HPAC November/December 2011 by Annex Business Media

ARENA MECHANICAL SYSTEM RETROFIT

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ESSENTIAL DETAILS

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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2011 | $5.00

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TENTS

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2011

VOL. 85 NO. 7

26 About Heat Pumps – Part II BY DAVE DEMMA

30 Green Retrofit Solution Arena undergoes mechanical system facelift. BY MARK MACCRACKEN

36 All Points Bulletin Plan reviews and ﬁeld inspections:

ESSENTIAL DETAILS

Under slab insulation (redux). BY ROBERT BEAN

56 Using Photons To Pump Electrons

Cover Photo iStockphoto

for successful snowmelting systems

The basics of a modern solar electrical system. BY JOHN SIEGENTHALER

60 Barter: What good is cash, anyway?

BY JOHN SIEGENTHALER

pg 14

BY HANK BULMASH

22 Hands-Free Faucets Scrutinized As Source Of Infection Experts perplexed as hospital suggests that electronic faucets pose greater risks of Legionella infection than manual ones. BY JIM BARNES

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< UPFRONT smoke and mirrors, and the real deal When DAVe WeIShUhn, hRAI COnTRACTOR DIVISIOn ChAIR, Greater Toronto Area Chapter, gave attendees at a recent chapter meeting a heads up that funding may be running out for the ecoeneRGY Retrofit-homes program, most were surprised. The $400 million promised when the program was renewed in June 2011 may dry up before the March 31, 2012 deadline. It appears Canadian homeowners are jumping on the ecoeneRGY bandwagon and I was curious as to how that was working for them. I often hear contractors and suppliers complaining about the bureaucracy, fuel bias, paperwork and the upredictability of programs such as this. But then again, it is essentially free money for doing the updates and retrofits consumers should be doing anyway. That said, it is the industry that really weathers the ride. After a little digging, I discovered there are some pretty disgruntled people out there (this was not really a surprise as they tend to be the ones who make themselves heard). From taxpayer.com, “The only people making money off this program are the energy auditors.”1 And from The Globe and Mail, “There's no efficiency with this energy retrofit program.”2 harsh words but each writer makes a good case. Take a look--I would be interested to know your thoughts on this issue. On another less contentious note, at the same GTA meeting, Dave announced that he would be stepping down as chair of the chapter and will devote more time to efforts at the national level. For years, Dave has volunteered his time to ensure chapter events were a valuable opportunity to learn, network, and enjoy a meal with colleagues. A fierce advocate for volunteering and giving back to the industry, there is no doubt that he is the real deal. We could all take a page from his book. <>

Seasons Greetings from the hPAC team. editor 1. http://taxpayer.com/blog/21-07-2011/letting-hot-air-out-ecoenergy-retrofit-program 2. Dawn Walton. There's no efficiency with this energy retrofit program. The Globe and Mail, October 28, 2011.

hPaC WelComes neW assistant editor Andrew Snook has joined HPAC Magazine in the position of assistant editor. he was most recently a newspaper journalist. Snook’s articles, columns and photographs have been published in more than a dozen community papers across the Ottawa Region. he looks forward to meeting HPAC readers at shows and events in the coming months. he can be reached at 416-442-5600,

HPac Magazine 80 Valleybrook Drive, toronto, on M3b 2s9 tel: 416.442.5600 FaX: 416.510.5140 www.hpacmag.com

eDitor Kerry turner (416) 510-5218 Kturner@hpacmag.com assistant eDitor andrew Snook (416) 442-5600, ext. 3524 asnook@hpacmag.com sales & MarKeting Kim rossiter (416) 510-6794 coorDinator Krossiter@bizinfogroup.ca account John chiasson (416) 510-6791 Managers Jchiasson@hpacmag.com associate David Skene (416) 510-6884 PublisHer Dskene@hpacmag.com art Director franca romano (on leave) Sandy Macisaac (416) 442-5600, ext. 3242 sMacisaac@hpacmag.com MarKet ProDuction Karen Samuels (416) 510-5190 Manager 800-268-7742, ext. 5190 Ksamuels@bizinfogroup.ca circulation Manager Selina rahaman (416) 442-5600, ext. 3528 srahaman@bizinfogroup.ca PublisHer Peter leonard (416) 510-6847 Pleonard@hpacmag.com biG MaGazineS lP corinne lynds, eDitorial Director tim Dimopoulos, eXecutiVe PublisHer alex Papanou, Vice-PresiDent oF canaDian PublisHing bruce creighton, PresiDent oF business inForMation grouP

Publications Mail agreeMent no. 40069240, registration no. 10815 Heating Plumbing air conditioning (established 1925) is published 7 times per year by big Magazines lP, a division of glacier big Holdings company ltd. 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 © 2011 by big Magazines lP, a division of glacier big Holdings company ltd., may not be reprinted without permission. SubScriber ServiceS: to subscribe, renew your subscription or to change your address or information please visit us at www.hpacmag.com. 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. Mail PreferenceS: From time to time we make our subscription list available to select companies and organizations whose product or service may interest you. if you do not wish your contact information to be made available, please contact us via one of the following methods: tel: 800.387.0273, Fax: 416.442.2191; e-mail: jhunter@ businessinformationgroup.ca; or by mail: Privacy office, 80 Valleybrook Dr., toronto, on M3b 2s9. 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, big Magazines lP, a division of glacier big Holdings company ltd., 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. We acknowledge the financial support of the government of canada through the canada Periodical Fund (cPF) for our publishing activities.

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HPAC | November/december 2011

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Industry news

SEE THE LATEST HPAC E-nEwSLETTEr @ hpacmag.com Agreement reAched For rPA to Join iAPmo The Radiant Panel Association (RPA) has reached an agreement with the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) for IAPMO to acquire key RPA assets. The acquisition is pending ratification by the RPA membership. Current members of the RPA will have the opportunity to join IAPMO with the tenure of their RPA membership recognized by IAPMO. IAPMO’s director of program development Kathleen Mihelich has been named to lead the new industry segment within the organization. IAPMO is the sponsor of the American National Standard‐ designated Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC), Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC), Uniform Solar Energy Code (USEC) and Uniform Swimming Pool, Spa and Hot Tub Code (USPC). In addition to product testing and listing services, IAPMO also develops standards, delivers technical education in support of its codes and standards, and certifies journeymen and inspectors. www.iapmo.org

mScc WelcomeS neW nAtionAl chAirmAn The Mechanical Service Contractors of Canada (MSCC) has named Scott Grobel chairman of the board of governors. Grobel is the general manager of Chisholm Mechanical in Calgary, AB and has been with the company since 2004. A journeyman plumber and a Class A gasfitter, he started his plumbing career in 1978. www.servicecontractor.ca

ASPe StAndArd tAckleS hot WAter temPerAture And control The proposed American Society of Plumbing Engineers’ (ASPE) Plumbing Engineering & Design Technical Standard 15: Hot Water Temperature and Control is open for public comment until December 30, 2011. The draft standard and public comment form can be accessed at http://aspe.org/ Publicreview. The intent of ASPE 15 is to provide minimum requirements to regulate hot water temperature and pressure disturbances within the piping system in a plumbing installation. It is to be a mandatory regulation applicable to all new and renovated plumbing installations. It is not intended to apply to existing installations.

cAllS For PArticiPAtion High Performance Buildings (HPB): A Focus on Deep Energy Savings takes place March 12-13, 2012, San Diego, CA and will feature 50 presentations in 16 sessions covering a range of HPB topics. Attendance is limited to 300. Poster presentations are requested for high performance buildings that may be either in the design stage or completed. These will be grouped in two categories: those with one year or more of measured energy data and those relying on modelled energy use. Submissions are encouraged for projects that: emphasize innovative continued on page 8

rmc SeekS neW revenue StreAmS The 11th Annual Meeting of Refrigerant Management Canada (RMC) was held November 10, 2011 in Mississauga, ON. Martin Sirois, manager, Environmental Stewardship Branch, Environment Canada, discussed Ministry activities currently underway, including the import of used, recovered, recycled and reclaimed substances. He noted that the number of importers increased from four in 2009 to five in 2011. Volume over the same time frame has increased from 9.4 tonnes to 18 tonnes. Sirois also reported that the Ozone-Depleting Substances Regulations are being revised with Part I expected to be published in the Canada Gazette in 2012 and Part II expected in 2013. Of particular significance to RMC is Environment Canada’s proposed pollution prevention program (P2), which would cover importers of bulk refrigerants. Warren Heeley, president of the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute 6

HPAC | november/december 2011

RMC Chair Robert Flipse of Gordon Latham Limited presents the annual report.

Martin Sirois, manager, Environmental Stewardship Branch, Environment Canada.

(HRAI) explained that the proposed plan should meet HRAI’s objective of having a federal extended producer responsibility (EPR) regulation for halocarbons and allow the RMC program to be broadened to include HFCs. According to Sirois, the P2 plan approach is equally as effective as a regulation and does not require as lengthy a timeframe for implementation. This is good news for RMC as it struggles with declining revenues and funding. www.refrigerantmanagement.ca hpacmag.com

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strategies to dramatically improve energy efficiency; demonstrate replicable strategies; share valuable lessons learned; and have one year or more of measured energy data. Poster proposals are due January 9, 2012. www.ashrae.org/hPBconference Experts in the field of water efficiency are invited to submit abstracts for the 5th Annual WaterSmart Innovations Conference and Exposition, slated for October 3-5, 2012, in Las Vegas, NV. The deadline for submitting abstracts for an oral presentation, panel discussion, or workshop is January 20, 2012. Potential topics include: rainwater/greywater/stormwater harvesting; high efficiency fixtures and appliances; and conservation and incentives. www.WaterSmartinnovations.com

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HPAC | november/december 2011

ASHRAE’s Energy Modeling Conference – Tools for Designing High Performance Buildings is slated for October 1-3, 2012 in Atlanta. The conference provides building design professionals with information regarding what does and does not work when using currently available modeling tools to design and analyze buildings and their energy using systems. “The conference will provide the design professional with ‘workarounds’

that may be applied to improve the results of their modelling results when their modelling tool of choice may not be capable of modelling some of the more unique or hybrid buildings or energy using systems being used in high performance buildings today,” said Dennis Knight, conference chair. ASHRAE is seeking presentations on case studies and actual projects and how they were analyzed and designed using modeling tools, as well as integrated and interoperable modeling tools to best optimize buildings and energy-using systems. Topics of interest include: HVAC load analysis; energy modelling; innovative system modelling: chilled beams, water source heat pumps, renewables, variable refrigerant ﬂow, cogeneration, labyrinths, electronically commutated motors; and life cycle cost analysis. www.ashrae.org/emc2012

A PerSPective on the StAte oF geothermAl Denis Tanguay, president and CEO of The Canadian GeoExchange Coalition (CGC), recently commented on the state of the geothermal industry in Canada. “Without a doubt, the Canadian geothermal heat pump industry appears to be taking a pause after years of exponential growth,” continued on page 10

cAnAdiAn reviSed eFFiciencY reQuirementS FinAliZed Amendment 11 to the Energy Efficiency Regulations was published on October 12, 2011 in the Canada Gazette, Part II. This is the second of three planned amendments to the Energy Efficiency Regulations to deliver energy, greenhouse gas and air pollutant reductions as part of Canada's Clean Air Regulatory Agenda. Amendment 11 includes revised efficiency requirements for electric motors, residential gas boilers, residential oil boilers, large air-conditioners and heat pumps, and commercial self-contained refrigeration. Amendment 11 becomes effective April 12, 2012. http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/regulations/amendment11/publication.cfm hpacmag.com

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said Denis Tanguay. Challenges to the industry identified by Tanguay include higher electricity rates in some provinces and very low natural gas prices in others. The construction industry still has not fully recovered from the last recession and the ecoENERGY Retrofit–Homes program will terminate on March 31, 2012. “The Canadian geothermal heat pump industry is facing challenges in both the new home and the retrofit sectors, but the commercial sector is still relative stable,” noted Denis Tanguay. To address industry challenges, the CGC initiated a technology road map exercise of the Canadian geothermal heat pump industry. The roadmap allows stakeholders to assess the state of the industry, to measure industry progress, and to evaluate capacity while identifying new areas for industry development. The exercise will also help CGC develop and implement future market transformation processes. CGC held its 5th National GeoExchange Technical & Policy Forum December 7-8 in Markham, ON. Look for coverage in HPAC-Express and the January/February 2012 print edition. www.geoexchange.ca

Join The Green Scene

mechAnicAl contrActor APPointed to trAdeS BoArd Domenic Mattina of Mattina Mechanical Limited in Hamilton, ON has been appointed to the Ontario College of Trades board of governors. He is currently chairman of Merit domenic mattina OpenShop Contractors Association of Ontario (2010-2011), president of the Hamilton-Halton Construction Association (2010-2011), vice chairman for the Council of Ontario Construction Associations, and a member of the Interim Prevention Council to the Ministry of Labour. Established through the College of Trades and Apprenticeship Act 2009, the College is mandated to regulate all approved trades in Ontario and perform standard regulatory functions. Some of the functions include issuing licenses and certificates of membership; investigation and discipline; setting standards for training and certification; and conducting research and collecting relevant data to support future apprenticeship and certification policies. www.collegeoftrades.com www.mattina.ca

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HPAC | november/december 2011

