May/June 2015 by Mechanical Business

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CONTENTS DRAINING GAMES O F

THE

T A B L E

42PLUMBING Upon admission to the Pan Am and Parapan Am Games in Toronto this summer, sports fans will see the sparkling new ﬁelds, the roomy grandstands and an immaculate 400 metre running track. For Doug Clark, he sees panel drains, trench drains, catch basins and retention tanks. Paul Morgan

58COVER STORY Road Warrior: Dustin Aguanno From tinkering with snowmobiles and dirt bikes as a kid, to tweaking the car, the boat, or bigger dirt bikes now that he’s a little older, Dustin Aguanno still likes working with his hands. Adam Freill

An ongoing

Evolution 20THE COOLING REPORT Efﬁciency and regulations continue to be key drivers of product development and sales. Adam Freill

84CELEBRITY ENCOUNTER Chef Michael Smith is all about quality. Whether looking at individual ingredients, judging a completed dish, assessing a kitchen design, or even a business plan, putting in the time, energy and research to come out with top-notch quality drives the celebrated restaurateur, chef, television personality and author. Adam Freill

VARIETY IS THE NAME OF THE GAME IN

VANS

48COMMERCIAL VEHICLE REVIEW – VANS

There’s a lot of similarity in the 2015 crop of vans compared to 2014, but if you dig a bit deeper, there are some changes of note. Howard J. Elmer

On the cover: From shadowing his ﬁrst mentor, to his current role as service manager with Dael Thermal Group in Toronto, Road Warrior Dustin Aguanno says that HVAC/R is where the action is. Cover Photo: David Chidley

M e c h a n i c a l

T A B L E F E A T U R E S 26WHOLESALE SALES

M B

MCEE 2015 draws a crowd

O F

S P E C I A L I S T S

PLUMBING Renovations: The good, the bad, and the disgusting Fred Bretzke With renovations, plumbers tend to build up a good stack of stories to share after the tools are put away.

MARKETING Marketing in the Dog Days Doug MacMillan In summer, it’s a common belief that consumers are ignoring marketing, but contractors may want to be in marketing mode.

HIGH PERFORMANCE HVAC ECM motors and their role in efﬁcient homes Gord Cooke The inclusion of ECM motors in codes and building rating programs is a big change for the HVAC industry.

REFRIGERATION Suction accumulator design and application Phil J. Boudreau Commonly found on direct expansion systems, suction accumulators trap liquid refrigerant in suction lines.

HYDRONIC REPORT So you want to heat a pool... Bob “Hot Rod” Rohr With an outdoor pool, you are pretty much heating the great outdoors. This is not an inexpensive undertaking.

ASK ROGER Our success is in our people Roger Grochmal The only thing that differentiates our companies from each other and determines whether or not we are successful is our people.

OIL HEAT A burning passion Dan Holohan Passion makes the difference. It’s what attracts good employees and customers. The best companies know this. They have always known this.

34HYDRONICS Mixing boilers in light commercial systems The main reason to stage boilers is to reduce cycling and ignition inefﬁciencies. Eric Riml

52COMMERCIAL PLUMBING Detailed pre-construction planning Part 2: Working with the Who The right people are your greatest asset. David Pelletier

66FIND THE FIX Piping Puzzle – Calculate the numbers

70COMMERCIAL HVAC VRF providing solutions Investigating additional options when it comes to serving the needs of clients. Denis Murphy

76PLUMBING Fresh thinking for faucets The old saying that form follows function can certainly be applied to faucets. Denise Deveau

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CONTENTS

Behind the curtain What wholesalers can do to adapt to what contractors need. Kevin Gill

28EVENT IN PICTURES

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80GEOTHERMAL RADIANT Going custom for year-round comfort Checking out an interesting residential build in the Greater Toronto Area. Mike Breault

100COMMERCIAL HVAC Tapping into BAS for smaller buildings Building automation can help improve building performance and efﬁciency. David Toner

107CONFERENCE PREVIEW COHA’s annual affair heads east

D E P A R T M E N T S 6From the editor’s desk 8News 18Proﬁle: T. David Underwood 108Crossword/Tool Tip 112The Info Page 113Calendar 114By The Numbers M e c h a n i c a l

P R O D U C T S 20,74,98HVAC/R 38,92Hydronics 94,96Plumbing 104Stuff you need 106Oil Products CHECK US OUT ONLINE

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Content Media Group Inc. 19 – 1525 Cornwall Road Oakville, ON L6J 0B2 Canada Tel: 905.465.2919 Fax: 905.465.2913 www.mechanicalbusiness.com May/June 2015 Issue Published 6 times per year. Editor: Adam Freill, ext. 224 adam.freill@mechanicalbusiness.com Associate Editor/Web Editor: Greg Dalgetty, ext. 225 greg.dalgetty@mechanicalbusiness.com National Accounts Manager: Jeff Superle, ext. 221 jeff.superle@mechanicalbusiness.com U.S. Key Accounts Manager: Roy Wagner (401) 737-7871 roy.wagner@mechanicalbusiness.com Controller: Liz Mills liz.mills@mechanicalbusiness.com Ofﬁce Administrator: Brooke Klintworth brooke.klintworth@mechanicalbusiness.com Art Direction: JJM Graphic Ltd. davem@jjmgraphic.com Circulation Manager: Shila Naik (905) 272-4175 shila.naik@mechanicalbusiness.com Publisher: Bruce Meacock, ext. 222 bruce.meacock@mechanicalbusiness.com PM:41536047 ISSN 1916-0674 MB (Print) ISSN 1906-0682 MB (Online)

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FROM

THE

EDITOR’S

DESK

Encouraging our future As warm weather hit in early May out my way, cooling season got off to an earlier than expected start. As fate would have it, my five-year-old condenser unit wasn’t quite ready for primetime, however. I’m on a full-service maintenance plan with a reputable firm, but even with that in my back pocket, one never really knows to what extent a company and its personnel are willing to go for a customer. Thankfully, my faith in this particular company was positively reinforced by the on-call technician who could have easily pushed off the call until a more convenient time than a warm Saturday night – what some might call patio weather. So from dusk until dark, this young tech impressed as he tested and checked the usual suspects in his troubleshooter’s arsenal, aided by some head-mounted lighting and a flashlight or two.

Stay in the know Governments on both sides of the border have set their sights on refrigerants, with the likely net effect being a phase down of HFCs in the near future. So what’s the best way to keep up to date on these and other industry developments? Be sure to keep your Mechanical Business subscription active. Visit www.mechanicalbusiness.com to ensure that you have renewed your subscription for another 12 months.

In chatting with this technician, not only was I impressed with his enthusiasm for the work that he was doing – you could tell that he enjoyed ﬁnding solutions for customers in need – but he mentioned that he was researching some products in his spare time to see if they might be of beneﬁt to his company. Perhaps even more impressive was the encouragement that he received from his employer for his efforts. He was gathering information to be shared with a company committee. In a time where we often hear about how disengaged young people can be, it is good to see that there t ere are companies th companiees out there therr that are attracting sharp young minds, and encouraging encouragin ng them m to o stay within withiin the trade, trad and with their companies, by empowering and engaging en ngaging them. them

Submissions: Copyright in material submitted to the magazine and accepted for publication remains with the author, but Mechanical Business and its licensees may freely reproduce it in print, electronic or other forms. Mechanical Business also reserves the right to edit said submitted materials to suit the editorial needs and mandate of the publication.

One only need d look at our cover person this issue, Dustin Aguanno Dael A uann Ag no of D a Thermal Group (see Road Warrior, page 58), 5 ), to see what 58 wha a young technician can accomplish with the right support and a encouragement.

Notice: Mechanical Business is published for owners, managers and decision makers with mechanical contracting ﬁrms and the sector’s supply chain partners in Canada. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information, Mechanical Business, Content Media Group Inc., its staff, directors, ofﬁcers and shareholders (‘The Publisher’) assume no liability, obligation or responsibility for advertised claims, for errors and/or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. Manufacturers’ instructions take precedence over published editorial. The publisher reserves the right to publish a printed correction in a subsequent issue for editorial errors, omissions and oversights. Subscriptions are available for $90 plus taxes in Canada and the U.S. Single copies are $15.00. Outside Canada and the U.S., the rates are $150.00 (annual) and $25.00 (single copy).

So as I si sit in air conditioned comfort this summer, I encourage you to identify a rising star or two in enco your own organization, and to put together a mentorship structure to help build not only the me future of your organization, but the future of fu our trade.

From time to time, Content Media Group Inc. makes subscribers’ names available to reputable companies whose products or services may be of interest to readers. If you would like your name excluded from these mailings, please notify the publisher. © Copyright 2015. The contents of this magazine may not be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission of the publisher.

Until next time,

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News www.mechanicalbusiness.com

Canadian receives lifetime achievement award Harvey Raymer (right), founder of Rafales Agency, was recently presented with the Bob Gelman Lifetime Achievement award by Marty Silverman, vice-president of marketing for General Pipe Cleaners. Raymer has represented General Pipe Cleaners, a division of General Wire Spring Co., in Quebec and Atlantic Canada for nearly 15 years. In that time, Rafales Agency has been the only rep organization in General’s history to receive the Outstanding Sales Award three years in a row. Raymer’s award, which is named in honour of Bob Gelman, former sales manager of General Pipe Cleaners, was presented during the 2015 MCEE Show in Montreal.

Changes aplenty coming in HVAC/R

drainbrain.com

Taco reorganizes to diversify Taco is setting its sights on additional industries and markets. The 95-yearold company recently announced that it intends to leverage its experience in hydronic heating and cooling to branch out into vertical markets for heating and cooling products, to provide non-hydronic products to the HVAC industry, as well as serve select market sectors beyond HVAC, including the plumbing, VRF and geothermal ﬁelds, and the hospitality market. As a result, the company is in the process of restructuring and rebranding itself, and expects to pursue growth and diversiﬁcation through new partnerships and acquisitions. “To grow, Taco has to diversify,” explains chairman of the board and CEO John White, Jr., the third generation of his family to operate Taco. “We have been quite diligent in studying where Taco is and what it needs to accomplish to get where it wants to go in the years ahead.” taco-hvac.com

With the Department of Energy (DOE) working on a proposal that will affect the ability of industry to use several refrigerants in the U.S. market, refrigerants were a hot topic of discussion during the 2015 HRAI Ontario Product Section Meetings, held in April in Mississauga, Ont. The Canadian government, attendees were told, is also looking at refrigerant regulations, including steps that could see a phase down of HFCs, albeit in a different way than the proposal that the DOE is working on. “Things are changing, and they are changing fast,” advised HRAI president Warren Heeley (pictured), who explained that consultation on HFC regulations started in February of this year. “This GWP issue is going to have an impact on our industry.” On the equipment front, the use of furnaces as construction heaters garnered considerable attention in the heating and air conditioning products sector meeting, as did bylaws in Calgary and Vancouver that address concerns with noise from HVAC equipment, but appear to not be based on tests or standards typically used when assessing equipment and its operation. The association has reached out to both councils to offer assistance with bylaws affecting the mechanical sector. hrai.ca

Follow Us on Twitter! It’s MB’s Twitter Roundup Caught the Twitter bug? We’ve got you covered with tweets about everything that matters to the mechanical trades in Canada. Follow us @mechbusiness.

Best Plumbers

CTV Northern News

HRAI Canada

Charlie Hurley

@Best_Plumbers

@CTVNorthernNews

@HRAI_Canada

@charliehurley16

Matt Lauer Set Up Billboards and Phone Lines to Advertise Ellen as a Plumber. #plumber #ellen

Even though it’s May and it’s warm, some homeowners in Timmins are still suffering with frozen pipes and water issues.

Is it safe to buy #furnace and #airconditioning equipment from a doorto-door salesperson?

@gabe_urban98 you know you’re in Canada when you use your furnace and air conditioner in the same day.

May 6, 2015

Apr 24, 2015

May 3, 2015

May 7, 2015

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(From left, between the Hula dancers): Chuck Fell, president of the Mechanical Contractors Association America (MCAA), presents the ﬁrst place award in the MCAA annual student chapter competition to the MCA Hamilton McMaster Student Chapter. Team members are Alexandra Pittiglio, Jeff McKay, Aaron Pettifer, Tanya Tipnis, Paula MacDonald and Mitchell Rohrer. Holding the award is student chapter faculty liaison Stephen Veldhuis, who is joined by Troy Aichele, chairman of the MCAA Career Development Committee.

Hamilton students take gold in Hawaii Emerging from a group of 50 MCAA student chapters from across North America to make the final four competition in Maui, the MCA Hamilton McMaster Student Chapter was on top of its game in Hawaii, earning top honours in the school’s first trip to the finals of the MCAA’s annual student chapter competition. Student teams were asked to design the Segundo Student Services Center at the University of California at Davis. “This was an amazing experience for the students. It reinforced the things we are teaching here at McMaster University and gave the students a chance to test their knowledge on a real-world problem,” stated Stephen Veldhuis, the student chapter faculty liaison at McMaster. As the winning team, the chapter has earned a $10,000 prize. mcahamilton.org

Toronto’s Saunders wins with Caleffi Canada has provided another winner in the Caleffi Excellence contest. Darryl Saunders of The Hydronics Team in Toronto was tasked with designing and installing a heating system to provide radiant in-floor heating for multiple zones and domestic hot water in a major home renovation. Among the solutions Saunders provided was a storage tank that was used to prevent boiler short cycling in the highly zoned system. Saunders was presented with an iPad mini by Nichole Wall of Equipco Ltd., and he is now a contender for the grand prize of a trip to Caleffi’s global headquarters in Italy. caleffi.us

Fun and games at work What do you get when you have technicians engaged in relay races, ﬁshing target practice, communications exercises, and more? It has to be AtlasCare’s Technician Appreciation Day. The HVAC contracting ﬁrm, located just west of Toronto, holds an annual event to share company information and some fun learning activities with its tradespeople. Here, technicians Rick Bruce (left) and Gurmeet Mann compete in a relay race testing a number of the skills used on jobsites. For more about the day, and the reasons for it, check out the Ask Roger column on page 68 of this issue, written by company CEO Roger Grochmal. atlascare.ca

Canada leading HFC phase down efforts In April, Canada, the United States and Mexico submitted an amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer that would result in a phase down of the production and consumption of HFCs used in refrigeration and air conditioning systems. The three countries presented the amendment during an international meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, dedicated to discussions surrounding the management of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and encouraging other countries to support a phase down under the Montreal Protocol. Closer to home, the government published a proposed pollution prevention plan notice in the Canada Gazette, Part 1 covering halocarbon refrigerants, including CFCs, HCFCs and HFCs. Companies, including importers, manufacturers and reclaimers subject to this P2 Planning Notice would have the option of either joining an existing program, such as Refrigerant Management Canada, or developing their own program. Once the comment period wraps up in mid-June, the next step will be the publishing of the ﬁnal P2 Planning Notice in the Canada Gazette, Part 1. After the publication of the ﬁnal P2 Planning Notice, companies subject to the notice would have up to six months to prepare a P2 plan. The program would then have to be implemented within two years.

Products on parade in Kitchener Desco held its bi-annual Parade of Products trade show at Bingeman’s, in Kitchener, Ont., in early May. The event, which attracted over 1,000 industry people to check out new products from more than 70 manufacturers, has been held every two years since 1973, and also featured dinner and prizes. The next one is scheduled for 2017. desco.ca

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APP ALERT Find a match The Allied Commercial Crossover app, available for Apple or Android smartphones, is programmed with more than 4,000 different units and configurations to allow contractors to find a match for equipment found in the field. The app will crossreference an extensive database to locate a comparable model, and will allow the technician to configure, customize, select accessories, and then view weight, dimensions and technical specs. allied-commercial.com

Inverter system app Daikin’s ComfortNet CTK04 communicating thermostat, compatible with select unitary products from the company, including high-efﬁciency invertercontrolled variable speed air conditioners and heat pumps, can be accessed by a homeowner via a mobile app to allow for remote operation and programming. The app is available on Apple and Android platforms. daikincomfort.com

Celebrating a quasquicentennial In April, Emerson Climate Technologies celebrated the 125th anniversary of Emerson, along with the ofﬁcial opening of its newly expanded Integrated Learning Centre in Brantford, Ont. In addition to cocktails, refreshments and an ofﬁcial ribbon cutting to mark the occasion, the event also featured training sessions about current and emerging refrigerant technologies. Here, Dennis Kozina, Canadian director of sales at Emerson Climate Technologies, discusses the proposed phase down of HFC refrigerants. emerson.com

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Defect discussion hits the mark in Vaughan “It’s not a technical-type defect, but the number 1 issue that comes up on HVAC inspections is access to inspect the work,” advised Gary Miller of the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) during the April meeting of the HRAI GTA Chapter, held in Vaughan, Ont. During the meeting, Miller, an electrical inspector in the training division of ESA, talked about some of the changes that have occurred in the electrical code over the past few years, including how such changes as revisions to amperage tables may impact what is allowable in an HVAC system installation. According to Miller, some of the more common defects that tend to be cited during an inspection include failing to ﬁll out the panel directory, not providing adequate working space around the equipment, not ensuring that the equipment is approved for use, improperly supporting conduit, putting the furnace disconnect in an improper location and not providing overcurrent protection that matches the manufacturer’s nameplate.

A Canadian first for Carrier Winnipeg’s Provincial Heating & Cooling has become the first Canadian Carrier factory authorized dealer to win Carrier’s President’s Award, the company’s highest honour among its dealers. The HVAC firm, owned by Robert and Tracey Dill, takes pride in engaging its customers, and is using social and digital media to further this engagement. “Robert and Tracey have exemplified what it means to be passionate about delivering the highest standards when it comes to customer service and in home comfort,” shared Paul Davignon, president and general manager for Carrier Enterprise Canada. “They continue to differentiate themselves in their marketplace with their passion for excellence and the highest levels of customer service.”

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Two in a row for Equipco Following up on last year’s win, Canada’s Equipco Ltd. has once again been named the winner of Caleffi’s Pinnacle Award, in recognition of achieving the highest Caleffi sales manager Michelle Hulett (left), Equipco’s sales performance among Mel Campbell, Ryan Bristow, Robert Parkinson and Caleffi’s manufacturers’ Jason MacKenzie, Caleffi sales manager Dale Cikaluk, and Caleffi chairman of the board Marco Caleffi. representatives. The award, which was presented at a meeting in Chicago, was accepted by Equipco executives Mel Campbell (Mississauga, Ont.), Ryan Bristow (Winnipeg), Robert Parkinson and Jason MacKenzie (Coquitlam, B.C.). caleffi.us

A nod to the future from Noble Mark Jarvis, Md Kamruzzaman, Michael Sok and Andre Wright-Webley, students enrolled in the Plumbing Techniques Program and Construction Techniques (HVAC) Program at the School of Apprenticeship and Skilled Trades at George Brown College in Toronto, were the recipients of Noble Futures Awards. Representatives from Noble were on-hand at the 2015 George Brown Construction & Engineering Technologies Student Awards Ceremony, held in April 16 at Casa Loma, to present the scholarship awards. noble.ca

Barba unveils hydronic secrets

Representatives from Altatech Agencies receive their Viessmann MAX Award from members of the Viessmann executive team.

Viessmann recognizes top sales efforts Viessmann Manufacturing Company Inc. recently announced the winners of its “MAX” Sales Awards for 2014. The MAX Awards (marketing, accomplishment and excellence) are presented annually to the top two Viessmann sales representatives in Canada, with award recipients receiving recognition at the 2015 Viessmann North American Sales Meeting in Waterloo, Ont. Altatech Agencies, in Stony Plain, Alta., took top honours this year, and Pat Hayes, Viessmann’s South Western Ontario rep, earned the second place title. viessmann.ca

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ONE show attracts hundreds Almost 950 industry personnel attended Wolseley Canada’s inaugural ONE Tradeshow on April 1 in Mississauga, Ont. The event, which brought more than 70 plumbing and HVAC/R vendors under one roof at the Mississauga Convention Centre, featured vendor displays, product showcases, a variety of vendor-led training and certiﬁcation sessions, as well as networking opportunities, and a western-themed smokehouse barbecue.

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More than 130 hydronic personnel in Ontario learned all about John Barba’s secrets to hydronic success during a pair of industry training sessions presented by Jess-Don Dunford. Barba, Taco’s director of training, presented his “Secrets to Outstanding Hydronic Jobs” sessions to more than 60 attendees on April 15 in Grimsby, Ont., and another 75 in Barrie, Ont., the following day. The sessions targeted experienced residential hydronic installers, service technicians, wholesalers and designers, and included an overview of circulator fundamentals, controls options, system design options, heat loss, software, and jobsite questions.

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Ontor adds circulator line

Master Group grows in N.B.

AquaMotion, a Rhode Island manufacturer of single, multi-speed and variable-speed circulators and recirculation systems, has appointed Ontor as its representative for all of Canada. Ontor has ofﬁces in all provinces and will sell the product line through its wholesale distribution channels. ontor.com aquamotionhvac.com

The Master Group has continued its expansion in the Atlantic provinces with the opening of a new branch in Fredericton, N.B. The 8,700 sq. ft. facility has a full range of product offerings for the HVAC/R trades. The new branch is located at 190 Alison Blvd., Unit 11, in Fredericton. Contact numbers are Tel. 506-451-3644, Fax. 506-451-5925. master.ca

Grrowing in Londo on B & B Trade Distribution Centree held the grand opening of its London, Ont., location, loca at 1950 Oxford St St. E E., on May 7 7. The ne new 100,000 sq. ft. facility is the hub of the company’s new high-tech logistics system that controls deliveries right across Southern Ontario on a daily basis. The company has also hired additional employees as part of an aggressive expansion plan. Here, company president Tom Boutette thanks visitors and suppliers for taking part in the event.

New agency announces lines Currently representing Smart Electric, Smart Tools, Mr. Cool, Radonaway and Spruce, GHC Sales Agency, a manufacturer’s representative ﬁrm, was recently launched by Glenn Curtis. Curtis has more than 25 years of experience in the HVAC, electrical and plumbing markets. The agency can be reached at Tel. 905-691-2545

bbtrade.ca

Equipco adds line in Ontario

ghcsales.com

Thermo 2000, manufacturer of heating systems for domestic hot water and hydronic heating systems, recently announced that G.S. Equipco Ontario Ltd. (Equipco) has been appointed as its manufacturer’s representative p in Ontario. Equipco is a dedicated manufacturer’s representative agency serving Ontario and the western provinces. equipcoltd.com thermo2000.com

Liberty Pumps announces major expansion Liberty Pumps, a manufacturer of sump, sewage and wastewater pumps is undergoing a major expansion of its facilities in Bergen, NY. The construction will double the size of the current facility, from which the company supplies product to the Canadian marketplace.

