 Mechanical Contractors Association Of Toronto - MCA Toronto .....................636 MEP Drives Ltd. ............................... 1924,1926 Mestek RBI,Hydrotherm Boilers ..... 410,412 Mifab . ............................................................ 1017 Mirolin Industries ...................................... 1543 Mits Airconditioning Inc. ................................... 1822-1826 + 2220 Mitsubishi Electric Sales Canada Inc. ................................... 1823-1827 Miura North America Inc. .............1019,1021
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EXHIBITOR LIST Exhibitor
Booth
Modine........................................................... 1812 Moen Inc. . .................................................... 1631 Multicam Canada ........................... 2431,2433
N
Napoleon Heating & Air Conditioning .................................... 2143 Natural Resources Canada ............... 613,615 Navien America Inc. . ................................... 6,7 NCI Marketing Inc. ..........................1817,1819 Neo Valves Ltd............................................. 2422 Neptronic............................................2239,2241 Newmac Mfg.. . ................................ 1831-1835 Nexpump.ca .......................................... 638,640 Next Energy Inc. . ................................. 436,438 NOFP Inc. ..................................................... 1339 Noritz....................................................2038,2040 Novanni Stainless Inc. ....................2231,2233 Novo Water Conditioning Products (A division of Canture NA) . ...................335
Exhibitor
Booth
NRG Equipment Inc. .......................2206,2208 NTI . ................................................................... 725 N-Two Cryogenic Inc. .......................................4 Nu-Calgon . ................................................. 1836 NuTone . ........................................................ 1331
O
Oakville Stamping & Bending . ....... 909,911 Oatey Canada SCS Co. ............................. 1922 Oetiker Inc. . ....................................................435 OnSpeX .............................................. 1234,1236 Ontario Plumbing Inspectors Association Inc. ...................................... 1036 Ontario Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Contractors Association (ORAC) ...... 2210 Ontor Limited........................................922-926 Oventrop Corporation . .................2045,2144
Exhibitor
Booth
P
Panasonic Canada Inc. . ................ 2134-2138 Parker Hannifin Sporlan Division . ....... 2331 PCI - Telus ..................................................... 2531 Pinpoint GPS Solutions ........................... 1845 Pipe Tools Supply Ltd. . ........................... 2307 Piping Technology And Products Inc.....308 Plasma Automation Inc. . ........................ 1743 Plumbing & Hvac Product News . ...... N3,N4 Port-A-Cool L.L.C. .........................................221 PowerMate,LP International Inc.............. 841 Pre-Apprenticeship Training Institute .......8 Preston Phipps Inc. ............................. 204,206 Price Pfister .................................................. 1640 Pro Kontrol . .......................................1312,1314 ProFab Empyre...............................................344
See HPAC at BOOTH N11/12
The Most Experienced & Respected Name in Geothermal
With over two centuries of combined experience, GeoSmart has earned a solid reputation for our knowledge and expertise in the geothermal industry. We offer premium quality, cost-effective, energy efficient and renewable heating and cooling solutions for your home or business. For more information or to become a Geothermal Specialist:
866.310.6690 GEOSMART ENERGY.COM March 2010 | HPAC
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EXHIBITOR LIST Exhibitor
Booth
Q
Quatrosense Environmental Ltd. . ...... 2110 Quickpen International . ......................... 1323 Quiet Breeze . .................................................736 Quote Express.............................................. 2323
R
R.W. Beckett Canada . ..................................913 Raptor Cutting Tools Inc. ....................... 2320 Ratech Electronics Ltd. ..................2525,2527 Redmond Williams Distributing ULC... 1531 Reed Manufacturing Company...2024,2026 Refco Manufacturing US Inc. . .............. 1420 RefPlus Inc.,Thermoplus ...............2407,2409 Refrigerant Services Inc. ...............1808,1810 Refrigeration Kool-Air Inc. ........... 2139,2141 Refrigeration Service Engineers Society RSES Canada . ...............................N2 Reliable Controls Corporation.....1645,1744 Reliable Pricing System ........................... 1341 Retail Energy Control Systems . ...............538 Reverso Manufacturing.............................. 738 Reversomatic ....................................... 737,739 Rheem Manufacturing ............................ 1907 Riello Burners . ...............................................423 Roth Industries .................................... 420,422 Rothenburger.............................................. 1240 Rupp Air Management Systems .......... 2321 Ruskin Canada . .................................... 442,444
S
S.M. Trading House Inc. ........................... 1016 Saniflo . .................................................... 712,714 Sanuvox Technologies Inc. . ............ 818,820 Sanyo Canada Inc. ..........................2107,2109 Service Automation, Inc...................................3 Service Net . ................................................. 1816 Sho,Booties Products Ltd. ...................... 2310 Shop Data Systems ................................... 2435 SIE Inc................................................................ 519 Sime North America ........................... 331,333 Simpson Dura-Vent .....................................544 Sinochem Ningbo Ltd. HVAC division (Sino-Hvac).................. 1813 Sinus North America Mfg. ........................ 622 Slant,Fin Ltd,Ltee ...................................... 1337 Snap Financial ............................................ 2140 Solar Panels Plus LLC . .............................. 2340 Soler & Palau Canada ....................1913,1915
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HPAC | March 2010
Exhibitor
Booth
SolidCAD ..................................................... 1717 Space-Ray Infrared Heaters ......................439 Spartan Peripheral Devices ................... 1144 Specialty Food Service Hardware . .........623 Steam Sauna Inc. ......................................... 440 Sumner Manufacturing................. 1725,1727 Superior Radiant Products ..................... 1034 Systemair . ..........................................2306,2308
T
T.H. Industrial Solutions Inc. ..........................1 Taco (Canada) Ltd. . ............................. 311,313 Takagi Canada Inc. .................................... 1918 Tandem Chillers ........................................ 1815 Target Metal Products Inc. .............. 931,933 Taylor Pipe Supports................................ 2235 Technical Sales International ......2314,2316 Tecvalco Ltd. .............................................. 1238 Tekmar Control Systems ...............1930,1932 Temp-Mizer Canada Ltd. . ................. 330,332 Test Products International ......................917 Testo Inc. . ........................................................414 The Clean Boot........................................... 2214 The HVAC Warehouse .................. 2012-2018 Thermadyne Canada - Turbo Torch ..................................... 645,744 Thermaflex......................................... 1112,1114 Thermo 2000 Inc. . .......................................914 Thermo Manufacturing Inc. . ...... 1008-1012 Thermolec Ltd. .......................................... 1423 Thermoplus Air Inc. ........................2407,2409 Thermoscreens Canada............................ 2416 Thermotek .................................................. 2321 Tools That Rock .......................................... 2022 Trackem (Solutions Into Motion) ........... 321 Trane Canada DSO .................................... 1131 Trans Continental Equipment . ................540 Triange Tube .............................................. 1931 TS Technical College . .............................. 2312 TTI Canada,Milwaukee Tools........2315,2317 Tuyaux Logard . .............................................815
U
UEI Canada .....................................................811 UEI Financial (Reliance) ........................... 1316 Union Gas Ltd. ........................................... 2319 Universal Electric Motors . ............1738,1740 Uniweld Products Inc. . ...............................821 Uponor Ltd. .......................................1537,1539 Urecon Ltd. .................................................. 1014
Exhibitor
Booth
V
Vaisala Inc. . .................................................. 2322 Vanee Ventilation ...................................... 1331 Vanteriors ..................................................... 2225 Vaughn Thermal ...........................................634 Venmar Ventilation ................................... 1331 Ventex Inc. ......................................................845 Veris Industries .......................................... 1838 Vicon .............................................................. 1743 Victaulic ..............................................1424,1426 Viega ................................................................ 743 Viessmann Manufacturing Company Inc. . ...........................................507 Viqua............................................................... 1343 Vision Parts & Accessories .........................623 Vortens Fixtures ......................................... 1634
W
W & F Manufacturing ............................... 2218 Walter ............................................................ 1219 Waterboss (ACi Distributing Inc.) . ..........320 WaterGroup . ........................................ 701,703 Waterline Products ......................................940 Watts Water Technologies (Canada) Inc. ............................................. 607 Weil-McLain Canada . ..................................425 Weishaupt Corporation..................2417,2419 Wesmech Technical Sales Inc. ........................................ 1039,1041 Westway Machinery Ltd. ...... 1743,1745,1842,1844 Wheeler-Rex ................................................ 2211 Williams Furnace Co. ................................ 1421 Wilo Canada Inc. ........................................ 1901 Winkler GmbH ..............................637,639-641 WMJ Walsh Agency Ltd. (Cliplight Mfg Co.)........................1940,1944 Wolverine Joining Technologies LLC . ................................. 2011 Wolverine Tube (Canada) Inc.................. 1038 Woodford Mfg.................................. 2106,2108 WWG Totaline................................................ 941
X,Y,Z
Yorkland Controls Ltd.................... 1025,1027 ZCL Composites Inc. ........................... 407,409 Ziehl-Abegg Inc. ........................................ 1943 Zonefirst ....................................................... 1713 Zurn Industries Limited . ................... 807,809
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C’s A P H r o f up Step right
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FatMax® Xtreme™ Portable Truck Box 42-gallon storage capacity provides abundant space for secured tools and equipment. The innovative docking station secures the box to the vehicle quickly and easily while also providing rapid release. An integrated security system features an alarm and code panel for theft prevention. Fluke True-rms 233 The world’s first remote display multimeter. Removable magnetic display allows you to be 30ft away from the measurement point for difficult measurements where display viewing is challenging.
TurboTorch Deluxe Portable Torch Kit This complete kit is designed to hold two 14.1 oz Map/Pro or Propane cylinders (not included) along with all the tools needed for soldering and brazing.
Testo 410-1 Vane Anemometer Measures air velocity, temperature and humidity. Testo 510 Digital Manometer Differential pressure meter is ideally suitable for pressure measurements in the range 0 to 100 hPa .
Extech BR200 Video Borescope/Wireless Inspection Camera Complete with a detachable 3.5” colour display allowing users to position the borescope as needed to access a difficult location without losing sight of the display.
For your chance to win $1000s worth of products come to CMX/CIPHEX in Toronto MARCH 25-27, fill out a ballot at the HPAC booth and you’re in! Please stop by our sponsors’ booths to see all of their latest products! visit www.cmxciphexshow.com for show details.
wo o d f o r d manufacturing
PRESENTED BY
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l
HigH-Quality NortH americaN made For 79 years, Woodford Manufacturing Co. has been supplying the plumbing industry with the highest-quality North American made products. Our wide range of well-built wall faucets and hydrants are not the only reason to do business with Woodford. All Woodford products can be repaired in the field regardless of age. Individual parts or repair kits are readily available as we understand how important it is to keep projects on schedule or have repairs made quickly. Woodford repair kits also make it easy to execute in-line repairs and reduce the chance for unnecessary damage to surrounding surfaces and structures. Take a look at our family of wall, roof and yard hydrants, as well as our many faucet products that are all proudly made to the highest standards. Freezeless roof Hydrant model rHy1 or rHy2: The Woodford RHY1 provides water availability for window washing, cleaning condenser coils, cooling towers and other types of roof equipment. The valve body of the hydrant is drilled and tapped with an 1/8-inch drain hole, which must be piped to a drain location. Product features include: • Mounting system to make proper and secure installation to any roof. • Available with (RHY1) or without (RHY2) backflow protection on nozzle. • All repairs can be made from the top of the unit without removing hydrant. Parts are readily available. Freezeless Hot and cold Wall Faucet model 22/V22/22cc: The Woodford Model 22, with an improved design, has been upgraded with aluminum powder-coated oval handles standard and with the patented pressurerelief valve operating rods. The 22 series provides year-round hot and cold water service regardless of outside temperature. Separate hot and cold inlet tubes and operating handles allow for manually operated water temperature control.