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FirSt leed cAnAdA PlAtinum hAt trick Enermodal Engineering’s headquarters, A Grander View, in Kitchener, ON has become the first LEED Canada triple Platinum building with certifications in the New Construction (NC), Commercial Interiors (CI), and Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance (EB:O&M) rating systems. This is also the first ever LEED Canada EB:O&M Platinum certified project. “Each of the LEED rating systems highlights a different aspect of sustainable building design and operation; by certifying to the Platinum level in the NC, CI, and EB:O&M systems we can be assured we are producing the highest quality of building and work environment possible,” says Stephen Carpenter, president of Enermodal Engineering. “Scoring a rare 100 in the Energy Star North American database and becoming the first LEED Canada EB:O&M Platinum helps us benchmark our actual energy use and building operations against the highest standards possible.” Highlights from the EB:O&M Platinum certification implemented at A Grander View are an ENERGY STAR score of 100; metered water savings of 89 per cent (nine litres of potable water used per person per day); and completing an

hpacmag.com

occupancy survey that revealed 100 per cent general satisfaction with the office by occupants. In June, 2011, Enermodal Engineering made history, becoming the first LEED consultant to certify 100 LEED projects in Canada. www.enermodal.com

Ahr eXPo innovAtion AWArd WinnerS Selected The winners of the 2012 AHR Expo Innovation Awards have been chosen and will be honoured at a ceremony during the HVAC/R exposition and conference in Chicago, IL on January 24. Representing a cross-section of the HVAC/R marketplace, the winning entries were selected in 10 categories and represent the most innovative new products among the thousands that will be displayed at the show. A panel of judges made up of ASHRAE members evaluated the products submitted based on innovation, application, value to the user and market impact. Ranging from a wall-mounted solar air heater to a mobile toolbox for contractors, the winners include previous winners and companies new to the competition. Emerson Climate Technologies was the big winner, capturing three of continued on page 12

november/december 2011 | HPAC

< Industry news

continued from page 11

the top 10 awards. One of the 10 category winners will also be selected as the winner of the 2012 AHR Expo Product of the Year Award. The AHR Expo attracts tens of thousands of attendees from all facets of the industry. In addition, more than 100 educational sessions and workshops are offered by leading industry associations and organizations during the threeday show, many free of charge. www.ahrexpo.com

PromPt PAYment tAlkS go nAtionAl Representatives of the National Trade Contractors Coalition of Canada (NTCCC) recently met with trade contractor representatives in Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba and British Columbia to inform provincial trade contractor associations and members of the current status of proposed prompt payment legislation for the Province of Ontario. During the recent chairman's tour in Atlantic Canada, Mechanical Contractors Association of Canada chairman, Brad Diggens, and president, Richard McKeagan discussed prompt payment legislation with mechanical contractor members in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and

New Brunswick. In addition to informing members outside of Ontario of the proposed legislation, representatives offered support to those provinces who wish to pursue prompt payment legislation in their particular provincial jurisdiction. An original draft of legislation was introduced in the Ontario legislature on June 1, 2011, the same day the legislature was prorogued. A draft legislation was completed, which was prepared in keeping with the principles of the standard industry “consensus–based” contract documents specifically the CCDC#2 prime contract and the CCA subcontract. Prompt payment legislation in Ontario has the support of all three provincial parties. At press time McKeagan reported that NTCC would be meeting December 14, 2011, to talk about reintroducing the legislation (due to the late return of the Ontario Legislature) as a government bill. He also noted that following the Western swing, trade contractors in British Columbia are keen to move forward with the prompt payment issue. For more information visit www.ntccc.ca, or contact Richard McKeagan at rick@mcac.ca.

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ESSENTIAL DETAILS

for successful snowmelting systems BY JOHN SIEGENTHALER

ost suppliers who have worked within the hydronic radiant heating market have no doubt been asked for assistance with snowmelting applications. The hardware used for snowmelting is similar to that used for hydronic radiant panel heating systems. However, the differences between hydronic radiant floor heating and snowmelting go far beyond whether the tubing is installed inside or outside a building. Failure to recognize and address key design issues with snowmelting can lead to very disappointing results and costly corrections. To help avoid these pitfalls I have assembled a list of 10 essential details for successful snowmelting applications.

snowmelting system for a prolonged “post-melt” period just to evaporate water that has not drained from the pavement surface is very energy intensive and thus very expensive. The alternative of turning the system off before the pavement is dry is even worse. Doing so can turn a wet surface into glare ice. Always slope pavement surfaces toward drains, and be sure those drains lead the melt water to where it will not freeze. In locations without storm sewers this may require drywell(s). Be sure you assess the drainage requirements when discussing snowmelting with clients. Also keep in mind that the same drainage system will have to handle heavy rainfall events during warmer weather.

1. Always plan for drainage: Installing snowmelting without proper drainage is like doing an indoor pool without a dehumidifier, both reduce cost and both will quickly get you in big trouble. The idea is to MELT the snow and ice and then allow most of the melt water to drain away rather than evaporate or refreeze. Changing snow (ice crystals) into water requires about 144 Btu/pound. To melt 1-inch of typical density (about 6 lb/ ft3) snow per hour requires a heat input of about 75 Btu per square foot of pavement. This is about three times the typical rate of heat delivery to a residential radiant floor at design load conditions. Evaporating the melt water requires an additional 970 Btu/pound – almost seven times more energy than needed to change the snow to water. Some of this evaporation energy comes from the atmosphere depending on relative humidity and air temperature. Still, having to operate the

2. Consider off/manual/auto selector switches as part of the snowmelt control system: Although it seems contradictory, there will be times when snow needs to be melted and it is not snowing outside. A patio or walkway at a weekend house is a good example. Perhaps it snowed when nobody was home--the snowmelting system was turned off to save fuel--upon arrival there is a foot of snow that needs melting. Another example of when melting is needed when it is not snowing is snow accumulation due to drifting. It is relatively easy to enable a snowmelting system to operate when it is not snowing. I prefer using a simple selector switch for each snowmelting zone. The “off” setting disables snowmelting. The “manual” setting turns it on and leaves it on. The “auto” setting puts melting under the control of the snow/ice detector system. Figure 1 shows an electrical schematic for this control configuration.

HPAC | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2011

HPACMAG.COM

The “manual” mode does not turn itself off when the snow is melted. It requires the owner to remember to turn the system off. Forgetting to do so could obviously lead to some high fuel bills. To prevent this, I suggest installing a timer circuit that disables melting in the manual mode after a period lasting no more than 12 hours. If there is still snow to be melted, the owner can dial in additional operating time as necessary. I also recommend installing a prominently located indicator light that remains on when the system is in melting mode. This should prompt someone who has set the system in manual melt mode to reset the selector switch before leaving the building for several days. The schematic in Figure 1 shows how to connect this low voltage (24 VAC) indicator light.

the circuits in both cases, the higher rate of heat delivery must be handled by increased flow rate, and this usually requires larger tubing. Here is an example. A 220-foot-long snowmelting circuit with tubing spaced 12-inches apart must deliver 200 Btuh/ft2 at design load. The circuit operates with a 50 per cent solution of propylene glycol and has a design temperature drop of 20F. The required flow rate is:

Do not even think about trying to shove this flow through ½-inch or 5/8-inch tubing. You will need at least ¾-inch tubing to handle this flow rate at a reasonable head loss. The head loss of a 220-foot-long circuit of ¾-inch PEX carrying 50 per cent propylene glycol at 4.89 gpm is 34.5 feet. That is just about out of the range of small wet rotor circulators. Changing the circuit to 1-inch PEX at the same flow rate drops the head loss to 10.5 feet. In this case, using the 1-inch tube will cut the electrical operating cost of the system to about 30 per cent of that of using ¾-inch tube. Granted, some well-healed clients who install snow-

3. Never exceed 12-inch tube spacing: Although it is possible to get acceptable performance in certain floor heating applications using 18-inch tube spacing this is never the case with snowmelting. Tubing spaced wider than 12-inches will cause “tenting” as the snow melts. The warmer pavement surface directly above the tubing creates small elongated igloos in the snow as shown in Figure 2. The stationary air trapped between the snow surface and pavement acts like insulation, and slows the rate of further melting. Figure 1 Low voltage indicator light connection The following tube spacings are suggested depending on the class of the snowmelting application: • Class 1 systems: (residential applications) nine to 12 inches • Class 2 systems: (high melt rate residential/commercial) six to nine inches • Class 3 systems: (critical applications where pavement must remain snow free at all times) four to six inches 4. Flow is critical: A radiant floor operating at design load conditions may deliver around 35 Btuh/ft2. A class 2 snowmelting system in a location like Buffalo, NY must deliver about 200 Btuh/ft2. That is almost six times more heat delivery per square foot than the floor heating system. Assuming the same temperature drop across HPACMAG.COM

continued on page 16

Figure 2 Effect of wide tube spacing

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2011 | HPAC

SimplyR

< HYDRONICS

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see dripping and rusting hardware in short order. Also be sure the butt ends of the insulation are bonded together. • Insulate the circulator volute, or locate it where condensation dripping from it will not be a problem. Also position the junction box on a wet-rotor circulator carrying cold glycol at the top of the motor to keep it as warm (and as condensation-free) as possible. Another option is to use a non-wet-rotor circulator with a coupling assembly to keep the motor warm enough to prevent condensation.

melting may not care about the operating cost of the circulator, but the professional who designs the system should. Why not make a choice that ultimately will pay for itself several times over during the life of the system? 5. Protect conventional boilers against condensation: If a conventional boiler (e.g. one with a cast-iron, steel, or copper tube heat exchanger) is used as the heat source for a snowmelting system, it must be protected against sustained flue gas condensation. This is easily handled by a modern mixing system with boiler inlet temperature sensor. However, when the fluid the system is handling is literally “ice cold” at start-up, you also need to protect against condensation and frost in other parts of the system. Here is what to keep an eye on. • All interior piping serving snowmelt manifold stations should be fully insulated and vapour-sealed to prevent surface condensation. Do not get sloppy at pipe supports and valves. Be sure the insulation runs through the pipe supports with the necessary support sleeves, and that it also surrounds valve bodies. If not, you will surely 24483_MascotII_HALF.qxd

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6. Protect heat exchangers against freezing: Consider what could happen when antifreeze at sub-freezing temperatures starts flowing through a typical flat plate heat exchanger, several minutes before warm water arrives on the other side of that heat exchanger. Flat plate heat exchangers have very little thermal mass in comparison to their internal surface area. It’s very possible the water side of the heat exchanger could clog with ice crystals before heated water arrives. A hard freeze could also occur if the water side circulation stopped due to a circulator failure or boiler lockcontinued on page 18

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continued from page 16

out. Heat exchangers cost enough without having to replace them as the result of a preventable freeze. My suggestion is to include a temperature setpoint controller on the leaving water side of the heat exchanger. The electrical contacts of this controller would only allow the antifreeze side circulator to operate once the water leaving the heat exchanger has reached a reasonable temperature of say 100F. They would also open to stop antifreeze flow if the water side temperature dropped to say 50F. 7. Always insulate under heated pavements: It is the same reasoning as a heated floor slab. The idea is to direct the heat where you want it (e.g. the top of the pavement) rather than into an almost infinite heat sink (the earth). You only get one opportunity to do it right. Use a proven product like 25 psi or higher compressive strength extruded polystyrene, and always install it on properly tamped subgrade. If the pavement could have heavy commercial vehicles on it, I suggest a minimum of 60 psi rated extruded polystyrene. Leave some small gaps between adjacent sheets of insulation so the water that inevitably percolates down through cracks in the pavement surface will not be trapped above the insulation where it could refreeze and heave the pavement. Be sure there is high percolation soil or bed of gravel under the insulation to allow this water to dissipate rather than pond under the insulation. 8. Lift the tubing to mid-slab height during pour: The transient response of an ice-cold concrete slab is slow enough without extra inches of concrete between the tubing and top of slab. Be sure to communicate how important this is to those responsible for placing the concrete. Make sure it’s clearly described and drawn in your documentation.

Provide a detail for control joints that keeps the tubing down under the saw cuts. 9. Identify possible drifting locations: If the pavement being melted includes areas where snow drifting is likely, consider zoning the system. Drifted areas often require longer melting times relative to sheltered areas. Why run the entire snowmelt system if only certain portions of the pavement need this longer melting time? Zoned snowmelting systems are best controlled with inslab snow detectors rather than above-pavement snowswitches. It is important that any automatic snow detectors be placed to respond to likely drifting patterns. Think about prevailing winds and vertical surfaces such as retainer walls or shrubs that rise above the upwind side of the paved areas. Drifts can also form at the downwind corners of buildings located adjacent to pavements. Snow can also pile up just outside the overhang line of roofs located upwind from the pavement. Plan your zones accordingly. 10. Consider a staged multiple boiler system: One characteristic of snowmelting is that the loads are intense but relatively infrequent--at least in comparison to space heating loads. Although one could supply a snowmelting system through a single large boiler, it often makes sense to use the same boiler system that heats the house and provides domestic water heating. The system can be configured with a stepped priority type control (e.g. domestic water heating is first priority, space heating second priority, and snowmelting as third priority). This prevents the need to size the boiler system to simultaneously supply all loads at design values, which is very improbable. A staged boiler system can also provide the output to keep up with high domestic water heating demands. continued on page 20

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The schematic in Figure 3 shows the concept of a multiple boiler system supplying snowmelting, high capacity domestic water heating, and zoned space heating. The hydraulic separator keeps the peace between all the circulators and provides air and dirt separation. The space heating subsystem uses a variable-speed, pressure-regulated circulator in combination with zone valves to minimize pump power. The snowmelting subsystem protects the heat exchanger against freezing as described earlier. Because mod/con boilers are used, no mixing device is required in the snowmelting subsystem. The cooler they operate the more efficient they are. There you have it, 10 details to help ensure future snowmelting systems keep the snow shovels, blowers, and plows at rest while providing years of efficient service. <>

Figure 3 Multiple boiler system

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Hands-free Faucets scrutinized as source Of infection

t was a report that left many in the industry shaking their heads in disbelief. Data from The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD, suggested that electronic faucets – long heralded for their contributions to hygiene – posed higher risks of spreading Legionella bacteria than manual ones. “Newer is not necessarily better when it comes to infection control in hospitals, especially when it comes to warding off potential hazards from water-borne bacteria, such as Legionella species,” said Lisa Maragakis, MD, MPH, director of hospital epidemiology and infection control. “New devices, even faucets, however well-intentioned in their make-up and purpose, have the potential for unintended consequences, which is why constant surveillance is needed.”

