Mechanical Business July/August 2020 by Mechanical Business

JULY/AUG 2020 $6.95

PM #41536047

Also in this issue:

Vanessa Meats: Finding efďŹ ciency with low pressure differentials

ww w . m ec h a n i c a l bus i nes s . c om

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CONTENTS O F

Vanessa Meats: FINDING EFFICIENCY WITH LOW PRESSURE

Tania Johnston: RISING TO THE TOP

32COVER STORY

24PROJECT PROFILE

When the new owners of Vanessa Meats were looking to expand, they wanted to increase the company’s refrigeration capacity, and to update the system to meet growing needs. Reducing the system’s operating costs was a nice touch, too. Denise Deveau

Twenty years afterr joining MCA Canada ada on a six-month contract, Tania Johnston has become the national onal organization’s ﬁrstt ever female CEO,, a step that she hopes will inspire other females toward successful paths in n the mechanical trade ade as well. Adam Freill

GROWING YOUR BUSINESS WHILE WORKING REMOTELY 42COMMERCIAL VEHICLES: TRUCKS 60BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

It’s important to adapt your business to reﬂect the times. This can include steps designed to allow for you and your team to work remotely, as much as possible. Martin Rego

While we rightfully worried about our health and practiced social distancing, the automotive industry experienced a plunge in sales that will have a lasting effect on the truck market. Of course, this may be a blessing in disguise for companies in need of a few new vehicles for their ﬂeet. Howard J. Elmer

On the cover: Former teacher and now MCA Canada CEO, Tania Johnston, relies on a simple phrase to drive her in her efforts to help those around her: “Do Better.” Photo by Blair Gable.

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T A B L E F E A T U R E S

M B

CONTENTS O F

Radiant cooling, a Canadian tradition Max Rohr

40ROAD WARRIOR

Terry Bertram: A chip off the old block Andrew Snook

58 54PLUMBING

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PLUMBING Hair, hair, everywhere! Fred Bretzke Sometime in the ’80s, when mall culture was at its height, I got a call proving that long hair isn’t always cool. HYDRONICS Looking up your radiant options Bob “Hot Rod” Rohr When it comes to radiant, today’s systems offer a wide array of heat emitter options for buildings of all kinds. REFRIGERATION Shell and tube water-cooled condensers Phil Boudreau There are a number of different types of condensers that can be used to reject the heat from a refrigeration system, including shell and tube condensers that reject their heat to water, or another form of aqueous solution. HIGH-PERFORMANCE HVAC It’s the summertime and the humidity isn’t ﬁne Gord Cooke Knowing moisture sources and their relative impact, it is possible to target strategies to achieve a healthy moisture balance. ASK ROGER Leading through crisis Roger Grochmal Over the course of my career, I’ve learned that crisis is all about leadership. In times of uncertainty, leaders need to be visible and present as staff will take their cues from you. MARKETING What ruins trust? Three simple things Doug MacMillan In a post-COVID world, trust is no longer going to be a “soft asset” for a brand; expect it to be an asset as tangible and essential as, well, currency.

D E P A R T M E N T S

P R O D U C T S

6From the Editor’s Desk

26HVAC/R

8News

30Hydronics

38Find the Fix

56,57Plumbing

61The Info Page

59Stuff You Need

62By the Numbers 114 4

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28 HYDRONICS

Reopening facilities for a postCOVID-19 world Jana Summey and Michael Breault

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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 July/August 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 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).

It’s hard to believe that we’ve been working through the COVID-19 crisis since early to mid-March. Even with restrictions getting relaxed, this is an event that will have ﬁnancial and social ramiﬁcations for years to come. Over the past few months, as we were sending out digital news updates via our MBizLink and eNewsletter services, as well as on our website and via social media, one of the most thoughtprovoking comments that I came across was quite simply: “Who had the foresight to have a contingency plan for global pandemics?”

DESK

Stay in the loop Changes happen faster than ever, but we can offer you a great way to stay in the know. Simply subscribe to our eNews, visit our website, and be sure to follow our social media accounts to keep up to date with the latest news impacting our industry.

In the world of business coping strategies, that’s a big discussion point, not only for what has happened prior to and during the states of emergency in this country, but also when it comes to where we go from here. One of the most astute business professionals I know, Roger Grochmal, is offering great advice about managing through a crisis, including steps to set you up for success on the other side of the mountain. His column on page 52 is a must-read. I’m sure that most of you know the new realities on jobsites; everything from limits on the number of tradespeople on a site at one time, to PPE requirements, to how project meetings are being conducted. Whether you are in the residential or ICI sector, COVID-19 has changed the structure of meetings, and our acceptance of virtual platforms. For tips on how to incorporate remote discussions into your operations, I invite you to review Martin Rego’s very insightful article on page 60. And, as buildings reopen, anyone with clients whose buildings were not running at normal capacit capacities would be well advised to discuss a plumbing syste system ﬂush. Turn to page 54 for advice on how to do that, an and d why. IIn the meantim meantime, encourage your team to work together, and to ensure that the safety of each other, and of your customers, is a priority. Doing the little things right can make aall the difference in the world. Until next time, stay safe out there, Unt

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EDITOR’S

Taking our next steps

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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In honour of Snowbirds Captain Jennifer Casey The team at Mechanical Business would like to express our heartfelt sympathies on the loss of Captain Jennifer Casey. Captain Casey was a true ambassador for the Snowbirds. We were privileged to work with Jennifer on an interview with Major Denis Bandet. She enthusiastically encouraged and arranged the interview, and went above and beyond to canvas the crew and ﬁnd links to the mechanical trades. She even personally walked the requisition paperwork over to the Commanding Ofﬁcer to make the interview happen. Our thoughts are with Jennifer’s family and friends, and we thank her for her service to our country.

Next Supply helps homeless To help people living on the streets and in encampments in Toronto, Ontario-based Next Plumbing and Hydronics Supply packed 500 survival kits with food, masks and other necessities. Conditions for those living on the streets have been made worse by COVID-19 and overcrowding in shelters, so employees volunteered their time to assemble kits, load trucks and deliver the items. nextsupply.ca

HRAI cancels annual conference

CIPHEX West show postponed CIPH has announced that the CIPHEX West trade show, originally scheduled for Nov. 4 to 5, 2020 in Vancouver, will be postponed until 2021. The show will now take place on Nov. 3 and 4, 2021 at the Paciﬁc Coliseum at the PNE in Vancouver, B.C. The hope is that pushing the trade show back a year will provide a healthier and safer environment for exhibitors and visitors. CIPH plans on hosting a virtual event with eBooths in November 2020. The virtual show is expected to include company and product information, as well as webinars on technical and business topics hosted by industry experts. More details will be available in the coming months. ciphexwest.ca

CIPH hosts first digital AGM In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, CIPH turned to the web on June 16 to host its first ever virtual annual general meeting. The new chair of the organization, Gail Kaufman of Wolseley Canada, remarked that the organization usually expects about 300 attendees at its ABC and AGM, which is comparable to the 290 sites that registered for the virtual AGM. The theme for this year’s conference, which was replaced by the virtual meeting, was to be “Shift,” which seems appropriate, given the changes that many businesses have had to figure out to continue to serve their customers, said Kaufman, the 73rd chair of the institute. She, and keynote speaker Ian Heller of Distribution Strategy Group, discussed changes to product handling, with Heller paying particular focus on the need for robust digital sales fulfillment capabilities going forward. The 2021 annual business conference and AGM is scheduled for June 27 to 29 at The Algonquin Resort in St. Andrews, N.B. ciph.com

HRAI has cancelled its 2020 annual conference, scheduled to take place in August in Victoria, B.C. Sandy MacLeod, president and CEO of HRAI, stated that while it may be legally possible to hold a meeting in Victoria in late August, its success seemed highly unlikely. “It’s hard to imagine our member delegates choosing to travel this soon, not to mention the ﬁnancial pain many will be feeling for the rest of 2020,” he stated. HRAI plans to schedule AGM meetings for its various divisions in September this year. hrai.ca

U.S. Boiler Company offers online training U.S. Boiler Company recently launched its new online training program, called U.S.B-U (U.S. Boiler University). Developed to provide an archive of readily accessible information to help heating professionals perform service and installations quickly, the training platform delivers educational content in video and blog format. Live online training seminars are also offered. usboiler.net

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Navien named HVAC Manufacturer of the Year

Good IAQ and ventilation improve business performance

Boiler and water heater manufacturer Navien was recently presented with the 2020 Energy Star Canada Award as Manufacturer of the Year in the HVAC segment. The awards recognize manufacturers that have demonstrated excellence in developing and promoting the most energy-efficient products available on the Canadian market. “Energy Star Canada winners are building a sustainable, energy-efficient and resilient future. By reducing pollution, lowering bills and creating jobs, Navien is helping Canada shine,” said Seamus O’Regan, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, who presented the award. “This award is a true honour that we accept with deep gratitude,” commented Scott Lee, CEO of Navien. “Navigating, Energy and Environment are the three words from which our company name was created. Navien is committed to developing the highest energy efficient products through extensive investments in research and development resources.”

A recent Harvard study, sponsored by Canadian design and engineering ﬁrm Stantec, claims that incorporating natural elements indoors and improving indoor air quality can reduce stress and improve creativity and key cognitive functions, boosting critical business metrics. The study, conducted through the Healthy Building Program at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, measured blood pressure, heart rate, heart rate variability, and skin conductance level while cognitive tests were administered to measure participants’ reaction time and creativity. The results suggest that biophilic interventions can help reduce stress and improve creativity. stantec.com

Mechanicals a key to Canada’s largest zero-carbon building Scotia Plaza’s 40 King St. W. building in Toronto is now the largest certiﬁed zerocarbon building in Canada, at more than 1.5 million square feet. The property, which has a transition plan in place to remove all carbon-intensive mechanical systems over the next 18 months, has earned a Zero Carbon Building – Performance v2 Certiﬁcation from the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC). The project includes the installation of high-performance chillers, automated controls for thermal storage tanks to offset cooling during peak hours and an updated building automation system.

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2020 ASHRAE Handbook adds DOAS and heat recovery The latest edition of the ASHRAE Handbook – HVAC Systems and Equipment handbook has brought in sections about dedicated outdoor air systems (DOAS) and heat recovery, among its list of many updates and revisions. The chapter on DOAS is entirely new and presents detailed information on this equipment, while the section about applied heat pump and heat recovery systems has new content on waste heat recovery, district applications and industrial process heat pumps. A new feature of the handbook is the annotatable PDF download. ashrae.org

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IAPMO seeks Canadian representation The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Ofﬁcials (IAPMO) is seeking Canadian representation on the Plumbing Standards Committee (PSC). Canadian regulators and other professionals with technical backgrounds in plumbing and mechanical systems, such as jurisdictional authorities, laboratory, and educational facility representatives, are invited to participate. Meetings are held in English and via teleconference, with occasional face-to-face meetings. Those interested in participating can contact Kyle Thompson at kyle.thompson@iapmo.org. iapmo.org

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Grundfos hits major milestone

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MERX tendering site relaunches Mediagrif Interactive Technologies Inc. recently launched an updated version of merx.com, Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading electronic tendering platform for the Canadian public sector, government agencies, Crown corporations and private construction projects. Key improvements include an updated search function, and a more intuitive user interface. merx.com

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Canadian company wins PPI award Photo: Grundfos

Grundfos, which built its ďŹ rst pump in 1945, celebrated its 75th anniversary this past May. From the development of a single pump, the company now has some 19,280 employees Foss 1, often called The Pig, is working from ofďŹ ces throughout the world, Grundfosâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ďŹ rst pump. It was built including Grundfos Canada in Oakville, Ont. in 1945 by company founder â&#x20AC;&#x153;We celebrate the pioneering and socially Poul Due Jensen. responsible spirit that has driven Grundfos since the beginning and continues to drive us today,â&#x20AC;? said Mads Nipper, group president and CEO, Grundfos. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We carry that mindset forward with a profound commitment to ďŹ ght the imminent climate and water challenges affecting all of us.â&#x20AC;?

