Mechanical Business March/April 2021 by Mechanical Business

MARCH/APRIL 2021 $6.95

PM #41536047

Also in this issue:

Hydronics in Lake Country, BC.

ww w . m e c ha ni c a l bus i nes s . c om

23 YEARS

12 YEARS

TIME-TESTED TOUGH 17 YEARS

28 YEARS

18 YEARS

30 YEARS

Super-Vee

There is no denying that over time, only the strong survive. Tradespeople have become attached to their time-tested Super-Vee® small line machines with good reason—they’re strong, dependable, well designed and well loved. Ask any plumber that’s been doing this for awhile how long they’ve had their Super-Vees. Don’t be surprised if you ﬁnd some have been around for 30 or more years. Now that’s a real testament to longevity. Call the Drain Brains® at 800-245-6200 or visit www.drainbrain.com/super-vee

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T A B L E

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CONTENTS O F

Family Holmes SHERRY, MIKE AND MICHAEL

A mountain view

of a BC winery’s hydronic system

38COVER STORY

Sherry, Mike and Michael Holmes shifted from helping individuals with renovations, to helping organizations limited D[ VJGKT KPHTCUVTWEVWTGU UVCTVKPI YKVJ VJG TGVTQƂV QH VTCFG classrooms at a Brampton, ON school. Kerry Turner

84PROJECT PROFILE

A multi-phase construction project at O’Rourke Family Winery in Lake Country, BC is a living testament to the versatility of hydronic heating and cooling. Denise Deveau

Is hydrogen entering the NG mix? Will this low-carbon gas transform the heating industry in Canada?

Combustible pipes in noncombustible buildings

74NEW TECHNOLOGY

70QUATTRO’S CORNER

Hydrogen blends are needed for the gas industry to remain relevant in a net-zero energy world. Jonathon Harp

When do FSR and SDC really come into play? Andrew Quattrociocchi

On the cover: Sherry, Mike and Michael Holmes tackle radon and improving the perception of the skilled trades. Photo courtesy: CTV

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

M B

18PANDEMIC PLANNING

WHERE’S MY STUFF? Keeping up with demand during COVID is a delicate balance Denise Deveau

54ROAD WARRIOR

58ACOUSTICS

O F

S P E C I A L I S T S 22

PLUMBING Blueprint reading in modern times Fred Bretzke Digital blueprints will change the world’s construction economy.

REFRIGERATION 1KN %QQNKPI HQT 5ETGY %QORTGUUQTU Ũ 2CTV ++ Phil J. Boudreau A detailed review of the various methods of oil cooling.

ASK ROGER Addressing and monitoring safety practices during a pandemic Roger Grochmal We’ve needed to adopt additional measures to protect customers and our team.

HYDRONICS &QPoV DG UJQEMGF D[ GNGEVTKƂECVKQP %QPUKFGT VJG QRVKQPU Bob “Hot Rod” Rohr 6Q MGGR C ƃWKF DCUGF QHHGTKPI YJCV CTG VJG GNGEVTKE QRVKQPU available today?

MARKETING (QWT UWTG ƂTG YC[U VQ OCKPVCKP WUWCN UCNGU XQNWOGU Doug MacMillan An extra effort is required from contractors to help homeowners understand the value of prevention

HIGH PERFORMANCE HVAC 5Q [QW YCPV VQ DG KP VJG +'3 DWUKPGUU! Gord Cooke Tune up your approach to match the heightened expectations and needs of clients.

A STRATEGIC APPROACH TO MITIGATING NOISE ISSUES Matt Downey

64HUMAN RESOURCES

SOMEONE’S WATCHING Navigating surveillance technology and employee rights Sue Sodek

66PLUMBING

SMART PRODUCTS, SMART CHOICE Familiarity with smart home products may quickly change from a “nice to have” to a “must-have” Anny Ang

76HVAC/R

ELECTRIC HEAT PUMPS FOR COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS / i i iVÌÀ wV>Ì v LÕ ` } i>Ì } V> «À Û `i Ã } wV> Ì Li iwÌÃ Drew Turner

78PLUMBING

KEY POINTS TO SELECTING A PEX PIPING SYSTEM DESIGN General rankings of three options provides a place to start and compare how each one stacks up

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D E P A R T M E N T S 6Tribute to an industry great 8-11News 12Movers & Shakers 16-14People 83The Info Page 86By the Numbers

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CONTENTS

MIKE DURBIN: THE BIGGER THE JOB THE BETTER Denise Deveau

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P R O D U C T S 32-34,36-37Plumbing 46,48,50Hydronic 61,62,63HVAC/R 83Stuff You Need

It’’s easy to spot why Navien will be the * best selling condensing tankless...again 2'' PVC up to 75 feet and 1/2'' gas up to 24 feet

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The leader in condensing technology...does it again.

Content Media Group Inc. 19 – 1525 Cornwall Road Oakville, ON L6J 0B2 Canada Tel: 905.465.2919 Fax: 905.465.2913 www.mechanicalbusiness.com March/April 2021 Issue Published 6 times per year. Editor: Kerry Turner, C 416-435-1193 kerry.turner@mechanicalbusiness.com National Sales Manager: Jeff Superle, C 416-577-7687 jeff.superle@mechanicalbusiness.com Operations Manager: Caroline Bexﬁeld, C 647-217-2076 caroline.bexﬁeld@mechanicalbusiness.com Art Direction: Fourteen Orange Graphic Design Inc. davem@fourteenorange.com Circulation Manager: Shila Naik 905-272-4175 shila.naik@mechanicalbusiness.com Controller: Liz Mills liz.mills@mechanicalbusiness.com Publisher: Bruce Meacock, C 416-457-9563 bruce.meacock@mechanicalbusiness.com PM:41536047 ISSN 1916-0674 MB (Print) ISSN 1906-0682 MB (Online)

Putting the “V” in HVAC During these unusual times characterized by isolation, I was blessed with an extraordinary opportunity to stay in touch with a great friend and mentor. Rick Olmstead, the founder of Conservation Energy Systems, encouraged me to call him regularly over the fall and winter. He was very ill and knew his time was short, but as always, Rick was driven to feed his intellect and curious nature. We would chew over and debate the progress our industry has seen since the late 1970s when he made the ﬁrst vanEE air exchanger in a converted grocery store in Peterson, Saskatchewan. Rick coined the phrase heat recovery ventilator that is commonly used now. When I ﬁrst met him in Peterson, Rick espoused his vision of where housing was going based on the early, vitally important Canadian cold weather housing research. The name Conservation Energy Systems was a philosophy and a principle of Rick’s, perhaps derived from the “waste not, want not” phrase his dad may have used. I know many people contributed to the development of the residential balanced ventilation industry of which Canada is now a world leader. However, from this front row seat, Rick had the vision, integrity and creativity to turn a notional product concept into a thriving industry.

We acknowledge the support of the Government of Canada.

Submissions: Copyright in material submitted to the magazine and accepted for publication remains with the author, but Mechanical Business and its licensees may freely reproduce it in print, electronic or other forms. Mechanical Business also reserves the right to edit said submitted materials to suit the editorial needs and mandate of the publication. Notice: Mechanical Business is published for owners, managers and decision makers with mechanical contracting ﬁrms and the sector’s supply chain partners in Canada. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information, Mechanical Business, Content Media Group Inc., its staff, directors, ofﬁcers and shareholders (‘The Publisher’) assume no liability, obligation or responsibility for advertised claims, for errors and/or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. Manufacturers’ instructions take precedence over published editorial. The publisher reserves the right to publish a printed correction in a subsequent issue for editorial errors, omissions and oversights. Subscriptions are available for $90 plus taxes in Canada and the U.S. Single copies are $15.00. Outside Canada and the U.S., the rates are $150.00 (annual) and $25.00 (single copy). From time to time, Content Media Group Inc. makes subscribers’ names available to reputable companies whose products or services may be of interest to readers. If you would like your name excluded from these mailings, please notify the publisher. © Copyright 2021. The contents of this magazine may not be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission of the publisher. Proud members of:

TRIBUTE

In my mind he put the “V” in HVAC for residential mechanical contractors. Rick sought efficiency standards and code regulations; he encouraged cooperation through industry associations such as HRAI and the Home Ventilating Institute; and he fostered and mentored research projects that directly benefited myself and so many others. Even when he formally left the manufacturing sector, Rick consulted for those organizations and brought his enthusiasm to other important energy initiatives. In our last chats I was pleased to share with him the ongoing progress of the drive to Net Zero Energy homes. His early vision was nearing reality: houses that are simultaneously safer, healthier, more comfortable and more durable, all while conserving natural resources. With each conversation I was reminded of Rick’s astounding intelligence as he provided idea after idea that I will undoubtedly benefit from for years to come. His wife Silvia shared with me that his last sentiment was “I am content.” I too am content, in as much as I was afforded the amazing opportunity to say goodbye on behalf of our industry and to thank Rick for his remarkable leadership. Rick Olmstead passed away January 21, 2021. Gord Cooke

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Power. Performance. Endurance. PVI’s Dynamic Water Heating® A revolutionary water heating system design and application approach that features greater BTU input for quick reaction, an optimized storage buffer for extra power when needed, the benefit of high water turnover, and exclusive duplex stainless steel AquaPLEX® construction for unmatched performance and longevity. Learn more about PVI’s Dynamic Water Heaters at pvi.com.

OptiSize® will help you select an optimally-sized water heater for your next project

04.21

News

www.mechanicalbusiness.com

Right Time adds AtlasCare to its portfolio St. Catharines, ON-based Right Time Group of Companies has acquired Atlas Service Company Inc. (AtlasCare). Founded in 1932, AtlasCare provides residential HVAC, air quality, plumbing and hot water services to the Ontario market from its location in Oakville. Management and employees of AtlasCare will join the Right Time team. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. At the time of the sale, AtlasCare CEO Roger Grochmal, said, “AtlasCare has a long history and a strong culture, and when it came to entrusting that legacy to a buyer, Right Time was the natural choice. Their track record of integrating strong local companies into their national brand sets them apart as the leading consolidator in the Canadian residential HVAC and plumbing industry.” Grochmal has since retired. Watch for his final columns in upcoming issues of Mechanical Business. AtlasCare is the fifth acquisition completed by Right Time, and the first following its partnership with San Francisco-based Gryphon Investors in December 2020. right-time.ca

WHO launches National Radon Database The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a National Radon Database on policies and regulations, as well as an updated fact sheet on “Radon and health.” Over the past 18 months, the WHO has developed a survey to determine the current state of affairs on radon activities and regulations around the world. To date, it has received responses from 58 countries including Canada, which are presented in the database. who.int

Big dollars allocated for institutional projects in Alberta Alberta’s 2021 budget includes implementing the Alberta 2030: Building Skills for Jobs initiative and performance-based funding with all 26 publicly funded post-secondary institutions in Alberta this year. The three-year Capital Plan provides $191 million to support post-secondary institution projects to expand student capacity and learning environments. The budget also includes a three-year, $3.4 billion commitment for health-related capital projects. alberta.ca

Continental Fan celebrates 35 years Founded in 1986 in Mississauga, ON, Continental Fan Manufacturing (CFM) Inc. has expanded to include sales and distribution operations in Dayton, OH and Buffalo, NY. Today CFM has 28 employees serving a diverse market base that includes residential, commercial, OEM and industrial. continentalfan.com

CAF offers COVID COVID-19 D-19 resources b by province i

Palser wins Watts Marketing Excellence Award

Mechanical and architectural marketing agency Palser Enterprises Ltd. has received the Watts Water Technologies Marketing Excellence Award (Canada). The award recognizes the Watts Water Technology agency that is excelling in all aspects of marketing Watts brands.

The Canadian Apprenticeship Forum (CAF) website features resources from across Canada to help apprentices and skilled trades workers get valuable information during the COVID-19 pandemic. A map also has links to up-to-date health information in each province and territory.

palserent.com

caf-fca.org

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Oilheat Manufacturers Association elects new chairman Mario Bouchard, vice president of sales at Granby Industries in Cowansville, QC, was elected chairman of the Oilheat Manufacturers Association for a two-year term. In his role, he will lead the organization’s efforts to reduce the environmental footprint of the liquid heating fuel industry. oma-web.org

Canadian Aqualine Sales reaches 50 year milestone Canadian Aqualine Sales Inc. in Delta, BC is celebrating 50 years in business. Founded in 1971 by Roy Pyper and Mary Buckerﬁeld as a bid and speciﬁcation company, it evolved into a plumbing, HVAC and heating company with an additional location in Calgary, AB, and 13 employees. Under current owners Elaine Woof and Richard Lacey, the company services clients throughout western Canada. can-aqua.com

CIPH presents latest Service Awards Harald Prell, president of Viessmann Manufacturing Company Inc. (shown in photo), has received a Lifetime Service Award from the Canadian Institute of Plumbing & Heating (CIPH). The award recognizes 40 or more years in the plumbing and heating industry. Steve Henry of Wolseley Canada, Rick Thomas of Crane Supply, Joe Campagna of Bartle & Gibson, Pierre Berthiaume of Deschênes, Thanh Hua of Canplas Industries in Barrie, ON and John Levandier also received the award. Outstanding Service Awards were presented to Sean Giberson of Taco Comfort Solutions, Mike Wills of Wolseley Canada and Dan Milroy of Equipco Ltd. The award recognizes individuals with 25 or more years with a CIPH company and at least ﬁve years of volunteer service on a CIPH board, council or committee. ciph.com

Alberta Health updates reclaimed water guidelines Alberta Health has issued updated versions of two guidelines to assist in identifying the source, treatment and uses for all types of reclaimed water. The guidelines, which follow the Canadian regulatory model, are intended to support owners, users, manufacturers, designers, installers and local authorities having jurisdiction when considering reclaimed water systems. alberta.ca

Government funds biomass pre-feasibility study for northern communities The Government of Canada’s Northern Responsible Energy Approach for Community Heat and Electricity (Northern REACHE) program has provided $88,000 to Nihtat Energy Limited for a pre-feasibility study to assess the viability of developing biomass district energy systems in Inuvik. The REACHE program is focused on increasing the use of local renewable energy sources and improving energy efﬁciency by reducing northern communities’ reliance on diesel for heating and electricity. canada.ca

IFM and Ontario Teachers’ acquire Enwave Canadian district energy operations IFM Investors and Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board have entered into a deﬁnitive agreement with Brookﬁeld Infrastructure to jointly acquire the Canadian district energy operations owned by Enwave Energy Corporation. They will retain the Enwave brand, with each owning 50 per cent of the company. otpp.com M e c h a n i c a l

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Radon mitigation in SK tax credit The Saskatchewan Government has conﬁrmed to The Lung Association and the Take Action on Radon Coalition that its new Home Renovation Tax Credit includes radon mitigation. This is the ﬁrst tax credit to cover radon mitigation in Canada. Homeowners can claim a 10.5 per cent tax credit on up to $20,000 of eligible home renovations. takeactiononradon.ca

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

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Bradley Corp. celebrates milestone This year marks the 100th anniversary of Bradley Corp. in Menomonee Falls, WI. Bradley was founded in 1921 by Howard A. Mullett. Today, under the leadership of chairman and CEO Bryan Mullett (shown in photo), its product offerings range from touchless handwashing technologies and showers, to emergency safety ﬁxtures, lockers, partitions and accessible washroom products and accessories. bradleycorp.com

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

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Efficiency Manitoba offers energy saving incentives Efficiency Manitoba is offering incentive programs for ground source heat pump installations, and building operation enhancements. The System Installation Incentive encourages upgrades to ground source heat pumps. The Enhanced Building Operations Program brings together building owners, commissioning agents and the Efficiency Manitoba project team to identify savings opportunities and optimize daily operations using existing equipment. efficiencymb.ca

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NADCA appoints Canadian board member Clint Orr of Full Throttle Furnace & Duct Cleaning Inc. in Regina, SK has joined the board of directors of the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) in Mt. Laurel, NJ. Orr has been in the HVAC industry since 2004. He currently serves on NADCA’s annual meeting and certiﬁcation committees, and is co-chair of the education and safety committee. nadca.com

Koura launches next generation low GWP refrigerants Koura, the Boston, MA-based developer, manufacturer and supplier of fluoroproducts, has launched Klea 473A, the first of its next generation low GWP refrigerants. The launch follows proposed classification of Klea 473A as an A1 refrigerant by the ASHRAE SSPC34 committee. kouraglobal.com

Deadline for Double the Rebate extended BC Hydro is extending the installation timeline for its Double the Rebate promotion. Homeowners who have received their code can extend the time for installation and invoicing of upgrades to June 30, 2021. They then have six months from the invoice date to submit a rebate application. bchydro.com

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Movers & Shakers www.mechanicalbusiness.com

Deschênes expands electrical distribution Deschênes Group Inc. (DGI) in Montreal, QC is expanding its market reach with the acquisition of electrical distributor Daltco Electric. With branches in Kingston, Ottawa and Brockville, ON, Daltco’s markets include residential, commercial and industrial. Daltco will continue to operate in its current structure under the leadership of Peter Dalton. deschenesgroup.com daltco.com

Andrew Sheret rebrands Frontier Supply locations Andrew Sheret Limited in Victoria, BC has formally amalgamated and rebranded all Frontier Supply locations in Alberta and Saskatchewan. In addition to the seven rebranded locations in Alberta and Saskatchewan, Andrew Sheret has 24 branches and 23 showrooms across BC. sheret.com

King Marketing representing Saniflo Canada SFA Saniflo Canada has appointed King Marketing as its new plumbing wholesale-channel representative for British Columbia. King is a sales and marketing agency in the hardware, home improvement and plumbing wholesale channels. saniflo.ca kingmkt.com

Victaulic increases production capacity

Kim Butts establishes new rep agency Heating and Combustion Solutions Incorporated (HCSI) in Calgary has opened its doors for business. Led by Kim Butts, the agency is representing Seitron America’s combustion analyzers, providing sales and service, calibration and rentals. Contact kbutts@heatingcsi.ca for further information. heatingcsi.ca

A.Y. McDonald grows with Val-Matic A.Y. McDonald in Dubuque, IA, has acquired Val-Matic Valve & Mfg. Corporation, of Elmhurst, IL. Val-Matic Valve is a manufacturer of 14 valve product lines for the water and wastewater, industrial, commercial building construction, and plumbing industries. aymcdonald.com valmatic.com

Watts Water Technologies has added The Detection Group to its brands. The Detection Group’s Trident technology is an FM-approved wireless water leak detection platform that provides 24/7/365 monitoring for ICI buildings. thedetectiongroup.com watts.com M e c h a n i c a l

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NEXT Supply p adds Toto to its offerings NEXT Plumbing and Hydronics Supply has increased its product offerings with Toto’s full line of bathroom ﬁxtures and ﬁttings, including toilets, baths, urinals, faucets, accessories, lavatories, and more. nextsupply.ca e

ecobee partners with Parity Inc.

