VOICE JULY 2018
BMW DEALERSHIP SAVES TIME AND COSTS WITH VIEGA
HOSPITAL MAKES TIGHT DEADLINES WITH PROPRESS VIEGA SIMPLIFIES TANKLESS WATER HEATER INSTALLATION CORROSIVE CHEMICALS NO MATCH FOR VIEGA MEGAPRESS STAINLESS
PAGE 22
CONTENTS WHAT’S HAPPENING AT VIEGA 03 A letter from the Vice President of Sales and Marketing
10 Pressing coast to coast with the Viega Roadshow
31 Tech Talk RESIDENTIAL 04 Tankless water heaters
connected with ProPress
30 In Your Neighborhood: Pittsburgh apartments
INSTITUTIONAL 08 MCAA student chapters benefit the industry
VOICE COMMERCIAL 06 Prefab work saves time for
Texas Roadhouse locations
12 ProPress speeds up
Alabama hospital build
22 Viega systems tapped for BMW dealership
26 Viega the speedy choice for Home2 Suites location
28 In Your Neighborhood:
a publication of Viega LLC July 2018 Marketing Director Mark Brodie Creative Marketing Manager Molly Morrow Content Marketing Editor Kristen White Graphic Designer Marcus Jessen
Quick fix with MegaPress XL
INDUSTRIAL 18 MegaPress Stainless a match for corrosive chemicals
INFORMATIONAL 20 Maintaining water movement in plumbing systems
ON THE COVER When finished, Principle Auto/BMW of San Antonio will be the largest BMW dealership in the U.S. Viega ProPress and MegaPress products played a big role in construction.
Marketing Coordinator Lauren Reutter Contributing authors Jacob DeMars, David Desjardins, David Melendy, Kristen White Contributing photographers Michelle Amor, Sanford Myers, Kristen White Future articles and tips Please send in your interesting stories and tips relating to Viega products for possible publication in future issues of Viega Voice to press@viega.us.
WHAT'S HAPPENING
WE HOLD OURSELVES TO THE HIGHEST OF STANDARDS, JUST AS WE KNOW YOU EXPECT NOTHING BUT AWESOME FROM VIEGA.
A letter from the Vice President of Sales and Marketing
We’re continually working to go from awesome to more awesome. We strive internally to make processes better and more functional, to make it easier for our colleagues to better serve you, the customer. We are constantly improving our topnotch products that are already on the market, to identify and create solutions for the needs we still see out there.
place now is as much to handle the demands of what we need currently as well as for planned growth for the future. We reorganized our customer service group to ensure that customer experience with the company was of the highest quality. The new inside sales team makes it easier for our sales people to call on our customers who may not be fully aware of all the solutions we offer for their projects or jobs. The biggest change was in the field, where we restructured positions to be sure that all our customers had access to our knowledge, expertise and products, whether they be contractors, plumbers, engineers, architects, specifiers, builders, maintenance groups or others.
Part of improving internally was moving our Viega headquarters to Broomfield, Colorado. Although the official move is now complete, everyone in the temporary Broomfield office is eagerly awaiting the finished construction on our new permanent headquarters location. Anticipated to be ready by year’s end, the site will also contain a second state-of-the-art training facility, a counterpart to the well-attended Educational Facility in Nashua, New Hampshire. We’ll be excited to show off these new buildings to you when they’re complete.
We live and operate by a set of core standards, our Viega Values. These include: Achieve Goals, Be Empowered, Show Respect, Assume Responsibility and Build Trust. We hold these values close and put a lot of work into ourselves so that we can infuse that back into the company and take Viega to the next level. It was clear to see last year as we brought three new products to market – MegaPress Stainless, MegaPress XL and MegaPress CuNi, and with more new innovations to come in 2018, we never stop looking to improve.
To staff the new headquarters, Viega has been building and improving inside the walls, adding lots of new colleagues to those that moved with the company. We’ve expanded departments and added positions. The marketing team in
We hold ourselves to the highest of standards, just as we know you expect nothing but awesome from Viega. ■
Every day we offer great solutions to our customers. Yet we’re always looking for ways to make everything we do just that much better. While Viega is already pretty great, we feel there’s always room for improvement somewhere and we seek it out.
SEAN DEBNATH Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Viega LLC Viega. Connected in quality.