Ecco Supply adds Loren Cook ECCO Supply has entered into a strategic agreement with the Loren Cook Company to be the exclusive distributor of Loren Cook Company fans, blowers, gravity vents, laboratory exhaust systems, and energy recovery ventilators for the province of British Columbia.

libertypumps.com

Wolseley adds in Markham Wolseley Canada recently hosted a grand opening event at its new location in Markham, Ont. The facility, located at 95 Shields Crt., features a full line of HVAC/R as well as plumbing products.

eccosupply.ca

wolseleyinc.ca

M e c h a n i c a l

B u s i n e s s

0 6 . 1 5

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06.15

People in the news www.mechanicalbusiness.com ANDREW CLARK is now the director of national sales with Novanni Stainless Steel Sinks. A 20-year veteran of the wholesale and distribution segments of the plumbing trades, Clark will be working from the company’s manufacturing facility in Coldwater, Ont., as well as his ofﬁce north of Toronto.

Franke Kindred Canada Limited recently introduced SHAUN DESROCHES (right) as senior vicepresident, sales and marketing. He started with the company 19 years ago, starting out in commercial sales. From 2006 to 2012, he was one of the principal owners of Great Lakes Marketing Inc., which represented Franke Kindred product in Ontario market. He rejoined Franke Kindred as director of sales and marketing in 2012. The company also recently introduced DAVID MCNAMARA (left) as product development manager. A 19-year veteran at Franke, he has held various roles at the company, including quality assurance supervisor, product development engineer and productions scheduler.

After 42 years of service at Rheem Canada, STEVE EMBREUS decided to retire in May. Over the years he served in numerous roles at the company, including handling duties in engineering, quality and most recently technical services and training. Steve also helped design Rheem’s ﬁrst power vent water heater.

M e c h a n i c a l

As part of its recently announced restructuring efforts, Taco has made a number of management adjustments and promotions at its international head ofﬁce. TODD FACEY (1) is now senior vice-president of residential sales; BRYAN PAYNE (2) is senior vicepresident for engineered products and systems, with responsibility for engineered products and systems sales applications engineering, sales support, ﬁeld sales, Taco University, Taco Canada and international sales; GREG CASE (3) is the executive vice-president, research and new product development; ROBERT LEE (4) has been named executive vice-president of operations and is responsible for operational activities for the company’s circulator, commercial pump, controls and electronics and Fall River divisions, as well as for Canadian and American facilities and warehouse operations; CHRIS INTEGLIA (5) is executive vice-president, strategy and business development; and GENE FINA (6) has been introduced as vice-president of marketing.

WaterFurnace recently announced the appointment of SCOTT HONEGGER to its commercial team as senior applications engineer for applied products. In his new role, Honegger will provide guidance and technical support before the sale in Canada and the U.S.

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MICHELLE STANFORD (top) has joined Wolseley Canada as the company’s new general manager, sales strategy, plumbing and HVAC/R. Her duties include the development of processes that enhance sales efﬁciency and productivity. Also at Wolseley, both MELKON OZTURNAYAN (middle) and WILLIAM MARSHALL (bottom) have joined the Markham, Ont., Plumbing and HVAC/R branch as inside sales representatives.

DENIS VIOLETTE has joined The Master Group’s new location in Fredericton, N.B. as branch director. He has spent the past two years at the company’s Moncton branch. Violette will be assisted by branch representatives RODNEY JARDINE and ALAN LEGERE, and warehouseman DAVID LEAVITT. Carlo Gavazzi has named VINESH KUMAR account manager for Alberta. With more than a decade of sales experience with electrical and automation products, he has represented a number of major names in the industry. Thermo 2000 recently announced that NICO PELLEGRINO is now the company’s technical sales specialist for Canada. He will provide technical sales support and training for customers and manufacturer’s agencies across the country. A master plumber and steamﬁtter, he has more than 30 years of experience in the mechanical sector.

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06.15

Proﬁle T. David Underwood: Making connections with ASHRAE

Born to be an entrepreneur, and driven toward excellence in engineering, ASHRAE’s incoming president, David Underwood, started his mechanical sector career with Trane, becoming a franchise holder prior to establishing his own business, Isotherm Engineering Ltd., a design/build contractor in the HVAC/R ﬁeld in 1975. He is only the fourth Canadian to serve as president of ASHRAE over the organization’s 120-plus years of existence. Underwood, a civil engineer by training, has been quite involved in furthering the knowledge and acceptance of commissioning

How did you become active in the highly specialized area of commissioning?

Photos: David Chidley

in the HVAC/R sector, sitting on technical committees, aiding in the development of industry manuals, and even contributing articles and advice to Mechanical Business magazine. As the incoming president of such an international organization, his passport is going to get a workout in the coming months, especially since the theme of his presidency is “Making Connections”. We managed to corner him between international ﬂights to learn a little more about him, and the beneﬁts of the commissioning process.

All of our Isotherm Engineering projects required system performance veriﬁcation and operator training. This activity, which was commissioning in nature, preceded ASHRAE’s detailed methodology and procedures for this discipline.

Why is commissioning important for HVAC and refrigeration systems?

The commissioning authority acts as a third party negotiator to improve both the construction processes and operational processes. Commissioning assists in appropriate scheduling, to reduce or eliminate mistakes in installation and/or operation. It improves quality control of the construction and operational processes to the beneﬁt of the building owners and occupants.

DID YOU KNOW? David enjoys reading historical ﬁction, and considers himself to be a political junky.

Q A

M e c h a n i c a l

LIVING THE THEME The theme for David’s presidential term is Making Connections, and he has a plan to help deliver on that theme. Over the next year, he aims to encourage more members to participate in local chapter activities and increase access to ASHRAE education materials for 178 chapters. He is also aiming to increase ASHRAE’s connection with employers, while engaging the public to show the value proposition in sustainability and effective indoor quality (IAQ).

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During my career, the most interesting development is the acceptance in the industry of commissioning as a discipline.

Q A

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

When I was 16 years old, I saw a movie called Twelve Angry Men. That movie demonstrates that involving a group of people with comparable capabilities enhances good decision making. The process of commissioning is dependent on this type of group dynamics.

BIO Name: T. David Underwood, P.Eng Title: President-elect ASHRAE; CPMP (ASHRAE, Certiﬁed Commissioning Process Management Professional) Born in: Regina, Sask. Resides in: Oakville, Ont. Family: Wife Jane, daughters Kristen and Kathryn, and 5 grandchildren, ages 7 to 16 years. Joined the industry: 1964 Joined ASHRAE: 1972

What’s the most interesting development you’ve seen when it comes to commissioning?

Tell us a little about your involvement with industry associations.

During my career I have been closely associated with ASHRAE and the Ontario Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractors Association. My motivation has always been to give back to an industry that provided our family a decent living and an excellent way of life. I also enjoyed interaction with my fellow practitioners. When I ﬁrst joined ASHRAE, I certainly had no aspirations to serve as the president. It is a large and humbling honour to have been elected to this position by my peers.

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T A

COOLING REPORT 2015

B y A d am Fr eill

An ongoing

Evolution E

fﬁciency and regulations continue to be key drivers

for product development in the comfort cooling market as the 2015 summer season comes into view. With governments on both

Driving sales beyond weather

sides of the border targeting

Although weather continues to be the biggest initiator

refrigerants with high global

of sales in the residential sector, directing consumers

warming potentials (GWPs),

through equipment options, along with year-round and

new gases, and some old familiar

scheduled HVAC needs in commercial space, means that

ones, are garnering attention.

contractors still need to focus on more than minimum efﬁciency equipment when and where a heat wave hits.

Meanwhile, operational costs of equipment are

“Despite the weather, which is a key driver for residential

also grabbing the attention of consumers looking

HVAC, ensuring the indoor environment in a commercial

for HVAC systems, in both the residential and

building achieves the mission of the business is critical,”

commercial marketplaces. Add in such issues as noise

explains Timo Lucas, national equipment leader with

complaints between neighbours and advances in

Trane Canada. “For example, hospitals need their HVAC

technologies, and it’s anything but quiet times in the

systems to meet indoor air quality guidelines in patient

air conditioning world.

rooms or in surgical suites.”

High-Efficiency AC Comfort-Aire’s 16 SEER condensers for R-410A are available in 2- to 5-ton sizes and feature corrosion-resistant micro-channel coils, high-pressure switches to protect against high system pressures and heavyduty scroll compressors. The RSG 1660 has a two-stage compressor. A liquid-lined filter drier is included for field installation. Compressor and control access is located on the side of the unit.

Ductless Air Conditioners

Residential Air Conditioner

The Daikin 15 Series is available in heat pump or cooling-only models. Using inverter technology, the units provide 15 SEER, 8.2 HSPF, and up to 12.2 EER efﬁciency. They operate on R-410A refrigerant and are equipped with a remote control.

Frigidaire has added the FS4BG 20-SEER air conditioner to its lineup of air conditioners. The unit includes an inverter-driven rotary compressor and is available in 2- to 5-ton capacities. It operates at 59 dBA. It also includes an allaluminum micro-channel condenser coil.

aitons.com

daikincomfort.com

frigidaire.net

C o oling

Pr oducts

• D ri v in g s a l e s b e y o n d weat h er • K eep it d o wn o u t t h er e

With homeowners, the move to 13-SEER products happened a few years ago, but those looking for operational savings, or who want to go with a “better than minimum” system, should be presented with higher SEER options. “Using a higher efﬁciency A/C unit will allow the homeowner to get rid of the heat and keep the home more comfortable, while minimizing the electrical

Keep it down out there

utility cost,” explains Johan Martensson, director of HVAC research and design at Napoleon.

With higher density building in many urban centres in In addition to homeowners looking at higher SEER

Canada, municipalities are turning to bylaws to help

air conditioners, advances in technology have many

achieve harmony amongst neighbours, and this has put

consumers considering the use of heat pumps to

a focus on the noise levels generated by unitary HVAC

service a considerable portion, if not their year-round,

equipment.

HVAC needs. “The two main noise generators are the compressor and “Traditionally, heat pumps were thought of as

the condenser fan,” explains Johan Martensson, director

products only for the Sunbelt in North America due to performance that fell quickly as outdoor temperatures approached freezing,” says Kelly Hearnsberger, vicepresident of product marketing with Daikin North

of HVAC research and design at Napoleon. To combat this in the split-systems his company produces, they mount the compressor on rubber isolators and have incorporated other measures designed to minimize the transmission of

America. “Heat pump technology has improved

vibration and noise to the condenser housing. They have

constantly over the past several years with higher

also researched the style of fan condenser blade to help

heating efﬁciencies and strong performance at

reduce noise from the units. Many other manufacturers are

temperatures well below freezing. It is now very

taking similar measures.

common for HVAC contractors to install heat pumps.”

The Cooling Report continues on page 22

Portable Heat Pump

Ductless Split System Fujitsu’s 33-SEER ductless split system can operate at ambient temperatures down to minus-15°F for heating and 14°F for cooling. Capacities range from 9,000 to 15,000 BTUH. Extra Low Temp Heating (XLTH) models feature a built-in base heater and drainage holes so that condensation doesn’t freeze and can drain out when ambient temps are low. All RLS3H inverter wall-mount systems are available as split system heat pumps.

The Climate Pro 19 portable heat pump from MovinCool is designed to provide 14,600 BTUH of cooling and 13,700 BTUH of heating capacity at 115V, 20 amps power. It is selfcontained and features a programmable digital controller for automatic operation. Its LCD display provides on-screen diagnostics with instructions to start, setup or restore operation.

fujitsugeneral.com

C o oling

movincool.com

Residential and Light Commercial Two to 5-ton LX Series packaged units from York feature a 14 SEER rating and are optimized for heating and cooling for residential and light commercial buildings. The units come with a single-cabinet design, an exact-ﬁt gas/electric hookup, copper tube/aluminum ﬁn condenser coils, a single-stage compressor, and single-stage gas heat.

york.com

Pr oducts

COOLING REPORT 2015

continued from page 21

Of course, sometimes it is the installation location that’s causing noise issues. “When installing units on concrete patios, the noise will be magniﬁed substantially due to the hard surfaces,” says Ron Vanhevel, technical services manager with Rheem Canada. “The condenser should be located in an area were the sound is unobjectionable.” “The natural tendency when selecting the location for the condensing unit is to tuck it away, so that is out of the main sightline, especially as the trend for lot sizes is getting

The Cooling Report continues on page 24

A New Chiller or an Energy Valve?

Split System Bosch Thermotechnology has introduced a split system version of its FHP LV Model package heat pump for commercial applications. The heat pump comes in eight sizes, ranging from 1.5 to 6 tons, with up to 5.3 COP/16.9 EER. Thermal expansion valves (TXV) are included as a standard feature.

boschheatingandcooling.com

Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps Rheem’s Prestige Series heat pumps and air conditioners are rated to a minimum of 20-SEER performance on all cooling capacities. Heat pumps are designed to deliver a minimum of 13-HSPF heating efﬁciency. Units come with composite base pan and commercial-grade electronic expansion valves, single-row condenser coils and a tubing design that is engineered to minimize vibration and stress.

Y OUR C HOIICE CE YOUR CHOICE

rheem.com

Low Delta T syndrome? Yorkland Controls Ltd, together with Belimo, have the solutions.

Outdoor Inverter Unit The Unico iSeries outdoor inverter line of multi-split outdoor units can connect to both high wall units and ducted air handling units at the same time. The series includes units that range in size from 1 to 4 tons. They have an operating range from -25°F to 122°F, and are rated up to 20 SEER.

www.yorkland.net 1-877-733-3833

M e c h a n i c a l

B u s i n e s s

unicosystem.com

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Why are homeowners talking about Goodman?

Seems like lots of people are talking about the Goodman® brand these days. Nearly every day, comments and ratings from homeowners across North America are now being captured and placed on display. To find out how homeowners rate Goodman brand products simply visit or www.goodmanmfg.com/reviews. Goodman Locations 1055 Cardiff Blvd., Mississauga, ON L5S 1P4 1161 Parisien Street, Ottawa, ON K1B 4W4 15700 Robins Hill Road, London, ON N5V 0A4 46 Zatonski Avenue, Brantford, ON N3T 5L8 8305 Jane Street, Unit 3, Vaughan, ON L4K 5Y3 963 Brock Road, Suite 1-5, Pickering, ON L1W 3A4 41 Brockley Dr, Unit #8, Hamilton, ON L8E 3C3 2640 Jacques Cartier-Est, Longueuil, QC J4N 1P8 4313 Autoroute Des Laurentides, Laval, QC H7L 5W5 6741 Cariboo Road, Unit 111, Burnaby, BC V3N 4A3 18043 111th Avenue, Edmonton, AB T5S 2P2 7007 54th Street SE, #141, Calgary, AB T2C 3C2 807 60th Street E, Saskatoon, SK S7K 5Z7 107 Mountianview Rd., Unit 1, Winnipeg, MB R3C 2E6

Spoiler Alert: Regardless of the type of Goodman brand product, the reviews are quite exceptional. When homeowners have their local dealer install a new Goodman brand heating or cooling system, it’s not unusual to get a review that reinforces the brand’s slogan, “Thank goodness for Goodman®”.

Review*

++++ 4.7

I purchased this equipment after researching the major brands and speaking to several HVAC installers. The equipment is well built and a m. The installer great value. Goodman has an excellent warranty program. uality. I noticed was professional and his workmanship is of the highest quality. m impressed at an immediate difference in the comfort of my home. I am how quiet the unit is. - smithke

*Goodman uses the industry leader in homeowner reviews, BazaarVoice, to administer and validate the reviews you see on the website. This means reviews are directly from homeowners, with checks to prevent fabrication, modiﬁcation, or fraudulent activities. To see how Goodman authenticates reviews, please see BazaarVoice’s Authentication Policy at www.goodmanmfg.com

For more information about the complete high-efficiency value product line from Goodman, simply contact your local Goodman brand distributor or sales representative. Our continuing commitment to quality products may mean a change in speciﬁcations without thout notice. © 2015 Goodman Manufacturing Company, L.P. · Houston, Texas · USA

www.goodmanmfg.com manmfg.com

905-564-9791 613-745-3846 519-453-1200 519-757-0965 905-760-2737 905-420-4001 905-573-6565 450-674-3883 450-681-2220 604-420-1331 780-443-3072 403-250-6579 306-651-7350 204-633-9133

COOLING REPORT 2015 continued from page 22 smaller,” adds Martensson. If the location is too close to a wall, or if the homeowner tries to hide the unit with shrubs, this can actually create more of a problem with noise. “Too close to the side of the condensing unit and it will restrict the ﬂow which, in turn, will create extra pressure drop and the unit will run noisier and be less efﬁcient. It will run longer and thereby cause extra noise,” he says.

Changes in sight Governing bodies in North America are focused on the global warming potential (GWP) of refrigerants used in comfort cooling systems, and while exact regulations or legislation have yet to be put in place, it is widely accepted that a phase down or phase out of HFCs is on its way, and it will be based on the GWP of certain chemicals. “The focus on GWP of refrigerants will have a big impact on the air conditioning and refrigeration industry, along with any other industry which uses refrigerants that possess GWP,” says Vanhevel of Rheem Canada. “We have no way of knowing at this point what type of phase out schedule could be imposed,” adds Hearnsberger. “However, if we were to make assumptions that it would be similar to the transition from R-22 to R-410A, a logical time frame would be made available to ease the burden for all involved.”

“The focus of GWP of refrigerants will have a big impact on the air conditioning and refrigeration industry, along with any other industry which uses refrigerants that possess GWP,” says Ron Vanhevel of Rheem Canada.

Some replacement options are already being researched and included in market offerings. From the EPA’s recent announcement that will see R-32, a chlorine-free, single-component refrigerant with a GWP that is about a third that of R-410A, added to the SNAP program in the U.S., to the use of CO2 and ammonia, change is readily happening, and that will continue. “We expect these new refrigerants will also bring the potential of new options and solutions that have not previously been available in the marketplace,” says Trane’s Lucas. “Next-generation refrigerants will be low global warming potential refrigerants. These will be both hydroﬂuorooleﬁns (HFOs) and HFO-HFC blends with a GWP maximum threshold of 750.” Of course, says Napoleon’s Martensson, “By the time all this is in place it will be a few years and there will be enough lead time to get up to speed on it.”

M e c h a n i c a l

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WHOLESALE SALES

B y K evin Gill

Behind the curtain B

e it a breakdown at a cold storage facility, delivering HVAC/R solutions for new construction projects, or a customer with an ancient condensing unit that just won’t put up with another summer, our trade is on high alert 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. So what is it that we, as wholesalers, can do to adapt to what contractors require for day-to-day needs, especially as the industry prepares for the busy summer season?

Kevin Gill is an outside sales rep for refrigeration and commercial HVAC in Southern Ontario with The Master Group Inc. He can be reached at kgill@master.ca.

DID YOU KNOW? Wholesalers often have the ability to alter inventory levels in their respective branches, so you can always ask for them to bulk up on speciﬁc items you tend to use, in order to bring more value to you and your clients.

SERVICE & KNOWLEDGE

Service and knowledge take the number 1 spot because they are the very foundation our trade is built upon. From manufacturers and wholesalers, to contractors and end users, everything is based on good ol’ service. How many times do you call a company and a computer answers the telephone? Everyone wants to hear “Hello” on the other end of a phone when they put out a call. Beyond having live and real people on the phones and at the counters of branches, wholesalers also strive to have exceptional knowledge behind those counters, so that we can get technicians in and out in a punctual fashion with the right parts. Counter and inside sales staff are critical allies in the battle to source, cross reference, and procure the products required. Keeping up with current digital technology, drop-in refrigerants, and technical bulletins are some of the things that wholesalers do to stay on the cutting edge of the 21st century.

As a contractor, tap into the substantial knowledge your wholesaler has in order to help solve technical issues, design HVAC/R systems and source the “oddball” items. Don’t be afraid to ask your wholesaler or the inside sales department when you have one of those “special applications”. You’d be amazed at how much some of the employees at the branch have seen over the years, and what they can advise. To that end, we are always looking for quality tradespeople to join our teams across Canada to bring value to the HVAC/R trades.

Kevin Gill with the team at The Master Group’s Mississauga branch.

INVENTORY If your wholesaler doesn’t have it, you can’t buy it!

Reputable wholesalers keep their thumb on the pulse of seasonal changes, and prepare for the hot summer months, stocking up on items like refrigerant, copper, compressors, rooftop units, etc. Quantities of inventory vary from wholesaler to wholesaler, however we strive to have enough available for both project orders and walk-in orders without impairing inventory levels. Having one of everything doesn’t cut it in the market we have today, and with only a handful of wholesalers to choose from, we should all be at our best.

M e c h a n i c a l

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PRICING

At the end of the day, the almighty dollar will be a major factor in dictating what people buy and where people buy it, but in some cases, you get what you pay for. Having strong service, good inventory and a sales representative dedicated to your account may be where your real savings lie. Just because a part costs $50 at one supplier instead of $60 at another doesn’t mean you are saving money at the lower-priced supply shop. There’s more to the bottom line than that. Windshield time, freight charges, fast procurement, payment terms, troubleshooting assistance, and a number of other factors all contribute to how much your company makes at the end of each year, and the price of a part on a purchase order is only one of the factors to consider when deciding who you do business with.

MCEE

MÉCANEX/CLIMATEX/EXPOLECTRIQ/ÉCLAIRAGE

MCEE 2015 draws a crowd

More than 6,000 visitors, along with booth staff from almost 400 exhibiting companies, attended MCEE, the largest trade show and conference for the plumbing, hydronics, HVAC/R, electrical and lighting industries in Canada this year. The two-day trade show and conference took place in Montreal April 22 and 23, and was well received by exhibitors and attendees alike. “MCEE 2015 was an excellent show, the best ever,” said Ken Webster of Viessmann Manufacturing. “We were very happy with both the quantity and quality of visitors we met at the Viessmann booth. We will be back in 2017.” “We are particularly happy to hear the positive feedback about the quality of visitors this year,” stated CMMTQ executive director André Bergeron. In addition to checking out product on the show ﬂoor, visitors also packed the New Product Showcase near the 6 show entrance to check out the ﬁnalists in the product competition. A full list of winners is available on the MCEE website. Many of those attendees also took in one or more of the 26 seminars offered over the two-day event with most sessions drawing a considerable audience. The next edition of MCEE will take place April 26 and 27, 2017, in Montreal. mcee.ca

1. This year’s show had busy aisles as visitors went looking for what’s new in the mechanical sector. 2. The new product showcase and competition attracted considerable attention from visitors. 3. Show committee chair Jeff Clarke welcomes exhibitors and special guests on the eve of the show. 4. Serge Abi-Nader, product specialist and development manager with Hilti Canada, discusses building information modeling (BIM) during one of the many seminars. 5. Dwight Einwechter (left) talks soldering with visitors at the Victor Technologies/TurboTorch booth. 6. CIPH president and gm Ralph Suppa (left) and CMMTQ executive director André Bergeron (right) present Greg Bork of Flir Canada with the product of the year award for the FLIR C2 Thermal Imaging System. 7. The Delta Faucet team receives the MCEE New Product Competition Award in the plumbing ﬁxtures and faucets category for its Delta Temp20 hand showers. 8. The piping, ﬁttings and accessories category winner in the products competition was IPEX, for its Drain-Guard DWV double-wall pipe.

