Oct 2023

Innovation on the rise

There’s a very subtle shift going on right now It’s the kind that slowly occurs over time at a rate that you almost can’t tell that it’s happening. For one, the industry is getting digitized. Smart technology is finding itself into almost every aspect of the home or built environment. It’s even found its way into business conferences.

The recent Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI) annual general meeting and conference is a goodexampleofthat.Peoplehaveembracedthe shifttodigitalandIdon’tthinkit’llevergoback.

Another push going on in the industry is towards energy efficiency We are slowly starting to get closer and closer to Canada’s 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan. There’s a bit of a consensus amongst most in the industry that these goals won’t be reached. But does that mean that the goals shouldn’t be put forward even if we know that we won’t reach them? My idealistic young self wants to say that these goals should still be set even if we know there is zero chance of reaching them. Don’t be the cynic that completely throws the book away just because you know it can’t be completed. Even a small amount of effort is better than none at all.

Innovation, in general, seems to be on the rise.AttherecentHRAIconference,therewas discussions about hydrogen as an alternative

clean energy resource. Now, this has been something that has been talked about at great lengths over the years. But I suspect, like electrification, there is a concern with infrastructure. Our infrastructure, alongside regulations, isn’t at the level that is required to increase hydrogen production as an energy source.

I’m interested in how much infrastructure will be dedicated towards hydrogen in the future. Canada does have a hydrogen strategy, which lays out a roadmap to 2050.

While it might not be directly involved in this industry, I’d still like to give a shoutout to a pretty cool hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle that was released. With how expensive gas is in Canada, I’d be open to alternatives.

I don’t think that you can have a conversation in 2023 about innovation without bringing up heat pumps. It’s an exciting time to be in the heat pump market. Not only is there a surplus of products being introduced that are energy efficit, but the technology takes into consideration its effects on climate change.

Lower global warming potential refrigerants are on the rise too. It’s great that more and more of the industry is thinking about climate change.

October 2023

Volume 33, Number 6 ISSN 1919-0395

Publisher Mark Vreugdenhil (289) 638-2133 ext.1

Cell: (416) 996-1031 mark@plumbingandhvac.ca

Editor Leah Den Hartogh (289) 638-2133 ext. 2 Cell: (289) 830-1217 leah@plumbingandhvac.ca

Assistant Editor

Francesco Lo Presti (289) 638-2133 ext. 3 francesco@plumbingandhvac.ca

Contributing Writers

Glenn Mellors, Greg Scrivener, Michael Ridler, Ron Coleman

Design and Production

Tim Norton/Janet Popadiuk production@plumbingandhvac.ca

All articles and photos by Plumbing & HVAC staff unless noted.

PLUMBING & HVAC Magazine is published seven times annually by

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Snap election unlikely in Canada

By Leah Den Hartogh

It is unlikely that Canadians will be heading tothepollsinafederalelectionuntilfall2025. Theonlyreasontherewouldbeasnapelection would be if the NDP stopped supporting the current minority Liberal government. But it would be unlikely as the NDP would get blamed, reports Rob LeForte, founder of First Lake Solutions.

This was just one of the updates that audience members heard while attending the Canadian Institute of Plumbing & Heating’s (CIPH) and the Mechanical Contractors Association of Canada’s (MCAC) joint webinar presentation on government relations. The webinar took place on Sept. 7 and ran for one hour, starting at 1 p.m. (EST).

There were two questions that the presentation aimed to answer — where the federal political parties stand and where Canadians stand in relation to political parties and hot topics

Political climate

As LeForte reports, the likelihood of a snap election is slim. But if there was an election called, the Conservatives would likely walk away with a majority. Current polling also shows that the Conservatives have a 67 per cent of winning a majority and a 31 per cent chance of a minority. The Liberal’s chances of maintaining power sits at around two per cent, reports LeForte.

This will likely mean that the NDP, Liberals, Green Party, and Bloc will soon ramp up negative campaigning in preparation for the 2025 scheduled election. “Liberals needed a coalition to win at the start of the summer. Now they need a miracle,” explains LeForte.

Justin Trudeau’s approval remains high. But he can be his own worst enemy at times. His many years of politics is both a blessing and a curse as almost all Canadians have an opinion about him. The same cannot be said for his political rivals.

According to LeForte, Poilievre is starting to catch on with the youth and is very strong amongst male voters. In addition, he likes

CIPH and MCAC hosted a joint webinar focusing on where the political parties stand in the eyes of Canadians, which was led by LeForte.

to repeat the “Canada is broken” sentiment, which seems to be popular amongst his followers. He remains weak in Quebec, but that doesn’t mean that the Conservatives should focus on their campaign efforts on Quebec, explains LeForte. “I would say that

Jagmeet Singh, leader of the federal NDP, will likely look to leverage some of the ‘softer’ Liberal support to get more out of the agreement with the Liberals. “Singh’s own leadership would be in jeopardy if this agreement doesn’t create positive momentum for the NDP,” explains LeForte.

The Green Party continues to struggle at the federal level, “not only for relevance, but in their operations as well as they aim to justify having co-leaders of the party,” shares LeForte. “Where they go and what they do will be very intriguing. I wouldn’t be surprised if they start making deals with the Liberals.”

if I were his team, I would be more concerned about his favourability in Ontario. Trudeau is still more favourable in Ontario than Poilievre,” explains LeForte.

The House of Commons has a total of 338 seats; Ontario has 121, Quebec has 78, Alberta has 34, British Columbia has 42, Saskatchewan has 14, Manitoba has 14, Newfoundland and Labrador has 7, New Brunswick has 10, P.E.I. has 4, Nova Scotia has 11, and the Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut each have one seat.

Frustrated Canadians

It might not come as too much of a shock on what are considered the top issues for voters — rising cost of living, housing affordability and accessibility, healthcare, the economy, climate change and the environment, inequality and poverty, crime and public safety, immigration, a lack of freedom in Canada, the threat posed by China and Russia, Indigenous reconciliation, the Russian

Continued on page '8'

If an election was called right now, the federal Conservatives would likely walk away with a majority.

Industry’s role in climate change, top of mind at HRAI’s 2023 AGM

By Leah Den Hartogh

Climate change, hydrogen energy production, and heat pumps were some of the reoccurring themes covered at the Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada’s (HRAI) conference and annual general meeting. The annual event ran from Sept.

Continued from page '7'

invasion of Ukraine, and Chinese election interference.

Good news for contractors, “Housing has captured the narratives.” Bad new for the Liberals, Poilievre has placed the blame on Trudeau. “You would think he would try to pivot, but he’s just taken it,” explains LeForte on how Trudeau has reacted to

22 to 24 at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Montréal, Qué. There was a total of around 230 attendees at this year’s conference.

A unique perspective, the keynote presentation was given by Ken Dryden, a man who has worn many hats over the years including former NHL goaltender, a Liberal MP in the Toronto area, and a lawyer. “Your

Poilievre’s criticism. “Instead, he has blamed municipalities.”

More housing investments are likely to come in the future, including more purposebuilt rental towers and condominiums. According to LeForte, this would mean more stacked houses and less of the traditional “white picket fences” type of home. “I think the governments going to push for more units on smaller pieces of land.”

This year’s HRAI annual general meeting and conference was well attended in Montreal, as attendees were able to listen to several panel discussions over the two and a half days.

industry has mattered a lot in my life,” he shared to the crowd. “This industry helps heat and cool hockey rinks, which benefit all players as they can practice all year round”

Dryden highlighted the importance of this industry when it comes to climate change, “This industry contributes to the climate change issue, but that also means that it will be part of the climate change solution” He warns that if any elements of the industry are out of sync, there is a big price to pay

He recognized that climate change has turned from a scientific perspective to a political one. “Trust breeds trust. Now there are fewer excuses not to act. The impossible starts to become the possible, which in turn, becomes the norm”

During the “extra time” portion of the keynote presentation, Dryden sat down with Martin Luymes, vice president of government and stakeholders relations at HRAI, and answered questions from the audience. When asked about how contractors could encourage customers to spend the extra money to install the best equipment in the long run, Dryden stated that the first step is to make sure that you believe what you’re selling. The next is to havetheevidencetobackuptheadvicegiven.

Panel discussions

To kick off the slew of panel sessions, Matthew Bradford, business writer, editor, and HRAI webinar host, moderated the session, while Mark Dancer, distribution and supply chain futurist, author, fellow, and industry advisor, Jeffrey Siegel, professor of civilengineeringattheUniversityofToronto,

Continued on page “11”

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William Harvey, consultant at Dunsky Energy and Climate Advisors, and Alain Mongrain, contractor business development for Emerson Canada, gave their views on the future as part of the “Power Forward – See the Future Now” panel.

The panel touched on topics such as climate change, education, decarbonization, heat pumps, and global warming. The first question the panel tackled was concerning the adoption of technology — “the technology is there but there is a gap that needs to be jumped for adoption to speed up. What needs to happen?”

According to Harvey, “I think that one thing that is going to change is regulations. We have seen in different jurisdictions there are bans on gas.” Incentives will also play an important role.

Mongrain argued that education was the important driving force toward ramped-up adoption. He also recognized the importance

of the regulation sector, “Education is very important. To drive innovation, we need education. We have to be consistent. Regulations aren’t consistent within the border and outside it too.” He suggested looking to Europe for some solutions. In terms of regulations in Canada, the BC Step Code was given credit.

The Great Debate

The next panel discussion focused on the HVAC/R industry from a variety of industry perspectives. Sandy MacLeod, CEO of HRAI, moderated the panel with Chuck Farmer, vice-president of planning, conservation and resource adequacy at Independent Electricity System Operator, Jim Bolger, owner and president of Waterloo Energy Products, Corey Diamond, executive director of Efficiency Canada, and Jason Wolfe, director of energy solutions at FortisBC, as the experts.

