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State of the PVF industry roundtable

PM Engineer Chief Editor Nicole Krawcke had the chance to speak with several key industry stakeholders about trends and technological developments in the market, including: Greg Nahrgang, vice president, technical services and product development, Charlotte Pipe and Foundry; Adam Botts, product manager for Viega; and Steven Dolejsi, applications engineering manager, IPEX.




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Cutting commercial water consumption in California

Despite some reprieve from the draught that gripped the state for several years, Californians continue to find resourceful ways to trim their water consumption. Businesses large and small are no exception. 




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Uponor hosts five part webinar series

The webinar series will cover conservation of energy, explaining why it should not be the prime focus but rather a product of achieving the desired indoor environment.




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Cogeneration puts New York college on the leading edge of sustainability

Finger Lakes Community College (FLCC) has served upstate New York for more than 50 years. 




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Tips for installing and servicing CPVC pipes

When installed properly and protected from incompatible chemicals, CPVC can deliver years of reliable service in even the most aggressive water conditions. Get tips on installing and servicing CPVC pipes.




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IAPMO seeks Technical Correlating Committee members

The deadline to submit an application is May 3.




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John Siegenthaler: Picking winners

The U.S. geothermal heat pump industry was breaking out the champagne on Feb. 9, 2018.  That’s the day President Donald Trump signed the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, a bill that boosted government spending by hundreds of billions of dollars.




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Single coil solution

Some renewable energy heat sources require large thermal storage tanks. Examples include systems’ biomass boilers and solar thermal collectors.




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Thermostatic mixing valve: Temperature control for solar heat

Webstone, a brand of NIBCO, introduces the new Thermostatic Mixing Valve for high-temperature solar heat sources.




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First net zero energy education and research facility in Victoria

The training facility, designed for the plumbing industry, will generate all energy required to support the operation of the building on site through the incorporation of several renewable energy technologies.




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Australia headquarter's net zero system highlights IAPMO's commitment to innovative green technology

The state-of-the-art facility houses IAPMO R&T’s Oceana research center and product testing laboratory.




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IAPMO publishes Installation Standard for Residential Solar Photovoltaic and Energy Storage Systems

The 2021 USHGC is scheduled to be published in early 2021.




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RPA, Hydronics Industry Alliance partner with Egg Geothermal to offer webinar series

Each module is $140 for RPA and IAPMO members, and $170 for non-members.




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Ross Goldstein: Design your system for the ‘what ifs’

A lot of things are out of your control when working on a job involving multiple trades. Whenever I design any type of system, I always go down a list of “what ifs.” The “what ifs” are scenarios that can affect the performance of a system due to an unknown. This includes actions by other trades.




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Propane and solar energy: How using both can improve sustainability and comfort

Hybrid systems that run on propane and solar can be tailored to a project’s unique needs, providing lower first costs and reduced ongoing energy costs and emissions.




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Ross Goldstein: Creating cooling and dehumidification using solar thermal or waste heat

There are multiple ways to dehumidify a space — mechanical, reheat and desiccant to name a few. The biggest issue has been that conventional air conditioning units are only 10% effective at removing humidity. Until now, standard de-humidification systems were expensive to purchase and install.




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DOE invests $6M in geothermal heating and cooling technologies at federal facilities

New technical assistance capacity will help the federal government lead by example in demonstrating benefits and potential of decarbonizing buildings with geothermal energy.




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Ross Goldstein: Waste heat recovery from solar PV

A little-known fact about solar electric panels is that the hotter the panel itself, the less efficient it becomes. Studies have found a 0.05% efficiency loss for every degree of temperature that is increased. The reverse is true in that efficiency increases by 0.05% for every degree temperature decreases.




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Zaid Rahman: 3 credit card considerations for plumbing contractors

 While most plumbers may like to think that they’re mostly serving routine maintenance or installation customers, the most common nature of those calls is likely panicked customers with a burst pipe, a backed-up toilet or another emergency that needs a response ASAP.




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New Geothermal GSHP Piping Systems document available

PPI MS-7 includes detailed specifications for four plastic piping materials which have been proven in ground-source heat exchange systems: HDPE, PE-RT, PEX, and PP (PP-R and PP-RCT).




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IRA reduces cost barriers for geothermal heating and cooling

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 has delivered good news in the form of federal income tax credits and accelerated depreciation deductions that help make geothermal a more attractive option.





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Water-to-water heat pumps meet stringent efficiency requirements for new school facility

A North Vancouver school chose WaterFurnace for its reliability and energy efficiency. The manufacturer's rep mentioned that the equipment aligned with decarbonization efforts. Finances were a concern, as is usual with building projects.




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Greenwashing and geothermal HVAC technologies

Greenwashing is deceptive advertising that uses green PR to make products seem eco-friendly and desensitizes consumers to environmental claims. TerraChoice describes "seven sins of greenwashing" to help consumers spot misleading environmental claims.




