June 2006 - Plumbing & HVAC

Size for hottest days, save energy on 

others with two-stage cooling. 

Refreshing news on page 15 

Volume 16 Number 3 May/June 2006 

Efficient Air Conditioning 

Working with the new 13-SEER equipment 

SPRING 

This 13-SEER light commercial unit 

features a striking design. 

Impress your friends, page 15 

Air Conditioning 

Issue 

Canadian Mail Sales Product Agreement #40063170. Return postage guaranteed NEWCOM Business Media Inc. 451 Attwell Drive, Toronto, Ontario M9W 5C4 

INSIDE 

• Federal government sinks EnerGuide program 

• Budget boost for contractors and apprentices 

• National plumbing/HVAC show a success 

• B.C., Alberta partner in training and procurement 

Circle Number 100 for More Information 


Mechanical 

pipe joining 

www.drainbrain.com 


Relieve your customers from the dreadful 

task of toilet cleaning. 

Welcome news on page 27 

Put the small stuff where you can find it 

with these handy drawers. 

Inventory control, page 32

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Volume 16 Number 3 May/June 2006 

• Federal government sinks EnerGuide program 

• Budget boost for contractors and apprentices 

• National plumbing/HVAC show a success 

• B.C., Alberta partner in training and procurement 



www.drainbrain.com 


Size for hottest days, save energy on 

others with two-stage cooling. 

Refreshing news on page 15 

This 13-SEER light commercial unit 

features a striking design. 

Impress your friends, page 15 

Relieve your customers from the dreadful 

task of toilet cleaning. 

Welcome news on page 27 

Put the small stuff where you can find it 

with these handy drawers. 

Inventory control, page 32 

Features 

National show a hit 9 

Plumbing, HVAC industries under 

one roof 

In This Issue 

Departments 

Products & Technologies 

Hot Seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Air Conditioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 

Industry News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Hot Water Heating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 

Western Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 Pipes, Valves & Fittings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 

Atlantic Focus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 Refrigeration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 

People & Places . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 Faucets & Fixtures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 

Coming Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 Tools & Instruments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 

Mechanical Marketplace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 

Shop Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 Trucks for the Trade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 

Working with 13-SEER 12 

New air conditioners a quantum leap 

for industry 

Mechanical joining 22 

A revolution in pipefitting 

Milestone marked 35 

David Suzuki stirs up celebration 

Canadian Mail Sales Product Agreement #40063170. Return postage guaranteed NEWCOM Business Media Inc. 451 Attwell Drive, Toronto, Ontario M9W 5C4 

Efficient Air Conditioning 

INSIDE 

Working with the new 13-SEER equipment 

SPRING 


Issue 

Mechanical 

pipe joining 

Comfort starts long before installation. 

Before it’s a home, it’s a jobsite. Not an easy place for a contractor to relax. This 

is where Uponor reliability starts to shine. Our innovative radiant heating, PEX 

plumbing and fire protection systems not only make homeowners comfortable, 

our proven dependability will put you at ease, too. To learn about Uponor products 

first hand, visit www.uponor.ca. 

Cover photo: HVAC technician Mike Palmer 

installs a new 15-SEER air conditioner. 

(Photo by Simon Blake) 


www.plumbingandhvac.ca May/June 2006 – Plumbing & HVAC Product News 3

Circle Number 105 for More Information

Hot Seat 

May/June 2006 

Volume 16, Number 3 

ISSN 1499-5271 

Editor 

Simon Blake 

(416) 614-5820 

sblake@newcom.ca 

Operating on faith 

Editor Emeritus 

Ronald H. (Ron) Shuker 

(416) 614-5816 

rshuker@newcom.ca 

If I were to use typical newspaper jargon, 

I might say that the HVAC 

industry is “reeling” from the recent 

decision by Stephen Harper’s 

Conservative government to end the 

EnerGuide for Houses program. But 

that would be too strong. 

However, I think I can safely say that 

just about everyone in the industry is 

very disappointed. The program, which 

provided rebates to homeowners that 

had energy audits done on their homes 

and then upgraded to more efficient 

HVAC equipment, was developed with 

considerable input from the industry 

and has been quite successful in its threeyear 

run. The oil heating sector had only 

just received approval for its equipment 

to be included in the program. 

Manufacturers, wholesalers and contractors 

were all counting on a boost 

from the EnerGuide for Houses program 

when they created their production 

and sales projections for 2006. 

Many HVAC contractors have made the 

EnerGuide rebate a key part of their 

sales pitch. 

However, it appears that the new 

Conservative federal government 

regards EnerGuide as just another 

example of Liberal largesse with the 

public purse. They have made it clear 

that they don’t support the Kyoto 

Protocol on climate change nor any 

program that was created as part of the 

Liberal initiative to meet Kyoto goals. 

One can’t really blame them for 

being suspicious as the examples of 

foolish spending by various Liberal governments 

over the years are many. The 

Quebec sponsorship scam and the metric 

fiasco are two big ones that come 

immediately to mind. 

But one can only wish that Harper 

and his government had done more 

homework on the EnerGuide for 

Houses program before brushing it off. 

The move is reminiscent of another 

famous Liberal faux pas – the cancellation 

of the military helicopter purchase 

arranged by the Conservative government 

of Brian Mulroney as the 

Canadian Forces’ ancient Sea King helicopters 

were falling out of the sky 

around them. 

The Harper government has promised 

to come up with a “made in 

Canada” replacement by this fall. If it’s 

well thought out and developed 

through consultation with Canada’s 

HVAC industry, it is difficult to see that 

it could be much different from the program 

it replaces. The timeline is short 

and any in-depth consultation with the 

industry will be difficult to achieve over 

the summer. But even if it is delayed, 

one can only hope that the government 

is serious about creating a meaningful 

program. 

Most Canadians haven’t yet passed 

judgment on Stephen Harper and his 

government. They may not always agree 

with his policies, but it is refreshing to 

have a prime minister who seems intelligent, 

articulate and genuinely interested 

in doing the right thing. It is a welcome 

change to listen to someone with ideas – 

a vision even – of where this country 

needs to go. 

If we haven’t heard a lot of screaming 

from the industry over the cancellation 

of EnerGuide, it is because there is a 

degree of faith that those qualities will 

make everything work out in the longterm. 

We’re not reeling yet! 

Contributors 

Roy Collver 

John Carr 

Ron Coleman 

Barry Cunningham 

Arthur Irwin 

Publisher 

Mark Vreugdenhil 

(416) 614-5819 

mark@plumbingandhvac.ca 

National Sales Manager 

John Pallante 

(416) 614-5805 

john@plumbingandhvac.ca 

Design and Production 

Tim Norton 

production@nytek.ca 

Circulation Manager 

Pat Glionna 

Corporate Services 

Anthony Evangelista 

PLUMBING & HVAC PRODUCT NEWS Magazine is 

published six times annually by NEWCOM Business 

Media Inc. and is written for individuals who purchase/ 

specify/approve the selection of plumbing, piping, hot 

water heating, fire protection, warm air heating, air 

conditioning, ventilation, refrigeration, controls and 

related systems and products throughout Canada. 

Head Office 

NEWCOM Business Media Inc. 

451 Attwell Drive, Toronto, 

Ontario, Canada M9W 5C4 

Tel: (416) 242-8088 

Fax (416) 242-8085 

POSTMASTER: Send all address changes and circulation 

inquiries to: Plumbing & HVAC Product News 

magazine, 451 Attwell Drive, Toronto, Ontario, Canada 

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single copy $5.00 plus $0.35 GST in Canada; 

United States $40.00 U.S. One year subscription 

in U.S.: $40.00 US, One year subscription foreign: 

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Copyright 2006. The contents of this magazine 

may not be reproduced in any manner without the 

prior written permission of the Publisher. 

We acknowledge the financial support of the 

Government of Canada through the Publications 

Assistance Program toward 

our mailing costs. 

PAP Registration No. 10796 

A member of: 

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Ontario Plumbing Inspectors Association 

Hydronics Marketing Group 

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Air Conditioning Engineers 

Heating Refrigeration Air Conditioning 

Institute of Canada 

Refrigeration Service Engineers Society of Canada 


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Industry News 

In Brief 

Habitat fundraiser 

tops $1-million 

The Canadian Institute of 

Plumbing and Heating (CIPH) has 

exceeded its $1-million fundraising 

goal for Habitat for Humanity 

over the past year. Institute 

members raised a record-breaking 

$1,021,678 in cash and products, 

reported CIPH charity committee 

chairman Paul Lachance 

(president, Wolseley Canada) at 

the group’s Habitat Gala Dinner 

held March 22 at the Fairmont 

Royal York Hotel in Toronto. The 

group has raised $3,521,613 for 

Habitat since 1994. 

Programmable thermostat 

efficiency gain questioned 

Tests on Energy Star-rated programmable 

thermostats by the 

U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency (EPA) indicate that they do 

not save energy because many 

homeowners do not program their 

units. Canada’s Office of Energy 

Efficiency (OEE) has recommended 

that, rather than discontinue 

the program, the EPA suspend the 

Energy Star criteria in order to 

gather more information, reports 

the Heating, Refrigeration and Air 

Conditioning Institute of Canada 

(HRAI). 

N.S. gas association 

The Heating, Refrigeration and Air 

Conditioning Contractors of 

Canada (HRAC) is working with 

contractors and suppliers in Nova 

Scotia to form a new “Nova Scotia 

Natural Gas Association”, reports 

HRAI. The group would serve the 

needs of the province’s budding 

natural gas heating industry. The 

proposal may see the group use 

management services from the 

HRAC Halifax office and draw 

upon the HRAI for membership. 

The group hopes to be operational 

by the fall. Contact Martin Luymes 

at 1-800-267-2231 for more 

information. 

Harper government cuts 

EnerGuide programs 

By Ron Shuker 

Hardly had the ink dried on the 

announcement of the five-year 

$500 million EnerGuide for Low- 

Income Households program early this 

year when the new federal government 

cancelled it. 

The announcement came hard on 

the heels of the cancellation of the parent 

EnerGuide for Houses program. It 

was initially launched in 1998, but 

ramped up three years ago. Both programs 

offered homeowner incentives to 

replace their existing heating and air 

conditioning equipment with high efficiency 

units. Many manufacturers, 

wholesalers and contractors were 

counting on these incentives to boost 

2006 sales. 

“The government’s cancellation (of 

these programs) is an enormous blow 

to Canada’s developing home energy 

efficiency industry,” stated Clifford 

Maynes, executive director of Green 

Communities Canada, a major stakeholder 

in the program. “We have called 

on the government to reconsider its 

decision. It could set back the cause of 

residential energy efficiency by a 

decade,” he said. 

“It’s definitely unfortunate for many 

of our contractors who have been working 

with the EnerGuide home energy 

auditing companies to be certified 

providers of those upgrades their audits 

recommended,” said Warren Heeley, 

president of the Heating Refrigeration 

& Air Conditioning Institute of Canada. 

HRAI has worked closely with Natural 

Resources Canada and Environment 

Canada for years on these and many 

other energy efficiency programs. 

“We are also concerned that the 

NRCan program encouraging training 

to meet upgraded energy efficiency programs, 

including R2000, by providing a 

$150 per course subsidy may also end.” 

These grants helped hundreds of technicians 

upgrade their training through 

HRAI SkillTech courses over the past 

three years “to better apply energy efficient 

heating and ventilation systems, 

which was NRCan’s objective,” Heeley 

pointed out. 

The new federal government plans to 

implement its own “made-in-Canada” 

plan this fall. 

Is appliance rebate next? 