The Detection Group joins the Watts family

Victaulic has purchased a 220,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility in Lawrenceville, PA. The site adds 70 per cent more foundry production capacity and allows for future growth as business demands increase. victaulic.com

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Smart thermostat developer ecobee Inc. and energy efﬁciency software company Parity Inc. have partnered to make smart thermostats more easily accessible to multi-residential buildings across North America. With i this partnership, building owners and managers can equip entire buildings with smart thermostats all at once and beneﬁt from real-time energy savings that cover the cost of the thermostat rentals and active energy management. Traditional smart home solutions rely on the investment of individual homeowners. Parity’s software works with ecobee’s smart thermostats and integrates into the building’s own HVAC system to measure energy use, as well as optimize the building’s operation. www.ecobee.com w www.paritygo.com w

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People in the news www.mechanicalbusiness.com THE MASTER GROUP has appointed Benoit Chayer (1) vice-president of marketing and digital experience. He was most recently vice-president, sales and strategy for The Master Group. Kevin Fullan (2) has joined the company as vice-president of distribution, Central Canada. He is responsible for the plumbing and HVAC/R business in Ontario.

Remo Di Fronzo has been named director, master systems integration at ESC AUTOMATION. He is responsible for growing the company’s collaboration with owners, constructors and operators.

Pino Alonzi has been named regional sales manager for Canada at SJE RHOMBUS in Toronto, ON. He has over 20 years of industry experience working with wholesalers and rep agencies.

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Nick Bérubé (1) has joined the EQUIPCO LTD. Eastern Canada team. He is covering sales for the eastern and northern Ontario region, focusing on contractors, distributors and engineers. Greg Snowsell (2) has joined the company’s London, ON ofﬁce. He is concentrating on inside technical sales and bid/spec opportunities for Eastern Canada.

Kenneth Alemao has joined Ecco’s marketing team as a product manager for ECCO HEATING PRODUCTS. Alemao has over 10 years of experience.

Nick Reggi has joined ENERCARE HOME SERVICES as director of technical operations, North America. A well known leader in the HVAC/R industry in Canada, he was previously a Humber College professor, as well as a trainer and consultant to the HVAC/R industry.

Kyle Adams has been appointed branch manager at BARDON SUPPLIES’ head ofﬁce in Belleville, ON. Adams has 15 years of experience in industrial sector management roles.

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Rob Dewar is president of the newly established AD CANADA business unit in Mississauga, ON. Dewar will lead more than 20 fulltime Canadian-based associates supporting AD’s Electrical-Canada, Industrial & SafetyCanada, and Canada Plumbing & Heating divisions. Sarah Clarke has been promoted to assistant show manager at the CANADIAN INSTITUTE OF PLUMBING & HEATING (CIPH). Since joining CIPH in October 2017, she has been involved with CIPH programs and activities. Jeremy Kuepfer has been named CEO of THE BOSHART GROUP in Milverton, ON. Kuepfer was most recently senior vice-president of IT and operations at Boshart Industries. Bo Andersson has transitioned to director of research and development for The Boshart Group. Nick Farrara has assumed the role of president of Flomatic. Julie Storey remains president of Boshart Industries. Michael Gordon has been named director, Canadian training at UNITED ASSOCIATION OF UNION PLUMBERS, FITTERS, WELDERS AND SERVICE TECHS (UA). Prior to his appointment, he was a pipe trades training specialist with the organization.

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04.21

People in the news www.mechanicalbusiness.com BRADLEY CORP. has named Mark Whittington vice president, business development. He has held sales, operations and supply chain leadership positions in the plumbing industry for more than 20 years.

NOBLE has promoted David Belcher to regional manager for southwestern Ontario. He was previously branch manager at Noble’s Kitchener Wilson location. Belcher replaces Mike Masse who is retiring after 45 years of service in the industry.

Greg Routley has joined A/C TOOLSOURCE - B.J. WILLIAMS & ASSOCIATES as sales manager for Western Canada, where he will be serving the metropolitan Calgary area. An RSE HVAC/R mechanic, Routley has over 40 years of industry experience.

Jared Breidinger has been named the new general manager of VICTAULIC CANADA. Breidinger has been with Victaulic for 16 years, serving in sales management roles across the U.S., Europe, Middle East, India and Africa. He is replacing Tim Meadows, vice president and general manager, who retired in February 2021 after 33 years with Victaulic.

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Victor Hugo Laverde (1) has been appointed territory sales manager at EMERSON COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL SOLUTIONS in Toronto, ON. He has experience in B2B technical sales and marketing for the industrial equipment and HVAC industries. Liborio Mendola (2) has been named manager, product planning. Mendola joined the company over 19 years ago as an IT technical support specialist. BRADFORD WHITE CORP. has appointed Rich Simons senior vice president and general manager of LAARS HEATING SYSTEMS COMPANY. He is responsible for overall operation of the business’s strategic direction and ﬁnancial results. Simons joined Laars in 2016 as vice president and general manager. Martin Büchsel has been appointed chief sales and marketing ofﬁcer at BITZER. He has held senior positions at companies belonging to the Freudenberg Group in Germany, France and the U.S. since 2003. Bryan Laird has been named director of sales and marketing for Canature WaterGroup’s commercial and industrial engineering division. He has over 35 years of sales and engineering experience with corporations in the North American commercial and industrial water treatment sectors.

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Shashwat Nath has joined WATTS as senior product manager, shut-off valves. He has overall responsibility for product development, and product management of Watts’ solutions for ball valves and butterﬂy valves, as well as its range of AquaLock, ANKA, and APEX plumbing system ﬁttings.

DANFOSS has appointed Robert Gillis as key account manager for its hydronic heating business in North America. He will focus on supporting the growth of hydronic heating applications within the northeast U.S. and eastern Canada.

Jo-Annie Leblanc has joined Bélanger as territory manager. In her role she is covering Montreal’s North Shore, the Laurentians, and the Outaouais region in Quebec. RANGER DESIGN in Rochester, NY has named Michael Diaz director, fleet upfit solutions. Diaz will oversee the North American fleet business development team.

AIR SOLUTIONS INC. in Cambridge, ON has two new team members. Dominik Rozman (1) is taking on business development for the Ottawa region. Boris Milinkovic (2) will be responsible for business development in Western Canada, including Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta.

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PANDEMIC PLANNING

B y Den ise Devea u

Where’s my stuff?

KEEPING UP WITH DEMAND DURING COVID IS A DELICATE BALANCE

fter the March 2020 shutdown, essential businesses − including HVAC/R and plumbing suppliers − had to scramble to keep things up and running. “There was no playbook for pandemic planning when this started,” says Chris Choquette, vice president of Western Canada for Wolseley Canada in Vancouver, adding that about 80 per cent of business was done through its branches versus online. “We had to learn on the ﬂy.” Suppliers had to repurpose showrooms to allow for curbside pickup, move to virtual collaboration between staff and customers, invest in barriers and distancing signage, extend delivery hours, and leverage whatever technology they could – from text-based ordering to ecommerce upgrades. Some of these measures have unlocked potential beneﬁts that will help them in the long term. “The lockdown brought out some areas we needed to sharpen up,” says Diana Di Carlo, marketing and retail manager at Desco Plumbing and Heating Supply Inc. in Mississauga, ON. “It led to a technology revolution for us, which is great.” Wholesalers also pivoted to virtual meetings and showroom visits to various degrees. Some extended delivery hours. Many implemented text-based ordering capabilities to streamline processes. And almost everyone turned to Zoom or other platforms to connect with staff and

THE SUPPLY CHAIN DILEMMA The biggest challenge that has impacted short- and long-term operations has been supply chain disruption − from shipping delays and manufacturing shutdowns, to labour shortages and construction delays. As a result, wholesalers have had to figure out how to manage inventory levels without over- or under-investing while keeping pace with fluctuating demand from their customer base. The eastern part of Canada was particularly hard hit, says Neil McDougall, president, The Master Group, in Boucherville, QC. “Quebec and Ontario were the hardest hit as construction sites were closed at the request of the provincial governments.” Everything paused during the initial lockdown, but when construction activity came back, the backlog in demand for products was overwhelming, Di Carlo says. “It was like turning on a hydrant. Everyone was scrambling to get things done. The frenzy depleted stock levels at manufacturers.” At the same time, manufacturers themselves were struggling to get the components to complete fabrication. Bill Davis, vice president and general manager at Ecco Heating Products Ltd. in Langley, BC, says even with their own production plants in Calgary and Langley, it wasn’t easy. “Absolutely there were issues on the supply side. It wasn’t as bad at first. It became worse later on. A lot of manufacturers were able to pre-build for the cooling season, but as we got further into COVID, we saw more and more supply chain issues downstream with furnaces. Manufacturers weren’t getting components, and didn’t have enough people in the plants to make them.”

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PANDEMIC PLANNING WHAT’S IN DEMAND COVID hasn’t just put a strain on the usual items in stock. It has also driven demand for anything related to indoor air quality – filtration systems, sensors, thermostats, purifiers – the whole category is moving, says Choquette. Other items in high demand include touchless faucets, foot controls, and dispensers, reports Di Carlo. “Air exchangers is also a big one. There has been tremendous demand from hospitals and services like dentistry to meet compliance requirements.” With the growth in teleworking, there’s also a marked growth in residential comfort solutions, notes McDougall. August through November was the most affected period for Ecco, notes Davis. “It was challenging getting furnaces, even from our own plants because of delays in shipping steel. Like other vendors, we were at lower capacity output, which affected wholesalers, including ourselves. We’ve rebounded a bit, partially because vendors are bringing in far more than we normally would at this period. But we still can’t predict whose plant will go down.” A bounce back in demand in June moved orders up past historical levels, says Davis. “That was really tough. We missed being able to supply at the level our customers have come to expect over the years. It put a lot of strain on them. They were accustomed to supply when and where they needed it.” It took a lot of calls and rush shipments to get products in, which incurred additional costs, he adds. “It was worth doing to maintain those relationships.” There is a silver lining to the challenges, according to Davis. “These unusual times has shone a light on how to improve inventory management.” Moving forward, DiCarlo says wholesalers are being especially cautious about how they are handling inventory. “We’re keeping an eye on rogue pirates buying all the inventory in one order. We have to make sure we are monitoring the jobs and working closely with customers to keep them up to date. I think we’re heading into more difficulty before we see inventory management getting better, including increased production and shipping costs. All of that will be handed down at some point. We will be monitoring things really, really closely over the next few months.”

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WHAT WILL STAY When things become more stable, wholesalers are finding that some of the measures they have had to put in place throughout the pandemic are here to stay. The first shutdown solidified Wolseley Canada’s belief in investment in the omnichannel environment, Choquette says. “Our business can operate seamlessly between brick and mortar, digital and phone. That’s something that we will continue to invest in moving forward. We didn’t have texting capabilities at the branches before for example. Now we absolutely will keep that moving forward.” Meetings will continue to be hybrid and face-to-face, he adds. “There’s an enormous amount of productivity gains from not having everyone fly around. I don’t think that’s unique to us.” It took time for customers to embrace the conversion to online and text-based functions, says Di Carlo. Customers are now enjoying being able to check availability and posting their orders on the site. “We had the texting and online service for over a year before the pandemic and it wasn’t getting any traction. Now they’re open to anything so they can get their products.” “The pandemic has required us to look at how different tools and technologies can provide greater intelligence and efficiency and many of those will carry benefits going forward,” McDougall says. “Digital tools are definitely part of the landscape and will become even more prominent in the future.” As for curbside pickup, customers are loving the efficiency, Davis says, “Early feedback from contractors showed that curbside pickup was actually a plus. They liked the fact that all parts, accessories and equipment were ready for them outside. They can pick up what they need and go directly to their job site in a more time-efficient way.”

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By Fred Bretzke

Fred Bretzke is a full-time pipe trades instructor with SAIT Polytechnic in Calgary. He can be reached at fred.bretzke@sait.ca.

PLUMBING

BLUE READING IN MODERN TIMES F

Thank goodness for technology. Blueprint reading is transferring into 3-D applications. Computers, emails and texting are making handwriting a thing of the past. However, we still need to read blueprints. Even if they are on a tablet at a construction site, at least we can zoom in to read every detail of an equipment list from a commercial kitchen, or plainly identify a foundation view of a house. We try to teach blueprint reading in a way that allows apprentices to view flat drawings in an orthographic or isometric way. We commence with the front, side and top views of structures and piping systems. Attempting to view an object in 3-D from a flat blueprint is easier for some students than others. I have always been a 3-D minded fellow, so it was difficult for me to understand why some students just didn’t get it. When looking at single pipe drawings or even spool drawings, I remember the instructor teaching that a smiley face or a frowning face would be a great way to identify the correct direction of a 45º elbow. It’s funny that after years of learning and then teaching students how to draw an isometric drawing, few of them used those skills in the field. Most plumbers that I came across would draw just a top view of their DWV piping on a piece of cardboard from a rough-in box of ABS fittings. Every now and then I would come across a gifted plumber who could at least draw a perspective drawing of his plumbing layout. This would make the interpretation of his layout so much easier to see if it was to code. Too many apprentices have complained to me that there was not enough blueprint reading in the blueprint courses and too much math. We have now incorporated the blueprint reading into our plumbing theory classes. In the field there was nothing more useful than having the knowledge to properly read or decipher a blueprint on site. Though at times trying to locate a pressure reducing valve on a down feed water system in a multi-storey building was an almost impossible task. Having accurate blueprints or as builds has been a problem over the years, older buildings can be a challenge to see if everything is where it should be, especially after years of renovating. In today’s construction many large commercial buildings are being digitally-enhanced, including the mechanical, which can be easily updated and altered compared to a blueprint.

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Credit wermac.org Explore the World of Piping

orty years ago, Duane Paulson (a blueprint instructor legend) was teaching not so talented ﬁrst year SAIT students how to print in bold letters. He stressed it so much that to this day I still print in capital letters instead of using cursive writing. I’ve learned over the years that many plumbers really don’t have the best handwriting skills.

