Top 100 Contractors - PHCP Pros

april 2012 Vol 12 | No 4

Top 100Contractors

Piping challengesmet at Portland, Ore.Federal building

p 32

Diversification &flexibility define Denver’s RK Mechanical

p 26

MECHANICAL CONTRACTING

Top 100 Listing

p 28

HYDRONICS

Tankless Water Heaters

p 44

KITCHEN + BATHColor Trends

p 56

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e Circle 1 on reader reply form on page 85

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COVER STORYColorado dreamin’No. 22 on the Top 100 Contractors Listing, RKMechanical began 49 years ago in Nebraska andnow is one of the most innovative, forward-thinking mechanical contractors in Colorado witha global reputation for excellence and bases itssuccess on solid, advantageous relationships amongcustomers, suppliers and employees. p 26On the cover: Ralph L. Carr Justice Center, Denver

MECHANICALCONTRACTING

20 Morris BeschlossIndependent businesses spur economy whilebuilding boomlet in rental residential adds energy

26 Top 100 Contractors

32 Piping renovation38-year-old Portland Federal building feels its age,gets total pipe upgrade

34 I feel the Earth move...Earthquakes can devastate piping systems, butgrooved fittings withstand destructive tremors

36 Enchantment in Santa FeNew Mexico father-son HVAC success story

HYDRONICS40 Dan Foley

Online tools you can use

44 Tankless product report

PLUMBING48 Richard DiToma

Don’t be the cheapest plumber!

52 Touch-free techPatrons demand more sanitary fixtures in publicrestrooms; here’s the lowdown on touch-free

KITCHEN + BATH56 Linda Jennings

Color trends — tangerine tango

60 Peter SchorAccentuate the positive; and see you at K/BIS!

GREEN SYSTEMS64 Bristol Stickney

You can install an excessive number of solarcollectors; so how many are too many?

68 Green goes to schoolGrad students, architectural guru apply holisticmethods to KU’s R&D center

CONTENTS APRIL 2012


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IN THE NEWS6 Watts Water Technologies expands in N.H.;

New CEO for NKBA

8 ACCA, RHC meetings point to increasing optimism

12 Eemax looking to grow into bigger digs

14 130 years of PHCC

83 OESP pros born to be wild!

FROM THE EDITORS88 The Top 100 Contractors speak: Tempered by adversity

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BUSINESS RESOURCES + TOOLS

72 Ellen RohrVery Pinteresting!

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FRANKLIN, N.H.— Chief editorJohn Mesenbrink was on hand towitness the Franklin, N.H.groundbreaking for its 30,000-sq.-ft.foundry expansion on March 26.

Concentrating on its lead-freeproduct line, the $11 millioninvestment will actually bring backjobs — and its regulator line — tothe United States from China,

bringing more than 90 new jobs tothe area. David Coghlan, president and

CEO of Watts Water Technologies,

Watts Water Technologies breaks ground at its Franklin, N.H. facility expansion project

welcomed New Hampshire governor,John Lynch and Franklin Mayor, KenMerrifield to the groundbreakingevent. “This Watts facility is one ofthe largest factories in the state and

it shows Watts’ commitment to thestate of New Hampshire,” saidgovernor Lynch.Watts Water Technologies has been

a leader in lead-free initiatives andthe foundry expansion is furtherevidence of Watts’ commitment toproviding quality and safe potablewater products.In support of its long-term growth

strategy, Watts Water Technologies,Inc. announced its intent to pursuean expansion of its foundrymanufacturing capabilities at whathas become its largest NorthAmerican manufacturing facility.Accordingly, Watts is initiating theplanning and permitting process toensure the foundry expansion projectis managed to meet all local, stateand federal guidelines.By breaking ground on its 30,000

sq.-ft. expansion to its Franklinfoundry, Watts is committed to thecontinued research, development

and testing of the highest qualitylead free products in the industry.Franklin’s expansion will becompleted by February 2013. “Thisis what separates the men from theboys,” said Coghlan, referring toWatts’ investment and commitment.“We could have expanded elsewhereat a lower operating cost butultimately we wanted to eliminateany cross contamination risk involved.Here in Franklin we will have createda parallel manufacturing process — aleaded foundry and a lead-freefoundry.”

New Hampshire governor John Lynchtalks about the Watts expansion and itsinvestment and commitment to thestate of New Hampshire.

David Coghlan, president and CEO ofWatts Water Technologies, addressesthe audience at the Franklingroundbreaking.

March 26 marked the groundbreaking for the Watts Franklin, N.H. facility expansion.This $11 million investment will bring in more than 90 jobs and will bring back itsregulator production from China.

NKBA names Bill Darcy as new CEOHACKETTSTOWN, N.J. — TheNational Kitchen & Bath Association(NKBA) announced the promotionof Bill Darcy to CEO. Darcy willcontinue the leadership he began inApril 2011 as executive vicepresident. As evidence of the positiveimpact his direction has provided,

the organization officially announcedan increase in membership, bringingthe total number of NKBA membersfrom nearly 40,000 to more than50,000.Darcy began with the NKBA as

the manager of marketingpartnerships and has received

numerous promotions includingmanager of business development, aposition in which he generated morethan $1 million in non-dues revenuefor the association, followed bysenior manager of marketing,director of marketing and mostrecently, as of April 2011, executivevice president.

An inside look at one of the foundriesin operation.

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BY BOB ‘HOT ROD’ ROHR

las Vegas — ACCA just wrappedup its annual meeting at the Parisresort. It was encouraging to see thecasino and streets of Vegas busyagain. Hopefully that is a sign of the

economic recovery for which we areall waiting.ACCA is to be commended for a

nicely run event. There were plentyof ACCA staff on hand to help withcheck in, badge retrieval and guidingfolks to the seminars. The Paris was

well suited for the size of the group.The seminar rooms wereconveniently located along the mainhall, across from the Expo hall.Without proper credentials I wasonly afforded a peek into the sessionrooms. Most sessions seemed well

attended.The Expo was in a room of

the appropriate size. It waswell lighted and providedlarge, easy to navigate aisles. Ispoke with several dozenexhibitors, who were satisfiedwith the numbers and qualityof the attendees. I had hopedto see more GEO productsand companies exhibiting.GEO currently seems to be ahot commodity. The GEOindustry is a nice bridgebetween the air side and thehydronic side.As a member of the

advisory committee, I alsoattended the Radiant &Hydronics Council (RHC)meeting. Chairman DanFoley did a great job ofkeeping the meeting ontopic and moving along.Emily Rogers, the ACCAdirector of energy policy, hasbeen given the reins of theRHC as the first manager.Emily knows her wayaround the halls ofWashington. By themeeting’s end, she had ahandful of handwrittennotes and a substantial ToDo list. Emily is up for thetask and excited to get theRHC up to speed. Exciting projects are

cooking for the RHC. An e-newsletter, Radiant Trends, islaunching. Look for a fallHydronics Roundtable witha smaller “tabletop” tradeshow. A radiant- specificsection of the ACCAwebsite is also in the works,including a contractordirectory. ACCA is wellknown for its developmentof standards. Look for newstandards developedspecifically for the RHCindustry.All in all, the hydronics

industry has found a warmand welcoming home underthe ACCA banner. Getinvolved and help shapewhere our industry is headed.

acca in action, rHc takes flight

acca installs 2012-13 board of directors

ARLINGTON, VA. — Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA), the nation's largest association ofindoor environmental systems professionals, announced the installation of its 2012 – 13 board ofdirectors and officers.Last year’s chairman, Joe Nichter of Comfort Systems USA Southwest in Chandler, Ariz., handed the

leadership role to incoming chairman Laura DiFilippo of Difilippo’s Service Company in Paoli, Pa.DiFilippo will serve a one-year term. Nichter will serve this year as immediate past chairman.Serving as senior vice chairman this year is Bobby Ring, Meyer & Depew Co. Inc. of Kenilworth, N.J.;

secretary/treasurer is Dave Kyle, Trademasters Service Corp., Newington, Va. Other vice chairmen areRich Imfeld, IC Refrigeration, Ceres, Calif.; Don Langston, Aire Rite Air Conditioning, HuntingtonBeach, Calif. and Phil London, Thermal Concepts Inc., Davie, Fla. Directors not serving on the executive committee are Jerry Bosworth, Bosworth Air Conditioning,

Galveston, Texas; Tommy Castellano, Castellano Air Conditioning Service, Tampa, Fla.; Ellis Guiles, TAGMechanical Systems Inc., Syracuse, N.Y.; Paul Hobaica, Hobaica Services Inc., Phoenix, Ariz.; SteveLauten, Total Air and Heat Co., Plano, Texas; Gary Marowske, Flame Furnace, Warren, Mich.; NarrissaRampey, Air Assurance Co., Broken Arrow, Okla.; Steve Schmidt, Frederick Air Inc., Frederick, Md.;Mike Schumacher, Reliable Heating & Cooling Inc., St. Louis; Matt Todd, Entek Corporation, Longview,Wash. and Michael Weber, Thomas & Galbraith Heating and Cooling Inc., Cincinnati.


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cranston, r.i. — Taco continues toinvest in BIM technology and digitalmodeling. Buyers and specifiers willsoon have digital access to informationthey require for all Taco products

when designing or assembling HVACand hydronic systems.Work on Taco’s new Innovation

and Development Center iscontinuing at a fast pace. Whencomplete, the building will offer ahigh-tech, hands-on learningenvironment for the most advancedHVAC equipment available today.The Taco Innovation &

Development Center will be a state-of-the-art learning and training

facility, complete with newclassroom spaces, conference rooms,a business center, and functional labsfor testing and teaching. The HVACproducts and systems will be visiblethroughout the entire facilityforming “Living Laboratories” thatallow for close-up viewing, hands-onlearning and teaching.

taco expands FloProFactory training for 2012Taco’s FloPro Factory Training

offers a broad range of professionaldevelopment opportunities forplumbing and heating contractors in2012. Participants learn to grow theirhydronic expertise and boostprofitability. All hands-on classesoffer useful information andexperience. Their popular webinarseries will be held once a month, freeof charge. The company will focus itsefforts on its most popular, JohnBarba-driven course: the ‘Compleat’Boiler Room (CBR). These 2-dayfactory classes are NATE-Recognized

and NORA Approved. This two-dayprogram is designed for and willbenefit any experienced hydronicsinstaller or designer. Classinformation and online registration isavailable at www.floproteam.com.Course Schedule:“Field Factory” Training• April 12-13 — BJ Terroni —

Bensalem, Pa. — Compleat BoilerRoom• May 10-11— Wales-Darby —

Warren, N.J. — Hydronic ControlStrategies• June 28-29 — Wales-Darby —

Islandia, N.Y. — Hydronic ControlStrategies • July 23-27 — JTG Muir —

Berkley, Calif. — Compleat BoilerRoom • Aug 2-3 — McCoy Sales —

Denver — Compleat Boiler RoomFactory Training at Taco• July 19-20 CBR - Cranston, R.I.• Aug. 23-24 CBR - Cranston, R.I.• Sept. 27-28 CBR - Cranston, R.I.• Oct. 11-12 CBR - Cranston, RI.


taco offers full-line BiM and caD content

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oxForD, conn. — For nearly aquarter century, Eemax Inc. hasgrown both physically and in termsof sales. With further expansionanticipated, the company hasoutgrown its Oxford, Conn.headquarters and is searching locallyfor larger facilities, with hopes ofmoving by this September. U.S. Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn., 4th

District) recently paid a visit to theEemax headquarters. Himesaggressively works to connect smallbusinesses with government resourcesand strives to ensure that localbusinesses have access to the capitalthey need to invest in their operations.

“Small businesses are the heart of oureconomy,” said Himes. “They createalmost all of our new jobs andprovide a daily demonstration of theentrepreneurial spirit.” Eemax is a positive example of a

successful and growing U.S.-basedmanufacturing facility. “Eemaxexhibits true American spirit bymanufacturing innovative ‘green’products that save energy, water,time, space, and money,” saidCongressman Himes. “Their highquality products create jobs, becausethey are manufactured right here inour own backyard.”

eemax inc. plansexpansion

(Left to right) Eemax's Jeff Hankins, vicepresident of operations and technology,and Kevin Ruppelt, president and CEOexplain to U.S. Rep Jim Himes how theircompany has managed to grow evenduring challenging economic times.Eemax has outgrown its Oxfordheadquarters and is currently searchingfor larger facilities in the local area.

alBany, n.y. — Centrotherm EcoSystems® InnoFlue® can now beutilized on all A.O. Smith residentialpower direct vented (PDV) tankedwater heaters that accept PVC orCPVC. This includes units underthe A.O. Smith, GSW, State andJohn Wood brands. “A.O. Smith’s approval of InnoFluewill provide a significantcompetitive edge for the company’sproduct lines. This will provideowners of A.O. Smith power directvented residential tanked waterheaters with a flue gas deliverysystem that will eliminaterestrictions associated with flue gas

temperatures. Our flexible ventingoptions allow for the reuse of anexisting B-vent to be used as achase,” notes Joel Dzekciorius, vicepresident of operations. Bradford White has approved

InnoFlue for their high efficiencycondensing commercial, power directvent commercial, residential powerdirect vent and residential powervent model series. “The addition of Bradford-White’scommercial and residential lines tothe InnoFlue family accentuates theequipment manufacturer’sconfidence in InnoFlue as theundisputed leader in polymeric

venting options. We are confidentthat Bradford-White customers willbe excited, knowing they can now beprovided with a safe, economicallyfeasible and environmentally friendlyventing option that has beencertified to the UL-1738 & ULC-S636 safety standards,” states JamesMolloy, vice president of businessdevelopment.

centrotherm system approved by a.o.smith and Bradford white

DON’T DROWN IN OBSOLETE INVENTORY

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©2012 BrassCraft Mfg.


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Falls cHurcH, Va. — This yearmarks the 130th anniversary of thePlumbing-Heating-CoolingContractors—National Association(PHCC). PHCC has several specialobservances planned to recognize thevital role its members haveserved in safeguarding thehealth, safety and comfortof society and protectingthe environment. “Since its foundingin 1883, PHCC hascontinued to buildon its unique heritage andbring members together to advancethe industry,” said PHCC PresidentKeith Bienvenu, Bienvenu BrothersPlumbing, Metaire, La. “We are bothproud of our past accomplishmentsand very much focused on the future.As the industry evolves with newservices, technologies, standards andregulations, PHCC continues toprovide the high level of education,training and advocacy that plumbing

and HVACR contractors need in anevolved business environment. Thathas been the hallmark of ourassociation throughout its 130-yearhistory, and it continues today.” During PHCC’s April 25-26Legislative Conference, theassociation will honor the 125founding contractors thathad the vision and courageto join together to address

industry issues.The centerpiece ofthis event will be a

reception on Capitol Hill named inrecognition of Col. George D. Scott,the first president of PHCC.National legislators have been invitedto join PHCC members in thecelebration. The anniversary observance will

continue during CONNECT 2012(www.phccweb.org/connect) Oct. 3-5 in Philadelphia. There, PHCCmembers can not only join in theanniversary celebrations, but also

participate in a variety of seminarsand networking opportunities thatcan help discover modern-day waysto continue the strong tradition ofprotecting the health and safety ofthe nation today.Look for updates on the 130th

anniversary celebration atwww.phccweb.org.

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PHcc celebrates 130 yearsof professionalism

cannistraro counts downto 50 with new blogWATERTOWN, MASS. — The year2012 marks J.C. Cannistraro’s49th year in the mechanicalconstruction industry. During thattime the company has beennationally recognized for its BIMand prefabrication capabilities, itsquality work on complex projects,its corporate responsibility and itsreputation for “building withintelligence.” Cannistraro is launching an all-

new blog titled “Building withIntelligence 365.” Visit online atwww.cannistraro.com.

DOCUMENTEDSUCCESS.The RIDGID® micro CA-300 was developed with your success in mind. It allows you to get the perfect view behind walls, in pumps, near leaks, and around other hard to reach spaces. Easily document what you see with images, audio and video. Successful documentation today leads to successful jobs every day of the year. The CA-300 helps you work better, faster and smarter. SEE IT. FIND IT. SOLVE IT.®

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D I A G N O S T I C S P R E S S I N G P I P E & T U B E T O O L S D R A I N M A I N T E N A N C E P O W E R T O O L S

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NORTH ANDOVER, MASS. — Wattsannounced thatMalcolm Kinnaird,vice president, channelmanagement &marketing for NorthAmerica, has movedinto an expanded roleas vice president, sales,

watts expands kinnaird’s role

MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO — Dahlrecently announced severalenhancements to the company’ssales team that will position thecompany for growth. GaylenAnderson will transition to his newrole as an independent salesrepresentative for Dahl and ThomasHusebye will take on the role of vicepresident of sales. Dahl also recentlywelcomed Mark Trenbeth as OEMsales manager.

Dahl makes changesto sales team

LAKEWOOD, N.J. — ComponentHardware Group has appointed LoisSchneck as director of marketing andpromoted Kevin Tumpey to businessdevelopment and sales operationsmanager.

marketing and businessdevelopment — Americas. Kinnairdwill take on new responsibility forthe U.S, Canadian, Mexican andLatin American marketdevelopment and new business andchannel partnerships for thecompany. He will take a broaderleadership role in defining thecompany’s vertical market andacquisition strategies across theAmericas.

component Hardwareexpands sales/marketingteam

ROLLING MEADOWS, ILL. — PlumbingManufacturers International’s

PMi welcomes newcommittee co-chairs

(PMI’s) president, Stewart Yang ofKohler Co., has made his selectionsfor two chairs to serve on PMI’sFocus and Standing Committees. Thethree-year terms for these positionsofficially begin with the 2012 PMISpring Conference. His decision wasbased upon PMI meeting attendance,leadership, expertise and an overallcommitment to PMI.The Marketing Council will again

be co-chaired by Rick Reles, vicepresident of kitchens, cast iron andcorporate accounts worldwide forKohler Co., who is back for a secondterm. Reles will serve alongsidecurrent co-chair Tim Doyle ofAmerikam. The Government Affairs Standing

Committee will be co-chaired byDaniel Gleiberman, manager ofproduct compliance and governmentaffairs for Sloan Valve Company.Gleiberman will co-chair thecommittee with David MacNair ofInSinkErator.

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CHICAGO— The American Societyof Plumbing Engineers (ASPE)

regrets to informthe plumbingindustry thatDonald F.Dickerson, PE,CPD, FASPE,one of thefounders ofASPE, died onSaturday, March24, at TarzanaMemorial

Hospital. Don was the lovinghusband of Maria Dickerson andMarion Randall Dickerson, father toChristine, April, and RichardDickerson, and grandfather to EricTrafton and Heather Dickerson.Don was instrumental in foundingASPE in 1964. He served as theSociety’s first President during its

beginnings in Los Angeles and lateras its first National President. Donfrequently spoke of ASPE as hisfourth child. “Don loved the Society,and all he wanted was for ASPE tosucceed and become a major forcewithin the plumbing industry,” sayscurrent ASPE President William F.Hughes Jr., CPD, LEED AP, FASPE. Don was also very involved withthe International Association ofPlumbing and Mechanical Officials(IAPMO). He served as the chair ofthe ANSI A40 Safety Requirementsfor Plumbing Committee (theoriginal American NationalStandard), accredited by theAmerican National StandardsInstitute, and was a voting memberon the IAPMO Uniform PlumbingCode Technical Committee for morethan four decades. IAPMO CEO andWorld Plumbing Council Chair GP

Russ Chaney says, “Don created alasting legacy to which all of us canaspire. Individuals like Don onlycome around once in a century. Hisvision and dedication to our industryhave never been replicated, and hisdesire to see ASPE as a leadingorganization in our industry is nowbeing fulfilled. I will miss Don’sperspective and his unstinting desireto ensure that our industry is thevery best it can be.”Don served as a California StateBuilding Commissioner for the Stateof California Plumbing Code. Hefounded Donald F. DickersonAssociates in 1961, and his companyis now celebrating its 50th year ofexistence. “Don and his expertise, critique,and wit will be missed by his family,the Society, and the plumbingindustry at large,” says Hughes.

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In Memoriam: Donald F. Dickerson, P.E., CPD

The recent rebound of American employment,economic expansion and a quickened pulse of grossdomestic product growth is a direct result of the

"exceptionalism" of tens of thousands of America’sindependent businesses.

Although Big Government, Big Businesses and "Big"politicians are quick to lay claim to this unexpected, ifstill fragile, turn of events, my contacts with severalhundred of these astute "small" business magnates have

convinced me that this backbone of America’slong-term economic durability is primarily

the result of privately-owned manufacturers, distributors,contractors, retailers and service organizations taking the“bull by the horns” in an iffy economic climate.