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PLUMBING

B y Fr ed B r et zke

Moen

Fred Bretzke is a full-time pipe trades instructor with SAIT Polytechnic in Calgary and the general manager of A&B Plumbing & Heating. He can be reached at fred.bretzke@sait.ca.

Renovations:

The good, the bad, and the disgusting R

enovations tend to be popular in any economy, and since the most noticed or important rooms of a house are usually the kitchen and bathrooms, those tend to be high on the retroﬁt lists of homeowners. Of course there are also changes in business activities, so there’s also a commercial renovation market to be had as well. With all this opportunity, plumbers tend to build up a good stack of stories to share after the tools are put away. I thought I might share some advice that I use in my own company, as well as a story about a quote request that turned into a whole lot more.

7 Tips from the Trade Having participated in thousands of renovations, I know that there are numerous factors that affect the outcome of a renovation. Here are some things for you, and for your customer, to consider: work quality of a tradesman: Is he 1 The experienced and qualiﬁed? Does he know the code?

2 The price: You need a realistic budget to work with. The state of the renovated area: Is there enough 3 room to work?

A shower to avoid Any time I participate in a residential renovation, where the plumbing drainage is cut, I always explain to my plumbers and the homeowner that the water should be shut off and the toilet tanks drained.

That’s something that is out of our 4 Weather: control. Are the timeframes realistic for your 5 Time: company and your employees?

I cannot tell you how many times I’ve seen naïve plumbers just tell the customer not to use the facilities during the renovation. A short time later they’ll be standing on a step ladder in front of an open drain pipe, with mouth opened in awe, as they are showered with waste from a flushed toilet.

Who is buying them? Are they of 6 Materials: suitable quality? The warranty: Is it 90 days, or 90 steps? How long 7 will the company with the winning bid warranty the project? Moen

It’s easy to forget that the pipes are all connected, or will be once the plumbers are done working in the basement.

The 3 things a customer usually looks at: • Does it look good? • Does it work? • Was it the right price?

continues on page 32

M e c h a n i c a l

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PLUMBING

continued from page 31

installed with a union, check valve and isolation valve on the discharge pipe to allow for maintenance or efďŹ cient replacement.

What a bloody mess!

There was no real way of knowing whether this pump was working unless you opened the back ďŹ&#x201A;oor door hatch and peeked into the dungeon below. Did I mention it smelled bad all the time?

Commercial renovations are not always what they seem to be, especially in older buildings.

It does say in the code that the sump pump should be water and airtight to prevent backing up into the basement. This was not the case, however.

Back in the day, like in the â&#x20AC;&#x2122;80s, my company serviced a commercial business that procured and tanned animal skins. The building was about the size and shape of a gymnasium, with a steel perforated ďŹ&#x201A;oor, and a subbasement (crawl space) that was around ďŹ ve feet deep.

One day the odour was so rank that even the owner noticed, so he opened the hatch and peered into the crawl space. There was a rung ladder on the wall that lowered into the depths of the crawl space. When the owner turned on the lights, he noticed that the blood was up to the third rung of the ladder. He immediately called the plumber.

Animal skins were hung in the air to allow for blood to drip onto the perforated ďŹ&#x201A;oor, and then down into the sub-basement. The blood would collect and travel down a graded trough to the front of the building, where it would drain into a sewage sump and then discharge up a pipe and out to the street sewer.

I happened to be on call that Friday afternoon. This would be the worst plumbing service call I would ever experience. I arrived at the site, prepared, with ďŹ shing waders and long gloves â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d heard this was a requirement. The manager brought me to the hatch. I took a deep breath and proceeded down the ladder into the depths of hell. It was like a scene out of a horror movie. I walked through a two-foot lake of blood and sewage from the back of the building to the front.

Sewage sumps are installed where the city street sewer is higher than the building drain, and they are also

I was just about to pull the pump when suddenly a burst of light hit, like the heavens had opened. It was not an angel, but a fellow plumber who had opened the huge front ďŹ&#x201A;oor hatch for the proper sump access. Apparently the manager did not know it existed.

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Fast forward at least 15 years: Now this animal hide place is a commercial plastic fabricating business. I was called in to procure a quote for some bathroom renovations at the back of the building.

Evacuates waste nearly twice as far.

The building shape was basically the same, except for a few subtle changes â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and gone was the sub-basement. They must have raised the building drain and covered in the basement.

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As I was about to calculate my bathroom estimate, the new manager asked if I could examine a problem they had in the front of the building. Apparently some employees were complaining about a smell that came from a crack in the concrete ďŹ&#x201A;oor.

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As nightmares came rushing through my head, I explained the history of the building. The next day we cored sample holes throughout the length of the building only to discover smelly reddish mud oozing out of each hole. Upon further testing, we discovered it to be a combination of fecal matter, blood, water and soil. We ended up being there for two months, removing the ďŹ&#x201A;oor and at least six feet of saturated, contaminated soil below the building. When they changed the business, the sub-basement was excavated but not all of the contaminated ďŹ ll was removed. New, clean ďŹ ll was put over it.

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After weeks of searching and digging, we had discovered that the rain water leaders were improperly joined to the downspouts in the ground, thereby draining rain water under the building. This saturated the earth, causing the poorly braced building drain to leak, and the blood-saturated earth below to mix with the clean ďŹ ll.

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HYDRONICS

B y E r ic R im l Eric Riml is a certiﬁed hydronic designer working in Calgary, Alta. He can be reached at hydronichelp@gmail.com.

Mixing boilers in light commercial systems

n light commercial systems, where we could either install a single large boiler or several smaller ones, the main reason to stage boilers is to reduce cycling and ignition inefficiencies. Since we have to size boilers for “worst case” conditions, which occur less than three per cent of the year, the rest of the time our installation is oversized for the load. Being able to leave some boilers off allows for longer run times on the remaining boilers, and allows us to adjust our capacity based on the actual load. This case is true even when modulating boilers are introduced, because most boilers cannot modulate at more than a five-to-one ratio, meaning they can only drop as low as 20 per cent of their capacity, and more importantly, they don’t operate at their advertised efficiency throughout their firing range (with some exceptions). The second reason to stage boilers is for redundancy. There’s no emergency quite like a no-heat call on Christmas Day, at 2 a.m. in the morning, when it’s -30°C outside. Having multiple boilers gives a little more buffer, where at least some heat will be delivered to help keep a building from freezing up.

WHY COMBINE BOILER TYPES? The main reason to combine condensing and non-condensing boilers is to suit multiple temperature requirements in the same system, where the system is large enough to require multiple boilers. In my experience, the controls required to truly combine the plant, allowing different boiler types to share multiple loads, is more expensive in controls and more complex than is warranted for most installations. It’s usually better to size dedicated boilers for loads of widely different temperatures. Let’s use the example of a small office building that has been renovated and expanded. They have added snowmelt to the parking ramp of the new parking garage, slab heating on the main floor of the expansion, and baseboard in the upper floors. The older part of the building uses high-temp baseboard.

All of this assumes that the mechanical room has space for more than one boiler, of course. However, some rack-mounted boiler configurations can be fit into spaces that could normally only accommodate a single floor-mounted boiler.

WHY USE CONVENTIONAL BOILERS AT ALL? The short answer is that non-condensing boilers are generally cheaper to install and are often more reliable, as they tend to have simpler controls and fewer parts that could break down. They also use less power because they don’t need the powerful fan motors used in mod/con boilers. However, in some installations, especially ones with slab heating or snowmelt, condensing boilers are so much more efﬁcient that they will always be worth the additional costs.

Most of the heating season, because of the old baseboard, you will need supply temperatures of at least 140°F to 160°F. However, the snowmelt and slab loads should never need temperatures this high. Yet, you will face many occasions where you’ll need to run all three loads simultaneously. For this example, let’s assume that the high-temp load is signiﬁcantly larger than the slab load, and the snowmelt load is sizable but infrequent. Your ﬁrst thought might be, “So we run a dedicated boiler for each, easy!” However, because the slab load is small, it would be better to mix that continued on page 36

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delivery temperature down with an injection pump and mixing control, and use a high-temp boiler to do most of the heating, which is all high-temp. The snowmelt load will be large compared to most of the heating, and it would not make sense to size the heating boilers a lot larger to suit the infrequent load, so I would probably recommend one or two smaller, but dedicated, condensing boilers for the snowmelt load.

Can I use conventional boilers for my base load? I think of this as a trick question. Is your system high temp? Then yes, use conventional boilers for everything and stage multiple, smaller boilers for anything past your base load. Are parts of your system low-temp? If they are large enough to accommodate their own condensing boiler, then install a dedicated boiler for that, or use a mixing device and mixing control to supply the required low-temperature water.

CONDENSING BOILERS IN HIGH-TEMP SYSTEMS It is possible, even if a system is designed for high-temp (above 140°F), to use outdoor reset to reach condensing supply temperatures in what we term the “shoulder seasons” of the spring and fall. What happens in this case is that you use controls to reduce your supply temperatures as the outdoor temperature climbs, such that your return water temperature dips into condensing range for a signiﬁcant part of the year. I would argue that you can’t just implement this strategy on an older system that isn’t designed for it, as most high-temp baseboard in older systems outputs very little heat at lower temperatures, since they mostly rely on natural convection (movement of air based on temperature differential) to supply heat to the space.

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Combining condensing and non-condensing boilers may actually get you some efficiency gains in some situations. If you are using the condensing boiler for the shoulder seasons, where you could get away with return temperatures that dip into the condensing range, using outdoor resets, and the boilers are sized such that the secondary conventional boiler(s) only need to fire when you need supply temperatures greater than 140°F, this arrangement might work well. If you also have a DHW load, you could use the conventional boiler as the main source of DHW supply water, using an indirect DHW tank, and only have it come online for the heating system when the lead boiler fails to keep up, which is likely only a small portion of the year. You will still need some form of mixing valve on the high-temp boiler(s), however, to protect against low return water temperatures. This could save a lot of headaches and finger pointing if, for example, the lead boiler fails and no one notices for several months. A dedicated lead boiler also prevents you from doing an equal run-time rotation on your boilers, so the lead condensing boiler is likely to wear much faster than the conventional one.

What you need are higher-mass radiators, which will still supply a decent amount of heat at lower temperatures, even if they are still considered “high temp” at full output.

CONDENSING BOILERS AS THE LEAD

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HYDRONIC

Products

Zone Valves ZoneTight QCV zone valves from Belimo are designed for use in tight spaces. The range is engineered with a zero leakage ball valve design and is resistant to clogging. It offers ﬁeld adjustable ﬂow and is equipped with a two-way or three-way ball valve and an electronic rotary actuator. The valve has an installation height of 4-1/3”.

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Water Temperature Regulator Taco’s SR501-OR FuelMizer is a microprocessor-based control designed to regulate the supply water temperature of a single boiler, based on the outdoor temperature. The device is a boiler reset control and switching relay in one unit, and can be used for retroﬁt or new installations. Functions include warm weather shutdown, minimum boiler temperature setting, and boiler differential setting.

Pre-engineered Boiler Panels els HeatLink’s ECO, V100, and CAD lines of pre-engineered hydronic control panels are made for use with Weil-McLain’s ECO, Viessmann’s Vitodens 100, and Lochinvar’s Cadet series of high-efﬁciency wall mounted boilers. The boiler panels come complete with a 24V (AC) plug-in transformer and simple wiring connections.

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Fire Tube Boiler Line Lochinvar’s FTXL ﬁre tube boiler for light commercial applications comes in ﬁve models ranging from 399,999 to 850,000 BTUH. Its multi-colour LCD interface and operating system offer the option of direct integration into a Building Automation System through such communication protocols as Modbus or BACnet. Up to eight FTXL units can be cascaded, bringing total input up to 6.8 million BTUH.

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Geothermal Heat Pump WaterFurnace International's 5 Series 504W11 hydronic geothermal heat pump uses vapour injection technology to generate water temperatures up to 150°F. Offering efﬁciencies up to 16.1 EER and 3.3 COP, the heat pump can be used with baseboard radiator systems, under-ﬂoor radiant applications and fan coils. The units can operate in heating-only or heating/cooling modes.

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Marketing with DOUG MACMILLAN

Marketing in the Dog Days Can you reach customers in the summertime? Absolutely!

h, the dog days of summer: when our thoughts turn to docks, patios and tall, cool beverages. Unless folks are sweating through an unbearable heat wave with inoperable central air or a sleep-disturbing window shaker, their minds aren’t necessarily on their HVAC systems.

Doug MacMillan is president of The Letter M Marketing in Guelph, Ont. To reach him, email doug@thelettermmarketing.com.

It’s a common belief that consumers are ignoring marketing in favour of relaxing at the cottage, beach or campground. Yet A/C and home renovation seasons are in full swing, so smart contractors want to be in heavy marketing mode. Beyond just catching customers in need of cooling, a new faucet, sink or toilet, the summer is also a great time to remind them that heating season is around the corner. Let’s face it, the best time to change out a furnace or boiler is before it hits 40-below.

Summer marketing: 101

1 Get creative Is it possible to break through the summer haze and reach customers? It is, but not in the typical ways. There are dozens of examples of brands (other than beer and sunscreen) that take advantage of the summer to connect with customers. The most recent may be last summer’s “share a Coke” campaign, introducing timelimited products printed with given names like “Hannah” or titles like “BFFs”. It was a great success, generating buzz, free PR and lots of trending activity on social media.

M e c h a n i c a l

Go where the people are gathering There are thousands of summer events – from lumberjack festivals to ribfests, art and craft displays to fireworks shows, you’ll find people gathering to enjoy the weather and a feeling of community. Join the party with a sponsorship, giveaway, booth or table, or run a special game or other activity to be noticed. Often you can bring your company vehicle for added profile.

Practice Random Acts of Summertime

Celebrate the season with surprise gifts for customers or the general public. The ideas are limited only by your imagination. Show up at a customer’s door with a fully loaded picnic basket, just to say thanks. Set up a grown-up version of a lemonade stand at a popular local location and give away refreshing drinks. Remember to bring the camera to grab photos and videos of it all for your website and social media. Tag the folks you’re engaging with for much greater reach.

Provide useful reading material

Most of the time, detailed communications are lost on time-starved consumers. However, we read more in the summer. This is a great time to share details about what’s new in heating technology or advice about preventing heat loss and preparing the house for winter.

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Host your own party

A good-old neighbourhood barbecue or family fun day remains an effective way to engage with the community, say thanks, and keep your name in front of the market. Consider collaborating with other non-competing businesses in the area to share costs.

Market HVAC with the weather

Prepare radio spots, an eblast or Facebook campaign and watch the weather carefully each evening. On super-hot or unusually cold days, prepare to hit “engage” with those prepared ads to tap into the customer’s psyche with timely ads they’re likely to notice.

Create a summer engagement promotion

Host a contest on Facebook or your website for people to share their summer stories and photos for a chance to win a pretty decent prize. This will take some effort to promote the contest, and a steady commitment to sharing the stories and engaging with folks, but it should keep your business on the market’s mind and build a social media following. For decades, contractors have hosted free seminars about keeping heating costs low, or what’s new in heating and cooling technology. These are a tried and true PR tactic for a reason – you can bring value to the market while demonstrating your expertise. Consider putting a twist on the one-way presentation by inviting the audience to be part of the dialogue. Ask them what they expect of a contractor, what frustrates them the most, and where your team could add the most value to them.

GREAT TIPS If summer is a time when competitors are thinking it’s not worth their marketing investment, go full bore with some of these ideas to stand out in their absence.

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Oh, and don’t forget to sit on a dock with a cold one every once in a while, too. After all, winter will be here before we know it.

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PLUMBING

B y P au l M o r gan

Photos courtesy of: David Chidley, Brian Buchsdruecker, ACO Canada, Varicore Technologies, Centaur Products and Toronto 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games

THE

DRAINING GAMES A

lmost everyone can remember at least one killer summer rainstorm. The people of southern Ontario, host to this summer’s Pan Am and Parapan Am Games, don’t need to stretch their minds back too far to recall a local torrent. Toronto was deluged in July of 2013 with more than 100 mm in a two-hour timeframe. Nearby Hamilton was inundated by heavy July rain in 2012. While games chair David Peterson has his fingers crossed for blue skies, and Environment Canada prepares to unleash its Automated Mobile Meteorological Observing System (AMMOS), the truth is, as far as outdoor events go, the Pan Am Games are in the hands of Mother Nature, at least to an extent. Long before the hoarding went up at the CIBC Hamilton Soccer Stadium (Tim Horton’s Field) and the CIBC Athletics Stadium (York University), Doug Clark (pictured, bottom left) and the team at Infracor Consulting were thinking about rain. Heavy rain. Yes, a “force majeure” of rain. Getting that water off the field or track quickly and free of pooling is Clark’s vocation. Sure, a couple of sticks of 450 mm (18”) storm sewer pipe is a good start, but planning to drain the Games’ rainwater is an event itself. Clark hates flat areas because “that’s w where water ponds.” His view is different than a fan of athletics. Upon admission to the CIBC Athletics Soccer Stadium sports fans will see the Stadium or the CIBC Hamilton Socce grandstands and an immaculate sparkling new fields, the roomy roo sees panel drains, trench drains, 400 metre running track. Clark C catch basins and retention tanks. He envisions the seating aareas being washed down posttime recalling pre-construction event by firehose, at the same s simulations aimed at meeting International Association of m Athletics Federations’ (IAAF) written specifications Federatio calling for water to be completely gone 20 minutes post-flood. Fans seek autographs. Clark seeks a trench drain a grate compliant for accessibility, that’s suitable comp for machinery to move over it, and is even machi cleat friendly! frien And while he believes he has the bad weather covered beli for this summer’s Pan Am Games, he’s still hoping for good weather, just don’t expect him to be at venues handing out sunscr sunscreen if the sun shines through.

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THE INSIDE TRACK ON DRAINAGE The York University site, known in Pan Am circles as the CIBC Athletics Stadium, is a marquee venue for Pan Am athletics and track. This stadium hosts the games’ state-of-the-art 400 metre running track, and will also host the Parapan Am Opening Ceremony. Classic events, including steeplechase, pole vaulting and javelin, will highlight July 21 to 25 competitions, along with many other disciplines. The Parapan Am Games will begin August 7 with opening ceremonies there, followed by varying athletics programs. Keeping the track looking cutting-edge and keeping it dry is the task of ACO Systems Ltd. These guys have game. The ACO Group has seen more venues than the Rolling Stones. At York, their System 2000 slot trench drains hug lane one (the inside lane), breaking only for a steeplechase pit and the occasional catch basin. Another run of trench drains parallel most portions of the track exterior, ready to collect grandstand runoff and any renegade streams. Collector pipes downstream of the catch basins reach 450 mm (18”) and are sized to handle far more than realistic rainfalls.

MAGIC UNDER THE FIELD In Hamilton, the new stadium will host both men’s and women’s Pan Am soccer. Beginning Saturday, July 11, 2015, eight men’s under-22 and eight open women’s teams will compete for a piece of Barrick gold. The Canadian women’s team is the defending Pan Am champs, winning gold in Guadalajara (2011). Thirty-two matches will take place, culminating in gold medal games July 25 and 26. Meanwhile, what lies beneath is what will keep the games on schedule if we should encounter a wet mid-July. Multi-Flow Drainage Systems, by Varicore Technologies, was chosen for the project, which includes almost 3,000 metres, or close to 10,000 feet, of panel drain. These high density polyethylene drains are not your grandpa’s weeping tile. We are talking a 25 mm (1”) X 30 mm (12”) perforated super sucker! Laid ﬂat and run diagonally from lengthwise ﬁeld centre to sideline, this pancaked precipitation pipe follows a man-made slope to more standard, round perimeter collector drains. On the perimeter, 200 mm (8”) to 450 mm (18”) round pipe is used to take the unwanted water away.

Getting by with a little help from its friends Dubbed the Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games and Parapan Am Games, with venue locations right across the regions neighbouring the Greater Toronto Area, a case could easily be made to call the event the Southern Ontario Pan Ams. Organizers have found homes for dozens of specialty events all across the map. While the big city can certainly handle all of the 7,500-plus athletes, adequately hosting the wide range of sports has the games spread close to 350 km from furthest north to furthest south. The Niagara Region will host canoeing, kayaking and rowing events, while other competitors, such as the mountain bikers who will converge at Hardwood Mountain Bike Park near Barrie, will travel to other regions. In Minden, the games will have a ﬁrst: a canoe and kayak slalom Pan Am competition on a natural whitewater course! Equestrian events in Caledon and Milton’s new cycling velodrome stretch the Games boundaries to the west, while baseball in Ajax, and boxing in Oshawa target areas east of the city.

continues on page 44

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PLUMBING con’t from page 43 CALCULATING THE RAIN Grabbing the blueprints and diving into a trench – or more correctly, using the appropriate ladder, in a properly shorn-up excavated trench – is often a plumber’s preferred method of installing storm drain piping. After all, how often is it as simple as a backhoe, a level and a tape measure?

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games.

Paul Morgan is a freelance writer.

HIGH-PERFORMANCE HIGH PERFORMANCE HVAC

B y Go r d C o o ke

Gord Cooke is a professional engineer who has spent 20 years helping builders and HVAC contractors implement innovative technologies into highperformance homes. He has particular expertise in IAQ and airﬂow management in houses, and can be contacted at gcooke@airsolutions.ca.

ECM MOTORS AND THEIR ROLE IN EFFICIENT HOMES

A MOTOR TERMINOLOGY The acronym ECM was originally coined by General Electric for its specific product, but it now seems the industry has co-opted this as a generic term for fan motors that provide much higher electrical efficiency than the commonly used permanent split capacitor (PSC) induction motor. Technical journals refer to the more efficient technology as BPM, or brushless, permanent magnet motors. Another very common term used is brushless, DC motors. This term highlights the fact that, in residential applications, AC power is supplied to the appliance and is then converted to DC in the operational controls. The term ICM was also introduced when the electronic control module was integrated into the motor assembly itself, rather than the original two-piece design. I think, now that there is a reference in a provincial building code, we can safely standardize, at least for this article, on the term ECM.

