September/October 2014

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HVAC HORROR Rain in the Mega Stage

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CONTENTS O F

What’s that

Sound?

122HYDRONICS Sometimes your ears can be a major troubleshooting tool for diagnosing a boiler system on a jobsite.

Eric Riml

2014

Heating Report

72IN ON THE FIX, WITH THE PROPERTY BROTHERS As co-hosts of such shows as Property Brothers and Brother vs.

Brother, identical twin brothers Drew and Jonathan Scott are helping homeowners and home improvement experts transform handyman specials into dream homes. Adam Freill

Know your tech 24HEATING REPORTT As manufacturers become more technologically advanced, d contractors must find ways to keep up with the waves of new products hitting the market.

Andrew Snook

102COMMERCIAL PLUMBING When facilities are well designed, cleaned and maintained, the odds of vandalism occurring are significantly reduced.

Intelligent washroom design and product installation can help limit most forms of vandalism. Jason Boyd

76CIPHEX WEST PREVIEW H ea a ti n g Prr o d u c t s

Western Canada’s largest expo and conference for plumbing, hydronics, HVAC/R and water treatment takes place at Stampede Park in Calgary on November 5 and 6.

On the cover: Drew and Jonathan Scott have created a media empire of network shows like HGTV’s Property Brothers and Brother vs. Brother, as well as numerous film and digital projects through Scott Brothers Entertainment. Bringing integrity and fun to their work, the brothers are as at home on a film set as they are in a mechanical room. Photo: HGTV

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36PLUMBING The right touch Andrew Snook

56HVAC The active house Denise Deveau

96HVAC Efficiency, that fits to a T Clark Campbell

LIGHTS, CAMERA HVAC ACTION!

100HVAC/R Recovering excess heat Jay Dasgupta

108EVENT IN PICTURES CIPH ABC 2014

110EVENT IN PICTURES

90HVAC CASE STUDY A sound studio’s role in life is to be a big, soundless, empty space. Managing heat and mitigating sound are two of the key challenges when designing mechanical systems for a studio, as was the case with the Mega Stage at Pinewood Studios.

Yvan Marsten

COHA CLEANER HEAT 2014

112EVENT IN PICTURES HRAI AGM 2014

SNOWMELT CITIES? 44HYDRONICS

114VENTILATION Garage IAQ and home infiltration Andy Krug

126TECH TOOLBOX Field automation belongs in your toolbox Scott Ball

128ROAD WARRIOR: JEFF JOHNSON Andrew Snook

130REFRIGERATION Getting a handle on leaks Shane Williams

132TOOLS A level approach to the jobsite Michelle Beastall

The cities of Saskatoon and Edmonton llation are considering the installation of snowmelt systems in city ity sidewalks, but there are several system options to weigh off with this type of infrastructure project.

Andrew Snook

An alternative look at residential options 134WATER TREATMENT In addition to more traditional methods of residential water treatment, such as water softeners, reverse osmosis (RO) and ultra-violet (UV) systems, alternative and emerging technologies are also making their way into the mainstream.

Paul Ethier

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REFRIGERATION Preventing compressor overload Phil Boudreau Refrigeration systems need to be designed with all load and heat sink extremes in mind.

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ASK ROGER Setting, and managing, expectations Roger Grochmal Following up is all about setting and managing expectations with suppliers, customers and staff.

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MARKETING Who doesn’t love a trip to the DELI? Doug MacMillan The marketing DELI puts focus on how we effectively Differentiate, Engage, Leverage and Intrude.

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HYDRONICS A fitting history: The O-S Fitting Dan Holohan The O-S fitting was named after its creator Oliver Schlemmer, a hot-water man who was looking for ways to compete with steamfitters.

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HIGH PERFORMANCE HVAC HVAC choices for Net-Zero homes Gord Cooke While building my own net-zero energy cottage, I thought I’d report on my mechanical choices.

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HYDRONICS On the right (flow) path Bob “Hot Rod” Rohr When piping hydronic and solar systems, you occasionally need to divert the flow of fluid. Three-way valves were developed to allow this to happen.

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PLUMBING Drain pain Fred Bretzke There’s nothing worse than a leaky bathroom.

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D E P A R T M E N T S 8From the editor’s desk 12News 22Profile: Peter Ashton 65Find The Fix 142The Info Page 144Calendar 145Crossword 145Tool Tip 146By The Numbers B u s i n e s s

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THE

EDITOR’S

DESK

Be like a Boy Scout I know that our business columnist, Roger Grochmal, talked weather last issue, but coming out of the HRAI conference in August (see page 112) I cannot help but continue that discussion.

The number of contractors who self-reported mediocre cooling Welcome aboard Dan Holohan! seasons when asked about their summers is downright depressing.

Back around 2000, when I first started writing Without many days above 30 about plumbing and heating systems, one of the first tomes of knowledge that I was told to degrees, Canadians simply were check out was Dan Holohan’s not thinking about their air Pumping Away and other conditioners. And not many really cool piping options for systems were being pushed beyond hydronic systems.

Between that, and a few their capacities, so breakdowns of his other classics, I were not happening the way they enjoyed his frank discussions do when the mercury climbs about the realities faced beyond the 35 mark. on the job, as well as his explanations about how to With Environment Canada at odds look at a system, and tackle with The Old Farmer’s Almanac, troubleshooting. it’s anybody’s guess as to how the I am happy to report that we’ve embarked on heating season will kick off (for a new relationship with Dan, opening the door to sharing his knowledge of the history and our pre-season report, see page 24) practical application of the principles of hydronic but I think Roger’s advice is quite heating in the pages of Mechanical Business. prudent. When uncertainty reigns, Be sure to check out his first article for us, on assume the worst and you’ll always page 66, and if you are looking for a copy of any of his books or for a bit of advice about a fare better than what you are system you are working on, drop by his website, prepared for. heatinghelp.com.

So I have to ask, is your company prepared for a mild winter?

When was the last time you sat down with your management team and front-line people to discuss ways to increase the price per ticket – in ways that your customers will see the extra cost as adding value to their homes rather than pulling dollars from their wallets?

Another good to topic for your crew is a discussion about how to re identify and reach new clients.

A mention of a humidifier could add comfort and increase your sales. That’s a win-win. Mapping out subdivisions to identify areas with homes in the 15 to 20 year-old range to target them with a flyer drop offe offering a matched air conditioner and furnace combo shak out a few sales that would have otherwise waited could shake until a critical system failure. That keeps your technicians wor working and avoids unhappy homeowners later.

It can all help, and it all adds up. And remember, the ones with the most luck tend to be the ones who put in the most prep time.

Until next time,

© Copyright 2014. The contents of this magazine may not be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission of the publisher.

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News www.mechanicalbusiness.com

Feelin’ the heat

Group Deschenes and Bardon celebrate milestones

Greg Bork, director of operations for Flir Canada, offers an overview of his company’s operations in the residential, commercial and military marketplaces during the kickoff of InfraCanada 2014, which took place at the Hockey Valley Resort in Mono, Ont., in September. The two-day show treated attendees to more than a dozen presentations related to general thermography and building sciences.

Group Deschenes celebrated its 75th anniversary on Aug. 23. The company held seven parties simultaneously at the corporate offices of Desco, Réal Huot, Bardon Supplies, Flocor, Boone Plumbing & Heating Supply, Descair and Deschênes as part of their celebrations. In related news, Bardon Supplies also celebrated its 45th anniversary during the festivities. groupedeschenes.com

flir.ca

Trane accelerates into Edmonton Trane’s Acceleration Now Tour recently made a stop at the DoubleTree Hilton in West Edmonton, where more than 175 people checked out the company’s commercial HVAC products. The tour brought two semi-trailer trucks full of the company’s chillers, air handlers, controls, terminal and variable refrigerant systems, and aftermarket offerings, as well as information about its services, into the capital of Alberta as part of a 39-week, 70-location trip. trane.com

Talkin’ stats Joe Monaco (left), Goodman’s Ontario area sales manager, looks on as Honeywell’s Todd Mason shows off the voice-activation capabilities of his company’s Wi-Fi 9000 thermostat during the grand opening of Goodman’s Hamilton branch in August. The event featured door prizes, discounts on products, a vendor showcase and a barbecue for customers. goodmanmfg.com

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

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A plumb read

Hydronics industry collaborates on training standards

Master plumber and professor Rainier BratschBlundel has published a new book, Plumbing, which discusses all Ontario Building Code 2012 information relevant to plumbing systems. New code updates are highlighted and explained in the book, which features more than 150 diagrams and interpretations. Bratsch-Blundel is a certified plumbing systems inspector with over 25 years of experience, a plumbing professor at George Brown College, and a regular contributor to Mechanical Business. His book can be ordered at orderline.com.

This past July, industry associations CIPH, HRAI, TECA and CMMTQ agreed to support the certification learning requirements developed by the Canadian Hydronics Council (CHC), in partnership with the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT). This puts the industry one step closer to having nationally-recognized educational requirements for certified designers and installers. The above-mentioned associations’ course offerings will be expected to align with these learning standards, so their members will be properly prepared to pass the certification exam.

orderline.com

CPBH hits milestone

ciph.com

Canadians for Properly Built Homes is celebrating its 10th year of operation.

The organization received support from CIPH, HRAI, COHA and TECA in June 2013, in an effort to encourage homeowners to ensure their HVAC systems are designed and installed by certified professionals. All four associations signed a joint statement advising the general public to conduct the appropriate research and to advise the general public and those having authority over HVAC systems in Canada that: formal HVAC education and certification programs exist for designers, tradespersons and inspectors; authoritative regulations, bylaws and codes affecting HVAC systems in Canada need to be enforced; and that there is an immediate need to elevate the design, installation and commissioning of HVAC systems across Canada beyond minimum requirements. canadiansforproperlybuilthomes.com

ORAC and JTAC launch apprenticeship application website The Ontario Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractors Association (ORAC) and the UA Local 787 - Joint Training and Apprenticeship Committee (JTAC) recently announced the soft launch of their new application website, apprenticehvacr.ca. The full site will be launched on Nov. 1, with applications to the first year apprenticeship program accepted on the site from Dec. 1, 2014 to Feb. 28, 2015. apprenticehvacr.ca

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Caleffi Excellence kicks off new campaign The Caleffi Excellence contest, designed to showcase the work of plumbing and hydronics professionals, kicked off its latest campaign this September. The contest will continue year-round with designers and installers able to submit online photos and descriptions of their installations that incorporate Caleffi products.

The grand prize winner and a guest will travel to Italy to see Caleffi World Headquarters. caleffiexcellence.com

Napoleon offering online tools Napoleon has created a Fireplace Design Studio and Energy Savings Calculator, two online tools designed to help consumers when they are shopping for a new fireplace or furnace. The Fireplace Design Studio guides consumers through a step-by-step process to customize their fireplace, woodstove or insert. The Energy Savings Calculator uses base energy costs for Canadian provinces, so that consumers can compare projected costs with high efficiency equipment to the cost they are incurring on their energy bills.

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APP ALERT Project planning app for contractors Project Plan Room is designed to allow contractors and subcontractors to remotely access the latest versions of plans, specifications, drawings and other documents on a jobsite. It works online or offline, with no dependency on an Internet connection in order to operate or view documents, and synchronizes with Spectrum’s Plan Room application. The app was developed for Android, Apple, and Windows Surface tablets and is available at online app stores. dexterchaney.com

Room control app The Smart-Sense Room Control app from Distech Controls allows occupants to view and set comfort parameters, such h as temperature, fan speed, lighting, shades and occupancy..

It also features the ECO-Vue leaf pattern, which offers the user real-time data related to the energy efficiency of a setting. The app is downloadable free of charge via Google Play and the App Store. distech-controls.com

The right products at the right time

Novo acquires WaterGroup companies Novo Water Conditioning Products recently purchased the WaterGroup Companies from the Culligan International Company. The acquisition includes the Canadian entities WaterGroup Companies Inc. and Petwa Ltd., as well as the U.S. operating company WaterGroup Inc. Customers of both brands will continue to be served under the current trade names and supplied with the same products and brands. novowater.com

QUALITY SERVICE QUALITY PRODUCTS IS HOW WE MAKE QUALITY RELATIONSHIPS At DESCO we pride ourselves on the quality of our service; getting you the right product at the right time, by offering same day deliveries. With a wide geography of locations across Central and Western Ontario, DESCO can provide 24hr curb-side pickups at our many locations.

Hydronics

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New website for Bronte

Systemes LMP allies with Hussmann Hussmann and Systemes LMP have teamed up, allowing Hussmann to expand its product portfolio and Systemes LMP to reach a U.S. customer base with its transcritical CO2 technology. Hussmann also supplies refrigerated and nonrefrigerated display merchandisers, specialty display cases, and refrigeration systems, including a low temperature subcritical direct expansion refrigeration solution using CO2. hussmann.com lmpinc.ca

Bronte has created the Bronte Collection website.

The site features a fully searchable product catalogue, downloadable product literature, a photo and video gallery, and in-depth product features and more. brontecollection.ca

PHCC Ontario looking for members PHCC-Ontario Trades Association (OTA) has sent out a call for membership. All mechanical contractors are welcome to join. The OTA is dedicated to the advancement and education of the plumbing and HVAC/R industry for the health, safety, and comfort of society and the protection of the environment.

Follow Us on Twitter @MechBusiness

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ASPE Toronto coming together The inaugural meeting of what is currently being called the Toronto Chapter of the American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE) took place in September, with approximately 60 industry professionals learning more ASPE’s executive director and CEO Jim about the organization and the Kendzel (left) poses with ASPE Toronto’s steps being taken to formally interim board comprised of president Brian Young, Patrick Fedor of IPEX and Roger charter a Toronto chapter.

Campovari of RC Plumbing & Heating.

After three official meetings, and the naming of an interim board, the new chapter can apply for charter status with the parent organization. In addition to chapter formation issues, the meeting also included a discussion about lead content regulations as they apply to plumbing products. The next ASPE Toronto meeting is scheduled for Nov. 12, and will include an update on Ontario and Canadian plumbing codes.

MCA Hamilton appoints board The Mechanical Contractors Association’s Hamilton chapter (MCAH) has announced its 2014-15 board of directors. The incoming president is Jason Campbell, account manager for Aecon Industrial. He has 30 years of experience in the industry, from being an apprentice to trade management, business ownership and multinational project management experience. In addition to Campbell, the 2014-15 board is comprised of vicepresident Anthony DeChellis, immediate past-president Lorraine Waller, past-president Paul Shewfelt, treasurer Henry Hildebrandt, George Furness, Doug Cormier and Aron Shea. mcahamilton.org

A helping hand

aspe.org

Swinging for the Special Olympics Wolseley Canada recently held its second annual Special Olympics baseball tournament and ninth annual Wolseley Classic golf tournament with the proceeds of both events going to the Special Olympics. The golf tournament, which took place at the Bel Acres Golf and Country Club in Winnipeg, Man., drew 160 golfers and 28 sponsors and raised $40,000 for Special Olympics Manitoba. The baseball tournament took place at Sherwood Forest Park in Burlington, Ont. Sixty people attended the event, which raised $750 for Special Olympics Ontario. wolseleycanada.ca

Humber College has named Sam Steele the program coordinator for the school’s Plumbing Techniques certificate program, a 30-week, two semester post-secondary course that offers an introduction to the plumbing trade. Successful graduates will be able to challenge the Level 1 (Basic) exam to be exempt from basic. This allows the students to go to trade school without being a registered apprentice. The certificate is designed to give students basic working knowledge of drains, waste and vents and our plumbing code. In addition to his work as a plumbing professor with the college, Sam is also a regular contributor with Mechanical Business. humber.ca

The Windy City set to host AHR Expo The mechanically-minded will be heading to Chicago this winter to be blown away by thousands of the latest products and services for industry professionals. The show will feature more than 2,000 manufacturers and suppliers, the New Product Technology Theater, dozens of free seminars and workshops, numerous educational courses and certification testing hosted by industry groups, as well as the ASHRAE Winter Meeting. The 2015 AHR Expo will take place from Jan. 26 to 28 at McCormick Place. ahrexpo.com

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What One Canadian University Learned About Zuba-Central.

And how this new study can lead to more satisfied customers.

Every HVAC system claims to be energy efficient. But how many of these claims are backed by science? Ours is.

An independent study*conducted by Ryerson University in Toronto proves that Zuba-Central: SAVES ENERGY With a COP ranging from 1.4 to 3.19, Zuba-Central delivers energy savings of up to 60% annually over conventional heating and cooling systems.

OPERATES EFFICIENTLY AT LOW TEMPERATURES Our advanced system design and innovative compressor technology ensures effective and efficient operation in temperatures as low as -30°C. IS MORE AFFORDABLE THAN GEOTHERMAL Zuba-Central delivers similar energy efficiency at a fraction of the installed cost of a geothermal system.

Get the facts for yourself and see why Zuba-Central by Mitsubishi Electric is the proven choice for energy efficiency and cost savings. *Study conducted by Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) and Ryerson University: Performance Assessment of a Variable Capacity Air Source Heat Pump and a Horizontal Loop Coupled Ground Source Heat Pump System

*When installed by an authorized HVAC (Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning) installer. Certain conditions, restrictions and/or limitations apply. See warranty terms and conditions for complete details.

ZubaHVAC.ca

photo courtesy of TRCA

Icon gains lines

Choose a product built for you. And your customers.

Flexcon and Smith’s Environmental, divisions of the Swan Group of Companies, have named Icon Agency as the Flexcon and Smith’s Environmental Representative for British Columbia. Flexcon offers pressure and expansion tanks, while Smith’s offers a line of hydronic fan convectors. Based in Port Coquitlam, Icon Agency can be reached at 877-350-4266. flexconind.com smithsenvironmental.com iconagency.ca

Additions for Wolseley Mississauga Wolseley Canada recently transformed its Mississauga HVAC/R location into a one-stop shop that also carries plumbing products. The branch is located at 5235 Timberlea Blvd. Tel: (905) 602-0223. wolseleyinc.ca

Barclay Sales adds lines

cooling products are expertly crafted for long-lasting

Gerber Plumbing Fixtures has named Barclay Sales as a manufacturer’s representative in B.C. for the company’s entire product line.

Barclay Sales has also recently been named as a manufacturer’s representative for Watercycles Energy Recovery to represent the company’s drain water heat exchangers in Alberta.

performance, and they’re built with features that meet

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Just one look at the AirEase® line and you’ll see why hundreds of dealers across North America have chosen AirEase for their businesses. Our heating and

the unique demands of your market.

Give yourself the AirEase advantage.

Learn more about becoming a dealer at www.alliedaircooling.com. ©2014 Allied Air Enterprises LLC.,a Lennox International Inc. Company

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RectorSeal named rep for Aspen Pumps RectorSeal has been named the Canadian representative for Aspen Pumps, a manufacturer of condensate pumps for ductless mini-split and variable refrigerant flow (VRF) air conditioners.

RectorSeal will support the Aspen Pump line with internal customer and technical support, and product training, through its existing HVAC/R wholesale distribution network. rectorseal.com

10.14

Movers & Shakers www.mechanicalbusiness.com

Don Park Residential purchased

NSF International acquires Jana Laboratories

Normand Caissie, a well-known New Brunswick businessman in the HVAC industry, has acquired Don Park Residential Manufacturing, a producer of HVAC galvanized duct, pipe and fitting products based in Toronto. The purchase includes the Don Park manufacturing facility in Toronto. The deal does not include the firm’s commercial manufacturing (ICI) and fire divisions. It’s a good strategic fit, for sure,” Caissie said. “Don Park is a very good manufacturer. They’ve got some very good people.” The company will operate under the name of Don Park Manufacturing Inc.

NSF International has expanded its pipe testing capabilities with the acquisition of the laboratory portion of Jana Laboratories Inc., an engineering consulting and laboratory testing firm that serves the global water and plastic pipe industries. Jana Laboratories’ 14-person laboratory staff and 20,000 sq.ft. laboratory in Aurora, Ont., will be renamed NSF Janalab and become part of NSF’s global network of ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratories. Jana will retain the consulting and training portion of its business under the name Jana. nsf.org

donpark.com

Brinly-Hardy to buy Louisville Tin & Stove Louisville Tin & Stove, the manufacturer of Cozy residential gas and propane-fired heating equipment for the past 126 years, has entered into an agreement to be purchased by the Brinly-Hardy Co., a manufacturer of a variety of lawn, garden and turf management products for residential and commercial use. brinly.com cozyheaters.com

Kevin Merritt, president of Superior Radiant Products, cuts the ribbon to mark the opening of SRP’s new facility in Stoney Creek, Ont.

SRP opens new facility

Samsung Electronics to acquire Quietside Samsung Electronics America has announced that it has agreed to purchase Quietside Corporation, a leading distribution channel for HVAC products. Quietside has been the master distributor for Samsung HVAC products in Canada and the U.S. since 1997. Quietside CEO and founder Sang Lee will remain as CEO and will have operational responsibility for the company.

Superior Radiant Products recently celebrated the grand opening of its new facility located at 563 Barton Street in Stoney Creek, Ont. The change of venue to the 43,000-sq.-ft. facility more than doubles the size of its head office. It also allows the company to expand its manufacturing space. superiorradiant.com

quietside.com samsung.com

The Master Group opens in Mississauga The Master Group is continuing its expansion within the Greater Toronto Area with the opening of its Mississauga branch, the company’s fifth location in the Greater Toronto Area. The facility is located at 445 Admiral Blvd., Unit 10. Tel: (905) 670-7521, Emergency: (416) 452-4614, Fax: (905) 670-2859.

EcoWater Systems acquires VRTX EcoWater Systems has purchased the controlled hydrodynamic cavitation (CHC) technology division of VRTX Technologies of Schertz, Texas. CHC is a water treatment technology used in HVAC, process cooling and refrigeration systems to control scale, biological growth and corrosion without the use of chemicals.

master.ca

ecowaterchc.com M e c h a n i c a l

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10.14

People in the news www.mechanicalbusiness.com SCOTT DUNCAN has joined Desco as its sales manager. Scott will be responsible for all sales and marketing functions for the company. DIANA DI CARLO has also joined the organization, serving as its sales and operations manager for The Water Closet showroom business.

Diana will be responsible for all sales, marketing and operational aspects of the company’s showroom business. Both Soctt and Diana will operate out of the company’s Etobicoke office.

Goodman has appointed GLENN BOARD its territory sales manager for the Hamilton, Ont., area. Glenn has more than 25 years of experience in sales and marketing within the hardware and finish plumbing industries, dealing with retailers, dealers, contractors, wholesalers and OEM customers.

DARREN WRIGHT was recently named the manager of Wolseley Canada’s Mississauga branch. Darren has been with the company for 26 years in a variety of management positions.

His responsibilities include overseeing the blending of plumbing and HVAC/R at the facility, as well as overseeing inventory and personnel.

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Distech Controls recently hired TREVOR PALMER (left) as its vice-president of products and marketing. Trevor brings more than 15 years of experience in contracting, manufacturing and technical sales organizations to the company. He will be responsible for the continued development of the marketing and products departments, and will oversee the company’s field device program. JOSEPH MARRA (right) has also joined the company, as its strategic account sales manager for Canada. Joseph will be responsible for expanding and maintaining relationships with national, multi-site customers across the country. He has 25 years of sales experience.

Dobbin Sales has hired GABRIEL MARTIN as a territory manager for the company’s Quebec sales team. Gabriel comes to the company with a background in industrial and construction related sales.

The Master Group has named DOUG HINES the branch manager for the company’s Mississauga location. Doug has more than 22 years of experience within the HVAC/R industry.

Barclay Sales has hired LEAH GYORFI for the position of outside sales in the Edmonton area. Leah has several years of industry-related experience.

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BRETT FREEMAN recently joined Pro Kontrol as the company’s branch director for the Greater Toronto Area. Brett will be responsible for the company’s Markham office, which services the GTA and surrounding area. He has over 30 years of experience in the HVAC distribution industry.

SHANE TALBOT recently joined KVC Industries’ inside sales team.

Shane has been working in the plumbing and heating sector since 2011. He is a second-year plumbing apprentice with residential and light commercial gas fitting and commercial plumbing experience.

Danze and Gerber Plumbing Fixtures have promoted SHARON BRADYOVERBY to vice-president of sales. She will be responsible for strategic accounts and the development and execution of sales strategies for both brands. Sharon joined Danze as its national sales manager in 2003.

FRANK WINDSOR has been named general manager for Rinnai America. He comes to the company with more than 23 years of industry experience. Frank will be responsible for driving strategic growth of Rinnai products in Canada and the U.S.

HRAI has hired CHANG LEE and MUHAMMAD BILAL as technical coordinators. Both individuals will be responsible for providing general support for the technical services department.

Chang will focus on standards- and regulation-related issues, while Muhammad will focus on issues related to building codes.

CIPH has named MIKE PRENCIPE its manager of operations. Mike will be responsible for the ongoing management of all operations and service areas, including office administration, accounting and finance. He will also oversee the organization’s membership committee, Canadian Association of Pump Manufactures, and assist with marketing and communication initiatives.

Flocor has hired PAM SOVARI as the company’s national purchasing manager.

Pam comes to Flocor with more than 15 years of experience in the purchasing field as well as 19 years in distribution.

WE HA VE THEM

OUTNUMBERED

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8

BOILER

CASCADE

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SEQUENCING

MODELS

SMALLEST FOOTPRINT

SHEA ROBINSON has been promoted to executive vice-president and general manager for B.A. Robinson.

Shea is responsible for day-to-day operations of the company. MATT ROBINSON has been named the company’s vice-president of sales. He will work closely with regional sales managers to build and implement the company’s sales strategy.

0

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Let the mechanical world know through the pages of Mechanical Business.

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

300 Maddox Simpson Parkway | Lebanon, Tennessee 37090 P: 615.889.8900 | F: 615.547.1000

www.FTXLBOILER.com

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10.14

Profile Peter Ashton: Pitching in for the industry

There are two axioms that seem to be guiding principles for Peter Ashton, Masco Canada’s director of trade sales. The first is that an industry is only as strong as its people. The other is that our industry associations are an invaluable resource that can help professionals share information for the betterment of the industry.