When asked whether hydrogen will be the future, Farmer explained that “you can’t phase out natural gas until you have something

that can act like it.” The assumption is it’ll be hydrogen, but the reality of the system is that there will need to be more infrastructure built to prepare for any type of transition.

“One of the big challenges with the energy transition is time,” explains Farmer. He suggests learning from Europe on best practices for the adoption of hydrogen as more effort has been put into the sector there. “You can do about 20 per cent in the pipelines,” reports Farmer. “Right now, regulation only allows about five per cent.”

When asked what advice he’d give to the HVAC sector in preparation for the future, Diamond shared that contractors need to be ready, “Transformative policies are coming, and your businesses need to be ready as it’ll be how we experience it.”

Equity, diversity, and inclusion

The tone of conversation took a bit of a shift during the “Team-Up Workforce Development” panel. Chelsea Goberdhan,

Continued on page “13”

Education is very important when driving innovation, explains Dancer, one of the experts sitting on the “Power Forward – See the Future Now” panel.

Ken Dryden gave the keynote address at the 2023 HRAI AGM, where he highlighted the importance that the mechanical trades have in reaching net zero goals.

n Industry News

Continued from page “11”

government relations specialist at HRAI, moderated the panel, with Klayton Goncalves, senior economist and head of business intelligence at BuildForce Canada, Mark Wafer, former president and CEO of Abilities Canada, Terri Givens, professor at McGill University, and Joanna Woo, management trainee at Emco, as the experts.

The panel largely focused on inclusive business practices. “You have to ask people to apply,” shared Wafer. “People aren’t going to assume that a workplace is going to be inclusive.” He shared his experience as a Tim Horton’s owner and how he was able to increase the number of employees with a visual or non-visual disabilities and increase his employee retention.

Employee retention is extremely important for the industry as the labour shortage is only expected to get worse with an ageing industry. With heat pump adoption on the rise, this will

mean that there should be plenty of work for the future. But, in turn, does spell trouble as more labour would also be needed, explains Goncalves.

International speakers

At this year’s conference, international speakers were invited to sit on a panel titled “World Champions of Change,” where they discussed the heating and cooling sectors from their home countries. Pushpinder Rana, director of engineering and services at Mitsubishi Electric Sales Canada Inc., moderated the panel, while Stephen Chartrand, regulatory affairs for HRAI Canada, Stephen R. Yurek, president and CEO for AHRI, Christine Youghui Kim, department head for the Korean Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Industry Association, and Greg Picker, executive director of refrigerants in Australia, sat as the international experts.

The conference wrapped up with the

contractors, wholesalers, and manufacturers divisions, each holding a breakaway session and an annual general meeting. At the wholesaler’s division, Lauralei Heggie, director of business development at HRAI Canada, Dante Mancuso, president at Toronto Health and Safety Consultants, and Andrew Klein, fie protection engineer and chemical engineer at A.S. Klein Engineering, each gave a presentation. At the manufacturer’s division, Dermot McMorrow, vice president and general manager of the HVAC division at Mitsubishi Electric, and Luymes each gave a presentation. At the contractor’s division, France Daviault, CEO at the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum, Goncalves, and Tara Smith, owner and operator of Mr. Furnace Heating, gave presentations. Smith was announced as the new chair of HRAI.

The 2024 HRAI annual general meeting and conference will take place at the Fairmont in Vancouver, B.C. and will run from Sept. 22 to 24.

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Thermostatic mixing valves aren’t exactly a new type of technology. They have been utilized in the plumbing and hydronic industries for a long time. But like so many elements of the industry, the mechanical valve turned digital, which introduced electronic mixing valves to the market.

Both products have an ideal installation application. It is up to the plumber and industry experts to help determine when and which product is best suited.

Continued on page “17”

Thermostatic and digital mixing valves have been around the industry for some time, but when it comes to scald protection and mitigating the concern of Legionella, there really isn’t anything else like it.

Leah Den Hartogh

Point-of-use mixing valves have been around for a very long time and help protect against scalding.

WHENEVER PIPING IS INVOLVED

n Hot Water Safety

Continued from page “15”

On this very basis, both an ASSE 1017 thermostatic master mixing valve and an electronic master mixing valve aim to deliver consistent water temperature to the building. But it does much more than just that, “Why would I use the point of source mixing valve? In the proper setup, it would allow the water heater to be stored at a very high temperature to prevent any microbial or pathogen growth,” states John Mankins, product manager at Zurn. “But that’s not necessarily safe for supply lines as we push hot water out to the building, and that’s where the point of source valves come in.”

An efficient mixing valve will allow water to be stored in the mechanical room at a higher temperature, which, in turn, kills the dangerous bacteria that might be serving in the building’s water supply. This big concern is Legionella. The good news about Legionella is that it cannot make a person

would kill Legionella bacteria. But there are some cases where that just won’t work. For instance, Max Rohr, education, and industry engagement manager at Caleffi, shared a story where he worked on a high school project that was running thermal disinfection at 140 F for 32 minutes but that still just wasn’t enough, “They weren’t even getting to the point that it was coming back hot enough to say we’re managing Legionella well. They could see that in the data logger through the building management system.” On this specific installation, the project ran two valves on the 140F for a 32-minute schedule, while the third part of the building resultedg in a signifiant amount of heat loss with the recirculation. “What they were able to do is change the program to say, we want to do 150 F supply temperature. You can up the temperature and then potentially reduce the window.”

A temperature-actuated mixing valve is typicallyinstalledatorneartheoutletofthe hot water source coming into the building. These valves are designed to provide a relatively uniform water temperature to the hot water distribution system, explains Mannan Mohammed, engineering director at Reliance Worldwide Corp.

Point-of-use valves are intended to limit the hot or tempered water supplied to fittings for fix ures, such as sinks, lavatories, bidets, or bathtubs. “The water temperature devices provide scald protection only and don’t provide thermal shock protection They are usually smaller, prettier compared to the temperature-actuated mixing valves,” said Mohammed.

Scale accumulation

Water quality becomes super important when it comes to small moving parts with mechancial equipment. It's a concern that must be addressed within mixing valves. Hotter water, say water at around 160 F, will scale faster. This remains true for both point-of-source and point-of-use mixing valves. “The hotter the temperature, the more it cooks the minerals to the inside of the valve,” explains Rohr.

sick if consumed via water; the bad news is that when it is breathed through steam or airborne particles, it can cause someone to develop Legionnaires disease, which can be fatal The mortality rate is around 15 to 20 per cent.

Running water at 140 F for 32 minutes

Thermostatic mixing valves and electronic mixing valves can be installed in various types of applications — whether that may be residential or commercial. But it can be broken down into point-of-use and point-of-distribution as well. The important standards to familiarize yourself with in Canada for either point-of-use or pointof-source is ASSE 1070/ASME A112.1070/ CSA B125.70, ASSE 1016, ASSE 1017, ASSE 1069, and ASSE 1071.

Thermostatic mixing valves can be tricky to service in terms of maintenance, reports Dan Capelle, director of product management –water heaters at GE Appliances Air & Water Solutions. “Within our product categories, we talk about a device being something that is not testable and not repairable. So, since this is our safety device, we don’t sell repair kits for it, and cannot open it up and repair the valve body,” explains Capelle.

If maintained as per manufacturer’s instructions, thermostatic mixing valves

Continued on page “19”

You could store warmer and then mix it down and basically have a bigger capacity of hot water to keep up with those fixtures.

Thermostatic mixing valves have many small parts that can fall prey to scale build-up and should be inspected.

Mixing valves installed in the shower ensure that, if there was a pressure drop, the person using the shower will be protected from thermal shock.

Photo provided by Lixil

Continued from page “17”

will outlive the life of the tank. Usually, the problems with mixing valves are due to surrounding conditions, such as inlet water temperature not within the specifi d limits of the manufacturer, strainers blocked due to poor inlet water quality, fluctuating inlet pressures, inlet pressures outside 20 per cent of each other, seasonal temperature variations, cold water or hot water supply failure, excessive water velocity or valve sized incorrectly These should therefore be selected, installed, and serviced by professionals.

When inlet pressures reach outside 20 per cent of each other, this is when thermal shock occurs. What this would look like to the homeowner is best described in the shower. “Before all these valves came into existence, things were very simple. You would have a hot water and a cold-water inlet, and if you wanted to take a shower youwouldopenboththecoldwaterandthe hot water and sort of keep at a point where it is comfortable for the shower,” explains Navin Leeladhar, leader of commercial project sales for Ontario at Lixil Canada. “The problem with this is, when you’re in the shower, if somebody else flushes the toilet or runs the kitchen faucet. In the case of an adjacent toilet flush, there is a pressure drop on the cold-water line since the cold water is used again for filling the toilet tank which results in a momentary or a prolonged period of hot water splash.” Th s is also known as thermal shock and could result in scalding.

Size matters

One of the benefits of using mixing valves in a system is that it can utilize the hot water more efficiently. “There are some cases that a point of distribution mixing valves with a tank stored warmer could be an advantage if the customer had a bathtub that could never get hot enough,” explains Rohr. “You could store warmer and then mix it down and basically have a bigger capacity of hot water to keep up with those fixtures. ”

When it comes to installing or commissioning one of these mixing valves, the big difference lies in the simple fact that a digital mixing valve requires some type of power input, typically 120 volts, whereas the thermostatic mixing valve doesn’t. “The main difference here is that in the thermostatic mixing valve, or otherwise known as a mechanical valve, there’s a thermal actuator, no power, nothing to it,” shares David Desjardins, business development manager of mixing, East at

Watts Water Technologies. “The benefit of digital valves in comparison to the thermostatic valves is there’s much tighter temperature control… The other thing that’s nice about those digital valves is that you know they come with sensors and with the sensors, they can communicate back to the building management system and alert the facility management team if there’s an issue.”