RESIDENTIAL
KEEP THE HOT WATER FLOWING When it’s 8:30 p.m. and your water heater quits working, no doubt you’d love to have hot water for a shower the next morning. But with traditional installation, the likelihood of that happening after-hours is slim. However, Eric Silva can make it happen and it’s thanks to Viega ProPress and MegaPress products. In recent years, Silva, owner of Silva Mechanical in Walled Lake, Michigan, has used ProPress and MegaPressG to install on-demand (tankless) water heaters in many homes. The speed of Viega connections allows him to expedite the process and restore hot water for homeowners as fast as possible. “Every day we’re putting in or servicing a tankless water heater,” Silva said. “In doing so, we have to go in, alter the water piping, the gas piping, the venting, everything. You want as little downtime as possible, and with Viega, I cut off the old piping, press on down the wall and we’re good to go. I’ve had people call me at night and say, ‘My water heater just went out and I’d love to have hot water by morning.’ With Viega and tankless systems, we can make that happen.” A few years ago, Silva started using MegaPress and ProPress products in new residential construction when installing manifolds and gas piping systems. In higherend homes he also installed on-demand water heaters, and it’s that particular niche that’s taken off for Silva since then. Tankless water heaters are becoming increasingly popular in homes. Silva installed 92 last year alone and in 2018 he had already hit 50 installs by May. Nowadays, he said at least 95 percent of his business is with on-demand water heaters, whether new installation or service calls. WIth his truck fully stocked with ProPress and MegaPressG, plus the on-demand water heater technology, Silva can show up to an unseen jobsite and complete an installation. He’s been called to situations with flooded basements and with ProPress he can make a repair quickly. Silva uses ProPress to plumb the on-demand hot water units and MegaPressG for the gas lines to heat the water. “You’re trying to make everybody happy, and when you can do things in an expedited manner, that sure helps,” Silva said. “Viega is such a no-brainer for me. I don’t even carry a torch on my truck anymore! We’ve found a way to incorporate MegaPressG and ProPress on all our jobs. Technology is our friend.” ■
4 | Viega Voice | July 2018
+ BENEFITS There are multiple benefits to on-demand hot water units. Those benefits include lower bills to heat the water, plus the enjoyable convenience of having steady hot water whenever needed. With a traditional water heater, the tank full of water is heated, and natural gas or electricity continues to cycle on and off to keep the water hot until it’s called for. Once all of that heated water in the tank passes through the pipes of a building, the hot water “runs out.� There is a lag time as the hot water tank works to heat another batch of water. Reversely, with an on-demand hot water system, water is only heated as it passes through the mechanism when someone turns on a water source. There is no tank of water to temporarily store at a hot temperature, therefore reducing heating costs. And because water is heated on demand, the flow of potential hot water never ends. For homes that use 41 gallons or less of hot water daily, on-demand water heaters can be 24 to 34 percent more energy efficient* than conventional storage tank water heaters. Energy Star estimates that a typical family can save $100 or more per year with an Energy Star-qualified tankless water heater. Viega pressing technology makes it easy to replace a traditional water heater with an on-demand water heater. Even if the piping for the water or gas supply needs to be reconfigured, the ease and speed of ProPress and MegaPress make tank replacement much faster than traditional methods, meaning customers are back up and running sooner. * according to the U.S. Department of Energy
Viega. Connected in quality.
COMMERCIAL
PROPRESS PUTS CONTRACTOR AHEAD OF THE CURVE
Popular national restaurant chain Texas Roadhouse has been busy opening new locations in the northeast and with short build times, contractor Todd Baker has put ProPress to work to speed up his contributions. Baker, owner of TJ Mechanical, Plumbing and Heating in Litchfield County, Connecticut, has been plumbing Texas Roadhouse locations for the past five years in several states, including Connecticut, New York and Pennsylvania. The blueprint and footprint for most of the restaurants is largely the same, aside from some being reversed in layout from the others. After seven restaurants, Baker has things down to an art. “I love that with ProPress I can prefab a lot of the stuff and because I’ve done so many, it goes even more quickly,” he said. “Everything here really comes down to timing. These builds are four months from shovel in the ground to opening, so every day counts. The owners appreciate [the speed of Viega connections] because they give you a certain number of days for underground rough-in and if you’re done earlier, then other contractors can get in earlier.”
6 | Viega Voice | July 2018
When Baker began working on the restaurant projects, he said the only thing specified was that copper should be used for main water lines, the hot and cold and recirculation lines and in the boiler rooms. He chose to use ProPress, having prior experience with Viega products and feeling confident in its superiority. “It’s pretty foolproof and there are never any complaints about it,” Baker said. “No problems, no leaks, no nothing. I’ve been using ProPress for several years, all the way up to 3", and it’s great.” One of the things Baker appreciates about ProPress is the confidence and satisfaction of a system plumbed well. He said knowing that there won’t be a leak equals peace of mind. “The timing and the satisfaction is big. When you’re working with 1½" or 2" pipes and sweating, a lot of things can happen,” he said. “Then you have to drain the whole system to fix a pinhole leak. That’s a lot of time wasted. Plus, the ProPress looks very neat when you set it all up.”
Baker was introduced to Viega at a trade show years back when he saw a demonstration. He was intrigued, but said he hesitated slightly knowing that he’d need to make up the cost of the tool that he initially purchased up front. He was thrilled to pay off the tool with just a few projects.
JUST ABOUT ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE WITH A VIEGA FITTING. YOU CAN GET ANYTHING DONE. – Todd Baker, TJ Mechanical, Plumbing and Heating
“As soon as I got it, the next thing I knew I was buying the jaws for PEX and using those too. I use the press gun constantly. I remember thinking, ‘How come I didn’t get this thing two years ago?’” he said with a chuckle. Baker is always on each of his jobs, and the crew of three or four that he brings along all have their own Viega tools. On projects like Texas Roadhouse, they get in, install the pipe, press the connections and get out to make way for the next quick stage of construction. “Just about anything is possible with a Viega fitting,” Baker said. “You can get anything done. There are so many things you can press, it’s amazing.” ■
Viega. Connected in quality.
INSTITUTIONAL
MCAA STUDENT CHAPTERS MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL
CSU received a $10,000 prize for winning the MCAA student chapter competition. From left to right: Mostafa Khattab, Von Owen, Andreu Cotto, Matt Prinster, Zayne Wiest, David Robinson, Luke Benjamin, Marcello Baltierra, Justin Rheinheimer and Dennis Pettitt.
Viega has always supported trade organizations and education. After all, they are vital to the success and continuation of both the company and the plumbing industry. Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA) is one organization strongly supported by Viega, both for professional tradesmen and students. Engineering and construction management students across the country put themselves ahead of the curve each year by joining their university’s Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA) student chapter. They gain valuable insights into their future industry and
8 | Viega Voice | July 2018
make solid connections before even graduating from college. It’s a reciprocal benefit – MCAA members can hire new graduates with the confidence that their new recruits have a strong knowledge of the industry and are committed to what they’ll be doing.
just up the interstate from Viega headquarters, took home top honors. Their hard work drew praise from the school’s construction management department and team’s coach.