Recently minted as the chair of the Associate Council at MCAC, Ashton is looking to build on the work of the boards before him to expand the exposure of the council and the mechanical industry, and to entice more members to take an active role.

Q A

“Several years ago I was told that you get out of an association what you put into it,” he explained recently as we caught up with him between work meetings and airports. “I sincerely enjoy being involved with the association, and having the opportunity to interact with some really fantastic people.”

He was kind enough to share some of his insights into the state of the industry, and thoughts on some of the issues to be faced in the years to come.

How did you get started in the industry?

My first job within the industry was with a company called Proceptor.

Proceptor manufactured and supplied grease and oil interceptors.

Considering I was certified in water and waste water distribution from my time at school, it was a great fit.

That was about 18 years ago and I couldn’t see myself in any other industry.

Q

You’ve been in several sectors of the plumbing business. Are there a lot of common issues in each segment of the market?

A

Being a sales professional within this industry means you have to add value whether you are dealing with an engineer, architect, mechanical contractor, builder or distributor. I believe having experience in both rough and finish plumbing has allowed me to have a better appreciation for plumbing systems and the various challenges experienced by the various influencers involved.

Photo: David Chidley

BIO

22

Name: Peter Ashton Title: Director, Trade Sales Company: Masco Canada Age: 39 Resides in: Brampton, Ontario Alma Maters: Sheridan College, University of Guelph Association Involvement: MCAC, CIPH, CSA

Q

What are some of the biggest changes you’ve seen in the industry over the past two decades?

A

This is the plumbing industry and not much ever changes. In saying that, technology and the internet certainly have had an influence in many aspects of our industry. A good example of this is with Revit. Projects can now be almost completely virtually built before a shovel even hits the ground.

Q A

Any thoughts on how the sales environment has changed?

Q A

I wouldn’t say that the sales environment has changed much; however I would say that we are all busier and running leaner than ever before, so we need to make sure that a customer’s time is used wisely and you are always adding value.

What are some of the challenges facing the industry?

One of the concerns I see over the next few years is the retirement of so many people who have helped build the industry to what it is today. They will be taking a wealth of knowledge. I hope that everyone recognizes this and takes the opportunity to learn from them.

FAST FACTS • Peter is an avid runner, hitting the pavement almost every morning.

• When he’s not running (or working) you } Ì w ` *iÌiÀ à À >` L i° U i > à i Þà LÕ ` } ÃÌÕvv] > ` V viÃÃiÃ Ì Û } à L] iëiV > Þ Ã Vi ºÌÜ `>Þà are never the same.”

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2014

Heating Report

Know your tech

B y A n d r ew S n o o k

exist today, but you can see the start of the integration of technology into our equipment. It’s not there yet, but I’m thinking within two to five years, that capability will be there.”

C

ontractors need to stay on top of manufacturers’ latest technologies ies to remain relevant in the heating ng industry, and this is becoming increasingly gly difficult as products are becoming moree technologically advanced.

“Every company is designing more advanced products,” says John Goshulak, k, vice-president of sales and marketing at Weil-McLain Canada. “Twenty years ago go if your boiler failed, and it was a pilot assembly that failed or a gas valve, theree were around six different gas valves thatt serviced 100 per cent of the industry. Now every brand of boiler has a customized gas valve. It’s no longer generic parts.”

Technology is helping, to some degree, in this regard too, with more documentation finding its ment that could help tradespeople way online every day, but one development even more in the future would be the integration ntegration of the online world into appliances for the purpose of diagnosing issues with equipment before a technician is on site.

“Eventually we’ll be able to dial into a boiler or furnace and say, ‘What’s going on? Let me take a look at the problem.’ That way when the service guy goes there he gets the message,” explains Goshulak, who adds that the technician can arrive with the parts ready to swap. “That doesn’t

Under control Kim Do, heating product manager at Lennox Residential, says control systems have been gaining more popularity due to rising utility costs, and are one way for contractors to generate additional sales.

“Homeowners spend, on average, half of their utility bills on heating and cooling their home,” he explains. “By replacing a standard thermostat with a ble, programmable, smart thermostat, homeownerss o can see up to 20 per cent in energy savings and have peace of g mind knowing they have comfort control access, anytime, anywhere in the world.”

Two-stage furnaces

Residential boiler

Variable-speed furnace

Rheem’s 360˚ furnaces offer efficiencies up to 96% AFUE. They are built with directspark ignition, aluminized steel primary heat exchangers and stainless steel secondary heat exchangers. The units offer heating inputs ranging from 40,000 to 120,000 BTUH.

The Eco stainless steel boiler from Weil-McLain is available with inputs of 70,000, 110,000 and 155,000 BTUH, and offers efficiencies up to 95.2% AFUE. The unit features a stainless steel fire tube heat exchanger, 5:1 modulation and an LCD display.

rheem.com

weil-mclain.ca

Goodman’s GMVM97 variable-speed modulating gas furnace has efficiencies up to 97% AFUE and a heating input range of 60,000 to 120,000 BTUH. It features an ECM motor, silicon nitride igniter and an aluminized-steel tubular heat exchanger. The unit is compatible with communications systems.

goodmanmfg.com

24

• Sell i ng on s i m p l e r s e r v i c i n g • Un de r c ont r o l

Selling on simpler servicing To help alleviate some of the challenges technicians are experiencing with ever-advancing boiler technologies, some companies are focusing on designing boilers that are simpler to service. One method being implemented is to make the boilers serviceable without the use of special tools for such parts as blowers, gas valves and igniters.

“You don’t need any special tools anymore, just a basic «À wV i VÞ]» iÝ« > Ã Ã Õ > ° Another option available to contractors to make servicing à « iÀ] i Ã>ÞÃ] Ã Ì > } Ü Ì Ã«iV wV > Õv>VÌÕÀiÀà > ` Ü iÃ> iÀÃ Ì LiV i ëiV > âi` ÃiÀÛ V } ëiV wV lines of boilers. This will allow contractors to become «À wV i Ì Ì i iµÕ « i Ì v>ÃÌiÀ] > ` «i Õ« Ì i «« ÀÌÕ ÌÞ Ì V >À}i > «Ài Õ v À ëiV > âi` ÃiÀÛ V }° º ̽à LiÌÌiÀ Ì Li «À wV i Ì > viÜ Ì }Ã]» Ã>ÞÃ Ã Õ > ° º/ >Ì Ü>Þ Þ Õ½ Li Ài `i > `°» Lennox’s Kim Do says contractors need to think more creatively about ways to boost their bottom lines, and one way to do this is by trying to sell a service contract on every install.

“A service agreement customer brings great value by offering customer loyalty, ÃÕÃÌ> i` Ü À ] > ` iÜ Ã> ià i>` }i iÀ>Ì ]» i iÝ« > ð º-ÕVViÃà } ià LiÞ ` Ì i ÃÌ> ° ̽à > à >L ÕÌ `iÛi « } > ` > Ì> } Ì >Ì VÕÃÌ iÀ Ài >Ì Ã «°» Adam Wills, Rheem’s Canadian general manager for HVAC, is in agreement that keeping the pipeline full can be a challenge for many contractors, but it’s far from impossible, he says. “Having a strong lead generation program, supported by practical and applicable tools from your manufacturer and distributor partners, with an effective µÕ> wV>Ì «À ViÃÃ] Ü i ÃÕÀi Þ Õ ÃÌ>Þ >à LÕÃÞ >à « Ãà L i Ü Ì } ` i>`ð»

continued on page 26

Gas furnace

Single-stage furnaces

KeepRite’s G9MAE gas furnace is available in capacities from 60,000 to 120,000 0 BTUH and offers efficiencies up to 98% AFUE. The unit featuress communicating controls, a stainless steel secondary heat exchanger and a modulating gas valve. The furnace offers the flexibility of four-way multiposition installation. It is 35 inches tall.

Napoleon’s 9500 series single-stage, multi-position gas furnaces are built with ECM X-13 motors and aluminized-steel tubular heat exchangers. They are available in seven models ranging in size 0 000 BTUH and dh from 30,000 to 120,000 have efficiency ratings up to 95% AFUE.

napoleonheatingandcooling.com

keeprite.com

25

2014

Heating Report Two-stage furnace

continued from page 25

Ductless growing out east Although Quebec is the largest market for ductless heat pumps, Atlantic Canada is a market that’s heating up, reports Norm Mierklans, national sales and marketing manager for HVAC with Mitsubishi Electric Sales Canada.

“They’re buying ductless for the heating side and getting the Li iwÌ v Ì i V }]» iÀ > à Ã> `° Ƃ Ì Õ} > Ì i «À Û ViÃ Ì i i>ÃÌ V >ÃÌ >Ài >VÌ Ûi Ì i >À iÌ] i Ã>Þà Û> -V Ì > and New Brunswick are leading the pack.

One reason for the increased interest in ductless systems is >`Û> Vi i ÌÃ Ì i À >L ÌÞ Ì «iÀ>Ìi >Ì iÝÌÀi i Þ Ü Ìi «iÀ>ÌÕÀiÃ] iÝ« > à -jL>ÃÌ i À Õ Ý] « > à -jL>ÃÌ i À Õ Ý] / i >ÃÌiÀ À Õ«½Ã ` ÀiVÌ À v Àià `i Ì > «½Ã ` ÀiVÌ À v Àià `i Ì > products.

“With the price off utilities increasing, the payback for these hese types of ÃÞÃÌi à à LiV } ÛiÀÞ } ÛiÀÞ interesting to the i Ü iÀ]» i says.

26

M e c h a n i c a l

B u s i n e s s

Armstrong Air’s A952E furnace is built with a constant torque motor and a stainless steel heat exchanger. It offers efficiencies up to 95% AFUE. The unit is available with heating input ranges from 29,000 to 135,000 BTUH. Additional features include a hot surface ignition system using a silicon nitride ignitor.

armstrongair.com

continued on page 28

1 0 . 1 4

Higher energy-efficiency ratings and lower cabinet heights

Goodman® high-efficiency gas furnaces now offer more features and benefits than ever. And all of them help to make Goodman gas furnaces easier to sell and install. Take a look at some of the enhancements you’ll find on select Goodman brand gas furnaces.

- Energy-efficiency performance ratings up to 97% AFUE

30,000 BTU AVAILABLE SOON!

Goodman Locations 1055 Cardiff Blvd., Mississauga, ON L5S 1P4

905-564-9791

1161 Parisien Street, Ottawa, ON K1B 4W4

613-745-3846

15700 Robins Hill Road, London, ON N5V 0A4

519-453-1200

46 Zatonski Avenue, Brantford, ON N3T 5L8

519-757-0965

8305 Jane Street, Unit 3, Vaughan, ON L4K 5Y3

905-760-2737

963 Brock Road, Suite 1-5, Pickering, ON L1W 3A4

905-420-4001

41 Brockley Dr, Unit #8, Hamilton, ON L8E 3C3

905-573-6565

2640 Jacques Cartier-Est, Longueuil, QC J4N 1P8

450-674-3883

- Thumb screws on the cabinet doors for easy access without tools

4313 Autoroute Des Laurentides, Laval, QC H7L 5W5

450-681-2220

6741 Cariboo Road, Unit 111, Burnaby, BC V3N 4A3

604-420-1331

- Factory installed internal trap for vertical applications

18043 111th Avenue, Edmonton, AB T5S 2P2

780-443-3072

7007 54th Street SE, #141, Calgary, AB T2C 3C2

403-250-6579

807 60th Street E, Saskatoon, SK S7K 5Z7

306-651-7350

- Overall cabinet height reduced to 34.5 inches

107 Mountianview Rd., Unit 1, Winnipeg, MB R3C 2E6

204-633-9133

- Newly designed tubular heat exchanger with wrinkle bend technology - 20,000 BTU firing rate per burner to deliver capacities from 40,000 to 120,000 BTU - Vertical gas valve for easy field connection to either side of the cabinet

®

- ComfortNet communicating control system compatible

Our continuing commitment to quality products may mean a change in specifications without notice. © 2014 Goodman Manufacturing Company, L.P. · Houston, Texas

www.goodmanmfg.com

For a closer look at the new line of Goodman high-efficiency gas furnaces, simply visit www.goodmanmfg.com or contact your local Goodman brand distributor.

2014

Heating Report Heat pumps

continued from page 26

Education is key For Mitsubishi’s Norm Mierkalns, continuous education and training for contractors is vital to generate sales, particularly Ü i Ì V iÃ Ì Ãi } } iÀ ivwV i VÞ iµÕ « i Ì°

Halcyon XLTH floor-mounted systems from Fujitsu are available in three models with heating input ranges from 3,100 to 20,800 BTUH and heating efficiencies up to 13.6 EER. The units are equipped with a base heater to prevent condensate from freezing. They are available in singlezone and multi-zone configurations, and are designed for quiet operation with noise levels as low as 23 dB(A).

fujitsugeneral.com eneral.com

º/ iÞ > Ü>Þà ii` Ì LÀÕà ի Ì i À ÌiV µÕià > ` Ü Ì i iÜ ÌiV } iÃ]» i Ã>Þð º9 Õ ii` Ì Ü Ü Ì iÝ« > Ì] Ü iÌ iÀ Þ Õ Ãi Ì À Ì° 9 Õ½Ài vviÀ } à ÕÌ Ã] Ì Ãi } iµÕ « i Ì] > ` > V ÌÀ>VÌ À½Ã Ài«ÕÌ>Ì Ã Ã « ÀÌ> Ì°» Sébastien Groulx of The Master Group says consumer i`ÕV>Ì Ã ÃÌ Ì i L }}iÃÌ V > i }i v À V ÌÀ>VÌ Àð “A lot of homeowners still think a heat pump is only good for V } «ÕÀ« Ãià > ` >Ài ½Ì >Ü>Ài v Ì i ivwV i Ì i>Ì } Ì >Ì Ã > à «À Û `i`]» i Ã>Þð º7 Ì Ì i iÛ ÕÌ v ÌiV }Þ from recognized brand manufacturers, heat pumps now provide comfort, excellent heating capability, reliability, and >Ài iÀ}Þ -Ì>À À>Ìi` >Ì ÛiÀÞ Ü Ìi «iÀ>ÌÕÀið»

28

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continued on page 30

2014

co ntin ue d f r om pa g e 2 8

Heating Report

Have the answers Mark Hagan, gas furnace product manager for Goodman, says one thing that always makes contractors more successful is the ability to answer all of a homeowner’s questions and concerns when they are discussing the installed costs and life costs of the equipment they sell.

“Contractors will need to make certain that the homeowner knows exactly why they are the best source for heating installation, repair or maintenance,” says Hagan.

Retail Energy Analytics & Control Technologies

Oil-fired fi furnace f Granby’s Conforto CHE lowboy, rear breech furnace offers efficiencies up to 95.8% AFUE. The unit is built with a stainless steel combustion chamber, blower with ECM motor and a stainless steel heat exchanger. It features a heating input range of 77,000 to 91,000 BTUH. granbyindustries.com

R.E.A.C.T. with web based retail facility energy savings Yorkland Controls has building automation solutions that provide energy efficiency and comfort for light commercial and mid-market buildings. We offer a wide variety of wired and wireless products for retrofits, HVAC lighting and metering projects. R.E.A.C.T. can also be used in larger buildings as part of an open BACnet, oBIX modbus or IP/ Ethernet system.

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Condensing boiler The Trinity Tx condensing, stainless steel boiler from NTI offers efficiencies up to 93.1% AFUE and is available in five models with maximum inputs ranging from 46,000 to 151,000 BTUH. Features include outdoor reset control and 5:1 turndown. nythermal.com

LIGHTING markets, stores, boutiques, coffee shops, gas stations

• Retail restaurants • Commercial SJ½GIW WQEPP FYWMRIWWIW guest rooms, lobbies, METERING • Hospitality ½XRIWW GIRXVIW FEROW dormitories, PMFVEVMIW SJ½GIW • Education classrooms, patient rooms, clinics, rooms • Healthcare waiting REFRIGERATION & PLUG LOAD

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Ductless units Mr. Slim Hyper Heat FH-Series wallmounted units from Mitsubishi operate at noise levels as low as 20 dB. They are offered in three sizes with maximum rated heating capacities up to 18,000 BTUH, and have efficiencies up to 12.5 HSPF. The units operate on R-410A refrigerant. mitsubishielectric.ca

30

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Heating Products

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HVAC/R Products P Modulating furnaces Coleman’s Echelon CP9C modulating gas-fired furnaces are available with efficiencies up to 98% AFUE. They have heating inputs ranging from 60,000 to 120,000 BTUH, and are built with an ECM variable-speed motor. Additional features include a communications capable control system and self-diagnostic controls with fault codes.

www. colemanac.com

Flue gas venting System 636 from Ipex is rated for flue gas temperatures up to 65˚C in PVC and up to 90˚C in CPVC. It is fully certified to ULC 636. Available sizes range from 1-1/2” to 4” for PVC and 1-1/2” to 8” for CPVC. The PVC version is coloured white, while the CPVC version is coloured grey.

www. ipexinc.com

Digital vacuum gaug ge Testo’s 552 digital vacuum gauge is designed to measure pressures and d calculate the evaporation tempera-ture of H2O automatically. It is buiilt with a maintenance-free absolute pressure sensor. The unit features 2,400 hours of battery power and a visual alarm with backlit display.

Gas regulator

testo.com

Pietro Fiorentini’s 10 psi Gas Regulator features two-stage regulation for over pressure protection, integral and external vent limiters, complete lockup in absence of gas flow, inlet and outlet test ports and 500 to 1 turndown ratio. They are designed for indoor and outdoor installation for use with natural gas, LP and any non-corrosive clean gas.

www. fiorentini.com

Enclosure A/C units Water cooled chillers

Rittal’s Blue E enclosure air conditioners have a cooling output range of 1,706 to 13,648 BTUH and offer efficiencies upwards of 1.7 COP. The units’ condensers, evaporators, cooling fins, pipe bends and other refrigeration components are covered in a nano-coating. Other features include an ECM motor and precision bearings.

Daikin’s Magnitude WMC chillers are available in 100 to 1,500 ton sizes. They are built with a magnetic bearing compressor and integrated VFD. Standard options for the units include hinged heads, water boxes, epoxy and ceramic coatings. The units operate on oil-free technology and use R-134a refrigerant.

rittal.ca

daikinapplied.com 32

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HYDRONIC

Products

Thermostatic mixing valve

Ellectrroniic co ontrrolls Taco’s electronic controls are available for a variety of applications, including switching relays, zone valve controls, priority zoning circulators and fan controls.

They feature front diagnostic lights, switchable priority and built-in priority protection. The controls work with 2, 3, or 4-wire zone valves and are fuse protected.

www. taco-hvac.com

Zone valve White-Rodgers’ series of hydronic zone valves are constructed with a one-piece solid brass body, stainless steel return springs, heavy-gauge ge brass gears and a riveted synchronized zed motor. Other features include an insusulated motor, end-switch terminal connectors nnectors and a rotating ball valve.

www. emersonclimate.com

Caleffi’s 5231 Series low-lead brass, high-flow thermostatic mixing valves are built with anti-scale construction materials with low friction coefficients to minimize jamming caused by mineral deposits within working parts.

The valves have operating flow rates ranging from 4.4 to 70 gpm and an adjustable temperature range from 95˚F to 150˚F. They are available in 1”, 1-1/4”, 1-1/2” and 2” sizes with union-threaded or union-sweat end connections.

www. caleffi.us

Condensing boiler Viessmann’s Vitodens 222-F, B2TA gas-fired, condensing boiler is DHW capable and is available in two models with input ranges from 12,000 to 125,000 BTUH. The unit features a stainless steel heat exchanger, cylinder burner and 26-gal. storage tank. It has a continuous DHW draw of 3.3 gpm at a temperature rise of 70°F (50°F to 120°F). The boiler offers efficiencies up to 93.3% AFUE.

www. viessmann.ca

Snowmelt control The SNO-0550 snowmelt control from HBX Controls features four pre-set settings for snow conditions, optics sensors, and a step-by-step interface for installation. It also controls the injection and system pump. The control comes with an injection or mixing valve.

www. hbxcontrols.com

Electric boiler panel HeatLink’s 50,000 BTUH Electric Boiler Panel with 7-loop TwistSeal mini multiport manifold is a pre-engineered, pre-fabricated hydronic system designed for heating small areas. The panel comes with an electric boiler, automatic air vent, pressure relief valve, strainer pump and 24 Vac transformer.

heatlink.com

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What’s your output?

If you’re pricing tankless units based only on input, it’s like using the wrong end of a hammer Before you pick a non-condensing tankless water heater to save money, check out the total costs.

Consider the Navien NPE-S condensing tankless advantages: •More output for the money. With high efficiency condensing technology, NPE-S units deliver more BTUs where it counts, resulting in greater flow rates than comparable units.

•Lower installation costs for you. You can typically install a NPE-S in half the time of other tankless units — usually within 4 hours, with more flexibility and lower material costs.

•Lower operating costs for the homeowner. Our industry leading 0.99 EF can save the homeowner more on the yearly operating cost.

Compare the total costs and you’ll see why Navien is the leader in condensing technology.

To learn more visit www.CondensingSaves.com or www.Navien.com

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FAUCET TRENDS

Kohler

B y A n d r ew S n o o k

THE FINISH LINE Masco’s Krystin Lee says her company has experienced higher demand for gold finished looks in both kitchen and bathroom products over the past year. She says their brushed gold, bronze and polished nickel finishes have increased in popularity for consumers looking to mix gold tones into their kitchen décor.

THE RIGHT

Moen’s Garry Scott says chrome continues to be a leader in finishes for faucets, but that brushed nickel and stainless type products have been increasing in popularity.

Delta

Wolseley Canada’s Karin DuSange says brushed stainless steel is still the most popular finish for faucets at her Abbottsford, B.C.-based showroom, but it is starting to get some more competition. “There’s been some gain on mixed finishes – colour and metal combination – and some rom Wi-Fi thermostats with smartphone apps to motion sensor and voice-activated brushed bronze tones are lighting, consumers are continuing to embrace technologies in their homes that make daycoming back,” she says. to-day routines easier. In the kitchen, touchless and easy-touch technologies are leading One option that has the pack. generated interest among consumers is the addition Garry Scott, vice-president of marketing and brand development for Moen Canada, says of spot-resistant finishes in consumers are demanding convenience in the kitchen, and any products that reduce their faucets that are susceptible workload are going to be there for the long term. to easy marking, adds DuSange.

“Hands-free technologies are here to stay,” he says. “Feedback from consumers has been that

F

TOUCH

this has been a terrific innovation that has made their lives easier.”

Convenience in the kitchen matters, although the technological approach and details may differ from company to company.

Masco’s Krystin Lee says Delta continues to see a demand for its touch-based kitchen faucets. “With the simple tap of the arm or a wrist, you can start and stop the flow of water giving your hands a hand.”

“Technology in the home has been a growing trend among the design influencers for some time now, but it’s finally become accessible to the general public,” adds Donna Church, marketing and communications manager for Kohler Canada. “It helps make everyday tasks more fun and efficient.” continues on page 38 Moen

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FOR COMMERCIAL PROJECTS THE SOLUTION IS SYMMONS

From hotels to hospitals, from schools to stadiums, Symmons products have been trusted by professionals for 75 years. www.symmons.ca Copyright Š 2014 Symmons Industries, Inc., Braintree, Massachusetts

FAUCET TRENDS WATCO

continues from page 36

INTRODUCING ®

Diana Di Carlo, sales and operations manager for Desco’s The Water Closet showrooms in Etobicoke, Ont., expects demand for easy touch and touchless faucets to continue to grow as consumers realize the benefits of the technologies, particularly within the country’s aging population, who will find the touch and touchless faucets easier to operate than traditional single-lever and double-handle faucets.

The

Innovator Drain

®

Brizo

901N Series-White

And demand for these advanced faucets is not just coming from consumers in Ontario. Wolseley Canada’s Karin DuSange is also experiencing a similar demand.

“We find the touch and touchless faucets are gaining in popularity,” she says. “Our sales of these are greatly increasing, especially over the last year.”

DuSange cites the hygienic and water-saving characteristics of these types of faucets as a significant factor in the increased demand.

Designer White Bathtub Drains!

The evolution of kitchen faucets is not limited to one-touch and touchless technologies, however. Spray patterns are changing as well.

• Quick, one-person installation; installs in minutes • Integrated strainer body/drain elbow eliminates one solvent weld joint; fewer joints = fewer problems • Standard high gloss designer white; biscuit and chrome also available • 12 other finishes available with Quick Trim® or Universal NuFit® • Corrosion resistant material • Overflow and drain come standard with test membranes; testable up to five floors (22 psi) • Available in ABS or PVC; Flex Series in PVC only.

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Kohler now offers kitchen faucets with a sweep spray instead of the traditional circular pattern. The sweep spray is designed to offer a blade of water that helps cut through grease and grime to battle stuck-onfoods, explains Donna Church.

ACCESSORIZING Moen Canada’s Garry Scott says that consumer demand for accessories that match faucets in the kitchen is increasing.

Bar faucets and soap dispensers make any ordinary kitchen look like a more high-end kitchen, he says.

Karin DuSange says some consumers are looking for additional features, such as food waste disposers and soap dispensers. These help turn a kitchen sink into a proper work station.

Moen

Instant hot water faucets fully integrated with sinks, as well as instant water filters, also make interesting additions, adds Desco’s Diana Di Carlo. continues on page 40

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Don’t Let Your Customers Spend Good Money For Bad Results…

Hard Water Damage Hard water scale and curd will damage pipes, fixtures, water using appliances, water heaters, clothing, dishes, hair & skin.

A NovoSoft 485 High-Efficiency Water Softener is an affordable solution!

Money Leaking Down The Drain?