While the Beltway benevolence bubble attempts toright all wrongs by inflating all-time high debt and deficits,the courageous independent men and women heading uporganizations ranging from minuscule to those with $1billion annual revenues, have taken it upon themselves tomove the great U.S. value-added machine forward, despitethe increasing impediment of cascading governmentalfinancial and business-hostile regulations.

While multi-national, multi-billion dollarconglomerates have become a meaningful fact of life inprojecting the U.S. into world leadership, it’s theprivately-owned businesses that have made their standwithin the borders of the 50 states and that know theirspecific business sectors far better than super corporategiants that need international businesses and are primarilyfocused on the bottom line.

With the lightning-fast changes necessary in this nano-second age of staying ahead of the game, it takes a "Thebuck stops here." attitude to make the crucial hands-ondecisions as world events coincide with domestic

happenings to redirect the status quo at an ever-quickening pace.

These factors have resulted in energy, export,agricultural and technological breakthroughs that havecreated additional job opportunities. Such payrolladditions are matched by the increased revenuesgenerated by such outstanding, independently owned andmanaged companies. With over two-thirds of the 140million potential U.S. workforce encompassed within the"independent business" environment, consumerconfidence, the psychological drumbeat of popularoptimism, is beginning to improve as the first signs ofspring start to beckon.

All Americans owe a debt of gratitude to the continuedcourage of these business titans, who never gave up, buthave always looked ahead.

Apartment demand strength acceleratesbuilding momentum

The surging demand for rental apartments thatsurprised even most optimistic observers in 2011 is duefor continued strength throughout this year and possiblythrough 2013 and 2014.

The swing toward rentals is tangible; it is supplementedby those unable to get mortgages and those who feel thatrock bottom has not yet been reached. The apartmentvacancy rate, which had dropped to 5.2% in 2011, isexpected to drop even further in the upcoming months.This trend has been accompanied by rental increases,especially in New York, Chicago and San Francisco, whererents have skyrocketed 8 to 10%.

With demand heating up, builders are increasinglyattracted to this post-recession phenomenon. After hittinga 78% apartment unit expansion in 2011, another 25% isexpected to fatten up multi-family unit statistics this year.This could cause concern with an overbuilding bubble,depending on whether the rental mania is a passing fancyor a more permanent feature in the U.S. housing sectordevelopment.

As the federal government attempts to facilitate a moreorderly foreclosure approach by requiring banks toarbitrarily reduce outstanding mortgages, and as animproving economy attracts low interest, low price buyers,more potential home buyers may be coming back into themarketplace. This may cause the ingredients of anoverbuilding bubble of new apartments to develop.

How these discordant factors come into play willdetermine whether the current rental fascination is atemporary expedient or represents a temporary detour inlong-term home buying.

U.S. creative, technological, ideologicalgenius unmatched

While recent job improvements, especially in themanufacturing arena, are grabbing most media headlines,


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BY MORRIE BESCHLOSS CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Independent U.S. businessesproviding economic leadership

As the federal governmentattempts to facilitate amore orderly foreclosureapproach by requiringbanks to arbitrarilyreduce outstandingmortgages, and as animproving economyattracts low interest,low price buyers, morepotential home buyersmay be coming back intothe marketplace.

e Turn to BESCHLOSS on p 22


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| PVF | CONTINUED FROM PAGE 20

the unsurpassed creative geniuses nurtured withinAmerica’s 50 states is becoming the “‘breakthrough”aspect of America’s exceptionalism within the currentturmoil, typifying an economy barely able to get off itshaunches.

In reflecting on the 300-year history from "agriculturalsubsistence" through the evolution of the industrial age,into the era of post-mechanization technology, thecurrent proliferation of previously unknown ideasbreakthrough is practically an American monopoly.

The Newtons, Galileos, DaVincis, Einsteins and Wattsmay have emanated from Europe’s bosom, but the BillGates, Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerbergs, Eric Schmidts andmany others are as all-American as Monday NightFootball, apple pie and the Stars and Stripes.

In contemplating the particular climate, genesis andcharacteristics that have nurtured such a historical leapforward, the following outstanding aspects come to mind:

1. No particular nationality, cultural heritage, religiousfaith or economic philosophy can lay claim to theseedbed that has produced such a disproportionatelysuccessful cultivating flourish. Within this diversity, andthe admixture of the co-mingling of its best and brightest,has emerged technological, artistic and ideologicalintensity unmatched anywhere in the world, separately orcumulatively.

2) Despite the current U.S. domestic mountain ofdisputation, monetary restraints and anti-intellectualconfrontation, America’s leading universities are the mostsought after by the world’s academicians and studentsalike. Even with the obviously transparent clash ofconfrontational ideologies, the outburst of acceleratinginnovations, not even dreamed of a generation ago, areblooming forth with breathless rapidity. Compared to allthe world’s competing nations, this has provided theadmixture from which unbridled genius is born.

3) Most important are the openness of discussion andthe lack of prejudice against youthful endeavors that hasmade it possible for a sub-40s generation to climb to thetop of the heap and be lauded for its practicality of ideas,rather than subdued by the traditional devotion todecades of experience. These may have provided age-oldwisdom, but hardly the uninhibited passion of explosivenew ideas. These are unfettered by the strictures ofinnovative limitations, often a visible restraint to theemergence of a "brave new world" beset by increasingpolitical correctness.

New home buying no longer fashionableWhen the late President Herbert Hoover — long the

demon of the 1930s Great Depression — uttered hisdefining slogan, "A chicken in every pot, a car in everygarage." it sounded on increasingly deaf ears as the turgidDepression years wore on.

A repetition of this ironic mandate seems increasinglyapplicable to the home-owning mania that transcendedthe post-World War II period for the next 60 years.Million-a-year new home sales had become a targetbefore the turn of the millennium and the number wasonly expected to grow higher as the new century wore on.

As the annualized "bump" over the 250,000 low seemsto have been exceeded in the last quarter 2011, optimisticobservers believe this slump is strictly attributable to theeconomic collapse and will come back as long-term

recovery hits its stride.But don’t bet on it. Like other long-term fashions (such

as, everyone must have a college education), homeowning is becoming increasingly unfashionable.

Personal surveys, as well as more reputable nationalones, indicate that home owning is overwhelminglybecoming regarded as a liability rather than an asset. Thisis partially due to the shock of seeing hundreds ofthousands, if not millions, of people seeing their resalevalues slip below the cost of outstanding mortgages. Thishas engendered an attitude that such mortgagesthemselves are a dangerous liability, leading to short salesand foreclosures.

With national employment hovering near an all-timehigh rate and personal incomes appearing stuck in themud for most job holders, the shift to rentals seems tohave become a permanent style change that’s notexpected to reverse in the foreseeable future. Even thepossibility that hallowed mortgage interest deductionsmay be reduced or eliminated increasingly hovers overthe shrinking number of potential home buyers.

The trend toward rentals is having an increasinglysalutary effect on multi-family apartment buildings in themajor cities, as well as on the maintenance of existinghomes in the suburbs and rural areas. Even moreimportant is a surge toward energy-saving homeimprovements as well as toward expansion andmaintenance of existing homes.

Although this will never replace the jobs of thousandsof construction workers and building developers who lostpositions in the wake of the 2008 mid-year crash,mechanical contractors and expert craftsmen are findingnew opportunities in the residential building arena, evenif the pace is still frustratingly anemic.

Federal Reserve’s six-year interest ratefreeze carries dangerous pitfalls

The Fed Fund’s 0 to 0.25% unprecedented interest ratefreeze, begun in December 2008 and due to extendthroughout 2014, was initiated to create lending bases tofacilitate more vigorous U.S. economic growth and fasterrecovery.

But, as has been proven by actual performance sincethis low-ball Fed Funds approach was manifested threeyears ago, attractive monetary availability has hadprevious little impact on meaningful growth. Singlefamily homes, start-up businesses and personal creditaccess have been almost negligible in stimulating agenerally moribund economy or in rescuing millions ofAmericans mired in the miasma of poverty.

Furthermore, such "interest-free money" has createdthe following unintended consequences:

* It has greatly restricted lending policies by mostcommercial banks, which continue to be rewarded by theFederal Reserve Board for any financial reserves that theymaintain above those that are required by Fed mandate.

* The continuation of practically no return on moneysaved by individuals, especially those verging on or intoretirement. It literally forces those needing return oninvestments to take risks well beyond the conservativeapproach recommended to prudent retirees.

* With trillions of dollars reposing on corporate, as wellas banks’ balance sheets, and even per capita savings ratesreturning to a positive posture, the resultant surplus of

e Turn to BESCHLOSS on p 24


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cheap money has hardly not become a factor dragging amoribund economy out of the hole in which it seems tobe dug.

Like all institutions, the Federal Reserve Board relies onhistorical repetition as a guide to future improvement. Asa celebrated student of the Great Depression, Fedchairman Ben Bernanke dwells on how the first phase ofthat economic disaster came to an end in 1937. This wasmet immediately by higher taxes and government budgetcutbacks to bring into balance the excessive governmentspending programs that had helped to lead the U.S. out ofthe worst aspects of the post 1920s deflation era. Thispolicy resulted in a new depressing phase, with only theonset of the Second World War and America’s role as"arsenal of democracy" reversing the tide.

It’s everyone’s hope that the Federal Reserve Board’screditable leadership will prove up to the task of notrepeating past mistakes. The wisdom of the Feds’ actionwill go a long way toward establishing the right path forAmerica’s long-term recovery.

U.S. manufacturing facesincreasing skills crisis

The good news brightening the outlook for U.S.manufacturing is that, after 12 years of declines, 109,000

workers were added to America’s payrolls in 2010, and aneven larger number, 237,000, in 2011. To top that off,50,000 more joined manufacturing payrolls in January ofthis year alone.

But the bad news is a schism has developed betweenskilled job requirements and availability. This growing50% vacancy rate has now reached 600,000, stultifyingthe nation’s effort to reach parity between job openingsand potential employee availability.

The simple answer lies in the accelerated changes in thetype of manufacturing efforts prevalent in today’s UnitedStates and its worthy efforts to broaden the scope of itsindustrial base ever wider in the times ahead.

According to professional analyses of thosemanufacturers with the widest vacancy rates, thesebemoan skills deficiencies in such specialties as machinists,specific crafts training and technological knowhow,matching the changing priorities demanded by residualU.S. manufacturers and those anxious to bring productionor servicing "back into house" within the 50 United States.

Much of this distortion is due to both increasedproductivity and the changing nature of manufacturingactivity now taking place in America’s once-dominantindustrial sector. Gone are such major assembly line typejobs as existed until the mid-1950s, covering steel and

textile mills, automotive,various types of metalfabrication, electronics andan even greater number ofworkers in mining andutilities.

This dislocation of jobopenings, as well as themajor leap forwardorchestrated by thetechnological evolutiontaking place in America’soverall industrialstratosphere, has elicited adesperate need for agovernment-subsidizedprivate sector effort. This isnecessary to massively traincandidates for the multi-million offerings that are dueto be created, in addition tothose already in existence, inthe years ahead.

This frustration may betotally unrequited under afederal government thatneither understands nor feelsobligated to put such anobvious job-filling andindustrial expansion systemin motion. While punditslike me may recite theobvious, it will take anational leadership bothqualified and motivated tomake "skills training"befitting today’smanufacturing needs acritical priority. l


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With jobs slowly comingback and the recession’sstranglehold loosening its

grip, some industry experts arecautiously optimistic that theeconomy is moving in the rightdirection. The general concensus ofthe respondents from the 2012 Top100 was that 2011 was a rough roadbut things are moving forward, albeitat a slow pace. Last year’s reports ofdecreased margins, reduced backlogsand increased competition for bids arehopefully just that, in the rear view.It’s going to take some time, andrealistically, the economy may not toreturn to what it was in years past.Every year Phc News conducts its

Top 100 Contractors listing. And,every year dozens of stories aregenerated based on the results ofthose responding. In what can bedescribed as a tough past couple ofyears, economically speaking, it is niceto hear success stories from the field.

Phc News recently caught up withone success story in particular, RKMechanical, Denver, which actuallyreported a double-digit percentagechange increase in total revenuefrom the previous year. RKMechanical (No. 22 on the 2012 Top100 Listing, page 28) has positioneditself for success by diversificationand an increased investment withinthe industry and its businessrelationships.

Rocky Mountain highFormed in 1963 as a small

plumbing contractor in northeastNebraska, RK Mechanical has growninto a true industry leader throughinnovation, flexibility anddiversification. The company wasincorporated in Colorado in 1985and provides contracting, service,steel, fabrication and oil and gas tocommercial, industrial and multi-family residential markets. With abusiness foundation rooted incontracting, building services andsteel, it provides customers withintegrated, end-to-end solutions onprojects varying size, type,complexity and location. RK Mechanical has used the down

economy as a unique opportunity tore-invest in its corporateinfrastructure, review its long-termplans and goals, and more clearly

define its targeted path.By investing inpersonnel development,equipment and realestate (RK recentlyopened a secondfabrication facility inHenderson, Colo.) RKMechanical solidlypositioned itself forfuture growth throughdiversification.“Diversify,” saysBarbara Jacobs,marketing manager, RKMechanical, whengiving advice ondealing with thispaticularly rougheconomy. “Thinkinnovatively about allof the options outthere. What you’vealways done, how youalways have done itmay no longer work inthis new economy.Explore other options— new markets, newcustomers, newservices, newtechnologies, new accreditations(federal qualifications) or even a newapproach/way of thinking. It’s easy toget comfortable with what’s familiarbut it’s important to remain nimbleenough to adapt to the evolvingmarket and customer requirements.”

Employees — the faceof the companyRK Mechanical recognizes that its

people are its No. 1 asset. “We are arelationship-based business andunderstand that our success is adirect derivative of the success andsatisfaction of our employees. Ourcorporate culture is one of hard workand endless opportunity — we don’tbelieve in a ‘status-quo,’” says Jacobs.Instead, by investing in ongoingtraining, personal and professionaldevelopment, RK cultivates anenvironment rooted in advancement,competitiveness, balance and overallwell being.As a national and international

contractor, RK Mechanical is capableof successfully meeting thechallenges of any project regardlessof any location. RK Mechanical uses

its two centrally located fabricationfacilities — Denver and Henderson— and wholly-owned transportationfleet to prefabricate and deliver80%+ of the mechanical systems itinstalls. Prefabrication not onlymitigates the on-site challengesposed by geography and weather, thecontrolled environment also allowsfor heightened safety and qualityoversight. In addition, prefabricationmeans fewer personnel and hoursexpended on site constructingvarious assemblies which ultimatelytranslates to savings for the customer.

Giving backActive in its communities for

decades through involvement with anumber of different organizationsand charities, RK Mechanicalrecently established the RKFoundation to more effectivelymanage corporate philanthropicparticipation. Overseen by theKinning family, the RK Foundationallocates both funds and volunteerhours to various deserving local andnational organizations. l


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RK Mechanical was responsible for the majormechanical equipment, including air handling units,primary and secondary pumping systems for heating andcooling, high efficiency condensing hot water boilers,and an air cooled chiller at the Fort Carson PhysicalFitness Facility project, Fort Carson, Colo. RK Mechanicalalso incorporated a solar heating water system based on30% of the domestic water heating load to furtherimprove efficiency.

RK Mechanical: diversification and flexibilitykeys to success

| TOP 100 CONTRACTORS |

e See Top 100 Listing on p 28

BY JOHN MESENBRINK

Fabricated Systems. Worry-free from start to fi nish.

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Our Fabricated Systems provide customers with limited risks and locked in outstanding performance. All of the system components—from pumps to controls to piping—are engineered to work together, and factory skid mounted to produce superior performance in the fi eld. Our factory packaged skid systems offer control over installation quality and single source responsibility. A turnkey solution—because you have better things to do with your time.

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TOP 100 CONTRACTORS

1. EMCOR Group, Inc. ...............................Norwalk, CT

2. Comfort Systems, USA ............................Houston,TX

3. ARS/Rescue Rooter................................Memphis, TN

4. ACCO Engineered Systems* ..................Glendale, CA

5. McKinstry..................................................Seattle, WA

6. Southland Industries ...................................Dulles, VA

7. TDIndustries ...............................................Dallas, TX

8. Kinetic Systems, Inc.* ..........................Union City, CA

9. Roto Rooter* .......................................Cincinnati, OH

10. John E. Green Co. ...........................Highland Park, MI

11. Limbach Facility Services ......................Pittsburgh, PA

12. BMW Constructors Inc........................Indianapolis, IN

13. J.H. Kelly LLC.......................................Longview, WA

14. Mr. Rooter LLC............................................Waco, TX

15. The Brandt Companies, LLC................Carrollton, TX

16. The Hill Group ..................................Franklin Park, IL

17. U.S. Engineering Co...........................Kansas City, MO

18. Harris Companies ................................Saint Paul, MN

19. J.F. Ahern Co.....................................Fond Du Lac, WI

20. John W. Danforth Co. .........................Tonawanda, NY

21. Environmental Air Systems ................Greensboro, NC

22. RK Mechanical Inc....................................Denver, CO

23. Durr Mechanical Construction, Inc. ......New York, NY

24. Mechanical Inc. .........................................Freeport, IL

25. Murphy Company .................................St. Louis, MO

26. Egan Company ..............................Brooklyn Park, MN

27. W.E. Bowers*.........................................Beltsville, MD

28. Coastal Mechanical Group ...................Melbourne, FL

29. Harder Mechanical Contractors* .............Portland, OR

30. P1 Group*..................................................Lenexa, KS

31. Joule' Industrial Contractors..................Gibbstown, NJ

32. MMC Contractors, Inc. ...................Overland Park, KS

33. Metropolitan Mechanical* ................Eden Prairie, MN

34. Sauer Holdings*.....................................Pittsburgh, PA

35. Fire & Life Safety America* ..................Richmond, VA

36. Murray Company ..................Rancho Dominguez, CA

37. J.C. Cannistraro, LLC .........................Watertown, MA

38. VSC Fire & Security, Inc...........................Ashland, VA

39. Benjamin Franklin Franchises*...................Sarasota, FL

40. Lee Company...........................................Franklin, TN

41. Grunau Co.*.........................................Oak Creek, WI

42. Letsos Company......................................Houston, TX

43. Corval Group, Inc. ...................................St. Paul, MN

44. Dinamek Industries/Mexico .......................Austin, TX

45. Critchfield Mechanical Inc.* ....................San Jose, CA

46. Pacific Rim Mechanical Contractors, Inc...San Diego,CA

47. Hermanson Co., LLP*...................................Kent, WA

48.WJ O’Neil Company.................................Livonia, MI

49. Herman Goldner Co. Inc. ...................Philadelphia, PA

50. University Mechanical Contractors Inc*....Mukilteo, WA

51. Colonial/Webb Contractors*.................Richmond, VA

52.Warwick Plbg & Htg. Corp.*..........Newport News, VA

53. Pioneer Pipe*..........................................Marietta, OH

54. Baker Group ........................................Des Moines, IA

55. Ivey Mechanical* ...................................Kosciusko, MS

56. Charles E. Jarrell Contracting ..............Earth City, MO

57. Corrigan Co.*.........................................St. Louis, MO

58. Dorvin D. Leis Co.Inc................................Kahului, HI

59. Pierce Associates Inc. ...........................Alexandria, VA

60.Nashville Machine Co. Inc. .....................Nashville, TN

61. CCI Mechanical Inc. .......................Salt Lake City, UT

62. Great Lakes Plumbing & Heating...............Chicago, IL

63. BCH Mechanical Inc. ....................................Largo, FL

64. Dominion Mechanical Contractors Inc. ......Fairfax, VA

65. A.O. Reed & Co.*..................................San Diego, CA

66.W.G. Tomko Inc.* ..................................Finleyville, PA

67. Martin Petersen Co. Inc.*..........................Kenosha, WI

68.Monterey Mechanical Co. .......................Oakland, CA

69.Western Allied Corp....................Santa Fe Springs, CA

70. Upchurch Plumbing Inc. ....................Greenwood, MS

71. Wayne Automatic Fire Sprinklers Inc...........Ocoee, FL

72. The DiGesare Group ........................Schenectady, NY

73. Goyette Mechanical Co..................................Flint, MI

74. Gem Plumbing & Heating ..........................Lincoln, RI

75. Hill York Corp.* ............................Fort Lauderdale, FL

76. Rock Hill Mechanical Corp.* .................St. Louis, MO

77. Nash Inc. .................................................Coleman, FL

78. DECCO, Inc.* .......................................Brookline, NH

79. Sagamore Plumbing & Heating, Inc. ...Weymouth, MA

80. Johnson & & Jordan ..........................Scarborough, ME

81. H & H Industries Inc................................Madison, WI

82. AZCO Inc.*............................................Appleton, WI

83. Robert Gibb & Sons Inc. ..............................Fargo, ND

84. R. T. Moore Company Inc. ..................Indianapolis, IN

85. CJ Erickson Plumbing Co. ..............................Alsip, IL

86. Cullum Constructors Inc. ..........North Charleston, SC

87. Comfort Engineers Inc. ...........................Durham, NC

88.My Plumber Heating & Cooling .............Manassas, VA

89. Ewing-Doherty Mechanical Inc.............Bensenville, IL

90. Peed Plumbing Inc. .................................Manassas, VA

91. Nagelbush Mechanical*.................Fort Lauderdale, FL

92. Campito Plumbing & Heating Inc. ...........Latham, NY

93. McDaniel Fire Systems LLC ..................Valparaiso, IN

94. Van Sant Plumbing ............................Mount Airy, MD

95. Gulf States Plumbing & Mech. Inc. .........Houston, TX

96. Bears Plumbing ...........................................Naples, FL

97. Caguas Mechanical Contractor, Inc ............Caguas, PR

98. Village Plumbing and Home Services......Houston, TX

99. Senninger Plumbing Company...............Louisville, KY

100 Lawrence Plumbing LLC....................Vandergrift, PA

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TOP CONTRACTORS BY REGION

REVENUE SPENT BY CATEGORY

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WestCOMPANY CITY/STATE

1. ACCO Engineered Systems.....................Glendale, CA (4)2. McKinstry........................................................Seattle, WA (5)3. Kinetic Systems, Inc...............................Union City, CA (8)4. J.H. Kelly..................................................Longview, WA (13)5. RK Mechanical............................................Denver, CO (22)6. Harder Mechanical Contractors ..........Portland, OR (29)7. Murray Company ................Rancho Dominguez, CA (36)8. Critchfield Mechanical Inc....................San Jose, CA (45)9. Pacific Rim Mechanical ..............................San Diego (46)10. Hermanson Co., LLP....................................Kent, WA (47)