M e c h a n i c a l

little while back I wrote about more efficient fan motors, and specifically about Electronically Commuted Motors (ECM) as applied to heat and energy recovery ventilators (HRVs/ERVs). In that article I mentioned that there is a now a reference to furnace fan motor efficiency in the Ontario Building Code. The specific wording is in Part 12.3.1.5(2) and says: “A furnace serving a dwelling unit shall be equipped with an electronically commutated motor.” Similar wording can be found in popular energy efficiency programs such as the Energy Star for New Homes program. In my mind, this represents a significant change within the HVAC industry, and prompts a number of questions that are worth discussing further.

FANS HAVE METRICS OF THEIR OWN To be able to focus on the actual energy performance of fan motors, we should consider the metrics for fan efficiency. As discussed in a previous article on ventilation fan motors, the airflow and ventilation portion of the industry uses the metric CFM/watt, with a higher number being more energy efficient than a lower number. The Energy Star furnace program uses the term “furnace fan efficiency”or “e” for short. That is defined as the ratio of the furnace fan electrical consumption to the total energy consumption of the furnace during the heating mode. In this case the lower the number, the more efficient the fan motor. In order for a furnace to qualify for an Energy Star label, the furnace fan efficiency has to be less than or equal to two per cent. Looking at an example of a furnace with an output of 57,000 BTUH (a 95% AFUE, 60,000 BTUH furnace, for example), to meet Energy Star requirements the furnace would require a fan motor electrical consumption of just 1,140 BTUH, or 334 watts. Taking that one step further, assuming an airflow reading of 800 CFM for that furnace, this would result in a fan efficiency of 2.40 CFM/ watt. Now rather than simply a name or an acronym, we have a performance measure to define the expectations of an efficient furnace fan motor. I prefer the CFM/watt metric over the furnace fan efficiency, but either can be measured in the field.

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• •Mot Ex cori t itnegr maidnvoalnocgeys •• STh p eed e in& fluefficien en ce o fcyb u•ildEin CM g doesign r PSC?

SPEED AND EFFICIENCY It is important to note that one of the big advantages of ECM motors is that they maintain their efficiencies over a wide range of speeds, whereas PSC motor efficiency drops significantly at lower speeds. Using the CFM/watt metric, this chart shows a typical example of the impact: These kinds of metrics help identify the best applications for ECM moCFM/watt at high (heating) CFM/watt at low (continutors and hint at the potential savings speed ous) speed opportunities. For example, an ECM motor is only marginally more ECM 2.5 to 3.0 4.0 to 5.0 energy efficient than a PSC at its full load, or high CFM setting. In fact, one of the advantages to PSC 2.0 to 2.2 0.8 to 1.2 an ECM motor is that it is able to identify its RPM and ramp up under id high static conditions, such as may hi happen with dirty filters, restrictive ha duct work, or wet, dirty or frosted du A/C coils. A/ The balance between potential energy rgy At these higher airflow conditions ives savings and other system benefits gives however, the power consumption ho HVAC professionals great clues as to o is going to be similar to that of a applications where ECM fans make the PSC motor. This means consistent PS most sense. airflows, but no significant energy ai savings in applications where there sa Certainly, in a new home or full furnace ace are ar air system restrictions. replacement, professional HVAC contractors ntractors should be able to confidently promote ote ECM vings bentechnology, either for the energy savings efits and/or the other system benefits, ts, without hesitation, but let’s think about one final scenario; would it ever make sense Another little twist in the energy usage saga is the to replace an existing PSC fan motor with one of the ECM fact that the increased electrical efficiency of ECM replacement models now on the market?

ECM OR PSC?

LOSING THE TH EXTRA HEAT

fans actually increases the fuel energy used by a gas In fact, a helpful study by the U.S. Department of Energy identiﬁed four conditions where it may be worth considering an ECM motor replacement into a furnace with a PSC motor. These are:

or oil furnace. Those old PSC motors were effectively

• When the furnace likely has at least 10 years of useful life remaining. • Where heating and cooling equipment is rightsized (thus operates longer and more frequently). • Where operating pressures are relatively low (no constrictive ducts). In a Canadian context, I would suggest an external static pressure across the furnace of below 0.5” to 0.6” w.c. would constitute relatively low pressures. • When the furnace fan is frequently used outside of heating and cooling operation (i.e. continuous low speed operation).

overall heating needs of the house.

adding electric heat to the system. An ECM motor puts less heat into the air stream, so more gas or oil heat will be needed to satisfy the There is no need to fret over this, however, as the price of electricity is inevitably higher (in most Canadian markets) than the price of oil or gas. Moreover, the savings in air conditioning mode are helpful. This means there are nice overall savings to applying ECM furnace fans plus many other benefits such as lower noise levels, consistent airflows over coils and filters to improve moisture and

These parameters do require the expertise of an HVAC contractor who is willing to measure the static pressure of the existing system and assess the proper sizing of the existing system either by doing a heat loss calculation or analyzing existing energy bills or existing furnace run time data.

air quality control, and longer expected life due to cooler operating temperatures.

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COMMERCIAL VAN ROUNDUP

B y Ho war d J. Elmer Howard J. Elmer is a PowerSports editor, writer and author, based in Brampton, Ont. He has a transportation, newspaper and radio background, and is a member of the Truck Writers of North America, the Automotive Journalists Association of Canada and the creator of the Canadian Truck King Challenge. www.canadiantruckkingchallenge.ca.

VARIETY IS THE NAME OF THE GAME IN

VANS

here’s a lot of similarity in the 2015 crop of vans compared to 2014, but if you dig a bit deeper, there are some changes of note. Among the tried and true are the Ford E-series cutaways, which continue to sell, and sell well. Meanwhile, Chevy is using a rebadged Nissan NV200 as its new Express small city van. Also taking to the small van market is Mercedes, which has announced that it is bringing the Metris to North America late this year. This will compete with the ProMaster City, Nissan NV200 and Ford Transit Connect. One deletion to note is that the Ram C/V van has been discontinued.

Cab style:

Van

Wheelbase:

129.9”, 147.6”

Engine size:

3.7L V6 (base), 3.5L EcoBoost V6 3.2L Power Stroke diesel

2015 FORD TRANSIT

Power (hp/torque):

The full-size Ford Transit van has started its life in the new world with strong sales. It’s a front engine, rear-wheel drive design that incorporates several body lengths, two wheelbases and three roof heights. These options offer seven different van configurations. Its base engine is a non-aspirated V6, however it is also available with the EcoBoost V6 and a diesel. All engines are mated to an auto select shift six-speed transmission.

275/260, 310/400, 185/350

Max. Payload:

4,650 lb.

Max. Towing capacity: 7,600 lb. (w/HD tow package) Van interior:

487.3 cu.ft. max.

Height: 81.4” max. Width: 69.8” Length: 171.5” Dimensions:

Length: 266.1” max. Width: 82”

Van

Wheelbase:

144”, 170”

Engine size:

3L V6 turbodiesel, 2.1L I-4 turbodiesel

Power (hp/torque):

188/325, 161/266

Max. payload:

5,375 lb.

Max. towing capacity:

7,500 lb.

Van interior:

547 cu.ft.

Door opening: Cargo space dimensions:

Side sliding door: 51.2”

Height: 65” standard roof and 76.4” high-roof Dimensions:

Width: 53.1” between wheel arches

2015 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 1500 TO 3500 The big news from MB this year is the introduction of four-wheel-drive to the Sprinter – actually, it’s more accurate to say the importation of 4WD units to Canada as they have been in Europe for years. 4WD is now available on 2500 and 3500 Cargo/Passenger Vans equipped with the V6 only. This move comes on the heels of a new 2.1L I-4 turbodiesel, which is now the base engine, to go along with the V6 Blue-Tec diesel. Mercedes continues to add safety systems to its Sprinter with a new Crosswind Assist program.

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Van

Wheelbase:

104.8”, 120.6”

Engine size:

2.5L I-4

2015 FORD

1.6L EcoBoost I-4

TRANSIT CONNECT The Ford Transit Connect is going into its seventh year of production. It now offers two engines, a tow package, two wheelbases and new trim packages.

In its first year of production, the Ford Transit 250 (diesel) won the 2015 Canadian Truck King Challenge – Van Division Title.

Cab style:

Door Opening: 74.3” Rear Height: max. 81.4” Cargo space dimensions:

Max. Payload:

1,600 lb.

Max. Towing capacity:

2,000 lb.

Van interior:

130 cu.ft.

Door Opening: Cargo space dimensions:

Rear Height: 52.1”

Height: 59.1” Width: 48.1” Length: 72.6” Dimensions:

Length: 189.7” Width: 72.2”

2015 CHEVY EXPRESS CUTAWAY 3500/4500

Still being offered is the larger Express cutaway body. Trucks are rear-wheel drive with four-wheel disc brakes. LPG powered versions are available.

Cab style:

Van, Cutaway

Wheelbase:

139”, 159” 177”

Engine size:

4.8L, 6.0L, 6.6L Duramax. turbo-diesel

Power (hp/torque):

285/295, 342/373, 260/525

Max. payload:

9,156 lb.

Van interior:

122.7 cu. ft.

THINK IT LOOKS IMPRESSIVE HERE? IMAGINE A WHOLE FLEET OF THEM.

With Canada’s longest lasting line of pickups,* there’s deﬁnitely strength in numbers. Ram offers powertrain choices like the 3.6L Pentastar V6, the legendary 5.7L Hemi V8 or the breakthrough 3.0L EcoDiesel V6, boasting the best fuel economy of any full-size pickup in history,1 so you never have to compromise on capability to save at the pump. And as the only pickup offering Active-Level Four-Corner Air Suspension and our innovative RamBox Cargo Management System,2 the advantages for adding them to your ﬂeet never stop adding up.

ﬂeetchrysler.ca 1 800 463-3600 *Longevity based on entire Ram Pickup line up compared to competitive pickups. Based on IHS Automotive: Polk Canadian Vehicles in Operation data as of July 1, 2014, for model-years 1988–2014 for all large pickups sold and available in Canada over the last 27 years. 1 2015 EnerGuide highway fuel consumption ratings for 2015 Ram 1500 4x2 with 3.0L EcoDiesel V6 and 8-speed automatic (up to 35 MPG highway based on 5-cycle testing methods.) 2 Based on 2014 Automotive News Full-Size Pickup segmentation.

COMMERCIAL VAN ROUNDUP 2015 RAM PROMASTER

continued from page 48

Cab style:

CITY

This is the new addition to the Ram stable this year. Built by Fiat in Turkey, this small van borrows its design from the Fiat Doblo that has sold more than 1.3 million units world-wide. Like its larger cousin, the ProMaster, the smaller City is also a FWD configuration. The van is available in four models, including cargo van versions and a five passenger wagon that still offers nearly four feet of cargo space behind that second row bench. What’s also unique about the City is its nine-speed transmission which promises to maxiCab style: mize its power while cutting down its Wheelbase: fuel bills.

Van

Wheelbase:

118”, 136”, 159”

Engine size:

3.6L Pentastar V6 (base) 3L I-4 EcoDiesel

Power (hp/torque):

280/258, 174/295

Max. payload:

5,189 lb.

Max. towing capacity:

5,090 lb.

Van interior:

530 cu. ft. max.

Dimensions:

Length: 195” to 250” Width: 82.7”

2015 RAM PROMASTER Van 122”

Engine size:

2.4L I-4 MultiAir2

Power (hp/torque):

178/174

Max. payload:

1,883 lb.

Max. towing capacity:

2,000 lb. (w/tow package).

Van interior:

131.7 cu.ft. max.

Door Opening:

26” (side)

Cargo Space Dimensions:

The new ProMaster will cover contractors’ needs with a variety of body styles and weight categories (1500, 2500, and 3500) in Van, Chassis Cab and Cutaway versions. There are two roof heights and even an extended body style. The base Pentastar V6 gas engine is well established in the Chrysler lineup, and the optional small diesel engine will compete with Ford and Mercedes. Both engines use a six-speed automatic transmission. Unique about the ProMaster is its FWD powertrain, which gives it a lower, flat cargo floor. That’s getting rave reviews from upfitters.

Height: 51.8” Width: 60.4” Length: 87.2”

2015

CHEVY EXPRESS

Last of the old skool: The Chevy Express soldiers on this year with a few electronic upgrades – to the radio, some added LED lights and a 110V power outlet. All engines use a six-speed automatic transmission.

Cab style:

Van

Wheelbase:

135”, 155”

Engine size:

4.8L, 6.0L, 6.6L Duramax. turbo-diesel

Power (hp/torque):

285/295, 342/373, 260/525

Max. payload:

4,145 lb.

Max. towing capacity:

10,000 lb.

Cab style:

Van interior:

284.4 cu.ft.

Wheelbase:

115.2”

20.8”

Engine size:

2L I-4

Door Opening:

Power (hp/torque):

131/139

Dimensions:

Max. payload:

1,500 lb.

Length: 224 to 244” Width: 79.2”

Van

Wheelbase:

121.2”

Engine size:

3.6L V6

Power (hp/torque):

283/260

Max. payload:

1,800 lb.

Max. towing capacity:

3,600 lb.

Van interior:

144.4 cu. ft.

Cargo space dimensions: Height: 48.2” Width: 49.03” Dimensions:

Van

Cargo space dimensions: Height: 53.4 Width: 146.2”

Van interior: Cab style:

Length: 202.8” Width: 78.7”

NISSAN NV200

The NV200’s small FWD platform lends itself to fleets and individual business looking for an economy carrier.

Cargo space dimensions: Dimensions:

CHEVROLET CITY EXPRESS

2015

Based on the Nissan NV200, this 2015 Chevy model is now available. This addition is no doubt part of a larger van plan moving forward – and it does bring a courier-sized city van into the Chevy fold.

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122.7 cu. ft. Width: 4’6” Length: 6’10” Length: 186.3” Width: 68.1”

NISSAN NV1500 TO NV3500

2015

A couple of upgrades come to the NV this year. A defroster is now standard on all back door glass packages. Up front an updated NissanConnectSM with Nav and mobile apps now comes on a 5.8” touch screen. Some new features are voice recognition for audio and navigation. Also, hands-free text messaging. Note, both engines are coupled to a fivespeed automatic transmission.

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Cab style: Wheelbase: Engine size:

Van 115.2” 2L I-4

Power (hp/torque):

131/139

Max. payload:

1,500 lb.

Van interior: Cargo space dimensions: Dimensions:

122.7 cu. ft. Width: 4’6” Length: 6’10” Length: 186.3” Width: 68.1”

THE FUTURE OF TRUCK. THE FUTURE OF LEADERSHIP. The all-new 2015 F-150 wasn’t engineered with a military-grade aluminum body** to simply reduce weight by up to 700 lbs.* It was done to deliver more for your business: best-in-class maximum towing of 12,200 lbs*** and maximum payload of 3,300 lbs,*** more fuel efficiency,^ more dent and corrosion resistance, and a higher power-to-weight ratio. These are some of the many reasons why it is AJAC’s Best New Pickup for 2015. Put these numbers to work for your business. Make Ford Fleet the team behind your team. Visit www.ﬂeet.ford.ca or contact us at 1.800.668.5515

THE ALL-NEW 2015 F-150

Vehicles may be shown with optional features. *EPA curb weight, versus predecessor model. **Class is Full-Size Pickups under 8,500 lbs (3,856 kg) GVWR. ***When properly equipped. Max. towing of 12,200 lbs with 3.5L EcoBoost® V6 4x2 engine. Max. payloads of 3,300 lbs/3,270 lbs with 5.0L Ti-VCT V8/3.5L V6 EcoBoost® 4x2 engines. Class is Full-Size Pickups under 8,500 lbs GVWR vs. 2015 competitors. ^Best-in-class fuel efficiency with 2015 F-150 4x2 equipped with the 2.7L V6 EcoBoost® and 6-Speed SelectShift® Automatic Transmission, estimated fuel consumption ratings are 12.2L/100km city, 9.2L/100km hwy, 10.9L/100km combined, based on Government of Canada–approved test methods. Actual fuel consumption will vary. Class is Full-Size Pickups under 8,500 lbs (3,856 kg) excluding Diesel versus 2014 and 2015 competitors’ 5-cycle ratings. ©2015 Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited. All rights reserved.

COMMERCIAL PLUMBING

David Pelletier is a plumber in Manitoba who offers consulting services in pre-construction planning. He can be reached at david@sw5.ca.

David Pe l l e t i e r

DPCP PART 2: WORKING WITH THE WHO

s I stated in my previous article, the person suggesting ideas all the time, and who is usually frustrated and questioning why things are done a particular way, is quite often your greatest asset, not your biggest headache.

GATHER INFO TO IMPROVE

More often than not these people are new apprentices or young journeymen. They look at things that have been done one way forever by your company or supervisory staff and ask, “Why?”

The ﬁrst step to process improvement is to talk to the people who are doing the work of installing pipe, materials, ﬁxtures and equipment. Ask them if they think there is a better way or a better tool to get the job done.

Sometimes these people have years of experience, but are new to your company. All these people can provide insights to building your Detailed Pre-Construction Planning (DPCP) team.

Probably the most important thing I ask is what problems they are running into, and what do they think we can do to help them solve this?

These people are questioning what you’ve been doing for years and are willing to challenge the status quo. Why do they bother? Well, they’re usually the people who want a quicker, easier or better way to do something. Sometimes it can be hard to do, but keep in mind that they have your company’s best interests in mind. They want to save you money. They want to do a better job. These people have fresh eyes and ears on all you’ve done for years, and they might very well know a better, easier or cost-effective process.

Do this by getting to know your workers by going for coffee and a doughnut for 20 or 30 minutes with them during the day. And don’t get discouraged early. It may take several talks before they’ll really open up and tell you what’s going on. This can’t be hurried, but it will give insight into the issues that can be addressed and the patience will repay you in thousands, if not tens of thousands, of dollars.

BUILDING A PLANNER Who makes a good “Detailed Pre-Construction Planner”? I believe it comes down to at least ﬁve key aspects. They need to be highly disciplined, uncompromising, knowledgeable, experienced and decisive. Find and train someone (or several people) with these ﬁve key aspects, and work with people who have ideas or suggestions to improve your operations. The combination of these will be the basis of developing your DPCP Team.

Highly Disciplined – Someone who will put the time, energy and effort to do all the steps required to squeeze every possible savings from material, equipment, labour and processes, and in every step of installing a component in the mechanical

system or building a construction process. More importantly, they need the discipline to do this a month, six months, or even a year before someone actually hits the jobsite, especially when no deadlines are imminent. Uncompromising – This is not about always sticking to your guns; it’s about always being flexible enough to be open to seeing new ways of doing a task, and having the ability to choose the method that is most beneficial to the plan. This can be extremely difficult, especially when it is your way of doing the task that is being revised.

continues on page 54

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YOUR INTEGRATED PROJECT DELIVERY PARTNER: MINIMIZE RISK TO YOUR SCHEDULE AND YOUR BOTTOM LINE

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continued from page 52

Knowledgeable – This means someone who is always looking at new innovative materials, tools and equipment. They are always learning, whether it’s hitting the internet, reading trade magazines or visiting supplier and manufacturer websites, or meeting with manufacturers’ reps.

Experienced – Being smart is a great advantage! Having done something several hundred times, or over many years, gives someone experience. Experience can give you an advantage, in some areas, over being smart. At times, smarts will give you an edge over experience. The ideal is a good combination of both.

Don’t get stuck in a trap

Decisive – If you’re not willing to do tasks to DPCP for 100 per cent of a system or process, it’s a waste of time. And when you have planned everything in detail, don’t change it just to save a small amount of money. The cost of changing a process usually outweighs the savings from the change. Only change a process if it won’t work, or if a big savings is possible. Of course, those small savings can beneﬁt future projects, so learn from it and make notes for the next time.

Hunters in Bali catch monkeys by putting a banana in a cage where the bars allow just enough room for the monkey’s hand to go through to grab the banana, but not enough room when they’re holding the banana to get their hand back out through the bars. The monkey gets upset and isn’t willing to let go of the banana. The hunter walks right up to it and throws a bag over the monkey. Dinner! We need to be willing to open our minds to avoid holding on to old ideas that entrap us. Much of what holds us back is our inability to give up past ways of how we do things. It’s easier to keep doing things the same old way, and people dislike change. But improvements to processes all start with a questioning mind.

continues on page 56

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continued from page 54

Knowledge, from the front lines Quite often, the people making the decisions on processes haven’t worked on the tools, or been in the ofﬁce for some time, and yet they still think they know the best ways for things to be done. I’ve found that getting back onto the tools for a few months on a project every so often really opens one’s eyes – not just with respect to how to install materials and equipment, and new tools and equipment that has emerged, but perhaps more importantly, how materials, tools and information ﬂow for a project. Let’s look at a small task that should be fairly simple: using strut to hang multiple

Watco Flex900

Bye, bye offsets.

pipes. A lot of companies drill holes in solid strut to do this. This can be organized and efficient, or it can be an incredibly difficult operation due to the way that some companies handle drill bits, tools and the strut being used. There are several ways to perform this task, and the quality of tools and bits, the choice of tools and bits, prefabrication, and the use of slotted or different gauges of strut all influence the cost and quality of this portion of a project. From what I’ve seen in many companies, management usually isn’t aware of a small issue like this. If they are, they try to address it with a policy or process that tries to alter the behavior of individuals. Often this results in limiting the quantity and/or quality of the bits and tools, and not by looking at how the task can be done most cost efficiently. A small simple problem can waste a tremendous amount of time, cause lots of frustration and cost tens of thousands of dollars for a project. How many times have you seen a person spend 15 to 30 minutes trying to locate a 1/8” bit to drill a pilot hole through a solid strut? On a large project, this will happen on a daily basis. That “search time” can easily cost a company $300 to $700 per month. That’s thousands of dollars getting wasted each year, and the more people a company has working a jobsite, the greater those losses will be. A DPCP team can create a few simple forms based on data sheets from strut loading, piping materials, fluid and pipe weights. Once created and put in place, these forms will make the process very easy to use over and over again.

No.

Yes.

J i the Join th green scenee andd mak make k time-consuming misalignment misalignmen issues a thing of the past.

It creates a standard companywide policy that saves huge money, and more importantly, it makes it simple to decide such things as the type of hangers and components to use, the required types and gauges of strut to use, and what tools and consumables should be used.

A FINAL WORD DPCP isn’t glamourous work; it’s tedious, detailed, long and steady work, right down to the small details of the nuts and bolts of construction. However, DPCP, when done properly, can be very satisfying. Just as important, it can be proﬁtable no matter the size of your company, be it ﬁve or 500 employees.

Useful. Innovation. 816.796.3900 Q watcomfg.com

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Watch for our third article on the topic in a future edition of Mechanical Business, when we will discuss the “How” of building a DPCP.