Chlorine is a strong oxidant that quickly destroys rubber seals & gaskets in appliances and plumbing fixtures causing leaks. Chloramines attack pipes causing pinhole leaks in plumbing.

A NovoClear 485 Whole-House Carbon Filter protects plumbing and your customers from unwanted chlorine & chloramines.

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FAUCET TRENDS

continues from page 38

important in new home and renovation projects. She also added that some product lines are changing to match changes to the types of homes being constructed.

STYLING AND PROFILING

“With the consistent demand for condos in and out of the city, products that can meet the demand for small spaces will be vital to design,” she says.

Moen

DuSange adds that hands-free faucets are beginning to appear in bathrooms, in addition to kitchens.

Kohler’s Donna Church says Canadian consumers are pretty consistent and generally look for a contemporary design aesthetic, since the style can withstand the test of time.

BUSY BUILDING MARKETS

“They never look dated or out of place,” she says.

Moen’s Garry Scott adds that sleek designs with clean lines are in high demand for kitchen faucets in Canada, and that pull-down faucets are extremely popular. “They want a faucet that is a centrepiece,” he says, but functionality still matters.

Arcing pullout faucets still dominate sales in her store, reports DuSange. A trend echoed by Desco’s Diana Di Carlo, who says The Water Closet showrooms in Etobicoke are also experiencing high demand for arcing pullout faucets.

Also on the consumer demand list is conservation; a trend that Masco’s Krystin Lee says will continue to become increasingly

Many Products...One Source www.boshart.com 1-800-561-3164 40

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“It’s a smaller percentage of the market right now, but it’s gaining,” she says. “People are going towards a more uncluttered look.”

1 0 . 1 4

With the renovation market showing signs of growth this year, and Statistics Canada reporting residential building permits on the rise as well, plumbing product suppliers are hoping that will translate into a solid year for sales.

“Our research shows that three quarters of Canadian consumers are spending a bit more this year than last year,” says Garry Scott of Moen.

Of those surveyed, about 13 per cent are remodelling their kitchens while 14 per cent are remodelling a bathroom, and Scott says about half will replace their faucets as part of their projects.

No, it’s not the latest summer blockbuster.

It’s what we strive to provide the first time you call us.

Of all the reasons John Wood® water heaters have been trusted by contractors like you for over 50 years, none is more important than our commitment to service. Sure, our ENERGY STAR® water heaters are designed for years of trouble-free, high-efficiency operation and tested for the Canadian climate. But it’s our Care Technicians, our John Wood Dedicated Contractor Line 1-866-208-8367 and our First Call, Final Resolution philosophy of resolving most issues on your first call that truly sets us apart.

Find out more at johnwoodwaterheaters.com and don’t forget to sign up for Contractor Rewards!

PLUMBING

Products

Tankless water heater Bradford White’s Infiniti Series residential tankless water heaters feature a fully modulating burner that covers the entire surface area of the heat exchanger, regardless of rate, for reducing hot spots that can cause scale build-up. They are available in standard and condensing units with an energy factor up to 0.95 and have flow rates up to 8.3 gpm at a 45°F rise.

www. bradfordwhite.com

Dual-flush toilet Gerber’s Logan Square dual-flush, twopiece toilet is built with two buttons on the top of the tank that offer flush rates of 1.1 gpf and 1.6 gpf. It has an elongated rim and a fully glazed trapway. The toilet is WaterSense certified, and is available in white and biscuit.

www. gerberonline.com

Hybrid water heater Rinnai’s RH180 hybrid tank-tankless water heater offers an input range of 59,500 to 91,300 BTUH for natural gas; and 47,600 to 87,300 BTUH for propane. It has a 40 gal. storage tank and a first hour rating of 180 gallons, with a recovery (90˚F rise) of 89 gal. per hour. The unit offers thermal efficiencies up to 80 per cent. It uses a 1/2” gas line connection, standard water connections and 4” B-Vent for exhaust.

www. rinnai.us

Hand dryer faucet Dyson’s Airblade Tap is a hands-free faucet with flow rates of 1.06 gpm and 0.5 gpm with integrated hand dryers. It delivers heated air to the integrated dryers at 675 kph and has an operating airflow of 35 litres per second. The taps are available in short, long and wall configurations and have a stainless steel finish.

www. dysonairblade.ca

Pull-out faucet Delta’s Trinsic single handle kitchen faucet has a flow rate of 1.8 gpm @ 60 psi. The faucet features a 54” hose, 120˚ pull-out spout swivel and 3/8” compression fittings. It accommodates one- or three-hole installation and is available in matte black, stainless and chrome finishes.

www. deltafaucet.ca

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© 2014 Masco Canada Limited

Touch2O® Technology

Why choose between beauty and brains when you can have both?

From touch faucets that make daily tasks easier to our diamond-coated valve that provides years of trouble-free performance, innovation comes standard with every Delta® product. Which, we think, homeowners will find very attractive. Another way Delta is more than just a faucet.

Visit deltafaucet.ca

DIAMOND™ Seal Technology

MagnaTite® Docking Technology

Multi-Flow™ Technology

Touch-Clean® Technology

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TRINSIC® PULL-DOWN 9 1 5 9 T- D S T

HYDRONICS

By A ndr e w Sn o o k

SNOWMELT CITIES? W

e’ve all battled long walks across slippery sidewalks in the midst of winter at one time or another.

One could argue it’s a Canadian rite of passage to have your keister kiss the cold ground due to a slip on the ice.

But what if our sidewalks could remain dry and snow-free all winter? Impossible? The cities of Saskatoon and Edmonton don’t think so.

The City of Saskatoon is considering the possibility of installing snowmelt systems into its downtown city sidewalks since they already plan to tear up the walkways to redevelop them.

Edmonton is also exploring this as a possible solution for clearing the snow in its downtown core.

PAVERS VERSUS POURED One factor that needs to be considered when installing a snowmelt system in a city’s sidewalks is the material used to make the sidewalks.

For example, since the ideal depth for the tubing is about two inches below the surface, there would be some special accommodations required if pavers are used to build the sidewalk.

“Most pavers are three- and four-inches thick and are usually sitting on a sand bed,” explains Leyte. “If you put tubing in the sand below that, the output isn’t going to be as good as if it were embedded right in concrete. The best type of snowmelt system, in my opinion, is right in the finished surface material – the concrete. If a paver style of surface is what is desired, it would be better to go with a stamped patterned concrete instead of actual pavers.”

But what roadblocks exist that could create challenges for using snowmelt for this type of application?

Jerry Leyte, Canadian central region sales manager for Uponor, says one of the challenges is convincing the contractors and designers to put insulation underneath the slabs, as well as on the edges of the snowmelt areas.

“There are some applications where they can only dig so deep, and they need a certain minimum thickness for the slab, so they feel they don’t have room for insulation. Insulation is obviously an added cost, but if you don’t put it in, it drives the BTU requirement up by roughly one-third.”

This means boiler loads would be significantly higher and the end user, i.e. the city, would have to compensate for that.

“There are little ways you can increase BTU delivery, with slightly larger diameter pipe and getting better flow to dump more heat into the slab, but ideally you want insulation underneath the slab,” says Leyte.

MANIFOLD LOCATIONS One challenge in creating a snowmelt system for city sidewalks is figuring out where to place all the manifolds.

“Sidewalks are long and ongoing so you would have to strategically stagger manifolds at the right places to keep the ideal loop lengths,” explains Leyte.

Leyte says the loops can be about 300 feet using 5/8” tubing and 400 feet using 3/4” tubing. In the case of 1” tubing, loops can be upwards of 650 feet. “There’s a certain amount of head pressure per loop that your pumping system can comfortably handle so that you don’t have to oversize the pumps. Longer loop lengths will also minimize the number of manifolds and locations that would be required.” continues on page 46

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We are pleased to welcome Dan Holohan as the latest addition to our team of specialist writers.

Dan Holohan has spent years discovering, and sharing, stories and knowledge about heating, including his specialty, steam heating. His articles and lessons learned from “the Dead Men” are a must-read for any Wet Head working on steam- and water-based heating systems. Check out à wÀÃÌ ÃÌ> i Ì] «>}i ÈÈ v Ì Ã i` Ì v Mechanical Business.

Want more Dan? Or maybe some help with a system?

Then hit The Wall, the peer-to-peer sharing section of Dan’s industry site, heatinghelp.com. And while you are there, be sure to check out his books and museum.

Exclusively in Canada with

HYDRONICS

continued from page 44

SIZING AND SPACING FOR SIDEWALKS Uponor’s Jerry Leyte says a snowmelt system for city sidewalks would likely be installed in four- to six-inch thick poured concrete slabs with the tubing g ideally two face and inches from the surface tied to wire mesh, or rebar, and bridged.

Although the tube spacing for snowmelt is typically six-inch spacing using 5/8” or 3/4” sized tubing, g, Leyte says using one-inch e-inch tubing to create really lly long loops might be a good fit for snowmelt systems designed for city sidewalks.

For the colder weather in areas like Edmonton and Saskatoon, Leyte recommends a glycol mixture upwards of 40 to 50 per cent to prevent freezing. In the case of city sidewalks, he also suggests a glycol injection system. “If there ever was leakage, the system senses the glycol mix and tops it up, as needed.

READY REDUNDANCY In a situation where the snowmelt system is owned by the city, and where there are potential liability issues, having some sensor redundancies in the system can be a worthwhile investment.

“If one sensor goes down, you’ve got backups,” explains Leyte.

“You may have multiple snowmelt sensors for a given area, and, depending on the control system, you can have the snowmelt system activate as soon as any one of the sensors gets below the setpoint temperature. That way, if one sensor were to fail, the system would still activate properly because of the signal received from any one of the other remaining sensors.”

MAKE IT HOT, BUT NOT TOO HOT… The typical recommendation for a maximum supply water temperature in a snowmelt system is around 150˚F in concrete.

Although a higher temperature could melt the snow faster, the shock effect on the concrete needs to be taken into account.

“If you try and heat it up relatively quickly, anything over 150˚F always has the risk of shocking the concrete and possibly cracking it and causing damage to the slab,” says Leyte.

This can help avoid slips and falls with pedestrians who become accustomed to the cleared sidewalks.

“If people know it’s a snow-melted sidewalk, human nature kicks in and you get a little bit complacent,” explains Leyte. “It may look wet and cleared, but it could be black ice, and therefore dangerous. However, when there’s snow on the sidewalk people tend to be more careful because they know there is a strong likelihood there might be ice underneath it.” continues on page 48

All Vitodens, all the time: Smart, compact space heating and DHW The Modern Vitodens 200-W and Vitodens 222-F – featuring advanced Viessmann technology and performance in a small footprint.

VITODENS 222-F

Floor standing configuration and zero side clearance requirement

2 models with input ranges from 12 to 125 MBH

DHW heating system comprised of plate heat exchanger and storage tank

DHW 10-minute peak flow of 60 gallons with continuous draw of 3.3 GPM (model B2TA-35 only).

VITODENS 200-W

Extended application range with increased capacity up to 530 MBH

9 models with input ranges from 12 to 530 MBH

Combine up to eight boilers in a single prefabricated cascade system.

www.viessmann.ca rent@viessmann.ca 1-800-387-7373

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Contact us to learn about our new Rent-to-Own program

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HEATED WORK JACKETS

4

3

HIGH MEDIUM LOW

D EWALT HEATED WORK JACKETS. DESIGNED FOR CONSTANT WEAR The jackets, when used with a DEWALT 20V MAX* or 12V MAX* battery, are capable of providing hours of core body warmth and continuous heat†. Each jacket offers a water- and wind-resistant outer shell, an LED controller with 3 temperature settings plus pre-heat mode, and at least 3 core body heating zones. The heating power is transferred from the battery to the jacket by a USB power source that is also capable of charging up to 2 electronic devices that are USB-compatible. Tailored Tough to DEFROST any Worksite.

* With respect to 20V MAX*, maximum initial battery voltage (measured without a workload) is 20 volts. Nominal voltage is 18. *With respect to 12V MAX*, maximum initial battery voltage (measured without a workload) is 12 volts. Nominal voltage is 10.8. † Actual run time varies depending on battery type and heat setting Copyright ©2013 D E WALT. The following are examples of trademarks for one or more D E WALT power tools and accessories: the yellow and black color scheme; the “D”-shaped air intake grill; the array of pyramids on the handgrip; the kit box configuration; and the array of lozenge-shaped humps on the surface of the tool.

HYDRONICS

continued from page 46

CONTROLLING

COST AND EFFICIENCY The most cost-effective way to install a snowmelt system is to put in a manual override system, where the user physically turns it on when it snows, and then turns it off when the snowing stops. This may not be very practical, however, since it is dependent on someone watching the weather and knowing when to turn it on and off, particularly in the case of a system designed for sidewalks.

“That saves on energy, but the best type of snowmelt system is one that is automated and has the ability to be put in idle mode when there’s no snowfall,” Leyte explains.

This allows for the slab to stay partially heated during colder weather – such as -20˚C or -30˚C, when it typically doesn’t snow due to lack of moisture – allowing for much faster response times when the snow begins to fall.

This helps prevent fallen snow from accumulating before the snowmelt system kicks in, reducing the chance of a bridging effect taking place, where an air gap is created between the top layer of fallen snow and the surface where the snow is being melted.

“It’ll take a long time to melt that type of snow,” explains Leyte. “The system is not meant to melt snow that has accumulated; it’s intended to melt snow as it’s falling. Having

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Who’s Your Glycol Expert ?

Contact Us for our Full List of Products and Services

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HiTech Dispensing Inc.

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a system with a proper controller that allows it to go into idle mode allows the sensors to dictate when the system would go on and off.”

Temperatures in Edmonton and Saskatoon can get as low as -40˚C. In which case, the snowmelt system wouldn’t be able to keep up with the demand and it would be best if it simply shut down.

“That way when it does start to snow and the snowmelt sensor picks up the moisture, it’s already 60 to 70 per cent of the way there, and the response time is going to be a whole lot faster.”

PLUMBING

Commercial Products

Mechanical couplings Dual check valves Watts' Series SD-3 dual check valves with atmospheric port and strainer for carbonated beverage machines prevent the reverse flow of carbon dioxide gas and carbonated water from entering into the potable water supply due to backpressure backflow. The valves feature stainless steel body construction with internal rubber components, and are designed for continuous or intermittent pressure applications.

MJ Grey mechanical couplings from Ipex are an alternative to solvent cementing. Their design allows for minor adjustments to piping alignments. They are available in 8”, 10” and 12” sizes, and are built with a stainless steel band with a grey rubber gasket.

www. ipexinc.com

watts.ca

Instant hot water The Bell & Gossett ecocirc wireless instant hot water system features electronically commutated motor (ECM) technology and operates via wireless radio frequency with a range of 150 feet. No electrical outlet is required.

The valve operates using two AA batteries.

The system has a maximum line pressure of 145 psi, and a maximum fluid temperature of 203°F.

bellgossett.com

Tinning Flux Masters’ Tinning Flux is formulated for use on lead-free fittings and valves. The petrolatum-based flux is NSF listed and designed to work on pipe that is frozen, cold, wet from condensation or thawing.

www. gfthompson.com

Couplings Victaulic’s Style 107 QuickVic rigid couplings join standard roll-grooved and cut-grooved steel pipe. They are available in sizes ranging from 2” to 12”. The couplings accommodate pressures ranging from full vacuum up to 750 psi, depending on pipe diameter and wall thickness. They are supplied with a grade “EHP” EPDM gasket, which features a temperature range of -30˚F to 250˚F.

www. victaulic.com

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REFRIGERATION

B y P h il J. B o u dreau

Preventing

compressor overload

Phil Boudreau is the Ontario sales manager for Bitzer Canada Inc. and provides training and technical support for Bitzer’s clientele. Phil is also a refrigeration instructor at Humber College in Toronto, Ontario. He can be contacted at pboudreau@bitzer.ca.

R

efrigeration installations require overload protection in accordance with the various national and local codes. This overload protection n can be an overload relay, bimetallic (thermal) switch, or motor winding-embedded thermistor network connected to an electronic module. Compressors that use the latter method generally include the words “Thermally Protected” on their nameplate.

Although these methods also offer some level of overload protection for the compressor motor itself, they are primarily intended to prevent overloading of the electrical conductors that feed the compressor.

The refrigeration system must be designed with all load and heat sink extremes in mind.

GOING TO EXTREMES The components in a system have factors that could overload the compressor. Here are a few considerations, based on the component parts.

MAXIMUM MOTOR POWER The compressor motor has an upper power limit that must be

Conductor Sizing

observed. Exceeding the maximum

The conductors must be sized to accommodate the maximum load at which the equipment will be operated. The electrical code outlines the specifics, but generally speaking the conductors need to be large enough for the application while the branch overload protection must limit the current to protect the electrical conductors from overheating.

power will result in an overload condition which will, in turn, interrupt the process and result in high motor winding temperatures.

Ensuring that this does not occur becomes especially important in situations where the compressor is selected at conditions that are close to the maximum saturated suction and discharge temperatures (SST and SDT).

Condenser Sizing The highest load on the condenser will take place when the evaporating pressure and condenser cooling medium temperature are at their maximum values. Where heavy pull-down loads exist, the condenser selection must account for the added heat so as to limit the condensing pressure during maximum design operating conditions.

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In applications where the compressor is selected near the maximum SDT limits, it may also be necessary to limit the suction pressure in order to limit the discharge pressure. continued on page 54

top performer

Industry-leading Genetron® Performax™ LT refrigerant is the clear leader in its field.

If your bottom line is a better bottom line, no other supermarket refrigerant comes close. From keeping fresh food fresher longer to energy savings to eco-friendly performance, the list of reasons to choose Genetron ® Performax™ LT over R-438A or R-407A refrigerants goes on and on. Genetron Performax LT offers industry-leading capacity, industry-leading efficiency and low GWP values versus other popular supermarket refrigerants. This saves money in new installations and in R-22 retrofit projects. Plus, a mass flow that identically matches R-22, eliminates expensive expansion valve changes and adjustments in retrofit applications while maintaining superheat performance which protects costly compressors. So go with the gold standard. Go with Genetron Performax LT.

Maximize Performance with Performax LT.

Brenntag Canada Inc. Exclusive distributor of Genetron® refrigerants in Canada Ontario & Western Canada: Tel. No. (416) 243-9615 Fax: (416) 243-9731 Quebec & Maritime Provinces: Tel. No. (514) 636-9230 Fax: (514) 636-8229 To learn more, call 800-631-8138 or visit www.genetronperformaxlt.com. © 2010 Honeywell International Inc. All rights reserved.

REFRIGERATION

continuedfrom frompage page3252 continued

Limiting suction pressure %PP GSQTVIWWSVW LEZI ER YTTIV 778 PMQMXEXMSR XLEX QYWX RIZIV FI I\GIIHIH 'SRWMHIV XLI ETTPMGEXMSR SJ E PS[ XIQTIVEXYVI GSQTVIWWSV MR ER ETTPMGEXMSR [LIVI XLI TYPP HS[R PSEH MW VIPEXMZIP] LMKL

778 [MPP FI WSQI[LEX PS[IV ;LIR XLI TYPP HS[R TVSGIWW FIKMRW XLI load is generally at its highest and may result in an SST that exceeds the maximum for the compressor. In this case, it will be necessary to limit the suction pressure to a value that does not exceed this maximum.

'SQTVIWWSVW HIWMKREXIH EW PS[ XIQTIVEXYVI KIRIVEPP] LEZI E WQEPPIV motor for a given displacement in order to improve the performance and power factor by having a motor that better matches the compressor displacement within the application range.

8LIVI EVI E RYQFIV SJ [E]W XS PMQMX WYGXMSR TVIWWYVI ,IVI´W ER overview of three options that might come in handy.

However, the use of a smaller motor also means that the maximum

1

2

Crankcase Pressure Regulators & Expansion Valves

Variable-Speed Drives and Unloading

The crankcase pressure VIKYPEXSV SV '46 ZEPZI MW a device which effectively limits the pressure at its outlet. The regulator is installed upstream from the compressor and is set to a pressure that will limit the motor power during high load. ;LIR E '46 ZEPZI MW YWIH XLI TYPP HS[R VEXI is limited while the valve is throttling. This also tends to limit the load on the condenser.

Unloading and variable speed drives are very effective ways of reducing the load on the compressor. However, we must still consider the maximum SST shown in the compressor operating envelope.

%R MQTSVXERX WMHI IJJIGX [MXL YWMRK XLI '46 MW XLEX E GIVXEMR pressure drop is typically needed in order for the valve to operate.

8LMW GER VIWYPX MR UYMXI E TIREPX] MR XIVQW SJ IJ½GMIRG] EW ¾S[ JVSQ the evaporator must pass through this pressure drop, even when the valve is not throttling. This becomes even more important [LIR XLI W]WXIQ MW STIVEXMRK GPSWI XS MXW WIX TSMRX

(YI XS XLI GSQTEVEXMZIP] LMKL ¾S[ VEXIW EX PS[ 778W X[S WXEKI MRXIVREPP] GSQTSYRHIH GSQTVIWWSVW TVSZMHI GSRWMHIVEFP] LMKLIV IJ½GMIRGMIW MR PS[ XIQTIVEXYVI ETTPMGEXMSRW IWTIGMEPP] FIPS[ ×* ×' 778 8LI LMKL WXEKI SJ XLI GSQTVIWWSV GEVVMIW XLI GSQFMRIH PS[ WXEKI ERH MRXIV WXEKI ¾S[ VEXIW %X high suction pressures, a lot of stress can take place on the valves of the high stage valve plate. This can result in premature valve failure.

;LIR WIPIGXMRK E '46 ZEPZI XLI TVIWWYVI HVST QYWX FI PMQMXIH EW QYGL EW TSWWMFPI -R SVHIV XS QE\MQM^I IJ½GMIRG] [LIR ETTP]MRK E '46 SRI QE] EXXIQTX XS MRWXEPP E F]TEWW WSPIRSMH LS[IZIV MX MW MQTSVXERX XS VIQIQFIV XLEX TMPSX STIVEXIH WSPIRSMHW EPWS VIUYMVI a pressure drop in order to function.

3 Avoiding Thermal Limits

It is also possible to use a metering device that limits the IZETSVEXMRK TVIWWYVI 8LMW LEW E WMQMPEV IJJIGX EW XLI '46 QIXLSH In both these methods, we must observe the thermal limits of the compressor.

APPLY JUST ENOUGH Low superheat at the compressor inlet can actually reduce cycle efficiency and compressor life due to refrigerant dilution of the oil, high oil carryover, etc.

Although one may be tempted to use a 10°F (5.6°C) suction superheat, better performance is quite often realized at higher return gas superheats. We should only apply enough superheating in order to accomplish the task.

There are other limitations that must be considered in addition to motor power. The valve plates of a reciprocating compressor incorporate suction ERH HMWGLEVKI TSVXW EPSRK [MXL ZEPZIW ERH EVI HIWMKRIH JSV E WTIGM½G VERKI SJ GSQTVIWWMSR VEXMSW ERH QEWW ¾S[ VEXIW FEWIH SR E TEVXMGYPEV VIJVMKIVERX ;LIR QEWW ¾S[ VEXIW EVI EPPS[IH XS I\GIIH XLI QE\MQYQ EW MW XLI GEWI at excessive SSTs, the valves are worked very hard. This added stress on the valves can lead to striations or score marks that occur from hammering of the valves into the valve stop. This will eventually result in broken valves.

So, even though we can limit the motor load through unloading, we must still respect the maximum SST of the compressor.

%RSXLIV JEGXSV XLEX WLSYPH FI GSRWMHIVIH [LIR PMQMXMRK XLI WYGXMSR TVIWWYVI IWTIGMEPP] [MXL WIQM LIVQIXMG VIJVMKIVERX GSSPIH GSQTVIWWSVW EVI XLI XLIVQEP limits of the compressor. *SV I\EQTPI EW E '46 SV IPIGXVSRMG I\TERWMSR ZEPZI XLVSXXPIW WYGXMSR superheat can get quite high. In situations where the resulting discharge temperature can exceed the maximum, a form of auxiliary cooling will be required.

8[S WXEKI MRXIVREPP] GSQTSYRHIH GSQTVIWWSVW QYWX MRGSVTSVEXI ER MRXIV WXEKI cooling circuit of either the desuperheating or desuperheating/subcooling type.

'LIGO XLI GSQTVIWWSV QERYJEGXYVIV´W STIVEXMRK MRWXVYGXMSRW JSV HIXEMPW ;MXL MRXIV WXEKI GSSPMRK LMKLIV WYGXMSR KEW WYTIVLIEXW GER KIRIVEPP] FI XSPIVEXIH F] XLI GSQTVIWWSV WMRGI XLI QSXSV GSSPMRK XEOIW TPEGIW EX MRXIV WXEKI pressure and after the hot vapour from the low stage has been cooled. ;MXL WMRKPI WXEKI GSQTVIWWSVW ERH IZIR IGSRSQM^IH GSQTVIWWSVW [LIVI E subcooling circuit is employed, the motor relies on suction gas for cooling.

In the event that the suction vapour can reach a point which in turn permits the discharge temperature to exceed the limit, desuperheating of the suction vapour can be considered.

WATCH THE FLUID INTAKE If a suction gas desuperheating method will be used, we must remember not to feed too much liquid. Ideally, the liquid should be atomized upstream the compressor, preferably before the accumulator if one is used.

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Integrating the controls

Setting a new trail for home automation systems

The big appeal for contractors, and homeowners as well, will be the simplicity of it all, says system specialist Tom Cowton. “It’s an easy sell for contractors. This can easily be retrofitted using existing house wires. No new wiring is required. And it’s quite small, but very robust.”

THE ACTIVE HOUSE

A

nyone looking to see the latest and greatest in residential home automation might want to take a trip to Thorold, in Southwestern Ontario. That’s where you’ll find the first Canadian Active House, a unique collaboration between numerous building consultants, architect Superkül, and Great Gulf home builders. It’s an important first step in Canada for the concept, and it’s one that, by all accounts, won’t be the last.