SouthCOMPANY CITY/STATE

1. Comfort Systems USA ...............................Houston, TX (2)2. ARS/Rescue Rooter ..................................Memphis, TN (3)3. TDIndustries......................................................Dallas, TX (7)4. Mr. Rooter LLC ...............................................Waco, TX (14)5. The Brandt Companies, LLC ...............Carrollton, TX (15)6. Environmental Air Systems .............Greensboro, NC (21)7. Coastal Mechanical Group .................Melbourne, FL (28)8. Benjamin Franklin Franchises.................Sarasota, FL (39)9. Lee Company ............................................Franklin, TN (40)10. Letsos Company ....................................Houston, TX (42)

MidwestCOMPANY CITY/STATE

1. Roto Rooter ..........................................Cincinnati, Ohio (9)2. John E. Green Co. ..........................Highland Park, MI (10)3. BMW Constructors Inc. .....................Indianapolis, IN (12)4. The Hill Group.....................................Franklin Park, IL (16)5. U.S. Engineering Co. .........................Kansas City, MO (17)6. Harris Companies.................................Saint Paul, MN (18)7. J.F. Ahern Co. .....................................Fond Du Lac, WI (19)8. Mechanical Inc. ..........................................Freeport, IL (24)9. Murphy Company...................................St. Louis, MO (25)10. Egan Company ...........................Brooklyn Park, MN (26)

EastCOMPANY CITY/STATE

1. EMCOR Group Inc. .....................................Norwalk, CT (1)2. Southland Industries ......................................Dulles, VA (6)3. Limabach Facility Services ...................Pittsburgh, PA (11)4. John W. Danforth Co........................Tonawanda, NY (20)5. Durr Mechanical Construction, Inc.....New York, NY (23)6. W.E. Bowers.............................................Beltsville, MD (27)7. Joule’ Industrial Contractors...............Gibbstown, NJ (31)8. Sauer Holdings ......................................Pittsburgh, PA (34)9. Fire & Life Safety America ...................Richmond, VA (35)10. J.C. Cannistraro, LLC .......................Watertown, MA (37)

Biggest GainersCompany %change

1. Environmental Air 88%2. Dinamek Ind. 49%3. WJ O’Neil 42%4. Peed Plbg. 41%5. Pacific Rim 38%6. Egan Co. 36%7. John W. Danforth 34%8. Dominion Mech. 30%9. BMW Const. 28%10. Ewing-Doherty 25%11. John E. Green 25%12. RK Mechanical 24%13. U.S. Engineering 21%14. Johnson & Jordan 21%15. McKinstry 20%16. Herman Goldner 20%17. Gulf States 20%18. DiGesare Group 18%19. Robert Gibb & Son 18%20. Western Allied 18%21. H&H Industries 17%22.Upchurch Plbg. 16%23. Bears Plbg. 15%24. My Plumber 13%25. The Hill Group 13%

PlumbingRank Revenue1. Mr. Rooter LLC ...........................................................$220,000,0002. Comfort Systems, USA..............................................$199,370,0003. Corval Group, Inc. .....................................................$158,000,0004. Southland Industries ...................................................$95,000,0005. The Brandt Companies, LLC .....................................$56,000,0006. RK Mechanical Inc. .......................................................$51,982,0557. John E. Green Co. .......................................................$50,000,0008. U.S. Engineering Co. ...................................................$43,000,0009. Murray Company........................................................$38, 290,00010. John W. Danforth Co. ...............................................$37,000,000

HydronicsRank Revenue1. Mechanical Inc. .............................................................$61,256,0002. MMC Contractors, Inc. ...............................................$45,000,0003. The Hill Group ..............................................................$41,000,0004. Harris Companies........................................................$40,000,0005. Herman Goldner Co. Inc. ...........................................$36,100,0006. John W. Danforth Co..................................................$33,000,0007. J.F. Ahern Co. .................................................................$31,830,1808. Durr Mechanical Construction Inc............................$27,773,0009. Murray Company.........................................................$27, 350,00010. BMW Constructors Inc. ............................................$26,900,000

PipingRank Revenue1. BMW Constructors Inc..............................................$145,260,0002. John E. Green Co......................................................$140,000,0003. Southland Industries .................................................$128,000,0004. Joule’ Industrial Contractors....................................$105,000,0005. J.H. Kelly LLC.................................................................$97,604,0006. U.S. Engineering Co. ...................................................$95,000,0007. Murphy Company .........................................................$83,347,5508. Durr Mechanical Construction Inc...........................$80,644,3209. The Brandt Companies, LLC .....................................$79,000,00010. J.C. Cannistraro, LLC................................................$75, 600,000

Waste/Wastewater TreatmentRank Revenue1. The Hill Group ..............................................................$55,000,0002. J.F. Ahern Co..................................................................$53,489,4333. Durr Mechanical Construction Inc...........................$41,508,0004. John W. Danforth Co. ................................................$40,000,0005. Monterey Mechanical Co...........................................$34,400,0006. Dinamek Industries/Mexico ......................................$20,000,0007. Corval Group, Inc. ........................................................$12,000,0008. Mechanical Inc. ............................................................$10,944,0009. Murray Company .........................................................$10,940,00010. J.H. Kelly LLC...............................................................$10,849,000

INFORMATION PROVIDED BELOW IS BASED UPONRESPONSES PROVIDED BY TOP 100 CONTRACTORS

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The Edith Green – WendellWyatt Federal Building indowntown Portland, Ore., is

currently undergoing a massivemodernization that will make it anoperationally and economicallyefficient high-performance greenbuilding. The 439,000-square-foothigh rise is operated by the U.S.General Services Administration(GSA) and houses offices of theFederal Bureau of Investigation, theDrug Enforcement Agency and theInternal Revenue Service, amongothers. The building was commissioned in

1974. Many of its systems were atthe end of their useful life andneeded to be replaced. The $139million modernization project, partof the 2009 American Recovery andReinvestment Act, will makenecessary upgrades to the agingbuilding infrastructure, whileachieving a 50% reduction in energyuse from the existing building. Thenewly renovated building willinclude a number of efficient,sustainable and innovativetechnologies that are expected toachieve a LEED Platinum rating.

Pipe prioritiesInterface Engineering,

headquartered in Portland, withseveral offices worldwide, is servingas the project’s plumbing engineer.

Based on its reputation for idealism,ecological sensitivity, technicalexpertise and cost-efficient designover its 40-year history, the firm wasan obvious fit for the project.According to the firm’s Portland-based senior plumbing designer,Dennis Kangas, CPD, the originalsystems were old and were usingmore energy than updated systemswould. He said that energy savingand sustainability measures were toppriorities from the earliest stages ofdesign. The typically overlookedaspect of green building, theplumbing, HVAC and rain harvestingpipe systems, play a large role inachieving those measures.McKinstry, a full-service design,

build, operation and maintenancefirm, is serving as the project’smechanical and plumbing contractor.Project manager Eric Petersonexplained that he wanted to improvethe building’s efficiency whilekeeping an eye on costs. At the start of the project,

Ridgeline Mechanical Salespresented Aquatherm to Interface.Because the project’s goal was aLEED Platinum rating, Aquatherm’spolypropylene-random (PP-R) pipingwas chosen to fulfill the structure’splumbing requirements. Interfaceprincipal, Jon Gray, was quitefamiliar with Aquatherm’s highlyengineered plastic pipe systems,

which have been used around theworld for nearly 40 years in a hugerange of applications.“We have been doing work overseas

for many years, and I had seenAquatherm used on jobs throughoutEurope and the Middle East. I hadalso visited the Aquatherm factory inGermany and seen the product made.I’ve been sold on the product formany years and had been waiting forthe market to ripen. It seemed likethe Edith Green building was aperfect fit,” Gray said. He explainedthat PP-R was ideal for a number ofreasons. “With reclaimed/re-usedwater, using copper is not your firstchoice for rainwater distribution,because the copper will get eaten upby the soft water. With Aquatherm,we were able to use the same pipematerial for potable and non-potablewater, so you’re not mixing pipingmaterials in the system, which cancause a lot of problems. Also, thepricing came in about the same ascopper.”The project needed to follow the

Facilities Standards for the PublicBuildings Service (P-100), whichestablishes design standards andcriteria for new buildings, major andminor alterations and work inhistoric structures for the PublicBuildings Service (PBS) of the GSA.The P-100 stated that no plastic wasallowed, so Interface used a variance


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Piping Needs Met on FederalModernization Project

to allow for Aquatherm’s use. “Weexplained that using this pipe insteadof the other options was going to beto their advantage,” Kangas added,noting that PP-R’s natural insulationvalue (a natural R-value of 1) wasalso a big selling point.

Heat fusion connects pipesystemsMcKinstry used 11/2".-diameter

Aquatherm Climatherm® PP-Rpiping for the building’s new radiantsystem. The Climatherm runs aroundthe perimeter of the building; fusionoutlets connect the perimeter pipinginto the rest of the system. Thefusion outlets were huge labor savers,since they allow installers to simplydrill into the supply pipe then heatfuse the fusion outlet fitting intoplace wherever needed.All Aquatherm pipe is connected

via heat fusion, a process often usedin natural-gas piping because of itsreliability. Heat fusion bonds bothsides of a joint into a single,homogenous material without theuse of chemicals or mechanicalconnections, which eliminatessystemic weaknesses and fail-pointsin the pipe.Because the Green-Wyatt building

was the first project in whichHoward S. Wright and McKinstryhad used Aquatherm on a large scale,“the learning curve for installing it hasbeen steep,” said Bob Blodgette,McKinstry’s plumbing supervisor.“We are getting more comfortablewith it. It can be a bit time-consuming, but recently we havebeen seeing faster times.” For the potable water supply lines,

McKinstry utilized Aquatherm’s 1/2"diameter Greenpipe® pressure piping,

which is especially suited for hot andcold potable water and food-gradeapplications. Corrosion resistantGreenpipe is made withenvironmentally friendly FusiolenPP-R material and is recyclable,energy efficient and PVC-free.

Using gray skies for goodWright wanted to capitalize on the

rain that soaks the Pacific Northwestevery winter. While a graywatersystem was initially considered, itwas determined that substantialwater conservation could beachieved by harvesting the area’sgenerous rainwater. Rainwater isgathered from the main building roof,the PV solar array and plaza leveldrainage. Initially, it was going to bestored in large tanks in the penthouse.That plan was switched to oneincorporating a large storage tank inthe basement, which had previouslybeen the FBI’s shooting range. The

entire shooting range was used as acistern that holds 150,000 – 160,000gallons. The rainwater is UV sterilized and

used in the reclaimed system, withAquatherm’s Lilac pipingtransporting it to low-flow toiletsand urinals. (Lilac is the same PP-Rmaterial as the rest of Aquatherm’sproducts but is colored todifferentiate it from potable water.)Even though Aquatherm PP-Rpiping was relatively new to boththe general contractor and installeron the job, “It has been a matter ofstaying with it,” said Dave Lusher,sales representative for HarringtonIndustrial Plastics, the project’sAquatherm piping distributor.Ridgeline Mechanical Sales workedextensively with Harrington topresent, train and shortenMcKinstry’s learning curve.“Slowly but surely the old-school

people came over and accepted thatAquatherm is a good alternative. It’sone of those situations where thecustomers say, ‘We’ve always usedcarbon steel.’ It’s a paradigm shift forthem,” explained Lusher. McKinstry was also impressed

with the piping system’s warranty.When installed by Aquatherm-trained and certified technicians, thepiping and fittings carry a 10-year,multimillion-dollar warrantycovering product liability, personalinjury, property damage andincidentals.While the building will not likely

be completed until sometime in2013, as of October 2011 McKinstryhad installed Aquatherm pipe for thebuilding’s first eight stories or so forthe domestic, radiant and harvestedrainwater. In all, the firm estimatesthat more than 130,000 linear feet ofAquatherm PP-R piping will be usedon the project. l

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As of October 2011 McKinstry had installed Aquatherm pipe for the building’s firsteight stories or so for the domestic, radiant and harvested rainwater.

Aquatherm’s Lilac piping is colored to differentiate potable water use. It isestimated that more than 130,000 linear feet of Aquatherm PP-R piping will beused on the project. Aquatherm’s PP-R material is recyclable, energy efficient andPVC-free.


Piping systems in earthquake-prone areas are exposed toforces and movements beyond

normal operating conditions. Seismicforces can cause extensive damagewhen piping systems are notdesigned to accommodate thismovement. Unique design benefits inbeing able to provide both rigid andflexible pipe joints have enabledgrooved piping systems to become astandard pipe joining method inHVAC, plumbing, fire protection,mining, industrial, utilities, oilfields,water and wastewater systemsaround the world. This joiningmethod is also widely accepted byengineers on projects in areas withseismic activity because of its provenreliability and integrity. Thefollowing article provides a guidelinefor HVAC piping system design forseismic conditions.

Grooved mechanical pipingcomponents can be used toaccommodate piping movementgenerated by seismic forces in avariety of piping conditions, howevereach must be considered individuallyduring the design phase to ensure theproducts are properly utilized toaccommodate the anticipatedmovement. These conditions include:

• Code-regulated systems withadequate earthquake bracing

• Unregulated systems with littleor no earthquake bracing

• Seismic joint connectionsbetween independently movingsections

• Buried systemsThere are a number of grooved

products designed to accommodatemovement generated by seismicforces. Some even include built-instress relief within the groovedmechanical joint. The four basiccomponents used in the groovedpipe joining method include thegrooved pipe, the housing segments,the bolts/nuts and the gasket. Thegrooved pipe can be prepared witheither a roll groove for a standardwall and lighter wall pipe, or a cutgroove for standard wall and heavierwall pipe. Both roll- and cut-groovedpipe will provide the same pressurerating and mechanical strength forstandard wall pipe.

The coupling housing performsseveral functions as an integral part

of the pipe joint. The housingsegments fully enclose the elastomergasket and secure it into position fora proper seal. They also engage thepipe around the full pipecircumference to create a unifiedjoint. The bolts and nuts hold thehousings together around the pipe,while the synthetic elastomer gasketcreates a triple-seal. A tension seal iscreated as the gasket is stretchedaround the pipe, and a compressionseal is created as the couplinghousing presses the gasket onto thepipe. Finally, the sealing lips of thegasket are forced down onto the pipeend when the system is energized.All of these features result in a leak-tight, self-restrained joint.

Couplings can be quickly andeasily assembled and disassembled.This, in combination with a union atevery joint, reduces labor costs andpermits easy system access formaintenance, repair, componentreplacement and retrofits. Fittingscan also be loosely assembled androtated to line up with matingcomponents before the couplings aretightened. This eases work in tightplaces and around existing pipe,structures, and equipment.

Grooved mechanical pipe joiningsystems provide many mechanicaldesign features that are useful insystems exposed to earthquakeconditions. The flexibility of flexible

grooved couplings reduces thetransmission of stresses through apiping system, while the gasketdampens vibration. When flexibilityis not desired, rigid couplings can beused. Flexible couplings providediscontinuity at each joint, whichhelps minimize pipeline stressesgenerated during system movement.Where design considerations permit,flexible couplings can be used atchanges in direction to provide stressrelief through deflection for smalldifferential movements.

The main approach to piping abuilding to accommodate seismicactivity is to use a rigid piping systemthat will minimize overall pipingmovement. The use of all flexiblecouplings could result in excessivemovement that may affect otherpipe and equipment, despite beingwithin the capability of the groovedcoupling. Typically, more than 95percent of the grooved couplingsused in a system will be rigid, whilethe remainder will be groovedflexible couplings, which allow forlinear, angular and rotationalmovement in areas as needed.

When large, differential movementbetween piping sections isanticipated such as at buildingseismic joints, seismic swing joints,comprised of grooved flexiblecouplings, pipe nipples and groovedelbows may be required. Seismic


34

phcapril 2012 www.phcnews.com

Accommodating Piping MovementGenerated by Seismic Forces:Using Grooved Mechanical Pipe Joining Methods BY DAVE HUDSON, SENIOR ENGINEER AT VICTAULIC

Seismic swing joints add flexibility to the piping system to help reduce pipe stressand potential system damage.

swing joints provide simultaneousmovement in all directions, allowingbuilding sections to move differentlyduring an earthquake. Addingflexibility to the piping system toaccommodate this movement willprevent potential system damage andcan be achieved by using a seismicswing joint or with multiple groovedflexible couplings using pipinggeometry. The exact method isdetermined by the size of the pipeand the amount and type ofmovement to be accommodated.

Typical locations for piping seismicjoints include building seismic joints,between floors to accommodateinter-story drift, and where pipingenters base isolated buildings.Because swing joints accommodate aconsiderable amount of movement,they are usually hung with springhangers or cable supports. The pipingon either side of the swing joint mustbe anchored so that the differentialbuilding movements are isolated tothe swing joint.

Designing piping systems toaccommodate the movement

generated by seismic forces can becomplex; however, groovedcouplings provide piping designflexibility and can reduce schedulingpressures and labor challengesbecause they are easier and faster toinstall than other pipe-joiningmethods. In fact, some of the world’smost notable structures haveincorporated grooved technology forits seismic performance. The use ofgrooved mechanical piping systemshelped engineers accommodatepiping movement generated byseismic forces as well as otherbuilding movements such as sway,settlement, and thermal expansionand contraction.

Most manufacturers provide in-depth design data for each of theseismic piping conditions. Somemanufacturers, like Victaulic, haveeven taken advanced measures intesting their mechanical couplings.At the ATLSS center, a nationallyrecognized Network for EarthquakeEngineering Simulations located atLehigh University in Easton, PA,Victaulic exposed their couplings to

several seismic tests. One particulartest included a simulation of the1994 Northridge, Californiaearthquake. The test performance inaccordance with industry coderequirements subjected the Victaulicproducts to accelerations up to 50percent greater than those from theNorthridge simulation. In allinstances the results were no changein pressure and no leaks.

Using grooved mechanical pipejoining methods and groovedproducts help ensure a successfuldesign at every level, when lookingto accommodate movementgenerated by seismic forces. Theirproven reliability and integrity underadverse conditions help give designengineers confidence and their speedand ease of installation ensurescontractors stay on schedule whileminimizing safety concerns. l

A senior product engineer forVictaulic, David L. Hudson is apracticing mechanical engineer with 31years of experience. He can be reachedat [email protected].

phcapril 2012 www.phcnews.com

35



To understand this contractingfirm, let’s define the wordenchantment. Enchantment is

all about captivation, a feeling ofwonder for something unusual andexciting. Of course, New Mexico’s“Land of Enchantment” theme helpsto set the stage. The base camp for Enchantment

Refrigeration is a few miles outsideof Santa Fe. A closer look shows thatthe company fits the descriptionwell. There’s a sense of wonder andcuriosity in all that they do. With a total of six employees,

Enchantment is a father/son-managed operation with some veryinteresting twists and turns. Notetheir fondness for all thingsmechanical or the R-60-insulated,“belly-up” shop they built or Dad’sinsistence that before he’d install

new, super-efficient HVAC systemsin a customer’s home he’d first testit in his own home. Then there’sthe 13-foot long, über-customizedmotorcycle that son Leroy’s beenknown to take out for estimates. The Santa Fe area is in the cool,

semi-arid climate zone,characterized by frigid winters andhazy, hot summers (very hot). Atypical day in July may start as a50°F morning, peak at 100°F middayand soften to 70°F by nightfall. Thenext day could start colder and hitnear-griddle temps by afternoon.Customer demands, and tempers,flare with the rigors of an ever-changing weatherscape, so, of course,the equipment Enchantment installsmust be up to the challenge.

