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Adding Value
Conserving water one sump pit at a timeAs members of the plumbing trade, we are all aware of the move to conserve water, especially clean drinking water. The country has moved to 1.6 gallon (or less) flush toilets and low-flow shower- heads. Many areas of the country are experiencing droughts and most of us have experienced water use restrictions on everything from lawn watering to car washing. At the recent combined PHCC and ASA Water Conservation rally in Washington, these associations challenged Americans to commit to specific water conservation measures this summer. >> MoreHigh rise water distributionWater has the unfortunate quality of being heavier than air. In fact, it weighs 62.4 pounds per cubic foot. This mass requires a pressure of 0.433 psi to lift water one foot (62.4 lbs/144 in in ft). To put it another way, one psi will lift water 2.31 feet (1/0.433). In a single story building with 70 psi in the street, this can be insignificant. In a high-rise building, this factor will drive the design of both the hot and cold water systems. >> MorePMI Launches Plumbing SiteThe Plumbing Manufacturers Institute recently launched a new microsite, SafePlumbing.org, with the goal of updating old ideas about plumbing fixtures and fittings.The site addresses topics such as lead in drinking water and the performance of low-flow toilets. It is designed for lawmakers, journalists, trade professionals and homeowners. >> MoreWater Conservation: It's Not Easy Being GreenThe "WaterSense" program is one of the latest water conservation programs sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with the support of many water conservation groups and individuals. WaterSense is a certification program. The WaterSense label identifies water saving products, practices or programs that are approved by the EPA. >> MoreThe Greening of AmericaIt's all around us. Every magazine you open. Every newspaper you read. Every article, advertisement, and political statement. I don't know about you, but I can't take any more of it. I am absolutely sick and tired of hearing about green buildings, sustainable products, global warming, environmental responsibility and so on. >> MoreEyewash and Shower Equipment Protecting WorkersIt is hard to argue against the importance of the need for eyewashes and showers in the workplace, given the reported injuries to and incident statistics of workers who require medical treatment of some kind. Take eye injuries, for example—there are 800,000 reported eye injuries in the American workforce each year, many of which are caused by exposure to chemical hazards. >> MoreReactions mixed over drugs in drinking waterA Series of recent stories by the Associated Press revealing the presence of pharmaceuticals in portions of the nation's drinking water supplies has some observers warning the public to take precautions but not to overreact. The five-month-long investigation by the news agency discovered that many communities do not test for the presence of drugs in drinking water, and those that do often fail to tell customers that they have found trace amounts of medications. >> MoreLos Angeles tap: The Best Tasting Water on EarthMuch to my surprise, Los Angeles was recently awarded the gold medal in the 18th annual International Water Tasting event for 2008. Actually, L.A. tied with Clearbrook, British Columbia - not surprising, given the name of that town. But considering that the City of Angels is actually a desert that imports water from hundreds of miles away to serve the largest population and farmland acreage anywhere in the country, it is indeed surprising that the water would be so tasty. >> MoreWater conservation movement gainingAll over the world, there is increasing demand for fresh water -- and in so many places water is the new gold. In light of the ever-upward rate of water consumption, decision makers must either find more water sources or reduce the demand on existing water supplies. There is no question as to which path will--must--be taken. >> MoreNew campaign plugs sprinkler useAs part of the U.S. Fire Administration's new Smoking and Home Fires Campaign to put an end to preventable home fire deaths, the USFA and longtime partner, the American Fire Sprinkler Association, are urging homeowners and builders to consider more widespread use of residential fire sprinkler systems. >> MoreCode Update: Emergency showers and eyewashesEmergency showers and eyewashes are required by federal law - the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) Code of Federal Regulations - where workers can be exposed to hazardous materials in the workplace. >> MoreWhy Water Conservation?More and more frequently people ask me the question, "Why water conservation?" Some frame the question this way: "I don't pay for the water I use directly so whether I use more or less water, I pay the same amount; so why should I conserve?" What follows is my answer