HPAC May/June 2013

WATER CONSERVATION: A LEARNING CURVE

THE IMPACT OF FAN POWER ON IAQ

WORLDSKILLS COMPETITOR PROFILE

TALL ORDERS CARGO VANS RISE TO CONTRACTOR DEMAND 19th ANNUAL SERVICE VEHICLE REPORT

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VOL. 87 NO. 4

TENTS

PLUMBING Simple System Garners Big Savings Sustainability mandate results in reduced water use.

By Luc Boily

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UP-AND-COMING Duo Set To Represent Canada In Germany NAIT grads ready for international challenge.

By Patrick Callan

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Cover image: istock photo

2013 SERVICE VEHICLE REPORT

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A Glimpse Of What Is To Come RSES Canada 2013 Conference wrap up.

Ignore Pressure Differentials At Your Peril The unintended consequences of monster-size range hoods.

PRODUCTS 34 42 48

HYDRONIC PLUMBING HVAC/R-COOLING

BOILERS Only As Needed A new approach to on-demand domestic water heating.

By John Siegenthaler

28

HOW I SEE IT

By Robert Bean

By Bill Roebuck

HVAC/R

Getting The Job Done Insights into the 2013 Federal Budget.

By Hank Bulmash

It Is A Tall New World The practicality of cargo vans as service vehicles is expanding.

18

FINANCE

COOLING Condenser Water System Savings Flow rate selection and design options worth considering.

By Mick Schwedler and Beth Bakkum

HPACMAG.COM

DEPARTMENTS 4 6 37 41 61 61 64

Upfront – The Chickens Have Come Home To Roost Industry News Mechanical Supply News People Training The Source Calendar

MAY/JUNE 2013 | HPAC

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< UPFRONT THE CHICKENS HAVE COME HOME TO ROOST I lIVE IN ToRoNTo: THAT IS GENERAllY A GREAT oPENING lINE FoR EVERY MAYoR JoKE KNoWN To MANKIND. The leader of Canada's largest city has captured the attention of the world and not in a good way (whoever said "there is no such thing as bad press" had not met the Fords). That is our Toronto at this point. Sadly, the Toronto syndrome is pretty widespread. There is the ontario Provincial Police investigation into liberal party actions under Dalton McGuinty, the former premier; a request for trusteeship by the mayor of laval, QC; Nova Scotia's constituency allowance spending scandal; British Columbia's health data privacy breach; slush funds and senator payoffs; and it goes on and on.

But it is the train wreck of a scandal at Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) that should make you stand up and take notice. It took a whistleblower, a determined health and safety officer, together with a radio broadcaster (CBC: The Singing Plumber: Rino DeRosa – available online) to finally publicly expose a stunning disregard for regulations – and public safety.

Unfortunately, early warnings were not heeded and one person died and three others injured in a boiler incident in 2009. Public Works pleaded guilty to three of eight charges laid by labour Canada. The sentencing hearing will be in July, 2013.

For those of you who think the industry is over-regulated, ponder this: the Technical Standards and Safety Authority had no jurisdiction to investigate over federal property of PWGSC. As a result the dead man's employer was not charged.

I urge you to watch the interview and read some of the archived press on this case. The same arrogance that dominates Canada's political scene provincially, municipally and federally, is prevelant in the PWGSC case. We expect children to demonstrate responsibility and trustworthiness before granting them independence. Why would the standard be any lower for adults – whatever their position.

Do we need to wonder why the case for regulation and oversight grows stronger with each passing day?

Editor

Meet the new members of the HPAC team

HPAC Magazine's account manager Mike Brown is a business development executive with more than 15 years experience in media sales. He has worked with publications such as The Financial Post, Montreal's la Presse, Vancouver Magazine and The Hockey News.

Mike welcomes the new challenge of working on HPAC and discovering its unique customer needs. Away from the office, Mike is a seasoned recreational hockey player and an accomplished fine artist who enjoys painting, printmaking and photography. He is also a tireless fundraiser in support of children with autism.

Patrick Callan, HPAC Magazine's assistant editor, joins us from Grand Prairie, AB, where he was a multimedia journalist at the Daily Herald-Tribune covering the business, court, and crime beats. originally from Toronto, Patrick holds a Master of Arts in Journalism from Western University where he received the Ursula Walford Memorial Award. The award recognizes a graduating journalist who “displays to an outstanding degree the human qualities essential in a professional journalist.” Patrick is a world traveller having spent a year backpacking through Asia and Australia, and time in Europe.

Always on the lookout for live music venues, Patrick is also a serious Toronto Maple leafs fan and avid snowboarder.

HPAC MAGAZINE 80 Valleybrook Drive, Toronto, ON M3B 2S9 TEL: 416.442.5600 FAX: 416.510.5140 www.hpacmag.com EDITOR Kerry Turner (416) 510-5218 KTurner@hpacmag.com ASSISTANT Patrick Callan (416) 442-5600, ext. 3524 EDITOR PCallan@hpacmag.com SALES & MARKETING Kim Rossiter (ON LEAVE) COORDINATOR ASSOCIATE David Skene (416) 510-6884 PUBLISHER DSkene@hpacmag.com ACCOUNT Mike Brown (416) 510-6791 MANAGER MBrown@hpacmag.com ART DIRECTOR Sandy MacIsaac (416) 442-5600, ext. 3242 SMacisaac@bizinfogroup.ca MARKET PRODUCTION Barb Vowles (416) 510-5103 MANAGER 800-268-7742, ext. 5103 BVowles@bizinfogroup.ca CIRCULATION MANAGER Selina Rahaman (416) 442-5600, ext. 3528 SRahaman@bizinfogroup.ca PUBLISHER Peter Leonard (416) 510-6847 PLeonard@hpacmag.com

BIG MAGAZINES LP Corinne Lynds, EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Tim Dimopoulos, EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER Alex Papanou, VICE-PRESIDENT OF CANADIAN PUBLISHING Bruce Creighton, PRESIDENT OF BUSINESS INFORMATION GROUP

PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40069240, REGISTRATION NO. 10815 Heating Plumbing Air Conditioning (established 1925) is published 7 times per year

by BIG Magazines LP, a division of Glacier BIG Holdings Company Ltd. HPAC Magazine is the leading Canadian business publication for the owner/manager of mechanical contracting businesses and their supply partners.

ISSN: 0017-9418 Contents Copyright © 2013 by BIG Magazines LP, a division of Glacier BIG Holdings Company Ltd., may not be reprinted without permission.

SUBSCRIBER SERVICES: To subscribe, renew your subscription or to change your address or information please visit us at www.hpacmag.com.

Subscription Price per year: $40.00 CDN; Outside Canada per year: $80.00 US; Single copy Canada: $5.00 CDN. Heating Plumbing Air Conditioning is published 7 times per year except for occasional combined, expanded or premium issues, which count as two subscription issues.

MAIL PREFERENCES: From time to time we make our subscription list available to select companies and organizations whose product or service may interest you. If you do not wish your contact information to be made available, please contact us via one of the following methods: Tel: 800.387.0273, Fax: 416.442.2191; E-mail: jhunter@ businessinformationgroup.ca; or by mail: Privacy Office, 80 Valleybrook Dr., Toronto, ON M3B 2S9.

HPAC Magazine receives unsolicited materials (including letters to the editor, press releases, promotional items and images) from time to time. HPAC Magazine, its affiliates and assignees may use, reproduce, publish, re-publish, distribute, store and archive such unsolicited submissions in whole or in part in any form or medium whatsoever, without compensation of any sort.

NOTICE: HPAC Magazine, BIG Magazines LP, a division of Glacier BIG Holdings Company Ltd., their staff, officers, directors and shareholders (hence known as the “Publisher”) assume no liability, obligations, or responsibility for claims arising from advertised products. The Publisher also reserves the right to limit liability for editorial errors, omissions and oversights to a printed correction in a subsequent issue. HPAC Magazine’s editorial is written for management level mechanical industry personnel who have documented training in the mechanical fields in which they work. Manufacturers’ printed instructions, datasheets and notices always take precedence to published editorial statements.

We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund (CPF) for our publishing activities.

Proud member of:

Patrick and Mike look forward to meeting HPAC’s readers and industry suppliers at events. When you see them out and about, be sure to introduce yourself!

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HPAC | may/june 2013

HPaCmaG.COm

INDUSTRY NEWS

SEE THE LATEST HPAC E-NEWSLETTER @ HPACMAG.COM

CANADIAN HVAC INDUSTRY UNITES TO PROMOTE QUALITY HVAC DESIGNS AND INSTALLATION Over the past year, the Canadian HVAC Coalition, spearheaded

by Canadians for Properly Built Homes (CPBH) and other industry associations, has been meeting to discuss the need to raise the quality of designs, installations and inspections of residential HVAC systems in Canada. The group, which includes the Canadian Oil Heat Association, the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute, The Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating and the Thermal Environmental Comfort Association, recently released a joint statement outlining how concerns regarding inadequate performance and installation quality of HVAC systems in new residential construction should be addressed.

In the joint statement, new home buyers are encouraged to use the document when "seeking out written evidence from the appropriate authority that the HVAC system has indeed been designed and installed by certified professionals and inspected by qualified representatives of the authorities having jurisdiction before taking possession of the home." www.canadiansforproperlybuilthomes.com

OGA SIGNS AFFILIATION AGREEMENT WITH HRAI The Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI) and Ontario Geothermal Association (OGA) signed an affiliation agreement on April 16 to make OGA a part of the HRAI organization. The areas of service HRAI and OGA will provide for the geothermal sector include government advocacy, training and certification, and marketing and industry statistics.

OGA members will renew their memberships within HRAI and the OGA will become an affiliated association (chapter).

HRAI member contractors, wholesalers, manufacturers and associates in the geothermal sector in Ontario can join with the OGA within the HRAI structure. HRAI has 1300 members and has added 50 more through its OGA affiliation.

The OGA remains as a separate legal entity with HRAI staff taking over the day-to-day administration including membership renewal and company data collection, facilitation of the annual conference and AGM, website support and organizing workshops and membership programs such as gas price discounts and business insurance.

The OGA board of directors determined HRAI was the best partner in the promotion of geothermal as a valid HVAC choice for commercial and residential building owners.

“The partnership with HRAI strengthens the financial sta6

HPAC | MAY/JUNE 2013

NEW LEADERSHIP AT COHA The Board of Directors of the Canadian Oil Heat Association (COHA) has appointed Stephen Koch as president of the association. Koch replaces Veronica Yu who left the organization in March 2013.

Stephen Koch “I am proud to announce that Stephen Koch has agreed to join COHA as our new president. Stephen is a seasoned industry association executive, having provided leadership roles for key building material industries,” stated COHA chairman, Robert Fortin, MacEwen Petroleum Inc. “His strengths are based in business and marketing where he worked to develop and implement strategies for organizations such as Nabisco, IBM, Westroc Drywall and Norton Abrasives.”

Koch’s experience in the commercial and residential building market continues through his participation as past chairman for the Canadian Energy Efficiency Alliance and Ottawa’s EnviroCentre. He also allocates time to advisory groups including: Homeowner Protection Centre, REEEP North American Advisory Committee, the Consumer Council of Canada Advisory Committee and the Ontario Minister’s Building Code Conservation Advisory Council. www.coha.ca

bility and development resources available for members and enables OGA’s implementation of our mandate in the promotion and growth of the geothermal industry for all its stakeholders,” said John Bosman, president of the OGA, in a release on the company’s website. “It is a necessary step to meet our goals for the future.” www.ontariogeothermal.ca

COMING SOON The Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute (HRAI) will hold its 45th AGM at the Westin Bayshore in Vancouver, BC, from August 21-24. For more information visit www.hrai.ca.

Winnipeg, MB, is hosting The Mechanical Contractors Association's national conference from September 25-28.

Visit www.mcac.ca for more information. continued on p8

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< Industry news

continued from p6

ua Ramps up RecRuiting effoRts

joinUACanada.ca

let’s build a better life

The United Association of Journeyman and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of the United States and Canada (UA) is looking to recruit 25 000 skilled piping trade workers over the next five years.

With many large-scale infrastructure projects already underway, Alberta and British Columbia are facing an immediate shortage, and many more workers will be needed in Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes in the coming years.

“Part of that is because guys like me, baby boomers, are getting older. The other part of it is the increase in the demand. There’s just going to be more work,” said Larry Cann, administrative assistant to the general president at UA. In May, the UA launched a national recruitment campaign in Canada targeting qualified journeymen and journeywomen who are looking for competitive wages, training, pensions and health benefits. Temporary foreign workers are also welcome to become UA members.

Cann said one of the benefits of being a member of the UA, which represents 51 000 members from 37 local unions in Canada, is that it offers a career. “Because construction

isn’t like getting up every morning and going to work at a certain building from nine to five,” he said. Work can be very unpredictable, he said, where one day you could be working at home and the next you’re half way across Canada. “We’re not your normal business,” he added.

However, they are paid very well and the skills they gain through working with the UA can lead to other opportunities, Cann said. “They can take those skills and become a foreman, a general foreman or start their own business,” he said.

