Mechanical Business January/February 2020

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T E C H N O L O G I E S FEBRUARY 2020

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BRANDON FARR

A LONG WAY IN A SHORT TIME • • • DESIGN TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL SYSTEMS •

PROTECTING US FROM ENERGY AFFLUENZA KEEPING SOWS HAPPY

TURNING DOWN THE TEMPERATURE

A sopping wet supplement of Mechanical Business

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Me chanical

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O F

70COVER FEATURE Tough. That’s the word that comes to mind when you think of the towing business. A tough job done by tough people. It’s a perception that has only grown thanks to the popularity of the Discovery Channel’s hit TV series Highway Thru Hell and its star, Jamie Davis, owner of Jamie Davis Motor Truck & Auto based in Hope, B.C. Simon Bowden

24FLEET MANAGEMENT Tracking and managing via GPS Bent Jensen

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T E C H N O L O G I E S FEBRUARY 2020

Working with thermostatic expansion valves Jeffrey Staub

44 ROAD WARRIOR: Brandon Farr Simon Bowden

56HVAC When is a good time to think about venting? How about now?

Mark Parliament and Alexandra Parliament

76COMMERCIAL PLUMBING Sustainable building materials are becoming transparent Jason Boyd

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CONTENTS

F E A T U R E S

28HVAC/R

Busine ss

33WET HEAT SUPPLEMENT

BRANDON FARR

A LONG WAY IN A SHORT TIME PROTECTING US FROM ENERGY AFFLUENZA KEEPING SOWS HAPPY TURNING DOWN THE TEMPERATURE DESIGN TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL SYSTEMS

• • • •

A sopping wet supplement of Mechanical Business

The world of hydronics is ever evolving. To help stay in the loop when it comes to boilers, pumps, piping, rads, and more, we present the first of our semi-annual Wet Heat Applications & Technology supplements! If you’re into wet heat (and cooling) be sure to turn to page 33 for the latest news, features and technology, all with a hydronic edge!

www.mechanicalbusiness.com

MB SPECIALISTS 18PLUMBING Hot water tanks: To drain, or not to drain Fred Bretzke

PRODUCTS 22,23,80Plumbing 52,54Hydronics

30HVAC

60,82HVAC/R

Promoting heat pumps: An expanded view Gord Cooke

83Stuff You Need

46HYDRONICS Turning down the temperature Bob “Hot Rod” Rohr

DEPARTMENTS

62MARKETING

04From the Editor’s Desk

The doctor will see you now Doug MacMillan

06News 16Profile: Ted Fox

66REFRIGERATION Solving vibration problems Phil J. Boudreau

42Find the Fix 84The Info Page

72ASK ROGER

85Calendar

It starts with a plan Roger Grochmal

86By the Numbers

On the cover: Jamie Davis grew up helping his dad with his towing company, fixing up trucks and cleaning up the yard. Little did he know that this, along with his stubborn tenacity, quick wit and sense of humour, would land him on one of the most popular shows on Discovery Channel.

FROM Content Media Group Inc. 19 – 1525 Cornwall Road Oakville, ON L6J 0B2 Canada Tel: 905.465.2919 Fax: 905.465.2913 www.mechanicalbusiness.com January/February 2020 Issue Published 6 times per year.

Editor: Adam Freill, ext. 224 adam.freill@mechanicalbusiness.com Associate Editor/Web Editor: Simon Bowden simon.bowden@mechanicalbusiness.com National Sales Manager: Jeff Superle, ext. 221 jeff.superle@mechanicalbusiness.com Controller: Liz Mills liz.mills@mechanicalbusiness.com Operations Manager: Caroline Bexfield caroline.bexfield@mechanicalbusiness.com Art Direction: JJM Graphic Ltd. davem@jjmgraphic.com Circulation Manager: Shila Naik (905) 272-4175 shila.naik@mechanicalbusiness.com Publisher: Bruce Meacock, ext. 222 bruce.meacock@mechanicalbusiness.com PM:41536047 ISSN 1916-0674 MB (Print) ISSN 1906-0682 MB (Online) We acknowledge the support of the Government of Canada.

Submissions: Copyright in material submitted to the magazine and accepted for publication remains with the author, but Mechanical Business and its licensees may freely reproduce it in print, electronic or other forms.

Mechanical Business also reserves the right to edit said submitted materials to suit the editorial needs and mandate of the publication.

I keep telling myself that I’m not that old, but I can now recall at least three different initiatives involving a push to one energy source or another, and I’m only in my 40s.

This time the target is away from anything fossil-fuel based, with a major push toward electrifying our fuel-using appliances and vehicles.

The logic behind the current trend has a more complex story than simply being a matter of dollars and cents, but I still believe that the best way to get public buy-in is to map out how it hits them in the wallet.

DESK

Mark your calendar!

The CMPX show is just around the corner, so be sure to mark March 25 to 27 on your calendar for the biggest mechanicals trade show in Canada this year. And be sure to drop by the Mechanical Business booth (N22) at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre to say hello, grab a show guide, renew your subscription and maybe even snag a prize. We’ll share more details next issue and via our digital and social media outlets, so stay tuned!

Sure, there will be those who will scream that anything other than the current media-darling of energy sources is a wrong move for mankind. Equally, there will be those who are direct benefactors from status quo energy sources who may be unwilling to give up some of their piece of the energy pie.

For the end consumer, however, their decision about how to heat and cool their home or business, fuel their vehicle, and make best use of the energy options available to them will live in the grey area between wanting to do what’s good for the environment and being able to afford their choices.

Knowing where that point lands for most consumers is a very complex puzzle.

Some consumers are willing to pay a premium for more environmentally friendly options, but how much of a premium is palatable is a very personal decision. And knowing what’s truly an environmentally friendly choice when the full picture of energy procurement and use is examined can be very difficult to determine.

Thankfully, som some of the numbers have been crunched, aand an d I invite yyou o to check out some of the math that Gord G Go rd C Cooke ooke k sshares on the subject on page 30. These calculations m may be helpful as you help your clients navigate their financial and environmental comfort zones pursuit of comfort in their homes and buildings. in their pursu Some decisions, with some clients, will be easy and straightforward, but having a big-picture vie view is never a bad thing. It can help you and yyour team as you aim to strike the right chord and balance for all of your clients.

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 2020. The contents of this magazine may not be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission of the publisher.

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EDITOR’S

Keeping pace in an ever-changing place

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).

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News www.mechanicalbusiness.com

CIPH raises concerns in Vancouver The Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating has raised a number of concerns with authorities in Vancouver, B.C., over proposed low carbon and energy efficiency updates to the city’s by-law for low-rise residential buildings (under four storeys).

Vancouver council has set a target date of 2025 for all new and replacement space and water heating in low-rise buildings within the city to be zero-emission systems. CIPH believes the industry doesn’t have enough time to react to the changes and fears fewer options would drive up costs for consumers.

“CIPH would like to see the City of Vancouver keep options open for consumers with their heating systems, especially with retrofit systems,” said Ralph Suppa, president and general manager of CIPH. “Manufacturers, distributors and contractors will all have issues with the timing of these new requirements, which will likely leave the consumer with extra costs and delays.”

In December, CIPH reached out to the city offering assistance with this, and any other related building issues, and city representatives met with CIPH B.C. region staff in an effort to address the concerns. ciph.com

Fellows receives Order of Canada PM #41536047

Congratulations to Mechanical Business cover personality Ron Fellows, who has been honoured with the Order of Canada. Our August cover star was one of just 120 recipients to be named this year and is the first ever from the motorsports community to be recognized. Fellows enjoyed a long and successful career as a racing driver and is now one of the owners of Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville, Ont. Fellows will be inducted at a ceremony later this year by Governor General Julie Payette, the former astronaut who just also happens to be a former Mechanical Business cover personality herself. (She appeared on the December 2009 cover of Mechanical Business).

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JAMES BLANCHETT,

AND HIS PASSPORT TO THE WORLD HOT ROD ON SUMMER BREAK

A LIVING LAB AT SHERIDAN COLLEGE HOLOHAN’S HISTORY OF PEX, AND CHICKENS

GETTING AHEAD WITH MODERN TECHNOLOGY

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Builder donates $5m to Sask Poly Saskatchewan Polytechnic has renamed its School of Construction in honour of Joseph Remai after the Saskatoon businessman and philanthropist gifted it $5 million, the largest donation ever received by the school.

In a career that has spanned six decades, Remai has built thousands of properties throughout the province and employed scores of Sask Poly graduates, which has campuses in Moose Jaw, Prince Albert, Regina and Saskatoon. Among its educational programs, the Joseph A. Remai School of Construction provides apprenticeship training for a number of mechanical trades. saskpolytech.ca

Noble supports community care home Plumbing wholesaler Noble continues to support charitable causes in the communities it serves, and recently sponsored a third of all in-kind building product donations for a renovation project that transformed a historic building on Toronto’s Huntley Street into a care home. The 20-bed Huntley Transitional Housing Program facility, operated by the Fife House Foundation, provides housing, clinical care and intensive case management supports for people living with HIV/AIDS and who are in, or are entering, the City of Toronto’s emergency shelter system. noble.ca fifehouse.org

HVAC/R industry expects solid 2020 The HVAC/R industry had a positive business outlook heading into the new year, according to a polling by ASHRAE and the organizers of the AHR Expo conducted prior to this year’s show [Ed. Note: watch for news from the show in our next edition]. In the survey of past and prospective attendees of the AHR Expo, as well as industry manufacturers, 79% reported that business prospects for 2020 are expected to be good or excellent, three-quarters expected business to increase and 25% expected their business to grow by at least 10%. ahrexpo.com

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Canadian leaves Vegas $3,000 richer Canada’s Mike Philips had a trip to Las Vegas to remember, despite narrowly missing out on a $10,000 jackpot. He claimed the silver medal in the Grundfos 2019 WaterPRO challenge in December. Staged as part of the National Groundwater Association’s Groundwater Week, Philips, of Gerritsen Drilling in Rockyford, Alta., pictured, still pocketed $3,000 for his efforts. The WaterPRO challenge consisted of 80 qualifying events staged throughout the U.S. and Canada, with the top competitors invited to the finals in Las Vegas. The final saw Michael Raines of Arkansas take the pot after hooking up two pumps in the fastest time.

The new year marked the start of a planned phase-in of the Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute’s (AHRI) new refrigerant container colour guidelines.

Revisions to the industry association’s Guideline N, Assignment of Refrigerant Container Colors, specify that all containers should have the same uniform light green-grey paint colour (RAL 7044) to help reduce confusion among similarly coloured refrigerant containers. The guideline still requires that all flammable refrigerants include a red band on the shoulder or top of the container. ahrinet.org

Companies chip in for wood-energy training

The CMPX Show is shaping up quickly. The largest mechanicals trade show and expo in Canada, CMPX is set to take over the north building of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre from March 25 to 27. The event will feature more than 500 exhibitors, as well as the ever-popular New Product Showcase and Learning Forum. The forum will include sessions on all three days of the event, with panel discussions and expert speakers running the gamut of mechanical trades topics. Highlights include a presentation on sizing pipes by Lance MacNevin, a deep dive into air-to-water heat pumps with Taco’s Mike Miller, and a talk by business coach Liam Morin on how contractors can scale their businesses. cmpxshow.ca

Come to the CMPX Show with Mechanical Business!

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DuraVent and Security Chimneys have partnered with non-profit training and education association Wood Energy Technology Transfer (WETT) to provide a five-year funding commitment to offset travelling costs for students wishing to pursue WETT certification. Three $500 training bursaries will be funded each year through to 2024, with selection priority given to those applicants from rural or remote communities who can demonstrate need. The Wood Energy Technical Training program is designed to provide training to those who install and maintain wood burning appliances. wettinc.ca

Bumper show lined up

COURTESY OF OF COURTESY

ADMIT ON O ONE NE NE

Refrigerant container colours are changing

The Western Canada Section of the American Water Works Association (WCSAWWA) recently announced two winners of its 2019 Bad and Ugly Cross Connection Control contest. The contest is designed to help raise awareness of the dangers of cross connections to the potable water supply, and to educate water industry representatives in the field. Fred Ramackers, a cross connection control inspector for the City of Regina, Sask., found a washdown WC under a prep table at a funeral home that had an unprotected faucet and a single check directly connected to the potable water supply below the flood level rim.

SaskWater senior technologist Brendan Miller spotted two cross connections off a village’s water treatment plant distribution header, one of which could have led to a potassium permanganate solution entering the drinking water supply. Miller is pictured receiving his prize from the WCSAWWA’s Rynette Moore. wcsawwa.net

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Be sure to drop by our booth (N22) just to the right of the show entrance escalators and say hello!

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TSSA speakers spark lively debate Rules and regulations were a hot topic as members of Ontario's Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) made a presentation to HRAI members at the final 2019 gathering of the GTA Chapter in Vaughan, Ont. TSSA ombudsman Sandra Cooke (pictured) and colleague Sat Virdi, regional supervisor of fuel safety, got plenty of feedback on the TSSA’s proposed new inspection guidelines and fee structure. Information was also provided to members on the TSSA’s compliance support program, a free and voluntary service recently put in place to help licensees reach and maintain compliance with regulations. hrai.ca

Feds make water progress on reserves The federal government recently announced that its commitment to end all long-term drinking water advisories on reserves is on track. As of December, there were 57 long-term drinking water advisories in place on public systems on reserves, with targets to reduce the number to 37 by the middle of 2020 and zero by March 2021. The advisories affect more than 3,000 homes. canada.ca

Conestoga announces Weston Family Scholars Ontario’s Conestoga College has announced that 25 students have been awarded a Weston Family Scholarship in the Skilled Trades. Supported by The W. Garfield Weston Foundation, the scholarships are worth up to $4,000, with additional awards being provided by the college.

The recipients are: Adam Altmayer, Amanda Steffler, Hakem Thompson, Tyler D’Angelo, Madison Dale, Mohammed Darsot, Antonio De Pellaro, Deanne Durant, Danial Farooq, Melissa Giles, Kurtis Gobbi, Chris Govier, Sandi Graca, Ainslie Hiuser, Hunter Hoyt, Maya Hoyte, Brittany Kavelman, Andrew Kegel, Denis Kessler, Emmanuel Mondliwethu, Miralys Polski, Iain Renwick, Mark Salib, Devon Scottie and Mel Zegers. conestogac.on.ca

Complete Turnkey Venting Solutions For more than 25 years, Cheminee Lining has provided listed and custom exhaust system sizing, design, fabrication and installation for institutional, commercial and industrial projects.

We offer Professional Engineer-sealed designs for all Canadian provinces and have a complete steel fabrication shop for ASME STS-1 freestanding stacks, structures and accessories.

Applications: • Boiler • Generator • Heat Recovery • COGEN

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Contact us for chimney selections, sizing, accessories and cost-reduction opportunities.

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02.20

News www.mechanicalbusiness.com

Geothermal industry to gather

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The Ontario Geothermal Association (OGA) conference will take place from April 8 to 9 at the Hilton Mississauga/Meadowvale hotel in Mississauga, Ont. The conference will tap into new trends and attendees will hear about opportunities in the geothermal industry, including province-wide initiatives aimed at reducing energy costs and fighting climate change. ontariogeothermal.ca

Tech giants unite at home Some of the world’s largest tech companies have announced plans to develop and promote the adoption of a new, royaltyfree connectivity standard to increase compatibility among smart home products.

Amazon, Apple, Google, and the Zigbee Alliance, which includes companies such as IKEA, Legrand, Resideo and Samsung SmartThings, are all contributing to the project. The goal of the Connected Home over IP project is to simplify development for manufacturers and increase compatibility for consumers. connectedhomeip.com

Enbridge Gas backs youth training

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Enbridge Gas recently presented a cheque for $20,000 to Skills Ontario, continuing its support of the organization’s programming that provides young people with hands-on learning opportunities. The company’s sponsorship includes support of the Skills Ontario First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Initiatives (FNMI) program, which offers learning opportunities and events that connect youth to mentors in their community who have chosen a career in the skilled trades and technologies. skillsontario.com

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DIGITAL ALERT Building efďŹ ciency system tool

Charmin’s toilet tech wows CES Charmin made a big splash at January’s CES 2020, the giant consumer electronics trade show held in Las Vegas, Nev. The Procter and Gamble-owned company best known for its toilet paper and wipes rolled out GoLab, which features three conceptual prototypes made to deliver a better bathroom experience. Of particular interest was the V.I.Pee, a premium porta-potty that features an Oculus Rift S virtual reality headset and surround sound speakers that provide a front-row experience for anyone needing to hit the loo mid-concert.

