Mechanical Business July/August 2016

JULY/AUGUST 2016 $6.95

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WHAT

PM #41536047

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WET HEAT APPLICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGIES

August 2016

A SOPPING WET SUPPLEMENT OF MECHANICAL BUSINESS

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22COMMERCIAL VEHICLES: PICKUPS Watching for relaunches, upgrades

Scott Russell

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CONTENTS

At the Olympics, y p with Plenty of

Busine ss

80COVER FEATURE The host of CBC’s Olympic Games Primetime sits down for an exclusive interview before taking off for Rio. Adam Freill

WET HEAT APPLICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGIES

July/August 2016

37WHAT SUPPLEMENT Our Wet Heat Applications & Technology supplement is back and chock-full of the latest hydronic products and news. Enjoy special features on solar thermal, snowmelt systems and even a chicken barn, starting on page 37!

and additional gears in the pickup truck segment.

Howard J. Elmer

F E A T U R E S A SOPPING WET SUPPLEMENT OF MECHANICAL BUSINESS

52ROAD WARRIOR: JIM SMITH Greg Dalgetty

60FIND THE FIX 72PLUMBING Sizing and Installing Tankless Technology Tom Kelly

79EVENT IN PICTURES CIPH ABC 2016

82HVAC Condensate Management Essentials Alex Frean

87TOOL TIP 86EVENT IN REVIEW COHA Focuses on Image in Charlottetown Darcy Cudmore

88PLUMBING House Drainage and Venting Rainier Bratsch-Blundell

MB SPECIALISTS 18HVAC Boosting Airflow Gord Cooke

28PLUMBING Attaining the Red Seal Fred Bretzke

32REFRIGERATION Subcooling to Offset Suction Gas Superheat Phil Boudreau

48HYDRONICS Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me! Bob “Hot Rod” Rohr

69MARKETING Communicating Complex Things Doug MacMillan

90MARKETING

PRODUCTS 66,96,98Hydronics 76,78Plumbing 85,92HVAC/R 94Stuff you need DEPARTMENTS 04From the Editor’s Desk 06News 16Profile: Bill Palamar 100The Info Page 101Calendar 102By the Numbers CHECK US OUT ONLINE

If Someone Else Can Do It, Should You? Roger Grochmal

mechanicalbusiness.com On the cover: Scott Russell has been to 12 Olympics, beginning with the 1988 summer games in Seoul. He will lead the CBC’s coverage of Rio 2016 as host of Olympic Games Primetime. Photo: CBC

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Editor: Adam Freill, ext. 224 adam.freill@mechanicalbusiness.com Associate Editor/Web Editor: Greg Dalgetty, ext. 225 greg.dalgetty@mechanicalbusiness.com National Accounts Manager: Jeff Superle, ext. 221 jeff.superle@mechanicalbusiness.com Controller: Liz Mills liz.mills@mechanicalbusiness.com Production Manager: Caroline Bexfield, ext. 227 caroline.bexfield@mechanicalbusiness.com Art Direction: JJM Graphic Ltd. davem@jjmgraphic.com Circulation Manager: Shila Naik (905) 272-4175 shila.naik@mechanicalbusiness.com Publisher: Bruce Meacock, ext. 222 bruce.meacock@mechanicalbusiness.com PM:41536047 ISSN 1916-0674 MB (Print) ISSN 1906-0682 MB (Online) We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage.

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THE

EDITOR’S

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Attracting the Predisposed I recently had a chance to chat with HGTV personality Kate Campbell. You might know Kate from her work on television with Mike Holmes and Paul Lafrance, or more recently as one of the celebrity stars of Home to Win. She’s also a graduate of a Women in Skilled Trades (WIST) program, a very talented carpenter and a great ambassador who is focused on changing the face of skilled trades.

Introducing the Trades Know a young person who wants a career? Why not direct them to the Careers in Trades website? The site, presented by Skills Canada and the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum, provides resources for students, parents, educators and employers about trades training opportunities.

Given her history, I figured I’d pick her brain about intro-to-trades and pre-apprenticeship courses, like WIST, that so many post-secondary schools are offering nowadays.

To be honest, I’ve always been a bit skeptical about the effectiveness of such programs.

I think my skepticism is partially because I’ve seen many students emerge from college or university with no realistic job prospects in their chosen fields of study. I also worry that some schools jump on trendy courses since more bodies spells more funding – not the most of noble reasons to extend program offerings.

So I was pleasantly surprised when Kate informed me that almost all of her WIST classmates went on to jobs in the trades. I could see her passion for the program as she explained that it was a fantastic doorway to a career. Given her success, and that of her classmates, I cannot disagree, but I still wonder if more cannot be done, especially for our sector.

How do we attract grads into the mechanical sector, where becoming a journeyman is often a five-year process on top of the year they’ve already spent in school? These programs are a fine gateway to another gateway, but they extend the timeframe of becoming a professional.

I can’t help but wonder whether it would be possible to reduce the apprenticeship tim meline for those who have certificates cert training timeline in trade-related training programs such perrha haps p it could bee possible possible to adjust the apprenticeship ratios to create as these. Or perhaps m re training opportunities mo opportu more for young people who come to the table, and jobsite, with a trade certificate in hand.

T ese courses Th coursees are a encouraging students to discover the solid These caareer opportunities opporrtun career available to them in the trades. And the opportunities in the mechanical trades are some of the best jobs out there. The question is how to make our sector the most attractive of the trades these students will be exposed to.

Solve that, and we are one step closer to solving the short shortage of tradespeople that is looming.

From time to time, Content Media Group Inc. makes subscribers’ names available to reputable companies whose products or services may be of interest to readers. If you would like your name excluded from these mailings, please notify the publisher.

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Making the Most Out of Your Water Conditioning Opportunity?

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Sales Materials

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News www.mechanicalbusiness.com

Greyter Takes Home POP Award Greyter brought home a Pacific Coast Builder Conference Parade of Products (POP) award for most innovative new product for the Greyter Home greywater system in May. Introduced in April, the system is designed to recycle shower and bathwater to flush toilets. Pictured here: Greyter co-founder John Bell with the Greyter Home system.

Clearing Clogs Jacki Beierle, associate product manager with Milwaukee Tool, clears a simulated clog in a pipe with the new M12 Drain Snake at the company’s New Product Symposium, held in June in Milwaukee. More than 200 new products, and new battery technology that will hit the market later this year, were showcased during the exclusive media event. milwaukeetool.ca

greyter.com

Sharing Knowledge in Kitchener

Members of Ontario’s plumbing inspector community met up in Burlington, Ont., in June to share knowledge, discuss codes, and network with suppliers and others in the industry, in addition to telling front-line tales of plumbing woes discovered in the line of duty.

Here, London, Ontario’s sewer outreach and control inspector Barry Orr discusses some of the common causes of clogs, and the initiative his city introduced to help restaurants reduce the amount of fats, oils and grease (FOG) entering the sanitary sewer system.

The inaugural Fluid Forward training and trade show put on by Jeff House and the team at Jess-Don Dunford attracted more than 150 people to Kitchener, Ont., in June for educational sessions, vendor displays, refreshments and entertainment. House, the Mechanical Business Find the Fix quizmaster, put on one of the training seminars for contractors.

Here, Taco Comfort Solutions’ Sean Giberson discusses circulation in a hydronic system during another of the day’s sessions.

opia.info

jessdondunford.ca

Keeping FOG at Bay

Follow Us on Twitter! It’s MB’s Twitter Roundup Caught the Twitter bug? We’ve got you covered with tweets about everything that matters to the mechanical trades in Canada. Follow us @mechbusiness.

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YYZ was the hot spot in all ON and Canada for June 20 at 34.6°C. Hottest day so far at Pearson, also tied the record high for Jun 20 set in 2012.

I’m really scared something is going to come out of the toilet because of these snake attacks.

1 way to cool the planet is to use hot #geothermal energy 4 power & heat. 76% of Canada’s heating from fossil fuels.

Did you know that there are 1,453 airports in Canada? #FunFactMonday

June 12, 2016

June 12, 2016

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June 13, 2016

Look for this link on our website!

Worst Washrooms

Noble BBQ Draws a Large Crowd Noble’s annual Customer Appreciation BBQ once again drew a strong crowd this year.

Held on June 17 at the company’s head office in Concord, Ont., the event attracted approximately 1,000 Noble customers for an afternoon of food, free giveaways and a vendor trade show. “This was one of the best attended Noble Customer Appreciation BBQs in the last five years,” said Ulyana Fedyna, Noble’s marketing manager for HVAC and hydronic products. noble.ca

What’s the Worst Washroom You’ve Ever Seen?

Have you ever been in a washroom so horrible that it defied description? Well, no need to describe it—just send us a picture!

Mechanical Business is collecting photos of some of the worst washrooms from around the world. So next time you run into an unsightly bathroom while you’re on vacation, on the jobsite or out on the town, grab your smartphone and take a picture. Your snapshot could end up in the pages of Mechanical Business! (Just be careful not to drop your camera on the washroom floor…)

To submit your photo, visit mechanicalbusiness.com and simply follow the WORST WASHROOMS link on the homepage. While you’re there, tell us a bit about the washroom.

To get the ball rolling, here’s a photo our publisher took at a dining establishment in Nevada. The washroom in question had no toilets or urinals—just a bathtub that functioned as both!

Think you can top this? Then visit mechanicalbusiness.com and submit your photo today!

Canadian Contractor Enjoys Nashville Experience

mechanicalbusiness.com

A Canadian was among the 16 contractors who enjoyed Lochinvar’s Nashville Experience, the grand prize in the company’s VIP Contractor Program. Matt Derrien of Cooper Plumbing & Heating in Calgary was treated to an all-expensespaid trip that included a tour of Lochinvar’s headquarters in Lebanon, Tenn., and a ticket to the 2016 CMA Fest in Nashville. lochinvar.com

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Dahl Brothers Canada helped raise $11,550 for Fort McMurray relief efforts in May. Pictured here, Thomas Husebye (centre left), Dahl Brothers Canada’s vice-president of product development and compliance, presents a donation to Naser Malik of the Canadian Red Cross. dahlvalve.com M e c h a n i c a l

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Readers Get Free Admission to CIPHEX West!

McKeough Supply Raises Funds for Camp Trillium McKeough Supply hosted its 18th Annual Charity Golf Tournament on June 2 at the Burford Golf Links in Burford, Ont. The tournament attracted customers, vendors and McKeough staff and raised $31,000 for Camp Trillium/Rainbow Lake. The money will help send children with cancer to summer camp. Pictured from left to right: Rhonda Craft and Andrew Porteous from McKeough Supply; Richard Simpson from Rheem; Carrie Arnold from Camp Trillium; Luke Kilbourn from AMTS; Scott Waters from ICP; John Pallante and Jean-Guy Marchand from Venmar; and Paula Burgin and Roy Levy from Sandpiper. Well done folks! mckeoughsupply.com

CIPHEX West, Western Canada’s largest heating and plumbing trade show, is taking over the Vancouver Convention Centre on November 2 and 3. The 30,000-sq-ft showroom floor will be flooded with hundreds of vendors displaying the latest in plumbing, HVAC/R, geothermal and hydronic products. The two-day event will also feature seminars and countless networking opportunities, and will play host to the Canadian Hydronics Conference.

Best of all, Mechanical Business readers can get free admission to the show! Just visit ciphexwest.ca and register using promo code MECHBIZ (all caps) to enjoy your free admission, courtesy of Mechanical Business. And, as always, we’ll be right in the middle of the action, so be sure to visit our booth, renew your subscription and offer your feedback. See you in Vancouver! ciphexwest.ca

Thousands MEET in Moncton More than 6,000 members of the mechanical and electrical industries attended the MEET Show at the Moncton Coliseum Complex in May. The MEET Innovation Awards served as one of the highlights of the event, where Belimo received the ACME (Atlantic Canada Mechanical Exhibitors) Innovation Award for its Belimo energy valve.

Delta Faucet received the CIPH Innovation Award for its electronic thermostatic lavatory faucet, and Stelpro received the Electro-Federation Canada Innovation Award for its 4000 W KI thermostat for the smart home. Pictured here, Mike LeBlanc, GM of Belimo Canada, accepts the ACME Innovation Award with Jenna Lyons, Belimo’s district sales manager for Atlantic Canada. meetshow.ca

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Chemours Building HFO Manufacturing Plant Chemours Company, a global chemical company and refrigerant manufacturer, has committed to invest $230 million over three years to construct a new plant in Ingleside, Tex., dedicated to manufacturing HFOs suitable for use in refrigeration equipment and chillers. The new facility will be the largest HFO manufacturing plant in the world and is expected to begin operations in the third quarter of 2018. chemours.com

Testing the Tools of the Trade

LG Among Energy Star Winners LG Electronics received the Manufacturer of the Year award in the heating and cooling equipment category at this year’s Energy Star Canada Awards. Jim Carr, Canada’s minister of natural resources, handed out the hardware at the ceremony, held at Manitoba Hydro Place in May. Pictured here, Carr (centre) poses with this year’s winners. Sonny Hong (front right), LG Electronics Canada’s senior product manager for air conditioning and energy solutions, accepted the award on behalf of LG. lg.com

Mechanical Business editor, Adam Freill, tries out the new DeWalt 60V MAX 1/2” VSR Stud and Joist Drill during a media event in Baltimore, Md., introducing the company’s latest tool offerings. DeWalt also used the event to unveil its new FlexVolt battery technology that automatically changes voltage when the user changes tools. It can be used in most of its 20-volt and 60-volt tools, and can be paired with a second battery to power its 120-volt tools. dewalt.com

Accessibility Standard Referenced in NBC CSA Group’s key accessibility standard has been referenced in the National Building Code (NBC), serving as a step toward the harmonization of accessible design requirements across the country. The standard, CSA B651-12 Accessible Design for the Built Environment, is currently in its fourth edition. CSA and NBC technical committees are hoping to use CSA B651 as the sole source for accessibility design requirements in the 2020 National Building Code of Canada. csagroup.org

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APP ALERT Enercare Acquires Service Experts

Refrigerant Charge Calculator Emerson Climate Technologies’ HVAC Check & Charge app is designed to function as a refrigerant charge calculator for air conditioning applications using R-22 or R-410A. The app features a superheat calculator, a subcooling calculator and an airflow calculator. It is available for Android and iOS devices.

Enercare has acquired Service Experts, a provider of residential and light commercial HVAC services, for US $340.75 million.

Service Experts has 2,800 employees in 93 cities across Canada and the United States.

“This is a defining acquisition for Enercare,” said John Macdonald, president and CEO of the company. “North American expansion has been part of our strategic roadmap and is a natural extension to our business.”

emersonclimate.com

Gas Pipe Sizing Calculator The Gas Pipe Sizing Calculator from Mr. Combi is designed to help contractors select the proper pipe sizes for installations using copper, steel and PE. Users enter the gas type, heat input, pipe length, number of high- or low-loss fittings and type of pipe, and then hit “Calculate.” Available for Android and iOS devices.

enercare.ca

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It’s A Great Trick If You Can Do It. We Did.

The Tankless Water Heater … Reinvented.

The most economically-priced tankless water heater on the market today.

• 190,000 BTU/h – 10 to 1 modulation • 2” PVC, CPVC, & Polypropylene vent capable • Hyper-efficient maximum efficiency of .954 U.E.F. the market today • Intelligence meets simplicity – service friendly design • 7.02 GPM @ 54° F (5.1 GPM @ 77°F) • Boiler technology in a tankless water heater

See it. Believe it.

Thermal Hydronic Supply Ltd. North American Distributor

thermalhydronics.com

CONDENSAZIONE

radianthydronics.com radiant.it

08.16

Movers & Shakers www.mechanicalbusiness.com

Morgan g Group p Appointed p Bosch Sales Rep Bosch Thermotechnology has ap ppointed the Morgan Group of Markham m, Ont., as the company’s sales rep for boileers, tankless and geothermal products in Onttario. The Morgan Group has acted as a manufacturer’s agent for the hot water heating market since 1983, serving consulting engineers, wh holesale distributors and mechanical contractors. boschheatingandcooling.com m themorgangroup.ca

TMII Opens p Canadian Canad Manufacturing Plant TMI Climate Solutions inaugurated its Canadian manufacturing plant in Pointe-Claire, Que., on June 13. The new 200,000-square-foot facility will supplement the production capacity of TMI’s plant in Michigan, and will serve the Eastern and Midwestern North American market. tmiclimatesolutions.com

Master Group Expands The Master Group’s newest branch, located at 5040 Mainway Drive, Unit 8, in Burlington, Ont., opened its doors in early June. Welcoming customers during its recent summer barbecue event were (from left) branch representative Mark Johnson, branch director Doug Hines, executive vice-president Alain Fournier and branch representative Essam “Sam” El Tawil. The branch is open Monday to Friday and can be reached by phone at 905-335-4002. master.ca

Uponor and Belkin Launch Phyn

Nibco Acquires Webstone Nibco has acquired the valve assets of Webstone. The new business unit will be named “Webstone, a brand of Nibco.” The deal closed on May 23. Details of the sale were not disclosed. nibco.com webstonevalves.com

Uponor and Belkin International have joined forces to launch Phyn, a company that will offer systems designed to monitor plumbing leaks and enhance household water usage. Phyn will begin beta testing of its water-monitoring technology in the fall of 2016. No timetable has been set for the first product launch. phyn.com uponor.com belkin.com

Air Force 1 Distributing Primex in Ontario Air Force 1 Sales & Marketing has been named the exclusive distributor of Primex HVAC venting products in Ontario.