In the beginning Joe Salazar began the business in

1984. His son, Leroy, joined thefollowing year, after graduating witha B.A. degree in operationsmanagement from New MexicoState University. “From day one, mydad insisted that I go to collegebefore I could get close to thecompany,” Leroy explained. “It wasfor my own benefit.” Joe Salazar knew what it was like

to be in the trade without theadvantage of a formal collegeeducation. He entered the field in1961, right after high school andworked for an HVAC firm thatprovided him with a firm foundationand hands-on experience. As amaster journeyman, and after 21years of loyal work for the company,Joe’s salary topped off at a mere$9.75 an hour. It was time to moveon.

Initially, Salazar was hesitant toput all his eggs in one basket. “Iwanted to create a full servicecompany,” Joe said, “so we openedup shop.” The company started outin Joe’s garage. A few years later, asthe business grew, they outgrew thegarage office. Today, Enchantment’s home base

is a super-efficient, 1,600-squarefoot, radiantly-heated structure withfour different heating zonespowered by an 80 MBH LaarsMiniTherm boiler, two Taco 007circulators and five zone valves.Having acquired a wide variety ofmetal fabrication and mechanicalequipment to plow through all typesand varieties of plumbing andmechanical and HVAC jobsitedemands, it’s safe to say the Salazarscan set aside those early concernsabout placing all the eggs in onebasket. Clients of Enchantment

Refrigeration always get a custom fitsystem for whatever their needs maybe. “We design and fabricate heatingand cooling systems for a wide rangeof residential and commercialcustomer needs,” explained Leroy.“Today, as we’ve expanded anddiversified, our territory, range andfocus can stay on track with seasonalwork. And with contractedresidential and commercialmaintenance work, our employeeshave a steady source of work yearround.”


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Enchanted in New MexicoFather/son team builds success in Santa Fe

Joe Salazar performing routinemaintenance inspection on one of thefive one-ton Fujitsu heat pumpsinstalled in a Santa Fe residence

New installs, maintenancecontractsContributing to the steady source

of work for Enchantment’s crewsare the maintenance contracts theyhold with many companies andschools in the area. At the Pojoaque Valley Schools in

Santa Fe, EnchantmentRefrigeration has been contracted toperform regular quarterlymaintenance checks for the past 16years at all campuses. Enchantmentmaintains equipment installed byprevious contractors. They’ve alsoreplaced equipment and installednew technology as well, includingTaco recirculating pumps at thesenior high campus.Just a short distance away, at

Santa Fe’s K – 4 campus, they knowthat mechanical systems are readyfor routine maintenance work. Theyarrive to clean and service Laarsboilers, lubricate large Tacorecirculating pump stations and oilTaco pump motors. “There are very few HVACsystems we don’t work with orinstall,” said Leroy. “We favorequipment manufactured by Taco,Watts, Fujitsu and Laars. Theirsystems hold up real well, even in aharsh environment like ours.” Enchantment Refrigeration

prefers to steer potential customersin the right direction based onpersonal experience with theproducts they’re installing. “Weinstall the products in our homesfirst to make sure that what we’reselling works just as it’s promised todo,” said Leroy. Last year, Enchantment installed a

three-ton Fujitsu system in Joe’shome. “We prefer Fujitsu becausetheir products hold up so well, areextremely energy efficient, and the

technical support is among the bestwe’ve found. Our rep inAlbuquerque, Madeline Schultz, isalways available if we need her,”explained Leroy. In a typical year, Enchantment

may install 30 Fujitsu mini-splitsystems. Though, last year, theyinstalled 50. “We vary widely fromresidential to commercial, from thesmallest single-zone units at 9,000Btus to multi-zone systems with ahuge assortment of air-handlingoptions that include wall units andceiling cassettes.” Leroy says that the air-to-air heat

pumps have impressed them most.The systems still provided heatwhen record-breaking lows tumbledinto the -20 F range last winter.“Homes were still getting heat. Not asingle customer complained thattheir homes weren’t warm enough,even though the systems are ratedfor operation down to 5 F. (Fujitsu’snewest RLS2 residential heat pumps– 9,000, 12,000 to 15,000 Btus –

are rated for operation down to -5 Fat efficiencies up to 27.2 Seer).

Insert music for “The Good,the Bad and the Ugly” Joe assures that there’ve been

good, bad and ugly days in aneconomy that’s tested the merit ofeveryone in the Santa Fe area. Whenthe economy took its epic nosedivea few years ago, Enchantmentstruggled for work. Unwilling to layoff any of their six employees, Joeand Leroy came up with a variety ofwork to keep them busy. Theypulled money out of the bank onmore than one occasion to makepayroll. “Everyone has a family tosupport,” he said, “so any work ouremployees could get, they wereextremely grateful for. We had toget pretty creative at times.”Sales are important, but Joe and

Leroy are just as attentive tocustomer service. “That’s what leadsto referrals,” says Joe. “We’re alwaysthere when a customer needs us.”

High adrenalin down time Once the customers are satisfied

and the assignment board is full,Leroy and Joe look for action-oriented down time. After turning awrench all day, running refrigerantlines or cleaning three-pass boilers,Leroy and Joe are eager to work ontheir latest project, a motorcycle. Make no mistake, it’s no factory

machine. The trike, often referred toas “The Cadillac,” is the length of anormal sized car, sports a 454 Chevyengine, 400 turbo tranny, 750Edelbrock carburetor and a 22-gallon Coors keg gas tank. With the air cleaner cover and

rear lights from a ’64 Cadillac andelectric seats with built-in heatingand cooling, it’s got all the comfortsof home. l

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Irvin Marin, service technician, cleaning filters on the indoor Fujitsu pump in JoeSalazar’s home

Joe greases Taco recirculating pumps at the K – 4 campus of Pojoaque ValleySchools.


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Istarted my company in April of 2002, and one of thefirst orders of business was to figure out how tofinance my new enterprise. I had a pretty solid cash

reserve for personal expenses that would hold me over fora year or more. I did not have enough to finance the start-up on top of this. I decided to meet with my banker to negotiate a

business loan. I made an appointment and met with thebranch manager in her office. The conversation wentsomething like this:Me: “I would like to get a loan for my mechanical

contracting business.”Banker: “That is great Mr. Foley. We would love to help

you out. How long have you been in business?”Me: “About three weeks.”Banker: Me: “Is there a problem?”Banker: “No problem, Mr. Foley. Come back in about

two years and we’ll see where you are.”Me: “Thank you for your time. I won’t need the loan in

two years.”I realized that this would be a self-financed venture

and some things would be done on a shoestring budget.We grew pretty quickly but very little was spent onmarketing as I relied heavily on my business contactsand word of mouth. At a minimum, I felt like a Webpresence was required, so I had acquired domain names.I then had a friend of an old high school friend puttogether a website. It was done on a tight budget, and itlooked like it.I disliked it so much that I reverted to just a static page

with my company contact information. After a couple ofyears or so, the web hosting company disappeared alongwith our page. It didn’t seem to affect business, so I justleft it alone for the next several years. I have now been in business for almost a decade. I never

did go back to see that banker about the loan, and mypenny-pinching ways have evolved into setting reasonablebudgets that allow for doing things the right way. Last fall, a series of events led me to conclude that it

was time for Foley Mechanical to freshen up its imageand brand. I now provide mechanical work for aninternationally prominent architect, David Jameson, andhis direct but constructive critique of my logo led to anew logo design, truck design, and shirt design. I have tosay, I thought liked the old logo well enough, but Iabsolutely love the clean look of the new design. Over lunch while sketching out ideas on the proverbial

napkin, Jameson even suggested jobsite signs for me (andfor his jobsites) that would be made using reflectivestreet-sign steel and stainless steel piping.I also decided to revive my website. I still owned the

domain names but had learned my lesson regarding doingthings on the cheap. I wanted it done right, so this time Ihired a professional public relations and online marketingconsultant, Laura Duran of Laura Duran & Associates(www.lauraduranPR.com). I had worked with Laura acouple of years ago on a trade press feature article andadmired her writing style and professionalism. And I

knew that she was up on all the latestonline marketing practices. She was thevery first person, several years ago, toconvince me to even have a personalFacebook page.We met to go over my website design, and

we even took up architect Jameson’s generousoffer to join us and provide some designsuggestions. It was a collaborative effort. Lauratook Jameson’s conceptual sketches and myvision on our corporate philosophy andexpertly crafted a website that achieved exactlywhat I was looking for. After discussing our goals and design ideas

for the website, Laura developed a website forme on a Wordpress platform. (Seewww.foleymechanical.com.) It was designed sothat at first glance, architects and owners can seethe types of projects that we work on and know they’re inthe right place. This kind of website is search-enginefriendly and easy to make changes to without the ongoingsupport of website code experts, like websites of the past.And, it allows me to have a blog and my Facebookbusiness page integrated right onto the site (more on thatin a moment).That day, after we wrapped up the goals and

conceptual design of our website, the topic of discussionshifted to newer forms of media and communication,such as that blog and Facebook business page I justmentioned. My initial assumption was that social media isfor teenagers, and I told Laura that I would listen, but Iwanted no part of it. This was not the image I wanted forFoley Mechanical.Laura looked at me and, for a second, she hesitated.

Looking back, I’m thinking she probably had twothoughts: 1. I have an idiot for a client. 2. Get me out ofhere!Instead, over a beer, Laura broke out her laptop, opened

up her Social Media Marketing 101 presentation, andpatiently guided me through the basics of howcommunication has changed with the convergence oftechnology, communication, and social collaboration, andhow, on several levels, it could really benefit my company. Laura put things in perspective for me. Marketing

through a website or through social media is not magicand not done with smoke and mirrors. It is the samerelationship marketing that I have done since I started mycompany, only now it is even more efficient and powerful.It is conveying the exact same messages and value to agreater audience through the power of technology andthe viral nature of the newer social layer that nowstretches across that internet. I’m still a novice when it comes to online marketing. I

am just learning about search engine optimization,website metrics, and increasing our web traffic. The namesof new social media channels fly around in conversation,and I can’t even recall what they are.I’m sharing this story not to present myself as an expert

HYDRONICS

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FROM THE FIELD

BY DAN FOLEY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Web presence and social media

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| FROM THE FIELD | CONTINUED FROM PAGE 40

on the topic — I’m at the opposite end of the spectrum.Instead I wanted to show you how and why I became awilling student and participant, and how even an amateurcan have a professional web presence by partnering withthe right people and right company. You will know they are the right partner if they make it

easier, not more confusing. I have been exposed to marketing companies that

obfuscate all of the recent web marketing topics andpractices and make it all appear to be a big convolutedmystery, just so they hook you and you hire them. Theythrow around obscure terms without ever really startingfrom a basic level of understanding, and I truly believethey do this to leverage your lack of expertise on thesubject. Authentic online marketing professionals will be very

successful at it themselves, and they will start from whereyou are and help you understand why all of it is soimportant and has so much potential. Look at theirwebsite and social media channels. How many Twitterfollowers do they have? Do they share helpfulinformation with their communities via a blog? Are theysomeone you can feel like you would like to get to knowand do business with? Are they building trust andrelationships and contributing in a collaborative way? If so,

they get how the new digital world of marketing and theold “real life” world of trust and relationship buildingcome together.While I am new to Web marketing and social media,

many of you have been there for years and are marketleaders. Several of my contractor friends have websites Iadmire:• Jeffrey “Heatboy” Young, Climatec:

www.climatecadvanced.com• John Abularrage, Advanced Radiant Design:

www.radiant-design.com• Paul Polletts, Advanced Radiant Technology:

www.advancedradiant.com• Bob Dudley, Harris-Dudley:

www.radiantfloor.comThese guys are old pros when it comes to online

marketing. I hope you’ll take a moment to look at theirsites. And please send me a link to your site if you areproud of your work. I would love to check it out. l

Dan Foley is president and owner of Foley Mechanical,Inc. based in Lorton, Va. (www.foleymechanical.com). FMIspecializes in radiant, hydronic and steam systems as well asmechanical systems for large custom homes. He can bereached at 703-339-8030 or at [email protected].


INSTALL CONFIDENCE.

INSTALL RINNAI.

Between energy effi ciency, durability and an industry-leading warranty*, when you install Rinnai Tankless Water Heaters,you can rest assured your customers’ investment will be quick to pay off. Just a few more reasons why industry professionals have made Rinnai #1.

*For warranty details, visit www.rinnai.us or call 1-800-621-9419.

www.rinnai.us

* Rinnai offers to extend its 5 year labor warranty when the unit is installed in a residential application and 2 year labor warranty when the unit is installed in a commercial application if registered with Rinnai within 30 days of purchase. Product registration is not required for the extended term in California or Quebec or other jurisdictions that prohibit warranty benefi ts conditioned on registration. For complete warranty details, visit www.rinnai.us/warranty or call 1-800-621-9419.


The GU100 Eternal hybrid waterheater is designed specifically for theretrofit market and is the mostaffordable high performance, on-demand water heater on the market.Can support two simultaneous

applicationsand provideendless and

consistent hotwater withminimalpressure drop.

Has a self-cleaning stainless steelheat exchanger, is recirculationcompatible, meets new low NOxrequirements and comes with anindustry leading warranty. Its low gasand venting requirements make it aneasy replacement for a standard tank.eterNaL hybrid Water heater

HYDRONIC PRODUCTS

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CondensingtanklessBosch Therm tankless water heatermodels C 1210 ESC, C 1210 ES,

C1050 ES and C950 ES are theonly condensingtankless series onthe market thatmeets the new,stricter, NOxrequirementspassed by utilityregulatoryagencies inCalifornia andVermont. TheBosch Therm

line includes ENERGY STAR®

rated models, powered by naturalgas or propane, backed by anindustry-best, 15-year warranty.bosCh thermoteChNoLoGy

The PHH-32RDV highefficiency condensing gastankless waterheatersupportsthree to fourmajor hotwaterfunctions.This unitusescondensingtechnology,making it themost efficient tankless waterheating solution at 0.94 energyfactor (EF). ENERGY STARrated. Vents using PVC.Exclusive safety features.Temperature remote included.Easily convertible forcommercial use.WaiWeLa

Takagi now includes a remotecontroller and power cord with allindoor residential tankless purchases.Due to varyinginstallationregulationsfrom state tostate, outdoorresidentialtankless unitswill come witha remotecontroller only*.Until recently,these waterheateraccessorieswere anadditionalpurchase.Takagi is making the change in orderto increase the ease of installationand decrease the amount of timespent on the jobsite for the contractor. *Editor’s note: Tankless models ATI-110, ATI-310, ATI-510, ATI-320Hand ATI-520H will come with theremote controller and power cord.Tankless models ATO-110, ATO-301,ATO-510 and ATO-520H will comewith the remote controller only.takaGi

high efficiencycondensing

scale control

residential condensing tankless

tanklessenhancements

e Circle 108 on reader replyon page 85

e Circle 111 on reader reply onpage 85





This scale control system helpsensure the performance andefficiency of Rinnai tankless waterheaters used in areas with hard

water. To safeguard a tankless unitfrom limescale build-up andcorrosion,may be installed on ahome’s cold water line in front of orupstream of a tankless unit. Deliversconsistent scale control by dissolvinga special blend of compounds thatprevents mineral deposits into thewater stream. riNNai

GU100hybridwater heater

micro mixtanklessThe Instant-Flow® Micro Mixtankless water heater creates on-demand hot water at 99% energyefficiency. It uses a digital

microprocessor for temperaturecontrol, the most energy efficientmeans of heating water. Proudlymade in the U.S.A.ChroNomiteLaboratories iNC.®

EcoTOUGH™ series of gas-fired residentialcondensing tankless water heaters introducesthe NRC83, an ENERGY STAR®-rated unitdesigned for smaller homes and multi-familydwellings. Available in both indoor (the two-pipe, direct vent NRC83-DV) and outdoor(NRC83-OD) models, the wall-mounted unitshave an energy factor (EF) of 0.92 for naturalgas and 0.94 with liquid propane,approximately 30 points higher than that of astandard, storage tank-type, gas-fired waterheater. Noritz


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HYDRONIC PRODUCTS


1-gallon electricmini tank

Condensingwater heaters

The EMT1 is the industry’s first(and only) glass-lined, one-gallonelectric mini tank water heater.Fills a critical need in themarketplace; namely, for aninstant hot waterheater that fitseasily in tight,cramped spaces.With itslightweight,ultra-compactdesign andflexible wall orfloor mounting options, theEMT1 can go virtually anywhere,even under the smallest kitchensink. Truly a mini, making theEMT1 the ideal choice forresidential applications as well aslight commercial hand washingneeds. eemax, iNC.

The ODW is awall-mountedtankless waterheater, availablein 4 modelsranging from99,000 to199,000 Btu/h.The revolutionaryS line heat exchangers increaseefficiency levels above 90% byusing two heat exchangers,including a wet recuperativeheat exchanger, manufacturedfrom stainless steel. This reducesenergy costs and enables theunits to be vented in Schedule40 PVC. QUietside

Using condensing technology tocreate a .94 EF, the RheemPrestige™ Series CondensingTankless Water Heater isRheem’s most efficient tanklesswater heater to-date. Boasting anindustry-best minimum flow rateof .26 GPM and a minimumactivation flow rate of .40 GPM,

homeowners using low-flowfixtures receive hot waterwithout having to increase theflow. Units can vent with PVCpiping, making installation faster,easier and cost-effective forcontractors. rheem

electric tanklesswater heater





Tempra Plus® whole-house tanklesselectric (99% efficient) waterheaters feature advanced flowcontrol to automatically keepoutput temperature constant andprovide unlimited hot water, 15 –20% energy savings, water savings,space saving 17"x15"x5" and no-venting easy installation. TempraPlus water heaters provide an idealbackup to solar systems when thesun needs a little assistance.stiebeL eLtroN

Whole-house tankless


AHQ-TB32 electric tankless waterheater is perfect for whole-houseresidential or commercialapplications, such as high flow

kitchen or mop sinks, eye/face washstations and other applications thatrequire automatic power andtemperature control. Coillesstechnology® eliminates lime scalebuild-up, ensuring optimal energyefficiency, with virtually nomaintenance. AHI offers a full line ofcoilless technology-enabled electrictankless with numerous uniquepatent pending features. The AHQ-TB32 is equipped with 2-in-1capacity settings and serves 208 to240v. ahi teChNoLoGies

Navien offers the largestselection of condensing tanklesswater heaters in the industry.With eight models to select,Navien has a product to meetany need from 150,000-199,000Btus in either propane or naturalgas. With Navien’s simple

mounting system, one personcan easily install a tankless waterheaters. All of the units arecondensing and can be ventedusing 3" Schedule 40 PVC pipeto reduce installation cost.NavieN ameriCa

Wall-mountedtankless

Prestige™seriescondensingtankless waterheater

HYDRONIC PRODUCTS

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Commercialwater heater

The ARMOR X2 combines stainlesssteel heat exchanger technology withmodulating/condensing combustionto deliverthermalefficienciesas high as 96percent.Available inmodels with1.0, 1.3 and1.5 millionBtu/hrinputs,ARMORX2 offers anefficient,advancedsolution fora wide rangeof commercial applications. Designedto eliminate concerns about meetinghot water demand, ARMOR X2 isequipped with two independentcombustion systems that consist oftwo 316L stainless steel heatexchangers, gas valves andcombustion blowers designed towork in unison. LOCHINVAR

In response to the growing industryrequirement for low water cut-offvalves, new RBT-3000 Low Water

Cut-Off & Fuel Economizer isdesigned to maximize fuel efficiencyand provide valuable low water cut-off protection for hydronic heatingsystems. The intelligent controls builtinto the RBT-3000 bring advancedmicroprocessor technology tovirtually any existing boiler,automatically adjusting watertemperature based on heat load andwithout the need for an outdoorsensor. MCDONNELL & MILLER, AXYLEM COMPANY

Intelligent boilercontrol technology


e Circle 121 on reader reply onpage 85


Skid mounted fabricated systems are available for both spaceheating and domestic water heating needs. Fabricated Systemsare turnkey solutions, offering single source responsibility withall components engineeredto perform togetherand maximizeefficiency whileminimizing risk.Individualcomponents arefactory mounted on askid, piped andwired together to bedelivered as a completepackage. Fabricated Systemsrequire only a single point electricalconnection and connection to utilities, saving on installation timeand costs. HARSCO INDUSTRIAL PATTERSON-KELLEY

Fabricated systems


That’s John Barba, our Director of Customer Training. He’s part of our free customer support program, dedicating all his time to the Taco FloPro Team, webinars, podcasts, FloPro University, the

Neighborhood online community, blogs, and training both in the field and at the factory. You could say that if quality is the face of Taco pumps, valves, and controls, John is the face of how to use

them to your best advantage. Visit www.taco-hvac.com/floproand experience the most enlight-ened customer support in the industry. We’re saving you a seat.