Each year, through the MCAA student chapter competition, participants from MCAA and MCA of Canada prepare professional proposals in response to a request for proposal (RFP) for a construction or renovation project involving mechanical systems.
“The competition is fierce,” said Dennis Pettitt, coach for the CSU MCAA student team. “The students came in with great ideas and I think the key to their success was that they asked a lot of questions. They spent a lot of time understanding the design side of what the owner was looking for on this project. Their research was extensive.”
The 2017-2018 competition drew 28 teams and Colorado State University,
The project for this year’s competition involved the renovation of the heating
and cooling systems for the Fogo De Chao Brazilian Steakhouse in New York City. Teams were tasked with assisting and coordinating the removal of existing equipment along with installation of the new equipment using variable refrigerant flow technology. The RFP also had to include arranging for and coordinating the subcontracted work, managing the project within the space constraints of the restaurant and arranging all necessary city permits and licenses. Matt Prinster, CSU’s team captain, said he wanted to compete and be active in the student chapter because he knew he’d learn a lot from the experience that would benefit him upon graduation. “I hadn’t taken on a leadership role of this magnitude before, so that was good. I’ve been a club member for two years now, but if I’d known all the opportunities MCAA gives students I would have joined sooner,” he said. “Everything from getting a job to meeting people from other chapters, it’s an overall good experience. It’s incredible the amount of effort that MCAA puts into it, not only for the contractors, but for the students.” Viega has supported the MCAA student chapters for the past 10 years. Joe Pikus, Director of Business Development for Viega, said supporting the students in this way is important for the plumbing and mechanical industry. “We do it because we know the students are the future of the industry, and we want to support them now,” Pikus said. “For us, it’s a very long-term investment.”
It’s easy to see why MCAA sponsors the student chapters and competition, and why Viega in turn supports these student chapters. They bring qualified people to the industry and help make connections. “I found my full-time position that I’ll start after graduation (in San Francisco) through the MCAA student summit in the fall,” Prinster said. “I had worked with two general contractors on two separate summer internships, and then I worked last summer for Murphy, a mechanical contractor in the Denver area, and working with them really opened my eyes to the possibilities of the mechanical industry.” Pettitt noted that mechanical contractors get solid hires from MCAA student chapters. “This lets students see what it’s like with a general or electrical or mechanical contractor and they get to understand it before they make a decision of where to go work,” he said. “Contractors are picking students they already know are interested in mechanical. They want long-term people who care about what they’re doing.”
organization,” Pettitt said. “I’ve been in MCAA for years and I can call up someone in another state and talk about a similar project they did. It’s actual real experience, not out of a book. “MCAA gives the students an opportunity to see things in action and understand what the business is all about. And all these other students they meet, they’ll have those contacts in the future. It really is a small industry and you’ll get a lot of help (from the networking aspect).” In the MCAA student chapter competition, CSU was one of four finalists, along with Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey, University of Washington and Wentworth Institute of Technology in Massachusetts. A team of three judges from the MCAA Career Development Committee evaluated the proposals. Finalists were asked to present their proposals at the MCAA 2018 convention in San Antonio in March. ■
There’s plenty to be learned from the student competition. In preparing their RFP, the team from CSU spent 10-to-15 hours a week outside of class doing research and working through ideas and solutions for the project. Everything they learned, and all the other students they met nationwide, will be assets for their future careers. “MCAA brings people together and shares information. It’s a fantastic
Viega. Connected in quality.
WHAT'S HAPPENING
UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL There’s nothing quite like seeing your first ProPress fitting be made and watching the technology at work. For some customers or distributors, the Viega Roadshow provides that experience – and it gets their attention. The Viega Roadshow, the company’s traveling demonstration truck, is making its way from region to region throughout the country. Having the truck onsite is a tool that many Viega sales reps have found useful and something that end users get excited about. “When customers walk into the van for the first time, it sparks their interest on how many systems we offer,” explained Joe Barrile, District Manager in Texas. “Typically, it is not the company owners in the van, but it’s the project managers and installers doing the work firsthand, and sometimes they are using competitor products. We can then talk about which products they are interested in and see if we can set up a lunch and learn product presentation with their bosses or estimators. By the end of the day we have a good list of contractors to follow up with.” Barrile said he’s learned through the years that promoting the truck with flyers or putting notations of the event on invoices always helps improve the turnout of contractors that come to see the van. 10 | Viega Voice | July 2018
“I like to start a conversation with contractors and installers at the counter when they are picking up their material and ask them to come out to the truck to have a look, maybe get a piece of pizza or a breakfast taco depending on the time. Then we have another District Manager in the truck to continue the conversation about our products.” A look inside When someone walks through the Viega Roadshow, they can get a quick education about all the products and solutions that Viega offers. There are displays that show off each of the product lines, samples to press and tidbits to read. The handson, interactive component really brings things to life for visitors. “I’m still surprised at how many people have just absolutely never seen [press connections] before,” said Josh Siemens, driver for the Viega Roadshow. “Some people are pretty surprised, and if they’ve never had any exposure to ProPress, we’ll have them make a piece and take it back to their employer. It’s a totally new thing for them.” In particular, Siemens said he’s been surprised at how many people don’t realize there are competing PEX systems available and when they see PureFlow System fittings for the first time, they’re impressed.
Having everything in one compact place and a variety of samples to look at makes it easy for visitors to get all their questions answered at the Viega Roadshow, whether they’re long-time customers or new to Viega.
