HPAC February 2023

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CONTENTS

FEATURES

10 COVER STORY PLUMBING

SERVICING FOOD SERVICE

Restaurants provide a great source of repeatable business for plumbing pros.

By Doug Picklyk

14

PLUMBING

GREASE INTERCEPTOR - DO'S AND DON'TS

Helpful tips to reinforce the importance of proper installation, disposal and ongoing maintenance.

By Logan Caswell

51 HVAC

COMFORT AND EFFICIENCY: CAN WE HAVE BOTH?

Functional airflow is essential to achieving whole home comfort with forced air.

By Ian McTeer

56

REFRIGERATION

AMMONIA … THE REFRIGERANT

When used in large volumes as a refrigerant, this naturally-occurring gas requires the utmost in safety.

By Dave Demma

CONTENTS

ALSO INSIDE

MODERN HYDRONICS

MH6

INDUSTRIAL AIR-TO-SLAB

Combining air-to-water heat pumps with a heated floor slab in suitable industrial spaces, a solution with no buffer tank required.

By John Siegenthaler

MH12

PROJECT

CONDO RETROFIT

Toronto condo buildings replace aircooled chiller with heat pumps to provide cooling and offset heating load.

By Doug Picklyk

MH18

SNOW MELT WEATHER OR NOT?

Connecting controls to the internet to improve snow melt efficiency.

By Curtis Bennett

MH

MH20

WOOD STOVE

HYDRONIC ADVENTURES IN RURAL ONTARIO

Combining open-loop and closed-loop systems to provide efficient heat.

By Paul O’Connor

MH26

NEW PRODUCT SHOWCASE

MH27

MODERN HYDRONICS SUMMIT 2023

Don’t miss the return of Siggy & The Bean (John Siegenthaler and Robert Bean) on stage in Coquitlam September 21.

MH28

RENEWABLE ENERGY

LOW TEMPERATURE RECIRCULATION

Strategies for incorporating renewable energy thermal storage with DHW.

By John Siegenthaler

CUT THE CORD AND KEEP ON WORKING

Gen-Eye X-POD Plus®

Now you can inspect drain lines far from a power source. The Gen-Pack battery adapter allows up to 12 hours of remote operation with limited access to power. The Gen-Pack is also sold separately.

But wait, there’s more. You can now record onto a ash drive or send the recording to your customers with the built-in Wi-Fi transmitter. Also, you can track just how far the camera has traveled down the line with the on-screen distance counter.

NEW Gen-Pack™ Battery Adapter.

For more information, visit www.drainbrain.com/XPodPlus, or call the Drain Brains ® at 800-245-6200

SOCIAL INSPIRATION

SPENDING TIME ON SOCIAL MEDIA CAN BE ADDICTIVE, NO QUESTION, AS YOU SCROLL THROUGH ENDLESS PHOTOS AND VIDEOS, often laughing and “liking” what you see. As a viewer, the time spent is pure entertainment, but it can also be informative, educational and actually useful. For some people today, social media is their main source for news, and it can also play a significant role in how they form opinions on certain subjects.

In late January of this year, the Ontario chapter of the Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating (CIPH) hosted a lively panel discussion addressing the business of digital and social media and why it’s important to the plumbing and heating industry.

The panel included two plumbers, Adam Gordon (@gordonbotplumbing), director of mechanical services for Orella Group in Burlington, Ont. who has over 5,500 followers on Instagram, and Terence Chan (@the_impetus) owner of Impetus Plumbing & Heating in Vancouver, a social media influencer with over 30,300 followers on Insta.

Gordon explained, that when he started his plumbing career he was looking for mentors, so he started following plumbers on Instagram, and now he’s taken on the role of sharing his experiences to mentor others in the trade.

For Chan, he got started by simply documenting his experiences as a plumber through his social channels, and now his social media activity has evolved into a daily upload of educational and entertaining content.

Gordon and Chan both agree that sharing educational photos or stories is what performs well for them and grows their audiences. “For us, a lot of Instagram and TikTok educational videos are the content that performs the best, specifically showing the products and tools we use,” says Chan.

Thus the term social media influencer gets used for this reason. Viewers are most engaged when they are being educated, and for plumbing and heating pros learning about new tools and products from others in the field can be very influential.

Another one of the panelists was Taylor Learmont (@littletfitness) a Torontobased personal trainer with over 1.1 million followers on Instagram. Learmont had lessons to share for companies seeking to grow their own social following, her advice: collaborate with others (i.e. influencers) to expand your reach and grow your own following.

Speaking to a room filled primarily with manufacturers, agents and distributers to the plumbing and heating industry, the message was to partner with the influencers already out there to grow your brand or your business.

While the influencers on the panel noted that they do work with brands, Chan stated clearly that remaining authentic and just being himself is very important to growing and maintaining his audience. Social media can get complicated when it comes to social marketing.

So, why is social media important for the industry? It's giving a direct channel for those in the field to share their knowledge. But as you're scrolling, be sure to look for authenticity in the recommendations, and be sure to like and follow those influencers who are doing their part to make the industry better.

– Doug Picklyk, Editor

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NATIONAL ACCOUNTS

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PRESIDENT/COO

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ASHRAE RELEASES BUILDING PERFORMANCE STANDARDS GUIDE AND UPDATES ENERGY EFFICIENCY STANDARD 90.1-2022

ASHRAE has timed the launch of its redesigned building decarbonization webpage along with the release of a new Building Performance Standards Technical Resource Guide.

The first in a series of seven guidebooks by ASHRAE on building decarbonization, this guide focuses on reducing building operating energy use and resulting emissions in existing commercial and multifamily buildings.

Jointly developed by ASHRAE, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and its national laboratories, the Building Performance Standards guide is meant to provide the information needed to make informed policy design decisions that drive deeper existing building decarbonization, and it was created to provide a technical basis for practitioners, building owners, policymakers and other stakeholders interested in developing and implementing their own Building Performance Standards policy.

Topics covered in the guide include: building performance metrics and termi -

nology; performance targets; major policy considerations; along with analysis methods for policy design.

In addition, the ASHRAE Task Force For Building Decarbonization (TFBD) webpage includes technical resources, information, videos and publications to expedite the adoption of climate change mitigation policies.

It also reaffirms the Society’s goals stated in the ASHRAE Vision 2022 Report to achieve net zero GHG emissions in operation for all new buildings by 2030.

HRAI HOSTING HEAT PUMP SYMPOSIUM

The Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI), in partnership with the Ontario Geothermal Association (OGA), is hosting a one-day gathering of industry experts and policy makers on Tuesday, April 4th for its inaugural Heat Pump Symposium at the International Centre in Mississauga (near Toronto Pearson International Airport).

The event is a conference designed for HVAC/R contractors, manufacturers, and wholesalers to explore the latest technological trends, exchange knowledge, and share strategies for how the industry can grow and benefit during the transition to a low-carbon economy.

The symposium will include educational sessions, exhibitor booths along with networking opportunities. heatpumpsymposium.ca

Plus, ASHRAE released the latest version of its energy efficiency standard, 90.1-2022 – Energy Standard for Sites and Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings.

This latest version includes an optional mechanical system performance path allowing HVAC system efficiency tradeoffs based on a new total system performance ratio (TSPR) metric.

The version also includes significant efficiency increases in integrated energy efficiency ratio (IEER) for commercial rooftops and a new seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER2)/heating seasonal performance factor (HSPF2) metric for <65K sized air-cooled heat pumps.

These updates demonstrate that Standard 90.1 continues to work with industry stakeholders to drive improvements in the efficiency of HVAC equipment and processes used in buildings.

“The SEER2/HSPF2 metric change aligns performance measurement of products regulated by Standard 90.1 with the very similar and much larger market of single-phase <65K products, regulated as consumer products by the U.S. Department of Energy,” noted ASHRAE standing standard project committee 90.1 chair Don Brundage. “Other than operating on 3 phase power rather than single phase power, they are essentially the same products and should be evaluated using the same performance metric.”

The 2022 edition of Standard 90.1 incorporates over 80 addenda to the 2019 edition. Further major additions include requiring condensing boilers for new construction in order to achieve 90% or greater efficiency for large boilers (1 to 10 million Btu/h). The thermal efficiency requirements for high-capacity gas-fired service water-heating equipment were also increased.

ashrae.org/bookstore

Continued from p7

TECHNICAL SAFETY BC RELEASES RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE AMMONIA REFRIGERATION INDUSTRY

Technical Safety BC is urging owners, operators, and those who work with ammonia refrigeration systems to be more vigilant following an investigation into a fatal ammonia incident at an ice making facility in the Mount Paul Industrial Park located on Tk′emlúps te Secwépemc reserve in Kamloops, B.C.

The incident on May 26, 2022, led to a significant amount of ammonia being released into the surrounding area resulting in one fatality, multiple exposures, a local evacuation, and the temporary shutdown of nearby businesses.

Technical Safety BC’s incident investigation report found the primary cause of the incident was a failure to remove ammonia from the existing refrigeration

system ahead of its disassembly.

The investigation concluded that the ammonia release occurred when a ball valve holding back pressurized ammonia for the entire system was opened. However, those working on the disassembly understood the system had been previously emptied.

Between the initial shut down in 2015, and the incident in 2022, organizational changes, unclear communication, and incorrect assessments, were all contributing factors to the ammonia not being removed.

In addition, previously cut piping and disconnected gauges identified pieces of the system as being empty. This led to the incorrect assumption that the entire

ammonia system was empty, despite ammonia being found the day before the incident.

Based on the findings of this investigation, Technical Safety BC is sharing the learnings from this incident and is making three recommendations to seek improvements relating to the roles and responsibilities when dismantling refrigeration systems, and for the engagement of licensed refrigeration contractors when dismantling refrigeration equipment.

The key learnings from the final report include the following:

• Leading up to the incident, workers unfamiliar with ammonia relied on the guidance of previously qualified refrigeration mechanics. This resulted in the work continuing when it likely would have otherwise been stopped.

• Only those with the necessary skills and knowledge should be conducting

activities with hazardous work. This principle applies throughout the life cycle of regulated systems, including the stage of dismantling and decommissioning.

• Licensed contractors must validate that ammonia and oil have been removed from a system and that equipment is ready for disassembly and transportation.

• The report recommends that when planning for and facilitating the final shut down and disassembly of refrigeration equipment, owners and managers directly engage a licensed contractor to validate:

a) ammonia and oil are removed; and

b) equipment is ready for safe disassembly and transportation.

It is recommended that persons who previously held, or currently hold a technical qualification do not counsel unqualified persons to do regulated work. Qualified persons are reminded that the Safety Standards Act and Regulations prohibit unauthorized persons from doing regulated work unless they are being supervised by a qualified person.

It is also recommended that Canadian Standards Association (CSA) adopt or develop requirements for the dismantling, disassembly and/or decommissioning of refrigeration systems and equipment. technicalsafetybc.ca

OSPE ISSUE IAQ REPORTS

The Ontario Society of Professional Engineers (OSPE) indoor air quality (IAQ) advisory group has published three reports on airborne COVID transmission and protective measures.

The first report, How COVID Spreads, identifies the most common route of COVID-19 transmission: airborne spread in indoor spaces. The Core Recommendations for Safer Indoor Air report outlines six steps that homeowners and building managers can take to improve indoor air quality (including ventilation and filtration techniques). The third report, Face

ENBRIDGE ADMINISTERING GREENER HOMES GRANT IN ONTARIO

As of January, 2023, homeowners in the province of Ontario have access to the federal Greener Homes Grant program through Enbridge Gas following an agreement between Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and Enbridge Gas allowing the co-delivery of the Greener Homes Grant to eligible Ontarians via Enbridge’s Home Efficiency Rebate Plus (HER+) program.

Ontario joins Quebec and Nova Scotia, which already have co-delivery agreements with the Canada Greener Homes Grant. All other provinces will continue to be serviced through the NRCan Greener Homes Grant portal. nrcan.gc.ca enbridgegas.com

Coverings for COVID-19 Prevention, offers guidance on masking. ospe.on.ca/indoor-air-quality

SIEGENTHALER LAUNCHES NEW UPDATES TO WEBSITE

Long-time HPAC magazine contributor and hydronics industry expert, John Siegenthaler, P.E., has launched a new feature-filled website:

The revamped site offers new information on the benefits of modern hydro-

nics technology, as well as links to publications and training.

Free versions of several software products for hydronic professionals can be downloaded, and full versions are available for purchase.

hydronicpros.com

SERVICING FOOD SERVICE

The restaurant business is fast and furious, operations must run like clockwork to keep services running smooth, and plumbing professionals play an essential role in avoiding disruptions that can cause delays or even lead to shut downs.