Free guy with every purchase.

www.taco-hvac.com


When contractors chat online about matters ofwhich they know little or nothing, thepropensity for flawed information entering and

decimating our noble industry becomes critical. Followingunsound, ridiculous business concepts is how the absurd“going broke rates” many contractors charge came intobeing.While perusing the Internet, I came across a dialogue

among plumbing contractors that started with a postingfrom one contractor who wondered why plumbers feelthe prices for their services have to be the cheapest. ThePHC contractors involved expressed their opinions fromevery direction for fourteen pages. Some of the peopleinvolved in the aforementioned chat showed a glimmer ofintelligence and common sense. But I felt that the overallgist of the conversation spewed inane and harmful ideasregarding the answer to the question. One plumber admitted that he was guilty of low balling.

Others erroneously thought that the fundamentals ofmathematics differ among plumbing businesses,dependent upon the size of the enterprise. Anotherbrought up the concept of getting together to set prices.That one really made the conversation turn off the pathas the topic of price fixing was discussed by all. Thatcontractor tried to explain that he meant to say thatcontractors need to be educated.When technically talented people who lack sound

business acumen try to give business advice to others theyusually make the problem worse. Just look at our industry.Contractors arrive at their prices by charging a dollar lessthan their competition. Setting prices based on the pricesof other contractors who don’t know their trueoperational costs is insane. Dispersing flawed informationharms the industry. Before offering business advice,contractors who are not thoroughly versed on properbusiness protocols would be wise to heed a line from aClint Eastwood movie, “A man has to know hislimitations.” Why do plumbers feel they must be the cheapest? The

answer is simple. Prices can only be set at, below or abovetrue operational cost. Two of those choices are bad forbusiness, since the only reason business exists is to make aprofit. Therefore, contractors who don’t know their truecosts have twice the chance of low balling andshortchanging themselves than they do of pricing theirservices properly and profitably. Ignorance of true cost further exacerbates the problem

because it causes contractors to suffer from low self-esteem. Although many low balling contractors argue thatthey do not have low self-esteem, the fact that they selltheir services below their true cost proves they do. Manycontractors enter the business arena ill-equipped to attainsuccess. They foolishly charge in armed with little or nobusiness acumen and a great deal of low self-worth. Thistoxic mixture, blended with false pride, fear and anxietyleads them to destroy their own chances of success byquoting low ball prices below their true cost. Plumbing is a trade steeped in logic. Before any

plumbing contractor qualifies as a master of the trade,he/she must be trained in plumbing fundamentals,technical subjects, mathematics and basic science.Before opening a plumbing business, masterplumbers should be trained in thefundamentals of proper business procedures.Unfortunately, most are not: That’s a majorproblem.Every human being is ignorant in some areas,

because no one knows everything. Beingignorant of proper business know-how whenopening a business is downright stupid.Contractors who think they know how torun a business correctly, but really don’t, arebeing foolish. Contractors quoting low ballprices because of ignorance of their true cost

and fear of losing jobs would be better offfearing the loss of money that occurs whenthey sell their services below their true cost. The results of low ball prices are: 1) Contractors, their

employees and respective families cannot be properlycompensated; 2) Creditors cannot be paid in a timelymanner; 3) Consumers receive mediocrity rather thanexcellence due to premeditated or unintentional cornercutting caused by low ball prices and 4) our nobleindustry gets a black eye due to the actions of contractorswho just don’t get it. Most PHC contractors probably believe “do it yourself”

plumbing performed by amateurs isn’t as good as theworkmanship of true professional plumbers. Using thesame thought pattern, contractors would be wise to seekbusiness advice from those who know of what they speakrather than amateurs chatting on the Internet. Followingthe advice of people who don’t have sound businesstheories and methods is like having your plumbing fixedby someone whose only career experience is cleaningtables in a fast food restaurant. The advice will be flawedand the plumbing repair won’t hold water.Consider this:1. Making a sound business plan will allow you to

attain your goals and is better than spending your business

PLUMBING

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PLUMBING BUSINESS

BY RICHARD DI TOMA CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Why do plumbers feelthey have to be the cheapest?

Following the advice ofpeople who don’t havesound business theoriesand methods is like havingyour plumbing fixed bysomeone whose onlycareer experience iscleaning tables in a fastfood restaurant.

e Turn to DI TOMA on p 50

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| PLUMBING BUSINESS | CONTINUED FROM PAGE 48

life putting out fires and borrowing from Peter to pay Paul.2. Earning a profit requires you to identify and

calculate your tangible and intangible costs to arrive atyour true cost of operation. The key word is true.

3. Picking a proper profit margin requires you tocorrectly take into consideration your risks.

4. Developing proper, profitable prices that will allowyou to recover your costs and earn the reward youdeserve comes from the proper application of theprinciples enumerated in 1, 2 and 3.

5.Addressing consumer questions intelligently,correctly and with good bedside manner will help youclose more deals.

6. Delivering excellence will help you retain moreclients and grow your business base. Being able to affordto do the job right and stand behind your workmanship

for a reasonable time will give you an excellent reputationand much repeated business.To truly improve this industry, contractors must

smarten up. They need to realize that they don’t have tobe the cheapest in order to be the least expensive. If you need my assistance, I am as close as your phone. I

can take you through all the steps you need to implementsound business protocols. You first have to realize thatyou need help. Contact me at 845/639-5050. We talk. Welay down a game plan suitable to your needs. After youunderstand my sound business theories and methods, youhave the opportunity to travel the highway to successrather than plod down the road to misery, stress,frustration and failure. As always, I wish you good health and much wealth. ;

Richard P. DiToma is a contracting business consultantand active PHC contractor with over 41 years of experiencein the PHC industry. To receive more info about hiscontracting business coaching, consultations, business books,seminars with solutions, customized price guides, businessforms, etc. contact Richard by calling 845/639-5050, [email protected], fax 845/639-6791or write R &G Profit-Ability Inc., P.O. Box 282, West Nyack, NY 10994.


To truly improve this industry,contractors must smarten up.They need to realize that theydon’t have to be the cheapest inorder to be the least expensive.

When you think of all thetouchpoints in manypublic restrooms, there are

easily five –10 commonly touchedrestroom surfaces that come to mind.Multiply that number by researchrecently published by Idaho’sSoutheastern District HealthDepartment stating that humanscarry 10 million bacteria betweentheir fingertips and elbows, thatdamp hands spread 1,000 timesmore germs than dry hands and thatthe number of germs on fingertipsdoubles after using the toilet. Not surprisingly, the number ofgerms passed around in restroomsquickly becomes a large and cringe-worthy statistic, further compoundedby people’s aversion to coming intocontact with public restroomsurfaces (See sidebar).Designed to minimize cross-contamination, touch-free fixturesare increasingly becoming the normin a variety of commercial restroomfacilities. Hygiene is only oneadvantage linked with these fixtures:Enhanced savings associated withwater, energy, maintenance and laborcosts and increased sustainability,round out the benefit equation.Moreover, particularly in the lastdecade or so, manufacturers havemade major strides in developingsmarter and more durable designsthat are easier to install, activate andmaintain. Due to these demonstratedefficiencies and to advances in hands-free technology, more than half ofinstitutional and commercialfacilities are now using touchlessfixtures. But there are still a numberof facilities that have opportunitiesto capitalize on the many benefits ofthese highly efficient restroomfixtures for retrofits or new

construction. Here’s howthese fixturesprove to be aneconomical choice.

Faucets:Touchless faucetsusing infrared orcapacitive sensorscan reduce an average commercialfacility’s water consumption up to30 percent vs. non infrared/faucetswith handles. These fixtures also saveenergy, because the faucetautomatically shuts off after a user’shands leave the sensor area.Activation settings can also be usedto control water at peak times,further saving water and energy andreducing utility charges.Metered faucets have a flow ratelimit of 0.25 gallons per cycle (gpc),which is the amount of water usedduring each activation. Dependingon local codes, water used bylavatories varies from 2.5 gpm to 2.2gpm; however, many publicrestrooms use just 0.5 gpm. Somenewer-generation touchless fixturesfeature 0.38 gpm faucets vs. 0.5 gpm,and achieve over 20% water savings.In any case, fixtures using less thanthe 2.5 water conserving gpmstandard can help earn LEED credit.

Toilets: Low-flow toilet fixturesusing 1.6 gallons or less, or urinalsusing 0.5 to 1.0 gallons, have becomethe standard in commercial facilities.One-pint urinals and waterlessurinals have made strides in recentyears. Low-flow fixtures can becomplemented with standard-flowfixtures such as dual-flush toilets,which conserve water by usingdifferent amounts of water forvarious flushing needs. Some newertechnologies have sensors todetermine the size of flush by

measuring the time a user spends atthe toilet in addition to the user’sdistance from the toilet.

Photovoltaics: Photovoltaic cellsintegrated into the top of a lavatorysystem convert either normalrestroom lighting or day lighting intoenergy that is stored and used topower valves and sensors in the units.Some fixtures even eliminate theneed for batteries and electricalhookups, therefore cuttingmaintenance and operating costs andmaximizing savings andenvironmental efficiency.

Vandal-resistance: Capacitivesensing uses an omni-directionalzone to detect a user’s presencearound the entire faucet spout inplace of a smallinfraredsensor

windowunder the

spout, whichcan be punctured or coveredwith soap scum that caninterfere with the sensor

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A Touchy Subject

Touchless faucets using capacitive sensing technology employ an omni-directional detection zone that surrounds the entire spout rather than asensor window, commonly used with infrared-controlled faucets.

BY JASON RENNER, BRADLEY CORPORATION

Hands-free technologies

address hygiene, water

efficiency and cost savings

Touchless faucets using capacitivesensing technology employ an omni-directional detection zone that surroundsthe entire spout rather than a sensorwindow, commonly used with infrared-controlled faucets.

window. These units are virtuallyvandal-free and maintenance-free,since the mechanicals are safelyconcealed in a sealed control box.

Washroom Accessories: Touchlesshand dryers, paper towel dispensersand soap dispensers also underscoreenergy and environmentalefficiencies and convenience forusers and maintenance staff. Morerecent automatic hand dryer designshave made some key advances. Someenergy-efficient, sensor-operatedhand dryers use 80 percent lesselectricity than other hand dryers.The energy to operate this newgeneration of hand dryers is generallyless than 10 percent of the cost of

paper towels, including eliminatinglabor costs for ordering, storing,replenishing dispensers, collectingand disposing of paper towels. Touchless, forced-air hand dryersfeature infrared sensors that activatethe dryer when hands are placedthree to six inches below the nozzle.Improved units dry hands in 15seconds and are designed toautomatically adjust voltage to allpower conditions. In general, electric hand dryers arean environmentally friendly choiceover paper towels, because theyconserve resources and use relativelylittle electricity, while offering thehygienic benefit of operating

automatically and promoting acleaner restroom appearance, sincepaper towel debris is eliminated.Hands-free soap dispensers alsoreduce the number of germs onsurfaces. If the soap dispenser isintegrated into the lavatory, usersnever have to remove their handsfrom the bowl. That reduces theamount of water pooling oncountertops and potentiallydangerous drips on floors. Employing the latest models ofhands-free restroom fixtures givesbuilding management and patronsalike the best of all worlds — fromsaving water, energy and money toproviding healthier, more convenientand more hygienic environments. l

Jason Renner is a senior productmanager at Bradley Corporation ofMenomonee Falls, Wis. A USGBCmember and manufacturer of lockerroom products, plumbing fixtures,washroom accessories, partitions andemergency fixtures, Bradley serves thecommercial, industrial, health care,recreation, education and correctionsmarkets worldwide. Renner can bereached at Bradley Corp., W142N9101 Fountain Blvd., MenomoneeFalls, Wis., 53052-0309. For moreinformation, call 800/ BRADLEY orvisit www.bradleycorp.com.

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PLUMBING

Weighing thePublic’s AttitudeTowardRestrooms

A national survey conducted by

Bradley Corp. examined Americans’

attitudes toward touching restroom

surfaces in public facilities, bearing

witness to people’s aversion to mak-

ing contact with common restroom

areas. According to the 2011 study, 62

percent of respondents said they dis-

like touching faucet handles. The ma-

jority of respondents also cited their

disdain for touching stall door handles

(76 percent) and restroom entrance

door handles (68 percent).

Further, the survey revealed that

non-working soap and towel dis-

pensers taint users’ restroom experi-

ences. While more than one-third

complained about soap and towel dis-

pensers that were empty, jammed or

didn’t dispense enough towels at once,

it was the overall negative appearance

(old, dirty or unkempt) of the restroom

that was the number one complaint

mentioned by three-fourths of respon-

dents.

Some newer lavatories utilize photovoltaic technology, which converts restroomlighting to energy to activate the flow of water, eliminating the need for batteriesand electricity.

The newest generation of touchless adjustable speed hand dryers uses 80 percentless electricity than other popular hand dryers. These dryers offer the option tochoose preferred air speed and sensor range, allowing hands to dry in as little as 10seconds.

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Physical water conditioners

Vacuum plumbing brochure

Highly successful range of physicalwater conditioners that offer analternative to conventional watersofteners. The WK1-E has beenspecially tailored to meet the highpower output of electric waterheaters, especially when these aresupplied by well water. Contractorslooking for alternative watertreatment can download a SpecifiersGuide from www.aqua-rex.com.AQUA-REX

The new Ascent II macerating toilet system allows easy installation of abathroom in areas where no gravity sewer lines may exist! Perfect for

remodeling applications, the AscentII eliminatesthe need formajorconstructionor breaking concrete floors inbasements to add a bathroom.Featuring a 1.28 GPF high efficiencytoilet, the system easily maceratessewage waste and other debris withnew RazorCut™ technology and

then discharges it through a small 1" diameter line up to 25 feet high and150 feet horizontally. LIBERTY PUMPS

The Total Pump Protection System isan upgraded simplex system that isavailable for single phase or threephase pumps. The system offersmaximum pump protection designedspecifically to protect the higher endpump. This system is equipped with“Smart Board” technology that allowsconstant monitoring of pump status.The features available: no loadlockout; overcurrent protection;cycle counters; elapse timers; andamp meters. Dry contacts for: highliquid alarm w/ oil & waterindication; pump fault lights; andseal failure moisture indication.SEEWATER

Pumpprotectionpanel





The popularity of QT hose bibs, sillcocks and hydrantsand the superior quality and performance ofArrowhead’s patented Arrow-Breaker® Frost-Freehydrants with Integrated (Built-In) Anti-SiphonVacuum Breaker technology have now cometogether. The new Arrowhead QuickTurn™ seriesfeatures Easy On/Off (QT) operation without letting goof the handle, better flow-control than other “QT”hydrants, Arrowhead’s exclusive “No-Leak” O-RingBonnet, and fully interchangeable stems with retrofitcapability for standard Arrowhead Frost-Proofhydrants. Only Arrowhead offers both QuickTurn™and Multi-Turn Frost-Free hydrants with Arrow-Breaker®

technology. All Arrowhead QuickTurn™ hydrants and ourother high-quality products are proudly crafted in theUSA. ARROWHEAD BRASS

QuickTurn™ Frost-Free Hydrants

AcornVac introduces a new brochure — VacuumPlumbing for correctional facilities, jails andprisons. Inside this 12-page color brochure, youwill find cost, construction and security benefitsof vacuum plumbing systems; clear images ofproducts and installations; information on ourMaster-Trol electronic valve management system;and much more. MORRIS GROUP INTL.


Maceratingtoilet

Uplifting and energizing, it’s no surprise that kitchenand bath showrooms and the design community asa whole are quickly embracing Tangerine Tango,

Pantone’s 2012 Color of the Year. According to a reportreleased by the Associated Press, “The world doesn’t need

more gray, and theblues are covered, too.What consumerproducts need is a jolt,a shot of energy andboldness, all of whichcomes from TangerineTango, the reddish-orange hue thatPantone announced asits top color for 2012.” Over the past

several years, orangehas grown inpopularity andacceptance amongdesigners andconsumers. Aprovocative attention-

getter, Tangerine Tango is appealing in not only fashion andhome décor but its also making its way into luxury kitchensand baths."Color can be a mood lifter, which is why we chose

Tangerine Tango," says Leatrice Eiseman, executive directorof the Pantone Color Institute. "We thought that would be

the perfect color, one that will get people's attention."Sophisticated but at the same time dramatic andseductive, Tangerine Tango is already appearing inplumbing and decorative hardware showrooms aswell as high-end homes and even hotels. Victoria+ Albert’s freestanding tubs, while regal inwhite, become fabulously glamorous whenpainted in this luscious color. Thefreestanding tub has always been thecenterpiece of the bath, and for today’sconsumer looking to add vibrant style,Victoria + Albert’s tubs allow custom

painting of their exteriors. The tubs are madefrom eco-friendly Englishcast®, having a

smooth exterior surface easy to decorate usingeither oil or water based paints. And when itcomes to custom decorating Tangerine Tango ishands-down this year’s color of choice. Pyrolave countertop surfaces can be orderedin similar radiant sunset shades, adding impactand exotic flair to any décor. From residentialand commercial kitchens to bathrooms,tabletops, swimming pools, fireplace facadesand outdoor living spaces, the glazed lava

stone surfaces areperfectly at home incontemporary ortraditional settings.While the striking

good looks of Pyrolavespeak for themselves,the engineering processgoes deep beneath thesurface. Volvic lavastone is extracted fromthe heart of volcaniccraters in Auvergne,France. Blocks of stoneare mined and then cutinto slabs, imbued withgloriously-hued enamelsand fired at temperatures exceeding 1000° C. The finishedmasterpiece can withstand almost anything – hightemperatures, acids, corrosive products – making thesesurfaces as durable as they are visually captivating. Orange-hued patterns are also capturing attention,

particularly in unlikely spaces. KOHLER’s Ipanemabathroom sink features oversized patterns and mini-printsin vivid, contrasting colors, pieced together eclectically,taking inspiration from some of the most hip fashion trendsof today. Part of the Top Art Collection and named for thepopular beach in Rio de Janeiro, the Ipanema infuses bothpositive energy and playfulness into its surroundings andnaturally lends itself to coordinating orange accessories. For a pop of color in the bath, Decolav’s intensely vivid

2806 Magma Lavatory Sinkfrom their Incandescence™Collection does notdisappoint. Crafted fromresin, this designer lavatoryis not only durable, butextremely easy to care for.The uniqueness of this sinkis its ability to be used asboth an above countervessel or a semi-recessedlavatory, due to it’s gentlysloping sides. It’s sure toadd a touch of excitement.Tangerine Tango looks great on tile, too and can be used

on walls or floors in bathrooms, kitchens, living rooms,hallways and almost any other living space you can think of.Go lux with Italian tiles; choose patterns to accent andsolids for larger projects. The beauty of handmade Italiantile is unmistakable and even more mesmerizing whencreated in such a spirited color. For a quick Tangerine Tango fix, Atlas Homeware offers

its vibrant Indochine series of knobs and pulls. On cabinetry

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In step with style: provocative tangerine tango

| COLOR TRENDS 2012 |

BY LINDA JENNINGS, SHOWROOM SPECIALIST

e Turn to JENNINGS on p 58

Victoria + Albert’s freestandingtubs become fabulouslyglamorous when paintedtangerine.

Glazed lava Pyrolave countertopsurfaces can be ordered in radiantsunset shades and are at home incontemporary or traditional settings.

Decolav’s vivid 2806 resin MagmaLavatory Sink from theIncandescence™ Collection can beused as both an above countervessel or a semi-recessed lavatory.