Available in three models: • Model 22 Horizontal Mount – Rough Brass. • Model 22V Vertical Mount – Rough Brass (for end wall installation). • Model 22CC Close Coupled – Rough Brass (for use in nonfreeze areas; fits within 2-inch x 4-inch wall). Suggested uses include residential structures where hot and cold water service is required yearround; ideal for filling kids wading pools, washing dogs or cars with warm or hot water. Features: • Faucet drains automatically when hose is removed. • Permanent stainless-steel seat eliminates possible pitting of seat or wire draw and allows the faucet to be repaired regardless of age. • EPDM packing prevents leaking. • Loose Tee Key (optional). Optional: An RKPT Repair Kit is available at additional cost to convert the hot side handle to a "Push to Turn." This will reduce the potential to unintentionally turn on the hot water. New product feature: • An internal resetting pressure-relief valve prevents the faucet casing tubes from bursting in freezing conditions, even if a hose is unintentionally left on.
www.woodfordmfg.com 72
HPAC | March 2010
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DON’T LET
WINTER WEATHER BURST YOUR BUBBLE
Freezeless AND Anti-Rupture? What’s the difference? A freezeless faucet has the shut off mechanism well within the heated portion of the home – but what if a garden hose or other device is inadvertently left connected to a faucet during freezing temperatures? Water in the tube fails to drain, this water then begins to freeze and pressure in the tube is increased as ice forms and tries to compress the water trapped in the tube. The tube ruptures and the next time the faucet is used the wall will fill with water. Woodford Model 19 Freezeless Faucets have a patented pressure relief valve which allows for expansion during freezing temperatures, saving the faucet and preventing a costly repair or call back. With Woodford’s Model 19, you’re protected – even from other people’s mistakes!
WOODFORD’S MODEL 19 • Anti-Rupture • Anti-Siphon ASSE 1019 Freezeless Wall Faucets
Anti-Rupture
Mounting Sleeve
WOODFORD MANUFACTURING COMPANY Toll Free (800) 621-6032 A Division Of WCM Industries, Inc.
www.WOODFORDMFG.com
PRODUCT SHOWCASE
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The Airtight Duct Takeoff from Don Park features a 1.5" mounting flange, screw pilot holes and a 1/8" thick double-sided adhesive zgasket. With a low profile design height of 3.5", it allows for installation in tight spaces and for the balanced damper to be positioned right inside the duct. Available in diameters from 4" â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 14" galvanized. donpark.com
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Zurnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s EcoVantage series provides an array of LEED/Green-listed products, which can be installed for new construction or retrofitted to existing installations. The series includes water-free urinals, 1/8-gallon ultra low-flow urinals, high-efficiency (HET) pressure-assist toilets and 1.28 ultra low-flow flush valve fixtures. zurn.com
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Providing comfort and energy savings for two-wire retrofits, tekmarNet2 house controls and thermostats from Tekmar Control Systems offer outdoor reset with indoor feedback, zone synchronization, shared schedules, scenes, and outdoor temperature display on any thermostat. The thermostats require just two wires for communication and power and can be used for retrofit installations where new wiring is not feasible. tekmarcontrols.com
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Combining a variable speed solar differential temperature control, bronze heat source and heat sink circulators, and a stainless steel flat plate heat exchanger, the Solar X-Pump Block from Taco can be set up to maintain a temperature differential between the solar collector(s) and up to two primary and optional auxiliary storage tanks. The unit, which can support a booster pump as part of a drainback system, comes with a heat dump option, freeze protection, and can be installed with just four pipe connections. taco-hvac.com
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Easy above floor installation
The original plumbing solution since 1958
VENT
1-800-363-5874 | www.saniflo.ca
Restaurants
The new generation of duplex system 2 x 1HP grinder
Restrooms
Pre-assembled Unit 5 inlets
Cottages
Onboard visual LED alarm Pumps up to 36 ft. vertically or 328 ft. horizontally
Stainless steel grinder
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PRODUCT SHOWCASE
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The Evergreen zoning system from Arzel Zoning Technology is an aftermarket zoning product that provides blower speed control based on air flow requirements. The system combines zone control with a replacement multi-speed ECM and features rotation detection technology as well as dual voltage capabilities. arzelzoning.com
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The Maelstrom HET with Turbo 3 flush valve from Briggs Industries provides one-flush performance that forces water conservation by using just 1.28 gpf. The toilet is constructed from vitreous china and has a 3" glazed trapway for efficient waste removal. briggsindustries.com
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Cliplightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Vision and Firefly refrigeration manifold pressure gauge sets feature sight glasses for air conditioning, refrigeration, and appliance equipment diagnostics. The Vision manifold has a deep well see-thru sight glass that uses ambient light for illumination, while the Firefly offers a built-in 2x magnifying sight glass with LED backlighting to illuminate refrigerant, contaminants and whether the system has UV dye. cliplight.com
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Victaulicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s QuickVic 107H installation-ready coupling can be assembled on to pipe without disassembling the bolts, nuts and housings. Designed for joining 2-8"/ 50-200 mm standard roll grooved and cut grooved steel pipe, the coupling is rated up to 750 psi/5715 kPa and can be installed using a standard hand wrench or an impact gun. victaulic.com/installationready
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The AMX300 mixing valve kit from Honeywell includes a wide variety of materials to decrease the number of additional parts needed for installation. It also requires a maximum of two sweat connections and installs in as little as 15 minutes. forwardthinking.honeywell.com
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PRODUCT SHOWCASE
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10 The NeutraPal condensate neutralization kit from Axiom is designed to raise
11 Available in 75, 85, 95 and 98
the pH of condensate in condensing boilers and furnaces operating on natural gas or propane before it is discharged to a drain. The kit can be mounted horizontally and vertically and features a low-profile design for appliances with a near-floor condensate drain. axiomind.com
per cent R efficiencies, the FP Series mini pleat V-Bank system from Dafco Filtration Group is designed for fine dust applications. dafcofiltrationgroup.com
Visit us at CMX/CIPHEX Booths 1039-1041 Contact Wesmech at: 1-800-613-3789 info@wesmechtech.com www.wesmechtech.com
Bimini V2.indd 1
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PRODUCT SHOWCASE
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12 The Clean Boot is a reusable
neoprene overboot that slips on over work boots and shoes so that outside dirt is not tracked in to customersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; homes. Available in small, medium, large and extra large, the boot is machine-washable and features a rippled sole for extra traction. thecleanboot.ca
13 Allpriser Limited provides industry
standard material pricing to contractors, wholesalers, engineers, architects and government agencies. Pricing is available for plumbing and hydronic heating, sewer and watermain, HVAC, electrical, and fire protection products. Choose from a printed price guide, an electronic price guide or opt for Winpriser pricing software, which provides the ability to use Allpriser pricing to create estimates, invoices and purchase orders. allpriser.com
15 The 2010 EZ Series GS unit from Islandaire, which uses environmentally-friendly
R410a refrigerant, comes in a range of cooling Btuh sizes as well as a variety of LP and natural gas heating Btuh sizes. Accessories such as wall sleeves, louvers, duct kits, wired and wireless remote wall thermostats are available. islandaire.com
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14 The JetStream 2400 evaporative
cooling unit from Port-A-Cool features a 48-gallon reservoir built into the one-piece leak- and rust-resistant housing as well as a louver panel that allows concentrated spot cooling simultaneously to the left, right, up and down. The unit can cool a 2,000 square foot area. port-a-cool.com
16 The EN Series precision air
conditioning line from Dectron Internationale offers models from 7.5 to 30 refrigeration tonsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;all which are modularly constructed as complete factory-assembled units or readyto-assemble on-site kits to fit through standard 80- x 36-inch doorways. ecosaire.com
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17 Fernco’s Pow-R Stick epoxy putty
can be drilled, tapped, sanded, filed, machined, primed and painted. The putty is heat resistant to 392F and is fully cured in one hour. It is available in white, copper, grey or in a triple pack. fernco.com
Record jpeg a nd mpeg fi les directly to a n SD ca rd
18 The Nitrogen Flow Indicator from
Uniweld is designed to eliminate oxide scale that can contaminate refrigerant. The tool flows nitrogen gas through copper tubing while brazing to displace oxygen and prevent oxidation. Nitrogen flow is confirmed when a float ball rises up in the flow indicator tube. uniweld.com
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Ratech Ad Elite SD V3.indd 1
March 2010 | HPAC 79 AM 2/23/10 9:38:07
PRODUCT SHOWCASE
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19 Viessmann’s Vitodens 200-W gas-
20 With five load rated sizes and
21 Goodway’s GDS-C30 portable de-
fired wall-mounted condensing boiler adjusts automatically to gas type and quality so no fuel conversion kit is required for installation. With an efficiency rating of up to 96.1 per cent A.F.U.E., this boiler also features an on-board multifunction outdoor reset boiler and system control for multi-temperature space and DHW heating. Multiple venting options are available with an increased vent length of up to 180'. viessmann.com
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multiple end fixings for attachment to a variety of ceiling types, Gripple’s cable hanger systems provide suspension of HVAC, mechanical, lighting and electrical services. These ready-to-use kits are designed to be up to six times faster than threaded rod installation methods. gripple.com
22 Farmbro Inc. offers upfitting
equipment for the Ford Transit Connect. Equipment is available in lightweight aluminum as well as powdercoated steel. The company also provides consultation and engineering support to meet individual or fleet needs for full size work vans and trucks. farmbro.com
scaling pump circulates chemicals through steam generators, hot water heaters, heat exchangers and chillers. The pump features 20 GPM water flow and a seven-gallon reservoir tank with a carry handle. Two 10' circulation hoses are included with the unit. goodway.com
23 The Free Living Series from Mirolin
is a range of shower and tub units with various grab bar combinations. The series also includes a porta acrylic walkin-bath with hydrotherapy, a padded seat and an outward-swinging door. All Free Living models are available in a variety of finishes. mirolin.com/freeliving
hpacmag.com
More than machines...
...itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s partnership. For some, a successful installation marks the close of the deal. For us, it symbolizes the beginning. At VICON, words like availability, nationwide service, comprehensive training and support are more than marketing mumbo-jumbo, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s who we are. We stand behind our plasma cutting and coil line systems, rollformers, TDX machines and InteliCADTM drafting software because, in our eyes, our customers are part of the VICON family. And we really would not want it any other way.
Visit us at CMX-CIPHEX Show To learn more, call 800-563-8510 March 25 - 27, 2010 Metro Toronto Convention Center Booth #1743
Plasma Automation Inc. Vicon Machinery, LLC
or contact our Canadian Distributor Westway Machinery, Ltd. directly at 905-803-9999 or visit us at www.plasma-automation.com
TM
Where Superior Duct Work Begins.
