Mechanical Business May/June 2020 by Mechanical Business

MAY/JUNE 2020 $6.95

PM #41536047

Also in this issue:

Sebastian Clovis: A professional approach to renovations

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CONTENTS O F

FROM PARKING LOTS TO ARENAS, HOSPITALS RAPIDLY BUILD PANDEMIC RESPONSE UNITS

SEBASTIAN CLOVIS: A professional approach to renovations

36CELEBRITY ENCOUNTER 20PROJECT PROFILE As healthcare facilities across ss the country started to deal eal with the ﬁrst cases of COVID-19, OVID-19, a number of mechanical echanical ﬁrms were pressed sed quickly into action on to build temporary hospital pital facilities to handle cases. s. Denise ise Deveau

A love and appreciation for the construction trades started early for former Canadian Football League defensive back Sebastian Clovis. Since retiring from football,, the Greyy Cup p champion p has been spending p g his time tackling renovation projects, on HGTV. Adam Freill

Keeping cool in a

GETTING ENER ENERGIZED ABOUT

SERVICE VANS 46THE COOLING REPORT As consumers continue to work through the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, suppliers offer HVAC/R and IAQ advice as cooling season begins. Andrew Snook

30COMMERCIAL VEHICLES: VANS Electriﬁcation, particularly in the truck market, has been in the headlines this past year. But electricity isn’t just for pickups, it’s coming to the van market as well. Howard J. Elmer

Inset on the cover: For celebrity contractor Sebastian Clovis, his work on older homes in and around Toronto ﬁlls him with a sense of pride that comes from becoming a part of the home’s legacy, and extending the work of the trades pros who came before him. Photo: Courtesy of Stanley Black & Decker.

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REFRIGERATION Digging into shell and tube evaporators Phil Boudreau Shell and tube evaporators can be used to cool a process ﬂuid for an assortment of different processes, or with heat exchangers to cool air or another type of cooling medium.

HYDRONICS There’s an electric feeling in the air Bob “Hot Rod” Rohr The buzz has started about the electriﬁcation of building systems, and customers are thinking about electricity, so the time is ripe to start investigating fossil-free hydronic concepts as well.

ASK ROGER Trade shows may be on hiatus, but learning shouldn’t be Roger Grochmal I was disappointed with the recent postponement of the CMPX show due to COVID-19, however, it won’t hold me back from getting information that can help me in the ofﬁce.

PLUMBING All-new for 1966, the ’49 Buick Septic! Fred Bretzke An unconventional take on a septic tank; otherwise known as reimagining a Buick.

MARKETING Ways your marketing will change after COVID-19 Doug MacMillan Marketing will change in the HVAC and plumbing world as a result of the coronavirus experience. Here’s what we’re expecting.

HIGH-PERFORMANCE HVAC Balancing summer humidity Gord Cooke Through much of the spring and early summer, dehumidiﬁcation is at least as important as cooling, and there’s more to it than simply relying on the A/C system.

Handwashing in a COVID-19 world Jason Boyd

56ROAD WARRIOR Ryan Khunkhun: Good neighbours make for great careers Andrew Snook

68BUSINESS MANAGEMENT Preparing business for a postpandemic era David Cooke

D E P A R T M E N T S

P R O D U C T S

6From the Editor’s Desk

28,29,46-48HVAC/R

8News

54,66Plumbing

59Find the Fix

58Hydronics

69The Info Page

67Stuff You Need

70By the Numbers M e c h a n i c a l

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22COMMERCIAL PLUMBING

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Thank you

â&#x20AC;Ś and so many more!

for your courage.

FROM 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 2020 Issue Published 6 times per year. Editor: Adam Freill, ext. 224 adam.freill@mechanicalbusiness.com National Sales Manager: Jeff Superle, ext. 221 jeff.superle@mechanicalbusiness.com Controller: Liz Mills liz.mills@mechanicalbusiness.com Operations Manager: Caroline Bexﬁeld caroline.bexﬁeld@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

THE

EDITOR’S

DESK

Our gratitute to our frontline workers! I would like to express gratitude to healthcare personnel who are risking their lives on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. They are the ones closest to the risks. And I applaud all essential workers. These are the people who are seeing to our essential needs at a time when the personal risks are considerably heightened. Thank you. One group that I’ve not seen a lot of direct mention of, aside from on some of the provincial lists of essential services, however, are the good people in our sector who have been doing critical frontline work during the lockdowns.

Keep up to date in your inbox As COVID-19 announcements and updates started to come in at a hectic pace, we realized that we needed a way to share this vital business information with you quickly, and thus MBizLink was born. These short email messages are aimed at directing you to information about things like business subsidy and relief programs. To receive them, simply subscribe to our magazine or newsletter at www.mechanicalbusiness.com.

To remedy this, I’d like to give a shoutout to the plumbers, the HVAC technicians, the refrigeration engineers, the supply partners, and all the other highly skilled tradespeople who’ve been keeping our buildings operating, our water running, our food safe, and the air inside hospitals from turning into a nasty stew during the pandemic. As Mike Rowe illustrated last issue, there are a lot of critical service providers whose work goes almost unnoticed until the systems they build and maintain no longer work. It was rather eerie to ﬁnd that issue in my mailbox in mid-March, just as many of us were beginning to understand the gravity of the outbreak.

PM:41536047 ISSN 1916-0674 MB (Print) ISSN 1906-0682 MB (Online) We acknowledge the support of the Government of Canada.

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. 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).

And within a day of isolation orders going out, I got the first Facebook plea from someone looking for a specialist who could get their furnace up and running. Few people realize that as bad as things have been during this pandemic, society would take a maj major turn for the worse if the water didn’t run (to the tap p or down the drain) or if HVAC and refrigeration re n sy systems – and especially IAQ equipment – wasn’t tended w wa sn’tt tende d d to and started to break down. So, on behalf of the team here at Mechanical Business, salute those of you who have been helping to I’d like to sal keep th the water flowing, the heat on, refrigeration systems running and our indoor air fresh during system the crisis that we find ourselves in.

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.

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Thank you The Leader in Condensing Tankless Technology

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06.20

News www.mechanicalbusiness.com

CMPX postponed until 2022 The next edition of CMPX will take place in March of 2022. Originally scheduled for this past March at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC), show organizers CIPH and HRAI made the decision to postpone the show due to the COVID-19 travel restrictions and social distancing requirements. The organizations explained that the show was pushed to 2022 due to the “ﬂuid impacts of COVID-19 on the industry and the trade show business.” In a joint statement, HRAI and CIPH said that they “believe this will ensure that we meet the needs of both exhibitors and visitors.” CMPX 2022 will take place at the MTCC from March 20 to 23, 2022. cmpxshow.ca

Napoleon steps up to help in the ﬁght against COVID-19 Napoleon recently teamed up with a neighbouring company in Barrie, Ont. to assist them in the production of muchneeded medical face shields in the battle against COVID-19. Fifty of Napoleon’s employees shifted from HVAC, hearth and barbecue products to help with the manufacturing of the much-needed PPE gear. “We are so proud of our team for their willingness to volunteer to help where help is needed and put themselves on the frontline of this crisis,” says Stephen Schroeter, co-CEO for Napoleon. napoleon.com

COVID-19 best practices for mechanical contractors Grundfos announces allocation of $6.1 million to battle COVID-19 The Grundfos Foundation (Poul Due Jensen Foundation) has allocated $6.1 million to help a number of initiatives that will help limit the damages stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds that have been directed to date will help such programs and organizations as Water Mission, Oxfam, UNICEF, and the Red Cross, among others. Additionally, the foundation is sponsoring wastewater treatment units in two hospitals in Hubei Province, China. ca.grundfos.com

Looking for help navigating business during the pandemic? Several industry associations have developed best practices guides and resource portals for staying safe during the pandemic. For example, the Mechanical Contractors Association of Canada has released COVID-19: Guidelines for the Mechanical Contracting Sector, which can be downloaded free of charge from the association’s website. Also offering resources pertinent to those in the mechanical sector are ASHRAE, with its COVID-19 Preparedness Resources webpage (ashrae.org/COVID19), and HRAI and CIPH, which have both created COVID-19 resource pages to assist the industry. mcac.ca ashrae.org hrai.ca ciph.com

CIPH ABC 2020 cancelled CIPH’s Annual Business Conference, scheduled for June 27 to 29 in Mont Tremblant, Que. has been cancelled. The association stated that the decision to cancel was in order to take precautionary measures to continue to protect its industry members from any further risks associated with the COVID-19 outbreak. The next CIPH ABC will take place from June 27 to 29, 2021 in St. Andrews, N.B.

Viega launches new rewards program Viega recently launched its Viega Rewards program, which is open to small- to medium-sized contractors who use Viega products. Qualiﬁed participants will be awarded points according to annual spending tiers. Rewards include free ﬁttings, tubing, press tools, swag and training at Viega’s seminar centres.

ciph.com

viegarewards.us

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And thank you

our readers, for being there for Canada.

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Ventilation 2021 calls for abstracts ASHRAE is accepting paper abstracts for Ventilation 2021, the 13th International Industrial Ventilation Conference for Contaminant Control, set to take place August 15 to 18, 2021 at the Sheraton City Centre in Toronto. Key issues to be covered during the event include occupational health, environmental emissions and safety considerations in industrial process ventilation system design and applications; innovations in ventilation system designs; best practices; and more. Abstract submissions are due in October. If accepted, papers will be due in March of 2021. ashrae.org

Nexstar talks leadership and awareness in Florida More than 300 contractors and industry suppliers from across North America took part in Nexstar Network’s 2020 Leadership Spotlight event, held in early March in Bonita Springs, Fla. “Leadership is a journey,” explained Nexstar’s president and CEO, Jack Tester (pictured), as he kicked things off. Over the next three days, his organization’s team of trainers, and a few special guests, walked attendees through a number of exercises designed to help them analyze and assess their management skills to help them increase the success of their businesses. nexstarnetwork.com

OGA Conference moves to Fall 2020

Advocacy Day at Queen’s Park As part of HRAI’s increased and more pro-active approach to promotion of the industry’s needs on behalf of its members and the HVAC/R sector, the association organized an Advocacy Day at Queen’s Park in March. HRAI Chapter presidents and the HRAI government relations committee were invited to participate in the event. The main goals were to build general awareness and understanding of HRAI and its role, as well as that of the HVAC/R sector, and to provide an overview on a few key issues. For this speciﬁc event, HRAI put a particular focus on seeking more information about training and apprenticeships, and governance of the skilled trades. The meeting at Queen’s Park drew 18 attendees with 35 in attendance for the reception, which took place afterwards. hrai.ca

The Ontario Geothermal Association 2020 Conference has been postponed until the fall. As of press time, a specific date and time had not been revealed but organizers are working with a venue and will update as that information is confirmed. What is known is that the conference’s theme this year is, “Down to Earth: Decarbonizing with geothermal.” Sessions will discuss new trends, new voices, new initiatives and new opportunities spurred by province-wide advances towards reducing energy costs and fighting climate change. ontariogeothermal.ca

New dates announced for MEET Show The Mechanical Electrical Electronic Technology (MEET) Show has been postponed until November 18-19, 2020. The biennial show for professionals l iin th the mechanical h i l and electrical industries will still take place at the Moncton Coliseum in New Brunswick. The MEET Show is the largest trade event east of Montreal and features approximately 400 companies in more than 100,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space. meetshow.ca

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06.20

News www.mechanicalbusiness.com

ASHRAE to fund 34 undergraduate projects; three Canadian

dahl celebrates World Plumbing Day 2020

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dahl Valve Limited proudly celebrated World Plumbing Day, March 11, with cash donations to MCAC and CMMTQ in support of each organization’s educational programs for the plumbing and hydronic heating trades. The company also hosted students from the Conestoga College plumbing program for a World Plumbing Day presentation and tour of the dahl factory in Mississauga, Ont. dahlvalve.com

Let it ﬂow! Watco 901 Hi-Flo Innovator Overﬂow

ASHRAE has announced that a total of $153,000 will be awarded for the 2020-21 Society Year to fund 34 projects through ASHRAE Undergraduate Program Equipment Grants. Three grants awarded this year were for Canadian projects: “Undergraduate Gas/ Liquid System Design: HVAC Components Demonstration,” at the University of Alberta; “Portable VAV System for Undergraduate Laboratory,” at the University of Regina; and “Novel Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs) Adsorption Heat Transformation (AHT),” at the University of Windsor. The two highest ranking teams will be invited to present their projects during the Student Program at the 2021 ASHRAE Winter Conference, taking place January 23-27, 2021 in Chicago. ashrae.org

■ Twice the capacity of traditional overﬂow faceplates

Mechanical ﬁrms among Canada’s best managed

Watco Hi-Flo brass strainer body

Deloitte recently announced the winners of its Canada’s Best Managed Companies competition, and the mechanical sector was very well represented. In the Gold Standard category, which recognizes winners that have maintained their Best Managed status for four to six years, were Stelpro and Winters Instruments. Platinum Club members that have maintained their Best Managed status for seven years or more include Armstrong Fluid Technology, Canarm, Engineered Air, Master Group and Napoleon Group of Companies. Congrats to them all!