And if you ďŹ nd yourself at the end of the toilet paper roll, RollBot, a robot controlled via your smartphone, can deliver a fresh roll to you.

Building EfďŹ ciency System Tool (BEST) software, available for free through the Hydronics Industry Alliance-Commercial, is designed to compare the energy and lifecycle costs of up to four HVAC systems simultaneously before ďŹ nal design and construction. It uses fuel cost data and climatological data to help calculate such metrics as COPs and building energy efďŹ ciency ratios. The program also features training videos. hia-c.org

Project estimating software TruEst, by Trimble, is a cloud-based estimating and takeoff software system designed to walk a contractor through the process of creating an estimate for commercial piping and plumbing projects. It combines unlimited document storage, graphical takeoff, material pricing and labour costs, and also gives users access to a robust content library. mep.trimble.com

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Movers & Shakers www.mechanicalbusiness.com

Master Group and Fujitsu ink new deal Fujitsu General America has announced that The Master Group will be the exclusive distributor for its ductless product line throughout Western Canada.

The new agreement covers the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia and builds on last October’s agreement for The Master Group to exclusively distribute Fujitsu’s Airstage VRF commercial HVAC products throughout Western Canada.

Also at Master, the company has announced that the move to its new distribution centre in Vaughan, Ont., is now complete. Located at 8865 Hwy 50, the 193,000 sq. ft. building brings together the personnel and operations of the Oakville, Ont., and Markham, Ont., locations. master.ca fujitsugeneral.com

Ontor adds product lines Ontor Limited has sealed two new distribution deals which will see them offering the Fin Clamp Element and RadonAway product lines to the Canadian market. Fin Clamp Element, by Fab Tek Logic, is a multi-fin, hinged hydronic heat element that fits around existing hot water heating pipes.

RadonAway, which is a Spruce Environmental Technologies brand, is a manufacturer of radon testing and mitigation products. ontor.ca

NIBCO purchases Milwaukee Valve NIBCO has announced its acquisition of Milwaukee Valve, a global producer of valves for the commercial, industrial and marine markets.

Milwaukee Valve will continue to operate separately as a whollyowned subsidiary of NIBCO, with no changes to its sales, customer service, administrative, manufacturing or distribution operations.

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IPEX opens distribution centre Thermoplastic piping systems manufacturer IPEX has celebrated the opening of its Stockton Distribution Center in the Central Valley of California. The new facility nearly quadruples IPEX’s available warehouse space in the region as the company, which was founded in Canada, continues to expand south of the border. ipexna.com

Patterson-Kelley joins SPX SPX Corporation has purchased commercial boiler and water heater manufacturer Patterson-Kelley from Harsco Corporation in a deal worth approximately $80 million. Patterson-Kelley will become part of SPX’s HVAC subsidiary, The Marley Company, which includes the Weil-McLain brand of hydronic heating systems. p pattersonkelley.com spx.com

Trane r targets g sustainability Ingersoll Rand has announced the creation of a new company that includes its Trane and Thermo King HVAC and refrigeration brands. Trane Technologies, as the standalone company has been named, is focused on creating efficient and sustainable solutions for buildings, homes and transportation. tranetechnologies.com r

nibco.com milwaukeevalve.com

Aldes unifies North American brands

Gerber to fully integrate Danze range Gerber Plumbing Fixtures has announced that it is fully integrating its Danze by Gerber product line. The Danze range of kitchen and bath faucets, bath accessories and shower systems will slowly be brought under the Gerber umbrella. The transition was made official at this past January’s KBIS trade show in Las Vegas, Nev.

Aldes has announced the merging of Aldes Canada and American Aldes into one cohesive brand. The company says that the combined brand, which will be known as Aldes North America, will streamline operations and help the company’s growth. Aldes has been operating in Canada for more than 25 years from its base in St-Leonard-d’Aston, Que. It is a subsidiary of the Aldes Group, a French company.

gerberonline.ca

aldes.ca

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Bring on the winter with Daikin AURORA single and multi-zone heat pump systems.

Year-round comfort with Daikin AURORA even when temperatures drop well below freezing. Up to 100% heating capacity at 5°F (-15°C) and continues to operate efficiently as low as -13°F ( -25°C) with high heating efficiencies up to 12.5 HSPF. Ultra-quiet indoor and outdoor units with several indoor unit style options for application creativity and preference.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Before purchasing this appliance, read important information about its estimated annual energy consumption, yearly operating cost, or energy efficiency rating that is available from your retailer.

2020

Learn more at daikincomfort.com

02.20

People in the news www.mechanicalbusiness.com

VIESSMANN has appointed Sandra Folleville marketing manager for Canada. Folleville brings more than 15 years of B2B marketing experience in digital and traditional platforms to her new role, where she will be responsible for implementing marketing strategy and developing communication tools.

David Fink has been appointed president and executive director of the PLASTICS PIPE INSTITUTE (PPI). Fink, a veteran of the industry, has held a number of leadership positions with PPI, most recently serving as chairman of the board of directors from 2017 to 2019.

The CANADIAN WATER QUALITY ASSOCIATION (CWQA) has named Shelley Peters its new executive director, succeeding the outgoing Anne Baliva. Peters has been in the water treatment industry in Canada for over 30 years, and has previously served as a CWQA board director, vicepresident and president.

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EMERSON has announced two promotions within its Professional Tools business, which includes the Ridgid and Greenlee brands. Justin King (1) has been named vice-president of engineering. He will lead the development and evolution of pipe and electrical products. Rob Trefz (2) has been appointed vice-president of marketing, having previously held the same role for the Greenlee brand.

SERVICETITAN, a provider of allin-one software for residential home service businesses in Canada and the U.S., has named home service entrepreneur and consultant Tom Howard as vice-president of customer experience.

WOMEN BUILDING FUTURES (WBF) has appointed Carol Moen, P. Eng., as president. Based in Edmonton, Alta., WBF provides training and support to help women forge careers in the trades. Moen takes up the post after a 26-year career with DOW Chemical.

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The CANADIAN INSTITUTE OF PLUMBING AND HEATING has appointed Therese Kasongo as a program manager. Fluent in both official languages, she will be responsible for overseeing and supporting the activities of CIPH’s Plumbing & Mechanical Advisory Council and the Canadian Hydronics Council.

Ontario’s former Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Chris Ballard, has been appointed CEO of PASSIVE HOUSE CANADA. Founding CEO Rob Bernhardt, who announced his intention to stand down last year, will continue as an advisor to the organization during the transition and assist with special projects.

BRADLEY CORP. has appointed Jim Johnston to vice-president of manufacturing. As part of his new role, he will lead the design, development and implementation of strategic initiatives to continuously enhance operations.

SUPERIOR RADIANT PRODUCTS has promoted Lily Ning to the position of vice-president of marketing. In this role Ning is responsible for all marketing activity, management of OEM and export accounts, customer service and order entry.

02.20

Reader Profile Ted Fox: All in the family On a path to go to university to continue his education and whatever was to come after, a young 17-year-old Ted Fox discovered a pre-apprenticeship course. Given that both his father and older brother were plumbers, he figured the program would help him pay for his post-secondary education.

“I thought it would be great to get a trade, make some money and then go back to university to avoid debt,” he says. After that, he never looked back.

Fox is now the owner of Fox Plumbing, Heating, Cooling, Electrical, a 40-employee firm servicing the North Okanagan, Shuswap and Kamloops areas of B.C. And in addition to putting

Q A Q A Q

food on his family’s table, the trade has also afforded him some unique projects to work on, like the 120-year-old mansion that he and his father worked on together to renew its plumbing and heating systems.

“Working with my dad to re-commission a 100-year-old gravity fed, open system boiler is something I won’t forget,” he says. “I learned so much about service in that old house.”

What’s the h biggest challenge running a mechanical contracting business nowadays?

The skilled trade shortage is a challenge, for sure. We saw it coming for decades. I suppose it was unavoidable.

What’s your guiding principle when it comes to managing your company?

Our guiding principle is: “Win. Win. Win.” If our team members are winning, they in turn ensure our customers win, which in turn keeps our company winning. It is a great flywheel that always keeps us focused on what is important.

What’s the best piece of advice that you’ve ever been given?

A

You can’t change other people, but you can change yourself and life is a beautiful mirror.

Q Photo courtesy of Draht Photography

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What do you wish someone told you years ago, when you were thinking about a career path?

I wish someone would have told me that a great attitude trumps great credentials every day of the week.

BIO Name: Ted Fox Owner: Owner Location: Vernon, B.C. Age: 41 Family: Wife Sue, children Isaac, Jacob, Alex and Elizabeth Joined the industry: 1996

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FAST FACTS ABOUT TED FOX 1. Optimus Prime was his childhood hero. “Truth be told, he still is,” says Fox. (Note the lapel pin.)

2. Ted used to play in a band and records music in his spare time.

3. He claims to possibly be the only tradesperson in Canada who doesn’t follow hockey.

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Human innovation meets robotic precision

Introducing Navien NFB-C fire tube commercial boilers • Advanced stainless steel fire tube heat exchanger • 7" Touch screen and smart controls • 97.5% Thermal efficiency • Common venting and cascading capability • Top and bottom piping connections

T h e

L e a d e r

i n

C o n d e n s i n g

Te c h n o l o g y

By Fred Bretzke

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

PLUMBING

LESS THAN A WINTERY WONDERLAND

HOT WATER TANKS:

I can still picture the scene. I was on a service call at the Midfield Trailer Park on 16 Ave NE in Calgary. It was February, but there was no warm chinook. It was another -20°C day, and I walked into a water main break that was pouring water out onto the private front roadway of the park.

This was the first water main break I had encountered in this trailer park, so I had to do a little investigating. The caretaker of the park, Shirley, was awesome.

She fed me hot chocolate while she showed me the old 1963 blueprint of the mechanical underground of the park.

To drain or not to drain W

hen I first moved to the Wild West of Alberta in 1981, I landed in the Edmonton airport and noticed through the plane window the crystal blue sky.

I thought wow, this province is full of sunshine. What I didn’t take into account was that it was February.

As I walked out of the airplane onto the tarmac, the temperature hit me like I was walking into a freezer. Making it worse was the ice-cold wind blowing on my face.

That made the -20°C feel more like -30.

That was my introduction to Alberta winter weather. I only lasted six months working in Edmonton. I heard that there were chinooks in Calgary, so I moved south in search of the warmer mountain winds blowing in warm weather.

Ten years later, memories of my first day in Edmonton hit me in Calgary.

A

slippery

The city had two 8” feeds entering the park to ensure continuous water from two different directions. There were also underground 8” gate valve shutoffs. By the looks of things, all I had to do was to locate these underground feeds and shut them down in order to stop the leak on the road. If only it were to be that easy.

situation

It’s interesting to note that when a water main bursts rsts in the winter, it turns a trailer park into an ice rink..

This made driving and walking quite difficult.

All the tenants were nestled quite warm and comfy mfy in the trailers, totally unaware of me walking around the park with my flashlight looking for shutoffs buried in the snow at 1:30 in the morning.

The old blueprint was not an accurate as-built diagram, so it took quite a while to find these shutoffs. When I finally

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There were around 250 trailers in the park, most from the 1960s, situated along a few main roadways. The trailers were about 15 to 20 feet apart. Each was fed by an underground water distribution branch running along each street that was supplied by the city main.

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discovered them a few hours later, sure enough, no matter how hard I turned them counter clockwise they wouldn’t budge.

By now it was 7 a.m. and, with the park roads dangerously icy, I decided to shut down both feeds to the park.

I didn’t want to have a riot in the park if they had no water to shower in the morning before work, so a few other plumbers and myself played road security and waited until 10 to shut the water off.

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PLUMBING SO MUCH FOR CODE Our attempts to shut off the water to each curb stop to each trailer was near impossible as we couldn’t locate them.

There were gardens, decks, and more, installed over them – they were frozen and hidden. That’s why we had to shutoff both feeds to the park.

NO REST FOR THE WEARY The next few days involved a lot of wet clothes and trying to keep warm while trying to get the repair done on the old main, but we managed to remove a section of the main and replace it with a new C900 pipe.

After chlorinating the water and testing it to get approval from the city, we slowly turned on the water to the park.

Everything held under pressure as plumbers went individually around homes purging the air and water from their taps. All seemed good, but later that night and into the morning, our answering service lines lit up.

Some of the tenants had no hot water.

These older trailers all had electric residential hot water tanks located in bedroom closets. They were installed in a tight location with very little room for piping, and some of these tanks didn’t have check valves or vacuum-relief installed on the cold feeds.

Those tanks back-siphoned through the cold feeds and drained below the upper elements in the tanks. We had to install new elements to restore hot water to those units.

A hard lesson learned was to always give tenants notice, and to at least turn off the power to each hot water tank. Despite it stating in both the 1990 6.1.7. (9) and 2015 NPC 2.6.1.7. (8) that a vacuum-relief valve shall be installed when any tank may be subject to back-siphonage, I’ve learned not to take anything for granted.

In 6.1.9. (1) of the 1990 NPC and in 2.6.1.10. (1) of the 2015 NPC, it states that a water service pipe intended to serve a mobile home shall have a curb stop and a means of draining that part of the pipe located above the frost line when not in use.

WATER TANK REMOVAL Over the years, I’ve learned a lot about water heaters, including about the proper removal of tanks, both residential and commercial.

Every now and then, my company would get called to replace a commercial hot water tank – often in a mechanical room on the top floor of a high-rise building. For me, the one building that always comes to mind is one in downtown Calgary where the mechanical room is on the top floor of a 20-storey building. The elevator only goes up to the 19th storey.

Quite often a 100-gallon commercial tank would be full of calcium and, even if drained, would be a nightmare to move. Typically, we would require four big, strong plumbers to remove old tanks since they weighed several hundred pounds, but not this time.

This building had four tanks installed in parallel. Let’s just say that it is always advisable to hire a professional heavy lift moving company to remove old heavy tanks. They have all the proper equipment to do the job without injury or damage to the building, especially when the elevator doesn’t go all the way to the top.

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Replacing Your Water Heater Every Few Years is Not Our Business Plan

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Now available in 199-1000 MBH, Conquest can be installed through a 36-inch doorway and provides more BTUs in small spaces.

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PLUMBING

Products

Video inspection system Ratech’s Plumber’s Helper Jr video pipe inspection system can be used on straight runs of pipe down to 2” in diameter and can negotiate 90-degree bends in 3” and larger pipe. The system can be fitted with any Ratech camera. It features a 100foot mini Gel Rod cable, a removable compact command module with a 7.1” LCD screen, a builtin battery, and an SD recorder.

www. ratech-electronics.com

Hand-washing station The WashBar Duo from Bradley Corp. is comprised of a single piece of chrome-plated metal that combines a one-gallon liquid or foam soap dispenser and faucet in a touch-free unit. Water flows at a rate of 0.5 or 0.35 gpm for a maximum of 11 seconds. LED lighting on the fixture and icons on top of the bar guide the user through the hand-washing process. throu

www www. bradleycorp.com brad

Stainless steel drainage system Blucher’s HygienicPro is a stainless steel drainage system designed for use in food processing and beverage production facilities. Its rounded curves are designed to minimize ize bacterial growth while a removable water trap and high-capacity acity filter basket are engineered with cleaning in mind. Units are available vailable with point or linear drains and with centre or end outlets in lengths ths of one to 10 metres.

www. blucher.com

Potable water piping system

DROP SOME

WEIGHT CARRY LIGHT ™ TRIPOD VISE

IPEX AquaRise Cold Water pipe is manufactured to SDR 21 IPS dimensions in 1-1/2”, 2”, 2-1/2”, 3” and 4” sizes. The piping is for cold water use only and has maximum operating pressure of 200 psi at 73°F (1,379 kPa at 23°C). It is designed to work with SDR 11 AquaRise fittings and has longitudinal print lines that can be used for fitting alignment.