THE ISOMETRIC VIEW SHOWS THE SAME PIPE AS IN THE ORTHOGRAPHIC VIEW

A signiﬁcant problem with commercial construction is the overlaying of sub trades work. In the past we would actually make the blueprint layouts or sections in plastic overlays to see what mechanical or structural part of construction would cause time delay problems. It’s not good enough to just master your particular aspect of the blueprint, one must be able to read the difference from HVAC to plumbing, to electrical, to gas, or even any type of structural you may have to work around. Section plans offer greater details in cutaways of equipment or structure parts of the blueprint, while the equipment list gives details of water, gas, electric, DWV and sizes for custom pieces of equipment. The equipment list is vital for preparing an estimate or ordering equipment for a new building; one must comply with the engineers’ specs. I would suggest that one of the more challenging aspects of plumbing a new high rise, is the base building part and/or the foundation plan grid lines. The measuring of huge commercial foundation plans to ensure that the underground plumbing is in the right place takes time and skill with blueprint reading. This may all end up being made easier with augmented reality. Can you imagine being able to overlay 3-D piping into a real to-scale foundation plan on site? Digital blueprints will change the world’s construction economy, potentially saving billions of dollars in the construction process.

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PLUMBING

RESIDENTIAL APPLICATIONS Houses, or should I say mechanical systems in custom homes, are getting to be quite complicated. Blueprints are necessary to make sure you get it right. For this example, I will use a basic bungalow blueprint to illustrate how to plumb in the underground. Below is a foundation plan. When looking at this blueprint I would look for the mechanical room and try and run my building drain as straight as possible into that room. According to the 2015 National Plumbing Code you are allowed to zig zag the building drain 135 degrees (2.4.7.1. 11) before you need a cleanout. However, whenever possible, it’s still smart to run it as straight as possible through the house to the mechanical room. When running the main stack in the bathroom you are able to install most v Þ ÕÀ >À}iÀ « «iÃ > ÌÞ« V> Þ Õ w Ã i` `ÀÞÜ> ® room. Most times the developer and homeowner would prefer not to see big ABS plumbing pipes in the home. The trick is to check the blueprint according to code regulations for wet venting 2.5.2.1. to see where you can hide your piping without putting in too many boxed in areas.

As can be seen from the blueprints, this house has two three-piece bathrooms and one four-piece bathroom. Hence most plumbers would look at the print and probably stack vent. However, most new homes are not bungalows and they actually have at i>ÃÌ i wÛi « iVi L>Ì À À Ài° Õi Ì Ì Ã we are now instructing to utilize residential circuit venting from section 2.5.3.1. of the current code. / Ã iÌ ` Ã Ài ivwV i Ì Ì > ÜiÌ Ûi Ì } >Ã you use fewer vents, pipe and labour. Few plumbers really know residential circuit venting very well, due its lack of use. However, if the blueprint offers that the joists run parallel to the main 3 in.-circuit vented branch it is advisable Ì V ÀVÕ Ì Ûi Ì > wÛi « iVi L>Ì À Ü Ì Þ two vents.

FOUNDATION PLAN

Check out how to do a residential circuit vent on youtube: search SAIT Plumbing Residential Circuit and Wet Venting.

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REFRIGERATION

OIL COOLING FOR SCREW COMPRESSORS − PART II I

n Part I in the November/December 2020 issue (available online at www.mechanicalbusiness.com), the need for oil cooling in screw compressors at higher compression ratios was discussed. In this article, we review the various methods of oil cooling in more detail; the function of thermostatic mixing valves in oil cooling applications; and points that cover the sequence of operation. As mentioned, liquid refrigerant injection oil cooling is very limited. The amount of injection cooling must not exceed a certain percentage of the total cooling capacity. When cooling the compression process using this method, the liquid injection may be fed into the economizer port or dedicated liquid injection port as recommended by the compressor manufacturer. Note the liquid is not fed into the suction port of the compressor as it can result in lubrication problems for the compressor. Water-cooled, refrigerant (DX) and air-cooled are the main methods used for oil cooling. The DX cooler simply uses a DX system to extract the heat while the water-cooled method uses an oil-to-water or aqueous solution type of heat exchanger with one or more valves to control the ﬂuid ﬂow. In situations where the oil cooler temperature drops below 20°C (68°F) during the off cycle and/or the volume of oil in the oil cooler and associated piping exceeds 25 litres or 6.6 U.S. gallons, the circuit must be designed so that

the oil leaving the oil separator bypasses the oil cooler. This can be accomplished by using a mixing valve which, in addition to regulating ﬂow through the oil cooler, allows the oil to warm up quickly. In situations where the oil cooler is subject to cold ambient temperatures, it may be also necessary to add heat and insulation to the oil injection piping. In this type of application, it is also important to ensure that the oil separator is kept sufﬁciently warm during the off cycle and the oil separator is heated and insulated to minimize heat loss. The mixing valve is typically installed so that the hot oil from the oil separator is connected to port B and the cooled oil from oil cooler is connected to port C on the valve. These ports are both used as inlets in this case. Mixing valve port A is then connected to the oil injection line feeding the compressor.

FIGURE 1 WATER-COOLED OIL COOLER

An alternate way to connect this valve is in a diverting type of arrangement, where the hot oil from the oil separator is connected to valve port A, the oil cooler inlet is connected to valve port C, and the compressor’s oil injection line is connected to port B. In this case, the valve is used in such as way that results

Phil Boudreau

M e c h a n i c a l

Phil is the Ontario sales manager for Bitzer Canada Inc. and provides training and technical support for Bitzer’s clientele. He can be contacted at: pboudreau@bitzer.ca.

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REFRIGERATION FIGURE 2 AIR-COOLED OIL COOLER

cont’d from pg. 26

in one of the ports being an inlet and the remaining ports being outlets. However, in both configurations, the valve modulates to maintain the desired oil temperature for the compressor so the results are the same. Always refer to the compressor manufacturer’s instructions to ensure correct application of the three-way oil valve. In Figure 2, which illustrates the air-cooled oil cooler with a three-way valve, the valve is used in a mixing configuration which maintains the desired oil injection temperature. When the valve is piped in a diverting mode, the oil temperature leaving the oil separator is maintained because the internal thermostatic element modulates flow according to the temperature at port A.

maintain a very consistent discharge temperature. When using a valve that modulates oil ﬂow through the oil cooler based on oil injection temperature, a constant oil injection temperature will be maintained.

An alternative arrangement is to use a type of valve that modulates oil ﬂow through the oil cooler based on the discharge line temperature. In this case, a three-way valve with remote temperature sensor will be required. When this approach is used, it is possible to

However, with ammonia applications, it is generally recommended, and perhaps even required in some cases, to modulate oil ﬂow through the oil cooler based on the temperature of the oil entering the compressor.

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THERMOSYPHON OIL COOLER APPROACH

FIGURE 3 OIL COOLER INTEGRATED INTO AIR-COOLED CONDENSER

A B

INTEGRATE OIL COOLING CIRCUIT INTO AIR-COOLED CONDENSER It is possible to integrate the oil cooling circuit into the air-cooled condenser. However, in this case, the fan-cycling control strategy must also ensure proper oil cooling during all operating conditions. This can be a challenge in some cases because oil cooling load may increase as the load decreases. The condenser fans are typically cycled based on ambient temperature or condensing pressure and not compressor discharge or oil temperature. Integrating the oil cooling into the condenser should not be considered for situations where the condenser is not close coupled to the oil separator. The oil cooler must be located as close to the compressor as possible. Additionally, it should be installed at an elevation that is lower than the oil injection port of the compressor to prevent the possibility of ƃQQFKPI VJG EQORTGUUQT YKVJ QKN FWTKPI VJG QHH E[ENG

It is possible to size the condenser to carry both the total compressor heat of rejection and the oil cooling load. This can be accomplished using a thermosyphon oil cooler approach. With this approach, a thermosyphon receiver is placed below the air-cooled condenser, but above the oil cooler. The thermosyphon receiver takes what it needs before transferring the remaining liquid to the system’s main receiver. This ensures that there will always be adequate liquid refrigerant for oil cooling. Liquid from VJG VJGTOQU[RJQP TGEGKXGT ƃQYU D[ ITCXKV[ VQ VJG heat exchanger used to cool the oil. Therefore, this is a refrigerant-cooled oil cooler. A brazed plate heat exchanger or shell and tube heat exchanger can be used for this purpose, but direct expansion heat exchangers used in this application must be selected and installed in C EQWPVGTƃQY CTTCPIGOGPV 6JGTOQU[RJQP QKN EQQNKPI piping lengths must be also calculated and arranged in such a way to allow the thermosyphon arrangement to HWPEVKQP CU C ITCXKV[ ƃQY V[RG QH UWDU[UVGO 6JKU OGCPU that the pressure gained in the liquid drop leg from the thermosyphon receiver must be high enough to overcome the pressure needed to return the superheated vapour to the thermosyphon receiver. This same approach must be used to ensure that the heat-laden vapour that accumulates in the thermosyphon receiver will naturally transfer back to the air-cooled condenser as needed.

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with Roger Grochmal

Addressing and monitoring safety practices during a pandemic H Roger Grochmal recently retired from his position of CEO of AtlasCare in Oakville, ON. Email Mechanical Business Magazine’s editor, Kerry Turner, kerry.turner@mechanicalbusiness with questions about your company, business practices, or the industry in general.

Pandemic Safety Checklist

ow we interact as a business with our customers has changed a great deal in the past year. Globally, we have all learned over time what needs to be done to keep ourselves and those we interact with as safe and healthy as possible. As new variants of COVID-19 emerge, we have needed to adapt our personal behaviour and our businesses with regards to daily safety protocols. When you are a business that enters customers’ homes to work, ingraining those protocols amongst employees and making your safety practices public has become crucial to remaining operational.

Our policy has been to be as cautious as possible, with no exceptions. In some ways we had a running start: AtlasCare has always promised and delivered a safe experience to our customers. Part of that has been strong communication with our team and our customers. We email a photo and a brief bio of the technician who will arrive at the customer’s door and ensure our staff is healthy when going on calls. It has always been part of our culture to leave the area of the home we work in cleaner than when we arrive. In light of COVID-19, we’ve needed to adopt additional measures to protect our customers and our team.

By April, we had established a strict safe call checklist to ensure consistency and maximum compliance across our organization:

Employee COVID Screening Forms. Staff are required

to submit a completed COVID health check list each morning before they can report for work.

M e c h a n i c a l

Customer screening. Customers are asked health- and travel-

all trucks each morning. Our trucks are normally kept clean, but now

related questions about

they go through a thorough sanitization

their household when they

each morning.

book the appointment, and technicians ask again at the front door prior to entering a home.

Daily deep clean and sanitizing of

Social distancing. We adopted strict social distancing and mask policies for all staff whether they

are inside or outside a customer’s home or at the office in the instances where they absolutely need to be there.

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Masks. Like most organizations

we adopted mandatory face covering ring requirements for all staff ff from the moment they leave their vehicles until they return to them. We also ask customers to wear face coverings.

Hand washing. As soon as we enter a customer’s home our staff give their

hands a thorough wash using soap and towels that we supply. They also wash their hands carefully when they finish their work before they leave the home.

Remove our garbage. Where previously we may have left packaging or other

garbage in customers’ waste bins, now as an extra precaution we remove any garbage the project produces.

Sanitize our tools. Between service calls, our technicians are required to fully clean

and sanitize the tools they used.

100 per cent contactless experience. From reviewing options to making a

payment, we have established a fully non-contact process.

Monitoring acceptance and compliance Of course, policies are nothing more than writing on a sheet of O pa paper if they are not practiced properly. How do we ensure these guid guidelines are put into practice? Having a consistent list of requirements such as those noted earlier are imp an important first step. When a process becomes routine, we know it is more likely to be adopted and important steps will not be forgotten. Beyond that, AtlasCare’s strategy has been one of open communication, supporting employee wellbeing and ensuring they feel empowered to act. We know from our experience over the years that when people feel cared for and trusted, they are a whole lot more likely to make the right choices. Early in 2020 we expanded our existing Employee Assistance Program (EAP) in our employee health benefits plan to include the ability for staff to access a physician or healthcare professional online, 24/7, should they or anyone in their home feel ill. We also foster an environment of teamwork and support: rather than “rat out” a co-worker for forgetting to follow our guidelines, our staff are encouraged to remind one another. If an employee’s lax safety procedures persist, staff have a direct line to management to report their concern. Our employees are also fully empowered to leave a customer’s home immediately if they don’t feel it is a safe environment. One example is a customer who in our screening claimed to have not travelled recently, yet our technician arrived to notice luggage in the front hall with airline tags intact. The customer confirmed they had returned from Florida the day before and that it wasn’t a “big deal” in their eyes. Our employee called his manager who spoke to the customer. The employee was then instructed to leave for his own safety. Beyond these measures, we also have extensive customer communications in place to invite feedback about our team’s performance. This includes follow-up emails that offer a direct line to company management, and active promotion of our review platforms such as HomeStars, Google and Facebook. Our marketing team actively monitors all reviews, connects with customers for more discussion when necessary, and ensures that staff learn about positive and negative feedback as a means of continuously improving how we work to do the best possible job for our customers. M e c h a n i c a l

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PLUMBING

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Handsfree faucet Delta commercial faucets with Proximity sensing technology are designed for tough conditions and busy facilities requiring hands-free operation, vandal resistance, reliable operation and ease of maintenance. The entire faucet acts as a sensor, responding when approached. There are no sensor windows to clean or replace, and no optical parts to maintain.

Large diameter polypropylene pipe Aquatherm Blue Pipe is available in sizes up to 24-in. and is suitable for any size commercial heating project. Made from polypropylene (PP), it is lighter than similarly-sized steel pipe, and has an anticipated life span of 50+ years. It is joined using heat fusion, eliminating the need for open ﬂame, can handle up to 180°F ﬂuids at 100 psi, and is recyclable.

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Toilet tank repair kit Instant hot water system Taco’s Hot-LinkPlus-e ECM high-efﬁciency instant hot water system delivers hot water on demand. Features include the Hot-Link Valve, the 006e3 hot water circulation pump, and SmartPlug instant hot water control. It uses existing plumbing with a tank water heater, eliminating the need for a dedicated hot water return line.

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The Everything Toilet Tank Repair Kit from Fluidmaster is designed to help users completely refurbish an entire toilet tank. It contains all the necessary components for repair, including two patented tools to remove parts – a green tool to remove the bowl, and red wrench to remove and install new valves.

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Hot ot water building management system The Rinnai Building Management System (BMS) Gateway for hot water management allows ws facili facility managers to control and monitor up to 24 Rinnai commercial tankless k water heaters on a network. An optional touchscreen user interface acts as an enhanced controller. Users can also use the BMS Gateway to remotely turn water heaters on or off, adjust temperature, monitor ﬂow rates, combustion cycles and operation hours.

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Pipeline locator The M12 pipeline locator from Milwaukee Tool is equipped with an on display directional arrow that immediately identiﬁes the point of interest, and two omni-directional antennae. It features a 4.3 in. colour LCD display and is designed to withstand the harshest conditions with an impact rated screen, rubber overmould, and sealed battery door, and delivers over nine hours of runtime.

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The Mako digital backﬂow preventer test kitt available through Cameron Instruments perrres, forms all standard backﬂow testing procedures, and captures and stores readings while testing. ing. Available in both 3- and 5-valve options, it features a high visibility backlit display, and a swivel hook for hanging on a pipe or ladder. Hoses and adapters are included.

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Press supply stop valves Matco-Norca’s chrome plated quarter turn press supply stop valves are available in both angle and straight conﬁgurations. The four new lead-free quarter-turn valve offerings include two 1/2 in. press x 3/8 in. OD compression valves and a pair of 1/2 in. x 1/4 in. OD compression valves.

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PLUMBING

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Touchless lavatory faucet The CIA touchless lavatory faucet from Moen features MotionSense Wave technology that enables single-sensor activation at the faucet base, allowing users to turn water on and off with a simple pass of the hand. Available ﬁnishes include chrome, Lifeshine, brushed nickel, Lifeshine brushed gold and matte black. The faucet also features Moen’s M-CORE Universal Valve System.

Pipe clamps Oatey’s Full Clamp provides pipes complete stand-off from the surface, and 360-degree pipe protection to allow tubes to expand and contract. Notched nail slots relieve strain and allow for better nail alignment. Built with pushon installation technology, the lead-in edge automatically opens the clamp.

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Copper push fittings NIBCO Wrot Racer copper push fittings slide into place for a fast, secure connection. Available in 1/2 in. to 1 in. sizes, they are lead-free and made from recyclable materials including 99.9 per cent pure wrot copper body, PPSU engineered plastic, and stainless steel gripper ring. They transition between piping systems connecting PEX, PE-RT, CPVC or copper tubing, and are certified to 200 psi and 200° F.