Having everything in one compact place and a variety of samples to look at makes it easy for visitors to get all their questions answered, whether they’re long-time customers or new to Viega. “I’ve seen contractors and customers that we talk to on a regular basis come through the truck, and it showcases our products in a different way for them,” said West Regional Manager Nate Berkowitz. “They might be familiar with one Viega product line, but not another, and so walking through the truck might open up their minds to other ways they can use our stuff.” Berkowitz finds that having the truck parked at a contractor or engineer’s office is quite successful, or putting it into the hands of end users like the maintenance department at a facility, a military base or manufacturing plant. “Like at a big mechanical contractor’s office, you find on a day-to-day basis you call on the same people there. But bringing in the truck, it brings in different people that you wouldn’t normally interact with, and deepens our relationship with that contractor’s office,” he said. Ben Hinton, a District Manager in the Los Angeles area, scheduled a stop for the Viega Roadshow for the first time a few months ago. One of his uses was at a large pharmaceutical manufacturer, and it turned into a big win for him there.
“The facilities guys had been using our stuff for a while for repairs, but the engineers hadn’t had it in the specs so we weren’t allowed on new builds,” Hinton said. “We were able to pull in a couple of the engineers, walk them through things and answer their questions – and now they’re building a new building and we’re in the specs. It will be ProPress the entire way!” New visuals The Viega Roadshow has an all-new look. Recently rebranded as the Viega Roadshow, the truck has an eyecatching new wrap that’s simple and draws attention. New products and info have been added to the inside too, bringing it all up to date with new product launches. To go along with the fresh, new look, there’s an updated and simple process for scheduling the Roadshow at a stop. Simply visit viega.us/roadshow to learn more or request an event. The truck makes, on average, two to four stops per week, and regions are scheduled throughout the country. “The Viega Roadshow is an amazing marketing tool that other manufacturers do not offer, so I feel we need to take full advantage of what Viega has provided us,” Barrile said. “Once they see the truck in person, visitors see us as their total system solution provider.” ■
Viega. Connected in quality.
PROPRESS INSTRUMENTAL IN HOSPITAL CONSTRUCTION TIMETABLE With an aggressive construction schedule – just 23 months to build a 485,000-square foot, five-story hospital – contractors knew that speedy installation was a must. They turned to Viega for help. The facility is the North Alabama Medical Center, located in Florence, Alabama. Operated by RCCH HealthCare Partners, the hospital is being built to replace an old facility in Florence. General contractor Layton Construction and mechanical contractor MMC Contractors are both proponents of Viega. John Thomas, Senior Project Manager for Layton, said his company and MMC both had previous success with Viega ProPress and were interested in incorporating it into the North Alabama Medical Center. “There are savings with Viega and really from an overall speed of installation standpoint,” Thomas said. “It was almost inconceivable that we could accomplish this schedule without the advantages of ProPress to speed it up overall.” However, initially the design engineers on the project weren’t so sure about press technology, and had some misconceptions. Together, representatives from Viega, Layton and MMC gave a presentation about the technology in hopes of getting Viega approved for the project. “It came down to quality control and how we would mark and identify joints as they had been pressed,” Thomas said. “We walked them through how the fittings are built and how we’d know (thanks to Smart Connect technology) if there was a leak. We won them over. I think coupled with the portfolio of projects that MMC and Layton were able to show where we’ve installed ProPress, it proved it’s a tested technology.” With that settled, the companies got to work on the new facility, breaking ground in December of 2016. Scheduled patient move-in is December 6, 2018, with final inspections of the facility set to wrap-up in October. It’s been a flurry of construction.
12 | Viega Voice | July 2018
COMMERCIAL
IT WAS ALMOST INCONCEIVABLE THAT WE COULD ACCOMPLISH THIS SCHEDULE WITHOUT THE ADVANTAGES OF PROPRESS TO SPEED IT UP OVERALL. – John Thomas, Senior Project Manager, Layton Construction
Viega. Connected in quality.
COMMERCIAL Building for the future North Alabama Medical Center will replace Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital, a full-service regional hospital build in the 1940s. The new facility will be only about three miles away, but in addition to the 263-bed hospital, the complex will include a 72,000-square foot, three-story medical office building too. Future plans include additional buildings on the 25-acre campus for more medical office space, as well as a comprehensive cancer center, which would be a joint venture with the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
I LOVE THAT THE COPPER SYSTEM IS CLEAN AND THERE ARE NO SHAVINGS OR FLUX IN THE SYSTEM. - Mark Bradley, Superintendent, MMC Contractors
“Because the old hospital dates back to the 1940s, there was certainly a need to start with a fresh, modern, well thought-out planned health care campus, something that can serve the community for generations,” said Keith Allen, Vice President of Construction and Real Estate for RCCH. “Being a quick build, we went with some of our key trades to help with the early selection of materials and equipment to get us in the position to build quickly. We asked the teams to bring in any technologies and cost improvements so that we could weigh all options. Not just for cost, but from a lifecycle standpoint as well.” Allen himself was familiar with Viega from previous work with another company. For this project, Allen said getting the approval for Viega definitely came down to quality assurance. “I like the speed and the simplicity of it, and I like the labor savings,” Allen said. Another selling point for Viega in a medical setting is the ease of use for future expansion or if repairs are needed. Work can be done quickly and without a need for flame, so fire watch and burn permits aren’t necessary. A crew can get in and get the work done quickly and safely, greatly lessening the impact on a hospital and its patients.