Waterless Celebrates Milestone

airforce1.ca primexfits.com

Ecco Supply pp y Announces Diffuser Agreement Ecco Supply has been named the exclusive distributor of the Dynamic Air Diffuser (DAD) line in Canada.

DAD units require no electricity to operate, running instead on forced air from HVAC units in a building. eccosupply.com dynamicairdiffuser.com

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Waterless, a manufacturer of no-water urinals, is celebrating 25 years in business. “Twenty-five years ago, there just did not seem to be a call for urinals that didn’t use water,” recalled Waterless CEO Klaus Reichardt. “Today, building owners and managers treat water consumption the way they treat fuel or energy consumption.” waterless.com

Behind Every Successful Contractor There is a Great Partner.

Goodman is mine.

When it came time to find a strategic partner to help take his company to the next level, Mike Martino knew there was only one choice: Goodman. With Goodman on one side and “the best employees in the business” on the other, Martino HVAC became Ontario’s premier HVAC contractor. Service calls were significantly reduced and, along the way, Martino picked up many industry honours including the prestige of being named BILD’s “Trade Contractor of Year” an unprecedented three times.

Martino won’t give you all the secrets to his success, but one he’s happy to share is the importance of a great product partner. As Mike puts it, “Goodman is mine.”

www.martinohvac.com

www.goodmanmfg.com www.goodmanmfg.com

08.16

People in the news www.mechanicalbusiness.com CHRIS CAPONE has joined the plumbing division of IPS Corporation as the new vicepresident of sales.

Capone will be responsible for the sales performance of the company’s plumbing wholesale business in Canada and the U.S.

HeatLink has announced that the territory of sales manager HOWARD HUSS has been expanded to include Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic provinces. Huss will still be responsible for sales in the northeastern United States, in addition to his expanded territory.

He has over 20 years of senior management experience in the plumbing and radiant heating industries.

Viega has promoted DALE HEATH to regional sales manager for Canada.

Heath has more than 17 years of experience in the plumbing and heating industries.

Prior to his promotion, the two-time Viega Top Gun award winner served as the company’s district sales manager for the Prairies.

In addition to his role as president and CEO of Daikin Applied Americas, MICHAEL SCHWARTZ has joined the board of directors of Riptide IO. This follows Daikin Applied’s acquisition of a minority ownership stake of Riptide IO, a company that designs cloud-based software used to manage and automate building equipment.

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STEPHANE ST-ONGE has joined Grundfos as a district sales manager for Eastern Canada, responsible for PEI and New Brunswick.

St-Onge has 20 years of experience as a naval engineer technician, during which time he designed, maintained and repaired vessel systems and equipment, including pumps and motors.

DOUG MURDOCK has been appointed president and CEO of Tecumseh Products Company. Prior to this, Murdock served as president of the climate products group at Mueller Industries, which owns Tecumseh in partnership with Atlas Holdings. He has 25 years of experience in the climate control industry.

Armstrong Fluid Technology has introduced JOACHIM SCHULZ as the company’s new commercial director of global building business.

Schulz joins Armstrong’s senior leadership team and will focus on growing global business sales. He has extensive sales experience with pumps and engineered equipment.

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BOB FAHRNI has been appointed account manager for Carlo Gavazzi’s Greater Toronto Area and Northern Ontario regions.

In his new role he will focus on supporting channel partners and developing new and existing business relationships. He has a background in selling industrial automation components and systems.

STUART ENGEL has been named Fresh-Aire UV’s international business development manager. In this role he will work from a Montreal-based office to grow the company’s presence in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.

MARK BUSS has joined Rinnai America as the company’s vicepresident of marketing. He brings more than 30 years of experience in sales, marketing and executive leadership positions to his new role.

DONALD COURTNEY has joined Lixil Water Technology Canada as the company’s vice-president and general manager. He will be responsible for overseeing growth of the American Standard, DXV and GROHE brands in Canada. Courtney has extensive experience as a business executive with an expertise in global operations.

Put your customers in control from anywhere in the world Optional new Wi-Fi remote control system for commercial and residential use Now you can offer your customers this add-on accessory that will enable those with smartphones and tablets to control temperatures remotely, access usage data and receive diagnostic notiďŹ cations on all Navien products (NPE-A, NPE-S, NCB-E, NHB). Existing installations/stock may require the purchase of a new main PCB and front control panel.

To learn more visit Navien.com.

T H E

L E A D E R

I N

NPE

NCB-E

NHB

Condensing tankless water heaters

Condensing combi-boilers

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C O N D E N S I N G

T E C H N O L O G Y

08.16

Profile Bill Palamar: A Passion for Plumbing and Heating

Ask recently elected CIPH chairman Bill Palamar to describe himself and he’s quick to admit that he’s an entrepreneur at heart.

“If there’s one word that defines me, it’s entrepreneur,” he says. “It allows me to cross a lot of different areas of business… I love to do it; it’s a passion.”

That passion and his drive to succeed are not just contained within his company’s doors, however. As a volunteer with CIPH, which he’s

Q A

How did you get started in the industry?

I was put in touch with Charlie Hagedorn at CIPH, who had started up Ancon Drains in 1978. He set me up in the agency business.

I was just 22 at the time. Charlie was a pure entrepreneur.

been for more than 15 years, he’s more than willing to pitch in to help build the industry that’s been his home for the past 36 years.

“It’s all about giving back to an industry that’s been really wonderful to me and my family. That’s really why I do it. There are sacrifices that you make to do it, but at the end of the day, it is about giving back to your industry, trying to make it a little better, and leaving it better for the next group coming in.”

Q A Q A

What do you enjoy most about the industry?

Q A

As the incoming chair, what are some of the priorities on your to-do list?

The relationships that I’ve developed over the years – the decades, now.

What’s the most interesting development you’ve seen in the mechanical sector in Canada?

In the boiler business, what’s really evolved is the integration of technology into the heating process.

It’s come from the very basic setup to modulatingcondensing, high-efficiency, low-emission technology, and controls strategies that are fully integrated. They can do so much more than they could years ago.

1. A focus on government relations, and the harmonization of codes and standards.

2. Increase the value for our membership.

3. To continue efforts on the timely, automatic adoption of the National Plumbing Code.

BIO Name: Bill Palamar Title: President Company: Weil-McLain Canada Sales Inc. Age: 58 Born in: Parry Sound, Ont. Resides in: Burlington, Ont. Joined the industry: 1980 Family: Wife Laurie, and two children, Emily and Christian

FAST FACTS 1. If he’s not in the office, and it’s fishing season, Bill can be found casting in the freshwater of the Georgian Bay area.

2. He and Laurie enjoy travelling, especially to France and Italy. “We go for the history, the cuisine and the wine.”

WORDS OF ADVICE

Photo: Ron Kuzyk

3. Bill also has a passion for fast cars, especially Mustangs. “I had an ’06 Roush Stage 3 Mustang convertible; red with camel colour interior.”

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“It is the best industry in the world, and if you don’t believe that it is the best industry in the world, you shouldn’t be in it.”

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HIGH-PERFORMANCE HVAC

Gord Cooke is a professional engineer who has spent 20 years helping builders and HVAC contractors implement innovative technologies into highperformance homes. He has particular expertise in IAQ and airflow management in houses, and can be contacted at gcooke@ airsolutions.ca.

B y Go r d C o o ke

boosting I

spend a lot of time writing and speaking about the ever-increasing comfort expectations of the Canadian homeowner. Gone are the days when people were just happy to have a little cool air on those hot, sticky summer nights.

Attaining expected comfort levels in all seasons using a duct system that is designed for one worst day of the year is a challenge, however, so let’s explore possibilities for addressing the hot or cold room complaint by improving or adjusting airflow through the forced air duct system serving a home.

And yes, we are assuming that typical reasons for overheating or overcooling of the space— such as air leakage, inadequate insulation, poor window performance, or unusual internal gains such from appliances or large numbers of people—have been investigated, eliminated or remediated, leaving airflow improvement as the next best alternative.

Measuring AIRFLOW The starting point is to measure the actual airflow in the room. I suggest using a properly calibrated balometer, or at the very least a vane anemometer with a capture hood that is calibrated so the resistance of the hood itself is accounted for. I recognize there are other measurement tools available, but after extensive tests I’ve found that a compensating capture hood is the most accurate and repeatable across different supply register types.

Return air pathways are needed to allow supply air into the room.

Measure the flow several times: door open; door closed; and with the return air grille fully open, as well as taped off. This step helps eliminate concerns over whether there is adequate return air for the room. If the supply register flow stays the same or within five per cent, then you know that adding more return capacity will not significantly improve the heating or cooling performance for the room. In other words, you most effectively heat and cool spaces by adding hot or cool air, not by taking ambient air out of the space.

Return air pathways are needed to allow supply air into the room. By showing that the supply air is not affected by the presence or absence of return air, you can be confident there is an adequate return air pathway. Be sure to also measure the airflow from the supply register at both the heating fan speed setting and the cooling setting. continues on page 20

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W i t h V R V, comfort can be achieved in a wide variety of buildings

With the “building blocks” of VRV [Outdoor units | Indoor Units | Piping | Controls ] D a i k i n p ro v i d e s d e s i g n s i m p l i c i t y, r a p i d i n s t a l l a t i o n , f u l l f l e x i b i l i t y, w i t h h i g h e f f i c i e n c y. *

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION* Before purchasing this appliance, read important information about its estimated annual energy consumption, yearly operating cost, or energy efficiency rating that is available from your retailer.

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HIGH-PERFORMANCE HVAC

continued from page 18

Comparing MEASUREMENTS

Taking ACTION There is great value in thorough duct sealing. There are methods to seal ducts, take-offs, elbows and perimeter pipe joints, whether accessible or not. Duct sealing simultaneously increases flow to all supply registers and typically increases the static pressure in the entire system. It also allows for effective balancing of flows throughout the house.

Compare the flows you measure to the expected flow for the size of duct serving the space. Recall that most HVAC designers over the past 30 years have used a supply pressure of 0.15” W.C., as they would have applied the equal friction method of duct design.

The basis of the equal friction method is to find the duct run that has the longest effective length. This is the actual dimension length, plus the “equivalent” length of each fitting and accessory along that duct run path.

The entire system is then designed using a static pressure (resistance) developed when delivering the required airflow to the “longest” or most restrictive duct run. For example, if this pressure was maintained throughout the entire duct system (and it won’t be), then the expected flowrate in a 5” diameter duct would be 85 CFM, at most. A more reasonable expectation of flow from a 5” duct would be no more than 65 CFM. The chart below shows typical approximate flowrates for common perimeter duct sizes at different pressures.

4” dia.

5” dia.

6” dia.

0.03” W.C.

<20 CFM

35 CFM

60 CFM

0.05” W.C.

<30 CFM

45 CFM

75 CFM

0.10” W.C.

40 CFM

65 CFM

105 CFM

0.15” W.C.

45 CFM

85 CFM

135 CFM

If the flowrates you measure are near the expected maximum for a given size of duct, then you know that trying to boost airflow with some sort of additional fan is unlikely to be effective. You could remedy this by adding an additional duct, or a supplementary heating or cooling system like a ductless mini-split, a wall heater or an additional air handler.

The next logical step is to adjust the fan speed on the air handler. Be sure to measure the total air flow and temperature rise across the heat exchanger and cooling coil to ensure they stay within the manufacturer’s recommended range. This strategy is often more effective when the air handler has a variable-speed fan motor.

This can raise the question as to whether retrofitting this type of motor would be helpful in increasing airflow capacity. If the measurements show that additional total airflow can be accommodated across the coils and in the duct system, then a better fan and motor combination may be warranted.

The next step would be to damper down shorter runs to increase the overall resistance in the system and thus encourage more air down the longest run.

Start with ducts in the branch line serving the space at issue.

If these measures don’t increase flow enough to resolve the heating or cooling problem, then an inline fan in the duct to the space may be warranted.

After that, duct modifications, duct additions or even zoning options would be the final strategy.

Pressure READINGS You need to measure the static pressure in the supply plenum after the furnace and AC coil (if there is one).

In fact, take a number of static pressure readings.

The pressure readings are most useful if you also measure the total airflow across the furnace or air handler.

The best tool for this a pitot tube array installed in the filter slot. Measurements should be taken at all fan motor speed taps, but at least at the heating and cooling speeds, and at the highest speed setting.

Measure the pressure in the branch ducts, specifically in the branch duct serving the room with the comfort complaint. If you have access to the ductwork, measure static pressure at a few locations along the branch line serving the room in question. There will be a drop in pressure along the way; that’s to be expected as air leaves the system along through other supply registers and duct leakage. The drop in pressure helps you decide the strategies available to increase flow to the duct you need it in.

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COMMERCIAL VEHICLES: PICKUPS

B y Ho war d J. Elmer Howard J. Elmer is an automotive journalist and the founder of the Canadian Truck King Challenge. Be sure to check out the test drives of 2016 vans at www.canadiantruckkingchallenge.ca.

Plenty of in

Trucks

The re-launch of the Nissan Titan is the big news this year. I say re-launch because the new truck bears almost no resemblance to the current Titan; it’s all new and features a 5L Cummins diesel engine.

Transmissions continue to gain gears with the last of the five-speeds being retired with the passing of the 2015 Toyota Tacoma. It’s all six-speed and up now with GM leading the pack for 2016 with an eight-speed transmission added to its 5.3L and 6.2L V8s. In fact, transmissions will continue to gain gears as nine and 10-speeds are coming next year.

Over at Ford, its secondgeneration 3.5L EcoBoost is coming soon, and has even more torque – 450 lb.-ft, the most of any V6. Currently, the first-generation 3.5L accounts for approximately 45 per cent of F-150 sales in Canada.

2017 FORD SUPER DUTY F250 TO F450 2016 is a carry-over year for Super Duty, but the 2017 is already being introduced as it will be available later this year. Following in the footsteps of the F150, the Super Duty line is going to be built with aluminum alloy.

Also new on Super Duty will be a fully boxed frame made with 95 per cent high-strength steel. Ford says towing and hauling capability will also improve, and the 2017 truck line will feature heavier-duty four-wheel-drive components, driveline, axles and towing hardware.

The stats provided are for the 2016 Super Duty. Specifics for the 2017 models were not available at time of publication.

Cab Styles:

Regular, SuperCab, SuperCrew

Wheelbase:

137”, 142”, 156”, 158”, 172’’

Engine size:

6.2L V8, 6.7L turbo-diesel

Power (hp/torque):

385/405, 440/860

Max. Payload:

7,260 lb.

Towing capacity:

31,200 lb. (F450 5th wheel)

Box sizes:

6’8”, 8

B u s i n e s s

Wheelbase:

120.5”, 141”, 150”, 170”

Engine size:

5.7L V8 Hemi, 3.6L V6, 3.0L EcoDiesel

Power (hp/torque): Max. Payload:

for Ram, but the truck line has been bolst bolstered steerreed st d by two new models: the Ram 1500 00 Laram Laramie mie mie mi Limited model and the all-new Rebel wit with th aan th n aggressive off-road design.

Ram currently owns the best-in-class class fue fuel el ec eeconcon onomy segment with its 3L EcoDiesel esel V6 engine eng ng ngin gin ne that has a highway rating of 8.0 L/100 km. km m.. m M e c h a n i c a l

Ram Heavy Duty retains its best-in-class towing rating of 31,210 lb. for 2016. What is new is a high-output version of its 6.7L Cummins turbo diesel that will make 385 hp and 900 lb-ft of torque; also best-in-class.

Apart from the diesel, there are two gas-powered engine options, plus manual and automatic transmissions.

A new Ram Laramie Limited design is being offered this year. Featuring premium materials, such as allblack, full-leather Cab Styles: Regular, Crew Cab, Mega Cab seating, real Wheelbase: 141”, 150”, 170” wood interior Engine size: 5.7L V8 Hemi, components and 6.7L turbo-diesel 6.4L V8 Hemi unique badges, the Limited is a Power (hp/torque): 383/400, 350/850, 410/429 “black-tie” luxury Max. Payload: 7,390 lb. alternative to the Towing capacity: 30,010 lb. popular Laramie Box sizes: 6’4”, 8’ Longhorn edition pickup.

Cab Styles: Regular, Quad Cab, Crew Cab, Mega Cab

2016 RAM 1500 2016 is a carry-over err year yea ear

22

2016 RAM TRUCK HD 2500 AND 3500

Towing capacity:

395/410, 305/269, 240/420 Varies by model.

3L EcoDiesel – 9,200lb.,

3.6L V6 – 7,450 lb., 5.7L V8 – 10,640 lb.

Box sizes:

6’4”, 5’7”, 8’ continued on page 24 contin

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Work in tight spaces. Not out of them.

Introducing the All-New Mercedes-Benz Metris. Starting at $33,900.* With 186 cu ft of cargo volume, 2,502 lbs of payload capacity, and a roof height of only 6.2 ft, the Metris gives you plenty of room to work inside and out. As Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only mid-size cargo van, it easily navigates narrow back alleys and underground garages. Smaller than a full-size van. Bigger than a compact van. The Mercedes-Benz Metris is built to fit your work. Size it up at TheMetris.ca. #MeetTheMetris

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National MSRP for the Metris Cargo Van shown. Pricing is intended for information purposes only. Prices do not include taxes, levies, fees, freight and delivery charges, insurance and license fees, as well as any other products or services not listed that may be available to you through your selected Mercedes-Benz dealership. Vehicle prices subject to change without notice. Dealer may sell for less. These prices do not apply in provinces with total/all-in pricing requirements. Please contact your local dealership directly by phone or in person for exact pricing details and total prices applicable in your province.