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PLUMBING

Products

Touchless washbar The Next Generation WashBar from Bradley Corp. is the latest addition to its touchfree WashBar series. It delivers touchless clean+rinse+dry technology, and features an edgy proﬁle to elevate the look of commercial washrooms. The L-shaped design and single connection point to the sink provide more open space for easier cleaning.

www. bradleycorp.com

Inspection camera system

Power drain cleaning machine The Super-Vee from General Pipe Cleaners is designed for small line stoppages. The hand-held device unclogs sink, shower, toilet and laundry lines up to 3 in. in diameter. The Slide-Action chuck engages and releases Flexicore cable with a simple push or pull of the grip shield and also automatically adjusts to 1/4 in. through 3/8 in. diameter cables.

www. drainbrain.com

Hathorn M7 municipal grade inspection camera systems come standard with a 7.4 in. shatter resistant LCD monitor and are compatible with 18V Milwaukee batteries for over four hours of runtime on a single charge. They are equipped with 200 ft. of cable and a choice of self-levelling DuraCAM camera heads.

Upflush grinder system The Sanibest Pro from SFA Saniflo is a 1-horsepower upflush grinder system that operates at 3,600 RPM to quickly disperse waste through the base plate’s holes before being pumped into the 3/4 in. discharge line. It includes a removable service panel to enable direct access to the main pump components.

www. hathorncorp.com

www. saniﬂo.ca

Electronic mixing valve

Coloured wall PEX-a tubing HeatLink's PureLink Plus PEX-a tubing for potable water is now available with solid red and blue colouring to help simplify identiﬁcation of hot and cold lines on the job site. Tubing is available in 1/4, 3/4 and 1 in. diameters in 100 and 300 ft. coils and 20 ft. straight lengths. The PEX-a tubing is compatible with PEX insert and expansion ﬁttings.

The Proton Series electronic mixing valves from Leonard Valve Company feature daily self-cleaning to extend service intervals and send notiﬁcations when service is required. Self-balancing lf-balancing allows for +/2°F temperature ature performance around the ASSE 1017 017 Standard which requires +/- 3°F.

www. leonardvalve.com lve.com

www. heatlink.com

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PLUMBING

Products

Pot ﬁller faucet

Water heating solutions PVI’s Dynamic Water Heaters for commercial applications feature greater BTU input, optimized storage buffer, and high water turnover. Available in a range of energy sources including gas, electric, steam, boiler water, and oil energy sources, and feature energy inputs from 199 MBH to 7,000 MBH. Models range from instantaneous on-demand water heating to storage-type heaters and are fabricated from corrosionresistant stainless steel.

The Port Haven pot ﬁller faucet from Pﬁster includes Pforever Seal ceramic disc valve technology and one-hole installation. The product complies with NSF/ANSI 372 and conforms with lead content requirements for lead-free plumbing. Flow rate is 3.0 gpm. It also meets ADA/ANSI A118/2 accessibility requirements.

www. pﬁster.com

Cordless water transfer pump The Pump Stick from Reed is a battery operated pump that transfers water at 15 gpm. It features a battery adapter plate that ﬁts 18V-20V lithium ion, slide style batteries from popular brands. Made from impact-resistant glass-ﬁlled polycarbonate parts and aluminum body, it features a secure magnetic hose connection and quick change motor.

www. pvi.com

www. reedmfgco.com

The Newly Re-Designed PR-500 is the

Most Sensitive Trap Primer On The Market Precision Plumbing Products is proud to introduce the re-designed “Low Flow” PR-500 the most pressure sensitive brass body pressure activated trap primer on the market. Operating at 3 psi, this trap primer will not waterlog.

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Our Trap Primers are proudly manufactured and assembled in our plant in Portland, Oregon since the 1960s.

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COVER STORY

By Kerry Turner

“I will pay you good money and you will work very hard.”

Family Holmes SHERRY, RRY, M MIKE AND MICHAEL

Photo credit: Courtesy of CTV

For fans of home renovation shows the Holmes brand is one of, if not the most well-known in Canada. To achieve that level of success one would assume there was a master plan; how else does a contractor make the leap to stardom? That assumption would be wrong – at least at the outset of Mike Holmes’s career. Becoming a television celebrity wasn’t something he planned. Like many things in life, his start in television with Holmes on Homes in 2003 was a matter of being in the right place at the right time. “You know, it’s funny. I was doing a job for a television executive, griping about all the things those home renovation shows do wrong and what I’d do if I was in their position,” recounts

Mike. “He liked what I was saying, and told me to put together a show for him. That was my start in television.” Two of his children, Sherry and Michael, would later join him; once again without a grand plan. “I never intended on joining my dad’s business as a teenager,” says Michael. When he was 14, his dad asked him to work for him during the summer. “He said, “I will pay you good money and you will work very hard,”” recalls Michael. “I always say that one of those things was true, anyone who has worked for a family company knows which one! That summer, I fell in love with working physically and working with my hands.”

All four episodes of Holmes Family Effect are available for streaming 30

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Taking it to the community

The Holmes with Frank Meleca teacher and hero to his students, and Nominator Riley inside the newly-renovated space at Judith Nyman Secondary School.

Sherry also recounts how a career in construction wasn’t in the cards. “I always just assumed that construction wasn’t a viable career option for me, but boy was I wrong!” says Sherry. A common thread for the three Holmes is the drive to help people and raise the bar for renovators and trades people; as their well- known brand Making It Right reﬂects. “I am so lucky to be able to help people the way we do. It is such a rewarding feeling to see lives truly changed and to see the looks on peoples’ faces when we can give them what they wanted or needed. It’s so incredibly humbling,” says Sherry.

The recent four-episode series, Holmes Family Effect, was a shift for the team. Organizations that have a positive impact on their communities, rather than families or individuals, are featured. “I have to say all of our shows been really amazing experiences, but our latest show, Holmes Family Effect really takes the cake. The organizations we assisted do incredible work for their communities,” says Mike. “If they’re given the right support, I don’t think you could ever measure the impact they have on the community at large. For us to be a small part of that really makes me feel good.” In the ﬁrst show, Judith Nyman Secondary School in Brampton, ON gets a facelift. Nominator Riley set out to save her school’s skilled trades program. The 18-year-old sold the trio on transforming three rundown classrooms. She, together with fellow students, worked alongside the Holmes team.

A Pet Project It is rare to hear people mention radon testing when they are purchasing a home. And it is even more rare to hear homeowners talk about testing as general good practice. This is something the Holmes are committed to changing. “I think we haven’t reached that point where it’s really in the public’s consciousness. My team and I are working to change that because radon is a very serious issue. We should all be testing our homes for radon every two years at a minimum to ensure the levels in our homes haven’t spiked to dangerous heights,” says Mike. Michael and Sherry, together with their pets Caicos and Loki respectively, are in video clips on the Bark Side of Radon, a campaign developed by Simon Fraser University students and now under Radon Environmental’s umbrella. Mike is looking for bolder action on the part of regulators. “My hope is that it becomes part of the building code to have a radon mitigation system built into any new home build so that people can continue to feel safe in their houses,” says Mike.

on CTV.ca, the CTV app and Crave. M e c h a n i c a l

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COVER STORY

PROMOTING THE TRADES Mike and Michael both have an affinity for the Skills programs. “Skills programs really treat these kids like the rock stars they are. I love being able to attend Skills events all over the world and meet the up-and-coming tradespeople of the future,” says Mike. Michael is equally enthusiastic. “The Skills Canada and World Skills competitions are like the Olympics for the skilled trades. Explaining it doesn’t do it justice but watching all of the young adults that compete at a level of an expert in their fields is something I think more people need to see,” contends Michael. “The more people that see the amount of talent, passion, creativity and skill Russell Peters (who appeared in that go into this field, the Holmes Family Effect Episode 1) and more people will want to try Mike Holmes inside Judith Nyman getting into it.” Secondary School.

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The transformation of the trades classrooms was truly a group effort.

Michael believes the greatest barrier for young people getting into the skilled trades is the stigma that surrounds it. “We need more support in the skilled trades industry, starting at home and at school. There needs to be more opportunities within schools for students to work with their hands to even see if this is something that interests them. “The skilled trades are full of and need more educated professionals who are going to continue to make a difference, push boundaries and advocate for more sustainability, quality and equality,” says Michael.

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HYDRONICS

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

DON’T BE SHOCKED BY ELECTRIFICATION: CONSIDER THE OPTIONS

here is a movement afoot to wean off of fossil fuels. We see more and more cities, even entire countries, heading towards an all-electric energy future. There are also some pretty interesting vehicle offerings, if you happen to be a hydronic-maniac and a motorhead. As a hydronic and comfort industry, we need to determine how we can still have a seat at the electriﬁcation table. To keep a ﬂuid-based (hydronic) offering, what are the electric options available today?

UNDERSTANDING THE ACRONYMS Let us take a look at some of the current technologies and get a few terms defined. You will see A2WHP: it means simply air to water heat pump. Another acronym you may see is ccA2WHP. It stands for cold climate air to water heat pump. Heating seasonal performance factor, or HSPF, describes the efficiency of a heat pump over a heating season. To get the rating, you take the total heat output. Then, you divide it by the total electric output during that same specific period. Overall, the higher the HSPF rating of a unit, the more energy efficient it is. Check out Adapting heat pumps to our Canadian climate from Natural Resources Canada: https:// youtu.be/-wTRGbDY7Kk

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Electric boilers are an option in areas with low-cost electricity. I will say that industry has evolved from the electric boilers I first installed and worked on. Microprocessors and digital controls allow for small, quiet, modulation electric boilers in a wide range of sizes. Electronics on board allows for outdoor reset functionality and contactor-free staging of the elements. There are some top-notch brands manufactured in Canada, if you have a need for electric element boilers. When we offer a hydronic system, efficiency will continue to be a buzz word for our customers, and may be a close second priority to comfort for many home and building owners. Heat pumps (HPs) are another option that are getting a lot of attention from contractors as well as product designers and manufacturers. If we want to keep hydronics in play, and we do, we need to find and offer options to heat the fluid via electrically powered equipment. Simply put, heat pumps have the ability to leverage or multiply the source − air or water − and provide additional output. In Caleffi’s Idronics 27, a refrigerator is used as an analogy, to demonstrate how we can reverse the natural direction of heat transfer. We pull low temperature heat from the food inside, and expel it to the surrounding air. With this same technology, an A2WHP can pull energy from the surrounding air and use it to heat a fluid for powering a hydronic system. So, is it possible to remove a fossil fueled boiler and directly substitute an air to water heat pump? B u s i n e s s

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24 x 32

SmartPlate Has EVolved Introducing SmartPlate EV. With its ultracompact 24" x 32" footprint, vertical piping connections and capacities up to 4500 MBH and 300 PSIG, the SmartPlate EV indirect water heater gives you greater design flexibility for standard and highpressure systems. It also easily integrates with AERCO’s Benchmark boilers and smart Edge Controllers for a powerful combination system. Join the EVolution. SmartPlate EV.

HYDRONICS

AN INTERIM STEP

WILL AN HP COVER THE LOAD? Here are a few considerations to help determine if and when an HP can be substituted for a boiler. Tattoo this somewhere on your body: it’s all about temperature. Those among us who have embraced condensing boilers or mod-cons should know the lower the operating temperature condition, the JKIJGT VJG DQKNGToU GHƂEKGPE[ #RRN[ VJKU NQIKE VQ JGCV RWOR applications.

Hybrid systems may be a solution until the powers that be completely shut off the pipelines. You can run the heat pump to the best efﬁciency temperatures, and bring on a boiler for the days the heat pump struggles.

System utilizing electric boiler, heat pump, buffer tank and radiant panel circuits

Steps to take:

# NQCF ECNEWNCVKQP QP VJG DWKNFKPI KP KVU EWTTGPV UVCVG This is always the roadmap to a successful outcome.

# UWTXG[ QH VJG EWTTGPV JGCV GOKVVGTU VQ FGVGTOKPG VJGKT output at various supply water temperatures (SWTs).

Upgrade the structure. This is the best money spent, always. Maybe perform a blower door test, an infrared UECP VQ ƂPF CPF UGCN KPƂNVTCVKQP ICRU 4GECNEWNCVG VJG load after any improvements to the structure.

5GNGEV C JGCV RWOR OQFGN CPF UGG KH KV ECP GHƂEKGPVN[ cover the load and produce the SWT required at design conditions.

Supplement areas with low temp emitters + RTGFKEV [QW YKNN ƂPF CRRNKECVKQPU YJGTG VJG EWTTGPV QHHGTKPIU QH JGCV RWORU OC[ PQV CFGSWCVGN[ QT GHƂEKGPVN[ EQXGT the load across all conditions. In other words, they cannot provide the required SWT for design, coldest day conditions but all is not lost. You may be able to increase the emitters, CU JGCV VTCPUHGT KU CNYC[U C UWTHCEG CTGC ICOG #NNQY OG VQ TGHGT VQ [QW C PGY VCVVQQ CFF QT KPETGCUG ƂP VWDG CTGC ;QW could upsize a forced air coil, or supplement areas with low temperature panel radiators. You could add radiant surfaces, arguably the lowest possible heat emitter option, on walls and ceilings perhaps. #PF OQTG JGNR KU QP VJG YC[ /CPWHCEVWTGTU CTG JCTF CV YQTM FGXGNQRKPI JGCV RWORU VQ TGNKCDN[ CPF GHƂEKGPVN[ RTQFWEG 180°F equipment. My goal, our goal, should be to comfortably heat a space, any space, with 120°F or lower SWT. When we get to that number we can leverage several proven options. Solar VJGTOCN EQOGU DCEM KPVQ RNC[ EWTTGPV # 9*2U CPF YCUVG heat recovery. John Siegenthaler (Siggy) refers to these low VGORGTCVWTG FGUKIPU CU pHWVWTG RTQQƂPIq [QWT DWKNFKPI

M e c h a n i c a l

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Figure courtesy Calefﬁ

As shown here, the refrigeration system is on. Hot refrigerant gas is circulating from the outdoor unit through the refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger, which is functioning as the condenser. Heated water is flowing into the buffer tank. Heated water is also being extracted from one of the upper connections on the buffer tank and routed through the 3-way mixing valve to the radiant panel distribution system. This water flows through an electric boiler, which may or may not be operating as a supplemental heat source depending on the required supply water temperature to the radiant panel circuits. This system can also provide chilled water for cooling. A key hydronic component will be a buffer tank. Current heat pump selections do not have the modulation ability that we have come to understand and love with mod cons. We really do not want to excessively cycle the heat pumps, and micro-zoned jobs will need some careful design considerations to eliminate cycling. HP manufacturers will spell out an acceptable cycle. Here are a few things to look for, or adjust for, in a successful A2WHP/ boiler replacement: adequate capacity in the breaker box, low temperature emitters, buffer tank, and location for the outdoor equipment. There are some excellent training materials and YouTube videos out there to help you learn the pros and cons of A2WHP applications. Numerous Canadian companies are working on products specifically for the conditions common in the sometimes frigid north country. Ask good questions, and seek out testing sites. Learn about refrigeration technology design and specifically troubleshooting and repairing. Position yourself at the front of this curve and become an expert in designing and applying. Don’t get shocked by the electrification movement. It should sound like opportunity knocking.

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Hydronic Products Combi-boilers Navien’s NCB-H condensing combiboiler series includes ﬁve models ranging from 160,000 BTU/H for DHW and 60,000 BTU/H for heating to 210,000 BTU/H DHW and 150,000 BTU/H heating. The series uses dual stainless steel heat exchangers for heating and a separate ﬂat panel stainless steel heat exchanger for DHW. Features include 15:1 turndown ratio (TDR) for DHW and up to 11:1 TDR for heating. www.

Pre-fab pump panels Arctic Heat Pumps pre-assembled pump panels are designed for multiple pumps or zoned hydronic systems. The aluminum mounting panel easily attaches to the wall, and includes all ﬁttings, pumps, shutoff valves, air bleeders, expansion tanks, mixing valves and more. Units can be as small as 24 in. x 36 in. and a depth of 13 in.

navieninc.com

www. arcticheatpumps.com

Tankless indirect water heaters

Transition tees

Aerco’s SmartPlate EV tankless indirectt al water heater is designed for commercial er and institutional domestic water-to-water heating installations. Measuring 24 in. x 32 in., it incorporates real-time load tracking ng and responsive controls to maintain accurate hot water temperatures under n diversiﬁed load patterns. It’s available in ﬁve models with capacities up to 4500 MBH, and provides up to 90 gpm of domestic hot water. www.