Limited study The hospital’s research started out with a less controversial objective. “Our purpose was to determine what the flush cycle should be on the faucets that were to be installed in our new building,” says Gregory Bova, senior engineer, Johns Hopkins Health System. “The findings were a big surprise to me... It was shocking.” The study was carried out between December 2008 and 22

HPAC | november/december 2011

January 2009. In summary, it showed that 50 per cent of cultures of water from 20 electronic faucets showed the presence of Legionella following a water disruption. However, only 15 per cent of cultures of water from the same number of manual faucets contained the bacteria. “Engineering presented this information to our infectioncontrol committee, who determined that this was a problem for our patients,” notes Bova. “They strongly recommended that the faucets not be installed in patient-care areas. We went to the standard, wrist-blade faucets,” he says. Well over 100 electronic faucets were replaced, though they continue to be used in other parts of the hospital. The data was the subject of a presentation at an April meeting of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA). It is scheduled to appear soon in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology (ICHE), a peer-reviewed journal published by SHEA. Authors of the research are Emily Sydnor, MD, MHS, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and colleagues. Bova suggests some caution in interpreting the preliminary results. "It was a limited study to begin with. It’s really continued on page 24 hpacmag.com

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continued from page 22

a secondary outcome of what we originally wanted to do. People try to read between the lines and see what they want to see.” However, he emphasizes, “after weeks of repetitive testing, we found that [Legionella in] the electronic faucets were growing much more rapidly than in the manual faucets.” “The manual faucets, without intervention, got clean on their own because we treat the water with some disinfectants in addition to what the city provides,” says Bova. “We had difficulty disinfecting the electronic faucets with our standard protocols and methods.” “We're not telling everyone to replace their electronic faucets. We're just advising them that further studies are needed,” says Bova. He suggested that internal faucet components, flow rates and temperature should be assessed. “Where people attempt to economize by cutting back on the volume or heat of water in the system, it creates the conditions for bacterial growth.”

COntraCtOr reaCtiOn The contractors we spoke with had not experienced this problem. “That one shocked me,” admits James Derksen, manager at Derksen Plumbing & Heating (1984) Ltd., Winnipeg, MB. “I have never taken an electronic faucet apart myself, so I am not sure what parts would become more infected than with a manual valve. [Johns Hopkins] is switching to manual valves, which will waste more water. That’s fine, if it means better control of diseases – but again, what is the

plan for contamination on the handles?” He emphasizes that more research is definitely needed. “I am disappointed they didn’t go into more detail in the article,” says Brad Arnold, president, Bradley Mechanical Services in Mississauga, ON. “I believe they will find that the water temperature is the main culprit…We have found that the electronic faucets do not run long enough or provide enough flow.” If the water temperature is not in the 51C to 54C range, Legionella can grow. “The fix will be in how they are installed,” says Arnold. “They need to have the hot water piping recirculated right up to the faucet connections and the run times need to be increased to provide for enough flow to get hot water at the faucet.” Domenic Mattina shares the frustration of many in the industry who say the preliminary report does not provide enough information to form a judgment. Mattina, who is vice president – sales and engineering, Mattina Mechanical Ltd., Hamilton, ON, points out that everything depends on the design of the individual faucet, in terms of interior surfaces where bacteria could settle. "I have a lot of questions,” he says. “What model of faucet were they testing? Can I get a cut sheet of it? I need a better idea of what the potential risk factors could be." Mattina says he has never encountered a problem like this himself or heard of it from others. "We need more comprehensive information, not just a snapshot. We need to know why this happened. And you have to assume that there's more than one reason," he says.

manuFaCturers respOnd The data directly impacts faucet manufacturers and some have already responded. Sloan Valve Co. noted that “water-saving measures that incur stagnation may exacerbate problems with Legionella and other waterborne pathogens.” Its report acknowledges “some truth” to Johns Hopkins’s assertion that internal faucet components such as check valves and filter screens may serve as contact points for contamination, but notes that “The real culprit is the stagnant water resulting from low or limited use that creates the ideal conditions for bacterial growth.” Jason Boyd, marketing manager at Dobbin Sales Ltd. in Vaughan, ON. says further research on this topic is necessary. For healthcare applications, it is important to design an automatic line-purge feature into the system to cycle through any standing water resulting from lack of regular use. “This is a simple programming feature that is available from most manufacturers and directly addresses the issues outlined in the Johns Hopkins study,” he says. Most manufacturers seem to have been surprised by the Hopkins data. “I have never heard of this [type of problem] before, says Nunzio Di Cesare, product manager, American Standard Canada, Mississauga, ON. 24

HPAC | november/december 2011

“Basically, an electronic faucet is like anything else,” he says. “You have a solenoid that triggers it, but the water is not going through the solenoid. The water way is pretty much the same as on a mechanical type of faucet. I don't know where all that (contamination resulting from internal parts) is coming from… It's not a larger area; it's all the same size.” “This is not going to end today. There are lots of manufacturers out there,” says Di Cesare. “The trend is going to electronic everywhere.” Karen Marshall, vice president of marketing, Masco Canada in Mississauga, ON. noted that without proper publication following peer review, the industry’s ability to respond is limited. “Without having that information at this time, it is difficult for us to evaluate the study's validity and identify how, if at all, their findings apply to any type of faucet.” The next step is publication of the research in ICHE. Once the data is available, the industry will work together to solve these problems. “I foresee the hospital providing assistance to ASHE and APIC – who I am pretty sure are setting up studies right now – along with some of the manufacturers who are doing their own, internal evaluations,” says Gregory Bova, of Johns Hopkins. hpacmag.com

assOCiatiOns aWait WOrd A meeting of representatives of the various sectors of the plumbing community was hosted by the American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE) in June to discuss the issue. “Based on the available information, it appears that the data and conclusions reached in the Johns Hopkins' presentation are not representative of a valid research protocol/study method,” noted the organization in a meeting summary. The summary emphasized the well-researched risks of transmitting contaminants from hand to hand by manual faucets. More detail is needed on the data provided by Johns Hopkins, notes Jim Kendzell, ASPE’s executive director and CEO. “We came out of that [June] meeting saying, ‘Let's not panic but let's not jump to any conclusions here, because we don't have enough information.’” “We agreed that what we really need is controlled, laboratory-type research. I have told our project manager that we have to move ahead. We have to start developing protocols around this, whether we hear from Johns Hopkins or not.” ASHE and the Association for Professionals in Infection Control & Epidemiology (APIC) provided a written response to the Johns Hopkins data. “There is no single design feature

that can mitigate all risk of cross-transmission,” they noted. It is a complex question, the report said, noting the importance of water flow rates, minimizing the length of pipes connecting the valve and water outlet and the frequency of use. They also noted that certain parts in electronic faucets made of rubber, plastic, and PVC are more likely to develop a biofilm, which may protect bacteria from disinfectants that have been added to the water. “…It is an interesting study,” they said, “but any major changes in policy or actions by others should await publication [of the research in a peer-reviewed journal].” “It was a new one on us. We have not heard anything like this before,” says Barbara Higgens, executive director, Plumbing Manufacturers International (PMI). “It's very frustrating [that Johns Hopkins has not released the full data from the study]… At this point, we basically don't know how they tested or what they tested.” PMI takes its mandate to protect health very seriously, says Higgins. “It's ironic that a product that was designed to eliminate health issues should be suspect.” <> Jim Barnes is a Toronto-based writer with 30 years of experience in business journalism.

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< HVAC/R

About Heat Pumps – Part II A discussion of the various types of heat pumps. BY DAvE DEmmA

HPAC | november/december 2011

1. In the heating mode, the constant ground water temperature will provide a constant heat load for the outdoor coil, allowing sufficient load on the compressor to generate sufficient mass flow and heat of compression to provide a constant source of heat to the conditioned space. 2. In the cooling mode, the comparably low water temperature used as the heat transfer medium for the outdoor coil (condenser) will result in lower discharge pressures as compared to an air cooled condenser in the dead of summer. This results in greater compressor capacity and reduced electrical consumption, and can be illustrated by the significantly higher SEER ratings available with GSHPs. There are various methods available for utilizing the ground source water. These can be categorized into closed loop and open loop systems.

CLOSED LOOP This is an application where the outdoor coil is buried in the earth below the frost line, with the earth or ground water being used as the heat source/heat sink. In essence, the outdoor coil is fashioned into either a vertical or horizontal heat exchanger, and buried in the ground. 1. Horizontal heat exchangers require significantly more land area, but given the fact that they are not buried nearly as deep as vertical heat exchangers, they are less costly to install (see Figure 1). The more common piping layouts will utilize two pipes (one buried at approximately 4', and the other buried approximately at 6'), or two pipes side by side at approximately 5' depth. Another method, shown in Figure 1, is the slinky method. This might allow for a horizontal application in smaller plots of land. Figure 1 Closed Loop Horizontal Heat Exchanger

Images ©McQuay International

or years, when the term “heat pump” was mentioned it was understood to mean a conventional heat pump as described in the first part of this series (see Sept/Oct 2011, p.66). During the cooling mode the heat pump would operate exactly as a conventional air-conditioning condensing unit would…the compressor providing high pressure/high temperature vapour to the inlet of the outdoor coil (condenser) where it is converted to a high pressure/high temperature liquid refrigerant, onto the expansion device where the refrigerant is converted to a low pressure/low temperature mixture of liquid and vapour, onto the indoor coil (evaporator) where the heat from the conditioned space is transferred to the low pressure/low temperature liquid-vapour mixture, and then onto the compressor as a low temperature/low pressure vapour. For operation in the heating mode the four-way reversing valve is energized, allowing the discharge gas from the compressor to flow to the indoor coil. With the indoor coil performing the function of the condenser, the heat of rejection necessary to condense the discharge gas into a liquid would serve as the source for heating the conditioned space. The high pressure/high temperature liquid from the indoor coil flows through the expansion device at the outdoor coil, and then heat from the outdoor coil is transferred to the low pressure/low temperature liquidvapour mixture, essentially air conditioning a small portion of the outdoor environment. In recent years there have been advancements to heat pumps, which have allowed them to operate more efficiently and over a broader range of temperatures in the winter. They are known as “Ground Source” Heat Pumps (GSHP), and utilize either ground water or surface water as the outdoor coil’s heat transfer medium…a heat sink in the cooling mode, or a heat source in the heating mode. Ground source water a depth of 5'-10' will remain at a fairly constant temperature year around. Likewise, water from subsurface aquifers and water from surface bodies will remain fairly constant in temperature (although at slightly greater depth would be required for surface bodies). This is in contrast to the near 100F temperature difference that the outdoor ambient air temperature may experience between summer and winter conditions. This provides two benefits for heat pump operation:

hpacmag.com

Figure 2 Closed Loop Vertical Heat exchanger

2. Vertical heat exchangers are normally used on larger buildings where it would be impractical to dedicate the necessary land required for burying a horizontal heat exchanger. These will be constructed of polyethylene (see Figure 2) and buried in holes drilled approximately 100'-400' deep, and located approximately 20' apart. Each hole will have two vertical pipes connected at the bottom with a U-bend, forming a loop. Each vertical loop is connected via a manifold, and then connected to the heat pump. 3. Surface water heat exchangers can be used if the FLIR bSeries Sep08:3.375x4.875 4:55 location has -anHPAC adequately sized body 9/8/08 of water. Depending on the Btu capacity of the heat pump, there

Figure 3 Surface Water Heat exchanger

will be minimum requirements for volume and depth of the water body (in colder climates the water will need to be of sufficient depth such that the heat exchanger can be located below the freeze line). Additionally, the water quality would need to meet some minimum specifications. If feasible, this would be a low cost alternative to burying a heat exchanger in the earth (see Figure 3).

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< HVAC/R tower to transfer heat from the condenser water. Or imagine a chiller receiving an endless supply of 60F water at its inlet. The water sees a 10F reduction in temperature in the chiller heat exchanger, but because of the endless supply of water there is no need for a fan coil unit to absorb heat to the chilled water. There is the essence of an open loop system. You have an endless supply of water at a consistent available as a heat sink for summer application, or a heat load for winter application. A pump supplies water the heat exchanger in the heat pump. Since it is an endless supply, it is simply pumped through the heat exchanger, and then onto another location separate from the source of the water (see Figure 4). One drawback of this method is that there might be an issue with fouling of the heat exchanger due to the condition of the water. As fouling increases, it will then cause a reduction in the efficiency of the process. As such, a closed loop is normally preferable. In larger commercial applications, hybrid systems might be employed where the presence of refrigeration equipment utilizing water cooled condensers (and the accompanying water tower) would provide a year round supply of

Figure 4 Open Loop System

water for the heat pumpâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heat load needs in the winter, and supply water for the heat sink needs in the summer. Whatever the particular water side method used for heat pump applications, GSHP will offer significantly higher efficiencies than their standard air-cooled cousins. <> Dave Demma holds a degree in refrigeration engineering and worked as a journeyman refrigeration technician before moving into the manufacturing sector where he regularly trains contractor and engineering groups. He can be reached at ddemma@uri.com.