©2015, RIDGID, Inc. The Emerson logo and RIDGID logo are registered trademarks of Emerson Electric Co. or RIDGID, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. All other trademarks belong to their respective holders. *Timed on a 10'' Schedule 40 pipe.

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ROAD WARRIOR

B y A d am Fr eill

Name: Dustin Aguanno Company: Dael Thermal Group Job Title: Service Manager Age: 33 Born in: Brampton, Ont. Lives in: Scarborough, Ont. Trade school: George Brown Joined the mechanical industry: 2004 Time behind the wheel: Up to 4 hours Daily mileage: Up to 200 km Service area: Kitchener, Ont. to Bowmanville, Ont.

Photos: David Chidley

rom tinkering with snowmobiles and dirt bikes as a kid, to tweaking the car, the boat, or bigger dirt bikes now that he’s a little older, Dustin Aguanno still likes working with his hands. Originally in electrical engineering, a close friend of his suggested that the HVAC/R industry was where the action was, and according to Dustin, he was right.

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That friend helped Dustin land an apprenticeship, and Dustin has made the most of it. From shadowing his ﬁrst mentor, Gord Koenig, who Aguanno says had him troubleshooting like a journeyman in his ﬁrst year, he’s advanced in the trade to his current role as service manager with Dael Thermal Group in Toronto, where he gets to work on even bigger motors, compressors, and more.

Favourite tool in your toolbox? My multimeter. Favourite thing about the trade: It is satisfying when you ﬁx something.

iPhone, Android, Windows or Blackberry? iPhone

Most memorable project: I had just gotten my license and was given the lead on the installation of a blast freezer. I got to see it through from pipe sizing and design, to ordering materials and installation. It was a good feeling to see it working well at the end.

Favourite gaming system: PS4

Favourite TV show: It’s a toss up between Trailer Park Boys and Walking Dead.

If I was Prime Minister for a day, I would: Pass a bill to change the 401 speed limit to 150 km/h.

Latest job site: Working on a glycol chiller in Woodbridge, Ont.

Biggest pet peeve: Lane closures due to construction.

My rule of thumb is: If it is under 5 hp, don’t rewind it.

What’s one of the funniest things you’ve seen on a jobsite? Watching a co-worker get covered in refrigerant oil while taking out a compressor oil plug.

Favourite vacation spot: Cuba Place you’d like to visit: Samoa

If I had $100,000 to donate, it would go to: The Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto.

One word that describes you: Ambitious

When I was a kid, I wanted to be: A paleontologist.

Where do you like to get dispatched to? Anywhere near my house.

Favourite game: Grand Theft Auto

What’s more useful, duct tape or WD-40? WD-40

If you could meet anyone alive or dead, who would it be? Paul Walker

Favourite car: Ford GT

What’s more preferable, minus-40 on a rooftop, or plus-40 on a rooftop? In winter, I’d rather be in plus-40; in summer, minus-40. Favourite band: Nirvana Best concert ever attended: Tool Favourite radio station: I can’t stand the music they play on the radio, so I load up my USB stick.

FAST FACTS ABOUT DUSTIN AGUANNO

Favourite movie: Uncle Buck

1. He really likes to cook. Favourite place to hang out: Black Dog Pub

2. He is obsessed with buying extremely bright ﬂashlights. 3. He has to sleep with a fan on.

Favourite beverage: Mill St. Organic Outdoor activity: Dirt biking Last book read: B149.1

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REFRIGERATION

B y P h il J. B o u d r eau Phil Boudreau is the Ontario sales manager for Bitzer Canada Inc. and provides training and technical support for Bitzer’s clientele. He can be contacted at pboudreau@bitzer.ca.

Suction accumulator design and application Suction accumulators are commonly found on many commercial and industrial direct-expansion (DX) systems. Unlike flooded evaporators that ensure vapour-only suction gas due to the limiting of the liquid level, and not superheat, in the evaporator, DX evaporators may occasionally feed liquid to the suction line as system conditions change. Suction accumulators, also referred to as suction traps or knock-out drums in larger systems, are usually constructed of carbon steel and include either steel or copper refrigerant connections. For industrial systems, the steel fittings are more common than copper. Both vertical and horizontal models are available, but since the bulk of suction line accumulators are vertical, we will focus primarily on those. Suction lines sloping downward toward the compressor can benefit from the installation of an accumulator since the accumulator will intercept and trap any liquid that periodically enters the suction line. Systems that have large refrigerant charges, or systems that employ positive defrost methods or flooding head pressure controls are also good candidates for an accumulator.

SEPARATE AND RETURN The primary function of the accumulator is to efﬁciently separate the liquid from the vapour, trap it and allow it to return to the compressor in small quantities. Refrigerant and oil combinations have varying miscibility. With reduced miscibility the oil and liquid refrigerant may separate into layers. Most accumulator designs accept suction ﬂow and divert it toward the side of the shell in order to prevent disturbing the liquid in the bottom of the shell. Since this component is in the suction line, it is important that this takes place at minimum pressure drop. Good accumulator designs also allow for some gentle mixing of the refrigerant/oil mixture in the bottom of the accumulator to help prevent separation into discreet refrigerant and oil layers.

U-Tubes Vertical accumulator designs generally include a U-tube. This is positioned to physically separate the liquid from the vapour. Connected to the outlet of the accumulator, its inlet is located close to the top of the vessel and care is taken in the design to prevent liquid from directly entering the U-tube. The U-tube is also supported at its lower curved section so it does not move around inside the shell. A metering orifice in the bottom of the U-tube meters liquid refrigerant and oil back to the compressor at a controlled rate. As liquid enters the U-tube, it is carried back to the compressor through entrainment with the vapour. The orifice is generally 1 to 2 mm in diameter. The actual flow rate through the orifice primarily depends on its diameter, the load on the system and the pressure drop across the orifice. The height of the column of the liquid in both the shell and the U-tube will also affect the flow rate through the metering orifice. The orifice often has an inlet screen with a filtering area that is considerably larger than the orifice itself. This of course reduces the possibility of the orifice getting plugging up over time.

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today’s cool choice

The ideal replacement for R404A in supermarkets is here — Honeywell Solstice ® N40 (R448A). There’s no need to wait for a replacement solution. Honeywell has you covered. Solstice N40 is a versatile, blended, ASHRAE A1-rated refrigerant that satisfies all your low- and medium-temperature refrigerant replacement needs. Plus, it’s 5-10% more energy efficient than R404A! Its close match to existing equipment designs and compressors makes for rapid, cost-efficient adoption, and its GWP is 40% lower than R404A, making it a good choice to meet evolving regulatory standards. It’s also a superior replacement for R22 with a good capacity match and no TXV changes.

REFRIGERATION

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Sizing the accumulator

INSTALLATIONTIP Accumulators will only work in one direction. During installation, be sure to pipe it in correctly. Also, vertical accumulators must be just that: vertical.

Most accumulator manufacturers advise to size an accumulator so that it can hold at least 50 per cent of the operating charge of the system. While this should provide sufficient safety margin, accumulator selection should be application specific. If there is a chance that the low side can be flooded with liquid refrigerant and oil, the potential volume of liquid should be determined. The accumulator should be sized accordingly. In addition to the holding capacity, the accumulator must also be sized for the capacity of the system. This is very important because the ability of the accumulator to do its job requires that the refrigerant and flow rate be within the range recommended by the manufacturer. The accumulator is generally sized for the lowest pressure drop possible. If the mass flow rate is too high for the accumulator, then its ability to trap the liquid will be impaired and

pressure drop will be high. Also, higher pressure drops will reduce compressor capacity. Since the liquid refrigerant and oil are metered in very small quantities back to the compressor, the minimum allowable capacity of the accumulator must also be considered. Inside the U-tube, the velocity should be high enough to return oil.

If the minimum capacity of the system is lower than the minimum permitted by the manufacturer, the accumulator will behave just like an oversized suction line.

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• S i z in g t h e a c cu mulator • Liq u id -to- s uc t ion heat ex c hangee

Accumulators with liquid-to-suction heat exchange Liquid-to-suction heat exchangers can improve the efficiency of a system and improve compressor performance. The relatively large volume of the suction accumulator allows for a heat exchanger to be incorporated within the shell. The heat from the liquid helps vapourize any liquid refrigerant. In order for this to be effective,, the heat exchanger tubing is coiled up and supported in the lower section of the accumulator. In situations where it is difficult to achieve the minimum discharge superheat required by the compressor manufacturer, this type of accumulator may also be of some benefit, since it will tend to superheat the suction vapour to some degree.

Accumulators do not prevent refrigerant migration to the crankcase.

To insulate, or not to insulate Should the accumulator be insulated? There are different opinions on this. If you insulate the accumulator, then the heat from the outside of the shell cannot do much to help vapourize the liquid. On the other hand, when there is no liquid present, lower temperature systems tend to lose a little efﬁciency as the suction gas picks up more heat from the shell. In some cases, it is desirable to insulate the shell to prevent condensation.

Heat-exchange accumulators with two-stage compressors If you are going to use the heat-exchange type of accumulator with a two-stage internally compounded compressor where liquid subcooler is used, it is a good idea to ensure that the accumulator manufacturer approves the application. With signiﬁcant subcooling (i.e. above 20°F), the density of the refrigerant will be even higher. This also increases the potential weight of the refrigerant in the U-tube. Over time, the tube may fracture due to movement and affect the operation of the accumulator.

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HYDRONICS

B y B o b “ Ho t R o d ” R o h r

SO YOU WANT TO HEAT A

pool…

s an HVAC designer or installer, you should h ld b be ffamiliar ili with i h some pool heating options. With an outdoor pool, you are pretty much heating the great outdoors. This is not an inexpensive undertaking. Any time you are trying to maintain a temperature above ambient air temperature, you will be consuming energy to do so. A pool, like a building, should be optimized to use the least amount of energy. Pool covers are a huge energy saver. Consider a type that is easily installed and removed, or it may not be used regularly. Also consider a safety net for the cover to keep pets and small children from harm. Wind will strip the heat energy from a pool, too. If possible, get the homeowner to install some wind sheltering, like fences or hedge rows.

My personal favourite style of pool heaters happen to be powered by the sun. Solar thermal collectors are a great match for pools, for either seasonal or year-round use. I like the concept of using renewable energy (RE) to cover pool loads. If you ask me, the water just feels better when it is warmed by the sun. And there are a few options for collectors. One collector option are those that are designed mainly to extend the season for a typical residential pool, not to heat the pool year-round. For this application, there are a number of simple, inexpensive un-glazed collectors.

Expect a 10 to 15° temperature rise during the summer and shoulder seasons. These collectors provide great performance when the pool and ambient temperature are fairly close. For cooler weather operation, a glazed ﬂat plate collector is a better choice. The glazed collectors can provide some energy transfer even in the cool winter months. With a glazed style collector operating in winter temperatures, freeze protection would be required.

This type of collector is generally made of a composite or EPDM mat that allows pool water to ﬂow directly through the collector. They are sized with large headers that allow the pool pump to circulate directly through them. A diverting valve regulates the temperature.

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Typically, a pool-speciﬁc heat exchanger is used and the collector array and piping is protected from freezing with a glycol ﬂuid. In many cases, a solar pool heating system could supplement a fossil-fueled heater. Electronic controls can monitor the pool, collector and heater, and maximize the energy from all sources. Bottom line: When it comes to heating the great outdoors, it’s nice to have Mother Nature lend a hand in the form of pure sunshine. Happy soaking!

QUICK TIP When dealing with an indoor pool or hot tub, keep an eye on air quality, humidity and chemical fumes.

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• Goi ng sol a r • F i n d i n g t h e righ t r an ge • W o o d - fir ed p izza, an yone? Bob “Hot Rod” Rohr has been a plumbing, radiant heat and solar contractor and installer for 30 years. A long-time columnist and trainer, he is the manager of training and education with Calefﬁ North America. You can reach Hot Rod at bob.rohr@calefﬁ.com.

Finding the right range For the most part, a residential pool is for recreational use – unless you or your customer are looking at becoming the next Canadian Olympic swimmer with a goal of adding to Canada’s 40-some Olympic swimming metals! As such, most people prefer to keep their pools at a comfortable temperature so that they can avoid a shock to their system when they are ready to take the plunge. The common temperature for water fitness and training ranges from 28 to 30°C. For recreation, lounging or relaxing an arthritic body, temperatures around 32 to 35°C are common. Take all possible steps to minimize the heat loss from the pool, just as you would a home or building. Mother Nature will do her best to grab energy, and your customer’s fuel dollars, from a heated pool. Now, for the heat! The first step is to determine the heating load. There are plenty of load calculators available online and from manufacturers of pool equipment. Many of the solar simulation programs have excellent pool load calculators, also. Look into Natural Resources Canada’s RET Screen program. This powerful, free program does all sorts of energy modeling. At the RET Screen website, www.retscreen.net, use the search button to find pool piping schematics, case studies and basic information related to pool heating with solar. With the load number in hand, move onto equipment selection. As you would imagine, there is a plethora of pool heating options. Fossil-fueled heaters are common. Some brands can be mounted outdoors, adjacent to the pool. Heat pump type pool heaters are gaining popularity and could possibly be used to leverage off-peak electric rates. Biomass options include wood, pellet or chip-fired boilers. And there are manufacturers that build wood-fired heaters for pools and spas as well. If there is a boiler in the home, and if it is large enough, it could be put to work heating the pool during summer months. You will need a pool heat exchanger, of course, but there are a number of heat exchangers designed specifically for pool heating applications. Choices include plate type or tube and shell models. Realistically, any boiler or heater could be used for pool heating when you separate the fluids with an appropriate heat exchanger. Contact your boiler rep or manufacturer for sizing help, both for direct pool heaters or heat exchangers. One helpful tip is to be realistic in your expectations, and those of your client. It requires a significant amount of BTUs to quickly increase a large pool’s temperature. A few degrees an hour is a reasonable expectation for a properly sized pool heater. Confirm you have a fuel source and adequate fuel piping when you consider a gas-fired appliance. The use of a fuel cost calculator, available online, should be able to give your customers an idea about the operating costs for a heated pool.

Wood-ﬁred pizza, anyone? If you are up for an adventure, and maybe a pizza, a clever heater I discovered is the WSP Pizza Silverdome, and its big brother the Pizza Megadome. According to the manufacturer, these wood-ﬁred heaters can handle pools between 68,000 and 135,000 litres, and they heat the pool while cooking a pizza, or two, in its upper-level pizza oven. Now that’s a nice two-fer for parties and long weekends. Just be sure to wait 15 minutes before hitting the water after your lunch or snack.

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Piping Puzzle – Calculate the numbers

Jeff House is an experienced industry professional and hydronics trainer. He handles the sales territory from the Niagara region to the Greater Toronto Area for Jess-Don Dunford, a manufacturers’ rep in Ontario. He can be reached at jhouse@jessdondunford.com.

After winning the contract to replace a pair of old cast iron boilers in a 150-year-old y mansion, yyou set out to simplify p y the install. This job should be easy: cut out the old boilers, installll two new compact 220,000 BTUH wall-hung boilers, and upgrade the building circulator to a variable speed delta T as there are no zone valves on this job – it’s just one large building zone. You are sure the old system was gravity at some point based on n the 2-1/2” main piping. The boilers have 1” connections on the top or bottom to give you choices. The flow on the boilers is 21 gpm each. To minimize new pipe costs, you match the outlet size ze of the boilers with 1” piping and use the top connections for the e shortest distance. During demolition of the old boilers, an eight-foot piece of the 2-1/2” main is removed due to damage. To make the system primary/secondary, a less expensive piece of 1-1/2” is used to connect the return to the supply, and twin tees are installed, so the secondary boilers can inject into the primary building loop. After the first heating season, and multiple call backs on boiler B-1 going off on high temperature limits and short cycling, a call forr help to the manufacturer is requested. Using industry accepted pipe velocities of no more than four feet per second, and the corresponding pipe sizes for maximum flow rates in these sizes,, and using a 20°F delta T, answer the following questions:

B-2

B-1

220,000 BTUH each

1) The piping from the boiler to the main pipe should be _____ “. 2) The new 8’ piece of piping to connect the return to the supply at 1-1/2” is the right size for only ______ boiler(s). 3) The correct size for the new 8’ piece of piping should be ______“. 4) The expansion tank should be connected using a ____“ pipe. 5) The existing piping being 2-1/2”, what would the maximum gpm carrying is The backpack capacity be? _____ gpm.

Our Milwaukee Milwauke Jobsite Backpack loaded with Milwaukee T Tools* has been a big hit with our winners, so we’ve hit Milwaukee up for another one. So ssend us your ﬁx, just like Jeremy Vallance of Pat Caron Heating & Cooling did. He won a jobsite radio for his efforts. Send your so solution by July 15 for your chance to win win. And be sure to pick up the next edition of Mechanical Business for the next editio installment of Find the Fix! instal

Looking for answers? There were a number of possible items to ﬁx in our March/April puzzle, but the ones we spotted included: 1) The connection to the main loop did not use closely spaced Ts. 2) The piping between the low-loss header (LLH) and the main should be 3”. 3) There should be a pump to move the water from the LLH to the main, and the tees should be a maximum of four pipe diameters apart on the main. 4) Or, connect the main return and supply directly to the LLH to simplify. 5) The boiler side main should be 3” piping and the boiler supply/ return piping should be 2”. 6) The DHW piping should be minimum 1-1/2” to move the correct volume to the indirect. The coils should be piped reverse/ return. 7) The DHW piping should come from one of the boilers, as per the manufacturer’s instructions to provide priority DHW, or as closely spaced tees before entering the LLH. If you want to have a look at the quiz, check it out in our issue archive, available at www.mechanicalbusiness.com.

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*Tools included may not match photo.

FAX YOUR ANSWER TO 905-465-2913

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Contact Phone #:

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Our success is our

people

Roger Grochmal is the CEO of AtlasCare in Oakville, Ont. To submit a question about your company, business practices, or the industry in general, send an e-mail to Mechanical Business Magazine’s editor, Adam Freill, adam.freill@ mechanicalbusiness.com.

Training is k key Every technician is also a risk manager. They drive our vehicles, use our tools and climb our ladders. How well trained are they to do the right thing? Being an engaged employer means making sure your employees know how to weld properly, drive safely, protect a customer’s property and work safely at heights. We can only be in so many places at once, so having well trained technicians is key. 68

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s contractors we often pay tribute to our people, particularly our technicians, as the lifeblood of our companies. All too often, it seems that it is only lip service that we pay. Do we really treat our people with the same respect we talk about?

Regardless of the sector we work in, be it residential or commercial, we maintain, repair and install much the same equipment. We drive much the same trucks, use much the same tools and incorporate much the same materials. On the surface we all look the same; that’s the perception LIVING YOUR VALUE PROPOSITION many of our customers have. This is why we end up having never ending I have written in the past about company culture discussions about price. and brand. These are two sides of the same coin, and are usually the result of the values your So, what really makes one company stands for; not the ones you talk about contractor different from another? but the ones you and your people demonstrate and live every day. The only thing that differentiates If you really believe your people make the our companies from each other and difference, then it should be enshrined in the determines whether or not we are core values of your company. Can your people all successful is our people. articulate the value proposition you bring to your customers? If they can’t, it doesn’t exist. Our technicians have a bigger role than ever in our companies. The work they do to install, maintain and service the equipment we sell is only half of it. Good technicians play a critical role ensuring our customers are happy so they will tell others about their experience both in person and online. They are in the best position to identify sales opportunities for service agreements, preventive repairs and upgrades, accessory items and the replacement of aging equipment. This is not something technicians learn in school. Have you given them the tools and training to set them up for success? Too many contractors worry about technicians leaving so they are reluctant to invest in a lot of training. But what if you don’t train them and they stay? Which is worse? There are excellent incentives from federal and provincial governments to train our people and put them into apprenticeships. We should take full advantage of these opportunities. Take the time and money to invest in your people, and let them know how much you really appreciate them. B u s i n e s s

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Make them want to work for you How much do we at AtlasCare appreciate our frontline people? As I write this, we are in the midst of our second annual Technician Appreciation Day. This is a day where we close our business and make it all about them.

We start with a full breakfast, and then hold a town hall to bring them up-to-date on the major events that are going on in the company and introduce all the new people. We then break into teams for a series of fun events with prizes. The beauty of breaking them into teams is that it gives us an opportunity to mix staff from different departments together so we all get to know one another.

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There is a fishing competition, a skills relay race and a communication competition. We have our suppliers bring their latest tools for our techs to get acquainted with. We bring out a selection of new trucks and lifts for our techs to work with, and provide their feedback. We have a safety shoe vehicle for those who need boots to complete the uniforms that are on display. To top it all off we set up an onsite spa with massages for everyone. Just like the old Speedy Muffler commercial, “We make them feel like a somebody.”

chosen AirEase for their businesses. Our heating and cooling products are expertly crafted for long-lasting performance, and they’re built with features that meet the unique demands of your market. Give yourself the AirEase advantage. Learn more about becoming a dealer at www.alliedaircooling.com. ©2014 Allied Air Enterprises LLC.,a Lennox International Inc. Company

Our goal is to create an environment where our technicians never want to work anywhere else. This is also a great recruitment tool. Young techs want to work where they are appreciated and will have the opportunity to grow in the trade and in their careers. M e c h a n i c a l

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HVAC By D e ni s Mur p h y

Denis Murphy is the director for the Air Conditioning & Energy Solutions divisions of LG Electronics Canada. He can be reached at denis.murphy@lge.com.

VRF

providing solutions in commercial space

he commercial HVAC industry is undergoing a noticeable change in North America, and Canadian building owners and operators who are looking for ways to efficiently deliver comfort to their tenants are taking part in this evolution toward energy efficient systems that are capable of targeted delivery of heating and cooling to where it is needed in a facility. While contractors may be most familiar with more traditional systems using water-sourced heat pumps and chiller fan coils, they are beginning to investigate additional options when itt comes to serving these needs of their clients. This investigation of alternatives is not detrimental to the HVAC industry, but is simply a movement that includes acceptance and willingness to try emerging technologies like Variable ble Refrigerant Flow (VRF) systems. This can be evidenced by the number of systems that havee been introduced in this space by a variety of manufacturers. Through the use of a mixture of terminal unit styles and options that move heat energy by h way of a series of small refrigeration lines, VRF systems are offering flexibility in design with systems that take up a relatively small physical footprint and have an ability to satisfy fastchanging loads. Moreover, and most importantly, VRF systems can be quite energy efficient, due to their ability to cool or heat only the spaces in use, versus wasting energy in an unoccupied space.