The food services industry has been hit hard in recent years. Restaurants Canada, the national association representing the food service industry, foresees only moderate growth for the sector through 2023 as its members are still recovering from nationwide lock downs and continued hesitancy from consumers to return because of the pandemic.

According to an association survey, 75% of its table-service members were

still in debt in September 2022, and of those over half (54%) said it would take at least 18 months to recover. And with growing inflation, supply chain issues and staffing shortages, margins remain very tight across the industry.

For this reason, among others, restaurants of all types need to keep their doors open and save on operating costs where they can.

For plumbers, the restaurant and hospitality industry represents an opportunity for regular service and maintenance

contracts that can help businesses avoid potential catastrophe, and plumbing and heating pros can also share their knowledge to help find efficiencies and keep operations running smoothly.

It’s also an industry that demands reliable, capable and oftentimes emergency service for items unique to the restaurant business.

GETTING IN THE DOOR

Between their constant cycle of prepping, cooking and cleaning, restaurants

Restaurants provide a great source of repeatable business for plumbing pros. BY DOUG PICKLYK

PHOTO:

“Restaurant drains, if not inspected and cleaned regularly, can lead to serious problems.”

use a lot of water, and they are notorious for what ends up going down the drain. As a standard procedure, operations require regular backflow valve check-ups, this can be a plumber's foot in the door.

Some contractors will even discount that service to get the job and place their tag on the equipment, so their name is there when the next service call is required.

When it comes to piping in a commercial kitchen, drainage is a key concern, and drains need to be installed in the proper locations to ensure adequate flow and to avoid potential bacteria growth from stagnant liquids and food debris.

Whether regular floor drains or linear trench drains, the drainage system needs to be corrosion resistant, able to handle extreme temperatures and provide ease of maintenance.

Restaurant drains, if not inspected

The Ghost Kitchen

Among the hottest trends in the food service industry is the development of ghost kitchens, also known as cloud kitchens.

These food prep operations exist to primarily service online orders and have no waitstaff, no dining room and no front of house at all.

Inspired by the rapid rise of food delivery services like Uber Eats and Skip the Dishes—services that exploded during the pandemic—ghost kitchens are physical spaces for chefs to create food for delivery by app only.

With no storefront, they can be located in low-cost industrial parks. Operating with very few staff, the kitchens do require restaurant appliances, food prep sinks, dishwashers and proper drainage requirements as per code. So, for plumbers servicing the restaurant industry, don’t be scared away by ghost kitchens.

and cleaned regularly can lead to serious problems, so regular drain cleaning contracts as a preventative maintenance service is a key opportunity for plumbers, serving like insurance for restaurants.

And then there is also the required grease interceptor/grease trap for restaurants (see sidebar, page 14). Plumbing businesses can become experts in the installation and maintenance of interceptors, with some crews

Building the future begins with electric.

even offering clean-out services.

HOT WATER DEMAND

Commercial kitchens are water hogs, and the demand for hot water is essential. With health certification requirements, if the hot water goes down an entire restaurant can be shut down.

Understanding the hot water demands of a restaurant, along with the

Continued on p12

• Capacities from 6-2,500 gallons and inputs up to 918 kW.

• High recovery rates and large storage capacity options.

• Building Management System compatibility on select models.

• No venting or fuel lines required.

• No combustion eliminates greenhouse gas emissions.

An impressive range of electric hot water solutions for every commercial project.

ability to maintain and recommend the best solution for owners, is essential.

For small quick service restaurants (QSRs) tankless solutions or small tank heaters can maximize limited space requirements. However, it’s also important to understand when and where a tankless solution is the best fit.

“Restaurants are often cramped for space, so they want to have a tankless for space savings, but the problem with tankless in some restaurants—especially if they have those dishwashers with the sprayer, which most restaurants have—is that constant on/off is really hard on them,” says Steve Goldie, a regular contributor to HPAC and a plumber for 21 years who now works on the wholesale side of the business.

While tankless water heaters provide efficiency because they're not storing hot water, he suggests the efficiency

can be compromised by the constant starting and stopping which can shorten the life-span of the equipment. Yet modern industrial, commercial, tankless systems have been developed to handle the rigorous demands of restaurant conditions.

Does electric water heating versus gas-fired appliances make a difference? Goldie suggests that sometimes electric is the only option, because a lot of restaurants are in buildings or in places where you can't get venting out for a gas appliance.

And if electric water heating is selected, be sure to check the amperage of the building, in some cases a storage tank may be required, notes Goldie. These are all considerations necessary to ensure the solution chosen will be both efficient and reliable.

And the other potential problem with

gas-fired equipment in some restaurants is a negative pressure issue, says Goldie. Because of the massive draft hoods over the cooking equipment, restaurants are always exhausting so much air they may not have enough make-up air, and that negative pressure issue can be a problem for boilers or any combustion equipment that is not seal combusted.

Restaurants also need water temperatures that can sterilize. In some cases they may require an electric booster heater in addition to the water heater, a unit they may place next to a dishwasher for example, to do the sterilization cycle—where they have to get temperatures up above 170F.

SPECIALTY SERVICES

The food service industry requires durable commercial-grade faucets and fittings for all aspects of water delivery, whether that’s in the kitchen in terms of pot fillers at the stove, pre-rinse or washdown fittings for dish prep, glass fillers in a bar area, and even handwashing faucets for staff.

In restaurants there are also many specialty machines and technologies specifically around dishwashing, glass washing, food prep station sinks and sprayers, as well as undercounter bar sinks, faucets, glass washers and dishwashers that opportunities abound.

These products all get a lot of use and require regular maintenance. “Someone who's specialized in servicing these machines, there's a ton of work for them,” says Goldie. “Because when they break

Continued on p14

The biggest change coming to the HVAC industry is recertification to UL 60335-2-40. Intertek can help manufacturers during the transition period.

“For QSRs tankless or small tank water heaters can maximize limited space requirements”

GREASE INTERCEPTOR - Do's and Don'ts

BY LOGAN CASWELL

Canadian cities spend more than $250 million annually dealing with blockages and “fatbergs” in their sewers systems. The food service industry has been doing its part to prevent fat, oil, and grease (FOG) from going down the drain, but there is still more to be done to ensure commercial kitchens, restaurants, and catering services are keeping the pipes clean.

“While our awareness of the issue is improving, without enforcement of laws, compliance is left up to the industry,” says Faith Winter, technical and standards specialist for Canplas, a business committed to rethinking grease interception.

A grease interceptor is a large FOG removal unit generally installed beneath largescale kitchen facilities that produce vast amount of grease. “Specific to the food service industry, FOG infiltration is a global problem and compounds with urban density,” explains Winter. In Canada, grease interceptors are mandated by code to be installed in every commercial business and institution that has the potential of releasing FOG into our wastewater.

Following are a few helpful do’s and don’ts to reinforce the importance of proper grease interceptor installation, grease disposal and ongoing maintenance.

DO’S

• Step one is to educate yourself with the relevant industry standards for proper installation and maintenance. “There is a base of minimum requirement in Canada that falls under the CSA B481 standard and is referenced in all Canadian provinces and harmonizes with the U.S. equivalent (ASME A112.14-2022),” notes Winter. In addition, many municipalities have bylaws that build upon the standard.

• An appropriately sized grease interceptor tank is vital to a successful installation, look for online sizing calculators.

• Install the grease interceptor in an area with easy access. According to Winter, one of the most frustrating experiences for plumbers is when the interceptor is in an location where they can't even open the lid.

• Ensure the restauranteur commits to a regular maintenance schedule.

DON’TS

It's human nature to seek faster and more efficient ways to accomplish mundane and repetitive tasks. Shortcuts shouldn’t be taken when it comes to the plumbing in a restaurant or food service establishment, and when dealing with grease interceptors.

• Avoid pouring boiling water into drains leading directly to a grease interceptor as it will liquify the grease and allow it to escape.

• Garbage disposal systems should only be installed after the grease interceptor because it causes the grease interceptor to fill with ground food material.

• Don't connect a dishwasher to the grease interceptor. Just as pouring boiling water into the grease trap liquefies the grease, so does the hot water from the dishwasher.

• Remind your clients not to use solvents to clean their grease interceptors. The systems contain enzymes that break down the fats, oils, and grease they collect. Any solvents such as bleach, drain cleaners or other chemicals can destroy the active enzymes, ruining the grease trap and risking harm to the environment.

So there you have it, some do's and don'ts to help you separate the water from the grease. Becoming a grease interceptor specialist for installation and subsequent maintenance equals a business opportunity.

down, the restaurants need them fixed right away.”

WASHROOM TRENDS

In any restaurant, the customer experience continues well beyond the design of the dining area or the quality of the table service. From retail food courts to high-end restaurants, the customer experience is impacted by the washroom, where cleanliness and overall appearance make an impression, and can have an impact on customer spending (see sidebar, p.16).

“In high-end hospitality, the washroom is as much a statement as the rest of the restaurant,” notes Will VanderBurgh, business development manager with Dobbin Sales, a master distributor for many commercial plumbing brands in the hospitality sector.

VanderBurgh focuses on the architectural and design space, and has seen recent success in the quick service restaurant segment, supplying a national hamburger chain with custom lavatories. He notes that in the QSR landscape the washrooms may not be as full featured as a fine-dining restaurant, yet they will still have the durable, easy-to-maintain faucets and fixtures with clean lines.

The focus in most public-facing washrooms is to be user friendly (for both the customer to use and restaurant staff to clean) and eco friendly (for both the impression that makes on the customer and the economics of the restaurant).

Many sources point to some common trends in washroom design within the hospitality industry, all geared to improving the customer experience:

• Sustainability: many hotels and restaurants are incorporating sustainable elements such as well-marked low-flow toilets and faucets along with natural and organic materials in the design.

• Technology integration: touchless fix-

PHOTO: BANKSPHOTOS/ISTOCK/GETTY IMAGES

tures, digital mirrors, and smart toilets are being incorporated to impress and improve the guest experience and make the washroom more efficient.

• Minimalistic design: clean design is becoming increasingly popular in washrooms, with simple lines and neutral colours creating a sense of calm and relaxation for guests.

• Wellness: restaurants are incorporating wellness elements into their washrooms, such as aromatherapy to help create a more relaxing and rejuvenating experience for guests.

• Accessibility: accessibility features to accommodate guests with disabilities is also a must.

One product that incorporates many of these washroom trends is the integrated sink systems that incorporate a hands-free soap dispenser, touchless faucet and air dryer all in one.

VanderBurgh has seen these prod -

ucts installed in a range of spaces, from higher-end retail food courts to fine dining restaurants.

The technology provides sleek convenience for the guest in a hygienic and efficient system, while overall cleanliness for the washroom improves because guests do not have to walk with

wet hands to a separate dryer or towel dispenser—so restroom floors require less cleaning.

The role of the plumber in restaurant washrooms doesn’t change too much from other public washroom facilities (or residential washrooms), where regular

Capable of handling up to 194° F gray water from multiple fixtures. Equipped with external wired control panel w/motor override buttons and power/alarm LED indicators.

2-HP alternating motors discharge gray water from commercial kitchens, washing machines, etc. Easy access to all major components while installed to ease service if needed.

Able to handle liquids with highly acidic properties as system activates with a fail-proof air pressure switch system with triple redundancy

Integrating three touch-free fixtures at the sink basin so customers can soap, wash and dry their hands without moving is an innovation that's welcome in food service industry washrooms. The AER-DEC from Sloan (pictured above) is one example of three-in-one design that keeps restrooms tidy and customers happy.

RESTROOMS INFLUENCE SPENDING

Poor restroom maintenance makes more than just a negative impression; an unclean or unpleasant restroom can be a sales inhibitor, according to the most recent Healthy Handwashing Survey conducted by Bradley Corp.

The annual survey gathered responses from 1,025 adults across the U.S. between Jan. 4-10, 2023, and it found that just over half (52%) of respondents say an unkempt restroom impacts whether or not they’ll return to the establishment again, while nearly 60% say they are likely to spend more at a business that has clean, well-maintained restrooms, and the same percent will make a point of stopping at a location that offers pleasant facilities.

The results of the survey also reveal that germ avoidance actions are very common when visiting public restrooms. Among respondents, 62% use a paper towel to avoid touching toilet flushers, faucets and door handles, and 43% operate the flusher with their foot, especially women.

It seems obvious that 82% of adults believe it is important to

maintenance and emergency service may still be the primary calls. But being aware of new modern integrated technologies and becoming familiar with their unique servicing needs can place some plumbers ahead of the competition.

have touchless fixtures in a public restroom.