The three big reasons mixing valves, whether digital, thermostatic, point-ofsource, or point-of-use, are installed are thermal shock, scald protection, and killing offbacteria that could be living in the water supply. It requires 131 F to kill Legionella bacteria in a water heater, this is one of the reasons why water heaters are maintained at or above 140 F. Th ere are other ways the industry can protect users from any of the above concerns — smart faucets with integrated thermostatic controls is one example. But that’s for another article. :

KNOW WHAT YOU’RE BUYING —

Not all PEX F1960 Fittings are the Same

inconsistencies, and some fittings can’t even pass the ASTM F1960 standard requirements. Ths is putting projects at considerable risk for failures and potentially voids the associated system warranties.”

Identifying ProPEX

So, how can you tell if you have a real Uponor ProPEX fitting? The easiest way is to look for the Uponor logo. Other indicators include thicker tube stops and thicker sealing barbs. The thin tube stops on the generic, low-quality

If you’ve been told all PEX F1960 cold expansion fittings are the same because they all conform to the same fitting standard, it’s important to understand there are real differences that can make or break your business.

In truth, not all fittings conforming to the ASTM F1960 standard are the same. Manufacturers and suppliers that claim their fittings are compliant to ASTM F1960 feel that, in their opinion, they meet the standard. However, there is no third-party agency to confim that compliance.

Certification Difference

Uponor ProPEX fittings are a highly engineered product certified by thirdparty agencies — NSF and the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) — to ensure the raw materials, manufacturing process, and

resulting product accurately meet the ASTM F1960 standard.

In fact, the companies that mold ProPEX EP fittings are partners that are integrated into the codes, helping ensure the highest-quality product. ProPEX fittings also undergo internal quality testing that extends beyond the ASTM F1960 standard requirements to provide customers with the strongest value available on the market.

“It’s important that installers are aware they need to ask for the Uponor brand name from distribution and make sure they are getting what they are paying for in ProPEX fittings,” says Bradfield Craig, director of Marketing at Uponor. “The differences are far beyond just the brand name. Uponor testing on generic F1960 fittings has exposed various manufacturing design and quality

F1960 fittings are especially problematic as the expanded PEX pipe can extend past the stops and cause leaks.

If you are purchasing fittings that are not in Uponor packaging and are loose in a bin, be sure to take a close look at each part to ensure you’re getting Uponor ProPEX and not a generic product.

To learn more about the quality and 25year warranty that accompanies the Uponor system as well as the risks of low-quality F1960 fitings, visit uponor.com/askforuponor.

Uponor ProPEX fittings are certified by NSF and CSA.

Quality materials provide reliability.

Disinfection system

Lync, Fort Worth, Texas, a Watts brand, introduces its UV-H disinfection system. It is configurable up to 100 GPM and mitigates risks associated with microbiological contamination and biofilm formation in low- and high-flw commercial water heating and piping systems, and protects building occupants. The systems are certifid to NSF/ ANSI/CAN 61 and NSF/ANSI 372 and are available for potable, reuse, or wastewater

Vacuum relief valve

Caleffi, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, expands its plumbing portfolio with the 304 series Vacu-Stop vacuum relief valve. Available in 1/2-inch and 3/4-inch MNPT, the Vacu-Stop is suitable for use in water and low-pressure steam services. It is ideal for use in water heaters and supply tanks. The valve automatically allows air into the piping system to prevent a vacuum, which can siphon water from the system and damage water heater/tank equipment. It meets the ANSI Z22.21 standard and is also NSF 61 and NSF 372 compliant. Caleffi u www.caleffi.com

New aesthetic faucet

T&S Brass and Bronze Works, Travelers Rest, South Carolina, debuts its new aesthetic faucet line, LakeCrest. The LakeCrest line features five refined designs, including single-lever faucets, a concealed widespread faucet design, a metering faucet, and a new semi-pro kitchen faucet. Constructed of stainless steel, the semi-pro kitchen faucet is a light-duty commercial faucet designed for customer-facing applications, such as front-of-house needs in restaurants, an officbreakroom, or an open kitchen. Using a toggle switch on the spray handle, the semi-pro can be cleaned with a rinsing spray or supply water using an aerated flw. The single-handle faucets are available in both chrome and brushed nickel finshes.

T&S u www.tsbrass.com

applications. Lync UV-H treats inlet water through a 360-degree UV light emission provided by its Crossfire technology and a two-lamp design. It features automatic self-cleaning wipers and built-in purging to prevent fouling of the quartz sleeve. It is ideal for a variety of application types, including new and existing commercial buildings and systems, such as cooling towers, HVAC chillers, and water storage tanks.

Lync u www.lyncbywatts.com

New collection

Kohler, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, introduces its new kitchen and bath collection from Kohler x Studio McGee, an interior designer. The vision behind the collection is to focus on transitional shapes that bridge traditional and modern styles. The line of products includes kitchen sink faucets, bathroom sink faucets, and bath fillers. The new product line can exclusively be seen in Kohler stores on Sept. 29. Kohler u www.kohler.com

Minimizing Legionella risks

Chicago Faucets, Des Plaines, Illinois, announces its new auto-drain hose and hand spray to minimize the risk of Legionella and other waterborne pathogens. The auto-drain hose and hand spray integrate into existing shower systems. The hand spray with pause control is available with a choice of 2.5 GPM or 1.5 GPM. It is also available with either a stainless steel or vinyl hose. The hose and hand spray are fully compliant with ASME A112.18.1/CSA B125.1 and ADA ANSI/ICC A117.1 standards.

Chicago Faucet u www.chicagofaucets.com.

By Francesco Lo Presti

Scale in plumbing systems is a common and stubborn problem that arises from the buildup of mineral deposits, primarily calcium, and magnesium salts. Ths can be problematic to the overall performance of a system as, “the accumulation of scale within pipes, valves, and fix ures directly compromises the structural integrity of a building’s plumbing network,” according to Di Jiang, product specialist at Watts Water Technologies.

Scale prevention is critical for maintaining the performance of plumbing systems, enhancing water quality and improving flow rates. Scale residue not only affects water quality, and the physical appearance of fix ures and pipes but, “It acts as an insulating barrier, leading to several detrimental effects. It can constrict the internal diameter of pipes, resulting in reduced flow rates and increased pressure loss, ultimately diminishing energy efficiency,” adds Jiang.

Understanding Scale

Scale, also known as limescale, is the visible white chalky substance that is formed when hard water evaporates. “Hard water contains high concentrations of minerals such as calcium and magnesium.

Apipingsystemthathasscaleaccumulation canhaveseveralnegativesideeffects,including reducedfl wratesandpipecorrosion.

When heated or allowed to evaporate, these minerals precipitate out of solution and cling to surfaces, gradually forming scale,” explains Kirk Nagus, general manager at Axiom.

When determining the first symptoms of scale buildup, “Initial indications of scale buildup in a heating system often manifest as heightened energy consumption or a noticeable decrease in radiator temperatures,” says David Holley, technical manager of chemistry at Fernox. “To verify the potential formation of scale, a chemical analysis of the system water can be conducted and compared to the water initially used to fill the system.” When talking about anything related to scale, water quality within a piping system is the first and most important step as, “Keeping water clean in today’s highefficiency systems with smaller passageways is absolutely vital. Even the smallest layering of scale on system pipework can cause efficiency reductions,” said Antonia Aldridge, marketing and sales manager at Adey North America. Once a piping system has scale accumulation, it can negatively impact water quality in a multitude of ways, such as reduced flw rates and pipe corrosion. Aldridge adds that, “If you are in a hard water area, your system is more likely to suffer from scale buildup.”

Any scale prevention method should start by focusing on water quality. “For residential water treatment, nothing takes the place of

or saves more time and aggravation than commissioning a reliable water analysis. Knowing what’s in the water is the fist step towards knowing how to treat it properly,” said Jiang.

a system is crucial in determining the water supply’s composition. Ths information can help plumbers identify the most appropriate scale prevention methods for each specific situation.”

Nagus adds, “Water quality is the lifeblood of a heating and cooling system. If you don’t start there, that’s a detriment to every mechanical piece of equipment and the piping in the system. Conducting regular water quality tests on the site's water prior to filling

Getting ahead of scale

When combating the issues caused by scale formation, proven methods include water softening, scale inhibitors, and descaling devices. As Jiang explains, “ There are many ways that water can pose ongoing issues within a home’s piping system, but in terms of overall cost, water hardness surely takes the prize. A traditional water softener operates through a process known as ion exchange. Within the softener, ion exchange resins swap the hardness ions, primarily calcium and magnesium, with sodium ions. This action leads to the retention of hardness ions within the resin bed. Once the resin reaches capacity, through the regeneration process with salt water, the captured hardness ions get ejected back into wastewater and the resin bed gets refreshed.”

A great way to keep on top of system health is to “check the water conditions regularly. Ths can include using hardness strips to test for scale, pH strips to test for pH levels (which should be between 6.5 and 8.5), and corrosion strips to test for corrosion in the system

explains Aldridge.

Nagus adds, “After you start with good water quality, you can use scale inhibitors to stop corrosion. Scale inhibitors form a thin protective layer that prevents the adhesion and crystallization of scale-forming minerals,

Continued on page “25”

too,”

Keeping water clean in today’s high-efficiency systems with smaller passageways is absolutely vital. Even the smallest layering of scale on system pipework can cause efficiency reductions.

There are many different eco-friendly alternatives to traditional scale prevention methods for plumbers to choose

from. Photo provided by Watts.

Maximizes

Streamlines

Continued from page “23”

thereby reducing scale buildup.”