Reducing the noise When outfitting commercial office spaces, contractors often face major challenges stemming from both air and compressor noise. Since VRF systems make use of small pipes and can route multiple terminal units and cassettes to a single outdoor unit, they take compression, and its noise, out of the space. VRF technology gives tenants considerable flexibility in maintaining optimal temperature, without the noise levels that may be present with traditional cooling system options.

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As the Canadian architectural and engineering community shifts to a more balanced design approach, several factors come to mind when considering office heating and cooling needs: energy and water consumption, repetitive maintenance costs, and the impact on the environment. With the modular design of VRF, it is garnering considerable attention as a solution to office heating and cooling needs. In addition, since each room or zone has its own control terminal that will independently call for heating or cooling as use of the space dictates, VRF systems can quickly adjust to changing loads and provide exceptional temperature control and dehumidification capability.

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For ofﬁce tenants, personal comfort and quiet solutions are a priority, and a VRF system seamlessly meets those needs. Today’s building owners are also much more knowledgeable on VRF technology, and are increasingly focused on developing a high-performance building.

continues on page 72

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A growing segment Though VRF itself is seeing increased implementation in office buildings across Canada, the specific system is still dependent on the climate, and therefore varies from region to region. For instance, gas systems are more dominant in Ontario, and of those VRF systems installed, 90 per cent are air cooled and only 10 per cent are water. Regardless of system type, however, knowledge of VRF technology has grown exponentially among industry professionals. Across Asia and Europe, VRF is a commonly used application in commercial buildings. North America, on the other hand, has only begun to adapt this technology over the past five years. As contractors’ comfort levels and experience with VRF increase, installation costs will begin to normalize, and some of the additional equipment that is currently being installed as a backup will no longer be necessary. “With the use of optimized scroll or rotary compressors, specifically designed heat exchangers and inverter technology, VRF systems

help minimize energy consumption,” says Brian Bogdan, director of engineering for LG Electronics Air Conditioning. This is a deﬁnite selling feature to building owners and operators. When done correctly, the whole system tends to be service-friendly, with minimal maintenance needed after the installation. Due to a VRF system’s unobtrusive refrigerant piping, pieces are not as exposed to the elements and don’t need to be cleaned as often. Though regular maintenance checks are still recommended to ensure the system is consistently running properly, impact on tenants due to maintenance needs is generally kept to a minimum.

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1-800-227-0729 info@testo.com testo.com/manifolds

Practical multi-tenant applications The commercial application benefits of a VRF system can most readily be felt across office centres and buildings. A recent example was a four-storey, 90,000 sq. ft. office building that was looking for an energy-efficient air conditioning option. The medical office building is home to a women’s diagnostic centre, an outpatient surgery centre, physician offices and a pharmacy, and was originally built as a spec building, with only the shell of the building constructed, and the individual floors and space not yet determined or sized. This construction style was used to leave room for incoming medical tenants to design their own space. However, using this style meant that the developers needed to provide the building with an HVAC system that would not disrupt existing tenants when adding new air conditioning to newly configured spaces. The developer recommended and installed an HVAC system with VRF technology in order to fulfill the goals of the installation, as the system would only provide heating and cooling to just the leased spaces, using only the amount of energy needed for the occupied areas of the building. The VRF system minimized the energy consumption levels, and there was minimal disruption to existing tenants as the additional spaces were completed.

In the end, the cost savings provided by the new system, for this particular project, surpassed all expectations, lowering heating and cooling costs from an expectation of $14,000 to just $5,000 per month.

HERE TO HELP The market is becoming more familiar with VRF systems, but manufacturer training and support is available, so don’t overlook these resources if questions arise about these systems. In addition to providing training, a reputable manufacturer will have a technical support team ready to provide guidance and assist with troubleshooting.

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HVAC/R V Products P roduc o uctss Condensate Pump The Aspen MicroV mini-split condensate pump from RectorSeal is made for applications requiring a compact pump with high-capacity and low noise. It is compatible tible with s, has 3A all mini-split air conditioner brand models, NC dry contacts rated at 5A inductive at 230 V AC. AC It has a capacity up to 66,000 BTUH. An anti-siphoning device prevents the pump from auto-siphoning and emptying itself, the reservoir or the connecting hose.

Chiller

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Trane’s Series S CenTraVac chiller with AdaptiSpeed technology is designed with replacement and retrofit applications in mind. Offering 180 to 390-ton capacity, the chiller features a bolt-together design and smaller footprint for installation into tight spaces. It features an adaptive frequency drive capable of reducing harmonic distortion. It also features a mixed-flow impeller design, offering the attributes of both radial and axial designs for greater efficiency across a wider operating range.

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Leak Sealer

CO2 Compressor

Spectronics Corporation’s Spectroline Cool Seal A/C leak sealer is designed to seal refrigerant leaks in compressors, condensers, evaporators, O-rings and hoses as large as 0.020 inch (0.5 mm). The sealant has a non-polymer, oil-soluble formula and meets the ASHRAE 97 standard for chemical stability.

The Copeland line of four-cylinder CO2 compressors from Emerson Climate Technologies is made for R-744 medium temperature cascade and booster systems. It has a design pressure of 1,985 psia (135 bar). Cooling capacity in the line ranges from 24 kw to 45 kw.

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PLUMBING

he old saying that form follows function can certainly be applied to kitchen and bathroom faucets these days. The good news for contractors is that there are plenty of choices around to ﬁt the bill quite nicely.

Gold at the finish Chrome is still the preferred finish of choice, by far, but Delta’s Peter Ashton says he has seen an increasing interest in gold tone finishes such as champagne bronze. Moen’s Garry Scott adds that these are not the gold tones from the ‘80s. He’s seeing more muted tones, as well as copper tones becoming more popular in the market, although chrome and stainless are still the biggest sellers.

Faucet designs overall have gone simpler so they can work in different types of décor. There’s been a lot more focus on “transitional” designs that can work well with either an ultra-modern or traditional setting; or be changed easily if the need arises.

Everything plus the kitchen sink When it comes to kitchen faucets, today’s consumers want it all: balance, design and function, says Maggie DoRego, product marketer at American Standard. “If you think about it, the kitchen faucet is used for everything from dishwasher staging and food preparation to cleanup, hand washing and drinking. It has to do a lot.” Another trend that is increasing interest in faucets is the idea of multiple workstations, DoRego adds. “Cooking is becoming much more of a social activity. We’re now seeing a lot of kitchens with a main faucet plus additional stations, such as one by the stove for ﬁlling pots.”

Moen

M e c h a n i c a l

Homeowners also want versatile faucets that can help them get the job done when cooking or cleaning up. That’s why the demand for such features as hands-free operation and multiple spray settings keeps growing, says Garry Scott, vice-president, wholesale continues on page 78

Renovations are a perfect time to talk to customers about their faucet choices, because they tend to be an important focal point for them. When that conversation happens, style and durability are both key talking points. “Consumers are designing their kitchens with the long term in mind, so they look for faucets that are reliable and have an everlasting design style,” says Peter Ashton,

director of trade sales for Masco Canada, parent company of Delta Faucet. “They’re also looking at added components such as bar prep faucets, ﬁltered drinking water faucets and soap dispensers.”

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marketing and brand development for Moen Canada. “The ability to turn water on or off with the wave of a hand or by putting a dish or plate under the tap is very popular.”

Manufacturers are working to bring added functions that can cover as many bases as they can. Even spray components are getting an upgrade. American Standard, for example, has introduced a pull-down spray unit that goes beyond the typical two-function jet and aerate functions to four – aerated stream for washing hands and rinsing dishes; full spray for watering plants or ﬁlling the sink; mist spray for misting plants or washing fruits and vegetables; and jet spray for power washing e. pots and pans, in addition to a pause feature.

For the design conscious, there are plenty of offerings that can ﬁt both traditional and modern spaces, taking a transitional look. These include lower-proﬁle pull-outs that are designed for tighter spaces around the sink. “These seem to hit the ‘in between’ spot,” Scott says.

Installation has also been simpliﬁed considerably for many of the newer designs, making the job easier and much less time consuming for plumbers. Scott reports that his company has incorporated features like digital valves that have fewer hoses to install, above-the-deck water temperature presets, and quick-connect ﬁttings for water connections under the sink.

Moen

PLUMBING

DESIGN AND STYLE V VERSATILITY Alt Although bathroom faucets, as well as shower sui suites, have been trending to square designs, both Ashton and Scott have observed that bo ma many of the latest trends are infused round elements with some square elements, creating ele hybrid style. a unique u

LAVISH LAVS When it comes to choosing bathroom m faucets, functionality is not the number one driving riving force, DoRego notes. Consumers cite beauty and ergonomics above function when listing key considerations.

“This gives more ﬂexibility in design to “T coordinate either with square or round co elements,” says Ashton. ele Amercican Standard

“What we mean by ergonomics is a handle andle design that ﬁts comfortably in your hand and that is intuitive and easy to use,” she explains. DoRego adds that Canadian tastes are very similar to the clean and contemporary designs that are taking Europe by storm. At the last ISH Bath Trade Fair in Germany, she said there was an abundance of geometric, sculptural and contemporary designs. “Generally what we see there ends up trickling into Canada.”

While hands-free and touch functions are not Wh nearly as prevalent in bathrooms as they are ne in kitchens, there are models available to offer cconsumers o a choice of manual operation, touch activation or hands free-modes.

Among the popular styles in the marketplace are single-control monoblock faucets without deck plates. “It’s a very simple, clean and modern contemporary look. The design looks great in both a traditional or modern setting,” she says.

Some showerheads and hand showers, for example, have a small LED window that shows the temperature of the water as the water moves through the component, while others have rechargeable Bluetooth speakers that can pair with up with a homeowner’s devices. Whether looking for functional or fancy – or both – faucet needs vary considerably depending on the needs and budgets of the client, Ashton says. “With so many options available, a consumer needs to make the right choices for what they will be using on an everyday basis. Doing that can sometimes be overwhelming, so your job is to make them aware of what’s available.”

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Amercican Standard

Functionality does have a bigger role to play in the shower area, where we’re seeing innovations such as magnetic docking for handheld showers, more multi-spray functions, digital displays and even Bluetooth accessories.

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ustom work often goes hand-in-hand with longer timelines and interesting systems and products. This is evident through ongoing work at a 5,000 squarefoot modern residence in west Toronto that Tropical Heating and Air Conditioning, a 14-person ﬁrm, started in 2012. “Our staff has a wide knowledge base, especially in regard to hydronic applications,” says Bob Williams, the company’s vicepresident. “That specialty allows us to offer a great deal to clients seeking a more complex system, or systems, as is often the case.

CLOSE QUARTERS CONNECTIONS

“This has been an on-and-off project,” he continues. “But it includes some elements that stretch out the timeline, from concrete construction to geothermal.” Four ground-source heat pumps draw from 10 vertical bore holes to supply both hydronic and forced air systems. Polished concrete ﬂoors throughout the home include 8,600 lineal feet of half-inch oxygen barrier PERT tubing. A 175,000 BTUH condensing boiler provides backup heat, DHW and heat for a snowmelt system. All told, 22 zones of radiant heat and three zones of air conditioning come out of two mechanical rooms; the main room downstairs and a smaller room on the second level. “Space for components is the biggest challenge here,” says Williams. “And running all that pipe and ductwork through a solid concrete structure takes a lot of foresight. You need to use the available space as efﬁciently as possible.”

Geothermal Solutions, the drilling subcontractor, ran all the HDPE tubing from the exchange field to the mechanical room, which is where Tropical took over. The main flowcentre circulates the water/ alcohol solution through the field and into a 26-gallon hydroseparator. From here, flowcentres on each of the four heat pumps draw fluid as needed to condition the home. As a result, the room has one-and-aquarter-inch HDPE pipe running in all directions. “To us, professional appearance is second only to functionality, and that’s hard to maintain with HDPE pipe,” says Williams. “We really wanted a system that allowed us to dry-fit an entire loop to make sure it’s all square, plumb and level.” While looking for a solution, Williams spoke with Tim Rickards at The Hydronics Group, a Toronto-based wholesaler who supplied most of the equipment on the job. Rickards suggested that Tropical look at a pipe fusion system that uses radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic technology to fuse pipe. The RF system for welding plastic pipe uses radio frequency energy emitted from the system’s portable control unit to energize a thin strip of reactive metal moulded into each fitting. The material heats up to the point of fusing the pipe and fitting together to form a joint that’s stronger than either the pipe or fitting alone. The system allows the user to dry fit the pipe and fitting together, position them as desired, then simply clamp the tool around the fitting to complete the weld – with no risk of burns. “The system really allowed us to tidy up the geothermal piping,” says Williams. “But it also cut our labour hours down. For example, while a technician is fusing one line, he can be simultaneously dry fitting the next one.”

continues on page 82

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continued from page 80 HIGH-PERFORMANCE GEOTHERMAL RADIANT HVAC

B y Go r d C o o ke

DOUBLE DUTY

RADIANT

Each room in the home is an independent heating zone. Radiant tubing was installed on nine-inch centres, except where exterior walls consist of large expanses of glass. Here, six-inch centres were used on the perimeter. “Right now, the system is supplying 100°F water to the radiant loops,” says Williams. “Once the home is occupied, that’ll ﬂuctuate depending on the desired indoor temperature and outdoor ambient temperature.” The owner also wanted the option to use the radiant system for cooling. The way the air conditioning system is designed, the water temperature in the slab can be dropped to 70°F without

OVERCOMING OVERLOADS According to Williams, Toronto’s geothermal installations are few and far between, as a result of small lot sizes. “Most of the geothermal work in Ontario is in more rural areas, where bigger yards are conducive to drilling or trenching exchange ﬁelds.”

risking condensation on the ﬂoors. “We’re able to focus on the custom home market because we can offer unique solutions,” says Williams. “And that’s a result of experience, relationships with other professionals, and a willingness to adapt to emerging technologies and practices.”

At the concrete home, there was room enough in the yard to drill 10 bore holes, for a total of 10 tons of geothermal exchange. But, the heat pumps in the home total 16 tons. As a result, BK Consulting Engineers, with input from Rickards and others at The Hydronics Group, designed a flexible system that overcomes the challenge. The home’s main mechanical room includes three geothermal heat pumps; water-to-air units of two and four tons, and a six-ton waterto-water unit for the home’s extensive radiant floor system. An additional, four-ton water-to-air unit is on the home’s second storey. “We’re able to accommodate more installed capacity than the exchange field can supply based on two factors,” explains Rickards. “First, the home is rarely, if ever, going to call for maximum input from all four units at once. Also, the condensing boiler is backup for the radiant system, which handles the brunt of the heating demand.” To avoid getting what geothermal specialists call a “cold field” – where the exchange field becomes depleted of energy to the point that it can’t produce enough heat for the structure – the incoming water temperature is monitored. An aquistat on the main line into the mechanical room is programmed to shut off the water-to-water unit if the incoming water dips below 32°F. At this point, the natural gas boiler supplies heat to the radiant system, as well as an 80-gallon DHW tank and 1,200 square feet of driveway snowmelt. In the summer, with the smaller cooling load and the water-to-water unit out of service, there’s no concern of overtaxing the exchange field’s ability to reject heat into the ground. While the home’s design heat load is 150,000 BTUH, the cooling load is only 75,000. “What this design does,” explains Rickards, “is cut down on exchange field expense, while using it to its full capacity without ever having to worry about overdrawing it.”

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Mike Breault is the Canadian HVAC product manager for Watts Water Technologies (Canada). He can be reached at michael.breault@wattswater.com.

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Going back to his roots Michael and his wife Chastity just recently announced that they are the new owners of Inn at Bay Fortune, the P.E.I. inn where Michael first became a head chef, and where he launched his media career as host of his first cooking show, The Inn Chef. “We are going to reboot it and rejig it,” he explains. “And we are going to do that by building a new kitchen, but not a typical kitchen. I am going to add to the side of the building to add a fire kitchen. We are going to build a 22-foot-long firebreathing beast, with an integrated smoker, integrated hearth, integrated rotisserie and a wood-burning oven.” Starting next month, he plans to offer a feast-format of dining with a different set of offerings each night from his very unique cooking machinery.

By Adam Freill

I Photos courtesy of Heckbert Studio & Gallery

f there’s a single word that can sum up Chef Michael Smith’s expectations, it has to be quality. Whether looking at individual ingredients, judging a completed dish, assessing a kitchen design, or even a business plan, putting in the time, energy and research to come out with top-notch quality drives the celebrated restaurateur, chef, television personality and author. Having had a front-line role in the creation of more than one kitchen in his life, Smith is in the midst of creating a new cooking experience that is scheduled to launch later this summer on Prince Edward Island. He has been working with GCW Kitchens in St. Thomas, Ont., to combine function and form in this latest project, a revamping of Inn at Bay Fortune (see above). “Working with them for several years now, I am

recognizing how important it is to work with skilled kitchen designers,” he explains. “Even a guy like me, with years of solid experience and understanding how important ergonomics are, and efﬁciency and form, it is still wildly valuable to work with a crackerjack design team. They look at the functionality side ﬁrst, and they also bring that form side along.” Regardless of the space in which he operates, however, his aim is to always meet and exceed the expectations of his diners, an audience that he values and hopes to see again because they truly enjoyed the dining experience, not just eating at a celebrity’s restaurant. “As chefs we are just one piece of the puzzle,” he says. “So many young people are attracted to our industry because chefs are rock stars now, but we forget that it is not about us, it is about continues on page 86

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CELEBRITY ENCOUNTER

continued from page 84

By Adam Freill

our guests; it is about their experience. So make it personal, and make sure that you embrace the guest’s experience and your role in that overall guest experience.” Of course, at the end of the day, he cannot continue to serve those guests if the bottom line gets away from him, so he knows to keep an eye on all of the ingredients that go into a successful company. “You have to understand as a chef, that it is a business. There’s no sense in looking at it any other way,” he advises. “We are not involved in some selfindulgent art project. It is all about controlling costs and really looking after those pennies, and really understanding a basic cost structure.” Done properly, the quality stays high, the customers are happy, and the business continues to ﬂourish and grow, something that the new owners of Inn at Bay Fortune are looking forward to with their latest venture.

Pass the Cocoa Puffs

Early season lessons Not everything in a kitchen is only about the food. Ask any chef and they will surely have a story or two about when things didn’t quite go as planned, from flooding during Sunday brunch to worrying about the walk-in fridge and freezer during a power outage. Chef Smith recalls one particular incident that served as a bit of a welcome to his new life on Prince Edward Island, shortly after moving to the Atlantic region from New York City. “It was my first summer season on Prince Edward Island – my first head chef’s job – and one of my first prep jobs in getting ready to open this country inn restaurant. One of the first things that we did was make this great big giant beautiful beef stock, and without thinking, once it was strained, the fat was cleared right down the drain. “This is of course May, and it was still a bit chilly, and on a country septic system. Well, it clogs the works up and we ended up digging the front yard up… That’s when I learned that things are a little different in the country.”

As a judge on Food Network’s Chopped Canada, Chef Smith has had to judge his fair share of unique dishes. The show pits four Canadian chefs against each other in a series of elimination rounds as they attempt to create each course o of a dinner from a mystery basket of ingredients. Among the more head-turning combinations of ingredients he’s seen so far was a basket that had Chef Smith’s newest cookbook, chefs combining cod tongues with Make Ahead Meals, comes out Cocoa Puffs. “You have to have later this summer. Visit www.chefmichaelsmith.com to sympathy for the judges – they are pre-order. the ones who have to eat it,” laughs Smith. “But in general terms, I am impressed and amazed every day by our Canadian chefs in their ability to take some creativity and mix it with those mystery basket ingredients and come up with anything at all. It is a real challenge, and that is a real 20-minute clock clicking away there. We’ve seen some pretty amazing dishes.”

The details matter, and can add value When it comes to the mechanical systems that a restaurant relies on, things like hand-washing sinks, faucets and sinks in food preparation areas, and dishwashing systems, Smith doesn’t like to take them for granted. Although codes dictate how many hand-washing stations are required, and roughly where they need to be located, treating them as a necessary evil comes from viewing such necessities from the wrong perspective, he advises. “They often end up being an oversight and crammed into a small corner here or there,” he says. “We are looking at it as a ﬁnish line – okay, we’ve got it there; let’s checkmark it; it’s done – instead of recognizing that sanitation is an integral part of what we do, and we need to facilitate that through good design, through a good build, and through a good location in the kitchen.”

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Properly located, they become a part of an efficient system in a well-organized kitchen. “Beyond that, I think that a good, smart ware-washing system that’s well laid out, well designed, and that imagines the flowthrough very well helps facilitate the front of house,” he adds. He likes to include a built-in soaking system, when possible, so that wait staff can toss the silverware for a pre-soak. “A lot of times we just see that in a bus pan, as an afterthought,” he says. “But when you take the time to build it inline and really imagine the full service flow, it can really add to the efficiency. When you consider that the single biggest expense is HR related, anything that you can do to speed up processes and make your staff more efficient, well, that’s time well spent and it is a good investment up front.”

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B yB yDan Go rHo d Cloohoan ke

Dan Holohan is an author, speaker, steam heating expert, and founder of heatinghelp.com, a highly regarded industry site that shares information about heating systems old and new. He can be reached at dan@heatinghelp.com.

A BURNING

PASSI N Some years ago, I was visiting a boiler iler manufacturer. The o owner of the company was showing me around the place and I was drooling. I get like that when I’m near big machines that know what they’re doing. He took me into their lab and showed me this new burner that they were developing for a modulating/condensing boiler. It was on a test stand and not attached to the boiler. He had me stand about eight feet away from the burner. “Don’t move,” he said. He ﬂipped a switch and the burner went from off to bright orange quicker than I could blink. It glowed furiously and silently and made me feel like a bagel in a toaster. “Pretty hot, right?” he said. I nodded, spellbound. He ﬂipped the switch to off and quickly moved that same hand onto the surface of what had just been glowing like the sun. I gasped; he smiled. “The trick is to touch the ceramic and not the metal seam,” he nodded. “Got it,” I said. That guy had a passion for what he was building. I love being with people like that. He reminded me of William Newton Best. You ever hear of him? Best developed the very earliest oil burners, just as the world entered the 20th Century. He was as passionate as it gets. He was an expert at burning oil during a time when coal was king.

MARKETS CHANGE; PASSION DOESN’T As years passed, the oil burner replaced coal equipment. This too had to do with passion. Mining coal was brutal work. There were strikes, and then shortages of coal. Time, which can also be brutal, called forth the discovery of more and more oil right about then. The price of oil plummeted in the ’20s and ’30s, and that low price stepped up next to the convenience and relative cleanliness of the oil burner. Coal lost.