“Germ avoidance and handwashing diligence are two habits that should always be a priority, and businesses can support hand hygiene by providing well-maintained restrooms,” says Jon Dommisse, vice president of marketing and corporate communication for Bradley Corp.

The food service industry, where water flow is critical, can be a very demanding sector for plumbing professionals, while also being full of potential for those who specialize in the field. <>

PHOTO: TIMAP49/ISTOCK/GETTY IMAGES

MODERN HYDRONICS

SPRING 2023

AIR-TO-SLAB LOW TEMPERATURE RECIRCULATION FORECASTING FOR SNOWMELT

HEAT PUMP DROP-IN

Toronto

condo replaces chiller with heat pumps.

MH6 INDUSTRIAL Air-to-Slab

Combining an air-to-water heat pumps with a heated floor slab in suitable industrial spaces, no buffer tank required.

By John Siegenthaler

MH12 PROJECT Condo Retrofit

Toronto condo buildings replace air-cooled chiller with heat pumps to provide cooling and offset heating load.

By Doug Picklyk

MH18 SNOW MELT Weather or Not?

Connecting to the internet to improve snow melt efficiency.

By Curtis Bennett

EDITOR

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

NATIONAL ACCOUNTS

ACCOUNT COORDINATOR

MEDIA DESIGNER

CIRCULATION MANAGER

PUBLISHER

PRESIDENT/COO

MH20 WOOD STOVE Hydronic Adventures in Rural Ontario

Combining open-loop and closedloop systems to provide efficient heat distribution.

By Paul O’Connor

MH26 NEW PRODUCT SHOWCASE

MH27 MODERN HYDRONICS SUMMIT 2023

Don’t miss the return of Siggy & The Bean (John Siegenthaler and Robert Bean) on stage in Coquitlam September 21.

MH28 RENEWABLE ENERGY Low Temperature Recirculation

Strategies for incorporating renewable energy thermal storage with DHW.

By John Siegenthaler

MODERN HYDRONICS

Doug Picklyk (416) 510-5218 DPicklyk@hpacmag.com

Logan Caswell (416) 728-6209 LCaswell@hpacmag.com

David Skene (416) 510-6884 DSkene@hpacmag.com

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Kim Rossiter (416) 510-6794 KRossiter@hpacmag.com

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Urszula Grzyb (416) 442-5600, ext. 3537 ugrzyb@annexbusinessmedia.com

Peter Leonard (416) 510-6847 PLeonard@hpacmag.com

Scott Jamieson

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AIR-TO-SLAB: AN INDUSTRIAL SOLUTION

Combining an air-to-water heat pump with a heated floor slab in suitable industrial spaces, and no buffer tank is required.

BY JOHN SIEGENTHALER

Over the last few years I have written several HPAC columns describing how air-to-water heat pumps can provide heating, cooling, and domestic hot water for homes. Many of the systems involve buffer tanks to help stabilize heat transfer from the heat pump to a zoned distribution system.

Those tanks are especially important with a single speed heat pump that supplies a highly-zoned distribution system. Without the thermal mass provided by the buffer tanks, the single speed heat pump would undergo frequent on/off cycles that ultimately leads to premature failure of components such as compressor contactors or start capacitors. Short cycling also lowers the overall efficiency of the heat pump.

The emergence of air-to-water heat pumps with inverter driven variable speed compressors allows heat output to be reduced down to about 30% of the heat pump’s rated capacity. This can reduce the size of the buffer tank—perhaps into the range of 25 to 40 gallons in typical residential systems— depending on the extent of independent zoning.

In this article I want to look at potential applications for air-towater heat pumps that could eliminate the need for a buffer tank all together.

MASSIVE ADVANTAGES

Consider all the non-residential buildings that could be served by a one- or two-zone heated floor slab. Examples include highway garages, farm shops, automobile service facilities, small aircraft hangers or RV showrooms. Workshops used for woodworking or metal fabrication often have similar heating needs. So do light manufacturing or assembly facilities with open floor plans, and warehouse areas where materials are stored on racks (rather than directly on floors) would also fall into a similar category.

The common thread here is a heated floor slab that adds lots of thermal mass to the system, combined with minimal zoning, which would keep most, if not all, of that thermal mass

“online” whenever the system is operating.

For example: a farm shop building has a 40-ft. x 80-ft. footprint. Due to the heavy equipment it’s designed to handle, the concrete slab is six inches thick, and rests on two inches of high compression strength extruded polystyrene. The thermal mass of that slab equals its volume multiplied by the heat capacity of concrete:

That’s equivalent to 5,646 gallons of water storage. Imagine a buffer tank of that volume. All that thermal storage is already in the system, as concrete rather than water.

The best way to keep that mass “online” is constant circulation through the floor circuits. Doing so also helps even out slab temperatures because it moves heat stored in the core area of the slab to the cooler areas near perimeters and just inside overhead doors.

SIMPLEST SYSTEMS

The system layout shown in Figure 1 (next page) is about as simple as it gets. A hydraulic separator connects the heat pump circuit to a manifold station supplying the floor heating circuits. Constant circulation is maintained between the hydraulic separator and the floor circuits. The heat pump and its associated circulator are turned on and off based on the supply water temperature to the manifold station.

The preferred method for determining the required “target” supply water temperature at sensor (S2) is outdoor reset control. An inexpensive controller (or perhaps the controller built into the heat pump) continually calculates the target supply water temperature based on current outdoor temperature.

When the measured supply water temperature drops 3F or 4F below the target temperature the heat pump and its circulator are turned on. They continue to run until the measured supply water temperature is 3F to 4F above the target value.

The on/off differential of 6F to 8F should allow for relatively long heat pump on-times, and off-times, while still keeping the average water temperature relatively close to the target value.

The heat pump on/off cycle times can be lengthened by widening the on/off differential setting of the reset controller.

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However, wider differential settings also increase the chances of “feeling” differences in comfort. A little experimentation with the differential settings will find the “happy spot” for each individual building and its hydronic distribution system.

Air-to-water heat pumps equipped with variable speed compressors are likely to have built-in outdoor reset capability. The compressor modulates its speed in an attempt to hold a specific outlet water temperature.

The temperature is most likely measured by a factory-installed sensor near the outlet of the heat pump. This is not ideal when the heat pump is coupled to the distribution system using any type of hydraulic separation technique.

The potential problem is differences in flow rates between the heat pump circuit and the distribution circuit. Any difference in these two flow rates sets up mixing inside the hydraulic separator.

When the load side flow rate is higher than the heat pump side flow rate, the water temperature supplied to the manifold will be less than the temperature leaving the heat pump. These two temperatures will only be the same when the two flow rates are the same.

The best solution, assuming that the outdoor reset control action is being done by the heat pump’s internal controller, is the ability for the heat pump to monitor an external temperature sensor that’s mounted downstream of the hydraulic separation point.

Sensor (S2) in Figure 1 is an example. That sensor measures the true supply temperature to the manifold, after any mixing has taken place in the hydraulic separator.

LINE THEM UP

Current generation air-to-water heat pumps designed to operate on single phase 240 VAC power, are limited to about 5 tons (60,000 Btu/h) rated heating capacity. When the design load of the building increases beyond the out-

put of such a heat pump a couple of options are possible.

One is to look at higher capacity three-phase air-to-water heat pumps. They’re available in several heating capacity ranges, some of which top out at over 200 tons. Their use is obviously dependent on the availability of three-

phase power and sufficient service entrance capacity.

The other option is to use two or more single phase heat pumps in a staged arrangement as shown in Figure 2

Some of the newest air-to-water heat pumps may have internal firmware

Figure 2. The option of using two or more single-phase heat pumps.

Figure 1

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allowing them to coordinate multiple heat pumps. If not, there are several off-the-shelf multiple boiler controllers that could be used.

As is the case with multiple boiler systems, multiple heat pumps provide better load matching, and partial capacity if one heat pump is down for servicing.

ADDED FUNCTIONALITY

Although the primary application we’re focusing on is floor heating, these heat pumps have reversing valves allowing them to supply chilled water cooling. That’s a very sellable upgrade in many of these buildings, where equipment, lighting, tools and people all generate heat, and it’s also relatively easy to accomplish using one or more chilled water air handlers. Figure 3 shows one approach.

A motorized diverter valve is shown downstream of the hydraulic separator. It routes the output stream from the heat pump to the floor slab during heating mode, or to the chilled water air handler in cooling mode.

It’s also possible to use a manually operated three-way diverter valve rather than the motorized diverter valve. That would reduce cost, but don’t forget to change the valve setting whenever switching between heating and cooling mode.

The system in Figure 3 also assumes that the same circulator that supplies the floor heating system has the flow and head capacity to supply the chilled water subsystem.

Be sure to verify this during design. If there are significant differences in the flow and head requirements it’s better to use two circulators, each sized for its specific subsystem. Doing so also eliminates the need for a diverter valve, but be sure to include check valves in each subsystem.

The air handler has much less thermal mass than the heated floor slab. Since there’s no buffer tank in the system, it’s critically important to match the cooling capacity of the air handler

with the cooling capacity of the heat pump. Match these capacities for chilled water temperatures in the range of 45F to 55F.

If the heat pump has a variable speed compressor it should be able to adjust speed as necessary to hold a target chilled water outlet temperature. This allows the cooling capacity of the air handler to be lower than the rated cooling capacity of the heat pump.

However, make sure that the air handler’s cooling capacity is not less than the cooling capacity of the heat pump when it’s operating at minimum compressor speed.

Finally, if you’re going to be doing cooling be sure that all the piping and components that convey chilled water are insulated and vapour sealed.

Domestic water heating is also a possibility, but before going in that direction be sure that the load justifies the added cost and complexity.

In many garage or shop-type buildings

the DHW load might only be one or two sinks. No showers, kitchen, washing machine, or other significant needs for hot water are present.

These light loads can be handled by small electric tankless water heaters. The small amount of electric energy they require doesn’t justify the use of an indirect tank or controls that switch the heat pump between space conditioning and DHW loads.

Garage and shop buildings may not have the “glamour” of custom residential design, but their suitability for conditioning using an air-to-water heat pump combined with slab heating is none-theless compelling.

The system design is simple, especially in comparison to what some custom residential projects might require. Keep these simple approaches in mind as electrification efforts for all types of buildings continue to present new opportunities.

John Siegenthaler, P.E., has more than 40 years of experience in designing modern hydronic heating systems and is the author of Modern Hydronic Heating (4th edition available now) and Heating With Renewable Energy (visit hydronicpros. com).

Figure 3. Incorporating cooling through a chilled water air handler.

“Chilled water cooling is a very sellable upgrade in many of these buildings ”

CONDO RETROFIT

Toronto condo buildings replace air-cooled chiller with hydronic heat pumps to provide cooling and offset heating load.

BY DOUG PICKLYK

The downtown Toronto skyline is littered with cranes popping out of high-rise towers in various stages of completion. In the third quarter of 2022 Toronto had 230 active cranes, by far the most of any city in North America (almost as many as the next 13 cities combined).

Toronto has set a goal of achieving net zero by 2040, so incentives and building code requirements are in place to minimize the greenhouse gas emissions of new towers. Yet the city is faced with retrofitting a large inventory of existing building stock, a process that’s just beginning to be addressed.

Built in 2003, a 10-storey condo located at 120 Lombard St. in the heart of

the city, is a short walk from all the bigcity attractions: shopping, dining and entertainment. “I like it, and I can’t leave because everything else is getting so expensive,” says Karima Dharssi, P.Eng., a senior electrical engineer and a resident of the building since 2010.

Dharssi is a member of the condo board and has been instrumental in spearheading energy efficiency initiatives including LED lighting retrofits and more recently the installation of new airto-water heat pumps.

CHILLER REPLACEMENT

The penthouse mechanical room on the building distributes the hydronic heating and cooling to in-suite fan coil units at

120 Lombard as well as its sister building, a separate structure at 115 Richmond St. which is connected by a shared underground parking garage.

“We had two (large atmospheric) boilers functioning as our heating system,” explains Dharssi. “A couple years ago we decided to replace one of them (with a more efficient boiler) with the intention that it would become the primary boiler and the other would only kick in during colder temperatures.”

For cooling, the buildings’ two-pipe system switched in the summer months to be fed by a 110-ton air-cooled chiller. In the fall of 2021 the condo board, faced with replacing its nearly 20-year-old chiller, approved the purchase of air-to-

This 110-ton air-cooled chiller was replaced with 55-ton air-to-water heat pump

water heat pumps to provide the cooling requirements of the buildings while also offsetting some heating capacity away from the remaining gas-fired boiler.