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Green Retrofit Solution

Arena’s aging mechanical system replaced with ice storage and building automation system. BY MARK MACCRACKEN

which provide additional savings from Demand Response rebates from the Ontario Power Authority, have enabled the arena to see unprecedented energy savings. “We now have a chilled water system that is half the size of the original and operates during off-peak hours, saving us money,” said Peter Lyng, facilities manager, recreation, culture and community services for the City of Belleville. “Everyone is extremely enthusiastic since the new system was installed. People are looking to us as leaders for green solutions. The city’s Green Task Force is ecstatic with the energy savings.” <> Mark M. MacCracken, P.E., Pte. LEED AP, is the CEO of CALMAC Manufacturing Corporation, a manufacturer of thermal energy storage equipment.

The 3,257-seat (ice in) arena is home to the Belleville Bulls of the Ontario Hockey League.

Photos: Murnaghan Photo

he Yardmen Arena in Belleville, ON is named for a small group of railroaders–known as The Belleville Yardmen–who raised over $3 million toward its construction in 1978. After over three decades of operation The arena’s aging mechanical system needed to meet ON Reg 463/10, made under the Environmental Protection Act--Ozone Depleting Substances And Other Halocarbons, which was coming into effect in December of 2010. Rather than just replacing the system with an updated version of the same thing, the city sought a "green" solution that would comply with the regulation, as well as lower annual energy expenses. City officials ultimately settled on an ice storage system. The City of Belleville retained design/build contractor Geo. A. Kelson Company Limited, Stantec and Trane, to install the new chilled water system. Completed in 2010, the installation already exceeds performance expectations by 25 per cent. The city of Belleville is now anticipating a three-year payback instead of the estimated four-year payback. Even on the hottest days in the summer, when temperatures often exceed 90F, the electric chiller remained off. Cooling is supplied from the ice storage tank and a 30-horsepower pump operating at half speed. Prior to the retrofit, Yardmen Arena was the biggest energy consumer of all the city’s assets. The ice storage system and chilled water system plant and ice controls,

A building automation system provides building control through a single, integrated system, while energy storage tanks provide cooling. 30

HPAC | november/december 2011

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BACnet compatibility to allow for non-in-

smaller unit measuring a maximum of 62

wall. Room-to-Room models are available for plug in

trusive gas concentration monitoring and

inches long and 40 inches wide. It is 44

and hard-wired installation. The Level-to-Level model

alarm status. This feature is achieved via

inches tall. The units, which operate using

moves air up or down from one level to another through

an external gateway. The Chillgard RS-485

electricity alone, range in weight from 495

a sleeve that adjusts to floor joist/truss thicknesses

port provides BACnet connection output.

lbs. to 525 lbs.

from 8 3/4 inches to 16 1/2 inches.

www.msanorthamerica.com

www.advantixsystems.com

http://tjernlund.com

The Canadian HVACR Program

CFCs? HCFCs? We have the solution!

HPAC | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2011

HPACMAG.COM

PRODUCTS HVAC/R Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc. has released the XJ energy savings online calculator for its Copeland scroll outdoor condensing unit line. It allows users to determine how much energy they can expect to save by applying an XJ Series unit compared to standard unit offerings. The calculator applies Emerson's Annual Energy Efficiency Ratio (AEER) methodology, which uses historic average weather data from five climatic temperature regions to estimate lo-

Think ouTside The ducT. Introducing new Mini Split systems from Lennox®. Now available through Lennox PartsPlus™.

cation-specific savings scenarios. The final display includes savings for hermetic, scroll and semi-hermetic units. www.emersonclimate.com

The Westinghouse 22 SEER FT4BI iQ Drive heat pump with inverter-rotary technology recently received ENERGY STAR Most Efficient designation in 2011 for two-, three- and four-ton capacities. It modulates from 40 to 118 per cent of capacity, making constant, small adjustments. The heat pump operates at sound levels as low as 59 decibels. The iQ Drive controller offers maintenance reminders, programmable comfort schedules and troubleshooting diagnostics. www.westinghousehvac.com

Sullair Corporation has introduced a line of air treat-

Stores open M–F 7:30am–4:30pm

ment products, integral to the Sullair compressed

air

system. Refrigerated dryers are available in non-cycling models, digital cycling models, cycling models, and high temperature models. Desiccant regenerative dryers, suited for outdoor compressed air piping or operations that require dew points as low as -40F (optional -100F), are offered in four different configurations: modular, heatless, externally heated, and blower purge. Filtration equipment includes pre-filters, highefficiency, high pressure, high temperature and odor-removal filters and ISO 8573.1 quality classes (ASME/CRN approved). Oil/water separators are available in six models that also purify the condensate. Zero air loss and timed solenoid drains provide efficient removal of pollutant sludge. www.sullair.com continued on page 34 HPACMAG.COM

5350 86th Ave. S.E. Calgary, Alberta 403-279-8075

115 Randall Drive, Ste 10 Waterloo, Ontario 519-886-3666

10 Woodslea Road Brampton, Ontario 905-799-9911

1 Adelaide Street N., Ste 5 London, Ontario 519-439-3377

2010 Ellesmere Road, Units 13&14 Scarborough, Ontario 416-754-4311

2962 Lake City Way Burnaby, BC 604-421-1767

351 Nash Road North, Unit #10 Hamilton, Ontario 905-560-4200

133 Isley Ave, Unit D Dartmouth, Nova Scotia 902-486-5995

1177 Parisien Street Ottawa, Ontario 613-745-1528

Visit your local Lennox PartsPlus store or go online to LennoxPartsPlus.com for more details. NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2011 | HPAC

PRODUCTS hvac/r continued from page 33 Vigör ERV/HRVs from vänEE are designed for condo-

Three air handlers from the

miniums, apartments and other small spaces of up to

Luxaire deliver improved ef-

1,000 sq. ft. The cube units are less than 16 inches

ficiency to Luxaire LX and

on each side and can be concealed in a closet or

Climasure

above a hot water tank. Features include small intake

systems. Two units in the LX

and exhaust ports.

Series of heating and cooling

home

comfort

products - the MX modular blower and the AHE air handler - feature a standard highThe EF spring return actuator from Belimo features

efficiency brushless, X-13-style

a pressure cast aluminum housing, a torque out-

DC electronically commutated motor (ECM). The Climasure

put of 270 in-lbs and a NEMA 4 option for tough

AHR air handler uses a permanent split capacitor (PSC) mo-

environmental conditions. It can take the place of

tor. Both the AHE and the AHR offer three-way, multi-position

two classic AF actuators in a piggyback mounted

capabilities (upflow, horizontal left or right) and require a

application. The actuators are available in basic

field-installed thermal expansion valve (TXV). The compact

models offering 24 or 120 VAC and faster run times

size and four-way, multi-position capabilities of the Luxaire

with MFT models. NEMA 4 versions come with

MX modular blower simplify installation. The unit also fea-

integrated junction box. MFT versions allow users to

tures versatile blowers and coils that can be combined to

program the actuator in the field for various proportion-

function with either a heat pump or air conditioner. The field

al control functions and DC voltage feedback signals.

installed electric heat can be used with any combination or

www.belimo.ca

as a stand-alone electric furnace. www.joinluxaire.com

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HPAC | november/december 2011

hpacmag.com

Logic controller: dedicated to HVAC/R machines – 23 up to 120 I/O. Save up to 30 percent on the energy consumption of your HVAC/R machines.

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SoHVAC™, programming software specifically designed for HVAC/R machines.

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Download the FREE White Paper, “Energy savings in commercial refrigeration equipment.” Visit www.SEreply.com Key Code h553v ©2011 Schneider Electric. All Rights Reserved. Schneider Electric, Modicon, KNX, SoHVAC, and Make the most of your energy are trademarks owned by Schneider Electric Industries SAS or its affiliated companies. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners. 998-4999_CA-EN

< HVAC

All Points Bulletin Plan reviews and field inspections: Under slab insulation (redux).

f you are doing heated slabs in Canada, rest assured there is a standard, code or by-law governing the installation of under slab insulation (see below). As a result, the hottest question from safety codes officers across the country is, "What is acceptable insulation and how does one determine if it is adequate for under slab applications?" This is no surprise because essentially all plan reviews for radiant floors and subsequent field inspections will be executed by someone trained in plumbing and gas and/or HVAC, but evaluations of building materials, such as insulation, is in the domain of those who typically inspect architectural systems and not slab heating systems. This is where the major landmine lies: mechanical folks specifying insulation that they are not qualified to appraise, which subsequently places municipalities in the evaluatorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s seat. So inspectors, unless you are the exception to the rule, my first piece of advice is that if the insulation in question does not come with an independent test report corroborating the R-value claims published in the manufacturerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s literature, the prudent thing to do is to sincerely and politely tell the submitters to go pound sand. Here is my reasoning: There is no shortage of reliable engineering documentation when it comes to insulation for under slab applications. Peer reviewed government and university-based building science research on insulation is available free of charge anytime at the click of a mouse. High gloss, colourful brochures from manufacturers are not engineering documents. They are selling tools and given the first point above, there is NO need for municipali-

Codes & Slab Insulation

1. If your province is enforcing the National Building Code of Canada (2010), in the absence of local jurisdictional requirements, you must insulate under all heated slabs to a minimum of RSI 0.9 (R-5) as directed by the CSA B214 Installation code for hydronic heating systemsi,ii (see p.37). 2. Jurisdictions, such as Vancouver, have a by-law superseding CSA B214, stating, "all concrete slabs must be provided with minimum RSI 2.1 (R-12) insulation underneath the slab."iii That includes forced air or radiant slabs. Kudos to Vancouver. 3. Subject to engineering and alternative solutions acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction, if you plan on building to the National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings (2011), all heated slabs must be insulated to a minimum of RSI 1.32 (R-7.5) and RSI 2.64 (R-15) for regions over 7,000C degree days (12,600F degree days).

HPAC | november/december 2011

BY roBert BeAn

ties to become a free evaluation service for claims made in sales literature. My second bit of advice for inspection departments is to use the National Research Council of Canada - Institute for Research in Construction (NRC-IRC), specifically its Canadian Construction Materials Centre (CCMC), which publishes evaluation reports for foam and foil faced foam insulations intended for under slab applications.iv The reports are free and they are available online 24/7/365 and the information is not a pitch from the sales and marketing departments (S&M or Smoke and Mirrors if they are in the middle of a product fraud lawsuit). Virtually all the manufacturers who have submitted materials through this CCMC service employ engineers, or building research scientists, or have hired these types of individuals to evaluate their products, which includes completing tests to the required standards (see side bar ASTM versus ASTM). Depending on the type and production method, foam in-

AStM VerSUS AStM

When it comes to under slab insulation and heated slabs, those who produce thin flexible, and often foil faced insulation, almost without exception test to (the current) ASTM C1363-11: "Standard Test Method for the Thermal Performance of Building Assemblies by Means of a Hot Box Apparatus," which may have included in the test, various composites of sub soils of various moisture contents and conductivities; and concrete, also of various conductivities and heating pipes. Those who produce rigid board insulation almost without exception test to (the current) ASTM C518, "Standard Test Method for Steady-State Thermal Transmission Properties by Means of the Heat Flow Meter Apparatus," a test for a product specimen only.ix This is not a trivial difference as the reported R values from products tested in an assembly, as per ASTM C1363-11 and its predecessors, are only valid for that assembly tested; as such it is not correct for the R-value of the tested assembly to represent all possible field installations. The key variables affecting assembled insulation performance include: temperature and differential temperatures, moisture and moisture adsorption, and conductivities and homogeneity of the density in the various layers throughout the entire slab. It is for this reason that ASTM C1363-11 provides this note: "It is unlikely that the test conditions will exactly duplicate in-use conditions and the user of the test results must be cautioned of possible significant differences." How many safety codes officers doing plan reviews and field inspections have received such a caution before giving approval for a product tested to ASTM C1363-11?x To be clear, I am not opposed to assembly testing (in fact, I am in support of it) but I am against using tested assemblies as a proxy for all installations, especially in the absence of site and sub soil conditions.

hpacmag.com

sulation delivers a nominal RSI 0.65/25mm to RSI 1.0/25mm (R-3.5/inch to R-5.5/inch). If you see anything exceeding these values, take the time to check the document values against the values of similar products in the CCMC database. Obtain the research report published by Canada Mortgage & Housing Corporation (CMHC), which compared rigid insulation and bubble foil insulation for under slab applications.v Corroborating the values for the bubble foil in the CMHC report is a technical bulletin published by the Reflective Insulation Manufacturing Association (RIMA).vi Use these two industry-available documents to compare the claims in sales literature. Again, the reports are free and available online 24/7/365. A single foil faced bubble layer delivers a nominal RSI 0.19 (R-1.1), a double bubble with foil faced layer delivers a nominal RSI 0.4 (R-2.3). If you see anything exceeding these values take the time to check the document values against the values in the CMHC and RIMA documents. Count on court documents, particularly those from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, which has successfully sued numerous marketers of insulation products. Court documents state the recognized R-value based on industry test standards. These are free and they are available online 24/7/365 (note the pattern here). Finally, you can also count on published reports from accredited independent third parties such as Bodycote, ICC, Intertek et al.vii You can also refer to services such as Ontario's Building Materials Evaluation Commission (BMEC) or evaluations published by the State of Nebraska or State of Wisconsin; however, if you are not familiar with testing laboratories and various CSA, CGSB, ULC and ASTM tests, you may have to do some digging on your own. In that case you are back in the evaluation business, which brings me to my third piece of advice for inspection departments: Immediately invoke a mandatory product evaluation listing requirement from CCMC for insulation submittals. It won’t make us popular and I will likely get nasty mail that will get filed under my growing career collection of contentious "badges of honour."