He looked at people and said, “I believe that oil is the fuel of the 20th Century.” He was right, of course, and he let nothing stand in his way. I was reading his 1913 book, The Science of Burning Liquid Fuel. There’s a part where he says: No sane person today would venture near an oil-storage tank with a lighted pipe, cigar, torch, or any light other than electricity, but in order to prevent conflagration or serious loss of property through a steel storage tank being struck by lightning, or getting on fire though some accident, it is wise to run a large steam pipe line from the boiler into the top of the tank. There should be a large number of holes in the pipe in the tank so that when the steam valve in or near the boiler room is opened, the steam will be widely diffused over the fuel in the tank. So you put out the fire with high-pressure steam. Imagine doing that today. There’s another delicious part of the book where he talks about the necessity of having actual experience with any sort of fuel-burning equipment before talking or writing about it. Check out his comments on page 90. continues on page 90

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Several years ago, I read an article on the different methods of burning oil and when I visited the city where the author resided I called upon the gentleman because I desired to ask him several questions on points not clear to me. This man acknowledged that he had never burned a gallon of oil in his life and that his article was simply a compilation of reports on tests made by others, he not having even been present at any of the

tests. The burners described in his treatises all seem to ﬁt perfectly and operate without the slightest difﬁculty. Theory is needed, but without practical knowledge it is like faith without words – it is dead. The most dangerous man on earth is the egotistical Jack of all Trades. Blunt, right? That’s passion.

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SELLING A LIFESTYLE During the Roaring Twenties, when the world was at peace and anything seemed possible, a company called Quiet May arrived and brought with it some brilliant advertising. They made an oil burner, but they sold a lifestyle. Their ads talked about comfort, convenience, ease of use, and the health benefits of their product. The indoor air would be cleaner, and this had particular significance in the years following the Spanish Influenza pandemic. According to the company, the woman of the house, who was usually the person keeping the home fires burning, would have more time for herself, “to read, to romp with the kiddies, to prepare for guests.” Her house would be immaculate with much less effort. Her family would save money on painting and redecorating because there would be no coal-besmirched walls and furniture. She and her husband could go away for a day or a weekend without fear of pipes freezing and bursting. They now had modern, automatic heat. The advertising never strayed into the technical aspects of how the Quiet May burner did what it did. The people at the company knew they had to sell the benefits of the product, rather than the features, and they did this brilliantly. That’s passion.

THE DIFFERENCE PASSION MAKES ES My boiler-manufacturer friend could have sat with me in a plushh ofﬁce when I went to visit with him. He owned the company and I would have understood erstood that. But instead, he took me out to where people were building his products. ucts. He took me into their lab, where engineers were dreaming up new products, and he showed me that he understood all of this in a very hands-on way by placing his hand on that burner that had just ﬁred so brilliantly. William Newton Best would have been proud of him. My friend talked about how his products made life better for so many people, and that sent my mind whirling back to the Roaring Twenties and how The Quiet May Company beat King Coal by doing the very same thing. Passion makes the difference. It’s what attracts good employees and customers. The best companies know this. They have always known this.

TThe

BRINGING TECHNICAL CHNICAL AND PRACTICAL TOGETHER Let’s give the last words to Mr. Best. This is how you burn with passion: “A college-trained man an has many advantages over the mechanic who has not had the beneﬁt off a college education, providing the college man, after echnical training as a foundation on which to place pla graduation, uses his technical practical knowledge. This requires years y off sacriﬁce and hard labour. He must begin at the very bottom, so to speak, and climb, round by round, to the top of the ladder. When he has added practical knowledge to his technical education, he can live a life worthwhile and his service will always be in demand.”

Future is Here!

Make The Most Out of Your Water Conditioning Opportunity! High-Efficiency Water Softeners Reliable Problem Water Filtration Combination Systems Aqua Flo® Under Sink Drinking Water Solutions PURA® Ultraviolet Disinfection DURO® Pumps Cleaning Products, Test Kits, Chemical Feed Pumps Expert Field & Inside Support Dedicated Commercial Engineers

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@ 1-877-288-9888 Visit www.watergroup.com and download V our new 2015 Product Catalog

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HYDRONIC

Products

Polypropylene Vent ECCO Manufacturing's Polypropylene Vent is a single wall rigid/flex vent system for type BH gas venting. It is resistant to aggressive condensed water, and operates in negative and positive pressure modes. The UL S636-certified vent is designed for use with ANSI Category II and IV gas burning appliances with a maximum flue gas temperature of 230°F (110°C).

www. eccomfg.com

Condensing Boiler US Boiler Company's K2 condensing boiler is rated at up to 94 per cent AFUE. It uses a stainless steel heat exchanger and a Sage 2.1 control system with factory pre-sets. Available in ﬁve sizes ranging from 80,000 to 180,000 BTUH, additional features include 5:1 turndown and a “cold burner door” design – a hinged inner door that isolates electronics and controls from combustion and waterside components. Venting can be either one-pipe, two-pipe, horizontal or vertical conﬁgurations.

Pre-wired Control Station The Hydraulic Separator Station from HPS Controls is a prewired, low-loss header heating station designed for systems up to 400,000 BTUH. Left and right boiler connections are available. The circuit board has two boiler "Enable" end-switches to access high and low outputs to the boiler and individual zones can be conﬁgured. Other features include air elimination and pump isolation on all pumps.

www. hpscontrols.com

www. usboiler.net r.net

Dirt Separator CHEMICAL SINCE 1981

Established in 1981, Hood Chemical supplies Dow Chemical glycol (propylene and ethylene) with inhibitors. We offer free analysis and supply a written report advising the freezing point, pH, concentration of inhibitors, and appearance.

Who’s Your Glycol Expert ?

1-800-567-9791

www.HOODchemical.com

HiTech Dispensing Inc.

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Calefﬁ's Dirtmag NA5453 series dirt separator with magnet comes with optional isolation valves and removes both non-ferrous and ferrous impurities, including magnetite. e. It features a removable external rare-earth magnet around the body. y. It is available in 3/4” and 1” sizes with threaded connections.

calefﬁ.us

Pump Parts Kit Armstrong Fluid Technology's E.2 Pump-Less Volute (PLV) kit designed to upgrade, renew or replace all working parts of all models in its E Series family of circulators. The kits are suitable for both hydronic ﬂuid and potable water applications. The E.2 Series include a permanently lubricated mechanical seal, a water slinger to protect the motor against water intrusion, a stainless steel shaft, sealed and permanently lubricated bearings, and a bellows-style mechanical seal with silicon carbide wear surfaces.

www. armstrongﬂuidtechnology.com

ONE-STOP HYDRONICS If you need it, we have it. As authorized and stocking distributor for 50 of the biggest names in the heating industry - including Sime, Armstrong, Watts Radiant and Honeywell we have every gasket, pilot, heat exchanger, pump, fitting, clamp and screw you’ll ever need for a job.

Heat Exchanger Manufacturing

Thermal Cast Refractory

ON-SITE

We manufacture replacement heat exchangers for the industry’s top brands including:

We have produced thousands of refractory sets for many of the industry’s top brands including:

RBI – Laars – Raypack – Rheem – Ruud – Lochinvar – PK – Camus – Harward – and more!

RBI – Laars – Raypack – Rheem – Ruud – Lochinvar– Weil-McLain – and more!

Every copper-fin heat exchanger meets, or exceeds, OEM specifications and is fully tested.

Our in-house CNC centre produces precise machining of ceramic fibre board, with use limits up to 3000°f and densities up to 50 lb/ft.

• Most models can be manufactured and shipped SAME DAY • Older units are our specialty; our database dates back to 1950 for exact replication

• No cracks or collapsing; sold by the brick or by the set, from 1/2” to 2-1/2” thick • Satisfaction guaranteed; 2-Year Warranty

NORTH

AMERICA

Sime Boiler Specialists • Our reputation led world-renowned Sime Boilers to appoint us their exclusive North American distributor • Full line of residential and commercial boilers: wall-hung, condensing and more simenorthamerica.com • We stock and ship North America wide

101 Sharer Road Woodbridge, ON L4L 8Z3 Tel: 905-265-1527 05-265-1527 Fax: 905-265-9739 05 265 9739 05-265-9739 Email: info@thermalhydronics.com ydronics.com www.thermalhydronics.com ydronics.com

Canada-Wide Shipping With customers from coast-to-coast, service is our promise and you are our commitment. Source us nation-wide, or locally at our Weston Road and 407 mega-location in Woodbridge, Ontario.

e c i v r y Se

24/7

en g r e Em

772 7 6 )-83 (877

PLUMBING

Products

Electronic Faucets EQ from Chicago Faucets is an electronic faucet for public restrooms that comes in a choice of three spout designs and in two ﬁnishes. No programming is necessary of the faucets. The faucets come with a braided stainless steel hose and all electronics cables pre-installed for plug-and-play installation. Power options are AC, DC or a self-sustaining power supply that uses a hydraulic turbine to power the faucet. It is also available with manual or thermostatic mixing.

www. eqfaucets.com

Drinking Fountain n

Pipe Insulation Owens Corning Insulating Systems' AQ Fiberglas Pipe Insulation with ASJ is available in custom-ﬁt sizes for Aquatherm metric-sized polypropylene-random (PPR) piping systems. It comes in nine sizes and 22 SKUs, covering pipe up to 4” (125mm) in diameter. The product line matches the outer dimensions of the German-manufactured, metric-sized piping systems.

www. owenscorning.com

The KEPAC-EBF-STN drinking g fountain from Franke Kindred is designed to help facilities go green reen and reduce the cost and waste associated with disposable plastic tic bottled water. The mechanicallyy activated units have a built-in 100-micron strainer that stops particles before they enter the waterway.

Undermount sink The Novanni Elite JESR2031D8U model is a one and three-quarter sink that is constructed of 18-gauge stainless steel. Featuring a brushed satin ﬁnish, the sink is equipped with sound-deadening pads, and offers bowl depths of 8” on the left and 7” on the right. Metal stainless steel strainers are included.

www. frankekindred.com

www. novanni.ca

The direction of a toilet ﬂush is due to the direction of the rim jets, and not the often cited Coriolis Effect.

Stainless Steel Lineup Pipe Repair Kit

OS&B commercial stainless steel tubular products are manufactured from 20 gauge T315 stainless steel to prevent corrosion during drainage. They are designed to be resistant to harsh cleaning agents used in hospitality, commercial and institutional settings. All traps are available in 1-1/2” and 1-1/4” sizes, with both standard and extended lengths options. All lavatory drains are 1-1/4” and available in both straight and offset conﬁgurations.

The Cold-Shot Pipe Freezing Kit from General Pipe Cleaners can be used to repair operating water systems without draining water lines. It freezes liquids in steel, copper, cast iron, aluminum and plastic pipes from 1/8" through 2" sizes using carbon dioxide. Liquid CO2 ﬂows into the freeze head, forming an ice pack in the pipe capable of withstanding 7,000 psi.

www. drainbrain.com

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MORE The IPEX Advantage. When you choose System 15® and System XFR® from IPEX, you get more.

MORE Peace of mind knowing our technical support staff is there for you whether you’re an installer on-site, an engineer designing a system or when you’re working with inspectors.

MORE Only IPEX offers a complete DWV system of Pipes, Fittings, Cements, MJ GreyTM Mechanical Couplings and Firestops, so you’ll save time and money.

MORE In addition to technical literature, we provide detailed information on product attributes, uses, and installation procedures – everything you need to know. So, do you want more? Contact us today and get the IPEX Advantage.

Drainage Systems for Noncombustible Buildings ipexinc.com

Toll Free: 1-866-473-9462

Products manufactured by/for IPEX Inc. System 15®, System XFR® and MJ GreyTM are trademarks of IPEX Branding Inc.

PLUMBING

Products

Pullout Kitchen Faucet The Voss pullout kitchen faucet from Moen features a transitional style designed to accommodate tastes ranging from traditional to contemporary. The faucet includes the company’s Reﬂex system, a spray wand system that puts itself away and offers secure docking of the spray wand. It is equipped with a ceramic-disc cartridge.

www. moen.ca

Sewage Basin The Little Giant Pit+Plus Basin is a service-friendly sewage basin option for plumbing contractors. It features a monolithic top to separate and promote the three key areas of a sewage package – the pump, switch and plumbing connections, which can be accessed independently.

Bath Massage System Produits Neptune's Tonic system combines water and warm air to produce a steady temperature massage. It uses eight jets built into the bathtub's contour and its standard water heater maintains a constant temperature. It comes with three programmed settings. The pump and blower are sound-proofed. Electronic controls are backlit and built into the bathtub shell.

produitsneptune.com

www. littlegiant.com

Steam Water Heater The Axion Steam Water Heater, Model 9400, from Haws provides instant tepid water for safety equipment. The steam enters a brazed plate heat exchanger, instantly heating the water. A mixing valve blends hot and cold water to produce an output of 80°F (27°C) tepid water. Additional valves keep the system preheated, freeze protected and scald protected. It is designed to provide 3 to 25 GPM (11 to 95 LPM) of tepid water.

www. hawsco.com

LED temperature display

Wireless water management

Delta’s Temp2O Technology hand showers, showerheads, and tub and shower ﬁxtures include LED digital displays and background colour indicators (blue, magenta, red) to signal different water temperature ranges. Hand showers and showerheads with the technology are hydro-powered, requiring no batteries. They are available in chrome, stainless and Venetian bronze ﬁnishes. Tub showers are available in chrome, stainless, polished nickel, Venetian bronze and champagne bronze.

Damage Control Pro's AT301 is a wireless-enabled water management and leak detection system made to monitor the ﬂow of water into a property and automatically shut off the water in the event of leak. Access to the system's functions is through a portable or wall-mounted radio remote control panel with an LCD display.

www. dcpro.ca

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SIMPLY SMART.

Designed to meet the demand for durable contemporary electronic faucets and flush valves, Delta’s commercial DEMD Series not only look great, they are available in water-efficient* models that can help you attain LEED® certification. The series is available in single hole deck mount, wall mount and a cost efficient electronic metering model. All Delta commercial products are backed by an exceptional 5-year limited warranty. deltacommercialfaucets.ca

* Water-Efficient Products: Lavatory Faucets: flow rate of 1.5 gpm @ 60 psi (5.7 L/min @ 414 kPa) versus Industry Standard ASME A112.18.1 / CSA B125.1 of 2.2 gpm @ 60 psi (8.3 L/min @ 414 kPa). Urinal Flush Valves: 0.5 gpf (1.9 Lpf) or 0.125 gpf (0.5 Lpf), IAPMO listed to CSA B125.3 / ASSE 1037. LEED® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Green Building Council.

HVAC/R Products P Wireless Control

Refrigerant Pipe

The Imperial iManifold with Imperial iConnect provides wireless access to a system’s actual pressures, temperatures, superheat and sub-cooling while simultaneously calculating performance targets. The system’s software allows for remote viewing, control and support based on the readings on a technician’s gauges. It is compatible with iPhone 4s or higher, iPad 3 or higher and Android 4.1 or higher.

Multi-Flex Premium Refrigeration Pipe, available from E.S. Gallagher, is made with PERT-Al-PERT material and will operate with systems using R-22, R-404 and R-410a refrigerants. It is ICC certiﬁed and in compliance with ASME B 31.5 standards for use as secondary HVAC piping.

www. stridetool.com

multiﬂexpipe.com

Wi-Fi Thermostat The Sensi thermostat from White-Rodgers connects to a home Wi-Fi router and comes with nine built-in schedules and personalized options. It also comes with a free smartphone app. It will operate an HVAC system even if the Wi-Fi is disconnected and displays current room temperature, local weather conditions and current room humidity.

www. sensicomfort.com

Make Up Air The Islandaire Dr Ptac option is available in the company’s EZ Series DR product line and its EZ Series VR unit. This separate module is designed to constantly bring fresh air into the living space. When the relative humidity level outside reaches a range of 40 per cent to 100 per cent, the additional compressor is engaged to condition the fresh air as it enters the room.

islandaire.com MB48B

Pan Style MINI-BRAKE

AC/R System Analyzer

™

Goes wherever you need to work

• For fabricating shop-quality pans and boxes, on the job, the Malco 48 in. (1.2 m) “Pan Style” Mini-Brake quickly disassembles in half and goes to work with you! • 16 Precision ground, movable ﬁnger plates create bending widths from 2 - 48 inches, with a maximum pan height of 3 inches. Malco Products, Inc. | Annandale, MN. U.S.A. | www.malcotools.com | ©2015

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The 550 Digital Manifold from Testo has a metal frame for the display, which makes it water- and dirt-resistant. Its Bluetooth function wirelessly integrates smartphones or tablets via a free app and provides users with analysis, monitoring, test reports and invoice generation capabilities. The measurement data can then be sent via email from the job site directly to the customer or back to the ofﬁce.

testo.com

HVAC/R Products P Air Deﬂector Under-Mounted Condensate Pump The GOBI under-mounted condensate pump from Refco features dual-voltage support, 110 V or 230 V, and an electronic energy control system to regulate pump operation. It is rated to over 65 feet of head and over 325 feet of horizontal ﬂow, and can be installed on the left of right side of the mini split.

The Airvisor is an air deflector designed n ned for 24”x 24” square cone ceiling diffusers. rrs. It consists of a flexible triangular-shaped cover which is secured to the exterior of one of the four sides of o a diffuser, using a spring hook and two tabs. No modification or disassembly of the ceiling diffuser is required.

www. arivisor.ca

www. refcoswiss.com

The 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis featured a fully air conditioned building. The system used ammonia as its refrigerant.

Convection Trench Heating Kampmann’s convection trench heating systems, KathermNK, KathermQK and the KathermHK, offer made-to-measure measure heating solutions. The KathermNK is a hydronic natural convection nvection trench heating solution that can be discreetly recessed ed into ﬂoor or as a compact baseboard arrangement. Thee KathermQK is a fan-assisted hydronic trench/baseboard oard heating option. And the KathermHK is a fan-assisted trench/baseboard heating and cooling system that is available in 2-pipe and 4-pipe versions.

www. trane.com

One box. Unlimited solutions

Hi-Velocity’s small diameter duct zoning systems provide quiet comfort and superior energy TIVJSVQERGI JSV EPP ]SYV VIXVS½X ERH RI[ GSRWXVYGXMSR ,:%' RIIHW 'SQQIVGMEP SV VIWMHIRXMEP IEGL W]WXIQ GSQIW GSQTPIXI [MXL IRIVK] IJ½GMIRX JER GSMP ERH IUYMTTIH [MXL ]SYV WTIGM½GEXMSRW [MXL YRPMQMXIH STXMSRW 'EPP YW XSHE] JSV QSVI MRJSVQEXMSR

1-888-652-2219 www.hi-velocity.com M e c h a n i c a l

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COMMERCIAL HVAC By D a v i d T on e r

TAPPING INTO BAS FOR SMALLER BUILDINGS

David Toner, P.Eng. PMP, is the contracting and equipment fulﬁllment manager with Trane Atlantic. He can be reached at david.toner@trane.com.

uilding automation can help improve building performance formance and efﬁciency, make day-to-day operation and management nagement pant comfort. of building systems easier, and help maintain occupant Automation provides the ability for commercial building owners and managers to go beyond managing individual rooms, running ing building systems simply and smartly from one interface.

Automation also provides a link to smart technologies that make it easier to monitor data and gain insights into building performance and usage to help drive efficiency-improvement efforts. That said, it’s estimated that a significant percentage of small- and medium-sized buildings lack centralized building controls and monitoring, which can result in significant wasted energy and higher energy cost. New technology on the market makes the detail and sophisticated control of a building automation system (BAS) a cost-effective and easy-to-use solution for smaller commercial buildings, including commercial real estate, hospitality and retail applications. This means that smaller commercial buildings can realize the benefits of a BAS and are able to manage and adjust multiple building systems, including heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), lighting and security, from a single dashboard.

BENEFITS OF BUILDING AUTOMATION A major benefit of a BAS is the ability to gain centralized control of multiple systems and zones in a building. Systems and equipment that previously had to be controlled individually, often from various locations or rooms, can now be controlled and monitored from one centralized dashboard. The ability to bring separate systems together for one simplified view saves time, making operating a building easier and more efficient. Today’s dashboards allow for easy setpoint changes and schedule adjustments at the touch of a display screen. Some systems also offer energy-saving features such as area control, demand control ventilation and optimal start/stop functions. Building automation is also beneficial because it provides the ability to easily see what’s happening in a building — from information about equipment, to alarm information, to diagnostics and energy use.

BAS technology also enables these applications to use energy management solutions, providing such features as realtime monitoring of all energyrelated data gathered in the building, energy analytics and automated fault detection.

Remote access A BAS that is web-enabled can provide remote access to building systems from virtually anywhere, using a tablet or smartphone. These systems can also send alerts when something in the building isn’t working as it should be and if abnormal energy use is detected. These functions result in more responsive building control.

Varying studies show that 60 to 70 per cent of energy consumption in a commercial building is due to HVAC and lighting. Having an easy-to-use, single point of control for these systems makes it easier to optimize energy efﬁciency, and to balance the energy consumption and occupant comfort needs of a building. To help prioritize service work, some systems will even perform real-time monitoring of energy data gathered from meters, sub-meters, sensors and the building management system. Combining this data with energy analytics, the system will reveal previously hidden operational anomalies, prioritize them and provide insight into potential energy conservation measures and repairs. continues on page 102

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Taking Ductless to a New Level. COMFORT FOR LIFE

With Daikin floor mounted ductless systems you get a level of installation flexibility that you expect from a market leader. Daikin’s MXS line of multi-split systems now includes floor mounted models that offer

MXS Series systems achieve: Up to 18.9 SEER | Up to 12.6 HSPF

outstanding performance metrics. Enhancing levels of indoor comfort is easy with ductless systems offering energy efficiency ratings of up to 18.9 SEER, up to 12.6 HSPF, and up to 12.7 EER. Now you and your customers have

* Complete warranty details available from your local dealer or at www.daikincomfort.com. To receive the 12-Year Parts Limited Warranty, online registration must be completed within 60 days of installation. Online registration is not required in California or Quebec.

more options to enjoy comfort beyond traditional ducted systems. For more information on Daikin’s single and multi-split heat pumps,

COM FOR T FOR LIFE

please visit www.daikincomfort.com, www.daikinac.com or connect with your local Daikin brand sales representative.