■ Thicker, stronger crossbars with up to 20% higher ﬂow than traditional fourbar strainers

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816.796.3900 Q watcomfg.com Always a step ahead

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DIGITAL ALERTS On-demand training

CPVC and commercial construction The Plastics Pipe Institute (PPI) recently published a new guide related to the use of CPVC piping systems in commercial buildings. Available for download on PPI’s website, TN-62 Suitability and Fitness of CPVC Piping Systems for Commercial Building Applications, describes material capabilities that should be considered when designing CPVC systems for commercial plumbing and mechanical systems. Topics discussed in the PPI document include: CPVC material deﬁnition and properties; use in hightemperature applications; resistance to potable water disinfectants; use in mixed-material systems; and design issues when using CPVC. plasticpipe.org

Navien is offering live and on-demand digital training sessions via webinars. Live virtual training is hosted by one of Navien’s product trainers, allowing viewers to ask questions and receive real-time feedback. Can’t make it for the live training? Choose a prerecorded on-demand webinar to watch at your convenience. training.navieninc.com

Watts announces SpecHUB Watts has launched SpecHUB, a comprehensive one-stop project speciﬁcation tool and the latest addition to their engineering planning resources. It is designed to help engineers, architects and contractors specify and select Watts products, create submittal packages and plumbing schedules, and share project information with colleagues. watts.com

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EnVisioneer competition seeking entries Applications are now open for Danfoss’ annual EnVisioneer of the Year award competition. The competition recognizes North American manufacturers, building owners, municipalities, contractors and end users that have introduced a new product, opened a new facility, or invested in a 2019 winners Arctic Cool. building or system upgrade in the past 18 months using Danfoss products to realize signiﬁcant energy and environmental savings. Applications must be submitted by July 15, 2020. Winners will be selected by a panel of third-party judges, representing various disciplines. danfoss.com

We want your selﬁes! During these days of social distancing, a sense of community is important, and we want to share what you are up to, so get those smartphones out on your jobsite (or get your co-worker to shoot a pic of you in action – from at least six feet away) and send it to adam.freill@mechanicalbusiness.com. Don’t forget to include your name, company name and what you are working on – as well as where you are in Canada. mechanicalbusiness.com

Ontario extending deadline for working-at-heights training Ontario’s Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development recently announced that it is giving workers in the construction sector an extra year to renew their training if they work at heights. More than 120,000 workers were set to have their training certiﬁcates expire over the next six months. Although this training is mandatory, many training providers have shut down due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Workers who successfully completed their workingat-heights training between February 28, 2017 and August 31, 2017 will now have their certiﬁcation end in 2021. ontario.ca

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Québec-based Venmar Ventilation has developed a negative-pressure device for hospitals and nursing homes to help them in the battle against COVID-19. The device can also be used to convert hotel rooms into temporary hospital spaces, should the need arise. The negative pressure device is designed to ensure that 100 per cent of the air in a patient’s room is drawn into the device and ﬁltered to prevent the virus from spreading to other unprotected areas of the hospital. As of press time, Venmar had produced ﬁve units that were to be delivered to Hôpital Sainte-Croix in Drummondville, Que. venmar.ca

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Movers & Shakers www.mechanicalbusiness.com

Carrier becomes independent company Carrier Global Corporation made its debut in April as an independent, publicly traded company after successfully completing its separation from United Technologies. The company has an extensive global footprint with approximately 53,000 employees in more than 160 countries.

Navien announces major U.S. expansion Navien announced that it will establish its ﬁrst U.S. manufacturing and assembly operation. The 300,000-sq.ft. facility in James City County, Va., will be used as a distribution centre for two years as it transitions into manufacturing operations. The ﬁrst stage of manufacturing expected to begin in 2023. navieninc.com

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Snyder y Sales Group p to represent Zurn in Atlantic Canada

New look for ecobee Home automation technology company Ecobee recently unveiled a new logo. The Canadian company is a provider of smart thermostats for commercial and residential applications along with a variety of other smart monitoring products and services. ecobee.com

Zurn Industries Limited has appointed Snyder Sales Group as the company’s sales agency representative for all Zurn Canada product lines in Atlantic Canada. The agency’s territory will include New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. zurn.com

Complete Turnkey Venting Solutions For more than 25 years, Cheminee Lining has provided listed and custom exhaust system sizing, design, fabrication and installation for institutional, commercial and industrial projects. We offer Professional Engineer-sealed designs for all Canadian provinces and have a complete steel fabrication shop for ASME STS-1 freestanding stacks, structures and accessories. Applications: • Boiler • Generator • Heat Recovery • COGEN

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Navien, the leader in condensing tankless water heaters, brings endless hot water comfort to homes and businesses across North America. Keep hand washing and Navien will continue to supply plenty of hot water. Learn more at NavienInc.com.

06.20

People in the news www.mechanicalbusiness.com

Mechanical Business’ Find the Fix quizmaster, Jeff House, has joined HYDRONIC SYSTEMS CANADA INC., a manufacturers’ rep based in Ontario, and has also launched Boiler HOUSE Training. In addition to his experience as a hydronics trainer, he has spent the past four decades in technical sales and hydronic design and installation, most recently serving as a business development manager with a manufacturer’s rep agency. He will handle the sales territory from the Niagara region through Southwestern Ontario at Hydronic Systems Canada.

EQUIPCO recently promoted Adam Hedden (1) to business development manager for Ontario and the Atlantic region. Hedden has been with Equipco since 2016 and has over 13 years of experience in the HVAC/R, hydronic and plumbing industry. He will continue to focus on the southwestern Ontario territory, but will now also assist with the overall sales and marketing function in Ontario and Atlantic Canada. Matthew Reid (2) has also taken on a new role at Equipco, as technical sales specialist for Ontario. As part of his new role, he will be launching and managing Equipco Design Services. The company has also promoted Nicole Wall (3), who is now the plumbing product specialist for Ontario. Wall has been with the company since 2015 and will focus on plumbing showrooms, as well as the designer and builder markets. Also joining Equipco is Lisa May, who brings more than 16 years of experience to her sales representative position for the Greater Toronto Area.

CLEAVER-BROOKS has hired Johan Tallberg (1) as senior vice-president of burner systems and exhaust solutions. Tallberg will be responsible for leading the burner and exhaust teams handling sales support, product management, sales engineering and product development. The company has also named Ryan Lepp (2) its senior vice-president of industrial watertube boilers. Lepp will lead the sales support, product management, sales engineering and product development teams in that division. ARMCO AGENCIES has hired Eric Eagleton as its business development manager. Eagleton brings signiﬁcant retail and wholesale sales experience to the role, working at plumbing wholesale and boutique companies, as well as within the hospitality sector.

M e c h a n i c a l

FUJITSU GENERAL AMERICA has promoted Dennis Stinson (1) to vice-president of sales. Stinson served as the company’s director of national accounts for the past year and as regional sales manager for four years prior to that. All sales segments and departments now report to Stinson. The company has also promoted David Trautman (2) to director of national accounts. He moves into this role from his previous position as a regional sales manager with the company. And Erin Mezle (3) has been named vicepresident of marketing. Mezle previously held the position of marketing director with the company.

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TACO COMFORT SOLUTIONS has promoted Cheryl Merchant to the position of CEO. Merchant joined the company in 2019 and previously held the position of president of global operations. Prior to joining Taco, Merchant spent 19 years as the president and CEO of Hope Global Industries, based in Cumberland, R.I.

ONTOR LIMITED has appointed Tyson Guitard to the position of sales representative for Atlantic Canada. Tyson is an 18-year veteran in the HVAC industry and will be responsible for business development in the Maritimes.

Ken Barton has been promoted to vice-president of technical sales with ARZEL ZONING TECHNOLOGY. Barton joined the company in 2008, answering calls in the Technical Support Department before moving on to the position of technical services manager.

Hired someone lately? To have your company’s personnel announcements included, free of charge, in an upcoming edition of Mechanical Business, simply send a note and a few details, to adam.freill@mechanicalbusiness.com.

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PROJECT PROFILE |By Denise Deveau

FROM PARKING LOTS TO ARENAS, HOSPITALS RAPIDLY BUILD PANDEMIC RESPONSE UNITS I t started with a hand-drawn design on paper. Within two weeks, the schematic came to life at Joseph Brant Hospital in Burlington, Ont., with the opening of Canada’s first modular Pandemic Response Unit to help manage the surge of COVID-19 patients. The 8,250 sq. ft., 93-bed temporary unit, which opened in early April, provides the extra space needed for patients with mild to moderate virus symptoms, freeing up acute care space for patients with more severe needs. Construction firm BLT designed and built the temporary ward using a reusable tension fabric building from Sprung Structures, creating a contained environment that can support screening, testing and isolation activities. The project relied on a network of suppliers, regulatory agencies, regional healthcare providers, and sub-contractors who pulled out all the stops to meet a seemingly impossible timeline, including The HIDI Group and Modern Niagara who handled the mechanical design and installation. “While we were experienced in infection control in a built environment, this was definitely not the same,” says Bryce Jones, construction manager at Modern Niagara. “Normally we have a partially finished building to work with. In this case we were putting equipment on sloped asphalt, sidewalks and grass.” Building in the hospital parking lot created a few challenges the team had never had to face before, Jones says. “We had to work around shrubs, bushes, trees, and an active roadway to a parking garage. Because we were at ground level, we also had to deal with an abnormally high intake rate of dirt, dust, pollen, and leaves blowing in.”

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Of course, the biggest wrench was co-ordinating everything on such a small timeline. “There was no precedent for COVID in terms of codes for guidance, and we had only two weeks to pull all of it together, from design kickoff to commissioning,” says Paul Waddell, vice-president, Design + Build for BLT. “There was no time to develop 3D renderings while working from home. Despite the challenges, I’ve never seen a group mesh more quickly to get this done.”

FORMULATING THE DESIGN Hospitals need HVAC, but since the facility was not intended to operate in winter months, it was possible to use a minimum design temperature of 0°C to size the heating system. In order to maintain the necessary negative pressure differential of 7.5 Pa relative to the adjacent corridor, continuously operating exhaust fans were installed. “It was essential to maintain a negative pressure within the enclosure to ensure no virus could escape without going through a HEPA ﬁlter,” explains John Ferguson, design principal with The HIDI Group.

TACKLING THE SUPPLY CHALLENGE Getting all this equipment was no small feat, Waddell notes. “Normally it takes six weeks. Suppliers were able to cut down that time because they knew they were supporting the greater good and were very willing to jump in to help.” Given the tight timing, they also had to adjust the design based on the availability of equipment, Jones notes. “Normally we have all that information ahead of time. As we progressed, we found out some equipment might be slightly different than we assumed, so we had to make adjustments on-site.”

The ventilation air handling unit supplies 100 per cent outdoor air to the main room and is run by a supply fan equipped with a variable speed drive. This allows for fan speeds to be adjusted to deliver 7,500 cfm, or 3 ACH, as per CSA Z317.2. Outdoor air is filtered and cooled to 12.8°C before mixing with filtered conditioned air from the recirculating air handling unit and being supplied to the main room. Two main exhaust fans are each equipped with a HEPA final filter and variable speed drive to automatically maintain the appropriate pressure differential. A separate washroom trailer is equipped with its own HVAC system, water supply and holding tank. Another dedicated air handling unit heats, cools and ventilates the corridor that connects the main room to the hospital. Two 52-ton air cooled chillers circulate chilled water to the cooling coils. The entire HVAC system is run by a local DDC control system that controls fan speeds and valve positions. Overhead, more than 38,280 lb. of prefabricated ductwork was used, with grilles supplying air downwards towards the floor along two main access aisles that run the length of the structure. The air is returned by grilles located in the headwall above each patient’s bed. “We went with two large spiral runs for the supply ductwork,” Ferguson explains. “We had two main supply runs and ducted returns from each bed (headwall) with the main return down the middle arching over the nurses’ stations. Additional supply air grilles on top of the supply ducts helped wash the tent walls and roof with air to avoid condensation.” The main room’s handwash sinks are supplied by water from a fire hydrant. Each has a small electric water heater where hot and cold water is supplied by an automatic handsfree faucet. Drain water is pumped from each sink to an existing sewage ejector pit.

FROM EMPTY ARENA TO COVID-19 FIELD HOSPITAL Field hospitals are springing up all across the country to handle the COVID-19 crisis, with some communities modifying existing buildings on a temporary basis.

DIDYOUKNOW? The 24/7 construction work had to be done under COVID safety conditions, with workers being screened daily, and work spaced out, so the number of trades professionals on site at one time was limited compared to a more traditional build site.