PRODUCT SHOWCASE
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24 Used in installations where multiple
25 Insulated with almost five inches
downspouts are connected together to a single pipe into the vortex filter, the Vortex rainwater filter from Jay R. Smith Co. can filter up to a 5,500 square foot roof area for site irrigation and a variety of nonpotable uses. The filter assembly consists of a 12-inch stainless steel lift handle, removable stainless steel 280 micron fine mesh filter and polypropylene filter housing, upper ring and housing lid. jrsmith.com
26 Malco Product Inc.’s PEX To Wire
Tool and Clip system is designed for securing a PEX tubing in-floor radiant heating layout on a wire grid. It features a 25-count clip capacity magazine feed and 12-gauge steel clips designed to resist breakage. The clips are safe for use with all PEX to wire fastening applications and with all brands of PEX tubing from 3/8" to 3/4" diameters. malcotools.com
27 Systemair’s high performance, energy-efficient ventilation equipment with EC
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of closed cell polyethylene foam, GTGlobe Industries’ Thermoflex PEX pipe is designed to offer protection against water migration. Up to 300 feet long, the pipe can be customized to meet individual specifications, whether that means tailoring internal diameters or adding electrical wires to the system. gtglobeindustries.com
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HPAC | MARCH 2010
motor technology can reduce air conditioning loads up to 3.5 tons per 1000cfm. The company’s Topvex range features top and side connections to allow for flexibility when positioning the units. systemair.com
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PRODUCT SHOWCASE
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28 Used in conjunction with a Victaulic circuit balancing valve; the TA Series
29 The Eagle X line of combustion and
793/794 differential pressure controller ensures the correct pressure is delivered to the coil and circuit balancing valve. The Series 793 is available with a threaded end for 1/2-2"/15-50mm sizes. The Series 794 is available with an ANSI Class 150 flanged end for 2-4"/65-100mm sizes. victaulic.com/balancing
system analyzers from UEi feature EOS Technology CO2 sensors instead of electro-chemical sensors to cut down on the need for replacement parts. ueitest.com
®
Sustainable Operations Products
ZURN INDUSTRIES LIMITED 3544 NASHUA DRIVE, MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO L4V 1L2 PHONE: 905/405-8272 · FAX: 905/405-1292
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Committing to the future
NEW! Introducing the testo 550 Refrigeration System Analyzer Performance, Value and Speedâ&#x20AC;Ś
Performance Calculates superheat and subcooling in real-time
Value Ruggedly designed and built for everyday use
Speed Simultaneously performs multiple tests For more information please call (800) 227-0729 or visit www.testo.us/550
See us at CMX Booth #414
PRODUCT SHOWCASE
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30 The Armstrong Brain DRV80
31 Distributed by Ontor Limited,
digital recirculating valve, available from Preston Phipps Inc., is designed exclusively for recirculating hot-water systems. The unit offers temperature control within 2F, with flow capacities from 0 to 150 gpm as well as programmable temperature alerts and a thermal disinfection program. prestonphipps.com
32 With an insulation thickness of 3/8"
and service temperature range from -40C to 220F, Kamcoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s EZ-Roll copper line sets are available in standard lengths of 25', 30', 35' and 50'. The sets conform to ASTM C-534 and feature a larger ID and soft temper for ease of uncoiling. wlvtc.com
33 With a five-bladed design and Tubercle Technology, the high volume low speed
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the Desert Spring DS pro series pulse humidifier has a water flow control designed to reduce water demand. Features include water hammer protection and a lightweight compact design. The unit comes complete with an installation kit and humidistat control. Sizing is up to 3,000 square feet. ontor.com
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HPAC | MARCH 2010
(HVLS) Altra-Air fan from Envira-North Systems Limited is designed to destratify air quietly and efficiently. The fans qualify for a number of different energy efficiency incentives and come in sizes from eight to 24 feet and have variable speed operation. enviranorth.com
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Only one flush has passed the test of time...
34 The Extech multimeter/
datalogger with wireless PC interface from ES Gallagher allows for real time datalogging or wireless data transmission to a PC. The unit offers true RMS measurements for AC voltage and currents. extech.com
35 Mainline’s Test-Eze pipe plug
can be used for pressure-testing 3" and 4" plastic DWV pipe. The plug inserts into drainage pipe and is then solvent welded to a standard cleanout. The system is then pressure tested. The plug features a centre pull tab that tears a section out of the middle of the plug for controlled pressure release and draining after the test is complete. backwatervalve.com
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Rx11-flush® is the industry’s standard for over a decade. Contractors trust it. OEMs recommend it. • Industry’s #1 Flush • Low boiling point...easy to evacuate • Non-toxic and non-flammable • New Starter Kit is ideal for first time users
www.nucalgon.com CALGON is a licensed trade name.
The Best Flush for R-410A Retrofits March 2010 | HPAC
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AdvAnced Technology Technology mAde mAde Simple Simple
2009 to Canadians Canadians first first -- of ofaagroundbreaking groundbreakingnew newTaco Taco 2009 saw saw the the introduction introduction -- to technology, destined to become legendary in the industry. technology, destined to become legendary in the industry. The VDT (Variable (Variable Delta Delta Temperature) Temperature)circulators circulatorsoffer offeraahuge huge The unique unique Taco Taco VDT advantage the delta delta TT -- and and in in turn, turn, advantage -- by by maintaining maintaining the the the system. system. The The the correct correct BTU/hr required by the circulator is always pumping at the correct rate circulator the correct rate because constantly giving giving itit feedback. feedback. because the system is constantly These circulators combine a microprocessorThese microprocessorbased with the the reliability reliability based variable speed controller with and standard 00 00 cartridge cartridge units. units. and convenience convenience of Taco’s standard The highly advanced, advanced, but but The technology may be highly the simplicity. To To begin begin with, with, the application application is pure Taco simplicity. you the system system or or zone zone you simply simply dial in the delta T of the (from 5 - 50 degrees F). The circulator (from circulator then then automatically automaticallyadjusts adjustsits itsperformance performance to match match the ideal BTU/hr system to system output. output. It’s It’s that that simple simple--and andthere’s there’sno noneed need to calculate calculate a delta P value. VDT to VDT circulators circulators are are aa natural naturalfor forretrofit retrofitapplications, applications, where complete system variables where variables are are unknown. unknown.
Taco’s new Canadian headquarters Taco’s headquarters and and distribution distributioncentre centreininMilton, Milton,Ontario, Ontario, features a complete HVAC educational features educational centre. centre. It’s It’s designed designedto tocompliment complementtheir their FloPro program by offering valuable factory training sessions. FloPro valuable factory training sessions. These one-day sessions cover These cover all all the the fundamentals fundamentalsof ofbasic basichydronic hydronicsystems systems including: ‘The complete boiler room’, including: room’, ‘Hydronic ‘Hydronic heat heatloss’ loss’and and‘Hydronic ‘Hydroniccontrols’. controls’. Be sure sure to to check check out out the Be the sessions sessions and and enroll enroll on-line on-lineat atwww.floproteam.com. www.floproteam.com. By becoming becoming a a member By member of of the the FloPro FloPro Team, Team, hydronics hydronicscontractors contractorscan cangrow grow their businesses with the application of cutting edge technology backed by their businesses with the application of cutting edge technology - backed byfactory factory training, field field and and technical technical support, training, support, and and aa range range of of consumer consumermarketing marketingand and promotional materials. materials. promotional Team members Team members train train on on Taco Taco products products and and hydronic hydronicsystems systemsincluding includingsystem system design, installation and sales. Taco field reps are assigned to support design, installation and sales. Taco field reps are assigned to supportFloPro FloProTeam Team contractors in in the the field field with contractors with access access to to specialized specialized technical technicalsupport. support.And Andteam team members also also receive receive special members special product product offers, offers, consumer-directed consumer-directedliterature literatureand and residential system design software packages. residential system design software packages. Taco Taco FloPro FloPro team teammembers membersreceive receivethe the advanced factory training and specialized advanced factory training and specializedsupport support that makes highly technical hydronic systems that makes highly technical hydronic systemssimple, simple, understandable understandable and and highly highlyprofitable. profitable.That’s That’sthe the Taco Tacoadvantage advantageyou youcan can enjoy by signing up today. enjoy by signing up today.
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Get with the program! Join today to learn, grow and profit! www.floproteam.com Join the team that builds your business, grows new skills and adds more customers. Taco offers this unique contractor growth and professional development program to benefit your hydronic business. We’ll teach you how to best sell systems and upgrades for excellent profitability. You’ll have access to factory tech support and the highly informative FloPro Team website - with industry leading eLearning tutorials. Plus you’ll receive a host of bulletins, guides and specialized information designed to keep you at the leading edge. We’re taking our Factory Training on the road. Sign-up for details.
TACO CANADA LTD. 8450 Lawson Road, Milton, ON L9T 0J8 Tel. 905-564-9422 Fax. 905-564-9436 www.floproteam.com
eLearning
Air Eliminators
Hot Water on D’MAND®
Circulators
Electronic Controls
Radiant Mixing Blocks
iSeries Mixing Valves
ProFit Parts
Software
FloPro Tutorials
PRODUCT SHOWCASE
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37 The Monitron II and Minitron cast iron electric boilers from Slant/Fin are designed
38 The Berwick Collection from
for new or standby installations and are particularly suitable for commercial and industrial facilities as well as office buildings. The units feature one-piece cast iron heat exchangers, built in air eliminators and internal baffles to improve heat transfer. slantfin.com
American Standard delivers water in a laminar ribbon flow that controls consumption without undue splashing. americanstandard.ca
Under-Slab Blanket Insulation
PRODUCT FEATURES • Durable Construction • Patented Technology • Multiple Roll Sizes • Will Not Crack or Break • Vapour and Moisture Barrier
Building Code Approval *Ontario BMEC Authorization # 07-07-377
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7181 Woodbine Ave, Ste. 231 Markham, ON L3R 1A3 Ph: 866-806-8977 www.gmsalesinc.com Email: Brian@gmsalesinc.com
hpacmag.com
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39 Featuring dual rack and pinion drives as well as a PC-based CNC controller, the Vicon Model 8000 HVAC plasma cutting system from Plasma Automation Inc. also comes equipped with ViSoft cutting software. plasma-automation.com
40 The Premium HT and HS series
hydronic units from GeoSmart Energy come housed in heavy-gauge stainless steel blue cabinets and feature integrated scroll compressor technology. The Premium HS models feature a highefficiency single-stage scroll compressor and are available in 1.5 to six nominal tons, while the Premium HT units feature dual single stage scroll compressors and come in eight to 15 nominal ton capacities. geosmartenergy.com
hpacmag.com
41 The Dead Level system from Watts
Water Technologies (Canada) Inc. for trench drain installation features a frame-anchored design for tying rebar to structural frames instead of channels, eliminating floating and pinching during the concrete pour. Its solid flanged channel, end cap and frame connections provide for proper joints and alignment. To eliminate the need for cutting in the field the system is available in standard four-foot sections as well as one-foot straight and combination corner/tee sections for flexibility on uneven runs. wattscanada.ca
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PRODUCT SHOWCASE
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42 The air-source HP-50 heat pump
43 Sumner Manufacturingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Series
45 The two-stage, variable-speed
water heater from Rheem Water Heating has a storage capacity of 50 gallons and boasts an Energy Factor (EF) of 2.0. With a diameter of 21" and a height of 75-1/2 inches, the unit is designed to fit in tight spaces. It also features 2.5-inchthick non-CFC foam insulation to minimize heat loss, stainless steel resistor elements and factory-installed temperature, pressure relief and drain valves. rheemhpwh.com
2412 compact 12' contractor lift features a 400lb lifting capacity and one-piece construction. The unit is also designed to fit into most vans and SUVs. Available accessories include fork extensions, pipe cradles and 24"x48" steel trays that slide on to the forks. sumner.com
44 ZCL Composite Inc.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fiberglass tanks are designed to be corrosion resistant and
fire retardant. These liquid-tight, weatherproof home heating oil storage tanks come in 200 and 250 imperial gallon sizes with single or double wall designs. They can be installed both indoors and outdoors. zcl.com
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GMVC95 gas furnace from Goodman offers up to 95 percent AFUE performance. The unit features a dualdiameter tubular heat exchanger, silicon nitride igniter, electronic control board with self-diagnostics, an auto-comfort mode for enhanced dehumidification, as well as multi-position installation. goodmanmfg.com
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HPACMAG.COM
come as a surprise to anyone. Contractors and wholesalers that deal with the issue every day are looking for concrete steps to draw young people into the industry and appeared disappointed to hear about an academic research project to “determine the scope of the problem.” Everyone is already aware that many of the skilled tradesmen in this industry are getting older and will soon be retiring, joining many of their fellow workers that have already left. Too many owners are working the tools because they can’t find skilled workers. Wholesalers are having difficulty recruiting reliable employees with the required mechanical aptitude. Numerous older workers entered the industry through the high school shop programs that long served as a key recruiting arena for contractors and wholesalers, not to mention manufacturers. With that factor largely eliminated by academics intent on ensuring that everybody gets a university education, the industry disappeared from the radar screen of young people over the past 30 or so years. A new way is needed to draw
Canada student chapters and the Canadian Institute of Plumbing & Heating Co-op program, to name a few, are excellent steps in the right direction. Some provincial governments are running television advertising and other marketing to draw attention to their apprenticeship and trades programs – a welcome step that was long overdue. Several associations offer scholarships to help students cover the cost of attending school in an industry-related field. This is also helpful. But what really needs to occur is a change in mindset. Marketing the industry to youth should not be a response to a particular crisis nor should it depend on the “scope of the problem” and how the situation looks in the future. Marketing this industry to youth needs to be an ongoing and permanent effort. It needs to become a key mandate for every major association and every provincial government. While the need to study the issue and project labour requirements is not totally irrelevant, it is only a small part of a much bigger issue. The mechanical
program could go a long way in providing an ongoing pool of candidates to work in this industry. Do we need another study? Groan …
From all of us at P&HVAC, we wish our readers and advertisers a joyful Christmas and all the best in 2008!
