16 minute read
PLUMBING Technology changes the game
By Fred Bretzke
PLUMBING
Fred Bretzke is a full-time pipe trades instructor with SAIT Polytechnic in Calgary and the general manager of A&B Plumbing & Heating. He can be reached at fred.bretzke@sait.ca.
TECHNOLOGY GAMECHANGES THE
Iremember back in 1977 when I was a kid in London, ON: Dad was on a mission to keep the family happy, and once again he was telling us the story of something he dreamt up. My dad was a visual man who would draw a lot, layer on layer of detail; this time it was his plans for a new backyard pool. No matter what construction project Dad thought of, he loved to visualize it and draw it out. I inherited that from him, which is what makes Microsoft’s mixed reality (MR) device a dream come true for me. I first began learning how to design 3D models back in 2008, with SketchUp Version 7, which is now owned by Trimble and is on to Version 21. My boss at the time, Daryl Hilman of Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), offered SketchUp as an addition to my PowerPoint knowledge, to keep my design side busy. I loved it because I could finally design the 3D mechanicals I could see in my mind’s eye. I’d studied plumbing code long enough that I could walk into pretty much any building and visualize the mechanical pretty much being built from the ground up, complete with any bein code clauses accompanying each pipe. I worked co in SketchUp for hours, learning how to design i and edit models, just like a kid playing with Lego. I could put together a fully-plumbed model and then demo it in class through a YouTube video.
MIXED REALITY IN THE REAL WORLD
THE LINGO Virtual reality (VR) is a fully artificial environment where the user is fully immersed in the virtual environment. Augmented reality (AR) involves virtual objects overlaid in a realworld environment; essentially the real world is enhanced with digital objects. When the user is interacting with both the real world and the virtual environment, it is known as mixed reality (MR).
EXPERIENCING IMMERSIVE MIXED REALITY
Plumbers and other trades tend to be hands-on learners and of a visual mind set. The closest thing to actually doing it, is doing it in 3D (or at least, seeing it as a 3D model). While SketchUp was an improvement, I was waiting for the day we could actually interact with the technology, which was coming closer all the time.
Finally, in 2019, a fellow SAIT instructor, William Thompson, of the architecture department, gave me a demo of the new Microsoft HoloLens2 Trimble, Hard Hat version. It blew my mind! The headset has been touted as the most comfortable, immersive mixed reality experience ever made. Activating several computer screens at once can be done by voice or flip of the hand.
The interface provides menus of apps or icons, mixing into the reality around you as you move about a room, seeing reality and the gridlines overlaid by the Hololens. Microsoft has developed several 3D objects that can be placed throughout the field of view; the HoloLens creates a grid map (called spatial mapping), which provides a detailed representation of the real-world surfaces in the environment. The device produces a convincing MR, and allows you to place 3D models in the real world, using cameras and the lens inside the glasses. It has a simultaneous processing ability far superior to a typical computer.
How can this technology be used in the plumbing industry other than education? Building Information Modelling (BIM) is one of the leaders in the digital world of design build with 3D and HoloLens. Although the technology is still in its infancy, the device is being made available to developers and businesses for use in the construction industry. Engineers and foreman are using mixed reality devices to overlap plans onto on-site construction. The HoloLens has the ability to map out almost any area, particularly indoors, and the memory capability to save any 3D objects you place into a room.
One of the best uses for the MR device I’ve seen is when a plumber needs to map out gridlines and piping for the underground of a large commercial area. When the gridlines are mapped out in real, scaled 3D, a plumber can use the HoloLens to see them while on site, and plan piping around all of the rebar with ease (instead of mapping it out manually). This can lead to huge time savings, and fewer costly mistakes. Inspectors and engineers wearing HoloLens Hard Hats can inspect roughed-in mechanical, find mistakes on-site and from the blueprints, and make changes in the 3D blueprint as they go. This is not the future, it’s happening now, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to be a part of it.