A FIRST IN CANADA

The condo committee selected Italianmanufactured air-to-water heat pumps from Climaveneta, a brand of Mitsubishi Electric. They represent the first field installation of this technology in Canada.

To meet the cooling capacity, two heat pump units were required, a 55-ton unit that fits in the space previously occupied by the chiller and an additional 65ton heat pump unit is being located on the rooftop.

According to Chris DesRoches, P. Eng., applied product manager – HVAC division with Mitsubishi Electric Sales Canada, applications like this will become more common going forward. “Air-

to-water heat pumps make sense in this class of building as a retrofit product –it’s like a chiller-plus,” says DesRoches. “Instead of replacing a chiller like-forlike when it’s at end of life, we’re going to see more people upgrading to the heat pump and put it to work in the winter months, when you would normally be shutting down the chiller.”

After the condo board accepted the heat pump solution, the engineering design revealed necessary additional costs including upgrades to the electrical connections (a larger breaker to protect the system and a transformer to convert the voltage) and new structural supports on the rooftop for the larger unit. Fortunately, the unique aspects of this project appealed to a Toronto-based environmental agency who were able to lend some financial support.

TAF COMES ON BOARD

The Atmospheric Fund (TAF) is a nonprofit climate agency seeking scalable low-carbon solutions for broad implementation across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA).

Keith Burrows, senior manager low carbon buildings at TAF, was contacted about the 120 Lombard project. “Our mandate is emissions reduction, and as part of that work we’ve been doing retrofits of multi-unit residential buildings for over a decade,” says Burrows. His team takes the lessons they’ve learned and offer retrofit services through what they call the Retrofit Accelerator.

Their services include funding support, project management, measurement and verification (m&v), and follow up. The services are offered for free to multi-unit residential building owners

Continued on MH14

who are looking at retrofits targeting emissions reduction of 40% or more.

The 120 Lombard project fit their criteria, and TAF partnered with the condo board, providing a financial contribution to keep the endeavour on track. The agency is also supplying project delivery support, resident engagement, and m&v services.

“We are keen to see this technology implemented and determine how effective it can be,” says Burrows. TAF is partnering with the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority's Sustainable Technologies Evaluation Program (STEP) energy team who will perform the detailed monitoring.

“We’re confident the system will perform, but we’re going to verify this with hard data and we’re going to report on our findings as part of a case study,” says Burrows.

Part of the measurements include monitoring temperature and relative humidity in 22 suites across the two buildings. The team also conducted pre-retrofit surveys with residents to get a qualitative assessment of how they experience their indoor space and comfort, and they will follow-up with another survey in about a year to assess how the change is affecting the residents.

MECHANICAL ROOM REDESIGN

Before the heat pumps arrived the team at Prestige Mechanical, specialists in the Toronto high-rise residential market, was brought in to prepare for the installation.

“If it would have been a like-for-like install with a replacement chiller, it would have been simply cut the pipes and reconnect,” says Bradley Welch, estimator with Prestige. Instead, the team had to rework the entire mechanical room and create new piping loops and connections to suit the new heat pump system.

“The biggest challenge with this project was actually the logistics—it was a very small mechanical room in the penthouse,” says Welch. “A lot of thought

and planning went into different ways to support and mount equipment and piping while keeping floor space for walkways and paths for serviceability.”

First, the team demolished the old atmospheric boiler along with all the piping to and from the retired chiller. Each heat pump requires its own closed-loop circuit with a buffer tank, expansion tank and circulating pump. The heat pump loops are filled with a 40% glycol solution which runs outside to the heat pumps and ultimately supplies heating (or cooling) via brazed plate heat exchangers to a primary water-filled loop in the mechanical room, which isolates the glycol from the building distribution.

The primary circuit then transfers heat to the secondary distribution loop which supplies the heating/cooling water to the fan coils in the buildings.

The remaining gas-fired boiler in the mechanical room is on an injection loop that feeds the secondary circuit when it

kicks in. If the heating boiler ever breaks down, an additional heat exchanger between the domestic hot water (DHW) boiler and the heating distribution system is in place for emergency back up.

A new building automation system (BAS) controls the staging of the two heat pump units, and based on outside temperatures the BAS also controls when the boiler will kick in.

“Retrofits in older buildings like this can be really challenging,” says DesRoches. “What’s encouraging and unique about this project, is that the engineers are taking more of a qualitative approach, rather than quantitative. If we looked for hydronic heat pumps in the conventional sense, the numbers don't seem all that attractive compared with other technology choices for retrofits (like VRF), but they are a much more invasive retrofit. In this case they know the heat pumps will provide heat to the building, but at what point they’re going to be effective is subjective relative to the characteristics of the building itself.”

The initial target was to have the heat pumps supplying 45C (113F) water to the building down to -10C (14F), any colder and the gas boiler would kick in. Both DesRoches and Burrows acknowledge

Continued on MH16

The rooftop mechanical room was reworked to create new piping loops and connections for the heat pump system.

“We’re confident the system will perform, but we’re going to verify this with hard data.”

CANADA’S HYDRONIC INSTALLATION CONTEST

WIN ONE OF TWO $3000 BUYING SPREES FROM EMCO!

Get your cameras ready. Be a part of Canada’s hydronic installation contest. Proud of your work? Better than the rest? It’s time to bring it on!

THERE WILL BE A WINNER IN EACH CATEGORY: COMMERICAL AND RESIDENTIAL. ENTRY IS SIMPLE- send us pics of your installation. Include a brief description of the particular challenges that you faced with this installation and how you overcame the obstacles. This can be a new installation or a retrofit. Submissions are limited to one per contractor. Deadline to enter is July 31, 2023. All submissions will be shown at the Modern Hydronics Summit 2023. The two winners will also be announced by John Siegenthaler at the Summit. In addition to having your winning entry shared across our social media channels you’ll also be interviewed by HPAC’s editor and featured on the cover of the October edition of HPAC –

CREDIT: TECZR MEDIA/SEAN HARRISON (COURTESY PRESTIGE MECHANICAL)

that getting the controls set perfectly for the system will be an iterative process.

TAF, together with the STEP team, will be involved with a real-time assessment of performance to help optimize the system.

“We want to learn from this project,” says Burrows. “How much gas can be offset? What can we do to improve the next installation of the same technology? And how can others benefit from the work that we’ve done?”

CRANE DAY

Initially the condo board was hoping to have the project complete in spring 2022, but due to supply chain issues and other delays preparations for the heat pumps were finished in the fall and the units arrived in mid-December.

DesRoches was on-site for crane day, an experience he describes as nerve wracking. “After the long lead times, the last thing you want is to have something go wrong when these units are hanging, suspended, hundreds of feet up in the air.”

Ahead of crane day Prestige had to pre-fabricate the structural steel that was placed on the roof to support the larger 65-ton heat pump unit. That steel was the first to get hoisted up, positioned and bolted together. The next steps were to remove the outgoing chiller and then lift and set the heat pump units in place.

“We worked with Prestige closely leading up to the project, making sure vibration mounts were installed in the right location and the orientation of the unit was installed correctly,” says DesRoches.

In the end he was impressed with how smoothly the day went: “The team at Prestige had it down pat.”

FUTURE PROSPECTS

The units were connected in the days after installation and commissioning of the system began in late January. “We’ve been involved with a lot of mini-split renovations and some VRF retrofits as well, but this is the first large central air-to-water system that we’ve installed, which is part of the reason we’re really excited about it,” says Burrows, who adds that he’s already received calls from social housing providers and municipalities asking about the technology.

Electrification retrofits in buildings like this—with hydronics systems and fan coils—are challenging, and the ability to provide a potential drop-in solution onto the roof to at least offset greenhouse gas emissions seems promising.

TAF projects a reduction in space heating emissions by 60% or more along with a reduction of over $200,000 in carbon taxes over 20 years.

“Once we do the case study on this project, we’ll have data and recommendations for improvements, and this will become a blueprint for broader decarbonization at scale for similar buildings,” says Burrows.

For Karima Dharssi and the other residents at both 120 Lombard and 115 Richmond, their pioneering efforts to switch to heat pumps places them well on their way towards net zero carbon living in the heart of Toronto, while also allowing them to benefit from lower costs in the long term.<>

“This will become a blueprint for broader decarbonization at scale for similar buildings.”

Crane Day, the heat pumps were hoisted to the rooftop of 120 Lombard in Toronto in midDecember.

PHOTO: TECZR MEDIA/SEAN HARRISON (COURTESY PRESTIGE MECHANICAL)

THE PERFECT FIT FOR YOU AND YOUR CUSTOMERS.

WEATHER OR NOT?

Connecting online to improve snow melt efficiency.

BY CURTIS BENNETT

Ihave never claimed to be a great parent. Ok, that’s not true, I actually make that claim all the time, and I have always said that hard work is a valuable trait—something I try to instill into my kids. I have also said that I had children so I wouldn’t have to work outside anymore, and shovel snow.

This all leads me to the topic of the day: snowmelt controls. I want to take things in a slightly different direction this time.

For those of us in the hydronics business, we have all heard the infamous stories about snowmelt systems costing homeowners $2,000 per month to operate over the winter. Why not just pay some kids to shovel for $100 per month? Well, I am not sure that’s the answer, but I do think there is a better solution.

Connected controls for snow melt are not new, but controls gleaning information from websites to drive control algorithms is fairly new. And when it comes to snow melt, what information is most useful? Well, it’s weather forecasting.

I’m going to go out on a limb and say that weather forecasting on snowmelt controls is the largest control advance in snow melting in a long time—the last major advance since optical sensing technology.

It’s the idling of snowmelt systems that use the most energy. If a snowmelt control is set to idle, it will remain in this mode for 90% of the time.

Let me back up slightly, there are three states in a snowmelt control: off, idle and melt. If I was going to make a snowmelt control as basic as possible, it’s a two-stage setpoint control. The

first setpoint for the slab target (idle) is used when there is no snow present on the sensor. We idle the slab to react quicker when we do finally detect snow. The melt demand happens when snow hits the sensor. At this point we change the slab target from idle up to a target that will melt the snow on the slab.

Usually, these targets are between 3C to 10C for melt with the idle target between -10C to -2C. Now that being said the control spends most time in idle, so it makes the most sense if we try to keep idling time to a minimum.

There are really only two ways to do this. The first is the end user is responsible for turning the snowmelt control from off and into idle. This can be with a manual demand at the control, or now with a smartphone app. Using an app does help, but the end user still needs to know when the snow is coming. Wouldn’t it be nice if the control could know that?

Well … they can. Weather data is becoming very sophisticated, not only are there accredited weather stations, but there are thousands of data points they can gather from in any given area, even

home-based weather stations. This allows for very accurate forecasting.

But what if the forecast is wrong? The amount of potential savings far surpasses the amount of false starts. If you can set the target percentage of precipitation (POP), the end user can mitigate false starts by keeping this number higher. As well as the POP, the user can also set how far out they would like to look into the forecast.

This is truly where the value of forecasting comes in. By setting the POP to 70% and for forecast two days ahead, if the forecast coming to the control meets these criteria, the system will come out of off mode and into idle.

On the flip side, if the forecast falls below the set point values then the control will go back to off mode.

As we all know, forecasts can change, so this is a far better way to control the idle stat than manual mode, or even worse idling all the time.

Let’s put this into a perspective. In Calgary, we fall below 0C at around midOctober, but for this example, let’s say November 1. We stay cold until about March 1. Yes these are round numbers,

but work with me here. So, let’s call that four months, or 120 days more or less.

If your control is set to idle all the time, you are constantly injecting heat into that slab. During this 120-day period we might get 10 snowfalls, at least good ones, and maybe 10 smaller ones. We will call this 20 snowfalls in total.

I will also conjecture that those snowfalls last one day. So, we have a season of 120 days where 20 of them we have to get rid of snow.

Please , don’t lambaste me here with not taking into consideration how long the slab takes to heat up, I get that, we don’t want to crack a slab so we need to control DeltaT so it takes time to heat up the slab.

So, 20 snow days out of 120, that’s 17% of the time in melting mode, and the other 83% is spent idling and the energy being put into the slab is wasted.

Even small snowmelt controls take a lot of energy, but for this quick calculation I’ll use 250,000 Btu/h. If we are injecting 250,000 Btu/h into the slab even for only six hours per day, while idling that’s 1,500,000 Btu’s per day. That's around 1.6Gj, which right now is about $3.50. That’s $5.60 per day for 100 extra days. That’s $560 dollars.

So how can forecasting save money?