A Hole In tHe StAndArd Dear Liza, as good as it is, there is a hole in the 2007 version of the CSA B214 bucket and it has to do with clause 14.4.4.1, which states: "When a poured concrete radiant floor system is installed in contact with the soil, there shall be a minimum thermal resistance value equivalent to an RSI value of 0.9 m2•K/W (R value of 5 h•ft2•°F/Btu) between the concrete and the highest point of the water table." What is wrong with this? Well, I live in a province where geologists are a dime a dozen and where drilling holes in the ground followed by geological and soils analysis is a specialty. By education this professional knows about soils, moisture and water tables, but it will be a rare event to find a hydronics designer at the manufacturing, distribution or contracting level who has the skills to ascertain the highest point of the water table. It would be even rarer to find someone who differentiates between a wet season water table, or a dry season water table, or who understands the fluctuation in moisture content influenced by gravity, surface and sub surface pressure and moisture differentials and capillary action.viii Furthermore, I do not know of a hydronic design course that instructs students on how to interpret soil reports; to calculate equivalent R-values; or to do a risk assessment based on statistics and probabilities that the referenced equivalent R-value will not drop below the calculated amount due to changes in the "water table" (see Figures 1 and 2).ix To put this

Figure 1 A land parcel in Alberta with major swings in moisture, from dry enough to farm in one season to waterfront property the next. Buildings constructed along lakes, rivers, creeks, sloughs or other similar topography are subject to these kinds of conditions.

WHY InVoKe tHe reQUIreMent With CCMC and its labelling program, the process of selecting insulation becomes this easy: 1. The radiant designer, presumably a professional engineer, or technologist or an individual certified through the NAIT/CHC, BCIT, or HRAI programs, states on the continued on page 38 hpacmag.com

november/december 2011 | HPAC

< HVAC into perspective, moving from less than four

what higher than the minimum RSI 0.9 (R-5)

(1.5") or greater of board insulation will sur-

per cent by mass moisture content, to over 20

required by the CSA B214. Practically speak-

vive job site abuse more so than the 25mm

per cent by mass moisture content, increases

ing, the NECB/HRAI values of approximately

(1") for an RSI 0.9 (R-5). It should be noted

the soil conductivity by more than seven times

RSI 1.32 (R-7.5) represented by 38 mm

that there is no research that this author is

(see Figure 1 and Table 1). For example, we are talking the difference in IP units between five Btuh/sf downward loss to over 37 Btuh/sf for a 30F differential between slab and soil temperatures at four per cent and 20 per cent respectively. This has consequences as some building owners have discovered following a significant and unanticipated movement in the

Figure 2 Thermal plume created by downward heat transfer. Progressively thicker insulation is installed on the left side of the models. Right side: no insulation. The flaw in the "heat sink" or "thermal flywheel" theory is the dynamic of a variable "thermal draw down," controlled only by regulating edge and downward flow with manufactured insulation placed under and alongside 1 the slab.

water table. The only way to plug this hole is to require manufactured insulation that is tested to a recognized standard by an accredited agency. I am told this will come to fruition in the next update of the CSA B214.

So how much insulation and of what type? The insulation requirement in the NECB (2011) of RSI 1.3 (R-7.5) is in line with the RSI 1.4 (R-8) required for designs according to the HRAI certification course and some-

table 1 Soil thermal conductivities for various moisture contents and types

SoIl tHerMAl CondUCtIVItIeS Soil Moisture SAnd Content (by mass) W/(M·K) BtU/H·Ft·°F LOW, <4% 0.29 0.17 MEDIUM, 4 TO 20% 1.87 1.08 HIGH, >20% 2.16 1.25

SIlt W/(M·K) BtU/H·Ft·°F 0.14 0.08 1.3 0.75 2.16 1.25

ClAY W/(M·K) BtU/H·Ft·°F 0.14 0.08 1.00 0.58 2.16 1.25

SoUrCe: ASHrAe HANdbookS, SySTemS ANd eqUipmeNT, 2008

table 2 CAN/ULC-S701-01 and CAN/ULC-S701-05 Material Properties

ProPertIeS Thermal Resistance of a 25 mm thick specimen Long-term thermal resistance Water Vapour Permeance of a 25 mm thick specimen Dimensional Stability, Max. Flexural Strength, min. Water absorption, max. Compressive Strength, min. Limiting Oxygen Index, Minimum

reQUIreMentS UnIt m2 ºC/W

type 1 ≥ 0.65

type 2 ≥ 0.70

ng/(Pa·s·m2) % linear change kPa % by volume kPa %

300 1.5 170 6 70 24

200 1.5 240 4 110 24

type 3 ≥ 0.74 (1) 130 1.5 300 2 140 24

type 4 ≥ 0.86 60 1.5 350 0.7 210 24

(1) CAN/ULC-S701-01 requires that the results of the tested products be reported. The long-term thermal resistance value shall also be reported for the 25-mm-, 50-mm- and 75-mm-thick products. CAN/ULC-S701-05 requires a minimum value of 1.73 m2·°C/W for a 50-mm-thick product. The long-term thermal resistance value shall also be reported for the 25-mm- and 75-mm-thick products.

HPAC | november/december 2011

hpacmag.com

aware of that evaluates the reduction in thermal performance due to damage to board insulation. Based on CCMC reports, for material properties such as compressive and flexural strength and moisture absorption with thermal performance, only Type 4 extruded/ expanded polystyrene of a 25mm (1") thickness will meet the minimum requirements of the CSA B214 (see Table 2). That does not preclude using thicker slabs of Type 3 to achieve the same or better thermal performance of Type 4. Subject to an evaluation of loading, soil gases, ground temperatures and moisture, thicker slabs of Type 2 insulations could also be accept-

drawings the intended insulation including the RSI (R) value performance and the CCMC evaluation number. 2. If needed, the stated RSI (R) value can be corroborated anytime by the online NRC-IRC CCMC documentation. 3. During the exposed pipe inspection prior to pour, the installed insulation can now be corroborated in the field with the CCMC evaluation number labelled on the product. It is a "No muss, no fuss" situation. How nice is that? As a last resort for municipalities, if distributors, specifiers and installers swear by the R-values claimed in sales brochures and operate on faith-based engineering, invoke a mandatory requirement for professional involvement in lieu of a government recognized listing. Why? Because if a registered architect, professional engineer or technologist, given their ethics, liability insurance, and commitment to professional practice, won't specify a product because of a lack of science-based corroborating documentation there really is absolutely nothing more to be said. <>

able in some cases but take note of the reduced compressive strength, and significantly lower moisture performance. With regards to the RSI 0.9 (R-5) in the CSA B214, as a matter of my own practice I would not accept RSI 0.9 (R-5) for anything but the warmest climates (<3,500C degree days) with the driest sandiest soils (< 0.29 W/(mâ&#x20AC;˘K)@ <4% M.C.). Unless

robert bean, r.e.T., p.L.(eng.), is a registered practitioner in building construction engineering technology (ASeT) and a professional licensee in mechanical engineering (ApeGGA). He has over 30 years experience in the construction industry specializing in energy and indoor environmental quality and is the author and lecturer for professional development programs addressing building science, thermal comfort quality, indoor air quality and radiant based HVAC systems. www.healthyheating.com

detailed sub soil analysis warrants different values, my standard specification is

REFERENCES

50mm (2") Type 4 extruded polystyrene

i) Bean, R., Pay Now or Pay Later, Heating Plumbing Air Conditioning Magazine, March

board stock, which is marginally higher

2011 www.hpacmag.com

than the requirements of the NECB for all

ii) RSI and R-values are nominal only.

climates under 7,000C degree days. To put

iii) Under-Slab Insulation, City of Vancouver, March 2010 http://vancouver.ca/commsvcs/

this into perspective, see Figure 2, a finite

CBOFFICIAL/greenbuildings/greenhomes/underslabinsulation.htm

element analysis (FEA) for a range of insu-

iv) National Research Council of Canada - Institute for Research in Construction, Canadian

lations from zero to 100 mm (4"). Note the

Construction Materials Centre www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/services/irc/ccmc/registry-

"thermal plume" comparing no insulation

product-evaluations.html>

(right side) to progressively thicker insula-

v) Comparison of Under-floor Insulation Systems, CMHC Technical Series 04-127, October

tion (left side). The size of the plume is an

2004 www03.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/catalog/productDetail.cfm?cat=42&itm=51&lang=

indication of the downward losses for a

en&fr=1319919748961

given set of conditions. Short strokes: the

vi) Reflective insulation materials used under concrete slabs, RIMA Technical Bulletin 101

greater the soil conductivities and temper-

vii) See Table 1, ICC-ES Evaluation Report, ESR-1788, May 2011 www.icc-es.org/reports/

ature differentials, the greater the magnitude and intensity of downward heat loss. If you take exception to this information

pdf_files/ICC-ES/ESR-1788.pdf viii) Nelson, S.A., Groundwater, Tulane University http://earthsci.org/education/teacher/ basicgeol/groundwa/groundwa.html

find a copy of Hutcheon and Handegord's

ix) Suggested studies: Bomberg, M., Development of thermal insulation performance test

Building Science for a Cold Climate pub-

methods, National Research Council Canada (originally in ASTM Standardization News,

lished in 1983 by the NRC. It is a nice gentle read that will bring clarity to the science

December 1982) www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/obj/irc/doc/pubs/nrcc21223/nrcc21223.pdf x) ASTM C1363-11 replaces ASTM C236, and ASTM C976

of moisture and soils.

hpacmag.com

november/december 2011 | HPAC

PRODUCTS hydronics Jaga Climate Systems has introduced the Canal suite of in-floor heating and cooling solutions. This trench radiator series provides an option for in-floor heating and cooling applications. Complete with multiple grill covers to match most interior surfaces, the suite of radiators includes the Clima Canal, the Mirco Canal and the Mini Canal. The Clima offers telescopic height adjustment technology. When floor space is limited, the Micro Canal is a super-shallow trench heating solution, which still provides a powerful heat output. With its advanced height adjustment, from 6-8 cm, the depth can be altered to align with all flooring types. Designed to provide heat alongside glazed facades, the Mini Canal uses low-H2O technology. www.jaga-canada.com

The WM97+ wall mount gas boiler from

Caleffi 546 Series Brass DISCALDIRT air and

Weil-McLain Canada is available in two input

dirt separators continuously remove air

models (70,000 and 110,000 Btus), both

and debris in hydronic heating and cooling

at a 97+ per cent AFUE rating. It features

systems. Solid impurities in the system

a self-cleaning, stainless steel fire tube

are separated and collect at the bottom of the

heat exchanger design, a boiler circulator,

device. They are removed through the drain shut-

built-in primary/secondary piping option, low

off cock. The separators are available in 3/4", 1",

water cutoff and expansion tank. It also

or 1-1/4" sweat and NPT connections.

comes with an indoor/outdoor multi-zone

www.caleffi.us

reset control. www.weil-mclain.ca

Taco's LOFlo injection mixing system enhances the energy efficiency of chilled beam systems. The mixing block consists of a variable speed injection circulator and constant-speed zone circulator. It is designed to reduce the electrical energy demand of an all-air system by up to 40 per cent. www.taco-hvac.com continued on page 42 Watch forâ&#x20AC;Ś

MODERN HYDRONICS featuring

Siegenthaler, Bean, Miller, Goldie and more! in the January/February 2012 issue 40

HPAC | november/december 2011

hpacmag.com

Don’t got it? Don’t sweat it! HVAC, HyDroniCs & plumbing More than 1.5 million square feet of warehouse space Over 50 locations An incredible range of product selection 99% fill-rate

CAll noble

you need it? we got it. www.noble.ca 1-800-529-9805

or 905-760-6800 bArrie belleVille bouCHerVille brAmpton broCkVille CoquitlAm CornwAll grAVenHurst guelpH HAmilton lAVAl longueuil mAple riDge mArkHAm milton mission mississAugA newmArket kingston kitCHener lonDon montréAl oAkVille osHAwA ottAwA peterborougH repentigny seCHelt st. CAtHArines toronto VAnCouVer winDsor

PRODUCTS hydronics continued from page 40 Navien Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s condensing combination gas boiler/ tankless water heater, the Combi, is designed for domestic water heating and space heating applications, including in-floor radiant heating, baseboard heating and fan assistance/air handler heating applications. It features a combination fin-type primary stainless steel heat exchanger, stainless steel secondary condensing heat exchanger and pre-mixed burner. The unit may be vented with PVC up to 100 feet with a maximum of six Fast Trak knobbed mats from Uponor are

elbows. The Combi unit comes with the NR-10DU LCD

used for installing cross-linked polyethylene

remote control system.