When Grey Bruce Health Services (GBHS) in Owen Sound, Ont., was given two weeks to build a ﬁeld hospital to support COVID-19 patients in recovery, it turned to the arena at Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre for a solution. With no events currently being held, the arena had plenty of room to build an open-pod hospital to service up to 75 patients, explains Neil Havens, director, facilities management. Working with JaLand Construction and Benedict Electrical Contracting, gas piping and electricity were delivered to each bed location, with medical gas work for oxygen and vacuum piping being completed over a span of about three days. “A lot of copper piping went into that,” says Havens. Getting electricity to each bed was a little easier. “All drops feed off services that were already pre-installed for the annual Home Show,” he explains. “We just had to add 200-amp service panels on each side and provide the feeder wiring to support the additional electrical services.”

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COMMERCIAL PLUMBING B y Ja son Boy d side from social distancing, proper and frequent handwashing is probably the most cited and credible way to minimize risk of exposure to the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. As commercial buildings start to go back to pre-outbreak occupancies, it can be expected that the plumbing

IN A COVID-19 WORLD systems – and sinks and faucets, in particular – will likely face more frequent use, by more users. With the potential for water use to rise, and for bottlenecks to occur at handwash stations, the owners and operators of these buildings will be turning to the plumbing community to offer solutions. Thankfully, many of these currently exist, and can be retroﬁtted into existing facilities.

HOT OR COLD? Believe it or not, but there is no current evidence that washing with warm water is more effective at cleaning hands than cold water, although warm water does tend to lead to better user comfort and encourage longer handwashing time. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does advise against the use of standing water, however, as this could re-contaminate hands when rinsing. Faucet handles may also be a source of contaminants. In a recent test conducted on kitchen faucet handles in a healthcare facility by a pathogen lab, some handles were found to have more than 2,000 bacterial colony forming units per swab. The installation of touchless electronic faucets could keep users from being exposed to any bacteria or viruses that could be on faucet handles.

SOAP, WATER AND DRY Multi-station handwashing systems can greatly improve traffic flow by having faucet, soap dispenser and hand dryer all at the point of use. Many of these stations are customizable so you can add as many components as are necessary to meet peak demands.

Jason Boyd is the LEED-accredited vice-president and general manager of Dobbin Sales, a master distributor and supplier of commercial plumbing products to the Canadian plumbing industry. He can be reached at jboyd@dobbinsales.com.

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ENABLING THE 20-SECOND WASH To aid the public with their handwashing techniques, health authorities have generally recommended a 20-second wash cycle, with soap, water and friction hitting all areas of the hands – a quick splash or rinse is not effective. While some may sing Happy Birthday twice, or some other tune that lasts 20 seconds, to help pace their time at the sink, modern programmable faucets can offer a more automated solution. These can have multiple modes of operation, allowing for the adjustment of cycle times, and to self-flush during periods of non-use. Some faucets can even be accessed and adjusted via a smartphone maintenance app, allowing for customization of such things as run-time and sensor range.

WHAT ABOUT SAVING WATER? A 0.5 gpm outlet is the standard for commercial applications, and is also the baseline for LEED Water Efficiency credits. While it may seem like a good goal to aim for even further reductions in water flow, going below this volume of water is likely to lead to poorer handwashing practices. It’s very likely that building owners will sacrifice water savings at the faucet in an effort to improve hygiene, while looking for savings in overall water use at the WC or urinal, where low-flow options can help to offset additional water being used at the faucet.

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REFRIGERATION

Digging into shell and tube evaporators E

vaporators used sed in refrigeration and air conditioning systems tems are available in a wide de variety of options and styles, tyles, each with their own design and eters. selection parameters. Looking at shell and tube evaporators, these ool a process fluid for an assortment can be used to cool esses, or with heat exchangers to cool air of different processes, or another type of cooling medium. This latter type is referred to as an indirect type of system and can greatly reduce the overall amount of refrigerant being used in a system. d being cooled by the evaporator could be The process fluid us glycol solution water, an aqueous solution, oil oil, or any number of other chemicals or mixtures. In general, we can categorize shell and tube evaporators as either direct/dry expansion (DX) or flooded.

THE DX EVAPORATOR In a DX evaporator, the refrigerant pa passes through the tubes and the fluid being cooled flows around the tubes, inside the she shell. In this case, liquid refrigerant is metered metere to a lower pressure (expan (expanded) where it is cold enough enou to absorb heat from fro the fluid before it is superheated. superheat It is, of course, co important very impo superheat to superh the refrigerant refriger since in the tubes sinc the refrigerant will travel directly to the compressor after it leaves the evaporator. In a DX evaporator, we can say that the refrigerant is expanded directly before the compressor, hence the term “direct expansion.” Also, because the refrigerant leaves the evaporator in a superheated state, we could also characterize this process as “dry expansion.” Note that in DX designs, the temperature difference between the fluid and the refrigerant must be high enough to provide enough superheat. In order to provide the best heat exchange rate while ensuring adequate superheat, evaporators are typically piped in a counterflow arrangement.

Phil Boudreau

M e c h a n i c a l

Phil 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.

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Canadian reﬁllable cylinders available

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FLOODED SHELL AND TUBE In a flooded shell and tube evaporator, the process fluid passes through the tubes while the refrigerant flows outside the tubes, inside the shell.

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The shell of these evaporators must be designed to withstand refrigerant pressure, whereas a DX shell and tube evaporator is designed so that the shell can withstand ﬂuid pressure.

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We can further categorize ﬂooded evaporators according to the feed method used. For example, if no pumps are used, the feed method is referred to as the “gravity-fed” type (as pictured). However, if the liquid refrigerant is pumped through the evaporator, the feed method is referred to as the “liquid-overfeed” type.

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When metering refrigerant, flash gas will form as the refrigerant cools itself to the saturation temperature. In a flooded evaporator, the flash gas bypasses the heat exchange area, so it does not take up valuable heat exchanger surface. Instead, the flash gas exits the top of the evaporator and travels to the compressor suction.

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As an alternative, a low-pressure vessel can be used to separate the flash gas from the liquid. In this case, no flash gas enters the shell of the evaporator, only liquid. In a flooded evaporator, the temperature difference between the fluid and the refrigerant does not have to account for any superheat. In this case, the temperature difference between the fluid and the refrigerant can be quite low. As a result, compressors used in flooded systems can be operated with higher saturated suction temperatures, making the process more efficient than a DX process. This can also have other benefits such as reducing oil cooling requirements.

APPROACHING THE EVAPORATOR In an evaporator, the approach temperature is the difference between the temperature of the boiling refrigerant and the temperature of the process ﬂuid leaving the evaporator. This terminology is used for both DX and ﬂooded evaporators.

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The temperature difference between process fluid inlet and outlet on the evaporator are sometimes referred to as the temperature range. For example, if we consider a shell and tube evaporator that has an evaporating temperature of 35°F, an entering fluid temperature of 55°F and a leaving fluid temperature of 45°F, the fluid temperature range would be 10°F (55°F minus 45°F) and the approach temperature is also 10°F (45°F minus 35°F). Note that in a DX application, there is 10°F available for superheat.

REFRIGERATION WATCHING THE GLIDE A number of refrigerants, including the 400-series refrigerant blends, exhibit temperature glide. Although these refrigerants have been used in ďŹ&#x201A;ooded applications, this should generally be avoided as the refrigerant is expected to fractionate inside the evaporator since the composition of the individual refrigerants that make up the blend will be present in different compositions in a liquid state versus a vapour state. Furthermore, this temperature glide must be taken into consideration when determining the approach temperature to use.

FOULING IT OFF A term that is associated with shell and tube evaporators is â&#x20AC;&#x153;fouling factor.â&#x20AC;? The fouling factor is used to de-rate the capacity of the evaporator in order to compensate for a small amount of mineral deposits and other such impurities that impact heat transfer. The unit of measure for fouling factor is ft2 -Â°F-hr/Btu, and is typically a very small value, such as 0.0001 ft2 -Â°F-hr/Btu.

RUNNING THE NUMBERS When selecting the evaporator, the load requirement must be known. To calculate load, we need to know the ďŹ&#x201A;ow rate of the ďŹ&#x201A;uid, the entering and leaving ďŹ&#x201A;uid temperatures, the speciďŹ c heat of the ďŹ&#x201A;uid and the speciďŹ c gravity of the ďŹ&#x201A;uid. For calculation purposes, the easiest example to work with is water since the speciďŹ c heat and speciďŹ c gravities for all ďŹ&#x201A;uids and mixtures is compared to it, so water has a speciďŹ c heat of 1 and a speciďŹ c gravity of 1. This means that a ďŹ&#x201A;uid with a speciďŹ c heat of 0.9 has a speciďŹ c heat that is 90 per cent of the speciďŹ c heat of water. Similarly, a ďŹ&#x201A;uid that has a speciďŹ c gravity of 0.85 has a speciďŹ c gravity that is 85 per cent of the speciďŹ c peciďŹ c gravity of water. The formula for calculating the load in BTUH is: GPM x Range x SpeciďŹ c Gravity x SpeciďŹ c Heat x 500. The number mber 500 is a constant that represents the number of pounds unds of water in a gallon (8.33) multiplied by 60 minutes, to convert from minutes to 1 hour. For example, to cool 650 USGPM of water from 55Â°F to 45Â°F we would require an evaporator that has a capacity of 3,250,000 BTUH.

Next Time: Be sure to pick up the next edition of Mechanical Business, where we will take a look at water-cooled condensers.

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HVAC/R Products P Scroll compressor The DSH 50TR scroll compressor from Danfoss is equipped with Intermediate Discharge Valve (IDV) technology. Designed for use with air-cooled and water-cooled chillers, they can deliver up to 150 tons of refrigeration in trio conﬁgurations. It is available in manifold conﬁgurations from 75 tons (25+50) to 150 tons (50+50+50).

Air-cooled chiller

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Daikin’s Pathfinder air-cooled screw chillers are available in sizes from 100 to 565 tons. They feature an integrated water-side economizer that uses outdoor air to naturally cool water and other process fluids, reducing compressor work and increasing chiller efficiency.

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Electric furna furnace The Furnace from Stelpro is a modulating electric furnace with heating capacities from 34,121 to 102,364 BTUH. Models use 1/4 hp to 1 hp ECM motors. The unit has a built-in temperature sensor and continuous ventilation and heating buttons, and comes in a galvanized steel cabinet.

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YJACK™ Series sensors work together to provide total system diagnostics with wireless convenience. They use Low-Energy Bluetooth® (BLE) technology to link with any Android or iOS device running the YJACK VIEW™ app, or with our P51-870 Series Digital Manifolds.

To learn more, connect at www.yellowjacket.com. YJACK REMOTE SENSORS WITH YJACK DEW™ EXTEND THE REACH OF YOUR SYSTEM TESTING. ™

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HVAC/R Products P Duct smoke detector Disconnect boxes Rectorseal’s RSH Series 60-amp fused and non-fused disconnect boxes feature a factory-installed, prewired RSH-50 surge protective device. The battleship grey powder-coated all steel boxes have dimensions of 8.7” x 5.4” x 3.1”. They are NEMA 4X weather rated and have a locking hinged ﬂip-up cover.

Air Products & Controls SL-2000 Series duct smoke detector, available through Ontor, is designed to detect smoke and products of combustion present in the air moving through HVAC ducts. The unit uses intake sampling tubes to gather air samples. ontor.com

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Gas detection controller Bacharach’s MGS402 dual-channel gas detection controller is built for refrigerant gas detection applications for safety compliance in mechanical rooms, cold storage facilities, walk-in freezers, and cold room applications to -40°C. It is powered by 110-240V AC and provides three 10A output relays (fault, low alarm, high alarm) to initiate auxiliary ventilation or restrict refrigerant ﬂow. Analogue outputs can interface to a BMS or ﬁre/safety panel.

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Digital manifold Available through Ontor Limited, Refco’s Refmate digital manifold is built with intuitive buttons and a 4.3” colour display with an analogue pointer. The unit can an be locked for long-term term measurements on construction sites. Other features include superheat and subcool indicators, and wireless communication with an app.

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COMMERCIAL VEHICLES: VANS

B y Ho war d J. Elmer

GETTING ENERGIZED ABOUT

Howard J. Elmer is an automotive journalist and the founder of the Canadian Truck King Challenge. Be sure to check out his test drives at www.canadiantruckkingchallenge.ca.

SERVICE VANS lectrification, particularly in the truck market, has been in the headlines this past year. And, while you still can’t buy a Tesla or Rivian electric pickup truck just yet, they are getting closer; but electricity isn’t just for pickups, it’s coming to the van market as well.

2020 FORD TRANSIT

Currently, it looks like Ford will be first out of the gate with an all-electric Transit van set to arrive in late 2021 – as a 2022 model. Ford says this Transit will be smart and connected, giving fleet owners technology solutions like in-vehicle high-speed data architecture and cloud-based services. The other brands also have electric vans in the works, however for 2020 most changes to commercial models are minimal, and they solider on, still burning hydrocarbons.