Although being a UA member does not guarantee you will always have work, it does offer the chance to be part of an organization that has your best interests in mind and helps you find work. Cann added: “UA offers a future and you get to be part of a family. I know people all over North America that if I knocked at their door they would say, ‘What can I do to help you Larry?’” www.joinuacanada.ca

fedeRal goVeRnment inVests in clean eneRgy pRoJects The Government of Canada is investing $12 million in five clean energy projects in Ontario and more than $21 million in 13 clean energy projects in Toronto as part of its eco ENERGY Innovation Initiative. The initiative backs eco-friendly projects that create jobs and generate economic opportunities.

• Sumaran Inc., an Ottawa-area company, will get $865,000 for research into energy-efficient buildings.

• Owens Corning in Scarborough receives $1.92 million towards the net-zero energy housing project to build at least 25 energy-effi cient homes in Guelph, Ottawa, Laval, Calgary and Halifax. The homes are designed to produce more or an equal amount of energy than they consume in one year. The project is expected to be complete by 2016. www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy/science/2003 continued on p10

asHRae ReseaRcH gets $10K boost fRom nebb The National Environmental Balancing Bureau (NEBB) donated $10,000 to ASHRAE at the 2013 NEBB annual conference. The donation will help fund projects and research into new HVAC/R technology to improve standards and guidelines. More than 30 Canadians attended the conference, which was held in Montreal, QC, from May 2 to 4. The conference featured leading industry experts including representatives from BOMA, IFMA, MCA, Deloitte, ASHRAE, FASHRAE and GSA, among others.

Speakers offered solutions to optimize high performance buildings and discussed solutions for problems facing the global HVAC industry. www.nebb.org 8

HPAC | MAY/JUNE 2013

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RIDE FOR HABITAT RESCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER The 4th annual Ride for Habitat has been rescheduled from June 8 to September 14 to allow more riders to participate and to give organizers and sponsors greater opportunity to promote the event and raise funds for the charity.

Last year, 65 riders raised $18,000 for Habitat for Humanity Canada. The date will be confirmed shortly so that riders can make plans to participate and begin fundraising efforts. www.habitat.ca

ASHRAE EXPANDS BUILDING ENERGY LABELING PROGRAM

WORLD PLUMBING COUNCIL ACCEPTING APPLICANTS FOR TRAINING SCHOLARSHIP The World Plumbing Council (WPC) is accepting applications for the 2013 WPC Education and Training Scholarship from anyone in the plumbing industry who is involved in industry training. The successful applicant could receive up to $10,000 US in funding for travel abroad to expand their knowledge of plumbing training.

“The scholarship is intended to provide an educational exchange between countries that focuses on plumbing industry training, and at the same time exposes the participant to new technologies and innovations in training systems,” said Russ Chaney, chairman of the World Plumbing Council.

“The scholarship also provides an opportunity to increase global awareness of the contribution that plumbing has made to global health and the environment.” Applications are being accepted until July 31. www.worldplumbing.org

ASHRAE’s Building Energy Quotient program, which is designed to lower building operating costs and increase value, has been expanded to include the As Designed label.

The label rates the building’s potential energy use under standardized condition independent of the building’s occupancy and usage. It has been added to the In Operation label, which rates the building’s actual measured energy use by the building’s occupancy and usage.

26285_CallCenterAD_HPv2_CANADA_Layout 1 7/26/11 11:29 AM Page 1 www.buildingenergyquotient.org.

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HPAC | MAY/JUNE 2013

HPACMAG.COM

< ANNUAL REPORT ON SERVICE VEHICLES

It Is a

tall

The pracTicaliTy of cargo vans as service vehicles is expanding as manufacTurers Turn Their aTTenTion To compeTing wiTh The enormous sprinTer. BY Bill roeBuck

I

f you are in the market for a cargo van to add to your service vehicle fleet in the year ahead, allow some extra time for doing research and evaluations. The world of service vehicles for contractors of all stripes is undergoing significant changes, much of it because most manufacturers are playing catch-up to the Mercedes-Benz (formerly Dodge) Sprinter full-size tall van.

The tall van, when launched in the Canadian market about a decade ago, introduced a whole new level of cargo capacity, even allowing you to work inside the vehicle while stand-

12

HPAC | May/June 2013

Nissan NV

new world ing fully upright. In the Sprinter, that was combined with good fuel economy and deft manoeuvrability.

It is about as significant a change in vehicle design as iTunes was for the music industry when it was launched â&#x20AC;&#x201C; also a decade ago.

It is not as if we all want to drive one of these behemoths to projects around town or to remote jobsites. Wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t we all rather be behind the wheel of a new pickup truck? But for many contractors, the pickup is too limited. When you need to haul a ton of tools, supplies and oversized equipment, and keep it secure, a cargo van is often the best solution.

For many, the tall cargo van is a major improvement over the space limitations of the traditional cargo vans from Ford and General Motors, specifically the Ford E-Series and the Chevrolet Express/GMC Savana twins from GM. That is not to say these workhorses were a problem. These standard-height vans are not to be discounted, offering an impressive towing capacity of up to 10 000 lb., surpassing hpacmag.com

their tall-roof competitors. And the cargo capacity is not far off of that for the smaller versions of the tall-roof vans.

Coming to the market is the new 2014 Ford Transit tall van. And Fiat-owned Chrysler will re-enter the cargo van market with its 2014 Ram ProMaster.

Already playing in this field is the not-to-be-overlooked Nissan NV. Nissan NV aims to be your office on wheels, with an available built-in filing cabinet, laptop storage, and an expanded desktop surface.

First, let’s look at the vehicle that launched the tall-van market in North America – the Sprinter. Although originally sold in Canada under the Dodge nameplate, you now find Sprinters only at specialized Mercedes-Benz dealerships.

2014 MerceDeS-BeNZ SPriNTer

Mercedes-Benz is refreshing its market-leading Sprinter cargo van for the 2014 model year. It will be available this fall. The refresh is important because, until recently, the Sprinter basically owned this market segment in North America. Then came Nissan with its big NV van, and later this year, Ford will transplant its popular Transit from Europe as a 2014 model, to be followed by the rebranded – and upgraded – Ram ProMaster.

There are several ways to order a Sprinter, as there are two wheelbase sizes and three overall lengths, as well as two heights. With a maximum cargo capacity of 547 cu. ft. in its largest configuration, there is no more capacious service van than the Sprinter. The 2014 Ram Promaster comes closest to the Sprinter with a maximum cargo capacity of 529.7 cu. ft., with the 2014 Ford Transit at 496 cu. ft. The Nissan NV offers a maximum volume of 323.1 cu. ft., and HPaCMaG.COM

the Chevrolet/GM standard-height cargo van twins max out at 284.4 cu. ft.

But cargo volume is not always the most important criteria. For your specific work, maybe cargo length is a priority (the Sprinter, at up to 185 in., leads), or maybe it is standup height for working inside the vehicle in inclement weather (the ProMaster is tallest at 85.5 in.), though all the tall-roof vans allow most people to stand up inside.

The 3.0-litre Sprinter's V6 produces 188 hp and 325-lb.ft. of torque and is mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. New is a 2.1-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel engine that produces 161 hp and 265-lb.-ft of torque. It is mated to a new seven-speed automatic transmission. Fuel economy is expected to average 6.3 litres/100 km, pretty impressive for a vehicle of this size.

The focus of the revamped Sprinter is on enhanced safety technologies. In all, it has five new assistance systems – including some world premieres in the van segment.

Crosswind Assist, part of the Electronic Stability Program, will be a standard feature, while optional upgrades add Collision Prevention Assist, Blind Spot Assist, Lane Keeping Assist and Highbeam Assist. Other new options include iPod integration, a navigation system, and air suspension for the top-end 3500-series models.

The 2014 Sprinter chassis has been lowered for easier loading and accessibility, and to reduce wind resistance and fuel consumption. There is a minor exterior redesign too, with a larger grille and headlights with LED turn signals.

The interior gets new seat upholstery, the steering wheel features better grip with a thick rim, and the fresh air vents are embellished with chrome applications. The shift lever knob sports a new design too.

Continued on pg 14

WHAT THE CONTRACTORS ARE SAYING… “I'm sorry I didn't buy it 10 years ago,” says Marek Koc of Eagle Home Comfort Corp. in Toronto. The HRAI member, who provides HVAC services throughout the GTA, now drives a 2012 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500. “I have the longest and the largest one,” he boasts.

The main reasons for switching from the GMC Savana 3500's he'd driven year after year were the height of the Sprinter, which makes it easy to stand up inside the cargo bay, and its fuel consumption. “I used to spend up to $140 for a fill-up and get 300 km. Now it costs up to $80 and I get 450-500 km.”

The truck cost more money to buy than what he used to drive, but he says it is worth it. “I like the visibility from being higher up, and find it is much more manoeuvrable, despite the size.”

Koc had aftermarket aluminum shelving installed, along with a pneumatic ladder rack on the roof. “I carry a lot of stuff,” he says, “yet I can still make a U-turn on a regular street.”

May/June 2013 | HPAC

13

< ANNUAL REPORT ON SERVICE VEHICLES

Continued from pg 14

3.5-litre EcoBoost engine used in the Ford F-150, and an all-new 3.2-litre Power Stroke five-cylinder diesel. Each engine is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission powering the rear wheels.

Safety features include traction and stability control system with roll stability control, and a tire-pressure-monitoring system. MyKey technology allows the Transit’s owner to program a maximum vehicle speed, maximum stereo volume, seat belt usage reminder chimes and more.

2013 Nissan NV Cargo Van

2013 NiSSAN NV cArGo VAN The 2013 Nissan NV Cargo is offered in three models, the V6-equipped NV1500; the NV2500 HD, which is available with 4.0-litre V6 and 5.6-litre V8 engines; and the NV3500 HD with a standard V8 engine. Both engines are matched to a standard five-speed automatic. All three are available with the Standard Roof, while the High Roof body is offered in the NV2500 HD and NV3500 HD models only.

Boasting a rugged ladder frame and roof rack mounting brackets on the top of the body, the NV Cargo High Roof models offer most users stand-up walkthrough/work cargo area capability. NV Cargo Standard Roof models offer a maximum 55.8 in. of cargo-area height; the High Roof provides a maximum 76.9-in.

WHAT THE CONTRACTORS ARE SAYING…

Sean Beaudoin, co-owner with Adam Gracie of Therm-all Heating & Cooling Inc., in Cambridge, ON, recently purchased a pair of Nissan NV 2500 HD High Roof cargo vans to replace the company's aging Chevy cargo vans. The main feature that attracted the commercial and industrial contractors to this model was the high roof. “That sold us,” says Beaudoin. “We liked the fact we could stand up in them.”

The partners also like the look of the van. “It's different. I like the overall appearance,” says Beaudoin. “We had it wrapped, and it's like a big billboard.”

As well, it rides like a pickup truck, he says. “It's not floaty or sloppy. It has a firm suspension.”

And he has no buyer's remorse. “We will get a third one when we hire another guy a few months down the road.”

16

HPAC | May/June 2013

With a focus on driver comfort and roominess, the NV Cargo interior offers wide front doors, supportive bucket seating with extensive adjustability, large armrests and a truck-like driving position with ample legroom and foot room.

An optional lockable centre console fi ts hanging files and laptop computers – and includes a computer or mobile phone charging point, as well as a lid that slides forward to provide a more usable work surface. A drawer under the driver's seat suits storing paperwork, tools or other items that require quick access. A fold-down passenger seat adds worktable functionality. High Roof models offer an available overhead console designed to hold work gloves, legal size binders, safety glasses and system books.

The Nissan NV Cargo uses a conventional truck engine layout with an out-front engine design. This not only frees up space under the instrument panel and between the seats, it also provides easy under-hood access to the entire engine for routine service and maintenance.

Safety systems include dual-stage supplemental front air bags, three-point front seat belts with pretensioners and load limiters, available supplemental front seat-mounted side-impact air bags and roof-mounted supplemental curtain air bags. Also standard is a tire-pressure monitoring system and Vehicle Dynamic Control.

2013 cHeVroleT eXPreSS/GMc SAVANA cArGo VAN GM’s cargo vans, the Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana, are mostly carryovers from the previous model year for 2013.

Minor improvements to 2013 models include the addition of an optional navigation radio, a rear vision camera and ultrasonic rear park assist. Since the Express and Savana modHPaCMaG.COM

2013 GMC Savana Cargo Van

els are nearly identical mechanically, we will just discuss the Express here.

A wide range of features and configurations is available and includes six-speed automatic transmissions, driver-side cargo doors (swing-out 60/40-split passenger-side doors are standard), all-wheel drive, optional locking rear differential, and a trailer rating of up to 10 000 lb. on 2500 and 3500 models. Safety features include standard StabiliTrak electronic stability control and optional head curtain side air bags.

The Express Cargo is available in regular (135-in.) and extended (155-in.) wheelbase lengths. The 1500 Series vans include light-duty models rated at 7300 lb. GVWR. The 2500 Series includes heavy-duty models rated at 8600 lb.

GVWR. The heavy-duty 3500 Series includes full-bodied models rated at 9600 lb. GVWR with the 6.0-litre gas V-8 and 9900 lb. with the Duramax 6.6-litre V8 turbodiesel. Express and Savana Cargo models are also available with a dedicated compressed natural gas package.

The Duramax diesel V-8 is rated at 260 hp and 525 lb.-ft. of torque. The engine features the latest in emission control technology, making it the cleanest Duramax engine ever produced. It also provides outstanding cold-weather performance, with microprocessor-controlled glow plugs capable of gas engine-like start performance in less than three |seconds in temperatures as low as -29C (-20F), without a block heater.