(PEX) tubing in overpour applications. They

www.navienamerica.com

are available in two models: Fast Trak 0.5 and Fast Trak 1.3i. Fast Trak 0.5 is 1/2" thick, eliminating the need to alter base-

WaterFurnace Renewable Energy has introduced WaterFurnace Hy-

boards, mouldings or doors. The product is

dronic Services, a complete geothermal hydronic system solution for

made for 5/16" PEX tubing and features an

dealers. The package includes initial quotes, system design, system

adhesive backing for installation to a slab

components, documentation and technical support and training dur-

or subfloor. Fast Trak 1.3i is 1-1/4" thick. It

ing and after the sale. Quoting and estimating support ensures a

holds 3/8" or 1/2" PEX tubing and includes

quick response. The simplified process is designed to enable deal-

insulation already in the mat, eliminating the

ers to take on more complex hydronic projects. A single point of

need for insulation under the tubing.

contact is provided.

www.uponor.ca

www.waterfurnace.com/dealers/hydronic-services.aspx

The Viega ProPress system for joining stainless steel piping is offered in sizes

Request your free AquaSmart fuel savings calculator beckettcanada.ca 1 800 665 6972

from 1/2 inch to 4 inches and consists of stainless steel pipe, valves and fittings. It provides a fast, flameless way to make watertight and gas-tight connections. Available in 304 and 316 stainless steel grades and with over 600 fitting configurations, the system is suited to industrial and commercial installations. EPDM, HNBR and FKM sealing elements are available. It can be installed wet or dry. The Smart Connect feature provides a quick and easy way for installers to identify connections that need pressing. www.TheTorchIsPast.com continued on page 44

HPAC | november/december 2011

hpacmag.com

SAVING energy makes sense —business sense. You’re always looking for new ways to control your operating costs. Energy use is no exception. Your local electric utility has a range of energy-efficient solutions tailored to businesses. Small businesses may be eligible for incentives to upgrade their lighting. Commercial, agricultural and industrial operations Your local electric utility can tap into funding for lighting, process and equipment upgrades, as well as offers incentives for: for energy audits and shifting energy usage away from peak demand times. • Energy-efficient lighting Big or small, every Ontario business can benefit.

Find out more by contacting your local electric utility or visit saveonenergy.ca/business

Subject to additional terms and conditions found at saveonenergy.ca. Subject to change without notice. A mark of the Province of Ontario protected under Canadian trade-mark law. Used under licence. OM Ofﬁcial Marks of the Ontario Power Authority.

• Shifting energy use • Equipment upgrades • Energy audits

PRODUCTS hydronics continued from page 42 The ZON-0500 from HBX Control Systems is a microprocessor based expansion module zone control for the CPU-1000 or ECO-1000 controls. Capable of controlling up to four zones per control, the ZON0500 can also be used as a standalone unit and can handle multiple priority selections. The controller can be daisy-chained to provide unlimited coverage and flexibility for virtually any number of zones. The ZON-0500 allows for pump or valve control and is capable of enabling a boiler. www.hbxcontrols.com

The QuickSetter balancing valve with flow meter from Caleffi is available in a 2" NPT connection with manually adjustable flow rate from 12 to 50 GPM. This extends available threaded sizes from 0.5" to 2" connections with flow rates from 0.5 to 50 GPM. The flow meter is

Fulton Boiler Works Inc. offers the Tribute, a

housed in a bypass circuit on the valve circuit and can be

compact, low footprint steam boiler with the

shut off during normal operation. The valve comes stan-

capability to operate at sub 9 ppm NOx with

dard with a hot preformed insulation shell to optimize

an advanced boiler control system. It utilizes

thermal performance for both hot and chilled water.

a fibre mesh burner, variable-speed fan and in-

www.caleffi.us

tegrated gas train, and provides low emissions combustion with only 4 inch incoming gas pres-

Bryan Triple-Flex™ boiler technology delivers minimum 90% operating efficiencies.

sure. Features include full 4 to 1 modulation, a stainless steel jacket and the Fulton SC-750 advanced boiler control system. www.fulton.com

GUARANTEED. • Minimum 90% thermal efficiency with 160° return, 180° supply@max. input • Efficiencies of up to 99% will be delivered with lower temperature design systems • Retrofit systems or new installations, one boiler does it all, Bryan Triple-Flex™ • Get the whole story now at bryanboilers.com

Taco's LoadMatch system uses maintenancefree, wet rotor circulators. The primary distribution system is a single pipe loop; the secondary

MINIMUM 90% THERMAL EFFICIENCY AT 160 F. RETURN, 20 F. RISE, MAX. INPUT, TF150-300

distribution system is a decoupled secondary

Originators of the “Flexible Water Tube” design

TRIPLE-FLEX

piping loop for each terminal unit in the system Patent Pending

single-pipe system replaces control valves and

Bryan Steam LLC • Leaders Since 1916 783 N. Chili Ave., Peru, IN 46970 Phone: 765-473-6651 / Fax: 765-473-3074 E-Mail: inquiry@bryansteam.com / www.bryanboilers.com

Commercial/Industrial Steam and Hot Water Boilers, Boiler Room Accessories 44

with flow delivered by a dedicated circulator. A

HPAC | november/december 2011

most balancing valves with small, low kW circulators that deliver water, on demand, to terminal units. In single loop installations, there is no limit to the number of terminal units that can be installed. www.taco-hvac.com hpacmag.com

S:7”

S:10”

With a Sprinter you’ll save up to $6,400 over 5 years. That’s a lot of lumber. Sure, you’d expect a Mercedes-Benz to be an expensive acquisition. But the truth is with its amazing fuel efﬁciency – via our BlueTEC diesel engine – and 15,000 kilometer maintenance intervals, the 2011 Sprinter will cost you less to own over 5 years compared to the competition. In fact, up to $6,4001 less – which is money better spent on your business. How’s that for a Mercedes?

The 2011 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. Starting from $42,900.* mercedes-benz.ca/sprintersaves ©2011 Mercedes-Benz Canada Inc. *Base national MSRP $42,900, all-in pricing up to $46,516.25 dependent on region. National MSRP pricing is shown for informational purposes only. Price does not include taxes, levies, fees and delivery charges. Price does not apply in provinces with total pricing requirements. Please contact your local dealership directly for total price applicable in those provinces. Price subject to change. Dealer may sell for less. 1Based on analysis of Canadian market for 2500 and 3500 series vans performed in March 2011 by Vincentric LLC. $6,400 savings claim based on comparison of 2011 GMC Savana Cargo 2500 and 2011 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 144" WB. Average savings across all models analyzed is $6,900. Visit mercedes-benz.ca/sprintersaves for more details.

Plumbing PRODUCts Bradley

Corp.

has

introduced

OmniDeck

4000 Series, a pre-fabricated and customizable system, including bowl, faucet, drain fittings, thermostatic mixing valves, trap covers and mounting brackets. OmniDeck bowls and decks are made with Bradley’s Evero Greenguard certified natural quartz material and do not require sealing or buffing. The integral undermount bowl design eliminates gaps and crevices between the deck and bowl. A stainless steel spherical undermount with integral overflow is also available. www. bradleycorp.com The RUBIX is the latest addition to the MAAX Professional series of bath product solutions. The 32-inch wide acrylic tub offers lightweight durability and an extra-long bathing well. Models are 60- or 66-incheslong and have the ability to accept tub shower door mounting and the option of right or left drain installation. Both come in 3-inch abovethe-floor rough versions. Features include an integrated flat apron along with integrated tiling flange on three sides. www.maax.com

T&S Brass has introduced pres-

Watts is offering Pure

sure balancing shower valve

Water, a range of prod-

packages featuring solid brass

ucts that solve water

body construction, metal han-

filtration,

dle and trim, and a replaceable

and treatment issues

ceramic cartridge with rotary

for

actuation and adjustable tem-

and

perature limit stop. The shower

plications. Pure Water

valve products can be sold as a

includes Sediment Fil-

package with all pieces – show-

ter Systems with 2.8

purification

light

commercial

institutional

er valve, shower head, trim, and tub spout – or as separate pieces to

times

meet a particular application. There is a “Valve Only (PBV)” rough-in

holding

version for applications where there is a need for pre-installation of

sand-type media; car-

the valve only. Features of this line include integral supply stops with

bon filter systems with

spring checks (all brass), ½” sweat connections, shower valve opens

flow rates up to 129 gpm; reverse osmosis systems (RO) with produc-

from cold to hot and a 2.5 gpm showerhead. The packages are ASSE

tion rates up to 100 gpm; water softeners and environmentally friendly

1016 listed and ADA compliant.

anti-scale systems.

www.tsbrass.com

www.watts.com/purewater

HPAC | november/december 2011

the

ap-

sediment

capacity

hpacmag.com

Delta Faucet Company has expanded its Proximity Sensing Technology line to include the 590TP, 591TP and 590-PHDF commercially-styled lavatory faucets. This technology senses a user’s hand when it enters the 4” field around the body of the faucet, turning the faucet on. The design is free of optics and infrared. The vandal resistant faucets self-calibrate once installed and feature a surface mount control box. Battery and hardwire models are available. www.deltacommercialfaucets.com

The Wags (Water and Gas Shut-off) valve from Taco guards against water damage due to water heater leaks. Suited to

Contrac has introduced three HETs. The

new or existing water heaters, the valve is totally mechanical

Carlin, Cody and Crista have been up-

and can be installed with or without an electric harness. The

dated to 1.28Gpf/4.8Lpf with enhanced

valve rests in a water heater drain pan. The cold water sup-

MaP scores from 800-1,000 grams. The

ply runs through the valve before entering the appliance. If a

toilets are vitreous china with a chrome

leak occurs, an internal water-soluble fiber element dissolves,

tank lever and have a 2" fully glazed ball

releasing a powerful, spring-loaded piston that closes flow of

pass trapway and siphon jet flush action.

water to the tank. With the addition of a wiring harness for gas-

www.contrac.ca

fired appliances, this action will also break a fuse to shut off the water heater’s gas supply. continued on page 48

www.wagsvalve.com

SYSTEM XFR ® – The world’s first PVC DWV piping system rated for plenums & high rises

s any contractor or engineer knows, cast iron is heavy, cumbersome and prone to corrosion. That’s why we’ve created System XFR®, a revolutionary PVC Drain, Waste and Vent piping system rated for high rises and plenums.

And as the world’s first uncoated PVC DWV system fully approved for non-combustible applications, XFR® meets all fire-resistance and smoke development code requirements.

System XFR® is 75% lighter than equivalent lengths of cast iron, making it easier to handle and install. Very durable, it won’t rust, pit, scale or corrode like cast iron and its interior and exterior walls stay smooth, ensuring years of reliable service.

Add up all the advantages and it’s clear that System XFR® is the preferred choice for DWV in non-combustible construction.

To find out more, call us at 1-866-473-9462 or visit: www.ipexinc.com

hpacmag.com

System XFR DWV ®

Tough Products for Tough Environments

november/december 2011 | HPAC

Plumbing PRODUCts continued from page 47 Leonard Valve Company has added a New Generation lead-free thermostatic mixing valve to its line of ECO-MIX valves. The TM2020B-LF is suited to commercial, institutional or industrial applications and is designed to deliver precisely mixed water temperature from extremely low flows of 1.0 gpm (3.7 lpm) to high flow requirements. The ASSE 1017-compliant valve features an adjustable high temperature limit stop, inlet checkstops, wall support and an outlet ball valve. The Vic-Press Schedule 10S system is a flame-free press system de-

Its bronze body has locking temperature regulators with a limit stop,

signed for Type 304/304L and 316/316L, off-the-shelf ASTM A-312

set at 120F (49C), which can be reset by the installer, to prevent

Schedule 10S stainless steel piping systems. It is available in IPS stan-

excessive handle rotation.

dard sizes ½ – 2"/15-50 mm and is accepted for use on ASME B31.1,

www.leonardvalve.com

B31.3 and B31.9 systems. www.victaulic.com

The signature piece of the KWC ONO collection is the basin faucet, available in two, single-lever models: a basic eight-inch faucet for rimmed or drop-in sinks; and a tall version with a 12- 1/16" pillar to reach over vessel sinks. Each features a fixed spout, rising at a Caroma Flow, Caroma’s first shower product, is WaterSense approved.

16-degree angle from the perpendicular pillar. The aerator is easily

It has a nominal flow rate of 1.5 gpm/5.7L at 80 psi. Features include

removable for de-scaling or replacement, using a key supplied with

a precision-engineered nozzle to pressurize water for a uniform, and

the product. The operating lever is made of surgical-grade, hardened

soft yet powerful spray of water and an easy-slide spray adjustment. The

stainless steel. Operating directly on the ceramic disc cartridge in-

Caroma Flow showerhead is designed for retrofit and new construction

side the faucet the lever moves within a sealed link. The flow rate for

projects.

both faucets is 1.5 gpm.

www.caromausa.com

http://kwcamerica.com continued on page 50

HPAC | november/december 2011

hpacmag.com

Plumbing PRODUCts continued from page 48 The ENERGY STAR-rated NRC98 in the Noritz ecoTOUGH Series of gas-fired residential condensing tankless water heaters is available as a two-pipe direct vent model for indoor installation and an outdoor model. The heaters have an Energy Factor of 0.93 and a maximum flow rate of 9.8 gpm and temperature settings from 100F to 140F. Featuring a standard Btu input range of 16,000 to 180,000, they have a low-NOx, fully modulating Eco-Burner and a copper primary heat exchanger and stainless steel secondary heat exchanger. www.noritz.com

Moen Canada has expanded its wall-mount faucet offering with the addition of the 90°, Rothbury and Waterhill. The faucets feature Moen’s M•PACT valve system for easy installation or replacement. Each faucet has been certified to meet WaterSense criteria and offers a 5.7 litres per minute (1.5 gpm) flow rate. Finishes include chrome, LifeShine brushed nickel for the 90°, while the Rothbury and Waterhill are also available in oil rubbed bronze. www.moen.ca

Reed has announced that its PPR Fitting Reamers (for up to 4” fittings) are now available for ¾” and 1” PVC and CPVC fittings. In addition to the new sizes, Reed offers a full kit (PPRK6) of all six reamer sizes. Reuse existing fittings by utilizing this solution for retrofit work. Reed PPR reamers fit standard drills, cordless drills, or impact drills. The reamers feature a four-sided carbide insert that provides one extra cutting edge after 180-degree cutting insert rotation. www.reedmfgco.com

