Industry News
We would like to take this opportunity to give a special thanks to this month's sponsor -- Caroma: leaders in high efficiency dual flush toilets (HETs) and urinals (HEUs). New Caroma Smart Technology* provides significant water savings, averaging 0.9 gallons/flush, saving up to 44% compared to 1.6 gpf and 74% compared to 3.5 gpf toilets. The Smart technology is also used in the recently introduced waterless and 1 pint urinals. All Caroma toilets have a large trapway, virtually eliminating blockages. With 45 WaterSense labeled toilets, Caroma provides exceptional performance while conserving valuable water resources. www.caromausa.com
To find out more about special e-newsletter advertising opportunities, please contact your Phc News sales rep by visiting www.phcnews.com.
Energy, education get top billing at NAOHSM
Hershey, Pa. — This year’s National Association of Oilheating Service Managers (naohsm) show — held on May 17-21 in Hershey, Pa., — will cover topics such as the stimulus package, energy and education.
On Monday, May 18, management professionals can take a Manual J Software class. The morning will be geared toward those that have an understanding of basic load calculations — those considering purchasing software or those who understand the capabilities this type of software has to offer. The afternoon session has been designed to help those that already own the software become more proficient with it. Also in the afternoon, sit in on an outdoor reset roundtable session.
Tuesday & Wednesday — You pick. There will be classes that focus on saving energy for our customers, updates on bioheat, geothermal, chimneys, new and emerging technologies for the oil heat industry, solar, ecm motors, and more. To get an idea of the classes you’d like to attend, visit our convention page http://www.naohsm.org/trade_show.cfm. There you will find photos of the presenters along with outlines of the class. While you are there, also register yourself and your staff. As an added bonus, most classes earn nora and nate ceus, and all classes are free thanks to our many sponsors of education.
And for those that want to kick back and enjoy a Travelogue of heating ’round the world — join Dan Holohan on Wednesday at 9:00 a.m.
For details, visit www.naohsm.org.
Taco goes green with plant renovation and expansion
Cranston, R.I. — Taco, Inc. held a LEED certification ceremony on Earth Day at its new facility in Cranston, RI. Special guests who joined Taco employees and Johnny White Jr., president and CEO of the firm, were Rhode Island Governor Don Carcieri and Cranston Mayor Alan Fung.
Taco recently completed a substantial plant renovation and expansion, taking unusual measures to reduce – not increase – the firm’s “carbon footprint” in doing so. The company celebrated the accomplishment on Earth Day.
According to White, “The addition of the 60,000 s.f. warehouse facility is a physical representation of our commitment to the city of Cranston, the state of Rhode Island and manufacturing our products in the United States. The new addition also represents Taco’s commitment to the community, the environment and our employees as it incorporates a variety of sustainable building practices, many of which are designed and manufactured by Taco – a company that’s focused on mechanical and control systems beneficial to a building in its entirety.”
“The new warehouse distribution facility, which ties to the headquarters and main manufacturing plant, has greatly enhanced our operational efficiency and positions us favorably for future growth,” added White.
The project that won the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification is a 60,000+ s.f. single-story warehouse addition that provides twelve loading dock bays, 30’ high clearance for storage racking systems, a quality lab, administrative office space, a demonstration mechanical room for the snow-melt system, and facilities for the manufacturing plant’s coolant and metal chip recycling systems. Also included in the project is a gas turbine based cogeneration plant that provides heating and cooling for the entire facility through Taco’s own “LoadMatch” system along with a solar panel array to supplement the plant’s domestic water requirements.
RIA addresses H1N1 Swine Flu clean-up issues
Columbia, Md. — Based on concerns regarding the transmission of and clean up from the H1N1 (swine) influenza virus, the Restoration Industry Association (RIA) provides these recommendations for cleaning and restoration professionals, as well as building services personnel called in for remediation following an outbreak.
The H1N1 flu is considered a Type A influenza virus, so the normal protocols followed for outbreaks of norovirus and other types of flu should be utilized. According to the Dept. of Health & Human Services pandemic website, survival times for influenza A particles on surfaces vary from 8-12 hours on paper or cloth to 24-48 hours in ambient temperatures on non-porous surfaces such as doorknobs, counters, desks and the like. When surfaces are wet, the influenza A virus can survive up to 72 hours.
Microbial contaminants should be removed with damp wiping, air scrubbing, and other methods that will effectively eliminate them from the environment. The EPA believes that currently registered influenza A virus products will be effective against the 2009-H1N1 virus. Products should be used in accordance with the instructions on the label.
Recommended personal protective equipment for remediation professionals includes: disposable Tyvek® suits; shoe covers/booties; non-permeable gloves; splash resistant goggles and an N-95 or higher filtering facepiece respirator certified by NIOSH and appropriately fit-tested.