15lbs.

LIGHTER THAN TRADITIONAL TRIPODS

• Lightweight aluminum legs for weight-critical field use and overlapping tray hinges for strength.

• Reversible jaws give extra life and value.

R450PAL #04456 Weighs 27.4 lbs.

• Protect plastic pipe with neoprene jaws or reverse for steel jaws.

Tool-safe raised sides Capacity 1/8" – 6" nom. Plastic Pipe (10-178 mm) 1/8" – 2" nom. Steel Conduit (10-51 mm)

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

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M ee cc hha an ni ci ac l a Bl u Bs iun se isns e 1s 0s . 1002 . 2 0

www. ipexaquarise.com Balanced padded handle

Non-combustible fitting The FRZERO testable off-set style Waste/Overflow from OS&B meets flame and smoke requirements of CAN/ULC S102.210 for non-combustible buildings. The full kit d includes an overflow head featuring an integrated 6-degree angle, a spin-on tie plate for a tool-less g installation, a self-clinging rubber waste gasket, an optional angle adapter, and thread-in test plugs.

www. osb.ca

PLUMBING

Products

Commercial washroom urinal Sloan’s Designer Urinal for commercial washrooms, distributed by Dobbin Sales, is ADA compliant and pairs with any proprietary flushometer to deliver four flush volumes from 0.125 to 1 gpf. It has a 3/4” rear spud inlet, a 2” NPT outlet flange and a fully concealed trapway. Operation requires a minimum system flow pressure of 25 psi, a maximum static pressure of 80 psi and a minimum flow rate of 18 gpm.

Digital water mixing valve The IntelliStation Jr. lead-free digital mixing valve from Powers is available in 1-1/2” and 2” sizes. Wi-Fi-enabled, the system can be connected to a Building Automation System (BAS) and has a programmable setpoint range of 60°F to 180°F, with accuracy to +/- 2°F. It is rated to handle pressures up to 200 psi. It has a 3-1/2” colour touchscreen display, is passcode-protected and can be configured on site.

www. powerscontrols.ca

www. dobbinsales.com

Wireless water heater monitor Noritz’s NWCC Wi-Fi Adapter is designed to provide continuous wireless monitoring of up to 24 commercial tankless water heaters in a single system via a customizable dashboard. The 1.5 lb. unit sends customizable alarms, service schedule alerts and troubleshooting insights via email or text and is compatible with both Apple and Android smartphones via an app.

www. noritz.com

COMMERCIAL ELECTRIC WATER HEATER

Flexible Models Light, Medium & Heavy Duty

41, 61 or 99 Imp. gallon capacities (184, 279 or 451 Litres).

Wattage input ranging from 3 kw to 54 kW on all models and up to 63 kW on 112 models.

Field convertible : 208 V, 240 V, 480 V or 600 V.

Perfect for Commercial and Industrial Applications !

112

108

1-800-363-9354

www.giantinc.com

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GI-AD274En-0120

105

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FLEET MANAGEMENT

B y B en t Jen se n

STAYING IN THE

LOOP

Real-time vehicle tracking is the key feature of any GPS fleet-tracking system.

The constant flow of information enables features like driver-behaviour monitoring, event alerts, geofencing, theft recovery, and more.

As the name suggests, live tracking enables users to find the exact location and status of each vehicle at any time.

Tracking and managing via

I

GPS

t doesn’t take hundreds of vehicles to understand just how difficult operating a fleet-dependent business can be. For those who operate in field services industries, such as plumbers, HVAC technicians, electricians, mobile mechanics and so on, keeping track of vehicles and employees can be a challenge, but technology can help.

When paired with an efficient fleet management software package, GPS tracking opens the door to a variety of information that can be analyzed and used to monitor fuel usage, employee driving habits, route efficiency, maintenance schedules, job progress, and much more.

With mobile and web-based user portals, business owners and managers can rest assured knowing they’re always in the loop.

IT’S A SERVICE VAN, NOT AN F1 CAR Aggressive driving can be damaging to a company’s reputation. It can also increase the risk of accidents and adds to fuel and maintenance bills.

Business owners are always looking for new ways to stay ahead, whether it’s finding cost efficiencies, methods to increase productivity, opportunities to enhance safety, or a chance to improve the service delivered to their customers. Whether you run a large corporation or a small shop with a handful of trucks, the features of a modern GPS fleet-tracking and management system can help most businesses find new insights and gain a whole new level of control over their operations.

With feedback from a GPS tracking system, such driving behaviours as speeding, aggressive acceleration and hard braking can be minimized, or even eliminated altogether. Simply knowing that a company vehicle is GPS-enabled is often enough to change employee driving habits.

Business owners can also set alerts that send emails or text messages to let them know when an employee has exceeded a predetermined threshold.

In the event that an employee chooses to ignore speed limits or decides to treat a company vehicle like it’s a racecar heading toward a corner, in-cab alerts can be set to emit audible tones, reminding the driver that they are on the clock, not the track.

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TARGETING

Between real-time text alerts and in-cab driver alerts, businesses can make sure their drivers aren’t cutting into the bottom line with a heavy foot.

FUEL SAVINGS

Reducing idling is another surprisingly effective method for lowering fuel costs. Simply put, idling gets zero kilometres per litre. Modern GPS tracking systems can monitor total and average vehicle idle time per vehicle, arming business owners with the information needed to work with employees on changing their habits.

Fuel is an unavoidable cost for any business with fleet vehicles. While a monthly fuel bill can’t be eliminated, GPS tracking provides quite a few opportunities for lowering it.

SETTING UP A VIRTUAL GATEKEEPER

The first step in lowering fuel costs is slowing down a fleet.

Fuel consumption can be up to 20 per cent greater when travelling at 120 km/h as opposed to 100 km/h.

When vehicles equipped with a GPS tracking device enter or exit a geofenced area, fleet operators can receive instant notifications via text message or email. A geofence is a virtual area that can be created on the map in a GPS fleet-tracking system. This area can be any shape or size, can be tied to any area or roadway, and can be tailored to specific needs.

These virtual perimeters enable more accurate billing and dispatching since arrival and departure times can be recorded, and the technology also adds to the overall security of your

LIGHTWEIGHT • WON’T RUST • EFFICIENT • FIVE YEAR WARRANTY FLEXCON ARGOSY Buffer/ Storage tank is the only pressurized composite buffer tank on the market! Made of low thermal conductivity material; it’s also lightweight, won’t rust and works equally well for hot or chilled potable and non-potable water! Rated to 180º fahr, it greatly improves system efficiency by reducing heat pump short cycling during low load periods making it extremely cost effective. ARGOSY, it’s the hot new choice in pressurized composite buffer tanks! Available in 22,40,55,80 and 120 gallon sizes.

Gallons Lightweight Composite/Steel Weight Warranty

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Flexcon Argosy BUF120*

Brand A

Brand B

119

119

119

Lightweight Composite

Steel

Steel

145 lbs.

198 lbs.

315 lbs.

5 yr.

3 yr.

10 yr. Hot/ 5 yr. Cold

Temperature Rating

180 fahr

200+ fahr

250 fahr

Ok for potable water use

Yes

No

No

* See flexconind.com for classification.

Flexcon Argosy Buffer tank earned 2018 CIPHEX West New Hydronics product of the year M e c h a n i c a l

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FLEET MANAGEMENT fleet vehicles. With geofence notifications, users can track and respond to unauthorized or unexpected movement, like employee moonlighting or if a theft is in progress.

The versatility of the geofencing tool makes it one of the most popular features of modern GPS tracking systems.

SCHEDULING AND MONITORING MAINTENANCE The overall mechanical condition of a business’ vehicles has a direct influence on the company’s bottom line. Fleet vehicles will experience wearand-tear and require maintenance to keep them operating smoothly. Regular and prompt maintenance lowers the risk of costly breakdowns and failures that can result in downtime or total loss.

Modern GPS systems can help businesses increase the lifespan of vehicles and minimize maintenance and repair expenses through intelligent maintenance scheduling. Rather than trying to keep track of receipts, work orders, or whatever other scheduling method is in place, GPS users can use vehicle data and the GPS interface to set alerts to remind them of upcoming or past-due services based on engine hours, kilometres or date.

Knowing where your trucks are – at all times The addition of a GPS system not only keeps track of where an asset is at any given time, but it is also incredibly useful in recovery efforts in the event of theft.

And simply having a GPS system may discourage theft altogether – provided that the tracked vehicle is clearly marked.

Potential thieves may think twice if the risk of being caught is high.

Theft prevention aside, adding GPS tracking increases the overall peace of mi business mind nd ffor or b usiines us inesss owners. With the ability to set movement nt alerts alerts, there’s no assuming that a vehicle is where it’s supposed to be; users can keep track from wherever they are.

Keeping a virtual paper trail While the real-time monitoring of vehicles is incredibly useful, the value of historical data is often underrated.

With a GPS tracking system, users always have access to the data backups from commercial fleet vehicles.

Driving distances and time spent on location, number of completed tasks, number of stops made, and driving speeds can all be recorded through GPS tracking.

The ability to reference this past data can also help with billing, payroll, maintenance scheduling, incident investigation and resolving customer complaints.

Using vehicle data goes far beyond keeping an eye on speeding, it can provide insights into resource planning, driving optimization, and time schedule management to improve the overall performance of the vehicle fleet.

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GOOD FOR THE TRUCK,

AND THE TECHNICIAN GPS tracking systems offer a lot of value to business owners, but perhaps the most important benefit is the increase in safety.

Adding a GPS tracking system can significantly increase safety in a number of ways. Holding drivers accountable for speed and providing alerts for unsafe driving habits is often enough to reduce the chances of an accident.

In fact, many businesses that implement GPS tracking see a 50 to 99 per cent decrease in aggressive or unsafe driving events.

Maintenance monitoring through a GPS system also provides the added benefit of increased driver safety. Staying on top of vehicle health can lower the chance of mechanical failure on the road and reduce the risk of a driver being stuck alone on the side of the road because of a breakdown.

Bent Jensen Jr. is the founder & CEO of AutoConnect GPS, a Canadian-based fleet tracking solutions provider that operates from coast to coast. He can be reached at benjr@ctstracking.com.

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WHENEVER PIPING IS INVOLVED

CANADA’S LEADING PVF PRODUCT SUPPLIER INDUSTRIAL

MECHANICAL

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Order online

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Always there when you need us.

HVAC/R

Jeffrey Staub is the director, regional applications Americas, with Danfoss. He can be reached at jeffstaub@danfoss.com.

By Jeffrey Staub

Working with

thermostatic expansion valves Tackling varying loads

T

Fixed orifice devices are ideal throttling devices if conditions never change. If the load on the system is constant and the ambient temperature remains steady, then a simple capillary tube or piston would be preferable to an adjustable orifice device like a TXV. However, outside of a laboratory, static conditions are simply not realistic.

Fixed orifice devices like capillary tubes or pistons are cheaper and electronic expansion valves (EEVs) offer greater superheat control across a large load range, so why are TXVs so popular?

Seasonal temperature changes have a profound effect on system performance, as does increasing the heat load inside.

For example, summer brings warmer weather, which increases the condensing pressure of the refrigerant in the air conditioner. Since the throttling device acts as a type of dam within the system, a fixed orifice device will not open more when the load increases to allow more refrigerant through, which increases the superheat on the compressor.

Additionally, once the load decreases (perhaps at night), the back pressure drops, which significantly increases cre reas ases es the risk of liquid refrigerant making it to the compressor,r, potentially damaging it.

hermostatic expansion valves (TXVs) Vs) are one of the most common types of adjustable ning and orifice throttling devices in air conditioning refrigeration systems worldwide. They earned this place by being both efficient and affordable. But how do TXVs compare to other throttling devices?

Control comes at a cost EEVs are top-of-the-line throttling devices. While TXVs are purely mechanical, an EEV can be programmed to work with the other components in the system, allowing it to further optimize performance and efficiency.

While EEVs can outperform TXVs, the gains need to be weighed off against the higher cost of the devices. One reason for the greater expense is that EEVs need additional components to work properly, including a controller and sensors.

Systems that require exact precision — such as those with variable-speed compressor technology, where the load, ambient conditions, and compressor mass flow go through high rates of change — may benefit from having an EEV and complementary components; however, the additional control comes with a higher price tag that not all systems ccan justify.

Not all TXVs are a created equal The power element elem of a TXV is the most common part to fail, so having one that is made from high-quality h materials will extend the life of the valve. Laser-welded, stainless steel power elemen elements tend to offer the longest life.

Another comm common point of failure is the sensing bulb capillary tube. Stainless steel offers flexibility and durability, allowing the se sensing bulb coils to be bent and flexed over and over without fear of cracking.

Finally, TXVs are often used to upgrade a system from a fixed orifice device, so a TXV that is easy to install is ideal.

A TXV will modulate open or closed based on changing conditions and will adjust to maintain a constant superheat.

This helps with efficiency and ensures that the compressor is protected against damage from liquid refrigerant.

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Canada’s National Show for the HVACR and Plumbing Industries

METRO TORONTO CONVENTION CENTRE

March 25 - 27, 2020

cmpxshow.ca

HIGH-PERFORMANCE HVAC

Promoting Fuelling the fuel A consideration in the fuelswitching conversation is that the way electricity is produced impacts its carbon footprint. While the proportion of Canada’s total electricity production that is drawn from non-emitting sources, such as hydro, nuclear, wind and solar, is 81 per cent, it does vary provincially.

For example, 97 per cent of Manitoba’s electricity is derived from hydroelectric sources, whereas New Brunswick comes in at 21 per cent hydroelectric and, in Alberta, just three per cent is derived from hydroelectric sources.

In Ontario, 90 per cent of electricity comes from non-carbon emitting sources: 58 per cent nuclear, 22 per cent hydroelectric, and 10 per cent from solar and wind.

On a national scale, the decision regarding when heat pumps should be employed for space heating would require knowledge of how the electricity being used to run the heat pump was generated.

That is, in the drive to reduce green house gas emissions, it would be counter productive to replace a 96% AFUE natural gas furnace with a heat pump running off electricity generated from the burning of coal.

Gord Cooke

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An expanded view I

realize I have been writing about heat pump technology, and air-source heat pumps specifically, quite a bit over the past couple of years, but the focus is warranted in my mind.

Wherever I travel in North America, there is ever-increasing interest in not just net-zero energy but net-zero-carbon homes. This is not just in new homes, but in the approximately 14 million existing Canadian homes as well.

According to the Paving the Road to 2030 and Beyond report from the 2018 Energy and Mines Ministers’ Conference in Nunavut, space heating in Canada “accounts for 64 per cent of energy consumed in homes and 56 per cent of energy consumed in commercial buildings.”

That was the conference where the federal, provincial and territorial governments committed to promote clean, low-carbon economic growth for Canada.

The 200-plus per cent efficiency of ground and air-source heat pumps make them a compelling technology to investigate as we look for effective and efficient strategies to heat homes. However, there are challenges both in application at the individual home level and at the national level.

Continuing research from Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) highlights the variables to be considered when trying to determine the most cost-effective applications for air-source heat pumps to optimize green house gas reductions on a national level.

Gord Cooke is a professional engineer who has spent 20 years helping builders and HVAC contractors implement innovative technologies into high-performance homes.

He has particular expertise in IAQ and airflow management in houses, and can be contacted at gcooke@airsolutions.ca.

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National strategies versus regional realities One of the wrinkles in creating a national plan with full public buy-in -in stems from the cost of different fuels in different regions of Canada.

For example, as I’m writing this, the erta is $0.20/ 0/m3, which current cost of natural gas in Alberta $0.20/m whi wh hich ich equates to $5.26 per GigaJoule (GJ) of energy. By comparison, comparison the cost of electricity at $0.11/kWh equates to $30.53/GJ of energy. In other words, over five times the price of natural gas per unit of energy.