VersaproďŹ les of Saint-Lazare-de Bellechasse, Que., was named the Plastics Pipe Instituteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s winner of the PPI Building & Construction Division Project of the Year for its Vancouver International Airport geoexchange system. The project will rely on one of the largest geoexchange systems in Canada for the terminalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Central Utilities Building (CUB). The boreďŹ eld for the CUB geoexchange system contains 841 boreholes at 500 feet each in depth, or almost 80 miles of drilled borehole using some 159 miles of 1-1/4â&#x20AC;? HDPE 4710 piping. The geoexchange system is expected to reduce CO2 emissions from heating and cooling demands by 30 to 35 per cent. plasticpipe.org

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16% of commercial tenants miss rent Data revealed by real estate service firm Colliers Canada indicates that 16 per cent of Canadian commercial tenants paid no rent in May 2020 as rent collection has decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the company’s latest report shows that 39 per cent of tenants who asked for rent relief in April did not make any payments for May, while 19 per cent provided partial payments. Only 42 per cent made full payments. The Rent Collection and Relief Status report resurveyed 7,100 tenants across Canada in May as a follow-up to an April survey that indicated that 21 per cent of retail, industrial and office tenants had requested rent relief amid the ongoing financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. collierscanada.com

Hughes recognized for hydronic commitment Outgoing chair Dave Hughes was recognized with the CHC Award of Merit during the Canadian Hydronics Council’s virtual annual general meeting on June 23. In addition to serving two terms as CHC chair, Hughes is well-known for his work as an educator at NAIT, and is also a journeyman plumber, gasfitter, and steamfitter/pipefitter. He has also sat on countless trade committees and code councils over the years. During the annual meeting, Hughes discussed the CHC certification program, including working with other industry organizations across Canada that also have hydronic training programs. The CHC allows contractors to take the tests for their CHC designer or installer certifications based on training from a variety of sources. New CHC chair Jason Jackson, of Fleming College, outlined a number of the initiatives that CHC is planning to undertake during his term, including continued work on the CHC’s national certification program, additional education support for hydronics professionals, and increasing consumer awareness of hydronic systems. He also revealed that CHC is currently working on plans for its next hydronics training conference, slated for Saskatoon, Sask., in 2021. ciph.com

DIGITAL ALERT Victaulic adds virtual education program Victaulic is now offering free virtual courses from its Victaulic University program. The company’s 45 piping technology courses are available at no cost in two virtual formats: live, with instructorled webinars, and self-paced courses, which are available on-demand at any time. Courses are taught in English, Spanish, and German. victaulic.com

RectorSeal launches online training program RectorSeal recently launched On-Demand Training with RectorSeal, a personalized, online training program covering HVAC/R, plumbing, chemicals and installation accessories. The 20-to-40-minute training classes are available free to individuals or groups of HVAC service technicians, and can also be used by wholesale distributors and manufacturer’s representatives. rectorseal.com

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HRAI discusses COVID and HVAC/R with Health Canada

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HRAI’s vice-president of government and stakeholder relations, Martin Luymes, recently met with senior policy advisors at the ofﬁce of Federal Minister of Health Patti Hajdu to discuss current evidence about HVAC systems and whether they play a role in the spread of COVID-19. The discussion included an overview of the federal government’s assessment of research being conducted into this question. Currently, HVAC systems are not considered a factor in transmission of the virus, however, the Canadian government is funding a study at the University of Alberta. hrai.ca

Hamilton students place 6th at MCAA competition

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Despite an abrupt end to the 2019-2020 academic school year and cancellation of the convention where MCA American’s 2020 International Student Competition was to take place, the McMaster student chapter of the Mechanical Contractors Association Hamilton Niagara (MCAHN) managed to place 6th in the annual contest. This year’s challenge project involved a chiller and cooling tower replacement in a New York City central utilities plant. More than 30 submissions were completed, and 59 school chapters participated from across North America, with the McMaster chapter being the sole submission from a Canadian group. Congratulations go out to the team, which included, from left, Jeremy Bradley, Saud Ahmed, Jason Dales, Kristin Bennett, Yasmin Jad Allah and Brett Pajor.

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Ontario Tools Grant Program opens In late May, it was announced that the Ontario Loans for Tools program will be transitioned and replaced with the Ontario Tools Grant program. This grant will provide $2.5 million in 2020-21 and $7.5 million in 2021-22 and beyond as part of an ongoing economic recovery effort to help apprentices and businesses impacted by COVID-19. ontario.ca

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Duravit USA announces Sandcliff as new rep agency

Weil-McLain Canada selects new agency Weil-McLain Canada has announced that Hydron-Aire Ltd. is now representing its product lines in the Manitoba and Thunder Bay regions. Hydron-Aire can be reached at 204-255-3360. weil-mclain.ca

Duravit USA has named Sandcliff as its new representative in Eastern Canada. The service-oriented agency is led by Anthony Greco, Angelo Fortini and Dave Grey, who have a combined 25 years of experience. sandcliffsales.com

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Wolseley y Canada partners with Haier

Goodman relocates Laval branch Goodman has relocated its Laval, Que., branch, which is now operating at a new location at 965 rue Bergar, Laval, Que., H7L 4Z6. To contact the branch, email: branch288Laval@goodmanmfg.com or call 450-681-2220.

Wolseley Canada has announced a partnership with GE Appliances, a Haier company. Wolseley now carries Haier ductless and heat pump products in Ontario and Atlantic Canada with plans to expand to Western Canada in the fall. wolseleyinc.ca haierductless.com

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Marks Supply pp y adds Ameristar in Onttario Marks Supply has been named the exclusive distributor of Ameristar Heating & Cooling Systems in Ontario. Ameristar’s product lineup includes a full range of air conditioning units, heat pumps, furnaces, ductless systems, packaged units and indoor coils. markssupply.ca

Lajoie aj representing p Masco in Quebec Masco Canada has established a new partnership with Les Entreprises Roland Lajoie to represent all of Masco Canada’s brands in the Quebec market. Based in Saint-Leonard, Que., Lajoie has more than 40 years of experience in the construction market, specializing in product speciﬁcation and consulting services, and representing institutional and commercial products. lajoie.co a mascocanada.com

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RELIANCE WORLDWIDE CORPORATION CANADA recently announced the addition of Martin Rego as its new Canadian director of business solutions. He reports directly to CEO David Succurro. Rego joins RWC with many years of industry, operational, sales and leadership experience. MESTEK BOILER PRODUCTS GROUP has promoted Ken Eggleston to director of boiler product sales, overseeing the North American market segments and territories. Eggleston has been with Mestek for over 13 years in a number of capacities in both product development and sales. MITS AIR CONDITIONING has appointed Peter Kinsey as the company’s hydronic product manager and project leader for its Hydronic Division. Kinsey has more than 27 years of experience in the hydronic industry and will assist contractors with their hydronic design requirements to ensure proper application and subsequent installation compliance. NAVAC has hired Bryan Schwartz to be its western regional sales manager for Canada and the U.S. Schwartz brings more than 20 years of sales and service management experience to his new position.

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The CANADIAN RENEWABLE ENERGY ASSOCIATION has named Robert Hornung as its founding president and CEO.

SFA SANIFLO CANADA has appointed Jeremy Martin (1) as its western regional sales manager and Robert Marchio (2) as its central Canada regional sales manager. Martin brings more than 18 years of experience in the wholesale and retail channels to his new role. Also an industry veteran, Marchio has worked in the HVAC and plumbing industries for more than seven years, advancing from a project coordinator role to a general manager’s position. He will oversee the Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan markets.

FINANCEIT has appointed Andrew Lo as the company’s president. Lo joined the company in early 2020 in a consultative role and was named president in May. Financeit founder, CEO and former president, Michael Garrity will remain the company's CEO as well as the chairman of the Board of Directors.

BLANCO has announced that Garth Wallin (1), formerly the president of Blanco Canada, has expanded his role, becoming president and CEO of Blanco North America. The company also announced a number of additional promotions. Wendy McPherson (2) is now vice-president of sales and marketing for Canada; Edyta Drutis (3) is the director of brand and communications for North America; Tim Maicher (4) is the director/head of product management for North America; Mike DiFranco (5) has been named senior vice-president of ﬁnance and administration for North America; and Jake MacDonald (6) is quality director for North America.

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NOBLE recently promoted Rita Woodley (1) to regional manager for the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). She moves into this role from her previous position as GTA sales manager. Also promoted is Darren Ince (2), who is now regional manager for northeast Ontario. And Stan Liberty (3) has been promoted to area manager for Northern Ontario. He will be responsible for expanding Noble’s branch network for the territory currently served by branches in Barrie and Gravenhurst, and a Collingwood location set to open this fall. WOLSELEY CANADA recently realigned its Plumbing and HVAC, AMRE Supply and Industrial businesses into two regions. With the moves, Sébastien Laforge has been promoted to vice-president, Eastern Canada, and Chris Choquette (pictured) has been promote to vicepresident, Western Canada. Laforge will oversee Eastern Plumbing and HVAC Business, including Atlantic Canada, Quebec and Ontario, and the day-to-day operations of the industrial business in the region. Choquette will oversee the Western Plumbing and HVAC Business, AMRE and the day-to-day operations of the industrial business in the region.

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Reader Proﬁle

Robert Lisi Jr.: On a mission to serve

Growing up in and around the mechanical trade, the path to the launch of Lisi Services was almost predetermined for Robert Lisi Jr., but he’s not one to simply rely on his family’s legacy in the business. He takes his craft seriously, with a mission to deliver exceptional service and solutions for the customers that he and his team serve. Steve Jobs once said, “When you’re a carpenter making a beautiful chest of drawers, you’re not going to use a piece of plywood on the back, even though it faces the wall and nobody will ever see it. You’ll know it’s there, so you’re going to use a beautiful piece of wood. For you to sleep well at night, the aesthetic, the quality, has to be carried all the way through.” And Lisi explains that it’s no different with the mechanical services that his company provides. By being concerned about doing things the right way, not cutting corners or using shortcuts, and focusing on the customer experience, he puts his company on the inside track to customer satisfaction, and repeat business. “Anyone can resolve an issue,” he says, “but how we make them feel makes a big difference.”

Q A

What drew you to the mechanical trades, and what do you enjoy about your work?

Q A

What’s the biggest challenge running a mechanical services business?

My dad and uncle started Lisi Mechanical, one of the biggest multi-residential mechanical contractors in Canada, in 1979, so I grew up working in the family business before starting my own ﬁrm. Obviously, I am biased, but to me, the mechanical systems in the building are the most important to the comfort, health, and safety of the people inside of them. And every single day is different, non-routine, and brings new challenges. Plus, I’ve always liked ﬁnding solutions and resolving problems.

Q A

What advice do you offer to new people at your company?

Our mission is to deliver exceptional service and solutions. The customer experience is extremely important.

Our business is very dynamic, and each day will bring new challenges. You will never get bored!

M e c h a n i c a l

Catering to multi-residential, commercial, and industrial clients, Lisi Services has a team of 30 providing all types of planned maintenance and service, as well as emergency services, for plumbing, drainage, heating and cooling systems in the Greater Toronto Area.

FAST FACTS ABOUT ROBERT LISI JR. 1. When he’s not working, you might ﬁnd him spending time with family and friends, riding his bike, playing video games or reading. 2. If there’s a sport that’s on, he’s into it, especially if it’s a football, soccer or basketball game. 3. He’s a life-long learner. “I enjoy reading and learning about everything, especially philosophy and technology,” he says.

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Photo: Oleh Bozhyk

What’s your company’s guiding principle?

Name: Robert Lisi Jr. Title: Owner/General Manager Company: Lisi Services Location: Vaughan, Ont. Age: 41 Lives in: Toronto Joined industry: 1997

ABOUT LISI SERVICES

Operationally, I think the biggest challenge is the shortage of technicians out there – especially on the service and maintenance side.

Q A

BIO

Learn more at sharkbite.ca

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

HAIR, HAIR, EVERYWHE ERE! E COVID-19 has certainly given us many challenges. On the lighter side, it seems that before the salons started opening again, a lot of people were suffering from bad hair, which got me thinking about hair and some of the horrors that I’ve seen.

TRYING TO KEEP MY COOL Once a month, usually on a Monday night at dinner time in the Bretzke family, we would be sitting at the table and my almost-bald dad would claim that the family men needed a haircut. Now, remember, this was the ’70s, a time of bell-bottom jeans and long hair, and besides, my dad didn’t need a haircut, he was bald.

My cousin Glen had just trained me to look cool by growing my hair longer and parting it down the centre, like all the cool rock bands: The Doors, The B u s i n e s s

In my service days, it wasn’t unusual to get a call for a plugged drain in a shopping mall, so I started this one like any other, working through the most obvious causes ﬁrst. I investigated the restaurants, since more often than not, it would be a greasy drain problem.

After checking the main restaurants in this mall, I realized that they all were cleaning their grease traps regularly, so I turned to my drum drain-cleaning machine and let it rip down the main drain to see what I came up against.

My brother, Carl, would succumb to Dad’s wishes and have his hair blazed off, and hence be called “bristle hound” for the rest of the school year.

M e c h a n i c a l

Sometime in the ’80s, when mall culture was at its height, I got a call proving that long hair isn’t always cool.

A lot of restaurateurs would try to save money by not getting their grease traps cleaned often enough, and grease would often pile up in the main building drain and back up in the washroom ﬂoor drains – or somewhere further downstream.

I think the German in him relished to see me suffer as he talked about giving me a brush cut. Anxiety would take over my whole body. All my friends had long hair. I couldn’t show up to school with a brush cut.

AN UNEXPECTED TWIST

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My trusty drum drain cleaner had heavyduty power; it even came with a clutch. These machines can be powerful and dangerous, and while accidents will teach you a lesson, these machines can really hurt you if you are not careful. I once had the thick cable from one wrap

AN UNEXPECTED TWIST,

PLUMBING

continued from page 20

TRYING TO KEEP MY COOL,

around me as the unit was running in the on/forward position.

continued from page 20

Eagles, etc. There was no way my locks were getting cut. I was way too vain for that.

You would think that drain cleaning would be easy, however, it’s all about the feel for your equipment and getting a sense for when the cable comes up against an obstruction.