· Houston, Texas · USA

COMMERCIAL HVAC

continues from page 100

SIMPLIFIED CONTROL FOR SMALLER BUILDINGS There are a select set of BAS offerings available today that are well-suited for use in smaller commercial buildings. A BAS that includes pre-engineered applications and prepackaged controls can provide cost-effective and simpler installation that can be completed quickly, with substantially less custom programming required for setup. Choosing a BAS with wireless communication technology can also reduce the complexity, time and cost of installation, since wireless controls eliminate the need to pull or run wires in the building for humidity and temperature sensing, equipment and system communications, remote access, and service tools. In existing buildings, it results in less disruption to the facility and occupants, and can help avoid disturbing the structure and potentially hazardous materials. Therefore, decreased cleanup costs and less risk with installation are realized. In addition to on-time, on-budget project completion, wireless technology offers easier problem solving, life-cycle savings and future ﬂexibility, providing the ability to easily add or move devices as building needs change. Another factor that makes BAS technology feasible in smaller commercial buildings is choosing a system with a simpliﬁed user interface, making operation easier for people more familiar with using a programmable thermostat. Intuitive dashboards save time in making changes to building systems, providing at-a-glance information and one point of control.

Connect to energy data Among the many benefits provided by a BAS is the ability to capture and measure energy data, providing the option to gain additional insights into building performance and usage that can drive efficiency. Through a BAS, a building can be connected to cloud-based technology for energy monitoring, measurement and analysis. Analytics can help determine if results are being achieved through the tracking of key performance indicators and providing energy tracking and reporting. Energy management solutions can also provide early detection of problems, so they can be corrected quickly as they arise. Analytics help ensure that a problem doesn’t go undetected in a building for a long time, costing efficiency and money.

THE BENEFITS OF AN OPEN PLATFORM Choosing a BAS built on a platform that supports open standards offers the ability to tie individual systems and capabilities together without having to worry about language protocols used by individual components. Open controls also facilitate integration of BAS technologies that can contribute to reduced maintenance and operating costs, such as wireless communication technology, webenabled access and remote mobile control. In addition, an open system offers more options and greater flexibility in the future, since it’s easy and cost-effective to change the system, add new equipment or integrate new technology from varying vendors — saving time and money, even as building needs change. An open system that grows and changes to fit specific building bu uilild d needs — on the schedule and budget best suited to the particular situation — offers the su u greatest flexibility and potential for optimizing the g building b and cost savings.

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When he reduced costs by 13% with a new RTU, he wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just saving money. He was setting a precedent. Once your clients start seeing the benefits of our incentives for upgrading to high efficiency HVAC systems, they will want to look into making other areas of their building like refrigeration and building automation systems more efficient too. When they do, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be joining thousands of organizations across Ontario who are already enjoying the savings that our programs deliver.

Take a look at their stories and our incentives at

saveonenergy.ca/business

Subject to additional terms and conditions found at saveonenergy.ca. Subject to change without notice. OM Official Mark adopted and used by the Independent Electricity System Operator.

STUFF YOU NEED Heavy Duty Drill and Hammer/Drill Bosch Power Tools offers two 18V heavy duty drill and hammer/drill drivers, the DDH181X and HDH181X. Both tools feature Active Response Technology, which cuts power to the tools when harmful torque reactions in bind-up situations, reducing the risk of kick-back. Both tools are compatible with all Bosch 18V Lithium-Ion batteries and weigh ﬁve pounds or less.

www. boschtools.com chtools.com

Nitrogen Purge Kit The TurboTorch nitrogen purge kit includes all the necessary tools for purging: a nitrogen purge regulator, flow meter, 1/2” and 3/4” cone plugs, and 36” and 72” standard 1/4” hoses. The kit also includes tools to flush lines and blow components clean, including a blowgun, Turbo Tornado flushing attachment and needle tip.

www. turbotorch.com

Construction ruction Snips Stanley’s line e of 19 FatMax snips includes aviation, tin and specialty HVAC models. Features include lude laseretched 1/4” blade e markings, spring-loaded external rnal latches, and low proﬁle hardware. dware. They h forged are manufactured with Cr-V steel blades and are induction hardened. The e snips are also rated for 18 8 gauge cold rolled steel and d 22 gauge stainless steel.

Glass Tube Cutter Wheeler-Rex’s Model 69012 Glass Tube Cutter is designed for cutting 1/4” through 3/4” O.D. gauge glass, laboratory glass and porcelain tube. Other Glass Tube Cutters are available for cutting up to 1-1/2” tubing.

www. wheelerrex.com

www. stanleytools.com

Hand Held Wall Scanner Dewalt’s DCT419 hand held wall scanner is designed to locate embedded materials behind walls. The scanner can detect ferrous and non-ferrous metal, plastic, wood, and unshielded live electric wiring behind multiple wall surfaces, including drywall, plywood, concrete, and ceramic tile at a sensing depth of up to 3 inches.

Hole Saws ws Malco Products’ s’ “Quick Action” hole saws come me with carbide tipped teeth with ith deep, self-cleaning gullets on a 2-1/4” (57 mm) deep saw cup, the company’s full selection of hole saws comes in 19 sizes that share e an arbor design that hat is compatible with th 5/8-18 hole saw threads. ads.

www. dewalt.com

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Pump pliers Alligator XL water pump pliers from Knipex Tools are 16” long and built with a box-joint design. The pliers self-lock on pipes and nuts. They have a built-in pinch guard and plastic-dipped handles. They are adjustable, offering 11 notches for positioning, and feature grip lengths of 3-1/2”. knipex-tools.com

Kitchen Workﬂow Solution R-22 is best for R-22 equipment. If you need to change,

The Kohler stainless steel Prolific sink has different work zones and five accessories that allow each user to customize the sink to their specific needs. The sink is designed with three different tiered levels, which allow kitchen tasks to be completed at the most ergonomic height for each consumer. Five functional accessories fit securely on the edges of the tiered levels and further customize the workspace to the specific user..

Arkema has your R-22 Retroﬁt Solution

kohler.com

407C

Reciprocating saw Featuring an in-line cutting action designed to provide more control and faster starts in metal, the model 2621-20 cordless M18 Sawzall from Milwaukee Tool offers a speed range from zero to 3,000 spm. The saw measures 19” in length, weighs 8.9 lb., and is equipped with the company’s Quik-Lok blade clamp. It can be powered by any Milwaukee M18 lithium-ion battery.

milwaukeetool.com

427A

407A

R-407C Air Conditioning R-427A All around solution for both A/C and refrigeration R-407A Refrigeration

For more information call 416-614-3610 or 1-800-567-5726 x 230 or visit us on the web at

www.R22retrofits.com

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OIL Products P

Convertible Oil-Fired Equipment Granby Furnaces’ non-condensing oil-fired cast iron boilers and furnaces are oil-fired appliances that can be converted to natural or propane gas. The company offers furnaces in a variety of models: hiboy multiposition, lowboy rear or front breach, with output capacities varying from 66,000 to 139,000 BTUH on oil, and from 87,000 to 131,000 BTUH on gas, with efficiency up to 88.6 per cent AFUE. Highefficiency, triple pass, GG20 cast iron cold start boilers from the company have efficiencies up to 87 per cent AFUE, and are offered in six different sizes ranging from 73,000 to 222,000 BTUH (oil) and from 82,000 to 219,000 BTUH (gas).

Cast Iron Oil Boiler Weil-McLain’s Ultra Oil cast iron boiler is designed for residential and light commercial applications. It has a three-pass cast iron heat exchanger with captured elastomer seals, is pre-wired for integrated control systems, and can be used with chimney or direct-vent conﬁgurations. It has a relief valve rated for 30 psi as standard, and an optional 50 psi rated relief valve. Burner options include Beckett NX or AFG, Carlin and Riello. Inputs range from 122,000 to 172,000 BTUH, with efﬁciencies up to 85.6 per cent AFUE.

www. weil-mclain.ca

www. granbyindustries.com

Condensing Oil Boiler ler Ward Heating Products’ FCX condensing oil boiler comes in two models, the FCX 22 and FCX 30. Features include a steel primary non-condensing heat exchanger coupled to a condensing, stainless secondary heat exchanger. They come with a built-in three-way mixing valve and dual-temperature circuit capability. The FCX 22 has a rated output of 76,000 BTUH and rated input of 81,250 BTUH. The FXC 30 has a rated output of 104,000 BTUH and a rated input of 107,500 BTUH.

www. wardheating.com

Double-Wall Oil Storage Tank

Oil Furnace

The Eco DWT Plus 3 double-wall oil storage tank from Roth features a weld-free galvanized outer tank that can hold 110 per cent of the primary tank. It has a seamless high-density polyethylene inner tank, a highly-visible optical leak alarm, a non-corrosive steel ﬁlling system that provides an even level in each tank when installed in groups, and a burner feeding system with a duplex bushing installed directly into the opening. It is available with 3/8” or 1/2”compression ﬁttings for copper tubing.

The Patriot 80 oil furnace from Comfort-Aire is available in upflow, downflow, horizontal, front or rear flue configurations. It has a Beckett AFG burner with flame retention head, PSC burner motor and solid state ignition. Models feature multiple firing rates and capacities ranging from 58,000 to 196,000 BTUH. All models are AFUE rated at 80 per cent or above.

www. roth-canada.com

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CLEANER HEAT 2015

Session notes Wednesday, June 17, 2015 Time: 10 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. Topic: Advisory Council Update

June 16-18, 2015 Halifax, Nova Scotia

COHA’s annual affair heads east Cleaner Heat 2015, the Canadian Oil Heat Association’s annual symposium, is headed to Halifax this June. The event, which takes place at the Harbourfront Marriott from June 16 to 18, will feature golf outings, local entertainment and tours, as well as business and training sessions that should be of interest to anyone in the oil heat sector. This year’s symposium offers two tracks of sessions for attendees, a Cleaner Heat track, and a GreenTech Track, which features technical sessions based on the B-139 Code where certiﬁed technicians can earn educational credits necessary to keep their credentials up to date. Topics to be covered by the slate of speakers include dealing with spills, mitigating and managing liabilities within the market sector, customer interaction and marketing, as well as a manufacturers’ round table to discuss issues facing the oil heat industry, energy efﬁciency and new technologies. Those hitting Halifax early on June 16 can sign up to compete for the 5th COHA Cup, the annual golf outing that takes place at Glen Arbour Golf Course, one of the top golf destinations in Atlantic Canada. For more information, or to register for the symposium, contact COHA at 1-800-257-1593, or email admin@coha.ca.

Speakers Michael Lio, president of BuildAbility Corporation, and COHA president Stephen Koch will provide an update on the activities of the Stakeholder Advisory Committee, which was assembled in the spring of 2014 to look at options to reduce the risk and impact of fuel oil spills. Wednesday, June 17, 2015 Time: 11:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. Topic: Understand Your Value Facilitator Don Huff, president of Environmental Communication Options will explore the questions front line staff are asking to gain and retain customers. He will facilitate a scripting clinic to shift front line customer interactions from friendly service to increased conﬁdence in selling value, handling price shoppers and product-switch inquiries, as well as knowing how to close a sale. Thursday, June 18, 2015 Time: 10:30 a.m. – noon Topic: A Practical Approach to Dealing with Spills Speakers Bill Fligg, president of Petro Buster, and Paul Rew, president and environmental engineer with Rubicon Environmental, will lead an open dialogue session aimed at helping decipher what the law says, what the thresholds are for reporting, and what can be Bill Fligg done to reduce the impact of a spill. This will include a common sense review of what really needs to be done, as well as an assessment of liabilities, in the event of an oil spill. Thursday, June 18, 2015 Time: 2 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. Topic: Fuel Oil Industry Environmental Liability – Pitfalls, Perils and Risk Management

cleanerheatsymposium.ca

Rowing in the same direction Cleaner Heat keynote speaker Crane Stookey is aiming to help you “Keep your people in the boat.” The tall ship ofﬁcer, author and executive performance coach has lived and breathed the struggles of command and performance under pressure; leading crews of sailors in the life-threatening conditions of long voyages on sailing ships at sea.He will lend his insights and advice on how business owners and managers can create conditions in the workplace where employees can thrive.

Matt Gardner, associate lawyer with Willms & Shier Environmental Lawyers LLP, will provide an overview of how the oil heat industry in Canada is being increasingly exposed to potentially crippling ﬁnes and litigation costs for failure to comply with environmental Matt Gardner laws. His presentation will assist fuel oil distributors, tank manufacturers and tank inspectors to identify, mitigate, and manage mounting regulatory and civil liability risks. Thursday, June 18, 2015 Time: 3:45 p.m. to 5 p.m. Manufacturers’ Round Table Moderator: Stephen Koch, president, Canadian Oil Heat Association M e c h a n i c a l

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Break Time

Across

Down

3. Does what it says, or you get wet. 4. Sealing of this is advisable. 8. Measuring and setting the ﬂow. 12. A handy thing for a urinal. 14. 12,000 BTUH. 16. Used to store heat energy.

1. A proper startup. 2. Can be done with valves or pumps. 5. Taking A/C outside. 6. The speed of ﬂuid. 7. A way to heat water with a boiler. 9. A tip to the faucet. 10. Where a plumber looks for diamond rings. 11. Once good, now bad in potable plumbing. 13. The D in DWV. 15. Odourless, colourless, tasteless, deadly.

Cutting Guide for Band Saw Blades

TOOL TIPS

Pipe dreams

f you are working with pipe, you are cutting pipe, and sometimes that pipe is pretty well ﬁxed in place. Thankfully there’s a world of portable band saws to make those cuts happen. And with cordless technology taking on this segment of the market, you don’t always need the power on at a jobsite to get your work done. When looking for a portable band saw, consider the size of pipe that you are likely going to be using it for. Band saws come in various widths or capacities, with ﬁve-inch, 4-1/2” and 3-1/2” mouth widths not being uncommon, but there are some that are smaller if most of your cutting is for strut channel or threaded rod for pipe supports. If you are looking at a cordless saw,

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Blade Size

Material Type

5/16” to 1/2”—10TPI

Soft

5/16” to 1/2”—14 TPI Hard battery run time is a critical 3/16” to 5/16”—14 TPI Soft factor. Think about where 3/16” to 5/16”—18 TPI Hard you will need to use the 5/32” to 3/16”—18TPI Soft saw, and whether you want 5/32” to 3/16”—24TPI Hard to be running to the truck Up to 5/32” —24 TPI Soft or Hard for a new battery half-way through a task. A battery with a power indicator is a good option too. Cordless saws are easier to transport, but the advantage of corded is constant power, and with many running at 15 amps, they can Sponsored by Milwaukee Electric Tool – a proud be very powerful. partner with Mechanical Business. Look for video Regardless of your choice, be sure tips, tools and reviews at to have proper PPE, and never www.milwaukeetool.com. Be sure to visit mechanicalbusiness.com for your take your eyes off the pipe while chance to win valuable Milwaukee products and cutting. merchandise!

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Gerty Has A New Hairdo...

And she can’t wait to tell you all about it. Gerty is our telemarketing Goddess – a job she was born to, given her love of talk. And while it’s her job to phone you if you haven't renewed your free subscription at least once in the past year, her enthusiasm sometimes gets the best of her.

You see, Gerty just loves to talk. And talk. And talk. Whether it’s sharing stories about her latest crumpet and jam social, her beloved Mrs. Muffles or her new “fantabulous” hairdo (her words, not ours), Gerty’s stories will hold you captive. Captive, of course, being the operative word. So, while she gets paid to be on the phone – you don’t. We understand that. That’s why we’ve made our online renewal process easier than ever. Simply visit our brand new website, click on the Subscribe tab and confirm that you want to continue receiving (or start receiving) Mechanical Business. It’s fast, easy and Gerty free.

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SPOTLIGHT PROFILES

RELAX AND BREATHE A LITTLE EASIER The Concord 4AC14 is built with carefully selected components, like its heavyduty scroll compressor that is 100% factory-tested to ensure this air conditioner will last for years to come. With the permanently lubricated condenser fan motor this unit doesn’t require annual maintenance. Rated at 14 SEER, this unit exceeds the ENERGY STAR® guidelines for energy efﬁciency, to put more money in your customer’s pockets.

www.bardonsupplies.com VIEGA PROPRESS FOR COPPER With more than 600 different fitting configurations, Viega ProPress for copper is the original copper press joining solution. Approved for more applications than any other copper press fitting system, Viega ProPress is available in sizes 1/2” to 4”. Viega ProPress systems offer the patented Viega Smart Connect feature, which helps installers easily identify unpressed connnections.

www.viega.us A MARVEL OF ENGINEERING That’s how industry is describing the all-stainless-steel heat exchanger found at the heart of the DynaForce gas-fired stainless steel condensing boiler lineup. Able to achieve efficiencies up to 99% and with capacities from 300 to 5,000 MBTUH, these low NOx units are available for both hydronic heating and domestic hot water. They can be fired with natural gas or propane. Camus continues to raise the bar with superior heating systems.

www.camus-hydronics.com NEW MR. SLIM PRODUCTS FOR 2015 Mitsubishi Electric, a leader in ductless split technology, is expanding its range of products to support the Canadian market. The new MSZ-FH18NA system joins the impressive MSZ-FH ductless heat pump family, offering higher heating capacity with excellent performance in cold climates. The new generation of multi-split systems (MXZ-C models) offers improved performance and speciﬁcations, longer pipe lengths, and supports connections with MSZ-FH indoor units.

Marketplace Ads

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The new STo- pulldown kitchen faucet with MotionSense offers a distinctive combination of geometric lines featuring a tubular, high-arc spout and strong, cube-shaped base. The most distinctive element of the STo- suite is the innovative, integrated pulldown spray wand which neatly docks inside the spout for a more streamlined appearance. The STo- faucet is available in Chrome and Moen’s exclusive Spot Resist™ Stainless.

moen.com INTRODUCING THE RIDGID B-500 TRANSPORTABLE BEVELLER Produce high-quality bevels in less than a minute without ﬂames or sparks. The compact design quickly mounts to pipes 4” and up with a maximum wall thickness of ½-inch. It creates consistent bevels in a single pass. See how it works or request a free onsite demo at ridgid.com/beveller.

www.ridgid.com CONTROLLING AND PROTECTING YOUR WATER Thermostatic Mixing Valves from Caleffi feature optional inlet check valves and temperature gauges. With a wide application range of ½” to 2” pipe connections, and flow ranges from ½ gpm to 70 gpm, these valves also allow for fast, simple commissioning without measuring instruments. The valves are certified to CSA B125.3/ASSE 1017, ASSE 1070 & Low Lead.

www.caleffi.com WOODFORD MODEL RHY2 ROOF HYDRANT This commercial roof hydrant provides a reliable, year-round water source for all your rooftop water needs. It features a heavy-duty cast iron mounting system that can be installed by the roofer; the hydrant can be installed later. The freezeless hydrant automatically drains when shut-off–even with a hose attached. Hydrants are backflow protected with an ASSE 1052 double check backflow preventer that is field testable. The hydrant is easy to repair; all repairs can be made from the top of the unit without removing the hydrant. For more information, please contact Woodford Manufacturing.

SPOTLIGHT PROFILES

BUILDING ON CUSTOMER DEMAND, MOTIONSENSE EXPANDS

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C A L E N D A R

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VISIT US TODAY!

Tel: (800) 976-9819 www.viega.us

O F

EVENTS

CIPH ABC June 14-16, 2015 Quebec City, Que. www.ciph.com

COHA Symposium June 17-18, 2015 Halifax, N.S. www.cleanerheat.ca

OPIA Annual Meeting June 14-16, 2015 Barrie, Ont. www.opia.info

HRAI AGM 2015 August 26-29, 2015 Windsor, Ont. www.hrai.ca

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CIPHEX Roadshow October 15, 2015 Burnaby, B.C. October 20, 2015 Edmonton, Alta. October 22, 2015 Regina, Sask. October 28, 2015 Brandon, Man. November 18, 2015 St. John’s, Nﬂd. www.ciphexroadshow.ca M e c h a n i c a l

RSES Canada AGM November 6-7, 2015 Toronto, Ont. www.rsescanada.com MCA Canada 2015 AGM November 16-19, 2015 Palm Springs, Calif. www.mcac.ca

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bythenumbers

Compiled by Mechanical Business

SPENDING ON THE RISE

$1,160 – home improvementt spending in the quarter 74 per cent of Canadians surveyed agreed that spending tends to increase ease as the weather gets warmer. Survey y respondents were planning to spend nd an average of $1,270 on travel expenses, ses, $1,160 on home improvements, $632 32 on food and entertainment, and $222 on new clothing and shoes in the second quarter of this year.

IT STARTS WITH THE “KITCHEN”

44%

KIDS LEADING BY EXAMPLE

Kitchen is the most used keyword when Canadians are searching for a contractor. A recent survey of Google searches shows this single room of the house to be the focus of 44% of keywords when looking for a contractor.

The majority of Canadian children have participated in environmentally friendly activities in the past year. Top actions on their list are:

86% – Using reusable water bottles. 77% – Saving water by not running the tap too long. 75% – Picking up litter. 50% – Using rechargeable batteries.

WHAT WORKERS WANT

35% – More vacation days

17% – A more ﬂexible schedule

16% – Better beneﬁts

HOMEWORK FOR PARENTS

THE SECOND-HAND ECONOMY

$30 BILLION The amount Canadians spend each year on used cars, hockey equipment, tools, and more. On average, each Canadian grants a second life to 76 items each year, across 22 product categories through buying, selling, trading, hand-me-downs and donating goods. Canadian consumers spend close to $200 billion on new durable and semi-durable consumer goods each year.

HOUSING’S $334 BILLION IMPACT

43%

Percentage of parents who list math as the most difﬁcult subject to help their children with when it comes to homework.

31%

Percentage of parents who list science as the most difﬁcult.

KEEPING UP, VIA SOCIAL MEDIA #FOMO

68%

Percentage of millennials who make reactive purchases due to the fear of missing out (FOMO) – a modern twist on “Keeping up with the Joneses” that is fueled by the combination of real time access to peers’ experiences in a visual context via social media and the desire to not be left behind. These purchases are often made within 24 hours of the emotional experience.

Amount that housing-related spending contributed to Canada’s gross domestic product in 2014, or roughly one-sixth of total economic output. PM# 41536047 Postmaster: Please send all address changes or undeliverable copies to: Mechanical Business, 19 – 1525 Cornwall Road, Oakville, ON L6J 0B2

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TECH SPEC 3783 Series Hooded Lavatory Drains Why settle for a Commercial looking open grid Lav Drain? Introducing the OS&B® 3783 Series Hooded Lav Drain for Vessel Sinks with no overflow. Available finishes: enDUR™ Chrome, Brushed Nickel and Venetian Bronze. Featuring a Euro style thread-in Hooded Dome for easy cleaning and continuous water flow. Ideal for residential Vessel sinks with its decorative Thread Shield and extra-long (3”) threaded body. Available in Standard Straight or Offset configuration for Commercial applications. CSA Certified.

Innovation that works...

3783V-ECP Vessel Model Shown

www.osb.ca

Water the Way You Want It

Our companies have been helping you filter, condition, and test water for 140 years. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re the smart one-stop choice for a complete suite of water quality solutions. Learn more at Watts.ca/waterquality