“Utilizing proper PPE and following established protocols for the remediation of influenza particles will protect both the workers and those exposed to the compromised environments,” said RIA President Jeff Jones, CRS. “Cleaning and restoration professionals frequently encounter these types of situations and understand the importance of handling them safely and effectively.”
A fact sheet on cleaning and remediation recommendations for the H1N1 influenza is available from RIA by calling 443-878-1000 or visiting www.restorationindustry.org.
Sponsor of AB1953 supports NSF/ANSI Standard 61, Annex G
Ann Arbor, Mich. — New lead content requirements for plumbing products have been added to California's Health & Safety Code (Section 116875; commonly known as AB1953), which goes into effect January 1, 2010. After this date, any pipe, fitting, or fixture intended to convey or dispense water for human consumption through drinking or cooking must meet a weighted average lead content of <0.25%. The requirement of this law was incorporated as an annex into the American National Standard for health effects of drinking water system components: NSF/ANSI Standard 61.
Recently, however, there have been misleading statements from some industry sources indicating NSF 61, Annex G does not provide for compliance with the requirements of AB1953.
East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD), which provides water to over 1.3 million residents in the eastern San Francisco Bay Area, was one of the original sponsors of AB1953. Representatives from EBMUD worked with other utilities, regulators, plumbing industry and product manufacturing representatives to develop NSF 61, Annex G.
Richard Sykes, Manager of Natural Resources, EBMUD said: “Annex G of NSF/ANSI 61 - 2008 was developed with input from California’s Department of Public Health and California’s East Bay Municipal Utility District and establishes a conservative protocol to determine product compliance with the 0.25% maximum weighted average lead content requirement of California Health & Safety Code (Section 116875). The DPH has stated to us (EBMUD) that compliance with Annex G ensures compliance with this requirement.”
Richard Sykes explains: “I made the request to the NSF Drinking Water Additives Joint Committee with oversight of the standard to include the annex to allow manufacturers the option of being certified to California’s reduced lead content requirement. The annex was developed with input from stakeholders in California and care was taken to assure full compatibility with the law. The adoption of Annex G last December fulfills the request made by the Joint Committee.”
The NSF 61 committee is currently conducting a series of round robin testing with manufacturers, product certification organizations and the California Department of Toxic Substances to validate a referee analysis method for alloy lead content when testing of materials is required. When completed, the method will be incorporated into the standard.
The annex was developed to establish an American National Standard to determine product compliance with the <0.25 percent maximum weighted average lead content requirement of the California Health & Safety Code, as well as a standard for other states to reference if they are developing similar regulations. A similar law has been enacted in Vermont and is scheduled to take effect January 1, 2010.
New Products
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High efficiency dual flush toilets Caroma high efficiency dual flush toilets utilize breakthrough technology for optimum performance and water conservation. The two button flushing system provides significant water savings over other toilets: 1.28-1.6/0.8 gallons per flush (full/half flush depending on model), averaging as low as 0.9 gallons per flush, saving up to 44% more water than a single flush 1.6 gallon toilet and 74% more than a 3.5 gallon toilet. All Caroma toilets have a large trapway, nearly double the industry average, virtually eliminating blockages. Caroma.
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HydrationStation bottle filler HydrationStation™ is a hands-free sensor operated bottle filler that operates when a bottle is placed under the antimicrobially protected dispenser and stops automatically for a drip-free fill. The HydrationStation™ hooks up to a municipal water line, and using state-of-the-art filtration technology, polishes tap water into pure, refreshing drinking water that is on par with bottled water. Haws Corp.
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UV-resistant clear PVC piping EnviroKinguv™ is a clear pvc piping suitable for exposure to sunlight. Unique uv blocking technology reduces harmful ultraviolet light wavelengths from penetrating the plastic while allowing beneficial wavelengths through. EnviroKinguv offers a cost-effective solution for photobioreactor tubing and other outdoor applications exposed to sunlight where transparency is required. Harvel Plastics, Inc.
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Macerator high water level detector Sanialarm is designed to prevent water inside a macerator or gray water pump from rising above the maximum allowable level as the result of a power failure, limescale buildup or some other abnormality. Once the level is exceeded, the unit’s alarm emits a continuous 80-decibel warning sound until it is shut off or the problem is rectified. After the cause for the alarm is removed, sanialarm can be reactivated by flipping the built-in on-off switch to the “on” position again. SFA Saniflo Inc. |
Movers & Shakers
West Hatfield, Mass. — Doug Belden was named Western regional sales manager for Stiebel Eltron. Belden was formerly with Ferguson Enterprises and has over 15 years experience in the plumbing/HVAC mechanical arena. Glenn Issac is the Eastern regional sales manager for Stiebel Eltron. He was formerly with Bosch as national account manager and Eastern regional sales manager, and has over 20 years of tankless water heater experience. |