I had to come up with a plan, and it didn’t need to be elaborate, just effective. So, I quietly waited and let Carl get his buzz cut ﬁrst, and I slid out the side door and headed for freedom when he did. When someone ﬁnally did manage to cut my hair, some years later, it was a traumatic event. I still remember the razor vibrating and buzzing all over my scalp; my blonde locks of hair falling to the wayside. I’m sure there was a tear slowly trickling down my cheek as they robbed me of my cool side. As time would pass, I guess my mom thought she was experienced enough with cutting hair that she started her own hairstyling place. And later, my oldest sister Arlene would start a hair replacement business. So, I guess I’ve had a little bit of experience with hair, and of course as a plumber I’ve had many experiences with hair in all the wrong places, but none quite so memorable as a service call to a mall.

This time, as the cable started feeling like it was winding up, it almost felt like it had hit tree roots, but there were no trees in the mall, so I knew it had to be something else. You never know what you will find in a drain; a rope or clothing could have been flushed down a toilet. Usually all I would have to do is push it forward and pull it backwards several times to clear the drain or free my auger, but not this time. I had caught the big one! I was thinking, “Could this be the Moby Dick of drain cleaning stories?” I had 200 feet of 3/4” auger cable down this line and, after struggling with it for a good hour, I finally pulled the line back to discover a full-bore blockage of the pipe. I had pulled out a 4” thick snake from the pipe – or at least it looked like a snake. After pulling out at least 30 feet of an Anaconda-looking, rotten-smelling object, I realized it was hair. How could this much hair get lodged into the main drain? There were two hair salons in the mall, so off I went to investigate.

DID YOU KNOW?

IGNORANCE IS BLISS Before I got into plumbing, and once I got used to getting my hair professionally cut, it wasn’t unusual for me to lean back on a salon chair and relax as the hair stylist would wash, shampoo, and massage my scalp. I could see that some of my hair will shed and drain down the sink, but I never thought about what would happen next, or where [OH[ OHPY NVLZ 0 Q\Z[ ÄN\YLK P[ was supposed to go down the drain and into the sewer. I now know better.

M e c h a n i c a l

In the 2020 NPC, section 2.2.3.1.5, it states that a drum trap shall not be used as a fixture trap unless required to serve as an interceptor and access for servicing is provided.

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The ﬁrst one had weird looking traps under the salon sinks. These, I would ﬁnd out, were drum traps. Made of ABS plastic, they had a removable nut on them that held a screen in place. These are hair interceptors. As I investigated the other hair salon, I saw that none of its eight sinks had drum traps on them. Apparently, the salon owner didn’t want to pay for the extra parts. After he was held responsible for the mall’s plumbing bill, he decided to invest in drum traps. Hair is a big problem in drains, just like grease. If you don’t realize this, try and pull out the rotting hair out of your bathtub or shower drains. You would wish you got your hair cut by my dad.

As our lives begin to return to a new normal and we venture back out into the public realm we must

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By Denise Deveau

Vanessa Meats: Growing while reducing the energy footprint

FINDING EFFICIENCY WITH LOW PRESSURE

One of the goals, in addition to increasing refrigeration capacity, was to reduce hydro consumption. “Nobody would believe that you can expand refrigeration space by 4.5 and cut the power usage down by one-third…but we did,” says Kungl. “There are no thermal expansion valves, no solenoid valves, no pressure operated valves of any type in the system architecture at all,” he says. “Because it’s electronically driven, you don’t need a lot of pressure differential in the system to make it work. That’s why it runs on such a small amount of power.” And the refrigerant charge has been minimized as well. “By splitting the facility in half, we were able to limit how much pipe we needed to put through the buildings,” he explains. “It made more sense for system redundancy since the two sides can run together but separately without using miles of pipe.” The Vanessa Meats system is almost entirely hermetically sealed and uses a minimum of mechanical connections. Eliminating gasketed surface valve connections and ﬁttings also reduced the risk of leaks and any associated maintenance costs, Kungl notes.

M e c h a n i c a l

hen the new owners of Vanessa Meats were looking to expand, they wanted to increase the company’s refrigeration capacity, and to update the system to meet growing needs. Of course, this was no small bump in size, or minor retroﬁt; the new system will outpace the capacity of their original system by a factor of about 4.5 to one, despite costing 30 per cent less to run than the original facility size. A long-standing company in Vanessa, Ont., the butcher and deli operation has grown to become a leading processor of custom meat offerings. Its refrigeration system services their smoking, dry aging, curing, and fermenting raw cooler, freezers, process cutting rooms and retail storefront. Once fully completed, the refrigeration project will give the company the capacity to process B u s i n e s s

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up to 15,000 pounds of meat a day, all while consuming less energy than their old system. And, with early results looking good, system designer Ben Kungl of Oxford Energy Solutions thinks they can bring those operating costs even lower. The next step for this customer is going off grid, he says. “A lot of this is designed around low inrush, so we don’t use a lot of power to stop and start,” Kungl says. “That makes it easy to adapt to solar as we have already done for other clients. The whole idea is designing a system that will serve their needs for the long-term.”

THE PLAN: • Update and replace existing R22/R-290 refrigeration system (approx. 7 TR) with lowpressure differential HFO refrigeration system (approx. 34 TR). • Maintain lowest possible pressure differentials throughout the system to achieve a long-term platform target of zero refrigerant leakage and reduce electrical operating costs. • Total facility refrigerant reduction plan for 21 loads: Approx. 25%.

A FLEXIBLE FUTURE Future proofing was a major consideration, so they decided to use a new low-pressure, low-GWP hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) refrigerant, says Kungl. “It’s completely compliant, and the Oxford Equipment Platform allows the owner to be set up for any future changes to refrigerant trends such as an A2L type.” It wasn’t about presenting a short-term plan, he adds. “Given that the new owner is young and eager to invest in his own future, why would you design and install a system that already has a potential end date attached to it?” The design called for a fully automated system that can accommodate any future switchover of refrigerant. “It made more sense to get into something that was adaptable and fully automated, including trending, graphing and alarming. This design allows you to change the settings on your computer or phone and the system will automatically change its operating characteristics for the refrigerant of choice.”

THE PRESSURE POINTS When asked if there are any pressure-level concerns in the system, since it uses low-pressure differentials, Kungl explained that there are none with the control architecture being used. “The important thing to keep in mind is, the lower the pressure differential, the more efficient the pump is, and the less secondary heat it generates,” he explains. “Every type of compression has a bypass leak rate, and that increases as the pressure differential increases.” At lower differentials, the system has less stress on it, generates less secondary heat, consumes less wattage, there’s less vibration, and so forth. “With a low-pressure differential,” he adds, “it’s not a linear curve, but a proportional one. When you lower the differential, everything else magnifies in efficiency. Most systems can’t do that because they are designed conventionally and therefore have more limitations as to how low a compression ratio and system design pressure they can achieve.” Oxford used scroll compressors for this project, because of their operating pressure differential margins. “By taking full advantage of our ambient conditions, the ability for the system to operate down to and below a 30 psig differential, free subcooling that is, on average, over 20°F, it all sums up to a system that uses incredibly less power to do the same work,” says Kungl. “The savings are astronomical. The system really just exploits the massive energy gain in heavily subcooled liquid and low wattage inputs to move that fluid to the loads.”

REDUCING REFRIGERANT USAGE A major consideration for the system, given its size, was reducing refrigerant charge and system piping, says Kungl. “Those are the biggest things in refrigeration, or any equipment prone to leaks.” Any refrigerant in a system that is not doing work is a waste, he says, explaining that this can be seen in “systems that require large winter charges due to condenser ﬂooding, or the use of EPRs on every evaporator which, in turn, increases the overall evaporator charge along with other negative system effects.” A properly designed system that can match load based on mass ﬂow requires less valving and has less

potential to leak. In this installation, the Oxford Platform system can run the facility’s north wing of 14 different circuits with a total system charge of 50 lb.

A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ON A SYSTEM For Kungl, one of the reasons the system works is because they were able to minimize the number of moving parts in the system. “People think of refrigeration systems in components as individual sections, and then size or design those parts individually,” he says. “A lot of times, refrigeration systems are even purchased as separate components and then they apply controls and hope it all works. “The reality is, for a system to work this well, it has to be thought of as one working unit in which every part affects the entire system. The key is keeping things basic and letting the refrigerant do the work without unnecessary restrictions” M e c h a n i c a l

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HVAC/R Products P Water detection Refco’s Aquaswitch is designed for applications where a reliable switch is needed to control or indicate the presence of water. It can be ﬁxed to the wall of a drain pan by screws through the ﬁxing slots or to the bottom of the tray using waterproof double-sided tape. The unit has a temperature range of 32°F to 167°F. The water level for the switching relay is 3/8”.

www.

ontor.com

Heat pumps Goodman’s GSXC18 split system heat pumps are available with cooling capacities of 23,000 to 56,500 BTUH and heating capacities of 22,000 to 59,500 BTUH. The units offer efﬁciencies up to 19 SEER and 10 HSPF. Standard features include a two-stage scroll compressor; highdensity foam compressor sound blanket; and app-based commissioning and diagnostic reporting via Bluetooth.

Ductless mini split 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. The units are capable of delivering 100 per cent of the rated heating capacity at outdoor temperatures of 5°F and warm air at outdoor temperatures as low as -31°F.

www.

haierappliances.com

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goodmanmfg.com

Grease duct products Cheminee Lining’s line of grease duct products are built to manage appliance exhaust of combustion gases under positive, negative or neutral pressure in industrial, institutional and commercial applications. They are laser welded and UL/ULc listed. They feature a male/female, slip-type jointing system.

www. chemineelining.com

Piping packages Belimo Piping Packages are designed to be a streamlined method of piping HVAC terminal units. They are custom factory assemblies that include isolation for the control valve and coil, pressure/temperature test ports for balancing, ncing, manual air vents, and strainers with integral drain options. Conﬁgurations are available with ePIV and Energyy Valves, as well as standard zone valve assemblies.

www.

belimo.usrefco.ch

M e c h a n i c a l

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Bluetooth sensors The YJACK Series of low energy Bluetooth (BLE) sensors from Yellow Jacket are designed to measure system pressures and temperatures, while monitoring the temperature, relative humidity, wet bulb, and dew point at the supply and return registers. The lineup includes a temperature clamp, temperature strap, psychrometer (YJACK DEW) and repeater/range extender (YJACK PATH).

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yellowjacket.comrefco.ch

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SYSTEM DESIGN

Radiant cooling,

a Canadian tradition

re radiant cooling systems a good ﬁt in Canadian markets? If comfort and energy efﬁciency are design goals, radiant is a great way to go, regardless of the location, unless you are building on the edge of the Arctic Circle and have no need for additional cooling, that is. There is no secret design trick to making a radiant cooling system work well. If you design with people in mind and adhere to existing comfort, ventilation and building envelope standards for new construction, you are set to add radiant cooling.

or unpredictable relative humidity levels in a building designed to Standard 62.1. By providing the prescribed amount of air changes, maintaining a relative humidity setpoint and delivering appropriate IAQ for occupants, you set yourself up nicely for radiant. For radiant cooling hybrid systems, a dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS) is typically used in conjunction with the embedded PEX piping. The radiant system is good at addressing sensible cooling loads and the DOAS system addresses the latent loads. These systems pair together well, because the DOAS keeps the IAQ in an optimal range for radiant to cool surfaces, without hitting dew point. No radiant speciﬁc rulebook here either.

Designed to exceed Commercial, new construction projects tend to be the best fit for radiant cooling, and that’s for a few reasons. A tight building envelope is a key prerequisite to be able to maintain infiltration and latent cooling loads. There are no radiant-specific considerations here. A well-sealed structure helps keep you away from wild humidity swings inside a structure, but commercial buildings generally have the HVAC controls systems needed to monitor temperature and humidity levels in each radiant room and will likely incorporate vestibules and other safeguards to mitigate infiltration. The next consideration is ventilation compliance with ASHRAE Standard 62.1 – Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality. You won’t see elevated

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The third component that sets up radiant cooling for success is ASHRAE Standard 55, Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy. This standard limits the temperature to which designers should actively cool a surface. For comfort reasons alone, it would be a bad idea to cool a floor in an office space to 5°C. You would feel like you had rink-side seats at a hockey arena and would be uncomfortable working on a computer all day in an office. In this scenario, the surface temperature in the room would be below the recommendations of ASHRAE 55. By keeping surfaces above 19°C, while maintaining relative humidity levels, you stay away from the dew point danger zone. You won’t sweat the slab if you play by these established rules.

Max Rohr Max Rohr is the REHAU Academy Manager, and has worked in installation, sales and marketing in the hydronics and solar industries since 1998. He can be reached at max.rohr@rehau.com.

Fighting the fear Condensation is the most frequent concern that comes up about radiant cooling. Radiant cooling technology utilization is not as high as it should be worldwide because designers don’t trust that they can avoid condensation. I’m not sure why this is, especially for the fact-driven engineering community. Code-adhering, ASHRAE Standard 62.1 and 55-compliant buildings provide the indoor environmental quality boundaries for radiant cooling to shine. Sometimes engineers can still have emotional responses to the topic of radiant cooling. The radiant cooling conversation seasoned designers have is similar to this off-topic conversation:

Engineer: “I’m afraid I’m going to drop my phone in a lake.” Cooling designer: “Are you standing next to a lake?” Engineer: “Yes.” Cooling designer: “Put up a barricade 10 feet from the lakeshore, so you can’t get too close to it and put your phone in your pocket, so it is secured.” Engineer: “Okay, but what if I drop my phone in the lake?” Cooling designer: “You would have to climb over that barricade and also pull your phone out of your pocket to have a chance of dropping the phone in the lake, so just don’t break those two rules and you will be ﬁne.” Unless you plan on engineering a leaky building that ignores ASHRAE Standards 62.1 and 55, you shouldn’t worry about radiant cooling condensation. If you are designing with people in mind, you have established the proper comfort and ventilation barricades so you don’t have to worry about radiant cooling condensation.