Even with a heat pump that is four to five times more efficient than a gas furnace, consumers would likely pay more for heating with a heat pump because the price of the fuel used is five to six times more than the price of natural gas.

The picture is a little rosier in British Columbia where the delivered charge of natural gas is currently over $8 per GJ, according to the website www.cer-rec.gc.ca. The price of electricity in B.C. is roughly $30/GJ. Sticking to the natural gas comparison, the delivered cost of natural gas in New Brunswick was close to $20/GJ at the time of writing this article. At that price, a heat pump option looks very cost effective for heating.

And the cost effectiveness of air or ground-source heat pumps is very clear if the alternative energy source is propane or heating fuel oil. At the time of writing, propane was showing as $37 to $39 per GJ and fuel oil was listed as slightly north of $30 per GJ. Of course, I recognize prices vary and change in markets across Canada, so these costs and findings may not match prices in your area, but regional differences are worth thinking about.

Not just dollars and cents When at the kitchen table with homeowners, there are other reasons to consider heat pumps, and to recognize the synergies of dual-fuel systems.

Heat pumps, of course, offer customers a summer cooling and dehumidification option that they may not have had before with an oil furnace or baseboard heating. Even in Ontario, where air conditioners have become a standard feature, HVAC pros should be promoting two-stage or variable-speed systems by now, since they offer better humidity and comfort control.

The incremental cost to advance to a full heat pump could be fairly modest, and may be justifiable to homeowners who are motivated to reduce their personal carbon footprints.

to use the heat pump option on milder evenings when electrical rates are lower and switch to natural gas during coldest weather and high peak electrical rate periods. the colde near future, such controls will be widely available In the nea facilitate a seamless way for consumers to and will fa optimize ttheir own bills with their carbon footprint.

Experienced HVAC contractors will recall that the E low discharge temperatures from a heat pump lo working in very cold weather can lead to comfort w cchallenges in the home. With variable speed gas furnaces and fan motors, this comfort concern can fu be eliminated. b

A multi-pronged approach If you feel the cost of fuel, versus appliance efficiency, versus carbon emissions from electricity generation is too complex a decision matrix for homeowners to navigate, you are not alone. Fortunately, NRCan has proposed simplifying the process into four distinct scenarios.

First, says NRCan, is to switch all oil furnaces to heat pumps in all parts of Canada. They list a payback of 10 to 15 years.

Second is to switch baseboard and other electric resistance heating sources to heat pumps. This will save consumers money in every case and will reduce green house gases (GHGs) in at least Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario and the Atlantic provinces. (Why no GHG reductions in Manitoba?

Their electric grid is already essentially 97 per cent “clean”.)

They list these conversions as also having a payback of 10 to 15 years.

Third, and much tougher, would be to switch natural gas furnaces to heat pumps. It would save GHGs in Ontario, Manitoba and B.C., but homeowners would likely find their total utility bills would go up. There is no simple payback.

Lastly, switching natural gas furnaces in provinces like Alberta, Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia would cost homeowners more and may actually increase green house gas emissions because of the extensive use of fossil fuels to generate electricity in these provinces.

Over the four scenarios lies a great opportunity for HVAC contractors, and while regional, the first two represent approximately 6.4 million households, or 45 per cent of the nation’s current total.

With time of use electrical rates in many areas of Canada you could fashion a control strategy that would allow homeowners M e c h a n i c a l

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A P P L I C A T I O N S

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T E C H N O L O G I E S FEBRUARY 2020

BRANDON FARR

A LONG WAY IN A SHORT TIME • KEEPING SOWS HAPPY • TURNING DOWN THE TEMPERATURE • DESIGN TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL SYSTEMS • PROTECTING US FROM ENERGY AFFLUENZA

A sopping wet supplement of Mechanical Business

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38GUEST COMMENTARY

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PROJECT PROFILE: HAPPIER THAN A PIG IN THE MUD A happy sow is a better sow. If you didn’t know that, don’t worry, the people who need to know it do. They also know that a hydronic system can help make sows and humans alike very happy. Ron Rajecki

ROAD WARRIOR: A LONG WAY IN A SHORT TIME Brandon Farr, installation manager at Hargrave Heating in Markham, Ont., has been immersed in the mechanical world since the age of 8 when his dad, a sheet metal worker, began taking him along to jobsites. Having worked across multiple mechanical sectors, it was the complexity and beauty of hydronic systems that made the biggest impression on him, however. Simon Bowden

Protecting us from energy affluenza Max Rohr

50HYDRONIC TOP 10 Design tips for successful systems Brett Austin

DE P AR TME NTS

36From the Editorial Desk 42Find the Fix

46

SYSTEM DESIGN: TURNING DOWN THE TEMPERATURE The two basic ways that we control the rate of energy delivery are the fluid temperature supplied to the heat emitter and the flow rate of that fluid, but that’s just the start of the discussion about working with lower supply water temperatures.

Bob “Hot Rod” Rohr

Cover Photo: John Packman

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Content Media Group Inc. 19 – 1525 Cornwall Road Oakville, ON L6J 0B2 Canada Tel: 905.465.2919 Fax: 905.465.2913 www.mechanicalbusiness.com January/February 2020 Issue Editor: Adam Freill, ext. 224 adam.freill@mechanicalbusiness.com Associate Editor/Web Editor: Simon Bowden simon.bowden@mechanicalbusiness.com National Sales Manager: Jeff Superle, ext. 221 jeff.superle@mechanicalbusiness.com Controller: Liz Mills liz.mills@mechanicalbusiness.com Operations Manager: Caroline Bexfield, ext. 227 \Zkhebg^'[^qÛ^e]9f^\aZgb\Ze[nlbg^ll'\hf Art Direction: JJM Graphic Ltd. davem@jjmgraphic.com Circulation Manager: Shila Naik (905) 272-4175 shila.naik@mechanicalbusiness.com Publisher: Bruce Meacock, ext. 222 bruce.meacock@mechanicalbusiness.com

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FROM THE EDITORIAL DESK

It’s an innovative world Not very long ago, it wasn’t unusual for boilers to be bumped up a size or two so that they could be ready “for potential system expansion” or to provide “a little extra, just in case.” And the use of anything other than a boiler to provide heat to the system was considered a bit of an avantgarde approach.

Much as blunt weapons gave way to sharpened knives, however, we’ve come a long way in the right-sizing of systems to match heating loads, and in finding additional sources of BTUs to use.

Of course, the tools we have to work with have undergone a considerable evolution as well. From controls using system feedback to match the firing of our heating equipment to the load, to circulators that do their own calculations based on system feedback, it’s a much different world from even a decade or two ago.

And we’re wasting far less energy than we used to as a result. But we’re only part-way along an ever-changing pathway.

Sharing the news is now a two-way street Did you know that the Mechanical Business website is an archive of knowledge that you can tap into anytime, from anywhere? Not only that, but we are constantly sharing news and notes via our social media outlets, and we’d love to know what you are up to so that we can share your news as well. So, tag, link and like us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!

The options for finding BTUs to move in and out of a building have expanded almost exponentially. When I started writing about hydronic systems two decades ago, solar-thermal and geothermal systems were pretty much the limit when it came to designing non-traditional systems.

Today, we are seeing impressive technology in new boilers, systems using heat reclaimed from drain lines, the use of air-to-water heat pumps, and so much more.

The creativity and innovation that goes into the equipment and systems that this industry provides to keep consumers warm in the winter, cool in the with clean, safe hot water has been nothing less than summer and wit And I’m sure we’re still just at the tip of the iceberg. impressive. An look forward to checking out shows like the justThat’s why I lo Expo, the upcoming CMPX show (watch for our passed AHR E show guide for that next edition), and the CIPHEX West show that’s scheduled for Vancouver this fall. These events are sche some of o the best places to check out what the innovative minds mind in the research and development labs at the top manufacturers have come up with, and to get to inspired about ways to get the most performance at the lowest cost of energy for your clients.

Proud members of:

Hope to see you in Toronto next month, or Vancouver later this year.

Until then, Unti en,

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GUEST COMMENTARY

REHAU Marketing and Academy Manager

Vg`s hr dmdqfx `eÞtdmy`+ `mc gnv b`m xnt oqnsdbs xntqrdke> I once had to write a paper about a community health issue for a university class. My topic was “affluenza.” Affluenza isn’t a typical ailment, like a cold. It’s a stress-related, negative health effect associated with “keeping up with the Joneses,” but it’s not just about watching what the neighbours across the road are doing now.

In North America, we are often looking for new, better, faster. From cars to homes to vacations, affluenza has a strong pull. And how we think of energy in buildings is not immune from its grip.

Articles about new ways to capture energy often grab attention. “We should drill for oil in new places!” “Let’s put solar panels on every car!”

“Build a taller windmill!”

“Mine Vibranium!”

Uhaq`mhtl (/va‫׏‬ҡEUH‫׏‬QLƕP

A fictional metal appearing in American comic books published

by Marvel Comics. It has the extraordinary ability to absorb, store and release large amounts of kinetic energy.

Instead of this energy affluenza that has us looking for something new, maybe we should take a different approach, albeit a boring one.

The cleanest, fastest, least-complicated way to find energy is to address our wasteful buildings. Optimizing efficiency is like finding an undiscovered pocket of natural gas in your mechanical room.

If you can hear the pump in your boiler room from down the hall, it is probably oversized. Take a look at updating single-speed circulators. ECM pumps are the lowest hanging fruit. The energy efficiency boost from an upgrade compared to the minimal surgery required to switch a motor between flanges makes it a great choice.

If anything in your mechanical room is too hot to touch and you are working with a water-based system, you can probably find an energy cache by installing better controls. Unless it is the coldest day of the year, nothing in a radiant heating boiler room should be scalding hot.

Give all the heat exchangers in a system a good cleaning. One millimeter of scale can reduce heat transfer by 10 per cent.

All equipment that is currently single speed should be replaced with something that does the same task with modulation, especially boilers. Per design, that boiler should not need 100 per cent capacity unless it is a design day.

Developing new, clean energy sources should be a focus; just not the only focus. We can protect ourselves from the harmful grasp of energy affluenza by optimizing the buildings and systems we already have.

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02. 20

Max Rohr grew up in the trade and has spent more than two decades learning the ins and outs of heating, cooling and plumbing systems. He is currently the REHAU marketing and academy manager, and can be reached at max.rohr@rehau.com.

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PROJECT PROFILE

By Ron Rajecki Ron Rajecki is the marketing content specialist at Aquatherm, a manufacturer of PP-R pipe for the heating, cooling and plumbing sectors. He can be reached at ron.rajecki@aquatherm.com.

Happier than a pig in the mud A

happy sow is a better sow. If you didn’t know that, don’t worry, the people who need to know it do. They also know that a hydronic system using polypropylene-random (PP-R) pipe can help make sows and humans alike very happy.

Those who are unfamiliar with hog farming may never stop to think where their bacon is coming from, but it is a major business in some areas, and the indoor environment in a hog barn can be harsh. The ammonia and other chemicals (both man-made and hog-made) in the air can quickly attack and corrode some types of pipe. That makes PP-R pipe an ideal choice for these applications.

At the Boekhorst Farm in Arkona, Ont., Mid-Lam Heating & Cooling ran more than 1,500 feet of Aquatherm Blue Pipe for a heating and cooling system moving 1.2 million BTUH in a 64,000-sq-ft pig barn. In addition to providing space heating and cooling, the system also feeds individual heating pads for the sows.

And, as you now know, a happy sow is a better sow.

Challenge: Provide an extensive heating and cooling piping system that would hold up well in the highly corrosive indoor environment of a commercial pig barn.

Solution: Polypropylene-random dom (PP-R) pipe that is virtually impervious to corrosive airborne rne chemicals and is easy to clean n and maintain.

BRINGING HEAT TO THE HOGS To build an HVAC system that would live up to the challenging demands of a working pig farm, Mid-Lam Heating & Cooling owner Kent McLellan and his team turned to polypropylene-random pipe, based on their previous experiences with the product.

Other types of pipe were not even a consideration, in his mind, because, as McLellan puts it, “There’s too much risk of corrosion.”

The system design for the project, crafted by Brendon Yadu of Hydronic Solutions Inc., called for 120 13-foot lengths of SDR 11 pipe. At the headers, 2-1/2” pipe was used, with 4” pipe in the mechanical room and the barn itself.

Other key components of the system included five 399,000 BTUH Triangle Tube condensing boilers, a Caleffi low-loss header and mixing valves, and pumps from Wilo.

The piping installation took place over three

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KEEPING A BIG PROJECT MOVING Putting the BTUs where you want them According to McLellan, several factors were important when it came to the choice of pipe for this pig farm.

The biggest factors were resistance to environmental chemicals and the installed pipe’s ease of maintenance, but also a consideration was that the pipe used gives off so little heat.

“That’s important when you have a 1.2 million BTUH mechanical room,” McLellan said. “Even when it’s not insulated, Aquatherm doesn’t radiate heat. The BTUs are actually going where you want them to.”

Compared to some of the other residential and agricultural projects Mid-Lam has successfully completed in its long history, the size of this project might have been considered daunting. The ability to break the project down by zones, however, enabled McLellan’s team to handle it without being overwhelmed, says the company owner.

Also important were environmental friendliness, and the fact that no open flames are needed.

“When you look at the big picture of 1.2 million BTUs and a large amount of HVAC equipment, it can be easy to become bogged down,” he said. “In cases like this, I’ve found it’s best to approach the job in segments. In this barn we were lucky that we had different zones and that’s what we focused on.

“We knew what the end game was, but we just stayed focused on the tasks at hand and checked off the zones as we completed them.”

months using Ritmo fusion tools and support from Hydronic Solutions.

The system was not complicated, but it was extensive. A large hot water (180°F) circulation loop runs the length of the barn. This loop is split by system pumps to go into the barn’s two wings, and from there additional pumps and mixing valves allow the water temperature to be modulated for various purposes.

“For example,” Yadu explains, “the sows in the farrowing rooms have hydronic heating pads that slowly raise and lower the animal when they stand up and lie back down. That helps ensure that little piggys don’t get trapped underneath the heavy sow.”

Mid-Lam has been able to scale this type of system for similar projects as well.

“Kent has been working with us for a number of years as he has been growing his business,” Yadu says. “Recently,

To help keep the project moving, many assemblies were prepped in advance. Any that could not be pre-made were custom fit and built on the spot with heat fusion tools.

Kent did a project similar to this but much smaller. It was two boilers instead of five, but it was based on the same idea of providing pad heaters for the pigs and unit heaters in the barn.

He advises companies just discovering heatfused PP-R pipe to train anyone who has the interest and potential.

“There’s no downside to having people trained on heat fusion, and the more people who know it the better,” McLellan said. “It makes them care and it makes the project go well.”

“It had a very similar setup, and the customer was really thrilled. So we all had a lot of confidence going into this project.”

A TOUGH ENVIRONMENT

“Air quality is a huge issue in pig barns,” says Yadu.

“You’ve probably never been to a pig barn, and if you don’t have to go into one, don’t.

They are probably the most difficult type of barn in my opinion. If you spend a few hours in there, your lungs begin to feel as if they’re burning.

It’s probably the ammonia from the manure that creates such a corrosive environment. But we all like bacon, don’t we?”

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FIND THE FIX

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

ADDING ON TO AN ADDITION Let’s head back to that young family’s home where they are looking to build a slab-on-grade addition to the existing home to gain a master bedroom, en suite bathroom and walk-in closet. The plan for the new living space is in-floor heating that will tap into the existing high-efficiency mod-con boiler.

This is not the first expansion and renovation that this building has been through. Over the years, it gained a second-floor addition and was switched from standard baseboard rads to new lower temperature panel rads, lower temperature baseboard rads and an air handler. Ductwork was also added years ago for air conditioning.

Based on these details and the piping schematic, let’s check things out.

1. If all four zones were calling on design conditions, does the boiler have enough capacity? a) No. b) Yes. c) Yes, provided the boiler has a net output of 76,000 BTUH. d) Yes, since no one will notice a little shortfall.

