The install featured baseboard heat powered by an NTI FTVN 199 boiler with a 20-gallon NTI SW-20 wall-hung indirect water heater.
WASHINGTON, DC — Construction input prices fell 0.3% in June compared to the previous month, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of US Bureau of Labor Statistics Producer Price Index data released today. Nonresidential construction input
➤ Turn to Prices, page 36
MONTVALE, NJ — In the past, it has been widely accepted that plumbing and mechanical systems belong behind the wall or in some dark, confined space tucked away in the basement. Not any longer! Thanks, in part, to the rise in social media popularity, use and acceptance, and some progressive thinking on behalf of some homeowners, plumbing and
➤ Turn to Bringing, page 12
2024 SkillsUSA Plumbing Championship Winners
FALLS CHURCH, VA — The Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors—National Association (PHCC) Educational Foundation has announced the six plumbing students who received top honors in the plumbing championship held June 26th and 27th in Atlanta, Ga. at the annual SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference.
➤ Turn to Skills, page 8
Your 2024 Plumbing Championship winners: Wyatt Zeleny, James Banks, Charles Goede, Migel Reyes, Evan Agresto, and Diego Gutieirez.
Now you can inspect drain lines far from a power source. The Gen-Pack battery adapter allows up to 12 hours of remote operation with limited access to power. The Gen-Pack is also sold separately.
But wait, there’s more. You can now record onto a flash drive or send the recording to your customers with the built-in Wi-Fi transmitter. Also, you can track just how far the camera has traveled down the line with the on-screen distance counter.
For more information, visit www.drainbrain.com/XPodPlus, or call the Drain Brains ® at 800-245-6200
NEW Gen-Pack™ Battery Adapter. (Battery not included)
EDISON, NJ — SFA SANIFLO USA, a division of Group SFA and a global leader in above-thefloor macerators, grinders, drain pumps, and lift stations, recently conducted an interactive demonstration of the company’s products for students at Bullard-Havens Technical High School in Bridgeport, Connecticut. As part of its participation, Saniflo also donated a pair of the brand’s plumbing products for students to use in their school shop.
Former IAPMO CEO Chaney Awarded ANSI Honor
NEW YORK, NY — Former International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO®) CEO GP Russ Chaney has been named the recipient of the American National Standards Institute’s (ANSI) Chairman’s Award, which recognizes “exemplary contributions to the voluntary consensus standardization community and efforts to increase the critical voice of consumers in standardization activities.”
Keynote Speakers Announced for PHCC CONNECT 2024
FALLS CHURCH, VA — Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors National Association (PHCC) unveils
Jeff Butler and Mary Kelly as the keynote speakers for CONNECT 2024 in Birmingham, Alabama, October 7-10, at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex.
EDITORIAL STAFF
VP/Market Leader-Buildings & Construction
Mike Hellmann, mhellmann@endeavorb2b.com
Group Editorial Director-Buildings & Construction Mike Eby, meby@endeavorb2b.com
Editor-In-Chief Steve Spaulding, sspaulding@endeavorb2b.com
Editor-At-Large
John Mesenbrink, jmesenbrink@endeavorb2b.com
Contributing Writer Kelly Faloon
Al Schwartz, Management
Pat Linhardt, Hydronics & Radiant
Patti Feldman, Technology Matt Michel, Marketing
Art Director, Susan Lakin
Ad Services Manager, Deanna O’Byrne
Production Manager, Sam Schulenberg
Classified Production Designer, Terry Gann
James
Jeff Butler
Mary Kelly will deliver her keynote address, “Why
Russ Chaney.
Bullard-Havens students installing the Sanibest Pro.
In Brief
ASHRAE is transitioning its building decarbonization task force into a permanent committee. The ASHRAE Center of Excellence for Building Decarbonization (CEBD) will replace the ASHRAE Task Force for Building Decarbonization. The goal of the CEBD is to accelerate the adoption of climate change mitigation policies and reinforce ASHRAE›s commitment to achieving net zero GHG emissions for all new buildings by 2030.
McElroy was recognized for its commitment to workplace safety and its participation in the OSHA’s Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP). Oklahoma Labor
Commissioner Leslie Osborn presented the company with a proclamation, and she and OSHA Consultation
Director Jason Hudson presented leadership with a flag commemorating the company’s SHARP-certified status.
The National Institute of Building Sciences has announced the appointment of Anne Law as Senior Vice President of Professional and Government Affairs. Prior to joining NIBS, Law served as Managing Director for Public Policy and Federal Affairs with the American Institute of Architects.
United Rentals, Inc. has announced that United Academy—the company’s training arm—has marked its tenth anniversary. United Academy is the equipment rental industry’s largest training program, offering courses and OSHA certifications to help customers develop a stronger, safer workforce. United Academy has more than 100 full-time certified trainers and has trained over 730,000 people over the past decade.
RefrigiWear, a leading manufacturer of insulated industrial workwear, accessories, and personal protective equipment, has announced the appointment of Leigh Stadelmeier as Vice President of B2B Outdoor Sales. In this role, Stadelmeier will lead RefrigiWear to further position itself as the market leader in insulated industrial workwear.
Warren Controls has announced the assignment of JA Moody as its Exclusive MRO Military Distributor managing all Government bids and sales with the US Government Supply System (DLA/DCA). For over 50 years, JA Moody has been a highly trusted maritime supplier.
• BDR Acquires Home Service Marketing Agency BxB Media
• Updated DBIA Best Practices Enhance Efficiency in Water and Wastewater Sector
Videos & Media Galleries
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Beyond the Blueprint: Ferguson Supports Tools & Tiaras
In a world where the skilled trades gap remains a pressing issue, Ferguson is supporting Tools and Tiaras (T&T), a pioneering non-profit organization dedicated to introducing girls to the trades. T&T is on a mission to show girls (ages 6-14) that they can succeed in any job. Through the collaboration, Ferguson aims to help break down barriers and inspire a new generation of tradeswomen.
Judaline Cassidy
Tools & Tiaras was founded by Judaline Cassidy, a tradeswoman dedicating her career to shattering stereotypes and empowering young girls. Cassidy, a plumber by trade, established the organization to provide girls with hands-on experience in various trades, from plumbing and electrical work to carpentry and welding. Her vision is simple yet profound (and trademarked): to show girls that Jobs Don’t Have Genders®.
Empowering Girls Through Hands-On Experience
This summer, 40 girls will ring in the season with the bang of hammers, the clang of metal and the buzz of saws as Tools & Tiaras host their transformative summer camps in the vibrant NYC boroughs of Queens and Brooklyn. On these summer mornings 20 eager girls at each session will don their safety goggles and helmets and pick up their tools, ready to embark on a week of discovering their power and skill-building.
The girls will explore various trades daily, including plumbing, welding, engineering, sheet metal, architecture and more. The tactile sensation of handling real tools and materials will ignite their curiosity and build confidence. In addition to these technical skills, they will participate in T.O.O.L.S.
(Total Ownership of Life
Using a $22,000 Ferguson Cares grant, the EmpowHER BRG chose to partner with Tools & Tiaras to support their 2024 Summer Camps.
Skills) programming, which includes leadership, public speaking, financial literacy, activism and self-defense.As the days progress, the campers learn to build and fix; moreover, they believe in their own capabilities. The sense of camaraderie and support among the girls, coupled with the guidance of skilled women trade professional mentors, will foster a community where dreams are nurtured and stereotypes are shattered.
EmpowHER Business Resource Group (BRG)
Ferguson women’s business resource group, EmpowHER, recently conducted a community engagement survey of their 2,500 members. The survey results showed EmpowHER membership wants to support initiatives to empower girls and nurture future generations of women in the trades. Using a $22,000 Ferguson Cares grant, the
EmpowHER BRG chose to partner with Tools & Tiaras to support their 2024 Summer Camps. This grant will cover 30 campers to attend, as well as other camp expenses and materials.
The construction industry faces a workforce gap of half a million, intensified by the impending retirement eligibility of the baby boomer generation. Women, making up just 10% of the industry (4% in the skilled trades), represent a significant untapped resource. By supporting Tools & Tiaras, Ferguson is helping to bridge this gap and empower the next generation of tradeswomen.
Destigmatizing Trades for Women
The significance of this initiative extends beyond the immediate benefits of skill acquisition. By introducing girls to the trades early, Tools & Tiaras—in collaboration with Ferguson—is working to break the stigma that these careers are only for men. The hands-on experience and mentorship provided at the camps help to cultivate confidence and passion, encouraging young girls to pursue trades as viable and rewarding career paths.
Ferguson focuses on reaching kids early, particularly in the K-12 space, with most initiatives targeting high school students. The aim is to provide training and development opportunities that inspire young people to consider careers in the skilled trades. As more girls pick up tools, empowered with confidence, the world of skilled trades transforms into a realm of endless possibilities. The future holds great promise as we continue championing diversity and inclusion in every workshop, school and job site.
Help Spread the Word
Read more about this inspiring collaboration by exploring the hashtags #GirlsInTrades #FergusonCaresLearn more about how Ferguson is making a difference by visiting http://prez. ly/EdOc.
Tools & Tiaras Founder/CVO, Judaline Cassidy, with a group of Summer Campers during a carpentry workshop.
Tools & Tiaras Summer Campers, Paige (left) and Izzy (right), hard at work on a faucet install during a plumbing workshop.
2024 SkillsUSA Plumbing Championship Winners
➤ Continued from page 1
Plumbing Championship Winners
• 1st Place Secondary – Wyatt Zeleny, High School Academy –Metropolitan Community College – Omaha, Neb.
• 1st Place Post-Secondary –James Banks, Tennessee College of Applied Tech – Jackson, Tenn.
• 2nd Place Secondary – Charles Goede, E T Grasso Technical High School – Groton, Conn.
• 2nd Place Post-Secondary –Migel Reyes, Texas State Technical College – Waco, Texas
• 3rd Place Secondary – Evan Agresto, Eureka Springs High School – Eureka Springs, Ark.
• 3rd Place Post-Secondary –Diego Gutieirez, Mountainland Technical College – Lehi, Utah
The PHCC Educational Foundation and PHCC Academy ® partner with SkillsUSA to sponsor and conduct the annual plumbing contest and provide support for the HVACR Contest. Members from the Foundation’s Plumbing Apprentice and Journeyman Training Committee serve on the SkillsUSA Plumbing Technical Committee. Committee members were on hand to set up and run the event and to assist with contest judging.
Every year, more than 6,000 students participate in the SkillsUSA Championships, the nation’s largest hands-on workforce development event. This massive set of trades competitions, which spans 1.79 million sq. ft. (equivalent to 31 football fields or 41 acres), features over 110 contests for middle school, high school, and college/post-secondary students enrolled in career and technical education programs. Among these contests are the plumbing and HVACR competitions, both of which receive support from the PHCC Educational Foundation.“Each of these winners will be returning home with stories to share with their friends and family about their experience, spreading a positive image for our trade in their community. The boost this provides for our industry is impossible to measure but has a powerful impact that would be
impossible to recreate on our own. Our mission is to grow and train the plumbing and HVACR industry workforce, and this event fits that mission perfectly,” said PHCC Educational Foundation Chairman Kevin Tindall of Tindall & Ranson Plumbing & Heating in Windsor, N.J.
Technical committee members for this year’s event included:
• Robert Hahn, Technical Chair, HoHoKus School of Trades, Paterson, N.J. (plumbing)
• J. Daniel “Danny” Crigler, III, L & D Coates Inc., Aroda, Va. (plumbing)
• Jim Fusco, Granite State Trade School, Raymond, N.H. (plumbing)
• Roman Grier, Viega, LLC, Broomfield, Colo. (plumbing)
• Victor Hatcher, Tyler Pipe and Coupling, Tyler, Texas (plumbing) Harold Moret, Copper Development Association, McLean, Va. (plumbing)
• John Mullen, International Association of Plumbing & Mechanical Officials (IAPMO), Ontario, Calif. (plumbing)
Every year, more than 6,000 students participate in the SkillsUSA Championships, the nation’s largest hands-on workforce development event.
The PHCC Educational Foundation and PHCC Academy® partner with SkillsUSA to sponsor and conduct the annual plumbing contest and provide support for the HVACR Contest.
• Larry Shoemaker, Deluxe Plumbing & Heating, Bethlehem, Pa. (plumbing)
• Dave Svoboda, PHCC of Nevada, Las Vegas, Nev. (plumbing)
• Jeff Voss, Jeff’s Plumbing and Repair, Boone, N.C. (plumbing)
• James Walls, Cast Iron Soil Pipe Institute, Garland, Texas (plumbing)
The plumbing competition was made possible by the following generous industry sponsors: AB&I Foundry*; American Supply Association; Bradford White*; Cast Iron Soil Pipe Institute (CISPI)*; Copper Development Association, Inc.*; Home Depot Pro; International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO)*; Tyler Pipe & Coupling*; Rheem*; and Zoeller Pump Company*; with additional support from event sponsors: Delta Faucet Company; and MOEN. Those marked
with an asterisk also sponsored a new Train the Trainer session conducted at the event.
Prizes, materials, and on-site support was provided by: AB&I Foundry; Tyler Pipe & Coupling; Cast Iron Soil Pipe Institute (CISPI); Charlotte Pipe & Foundry; Copper Development Association (CDA); International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO); Kohler Company; Milwaukee Tool Company; Oatey; PHCC Educational Foundation; PHCC Academy ®; Sioux Chief Manufacturing; and United Association Local 72 in Atlanta.
Bullard-Havens Tech, part of the Connecticut Technical Education and Career System, offers technical training programs that prepare students for highly sought-after trade careers. With around 800 students enrolled across grades 9-12, the school provides a comprehensive real-world education to all students.
Keith Danzy, Department Head of Plumbing and Heating, understands the importance of exposing his students to the latest products and technology in the plumbing and HVAC trades. By organizing visits from manufacturers like Saniflo and providing hands-on experience with their products, he aims to equip his students with the knowledge and open-minded perspectives needed to excel in the field and stay ahead of changing technologies and evolving industry standards.
Introduction to Above-Floor Plumbing
Danzy arranged for Michael Cerna , Assistant Technical Manager at SFA Saniflo, to visit on April 3, 2024. During his presentation, Cerna provided insights into the company’s various products, including an explanation of above-floor plumbing technology. In doing so, he covered the advantages of Saniflo’s approach compared with
installing a brand-new sump pump below ground, which can be time-consuming, messy, and costly. The presentation concluded with a Q&A session, allowing students to further engage with Cerna and Saniflo products.
“It is crucial to educate the younger generation about the wide array of products available in the market,
particularly innovative solutions like Saniflo,” explains Cerna. “As technology continues to advance rapidly, it’s important for young people to understand the advantages and capabilities of above-floor plumbing. By familiarizing themselves with our offerings, we can empower them to make well-informed decisions as they enter the field.”
“The students were engaged in Saniflo’s presentation,” adds Danzy, “and asked some insightful questions throughout. They were particularly intrigued by the concept of being able to install a bathroom in various locations without the need to break up concrete while still achieving a high-quality and legitimate appearance. They were also excited to receive some merch, which further fueled their enthusiasm for the presentation.”
Product Donations = Practical Application
Saniflo also donated two of its most popular products, the Sanibest Pro and the Sanicom 1, to the school. The students will have the opportunity to install these products in the school’s plumbing shop, putting their newfound knowledge to practical use.“Many of the kids in our program learn best by doing things with their hands,” Danzy comments. “When students
Keynote Speakers Announced for PHCC CONNECT 2024
➤ Continued from page 3
Jeff Butler is a workplace strategist, who has offered expertise to help companies like Amazon, Google and John Deere foster a harmonious and high-performing workplace. Butler will present a keynote address, “Building an Effective Multi-Generational Workplace.” He will also lead a breakout session on the topic of “Winning the Talent War.”Mary Kelly is a Council of Peer Award of Excellence speaker, best-selling author and Navy commander. At
CONNECT, Kelly will share various stories and experiences of interest to p-h-c contractors during her keynote address, “Why Leaders Fail and the 7 Prescriptions for Success.” Kelly will also lead a breakout session, “Master Your World,” where she will emphasize effective tactics, practical strategies and innovative solutions that are tailored to dilemmas faced by today’s leaders.