For 2020, the Ford Transit gets smart. It’s been loaded with technology, like its lanekeeping system, available adaptive cruise control, FordPass Connect, and more. Also new for 2020 is available all-wheel drive (AWD). Another upgrade is an available power sliding door, making for easy entry and exit. A new standard feature for 2020 is automatic rainsensing wipers. Models include the Transit 150, Transit 250, Transit 350 and Transit 350 HD. Cutaway chassis cabs are also available. Cab Style:

2020 FORD E-SERIES 350-450 CUTAWAY The E-Series has now been in continuous production for 58 years. For 2020, the E-series is available as a cutaway or stripped chassis.

126”, 135”

Engine Size:

2 L I-4 turbo-gas

Power (hp/torque): Max. Payload: Max. Towing Capacity:

5,000 lb.

Van Interior Capacity:

183 cu.ft. or 199.2 cu.ft.

Door Openings: Side Height :49” Rear Height: 48.2” Cargo Space Dimensions:

Height: 53.8” Length: 111.5” or 120.5”

Dimensions: Length: 202.4” or 211.4” Width: 74.4”

Door Opening:

Dimensions:

7,500 lb. 487.3 cu.ft. max. 74.3” Max. Rear Height: 81.5” Max. Height: 81.5” Width: 69.8” Length: 171.5”

Max. Length: 263.9” Width: 82”

2020 FORD TRANSIT FOR CONNECT CON

Wheelbase:

2020 MERCEDES-BENZ MER ERC CEDES-BENZ METRIS This year is a carry-over year for the midsize Metris. A few updates have been made; however, it’s changed little since its 2015 debut. This van is available in passenger and cargo configurations with various seating options, and two wheelbases. A rear-view camera is standard equipment.

B u s i n e s s

4,650 lb.

Cargo Space Dimensions:

Cab Style:

M e c h a n i c a l

275/260, 310/400, 185/350

Van Interior:

Engine Sizes: Power (hp/torque): Max. Payload: Max. Towing Capacity: Van Interior:

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In 201 2019, the Transit Connect added drive driver assistance features like side wind stabilization, rear-view cam camera, blind-spot information sys system with cross-traffic alert, lane keeping system, and adaptive cruise control. Van Also new were a pair of 120.6” powertrains joining the 2.5L I-4 (fleet only), 2L I-4, original 2.5L I-4. The 169/171, 150/144 new standard is now a 1,610 lb. 2L I-4 with an 8-speed 2,000 lb. transmission. 145 cu.ft.

Rear Door Height:

52.1”

Cargo Space Dimensions: Width: 48.1” Dimensions:

3.7L Ti-VCT V6, 3.5L EcoBoost V6, 3.2L Power Stroke diesel

Max. Towing Capacity:

208/258 2,502 lb. or 2,447 lb.

Engine Sizes:

Max. Payload:

Van

Wheelbases:

129.9”, 147.6”

Power (hp/torque):

Single and dual-rear wheel chassis have GCWRs ranging inclu ude from 13,000 lb. to 22,000 lb. Engines include the 6.8L V10 and 6.2L V8 flex fuel, which G/propane can also be ordered as a CNG/propane prep package. However, this is the last year for these powertrains as Ford has announced that, for the 2021 model year, the E-Series will switch to the new 7.3L V8 engine. That engine with be paired with a six-speed HD D automatic transmission..

Cab Style:

Van

Wheelbases:

Height: 59.1” Length: 72.6”

Max Length: 189.7” Width: 72.2”

For 2020, the Transit remains the same – except for the 2.5L engine (with the 6-speed auto) that is now available to fleets only.

2020 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 1500 TO 3500 Last year was the Sprinter’s big update with the third generation coming to Canada, so 2020 is a carry-over year. New safety features include a self-cleaning rear-view camera, which projects in the rearview mirror; a 360-degree parking view; and a new rain sensor for the wipers. Mercedes is also working on internet connectivity for Canada. Mercedes PRO will provide logistical support to fleet managers – it will report location, fuel levels and maintenance intervals, as well as improve navigation and analysis of driving style – all remotely and in real-time. Cab Style:

2020 RAM PROMASTER CITY A 2019 update gave the smaller ProMaster City a new grille and front fascia. This year, it’s strictly a carry-over. This van is available in a two-seat Tradesman version or as a fiveseat passenger wagon. Electronics include the Uconnect Cab Style: Van 5.0 multimedia Wheelbase: 122.4” centre with 5” Engine Size: 2.4L I-4 MultiAir2 touchscreen, Power (hp/torque): 178/174 hands-free Max. Payload: 1,885 lb. with Bluetooth, Max. Towing Capacity: 2,000 lb. (w/tow package) streaming audio Van Interior: 131.7 cu.ft. (max.) and ParkView rear back-up camera. Door Opening: 26” (side) Rear Height: 49”

Van

Wheelbases:

Cargo Space Dimensions:

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

Dimensions:

Length: 187.5” Width: 72.1”

144”, 170”

Engine Sizes: 3L V6 turbodiesel, 2.1L I-4 turbodiesel Power (hp/torque):

188/325, 161/265

Max. Payload:

5,375 lb.

Max. Towing Capacity:

7,500 lb.

Van Interior:

547 cu.ft.

Door Openings:

(Std.) Side Sliding Door: 59.8” Rear Height: 60.6” (Hi-roof) Side Sliding Door: 71.7” Rear Height: 72.4”

Cargo Space Dimensions:

Cab Style:

Height: 65” (Std. roof), 77.8” (Hi-roof)

Van

Wheelbases:

118”, 136”, 159”

Engine Sizes:

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

Width: 53.1 (between wheel arches) Length: 137.4” Dimensions:

Power (hp/torque):

Length: 289” Width: 79.3”

2020 RAM PROMASTER 1500 TO 3500

4,680 lb.

Max. Towing Capacity:

6,800 lb.

Van Interior:

For 2020, the ProMaster is expanding its model offerings. New in the lineup is a 136” wheelbase cargo van that is available as a 2500 standard roof, 3500 standard roof or 3500 high roof model. Also updated is that the maximum tow rating is now 6,800 lb., with the factory installed trailer hitch. But there is more to come for ProMaster. Ram has already shown a 2021 ProMaster with increased driver assist features. That van will have new safety options, including blind-spot monitoring with rear cross path detection, forward collision warning with emergency brake assist and ambient/courtesy lights. ProMaster is available as a cargo van, window van, chassis cab and cutaway model, and is a front-wheel-drive platform.

Cab Style:

280/260, 174/295

Max. Payload:

530 cu.ft. (max.)

Cargo Space Height: Dimensions:

51”

Length: 195” to 250” Width: 82.7”

2020 CHEVY EXPRESS CUTAWAY 3500-4500 For 2020, much like the Ford E-series, the veteran chassis-cab carries on, without any changes.

Van

Wheelbases:

135”, 155”

Engine Sizes: 4.8L, 6.0L, 6.6L Duramax turbo-diesel

Cab Styles:

Van, Cutaway

Power (hp/torque):

Wheelbases:

139”, 159”, 177” (single or dual rear wheels)

Max. Payload:

285/295, 329/373, 260/525 4,120 lb.

Max. Towing Capacity:

10,000 lb.

Van Interior:

284.4 cu.ft.

Door Opening:

20.8”

Cargo Space Dimensions: Dimensions:

Height: 53.4” Width: 52.7” Length: 155”

Length: 224” to 244” Width: 79.2”

Engine Sizes: 4.8L, 6.0L, 6.6L Duramax turbo-diesel Power (hp/torque):

2020 CHEVY EXPRESS 2500 AND 3500

285/295, 329/373, 260/525

Max. Payload:

9,147 lb.

The van business seems to be remaining steady, once again, for GM. As the last of the “traditional” North American vans, it appears their customers demand nothing new and for 2020, well, that’s what they are getting.

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2020 NISSAN NV1500 TO NV3500. The Nissan NV carries on pretty much unchanged since 2015. In this market, that works, and Nissanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s focus is more pickup truck focused now. Still, its van business appears steady, though small. This cargo van comes in three versions with either a standard roof or high roof.

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CELEBRITY ENCOUNTER By Adam Freill

DIDYOUKNOW? In addition to being a licensed contractor, Sebastian has a degree in psychology, which he earned at St. Mary’s University.

Catch Sebastian Clovis and his co-host Sam Pynn on HGTV Canada’s renovation series $ave My Reno. Tuesdays at 9/9:30PM E/P on HGTV Canada.

SEBASTIAN CLOVIS: A professional approach to renovations A

love and appreciation for the construction trades started early for former Canadian Football League defensive back Sebastian Clovis. Speaking to him in his hometown of Toronto, he fondly remembers building things with his dad’s tools, and wondering about the future buildings that were going up behind the construction hoarding around the city.

“I used to stop on my way home from school to watch the guys on construction sites, watching what they were doing,” he recalls with a smile. Now a professional renovator and one of the hosts of HGTV’s $ave My Reno, Clovis says his ofﬁcial start in the trades happened when he was just 14.

Photos otos os ccourtesy ourt ou urtesy of Stanl Stanley S ta eyy B tanl Black lack & Decker lack

“My parents hired a builder to come and do our kitchen in our house, and they convinced him to let me help him out,” he says. “I built a quick rapport with him, and he hired me on every summer after that.”

Taking a year off before going to Mississippi State University for a football scholarship, he spent a full year learning all about renovations alongside his mentor. “I was well on my way to being a pretty good builder before I even got to university.” After ﬁnishing his collegiate days with a pair of Vanier Cups with the St. Mary’s Huskies in Halifax, his football

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path led him to the CFL, where he would earn a Grey Cup victory with the B.C. Lions in 2006. And then renovations came calling his name again. “When I just retired from the CFL, I came back to Toronto and bought my first house. I hadn’t yet gotten back into building. I just retired from the pros, and had planned some of the renovations I was going to do.” But moving in pushed up the plans, he says. “We started bringing the furniture in, and we put a bed into the basement, and a chest of drawers, and all of the sudden my feet start getting wet,” he recalls. “So, I run the furniture upstairs and pull the flooring up. Whoever had done the renovation had put vapour barrier across the entire floor, and seven or eight inches up the wall with acoustic calking to stick it all the way around.” Unknown to Clovis at the time, water had been seeping in under the vapour barrier, creating a water balloon that burst once the additional weight of furniture was on it. “As soon as we started putting furniture on there and putting real weight on the floor, the balloon burst, flooded the whole place,” he says. “Within the first week of buying my first house in Toronto, I was digging up the entire exterior of the house to put in weeping tile. That was my reintroduction to renovations back in Toronto.”

Becoming part of a legacy Most of the projects that Clovis gets to work on are in older homes in and around Toronto. For him, there’s a sense of pride that comes from becoming a part of the home’s legacy, and extending the life of the work of the trades pros who came before him. “I’m constantly tying into older building materials, where they are not plumb, they are not level, they are not square, so there is a lot of creative problem solving that comes from that,” says Clovis. “I like going into these homes knowing that they are 100 years old and that there are builders and plumbers, electricians and HVAC technicians that may not even be around anymore, but were a part of that structure… Respecting what they did and ﬁnding a way to tie into what they have already done, there’s something very fulﬁlling there for me, personally.”

CFL pride Although it’s a prized possession, you won’t catch Sebastian wearing his Grey Cup ring while at work – there’s no hand jewelry allowed on the jobsite – but it elicits a pride in his achievements and in the game. “To this day, there is so much CFL pride in this country,” he says. “It doesn’t matter what team you played for. It doesn’t matter who you are a fan of, there’s just pride in the league itself.” And the fans come out to every special event or home show where Clovis makes an appearance. “There’s always people there asking about renovations, but there’s always a good portion of people asking who I think is going to win the Grey Cup next year, and what it was like to win,” he says. “The CFL thing was an amazing time of my life, for sure.”

Want to work for Sebastian? What’s the trick to being a plumber or HVAC ﬁrm that a general contractor will put on speed-dial? Do good work, and clean up after yourself, says Clovis. “It’s the little things. If you were to just sweep up the area, a little touch above and beyond the mess that you’ve made, Seb Clovis cannot call you fast enough,” he says.