We know we won’t save all $560. We want to set up the control so that we go into idle one day before the snow comes. Since we know there will be 20 snow days, we will take off 20 days’ worth of idling money because the forecast will turn the control to idle one day before the forecasted snowfall. That $5.60 per day for 20 extra days. That’s $560 minus $112 = total “potential” savings of $448. That’s a significant saving potential per snow melting season.

For those who don’t idle their slab, well, forecasting will save you time. And at the end of the day, energy will be saved. On a control where every single Btu evaporates into thin air, literally, I think that’s a good thing.

Our industry does not always see eye to eye, but this is one of those things where we all know that if we can do better, we should.<>

Curtis Bennett, C.E.T, is the product development manager with HBX Control Systems in Calgary. He formed HBX Control Systems with Tom Hermann in 2002. Its systems are designed, engineered and manufactured in Canada to accommodate hydronic heating and cooling needs in residential, commercial and industrial design applications.

HYDRONIC ADVENTURES IN RURAL ONTARIO

BY PAUL O’CONNOR

In mid-November 2022, Paul O’Connor, owner of POC Plumbing and Heating, reached out to share his progress on an interesting project that involved the integration of an outdoor woodstove open-loop hydronic system with an indoor propane-fired boiler closed-loop system in a home in rural Ontario. Following is an edited version of Paul’s correspondence.

This project is in Coldwater, Ont. on a 25-acre bush lot. Initially I was brought in to try and find out why the customer was burning twice as much firewood as everyone was telling him would be necessary. The customer’s outdoor woodstove hydronic system (an open system) was being used to heat the family home and a garage with a workshop.

The hydronic heating in the house uses rads, and the supply and return lines are run up into the attic, and the system had no air elimination devices. I don't know how it even worked without them.

But as I asked questions, I found out they could hear the air and water gurgling around constantly, and therefore they always had to run the outdoor woodstove really hot to heat the rads due to low water flow—the flow sucked.

Ultimately, a heat exchanger was incorporated to separate the open outdoor system from a newer closed-loop indoor system that was run from an oilburning boiler.

My job was to swap out the oil boiler for a “newer” propane-fired Navien

boiler that was reclaimed from a barn, and then also make the entire system work better and more efficiently.

The goal was to use less firewood and use the propane boiler only as a back-up to heat the home.

WOOD-BURNING CENTRAL HEATING

The system is designed to heat primarily with firewood, which by some is perceived as better than burning carbon from fossil fuels.

If you believe in the philosophy that if a tree blows down and decomposes over 30 years and emits pollution very

slowly—but eventually releases 100% of the carbon that tree was holding—then by cutting up and burning that tree in the outdoor woodstove, we’re releasing the same 100% of carbon simply over a much faster period, and you’re also using that same tree to heat your house for a couple of weeks instead of using fossil fuel, so it’s an environmental win.

The outdoor woodstove boiler superheats hot water outside and transports that heat via underground supply and return lines into the buildings.

In Figure 1 you can see a big chimney and a smaller pipe coming through the

PHOTOS: PAUL O’CONNOR

Figure 1. Woodstove chimney and smaller open pipe for the water vessel.

Session 1 – Attracting Women to your Construction Business

Moderated by Melissa Young, CEO and registrar, Skilled Trades Ontario

Session 2 – Tackling Harassment in the Workplace

Moderated by MJ MacDonald, CEO, Construction Safety

Nova Scotia

Session 3 – Retaining Women in your Construction Business

Moderated by Rebecca Kragnes, director, Indigenous Relations and Community Engagement, Bird Construction

Attend

roof. The big chimney is obviously for the firewood exhaust, but the little pipe is for the water vessel. If the water were to get too hot, it can vent out this pipe. The homeowner can also fill the vessel through this pipe, something that gets done every week or so depending on the usage (see Figure 2, below).

The wood stove boiler is an open system because it is open to the atmosphere, and therefore the system doesn’t require an expansion tank, or 15 psi of water pressure. But it also has to be separated from the closed-loop system in the house and connected via a heat exchanger.

These types of jobs are quite common around farms and rural properties. The advantage is that the woodstove can be a central heating system for two or three buildings on the property at once, and heating is free if you are able to cut your own firewood.

The disadvantage is that you have to be around it to feed the outdoor woodstove all winter. Or the customer must rely on family and friends to keep it burning.

It makes it hard to go on any vacations or hockey tournaments. So, this where I come in.

OPEN-CLOSED INTEGRATION

In the house, they have a radiator distribution system with three zones—a system I rebuilt to integrate the propane-fired boiler (Figure 3).

I initially had the boiler turn on with a set point controller set to 140F of the incoming supply water from the outdoor woodstove. When the woodstove is burning, there was enough heat to satisfy the home to a comfortable 72F. Unfortunately, as it got colder, the outdoor woodstove couldn’t keep up.

I had 180 – 190F water coming through the heat exchanger from the outdoor woodstove, but only 140F coming out of the supply end of the heat exchanger on the closed system.

I had to attain a higher supply temp coming out of the heat exchanger to get the existing rads hotter, so the answer was to add a second heat exchanger.

CUSTOM HEAT EXCHANGERS

Plate heat exchangers don’t work well here because the little passages sometimes get plugged up with sediment, especially on the open-loop outdoor woodstove side.

When I started this project I knew very little about the operations of the outdoor woodstove (the open loop side).

Fortunately, local outdoor woodstove specialists taught me everything I know about it, and it defied a lot of things I had learned on the closed-loop systems I am more accustomed to.

First is, these specialists tend to make their own copper pipe heat exchangers. I had never seen anything like it.

In Figure 4 (next page) you can see how we made the copper heat exchangers. You need a length of 1-½-in. copper pipe, one length ¾-in. copper pipe, and two 1-½ x ¾ x ¾-in. copper tees.

Then somebody hammers the ¾-in. copper pipe right through the tee. Then connect the 1-½-in. copper pipe from the other side and hammer the last tee on from the other side.

The outdoor woodstove loop runs through the ¾-in. copper pipe in the which is encased by the larger 1-½-in. pipe. It runs constantly all winter. Therefore, a heat exchanger like this won’t clog up or wash out because it is totally laminar flow.

The closed-loop side is tied into the branch sides of the tee and runs intermittently when there is a call for heat. The water runs inside the 1-½-in. copper pipe and contacts the ¾-in. copper pipe and exchanges heat that way.

Continued on MH25

PHOTOS: PAUL

O’CONNOR

Figure 3. The propane-fired boiler and closed-loop system in the house.

Figure 2. Outdoor wood stove panel: You fill the tank until the water in the clear plastic tube in the centre is half way full. The woodstove will blow air on the fire in order to attain the temp required by the aquastat in the top left corner.

Offering the Best of Both Worlds

Whether you need the power of a storm or the intensity of the solis, we have you covered.

Between the PK-STORM® and the PK-SOLIS™ Patterson-Kelley has built up a highly versatile line of heating solutions that can fit any application necessary. The STORM® is a highly efficient watertube boiler that ranges in sizes 1250 to 4000 that operates at 97% efficiency. The SOLIS™ is a firetube boiler ranging in size 1500 to 3000 and operates at 96% efficiency. Both models utilize 10:1 mechanical turndown with ultra-low NOx emissions. As with all Patterson-Kelley equipment, the NURO Touchscreen controller is a standard feature on both units. Whatever the heating needs your building calls for, Patteson-Kelley has the right solution.

We initially made a copper tube heat exchanger that’s about six feet long, but it wasn’t able to exchange enough heat for the closed system, so I added a second 10-ft. heat exchanger.

I connected the two heat exchangers in series, so that return water would run through the little heat exchanger first, then come out and enter the second heat exchanger which super heats it. Now I am getting 165F water to send to the rads, and the house is attaining room temperature easily.

BACK UP

If the wood fire burns out, the set point controller has a thermal well sensor, and it will command the propane boiler to turn on and heat the rads in the house directly, and this will also provide heat to the outdoor woodstove and the outside building as the heat exchanger basically works in reverse.

The system has three pumps. The outdoor woodstove pump must run 24/7 during heating season. The pump beside the heat exchanger only runs when either of the zone valves are calling for heat or if the boiler is running.

One of the home’s three zones is protected by a WiFi thermostat in case a pump or zone valve breaks, or if the customer runs out of propane while he is on vacation. If that

happens, the thermostat will send a notification so the customer can address the issue and prevent a potential freeze. This past fall the system started up on just propane for the first month until the wood was delivered. It took about a day to iron out the bugs, but the system is working flawlessly now.

The customers are very happy, and the only thing left to do next year is tie the electric hot water tank into this system so the wood stove can heat that as well. <>

Paul O’Connor, POC Plumbing and Heating.

Figure 4. The custom fabricated heat exchangers connecting the open woodstove system and the closed in-house system.

NTI Boilers has announced the evolution of its TFT line with the introduction of the TFTN series featuring onboard touchscreen controls for improved precision and set-up efficiency. The new TFTN series delivers the same performance for residential and light commercial hydronic applications, while introducing a seven-inch colour touchscreen and onboard WiFi capability to provide contractors with more functionality and diagnostic ability from anywhere. The TFTN lineup is currently available in sizes 85, 110, 150 and 199 MBH. Larger sizes from 285 to 850 MBH will be available in early 2023. ntiboilers.com.

The Hercules Sludgehammer System Restorer and Noise Reducer provides system cleaning and reduced kettling while restoring heating system efficiency. From Oatey, it is suitable for all metals, including aluminum, cast iron, and stainless steel. The restorer effectively removes sludge and corrosion while reducing boiler noise. It also pairs well with Hercules Sludgehammer Universal Corrosion Inhibitor as part of an annual heating system maintenance program. The new product also helps restore efficiency to all hydronic systems. The system cleaner can be used in older boiler systems or when a new boiler is fitted into an existing system with sludge and scale build-up. oatey.ca

Weil-McLain has updated its ProTools App with features to provide contractors and service technicians with the support to streamline customer visits. Available for iOS and Android devices, the app now allows heating professionals to work virtually with Weil-McLain’s tech support team to problem-solve issues as they occur on the job. Service technicians who run into complications while on the job can contact WeilMcLain tech support for site-call video and receive immediate real-time assistance.

weil-mclain.com

REHAU has announced the addition of R-20 manifold connectors to the EVERLOC+ compression-sleeve fitting line. The new R-20 connectors are designed for use with RAUPEXcrosslinked polyethylene (PEXa) pipes and PRO-BALANCE manifolds. The manifold outlets are available in ⅜-, ½-, ⅝- and ¾-in. sizes. The design features reconfigured bushings for increased accessibility when using larger hydronic circuits. The EVERLOC+ R-20 fitting is a single piece that pairs with existing REHAU EVERLOC+ compression sleeves used in the company’s PEXa plumbing systems rehau.com

Aquatherm has released of the Aquatherm FieldPro App. The new app is for anyone installing Aquatherm piping systems, putting all the essential tools at installers’ fingertips, making installation faster and easier. Additional features include: a fusion timer that incorporates multiple timers, pressure times, and logging capabilities and a hanger spacing calculator that provides in-field access to all hanger spacing information. The free FieldPro App can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play.

aquatherm.com

A new addition has been announced to the SpacePak line of Solstice heat pumps, the Solstice Inverter Extreme, an inverter-driven cold climate air-to-water heat pump that provides hydronic heating, cooling, and DHW, without the use of fossil fuels. Features including an inverter-driven compressor, inverter-driven fans, and fan motors, and enhanced vapour injection technology allowing for high-performance heating operation in outdoor temperatures as low as -22F (-30C), while delivering reliable water temperatures as high as 130F (54C).

spacepak.com

Presented

SUMMIT 2023

SEPTEMBER 21ST AT HARD ROCK CASINO IN COQUITLAM, BC!

By popular demand we are moving our Modern Hydronics Summit across the country to share the knowledge and excitement. First up: British Columbia. Be there for the triumphant return of Hydronics Super Heroes - Siggy and The Bean.

AT THIS YEAR’S SUMMIT,YOU WILL:

• Learn from our top-notch hydronics experts; featuring John Siegenthaler (with a few surprise guest speakers!!)

• Enjoy refreshments, lunch, dinner and trip to the bar

• Have a chance to win tools and Vancouver Canucks tickets!

SEE THESE BRANDS: AND MORE TO COME!

•

•

•

EARLY BIRD PRICING OF $99 ENDS AUGUST 21ST

KEYNOTE

LOW TEMPERATURE RECIRCULATION

Strategies for incorporating renewable energy thermal storage with DHW.

BY JOHN SIEGENTHALER

Given their intermittent heat generation characteristics, many hydronic-based renewable energy systems require thermal storage. Examples include solar thermal systems and biomass boilers. Thermal storage is also used in heating systems supplied by off-peak electricity and micro combined heat and power (MCHP) systems.