“I know that many attendees, including myself, are anticipating the remarks that Jeff and Mary will share,” says Joe
Cornetta , PHCC national president and co-owner of Cornetta Brothers, Inc., Elmont, New York. “We are excited to have these two leaders join us and help offer invaluable insights to the industry.”
For more details, including the schedule-at-a-glance, visit phccweb.org/ CONNECT . This site offers information on education sessions, speakers, exhibitors, registration and hotel reservations, as well as the many attractions of Birmingham, known as “The Country’s Best Kept Secret.”
can physically install a product like this, it really helps to reinforce what we’re teaching. It hits home in a way that no other learning method can. We have a corner in our shop room ready for the students to pipe a bathroom and use Saniflo’s products.”
To qualify for the licensing examination, aspiring plumbers in Connecticut must complete 8,000 hours of on-thejob training, 720 hours of theoretical instruction, and an OSEA 30 class.
Danzy’s program is designed to ensure that students attain their OSEA 30 card and fulfill their theoretical education requirements, contributing 1,500 hours towards the 8,000 hours of practical training. Once completing the program, students will need to secure employment, register as apprentices, and accrue the remaining 6,500 hours of practical experience. Then, they will be eligible to sit for the plumbing license examination.
Commitment to the Trades
In addition to Cerna’s engaging presentation and the company’s product donation, Saniflo’s recent initiative at Bullard-Havens Tech reflects a commitment to fostering practical experience and knowledge in the next generation of plumbing and HVAC professionals.
“By empowering students with hands-on opportunities to install and utilize Saniflo products, this partnership ensures students gain valuable skills and proficiency in the latest plumbing technology. As the students embark on their career paths, equipped with a solid foundation and practical experience, they will be prepared to contribute to the industry, meeting the robust demand for skilled professionals in Connecticut and beyond,” says Regis Saragosti, CEO of SFA Saniflo North America.
To learn more about Bullard-Havens Technical High School, visit https:// bullard-havens.cttech.org/.
For more information on this recent event, visit: https://saniflo.greenhousedigitalpr.com/bullard-havenstechnical-school-event.
Saniflo donated two of its most popular products, the Sanibest Pro and the Sanicom 1, to the school.
When you need to get the job done, Liberty’s 331 transfer pump is the benchmark for performance that battery powered pumps simply cannot match. With more flow, higher pumping head and the reliability of non-stop 1/2 hp, 115V performance, why settle for less?
Bringing the Mechanical Room Back to Life
Continued from page 1
mechanical contractors are becoming all-stars, showcasing their work for fans to follow, especially that younger generation that spends an inordinate amount of time on their phones. Let’s face it, we all know that’s a fact.
One of those highly talented boiler installers—and content creators—is Michael Flynn (@flynnstone1 on Instagram), First Choice Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning, Metuchen, NJ. Flynn and his team—which included two additional installers, Ryan Adam and Tommie Boymann—were called out to a residence in Montvale to perform an oil-to-natural gas conversion, which included a new boiler and indirect water heater retrofit.
Help from the Homeowner
Having created engineered prints and mock-ups for case and store showroom displays for his day job, the homeowner was proactive with the project on many fronts. One, the work was to be performed during warmer temps—May 2023—while minimal
Michael Flynn and his crew conduct a successful oil-to-natural gas conversion.
heat, if any, was needed, “because he told me that oil prices have gone way up and he’s not about to go into another heating season with oil,” says Flynn.
The homeowner—and the First Choice crew—were instrumental in bringing the mechanical room to life by using a black plywood backdrop to accentuate mechanical equipment from the original boiler swap out. In addition the owner asked the crew if he could document the work as an amateur photographer.
Nuts and Bolts
The install featured baseboard heat powered by an NTI FTVN 199 boiler with a 20-gallon NTI SW-20 wallhung indirect water heater. The FTVN 199—199,000 BTU/HR—is a high efficiency, wall-hung boiler using a durable, vertical down-fired stainless heat exchanger. With 10:1 modulation and 96% AFU, an integrated ECM pump and domestic hot water diverter, quick connect components, WIFI connectivity for remote monitoring and alert
notifications, the FTVN is mainstay with First Choice. “NTI has been our go-to boiler for many years; the manufacturer offers great products and even better support,” says Flynn.
Some other pieces to the mechanical puzzle were the use of a Taco VT2281 ECM high efficiency delta T circulator and four Taco Zone Sentry two-way valves—press of course, adds Flynn. “They are a full port ball valve and have the highest CV rating on the market, and it allows for the highest amount of BTUs you can push through a zone valve. It also features a 4-wire low voltage that directly integrates into the Taco ZVC control board,” says Flynn.
The VT2218 ECM high-efficiency circulator comes with two temperature sensors to provide Delta-T readings to the pump’s brain. The VT2218 circulator uses up to 85% less electricity and maximizes total system and boiler performance so it’s ready to slash fuel bills right out of the box.
With a sump pump pit conveniently located a few feet away, Flynn and his team installed a Neutrasafe CN2-220v condensate neutralizer. “The tube-style gravity neutralizer was a perfect fit for this job,” says Flynn. “The media is encased in a sack for easy removal upon service, and the unions are located directly on the top, not a separate fitting. There also is a built-in, stainless steel screen so one can mount vertically without an inverted trap.”
Challenges
But the conversion didn’t come with its handful of challenges. According to Flynn, it was a very difficult gas line to run. “It was about 70 feet of 1-1/4” piping around many corners under a deck which was only crawlable,” says Flynn. But some of those headaches were alleviated with the REMs Tool USA Curvo tool. “It saves time and fittings, and the piping looks amazing,” says Flynn. In the end, with this boiler changeout, Flynn is doing what he loves to do. “I always have a great time piping a boiler. For a project like this—the times I get to do both wall-hung units—it’s extra special because of the piping schematic and layout,” says Flynn.
FirstChoice install arriving at the job.
The FirstChoice team finishing up some piping work.
Former IAPMO CEO Chaney Awarded ANSI Honor
Continued from page 3
Chaney and 25 other recipients of ANSI’s 2024 Leadership and Service Awards will be honored at the ANSI Leadership and Service Awards Ceremony, Nov. 13, in Washington, DC, held in conjunction with World Standards Week.
Chaney and 25 other recipients of ANSI’s 2024 Leadership and Service Awards will be honored.
An Advocate and Partner
Throughout his tenure at IAPMO, Chaney was a strong advocate for high quality standards, product certification and testing, and working with all stakeholders, including the local community, to ensure people everywhere benefited from IAPMO’s work. He passionately led IAPMO to work with numerous global entities to bring codes and standards, product certification, or product testing to places such as Vietnam, Kuwait, Jordan, Philippines, Indonesia, India, China, and Australia, in addition to IAPMO’s work in North America. Chaney retired in 2020.
“I am frankly stunned to receive this humbling and significant personal honor,” Chaney said. “I’ve enjoyed working at various levels within the ANSI federation and have enjoyed every minute of it, especially the relationships with ANSI staff and other volunteers. I would be remiss, however, if I didn’t share this honor with all of the IAPMO staff members who perform much of the great work that makes our relationship with ANSI so beneficial.”
A Legacy of Service
A 50-year veteran of the plumbing trades, prior to joining IAPMO Chaney served as director of Technical Services for the National Association of Plumbing, Heating and Cooling Contractors (NAPHCC), which included secretariat responsibilities for the ANSI A40 Safety Requirements of Plumbing standard.
After joining IAPMO as executive director in 1995, Chaney initiated measures leading IAPMO to develop the UPC using a transparent consensus process, achieving ANSI accreditation in 2000. The resulting 2003 UPC was the first plumbing code to be designated as an American National Standard. Under Chaney’s leadership, IAPMO achieved ANSI Audited Designator status in 2011, and in 2018 ANSI accredited IAPMO to act as the US Technical
Advisory Group administrator to develop an international water efficiency standard.
In 2018, Chaney was elected chair of the ANSI Board of Directors. He joined ANSI’s board in 2009 as a director-at-large and served two three-year terms from 2009 to 2014 before becoming an officer/vice chair in 2015. Chaney also served on numerous ANSI committees and board task groups, including three years as chairman of the Finance Committee. He also has served on the Presidential Advisory Committee; ANSI’s three Regional Standing Committees; the National and International Policy Committees; and the Nominating Committee.
“Russ Chaney more than laid the groundwork for IAPMO’s numerous achievements in the international standards community, he powered every significant milestone through his unrivaled expertise and vision for how ANSI and IAPMO could create positive outcomes in communities the world over,” said IAPMO CEO Dave Viola. “We join ANSI in recognizing Russ’ incalculable contributions to standards and the betterment of life they create.”
ANSI
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is a private non-profit organization whose mission is to enhance both the global competitiveness of US business and the U.S. quality of life by promoting and facilitating voluntary consensus standards and conformity assessment systems, and safeguarding their integrity. Its membership is comprised of businesses, professional societies and trade associations, standards developers, government agencies, and consumer and labor organizations.
The Institute represents and serves the diverse interests of more than 270,000 companies and organizations and 30 million professionals worldwide. ANSI is the official US representative to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and, via the U.S. National Committee, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
IAPMO
Founded in 1926, IAPMO focuses its comprehensive services on the technical aspects of the plumbing and mechanical industries. Its membership includes trained labor and contractors, engineers, domestic and non-domestic product manufacturers, suppliers, plumbing and mechanical inspectors, and building officials. IAPMO has assisted with code and standard development, educational programs, and/or conformity assessment services in regions around the world. IAPMO has also assisted international aid organizations to help bring sound, efficient water/ sanitation systems to developing nations.
by Al Schwartz
Trade, Craft and TechnologyEver Evolving
Since this is Contractor Magazine’s 70th year, it is only fitting that we regard some of the progress that has been achieved in that time. After all, it is almost three quarters of a century, and that is nothing to sneeze at! Especially considering how much and how fast things have changed in just the start of the new century.
A Little History
Looking at our trade from a strictly historic viewpoint, and disregarding the political and economic conditions of today, we see a steady if not always constant progression of improvements in the way it has grown and evolved.
From the early Roman Empire, whence the term plumber comes (plumbum, meaning workers of lead),through the dark ages, medieval times, the industrial revolution to the 21st century, our trade has been marked by a steady but constant tide of improvements and innovations. Few could disagree that the pipe trades have been instrumental in safeguarding the health of our communities ever since the earliest civilizations. We have done battle with such enemies as Cholera, Typhus, Diphtheria and other virulent diseases. Even before we knew what germs were, we knew that handling and controlling water and waste products had a direct effect on the health of our communities. Notwithstanding the deleterious effect of lead in the water systems (which some blame for the downfall of the Caesar’s—birth defects, mental degradation, etc.) piping water to, and removing waste from, living areas can be seen as one of the cornerstones of evolving civilization. The American Standard Company’s slogan “The plumber protects the health of the nation” is no hype… it’s the truth. The guilds of medieval Europe brought new stature to trades and craftsmanship. They codified procedures, trained apprentices and kept the trades “pure.” In fact, the guilds were modeled on secret societies like
the Mason’s, where rites and rituals served to bond the members together. The trade craft members were bound not only to each other but to the economies of their respective towns, villages, states or countries. Trade guilds became one of the pillars of European commerce and expansion. Often controlling, by coercion or force if necessary, the guild members and non-members of the craft and keeping the secrets of the same. From that time until the present, the trades and craftsmanship have always been at the center, if not the center, of national development whether recognized as such or not.
The Long, Winding Road…
It might appear that we in the industry have been reluctant to embrace new technologies over the years. From an outside perspective, that seems to be a parochial, reactionary response to change—but is it?
of the trade” were passed down from master to apprentice, and (usually) from father to son for centuries. With the coming of the industrial revolution that filial line of communication and training had to be expanded because
Looking at our trade from a strictly historic viewpoint we see a steady progression of improvements in the way it has grown and evolved.
Harking back to the guilds of medieval Europe, trade secrets (I bet you never thought about where that phrase originated) were closely held and guarded fiercely. There was no worse an affront to your trade or guild than being found to have divulged a trade secret to a competing trade or (heaven forbid) to a lay person. Practices and procedures were developed to advance the craft and give its members an advantage over others in similar trades or the population at large. The logic was simple: if you showed someone how to do what you did, he didn’t need you to do it anymore and you lost that much business. As our trade evolved, these “tricks
of the sheer volume of the population and the territory it covered. The “father and son” aspect of the trade weakened and, around the end of the Korean War, it was finally swept away (but not entirely).
Every “new” material, procedure or method that we have adopted over time, has been tested by use in actual field conditions... by craftsmen in the trade. Sometimes the ideas look good right out of the gate. Sometimes they are a little harder to see as beneficial or improved. Cost is a factor, it is true, but only one of many that we consider before adopting a new product or procedure. Surely we can look at any number “new and improved” products introduced
to the trade over the last 50 years that have fallen far short of what they were supposed to accomplish. PB piping and fittings leaps immediately to mind. While the concept was good, the actual field performance left a great deal to be desired. Forty years ago, when commercial solar water heating came on the scene, a company produced solar panels made of a material called polysulfone that, according their lab tests, had a 25 year life expectancy. In actual use, in the Phoenix marketplace where SUN is a way of life, the panels failed within a year or two. Ask the contractors who installed these products how quickly they would embrace any more “new” products of that ilk.
Moving Forward
Notwithstanding the flubs, there are many new innovations and products that we have embraced after they proved themselves to our satisfaction. That satisfaction being gained by hard field trials, cost analysis and all of the other variables we use in evaluating additions to our craft. We are, after all is said and done, still members of that same fraternity that began way back in the mists of the history of human civilization and we have a noble, if not sacred, duty to our trade.
Next month, in recognition of this magazine’s 70th anniversary, I intend to write about the changes I have personally witnessed and worked with in both materials and trade craft over that time period.
The Brooklyn, NY-born author is a third-generation master plumber. He founded Sunflower Plumbing & Heating in Shirley, N.Y., in 1975 and A Professional Commercial Plumbing Inc. in Phoenix in 1980. He holds residential, commercial, industrial and solar plumbing licenses and is certified in welding, clean rooms, polypropylene gas fusion and medical gas piping. He can be reached at allen@proquilldriver.com.
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The GSA’s acceptance of ARCSA/ASPE/ANSI rainwater standards in its mandatory design standards and performance criteria for its buildings signals positive momentum for the rainwater catchment and harvesting industry.
BY JOHN MESENBRINK, EDITOR-AT-LARGE
In what is considered a breakthrough for rainwater codes and standards moving forward, the United States General Services Administration (GSA) has accepted its proposed change for the Facilities Standards for the Public Buildings Service (P100), requiring major capital projects of more than 5,000 sq. ft. employing rooftop rainwater catchment and harvesting systems to comply with relevant ARCSA/ASPE/ ANSI standards.
“This definitely sets a precedent,” says Heather Kinkade , Executive Director, American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA) International. “Finally, people are starting to recognize that water is important. And while we’ve been
5 Steps of Rainwater Treatment Consistency
According to ARCSA’s Kinkade, “Our systems are totally different than just a typical rainwater system, and we are not keeping it secret. We want everyone using the same steps to provide the cleanest possible water. By requiring Standards 63 and 78, everybody is creating the same basic systems. Now you can have the maintenance team go from one system to another and they know exactly what is required. In essence, GSA gets that consistency that all of their systems are the same.”