From football to renovations, it’s about team “When it comes to football, all of the positions are interrelated. But you don’t have to play all of the positions. You only have to play yours. But you have to play it well, and you have to do it in a way that helps your teammates with their jobs,” explains Clovis. “The only way to win at football is if everyone on the team is executing their particular task at the highest production level while being conscious about what each other is doing; helping set each other up for success. That’s the same thing as the renovation site.” A carpenter and general contractor, he sees his role as having to know what everyone is doing, from his fellow carpenters, to the plumber he’s subbed out to, or the HVAC tech who’s knocking tin for him, but he’s not about to tell them the minute details of what they need to do, or to do their jobs for them. “I need to know how the entire operation is going to go, but I only need to execute my job at the highest production level. And I need the guys who are in their roles to do the exact same thing,” he says. “It is only when we are all executing our individual roles to that highest level that we are going to be able to win – we are going to be able to make that renovation come in below budget, on time or before the deadline if possible, so that we can earn ourselves a solid recommendation.” M e c h a n i c a l

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CELEBRITY ENCOUNTER By Adam Freill

A plumbing trend to watch for Ask Sebastian what product should be trending right now and heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s quick to shout, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The washlet toilet!â&#x20AC;? As more and more consumers target zero-waste lifestyles, heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been waiting for Canadian consumers to embrace the combination toilet and bidet.

-LLKPUN [OL Ă&#x2026;HTL â&#x20AC;&#x153;Whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s football or building, now that Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m a bit of an elder, whenever I see a young person that just has that look in their eye, that I knew I had at that age, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m quick to let them ask questions and feed that passion they have in their eyes,â&#x20AC;? says Clovis. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It reminds me of when I was young. If my mentors didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take a chance on me, who knows where I would have ended up.â&#x20AC;?

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I really believe that is going to become a trend, so I was very happy when one of our homeowners on the show demanded that we put this product in,â&#x20AC;? he says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a different setup than regular toilets. It requires plumbing but also requires power to be run to it. But they are popular all over the world, except for here.â&#x20AC;? And he adds that it would have been a perfect way to avoid the madness that ensued as people hoarded toilet paper when the COVID-19 pandemic started to emerge. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The people who have washlets installed in their homes donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have that problem.â&#x20AC;?

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HYDRONICS

B y B o b “ Ho t R o d ” R o h r 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 manager of training and education with Calefﬁ North America. You can reach Hot Rod at bob.rohr@calefﬁ.com.

electric

THERE’S AN FEELING IN THE AIR T

here is a movement in a number of cities toward the use of electricity as a replacement for the fossil fuels that we have commonly been using for heating: natural gas, fuel oil or liquid propane. Some have wondered whether it is even possible to have a fossil-free energy society, especially since even nuclear energy is dependent on oil to some extent, as mining, transporting and enriching the uranium to be suitable for nuclear plants is still heavily dependent on oil.

Another concern about electric-based systems is the growing appetite for electrical energy in our digital, computer-dependent society, as well as the rise of interest in electric cars and trucks, which will put additional demand on the grid and require more generation capacity. But the buzz has started about the electriﬁcation of building systems, and fossil fuels are a limited, non-replaceable fuel source, so ultimately, we have no choice but to ﬁnd other options. While some cities have been faster than others to embrace the trend to electric, and opinions can vary on the viability of such plans, it makes sense to want to be aware how a change towards fossil free economy would affect your business or livelihood, regardless of where you come down on the issue. Let’s face it, if your customers want or insist on fossil-free options, it is best to have given some thought to the subject, and have a plan in place. If you don’t explain the options to your customers, your competitor will. So, embrace new options. Fossil fuels will go the way of whale oil as an energy source at some point, so don’t let this movement – and the opportunities it presents – leave you behind. The time is ripe to start investigating fossil-free concepts. Thankfully, there are lots of product offerings to check out, seminars to attend, and brands and technologies to get energized about. 10 40

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Modern touches on electric boilers I would think that most hydronic installers are familiar with electric boilers, or at least know they exist. Basic electric boilers have been around for many years, and I have seen them evolve considerably. Gone from electric boilers, for the most part, are the large magnetic contactors that would control the resistance immersion element. These contactors were noisy and maintenance prone. Modern electric boilers have electronics and microprocessors on board. These allow the boilers to modulate and operate virtually noise-free. Modulation is handled with electronic, triac relays or other electronic modulation logic. Outdoor reset, additional outputs for circulators and Wi-Fi compatibility are also available, offering control options similar to mod-con boilers, but they still rely on immersion elements to do the actual heating.

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HYDRONICS

continues from page 40

Did you know? Lord Kelvin came up with the concept of heat pumps around 1852. Further development was made by Peter von Rittinger in 1855, but Robert C. Webber is credited with the ﬁrst direct-exchange ground source heat pump. That was in 1940. The ﬁrst successful commercial installation was in Portland, Ore., in the Commonwealth Building.

TARGETING EFFICIENT USE OF RESOURCES The goal is, or should be, to use our energy – from all sources – most efficiently, but without straight-line comparisons, a quick comparison of the efficiency of each fuel’s generation, delivery and use can be difficult to determine. For 20 years, or more, we have seen boilers on the market capable of efficiencies north of 90 per cent. Electric boilers convert energy at high efficiencies – near 100 per cent – but the issue is often the cost of the electricity, and how it is generated. At one point in my lifetime we were told that electricity would be too cheap to even meter. That did not prove to be true, obviously, so how can we use electricity most efficiently? For now, heat pumps seem to be the next step. The air side of the heating business has been selling air-to-air heat pumps for decades. I recently removed a 30-year-old air-to-air heat pump from my own home. It never let me down; not a single service call other than cleaning the filters and condenser coils occasionally during the mowing season. On the hydronic side, geothermal-based systems have been around for some time. Leveraging the earth or bodies of water as the exchange medium, loops of polyethylene tubing can be installed in bore holes or trenches, and pond-based closed loops or plate heat exchangers are common as well. The biggest buzz, however, currently involves air-to-water heat pumps, also known as cold climate air-to-water heat pumps. The big selling feature for air systems is the elimination of the loop field installation cost. Numerous manufacturers are approaching the market with unique products. One example is a system where the heat pump is installed inside the building with air ducted in and out. This approach is appropriate for applications where no outside space exists for the installation, like highdensity apartments or condos.

Tapping the sun For clients looking for a fossil-free or electric-only home or building, a photovoltaic (PV) component might make sense to operate pumps and other systems. Solar PV panels can be roof-mounted or ground mounted. In some areas, solar gardens may be available, which allow your client to participate in a system even if they do not have space available on their own property. In some areas, solar companies will install a system on the property and sell the energy at a lower rate than the public system, while other companies operate with a leasing program. It pays to crunch the numbers with realistic expectations on a solar PV system, but it makes sense to generate electricity as close as possible to the building, to eliminate distribution losses, so it may make sense to augment the power of the air with the power of the sun.

Did you know? A quick Google search will land on groups like Fossil Free Canada, www.gofossilefree.ca, www.350.org, and many others that are leading the charge and change toward electricity. 114 42

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with Roger Grochmal

Trade shows may be on hiatus, but learning shouldn’t be N 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 email to Mechanical Business Magazine’s editor, Adam Freill, adam.freill@ mechanicalbusiness.com.

Keeping fresh Our company participates in trade skills competitions and supports local college programs that are working hard to cultivate the next generation of technicians. This type of support affords an eye on the cream of the crop coming out of the schools – the next generation of technicians – but it also gives us a look at the current techniques and theories that they are learning. There is always a chance to learn something new.

aturally, like so many of us in the industry, I was disappointed with the recent postponement of the CMPX show due to COVID-19. However, it won’t hold me back from making connections and getting information that can help me in the office. I just need to go about this in different ways. After all, there are a number of reasons why you may not have been able to attend an industry event or show, but there have always been additional ways to connect with suppliers, and to keep in touch with the industry and your peers.

COMMIT TO CONTINUOUS LEARNING I firmly believe you need to learn to keep moving forward and have always made the most of trade shows for this. With that not possible right now, I’ve renewed my commitment to keeping my knowledge up in other ways. For example, I am finding myself spending more time with trade magazines like this one, both in print and online. It is tempting to only glance through a magazine or disregard an email, however allowing more time to really read everything and poke around websites can provide valuable information on new products and regulatory issues, and may stimulate business ideas. I like to do this for an hour or two on a Saturday morning with a big mug of tea, and no distraction from the workday.

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HITTING THE WEB I’m selectively open to email subscriptions from organizations and leaders that provide value. The best ones come from the previously mentioned trade magazines, as well as industry groups and associations, and business organizations. My strategy is to give these subscribed emails a “30-second skim” and shift anything that looks worth more effort into my Saturday reading stack. If my skim consistently leads to no deeper reading after a month or two, I’ll unsubscribe. For courses, online learning platforms like LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com) and Nexstar offer terrific value and can be a great resource for common business topics like sales, marketing, finance or project management. Often when I have a specific problem I’ll start with an online video or quick seminar to help guide me towards a solution. And I’ve also been connecting with credible social media “influencers” in our market on LinkedIn and Twitter. The key word being credible. They are often ahead of the curve and can help you be an early adopter of new tools or approaches, but reliance on their opinions comes with a note of caution. Increasingly, even in our industry, social media influencers are compensated to promote products, so there may be a bias in their recommendations.

LACKING SUPPORT?

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Visit fujitsugeneral.com

2020

Cooling Report

Keeping cool in a Heat pumps Goodman’s GSZC18 heat pumps offer performance up to 19 SEER and 10 HSPF. They are available in 2- to 5-ton models with heating capacity of 22,000 to 59,500 BTUH. Additional features include a twostage compressor and two-speed ECM condensing fan motor.

By Andrew Snook

ith healthcare infrastructure being pushed to its limits to manage the pressure created by the COVID-19 pandemic, will there be changes to demand for cooling-related products and maintenance of HVAC systems in institutions such as hospitals? Well, it depends who you ask. “I’m not conﬁdent that the pandemic will create an increased demand immediately, but it could accelerate replacements in the future,” says Joe Monaco, regional manager for Goodman Canada. “The impact of the pandemic could result in a need for more economical products that deliver highly efﬁcient performance.

goodmanmfg.com

“Right now, it is tough to forecast the future of the industry. That said, the HVAC industry has successfully weathered previous economic disruptions in the past. While this one may be unique, I am conﬁdent that everyone in the HVAC industry will do whatever it takes to help during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Split-system air conditioner The KeepRite CCA7 ProComfort Deluxe 17 split-system air conditioner provides twostage comfort and efﬁciency ratings up to 17 SEER. They are offered in 2- to 5-ton sizes. gokeeprite.com

GE Appliances’ Ryan vanDyk says there will be increased urgency around keeping existing systems running effectively, as well as being able to quickly and efficiently supply and replace new systems, where needed. “Additionally, I anticipate an increase in IAQ features in not only these types of institutions, but in residential settings as well,” he says. “We are certainly preparing for this demand with features like increased air filtration, air purification and self-cleaning technology.” He expects there to be an increased demand and reliance on residential cooling systems this year as more people spend more time at home. “The outcome, I believe, will be that older system performances will be tested and perhaps we will see an increased demand for emergency replacements,” says vanDyk, who also anticipates sales to come from homeowners who do not currently have a cooling system. “People are spending abnormal amounts of time in their houses,” adds Nicholas Orth, senior marketing manager for Allied Air Enterprise. “It makes me wonder if it’s going to make people pay more attention to heating and cooling – hot and cold spots.”

Multi-split heat pump AURORA Series multi-zone systems from Daikin are designed for multiroom applications with individual room temperature control. Up to 4 zones can be controlled with a single outdoor unit. Offering energy efﬁciency levels up to 21.7 SEER and 12.5 HSPF, the system is available in 1.5 to 3-ton capacities. daikincomfort.com

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Protecting frontline workers With the mechanical sector listed as an essential service, manufacturers and service providers are continuing to produce and service much needed heating and cooling products. To keep those workers protected, precautions are being taken by equipment producers all over the world.

Mini-Split duct units

“We are focused on the critical needs of our country and our employees during this pandemic,” says vanDyk. “We provide important products and services to people across this country. People are spending more time at home and rely on our products to keep their food and medicine safe, homes clean, temperatures comfortable and to cook meals for their families.”

Fujitsu General America offers medium static pressure duct indoor units for their single-zone Halcyon mini-split line. The RGLX line features seven models, offering 12,000 to 48,000 BTUH of cooling, and 16,000 to 53,000 BTUH of heating. Efﬁciency ratings range up to 21.3 SEER and 11.7 HSPF. fujitsugeneral.com

In addition to pre-screening all service calls, technicians have personal protective supplies and both technicians and consumers are being asked to respect the recommended social distance of six feet. GE Appliances has also implemented new safety measures within its plant operations. “Workspaces were adjusted to achieve appropriate social distancing. Assembly line workstations have been separated by six feet or by installation of plastic dividers. Additional supplies are provided to employees to support employee protection. Additionally, robust cleaning protocols have been enacted throughout the buildings along with temperature scans upon entry,” vanDyk says. “As we face this unprecedented crisis together, we will continue to focus on the health and well-being of our employees, customers, and owners.” At Napoleon’s manufacturing facilities in Barrie, Ont., all associates follow the recommendations from the provincial and federal governments and health authorities. The company gives daily updates to all of its associates on what the company is going do related to providing guidelines, and about what to do and who to call if they have any questions about COVID-19.