The Ascent II macerating toilet system from Liberty has a 1.28 GPF high efficiency toilet. The new system features RazorCut technology for improved maceration of waste and a removable service panel that provides quick access to the cutter area without disconnecting the plumbing. Other features include IST solid state switching, a built-in alarm, LED lights with external touchpad for alarm silence and manual override. The toilets are available in round front and elongated and carry the WaterSense mark. Both models feature insulated tanks to eliminate sweating. www.libertypumps.com

HPAC | november/december 2011

hpacmag.com

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MECHANICAL SUPPLY NEWS MANUFACTURERS • diSTRibUToRS • wholESAlERS • ASSoCiATioNS Eden Energy Rings Bell At TSX Guelph, ON-based Eden Energy Equipment Limited was present to ring the bell to open the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) on November 16 as part of a Cleantech 10 and Next 10 tradition. The CEOs of companies listed on the preeminent list of Canadian public and private Cleantech companies have opened the TSX following the unveiling of the list since its inception five years ago. Grant Blackmore, president of Eden Energy Equipment, was invited to ring the bell because of the company’s relationship with WaterFurnace Geothermal, which was on the Corporate Knights' Cleantech 10 list for the fifth time. Eden has been North America's largest distributor of Waterfurnace’s equipment for six years. www.edenenergy.com www.waterfurnace.com

Energate Celebrates Success In Research And Development The Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology) recently presented Ottawa-based Energate Inc. with a Canadian Innovation Leader Certificate in recognition of the company’s ability to link scientific research to commercialization, jobs and economic growth. Founded in 2004, Energate Inc. makes software to help manage home energy consumption and developed smart thermostats to help monitor residential power consumption. The company's Consumer Connected Demand Response (CCDR) platform controls home energy use via the Internet, while giving consumers access to smart meter data. This web-based portal enables Canadians to program thermostats remotely to manage home comfort and energy use. Energate Inc. has received $575,000 in financial contributions from the National Research Council of Canada's Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP). “The team at Energate has developed market leading Home Energy Management and Smart Grid technology now commercially deploying across North America,” said Niraj Bhargava, CEO of Energate Inc. “We are proud of our Canadian headquarters and R&D operations that have successfully leveraged the Canadian Government R&D support through NRC-IRAP. We are appreciative for their continuing support.” www.energate.ca

Xylem Completes Spinoff Xylem has begun operations as a $3.2 billion standalone global water technology company following its spinoff from ITT Corp. Xylem's products and services address the full cycle of water and include product brands, such as Bell 52

HPAC | november/december 2011

Toby Heaps (l), CEO of Corporate Knights with Grant Blackmore, president of Eden Energy Equipment.

and Gossett, Flojet, Flygt, Godwin and Goulds Water Technologies. "I'm extremely proud to announce the launch of a unique company, the product of more than 100 years of experience in the water business and the collective work and expertise of our nearly 12,000 employees and our strategic partners around the world," Xylem president and CEO Gretchen McClain said. Xylem serves a $30 billion segment of the global water equipment and services market through a distribution network consisting of a direct sales force and independent channel partners. www.xyleminc.com

Wolf Steel HVAC Division In Full Swing Wolf Steel Ltd. recently held a ribbon cutting ceremony at its Barrie, ON production facility where it officially announced a number of corporate initiatives. These included the launch of a Heating & Cooling division and the 9600 – its new ultra-high efficiency gas furnace lineup. To accommodate the growth of its product lines, the company is adding another 300,000 sq. ft. to its production facility and will be creating 200 direct and indirect new jobs over the next five years. Robert (Bob) Emmell has been named North American HVAC sales manager for the new division. He brings over 17 years of progressive sales management experience to the position, beginning his career as a territory manager and moving up to the vice president of sales and customer service for Selkirk Canada Corporation before joining Wolf Steel. www.napoleanheatingandcooling.com continued on page 54 hpacmag.com

Think of it as a 50-storey hose. Get a convenient and reliable rooftop water source when you specify the Woodford RHY2-MS roof hydrant.

Engineered for quality and durability, the Woodford RHY2-MS is perfect for washing down cooling towers, cleaning condenser coils or providing water for window washers and other types of roof equipment. The hydrant support allows for installation flexibility, while its unique mounting system secures above and below the roof deck, providing exceptional strength and security. It also comes with a 2-degree shim for pitch adjustment. Featuring ASSE 1052 backflow prevention and Woodfordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s freezeless technology, the RHY2-MS makes getting water on the roof easier than ever before. For more information, visit WoodfordMfg.com.

The choice of professionals.

< MSN

continued from page 52

CLIPS >> Thomas & Betts is on a mission to find the three oldest Reznor unit heaters that are still operational. If you find one of them, you could win up to $3,000. The contest is open to any licensed HVAC contractor who submits an entry by January 31, 2012. For complete details, go to www.RezSpec.com/123.

>> Industrial Pipe, Valves

contractors and plumbers who have clients looking for more upscale products in a territory where we are not present." The operations of Proulx continue in their current form and staff remains in place. Jon Leeson, vice president and general manager of Deschenes’ subsidiary, Desco Plumbing and Heating Supply, recently announced the purchase of Ridler Heating and Cooling Supply Co., which is headquartered in Guelph, ON. The Ridler operation is continuing to with its current structure. Contact numbers and locations remaining unchanged. www.desco.ca

& Fittings Council (IPVF) chairman Brian Pinnock with George Sarris, chief engineer, building operations, Maple Leaf Sports + Entertainment during the recent IPVF networking lunch and Air Canada Centre tour. www.ciph.com

>> Centon is now representing HeatLink in Ontario, excluding the Ottawa, Kingston and Thunder Bay areas. www.centonsales.com

MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS

>> Pro Kontrol recently held a one-year anniversary

>> Deschênes & Fils Ltée has acquired Plomberium

celebration for its Dartmouth, NS, location at the Saraguay House at the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron in Halifax, NS. Pro Kontrol Dartmouth is located at 100 Wright Avenue, Unit 10, Dartmouth, NS, B3B 1L2, tel. 902.482.5788. www.prokontrol.com

Proulx & Fils, a plumbing product retail store and showroom located in Mascouche, QC. A family business, Proulx was founded in 1979. According to François Deschênes, "The addition of Proulx and his experienced staff will help Deschênes Montreal to better serve the

DISTRIBUTION NEWS

PEOPLE

Nichols

Leland Nichols has joined Rinnai America Corporation as senior vice president of sales. Previously, Nichols held positions with Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation, Kohler and several tool manufacturers.

Mel Sauvé has been appointed business development manager with Superior Radiant Products Ltd. (SRP) With over 30 years experience selling engineered products in Canadian, the U.S. and international markets, his first priority will be U.S. market expansion. Ajita Rajendra, who is president and chief operating officer of A.O. Smith, was recently named chairman of the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI).

Emerson Climate Technologies has named Birch Taylor as vice president and general manager of distribution services. Taylor replaces Mark Gibson whose 38-year Emerson career includes leading the distribuTaylor tion services business for more than 10 years. Gibson will be moving to an executive-level sales position in Emerson Climate Technologies Retail Solutions business. Wolseley Canada has appointed Gilles Pétrin to its board of directors. Pétrin, who is Wolseley's vice president, eastern region, has held various leadership roles within the company, including vice president and general manager of its eastern mechanical group, and general sales manager of plumbing for Quebec and Atlantic Mechanical.

Sylvain Claireaux has joined Ouellet Canada Group Inc., as vice president of finance.

Claireaux 54

HPAC | november/december 2011

McPherson

Blanco Canada Inc. has appointed Wendy McPherson as the company’s national sales manager where she will be responsible for the development and implementation of Blanco’s annual sales plan and management of the company’s sales force. hpacmag.com

S U O D N E M E R T ’s HPAC

TOOL

TAKE-AWAY IS BACK!

At the 2010 CMX/CIPHEX tradeshow, Francis Bourgeois of Gatineau walked away with thousands of dollars in FREE tools courtesy of HPAC’s Great Tool Take-away contest! At the upcoming 2012 event we’ll have even more tools up for grabs. Visit www.hpacmag.com to check out the tools and visit the suppliers’ websites at the same time. You can also print out your ballot and bring it to the HPAC booth at top of the escalators. Good Luck – see you at the show!

For your chance to win $1000s worth of products come to CMX/CIPHEX in Toronto MARCH 22-24, fill out a ballot at the HPAC booth and you’re in! Visit www.cmxciphexshow.com for show details

< Photovoltaics

Using Photons to Pump Electrons The basics of a modern solar electrical system. BY JohN SIEGENthAlER

ccasionally, I like to write about something not involving pipes, circulators, and valves. Do not get me wrong - I’m still as passionate as ever about hydronics. So much so that I am constantly stressing my belief that modern hydronic technology is the “glue” that holds nearly all thermally-based renewable energy systems together. The future of hydronics technology will be increasingly linked with renewable energy heat sources. In several HPAC articles I have discussed this linkage by showing how to leverage the advantages of modern hydronics to enhance the performance of renewable energy heat sources such as solar collectors, solid-fuel boilers, and ground source heat pump systems. That being said, it is good for energy professionals to occasionally look beyond their daily “bread-and-butter” systems. Doing so creates a broader understanding of the overall energy market. What happens in that broader market is highly likely to effect what you do in years to come. It might even change your career path.

30 YEARS MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE When I first entered the solar energy industry in 1978, photovoltaics - the technology for directly converting sunlight into electricity - was in its infancy. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was using early generation photovoltaic panels to power spacecraft. In fact, NASA 56

HPAC | november/december 2011

was about the only entity that could afford photovoltaic technology at its nominal $1,000/watt price at that time. In the late 70s and early 80s, residential photovoltaic systems were mostly for spirited owners of off-grid homes who were willing to adapt their lives around very austere allocations of electricity. Back then, the phrase “solar energy system” usually implied use of solar energy for some type of heating. During the last two decades the relative market size for solar thermal versus solar photovoltaic systems has reversed itself. Today, the 800-pound gorilla of renewable energy is grid-connected solar photovoltaic systems. Modern photovoltaic systems consist of an array of photovoltaic (PV) modules that convert sunlight into DCelectricity. Although entire books have been written to describe how the photovoltaic process works, it can be loosely described as follows: Sunlight can be thought of as tiny “packets of energy” called photons. When these photons collide with electrons near the surface of a silicon PV cell, they knock those electron loose from their atoms. A permanent electric field within the cell immediately sweeps these liberated electrons to the top of the cell. This creates a slight voltage (about 0.5 volts) between the top and bottom of the cell. By connecting many PV cells in series to create a PV module, and then wiring several PV modules in hpacmag.com

FURTHER RESISTANCE WAS FUTILE About three years ago, my wife and I had an opportunity to do something we had been planning for over 20 years. We finally had a two-kilowatt (kW) grid-connected solar photovoltaic system installed on the south-facing roof of our “barn.” A number of factors created the “perfect storm” that finally persuaded us to move ahead on this. First, the barn’s roof was planned to someday have a solar array added to it. It is unshaded, faces directly south, and has a slope of 45 degrees - within a couple of degrees of the slope that yields maximum annual solar radiation at our latitude. Second, New York State now has “net metering laws” that allow any surplus electrical energy produced by a solar PV system (as well as other renewable energy technologies) to be fed back into the local utility for full retail credit. This eliminates the need for batteries in a grid-connected PV system. In essence, the utility grid now acts as a free, 100 per cent efficient, and almost infinite capacity “AC-battery” for surplus electrical output. The customer can put energy into the grid and take energy out of the grid at the same rate. They only pay for the “net” usage on a monthly basis. Finally, the combination of state and federal tax credits, along with other local incentives, made the financials too hpacmag.com

Figure 1 Grid-connect solar PV system array of photovoltaic modules! (2 series "strings" of 6 module each shown) high voltage DC conductors! (in conduit)

DC-to-AC! inverter DC! disconnect

outside inside

series, the relatively low voltage of each cell can add up to several hundred volts for the overall series string. This high voltage DC power is then processed through an electronic device called an inverter to create 60-hertz AC power, which is synchronized to the local utility signal. It is then able to offset utility supplied power in a home or other building. The basic layout of a grid-connect solar PV system is shown in Figure 1. The last 30 years have produced many improvements in grid-connected solar photovoltaic technology. These improvements have pushed the technology to where arrays of solar PV modules are now a commonly recognized feature on (or adjacent to) many North American buildings. The inflation-adjusted price of solar PV modules on a dollar per watt basis has dropped to about 1/9 of what it was in the early 80s. The cost of small grid-connected PV systems in 2010 was about 55 per cent of their cost just 10 years ago and costs continue to drop as the market grows. The life expectancies for current generation PV modules are approaching 30 years. As with other electronics, inverter technology has also transitioned from analog to digital. Modern inverters are sophisticated devices with a host of safety, control, and data logging features. Their ultra efficient circuits can transform 95 to 98 per cent of the incoming DC power into high quality AC output.

utility utility! meter

AC! production! meter

outside inside breaker! panel

20 amp double pole breaker

Two kW system on south-facing roof. good to pass up. Our final cost for the installed system, after rebates and credits, was around $5,900, about 1/3 of the initial installation cost. The system was impeccably installed, professionally inspected and came with a five year warranty on all materials and labour. To date, I have been very pleased with the performance of our two kW system. The only “maintenance” I have done is to occasionally remove snow from the array using a snow rake after a winter storm. In its first year of operation the system produced about 2,300 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity, almost exactly what the installer predicted for an average year. Our current price for electricity is about 13 cents per kWh. If one assumes this price will inflate at four per cent per year, the payback on this system is 14.8 years. Obviously we can only speculate on how fast the cost of electricity will actually increase, so the actual payback is yet to be determined. However, given the condition of current global energy markets, I expect the price curve is only going to get steeper in the future.