The Active House concept was originally developed in Denmark, in partnership with academia and industry, bringing together equipment manufacturers with the focus of building energy-efficient buildings that support the well-being and comfort of residents.

The Thorold prototype is a fully-integrated residential home that uses advanced home automation technology to increase energy efficiency while optimizing climate control and ventilation. Rolled out by Great Gulf Homes in October of last year, the home uses a Tahoma home automation system that manages more than 80 devices in the structure.

“It was meant to be a prototype for us to study with a view to rolling it out at the local level,” explains Karen Gold, director of marketing for the low rise division of Great Gulf in Toronto.

The control system is a gateway controller that uses radio frequency signals to control the window coverings, lights and thermostats. When plugged into the home’s network router, it automatically connects and configures to the home network and locates all of the Z-Wave and RTS wireless controlled devices.

According to Tom Cowton, Tahoma system specialist for Somfy Canada in Toronto, the company that integrated the controls, it will easily control more than 40 lighting loads, 23 motorized roller shades, 10 motorized skylights and three thermostats to regulate light and temperature.

“Every single switch in that house is an active switch. What this house can do is quite extensive. When it’s all programmed properly, you don’t even realize it’s working for you.”

A LEARNING TOOL The Active House build in Thorold, Ont., is part of a bigger picture that Tom Cowton, Tahoma system specialist for Somfy Canada, explains can help drive the implementation of home technology in the future.

“It’s the best of the best as far as carbon footprint goes and is a great case study for HVAC installation and service contractors who might want to know about it,” he says.

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HVAC

continued from page 56

continued from page 208

KXcb`e^ _fd\ XlkfdXk`fe n`k_ _fd\fne\ij Automating energy management in the home can be an easy sell if you tell a compelling enough WXSV] ;LIXLIV MX´W E RI[ FYMPH SV E VIXVS½X XLI RI[IWX GSRXVSP W]WXIQW EVI EJJSVHEFPI ERH IEW] XS MRWXEPP ¯ RSX XS QIRXMSR XLI JEGX XLEX XLI] GER LIPT GYX HS[R LIEXMRK ERH GSSPMRK GSWXW [MXLSYX WEGVM½GMRK GSQJSVX 7MRGI EPQSWX LEPJ SJ E LSQIS[RIV´W IRIVK] FMPP KSIW XS LIEXMRK ERH GSSPMRK MX´W E HI½RMXI XEVKIX JSV IRIVK] IJ½GMIRG] 4VSTIVP] IWXEFPMWLMRK ERH QEMRXEMRMRK XLIVQSWXEX WIXXMRKW JSV HMJJIVIRX XMQIW SJ XLI HE] GER VIHYGI SZIVEPP IRIVK] GSWXW F] YT XS IMKLX TIV GIRX ERH IZIV] PMXXPI FMX GER LIPT 4PYW VSSQW XLEX EVI OITX JVSQ SZIVLIEXMRK SV SZIVGSSPMRK TVSZMHI QSVI GSRWMWXIRX GSQJSVX XS XLI YWIV RSX XS QIRXMSR XLI VIHYGXMSR SJ [IEV ERH XIEV SR JYVREGIW ERH air conditioners. % JI[ [IPP XMQIH XLIVQSWXEX WIXXMRKW [MPP OIIT MRHSSV PMJI EW GSQJSVXEFPI EW TSWWMFPI JSV GYWXSQIVW [MXLSYX XLIQ LEZMRK XS PMJX E ½RKIV XS QEOI XLI GLERKIW -J E LSQIS[RIV MW [MPPMRK XLI] QMKLX IZIR IRXIVXEMR XLI MHIE SJ KSMRK JYPP SYX [MXL ER EYXSQEXMSR W]WXIQ XLEX MRGPYHIW GSRXVSPW JSV XLI FPMRHW ERH PMKLXMRK EPP SJ [LMGL GSYPH FVMRK EHHMXMSREP STTSVXYRMXMIW JSV TVS½XW JSV E JSV[EVH XLMROMRK GSRXVEGXSV

=LKLI< GC8EJ Given the success of the first Active House since its unveiling, Great Gulf’s Karen Gold reports that plans are underway to build three more in the Etobicoke region of Toronto by 2015.

“It’s one huge multi-functioning system that we like to say gives more than it takes because of its state-of-the-art environmental footprint,” she says. “The best part is it’s a technology that can be put in any house.”

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HVAC Integration Jimmy Quattrociocchi, president of Downsview Heating and Air Conditioning, the HVAC contractor on the project, says Ì i 6Ƃ ÃÞÃÌi ÃÌ>ÀÌi` Ü Ì } ivwV i VÞ in mind. The installation included an ultra-high ivwV i VÞ] Õ Ì ÃÌ>}i] `À Ûi v ÀVi` > À furnace with a modulating gas valve. The air V ` Ì iÀ Ã > >ÌV i` Ó£ - , Õ Ì Ü Ì > ÌÜ ÃÌ>}i V «ÀiÃÃ À° º ÛiÀÞÌ } Ã Ì « v Ì i line, right across the board.”

Designed and tested by experts.

Chosen by professionals.

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True HVAC professionals know their reputation is made with every sale. Which is why they choose to sell Armstrong Air.™

A zone system services three different areas of Ì i ÕÃi\ Ì i > y À] L>Ãi i Ì > ` ÃiV ` y À° / i iÝÌiÀ > `iÛ Vi V ÌÀ Ã Ì À âi` dampers in the ductwork, each of which operates in response to its designated thermostat.

“This helps to direct air much more quickly if it’s only needed in one area,” Quattrociocchi iÝ« > ð The house also has two heat recovery ventilators, each designed to retain up to 80 per cent of a home’s heating. The units are integrated Ü Ì Ì i i>Ì } ÃÞÃÌi à > ` L>Ì À iÝ >ÕÃÌ systems to draw fresh air into the house and can Li ÃiÌ Ì iÀÃ Ì ÀÕ >Ì Ã«iV wi` ÌiÀÛ> Ã] À on a constant low or high speed. " i ,6 à V>Ìi` Ì i >ÌÌ V ë>Vi > ` `ÕVÌi` Ì > L>Ì À Ã Ì i ÃiV ` y À° The other is in the basement and interconnecti` Ì Ì i vÕÀ >Vi > ` `ÕVÌi` Ì Ì i > y À bathroom and laundry room.

Quattrociocchi notes that the open concept of the home makes heating and cooling optimization more challenging than a more standard architecture. “There’s also a lot of glass in the area. But the integrated blinds help with heat }] V } > ` > À y Ü°» Temperature settings for the home’s three thermostats can be programmed based on a set schedule or via remote access.

Armstrong Air™ delivers more for our partners. One example is Precision Service™ technology, a collection of service-friendly design features. Our unparalleled commitment to dealers, combined with our 80-year tradition of craftsmanship, gives you a professional brand solution unlike any other.

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“From the very beginning we worked with the HVAC company to make sure everything was } ` > ` V « > Ì]» iÝ« > à / ÜÌ ] Tahoma system specialist for Somfy Canada, >L ÕÌ Ì i ÃÌi«Ã Ì> i Ì i ÃÕÀi Ì >Ì Ì Ã wÀÃÌ ÃÞÃÌi V Õ ` ÃiÀÛi >à > iÝ> « i v Ü 6Ƃ

contractors can integrate the controls into the HVAC systems they design and install.

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59

with Roger Grochmal

Setting, and managing, expectations “I know that keeping contact with customers is important, but what do I need to know about the art of the follow up?” Tom A., Mississauga, Ont. Roger Grochmal is the CEO of AtlasCare in Oakville, Ont. To submit a question about your company, business practices, or the industry in general, send an e-mail to Mechanical Business Magazine’s editor, Adam Freill, adam.freill@ mechanicalbusiness.com.

“Inspect what you expect.”

These words of wisdom were spoken to me over 35 years ago. They have served me well. When I decided to go out in business on my own, I had been managing some large, complex contracting businesses and I asked myself, “How hard can it be?”

I quickly found out that it’s not just about knowledge.

Tenacity is a major indicator of success. Good contractors survive through good times and bad because they stay focused and never give in. The most successful contractors are skilled in the art of following up.

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F

ailure to follow up is a trait we most often ascribe to sales people because that’s where we see it most often. How often has a sales person lost a sale because they failed to connect back and the customer went elsewhere? In the customer’s mind, the salesman or the company must not need the business or they would have called back.

We all lead very busy lives. People trust us to do our jobs and call them back. The secret is to establish the expectation with a customer that you will follow up. Ask them for the best time to contact them, or better yet suggest a time and get their permission. Make it easy for them (and you!) by confirming the correct phone number and ideal time of day for conversation. Then plug it into your calendar and make sure you contact them at the appointed time.

The result is that you will build credibility and trust. You are doing what you said you would do. That’s the foundation of trust and people want to do business with people they can trust. Follow up, build trust with your customers and you will have more business.

Remember, however, that there is a delicate balance with the art of the successful follow up. Check in too often and you risk annoying your customers. Do it too little, and you’re quickly forgotten.

Following up is all about setting and managing expectations with suppliers, customers or staff. Every day over your morning coffee, make a list of the follow ups you plan to do that day. Add a couple of random items to the list to keep everyone on their toes.

And remember, following up is a good skill for everyone in your company, not just the owner or manager.

BEYOND SELLING Follow up doesn’t just apply to sales. It can be applied to every part of your business.

Accounts receivable. The procedure is exactly the same. If customers know they can expect a call from you if they don’t pay, they are more likely to give you precedence over someone who doesn’t follow up.

Customer service. Connect with customers after a service call or project and ask them how things went. Some call these “happy calls”. Customers will see that you care. It’s a great way to learn about small issues in your company before they become large issues. It’s also a wonderful opportunity to gather quotes and stories that can be used in your marketing.

Job sites. Visit work sites to ensure your people are working safely and that they are doing work to the standards you expect. Your crew will see that you manage a tight ship and your customers will feel valued and appreciated that you took the time to stop by.

Suppliers. Make sure suppliers keep their commitments to get parts to you when they say they will. They will work harder on your behalf if they know the follow-up call is coming.

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Marketing with DOUG MACMILLAN

Who doesn’t love a trip to the DELI? A

t my marketing agency, more and more we’re finding potential clients are coming to us looking for the tactical fixes to address new marketing challenges. They’re quick to ask about the best (read: trendiest) social media bandwagon, how to function around heavy-handed anti-spam legislaDoug MacMillan is president of The tion, how and where to employ content marketing, or if lawn signs and pricey truck graphics really Letter M Marketing in Guelph, Ont. create leads (they do, but not alone).

To reach him, email All important questions, but what seems to be increasingly missing from the conversation are the doug@thelettermmarketing.com. marketing fundamentals - the traditional strategic marketing lens that we should look through when asking these questions.

We’re reacting to an ever-changing landscape rather than thoughtfully applying sound principles – the traditional thinking that guided marketing in the last century and will do it in the next century, regardless of how the tools change.

To step back from the barrage of tactical options, I ask clients to take a trip with me to the marketing DELI. If we focus on how we effectively Differentiate, Engage, Leverage In Three Questions You Need to Ask and Intrude, the process will help guide the ‘what do to’ questions that will follow.

About Your Brand, Harvard Business Over the next several columns, we’ll look at each of the categories in the DELI. Review authors Keller, Sternthal, and So let’s start with D, naturally.

Tybout posed a simple (yet complex) challenge to marketers. To ensure a longterm, results-oriented brand, we must answer these questions: Service that are basically the same thing, and all nudges the contractors do the same thing to Have We Established a Frame? needle these keep ‘em running. How do you stand days has to out?

And how do you tell customers Are We Leveraging Our Points really stand they should care that you do? of Parity? out. What will get them Most contractors try to do this with Are the Points of Difference talking? Perhaps exceptional service.

Unfortunately, Compelling? adding value by completing other quick home as more and more firms stress the maintenance tasks while on site; or offering same thing (and it is one of the right They argue that all too often we think evening service calls as a matter of choice; arriving things to work on) it becomes a point we are ticking all three boxes when in with a bouquet of fresh flowers or a box of of parity. fact many times we stop at number two, chocolates like it’s a first date... you get the picture. positioning ourselves squarely on the same What turns heads is doing the things that go Same-day promises, midnight calls, field as most competitors. Mechanical beyond expectations – and those expectations are paper booties, techs trained in the art contractors face this challenge every day. constantly evolving. of conversation – these used to be In the eyes of most consumers, all furnaces, distinctive. Now they’re expected.

Do you differentiate?

1 2 3

boilers, sinks, faucets and air conditioners

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Marketing

continued from page 62

with DOUG MACMILLAN

DIFFERENTIATE, ENGAGE, LEVERAGE AND INTRUDE

What can you do?

Visual identity and branding are key means of differentiating. A memorable look differentiates your brand. Of course, it needs to be backed up by delivering on the basic expectations - even a hot pink service van (or just plain hot service tech) won’t cut the mustard if the work doesn’t.

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Whether you are installing a residential plumbing or heating system, or designing a large commercial installation HeatLink has the products, systems, and design capabilities to meet your needs.

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M e c h a n i c a l

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Short instructional videos on anything from how to keep vents clear, to checking windows for heat loss, changing a filter, and lowering the water heater temperature can all be points to play on. And sure, some of you are thinking that all of this information is already out there, but a local spin and some effective marketing can be just the differentiation ticket that you need to connect with your customer base.

And wear your locality with a sense of pride. Have you thought about adding value to the community as a whole through a commitment to doing something for neighbours, in addition to doing well for customers? Being the comfort contractor who cares by donating $5 to charity for every service call could be a simple point of differentiation.

Some companies differentiate by offering new, different services from their competitors. Some toy with home security, water softeners or IAQ. What about a boldly different approach? Can a contractor contribute other skilled-trade services to homeowners such as electrical and roofing, perhaps through strategic business partnerships?

Once you’ve brainstormed your most essential points of difference, it’s important to know if they’re truly compelling and worth the effort. That step is simple – talk to your customers. Engage with them.

6\VWHPV IRU OLIH

64

The best differentiation adds value. Can you be the YouTuber who records useful weekly “Quick Fix Minute” tips to help customers manage their heating and cooling bills or unclog a toilet with sixty-second demos?

Engagement is another important product in the DELI... more on that next issue.

1 0 . 1 4

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

Commercial piping challenge

A commercial job gets handed to you. Perfect timing as it comes in just ahead of the heating season, and with little A/C this summer, the job fits in with your schedule. You follow the drawings, order your material and get to work installing. On commissioning day, the manufacturers’ reps arrive and go over the job. You have done it according plans and spec, but the rep seems troubled.

1) The rep is concerned with the piping and the connection point.

Assuming a 20°F delta T, what is the potential problem?

A) The two tees are close together, but they are too close to the 90.

B) The pipe size is too small to carry the potential load.

C) The boiler piping size is too small.

D) All of the above.

4) Is this the best way to pipe this system, knowing there are constant infloor loads, some snowmelt loads and a high temperature air handler load? (The infloor has mixing at the manifold.)

A) Yes, but a hydraulic separator would make it easier.

B) No. I would pipe it as:

2) The heating boiler was a copper low mass design with a manufacturer-installed boiler circulator on the return. It was directly connected to a series loop piping system. The proper way to pipe a low mass boiler is: A) 2-1/2”, and the system should be at least 3”.

B) 2” like the boiler fittings and 2-1/2” for the main.

C) 2-1/2” would work throughout.

D) None of the above.

A cut above, in tight places!

3) The rep says, “Although I am concerned with the piping size, the real problem is”: A) The piping to the boilers should be reverse-return.

B) The supply is before the return, so the boilers have a real potential to short cycle.

C) The boilers should be side-by-side.

D) The flow switches are mounted vertically.

We recently gave away a Milwaukee M12 Fuel Hackzall to Ivan Tochev. He found the fix; can you? If you do, we have another M12 Fuel Hackzall to reward you with. Lightweight and design for one-handed operation in tight spaces, it’s perfect for getting through pipes and studs in close quarters. Send your solution to the quiz above to adam.freill@mechanicalbusiness.com by November 14th for your chance to win. And be sure to pick up the next edition of Mechanical Business for the next installment of Find the Fix!

Looking for answers?

The answer key for the July/Aug quiz is: 1-D; 2-B; 3-D; 4-C; 5-A. If you need the quiz, check it out in our issue archive, available at www.mechanicalbusiness.com.

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HIGH-PERFORMANCE WET HEAT HVAC

B yB yDan Go rHo d Cloohoan ke

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

I

was looking at a photograph from the construction of Crosley Field, a grand, Cincinnati, Ohio baseball stadium built on the site of League Park, which burned to the ground in 1900. The men in the photo are wearing derbies and loading debris into horse-drawn wagons.

In the background, there’s a sign atop a seven-storey building that reads, The Oliver Schlemmer Company – Plumbing, Heating.

MR. SCHLEMMER’S A MODERN CONNECTION

TEE

Air problems and lack-of-flow problems look pretty much the same.

Where there is no flow, there is no heat. You’ll bleed the convector and not get any air. And while you’re bleeding the air that’s not there, you’ll also be affecting the pressure drop between the main and the convector because you’re draining the system. The convector will get hot.

It will fool you if you’re not thinking like water.

Primary-secondary pumping works the same way. We keep the pressure drop in the piping that’s common to both the primary- and secondary circuits as low as possible and the two circuits hydraulically disconnect.

The same goes for low-loss headers. They all owe a debt to delta-P and that simple tee from 1898. Delta-P is the Zen of hydronic heating and making it work for you was the key to success back then.

Still is today.

66

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Mr. Schlemmer died six years after the fire, and 44 years before I was born, but I’ve known him for a long time. Two years before the fire, he cast a very special tee in that building by the ballpark. He named it the O-S fitting, after himself.

The O-S fitting was the first tee capable of consciously diverting water into a radiator.

It was wonderfully simple. It has one way in and two ways out. It has a cuff cast into the inside to coax some of the water out the side rather than have all of it flow straight through.

Mr. Schlemmer was a hot-water man and he was looking for ways to compete with the steamfitters. They had an advantage at the turn of the century because steam return pipes are smaller than steam supply pipes.

A hot-water man had to work with larger pipes, and the return lines were as large continues on page 68

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THINKING THROUGH

as the supply lines. And there were no circulators. We don’t see those until Homer Thrush (in the U.S.) and Louis Opländer (in Germany) simultaneously invent them in 1928. Mr. Schlemmer had only gravity.

THE SYSTEM

Oh, and delta-P. Mr. Schlemmer’s tee looks so ordinary from the outside. Of course the water is on the inside, where the magic happens.

When the water crashes into that internal cuff some of it is going to flow out the sside of the tee and into the radiator.

I was reading the Bell & Gossett Handbook from 1949. It showed me the Monoflo piping for a 10,000 BTUH convector installed on the first floor of a house. The horizontal supply main was in the basement.

The book tells me that I need just one Monoflo tee on the return side of the convector as the flow re-enters the main. The pipe size to and from the tees to the convector will be half-inch.

Seems easy, right? But in the next drawing, they show that same convector on the second floor of the house. The supply and return piping to and from the convector just got a lot longer, which means that the water’s going to experience more pressure drop as it flows from the main up to the convector and back to the main. Can you feel it? If you were the water, would you go to the second floor, or would you just stay in the basement and keep sailing along that main?

But before you decide, know that the B&G folks insist that you use two Monoflo tees for that convector on the second floor – one on the supply and one on the return. That’s going to make it tougher for the water to stay in the main.

This gave him a way of piping hot-water with one pipe instead of two. By splitting the flow, his fitting let him compete with one-pipe steam, which was cheaper to install than a two-pipe, gravity-hot-water system. Oliver Schlemmer invented onepipe hydronic heating.

Later, Bell & Gossett’s Monoflo Tee and Taco’s Venturi Fitting followed, but both owe a debt to the O-S fitting. And they all obey The Law of the Tee (see sidebar).

Whatever goes into a tee must come out, and if you plan well, the water will go where you want it to go.

And B&G also has us increasing the size of the pipes going to and from the convector. We now have to use three-quarter inch instead of the half-inch we used when that convector was on the first floor. There’s less pressure drop though the larger pipe, so the water goes upstairs.

Think it though and feel it. If you don’t, you’re liable to suspect that that second-floor convector is air-locked when it won’t get hot.

THE LAW OF THE

KEEPING HISTORY ALIVE For years, I had an O-S fitting on my desk, and I would look at it and consider all that it meant to hydronic heating. A friend once showed interest in the tee, so I gave it to him.

We never really own any of these artifacts.

We only take care of them and share them.

TEE

My teacher, the late, great Gil Carlson, who thought up much of what we today consider Hydronic Law, used to talk about The Law of the Tee. The first time I heard him mention this was during a talk he was giving to a large group of engineers in New York City. Pens were poised to jot down Gil’s explanation of that oh-so-important law.

“Whatever goes into a tee,” he said, “must come me out.”

And then he smiled this maniacal grin he had as everyone wrote it down.

There’s a simple beauty to that law and one I’ve considered every time I’ve visited a misbehaving hydronic system.

When I start to troubleshoot a system, I look to the tees and ask myself, “If I were water, which way would I go?” And then I try to feel any difference in pressure, the delta-P. And I’ll lean into it, as though I’m in a fast car, going around a curve.

I’ll also make a sketch of the piping system, because it’s always easier to troubleshoot in two dimensions than it is in three.

I’ll look at the tees and ask that same question again and again, feeling the pressure differential each time as I imagine myself flowing from the pipe into each tee. “What would I do?”

68

M e c h a n i c a l

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COVER STORY

By Adam Freill

I

dentical twin brothers Drew (left) and Jonathan Scott have been competing with each other all their lives, but that’s not a bad thing. As co-hosts of such shows as Property Brothers and Brother vs. Brother, the pair poke fun at each other, in a good-natured fashion, while helping homeowners and home improvement experts transform handyman specials into dream homes.

Key targets the pair often cite to add value in a home include kitchens and bathrooms, but the mechanicals in the basement and behind the walls matter too.

“The mechanicals of a building are often taken for granted, but that usually means the skilled people who put them in did a good job,” said Drew during a recent interview. “While surface features get most of the attention, if a home has plumbing or HVAC issues, it’s probably not going to sell unless they’re corrected. Plus, today’s savvy buyers appreciate energy and water conservation, and updated, well-installed plumbing and HVAC systems are a big part of that.”

The ability to spot diamonds in the rough, and to make money by flipping real estate, started early for the twins. At 18, they bought their first project home, fixed it up and netted a nifty $50,000 when they sold it about a year later.

Since then, Jonathan became a licensed contractor and Drew a real estate agent, and the pair has continued their collaborative ways in a whole host of endeavours, foremost among them has been the creation of Scott Brothers Entertainment where they focus on creating original content for television and digital platforms.

Property Brothers airs Mondays at 9 p.m.

ET/PT on W Network

Photos courtesy of HGTV/Scripps Networks, LLC; W Network/Zachary Maxwell Stertz

Building bathrooms and kitchens Potential buyers of a property are more likely to be swayed by a stylish kitchen or bathroom than any other room in the home, and the Scotts like to tap into this by providing their clients with modern, stylish features, as long as they provide good value.

“Anything that gives a bathroom a spa-like atmosphere is very appealing,” says Jonathan. “If there’s enough space, put in a separate walk-in shower with a glass door and a rainfall showerhead. For added luxury, install extra nozzles.”

If your customer has thoughts of ripping out the tub in the only bathroom in the home so that they can put in an impressive shower, you might want to get them to think twice, says the contractor. “The home should have at least one bathtub, for future resale value.”

72

in

When not on camera, Jonathan is an award-winning found behind the lens, directing

Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s value in the mechanical room A tall order â&#x20AC;&#x153;In season two of Property Brothers, and again this season, we did bathrooms for clients who were just as tall as we are,â&#x20AC;? says Jonathan. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They speciďŹ cally wanted tall ceilings, tall doors, a shower with extra height and, of course, really big mirrors.â&#x20AC;?

He created a space with marble and other classic materials that created a spa-like oasis that he says would make his clients want to stay in the shower all day. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I guess Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m responsible for making people wrinkly,â&#x20AC;? he laughs.

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Success takes planning

QUICKFACT Both brothers stand tall at 6â&#x20AC;&#x2122;5â&#x20AC;?.

illusionist in Las Vegas, and Drew can be and producing movies.

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73

LAARS Heating Systems Company ®

What’s Hanging on our Wall?

ASK US! see Come e th t us a t x Wes Ciphe Show trade booth

#537

AARS Unique L Made d and Designe changer Heat Ex ®

Heating 50-75-100-125 150-175 or 220 MBH

Combi 125-150 or 175 MBH

The MASCOT LX full family of sizes, advanced feature set and industry leading output of domestic hot water will satisfy any size home.

It’s time to install the next level of comfort.

It’s time to install a MASCOT LX. ®

®

• Up to 150 Feet of Vent • Up to 4.3 gpm DHW (@77°F DT)

• Top and Bottom Connections • Auto Cascade Setup for Multiple Unit Installs

Built to be the Best™ • www.laars.com

15 Year Heat Exchanger Warranty

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CIPHEX West heads to Stampede City CIPHEX West, Western Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest trade show for the mechanical sector, is taking place at the BMO Centre at Stampede Park in Calgary on November 5 and 6.

The show features exhibits from more than 250 manufacturers and suppliers of plumbing, HVAC/R, geothermal, hydronics, fire protection and water treatment products from Canada, the U.S. and overseas.

With the show coming to Calgary, CIPHEX West will once again be co-located with Buildex Calgary, which attracts professionals involved in the design, construction and management of buildings. The pair of shows were co-located in 2010 and, like last time, the two exhibit halls will be connected to allow visitors from Buildex Calgary to also attend CIPHEX West.

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continued on page 78

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CIPHEX West Workshops and Seminars Wednesday, November 5

Hydronics conference featuring MB’s Dan Holohan!