Two-stage air conditioner The NextGen Arctic ductless mini split from Haier offers efﬁciency ratings up to 30 SEER and 15.2 HSPF. It is available in single-zone sizes of 9,000, 12,000, and 18,000 BTUH. haierappliances.com

“This information changes by the hour, so our upper management is following up on the news,” says Christian Romeroll, the company’s managing director of HVAC. “We need to make sure we can take the right decisions moving forward.” One of those decisions for Napoleon was to shut down all operations for two weeks in March to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and do a gradual return to work. “We’re using skeleton crews on some of the lines to guarantee people can perform following the parameters of social distancing to avoid any situation that could be uncomfortable for the associates,” Romeroll says. At the Allied Air and Lennox headquarters, any employees that can work remotely are now working from home. “The plants are still running. They’ve taken measures as far as how they’re cleaning and sanitizing the plants and encourage and place people where social distancing works,” says Orth. “We’re keeping the plants as safe as we can.”

Residential id ti l air i conditioner diti Napoleon’s 16 SEER Series central air conditioners have 1.5- to 5-ton cooling capacities. They feature contoured blades designed to reduce noise, a Copeland scroll compressor and all-aluminum coils. napoleonheatingandcooling.com

C ool i n g P r od u cts M e c h a n i c a l

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Importance of integration We live in an age of connectivity. People are always on the lookout for the latest technologies to make their lives more convenient. Our smartphones, for example, can be used to control and help manage an almost unlimited number of things in our daily lives via apps. When it comes to homeowners, having appliances that can communicate with one another is increasingly becoming expected. “Integrated technology currently is of growing importance to homeowners,” says Monaco, of Goodman Canada. “They want their central heating and cooling systems to connect seamlessly to a home automation system previously or planned for installation. That need is fuelled with a desire for more control of the HVAC system beyond the thermostat.”

Ducted split system The Bosch IDS 2.0 inverter ducted split system has efﬁciency ratings up to 20.5 SEER, 14 EER and 10.5 HSPF and cooling capacities of 2 to 5 tons. They feature a fully modulating inverter drive, a two-stage indoor fan motor and a 10-speed ECM outdoor blower. bosch-thermotechnology.us

Co ol ing Products

Over the past several years, interest in remote, app-based access to temperature controls has been rising amongst Canadian homeowners, and he says that interest in systems that learn from users’ habits is the latest evolution being explored. “I believe that homeowners are seeking HVAC systems that are smarter and more energy-efﬁcient than the old systems currently installed in their homes. Communicating controls will continue to be a technology shift with homeowners,” Monaco adds. GE Appliance’s vanDyk agrees. “Consumers are more connected than ever,” he says. “They are trending towards, and seeking, products that can offer a strong connected experience and, even further, will look for platforms that will enable them to control multiple pieces of equipment within the household or business.”

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By Fred Bretzke

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.

PLUMBING

All new for 1966:

THE H ’4 4 BUICK K SEPT PTIC TIC W

e spent our youthful summers at our German man grandparents’ farm, and I can remember my brother and I waking up in our warm, comfortable feather bags in the attic of the farmhouse as 7 and 8 year-olds. These were the days where each morning started off with breakfast with our Opa and Oma. Fautchen, which my dad called our grandfather, who was in his 60s at the time, would fry up some bacon and toast, and slap some bacon lard on instead of butter. This was a luxury for the weathered Second World War survivor, but my brother and I would gag at the site of it. My grandfather, Werner, would keep us grandchildren busy doing small tasks, from picking milkweeds, to watching him plant “chicken trees” and helping him and granny make their creative and tasty cucumber salads. Dad loved and respected his dad a lot, and you could tell he was always trying to learn from him. Fautchen was a Mason, and you could tell as much of the concrete on the farm was done by him, and it was very professionally done. At some point, he got a new Buick, and he loved it. He shined it and pampered it a lot. My older sister Arlene recounted to me one time that when she was ﬁve and riding in the back seat, she didn’t want to interrupt Dad and Fautchen from talking, so she peed in a brown paper bag in the back seat. Fautchen was not impressed. Eventually the car joined his old vehicles behind the barns, hidden in the back rusting away. He never threw anything out because, when you lived on a farm, many things could be made useful. He was the original handyman in my family, mixing German skill with old materials. And the farm looked pretty good for all of the homemade goodies that were there. The farm was rustic, with an outhouse in the backyard, but with it now being the mid-sixties, it was time to bang it up a notch and get modernized with a new well and running toilet. My dad and uncle built the well with Fautchen’s concrete blocks, and then ﬁnished off the new bathroom. But with the plumbing inside the house, they now had a problem as to where the sewage would go, and so begins the tale of the Buick Septic.

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A BRAND BRAND-NEW NEW BUICK SEPTIC They must of run out of concrete, or otherwise I’m sure my grandfather would’ve insisted on a hand-made concrete septic tank. Or maybe they were not so concerned about looks, because it would be hidden underground – I’ll never know, I guess – but somehow, they decided that one of the rusted car skeletons hidden behind the barn would do the trick as a septic tank. With the use of the old tractor – the ﬁrst vehicle that I could drive with the help of Dad – they dug a hole and dragged one of the old rust-bucket car frames (with the windows still intact) around towards the back of the house. We then commenced the Buick funeral, something that we had experience with from planting “chicken trees.” (Read on.)

BUILDING THE TANK A septic tank typically has two chambers, the front chamber is called the septic chamber (in this case, the old Buick’s trunk and back seat) where the anaerobic bacteria are. Anaerobic bacteria do their thing when the chamber, or trunk, is deprived of oxygen and is kept wet and warm. Under those

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PLUMBING BUILDING THE TANK,

continued from page 50

A MORE CONVENTIONAL LOOK AT SEPTIC TANKS

conditions, the solids can be broken down. The trunk probably wasn’t perfectly oxygen-free, so to enhance the bacterial growth at the beginning my grandpa threw in a dead chicken – apparently, we had lots of those. After the “septic trunk” stage took place, the waste would go through a pipe hole in the top back of the trunk to the back seat, travel over the front seat, free of solids, and into the pump effluent chamber where there was a pump situated. It would then be pumped out the engineless front hood. This new exhaust out the front hood was suppose to be the pressure effluent disposal drain pipe. This pipe went to the laterals in the septic field. The old Buick was covered up, and they were good for a few years.

Septic tanks can come in all sizes and materials. It seems that tanks made from corrosion-resistant concrete seem to last the longest. It is important to note that you don’t have to vacuum out a septic tank every year, but it needs to be checked annually with a long dipstick. Kind of like checking the oil in a car (or the Buick). You lift off the septic chamber manhole and insert the dipstick into it. When you pull it back, it will give you two readings. The bottom reading (sludge) cannot exceed 18”. The top reading, the scum, cannot exceed 9”. If either of these readings are exceeded, you need to call the Honey Wagon (vacuum truck) in to vacuum out the tank. Sometimes a home could go three years without vacuuming out the tank – if they only have a few people using the facilities of the house. If these measurements are exceeded and the septic tank continues to be used without vacuuming, it may lead to a saturated septic field, which could cost thousands of dollars to resituate or rebuilding a new mound septic field. Just like a car needs maintenance (an old Buick, perhaps) so too does a septic tank and field.

I believe that this is where my dad got his handyman, jack-of-all-trades ways from. He certainly “banged it up a notch” way more than my grandad did.

PLANTING CHICKEN TREES One time when we were transporting chickens to my uncle’s farm, Fautchen didn’t realize there was a hole in his exhaust. As a result, the chickens died of carbon monoxide poisoning. Not wanting to traumatize my brother and I, Grandpa explained that we would just replant the chickens so they would be become chicken trees. We fell for it, until the next summer of course. 52

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Simple Pickup To our Customers, Flocor understands. /Ĩ ǇŽƵ ĂƌĞ ŶŽƚ ĐŽŵĨŽƌƚĂďůĞ ǁŝƚŚ ĚĞůŝǀĞƌŝĞƐ ĚƵƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞƐĞ ƟŵĞƐ͕ ǇŽƵ ŵĂǇ ƐƟůů ƉŝĐŬ ƵƉ your order at your local Flocor branch by using Flocor Simple Pickup. zŽƵ ǁŝůů ƐƟůů ŐĞƚ ǁŚĂƚ ǇŽƵ ŶĞĞĚ͕ ǁŚĞŶ ǇŽƵ ŶĞĞĚ ŝƚ͕ ǁŚŝůĞ ƉƌĂĐƟĐŝŶŐ ƐŽĐŝĂů ĚŝƐƚĂŶĐŝŶŐ͘

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PLUMBING

Products

Tankless water heater Navien’s NPE-2 series condensing tankless water heater features a turndown ratio up to 15:1 and uses 2” PVC venting. The water heater offers efﬁciencies up to 0.97 UEF and includes a dual stainless steel heat exchanger, 1/2” gas pipe capability, as well as cascade and common vent options. The unit is also offered with a recirculation system with built-in pump and buffer tank.

www. navieninc.com

Outdoor faucet The Model 22 Hot/Cold Outdoor Faucet from Woodford allows homeowners to have hot and cold water for outdoor applications. It features a patented pressure relief valve designed to prevent burst faucet tubes, even if the hose is attached in freezing weather. It is available in horizontal and vertical conﬁgurations.

www. woodfordmfg.com

Water jet

Greywater drain pump The Sanivite is an above-ﬂoor drain pump option designed for residential and commercial greywater applications where no drainage exists. The pump discharges greywater without the use of below-ground pump systems and is capable of handling hot water and grease. It will pump up to 16 ft. vertically and/or 150 ft. horizontally with gravity fall and features low inlets for ﬁxture connection, such as to a P-Trap.

The JM-1450 Jet-Set water jet from General Pipe Cleaners is powered by a 1.5 hp (13 amp) sealed motor with GFCI that drives a 1,500 psi, 1.7 gpm triplex pump. The unit is equipped with technology that helps propel hoses down long runs and around tight bends. Safety features include a thermal relief valve and a backﬂow check valve and inlet ﬁlter.

www. drainbrain.com

www. saniﬂo.ca

Indirect-ﬁred waterr heater The SMART316 tank from Triangle angle Tube features a high-grade 316 L stainless steel inner tank. Sizes in n the line range from 30 to 120 gallons ns and units can be paired with the company’s mpany’s Instinct or Prestige boilers. The units are manufactured using acid pickling for corrosion resistance.

Garbage disposals Moen disposals are built with Vortex permanent magnet motor technology. They are built for light and heavy-duty applications with a horsepower range of 1/3 hp (1,900 rpm), 1/2 hp (2,600 rpm), 3/4 hp (2,700 rpm) and 1 hp (2,800 rpm). A power cord is included with each unit, eliminating the need to purchase one separately or hard-wire a power supply under the sink.

www. triangletube.com

www. moen.ca

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MEET

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COMMERCIAL

Road Warrior Ryan Khunkhun

or Ryan Khunkhun, getting into the plumbing and heating industry was the result of some friendly neighbourhood advice. While trying to decide which trade he wanted to pursue, his neighbour, uncle, and now boss, Bill Robinson, suggested he try his hand at plumbing. “I basically got in the industry because of Bill,” Ryan recalls, admitting, however, that Bill’s plumbing and heating company, Maple Ridge Mechanical, was not the ﬁrst industry stop for the tech who graduated from the plumbing program at Paciﬁc Vocational College in Burnaby, B.C. “I started with another company to get my foot in the door, doing four-storey walkups and high-rises for about a year, but I’ve been with Bill ever since.”

Ryan Khunkhun: Plumbing his way up

Name: Ryan Khunkhun Age: 32 Company: Maple Ridge Mechanical Lives in: Pitt Meadows, B.C. Family: Wife, Farah, daughter, Mia (2), and son, Aydin (1) Joined the mechanical industry: 2006

Service area: From Squamish to Hope, B.C. Best advice ever received: Work hard, it pays off. y The most useful tool in your toolbox: My tiny Knipex pliers. en Tool you wish you had: Would have been the Viega ProPress, but I just got one. ly Favourite phone app: For work, deﬁnitely my unit conversion app, Units Plus.

Best sporting event ever attended: In a box for a Vancouverr Canucks game. Hobbies: I ride a Harley. rle ley. y. Whenever there’s a nice e day, day, I’m I’m out out ut there. the herre here e. Biggest pet peeve: Repeating myself. Place you would like to visit: The French Polynesian Islands. Advice you would give to a 16-year-old you: A Ad d IInvest n your money.

Submitted photo

Favourite musician: Midland.

M My rule of thumb is: Treat others the way yyou want to be treated.