Radiant cooling in action (in Canada)

Photo courtesy of Klimatrol Environmental Systems

YWCA Toronto Elm Centre incorporates a thermal activated building system (TABS) that heats and cools a 17-storey residential tower and adjacent towers. To maximize usable floor space for residents, the design team chose radiant heating and cooling. The uninsulated TABS panels are a concrete slab with embedded PEX piping that acts as the floor and ceiling for the multi-storey project. These bi-directional radiant surfaces can allow designers to provide high ceilings for residents, potentially reduce ventilation clutter and also double the radiant surface area per unit, which allows for entering water temperature adjustments that increase energy efficiency. Additionally, the mechanical equipment can be located in the hallway, so maintenance staff don’t have to enter the 302 units to change filters and service equipment. Included in the energy plant design is a 3 million BTUH capacity vertical geoexchange well on site.

If you still need convincing about radiant cooling, the best way to demonstrate the technology is to see it in action.

JSF High School in Brampton, Ont., was the first secondary school to receive a Canadian Green Building Council LEED Silver certification in Ontario. The school provides a comfortable environment for students by maximizing daylighting, incorporating a green roof and utilizing radiant heating and cooling. Classrooms, offices, the cafeteria and the gymnasium all tap into the radiant system, which shows that this isn’t only a technology for glass atriums (one of the most common uses of radiant cooling).

Photo by Patrick Kennedy

The Sheridan College Davis Campus Skilled Trades Centre, also in Brampton, was built to be a living laboratory for tradespeople-in-training. An integral part of this design is allowing students to work with and learn about the on-site mechanical equipment. The building uses a tri-generation system for chilled and hot water, as well as electrical generation. Additionally, the high ceilings in the training areas are a perfect match for radiant floors, because the occupants stand on the heated and cooled Photo courtesy of Sheridan College and Klimatrol floors without having to include overhead space heaters Environmental Systems above specific work stations. This project obtained a LEED Gold certification.

Photo courtesy of REHAU

Earth Rangers Centre in Woodbridge, Ont., was originally designed to be a veterinary hospital but is now used to showcase sustainable technology while teaching visiting students about conservation. This building was certified as LEED Gold for New Construction, as well as LEED Platinum for Existing Buildings. A combination geoexchange, radiant heating and radiant cooling system has helped this site achieve 42 per cent better energy efficiency than was expected from its original plans. The centre is a showcase of modern, sustainable design that is available for tours if you want to see it firsthand.

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HYDRONIC PRODUCTS Near condensing boilers The Laars’ OmniTherm series of near condensing boilers and volume water heaters are available in six sizes ranging from 1.25 million to 3 million BTUH. They offer thermal efﬁciencies up to 87% and up to a 7:1 turndown ratio. Additional features include electronic air-to-fuel ratio control and stainless steel heat exchangers.

www. laars.com

Multi-fuel burners Industrial Combustion’s SBR-30 series burners can be used with a variety of boiler types, including ﬁretube and watertube boilers. They are designed to provide 16,800 to 54,600 BTUH with up to a 10:1 turndown ratio with natural gas, but are also capable of ﬁring #2 fuel oil as a backup. The burner series is capable of less than 30 ppm NOx emissions without FGR.

www. ind-comb.com

Switching relay The 301P switching relay from tekmar connects to one thermostat and operates a circulator and boiler to provide heating to a hydronic heating system. The relay is equipped with optional exercising to prevent circulator seizure when the system is not in use, as well as optional post purge operation. It is compatible with all low voltage thermostats.

www. tekmarcontrols.com

Fin clamp element Available through Ontor, the Fin Clamp Element by Fab Tek Logic is a multi-fin hinged hydronic heat element that is available for 1/2” to 1-1/4” pipe sizes for copper pipe and 1-1/2” and 2” sizes for steel pipe. Offered in one- and two-foot sections, it fits around existing piping, can replace damaged fins and can be used to fix cold spaces without cutting, soldering or draining the sytem.

Monitoring systems The HeatLink Smart System includes thermostats, modules, actuators, and relays designed to wirelessly control a heating system. Smart plugs and sensors can be used to expand the system. The Wireless Internet Gateway coordinates attached devices and connects to the building's internet to create a secure path to the HeatLink Smart System app.

www. heatlink.com 30

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www. ontor.com

Commercial pumps Taco FI Series base-mounted end-suction suction pumps are suited for heating, air conditioning, pressure boosting, cooling water ons. transfer and water supply applications. 00 The have a ﬂow rate of 40 to 4,400 gpm, head range of 1 to 390 ft. and nd a horsepower range of 1/2 to 150 0 ghp. They are available in sizes ranging from 1-1/2” to 8”.

www. tacocomfort.com

AVENGER. The industry changing line of Firetube Boilers and Water Heaters. • Two-pass counter-flow rifle tube heat exchanger design • Able to handle low pressure water systems • Ideal for all variable primary/secondary hydronic systems • Sizes ranging from 1000 MBH up to 4000 MBH • Thermal efficiencies up to 97%

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COVER STORY

By Adam Freill

Tania Johnston: RISING TO THE TOP

wenty years after joining MCA Canada on a six-month contract, Tania Johnston has become the national organization’s ﬁrst ever female CEO, a step that she hopes will inspire other females toward successful paths in the mechanical trade as well. “It is a huge honour to be given this responsibility,” she said during a recent Zoom interview from her home in Ottawa. “People have been extremely supportive of me taking on this role. It’s actually been overwhelming with how many people reached out to congratulate me. And it’s been for the same thing: they think it is really awesome that a female is taking on this role as the head of a national trade association.”

Photos courtesy of Blair Gable, MCA Canada and Mechanical Business

Johnston’s ﬁrst role at MCA Canada was part of a government grant program to help fund the Canadian Mechanical Contracting Education Foundation. That program, now the Construction Education Council within MCA Canada, aligned well for the teacher who, at the time, was providing Microsoft training courses for adults. “They were looking for somebody at MCA Canada for a short-term contract,” she explained. “I thought, if it doesn’t work out, I can go back to substitute teaching. And here I am, 20 years later.”

M e c h a n i c a l

B u s i n e s s

Name: Tania Johnston Title: CEO Organization: MCA Canada Location: Ottawa, Ont. Age: 52 Family: Husband Jeff, daughter Kyra and son Keagan Joined the industry: 2000 0 8 . 2 0

DID YOU KNOW?

Tania considers herself truly blessed to have many supportive groups of girlfriends in her life, including a few with fun names, like the “Bad Moms,” “Original Six,” and “Inner Council.”

A people person When asked what makes her job so fulﬁlling, there’s no hesitation. Johnston says, “It’s the people. I love the people.” Of course, it doesn’t hurt to have a lot of variety to help hold one’s interest as well. “A lot of things in my day-to-day job make it interesting, from running courses to handling budgets and getting out to meet people,” she says. “And we just kept growing it. We introduced the student chapters. I loved working with the students because that brought me back to where I’d started.”

Mentors and sharing insights Having had an opportunity to work and interact with a number of people over her 20 years with MCA Canada, Johnston gives credit to those who helped prepare her for her new role.

Tania with Mike Pinball Clemons.

And the middle-management training programs, which were some of the earliest formal training offerings for that level of staff, also added to the draw for her, she says. “There was just a lot of fulﬁllment from training people and knowing that people really appreciated the courses,” she says. “At that time, nobody was doing middle management training, so it was new and innovative.”

#DoBetter The trick to successfully moving forward in life, for yourself, your family, your company and your community, says Johnston, is to simply “Do better.” “I have it as a hashtag on a few things around my home and ofﬁce,” she says. “This year I changed the hashtag to #DoBetter2020. “Ramona Coey of MCA Manitoba shared that with me. It was something that her late husband used to always say to their children. When she told me about it, it resonated with me. Every day you just want to do better. Do better in life; do better with your family; do better in your job.”

Why not you? The mechanical contracting industry is still predominantly male, but with MCA student chapters attracting more females, and with female role models Mandy Rennehan like last year’s MCA Canada conference keynote speaker Mandy Rennehan pushing for an overhaul of the construction industry’s image and support of diversity in the trades, things are starting to change. “I think it is amazing that we are seeing more and more female owners showing leadership within their own construction ﬁrms,” says Johnston. “For young girls who are considering this as a career, if you are hands-on and want to learn the tools and earn a trade, why not you? “We need a more diverse workforce, and that includes bringing more women into the trade! I think barriers are being dropped,” she adds. “Hopefully MCA Canada will be part of that moving forward, and that may be part of a legacy that I get to leave behind.” M e c h a n i c a l

“Our CEO who retired a couple of years ago, Richard McKeagan, never jumped into any decision-making in a hurry. He always looked at every side of the coin. I felt like I learned something from Richard every day,” she says. “He was always for the members. This position was never self-serving for him. I hope to do the same, and that people respect me the same way they respected Richard.” Over the past two years, working with Pierre Boucher, Johnston was able to expand her focus. “He gave me a lot of new roles and responsibilities,” she says. “He showed a lot of conﬁdence in me, which prepared me for the CEO position. And it also showed the MCAC executive that I was ready.” Of course, being ready and knowing that you are ready are two different things, and Johnston had a number of recent experiences that told her it was an opportunity for which she was well prepared, including a well-timed CIPH luncheon shortly before her promotion. “The panelist, Valerie Malone, talked about not letting anybody hold you back,” says Johnston. “She said, ‘If you think you are ready, you are ready.’ A day or two later, this opportunity came up. If I hadn’t been there on that day, and sat in on that session, maybe I wouldn’t have had that gut instinct that I am ready and can take this on. “I can’t wait to roll up my sleeves and work with the MCAC team to continue serving our membership and keeping us at the forefront of the construction industry.” B u s i n e s s

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HYDRONIC PANELS

By Bob “Hot Rod” Rohr

Looking up your

radiant options I

would challenge you to find a more comfortable heating emitter than a radiant panel – assuming, of course, that the system was properly designed, installed and dialed in. And while visions of cast iron radiators may come to mind when thinking about residential hydronics, when it comes to radiant, today’s systems offer a wide array of heat emitter options for buildings of all kinds. With the introduction of flexible plastic tubing to North America in the late 1980s, it did not take long for creative designers, plumbers and heating aficionados to come up with new ideas for radiant panels. Radiant floors were no-brainers. Concrete slabs lend themselves nicely to radiant heat transfer. The large surface area becomes a radiator by circulating a warm fluid, generally water, through a network of tubing encased in the concrete pour, but not every home or building involves a concrete slab. So, then what? Gypsum-based floor coverings had been developed for fire and sound protection in commercial buildings like hotels, and this gave the radiant artists another palate. Installing tube in a 1-1/2” overpour on a framed floor is considered a medium-mass installation, and will react more quickly to change than high-mass slabs. Numerous methods have been developed to put tubing below wood subfloors, or in a buildup on top of the subflooring – what we call “dry” systems. These applications, being even lower mass, can be ramped up or down much more quickly compared to the higher mass systems. This application works nicely in climates that see frequent and wide temperature swings throughout the heating season. My home in Missouri is a classic example of wide winter time temperature swings. In some cases, it is not possible or affordable to install retrofit radiant floors, but fear not, radiant aficionados have a solution for that, too. Knowing that heat travels in any direction, from a radiant panel to a surface it sees, some have started to look up, and build radiant ceilings. Options include tubing or even

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electric heat cable, and anyone who has stood below a radiant ceiling has experienced warmth that seems to simply wash over you. Radiant ceilings provide a nice, unencumbered area to build the radiant panel, too, without restrictive coverings or furniture to be concerned with or designed around. Higher BTU/square foot output is also possible. We can run surface temperatures a bit higher, since no bare feet are contacting the ceiling – at least not in most cases. There is yet one more surface that we can easily turn into a radiant panel. What about the walls that surround us?

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HYDRONIC PANELS continued from page 34

Walls can often be one of the easiest surfaces to retroﬁt, or build new, so in the history of radiant, it didn’t take long for savvy plumbers to offer heated shower walls. Nothing beats a skin-temperature-warm tiled shower wall. Some clever designers also put heated walls in rooms to dry or warm clothes, basically turning the wall into a large panel radiator. In some cases, heating just the lower three feet of wall space is adequate to cover the loads. This also keeps tubing out of the areas where a nail may be driven to hang a picture, just inform your customers to avoid nails if they have plans for wainscoting.

Sharing in the sunshine When we talk about radiant panels, or radiant surfaces, the transfer mechanism for the heat energy is thermal radiation. This method of heat transfer travels from a source, in a straight line at 186,000 miles per second. Sunshine is a good analogy. When you step out of the shade on a cold sunny winter day and face into the sun, within seconds you will experience radiant heat. Aside from the short trip through Earth’s atmosphere, the space through which the energy travels is below 0° from the sun to your body. The air is not heated by this energy, but surfaces are. The bonﬁre at a winter carnival is another “teachable” example of how radiant energy transfers. (Just remember, don’t turn your back to the ﬁre, unless you need to warm your butt occasionally.)