The latest addition to the Mechanical Business roster of contributors, Dan Holohan will be a featured speaker for the show’s hydronics conference, offering his fellow wet heads the opportunity to take in multiple educational sessions run by the hydronics legend.

The sessions will provide the technical information contractors, wholesalers and engineers need to specify, install and maintain hydronic systems, give expert insights into future trends in modern hot water heating, and practical solutions to increase hydronic sales. Other speakers include John Siegenthaler and Robert Bean.

Free show app!

The CIPHEX West mobile app is an interactive guide to CIPHEX West that allows users to search for exhibitors, products, and their locations on the show floor. It also allows users to add seminars and workshops to the app’s Expo Plan, as well as take notes at the show. The app is available for iPhone, iPad, and Android devices.

Seminars

*All seminars listed below will take place in the CIPHEX West Theatre in the exhibit hall.

Water disinfection

Aaron Biffert of Ecowater Systems Calgary will discuss disinfection techniques, related concerns, and why it is needed in water systems. Aaron will also share his experiences rehabilitating and replacing systems during the floods.

Wednesday, November 5, 2014 11 to 11:45 a.m.

Ten ways to convert prospects into customers Wednesday, November 5, 2014 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.

What Canadians can expect from LEED v4

Adam Stoker, a LEED-certified engineer and project manager for sustainable design at Dialog, will discuss some of the major changes in LEED v4. This session will be of interest to LEED consultants, architects, engineers, project managers, contractors, owners, and anyone else involved or interested in LEED projects.

Wednesday, November 5, 2014 2 to 3 p.m.

Velocities and water pipe sizing tables in the National Plumbing Code Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Stratovate Inc.’s Suresh Parmachand will offer attendees 10 ways to improve customer engagement, and deliver mutually beneficial business relationships. The presentation will focus on sales techniques for contractors, but is also designed to help inside and outside sales reps, as well as marketing and management professionals.

Brian Husband, chief plumbing inspector for permits and inspections, sustainable planning and community development with the City of Victoria, B.C., will open up discussion on how the use of water pipe sizing tables in the NPC can result in higher than recommended velocities in systems.

3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Seminars continued on page 80

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Hydronics Alley

List of Exhibitors* *As of press time. Companies in red have ads appearing in this edition of Mechanical Business.

A.M.T.S. ................................................. 528 A.O. Smith ............................................. 143 Acudor Acorn ........................................ 314 Aimco..................................................... 320 Alberta Custom Tee ............................. 232 Allied Engineering ................................ 658 Alpha Controls ...................................... 357 American Standard ............................... 201 Amtrol Canada...................................... 743 Anvil Intâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;l ............................................... 223 Apollo Valves ........................................ 315 Aqua Tech ............................................ E16 Armstrong Fluid Technology............... 359 Attersall Marketing ............................... 610 Aztec Washer Company ...................... 332 Belanger ................................................ 214 Bibby Ste-Croix ..................................... 321 Blanco Canada...................................... 515 BMI ......................................................... 708 Bosch Thermotechnology.................... 555 Boshart Industries ................................. 532 Bradford White Canada ....................... 537 Burnham ................................................ 423 Calefactio ............................................. 754 Camus Hydronics .................................. 554 Canadian Aqualine ............................... 739

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Carlo Gavazzi ........................................ 511 Carremm Controls ................................ 535 CB Supplies ........................................... 233 CCBDA .................................................. 322 CCTF ...................................................... 259 Centrotherm.......................................... E12 CHC ....................................................... E10 CIPH ....................................................... 137 Colony Distribution .............................. 709 Complete Innovations .......................... 253 CPS Products Canada .......................... 453 Cupro Solutions .................................... 452 CWQA ................................................... 318 Dahl Brothers Canada .......................... 420 Danfoss .................................................. 418 Deflecto Canada................................... 433 Dettson Industries ................................ 428 Ecotherm ............................................... 434 EMCO .................................................... 448 Engineered Air ...................................... 449 Equipco ................................................. 415 Erico ....................................................... 335 Evergreen Bioheat ................................ E13 Excalibur Water Systems...................... 243 Fairview Fittings .................................... E6 Fernco Connectors ............................... 628

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One section of the exhibit hall will be dedicated to hydronic heating systems.

To find it, look for distinctive signage, carpeting and promotions.

Seminars Mould remediation: A review of guidelines and the evidence Thursday, November 6, 2014 11 a.m. to noon Mona Shum, occupational hygiene and safety team lead for AMEC Environment & Infrastructure, will provide a summary of available guidelines addressing how to proceed with the removal of mould growth. This presentation will outline the types of containment and the personal protective equipment that is necessary, what should be discarded or cleaned, and what methods should be used to clean the area.

Listings and seminars continued on page 82

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New Product Gallery

List of Exhibitors* cont’d *As of press time. Companies in red have ads appearing in this edition of Mechanical Business.

Flexmaster Canada............................... 634 Flir Systems ........................................... 722 Flomatic ................................................. 534 Franke Kindred Canada ....................... 123 Franklin Electric/Little Giant ............... 333 G.F. Thompson ..................................... 729 Gastite ................................................... 654 Gerber Canada .................................... 436 Giacomini Canada ................................ 553 Giant Factories...................................... 235 Great Lakes Copper ............................ 406 Gree Canada ......................................... 454 Greenway Water ................................... 349 Grundfos .............................................. 443 Hathorn.................................................. 255 HBX Control Systems ........................... 659 HeatLink................................................. 548 Holdrite.................................................. 334 HPAC ..................................................... 437 HPS Controls ......................................... E15 HRAI ....................................................... 620 Hydronic Agencies ............................... 656 IBC Technologies ................................. 337 Imperial Mfg.......................................... 520 InSinkErator ........................................... 461 Ipex ........................................................ 237

KVC ........................................................ 750 Laars Heating Systems ......................... 537 Lenox ..................................................... 622 Liberty Pumps ....................................... 623 LynCar .................................................... 115 M&G DuraVent .................................... 742 M.A. Stewart & Sons ............................ E3 Mainline ................................................. 306 Marking Services Canada .................... 220 Masco Canada ..................................... 215 MCA Alberta ......................................... 407 Mechanical Business Magazine ....... 129 Mechanical Systems 2000 .................... 633 MEP Drives ............................................ 523 Milwaukee Tool..................................... 109 Mirolin Industries .................................. 343 Mission Rubber .................................... 435 Mitsubishi Electric/Klass....................... E7 Moen .................................................... 236 NAIT ....................................................... E14 Napoleon .............................................. 636 Navien America .................................... 229 NCI Canada........................................... 632 Nexus Energy Products........................ 746 Novo ...................................................... 458 NTI/NY Thermal.................................... 543

The CIPHEX West New Product Gallery, which includes a competition for the most innovative new products, offers industry professionals a chance to preview the latest products and technologies.

Seminars Social media marketing tips: From one contractor to another Thursday, November 6, 2014, 1 to 2 p.m Clean & Pure Water’s Frieso Pouwer will offer tips and tricks from a local contractor aimed at improving one’s effectiveness in social media.

Trouble collecting outstanding debt?

Thursday, November 6, 2014, 3 to 4 p.m.

Patricia Wilson, director of civil enforcement with Consolidated Civil Enforcement Inc., will discuss how to use existing laws and legislation to one’s benefit for the purpose of collecting outstanding debt.

Listings and seminars continued on page 84

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List of Exhibitors* contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d *As of press time. Companies in red have ads appearing in this edition of Mechanical Business.

Nu-Trend ............................................... 209 Oatey Canada SCS ............................... 718 Oetiker ................................................... 552 Ontor .................................................... 629 Ortech.................................................... 653 OS&B ..................................................... 257 OutRank by Rogers .............................. 432 Plumbing & HVAC ............................... 249 PowerMate/LP....................................... 733 Primex ................................................... 348 Qualitec Distributors ............................ 529 Quote Express ...................................... 518 Ratech Electronics ................................ 429 RedZone ................................................ 453 Reed Manufacturing ............................. 336 Rehau ..................................................... 455 Reliance Worldwide/Cash Acme......... 414 Rheem Canada ..................................... 309 Ridgid .................................................... 556 Rinnai ..................................................... 514 Roth Industries ...................................... 421 Royal Building Products ....................... 221 SAIT........................................................ E8 Schwank ................................................. 614 Schwartz Chemical ............................... 219 SFA Saniflo ........................................... 404

Shel-B-Sales .......................................... 358 Sinclair Supply....................................... 536 SJE â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Rhombus ...................................... 101 Slant/Fin ................................................ 745 Smillie McAdams Summerlin ............... 356 Spartan Peripheral Devices ................. 457 Spectrum Sales Agency ....................... 628 Stelpro ................................................... 409 Superior Radiant Products ................... 529 Switch the Stat ...................................... E4 Taco (Canada) ....................................... 649 Tamas Hydronic Systems ..................... 652 Taylor Pipe Supports ............................ 234 Thermo Mfg. ......................................... 103 Toto ....................................................... 415 Triangle Tube........................................ 423 UEi Canada ........................................... E1 Unified Valve ......................................... 519 Uponor ................................................. 648 UV Dynamics ......................................... 533 Vantage Marketing ............................... 328 Victaulic ................................................. 522 Victor Technologies.............................. 719 Viega ...................................................... 739 Viessmann ............................................. 643 Viqua ...................................................... 521

Wade Drains Canada ........................... 321 Ward Couplox/Wardflex ...................... 207 WaterGroup .......................................... 133 Watts ...................................................... E9 Weil-McLain Canada ............................ 549 Westcan HVAC Sales ........................... 554 Willim Ventures ..................................305 Winkler Technik .................................... 228 WiringPro............................................... 732 Woodford Mfg./Watco Mfg. ............... 329 Zilmet USA ............................................ 418 Zurn Industries ...................................... 222

Hydronic Conference Low temperature/low mass heat emitters for high performance Wednesday, November 5, 2014 7:30 to 11 a.m.

Room: Palomino Room John Siegenthaler will discuss hardware and design approaches needed to build heating distribution systems that can operate at supply water Ă&#x152;iÂ&#x201C;ÂŤiĂ&#x20AC;>Ă&#x152;Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x20AC;iĂ&#x192; LiÂ?Â&#x153;Ă&#x153; ÂŁĂ&#x201C;äĂ&#x201A; ­{nĂ&#x201A; Ž° Listings and seminars continued on page 86

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Hydronic Conference Building science 101: Enclosures as a filter, sponge and capacitor

cont’d Robert Bean offers an introductory course on the science of buildings, including a study of materials and how moisture and heat flow through the enclosure, and how high-performance building techniques impact energy, thermal comfort and indoor air quality.

Wednesday, November 5, 2014 Noon to 2 p.m.

Room: Palomino Room

The top 10 dumb things we do with hot water

Dan Holohan has seen a lot since 1970, watching plenty of contractors and engineers scratch their heads over seemingly unsolvable problems. Dan will share his entertaining and educational stories and his experiences in the world of wet heat.

Wednesday, November 5, 2014 3 to 4 p.m.

Room: Palomino Room

Hydronically speaking: Ask the experts

Have a question about hydronics you always wanted to ask? Don’t miss your chance to hear from top industry voices Dan Holohan (left), John Siegenthaler (centre) and Robert Bean (right), all at once as part of a moderated forum.

Moderator Dave Hughes will start the discussion with audience members leading the conversation afterwards with their questions.

Wednesday, November 5, 2014 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Room: Palomino Room

Seminars continued on page 88

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Hydronic Conference Unique hydronic details for domestic water heating

cont’d In this session, John Siegenthaler will focus on contemporary methods of configuring hydronic systems for providing domestic hot water.

Thursday, November 6, 2014 7:30 to 11 a.m.

Room: Palomino Room

Updated ASHRAE design methodology for snow melt

Robert Bean offers a look at design methodology for snowmelt systems.

Thursday, November 6, 2014 1 to 3 p.m.

Room: Palomino Room

Top 10 reasons to attend CIPHEX West There are plenty of reasons to attend CIPHEX West, but here are some the big draws that have people heading west this year: • The New Product Gallery, featuring the most innovative new products.

• The opportunity to speak directly with manufacturers’ technical and sales staff.

• It is a giant showroom! There are thousands of products to check out.

• New ideas to help you increase sales.

• Hydronics training with some of the best trainers and speakers in North America, including Mechanical Business columnist Dan Holohan.

• Free seminars.

• Finding new suppliers.

• Free admission to Buildex Calgary 2014.

• The chance to check out products in person.

• Advice direct from the experts.

• To visit your friends at Mechanical Business!

CCA chairman’s breakfast The Calgary Construction Association is hosting a breakfast with Canadian Construction Association chair Serge Massicotte, president of Massicotte Construction in Ottawa, as keynote speaker. Massicotte has been involved with industry associations at the national, provincial and local levels for more than 20 years, including holding the position of chair with the Ottawa Construction Association and the Ontario General Contractors Association.

The breakfast will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 5, at 8 a.m. To register, call 403-291-3350.

DIDYOUKNOW? 88

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Co-located with CIPHEX West, BUILDEX Calgary is Alberta’s largest annual tradeshow and conference for designing, building and managing real estate. The show brings together more than 4,000 building professionals and features over 225 exhibitors.

With 60 speakers and more than 35 seminars, the show provides Calgary’s largest seminar program for professionals in the building and real estate management fields.

Seminar content is broken down into industry-related categories, including: architecture and design, construction, property management, green buildings, and professional development.

Show hours Wednesday, November 5, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Thursday, November 6, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

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LIGHTS, CAMERA HVACACTION! Anything can be made and filmed in the largest purpose-built studio in North America, but managing the air in a constantly changing environment is not without its challenges.

A

Photos: Pinewood Studios Ltd.; Insight Productions; CBC; Adam Freill

sound studio’s role in life is to be a big, soundless, empty space. It is essentially a large box that must be isolated from the outside world to provide highly creative people with a place to create different worlds and realities, but that’s not to say that the principles of science are suspended.

Managing heat and mitigating sound are two of the key challenges when designing mechanical systems for a studio, explains Les Klein, a principal with Quadrangle Architects, the firm that originally designed the Mega Stage at Pinewood Studios, and the surrounding complex on the eastern waterfront in Toronto, when it first launched as Filmport.

“Film is incredibly sensitive to sound, so you have to make sure that however you bring air into the space, it comes in at a very low noise volume,”

90

he says, explaining that to do this, they use extra-large ducts and large low-velocity fans.

Large louvers on the north and south ends of the structure allow air into the mechanical space through acoustically lined ductwork. The treated air moves through a series of filters from the mechanical room to a duct header, and from there a motorized damper controls how it is distributed to four acoustically lined ducts. But getting cooled air down to the set is another matter.

“There’s a convergence layer of heat that comes up from all the lights and equipment,” says Fletcher, “so the cool air has to break through a layer of heat. By the time it does get down to floor level, it’s sometimes significantly warmed by the heat layer it went through.”

AN INDOOR RAIN STORM

Violetta Afanasieva and P.J. Stock perform on Battle of the Blades, Season 2.

M e c h a n i c a l

Perhaps one of the strangest episodes in Mike Fletcher’s mechanical building experience came the day it began to rain inside the 46,000-square-foot soundstage where he is the facility manager.

In 2010, the barrel-vaulted, cement-roofed Mega Stage, easily recognized from the nearby Gardiner Expressway for its 18 massive, fire-engine-red steel buttresses, had been rented out for the second season of CBC’s Battle of the Blades.

The first season was shot at Maple Leaf Gardens but the production lost the use of the space when work began to convert The B u s i n e s s

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Gardens into a Loblaws grocery store with a Ryerson gym and rink overhead. Challenged with trying to rent ice for 10 weeks during hockey season, the show’s producers settled on the idea of building their own rink at the Mega Stage.

An intricate web of plastic tubing was laid out and soon glycol coursed through its lines to chill a 200-foot by 70-foot slab of ice for the show.

Bleachers were erected for the 1,730 audience members and the whole set was surrounded by five kilometers of thick 40-foot-high black curtain.

• An i ndoo r r a i n s t o r m • A ligh t ap p r o ach • W h er e t h e act io n is Among the productions that have been shot at the Mega Stage are:

A LIGHT APPROACH While cast and crew comfort is one element, it is also important to keep things cool for the lighting rig.

“If it’s an interior scene and they just want even light, we use a ‘space light’ which is 6,000 watts. And if it’s a big set like RoboCop, they could have as many as 100 of these lights,” explains Mike Harwood, the national director of technical support and development for William F. White International, one of the largest film equipment rental firms in the world.

Robocop (2014) Total Recall (2012)

Pacific Rim (2013) The Thing (2011)

But too much heat can have an effect on the equipment. Harwood says a space light typically gives off 260°F. All that heat floating up to the rigging can be considerable. “I’ve been in studios where the I-beams are hot to the touch,” he says.

If the lights overheat they start to flicker because the heat load is adding resistance to the line. And a flicker can ruin the shot, Harwood explains.

To keep the air moving, large variable speed fans pull hot air out through the louvers at the north and south ends of the building. They also work to pull the heat from the York unit condensers.

It’s not very different from a system that might be found in any other space this size, except that it’s located inside. To move the heat generated by the condensers, each unit has a large fan assembly suspended several feet above it that exhausts this heat as well as any special effects fog or smoke as needed.

WHERE THE ACTION IS The challenge with a film studio is that it is not a continuous environment. Air has to get down to where the action is. That’s why the ducts have removable cutouts about the size of a pie plate. Crews attach long polymer bags to the cutouts that allow the air to drop freely from the system and pour out into a specific area – whether it’s a reconstructed living room, a post-apocalyptic waste land or a medieval courtyard.

DID YOU KNOW? Ontario is home to Canada’s largest film and television sector. In 2013, the film and television production industry contributed $1.15 billion to the provincial economy.

For heating and cooling, the sound stage is serviced by four 30-ton York units, housed in pairs in the north and south mechanical mezzanines.

These units feed into duct headers at either end that span the width of the building, and each header has four runs that reach half the length of the building.

Everything sits suspended from the vaulted ceiling, approximately 60 feet from the ground.

With a grid overhead holding

hundreds of lights, crews were readying to shoot the skating show when Fletcher received an unusual request: “Can you turn the heat on?”

Typically, productions generate enough heat that they are in need of cooling rather than heating. But in this case, the audience was getting cold and the producers wanted to warm the area over the bleachers.

Fletcher expressed concern that this would be dropping warm air on what was essentially an ice box. But he M e c h a n i c a l

fulfilled the request and turned on the heat for the audience.

“First, the space started to fill with a heavy fog,” recalls Fletcher, “and then the warm moist air began to condense and basically, it started to rain inside the building. People were looking for shelter under the bleachers.”

It was an exceptional circumstance to be sure but the problem of competing layers of cold and warm air in this large a studio is a typical one.

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B y Go r d C o o ke

HVAC Choices for

“Zero Energy” Homes S

o what kind of HVAC system do you put in a house that is supposed to, at the end of the year, use no energy? That may sound like an oxymoron, and at the least not a very fair question, but it is worth considering the optimizing of HVAC options for what has been referred to, up until recently, as NetZero energy homes.

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

Zero-Energy homes should be seen as an opportunity for our industry. New equipment, better controls, monitoring, expert installation and thorough commissioning will all be required, and thus, professional HVAC contractors, ready to learn and embrace new technology will be an integral part of the success of future new homes.

For something a little different, let’s take a look at some of the decisions I have been considering for my modest cottage that is currently under construction, two hours northwest of Toronto.

The sum of all net-zero parts Let’s go through the elements of my cottage by starting with what, in my mind, is the easiest element, ventilation.

Ventilation: I chose an ERV for latent control in a house that will have very low sensible loads. The most efficient models now have ECM fan motor technology. Given that I will be doing a full independently ducted installation – fresh air to bedrooms, exhaust air from bathrooms and kitchen – that technology will help minimize electrical consumption while maintaining proper air quality control.

because of the balance of solar gain for southfacing windows in winter with allowance of proper overhangs to shade the south-facing glass in summer.

I used different glazing coatings on different orientations to optimize the heating and cooling equipment, and overall energy use.

B u s i n e s s

I settled on an R75 cathedral roof assembly, R45 walls, R30 under the slab of the slab-on-grade construction and, of course, triple glazed windows and extremely tight construction.

With these elements my 2,100 square foot, 1.5 storey home ends up with a total design day heat loss of just under 20,000 BTUH. So I thought I had it aced, until I had the design checked out with the Passive House standard.

I did the math and determined it was less expensive to add a few extra solar panels than it was to increase the insulation levels to Passive House standards and I gave up on that label.

With such a small load, but an intermittent load presented by the potential solar gain, I wanted flexibility as well as efficiency. I looked at a ducted, zoned system with a twostage condenser, but decided on a two-head, variable output system.

M e c h a n i c a l

For my cottage, specifying the enclosure elements was a process that can simply be described as deciding on more. Whatever you may think is enough insulation, think again.

They recommended an R100 roof, R75 walls, and an R50 slab, as well as 0.6 air changes per hour at 50 Pascal air tightness. (That’s more than twice as tight as an R-2000 home.)

Cooling: The load will be just 1.25 tons

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When more isn’t enough

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continued from page 92

Many thought I should just do a couple of ductless mini-splits, but I wanted to demonstrate the slim duct air handlers that I think, ultimately, will be more acceptable to Canadians in mainstream homes. So, I will split the house east/west and have a very efficient, flexible system.

Heating: The cooling decision led me to the larger decision for heating.

The slab-on-grade construction and fully ducted ERV made in-floor heating a “no-brainer”. So, yes, there are six loops of in-floor heat on the main floor, with R30 insulation underneath and a special thermal break detail in the frost wall.

I also wanted to take advantage of the slim duct units by making them a heat pump version. That gave me a lot of capacity for a small load, and I still had to decide on a heat source for the hot water in-floor loops.

Taking into account that, for the foreseeable future, the home will be used only occasionally in the winter, I decided to do an all-electric home.

The main heat will come from the air source, low temperature heat pump with the two slim duct air handlers. The in-floor will be mainly a floor-warming system that will be a heat sink for a solar hot water panel system. Peak load will come from a back-up electric coil in the water storage tank – call it emergency heat.

Hot water: I have installed a hot water solar panel with a back up coil in the storage tank, however I am very interested to see how the heat pump water heater that we are installing will work.

Extensive modelling by NRCan has shown that in very efficient homes – where hot water loads are often larger than space heating loads – heat pump water heaters, over the course of a year, should provide a very good total energy used benefit.

Consider that even on a cold, sunny day my south facing windows will provide more heat than I need, so the “cooling” provided by the water heater on that day won’t go to waste.

I promise I will follow up in future articles and let you know how that is working out.

What’s in a name?

The nomenclature of net-zero may be changing due to an initiative by the Department of Energy in the U.S. In looking at better ways to communicate the value proposition of homes that, on average, only use as much as they are able to produce themselves on site, they are considering the term, Zero Energy homes.

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Solar shingles: The final pieces are the solar PV shingles. New to Canada as of this summer, I truly believe this concept will be a game changer for solar acceptance.

They are more expensive, in the order of 40 per cent higher total installed cost than the typical solar panels, but they look great. My new neighbourhood is already a-buzz. I was able to cram a system with capacity of around 5.2 kW on my roof.

With the optimized roof angle, and almost direct south exposure, the expected production of this system should come within a light flicker or two of making the home a zero energy home – only using as much over the year as the shingles are able to produce.

It won’t likely qualify for the net-zero designation that is currently being promoted by NRCan and the Canadian Home Builders Association, because the home falls just short of the required energy modelling criteria. There will be two electric meters, one allowing electricity in when I need it, and one going back to the grid for others to use.

It’s uncertain if I will be able to get a contract to sell the power back at a preferred rate, but if not I will still be satisfied with simple net-metering, which I am confident will result in a net-zero annual bill.

DID YOU KNOW? Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation developed a pilot program in 2004 that led to a net-zero project in Edmonton in 2007.

Clark Campbell, CET is the Eastern Ontario and Atlantic Canada district sales manager for Belimo Americas. He can be contacted at clark.campbell@ca.belimo.com.

HVAC/R

Photos courtesy of UNB and Belimo Americas

By C l a r k Ca m p b e l l

EFFICIENCY, That Fits to a T L

ow Delta T is a costly problem in many large-scale facilities, and on sprawling university campuses with central chilled water plants, it can often be a major source of inefficiency.

This type of temperature concern happens when the supply and return chilled water temperature across an HVAC system is less than what the chiller’s design calls for. Oversized, damaged, fouled or degraded air-handling coils are often the main cause, however poor system balance or improperly installed and controlled air handlers can also contribute to it as well.

Especially under partial-loading conditions, low Delta T often results in the need for additional chilling capacity even though cooling load hasn’t increased. This is largely due to the fact that as heat transfer drops, chilling units and pumps have to work

harder in order to maintain a given temperature set point.

When return water temperature to the chiller is lower than the unit’s intended design specifications, more water has to be pumped through the system. When this occurs, air handler operating efficiency goes down and utility costs go up.

As a result of the costly mechanical problems that low Delta T can cause, there is significant opportunity to take advantage of savings by utilizing products that protect against it.

This was evident on two separate structures at the University of New Brunswick (UNB) in Fredericton, where the use of a specialized type of valve helped achieve real-world savings through the optimization of chiller operations.

QUICK RESULTS A HISTORY OF CONSERVATION The University of New Brunswick’s Energy Management division has been investing in energy conservation methods for nearly 30 years.

In early 2012, school officials began discussing the possibility of reducing power consumption on campus by improving chiller performance and eliminating low Delta T. After careful consideration, the school contacted Belimo when the decision was made to install a pressure-independent valve that measures and

Operational savings resulting from the optimization of the chiller in the air-handling unit have been estimated to be just over $1,200 per year, which equates to a payback period of just over four years.

manages coil energy by using an embedded flow meter, along with temperature sensors on both waterside supply and return lines.