2. It was easy to add Zone 4 to the existing piping, but what temperature will it see? a) 101°F (38.3°C) like the in-floor design calls for. b) It’s a smart boiler and can deliver four different temperatures.

It will figure it out. c) Whatever the outdoor design temperature is. d) It depends on which zones are calling.

Email your answers to adam.freill@mechanicalbusiness.com.

Please include your name and daytime phone number.

Looking for the November/December answers?

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

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3. In order for Zone 4 to get the right temperature all the time, what should be installed? a) A mixing valve. b) An outdoor reset mixing valve would be best. c) Zone 4 should be moved to be the last load on the primary loop, and an outdoor reset mixing valve should be added. d) A zone valve would work best if the pump is a variable speed ECM. 4. Could you add an indirect water heater to this system? a) Yes, a small 40-gallon indirect would work. b) If the indirect was added as a priority load and the model would work with the maximum flow of the boiler (7.6 gpm). c) No, the boiler is too small. d) Yes. The output of the boiler is larger than most normal standard direct-fired water heaters.

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ROAD WARRIOR Brandon Farr

Favourite class: Uponor Training Academy in Minneapolis, Minn. “Steve Swanson’s the man!”

Last book you read: Modern Hydronic Heating for Residential and Light Commercial Buildings.

The current work ride: Mercedes Benz Sprinter. er. er

Your pet: A Yorkshire terrier named Penelope.

Kilometres per day: 200, on average.

One place in the world you would like to visit: Alaska.

Most useful tool: Measuring tape.

Favourite tool: The Ridgid RP340 press tool.

Best thing about working in a Canadian winter: ter: You never run out of work.

And the worst thing: You never run out of working in the cold.

If you were granted one wish: For radiant tube to staple itself to the floor!

Favourite app: Waze.

Your company’s social media handle: @HargraveHeating on Instagram and Facebook.

If you had a time machine where/when would you visit: 80 years ago, to see the guys who carried those heavy cast iron radiators into houses.

One thing most people don’t know about you: I was an ACTRA actor by the age of 7.

One word that best describes you: Dedicated.

Average time spent on the internet each day: 2 hours.

Favourite pieces of work tech: My cell phone and my combustion analyzer.

Most wanted tool: All the Aquatherm tools.

Best concert: Front row to see AC/DC in Punchestown, Ireland.

Greatest teacher: My father.

Hobbies: Snowboarding and backcountry camping.

Favourite part of the job: Commissioning the system.

FFavourite TV show: Breaking Bad.

Photo: John Packman

Hydronics as an art form

44

Having worked across multiple sectors, it was the complexity and beauty of hydronic systems that made the biggest impression on Brandon Farr.

“I enjoy creating heating systems that look like masterpieces,” he says. “I used to do the same with sheet metal duct systems and, over time, I worked my way into hydronic heating. The copper pipes and pumps always tend to catch your eye.

“I worked my way towards the hydronic side of the industry with very few teachers and I learned primarily through reading and studying other professionals’ systems.

“Looking back, it’s cool to see all the progress I’ve made by putting my head down and being passionate about the trade.”

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F Favourite car of all time: Ferrari 458 Italia.

It I you could meet anyone, alive or If dead: Hedge funder, author and d p poker player Bill Perkins.

Usual breakfast: Eggs and toast, or a bagel and smoothie.

If I had a super power it would be: The ability to install with my eyes.

By Simon Bowden

I

t might well be a long way to the top, as the old song goes, but starting early will certainly improve your chances of getting there.

Brandon Farr, installation manager at Hargrave Heating in Markham, Ont., has been immersed in the mechanical world since the age of 8 when his dad, a sheet metal worker, began taking him along to jobsites.

Brandon Farr: A long way in a short time “Growing up I would hear my father talking on the phone with customers and co-workers, discussing jobs and getting things done. I’ve always looked up to my father and he is, and always has been, my role model. I knew from an early age that this was what I wanted to pursue as a career.”

And pursue it he most certainly did. Farr was an apprentice with 1,500 credited hours at 16 and soon-after obtained his 308A sheet metal worker qualification. He then completed three levels of schooling and passed his Red Seal certification at the age of 19, before earning a G2 gasfitter’s licence at 21.

Name: Brandon Farr Company: Hargrave Heating and Air Conditioning Job Title: Installation manager Lives in: Queensville, Ont. Age: 26

But he wasn’t done there. Farr says, “I put my head down and worked long, hard hours in the trade and had one last piece of the puzzle to complete - refrigeration.

“After a few years of dedication, I was able to take and pass the 313D air conditioning mechanic certification. That brings me to where I am today, continually learning and expanding my education - I might even have to get another licence!”

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SYSTEM DESIGN

By Bob “Hot Rod” Rohr

Turning

down the temperature

W

ith hydronic systems, we have a lot of flexibility when it comes to transferring energy to the distribution system. The two basic ways that we control the rate of energy delivery are the fluid temperature supplied to the heat emitter and the flow rate of that fluid, but that’s just the start of the discussion about working with lower supply water temperatures (SWT).

Looking into heat exchange, it doesn’t take long to discover that it is really a game of surface areas. When it comes to distribution, size matters. The larger the surface area, the lower the possible SWT. This has long been a selling feature when it comes to radiant emitters like floors, walls and ceilings. The large square footage of these systems puts out more heat and allows for the low operating temperatures that can provide greater system efficiency.

Where a single surface may not provide enough BTU output, consider blending walls, floors and ceilings as emitters. This can be especially helpful in remodelling and renovation work.

Looking at other heat emitter options, note that lower supply temperatures require larger emitter sizes with those as well.

Panel radiators, for example, offer the ability to move a lot of BTUs at low SWT via the surface area as well as some convection transfer. With finned convectors, 46

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Check the ÷ numbers

deally, any time that a new or replacement heating system is being designed or bid, we want to gather some data to guide us. A load calculation is always a prudent first step.

I

I’ve observed, and you probably have too, that many system installations have oversized boilers.

Too many “rules of thumb” have been used over the years, including the erroneous bigger-isbetter sizing method that some in our industry have suggested may have been helped along when fuel costs were lower and less of a concern. These days, however, homeowners are much more concerned about energy cost and environmental impact.

Regardless, the only way to know the appropriate boiler or

heat source size for a home is to crunch some numbers.

And when the load calculation is performed, don’t be surprised if the building load is lower, often much lower, than what the current equipment was sized to.

As other upgrades are performed to the building, like added insulation, window shading or replacement, and other methods of infiltration reduction are made over the life of the building, the changes may significantly affect the load calculations. Or it could just be that previous load calculations were not as finely tuned as the tools we use today.

And there are numerous free load calculators available online, so there is no excuse not to crunch these numbers.

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SYSTEM DESIGN manufacturers can increase heat transfer by adding fins, using larger fins, and by tweaking the shape and spacing of the fins. Adding a fan to a finned convector also increases output, but at the cost of fan noise.

READ THE SPECS

And while increasing the heat emitter size will equate to more money up front, there are efficiencies gained that help reduce operational costs, plus getting more from the fuel we use is a step in the right direction in the big picture.

Hopefully this article will encourage you to start thinking about how we transfer heat energy in the future, near and far, and what designs you can offer your customer by making them aware of the changing energy landscape.

We and our customers all want the best bang for our buck out of the chemical or electrical energy we purchase. Perhaps you can distance yourself from the other bidders by explaining the long-term benefits of your efficient designs as you offer your customers “future proofed” systems using low water temperatures that can be generated from a number of different sources.

Speaking of aiming ever lower, I was chewing the fat with a mentor of mine, Mr. Bean, at a show a few years back. I suggested 120°F as a target for design day SWT. His immediate response was, “Why not lower?”

Good response. Indeed, why not! Just like a limbo competition, how low can you go will determine the winners.

What supply water temperature should a modern hydronic system be designed around? That can be a tough number to definitively set. More and more you’ll see manufacturers offering their heat distribution component output numbers at a range of different SWTs. For example, in the past we considered fin-tube baseboard as a system requiring 180°F or warmer fluid to provide adequate output to meet the load. You can now find this type of emitter with output graphs with SWTs as low as 120°F. In the past, most of the fin-tube manufacturers tested to the IBR standard.

It seems that some manufacturers are now testing in their own labs and with different methods that could result in actual output numbers that differ when installed in real-life conditions.

To properly design a system, we need to be aware of the output ratings of highoutput fin-tubes.

Going lower In general, the lower the operating temperature of a modern boiler, the higher the efficiency, lower the standby loss, the less heat loss that goes out the flue, etc. Systems designed to operate at lower SWT can be positioned for some of the newest high-efficiency heat sources. Certainly, condensing boilers thrive at lower operating temperatures, in the condensing mode. With a big movement to heat pump-type hydronic sources, the lower the SWT requirement, the higher the efficiency you can expect.

BOILERS & BEYOND GETTING STYLISH Wall space availability may dictate the options for the heat emitters we choose, and certainly cost will drive some of our clients in their decision-making, but some are willing to spring for a touch of design. Antique and designer radiators are hip, and the low-temperature drums are beating on the radiator front as well.

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.

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A term that you may hear more often over the next little while is “future proofing.”

This concept includes thinking ahead to some of the non-boiler heat sources that we will be using a few years, or even a few months, from now.

Keeping an eye on energy sources, costs, and projections may shape future choices for the hydronic systems we are designing and installing.

Expanding our repertoire from only looking at boilers for hydronics can help future-proof ourselves, as heat pumps, solar and reclaimed heat are all viable heat sources for hydronics, if the system is designed around their capability.

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HYDRONIC TOP 10

Design tips for successful systems T

o the novice, a hydronic piping system can appear to be a serpentine jumble of pipes, wires, valves, pumps and sensors. To make it more complicated, there’s no definitive guide when it comes to designing the piping arrangements and selecting the specific components for these systems.

As you well know, every project has its own unique variables, from size to complexity, and these, as well as your client’s budget, will be what ultimately determine which layout and subsequent technologies are the best fit.

But even with these distinct differences, successful hydronic designs have many things in common. We’ve put together a list of industry best practices that will help steer any of your projects in the right direction.

1

GET A HEAT-LOSS CALCULATION

Whether it’s high ceilings, large windows or materials used, every element in a building will factor into what it takes to heat or cool a space.

Without heat-loss calculations, it becomes difficult to understand the type of thermal control that a hydronic system will need. Performing these room-by-room calculations before the design phase will help ensure that the system lives up to the operational efficiencies that you’ve promised your client.

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LEVERAGE CLOSED-LOOP SYSTEMS

If a hydronic system has a section that is open to the environment (an open-looped system) it is far more likely to encounter corrosion in the network. As such, whenever practical, it makes sense to use closed-loop systems that are not open to the environment. By using oxygen-barrier tubing and good pipe-joining techniques, these systems are expected to encounter little entrained air over the course of operation, making corrosion less likely. In addition, closedloop configurations are also quieter, making their use less noticeable to occupants.

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USE MULTIPLE THERMOSTATS

Whereas some buildings remain relatively open, others are highly compartmentalized, with doors to specific rooms remaining closed the majority of the time. This is where the ability to zone a system comes in handy. By using multiple thermostats and some zoning control mechanisms, a well-designed hydronic system can handle the variations in heat loss and gains that this building layout produces. The extra controls make it possible to control temperature by individual rooms and maintain an even temperature distribution.

COMPARE PROS AND CONS

4

Some hydronic radiant piping designs offer more control than others. Whether it’s zoning valves that control multiple rooms or actuators on each circuit for more flexible zoning, it’s important to understand the implications of each element.

Assessing data from water temperature control strategies, fixed delta T or varying delta T paints a clearer picture of their ability to enhance thermal comfort and reduce energy use.

5

WORK AS A TEAM

Successful design and installation of a hydronics system requires coordination and communication among the architect, system designer, installer (if different than the designer), general contractor, electrical contractor and flooring contractor. The more knowledgeable everyone is about hydronic systems and how their piece of the puzzle fits into the big picture, the better.

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By Brett Austin

USE INSULATION

Insulation is one of the most important variables in the performance of a hydronic system, yet it remains one of the most overlooked aspects. Properly placed and installed insulation eliminates air gaps that inhibit the efficiency of a hydronic system, and it saves money by allowing for lower water temperatures to produce the same level of comfort.

WATCH THE SPACING Tube spacing is crucial to system performance.

Pipes that are correctly spaced will provide uniform, even heat without cold or hot spots.

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8

KEEP IT SIMPLE

Leveraging more complex algorithms in hydronic piping design is not necessarily better. In fact, adding unnecessary components can actually penalize the system’s efficiency, as well as complicate installation. Keeping it simple and effective will result in better performance.

FACTOR IN THE FLOOR

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A retrofit job that requires raising the floor to make room for a system underneath can also require adjusting thresholds, doors and mouldings. Using a low-profile system, or a below-the-subfloor system, can reduce or eliminate the need to add in some woodworking to the project’s budget.

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USE DESIGN SERVICES

If you’re new to or inexperienced with designing hydronic radiant heating systems, you can save yourself time and headaches by working with a manufacturer or wholesaler that offers radiant design services. This helps ensure optimal results with no unnecessary components.

Brett Austin is the supervisor of heating and cooling design at Viega, LLC. He can be reached at design@viega.us.

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After 90 years of innovation, Cleaver-Brooks has developed adaptable solutions that meet a variety of steam generation needs, while emphasizing environmental sustainability. Discover the benefits of our pre-packaged, pre-engineered, skid-mounted hydronic boiler solutions: t Gets up and running in less time, with less effort, than a traditional field installed system. t Includes everything you need on a skid-mounted system— and nothing you don’t. t Allows you to focus your energy and attention where it needs to be.

Call 1-800-296-4110 to find your local representative, or visit cleaverbrooks.com for more information. ©2020 Cleaver-Brooks, Inc.

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HYDRONIC PRODUCTS Fire tube boiler Triangle Tube’s Instinct boiler features a stainless-steel heat exchanger and is offered in both combi and solo models.

Combi sizes are available in 155,000 and 199,000 BTUH. Solo sizes come in 110,000 to 199,000 BTUH models.

The condensing units offer DHW delivery of 5 gpm, are rated at 95% AFUE, have an 8:1 turndown ratio, and feature a 60-second setup wizard.

www. triangletube.com

Air eliminator and dirt separator or The Spirocombi Magnet from Spirotherm, distributed

by Ontor, is a high-efficiency, coalescing-type combination air eliminator and dirt separator for use in hydronic systems. The unit uses magnets surrounding the flow path to separate ferrous particles from the fluid. It has a connection that supports installation in horizontal as well as vertical piping. Product sizes range from 3/4” to 2”, and all sizes are available with sweat, threaded and press fit connections.

ECM circulator Bell & Gossett’s ecocirc 19-16 variable speed ECM smart circulator is designed for heating, cooling and potable water applications. The onboard intelligence automatically adjusts its speed to suit a wide range of performance requirements. It features a shaftless spherical motor using permanent magnet technology and has a maximum system pressure rating of 150 psi, a maximum fluid temperature of 203°F, and a minimum fluid temperature of 14°F.

www. bellgossett.com

www. ontor.com

PEX uncoiler

Three-piece ball valves Viega’s three-piece ball valves are available for its MegaPress carbon and stainless steel pipe pressing systems and are approved for all MegaPress applications, excluding natural gas. The ball valves are available in 1/2”, 3/4”, 1”, 1-1/4”, 1-1/2” and 2” sizes, and in multiple materials for specific applications.

The carbon steel valve is available with EPDM and FKM sealing elements. The 304 stainless steel valve has an FKM sealing element, while the 316 stainless steel valve has an EPDM sealing element. Repair kits and replacement handles are also available.

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REHAU’s turntable uncoiler is designed to dispense REHAU RAUPEX pipe in sizes from 3/8” to 1” during hydronic radiant and plumbing installations. The turntable rotates from horizontal to vertical to fit through tight spaces such as doorways and features an adjustable interior diameter that accommodates coil sizes up to 1,000 ft. (304.8 m).

www. rehau.com

High-efficiency boiler With a thermal efficiency rating of up to 99 per cent, the Camus Dynaforce Series features a vertical, cylindrical heat exchanger constructed entirely of stainless steel. It is available for hydronic heating or domestic hot water supply and can be fired with either natural gas or propane.