The energy efficient appliance rebate is 

also a question mark. It has been jointly 

funded by gas and electric utilities and 

NRCan to encourage more homeowners 

and businesses to purchase Energy Star 

rated gas furnaces, boilers, fireplaces and 

other appliances the past few years. 

The oil heat industry is specifically 

concerned since it has been left out of 

these programs for years. “This was the 

first time the oil heat industry had a 

place at the rebate table, said Scott 

Andison, president of the Canadian Oil 

Heat Association (COHA). 

“We were ready to roll out our high 

efficiency oil heating program Feb. 1 

after more than a year of discussions. It 

was delayed to March and April and 

then Treasury Board announced in 

mid-May that the NRCan funding for 

these programs had been withdrawn,” 

he reported. 

“We understand Ottawa wants a sustainable, 

effective and economical longterm 

program and not just a subsidy for 

energy used,” Andison reported. “They 

are planning more comprehensive cost 

relief programs, and less piece-meal. We 

will continue to dialogue with NRCan 

officials through the summer to achieve 

this objective.” 

COHA planned to discuss the topic 

and create a new mandate for further 

negotiations with the federal government 

at the COHA annual meeting and 

Symposium June 1-3 in Huntsville, 

Ont.., he added. 

Steven Harper’s Conservative government 

has offered a number of incentives 

for industry in its first federal 

budget, including a major boost for 

apprenticeship programs. 

Contractors are eligible for $2,000 for 

each apprentice they hire under the 

Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit. 

Apprentices will receive a $1,000 per 

year grant for the first two years in a 

Apprenticeship boost 

Red Seal recognized trade program or 

other “economically strategic apprenticeship 

programs.” The Ontario residential 

HVAC technician program, for 

example, would seem a natural. 

Workers are also eligible for a $500 

tax deduction for tools they must buy as 

a condition of employment in excess of 

$1,000. And the $200 limit is raised to 

$500 on construction tools eligible for 

the 100 percent capital cost deduction. 

Other changes that may help contractors 

are: 

• Raising the small business income eligible 

for the 12 percent tax rate to 

$400,000, up $300,000, effective Jan. 1. 

• 

Reducing the 12 percent small business 

tax rate to 11.5 percent in 2008 

and to 11% in 2009. 

• Eliminating the federal capital surtax 

retroactive to Jan. 1. 

• 

Lowering the general corporate tax 

rate to 19 percent from 21 percent by 

2010. 

The Pros Know. 

® 

Oil tank rule changes 

The Fuels Safety Division of the 

Technical Standards and Safety 

Authority of Ontario (TSSA) has 

revised its rules on the re-use of 

single wall underground tanks. 

Variances will no longer be considered 

if the applicant cannot provide 

a complete history of the 

cathodic protection for the tank. 

However, it will allow “existing 

ULC certified S602 tanks installed 

outdoors and bearing a ULC label 

for indoor use to continue to be 

used outdoors.” It requires that 

“every calendar year, the external 

condition of the tank and installation 

is visually inspected and 

Continued on page 11 

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■ Sleek, rugged housing built for durability, 

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■ Big 7-inch LCD screen is mounted on an 

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■ Built-in dual frequency transmitter (512 hz and 874 hz) reduces 

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Manitoba – Tom Beggs Agency, 204-953-1900 

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Saskatchewan – Asta Sales, 

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© General Wire Spring 2006 


Industry News 

Upbeat mood at 

national trade show 

By Simon Blake 

Visitors and exhibitors alike were 

enthusiastic about the 2006 version 

of the Canadian Mechanicals 

Exposition. 

The first show in 10 years to include 

the plumbing industry, organizers of 

CMX-CIPHEX 2006 were beaming by 

the end of three days. “We had a 

tremendous start,” reported show manager 

Patrick Shield. “There were high 

expectations. I think the show delivered…” 

added show chairman Ed 

Seaward, manager of marketing and 

major accounts for Union Gas, Toronto. 

Over 500 exhibitors packed the North 

Hall of the Toronto Convention Centre 

March 23-25. Total attendance was 14,087 

(including exhibitors) – a 30 percent 

increase over the 

2004 event. 

Exhibit space 

was sold out well 

in advance, with 

a few potential 

exhibitors on a 

waiting list. The 

number of heating 

exhibitors – 

both forced air 

and hydronic – 

was up significantly 

at this 

year’s event, Shield reported. And, of 

course, the plumbing fixture and faucet 

manufacturers were back for first time 

in 10 years. 

The combined show, which brought 

together the CMX and CIPHEX 

Ontario shows, was the result of an 

agreement between the Heating, 

Refrigeration and Air Conditioning 

Institute of Canada (HRAI) and the 

Canadian Institute of Plumbing & 

Heating (CIPH). A number of manufacturers 

and contractors had been urging 

the amalgamation for some time. 

“Today, if you are not partnering with 

others, a show cannot sustain itself,” 

remarked Ralph Suppa, CIPH president. 

“I think both associations brought 

“There were high 

expectations. 

I think the show 

delivered…” 

value to the combined effort … it really 

worked out well.” 

“Everything I am hearing is positive,” 

agreed Warren Heeley, HRAI president. 

The only question that organizers 

must wrestle with is how to make space 

for future expansion, he added. There 

has been some debate about moving the 

show to the larger South Hall, but few 

exhibitors favour that because it will 

take the show away from the Front 

Street restaurants and hotels that play a 

key role for industry networking. 

Learning opportunities 

The event’s theme was “Joining forces. 

Sharing knowledge.” This year’s 

Learning Forum featured a lengthy 

seminar schedule 

along with 

manufacturer’s 

sessions in a 

show floor theatre. 

More than 

3212 visitors attended 

the sessions. 

“There was 

standing room 

only in some 

seminars,” remarked 

Seaward. 

The education 

theme continued in the east end of the 

building where the Skills competitions 

for students and – for the first time – 

experienced technicians occurred. The 

high school and masters events were 

well supported, but a strike by college 

instructors reduced participation in the 

Skills Ontario competition. Nick 

D’Alessandro of Mohawk College won 

the gold medal, Cory Hoffer, also from 

Mohawk, took second with Don Faithful 

of George Brown College in third. 

Elmira District High School swept the 

Secondary School Student Challenge 

with Josh Pond in first, Jonathan Forwell 

in second and Menno Wicher in third. 

Tim Lukacs of Lukacs Plumbing & 

Heating in North Bay, Ont. earned the 

title of Grand Master in the Masters 

Challenge. 

Competitors in the Masters Challenge identify historic HVAC artifacts. 

Other success stories included a daycare 

on Saturday. Telus supplied MIKE 

phones so that parents could keep in 

touch with the daycare. “We had about 

40 kids,” reported Shield. 

There was considerable interest in a 

‘virtual showroom’ in which about 40 

manufacturers displayed products on a 

video screen, he added. 

The door prize, a new GM van fully 

Reitzel Heating & Sheet Metal Ltd., 

Waterloo, Ont. 

At the end of the day, the key was to 

provide enough variety to draw people 

that are involved in many different 

aspects of the industry, said Seaward. 

“All of these things bring people to the 

show. They take time off from their revenue-generating 

jobs to attend. We 

needed to give them lots of choices.” 

outfitted by DC Van Outfitters, The next CMX-CIPHEX show will 

Markham, Ont., went to Alan Reitzel of take place in Toronto in 2008. 

HRAI president Warren Heeley, left, 

and CMX-CIPHEX 2006 show chairman 

Ed Seaward pulled the winning 

ballot in the truck draw. 

Many activities 

The Canadian Hydronics Council held 

its popular Pump Challenge in which 

technicians race each other and the 

clock to change out a pump for cash 

prizes. Visiting Danish student Michael 

Eriksen took home the $300 prize with 

a time of two minutes, 23 seconds, far 

shy of the record set at the Foothills 

Conference in Edmonton last year of 

one minute, 37 seconds. 

The HVAC/R Heritage Centre displayed 

historic equipment adjacent to 

the Skills area. This allowed organizers to 

make the identification of relics from the 

past a part of the Masters Fun Challenge. 



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Industry News 

In Brief 

Continued from page 9 

accepted by the fuel oil distributor…and 

a written record of the 

inspection provided to the tank 

owner/operator,” stated Roland 

Hadaller, P.Eng., director for fuel 

oil regulation. Both types of tanks 

are tested and certified to the 

same ULC standard. 

Time to upgrade? 

TSSA has issued a Director’s Order 

to remove, render inoperable or 

relocate propane and gas-fired unvented 

Servel refrigerators produced 

between 1933 and 1957. 

The refrigerators are prone to produce 

carbon monoxide in levels 

that may be lethal. Where relocation 

provides a solution, every unit 

must be inspected and serviced by 

a TSSA certified gas technician 

annually. 

Letters 

Where are the smaller 

air conditioners? 

Dear editor: 

I am and have been a huge supporter 

of 13-SEER air conditioning. What 

worries me is, what about our smaller 

homes requiring less than 18,000 Btu/h? 

I wrote last fall when I read in the 

trade press that we (contractors) were 

not properly sizing air conditioners – 

shame on us. Well, here we are and we 

have managed to source only one manufacturer 

(with seven units on backorder 

at our wholesaler). Other companies 

have all discontinued building a 

12,000 Btu/h unit. 

Recently a customer wanted air conditioning 

in a 650 sq. ft. home. Every 

company that he spoke to recommended 

a 1 1/2 ton (18,000 Btu/h) unit. Contractors 

told him that there was no such 

thing as a 12,000 Btu/h air conditioner 

and never has been. 

In Winnipeg, like many places, we 

have condos in multi-storey buildings 

that are up to 1,000 sq. ft. where we can 

use a 12,000 Btu/h air conditioner. We 

build tight and I think that it’s absolutely 

sick that we cannot access 12,000 

Btu/h units with R410A refrigerant, 

never mind R-22. 

We could install ductless if we had 

too, but the cost would be much higher. 

In this day and age of telling us (contractors) 

to do a better job, size properly 

and up-sell, my advice to all the 

manufacturers is: GET OFF THE POT 

AND SUPPLY PRODUCTS THAT 

SERVE THE CONSUMER! 

D. Brian Baker, president 

Custom Vac Limited 

Winnipeg 

Non-residential permits 

jump 

After a strong 15.3 percent 

increase in February, the value of 

non-residential permits surged 

another 15.1 percent in March to 

$2.1 billion. This was 16.1 percent 

higher than the average 

monthly level in 2005, an exceptional 

year for the non-residential 

sector. Institutional permits 

increased 52.6 percent to $773 

million, the second highest level 

on record, largely from hospitalrelated 

projects. The total value of 

all building permits increased 5.3 

percent in March, also the second 

highest level on record at $5.5 billion. 

The non-residential results 

are explained by strong retail 

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record high operating 

profits earned, lower vacancy rates 

for commercial buildings and 

favorable interest rates, Statistics 

Canada reported. 

Near record residential 

permits 

A total of 59,100 new dwelling 

units were approved in the first 

three months of 2006. This was 

the best first quarter in Canada 

since 1990 when 61,600 units 

were approved. B.C. had the 

largest gain in March (up 30.7 

percent to $729 million), mainly 

in multi-family housing. Nova 

Scotia set a new record high 

($98 million) in March. Alberta 

had the second highest level in 

March after setting the record in 

February. Regionally, 21 out of the 

28 census metropolitan areas 

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(in dollars) were in Calgary, 

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centres east of Toronto. 

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13 -SEER 

Working with the new air conditioning equipment 


New higher efficiency minimum 

standards for air conditioners 

have created dramatic challenges 

for the HVAC industry. 