The valve controls flow through each coil (directly) with a control signal, rather than indirectly through a valve position. When the upstream pressure changes, a microprocessor adjusts the valve position through a device-internal cascaded control loop.

This technology differs from conventional pressure-dependent control valves in which flow variations are corrected only after they’ve been detected by the coil control loop. In addition, by measuring flow and Delta T simultaneously, waterside-cooling continued on page 98

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continued from page 96

loads can be calculated and a coil characteristic of load versus water flow can be established over time, which can be used for a number of different diagnostic purposes.

With an integrated BTU meter that provides coil performance data, the valve provided energy officials at the university with the ability to verify system performance during commissioning. This information will act as a baseline standard for system performance over time.

The valve also gives system operators precise control over air handling units by providing a linear heat transfer regardless of system temperature variations.

In an effort to minimize costs and see first-hand how it would

perform in real-world conditions, UNB coordinators decided to install a single valve as an experimental project on an air handling unit (AHU-1) in the university’s 22,667 sq. ft. Information Technology Center (ITC) building.

Host to the university’s Computer Science department, the primary purpose of de AHU-1 in the ITC building is to provide a comfortable learning environment in offices and classrooms for faculty and staff. The building is home to one of several computer server rooms tthroughout the campus, however, that particular space is cooled by a th standalone system that’s not controlled st

by AHU-1. b Because the installation of the valve was experimental, the only requirements of the project were to install it in a cost-effective manner, improve chiller performance, and achieve measurable energy savings.

MEASURING TO GUIDE CHANGE The ITC building’s existing air-handling system featured a three-way bypass valve with a large chilled water loop that resulted in high pump rates and excessive energy usage.

As a result, it was an ideal target for an energy efficiency improvement project.

While the primary purpose of bypass valves is to avoid operating constant speed pumps against closed control valves, they often lead to constant primary and secondary mass flow rates, which in turn lead to Delta T degradation under partial-loading conditions.

Based on AHU-1’s air coil (and applicable pump) design flow of 126 gpm, an appropriately sized valve was selected as a

replacement of the bypass valve. And because the Energy Valve has the ability to record, regulate, balance and save all measurement data, it allowed personnel within UNB’s Energy Management division to accurately view its performance in real-time.

Engineers could also monitor the coil’s performance and optimize its operation by maintaining the Delta T as well.

In addition to the standard analogue signal and feedback wiring, the valve communicates data to the building management system via BACnet MS/TP or BACnet IP. A builtin web server also collects up to 13 months of data, which can be used for further system analysis.

Moving Forward at UNB As a result of the savings achieved at the ITC building, coordinators in the university’s Energy Management division decided to move forward with the installation of a second valve on a separate 92,680 sq. ft. campus building, Bailey Hall.

“The primary goal of energy management at UNB is to control and reduce energy consumption on campus, and to enhance the learning environment through improved comfort by operating buildings and equipment in the most efficient manner possible,” explains Tim Cross, the school’s Energy Coordinator. “We’ve been very pleased that such an emergent technology has helped us achieve that goal.”

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A sustainable approach to recovering energy from compressors

Reclaiming excess T

Jay Dasgupta, P.Eng. LEED AP, is in the Mechanical Building Services department with R.V. Anderson Associates, Limited.

He can be reached at jdasgupta@rvanderson.com.

HEAT

emperature control in compressor rooms is critical. To keep the temperature below the preset value required to ensure proper equipment performance – a setting that is very often 40°C – excess heat must be removed. This is generally done by circulating fresh or cooled air, but some building system designers are now considering the use of excess heat from the compressors to heat the adjoining areas, thus providing a free source of heating.

Air compressors are a fundamental part of many industrial facilities. These compressors can produce a large amount of

he heat, which is an ideal target for heat recovery.

In general, about 72 per cent of heat generated from airair-cooled compressors can be recovered. Although around two per cent of the heat will be radiated in the compressor room, this radiated heat can be removed by circulating fresh air through an exhaust fan and a fresh air intake.

On the other hand, water-cooled compressors radiate about 85 per cent of heat to the cooling water, which may then be utilized to pre-heat an air stream, or to temper the water through a heat exchanger. This tempered water can be used for washing purposes.

SUPPLEMENTING THE HEATING NEEDS

provide heating and ventilation to the space. Heat from the compressors could be used as supplemental heating to raise this room’s temperature and reduce the air handling unit’s heating requirements. As such, the costs for gas or hydro consumption can be reduced, simply by repurposing excess heat from the compressors.

Here is a sample system where three air-cooled compressors are being used, and were the excess heat could be used to warm a large water filtration area. This area has its own gas-fired air handling unit on the roof that is dedicated to

In the system illustrated, the ventilation control panel monitors heating demands in the compressor room and in the open-filter area. When heating is needed, the controller will modulate the exhaust damper, recirculation dampers and the reclaim dampers simultaneously to maintain temperature in the compressor room.

Once the compressor’s room temperature has been satisfied, the majority of the excess warm air will then be directed into the filter room by modulating the exhaust, recirculation and reclaim dampers. When both rooms have been satisfied, any excess warm air will be discharged outside through the exhaust dampers.

The ventilation control panel will be able to manage the temperature, humidity and pressurization in the filter area. It will also maintain a slight positive pressure by modulating the roof mounted exhaust fan variable frequency drive.

DON’T OVERLOOK THE WATER When moving air in a system that’s reclaiming energy, it can be beneficial to take humidity into consideration. In the example above, since the area is an open-water filter bed, humidity needed to be maintained to prevent mould and 100

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mildew from growing on the floor, walls and ceiling. We have included a controller that will monitor the space humidity and, in the event that the outdoor humidity level is greater (field adjustable) than the humidity parameter that’s been preset for the filter area, the compressor air will be exhausted.

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Keeping the

Jason Boyd is the LEED-accredited marketing manager fo for Dobbin Sales Ltd., the Canadian aagency age ncy for S Sloan Valve Company, and is also tthe he general manager at NEO Valves Ltd. He can ca an be reached reac at jboyd@dobbinsales.com.

Vandals at bay The state of a washroom has a huge impact on the perception and behaviour of a user. When facilities are well designed, cleaned and maintained, the odds of vandalism occurring are significantly reduced.

I

t is a fact of life, public washrooms are destined to be sprayed, marked up, smashed, bashed or otherwise destroyed in some way, shape or form.

It is unfortunate, but when you consider that there are tens of thousands of schools, malls, recreation centres and various other public washroom spaces across Canada, with millions of users every day, the reality is that there is always going to be those among us more interested in vandalising the washroom than using it for its intended use.

The problem is so prevalent that police associations across Canada estimate that graffiti costs taxpayers over $1.4 billion annually. There is even a term for bathroom graffiti: Latrinalia.

Intelligent washroom design and product installation can help limit most forms of vandalism. Unfortunately nothing is 100 per cent foolproof, and there will always be those who choose to destroy property, and some will go to considerable lengths to cause damage.

The first element to reducing vandalism is to identify the type of facility and typical user group most frequently present, and selecting products and basing designs on the expected users. It can also help to break the restroom down into sections – water closet, urinal, hand washing and hand drying – to address specific concerns in each task area.

WATER CLOSETS AND URINALS Sensor-operated flush products should always be a consideration for public washrooms because this eliminates the want to “kick-flush” or otherwise leave a fixture unflushed.

Sensors may create another potential point of vandalism, but the improved level of hygiene generally helps to promote a cleaner space, and a cleaner space is less likely to be vandalized.

Sensor-operated flushing products can be both exposed in front of the wall or concealed behind the wall. Concealed is an ideal choice, especially when protected by a stainless steel or metal wall plate with vandalresistant screws for maintenance-only access.

Washroom partitions are always a target. Floor-to-ceiling options can help to reduce the instances of doors being ripped off hinges.

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BY DEFINITION Latrinalia is a type of deliberately inscribed marking made on latrines – bathrooms or lavatory walls. It can take the form of art, drawings or words, and may include poetry or personal reflections. While this can sometimes make for interesting reading, it is a huge issue for property managers and building maintenance personnel and carries astronomical costs to remove.

Materials of construction are important to consider as well, as some materials are more stain, scratch and impact resistant than others.

Sensor-operated flushing devices can be programmed to have a sentinel flush which goes off automatically at a pre-determined interval.

They can also be programmed to eliminate multiple flushes, which can occur when the override button is pressed repeatedly.

If manual flushing devices are being used, it is important to use ones that are considered “non-hold open,” meaning that even if a user is deliberately holding the handle in an open position, the device only flushes once. This feature can eliminate flooding and preempt potential vandals.

continued on page 104

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04660

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04662

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04663

for 3" plastic pipe

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PB4

04664

for 4" plastic pipe

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0.3

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HAND WASHING AREAS Eliminating touch points is the first step to eliminating vandalism, so sensor-operated faucets are a good option to consider.

Standard infrared sensor faucets can be prone to having the sensors marked or scratched if they are being used in vandal-prone areas, so it is important to select a faucet that has a concealed or hidden sensor. Out of sight; out of mind.

Capacitance hands-free faucet technology may also be an option. These do not have a sensor window that can be targeted. Capacitance products turn on as a user draws their hands close to the faucet body, and is a potential alternative for high abuse facilities.

The sink or hole type is also a factor. Single-hole faucets can be grabbed and spun around much more easily than a 4” low-profile centreset. Some manufacturers offer faucets with vandal-resistant pins on the base to try and eliminate spinning or turning.

Faucet outlets or aerators should always be vandal resistant no matter what flow of water they are delivering.

A vandal-resistant outlet can only be adjusted with a special key held by the installer or maintenance person.

continued from page 102

Standard outlets like the ones found on residential faucets can easily be removed by hand.

Many sensor-operated faucets require components to be mounted below the deck (i.e. solenoids, mixing valves or soap reservoirs). All of these components can be targets for vandals, which means that sink and counter selection are critical to reducing these opportunities.

Wash fountains with a stainless steel or other solid surface shroud are a good option. When wall-hung basins are being used, as is the case in many institutional applications, consideration needs to be given to some type of vandal-proof box that can be recessed in the wall below the sink.

The challenge in design is to make the components as invisible as possible in order to avoid mischief, while still allowing for easy maintenance access.

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STYLE VS FUNCTION In recent years, commercial plumbing manufacturers have combined their traditional heavy duty products with more design-friendly options. As such, public spaces can look good and still provide a high level of hygiene and durability.

Depending on the typical user and expected traffic, comfort options like dual-flush toilets, temperature mixing faucets and foaming soap can all be implemented without sacrificing vandal resistance.

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HAND-DRYING STATIONS The most effective way to prevent excess mess and vandalism is to provide a heavy duty, wall-mounted, sensor-operated hand dryer. Hand dryers eliminate excess paper waste and reduce the chances of flooding from a vandal clogging or plugging a sink or fixture with paper towels.

A new trend emerging in this area are combined fixtures that allow for water, soap and air drying at one location over the sink. Several manufacturers have launched products like this, and they are an excellent option for high traffic, vandal-prone areas.

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HYDRONICS

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Thermostatic mixing,

AND MORE Perhaps the most common three-port valve is the thermostatic mixing valve. This valve has a C port, an H port and a third port, sometimes labelled M. So the valve mixes cold water with hot water to provide a mixed temperature.

Typically these thermostatic valves are piped at or near a domestic water heater or a DHW storage tank. This allows the tank to be operated at higher temperature than the water supplied to the building.

More energy can be stored in the water in the tank at elevated temperatures, but it is necessary to protect the users from DHW temperatures that could burn or scald them. Depending on the application, 110 to 120°F is a common temperature for DHW delivery.

In addition to energy storage, another reason for storing DHW above 140°F is to lessen the potential for bacterial growth.

The thermostatic valve can also be used to mix temperatures in a radiant heating system. High temperature fluid from a boiler or heat source is blended with the cool returning flow to achieve the required mixed temperature.

On the right

) W O (FL PATH V

Another common application for a thermostatic three-port valve is boilerr return temperature protection. The valve ensures sures the temperature at the return port doesn’t drop rop below the required temperature. This ensures es the boiler does not sweat, or condense, for extended periods.

Well, when piping hydronic and solar systems, you occasionally need to divert the flow of fluid in different directions, or to temper water temperatures, so valves were happen. We commonly call developed to allow this to ha these three-way valves, but I prefer to call them three-port valves, as the flow doesn’t ne necessarily flow three ways, or directions.

Inside a thermostatic mix valve is a fairly straightforward construction. ction. The body has multiple ports that are open pen or closed by a floating spool or cartridge. dge.

while they can provide a And whil temp temperature-blending function, ofte often the valve diverts flow to one dire direction or the other.

The spool moves up and down by force applied by the thermal “pill” inside. The thermall pill is filled with a heat sensitive fluid or wax.

L Let’s have a look at some of the vvalves you’ll likely see in the field, but rem remember, these are just a few of

Temperature causes that hat sensitive pill to expand or contract and slide the spool. The spool opens or closes the ports quickly and accurately to provide a stable output temperature. re.

LOCATION MATTERS

Thermostatic valves can an be adjustable, or designed for a fixed temperature perature range. The boiler return protection valve iss commonly specified as a fixed temperature.

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alves with more than one connection: Why is it necessary to provide so many choices for water to flow?

B u s i n e s s

A valve installed near the tank or heating appliance is called a point of distribution valve. If the valve is installed near the fixture it is called a point of use valve.

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• Thermostatic mixing, and more • Location matters • Match the use

Bypass and diverting EXAMPLE 1

1

Bypass and diverting EXAMPLE LE 2

Creating a diversion

2

A three-port valve can be built as a bypass or diverting ing valve. One example of this is a three-port ball valve. In the valve pictured, the bypass style allows flow to go straight across the valve, or bypass, to the third port.

A diverting valve has one flow into the valve, and two flows out.

The bypass valve has wide-open flow across the valve. It basically performs as a full port ball valve. In the bypass mode, flow is reduced as the side of the ball is machined with a smaller dimension passage.

A three-port valve can be equipped with a motorized actuator. A threeport zone valve will typically have connection ports labelled A, B and AB, and flow can enter the valve at the AB port and go one of two directions, either to A port or B port. Check with the manufacturer’s specifications on application, however, since a valve can often be arranged so that a blended temperature fluid can be generated out of the AB port, with a pair of flows entering through the A and B ports. The graphic shows a typical flapper or paddle-style zone valve in a three-port configuration.

Manually operated three-port valves can also be used on radiant mixing applications.

This type of valve will not provide an accurate mixed temperature, however, as the blended temperature cannot automatically adjust to temperature changes at the A or B port. Most manual three-port mixing valves have provisions to mount an actuator on them for automatic, variable temperature mixing control.

The diverting valve has the same flow coefficient in either direction.

the more common three-port valve designs. Manufacturers can design and engineer three-port valves to match exact system requirements.

In addition, actuators can be added to some valves to allow control via input from a controller that modulates the position of the valve. This can allow for precise temperature control.

The installer, designer and supplier need to determine what the application requires. Considerations can include flow rates, pressure shut off, control accuracy, code compliance, desire for automatic or manual operation, end switch requirements, low-lead compliance, type of connection, and more. Contact your supplier, rep, or manufacturer to assist you in selecting the appropriate valve for your application.

WARNING A word of caution when using a thermostatic mix valve on heating applications: Pay attention to the Cv number.

Select a valve that can flow the gpm you need without excessive pressure drop. Most manufacturers offer high flow versions of their mixing valves.

There is no “one type fits all” valve on the shelves. But the good news is that you have lots of options to create a “custom fit” application.

MATCH THE USE Thermostatic mixing valves often carry an ASSE listing for various applications.

Make sure the valve you choose and install is listed for your application. For up-to-date information on ASSE listings, visit asse-plumbing.org and consult with the valve supplier or manufacturer to guide you through the ASSE maze.

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

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CIPH gets elevated in B.C. More than 240 industry delegates and companions descended on the Okanagan Valley for CIPH ABC 2014, held in Kelowna, B.C., over the summer. Working to the theme of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Elevating our Passion,â&#x20AC;? and within sight of spectacular views of three mountain ranges, including the Rockies, attendees were treated to an impressive slate of business sessions and entertainment. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The world needs plumbers, and heating,â&#x20AC;? attested the eventâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s opening speaker, Matt Hill. Hill, the creator of Run For One Planet, ran more than 15,000 kilometres across Canada and the United States to inspire environmental action among young people. He shared stories from the road about the people who inspired, and continue to inspire, him.

Business analyst Michael Campbell, the host of Money Talks, took the focus from reaching out to youth to touching on the aging population, with a bit of business advice worked in. Âş iĂ?Ă&#x152; Ă&#x17E;i>Ă&#x20AC;] vÂ&#x153;Ă&#x20AC; Ă&#x152;Â&#x2026;i wĂ&#x20AC;Ă&#x192;Ă&#x152; Ă&#x152;Â&#x2C6;Â&#x201C;i] Ă&#x152;Â&#x2026;iĂ&#x20AC;i Ă&#x153;Â&#x2C6;Â?Â? Li Â&#x201C;Â&#x153;Ă&#x20AC;i >Â&#x2DC;>`Â&#x2C6;>Â&#x2DC;Ă&#x192; Â&#x153;Ă&#x203A;iĂ&#x20AC; Ă&#x152;Â&#x2026;i >}i Â&#x153;v Ă&#x2C6;x Ă&#x152;Â&#x2026;>Â&#x2DC; Ă&#x2022;Â&#x2DC;`iĂ&#x20AC; ÂŁx]Âť Â&#x2026;i Ă&#x192;Ă&#x152;>Ă&#x152;i`° That change in demographics brings challenges that successful companies will need to adjust to. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I cannot recall a single successful business that has been successful by maintaining the status quo,â&#x20AC;? he warned. Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2DC;`Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2DC;} Ă&#x152;Â&#x2026;i Ă&#x20AC;Â&#x2C6;}Â&#x2026;Ă&#x152; ÂŤ>Ă&#x152;Â&#x2026; V>Â&#x2DC; Li `Â&#x2C6;vwVĂ&#x2022;Â?Ă&#x152;] >Â&#x2DC;` Â&#x2C6;Ă&#x152; Â&#x201C;>Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x152;>Â&#x17D;i Ă&#x192;iĂ&#x203A;iĂ&#x20AC;>Â? >Ă&#x152;Ă&#x152;iÂ&#x201C;ÂŤĂ&#x152;Ă&#x192; Ă&#x152;Â&#x153; wÂ&#x2DC;` > Ă&#x20AC;Â&#x153;Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x152;i Ă&#x152;Â&#x153; Ă&#x192;Ă&#x2022;VViĂ&#x192;Ă&#x192;] although perhaps not as many attempts as guest speaker Sean Aiken. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When I was young I was asked, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;What do you want to be when you grow up?â&#x20AC;&#x2122; and I really didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know what that question meant,â&#x20AC;? explained Aiken. Unsure of what to do with his life, he embarked on The One 7iiÂ&#x17D; Â&#x153;L *Ă&#x20AC;Â&#x153;Â?iVĂ&#x152;] Ă&#x153;Â&#x153;Ă&#x20AC;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2DC;} xĂ&#x201C; Â?Â&#x153;LĂ&#x192; Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2DC; xĂ&#x201C; Ă&#x153;iiÂ&#x17D;Ă&#x192; Ă&#x152;Â&#x153; Ă&#x152;Ă&#x20AC;Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x152;Â&#x153; wÂ&#x2DC;` > V>Ă&#x20AC;iiĂ&#x20AC; Ă&#x152;Â&#x2026;>Ă&#x152; Ă&#x153;Â&#x153;Ă&#x2022;Â?` Â&#x2C6;}Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2C6;Ă&#x152;i Â&#x2026;Â&#x2C6;Ă&#x192; ÂŤ>Ă&#x192;Ă&#x192;Â&#x2C6;Â&#x153;Â&#x2DC;° 7Â&#x2026;>Ă&#x152; did he learn along the way? â&#x20AC;&#x153;My passion is to explore and to help others.â&#x20AC;?

Perhaps one of the most inspiring messages came from keynote speaker Warren Macdonald, who talked about perspective and turning obstacles into opportunities. A double amputee, Macdonald continues Ă&#x152;Â&#x153; VÂ?Â&#x2C6;Â&#x201C;L Â&#x201C;Â&#x153;Ă&#x2022;Â&#x2DC;Ă&#x152;>Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2DC;Ă&#x192; >Â&#x2DC;` vĂ&#x20AC;Â&#x153;âiÂ&#x2DC; Ă&#x153;>Ă&#x152;iĂ&#x20AC;v>Â?Â?Ă&#x192; `iĂ&#x192;ÂŤÂ&#x2C6;Ă&#x152;i Â&#x2026;>Ă&#x203A;Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2DC;} Ă&#x152;Â&#x153; Ă&#x20AC;i`iwÂ&#x2DC;i Â&#x2026;Â&#x2C6;Ă&#x192; LÂ&#x153;Ă&#x2022;Â&#x2DC;`>Ă&#x20AC;Â&#x2C6;iĂ&#x192; >vĂ&#x152;iĂ&#x20AC; Ă&#x152;Â&#x2026;i >VVÂ&#x2C6;`iÂ&#x2DC;Ă&#x152; that changed his life. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m way more interested in the things that I can do than the things I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t,â&#x20AC;? said Macdonald. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When you change the way you see the world, we actually change the world.â&#x20AC;? ciph.com

1. Keynote speaker Warren Macdonald talks about his life-changing experience, and how perspective can change obstacles into opportunities. 2. HRAI chairman Marc Gendron brings greetings from his association. 3. Incoming CIPH chair Paul McDonald welcomes guests and delegates. 4. Guest speaker, and voice of such characters as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Raphael and Tenderheart Bear on Care Bears, Matt Hill talked about inspiring action in young people. 5. Peter and Sian Smith at Mission Hill Family Estate Winery. 6. Sean Giberson and Debbie Jamieson. 7. Improvisational actor Roman Danylo picks out Dan Milroy to help him out with a scene. 8. Outgoing CIPH chair Robert Whitty presents outgoing Canadian Hydronics Council chair Sean Giberson with his gavel of ofďŹ ce. 9. The cask room at Mission Hill Family Estate Winery.

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ch presents ent Stephen Ko 5. COHA presid ficate of Bouchard a certi Granby’s Mario long-time r his company’s appreciation fo symposium. support of the cDonald median Mike M 6. Canadian co g dinner at the ed house durin ck pa a s in rta ente eau Laurier.

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PHOTOS HRAI brings its brand to Montreal

The Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute

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Managing your brand and your message is important in today’s world of homestars.com, angieslist.com and yelp.ca, so it was fitting that HRAI kicked off its 2014 conference, held in August in Montreal, with one of the nation’s top branding and creativity experts, Ron Tite.

“It used to be that you could tell two people if you received bad service. Now you can reach 2 million,” said Tite, an award-winning advertising writer who has worked with such brands as Kraft and Microsoft. “There’s been a massive change in the world in which we live.” He suggested that a company that adds value to their customer, through making their lives easier or saving them time, will enhance their brand. “Great brands add value, and so do great people.”

The conference, which was themed “Building the industry brand” saw more than 220 industry professionals head to Montreal to attend business sessions, discuss industry issues and attend the annual general meeting.

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Those in the refrigeration and air conditioning sector were interested in a panel discussion about refrigerants, where Rob Flipse (Gordon Latham), Dennis Kozina (Copeland), Jim Flowers (Linde Canada), Tom Boutette (B&B Trade Distribution Centre) and Ron Vogl (Honeywell) talked about changes to regulations, the emergence of alternatives to HCFC and HFC refrigerants, and the potential delisting of a number of high GWP refrigerants by the EPA in the U.S. in the next year-and-a-half, and the impact that could have in Canada.

A special treat during the conference for Montreal Canadiens fans was a visit

by Jacques Demers, who discussed what it takes to build a winning team. “The only way to reach the top is hard work,” said the former coach. “And when you reach the top, you need to remember there’s always someone else 1. Jim Baston discusses sales strategies. coming behind you.” Next year’s conference is scheduled for August 26 to 29, at Caesars Windsor in Windsor, Ont. 2. Jim Flowers (left) presents outgoing chair hrai.ca Marc Gendron with a plaque.

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3. Donna and Tom Vasilak.

4. Former NHL coach, Jacques Demers talks about a strong team.

5. Dennis Kozina takes part in a panel discussion on the future of refrigerants.

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6. The chair’s banquet.

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7. Ron Tite discussing the changing landscape of brands and marketing.

8. Nancy McKeraghan, an HRAI pastchair, takes part in the national assembly discussion.

9. Warren Heeley (left) helps magician Matthew DiSero with his act.

10. Caroline Czajko, is recognized for 25 years of service.

11. Eric Foren accepts his President’s Recognition Award.

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12. William Whitten of Rosetown Central Refrigeration and Air Conditioning in Brampton, Ont., received the Craig McCarty Memorial Award.

13. Jim Flowers (left) is presented with a Manufacturers Division award by Rick Ellul, chair of the division.

14. Rick Falke talks about increasing HVAC efficiency and improving comfort for homeowners.

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15. Honeywell’s Ron Vogl discusses GWP ratings and emerging refrigerant options.

16. The business sessions attracted an engaged audience.

17. HRAI recognizes the conference sponsors.

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18. HRAI president Warren Heeley addresses attendees.

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113

VENTILATION

By Andy Krug

Garage IAQ and

Home ,QŵOWUDWLRQ G

arage ventilation has come more into focus since Health Canada found that benzene, a fuel additive, is three-times stronger in homes with attached garages versus those without.

Benzene is a recognized carcinogen that can be produced from car emissions, as well as from household products such as paint supplies and adhesives.

Health Canada reports that more than half of all single-family homes in Canada have an attached garage, and higher concentrations of indoor air pollutants could potentially result from:

OFF-GASSING OF VEHICLES, GAS-POWERED TOOLS AND FUEL STORAGE CONTAINERS; AIR LEAKAGE THROUGH THE GARAGE WALL AND CEILING INTO THE HOME; AND PRESSURE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND GARAGE THAT FORCE AIR IN. Carbon monoxide (CO) is also considered a major indoor air pollutant that can result from automobile exhaust. The U.S.