COMMERCIAL VEHICLES: PICKUPS 2016 TOYOTA TUNDRA Tundra was redesigned in 2014 and remains mostly unchanged for 2016; except for the addition of a larger fuel tank and an optional trailer brake controller. The new 1794 model continues to define luxury in this segment.

continued from page 22

2016 TOYOTA TACOMA The Toyota Tacoma is all new this year, including its engine. It now features a 3.5L Atkinson cycle V6 equipped with Toyota’s D-4S technology.

Cab styles:

Regular, Double Cab, CrewMax

Wheelbase:

127”, 146”

Engine size:

4.6L V8, 5.7L V8

Power (hp and torque): Max. Payload:

310/327, 381/401 1,900 lb.

Max. Towing Capacity:

10,800 lb.

Box sizes:

5’, 6’5”, 8’

Cab Styles:

Access Cab, Double Cab

Wheelbase:

127”

Engine size: Power (hp/torque):

2.7L I-4, 3.5L V6 159/180, 278/265

Max. Payload:

1,500 lb.

Towing capacity:

6,500 lb.

Box sizes:

5’, 6’

2016 CHEVROLET SILVERADO HD 2500 & 3500 GM’s HD trucks get a number of upgrades this Cab Styles: Regular, Double Cab, Crew Cab year. A new digital steering Wheelbase: 133”, 144”, 154”, 167” assist feature improves Engine size: 6L V8, 6.6L turbo-diesel road handling, and an availPower (hp/torque): 360/380, 397/765 able gooseneck/fifth wheel Max. Payload: 7,374 lb. trailering prep package will include a spray-in bedliner Towing capacity: 23,200 lb. (late availability).

Box sizes: 6’5”, 8’ Electronic upgrades include Chevrolet MyLink with an 8” diagonal touchscreen and Apple CarPlay. Wireless phone charging and a remote locking tailgate are also available. 2016 also sees GM adopt the SAE J2807 trailer rating standards.

2016 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 For 2016, the General is adding capability to its half-tons with an eight-speed automatic transmission in the 6.2L and the 5.3L V-8. This move boosts max trailering to 12,000 lb.

New electronics include MyLink with text messaging alerts and Siri Eyes Free. Also available are a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot and up-level trailering mirrors with back-up lighting.

Cab Styles:

Regular, Double Cab, Crew Cab

Wheelbase:

119”, 133”, 158”

Engine size:

4.3L V6, 5.3L V8, 6.2L V8

Power (hp/torque): Max. Payload: Towing capacity: Box sizes:

285/305, 355/383, 420/460 2,270 lb.

12,000 lb.

5’7”, 6’6”, 8’

continued on page 26

24

B E U N ST O P PA B L E

WE PUT YOUR TEAM FIRST. A vehicle that drives your business needs to be business-minded, and the new 2017 Escape is that and more. With highlights that include an available adjustable load floor, a 60/40 split rear seat that allows for loads of additional cargo room and three exhilarating engine options, it’s a vehicle that works for you and your business.

Make us the team behind your team. fleet.ford.ca | 1.800.668.5515 Vehicle(s) may be shown with optional feature(s). © 2016 Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited. All rights reserved.

COMMERCIAL VEHICLES: PICKUPS

continued from page 24

2016 GM CANYON AND COLORADO Last year’s reintroduction of these mid-size twins put life back into this truck segment. Adding some punch for 2016 models is an all-new small diesel. This 2.8L diesel engine pushes up torque and tow limits – and brings down fuel consumption. It is available with either a six-speed manual Cab Styles: Ext Cab, Crew Cab or six-speed automatic.

Wheelbase: 128”, 140.5” Included with the 2.8L is a Smart Diesel Engine size: 2.5L I-4, 3.6L V6, 2.8L turbo-diesel exhaust brake system that reduces brake Power (hp/torque): 200/191, 305/269, 181/369 wear on steep grades; an integrated trailMax. Payload: 1,620 lb. er brake controller is standard.

Towing capacity:

2016 FORD F150

7,700 lb. (w/diesel)

Box sizes:

5’2”, 6’2”

The new aluminum F-150 is in a carry-over year – with a few exceptions. Responding to customer requests, the 5.L V8 engine will now offer a gaseous-fuel prep option, making it capable of running on compressed natural gas or propane.

Cab Styles: Regular, SuperCab, SuperCrew New electronics include up to six cameras on its body, including ones that can see Wheelbase: 122”, 141”, 145”, 157”, 163” around corners. Mobile apps will talk to Engine size: 3.5L V6, 3.5L V6 (EcoBoost), your truck and, if you have trouble backing 2.7L V6 (EcoBoost), 5.0L V8, up your trailer, Ford has created a trailer Power (hp/torque): 282/253, 365/420, 325/375, 385/387 back-up system that will do it for you.

Max. Payload: 3,120 lb.

Other changes for the 2016 model year include 20-inch machined aluminum wheels Towing capacity: 11,300 lb. with painted silver pockets and new colours Box sizes: 5’5”, 6’5”, 8’ like Shadow Black and Lithium Gray.

Vehicle

Decal

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27

By Fred Bretzke

PLUMBING

ATTAINING THE

Red Seal The year, if memory serves, was 1984—the same year the Edmonton Oilers hoisted their first Stanley Cup. While they were celebrating, I was sitting in a SAIT campus gymnasium with 1,000 other apprentices attempting to pass the hardest exam of my career: the infamous Red Seal.

Trying to write a 125-question exam in a large arena full of students is not very conducive to concentration, but students experience the same thing today— although they can now ask to sit in a separate area.

Not writing the exam until around noon can disturb some students, as they have to wait all morning for the biggest exam of their lives.

A former student of mine (who eventually became a Red Seal journeyman) once explained to me that he had failed the exam on his first attempt because he’d had too much coffee that morning.

He had five cups while waiting for the exam to start.

Around 100 questions into the exam, his stomach started gurgling. He made it to the bathroom and returned to his desk with 25 questions left to answer.

After another five questions, his stomach took a turn for the worse. Let’s just say he didn’t make it to the bathroom this time—and leave it at that.

He ended up scoring 69 per cent on the exam—one point shy of the 70 per cent required for a pass.

Fortunately, he stayed away from the java when he rewrote the exam, and ended up passing.

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GAINING EXPERIENCE My path to the Red Seal gave me some valuable experience.

Back in Ontario in 1977, I worked as an apprentice for a residential construction company, helping with house rough-ins and finishes. After a year-long leave of absence to travel through Europe, I moved to Edmonton and resumed my apprenticeship working for a commercial construction company.

I finished the last two years of my apprenticeship in Calgary, where I worked for a service company.

This would prove especially valuable when I wrote the Red Seal exam, as much of the exam was based on knowledge and experience in a wide variety of the trades—especially service work.

I joined SAIT as an instructor in 1992. By then I was a Red Seal journeyman plumber, and I had designed a night course based on service work for journeyman plumbers. I thought this was something that was sorely lacking from the

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.

Alberta curriculum. The course, which is still taught today, focuses mostly on mechanical design and construction, and assumes that students get the rest of their experience and information on the jobsite.

I think we might be ready to change the curriculum to include more of a focus on service-oriented themes. The national outline of the current Red Seal requires journeypersons to be well balanced in their experience in order to pass the exam.

FRED’S TOP 5 LIST: RED SEAL PREP 1 Residential Practical Experience 2 Commercial Practical Experience 3 Service and Renovation Practical Experience 4 Service Education Theory 5 Construction Education Theory

The current Alberta curriculum does not really go into much detail for the service industry. It’s a fact that in the past year alone, final-year apprentices in Alberta are averaging approximately 60 per cent on the heating, maintenance and service questions on Red Seal exams. This is not good enough, and it can be the difference between passing and failing the exam.

Until the curriculum changes to include more service work, we will continue to have problems with students passing the interprovincial exam. Either that or we could increase the length of an apprenticeship. This extra time would give students an opportunity to concentrate on topics and equipment that are most challenging to those writing the current exam.

I have continually encouraged apprentices to get as much experience as they can in their trades. At least one year of residential, one year of custom residential, one year of commercial construction and one year of service experience would be ideal.

Now, it’s easy for me to say that, but in a tough economy it is sometimes hard to accomplish because apprentices might be worried about losing a good job. That said, apprentices must continue to press the issue with their employers—they need as much experience as they can get. This is absolutely fundamental to passing the current Red Seal exam.

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29

PLUMBING

continued from page 29

More Than Simple Recall

LOOKING AHEAD After attending the National Apprenticeship Conference in Toronto earlier this year, I learned that a Red Seal journeyperson in the trades is currently on the same financial level as a college graduate.

This is very encouraging news. It’s hard to attain the Red Seal—as it should be. I’ve had former university students in my fourth-year class claim that the current Red Seal exam is harder than any university exam that they have written.

Our current standards are high, but we should always be careful to write tough Red Seal exam questions that are pertinent to what is truly important and useful in the trade. It isn’t fair to write exam questions on obscure subject matter just to make students guess. We as instructors and government officials must focus on asking tough, practical questions.

I believe that the future holds a whole new path for apprentices. I don’t think it will be long before we will no longer worry about what now might be called “cheating.” Students will be given the opportunity to write the exam at their own leisure, at home on their computer with, of course, a time limit of four hours.

When this happens, we will not care if they phone a friend or Google the answer. As long as there are at least 5,000 questions from which to draw the exam, and if the questions are shuffled like music on an iPhone, students won’t have time to Google all 125 questions in four hours. The questions could even be harder if you give students the option to “cheat.”

I was taught a long time ago that there are several stages and types of learning.

The first type that most of us are familiar with is memorizing. We’ve asked people to memorize things for years, but now we are beginning to realize that real learning takes at least seven steps: seeing, reading, watching a video, practical participation, searching the internet, writing a test and reviewing a test.

It’s only after these steps that real learning can take place, and a student can be considered to have expertise in their subject.

This is what the Red Seal should be all about: learning as much as you can about the vast variety of our trades.

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REFRIGERATION

B y P h il J. B o u d r eau

SUBCOOLING TO OFFSET SUCTION GAS SUPERHEAT A

s mentioned in previous articles, some control over the amount of refrigerant solved in the compressor oil can be accomplished by ensuring that a minimum superheat is achieved at the discharge of the compressor.

Low compression ratios and/or low suction superheat effectively reduce the discharge superheat.

This is especially noticeable in systems that utilize a refrigerant that has a low isentropic exponent.

Note that refrigerants having a low isentropic exponent tend to have a lower heat of compression and result in lower discharge temperatures.

The chart illustrates the relationship between the heat of compression and the discharge superheat.

According to the chart, when using R404A and R507 at the conditions listed, the resulting discharge superheat will be lower than the manufacturer’s minimum allowable superheat. In this situation, the discharge superheat may be increased without compromising the efficiency of the compressor.

Using a heat source outside the system will result in a reduction of compressor efficiency. Furthermore, if we were to use the discharge of the compressor to add superheat to the suction line, the compressor will be lower still.

Transferring heat from the discharge to the suction is also not a very efficient approach.

Using an liquid to suction heat exchanger (LSHX) provides superheating of the suction gas without a reduction in compressor efficiency.

This is possible because the heat that is used to superheat the suction gas is extracted from the liquid prior to it entering the evaporator. Since the liquid will be subcooled at this point, each unit mass of refrigerant flowing into the evaporator will be able to absorb more heat. The amount of additional heat that can be absorbed will be equal to the heat added to the suction gas.

Increasing Superheat by Subcooling It is possible to increase the temperature and superheat of the suction gas while simultaneously cooling the liquid entering the expansion device. To accomplish this, an LSHX is used.

Although this is a technique that has been around for many years, it has become somewhat less prevalent on modern systems. There are systems in the field, however, that could certainly benefit from the application of an LSHX. Using the compressor manufacturer’s software, the suction gas temperature should be increased to or beyond a point where the minimum allowable discharge superheat is achieved. Since the specific volume of the refrigerant increases with higher suction superheat values, this will reduce compressor efficiency. continued on page 34

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REFRIGERATION

continued from page 32

Calculating the Subcooling One of the challenges that stems from selecting an LSHX is determining the amount of subcooling that will result from superheating the suction gas. This is important because the refrigeration effect within the evaporator will increase.

USEFULSUPERHEAT The portion of superheat that is absorbed only within the evaporator.

Here is a method that may be used to determine the amount of subcooling that will result.

STEP 1

STEP 3

First, let’s establish our desired operating conditions. This system will utilize R404A, have a saturated suction temperature of 30°F, a saturated discharge temperature of 100°F, no subcooling (just to keep things less complicated), a return gas superheat of 10°F, and with all of this superheat being considered useful.

At this point, we should be sure to set the useful superheat to 10°F since the additional 10°F of superheat that takes place within the LSHX will occur after the refrigerant leaves the evaporator.

In this case, the resulting cooling and evaporator capacities are 184 kBTUH and the EER is 11.86 kBTUH/kW. However, the software also provides a warning message stating that the discharge temperature must be at 20°K or 36°F above the saturated discharge temperature. This simply means that the resulting discharge superheat of 32.3°F is too low.

It can be helpful to note that “cooling capacity” is really the compressor capacity, which also includes additional heat picked up after the evaporator.

STEP 2 In order to eliminate the warning message, we need to increase the suction gas superheat. Proceed with a compressor selection that is based on 20°F of return gas superheat and with 100 per cent of this superheat being useful.

The resulting cooling and evaporator capacity is 187.5 kBTUH and the EER has increased to 12.09 kBTUH/kW. After increasing the suction superheat to 20°F, we find that the warning message no longer appears. At these conditions, we can assume that, among other things, the amount of refrigerant in the oil is low enough that compressor lubrication is not compromised.

After setting the useful superheat to 10°F, the resulting cooling capacity is 187.5 kBTUH, the evaporator capacity is 179 kBTUH and the EER is 11.54 kBTUH/ kW. The reason that the EER has decreased from 12.09 to 11.54 is that the additional superheating that takes place outside the evaporator is not considered useful heat. This is because it was not added by the evaporator, which is providing useful cooling.

Since the difference in the cooling capacity and the evaporator capacity is 187.5 kBTUH minus 179 kBTUH, or 8.5 kBTUH, we can assume that superheating the refrigerant by a further 10°F results in 8.5 kBTUH of heat being added to the suction gas after the evaporator.

STEP 4 In order to determine the amount of subcooling required, we need to remove the 8.5 kBTUH from the liquid before it enters the evaporator. In order to accomplish this, we need to increase the subcooling value in the software to a point where the evaporator capacity equals 187.5 kBTUH. This works out to be approximately 6.1°F of subcooling. Therefore, 6.1°F of subcooling adds 8.5 kBTUH to the evaporator capacity.

Note that the compressor software output for continued on page 36

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REFRIGERATION

continued from page 34

STEP 4 indicates a cooling capacity of 196 kBTUH. With this method that we are currently using, we need to ignore this value since the software makes an assumption that the subcooling takes place in the condenser, meaning that the subcooling was provided external to the system. Subcooling that takes place within the condenser is generally referred to as natural subcooling.

Temperature Range

In this example, we started out with a selection that assumed the 10°F superheat picked up in the low side takes place in the evaporator. If only a portion of the return gas condition contains useful superheat, which is typically the case, we will need to factor this in. The reason that we used only 10°F return gas superheat, with all of it being useful, is that low return gas superheat often leads to a requirement for additional superheat when the compression ratio of the system is fairly low and the isentropic exponent of the refrigerant is also low.

This is a point that should be considered during the LSHX selection process, especially when high-glide refrigerants are used.

However, in our case, we know that the difference of 8.5 kBtuh is actually exchanged within the LSHX, from the suction gas to the liquid, and the illustration indicates this.

Therefore, we know that the cooling capacity is 187.5 kBtuh and not 196 kBtuh.

Are you wondering why the illustration indicates a 99.3°F liquid entering the LSHX? This is due to the fact that R404A, like all 400 series refrigerants, has some temperature glide. In this case, the liquid temperature leaving the condenser is 99.3°F, so the 6.1°F of subcooling is automatically subtracted from 99.3°F and not 100°F.

WANT MORE? IT’S ONLINE To view the actual compressor selections used in Phil’s discussion, visit mechanicalbusiness.com and click the links from the online edition of this column.

Phil Boudreau is the Ontario sales manager for Bitzer Canada Inc. and provides training and technical support for Bitzer’s clientele. He can be contacted at pboudreau@bitzer.ca.

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WHAT www.mechanicalbusiness.com

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WHAT

great C O N T E N T S supple m e nt

08 . 1 6

F E A T U R E S

A Man with a Plan

Jim Smith

42GUEST COLUMN How to Succeed in the Hydronics Business Kim Butts

52ROAD WARRIOR: JIM SMITH Some people spend years discovering themselves, but Jim Smith didn’t waste any time finding a home in the mechanical trades. Greg Dalgetty

44PROJECT PROFILE

48HYDRONICS Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me! Bob “Hot Rod” Rohr

Hired to build an extensive hydronic heating network for an addition in Edmonton, Forbes Mechanical ran into just one minor hiccup: the new building had no boiler room.

Greg Dalgetty

Playing Chicken with

PEX 62PROJECT PROFILE 56HYDRONIC SNOWMELTING Big or Small, Snowmelting Systems Carry the Load Rich McNally

Timing was of the essence when Fernand Denis Inc. was hired to install an in-floor radiant heating system in a chicken barn near Ottawa.