David Crawford, RMS, says that in accordance with Standards 63 and 78, there are five steps to keep rainwater treatment consistent.
Step 1
Step 2
— Pre-treat or filter the water as it comes off the roof.
— Do not disturbed the water in the tank. We use what’s called a calming unit that reflects the incoming water upward to eliminate disturbing sediment that may be in the tank.
Step 3 — Use the cleanest water in the tank by using a floating intake that’s four inches below the surface, but would shut off if it reached the bottom of the tank. (Any suspended solids typically settle to the bottom or float to the top and a floating intake will not disturb either.)
Step 4 — Use an overflow device which skims pollen and other floating debris out of the tank but also prevents critters and other things to back up into the tank.
Step 5 — Point of treatment based on use. “If it’s going out for irrigation, we might not have to do as much as we would treatment wise than if we were bringing it back in the building to flush toilets. Our company has always brought it to a potable level, and that’s pretty consistent with standard 63,” says Crawford. “If people are going to come in contact with it, the water should be at a potable level.
“If it is providing a potable supply, then we’re adding a few other things which are safeguards such as a UV treatment. If for some reason a purification system was not performing to its design, the UV light and that system would sense an error and it would automatically shut that system off,” says Crawford.
working at this for 30 years, people are just now starting to say, ‘we’ve got to do something about this.’”
Dain Hansen, Executive Vice President, Government Relations, The IAPMO Group, concurs, “This sets a fantastic precedent since the GSA is the big player in the room when it comes to federal facilities, when it comes to federal requirements. It not only sets a precedent for other federal agencies, but it could also create a domino effect for states and jurisdictions,” says Hansen.
In the proposed change, rainwater catchment and harvesting systems from architectural rooftops must
comply with ARCSA/ASPE/ANSI Standard 63-2020: Rainwater Catchment Systems, while systems harvesting sidewalk, plaza, and/ or parking lot runoff must comply with ARCSA/ ASPE/ANSI 78: Stormwater Harvesting System Design for Direct End-Use Applications. In addition to the above, capital projects may use recycled water sourced from a centralized treatment facility to meet these requirements. Testing of the recycled water must be conducted to determine if the chemistry is compatible for sustaining the proposed plant palette.
Hooper’s new HQ and facility includes a commercial rainwater harvesting system. Water is captured from the roof and stored in a below ground concrete cistern, then pumped to an RMS packaged treatment skid (pictured).
Hooper Corporation Headquarters in DeForest, WI.
Villanova University implemented a harvesting system that collects rainwater from the rooftop which is pre-filtered before entering two 20,000-gallon cisterns. It is then pumped through a treatment skid (pictured) and stored in polyethylene tanks.
Villanova University Center for Engineering Education and Research (CEER) Building in Villanova, PA.
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Two New Schools Utilize Geo-Boosted District Heating to Attain LEED Gold
VICTORIA, BC, CANDADA — With many young families moving to the western communities of Greater Victoria, the local Sooke School District found themselves with a need to quickly build more schools for some 1,200 elementary- and middle-school age students.
Seeking community input for the projects at every juncture, the district would ultimately name the new schools PEXSISEN Elementary—meaning “the opening of hands,” as named by the Songhees First Nation, and Centre Mountain Lellum Middle School—meaning “house” and “the idea of community, where we raise our children” as named by the Beecher Bay Nation.
In addition to fitting into the culture of an inclusive and respectful community, it was also important for the new schools to be seamlessly integrated into the existing landscape and be earth-friendly in every way. This included optimizing energy efficiency by targeting LEED v4 Gold certification. To achieve this goal, the project incorporated elements such as photovoltaic panels on the roof, strategically positioned and designed windows and a geothermally-boosted HVAC system that runs heating and cooling water through the ground to extract or reject heat as needed for added efficiency.
A District Heating Model
Of significant note in this regard, the planners also decided upon a district heating model, in which a central plant collects and distributes energy between the two schools for flexible heating and cooling.
Rather than having two mechanical rooms, water is conditioned at a single heating/cooling plant to easily accommodate different energy cycles between the schools. If one building requires less heat, the excess heat can be moved to the other building. Heating and cooling can be produced simultaneously by the water source heat pump, with additional heating provided by electric boilers as needed. The water is then delivered through underground piping to the terminal units of each school, where it is used by local HVAC systems to provide comfortable heating and cooling.
According to Michael Hladky , principal of engineering firm SMcN Consulting Inc., the key in these distribution piping or energy transfer piping applications is to keep the heating or cooling energy from escaping while it travels to the schools, maintaining temperatures. To meet the challenge, the team specified REHAU INSULPEX pre-insulated PEXa pipe as the basis of design. INSULPEX pipe is specially designed to efficiently transfer hot or chilled fluid through buried pipelines, minimizing energy loss.
Transferring energy from the central plant to each school is 125 mm INSULPEX pipe. The middle school uses 671 m (2,200 ft) of INSULPEX, while the elementary school uses 183 m (600 ft). In both cases, the flexible pipe is supplied in coil lengths of 40 m (130 ft) or greater and consists of PEXa O2 barrier pipe surrounded by foam insulation and a durable corrugated PE outer jacket. REHAU O2 barrier pipe has a co-extruded oxygen diffusion layer that prevents corrosion of any cast iron components within the heating system in compliance with DIN 4726.
High-Quality Pipe - Outstanding Service
The project team reports several aspects of the product and REHAU’s supporting service that impressed them during the build—starting right up front. For example, notes Hladky, the engineering team needed to do a lot of number-crunching and run many “what-if” scenarios to determine the optimal sizing and other specifications for the project. This can be time-consuming, but, says Hladky, REHAU’s willingness to provide information made the process easier and surer than expected.
“REHAU had lots of technical information available right online that helped us calculate relative flow rates, pressure drops, pump sizes, heat loss and other aspects of the project,” he said. “Having the information readily available allows us as engineers
As more families move to Greater Victoria, the local Sooke School District built two schools for 1,200 elementary and middle school students. Remaining earth-friendly was a key goal, leading the project planners to target LEED v4 Gold certification.
REHAU INSULPEX® helped the project engineers meet demanding design criteria, while also streamlining the installation for contractors. Unlike rigid piping which must be manually insulated on the jobsite, INSULPEX is a one-piece pre-insulated piping solution that supports labor and material savings.
to efficiently calculate design parameters and determine product compatibility with the project.”
In addition, he notes, working up the specifications with REHAU INSULPEX not only allowed his team to get answers quickly; they got very favorable answers as well.
“We were using a very low-temperature/high-efficiency heating water system with water at only 46°C (115°F), so we couldn’t afford to lose much heat in the trip through the pipe from the heating plant to the buildings,” he noted. “With INSULPEX, the heat
loss numbers were within tolerance and the pipe met all aspects of the demanding design criteria very well.”
Ease of Installation
Once specified and in the field, installers noted impressive aspects of REHAU products and service as well. For example, the user-friendly RAUTOOL hydraulic tool kit made it easy for the installers to achieve quick, yet secure connections.
“Larger bore pipes are generally more challenging to work with, but the hydraulic tool REHAU provides does it all for you,” said Gord McLaren, division manager of mechanical contractors at Professional Mechanical Ltd. “Once you get the hang of it, it’s easy to make the connections.”
“The system is just bulletproof,” project installer Joe Bell agreed. “With the REHAU tool you literally can’t put the pipe and fittings together wrong; the tool won’t let you misposition anything.”
Choosing PEXa piping that is already pre-insulated further streamlined the installation process. Metal piping must be manually insulated on the jobsite, which becomes costly, labor-intensive and can lead to performance issues if there are assembly errors. As a secure one-piece solution, INSULPEX pre-insulated PEXa pipe reduces the cost of materials and labor while ensuring trustworthy performance.
Additionally, the flexibility of PEXa supports faster installation compared to rigid piping. Installers can easily navigate bends or obstacles without the need for extra fittings or couplings, minimizing potential leak points while maximizing material and labor savings. Bell remarked, “We put in thousands of feet of pipe and had no leaks at all.”
McLaren was also impressed with the hands-on
assistance he and his team got from REHAU reps in the field.
“There are always numerous ways to skin the cat, and it’s great to have an expert there to bounce off ideas as far as different ways to lay the pipe, work the joints, connect spools, terminate the pipe and other aspects,” he said. “It definitely gives us an edge as far as ensuring an optimal job, and REHAU seems to go above and beyond what the average supplier of any kind is willing to do. They make themselves available for back-and-forth collaboration and that’s really helpful to us.”
The Clear Answer
Both Hladky and McLaren note that, although they had used REHAU products before for indoor radiant heating applications, this was their first experience with the products in outdoor underground piping.
“In our experience, it’s somewhat uncommon in our climate to bury building heating piping underground, and, of course, corrosion would be a concern
for metal piping,” explained Hladky. “Plastic piping like REHAU’s is the clear answer for long-term durability, and INSULPEX comes pre-insulated right from the factory, so we are confident that it’s even, consistent and gap-free throughout. The pipe just rolls out and is ready to go.”
Both men report that there are more REHAU radiant heating projects on their upcoming dockets, and also note that they now know where to turn for piping for district heating and similar applications.
Hladky said, “We will certainly consider specifying INSULPEX for similar applications again in the future.”
Supporting Eucation and Awareness
According to Hladky, the central plant was designed in a way that provides educational value to others. The project team will implement the central plant as a learning hub for upcoming engineers and trades workers, including features such as color-coded pipes and a TV dashboard that displays plant data, energy consumption and GHG (greenhouse gas) savings. While central plants are often concealed, this project prioritizes visibility with windows at the front of the building, so industry professionals and the public can learn more about the inner workings of district heating applications.
As a result of the collaboration among SMcN Consulting, Professional Mechanical and REHAU, the schools now have a high-performing district heating application that facilitates a high-quality learning and working experience for students and teachers. The schools are contributing to a more sustainable future in their community, while also supporting the development of the next generation of engineers and trades workers.
Another view of the shared mechanical room showcasing the geothermal heating and cooling equipment.
A battery-powered hydraulic tool kit.
Presented in partnership with Radiant Professionals Alliance
by Patrick Linhardt
HYDRONICS MANAGER AT CORKEN
STEEL PRODUCTS CO.
Secrets of a District Steam Heat System
The author investigates a townhome that used to be hooked up to a district steam heat system in the 1920s.
If you’re one of the rare regular readers, you know by now that I like steam heat. If asked why, I would say it’s the uniqueness of the jobs I look at. I don’t think that they are ever the same, and I don’t like to speak in extremes. But I seem to always find something new, interesting, or different about each steam system.
A Trip to Utopia
This job was going to be interesting from the beginning. The contractor didn’t give me much information, just the address. It was in a town that was developed as a suburb of Cincinnati in the early 1920’s by a philanthropist. She had lots of money and wanted to create her own utopia where all the economic classes could live together.
The idea was to have a town laid out with a business center, surrounded by housing of all levels, from apartments to townhouses to small homes, etc. The part that always intrigued me was the district steam heating system that was part of the plan. I could never get a good answer on how much of the town it served.
Whenever I would go to the area to help a contractor with a steam boiler replacement, I would look at the piping for any indications that it was originally on the district steam heat. The homeowners would sometimes share their opinions or memories, but rarely did I find much evidence. The only thing for sure was that the district steam heat had been abandoned.
Big Plans - Small Space
Pulling up to this job, I noticed that it was a townhouse located near where I believed the original steam plant was located, which curiously was at the corner of the town, not near the center. The email invitation mentioned that I would be advising on the relocation of a radiator. Besides boiler replacements, this contractor works with remodeling
contractors moving or replacing radi-ators for kitchen/bath remodels.
Walking into the place, it had the appearance of a gut job, lots of walls without plaster and floors you can see through. When the piping is exposed, it makes the system easier to understand.
In this instance, the remodeling contractor was the nice couple that had bought the townhouse from a little old lady that had lived there for a long time.
They had big plans for the small space and were actually interested in converting the steam system to high efficiency hot water. Anytime that is mentioned, I state that I have to take a good look at the piping to identify what needs to be done. So off to the basement we went, where I could also look for the elusive district heat connection.
Following the Trail
had an awkwardly located steam trap. One had the steam vent in photo 1 , awkwardly positioned at a 45-degree angle instead of straight up. Please don’t copy this technique.
The traps were the tip off that this townhouse was on the district steam heat, since they were out of character for an original installation, which wouldn’t have used traps. It wasn’t hard to find the original connection from the street to the townhouse’s steam distribution piping. It was however, capped off on the opposite side of the basement from where the
which usually requires a larger pipe size. The boiler supply should have been run to the connection for the district heat.
70 Years of Problems
It is not the boiler that would have been installed in the summer of 1954, when the city decided to shut down the district steam system, but one of many that used that same connection. I imagine that this system had its share of problems for the past 70 years.
I include this picture to see if you can spot the obvious mistakes with the near boiler piping. The equalizer is not connected to a horizontal header, but taken off the vertical supply line, which eventually turns horizontal to feed into the wrong spot as mentioned before. It can equalize pressure to the return side, but it can’t drain any condensate from the supply riser/header, minimizing the “drying” effect.
The other mistake is with the Hartford Loop. The horizontal distance looks to be about two 4” long nipples and a union in total length. Every boiler manufacturer’s installation instructions say that it should be as short as possible, usually recommending a close or shoulder nipple to lessen the chance of water hammer.
Termites and cheap natural gas were the cause of the district steam heat’s demise. The steam lines run underground from the steam plant to the buildings were insulated with wood, which the termites aggressively removed, leading to high transmission losses.
It is a two-pipe steam system with radiators from the 1920’s that have the top and bottom connections on the radiator sections. That’s the first thing to check. Next thing is to find the end of the steam main(s). Even though it was a small townhouse, it had two end of steam mains. Each end of steam main
existing boiler was sitting.The boiler you see in photo 2 is piped into the townhouse’s steam distribution piping near the end of the longer steam mains. This isn’t a good location to feed steam into the supply piping because of the pitch of the pipes. At this point, the piping is lower than where it was originally fed by the district heat on the other side of the basement.
The steam from the boiler enters the existing piping and has to counter flow against the condensate coming back down the pipe. The existing pipe was sized for parallel flow, not counter flow,
The coal-fired steam plant was built for much more capacity than was ever hooked up, so it was operating inefficiently with no new hook-ups since the 1930s. Ironically, the building was sold and converted to cold storage.
Patrick Linhardt is a forty-year veteran of the wholesale side of the hydronic industry who has been designing and troubleshooting steam and hot water heating systems, pumps and controls on an almost daily basis. An educator and author, he is currently Hydronic Manager at the Corken Steel Products Co.
Presented in partnership with Radiant Professionals Alliance
Intellihot and Winners of the Chicago Innovation Awards Ring the Nasdaq Opening Bell
NEW YORK, NY — Intellihot, Inc. joined fellow winners of the Chicago Innovation Awards, the Chicago region’s foremost annual celebration of innovation, in New York City on Tuesday, July 9th to ring the Opening Bell of the Nasdaq Stock Market.
This event emphasized the surge of innovation that is occurring in the Chicago region, and shined a spotlight on the organizations that make up its vibrant economy.
“Chicago Innovation Award winners cut across all industries and represent the best in new product and service development from large companies, startups and non-profits,” said Luke Tanen , President and CEO of Chicago Innovation. “Their winning innovations are solving a range of unmet needs in
and
the marketplace, and we’re proud to celebrate their successes on a global stage by ringing the Nasdaq Bell.” Joining Intellihot was other winners
Bradford White Announces the Acquisition of Heat-flo
AMBLER, PA — Bradford White Corporation, an industry-leading manufacturer of water heaters, boilers and storage tanks, has announced the acquisition of Heat-flo, a leader in stainless steel indirect water-heating and hydronic storage tanks for residential, commercial, and industrial applications.