The temperature of the thermal storage tank can vary over a wide range. If supplied by a solar thermal collector array, and following two or three sunny days with minimal loading the tank temperature could be upwards of 180F.

These temperatures are also possible at the end of tank “charging” cycle from a biomass boiler, as well as in off-peak electric thermal storage and MCHP systems.

At other times, when there’s little if any heat input from the renewable energy heat source, the thermal storage tank could cool down, even down to the surrounding air temperature.

This wide temperature variation implies there will be times when thermal storage could supply all the energy needed to heat domestic hot water (DHW) to a typical maximum delivery temperature of 120F.

Heat would be passed from the “system water” in the thermal storage tank to DHW through a stainless steel heat exchanger. There will also be times when thermal storage could only preheat DHW, and another heat source would “top off” the water to the required delivery temperature.

LEVERAGING LOW TEMPERATURES

Even though preheating doesn’t bring DHW all the way to the final temperature, it’s importance shouldn’t be underestimated. It takes as much energy to bring a quantity of water from 50F to 60F, as it does to bring it from 150F to 160F.

Thermal storage tanks, even at reduced temperatures, can “leverage” the low end of the temperature rise. Because of this, domestic water heating, where it’s needed, is an enticing load to combine with renewable energy heat sources.

Figure 1 shows heat from thermal storage transferred to DHW using a single pass stainless steel heat exchanger.

A flow switch closes its contacts when it detects a specific minimum flow rate of domestic water, typically around 0.5 to 0.7 gpm. This turns on a circulator that routes water from the upper portion of the thermal storage tank through the primary side of the brazed plate stainless steel heat exchanger. Heat is transferred to “cold” domestic water entering the secondary side of the heat exchanger.

Brazed plate heat exchangers have a high ratio of internal surface area to fluid volume and respond very quickly to temperature changes. With the heat exchanger and circulator located as close as possible to the tank to minimize piping length, the response time from when the flow switch closes, to when heated domestic water emerges from the secondary side of the heat exchanger, should be about 3 to 5 seconds.

A thermal storage tank at 95F could potentially heat domestic water from 45F to 90F. That’s 60% of the temperature rise, and 60% of the energy required to fully heat the water from 50F to 120F.

A thermostatically-controlled electric tankless water heater provides the final temperature rise, when required. If the DHW

Figure 1. Heat transfer from thermal storage to domestic water using a single pass stainless steel heat exchanger.

enters this heater at or above the required delivery temperature, the elements in the heater do not turn on.

An American Society of Inspectors of Plumbing and Sanitary Engineers “ASSE 1017” listed thermostatic mixing valve provides protection against high DHW delivery temperature in situations where the thermal storage tank is at an elevated temperature.

ADD A LOOP

The system in Figure 1 doesn’t ensure that DHW, at the required temperature, is instantly available at every fixture. That requires a recirculation piping system. The system in Figure 2 adds a recirculation loop, along with several point-of-use electric tankless water heaters to the heat exchanger/circulator subassembly shown in Figure 1

Each point-of-use tankless heater draws heated water from the recirculation loop. A typical system would use one tankless heater for each bathroom group (shower/tub and lavatory), and it would use separate tankless heaters for the kitchen, laundry or other areas where DHW is required.

Each tankless heater would be sized to the flow and delivery temperature requirements of its fixture group. Each would be controlled by its internal thermostat so only the energy necessary is added to the preheated water.

If the entering water is already at or above the required temperature the elements within these heaters remain off. An ASSE 1070 listed thermostatic mixing valve ensures that the water delivered to the fixtures doesn’t exceed a safe delivery temperature.

A small stainless steel recirculation circulator moves water around the loop whenever DHW may be required in the building. This is not necessarily 24/7. Another small high-efficiency circulator maintains flow between the storage tank and stainless steel heat exchanger.

Assuming an upper tank temperature of 120F, a high efficiency circulator between the tank and a 5-in. x 12-in. x 50 plate heat exchanger could yield an output of 4 gpm of domestic water heated from 50F to 115F with a power input of about 30 watts.

A small recirculation circulator would add another 12 watts of power input. If

both circulators ran continuously in a location where electricity costs $0.15 per kWh, the operating cost would be about $0.15 per day. This could be reduced by turning off the recirculation system during times with little or no expected demand for DHW.

Even when the recirculation system is off, each tankless heater can provide some hot water to its associated fixture(s) with energy being supplied solely by electricity. The flow rate and delivery temperature would depend on the power rating of that heater.

The check valve downstream of the recirculation circulator forces domestic cold water through the heat exchanger whenever hot water is drawn from any fixture. This approach has several advantages.

First, the power requirement of each tankless heater is only for the fixture group it serves. For example, a 7 kW tankless heater would provide up to 1.9 gpm flow rate with a corresponding temperature change from a “preheat” temperature of 95F, to a delivery temperature of 120F. A 7 kW tankless

Figure 2. The addition of a recirculation loop, and electric tankless water heaters, to the subassembly shown in Figure 1.

heater could be supplied from a 240 VAC/30 amp circuit. Higher capacity tankless heaters could be used where higher flow rates are needed.

Second, multiple tankless units provide redundancy relative to a single higher capacity heater.

Third, when water in the recirculation loop is at a lower temperature, heat loss from the loop is reduced. Still, the recirc loop should always be insulated.

KILL THE BUGS

Any DHW system operating at temperatures in the range of 68F to 122F has the potential for legionella bacteria growth. Tempered water between 77F and 113F provides an optimum growth environment.

To address this, the system from Figure 2 has been further detailed with a dedicated thermal sterilization tankless heater, as shown in Figure 3

The purpose of the sterilization heater is to periodically elevate the water temperature in all portions of the recirculation loop high enough—and maintain that temperature long enough—to kill Legionella bacteria. In the absence of specific codes that require otherwise,

typical daily thermal sterilization temperature/cycle durations are as follows:

• 158ºF (70ºC) for 10 minutes

• 149ºF (65ºC) for 15 minutes

• 140ºF (60ºC) for 30 minutes

Some electric tankless water heaters can heat water as hot as 180F, while others have internal safety switches that prevent temperatures above 140F.

The sterilization cycle could be programmed to occur at times of no DHW use, such as early morning hours. If one assumes no DHW draws during this relatively short sterilization cycle the power output of the sterilization heater is only that required to match the heat loss of the recirculation loop.

Here’s an example: assume a DHW loop is 100 feet of 1-in. insulated copper tubing on the supply side, and 100 feet of ½-in. insulated copper tubing for the recirculation piping. Also assume an average water temp in the loop of 155F during the sterilization cycle.

The total heat loss of the piping under these conditions is about 2,700 Btu/hr. Add 20% to account for heat loss from riser piping to fixtures, heat loss from the insulated heat exchanger, and from the recirculation circulator, valves, etc.

The total estimated 3,240 Btu/hr heat loss is just under 1 kW (3413 Btu/ hr). One of the smallest available electric tankless heaters (about 3kW) has more than enough capacity to achieve the sterilization requirements.

The ASSE 1070 mixing valves on each fixture prevent scalding temperatures from reaching the fixtures if water is drawn during the sterilization period.

LEVERAGING LOW TEMPERATURES

Due to its low starting temperature, domestic water heating is a very “attractive” load to be supplied by renewable energy heat sources.

This concept takes advantage of the low starting temperature and ensures consistent, safe, and immediate DHW delivery at all fixtures, and minimizes the potential for harmful levels of bacteria to reach any fixture. <>

John Siegenthaler, P.E., has more than 40 years of experience in designing modern hydronic heating systems. To learn more visit hydronicpros.com

Figure 3. Adding a thermal sterilization tankless heater to address Legionella bacteria.

THE LATEST IN CONDENSING TECHNOLOGY

SIMPLE

Mount > Connect > Plug In > Enjoy Endless Heat and/or Hot Water

• Up to 5 moving parts - Unparalleled in the industry

• Illuminated touchscreen control display panel

• Built-in bypass valve to prevent temperature fluctuations

• SFT Tankless features superior performance in hard water areas

• Contractor friendly: 2” venting up to 65 ft. with 2” vent adapter

• Extended pipe fittings for easier installation

• Universal internal parts

• Factory installed domestic water strainer on all DHW models

RELIABLE

• 30-year track record with more than 2 million installations worldwide

• Innovative state-of-the-art electronic control

• Proven patented Labyrinth heat exchanger with fully integrated copper waterways

• No flow reduction in hard water conditions (SFT Tankless)

EFFICIENT

• Fully condensing one-piece heat exchanger

• Qualifies for top-tier energy rebates. Check your local utility for rebate opportunities.

• Wireless cascade of up to 8 units. Multiple cascade configurations available.

• DHW recirculation pump control eliminates the need for an external timer.

• Ultra low NOx / low greenhouse gases

• Up to 5.2 GPM continuous at a 70˚F rise

• Advanced temperature control

SFC 99-1 | SFC 125-1 | SFC 199-1 SFT 199-1 SFB 99-1 | SFB 120-1

MECHANICAL SUPPLY NEWS

MANUFACTURERS

VIESSMANN FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES DONATIONS OF 5 MILLION EURO

The German-based Viessmann Foundation announced the distribution of five million euros ($7.185 million) to benefit philanthropic organizations locally and abroad with more than half of the money going to aid projects that support children and families in and from Ukraine. Pictured above: Frauke von Polier, chief people officer (left), and Maximilian Viessmann, CEO. viessmann.family

OUELLET GROUP REBRANDS AS INNOVAIR SOLUTIONS

Quebec-based Ouellet Group, an HVAC manufacturing, distribution and marketing company that has been growing over the past few years through acquisition, has decided to change the name of the parent company to Innovair Solutions.

The organization operates in nine locations across three countries (Canada, U.S., and China). Every brand in the portfolio (Ouellet, Global Commander, ConvectAir, Momento, Dettson,Britech, Hazloc Heaters, Innovair and DeltaTherm) will now all operate as part of the Innovair Solutions family.

“We have decided to retain all our locations and every brand to serve each market and client as effectively as possible and to minimize disruption for our partners and employees,” says CEO Louis Beaulieu.

innovairsolutions.com

RIDGID TURNS 100

In 2023, Ridgid, a part of Emerson’s professional tools portfolio, celebrates 100 years of designing and building tools. In 1923, the company invented the modern straight pipe wrench. This year the company will be celebrating the trades, their impact on our world, and the brand’s legacy. ridged.com

LAARS CELEBRATING 75 YEARS

Laars Heating Systems, manufacturer of boilers, water heaters, and pool heaters used in residential, commercial, and industrial applications and a whollyowned subsidiary of Bradford White, is commemorating its 75th anniversary in 2023.

laars.com

DISTRIBUTION

>> dahl Valve, Canadian manufacturer of plumbing and heating valves, announced JB Sales & Associates as sales representatives for the Niagara Region, southwestern Ontario and north Ontario. dahlvalve.com jbsales.ca

>> Dobbin Sales is now the exclusive Canadian master distributor for Murdock Manufacturing, a designer, manufacturer and supplier of stainless steel indoor and outdoor hand washing stations, drinking fountains, hydrants, bottle fillers, and more. dobbinsales.com murdockmfg.com

>> NTI Boilers announced that Laylan Hydronics and HVAC Sales, a new manufacturer’s representative launched by Mathew Pottins, will support the NTI brand in Ontario. ntiboilers.com laylanhvac.com

>> Kasa Supply, distributor of plumbing, heating, drainage, waterworks and more, with locations in B.C. and Alberta, has opened a new branch in Brampton, Ont. kasasupply.com

>> Wolseley Canada is now supplying GE Appliances Air & Water residential ducted HVAC products nationwide. The line-up includes furnaces, air conditioners, air handlers, heat pumps, evaporator coils and package units. wolseleyinc.ca

>> NEXT Supply is opening its first warehouse/counter location in the Kitchener-Waterloo area, its first site outside the GTA nextsupply.ca

SOURCE: VIESSMANN

Deschenes Group announced the passing of Jon Leeson on December 15. Leeson began his career in the HVAC/R industry in 1988 and joined Desco Plumbing and Heating in March 2003. He held various marketing and sales roles before becoming vice president and general manager of Desco. Leeson was also very active with the Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating (CIPH), serving as president of the Ontario region and more recently on the national board of directors as chair of the wholesaler division.

After a 43-year career, Michel Beaulieu has decided to retire from his vice president of sales role at Roth Industries. Beaulieu served the heating industry for 41 years, 24 working at Roth. The decision was made in late December.