Already in effect in Ontario and 

expected to be approved in the rest of 

the country this fall, the new 13-SEER 

(Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) has 

required manufacturers to redesign 

their equipment platforms and shift to 

thermal expansion valve technology to 

control refrigerant flow. 

The U.S. adopted the 13-SEER minimum 

in January and the older equipment 

is no longer being produced.“We stopped 

building the 10-SEER equipment back in 

January,” remarked Tim Hawkins, engineering 

manager for residential air 

conditioning products for Rheem 

Manufacturing, Fort Smith, Arkansas. 

As a result, Canadian contractors 

need to get their technicians up to speed 

quickly even though leftover 10-SEER 

stock will likely be available for much of 

this cooling season. 

The equipment 

On 13-SEER equipment, both the condensing 

(outdoor) and evaporator 

(indoor) coils are substantially larger 

than with 10-SEER equipment. 

In a retrofit, the technician may have 

to build a larger pad for the outdoor 

unit. The bigger unit may require two 

people to move it into place. In the 

worst case, he may have to find a different 

location if the nook that housed the 

old condensing unit is too tight. 

All of that is easier said than done in 

crowded urban areas, noted David 

Morden, director of Canadian sales for 

ECR International, Olsen Division, in 

Wallaceburg, Ont. “It has a tremendous 

impact on urban areas like the greater 

Toronto area where developers maximize 

profits by having smaller lots … 

You are really limited as to where you 

can put the 13-SEER air conditioning.” 

The indoor picture is more complicated. 

A-coils are generally larger and 

use thermal expansion (TX) valves to 

control refrigerant flow. 

The technician may be able to stuff 

the larger coil into an existing plenum, 

but that may restrict airflow in the heating 

mode to the point where the furnace 

runs on the limit control. In most cases 

the technician will have to rebuild the 

plenum to house 

a wider or taller 

coil. In low basements, 

the contractor 

will have 

to specify a lowheight 

A-coil and 

build the sheet 

metal out to suit. 

“There will be 

challenges to 

replacement and 

the temptation will be to keep the old 

(indoor) unit,” remarked Hawkins. 

That’s not a good strategy, he added. 

In the best case, the unit will simply 

operate below 13-SEER. However, if the 

coil has a fixed restrictor – piston or cap 

tubes – they will not be sized correctly 

for 13-SEER. The operating pressure on 

“It has a tremendous 

impact on urban areas … 

You are really limited as to 

where you can put the 

13-SEER air conditioning.” 

Mike Palmer, a heating and air conditioning technician with 

Design Air Climatecare, Thornhill, Ont., illustrates the size difference between 

the old 9.5 SEER A-coil, left, and the new 15-SEER coil. Both are Carrier units. 

13-SEER is considerably lower than for 

10-SEER. “You will get a significant 

reduction in capacity and compressor 

reliability.” 

Some older furnaces may be too tall, 

but that’s a sales opportunity to sell the 

customer a new 

high-efficiency 

furnace. If the 

contractor specifies 

a variable 

speed or two-stage 

heating/cooling 

unit, it can be 

sized for the hottest 

days but will 

run at half capacity 

most of the 

time, suggested Brooke MacLaren, residential 

territory manager for Carrier 

Canada. 

Some manufacturers have redesigned 

existing 13-SEER lines to make them 

more compact. Trane, for example, 

maintained the same footprint while 

going to a taller outdoor unit (in the 

smaller tonnages), reported Ian McTeer, 

field service representative for Trane 

Canada, Scarborough, Ont. “The footprint 

remains the same … until you get 

up into the four and five-ton units.” The 

company has also gone to three-row 

coils on all indoor units. 

Carrier’s new Comfort Line series is 

20 percent smaller, 30 percent lighter 

and uses 40 percent less refrigerant than 

company’s previous 13-SEER models, 

reports MacLaren. At least two manufacturers, 

Olsen and Carrier, offer compact 

side discharge condensing units 

originally designed for ductless systems 

that can be used with conventional 

A-coils in tight urban areas. 

Thermal expansion valves 

Manufacturers have almost universally 

adopted fixed superheat thermal expansion 

(TX) valves as a way of increasing 

efficiency without going to excessively 

large indoor coils. Like electronic fuel 

injection on today’s automobiles, a 

thermal expansion valve more precisely 

meters the refrigerant going into the 

coil – controlling refrigerant flow to 

maintain the occupant’s comfort under 

On their own, these Weil-McLain family members are great, 

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Warm high-pressure refrigerant from 

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the outdoor unit is metered through an 

providing more domestic hot water with less 

orifice in the TX valve that reduces the 

maintenance and easy installation. 

pressure and causes the refrigerant to 

cool. “It responds to the temperature of 

the suction line and it … adjusts that 

flow to maintain a certain superheat 

level,” explained Hawkins. 

When the unit shuts off, it maintains 

pressure in the system – rather than 

equalizing – so that when it restarts it is 

immediately operating at optimum efficiency. 

This avoids the lag time of the 

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Weil-McLain Canada products. 

with non-bleed valves have factory installed 

start assist capacitors and relays 

– technicians should brush-up on how 

starting circuits work, added McTeer. 

The technician has to be careful 

about brazing near the sensor bulb on 

the suction line, added McTeer. “If it 

overheats, the diaphragm in the thermal 

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element can easily rupture and the 

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12 Plumbing & HVAC Product News – May/June 2006 www.plumbingandhvac.ca


The refrigerants 

The new 13-SEER air-conditioning 

equipment uses either R-22 or R-410A 

refrigerant. R-22 equipment is currently 

less expensive, although that will 

change. R-22 is an ozone depleting substance 

and equipment will not be manufactured 

after 2010. 

The higher cost of R-410A equipment 

relates to its high-tech materials 

and the more expensive compressors 

required with POE oil. As well, manufacturers 

haven’t yet achieved the 

volume necessary to bring the price 

down, noted Hawkins. 

However, manufacturers have achieved 

better operating efficiencies with the 

R-410A units than with the R-22 versions.“That 

wasn’t the case with 10-SEER 

or 11 or even 12,” he added. 

at higher pressures than traditional 

refrigerants and have blown out their 

test instruments. A good set of test instruments 

designed specifically for R- 

410A is a must. Hoses must be rated 

with a minimum 800-psi burst pressure. 

Selling 13-SEER 

The law requires or will require 13-SEER 

equipment, so this takes the onus off the 

dealer in justifying the cost to the customer. 

However, customers will appreciate 

learning there are real benefits. 

Unfortunately, quick payback is not 

one of them. In Canada’s short cooling 

season, the electrical savings from 13- 

SEER equipment over 10-SEER – about 

30 percent – will not cover the cost of 

the new equipment within its lifetime. 

It is worthwhile to talk to the customer 

about their satisfaction or dissatisfaction 

with their current system. Air 

conditioning can have a direct impact 

on indoor air quality and humidity levels, 

said Hawkins. 

The new equipment is quiet. Manufacturers 

have gained efficiency by using 

larger fans turning at slower speeds. 

The Energy Star rating for air conditioners 

is now 14-SEER. In many cases, it 

may be less expensive for the customer to 

go to 14-SEER in those provinces that 

offer rebates to homeowners that install 

Energy Star equipment. 

The new outdoor unit is also substantially 

larger than the old one. 

Upgrading the air conditioning gives 

the contractor an opportunity to 

improve the overall comfort of the 

home. That is something the customer 

will appreciate. 

Commissioning the equipment 

As with any piece of equipment, the 

steps taken in commissioning a 13- 

SEER air conditioning system are critical 

to ensure that it operates at design 

efficiencies. 

The two most critical things are airflow 

– the CFM over the evaporator coil 

– and the accuracy of the refrigerant 

charge, remarked McTeer. “If either one 

of those elements is at fault – usually 

improper airflow leads to improper 

charging …” the unit won’t achieve its 

rated SEER. 

A proper evacuation of the system is 

critical. The system should run for about 

20 minutes before the technician checks 

the refrigerant pressures against the charge 

chart supplied by the manufacturer. 

With a TX valve in the system, the 

technician must use a subcooling 

method to measure the charge rather 

than a superheat method. “The tech will 

have to measure the liquid line temperature 

now and he will have to use his 

head pressure gauge instead of his suction 

pressure gauge to glean the appropriate 

data to make sure that the charge 

is correct,” said McTeer. “Pressure gauge 

and thermometer accuracy are vital and 

should be verified at the start of each 

cooling season,” he added. 

A 13-SEER unit is a little less critical 

than an older unit because the TX valve 

will maintain the superheat on the 

compressor if the charge is reasonably 

close, added Hawkins. 

Some technicians have already learned 

the hard way that R-410A functions 

St. Lawrence Chemical Inc. 

Exclusive distributor of Genetron refrigerants in Canada 

Ontario and Western Canada, Tel: 416-243-9615 Fax: 416-243-9731 

Quebec and the Maritime Provinces, Tel: 514-457-3628 Fax: 514-457-9773 

A compact side-discharge condensing 

unit might be the answer in tight 

urban areas. (ECR-Olsen unit pictured) 



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Light commercial AC 

York Latitude and Luxaire Climasure heat 

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Hot Water Heating 

Loop lengths for radiant 

floor heating systems 

Getting it right is critical in achieving customer satisfaction 

By Roy Collver 

Anumber of years 

ago I came up 

with what I 

called the three 

“golden rules” of 

comfortable radiant 

floor heating systems. 

These rules are: 

1) RADIANT FLOORS SHOULD OPERATE 

WITH THE LOWEST POSSIBLE SUR- 

FACE TEMPERATURE. 

2) THEY SHOULD MAINTAIN THE MOST 

EVEN SURFACE TEMPERATURE POSSI- 

BLE. 

3) THEY SHOULD MAINTAIN THE MOST 

CONSTANT, UNCHANGING SURFACE 

TEMPERATURE POSSIBLE. 

To conform to the above rules, a 

system should be designed so: 

• The water temperature to the slab is 

kept as low as possible at all times. 

• The tubing is spaced as close together 

as is practical. 

• The tubing is spaced as evenly as is 

practical. 

• The tubing loops are kept as short as 

is practical. 

• The insulation below the panel is adequate 

to prevent excessive downward 

heat losses. 

• The floor coverings on top of the slab 

don’t have a high R-value. 

• 

The floor surface temperature is 

changed only when the heating load 

changes. 

I will examine most of these topics in 

future articles, but one that seems to 

need constant review 

is the matter of tubing 

loop lengths. 

Anyone who has 

been in this business 

long enough has 

heard the oftenrepeated 

story of the 

person who had a 

one thousand square 

foot slab and was 

told to install 1/2 

inch tubing on 12 

inch centers. The 

person (most often portrayed as a dumb 

homeowner) goes to a wholesaler and 

buys a one thousand foot roll of tubing. 

They then proceed to lay the tubing 

down in one continuous loop, hook it 

up to a boiler (or water heater) and a 

pump and expect it to heat the room. 

Demanding shorter 

loop lengths isn’t 

a conspiracy by 

radiant suppliers to 

sell you more 

manifolds … 

No urban myth 

Unfortunately, this story is not an urban 

myth. I have personal experience with 

two such jobs and know of many others. 

But why, they ask, won’t it work? Let 

me explain: 

It takes energy to move a fluid 

through a pipe, valve or fitting. To 

develop a specific fluid volume movement, 

we add mechanical energy to the 

fluid with a circulating pump. In hydronic 

systems, this energy is described as 

“pump head” and is measured in “feet” 

of head. There are four factors that 

determine how much energy is needed 

to maintain a constant fluid flow in a 

hydronic system: 

1) How fast (fluid velocity) do we 

need to move the fluid? This really 

means how much fluid do we want to 

put through the pipe in a certain period 

of time. The more we want to push 

through, the harder it is to push, and 

problems start to occur. 