However, there are risks associated with scale prevention methods such as water softening. “ The risk of installing a water softener on a domestic/potable system is the water becoming more aggressive. That’s because sodium ions replace calcium and magnesium ions which increases the conductivity of the water. High conductivity levels also lead to scale formation” said Aldridge.

Jiang also explains that the, “Continuous introduction of chemicals leads to ongoing monthly costs for end users and the disposal of wastewater containing an elevated amount of sodium chloride can impact the environment.”

Francine Wickham, Fernox's global marketing director adds, “We do not recommend artificially softened water in heating systems because the pH can rise rapidly, damaging the aluminum heating components. Rather, we advocate for corrosion inhibitors and antifreeze water treatment products.” There are eco-friendly alternatives to traditional scale prevention methods.

Closed vs. open loop

Scale accumulation and prevention differs depending on the type of plumbing system. As Nagus explains, “A closed-loop system circulates water within a self-contained piping network, such as a hot water heating system. In an open-loop plumbing system, water is continually drawn from a natural water source and supplied to the plumbing fixtures. Open-loop systems are commonly used for irrigation purposes or in cooling towers, where water is used to transfer heat.”

Closed loop systems typically consist of a boiler, heat exchanger, and radiators and, “Scale formation typically occurs within the

hottest components of the heating system, primarily on the surface of a heat exchanger,” explains Holley.

“As scale accumulates on the heat exchanger’s surface, it reduces heat transfer efficiency from the heat source to the water. Essentially, a layer of scale acts as an insulating barrier between the heat source and the water being heated, resulting in increased energy consumption for water heating. This occurs because scale is a significantly poorer conductor of heat compared to the metals or alloys used in heat exchanger construction.”

Going further into scale buildup in a closed-loop hydronic system, “ The number one sign of scale buildup in the system is a noisy boiler. Scale buildup will have a huge impact on heat transfer. Ths is why ensuring a system has good quality water is important, as what’s the point in installing a 95 or 96 per cent efficient boiler when the water running

through it lowers those efficiency ratings? Due to these heat transfer issues, the enduser will see increased utility bills because the system is working harder to provide the same amount of heat,” explains Aldridge.

Nagus adds that, “When you design or install a closed system like a boiler loop, you’re not bound by the standards associated with potable water, and when I say potable water, that means drinking water because the water you’re putting into it is being utilized to distribute heat and be recirculated through the system over and over and over again. Ths is one of the main differences between open and closed loop systems — there are different metals and materials you can or can’t use.”

Additionally, “Scale prevention strategies for open-loop systems primarily focus on removing or neutralizing the mineral content of the water, preventing it from forming a crusty buildup within the system," said Nagus. :

Checking the water conditions regularly is a great way to keep up on top of a system’s health. Photo provided by Watts.

Commercial water shutoff

Leak Defence, Escondido, California, a Watts brand, announces the release of its BuildAlert, which enables users to automatically turn offwater in the event of a leak. BuildAlert features automatic controls, displays, and alarms. The system utilizes remote on/offcapabilities accessible via a free PC or mobile app. It also allows users to schedule automatic scene/ mode changes after hours, and maintains jobsite water pressure. For advanced integration and customization, the system offers an optional API for input/output signalling to remote systems, output alarms, or building management systems. Leak Defense u www.LeakDefense.com

Re-engineered push fittings

Reliance Worldwide Corporation, Vaughan, Ont, introduces its new SharkBite Max. The push-to-connect fitting is a re-engineered product from its fist generation. It now features a stainless-steel retainer for added strength in addition to its brass body. The SharkBite Max fittings have double the burst pressure compared to the fist-generation fitting. The new couplings and end connectors also feature a higher-pressure rating of 250 PSI. Unlike the fist-generation fittings, SharkBite Max couplings no longer include a PEX stiffener insert as it is no longer required for PEX applications per ASSE 1061. SharkBite Max couplings come in sizes ranging from half-inch to one-inch. SharkBite u www.sharkbite.com

Tankless installation made easy Noritz, Fountain Valley, California, introduces its No Roof Kit to remove the need for roof access during tankless installations. It is sold separately from Noritz models and includes all necessary components for installation. That includes three 36-inch polypropylene (PP) pipes, a PP-PVC adaptor, a two-inch single vent conversion kit, and a diffuser kit.

Noritz u www.nortiz.com

By Michael Ridler

Ths is, quite frankly, a very exciting time to be the air-to-water heat pump game. There is a slew of players that have entered the market or looking to in the coming years.

I am a huge fan of air-to-water and ground-source heat pumps, with each type of technology serving its niche in the market. There is no question that a ground-source heat pump is the most efficient way to heat and cool homes. But you can’t dismiss the value of what I affectionately refer to as the “baby brother” of ground-source heat pumps, which is the air-to-water heat pump.

Some people still look at air-to-water as the future of boilers, and I don’t disagree, but I also think it is more important to realize that heat pumps are not boilers, and we don’t design them the same. Frankly, they do much more than a boiler or an air-to-air heat pump.

Why air-to-water

Air-to-water offers a level of versatility that is only beat by a ground-source heat pump. Air-to-water heat pumps can be used to heat radiant floor systems, which can be

As anyone in hydronics can attest, a hydronic system is part science and part art, an air-to-water heat pump takes this to new levels.

Phase change thermal storage is an exciting new type of technology that will provide benefits to consumers, utilities, and governments alike.

more energy efficient and provide more comfortable heat compared to a forced air system. It can also be used to heat domestic hot water, providing a dual function that an air-source heat pump can’t.

manufacturers designing and developing indoor modular units that take all the guesswork out of the installation. Most of these units are monobloc with the compressor outside, and water and glycol moving from outside to an engineered indoor module.

Usually, it is an issue with cooling not working properly or the domestic hot water not keeping up. When we pipe air-to-water equipment, we need to think about how we are handling the cooling. We also have to recognize that although an air-to-water heat pump can heat your hot water, it is not like a boiler.

This is where the advent of modular indoor units is so important. For example, take a look at the following photo.

Lego mechanical rooms

Ths is where the advent of modular indoor units is so incredibly important. Packaged indoor units can be engineered to provide heating, cooling, domestic hot water, defrost controls, and backup heat. Some would look at this type of system, see the price tag, and run in the opposite direction.

Indoor units like the one shown save you hours and ensure the systems work. You don’t have to worry about anything other than connecting to the outdoor unit and connecting your loads to the outlets of the indoor box.

An air-to-water system can also operate at lower temperatures compared to an airto-air system, which can make it more energy efficient, especially when used with underfl or heating systems. As a result, air-to-water heat pumps often have a higher COP compared to airto-air systems, making them more efficient in converting energy into heat. It can also provide more even heat distribution compared to forced-air systems.

The first thing we are starting to see is

This packaged indoor unit is engineered to manage heating, cooling, domestic hot water, defrost controls, and backup heat all in one product.

The labour component of any job is often the most variable and can significantly impact the outcome of a project, explains Mike Miller, vice president of sales for Canada at Taco Comfort Solutions. There are numerous factors to consider when installing an airto-water heat pump, including the integration of major components like the use of isolation relays, control strategies, sensor placement, system wiring, and the often-underestimated smaller components. An indoor unit can simplify this complexity, offering a solution that standardizes every system, encloses it within a single unit, and essentially turns it into a plug-and-play appliance. This

Continued on page “31”

The first thing that we are starting to see is manufacturers designing and developing indoor modular units that take all the guesswork out of the installation.

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Continued from page “29”

approach not only streamlines support, service, and troubleshooting but also saves valuable time that can be better invested in other endeavours.

Hybrid heating controls

Right now, there are a few controls on the market that can be used for your air-to-water applications especially if they are heating-only or cooling-only (i.e., no auto changeover).

Innovative control systems serve as an ideal middle ground for individuals who are confident in their ability to handle the intricacies of piping and engineering indoor secondary systems for air-to-water heat pumps. However, it’s crucial to heed the wisdom of those more experienced in the fild. If you don’t understand hydronic heat pumps, seek out advice.

If you are doing a single air-to-water system, the modular indoor/outdoor works beautifully. If you are doing multiple air-towater units, the stand-alone control is quite frankly, a complete no-brainer.

Portable

storage tanks needed.

“Phase change thermal storage is an exciting technology because of the benefits it will provide to consumers, utilities, and governments alike,” according to Stephen Harrison, professor of mechanical and materials engineering at Queen’s University “By improving storage efficiency and reducing the size of storage required, phase change thermal storage will revolutionize domestic water and space heating while improving utilities’ abilities to shift peak loads. There is still work to be done to bring this technology to full market, but change is coming quickly”

Phase change materials are typically made from a variety of materials including salt hydrates, fatty acids, or paraffins, among others. These materials are chosen based on their ability to store and release heat effectively through phase changes, which occur at predetermined temperatures. They can also be used for cooling and domestic hot water.

as a brine-to-water heat pump coupled to the ground. It is designed as an outdoor plug-andplay unit, working with R32 refrigerant and including a variable speed compressor, which allows for efficit modulating operation.

A signifiant advantage of the dual-source heat pump system is its ability to minimize the footprint of the ground heat exchanger.

Incredibly, the dual-source heat pump system promises similar or even higher energy efficicy compared to ground-source heat pumps. It offers a variety of operating modes, including free-cooling conditions, and adapts to a wide range of thermal demands. It is suitable for many different applications, including small multifamily houses to office

Portable air-to-water window units

I have often wondered why there is no portable window air-to-water equipment for rental units. Recently, the B.C. government provided millions for rental units to install A/C units and there was significant backlash when heat pumps weren’t included.

Phase change thermal battery has four times the energy density of water.