The Press × FIP transition tee products from Webstone include the Pro-Pal T-Valve for isolating a line or device for service. It features a full port ball valve with an integrated tee ﬁtting. Sizes range from 1/2 in. to 1 in., including reducing branch options. In addition, Press × PEX transition elbows and couplings are now available in 5/8 in. and 1 in. reducing sizes. All products are made from lead-free DZR brass.

aerco.com

www. webstonevalves.com

Trench convector Jaga Climate Systems’ Clima Canal 10 trench convector is less than 4 in. deep and can rest seamlessly within the ﬂoor. This in-ﬂoor design eliminates the need for bulky mechanical equipment. Heating capacity is up to 18.6 MBH and cooling capacity is 5.6 MBH. www.

jaga-canada.com

Schematic software HydroSketch is a cloud-based software for drawing piping and electrical schematic diagrams to document hydronic heating and cooling systems. It is designed for users who need to make a simple drawing without the lengthy learning curve of most CAD software. The interface allows users to drag and drop components from several toolboxes and connect them.

hydrosketch.com 46

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Hydronic Products Cast Iron Condensing Boilers The KN-Series and KN-Series Plus cast iron condensing boilers from Mestek are available in sizes ranging from 200 to 4,000 MBH. KN-Series boilers are AHRI Certiﬁed at 90 per cent and KN-Series Plus boilers are AHRI Certiﬁed at +96 per cent. All models feature Tru-Flow advanced gas train, and a fuel/air coupling combustion control system that works in conjunction with the HeatNet 3.0 touchscreen cascade control system.

Neutralizing condensate base

www. knseries.com

Wall-hung boiler The TRX from NTI is a high-efﬁciency wall-hung boiler equipped with an XTRATECH stainless steel heat exchanger with large diameter tubing. Every unit comes with embedded Wi-Fi connectivity to allow communications with NTI remote connectivity tools. The integrated hydro-block includes a high efﬁciency ECM pump and diverter valve. It comes in three combi sizes (110C, 150C and 199C) and four heat-only options.

www. ntiboilers.com

Some just see a blueprint. You see a chance to grow your business.

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The Neutra-Safe NSP50 neutralizing condensate standalone base supports Little Giant VCMA series pumps. It neutralizes up to 500,000 BTU/H of input and comes with proprietary Neutra-pH media that can be replaced with the 50RCK-S recharge kit.

www. neutrasafe.com

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Hydronic Products Fire tube boiler EPIC fire tube and fire tube combi boilers from Lochinvar are designed for residential applications. The fire tube boiler is available in four models from 80,000 to 199,999 BTU/H, and allows for up to 100 ft. of direct venting. The fire tube combination gas boiler/space heating appliance delivers up to 4.8 gpm DHW.

www. lochinvar.com

Wood-ﬁred boiler Hydronic panel radiators

The Vitoflex 300-UF combustion woodfired boiler from Viessmann has an input range of 1331 to 4265 MBH. It is designed for wood fuels with a maximum water content of 50 per cent. It features a triple-pass heat exchanger and modulating output control (turndown ratio of 4:1), fully-automatic de-ashing, and optional pneumatic cleaning system and flue gas de-duster.

Beacon-Morris’ hydronic panel radiators are engineered to perform in a range of applications including modern low temperature systems. Sizes range from 1,472 to 18,355 BTU/H and are available in over 70 conﬁgurations. The pretreated steel construction and powdercoated ﬁnish provide corrosion and scratch resistance, and comes with six different connection points.

www. viessmann.ca

www. beacon-morris.com

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Reduce risk and increase efficiency using Victaulic as your complete project partner.

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MODULAR CONSTRUCTION

Marketing

with DOUG MACMILLAN

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

Four sure-ﬁre ways to maintain usual sales volumes M

any mechanical contractors are reporting that fewer customers are booking annual maintenance on their HVAC systems, even though any contractor will tell them neglecting regular service can lead to uncomfortable, inconvenient and costly breakdowns. Pandemic or not, an ounce of prevention continues to be worth a pound of cure.

An extra effort is required from contractors to help homeowners understand the value of prevention, the risks of waiting until a breakdown to try and get prompt service, and of course their commitment to cleanliness and safety when they are in customers’ homes. Stepping up their direct outreach to residential customers is necessary if contractors hope to maintain their usual sales volumes. Yet, these are lean times and most contractors can’t afford to add money to their digital or print marketing programs. Other tried and true (and affordable) methods are needed to reach residential targets. In my experience, these four workhorse tactics take more time than money and are an effective way to remind homeowners that neglecting their system can have consequences.

Email communications form a connection

Most contractors are sitting on thousands of customer email addresses. Low-cost email marketing platforms are the only outof-pocket investment to reach out to them to remind them of the merits of getting on your service dance card. Today, the secret to effective email marketing is simplicity. It should feel like a letter rather than a brochure. A subject line that communicates the purpose of your email and a genuine note from a company owner is all that’s needed. Include a clear call to action and make it easy for people to schedule an appointment by clicking through a link in the email. If you’re offering a promotion or special deal, make it clear and don’t over-sell. Be sure to communicate the why: create a compelling case for preventive maintenance in your email. Link to a blog on your website that talks more about the service call – what’s included, why it matters, and how you ensure customer safety every step of the way. Don’t be afraid to adopt a drip strategy with email; reach out to customers every two or three weeks. Add new and interesting content or have a new reason for writing such as a product introduction, or to let people know the schedule is getting full so they should act now.

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Social media use is way, way up

Many HVAC contractors underutilized this powerful tactic before COVID and continue to miss the mark. Despite that, some studies show social media use is up 70 per cent during the pandemic with many new users who will be unlikely to leave. Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn have proven to be reliable gateways into people’s homes. Without any doubt, social media engagement takes a lot of time, knowledge and energy. However, done right, you can stay engaged with customers and target markets in a genuine and relaxed way without breaking the bank. Start by inviting customers to follow you and engage with your company on your social media platforms. Promise them value: timely weather advisories, links to tips such as a monthly advice column, reminders to schedule maintenance, connections to community causes and projects that may interest them. Along the way, you can also promote lesser-known services, new products, and introduce the technicians and salespeople behind the masks. Remember to use this not just to broadcast information but to engage: ask questions, post fun polls and surveys, invite reviews. Be fun, be yourself and show some personality.

Snail mail still works orks

Sure, we’re all hearing stories of postal delays due to volumes and who needs more mail: we’re receiving plenty already, and it’s not the cheapest way to reach a house. So why send mail?

Pick up the phone

Phone calls are worth their weight in gold. If the company owner calls even 10 customers per week who are identified as overdue for service or might otherwise be vulnerable, it can lead to some great conversations, connections and bookings.

Believe it or not, the right mail will stand out. We all still like to receive a letter, not junk mail, but a real letter that is addressed to us from someone we know. This is the approach contractors want to take: carefully analyze your database to identity customers who missed their usually scheduled annual appointment. Craft a heartfelt letter from the company’s owners that is more of a check-in than a sales call. Thank them for their business. Remind customers about the ‘why’ and make it easy for them to get an appointment. Invite them to call the boss directly to discuss any concerns they might have about safety protocols. If you aim with enough precision, it’s more than worth the stamp to mail the letter. Also, consider forming a direct mail partnership with several other local (non-competing) contractors to promote an overarching special offer across all partners such as a five per cent discount or a donation to a local charity for every project received in 12 months that cites a code on the special mailer. This aligns your business with the ‘shop local’ mindset and reinforces your commitment to the community.

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Road Warrior Mike Durbin

Name: Mike Durbin Nickname: Durbs Company: M. Durbin Plumbing Solutions Job Title: President Born/Lives in: Kitchener, ON Age: 36 In the industry since: 2003 Service area: Waterloo Region

Mike Durbin:

The bigger the job the better

here was a time in Mike Durbin’s life that hockey was the only thing on his mind. But a summer job working with a pool company with his older brother put another idea into his head. “I liked working with water heaters and ﬁltration equipment and making it look better than the other guys. It made me think plumbing might be right for me.”

Sylvia Pond Photography

He also discovered he had a passion for precision. “I thought it was cool using a level and matching things perfectly. I hard piped it all to make it look good rather than using flexible piping.” After that, a stint as a bartender gave the final push to become a plumber. A regular customer who owned a plumbing company offered him a job, and things took off from there. He worked for more than 10 years, getting his certification in 2009. In 2014, he was ready to fly solo. “I worked out of an old 2006 van. It was the cheapest van with the nicest body. I decaled it right away so people would know my name and number.” His first year in business he hired two people. Now there are eight. Durbin personally prefers commercial work, because most of the jobs are new builds.

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“My favourite kind of work is multi-residential buildings. The bigger the building the better.” Their main bread and butter is big custom homes. “I’ve never plumbed a house under $1.2 million,” Durbin says. The secret his success, he says, is hard work and a willingness to try to do new stuff and learn. “I had never done a boiler system before I went out on my own. I said I could do it and figured it out. Now we’re sought after for that.” Over the years he has also become a hydronic specialist. He honed his skills on a massive project that required 30,000 sq. ft. of indoor floor heating with 27 different zones. “The way I look at it is, if somebody else can do it, why can’t I? I never say no to a job.” The best advice he ever received was from a mentor who told him that for every problem a business owner runs into, all the bigger companies have gone through the exact same situation already. “I need to figure out how to solve problems, achieve goals and reach milestones myself to get to the next level. Every time I am faced with a challenge or opportunity, I think back to that conversation and figure out how to push forward.”

Favourite class in high school: Business

O word that describes you: One Motivated M

Greatest teacher: Mr. Weatherdon

F Favourite car of all time: Black1963 C Corvette split window

Current ride: 2020 GMC Sierra Denali

My rule of thumb is…to triple check your work and leave the jobsite tidy

Kilometres per day: 30 to 50

If I ha had a million dollars...I would invest inves it and keep going

Would like to get dispatched atched to: Anywhere warm in winter

When I was a kid… I wanted to play in the NHL W

Favourite part of the job: ob: Solving problems and learning

Biggest Biggest pet peeve: H Handymen trying to be plumbers and an nd then we have to come in and ﬁx all the mistakes, causing ca ausing more expens expense than necessary. Or homeowners that th hat won’t leave you alone to work

Most useful tool: Channellocks nellocks Favourite tool: Milwaukee kee press tool

If you wrote a book: Something about home heating systems syystems for those who wh don’t know but want to

Tool you wish you had:: A line jetter

Life on the ice

If you were granted one ne wish: To live a long healthy life and to watch ch my kids/wife grow old

In his younger years, Durbin was looking at a promising hockey career. “I grew up playing competitive hockey. I was pretty good,” he says.

Favourite read: Calefﬁ Idronics Favourite sport: Hockey growing up, now golf Favourite season: Summer Favourite video game/gaming system: Any EA Sports NHL game/XBOX 360 Favourite place to hang out: Westmount Golf and Country Club Favourite restaurant: Westmount’s patio Favourite food: Pizza Favourite local haunt: Ethel’s Lounge Hobbies: Hanging out with my family. I like watching my son play hockey 3 albums that you’d take with you to your desert island: Mobb Deep “Hell on Earth,” Notorious B.I.G. “Ready to Die,” Michael Jackson’s Greatest Hits If you could be an animal, what would you be? I think sharks are cool

In winter he was on the ice seven days a week with a team of at local rinks. “Walter Gretzky was my coach actually. We ended up beating Team Alberta 6 to 1 in the national ﬁnals when I was 16.” Come summer he played roller hockey where he eventually made it to Team Ontario. In fact, he says, he was better on roller blades than skates. “I just wasn’t quite as good at ice hockey. But there was no pro route for roller hockey here.” He hasn’t lost that connection with hockey to this day. He now likes to watch his son, who plays at the AA level, and is hoping his sevenyear-old picks up the sport. “I would like to coach her if I get the chance.” He hasn’t given up competitive sports altogether, he says. His latest passion is golf. “I love it. I’m trying to get my kids into it as well.”

One place in the world you would like to visit: Ireland M e c h a n i c a l

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HIGH-PERFORMANCE HVAC

SO, YOU WANT TO BE IN THE

IEQ BUSINESS?

here is so much going on to raise the public’s awareness of the challenges and opportunities in providing safer, healthier, more comfortable indoor environments. CBC’s Marketplace recently aired an episode where they measured the air quality in several homes and evaluated ﬁve commonly available portable air “purifying” devices. There have also been multiple stories in national newspapers and on national network news broadcasts on the efﬁcacy of air cleaning devices in schools and workplaces. Even my community newspaper ran a story about air cleaners being used in local schools. With consumer awareness and angst regarding indoor air quality (IAQ) at all-time highs, let’s explore the opportunities for HVAC professionals.

While most HVAC professionals are undoubtedly edly offering elements of each of these opportunities es now, I would advocate tuning up your approach to match the heightened expectations and needs of clients. Those expectations include relevant credentials or, at the very least, demonstration of training and experience in the speciﬁc ﬁeld of indoor environmental quality IEQ.

designations, in the short term I would advocate developing a relationship with accredited professionals who you can refer clients to as needed. Use their knowledge to guide you in ﬁnding the most effective resolutions to indoor air challenges.

In workplace environments, the expertise and services of a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) are usually expected to create remediation plans for hazards such as mould, asbestos, lead and soil gases (radon). Creating a protocol for reducing viral infection spread in a workplace may also best be handled by a CIH. A CIH designation involves a college or university level education in a science or engineering related field, in addition to a field mentoring experience. There are other recognized designations such as those offered by The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, Restoration Certification (IICRC), or the Building Biology Institute. While some readers may wish to pursue these

Gord Cooke

M e c h a n i c a l

Photos courtesy Flir, Extech

There are at least four business opportunities in helping your residential and commercial clients breathe the healthiest possible air: testing and diagnostic services; remediation and restoration; installation of HVAC products targeting indoor environmental quality (IEQ); and maintenance programs speciﬁc to air quality control.

In most residential applications and even in many general commercial applications, such as ofﬁces or small retail stores, HVAC contractors with commonly available industry training and appropriate tools can provide a thorough and comprehensive diagnosis and air quality remediation or enhancement plan to clients. Start with information from Canada enh Mortgage and Housing Corporation and the Environmental Protection M Agency (U.S.). Information from these sources represents the ﬁndings and opinions of consensus documents and independent research. For training, a great start would be the two-day Indoor Air Quality course offered by the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute (HRAI) through its SkillTech Academy. The course covers a range of building issues that can lead to air quality problems. It

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

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discusses tools, techniques and protocols for investigating IAQ issues and identifies the range of solutions available. Contractors who take this workshop will immediately want to get some field experience to apply and reinforce the information they have learned. For remediation or cleanup of specific events such as floods, fire, mould or other insurable events, you would be advised to align yourself with a “disaster or restoration company” or take the training yourself through organizations such as the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, Restoration Certification (IICRC) or the Center for Disaster Recovery. They have day-long modules for specific restoration projects and they all include provisions for mechanical systems assessments and remediation you should be aware of.

• Air handlers with ECM fan motors • Bathroom fans, range hoods • ERVs – ECM motors • Humidity control – humidiﬁers, dehumidiﬁers • Make-up air • Filtration – MERV 8 to 13, HEPA

When it comes to providing equipment and maintenance solutions, it is important to broaden and deepen your offerings to be true to the needs of clients’ environmental quality. Seldom will one piece of equipment be sufficient to make claims that air quality concerns have been addressed. Be ready to confidently offer proper temperature and humidity control. That is, humidification and whole house dehumidification equipment to maintain the optimal 40 per cent to 60 per cent RH level year-round. Then, offer appropriate ventilation options that include source control devices such as bathroom fans, kitchen range hoods and garage exhaust fans, as well as whole building ventilation systems.

• Sealed duct work • IAQ monitors and controls • Commissioning • Planned maintenance to include coil and drain pan inspection, pressure control • Radon testing and control

TOOLS YOU WILL NEED

Next, would be appropriate filter systems, to include both filtration of central air handling systems, as well as in-room filtration systems for vulnerable occupants. Offering appropriate filtration includes the responsibility to measure and assess pressure drops and make fan or duct work adjustments accordingly so that you can offer MERV 8 to 13 filters in air handling systems.