The acquisition of Heat-flo results in the broadest portfolio of indirect water-heating solutions in the industry and affirms Bradford White’s unwavering commitment to meeting the evolving needs of its customers.
“Heat-flo is a perfect complement to our existing product portfolio,” said Bruce Carnevale, president and CEO of Bradford White Corporation. “For both companies, our customers live at the center of all we do every day. Together we will continue to deliver upon the shared values of a customer-first approach.”
Bradford White’s subsidiary Laars Heating Systems will be supporting Heat-flo. “We are excited to build on the hard work demonstrated by the entire Heat-flo team,” said Domingo Mohedano, VP and GM, Laars Heating Systems. “Their dedication and reputation for building the highest quality stainless steel water heater products in our industry will allow us to achieve long-lasting success in the market.”
Heat-flo’s expansive solutions and indirect stainless steel product portfolio will allow the company to expand its capabilities to meet the industry’s evolving regulatory environment.
“I am very excited that Heat-flo will become part of Bradford White
Corporation,” said George Celorier , founder of Heat-flo.
“I selected Bradford White because of the alignment of our core values, and our unwavering commitment to our customers, employees, professional plumbers and wholesalers.
I am confident that the company we built is in good hands.”
“With this acquisition, we’ll be able to ensure Heat-flo continues to have the resources and support necessary to continue to grow and thrive well into the future,” Carnevale said.
Heat-flo offers a range of solutions, from multi-energy/solar and electric-based water heating systems to hydronic and radiant heating applications. Operations will continue at the Uxbridge, MA factory.
To learn more, about Bradford White visit https://www.bradfordwhite corporation.
of the 2023 Chicago Innovation Awards. The full list of 2023 winners includes:Abbott, Argonne National Laboratory, Casechek, Chicago:Blend, Consulate General of Canada in Chicago, Dion’s Dream Chicago, EAB Global, Friends of the Chicago River, Industrial Council of Nearwest Chicago, Intellihot, Jellyvision, Law Center for Better Housing, LUDEX, Mavely, The Planting Hope Company, project44, Sibel Health, Solesence, STIGMA, University of Chicago SAND Lab, VOCEL and Volexion.
Intellihot strives to be on the cutting edge of innovation, and have taken a huge step forward as a climate champion with the invention and production of the company’s tankless heat pump water heater.
Learn more about Intellihot’s products by visiting www.intellihot.com. Chicago Innovation, established in 2002, has grown from a single awards ceremony to a year-round series of events and programs. Chicago Innovation’s vision is to ensure that innovation is for everyone by energizing a community that makes an impact.
Intellihot executives
the company leadership team ring the Opening Bell of the Nasdaq Stock Market.
Presented in partnership with Radiant Professionals Alliance
Chilled Water Rescue –No More Dead Compressors
The homeowner was tired of paying for repairs and was ready to make the necessary changes to get a reliable and effective cooling system.
BY BRIAN
We got a call from a homeowner after his HVAC service company threw up their hands and said they could do no more to get the cooling system to work. They had recently replaced two failed compressors and had just discovered that a third compressor was dead. We conducted a site visit to get a handle on the HVAC installation and what the possible causes of compressor failure might be. The homeowner was tired of paying for repairs and was ready to make the necessary changes to get a reliable and effective cooling system.
During our investigation it became clear what was killing these compressors—they were 150 feet away from the house. The existing system had three 5-ton residential duty condensers, located in the adjacent woods, connected to three brazed flat plate heat exchangers in the basement of the house via 150 feet of copper line sets. The water side of each of the flat plate heat exchangers
was connected to a constant circulation chilled water loop which served cooling coils in six air handlers. Each air handler had a three-way zone valve to bypass chilled water through the cooling coil when there was a call for cooling.
It was amazing that the compressors lasted as long as they did in this scenario; eventually a lack of oil return and excessive starts and stops destroyed all of them one by one. After replacing the second compressor, the homeowner finally agreed that this installation would never offer reliable and efficient cooling. It took the failure of the third compressor to convince him that major changes in this system were necessary.
We were asked to develop a plan for a chilled water rescue that would remove the pumping noise from the basement (and living room directly above) by relocating the constant circulation pump, increase cooling capacity, add redundancy, and simplify maintenance and repairs.
Parts & Equipment
• Goulds pumps and drives
• Viega press fittings
• Spirovent air separators
• Hydrazorb strut clamps
• Superstrut strut fittings
• Weiss thermometers and gauges
• Multiaqua chillers
• Mueller compression fittings
• Flexhose flexible connectors
• HTP Boiler Buddy buffer tank
• Armaflex insulation and fittings
We suggested that instead of making the chilled water inside in the basement mech room (which meant connecting the remote condensing units with the house via the 150 foot refrigerant line sets), we would make chilled water at the remote condensing unit location and connect to the house with 150 foot chilled water pipes. This would mean a shift to a glycol system for freeze protection but we would solve the compressor oil return and longevity issues.We also suggested that capacity be increased from three 5-ton condensing units to four 5-ton chiller units. All of this made a lot of sense to the homeowner, and he approved the project. Our happiness was short lived as we soon realized there would be significant constraints on our outside installation.
Space Limitations
The existing concrete chiller pad had three 5-ton condensing units on it and was screened from the house with trees
and shrubs. We proposed the expansion of the pad to accommodate four 5-ton chillers, two circulators, and a buffer tank.
We would dig up the 150-foot copper line sets that ran between the pad and basement and replace them with two 2” poly supply pipes and two 2” poly return pipes.
We quickly realized that we would have to fight for every inch of concrete pad as the homeowner would not permit relocating of any of the trees and shrubs around the existing pad. We had to mockup all of the equipment, piping, fittings, and access space for future maintenance to arrive at the absolute minimum pad size that would work. The contractor poured the concrete extension of the existing pad, the landscaper dug a 150-foot long trench to expose and remove the lines sets, and we installed our poly pipes between the pad and the basement mechanical space.
NELSON, SPECIAL TO CONTRACTOR
The three original chilled water heat exchangers.
Sliding the chillers into location.
We chose to run two supplies and two returns so that our pressure drop between the pad and house would be reduced.
Once inside the basement, we joined the two supplies and two returns and transitioned to 2” copper.
No More Pumping Inside the Building
The existing chilled water system was a constant circulation dinosaur. The circulation pump mounted to the ceiling of the basement mech room sent chilled water to each of the six air handlers regardless of load or demand. At each air handler, the three-way zone valve connected to the chilled water coil would bypass chilled water unless there was a cooling call. When this system was installed no one was worried about energy use so there were no control wires from the air handlers to the basement mech room to control this circulation pump.
Our design was to install pressure sensing circulation pumps so that over time the chilled water three-way zone valves could be replaced with two-way zone valves at each fan coil and we could reduce unnecessary chilled water pumping. Relocating the circulation pumps to the outside chiller pad would also remove the constant vibration in the living room that aggravated the homeowner all summer long.
We connected our pressure gauge to both inlet and outlet of the existing chilled water pump and from the pump curve determined the existing flow and pressure drop. This would be a critical part of our pump sizing calculation. We then demoed the existing flat plate heat exchangers and circulator pump and connected our new supply and return pipes to the existing chilled water system.
Layout of Equipment on the Chiller Pad
Now that we had completed the inside work, we could pivot to the chiller pad work. We carefully shifted around the two circulating pumps, buffer tank, and four cardboard squares representing the four chillers as we looked for the optimal arrangement. We quickly realized that we would have to forego traditional pump appurtenances due to the extreme space constraints. We would have to go vertical after the inlet and outlet of each pump to give us room for flexes, check valves, and isolation valves. This required a lot of mocking up of the fittings and pipe to determine how things would land once
the four chillers were in place. We also had to think forward to how we would sneak the four chillers through the existing trees and shrubs without damaging them. There was no room for a crane or excavator to help us with equipment movement, so we had get creative. We ended up attaching a grid of strut to the concrete pad; we could move the chillers on rollers over to the strut and then slide the chillers in place. We mocked up the supply and return piping for the four chillers to see how we could connect all of them to the 120-gallon buffer tank within our space constraints. It looked like it would work out on paper with little room for error.
Pumps and Buffer Tank Piping is Complete
Once our mockup was complete we were ready to commit ourselves and press everything up. We had to install extra strut everywhere to make sure our press tool didn’t betray us as we pressed everything together. We pressed in large air separators on the return sides of the pumps and the buffer tank and added tees for pressure gauges, pressure sensors, and thermometers. Our buffer tank had four ports—the four chillers (with internal pumps) would connect their supplies and returns to two of the ports and the other ports would connect to the house
We carefully walked each of the chillers through the narrow opening between the trees onto the concrete pad. At that point, we slid each chiller onto rollers and easily rolled them into place on our strut. Sliding the units on the strut was easy. We then bolted each chiller into place on the strut grid.
Connecting Chillers to the Buffer Tank
This was arguably the hardest part of the job—designing the piping for each of the chillers to connect their supplies and returns together so that it was elegant, easy to service, and easy to install. We did have a few fittings that had to be pressed first before everything else, but we managed not to press ourselves into a corner.
Each of the two chillers were connected together and then the two pairs were connected at the buffer tank. We tried to balance run and branch flow between all four chillers with our piping and fittings. The piping was completed and we filled the system with water (no leaks! Press made it easy!) and then a glycol water mix.
Start Up and Operation
via the two pumps. We connected the pumps to the two poly supplies and two poly returns that ran 150 feet back to the basement mechanical room.
Moving in the Four Chillers –Don’t Hurt the Trees!
We laid down plywood across the grass so that we could roll the chillers from the street to the edge of the woods next to our chiller pad. We had to be careful not to damage any of the trees or shrubs.
We brought over the pump start-up guru from America (living on the island of Martha’s Vineyard can be very isolating— no McDonald’s or Dunkins—but the guru refused to bring us any Big Macs!) and he commissioned the two variable speed drives that powered the two pumps. The drives communicated with each other, and both had a pressure sensor that would rotate the pump operation for equal runtime. This made our installation compatible with future upgrades. Moving forward, the three-way zone valves at each of the six air handlers could be replaced two way zone valves and the outside pumps could respond with increased or decreased flow.
We started up the four chillers and easily hit our target of 44 F. The homeowner appreciated the sound of no-pumping in the basement below his living room. The contractor constructed a shed structure to protect our pumps from the elements. Another successful chilled water rescue with no more failed compressors!
Nick Rivers mocking up the pumps.
The buffer tank tied in.
Patti Feldman
Enhancing Opportunities and Operations
Built around a simple process for easy Daily Activity Tracking & Analysis (DATA), Construction Monkey’s (www. constructionmonkey.com) SaaS web app, crewHD, is designed to help specialty contractors manage labor (often a major risk to a project being a success or not).
Real-time field data metrics allow teams to know productivity for each activity installation, track jobsite conditions (e.g. other trades in the way, area not ready, rework, adverse weather) and instantly know their impact on the project and also facilitates knowing the labor-to-complete a project utilizing productivity data. Those capabilities driven and automatically created from a three- minute entry, an activity card filled out on a smartphone, tablet, or computer by each activity leader on the jobsite.
widget and mass texting suitable for promotions, company updates and mass reminders (BCC group messaging so only you see who gets the texts and only you get the replies) to any or all of your contacts instantly.
Payments are processed through SMS via your own payment processor or Text Request’s processor. You can connect your Google and Facebook business profiles and request, track, and reply to online reviews directly.
The entry also automates and expedites creating Look-ahead Planners, Pre-Activity Huddles which can be customized to include a current Job Hazard Analysis safety form, daily job reports/logs, time cards which can include per diem, signatures, and absentee notes, and additional work directives to help track and get vouchers signed for any work beyond your scope/contract.
Project data is also combined to help understand company performance as a whole by tracking master tasks, allowing you to adjust future estimates based on past and current performance.
Pricing: based on project usage with unlimited number of users. Personal web demo available (https://www. constructionmonkey.com/marketing/ webinar/crewhd).
Oracle Field Service
Cloud- based Oracle Field Service ( www.oracle.com 800/633-0738) management software helps mobile service teams with work planning and scheduling, technician enablement and customer self-service and features a patented AI-powered routing and scheduling engine optimizing field resource utilization.
Reviews of the Construction Monkey app, Oracle Field Service software, and the Text Request texting platform.
The solution gives real-time visibility into technician location and job status and can flex to accommodate unplanned or emergency service events without disrupting existing schedules. The embedded AI-powered assignment assistant suggests the most qualified available resources to handle emergencies based on need.
To accommodate urgent requests OFS can send requests to multiple technicians who can assess project details and notify the scheduler/dispatcher if they can accept the work.
Oracle Field Service also includes iOS, Android, and browser-based mobile applications that boost field technician efficiency. Guided workflows and real-time data from connected assets help technicians accurately troubleshoot issues. Technicians can also view asset service history, locate service parts, and capture billing information (including authorization or signatures) to ensure compliance while keeping information in sync across front and back-office systems from the mobile application.
By connecting a knowledge library— such as Oracle Fusion Knowledge
Management—field technicians can pull up manuals, videos, articles, schematics, and other documents n the OFS mobile application to get answers and solve issues faster.
Customer self-service capabilities in OFS offer appointment scheduling, appointment reminders, and day of appointment communications with details of dispatched technicians including name and photo, and the ability to track technician status in real time. Customers can use the embedded chatbot to send messages to their technician (such as where to park or how to access their building) or to reschedule or cancel a service appointment.
Pricing: fee per user/per month.
Text Request
Text Request ( www.textrequest.com, 423/218-0111 ) customizable business texting platform, suitable for companies of all sizes, accommodates unlimited users, device, and contacts. Adding text messaging to your business phone numbers (giving you both conversational texting and mass texting), the solution features SMS chat from your website via a live chat
Text Request’s SMS Chat—how it works: messages come into your dashboard and your replies go to that contact’s cell phone. You can route each incoming message to the right person, department or location for each conversation and can also automatically send a text to a new chat noting that you will respond as available. It is also possible to type in a message and schedule it for a later time/date.
The SMS chat feature sends notifications of the incoming text to your computer and mobile app. The software also provides customizable text message templates on its website to jumpstart setting appointments and confirming them.
Text Request integrates with several popular platforms, including HubSpot, MailChimp, Pipedrive, Inuit QuickBooks, Square, and Zapier.
Pricing: Standard and high-volume plans are available at escalating cost, differentiated at least partially by number of dashboards, number of included texts per month. Basic provides one dashboard (with one text line) and includes up to 1,000 texts per month; Starter, the most popular plan, features two dashboards and 2,500 texts per month. Corporate plan (5 dashboards and 6,500 texts monthly) and Enterprise plan (10 dashboards, 20,000 texts monthly) also available. Additional fee to connect to your Google and Facebook business profiles.
Patti Feldman writes articles and web content for trade magazines and manufacturers of building products. She can be reached at productpad@yahoo.com.
Creating a daily job report on the Construction Monkey SaaS web app.
WHERE FACILITY CHALLENGES
SOLUTIONS
October 9-10, 2024 Santa Clara, CA
October
9 Steps to Improve Your Business
Want to improve your business? Want to get more business, hire more and better people? Want to protect your assets? Everyone does, but not everyone takes the necessary steps. Here are nine steps you should take to improve your company. Hopefully, you are already doing some, if not most of them.
Here are nine steps you should take to improve your plumbing company. Hopefully, you are already doing some!
1. Reconsider direct mail.
The digital space is crowded. Rates are being bid up. At the same time, fewer marketers are using direct mail. Just remember that direct mail is a campaign. It must be sent over time. You do not want to stop one drop before the phone is about to ring.