Models range from 300,000 BTUH up to 5 million BTUH with a turndown ratio of up to 5:1.

www. camus-hydronics.com H E A T

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HYDRONIC PRODUCTS

Combination boiler series Lochinvar’s FTXL firetube boilers for light commercial applications are available in 399,000 to 850,000 BTUH sizes with flow rates of 10 to 150 gpm. Units have a modulating burner with a turndown ratio of up to 10:1 and achieve a thermal efficiency of up to 98%. There are multiple venting options and a proprietary mobile app allows for the remote monitoring of up to eight boilers.

www. lochinvar.com

Wi-Fi snow melting The 671 control by Tekmar is a Wi-Fi enabled device designed to operate hydronic heating equipment engaged in snow and ice melting systems for roads and walkways.

The control works with proprietary 090 or 095 sensors to automatically detect snow or ice to operate a single boiler, steam valve or electric cable to supply heat to the slab. It supports both in-slab and retrofit aerial sensors.

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

www. belimo.ca

www. tekmarcontrols.com

Wall-mounted boiler

Magnetic dirt separator tor

Viessmann’s Vitodens 200-W gas-fired wall-mounted condensing boiler models have rated heating inputs ranging from 12,000 to 530,000 BTUH. The 95% AFUE units feature a modulating stainless-steel cylinder burner, an Inox-Radial heat exchanger surface, and offer multiple venting options with vent lengths up to 180 feet.

Caleffi’s Dirtmag magnetic dirt separator uses neodymium rare-earth magnets and a dirt separation mesh to remove ferrous impurities and non-fern-ferrous debris as small as 5 microns from m hydronic systems. Units are rated to a maximum working pressure of 150 psi, a o 250°F F working temperature range of 32° to and come in four sizes from 1” to 2”” with flow rates ranging from 10 to 39 gpm. m

www. viessmann.ca

Vertical in-line pump The Grundfos TPE3 vertical in-line pump has a choice of control modes, from autoadapt to proportional pressure, constant ⌬P, or constant ⌬T. It offers wireless control of up to four pumps in parallel, and has a built-in heat energy meter. It has a maximum flow capacity of 352 gpm, maximum head of 82 feet, and a liquid temperature range of -13°F to 284°F.

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www. caleffi.com

Firetube boilers Cleaver-Brooks’ ClearFire-CE (CFC-E) fully condensing, high-mass firetube boilers are available in capacities ranging from 500,000 to 6 million BTUH. The boilers have a true counter-flow heat exchanger arrangement and are constructed with duplex stainless steel. They feature self-regulating fuel-air ratio control and are equipped with ECM variable-speed combustion air blowers.

www. cleaverbrooks.com H E A T

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Breaking through warranty program

HVAC B y Ma r k a nd A l e x a n d r a P a r l i a men m en t

When is a good time to think about venting?

How about now?

A

s you likely witnessed earlier this heating season, and as happens every winter here in the Great White North, as soon on as cold weather rolls in, heating systems are started up and nd no-heat calls come pouring in. n faced with making recommendations to our When mers about their need to upgrade upgr up g ade to a new and customers oved ov ed furnace furrn naace or or boiler, bo oil i er er,, most most of of our our discussions ou d sccus di ussi siion sion onss tend tend d improved nceent ntra rate ra te on on the the efficiency e fic ef ficie i nc ie ncyy and and heating h attin he ng capacity capa ca paaci paci city tyy of of to concentrate ew box that willl reside d in de in the th he basement, baase b aseeme ment n , but nt b t these bu th hes ese the new cement projects are also perfect opportunities opportunit ittiees to reitie reereplacement assess the venting strategy as well.

A REPOSITIONABLE OPTION Polypropylene does not use solvents to maintain a tight seal.

Instead, the pipe makes use of gasketed seals that can be repositioned prior to securing the position of the vent with locking rings or bands.

When putting the vent lines together, fittings can be rotated into place and dissembled if required, simplifying the process as there is no need to pre-fit the venting prior to solvent welding the pipes.

It only makes sense to take the time to review all venting options when replacing a customer’s heating unit; and don’t overlook a newer player in the Canadian market, polypropylene.

Used in Europe for more than 20 years without major issues, polypropylene is not a new technology by any means, but it is not as widely used in North America as other plastic venting options, so it is often overlooked as new furnaces or boilers are installed.

This may be due to its higher upfront costs, or because there would be a need for connector rings with some heating products for them to be S636-compliant. Still, other installers may shy away from polypropylene because it is not as well known as PVC or CPVC. If local inspectors are not familiar with its ratings, there could be potential delays in installation approvals, after all.

These are not reasons to discard the use of this product, however. Through additional training – by both industry professionals and inspectors – polypropylene can become better understood in its application as a viable option for venting a system.

Keep in mind that this article is not meant to promote one product or option over another – we don’t work for a vent manufacturer.

The aim is to encourage additional thought and discussion of all options when it comes to venting a customer’s heating system.

Keep in mind, however, that each manufacturer’s product is somewhat different, so never mix and match parts, gaskets, bands or sealing methods when working with polypropylene, and always follow the instructions, which will be specific to the brand of product that you are using.

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Each product, be it CPVC, polypropylene or even stainless steel, has its advantages and disadvantages. With more and more

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HVAC polypropylene products now in the North American market, it is important for contractors to ensure they truly understand the differences and beneďŹ ts that each material offers.

And no matter which product a contractor ultimately decides to use, it is imperative that they consider the whole picture and not just the cost per foot of the product. p

COMING IN FROM THE COLD In addition to being tested and listed to the ULC S636 test standard for Category II and IV gas-ďŹ red appliances, which is required by Canadian code for appliance venting, some polypropylene products are also tested to UL-1738.

This additional test requires the venting system to pass a pressure test of 250 per cent of its operating pressure.

UL-1738 testing also requires the pipe to pass a drop test at -20°C with no shattering, chipping or cracks.

Polypropylene can also be assembled at any temperature, so there is also no need to wait for the pipe to warm up before the venting run can be installed – so even if the pipe is cold from the truck, it can be put in place without delay.

Indoor air quality considerations

OFFSETS AND CHALLENGING INSTALLS

As HVAC professionals, indoor air quality – or oftentimes the lack thereof – should be considered for any home that we work on, and especially for customers who come to us with complaints of respiratory issues.

0[ JHU VM[LU IL KPɉJ\S[ [V WYVWLYS` PUZ[HSS ]LU[PUN ^OLU \ZPUN [OL JOPTUL` VY I ]LU[ HZ H JOHZL LZWLJPHSS` ^OLU [OL JOPTUL` OHZ HU VɈZL[

While Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are generally more associated with paints, furniture and the like, the glues and primers used with a number of the traditional venting options can also introduce VOCs into our customers’ homes.

>L ^V\SK IL YLTPZZ [V UV[ WVPU[ V\[ [OH[ HZ PZ [OL JHZL ^P[O TVZ[ WYVK\J[Z ^L PUZ[HSS IL JLY[HPU [V JVUĂ„YT JSLHYHUJL [V JVTI\Z[PISL HUK Z\WWVY[ YLX\PYLTLU[Z MVY [OL IYHUK HUK [`WL VM ]LU[ `V\ HYL \ZPUN

The use of welding solvents in a partially enclosed area requires the use of a NIOSH-approved respirator to ensure we do not exceed the exposure limits of the solvent. While exposure is brief, the joints will off-gas while curing, adding to any VOC load in the home.

Moreover, if any of the solvents or primers leak or spill, the impact on IAQ will be readily apparent to the homeowner, so be careful with your solvents, and clean any spills quickly.

-SL_PISL WVS`WYVW`SLUL ]LU[ WPWL PZ KLZPNULK MVY \ZL PU ]LY[PJHS HWWSPJH[PVUZ Z\JO HZ [OLZL :VTL Ă…L_PISL ]LU[ WYVK\J[ JHU IL VɈZL[ I` KLNYLLZ HSSV^PUN P[ [V UH]PNH[L VɈZL[ JOPTUL`Z

A exible option Temperatures in heating systems can vary as equipment cycles on and off over the course of a heating system. Polypropylene’s structure allows for expansion and contraction without exing and cracking over a

Did you know

considerable range of temperatures.

Polypropylene can be painted, which may appeal to a homeowner looking to match the exterior looks of their home.

So, for example, if a boiler starts to Mark Parliament is a senior training consultant with Lennox Learning Solutions. Alexandra Wennberg Parliament is the founder of Maven Marketing & Communications, an agency with specialized focus on the construction, real estate, HVAC/R and non-proďŹ t sectors.

To reach the authors, email awennberg@mavencommunications.ca.

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scale up, the higher temperatures caused by the lesser heat transfer will not affect the vent material.

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HVAC/R Products P ECM motors Generation 3 EC-Motors from Rosenberg are 30 per cent more powerful than the company’s previous generation. The motors have a maximum electrical input power of 4.7 kW and an input voltage range of 200 to 480 VAC/3ph (50/60 Hz).

Additional features include an integrated inspection LED, Modbus RTU functionality, energy monitoring and predictive maintenance capabilities.

Residential air conditioners Amana’s AVXC20 high-efficiency, variable-speed, inverter drive split system air conditioners are available in 2 to 5-ton sizes. The units feature variablespeed swing and scroll compressors, a high-density foam compressor sound blanket and a variable-speed ECM outdoor fan motor. Equipped with integrated communications ComfortBridge technology, commissioning and diagnostics are performed via Bluetooth with the CoolCloud phone and tablet application.

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Modulating gas furnaces es Rated up to 98% AFUE, Coleman’s Echelon Series CP9C furnaces feature modulating burners and variable speed ECM blower motors that continuously adjust heating levels in small increments. The 60,000 to 120,000 BTUH units can be paired with the company’s Hx3 4.3” touchscreen thermostats for added control.

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Centrifugal chiller The WLP Aptitude low-pressure, oiled bearing centrifugal chiller from Daikin offers efficiencies with full load as low as 0.49 kW/ton and part load as low as 0.29 kW/ton. The design has been optimized for next generation low-GWP refrigerant.

daikinapplied.com

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Electric duct heaters

Oil de-aerator

Stelpro’s series of customizable electric duct heaters include three models: the SDHI (insertion), SDHF (flange) and SDHR (round).

The heaters can be used at the outlet of a VAV box, an air handler or fan coil unit, inside a commercial make-up air unit, or in an OEM application with a process air heater. Each unit has four configurations and features modulating elements.

Tigerholms’ Tigerloop Plus, available through Ontor, is designed to act as an automatic oil de-aerator on a one-pipe system to transport oil from the tank to the burner for all types of oil heating installations. It has a maximum oil flow rate of 50 gph, a maximum operating temperature of 105°F and maximum operating pressure in the feed line of 8 psi. si.

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stelpro.com

ontor.com

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For Gas Furnaces,

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www.goodmanmfg.com Our continuing commitment to quality products may mean a change in specifications without notice. © 2019 Goodman Manufacturing Company, L.P. Houston, Texas · USA

Marketing

with DOUG MACMILLAN

The doctor will see you now T

his fall my wife asked when I’d had my last physical. “Oh, within the last couple of years,” I assured her. Of course, when I called to book the appointment, the receptionist told me my last physical had been in 2012.

Did you know?

Your website It is quite possible that your site is getting dated and could use a few more vegetables and a little less pasta. A lot of sites fatten up over time and would benefit from a clean-up to ensure content is easily found, relevant to the reader, optimized for search engines and, most importantly, has a clear call to action.

I recently attended a seminar on website trends titled “Plain is the new cool” where a compelling case was made for cutting back to simple, accessible websites instead of busy home pages, complicated graphics and tons of content that few visitors want.

Lean websites load faster and get people to the information they want. And that gets you what you want: an action that leads to a sale.

I encourage site owners to review their Google Analytics reports frequently and learn from the data. If nobody is going to certain content, ask yourself how necessary it is.

And you can receive a grade on your website’s load time and effectiveness by using a free tool at gtmetrix.com.

The average user gives a website less than three seconds to load before getting frustrated.

Seven years. Time flies. (Cue the life-partner eye roll.)

In the doctor’s office, I was advised to make a few adjustments, and reminded that the amount of vegetables on my dinner plate should be twice the amount of pasta (rather than the reverse).

Much like our physical health, our marketing health deserves a check-up every year as well, to make sure things are running as they should. And fear not, this doesn’t need to be a daunting exercise. In just three quick audits, you can perform a pretty trustworthy marketing health-check.

Your brand Your brand isn’t just your logo, although it is an important part of it. Your brand is how you position yourself, the promises you make, and everything related to how customers experience your business in all of its forms.

This includes how you stand out in a cluttered market with changing competitors and new ways to do business, as well as how you represent your core values as a business.

It can help to start with your visual identity.

Is your logo simple, bold and consistent in look, shape, and colour across all the places you put it? Is it always crisp and clear, never fuzzy or low resolution? Do marketing materials and digital content look like they come from the same business? Do the photos on your website and in your marketing materials represent changing customer demographics? Are your vehicles, uniforms, signs and even toolboxes clean, tidy and professional? These are critical visual cues about your business.

Beyond the look and feel, audit your actions. Do they represent your values as a leader?

Do your staff and processes respond promptly

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and politely? Do you own up to mistakes and fix them – and even use them as case studies to prove you’re human but that you take ownership?

Do you treat staff with kindness and go the extra mile for them so they’ll feel compelled to go an extra mile for your customers? Plenty of studies support the theory that happy employees tell customers how great it is to work for your company – a definite plus for your brand.

Ultimately, your brand needs to make a compelling value proposition. If you’re not promising something different and better than most of the competitors in your market, then why should a potential customer give you a moment’s notice?

Be it the fastest emergency service, lowest priced maintenance plan, free filters for life or a commitment to feed school kids with some of your profits, sort out how you’re different and make that your primary message.

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Your customer stewardship I’m doing a bit of an audit of my own business right now (every now and then I actually do as I say).

One area where we can improve is in customer stewardship. This means sustaining a strong relationship with our database of not only our active clients, but the many great connections and friendships we have built over so many years in business.

We don’t do a great job of keeping the coals warm, even though we know that old saying is truer today than it ever was: It’s easier to keep an existing customer than it is to find a new one.

This starts with the basics. Email newsletters with regularity; add in random acts of appreciation such as urveys Tim’s cards or boxes of chocolates; and conduct surveys al emails or letters and check-in phone calls. These are not promotional offering “Big Savings” or “BOGO Deals”. Keeping these relationships vour of genuine warm means putting away the sales language in favour appreciation and information. aritable sector, and We’re fortunate to do a fair bit of work with the charitable ood charities do we can learn a lot about stewardship from them. Good heir donors and an excellent job of maintaining relationships with their eers. volunteers so that they’ll return as donors or volunteers. ware that allows How do they approach it? With sophisticated software es and prompt a them to capture a lot of data about these audiences continuing, genuine communication with them.

They issue annual reports that tell their stories and share their vision. They regularly send hand-written cards, linkss they know may interest their readers, and host informal, low-cost n opportunity events with key clients to show appreciation, with an to connect. These are all terrific ways to keep the relationship coals warm.

Your next step

Gone Go one m mobile? ob If your we website ebsit isn’t performing pe erfo well on a ssmartphone or tablet, you’re dis disappointing more m or than half of yo your our visitors, an nd m and most will leave rather than ttry ryy to navigate a ssite ite that isn’t built fo for mobile responsiveness. respo onsiv If you u don’t do know how your site looks on all devices, plug your URL into search.google.com/test/ mobile-friendly.

So, are you ready to schedule your marketing physical?

I’d suggest creating a one-page marketing health-check “report card” with five or six key requirements under these three key areas. Give your business a grade and invite all your staff to do the same. This will bring focus to what you should work on, allowing you to build an effective action plan to work through some of the fixes.

I find a heaping plate of pasta – er, raw veggies – makes the task more enjoyable.