From my experience, if you are offering diagnostic services, your client’s expectations will lead you to needing at least the following testing equipment or capabilities:

Effective maintenance requires verification of cleanliness of coil and drain pans and adjustments to allow for thorough inspection. Adjustment of dampers and fans to ensure appropriate pressure differences across different sections of a building are another item to add to your seasonal or annual duties. Finally, some specialized situations may benefit from application of deactivation strategies such as ultraviolet light. Verify the efficacy and safety of such technologies for each application using the design services offered by the manufacturer, as there are few industry wide standards for their use. If you are offering both diagnostic testing ng and equipment solutions based on those tests, clients will expect a “before and after” test to validate the performancee of your solution. This can be problematic in that there are so many possible daily variations and site conditions that will ill affect results. Be careful to set proper expectations. For example, ample, a particle counter can be very effective in showing the percentage reduction in particles across the new filterr you installed. However, you may not be able to effectively ely demonstrate a reduction in particle counts in their office or bedroom since ambient levels of particles are highly dependent endent on occupant activities and outdoor air concentrations that hat can change by an order of magnitude in a matter of hours. rs. Therefore, tell your clients how you will be demonstrating ng success before you install the equipment.

EQUIPMENT AND SERVICE OFFERING CHECKLIST

• Thermometer (both a probe type for inserting into ducts and a surface sensor) • Hygrometer for humidity measurement and material moisture meter • Gas leak detection • Carbon monoxide measurement • Carbon dio dioxide (ideally a device you could leave for logging over ov time) Compound (VOC) meter/logger • Volatile Organic Or counter/logger to measure particulate down • Particle co to at least 2.5 Microns

Photo courtesy Cameron Instruments

• Manomete Manometer to measure pressures in cavities and spaces

Indoor environmental quality will be top op of mind for at least the next three to four years as both homeowners eowners and business owners re-evaluate the best opportunity for safe spaces for work, schooling, relaxation and rest. All professional HVAC contractors should enhance their level of knowledge and the services and products they offer. It provides great opportunities, but more importantly, provides clients with effective and efﬁcient solutions.

• Air velocity and volume measurement devices to confirm ventilation ve rates monitors (or access to a facility that tests for • Radon mo radon) • Access to a material testing laboratory to send samples of o dust, mould, etc. for analysis Be sure you have appropriate calibration certificates for each pie piece of equipment. An investment of approximate approximately $7,000 to $8,000 can be expected, with counter being the single largest investment. the particle c These industry tools are a great complement to the primary value your eyes and nose, and your experience bring to clients. Use the industry tools to confirm and demonstrate your diagnosis to your client.

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ACOUSTICS | Matt Downey

Matt Downey is president of Parklane in Oakville, ON. The company designs, manufactures and installs custom noise-mitigation systems for commercial and industrial applications.

MITIGATION OPTIONS

Installation of acoustic plenum silencers at Toronto Western Hospital called for design accuracy and pre-fabrication Ì âi wi ` time.

Some of the most common noise abatement solutions include:

࠮ an operational change, such as running

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equipment at a lower capacity (often by installing a variable frequency drive to operate equipment on demand rather than at a constant output) to reduce noise emissions relocating equipment to avoid impacting sensitive receptors, such as neighbouring structures replacing or decommissioning a piece of equipment and replacing it with a quieter unit installing OEM supplied solutions such as insulated casings, compressor blankets or low-noise fan blades to reduce operating sound levels on noisy componentry installing customized noise attenuation components around the noise source, such as silencers, noise barriers or acoustic louvres

A STRATEGIC APPROACH TO MITIGATING NOISE ISSUES IN HVAC SYSTEMS W

hen noise from mechanical equipment becomes a problem for facility owners or managers, they often turn to mechanical service partners for assistance. Whether it’s a noisy chiller on the roof or a recent equipment change that exceeds regulatory noise ordinance levels, mechanical service firms are often the first line of defence. As a trusted partner, you’ll go above and beyond to support your clients when they face a mechanical challenge. But when it comes to noise abatement, you may lack the specialized acoustic expertise to handle the task. Cue the inevitable project uncertainty, stress and frustration. Mechanical noise issues are typically complex, challenging to mitigate and nearly always involve significant bottom-line risk. Rudimentary solutions often focus on the physical components that can be used to address the issue such as sound barriers or silencers, but they frequently overlook the potential consequences. Installing and integrating those solutions as part of a complete building system can give rise to a series of unintended, long-term issues.

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At times, simply informing the client an acoustic problem will need to be immediately addressed is difficult enough, let alone making it understood that inaction could result in far more serious consequences: fines, a legal challenge or even a facility shutdown imposed by a regulatory agency in extreme cases. That is why it’s essential to tackle a noise problem strategically by developing a comprehensive plan and executing it. So, your client has a noise problem. Now what? Gather as much information about the problem as possible by asking basic questions: Is the noisy equipment operating at full capacity? Has it been serviced lately? Are there any external factors that could be impacting its performance, such as impeded airflow or malfunctioning parts? In some cases, a simple mechanical fix will address the issue. Once those potential problem sources have been ruled out, be prepared to engage a reputable acoustical consultant. The consultant will conduct an analysis using in-field sound monitoring and/or

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computer-aided acoustical modelling, and will use that data to assess mechanical noise levels against regulatory ordinances to determine the extent of the problem. The consultant will produce an acoustic assessment report identifying the source of the noise and its potential impact on surrounding receptors, including reduction requirements for the noise source based on eight-octave band frequency strata. This information is critical in assuring the mitigation strategy selected is designed to quantitatively fix the problem. At this point your client may ask a very reasonable question: How much will this problem cost to fix? The answer depends on several factors, two of the most important being the structure of the existing facility and equipment specifications.

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If noise control solutions such as rooftop sound barriers or silencers are required, the building may need to be reinforced to support the added weight. Gaining access to the facility’s original structural drawings will be crucial to understanding its structural constraints and to better understand the full range of mitigation options. In the absence of drawings, it may be necessary to hire an engineering ﬁrm to evaluate the building’s structural integrity and capacity.

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It’s important to determine the operating capacity and design conditions for the equipment. Reference technical data sheets to understand the component’s key performance parameters. Everything from system air ﬂow and pressure drop allowances, to clearance requirements and maintenance accessibility considerations is pertinent. With this information in hand, you can better advise the facility owner/manager on next steps.

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www.airsolutions.ca

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ACOUSTICS | cont’d from pg. 59

WHAT IS AN ACOUSTIC ASSESSMENT?

The takeaway: Facility owners/managers need VQ WPFGTUVCPF TGVTQƂV noise abatement can be a challenging and methodical process. Solution design UJQWNF DG JGCXKN[ KPƃWGPEGF by installation constraints.

Duct and chiller silencers are among the noise attenuation components that can be installed around the noise source.

An acoustic assessment measures sound emissions from facilities or mechanical components, and determines whether the acoustic output falls within acceptable limits under local regulatory noise guidelines. Acoustical consultants will measure noise emanating from each piece of equipment, as well as background levels surrounding the facility. From there, the consultant will build a model that predicts the acoustic impact on sensitive receptors neighbouring the facility and create a ﬁnal assessment summarizing three key details: an inventory of noise sources on-site, identiﬁcation of sources deemed out of compliance, and the amount of sound reduction required at each problem source to bring the facility into compliance.

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HVAC/R Products P Humidity and temperature probe

Dual-mode air scrubber

Vaisala’s Humicap humidity and temperature probe HMP1 provides performance measurements in critical production, storage centres and data centre applications or other high demand facilities. The probe is compatible with any Vaisala Indigo series transmitter and forms a single wall-mounted unit.

The Carrier OptiClean dual-mode air scrubber for schools, dental offices, office spaces and clinics, uses 99.97 per cent efficient long-life (~40,000 hour) HEPA filters to remove particles as small as 0.3 microns. The negative air machine mode converts normal hospital rooms into negative-pressure airborne infectious isolation rooms to meet ASHRAE Standard 170 for Ventilation of Health Care Facilities.

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Series differential commercial pressure switch Winters WPS Series is a low-pressure differential switch for monitoring and controlling air and non-aggressive gases. Designed to monitor pressure, vacuum and differential pressure, it is suited for HVAC applications and can be integrated into BAS systems.

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The clear choice is Neutra-Safe® for Condensate Neutralizers, Neutralizing Condensate Pumps and Model Specific Recharge Kits Neutra-Safe’s innovative product designs set us apart from the competition. Visit www.neutrasafe.com for more information. Find a rep near you: • Servicing BC and Alberta: Altatech Agencies Ltd. www.altatech.ca • Servicing Saskatchewan and Manitoba: Westcan Mechanical Sales www.westcansales.ca • Servicing Ontario: Jess-Don Dunford Ltd. www.jessdondunford.ca • Servicing The Maritimes: Thomas Industrial Sales Ltd. www.thomasindustrial.ca

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Refrigeration maintenance software

HVAC/R Products P Direct drive mixed ﬂow fans S&P Canada’s SMXD direct drive mixed ﬂow fans are rated to 17,800 CFM. Available in six sizes, the SMXD has an epoxy coated steel housing. It is designed for indoor or outdoor use and is suited for ventilating commercial or institutional buildings. Units are compatible with Ecowatt-Drive VFDs and are AMCA air and sound licensed.

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Portable HEPA air cleaning system The KOCH Filter ENVIRCO IsoClean CM portable air cleaning system from Johnson Controls comes equipped with a MERV-8 and a 99.97 per cent high-capacity HEPA ﬁlter. A variable speed centrifugal blower with adjustable fan speeds controls the number of air changes per hour to support a variety of room sizes from 400 to 1,700 CFM.

Danfoss’ Smart Refrigeration Solution has been added to its Alsense IoT digital service portfolio for managing food retail operations. It enables managers to benchmark and prioritize efforts across stores to save time and maintenance costs. Technicians can be provided with a prioritized action plan to assess ssystem performance rformance and concerns concern prior to arrival.

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HVAC/R Products P Supervisory control platform Emerson’s Lumity supervisory control platform for refrigeration and facility management enables top-down visibility and control of all systems within a network including refrigeration, HVAC and lighting. It provides users with two management control device options: the E3 with integrated touchscreen display, and SS with optimal mounted display.

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Th Packard EC Max RM refrigerator The motor from Ontor is available in four to mo 25 watts and features IP67 protection against dust and water. The back features ag ﬁve drilled and tapped holes for mounting ﬁv on various OEM applications. Four threaded holes on the front are designed thr to adapt to top-mount applications.

Duct insulation Reflectix duct insulation consists of two layers of highly reflective film (96 per cent reflectivity) bonded to two tough layers of polyethylene. Two inner layers of insulating bubbles resist conductive heat flow while a centre layer of polyethylene gth of adds strength. A tape running the length the roll identifies the manufacturer and d ASTM testing.

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Combustion analyzer The Testo 300 combustion analyzer, available from Ontor, simpliﬁes measurement of ﬂue gas, draft, pressure, ambient CLO and differential temperature. Features include intuitive measurement menus and fast-response touch display, O2 and CO sensor up to 4,000 ppm, 5 in.-HD display, and documentation creation and email capabilities.

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HUMAN RESOURCES B y Sue Sode k

SOMEONE’S WATCHING:

Navigating surveillance technology and employee rights nstalling cameras in your work vehicles might be done for a myriad good reasons. You may want to encourage safe driving habits, provide customers with real time service notiﬁcations, or defend yourself in the event of a complaint or accident. But how does this level of scrutiny impact your staff, and what level of privacy are your employees entitled to while they work?

Understanding privacy rights in Canada can be a tricky business. There’s no hard and fast rule that blankets each and every employee across all provinces and work functions, and court rulings often lag when it comes to emerging technologies. The very word “surveillance” can carry negative connotations, erode morale and damage trust. Successfully navigating the balance between your need to know and their right to privacy is possible − you just need to be prepared. This involves making a plan, and writing and communicating a policy before starting surveillance. After some time has passed, a ﬁnal piece to consider is evaluation. Initially, you identiﬁed this as a solution to a problem. Has your system had the intended impact? Does the problem still exist, or is your system alleviating it? Has there been any pushback or are employees still on board? If you’ve done your job right, you’ve solved some problems and found some balance, while fostering employee trust and goodwill.

WHAT PRIVACY RIGHTS DO CANADIAN WORKERS HAVE? The short answer is very few. Legislation for private businesses across Canada is patchy and only a few provinces have enacted actual Privacy Acts. At the moment only British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec have legislation covering the private sector. The overriding principle to know is that with a few exceptions, no one can really expect privacy while working. There are protections in place around specific locations, such as locker rooms and bathrooms; bodily autonomy (as in random drug or alcohol testing); or time (for example, when on breaks, or pre- or post-shift). Beyond that, employees can reasonably expect to be under supervision at all times while undertaking work tasks, whether on their employer’s premises or out on calls. That said, as an employer you do not have unlimited powers when it comes to collecting information about your employees. There is a fine line you must walk in ensuring your business is protected and allowing for the employees need for some trust and autonomy. The finer points are too numerous to detail here, and you should consult a human resource professional or labour lawyer before embarking on any major system implementations. But as a general overview, you should know that when legal challenges arise, courts will first examine the reasonableness of the information you are collecting.

What does pass the litmus test? Generally, a wide variety of surveillance is allowable at work, given: • You can demonstrate a legitimate business need for the method you are using • The surveillance is carried out in a reasonable and non-discriminatory manner • You aren’t relying on more personal aspects of the information collected to make decisions 64

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LET’S TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THESE POINTS:

WHY

Legitimate Business Needs – The Why

There are a host of reasons why an employer would install surveillance equipment and “spying” on their employees isn’t necessarily top of the list. Better tracking of vehicles may help you map out more efﬁcient service routes. Having dash cams installed may reduce your insurance premiums. You may wish to use footage for training or performance management, or to ensure your employees are following company guidelines. And of course, you may need footage to protect yourself if there are damages to property, or for other safety and security related concerns. Ask yourself: what problem are you hoping this will solve? Are you clear about your reasons for the plan you want to implement? Are there less invasive means to gather the information you need?

WHEN HOW Reasonable and Nondiscriminatory – The When and the How

This is a little more straightforward: your chosen surveillance method should be applied equally, to all employees, at the same times and in the same manner. If you are considering dash cams, will all vehicles be similarly equipped, or just one employee’s? How will you limit the range and use of the cameras once in place? How will footage be stored and will it be deleted in a timely manner? Taking the time to ﬁrst answer these questions will help you immensely when it comes time for implementation. Generally, assuming your employees are made aware, and you are collecting information to be used for a stated purpose, you can move forward with your plan.

WHAT

Personal Information and Decision Making – The What

Would you ask your employees if they were deeply religious, had mental health issues, or if they cheated on their taxes, and then use this as grounds to promote or ﬁre them? Of course not. Doing so

would be illegal and land you in a world of trouble. Know that if you happen to capture personal information about your employees in the course of surveying their work day, you are legally prohibited from making business decisions based on this information. Limiting the places and times you collect information to which directly impacts your business will ensure your compliance with only that wh p privacy laws.

POLICY CREATION AND ENSURING EMPLOYEE E BUY-IN Implementing a new method of surveillance can come with the hidden cost of lost employee trust and lowered morale. Once you’ve done your due diligence and know your why, when, how and what, you’ll need to sensitively communicate these changes to your staff, answer their questions and ensure you have their buy-in. Before approaching these conversations, sit down and work out a clear policy on any surveillance you will undertake. Start with a brief outline as to why you’re making this change, keeping the benefits you hope to gain (increased efficiency, safety and so forth) in mind. Be as specific as possible, like listing the locations or field of view for cameras. Include details around when the surveillance is in effect and who is in charge of reviewing, storing and disposing of any recordings, to increase worker peace of mind. Make sure to designate who employees should approach with any questions. Your employees may feel anxious or have queries they don’t wish to discuss in front of colleagues. Leaving the door open to discussion will go a long way in reassuring your workforce this will be a change for the better. Once you’ve communicated the policy and answered any questions, have staff sign off on a consent form to demonstrate they understand the ins and outs of this new policy. This is a crucial step in protecting you and your business in case of any future issues.

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PLUMBING B y Anny Ang

SMART PRODUCTS,

SMART CHOICE N

ow more than ever, homeowners are turning to smart home products to make their spaces more enjoyable and their lives a bit easier. According to a recent survey , just over a quarter of Canadians (27 per cent) currently own at least one piece of smart home technology, with 78 per cent of respondents saying they plan to purchase even more smart home technology within the next year. What does this mean for trade professionals? With the growing popularity of smart home products comes a serious need for skilled technicians who can install them. And, as the internet of things continues to expand, it’s likely that familiarity with smart home products may quickly change from a “nice to have” to a “musthave.” When homeowners are making a hiring decision, they will be looking to companies who are familiar and skilled at installing these devices.