14 | Viega Voice | July 2018
Coming together Viega products have played a major role in the construction of North Alabama Medical Center. Mark Bradley, Superintendent for MMC, said nearly all the lines installed include Viega fittings. They’ll be used for hydronic piping, chilled water, heating water, domestic water and instrument air. Copper ProPress fittings, in sizes ½" to 4", are installed throughout the facility. Crews have run more than 265,000 feet of pipe. “At one time we had about 85 people on the piping side of the work for this project. It’s so big,” said Bradley. “I love that the copper system is clean and there are no shavings or flux in the system.” Continued on page 16
Viega. Connected in quality.
COMMERCIAL Bradley also talked about the simplicity of a pressed joint and why that’s important for a company like MMC. Based in Kansas City, he travels the country for jobs, and many of the workers are hired locally. He doesn’t have to worry about the available labor force for soldering or brazing. “We don’t always know the skillsets we’ll have,” he said. “And Viega’s reps do a fantastic job of coming to help train people and show them the right way to press. The ability to use ProPress helps us a lot in hiring.” Thomas echoed the advantages of ProPress versus traditional pipe joining methods. “It’s much quicker to pull the trigger and press than to braze copper,” he said. “I love the fact that we can train in a local market. And you know that things are pressed and holding pressure.” Around a quarter of Layton Construction’s annual revenue is from healthcare builds like the North Alabama Medical Center. Most are high-occupancy buildings like hospitals and emergency facilities or things like cancer and rehab centers. Layton’s work is all over the country, from Alaska to Hawaii to Miami to Pennsylvania. Thomas has seen plenty of construction and knows the importance – and sometimes difficulty – of staying on schedule and budget. “It cannot be overstated, the benefit we have in taking advantage of ProPress on this project, especially given the time we had to construct this hospital,” Thomas said. “Without the tools we have, like Viega ProPress, we could not deliver the job and be where we are on the schedule! “It’s the nature of what we see in the trend of healthcare – everyone wants it faster, cleaner and cheaper. It’s impossible for me to guess the time savings on a big job like this, but I can only imagine that with Viega, easily, 25 percent of the rough-in time is cut out, or maybe more. ProPress contributed to the earlier operating date, and to our success on this job.” ■
16 | Viega Voice | July 2018
I LIKE THE SPEED AND THE SIMPLICITY OF IT AND I LIKE THE LABOR SAVINGS. – Keith Allen, Vice President of Construction, RCCH
Pros use Viega ProPress®
Any other alternative might as well be called FauxPress. Viega ProPress is more durable and dependable than any other pipe connector on the market. Don’t be fooled by imitations. There’s only one original ProPress®. Viega.us/pro
INDUSTRIAL
MEGAPRESS STAINLESS: THE SOLUTION FOR A CORROSIVE CHEMICAL When using a chemical that can eat through some substances, you need a pipefitting solution that will stand the test of time. It’s why Mike’s Mechanical in Lewiston, Idaho, used MegaPress Stainless fittings for chemical lines in a manufacturing process.
The customer has a high-tech facility where proprietary systems manufacture the company’s circuit boards. The boards are used in everything from outlets to boilers to power transformers, all over the United States. During production of the circuit boards, some pieces are soldered together. To reduce the risk of a short during usage, the boards are run through a cleaning process before the final step, and that process involves both chemicals and high heat. “We had an issue, between the heat and the chemical, that things would become so brittle that they’d break if you touched them,” explained Blake Bunney, foreman for Mike’s Mechanical who did much of the work at the facility. “We had to make sure our fittings were something that the chemical wasn’t going to eat through.” Bunney explained that the boards are loaded into what looks like a commercial dishwasher and cleaned with very high-temperatures and chemicals. At the manufacturing facility, the cleaning station was relocated within the building, so Mike’s Mechanical ran about 2,000 feet of stainless pipe, then used between 150 and 250 MegaPress Stainless 316 fittings, in sizes ½" to 1 ½" to connect it all. Besides knowing that the EPDM fittings would hold up under corrosive usage, Bunney said Viega had other advantages for the job, too. “The product is super clean and so we can do it all inside the building,” he said. “With threading, you have oils. With Viega you don’t have to worry about that.” Making any kind of mess inside the facility is a no-go. Because of the delicate nature of the circuit boards, special flooring protects against static electricity and any kind of foreign source such as threading oil wouldn’t be allowed. The fact that Viega fittings don’t require anything extra and create no mess is a huge plus for this situation.
18 | Viega Voice | July 2018
WITH THE VIEGA PRESS FITTINGS WE COULD PREFAB AND DRY-FIT EVERYTHING TOGETHER. PLUG AND PLAY. – Blake Bunney, foreman, Mike’s Mechanical
And, threading stainless is finicky because it’s coarse and hard to get a perfect thread, Bunney said, so there’s extra time required on every fitting and joint as opposed to pressing. “With the Viega press fittings we could prefab and dry-fit everything together. Plug and play,” he said. Bunney noted that not having to thread pipe saved a lot of time on the job, which he completed with the help of his apprentice, Mike Ortiz, in about four weeks. Bunney said he was quite impressed with how well Viega products went in and worked for this project.