If there is too much friction, the pressure 

drop becomes so high that we have 

to select an overly large, “high head” 

pump to maintain our flow at the 

desired rate. The fluid itself can damage 

system components as it creates more 

and more friction. 

In the case of a one thousand foot 

loop of 1/2" tubing, the pressure drop is 

so extreme that you can hardly get any 

fluid through it at all – they don’t make 

a pump with a high enough head to 

overcome the resistance in that much 

pipe. Remember that many 1000 square 

foot rooms (normal construction, normal 

windows) in 

Canada’s climate will 

require a minimum of 

2.5 US gpm fluid flow 

– some much higher. 

2) How much resistance 

is the fluid 

going to encounter on 

its trip through the 

system? To get the 

most fluid through a 

hydronic loop, the 

pipe should be as large 

as is practical, as 

smooth as possible inside and there 

should be few turns in the pipe to cause 

turbulence. Every time you change the 

direction of the fluid flow, or add restrictions 

in the pipe such as valves and fittings, 

you create turbulence and friction, which 

requires more energy to overcome. 

3) What is the viscosity (how “thick” 

is the fluid)? Thicker fluid creates more 

friction and pushes back harder. Many 

hydronic systems have chemicals such 

as propylene glycol added to the water 

for freeze protection. The addition of 

such chemicals thickens the fluid and 

adds to the pump head requirement. 

4) How hot is the fluid? Hotter fluid 

tends to be “thinner.” It will flow more 

easily than cold fluid. When designing 

low temperature systems that use glycol, 

such as snow-melting systems, you have 

an extreme situation for eating up 

pump head. 

There are two things we can do to 

increase our gallons per minute without 

increasing the head pressure too much. 

One is to use short tubing loops and 

split the flow as in the illustration 

above, the other is to use larger diameter 

tubing. Both solutions add cost to an 

installation and the designer has to find 

the right balance between a smaller 

Delta T, and the higher costs associated 

with shorter and therefore more 

numerous tubing loops (more manifold 

positions), larger diameter pipe, or 

higher head pumps. 

The recommended maximum loop 

lengths, below, are based on reasonable 

flow rates and Btu/h deliveries 

versus reasonable pressure drops (less 

than eight feet of head with 100 percent 

water). Check with your tubing 

manufacturer to obtain the pressure 

drop information specific to their 

product as they may have different 

recommendations. 

It is important not to confuse flow 

rate and velocity with pressure drop. We 

PRESSURE DROP AND Btuh CHART FOR 1/2” PEX TUBING 

FLOW - GPM 

0.2 

0.3 

0.4 

0.5 

0.6 

0.7 

0.8 

0.9 

1.0 

1.5 

2 

FLOW - GPM 

0.6 

0.7 

0.8 

0.9 

1.0 

1.5 

2.0 

2.5 

3.0 

3.5 

4.0 

1 FOOT OF TUBE 

HEAD LOSS/ft 

0.002 

0.004 

0.007 

0.01 

0.014 

0.019 

0.024 

0.03 

0.037 

0.078 

0.133 

PRESSURE DROP AND Btuh CHART FOR 3/4” PEX TUBING 

1 FOOT OF TUBE 

HEAD LOSS/ft 

0.03 

0.004 

0.005 

0.006 

0.007 

0.015 

0.025 

0.037 

0.052 

0.07 

0.089 

250 FT OF TUBE 

HEAD LOSS 

0.5 

1 

1.75 

2.5 

3.5 

4.75 

6 

7.5 

9.25 

19.5 

33.25 

350 FT OF TUBE 

HEAD LOSS 

0.9 

1.2 

1.5 

1.8 

2.1 

4.5 

7.5 

11.1 

15.6 

21.0 

26.7 

Btuh DELIVERY 

20T 

2,000 

3,000 

4,000 

5,000 

6,000 

7,000 

8,000 

9,000 

10,000 

15,000 

20,000 

Btuh DELIVERY 

20T 

6,000 

7,000 

8,000 

9,000 

10,000 

15,000 

20,000 

25,000 

30,000 

35,000 

40,000 

can push 2 gpm through 1/2" PEX pipe 

and we will remain below the industry 

accepted four feet per second velocity 

limit, but we can see from the chart 

below that it is unlikely that we would 

ever want to push that much through a 

“normal” 200 to 250' x 1/2" hydronic 

radiant floor loop. At two gpm, our 

head loss is 0.133 feet of head per foot 

of tube. That would mean that by the 

time we got up to a 100' loop length, we 

would be looking at a head loss of 13.3 

ft., already approaching the need for a 

high head pump. 

At 250' we are at 33.25 ft., which 

exceeds the available head of just about 

every residential circulator. If we go 

back to our 2.5 gpm, 1000' loop 

example, we would be so far off the 


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Hot Water Heating 

chart we could never find our way back home again. 

Even if we went to 3/4" tubing as in the second chart, it 

is clear our pressure drop would be way out to lunch. 

It’s clear that the amount of head pressure in a loop 

builds up very quickly once we reach a certain flow 

rate. Keeping loop lengths below 250' for 1/2" PEX and 

below 400' for 3/4 is a rule of thumb based on 

economy of component selection. 

2.5 gpm IN 

0.625 gpm 

0.625 gpm 

0.625 gpm 

0.625 gpm 

2.5 gpm OUT 

2.5 gpm HEAD LOSS THROUGH 1000’ OF 

1/2” PEX SPLIT 4-WAYS = APPROX. 4 FEET 

Half-inch tubing, for example, is generally used in 

small to medium residential and small commercial 

systems. The most common and economical 

circulators used in these systems develop between 10 

and 15 feet of head at “normal” flow rates (being six 

to 12 gpm, which will allow us to deliver 60,000 to 

120,000 Btuh in a system designed with a 20°F 

Delta-T). 

If we design our loops for no more than an eight 

foot head loss, we have approximately two to seven feet 

of head loss left over to “give up” between the boiler, 

distribution piping and other components. Keeping 

your head loss as low as six feet in the tubing loops will 

give us even more flexibility in designing the rest of the 

system. 

Three-quarter inch tubing is generally used in larger 

residential and medium sized commercial radiant 

floor systems. The most common and economical circulators 

used in these systems develop between 15 and 

25 feet of head at “normal” flow rates (being 15 to 30 

gpm, which will allow us to deliver 150,000 to 300,000 

Btu in a system designed with a 20°F Delta-T). If we 

design our loops for no more than a 10-foot head loss, 

we have approximately five to 15 feet of head loss left 

to play with. 

Demanding shorter loop lengths isn’t a conspiracy 

by radiant suppliers to sell you more manifolds, but a 

practical requirement towards designing a high quality, 

energy efficient radiant heating system. 

Water heaters 

The Copper Brute and Copper Brute II copper-finned 

tube commercial water heaters from Bradford White 

feature atmospheric burners, blow switches, factorymounted 

pumps, and water connections on both sides. 

They achieve low NOx, thermal efficiencies up to 82 

percent. They are available in indoor or outdoor models 

with input ranges from 175,000 to 1,825,000 Btu/h, 

and 50,000 to 1,999,000 (Brute II). 

Bradford White Canada Circle no. 359 

Boiler scale treatment 

Savastat SC-S is a patented physical water and steam 

treatment system 

to prevent 

limescale 

deposits with 

randomlyvarying 

electric 

fields. This 

conditions the 

water by enhancing 

precipitation 

of bicarbonates from solution to suspension 

with clusters of ions to wash out during blowdown. 

Savastat Canada Circle no. 360 

Storage tanks 

John Wood Signature Series hot 

water recirculating storage tanks by 

GSW are available in four models of 

80 and 119 (US) gallons. Features 

include multiple anode rods, handhole 

cleanout, two-inch dielectric 

nipples, brass drain valve and front 

inlet and outlet for recirculation. 

GSW Water Heating Circle no. … 

Plate heat exchangers 

These hex brazed plate heat exchangers feature 316L 

stainless steel connections 

brazed 

together with 99 

percent pure copper. 

A range of 

corrugated plate 

sizes and patterns 

improves heat 

transfer efficiency. 

Hex Equipment Canada Circle no. 361 

Air separator 

A multi-tasking air separator 

from Caleffi features a 

stainless steel mesh that 

coalesces and scrubs the 

boiler (or chiller) fluid to 

remove oxygen-rich microbubbles 

and impurities 

through a float-operated 

automatic air release valve 

at pressures up to 150 psi. 

They are sized from 2-4- 

inch threaded and 2-6-inch 

flanged connections. 

Caleffi Hydronic Solutions Circle no. 362 

Combo system 

The Ecosystem by Temp-Mizer is an Energy Star rated 

90 percent AFUE-plus efficient gas heating, cooling 

and DHW system with 

high efficiency ECM 

motors. The combo 

on-demand modulating 

boiler is available in 

three sizes: 46-90,000, 

55-115,000 and 65- 

135,000 Btu/h capacities, 

with a temperature 

range from 104 to 

176°F and 2.3, 2.9 and 

3.4 gpm at a Delta T of 75°F. The hi-velocity unit also 

incorporates a 13-SEER cooling capacity of 1-2, 1.5-3 

and 2-4 tons. 

Temp-Mizer Canada Circle no. 363 

Solar stations 

Solarnetix offers pre-packaged pump station modules 

from Germany, with 13 components including a solar 

station, solar 

hand pump, solar 

check valve, connection 

kit for 

expansion tank, 

system fill 3/4" 

manifold, flush 

and drain unit, 

DHW thermostatic 

mixing valve, 

DHW gravity brake valve, adapters and fittings. 

Solarnetix Circle no. 364 

SELKIRK 

METALBESTOS® 

COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL 

• Professional Tech Support for 

System Design 

• New Canadian Program 

• Complete Product Line 

• Professional representatives all 

across Canada 

The Commercial & Industrial Chimney products 

that Consulting and Specifying Engineering 

professionals can trust! 

Pressure Stack 

Grease Duct 

Oil & Gas Vent 

Industrial Class A-Vent 

Large diameter B-Vent 

Saf-T Vent AL29-4C 

When recommending or approving Commercial & Industrial Chimney, call 

1-888-SELKIRK (735-5475) 

or visit our Dedicated Website @ www.selkirkcommercial.com 

NEW 



Your Perfect Mate 

— for life. 

Commit to 

PowerStor Series 

Indirect Water Heaters 

Finally, the right one has come along. PowerStor Series and 

PowerStor Series SS indirect water heaters are the perfect mates 

for any boiler or furnace. 

These dependable, durable water heaters supply an unprecedented 

volume of hot water and are built to provide reliable 

service and high deliverability for many years. 

That’s why all PowerStor Series indirect water 

heaters offer a Limited Lifetime Tank and 

Heat Exchanger Warranty.* 

Single Wall models are available in three commercial and six residential 

sizes. Each one features the Hydrojet ® Total Performance System, three 

anode rods and two inches of non-CFC foam insulation. The five 

different SS models feature a titanium ferritic 444 stainless steel tank 

and heat exchanger. You can count on ultra-efficient heat transfer from 

the Vitraglas ® coated, carbon steel coil of the PowerStor single wall 

and also from the Stainless Steel coil of the PowerStor SS. 

Next time you’re searching for more hot water, line up a PowerStor 

next to a boiler for a great relationship. 

For more information on the PowerStor Series water heaters, 

please contact your Bradford White representative. 

Count On Bradford White 

For Everything Hot Water 

* Limited Lifetime Warranty applies to residential PowerStor Series Single-Wall 

models and PowerStor Series SS models used in residential applications only. 