The base engine for light-duty is the 4.3-litre V6 with multi-port fuel injection.

HPaCMaG.COM

It delivers 195 hp and 260 lb.-ft. of torque. A 4.8-litre V8 is standard on some models and cranks out 280 hp and 295 lb.-ft. of torque, while other models are powered by the Flex Fuel E85-capable 5.3-litre V8. It delivers 310 hp and 334 lb.-ft. of torque.

Those seeking more power can opt for the 6.0-litre V8. It delivers 324 hp and 373 lb.-ft. of torque and its fast-idle option makes it easier to run accessories at a work site.

Models equipped with 4.3-litre and 5.3-litre engines are matched with a four-speed automatic transmission. The 4.8-litre and 6.0-litre V8 mate to a six-speed automatic. An all-wheel-drive system is available for 1500 models equipped with the 5.3-litre engine.

Big capacities and payload ratings are critical features for today's work vans, but there is one extra the new tall vans provide â&#x20AC;&#x201C; an expansive exterior body surface that makes them ideal travelling billboards for your business. <> Bill Roebuck is a voting member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC).

May/June 2013 | HPAC

17

< boilers

Only As Needed

A new approach to on-demand domestic water heating. BY JOHN SIEGENTHAlER

S

idearm water heaters were developed decades ago so that boilers could provide both space heating and domestic hot water. Generically, they are water-to-water heat exchangers that transfer heat from the boiler water to domestic water whenever the latter is flowing through.

Figure 1 illustrates how they were originally used along with boilers that maintained a constant minimum temperature.

The original sidearm water heaters rely on buoyancy-driven flow through a piping path that connects the upper and lower portions of the boiler. This phenomena goes by many names including “gravity flow” and “thermosiphoning.” Before circulators, it was the only propulsion effect for moving heated water from a boiler in the basement to the heat emitters in the building above.

In Figure 1, hot water from the boiler rises upward and then over and down through one chamber of the sidearm water heater. As water from the boiler gives up heat to the cooler domestic water in the other chamber, it cools and its density increases. This causes it to drop through the remaining piping and eventually flow back to the boiler.

This flow occurs regardless of whether the boiler’s space heating circulator is operating or not. The sidearm circuit in Figure 1 includes a balancing valve that limits bypass flow through the sidearm circuit when the space heating circulator is operating.

Given that older boilers operated at relatively high temper-

Figure 1 Sidearm water heater system

atures (typically 180-230 ºF), a single pass through the sidearm heater was adequate to bring cold domestic water up to (and at times above) a reasonable domestic hot water delivery temperature. Eventually, thermostatic mixing valves were developed and installed to reduce scalding risks in such installations.

The heat transfer rate allowed by a sidearm water heater is limited by the thermosiphon flow through the chamber connected to the boiler. Heat transfer associated with thermosiphon flow is called “natural convection” and is relatively weak compared to forced convection (e.g. when water is forced through a heat exchanger by a circulator). This explains why a 14"-wide fan-forced kick-space heater can match the heat output of several linear feet of fin-tube baseboard. The kick-space heater used forced convection on both its water and air-side. The baseboard used forced convection on its water side, but natural convection on its air-side. The latter is what limits its output.

THE MAKEOVER BEGINS The original configuration of sidearm water heaters was good for the days of high temperature boilers and low fuel cost. Today, we have significantly better hardware that can transform the original concept into a state-of-the-art subassembly, one that can be used in a wide variety of modern hydronic systems.

The first change is to use a small, low power circulator to create higher flow rates on the heat input side of a water heater. This will significantly decrease the surface area required for a given rate of heat transfer.

Photo Bob Rohr

Figure 2 Domestic water flow switch.

20

HPAC | MAY/JUNE 2013

hpacmag.com

Courtesy of GEA PHE Systems

The small circulator will have to operate whenever domestic water was passing through the heat exchanger. This can be managed by a flow switch, which detects a demand for domestic hot water. An example of such a switch is shown in Figure 2.

A modern brazed plate stainless steel heat exchanger will be used to transfer heat from a storage tank to domestic water. An example of such a heat exchanger is shown in Figure 3.

Brazed plate heat exchangers offer excellent thermal and hydraulic performance. The rate of heat transfer per unit of volume and weight is incredible compared to other options.

They also have relatively low head loss, which conserves circulator wattage.

Figure 4 shows how the flow switch, heat exchanger, circulator and valves are configured into an “instantaneous” domestic water heating subassembly that draws heat from a thermal storage tank.

The storage tank holds heated Figure 3 “system” water. This water could be heated by a boiler, solar collectors, wood-fired heater, heat pump or a combination of heat sources. The schematic in Figure 4 assumes that water near the top of the tank is maintained at a temperature hot enough to produce domestic hot water whenever it’s required. If you want to use this subassembly in a system where this is not the case, you will need to include an auxiliary heat source. We will get to that shortly.

Figure 4

In theory, the flow switch could be located in either the hot or cold domestic water piping. However, mounting it in the cold water piping reduces thermal stress and prolongs its life expectancy. Also, notice that it is mounted upstream of the mixing valve (on the cold pipe). This allows it to detect the total flow rate of domestic water, rather than what might be a portion of that total flow passing through the heat exchanger. The latter occurs when some cold water passes into the cold port of the thermostatic mixing valve.

The flow switch contacts close whenever a hot water flow of 0.6 gpm or higher is detected. Most small flow switches use sealed magnetic reed contacts that are not rated for line voltage switching. Because of this, the flow switch contacts are wired to activate the coil of a relay. The contacts of that relay connect line voltage to the circulator.

When the flow switch turns on the circulator, heated water from storage immediately flows through the primary side of the heat exchanger as domestic water passes through the other side. Brazed plate stainless steel heat exchangers have a very high ratio of internal surface area to volume.

They also have very low thermal mass. These characteristics allow them to transfer heat almost instantly when fluids at different temperatures flow through. Heated domestic water will emerge from the heat exchanger two to three seconds after the flow switch is activated. This is significantly faster than the response of a gas-fired tankless water heater or a combi-boiler starting from room temperature.

MOVING HEAT For this subassembly to function well, the heat exchanger must be generously sized. My suggestion is to select a heat exchanger that can provide the design heat transfer while operating with an approach temperature difference of 5F. This means that the heat exchanger should provide the design heat transfer rate when water supplied to its primary side is only 5F higher than the desired domestic hot water supply temperature, as shown in Figure 5. To produce the design flow rate of domestic hot water at 115F, the water supplied from storage should not have to be above 120F. Keeping the minimum usable storage tank temperature low improves the performance of any heat source supplying the tank.

For most residential applications, I have found that heat exchangers using a 5" x 12" plate size works well. The greater the number of plates in the heat exchanger, the smaller the approach temperature difference will be for a given rate of heat transfer.

The design domestic water flow rate is determined by estimating the number of hot water fixtures that are likely to be operating simultaneously, and then adding up their total flow Continued on p22

hpacmag.com

MAY/JUNE 2013 | HPAC

21

< boilers

Continued from p21

rate. In some cases, the design flow rate needs to be adjusted based on the fixture deliver temperature. For example, assume that a shower requires 2.5 gpm at a delivery temperature of 105F, and that it operates simultaneously with a lavatory requiring 1.5 gpm at 115F. The design outlet temperature from the heat exchanger must be at least 115F, but the total flow rate of this 115F water can be adjusted downward because the shower only needs 105F water. Here is the

Figure 5 Maximum suggested approach temperature difference

calculation, assuming cold water enters the heat exchanger at 50F: Formula 1:

The total load on the heat exchanger is:

Once the temperatures and flows are determined, I suggest using one of several readily available software tools provided by manufacturers of brazed plate heat exchangers to select an appropriate model.

Using the above assumptions, an approach temperature difference of 5F, and a maximum pressure drop of two psi on the tank side, the online software suggests the required heat exchanger as a 5" x 12" x 30 (i.e. 5"-wide, 12"-long, and 30 plates deep). Consider this the minimum size. A Continued on p24

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< boilers

Continued from p22

larger heat exchanger will also work, its primary benefits being slightly lower approach temperature difference, and less pressure drop, albeit at a higher installation cost.

Courtesy Eemax

SUPPlEMENTAl HEAT One variant of this approach is for systems with intermittent heat input to the storage tank. This would include systems supplied by solar collectors, wood-fired boilers, or off-peak electrical elements. These systems typically produce a wide range of storage tank temperatures. At times the storage temperature may be much higher than the required domestic hot water delivery temperature. At other times the tank will only be providing a preheating function and an auxiliary heat source will be required.

My choice for boosting preheated domesFigure 6 Thermostatically tic hot water to final controlled electric tankless delivery temperature is water heater. a thermostatically controlled electric tankless water heater, such as the unit shown in Figure 6.

The electric tankless water heater would be installed as shown in Figure 7.

The tankless electric water heater should be sized to bring the water from its minimum preheat temperature of about 65F, up to the desired

Figure 7

delivery temperature - typically not higher than 115F. The assumed starting temperature of 65F is based on the tank cooling to approximately room temperature after several days of little if any heat input from a heat source such as solar collectors or a wood-fired boiler. If you plan to keep the minimum storage tank temperature higher, the size of the tankless heater can be reduced accordingly.

Most thermostatically controlled electric tankless water heaters can accept preheated water over a wide range of temperature. They measure the incoming water temperature and adjust the wattage supplied to their elements to achieve a stable set outlet temperature. If the incoming water is hotter than the heaterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s setpoint, it simply passes through without any further heating.

INSTANT BENEFITS Here is a summary of the benefits offered by this method of instantaneous domestic water heating.

1. It is readily adaptable to thermal storage tanks of various sizes and heated by a variety of heat sources.

2. Suitable brazed plate stainless steel heat exchangers are available from several manufacturers. If local codes insist upon double wall heat exchangers, they are also available.

3. The external stainless steel heat exchanger can be easily inspected, cleaned and replaced if necessary.

4. The thermal mass of the storage tank stabilizes domestic hot water delivery temperature during long demand periods. This helps eliminate fluctuations in delivery temperature.

5. In the case of a solar drainback system, this approach eliminates the need for any internal heat exchangers in the storage tank. This allows a wider choice of potential tank suppliers.

6. The standby heat loss associated with a separate DHW storage tank is eliminated.

7. The warm up time of this assembly is very short â&#x20AC;&#x201C; significantly shorter than that of a gas-fired tankless water heater because there is no need to initiate combustion.

8. The potential for Legionella growth is reduced since very little domestic hot water is stored in this assembly.

9. In the case of a solar thermal system, the storage tank is not heated by the auxiliary domestic water heat source.

This improves collector efficiency relative to systems where the upper portion of the storage tank is maintained at elevated temperatures by an electric element or other heat source.

Figure 8 shows how this subassembly could be used in combination with a drainback-protected solar thermal system.

Continued on p26

24

HPAC | MAY/JUNE 2013

hpacmag.com

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< BOILERS

Continued from p24

The solar thermal collectors heat the storage tank to whatever extent possible, and the electrical tankless water heater provides the necessary boost. On hot summer days the tank will likely be hot enough that the domestic water will not need any temperature boost. It could even be substantially hotter than required at the fixtures. Therefore, the ASSE 1017 thermostatic mixing valve is installed to protect against scalding.

MIND THE DETAILS For best performance, the heat exchanger, circulator, and piping should be kept as close to the tank as possible. This minimizes the water content in the primary side piping and reduces response time.

All piping and components on the primary side of the heat exchanger should be well-insulated (R-4 ºF•hr•ft2/Btu minimum). This helps preserve residual heat in the heat exchanger from one demand period to another that might follow a short time later.

Filling and flushing valves should be installed on the inlet and outlet of both the heat exchanger and tankless water heater. They allow either component to be isolated and flushed with a suitable cleaning fluid as necessary over the life of the system. Several companies offer specialty valves for this purpose.

The installation of an ASSE 1017 rated thermostatic mixing valve (or ASSE 1070 rated point of use protection valves

at each fixture) is essential to prevent domestic water from being delivered to the fixtures at temperatures that could cause burns.

Also, be sure the circulator that moves hot water from the storage tank to the heat exchanger has an internal check valve. If not, install an external check valve down stream of the circulator. This prevents water returning from the space heating portion of the system from short circuiting through the heat exchanger, rather than passing through the storage tank.

Ensure the building’s circuit breaker panel can accommodate the amperage required by the electric tankless water heater before committing to this approach. For electric tankless water heaters operating on single phase 240 VAC circuits, the maximum amperage draw can be determined using Formula 2.

Most electric tankless water heaters have an internal temperature limit switch that automatically stops the elements from further heating if the water temperature passing by the switch exceeds a preset limit. On some heaters this limit is preset at 140F. On others it can be as high as 180F. If you are going to use this system with either solar thermal collectors, or a wood-fired boiler as the heat source to the storage tank, the 180F limit is preferred since it would prevent what otherwise might be nuisance tripping of the limit switch at times when the storage tank is heated to relatively high temperatures.