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ICC releases recommended practices for remote virtual inspections

The publication is based on study, research and discussions from the Code Council’s membership, partners and industry experts.




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PM Profile: ICC's Dominic Sims

Plumbing & Mechanical recently had the chance to interview International Code Council CEO Dominic Sims about the current landscape for codes and standards and the plumbing industry overall. 




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New criteria in drinking water standard tightens lead leaching allowance for plumbing products

Joint committee governing NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 lowers maximum allowable limits of leached lead from plumbing endpoint devices.




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ICC announces inaugural online education event: ICC Learn Live

Educational sessions will offer continuing education units (CEUs).




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The changing landscape of fire protection

The world is changing quickly, and transformative technologies are introducing new requirements for safety. 




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IAPMO elects new president, board members during virtual conference

David Gans, chief building official for the city of Oceanside, California, was elected IAPMO’s 61st president, and Steven Panelli, chief plumbing inspector for the city and county of San Francisco, was elected vice president.




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Codes Corner: The benefits of the UPC and Installation Standards

The Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) has a long history of providing useful information that is not offered by other model codes. 




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Codes Corner: Encouraging economic recovery

Amid one of the most impactful pandemics this nation has ever faced, one lesson that continues to be compounded is public buildings need to be updated to provide citizens with a sense of security in order to encourage an economic recovery. 




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2021 UPC, UMC Technical Committee meetings to be held virtually

Attendees will still be required to register in order to participate.




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Flexible Parking Garage Gas Monitoring Design is Key

Whether new or retrofit construction, parking structures and shipping and loading bays are often crucial to the viability and efficient use of residential, commercial, industrial and multi-use developments. 




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Codes Corner: How code or specialty plumbing certification sets you apart as a contractor or engineer

I frequently speak at college campuses and trade apprenticeships. Whether it be to future engineers or contractors, my technical talks typically end up covering non-technical content, specifically career development. 




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Codes Corner: An introduction to IAPMO IS 34

IAPMO has collaborated with the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) to produce an installation standard for solar photovoltaic (PV) and energy storage systems (ESS) in residential applications. 




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Innovative plumbing code technologies are critical to creating sustainable and resilient buildings

To aid plumbers and tradespersons in staying competitive in the marketplace, innovative technologies and materials must be a priority when crafting and revising provisions within model codes and standards in order to enhance efficiency, positively impact affordability and provide ease of service for those implementing it.




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Codes Corner: Water efficiency is critical to creating sustainable and resilient communities

As the creation of sustainable and resilient buildings becomes a greater priority, especially over the past year, one critical component will be to ensure our buildings are water efficient. 




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ICC, PMI announce transition of Matt Sigler to Code Council’s plumbing and mechanical team

Sigler is a well-known and highly respected technical expert in the industry with over 20 years of experience in construction, codes and engineering.




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Deadline to submit proposed changes to 2024 National Standard Plumbing Code (NSPC) is March 1

Proposals accepted by the technical committee will appear in the 2024 NSPC.




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ICC, RESNET to develop standard on Remote Virtual Inspections for energy and water performance in buildings

The new standard will provide guidance for implementing RVI for energy code compliance and for energy and water efficiency performance.




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ASHRAE publishes Standard 241, Control of Infectious Aerosols

Standard 241 establishes minimum requirements to reduce the risk of airborne disease transmission, such as SARS-COV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19, the flu virus and other pathogens in buildings like single and multi-family homes, offices, schools and healthcare facilities.




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The International Code Council releases 2024 International Codes

The International Code Council’s 2024 International Codes (I-Codes) are now available for order in print and digital formats.




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Rebuilding effort in Paradise, California focuses on fire-safe buildings

The Camp Fire in Butte County, California, started in 2018, destroying over 18,000 structures and causing 85 deaths. Paradise, a town 90 miles north of Sacramento, lost about 95% of its buildings, but It is on the road to recovery.




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IAPMO makes Tentative Interim Amendment (TIA) available for public comment

The deadline to submit comments is Sept. 5.




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5 steps to consider when designing a wastewater system

designing a wastewater system requires careful consideration of a range of factors to ensure efficient and compliant operation.




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Commercial water heating market moves toward electrification

As more and more cities and states seek to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, it’s clear that regulatory activity is clearly driving the push to electrification and decarbonization.




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The growing trend toward electrified heating and cooling

As the world continues to search for solutions to reduce and eliminate carbon emissions, the plumbing industry suddenly finds itself at the forefront of change.




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Best practices for venting tankless water heaters

Here's what you need to know about venting for tankless water heaters and how you can approach it for the least cost and best results.




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5 trends affecting residential plumbing systems

Various market forces and trends can influence the decisions plumbers and engineers make regarding those materials and designs. Here are five that should be considered in the coming year.




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The heat pump renaissance — exploring the latest trends shaping sustainable building solutions

Heat pumps are growing in importance due to climate change. Extensive investment in heat pump technology has led to higher heating capacities and smaller equipment sizes.