2. Use radius marketing.
When you complete a service call or install a water heater, chances are good that a number of the 50 to 100 homes surrounding your customer are in a similar situation. There are mail houses who will mail your marketing material to surrounding homes based on an address.
3. Partner with a charity.
This is called affinity marketing. The charity promotes you to its patrons and you make a donation for every service call where the customer mentions the charity.
4. Join a service club.
Service clubs like Rotary, Kiwanis, Lion’s, Optimists, and Civitan are populated by community centers of
influence. These are the people others turn to for recommendations about plumbers. If you are going to eat lunch, eat it with community centers of influence once a week. The business from the club members alone will make it worth it.
5. Create or update your unique selling proposition (USP).
A USP is a short phrase that communicates why you are different and unique from other plumbers in your market. What is yours?
6. Create a company brochure.
This builds your brand in the mind of prospects, lists what products and services you offer, lets you crow about your accomplishments and superlatives, and allows you to reinforce your USP, stressing why you are different and better than other plumbing companies, how you give back to the
community, and so on. Use testimonials with pictures of smiling happy employees and smiling happy customers to emphasize how great your company is. Use these at home shows. Hand them out with invoices. Give them out with service club talks.
7. Create a recruiting brochure.
Prospective employees frequently walk away from interviews and forget many of the selling points of working for a company, even if they take away some warm fuzzy feelings. This means they are unable to communicate the advantages of a job change with their spouses. A recruiting brochure is similar to a company brochure, but designed to attract employees and their spouses. In addition to the items in a company brochure, note benefits, company outings, time off, training, career paths, and so on. Of course, this implies that you have career paths, a training program, and so on.
8. Hire for attitude.
It doesn’t matter how good a plumber is, how much revenue he brings home, if his attitude is bad. This includes grumpy plumbers and prima donnas. If someone has the attitude and aptitude, you can teach the rest. If someone has the wrong attitude, he’ll drag down everyone around him.
9. Conduct a fraud review.
Every year, plumbing contractors fall victim to fraud. It happens far more than anyone thinks because people do not talk about it. Hire a local certified fraud examiner to review your operation and offer recommendations for fraud prevention. No one knows more about this in the plumbing industry than Mike Bohinc at KeepingScoreCPA.com.
Want an inspirational, fun read about improving a service business? Buy Matt Michel’s “Contractor Stories” on Amazon. See Matt speak at the ServiceWorldExpo. com in October where he is a keynote.
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by Adi “Didi” Azaria CEO OF WORKIZ
30M Field Service Workers Represent the Best-Case Scenario of AI’s Impact
Hey Chat GPT, Finish This Building…” proclaimed a now famous billboard plastered over a construction site. The message is clear. While ChatGPT and AI are set to revolutionize just about everything, certain jobs are simply irreplaceable until far into the future, some of the most obvious of which are laborious field service jobs.
That reality has led investors to overlook AI’s applications to Field Service and other difficult-to-replace sectors in favor of the self-driving car ecosystem or another AI-driven sales tool. Those obvious sectors can lead to unicorn companies, but they’re overcrowded— the ship has (for the most part) sailed. Field services represent a best-case scenario both when it comes to impact on workers and investment potential.
AI Will Unlock Field Service Efficiency, and The Pros Know It
Despite not being part of the AI revolution headlines, large percentages of field service professionals already believe AI will impact their field. A survey of 200 field service management leaders predicted an impact on call center operations and customer service (52%), enhanced route optimization (43%), and optimized job prioritization (39%). These expectations match a field service reality that is SMB-dominant; these hardworking professionals in HVAC, plumbing, electrical maintenance, etc., may be irreplaceable, but they don’t have unlimited time.
Driving Efficiency on All Fronts
AI’s evolution in field service will likely involve extracting existing data from internal systems, tapping into external data from third-party sources, or combining both into dynamic real-time data, which can be used to calculate performance-critical KPIs and ROI instantly. AI can save time and cut costs on scheduling and dispatching by accessing their customers’ data and complete job history as they
Despite not being part of the AI revolution headlines, large percentages of field service professionals already believe AI will impact their field.
arrive on-site. Simultaneously, backend data automation enables technicians to complete more jobs within a given time frame.
Real World Scenarios Abound
Plumbing contractors traditionally ordered spare parts such as copper piping from external sources, as water pipes are usually of a standard structure. AIdriven computer vision, paired with 3D printing of pipes and fittings, will allow plumbers to customize more cost-efficient, plastic-based designs and produce durable printed pipes precisely suited to individual site conditions.
For HVAC professionals, integrating AI algorithms with temperature and occupancy sensors can make heating
money it’s worth for investors.
Yet, there are countless industries that are valuable, growing, and about to be supercharged by AI adoption. What really sets field services apart are two additional factors: 1. The field is anything but crowded, and 2. It lacks the negatives that pose stumbling blocks in other industries.
AI Possibilities Without the Downsides
Self-driving cars or customer service applications applied to industries such as healthcare or finance may be powerful, but stumbling blocks are everywhere. They must conform to strict regulations because of a laundry list of privacy issues, or worse, potential death or ethical quandaries (e.g., the trolley car dilemma). Regulation is necessary, but it creates barriers to entry, increases costs and risks, and slows down the time it takes until benefits are enjoyed. Likewise, when AI threatens job security, further regulations and potential pushback tend to occur—Hollywood executives vs. their unions are a prime example.
and cooling far more efficient, while monitoring air quality can provide better quality air and fewer hazards for occupants and cross-sell and upsell opportunities for the professionals.
Lastly, AI-driven drones can benefit electricians by utilizing thermal imaging cameras to inspect potentially unsafe electrical circuits for human access, and AI-automated engineering can execute precise but repetitive tasks like panel installations or complex wiring.
Electricians, plumbers, and HVAC engineers account for 650,000 field service businesses in the US alone and revenues of $600 billion a year. Add to that a healthy compound annual growth rate for the industry of approximately
Field service professionals don’t (typically) face such high regulatory burdens, and they can’t be replaced. In fact, since most are SMBs, AI will provide much-needed help and optimization that can greatly improve their lives alongside customer service. Combined with the fact that AI is still in its infancy amongst field service professionals—with the exception of a couple rapidly advancing leaders— the space makes for a great investment that has gone overlooked by investors for far too long.
Adi “Didi” Azaria is the CEO of Workiz, the top field service management software company, helping service businesses streamline operations and boost productivity. With over 15 years of experience, Didi is a seasoned growth hacker, inside sales specialist, startup enthusiast, and investor.
by Michael Dickran DIRECTOR OF ENTERPRISE SALES, ARCORO
How Time Tracking Has Evolved in 25 Years (and How Many Contractors Haven’t)
In the world of construction and technology, a lot has changed since 1999. The value of public federal construction in the US has more than doubled since that year when “blogs,” “cord-cutting,” and “texting” made their lexicographical debut. Today, the construction sector is bustling with head-turning technology that’s (literally) taking the built environment to new heights and tech-savvy professionals who are leveraging these new tools in innovative ways.
One technology that deserves a round of applause for its value-driven evolution over the past 25 years is digital time tracking. Unfortunately, many construction companies are still living in the age of Y2K, relying on paper punch cards and timesheets that expose the business to tremendous risk and potential litigation.
Many also fail to realize that modern time and attendance technology isn’t just about recording work hours. When used strategically, it quickly becomes a powerful tool that mechanical contractors can use to make better business decisions and avoid compliance and safety issues.
A Short History Lesson
It’s fascinating to learn that historians can trace time and attendance tracking back over 3,000 years to ancient Egypt.. Texts show that the Egyptian state paid workers in food supply and even tracked illness-related absences.
The mechanical time clock was invented and patented in the 1880s, quickly making its way into factories during the Industrial Revolution. About 100 years later, electronic systems and smart card attendance systems entered the marketplace. While these innovations made a manual process easier, they still didn’t fix issues with falsified data and human error risk, absence and overtime management, and speeding up payroll processing time.
Today, automation capabilities and cloud-based platforms set modern time and attendance solutions apart from their predecessors. Field employees
Timecards—still used by more than 1/3rd of US companies to track their employees.
Many construction companies are still living in the age of Y2K, relying on paper punch cards and timesheets that expose the business to tremendous risk and potential litigation.
can use their smartphones to clock in and out instantly, foremen no longer need to worry about collecting and approving paper timesheets at the end of the week, and the payroll department doesn’t have to spend hours deciphering illegible handwriting to ensure they’re compensating people correctly.
Missed Opportunities
When the first automobiles hit the market, everyone was just happy to have a powered vehicle with four wheels. Now, people expect features like Bluetooth, built-in navigation, cruise control and autopilot. Likewise with time tracking solutions: nobody says, “I miss those timecards,” after trading them in for a newer model.
Yet, one-third of businesses have outdated time tracking systems, with 38% of US companies still using paper timesheets and punch cards, according to QuickBooks. By this metric, if the
Mechanical Contractors Association of America represents 2,700 mechanical contracting firms, 1,026 of them may still rely on paper-based systems to manage their workforce.
Sure, paper-based systems will still allow companies to know when and where contractors were at a jobsite, but they miss out on a lot of business intelligence beyond the individual when they choose to track time and attendance manually.
Advanced Management for the Field
A time and attendance system must answer the fundamental questions of “Did you show up, and how long were you there?” However, today’s construction companies also need to know information like, “Did you change locations?” and “Did you switch between tasks with different job codes?” to manage their workforce effectively
and ensure accurate payrolls. With digital tracking, employees can enter their hours and activities from the field on their desktops or mobile devices. GPS geofences, time stamps, and ID confirmation, such as a selfie photo, can capture accurate information and enhance employee accountability. Certain apps can also work offline to capture information at remote job sites with no internet connectivity or cell phone signal. Collectively, the features help to discourage inaccurate timesheets (even rounding up an extra 15 minutes can eat away at a project’s labor budget) and “buddy punching,” when one employee clocks in for another who isn’t actually at work.
Data-Enabled Job Costing and Resource Allocation
Business owners and field supervisors can do a lot to improve their performance on projects with more accurate employee time tracking. Estimators can use the information to improve job cost forecasting on new projects, and project managers can monitor labor hours to keep projects on budget. If reports indicate that the current workforce’s productivity level may cause schedule delays, they can make a data-backed decision to hire additional workers to finish the scope on time. On the flip side, if the reports indicate that too many workers are present at a job site, those resources can be reallocated to support other projects.
Enhanced Job Site Safety
Construction is a high-risk, high-consequence industry when it comes to safety. Only qualified personnel should perform certain tasks, such as welding or operating heavy equipment. Digital time and attendance solutions can be configured to give foremen access to employee certifications, allowing them to verify that individuals are assigned to tasks they’re qualified for and confirm that all training and certifications are up to date. If their OSHA or welding certifications are close to
by Jeremiah Brodie BUSINESS UNIT TRAINER FOR THE LITTLE GIANT BRAND OF FRANKLIN ELECTRIC
Sump, Effluent, & Sewage Pumps: Tips for Selecting the Correct Pump for Your Installation
Selecting and installing a pump for a homeowner’s sump and waste-management system is never a one-size-fits-all project.
For the professional installer, multiple factors need to be considered before choosing a pump, such as pump type, pump size, total dynamic head, and basin size, to name a few. If the homeowner has a high groundwater level and is prone to flooding due to spring thaw or heavy rain falls, you may want to consider a sump pump sized for higher flow or head pressure to move that water away from your home and valuables. Also, if your customer has an older home and a smaller basin, you may want to consider a pump with a diaphragm switch with no moving parts. Read below to get additional details on three standard pumps found in residential properties in North America— and which one might be the right one for your job.
Sump Pumps
A sump pump removes standing water from the sump basin in a basement or crawlspace. A sump pump can also be used in other applications such as general dewatering, storm shelters, and emergency water transfer. Select sump and light effluent pumps can handle solids ½ inch or less, depending on the application.
loose and may be moved through the pump and out the discharge. With a sump/light effluent pump anything under ½ inch will move down the line easily. Here are a few tips on selecting the best sump pump for your application:
• Pump construction
Cast iron is one of the most robust materials for a sump pump housing. Cast iron is strong and corrosion resistant. Remember that cast iron, unlike other sump pump housings made of steel or cast aluminum, dissipates heat more effectively. To increase the longevity of the electric motor, it is better to keep it cooler. Cast iron will pull the heat away from the motor more efficiently. Another option for brackish water applications is a bronze pump housing. Bronze will withstand brackish applications more so than cast iron, cast aluminum, steel, or thermoplastic.
• Solids-handling capabilities
A non-solid handling sump pump could clog the volute and prevent water from passing. At that point, the water in the basin will continue to rise and potentially cause damage to your home and valuables. If solids in the sump basin could pass through the sump pump, a semi-solid sump/light effluent pump
should be considered. A sump/effluent pump with a ½ inch or less solids handling capability is recommended in this situation. There are also sump pumps with a screen on the bottom of the volute for nonsolid applications. • Switch type
There are multiple switch options offered for sump applications. The most common sump pump switches are integral snap-action float switches, tethered float switches, and diaphragm (atmospheric pressure) switches. Diaphragm switches are ideal for basins that include a primary sump pump and a battery backup system since no moving parts exist. Integral snap-action float switches are suitable for smaller-diameter sump basins since the switch moves vertically up and down. Tethered float switches may take up more room to allow the switch to swing out and turn on. Tethered float switches remain extremely popular in the industry for specific applications.
Effluent Pumps
Effluent pumps are used to move sewage gray water from one location to another. This pump type is most used in a septic system with an effluent chamber and drain field or mound system but
can also be used for other situations that may need a pump for ¾ inch solid handling capabilities. The capabilities of an effluent pump are not limited to one application. Septic systems are the primary use case scenario for effluent pumps. Other areas we see these pumps used are for dewatering flooded loading docks and in the removal of water in elevator shafts. These pumps range in performance from high head to high flow applications. Here are a few tips to help you select the right effluent pump for your next jobsite:
• Pump size
Keep in mind TDH and the flow your job requires. For more information, visit this link: learn.franklintech.com/ student/activity/1821088-how-to-reada-pump-curve
• Switch Type
The most popular switch types for effluent pumps are tethered mechanical float switches, integral snap-action float switches, integral vertical float switches, and control panel operation with a manual pump.
• Pump construction and durability
The environment surrounding an effluent pump can be harsh. Make sure the pump you are using is up to the task. Cast iron housing construction will provide the durability to pump effluent gray water. In some applications, a cast iron impeller is another added durability option in harsh conditions.
A typical sump pump application.
For example, if you have a sump basin that has a gravel base you may run into small rocks or debris that may be
A Little Giant 6-CIA Sump Pump.
A Little Giant 6-EC-CIA-DS Effluent Pump.
➤ Turn to Sump, page 41
by Alok Chanani CO-FOUNDER AND CEO OF BUILDOPS
Attracting the Next Generation: How Leaders Can Showcase Tech Savvy
In the construction industry, the challenge isn’t just about tackling today’s projects but also about building an enduring business amid a decades-long labor shortage. The rising costs and uncertain job prospects associated with traditional college paths are making the trades a viable alternative to help fill this labor gap.
But to truly attract young people into the trades, we must speak their language: technology.
At the same time, it’s critical not to lose sight of what makes the trades uniquely hands-on and visceral in today’s digital world. Our goal as leaders is to clearly communicate to those considering the trades: you get the best of both worlds.
That’s easier said than done. Despite its $12 trillion valuation, the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) sector has been among the slowest to adopt digital technologies. Yet, the urgency to innovate is clear.
The construction industry will need to attract an estimated 501,000 additional workers this year to meet the demand for labor, underscoring the need to make the industry more attractive to the next generation.