Center for Disease Control claims that unintentional CO exposure accounts for an estimated 15,000 emergency department visits and 500 unintentional deaths in the United States each year.

Government health agencies warn against idling vehicles in the garage as even low concentrations of CO can cause fatigue, headaches and impaired motor skills. Very high levels of exposure can result in coma, convulsions or death.

Last year, Yukon became the first territory in Canada to require a carbon monoxide detector in every home with an indoor gas appliance or attached garage.

The Asthma Society of Canada identifies garages as polluted spaces and offers tips such as weather-stripping the interior door leading from the garage to the house, using a ventilation fan to exhaust fumes, and avoiding use of a remote starter when the car is in the garage.

TESTING THE OPTIONS

LOOKING SOUTH Prompted by a lack of field measurements on the subject, and indications from prior studies that air flows from garages could comprise up to 45 per cent of the total air transferred to living spaces, ASHRAE is currently conducting an 18-month research project on the subject.

For the past two years, techniques to reduce the transfer of garage pollutants into the home have been under evaluation in the National Research Council of Canada’s IAQ test house in Ottawa.

Researchers at the site have been monitoring leakage rates and air movement, while comparing the energy use of different ventilation and air control methods. The effectiveness of ventilation fans with sensing technology, improved air sealing between the garage and living space, and control of the air pressure are all under study. The

The scope is similar to that of the Canadian NRC study with air flow measurements and evaluations of various remediation methods.

The ASHRAE research is expected to wrap up in May 2015. Results and recommendations will likely be published in July 2015.

continued on page 116

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VENTILATION

continued from from page page 114 32 continued

results of the research are expected to be published shortly.

This is not the first attempt by Canadian government agencies to understand the degree to which attached garages compromise the indoor air quality of a home. In 2004, a series of tests were completed on 42 homes in three cities in Canada.

Documents published by the Canada Housing and Mortgage Corporation summarize the findings as follows: • Attached garage-to-house leakage accounted for approximately 10 to 13 per cent of total house leakage.

• In cases of garage-to-house transfer, carbon monoxide concentrations were within acceptable exposure limits of Health Canada recommendations.

• Garage-based emissions could cause significant indoor air quality problems in the home if more than 25 per cent of house leakage occurred through the garage.

Three remediation strategies were evaluated as part of the study: air sealing, use of a transfer grille and installation of an exhaust fan. All proved effective at lowering concentrations of pollutants in both the house and garage.

Air sealing was determined to be the best first step to combat the transfer of garage pollutants to indoor air. In addition to air sealing, use of a garage exhaust fan may also be needed to achieve acceptable IAQ levels in the home, the study indicated.

CODES & STANDARDS ASHRAE Standard 62-89 included a ventilation requirement for residential garages of 100 cfm per automobile. That requirement was assumed to have been met by air leakage. Since then, studies have concluded that there are times when air leakage is inadequate to control garage-sourced pollutants.

A 2007 addendum to ASHRAE 62.2 contained specific requirements for separating the garage from the living space. The standard states that the design must prevent migration of contaminants to the adjoining occupiable space. Doors between garages and occupiable spaces should be gasketed or made airtight with weather-stripping.

The addendum also addresses HVAC systems in garages, including air handlers and return ducts, as having total air leakage of no more than six per cent of total fan flow.

Ontario building codes require exhaust fume barriers and self-closing devices on doors between an attached or built-in garage and the dwelling unit.

Out west, in B.C., building codes warn that winter season stack action can generate continuous pressure between the garage and the dwelling unit, capable of moving potentially contaminated air into the home.

And Saskatchewan codes state that the wall between an attached garage and a house does not need to be a fire separation, but it must provide an effective barrier to gas and exhaust fumes. Additionally,

LOOKING FOR MORE INFORMATION? The Home Ventilating Institute asserts that mechanical ventilation plays a critical role in maintaining acceptable indoor air quality in homes. The organization, whose membership represents leading ventilation equipment manufactures in Canada and the U.S. publishes an active list of residential ventilation products and their certified performance ratings. The Certified Products Directory is made available at hvi.org.

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connecting doors must be tight-fitted, weather-stripped, and have a self-closing device.

In the U.S., the International Residential Code (IRC) and the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) both call for air sealing between the home and the garage. Exhaust fans are required for shared garage spaces.

The IRC stipulates self-closing devices on doors separating the dwelling unit from an attached garage, air sealing between the garage and conditioned space, and forbids ducts that service the indoors from also opening into the garage.

Energy Star Certified Homes, version 3, revision 7, mandates that ventilation air comes direct from the outdoors, not from adjacent dwelling units, garages, crawlspaces or attics. Additionally, doors adjacent to an unconditioned space (attics, garages, basements) must be made substantially air-tight with weather-stripping or an equivalent gasket.

In homes with exhaust-only ventilation, builders that seek the EPA’s Indoor airPLUS designation must install a minimum capacity 70 CFM exhaust fan in the garage that vents directly to the outdoors, or verify that the garage-to-house air barrier can maintain a nominal pressure difference. The EPA recommends use of an Energy Star qualified exhaust fan in garage spaces that are used for work or recreational activities.

LEED awards a point for detached or no garage, and for installing a garage exhaust fan rated for continuous operation.

Andy Krug, is a member of the Home Ventilating Institute’s Board of Directors. For more about ventilation and the HVI’s activities, visit their website, www. hvi.org. To contact Andy, send an e-mail to hvi@hvi.org.

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PLUMBING

B y Fr ed B r et zk e

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.

A

s school commences each fall, I like to ask apprentices about the kind of work they do in the field, as there are so many different aspects of the plumbing and heating trades.

At SAIT, it’s usually related to new construction, but from time to time – especially with fourth year plumbing students – we get to talk about service work. And service calls for plumbing often

involve some form of leak, many of which take place in the bathroom.

There’s nothing worse than a leaky bathroom, especially when the source of the leak is not obvious.

Being in the service industry for over 30 years, I’ve definitely come across many shower leaks. Locating them can be expensive and time consuming, and homeowners don’t typically appreciate it when their bathrooms end up looking like a war zone, with broken holes scattered thought the drywall caused by a plumber in search of an elusive drip.

Of course, not finding them can attribute to a serious issue that concerns homeowners across Canada, mould.

MOULD

LEAK LEADERS

Potential health concerns from indoor mould include eye, nose and throat irritation, coughing and phlegm build-up, wheezing and shortness of breath, allergic reactions and symptoms of asthma.

What are the most common culprits when it comes to leaks in a bathroom? With the exception of toilet wax or rubber seal leaking on a toilet, all things point to the shower.

Shower-related leaks include hairline cracked shower tile leaks, glass shower doors leaking at their base or door, and finally, the nastiest of the leaks, the shower drain.

Shower drain leaks are the worst because they typically leave the plumber with no choice but to rip them out.

CONSULTING CODES In public showers, the National Plumbing Code (NPC) dictates that we must have no more than six showerheads to every one drain, and the showerheads must be 750 mm apart from each other.

It also dictates that the drain(s) must be installed under the showerhead(s) with the floor sloping towards it for hygienic reasons.

Public shower drains are sized according to the amount of showerheads in NPC’s Table 2.4.9.3.

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In residential showers, the previously stated rules are not required as they are private showers, so distances between showerheads become irrelevant.

Wherever the drain goes, the flooring or tile installer must slope the floor towards the installed and graded drain.

By code, all private showers have to have a minimum 1-1/2” drain; however most plumbers put in 2” drains since they are better suited to drain away the body hair that collects in them. continued on page 120

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PLUMBING

continued from page 118

INSTALL IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME The most common of all shower drains is the membrane drain. This drain must be installed correctly if you want the consumer to get many years of leak-free service out of their shower. How do we best go about this? The answer is simple. By leaving no chance of water pooling or pocketing under the drain, because this is what causes the leaks.

Here are the steps to ensure a leak-free shower installation: 1. Cut the centre hole for the shower drain in the floor and place the plastic shower drain in the hole to recognize the depth distance between the shower base floor and the top of the drain, where the membrane is inserted.

2. A lower layer of gypsum concrete, or dry pack concrete, must be installed first on the shower base floor. This is necessary so that the plumber can fill up the depth distance from the floor to the plastic drain. This is vital in order to

preventing possible future pooling of wastewater under the plastic drain.

3. The membrane must be big enough to be laid on a 36-inch shower base or floor and be able to be tacked up six to 12 inches up the walls.

4. Form a second layer of gypsum concrete on top of the membrane and grade this towards the centre drain. The shower is now ready for tiling.

SHOWER SELECTION I have been asked over the years, what is the best type of shower to install: a tile shower or an acrylic shower? Whether they’re one-, two- or three-piece showers, acrylic are a great choice since they are usually leak-free. However, I will always say a tile shower is better simply because I prefer the look, as long as they’re installed correctly.

WATER FOLLOWS THE EASIEST PATH There is a famous saying that your car never acts up in front of the mechanic; well, your plumbing never leaks while the plumber is there.

This is truer than you know.

Fellow SAIT instructor Blair Howes recently recounted a story to me about the hardest shower leak he ever came across. This leak took four days to discover.

On Day 1, he made a service call to a customer who had complained that his shower was leaking. Blair went through the typical routine of turning on the shower and spraying all the walls to see if he could recreate the leak. There were obvious water stains on the drywall ceiling beneath the shower, so this is where he placed himself to locate the leak.

Nothing happened.

He then ran the tub tap only, to see if the tub tap was the source of the leak. Nothing happened.

Next, Blair taped a wall of plastic across the shower to imitate a human body to see which tile or walls the shower sprayed.

Nothing happened.

Over the process of four days he hit the customer with questions

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such as, “When do you take a shower? How many people use the shower? How many times a day do they use it?”

Still, nothing stood out as abnormal.

Finally as a last resort, he started cutting holes in the wall and ceiling below to see if he could trace the leak.

Water stains were found all around and under the shower and tub, LÕÌ Ì } i> i` Ü i i Ü>Ã Ì iÀi] iÛi Ü i i w i` Ì i ÌÕL right to the top and drained it.

Then, nonchalantly as they were talking, both Blair and the customer realized it had rained four days before, so he climbed up on the roof and commenced showering the tiled roof with a garden hose.

Sure enough, water started leaking through the roof, down to the attic rafters, then followed a perfect path right to the shower wall, dripped down the wall and showed up directly under the shower.

In other words, if all else fails, check the weather history. You never know what path a water leak can take.

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HYDRONICS

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

What’s that

Sound?

Diagnosing a boiler system by ear

N

ow I’m not advocating that your ears should be your default method of system diagnosis, but sometimes they can be a major troubleshooting tool on a jobsite. When there’s a very obvious sound, it can help to have some idea of potential causes for the sound, and what trouble it might indicate, before you start taking things apart.

Here are some general ideas about some of the sounds you might hear from heating equipment, and how the noise may relate to specific problems.

RUSHING WATER NOISE IN PIPES

M e c h a n i c a l

No joke, but I’ve seen ÃÌiÌ ÃV «ià ÕÃi` Ì i wi `° They are used to pinpoint a à ÕÀVi v Ãi > L iÀ ÃÞÃÌi ] ÕÃÕ> Þ Ü Ì Ì i L iÀ ÌÃi v°

BANGING OR POPPING NOISES DURING FIRING

As a general statement, I’m going to say that these noises typically aren’t the fault of the heating system. With no air in the heating pipes, there really shouldn’t be any sloshing or watery noise. Most of these issues relate to the plumbing system.

However, in a few cases, water could be moving so quickly through the pipes that it could be actually causing what is commonly referred to as “velocity noise.” If you are hearing this noise, and it’s truly in the heating system, then a fix needs to be implemented since the heating pipes are being worn out.

Regardless of how clean the system fluid is, a water velocity of eight feet per second, or more, is going to cause wear on the inside the pipes, which can lead to pinhole leaks.

The primary causes of velocity noise are either an oversized pump, or the lack of a differential pressure bypass. In this latter case, only a few zones may be operating, and all the flow from a main system pump is being forced through those few zones.

In both cases, I would call it a system design problem, or the installation does not match a proper design.

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Generally this means kettling – the water inside the boiler is flashing to steam due to the boiler’s inability to pass the heat into the water, and to have the water carry the heat away before it superheats.

There are a few causes of this behaviour.

The simplest explanation is a lack of flow, or insufficient flow. The water is being overheated inside the boiler, and the water isn’t moving, or isn’t moving fast enough, for the amount of heat being generated by the boiler’s burner. However, insufficient flow has several causes as well.

If you have flow meters on the system, or if the boiler can display a measured flow rate, this possibility

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is easy to check. If not, it may be possible to check for flow by simply feeling the inlet and outlet pipes to the boiler (do this carefully, however, as the outlet could be hot!).

A pump indicator can also provide an indication of whether the pump is operating or not, but beware – a broken impeller inside the pump will make the pump indicator believe that the pump is moving water, but it might not be.

Again, simply checking the temperature of the pipes on either side of the pump could give you clues, but in this case, the pump itself could be generating heat, and the heat might be migrating down the outlet pipes, so check as far down the run as possible. Heat should be even along the entire length of the pipe. continued on page 124

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continued from page 122 continued from page 32

Possible pump problems that can cause insufficient flow include:

• Deadheading (backwards install, closed isolation valves); • Broken impeller; • Failed pump; • Debris jamming impeller or other blockages; and • An undersized pump.

A second possibility, which is more serious and more rare, but is one I’ve seen on multiple occasions, is that the interior of the heat exchanger has blockages or has been coated with a foreign substance (such as flux), and is no longer able to transfer heat to the water efficiently.

If this is the case, the specified pump rate for the boiler will no longer move the water quickly enough for the heat to be carried off before the water flashes to steam.

To solve this more serious issue, flushing the boiler with water or an approved cleaner may solve, or at least minimize, the problem.

The issue with blockages can be more serious, however. Some boilers on the market today have multiple-path heat exchangers, meaning that it’s very difficult to flush blockages through all the pathways, since your flushing will take the easiest path (that is, the ones that aren’t blocked).

Backflushing can sometimes help in this situation, but contact your boiler manufacturer or representative for the best approach.

WHINING OR SCREECHING These noises usually indicate failed bearings in pumps, or dry pumps. Both are relatively rare, but will annoy the homeowner like nothing else. In most cases you can easily locate and replace the offending pump.

Want to look like a superstar? If the homeowner is up to it, ask them to bring the phone into the boiler room where you might be able to diagnose the problem (and get the correct pump size) before you even step foot in the house.

LOUD, INTERMITTENT GROWLING OR HUMMING I’m not sure how else to describe this, but if you’ve heard some of the self-contained water make-up units, also known as system feeders, you’ll recognize the pump noise I’m talking about. The units use small, but typically-noisy pumps (especially some of the older designs of feeder).

I have one in my house and even after years of owning it my wife still asks me about the noise every fall, when the heating system starts up again.

It’s typically intermittent because the air separators gradually collect enough air to vent, causing the system feeder to run. If it really bothers the homeowner, you can replace the pump with a more recent model, which are typically quieter.

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HISSING NOISES These noises are a lot less common, but often come from the air vents. Unfortunately, this is usually the symptom of a bigger problem, such as a leak in the system, where air-laden makeup water is continually being introduced to the system, and the air separators are working overtime to vent it.

Alternately, the air vents could have failed and are now pulling air INTO the system, increasing the corrosion rate of all components.

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TECH TOOLBOX

B y S co t t B all

Field automation belongs in your

Toolbox

P

aper work orders could be costing your business a lot of money. How much? I know a company that switched from paper to electronic workflow for its field service force that estimated that invoicing delays and omissions due to lost or incomplete paperwork had accounted for a loss of up to 10 per cent of its revenue.

Yes, 10 per cent!

That takes into account money that can’t be billed until the work order is found (how often have you crawled around in a truck, poking under seats to find missing work orders), and signed work orders that don’t reflect all parts and labour.

And think about the other paper-based time wasters that add to costs: waiting at the parts counter for a requisition, for example, or going into a site blind because the equipment’s service history isn’t available off-hours.

Field service automation software on tablets can eliminate those problems. The time is ripe. A few years ago, when we were automating people who had never used a computer before, they resisted and said, “I like my paper; I like the way I do things now.” Today, most service technicians have experience with a personal mobile device. Many are asking, “Why can’t I use this in my job?”

Putting together a field automation system comes with costs, but the payback can be huge. Better customer service and asset management alone provide quick ROI, and the streamlined workflow will boost overall business productivity. Like any well-chosen tool, field automation will let technicians do their jobs more effectively, without getting in their way.

CONSUMER PRODUCTS ARE FOR CONSUMERS Consumer requirements are very different to those of a worker in the field, so choosing an automation solution isn’t just a matter of handing out iPads. Consumer-grade apps won’t do the job. Field service workers need their entire workflow at their fingertips, with secure ties to back office functions like service history, inventory and accounting.

And while many consumers are willing to work with a

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APP VS SOFTWARE When we talk about apps and software, it’s important to remember that an app is software, but software isn’t necessarily an app.

Today we call programs that run on mobile devices such as smartphones “apps”. Think of an app as a snack – a standalone program that does one thing, hopefully well. It doesn’t have to talk to external data sources, but it usually does.

A software package, on the other hand, is a full meal. It usually runs on a PC, Mac, or tablet, and can be as small as an app, or an end-to-end system that handles all aspects of field service automation workflow, from dispatch and work order processing to inventory management and invoicing. smartphone that lasts less than a day, because it’s new and it’s cool, in the field, workers need all-day battery life.

Consider usability as well. Can the device and its software be used when the worker is wearing gloves? Is the screen visible in all lighting conditions? How will technicians enter text on a tablet with no keyboard? And is the device rugged enough to survive harsh working environments in the field?

Can it handle the dust and grime, rain and snow, and the inevitable bumps and accidental drops?

Scott Ball is the country manager of Motion Computing, a company that provides integrated mobile technologies for the construction market, as well as other industries with mobile workforces. He can be reached at sball@motioncomputing.com.

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ROAD WARRIOR

B y A n d r ew S n ook

Photos: Mark Eleven Photography

Name: Jeff Johnson Nickname: J.J. Company: Arpi’s Industries Job title: Lead service technician, residential department Been in the industry: 13 years Trade school: SAIT Age: 31 Lives in: Calgary

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M

ore than a decade ago, while studying to become a paramedic, Jeff Johnson was earning extra cash driving a delivery truck for Arpi’s Industries, a Calgary-based plumbing and HVAC company. He never expected his delivery job to grow into a career, but his move to HVAC has been one with few regrets.

“It was luck of the draw, I guess,” he says while taking a break from his most recent job in Carstairs, Alta., where he is servicing an older furnace and installing a new air condiM e c h a n i c a l

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tioner. “While I was in paramedic school, my cousin started installing equipment [at Arpi’s]. He told me it was fun.”

Jeff decided he would try his hand at working on equipment as well, and his career path quickly changed.

“It’s kind of funny, because I never really liked tools,” he says. “I kind of fell into it and started loving it, especially the learning aspect… it’s exciting.”

Favourite tool in your toolbox: My new digital air conditioning gauges.

What’s your favourite thing about the job?

There’s always so much to learn.

Technologies are always changing so there are always new products and new technologies that will keep you on your toes. I’m never bored.

Biggest pet peeve: When somebody says they’ll do something, and then doesn’t follow through with it.

Service area: Calgary and the surrounding area.

Favourite place to vacation: Costa Rica’s rainforests.

Any area you like to get dispatched to? Anywhere close to the mountains.

One place in the world you would like to visit: Papua, New Guinea

What’s your fondest memory on the job? Back when I was delivering for Arpi’s we got a delivery to go west towards the mountains. It was wintertime. When we got there, there was a huge crew of people working on the house. They were making a pot of chili down in the basement. They invited us down to join them for their lunch. It was a fun day.

Farthest place you ever travelled from home: Borneo

What radio station do you listen to during the day? Sportsnet 960, The Fan Favourite movie: Dumb and Dumber Favourite magazine (aside from Mechanical Business): Sports Illustrated Favourite cartoon as a kid: The Simpsons Favourite TV show: Game of Thrones Favourite drive-thru restaurant: Wendy’s Favourite food: Sushi Favourite beverage: Rum and Coke Favourite car: Nissan GT-R Favourite sport: Hockey

If you could be an animal, what would you be? Bald eagle. I love birds.

One word that describes you: Adventurous If you could meet anyone, alive or dead, who would it be? Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin If I was Prime Minister for a day, I wo would... try and do something ggood, oo not sure what though. I’m n ot a politician. not M My rule of thumb is... live life to tthe fullest. For work it would be, th ““Measure twice, cut once.”

If I had $100,000 dollars to invest on behalf of my company, I would... invest in commercial real estate.

DID YOU KNOW?

When I was a kid, I wanted to be... an actor.

• Jeff has swam with sharks – multiple times.

If I had tomorrow off work, I would spend the day... going rafting down the Bow River.

The best advice somebody has given you is: Put as much money down on your mortgage as possible, to be mortgage-free as soon as possible.

• He has visited rainforests in Costa Rica, Borneo, the Amazon and the Galapagos Islands. He’s travelled to more than 30 countries. By the time he dies, he wants to visit at least one country for every year he lived.

• Jackie Chan is one of his favourite actors, and he got to meet him.

Favourite sports team: Calgary Flames

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REFRIGERATION

continued from page 208

B y S h an e W illiams

Getting a handle on

LEAKS W

CONDITIONS MATTER A funny thing about leaks is that they can be elusive fellows. While larger leaks can be easy to spot with the right tools, some leaks will only exist under specific operational conditions. It could be beneficial to re-test systems under more than one operating condition as gas can escape at different times and at different rates.

hether commercial, industrial or residential in nature, every system that contains refrigerant has leaks. The ones that are easy to spot are the pound per second evacuations. On the other end of the scale are what most technicians aim to install – those systems that lose an ounce of refrigerant every million years or so – but if a pressurized system contains refrigerant, you can bet it has a leak of some size.

Joint fittings, seams and welds are typical locations for leaks. Given enough time, vibration and environmental stresses, even the small undetectable leaks can turn into larger, detectable ones that will require repair.

Most leaks will fall into one of six classifications, ranging from being detectible when the system is off, to being detectible during certain operating conditions.

Class 1. Standing Leaks (SL) are leaks that can be detected while the unit is at rest (off) and fully equalized. This includes freezer evaporative coils warmed up by defrost.

SL leaks, fortunately, are the most common of all.

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IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 1 0 . 1 4

• S i x c l a s s ificat io n s o f leaks Class 5. Combination Dependent Leaks (CDL) are ¾E[W XLEX VIUYMVI X[S SV more conditions in order to induce leakage. For example, temperature, vibration and pressure cause the discharge manifold on a semi-hermetic compressor to expand and seep gas.

Class 2. Pressure Dependent Leaks (PDL) are leaks that can only be detected as the pressure is built. Nitrogen is used to pressurize low sides to 150 psi and high sides to 450 psi. Never use CO2 or Oxygen to try to locate these leaks. Helium or dry air are acceptable. PDL testing should be conducted if no leaks are discovered by the SL test.

Class 3. Temperature Dependent Leaks (TDL) are leaks associated with the heat of expansion. TDL usually occurs from high ambient air, condenser blockage or during defrost.

Class 4. Vibration Dependent Leaks (VDL) occur only during unit operation. The mechanical strain of motion, VSXEXMSR VIJVMKIVERX ¾S[ or valve actuation are all associated with VDL.

Class 6. Cumulative MicroLeaks (CML) are, as the name suggests, an amalgam of all the individual leaks that are too small to detect with standard tools. The total loss over many years of operation slightly reduces the initial gas charge.

-R TVEGXMGI XLI QSVI ½XXMRKW [IPHW WIEQW SV KEWOIX ¾ERKIW a system has, the greater the amount of CML.

SENSING THE PROBLEM The basic leak detection toolkit starts with our senses; listening for large leaks, sniffing for certain gases, feeling for oil residue and looking for leaks by watching bubbles or foam actively brew at the point of leakage.

When leaks cannot be detected or located with our basic senses and tools, electronic instruments such as halogen instruments or helium mass spectrometer may be called into service.

Shane Williams is the HVAC/R product introduction and development manager at B.J. Williams & Assoc. Inc., the Canadian manufacturer’s representative agency for Refrigeration Technologies, a manufacturer of leak detection products & specialized HVAC/R chemicals. He can be reached at shane@actoolsource.com.

Leaks larger than a half-ounce per year can be detrimental to the operation of a refrigeration system.

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TOOLS

continued from page 208

B y BSyh an e Welle illiams M ich B eastall

A level approach to the

Jobsite A

s jobsite layouts continue to grow in complexity, traditional tactics for completing the job are becoming obsolete. Gone are the days when levelling projects, for example, were strictly a two-man job. Nowadays, a growing number of professionals are turning to laser levels to get a project done. The result: more precise layout work in a shorter period of time.

Known for their extreme accuracy and time-saving capabilities, laser levels provide a hands-free levelling solution for a wide variety of projects. By simply pressing a button, professionals can project a laser beam onto a wall, floor, ceiling or other application site, thus eliminating the need for the often inaccurate handheld bubble level. In addition, many laser levels now offer an internal pendulum that provides the capacity to self-level prior to use. This pendulum not only reduces the

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chances of human error, but also allows for a more accurate layout from the beginning of a project.

“We all know that precision levelling, and getting the right measurements, is critical to completing a job successfully,” says Olivier Vareille, measuring tools group product manager at Bosch Power Tools. “Laser levels provide the best level and alignment solution. They allow you to work with increased efficiency by eliminating the need to mark your level before completing the job. Instead you have a benchmark that’s always there and you can go straight to the doing.”

According to Vareille, the use of laser levels is a trend that doesn’t show any signs of abating.

“They’re more popular than ever,” he says. “Once you use a laser level, you won’t return to the old ways, even for simple things. They’ll save you time and ultimately money.”