Announcement Longtime Refrigeration columnist John Carr has decided to put away his typewriter after 10 years of writing his entertaining investigative John Carr troubleshooting stories and other features for Plumbing and HVAC Product News. We are grateful for his contribution to the magazine over the years and wish him all the best in the future.
Heat Transfer Coils & Corrosion Protection Coatings ■ New Coil Applications ■ Exact Coil Replacements ■ Rapid Delivery ■ Heresite Protective Coatings
Madok Manufacturing is the Canadian licencee for Heresite Protective Coatings Inc. Manitowoc, WI
hpacmag.com
MANUFACTURING LIMITED
50 Morrell St., Brantford, Ontario N3T 4J5 Tel (519) 756-5760 Fax (519) 756-5768 mail@madok.com www.madok.com
March 2010 | HPAC
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TURBOTORCH® INTRODUCES TWO NEW PRODUCTS TO MEET TODAY’S HVAC/PLUMBING NEEDS Introducing the new TurboTorch Nitrogen Purge Kit. This latest offering provides all tools needed for purging HVAC and refrigeration lines, leak testing, flushing drainage lines, cleaning coils and components and even inflating tires! This is the ideal kit for HVAC and refrigeration installers and service technicians. The kit contains Nitrogen Regulator, Turbo Tornado Tip, two Cone Plugs, Needle Tip, CO2 Adaptor, two Charge Hoses, Blow Gun and Tire Chuck.
The Deluxe Portable Torch Kit is a “must have” have for the Plumbing and HVAC Professional. This complete kit contained in a compact tool bag is designed to hold two 14.1 oz Map/Pro or Propane cylinders (sold separately) along with all the tools needed for soldering and brazing. The new kit features: • A durable, lightweight tool bag with plenty of tool pockets, shoulder strap and a metal sleeve for hot tip storage, self-light PL-3T tip, torch handle, STK-R regulator, 12’ hose and a new hose clamp for convenient storage. Also included are the following BONUS items: • A self-lighting PL-4T tip, a PL-812 heat shield and a 1lb. roll of VIPER SX solder For further information on all TurboTorch products, please contact your local HVAC/ Plumbing Wholesaler or our Customer Service Department at 905-827-4515, toll free fax 1-800-588-1714 or via e-mail: canadaacs@thermadyne.com
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PORTABLE TORCH KIT Practical. Compact. Allows you to get in and out of tight spaces.
T
urboTorch has introduced a new portable torch kit that is designed to hold the
essential soldering equipment and tools, while providing the comfort and convenience necessary for
easy handling and transporting. The Deluxe Portable Torch Kit includes a durable soft tool bag, self lighting PS-3T tip, ergonomic torch handle, STK-R Regulator (CGA-600) and a 12 ft. hose. It features four bonus items: a hose clamp, PS-4 tip, PL-812 heat shield and Viper SX solder. The kit tool bag includes a comfortable carrying handle, multiple storage pockets, metal sleeve for hot tip storage, adjustable shoulder strap and enough room to store two gas cylinders.
thermadyne.com/turbotorch
Canada Customer Service Phone: 905.827.4515 • Fax: 1.800.588.1714 • E-mail inquiries to: canadacs@thermadyne.com
Refrigeration
Back To The Future
T
he first documented CO2 compressor was built in 1880. The 1920s and early 1930s were the heyday for CO2. In particular, it was the preferred refrigerant for the shipping industry due to its non-toxic and non-flammable properties. By 1930, 80 per cent of all ships were using CO2 refrigeration systems. The 1927 ASHRAE Date Book sported an advertisement by the Carrier Engineering Corporation with the headline “We have no favorite son,” referring to the myriad refrigerants available to fit any application need. Among these were CO2, NH3 (Ammonia), and a newcomer designated F-12. It was F-12 (developed by DuPont and more commonly referred to by its trade name Freon, and designated as R-12), along with other CFC based refrigerants that brought about the demise of CO2. CO2, along with NH3, propane and butane belong to the family of “natural” refrigerants, termed for the obvious reason that they are not man-made. Each has their advantages and disadvantages. NH3 remains the dominant refrigerant for industrial refrigeration applications, but it is highly toxic. This is a severe limitation. You won’t see NH3 utilized in supermarkets, restaurants, or any other application that serves the general public. Hydrocarbons such as propane and butane are flammable. As stated above CO2 is neither toxic nor flammable and these are obvious benefits. So, what brought about the demise of CO2 in the 1930s? Several factors were at play: » Much higher operating pressure for a given temperature. » Narrow range of operating temperatures. » Triple point occurs at a much higher pressure than other common refrigerants. » Critical point occurs at a much lower temperature than other common refrigerants. » The advent of DuPont’s R-12, eliminating the above application and design difficulties in utilizing CO2. REMEMBER OZONE DEPLETION? Reminiscing to the chorus of Simon & Garfunkel’s song Mrs. Robinson, with the lyrics asking “where have you gone Joe DiMaggio,” I would ask the question “where have you gone F-12?” After all, it did upstage CO2 many years ago. The 96
HPAC | MARCH 2010
answer is of course quite obvious. Fast forward to the future where mankind’s impact on the global environment is an additional factor in determining system design and we can easily understand why R-12 and other CFCs lost their popularity (see sidebar, page 97). In June of 1989, then President Bush proposed sweeping changes to the Clean Air Act; amongst them Title VI-Stratospheric Ozone Protection. Passage of this bill essentially marked the end of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) refrigerants, prohibiting their production after the year 1999. Title VI also put the production phase-out of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) into motion. Although the implementation of Title VI affected an array of CFC refrigerants, it was the inclusion of R-12 and R-502 (an azeotrope containing the CFC R-115) that caused the greatest concern for owners of refrigeration equipment. A complete phase-out would not occur overnight and incentives were applied to these refrigerants to encourage phase-out. Commercial refrigeration equipment owners were compelled to move away from the tried and true refrigerants into unknown territory with many new choices. A completely different set of challenges faced the refrigeration industry, including: » The design and manufacture of new environmentallyfriendly refrigerants. » Refrigerant/lubricant compatibility. » Refrigerant leaks and leak detection issues. » System component redesign. » Re-educating the technical workforce. In addition, three cottage industries were born: refrigerant reclaim equipment manufacturing: refrigerant conversion; and refrigerant reclaim/recycle services. The first wave of refrigerant conversions for refrigeration applications centred on the elimination of CFCs and could be categorized as follows: (1) R-12 systems converted to R-134A, Hot Shot (R-414B), MP39 (R-401A), or one of several other R-12 replacements, (2) R-502 systems converted to HFCs R-404A/R-507/R-402A, and (3) R-502 systems converted to R-22. continued on page 98 HPACMAG.COM
Image istockphoto
The resurgence of CO2 as a viable refrigerant alternative lends credence to the proverb: The more things change, the more they stay the same. BY DAVE DEMMA
A WORLDWIDE PERSPECTIVE…
WHY CO2 HAS ONCE AGAIN BECOME A VIABLE REFRIGERANT EU members Austria and Denmark were allowed to maintain more stringent measures until 2012, banning the import, sale and use of new products containing F-gases as well as banning the import, sale and use of F-gases, new and recovered. Denmark and Sweden have tax and refund schemes where they are taxed on their HFC but receive a refund for the amount of HFC they return for disposal. Denmark has banned HFCs from new equipment. Austria has banned HFCs from domestic use. In addition, Switzerland also has bans on HFCs in some products and Norway has a high GWP-weighted tax on the sale of HFCs. Using CO2 and other natural refrigerants in commercial refrigeration become even more cost-efficient in Germany, following an announcement of the Environment Ministry in 2008. Based on a “StatusCheck” to evaluate the energy efficiency potential of existing systems, the government thus co-funds new energy-efficient installations using climate-friendly refrigerants, state-of-the-art components, and control mechanism monitoring a system’s life cycle climate performance. R744.com In the UK, the “Hydrofluorocarbons Limitation Bill 2008 - 09” (Bill 127) seeks to make provisions for limiting the use of HFCs in certain premises. More specifically, it will end the use of HFCs in the refrigeration units of large supermarkets, as opposed to small retailers (i.e. corner convenience stores) that would only be required to introduce equipment that do not contribute to global warming when their old units need to be replaced. Under plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions unveiled recently, the Australian government will put in place incentives to drive the transition to natural refrigerants such as CO2. The CPRS will apply pressure to phase out the use of high- GWP HFCs by making them subject to a strong price mechanism. Scheme obligations will be applied to large importers. Existing import levies will be raised to achieve an equivalent HPACMAG.COM
carbon price on all synthetic greenhouse gases sold in Australia. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) published its final “Climate Change Proposed Scoping Plan” in 2009, a comprehensive document proposing a set of actions to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions in the state. Compared to previous draft versions, the final version has added a recommendation to establish a fee on sales of gases driving global warming, increasing pressure towards a future phase out of high global warming gases. Once adopted, the plan could accelerate the use of alternatives to these chemicals, as seen already in other world regions. In line with the ‘polluter pays’ principle, a tenet of environmental law, which states that the party responsible for producing pollution should be responsible to pay for the damage done to the environment, Greenpeace believes that “governments should legally compel the chemical industry to contribute funds towards the cost of eliminating CFCs, HCFCs and HFCs.” “The fluorine-containing compounds also persist longer than carbon dioxide and other major global warming agents,” said Timothy Lee, chief of the space science and astrobiology division at NASA Ames Research Center and leader of a study of more than a dozen chemicals listed as warming agents by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. He pointed to the urgency of moving away from such substances to fluorine-free substances such as R744. “The concern is that, even if emitted into the atmosphere in lower quantities, the chemicals might have a powerful cumulative effect over time. Some of these chemicals don’t break down for thousands of years.” The London 2012 Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) has published the first online edition of its Sustainable Sourcing Code, reiterating its commitment to making the 2012 Games sustainable. According to the Code, “chilling or cooling equipment containing substances with a global warming potential of 150 or more in composition should be avoided.” Source R744.com MARCH 2010 | HPAC
97
Refrigeration
continued from page 96
Concurrent with the increasing frequency of existing refrigeration equipment undergoing refrigerant conversions, equipment manufacturers began phasing out the production of new equipment utilizing CFCs. In addition to the availability of newly designed equipment using HFCs R-134A, R-404A and R-507, there was a remarkable resurgence of refrigeration equipment designed and manufactured with R-22. During this period of time contractor confidence in R-22 was relatively high in comparison to HFCs due to its familiarity and proven ability. In addition to being a staple in the air-conditioning industry, R-22 had been used for refrigeration applications in the 1960s, prior to the development of R-502. While R-22 would undergo its own phase-out in years to come, during the phase-out of CFCs it proved to be a viable alternate refrigerant, and became the favourite interim refrigerant for new refrigeration equipment and R-502 conversions. There were a few potential shortcomings with R-22 as a refrigerant for refrigeration applications. When used for low temperature applications, single stage compressors operated at higher compression ratios and the probability for excessive discharge temperatures was always present. However, with proper design, those shortcomings could be minimized. The two main benefits in converting from a CFC to R-22 were: R-22’s relative low cost as a refrigerant, and R-22 did not require the use of POE oil. The only real drawback with R-22 as an interim refrigerant is that it was an interim refrigerant. We have arrived at the point where it is time to pay the piper. Recent surveys have suggested that over 80 per cent of commercial refrigeration equipment owners who convert to more environmentally-friendly refrigerants do so to comply with regulations. One might logically deduct that part of the interest in compliance is based on a desire to avoid the hefty penalties assessed to owners of leak-ridden equipment. A paltry 18 per cent of equipment owners are converting for reasons of genuine environmental concern. Whatever the real motives are, converting from the interim R-22 to an HFC has become the second wave of conversions to sweep the industry. The prudent refrigeration equipment owner is now developing and implementing plans to convert their existing systems from R-22 to a viable HFC option. We are already seeing tremendous activity in the bakery and supermarket industry. Once again, this wave of conversions is coupled by the halting of production of new equipment utilizing R-22. Every refrigeration contractor will be expected by his customer base to be an expert in the refrigerant conversion process. If you have not had the opportunity to complete 98