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and furniture that needs a boost, therereally is nothing quite like a squirt oftangerine. Whether you choose a one-inch cone, two-inch round knob, orfive-inch pull, these shapes combinedwith color have attitude. Inexpensiveand easy to install, they add budget-friendly, instant, high-voltage style. "I love this color because it

romances the consumer... I see hotsummer nights, playful encounters inthe town piazza, and retro fashion atits liveliest, says Adrienne Morea,CEO and Creative Director of AtlasHomewares. “Dull, boring oruninteresting consumers need notapply!"Aquabrass’ Lady Chef kitchen

faucet adds a jolt of color to thekitchen with its orange retro coloredspirals. The professional pull down

spray kitchen faucet will give youmotivation to host dinner parties as anexcuse to show it off!Every room in the home can get a

jolt of energy by incorporating a splashof Pantone’s new Tangerine Tango2012 color of the year. The best wayto use this TANGERINE color trend isto introduce just a small accent – likea knob on a bedside cabinet; pillowson a sofa; a fabulous orange-ish redserving bowl on the center of thedining room table with matchingnapkins; or even tangerine coloredsoaps in the bathroom. This also is agreat time to bring out your vintageFiesta Ware... An orange plate and cupfor the table or an orange mixing bowlon the kitchen counter will bring thisclassic dinnerware into the current.For those a bit more daring,

experiment with painting one walltangerine for a drama point. And forthose who have a passion for color, gobolder with an orange-painted clawfoot tub in the bath or an orangecountertop in the kitchen. This year,it’s all about color and creating a pointof drama, and kitchen and bathshowrooms need to gear up for this

emerging color trend.”Tangerine Tango takes us boldly into

the new year with confidence.Eismann perhaps put it best when shesaid, “There’s the element ofencouragement with orange, it’sbuilding on the ideas of courage andaction, that we want to move on tobetter things.” It’s definitely time toTango! l

KITCHEN + BATH e Continued from p 56

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Atlas Homewares800-799-6755www.atlashomewares.com

Pyrolave USA919-788-8953www.pyrolave.com

Victoria + Albert800-421-7189www.vandabaths.com

Decolav561-274-2110www.decolav.com

Aquabrass514-381-4141www.aquabrass.com


Atlas Homeware’svibrant Indochineseries of knobsand pullsadd a touchof tangerine.

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How about changing yourgreeting today from “Howare you?” to “What good

things are happening to you today?"Write it out and practice it until youown it. During the past 24 years of my 40-

year young industry career as a fulltime educator, speaker, author,columnist, writer and consultant inour industry, I have always pridedmyself on delivering messages in themost positive manner possible. Since2004, I have been blessed as a

monthly columnist for TMBPublications’ The Wholesaler andwriter for Phc News. I salute thepublisher, editors and staff forproducing great monthly magazinesand for always taking the “high road”in serving the industry!I don’t know about you, but I have

grown weary of all the negativeinformation that is thrown at us, ourfriends and loved ones. We havebecome a society that focuses on and

glorifies all that is wrong in thisworld. The newspaper and TV mediaplay a huge part in influencing thisnegative mind set. Approximately80% of what we see, hear and readfrom newspapers and TV media isnegative in content. If a local stationcan’t find enough tragedy andnegative news in their hometown,they report stories from obscurelocales to ensure that there is some“shock” value in their programming.Unfortunately, it does not stop

there. Go into most workplaces inAmerica during the morning andlisten to the negative banter thattakes place. And we wonder why ourproductivity is waning!Ask any group of people to name

some positive role models that ourchildren can look up to and watchthe blank glaze come over their faces.I have asked this question of many ofmy plumbing wholesaler andcontractor friends; it is rare whensomeone immediately shouts out apositive response. This past week I received the

following email from several people.Please take a moment to reflect onits message.

“With Regret …”• Whitney Houston's death, while

a sad thing, was the direct result ofvery unwise life choices. It currentlydominates the news.• Charlie Sheen’s (45) story is all

over the news because he is asubstance abuser, an adulterer,sexually promiscuous and obnoxious. • Lindsay Lohan’s (24) story is all

over the news because she is acelebrity drug addict and thief. • Something as frivolous as Kim

Kardashian’s wedding [and short-lived marriage] has been shoveddown our throats.While all this is going on, Justin

Allen (23), Brett Linley (29),Matthew Weikert (29), JustusBartett (27), Dave Santos (21),Jesse Reed (26), Matthew Johnson(21), Zachary Fisher (24), BrandonKing (23), Christopher Goeke (23)and Sheldon Tate (27) are allMarines that gave their lives lastmonth for you.There is no media coverage for

these fallen defenders; not even amention of their names. Honor

them by sending this on. Rest inpeace and Thank you, troops!

You (Yes, you) can make adifferenceHere is your challenge.• Start and end your day with

something that inspires andempowers you and your loved onesto have a positive day.• Stop watching the news. (You

will survive without it.)• Be a good finder: Look for and

celebrate good experiences,happenings or people.• Have an attitude of gratitude: Be

thankful for the abundance youalready have.• Ask your children and family to

share something positive every nightat the dinner table.• Create the habit of asking your

children to say: "I am grateful for. ..."before they go to bed. (Remember tolead by example.)• Do something for someone else

without anyone knowing that itcame from you.• Encourage your local newspapers

and TV stations to make theheadlines a “positive story” (i.e. TheHerald’s Heroes).• Make your workplace a positive

energy work zone. Leave thenegative thinking and actions to yourcompetitors.• Remember that praise is a

powerful tool that gets massiveresults.• Greet people by saying, "What

good things are happening with youtoday?" Watch their reaction.• Be that positive role model that

inspires and empowers others toreach their full potential. ;

Peter Schor, president of DynamicResults Inc., is a bath/plumbingindustry speaker, educator, author,columnist and consultant in the manysegments of our industry. For the past20 years, he conducted seminars andspeaks at numerous conventions.Schor has great expertise in the field ofshowrooms and hotel bathrooms andhas won many industry awards. He alsoconsults manufacturers in taking theirproducts to market in the areas of sales,marketing and public relations. Schorcan be reached at 1302 Longhorn Lane,Lincoln, CA 95648, phone 916/408-5346, fax 916/408-5899, [email protected] or visitwww.dynamicresultsonline.com.

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What good thingsare happeningto you today?

BY PETER SCHOR MARKETING EXPERT

I don’t know about you,but I have grown wearyof all the negativeinformation that isthrown at us, ourfriends and loved ones.We have become asociety that focuses onand glorifies all that iswrong in this world.The newspaper and TVmedia play a huge partin influencing thisnegative mind set.Approximately 80% ofwhat we see, hear andread from newspapersand TV media isnegative in content.

K/BIS 2012 — A deeperlook at getting better show results

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KITCHEN + BATH

There is no doubt that 2012 isa challenging year for theshowroom industry. It will

require more focus, creativity andgoing back to the basics of whatworks in our showrooms. The Kitchen and Bath Industry

Show (www.kbis.com), April 24 – 26in Chicago, is expected to draw20,000 to 25,000 people. Showhours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdayand Wednesday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Thursday. About 300 exhibitors willbe housed in 200,000 square feet ofexhibit space in two halls. This year’stheme, “Touch the Future,” is abouttechnology innovations. The National Kitchen & Bath

Association (NKBA), along with theCustom Electronic Design &Installation Association (CEDIA)and the National Association of theRemodeling Industry (NARI) willwork together to promote a freshand collaborative approach tobusiness. On the KBIS show floor,these three unique associations willhost seven one-hour paneldiscussions over a three-day periodon the topic of collaborationbetween trades. Each associationbrings their own perspective onbusiness and their respectiveindustries. Building professionalteams with cross-industry areas ofexpertise provides a competitiveedge for all trade partners involved.Don’t miss the 12th annual

Crystal Vision award breakfast. Thisevent honors premier industryleaders partnering with theStorehouse of World Vision, NKBA’sCharity of Choice. Join your peersfor an exciting presentation andbreakfast on Wednesday, April 25, 8

– 9:30 a.m. in Room S406. Guestspeaker Lou Rohl of ROHL LLC willoffer a firsthand look at howcompanies in our industry aretransforming communities in needacross the U.S. There is no fee forthis event; however, attendees mustpreregister athttp://crystalvision2012.eventbrite.com. The Retail Observer, a key

industry publication for majorkitchen and bath appliances retailers,will sponsor the Appliance Pavilion.

Sub-Zero, Wolff Appliance andothers will be back this year forK/BIS 2012. Additional pavilions willinclude categories such as decorativehardware, cabinetry, natural stoneand tile, sourcing and international.

Schedule• Opening Ceremony, Tuesday

April 24, 8:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.,

features TV personality (HG-TV)and author Candice Olsen ofCandice Olsen Design.• Wednesday, April 25, 8 a.m. –

10:15 a.m. at the 10th annual “SharkBreakfast” a panel of industry experts

will cover your specific questionsregarding today's kitchen and bathtrends. The experts range fromspecialists in cabinetry, universaldesign and sustainability toelectronics and lighting. Make sure tojoin us for this interactive session,allowing you to get up-to-dateinformation that you can apply inyour business.• Wednesday, April 25, 11:00 a.m.

– 12:15 p.m., the “State of TheIndustry” address will be given byMichael Werner, president and CEO,Globe Union Group (Danze Faucets,North American Division). Wernerwill provide an overview of how wecan envision the future in businessand how technology advances willalter the industry. He will address theimpact of technology on our currentlandscape, how it has evolved andhow we can best prepare for shifts inthe way we traditionally operate.Through ongoing advancements intechnology, everything has becomepossible, accessible and moreaffordable. Navigating and embracingthe redefined course of business askitchen and bath professionals willensure the success of the industry.Werner will provide a look at thisnew terrain. This will be a

humdinger keynote to attend.• Wednesday, April 25, 8 a.m. –

10:15 a.m. at the 10th annual “SharkBreakfast” a panel of industry experts

BY PETER SCHOR

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Stainless Living backsplash systemsNew category! A huge hit at K/BIS 2011! Thesedistinctive backsplashes are available in three sizesand 14 different design patterns. You can choosefrom the three stock sizes, or the backsplashes canbe customized to fit your exact specifications.Installation is accomplished in minutes, using acombination of two-sided tape and constructionadhesive. Plumbing and appliance showroomdisplay and stocking distributor programs areoffered strictly through “channel distribution.” For2012, Stainless Living will be releasing stainless steeldishwasher panels and refrigerator fronts in 14different patterns. They are a $25 million dollar, 70year old company. www.stainlessliving.com.

Rigidized stainless steel countertopsRigidized custom metal countertops are made fromtextured and plain stainless steel and copper.Stainless steel countertops are hot! They provide aheat resistant, anti-bacterial surface that requiresminimal maintenance, and they offer a wide varietyof edge profiles, backsplash styles and corneroptions. Suitable for both commercial andresidential applications, they are also available withintegral sinks. Showrooms are offered one unit ondisplay for qualification purposes. You will just needto mail or fax a CAD or shop drawing to Rigidizedfrom your client. They will give you a consumerprice, trade price and your price. These productsare highly profitable, competitive and ship to allparts of the U.S. www.rigidized.com.

This year’s theme,“Touch the Future,”is about technologyinnovations.

will cover your specific questionsregarding today's kitchen and bathtrends. The experts range fromspecialists in cabinetry, universaldesign and sustainability toelectronics and lighting. Make sure tojoin us for this interactive sessionallowing you to get the most up-to-date information that you can applyin your business.Other NKBA programs, paid for

by manufacturer sponsors, willinclude subjects that should holdyour interest, such as innovativetechnology, appliance design, designtrends and universal design.

LUXE Home at theMerchandise Mart The first floor of The Merchandise

Mart features 110,000 square feet ofkitchen, bath and building products.Open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., theMart is a visual extravaganza of 40showrooms, including Kohler, Urban

Archaeology, Hastings, Lefroy Brooks,TOTO USA and many more. OnApril 24, a giant celebration of OpenHouse showrooms will start at 5 p.m.If you want to get great showroommerchandising ideas and see many ofyour lines displayed elegantly, take aquick cab ride to The MerchandiseMart.

Trade and consumermagazines One of the greatest perks of K/BIS

is the magazines and freesubscriptions that are available. Mostmagazines are not assigned a boothuntil the middle of April or at showtime. I would suggest going onwww.kbis.com, clicking on ExhibitorList and then Publications —Business to Business andPublications — Consumer. Last year,I counted more than 21 magazine

booths. The “business to business”magazines are free to anyoneattending K/BIS who has been pre-

qualified. Make sure that you stopby the TMB Publications booth,where The Wholesaler, Phc News andPlumbing Engineer magazines arelocated. Also, make sure that youregister your staff to get TheWholesaler magazine with mymonthly showroom column. There are also kiosks of free

industry magazines outside the showfloor.

Chinese manufacturers There are a much greater number

of Chinese manufacturers attendingthis year, along with newer Americancompanies importing products from

China under American names.Chinese manufacturers are nowinterspersed throughout the show.

Look for manufacturers from Chinathat have the “ISO QualityCertification.”

What’s new and hot?Here are some innovative products

that caught my eye: ARB Teak andSpecialties, Booth 1667; ArtesanoIron Works, Booth 337; CalocasaBathroom Equip, Booth 5010;Warmly Yours, Booth 113 (Mustsee); Rigidized MetalsCorporation/Stainless Living, Booth3908, which is one of my best picks— kitchen stainless steel backsplashsystems in 14 patterns, all boxed andstockable; stainless steel countertopsand tiles. I hope to see many of you at

K/BIS 2012! ;

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T & L International bathtubsTyrrell and Laing International Inc. offers anwide range of exclusive Luxury Lifestylebathtubs, lavatories and related products in aninfinity of colors and matte or gloss finishes.They make matching basins, shower trays andvanities. T&L manufactures their bathtubs inthe U.S., and they carry a 10-year warranty.Tubs and lavatories are made from a compositeof cast stone, which is lightweight, comparedto natural stone. The bathtubs are IAPMO, UPC,ANSI, NAHB code approved. T& L is looking forqualified showrooms for semi-exclusivedistribution.

Perlick CoprorationPerlick Corporation’s new Shallow-DepthSeries of undercounter refrigerators, beveragecenters and wine reserves has earned the 2011GOOD DESIGN® Award in the CommercialFittings/Supplies category. Designed by Perlickas a result of requests from specifiers, theShallow-Depth Series is the world’s first line ofundercounter refrigeration to feature an 18-inch depth. The industry exclusive depthallows for installation in unique hospitality,residential and commercial design applications.Perlick’s Shallow-Depth Series is ADA-compliant, available with the option of either asolid or glass door, is powered by a whisper-quiet 700 Btu compressor, and featuresPerlick’s RAPIDcool™ refrigeration technology.

WarmlyYoursWinner of 2011 KBIS ‘Best of Show’ Award,WarmlyYours LAVA® Radiant Panels come in 3main styles, a variety of colors and can beused for central or auxiliary heating. Lava® is astate-of-the-art heating system that usesinfrared heating technology that is bothenvironmentally friendly and energy efficient,effectively reducing your annual heating costs.Lava® heating panels not only provide heat, but also enrich your interior design.

Michael Werner,president and CEO,Globe Union Group ...will address theimpact of technologyon our currentlandscape, how it hasevolved and how wecan best prepare forshifts in the way wetraditionally operate.

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KITCHEN + BATH PRODUCTS

Trim-only kits

Commercialproducts catalog

Commercial provides increasedconvenience, flexibility anddesign options for commercialshowering applications with itsnew trim-only kits. Soldseparately, these kits offer heavy-duty, all-metal, vandal-resistantfeatures. The durable Chromefinish stands up to harshindustrial cleaners. Trim-only kitsare backed by an industry-leading five-year warranty.MOEN COMMERCIALe Circle 132 on reader reply

on page 85


Product lines include four full bathroomcollections of plumbing fixtures — the Neo™,Alexandria™, Caspian™ and Rainier™Collections are now available. The introductionof the new Shower & Bath products brings anumber of new designs to Speakman’s existingproduct line. Each ensemble of products includesa high performing Speakman showerhead,shower valve/trim and tubspout to complete theshowering experience. SPEAKMAN CO.

Shower & bathproducts


New comprehensive catalog features company’sextensive line of commercial products. The 206-pagecatalog is designed to make it easy to find the rightfaucet, fitting or component for any application.Count on Chicago Faucets to provide durable, highperformance plumbing fixtures for your entire facility.CHICAGO FAUCETS


When large solar heat collector arrays areinstalled to heat a building, it is notuncommon to see large groups of four to eight

collectors and even multiple rows of these large “banks.”As more collectors are added to increase solar heat, eachadditional collector provides a diminishing impact onthe annual solar heat contribution to the building. Whentaken to an extreme, if too many collectors are installed,the heat from some of those collectors may never beused throughout the year and, therefore, will provide noactual fuel savings. For this reason, and because some of the collectors in

such a system would only be needed for a few days eachyear, during the most demanding heating conditions,solar heating systems are rarely designed to provide 100percent of the annual heat load. Let’s take a closer look

at the balance between the solar heat available, the heatload in a building and the diminishing utility that canoccur with large banks of solar heat collectors.To illustrate these principles, consider a project where a

community center near Pecos, New Mexico, will be solarheated using a solar combisystem that is configured toallow all the heat sources (solar included) to provide heatto all the heat loads. (This project is real, but some of theoptions used in these examples, while reasonable, arehypothetical.) The building will be well-insulated, is in asunny climate that is cold in winter, and the results will becalculated first including a seasonal swimming pool(taking solar heat in summer) and then without the pool.

Example Job SpecificationsLocation: Near Pecos, New MexicoLatitude: 36 NorthCollector Tilt: 50 DegreesHeated Floor Area: 4,634 Square FeetAnnual Heat Load: 83 M Btu No PoolAnnual Heat Load: 133 M Btu + PoolDHW Load Included: 40 Gal/DayPool Size: 15,000 Gallons Seasonal Use

Note: Pool is seasonal and absorbs less than 250,000Btu/day throughout spring, summer and fall.

Solar heat versus heat loadThe need for heat (the heat load) is not constant

throughout the year, and the solar heat available can bedrastically out of sync with the need for space heating,depending on the collector tilt. Figure 45-1 shows theneed for heat with the pool (upper green line) andwithout the pool (lower green line). The solar heatavailable from the equivalent of nine solar heatcollectors (4’ by 10’ size) is shown at various collectortilts by the other colored lines. The most commonlychosen tilt of 50 degrees is seen as a black line, whichprovides the most solar heat in the coldest part of winter. Notice that when the summer-season heating load of

the pool is added to the load of the building (uppergreen line) the heat output from the collectors is a muchbetter match to the total heating load. Without the pool,a large amount of potentially useful heat must bedumped during the warm season, which can be seen asthe gap between the lower green line and the black lineabove it in the center of the graph. Heat that is dumpedcannot be counted as “useful” heat and accounts formost of the diminished annual output of large collectorbanks.

How many heat collectors?Figure 45-2 shows how much useful heat is

GREEN SYSTEMS

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SOLAR SOLUTIONS

The need for heat(the heat load) isnot constantthroughout theyear, and the solarheat available canbe drastically out ofsync with the need forspace heating,depending on thecollector tilt.

e Turn to STICKNEY on p 66

Diminishing return frommultiple collectorsBY BRISTOL STICKNEY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

GREEN SYSTEMS

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| SOLAR SOLUTIONS | CONTINUED FROM PAGE 64

contributed (saved) each year by solar collectors as thenumber of collectors is increased from one to 16 panels (4’ x10’ size) for our example community center building project.On a project of this size, the solar benefit rises steadily as thenumber of collectors increases until a “knee in the curve”occurs (at around seven or eight collectors in the Poolexample). Then, as more collectors are added, the benefitraises more slowly until around 15 collectors, where thecurve becomes flat. This is the asymptote, where the realbenefit from additional collectors stops. You can think of thisas the point of diminishing return, where the “return” onadditional collectors becomes zero. Another way to say thisis that the nominal annual solar heating fraction becomes100%. This is based on annual results when using typicalmeteorological year (TMY) weather data. When the weatheris not “typical” or when a different building plan is used, thepoint of zero return can change.

The sweet spot in this example appears to be in themiddle of the “knee” of the curve, where 70 – 80% of theannual heat load is provided by solar. This number ofcollectors can be pumped with a single circulator, so theextra complexity of using two banks with two pumps isavoided. It is interesting to note that the annual solarcontribution is nearly doubled when useful heat can becollected throughout the summer season. This might begood to keep in mind the next time a solar heatingopportunity comes along at a motel, B & B, public buildingor other reasonable location where a swimming pool mightfit in.

Final notesThese articles are targeted toward residential and small

commercial buildings smaller than 10,000 square feet. Thefocus is on pressurized glycol/hydronic systems, since these

systems can be applied in awide variety of buildinggeometries andorientations with fewlimitations. Brand names,organizations, suppliersand manufacturers arementioned only to provideexamples for illustrationand discussion and do notconstituterecommendation orendorsement. Thesimulation modeling andgraphics presented herewere accomplished using“SLASH-D” software fromSolarLogic. l

Bristol Stickney hasbeen designing,manufacturing, repairingand installing solarhydronic heating systemsfor more than 30 years.He holds a Bachelor ofScience in MechanicalEngineering and is alicensed mechanicalcontractor in NewMexico. He is the chieftechnical officer forSolarLogic LLC in SantaFe, N.M., where he isinvolved in developmentof solar heating controlsystems and design toolsfor solar heatingprofessionals. Visitwww.solarlogicllc.com formore information.