The future of laser levels

ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL

Today’s professionals are working faster and more accurately than ever to measure and lay out designs. As laser level technology continues to evolve and improve, the benefits will result in increased accuracy along with a more compact and versatile device. For example, we’ve already begun to see the inception of Bluetooth wireless technology incorporated into laser measures to transmit jobsite data directly onto images uploaded in a smart device, thus eliminating the need for pen and paper.

On the levelling side, “we are starting to see the advent of multi-function lasers that pack all the applications into one unit, rather than having to take out the line or the rotary for one application and the point laser for another” says Vareille.

“We believe these all-in-one designs make for an even better user experience and will contribute to more and more users adopting lasers to increase their productivity.”

It’s important to note that one laser doesn’t necessarily meet every need.

For example, you would not be able to get a plumb reference for can lights from the line laser used to level electrical conduits or HVAC registers. This is why laser levels are broken down into three categories: rotary lasers, line lasers and point lasers.

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ROTARY LASER LEVELS Rotary laser levels are placed in the centre of a room, typically on a tripod, and project a laser beam in a 360-degree circle. This results in “chalk lines” on each wall of the room. Advanced rotary laser models may also feature a second laser beam for plumb applications. Rotary lasers are typically compatible with a handheld receiver that will help the user ½RH XLIMV FIRGLQEVO FI]SRH XLI VERKI EX [LMGL XLI laser beam is visible with the naked eye. Due to their greater distance capacity, these lasers work well for outdoor jobs or any job that requires a greater reach, such as larger commercial buildings.

1 0 . 1 4

• T he fu t u r e o f l a s e r l e v els • Typ es o f laser ser levels levels LINE LASER LEVELS Generally designed for indoor use, line laser levels are a more compact levelling solution that emit one or more plane laser lines directly onto a single wall or workspace and typically include cross-line capabilities, meaning the user can get both a horizontal and a vertical reference line.

Like other laser levels, most line lasers have the ability to self-level, which increases their reliability on the jobsite. By eliminating steps in preparing workspace measurements, professionals can now easily set up a line laser level and dedicate more time to the job itself, such as aligning duct work.

POINT LASER LEVELS Point laser levels, also known as dot lasers, project up to six beams of light. This EPPS[W XLI YWIV XS VIJIVIRGI TPYQF TSMRXW JVSQ ¾SSV XS GIMPMRK ERH LSVM^SRtal 90-degree level points for squaring. Rather than projecting an entire plane line, these laser levels mark a single position similar to a plumb bob. Devices with a self-levelling pendulum will, again, provide greater accuracy over manual levelling.

Commonly used indoors, point laser levels are especially useful to replace the plumb bobs, which require a lot of time and effort to EGGYVEXIP] XVERWJIV TSMRXW JVSQ XLI ¾SSV XS XLI GIMPMRK -X MW GSQQSR TVEGXMGI JSV ½\XYVI QEVOMRKW XS FI PEMH SYX SR XLI ¾SSV ERH VEXLIV than tediously climbing up and down a ladder to mark measurements on the ceiling, professionals can simply place the laser level SR XLI ¾SSV QEVOMRK XS XVERWJIV E TIVJIGXP] TPYQF VIJIVIRGI TSMRX YT to the ceiling. This is especially useful when installing HVAC conduits.

The added ability to project 90-degree points also makes for easier squaring when creating room partitions on the ground level.

Low-Temp Radiators …

by Jaga

F

or over 40 years, Jaga has led the world in heating and cooling convectors. Jaga has only been available in North America for a short time, but as the demand for comfortable and energy-efficient products increases, more architects, engineers and contractors are turning to these stylish and energy-efficient solutions. Jaga Low-H2O technology’s super conductive, ultra-fast heat exchanger provides low energy consumption and maximum heat emission with up to 300% higher output.

Michelle Beastall is the measuring tools brand manager at Bosch Power Tools. She can be reached at michelle.beastall@us.bosch.com.

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www.yorkland.net M e c h a n i c a l

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133

WATER TREATMENT

B y P au l E t h ier

An alternative look at residential options

I

n the January/February 2014 edition of Mechanical Business, I touched on what most consider traditional methods of residential water treatment, such as water softeners, reverse osmosis (RO) and ultra-violet (UV) systems (see Options Abound in H2O Treatment, Jan/Feb 2014, page 74).

Let’s extend that look to some of the alternative and emerging technologies that are making their way into the mainstream.

Putting it to the test

Paul Ethier is the national sales representative for commercial products at Watts Water Technologies (Canada). He can be reached at paul.ethier@wattswater.com.

SOUND-ALIKES Absorption vs Adsorption Think of absorption as eating a lemon meringue pie and adsorption like getting hit in the face with one.

Results from a multi-phase study conducted by Arizona State University, in conjunction with The WateReuse Foundation, have cast a new light on the controversial subject of alternative water conditioning devices.

Using the same source water, heating coils and identical testing rigs, including both an untreated and a traditional ion exchange control rig, the university tested the effectiveness of four different alternative technologies, TAC, Template Assisted Crystallization; EIP, Electrically Induced Precipitation; MAG, Magnetic Water Treatment; and CDI, Capacitive Deionization.

All of the technologies tested showed a reduction in scale formation in household water heaters to some degree. As more testing is undertaken, the emerging field of physical water treatment and alternative methods of water conditioning will definitely be worth looking into.

SCALE CONTROL ALTERNATIVES: PHYSICAL WATER TREATMENT Homeowners, property managers, chief engineers, and facility maintenance personnel all face the same challenge in battling the ill-effects of hard water.

Protecting a commercial plumbing system from damaging scale build-up, can bring considerable expense, both up-front and ongoing, to any commercial property.

Ignoring scale control is never a good option because eventually the cost for equipment repair or replacement will offset the savings stemming from an absence of a control system.

A number of alternative options that can be grouped under the term

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DRINKING WATER SYSTEM ALTERNATIVE: ULTRAFILTRATION

“physical water treatment” have been attracting attention of late.

Physical water treatment (PWT) technologies work by changing the physical characteristics of the solution being treated, through with little or no change in the solution’s chemical composition.

These technologies are chiefly used to reduce the negative effects of water hardness in plumbing systems, heating systems and appliances.

The vast majority of PWT devices work to promote hardness crystallization (mostly CaCO3) in the bulk solution, so that it isn’t available to scale on downstream surfaces.

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Ultrafiltration, or UF, is a relatively new water filtration process that falls somewhere between reverse osmosis and micro filtration in the filtration spectrum (~0.2-0.01um).

It started its life in the 1970s as a pretreatment for high purity water applications, such as microprocessor and semiconductor manufacturing.

Ultrafiltration has come into its own over the past decade with standalone point-of-entry and pointof-use “under-counter” drinking systems. In residential applications, there are relatively low rinse line requirements for POE whole house systems, and zero discharge is possible with the POU drinking water systems, which use an accumulative UF membrane that is replaced annually.

Did you know? The average Canadian consumes approximately 330 Litres (85 gallons) of domestic water each day.

PWT SYSTEMS TAC - Template Assisted Crystallization Template assisted crystallization is technology that influences the water solution at localized sites (on the media surface) such that hardness ions and their counter-ions (bicarbonate) combine to form inert nanometer-sized “seed crystals.”

Called nucleation, this is where dissolved molecules or ions dispersed throughout a solution start to gather to create clusters in the sub-micron size range. When the remaining dissolved ions reach their solubility shift, they attach to the seed crystals and continue harmlessly downstream.

While not an option for many closed-loop boiler systems, since there is no flow-to-drain, systems that incorporate a bottom blow down with scheduled daily discharges have been successful in controlling scale with this method while reducing or eliminating chemical additives.

TAC media is always used in an up-flow design, which makes it not subject to low flow channeling or high flow pressure drops.

The pressure drop as measured at peak flow rate is less than four psi. As with other resins, the media is subject to water chemistry limitations, such as chlorine, iron, manganese, tannins and pH levels.

The effective life of the TAC media is three years and is neither dependent of the volume of water nor the hardness level.

MWT - Magnetic Water Treatment Magnetic water treatment is a physical treatment in which the water is subjected to a magnetic field to alter calcium carbonate adhesion properties. Most devices use a series of wires wrapped around a pipe. A voltage transformer controls the current through the pipe.

By controlling the current, the magnetic field induced by the current can be reversed, causing cations to move to the centre of the pipe and anions to the wall of the pipe.

CDI - Capacitive Dionization EIP - Electrically Induced Precipition Electrically induced precipition is a physical water treatment process that uses an electric field to precipitate dissolved scale forming particles in the water. Precipitate forms on an electrode that must be cleaned periodically.

Capacitive dionization is an commercial electro-chemical water treatment process in which ions in the water adsorb to charged electrodes that have a high surface area, effectively removing them from the water stream.

A few different designs of CDI devices have been developed, but they all include a forward flow adsorption/regeneration process, and a periodic backward flow cleaning and recharging process.

Due to the high upfront capital investment and relativley high energy requirement, CDI is currently only viable as a commercial physical water treatment option.

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135

PLUMBING

Products

Emergency shut-off

Humidifier controller General Aire’s Savor Controller for humidifiers features six settings. The unit is designed to save 50 to 96 per cent of water consumption and is included with the company’s 570WSC, 900WSC and 1042WSC humidifiers.w

The Add-A-Valve emergency shut-off device for copper tubing from Jomar Valve is designed to eliminate shutdowns when replacing a defective valve or installing a new valve. It can be installed on type M, L and K copper tubing for water up to 220˚F and H2O glycol systems. The shut-off has a maximum working pressure of 250 psi. A lead-free solder ball valve is included.w

ww. jomarvalve.com lve.com

ww. generalaire.com

Bottle filler The Model 1900 bottle filler from Haws features a stainless steel push-button valve assembly allowing for front access stream adjustment, as well as cartridge and strainer access. The valve has an operating pressure range of 30 to 90 psi. The unit can function as a standalone station, or mounted above various drinking fountains and water coolers.

Drain ain cover The Universal NuFit bathtub drain cover from Watco Manufacturing is designed to fit over all bathtub drains without requiring the removal of the strainer body. It is corrosion resistant and features a high flow grid strainer for the prevention of hair clogs. The cover is available in nine finishes.

watcomfg.com hawsco.com

Urinal auger The Teletube urinal auger from General Pipe Cleaners features a 48” flexible spring for clearing stoppages beyond the urinal. It is built with a crush-resistant hexagonal aluminum inner tube and a galvanized steel push rod. Other features include a vinyl grip handle and a rubber bumper to protect the urinal bowl. The outer steel tube is 1-1/8" in diameter and the unit weighs less than 2 lb.

www. drainbrain.com

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Sensor flush valve Zurn’s ZTR Long Life Series (ZTR-LL) flush valve is designed to offer a 10-year battery life based on 4,000 flushes per month. The sensor flush valves are top-mounted and equipped with chloramine-resistant internal seals. The long-life technology is available on the company’s ZTR6203 sensor flush valve for urinals and the ZTR6200 sensor flush valve for water closets.

www. zurn.com B u s i n e s s

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PLUMBING

Products

Tankless water heater Navien’s NPE-S series is available in three models with a maximum heat capacity range from 150,000 to 199,900 BTUH and an energy factor of 0.99 EF. They have maximum flow rates ranging from 8.4 to 11.1 gpm. The units feature dual stainless steel heat exchangers, field gas convertibility and can be cascaded with up to 16 units without an external control box.

Bathroom faucet Moen’s Align single-handle faucet has a flow rate of 5.7 lpm and is certified to meet WaterSense criteria. It is built with a ceramic-disc cartridge and is available in chrome and brushed nickel finishes.

www. navienamerica.com

www. moen.ca

Condensing water heater The RHE residential condensing water heater from Rheem has an Energy Factor of 0.80 EF. It is offered in 38 gal. and 48 gal. tanks sizes. The unit features a two-pipe venting system and can be vented with 2” and 3” ULC-S636 PVC and CPVC.

The pipes most susceptible to freezing are those installed along an uninsulated outside wall or in an unheated area of a house, like an attic, basement or garage. Heating cables and insulation can help prevent pipe freezing.

Undersink filtration Novo’s 475 Quick Change Filter Series offers three-, two- and single-stage options to provide solutions for a variety of water problems, including sediment, rust, bad taste and odour. It features disposable cartridges that can be changed without the use of tools. The Ultra Filtration model reduces impurities as small as 0.2 microns.

www. rheem.com

novowater.com

Wireless leak detection Cupro’s AquaTrip wireless programmable leak detection and water metering, management and control system is operated by a portable, or wall mountable, radio dio remote control ol panel with an LCD display.

System features include a leak sensor shut off and nd leak detection modes for peak period od and off peak water usage.

www. cupro.ca

Heated shower mat The ShowerMat Electric Floor heating mat from SunTouch is pre-formed and made to fit into existing shower pans. They are available in 120V with dimensions of 36” x 60” or 48” x 48” with a 4” centre drain cutout. The mat is UL listed at 12 watts per square foot.

suntouch.com M e c h a n i c a l

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HVAC/R Products P Infrared tube heaters Brant Radiant’s Re-Verber-Ray HL3 Series 2 Stage infrared tube heaters have a heating input range of 50,000 to 200,000 BTUH. They are available in lengths ranging from 20 to 70 feet. The units are built with polished aluminum reflectors, coated titanium or aluminized combustion chamber and coated aluminized radiant tubes. They operate on propane or natural gas. Stainless steel models also available.

Long range sensors Carlo Gavazzi’s long range ultrasonic sensors are offered in two output configurations, with two digital NPN or PNP outputs, or an analogue output in either 4-20mA or 0-10VDC, with one digital NPN or PNP output. The sensors offer sensing distances up to 6 metres and are available as either cabled or M12 quick-disconnect versions.

brantradiant.com

gavazzionline.com

Residential furnaces Dettson’s Chinook furnaces are offered with heating input ranges from 15,000 to 120,000 BTUH and efficiencies over 95% AFUE. The product line is offered on four platforms: single-stage, dual-stage PSC, dual-stage ECM, or modulating.

They are built with polypropylene doors with a metal cabinet. The units are designed to operate on propane or natural gas.

Air exchanger Venmar’s S10 ERV Plus offers maximum continuous airflows of 114 cfm at 0.2” pressure and 101 cfm at 0.4” pressure. Features include pressure taps to balance air flow and balancing dampers. It has a fan efficacy of 1.2 cfm/W, 5” port diameters, and dimensions of 9” x 27-1/8” x 23-1/8”.

venmar.ca

dettson.ca

Energy valve Belimo’s Energy Valve is available in 1/2” to 6” sizes. The two-way pressure independent valve is designed to solve low Delta T syndrome by monitoring the differential temperature across the coil and adjusting the flow to maintain design Delta T set-point.

It features a built-in web server that collects up to 13 months of downloadable data.

www. energyvalve.com

Support brackets Thermo Mfg.’s Snap Clamps are designed to hang, support and clamp a variety of HVAC products, including copper pipes, PVC pipes, refrigeration lines, hoses and wires. The clamps are adjustable and offered in five sizes.

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A communicating furnace that speaks to your bottom line The A962V variable-speed furnace incorporates all the best features of its predecessor, the A952V, while adding communicating capabilities and a higher efficiency rating.

Having Comfort Sync® communicating capabilities allows homeowners to control their furnace anywhere via smartphone, tablet or other web-enabled device.

Packaged unit

With its combination of communication and connectivity, the A962V has the ability to self-monitor, and even send an alert to you and the homeowner if a fault is detected, or service is needed.

The Ovation packaged unit from Luxaire offers efficiencies up to 18.1 SEER and 14.35 EER. The unit is built with a twostage compressor, variable-frequency drive, an indoor/outdoor coil and indoor/ outdoor motor. It is available in cooling and electric/gas heat configurations in 3- to 12.5-ton sizes.

Communicating capability means the A962V expedites configuration, leading to a more accurate setup and installation.

Enhanced capabilities for your customers can mean greater profitability for you.

luxaire.com www.armstrongair.com

Providing Complete HVAC Solutions 14 sales branches conveniently located across Western and Central Canada.

www.eccosupply.ca Air purifier The CX3000GS ducted air purifier from Continental Fan provides up to 3,000 sq. ft. of air purification for particle removal, chemical neutralization, and living organism abatement. It has a maximum air flow rate of 2,170 cfm and a power consumption rating of 45 watts. The units have built-in electronic service lights to indicate when filters and UVC lamps require replacement.

continentalfan.com

Rooftop units York’s Prestige packaged rooftop units are available in 3- to 12.5-ton sizes, with efficiencies of 13 SEER and 10.8 to 11.2 EER, or 15 SEER and 11.5 to 12.2 EER. They feature either a single or dual-scroll compressor, an LED display, programmable USB interface, and digital diagnostic readouts. The unit’s design eliminates the need for a curb adapter.

york.com

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139

HYDRONIC

Products

Condensing boiler Fulton’s Vantage condensing boilers feature thermal efficiencies up to 96.9% and inputs ranging from 2 to 6 million BTUH. The units are built with a stainless steel heat exchanger and operate on natural gas or LP. Operation on #2 oil is possible as a backup fuel.

www. fulton.com

Wall-hung boiler The Planet Dewy 30 BFT from Sime has efficiencies up to 97% AFUE. It offers maximum heating inputs up to 110,000 BTUH. Other features include a built-in circulator, built-in three-way valve, stainless steel heat exchanger, DHW controls, and an indirect tank sensor. It also comes with a built-in expansion tank and air eliminator.

The unit can be fuelled by LP or natural gas.

simenorthamerica.com

Air and dirt separator Spirotherm’s Spirovent Quad air and dirt separator is designed to flush dirt while the system is in full operation. It features two full-flow operating functions plus hydraulic balance in a low loss header. They are available in steel for pipe sizes ranging from 2” to 12” and in brass for pipe sizes ranging from 1” to 2”.

Larger sizes are available.

Floor system Legend’s VersaTherm floor system is a snap-fit radiant panel system. The 3/4” thick panels are pre-insulated and water resistant. The system uses 1/2” tubing with 8” inch tube spacing on centre.

www. spirotherm.com

www. legendhydronics.com

Cast iron boilers Biasi B10 boilers from QHT are available in seven models with inputs ranging from 67,000 to 257,000 BTUH, with efficiencies up to 87% AFUE. They feature a threepass design with GG20 grade flexible cast iron. They can operate using natural gas, propane or fuel oil.

www. qhtinc.com

Stainless steel boiler DynaForce condensing gas-fired boilers from Camus are built with stainless steel heat exchangers.

They are available in capacities ranging from 300,000 to 5 million BTUH and offer thermal efficiencies up to 99%. The units are available as combination systems for DHW and operate on LP or nautral gas.

camus-hydronics.com

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STUFF YOU NEED

Voltage detector

Tool box

Flir’s VP50 non-contact voltage detector comes equipped with an LED worklight, as well as a dual-LED convenience light at the probe tip. Features include vibration feedback and multi-coloured LED alarms for inspections in noisy areas. High/low sensitivity modes allow for testing of industrial equipment and low-voltage systems.

Milwaukee Tool’s 26” Jobsite Work Box is designed to survive more than 1,000 drops with a 50-lb. load. The box is built from a high-impact resistant polymer and is weather sealed. It has reinforced corners for impact resistance, recessed latches and buttressed hinges. The inside of the tool box consists of a main compartment for long and bulky tools and a removable tray for organizing smaller items.

www. flir.ca

www. milwaukeetool.ca

Smartphone protection Caterpillar’s Rugged range of protective products for iPhones, iPads and Galaxy mobile devices is designed for shock and impact absorption.

The cases are built to protect mobile phones from drops of up to 6 feet. Cases for tablets offer drop protection up to 4 feet.

www. catphones.com

Drill attachments Pipe bender Hilmor’s Compact Bender tool features a universal crossbar equipped with quick-twist size adjustable shoes and various sizes of colour-coded mandrels.

The tool is designed to allow precise bends up to 90˚ on 1/4” to 7/8” tubing. It is built with a quick-release tube mechanism for one-handed use. The tool kit comes with a body, crossbar and 1/4”, 5/16”, 3/8”, 1/2”, 5/8”, 3/4” and 7/8” mandrels.

Malco’s TurboShear Drill attachments hex shank drive shaft fits a wide range of 1/4” to 1/2” drills, including impact drivers with 1/4” quick release chucks. The TurboShear line features a telescoping drill clamp that fits both length and width of drill motor housings, including small bodied impact drivers.

www. malcotools.com

www. hilmor.com xx

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O F

EVENTS

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CIPHEX West 2014 November 5-6, 2014 Calgary, Alta. www.ciphexwest.ca

Int’l Builders’ Show (IBS) January 20-22, 2015 Las Vegas, Nev. www.buildersshow.com

MCEE 2015 April 22-23, 2015 Montreal, Que. www.mcee.ca

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

OGA 2014 Conference November 13-14, 2014 Gravenhurst, Ont. www.ontariogeothermal.ca

Kitchen & Bath Industry Show January 20-22, 2015 Las Vegas, Nev. www.kbis.com

RSES Canada AGM May 14-16, 2015 Calgary, Alta. www.rsescanada.com

Cleaner Heat 2015 June 17-18, 2015 Halifax, N.S. www.cleanerheat.ca

IIDEX Canada December 3-4, 2014 Toronto, Ont. www.iidexcanada.com

AHR Expo January 26-28, 2015 Chicago, Ill. www.ahrexpo.com

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

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

Construct Canada December 3-5, 2014 Toronto, Ont. www.constructcanada.com

Buildex Vancouver February 25-26, 2015 Vancouver, B.C. www.buildexvancouver.com

Solar Canada December 8-9, 2014 Toronto, Ont. www.cansia.ca

ISH 2015 March 10-14, 2015 Frankfurt am Main, Germany www.ish.messefrankfurt.com

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Tel: (800) 225-9529 www.webstonevalves.com

Tel: (800) 387-7373 www.viessmann.ca

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Tel: (416) 661-3306 www.yorkland.net

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GOT AN EVENT? SPREAD THE WORD! If your organization has a conference, trade show or other event coming up, send details to adam.freill@mechanicalbusiness.com See it all online at www.mechanicalbusiness.com

Break Time

For this puzzle’s solution, visit mechanicalbusiness.com

Across 2.

-

The use of water as a heat transfer medium in heating and cooling systems.

5. A type of unit that breaks down waste in a toilet.

6. It’s good for your bones but bad for your water heater.

8. A method for managing room-to-room comfort levels.

10. National, not-for-profit organization that promotes careers in skilled trades and technologies to youth.

13. MCA Canada went to this “rock” for its 2014 AGM. 14. Key component for geothermal heating/ cooling systems.

Down 1. A plumbing fitting that doesn’t require soldering or glue.

3. MB’s marketing guru.

4. Type of home building that creates renewable energy to offset other energy uses.

7. The host city for this year’s CIPHEX West tradeshow.

9. College based out of Nova Scotia offering education in the mechanical trades.

10. Loops that act as separate heating loads connected to a primary loop in a hydronic system.

11. Type of camera that offers thermal imaging.

12. Useful hydronic application during the winter.

Working wet

TOOL TIPS

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A pressing issue

P

ipe joining has been undergoing a considerable revolution over the past few years, and the tools for creating the joints have been adjusting as well, with several companies now offering power tools to create press fittings for copper and stainless steel pipes.

The reason for the rise in press fitting offerings is simply the speed at which connections can be made. Granted, that comes at a significant cost difference for the press-fit fittings, but many companies are adding the tools and flame-free option to their arsenals and doing the math on materials versus labour.

If you are contemplating adding a press-fit system to your toolbox, there are a number of considerations to investigate, everything from jaw compatibility for size and brand of fittings, to the power of the unit.

In general, the systems are available to press half-inch to four-inch copper, and half-inch to two-inch stainless steel. Jaw size range can vary from brand to brand, and some jaws will

press fittings from more than one manufacturer, so check the documents that come with the tools to ensure that the brand of fittings you use will work with the tool you are considering buying.

Keep in mind that the number of presses per battery charge can vary a bit on conditions, but keeping plumbers pressing and minimizing battery changes – a pet peeve of cordless users – is the goal, so it can pay to look for tools that have “bigger gas tanks” (batteries Sponsored by Milwaukee Electric Tool – a proud with longer run-time). partner with Mechanical Business. Look for video tips, tools and reviews at www.milwaukeetool.com.

Be sure to visit mechanicalbusiness.com for your chance to win valuable Milwaukee products and merchandise!

M e c h a n i c a l

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Compiled by Mechanical Business

FLUSH WITH SAVINGS 20,000 LITRES

BUILDING STRONG 17,064 Reported actual Canadian housing starts for the month of August, up from 16,973 in August 2013.

Amount of water the average Canadian family can save annually from upgrading to a high-efficiency toilet.

$9.16 BILLION The value of building permits issued by Canadian municipalities in July, up more than a billion dollars when compared to July 2013.

MORE MAGAZINES 93 The number of magazines that launched in the first half of 2014, compared to 30 closings during the same time period.

RISE OF THE MACHINES

COST OF COMFORT 5%

$66.9 BILLION The projected worldwide spending on robots by 2025. This is up from $15.1 billion in 2010. The industrial sector is expected to account for $24.4 billion of the spending, followed by the commercial ($17 billion), military ($16.5 billion) and personal market sectors ($9 billion).

The percentage that heating costs rise by for every degree above 20˚C that a household thermostat is set in the winter.

IMPORTANCE OF IAQ

1 in 5

LEED CONTINUES TO GROW

The approximate number of Canadians who suffer from some form of respiratory illness.

BIG BREATHS

M e c h a n i c a l

The number of LEED projects registered in Canada in the second quarter of 2014.

1,756

The total number of LEED certified projects in Canada to date.

30 TO 40 POUNDS

Sources: Air Canada Centre, RBC, Canadian Tire, CMHC, Statistics Canada, Industry Canada

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Average amount of air breathed per person per day.

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