Mississauga, ON 

866-690-0961 

www.bradfordwhitecanada.com 

©2005, Bradford White Corporation. All rights reserved. 


Ventilation 

Humidity-sensing fan 

NuTone Ultra Silent 110 cfm humidity 

sensing fans feature Sensaire technology 

to detect increases in moisture levels at 

the ceiling. 

Other features 

include 

an automatic 

shut-off 

adjustable 

from five to 

60 minutes, 

a 42 Watt 

fluorescent lamp or 100 Watt bulb and 

four Watt nightlight. They are designed 

for a six-inch duct. 

Broan-NuTone Circle no. 312 

First developed by Fantech’s parent 30 

years ago, they set standards for air 

tightness, performance, installation and 

reliability with FX 4" to FX12XL 12" 

models, airflows from 117 to 800 cfm, 

and all AMCA certified. 

Fantech Circle no. 316 

Pellet heater vent 

Selkirk’s Direct-Temp® direct vent system 

for gas appliances is now UL listed 

for pellet burning appliances. It offers 

both sidewall and through-the-roof 

venting solutions, in a single pipe 

system with the inner pipe made of 304 

stainless steel and a liner with a continuously 

welded seam. 

Selkirk Canada Circle no. 317 

Ultraviolet lights 

Eliminator 14/24 Series 14 and 16-inch 

germicidal lamps and ballast for surface 

and air purification operate on 24-volts 

inside the air conditioning unit to purify 

the coil and air stream with direct 

exposure to 254nm UVC radiation. The 

lamp has a five-foot cable from the ballast 

to the lamp, a mounting bracket 

and hardware. 

American Ultraviolet Circle no. 318 

Vent conversion kits 

The Selkirk Direct-Temp line includes 

five by eight-inch direct vent conversion 

kits for fireplaces and high output 

stoves, co-linear accessories for direct 

vent fireplace inserts, masonry chimney 

and chimney conversion kits for 

six or eight-inch Class A chimneys, 

and telescopic adjustable vents from 

14 to 22". 

Selkirk Canada Circle no. 319 

Heating and AC 

KeepRite 13 and 14 SEER air conditioners 

feature 8.5/9.0 HSPF ratings on heat 

pumps, Copeland scroll compressors, 

two-speed fan 

motors, 

Comfort Alert 

diagnostics, 

corner posts 

for strength 

and style, easy 

access to service 

valves and 

compressor 

and a new 

control box design. They are available in 

R-410A or R-22 versions. 


Ventilation fans 

WhisperFit U-Can Contractor Packages 

feature a universal housing and motor/ 

grille packaged separately for installation 

after framing. They accept all 

WhisperFit models. Features include a 

low profile housing design and airflow 

from 50 to 110 cfm with four-inch duct 

or 50 to 80 cfm with a three-inch version. 

Panasonic Circle no. 314 

Portable UVC 

A mobile decontamination unit equipped 

with high-output UVC technology, the 

Remedial 

I n - R o o m 

Decontamination 

System by Steril- 

Aire provides a 

safe and effective 

way to decontaminate 

surfaces infested 

with molds, 

viruses and bacteria. 

It is activated 

remotely and one 

unit can clear a 12 

x 12-ft. area within 

24 hours. 

Steril-Aire Inc. Circle no. 315 

Circular duct fans 

Fantech showed its next generation FX 

Series circulator duct fans at AHR 2006. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Pipes, Valves & Fittings 

Mechanical joining 

A labour-saving alternative to traditional pipe-fitting 


A worker with Adelt Mechanical Works Ltd., Mississauga, Ont. assembles Anvil fittings at the new Art Gallery of 

Ontario in Toronto. 

At the new William Osler Hospital in Brampton, Ont., mechanical contractor 

Geo. A. Kelson Company Ltd., Newmarket, Ont., used a combination of welded 

and grooved fittings along with Victaulic suction diffusers, butterfly valves, and 

check valves to install this pump package. 

Mechanical pipe joining systems 

are not new. In fact, they have 

been around since the First 

World War. 

However, more and more mechanical 

contractors are incorporating them on 

projects – despite a material cost that 

can be as much as four times that of an 

equivalent welded or soldered system. 

“Today, we use it about 80 percent of 

the time,” remarked Robert LeBlanc, a 

longtime Victaulic customer in charge 

of purchasing for Moncton Plumbing 

and Supply Ltd., a busy industrial-commercial 

construction and service contractor 

in Moncton, N.B. 

There are a number of factors driving 

this move. “Where you get the savings is 

on the labour. When you calculate that, 

you can save quite a bit,” reports 

LeBlanc. 

And with today’s shortage of skilled 

tradesmen, it allows the contractor to 

do more with fewer employees. “If 

skilled welders are not available, you 

have to look at using different methodologies 

that don’t require welding or 

soldering,” said Mike Warne, general 

manager of Anvil International Canada, 

a manufacturer of grooved and welded 

fittings. 

Mechanical pipe joining systems are 

available for virtually every type and 

size of piping – copper, ductile iron, 

stainless steel and carbon steel. Sizes 

two inches and up are typically rollgrooved 

(except for ductile iron where 

the grooves are radius cut grooved). 

Grooved fittings and valves are generally 

available in two to 30-inch sizes. 

Flexible joints allow expansion and contraction 

in the system. Today, equipment 

such as cooling towers and chillers 

are available with grooved-end connections. 

The market has expanded dramatically 

in smaller pipe size connections. 

Carbon steel pipe sized two-inches and 

less can be joined using pressed fittings 

and small diameter copper pipe can be 

joined using pressed or push-to-connect 

methods. This spring, Victaulic, in 

partnership with Nibco, is introducing 

their PermaLynx copper push-connect 

system for 1/2" to two-inch copper in 

Canada. Ridgid-Viega has expanded its 

ProPress line to cover pipe sizes up to 

four inches. 

Fewer limitations 

Manufacturers have designed better 

systems that remove many of the limitations 

of grooved systems in the past. In 

hydronic heating, for example, high 

temperature water or glycol along with 

additives could break down the gaskets. 

New gasket compounds and lubricants 

mean that fittings and seals will last the 

life of the system. New lubricants don’t 

wash away on test, unlike old waterbased 

lubricants. 

“There’s a better comfort level in the 

marketplace now (with mechanical 

systems),” said Warne. 

One thing the contractor does have 

to keep in mind is that there are about 

four different primary gasket materials 

depending on the type of liquid or gas 

circulating in the system. Manufacturers 

provide gasket selection guides. 

Labour savings 

The savings in mechanical systems are 

achieved through considerably less 

labour in every joint. Skilled welders are 

no longer needed. However, the system 

must still be designed by qualified engineers 

and installed correctly by skilled 

plumbers and pipe fitters. 

Pros and Cons 

Pros: 

• 

• 

• • 

Cons: 

• 

• 

Labour savings through 

quicker joining 

Fewer skilled workers 

required 

No hazardous materials 

on site 

No fire risk 

Easy retrofits 

Up to four times the 

material cost 

Wholesaler may not stock 

In smaller sizes, these systems 

remove much of the prep work in joining 

traditional copper lines. “It takes 

under seven seconds to make a halfinch 

connection or a four-inch connection. 

That saves hours right there 

compared to soldering or brazing,” 

reports Tim Shippen, ProPress product 

manager for Viega North America, 

Witchita, Kansas. 

A mechanical system will result in 

fewer man hours to complete a project. 

“Labour represents a large part of total 

job cost that contractors cannot control 

as precisely as material costs. Therefore 

lower labour costs will reduce the risk of 

loss,” said Brian Pinnock, divisional 


sales manager for Victaulic in Richmond 

Hill, Ont. 

A contractor that is well versed in 

mechanical joining systems can save a 

considerable amount in labour on 

every job. Manufacturers will usually 

have a rep work with a first-time 

user to help their employees learn the 

system. 

Manufacturers can supply charts to 

calculate the labour savings on welded 

versus mechanical systems. 

LeBlanc noted that the numbers tend 

to make more sense on pipe sizes 10" 

or less. 

Moncton Plumbing uses the 

Victaulic Pressfit system on carbon 

steel piping from 1/2" to two-inch and 

grooved systems on piping up to 

eight-inch. Above that, the company 

usually goes with a welded system 

because the grooved fittings 

become prohibitively expensive, he 

reported. 

Many contractors use a combination 

of welded and mechanical systems, 

noted Warne. They may weld up sections 

in their shop and then assemble 

them mechanically on site. 

However, he added, the same 

labour savings that a contractor can 

realize on the job site with a mechanical 

joining system can also be 

achieved in the shop. “We’re seeing 

more and more shop fabrication of 

grooved product.” 

A major advantage of mechanical 

joining systems, particularly in industrial 

plants, is that they allow easy 

changes to the configuration of the piping 

system, added Pinnock. 

Obviously, mechanical joining 

systems are a no-brainer in areas that 

are high risk for fire or in enclosed 

areas where welding gases can be an 

issue. “If you really don’t want to spark 

up a torch … you can do them in a 

grooved or mechanical joining system,” 

noted Warne. 

Plumbing system 

The AquaLink PEX piping system 

includes a choice of branch and tee, 

modified home run, and home run 

plumbing system designs with EasyFit 

tool-less crimp or compression connections. 

Two and three-port modular 

manifolds feature molded fittings that 

use the company’s TwistSeal joining system. 

HeatLink Canada Circle no. 320 

Split-case pumps 

ITT VSX split-case, double-suction, 

base-mounted centrifugal pumps were 

developed with feedback from 300 end 

users worldwide, the company reports. 

There are three models – top suction and 

discharge, side suction-top discharge, 

and side suction and discharge. Pump 

impellers are matched to the casing 

through computational fluid dynamics. 

Other features and options include wireless 

Internet pump monitoring, built-in 

generator, groutless base plate and selfflushing 

one-piece mechanical seals. 

Capacities are from 500 to 15,000 gpm 

with 30 to 425-ft. head. 

ITT Fluid Products Circle no. 321 

Mixing valves 

Navigator S59 TMV’s by Bradley simplify 

the installation of thermostatic 

mixing valves with two high-low valve 

pre-assembled manifold systems in parallel 

in combination with a piping 

assembly and inlet-outlet shut-off 

valves for large 260 and 394 gpm commercial 

DHW applications. 

Bradley Corp. Circle no. 322 

RPDA assemblies 

Apollo Defender 4D700 Series reduced 

pressure assemblies detect and measure 

leakage/unauthorized water usage or 

safeguard sprinkler systems. They are 

available in 2-1/2 to 10" sizes. They 

include a mainline reduced pressure 

zone backflow preventer and bronze bypass 

with a single check valve, water 

meter and stainless steel components. 

Conbraco Industries Circle no. 323 

Pipes, Valves & Fittings 

or horizontal applications with an 

optional breakoff plug for draining the 

riser pipe. 

Danfoss Flomatic Circle no. 324 

Pipe clamps 

The Caddy SuperFix 454 is an easyclose 

pipe clamp, with an electro-galvanized 

coating, for steel and copper piping 

up to four inches. A unique hinged 

design avoids disassembling the all-steel 

clamp prior to installation, with a onehand 

closing and tightening the screw 

to secure the pipe. 

ERICO Inc. Circle no. 325 

Grease traps 

Proceptor model fibreglass separators 

for oil, grease and solids are available in 

100 gallon and 

1200-gallon versions. 

The latter 

has a 400- 

gallon storage 

capacity, 

so cleaning is 

every eight 

weeks. An eggshaped 

bottom simplifies cleanout. 