START AT THE BEGINNING The desired and successful outcome of any heating or “comfort” system is directly related to the front-end work. This should include load calculations, getting the building envelop as efficient as possible, and eliminating drafts, for example. A drafty home or building, regardless of the type of heat emitters, tends to be an uncomfortable home or space. If you are outside, the air movement across bare skin is referred to as chill factor; inside, we call it a draft. It is the same mechanism that is at play, and it can cause discomfort.

The best of all worlds There is no reason you couldn’t blend various radiant panels, like a nice mix of walls, ceilings and floors. Or even blend a wall, floor or ceiling with other heat emitters like panel radiators, fin-tube, towel racks, you name it. Take a look at Graph 1, showing the BTU output difference between various radiant surface installations. Radiant floors in residential applications are limited by surface temperature. Elevating the surface much above skin temperature will cause comfort issues and complaints. The trick is to ensure that it is comfortable to walk barefoot on, and that your customer’s feet don’t sweat when in contact with the floor. When that happens, it is no longer a comfort system. Commercial and industrial slabs can sometimes run higher surface temperature and output, as occupants are usually (hopefully) wearing socks and footwear. It’s critical to cover the heat load of the space with the lowest possible supply temperature. This opens the door to all sorts of heat generators. Boilers, solar thermal and heat pumps all increase in efficiency as operating temperatures are lowered. It’s nice to have options.

Bob “Hot Rod” Rohr has been a plumbing, radiant heat and solar contractor and installer for 30 years. A longtime columnist and trainer, he is manager of training and education with Calefﬁ North America. You can reach Hot Rod at bob.rohr@calefﬁ.com.

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DIDYOU KNOW? There are examples of radiant heat dating back to 350 B.C. Fires built in underground tunnels, hypocausts, would supply the heat energy to the lucky occupants above. The word hypocaust comes from the Greek origin hypo, meaning under, and caust, meaning burnt or caustic. Examples of hypocausts have been found in Italy, England, France, Switzerland, Germany and Africa.

FIND THE FIX

Jeff House is an experienced industry professional and hydronics trainer with Boiler House Training, and 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.

PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL DILEMMA Sometimes you come across a hydronic job and wonder,, “How does this run?” Of course, the owner or installer says, ays, “It works fine,” but getting heat out of a boiler and having itt work are really two different things. Looking at this system, the same seven three-speed pumps mps are all running on high speed, and have been running and providing heat for two years. To simplify the discussion, all loads are re equal, which shows that you can do everything wrong and still get heat. In reality all six zones are different sized loads, but the pumps umps are all set to high, as is the boiler pump. So, all seven pumpss have to overcome exactly the same pressure loss. I think I will take my chances on a lottery ticket. 1. How did this arrangement actually deliver heat? A) Sometimes you get lucky. B) If you oversize and over pump, you will get heat. C) Do the math. D) Depends on how many zones are calling at one time. 2. Is this piping arrangement primary/secondary piping? A) Yes. B) No. 3. What is happening to the flow and head in the system if one or more zones are calling? A) Head is increasing and flow is about the same. B) Flow and head are increasing. C) Nothing. It is delivering heat. D) Head is decreasing but flow is increasing.

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

Looking for the May/June 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.

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4. The boiler pump is pulling the water out of the boiler and then it hits a T. Which direction is it going to go? A) It will split and go both ways. B) It has to go right, toward all the other pumps. C) The path of least resistance is toward the left and back to the boiler (shortest piping). D) Since the pumps are all in the same hydraulic zone, they are running in series. There is heat, so some ﬂow must be going back to the boiler.

“Running and working is almost the same thing, but by deﬁnition, working infers a collection of parts all interacting together as one.”

WIN! For non-contact investigations 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 practise social distancing. Send your answers to us by September 1 for your chance to win.

Thank you...

our readers for being there for Canada during COVID

ROAD WARRIOR Terry Bertram

The current work ride: Brand new Ford F-150 extended cab with a space cap. Service area: N.B., N.S. and P.E.I. Kilometres per day: Because I cover three provinces, probably 400 to 500 kilometres per day. Some days are beyond that. Tomorrow I’m going to P.E.I. on the other side of Charlotteotwn, and that’s going to be a 600-kilometre day. Any area you like to get dispatched to, and why? Probably P.E.I. I look after a lot of large, commercial boilers over there. That’s my main thing I enjoy working on. It’s the most challengeing because you’re into electrical, you’re into systems, you’re into gas – everything dangerous. You’ve got to be thinking all the time about what you’re doing. Best advice you’ve ever received: Look after the customer and the customer will look after you. The most useful tool in your toolbox: My combustion analyzer, hands down.

and heating business in Toronto for 15 years and I didn’t get a lot of time to see my kids growing up. I really have to thank my wife for that, because she did a phenomenal job raising the kids. Favourite Performer: Lindsey Buckingham from Fleetwood Mac. Best concert ever attended? Alan Jackson. Favourite TV Show: MASH. Been watching that since I was seven years old. Favourite character on that show: Hawkeye Pierce. Favourite TV show character as a kid: Cookie Monster or Oscar the Grouch from Sesame Street. Favourite actor: Sam Elliott. Favourite movie of all time: Armageddon. Favourite sport: Hockey. Favourite car of all time: Dodge Charger.

Tool that you wish you had? None. I think I have every tool known to man.

Favourite food: Barbecued steak.

If you were granted one wish: To spend more time with my kids growing up. I had a plumbing

What do you usually have for breakfast? Steak and eggs on the weekend is beautiful.

Photos: Tim Gilbert/Maritime and Northeast Pipeline

A big job

When asked about the most interesting project he’s ever worked on, Terry says that would definitely be a massive retrofit project he completed for Maritime & Northeast Pipeline, installing Viessmann boilers. “It was the size of the buildings and the footprint,” he recalls. “I got to start the job and finish the job 100 per cent. The plumbing, eletrical, gas, the boiler installation, a complete 100-per-cent turnkey project.” He says the most challenging aspect of the project was trying to fit very large boilers into a very small area. “There was a lot of careful planning and piping design, pre-planning,” he says. “And it went off without a hitch.” W E T

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Favourite outdoor activity: ATV, 100 per cent. Biggest pet peeve: People being late. If you’re not 15 minutes early, you’re late.

By Andrew Snook

or Terry Bertram, following in his father’s footsteps into a career in the mechanical sector was an easy choice. After moving to Toronto as a child in 1973, Terry had the opportunity to watch his father work on all sorts of mechanical equipment as he looked after four 20-storey high-rise buildings. “I learned so much from that man, from boilers to air conditioning units to electrical – I mean, I learned everything. The man was brilliant,” he says. In addition to introducing Terry to the mechanical sector, his father also helped him land his ﬁrst job as a plumbing and heating apprentice.

Terry Bertram

A chip off the old block “He actually introducted me to a guy named Julian Freeborough, and he had a local plumbing company – JL Mechanical – and I started working with him in June of 1984,” Terry recalls. “We were re-piping apartment buildings. We covered everything – drains, ﬁre sprinklers, boilers, anything you can think of.”

Name: Terry Bertram Company: Ainsworth (Moncton ofﬁce) Job title: Service technician and installer

After moving back to Atlantic Canada in 2007, he now lives on a 98-acre property in Harcourt, N.B., just outside Moncton.

Born in: Pleasant Valley, P.E.I.

Currently working for Ainsworth out of the company’s Moncton ofﬁce, Terry tackles plumbing and heating installations and servicing throughout New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and P.E.I., as well as HVAC installations, something he added later in his career.

Family: Spouse Nathalie and three girls: Vickie, Andrea and Terra-Lynn

Lives in: Harcourt, N.B. Age: 53

In the mechanical industry since: 1984 Education: George Brown College

He says his favourite thing about the job is that he’s always learning. “I learn something new every single day I work in this trade,” he says. “I still love what I do every single day.” W E T

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COMMERCIAL VEHICLES: TRUCKS

B y Ho w war wa a rrd d JJ.. E Elmer l m eerr Howard J. Elmer is an automotive journalist and the founder of the Canadian Truck King Challenge. Be sure to check out the test drives of these 2020 trucks at www.truckking.ca

2020 FORD SUPER DUTY F250 TO F450 2020 will forever be the year of the Coronavirus and, where trucks are concerned, it will also be the year that the manufacturers and dealers alike suffered the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression.

Wheelbases:

142”, 148”, 164”,156”, 159”, 176”

Cab Styles:

While we rightfully worried about our health and practiced social distancing and staying home, the automotive industry experienced a plunge in sales that will have a lasting effect on the truck market. Of course, this may be a blessing in disguise for companies in need of a few new vehicles for their fleet.

Engine Sizes:

Regular, SuperCab, SuperCrew 6.2L V8, 7.3L V8, 6.7L turbo-diesel

Power (hp/torque):

385/430, 430/475, 450/935

Max. Payload:

7,850 lb.

Max. Towing Capacity:

37,000 (F450 5th wheel)

Box Sizes:

6’8”, 8’

DesRosiers Automotive Consultants, a company that compiles stats on the automotive industry, says that April sales in Canada totalled just 45,833 units compared with 180,616 in April of last year.

At Ford, 2020 is a new year for Super Duty. It’s also a launch that managed to just squeak in before the shutdown. This major update is highlighted by significant mechanical changes. The big news is an all-new 7.3L gas engine that offers bestin-class 430 hp and best-in-class 475 ft-lb. of torque. It joins the standard 6.2L V8 in Super Duty’s gas engine stable. An upgraded 6.7L Power Stroke diesel gets a new 10-speed TorqShift automatic transmission (also found on the 7.3L). Ford has also shown next level technology in the new truck.

2020 FORD F150

All this turmoil has led to two distinct outcomes. First, due to the factory shutdowns, a number of new models are delayed or on hold. Second, as we slowly open up the economy, dealers and manufacturers alike will be offering billions of dollars in incentives to move backlogs of trucks. For some, this will be a buying opportunity. Wheelbase:

126.8”

Cab Styles:

SuperCrew, SuperCab

Engine Size:

2.3L I-4 (EcoBoost)

Power (hp/torque):

270/310

Max. Payload:

1,860 lb.

Max. Towing Capacity:

7,500 lb.

Box Sizes:

5’1”, 6’

2020 FORD RANGER

Wheelbases:

122”, 141”, 145”, 157”, 163”

Cab Styles:

Regular, SuperCab, SuperCrew

Engine Sizes:

3.3L V6, 3.5L V6 (EcoBoost), 2.7L V6 (EcoBoost), 5.0L V8, 3.0L Power Stroke diesel, H.O. 3.5L V6 (EcoBoost)

Power (hp/torque):

Max. Payload:

3,270lb.

Max. Towing Capacity:

13,200 lb.

5’5”, 6’5”, 8’

(3.6L V6): 7,450 lb.; (5.7L V8): 12,750 lb. Box Sizes:

M e c h a n i c a l

B u s i n e s s

2020 RAM 1500

The 2019 Ram was all new so, while 2020 is a carryover, Ram is working to keep momentum going with new trim packages this year. But it is still offering the Ram Classic. Originally held over in 2018, it’s still selling well. The 1500 starts this year with a boat-load of awards and aggressive discounts to counter the current pandemic’s impact on sales. The 3.0L EcoDiesel is back in the lineup, and its power numbers have been boosted, as has its tow Wheelbases: 120.5”, 141”, 150”, 170” capacity. Payload is 2,300 lb. Cab Styles: Regular, Quad Cab, Crew Cab and the top tow rating is now 12,700 lb. – numbers that Engine Sizes: 5.7L V8 Hemi, 3.6L V6, 3.0L EcoDiesel make it competitive to any of Power (hp/torque): 395/410, 305/269, 260/480. its rivals. Max. Towing Capacity: (3L EcoDiesel): 12,560 lb.; Box Sizes:

Ranger has been selling well since its return – proof that a demand for mid-size trucks exists. This year is largely carryover. Ranger comes in a number of trim options, from the entry-level XL package, to the XLT and the high-level Lariat. Also available are Chrome, Sport and FX2 Off-Road packages. The body comes as either a SuperCab or SuperCrew cab. Powered by a 2.3L EcoBoost engine, it is mated to a 10-speed transmission. This is the only powertrain at the moment.

290/265, 375/470, 325/400, 395/400, 250/440, 450/510

This year is a carry-over as a new F-150 is scheduled for 2021. Ford would have released the new model this summer, but it is now delayed. The last major F-series changes were in 2018, such as the adding of a high-output 3.5L EcoBoost. The current crop of trucks will have to do until manufacturing gets back on track. One notable change is that the 3.0L Power Stroke V6 diesel engine is now available on XLT trucks.