to this question. >> MoreGreenPlumbers workshops debut in CaliforniaSACRAMENTO, CALIF. -- The amount of water on planet Earth has not changed in the last two billion years – but in the last century, water use increased at twice the rate of the world population. The U.S. flushes 6.8 billion gallons of water down the toilet every day, while more than half of our states anticipate freshwater shortages in the next 10 years. These are just a few of the facts plumbers learned when they attended one of the workshops held in California this fall to introduce the new GreenPlumbers program. >> MoreCopper, plastic pipes tested for taste, odor, etc.BLACKSBURG, VA. -- The Civil and Environmental Engineering Department of Virginia Tech recently conducted a sensory impact study on various piping materials in regard to the possible leaching of polymer additives, organic compounds and oxidation of the surface of the pipe during extrusion – all of which can affect the taste and smell of the water. >> MoreLooking for Green in GreenBill Erickson started thinking about water conservation and the green building movement a long time before it became The Next Big Thing, before sustainable construction really blew up into the juggernaut that it has become. In 1996, his local association hosted visiting contractors and gave them a tour of Chicago; the group included a plumber from Zimbabwe, who marveled at all that Lake Michigan water right at the city’s doorstep. Erickson realized then that abundant, clean drinking water is a precious commodity. >> MoreThe playing fieldn order to succeed in the contracting game, contractors must be aware of the rules of the contracting game and the parameters and conditions of the field upon which the game is played. The rules of the contracting game require that costs of operation be identified, correctly calculated and paid for by the consumers who consume the resources of contractors. The rules also necessitate that, in addition to recovering costs, contractors make a concerted effort to earn a profit, which is above all the legitimate costs incurred. >> MorePart II...We don’t have it in stock -- now what?In Part 1 of this article, we talked about asking the right questions of the customer before making some drastic decision when you are out of stock. I want to re-emphasize that being out of stock on certain items over time is not a life-and-death situation. Look at every out-of-stock situation to determine whether this is a rare occasion or something that needs to be fixed on a long-term basis. You are very likely to run into special orders that drive your in-stock quantity to zero. This happens from time to time when you have a customer order that no one anticipates. What you do then can make a big difference in overall inventory status. >> MoreHi ho! To HEH (high efficiency hydronics) we go!High-efficiency hydronics -- What, exactly, does that mean? It sounds a lot like the word Green with which we are being bombarded as of late. High-efficiency hydronics; sure, it sounds like something we should all be involved with, but how does one determine exactly what constitutes HEH? >> MoreAvoiding the Top Five Local Marketing MistakesThe goal of small business owner is to drive new business. So how can plumbing contractors avoid the common local marketing pitfalls that claim so many would-be marketers? >> MoreIncrease Safety Awareness with SignsColor combination is a vital component in all sign and graphic design and aids in all four of the basic sign design guides.
The best way to manage on-thejob hazards is to make sure every step is taken to avoid them. One way to help prevent accidents is by utilizing a safety signage program to keep employees informed and educated about possible hazards, company procedures, and general safety tips. >> MoreUp-Feed or Down?When designing a high-rise plumbing system, one of the first decisions to be made is the water distribution scheme. Should the system be an up-feed system? Or should it be down-feed? >> MorePlastic-Bodied Drainage Products?New product development, improvements in materials and advancements in manufacturing have all led to changes in the plumbing industry. In addition, recent changes to codes and standards are now allowing the use of plastic pipe underground. As the use of plastic pipe becomes more accepted in commercial settings, so does the use of plastic-bodied drainage fixtures on these types of jobs. Although plastic-bodied drainage has been a major part of residential constructions for nearly a quarter of a century, it has only recently found its way into specification and use in commercial applications. >> MoreJim Finley -- PHCC incoming presidentThis month’s “Name You Should Know” is incoming Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors (PHCC) president Jim Finley. Jim’s dedication to the plumbing industry is unsurpassed. ... >> MoreThe Tankless PhenomenonSo is tankless the next logical step to the water heating part of your