“I’ve been using Viega ProPress for compressed air and a lot of other things,” Bunney said. “So my manager and I talked with Ferguson, our supplier, and we specified how this would work so that the chemicals wouldn’t eat the seal. We went through a double-check with Viega and the company that makes the chemical on the compatibility, for peace of mind for the client, that it was the best choice. “We came out ahead on cost, saving on labor, and I think the biggest thing was the cleanliness of it all really saved us time,” Bunney said. ■
INFORMATIONAL
GO WITH THE FLOW: BEST PRACTICES FOR MAINTAINING WATER MOVEMENT IN PLUMBING SYSTEMS DAVID DESJARDINS, MANAGER, STRATEGIC INITIATIVES, VIEGA LLC
Minimizing bacteria growth in plumbing supply systems has become increasingly important in the plumbing industry in recent years. This is done largely through the control of temperature and flow maintenance. Plumbing engineers, installers and facility operators are particularly concerned with Legionella, a waterborne bacterium that causes a very serious type of pneumonia called Legionnaires’ disease. In the U.S., up to 113,000 people are infected with the Legionella bacteria each year. Two of the biggest culprits of water-borne illnesses are stagnation and improper water temperature. Stagnation in water distribution systems is a problem in most modern buildings, but it is a larger problem in healthcare facilities where immunocompromised patients can be found coexisting with piping dead ends and inconsistent occupancies that lead to periods of stagnation. Stagnation can lead to a buildup of biofilms and pathogens which can ultimately damage the system, causing health problems for those exposed. With continuous (or even intermittent) flow, there is an exchange of fresh water which reduces stagnation in the system and helps keep water closer to the desired temperature. Even with recirculation, stagnation can occur in dead legs because of the lack of water exchange. By maintaining water flow and keeping temperatures out of the Legionella growth range, engineers and installers can greatly reduce the risk. Viega has several options to help with water quality issues. Maintaining temperature control Legionella is unable to reproduce or live at temperatures above 131 degrees Fahrenheit. The issue is complicated by the biofilm in which the bacteria may live. Because it is a protective insulating film, bacteria within the biofilm may not be subject to elevated system temperatures. (Thermal disinfection is not recommended in the update of Guideline 12 which is out for public review). Hot water piping and hot water recirculation piping should be insulated to prevent excessive heat loss. Depending on the ambient temperature near the piping, insulating cold water piping may also be considered. All plumbing should be installed in such a way as to minimize heat transfer between pipes at different temperatures. Grouping well-
20 | Viega Voice | July 2018
insulated pipes of similar temperature together can further reduce unwanted heat transfer that could place water in prime temperature range for the proliferation of Legionella and other waterborne pathogens. Maintain flow Maintaining flow offers several key benefits for plumbing systems. First, water in motion can make it harder for bacteria to establish itself along the pipe wall. Second, stagnant water that has cooled is displaced with higher temperature fresh water from the heating source, making it easier to maintain temperature. Additionally, if chemical disinfectant has been used, water moving through the system will flush it out. Recirculate Dead legs can result in stagnation, because the water trapped in a dead leg is not subject to flow for extended periods. Once stagnant, water temperatures will reach that of the surrounding environment, which, in most cases, lies exactly in the temperature range conducive to Legionella colonization. One way to promote a consistent supply temperature in a hot water system is to use recirculation. This strategy can work well for risers and mains if balanced so that all parts of the system are subject to the design flow rate calculated to offset heat loss. Branches and dead legs can pose a challenge for maintaining specific water temperatures, even with the use of a recirculation system that maintains temperature in risers and mains. It’s not always possible to recirculate branch lines. It’s even less likely to be able to recirculate drops serving fixtures. This means that in a branch-and-tee system, dead legs are inherent to the design.
in supply lines of unused fixtures. With the most-used fixture at the end of the series, anytime that fixture is used, it causes flow in the remaining fixtures upstream up to their point of connection whether they are used or not. What would normally be served by a dead leg because of non-use would now see flow through normal occupant habits even if that fixture itself is not used. If the most-used fixture is not known, the group of fixtures could be fed from two different directions, resulting in a ring. In this way, any fixture used on the ring will cause flow from both directions regardless of how close the fixture is to the branch, minimizing stagnation for a bank of fixtures. Overall, design and installation professionals should consider all options to minimize the potential for risks to occur in the first place. Consider using one of Viega’s many options, including ProPress double drop elbows, Venturi press inserts, or our proprietary internal recirculation system, Viega SmartLoop. SmartLoop reduces water waste and increases energy savings while maintaining temperature, meaning users not only reduce the risk for bacteria, but also save money and water in the process. ■ Viega ProPress double drop elbow
Viega ProPress Venturi tee
There are several effective recirculation strategies that help minimize dead legs, one of which is to pipe individual fixtures in series. In other words, installers should daisy chain one fixture to the next. Using flow-through fittings in a series installation compared to standard branch-and-tee moves the tee closer to the fixture, reducing the potential for stagnation
Viega. Connected in quality.
COMMERCIAL
BIG PROJECT, BIG TIME AND COST SAVINGS
22 | Viega Voice | July 2018
When the owner of a new vehicle dealership in southern Texas was looking for additional cost savings on his new build, Viega products came up as a compelling solution. TDIndustries Project Manager Robert Huron suggested Viega as a key tool to reduce labor costs, which he said can make up as much as 70 percent of a project’s risk. That’s how Viega ProPress and MegaPress came to be included in the new location for Principle Auto/BMW of San Antonio. When completed in August, it will be the largest BMW dealership in the U.S. More than 19,000 feet of piping run through the campus, connected with 4,621 ProPress and MegaPress fittings. Add in Viega’s top-notch limited 50year warranty on ProPress and the project team and owners were sold. “With Viega, you’re not waiting on soldering, welding or threading to pass a pressure test. You’ll know the fitting was pressed properly,” Huron said. “Our internal engineering team got involved to ensure where the fittings would apply, and our field team worked on assuring the owner on the savings and competency. Plus, Viega stands behind its own great warranty.” Wier Enterprises, TDIndustries and other subcontractors had about 14 months to construct the dealership and Huron said at one point, TDIndustries had about 45 partners onsite to make the critical timeline. Continued on page 24
Viega. Connected in quality.