Jerry Leyte

D E P A R T M E N T S 40From the Editor’s Desk 60Find the Fix 66Products

On the cover: Jim Smith got his start in the mechanical industry as a pipefitter before getting his gasfitter licence. He’s now the owner/operator of Idraulico Mechanical in Vancouver. Photo: Airisa Photography

WHAT

Content Media Group Inc. 19 – 1525 Cornwall Road Oakville, ON L6J 0B2 Canada Tel: 905.465.2919 Fax: 905.465.2913 www.mechanicalbusiness.com August 2016 Issue Editor: Adam Freill, ext. 224 adam.freill@mechanicalbusiness.com

Associate Editor/Web Editor: Greg Dalgetty, ext. 225 greg.dalgetty@mechanicalbusiness.com National Accounts Manager: Jeff Superle, ext. 221 jeff.superle@mechanicalbusiness.com Controller: Liz Mills liz.mills@mechanicalbusiness.com Production Manager: Caroline Bexfield, ext. 227 caroline.bexfield@mechanicalbusiness.com Art Direction: JJM Graphic Ltd. davem@jjmgraphic.com Circulation Manager: Shila Naik (905) 272-4175 shila.naik@mechanicalbusiness.com Publisher: Bruce Meacock, ext. 222 bruce.meacock@mechanicalbusiness.com We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage.

Submissions: Copyright in material submitted to the magazine and accepted for publication remains with the author, but Mechanical Business and its licensees may freely reproduce it in print, electronic or other forms. Mechanical Business also reserves the right to edit said submitted materials to suit the editorial needs and mandate of the publication.

Notice: Mechanical Business is published for owners, managers and decision makers with mechanical contracting firms and the sector’s supply chain partners in Canada. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information, Mechanical Business, Content Media Group Inc., its staff, directors, officers and shareholders (‘The Publisher’) assume no liability, obligation or responsibility for advertised claims, for errors and/or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information.

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The publisher reserves the right to publish a printed correction in a subsequent issue for editorial errors, omissions and oversights.

Subscriptions are available for $90 plus taxes in Canada and the U.S. Single copies are $15.00. Outside Canada and the U.S., the rates are $150.00 (annual) and $25.00 (single copy).

FROM

Primitive man—caveman, if you will—wrapped himself in animal furs and hunkered down in his primal dwelling to fend off the cold. Then, a breakthrough: man discovered fire, and achieved a new level of home comfort.

Did You Know?

Years later, there was another paradigm shift. Man invented hydronic heating systems, which proved far more effective— and less hazardous—than open fires.

The Canadian Hydronics Conference is happening in Vancouver this November at CIPHEX West.

Visit ciphexwest.ca for details.

The common thread? Progress. Since the days of yore—when dinosaurs ruled the Earth—man has continually strived for more comfortable living conditions. And it is this very progress that has led man’s hydronic aspirations to extend far beyond the realm of home heating.

Take, for instance, the use of hydronic systems in barns. On page 62, you can read all about a chicken farmer near Ottawa who had an in-floor heating system installed in a chicken coop. And if you’re wondering what came first, the chickens or the eggs, spoiler alert—it was hydronics!

In some cases, hydronic systems have left the home altogether. Why shovel your driveway in the winter when hydronics can do the work for you? Hydronic snowmelt systems are found throughout the country, and now’s the time to start working on them before the first flakes fall. Learn more on page 56.

In these uncertain times, there’s one thing we can always count on: the constant effect on the hydronic market. It is our privilege evolution of technology and its effec to report the latest hydronic news to you, our valued reader, in WHAT. And we can’t wait to see what the every edition of W future holds.

So sit back, relax and enjoy our latest edition. And always remember—there’s nothing sweeter than a hydronic heater. remember—ther Sincerely, y,

Greg Dalgetty

Proud members of:

S u p p l e m e n t

DESK

Since the dawn of time, man has strived to heat his home.

© Copyright 2016. The contents of this magazine may not be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission of the publisher.

W H A T

EDITOR’S

Journey to the Future

From time to time, Content Media Group Inc. makes subscribers’ names available to reputable companies whose products or services may be of interest to readers. If you would like your name excluded from these mailings, please notify the publisher.

40

THE

0 8 . 1 6

How to Succeed in the Hydronics Business I

have been involved with the plumbing and heating industry since 1980, and I can honestly say that the secret to success has not changed in all that time.

In the early ’90s I started working for Western Supplies, which was eventually purchased by Emco. After moving into the hydronic heating department there in the mid-’90s, the manager took the time to explain that if I was diligent, studious, and learned hydronics inside and out, I could probably write my own ticket in the future.

Kim is the president and owner of Mechanical Systems 2000, a Calgary-based manufacturer’s agent specializing in hydronic heating. He has 37 years of industry experience.

I wanted to learn as much as I could, so I read everything I could get my hands on, whether it was textbooks on hydronic design or information on products.

I also became a sponge when it came to reading about or listening to hydronic industry experts. I would set up training sessions for contractors on Good People, various product lines whenever I could, which Great Knowledge helped me gain their respect and confidence.

It’s been said that you hire for I made sure to spend the time to get to know attitude and train for knowledge, my customers on somewhat of a personal level and Mechanical Systems 2000 as well. It is one of my strongest beliefs that this encourages a commitment to is very much an industry based on relationships, continuous training. and this has served me very well over the years.

In 1999, I went to work for a manufacturer’s agent—Mechanical Systems 2000, Inc. I have owned the business since 2008, and make a point of fostering relationships every day.

Integral to the continued success I have enjoyed within my business is that I have made a point of surrounding myself with great people. You can have the best products out there, but without the right people in place, you will struggle.

If I were to give any tips on how to succeed in hydronics, it would be no different than what would apply to any aspect of life or business: Educate yourself, learn your craft, and pride yourself on fostering great relationships with your customers and the people you work with. Let them know you care.

At the end of the day, we are people dealing with people.

42

W H A T

Suppl emen t

08. 16

Photos: Bookstrucker Photography

How you treat people has a direct impact on your business. I try to make sure my employees enjoy coming to work in the morning. In fact, I tell them quite often that if they are not having fun, then we need to find a way to change that. I also make sure they know how important it is to the business to service our customers as best we can. After all, all we can offer is great products, knowledge and great support.

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Project Profile Greg Dalgetty

W

hen the Edmonton Excel Society decided to build an addition to its 56-suite Grand Manor facility, Forbes Mechanical was brought on board to build an extensive hydronic heating network, in addition to installing the plumbing and ventilation systems.

The task at hand was a large one. Grand Manor was adding a five-storey building that would feature an additional 64 suites, as well as a ground floor with conference rooms and a multi-level parkade.

tight IN A

All these areas would be heated hydronically.

There was only one issue: the new building would not have its own boiler room. The existing boiler room would have to service all the heating needs in the new building.

Andrew Long, commercial project foreman at Forbes Mechanical, and his team were up for the challenge, however.

SPOT

PRESSING THROUGH CLAUSTROPHOBIA Installing a hydronic network in a building that didn’t have its own boiler room called for some creative thinking. Long and his team would have to run boiler mains and a gas line from the existing boiler room into the new building. But how?

Although it provided a solution to the boiler room problem, the chase meant some rather cramped working quarters.

“There was a chase that ran from the old boiler room to about 60 feet from the outside of the new building,” Long recalls. “We measured it all out and cut out a spot where we could drop into it. We ran about 60 feet of pipe underground, connecting it back into the existing boiler room.”

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“We had to build racks to support all of our heating mains, the gas main and everything that was running through that chase,” Long explains. “After the racks were put in, you had a space that was about four feet vertically and 18 inches from side to side.”

Claustrophobia aside, the tight space presented yet another challenge: how would the workers be

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This new addition features an additional 64 suites, as well as a ground floor with conference rooms and a multi-level parkade.

STAYING NIMBLE Adaptability was key to Forbes Mechanical’s strategy when they began work on the Grand Manor addition.

“The original drawings for the project called for two 1.5 million BTUH boilers and two hot water tanks,” Long recalls. “But there was no way to get the venting for the hot water tanks and the boilers into the existing basement.

“The only access we had to run vents—short of building a new chase all the way to the roof—was an old chimney that had been abandoned. We ended up upsizing the boilers from 1.5 million to 2 million BTUH, and we installed heat exchangers and indirect-fired tanks. We only had to vent two appliances instead of four, and we were able to get it all through that chimney.”

The two boilers supply the heating for the addition’s entire hydronic network.

“On the main floor of the building, we’ve got a couple hydronic fan coil units,” Long says.

“We’ve got some hydronic forced flow heaters in the entryways, and we’ve got four hydronic unit heaters in the parkade.”

Forbes Mechanical commercial project foreman, Andrew Long.

The 64 suites are heated with radiant ceiling panels. Ventilation is taken care of by two rooftop air handlers.

able to make all the piping connections in such close quarters?

Photos: Corey Hochachka

“I didn’t know what to do with that kind of space at first,” Long recalls. “The gas is what I was worried about. It was a 2-inch gas line running at 2 psi. I had to think about how you could make a connection in that tight of a spot. It’s impossible to crank on a pipe wrench in that, and we didn’t have room in the budget for a welder.

Photo: Viega

“At one point I was thinking of making all our connections outside the chase and pushing the pipe in. continued on page 46

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45

Project Profile

continued from page 45

BALANCING THE SYSTEM It would work, but it would be a pain to do, and if you got a leak halfway down that chase, it was all going to have to come out.”

DID YOU KNOW?

Fortunately, a sales rep from a local wholesaler came to the rescue and loaned Forbes Mechanical a press-fit tool that allowed them to connect all the piping in the chase with press connections.

“I had originally slated a week for three guys to complete the gas line,” Long says. “I ended up sending out the two smallest guys I’ve got, and they had it done in a day.”

The press tool came in handy for the hydronic system in the parkade as well.

“We did the entire parkade with it,” Long explains.

“I’d slated three or four guys for a week and a half to cut and thread it all, but all the connections took one guy 13 hours. The parkade is 120 feet long.

There are four mains running through it: a glycol pair and a heating pair, so there are quite a few connections.”

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The Excel Society supports and advocates for Albertans with physical, mental and developmental disabilities. It was formed in 1964, and currently provides support to more than 500 clients. Its Grand Manor facility is geared toward helping clients rebuild their lives in the Edmonton community.

Learn more at excelsociety.org.

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Other than having to run pipe through a cramped chase—which turned out to not be so difficult after all—the rest of the project went off with relatively few complications.

“Time was the only issue,” Long says. “It’s been a really tight timeline on this job.”

With time being of the essence, Long chose to use 130 self-balancing valves to balance the system.

“It speeds up the balancing process,” he says. “Instead of having to go through and set everything, everything is running very close to where it needs to be. You just need to tweak it to perfect it.”

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FINDING THE SWEET SPOTS

Solar Thermal

By Bob “Hot Rod” Rohr

Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me!

There are sweet spots where solar thermal technology can shine, but in a world without major incentives, you may need to look harder to find them.

Look for clients with high, predictable DHW loads. These help the math pencil out. Breweries are one classic example of high DHW loads, along with a consistent use pattern.

T

he harnessing of solar energy has been a lifelong passion for me. Over the decades I have seen the solar industry rise and fall several times.

In the boom years, typically around high oil prices or embargoes, the solar thermal industry flourishes. I recall one peak where there were solar industry magazines that reached upwards of 200 pages as manufacturers sprouted up across the globe and were clamouring to take part in the feeding frenzy.

Of course, the momentum typically wanes just as quickly, usually based on energy costs, incentives and public demand. This makes for a real roller-coaster ride for contractors and businesses trying to be players in the solar industry, specifically the solar thermal (ST) segment.

I believe in ST, and still see a need and desire for it, and there are lots of opportunities. We just need to know what to look for, and how to explain it to our customers.

So let’s all do our best to try to keep a sunny disposition regarding solar thermal options and sales, and don’t be surprised if you end up humming that classic Elton John song.

Sell Yourself First

Owners and managers of microbreweries are often keen to embrace clean energy. Showing solar PV and/or thermal presents an independent image, which can match well to the beer they brew. Solar beer just naturally tastes better!

Other sweet spots may be found in retirement communities, industrial kitchens and animal facilities, depending on the motivations of the owners or boards of directors.

To get a leg up in the solar thermal game, it can help to become the converted.

If you are able to convince or “sell” yourself on the technology, it becomes that much more natural when extolling the virtues of the sun.

Learn which types of systems work best in your climate. Read up on the design criteria required to build a successful, long-lasting, trouble-free system. And search out the manufacturers that seem to stay in the game through boom and bust years. Those are the consistent players that can be long-term partners.

Embrace the Simulation When it comes to solar heating, some of the best tools to learn and embrace are the simulation programs. With the proper inputs, a program can predict both the performance and the financial parameters of a system.

As the hands-on plumber type, I need to know how to size the collector array to the load. How important is the pitch and facing the collectors solar south?

What about some shading from trees? All these options can be explored within the simulation programs. With an energy production number in hand, piping, continued on page 50

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continues from page 48

pumping and component selection are now all possible. This all adds up to an accurate bid or job quote.

After the installed system price is established, you can do some financial analysis. You can use the labour and material estimates as your basis for job costing, and you may even be able to calculate some return-on-investment information.

The RET Screen program from Natural Resources Canada is described as a “Clean Energy Management Software.” I like that description. This is a powerful tool for energy calculations, and they have great online and phone support. Best of all, the program is free.

If you like more flash, the T-Sol program from Dr. Valentin EnergieSoftware GmbH provides colourful bar graphs and energy flow diagrams to help explain and sell the system to the customer.

With these programs you can easily change the component selection and run a new calculation. For example, you can run the calculation with different numbers of collectors, or storage tank size options. They also allow you to model the collectors as they would be situated on the roof, so that you can account for any shading.

BY DEFINITION Solar fraction is the amount of the heating load covered by the solar thermal heating system.

I recently ran a T-sol simulation for Calgary and Eureka, on Ellesmere Island. I based it on a system with 320 square feet of collector, 320 gallons of fluid at 140°F set point. Calgary did well, providing a 60 per cent solar fraction. As expected, Eureka was in the 20 per cent solar fraction numbers.

Use this information as you may, keeping in mind the simplicity of a solar thermal system with copper on the roof, a copper heat exchanger in the tank, and one inexpensive moving part, the circulator pump.

BRIGHT NEWS! Did you know that

It is realistic to expect a 20-year life cycle from the system, and some copper recycling at the end.

Calgary, Winnipeg,

And once the solar thermal system is up and running, very little maintenance is required. Most locations get enough rain or wind to keep the glass clean. In dusty climates, like perhaps the Sahara desert, an occasional washing would be required, but that will most likely not be a concern in Canada.

all show over 2,300 hours of

Regina and Saskatoon sunshine per year, and Calgary claims 333 days of ’shine?

Remember, it does not require a bright, sunny day to collect energy from the sun. I’ll occasionally hear our home ST system kicking on even on light to medium overcast days. Of course, Eureka on Ellesmere Island pops up as one of the least sunny

QUICK TIP

locations. It can pay to check the simulation software to see if

Over the years, I have looked at trackers for moving the array with the sun throughout the day. All the data I have seen suggests adding additional collectors would be a better return on investment, when compared to the complexity of tracking a piped system.

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your neck of the woods is a solar candidate.

Bob “Hot Rod” Rohr has been a plumbing, radiant heat and solar contractor and installer for 30 years. A long-time columnist and trainer, he is manager of training and education with Caleffi North America.

You can reach Hot Rod at bob.rohr@caleffi.com.

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Road Warrior

By Greg Dalgetty

Name: Jim Smith Company: Idraulico Mechanical Job Title: Owner/Operator Age: 42

Favourite car?

If I could have any car, I’d probably get one of the new Maseratis. I don’t know if that’s in the cards with a family, but I can dream.

Home: Vancouver

A Man with a Plan

Jim Smith S

ome people spend years discovering themselves, flitting from job to job in a quest to find their path. Others know what they want and go for it, grabbing the bull firmly by the horns.

Photos: Airisa Photography

Jim Smith falls into the latter category. When it came to choosing a career, he didn’t waste any time finding a home in the mechanical trades. His eyes were on the prize from the start.

52

“I joined the mechanical industry one year after finishing high school,” Smith recalls. “I didn’t want to go to university or do any more schooling, and everyone had always recommending getting into the trades.”

He started out in plumbing, mostly doing pipefitting work, but things really started to heat up when he got a gas burner licence.

“I did my plumbing apprenticeship, and then I got my gas-burner B licence,” Smith says. “I was working on boiler retrofit projects for most of my apprenticeship.”

That early experience as a gasfitter would serve as the foundation for a career that has lasted more than two decades. Smith is now a Class A gasfitter who owns his own business, Idraulico Mechanical, which specializes in commercial and industrial boiler projects. continued on page 54

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Road Warrior - Jim Smith continued from page 52

What kind of work do you specialize in?

I mostly do boiler work—boiler retrofits, start-ups, and I do some warranty repairs for a few of the major boiler manufacturers.

What’s your favourite thing about working in the trade? I’ve always been mechanically inclined, so I enjoy that part of the job: the physical part of the work, thinking things through and troubleshooting.

And I definitely like the variety. It’s never the same from one day to the next, that’s for sure.

What’s the most memorable project you’ve worked on? I really like the industrial projects. For FortisBC, we did some boilers for a compressor station. In an industrial setting, everything is cleaner. There’s lots of space. It’s a pretty amazing facility they have with all the huge compressors and diesel equipment and turbines they have there.