Saniflo Canada has announced numerous staff changes. Eric Delarosbil has been appointed eastern regional sales manager, with continuing responsibility for all sales activities in Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada. An eight-year indus -

try veteran, Delarosbil joined Saniflo in September 2021 after serving as a sales agent for Saniflo Canada representative King Marketing the previous six years.

Clifford Bassey now takes on the role of western regional sales manager in his current territory of Alberta, B.C., Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, and Yukon. Bassey came to Saniflo Canada in December 2021, his first professional role in the plumbing and heating industry.

In addition, the company introduced three new business development managers spanning across the country.

Richard Legault will cover eastern and central Canada. Based in Cornwall, Ont., he will serve wholesalers, contractors and engineers in that province, as well as Quebec and Manitoba. Trevor Reeve will cover the Greater Toronto Area and southwestern Ontario based out of Kitchener. And Justin Cooper is responsible for Western Canada. Based in Edmonton, he will focus on wholesalers in Alberta and B.C.

Oatey has announced the promotion of Paul McKay to vice president, Canada. In his new role, McKay will lead the daily operations of Belanger (Tubular Industries of Canada), in addition to his existing responsibility for G.F. Thompson and Oatey Canada SCS. He came to Oatey when the company acquired G.F. Thompson in 2016.

Dwyer Instruments has announced the hiring of Jeff Foster as Canadian sales manager - HVAC/ IEQ products. Foster returns to the Canadian HVAC market after 20-plus years of international business development and is based in the Moncton, New Brunswick area.

Stelpro has named Pierre Huard as CEO. Huard has held several management positions at companies including Rolls-Royce, Pratt and Whitney and, most recently, Meubles Foliot. In addition, Patrick Charest will now lead the marketing department as vice president, sales and marketing. Hired in March 2022, Charest is now heading this team moving forward. And Jérôme Potvin has been named as sales director, electrical distribution – Quebec, for Stelpro. Potvin has over 20 years experience in sales, customer service and business intelligence in the manufacturing and distribution sectors.

Leeson

Beaulieu

Delarosbil

Bassey

McKay

Foster

Huard

Potvin

Cooper Reeve

Charest

Legault

COMFORT AND EFFICIENCY: CAN WE HAVE BOTH?

Functional airflow is essential to achieving whole home comfort with forced air.

BY IAN McTEER

An uncomfortable fact is that many homeowners can easily become dissatisfied with their level of thermal comfort at any time of the year. Such unhappiness leads to a round of fiddling with thermostats, hauling out space heaters, jumping under electric blankets, even opening windows!

Failing that, the “uncomfortables” will scour the local Big Box store searching for duct booster fans or exotic gizmos tantalizing them with easily achieved superior home comfort.

These devices all sacrifice the very integrity of an expensive HVAC system that’s meant to cover all those bases without the need to expend extra energy. But it’s not uncommon to hear homeowners complain about houses that always seem to have uncomfortable rooms. Where have we gone wrong?

DELIVERING THE COMFORT

The problem is that it’s difficult to get the needed Btus to the places where they’re most effective. I am not trying to imply that conventional residential duct systems are no longer a valid way to provide thermal comfort. Indeed, a well-designed properly installed and balanced perimeter duct system is still a perfectly acceptable way to heat a house—I’m living with such a system today and have no complaints. Nevertheless, just because a duct is placed in front of a blower doesn’t mean a full measure of air will actually go to where it's needed.

In an article published in Treehugger. com in April of 2019, Toronto architect Lloyd Alter pulled no punches when he criticized so many houses built to look interesting and thrill potential buyers with multi-levels, L-shaped designs,

“so they add a jog here, a box-out there, a material change in between. In the end, they are an inefficient muddle.”

Alter goes on to proclaim, “modern housing is simple, elegant and well proportioned…boxy but beautiful.”

It’s perhaps a tragedy that the post WW2 subdivisions full of boxy houses were derided as soul-crushing and ticky-tacky. However, fuel was cheap making multiple design choices such as back splits, side splits, and multilevel housing affordable. However few of these floor plans are easy to heat and cool efficiently using central heating systems.

Another confounding factor related to houses with multiple stories, including townhouses, is the oft required municipal regulation forcing builders to provide off street parking.

PHOTO: STEVE CUKROV/ADOBE STOCK

Small building lots often include houses built with a room over the unheated garage—too often the master bedroom. Although the space under the floor is insulated, gas proofed, and often heated, the floor is noticeably colder than elsewhere in the house leading to many complaints.

I once investigated a situation where the ensuite bathroom was over the garage. That wintery morning the whirlpool bathtub drain froze solid and there was a skein of ice in the bathtub. Improper air sealing allowed frigid air into the space above the garage ceiling.

Now, as I understand it, builders are using Icynene foam insulation to better insulate and seal that space. Yet, the question remains, is the appropriate amount of air being delivered to the space?

WHAT’S NEW?

Delivering the trappings of thermal comfort to all areas of a building have a foundational kernel in the heat loss calculation and duct design planning process.

A heating plan, approved by local authority, might show a second-floor master bedroom on the north-west side of a given house should have conditioned air in the quantity of 300 cfm delivered to that room on a design temperature day.

Perhaps the room will have three floor registers serviced by 6-in. round duct placed beneath windows each meant to deliver 100 cfm.

While the heating plan may be accurate and executed appropriately, too often homeowners complain about poor heating and cooling performance, most notably in two-story residences.

Was the airflow ever verified at commissioning? Perhaps a commissioning of the heating system as opposed to the mechanical equipment was never done, too often the case in my opinion.

Forced warm air heating/cooling systems dominate Canadian houses, most

notably in Ontario. Tolerating the shortcomings of ducted warm air systems seems to be part of our DNA now, as “efficient” space heaters, duct booster fans and electric blankets sales remain strong.

In the past, I have taken note of advanced air handling products such as Unico’s offering of small duct high velocity system that literally injects and quietly mixes conditioned air into the space. Recently, I discovered a new method of ducting conditioned air using small diameter ducts that work with conventional gas furnaces.

Doug Tarry Homes recently completed a project utilizing an innovative air distribution product manufactured by Rheia, LLC, in a community of homes in southwestern Ontario.

Rheia’s 3-in. and 4-in. flexible duct and engineered components reduced installation time while delivering more consistent temperatures throughout the home, a key component to thermal comfort.

Nigel Watts, vice president of product at Rheia explained, “Our technology uses conventional air handling equipment in a “home-run” configuration. The use of smaller diameter ducts

and snap-together thermoplastic fittings can deliver labour savings of 50% or more depending on the house type and market” (see figures 1 and 2).

Rheia is designed to fit in the conditioned space of the home without the need for large bulkheads and chases, negating the energy losses that are typical of ducts and equipment located in unconditioned attics. The company’s proprietary diffusers are strategically located high on walls or in the ceiling to optimize duct lengths, air mixing for improved comfort, aesthetics, and cost.

The HVAC design’s static pressure is managed by the number of ducts that are run to a room versus changing duct sizes as is typical with conventional systems. This makes the airflow performance of a design much more predictable.

In addition, each duct run has a dedicated damper that is used to manage the required airflow into a room. Balancing the home is achieved in around 30 minutes for a typical singlefamily home or townhome using a flow hood and the Rheia smartphone app called Verify. (Figures 3 & 4).

Watts also says, “Return air is handled

Continued on p54

Figures 1 & 2. Using smaller diameter flexible ducts to provide labour savings and more even temperature distribution.

PHOTO SOURCE: RHEIA

conventionally, provided it is sized correctly. Sometimes return air pressure is inadequate due to design deficiencies and installation problems, thus we prefer a central return strategy which gives the system better performance at a lower installed cost.”

DUCT UPGRADES FOR OLDER HOUSING

Stephen Hamilton, manager of government relations at the Ontario Homebuilders Association in 2018 told an interviewer that, “4.8 million existing homes [were] built in Ontario in a period where there was little or no consideration about a home’s energy performance.”

Figure 5 is a typical rating plate from back in the day of vertically vented 65% AFUE gas furnaces allowing a 100F temperature rise (some even higher) at .3-in. ESP means the air handling system was never designed for cooling nor for modern high efficiency furnaces pushing upwards of 50% more air.

Older housing continues to use ancient air handling systems having all the comfort shortcomings associated with two-story, split level, side/back splits, multi-level townhouses, rooms over the garage and whatever else builders could imagine back then.

Not to mention older cooling systems having highly restrictive evaporator coils coinciding with today’s infatuation with installing incredibly restrictive air filters meant to capture pathogens instead of simply protecting the equipment.

IMPORTANT UPGRADES FOR EXISTING HOMES

Other than simply exchanging an existing furnace with the latest model, what can be done for homeowners who complain about uncomfortable areas of the home?

This situation really becomes an issue for the HVAC sales professionals,

that is, salespeople truly interested in providing additional value for their customers.

Too often it’s an airflow problem, although other physical complications with the building envelope make outsized contributions as well, and only an HVAC pro can identify many of the related difficulties.

Take the time to determine what airflow problems exist, and once the scope of deficiencies is better known a sales proposal can be more finely tuned to help alleviate the issues.

A few tips I’ve used over the years to help identify airflow problems:

• Hopefully the existing air handler still functions. Remove the air filter and inspect the blower wheel. Airflow problems are related to poor mainte -

nance that include blocked secondary heat exchangers and evaporator coils. If the blower wheel looks anything like Figure 6, the problem may be solved!

• Turn the blower setting on the thermostat from “auto” to “on”

• Be sure to close all the doors normally closed during the night: basement door, hallway doors and bedroom doors.

• Are the doors undercut? See Figure 7

• If a central (hallway return) is used, does the room have a transom grille?

(See Figure 8)

• In the room most poorly served, remove the registers and check for a balancing damper (if it’s been positioned, don’t change it), and verify as best as possible that the perimeter

Figure 5. Rating plate of vertically vented 65% AFUE gas furnace.

Figure 6. Blower wheel that needs attention.

Figures 3 & 4. Balancing achieved using a flow hood and smartphone app.

PHOTO: JERRY SNELL

PHOTO: IAN MCTEER

COURTESY RHEIA

pipe serving the boot is clear of debris that might have been left over from construction.

• Thinking about a master bedroom facing south, there could be several 4-in. x 10-in. registers in the room. This is where a copy of the original heating plan would be helpful for determining an airflow problem in the room. Looking at the meter in Figure 9, if that’s the best this outlet can do (34 cfm), there is your trouble, as I’m sure the heating plan would have specified significantly greater airflow from this register in this room.

• Return air problems may prove to be at the heart of airflow related uncomfortable rooms. Due to the complications involved with lining up stud wall bottom plates with suitable joist spaces unencumbered with plumbing pipes, wooden bridging and awires, too many returns simply don’t work well enough. Without adequate return air in a room, why would air want to flow in there in the first place? If a room requires 100 cfm going in, only 23 cfm out is throttling airflow into the room. (Figure 10)

• And, of course, be sure to check for the usual suspects inhibiting airflow like furniture or draperies blocking outlets and grilles.

WHAT TO DO?

Following a quick investigation, even one conducted with a “handometer” or tissue paper, having revealed airflow problems in critical areas means a more exacting duct system test will be required.

And please remember this: selling a furnace equipped with a variable speed blower won’t improve this situation, in fact, what will happen is the blower may simply move whatever air it can get at a higher velocity creating noise and consuming more watts of energy than advertised.

Recommend optional system upgrades such as:

• Perform a comprehensive duct cleaning.

• Make return air improvements using larger drop ducts and round throat return air boots.

• Seal the basement trunk ducts, especially around top and side take-offs.

• Sell a high-performance HEPA by-pass air filter to avoid excessive pressure drop in an already poorly performing system.

• Sell an AHRI matched cased evaporator coil for improved airflow management, hopefully the outdoor unit will be replaced at the same time.

• At commissioning, perform a balancing. Be prepared to fabricate balancing dampers wherever dampers are broken or never installed.

Too often consumers expect improved comfort to arrive when the box in the basement is exchanged for the lowest possible price, and unfortunately fixing poor airflow problems might not be top of mind. However, in today’s HVAC world, selling even a topof-the-line unit into a second-rate air handling system is like buying a Ferrari only to discover there’s only gravel roads to drive it on, thus impeding the car’s full performance and even causing damage.

High efficiency furnaces must have the best possible highway to provide the seemingly elusive but highly desirable whole house thermal comfort so many homeowners desire. And today that must be accomplished while using the least amount of energy in doing so, just like having your cake and eating it too! <>

Ian McTeer is an HVAC consultant with over 35 years of experience in the industry. He was most recently a field rep for Trane Canada DSO. McTeer is a refrigeration mechanic and Class 1 Gas technician. He can be reached at imcteer@outlook.com

Figure 7. Undercut doors can affect airflow.