COMMERCIAL
When this massive project is complete, the dealership will house 1,454 vehicles onsite. The service bays will feature six alignment stalls and 118 service lift stations, each with two oil supply lines, a compressed air line and a water line. The dealership will also have a basement for future expansion. Principle Auto/BMW of San Antonio’s campus uses ProPress for domestic water (1,302 fittings), as well as MegaPress and MegaPressG for compressed air (737 fittings), vehicle oil piping (1,827 fittings) and natural gas (755 fittings). With so many feet of pipe to connect, pressing made a huge difference in time spent. “For the service shop buildings, for example, our team had 10,400 feet of piping to install,” Huron said. “We used our BIM modeling and manufacturing to prefab sections, and Viega ProPress fittings to be able to complete the scope of work in four weeks with as many as eight field partners.
24 | Viega Voice | July 2018
“With the Viega press system, we knew we could get it done. Soldering, welding or threading would force us to work longer overtime hours and it might take longer to get the install complete. Overall, there was no way we could have accomplished what we did without everyone who was involved at TDIndustries, Wier Enterprises and Principle Auto Group. I’m truly grateful for everyone’s dedication to this project.” Huron has been using Viega for many years and called himself a big believer in the company, having seen firsthand just how good the fittings are. Besides the cost savings, Viega also provides peace of mind to focus on other parts of the project so that in total, a high-quality installation is provided to the owner at the end of the day. “A lot of people say they put out fires all day long and get nothing accomplished,” Huron said. “With Viega, we didn’t have to worry about quality, which made the whole project run more smoothly.” ■
Viega. Connected in quality.
COMMERCIAL
SIMPLIFYING THE BUILD Amazing speed. That’s what Anytime Mechanical owner James Music loves most about Viega products, and why his appreciation of the company’s products continues to grow.
“As I’ve done more and more hotels, I’ll never switch from Viega to another product,” he said. “These hotels have gone really smoothly."
“I’ve been introducing Viega to a lot of friends and telling them how awesome it is in regards to speed,” he said. “When we first started running gas pipe, it would take four guys a week to run gas pipe in a hotel. We switched to MegaPressG and we’re doing it with two guys in two days. The speed is just amazing.”
Most hotels have a short timeline for construction, so being able to use Viega products helps Music’s crew get in and out. In fact, he said Anytime Mechanical steps back from jobsites for a couple of months after initial rough-in, waiting for the rest of the crews to do their work before they return for the next part of their plumbing and piping.
Anytime Mechanical has a lot of hotel jobs in and on the books. They just wrapped up the Home2 Suites by Hilton in Longmont, Colorado, which used MegaPressG for all of the hotel’s gas lines, plus Viega’s PureFlow System. Viega PureFlow PEX runs to each of the hotel’s 111 units and is connected with PureFlow Press fittings.
“We’re roughing in these hotels in about four weeks, from top to bottom,” Music said. “That has a very large part to do with the fact that we’re using Viega. The speed! I’ve got five or six hotels going on at the same time. With 33 plumbers on staff in our family-run company, we need to move them from site to site while we wait for other trades so we can continue our work.”
This was the second of the Home2 Suites locations that Music and his crew worked on, the first near Denver International Airport. That location has been open for more than a year and Music said there have been zero issues with Viega products, making him even more confident in his choice for future hotels.
Two other things Music mentioned loving about Viega products were the ease of fixing a potential leak, plus the safety aspect since there is no flame or fire involved. “If you do happen to have a leak somewhere, you can just pull it off, put on a new fitting and go. With a threaded system, you’d have to break down the whole system, all the way back to where you started,” Music said. “No longer do we have to carry around pipe threading machines that most guys can’t even carry by themselves. They just carry around a MegaPress tool. “And we’re starting to use some ProPress now, and in wood structures, it’s scary keeping a building from catching on fire if you’re using a torch. We’ve seen so many fires on construction sites lately, so taking torches away isn’t a bad idea! I sleep a lot easier at night knowing that we’re pressing and not soldering.” A couple of months before Home2 Suites in Longmont was finished, Music’s crew turned on the water in the building to test it and didn’t experience a single leak. He said it was impressive, considering the thousands of feet of PEX tubing running through the walls and all the fittings involved. It gave him another boost of confidence in Viega’s products. “With Viega, I’m really excelling in hotels because of the speed it allows me to do them in. And speed means money,” Music said. ■
Pictured here, the Home2 Suites location at Denver International Airport, recently completed by Anytime Mechanical.
26 | Viega Voice | July 2018
THE SPEED [OF VIEGA] IS JUST AMAZING. – James Music, Owner, Anytime Mechanical
Viega. Connected in quality.
COMMERCIAL
IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
OLD BUILDING, NEW REPAIR METHOD A repair project estimated to take all day long was finished within two hours through the use of MegaPress XL and the MegaPress XL PressBooster. Roberts Environmental Control outside of Chicago received a call about a leak in a Michigan Avenue building originally constructed in 1901. The building had a leak in a steam line, and the owners needed a quick fix. The chief engineer of the building allowed MegaPress XL to be installed. Because the leak was within a chase, they didn’t want flames used or someone to have to thread pipes in a small space. “We use MegaPress on all our gas piping jobs in the suburbs,” said Clayton Lietz, Mechanical Engineer and account executive with Roberts Environmental Control. “They’re an ongoing client, and I use Viega all the time, so it made sense to use MegaPress XL. “They didn’t know how to fix this and were in a meeting pulling their hair out. I suggested Viega,” Lietz said. The repair required a 4" fitting, but the crew also needed the PressBooster, which is when Lietz called Viega Industrial Accounts Manager Michael Hanney. He brought his loaner tool and met Lietz’s crew on site so they could make the repair. Lietz said it was tight quarters to make the repair so there really would have been no way to weld or thread anyhow. They simply angled the PressBooster in and made the presses necessary. “When you have to pull a burn permit, that’s another day. And when something is leaking and people are upset, they want it done,” Lietz said. "We projected it would take eight hours, and it was done in two. We sure appreciate that.”■
CHICAGO, IL
28 | Viega Voice | July 2018
WANT LESS PAPER? START GETTING THE VIEGA VOICE IN DIGITAL FORMAT
We don’t like getting unwanted emails either, so don’t worry – we’ll never share your information with anyone else.