Photo credit: Trimble
AUGMENTED LEARNING
This device has limitless applications for my fellow plumbers, and others in the trades.
I’ve recently been involved with 3D printing and SketchUp viewer. We are currently designing and planning to build a 3D model and HoloLens lab for SAIT’s Pipe Trades and Construction department and will be using HoloLens and 3D printers to augment student learning in a practical way. Having designed approximately 40 fully piped in, 3D SketchUp models for the third- and fourth-year plumbing curriculum, we can now start 3D residential and commercial circuit venting in a lab experience, before the rough-in shop.
that he or she is roughing in. Instead of purchasing commercial kitchen equipment for the shops, we can now augment them into each framed-in cubicle. We can also overlap the 3D piping to scale, right into the framedin cubicle for a student to see, measure the pipe, and then install it in reality.
TECHNOLOGY IN THE FIELD
PLUMBING Products
Closet auger
The Teletube Flexicore heavy-duty closet auger from General Pipe Cleaners is designed to clear stoppages beyond the toilet bowl. The system features three extra feet of Flexicore cable telescoped inside the guide tube. Flexicore is comprised of two layers of tempered spring steel coiled over a 49-strand wire rope core. The optional down head safely follows bowl contours and springs through sharply angled passages. A closet auger bag is optional. www. drainbrain.com
Ceramic bathroom collection
Grohe’s Chinaware collection includes sinks and toilets that coordinate with its Essence and Eurocube faucet lines. Components include basins with various mounting options and water-conserving toilets made from vitreous china and InfinaBright technology that inhibits the growth of stains and odour causing bacteria, mould and mildew on the surface. www. grohe.ca he.ca
Cordless pipe beveler er
Reed Bevel Boss cordless pipe bevelers provide a safe way for operators to bevel pipe in the field. They can be used to trim small to large diameter plastic pipe, including ng pipe already in the ditch. It is adjustable for bevel lengths up to 1 in. in. It also adapts to cut pipe interiors. www. reedmfgco.com
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Delta solar faucets and flush valves are designed for commercial, public and institutional applications. The top-mounted solar energy modules harness ambient light energy to assist the batteries in operation of the unit, allowing the faucet or flush valve to respond in natural, artificial, minimal, occupancy lighting – or none at all. They also feature a variety of vandalresistant features. www. deltacommercialfaucets.ca
Pressure releasing valve
The 535H from Caleffi is a pre-adjustable pressure reducing valve featuring a DZR low lead body. Maximum working pressure is 300 psi. Maximum working temperature is 180°F (80°C), with a pressure setting range of 15 to 90 psi. It complies with IPC, IRC, UPC and NPC for use in accordance with U.S. and Canadian plumbing codes. www. caleffi.com
Touchless washbars
The WashBar series from Bradley Corp. is available in six finishes for its completely touchfree clean+rinse+dry fixtures. The physical vapour depositionproduced finishes create a molecular bond for a resilient coating. Brushed finish options include black stainless, nickel, stainless, brass, and bronze, as well as the original polished chrome. www. bradleycorp.com
Adjustable floor drain and cleanout
Watts' Pronto! adjustable floor drains and cleanouts are designed for pre-pour and post-pour adjustment. They feature a patented built-in bubble level. A complete drainage solution that ships as a fully assembled system, stem, they provide maximum flexibility bility in light to medium commercial and cial and SharkBite’s brass push transition fittings are designed residential applications. for working with multiple pipe types and tight spaces. They can be installed in wet lines and transition between PEX, copper, CPVC, PVC, polybutylene, HDPE and PE-RT pipes. They come with colour-coordinated collars for each specific pipe material.