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5’7”, 6’4”, 8’

2020 RAM TRUCK HD 2500 AND 3500 The HD Ram was updated last year, so 2020 is carryover. Its Cummins 6.7L turbo-diesel was boosted to 400 hp and 1,000 lb.-ft of torque – a new high. Along with chassis updates comes a new weight limit of 35,100 lb. However, Ram has also spent considerable time and money on making the truck more comfortable for the driver over the Wheelbases: long haul. Inside, luxury décor like real wood, real leather and Cab Styles: a 12” Uconnect touchscreen have been added. Engine Sizes:

New this year are blind-spot monitoring (including easy-to-use trailer coverage), trailer tire pressure monitoring, an auxiliary camera system supporting up to two different cameras, and a 50-gallon fuel tank option on the Crew Cab with the eightfoot bed.

Power (hp/torque):

141”, 150”, 170” Regular, Crew Cab, Mega Cab 5.7L V8 Hemi, 6.7L turbo-diesel, 6.4L V8 Hemi 383/400, 385/900, 410/429

Max. Payload: Max. Towing Capacity: Box Sizes:

7,680 lb. 31,210 lb. 6’4”, 8’

2020 JEEP GLADIATOR

Wheelbase:

137.3”

Cab Style:

Crew cab

Engine Size: Power (hp/torque):

3.6L V6 3.0L EcoDiesel 285/260, 260/442

Max. Payload:

1,600 lb.

Max. Towing Capacity:

7,650 lb.

Box Size:

The 2020 Gladiator made an early debut last fall, so the model is still current. This mid-size pickup has all the ability and attitude you’d expect from a Wrangler in a truck. It is worth noting, however, that the five-foot bed is not just welded onto a standard Wrangler frame. The body-on-frame design offers the same four doors, but on a frame 31 inches longer than the Wrangler. The wheelbase is also 19.4 inches longer and the rear axle and suspension setup borrows heavily from the Ram 1500. Launched with just one powertrain (the 3.6L V6) it is now joined by the 3.0L EcoDiesel with an eight-speed transmission.

5’

2020 TOYOTA TACOMA The base Tacoma changes little for 2020. It features the 3.5L Atkinson cycle V6 with a six-speed manual, or six-speed automatic Super ECT with lock-up torque converter. An Wheelbase: available fiveCab Styles: speed manual is Engine Sizes: only offered with Power (hp/torque): the base 2.7L. Max. Payload:

2020 TOYOTA TUNDRA As with the Tacoma, Tundra increases its mix of option packages while remaining basically the same. A total of 17 trim configurations includes a new TRD Sport Premium and Off-road Premium packages. What has increased substantially are the infotainment and driver-assist electronic systems. For 2020, the 4.6L V8 option has been dropped; only the 5.7L V8 is available. This move may be a signal foreshadowing an all-new powertrain coming in the next model year (or two). Wheelbases:

127”, 146”

Cab Styles:

Regular, Double Cab, CrewMax

Engine Size:

25.7L V8

Power (hp/torque):

381/401

Max. Payload:

1,710 lb.

Max. Towing Capacity:

10,000 lb.

Box Sizes:

5’, 6’5”, 8’

127” 140” Access Cab, Double Cab 2.7L I-4, 3.5L V6 159/180, 278/265 1,500 lb.

2020 CHEVROLET SILVERADO HD 2500 & 3500 This is the next-generation Silverado HD. It has borrowed the interior from the 2019 1500-series of trucks, and the larger cab. Key changes to these 2020 HDs are found in the powertrain and driver-assist electronics. Towing capability increases a massive 52 per cent, to 35,500 lb. GM also now offers a camera system with 15 around-truck views.

Toyota is Max. Towing Capacity: 6,700 lb. increasing the Box Sizes: 5’, 6’ number of available versions Wheelbases: 133”, 144”, 154”, 167” (they now offer 16 Cab Style: Regular, Double Cab, Crew Cab models across three Engine Sizes: 6.6L V8, 6.6L turbo-diesel body configurations), Power (hp/torque): 401/464, 445/910 such as the off-road 7,374 lb. TRD-Pro. New this year Max. Payload: Max. Towing Capacity: 35,500 lb. is a base SR package that combines entryBox Sizes: 6’5”, 8’ level price with all the up-to-date infotainment options.

The HD has two new powertrains: an all-new 6.6L gasoline engine with direct injection mated to a six-speed transmission, and the updated Duramax V8 turbo-diesel and all-new Allison 10-speed transmission.

M s iun se is ns e 1s 0s . 0078 . 2 0 M ee cch ha an inci acl a Bl u B

43 3

COMMERCIAL VEHICLES: TRUCKS 2020 CHEVY SILVERADO 1500 Last year saw a generational update of the Silverado (and GMC Sierra), so 2020 is now a carry-over year with the exception of the 3.0L diesel engine, which came to the lineup late but is now in full production.

Wheelbases:

119”, 133”, 158”

Cab Styles:

Regular, Double Cab, Crew Cab

Engine Sizes:

4.3L V6, 5.3L V8, 6.2L V8, 2.7L turbo, 3.0L turbo-diesel

Power (hp/torque):

310/348, 277/460 Max. Payload:

2,250 lb.

Max. Towing Capacity:

13,400 lb.

Box Sizes:

The Silverado offers eight trim levels and six different engine and transmission combinations. These trim packages not only offer groups of conveniences, but they also cover the very necessary work truck (WT) market right up to the opulent High Country. For 2020 they’ve tweaked a few offerings – new trailer mirrors, adaptive cruise control and engine choices available across all trim packages. The new 10-speed transmission is also being added to the 5.3L V8.

285/305, 355/383, 420/460,

M e c h a n i c a l

5’8”, 6’6”, 8’

2020 CANYON AND COLORADO The twins remain largely the same for 2020. In addition to the ZR2 off-road version, featuring front and rear electronic locking differentials; multimatic dynamic suspensions spool valve damper technology; a Wheelbases: 128”, 140.5” lifted frame; and 31” Goodyear Duratrac off-road Cab Styles: Extended Cab, Crew Cab tires, several special editions are available, and Engine Sizes: 2.5L I-4, 3.6L V6, 2.8L turbo-diesel they are still the only midsize models with a diesel option. The Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison was the Power (hp/torque): 200/191, 305/269, 181/369 overall 2020 winner of the Canadian Truck King Max. Payload: 1,620 lb. Challenge. Max. Towing Capacity: 7,700 lb. (w/diesel) Box Sizes:

B u s i n e s s

5’2”, 6’2”

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2020 NISSAN TITAN XD A mild refresh has given the Titan XD a new grille, exterior and interior styling changes, as well as some new technology. The 5.6L V8 has been bumped up to 400 hp and its now mated to a nine-speed transmission. Unfortunately, the Cummins 5.0L V8 turbo-diesel that was unique in this market has been dropped.

2020 NISSAN TITAN

Wheelbase:

151.6”

Cab Style:

Crew Cab

Engine Size:

5.6L V8

Power (hp/torque):

400/413

Max. Payload:

Wheelbase:

125”

Cab Style:

Crew Cab

Engine Size:

3.5L V6

Power (hp/torque):

280/262

Max. Payload:

1,600 lb.

Max. Towing Capacity:

3,500 lb.

Box Size:

5’3”

2,004 lb.

Max. Towing Capacity:

12,038 lb.

Box Size:

6’6”

Like the larger XD, this halfton gets all the same metal work updates, better interior and new electronics for 2020. The line offers several trim packages. Wheelbase:

139.8”

Cab Styles:

Regular, Crew Cab

Engine Sizes:

5.6L V8

Power (hp/torque):

400/413

Max. Payload:

1,610 lb.

Max. Towing Capacity:

9,390 lb.

Box Sizes

2020 HONDA RIDGELINE Once again, the Ridgeline has no changes this year. It’s a small player in this market, but it does appeal to a select group with its car-like features and all-wheel drive. It has a unique fold-down and swinging tailgate, and a large, lockable trunk.

6’6”

TURN-KEY VEHICLES READY FOR THE JOB-SITE

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kelowna

calgary

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toronto

M e c h a n i c a l

laval

B u s i n e s s

montreal

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halifax

REFRIGERATION

Shell and Tube WaterCooled Condensers T

here are a number of different types of condensers that can be used to reject the heat from a refrigeration system, and these can reject the heat to the ambient air, water or any other type of fluid that is availablee at a low enough temperature. For the current discussion, let’s focus on shell at to and tube condensers that reject their heat on. water, or another form of aqueous solution. Water-cooled condensers are typically designed and connected into the system in a counterflow arrangement. This means that the fluid flows in one direction and the refrigerant travels in the opposite direction.

Inside a shell and tube condenser, the refrigerant ﬂows in the shell from top to bottom. This makes sense because liquid is denser than vapour and will drop to the bottom of the shell where it can then be further cooled by the incoming water.

With this method, the coldest water supply is used to provide refrigerant subcooling. This would not be possible if the condenser was piped for a parallel ﬂow. Also, it makes less sense to use the coldest water to cool the incoming discharge gas. Air-cooled condensers are also designed using a counterﬂow arrangement.

The tubes carry the ﬂuid that is used as the cooling medium. Since the refrigerant ﬂows within the shell, the shell side is relatively warm. Therefore, condensation is not likely to take place. This provides the added

WORKING WITH WATER, AND OTHER FLUIDS Appropriate aqueous solutions include mixtures of propylene glycol, ethylene glycol or calcium chloride with water. And there are many other types of glycols that may be used for applications where the condenser water temperature can drop below the freezing point of water. Of course, if it is known that the temperature of the condensing medium will not fall below 33°F, then 100 per cent water can be used to carry the heat away from the system. In addition to being less expensive than a glycol or other chemical-based ﬂuid, water also provides better heat-transfer characteristics than aqueous solutions.

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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beneﬁt of eliminating any corrosion to the outside of the shell or objectionable condensate from dripping off the condenser shell. With a shell and tube condenser, the heads that are located at either end of the condenser are typically removable. This way, the tubes can be cleaned. If a leak is suspected at some point during the service life of the condenser, the heads can also be removed to facilitate Eddy-current testing of the tubing. This type of testing will reveal any weaknesses in the tube due to erosion and/or any corrosion that has taken place.

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LOSING THE HEAT

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In a vapour compression system, the purpose of a condenser is to reject heat – all the heat that the circulating refrigerant absorbs. As such, it must reject the heat added by the evaporator, the suction line, the motor (hermetic/semi-hermetic compressors only), mechanical friction inside the compressor, along with the heat of compression. With more sophisticated system designs, there may also be other sources of heat. For example, a subcooler used with an economized compressor and in some cases, a compressor oil cooler can add heat to the circulating refrigerant. All these sources of heat combined, form the total heat of rejection or THR.

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For the system to reject all heat efficiently, the THR must be removed by the condenser at a condensing temperature that is as low as possible. This is achieved by sizing the condenser so that it can remove all heat at a temperature difference that is as low as possible, but higher than the maximum expected temperature of the cooling medium supply. Additionally, the condenser should be able to supply enough subcooling to offset any liquid line pressure drop that may be present. Sources of liquid line pressure drop can include piping or fitting losses, liquid lift in risers, along with pressure losses through liquid line accessories such as the filter-drier and solenoid.

www.refco.com

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REFRIGERATION

WATER-COOLED CONDENSER GLOSSARY Approach Temperature This is the difference between the cooling medium and liquid temperatures leaving the condenser. Lower approach temperatures increase efďŹ ciency but also require a larger condenser to do the job.

PICKING A CONDENSER

Condensing Temperature This is the temperature at which the refrigerant condenses. For R400-series refrigerants, it is very important to determine whether the dewpoint or average temperature of the refrigerant will be used. It is generally recommended to use the average temperature when selecting a condenser. The same is true for selecting evaporators. It is even more important that all components sized within the system are based on the same reference temperature. Fluid Flow Rate As the term suggests, the ďŹ&#x201A;uid ďŹ&#x201A;ow rate is the ďŹ&#x201A;ow rate of the cooling medium in gallons per minute. Fouling Factor The fouling factor is used to de-rate the capacity of the condenser to compensate for a small amount of mineral deposits and other such impurities on the outside of the tubes. The unit of measure for fouling factor is ft2 -Â°F-hr/ Btu. The fouling factor is typically a very small value, such as 0.000244 ft2 -Â°Fhr/Btu, or so. Temperature Range

If the temperature range is used to select a watercooled condenser, the water ďŹ&#x201A;ow rate is a function of the THR and the temperature range of the water. However, if the supply water temperature and ďŹ&#x201A;uid ďŹ&#x201A;ow rate are used to select the condenser, the temperature of the cooling medium leaving the condenser is a function of the THR and the water ďŹ&#x201A;ow rate. When selecting a condenser, the speciďŹ c heat and speciďŹ c gravity of the cooling medium must also be taken into consideration if an aqueous solution cooling medium is used. Using water, the formula for calculating the required ďŹ&#x201A;ow rate is THR divided by (500 x Temp Range). Using an aqueous solution, the formula becomes THR divided by (500 x Temperature Range x SpeciďŹ c Heat of Solution x SpeciďŹ c Gravity of Solution). The number 500 is a constant that approximately equals the number of pounds of water per (US) gallon, multiplied by the number of minutes in an hour (8.33 x 60).

This represents the difference of the entering and leaving cooling medium temperatures.