Game-changing technology

Phase change media technology emerges as a game-changer, especially in the realm of air-to-water heat pumps. I have worked with many engineers over the years on thermal storage projects from residential to agricultural, and they offer some challenges that are quickly being defeated by the advent of phase change batteries. Ths innovative technology leverages phase change materials to store heat more densely compared to water, effectively reducing the size of the

The technology ensures a more consistent and efficient release of heat, enhancing the performance of air-towater heat pumps significantly.

It also curtails energy losses, which are common in water-based systems. Th s is not technology we will be waiting long to see.

Dual-source heat pumps

The dual-source heat pump stands as a groundbreaking advancement because it combines an air-to-water heat pump with a ground-source heat pump It is specifi ally designed for locations with limited ground space.Thssystemoperateseitherasanair-towater heat pump using air as a source/sink or

Ths was when I came across an air-to-water window unit currently being developed. The product, aptly named “ The Gradient,” stands out with its utilization of R32 refrigerant. It operates with a cooling capacity of 8,600 BTU/hr and a heating capacity that ranges between 3,000 to 8,000 BTU/hr. Impressively, the unit showcases a high energy efficicy rating, with a CEER of 10.8, highlighting its capability to cool spaces while maintaining low energy consumption.

Portable air-to-water units can be controlled via a mobile app, which supports scheduling features for convenience. :

Michael Ridler is a technical services manager at Eden Energy Equipment. He started out working for a Ont-based HVAC company and now focuses on providing fild support and technical training to contractors, engineers, and builders on heat pumps, boilers, and all things hydronics. He can be reached at edenenergymike@gmail.com.

window air-to-water heat pumps are one of the new technologies expected to come to market.

Continental Heat Pumps, paired with select furnace or air handlers, are NEEP certified and listed on NRCan Greener Home program as Cold Climate Air Source Heat Pump systems. Please refer to local Qualified Product Lists for additional rebate programs.

n Pumps

Residential circulator pump

Bell & Gossett, Morton Grove, Illinois, releases the new ecocirc 20-18 circulator pump. With seven different product settings, including purge, SP and delta

T, the ecocirc 20-18 is ideal for most residential systems and potable water systems. With an integrated drive and ECM motor, the pump operating speed can be varied to meet the system operating requirements. Available in stainless steel or cast-iron construction, the ecocirc 20-18 fu lfi lls any heating, cooling and potable water applications. With a fl ange-to-fl ange connection design, installation into any system, including retrofit applications, is easy.

Bell & Gossett u www.xylem.com

Critical condensate removal

Franklin Electric, Fort Wayne, Indiana, announces its planned expansion to its line of condensate pumps with the introduction of its VCMA-20-Pro series. It offers a range of installation flexbility, making it ideal for critical condensate removal from air conditioning, refrigeration, and dehumidification equipment. The pump is suitable for high-efficicy oil and gas-fied condensing furnaces and condensing boiler equipment. The vertical-type pump features a 3/8-inch I.D. barbed with 1/4-turn quick release locking discharge adapter plus built-in check valve. This allows the unit to be serviced without removing tubing to help eliminate water spills. Franklin Electric u www.franklin-electric.com

Digital circulator pumps

Grundfos, Oakville, Ont, unveils its newest Digital Next Alpha and UPSe circulator pumps to the Canadian market. Both the UPSe 15-28 and the ALPHA 15-58 feature a touchscreen digital display and Bluetooth connectivity to the Grundfos Go app. The Alpha pump provides digital troubleshooting and allows for automatic commissions for domestic heating systems. The UPSe is powered

by ECM motors and features dry-run protection, easy wiring, an unblocking feature, and automatic self-venting.

Grundfos u www.grundfos.com

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A few years ago, I was asked to speak on the topic of why businesses and partnerships fail. When it came time to put pen to paper, or rather figers to keyboard, I was reminded of a comment made by Ronald Coleman (longtime shop management writer for  Plumbing & HVAC magazine) — you can give business owners all the tools, but if they never come out of the box, they will remain flating in a

sea of mediocrity.

What do business failures and partnership failures have in common? I hope this five-minute read will tie it together.

Implementation

If you have been in business for more than three years, you have likely attended several business improvement seminars, webinars, and conferences. You might even say you’ve heard it all before. But if you haven’t already implemented what you’ve heard at these events, it is likely that you probably never will.

Continued on page “39”

Finding and maintaining the motivation required to reach your goals in business can sometimes be the thing getting in your way of reaching success.

By Glenn Mellors

Reliable

Continued from page “37”

Commitment

to implementation is

like skydiving; either you’re going to make the jump or not. There is nothing in between. The implementation process itself is full of testing, learning, and applying. And then, it’s time to start the process all over again.

The reasoning behind why business owners tend not to implement new changes looks different depending on the individual. Oftentimes, the answers are usually what is expected — too short on time, not enough staff, or lack of funds. But the key to solving a lack of implementation is to strive for motivation. Ask anyone that has wanted to start working out at the gym. It is so easy to say that they’ll pick up again next Monday. But when that Monday rolls around, it is so easy to come up with an excuse

The key to solving this is to maintain motivation. This is where the failure of success and partnerships start to share common ground. What I had

failed to realize is that every business owner has a different measurement of success. To expect every business owner we coach to have the same level of motivation and desire to implement change is in itself the defintion of insanity.

Taking inventory

It is up to the business owner to take inventory of expectations concerning the level of desired success. Ths is where you decide to build a plan and act. Just like your staff becoming complacent, you too can become complacent if your desire to succeed has been accomplished.

Each business owner has their own measurement of success. I have clients who have reached the pinnacle of success by being debt-free, owning a nice home, and making a steady income of $40,000 to $60,000. No one can tell you that you’re wrong. Congratulations, you are successful!

I also have clients making more than $500,000 and are still striving for their pinnacle of success. I have clients that are building a legacy business to pass along to their children, and clients who are building money-making machines in hopes of gathering the highest

Continued on page “41”

To expect every business owner, we coach to have the same level of motivation and desire to implement change is in itself the definition of insanity.

Continued from page “39”

possible dollar when implementing their exit strategy.

There are no wrong answers, but there is a wrong prescription. If the motivation is not there, it is called setting yourself up for failure. Conversely, if you are slow but steady in implementing change, you are still lapping those businesses sitting on the couch.

Limiting factors

Reflct on what your key motivators are. Depending on where you are in life, this can change. No motivation equals no change. Life changes, lessons, or perhaps a life crisis can motivate change. It is those key motivators that will drive us to implement change

My wife owned her own business for more than 20 years. Steady as she goes, consistent, predictable, and comfortable as an old pair of slippers. She asked me one day why I didn’t coach her like I did other companies. I took a chance and answered honestly — she is not coachable. Yes, we are still together. The point is that some business owners are just not coachable.

Fast forward three years and she became a grandmother to two sets of twins. The new grandma’s motivation changed, and she became coachable

As a business coach, we have to be mindful of whether or not to lead or push the client. No one can dream your dream. Only the business owner can follow through on their dream end goal

Intimidation factor

Like a bad dream, fear of failure can dampen motivation faster than any other factor. Are you afraid to step out of your comfort zone? Most of us are. Fear of failure, fear of taking chances or risks, fear of handling success, and worst of all, fear of losing control are all common in the business world

But fear is the stories we make up in our heads when we fall prey to overthinking. We tell ourselves over and over again until we believe the fallacies are true.

For some, fear can be a driving force, while for others, it can lead to crippling anxiety. Fear is the number one reason people roadblock change or risk. In this case, fear may be standing in the way of someone else’s success. It can also dampen motivation faster than any other factor. Are you afraid to step out of your comfort zone? As the saying goes, “If you live in fear of the future because of the past, you may miss out on an opportunity in the present.”

Getting out of the way

So, what does fear have to do with motivation? Fear can be a root cause of partnership failures, as previously stated, fear blocks motivation. We can blame partnership breakdowns on any number of things — infidlity, abuse, laziness, but I will stand by my word: the root of every breakup in partnership is the inability to manage the indifferences in motivation.

Motivation is the engine that empowers people to achieve their dreams, and even if your partner shares your dream but has a lower

level of motivation, then the partnership starts to break down. One will feel that they are burdened by the weight of the other. Left unattended, the weight will lead to making tough choices. Ths could look like one partner removing themself from certain day-to-day tasks, leaving the other partner feeling like they are carrying all of the weight alone. Perhaps it is your partner that is standing in the way of achievement. Standing in the way of your staffcan also hinder motivation too.

The key to a successful partnership is simple — share the same dream, divvy up the work along the way, and remember to support one another through it all. Accept the past without regret, handle the present with confidece, and face success without fear. :

Glenn Mellors was born into a plumbing family and started in the industry in 1973. He entered the HVAC side of the business in the 80s, working in wholesale, and then joined Lennox in 1992. In 2008 he joined the ClimateCare Co-operative Corporation, an Ontario contractor group, where he is director of training and implementation. Glenn can be reached at gmellors@climatecare.com.

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Eliminate Cold Water Complaints

Install CircuitSolver® to Balance Your Hot Water Recirculation

For years, contractors have spent tons of time and energy manually balancing and rebalancing domestic hot water recirculation systems to achieve the required flow needed to obtain the desired temperature in each branch.

“With CircuitSolver®, these efforts are a thing of the past,” explains Tom Ruggierio, Director of Sales for Commercial Plumbing. CircuitSolver® thermostatic balancing valves continuously monitor the water temperature and automatically adjust the flow as conditions change to send hot water where needed to accommodate demand variations.

CircuitSolver® is a brand of ThermOmegaTech®, a leader in designing and manufacturing thermostatic temperature control technology. ThermOmegaTech has successfully implemented its thermal actuator technology to control fluid based on temperature in dozens of applications.