UNDERSTANDING THE SMART HOME PRODUCT LANDSCAPE Smart home products are generally deﬁned as items in the home that connect via a network – such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth – and offer some element of automation. While there are many types of smart home products, from thermostats to Wi-Ficonnected lightbulbs and more – one of the fastest-growing categories is smart plumbing. Smart plumbing products allow homeowners to experience whole-home water management from the palm of their hands and include offerings such as smart leak detection systems, smart kitchen faucets, and smart showers, all of which can be controlled from a mobile app. The demand for smart plumbing continues to increase because of the myriad beneﬁts these products offer homeowners. Whole-home monitoring and leak detection systems give users peace of mind by helping to prevent leaks and potentially catastrophic water damage, as well as helping monitor, control and conserve water 24/7. Select smart faucets can dispense precise measurements and temperatures, while smart showers provide the opportunity to customize your showering experience. Why should the pro care? Because as homeowners continue to desire these products, plumbers have even more opportunities to enhance their business.

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WHERE DO LEAKS TYPICALLY OCCUR? The growing market for smart plumbing products provides an exciting opportunity for plumbers to expand their business into a new category. First, by becoming comfortable installing and servicing smart products, plumbers can show their customers that they are catering to their desires. It’s also a great marketing tool, giving plumbers a way to show customers they are up to date with the latest industry trends and technologies. Next, smart products provide the opportunity for professionals to upsell their customers on upgraded products and systems, as smart products typically sell for a higher price point than their non-connected counterparts This can potentially lead to a higher fee for installation, as well. Renovations are a great time to encourage customers to install a whole-home water security solution, including leak detectors, kitchen faucets and showers, but these products are also an easy upgrade for homeowners not planning any home improvement projects. By educating their customers on the many conveniences smart plumbing products offer, professionals can find several opportunities to increase sales margins and provide real value to clients. Once a consumer installs a smart home plumbing product and experiences their benefits, this can open the door to further upgrades and more business, as well. Not only do plumbers have the opportunity to earn increased income through installing smart products, they also may benefit from any maintenance and troubleshooting for these products. For example, smart leak detection products are installed for the purpose of detecting leaks. If one is found, there is a need to hire a plumber, providing additional business. There’s also the opportunity to gain business by becoming a certified installer for certain products. Some companies who carry smart home products have networks of installers that are specially trained in the installation of those products, and they direct leads to plumbers in their networks. This allows plumbers to have access to more customers, expand their product offerings, and also gain access to a network of training information.

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Stronger together. Manufacturing is the backbone of the Canadian economy. Here at Bibby-Ste-Croix, our team members are working hard providing essential services by manufacturing plumbing and municipal products. The crisis we are facing has brought to the forefront the need to examine the need for Canada to bring back manufacturing jobs. We are all in this together. Buy Canadian made products. Thomas Leonard, President

418-926-3262 Bibby-Ste-Croix.com

PLUMBING

TRAINING AND

TROUBLESHOOTING Given the relative newness of smart home products, some plumbers may worry that they aren’t properly trained to install them. Luckily, there are plenty of certifications and professional networks available to educate plumbers on how to install and sell smart plumbing products. In fact, some leading plumbing companies provide free training and certifications, so professionals can ensure they are well equipped when installing. Training often includes access to databases specifically for plumbers and installers with additional resources like installation guides, FAQs and helplines or live chat features. Another way for plumbers to keep installation easy is to recommend and choose quality smart home products. The best smart plumbing offerings

have been designed with both the installer and homeowner in mind, offering features that make installation simple. For example, some smart leak detection products come equipped with measuring tools to determine how much of the water line needs to be cut during installation, and also offer spacers which can help to pre-plumb a home in preparation for a smart water valve later down the line. Finally, connection to Wi-Fi and the cloud also makes installation and troubleshooting easy. Plumbing companies can push out updates to help ﬁx bugs and provide necessary updates, helping solve problems seamlessly in real-time. Ultimately, smart plumbing products are a smart choice for plumbing

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professionals looking to expand their business as well as offer additional value to customers. Taking the time now to become comfortable installing and recommending these types of products will provide incredible beneﬁts to business both now and in the future.

Anny Ang is senior marketing manager, wholesale kitchen and bath with Moen. She can be reached at anny.ang@moen.com.

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QUATTRO’S CORNER By A ndre w Qu a t t r o c i o c c h i

Combustible pipes in noncombustible buildings When do FSR and SDC come into play?

t’s that time again. I am back at it with another informative Quattro’s Corner. Combustible pipes in noncombustible buildings is a subject I frequently get questions on; more specifically, when do the flame spread rating (FSR) of not more than 25 and smoke development classification (SDC) of not more than 50 come into play? To help me break all of this down, I have teamed up with Kevin Yong-Ping, regional engineer for plastic pipe manufacturer IPEX. Let’s get to some basics. The Ontario Building Code and National Building Code of Canada Division B Part 3 specifically 3.1.5. Noncombustible construction set out the requirements for a building or part of a building that is required to be of noncombustible construction and states:

3.1.5.1. Noncombustible Material (1) Except as permitted by Sentences (2) to (4) and Articles 3.1.5.2. to 3.1.5.25.(3.1.5.2 to 3.1.5.21 NBC), 3.1.13.4. and 3.2.2.16., a building or part of a building required to be of noncombustible construction, shall be constructed with noncombustible materials. 3.1.5.16 Combustible piping materials further explains the requirements that must be met in order for combustible pipe to be installed.

Pipe size

Pipe material

What the pipe is good for: D=Drains, W=Waste, V=Vents

Pipe standard for PVC pipe

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3.1.5.16. Combustible Piping Materials (1) Except as permitted by Sentences (2) and (3) and by Clause 3.1.5.2.(1)(d) and Article 3.1.5.22 (Ontario only)., combustible piping and tubing and associated adhesives are permitted to be used in a building required to be of noncombustible construction provided that, except when concealed in a wall or concrete floor slab, they, (a) have a flame-spread rating not more than 25, and (b) if used in a building described in Subsection 3.2.6., have a smoke developed classification not more than 50. (2) Combustible sprinkler piping is permitted to be used within a sprinklered floor area in a building required to be of noncombustible construction. (3) Polypropylene pipes and fittings are permitted to be used for drain, waste and vent piping for the conveyance of highly corrosive materials and for piping used to distribute distilled or dialyzed water in laboratory and hospital facilities in a building required to be of noncombustible construction, provided, (a) the building is sprinklered (b) the piping is not located in a vertical shaft, and

Pipe standard for surface burning characteristics of building material and assemblies

Smoke development classiﬁcation (SDC)

Flame spread rating 0 4 . 2 1

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QUATTRO’S CORNER cont’d from pg. 70

(c) piping that penetrates a fire separation is sealed at the penetration by a fire stop that has an FT rating not less than the fire-resistance rating of the fire separation when subjected to the fire test method in CAN/ULC-S115, “Fire Tests of Firestop Systems”, with a pressure differential of 50 Pa between the exposed and unexposed sides, with the higher pressure on the exposed side. Sentence 1 (b) to me is one of the most important hints when trying to figure out part 1 of our question. Combustible piping must meet the FSR of 25 and SDC of 50 when used in High Building. This is a heads up for some larger municipalities in Ontario and across Canada, while some smaller municipalities can chill out. The only other time combustible piping is required to meet both the 25 and 50 is when the piping is installed in a plenum space as per 3.6.4.3.(1)(a) which states: A concealed space used as a plenum within a floor assembly or within a roof assembly need not conform to sentence 3.1.5.15.(1) and Article 6.2.3.2 provided all materials within the concealed space have a FSR of not more than 25 and a SDC not more than 50.

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It is time to stop thinking that all residential and ICI small and large buildings require a combustible pipe to meet the 25 and 50 requirements. Most inspectors just assume if it’s noncombustible construction it needs both. Not only is that incorrect, it is also costing the plumber and owners of these buildings more unnecessary money. That’s it for this edition of Quattro’s Corner. Agent Q signing out.

Questions to ask The next time you’re working at a site that’s noncombustible construction, ask yourself these questions: 1. Is the pipe material combustible? 2. Am I in a high building with combustible pipe? 3. Do I see combustible pipes in a plenum? If you answer no to numbers 2 and 3 then the combustible pipe only needs to meet the FSR of 25. It’s that simple.

Andrew Quattrociocchi, C.B.C.O., is the deputy chief building ofﬁcial for the Township of Oro-Medonte, a director with the Ontario Plumbing Inspectors Association and author of the Photographic Code and Guide through ORDERLINE. If readers have questions or a funny photo they would like considered for an upcoming edition of Quattro’s Corner, send an email to Andrew at quattroscorner@hotmail.com..

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NEW TECHNOLOGY By Jonathon Harp

Is hydrogen entering the NG mix? Will this low-carbon gas transform the heating industry in Canada?

cientists worldwide have looked at hydrogen as an energy source for the more than a century and focused on applications such as fuel cells. Unfortunately, hydrogen technologies have not had much success being commercialized. This is about to change radically. Because of the targets of the Paris accord on climate change for greenhouse gas reductions and achieving net-zero emissions, global energy systems are set to signiﬁcantly change with hydrogen leading the way as the most available and reliable alternative to reach these lofty goals. Governments worldwide, including Canada, have started work on strategies to incorporate hydrogen into the low emission energy mix. Our country is a top ten producer of hydrogen and in December of 2020, Canada launched a new hydrogen strategy to assist with meeting the country’s climate change obligations. The Hydrogen Strategy for Canada “seeks to

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modernize Canada’s energy systems by leveraging Canadian expertise through building new hydrogen supply and distribution infrastructure and fostering uptake in various end-uses.” “End-uses” include fuel for transportation, power generation and heat for buildings. The use of hydrogen for building heating will significantly impact heating products and the supply chain. One of the first steps being pursued as a part of this strategy is adding hydrogen into the mix of natural gas (NG). Adding hydrogen will reduce the greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) of NG. Space heating (at 60 per cent) and water heating (at 19 per cent) are the largest NG uses in homes. Hydrogen is a solution for gas utilities because it can be produced in large volumes. Other GHG reducing gases, such as recycled natural gas and landfill gas, are in limited supply. Countries including Germany and the UK are already piloting the use of hydrogen/natural gas blends for home heating.

As reported in a March 17, 2021 AHRI webinar titled “HydrogenEnriched Natural Gas for Heating Products,” initial studies on adding hydrogen blends into the natural gas grid have identiﬁed a number of technical concerns for NG system components, including heating appliances such as water heaters, furnaces, boilers, etc. An important factor in the feasibility of using hydrogen/ NG mixtures is determining that the installed base of heating appliances will operate safely and meet standard performance levels. The key to solving these concerns seems to be the hydrogen blend ratio. Recent laboratory testing of hydrogen/ NG blends by the American Gas Association indicate that a maximum hydrogen blend ratio of 15 per cent will not adversely affect current heating appliances. It is important to note that this testing did not include ﬁeld installed appliances. Other concerns include the new mixture causing appliance input and output reductions, which increases energy use to achieve current output levels.

“Hydrogen blends are needed for the gas industry to remain relevant in a net-zero energy world.” So, what does this mean? What we know is that developed countries are seriously looking at hydrogen to be a “saviour” for meeting GHG targets under the Paris accords. The natural gas industry also understands governments will only accept gas use for heating long term if GHG emissions are reduced. Hydrogen blends are needed for the gas industry to remain relevant in a net-zero energy world. Solutions to the challenges of using hydrogen/NG blends for building heating are being aggressively pursued. Will this transform the heating industry in the near term? Probably not but HVAC contractors should be aware Canada and at least eight other countries are committed to the hydrogen alternative. Europeans claim all gas appliances can be designed for100 per cent hydrogen use in the future. It’s anyone’s guess when this change will ﬁnd its way to the frontline people in the HVAC industry. But it does sound as though the hydrogen alternative is coming faster than expected.

Readers can reach Jonathon Harp at editorial@mechanicalbusiness.com.

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HVAC/R B y D r e w T ur n e r

ELECTRIC HEAT

PUMPS

for commercial applications

any organizations today are working to identify ways to reduce their dependence on carbon-rich fossil fuels such uch as coal, natural gas, oil and propane. Their goal: to dramatically cally reduce emissions of the greenhouse gases implicated in climate mate change, while hopefully also decreasing their energy costs, and bolstering organizational reputation at the same time.

For most organizations, the production of heat is the largest individual application of energy, and space heating for buildings is one of the largest components of that output. Efforts to reduce the carbon emissions associated with building heating has led organizations to consider replacing traditional HVAC equipment with electric-driven options, such as heat pumps. For many, this is the next step in the decarbonization of heating. The electrification of building heating can provide significant benefits, allowing operators to not only reduce carbon emissions, but also remove NOx (nitrogen dioxide) and SOx (sulfur dioxide) emissions, improve energy efficiency, and reduce operating costs. This change also provides a building’s power providers with the opportunity and flexibility to meet increasing demand with carbon free, renewable sources. A challenge for considering electric heat pump technology in commercial applications is a longer ROI payback period than many organizations require to justify investment. Further, rther, moving to heat pump technologies has previously required the changing out of demand-side equipment, t, to enable operation at significantly lower heating temperatures. Luckily, research into heat pump equipment using oil-free, magnetic bearing, centrifugal compressors indicates that this technology may bring the payback periods into a more palatable range for commercial clients.

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Expanding options for heating There are several types of compressors commonly used in HVAC applications, which ﬁt in the two categories of either positive displacement or dynamic (centrifugal or axial) technology. In positive displacement versions, such as screw compressors, energy is used to generate pressure, and the refrigerant is squeezed to add energy to it. In the centrifugal/dynamic versions, refrigerant is thrown, increasing kinetic energy. It is possible to move a high volume of low-pressure refrigerants rather efﬁciently in a centrifugal/ dynamic compressor, due in part to kinetic forces. Unfortunately, due to the need to generate a higher differential (“lift”) temperature in heating applications, these compressors, while common in cooling applications, have heretofore mainly been precluded from heating ap applications. With the use of magnetic-bearing technology, it is now possible techno to pr press these compressors into service for heating aapplications as well.

RETROFITTING POSSIBILITIES Heat pump designs mainly follow one of three setups: air-to-air, air-to-water, and water-to-water. Air-to-air heat pumps extract heat from ambient air. While heat pumps present an efficient HVAC option, these units tend to have lower efficiencies than other heat pump setups, since they extract heat from what can be very low temperature ambient air. They generally offer the lowest capacity of the available setups as well. While common in residential applications, they are not likely to be adapted to the higher demands of commercial or industrial applications. Perhaps the fastest and easiest way for a building to begin to benefit from heat pump technology is to replace existing HVAC heat-source equipment with an electric air-to-water heat pump, with oil-free, magnetic bearing, centrifugal compressor technology. This type of retrofit can typically be done quickly, with minimal disruption, within the existing footprint onsite.

efficiency. When considering air-towater heat pumps, it’s important to note that while these new compressors have greater operating temperature flexibility than their predecessors, they still have limited operating temperature flexibility, due to the lower efficiency of air-to-water heat transfer, as well as the high variability of climate driven air temperature. This means an oil-free, magnetic bearing, compressor-based air-to-water heat pump would be able to provide sufficient heat in mildto-temperate climates, but likely not at the coldest ambient temperatures found in harsher climates. A water-to-water electric heat pump, driven by oil-free, magnetic bearing, centrifugal compressor technology, would not have issues stemming from operating temperature limitations at the lowest ambient conditions.

The efficiency benefits accrue because the heating process begins with water, rather than with air. Water can be a much warmer medium to start with; it transfers heat more efficiently than air, and thus demands less energy to boost the heat to the target temperature. River water, for example, can be dozens of degrees warmer than the surrounding air, even on a cold winter day. The setup logistics of a water-towater electric heat pump can be more ambitious, and require a larger upfront investment. For example, a source of water must be nearby, and piping infrastructure would need to be built to access it. But innovative users often find ways to get faster results. For example, it is also possible to operate these heat pumps with nearby groundwater/ground energy using a geothermal loop. And some use the water-to-water concept to compound the benefits by reclaiming heat from an industrial process or other source which is otherwise rejected to ambient, if such is available. With the develo development of magnetic bearing, cent centrifugal compressor technolo technology, heat pump designer designers have a new tool to help cust customers achieve their goals o of lowering operating costs aand carbon emissions.

This type of heat pump can be quickly implemented and yield increased energy

Working from a centralized plant Not a system architecture that is widely used in Canada, but possibly offering some of the greatest beneﬁts, would be the use of a series of electric heat pumps using magnetic bearing centrifugal compressors, and operating them from a central location. The heat could be piped to a series of buildings in a “district heating” model. While district heating is used in some North American cities, it is more common on university, hospital and corporate campuses where related buildings are in close proximity. And it is far more common in Europe, being used in municipal grids of all kinds. This may require signiﬁcant new infrastructure and licensure, but the payback period can be surprisingly compact. Where existing district heating infrastructure exists, it may be possible to swap in heat pump technology and make use of the piping and other components.