The good news is that there’s no shortage of ways we can use tech in our daily operations. Exciting technologies like augmented reality and drones are reshaping project visualization and site surveys, enhancing the precision and craftsmanship traditional to our trade. These technologies not only support the existing workforce but also attract tech-savvy newcomers who are looking for dynamic work environments.
For example, Sundt Construction uses augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) to enhance project planning and safety training. By allowing employees to visualize complex projects in a virtual environment, Sundt not only improves project outcomes but also attracts young talent interested in cutting-edge technology.
But we should also not overlook the impact of simpler, more familiar tech
To truly attract young people into the trades, we must speak their language: technology.
on everyday tasks—tech that younger generations already know and are proficient in. For instance, AI tools like ChatGPT and industry-specific chat tools, like the copilot tool we’re launching at BuildOps, streamline tasks such as accessing project specifications, submittal requirements, and change order statuses, providing instant support and critical information. Additionally, OCR technology simplifies asset data collection with a quick snap of a photo, immediately displaying operation manuals for field technicians.
These innovations not only save time but also significantly reduce the error rate, allowing our craftspeople to concentrate more on their expert skills rather than clerical duties.
Using Technology to Attract New Hires
It’s crucial not only to embrace technology but also to showcase it effectively. Make it easy for candidates to see your company as innovative. Celebrate the tech you use openly on your website and social media. For example, list
out the tech stack you use to complete massive projects on time and under budget. Showcasing these technologies not only highlights your company’s modern approach but also serves as a testament to your commitment to efficiency and quality.
Skanska USA, for example, effectively uses its social channels and website to highlight its use of drones, AR, and other technologies on job sites.
Allocate time to speaking at live and virtual events about the impact of tech in the trades. While speaking to those in the industry has value, expanding your reach to regional tech symposiums or broader industry conferences can open doors to “trades-curious” individuals who might not yet see the construction industry as a tech-forward field. This broad exposure helps to challenge outdated perceptions and showcases construction as a cutting-edge sector.
Engaging Your Younger Employees
As more young people opt for vocational training, demonstrating that
the construction industry is forward-thinking and committed to innovative practices is essential. We must foster a culture that not only uses technology but also encourages young workers to contribute to its integration. Allow your younger employees to lead teams that evaluate new technologies and have a say in the tech tools the company adopts. This empowerment helps to cultivate a sense of ownership and pride in their work.
Turner Construction Company has established a “Young Professionals Network” where younger employees are mentored and can collaborate to use their unique perspectives to build the future of the organization.
These younger employees often relate more effectively to their peers, making them ideal representatives to speak about tech in the trades at events. Their involvement not only makes them feel valued but also leverages their unique perspectives to drive innovation.
Walking the Line Between Tech and Tradition
As we look to the future, the success of the construction industry in attracting and retaining talented young workers hinges on our ability to integrate cutting-edge technology with the hands-on aspects of the trades. By demonstrating that construction careers offer a unique blend of modern technological practices and a deep commitment to craftsmanship, we inspire a new generation to join and lead the industry forward.
For this generation, technology is a tool that enhances their work, augmenting the hands-on satisfaction that has always drawn many to the trades, ensuring a future where innovation and tradition thrive together.
Alok Chanani is the Co-founder and CEO of BuildOps and a former US Army Captain.
Radiant Professionals Alliance , Geothermal Rising Sign MoU to Advance and Promote Geothermal Energy
ONTARIO, CA — The Radiant Professionals Alliance (RPA) and professional/ educational association Geothermal Rising (GR) have entered into a memorandum of understanding with the mutual goal of promoting and advancing technological innovations of geothermal systems. The partnership will engage RPA, GR and their respective members in technical activities coordination, education, advocacy, community engagement and policy, publications, and consistent leadership communication for more sustainable building operations and advancing the green economy.
The RPA and GR will support the geothermal and thermal energy network (TENs) industry on providing opportunities to participate in codes
Prices of Construction Materials Fall 0.3% in June
➤ Continued from page 1
prices declined 0.4% for the month.
Overall construction input prices are 1.1% higher than a year ago, while nonresidential construction input prices are 0.7% higher. Prices increased in 2 of 3 energy subcategories last month. Natural gas prices were up 36.3%. The aggregate price of unprocessed energy materials was up 4.7%. Crude petroleum prices were down 0.2% for the month.
“Construction materials prices dipped in June, perhaps a reflection of declining project starts in a number of construction segments and an associated dip in demand,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “For instance, input prices fell in the multifamily segment, where many contractors indicate substantial softening of demand for their services. The same was true of input prices in commercial construction segments.
“While ABC members continue to report stable backlog as measured by the Construction Backlog Indicator and steady confidence as measured by the Construction Confidence Index, there remain reasons for concern,” said Basu. “While construction input prices fell last month according to today’s report, overall inflation as
Producer Price Index Percent Change Inputs to Construction Industries June 2017 through June 2024
Overall construction input prices are 1.1% higher than a year ago, while nonresidential construction input prices are 0.7% higher.
measured by the Producer Price Index is hotter than anticipated. The Federal Reserve is still looking for data indicating that 2% inflation will soon be reestablished, so data like these may forestall much-anticipated and desired interest rate cuts. That translates into higher interest rates for longer, which
would be damaging to construction industry prospects.”
Visit abc.org/economics for the Construction Backlog Indicator and Construction Confidence Index, plus analysis of spending, employment, job openings and the Producer Price Index.
and standards development, guidelines, policies, and position statements developed on technical subjects as they relate to geothermal energy. They will collaborate in the development of research related to the design and construction of geothermal energy systems and promote research in areas where results will add to the body of knowledge in the conservation of natural resources, increasing energy efficiencies and sustainability, and improving public health and safety.
Advancing the Industry
“This collaboration brings the geothermal industry together for consistency in the approach, installation, and guidance of geothermal systems,” IAPMO CEO Dave Viola said. “This partnership will further advance the geothermal industry with superior leadership, awareness, and best practices.”
“GR is thrilled to deepen our partnership with the RPA and the international plumbing and mechanical community,” said Dr. Bryant Jones , GR executive director. “This collaboration helps leverage the strengths of both organizations.”
GR and the RPA
Formed in 1972, GR is the oldest geothermal association on Earth, serving as the main professional and educational association for the geothermal community and public. As a 501(c) (3) nonprofit, GR empowers the advancement of human understanding and practical use of geothermal energy through collaboration and communication of robust research, knowledge, and guidance.
The RPA is an international trade association established for the purpose of providing superior leadership and fostering the awareness of innovative technology through comprehensive educational activities, products, codes and standards, and public awareness initiatives with regard to the radiant and hydronic heating and cooling industry.
For questions, contact John Mullen at 631/994-4774 or john.mullen@iapmo. org or Hugo Aguilar at 909/472-4111 or hugo.aguilar@iapmo.org.
A geothermal heat pump in a mechanical room.
EGIA Foundation Partners with National Association for Minority Contractors
EGIA and the EGIA Foundation have unveiled their new initiative, “Developing a High-Performance Diverse Contractor Workforce.” This program is designed for select minority-owned contracting businesses that are part of the NorCal chapter of NAMC, which is the founding chapter of the National Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC).
The initiative aims to enhance the
long-term success of these businesses by providing a comprehensive range of training and resources. This support will enable them to contribute to energy efficiency and decarbonization efforts, as well as other activities aligned with the Justice40 initiative.
Advanced Training and Resources
This new initiative harnesses the power of EGIA’s extensive contractor development resources and NAMC’s nationwide network of growth-oriented, minority-owned businesses. The program aims to help these businesses establish sustainable and successful operations, especially in the electrification and home performance sectors. Participants will gain full access to EGIA’s Contractor University, which offers advanced business coaching, on-demand and live training, and a comprehensive workforce development and contractor training curriculum.
Fostering Diversity and Growth
“Developing a High-Performance Diverse Contractor Workforce is a strategic extension of our mission to cultivate a skilled, diverse contractor community,” stated Bruce Matulich, Chairman of the EGIA Foundation and CEO of EGIA. “Our collaboration with NAMC leverages their profound industry connections and EGIA’s training expertise to provide minority contracting business owners the tools and knowledge required to build profitable, sustainable businesses.”
Mario Wagne r, NAMC NorCal VP, added, “This partnership with the EGIA Foundation represents a vital progression towards ensuring minority
contractors are actively participating in the clean energy transition. Together, we’re providing the tools and training necessary for minority business
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To learn more about the EGIA Foundation and NAMC visit EGIAFoundation.org.
Registration Opens for PMI24 Manufacturing Success Conference
ATLANTA, GA — Plumbing Manufacturers International has opened registration for the PMI24 Manufacturing Success Conference, to be held from Nov. 4-7 at the InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta hotel. In celebration of its 70th anniversary, PMI24 will feature insightful programs and presentations, interesting keynote speakers, the annual PMI Meeting of the Membership, and networking opportunities in the sophisticated and elegant Buckhead district.
Nov. 4 to feature PMI Inspiring Leaders Program
The first day will feature the pre-conference PMI Inspiring Leaders Program at the Carter Center, followed by a welcome reception for all PMI24 attendees at the hotel. Attendees can register for this optional program and PMI24 at a discounted bundle rate.
All employees of PMI member companies are invited to participate in the Carter Center program, titled “Strategic Doing—10 Skills for Agile Leadership.” Scott Hutcheson , Ph.D., a senior lecturer and professor of technology leadership and innovation at Purdue University, will share a practice-proven framework that helps leaders form action-oriented collaborations quickly. Participants will learn how to manage complex challenges better, add evidence-based tools to their portfolios, and gain the confidence to use the new tools and insights immediately.
MMA fighter turned humanitarian to deliver Nov. 5 keynote
During the Nov. 5 PMI24 keynote, mixed martial arts fighter turned global humanitarian Justin Wren will share his story of courage and hope along with tools and techniques for navigating adversity, finding purpose, and making a meaningful impact in business and life.
After achieving success in his MMA career and overcoming injuries and an attempted suicide, Wren founded Fight for the Forgotten to provide
PMI24 will feature insightful programs, interesting keynote speakers, the annual Meeting of the Membership, and outstanding networking opportunities.
clean water, education and empowerment to Pygmy communities in Africa. He advocates for indigenous rights and delivers a powerful voice for marginalized communities. Known as “the Big Pygmy”—the name his tribal family in the Congo gave him—Wren
has helped drill wells and teach others in the Pygmy communities how to gain access to life-saving clean water.
Nov. 6 PMI Women’s Breakfast
The PMI Women’s Breakfast on Nov. 6 will welcome DeRetta Cole Rhodes,
Ph.D., executive vice president and chief culture officer of the Atlanta Braves. She will provide insights on the importance of finding a personal voice as a female leader. Dr. Rhodes oversees communications and community affairs for the Braves and the team’s spring training facility operations, as well as for The Battery Atlanta shopping mall near Truist Park, where the Braves play.
Dr. Rhodes has scored several wins in her time with the Braves, expanding the organization’s culture with training programs and employee resource groups and creating an internal diversity, equity and inclusion council. She also managed the organizational changes that became necessary because of the COVID pandemic.
Also on Nov. 6, Katherine Zitsch, water policy expert with the Georgia Water Planning and Policy Center, will deliver a keynote on the “Water Wars of the South.” Zitsch brings together leaders from the business, federal, state, local and philanthropic sectors to address Georgia’s complex water challenges.
Meeting of the Membership
Bringing the day’s business to a close, PMI will conduct its 70th Meeting of the Membership and anniversary celebration. During this meeting, PMI will review accomplishments and goals, name the winners of the PMI President’s Award and PMI Ambassador Award, conduct a business meeting, and elect 2025 officers while celebrating PMI’s past, present and future.
The meeting will feature experts on water management, sustainable packaging, PFAS remediation, artificial intelligence, energy- and water-efficient buildings, and more. Attendees will learn about exciting innovations and PMI’s current initiatives, including Rethink Water, and receive the latest forecast from ITR Economics to guide their decisions through the coming year.
Learn more and register for PMI24 at https://www.safeplumbing.org/pmi24.
Downtown Atlanta, GA.
Sonnhalter Partners with Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity for 15th Annual Tool Drive
CLEVELAND, OH — Sonnhalter, a communications firm marketing to the professional tradesman, will be hosting its Annual Tool Drive. This will mark its fifteenth year in partnering with Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity for this event. Since 2010, Sonnhalter has raised more than $517,000 worth of donations for this cause.
The Tool Drive runs Thursday, August 1 to Saturday, August 31. All businesses, organizations and manufacturers are encouraged to donate extra inventory, demo models, tools, building materials and monetary donations. Donations benefit Cleveland Habitat’s mission of building homes and empowering families through safe and affordable home ownership.
“We’ve surpassed all expectations set back in 2010,” said Matt Sonnhalter, vision architect at Sonnhalter. “Due to the immense generosity of clients and friends of the agency, we have been able to donate more than $517,000 to this great cause. Even though last year’s donation totals were unprecedented, we aim to raise even more this year!”
Those within the trade industry are encouraged to look through their warehouses for extra inventory and overstocked tools or items that they would be willing to donate.
Greater Cleveland H4H has helped more than 300 Habitat homeowners, including over 1,000 children, have a safe and decent place to live. The donated items will be used for projects or will be sold at one of the organization’s three ReStores, discount home improvement stores that serve Cuyahoga and Lorain Counties. Proceeds from ReStore sales are used to help Habitat build and rehabilitate homes for those in need. Tools and materials can be shipped to Attn: Tool Drive, Sonnhalter, 1320
Sumner Ave., Suite 200, Cleveland, Ohio 44115. For information on how you can participate in the Sonnhalter Tool Drive, or to coordinate larger shipments, i.e., pallet size, please
contact Rosemarie Ascherl-Lenhard from Sonnhalter at 216/2420420 x130 or rascherl@sonnhalter. com . To make a monetary donation, please make checks payable to “Greater
This HVAC Season, Leave the Heavy Lifting to Us
Whether you’re doing routine HVAC maintenance or a complete
Cleveland Habitat for Humanity” and mail to Sonnhalter, 1320 Sumner Ave., Suite 200, Cleveland, Ohio 44115. For more information visit: www. Sonnhalter.com/tooldrive.
High 5 Plumbing, Heating & Cooling Surpasses $100,000 in Donations
DENVER, CO — High 5 Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, a family-owned and operated home service company serving residents in the greater Denver metropolitan area, has announced that they have surpassed $100,000 in donations through their High 5 Cares program.
“This is truly a great accomplishment for all of us here at High 5 Plumbing, Heating & Cooling,” said Levi Torres , co-owner of High 5. “When we first started the program in 2018, we wanted to make an impact by supporting the incredible nonprofits throughout Denver. We couldn’t have reached this huge milestone so quickly if it wasn’t for the support from our staff and the community.”
The High 5 Cares program was created to give back to the community and shine a spotlight on different nonprofits throughout the year. High 5 donates $4,000 to the selected nonprofits in addition to funds generated from employee donations, High 5 club memberships and the proceeds from the High 5 clothing line.
Judi’s
House
It was the donation to Judi’s House that pushed High 5 beyond the $100,000 mark.
When former NFL quarterback Brian Griese was just 12 years old, his mother Judi died of breast cancer. Along Brian’s path to healing, he realized he
wanted to give back to children and young adults who were also grieving the loss of an important person in their lives.
In 2002, Brian and his wife, Dr. Brook Griese , a clinical psychologist specializing in childhood trauma and loss, founded Judi’s House in Denver in Judi Griese’s memory.
Judi’s House is committed to providing comprehensive grief care services for bereaved youth and families at Judi’s House as well as in school and community-based settings throughout Metro Denver. These vital services are delivered at no cost to families thanks solely to philanthropic support.