CircuitSolver® valves have been installed into thousands of domestic hot water recirculation systems since their introduction to the market in 2012, celebrating over TEN YEARS of active use in the plumbing industry. These balancing valves can be installed into any building with a hot water recirculation system; however, CircuitSolver® is most often specified in hotels, hospitals, schools, high-rise apartments and dorms, and multi-family buildings.

CircuitSolver® is the Temperature Solution

CircuitSolver® valves balance a system based solely on temperature instead of pressure or flow. The valves are installed at the end of each branch or riser before the return. The valve’s wax actuator will expand or contract based on the water temperature, causing the valve to open or close to meet the desired system temperature

This allows a system to be initially balanced in hours, not days; it stays balanced even as conditions change. The valve never fully closes to prevent deadheading the recirculation pump, allowing a small flow bypass to the return.

“CircuitSolver® balancing valves are available in many configurations to accommodate your designs’ needs, including integrated unions and check valves, ball valves, thermometers, strainers, and with ProPress® or ProPex connections,”

explains Ruggierio. They also offer a thermal disinfection dual balancing valve for systems that exercise thermal disinfection processes to prevent Legionella and other bacterial growth.

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By Leah Den Hartogh

“The kind of unique thing about this heat pump was that it was one of the first high-temperature heat pumps that did direct injection into boiler loops in North America and then use a low global warming potential refrigerant to do that,” explains Ian Welle, founder and principal engineer at Polar Engineering, a Victoria-based refrigeration design consulting firm. Polar Engineering was the design engineer for the Juan de Fuca Recreation Center project.

The Juan de Fuca Recreation Center in Colwood, B.C., is an 85,000 sq. ft. facility, containing an ice arena, pool, weight room, indoor sports complex, and play area. The facility had its heating and cooling

Continued on page “47”

The Juan de Fuca Recreation Center utilizes a unique heat pump to provide heating and cooling

Ian Welle stands with his newly commissioned mechanical room at the Juan de Fuca Recreation Center.

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The Juan de Fuca Recreation Center has already reduced its carbon emissions by 284 tons per year.

Continued from page “45”

requirements supplied via an existing gas-fied boiler.

In early 2020, the town of Colwood and the province of British Columbia mandated buildings reduce its carbon emissions to achieve climate goals by 2050. Additionally, the facility was looking to reduce its operating costs. “If we can look at ways of trying to cut say 20 per cent to 40 per cent of electricity and natural gas costs, it’s a big win for them to be able to take that money and then reinvest it back in their community,” explains Welle. A recreation center is typically the most energy-intensive building a community will own.

For the Juan de Fuca project, a heat pump using a low global warming potential refrigerant was installed. The refrigerant used in this project was R513. “We were one of the fist people to use R513 in a heat pump,” said Welle. “We worked with Bitzer to get that as an approved refrigerant for their compressors.”

Built by Fraser Valley Refrigeration, the heat pump was installed in late 2021. It forms a closed loop with the facility’s boiler system, with 100 per cent redundancy. The heat pump heats the water flwing into the loop and supplies heat and hot water to the building, reaching water temperatures as high as 180 F.

The boiler still provides backup heat to the building if required

on the coldest of nights, with the goal to run the boiler as little as possible and lower natural gas usage for building and domestic hot water heating by 90 per cent. However, the heat pump has been able to provide almost 100 per cent of the heat for the entire building, so far. “We had one day where it was down and then we brought it back up a day later. We figued out what the problem was and dealt with it,” explains Welle.

Keeping the end goal in mind, the Juan De Fuca project was designed to include an energy recovery system. According to Welle, there are still lots of people that are skeptical about large energy recovery systems due to its temperamental nature.

Pride in the work

The next phase of the project will be to the arena side of the building. There are plans to integrate the heat pump with the pool side of the building and then “have it running flat out and basically pulling all the heat from the ammonia plant and sending that outside. Right now, we have too much heat,” explains Welle. The rink is cooled via the ammonia system.

“This was a prime example of a project that helps drive

Continued on page “49”

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icenter@intertek.com

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Something that we’re always trying to drive towards is to make things more sustainable, more environmentally friendly, and just try to make the world better than what we found it.

n Building Green

decarbonization,” said Adam Anderson, regional sales manager of industrial refrigeration at Danfoss, which supplied products from its industrial line components and valves, and worked with Polar Engineering during the development process. “Something that we’re always trying to drive towards is to make things more sustainable, more environmentally friendly, and just try to make the world better than what we found it.”

One of the reasons that Welle was proud of the work completed on this project was due to integrating so many complicated parts. “We used a heat pump that loads and unloads from 30 per cent to 100 per cent. One of the big problems with off-he-shelf heat pumps is that they are on or off. But this heat pump just maintains a water temperature of 10 F.”

outdoor air temperature, allowing it to float up and down with outdoor air temperature.

operating all the time and it’s just maintaining the boiler loop 10 degrees hotter than what the boiler loop is trying to maintain. If we don’t have enough heat or the heat pump shuts down for some reason, then the heat pump shuts offbasically and the boiler loop just kicks on automatically. There’s no interference and the client doesn’t know about it.”

Carbon emissions have been reduced by 284 tons per year, which resulted in $22,000 in savings in energy costs, annually. “ The project surpassed my expectations, and effectively reduced our natural gas emissions and costs to zero,” said Tristan Webb, maintenance supervisor at Juan de Fuca.

In addition to designing the mechanical system for the project, Polar Engineering aided the Center in receiving several grants, including the Canada 150 Grant, and other provincial ones.

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Refrigeration

By Greg Scrivener

The design and construction of building envelopes for refrigerated spaces are critical to the long-term performance and function of that space. There are a lot of specificdetails that could be discussed related to this topic, but in general, a well-designed building envelope and assembly includes the following components — insulation, air barrier, vapour retarder, doors, and general construction systems. We will explore the fist three and go into more detail on general construction systems and more complex assemblies in the future.

Insulation

Fundamentally, the purpose of insulation is to slow down heat transfer from the exterior into the refrigerated space. Insulation in refrigerated space construction assemblies serves two interconnected goals. First, the insulation needs to be thick enough to achieve any desired energy efficicy criteria. Second, it needs to be sufficit to prevent condensation on the exterior surface of the building assembly. Insufficient insulation

Unsealed pipe penetrations in large walk-in cooler can increase the refrigeration load.

thickness increases energy consumption and increases the size of the refrigeration system. For refrigerated spaces less than 3,000 sq. ft.that are constructed using prefabricated panels, there are energy code minimum R-values for coolers and freezers. Because of the additional energy costs associated with larger spaces, it is somewhat common that

Continued on page “53”

If the installed insulation isn’t thick enough, it will increase the energy consumption and increase the overall required size of the refrigeration system.

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For more information visit: https:www.honeywell-refrigerants.com or Call 800-631-8138

Continued from page “51”

they are built with insulation values that exceed these energy code requirements.

There are many different insulation materials available, and while it is not possible to get into great detail here, it is important to understand that different materials have different insulating values and are not equivalent for the same thicknesses. The most common materials are polyurethane and polystyrene. In general, polyurethane is the most common material used for walk-in coolers and freezers; polyurethane foam used in insulated panels for refrigeration has an insulating value of approximately R8/inch, while comparable polystyrene products have an insulating value of approximately R5/inch. Ths means that for the same performance of insulation, polystyrene panels are thicker.

However, polystyrene is less expensive and certain dense cell polystyrene products have a lower moisture accumulation over time and

is not a closed cell and can be damaged by water very quickly if the vapour barrier is incorrectly installed.

Air/vapour barrier

In most cases for refrigerated spaces, the air barrier and the vapour barrier are the same components, and this is because, unlike typical house construction in Canada, they both need to be on the same side of the insulation.

and can cause serious frost problems in a freezer.

therefore can be more effective over the life cycle of a freezer.

Other insulating materials can be used and it’s not really uncommon to see more generic building envelope construction techniques in “homemade” style walk-in boxes or when large areas of an existing building are refrigerated. In these cases, it’s extremely important to understand the vapour barrier because non-foam insulation

It is obvious that air infiltrating into a refrigerated space is not desirable as it will add humidity and heat to the space. To prevent infi ltration, the building envelope and all penetrations need to be adequately sealed by some type of barrier that prevents airflow. It’s hard to overstate how important effective sealing is as air continuously passing through even a small opening is a very signifiant source of refrigeration load

While many materials can stop or slow air movement, it is more difficult to stop water vapour from diffusing through building materials. Ths is critical to understand and can sometimes be confusing. First, we need to recall that water vapour will always try to move from areas with higher vapour pressure to those with lower vapour pressure, even through many types of materials. The vapour pressure of water in the air is determined by the actual amount of water in the air. A material’s ability to prevent or slow this diffusion is measured in “perms.” Metals and glass are usually non-permeable but drywall, for example, has a permeance of around 30 perms, while a poly “vapour barrier” has a permanence of less than 0.1.

Continued on page “55”

Damaged panels can cause air infiltration, resulting in frost.

It’s hard to overstate how important effective sealing is as air continuously passing through even a small opening is a very significant source of refrigeration load and can cause serious frost problems in a freezer.

Unsealed pipe penetrations cause a refrigeration load in a refrigerated warehouse.

n Refrigeration

Continued from page “53”

Warm and humid

The confusing part sometimes comes because people think in percentage-RH instead of the content of water in the air.

Room temperature 70 F air at 50 per cent RH has 55 grains of water per pound of air, which results in a vapour pressure of 0.3 in Hg vapour pressure (there are 7,000 grains in a pound), and a refrigerated space that is at 35 F and 95 per cent RH has 27 grains/lb air, which results in a vapour pressure of 0.18 in Hg. Ths means that even though the RH is much higher in the cooler, the moisture is going to drive from the outside air through the building materials and into the cooler unless an effective vapour retarder is installed. In Northern climates, this is the same thing that happens in the winter when the inside of your house is warm and humid, and the outside is cold and dry.