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HIGH-PERFORMANCE HVAC

IT’S THE SUMMERTIME AND THE

HUMIDITY I IT T Y ISN’T FINE Last edition, I challenged you to focus on summer humidity control as part of a commitment to ensuring healthy and comfortable indoor environments. For context, I noted that the difference between a healthy, comfortable relative humidity of 50% and a risky 65% is just an extra five to seven litres of water dispersed throughout the air in a 2,400 sq. ft. building. While we have little control over some potential sources of water vapour in the air, builders and HVAC contractors are able to influence two sources of water vapour: moisture introduced by natural air leakage and mechanical ventilation, and occupant activity load. The moisture introduced by mechanical ventilation is very controllable. We should all be ready to measure flows and adjust them to match occupant needs, and then choose ventilation strategies such as Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERVs) to reject the summer humidity load. Of course, when it comes to 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.

DEALING WITH LATENT LOADS

Ventilation will always add to the latent load of buildings when there is more humidity in the outside air than the inside air. The dewpoint temperature of comfortable 23°C, 50% RH air is 12°C. To be most helpful to our clients, we should be conscious throughout the spring summer and fall of the dewpoint temperature of outdoor air. Whenever it is above 12°C, we should be thinking about dehumidification strategies. For example, commonly available ERVs reject 50% to 60% of the moisture difference between the incoming fresh air and the exhaust air. Thus, ERVs minimize the added moisture load due to ventilation, and they do it in a very efficient way. Rather than bringing in moisture laden fresh air and then having to run a compressor-based dehumidifier or air conditioner to remove the moisture, it can be up to four times more efficient to use the ERV core to reduce that latent load due to ventilation before it enters the building.

CREATING A STRATEGY Knowing moisture sources and their relative impact, it is possible to target strategies to achieve a healthy moisture balance. Table 1 shows potential moisture removal strategies and the impact they might have on our theoretical 2,400 sq. ft. building. The ﬁrst one, making tighter buildings should be everyone’s goal and, moreover, mechanical contractors who encourage or

Gord Cooke

M e c h a n i c a l

ask for air tightness testing can do a better job of matching equipment to speciﬁc buildings. The table also shows the value of employing energy recovery ventilation technology for the fresh air requirements of all buildings. It should be noted that in the coming months and years there will be a focus on increasing fresh air rates in all buildings to ensure the healthiest possible air for occupants, so we need to apply the right technologies.

Gord 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: MOISTURE REMOVAL OPPORTUNITIES (SUMMERTIME, FOR A TYPICAL 2,400 SQ.FT. BUILDING)

Potential Removal Strategies

Potential Reduction per Day

1. Create tighter buildings

5 - 10 litres per day from 3 to 1 ACH@50Pa.

2. Use an ERV with proper ventilation rate Power use: 125 watts per litre moisture removed.

15 - 25 litres per day at 50 L/s (100 CFM) ventilation rate. ERVs remove approx. 50% of the moisture difference between outside and inside air. They can only impact dehumidiﬁcation of the ventilation air.

3. Use a properly sized AC unit Power use: 660 watts per litre moisture removed.

25 - 35 litres per day for a 2.5-ton AC unit running for at least 12 hours a day, with proper set up of airﬂows and refrigerant.

4. Use a whole building dehumidiﬁer. Power use: 330 watts per litre of moisture removed.

35 - 45 litres per day for commonly available whole house dehumidiﬁers. Dehumidiﬁers can work independently of AC or ventilation systems such that they can deal with all types of moisture sources.

DEHUMIDIFICATION IN NON-DUCTED BUILDINGS Water vapour in air disperses relatively quickly throughout a space. More technically water vapour moves from areas of high vapour pressure to low vapour pressure until the pressure is equalized throughout a conditioned space. These means that even in buildings without central forced air heating or cooling distribution, ducted or non-ducted dehumidiﬁers can be very helpful.

USING AC FOR DEHUMIDIFICATION The most common approach to dehumidification in homes and workplaces is to rely on the central air conditioning system. This requires the system to be set up such that the discharge air off the cooling coil is cold enough for long enough to condense sufficient moisture out of the air to maintain a balance in the building. Knowing the target dewpoint of the conditioned space is 12°C, verifying a discharge air temperature off the AC coil of approximately 10°C is a first simple check to assess dehumidification capacity. Beyond knowing whether the air is cold enough, we also need to ensure that the system runs long enough – long enough for moisture to condense on the coil, accumulate into beads of water heavy enough to drain off the face and collect into drops big enough to run out of drain pan and into the drain. In a typical residential or small commercial application, the system has to run for at least six minutes before any water drains out of the pan. Moreover, when the cooling call ends, any moisture still on the coil face or in the drain pan will get re-evaporated into the air stream.

As you remove water vapour from one part of the space, water vapour from areas of higher moisture levels will be drawn to the area where a lower vapour pressure has just been created. I often hear that in climates with hot, humid summers, radiant floor heating doesn’t make sense because immediately a central forced air-cooling system is needed to manage summer humidity and air conditioning needs. Of course, an option with in-floor heating would be a standalone, ducted or non-ducted dehumidifier and mini-split AC units targeting specific cooling needs throughout the building.

The example in the table shows that a 2.5-ton system can remove approximately 25 to 35 litres per day, but only if it is running for at least 12 hours. In the U.S. southeast, they employ two-stage air conditioners, with stage one triggered by a humidity sensor as a way to increase run times. They also program fan operation to shut off for a few minutes at the end of a cooling cycle to encourage better drainage of water off the coil and down the drain. In a Canadian context, however, relying on large central air conditioners to provide ever more important humidity control is not particularly effective or efﬁcient. The real opportunity for HVAC contractors is to apply whole-home or building dehumidiﬁcation equipment. There are great new pieces of equipment available, with capacities starting at 15 litres per day and as high as 100 litres per day.

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with Roger Grochmal

Leading through crisis 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.

ver the course of my career, I’ve learned that crisis is all about leadership. We need to act swiftly and decisively. The ability to do so is one of the advantages inherent in a small business, but we must be ready to make use of this advantage. To find success, we need to be action oriented, and we need to define how we will get through the crisis. That doesn’t mean you need all of the answers. You will make mistakes, and that’s okay since it is usually a bigger mistake not to act.

TAKING THE LEAD Challenges and opportunities I did not expect to face the most significant leadership crisis of my career at the 45-year mark. I’ve led through recessions, SARS, personal tragedies, and plenty more. Nothing has compared to the challenges – and opportunities – presented by the COVID pandemic, however. And I admire everyone in our industry who is struggling through it.

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In times of uncertainty, leaders need to be visible and present. In the case of a private business, owners have to get out front with the troops every single day. Your staff will take their cues from you. I’ve been proud of my son Michael, AtlasCare’s president, for his presence through this. He has regularly recorded heartfelt videos for our staff team and our customers. He shifted our advertising to simple, meaningful and truthful messages from him. No glitz or glamour, just presence. That’s a good sign of a strong leader. But leadership isn’t all about the person at the top. People respond differently under stress and leaders will appear in your company where you sometimes least expect it. Some people will delight you. They will step up, take on extra responsibility and encourage others to do the same. Celebrate them and lean into their abilities.

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Other people may disappoint appoint you or look for excuses not to o step up. I’ve learned to be empathetic pathetic but clear in my expectations ations of them. I have also been reminded through this experience that the steps we have taken en in the days, weeks and years leading to this point in time – as a matter atter of running a good business ess – have really paid off. These are the things you do every day that set the stage for you to weather a storm. Furthermore, the COVID-19 situation has taught us new strategies and introduced new tools that we will implement to make our business even more resilient in the future. My next column will focus on these things, and I welcome all readers to reach out to me directly to share what you have learned through this, so that we can help set each other up for success down the road.

Survival mode for business

If you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a marketing program and plan, a crisis is a good time to fix that.

In a crisis, we need to hope for the best and plan for the worst. Here are 10 steps that are essential to take right away when the unexpected becomes real:

1 2

7 8

3 4 5

Preserve cash. Collect every receivable quickly. Use up as much of your inventory as you possibly can. Inventory is dead money. Negotiate with every supplier for reductions or payment deferrals. Cut every cost that you can. And then cut again. Except... Continue marketing. Look for ways to better target your our existing marketing programss based on needs during the crisis.

Do NOT cut prices or take work just to keep folks busy. Revenue wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t save your business, proper margins will. Take advantage of government programs. Look after your people. They will reward you with their loyalty.

Communicate, communicate, communicate. You cannot overcommunicate: daily with staff and weekly with d customers. Form a response team cust and meet daily for as long as it takes. take

Give yourself a break. The stress is unbearable at times, especially when dealing with wi the extreme uncertainty that we, as leaders, face every day, including the expectations everyone will place on us. Use your leisure time well.

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PLUMBING

Reopening facilities for a post-COVID-19 world A

s the COVID-19 outbreak slowed down and companies started eyeing a return to normal, a number of new and different risks have been emerging, including concerns about reopening dormant buildings with stagnant water systems. Several weeks of zero-flow, lowflow and tempered water can result in microbiological growth, the leeching of heavy metals, and corrosion issues within plumbing systems, but there are steps that can be taken to maintain water quality and safety in plumbing systems of unused, or slightly used, buildings. The flushing of the plumbing system is one of the first steps that should be undertaken to make a building safe for returning users.

WHY FLUSH? Flushing is important because it clears out the low-quality water that has accumulated during the low-use period and replaces it with high-quality water from the municipal supply. This fresh water helps mitigate loss of protective scale as well as biofilm growth that may have emerged while the water was stagnant. These conditions need to be addressed because they proliferate the growth of Legionella and other waterborne pathogens, creating a high-risk environment for those with compromised immune systems. Proper flushing is a multi-step process that includes an initial flush, sequenced flushing, cleaning of fixtures and equipment, testing and monitoring, and any additional flushing that may be needed. It’s vital to flush the entire piping system from point-of-entry to point-of-use, paying particular attention to the parts of the water system that have the greatest opportunity to make people sick. These include:

• Faucets used for drinking water or food preparation; • Drinking fountains; • Ice machines and refrigerators with ice makers;

Quick Tip: Prior to ﬂushing, appropriate training for staff should be completed and PPE (personal protective equipment) should be provided. 54

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• Showers; • Kitchen sink sprayers; • Water features that generate aerosols (fountains, spas, etc.); and • Parts of the water system used by children, the elderly and other susceptible people.

B y Jan a S u m m ey an d M ich ael B r eault THE BEST TIME TO START IS NOW Initial flushing and cleaning must be completed before resuming normal building operations. The sooner flushing is begun, the better. If possible, have staff start flushing now, even if the building’s reopening date is still unknown. The earlier a flushing regimen is initiated, the sooner the water quality will return to normal.

HOW TO FLUSH A SYSTEM Flushing requires an initial flush to get low-quality water and contaminants out, as well as follow-up flushes to help bring the building back to pre-COVID-19 water quality. Ongoing flushing draws particles through and out of the system and brings in disinfectant from the municipal system that can help control biological growth. The longer service is interrupted, the more effort will be required for restoration. Flush zone-by-zone, starting with the zone closest to the building’s water supply. In each zone, start with the cold water plumbing first, followed by the hot water. Within the zone, open taps starting with the outlet closest to the zone origin, working toward the farthest point. Flushing should not end until the farthest point-of-use tap has flushed for a minimum of five minutes, and the cold water temperature at the most distal tap is constant. In order for flushing to be most effective, consider the following: • All valves should be in a fully opened position during the entire flushing process; • All aerators should be removed. If continued use is planned, clean or replace the screens prior to reinstalling the aerators; • Showerheads and faucets should be disinfected and sterilized. Consider replacing outlets if vulnerable populations have access; and • Prior to operating the system after flushing, adjust valves back to normal operating positions. As part of the flush, all locations where water is stored should be identified, drained and flushed with clean cold water. This may include humidifiers, ice machines and dishwashers. Many buildings have some form of water treatment in their plumbing system. Filters and water softeners should run as normal and be included in the flush. They should not be bypassed.

KNOW THE SYSTEM & FOLLOW A LOGICAL SEQUENCE If one isn’t already in place, create a map of the building’s plumbing system. Before the initial flush, sketch out the building water system to identify low-use water outlets, and then map out a flushing regimen in a unidirectional process. In large buildings, the water supply is often designed in zones and branches, such as different wings. Typically, each wing or set of branches will be served by the same riser. Always start from the outlet nearest the water supply and proceed to the most distal outlets. Along this route, the flushing regimen should include the entire recirculating loop, both cold and hot water, all associated equipment and appliances, and all outlets including faucets, showerheads, eye wash stations, ice machines, hot tubs, therapy pools, and water features.

Once flow has returned after this initial flush, all hot water tanks should be drained. Temperature should be maintained, and the heater should not be turned off. Continual operation is important to prevent microorganisms from growing. Make sure that water heat storage temperatures are sufficient to kill bacteria (131°F to 140°F). Twenty-four hours before reopening the building, it’s recommended to conduct a round of checks. Bring the hot water system back up to 140°F. Open all outlets and flush until they reach a minimum of 131°F. After flushing, conduct a final round of sampling to ensure there is no contamination. After the building reopens, ongoing flushes should be scheduled since continual flushing help to repair destabilized scale and minimize biofilm growth. It is recommended that flushing be continued for a minimum of 12 weeks. With best practices recommending ongoing flushes for a number of weeks after the initial system purge, ensure that the plan for your customers includes the opening of each point-of-use tap at least once per day and the flushing of the entire building once per week during ongoing flushing. Unlike with the initial flush, It is not necessary to drain water storage during ongoing flushing, but continue to flush the cold and hot water systems separately, with the cold first and hot second.