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When a group of energetic graduate students isled by an architectural mastermind and backedby the efforts of 100 manufacturers, a recipe

for building “green” is perfected. Recently, education, art,architecture, engineering, energy efficiency and an eclecticcollection of building materials came together under oneroof at the University of Kansas (KU). Distinguished professor Dan Rockhill and the 23

students in the 2010 – 2011 graduate design/buildprogram, Studio 804, began designing the University ofKansas’s new Center for Design Research (CDR) onlynine months before it was finished in July of 2011. The1,820-square-foot building is pending not only LEEDPlatinum certification but also recognition as the nation’ssecond passive-certified commercial building.The project strays from what Studio 804 usually

accomplishes. Single family homes have, for the most part,been the focus of the program. “I do whatever comesthrough the door,” Rockhill said. “But it needs to be aholistic experience, from idea to completion.” The lowimpact theme for the CDR fits in nicely with Studio804’s commitment to sustainability.

“The design brief was pretty simple,” says GregoryThomas, CDR director and a design professor at KU. “Ithad to serve a dual purpose, as a meeting and presentationvenue and as a working laboratory. It also had to be aplace that’s shared with the public as a source ofinformation about sustainability.”

Stone, glass and massInside and out, two materials appear continuously.

Various uses of stone and glass are everywhere, accentedby steel and concrete. Outside, dry-stacked limestonefrom quarries across Kansas makes up the first layer of thetight building envelope. Inside, sophisticated monitoringequipment displays the building’s real-time energyperformance. In the conference area, a living “green wall” accents one

side of the room. Covered in fern and irrigated by thebuilding’s BRAE® rainwater harvesting system, the wallimproves indoor air quality and organically offsets thestark, elemental architecture. “We often get commentsabout how fresh the air in the room is,” said Rockhill.Although indoor foliage cover is unusual, the opposite

wall also takes more than a second glance to appreciate. A10-inch-thick trombe wall sits 21/2 feet behind anelectrochromic glass curtain-wall, which makes up nearlythe entire southern facade. Six inches of sand-filled block,sandwiched between two inches of limestone on eitherside, make up the wall. Thick sheets of laminated glass arelaid horizontally between every other course of concreteblock. Light from the glass wall penetrates the trombewall, naturally illuminating the conference area. The solar-thermal mass stored in the wall provides much of thebuilding’s heat during the winter months.“We couldn’t do this based on the university’s shoestringbudget,” said Rockhill. More than 100 companiessponsored or donated to the project. Much of what wasn’tdonated was made from scratch, including the plate steelfloor and the limestone exterior.”

Rainwater collectionOne facet of the project that scored many LEED points

GREEN SYSTEMS

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e Continued on p 70

University of Kansas professorDan Rockhill and his studentsdesign KU’s Center for DesignResearch building.

STUDIO 804 FuturisticallyGreen

Hard working Studio 804 students gather around the 1,200-gallon rainwater catchment tank to take a break in the shade.

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was a BRAE rainwater harvesting system. The donatedBrae system supplies water to flush toilets and keeps thegreen wall lush. The system collects rainwater from thebuilding’s flat roof. From there, it’s filtered and stored inan underground, 1,200-gallon storage tank. “The storage tank is equipped with a pressuretransducer,” said Eddie Van Giesen, policy coordinator atBRAE. “The device senses the level of water in the tankand gives a digital readout inside the building. If they’reexperiencing a dry spell and the rainwater system can’tproduce enough water for the green wall and toilets, thetransducer will communicate this to a solenoid valve,allowing it to open and draw makeup water from thelocal water utility.Four times a day, a high efficiency, one-horsepower

pump moves water from the rainwater cistern to thegreen wall. Ten different species of fern cover the 12 x 34-foot wall, which has more than 10,000 plants. Theamount of water that the wall consumes depends onlighting and temperature in the room; in an averagemonth it uses 250 gallons. In addition to the tank and transducer, BRAE supplied

four separate leaf/debris filters, and a rainwater pumpwith pump controller. The students installed the entiresystem, calling Van Giesen whenever a question came up.

High performance HVAC“This isn’t the first time we’ve worked with Rockhilland Studio 804,” said Roger Scott, owner of ScottTemperature in Lawrence, Kansas. The 10-technicianheating and cooling firm has assisted student efforts manytimes over the past decade. This time, their focus wasventilation and ductwork.To provide energy efficient ventilation, an ERV was

installed. For the best indoor air quality, frequent airchanges are needed, and it’s guilt-free at the CDR. Staleair moves, but Btus remain where they are. The ERV alsocontrols humidity. To help temper exchange air, the ERVincludes a small heat exchanger connected to a groundloop. A 120-foot loop of 1/2-inch PEX serves as theexchange medium. Scott Temperature completed thesheet metal work for the ERV and installed the ductlesssplit system.“It’s always an adventure working with Studio 804,” saidScott. “You never know what kind of equipment they’llhave on hand.” A three-zone, mini-split system handles supplementary

heating and primary cooling for the super-insulatedstructure. The trombe wall serves as the main source ofBtus during much of the winter.

Extra creditTo achieve Passive status, it took more than lots of

insulation and a living wall. The rainwater harvestingsystem was a gigantic leap in the right direction, but evenmore was needed. Southwest Wind Power provided a 35-foot high, Skystream wind turbine to provide up to 400kW per month. Electronic controls provide performancedata inside the building. “The white, EPDM synthetic rubber roof is shared bythe rainwater collection system, 33 Yingli photovoltaicpanels and sedum plants,” said Melissa Schoch,architecture graduate student and the official hostess ofthe CDR. Behind the building is a charging station fortwo electric cars, capitalizing on the 7.4 kWh output ofthe impressive solar array. A tankless water heater locatednear the bathrooms meets the small domestic demand. Joist and stud cavities are filled with blown cellulose

insulation. “We kept the envelope clean and taut,”Rockhill says. “In order to maximize insulation andprevent thermal leaks, there’s not any wiring in the walls.” The project has garnered national and international

recognition. Rockhill and Studio 804 received the 2011Acknowledgement Prize by the Holcim Foundation forSustainable Construction.Projects like the CDR challenge the way building

materials are applied to modern structures. Pushing the(building) envelope fosters the development of newproducts and methods, while instilling a sense ofresponsibility and environmental awareness in the nextgeneration of architects, engineers and contractors. l

GREEN SYSTEMS e Continued from p 68

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A 1,200-gallon tanks that serves as the storage for a Braerainwater harvesting system is installed in the back yard ofthe Center of Design Research.

Round ductwork in the basement of the Center of DesignResearch provides both intake and exhaust for the ERVs,which are the backbone of the systems in the building.

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Have you been to www.Pinterest.com? If so, odds areyou spent a lot of time there, compulsivelylooking at just-one-more page of beautiful images.

If not, ask a few people in your life about Pinterest. You’llget some animated responses, particularly from women, asthey talk about their boards and pins and exactly howthey are going to redo the bathroom, travel through Italyor lay out the garden.

What is Pinterest? It’s a virtual cork board, upon which you can “pin”

images and words. If you like something someone else haspinned, you can re-pin it on your board. You make friendsby following other “Pinners;” they can respond to re-pinyour images, and, well, you start to get the idea.

What’s in it for you? I’m a big fan of visualization and have always put

“vision boards” together to help me set goals and makethings happen. You too? Then you will love creatingboards for “Vacations” or “My Dream Home” or “FamilyReunion.” So far, only 13% of Pinterest users are men.However, a 25-year pal of mine has started boards for hisfavorite sports images and for motorcycles he would liketo ride and buy. On a personal level, Pinterest can be afun, positive way to clarify your vision and intentions.Cool, right?

From a business standpoint, Pinterest may be the nextbest social media community and an opportunity toconnect with your customers in a powerful way. If womenare your target market, you are in the right place. A flat-out sales pitch is not a good first approach. Consider,instead, how to make friends and influence people. Socialmedia is replacing the backyard fence. Relationships first.Then add some relevant, entertaining images of what youdo, why and how.

What to Pin? If you do bathroom remodeling, you could pin before

and after photos of your projects. Re-pin and uploadother’s images and comment on cool images they put ontheir boards. Ask for Pinners to share their best bathroomideas with you and see what emerges creatively. Start aboard that illustrates the community outreach work youdo or includes tips for do-it-yourselfers. Pin pictures ofclients and include their glowing testimonials. Rememberto include your website address as, according to Inc.comcolumnist, Marla Tabaka: “I heard from more than 50small businesses when I reached out for Pinterest successstories. Most of them indicated that Pinterest is amongtheir top-10 referring sites. These entrepreneurs feel thattheir consumers are expressing higher levels of loyalty,due to the community being built around the brand. Andmany claim that traffic generated from Pinterest farexceeds traffic numbers from Facebook and Twittercombined — not bad for a newbie forum!”

If you are already overwhelmed by Facebook andTwitter and Linked In, etc., Pinterest may be your next

“should do” on a long list of social media good intentions.If you think social media is a fad or doesn’t pertain to you,think again. Ask the next five people you encounter how

they find a new restaurant or a serviceprovider. You’ll get answers such aswww.google.com or www.yelp.com orwww.aroundme.com. Ask how they wouldlearn how to change the battery on theirphone if they needed to. See whether theysteer you to www.youtube.com.

Who can help me? Have a young person (a customer

service rep who is under 25?) help you.Young people are on these sites every day.They can show you the ropes or lead thecharge on your company’s social mediapresence. Start a Facebook page. Gettweeting … and Pinning. According towww.comScore.com, Pinterest hit 11.7million unique monthly visitors in January, making it thefastest stand-alone site to cross 10 million visitors. FindLowe’s and other heavy-weight companies and see howthey are playing. Consider how another company whoserves your target market (Starbucks?) pins and engagesfollowers.

What’s not to like? Here today, nowhere tomorrow. Remember myspace

and prodigy? What connects people today may be gone ina heartbeat. Right now, it’s free to pin on Pinterest butcan pay for Pins be far behind? Also, there are copyrightissues brewing on all these social platforms. Pinterestoffers some good guidelines on their site; however, lawsare being crafted in the decidedly un-hip halls of Congressto limit sharing. Any social media can be a colossal timewaster if you don’t set some time limits. One more thing:You have to be invited to join Pinterest by someone whois on it. Maybe that’s how they keep computers from

“spybot” accessing the site? Don’t know, but I am happy tosend you an invite. Leave me a message atwww.facebook.com/ellenrohr.

Bottom lineLucky you, you are on the cutting edge of our

quantum-leaping universe. The future, aka 15 minutesfrom now: no Yellow Pages, dwindling magazines andnewspapers are replaced as wireless communicationexpands, relentlessly, at light-speed, connecting people toeverything they need and want. My encouragement:Embrace it. Pinterest is the hot new thing. It may becomethe next Facebook, and your early adoption may serveyou well. Or, it may fall into oblivion. But social media ishow we are connecting and doing business.

Follow my PinsCheck out my Books board on Pinterest. I’ve assembled

images of my favorite books at http://pinterest.com/ellenrohr/ books/. Recommend a book that has had apowerful impact on you. (Thanks!) ;

For more on Pinterest statistics, go tohttp://mashable.com/2012/02/28/the-marketers-guide-

to-pinterest-infographic/.

BUSINESS RESOURCES + TOOLS

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BARE BONES BIZ

BY ELLEN ROHR CONTRIBUTING WRITER

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99.7 percent of all the water on Earth is notavailable for human use, being locked in oceans,ice and the atmosphere. With just a fraction of

water available and with the ever-increasing movementtoward green technologies, water recycling has come tothe forefront in building design and integration. In thepast 10 years, these technologies have taken root incommercial, municipal, educational, residential andindustrial buildings. A great deal of this emphasis hascome from the Leadership in Energy and EnvironmentalDesign (LEED) program and green building standardsthat require water reduction and water recyclingsystems.

Various types of water are being recycled today. It isimportant upfront in a project’s design phase to reviewthe quality and nature of the water to be recycled, asthis has an impact on the treatment and available uses.The most common reclaimed water source is rainwater.Rainwater recycling in its basic form is the catchment,capture, treatment and reuse of direct precipitation.

The nature of rainwaterRainwater has some very useful characteristics. First,

due to its lack of contact with minerals found in bodiesof water and in the ground, it has virtually no hardnessand very low total suspended solids (TSS) and totaldissolved solids (TDS), generally around 20 parts permillion (ppm) compared to city water, which can haveTSS/TDS as high as 800 ppm. As a downside, themajority of rainwater that falls in the United States isacidic in nature, due to its lack of contact withneutralization minerals found in the ground as well as toits capacity for dissolving carbon and sulfate moleculesin the atmosphere.Rainwater harvesting system componentsThe anatomy of a rainwater harvesting system

involves several key components. These include acatchment surface for the rainwater, a gutter orconveyance system to transfer the rainwater, a collectioncistern for storage and a treatment system. Thetreatment system consists, at a minimum, ofpressurization pumps, filtration, sanitization, dyeinjection as required by local codes and additionaltreatment depending on the quality of the water (SeeFigure 1).

Calculating the supplyThe roof catchment surface determines the overall

volume of the rainwater that can be collected. Thegeneral rule of thumb for determining the volume ofthe water collected is shown in Figure 2. First, calculatethe square footage of all flat and slightly angled roofsurfaces. Then calculate the square footage of all verticalsurfaces on the roof and multiply that number by afactor of 0.5. (You can only collect water from twovertical sides on a four-sided vertical catchment surfaceduring any given precipitation event.) Adding these twonumbers gives you the total collection surface area. Multiply this value by the average rainfall in feet in

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Harvesting the RainBY MARK GIRGENTI

Figure 1. Rainwater harvesting system

one month. (A good source of this data isworldclimate.com). Then multiply by 0.65, which is acorrection factor that accounts for approximately 35percent of rainfall loss due to runoff, evaporation andfreezing. This value can be as high as 42 percent in areaswith very high hourly rainfall totals (four – eight inchesper hour). Finally, multiply by the runoff coefficient, which

accounts for additional rainwater loss due to the roofmaterial. Clay and concrete roofs, as well as ceramic andasphalt tile roofs, can add an additional 10 percentrainwater loss due to their porosity and texture. (Runoffcoefficients for various surfaces can be found in designhandbooks.) It is important to note that most rainwater system

designs also require you to review five- and 100-yearrainfall events to determine a maximum singleprecipitation event. The purpose for this is not tocalculate the rainwater capacity but to size the stormdrain piping (outside the scope of this article). This isimportant when sizing roof or conveyance systemprefiltration systems.

Water pretreatmentThe treatment process for rainwater begins at the roof

surface. Before the water is stored, it passes through aconveyance/gutter system. There are two types ofpretreatment filters in this piping system. The first typeis referred to as a first-flush device. These aremechanical float systems that divert approximately thefirst five percent of collected rainwater directly to thestorm drain; the majority of the contaminants found onthe catchment surface are washed into the gutter

system during the first few minutes of a precipitationevent. By diverting this water from the reclaim system,the contaminant load that the treatment system mustremove is reduced. The second pretreatment device is a gravity screen

filter, which filters large sediment and either flushes acontinuous stream of sediment and a fraction of thereclaimed water (generally in the range of 15 percent)to the storm drain or collects the particulates forremoval later. These filters are used primarily to preventlarge particulates such as leaves from entering thereclaim system.

Storage tanksThe third component of a rainwater harvesting

system is the storage tank for the collected rainwater,which are available in a wide variety of sizes andconfigurations. The most common styles are interiorthermoplastic or fiberglass tanks (if the buildingfootprint permits), exterior thermoplastic, fiberglass,concrete or wood tanks and buried fiberglass orconcrete tanks. Metal tanks are not commonly used forrainwater storage, because the acidic nature of rainwatercan cause metal leaching and discoloration of the water. Tank sizing depends largely on the application. For

LEED designs, the tank is sized for a minimum volumeof two days of water use. This is generally considered afairly small volume of collected water. Sizing the tank

volume for the water use for the longest drought periodin the region will guarantee the maximum use ofcaptured rainwater. Across the United States, droughtperiods vary widely, from 10 days to 125 days. This canlead to the need for large cisterns, so a balance must bestruck between optimizing water recovery and theavailable space and budget for the application. Cistern features include level controls to monitor

volume and transfer to the point of use, manways foraccess and overflows in the event of a largeprecipitation event. Additional features include floatingfilters that allow cistern pumps to draw off the middlelayer of the tank, which mitigates pumping the solidsthat build up at the bottom of the tank, and smoothinginlets, which prevent the agitation of built-up debris inthe tank.

Water treatmentTreatment is the final step in the rainwater reclaim

system. Two types of designs include similarcomponents but differ in how they interact with thecistern. The first type is referred to as the direct storagesystem, which pressurizes the water for use directlyfrom the cistern through the treatment system. They areused primarily for low-flow applications or tightfootprint constraints. Since rainwater reclaim systemsact as a second nonpotable water source for a building,they generally require high instantaneous, but notsustained, flow rates for use in flushing. Direct storagesystems are not practical at high flow rates, since sizingthe entire treatment system for these instantaneousflow rates leads to increased cost, footprint and utilityrequirements.

For projects requiring high flow rates, a second designreferred to as cistern storage is often utilized. The maindifference between direct and cistern storage is that in acistern storage system, water is pressurized from thecistern through the treatment system to a clean watertank, which serves as a break tank. This clean water tankis considerably smaller than the cistern and ispressurized for use; thus the treatment system isindependent of the building’s use flow and pressure.Since building use is an instantaneous flow, the cleanwater storage tank can be constantly filled at a lowerflow rate, which reduces the size of the treatmentsystem. Regardless of the system style, all treatment systems

are designed to filter, sanitize and dye (if required) thewater, with other treatment options available,depending on use, degree of contamination and localcodes. Filtration integral to the treatment system is finerthan that in the roof conveyance system pretreatmentfilters. The filters in a treatment system are designed tofilter to the 50 – 10 micron range, depending on theapplication. The filtration is a step-down process, andthe filters are duplexed to allow them to be replacedwithout shutting down the system. Filters aremonitored by means of a differential pressure switch. Filters are either cartridge or bag filters. On higher

flow systems, using low-flow backwashable filters iscommon to avoid wasting water during the cleaning


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Figure 2. Calculating rainwater supply

cycle. Multimedia filters are not common on waterreclaim systems, due to their high backwashrequirements. If the water is going to be used forpotable uses, a one-micron NSF absolute filter isrequired.The second step in the treatment process is

disinfection. The two types of disinfection most

commonly used in water reclamation are chemical andradiation (ultraviolet, UV, light). Chemical treatmentuses chlorine or ozone. The main advantage of chlorinedisinfection is its residual disinfection after initialcontact. One disadvantage is its long residence timerequirement before disinfection begins. It can take 20 –30 minutes or longer for chlorine to start disinfection,because it is dependent on factors such as the pH of thewater. It also requires agitation due to its differences in

specific gravity with water. Another detriment ofchlorine is that it does not treat common parasites suchas Legionella, Giardia, and Cryptosporidium. Further, itcannot be used in applications where the reclaimedwater will be used for irrigation or chemically sensitiveequipment. Ozone has gained popularity over chlorinerecently, due to its increased potency as well as to itseasy removal with the use of UV destruct. Due to the disadvantages of chlorine, UV is the more

common form of disinfection used. UV used inrainwater reclaim systems is in the 254 nanometer range,and intensities range from 30,000 to 186,000 milliwattsper square centimeter, depending on the watercontamination. UV has the advantage of instantaneoustreatment as well as having no chemical handling orresidual in the water to affect irrigation or sensitiveequipment. Its only disadvantage is that it has noresidual disinfection after initial contact.

IdentificationIn addition to treatment, these systems also utilize

several technologies to identify the water as anonpotable source (which is much more common thanpotable reclaim systems). This includes nonhazardousblue food dye injection, which provides a visual warningof the nature of the water. In addition, the systemplumbing as well as field-installed plumbing is coloredor painted purple to identify it as a nonpotable source

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79

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e Continued on p 80

Regardless of the system style, alltreatment systems are designed tofilter, sanitize and dye (if required)the water, with other treatmentoptions available, depending onuse, degree of contamination andlocal codes.

for future occupants and contractors. Not all of these featuresare used on every system, and these requirements vary by regionand local codes.