Green Turtle Technologies Circle no. 326 

Lead-free brass 

Lofthouse is one of the few forging 

companies now producing lead-free 

brass components. After studying the 

performance of lead-free alloys when 

forging parts such as faucets, they 

were found to be 20 percent stronger 

than commonly used brass alloy rod 

(377) which has approximately 2.5 

percent lead content, the company 

states. 

Lofthouse Mfg. Circle no. 327 

Check valves 

The 12" Heavyweight Champ Model 

80DIX check valve by Flomatic has NPT 

female connections for larger sub- 

Selling the owner 

Although it’s quickly becoming less of 

mersible pumps, features a doubleguided 

a problem, selling the building owner 

poppet, a ductile iron body and 

can be a challenge. Manufacturer’s 

anti-poppet spin lugs with stainless 

reps will meet with engineers, building 

steel fasteners. It is designed for vertical 

owners or general contractors 

where they are unfamiliar with the 

system. 

Both Victaulic and Anvil offer a Watts Has the Right Mix 

drawing service where the company 

works with the contractor and engineer 

to route the pipe most effectively and 

then tags and bags all the material 

according to the drawings. 

“There’s more onus on the contractor 

today than ever to make sure 

the (system) all fits. Having someone 

help them with (as-built) drawings 

Presenting Watts Full Line of CSA B125-01, 

provides a real benefit,” remarked 

ASSE 1016 and 1017 Listed Thermostatic Mixing Valves 

Pinnock. 

Next time you specify a thermostatic mixing valve, play it safe 

They can be preset to any temperature between 

Like many contractors, Moncton 

with Watts. Our full line of valves provide precise temperature 

100˚F and 180˚F. For literature on Watts full 

Plumbing decides on a job-by-job 

control and high reliability. Our CSA B125-01/ASSE 1016 listed 

line of thermostatic mixing valves, call 

basis whether or not to use a mechanical 

point of use mixing valves are ideal for single fixture 

1-888-208-8927 or visit our website at 

joining system. “We usually com- 

applications, with the capacity to service multiple fixtures. They 

www.wattscanada.ca. 

pare both ways before deciding which 

can be preset to any temperature between 80˚F and 120˚F. Our 

way to go,” reports LeBlanc. Typically, 

CSA B125-01/ASSE 1017 listed source of supply mixing valves 

are ideal for use at the hot water source to maintain and limit the 

the more labour involved in a project, 

temperature in domestic and radiant systems. 

the more opportunity there is 

ISO 9001:2000 REGISTERED 

www.wattscanada.ca 

for savings. 



One Supplier. One Source for... 

You 

can 

MECHANICAL 

& 

HVAC 

count on 

Mueller Flow Control 

...every step along the way. 

Please visit our website for Branch information near you... 

- www.muellerflow.com - (905) 664-1459 


Refrigeration 

Calculating a steady 

state of control 

By John Carr, CET 

The challenge presented 

by the customer 

seemed overwhelming. 

He wanted 

us to achieve a higher 

level of control in his 

coolers and freezers — higher than the 

original design. He wanted: 

A. More energy efficiency. 

B. Quicker response and pull-down 

times. 

We explored several options. 

1. Change the major system components. 

2. Add a higher degree of thermostatic 

control. 

3. Change the pressure operated thermostatic 

expansion valves to electronically 

operated valves. 

4. Install electronically operated evaporator 

pressure regulating (EPR) 

valves in the suction lines. 

Item one was too costly. The second, 

involving thermostats, would place too 

high a demand on the compressors 

because of costly on/off cycling. The 

third, changing to electronically controlled 

thermostatic expansion valves, 

though feasible, was deemed to be 

impractical due to the number of factors 

to be considered when attempting 

to “trim” a refrigeration system. The 

major function, superheat control, did 

not allow for all the factors that affect 

system operation. We were left with the 

forth option, electronically operated 

thermostatic expansion valves. But first 

we had to do some homework. 

Three important terms kept coming 

up while we were determining how to 

purchase and apply electronic EPR 

valves. The terms, in a simple form, are: 

• Steady State: This is a stable condition 

where over time there is a balance 

of input to output. For example, 

when a walk-in cooler reaches its 

design temperature the system continues 

to cycle around that temperature 

with very little temperature fluctuation, 

if all is working correctly. 

• Control: The authority over a system 

that is trying to maintain a desired 

condition. In a controlled environment 

all the conditions that could create 

instability are regulated by some 

mechanical means. So, for example, if 

the walk-in cooler temperature is set 

at 3°C and the temperature in its space 

is above that point the compressor, or 

actuator, will run until the temperature 

is below 3°C and then shut off. 

Control in refrigeration is most often 

based on a closed loop where a controller, 

following information gathered 

by sensors, directs an actuator to 

adjust its throughput to maintain a 

desirable controlled variable. 

Electronic control adds a level of computerized 

authority to the closed loop. 

• Calculus: Let’s keep this really simple. 

Calculus is a mathematical process 

dealing with quantities that are continuously 

changing, such as temperatures 

and pressures. So far so good, 

but now let’s increase the complexity 

slightly. Perhaps you have heard of 

proportional integral and derivative 

Coupled with computerized 

control, a stepper motor can 

achieve what may be 

possibly the closest thing to 

steady state attainable in a 

refrigeration system. 

control used in heating, ventilating, 

air conditioning and refrigeration? All 

three involve mathematics and, for 

the last two, calculus. Basically, what 

we are dealing with is based on the 

following: 

• Proportional control measures how 

much temperature change took place. 

So for a swing of 4°C over set point, 

the proportional controller will 

reduce the temperature four degrees. 

• 

Integral Control adds to proportional 

control by recognizing that 4°C is far 

too much so the next time the temperature 

rises it will not go as high as 

four degrees. 

• 

Derivative control uses more mathematical 

calculations to determine the 

rate of change of proportional and 

integral control to maintain a temperature 

in a space with extremely 

small changes. 

To meet the demands of the customer, 

we had to find a control system 

that would maintain a steady state condition 

using calculus to quickly respond 

to changes in load, internal and external 

temperatures, internal humidity and 

other factors related to human error 

and just plain strange events. Our next 

Fig. 1: A simple, cut-away view of a 

stepper motor. Note that drives will vary 

from manufacturer to manufacturer. 

step was to look for an electronically 

operated EPR valve. 

Stepper motors 

Modern electric evaporator control 

valves use stepper motors to provide 

evaporator pressure regulating. A stepper, 

or step, motor is a unique device 

that can provide close to 7,000 

possible close to open positions 

in a valve. This is a tremendous 

amount of control when the 

flow of refrigerant affects 

refrigeration effectiveness. 

Coupled with computerized 

control, a stepper motor can 

achieve what may be possibly 

the closest thing to steady state 

attainable in a refrigeration 

system. 

A stepper motor is based on 

the same principles as an everyday 

washing machine motor. 

You take electrically induced north and 

south magnetic poles and connect them 

to either induced or permanent magnets 

which have the same north and 

south poles. With poles, those which are 

opposite (a north and a south) attract 

and those the same (two norths or two 

souths) repel. 

Figure 1 shows a stepper motor operating 

an evaporator regulating valve. 

The motor drives the gears, which 

through a change of ratio by varying the 

size of the gears in the drive train, the 

motor has the power to move a valve 

against the pressure of refrigerant flow 

and adjust the amount of that flow. The 

movement of the screw drive as it 

moves the valve carrier through over 

6,000 positions has as close to infinite 

control as possible. 

Figure 2 shows how the electric circuit 

is laid out to provide the control. In Fig. 

A the control has no direct current, DC, 

flow through it so the motor is stationary. 

This is a hold position and can happen 

anywhere throughout the valves range. 

In Fig. B switches A and D have 

been closed by the controller 

demanding movement in a given 

direction, in this case it is clockwise. 

The current flows through closed 

switch A through the motor and back 

to the source through closed switch 

D. Note that a diode connected by 

each switch (and with a symbol that 

looks like a triangle with a vertical 

line at the centre point) allows current 

flow only in the direction the triangle 

points. So the diode just below 

switch A allows current to flow from 

right to left. The diode can have a 

built-in resistance and, coupled with 

the amount of voltage applied, provides 

for even more control. 

Fig. C shows the reversing of the 

motor by opening switches A and C and 

closing switches B and C. 

Since the stepper motor has close to 

7,000 stopping positions, when coupled 

with a computerized control the number 

of positions would appear infinite 

to the valve. The controlling computer 

receives signals from various points in a 

system that can include: 

Space temperature 

External temperature 

Liquid line temperature 

Suction line temperature 

Refrigerant pressures 

Space humidity 

Product temperature 

Walk-in door-open time 

Lights on time 

Human activity within the space 

• 

Any other factors that could affect 

system operation 

Fig. 2: Three views of a simple stepper 

motor circuit showing Fig. A, OFF, 

motor not moving, Fig. B, ON, motor 

moving in a clockwise direction, and 

Fig. C, ON, motor moving in an anti or 

counterclockwise direction. 

The system can meet energy efficiency 

and response times head on. The 

result is maximum efficiency, optimal 

response times and greater customer 

satisfaction. We chose to install the 

proper sized electronic EPR valve and 

control system and have had few callbacks, 

a very happy customer and many 

more installations. 

John Carr is trades continuing - 

education co-ordinator at SAIT 

Polytechnic in Calgary. He can be reached 

at john.carr@sait.ca. 


Refrigeration 

Product Profile 

Engineered plastic cooling towers 

Brittle in winter, soft in summer – 

the idea of plastic construction for 

large cooling towers would have 

been laughable a few decades ago. But 

modern plastics offer a solution. 

Today’s engineered molded plastic 

cooling towers are one-piece. They are 

rotary-cast with a single or double-wall 

UV-protected, polyethylene shell that is 

virtually impervious to weather conditions 

and harsh environmental elements, 

reports the manufacturer, Delta 

Cooling Towers, Rockaway, New Jersey. 

In the past, plastic cooling towers 

were considered too small for many 

comfort cooling applications. For that 

reason, galvanized metal cooling towers 

were deemed the primary choice for 

packaged applications above 250 tons. 

However, factory-assembled plastic 

towers can now be combined to provide 

up to 2,000 cooling tons in a single, 

modularized unit. Modular cooling 

towers also facilitate an extra margin of 

cooling capacity that can be advantageous 

in adjusting to operational heat 

load or outflow changes, or in upgrading 

to meet future cooling requirements. 

The modular design of plastic cooling 

towers has also introduced new flexibility 

in conserving valuable real estate. By 

molding towers in a rectangular shape, 

some manufacturers enable users to 


A university put an end to its cooling tower maintenance woes with a new engineered 

plastic unit. 

cluster cooling towers in a group that 

occupies a much smaller footprint. 

“With the new Delta system we actually 

got more cooling with less tower,” 

reports Marvin Richer, owner of the 

Crystal Lake University Center, Crystal 

Lake, Illinois, 60 km north of Chicago, a 

facility using the cooling tower on an 

absorption-chiller. 

“Our old 45x20x18 metal cooling 

tower was replaced by a lightweight 

plastic model that is only half that size, 

yet has slightly greater cooling capacity.” 

The aging metal tower was replaced 

after maintenance costs became excessive. 

“We were spending between $5,000 

and $10,000 a year on cooling tower 

repairs - patching metal, putting in rubber 

seals and gasketing. In other words, 

'band-aid' fixes just to keep the tower 

from leaking,” reported Richer. 

Through the use of plastic cooling 

towers, utility savings can also be realized. 