High 5 Cares
“Giving back to the community has always been one of the core values of our company,” co-owner Cassi Torres said. “Being able to shine a spotlight on nonprofits who dedicate their lives to helping people is a joy for us. Being a business owner means more than returning a profit. It means supporting your community and helping it thrive, and the High 5 Cares program allows us to do that.”
Leading provider of Denver home services continues support for nonprofits with High 5 Cares program.
High 5 Plumbing offers a variety of plumbing, heating and cooling services to residents in the Denver area, including repair and installation, drain cleaning, heat pumps, piping, ductwork, garbage disposal maintenance, IAQ services, sewer line repair, ductless mini-splits, gas plumbing, water heater installation and much more. In addition, the company offers 24/7 emergency services.
To learn more about High 5 Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, visit http://high5homefix.com/.
To learn more about Judi’s House, visit https:// judishouse.org/
Levi Torres, Alexis Kilgore (Volunteer & Development Coordinator for Judi’s House), and Kellyn Reiner.
Sump, Effluent, & Sewage Pumps: Tips for Selecting the Correct Pump for Your Installation
Sewage Pumps
Like effluent pumps, sewage pumps are used to move sewage from one place to another. Unlike effluent pumps, sewage pumps are used to move solids up to 2-inches in diameter.
Sewage pumps are used in residential, industrial, or light commercial ejector applications, such as a below-grade bathroom where gravity cannot be used to move sewage to a septic tank or the city main.
(Note: If you have applications where your sewage ejector is prone to clogging or binding from flushable wipes, rags, or any other objects that may not pass
through the ejectors impellers, a grinder pump may be the solution for your system.)
When selecting a sewage pump, Keep in mind these tips:
• Pump size
TDH, flow, and shut-off head are critical factors in how far your sewage ejector will move waste. Also, when selecting a sewage pump, consider how many water fixture units (toilets, sinks, etc.) produce waste that will be feeding the wastewater system. These pumps range in HP from 4/10 to vast HP offerings depending on residential, municipal, and industrial applications. Households with four or more residents may require up to a 2 HP sewage pump.
• Impeller Design
Vortex and non-clog impellers are common choices when choosing a sewage pump. Depending on TDH and flow, the end-user has options when selecting the correct pump for the job.
• Basin size
For a typical residential installation, a minimum of an 18x30 inch basin is adequate. For systems requiring
How Time Tracking Has Evolved in 25 Years (and How Many Contractors Haven’t)
➤ Continued from page 33
their expiration dates, field supervisors can alert the appropriate team members that it’s time to renew. Incident reporting is an extension of time and attendance tools. Before clocking out, employees can fill out vital safety information, like “Were you injured on the job today?” At the managerial level, project supervisors can analyze safety reports to understand common safety incidents and tackle the core of the issue. They may need to invest in additional safety training or implement measures to support fatigued employees who are repeatedly involved in incidents.
Compliance Risk Mitigation
Time and attendance technology can support legal compliance with labor regulations and union agreements on busy job sites. Employers need to track employee hours, overtime, time off, meal breaks, and more to comply with varying state and federal statutes. Furthermore, they must be able to prove compliance with detailed records at a moment’s notice. Spending hours sorting through filing cabinets—or, worse, realizing a vital document is lost—can open businesses up to lawsuits, time theft allegations and hefty fines, not to mention the associated negative publicity.
Technology can Transform
At the end of the day, one person—or company— can’t do it all by themselves. Running an effective and scalable mechanical contracting business means using the latest technology to automate processes that hamper field and office productivity, mitigate unnecessary risk and facilitate data-driven decision-making.
By taking manual time and attendance tracking off your workforce’s plate, you can open up their time to invest in opportunities that help the overall business, such as learning new craft skills, mentoring a new generation of pipefitters and pursuing additional work. This shift not only enhances operational efficiency but also boosts employee morale by allowing them to focus on higher-value tasks that contribute to personal and professional growth. Ultimately, leveraging technology to streamline routine activities creates a more agile and competitive business capable of adapting to industry changes and seizing new opportunities.
Michael Dickran is the director of enterprise sales at Arcoro, an HR management solutions provider for the construction industry. Reach him at michael. dickran@arcoro.com , and learn more at www. arcoro.com.
two sewage pumps (duplex systems), they will require a larger basin (a minimum of a 30-inch basin is suggested).
Choose the Right Pump
When evaluating the best pump for the job, performance curves can help you determine what type of pump will deliver the maximum amount of efficient pumping. Performance curves show the capacity of wastewater for which the pump can move. When selecting a pump, choose one that will operate in the middle of the curve for optimal performance. Remember to ask yourself key qualifying questions when choosing the correct pump for the job. What type of pump is required? What liquid is being pumped? Does the liquid have solids? What is the performance needed of this pump? How many pumps will be in the basin? Answering these questions will ensure you choose the right pump for your application.
Jeremiah Brodie is a Business Unit Trainer for the Little Giant brand of Franklin Electric. Brodie started his journey in the plumbing industry as a third-party field service representative selling Franklin Electric Coleman (now Little Giant), Jeremiah is dedicated to the success of plumbing and HVAC markets. He can be reached at Jeremiah.Brodie@fele.com.
A Little Giant 9SC Series Sewage Pump.
Study Finds the Most Dangerous States for Construction Workers
Construction work is inherently dangerous, but the risks faced by workers can vary significantly depending on where they’re located. Despite being in an industry that works tirelessly to maintain rigorous safety procedures, there are still certain states that consistently see higher rates of construction-related incidents and fatalities. A new study by personal injury experts Jones & Swanson compiled data regarding fatal accidents across various industries in different states across America to determine the most dangerous states for construction workers.
Rankings
North Dakota is the most dangerous state for construction workers, with 22 fatal injuries per 100k workers. North Dakota’s boom in the oil and gas industry has led to a surge in construction activity, often occurring in remote areas with harsh weather conditions. Due to rapid growth, companies can often suffer from strained resources, potentially leading to oversight lapses and worker shortages, increasing the risk of accidents.
Ranking second is Louisiana, with 21.6 fatal injuries per 100k workers. Coastal construction and hurricane recovery efforts expose workers to unique hazards, such as flooding and storm damage. Despite these hazards, the Louisiana government cited “falling” as the main cause of construction related deaths.
Placing third is Tennessee, with 18 fatal injuries per 100k workers. Rapid population growth and infrastructure development in Tennessee may have led to rushed projects and compromised safety standards for workers. The growing automotive industry and infrastructure projects in Tennessee also increase the risk of falls from heights, struck-by incidents, and electrocutions.
Nebraska ranks fourth, with 16.2 fatal injuries per 100k workers. Road and bridge construction projects, often in rural areas, expose workers to risks of falls, struck-by incidents, and
Iowa is the safest state for construction workers, with 4.9 fatal injuries per 100k workers.
heavy equipment accidents. Despite the substantial number of constructions related deaths, it’s the Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, and Hunting industry that has the largest number of fatal accidents in Nebraska, with 23.2 per 100k workers; this is due projects such as grain bin maintenance posing specific hazards like engulfment, falls, and machinery entanglements.
Placing fifth is Maine , with 15.6 fatal injuries per 100k workers. Road, bridge, and housing construction projects in Maine, often in rural areas with challenging terrain, expose workers to risks of falls, struck-by incidents, and heavy equipment accidents.
South Dakota ranks sixth on the list, with 15.1 fatal injuries per 100k workers. Harsh weather conditions, including blizzards and extreme cold, create additional challenges and risks during outdoor construction projects, specifically those that involve working from heights, such as wind turbine construction and maintenance.
Placing seventh is South Carolina, with 14.9 fatal injuries per 100k workers. The booming tourism industry in South Carolina increases the demand
for new hotels and resorts. The construction of large infrastructure projects exposes workers to risks of falls from elevated work platforms, being struck by vehicles or equipment, and trench collapses during excavation work.
Ranking eighth is Delaware , with 13.5 injuries per 100k workers. Construction activities related to chemical processing plants and refineries expose workers to risks of fires, explosions, falls from elevated work platforms, and exposure to hazardous substances.
Arkansas places ninth, with 13.3 fatal injuries per 100k workers. A significant portion of workers in Arkansas are employed in high-risk sectors like manufacturing and mining, which often involves workers also being contracted for various construction projects related to these industries, exposing workers to hazards such as falls from heights, struck-by incidents, and exposure to hazardous materials.
Rounding off the top ten is Mississippi , with 13.1 fatal injuries per 100k workers. Mississippi’s high rate of construction fatalities stems from a combination of factors. The state’s
significant presence in high-risk sectors like manufacturing and energy exposes workers to falls, struck-by incidents, and hazardous materials. Additionally, the state’s hot climate can lead to illness and fatigue. A potential shortage of skilled labor may also increase the risk of accidents, as less experienced workers may be more prone to errors.
Methodology
Fatal injury rates depict the risk of incurring a fatal occupational injury and can be used to compare risk among worker groups with varying employment levels. Since employment data are not collected by CFOI, fatal injury rates are calculated using CPS and LAUS data. Jones & Swanson first calculated the fatality rate in each state* for every industry where there was data available per 100k workers. The following calculation was used:
• Fatality rate = (NS/EHS) x 200,000,000, where NS = number of fatal work injuries in the state, and EHS = total hours worked by all employees in the state during the calendar year. 200,000,000 = base for 100,000 equivalent fulltime workers (working 40 hours per week, 50 weeks per year. State rates by industry were inputted by using national level “average hours” and “at work” information from CPS to calculate the average annual number of hours for each employee, since these data are not available at the state level. EHS (total hours worked by all employees in the state during the calendar year) was calculated as:
• EHS = HWN x ES, where ES = State employment (from LAUS), and HWN = average annual number of hours for each employee at the national level (from CPS)
Results were calculated and then ranked to determine the most dangerous states for construction workers based on fatal injuries per 100k workers.
*Contruction fatality data was unavailable for Wyoming, West Virginia, Alaska, New Mexico, Montana, Vermont, Hawaii, and Rhode Island.
A. O. Smith to Acquire Pureit, a Leading Water Purification Business in South Asia
MILWAUKEE, WI — Global water technology company A. O. Smith Corporation (NYSE: AOS) has announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire Pureit from Unilever. Pureit offers a broad range of residential water purification solutions and has annual sales of approximately USD $60 million, primarily in India.
The purchase price will be approximately USD $120 million in cash, subject to customary adjustments. A. O. Smith expects to complete the acquisition of Pureit by the end of 2024 and does not expect the acquisition to have a material impact on earnings in the first year.
“We believe the addition of Pureit will strengthen our leadership position as a global supplier of premium water treatment products and double our market penetration in South Asia.
The acquisition will also support our corporate strategy by enhancing our premium product portfolio and distribution capabilities,” said Kevin J. Wheeler, A. O. Smith’s chairman and chief executive officer. “Pureit’s culture of innovation, strong brand recognition and dedication to customer service will be an excellent addition to
our premium brand positioning and broad product portfolio in the region. We look forward to welcoming the Pureit team to the A. O. Smith family.”
Eduardo Campanella , president of Unilever Home Care, said, “This sale of Pureit marks another milestone on our journey to evolve our portfolio towards higher-growth spaces, in line
with our Growth Action Plan. Pureit provides essential water purification solutions to millions of loyal consumers, and I am confident the brand will thrive further under the ownership of A. O. Smith.”
A. O. Smith will release its second quarter 2024 financial results before the market opens on Tuesday, July 23, and host a webcasted conference call at 10 a.m. (Eastern Time). Additional details on the acquisition will be provided at that time.
This release contains statements that A. O Smith believes are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated as of the date of this release.
Bradford White Announces Acquisition of FloLogic
AMBLER, PA — Bradford White Corporation, an industry-leading manufacturer of water heaters, boilers and storage tanks, has announced the acquisition of FloLogic, a North Carolina-based manufacturer of premium plumbing leak detection and automatic shut off solutions for homes and light commercial buildings.
The acquisition aligns with Bradford White’s commitment to innovation and quality and enhances the company’s smart technology offerings. FloLogic’s premium IoT-based leak detection and automatic shutoff technology offers a comprehensive solution and state-of-the-art protection from plumbing leaks, the most preventable cause of property damage and a significant source of water waste. The system’s robust IoT platform can be monitored in real time via an app for constant connection and protection.
“We’re proud to welcome FloLogic into the Bradford White family,” said Bruce Carnevale, president and CEO
of Bradford White Corporation. “Their expertise, market leadership and trusted technology will be integral to Bradford White as we continue to meet the needs of our customers in a rapidly evolving industry. This acquisition will allow us to expand the reach of FloLogic, leveraging our strong customer relationships.”
FloLogic
Founded in 1996 in Raleigh, North Carolina, FloLogic is a pioneer in plumbing leak detection and has become a trusted name in the marketplace, focusing on quality and innovation over the past two decades. FloLogic’s partnerships with major North American insurers have boosted leak detection technology adoption and increased consumer awareness.
“We are thrilled that FloLogic will become part of Bradford White Corporation,” said Chuck DeSmet, founder, president and CEO of FloLogic. “I am very proud of the company we’ve
built, and this acquisition will allow FloLogic to continue to grow, innovate, and better serve our customers with the additional resources and support from Bradford White.”
Product, Technology, Team
The expertise in IoT from FloLogic will be a great asset to Bradford White and allow them to build upon their capabilities in this area as they look at future innovations and provide expanded solutions to meet the needs of their customers.
“We are very excited to add this new product line, technology, and team of
dedicated employees to the Bradford White family,” said Glenn Griffin , senior vice president and CIO at Bradford White Corporation, who will lead the integration. “The FloLogic team has pioneered the leak detection industry and built one of the leading solutions in the marketplace.”
Current FloLogic customers should continue to use their existing contacts for sales and service support.
For more information about Bradford White and its trusted water heating, space heating, combination heating and storage products, visit https:// www.bradfordwhitecorporation
Merit Brass Celebrates the PVF Industry and Team Achievements with We Supply America Tour
CLEVELAND, OH — Merit Brass, a prominent, family owned and operated manufacturer and master distributor in the pipe, valve, and fittings (PVF) industry, participated in the We Supply America tour on July 10th, 2024. This event, hosted by Dirk Beveridge , underscored the critical role Merit Brass associates play in serving wholesale distributors and the broader industry.
“We are honored to have been a part of the We Supply America tour. This event has highlighted the dedication and hard work of our associates, who are the backbone of our success,” said Alan Lipp, CEO of Merit Brass.
We Supply America
The We Supply America tour aims to celebrate the stories and contributions of distributors. Merit Brass had the distinction of being the first Master Distributor featured on the tour. Dirk Beveridge, the tour’s host, aligns with Merit’s vision that associates are central to every company’s success and champions organizations that strive to be a Force for Good.
During the tour of Merit’s Cleveland headquarters, Beveridge engaged with several associates, listening to their experiences and stories about life at Merit. His enthusiasm for sharing these narratives showcases his dedication to highlighting the hardworking Americans and the companies that employ them.
Glenn Bruce , VP of Operations shared his thoughts, “This event gave our associates the opportunity to understand the impact they make; but from an outsider which I feel is invaluable. We constantly tell them how much we appreciate them; but to have Dirk communicate it, I feel, spoke volumes to our team.”
Merit Brass Team Members
Beveridge also met with Merit’s Strategic Leadership team, including CEO Alan Lipp, CEO Marc Schlessinger, President Darren Hilliard , VP of Operations Glenn Bruce , and VP of Procurement James Maloney . Each leader shared their insights into what makes Merit Brass unique.