business? You might answer that based upon the amount of water the applications needs, or perhaps your geographical location.... >> MoreThermostatic Mixing Valves Safely Regulate Water..Many of the plumbing codes that exist today are designed to prevent accidental scalding. While turning down the hot water heater may reduce injury potential in some cases, large multi-use buildings need a more ... >> MoreWater Conservation: Every Drop CountsMany parts of the U.S. are experiencing abnormally dry to drought conditions. This will have an adverse impact on agriculture as well as household and business consumers. Last year, Northern California, ... >> MoreWater Conservation Begins at the SourceIn recent years, conservation of natural resources has become an important topic at virtually all levels of society. Water is a primary natural resource. Agencies such as the World Heath Organization indicate ... >> MoreWater Conservation in Commercial RestroomsWhy is there so much hype about water conservation in commercial restrooms? The short answer is: Our supply of fresh water throughout the world is becoming more limited every day. Water is the foundation of life. ... >> MoreThe Evolution of High-Efficiency Water HeatersReady for a crash course in high-efficiency water heaters? Here's the scoop. The basic tank styled water heater has seen a number of high-tech changes over the past decade. Manufacturers are now ...>> More How to choose the right PPEA thorough compliance plan should include these four steps
OSHA’s Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Standard (29 CFR 1910.132 for General Industry) has been in place for more than a decade and remains the primary regulation governing your PPE program. General requirements of the PPE Standard cover four major activities: (1) assessment, (2) selection, (3) training, and (4) verification. Note that each activity requires a different skill set. Line managers should designate leaders whose abilities are aligned with the requirements of each of these activities; it may not be the same person for each step... >> More Manufacturers Push 1.28-gpf Toilet LawThe Plumbing Manufacturers Institute has partnered with California Rep. John Laird to establish a multi-year phase-in of high-efficiency toilets that use 1.28-gal. per flush or less... >> More More Plumbing Engineers, Contractors Go GreenWhen specifying plumbing fixtures, green is rapidly becoming the way to go - and it's easy to see why. Plumbing engineers, contractors and building owners are demanding more environmentally sound solutions ... >> More New Plumbing Weapons in War on Waste
In 1992, the U.S. Congress passed the Energy Policy Act (EPAct), which addressed growing concerns about energy and water shortages by limiting the energy and water use of various products. >> MoreSafety checklists can add value A warehouse or distribution center can require sophisticated safety demands and requirements. Putting together a comprehensive and disciplined safety checklist can often be the best way to assure a good safety environment. John Nadzan, health, safety & environmental manager for Barnes Distribution, shares some training methods that may help your company... >> More ANSI Z358.1 Compliance: Check Yourself Out!It is estimated that the vast majority of multiple shower and/or eyewash installations in the United States still do not provide tepid water... >> More How to survive a market correction.
The riskiest assets took the biggest hits -- the Nasdaq was down 4%, Chinese stocks nearly 9% and mortgage lender HomeBanc (HMB, news, msgs) nearly 19% -- and little else escaped. Gold and the Standard & Poor's 500 Index ($INX, news, msgs) both tumbled 3%, and the U.S. dollar weakened. New website enables buying, selling surplus invent
New DEWALT® Plumbing Licensing Exam GuideBased on the IPC and common construction management philosophy.Pottstown, PA (PRWeb) -- Pal Publications, Inc. in partnership with DEWALT Industrial Tools, announced today the release of their newest edition to the DEWALT Exam and Certification Series, Plumbing Licensing Exam Guide. ICC News ReleaseMost widely used building codes available in SpanishTo help thousands of Spanish-speaking workers in the construction industry better understand building safety and fire prevention codes, the International Code Council published its 2003 International Codes in Spanish. >> MoreICC News Release - en españolLos Códigos de Construcción más usados disponibles en españolEl International Code Council (Concejo Internacional de Códigos) ha publicado sus Códigos Internacionales 2003 en español para ayudar a miles de trabajadores de habla hispana en la industria de la construcción a que comprendan mejor los códigos de seguridad en la edificación y prevención de incendios. >> More |
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A new generation of plumbing products plays a central role in facilities’ efforts to curtail water costs. 
The 400-point-plus nosedive by the 