VISIT INFO.VIEGA.US/VIEGA-VOICE Viega. Connected in quality.
RESIDENTIAL
IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
WATER RESTORED QUICKLY WITH MEGAPRESS XL Life for residents in 30 Pittsburgh-area apartments was only minorly disrupted thanks to a quick fix via three MegaPress XL fittings. Management at the apartment building discovered a leak on a 3" steam line. That meant no hot water or heat to a first-floor store or the 30 apartments located above it. Bob Marchione with Mozart Management was tasked with the fix. He called his local distributor, unaware that MegaPress XL was available, and gave the distributor the situation, asking for the quickest way to get his customers back up and running. “The distributor had the fittings and I got on the site the same day with the booster and conducted a training right there,” said Viega District Manager Justin Young. “Bob was really impressed with XL. He and the other three installers on site, they had never seen anything like MegaPress XL before and were amazed.” Young said the repair had to be made in the crawl space under the building but they were able to get into the tight spot with the PressBooster tool. It was a much better – and quicker – solution, he said, than having to use a flame in such a cramped place. “They were under the assumption there wouldn’t be hot water for the whole day,” Young said. “But within an hour, they had all the fittings pressed and hot water back to all 30 apartment units.” ■
PITTSBURGH, PA
30 | Viega Voice | July 2018
TECH TALK
Viega Tech Talk Experts Jacob Demars and David Melendy
Q Can you use the new MegaPress Stainless on galvanized pipe for potable water applications?
Q What are the benefits of using Bowden cables and how do they work?
A No. Stainless on galvanized pipe is not acceptable for any applications. Galvanic corrosion will be an issue over time, especially if there are contributing factors such as heated water or a humid/salty environment. It will take time, as it depends on the ratio of anodic to cathodic metals. The ZiNi coating will protect the pipe for some time; however, it will still act as a sacrificial anode and will break down over time more quickly than normal due to the presence of stainless steel. MegaPress carbon steel on galvanized pipe is approved for non-potable application. There needs to be an electrically-neutral metal separation at all times, such as a bronze fitting.
A Bowden cables connect to the top of the existing flush valve to trigger the flush mechanically through cables. Bowden cables eliminate the need to measure, cut or adjust push rods, making for easier installation, smoother function and an upgrade in flush plates. These are far easier for plumbers to install and eliminate call backs from plumbers and homeowners. All carrier manufacturers have push-rod actuation but it is an older technology. Viega offers push-rod actuation on every carrier, but it is used by only our entry-level flush plate offering. Viega flush plate upgrades include Bowden cables.
Q Does Viega LLC offer BIM files for construction projects? A Yes, Viega LLC offers BIM files in various file types compatible with several different programs such as Autodesk products like AutoCAD, Revit and MEP. Some examples of the file types that are available within our download section include DWG and DXF and like files for 2D, with SAT, STEP/STP and IGES type files available in the 3D section. Viega offers downloads both via an emailed link or direct download/file insertion so that users have options that work best for their needs with the programs being used. All of the BIM files and families that Viega offers are located on viega.us, under the resources tab, in the downloads section, under the BIM library. By maintaining all of these files and families internally, Viega LLC has complete control over all the dimensional and file changes, giving us the ability to provide file revisions and updates in a timely manner.
Viega. Connected in quality.
VOICE Viega LLC 12303 Airport Way, Suite 395 Broomfield, CO 80021 Return address requested 800-976-9819 viega.us insidesales@viega.us
The term Viega, as used in this publication, does not apply to a specific company within the various separate and distinct companies comprising the Viega group of companies. The term Viega, as used in this publication, refers to the Viega brand itself or generally to the Viega group of companies. References to activities in North America specifically refer to activities of Viega LLC. A green dot on a Viega ProPress, MegaPress and PureFlow Press fitting indicates the Smart Connect feature with an EPDM sealing element. A yellow dot on a Viega ProPressG and MegaPressG fitting indicates the Smart Connect feature with an HNBR sealing element. A white dot on a Viega ProPress (304 FKM) fitting indicates the Smart Connect technology with an FKM sealing element. For a current list of applications, please visit www.viega.us/applications. Zero Lead identifies Viega products meeting the lead-free requirements of NSF 61-G through testing under NSF/ANSI 372 (0.25% or less maximum weighted average lead content).
Please recycle this magazine
©2018. Climate Mat®, Climate Panel®, Climate Trak®, FostaPEX®, GeoFusion®, ManaBloc®, MegaPress®, ProPress®, PureFlow®, Radiant Wizard®, SeaPress®, Smart Connect®, SmartLoop®, S-NO-ICE®, Viega®, Viega. Connected in quality®, Viega Eco Plus® Visign®, XL® and XL-C® are registered trademarks of Viega GmbH & Co. KG. Eco Brass® is a registered trademark of Mitsubishi Shindoh Co., LTD. RIDGID® is a registered trademark of RIDGID, Inc.
VV_00438_0718