Formula 2:

Figure 8 Where: A = required amperage (amp) P = Rated power (kilowatts) Finally, I want to stress that this is not a new concept. Very similar methods have been used in European domestic heating substations (associated with heat metering), as well as many combi-boilers. It is widely applicable to almost any hydronic system that has thermal storage, and could even be built into a compact pre-manufactured module. Perhaps you can find a place to apply it in an upcoming project. <> John Siegenthaler, P.E., is a mechanical engineering graduate of Renssellaer Polytechnic Institute and a licensed professional engineer. He has over 34 years experience in designing modern hydronic heating systems. He is also an associate professor emeritus of engineering technology at Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica, NY. This fall, Siegenthaler will be teaching an online course entitled "Mastering Hydronic System Design."

Details are available at http://bnp.cammpus.com/courses/

hydronic-system-design-training--online.

26

HPAC | MAY/JUNE 2013

HPACMAG.COM

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< COOLING

Condenser Water System Savings Optimized flow rates in the condenser water system provide installed and operating cost savings in chilled-water systems. This article discusses flow rate selection and offers options to consider for implementation in specific circumstances. BY MICK SCHWEDLER AND BETH BAKKUM

R

ather than relegating condenser water system design to standards developed 50 years ago, consider taking a second look. Recent developments, such as increased chiller efficiency, the escalating cost of materials, and the increased use of variable-speed drives on pumps and cooling tower fans provide significant opportunities to the owner and designer of condenser water systems.

Taking advantage of these opportunities requires determining the optimum condenser water flow rate. Present industry guidance has shifted from the "standard" three gpm/ ton flow rate (and oft-assumed 10F ΔT) to lower flow rates and larger ΔTs as evidenced below.

• From the ASHRAE GreenGuide:1 "The CoolTools Chilled Water Plant Design and Performance Specification Guide recommends a design method that starts with a condenser water temperature difference of 12F to 18F (7C to 10C)."

• Kelly and Chan2 state, "In most cases, larger ΔTs and the associated lower flow rates will not only save installation cost but will usually save energy over the course of the year."

• Taylor3 states, "Calculate the condenser water flow rate for all pipe sections assuming a range of 15F (8C)."

From a design parameters perspective, reducing condenser water flow rates by increasing the design temperature difference is advantageous since it reduces both installed and operating costs. In addition, using variablespeed drives on cooling tower fan motors is beneficial during times when the heat rejection load is lower.

SYSTEM DESIGN Why do ASHRAE, Kelly and Chan, and Taylor recommend flow rates that are lower than the AHRI standard rating conditions?

To answer that question, let's examine the relationship between the condenser water flow rate and other system variables (see HPAC April 2013 for a brief overview). We note that as the condenser water flow rate decreases: • The chiller leaving condenser water temperature and chiller power rise.

• The condenser water pump power drops.

• If the same cooling tower is used, its approach temperature decreases.

• If the pipe size is reduced and some of the pipe cost sav-

Table 1. Summary of selection results for example condenser water systems for 700-ton building load AHRI Standard 550/590 9.3F ΔT*

ASHRAE GreenGuide 14F ΔT, same tower, smaller pipes

ASHRAE GreenGuide 14F ΔT, oversized tower, smaller pipes

CW flow rate

2100

1400

1400

CW pipe size

10

8

8

CW system PD

30

30

30

condenser PD

24

11

15.6

tower static lift

12.3

12.3

19.2

398.9

410.7

411.9

CW pump power

37.6

20.2

24.5

tower fan power

32.1

32.1

16.0

468.6

456.7

452.4

chiller power

Total (kW)

*At the AHRI Standard flow rate of three gpm/ton, using today's efficient chillers, the ΔT is 9.3F rather than the 10F often assumed.

28

HPAC | MAY/JUNE 2013

HPACMAG.COM

ings is used to oversize the cooling tower, the tower fan power can also be reduced.

As an example, let's illustrate these effects by looking at a 700-ton chilled-water system using different condenser design parameters (as shown in Table 1).

Due to the reduction in pump and tower fan energy, system power is reduced at design conditions. Sometimes if the condenser system pressure drop is very low (< 20 feet of head) the design "GreenGuide" system power may be similar to a system designed at the AHRI standard rating conditions.

How do the energy and life cycle costs compare? Taylor's analysis concentrates on life cycle costs and shows that reducing the condenser water flow rate (increasing the ΔT) reduces life cycle costs. In his summary he states: ... lifecycle costs were minimized at the largest of the three ΔTs analyzed, about 15F (8.3C). This was true for both office buildings and data centers and for both single-stage centrifugal chillers and two-stage centrifugal chillers. It was also true for low, medium and high approach cooling towers.

SUMMARY The information from the ASHRAE GreenGuide, Kelly and Chan, and Taylor all show that project teams should design condenser water systems nearer a 15F ΔT (1.9 gpm/ton).

Reducing condenser water flow rates allows efficient system design, can reduce system first cost due to reduced condenser water pipe, pump, and cooling tower size, and reduces life cycle costs.

SYSTEM OPERATION Now we can examine the control of the condenser water system – specifically, cooling tower fan and condenser water pump speed operation.

For a better understanding of the options, let's examine two control modes: • Mode 1 varies cooling tower fan speed only • Mode 2 varies both cooling tower fan and condenser water pump speeds

MODE 1: COOLING TOWER FAN SPEED CONTROL Many projects today use a fixed setpoint to control the cooling tower leaving water temperature. As the heat rejection load and/or wet bulb temperature drop, the tower fan speed is reduced to maintain the setpoint. The result is a reduction in cooling tower fan power. A number of parties* have found that "near-optimal" control can reduce the sum of chillerplus-tower energy consumption.

Cooling tower cells A cooling tower cell consists of the structure, media, and fan. It should be noted that it is more efficient to operate multiple tower cells at part speed than one tower cell at full speed. For example, one cell operating at full speed (40 hp) and the other off gives about 58 per cent of the tower's capacity. Two cells with fans each operating at 60 per cent – a total of 20 hp-gives 60 per cent of the tower's capacity.

Continued on p30

Figure 1 Tower control for constant-speed chiller (CSPD), (40% load, 65°F WB)

Figure 2 Tower control for variable-speed chiller (VSPD), (40% load, 65ºF WB)

*They include Braun and Diderrich4; Cascia5; Crowther and Furlong6 ; Hydeman, Gillespie and Kammerud7; Kelly and Chan8 ; and Schwedler.9 Represented in this list are three chiller manufacturers, three chilled-water system control providers, a utility, and a cooling tower manufacturer.

HPACMAG.COM

MAY/JUNE 2013 | HPAC

29

< COOLING continued from p29 Figure 3 Chiller-plus-tower operating costs

The premise of finding a control point that minimizes the sum of chiller-plus-tower energy consumption can most simply be demonstrated by examining a point in time. Figure 1 shows chiller and cooling tower fan performance at a point in time during the year when the chiller load is 40 per cent and the outdoor air wet bulb temperature is 65F. If the tower fan operates at full speed, it can produce 69.5F leaving water temperature. The chiller power is lowest, but the tower power is high.

The optimal system setpoint occurs at a tower leaving temperature of 75F and 60 per cent fan speed. The chiller power rises. At these operating conditions, the chiller-plus-tower fan power is reduced by 8.7 per cent.

Some assert that a system with a variable-speed chiller may benefit from operating the tower fan at full speed all the time. While the optimal tower fan speed is higher than for the constant speed chiller, running the cooling tower fan at full speed is not optimal. Figure 2 shows that for a system with a variable-speed-drive chiller, the same conditions (40 per cent load and 65F) result in optimal control at ~71F and a tower fan speed of 70 per cent, saving 7.5 per cent of chiller-plus-tower power. Note this speed is higher than for the constant-speed chiller but still not at full speed.

This is one point in time. How much can be saved over the course of a year? In their ASHRAE Journal article, Crowther and Furlong10 found that for the system analyzed, optimal tower fan speed control saved 6.2 per cent in Chicago, 4.7 per cent in Las Vegas, and 8.5 per cent in Miami.

In a study performed for this article, a 720 000 ft2 hotel was analyzed in a number of global locations (see Figure 3) 30

HPAC | MAY/JUNE 2013

WHAT ABOUT THE OPERATOR? All of the previous analysis is predicated on optimal control working properly and being allowed to continue to work without "manual override." Often the chilled-water system operator wants to understand system operation so he or she can change that operation when necessary. For example, they may ask, "What is the cooling tower setpoint?" When condenser water pump and cooling tower fan speeds are varied, there is no cooling tower setpointsince the leaving cooling tower temperature is a result of the system operation decisions. This can be unsettling to some system operators. It is imperative that the system operator be "on board" with the control methods, understand them, and have the ability to both monitor and change them if necessary.

using the following possible control setpoints: â&#x20AC;˘ Fixed tower setpoint at design tower leaving temperature (85F in humid climates, 80F in dry climates) â&#x20AC;˘ Near optimal setpoint â&#x20AC;˘ Fixed tower setpoint at 55F When compared to making the tower water as cold as possible, near optimal control savings ranged from just under two per cent in Paris to 14 per cent in Toronto.

Although in a relatively dry climate with a short cooling season (e.g., Paris) the savings are small, it is clear that chiller-tower near optimal control saves energy and operating cost in all locations. This control is available from at least three control providers; therefore highly consider specifying it on new projects and implementing it on retrofit applications.

Continued on p52 HPACMAG.COM

< PLUMBING

Simple system garners big savings

Instructors put educational mandate to promote new sustainable deeds into practice. BY LUC BOILY

Photos: Centre Daniel-Johnson

K

nowing that drinking water is not a boundless resource, a group of plumbing and heating teachers involved in the eastern Montreal vocational training school Centre Daniel-Johnson* developed a waterconserving system for the workstations.

Daniel Savard, a plumbing and heating instructor at the Centre, explains the green initiative that he and his colleagues put forward last year within the “Water Heater Troubleshooting” and “Pumping Systems” modules. “We have 21 workstations, and each one has its own water-heater. The latter are purged out and filled up five times a year with the arrival of each new group [of students]; if it was only for the sake of the water savings during those times, it was worth the effort to find a conservation solution,” said Savard.

In addition, to recovering the drain water from the waterheaters, the system has been designed to reuse the water

Underground tank and pumping system.

loop to prevent the collected water from entering the potable water system. Chlorine is also added to the water.

The gray PVC pipe along the wall (see photo above), which contains about 1150 litres of water, is running around the mechanical room and workstation area. Its purpose is to provide a water source for pumps. It also acts as a water backup to supply water heaters. “The water contained in the PVC pipe, however, was not enough to supply the system needs. So we installed an additional 1500 litre tank,” explained Laforge. Doing so, the system is now able to drain and refill the water-heaters as well as supply pumps without using the water from the aqueduct whatsoever.

ONE STEP AT A TIME Each workstation has its own water heater.

pumped out from various pipe fittings put together by students during learning exercises. Once filtered, the water is going back to the water heaters and pump systems. “We figured out that this system allows us to save about 40 000 litres of water per year,” said Mathieu Laforge, a teacher in the plumbing and heating department.

SYSTEM OPERATION Drain water is pumped into an underground tank. The photo above shows the location of the tank as well as the pumping system, including a centrifugal pump and a hydropneumatic tank that supplies the water for the water-heaters located in the workstations (see image on right). The system is a closed32

HPAC | MAY/JUNE 2013

“We believe that the change in consumption patterns happens one green step at a time. We wanted to walk in this direction, also keeping in mind our educational mandate to promote new sustainable deeds,” said Savard.

The Centre Daniel-Johnson Plumbing & Heating module's initiative is the first phase of a larger project plan. The second phase will aim to broaden the experiment to the hot and cold water distribution system, sanitary equipment and accessories installation module. “The exact phase two beginning date is not yet known, but we expect it to be after some refurbishment work planned by the school board is completed this summer,” said Laforge. *The vocational training Centre Daniel-Johnson provides 12 educational programs giving access to job opportunities for future professionals in high demand trades. www.cspi.qc.ca/cdj/

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requires no minimum flow rate, which elimi-

stainless steel plates and are vacuum brazed

Idealzone pre-assembled manifold kits from

nates the need for a costly dedicated boiler

together to form a durable product designed to

Bow Plumbing Group have all the basic compo-

circulator. Features include: pressure rating up

withstand both high pressure and high tem-

nents. The number of ports may be specified.

to 80 psi, wider output range, increased war-

perature. All four models have a design pres-

Each manifold includes end supply manifolds,

ranty up to 10 years and multi fuel options

sure of 435 psig, min/max design temperature

end return manifolds, ball valves with ther-

(NG, LPG, low sulfur oil and heating oil type 2).

of 310/450F, lifting lugs, and support/mount-

mometer and self-sealing end pieces.

www.bosch-climate.us

ing feet. www.xylemappliedwater.com

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7

2

2

Buderus SB stainless steel condensing com-

oo

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HPAC | MAY/JUNE 2013

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HPACMAG.COM

HYDRONIC PRODUCTS Magic-Pak has expanded its M Series through the wall heating and

Taco's

cooling line with hydronic-ready units. Available with efficiency ratings

MPT

of up to 9 EER, the new models are compatible with many hydronic

Tank) product line in-

heating coils. Multi-family apartment and condominium building de-

corporates features of

signers have the flexibility to pair the hot water coil with any hot water

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source. The units offer several cooling efficiency options and have a

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line

lours. www.alliedair.com

lines.