What’s your favourite tool in your toolbox?

These days, it’s probably my combustion analyzer.

What do you do for fun?

I like to golf. And I have two kids, so I end up taking them to a lot of their activities. My daughter is 15 and my son is 12.

Favourite radio station: I’m usually listening to my iPod, but I’ll also listen to Jack FM. Favourite movie: One of my all-time favourites is The Shawshank Redemption.

vacation spot: FFavourite a About a year ago we went to New York A b as a family. That was a great trip.

One place you’d love to visit: We haven’t made it to Europe yet, so I’d like to do that.

What’s the most satisfying thing you’ve ever done?

I’m pretty happy with the family we’ve created here in the business, and where we are as a company.

Biggest pet peeve: Bad drivers, for one. Crazy hockey parents are another.

If you had to describe yourself in one word, what would it be? Hardworking Favourite food: Any kind of pasta dish. I’m a pasta guy.

Favourite TV show: Criminal Minds Favourite sport: I’m a big NFL and Seattle Seahawks fan.

We go to Seattle a couple times a year to see games.

What’s it like being at an NFL game?

It’s amazing. You’re just more involved in the game.

You can’t really sit down. The crowd is just into it, cheering on every play—especially defensive plays.

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Favourite beverage: I’m a big beer drinker. Out here we’ve got lots of craft beers that are popular now. My favourite is probably brewed by Steamworks.

Do you have a personal motto?

What you put in is what you get out.

I feel you get what you deserve as far as hard work is concerned.

W

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Snowmelting

By Rich McNally

BIG

OR SMALL

SNOWMELTING SYSTEMS CARRY THE LOAD

H

eat transfer. In a nutshell, that’s what hydronic snowmelt systems are all about. Radiant tubing – typically embedded in concrete – carries a warm antifreeze mix to transfer heat to the material that surrounds it.

As this heat transfer takes place, the mass of surrounding surfaces gradually warm to just above freezing temperatures.

Naturally, a substantial snowmelt system requires substantial BTUs, and that’s why hydronic snowmelt systems require a boiler or boilers with relatively high output.

A boiler system with modulation can improve control of the heated surface temperature. Either a fully modulating burner, or the lead-lag staging of boilers, would allow a system to meet the dynamic load requirements for optimal system efficiency.

PEX, PE-RT OR EPDM Piping materials for snowmelt systems can be any number of substances, but the three most popular are PEX (crosslinked polyethylene), PE-RT (polyethylene raised temperature) or EPDM-ethylene propylene diene monomer, a synthetic material. These materials are flexible and durable, have good high-temperature properties, and have a proven record for long life and durability.

thermal shock: A BOILER’S PERFECT STORM Snowmelting systems present a unique challenge: high demand and high mass with extremely cold water/glycol temperatures. These operational parameters can create the ideal conditions for thermal shock, which is less than ideal for boilers.

Thermal shock happens when extremely low temperature return-water comes crashing into the heat exchanger during a cold start.

To prevent thermal shock with a typical non-condensing cast iron boiler, it’s necessary to isolate the boiler from the snowmelt system with a heat exchanger and the appropriate piping, pumping and control set.

The new generation of mod-con boilers takes this brutal jab in stride.

The broad Delta T from these systems guarantees the formation of condensate, and these new boilers – by design – extract valuable BTUs in the process without the risk of thermal shock. continued on page 58

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TURF

ON HOME

Here in Canada, one of the foremost snowmelt experts is Don Gibbs, a former owner of tekmar Control Systems.

He has influenced thousands of hydronic professionals in North America over the past 30-plus years.

A recent project was Gibbs’s own home, constructed in the Vernon, B.C. area. As a civil engineer by training, Gibbs took special interest in designing a 3,000-squarefoot, three-zone snowmelt system under his driveway.

The priority zone, controlled automatically to sense temperature and precipitation, is in front of the garage area. “The snow-melted driveway surface is stamped concrete, which would easily be damaged by snow removal blades or other equipment,” said Gibbs. “So, naturally, warming the slab was the best way to get rid of ice and snow.”

Gibbs explained that, under the on-grade, five-inch concrete slab is a thick layer of compacted gravel.

Elevated rebar strengthens the slab and also serves as the support for thousands of feet of 5/8” radiant tubing, located about two inches below the upper surface of the driveway.

TACKLING MISCONCEPTIONS Application of snowmelt is growing. It’s also become one of the most askedabout heating systems in Canada.

A common misconception about snowmelt systems is that they cost a lot to operate. Most of them only operate in the presence of ice or snow, however.

Furthermore, typical snowmelt systems only operate for brief periods at a time. Because of this, systems usually cost about $0.25 per square foot per year to operate – and that’s in higher snow areas. When building owners ask, tell them to compare those prices with manual and chemical methods used to keep surfaces free from ice and snow.

There are safety advantages as well. Can a medevac helicopter afford the risk of landing on a frozen rooftop? Can the team rushing from it do so safely if they’re sliding on ice? Down below at the front door, though perhaps a bit less dramatically, patients and visitors may be at risk if snow and ice are present on the walkways and parking lots.

Consider the advantage of greatly reducing an institution’s liability exposure when selling a snowmelt system.

ONLY IMAGINATION LIMITS THE USE OF SNOWMELT Walkways, driveways, commercial trucking ramps, hospital entrances and helipads are great uses of snowmelt. Drainage systems are another good application for snowmelt technology. Water, once it goes below ground and away from the warmth of the sun, might otherwise freeze.

Also, “hot pads” are another application.

These are areas for large parking lots, airport runways and other large outdoor spaces where snow is deposited for melting. It’s often cost-prohibitive to install piping to melt an entire airport runway or parking lot. So, to accomplish this, a concentrated amount of piping can be installed in an area where snow removal crews can dump snow. The pad melts the snow. These are fantastic for areas where snow disposal would otherwise be a problem.

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Dog kennels and animal containment are other applications where snowmelt heating systems excel. Zoos love the technology for its ability to bring animals out into areas where heatseeking critters are seen and admired.

Rich McNally is the eastern regional sales manager for Watts Radiant, Water PEX and tekmar, Watts Water Technologies. He can be reached at richard.mcnally@wattswater.com.

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Find the Fix

MULTIPLE ZONES, MULTIPLE TEMPERATURES – PART 2 You are looking at a primary/secondary, series, multizone, multi-temperature system drawing – how’s that for a mouthful?

One of the secrets to ensuring that the four zones of heating get the BTUs each needs is in the spacing of the tees. And remember, the main piping should be sized for either the maximum flow of the boiler or the distribution system.

So, based on what we know, and the additional information in the questions, let’s do some designing.

1. The total heating load, based on all four loads on design day, is 150,000 BTUH. What size of high-efficiency boiler would you recommend? a) 150,000 BTUH net b) 175,000 BTUH input c) 100,000 BTUH net d) Another size: _____ BTUH 2. If this was a combi-boiler doing DHW as well as the heating load, what size would you pick? a) 150,000 BTUH input b) 175,000 BTUH input c) 140,000 BTUH input d) 190,000 net BTUH e) All might run, but we need more info on the DHW requirements for proper selection.

3. What is the correct size piping for the air handler? a) 1/2”, like the connections on the unit. b) 1” would work. c) 3/4” is the right size. d) 1-1/4”

Looking for the May/June answers?

If you need the answers to last edition’s quiz, you’ll find them on our home on the web, www.mechanicalbusiness.com. Just click the “Looking for Answers?” button on our homepage.

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a) 1 gpm b) 1.5 gpm c) We do not have enough information to determine this. d) 3 gpm BONUS In number 4, would that be a (A) steep curve or (B) flat curve circulator?

A B

Email your answers to adam.freill@mechanicalbusiness.com.

Please include your name and daytime phone number.

60

4. If the head loss on the panel rad and piping is 8.6’, what would the gpm be in order to size the circulator?

0 8 . 1 6

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Project Profile

By Jerry Leyte

Playing Chicken with

PEX

W

hat do you do when you are installing an in-floor heating system for a poultry farmer who has already ordered the chicks that are supposed to inhabit the barn that you are still building? First step: breathe. And then you double check your dimensions and heat load requirements and go looking for heating system options that will minimize the time it takes to go from a gravel base to an installed in-floor heating system slab.

A poultry farm normally orders day-old chicks from a hatchery, raising them for approximately eight weeks before the birds are harvested for food. When Tony and Wilma Baas, the Ottawa-area farmers whose barn was being built, informed the plumbing team at Fernand Denis Inc. that their first shipment of birds would be arriving on a scheduled date, Pascal Denis knew that the building had to be ready. There was no wiggle room for him—or for the chicks.

Project: Russellview Chicken Farm Location: Ottawa area Mechanical Contractor: Fernand Denis Inc. System Designer: Klimar Agency Inc. General Contractor: Brian Shane Construction

Pascal reached out to Klimar Agency to assist in the design of the radiant heating system. Since timing would be the driving factor in the success of the project, he opted to use prefabricated radiant rollout mats of PEX, which would be enveloped in concrete to make the radiant slab. These would be part of the 1 million BTUH in-floor hydronic heating system used in the 64-by-400-foot structure.

Total Area: Approximately 24,287 square feet Designed Heat Delivery: 38 BTU/sq. ft.

Loop Lengths: 400 ft. (max.)

Radiant heating systems are more common in poultry barns than forced air heating systems, but the most common style of radiant heaters are overhead tubestyle or pancake-style “brooders,” as they are known in the poultry industry.

Spacing: 9” on centre

This particular farmer took it up a notch and opted for an in-floor radiant heating system. An in-floor radiant system has the additional advantage of even heat distribution throughout the entire floor surface, versus the hot spots that can get created directly under the traditional overhead style of heaters.

Supply Water Temp: 125°F

Consistent floor temperature in all sections of the barn leads to even distribution of the birds in the space, instead of having clusters of birds under a heater when they are cold, or bare spaces on the barn floor when an area is too hot.

Head Loss per Mat: 14 feet

Although radiant mats are somewhat more expensive than spools of PEX, the cost can be offset by the labour required to install the piping, and the fact that the mats could be installed in a small installation window made them a viable, and attractive option for this project.

As each mat is custom-built, Pascal placed his order weeks ahead of his scheduled installation date, so that they could be built to his specifications while the frame and walls of the building were going up. continued on page 64

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Tubing: 5/8” PEX

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Return Water Temp: 105°F Flow: 4 gpm

WATCH THE VIDEO Scan the QR code with your smartphone or tablet to watch the PEX installation.

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LAYOUT OPTIONS ABOUND

continues from page 62

Not leaving any timing to chance, Pascal actually drove to the supplier to pick up the product himself, rather than having it shipped and risk a delay from a third-party logistics company. This ensured that the tubing he needed would be on his site when he needed it – an extra step for Fernand Denis but an impressive level of customer service that showed the company’s commitment to their customer, the project and the welfare of the animals.

The use of the mats on the project helped keep the build on its tight schedule. Pascal’s crew was able to install almost 25,000 feet of tubing in a single day (see the QR code on the previous page to watch the installation video). Starting at 7 a.m., the tubing was in place and ready for the concrete pour by 1 p.m.

With everything up and running in a couple of days, the farmer was able to fill the barn with chicks, as scheduled.

GETTING LOOPY

When working with mats containing a reverse return header, you will have to

Available from a number of manufacturers, these mats of PEX tubing are rolled out prior to a concrete pour.

Depending on the size of the area being covered, the mats can be as narrow as a few feet, or as wide as 10 feet. Lengths can be up to 200’ long, and contractors can select the tube diameter and spacing that best fit their project.

MOVING RIGHT ALONG

With the piping in place, the system was pressurized with air to approximately 80 psi to ensure no leaks were created during the concrete pour (4” slab using fibremesh concrete) on the following morning, at which point the focus turned to commissioning the heating system.

Prefabricated mats can be configured in a standard looping configuration with each long loop feeding back to the supply and return of a standard radiant manifold, or they can be configured with a reverse return header incorporated, which ensures that all of the loops are properly balanced.

There are a number of methods that can be used for laying PEX tubing on commercial radiant floors, but perhaps one of the newest and most novel is the use of pre-fabricated mats.

ensure that the manifolds being used have sufficient flow rate capacity to meet the requirements of the mat.

For example, a 42” wide mat of 1/2” PEX with 6” spacing will have four loops, and therefore need a four-loop manifold, if it’s not being used in a reverse return header configuration.

As chickens get older, they require less heat, and the heating system gets turned down based on needs of the birds.

A zoned radiant floor heating system can actually be a great way to move birds from one section to another, for cleaning purposes, or as they grow. Simply turning zones off or on causes the birds move to the section you want them to inhabit.

Adjusting the temperature of the zones, warmest for new birds, and progressively cooler at the other end, with a few isolated zones in between containing birds of various stages of growth, is a common approach in large barns where day-old chicks enter one end of the building and eightweek-old birds leave the other.

If this mat is configured in a reverse return header format, those same four loops of 6” spacing will all be linked via the header and a single supply and return line from the mat will be connected to a single supply and return on the manifold. This single connection will need to have four times the flow rate of a single 1/2” loop in a standard looping configuration, however.

Jerry Leyte, P.Eng., MASc., is the sales manager for Central Canada at Uponor. He can be reached at jerry.leyte@uponor.com.

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Caleffi’s Presscon press fittings are designed for use with the company’s zone valves and other hydronic components. They are engineered to detect leaks during system testing if a press fitting is unpressed. Fittings are available in ½” to 2” copper sizes and are rated for a working temperature range of 0°F to 250°F at 200 psi.

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Advantus two-pass counter-flow fire tube boilers from Camus offer thermal efficiencies of up to 99 per cent and feature a turndown ratio of 25:1.

Thirteen different models are available, with inputs ranging from 450,000 to 4,000,000 BTUH.

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The paint on a cast iron radiator affects its heat output. Paint is added to reduce heat output.

Pre-Insulated Pipe R-flex pre-insulated PEX piping, available from Watts Radiant, features a waterproof outer layer. It is suitable for heating, cooling and snow-melting applications in residential, institutional and commercial settings. It has a double-wall corrugated high-density polyethylene exterior.

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Marketing with DOUG MACMILLAN

The Art of

Communicating Complex Things W

e’ve all been there: You pop into a store to understand what plugs into what, again. A keen clerk launches into a detailed, confusing narrative about how the thing was invented and built; what makes it work; why it’s better than others without the patented recalibrating such-and-such; and how it could actually be set up so you can binge-stream television while recharging your toothbrush in a few quick and easy steps – steps that are never easy or quick.

Doug MacMillan is president of The Letter M Marketing in Guelph, Ont. To reach him, email doug@thelettermmarketing.com.

Before we can say Netflix, our eyes glaze over and our minds drift away. They’ve lost us, and we still don’t know what plugs into what.

It’s the age of information overload – a time when anything we want to learn is available after just a few strokes on a keyboard. As such, there will be those who feel the need to dig far deeper, and share far more, than the level of information the average consumer needs or wants. But to be most effective, the sharing of information has to be at an appropriate level for the audience.

Sure, you will bump into customers who are keen to learn all about the inner workings of a radiant floor system, how pressure balancing works, or the difference between a two-stage and a modulating furnace, but most of us regular folks are looking for information in plain language, at a level we can understand.

The contractor who can best provide this knowledge in an understandable, concise way has a leg up over the guy who takes us on a deep and technical journey we can’t begin to comprehend.

Don’t Patronize A word of caution: Keep an eye on the fine line between sharing information in simple terms, and being patronizing. Assume your audience is intelligent – simply uninformed.

How to Share Over many years of speaking with contractors about how to discuss technical systems with customers, I’ve put together some of their best advice on how to give folks the technical details they need without overexerting anyone’s brain.

1

Don’t overshare. Most of the

time, people who know a lot about something are quick to dive into the uncondensed version. Step away from that ledge. Don’t assume everyone needs the full back story. Read the room and tell them only what they need to know or are asking about.

The curious ones will ask more questions if they need more answers.

2

Focus on benefits, not features. The features of a product

3

Avoid jargon and acronyms.

tend to bog us down in jargon, but people primarily need to understand the benefits – how the product will make their lives easier, more comfortable or better.

Focus on that, rather than the features or systems that allow it to deliver those benefits.

It becomes second nature in our work to talk inside baseball. I need to check myself before launching into dull diatribes about SEO or analytical continued on page 70

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continues from page 69

retargeting strategies when I should just be talking about how prime prospects can easily find your website. Understand what your jargon is and find more understandable terms (i.e., AFUE = Who cares?).

4

Use simple analogies. People

understand complex things more easily when we relate them to something that they already understand. “If you’ve emptied your dryer lint, you can change a furnace filter” sets a comforting tone that will make the action more easily understood.

growing source of information on the internet and image-only posts fill social media channels. Great how-to videos or quick GIF files (oops – jargon!

– those are five- to 10-second animated graphics that tell a brief story) can work hard so you don’t have to.

7

5

Simplify your sentence structure. Whether we’re

6

Use images whenever possible. Never is it truer that a picture is worth a thousand words than with complex systems. Short video is the most rapidly

communicating verbally or in writing, the more complex the subject matter, the more breaks we need in the narrative. That helps us process the information. Talk or write in short, singular sentences. Take pauses and breaks. And use straightforward words rather than superfluous verbosity.

If you’ve written a blog, eNews article or media release that’s a bit complicated, have it read by someone who wouldn’t have a clue what you were talking about. Your spouse, your partner, your neighbour – doesn’t matter. Just have it reviewed by an outsider.

A trusted brand.

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Have regular folks vet your work.