Figure 8. Understand how transom grilles affect airflow.

Figure 9. A low airflow reading on this meter.

Figure 10. Return air problems may be at the heart of airflow troubles.

AMMONIA … THE REFRIGERANT

When used in large volumes as a refrigerant, this naturally-occurring gas requires the utmost in safety.

BY DAVE DEMMA

For those that are who are not in some way associated with the refrigeration industry, a mention of the word ammonia will bring to mind a common household cleaner. It’s available in every supermarket, and is commonly used for cleaning. It smells a little, but it’s tolerable to be around … especially if it’s lemon scented.

The Parsons brand of ammonia cleaner contains the following warning on the bottle’s label: “Harmful if swallowed”. It also labels the product as an “Irritant”.

That is the perfect description. It is somewhat irritating to be around, but it is not what one would consider to be a dangerous product. If you happen to spill it, you get some paper towels and clean it up, but there’s no need to evacuate the house, or the neighborhood.

Now, what might not be known is that the ammonia product that is commercially available as a home cleaner is nothing like the ammonia used in a refrigeration system.

You could make the statement that the product in the Parsons bottle “identifies” as ammonia, but it really isn’t ammonia—it’s a very watered-down version of ammonia, with its chemical name being ammonium hydroxide.

Ammonia cleaners typically contain a percentage of ammonia ranging somewhere between 3% to 10% (the Parsons ammonia referenced above is 5% ammonia). The remainder of the mixture is mostly water, with a small percentage of some type of detergent, and a little lemon scent thrown in for

the palate. And, it doesn’t boil at sea level.

The real Ammonia is a colorless gas, composed of one nitrogen molecule and three hydrogen molecules (NH3), and is chemically known as anhydrous ammonia.

It is produced naturally in the human body as well as in nature (water, soil, air, etc.). It has a very distinct pungent odour, and it might be accurately compared to the odour of cat urine.

Pure ammonia will exist as a gas at typical room temperatures. It will also readily dissolve in water, forming ammonium hydroxide.

At sea level it will boil at -28F. And it’s a great refrigerant (R717), with excellent heat transfer properties.

It just has one issue…it’s highly toxic.

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

Ammonia refrigerant leaks always have

the potential to be minor disasters. Each country has its own respective regulatory agency governing over responsibility for installation/operation/ maintaining of ammonia refrigeration systems.

The Canadian Standards Association (CSA) Code B52 provides the minimum requirements for the design, construction, installation, inspection and maintenance of all mechanical refrigeration systems (including ammonia), as provided for by provincial and territorial acts, to minimize the risk of human injury. Across Canada various levels of government—federal, provincial as well as municipal—legislate depending on the application.

Following is an example of regulations from the U.S.-based federal OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration):

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Ammonia refrigeration systems with 10,000 pounds or more of ammonia are a covered process subject to the requirements of the OSHA Process Safety Management (PSM) standard. Along with the regulations, OSHA has established compliance guidelines and recommendations about implementation of the PSM.

The PSM requires the following:

• Process Safety: Employers must compile written process safety information as a prerequisite to conducting a process hazard analysis. This includes information concerning process chemicals (e.g., toxicity information; permissible exposure limits), process technology (e.g., chemistry; safe upper and lower limits for items such as temperature, pressures, flows, or compositions), and process equipment (e.g., ventilation system design; safety systems).

• Process Hazard Analysis (PHA): As a key component of the PSM, employers must perform an initial PHA on processes covered by the PSM standard. The PHA is an organized and systematic effort to identify and analyze the significance of potential hazards associated with the processing or handling of highly hazardous chemicals. It is directed toward analyzing potential causes and consequences of fires, explosions, releases of toxic or flammable chemicals, and major spills of hazardous chemicals. The PHA focuses on equipment, instrumentation, utilities, human actions (routine and non-routine), and external factors that may impact the process. All of these considerations are assessed in determining hazards and potential failure points. The PHA must be updated and revalidated at least every five years.

• Operating Procedures: Employers must develop and implement written operating procedures that provide

clear instructions for safely conducting activities involved in each covered process, consistent with the process safety information. Procedures must address steps for each operating phase (e.g., initial startup; normal operations), operating limits, safety and health considerations, and safety systems and their functions. Operating procedures must describe tasks to be performed, data to be recorded, operating conditions to be maintained, samples to be collected, and safety and health precautions to be taken (e.g., operating instructions about pressure limits, temperature ranges, flow rates, what to do when an upset condition occurs, and what alarms and instruments are pertinent if an upset condition occurs.)

• Employee Training: All employees involved with processes involving ammonia use, including maintenance and contractor employees, need to be appropriately trained. Training must include an overview of the process and the operating procedures, as well as an emphasis on the specific safety and health hazards, emergency operations (including shutdown), and safe work practices. Refresher training must be provided at least every three years and documented.

• Contractors: Employers who use contractors to perform work in and around processes involving ammonia use must establish a screening process so that they hire and use

contractors who accomplish the desired job tasks without compromising the safety and health of employees at a facility.

• Pre-Startup Safety: Employers must perform a pre-startup safety review for new facilities and for modified facilities when the modification is significant enough to require a change in the process safety information.

• Mechanical Integrity: Employers must implement written procedures to maintain the ongoing integrity of process equipment, including pressure vessels, storage tanks, piping systems, controls, and pumps.

• Incident Investigation: Within 48 hours of an incident, employers must investigate each incident that resulted in, or could have resulted in, a catastrophic release of ammonia.

• Emergency Preparedness: Employers must implement an emergency accident plan for the entire plant.

• Compliance Audits: At least every three years, employers must certify that they have evaluated compliance with the provisions of the PSM. A written report documenting audit findings also is required.

CORRECTIVE ACTIONS

Even if the equipment owner has implemented the respective governing regulatory plan, there are still instances where accidents can happen. Following is a startling fact: based on chemical accidents required to be reported by industry in the U.S. from 2004-2014, 72% of all reported chemical accidents in four states (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska) involved anhydrous ammonia, and up to 96% of them were preventable through increased operator training, improved procedures, and better communication of lessons learned.

Accidents that might be of minor consequence with HCFC/HFC refrigerant leaks can result in some very serious

consequences with ammonia system mishaps. Some of the most common ammonia system safety hazards are listed below:

1. Poor housekeeping practices (oily or wet floors, storing items in the machine room). Action: A clean area is a safe area. Ensure floors are clean, free of oil and water and do not use an ammonia machine room as a storage room.

2. Poor pipe quality beneath insulation. Action: Check for corrosion under insulation (CUI) by conducting spot checks, often performed during a mechanical integrity audit. Prevent pipe corrosion by using a corrosion inhibitor or stainless steel pipe.

3. Absence of adequate pipe labels or no maintenance program of labeling. Action: Follow International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration (IIAR) Bulletin No. 114.

4. Equipment is operated outside design parameters.

Materials are generally only rated for a specific temperature range, and in the refrigeration industry, users may change a setpoint from -20F to -25F to try and improve production or make up for lack of capacity; however, the pipe may only be rated for -20F. Running pumps or compressors at different design conditions than intended can overload the motors. Action: Operate pumps and compressors within the designated design parameters and temperature range.

5. Failure to implement maintenance cycling program on valves. If your valves sit in one position for too long, they won’t work when you go to use them. Action: “Exercise” (open and close) all valves regularly.

6. Blocked escape routes from areas with ammonia present. It may seem obvious, but don’t store a big box in front of an exit. This mistake happens too often. Action: Ensure escape routes are clear.

7. Operators with insufficient training of ammonia refrigeration operations and safety awareness. Action: Per process safety management, ensure personnel involved with the operation and maintenance of the ammonia systems receive initial training and refresher training every three years.

Continued on p61

WE’RE GROWING AND SO CAN YOU!

We have great job openings at Refrigerative Supply Limited (RSL), including Branch/Distribution Center Administration, Sales Representative (Counter/Outside), Warehouse Associate, and many more.

In order to ensure our employees perform the best, we offer

• paid vacation

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Do you want to work for a company that is collaborative, community-focused, and innovative?

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“Accidents that might be of minor consequence with HCFC/HFC refrigerant leaks can result in some serious consequences with ammonia system mishaps”

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8. Unsafe access to frequently used valves, equipment, etc. for maintenance. Action: Items that require maintenance should be accessible from the ground (use a chain wheel). Items up high should have a catwalk or a clear path accessible via a scissor lift or ladder.

9. Leak detection systems that are either nonexistent, inoperable, not calibrated or not tied to ventilation systems, Action: Perform annual testing on your leak detection systems to ensure all alarms work properly.

10. Uncapped open valves. Action: Ensure all valves open to the atmosphere have a pipe plug or cap.

11. Open oil draining valves. Because oil draining valves have a spring return, your personnel must stand in front of them and hold them open. Some personnel might take them off and just leave them open. Action: Avoid this issue by using

self-closing, spring-loaded valves.

12. Gas mask systems are not readily accessible. Action: Keep gas mask systems close to your ammonia source.

13. Heavy ice buildup on piping and components; not taking weight into consideration. Some pipes (those below 32F) will build frost either because they are not insulated, or are not insulated properly. The ice will get thicker and thicker, creating considerable added weight. Pipe supports and the building are not designed to hold this extra weight. Action: Insulate your piping and components properly.

14. Not executing safety switch testing on a consistent schedule. Action: As a rule, conduct annual safety switch testing.

15. Open electrical cabinets. Action: Close your electrical cabinets to prevent risk of shock or fire. While an article such as this only

scratches the surface of a complex topic, I’d like to offer the following reference for more comprehensive exposure to safety in ammonia systems:

The International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration (IIAR, iiar.org) is an advocate for safe, reliable and efficient use of ammonia and other natural refrigerants. Use their resources as a guide to safe and efficient use of ammonia as a refrigerant. <>

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

Visit event websites for the most current updates.

March 8

2023 Women in Construction

The third annual Women in Construction virtual event is being held on International Women’s Day. Topics covered at this free event include attracting and retaining women in construction roles and strategies to encourage a harassment-free workplace. women-in-construction.ca

Heat Pump Symposium

April 4

The Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI) in partnership with the Ontario Geothermal Association (OGA) is hosting a one-day gathering of industry experts and policy makers for the inaugural Heat Pump Symposium being held at the International Centre (near Toronto Pearson International Airport). heatpumpsymposium.ca

ASHRAE Annual Conference

June 24 – 28

The ASHRAE Annual Conference will be heading to the JW Marriott in Tampa Bay for its yearly event. Virtual options are also available for anyone who can’t make the trip. ashrae.org

Modern Hydronics Summit

September 21

Following sold out events in Ontario since 2013, the 2023 version of the Modern Hydronics Summit will be visiting a new part of Canada, bringing the hydronic community together for networking and education at the Hard Rock Casino in Coquitlam, B.C. modernhydronicssummit.com

ISH

March 13 – 17

The world’s leading international trade show for the HVAC and plumbing industry hosted in Frankfurt, Germany returns after going virtual in 2021. The global showcase offers attendees insights into where the industry is headed for years to come. ish.messefrankfurt.com

ACCA Conference & Expo

April 2 – 5

The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) is a non-profit association for HVAC/R professionals devoted to continuing education. The association’s annual conference includes a diverse group of speakers and exhibitors and allows contractors from across North America to share ideas, tactics, and best practices. This year’s event is in New Orleans. accaconference.com

MCEE

April 19 – 20

Every two years, MCEE brings together over 400 exhibitors to promote thousands of products for the plumbing and HVAC/R industries. The 2023 event will take place at the Montreal Convention Centre. mcee.ca

AIM/R Annual Conference

September 12 – 15

AIM/R, the Association of Independent Manufacturers Representatives, will hold its 51st Annual Conference at the Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort in Miramar Beach, Florida. This year’s theme is “Future’s So Bright!” aimr.net

CIPHEX West

October 18 – 19

CIPHEX West 2023 brings a full plumbing and heating tradeshow and conference to the BMO Centre at Stampede Park in Calgary. ciph.com

CIPH Annual Business Conference

June 18 - 20

CIPH will be celebrating its 90th year in 2023 and will be holding its annual business conference in St John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. ciph.com

HRAI Annual Conference

September 17 – 19

The 2023 version of HRAI’s Annual Conference will take place in Montreal. Along with a series of topical panel discussion sessions, the event will also include a variety of social and networking events. hrai.ca

MCAC Annual Conference

October 18 – 21

The Mechanical Contractors Association of Canada (MCAC) is heading to wine country next fall as it will be holding its Annual National Conference at the Silverado Resort in Napa Valley, California. mcac.ca