M e c h a n i c a l

Drew Turner is the global marketing manager for oilfree solutions with Danfoss. He can be reached at drew.turner@danfoss.com.

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PLUMBING

Key points to selecting a PEX piping system design S

electing the most appropriate plumbing system design for a home can be a challenge for the plumbing designer and builder. The unique properties of PEX piping allow it to be conﬁgured in a number of different designs. All have been shown to work well in residential applications, and all are code approved. Depending on the design of the home, each has different performance characteristics, installation costs, material costs, and ease of installation. The selection of a system design is generally based on a combination of key factors such as material cost, labour time, ease of installation, system performance, and installer preference. The challenge for a plumbing designer is to select the system that balances the unique needs of the installer, homeowner, and builder. The following comparison of the three most prevalent PEX plumbing systems, trunk and branch, parallel, and zone, provides some guidance. Selecting one of the three systems described is not hard and fast, and often involves a balance since each project, installer, and circumstance is different.

General rankings of the systems for key factors The general characteristics of the systems are ranked in Table 1. Given the differences between housing designs and preferences, they may not apply in every situation, but are useful for general guidance. The best way to use Table 1 is to establish the relative priority of key

Fortunately, there is no wrong choice. All three system designs will supply sufficient flow and pressure to the outlets even when the base riser pressure is 40 psi and the length to the farthest outlet is 100 ft. But, the costs and performance of each system do vary for each house design. Selecting the best system can reduce installation costs, minimize installation headaches, and lead to more Table 1 General rankings of the system characteristics satisfied homeowners. To aid in the decision-making process, several tools are provided in Design Guide Residential PEX Water Supply Plumbing Systems, including general rankings of the systems for key factors, layout examples, performance testing and industry technical support. General rankings of the systems for key factors, featured here, provide a place to start and compare how the systems stack up based on your priorities.

For example, if when considering the factors in Table 1, you determine the top three factors are: minimizing ﬁttings and joints1; centralized shut-off valving;

Factor

***

Minimize Pipe Used

Trunk and Branch

Zone

Parallel

Minimize Fittings and Joints

Parallel

Zone

Trunk and Branch

Sequential Flow Hot Water Delivery Time

Trunk and Branch Zone

Minimize Hot Water Wait Time

Parallel

Zone

Single Fixture Pressure

Trunk and Branch

Parallel Zone

Pressure Stability with Use of Multiple Fixtures

Parallel

Zone

Trunk and Branch

Centralize Shut-off Valving

Parallel

Zone

Trunk and Branch

Joint Accessibility During Installation

Parallel

Zone

Trunk and Branch

* * * Indicates the highest level of performance for that factor * * Indicates medium level of performance * Indicates typical performance

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factors, and use the rankings of system designs as a starting point for the system to be selected.

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Parallel Trunk and Branch

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PLUMBING and pressure stability with use of multiple ﬁxtures. With the parallel system ranking at the top of all three, it is a logical place to start. If your top factors result in three different best designs, the right choice is not as obvious. You will then need to consider other factors, and further explore the detailed design of the home.

you. Note that in these designs, few obstructions are accounted for and thus represent idealized pipe runs with a minimum of ﬁttings. Table 2 outlines the number and type of ﬁxtures for each house.

Cost has been omitted as a factor in the Guide. Since local labour costs vary, and there is variation between the ﬁtting and piping costs offered by different manufacturers, the guide provides information on the amount of pipe and ﬁttings needed. The determination of actual cost estimates and total cost comparison between system designs is left to the designer or installer.

The colonial house layout has approximately 2,000 sq. ft. of floor area. The water main enters the house under the unfinished basement slab. The water heater is located near the main water line in the basement. The first floor has a living room, dining room, kitchen, family room, and a powder room. The second floor has four bedrooms, two full baths, and the clothes washer.

An appropriate balance between labour and material costs as well as the relative performance of the systems is important when deciding on a system layout for a particular house.

Colonial house layout

In larger homes with a large separation between bathrooms, the trunk and branch design requires the least total pipe but the most ﬁttings and joints. The parallel system uses the most piping (2.4 times on average) and the fewest ﬁttings and joints. While the parallel system uses more piping, the piping has a smaller diameter, which is easier to handle and install, particularly around bends.

Example layouts The residential plumbing system layouts shown here provide estimated ﬁttings and piping descriptions for two common house types: colonial and condominium (the complete Guide also includes ranch and townhouse styles). Piping lengths, and ﬁtting and joint counts are provided for each system to provide a comparison of material use and labour required. Select the home design that most closely resembles your design to help select the appropriate system for

Table 3 Fixture summary for a colonial house

Factor

Dishwasher

Kitchen Sink

Lavatory

Basement

First Floor

Second Floor

Total

Table 2 Fixture count for each house type

Table 4 Material summary for a colonia house

Factor

Colonial

Condominium

Kitchen Sink

Dishwasher

Lavatory

Water Closet

Shower/Tub

Clothes Washer

Utility Sink

Hose Bibbs

TOTAL

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System

Length of Cold Pipe

Leng

3/4"

1/2"

Trunk and Branch

27'

80'

110'

Parallel

33'

12'

602'

Zone

27'

93'

152'

In home layouts with a large separation between ﬁxtures, the trunk and branch design has the least pipe followed by the zone design. The parallel system uses the most piping (1.8 times more on average) and the least ﬁttings and joints. Although the parallel system uses more piping, the smaller diameters are easier to handle and install, particularly around bends.

Condominium layout The condominium has approximately 1,200 sq. ft. of floor area. It has a living room, kitchen, dining room, two bedrooms, and two full baths. The clothes washer is located in the unit. The building has a central plant for water heating; therefore, there is no water heater located in the unit. The trunk and branch system uses the most tees, which increases the number of joints. The trunk and branch and zone system layouts are similar in pipe use, but the zone system uses fewer fittings resulting in fewer joints. The parallel system uses the most pipe (1.8 times more on average) and the fewest fittings. Again, the parallel system uses more pipe with smaller diameters. Table 5 Fixture summary for a condominium Level

Dishwasher

Kitchen Sink

Lavatory

Water Closet

Main Floor

Shower/Tub Clothes Washer 3

Utility Sink

Hose Bin

Total

Table 6 Material summary for a condominium

Length of Cold Pipe

System

Length of Hot Pipe

Manifolds/ Multiport Tees

Fittings

Joints

3/4"

1/2"

3/4"

1/2"

Tees

Elbows

Main

Remote

Fixtures

Piping

Trunk and Branch

45'

120'

45'

104'

Parallel

10'

295'

10'

242'

Zone

35'

132'

35'

115'

Water Closet

Shower/Tub Clothes Washer

Utility Sink

Hose Bin

Total

gth of Hot Pipe

Manifolds/ Multiport Tees

Fittings

Joints

3/4"

1/2"

Tees

Elbows

Main

Remote

Fixtures

Piping

80'

98'

12'

428'

93'

107'

The trunk and branch system uses the most tees, which increases the number of joints. The layouts are similar in pipe use but the zone system uses fewer ﬁttings resulting in fewer joints. The parallel system uses the most pipe (1.8 times more on average) and fewer ﬁttings. The parallel system uses more pipe with smaller diameters.

1 A fitting is the device that allows the PEX pipe to change direction or size (i.e., tees, elbows, reducers). A joint is the connection of the PEX pipe to a fitting (i.e., a tee fitting has three joints).

Adapted with permission from Design Guide Residential PEX Water Supply Plumbing Systems Second Edition. The guide was prepared by Home Renovation Research Labs (homeinnovation.com) for the Plastic Pipe Institute and the Plastic Pipe and Fittings Association. The complete 144-page PEX resource is available for download at plasticpipe.org. Much of the information can also be applied to the use of PEX plumbing in commercial buildings. It includes comprehensive design concepts and installation guidelines to assist with the proper use of PEX.

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PROJECT PROFILE | Denise Deveau

A mountain view

of BC winery’s hydronic system

THE INGREDIENTS AT WORK Wine making is a complicated business that takes a lot of moving (and non-moving) parts. Here’s a list of what was needed to get things up and running: • 2 X 1200 MBH boilers • 2 roof-mounted 76-ton chillers • 1 rooftop dry cooler • 2 tankless 400 MBH boilers and 1 X 750 MBH boiler for DHW • >H[LY ZVM[LULYZ ^P[O JOHYJVHS ÄS[LYZ • Air compressors • Nitrogen generators • 5 heat recovery ventilators • 1 distributed control system • 2 heat exchangers and multiple fan coils For the piping: • 2 main large (minimum 6 in.) diameter piping loops and 5 Ä]L Z\I SVVWZ [V[HSSPUN [OYLL RT VM WPWL • 5 cooling and 5 heating loop tie-ins All that to supply a space including: • 7YVK\J[PVU OHSS ¶ ZX M[ • 6^ULY»Z OV\ZL ¶ ZX M[ • 3VII` ¶ ZX M[ • ,]LU[ JLU[YL ¶ ZX M[ • ))8 )HY ¶ ZX M[ • >PULTHRLY»Z [HZ[PUN YVVT ¶ ZX M[

M e c h a n i c a l

B u s i n e s s

multi-phase construction project at O’Rourke Family Winery in Lake Country, BC is a living testament to the versatility of hydronic heating and cooling. This design/build effort began three years ago and is scheduled for completion by the end of 2021. The design of the massive complex of multiple buildings is impressive by any standard. Situated on top of a rocky outcrop, the winery required considerable excavation over the course of building ﬁve separate structures: an auditorium, residential suites, the production facility, a family residence and an event centre. Especially noteworthy is the production area, where the fermentation, bottling and warehousing takes place. It’s actually part of a cave system bored into the rock, and features some 300 meters of tunnels, and a total of 12,000 sq. ft. of cave space. As daunting as this scale sounds, it’s second nature for the owner, a general contractor experienced in massive commercial projects, says Michael Crutchley, senior mechanical engineer and discipline lead at Ecora in Kelowna, BC. “This was a signature project for him, using a design/build approach.” So how does one go about heating and cooling a multibuilding complex in stony terrain? The only answer that made sense was a hydronic heating and cooling system, says Greg Burke, sales engineer at Trane Kelowna. “It just made sense to go hydronic from a maintenance and efﬁciency

For a total of ZX M[ 84

0 4 . 2 1

standpoint, because it allows them to build off a central system. A main advantage is that hydronic uses low noise chillers, which minimizes sound throughout the buildings.” Hydronic was the only practical choice for a project supplying heating and cooling to separate buildings, Crutchley confirms. “Installing hydronic loops from a central plant was the only way we could do this relatively easily, because we had to drill through rock to connect them. We couldn’t just run heating ducts between buildings, since you would need to have dedicated mechanical rooms for each building, which was not a practical solution.” The design specified boilers and chillers to feed a series of 30 per cent glycol hydronic loops going out to the various facilities. The central mechanical plant delivers heat transfer fluid to multiple heat exchangers and fan coils at each building for forced air heating and cooling, with additional slab heating systems in specific areas. A tough call in the early stages was determining how big to make the boilers and chillers, Crutchley notes. They finally decided to start with two 1200 MBH boilers running in parallel, and two roof-mounted 76-ton chillers. “Everything is in parallel for alternating operations and dealing with turndown.” Two additional tankless 400 MBH boilers, plus a 750 MBH boiler, are used for domestic hot water (DHW) and processed DHW applications. Other mechanical plant equipment includes water softeners with charcoal filters for dechlorinating the water used in the wine making process, air compressors, and nitrogen generators used for tank blanketing during fermentation and aging. Burke says that in addition to the four chillers, there is also a dry cooler on the roof for free cooling, which is used to support the wine making process. “You need to make cold water year-round. The dry cooler operates when the outdoor temperatures are cool enough to use ambient air instead of using the compressors yearround to deliver energy savings.” The entire heating and cooling functions are centrally controlled through a distributed control system (DCS).

Mechanical room with DHW heaters and boiler for the hydronic loops. An important consideration was the fact that temperature settings vary depending on the facility. Using heat exchangers in the different buildings allows them to decouple the temperature control from the main loops, Crutchley explains. “Primarily most buildings are maintained at ASHRAE 90.1 temperature requirements (70°F for heating and cooling), but for wine storage for example, the temperatures need to be lower.” The piping required for the entire effort has been substantial. Two main large-diameter piping loops (minimum six inches and up) feed the fluid to five sub loops servicing each building. One main loop connects to the boilers, a second to the chillers. There are five cooling and five heating loop tie-ins in each building, along with two heat exchangers and multiple fan coils, to deliver the forced air heating and cooling. Slab heating is being used to supplement the fan coils in some areas, such as the auditorium or for snow melt systems. Overall, there is an estimated one kilometre of piping in the main loops − and an additional two kilometres for the sub loops, making it one of the largest hydronic systems in the region. “There’s a lot of piping in that system!” Crutchley says. While the project has several months left to go, the hydronic system has provided the underpinnings needed to manage all aspects of the heating and cooling for the foreseeable future. In the meantime, the winery’s work is moving full steam ahead: it has now fermented its first batch of wine in the brand-new production facility. Cheers!

What have HRVs got to do with it? Interesting features of the winery build include the five advanced commercial heat recovery ventilators (HRVs). Each HRV handles airflows between 1,000 cfm and 3,000 cfm. “They are plate-to-plate heat exchangers, used to recover heat from the exhaust air stream and temper makeup ventilation air for the facility,” Burke says.

Fan coil unit in the production hall with piping loops and seismic restraints.

As Crutchley explains, fermentation requires substantial ventilation, as it generates high levels of carbon dioxide. “All outside air goes through the HRVs to recover energy.” M e c h a n i c a l

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BTN

Compiled by Mechanical Business

BY THE NUMBERS

LIFE ON MARS The news is abuzz with the Perseverance landing on Mars. Here are some things you might not know about this intriguing red planet.

GEOTHERMAL THINGS TO KNOW 9 acres is the size of the largest hot spring in the world at Frying Pan Lake in New

142 million miles Average distance from the sun. 14.5 miles per second Average speed orbiting the sun. 4,220 miles The diameter of the planet. 687 The number of earth days in its year. 2 The number of moons.

Zealand.

2,000 years ago geothermal energy was ﬁrst used in China.

4,000 miles is the distance to the earth’s core where temperatures can reach more than 6,000°C.

87% of homes in Iceland are heated using geothermal energy.

WATER WATER EVERYWHERE 55,000 The number of soccer pitches it would take to equal the length of the Nile.

220 metres The maximum depth of the Congo River.

979 metres The height of Angel Falls in Venezuela. 10,783 The width of the Khone Falls in Laos. 25,768 The number of cubic metres of water per second plunging down Inga Falls in Congo.

WHO’S DOING WHAT Since COVID, people are changing the way they spend their time.

56% are doing more cooking than prepandemic.

49% are streaming more TV and movies. 48% are spending more time calling or

WHERE THE GERMS ARE While we’re all being vigilant about hand washing and distancing these days, here are a few things to keep in mind.

300 is the average number of times our hands contact tact surfaces every 30 minutes.

80% of communicable diseases are transferred by touch. 20% of respiratory infections can be reduced by proper handwashing.

video-chatting with friends or family.

1,000 times more likely damp hands will spread bacteria than dry hands.

45% are spending more time on social

22% more bacteria can be found on elevator buttons versus toilet seats.

media.

37,000,000 86 114

The most impressive muscle cars on the planet don’t hold a candle to the horsepower generated by the three space shuttle main engines of the SpaceX rocket.

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The next generation of outdoor faucets. Introducing the Aquor® House Hydrant. ,W·V WKH ZRUOG·V ILUVW VWDLQOHVV VWHHO ZDOO K\GUDQW WKDW DOORZV LQVWDQW HIIRUWOHVV DFFHVV WR \RXU ZDWHU • • • •

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

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TRY IT. There’s Nothing Like it.

Mechanical Business March/April 2021

Articles inside

ROAD WARRIOR

HIGH PERFORMANCE HVAC Gord Cooke Tune up your approach to match the heightened expectations and needs of clients

MARKETING Doug MacMillan An extra effort is required from contractors to help homeowners understand the value of prevention

PANDEMIC PLANNING

REFRIGERATION Phil J. Boudreau A detailed review of the various methods of oil cooling

36-37Plumbing

ASK ROGER Addressing and monitoring safety practices during a pandemic Roger Grochmal We’ve needed to adopt additional measures to protect customers and our team