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B y To m Kelly

Sizing and Installing

Tankless Technology O

ver the past decade, tankless water technology has garnered considerable attention and growth in market share. A recently conducted industry study projects that by 2020 the tankless water heater market in North America could surpass $4.3 billion.

That’s a lot of water heaters, but it will be up to contracting firms to provide solid installation, service and sales information to maximize their opportunities. Contractors need to ensure that the units being sold will live up to their billing. This means ensuring that the water heaters are sized appropriately.

Calculating Efficiency Tankless water heaters are rated using a calculation called an energy factor (EF). The higher the EF, the more efficient the water heater. Gas tankless water heaters typically have EFs that range from 0.64 to 0.98, with an average of 0.85.

To properly size a gas tankless water heater, a contractor first needs to determine the litre-per-minute demand, or flow rate, at each fixture. It is particularly important to add up the flow demands for those that could occur at the same time – such as two showers at once, or a kitchen sink and shower.

Being realistic about the demand will keep you from both over- and under-sizing the water heater for your client. It will also determine the maximum temperature rise needed to run all the hot water applications in a home or building at a given time.

Temperature rise can be determined by subtracting the incoming groundwater temperature from the continues on page 74

INSTALLATION CONSIDERATIONS:

RESIDENTIAL

The number of fixtures or outlets in a residential home or apartment complex affects the number of tankless units required. Residences with more than two bathrooms, a kitchen sink, washing machine and dishwasher may require two tankless units.

In that case, it may be better to zone the house. Water heaters can be strategically placed in the home and each unit can be dedicated to certain water fixtures/outlets. This creates a decentralized hot water heating system, which can limit the pipe runs between each tankless unit and the fixtures it is supplying. This can help reduce the amount of cold water wasted down the drain while residents wait for hot water. continues on page 74

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PLUMBING desired output temperature (for most uses, a homeowner would want water heated up to 49°C). Use the coldest possible groundwater temperature for your immediate area to ensure the water heats up quickly, even during the most frigid winters.

Don’t forget that distance can also affect hot water delivery.

The longer a hot water pipe runs between the hot water heater and a fixture, the more likely it can result in reduced hot water temperatures at the fixture, especially if the pipes are uninsulated.

As such, insulate the pipes, but then be sure to factor in any remaining temperature drop from the length of your pipes when calculating the temperature rise needed.

Size also can be determined based on BTUs. For example, a gas tankless heater with 199,000 BTUs per hour can handle two to three major applications (showers, dishwashers, washing machines) at once without issue.

Gas tankless water heaters offer an energyefficient option for hot water supply for both commercial and residential buildings.

Tom Kelly is the applications and technical services manager at Bosch Thermotechnology Corp. He can be reached at tom.kelly@us.bosch.com.

continued from page 72

INSTALLATION CONSIDERATIONS:

RESIDENTIAL CON”T

Another water-saving option is a domestic hot water recirculation system on a centralized hot water heating system. Tankless units can be installed in a mechanical room or central location in a home, with hot water lines running to all the fixtures from there.

This may create a long pipe run from the mechanical room to the farthest fixtures, and thus longer waits for hot water, so a contractor can put in a hot water recirculation system. Controls can be used to ensure that hot water in the main line is circulated in the system during appropriate times of the day.

If a home has remote fixtures that don’t get a lot of use, say a half-bath in a larger house, it might be an idea to explore point-of-use options. This can reduce the cost and labour of running a hot water line directly to the application, and electric under-sink tankless or mini-tank units are available to provide hot water right at the point of use.

INSTALLATION CONSIDERATIONS:

COMMERCIAL

Athough it is possible to install enough tankless units to accommodate all hot water use in a commercial building, contractors may wish to combine tankless and storage units to offset the number of tankless units needed, rather than installing numerous tankless units to address peak demand.

For example, in a large hotel development, peak demand could be a two-hour timeslot in the morning as guests are showering before going to work or checking out. The cost to install enough tankless units to meet that once-a-day peak demand could be prohibitive to the owner, especially since the number of units required to provide enough hot water during peak demand may be overkill for the rest of the day.

In this case, the contractor could use a tank-loading application, which combines storage and tankless units.

The storage units buffer the supply of hot water during peak demand, and the tankless units help recover the storage tank more quickly than a typical direct-fired storage tank would on its own. This application also offers higher efficiency because the tankless units are still condensing during the heating cycle.

With the growing tankless market, contractors who understand how to size and install these units will be set up for success.

DON’T FORGET TO VENT Tankless units require proper venting. They generally use two- to three-inch-diameter vent pipe and do not need to be vented like a chimney, although that still is an option if necessary or desired.

Gas-condensing tankless water heaters emit a cooler exhaust gas than most noncondensing fuel-burning appliances, so the exhaust vent can be an approved S636 plastic, with PVC, CPVC and polypropylene being common options.

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THE CONVENIENCE OF A ONE-PIECE FITTING WITH THE SIMPLICITY OF THE QUICKVIC™ STYLE 607 RIGID COUPLING

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Products

Water Softeners Canature WaterGroup’s EconoFlo water softeners feature a manual index dial engineered for quick manual regeneration or cycle position selection. They have an interface that allows users to set the time of day, number of people in a dwelling and hardness of water. They are available in twin-tank and cabinet models.

www. watergroup.com

DWV Testing System

Hot Water Recirculation Available from Ontor, the AquaMotionHot One hot water recirculation system is designed for systems without a dedicated return line. It features a built-in sensor engineered to ensure that the pump only runs when water begins to cool. The system installs under the sink, and comes with a pump, built-in sensor/switch and check, a hose, and fittings.

www. ontor.com

Holdrite’s Testrite system is designed for stack testing of PVC, ABS and no-hub cast iron drain waste and vent plumbing systems. It features a reusable test wedge engineered to keep projects and installers safe and dry. Its test tee can remain in a system to serve as a cleanout.

Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho was the first American film to show a person flushing a toilet.

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Bradford White’s Combi1™ and Combi2™ Series models are available in both atmospheric and power vented configurations and are perfect for combined space heating and domestic hot water applications.

The Combi1™ features a single-wall heat exchange coil while the Combi2™ features a double-wall heat exchange coil. Both are Vitraglas® coated for corrosion resistance and long life.

Combi™ Series models are well-suited for supplemental heating applications as well as installations that utilize fan coils, space heaters, and radiant panels.

Combi™ models also feature the Hydrojet® Total Performance System, Vitraglas® tank lining and heat exchange coil coating, the ICON System™ intelligent gas control, and offer up to a 10 GPM flow rate with less than 5 ft. of head loss.

Contact your Bradford White Representative for more details

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©2016, Bradford White Corporation. All rights reserved.

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WON’T BURST

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Tub Filler Riobel’s Ever wall-mount tub filler has a flow rate of 5.4 gpm at 60 psi. It comes with a thermostatic/ pressure balance coaxial cartridge with check valves and features a 1/2” NPT female inlet. Available in a chrome finish, it also features a one-jet handshower.

www. riobel.ca

Greywater Piping Uponor’s AquaPEX reclaimed water tubing for greywater systems is available in 1/2", 3/4" and 1" pipe in 300’ coils; and 1", 1-1/4", 1-1/2" and 2" pipe in 10’ and 20’ straight lengths. The flexible purple tubing is corrosion-resistant and suitable for residential and commercial greywater systems.

www. uponor.com

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• Up to 96% thermal efficiency at full-fire from 70°F to 140°F

15-year tank and heat exchanger warranty

• Seamless modulation improves efficiency to 99% during periods of low demand

Conquest gas water heaters are available from 199 to 800 MBH in tanks from 100 to 130 gallons.

Heaters are ASME stamped for 150 psi working pressure.

• Electronic operator with digital temperature readouts and plain text for status, diagnostics and 15-event history. Includes Modbus for BAS connection

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Hot Water Booster The Tank Booster Pro from Cash Acme uses an integrated thermostatic mixing valve, a flexible connector and a water heater tee to allow for the storage of hot water at temperatures in excess of 140°F, with delivery at a safer temperature for end users. It is suitable for both residential and commercial applications.

www. cashacme.com

Drain Camera General Pipe Cleaners’ Gen-Eye Pod video inspection system features a self-levelling camera and 200’ of push rod. Designed for use with 3” to 10” drain lines, it comes with a 7” LCD colour monitor and a video out connection that allows footage to be recorded. A Mini-Pod version suitable for 2” to 4” drain lines comes with 125’ or 175’ of push rod.

www. drainbrain.com 78

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EVENT IN PICTURES: CIPH ABC 2016 Ten-gallon hats, cowboy boots and blue jeans were the clothing of choice at CIPH ABC, held in Banff, Alta., from June 26 to 28.

More than 260 delegates and companions flocked to the Fairmont Banff Springs for three days of guest speakers, business meetings and scenic outings among the Rocky Mountains.

Bill Palamar of Weil-McLain Canada was named chair of CIPH at the association’s 84th annual general meeting, held on June 28.

“I’d like to thank my fellow board members for their efforts, and the committee members who make CIPH such a strong force in the industry,” he said in his first speech as chair.

The next CIPH ABC takes place in Ottawa from June 25 to 27, 2017. ciph.com

1

2

3

4

6 5

7

8

1 Rick Proulx (right) of Reliance Worldwide Canada receives a Lifetime 1.

SService Award from outgoing CIPH chair Siân Smith. 2. Bill Palamar of Weil-McLain Canada delivers his first speech as incoming CIPH chair.

W 3. Cowboy hats were in abundance at Brewster’s MountView Do-Nut 3 Tent. 4. HeatLink’s Wade Peterson gets cozy with a friendly barn owl. 5.

Bill Palamar (right) congratulates Siân Smith (centre) on her year as chair.

6. Siân Smith welcomes ABC delegates and their companions to the opening night festivities. 7. Ken Webster of Viessmann receives CIPH’s Honourary Lifetime Membership at the Chairman’s Banquet. 8. Stephanie Martin, from the Government of Alberta’s Department of Safety Services, speaks at the Hydronics Luncheon on June 28.

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CELEBRITY ENCOUNTER

Houses of History

By Adam Freill

The Olympic Games are not just about the athletes; there are the cities, the cultures, the citizens and the buildings to take in as well. For Russell, the buildings where history has been made hold a special place in his heart.

“Every time I visit somewhere internationally, whether it’s on holidays or for work, I always want to see the Olympic stadium,” he shared. “I went to Germany, to Berlin, in advance of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2011, and I made a point to see the Olympic Stadium in Berlin.”

That arena hosted the 1936 Games where Jesse Owens became a sporting legend, much to the chagrin of Adolf Hitler.

“It was a fantastic structure, and remains a beautiful gigantic stadium to this day.

“For Rio, the stadium that I have heard so much about, but have never been to, is the Estadio do Maracana, where they are going to have the opening and closing ceremonies.”

At one time the largest stadium in the world with a 110,000-seat capacity, Maracana now seats 75,000.

“Pele played there,” explained Russell of his desire to visit. “It is the mecca for South American football, and I’m sure it will be spectacular for the opening and closing ceremonies.”

S

Photos Courtesy of CBC

cott Russell is an unabashed Olympic booster, and he’s looking forward to adding Rio to his long run of moments and memories.

“It is the greatest spectacle,” stated the Gemini Awardwinning broadcaster during an exclusive interview with Mechanical Business prior to his departure for Rio for the 2016 Games. “No other event in the world can bring together 10,000 athletes from 200 countries, of every faith, race, gender and orientation – only the Olympics can do that.”

Asking Russell, the host of Olympic Games Primetime and Road to the Olympic Games (both on CBC), to pinpoint a lasting moment in time from the dozen Olympics he’s had a chance to cover as a journalist easily elicits dozens of memories – some that affected him personally, and others that were broadcast for all to see.

“I’ve been to 12 Olympics, beginning in Seoul in 1988, and the awe moment for me begins when you fly over Seoul

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and the sun is setting, and it is a place that you have never been before, and is completely foreign to you, and exotic,” he reflected. “To me, that’s what the Olympics always represented when I was watching them as a kid. They were this great spectacle in a place that I knew nothing about, but was going to learn something about.”

Move forward to Beijing, 20 years later, and Russell finds himself once again in awe as one of the greatest gymnasts of all time runs along a guywire to light the Olympic cauldron in front of a capacity crowd of 90,000 spectators in the famed Bird’s Nest stadium.

“I had covered gymnastics for a number of years for the CBC and knew who Li Ning was, and to see that happen, in China, at those Games, was jaw dropping,” he explained.

“I believe in the aura of the Olympic Games. To my way of thinking, it is greatest recurring spectacle on the face of the Earth.”

Have Venue, Will Travel

From Passion Comes Success

Modern Olympic venues often incorporate unique architectural features. For example, built for the Beijing Games, the Beijing National Stadium – known more familiarly as the Bird’s Nest – uses a rainwater collection system, as well as a geothermal heating and cooling system.

What’s it take to be an Olympic champion? Russell has interviewed hundreds of athletes, and numerous medalists, so we’ll bow to his observances.

At this year’s Games, the concept of nomadic architecture has been embraced. Several of the venues are considered to be temporary, and have been built as modular structures that will be disassembled and moved for use elsewhere once the Games are done.

“Over the years of years of seeing these athletes, I really believe that they have a complete passion for what they do,” he says. “It is their life. It is their work. And you put those two together and it is their life’s work. So they are unalterably committed to it.

“You have to have that passion for it; otherwise you just can’t get there. It’s this intangible called passion.

“I read all kinds of stuff where people are saying these are coddled athletes; they are pros; they live a great life; they travel the world; what have they got to complain about? But I really believe they are tremendously committed, passionate Canadians who put a lot at risk by shouldering those expectations and representing their country on a world stage. I think their story is really worth telling, and I believe in them.”

“The big one that is going to be nomadic is the swimming pool, the aquatic stadium,” explained Russell. “That’s becoming a bit of a trend for aquatic venues. It goes back, in my recollection, to the 2005 aquatic championships in Montreal, on Ile SainteHelene, where they constructed four or five Olympic-size pools, and only two of them remain. The others were disassembled and moved.”

Also on the move after the Olympics and Paralympics wrap up is Future Arena, where handball will be played. Its components will be used to build four schools in the region.

“I think, at long last, that Mr. Bach, who is the president of the IOC, realizes that the Olympic Games have to be sustainable. We can no longer, in countries where economies go through ups and downs, build these enormous stadiums that become white elephants that we can’t move.”

Rio 2016 on CBC Canadian viewers will have access to more than 1,275 hours of television coverage from Rio 2016 from August 5th to 21st.

Daily coverage starts at 7 a.m. (EST).

Building on the Past In the lead up to any Olympic Games, there are always stories about construction progress on athlete villages and various venues, with headline-hunting writers always on the lookout for build sites that are pushing the deadlines as the competition comes into view, but according to Russell, Rio was a pleasant exception.

Scott Russell’s Can’t Miss Event: The Men’s 100 Metre Final “It is the world’s fastest man, the world’s fastest human being, and it’s mano a mano, no mistakes. It happens in less than 10 seconds, it’s over in a blink of an eye, and it is like fireworks going off.”

“One of the things that’s interesting about Rio is that many of the buildings are a legacy of the 2007 Pan American Games,” he said. “In terms of venue construction, with the exception of the velodrome, which is a new construction, they were miles ahead of many other Olympic cities that I had seen in the past.”

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HVAC

By A l e x F re a n

CONDENSATE MANAGEMENT

essentials A

s the ductless mini-split air conditioning market gains more traction in Canada, specifiers and installers find themselves faced with the ever growing challenge of condensate management.

Mini-split indoor units are typically located in plain view of the room they’re conditioning. Also in plain view is the potential water damage caused by overflowing drain pans, especially on interior wall installations. This water can severely damage walls, wood floors and ceilings. Overflowing drain pans can also create health-compromising mould, mildew and other biological growths behind walls, under floors and above ceilings.

There are preventative maintenance measures that HVAC engineers can specify and contractors can install on mini-split and even variable refrigerant flow (VRF) indoor coil applications, however.

DRAIN HOSES

MATTER Not all drain hoses are the same. Some types of tubing used for gravity draining can be prone to kinking. A kinked hose can allow condensate to back up into the drain pan and overflow. Corrugated drain hoses made specifically for mini-splits are designed to resist kinking.

Another drain hose challenge stems from unconditioned spaces, such as attics or crawl spaces.

The cold surface of an uninsulated hose can attract moisture (sweat) in an unconditioned space. This moisture can drip onto other surfaces, causing moisture damage or nurturing mould. Using a thick-

Siphoning Leading to Failure

walled, well-insulated drain hose can help prevent

Typical mini-split piston-operated condensate pumps must be constantly lubricated with water.

Siphoning causes premature failure because the pump operates dry.

Some pump manufacturers offer an inexpensive anti-siphon device that takes just a minute to install directly to the drain hose.

sweat from forming on its surface.

continues on page 84

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Our new 3D i-see Sensor gives you

752 reasons to choose Mitsubishi Electric.

M-Series | MSZ-FH • Industry-leading SEER rating of 33.1

• Available in 5 sizes, including a new 6,000 BTU/h unit • Absence Detection provides greater energy efficiency

Introducing another brilliant advancement from the leader in comfort innovation. The 3D i-see Sensor from Mitsubishi Electric analyzes the temperature profile of a living space to identify human presence and deliver optimal comfort. By dividing the entire room into 752 zones, the 3D i-see Sensor locates people based on their unique body temperature. With this thermal data, the MSZ-FH then directs the perfect amount of heating or cooling towards those who need it.