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sizes

range in volume between 50 and 1050 gallons across 16 model Wilo USA has released Stratos GIGA, a high-efficiency, sin-

sizes with nozzle connec-

gle-stage inline centrifugal pump. It is a space-saving inline

tions varying between two

circulator with ECM technology, which is designed for use

and 10" h as standard.

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Each unit includes four flanged nozzles, a two-

cooling circuits and industrial process systems. Features

inch full port blow down valve and a factory

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easy operation. The pump is available in glanded construc-

un-insulated, Armaflex wrapped or wound fibre-

tion, mechanical shaft seal and flanged connections.

glass insulation configurations. Optional 3/4"

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temperature/pressure sensing ports are available on each nozzle. www.taco-hvac.com.

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HPAC | MAY/JUNE 2013

HPACMAG.COM

MECHANICAL SUPPLY NEWS

MANUFACTURERS • diSTRibUToRS • wholESAlERS

Water heaters to be added to HVAC EnerGuide program The Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI) has finalized an agreement with manufacturers who sell electric and gas/propane water heaters in Canada to participate in the industry managed HVAC EnerGuide Program.

Through this activity, consumers will be provided with verified energy efficiency information in an easy-to-understand format. This initiative is supported by the Canadian Institute of Plumbing & Heating (CIPH). Water heater manufacturers will place an EnerGuide Label in their product literature in a recognizable manner to the consumer. Contractors' use of the label to increase energy-efficient water heater sales is crucial to program's success.

HRAI, in partnership with NRCan, has been managing the HVAC EnerGuide Program. Launched in 1996, the program started with unitary split-systems central air conditioners and heat pumps and gas-fired forced air furnaces, followed by oil furnaces in 2001. For more information e-mail Caroline Czajko: cczajko@hrai.ca.

AHRI adopts a broader vision The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) has a new logo and vision. The new logo includes a tagline, which also serves as the association’s vision: “We Make Life Better.” The new logo and tagline are being introduced to complement AHRI's mission to serve as an advocate of North American HVAC/R and water heater manufacturers. www.ahrinet.org.

Colour inspired pipe rebranding As part of its 40th anniversary initiative, Aquatherm GmbH, and its North American partner, Aquatherm North America, have released a refreshed logo (see HPAC April 2013, p.44) and new product names. The pipe manufacturing company, based in Attendorn, Germany, is a supplier of polypropylene-random (PP-R) piping systems worldwide and has seven major product lines, five of which are currently available in North America.

Since developing the original Aquatherm Greenpipe system that propelled Aquatherm into the world market, the product lineup has expanded gradually over time. Because new innovations were named as they were created, some disparities resulted. hpacmag.com

Climate system manufacturer joins growing network of eco-focused organizations Jaga Climate Systems has joined the Dutch Canadian Sustainable Planning and Building Network. By joining the network, Jaga will extend its presence in Canada and the Netherlands by collaborating with other organizations that share a similar focus on improving green building projects.

The organization met in Vancouver at the Canada Green Building Council Conference (CaGBC) in June.

“At Jaga, we are always looking for new ways to further our reach into the sustainable building industry, so joining the Dutch Canadian Network made sense for us,” said Chris Heerius, executive director of Jaga Climate Systems.

“Through the network we hope to create an ongoing dialogue about ways that sustainable building practices can enhance not only the environment, but also the health of building occupants.”

As part of the Green Business Club, an organization that connects sustainability-focused companies, the Dutch Canadian Sustainable Planning and Building Network aims to create opportunities between the two countries by connecting companies, universities, non-profit organizations and governmental bodies.

“With offices in both the Netherlands and Canada, we will be able to use our position in the network to reach likeminded entities in both countries,” added Heerius. “We are thrilled to be part of an organization that understands the importance of sustainable building and how it enables us to create a better future globally.” continued on p38

“A few of our products were named after the application they were originally designed for, but were later used with other types of projects,” said Steve Clark, president of Aquatherm North America. “Climatherm is a good example – it was designed for air conditioning, but is appropriate for hydronic, compressed air, chemical transport, and many other applications.”

For the sake of unity and clarity, the Aquatherm product lines will be identified using a colour-coded convention. This was originally tested in the U.S. market, when Aquatherm's original piping product, Fusiotherm, was renamed to Aquatherm Greenpipe with great success. With the new naming system, Aquatherm Greenpipe will now become Aquatherm Green Pipe, and Climatherm will be known as Aquatherm Blue Pipe. Aquatherm Lilac Pipe will retain its same name. www.aquatherm.com MAY/JUNE 2013 | HPAC

37

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continued from p37

At the CaGBC Conference and Expo, Jaga hosted a booth that served as a networking hub for conference partners.

Also, Jaga hosted an event featuring Professor Anke Van Hal, an academic professor for sustainable building and development at the Nyenrode Business University in The Netherlands. http://greenbusinessclubinternational.org/nl/jaga.

Enerconcept set to capture broader marketshare

Centrotherm participates in staff and customer training Centrotherm’s vice president of business development, Jim Molloy, recently held training sessions with the manufacturing staff of Goodman and Amana brand products at their factory in Houston, TX. Goodman hosted training on the latest product improvements and accessories for customers and technical service managers.

Centrotherm’s training focused on installing and using InnoFlue on Goodman and Amana condensing furnaces and the safety benefits of the UL-1738 polymeric vent. Centrotherm’s venting has been approved for use on Goodman and Amana high efficiency furnaces. www.centrotherm.us.com

Fantech rebrands

First Lubi installation in Germany

Aside from China, the German solar thermal market is the world’s largest and most dynamic thanks to clear and stable energy policies, according to Christian Vachon, Ing., Enerconcept president. After two years of sustained efforts, Enerconcept’s Lubi solar collector and Luba GL roof mounted solar collector are now officially registered on Germany’s BAFAs list of solar air collectors that have passed the EN12975 norm quality tests.

“While solar thermal market declines in Canada and is, hopefully temporarily, slowed down in Canada because of cuts and program reviews, Enerconcept’s partners in Europe now have all the necessary flexibility to promote the world's most efficient solar air collectors while taking advantage of local subsidies for solar heating,” said Vachon. “In Germany, for example, subsidies reach up to 180 Euros/ m2.” Vachon acknowledged the efforts of François Brizard and Marc Vachon, of the company's R&D staff, “who have invested time and energy, in the last two years, to acheive this team success.” www.enerconcept.com/en

tekmar joins BACnet International Manufacturer tekmar Control Systems has joined BACnet International as part of its strategy to support system integration. tekmar is starting to build BACnet communication protocol into its HVAC controls. According to tekmar, the connection with BACnet makes it possible for installers and building managers to have better access and control of their HVAC systems. As a silver member, tekmar joins more than 80 building automation vendors and integrators worldwide pursuing advancement of BACnet as a communication protocol. www.bacnetinternational.org 38

HPAC | MAY/JUNE 2013

Residential and commercial ventilation products manufacturer Fantech has rebranded its company logo to include a new visual identity and tagline – simply better. The logo reflects that of its parent company, Swedish-based Systemair, who acquired Fantech in 2008. The round shape symbolizes air in movement abstracted from a rotating fan wheel and many individual elements form a single and compact unit. www.fantech.net

DIstRIBUtIoN NEWs trane expands laval distribution centre Trane recently marked the expansion of its HVAC Distribution Centre in Laval, QC, with an event that attracted more than 100 guests. At 16 000 sq. ft. the location is the company's largest showroom in North America. The new facility houses a small home, which is equipped with the new residential HVAC equipment offered by the manufacturer. Contractors, developers, consultants and property owners now have the opportunity to run the equipment to give them an idea of the low noise design and its features.

Trane is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2013. LouisPhilippe Blouin, Trane's HVAC Distribution Centre provincial director, took advantage of the opening to announce the summer purchase promotion of residential Titan or IngersollRand brand products. The promotion is offering two winners a cruise package for two to Alaska. Luc Boily, Editor, PCC Magazine >> HG Spec has launched a new website offering more intuitive navigation and a document centre where users can find brochures and technical documents. A “News” section was added, which allows the company to quickly communicate the latest information on its products and events where it will exhibit. www.hgspec.com

continued on p40 hpAcMAg.coM

< MSN

continued from p38

Building business relationships (l to r) Christina Jennings, Jeff Teabo, Bill Teabo of the Wolseley Frontier Group at FAST.

The FAST trade show attracted 300 attendees.

Wolseley Frontier (HVAC/R) recently held its bi-annual FAST trade show in Vaughan, ON, with 300 HVAC/R and mechanical customers in attendance. There were 45 vendors featured at the event with four exhibitors – Bitzer, Gastite, IPEX and Electro Air – offering contractor training sessions. The next FAST trade show will take place in April 2015.

In other Wolseley news, the wholesaler recently opened a new plumbing and hydronics branch in Brampton, ON, at 56 Bramsteele Road, Unit 2A. Darren Wright, previously the branch manager of Wolseley's Milton location, is now managing the Brampton branch. www.wolseleyinc.ca

Desco trade show packs them in Bingeman's Park was jam-packed on May 2 as more than 1200 people stopped by Desco's Parade of Products of Products 2013 trade show in Kitchener, ON. Over 55 brands were represented at the event. Desco is celebrating its 20th year in the marketplace.

In other Desco news, the wholesaler has amalgamated its Desco (1165 Frances Street) and its Western London locations into one. The 132 Meg Drive location (tel. 519.649.6551) has more warehouse space and a showroom. Desco acquired the London and Stratford locations from Western Plumbing in late 2012. www.desco.ca >> Redmond/Williams Distributing is now offering many products from Bosch, including tankless water heating solutions for residential and commercial use. www.redmondwilliams.com

MIlEstoNEs >> Thermostat and energy management systems supplier Venstar Inc. is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Venstar offers a range of thermostats and HVAC accessories for commercial and residential use. The company’s headquarters and primary design centre is in Chatsworth, CA. www.venstar.com

New Branch for Master in Quebec The Master Group L.P. has expanded its offerings by opening a branch entirely dedicated to ventilation products (commercial and residential applications) in the industrial district of Laval behind the existing Master branch. The 10 000 sq. ft. building at 1503, rue Berlier, features a cash and carry one-stop design with over 1700 products in stock, including custom commercial products put together at the Boucherville plant. Branch manager Caroline Landry noted that, "In addition to our early birds opening hours, we offer contractors a quotation department on-site: one of a kind service for Master," said Caroline Landry, branch manager at the opening in May. www.master.ca

>> April 30 marked Navien’s 35th year in business, and it was very successful one, which saw the company take home a handful of awards. Navien’s NPE series condensing gas water heater won the International Forum award for product design and the NPE series won the plumbing innovation award at the AHR expo. Consumers Digest also chose one of Navien’s condensing gas water heaters as a best buy product in the Premium Selection category. www.navienamerica.com

liberty Pumps end production of model 101 pump

>> WWG Totaline has a new location at 842 Fortune Cr., Unit 1, Kingston, ON K7P2T3. Contact them at tel. 855.647.2744, 613.384.0338 or by fax. 613.384.9174. www.wwgtotaline.ca >> Taps’ redesigned website offers a range of contemporary and traditional product lines for kitchen and bath. It focuses on plumbing fixtures for contractors, homebuilders and renovators The site includes a photo gallery, the industry’s top manufacturers in the “Brands We Carry” section, renovation tips in the “Planning Tools” section, and the Taps product brochure for ideas and suggestions about booking an appointment with one of their showroom consultants. www.tapsbath.com 40

HPAC | MAY/JUNE 2013

Above, Dave Haymon builds the last 101. At right, the first 101 rolls off the assembly line in 1965.

Liberty Pumps made its last model 101 pedestal sump pump on May 17, 2013 at its Bergen, NY facility. First made in 1965, it was the last remaining pump from the company’s original product line. The final pump was commemorated with a funeral, a few words from Liberty Pumps’ president Charlie Cook, and a procession through the manufacturing area where the pump will be placed on the wall of fame. www.libertypumps.com hpAcMAg.coM

< PEoPLE >> Pump and pump solution provider Wilo Canada has named Hans Kircher director of Canadian sales and marketing.

Kircher brings over 30 years of experience to the position.

IPEX recently announced several appointments.

Travis Lutes, P.Eng., has been appointed vice president of innovation where he will undertake responsibility for all innovation and marketing functions with the IPEX Group of Companies. In travis lutes his 19-year career with IPEX, he has held positions in marketing, sales and market development. Lutes was most recently national sales manager for the mechanical systems business segment across Canada. Gordon Lefort, P.Eng., Gordon lefort has been named national sales manager – mechanical, based in Mississauga, ON. He is a 25-year employee of IPEX and for the past 10 years has held the position of Ontario sales manager – mechanical systems. Tony Miceli will tony Miceli step into that role. A sales professional with IPEX for 23-years, Miceli was most recently in the position of U.S. Regional Sales Manager for Industrial/Mechanical products. He will also be based in Mississauga, ON. >> Daniel Cayer has joined Burke Water System Manufacturing Inc. as its Canadian general sales manager.