Moisture diffusing through the walls of a cooler or freezer is problematic for two reasons. The first reason is because it adds moisture to the space which causes additional refrigeration load. The second and more important reason is because it allows for water and frost accumulation in the wall, which can

lead to serious damage to the building and/or structure and bacteria/mould growth.

Figure 1 shows a simplifid representation of this. Imagine that there is no vapour retarder in place; the temperature through the wall will gradually decrease from the exterior temperature to the interior temperature. The moisture will also migrate through the wall because the vapour pressure on the exterior is higher than the interior. At the point where the moisture hits the temperature that corresponds with its dew point, it will condense, leaving water (and possibly ice if it’s a freezer) in the wall.

Vapour retarder

The discussion about proper vapour retarders comes up frequently and I often rely on the same story to highlight how critical it is to get this right. Consider Figure 3, which represents a simplifid version of a mediumsize 30 F cooler that I was involved with. To save costs, the owner elected to build typical two-by-six walls with a poly vapour barrier and rock wool insulation. They also increased

the insulation amount in the existing attic. You can see the problem immediately; it would be close to impossible to properly install a vapour barrier on the outside of the ceiling insulation. Instead, the contractors installed the typical interior wall vapour barrier. I wish I had a video of this, but about one week after this cooler was turned on, the owner complained of some dripping water in the cooler. When we responded and poked a hole through the ceiling and vapour barrier, dozens of gallons of water poured out. The entire cooler ceiling was completely destroyed. :

Greg Scrivener is the lead refrigeration engineer and a partner at Laporte Consultants, Calgary, and works throughout Canada and the U.S.  He is a professional engineer and journeyperson refrigeration mechanic. He can be reached at GScrivener@laporteconsultants.com.

Figure 1: The red line represents the temperature gradient through the wall and the dashed line represents moisture diffusion happening until it hits the dew point of the exterior air.

Figure 2: The temperature gradient still exists through the wall with a vapour barrier on the exterior surface, but the moisture is unable to penetrate.

Figure 3: Representation of an actual installation that resulted in the complete failure of the ceiling insulation within a week of start-up.

Side-fired condensing tank

John Wood, West Fergus, Ont, debuts its Envirosense SF, a side-fied condensing gas tanktype water heater The Envirosense SF features continuous water flow with 2.8 GPM at 65 F temperature rise Its side-mounted hot and cold recirculating taps allow for this unit to be installed aspartofcombinationspaceheating/waterheating applications. This Energy Star-qualified water heater has a 0,09 UEF and 93 per cent thermal efficiency.

John Wood u www.johnwoodwaterheaters.com

Booth #: 515

Push-to-connect solution

Uponor, Apple Valley, Minnesota, announces the release of its TotalFit push-to-connect fittings. TotalFit is a professional-grade, engineered polymer (EP) push-to-connect fitting solution designed for PEX, PE-RT, CPVC, and copper piping systems. TotalFit is approved by the Uniform Plumbing Code and International Plumbing Code for direct burial in soil or concrete (with four to six mil poly wrap) as well as behind walls without access panels. It is ideal for service repair, maintenance, remodels, and retrofits for potable hot water and cold water distribution piping systems in single-family homes, townhomes, apartments, and condos.

Uponor u www.uponor.com

Booth #: 503

Differential manometer

Kane, Richmond, B.C., announces the release of its Kane3300 hi-res differential manometer. The 3300 allows for measuring draft,gas supply, manifold or burner pressures in HVAC systems. The manometer also offers dual input measurements of up to 80 in H2O and boasts a triple scale. The dual input feature allows users to measure pressure drops across heat exchangers, cooling coils, supply, and return. The kit

includes flex ble transparent tubing, two brass fittings, two-step con-nectors with 3.15-inch tubing, a soft case, and a manual.

Kane u www.kanetest.ca

Booth #: 623

Condensing water heater

Rheem, Atlanta, Georgia, unveils the newly redesigned Rheem CRTGH Series super high-efficiency condensing unit. The new water heater combines performance with a modern design, offering a more efficient and convenient solution for plumbers and homeowners alike. The Rheem CRTGHSeries features a stainlesssteel condensing heat exchanger, a minimum flow rate of 0.26 GPM and a minimum activation flow rate of 0.40 GPM.

Rheem u www.rheem.ca

Booth #: 431 and 414

Levelling up

Lyncar, Brampton, Ont, announces the launch of its redesigned Spot Rite level. Featuring strong magnetic holds and an aluminum frame, theSpotRitecanbeusedasatorpedolevelorasprinklerdroplevelling tool. The level is equipped with 1/2-inch, 3/4-inch and 1-inch threaded ends. Large vials make it easy to see whether the surface is level or not.

Lyncar u www.lyncar.com

Booth #: 743

High-temp drain pump

Saniflo, Cambridge, Ont, debuts its new series of high-temp drain pumps, the Sanicom 1 and Sanicom 2. Both pumps are capable of handling upto194F(90C)graywaterfrommultiplefixturessimultaneously.Sanicompumpsfeaturea two-HPmotorthatdischargesgraywaterfrom commercial kitchens, dishwashers, and washing machines. The drain pumps are able to handle liquids with highly acidic properties as the system activates with air pressure switches.

Saniflo u www.saniflo.ca

Booth #: 912

Pressure regulator

CashAcme, Vaughan, Ont, introduces the EB25 Plus PRV pressure regulators to the commercial, high-rise and institutional markets. The EB25 features accurate flow control and pressure regulation, which eliminates multi-valve installation, such as high-low valves installed in parallel to meet varying flw requirements or multi-valves installed in series to reduce high inlet pressures to desired line pressure. The valve is available in 2-1/2-inch, three-inch, and four-inch sizes, all with flanged connections. The valve is factory set at 55 psi.

CashAcme u www.cashacme.com

Booth #: 722

Indirect water heater

Triangle Tube, West Deptford, New Jersey, announces the launching of its new stainless steel indirect water heater, the Cardinal. It features top DHW connections, one-inch boiler connections, and is available in multiple sizes to ensure ample hot water. Paired with Triangle Tube’s Peace of Mind warranty program, the stainless steel indirect water heater is ideal for any residential or commercial application.

Triangle Tube u www.triangletube.com

Booth #: 926/927

Fire-tube boiler

Lochinvar, Burlington, Ont, brings its industry expertise in the commercial sector to the residential sector with its all new Epic fie-tube boiler. It is easy for contractors to install, set-up, and service. Its display screen uses text, not codes, for contractors to troubleshoot the residential boiler. It features a 10-to-one turndown ratio and advanced electronic controls. It is available with floor and wall mount. Currently only available in Canada, it has four models from 80,000 to 199,000 BTU/hr. The Epic boiler has a 95 per cent AFUE rating.

Lochinvar u www.lochinvar.com

Booth #: 810

Entering HVAC sector

Navien, Vaughan, Ont, introduces its fist HVAC product – the NPF Hydro-furnace. Available in upflw and horizontal configurtions, the NPF comes in two sizes of 60,000 BTU/h and 100,000 BTU/h. Both have a 97 per cent AFUE rating. The NPF uses Navien’s dual stainless steel heat exchangers to heat water in an isolated compartment out of the airstream. The heated water is circulated in a quiet forced air coil, which transfers the heat into the airstream. The sealed combustion design allows the NPF to deliver heat without signifiantly impacting humidity levels. It can modulate down to 15 per cent. Installers can set supply air temperature and airflw directly from the front panel.

Navien u www.navieninc.ca

Booth #: 416

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The Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors — National Association’s (PHCC) Educational Foundation has named Joseph Sullivan to the organization’s board of governors. Sullivan has worn many hats over the years, including owner of J.J. Sullivan Plumbing and Heating . The PHCC Educational Foundation will present him with his board of governors plaque and pin at the Foundation Donor Reception during PHCC Connect in Cleveland, Ohio, on Oct. 26th.

Navien Canada welcomes Mike Wills as national training manager. In his new role, Wills will play a vital part in further enhancing the company’s training initiatives across Canada. With over 30 years of experience in hydronics, water heating, and HVAC within the distribution sector, Wills brings a wealth of expertise. He most recently served as the category manager, overseeing hydronics, water heaters, and water treatment for Wolseley Canada. He will be based out of the Vaughan, Ont, office location

Caleffi announces Kayla Redding will take on the role of the new regional sales manager for the Western United States. Redding has over 17 years of experience in the manufacturing and construction industries. She will focus her efforts in Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington.

Bardon Supplies announces it has entered into an offial partnership with Kinghome Canada . Customers can now purchase Kinghome products and parts at any of the 12 Ontario branch locations. Starting with the Kinghome Ultranixx cold climate heat pumps, Bardon Supply will gradually introduce Kinghome’s product line, including single-unit split systems, multi-unit split systems, rooftop units, small VRF systems, and heat pump water heaters.

Enercare establishes itself in the B.C. market thanks to its recent investment in Pioneer Plumbing and Heating Inc. Ths investment will mark Enercare’s fist expansion into B.C. The company currently has operations in Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan. Pioneer was established in 1976 in Vancouver, B.C. and offers various services, including heating, air conditioning, ventilation, water heaters and gas. Enercare provides water heaters, water treatment, furnaces, air conditioners and other HVAC equipment and related services. Pioneer will continue to operate in B.C. under the same name, with its existing leadership and approximately 45 employees.

Taco Comfort Solution partners with Contractor Rewards, a free program designed to reward professional contractors, plumbers, builders, and remodelers. Customers earn points on Taco’s heating and plumbing products that can be redeemed for rewards, including movie tickets, tools, live events, or vacations. Taco’s full catalogue of residential heating and plumbing products are eligible. Points are earned on circulators, zone valves, or switching relays.