That’s comfort innovation in action.

*When installed by an Authorized HVAC (Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning) Installer.

MseriesHVAC.ca

HVAC

continues from page 82

OVERFLOW SWITCHES:

ADD A

TRAP

The Last Line of Defence Mini-split indoor coils don’t have the secondary drain pans that many unitary ducted air conditioners are equipped with, so an overflow switch can be the last line of defence against property damage during a condensate drain or drain line blockage.

Canada has yet to adopt an overflow switch code, but both the International Residential Code (IRC) and the International Mechanical Code (IMC), which are used around the globe, require a primary drain pan overflow switch on any air conditioning installation that is not outfitted with a secondary drain.

Some overflow switches come with options like diagnostic lights, but the main function is to cut off power to the unit so that it can’t operate and produce more condensate if the drain has been impaired. An overflow switch is inexpensive insurance against property damage. It can also be used in conjunction with condensate pumps.

Mini-split drain hoses should include an inline waterless trap, which is an inexpensive and essential device that prevents insect, dirt, humidity and allergen infiltration. An inline trap uses a check-valve device that allows condensate to flow out, but prevents unwanted pests, summertime humidity or wintertime cold air into the conditioned room via the evaporator. Even a small infiltration of unconditioned outdoor air can decrease system efficiency.

For even more protection, the trap’s check valve door is sensitive enough to open from the weight of an ounce or two of water, preventing water from accumulating, which could damage the trap during freeze/thaw cycles over the winter.

PUMPING CONDENSATE AWAY Another insurance policy against propertydamaging drain pan overflow events are condensate pumps. These are required for all internal wall installations.

There are many variations (see Illustration A), but typically a mini-split condensate pump consists of a pump body, a separate reservoir that includes a filter and a pump-activating switching mechanism.

Sometimes an integral overflow switch is included in the design, and some pumps have pump bodies that are mounted remotely. Other designs combine the reservoir and pump body into a single unit.

This is known as a monobloc pump.

Many pumps include two cable connections, a 115-V or 230-V power connection, and an overflow switch cable, commonly wired into the air conditioning equipment’s communication cable to shut down the unit during an overflow event.

The four most common mistakes associated with mini-split condensate pumps are: • Omitting a pump; • Creating a siphon by applying improper hydraulic design in the drain hose installation; • Wiring incorrectly; and • Selecting the wrong pump for the application or location.

Selecting the proper pump depends on such factors as the equipment’s cooling capacity, maximum head and suction lift, operating noise, installation and maintenance ease, and appearance.

Illustration A

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DRAIN PAN TABLETS The main culprits in drain blockages are mould and other biological organisms. As such, a biocide drain pan tablet designed for mini-splits can help keep the drain pan, hose and condensate pump filter clean. This can be added when installing the unit, or during routine maintenance.

There are two types of drain pan tablets.

One is simply a non-biocidal chemical that coats the pan with a slick surface that helps prevent debris from sticking. The other type is a biocide containing a disinfecting chemical such as chlorine.

Not all biocide tablets are the same. Some conventional biocide tablets may be too corrosive for the typical aluminum fins used on mini-split indoor coils.

Alex Frean is the international sales manager at Rectorseal Corp., a company that offers a range of mini-split installation and maintenance accessories.

He can be reached at alex.frean@rectorseal.com.

What’s the best reason to sell TEMPSTAR?

HVAC/R Products P 13 SEER Air Conditioners Napoleon’s 13 SEER central air conditioners are available in 1.5- to 5-ton sizes.

They feature PSC motors and all-aluminum coils. The units operate on use R-410A refrigerant. The motor assembly can be removed from the top of each unit when servicing is required.

• Easier to install • Easier to service • Easier to SELL!!!

www. napoleonheatingandcooling.com

Non-Contact Readings g FLIR’s TG54 and TG56 spott IR (infrared) thermometers are engineered to take non-contact surface temperature readingss in areas that are difficult to reach. ch.

They offer a distance-to-spott ratio of up to 30:1 and allow w users to view current temperaature readings with the last two wo readings simultaneously.

www. flir.ca

Become a TEMPSTAR dealer today and benefit from:

Follow Us on Twitter @MechBusiness

Heat Pumps Mr. Slim FH series heat pumps from Mitsubishi Electric feature variable-speed compressors and offer efficiencies of up to 30.5 SEER. They use R-410A and are available with wall-mount, ceiling-mount, floor-mount and four-way cassette-style indoor units. Cooling capacities range from 6,000 to 24,000 BTUH.

• Full service custom packages • Parts when you need them • Toll free personal support • Prospect marketing support materials • Exclusive Territories available in Ontario For more information: Tel: 1-800-461-7610 extension 262 Email: info@tmlsupply.com Website: www.gotempstar.com

www. mitsubishielectric.ca

Dealer opportunities available M e c h a n i c a l

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COHA Focuses on Image in Charlottetown

By Darcy Cudmore Modern oil heating has an image problem. It is not the dirty fuel that many envision when thinking about heating system options, which is why the themes of cleanliness and safety were among the many messages shared with delegates during the Canadian Oil Heat Association’s annual conference, Cleaner Heat.

Over 100 people involved in the oil heating sector gathered in Charlottetown to participate in the two-day event in June.

Things got rolling with keynote speaker Michael Duck, founder of Sure Shot Solutions, who shared business advice with the owners and managers in attendance. “Attitude has more to do with success and failure than any one thing,” he explained. “Eighty-five per cent of people achieve things by attitude, 15 per cent by aptitude. It’s all aboutt having a positive attitude.”

1

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One issue highlighted during the event as a way to help maintain a clean image for the oil heating industry was the reduction of spills.

As such, in addition to talking about expanding COHA’s GreenTech Program, COHA president Stephen Koch led a session about spills and the importance of collecting data on the subject. He discussed the need to establish an information hub that will help with the collection and distribution of information about oil systems and spills.

5

“The industry has to pay attention to the data that’s being collected to make sure that when people spend a lot of money on a new setup, it actually does reduce the risks of a spill,” said Michael Freill, president of Mark 1 Engineering, to the room.

Koch touched on the relationship between the government, insurance companies and those involved in the industry, and how accurate data collecting can help reduce and limit oil spills.

4

3

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1. Keynote speaker Michael Duck spoke on being successful and the importance of a positive attitude. 2. COHA president Stephen Koch kicks off the annual conference’s first session by addressing the importance of the event, as well as the new GreenTech program that COHA has started. 3. Sean Hiscock explains the benefits of having a Red Seal in the oil heat industry in Canada. 4. Phillipe Roy of Granby (left) chats with an attendee during the Canadian Oil Heat Association’s annual conference. 5. Holland College HVAC instructor Charlie Redmond joins (from left to right) Alan Gaunt and Bernie Jackson of Humber College and Sean Hiscock from the Nova Scotia Community College on an education discussion panel with members of the industry. 6. General manager of Datanova, FelixAntoine Rollin (left), shares a laugh with incoming COHA chair Dave Brown of Western Petroleum before COHA’s annual conference gets started in Charlottetown. 7. Bernie Jackson, an instructor at Humber College, speaks to the room about education.

“It’s much easier to speak to an insurance company or government when we have data to back up what we’re saying,” Koch said.

The next edition of Cleaner Heat comes to London, Ont., in June of 2017. coha.ca

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TOOL TIP

Tool Kit, or Not Tool Kit? Q That Is the Question

W

hen it comes to cordless tools, combo kits containing two or more tools from a single company can be an attractive purchase, since the kits often offer considerable savings when compared to the costt of buying individual tools. ols.

But kits generally lack ck the flexibility to choose ose which tools are included, so they may not always be when b the h best b choice h h tooling l up. Here are a few things to contemplate next time you are in the market for a new tool or two, so you can decide whether to go kit, or kitless.

IMAGINE THE POSSIBILITIES WITH SAMSUNG • Reliable Performance • Exceptional Design and innovation • Easy trouble shooting (Smart check) • Smart WIFI

KIT IT UP - BENEFITS OF A KIT • Use of the same battery for multiple tools, and inclusion of a charger.

• Available trade-specific kits.

• Pricing: Generally much cheaper than buying each piece individually.

• Maintenance: All tools in the kit are the same age, which can simplify scheduled maintenance.

GOING SOLO - WHY BUY TOOLS ON THEIR OWN, RATHER THAN IN A KIT? • It’s a way to avoid buying duplicate tools.

• Tool selection is fixed in kits. Buying individual kits allows tradespeople to customize to their needs and preferences.

• Ability to buy bare tools from some manufacturers, reducing the overall cost since the user makes use of the batteries they already own.

Become a SAMSUNG dealer today and benefit from: • Full service custom packages • Parts when you need them • Toll free personal support • Prospect marketing support materials • Semi-exclusive dealer programs available For more information: Tel: 1-800-461-7610 extension 262 Email: info@tmlsupply.com Website: samsunghvac.com

Sponsored by Milwaukee Electric Tool – a proud partner with Mechanical Business. Look for video tips, tools and reviews at www.milwaukeetool.com.

Visit mechanicalbusiness.com for your chance to win valuable Milwaukee products and merchandise!

Dealer opportunities available

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PLUMBING A – 2.5.6.5.(5) Where a vent pipe passes through a roof, it shall:

HOUSE DRAINAGE

(a) be terminated high enough to prevent the entry of roof drainage but not less than 150 mm above the roof or above the surface of storm water, which could pond on the roof, and

A

lthough Canada has a number of plumbing codes, as well as local variances to code that will depend on where you are plying your trade, we thought it might be helpful to provide a look at some of the drain, waste and venting systems commonly found in residential buildings.

(b) be equipped with a flashing to prevent the entry of water between the vent pipe and the roof.

B – 2.5.6.5.(4) Except for a fresh air inlet, where a vent pipe is terminated in open air, the terminal shall be located: (a) not less than 1,000 mm above or not less than 3.5 m in any other direction from every air inlet, openable window or door…and…

C – 2.5.6.5.(6) Where a vent pipe passes through a roof, it shall be protected from frost closure by increasing its diameter at least one size, or by insulating the vent terminal, but not less than 3” in size, immediately before it penetrates the roof.

D – 1.4.1.2.(1) Vent header means a vent pipe that connects any grouping of vent stacks or stack vents to outside air.

E – 1.4.1.2.(1) Stack vent means a vent pipe that connects the top of a soil stack or waste stack to a vent header or outside air.

F – 2.5.8.4.(3) The minimum size of vent stack or stack vent shall be one-half the size of the soil or waste stack at its base.

Laundry Tray

G – 2.5.4.1.(1) The upper end of every soil or waste stack shall terminate in a stack vent.

N – Ontario/Nova Scotia Only – 2.4.9.1(2) / 7.4.9.1.(2) Where a building drain connects to a stack through a wall or floor, the drain shall retain its full size through the wall or floor.

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O – 2.4.7.1.(6) Every sanitary building drain or storm building drain shall be provided with a 4” cleanout fitting that is located as close as practical to the place where the drain leaves the building.

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Sanitary Building Drain

In Ontario? Scan this QR code to view a version of this chart

that is based on the Ontario Plumbing Code.

H – 2.5.2.1.(1) A soil or waste pipe may serve as a wet vent provided that:

AND VENTING

(d) the water closets are connected downstream of all other fixtures,

We’d like to thank Ontario Plumbing Inspectors Association (OPIA) past-president Rainier Bratsch-Blundell for the overview. Rainier is a regular contributor to Mechanical Business, in addition to being an author, a journeyman plumber, a plumbing professor at George Brown College, and a plumbing inspector with more than 25 years of experience. While this illustration is based on National Plumbing Code 2016, it might prove helpful as you navigate your next project.

I – 2.5.2.1.(1) … (j) the wet vented portion is not reduced in size except…

J – 2.5.2.1.(10) The fixture outlet pipe or a p-trap with a removable trap dip, where a separately installed cleanout must be installed to clean out the trap arm.

K – 2.5.7.2.(2) The sanitary building drain or storm building drain must terminate at its upstream end into a vent that is at least 3” in size.

Ontario Only –7.5.7.2.(3) A stack referred to in Sentence (2) shall be a soil stack if one is available, and may be a vent stack or waste stack that provides at least 3” stack vent and that goes to open air above the roof, either directly or through a header.

L – Table 2.4.7.2 – The cleanout must be the same size as the drainage pipe for sizes 2” and smaller.

M – 2.5.1.1.(3) A trap that serves a floor drain does not need to be protected by a separate vent pipe where: (a) the size of the trap is not smaller than 3”; (b) the length of the fixture drain is not less than 450 mm; and (c) the fall on the fixture drain does not exceed its size.

Rainier Bratsch-Blundell, a past-president of the Ontario Plumbing Inspectors Association, is a certified plumbing systems inspector and a plumbing professor at George Brown College. He can be contacted at rainierblundell@gmail.com.

P – 2.4.7.1. (1) Every sanitary drainage system and storm drainage system shall be provided with cleanouts that will permit cleaning of the entire system.

Q – 1.4.1.2.(1) Sanitary building sewer means a pipe that is connected to a sanitary building drain 1,000 mm outside a wall of a building and that conducts sewage to a public sewer or private sewage disposal system.

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with Roger Grochmal

If Someone Else Can Do It, Should You?

I

often get asked what the most important tant skills are for an owner ing business. One skill that or manager of a mechanical contracting is often overlooked, but one that I consider onsider to be essential, is the art of delegation.

It’s harder in practice than it is in theory, yy, but empowering others is critical when you are looking to o grow your business.

Roger Grochmal is the CEO of AtlasCare in Oakville, Ont. To submit a question about your company, business practices, or the industry in general, send an e-mail to Mechanical Business Magazine’s editor, Adam Freill, adam.freill@ mechanicalbusiness.com.

Success via Succession The main task of a manager is to develop a successor. I can remember very early in my career when I was passed over for a plum promotion, so I asked my boss for an explanation. He said that it was simple: I had not developed a successor who could do my job and allow me to move up.

Delegating enables the people who workk for you to gain the experience and skills you need them to learn, so they can take on higher responsibilities sibilities and reach their fullest potential. It also allows you, the owner, to stay focused on the things that represent the best use of your time.

Done well, it will build the team you need to grow your business, and it should likelihood having decent work-life balance – ld iincrease the h lik lih d off h i ad k lif b l this is important for any entrepreneur interested in a long career. Similarly, there are lots of reasons (aka, excuses) that managers make for not delegating. Most of us are good at what we do and have trouble delegating when we think the outcome may not match what we would do. Not only that, but delegating can take a lot of upfront effort. In the short term, it can stretch out the time it will take to complete a project.

We also tend to obsess over the potential cost of mistakes, and our egos can also get in the way. But to get the benefits, we need to push aside our pride and show respect for the talent that others in our organizations can bring to bear on an issue.

Delegation is not just about getting some work off your plate so you can have a personal life. It’s about developing the people around you to drive your business forward. Failure to become an effective delegator will limit your ability to grow your business.

IT’S NOT “DREADED-TASK AVOIDANCE”

Twelve months later, I had my successor in place and I was able to get that promotion when the incumbent retired.

A painful lesson learned.

Don’t submit to the temptation to delegate the things you don’t like to do. Delegate the things you do well – when you do, it’s a lot easier to follow up and coach your employee through the task.

WHEN TO DELEGATE Delegating a task is not always appropriate, of course. So when is delegation appropriate?

When you can say yes to these questions:

• Is there someone else with the expertise to do the job?

• Can it develop the skills of someone else on your team?

• Will it likely reoccur in the future?

• Do you have the time to delegate the task effectively?

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STEPS TO EFFECTIVE DELEGATION • You have to trust the person to whom you are delegating the task.

• Delegate to the people who are closest to the action, and who represent the lowest cost to the business to complete the task. who will deliver results, not those who are least busy.

• Give work to people p • Clearly define the t task, the desired outcome and what success will look like.

• Always make it clear why the task is being delegated. Why is it important and relevant?

• Make sure you yo provide the resources required for the project to be successful. This is often where things go off the rails.

• Ensure you, or another manager, are available for mentoring g and to give feedback on results.

• Agree on a deadline and checkpoints along the way to measure asure progress.

• Match the amount of responsibility being delegated with the authority to do the work. am • Avoid reverse delegation where the work seems to find its way back on to your d other hand, don’t micromanage. plate. On the o • Accept only good go quality, fully complete work. Hold your team to a high standard andard if you want them to grow and improve.

ASK the QUESTION Which refrigerant leak sealant do you want in your A/C system?

Polymer type sealant

VS

AC Leak Freeze ® AC Leak Freeze polymer free formula safely stops leaks permanently and keeps AC Lines and internal components clear. d

Polymer type c sealants form a polymer component that could clog compressors, cap tubes, TXV valves and recovery equipment.

• Contains no polymers • Safe for system • OEM approved • Easy to use RectorSeal’s new innovative product

2601 Spenwick Drive - Houston, TX 77055 800-231-3345 rectorseal.com

A CSW Industrials Company

international@rectorseal.com

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HVAC/R Products P CO2 Leak Detector The SCL2 handheld leak detector from Fieldpiece Instruments is designed to locate R744 refrigerant leaks in commercial refrigeration applications.

The unit has three sensitivity levels, the highest of which can detect leaks with rates as small as 6 grams (0.2 ounces) per year. Its rechargeable battery lasts up to eight hours.

fieldpiece.com

Variable Speed Air Conditioners KeepRite’s ProComfort Deluxe 19 variable speed air conditioners are available in 2- to 5-ton sizes. They feature rotary compressors, ECM fan motors and integrated inverter controls. When paired with the company’s Observer wall controls, the units are engineered to transition between five compressor stages and operate at as low as 25 per cent of full capacity.