CAsA honours solonynko with lifetime achievement award Dan Solonynko received the 2013 William Clark Achievement Award from the Canadian Automatic Sprinkler Association Dan Solonynko accepts the 2013 William Clark Achievement Award (CASA). Solonynko served from John Galt (l), CASA president. for three years in the Royal Canadian Navy before completing a sprinkler systems installer apprenticeship in Winnipeg, MB, in 1966. He went on to become a journeyman, foreman, superintendent, construction manager, branch manager, district manager and regional manager. He then moved to Alberta where he worked at Automatic Sprinkler Company, Wormald Fire Systems and Grinnell Fire Protection (now SimplexGrinnell).

Solonynko joined CASA in 2005 as the Ontario regional manager before becoming the Western Ontario regional manager in 2008. He also spent a number of years on CASA’s board of directors before retiring in 2010 to Oakville, ON. hpacmag.com

Ross Evans recently joined Saniflo Canada, providers of innovative gray-water pump and macerating solutions, after an extensive career spent in sales, training and management for a variety of industrial and automotive firms. Looking forRoss Evans ward to his new integrated management role, Evans says he’s found his niche in the Plumbing and HVAC wholesale sector, and particularly enjoys this field’s diversity of companies, ranging from small, one-man operations to large corporations.

Deschênes & Fils Ltée has announced two job changes at its Montreal division. Pierre Pelosse is the new director of procurement and products for Deschênes & Fils Pierre Pelosse Gilles Ratelle Montreal, and Gilles Ratelle, who previously held that role, is now coordinator-special projects.

Randy LeBlanc has joined Yorkland Controls as territory manager for Atlantic Canada at Yorkland Controls. LeBlanc spent many years working with a manufacturer in Moncton, NB, and has an extensive background in sales Randy leBlanc and business. He will focus on servicing and growing Yorkland’s business in the Maritimes.

CIPH president and GM celebrates quarter-century mark Ralph Suppa celebrated 25 years with the Canadian Institute of Plumbing & Heating on June 6.

Since he joined CIPH in 1988, he has played a key role in the development of CIPH programs.

Suppa was appointed president and general manager in 2002 and has since worked closely with industry members, allied associations and government to develop codes and standards. During his career with CIPH, Suppa has also managed the Canadian Hydronics Council (CHC), the Plumbing Industry Advisory Council, the Canadian Advisory Council on Plumbing (PIAC) and the Canadian Advisory Council on Plumbing (CACP), as well as the Education & Training Council (ETC), the Manufacturers' Division, the Membership Committee, the Annual Business Conference (ABC), the Canadian Association of Pump Manufacturers (CAPM), the Canadian Water Quality Association (CWQA), and CIPH Ontario Region.

MAY/JUNE 2013 | HPAC

41

PLUMBING PRODUCTS THG Paris’ full bath suite collection Perle is a partnership with Lalique crystal and luxury interior designer Pierre-Yves Rochon. Perle is available Lochinvar has introduced two wall

for washbasins, showers and baths. It is offered in chrome, nickel, pol-

mount models available with inputs

ished luxbrass and gold finishes. There is a single control basin set, a

of 125 000 btuh and 199 999 btuh.

tub filler and shower set, soap dish and towel bar. www.thg.fr

The wall mount offers up to 96 per cent thermal efficiency with a 5:1 turndown and a compact design. www.lochinvar.com

Moen Commercial’s M•Dura heavy-duty manual flush valves with All-brass compression shut offs, feature AccuSet piston technology. Designed to lower lifetime costs, AccuSet can operate with pressure as low as 15 PSI and has a self-cleaning filter, which protects the piston seals against clogs and damage from line debris. The handle design of the M•Dura flush valves is encased in a watertight brass channel secured by dual Oring seals for leak protection. In addition, the handle is constructed from all metal and has a longer internal stem. A heavy-duty bedpan washer model is available. www.moen.ca Grundfos Pump and Timer Kit, designed exclusively for Rinnai tankless water heaters, offers optimal energy usage. The combination of Rinnai Circ-Logic technology, which comes standard on all Ultra and Luxury Units, and these engineered accessories allow users to set recirculation patterns to coincide with household usage patterns. The timer controller is a wall-mountable digital control panel and works with any third-party pump. A second option, the Pump and Timer Kit, is designed to supply power to the pump and timer units separately and can accommodate up to 200 feet of dedicated recirculation loops with a 3/4inch return line. The complete kit includes a pump, timer, all necessary wiring and bolts. www.rinnai.ca

Watermark Designs has introduced a valve independent side spray that can be used in many configurations in either the kitchen or the bath. The side sprays offer design and plumbing flexibility and fit into a variety of design schemes. www.watermark-designs.com 42

HPAC | MAY/JUNE 2013

Continued on p44 HPACMAG.COM

A

Brand Trusted by Professionals

Little Giant wastewater and HVAC products offer more features, accessories, and total value for professional contractors.

SOLUTIONS • CHOICES • VALUE

www.franklin-electric.com/lg

PLUMBING PRODUCTS Continued from p42 Little Giant 6EN Series pumps feature 1/3 HP Permanent Split Capacitor motors providing lower current draw, energy efficiency, improved performance and cooler running for durability. The 1/3 hp 6EN series consumes 6.0 amps while producing 50 gpm @ 5 ft. of head and reaching a maximum shut off of 22 ft. The new unit also includes a stainless steel plate on the volute as a debris filter, creating lower intake velocities and pump stability. www.franklin-electric.com Bradley has redesigned all of its swing-activated eye Brizo’s Odin collection includes faucets, showers and accessories for the

and eye/face wash solutions

bathroom. The collection offers cleans lines and is available with Brizo’s

with a ceramic disc valve.

hands-free SmartTouchPlus Technology. Products are available in Bril-

Water is controlled between two rotating ceramic discs,

liance Brushed Nickel and Polished Chrome finishes.

which fit closely together to create a watertight seal. The

www.brizo.com

20° swing activation and deactivation helps reduce splashing before and after use. www.bradleycorp.com

Unique product solutions that save time and money.

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Zurn provides lean construction and engineered solutions that will reduce material cost, site work and labor. Our goal is serving the customer through innovative products that create efficiencies in new construction and retrofit applications. Choose Zurn for a reliable, recognized manufacturer to supply your entire installation, from behind the wall rough-in, to finish trim product and fixture systems.

zurn.c m 905-405-8272 44

HPAC | MAY/JUNE 2013

2013 ZIL Ad-Commercial-7x4.875-HPAC.indd 1

HPACMAG.COM 6/4/13 12:32 PM

< Up-and-coming

Duo set to represent Canada in Germany

NAIT grads prepare to test their skills against the world's best. BY PATRICK CALLAN

F

resh off achieving his journeyman ticket in refrigeration and air conditioning from Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), Michael Scheideman is ready to test his skills against the best in the world.

The 21-year-old earned the right to represent Canada in his field at the 2013 WorldSkills Competition after winning provincial and national Skills Canada competitions in 2012.

Since then, he has been putting in long hours to prepare for the event commonly known as the “Trade Olympics.” He frequently makes the 450-kilometre trek from his native Grande Prairie to Edmonton, AB, after work on Friday to spend the weekend doing test projects at NAIT. Keith Hodges, owner of Albright Refrigeration Ltd., where Scheideman has worked since he was 15, has seen him take huge strides as an apprentice and become an excellent trouble-shooter.

“He’s got all the aspects of a good young man. He’s smart, intelligent, considerate, and he uses his mind wisely,” he says. “He’s gained enough experience that he will be able to start training new guys that we hire.”

Scheideman says he has always enjoyed working with his hands and knew from a very young age that he wanted to work in the trades. “I knew I wasn’t going to go sit at a desk once I got out of high school,” Scheideman says. What attracted him to refrigeration and air conditioning was the opportunity to do a job that offered variety and good pay.

“One day I could be working on a highrise building and the next day I could be working on somebody’s house furnace or

air conditioning, or on a refrigerator at a restaurant or a walkin freezer,” he says.

He competed in his first provincial Skills Canada competition in 2010 after hearing about it from his teachers and has enjoyed entering competitions ever since.

In March, he placed second at a skills competition in the United Kingdom where he built a freezer and ductless split air conditioning unit.

Scheideman in front of his service truck in Edmonton, AB, after winning the national Skills Canada competition in 2012.

Scheideman works on a truck's air conditioning at Albright Refrigeration Ltd. in Grande Prairie, AB.

46

HPAC | MAY/JUNE 2013

Scheideman hangs an evaporator on a freezer at the 2012 Alberta skills competition.

hpacmag.com

“We went there to be in front of a crowd and in a pressure situation,” he says. “It was definitely an eye-opener to see how other countries can work so fast and just be so prepared.”

His participation with Skills Canada has been an invaluable learning experience, he adds. “I’ve been promoting it to all the people I work with because it actually gets people interested in the trade other than just carrying pipes for your journeyman,” he says.

Nolan Spak plans to open his own custom sheet metal shop one day, where he can do anything from commercial kitchen countertops to architectural sheet metal. But at the moment his sights are set on just one thing – winning the 2013 WorldSkills Competition.

The 21-year-old is currently in his fourth year at NAIT in the sheet metal program and expects to receive his journeyman certificate in 2014. The Morinville, AB, native got a spot on Team Canada for WorldSkills with wins in 2012 at Skills Canada provincial and national competitions.

Spak has spent countless evenings preparing for the event with his trainer Grant Craplewe, a sheet metal instructor at NAIT. Craplewe has worked closely with Spak over the years as well and has seen his ability to visualize – an essential skill in the field of sheet metal – increase tremendously.

“He has the ability to see things now that he never saw before,” Craplewe says.

Spak’s easy-going personality, commitment and dedication will take him far in his career, Craplewe adds. “He absolutely tries his best at everything that he does. He takes criticism and brings it forth into his work after the fact,” he says. “To me, Nolan is someone that’s going to go somewhere in his life.”

Spak has been working as an apprentice at Always Plumbing & Heating in Edmonton, AB, since August 2012. He says he first got interested in working in the trades because of job stability. “I knew that Alberta was booming and I knew that I would always have a job,” he says.

What he likes most about working with sheet metal is being able to create something with his hands. “Taking Spak, a Morinville, AB native, is flat pieces of metal and turn- one of 11 competitors representing Alberta on Team Canada. ing them into pretty much anything you can imagine,” he says.

Spak became involved with Skills Canada after his first year at NAIT. Because of his high marks he was invited to the provincial skills competition in Alberta. He highly recommends that aspiring trades people try their hand at Skills Canada competitions, which have not only allowed him to travel, but have also opened up a lot of doors in his young career.

“Saying that you were able to be a part of the Skills Canada team looks really good on resumes,” he says. “I feel really honoured to be part of the best in Canada and representing the country.”

See HPAC April 2013 (www.hpacmag.com) for a profile of WorldSkills plumbing and heating competitor Jean-Sébastien Simard. <>

Spak is in his fourth year at NAIT and plans to have his own custom sheet metal shop one day.

Spak, 21, practises his sheet metal skills at NAIT in Edmonton.

Organized by Skills/Competences Canada, the 42nd biennial WorldSkills will be held in Leipzig, Germany, July 2-7, 2013.

Based on their success at the Skills Canada National Competition (SCNC), 35 competitors have qualified to be members of WorldSkills Team Canada. Their abilities will be measured against over 1000 competitors from 61 countries and regions at the Leipzig Trade Fair. More than 43 professional trades will be represented. hpacmag.com

MAY/JUNE 2013 | HPAC

47

HVAC/R showcase

The Ultra Series Model 4A6Z0 air conditioner from Ingersoll Rand is available in 2-5 ton. Features include dual IR compressors, an all-aluminum Spine Fin coil, Charge Assist charging,

Reznor’s Model RHH is designed for gas fuel efficiency to help reduce energy bills. It is a rooftop

variable speed fan motor, compressor sound

mounted split system that can handle up to 100 per cent outside air. www.rezspec.com

insulator and a maximum SEER rating of 20 when matched with select IR indoor products. www.ingersollrandhvac.com

The Kanaire BTR 100E Nano thermal recovery with bathroom exhaust from Thermal Technics is designed for residential hi-rise. The fan and control cassette can be removed through a small access opening with snap latches and twist lock break away duct collars while

The UC1 Universal Control developed by Tjern-

the core section remains in place. With

lund Products Inc. is designed to easily replace

a 17" x 14" foot print, specifiers have

and interface a new venter with any 24-120

the ability to locate the unit in the ceil-

VAC burner control circuit. The UC1 Control

ing of a standard closet.

includes LED status/diagnostic indicators and

high efficiency impellers have a typical

Motorized

adjustable pre and post purge timing func-

running load of 35 watts. Lux STMR20

tions. The UC1 is included on all of Tjernlund’s

energy saver timed exhaust control usually located in the bathroom, have décor engraved switch

HS Series Power Venters. www.tjernlund.com

plates. Flanged or flangeless ceiling access doors are available, as are small closet access doors without hinges, two enthalpic core options and four filter selections. www.kanaire.com

Aria's MAX series heat recovery ventilators have a counter-flow design and a patented aluminum core. Units have five speed, four mode operation and include digital control. The 155 MAX and 200 MAX offer maximum temperature recovery of 85 and 86 per cent respectively. www.lifebreath.com

48

HPAC | MAY/JUNE 2013

hpacmag.com

GET ThE pArT ThAT GETs YOu CLOsEr TO DONE.