www. watts.ca
PLUMBING Products
Plumbing smoke blower ower
The Cherne residential plumbing smoke blower moke blower from Oatey pumps exhaust through h plumbing to detect leaks. Features e include a 122-CC, 2.5-HP, 4-stroke Honda engine that provides over 700 CFM; and vibration damping to help minimize noise. It comes with a 5-ft. hose that fits a 4-in. cleanout tee, and a top-mounted carrying handle. www. oatey.ca
Transition fittings
www. sharkbite.com
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PLUMBING Products
Water line guide
The System XFR water line guide from IPEX Inc. securely fastens and guides 1/2-in. CTS water lines. Suited to all building types for basin or sink roughins, it creates evenly-spaced water lines at a uniform height in proportion to the drain fitting. It has flame spread and smoke development ratings of 25/50 as per CAN/ULC S102.2. 2. Bell & Gossett’s e-82 twin vertical in-line centrifugal pump provides space-saving, energy-efficient pumping for commercial HVAC and plumbing applications. Its compact size makes it suitable for parallel staging or back-up capacity. Features include sensorless control and variable speed integrated drive options, stainless steel impellers, and a built-in mechanical seal chamber. bbin hnology nvening y ery
www. ipexna.com
In-spout technology
Optimix-enabled faucets from Sloan, available through Dobbin Sales, offer in-spout ASSE 1070 compliant anti-scald technology for applications including healthcare facilities, schools, convention centres and airports. The integrated thermostatic mixing valve is incorporated directly into the faucet spout for easy installation. The technology is available in hardwired, battery and solar-powered faucets and meets UPC and IPC code requirements. www. sloan.com dobbinsales.com
deburr with EASE
DEBURRING TOOLS
A smooth pipe end helps solvent spread evenly as pipe is joined. Deburr and chamfer in seconds.
DEB1 SERIES
• Simultaneously deburr and chamfer
PVC, CPVC, ABS, PP and PE. • Accommodates three sizes of pipe per tool: ½", ¾", 1" or 1-¼", 1-½", 2".
DEB4
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PVC, CPVC, PP and ABS. • Fits comfortably in operator’s hand for secure grip.
Snaps onto Pipe
DEB1IPS
Knurled Grip
DEB4
Reed Manufacturing
Erie, PA USA • 800-666-3691
www.reedmfgco.com
In-line centrifugal pump
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Transition tee products ansition tee produ
The Nibco Press x FIP transition tee product includes the Pro-Pal T-Valve for isolating a line or device for service. Featuring a full port ball valve with an integrated tee fitting, sizes range from 1/2-in. to 1-in., including reducing branch options. Press x PEX transition elbows and couplings are also available in 5/8 in. and 1 in. reducing sizes. www. nibco.com
Activated trap primer valve
Products’ PR-500 automatic pressure drop activated trap primer valve requires a 3 psi (21 kpa) pressure drop across the valve to activate and deliver a metered amount of water to the floor drain. The system operating range is 20 psi minimum to 80 psi (138 to 552 kpa) maximum. It will prime up to two floor drains. www. pppinc.net
Nav Bhatia, best known as the Raptors “Superfan,” sees speedbumps where most would see roadblocks. A resolute and optimistic outlook has allowed him to come out ahead, in spite of facing discrimination and a rocky start to life in Canada. His great success as a businessperson has afforded him the resources to pursue his real passion: Bhatia never misses a Raptors home game, or any opportunity to gather with others and share in his love of basketball. From buying thousands of tickets to bring children and minorities to Raptors games, to organizing the Raptors’ annual Sikh New Year celebrations at Scotia Bank Arena (previously the Air Canada Centre) in Toronto, changing perceptions about the Sikh community remains a priority for Bhatia.
Nav Bhatia Nav Bhatia
ON BEING BETTER THAN GOOD
COVID coping strategy
“You know, the second day [of lockdown] I thought, I’m “stuck” at home. I mean, that’s not good. So, I bought a food truck. I said, I’m going to have to start getting food and delivering it to frontline workers. In three months, we delivered 13,000 hot meals to the frontline workers, police, fire, nurses, hospitals, and long-term care centres.”