Favourite TV show: Right now, I’m watching Peaky Blinders. Favourite place to hang out: The shop on my dad’s property. It’s full of motorcycles and beer. M e c h a n i c a l

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QQuickVic SD for ½ - 2” Carbon Steel

THREADING PRESSING SWEATING

Hydronic Products Combination boiler The MagnaTherm HTD boiler and volume water heater from Laars is available in sizes ranging from 1,600,000 to 4,000,000 BTUH. The boilers have a 20:1 turndown ratio, offer thermal efﬁciencies up to 95%, and are built with stainlesssteel condensing heat exchangers. They are also equipped with the Laars Linc control system and colour touchscreens. www.

laars.com

Variable-speed circulators The 0034e ECM High-Efﬁciency Circulators from Taco Comfort Solutions feature ECM permanent magnet technology. They are designed for large residential and light commercial hydronic heating, chilled water cooling and domestic hot water systems. Features include the company’s ActiveADAPT self-adjusting, proportional pressure, variable speed technology; SureStart automatic unblocking and air purging; and BIO Barrier for protecting the pump from system contaminants.

www. tacocomfort.com

Commercial boiler IBC Technologies' EX Series space heating boilers have thermal efﬁciencies up to 97%. They are available in two models with size ranges from 70,000 to 700,000 BTUH and 85,000 to 850,000 BTUH. Additional features include a 10:1 turndown ratio, built-in four-zone pump control and multi-boiler communication for up to 24 boilers without additional controls. www.

Residential boilers Lochinvar’s Epic fire tube boiler is offered in four models ranging from 80,000 to 199,999 BTUH, while the Epic fire tube combi boiler is available in three models, ranging from 110,000 to 199,999 BTUH. They offer a 10:1 turndown ratio and efficiencies up to 95% AFUE. They are equipped with Lochinvar’s Smart Control and an intuitive setup wizard.

ibcboiler.com

www. lochinvar.com

Balancing valves Designed to provide two position hydronic circuit isolation capability, 58A Series balancing valves from Apollo Valves feature an integrated digital readout. Offering multi-turn throttling adjustments, they have a maximum temperature of 250°F, ﬂow rates ranging from 0.84 gpm to 28.0 gpm, and are available in sizes ranging from 1/2” to 2”. www.

apollovalves.com

Pressure independent valve Belimo’s Energy Valve is an IoT cloud-connected pressure independent valve that uses an embedded ultrasonic ﬂow meter and supply and return water temperature sensors to monitor coill performance and energy consumption ion so while maintaining 6T. The valve also has a glycol monitoring feature. Units nits have ﬂow rates from 1.65 to 713 gpm and are available in 1/2” to 6” sizes. s. www.

belimo.ca 58

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FIND THE FIX

Jeff House is an experienced industry professional and hydronics trainer with Boiler House Training. He handles a sales territory from the Niagara region through Southwest Ontario for Hydronic Systems Canada Inc., a manufacturers’ rep. He can be reached at jefcomsales@live.ca.

BUFFER TANK BUNGLE After removing the flooring on the main floor and upstairs, installing a wood track in-floor system over a plywood subfloor and installing new hardwood floor, you head to the basementt to install the new mechanical room. Your local wholesaler provides a schematic and special pricing on materials, and it gets installed d as per the drawing. During construction, the homeowner decides to add two loops of snow/ice ice melt for the front steps. To simplify the small load, you install a factory pre-built packaged unit consisting of a heat exchanger, variable-speed injection pump and a system pump complete with automatic controls. You finish it with a digital glycol feeder system for the glycol. All the right pieces installed as per the schematic, what could go wrong?

3. Initially, the indirect did not have a stable output temperature and took a long time to heat up. What could have simplified this? a) Connect the aquastat of the tank to the DHW priority contacts on the boiler so 180°F boiler water is delivered to the heat exchanger. b) Connect the S/R indirect piping back at the boiler so it can run as a priority load. c) It’s fine the way it is. It just takes longer to heat up. d) There might be a conflict if the in-floor heating calls at the same time.

1. The buffer tank aquastat is tied to the boiler control and is designed to keep the buffer tank at 130°F (54.4°C). If the boiler is 150,000 net BTUH, what is the correct size of the near-boiler piping? a) Same as the outlet on the boiler, 1”. b) 1-1/2” would work. c) Depends on the delta T of the boiler. d) 1-1/4” would work if the boiler delta T is 20°F.

4. Without DHW priority, the indirect pump and in-ﬂoor system pump could experience one or more of the following:

2. Since the snow/ice block is not wired to the boiler control, the temperature of the boiler water on the boiler system side of the heat exchanger can only be at buffer tank temperature, or less. If there is no call from the indirect or the buffer tank, the temperature going to the heat exchanger will go lower and lower. a) True. b) False.

a) The bigger pump wins. b) Whichever pump is on first will get the flow if the pumps are equal size. c) Since the indirect pump is connected first, it will get the majority of the flow. d) Pump cavitation is possible, depending on the pressure differential of the pumps when running at the same time.

WIN! For non-contact investigations

Email your answers to adam.freill@mechanicalbusiness.com. Please include your name and daytime phone number.

Looking for the March/April answers? If you need the answers to last edition’s quiz, you’ll ﬁnd them on our home on the web, www.mechanicalbusiness.com. Just click “Find the Fix Answers” under the More tab on our homepage.

Send us your answers and you could win yourself the FLIR C3 compact thermal image camera with Wi-Fi. The professional-grade tool is perfect for inspections, maintenance and repairs while you practice social distancing. Send your answers to us by July 17 for your chance to win.

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Marketing

with DOUG MACMILLAN

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

Eight ways your marketing will change after COVID-19 I

t’s a couple of days before Easter as I draft this column from my makeshift home office. We’ve just finished our daily “Zoom scrum” with my agency team. That’s become our tight-knit group’s new watercooler, and the only chance to socialize together. Soon I’ll jump on a call with an HVAC contractor client to review messaging and tactics to make sure customers understand the company’s safety practices and expectations when they enter homes as an essential service. Interesting times, these are. Adapting has become the order of the day and will most certainly be essential in our marketing when we get to the point when we start to resume, or redefine, “business as usual.” Following conversations in the past few weeks with marketers and contractors, I’m offering these predications on how marketing will change in the HVAC and plumbing world as a result of the coronavirus experience.

Looking into the crystal ball Predictions are just that: uncertain assumptions based on trends or experience. It’s difﬁcult to say with certainty exactly how marketing strategies will change as society moves back into a sense of normalcy, although one thing is certain: it will change. How is your company approaching marketing differently? I’d love to hear from contractors and manufacturers with other ideas, which I’m happy to share in a future column.

A boost in rebranding

Graphic design has already been trending towards simple aesthetics in logo and brand designs: bold type, colours that connote clean and fresh, logos with no shadows or complicated symbols. As companies strive to stand out in the marketing noise that is sure to come, we anticipate this will include new branding that says “we’re stronger than ever.” Now might be the time to freshen up your look. (Of course, a brand is so much more than a new logo and there is a risk of putting fresh paint on something rather than ﬁxing up or modernizing what’s underneath.)

Lean more into your community

The brands that stood out as the pandemic became our core focus are those that put community leadership and corporate citizenship ahead of proﬁt and gain.

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Agile manufacturers shifted to making everything from hand sanitizer to face shields long before this was led by the government. Near me, a local restaurant group closed up but sold gift cards with every dollar going directly to ﬁnancial relief for out-of-work employees. These actions of “service above corporate self” will continue to be expected as communities rebuild. Your company’s brand will need to demonstrate its commitment to a greater good than proﬁts alone.

Strong emphasis on promotions

Promotional marketing – bonusing, free gifts, BOGO offers, contests and the like – were out of favour while lists of essential services were developed and everyone adjusted to social distancing. As consumer spending slowed, savvy businesses avoided appearing tone-deaf by putting out crass deals that seemed like nothing was different.

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As companies strive to reclaim lost sales and secure more customers once the stay-home orders are rescinded and consumers get back on their feet, we can expect a surge of these highly competitive campaigns designed to stimulate sales away from quieter competitors. The market will be in the mood for a bargain.

Financing and payment ﬂexibility

Many customers will need more than a bargain. The economy will be under major strain, if not in a recession. Households and small businesses alike will look to their suppliers for as much ﬂexibility as they can get, and the ability to include attractive ﬁnancing in promotional campaigns will be a competitive advantage.

Protection plans will be more popular

Following times of stress and uncertainty, and when household budgets are strained, the peace of mind of an affordable monthly protection plan will be comforting for customers. These programs usually promise no-cost or low-cost maintenance as well as emergency repairs, and often a “front of the line” guarantee that means customers will get help faster in an emergency. “One less thing to worry about” will be a strong message.

Safety ﬁrst

Growth in indoor air quality

More comfort with digital media

Over the next year or two, expect safety to rise to the top of the key message list – where price, savings, comfort, service or experience may have sat before the pandemic. Undoubtedly, it’s the combination of these statements that will help contractors win business, but for the next while we’ll be leading with a narrative around the health and safety people can expect when they work with us.

Home IAQ packages saw a significant jump during the COVID-19 crisis, and it is logical to expect this to continue as homeowners and businesses look for reassurance that their indoor air is as safe as possible. Stronger marketing of advanced filters, humidifiers, HRVs and high-end HEPA systems is expected. These key words will likely be a doorway into full system sales, and contractors will more naturally integrate these solutions into their new installation package quotes as a default.

The internet became a vital utility during quarantine, and signiﬁcantly strengthened many people’s comfort with the use of online tools and solutions. It is predicted that this has signalled a permanent shift in use of digital conveniences, such as online scheduling, purchasing of products, and virtual video sales meetings instead of a home visit.

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What’s the difference?

hrough much of the spring and early summer, dehumidification is at least as important as cooling. Moreover, even in places in Canada where cooling may be rarely required, dehumidification is needed to maintain a healthy indoor 50 to 55 per cent Relative Humidity (RH) throughout a home, and specifically in basements.

Credible information sources, such as Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, strongly suggest that mechanical dehumidiﬁcation be used to control moisture during non-heating seasons in most Canadian houses.

At an indoor temperature of 23°C in a 2,400 sq.ft., two-storey house with a basement, the difference between a healthy RH of 50% and a risky 65% is about an extra ﬁve to seven litres of water dispersed throughout the air in the home, plus the modest amount of moisture that would be absorbed by building materials as the humidity level was allowed to rise.

Fortunately, we can build on the experience from our southern neighbours. While they have oft looked to us for the fundamentals of energy savings and moisture control in heating seasons, they have been resolving the equally complex challenge of controlling indoor humidity throughout the other three seasons, in ever-more energy efﬁcient homes, and reﬂecting the lifestyles and expectations of modern homeowners.

It the dew It’s ppoint, not the ttemperature LLooking at a home with a healthy h indoor condition of 23°C 23 and an RH of 50%, the dew point of the air would be 12°C. That is, if you wanted your air conditioner condition to remove moisture from this air you would have to cool it below 12°C. We can compare this to design conditions for six Canadian cities, as found in the ASHRAE Fundamentals Handbook (see Table 1). The table shows both the design cooling day conditions and the design dehumidiﬁcation day. The higher the dew point, the higher the moisture content. It should come as no surprise that Calgary is the driest, and the eastern cities are more humid. However, what’s important for this discussion is how the moisture content of the outside

Gord Cooke

M e c h a n i c a l

air is highest, not on the hottest day, but on the design dehumidification day. For example, in Montreal you would size your air conditioning capacity for an outside temperature of 30°C, or 7°C over the inside air temperature of 23°C. However, on the design dehumidification day, the outside temperature would be just 26°C, or just 3°C warmer than the inside air. Remember, your goal is air with a dew point of just 12°C. You would want to ensure you commission an air conditioning system such that the air coming off the coil is a few degrees cooler to have a discharge temperature at least two to three degrees lower than that. Looking at Table 1, the need for dehumidification as a separate function to control indoor RH levels becomes rather apparent for many places in Canada. Not in Calgary, as you can see, but certainly in cities east of Winnipeg. In Vancouver, the case might be made that air conditioning isn’t needed at all, but with a design dew point of 16.8°C, designing for dehumidification would be warranted.

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

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Table 1: Design Day Conditions for Canadian Cities (From ASHRAE Fundamentals Handbook)

Design Day Cooling

Design Day Dehumidiﬁcation

Dry Bulb °C

Coincident Dew Point °C

Dew Point °C

Coincident Dry Bulb °C

Vancouver

14.5

16.8

21.8

Calgary

28.6

6.1

14.2

20.2

Winnipeg

30.8

17.5

Toronto

31.2

17.9

21.9

26.5

Montreal

18.5

21.6

Halifax

27.6

16.2

20.3

Sources of moisture There are five principal sources of moisture in most houses in Canada. There is moisture in the building materials themselves as the house was built, and then seasonally as moisture is absorbed over the summer months and released in the drier winter months. When the outside air has a higher moisture content than inside air – technically a higher vapour pressure – water vapour can diffuse through ceilings, walls and floors. The prevalence of vapour barrier materials in typical Canadian construction limits the amount of moisture, but there can be significant moisture movement through concrete slabs. Table 2 shows these are the smallest sources, but they are also difficult to manage by anything other than mechanical dehumidification. Moisture is also introduced via air movement, either by natural air infiltration or mechanical

ventilation – yet another reason to make houses tighter. The moisture introduced by mechanical ventilation is, of course, very controllable. It is not acceptable to simply turn it off, but professional mechanical contractors are encouraged to measure ﬂows and adjust them to match occupant needs, choosing ventilation strategies like energy recovery ventilators to reject the summer humidity load.