HVAC Monitoring System RectorSeal’s SS1 directional cleanout tool is designed to clear debris from 3/4” primary and secondary condensate drain lines in all residential and most commercial air conditioning systems up to 20 tons. It features a bidirectional design engineered to handle either upstream or downstream blockages.

rectorseal.com

Follow Us on Twitter @MechBusiness

gokeeprite.com

18.5 EER Heat Pumps

Variable-Speed Heat Pumps

Vertical stacked water source heat pumps (VSHPs) from Johnson Controls offer efficiencies as high as 16.6 EER and 18.5 EER in geothermal applications. They are engineered for use in multi-storey buildings with consistent floor plans and feature a preengineered piping system.

Daikin’s VRV IV-S-series single-phase, air-cooled heat pumps can operate up to 10 indoor units and accommodate up to 984 feet of piping. Available in sizes ranging from 3 to 5 tons, they are designed to operate in heating mode in temperatures as low as -4°F and can provide cooling at temperatures up to 122°F.

johnsoncontrols.com

www. daikin.com

Ductless Heat Pump mp Systems

Air Handlers

LG’s Multi F heat pumps are availvailable in cooling sizes ranging from om 18,000 to 30,000 BTUH. They ey feature variable-speed compressors ssors to adapt to changing conditionss and use R410A refrigerant. The units nits are engineered to function at ambimbient temperatures between 14°F F and 118°F in cooling mode and from om -4°F to 64°F in heating mode.

RedZone’s DVS series of hydronic air handlers can be used with Bosch or Rinnai tankless hot water heaters to provide home heating. They require no venting or gas lines and have high-efficiency ECM motors. They are available in five heating sizes ranging from 20,000 to 60,000 BTUH.

www. redzone-products.com

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The Marketplace Ads from $895

SPOTLIGHTS WIRELESS CLAMP METER WITH MOBILE CAPABILITY The feature-rich Fieldpiece Instruments S SC660 is a loaded swivel-head clamp meter that connects wirelessly to the Job LinkTM Mobile App. All meter measurements are included in your Job Link Lin reports, and Job Link calculates both SE and EER. You can also verify the SEER order of three-phase voltage lines with or just ju two leads. In addition, trusted DualTemp T provides reliable temperature testing t in fast changing environments, and a calculates your Delta-T.

fieldpiece.com HE-Z FAN COILS HE-Z Fan Coils from Hi-Velocity feature Pressure Sensing Board (PSB) motor controllers that are preset for cooling, heating and recirculation, and are also field programmable for various fan outputs.

The VDC signal varies depending on the system load, adjusting power input based on demand and allowing for simple zoning. The compact and flexible Hi-Velocity System is designed to fit where other HVAC systems cannot!

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HIGH-EFFICIENCY BOILER SERIES The Navien NHB (Navien Heating Boiler) series for residential and light commercial use comes in 4 sizes: NHB-55, NHB-80, NHB 110 and NHB-150, with turn-down ratios respectively of 7:1, 10:1, 11:1 and 15:1.

With a number of smart control features and a noteworthy 15:1 TDR, the NHB offers an opportunity to achieve a true high-efficiency installation. ion.

boilersmadesmart.com fieldpiece.com HL2 SERIES 2 STAGE INFRARED TUBE HEATER The HL2 Series, packed with quality features, represents today’s most energy efficient line of infrared tube heaters. The series captures the operational benefits of both th high and low stage radiant comfort, mfort, while saving valuable energy dollars.

In addition we use the highest quality materials and construction tion features ensuring years of reliable able operations. No other infrared heater can match the performance and nd quality of the HL2 Series.

brantradiant.com M e c h a n i c a l

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STUFF YOU NEED Press Tool

Temperature Alarm

Ridgid’s RP 340 press tool is capable of more than 400 presses per charge. It has a capacity of 1/2” to 4” for copper and stainless steel, and 1/2” to 2” for PEX. It features an LED light for operation in dark spaces and can alternate between AC and lithium ion battery power.

The FA-D2 Deluxe Freeze Alarm from Emerson is designed to call up to three phone numbers when a building’s temperature dips below 7°C or rises above 29°C. It can also notify users when a building loses power. It features ports to attach other control products, such as water alarms and motion sensors, and can enable the pre-heating or pre-cooling of a building via a phone call.

www. ridgid.com

www. emersonclimate.com

Cordless Rotary Hammer

Wiring Pro’s twist-on wire connectors are available in a variety of sizes to accommodate a wide range of wire gauges. They come in small, medium and large jars that are engineered to be reusable and resealable.

Milwaukee Tool’s M18 Fuel 1” D-handle rotary hammer features an in-line design engineered for extended overhead and downward drilling applications. It has a 1” maximum capacity and delivers 2.1 ft.-lb. of impact energy. The hammer is capable of 1,500 RPM and 4,400 BPM. It measures 16.6” in length and weighs 5.5 lb.

www. wiringpro.com

www. milwaukeetool.com

Wire Connectors

Thermal Multimeter

Nitrogen Purge Kit

Fluke’s 279FC wireless TRMS thermal multimeter integrates the features of a digital multimeter with a thermal imaging camera. It is designed to transmit readings wirelessly to a smartphone and email detailed reports from the field using a free app available for iOS and Android devices.

ESAB’s TurboTorch nitrogen gen purge kit is designed to purge oxygen from HVAC systems to prevent the accumulation of oxidized particles in copper lines, zed ensuring higher quality brazed joints. The kit comes with a nitrogen purge regulator, flow ne meter, 1/2” and 3/4” cone plugs, and 36” and 72” o standard 1/4” hoses. It also includes a blowgun, flushing ng attachment and needle tip.

www. fluke.com

www. esab.com 94

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The Marketplace Ads from $895

SPOTLIGHTS HYDROFILL™ PORTABLE WATER TREATMENT FILLING UNIT Caleffi’s HYDROFILL™ portable water treatment filling unit produces ideal-grade demineralized water from sitesourced water for use in closed loop hydronic systems, at an economical cost p per gallon. Minerals causing hardnes hardness are almost entirely eliminated. This prevents premature equipment malfu malfunction, including re reduced efficiency or ccomponent failure due tto lime scale formation – a common affliction of heat exchangers.

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MODEL 68 UNDERCOVER WALL HYDRANT™ The Woodford Model 68 freezeless Undercover Wall Hydrant™ features a reliable Woodford wall hydrant protected by an integral, 16 gauge stainless steel, locking cover. The hydrant won’t freeze, drains automatically (even with a hose attached), is high flow and maintenance-free. The replaceable, locking stainless steel cover flips down for easy access and features a sleek, low profile design that is easier to install than recessed box hydrants. All Woodford commercial wall hydrants are guaranteed for five years.

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SYSTEM SOLUTION FOR STEAM

GRAB AND GO!

Victaulic introduces the industry’s first grooved mechanical piping solution designed for use on commercial saturated steam and condensate piping.

Eliminating the need to weld 2-8” steam piping up to 150 psi and +366°F | 186°C, the system features the Style 870 rigid coupling and full line of fittings.

New construction, retrofit or repair – the Victaulic steam solution is faster, more reliable and more cost-effective than welding.

Reed’s Cordless Power Pipe Beveller deburrs and bevels plastic pipe. It is adjustable to create 0” to 5/8” long, 15° external bevels on pipe 2” in diameter and larger.

A carbide router bit with a four-flute design makes smooth, clean cuts. Works exclusively with an 18V cordless die grinder.

victaulicsteam.com fieldpiece.com

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Hydronic Products Near Boiler Piping Kits Hydro-Core complete near boiler piping kits from Webstone are designed for use with boilers from 20 different manufacturers. They are engineered for hydraulic separation, pump isolation and purging the near boiler piping or secondary circuit loops.

www. webstonevalves.com

Radiant Floor Panels Interlocking radiant floor panels from Creatherm are made of EPS and Neopor.

They feature a grid-style design to facilitate the installation of tubing and come in 2’ by 4’ sizes in thicknesses of 1.8”, 2.8” and 3.3”.

www. creatherm.com

Multiple Venting Options Trinity fire tube condensing boilers from NTI are available in nine different models ranging from 60,000 to 399,000 BTUH. With heat exchangers made from 439 stainless steel, the boilers offer AFUE efficiencies of up to 95%. Vents can run up to 150 feet with five vent termination options. Some models can use 2” vents.

A 10-foot length of copper tube will expand 7/16" at a 100°C temperature rise.

www. ntiboilers.com

System Cleanser Fernox’s HVAC Cleaner F3 is designed for use with commercial hydronic heating and cooling systems and is suitable for use with powerflushing machines. It is engineered to remove sludge and scale using a non-acidic, non-hazardous environmentally friendly formula. It is available in 2.6 gallon and 55 gallon sizes.

www. fernox.com

Stainless Steel Manifold Zone Valves

Legend’s M-8330 stainless manifolds feature stainless steel supply headers with built-in flow meters engineered to optimize design efficiencies. Manifolds come loosely preassembled, and all assembled parts have EPDM O-rings and seals. Optional fourwire actuators are also available. They also feature an angle isolation valve option for tight installations.

White-Rodgers hydronic EZ-Top zone valves feature a one-piece, brass valve body. Their raised ball valves are designed to ensure total closure of the valve, and can withstand temperatures up to 110°C. Their tops are designed to be removed quickly for troubleshooting.

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The Marketplace Ads from $895

SPOTLIGHTS HYGIENEFIRST STAINLESS STEEL DRAINAGE SYSTEMS ACO’s stainless steel drainage systems are designed for use inside buildings where hygienic demand is high and in architectural areas. The versatility of stainless steel allows it to be formed into a variety of shapes and sizes.

It has the strength to accommodate heavy loads and can also be used in locations with chemical aggression.

PEACE OF MIND, NOW ONLINE! The new Aquanot Active 508 pump from Zoeller has a 12-volt DC battery backup system with Z control technology to provide peace of mind anywhere there’s internet access. The cloud-based system notifies a mobile device whenever the system needs attention, with early warning diagnostics, self-testing and smart diagnostics.

Offered with a five-year warranty, the pump works alongside submersible or pedestal pumps to provide up to 5.5 hours of continuous pumping when the primary pump power is interrupted.

®

www.acocan.ca

zoellerpumps.com

DYSON AIRBLADE™ ADE TAP HAND DRYER RYER

G. F. THOMPSON: EXCLUSIVE ROOF TOP BLOX DISTRIBUTOR

Wash and dry hands at the sink. No waste water on the floor.

With Airblade™ technology in a tap, hands can be dried at the sink in just 14 seconds.

There’s no need for users to move to a separate eparate drying area, so no water is dripped on the floor.

Roof Top Blox ox are designed specifically for or supporting pipes and mechanical equipment on flat commercial cial roofs. This revolutionary evolutionary roof top support port block system works with height extension rods, pipe support brackets, pipe rollers, strut support brackets and more. Easier installation and lasting dependability make Roof Top Blox the best roof block choice on the market.

dysonairblade.ca fieldpiece.com

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SPOTLIGHTS

Hydronic Products

THE Marketplace

UNIVERSAL NUFIT BATHTUB DRAIN COVER Say goodbye to ugly bathtub drains! The Universal NuFit bathtub drain cover from Watco Manufacturing makes old drains look new in minutes. The Universal NuFit fits over all bathtub drains (without requiring removal of strainer body), resists corrosion, is available in nine designer finishes, features a high flow grid strainer to prevent hair clogs and is a breeze to install. It is available with Foot Actuated (Toe Touch) and Push Pull stoppers. For more information, visit www.watcomfg.com.

High-Efficiency Boilers ECO gas boilers from Weil-McLain offer AFUE efficiencies of up to 95.2 per cent. They feature stainless steel fire tube heat exchangers, offer multiple venting configuration options and include LCD display monitors. The boilers can be vented up to 100 feet for both exhaust and air intake using S636 PVC, CPVC, PP or SS venting.

www. weil-mclain.ca

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watcomfg.com fieldpiece.com End Suction Pumps

ANNEX™ SHOWER RAIL SYSTEM

SCI and SFI self-sensing, variable speed end suction pumps from Taco Comfort Solutions feature integrated VFDs designed to allow for quick and accurate balancing. The SCI units are closecoupled and the SFI units are frame-mounted.

Both feature a self-sensing bypass option that allows engineers to bypass the variable speed control. SCI pumps have a maximum flow of 2,500 gpm and head of 390’. SFI pumps have a maximum flow of 4,400 gpm and head of 390’.

The new Annex Shower Rail allows you to add a handshower and slide bar to an existing shower plumbing – without tearing through a finished wall. Annex works with any shower valve, shower arm, showerhead or handshower. It easily attaches to the current shower arm connection point in the wall, and features a built-in, twofunction diverter to simply switch from showerhead to handshower.

www. tacocomfortsolutions.com

Leak Detection Dyes Water-Glo fluorescent leak-detection dyes from Spectroline are designed to reveal leaks in boiler systems.

The dye is added to a system and leaks are detected using the company’s leak detection lamp. Dyes are available in fluorescent green and blue.

www. spectroline.com

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CIPHEX WEST November 2&3, 2016 VANCOUVER CONVENTION CENTRE

REGISTRATION OPENS JUNE 15 at ciphexwest.ca

NNECT O C

BU I L D

F LO W CONNECTING WESTERN CANADA’S

Heating & Plumbing Industry NEW SHOW HOURS We’re open late on Wednesday to make it easier to attend after work!

Wednesday, November 2 Thursday, November 3

10 am – 8 pm 10 am – 4 pm

• CIPHEX West trade show > CONNECT with 250+ manufacturers and SEE thousands of products • Canadian Hydronics Conference > INCREASE your hydronics expertise at in-depth workshops and seminars • Plumbing & HVACR Seminar Program > Get ideas and practical tips to BUILD your business • HVACR & Plumbing Design Forum > Take advantage of the FLOW of information and ideas with advanced training for heating and plumbing engineers, designers, specifiers and contractors

ciphexwest.ca For information about exhibiting, contact Elizabeth McCullough at e.mccullough@ciph.com or 800-639-2474

• CWQA Water Treatment Workshop • New Product Showcase > SEE the newest products and technologies • CIPH BC Region Industry Dinner > Tuesday, November 1 with speaker Brian Thwaits, the Brain Trainer

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Interior Design Show West September 22-25, 2016 Vancouver, B.C. www.idswest.com

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Contemporary Approaches to Hydronic Heating & Cooling September 13, 2016 Guelph, Ont. www.edenenergy.com

CIPHEX West November 2-3, 2016 Vancouver, B.C. www.ciphexwest.ca

www.viessmann.ca

www.radianthydronics.com

CHES National Conference September 11-13, 2016 Vancouver, B.C. www.ches.org

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BUILDEX Express November 3, 2016 Vancouver, B.C. www.buildexexpress.com MCAC AGM November 14-17, 2016 Orlando, Fla. www.mcac.ca

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bythenumbers

Compiled by Mechanical Business

PHONES IN THE WASHROOM Ever wonder how many people admit to using their smartphones in the washroom?

66

per cent of men use their smartphones in the washroom.

49

per cent of women use their smartphones in the washroom.

KEEPING THINGS COOL With the dog days of summer upon us, many Canadians are trying to beat the heat. But how many of us have air conditioning in our homes?

50

per cent of Canadians have air conditioning at home.

80 19

per cent of Manitoba households

6

per cent admit to taking a photo using their smartphone while in the washroom.

OUT AND ABOUT Canadian restaurants accommodate 18 million visitors every day for a quick bite, some fine dining or a cool beverage on a patio.

have air conditioning.

94,000

per cent of households in Atlantic

bars and caterers in Canada.

Canada have air conditioning.

$74 Billion Annual sales in the restaurant industry.

1.2 Million Number of people directly employed in the

Number of restaurants,

restaurant industry in Canada.

2.1%

Average percentage of operating expenses spent on repair

and maintenance for a restaurant.

HOME ALONE IN THE SUMMER

FITNESS FIGURES Summer is a great time to get in shape.

But just what kind of shape are most Canadians in? According to Statistics Canada:

53.7

Here’s what Canadians are doing with their air conditioners while they’re away on summer vacation.

63

off their air conditioners.

per cent of Canadians are

13 per cent set the

physically active.

54 18.1 17.9

per cent of Atlantic Canada and Quebec shut

temperature to 24°C or per cent of adults are obese.

higher.

24 per cent set the

per cent are smokers.

temperature to 23°C or

per cent are heavy drinkers.

BATHROOM RENOS

lower.

The average Canadian household spends

$9,100 on a bathroom renovation.

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Introducing Serenity and Symphony The new Serenity and Symphony Shower Drain System, with its sleek and contemporary styling, will bring balance and harmony to your bathroom environment. Its exceptional quality will provide you with years of dependable use.

www.brontecollection.ca

THE WATTS WILD RIDE IS BACK FOR 2016

Get a Chance To Win a Harley-Davidson速 Fat Boy速 and other prizes such as:

QUALIFYING WATTS PRODUCTS INCLUDE:

ENROLL AT WattsWildRide.com TODAY!

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. A purchase will not improve your chances of winning. Open to licensed contractors in the US and Canada (excluding Quebec). See official rules at WattsWildRide.com. Sponsored by Watts. Harley-Davidson Motor Company is not endorsing, sponsoring, or otherwise affiliated with this promotion. Actual Harley-Davidson速 FAT BOY速 motorcycle year and model awarded will be based upon availability of local dealership at the time of drawing.