MORE OF A GOOD THING Based on our very positive experience with this system, I began thinking about where more PV modules could fit on the property. It is what I do when not writing about hydronics or drawing piping schematics. I kept looking at a steeply-sloped lawn area behind a continued on page 58 november/december 2011 | HPAC

< Photovoltaics

continued from page 57

fence. For years this bank had been difficult and somewhat dangerous to mow. Fortunately, it just happened to face directly south and was completely unshaded from sunrise to sunset. Instead of covering it with shrubs to eliminate the mowing, which was our initial plan), we decided to “plant it” with another PV array. We had the same company come back to install a four kW rated ground mount array. It has twice as many of the same PV modules as the original roof-mounted system. These modules are wired together in three series circuits of eight modules each. These circuits feed another inverter that ties directly to a 20 amp double pole breaker in the main panel (shown centre right). The second system went online October 1, 2009 and it has been running like a champ. When the photo (top right) was taken in early January, the outdoor temperature was about 5F, the wind was blowing and the inverter was showing 4,080 watts of power output! If it performs above its rated maximum power output in January, imagine what it will do in during sunny summer months. This is where things get a bit non-intuitive for us “thermal types.” Being semiconductor devices, PV cells love it cold. The cooler the cells are, the lower their electrical resistance and the greater their power output (for a given level of solar intensity). Anything you can do to keep them cool, such as installing the array in a windy location, or ensuring good air flow along the back of roof-mounted modules, will increase energy yield. From what I have observed, these systems produce their greatest energy output on sunny fall and spring days when the combination of solar intensity and somewhat cooler ambient temperature is apparently optimal. Too bad solar thermal collectors do not behave this way.

Ground mount array.

Inverter ties directly to 20 amp double pole breaker.

WhAt’S IN It FoR YoU? So why should you, a hydronic heating pro, care about solar PV Systems? For starters, some of the installation hardware and methods used to mount solar PV modules is easily adaptable to solar thermal collectors. The image on the right shows the rear side of our ground mounted PV array. The vertical steel posts are 2”, schedule 40, galvanized steel posts, with a single helical auger welded to one end. These are installed by a small hydraulically-driven machine that literally screws them into the ground as shown on page 56. Before installation, each steel post is covered by a loose-fitting green plastic sleeve, which prevents surrounding soil from freezing to the posts and discourages frost lift. This is a very simple but effective detail. The remaining ground frame is a collection of more twoinch galvanized steel pipe, aluminum fittings, braces, and 58

HPAC | november/december 2011

Rear view of ground mounted PV array. hpacmag.com

stainless steel fasteners. The finished frame is simple, strong and completely maintenance free. This hardware could easily be used to support an array of solar thermal collectors when the next opportunity presents itself. A grid-connected PV system, net metering and a geothermal heat pump supplying a hydronic distribution system is an intriguing combination. Surplus energy generated by the PV system can be “banked” back to the utility from spring, through summer, and into fall, when heating loads are small, and cooling is not required. This energy can then be pulled back from the utility from fall through winter and into spring when the ground source heat pump is supplying heat. Net metering allows this with no penalty for “storing”

the energy for a few months. The inherent distribution effiAlthough most of us earn our living using pipes, circulators and other hydronic components, it is good to have some basic knowledge of other energy systems that will inevitably cross our paths in the future. I encourage you to read up on solar photovoltaic systems. You already know how to pump water – it is time to discover more about pumping electrons. <> John Siegenthaler, P.E. is the author of Modern Hydronic Heating. The third edition of this book is now available. Visit www.hydronicpros.com for reference information and software to assist in hydronic system design.

THE SOURCE

Advertisers in this issue

Adrian Steel ......................... (800) 677-2726 ............. www.adriansteel.com ................................................ page 40 Airia ..................................... (855) 247-4200 ............. www.lifebreath.com ................................................... page 34 Beckett................................ (800) 665-6972 ............. www.beckettcanada.ca .............................................. page 42 Boshart ................................ (800) 561-3164 ............. www.boshart.com ..................................................... page 20 Brant Radiant Heaters .......... (800) 387-4778 ............. www.brantradiant.com ............................................... page 20 Bryan Steam ........................ (765) 473-6651 ............. www.bryanboilers.com ............................................... page 44 Carrier ................................. 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(816) 796-3900 ............. www.watcomfg.com ................................................... page 10 Watts ................................... (888) 208-8927 ............. www.wattscanada.ca ........................................... page 18, 64 Woodford Mfg. ...................... (800) 621-6032 ............. www.woodfordmfg.com .............................................. page 53 Xylem .................................. (519) 821-1900 ............. www.completewatersystems.com/brands/bell-gossett . page 63 hpacmag.com

november/december 2011 | HPAC

< FinanCE

Barter:

What Good Is Cash, Anyway?

ere is a story. An artist hires a HVAC company to come to her home and fix her furnace. She is told the charge will be $500. At that point, she offers to do a portrait in exchange for the work on the furnace. The owner of the company accepts. They shake hands, make the deal and the painting later graces the living room of the businessmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s daughter. How long has this been going on? The answer is forever. Hunters once traded meat to gatherers of wild vegetables. Barter predates money. It predates countries. It predates written language. And it goes without saying that bartering predates Revenue Canada and the invention of tax codes. Some industries use barter as a fundamental engine of commerce. A hotel association on a Caribbean island might offer several million dollars in hotel rooms to a media broker. The broker then obtains print and radio space in exchange for the rooms, which can be sold along with more advertising to a vacation packager. These trades can be large and complicated. They are often created among three or four parties, or more, and an agreement would have to be reached among all the parties before the trade is initiated. But in another way, these exchanges are very easy. The hotels need advertising and customers. Radio and magazines sell one thing, advertising. The vacation packager needs advertising and discounted hotel rooms. And the customers will pay for the hotel rooms with money making the circle of value exchange complete. And all these companies need the same things over and over again. So barter is an obvious solution for them. But that is not the kind of barter the owner of a small busi60

HPAC | november/december 2011

ness would be likely to get involved in. A small business person might engage in an informal trade like the example of the artist and the portrait. One-off exchanges happen all the time among willing parties. But for barter to matter to your business it has to be formalized. The way that is done is to join a barter network. Will barter make sense for you? Maybe. But then again, maybe not. Barter networks bring together companies that want to increase their sales by going the exchange route. In effect they create a club whose members trade with one another. You buy services from a club member paying with barter credits. You get barter credits by selling your services to other club members. Running clubs like this requires bookkeeping, since the network has to keep track of your sales and purchases to confirm your barter credit balance. Typically you might expect to pay fiveto 10 per cent of the value of your trading to the network itself. That payment will be made in money, not credits, which raises an interesting point. If credits are so good, why wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t the network take them? The problem is barter credits are not really equal to money. Money has two important attributes that barter credits do not share. First, money is a universal medium of exchange. Walk into any store, and every product is for sale for a price in money (not chickens, or carrots, or camera lenses or barter credits). The great thing about money is its exchangeability. Whatever you do for a living, you get paid in something that you can exchange for what you want. That is what makes money one of the magnificent inventions of humanity. hpacmag.com

Photo:Thinkstock

BY HANK BULMASH

Second, money is also a store of value. If you do not want to buy something with it today, you can put your money into a bank and earn interest. Although money may decline in value due to inflation, that decline is relatively controlled. And as long as our system of government continues, our money will continue to retain value and it will also continue to remain a medium of exchange. So you can put your money under your mattress knowing you will be able to spend it in five or 10 years from now. Barter credits are neither a universal medium of exchange nor a safe store of value. With barter credits you can only buy from network members. You cannot put your credit into the bank (no interest there). Nor should you save your credits under your mattress because the network might go out of business. You will want to redeem your credits right away. In other words, selling for credits is not a great business model. But it might work for a small percentage of your sales. You can visit the website of the network to see what kinds of goods and services are for sale there. You should also check out prices, since vendors tend to ask high retail prices for exchange sales. There is no benefit in their discounting their services since they are selling to consumers limited in their ability to go elsewhere. While you are online, you might visit the Canada Revenue

Agency (CRA) website. Ah yes. CRA is very interested in barter. Revenue Canada treats barter credits as though they were money (even though they clearly are not). GST and HST are charged on barter sales. Revenue and expenditures using barter credits are recognized for tax purposes at full face value. The problem with this is that if you end the year with $1,000 profit in barter profits, you are expected to pay tax on it although you will have a limited ability to spend those credits. And you will have to collect full HST on your barter sales since you will owe that money to CRA. So while barter can provide you with additional sales opportunities, the benefits of those sales can be mixed. You may provide services to a purchaser who will pay you in credits that you have no use for. And you may find yourself involved in annoying negotiations with customers you really do not want, because they do not intend to spend money on your service. So...before leaping in, reflect. The water may be cold. <> Hank Bulmash, CA, MBA, is senior partner with Bulmash Cullemore Chartered Accountants and is president of its consultant subsidiary BusinessLab Inc. E-mail Hank at hbulmash@ bulmashcullemore.com.

Training

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS CANADA Dollars to $ense Energy Management Workshops

GeoExchange Training

Natural Resources Canada's Office of Energy Efficiency is once again offering workshops focusing on improving efficiency, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and lowering operation costs. http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca

Developed by the Canadian GeoExchange Coalition (CGC), the three-day training program is intended for those involved with the installation of residential geothermal systems. skilltech@hrai.ca

CMCEF National Seminar Program Canadian Hydronics Council Certification The Canadian Hydronics Council has issued the schedule for the Two-Day Introduction to Hydronic Heating Installations Course and an Intermediate Course. www.ultimatecomfort.ca

The Canadian Mechanical Contracting Education Foundation program includes: commissioning, inventory management, estimating and project management. www.cmcef.org

LEED Canada Training

HRAI SkillTech Academy

Skilltech Academy has released its 2011/2012 national course schedule. Becoming an HRAI member can save you approximately $150 when registering for a SkillTech Academy training program. www.hrai.ca

TECA's Quality First Training To register for the Thermal Environmental Comfort Association's (TECA) Quality First training courses, visit www.teca.ca or call 604-594-5956.

hpacmag.com

fOR INDUSTRy EvENTS SEE PAgE 62 november/december 2011 | HPAC

CALENDAR 2012

FOR THE LATEST EVENT NEWS SEE HPAC'S NEWSLETTER @ HPACMAG.COM AHR EXPO January 23-25 The International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition will be held at McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago, IL. www.ahrexpo.com

Buildex Vancouver February 8-9

Green Development: Sustainable Buildings & Infrastructure February 2-3 Slated for the Vancouver Convention Centre-West Building, Vancouver, BC, this conference will provide advice on the current state of green infrastructure and the anticipated impact of future developments. www.pbli.com

Held at the Vancouver Convention Centre, Buildex offers a comprehensive seminar program in addition to the trade show. www.buildexvancouver.com

European Pellet Conference February 29-March 1

National Home Show March 16-25

CMX-CIPHEX March 22-24

This event in Wels, Austria provides information on pellet innovation, technology and market trends. www.wsed.at

The National Home Show, presented by RE/MAX, is Canada's largest and longest running consumer show. It is held at the Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place in Toronto, ON. www.nationalhomeshow.com

The National Trade Show and Forum will be held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, North Building. www.cmxciphexshow.com

Kitchen & Bath Industry Show April 24-26 KBIS 2012 will be held in Chicago, IL, at McCormick Place. www.kbis.com

MEET May 2-3

CIPH Ontario Region Conference May 25-27

The Mechanical Electrical Electronic Technology Exhibition will be held at the Moncton Coliseum Complex in Moncton, NB. www.masterpromotions.ca/meet-2012

True Blue Sustainability is the theme of the Canadian Institute of Plumbing & Heating Ontario Region Conference at Blue Mountain Resort in Collingwood, ON. www.ciph.com

Canada Green Building Council Summit June 5-7 The CaGBC is returning to Montreal for its 2012 National Conference & Expo. The event will be held at Le Palais des congrĂ¨s. www.cagbc.org/canadahouse

Cleaner Heat June 12-13

CIPH AGM June 24-27

The Canadian Oil Heat Association will hold its conference at the Fairmont Tremblant Resort in Mont-Tremblant, QC. www.coha.ca

The Canadian Institute of Plumbing & Heating will hold its annual general meeting at the Fairmont Chateau Montebello in Montebello, QC. www.ciph.com

Intersolar North America July 9-12

HRAI Annual Meeting & Conference Chillventa October 9-11 August 24-27

More than 22,000 visitors are expected to attend this solar industry exhibition and conference at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, CA. www.intersolar.us

The Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI) will hold its 44th annual meeting at the Halifax Marriott Harbourfront in Halifax, NS. www.hrai.ca

CIPHEX West November 7-8 Western Canada's largest trade show for plumbing, hydronics, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration and water treatment products will be held at the Vancouver Convention Centre (West Building) in Vancouver, BC. www.ciphexwest.ca

The International Trade Fair For Refrigeration, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Heat Pumps in Nuremburg, Germany, includes a congress program on October 8. www.chillventa.de/en/

HVAC Cold Climate Conference November 12-14

MCA Canada National Conference November 12-15

The 7th International HVAC Cold Climate Conference will be held in Calgary, AB. www.ashrae.org/ ColdClimate

The Mechanical Contractors Association of Canada is heading to Maui, Hawaii for its 71st annual conference. www.mcac.ca

HPAC | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2011

Greenbuild November 14-16 Greenbuild International Conference & Expo will be held in San Francisco, CA. www.greenbuildexpo.org

HPACMAG.COM

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