Secondary water sourcesOne of the primary disadvantages of rainwater harvesting is a

potential lack of volume and consistency, since rainfall itself isinconsistent. In commercial applications, this is not usually aproblem when the water is used only for flushing fixtures.However, if used for high water demand applications such ascooling towers or irrigation for large landscapes, rainwaterharvesting alone may not be able to provide enough supply. Tocompensate for this, other reclaim sources are typicallycombined with the reclaimed rainwater to meet the demand. One of the most common secondary sources of reclaimed

water is process water reject. This includes sources such asHVAC condensate, cooling tower blowdown, chiller condensateand reverse osmosis (RO) reject water. There are manyadvantages to combining these sources with rainwater. Watersources such as RO reject and cooling tower blowdown tend tohave very high hardness and TSS/TDS levels, which can lead toscaling in reclaimed water systems and downstream components.When these sources are combined with the very low TSS/TDSconcentration found in rainwater, a beneficial dilution effect canoccur. These sources also do not possess the bacterial orchemical contamination found in other reclaim water sources.

The second most common secondary source is graywater (SeeFigure 3), or wastewater from domestic use such as laundry,dishwashing, bathing, handwashing and cleaning (but notsewage). In some jurisdictions, it is further categorized into twodistinct types: light graywater and dark graywater. Lightgraywater is water as described above that has not come incontact with food preparation activities. Dark graywater is waterthat has come in contact with food preparation. The reason forthe distinction is the level of additional bacterial contaminationthat is found in dark graywater. Unlike rainwater and reclaimedwater sources, graywater has high bacteria levels and chemicalcontaminations, generally found in the form of phosphates,nitrides and chlorides, which are common in detergents. Thesecontaminants, depending on the water use, generally requireadditional treatment beyond what is required for rainwater andprocess waters. Therefore, graywater is usually pretreated priorto being combined with the other reclaim streams.It is worth noting that if you use a combination water system,

the quality of the water will be the lowest quality water you areusing. For example, if you combine graywater with rainwater, allof the water will be graywater. Most secondary reclaim sourcessuch as HVAC condensate or RO reject will dominate the wateryou are reclaiming, as they are more consistent and, over time,will produce far more volume than the reclaimed rainwater. It is also important to note that in most municipalities you

cannot send secondary reclaim sources to a tank or cistern that


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FROM THE DESK OF...

John Hazen White, Jr.

JOHN HAZEN WHITE, JR.President & CEO, Taco Inc.

Weather the storm

What kind of year will 2012 be for our industry? For those of us on the heating side of the business, the pro-longed mild weather hasn’t helped business in the first quarter. The 2012 winter now behind us was almost the exact opposite of the more customary winter we experienced last year, and sales certainly reflect that.

Whether 2012 will be a weather anomaly or the be-ginning of a multi-year trend toward milder winters remains to be seen. And, based on a single off-year, it remains simplistic to say that the winter of 2012 is firm evidence of global warming because next year we could be inundated with the kind of snowfalls and freezing weather that are welcome conditions to those of us in the industry. Long-term weather trending is still a very inexact science.

Folks are now wondering what this spring and summer will be like. We are already on track for a most unusual spring, it seems, with temperatures in the 70s in the month of March. Are we on track for a record-breaking summer that will be a boon to business on the cooling side? You can be sure that many homeowners and communities are wondering if they’re going to have to deal with a very hot and prolonged summer and whether their equipment is up to the job.

Weather aside, 2011 was a fairly good year in a slowly recovering economy, and what’s generally spoken of as “cautious optimism” was the prevail-ing sentiment all over the AHR Expo in Chicago this past January. Equipment orders were generally up from 2010 and construction employment rose in a number of states between December 2010 and 2011, despite the still weak housing market.

Homeowners are increasingly turning to renovation improvement projects in their homes at a time when they can’t sell their homes at a profit so will be staying put for a while. That trend increases work for hungry contractors not working on new home constructions and installations. On the commercial side, where business remains better, a wide range of institutions are still constructing new buildings and rehabbing older buildings to increase energy efficiency for the long haul.

Relentless pressure on energy prices will remain a real boost for manufacturers supplying energy effi-ciency enhanced equipment and systems. And sav-vy contractors are expanding their range of services utilizing the astounding array of smart new equip-ment the industry is producing, thereby positioning themselves to take full advantage of an accelerating recovery when that occurs. U.S. demand for HVAC equipment is expected to increase by a factor of 5.1 percent annually, nearing $17 billion by 2015.

As business people, whether you’re a contractor, wholesaler, rep agent or a manufacturer, optimism is the key to success. There are still headwinds out there for sure but the trends are encouraging. Now is the time to be smart, prudent, and in position to take full advantage of better times ahead.

“Cautious optimism sentiment at AHR Expo”


Figure 3. Combined rainwater/graywater system

can overflow to the storm drain.These secondary sources must bedischarged to the sanitary system,and multiple storage tanks may berequired.

Other treatment optionsBesides filtration and disinfection,

other treatment options areavailable, depending on the natureof the reclaim water. For very acidicrainwater and graywater streams,pH adjustment can be added to the

system. This helps mitigate metalleaching and corrosion of pipingand fixtures. In addition, membranefiltration is used to remove color,which can occur from metalleaching and groundwatercontamination. This is alsoused on potable rainwatersystems to filter viruses,pyrogens and metal ions. In the event that the

catchment surface is aparking lot or asphalt area,pretreatment for oilremoval as well as emulsionbreakers may be added toremove these additionalcontaminants. If chemical

contamination is a concern,such as from heavy organiccontamination, an oxidationprocess can be utilized, aswell as organic membranesand slow sand filters (oftenreferred to as bio-sandfilters), which utilize aschmutzdecke to removeorganic and biologicalimpurities. (Schmutzdeckeis a biological layer thatforms on the surface of aslow sand filter and aids inthe water purificationprocess.)It is important in

rainwater harvesting systemdesign to understandupfront the source of thewater as well as its end uses.This upfront knowledgewill allow for proper systemsizing to maximize thewater that can be reclaimedand to identify the correctlevel of treatment for a safe

and environmentally friendlysystem. l

Resources1. Macomber, Patricia S. H.,

Guidelines for RainwaterCatchment Systems for Hawaii,College of Tropical Agriculture andHuman Resources, University ofHawaii at Manoa, 2010.2. Texas Guide to Rainwater

Harvesting, Texas RainwaterDevelopment Board, 2002.

3. Georgia Amendments to the2006 International Plumbing Code,Appendix 1, “Rainwater RecyclingSystems.”

Mark Girgenti is the lead salesand design engineer for Burt ProcessEquipment, an environmental processdesign and equipment firm. Mark hasspearheaded the design, integration,project management and constructionof water treatment equipment forrainwater harvesting, graywater andhigh-purity water systems in thegovernmental, institutional, andpharmaceutical industries, both in theUnited States and abroad. Mark hasbeen a speaker at numerous greenbuilding and plumbing events acrossthe country and was a presenter atthe ASPE 2011 Technical Symposium.He holds a Bachelor’s degree inChemical Engineering fromRensselaer Polytechnic Institute and aMaster of Science in chemistry. He isactively involved in academic circlesas a professional member of theGraduate Advisory Committee forSouthern Connecticut StateUniversity as well as serving as avolunteer faculty member. He can be reached via email at

[email protected].

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One of the most common secondary sourcesof reclaimed water is process water reject. Thisincludes sources such as HVAC condensate,cooling tower blowdown, chiller condensateand reverse osmosis (RO) reject water.

INDUSTRY NEWS

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Sloan and ATS expand partnership

VACAVILLE, CALIF —M&G DuraVent, a leadingmanufacturer of chimneyand venting products forthe Hearth and HVACindustries in America andCanada, announced theaddition of J&K Sales asits new salesrepresentative agency forthe New England territoryincluding Maine, NewHampshire, Vermont,Massachusetts, RhodeIsland and Connecticut.

M&G DuraVentannouncesnew sales repagency

TORONTO — Sloan vitreous chinafixtures are the newest offeringavailable through Allied TechnicalServices (ATS) specification services.This latest, mutually exclusivesponsorship and product categoryinclusion of Sloan vitreous chinafixtures on the ATS Spec U.S.website will allow for even broaderproduct offering to engineers,architects and designers. Other Sloan products, such as

electronic faucets, flushometers andsink systems have been specifiedthrough ATS for the past severalyears. In addition, easy access to BIMmodels of Sloan’s product lines aremade available through ATS andthrough Sloan’s website.ATS specification service enables

users to compile and review variouscombinations of Sloan water- andenergy-efficient commercialplumbing systems, complete withimages, written specs, design details

and Revit files, while maintaining acustomized vision throughout theirdesign and specification process. The vitreous china fixture line

from Sloan includes:• High-efficiency toilets. Choose

from wall-hung and floor-mount,dual-flush (1.6/1.1 gpf) and single-flush toilets (1.6 gpf and 1.28 gpf)that can be paired with variousmodels of Sloan battery-powered,solar-powered, hardwired andmanual flushometers. • High-efficiency urinals. Sloan

offers both standard wash-downurinals, which flush at 1.0 gpf, 0.5gpf, 0.25 gpf or 0.125 gpf and larger-footprint retrofit urinals (0.5 gpf,0.25 gpf and 0.125 gpf)), as well aswaterfree urinals for 100% watersavings.• Bedpan lug bowls. Wall-hung and

floor-mount 1.6 gpf bedpan toiletsprovide for convenient bedpanwashing in hospitals and can be

paired with Sloan’s bedpan washerflushometers.• Gravity series tank toilets. Two-

piece gravity toilets for lightcommercial applications are availablein dual-flush (1.6/1.1 gpf), 1.6 gpfand 1.28 gpf models.• Lavatories. Wall-hung, drop-in

and under mount vitreous chinasinks may be matched with any ofSloan’s sensor-activated, deck-mountfaucets and soap dispensers.

Trimble forms newfield servicemanagement division

SUNNYVALE, CALIF. — Trimble hasformed a new division within itsMobile Solutions segment toconsolidate and focus its efforts ondelivering end-to-end Field ServiceManagement solutions for marketssuch as communications, oil and gas,and industrial equipment. Trimble provides solutions in

capacity planning,scheduling, routeoptimization, and work andfleet management tocustomers worldwide. Thedivision will focus onfurther strengthening itsField Service Managementportfolio by developingsolutions that assist largefield-based workforces todrive efficiency throughoutall phases of the fieldservice workflow, fromplanning to execution andanalysis of the work, fieldworker and field assets.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Steppenwolf’s “Born to be Wild”was a theme song forgenerations of bikers. Thought

the soundtrack may have changedthrough the years, hard workingAmerican trade professionals areamong those who enjoy good, all-

outdoors romp on th’ road. At this year’s OESP (National

Association of Oil and EnergyService Professionals) convention,May 20 to 24 at the Rhode IslandConvention Center in Providence,the popular, event-opening, all-dayfund-raiser will again involve bikers,cyclists, walkers and runners, joinedby a cause to help those lessfortunate. “As we’ve done for several years,

we’ll open this year’s trade show andeducational event with the ‘Oil HeatCares’ fundraiser, with proceeds thathelp families in need by improvingheating systems,” said Judy Garber,

executive director of OESP.On Monday, May 21, the “Oil

Heat Cares” event will involvemotorcycling (starting at 10 a.m.),bicycling (at 1 p.m.), running andwalking (at 4 p.m.). Be sure to visitthe OESP website for moreinformation at www.thinkoesp.org.

All bike rides lead to providenceIf you like the rush of the road and

quick response of a throttle, OESP’smotorcycling group — the event’snewest entry — will be sure to please.Roadmaster Kevin Bowman, branchmanager, Bell-Simons Company andmember of the Rhode Island OESPChapter, has mapped-out an all-dayride into Northern Connecticut witha stop at the Vanilla Bean Café thatwill conclude with a tour of Taco, Inc.Why, it’s as American as hot dogs,baseball and Taco’s 007.The biker spirit thrives at Taco.

CEO Johnny White rides an old FatBoy or a sassy new Rocker. Productmanager Carl Perrone buzzes aroundon his four-cylinder Yamaha V65muscle cruiser, while Taco-Canada’sSean Giberson tools around in theToronto area on his silver VTX1800chick magnet. Coming to the event from afar is

Long Island’s hydronic trade proBilly Weiner who, last year, bought a

new Harley, replacing an ElectraGlide he’d ridden for years. Alsoplanning to ride: George Perrelli, F.Perrelli & Sons, E. Haven Conn.;Ralph Adams, Parker Fuel, EllicottCity, Md. and David Bessette,MacFarlane Energy, Dedham, Mass.Talk to any trade pro/motorcyclist

about their bikes and be prepared todo a lot of listening. There’s a romanceto the road that’s only possible toknow, see, smell and feel when there’snothing between you and an openhorizon. On a bike, it’s just you, theengine’s rumble and thrust, the windagainst your chest and that bug-spitting grin on your face.“Riding takes a back seat only to

the family and fishing,” saidMinnesota contractor Eric Aune,who’s been known to visit customersor submit estimates aboard his ’83Road King “shovelhead.”

Hog feverJohn Perry of Advanced Comfort

Systems in North Smithfield, R.I.comes from a family of bikers. “I usemy Dad’s Road King,” said John.“Actually, it’s more my Mom’s thanmy Dad’s — she rides it more thanhe does, and she’s in her 70s!” Hog-fever has sparked a special

“Biker’s Club” group on Taco’s FloPro

e Continued on p 84

Taco president John WhiteJr., an avid motorcyclist,and Common Ground’s DanVastyan admire the custom-built machine.

INDUSTRY NEWS CONTINUED FROM PG 83

84

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Neighborhood (visit flopro.taco-hvac.com and from there log in orregister for the a.) FloPro Team andalso the b.) FloPro Neighborhood),where bikers show off their moto-babies and swap stories aboutespecially good rides. There you’d seenews of Taco-inspired biker andindustry writer Dan Vastyan who

went tire-to-tire with OCC on achop-shop effort to build an ultra-custom, old school “bobber.”An avid biker and Taco fan,

Vastyan combined his passion forhydronics and two-wheeling to buildthe “TacoBike” which made its debutat the NAOHSM/OESP show inHershey, Pa., last year. It’s a lean,

green hard-tailed machine thatembodies the essence of good Tacocustomers everywhere: solid,compact and powerful; stealthy andlow to the ground; custom-fit for the

biker seeking the open road’s heartand soul.“There’s no other machine like it

on the road,” said Vastyan. “From itsTaco ‘tattoos’ and big, fat whitewalltires, hand-crafted leather seat withFloPro impeller and a WWII artillery

shell casing air filterframe, to its custom andrigid frame, the machinewas built to be like Tacoin every way possible abike could resemble amanufacturer and itscustomers.“We now know so many

people in the Taco camp,with loads of bikers at thecompany and among itscustomers,” Vastyanadded. “The inspiration tobuild a bike honoringthem was an easy thing todo — and a whole lotta’fun in the process.“In fact, Johnny White

liked it so much that hebought it to display it intheir new Innovation andDevelopment Center thatwill be close tocompletion when theOESP convention is held,”he said.The “Oil Heat Cares”

motorcycle ride willinclude a trip to Taco andthe state-of-the-artlearning and trainingfacility. So if you’re planning at

trip to this year’s OESPshow, and if you like towalk, run, bicycle ormoto-bike for a goodcause, consider Oil HeatCares — www.oilheatcares .com. ;e Circle 52 on reader reply form on page 85

Industry writer Dan Vastyan built the “Taco Bike,” a lean, custom “bobber” that firstsaw public scrutiny at the 2011 NAOHSM/OESP show in Hershey, Pa.

“Riding takes a backseat only to the familyand fishing.”

— Eric Aune

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Sifting through the responses for this year’s Top 100contractors, one overriding factor became apparent tous — contractors refuse to give in to a tough economy.

Sure, the past few years havebeen the most challenging inmemory for most of us, andalmost all the respondentsreport reductions overall, butthe responses also revealed agreat deal of resiliency and trustin good personnel.Reduced profits were the

main concern for nearlyeveryone; only three contractorsresponding to our surveyreported the recession hasn’taffected them. Among the rest,the most commonly reporteddetrimental effect of thedownturn was reduced marginson reduced activity. LynnWilson of Nashville Machine Co.spoke for most contractorswhen she reported, “A limitednumber of projects combinedwith diminished profit margins.”The numbers have been

drastic in some cases, with volume down 30% from 2008levels in one case, 21% in another, and activity in theresidential sector all but moribund. However, nobody isthrowing in the towel. In many cases, contractors shiftedtheir activity to government-sector projects, andinstitutional projects helped take up the slack. Certainlybusiness has been hard, but many contractors seeopportunities.

The downturn has forced businesspeople to examinetheir operations and change accordingly. Gary Peed of PeedPlumbing Inc., says his people have adopted “future vision”with “more planning and creativity, good customerrelationships and a diverse customer base.”Jennifer Boe of RK Mechanical says, “It has led to

diversification and increased investment within our industryand business relationships.”Josh Schultz of Harris Companies says, “It has motivated

us to focus more clearly on our strategic initiatives.”At Gem Plumbing and Heating Services Inc., Jennifer

D’Ambra explains, “We have expanded new opportunitiesin energy efficient plumbing and heating solutions.”These statements define the optimism that is growing as

tensions ease. Respondents expect higher volume as theyear advances, with “more multi-family work”; “projectsthat were on hold are starting to be bid now”; “more growthin public work”; “continued pickup of backlog”; “we areoptimistic about the future”; and “we see homeownersexpecting value for every dollar they spend.”Core business has provided a refuge as well, especially for

contractors doing emergency services such as ARS/RescueRooter, where Jamie Robinson says, “Homeowners don’thave the luxury of delaying necessary repairs ofreplacements for their plumbing or HVAC problems.”In general, contractors see better times ahead as the

economy gradually gains momentum. Government recoveryfunds helped buoy struggling bottom lines, giving contractorsspace to re-examine their business models. Diversifying isseen as the most important factor. And as always, contractorsemphasized their best assets are well-trained, motivatedemployees and managers, and maintaining good customerrelationships, especially during an economic downturn.Sam Thurman of Mr. Rooter LLC summed up the most

commonly stated attitude among contractors: “We considercustomer service the most important factor.”Contractors are opening the throttle for 2012. ;

IN OUR OPINION

Tempered by adversityBY JIM SCHAIBLE, MANAGING EDITOR

A.Y. McDonald.................23www.aymcdonald.comApollo Valves....................21www.apollovalves.comBare Bones Biz..................35www.barebonesbiz.comBavco................................63www.bavco.comBradford White.................73www.bradfordwhite.comBradley Corp. ...................58www.bradleycorp.comBrassCraft .........................13www.brasscraft.comCash Acme .........................7www.sharkbite.comChicago Faucets................17www.chicagofaucets.comCS Unitec.........................24www.csunitec.comDormont ..........................77www.dormont.comDuraVent..........................12www.duravent.comEemax ..............................50www.eemax.comEternal Hybrid..................11www.eternalwaterheater.com

Floodmaster........................8www.floodmaster.comFranklin Electic.................69www.franklin-electric.com/lgGeneral Pipe Cleaners,a div. of GeneralWire Spring .............49, 82

www.drainbrain.comGerber..............................57www.gerberonline.comHARSCO.........................27www.harscopk.comJosam................................42www.josam.comLiberty Pumps....................9www.libertypumps.comMestek..............................59www.spacepack.comNavien............................IBCwww.navienamerica.comNoble Company ...............46www.noblecompany.comOESP (NAOHSM)...........67www.thinkoesp.orgPexSupply ........................65www.pexsupply.comPrecision Hydronics..........66www.phpinc.us

RIDGID ...........................15www.ridgid.com

Rinnai...............................43www.rinnai.us

Saniflo ..............................14www.saniflo.com

Sioux Chief ......................25www.siouxchief.com

Sloan ................................29www.sloanvalve.com

SolarLogic ........................84www.solarlogicllc.com

Speedclean .......................81www.speedclean.com

Stiebel Eltron ...................18www.stiebel-eltron-usa.com

SureSeal ...........................39www.thesureseal.com/phcn

Taco............................47, 80www.taco-hvac.com

Triangle Tube ......................3www.triangletube.com

U.S. Boiler.......................IFCwww.usboiler.net

Utica Boilers .....................41www.uticaboilers.com

Vaughn .............................79www.vaughncorp.com

Viega ...........................insertwww.viega.com

Wal-Rich ..........................10www.wal-rich.com

Watco ...............................38www.watcomfg.com

Watts ..........................55, 71www.watts.com

Watts Radiant ...................31www.wattsradiant.com

WD-40.............................75www.wd40.com

Webstone ...........................4www.webstonevalves.com

JC Whitlam ......................19www.flowaide.com

Woodford .........................51www.woodfordmfg.com

Zoeller..............................16www.zoeller.com

Zurn ...................Back Coverwww.zurn.com

| ADVERTISERS’ INDEX |

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See Top 100 Listing on page 28

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