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

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REFRIGERATION RAT

Solving

vibration problems P

lant owners and nd d ttechnicians ecchn c are often faced c with vibration i r tion p problems that occur within their within a system n th he refrigeration plants. Vibrations n w it can range from mild to o severe and can result in mechanical al damage to the system chassis, broken piping, fittings and, of course, can result in large losses of costly refrigerant.

Unfortunately, vibration-related issues can be very difficult to predict.

They can also be difficult to diagnose. It is possible for one section of a plant to induce vibration in another section of the plant, or two separate components and/or piping sections may combine to produce vibration that is objectionable.

The topic of vibration is very complex. Understanding the various sources of plant vibration is necessary in order to be able to correct these issues.

CHECK THE INSTALLATION

The good news is that vibration issues can usually be corrected quite easily in most systems by evaluating the layout of the system along with the installation techniques used.

The equipment should be checked to see if it is correctly mounted in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Mechanical vibration occurs from moving parts such as motors, crankshafts, pistons, etc.

Common sources of mechanical vibration

When mounting equipment, vibrationsuppressing devices are used to absorb mechanical vibration. The suppression devices used to support the equipment chassis, compressor or other heavy components must be sized according to the loads that they carry. The manufacturer of the equipment or component should be able to provide sizing information.

Any vibrations produced from any compressor fall within the mechanical domain. The normal vibration characteristics that a compressor exhibits are unavoidable.

Since these vibrations exist, correct installation of the compressor is essential.

In single-compressor systems, the compressor is typically installed on mounting springs or rubber vibration-absorbing mounts. The

Phil Boudreau

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Although vibration is inevitable in mechanical equipment, selection of materials, components and pipe mounting techniques are common causes. Even the frame of the refrigeration system itself can cause problems.

Whenever evaluating a vibration issue, it is necessary to focus on several possible things than can lead to vibration.

purpose of these mounts is to prevent most of the vibrations from being transmitted from the compressor to the equipment chassis.

Since the compressor will be free to move, the vibrations will be transmitted to the piping. In order to prevent the vibration from reaching the equipment chassis, flexible piping connectors, often referred to as vibration absorbers, are used.

It is very important that vibration absorbers are installed correctly for them to be effective. For starters, the absorber must be installed in parallel

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

MINIMIZING PIPE MOVEMENT

with the compressor movement.

For example, in a reciprocating compressor, the pistons reciprocate in a direction that is perpendicular to the crankshaft. Therefore, the absorber should be installed in parallel with the crankshaft.

Additionally, the vibration absorber must be installed such that is firmly mounted at the end that is furthest from the compressor. This component should not be used to offset misaligned piping and should not be used to form bends of any type.

Vibration absorbers become more ridged as they are bent and become less effective.

In a parallel-compressor system, the compressors are usually solid-mounted to the base of the equipment. In this case, the piping may be clamped in place without the use of flexible pipe vibration eliminators.

Pipe sections must be properly supported with an appropriate number of clamps. The idea here is to prevent any movement which, in turn, can produce further vibration.

Piping must never be forced into place as this can create stress on the piping, fittings, service valves, and other components, resulting in vibration problems.

Vibration stemming from forced piping will get worse as the pipe temperature increases, since the piping will expand and contract with any change in temperature.

For example, a 100-foot length of copper pipe will expand by approximately 1.4” when exposed to a 125°F increase in temperature. If this temperature range increases to 250°F, the length of the pipe would increase by approximately 2.9”. In addition to changes in length, the pipe diameter will expand and contract with change in temperature.

WATCH YOUR CRITICAL DISCHARGE LENGTHS

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It is interesting to note that sound waves are produced when a system component vibrates. It is also true that sound waves can produce vibration. Some vibration issues are related to the length of pipe sections used in the discharge line.

Every section of pipe with in a system has a frequency response associated with it. On occasion, a system exhibits very destructive vibration that stems from one or more sections of discharge piping. These pipes have a natural frequency, and problems occur when their frequency is equal to the frequency of the discharge gas pulses.

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And it is possible for just one section of pipe to result in heavy vibration, so be sure to investigate thoroughly before blaming the compressor! Of course, if the compressor has endured mechanical damage, it can also cause heavy vibration.

“Sound velocity” or “speed of sound” and “sonic speed” are refrigerant properties that we can use to calculate critical discharge line lengths. The units of measure, in this case, is either metres per second or feet per second, and this property can be obtained from published tables or software that can calculate thermodynamic and transport properties for refrigerants.

The basic formula for calculating the critical discharge length is:

Sound Speed Critical = onic x Frequency of Leng th 2 x Harm Number Discharge Gas Pulses

Note that we are dividing the sound speed by two, since we want to determine the value that is half the sound speed.

Using a theoretical R513A system where the refrigerant leaving a two-cylinder compressor is at a saturated discharge temperature of 110°F and a measured temperature of 175°F, the sound speed of the refrigerant will be approximately 499.7 ft/sec. In this case, the compressor rpm is 1,750.

DIDYOUKNOW? To evaluate complex refrigeration system conďŹ gurations, engineering ďŹ rms may rely on software programs to perform an analysis on the layout of the plant, including the piping, sizing, ďŹ ttings used, etc., prior to its construction and installation.

We multiply the rpm by two for the two cylinders and then divide by 60 (because there are 60 seconds in one minute) to get a pulsation frequency of 58.33 Hz. We can now plug these values into the critical length formula.

Critical Length1 = 499.7 ft per sec á (2 X 1 X 58.33 Hz) = 4.28 feet.

DIDYOUKNOW?

In addition to mechanical vibration, another This length is based on source of vibration that can cause major breakage of system components, including the 1st order harmonic, or piping, service valves and pipe clamps, is fundamental frequency. As resonance, which can occur under special an extra step of caution, it is circumstances. recommended to recalculate the critical length based on the 2nd order frequency, which is where the next wave of vibrations is expected to occur.

These different levels of frequencies are also referred to as harmonics. In order to calculate the critical length that would be expected to also resonate at the 2nd order harmonic, we would change the harmonic number to 2.

Critical Length2 = 499.7 ft per sec á (2 X 2 X 58.33 Hz) = 2.14 feet.

Note that the critical length based on the 2nd harmonic is exactly half of the critical length of the fundamental frequency.

It is recommended to add a safety factor of 10 to 15 per cent to the calculated pipe lengths to help account for variations in operating conditions and such. Essentially, the goal is to avoid these calculated pipe lengths since we can expect them to resonant like a tuning fork.

And it is best to conďŹ rm the discharge pulsations with the compressor manufacturer for special compressors like internally two-staged reciprocating compressors. Even though a two-stage compressor may have four or six cylinders, it is likely that the high stage of the compressor is only served by two cylinders.

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CELEBRITY ENCOUNTER

By Simon Bowden

FASTFACTS Jamie Davis Age: 55 Lives in: Hope, B.C. Owner: Jamie Davis Motor Truck & Auto Ltd. Family: Wife Sherry and four kids

Watch Highway Thru Hell Mondays at 10 p.m. ET on the Discovery Channel.

JAMIE DAVIS: Tough and tenacious T

ough. That’s the word that comes to mind when you think of the towing business. A tough job done by tough people.

It’s a perception that has only grown thanks to the popularity of the Discovery Channel’s hit TV series Highway Thru Hell and its star, Jamie Davis, owner of Jamie Davis Motor Truck & Auto, based in Hope, B.C. “I liken it to being a marine. You need the same kind of qualities, which I think I have,” says Davis, who has been with the show since it first aired in 2012. “You need to be mentally tough and be able to endure a lot. I have a saying, ‘If you aren’t suffering, you aren’t living.’ That mantra serves me well.”

Photos courtesy of Discovery Channel Canada

But being mentally and physically tough is not always enough to get the job done, as any tech who has been called out to a job in the dead of the night to snake a drain or fire up a furnace knows only too well.

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“I’m stubborn and tenacious , which is crucial,” says Davis. “It also helps to be quick-witted and to have the ability to persevere through the many challenges. And of course, you have to have a good sense of humour – there are some things you just can’t get through without humour.”

“If you have to drive in the winter, stay off the road during a storm and don’t drive after midnight. Nothing good happens after midnight, and no load is worth your life.”

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Born to serve Like many people who run their own service business, Davis got his start in his industry by working with his dad.

“I was born into it, just like my brothers,” Davis says. “Our Dad started with towing after a career in tugboats. Growing up I used to help my Dad around the yard – it’s just the way it was back then. We had to fix up our tow trucks to keep them on the road. I also studied shop in school, which helped build on my knowledge.

“The old trucks were built with more quality, and were built to last.

I still use the old equipment, like Truck 47 [a 1979 Holmes 500, 10 ton]. They were simple and reliable and that’s what’ll get you through the battle.

“I used to ride along with Dad in a ’48 Ford flathead 8 3-speed with a hand-crank winch and a home-built boom with a wooden deck.

That’s how I got the bug, and that’s when my family’s love affair with towing began.”

An industry with pulling power Davis’s wife, Sherry, and their four children also have roles in the business. Having learned the ropes from his own father, Davis says the positives of working with family far outweigh any negatives.

“With family come challenges – that will always be the case.

But there’s support with family that you wouldn’t get from just any co-worker. And there’s a built-in sense of trust, which is important to me.”

Whether his employees are relatives or not, however, everyone who works for Davis knows what the boss expects from them.

“As an employer I expect people to put in an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay,” he says.

“I like it when they work like I do: I sweep, I recover, I do paperwork. I want my employees to have the same dedication to their work. If they don’t, that’s okay, but I don’t want them working for me anymore. Generally, the people who don’t stick around, aren’t here for a reason.”

Would he like his children to take the wheel from him in the future? He thinks, ultimately, they may find it hard to stay away.

“All of my kids are involved from time to time, in different ways,” he says. “I’m not sure which one will follow me into the business full-time, but I’m sure they’ll all keep a foot in it, at least. There’s a draw they can’t deny. It’s in their blood.”

What would Davis do if he no longer had to suit up and wrestle with the notorious Coquihalla Highway?

Unsurprisingly, golden beaches and waving palms are not part of the plan.

“I think I’d just do restoration of old trucks if I could,” he says. “Some of the best days I’ve had have been spent rebuilding these rigs and seeing them progress.”

A channel for change Fans of Highway Thru Hell are aware there have been plenty of bumps in the road for Davis and those he works with. Portraying a family firm’s struggles as well as its successes is part of the reason the show is so popular, and why viewers in 180 countries regularly tune in.

“The program has allowed me to show people what this business is – the good days and the bad days,” Davis explains. “My motto has always been, ‘If it’s a black eye, wear it.’

“There are a lot of problems that face the industry, which I’ve tried to highlight. We’re an essential service that isn’t publicly funded, so private mom-and-pop businesses struggle to stay afloat and to continue to keep the roads open and traffic flowing,” he explains.

“I don’t know how much longer it will survive under the current system. It’s a fragile system financially, one that may be on the edge of extinction without intervention and public funding.”

Having the opportunity to show the public a side of the industry they would never otherwise see, is something Davis finds especially gratifying.

“I think the perception of towing has changed drastically since the show began,” he says. “People used to look at it negatively, without understanding the full spectrum of the industry. They’d see one minor thing they disliked and it would taint their opinion of the people and the work involved.

“The program shows what we do to keep the public safe and roads open.

Viewers now can see that we have families and we make sacrifices to help motorists in need.

“This industry is service above self. We’ll get up and leave our Christmas dinner to go help a stranger on the highway. And it’s not about the money. I think people get that now.”

Surviving our winter roads Jamie Davis is often asked how drivers can stay out of harm’s way on roads made treacherous by snow and ice. His answer is a simple one.

“Take a holiday when the weather gets bad. That sounds like a joke, but it isn’t really. A lot of the old-timers would do just that – drive hard for 10 months and take December and January off. If you can avoid the worst of it, that’s your best bet and the dream situation.”

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with Roger Grochmal

It starts with a plan W

hen I think about business plans, I frequently quote the brilliant leadership coach and author Gino Wickman. He says success is “getting the most out of every day while staying focused on where you want to go.”

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

Looking at a bigger picture I believe that having an annual business plan is essential for any business owner. Our world is changing so fast that we need to examine our priorities regularly to determine if they are still relevant, and to set a clear road map towards our vision of success.

The business plan allows us to check those quick, day-to-day decisions against something longer term. And it doesn’t need to be a novel: even a few pages will do.

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Most of us are in the service business, so getting the most out of every day often involves lots of small decisions about what work to take, when to do it and who will accomplish it. Furthermore, it’s in our nature that when we see a problem, we have to fix it. It’s what we do.

As a result, we become very good at firefighting, and the owner is usually the firefighter-in-chief. That’s a mentality that serves our operation well, but it can hinder higher level strategic leadership if we’re not clear on our vision.

So how do we marry the realities of what happens day-to-day with a need to move towards our goals for the business? It starts with having structured business plans that are crafted at least annually, and reviewed weekly, monthly and quarterly.

FINDING YOUR LANE(S) A business plan must begin with a clear understanding of what you do well, and where you make the best profit. (Not just revenue, but profit.)

The mechanical contracting business is very broad, even within a given sector. For example, if you do hydronic work, does that involve all hydronic work, including in-floor heating, water heating and snow melt? What about heat pump systems? Do you handle all heat pump systems, including air-to-air, ductless and geothermal, or just one or two of those types?

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For each type of work your company offers, rank each area from best to worst. Next, validate the market potential for that work: Is there customer demand? Is it diminishing or growing? Is there a lot of competition to deliver it? How can you do it better? These are key factors in the ranking process.

Choosing your “lanes” is critical, as is knowing why you’re doing the work.

Sometimes we take on certain projects because we have an individual who is very good at it. It may be profitable, but is it sustainable?

Skyrocketing Growth. What’s the Secret?

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The secret sauce is an organization that provides thoroughly researched, highly tested, state-of-the-art training for every position in my company. Our relationship with this organization has delivered extraordinary success.

My life, and the lives of my team members, have been changed forever. Every person is now the best at what they do, every day. We’re prepared for victory like never before.

The secret ingredient is Nexstar. I only wish I’d joined sooner.”

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Ask Roger with Roger Grochmal Cont. cont’d

FINDING YOUR LANE(S)

COMMUNICATION IS KEY

If one person with very specific skills leaves then we must face the reality that we’re either no longer in that line of work, or we need to find a good replacement in short order.

A plan is only as good as the team implementing it, so buy-in is critical. Be sure to cascade your company’s plan to your managers as they have to develop the implementation plans to make it happen.

If we leave our preferred lanes and take on the wrong work, it can leave us with poor performance, warranty issues, unhappy customers and techs who feel you made them look bad by sending them out to do work they did not have the skills to perform.

The real kicker here can happen when that new or non-core work has taken technicians away from the opportunity to do some work that they are really good at, with good margins, that can cement a customer relationship and make your people look good. It’s truly a lose-lose situation.

Too often we get caught up in the planning process as an end in itself. I have seen far too many good plans fail, including some of my own. They end up gathering dust on the shelf because we never drove the planning and accountability process down into the business where the work really gets done.

Your team needs to own the plan by committing to implement the elements that fall within their areas of responsibility.

Accountability demands regular communications. Active parts of your plan should be reviewed at a daily team huddle, so that all departments can optimize their resources available to get the most out of every day.

On a slow day, you can allocate people to work that helps meet these strategic goals rather than work that isn’t your core strength. Your staff will gradually get better at critical decision making that reinforces the goals of the business.

More detailed weekly and monthly check-ins are necessary too, of course, as is communication with the entire team about your business plan and how it is progressing.

As a minimum, update people every month, and in quarterly face-to-face town halls. Our town halls are one of our most effective team exercises and I love the chance to connect with everyone.

MALCO TOOLS CELEBRATING 70 YEARS • 1950 -2020

Malco Products, SBC • Annandale, MN. U.S.A. • www.malcotools.com • ©2020

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Measure, analyze, adjust

USE CAUTION DURING DRY SPELLS How often have we taken work because we were slow and we wanted to keep our techs busy only to botch it because it’s not what we do best? Or have had non-core projects get deferred into our peak periods when we could be making real money doing the things that we are excellent at?

Keeping an eye on the long game is especially important during dry spells.