Wolseley Canada is opening a new location in East York, Ont. To celebrate, the wholesaler hosted an event on Sept. 26. Attendees were able to grab a bite to eat or a beverage to drink, and engage with Wolseley staffand other contractors. The fist 100 customers received a free Wolseley T-shirt and hat. The East York store is a 29,000 sq. ft.facility offering a full range of Wolseley Canada’s plumbing and HVAC products.

Equipco Ltd. is excited to announce that they are now representing Lixil brands – American Standard, DXV, and Grohe for the Alberta territory.

Watts Water Technologies announces that it has entered into a defintive agreement to acquire Bradley Corporation for $303 million, subject to customary adjustments. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2023.

The team here at Plumbing & HVAC magazine is launching Technical Training Days this fall, which brings virtual technical training sessions to tradespeople across Canada. The team hosted its inaugural event on Oct. 11, which focused on the heat pump market. The next in the series will focus on hydronics and will run on Dec. 13. Make sure to register soon to get early bird pricing.

The Continental Automated Buildings Association (CABA) has changed its name to the Association for Smarter Homes and Buildings (ASHB). ASHB says its new name better reflcts today’s smart home and building industries and its vision for the future. ASHB is a not-for-profit association that supports the smart buildings and homes market.

Kayla Redding

Mike Wills

Joseph Sullivan

n Shop Management

By Ron Coleman

The economy is starting to heal after the world shut down due to the global pandemic. Ths is the time for business to rebuild. Ths is also an opportunity to signifiantly improve the way businesses are run. There are four key outcomes that will make a successful contractor. These will differentiate one company from the next in the eyes of the customer, team members, sub-trades, and suppliers. As a result, this will keep your banker extremely happy.

The four key outcomes are on-time, on-budget, up-to-standard, and customer goodwill. By focusing on these four key outcomes, a contractor can delight customers, empower employees, keep any sub-trades on track, improve supplier relationships, make additional profit, and increase the business’ value.

Any and all communication should be customer-focused fist. Don’t simply tell the homeowner how good your business is, tell them exactly how you can help them.

Oftentimes, when interviewing a potential employee, the individual will tell the interviewer how wonderful they are. Rarely do they tell the interviewer how they can add value to the company. Use this lesson and apply it to your sales approach to the homeowner. Spell out why they should use your services to benefit them.

If you were to survey your customers, what

would they say most frustrates them? I have done customer focus groups for residential HVAC contractors and asked the customers to prioritize how quickly the problem can be solved, how good of a job has been completed, and what price will be charged. Each and every time, the price always came third.

broke. We either exceed the budget or lose money. There is no in-between.

When prices are low or when the schedule is tight, the standard of work can sometimes be forgotten. Ths is another sign that there won’t be a repeat customer.

Customers want to use the same provider as often as possible. Ths gives them a level of comfort and gives the contractor the right to charge a fair price for completed work. By avoiding customer frustrations, we can solidify strong relationships with customers who will pay for the value we bring.

Meeting customer expectations

Incoming phone calls often mean a customer has an emergency. If they have no heat or burst pipes in the middle of winter, their fist question is going to be how soon can you get here? Ths means that managing scheduling is of the utmost importance.

Contractors will often quote work low in order to get the job. When this approach is done, services are usually skimped, or extra charges are issued just so the contractor makes a profit. If there isn’t any profit, we go

The pandemic took control away from us, now is the time to take it back with a vengeance.

Don’t simply tell the homeowner how good your business is, tell them exactly how you can help them.

Sample approach

If the start schedule changes on a project, insist on getting a time extension. It is good practice to get time extensions anytime there is a change. Imagine a restaurant closed for renovations and they have taken bookings for the expected opening date only to fid the restaurant can’t get occupancy on time.

For service work, develop a planned maintenance program. Ths allows you to do preventative maintenance that will reduce the number of emergency calls and will also allow you to schedule your workforce better. You will increase labour efficiency, reduce overtime payments, and have happier customers by servicing them better. Always keep your customers informed of your expected arrival time at their site.

Give priority to repeat customers, especially those on planned maintenance. Be less supportive of the one-off alls.

Staying on budget

Set a price with the customer and show them why it is a realistic bill. It is a good idea to collect testimonials from past customers that

prove this. These testimonials can be as simple as a 30-second video clip posted on your website, or it can be a detailed letter/email from a customer or engineer who can attest to this. Make sure that any price changes result from a change in the scope of work and that the quote for those changes is added to the budget price.

You may need to take the lifetime value of the project into account as it is not only capital costs that should be considered but also operating costs. This is true for retrofit or new installations. Consider flat rate pricing for service work. If you are charging on a time and materials basis, make sure you spell out your charge-out structure.

Your customer is expecting a certain work quality standard and is entitled to it. Shoddy workmanship will lose you any chance of getting repeat work from that client and will cost money to rectify any mistakes.

Customer goodwill

Humans are creatures of habit. Customers tend to fid someone they are comfortable with and stick with them. The four outcomes explained at the beginning of this article can help improve your customer relationships, but it can also help with employees, subtrades, and suppliers.

Imagine using these four key outcomes (on-time, on-budget, up-to-standard, and customer goodwill) as the basis for performance evaluations of your team. By setting standards for each employee, for each key outcome, both you and the employee can monitor their performance.

Ths is the basis for measuring, monitoring, and managing. These four outcomes should be the foundation of your relationship with your entire team. They should be coming to you, showing how they are meeting, and possibly exceeding their benchmarks. The only downside is that they will realize how valuable they are to your business, and you may have to increase their remuneration.

For the sub-trades, this is a bit of a nobrainer. If they don’t buy into the process, you can’t afford to use them because if they fail, you fail.

Lastly, to be successful at implementing this with your suppliers, the key is to give sufficient lead time. For most items, apart from specialty items, this means giving them three days’ notice of what materials you want. This will improve your fill rate significantly with a myriad of benefits.

Many of us are looking to retire or take more time off. That’s one of the biggest lessons we got from the pandemic. Look at the resistance of officstaffto going back to work in their offices The pandemic has changed the way we do business, but it is up to us to control our business going forward. :

Ronald Coleman is a Vancouver-based accountant, management consultant, author and educator specializing in the construction industry. He can be reached by e-mail at ronald@ronaldcoleman.ca.

Coming Events

The Buildings Show celebrates 35 years

The Buildings Show is back this winter with a lineup of seminars, panels, educational credits, and plenty of industry networking opportunities. The show will run from Nov. 29 to Dec. 1 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto.

The 2022 edition of the show had over 13,600 attendees, 75 per cent of whom were fi st-time attendees. The show also featured over 200 speakers and 478 exhibitors. The Buildings Show adds that pre-pandemic attendance was over 25,000 and that 90 per cent of visitors who attended the show were there to source new products.

What’s going on

Hundreds of guest speakers will host educational sessions on various industry topics. Seminars will also be broken up into various categories that include apartment and condominium management, smart buildings/technologies and innovations, optimizing building performance and enhancing net asset value, professional skills/strategy and leadership, project design/planning/delivery/management and best practices, legal regulatory and risk management, design concepts/health/ wellness and interiors, building envelope solutions, sustainable design/environment

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a nd higher performance buildings, and lastly, urban planning and strategies.

The show will also feature an international architectural roundtable that will discuss the current state of housing in different parts of the world, the challenges presented by the housing crisis, and innovative strategies for combating this crisis. The roundtable will feature Adele Weder, architectural writer and critic, Alison Brooks, Alison Brooks Architects, Alfonso Femia, Atelier Alfonso Femia, Janna Levitt, LGA Architectural Partners, and Ouri Scott, Urban Arts Architecture. The roundtable will take place on Nov. 30 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Products will be on display during the show via the Proptech Innovation Showcase. The showcase will highlight new products hitting the property management market. Five-minute “micro-presentations” will be delivered live by each company, and there will be cross-examination and questioning from a panel of industry experts.

There will also be a live question and answer period. According to the Buildings Show, “New products are continually hitting the market, but do they have real-world potential? What could their limitations be? How do they compare to the existing leader?

The Buildings Show and a panel of industry experts are here to help.”

Educational credits

Participants attending the show and seminars can also leave the show with additional credits. The following associations will provide credits for attending sessions, Arido Professional Development, BOMI Continuing Professional Development (CPD) designation, BSS Continuing Education, Canadian Association of Home and Property Inspectors (CAHPI), and OAA ConEd Learning Hours.

The Buildings Show is comprised of Construct Canada, PM Expo, HomeBuilder and Renovator Expo and World of Concrete Toronto Pavilion. The show will also feature a happy hour event, the FRPO MAC Awards, and the REIC Toronto Year-End Awards.

Calendar

Oct. 11:

Technical Training Days: Heat Pumps, Virtual. To register, please visit www. accelevents.com/e/technical-training-dayheat-pumps.

Oct. 18 – 19:

CIPHEX West 2023, BMO Centre, Stampede Park, Calgary, Alta. For more information, please visit www.ciph.ca.

Oct. 18 – 22:

MCAC Annual Business Conference, Silverado Hotel, Napa Valley, California. For more information, please visit www. mcac.ca.

Nov. 29 – Dec. 1: The Buildings Show, Netro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto, Ont. For more information, please visit www.informaconnect.com/ the-buildings-show.

CIPHEX West 2023

OCT 18 th & 19 th

SHOWCASE PRODUCTS

WILL INCLUDE:

HPX-5, PTAC, Endeavor

Side-Discharge & Heat Pump, Maximus, CRTGH Condensing

Tankless, Triton Light Duty, Proterra