HPAC | March 2010
an R-22 to HFC conversion yet, you most certainly will. And if that is not enough, we now find that ozone depletion is not quite the concern it was once thought to be. Global warming has moved into the top position of current environmental concern (the Climategate saga notwithstanding). And unfortunately, the refrigerants that were designed to save us from ozone depletion have high global warming potential (GWP). R-404A and R-507, the environmentally friendly refrigerants designed to replace R-502, are not as environmentally friendly as was originally presumed (see Figure 1). FIGURE 1 COMPARATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT Refrigerant
Family
ODP Ozone Depletion Potential
GWP Global Warming Potential
R-12
CFC
1
7100
R-22
HCFC
0.055
1700
R-134A
HFC
0
1300
R-404A
HFC
0
3784
R-507
HFC
0
3850
R-410A
HFC
0
1975
R-717
Natural
0
<1
R-744
Natural
0
0
In short, due to the united concern over global warming, and HFC’s high GWP, their long-term viability for use in the refrigeration industry does not look promising. In fact, a death warrant has been issued and in short time the collective coroners of the world will add their signature to it. So, what better “new” alternative refrigerant than one that is not flammable, is non-toxic and has an ODP and GWP of 0? While there are some challenges to overcome in using CO2 for refrigeration applications, the criteria of environmentally friendly has once again brought CO2 to the forefront of the refrigeration industry. Whether or not it is the best choice is a moot point. There is significant global momentum to propel CO2 to its former position as a dominant refrigerant of choice. Dave Demma regularly trains contractor and engineering groups in his position with KeepRite Refrigeration, a division of National Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Products Canada Corp. He holds a degree in refrigeration engineering and worked as a journeyman refrigeration technician before moving into the manufacturing sector. He can be reached at ddemma@k-rp.com. hpacmag.com
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Plumbing
Exploring A New Profit Centre Tankless water heaters provide new business opportunities for contractors. BY Pat martin
Contractors should consider adding tankless products to their equipment offering.
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continued on page 102
hpacmag.com
Graphic istockphoto
T
he increasing acceptance and growth of on-demand tankless water heaters sales in North America have been driven by three distinct groups of proven benefits they bring to the marketplace. The first group includes answers to present and future rising energy costs, CO2 emissions and their role in climate change. Secondly, when properly sized and installed, the tankless water heater provides realistic energy savings, the convenience of continuous water flows without storing hot water, space savings and long product life. Thirdly, various government and utility incentives encourage increased water heater efficiencies based on minimum standards that tankless water heaters can meet. While still relatively new to many of us in North America, tankless water heaters have been around for a long time in other areas of the world. Typically these are countries that have always had to live with high costs of energy that we are starting to see in North America. The first recorded use of early versions of gas-fired ondemand water heaters appeared in the 1880s in Europe. Prior to the invention and use of gas, hot water was only available in the kitchen in most homes. Only cold water was piped to other areas in the building. With the evolution of uses of gas, early gas-fired copper coil heaters were developed and most installed at these same remote cold water locations, hence the term “point of use” or “on-demand” water heaters. By the 1930s units were being manufactured in Asia and the U.K. under licence. By the 1970s they all looked and operated similarly with simple mechanical controls and standing pilots. The 1980s saw the introduction and evolution of the electronic non-piloted models
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“While a rapidly increasing number of North American consumers are accepting the fact that their lifestyles around hot water use must change, it is important that you as a contractor establish the sizing ground rules of the sale with the customer.” leading to today’s selection of tankless products ranging from small cottage models, up to large 200,000 plus Btu all-purpose units. Most of the larger units can be installed in multiples and, when hooked together with a simple plug-in cord, automatically cascade in sequence to handle both small and extra large flows. Solar back-up controls are usually standard. Proper venting is important regardless of local codes that may relax venting requirements. For the best results it is recommended that the manufacturer’s instructions be followed. These larger units are ideal for the larger family homes and in multiples, open the door to many commercial and industrial applications. SIZING AND THE SALE In other parts of the world, where energy costs have always been high, most peoples’ life styles have grown up around the use of tankless water heaters with times allocated for shower, bath and laundry use. While a rapidly increasing number of North American consumers are accepting the fact that their life styles around hot water use must change, it is important that you as a contractor establish the sizing ground rules of the sale with the customer. » Sizing should take into consideration not only the size of existing occupancy but possible occupancy for future resale value of the home. » If an in-law or rental suite is involved, maximum tenancy should be included as part of the family or a separate smaller unit should be installed for the suite. » Most residential customers opting for tankless are also conservationists and are probably aware that low flow appliances not only save energy but also conserve water which, it would appear, is also the goal of many municipalities already. This is a good time to make the customer aware of the various low flow appliances and adaptors that are available. It all ties in with sizing. » Cost of fixed flow showerheads are minimal compared to main cost of equipment and sizing should be based on max 2.5 USGPM. Get commitment on number of showers they want to run at same time. Be aware of multiple 102
HPAC | March 2010
head shower stalls and flood type showerheads. Preach conservation. » Large soaker type tub and spa use is not normally an every day event and can generally be scheduled to fit into daily hot water use. » Present day dishwashers and washing machines fill rates are relatively low. Hot water use can also be accommodated by planning and can become routine at separate times to other uses. » When using the manufacturer’s flow sizing and temperature rise charts, be aware of winter time cold water inlet temperatures for your area. While most ground water sources rarely go below 40F(4.4C), surface water sources from lakes and streams in some areas can approach 33F (0.5C) » Best performance is with 30 to 40 PSI inlet water pressure. Well pump controls should be set for 40 to 60 range. SERVICE All gas fired equipment, regardless if it is a furnace, boiler or water heater should be checked and serviced on a regular basis as recommended by the manufacturer. Tankless are no different and will give long trouble free life if looked after. Hopefully, the gas utilities, as they increasingly focus attention on the benefits of higher efficiencies towards saving energy and reducing CO2 emissions, can also work more closely with the servicing contractors to sell the consumer on the need and material benefits of having a preventative service contract. When sized and installed properly tankless water heaters have performed well in the field. They also have the advantage that every part is replaceable in the field and every part is recyclable. We are still providing parts to units sold in the 1980s. Normally, if it develops a leak it will drip first giving adequate warning for service, rarely flooding or prompting emergency call for service under normal conditions. HVAC contractors should look at tankless waters as a possible new profit centre. Pat Martin is with Astravan Distributors Ltd. This article was originally published in TECA News, May 2009, pp. 13; Vol. 2, No. 2., teca.ca. hpacmag.com
RE-VERBER-RAY TWO-STAGE INFRA-RED HEATING TECHNOLOGY MEANS MORE OPTIONS FOR YOU! “Two-stage technology” for infra-red heating was introduced through the HL Series to the Canadian market in 1994 by Brant Radiant Heaters - a Canadian manufacturer of infra-red heating for four decades. Independent testing has documented a minimum of 12 percent additional energy savings – and a 25 percent reduction in on and off cycles – when the HL Series is compared with “single input” infra-red heating systems.
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BRANT RADIANT HEATERS LIMITED 34 Scott Avenue • Post Office Box 395 Paris • Ontario • Canada • N3L 3T5 Telephone: (519) 442-7823 Fax: (519) 442-7321 www.brantradiant.com hpacmag.com 8HPAC22669 1
Brant Radiant Heaters announced in 1999 the release release of of the the LD Series and HD Series –evolution natural of evolutions two-stage Re-Verber-Ray LD – a natural two-stageoftechnology technology. The LD Series targeted smaller areas and lower ceiling heights specifically targeted at smaller areasat and lower ceiling heights. Another and the HD Series designedproduct for areas with large amounts of air infiltration, or example of the value-added solutions to meet specific market demands, where cold mass is documented frequently introduced to thethat building envelope, suchyear as in conjunction with energy savings continue year after loading docks. (ASHRAE Paper #4643). Continuing to expand on the industry-proved two-stage technology, Brant Radiant Heaters released in Fall 2002 the Re-Verber-Ray two-stage engineered vacuum heating system. This HLV Series provides the benefits of two-stage technology in custom-engineered infra-red heating and features condensing or non-condensing technology accommodating one to six burners with overall input from 50,000 to 750,000 BTU/h. We invite you to learn more about the complete product line available for your customers and how Re-Verber-Ray two-stage technology can mean proven energy savings up to 50 percent when compared with conventional forced air heating. Contact one of our factory-trained distributors that serve the Canadian market - call us on our toll free 800 number - or view our comprehensive on-line catalog at www.brantradiant.com. We look forward to hearing from you.
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1-800-387-4778
March 2010 | HPAC
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Human Resources
Interviewing and Selection It’s Worth Doing Right
Every company has many resources that comprise its business. Among them is the capital to start and grow the business, the technology to provide information, communication and service both internally and externally, tools and equipment and of course people. BY CHRISTA HALE
THE RECRUITING PROCESS Investing time, effort and good recruiting practices are therefore a “must” to having the best people in place to run your business. Recruiting is a costly and time-consuming activity. Before commencing with a recruiting initiative, make certain that you have explored all possible options in terms of fulfilling your resource needs. You should ask the following questions: »» Is our employee requirement seasonal, temporary, parttime/full-time permanent? »» Do we have any internal employees who are capable of taking on additional challenges or who could be transferred/promoted to this position? Once you decide to actively recruit for the position, the quality of the recruiting process from beginning to end will ultimately determine the success of the new hire.