Jana Summey is the healthcare vertical market manager with Watts and has nearly 20 years’ experience in the mechanical, electrical and plumbing design industry. Mike Breault is a senior technical instructor and instructional designer at Watts, focusing on HVAC and drainage. Jana can be reached at jana.summey@wattswater.com. Mike can be reached at michael.breault@wattswater.com.

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PLUMBING

Products

Drain system for handwashing stations Saniﬂo’s Sanicom1 features a drain pump for pumping away greywawater, which can be installed to create temporary and mobile handwashing ashing ravity stations where no traditional gravity drain set-up exists, and where there is no way to evacuate the e wastewater. It features a 1-HP thermally protected motor and can t. pump wastewater up to 250 ft.

Outdoor faucet system The Aquor House Hydrant V1+ is a lowproﬁle water outlet available in sizes ranging from 2” to 12”. The unit has a ﬂow rate of 6.8 gpm at 52 psi, an operating water pressure of 25 to 125 psi, and an operating temperature range of 33°F to 140°F. It features a marine-grade stainless steel valve.

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Retroﬁt valves Febco MasterSeries valves are available in 4” to 10” sizes, in N and Z-pattern conﬁgurations. Additional features include Advanced ArmorTek coating technology for corrosion prevention, modular investment cast stainless steel checks, and captured springs.

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Commercial water heaters Rheem’s Triton commercial water heaters are available in 80-gallon and 100-gallon storage capacities with BTUH inputs that range from 130,000 00 to 399,900. The modulating units offer thermal efﬁciency ratings of 98% and feature built-in smart monitoring technology, as well as leak detection and prevention systems.

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Anvil International’s CT-122T Titan riser clamps feature a thermoplastic insert designed to support vertical riser pipes while protecting insulation. The clamp is able to handle vertical design loads up to 320 lb. and can be used to support 3/4” to 4” outside diameter copper tube with either 1” or 1-1/2” thick insulation. They are UL 2043 listed and conform to MSS SP-58 (type 8).

www. anvilintl.com

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PLUMBING

NWL™

Products

All in One

Drain cover The Universal NuFit Bathtub Drain Cover from Watco is built to fit over old tub drains. There is no need to remove the strainer body. The cover is designed to use a Watco pin or silicone. It is available in a choice of nine finishes.

Automatic shutoff in case of water ﬂood

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Scald protection valve Caleffi North America’s 5212 Series SinkMixer is a four-port scald protection valve designed for point-of-use applications. The valve allows for direct connection to the cold fixture port without the use of an additional tee. It includes a stand-off mounting bracket and standard 3/8” compression connections that fit common under-sink hoses and pipe fittings.

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EZ Gear Sensor Faucets from Zurn feature a ceramic disc cartridge and are ADA compliant. The AC-powered faucets are chrome plated and include an infrared convergencetype proximity sensor for occupant detection and a 30-second time-out feature. The faucets have flow control options ranging from 0.35 gpm to 1.5 gpm.

Water softener The 95MTS Softener from Novo Water Conditioning Products is engineered to provide up to 308 gpm of continuous soft water all day. During high flow demand, tanks come on-line to add capacity; during low flow demand, tanks go off-line for added efficiency. Users can control up to eight softeners with a single controller.

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Sensor faucets

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STOP

Installetd s in minu e Battereyd operat Triple+ Canada Inc.

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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.

What ruins trust? Three simple things A Trust is currency Way, way back in March, as we were all adjusting to a new reality, I sat in on a workshop for small consulting practices like mine. The most compelling takeaway was one simple seven-word sentence:

“Trust is the only currency right now.” We were reminded to lean into our customers, do whatever it takes to support them, and worry about all the little things (like if we would be paid) later. I appreciate that is easier for a consultant than an HVAC contractor or PEX manufacturer, but the concept stands for everyone: Trust is currency.

number of consumer surveys point to a post-COVID world where trust is no longer just a “soft asset” for a brand. It’s an asset as tangible and essential as, well, currency. We work hard to earn it, and it can be lost in an instant. What erodes it? There are the obvious answers: dishonesty, shoddy work, price gouging, but there is more to it today. Three keys to avoid are self-interest, disinterest and failing to have a visible leader with an ability to connect with your customers. I’d love to hear from readers about how your business built and maintained trust with customers this year and will share your stories in future columns.

Self-interest

Unexpected, perhaps. Isn’t part of being in business about having selfinterest? Our drive for proﬁt, growth and reputation are all about self-interest, no? These are not bad things, even when it comes to trust, but we need to tick a few other boxes ﬁrst. We need to take care of our employees, our employers, support our community and provide exceptional customer care.

Disinterest

Over the past few months, many ads either started with one of the paraphrased versions of, “In these uncertain times…” and seemed disingenuous; or, presented business as usual promotions and came off as tone-deaf. It took advertisers a while to ﬁnd their voice. How can a businesss show empathy? Small gestures work, and the community has a way of talking about these efforts.

No human face Galen Weston Jr. will likely be a textbook example of how to lead in a crisis with a gentle hand.

Going forward, I anticipate a surge in putting the people who are behind the brand in front of customers: in advertising, social media content and community volunteering roles. The market will crave it and customers will have more trust in the companies that get it right.

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STUFF YOU NEED Thermal imager Built with dual visual and visual/ thermal (MSX) cameras combined with an IR thermometer, the Extech IRC130 is designed to locate potential issues using a coaxial distance-to-spot guidance laser. The unit will store up to 50,000 JPEG ﬁles that can be transferred via USB. It will measure temperatures up to 1,202°F (650°C).

Plastic tubing cutter General Pipe Cleaners’ AutoCutPL plastic tubing cutter is designed to cut PEX and CPVC-CTS plastic tubing. The tool is compact and allows for the cutting of plastic tubing with less than one inch of clearance and is available in three sizes: 1/2”, 3/4”, and 1”.

www. extech.com

www. drainbrain.com

Sound camera The SM Instruments BATCAM 2.0, available through ITM Instruments, is an ultrasonic and acoustic sound camera designed for identifying a variety of undesirable conditions. It measuress BSR (buzz, squeak and rattle) to detect etect minute air and gas leaks, and electric ric arcs. The unit features 112 MEMS-based S-based precision microphones.

www. itm.com

Estimating software FastEST mechanical estimating software features on-screen takeoffs performed directly on digital plans. The software offers fully customizable speciﬁcations and over 200,000 items in its catalogue. It is compatible with Allpriser pricing and is adjustable based on job speciﬁcs.

www. fastest-inc.com

Mini-snips Malco’s AVM6/AVM7 Right and Left AVsMini aviation snips are built with forged steel jaws and a serrated lower blade. They are designed to cut squares and tight circles on curved surfaces, and feature an overall length of 7-1/8” and a cut length of 3/4” (19 mm).

www. malcotools.com

Core drill Milwaukee Tool’s MX FUEL Handheld Core Drill is designed to core holes up to 6” in reinforced concrete. The cordless drill is powered by a lithium-ion battery, features a patented clutch and the company’s AutoStop technology. The tool has an operating range of 790 to 1,550 rpms.

www. milwaukeetool.ca M e c h a n i c a l

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BUSINESS

Martin Rego is the director of business solutions at Reliance Worldwide Corporation Canada, the parent company of SharkBite, HoldRite, StreamLabs, Cash Acme and John Guest. He can be reached at martin.rego@rwc.com.

By Martin Rego

GROWING YOUR BUSINESS WHILE WORKING REMOTELY S

ince no one can predict when physical distancing guidelines will be lifted, or when customers will be completely comfortable with the pre-pandemic onsite, in-person methods used to sell and service systems, it’s important to adapt your business to reﬂect the times. This can include steps designed to allow for you and your team to work remotely, as much as possible.

1. Offer virtual consultations to customers Offer your customers the option to schedule consultations using video chat services like Zoom or Skype. With the ability to harness video on our smartphones, you can have them walk you through issues so you can evaluate them remotely, offer recommendations on next steps, and provide them with an initial quote. Even if you still need to ﬁx the problem in person, virtual consultations can reduce the amount of time you spend in the home or commercial building. Before beginning a virtual consultation, it may be helpful to: • Rehearse mock consultations with team members to ensure everyone is comfortable with the process, especially if your company has never offered them before; • Prep the customer, letting them know what you will need in advance, and what you want to cover during the call. Maximize their time – and yours – by overcommunicating; • Recommend that customers use a smartphone during the consultation so they can easily show you the job up close; and • If the problem is in a dark area of the building, such as the basement or a utility room, ask the customer to have a ﬂashlight on hand.

2. Work remotely with other team members Consider moving all team meetings to video conferencing. In advance of any meeting, ask everyone on your team to check their Wi-Fi connections to reduce interruptions. If possible, make sure employees have access to supplies and forms without having to visit the shop. You can send supplies directly to their homes or have them upload important documents to an internal ﬁle sharing platform, such as Dropbox.

3. Network with colleagues by attending virtual meetups and training Though the risk of spreading the virus is always present, adopting remote work options will help decrease exposure for your customers and team members, and shows your clients that you are as professional in your approach to their well-being as you are with the systems you install and maintain. While it may not be realistic to move your entire business to remote work, there are ways to emphasize personal safety while growing your business.

M e c h a n i c a l

With many trade associations increasing virtual meetups and training sessions, connecting with others in the trade has never been easier. For example, organizations like CIPH, MCAC and HRAI are offering webinars and online meetings and training sessions to help professionals share ideas and learn new skills, all while maintaining physical distancing.

Enter safely If you do need to enter a customer’s home, ask before the appointment if anyone in the home is showing symptoms of COVID-19. Wear personal protection equipment recommended by the Public Health Agency of Canada and ask customers to maintain a physical distance of at least two metres from you.

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OXFORD ENERGY SOLUTIONS INC.

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THE INFO PAGE

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M e c h a n i c a l

CALENDAR OF

EVENTS

ASPE Convention September 11-16, 2020 New Orleans, La. aspe.org Plastic Pipes XX September 21-23, 2020 Amsterdam, Netherlands ppxx.eu Building Performance Analysis Conference and SimBuild September 29 to October 1, 2020 Virtual ashrae.org IDS 2020 October 1-8, 2020 Vancouver, B.C. vancouver.interiordesignshow.com Quebec Building Expo October 8, 2020 Quebec City, Que. contech.qc.ca Montreal Building Expo November 3, 2020 Montreal, Que. contech.qc.ca CIPHEX West November 4-5, 2020 Postponed November 3-4, 2021 Vancouver, B.C. B u s i n e s s

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BTN

Compiled by Mechanical Business

BY THE NUMBERS

THE NEW OFFICE REALITY? 75% Canadians working from home due to the pandemic who ﬁnd they are equally or more productive at home.

74% Of workers would like to

telecommute more often when physical distancing restrictions lift.

ADJUSTING AND ADAPTING

59%

The top challenge businesses owners report having to face during the pandemic are:

43% Understanding changes in spending

Believe it will be more difﬁcult to build strong relationships with colleagues if teams aren’t in the same building as much.

55% Ofﬁce professionals who transitioned to a remote setup that say they have better work-life balance.

behaviour of customers.

27% Ensuring hygiene standards. 26% Issues in the supply chain. 25% Working from home. 24% Paying employees. 23% Paying rent.

SOCIALIZE AND LET YOUR HAIR DOWN While the staged re-opening and lessening of restrictions is happening at different times in different regions, there are some commonalities for what Canadians wanted to do as soon as the regulations in their region became more ﬂexible.

54%

Said that visiting family and friends was the ﬁrst thing they wanted to do.

12%

Said the ﬁrst thing they wanted to do is get their hair done.

SUMMER VACATION PLANS? 30% Percentage of workers who anticipate taking fewer days off this summer compared to last year, because of COVID-19.

8% Planning to take more time off. 27% Saving their vacation time for later

POST-PANDEMIC PROTOCOLS 72% Will rethink shaking hands with

business contacts.

73% Employees that plan to schedule fewer in-person meetings.

56% people that anticipate spending less time in common areas in the ofﬁce.

in the year, hopefully to travel.

20% Would like to take a vacation but are tightening their belts.

44% 62 114

59% Will reconsider travelling for business.

Percentage of Canadians who believe that the real estate market will bounce back to the strength it was before COVID-19 by 2021.

M e c h a n i c a l

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The next generation of outdoor faucets. Introducing the AquorÂ® House Hydrant. ,WÂ·V WKH ZRUOGÂ·V ILUVW VWDLQOHVV VWHHO ZDOO K\GUDQW WKDW DOORZV LQVWDQW HIIRUWOHVV DFFHVV WR \RXU ZDWHU â&#x20AC;¢ â&#x20AC;¢ â&#x20AC;¢ â&#x20AC;¢

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Available from:

Mechanical Business July/August 2020

Articles inside

MARKETING What ruins trust? Three simple things

PLUMBING

REFRIGERATION Shell and tube water-cooled condensers

ASK ROGER Leading through crisis

HYDRONICS Looking up your radiant options

HIGH-PERFORMANCE HVAC It’s the summertime and the humidity isn’t fine

HYDRONICS

PLUMBING Hair, hair, everywhere

News

Hydronics