While the cost of electric power to 

drive cooling tower fans may seem incidental 

compared to process costs, they 

add up. Delta engineered plastic directdrive 

motors are employed to power the 

cooling fans. With no pulleys, bearings 

and belts, these motors prove more efficient, 

and hence, provide substantial 

savings in energy costs while also delivering 

more horsepower. 

“The two motors installed on the old 

tower were each 40 HP, 3-phase, 480 

Volts. On the new tower there are four 

10 HP motors,” Richer says. “So we now 

have only half the power requirement. 

Plus the new motors are more efficient 

than the old ones. We have not measured 

the energy savings, but it's there.” 

The design advantages of the latest 

plastic cooling towers also include easier 

installation (especially on rooftops) 

because a lightweight plastic shell weighs 

as much as 40 percent less than a steel 

tower, while being 5-10 times thicker. 

For applications that require mounting 

flexibility, Delta pioneered an induceddraft, 

counter-flow design that incorporates 

I-beam “pockets” in the tower 

basin for reinforcement, so that a plastic 

tower can be easily mounted on standard 

I-beams or imperfect concrete pads. 

“The installation of our new tower 

took a total of four days,” says Richer. 

“In fact, the installation of the tower 

was a one-day deal, but some pipes 

coming into the building had to be 

reconfigured so that took extra time.” 

Delta Cooling Towers Circle no. 360 


Faucets & Fixtures 

Shower packages 

The Moen Waterhill series of bath and 

shower packages feature an eight-inch 

round showerhead for a drenching 

shower. The Moentrol shower control 

uses Moen’s ExactTemp or Posi-Temp 

shower technologies for pressure-balanced 

or thermostatic control. Finishes 

are chrome, brushed nickel and 

wrought iron. 

Moen Canada Circle no. 328 

Commercial fittings 

The Zurn AquaSpec line includes Sierra 

commercial faucets and Temp-Gard 

and Temp-Gard II bath and shower 

valves with ceramic disk or brass cartridges 

with a stainless steel pressurebalancing 

piston. The Sierra model is a 

four-inch centreset single control faucet 

in polished chrome with five-inch integral 

spout and temperature limit stop. 

Zurn Commercial Brass Circle no. 329 

Deck sets 

The Kallista Michael S. Smith For Town 

and For Country Collection from 

Kohler features a deck set mounted directly 

on the tub or surrounding surface 

without risers, with separate hot and 

cold handles, and an integral or a wall 

diverter valve. The collection includes 

bidet sets and deck hand showers. 

Kohler Ltd. Circle no. 330 

Dual flush toilet 

Toto’s high-style Lexicon dual-button 

toilet line, with its skirted steeply 

pitched bowl, flushes with a powerful 

Waterfall faucets 

The Axor Starck X Collection is a very 

modern design in a range of flat surface 

and round vertical faucets from kitchen 

to lavatory, bath to shower and featuring 

free-flowing waterfalls, including 

the 7-1/4" tub spout (shown) which 

matches the design of the single-hole 

lav mixer. A wall-mount lav mixer and a 

free standing tub filler are also available. 

Hansgrohe Inc. Circle no. 332 

Leg tub filler 

Designed for claw-foot bathtubs, the 

Converto shower from Barclay features 

a gooseneck spout and a handheld 

shower with 59 hose and 60" riser 

(showerhead is not included). This leg 

tub filler has porcelain lever handles. 

Finishes are polished brass, polished 

chrome and satin nickel. 

Barclay Products Circle no. 333 

Faucet line 

The Brianne full-line collection of traditional 

faucets from Gerber features 

all-brass kitchen, lavatory, tub and 

Self-cleaning toilet gives 

homeowners a break 

Cleaning toilets has to be one of the most 

dreaded chores in any Canadian household. 

A new technology from American Standard 

will allow plumbers to largely free their 

customers from this repulsive task. 

The latest version of the company’s 

enduring Cadet toilet – the Cadet 3 – 

features American Standard’s EverClean 

technology. This is a silver-based doublecoat 

glaze for a mirror-like finish that 

repels dirt by reducing adhesion of mineral 

deposits on all exposed surfaces. 

Silver also delivers anti-microbial properties 

that are fired right into the china to 

resist bacterial growth for the life of the 

product, reports the manufacturer. 

Other upgrades include a sanitary dam 

A unique coating repels dirt 

and bacteria in the latest version 

of American Standard’s 

popular Cadet. 

backsplash that prevents liquids from collecting where the tank and bowl 

connect. The dam also provides four contact points for tank-to-bowl stability 

that eliminates rocking. The tank cover is flat, a customer request, with a 

distinctive trip lever. 

The Cadet 3 is still gravity-fed after decades of dependable use by its 

predecessor models, but it now uses the new Flush Right flushing system 

consisting of an over-sized chemical-resistant flapper. 

A three-inch flush valve combined with a direct-fed jet produces a strong 

but quiet flush performance. The 2-1/8-inch fully glazed trapway eliminates 

choke points with a smooth outlet design. There is a five-year warranty on 

tank and trim, including the flapper. 

A new SpeedConnect Kit with factory-installed bolts and grommets and a 

one-piece nut/washer assembly reduces installation time for the contractor. 

American Standard Circle no. 335 

gravity flush and washdown system at 

1.6 gal. for heavy waste and 0.9 gal. for 

light waste. The flush valve is flapperless 

and the flush tower has a calibrated 

plunger and bucket-like float. 

Toto USA Circle no. 331 

shower valves, Roman tub and bidet fixtures, 

in chrome, brushed nickel and 

oil-rubbed bronze finishes and single 

and two-handle models with an 

adjustable temperature limit stop. 

Gerber Plumbing Fixtures Circle no. 334 




Tools & Instruments 

Ultra-compact machine 

The Ridgid K-39AF drain gun features 

the company’s Advanced Feed mechanism 

– a new two-way auto-feed that 

allows users to reverse the direction of 

the cable quickly and easily with one 

hand operating a lever. This machine 

weighs only 11 lbs., has a capacity of 50- 

ft. of 5/16" or 35-ft. of 3/8" inner core 

cable and uses a sealed inner drum. 

Ridge Tool Circle no. 336 

Lithium-Ion batteries 

Milwaukee Electric is offering a five-year 

(or 2,000 charge cycles) warranty on its 

V technology Lithium-Ion fade-free 

power batteries. (Most 18v Ni-Cad batteries 

last 450 cycles.) It retroactively 

covers all V28 batteries and gives users 

1,000 more charges or three years of 

warranty coverage, on a pro-rated basis. 

Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp.Circle no. 337 

Accurate manometer 

The Fieldpiece SDMN5 

stand-alone dual-port 

manometer can measure 

gas pressure up to 

60" water column with 

a resolution of 0.1", 

and the resolution 

(0.010" EC) to measure 

static pressure up to 2" 

WC. The unit measures 

positive and negative 

pressure, will take differential 

pressure readings and display 

the difference. 

Fieldpiece Instruments Circle no. 338 

Compact TIG torch 

A 410 amp TIG torch for water-cooled 

applications, the CS410 Crafter Series 

unit from Weldcraft, is compact with 

increased 

amperage 

output. It 

features 

Colour- 

Smart 

hose sets 

to identify 

input water 

(blue), return 

water (red) and gas (black) and a 

reinforced 12.5 and 25-ft. rubber cable 

assembly. The D-Handle has self-indexing 

flat top. 

Weldcraft Div. ITW Circle no. 339 


Popular drain machine 

upgraded for easy loading 

General Pipe Cleaners has 

redesigned its popular 

Speedrooter 91 cable-type 

drain cleaning machine to 

make it easier to load onto a 

truck. The new frame allows 

the machine to slide smoothly 

from the loading wheel to the 

handle to the stair climbers 

and finally to the wheels (It 

takes a lot less time to do it 

than to explain it.) The loading 

wheel makes the 115 lb. or 52 kg 

(without cable) machine easy for one 

person to load. As well, the handle 

is now adjustable to suit the operator’s 

preference. These features add 

General’s tough Speedrooter 

machine incorporates several 

improvements. 

to what is already recognized as a durable but compact machine. The 

drum is supported front and back for long bearing life. 

The machine uses General’s tough Flexicore wire-rope centre cables in 

1/2", 5/8" and 3/4" sizes. They operate through a power cable feed drive. 

Switching cables is quick and easy. For example, switching to 100-ft. of 

1/2" cable on a small drum takes a minute to loosen three knobs, swing 

the motor aside and lift off the drum. 

General Pipe Cleaners Circle no. 340 

GAS ~ FLO 

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PERFECTION PERMASERT 

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CGA Approved 

Ball Valves 

is a registered trademark of 

Fairview Fittings 

& Manufacturing Ltd. 

COMPONENTS BY FAIRVIEW... 

TYPE G (Gas) 

Poly Coated 

Copper Tube 

Gas Appliance Connectors 

www.fairviewfittings.com 

Natural Gas / 

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Black Iron Pipe Fittings 

Pipe 

Stays 

Brass Fittings 

Gas Piping Systems 

Commercial Appliance 

Connectors 

THE FUTURE OF GAS SUPPLY. 

Fairview Fittings & Manufacturing Limited Head Office: Toronto, Ont. Ph: (416) 675-4233 Fx: (416) 675-9416 

Vancouver - Calgary - Edmonton - Saskatoon- Winnipeg - Toronto - Montreal - Moncton - Halifax 



Tools & Instruments 

Hydrostatic test pump 

The Wheeler-Rex Model 29900 is a hydrostatic 

test pump rated at 870 psi for 

use in heating, compressed air, refrigeration, 

oil installations and sprinkler systems. 

This test pump comes with a 2.6 

gal. stainless steel integral tank, 10-ft. 

output hose and 1/2-inch connections. 

Wheeler-Rex Circle no. 341 

Fast release pliers 

Vice-Grips now feature a one-hand fast 

release. The user simply pushes or pulls 

the release handle with one finger from 

any angle. Vice-Grip locking pliers are 

available with up to six-inch jaws in six 

different configurations. 

Irwin Industrial Tools Circle no. 342 

Pipe wrenches 

Lenox now offers cast iron and aluminum 

pipe wrenches. Both are available 

in sizes up to 48" for piping from 

1.5 to six inches in diameter. 

Lenox Circle no. 343 

Rubber lubricants 

International Products has introduced 

new P-80 temporary rubber lubricants 

for incidental food contact applications. 

Emulsion IFC has the viscosity 

of milk while THIX IFC is a higher viscosity 

thixotropic gel. They won’t 

harden or dry out the rubber seals and 

gaskets. 

International Products Corp. Circle no. 344 

36-volt drill/driver 

The new DeWalt heavy duty cordless 

36v hammer drill/drill/driver (with 

two 36 volt batteries) runs on 80 Watts 

New For 2006 From 

the AmericaSeries line of single and 

multi-zone ductless split air conditioning 

systems. It’s the most comprehensive 

ductless line in the industry with multiple 

combinations for optimum flexibility. 

EMI’s AmericaSeries line has everything you 

need for all your job applications AND it's 

made in North America. 

■ Easy installation and access 

■ Cooling and heat pump 

■ Optional electric heat 

■ R-22 refrigerant 

EMI... 

continuing 

to be a 

leader 

in ductless 

technology. 


at 0-450, 0-1200 or 0-1600 rpm. Model 

DC900KL is similar in weight to corded 

and 18 volt models at 6.9 lbs. It features 

a three-speed transmission, a 1/2" 

self-tightening chuck and 22 clutch 

settings. 

DeWalt Industrial Tool Circle no. 345 

Metal folding tools 

These lightweight extruded aluminum 

one-piece folding tools for up to 24 

gauge steel sheet metal and duct feature 

finger ridges for better grip and 

easier folding, sight holes for accurate 

depth alignment for folds 3/8" and 1" 

deep. Models are available in 12", 18" 

and 24" sizes. 