QUESTIONS TO KEEP TO YOURSELF It is illegal to ask employees or potential employees questions relating to their age, place of origin, personal/domestic situation, marital status, criminal record, religious and sexual orientation.
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HPAC | March 2010
Short cuts to this process will inevitably lead to surprises down the road, which in most instances could have been avoided. The recruiting recipe requires the following key ingredients: »» A well-defined job description containing major duties to be performed, the experience, skills and knowledge required to perform the job and any unusual/unique working conditions of the position. »» Identify the recruiting vehicles you wish to use: Word of mouth: referrals from existing employees; academic institutions; professional organizations; newspapers, web sites and professional journals/magazines; your bank of recent candidates, external human resources consultants, and so on. Establish a formal interviewing process with a set of questions that will be asked of all candidates. Remember that the objective of the interviewing process is to collect information in an organized manner, about the candidate’s ability to successfully perform the key components of a given job. These questions are your key tools for evaluating candidates. Major areas to include in your interview questions are: »» Past work experience and accomplishments. »» Why is the employee looking for a new job? »» Salary history and future pay expectations. continued on page 108 hpacmag.com
Photo istockphoto
G
enerally, owners and senior managers in companies dedicate a lot of time to researching and buying the best equipment, tools, technology, buildings, etc., to support their business operations. What they sometimes fail to consider is that people who effectively control, plan, deliver and manage all other company resources will contribute more to the company’s business and financial success than any other resource. Therefore, people are the only resource that will ultimately determine the success or failure of your business.
Radiant Installation Made Easy Use the hydronic radiant heating manifold stations by Hydronic Panel Systems Inc. and reduce your installation time. Hydronic Panel Systems stations are preassembled, CSA certified and ready to install. There are a variety of options to cover virtually every installation need from single zone to large multi-zone, multi-temperature jobs. You can count on us to help design customized stations for those occasions when standard stations won’t do. Let the experts at Hydronic Panel Systems simplify your next hydronic radiant job.
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March 2010 | HPAC
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Human Resources
continued from page 106
»» What motivates the candidate to do a good job at his/ her work? »» What aspects of a company and the work does the candidate value the most? »» How does the candidate deal with stressful situations and demands? »» What is the candidate’s perspective on providing excellent customer service?
REFERENCE CHECKS Before making an offer to any employee, ensure that you have conducted two to three reference checks. Remember that individuals who have worked with the candidate previously have considerably more experience in observing and evaluating that candidate’s performance and behaviour than the first time interviewer. References are therefore extremely important in the overall selection process. Reference checks should: »» Confirm the behavioural observations that the interviewer made during the interviewing process.
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»»Confirm validity of information provided by interviewee –salary, position held and major job functions. » Validate other information such as specific academic credentials that are important to the position. Once you have completed these key elements, you will be in a much better position to make a well-informed hiring decision. Of course, this is only the beginning of the employer/employee relationship journey. Keeping that employee motivated, focussed and as a longer-term productive member of your team, involves a whole other menu of management talents. Recruitment and staffing consultant Christa Hale specializes in change management for small-, mid- and large-size companies. A popular speaker at industry events, Hale is president of People-fx and can be reached at 905-685-6964 or e-mail christahale@people-fx.com. Don’t miss Hale's session at CMX/CIPHEX on March 26.
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March 2010 | HPAC
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Management
On The
BLOCK The process of selling an HVAC/R business. BY MARK GROULX
T
THE STEPS TO TAKE
1
First and foremost you need to get the company and its records in order. This could take anywhere from two to six months. Your tax planning should already be in place and you should check with your accountant to confirm that the sale of your business has been considered as part of your tax planning. During this phase of the process your advisor will collect information on the operations of the business, including: the ownership; employees; statistics and trends in the industry; competitors; your competitive advantage; and your historical and projected financial information. With this information your advisor will prepare a Confidential Information Memorandum (CIM) describing 110
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the main aspects of your business. This exercise will also help prepare you for the due diligence requirements.
2
Academically speaking, the value of any company at a point in time is the net present value of its future earnings potential. A more practical way of expressing this sentiment is achieved by putting a multiple on your EBITDA. EBITDA is simply calculated by adding your interest expense, depreciation and amortization to your pre-tax earnings found on your income statement. Determining what multiple to choose is a function of estimating how sustainable the EBITDA will be in the future and what growth prospects there are for the EBITDA. The more sustainable and the more growth expected results in a higher multiple. For purposes of determining a valuation of the business, the EBITDA will be reduced by any capital or other annual expenditures that are required to sustain the business. If you have long-term debt on your balance sheet the proceeds will be reduced by the amount of debt the purchaser is acquiring. In summary, if you generated $2 million in net EBITDA last year and you have good prospects for continued profitability, a conservative estimate would be an $8 to $10 million purchase price. There are always other factors that may help or hinder the multiple. Your geographic location may be a plus or minus depending on the buyer, specific HPACMAG.COM
Photo iStockphoto
he number of Canadian HVAC/R service companies, sold recently, affirms the demand in the marketplace for the acquisition of HVAC/R contracting companies. These fall into two categories: those that specialize in commercial and industrial customers, and those focussed on the residential market. There is also demand for distribution and manufacturing companies but these categories require much larger earnings to get buyersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; interest. Commercial and industrial companies will get higher multiples of EBITDA â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (see below) than residential contracting companies because of their recurring revenue. In some cases commercial companies will have customers for decades. This provides a revenue stream, which has a good degree of certainty and allows the buyer to pay for that future cash stream. As such, residential businesses will sell for 2.5 to five times EBITDA, while commercial company prices range from four to six times EBITDA.
“Strategic buyers in your industry are the best prospects and, more often than not, that will be a larger, direct competitor.”
8 9 10 11
Hopefully you will get a few Letters of Intent, which need to be negotiated for better terms and to determine who you want to enter into an agreement with. It is not just price that is the determining factor in most deals.
customers, personnel qualifications and so forth. Each buyer has hot buttons and cold. The exercise is to find the group that is the best fit.
3 4 5 6 7
Strategic buyers in your industry are the best prospects and, more often than not, that will be a larger, direct competitor. Financial buyers such as private equity firms are also becoming more active for the larger deals. Your advisor will prepare a list, with your assistance, to determine the best prospects. Before any information is sent to prospective buyers they will be required to sign a Confidentiality Agreement.
The Confidential Information Memoranda, which is often called The Book, is the thorough summary of your business referred to in Step 1. It is provided to prospective buyers.
Prospective buyers will want to have site visits and ask additional questions specifically relevant to them.
Those that are interested in bidding will deliver a Letter of Intent. These are non-binding letters, which outline the price and structure of the proposed transaction, as well as the broad terms and conditions the prospective buyers are proposing. It forms the basis for negotiations that will lead to the final deal. HPACMAG.COM
Buyer’s Due Diligence involves the buyer reviewing all legal, accounting, tax, banking, human resources, health and safety, information systems, real estate and other material contracts. They will also make investigations into products, customers, outstanding litigation, environmental issues and so forth. This is a time-consuming process and requires a great deal of preparation. The lawyers paper the legal documentation for the deal but negotiations continue throughout this stage of the process. Money changes hands and the keys are passed to the buyer at the final step – the Closing.
Selling a business is a complicated, time-consuming and often stressful event. Given the magnitude of these transactions, retaining the advice and assistance of a professional with experience in the financial transaction markets may be prudent. That person will not only manage the process while you continue to run your business, but will also act as a buffer in the negotiation process. Mark Groulx is president of A.I.M. Group Canada. He can be reached at mark@aimgc.ca. For more on buying and selling a business see Groulx's article in HPAC Jan/Feb 2010. Groulx is speaking at CMX/CIPHEX on March 26, 2010.
See us at CMX BOOTH N11-N12
MARCH 2010 | HPAC
111
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WE DIDN’T CHOOSE BROWN, IT JUST CAME NATURALLY.
Solar Panel
Anatomy Of A Solar Drainback System – Part I BY JOHN SIEGENTHALER
A
fter 30 years of designing and installing hydronic systems I have developed a philosophical statement about antifreeze solutions: “The only good thing about antifreeze is that it doesn’t freeze.” Although these words certainly do not rank up there with other notable quotes, they none-the-less suggest that use of antifreeze in hydronic systems has some “baggage” associated with it. Here is a quick summary: » Glycol-based antifreezes lower the specific heat of the solution. For example, a 50 per cent (by volume) solution of propylene glycol has a specific heat of about 0.86 Btu/lb/ºF. That is 14 per cent lower than the specific heat of plain water (1.00 Btu/lb/ºF). Mixing antifreeze with water “dilutes” the ability of the fluid to absorb and transport heat. » Glycol-based antifreeze solutions have significantly higher viscosity than water. This increases the pumping power necessary to move them through a piping system relative to water. The head loss of a piping circuit operating with 50 per cent propylene glycol increases about 39 per cent compared to the same circuit operating with water. When the flow rate is increased to compensate for the lower specific heat, the pumping power requirement for 50 per cent propylene glycol is about 66 per cent higher than for water. » Antifreeze has a propensity to weep through threaded joints, even joints that have passed an air pressure test. The evidence of such weeping is discolouration on the joint (usually a bluish or bluish/brown scale on the joint). Ask anybody who has dealt with antifreeze about this and they immediately know what you are referring to. » Adding antifreeze increases the cost of the installation. » Last, but certainly not least, the high temperatures reached in a stagnating solar collector (350+ ºF) can quickly convert glycol-based antifreeze solutions into an acidic mix. This is the single biggest issue surrounding the life expectancy of glycol-based solar thermal systems. It requires the use of a heat dump subsystem to divert excess summer heat into some dissipating
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media such as pool water, the outside air, or even a coil of tubing buried in the earth. Such provisions certainly add further cost and complexity to the system. So, if antifreeze has so many issues, why is it used in the majority of solar thermal DHW systems? Opinions vary on this, but I think it is because this approach allows installation of the piping between the collectors and storage tank to take any available route (up, down, around, under, over, and so on). Since the fluid remains in the circuit there is no need for any specific pitch.