Coming to Canada
Trained as a mechanical engineer, he worked in the family business in India. “It was one of the largest manufacturers of sunglasses and frames for the optical niche. We were also the supplier for the Indian army and government,” says Bhatia. But everything changed in 1984 when the anti-Sikh massacres left between 3,000 and 7,000 Sikhs dead. Bhatia left India to start a life in Canada. His entire family joined him, one by one, over the course of five years. “We started life again in this beautiful country, Canada.”
When he arrived, he searched for work as a mechanical engineer without any luck. “I got the message after a couple of months, after knocking on a lot of doors. I wouldn’t get a reply back on my resumes, and I figured out I was not going to get a job in engineering with my beard and turban.” Determined to earn a living he did odd jobs – janitorial, landscaping and painting – anything to pay the bills. “I finally ended up with a full-time job at Rexdale Hyundai in car sales,” recounts Bhatia. The job was not without its challenges. “Everybody used to call me names and make fun of me. On the first day I decided, I’m not getting an engineering job, so this is going to be my job. I told myself, if you want to survive in this environment, you have to be better than good. I went on the floor and sold 127 cars in three months,” says Bhatia. That number of car sales is still impressive today. What is Bhatia’s secret? “You should know your product; being an engineer, I knew a little bit of the technical stuff and that was an advantage. But you know what? In the end, treat people like you want to be treated yourself. That’s the key to success.” Today Bhatia owns five Hyundai dealerships, including the dealership where he started his career.
On the home court
In 1991, Bhatia and his wife Arvinder adopted their daughter Tia from an orphanage in India, when she was just one year old.
Over the years Bhatia has accumulated an impressive collection of basketball memorabilia, which he decided to gift to others. While he is keeping some favourites, including the championship ring gifted to him in October 2019 by the Toronto NBA champions, other merchandise will be displayed in the new Superfan Gallery in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame where Bhatia will be featured.
Photo: Colin McTaggert
Bhatia recently celebrated his 38th wedding anniversary. “Perfect arranged marriage,” he chuckles. “We met and were only given 10 minutes before each had to say yes or no … I think it worked out pretty good.”
Sanitation for a nation
Bhatia’s roots in India and love of children inspired his most ambitious endeavour: to fund washrooms in schools, as a means to overcome a major impediment to girls’ education. Approximately 47 per cent of schools in India do not have separate washrooms for females. The Superfan Nav Bhatia Foundation, in partnership with World Vision Canada’s Rise Up Daughters of India Initiative, set out to change that. Bhatia traveled to India for the first project. “I gave them the money, but because it’s a third world country, I wanted to make sure that these washrooms were actually being built. My faith and trust in World Vision India went sky high: they were honouring our agreement, and no money was being wasted,” says Bhatia. To date, over 180 washrooms have been built or renovated across 36 schools in Faridkot, Punjab, improving the lives of more than 4,000 girls. The next project will be in another impoverished area, and involves the construction of 100 washrooms and two basketball courts.
Much of the financing for Bhatia’s foundation comes from his commercials and cameo appearances. You can find Bhatia in any number of videos on social media, whether he is in the drive through at his favourite coffee spot (Tim Hortons) or in his kitchen unloading a grocery delivery (Voilá by Sobeys) or even frantically trying to transfer money at his wife’s request so he can get to … what else, a basketball game (Xoom app). When companies approach him, Bhatia first and foremost considers whether the product or service he is promoting is in keeping with his values. If it passes that test, he views every gig as “one more, or many more bathrooms” and perhaps even a new basketball court for marginalized youth here or in India. His next venture is with Zerv’s Home Run fitness app: Bhatia will lead family-oriented workouts, which he laughingly suggested the company make “light,” given his age. During these troubling times, it is a joy to see Bhatia’s youthful enthusiasm and smiling face, whatever role he is taking on.
Putting the fun in fundraising