ELECTRIC HEATERS

One of the early lessons I learned in business is to “inspect what you expect.” This means setting measurable goals you can analyze regularly, allowing you to adjust as you go.

Delve into the little things. Don’t take anything for granted, and expect things to change.

One such item we noticed was cost creep from use of the local toll highway around Toronto. It was free at first and really sped up our travel time. But over time, toll costs have grown to the point that it is now cost prohibitive to use except in the most serious of emergencies.

A one-way trip can easily cost $50 or more and with the number of people we have on the road, this became a considerable expense. We didn’t notice it at first because it was buried in our truck expense, but now that we have isolated it, we have significantly restricted its use.

Measurement and metrics are a beast unto themselves, and a great topic for a future column: stay tuned…

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COMMERCIAL PLUMBING B y Ja son Boy d

SUSTAINABLE BUILDING MATERIALS ARE BECOMING

T

he focal point of commercial restroom sustainability has long been aimed at water conservation, but there’s a much bigger environmental picture than simply the amount of water that’s flowing down the drain.

Certainly, we’ve come a long way with our faucets, showerheads and toilets, but as water-saving innovation has continually evolved over the years, lowflow fixtures simply don’t have much room to go any lower without sacrificing drain-line carry.

With engineers now developing water closets with flush volumes as low as 1.1 gallons per flush, and in some instances completely water-free urinals, commercial restroom manufacturers have essentially reached the floor of flush and faucet volumes and are turning their attention to a new wave of sustainability.

That next evolution is coming in the form of a product’s impact on the environment, with complete product visibility becoming an essential part of commercial restroom specification as architects and contractors continue to push green design further.

While water conservation continues to be a point of emphasis of any restroom fixture, the environmental and health impacts that those fixtures make is now the trend that is carrying the torch into the next generation of restroom sustainability.

Did you know?

The embodied carbon in a manufactured product can be reduced through a number of methods, including entering into Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) to purchase zero carbon renewable electricity or completely offset the embodied carbon by investing in forestry carbon offsets.

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A DECLARATION OF SUSTAINABILITY Transparency reports are providing unprecedented visibility into the impacts of the components and materials specified for projects. Manufacturers are now generating Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), Health Product Declarations (HPDs) and Declare Labels for their products that outline how production details throughout a product’s lifecycle can impact human beings and the environment.

More specifically, EPDs and HPDs are breaking down various stages of a product’s lifecycle – from production and installation to use and end-of-life.

Manufacturers are then looking at how those different life cycle stages impact the environment.

Among the types of impacts that these companies are looking at are how much carbon is generated by the product, how it affects ozone, the amount of smog produced, and how much fossil fuel is being used or depleted throughout its entire lifecycle.

With the help of these indicators, manufacturers are able to act on the learned data to adjust manufacturing processes, as well as some of the chemicals and materials used in their products with the aim of reducing the environmental impact levels of their products.

And some manufacturers have already started to take action on the data from their EPDs, improving the environmental impact of their products.

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What’s in a label?

What’s the difference between EPDs, HPDs and Declare Labels? ®

TAKING THE LEED

Environmental Product Declarations, or EPDs, are based on the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of a particular product. The EPD details the life cycle impact of that product and its environmental impacts, such as recycled content, service life, water and soil pollution, global warming potential, ozone depletion and smog creation.

Health Product Declarations, or HPDs, disclose the materials or ingredients in our products and their associated human health effects.

The HPD was created by the notfor-profit Health Product Declaration Collaborative to be the industry standard format for conveying details about product content and associated health information.

HPDs also help project teams to achieve the new LEED Building product disclosure and optimization credits and the Living Building Challenge Materials Red List Imperative.

Declare labels are like nutrition labels for products. They answer questions like where a product comes from, what it’s made of and where it goes at the end of its life. The International Living Future Institute (ILFI) developed the Declare label to let manufacturers publicly announce the life-cycle sustainability of their products. ILFI identifies more than 800 “Red List” chemicals as hazardous to humans and/or the environment, then certifies products based on the criteria of the Living Building Challenge (LBC).

FOCUSING ON THE FUTURE Innovating with sustainable, low-flow fixtures that positively impact both buildings and the occupants inside is keeping manufacturers busy today, but it’s never too early to look ahead. We’re already starting down a path to where products can communicate to users in real time to deliver up-to-date data in an effort to save both time and money thanks to predictive maintenance.

With this focus on human health and innovation, the industry is beginning to build additional frameworks designed to take a closer look at how products and the chemicals that compose them can adversely affect the people that interact with those products on a daily basis.

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The latest version of USGBC’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating system now offers additional credits for specifying products that have documented the environmental impact across the entire life cycle of the products specified.

To qualify, they are asking manufacturers to provide EPDs or third-party verified life cycle assessments (LCA). EPDs and HPDs can now correlate directly to additional LEED points, the ultimate measure of green building.

RECLAIMING EARTH’S MOST PRECIOUS RESOURCE While a product’s composition certainly contributes to its effect on the environment, the biggest carbon footprint of commercial restroom products actually has nothing to do with how manufacturers are extracting the brass, where it’s coming from, or the machining of the product. Instead, the heaviest impact of commercial restroom products continues to stem from the potable water flowing through it.

With new water conservation efforts starting to slow down due to the existing innovation of lowflow fixtures, learning how to maximize non-potable water is the next wave of sustainability facing manufacturers.

With only so much water on our planet, the existing challenge is to convert fixtures from potable water and onto a greywater system, reclaiming and reusing as much as possible.

When we consider the heavy energy impact that creating and delivering potable water brings, it raises the question of why we’re taking so much valuable, energy-intensive water and simply flushing it away.

Instead, there are other types of water that we could be using to flush both toilets and urinals.

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

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PLUMBING

Products

Single-handle bathroom faucets S P Pfister’s Verano single-handle bathroom faucets ar are offered in brushed nickel or polished ch chrome finishes. Units have proprietary Push an and Seal drain assemblies, are available in on one- or three-hole configurations, and achieve a flow rate of 1.2 gpm. They can be mounted on a sink deck or countertop and make use of ce ceramic disc valve technology.

w www. pfisterfaucets.ca p

Self-feeding drain cleaner The Rodrunner sectional drain cleaner from General Pipe Cleaners is designed to clear clogs in 3” to 10” lines up to 200 feet. It has a 3/4-hp motor with an adjustable slip clutch and overload protection that spins the cable at 700 rpm.

Sectional cables snap together and come in a variety of lengths and connection ends.

www. drainbrain.com

Large volume water heater A. O. Smith’s Cyclone LV gas-fired commercial water heaters are available in 220- and 250-gallon storage capacities, in sizes from 150,000 to 499,000 BTUH. The units, which deliver thermal efficiencies up to 96%, feature a modulating burner, three powered anodes and a colour touchscreen display with run history and diagnostics. Wi-Fi connectivity allows for remote monitoring via the proprietary app.

www. hotwatercanada.ca

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

www. gerberonline.ca

Cordless water-transfer pump Reed’s battery-operated Pump Stick is designed to lift water up to 12 feet at 15 gpm. It has a hard shell, aluminum shaft, water-resistant on/off switch, and is available with multiple screens, strainers and filters. It is equipped with a two-foot hose and 6” handle. Optional four-foot and seven-foot hoses, and a 24” handle, are also available.

www. reedmfgco.com

Water system controller The Buoy Whole Home Water Controller from Resideo is designed to monitor water usage and alert users to leaks. It allows for water to be shut off automatically or, if connected to Wi-Fi, remotely through a smartphone app. The unit, which requires 6” of clearance, comes with 1” NPS connections on each end.

www. resideo.com

80 xx

M ee cc hha an ni ci ac l a Bl u Bs iun se isns e 1s 0s . 1002 . 2 0

THE WOODFORD MODEL 17 FREEZELESS FAUCET: PREFERRED BY PLUMBERS.

WOODFORD MANUFACTURING COMPANY Excellence. Always.

800.621.6032 • www.woodfordmfg.com

HVAC/R Products P Air handler The Goodman AVPTC Smartframe air handler is available in 1.5 to 5-ton models and features the company’s ComfortBridge communicating technology that works with any 24-volt thermostat. Designed to supply consistent airflow over a range of static pressure conditions, units feature an all-aluminum evaporator coil, variablespeed motor and 12 field-selectable airflow settings.

www. goodmanmfg.com

Packaged rooftop units Allied Commercial’s K-Series models are available in sizes ranging from 2 to 25 tons and offer an optional reheat dehumidification system. Standard and high efficiency units come in gas/electric, electric/electric and heat pump models and reach efficiencies of 16.5 SEER, 14.8 IEER and 13 EER.

www. allied-commercial.com

Fan coil Part of Energy Saving Products’ Hi-Velocity Systems air handling equipment line, the Cube Series Fan Coil uses variable speed backward curved fan technology.

Available in two sizes, the units are designed for spaces requiring additional heating, cooling or fresh air. Models have maximum CFM ratings of 450 and 550 and are multi-positional to suit any mechanical location.

Line flushing system RectorSeal’s LineShot is a hand-held, reusable CO2 pressurized condensate line flushing tool that dispenses a 250-psi burst from a recyclable cartridge. The tool has a flexible 14” PVC hose with 5/16” fitting that connects directly to built-in Schrader valves, and to other models with valves ranging in size from 3/8” to 3/4” via a conical rubber adapter.

www.

hi-velocity.com

rectorseal.com

Two-stage heat pump p Danfoss’s BT and BU solenoid coils can operate at one of four voltage and frequency combinations, 110V/50Hz, 110–120V/60Hz, 230V/50Hz, and 208–240Hz. They are compatible with the company’s Magnetic Tool app, which turns any smartphone into a magnetic field detector. The clip-on coils can be removed with a standard screwdriver.

The Luxaire Acclimate Series HL20 two-stage heat pump is available in four sizes, from 2 to 5 tons.

Units achieve up to 11 HSPF and 20 SEER. A swept wing fan, composite base pan and sound containment cloak help to minimize sound levels. A selection of preconfigured profiles can be used to optimize the system for operation in specific climates.

danfoss.ca

luxaire.com

Solenoid S l id coils il

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STUFF YOU NEED Clamp meter Laser scanning system Trimble’s X7 3D laser scanning system is designed to scan and map a space allowing for the collection of data that can be used with BIM systems. Units have survey-grade self-levelling technology, an IP55 rating and come with a Windows-based ruggedized tablet.

www. trimble.com

The Fluke 902 FC True RMS Wireless HVAC/R Clamp Meter is capable of measuring up to 600 A AC, 600 V AC, 1,000 μF capacitance and has a temperature measurement range of 10 to 400°C. By connecting to the Fluke Connect app, users can capture measurements wirelessly and save them in Fluke Cloud storage for further analysis away from the field.

www. fluke.com

Combustion analyzer The testo 300 is designed for all measurement tasks involving combustion analysis and includes an intuitive interface, smart-touch operation and email capabilities. With a variety of kits available, it can be used in applications ranging from light residential to commercial and light industrial applications. It features a scratch-resistant protected display, secure mounting through the use of four strong magnets, and an optional O2 sensor with automatic dilution up to 30,000 ppm CO.

Moisture meter The FLIR MR277 is an all-in-one tool for locating moisture and building envelope issues.

This professional moisture meter combines Infrared Guided Measurement (IGM) with FLIR Multi-Spectral Dynamic Imaging (MSX) and advanced environmental sensors to help locate, identify and document problems.

www. testo.com

www. flir.ca

Heavy construction jobsite light Milwaukee Tool’s cordless MX FUEL Rocket tower light and charger has four adjustable impact-resistant light heads that deliver up to 27,000 lumens for both task and area lighting indoors and out. Designed to provide light to wide areas on heavy duty sites, it uses a motorized mast that can extend the tower up to 10 feet or to contract it down to a packed height of 44”.

Rust-inhibiting oil Snake-Oil Plus from General Pipe Cleaners is designed to preserve and protect drain cleaning cables and machines, as well as other machinery and tools. The non-toxic, biodegradable formula includes a rust inhibitor. A lemon-scented deodorizer helps eliminate unpleasant odours.

www. milwaukeetool.ca

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CCA Conference March 15-18, 2020 San Diego, Calif. www.cca-acc.com CIPH Charity Gala March 24, 2020 Toronto, Ont. www.ciph.com CMPX March 25-27, 2020 Toronto, Ont. www.cmpxshow.com OGA Conference April 8-9, 2020 Mississauga, Ont. www.ontariogeothermal.ca MBOA Spring Seminar April 28-29, 2020 Winnipeg, Man. www.mboa.mb.ca CIPH Ontario Region Business Meeting April 30, 2020 Mississauga, Ont. www.ciph.com

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EVENTS

ORAC AGM April 30 - May 3, 2020 Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. www.orac.ca

HRAI Conference August 23-25, 2020 Victoria, B.C. www.hrai.ca

MEET May 6-7, 2020 Moncton, N.B. www.meetshow.ca

ASPE Convention September 11-16, 2020 New Orleans, La. www.aspe.org

National Apprenticeship Conference May 24-26, 2020 Calgary, Alta. www.caf-fca.org

CHES Conference September 20-22, 2020 Halifax, N.S. www.ches.org

OPIA AMES June 7-9, 2020 Windsor, Ont. www.opia.info

Plastic Pipes XX September 21-23, 2020 Amsterdam, Netherlands www.ppxx.eu

ASHRAE Annual Conference June 27-July 1, 2020 Austin, Tex. www.ashrae.org

Western Canada Water September 21-25, 2020 Regina, Sask. www.wcwwa.ca

CIPH ABC June 28-30, 2020 Mont-Tremblant, Que. www.ciph.com

MCAC Conference October 21-24, 2020 Napa, Calif. www.mcac.ca

Building Performance Conference August 12-14, 2020 Chicago, Ill. www.aspe.org

CIPHEX West November 4-5, 2020 Vancouver, B.C. www.ciphexwest.ca

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BTN

Compiled by Mechanical Business

BY THE NUMBERS

GREEN POWER We are using more and more battery-powered equipment. Let’s face it, these modern tools are vital to getting the job done, but what do we tend to do once the batteries are ready for replacement?.

53% of used batteries are sent to depots or drop-off centres.

18% are placed in the garbage.

14% are retained by the owner.

6% are returned to a retailer or

DIGGING DEEP Starting a business can be expensive. So, where do entrepreneurs get their money from?

66.3% Personal funds.

27.6% Income from another job.

11.3% Borrow from friends and family.

11.2% Bank loans.

9.0% Cash advances from credit cards.

supplier.

HVAC/R PRODUCT SALES Ductless split systems continue to rise in popularity, with shipments rising 25% through the first nine months of 2019 versus the same period in 2018.

Here’s what was sold into the Canadian HVAC/R segment in Canada through Q3 of 2019.

252,391 Residential air conditioners.

224,271 Residential furnaces.

151,232 Ductless split systems.

27,851 Commercial air conditioners.

26,112 Unit heaters.

2,560 Air handlers.

732 Chillers.

CANADA LEEDS THE WAY

EARLY LEARNING

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is the most widely-used green building rating system in the world. Canada is second only to the U.S. in number of LEED certified buildings and leads in the adoption of LEED v4, the latest version of the program.

The province of Ontario has announced an expansion of its Specialist High Skills Major program, aimed at encouraging more students to enter the skilled trades.

54,000 Students expected to enroll in the

4,350 Canadian projects that have received any

program.

version of LEED certification.

700 Secondary schools participating.

19 Industry segments in the program.

2,100 Courses of study available to

1,000 LEED v4 project registrations in Canada.

277 LEED v4-certified buildings in Ontario, the most in Canada.

students.

50% 86 114

50% Percentage of Canadian LEED projects in the commercial and industrial new construction sector.

The amount of water that engineers at Penn State say can be saved per flush (about 0.8 gallons) thanks to their creation of an anti-stick coating for toilet bowls.

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The wait is over!

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Offset style Waste/Overflows available in Testable and non-Testable models, Kit and Half Kit formats, and a choice of mutliple closure mechanisms. Rough-in and Trim also avaiable.

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ITD25 non-combustible FR PVC Island Tub Drain.

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