Venstar has added two models to its ColorTouch thermostat line, which can now be purchased with a built-in humidity control. It works with the thermostat’s humidity sensor to automatically detect changes in humidity in residential or commercial

CONVENIENTLY LOCATED

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Modine Manufacturing Company has expanded its Atherion commercial packaged ventilation line with the introduction of the seven to 15-ton Bcabinet. It is designed to meet Ashrae 189.1 and 62.1 standards for IEER efficiency and indoor air quality. It features optional high efficiency gas heating and best-in-class MERV16 air filtration. The energy recovery module option makes the Atherion a high efficiency, 100 per cent dedicated outside air unit, offering building owners energy savings. www.modinehvac.com

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Stores open M–F 7:30am–4:30pm Continued on p50

HPACMAG.COM

MAY/JUNE 2013 | HPAC

49

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HVAC/R showcase

Continued from p49

Carrier’s Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) offering now includes heat recovery models under the name Toshiba Carrier SHRM-i.

The VRF units boast multiple inverterdriven compressors that are compatible with R-410A. The three-pipe systems are suited to applications that require simultaneous heating and cooling, maximizing efficiency by transferring energy from one indoor zone to another through refrigerant piping. www.Carrier.com

The SunStat View by SunTouch is a colour touch screen thermostat for controlling electric floor warming temperatures in residential and commercial applications. It features a large, interactive colour touch screen display and

Sustainable

Corrosive condensate resistant and 100% recyclable.

Listed System

See our appliance approval list online.

improved programming options, including quick start pre-programming options, a set-up wizard and seven-day programming. The device is covered by a three-year warranty. www.suntouch.com Daikin McQuay is expanding the use of Variable Speed Inverter Compressor technology across its rooftop platform, starting with its RoofPak family of products, which range from 15 to 140 ton units, then the Maverick II line, which range from 15 to 75 ton units. The new technology will be available in the summer of 2013. www.daikinmcquay.com

Belimo’s 6-way Characterized Control Valve is designed for chilled beams and radiant ceilings.

The compact valve has the functionality of up to four straight through valves, which helps save on space, material and installation time. It features heating and cooling circuits that are hydraulically decoupled because of the ball design. The rotary movement of the actuator controls each sequence individually.

The valve is bubble-tight in the closed position

800-835-4429 www.duravent.com © 2013 50

HPAC | MAY/JUNE 2013

preventing energy losses and helps reduce operating costs. www.belimo.ca HPACMAG.COM

NOB

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Today, we’re uniquely equipped to provide solutions that support the entire lifecycle of a building, from the early stages of a design-build project through to maintenance and renovation. Still, our greatest asset isn’t inventory; it’s our people. They’re the backbone of our operations and the reason we’re able to look after yours.

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< COOLING continued from p30

“WHEN COMPARED TO MAKING THE TOWER WATER AS COLD

AS POSSIBLE, NEAR OPTIMAL CONTROL SAVINGS RANGED FROM JUST UNDER TWO PER CENT IN PARIS TO 14 PER CENT IN TORONTO.” MODE 2: VARIABLE-SPEED CONDENSER WATER PUMP AND COOLING TOWER FANS Now that we understand near-optimal cooling tower fan speed control, let's add the variable of additionally changing condenser water pump speed.

Recently, a few parties have examined variable-speed drives on both cooling tower fans and condenser water pumps: • Taylor provides a methodology that can be customized for each specific chilled-water system. It requires extensive modeling for each system.

• Hartman11 reveals only concepts with few details that allow project teams to implement such control themselves.

• Baker, Roe and Schwedler12 provide a simple method for controlling condenser water pump speed and cooling tower fan speed, but the method may not be optimal for all chilled-water plants or at all conditions.

None of the methods presently available are simple, understandable, all-inclusive, and straightforward at this time.

So what are the issues with varying both condenser water pump and cooling tower fan speed?

• There are limitations to minimum condenser water flow rate.

• Changing condenser water flow rate affects performance of the cooling tower, condenser water pump, and chiller.

• The control method is not easily understandable.

Let's examine each of these issues.

FLOW RATE First, there are limitations to how far condenser water flow can be reduced. The minimum condenser water flow for a

specific application is the highest of: • The minimum flow rate allowed by the tower provider to maintain proper distribution over the fill. Proper distribution keeps tower surfaces wetted, heat transfer at good rates and avoids scaling.

• The minimum condenser flow rate allowed by the chiller provider to keep heat transfer in an acceptable range.

• The minimum pump speed required to produce the tower static lift.

COMPONENT PERFORMANCE Much changes when the condenser water flow is reduced. As previously mentioned: • Pump power goes down.

• Chiller power rises (as flow rate goes down, leaving condenser water temperature rises).

• Initially, cooling tower heat exchange effectiveness gets better, since the cooling tower receives warmer water.

However, as flow is reduced further, heat exchange effectiveness is reduced. This may occur even above the minimum flow rate allowed by the cooling tower manufacturer.

CONTROL METHOD Finally, the optimal interaction of the cooling tower, condenser water pump, and chiller is not simple to determine since optimal control changes at all system loads, operating combinations, and outdoor air wet bulb temperatures. In addition, slowing condenser water pump and cooling tower fan speeds too much when the chiller is heavily loaded and the wet bulb Continued on p54

52

HPAC | MAY/JUNE 2013

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< COOLING continued from p52 Figure 5

415

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385

375 40%

60%

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chiller + CW pump + tower kW

chiller + CW pump + tower kW

Figure 4

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HPAC | MAY/JUNE 2013

100%

chiller + CW pump + tower kW

Figure 11

Figure 10 chiller + CW pump + tower kW

80%

Figure 9

% condenser water flow rate

54

60%

% condenser water flow rate

Figure 8

40%

100%

330

% condenser water flow rate

40%

80%

Figure 7

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chiller + CW pump + tower kW

chiller + CW pump + tower kW

Figure 6

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% condenser water flow rate

% condenser water flow rate

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HPACMAG.COM

temperature is high will cause a centrifugal chiller to surge.

An example: To provide a high-level understanding of the trends, system performance is shown for a 700-ton system designed at: • The AHRI standard rating conditions of three gpm/ton design condenser water flow rate. (column 1, Table 1) • The ASHRAE GreenGuide recommended conditions; for this example, two gpm/ton condenser water flow rate was chosen. In addition, this system was designed using an oversized cooling tower to reduce design cooling tower fan power by 50 per cent. (column 3, Table 1) Figures 4 through 15 depict various chiller loads and outdoor wet bulb temperatures. The black dot indicates the minimum chiller + condenser water pump + cooling tower fan power for each figure.

Trends are noted in Table 2.

General observations of these operating choices: AHRI Standard conditions (three gpm/ton) • Not surprisingly, when design condenser water pump power and cooling tower fan power are high, there are significant system energy savings (four to 27 per cent) available at all part load and reduced wet bulb conditions.

• Reducing condenser water flow rate is beneficial at all the conditions examined.

• Reducing cooling tower fan speed is beneficial at 70 per cent chiller load and lower – and necessary to reduce system energy use at chiller loads of 50 per cent or lower.

• At most operating conditions, optimal system control can reach that of a system designed at a lower condenser water flow rate.

• With that said, below 50 per cent chiller load, the spread between the minimum and maximum system power (per cent max savings) is large. Proper control at these loads is imperative when the system design condenser water flow rate is high (three gpm/ton). Therefore energy-saving retrofit control opportunities are available on condenser water systems with design flow rates of three gpm/ton.

GreenGuide conditions (two gpm/ton was used) • Since pump and tower fan power are lower at design conditions, there is less advantage to optimizing the offdesign control.

• Reducing condenser water pump speed is detrimental at high wet bulb conditions.

Continued on p56

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Stay in the digital loop – follow HPAC on Twitter @hpacmag MAY/JUNE 2013 | HPAC

55

< COOLING continued from p55 • Reducing condenser water pump speed is beneficial at reduced ambient wet bulb conditions.

• Reducing tower fan speed has little or no benefit until chiller load is less than 50 per cent.

OVERALL CONCLUSIONS • On existing systems designed at AHRI conditions, reducing condenser water pump speed and cooling tower fan speed offers significant savings.

• Designing new systems at the AHRI standard flow rate significantly increases the risk of control decisions resulting in inefficient system operation – at all load and wet bulb conditions.

• Control is project, load, and ambient condition dependent.

• On new projects, designing to the ASHRAE GreenGuide conditions (12-18F temperature differences resulting in 2.3 to 1.6 gpm/ton) and oversizing the cooling tower to reduce fan power offers savings at all conditions and savings are less dependent on coordinating system control-especially at lower load conditions.

Simply put, designing condenser water systems at flow rates of 1.6 to 2.3 gpm/ton results in reduced installed costs as well as a much higher probability that the system will operate efficiently – no matter how the condenser water pump and cooling tower fan are controlled.

Table 2. Study trends Operating Mode

Figures

90% load

4-5

75ºF WB

AHRI Standard Conditions 3 gpm/ton design condenser water flow rate

GreenGuide Conditions Two gpm/ton condenser water flow rate; oversized cooling tower

System

Potential

Water flow

Tower speed

System

Potential

Water flow

kW range

% savings

control

control

kW range

% savings

control

Tower speed control

393-412

4.6

Some sav-

Little savings

380-399

4.8

Reducing flow

Reducing speed

ings by

by reducing

increases

increases energy

reducing flow

speed

energy usage

to 70% Figures

70% load

6-7

65ºF WB

271-303

10.6

Reasonable

Some sav-

Some savings

No savings by reduc-

savings by

ings by reduc-

271-314

13.6

by reducing

ing fan speed. Fan

reducing flow

ing speed to

flow to 80%

speeds below 70%

to 60%

70%

Reasonable

Some sav-

increase energy usage significantly

Figures

70% load

8-9

55ºF WB

246-282

12.8

245-278

11.8

Some savings

No savings by reduc-

savings by

ings by reduc-

by reducing

ing fan speed. Fan

reducing flow

ing speed to

flow to 80%

speeds below 70%

to 60%

70%

increase energy usage significantly

Figures

50% load

10-11

65ºF WB

205-243

15.6

Significant

Significant

Some savings

Minimal savings by

savings by

savings by

207-224

7.6

by reducing

reducing fan speed.

reducing flow

reducing

flow to 70%

to 60%

speed to

Reasonable

Reasonable

60% Figures

50% load

12-13

55ºF WB

Figures

30% load

14-15

55ºF WB

56

185-221

125-172

HPAC | MAY/JUNE 2013

16.3

27.3

Fan speeds below 70% increase energy usage

185-206

10.2

Some savings

Minimal savings by

savings by

savings by

by reducing

reducing fan speed.

reducing flow

reducing

flow to 70%

Fan speeds below

to 60%

speed to

70% increase energy

70%

usage

Reducing

Reducing

Some savings

Some savings by

flow saves

speed saves

126-144

12.5

by reducing

reducing speed to

significant

significant

flow to 70%

70%

energy

energy

HPACMAG.COM

chiller + CW pump + tower kW

Figure 12

SUMMARY

230

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220

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210

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200 190 180 40%

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% condenser water flow rate

1. Use the ASHRAE GreenGuide guidance of 12-18F ΔT for condenser water systems (2.3 - 1.6 gpm/ton) to reduce plant installed and life cycle costs.

2. Consider varying cooling tower fan speeds on all installations.

3. Consider varying condenser water pump and cooling tower fan speeds on systems not designed using the ASHRAE GreenGuide guidance, and where the plant operators are on board, trained, and retrained when the operators change. When used, keep the control method understandable, transparent, and as simple as possible (but not any simpler). <>

Figure 13 chiller + CW pump + tower kW

Mick Schwedler is manager, applications engineering, and Beth Bakkum 230 220

50% twr

is information designer with Trane – a business of Ingersoll Rand.

60% twr

This material first appeared in the Engineers Newsletter Volume 41-3

70% twr 80% twr

210

www.trane.com/engineersnewsletter.

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200

REFERENCES 1. American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning

190

Engineers. 2010. ASHRAE GreenGuide: The Design, Construction, and Operation of Sustainable Buildings, 3rd ed. Atlanta, GA: ASHRAE.

180 40%

60%

80%

100%

2. Kelly, D. and T. Chan. 1999. "Optimizing Chilled Water Plants." Heating/

% condenser water flow rate

Piping/Air Conditioning (HPAC) Engineering. 71(1).

3. Taylor, S. 2011. "Optimizing Design & Control of Chilled Water Plants;

chiller + CW pump + tower kW

Figure 14

Part

Pipe

Sizing

and

Optimizing

ΔT" ASHRAE Journal.

53(12):22-34.

180

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170

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160

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140

4. Braun, J.E., and G.T. Diderrich. 1990. "Near-Optimal Control of Cooling Towers for Chilled Water Systems." ASHRAE Transactions. (Volume 96, part 2, paper number SL-90-13-3): 806-813.

5. Cascia, M. 2000. "Implementation of a Near-Optimal Global Set Point Control Method in a DDC Controller." ASHRAE Winter Meeting Transactions: 249-263.

130

6. Crowther, H., and J. Furlong. 2004. "Optimizing Chillers and Towers."

120 40%

3:

60%

80%

ASHRAE Journal. 46(7): 34-40.

100%

7. Hydeman, M., K. Gillespie, and R. Kammerud. 1997. National Cool-

% condenser water flow rate

Sense Forum. Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E).