James Maloney, VP of Procurement, highlighted the special relationships
Merit has cultivated with its suppliers, stating, “When I traveled earlier this year with Alan Lipp overseas, I was impressed by the relationships we have cultivated over many years. These unique relationships are an extension of our business family and what I feel makes us unique in our space. The fact that they truly care about our success and by extension our customers is something very special.”
The fourth-generation, Kevin Lipp, Director of Pipe Sales, and Kyle Schlessinger , Production Scheduler, shared their personal experiences growing up at Merit and now contributing to its ongoing success.
“I really enjoy working in the family business and enjoy the relationships created with customers and colleagues along the way. It would be an incredible
blessing to have my three-year-old son join Merit Brass some day,” said Kevin Lipp.
Kyle Schlessinger also commented, “At Merit Brass, I’ve worked across various departments, gaining valuable experience and insights. Now, I’m proud to contribute to our ongoing success story, playing my part in pushing us forward and making a difference.”
Passion & Dedication
The day featured a celebratory luncheon catered by Winking Lizard, where Beveridge emphasized the importance of distribution in enabling essential services like water and gas supply across America’s pipelines. The event concluded with a spirited group cheer in front of the We Supply America RV, highlighting the strong family bond among Merit associates.
Darren Hilliard, President, reflected on the event, saying, “This tour has reinforced the pride we have in our team and the essential role they play in the industry.”
Merit Brass extends special thanks to Terry McIver, Editor-in-Chief of Contracting Business Magazine, for joining this significant event.
Marc Schlessinger, CEO, concluded, “Today was a powerful reminder of the dedication and passion of our associates. We are proud to be a part of We Supply America and look forward to continuing our legacy of excellence.”
For more information about the event, please contact the marketing department at 216/261-9800 or email: mbmarketing@meritbrass.com.
Merit Brass employees by the We Supply America RV.
Dirk Beveridge (left) with Merit Brass Manager Michael McKinney.
Merit Brass CEO Alan Lipp gave Dirk Beveridge a tour of the Merit Brass manufacturing facility.
Collaborative Effort Helps Rainwater Harvesting
➤ Continued from page 16
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work
What was the engine behind this rainwater standardization movement? Behind the scenes, collaboration and persistence came into focus. ARCSA’s Kinkade set up initial meetings with the GSA regarding its designs on standardizing rainwater packages on a national/international basis. The collaborative team eventually received a call from GSA but, according to David Crawford , CEO, Rainwater Management Solutions (RMS), ARCSA couldn’t quite handle the entire scope. “So, RMS bid on it and won the bid, and we researched 17 of their systems. During the research of those systems, we brought up factors of inconsistent design, systems that weren’t working, and maintenance protocol, and in the middle of all that, ARCSA re-emerged to help get it over the finish line,” says Crawford. With the ardent support and help from IAPMO, ARCSA submitted the proposed change for P100—which establishes mandatory design standards and performance criteria for GSA-owned buildings—last fall (2023).
“The P100 is GSAs construction manual best practices—code, standards, accreditation—everything required to do work within a federal facility, a federal building, or federal entity,” says Hansen. These newly-defined standards are now not just encouraged but mandated in the GSA P100, “which includes all federal facilities that are under GSAs purview. This is a big, big step,” says Hansen.
Because these standards are in the infancy stages in terms of the language, “One thing we’ll have to do is to track this to see how this engages, because if there’s confusion on the ground or if there’s confusion with the practitioners, then we’re going have to seek additional clarification, stipulations or definitions in the future. Getting in was the really heavy lifting, and we can refine moving forward as needed,” says Hansen.
In terms of “codes and standard years,” the adoption moved relatively quickly. “This shows the power of a collaborative team effort between ARCSA and IAPMO,” says Hansen. “They
laid the groundwork, as Rainwater Management Systems (RMS) has done a lot of great work in DC for us. We met with everyone from the top leadership at GSA down to the staff that manage the P100, and as a result, this
is the first time that the GSA has actually mandated a water reuse component. They’re now seeing this appetite, for it and I believe that the GSA is going to see a lot of benefits from this really quickly,” continues Han -
sen. ARCSA plans to continue spreading the word about its rainwater and stormwater standards and knows they would not be where they are without the initial help from the American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE).
Green Products
green choice
THE VOLTEX MAX RESIDENTIAL HEAT PUMP WATER
HEATER uses smart valve technology that allows a contractor to install a smaller tank in an area where space is tight and still get comparable performance to a larger tank by using the unit’s three Hot Water + modes. It also allows homeowners to customize the unit’s performance to exactly the way they live and use hot water. The smart anode adapts to local water conditions, protecting and extending the life of the water heater, and it displays an error code on the control panel when it needs to be replaced.
A. O. Smith
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L54120+
LORAWAN WIRELESS
WATER METER is ideal for tenant water submetering for billing as well as leak detection. The device is equipped with LoRaWAN secure wireless 915 MHz technology, offering state-ofthe-art wireless signal strength, industrystandard open protocol and security.
H2O Degree
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▼
PRO-PAL WATER HEATER
SUPPLY VALVES from NIBCO are designed to simplify the installation of storage tank water heaters. The valves offer brass union or dielectric union water heater connections, ½" sizes, and an integration of a ½" cold-water tapping port.
NIBCO
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▼ 1INTELLISTATION 2 DIGITAL
MIXING VALVE from Powers is designed with an advanced valve for consistent temperatures across a wide range of flows from high to low demand. Enhancements include a sophisticated touchscreen interface and userfriendly design, alongside built-in
Nexa Equipment connectivity to ensure seamless integration and monitoring. Powers/Watts WWW.WATTS.COM
PEX-B PIPE is manufactured in cross-linked polyethylene, The pipe is durable, corrosiveresistant, and flexible, ensuring that the installation of PEX-B piping is simple and quick. Available for potable applications, the pipe is offered in red, white, and blue coils and sticks. Jones Stephens WWW.JONESSTEPHENS.COM
▲ DROPSPOT BOTTLE FILLERS
AND WATER COOLERS from Sloan are designed to be aesthetically attractive with standard stainless-steel or black powder-coated finish options, while supporting facility maintenance teams with an easily accessible filter. Advanced sensor and dispensing technology ensures hygienic, handsfree operation with rapid refills. Designed to provide safer drinking water, they achieve NSF 61 standards, ensuring there’s no chemicals or contaminants indirectly imparted to drinking water from drinking water systems. Available in three configurations, each with a filtered and unfiltered option: On-wall bottle filler, on-wall bottle filler with single-level cooler and on-wall bottle filler with bilevel cooler.
Sloan Valve Co. WWW.SLOAN.COM
▲ URBAN X BATHROOM FAUCET
COLLECTION features the RIVA X, STRATA X and LANA X lines. The collection includes decorative faucets for washbasins, showers and bathtubs, as well as shower valves. With strong, straightforward lines and functional styling, the collection is CalGreen and WaterSense compliant. Available in three finishes: matte black, chrome and nickel. The faucet body is constructed of solid brass. Metal handles and escutcheons add an elegant touch, while the inclusion of Fluehs valving, made in Germany, ensures smooth operation and precise control. in2aqua
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NTI COMPASS CONDENSING BOILER is a floormount, fire tube boiler with a new user interface for set up and troubleshooting. The unit is designed with a keen focus on flexibility and efficiency. It features independently reversible plumbing connections.
NTI Boilers
WWW.NTIBOILERS.COM
▼ NOBLE® FIRE TUBE COMBI
BOILER is offered in three wall-mount models and three floor-mount models ranging from 110,000 to 199,000 Btu/ hr., the Noble® combi boiler offers easy installation and serviceability, true instantaneous response time and a userfriendly interface. In addition to a 10:1 turndown and a 95 percent Annual AFUE, the Noble Fire Tube Combi Boiler is designed, engineered and assembled in the USA.
Lochinvar
WWW.LOCHINVAR.COM
HYBRID ELECTRIC HEAT PUMP WATER HEATER from Noritz consumes up to onethird of the electricity required by a standard residential electric water heater with a resistive element, yet maintains the same level of hot-water delivery. The hybrid designation denotes the inclusion of dual 4.5-kW electric elements to provide backup water heating or accelerate recovery times when needed.
Noritz America
WWW.NORITZ.COM
New Products
editor’s choice
COPPER PRESS FITTINGS from Matco-Norca offer a secure, leakproof connection without the need for soldering, threading or flaring. Using state-of-the-art press technology, they ensure a quick and reliable installation, significantly reducing labor costs and installation time. The press-to-connect method eliminates the need for open flame and additional materials, providing a safer and faster installation process. Made from high-quality copper, these fittings are designed to withstand high temperatures and pressures, ensuring longevity and performance in various applications. Suitable for a wide range of plumbing applications, including potable water, heating and cooling systems. Matco-Norca
▲ MONIMOTO 9 GPS TRACKER
is a compact and discrete device using wireless technology to protect valuable construction equipment. Its compact size and long battery life make it especially suited for areas where power sources are scarce. The tracker’s rechargeable USB-C battery ensures a 12-month operational lifespan. Users can download the app, pair the device with the keyfob and discreetly place the tracker, making it an accessible security solution for a variety of users. ,
Monimoto
WWW.MATCO-NORCA.COM
SPECTRUM GLASSES fight fogging from temperature changes, humidity, sweat, rain and moisture.
This ANSI Z87.1+ protection weighs less than 1 oz., and the rimless lenses are manufactured with BK-Anti-FOG protection.
Spectrum Clear Lens allows maximum light transmission, indoors or out. Brass Knuckle Safety Products
WWW.BRASSKNUCKLEPROTECTION.COM
▼ DUAL-COLOR 100% SOLIDS
EPOXY from Picote is used to rehabilitate decayed and damaged concrete, PVC, fiberglass, clay, cast iron and ductile pipelines. The dualcolor method allows for clear visual verification during application. It is designed to build up layers inside the pipe to form a semi-structural solution that is corrosion-resistant and durable. Picote
WWW.PICOTEGROUP.COM
▼
WILKINS PRESSURE-REDUCING
VALVES from Zurn Elkay is designed for residential and light commercial water lines, providing high-flow rate capacity and low-pressure falloff. Venturi technology keeps ideal water pressure at higher flow rates.
The 600XL3 (pictured) and 625XL3 reduce pressure loss over the entire flow range, making specification and sizing easier.
Zurn Elkay Water Solutions
WWW.ZURN.COM
▼ PERKINS BOOT FOR TRADE WORKERS from Brunt Workwear offers heavy-duty protection and allday comfort with its lightweight nano safety toe, slip-resistant rubber sole and rugged construction for 100% jobsite confidence.
Brunt Workwear
WWW.BRUNTWORKWEAR.COM
WWW.MONIMOTO.COM
CUSHION GRIP ADJUSTABLE
WRENCH from Crescent Tools features the Quick-Fit Jaw has a 1-degree slope on the lower jaw ensuring fast fitment on fasteners, despite differences in dimensions. Off-corner loading prevents the rounding of fasteners. The wide jaw design allows for more access and capacity when in use. Crescent Tool
▲ RIP-RESISTANT INDUSTRIAL NITRILE GLOVES from Venom Steel feature heavy-duty 6-mil, twolayer nitrile integration, creating a glove construction that is puncture/ chemical resistant and microtextured for supreme grip. They are 70% thicker than common disposable gloves and their two-layer makeup signals tears before skin contact. Gloves fit either hand and are latex- and powder-free. Venom Steel
WWW.VENOMSTEEL.COM
WWW.CRESCENTTOOL.COM
▲
JM-3080 WATER JET from
General Pipe Cleaners offers the industry’s highest water flow rate against stubborn stoppages in long and outside 4" to 8" lines – without requiring a trailer. JM-3080 unleashes high-pressure water streams that pulverize clogs and flush them away. Nozzle thrust gives wall-to-wall pipe cleaning action.
General Pipe Cleaners DRAINBRAIN.COM
▲ QUICKDRAIN WALLDRAIN KITS are linear shower drains built into the wall, offering a concealed and sleek look. The all-in-one assembly kit includes everything needed to place the drain in a curbed or curbless shower, while also providing exceptional flexibility and customization. Wallto-wall coverage eliminates need for a centered drain outlet.
Oatey Co. WWW.OATEY.COM
SANIPIT 24 GR CB is a preassembled, 1 HP sewage grinder pump system. It includes a heavy-duty, HDPE basin that measures 24" in diameter and 24" in depth; an air-pressure mechanism; and an external control and alarm system. It is equipped with a tripleredundant pressure switch system— each switch has its own dip tube. Saniflo North America WWW.SANIFLO.COM
AutoCut Tubing Cutters let you cut copper faster and easier than conventional cutters allow—even when there’s less than an inch of clearance. Simply snap the cutter on the tube, close the gate and start turning for a clean cut.
To learn more, visit drainbrain.com/AutoCut or, call the Drain Brains® at 800-245-6200.
Ductless Mini-Split Systems
Premium Maximum Heat Pump Series
6,000 Btu/h to 24,000 Btu/h indoor units, high wall air handler or ceiling cassettes. High efficiency single & multi-zone systems.
Value Advantage Heat Pump Series
9,000 Btu/h to 36,000 Btu/h indoor units, high wall air handler single zone systems.
emiductless.com
by Steve Spaulding
Water Quality and Water Security in 2024
The book I’m reading now is The Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler . It’s a harrowing, dystopian novel that depicts a society in collapse, with crime run rampant, mass unemployment, civil unrest— and all set in the dark distant future of (gulp) 2024!
The book was first published in 1993. A key plot point is how water scarcity has contributed to the problems the characters face. In the novel, water has become so expensive that it can’t be used for firefighting when buildings start to burn; people die from drinking cheap but tainted water; an entire community is built around a desalination plant because demand is so high.
The situation we actually face in 2024 isn’t so perilous. The drought in the western US is, thanks to heavy rainfall and snowfall in 2022-2023 in remission. Yet climate change will continue to deliver rising temperatures and violent weather patterns—meaning plumbing engineers need to design systems that can accommodate not only extended periods of drought but also manage
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(and hopefully capture for reuse) high levels of stormwater runoff.
A great example of this kind of design is the topic of this month’s Forum (on pg. 16). A proposed change by the General Services Administration will require new government buildings of more than 5,000 sq. ft. employ rainwater catchment systems.
The Americans most affected are typically poor, rural, and members of black, Latino or indigenous communities. As we reported in our June issue (pg. 59) there is new federal legislation in the pipeline, the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Access Data Collection Act that would establish an interagency Water and Sanitation Needs Working group to
partnership with companies like Xylem. If you’re a regular reader of CONTRACTOR you’ve probably seen their projects several times in these pages.
Water scarcity compounds the problems of water access our country faces. According to the CDC Foundation (an independent charity that acts as a bridge between the Center for Disease Control and philanthropic organizations), an estimated 2.2 million Americans live in homes without running water or basic plumbing. Tens of millions more lack adequate facilities for the safe disposal of human waste and wastewater treatment.
conduct surveys and develop reports as a necessary stage towards funding capital improvements to those under-served communities.
While the wheels of government grind on, there are private organizations such as the Chris Long Foundation (chrislongfoundation.org) and the Water Well Trust (www.waterwelltrust.org) working to assist low-income families with their drinking water and sanitation needs—often in
Access, of course, means nothing without quality. According to the Water Quality Association (wqa.org) about 43 million people—15 percent of Americans—use drinking water from private wells not regulated by the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. Additionally, $1 trillion will be needed for upgrades to the nation’s public water systems over the next 25 years—meaning the infrastructure investment in the IRA is only a downpayment, and also that water treatment pros will have secure livelihoods for the foreseeable future.
But to return to where we started—in dystopia— one of the points Butler is making in her novel is that change is inevitable, and change can bring both good and bad. But with foresight, with adaptation, we can shape the course of change towards positive ends. The work being done by some of the organizations mentioned above certainly gives me reason to hope.
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