ANTI-ANTIFREEZE All solar thermal systems installed in North America must be protected against freezing. Rather than using antifreeze and leaving the fluid in the collectors, it is possible to drain all water from the collectors and any piping installed in nonheated space whenever freezing conditions are imminent. There is more than one way to do this. One approach is called a “draindown” system. A schematic of the concept is shown in Figure 1. The concept behind draindown systems is straightforward: The collectors, piping, and tank all contain pressurized domestic water. When a temperature sensor detects a near-freezing condition near the bottom of the collector, two electrically-operated solenoid valves close to isolate the storage tank from the collectors and exposed piping. A third solenoid valve opens to allow the water in the collectors and exposed piping to drain out. A vacuum breaker at the top of the collector array allows air in to expedite drainage. Most of the time all this works as it is supposed to. Unfortunately, most of the time is not good enough. If one of the valves sticks, or a freeze detecting sensor drifts out of calibration, the result can be a costly hard freeze. There is also concern about scaling or corrosion caused by fresh potable water in the solar collectors. Replacing a scaled collector array is a lot more problematic and expensive than replacing a scaled water heater. The solar thermal industry made a diligent effort to make draindown systems work back in the '80s. It finally concluded there are just to many things that can go wrong. hpacmag.com
FIGURE 2
DRAINBACK SYSTEMS Gravity is a very reliable phenomenon. Why not put it to work ensuring that water exits a solar collector array whenever the system is not operating? That is exactly what a drainback system does. When the collector circulator shuts off, the water in the collector array and exposed piping immediately drains back to a reservoir within heated space. No valves, no freeze sensors and no vacuum breakers are needed. The basic system concept is shown in Figure 2. When the differential temperature controller determines it is time to collect heat, it turns on the collector circulator(s). In some drainback systems this is a single high head circulator. Other drainback systems use two circulators mounted in series. In either case, the circulator(s) must be capable of lifting water from the static water level (shown by the dashed green line), all the way to the top of the collector array. What happens next always impresses me. With sufficient flow velocity, the water passing over the top of the piping circuit begins to entrain air and drag it back down toward the storage tank. Eventually, all the air in the return pipe is either pushed or dragged back to the drainback space at the top of the storage tank. The filled return riser acts as a siphon, and essentially cancels out the lift head. The FIGURE 1
system then operates very similar to a closed loop/fluid filled hydronic circuit. In systems with two circulators it is possible to turn off the upper circulators once the siphon is established. This cuts the electrical wattage to maintain flow through the collector array in half. One of the biggest advantages of drainback systems is that no antifreeze is required. This not only eliminates the cost of the fluid, but also that associated with a heat dump provision to protect the fluid during collector stagnation. When stagnation conditions occur there is no water in the collectors. I call this dry stagnation. All collectors meeting the current OG-100 rating from the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (SRCC) must pass a stagnation test to prove they can survive such conditions. Some drainback systems, like the one in Figure 2, also eliminate the need of heat exchangers between the collector and the water in the storage tank. The same water that passes through the space heating circuits also passes through the collector. This allows for minimum supply water temperature to the collectors and thus maximum efficiency. This, along with dry stagnation, make drainback systems ideal for combisystems that supply domestic hot water and space heating. There are several details required to construct a good drainback system. We will get into the specifics in the next Solar Panel column. John Siegenthaler, P.E. is the author of Modern Hydronic Heating. Visit hydronicpros.com for reference information and software to assist in hydronic system design. He can be reached at siggy@dreamscape.com.
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in n ovative h e at i n g s o l u t i o n s f r o m v i e s s m a n n Vitodens 200-W Gas-fired Wall-Mounted Condensing Boiler (31 to 370 MBH) • Highest efficiency of up to 96.1% A.F.U.E. • Fast installation and reduced maintenance with Lambda Pro: adjusts automatically to gas type and quality - no fuel conversion kit required • Proven Viessmann stainless steel MatriX cylinder burner and Inox-Radial heat exchanger • Powerful and user-friendly - Viessmann Vitotronic on-board multifunction outdoor reset boiler and system control Vitodens 100-W Gas-fired Wall-Mounted Condensing Boiler (37 to 118 MBH) • Outstanding efficiency of 95.2% A.F.U.E. on all models • Viessmann stainless steel MatriX cylinder burner and Inox-Radial heat exchanger • Versatile on-board boiler control technology and outdoor temperature sensor standard • One box / one SKU natural gas or propane Vitosol 200-T Vacuum Tube Solar Collector • High-performance direct-flow vacuum tube solar collector, with Sol-titanium coated copper absorber and extremely effective thermal header insulation • Ideal for DHW heating, space heating supplement or solar cooling • Versatile vertical or horizontal installation on roofs, walls or freestanding Vitoladens 300-T Oil-fired Condensing Boiler (170 MBH) • High-efficiency oil-fired condensing boiler • Two-stage heat recovery with proven biferral heating surface and secondary stainless steel Inox-Radial heat exchanger • Low-emission combustion burner and optimized combustion chamber geometry • Reliable heat transfer due to wide water jackets and large water content Vitoligno 300-P Wood-Pellets Boiler (37 to 109 MBH) • Low emission, fully-automatic wood-pellets boiler • Best energy utilization through automatic matching of the three-pass heating surface to the actual heat demand with the patented Variopass principle • Automatic cleaning of the heating surfaces for consistent high efficiency operation • Automatic ash removal from the combustion chamber ensures high operational reliability and long cleaning intervals
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Plumbing
Ensuring Accessibility In An Emergency The world is changing, but throughout Canada and in many older public buildings in virtually any country, individuals with a physical disability have many barriers to access. Taking it one step further, being able to locate and use a drench shower or eyewash unit in an emergency can be nearly impossible. By Heather Koehn
O
ne of the biggest barriers to accessibility may be that there is not a global standard for installing emergency fixtures to ensure that they are barrier free. The United States has the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), but even these guidelines do not specifically mention emergency fixtures. However, the ADA is the guideline used for emergency fixtures, because general requirements such as reach heights, knee clearance, and operation of controls for similar plumbed products can be extrapolated and used in the design of emergency equipment. The term â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;barrier freeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; refers to products not specifically covered by the ADA, but that are designed to follow the guidelines set by the ADA. While there is not a Canadian equivalent to the ADA, the intent of these guidelines is as much of a Canadian ideal as an American one. The act was established to give equal rights and access to individuals with physical disabilities, and help prevent discrimination against their use and enjoyment of public facilities. Products designed with this intent also allow workers with physical limitations to be comfortable, safe and productive in the workplace. Thinking about it this way, it just makes sense to follow a set of guidelines that insures all people will be accommodated in both public facilities and the workplace. On the product front, a number of barrier-free emergency fixtures are available that meet the intent of the ADA. Many are designed to be universal and will accommodate any user. Growing demand for drench showers and eyewashes in different markets is creating a need for new emergency fixture solutions and models for a range of applications, not just industrial facilities.
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Recessed-mounted fixtures are fully accessible and fit seamlessly into the surroundings.
RECESSED EMERGENCY FIXTURES One of the best examples of a product category designed to fit the needs of schools, hospitals, laboratories and others concerned with aesthetics and space is recessed-mounted drench showers and eyewash units. These barrier free fixtures have a slim profile against the wall and are made of stainless steel to seamlessly fit within their surroundings. Rather than having a plumbing pipe sticking out from
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the wall, and a fixture taking up floor space, all of the mechanicals are housed inside the wall and the front panel is flush mounted. The completely barrier-free design makes recessedmounted fixtures fully accessible to those with physical disabilities. Depending on the type of hazard, eyewash units, drench showers or combination shower/eyewash units are available. Many facilities find the combination units to be versatile because they save space when both types of emergency fixtures are needed. With recessed units, the eyewash station is concealed behind a swing-down cabinet door. The valve is activated as soon as the door is opened. During use, water is collected inside the door and funneled to a drain in the back of the unit. When the door is closed, any remaining water drains directly back into the wall. On models with a drench shower, either a flush-mounted or a standard showerhead can be specified. The shower
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is activated by pressing down the shower handle on the front of the unit. In a barrier free product, no twisting, tight grasping or turning should be required to activate the shower. These emergency valves are designed to remain open until the lever is lifted and the user has completed a full 15-minute flush. When specifying a recessed-mounted emergency fixture, or any other type for that matter, look for fixtures that comply with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z358.1-2004 standard for emergency drench showers and eyewashes. This means the fixtures have been thirdparty certified to the ANSI standard and ensures that the minimum water flow, spray pattern and other requirements have been met. Another consideration is serviceability. Models with wide access panels in the front can be easily maintained. continued on page 120
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Plumbing
continued from page 119
EYEWASHES WITHIN REACH Another option is a barrier-free wall-mounted eyewash fixture. Stainless steel models and others with a brightly coloured safety coating are available. These more traditional wallmounted units have a few special modifications, which make them easier to access and use. According to the ADA, faucets must be operable with one hand and should be activated using a maximum of five pounds of force. So, for an eyewash, rather than requiring pushing or pulling a knob to activate the valve, the unit may have a large push handle with a visible sign showing users how to turn it on. As with other types of fixtures, clearance height, reach height and wall clearance are key considerations for meeting the intent of the ADA guidelines. The maximum high forward
When selecting an emergency fixture, look for features that make the units easier for anyone to use. Activation should be simple and easy. Drench showers with a triangular-shaped pull rod, for example, allow a person to stick their arm through the hole to activate. This may be critical if a user’s hand is burned in a chemical accident and they become instantly disabled and unable to grasp a cord with their fingers.
CLEARING THE WAY Ideally, emergency equipment will be used infrequently. While it is common sense to keep the pathway clear, often the area in front of an emergency fixture becomes a convenient storage area for boxes and equipment. To minimize injuries, users should not be required to weave a path
“Growing demand for drench showers and eyewashes in different markets is creating a need for new emergency fixture solutions and models for a range of applications, not just industrial facilities.” reach over an obstruction that is 20-inches long (51 cm) or less is a maximum of 58 inches (122 cm) above the floor. If the fixture is more than 20-inches deep, the maximum reach height is 44 inches (112 cm). When applied to an eyewash station, this means the activation handle can be no higher than these maximums, which depend on how far the fixture protrudes from the wall. Knee clearance under the eyewash should be at least 27 inches (69 cm). The standard clearance would also apply to eyewashes mounted to countertops in laboratories. Clear floor space is also an issue. If someone is expected to turn a wheelchair in front of a fixture, there should be at least 32 inches (81 cm) of clear space.
EASY-TO USE DRENCH SHOWERS Drench showers, like their eyewash counterparts, are offered in barrier-free models. Specifications for barrierfree units include proper placement of showerheads and extended pull rods. Wheelchair bound users should be able to reach a pull rod that is a maximum of 48 inches high. Shower heads must be a maximum of 96 inches from the floor to provide adequate flushing. 120
HPAC | March 2010
through clutter, and physically disabled workers cannot go up or down stairs to reach a fixture. Be sure fixtures are easy to find. The area should be well lighted and have a visible sign for quick identification. Selecting fixtures with a safety-yellow coating makes them easy to locate in an emergency, particularly for users with impaired sight. Yellow is the most visible of all colors and is the first color the human eye sees. In an emergency, if others are nearby, they will come to assist the injured victim. Yet, a disabled individual must have quick access to an emergency fixture so they can immediately begin flushing their eyes or skin to prevent more serious injuries. When designing an emergency plan, remove any barriers and choose products that are universal so that fixtures are accessible to all users. Heather Koehn is the associate product manager, emergency fixtures with Bradley Corporation (bradleycorp.com).
Visit HPAC at CMX/CIPHEX booth N11/N12 hpacmag.com
CUTTING EDGE SEMINAR PROGRAM MEET’s four sponsoring associations will once again deliver a thought-provoking and topical seminar schedule. Visit www.MEET2010.ca for more information.
EXCITING SKILLS CANADA NB COMPETITION MEET will showcase the plumbing, electrical wiring and refrigeration & air conditioning portions of the Skills Canada NB Competitions (Compétences Canada NB). Visit www.skillscanada.nb.ca for all the details.
MEET INDUSTRY DINNER Wednesday, May 5th at the Delta Beauséjour… SURE TO BE A SELLOUT!
ATTENTION VISITORS!
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR SPECIAL ONLINE DISCOUNT
Visit www.MEET2010.ca to register and save $5.00 off admission. (Registration at the door will be $10.00)
SHOW HOURS Wednesday, May 5 9am - 6pm Thursday, May 6 9am - 5pm
Training CMCEF National Seminar Program
HRAI SkillTech Academy
The Canadian Mechanical Contracting Education Foundation
Subsidies and incentives are available for SkillTech’s residential
program includes: commissioning, dispatcher training, change out
courses, including the new Indoor Air Quality Awareness three-day
and project management. cmcef.org
program. hrai.ca
Solar Installer Certification Programs
TECA’s Quality First Training
For information on Canadian Solar Industries Association
To register for the Thermal Environmental Comfort Association’s
(CanSIA) workshops and training courses, visit cansia.ca
(TECA) Quality First training courses, e-mail training@teca.ca or
or tel. 866-522-6742.
call 604-594-5956.