DID YOU KNOW? The risk of mould and moisture problems start to accelerate when RH levels are above 60%, so a target of 50% +/- 5% is great.

Lastly is the highly variable occupant activity load. In my experience, the only control strategy at your disposal is education; creating awareness with your clients as to the impact their activities can have on humidity levels.

Homework for next time… Knowing the moisture sources and their relative impact, you can target strategies to achieve a healthy moisture balance. Next issue we will delve more deeply into the most effective way to remove moisture from indoor air, but to whet your appetite, start looking into three speciﬁc opportunities:

Table 2: Moisture Sources: (summertime for a typical 2,400 sq. ft. home) on design days.

Potential Moisture Source

• Proper commissioning of air conditioners with an emphasis on being able to vary fan speeds and air conditioning capacity;

Potential Quantity per Day

1. Moisture created by occupants and their activities

8 – 12 litres per day for an average family of 4, peaking at 25 litres for a heavy wash day

2. Moisture coming inside via natural air leakage**

10 – 15 litres per day in a tight home (<2ACH50) 15 – 20 litres per day in a loose home (>3ACH50)

3. Moisture coming inside via mechanical ventilation**

20 – 25 litres per day at 60 CFM of ventilation 40 – 50 litres per day at 120 CFM

4. Moisture coming inside via vapour diffusion 5 – 15 litres per day for typical wood frame through the building enclosure** construction 5. Moisture in the building materials

5 – 10 litres per day, but highly variable depending on time of year of construction. Only of impact in the ﬁrst year after construction M e c h a n i c a l

• Including latent recovery, such as through an ERV, in your ventilation system; and • Most importantly, starting to think about dehumidiﬁcation as a separate function using whole house dehumidiﬁers. Watch for the next article, and imagine becoming an HVACD contractor!

** NOTE: The litres per day listed can be considered worst-case conditions projected over a 24-hour period. The lower number of the range is for a the “design cooling day”, or hottest days of the summer, the higher number is from the “design humidity day”, the most humid days of the summer. The actual amount of moisture ﬂow will vary day-to-day and even hour-by-hour as the outside weather changes. Again, the numbers shown are typical worst case.

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PLUMBING

Products

Urinal

Lead ﬁltration system

The Greenbrook High-Efficiency Urinal (HEU) from American Standard is a vitreous china urinal with a large footprint. The urinal has an operating flush range of 0.125 gpf to 0.5 gpf (0.47 lpf to 1.9 lpf). It is WaterSense Certified when used with 0.125 gpf or 0.5 gpf urinal flush valves and CEC Listed when used with 0.125 gpf urinal flush valves.

The Watts PWDWHCL1 single-stage undercounter lead filtration system is certified to remove 99.2 per cent of lead from water. This high-flow, 2-gpm system is also designed to reduce cysts, chlorine, odour, sand, silt, dirt and rust. It can be used with an existing kitchen or bathroom faucet and comes with all parts and tubing required for a standard installation.

www. americanstandard.ca

www. watts.ca

Water heaters Bradford White’s AeroTherm series heat pump water heaters deliver efﬁciencies up to 3.48 UEF. The units provide four operating modes and are available in 50, 65 and 80-gallon capacities. The water heaters feature the company’s Vitraglas lining for corrosion protection and use the same water and electrical connections as a standard electric water heater.

Bathroom faucet

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Complete toilet kit Gerber’s ADA-compliant Viper toilet is available as part of its Toilet-in-a-Box line. The 1.28 gpf toilet features a 12” rough-in, front rim jets and a fully glazed trapway. Its tank is fitted with a Fluidmaster 400A fill valve. A slow-close seat and cover, wax ring, and non-corrosive brass floor nuts and bolts are supplied in the box.

www. gerberonline.ca

Riobel’s Quadrik single-hole lavatory faucet is built with thermostatic/pressure balance valves. Features include a 3/8” speedway compression and a ceramic cartridge. They are available with or without a push drain, in black or chrome ﬁnishes. The faucet has a ﬂow rate of 4.5 L/min (1.2 gpm) at 60 psi.

www. riobelpro.ca

Outdoor faucets The Aquor House Hydrant from OS&B is a leakproof stainless steel outdoor faucet designed for the homebuilding market. When the house hydrant is disconnected, the outlet automatically seals, drains and winterizes to eliminate concerns about freezing pipes near outdoor water access points.

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www. osb.ca

STUFF YOU NEED Thermal camera

Work gloves Milwaukee Tool’s Leather Performance Gloves offer the same design as the company’s Performance Gloves with an added leather palm for durability. The palms are made from soft, top-grain goatskin leather and the back features a breathable, lightweight design. The gloves have a moisture wicking terry cloth sweat wipe on the thumb and Smartswipe technology on the knuckle for touchscreen een compatibility.

www. milwaukeetool.ca a

Cordless pump mp The NP4DLM Cordless less Vacuum Pump from Navac features twincylinder operation providing vacuum down own to 15 micron. The pump is equipped with a check h k valve l for preventing backﬂow, as well as an isolation valve, a lifting hook and a gas ballast for moisture handling. The unit weighs 15.4 lb.

The FLIR TG267 Thermal Camera allows users to identify and evaluate the hot and cold spots that can indicate potential faults with electrical connections and mechanical equipment. The company’s MSX image enhancement system ermal embosses visual scene details to add context to thermal images. It uses Bluetooth connectivity, can store up to 50,000 images and has a 2.4” screen display.

www. ﬂir.ca

Sonic imager The Fluke ii900 Sonic Industrial Imager features a 7” LCD touchscreen that overlays a SoundMap on a visual image to assist with leak location identiﬁcation. Users can inspect for air and vacuum leaks by isolating the sound frequency.

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GRAB & GO

CORDLESS POWER PIPE BEVELER • Rechargeable tool deburrs and bevels plastic pipe quickly.

CPBKIT

Drain cleaner General Pipe Cleaners’ Power-Vee drain cleaner is designed to remove clogs in sink, tub, toilet and laundry drains from 1-1/4” to 3” in diameter at a distance of up to 50 feet. The automatic feed can adjust to take 1/4” to 3/8” cable without requiring the use of tools or additional parts. It features a squeezable lever that feeds the cable at a rate of up to 16 feet per minute.

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• Lightweight and cordless. Great for ﬁeld work. RBIT2

• Adjustable and creates 15° external bevel, up to 5/8” long. • Long-lasting carbide router bit uses 22,000 RPM, 18V cordless die grinder for smooth cuts. Add the optional RBIT2 router bit with bevel length of 7/16” – 1” for larger plastic pipe and longer bevel.

Reed Manufacturing • Erie, PA USA 800-666-3691 • reedsales@reedmfgco.com • www.reedmfgco.com

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THE BOTTOM LINE

After years in the HVAC industry, David Cooke is the principal at David Cooke Wealth Counsellors. He can be reached at david@dcwealth.ca.

By David Cooke

PREPARING BUSINESS FOR A POST-PANDEMIC ERA

empted as we might be, e, history teaches us the folly of predicting whatt the future may hold once thiss pandemic era takes its leave. When the world takes dramatic tic pivots, pundits put forward all ll kinds of ideas only to have them em fall ﬂat, so I am not about to pile on with my thoughts as to how ow we will interact and conduct business going forward, but there here are some business takeaways from the COVID-19 experience nce that can be viewed as learning opportunities. Over the past weeks and months, planning gaps emerged across many sectors, including public health. The same is true for company owners operating small to medium sized enterprises, many of whom learned about the importance of having a documented contingency plan. A plan may include everything from how your customer contracts are written, to health and safety issues, supplier payment terms, human resources policies, and more. As any boy scout will tell you, “Be prepared,” so we have gathered a few observations to help you build or evaluate a contingency plan for your company. This pandemic is a global wakeup call to everyone, including company owners. We may never again experience something like this, but we always need to be ready no matter what happens. We owe it to ourselves, our families and our employees to always be prepared, and that’s the bottom line…

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Watch your rent In this environment, trying to replace an evicted tenant can be extremely difﬁcult, but landlords also need income to operate. Going forward, lease agreements may include clauses and terms related to a pandemic. The last thing you need during a crisis, in addition to the disruption of your business, is the hassle of negotiating with a landlord or tenant, or having to pull up stakes to ﬁnd accommodation elsewhere.

Cash is king Governments, companies and households that have access to liquid funds, either credit or cash, fare far better during times of uncertainty, and this has been the case during the COVID-19 period. Those without reserves are vulnerable to forces outside of their control, are at the whim of government programs, and run the risk of simply running out of time. Going forward, planning must emphasize cash reserves and reliable access to credit for company owners.

Be HR ready During this pandemic, the massive layoffs and employment disruptions have prompted calls to employment lawyers from staff and employers alike. A company’s policies and procedures manual, and any general employment agreement, should lay out the terms for such instances, consistent with the tenets of current employment law. This may include notice, the continuation of beneﬁts, and other considerations. This may save confusion and more importantly, employee recourse actions during such a period.

What’s in your policy? Rarely do the terms of standard insurance policies invade the everyday lexicon, however, “Business Interruption Insurance” has emerged as a winner as policy owners hastily dusted off policy documents in the hope of it being included in their company plan. This is a good time to review all company coverage to ensure what is and what is not offered, including whether a pandemic is considered an “interruption event.”

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BTN

Compiled by Mechanical Business

BY THE NUMBERS

CAPTURING VIRUSES AND BACTERIA 0.125 Micron Approximate size of the virus that causes COVID-19.

0.5-3 Micron

Size range of biological aerosols from coughing and sneezing.

MASK MANUFACTURING 75% Minimum percentage of particles, 0.3 to 1 Micron in size, that a MERV 13 air ﬁlter is 100,000 per day designed to capture. The number of medical-grade surgical masks that Coquitlam, B.C.-based Novo Textiles is expecting to produce since changing course from its production of pillows and dog beds. The company will also be producing upwards of 100,000 N95 masks a day once its second production machine arrives; for a total of up to 200,000 masks per day.

500,000 masks Novo Textiles’ ﬁrst order of masks made by the B.C. Provincial Health Services Authority.

0.1 Micron

Size of particle that NASA study has shown HEPA ﬁlters to be capable of capturing.

WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOUR? 50 The number of Napoleon staffers from the company’s Barrie, Ont., ofﬁce that volunteered to help with the manufacturing of much-needed PPE gear at a neighbouring medical equipment company.

30,000 masks

A BREATH OF FRESH AIR

The company’s second order purchased by the RCMP.

30,000 units Thornhill Medical and StarFish Medical have announced that they will produce upwards of 30,000 made-in-Canada ventilators.

$600,000 The investment made by Novo Textiles to purchase the two mask manufacturing machines.

OUTFITTING THE FRONTLINE 2,000 gowns a day

CANADIAN COMPANIES STEP UP 5,000

The production capacity at WearWell Garments Limited’s manufacturing plant in Truro, N.S., which is in the process of switching from producing industrial workwear to producing protective garments for healthcare workers.

The approximate number of Canadian companies that have come forward to the federal government with plans to help ﬁght COVID-19 in Canada, re-tooling to manufacture medical supplies.

30 MILLION DKK 114 70

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Donated by the Grundfos Foundation (Poul Due Jensen Foundation) to various emergency initiatives to limit the damages of the COVID19 pandemic. This comes out to more than $6 million (Cdn).

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Accessorize your shower with Serenity™ GUDLQ 7KH\ VD\ WKDW EHDXW\ LV LQ WKH GHWDLOV 6R ZK\ VHWWOH IRU EXLOGHU EDVLF ZKHQ \RX 7KH\ VD\ WKDW EHDXW\ L ™ FDQ JLYH \RXU VKRZHU D WUXO\ FXVWRP ORRN ZLWK D 6HUHQLW\ FDQ JLY ZHU D WUXO\ FX GUDLQ $YDLODEOH DW ÀQHU .LWFKHQ %DWK ERXWLTXHV $YDLODEOH DW ÀQHU .LWFKHQ %DWK ERX

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Straight to the Point! Save Cost and Install Time The unique pre-sloped design of the Dead Level® trench drain ensures consistently straight runs and makes installation quick and easy. • Standard 4' and 1' sections eliminate nearly all ﬁeld cutting • Frame locks ensure a straight run, every time • The unique design transfers the load to the concrete, maintaining drain integrity during the concrete pour • The drain’s construction cover protects against the impact of people, concrete, hoses, and ﬁnishing equipment

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