8. See note 2.

chiller + CW pump + tower kW

Figure 15

9. Schwedler, M. 1998. "Take It to the Limit...or Just Halfway?" ASHRAE Journal. 40(7): 32-39.

180 170 160

11. Hartman, T. "Direct Network Connection of Variable-Speed Drives."

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HPAC Engineering (March 2003): 22-32. Available at <http://www.

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hpac.com/member/archive/pdf/2003/0303/hartman.pdf> 12. Baker, M., D. Roe, and M. Schwedler. 2006. "Prescription for Chiller

140

Plants." ASHRAE Journal 48(6): H4-H10.

130 120 60%

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% condenser water flow rate

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70% twr 90% twr

150

40%

60% twr

10. See note 6.

100%

See Condenser Water System Components in HPAC April 2013 at www.hpacmag.com MAY/JUNE 2013 | HPAC

57

< FINANCE

Getting The Job Done

Infrastructure and skills development figure prominently but has the groundwork been done? Insights into the 2013 Federal Budget.

BY HANK BULMASH

M

ost of us never glimpse the actual federal budget papers. In the old days (before the internet gave us access to everything), they were actually pretty hard to find. Now of course, they are available to all on the Government of Canada website (just Google Canada budget 2013). The web pages are interesting – first of all for the care that the government appears to take with its projections. On the site you can find countless charts (in four colours) and analyses dealing with Canadian economic development, labour supply and our success (or lack of it) in foreign markets.

The papers are also interesting because a budget embodies a story – the idea of what the government expects to happen and how it intends to take advantage of this picture of our future. Those guesses about tomorrow do embody the conventional wisdom of the day as discussed in the corridors of power in Ottawa and that can be interesting.

58

HPAC | MAY/JUNE 2013

The story of the 2013 budget is retrenchment. The government plans to eliminate the deficit over time. It will reduce foreign aid and it will limit increases in government spending.

Taxes will not be increased – but the government will provide help for Canadians looking for jobs, manufacturers buying equipment and consumers buying baby clothes and sporting goods. Offsetting that are tariff increases averaging about three per cent on a number of other goods coming from countries whose status has been upgraded from developing to fully developed. Those countries include the BRIIC nations of Brazil, Russian, India, Indonesia and China. The small business capital gains exemption will be increased from $750,000 to $800,000. Some insurance-based tax planning vehicles are shut down in the budget. That is no surprise to members of the tax community since those plans did appear to be abusive. Also not a surprise, there will be an increased emphasis on taxing offshore assets. A new taxHPACMAG.COM

TRAINING

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS CANADA AC Installation Optimization Training Program

Canadian Hydronics Council

This one-day training course covers the importance of best practice installation for energy efficient equipment and is based on the CSA C273.5-11 Standard “Installation of Air Source Heat Pumps and Air Conditioners.” The course covers six key installation factors directly affecting system efficiency. All technicians installing equipment under the Heating and Cooling Incentive (HCI) initiative will be required to complete the one-day training program by December 31, 2013.

Effective January 1, 2014, participation in the HCI initiative will be restricted to companies whose technicians have completed the training.

CHC’s course descriptions and training schedules are available online.

Introduction to Hydronic Heating Installations is a starting point for anyone interested in the professional installation of hydronic heating systems. The Essentials of Hydronic System Design intermediate level program is geared to helping practitioners understand key design principles and the different options and solutions required to meet client needs. Participants must have previously completed CHC’s Introduction to Hydronic Heating Installations.

www.ultimatecomfort.ca

www.hrai.ca/PDFs/OPA_HCI_TrainingOntario.pdf LEED Canada Training CMCEF National Seminar Program The Canadian Mechanical Contracting Education Foundation’s National Seminar Program Catalogue & Calendar is available online. It contains more than 100 programs available for on-site training for companies and associations. Programs range from a half-day to two days in duration. To request a seminar, contact your local association or the CMCEF office at tel. 613.232.5169 or by e-mail at cmcef@cmcef.org.

www.cmcef.org

Workshops by the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) include: LEED Green Associate Exam Preparation; Introduction to Passive Housing Design and Construction; and Overview of the LEED-ND Rating System for Canada. Tel. 613.241.1184.

www.cagbc.org CSA Learning Institute CSA Learning Institute’s course calendar is available online.

www.csa.ca/cm/ca/en/training TECA Quality First Training To register for the Thermal Environmental Comfort Association's (TECA) Quality First training courses, tel. 604.594.5956.

www.teca.ca HRAI SkillTech Academy The SkillTech Academy’s course schedule is available online. For more information, contact Dorothy Allen at 800.267.2231 ext. 231, or e-mail dallen@hrai.ca. www.hrai.ca

RETScreen Training Institute The RETScreen Training Institute is delivered in collaboration with the Faculty of Environmental Studies at York University in Toronto. The Institute offers intensive instruction on how to properly assess the viability and performance of clean energy projects using RETScreen software.

A certificate is awarded on successful course completion.

www.retscreen.net/ang/home.php GeoExchange Training

Dollars to $ense Energy Management Workshops Natural Resources Canada's Office of Energy Efficiency is once again offering workshops focusing on improving efficiency, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and lowering operation costs. A workshop schedule is available online. http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca

The Canadian GeoExchange Coalition (CGC) has added a national accreditation program for geothermal loop installers, which is valid for commercial and residential installations. An updated CGC training calendar is available now.

www.geoexchange.ca

ADVERTISERS IN THIS ISSUE Adrian Steel................... www.adriansteel.com...................... page Aquatherm..................... www.aquatherm.com....................... page Bosch............................ www.Bosch-Climate.us/Greenstar.... page Bradford White............... www.bradfordwhite.com.................. page Duravent........................ www.duravent.com.......................... page Ford............................... www.ford.ca/WeOwnWork................ page Franklin Electric............. www.franklin-electric.com/lg............ page GM Fleet........................ www.gmbusinesschoice.ca.............. page HBX............................... www.hbxcontrols.com...................... page Hood Chemical............... www.hoodchemical.com.................. page HTP............................... www.htproducts.com....................... page IBC................................ www.ibcboiler.com.......................... page KWE Technologies......... www.kwe-tech.com.......................... page Lennox........................... www.lennoxpartsplus.com............... page Liberty Pumps................ www.libertypumps.com.................... page Mercedes Sprinter......... www.thesprinter.ca.......................... page HPACMAG.COM

17 36 45 10 50 65 43 19 22 34 23 35 34 49 39 27

THE SOURCE

Navien........................... www.NavienAmerica.com................. page 33 Nest.............................. www.nest.com/pro.......................... page 11 Noble Trade................... www.noble.ca................................. page 51 Ontario Power Authority.www.saveonenergy.ca/industrial...... page 53 Rinnai............................ www.rinnai.ca................................... page 2 Saniflo........................... www.saniflo.ca.................................. page 9 Switch The Stat............. www.switchthestat.ca..................... page 52 Taco Canada.................. www.taco-hvac.com........................... page 5 Thermo Manufacturing... www.ThermoPan.com...................... page 31 Toronto Hydro................ www.Torontohydro.com.................... page 60 Trane Comm/Ingersoll ....... www.IngersollRandHVAC.com............. page 7 Uponor........................... www.uponorpro.com/thefutureis...... page 25 Viega............................. www.viega.com............................... page 15 Watts (tekmar).............. www.tekmarControls.com................ page 66 Zurn.............................. www.Zurn.com................................ page 44

MAY/JUNE 2013 | HPAC

61

< HOW I SEE IT

Ignore Pressure Differentials At Your Peril

The unintended consequences of monster-size range hoods. BY ROBERT BEAN

I

s anyone else noticing an alarming rise in the misguided use of commercial type range hoods inside residential buildings? It has always been a problem but I have recently taken an unusual number of calls from people asking if their already installed monstersize range hoods are going to be OK. What do they mean by ‘OK’ I ask? I follow up in my most empathetic voice, “Do you know what happens when you try to Hoover up the inside of your home without considering the ramifications of pressure differentials?" “Hmmm mumble mumble…pause…ah no” is what I can hear on the other end.

So once again with my soft spoken demeanour, I ask, “So now you want my advice, after you bought it and had it installed, am I right? You should have asked a professional that question before you became enamoured with the manufacturer’s glossy range hood brochure.”

For those looking for a way to explain it to appliance addicts in a consumerfriendly way, tell them sticking a 1200 cfm exhaust fan into a typical residen62

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tial kitchen is not like playing with a hairdryer; it is more like having a home appendectomy with the suction side of an industrial grade leaf blower. In my 40 grit opinion, the subsequent health and building problems created should rest squarely on the appliance manufacturers and their dealers’ shoulders.

We have ignorant range hood sales people supported by their just as naïve range hood marketing departments selling range hoods to “doe-eyed” consumers. When it comes to building science all of them put together do not know a water column from a water dispenser.

The HVAC industry needs to step up and tell these range hood vendors that when you extract way more air than you make up, you are going to create HVAC and indoor air quality problems.

Really, what these hood S & M folks (sales and marketing) need is a simple lesson: when extraction trumps make up, holes and cracks become the conduit to contamination. Why? Because when it comes to buildings you can always count on the inside wanting out,

and the outside wanting in. Just what do these hood salespeople think is going to come through the cracks when you suck the insides out of a home?

According to my conversation with one dealer of hoods, it is all fresh air in those cracks…comments like that give me a headache.

At a time when the federal government is spending our tax dollars on a coast-to-coast “got bad gas” campaign alerting us to the dangers of having radon – an entire appliance industry is flogging kitchen bling that enables environmental contaminates like gases and particulate matter to enter structures freely.

To put this problem into perspective take a hypothetical 20' x 30' x 9' (6m x 9.14m x 2.74m) kitchen and let’s play my favourite game of, “what if?” What if that 5400 ft3 (153m3) kitchen was sealed up and the 1200 cfm (0.57m3/s) kitchen exhaust fan activated. It would only take 4.3 minutes (5400 ft3/1200cfm) to remove all the air such that the pressure would approach 0 psia (assuming the home was at sea HPACMAG.COM

“ALL OF THEM PUT TOGETHER DO NOT KNOW THEIR WATER COLUMN FROM THEIR WATER DISPENSER.” level and assuming the fan was capable of drawing down that low). You and I know that it takes longer than 4.3 minutes to cook a pig inside your home and we can all agree homes are not hermetically sealed and that Mother Nature abhors a vacuum.

Over the time the fan is on, replacement air of some quantity must find a way through the enclosure into the space. If the replacement air were supplied at the same rate as the exhaust air it would be equivalent to 14ACH or almost 70 times more than its natural rate for a well-built home.

I know that this has been greatly simplified (ignoring the total volume of the home, and so on) but the fact remains that if the supply air volume were less than the exhaust air volume, then interior space pressures must drop below atmospheric pressure, which motivates the outside to move inwards. But what if the above grade enclosure and all its corresponding penetrations are, for the sake of argument, sealed or sealed to such an extent that any cracks in, at and around the below grade enclosure became the prime source of relief. What if that air is contaminated with your favourite cancer causing gas, such as radon?

This is just one of many examples of where commercial range hoods in residential applications without proper make-up air flies in the face of every-

thing Health Canada wants Canadians to avoid.

What if we could convince everyone that sucking bad stuff into the home is not the smartest of moves and have them put in a proper make up air unit, then what? Well, let’s calculate the winter sensible heating load using: q = Q • 60 min/hr • p • cp • (ti – t0) Where q = load, Btuh (kW) Q = flow, cfm (l/s) ρ = density, lbm/ft3 (kg/m3) cp = specific heat, Btu/lbm F (kW/kg C) ti = air temperature inside, °F (°C) to = air temperature outside, °F (°C) Assuming an outdoor air temperature (to) of -30F(-34C) and an inside (ti) of 70F(21C), and standard air conditions, the winter sensible load (q) at 1200 cfm (0.57m3/s) becomes in IP units; q = 1200 • 60 • 0.075 • 0.24 • (70 –30) q = 1200 • 1.08 • 100 q = 129 600 Btuh (38kW) Putting this into perspective – with that amount of output you could heat a floor space more than 10 times that of the kitchen it is serving. If you did the same exercise, but for summertime sensible and latent cooling, you would likely find a similar load for dehumidification of incoming outdoor air.

How many people would put in a 10-

ton cooling plant just to wring out the moisture from the make-up air in a residence? No one I know, but if they do not dehumidify the incoming air, it is very probable in a conservative-sized home that the indoor conditions would soon represent those of the outdoor conditions. Having a space humidity exceeding 70 per cent RH is just begging for mould to thrive and multiply.

If adequate relief is not provided, outdoor moisture will be pulled into the enclosure cavities where it will also likely encounter a vapour barrier, which serves as a capture plane. If the home is air conditioned and the outermost surface of the drywall is below dew point then the problem is exasperated further.

I understand that once again I am taking this to a worst case (but not impossible) scenario. It does need to be stated so that consumers do not find themselves as “in-duct-ees” of Canada’s overburdened healthcare system as a result of the unintended consequences of ignorance over the ramifications of monster-size range hoods installed without proper make up air. <> Robert Bean, R.E.T., P.L.(Eng.) is president of Indoor Climate Consultants Inc. and a director of www.healthyheating.com. He serves on ASHRAE Committees: T.C.61. (CM), T.C.6.5 (VM), T.C. 7.04 (VM), SSPC 55 (VM). www.healthyheating.com

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