Hydronics Training
GeoExchange Training
Information on the Canadian Hydronics Council two-day Introduction
Developed by the Canadian GeoExchange Coalition (CGC), the
to Hydronic Heating Installations course is available at
three-day training program is intended for those involved with the
ultimatecomfort.ca or tel. 416-695-0447.
installation of residential geothermal systems. skilltech@hrai.ca
l
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Fluke...........................................(800) 363-5853..................... flukecanada.ca............................................. page 61 Ford Fleet....................................(800) 668-5515..................... fleet.ford.ca................................................. page 31 GeoSmart Energy.........................(866) 310-6690..................... geosmartenergy.com.............................. page 67, 69 Giant Industries............................(800) 363-9354..................... giantinc.com................................................ page 57 HG Spec.......................................(450) 434-3384..................... hgspec.com................................................. page 39 Hood Chemical.............................(800) 567-9791..................... hoodchemical.com..................................... page 107 HPS Controls................................(800) 708-1051..................... hpscontrols.com............................................. page 7 Hydronic Agencies........................(877) FERNOX-4U................... hydronicagencies.com................................... page 41 Hydronic Panel Systems................(416) 622-7681..................... hydronicpanels.com.................................... page 107 Insulation Solutions......................(866) 806-8977..................... gmsalesinc.com........................................... page 90 ITT...............................................(847) 966-3700..................... bellgossett.com............................................ page 49 Keeprite Refrigeration...................(800) 463-9517..................... k-rp.com...................................................... page 15 Knauf Insulation...........................(800) 825-4434..................... knaufusa.com............................................ page 113 Liberty Pumps..............................(800) 543-2550..................... libertypumps.com......................................... page 43 LynCar.........................................(800) 263-7011..................... lyncar.com........................................... page 56, 122 Madok.........................................(519) 756-5760..................... madok.com.................................................. page 93 Master Group...............................(877) 477-7021..................... master.ca.................................................... page 35 MEET Show..................................(888) 454-7469..................... meet2010.ca............................................. page 121 Mitsubishi Electric.......................(905) 475-7728..................... mitsubishielectric.ca....................................... page 2 Nu-Calgon....................................(800) 554-5499..................... nucalgon.com............................................... page 87 Panasonic....................................(905) 624-5010..................... panasonic.ca............................................... page 55 Plasma Automation......................(800) 563-8510..................... plasma.automation.com............................... page 81 Ratech.........................................(800) 461-9200..................... ratech-electronics.com.................................. page 79 RMC............................................(866) 622-0209..................... refrigerantmanagement.ca............................ page 91 Saniflo.........................................(800) 363-5874..................... saniflo.ca..................................................... page 75 Selkirk Commercial......................(888) 735-5175..................... selkirkcommercial.com................................... page 5 Taco Canada................................(905) 564-9422..................... taco-hvac.com.............................................. page 89 Tekmar Controls...........................(250) 545-7749..................... tekmarcontrols.com...................................... page 51 Testo...........................................(800) 227-0729..................... testo.com.................................................... page 85 Thermadyne.................................(905) 827-4515..................... turbotorch.com............................................. page 95 Thermo Mfg..................................(888) 678-3709..................... thermopan.com.......................................... page 105 Triangle Tube................................(856) 228-8881..................... triangletube.com.......................................... page 27 Uponor.........................................(888) 994-7726..................... uponor.ca....................................................... page 4 Viessmann Mfg............................(800) 505-1223..................... viessmann.ca............................................. page 117 Watco Mfg...................................(816) 796-3900..................... watcomfg.com.............................................. page 29 Watts...........................................(888) 208-8927..................... wattscanada.ca.................................... page 24, 128 Wesmech/Crown Boiler................(800) 613-3789..................... wesmechtech.com........................................ page 77 Wilo Canada.................................(866) 945-6236..................... wilo-canada.com........................................... page 23 Wolverine Tube.............................(800) 265-9271..................... wlvtc.com.................................................... page 67 Woodford Mfg...............................(800) 621-6032..................... woodfordmfg.com......................................... page 73 Yorkland Controls.........................(877) 733-3833..................... yorkland.net................................................. page 25 Z-Flex..........................................(416) 679-0045..................... z-flex.com................................................... page 109 Zurn.............................................(905) 405-8272..................... zurn.com..................................................... page 83
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135 Years of Plumbing innovation OneFlow Scale Control System. For years building owners, property managers, and facility engineers have fought the battle against scale and its destructive effects. Now there is a better solution that is environmentally friendly and virtually maintenance-free: OneFlow from Watts. OneFlow prevents scale by transforming dissolved hardness minerals into harmless, inactive, microscopic crystal particles which flow freely through the system without adhering to pipes, fixtures, valves or heating elements. OneFlow is not a water softener; it is a scale control technology designed to protect complete plumbing systems or individual components from the negative effects of water hardness. OneFlow uses “green” technology requiring no backwashing, no salt, and no electricity. OneFlow models are available in cartridge and tank style housings for commercial applications on both cold and hot water lines. Systems are available in many connection sizes to meet flow rates from 0.5 to 450 gpm or more. visit thescalesolution.com BLÜCHER: A new system of stainless drains. Includes pipes, channels and accessories that provide high quality drainage solutions for customers within the housing, commercial and industrial markets. BLÜCHER offers drainage systems for all applications ranging from single-family bathrooms to large industrial facilities provides drainage solutions for bathrooms, utility rooms, and basements, in single, as well as multi-storey housing units provides drainage solutions for hospitals, schools, restaurants, and fitness centers, all while ensuring a classic and aesthetic design specializes in drainage solutions for large industrial facilities, food industries, and pharmaceutical industries, all of which benefit from the hygienic solutions and sustainability that stainless steel drainage products offer Stainless Steel pipe, fittings, and drains by Blucher, are high in quality, low in weight, high in strength, environmentally friendly, fire resistant to 800°C, and require a minimum of maintenance after installation. visit www.blucherdrain.ca
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Calendar 2010
FOR THE LATEST EVENT NEWS SEE HPAC'S NEWSLETTER @ hpacmag.com
Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) April 15-18
Existing Buildings in Urban Areas: Dramatically Cutting the Energy Waste April 19-20
Energy Conservation Analysis Seminar May 3,4,6
The Kitchen and Bath Industry Show & Conference is being held in Chicago at McCormick Place. kbis.com
This conference will address theoretical and practical matters associated with major improvements in the energy efficiency of existing buildings. It will be held at the Grand Hyatt in New York, N.Y. ashrae.org
Successful completion of this one-day course at any of the three Ontario locations (Kingston, Kitchener and Sault Ste. Marie) will result in seven COHA GreenTECH Certification CEUs. coha.ca
CIPH Ontario Region Conference May 14-16
2010 C.A.S.A. Annual Conference June 13-15
Mechanical Electrical Electronic Technology May 5-6 Co-sponsored by CIPH, ASHRAE, the Illuminating Engineering Society and ElectroFederation Canada, MEET will be held in Moncton, NB. masterpromotions.ca/meet.asp
CIPH Ontario is holding its regional conference at the Hilton Fallsview Hotel in Niagara Falls, ON. barden@sympatico.ca
The Canadian Automatic Sprinkler Association conference will take place at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler, in Whistler, BC. casa-firesprinkler.org
Oilheat 2010 June 16-18
ASHRAE Annual Meeting June 26-30
CIPH ABC June 27-30
The Canadian Oil Heat Association is holding its annual meeting in Charlottetown, PE at the Delta Prince Edward. symposium.coha.ca
Albuquerque, NM is the venue for the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers’ annual meeting. ashrae.org
The Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating annual business conference will be held at the Sheraton Hotel Newfoundland in St. John's, NL. ciph.com
ICBEST 2010 June 27-30
Intersolar North America July 13-15
HRAI Annual Meeting August 19-21
NRC-IRC will meet in Vancouver, BC for the International Conference on Building Envelope Systems and Technology (ICBEST) 2010. icbest.ca
Intersolar North America will be held in San Francisco’s Moscone Center West. intersolar.us
The Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute is holding its annual meeting at the Delta Lodge at Kananaskis in Alberta. hrai.ca
World Energy Congress September 12-16
CHES National Trade Show & Education Forum September 19-21
Green Building Festival September 22-24
The 21st World Energy Congress will be held in Montreal, QC. worldenergy.org
MCA Canada Annual National Conference September 22-25 The Mechanical Contractors Association of Canada is holding its annual meeting in Halifax, NS at the Halifax Marriott Hotel. mcac.ca
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The Canadian Healthcare Engineering Society will meet at the Telus Conference Centre in Whistler, BC. chesconference.com
The 2010 Green Building Festival will be held at the Direct Energy Centre in Toronto, ON. greenbuildingfest.com
CIPHEX West November 3-4
Construct Canada December 1-3
CIPH’s western trade show and conference is being held in Calgary, AB. ciph.com
Canada's largest building and construction show will be held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre South Building. constructcanada.com
MARCH 2010 | HPAC
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Finance
Evolution…
And Capital Gains Tax Making any change takes energy and since evolution dictates that we not expend energy when we do not have to, we tend to keep doing what we do with no changes. This can be costly. BY Hank Bulmash
T
he prime way to save energy is to ignore long-term threats (which are mostly theoretical) and to focus fiercely on the short term (which is real). Anything we do to deal with the long-term is counter-evolutionary, energy-wasteful and not what we are designed for. That may explain why the capital gains exemption is so often ignored. The capital gains exemption is a gift that could be worth from $170,000 in
exemption is one of those times when it does not. The capital gains exemption allows an unlimited number of shareholders of a small business corporation to shelter capital gains up to $750,000 on the sale of the shares. If you shelter a full $750,000, you will save about $170,000 in capital gains taxes. But if you have a wife and three children, you can create a plan for all five of you to use the exemption. That would allow the
company. Doing so protects those assets from creditors and will actually help you safeguard the financial future of your family. You should not wait to do this. It does not cost much and it is better than any insurance policy. It should be considered even if you do not expect to use the capital gains exemption itself. Many entrepreneurs can’t bring themselves to take this simple planning step since it goes against biases that are
“The capital gains exemption is a gift that could be worth from $170,000 in saved taxes, to say $850,000.” saved taxes to say $850,000. But you likely won’t plan to use it. And if you do plan to use it, it is quite likely that you won’t take advantage of everything it has to offer. Why is that? Using the capital gains exemption requires a commitment to long-term thinking and most entrepreneurs who could use the exemption are successful because of their highly-evolved shortterm focus. They are good at saving energy for the essential immediate problems and they do not waste much energy on the long-term. That works well almost all the time, except when it does not. And use of the capital gains
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family to shelter capital gains of $3.75 million, which translates into tax savings of $850,000. There are several tests that have to be passed in order to make use of the exemption. Professional guidance is required to make sure you pass them and you should discuss the issue with your accountant, lawyer or financial counsel. The most difficult test to pass requires that 90 per cent or more of the assets of the company whose shares are sold must be used in an active business. That is a blessing in disguise since it requires you to shift redundant assets, such as your savings, to another
buried deep in their psyche. The capital gains exemption and creditor protection plans are the most woefully under-used mechanisms in the financial planning toolbox. It is time to get beyond the hesitation and take advantage of this opportunity to save taxes and safeguard your assets.
A senior partner with Bulmash Cullemore Chartered Accountants, Hank Bulmash, CA, MBA, is also president of its consultant subsidiary BusinessLab Inc. E-mail Hank at hank@businesslab.ca. hpacmag.com
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