Klenk Tools Circle no. 346 

Ground fault interrupter 

A portable in-line triple-tap ground 

fault circuit interrupter for three 

tools features a manual reset, detects/ 

An 

Comfort Where It Counts. 

P.O. Box 900, 6800 Base Line 

Wallaceburg, Ontario, Canada N8A 5E5 

Tel: 1-888-627-0072 Fax: (519) 627- 4719 

Web: www.ecrltd.com 

Brand 

Gas & Oil-Fired Hot Water Boilers / Electric Boilers / Hydronic Controls 

Baseboard Radiation / Indirect Water Heaters / Gas & Oil-Fired Furnaces 

Ductless Mini-Split Air-Conditioning Systems 



shuts off currents of 4-6 mA trip 

level in 0.25 sec., has NEMA 5-15 

plugs on line side, a moulded T-head 

power block with receptacles on load 

end. 

McGill Electrical Circle no. 347 


Controls 

Draft controller 

The Tjernlund CPC-3 controller for 

modulating draft systems regulates fan 

speed for efficient draft and/or combustion 

air. It can reduce vent diameters up 

and variable speed fans. 

TAC Controls Circle no. 351 

Humidity alert 

Extech’s humidity alert meters, Hygro- 

Thermometer models 445814 and 

445815, feature RH audible and visual 

alarms with adjustable set points with 

to 50%, eliminates large combustion air 

louvers and multiple vents, corrects 

inducer-blower rotation, system fault 

diagnosis, alarms, six programming 

options and is cETL listed. 

CGF Products Circle no. 348 

Control panels 

The Installer Friendly Series (IFS) subsurface 

drip irrigation panel controls 

one 120 volt or 230 volt pump and two 

an RH accuracy of +/-4%. They can 

measure air temperature and calculate 

relative dew point. An external probe 

can reach limited access areas. Weighs 6 

ounces. 

Extech Instruments Circle no. 352 

Solar controller 

The Solarnetix SR-5 (2D) microprocessor-based 

solar heating controller 

comes with eight system schematics, 

one or two collector fields and up to 

two storage capacities. Standard is one 

24 or 120 volt AC flush and spin solenoid 

valves. Features include touch pad 

programming and digital display of 

nine pump functions or counts, float 

status and six system cycle times. 

SJE-Rhombus Circle no. 349 

variable speed controlled output and 

one relay output, with an energy meter 

and other safety functions, along with 

six special functions. 

Solarnetix Inc. Circle no. 353 

Heat Transfer Coils & 

Corrosion Protection Coatings 


■ New Coil Applications 

■ Exact Coil Replacements 

■ Rapid Delivery 

■ Heresite Protective Coatings 

Inverter drive 

The SMVector drive has four operating 

modes (V/Hz, Enhanced V/Hz, Vector 

Speed, and Torque), high starting 

torque, power range to 20 hp, auto-tuning, 

advanced low-speed control, 

dynamic speed regulation and an 

Electronic Programming Module. Input 

ranges from 120v AC 1-phase to 600v 

AC 3-phase. 

Lenze/AC Technology Circle no. 350 

Zone controller 

The TAC Xenta 121 zone controller 

features two and four-pipe installations 

for fan coils and valve actuators. The 

heat pump model handles reversing and 

isolation valves for up to three compressors. 

The unit controls heating, cooling 

and secondary heating, with three heating 

and cooling stages, for multistage 

Madok Manufacturing is the 

Canadian licencee for 

Heresite Protective Coatings Inc. 

Manitowoc, WI 

MANUFACTURING LIMITED 

50 Morrell St., Brantford, Ontario N3T 4J5 

Tel (519) 756-5760 Fax (519) 756-5768 

mail@madok.com www.madok.com 



Trucks for the Trade 


Small parts organizer 

It’s easy to lose small parts and tools in the back of a 

service van. Things like oil burner jets, allen keys, 

specialized washers, etc. have a habit of going 

missing just when the technician needs them. 

Knaack Manufacturing has come up with a classy 

solution. The company’s Weather Guard Itemizer drawer 

units provide an easily accessible place to keep the small 

fiddly stuff. 

They are designed to be securely mounted in a van. 

Sold individually, they can be stacked or mounted side 

by side in any number that works for the contractor. Each 

drawer is designed to carry 75 lbs. (34 kg). Constructed 

of lightweight powder-coated aluminum, they detract 

little from the vehicle payload. 

UP TO 

21-SEER 

Each drawer 

extends on rollermounted 

drawer 

guides. They 

include adjustable 

drawer dividers 

and an individual 

spring latch. For 

extra job site security, 

a padlock can 

be added utilizing 

a pre-punched hole 

provided on the face 

of each drawer. 

These new drawer units offer a 

secure place to store small parts 

and tools. 

And, best of all, the technician no longer has to worry 

about losing those small parts after he “put them in a 

safe place.” 

Knaack Manufacturing Circle no. 354 

SMALLER 

EASIER 

BETTER 

WISER 

Tow wiring 

Valley T-Connectors plug into any vehicle’s 

wiring harness in a one-piece 

design with 16-gauge wire and built-in 

taillight converters. The ‘T-Connector 

Application Guide’ helps identify correct 

part numbers 

by make, 

model and year, 

plus wiring harness 

location, 

electrical 

wiring code, 

taillight converter 

type, 

maximum 

amperage 

draw and installation time. 

Valley Industries Circle no. 355 

Global positioning 

Elm Technologies, the Canadian distributor 

for Trimble Navigation GPS 

hardware and software fleet management 

products and services, tracks, 

monitors and records the position of 

any number of vehicles in real time anywhere 

in North America. Daily, weekly 

or monthly activity reports are available. 

GPS tracking provides accurate 

mapping information to select the best 

routes. It is also designed to control 

unauthorized stops, speeding, overtime 

padding and side work. 

ELM Technologies Circle no. 356 

Alarm system 

The WSS remote anti-theft magnetic 

alarm sensor is a radio frequency transmitter 

for attaching to equipment and 

supplies that, when triggered, sends a 

signal to a SPAL AS-80 central system 

activating an audible alarm. One AS-80 

can track 30 WSS transmitters, with a 

range of 100 feet, both using the latest 

technology (433 MHz, random encrypted 

code with Sound Acoustic 

Wave) to ensure optimum performance. 

SPAL U.S.A. Circle no. 357 

Fujitsu, the WISER choice in comfort. 

WARRANTY 

Have peace of mind 

with a 2-year parts 

warranty and a 

6-year compressor 

warranty. 

INDOOR AIR 

QUALITY 

Air that’s clean and 

free of pollutants. 

Our electronic 

plasma filtration 

absorbs odors 

and collects dust, 

cigarette smoke 

and pollen. 

SIZE 

Our ductless minisplits 

are packed 

with features but 

are up to 39% 

smaller than prior 

models. Cool 

spaces without 

compromising 

aesthetics. 

EFFICIENCY 

Save your 

customers money! 

Fujitsu’s new 

systems are up to 

110% more efficient 

than prior models. 

R410A 

Used in all our 

systems, this 

environmentally 

friendly refrigerant 

prevents the 

depletion of the 

ozone layer. 

Dash covers 

The DashMat® provides protection for 

dashboards, preventing cracking and 

warping caused by sun damage. Made of 

durable, colour-fast, non-shrinking needle 

punch carpet in 12 colours, it also 

reduces windshield glare and haze caused 

T H E P O S S I B I L I T I E S A R E I N F I N I T E 

by gases emitted from the dashboard. 

Available for any vehicle, it is custom 

For more information visit fujitsugeneral.com 

molded to each dashboard for an exact fit. 

Global Accessories, Inc. Circle no. 358 



Western Update 

B.C., Alta. agreement 

boosts labour mobility 

By Ron Shuker 

Ahistoric agreement between 

Alberta and British Columbia may 

have a far-reaching impact on the 

mechanical construction industry as 

the two provinces eliminate barriers 

over the next three years. 

The Alberta-British Columbia Trade, 

Investment and Labour Mobility 

Agreement is aimed at creating a single 

market of 7.5 million people for workers, 

energy, transportation, business 

registration, government procurement 

and other areas. 

Signed during a joint provincial 

cabinet meeting in Edmonton April 28, 

the bill will: 

• Recognize the occupational certification 

of tradesmen in both provinces. 

• Streamline business registration and 

reporting requirements so a business 

registered in one province is automatically 

registered in the other. 

• Create a clear, comprehensive and 

enforceable dispute resolution 

mechanism. 

Implementation will begin April 1, 

2007 with the full transition completed 

by April 2009. 

“It’s about time!” said Roy Collver, 

P&HVAC columnist and president of 

Mechanical Systems 2000 in Calgary. And 

it’s a typical response from the industry 

in Alberta, he added. “It will eventually 

make it easier to move workers and materials 

in and out of both provinces.” 

Ken Gibson, executive director of the 

Alberta Construction Association, agreed. 

He told P&HVAC that breaking down 

barriers and creating a single larger market 

has been ACA’s long-standing policy. 

Gibson said streamlining business 

registration and reporting requirements, 

and providing open and non-discriminatory 

access to government procurement, 

will reduce costs to taxpayers and 

purchasers of construction services. 

And it will enhance the existing competitive 

business environment in which 

contractors frequently bid on public 

projects in both provinces, Gibson said. 

“Alberta’s construction industry is 

particularly interested in enhancing 

labour mobility by recognizing occupational 

certification of workers in both 

provinces. The Red Seal program currently 

provides one means to do this for 

many, but not all, construction trades. 

ACA understands that a comprehensive 

review process has begun, and we anticipate 

that industry will be fully consulted” 

to ensure successful implementation 

of regulatory best practices. 

There was minimal publicity prior to 

the agreement. It had been in discussion 

and negotiation since Premiers Gordon 

Campbell of B.C. and Ralph Klein of 

Alberta signed a protocol of cooperation 

in October 2003. 

Refrigeration mechanics 

near top in wage survey 

A recent wage survey found that refrigeration 

and air conditioning mechanics in 

B.C. were the second highest paid construction 

tradesmen at $29.94 per hour 

in 2005. Elevator constructors topped the 

list at $36.35/hr in 2005, according to the 

National Construction Industry Wage 

Rate Survey for B.C., the Northwest 

Territories and Nunavut. B.C. trade 

helpers/labourers were at the bottom of 

the list in B.C. at $17.34. The provincial 

minimum wage is $8 an hour. 

Plumbers were number one in the 

Northwest Territories at $29.82 an hour 

and in Nunavut at $23.61. 

Statistics Canada conducted the survey 

for the Labour Branch of Human 

Resources and Social Development 

Canada to help establish wage schedules 

for workers on federal construction 

projects. The next survey will cover the 

Atlantic Provinces in 2006. 

Manitoba efficiency incentives 

Manitoba Hydro has announced a number 

of new commercial programs in 

April to encourage the use of high efficiency 

equipment. The utility’s goal is to 

reduce peak electrical demand and 

greenhouse gases through its Power 

Smart program. The plan could reduce 

electrical and natural gas bills by $12.8 

million. The new programs are: 

• Commercial Building Optimization 

– To identify energy conservation 

opportunities with short payback 

periods that will return existing midsize 

and larger commercial buildings 

to their top intended performance. 

• Commercial HVAC – Encourages 

the use of high-efficiency HVAC systems 

through a variety of incentives. 

• Commercial Refrigeration – Over 20 

different rebates are offered to retail 

stores and restaurants committed to 

reducing energy consumption through 

energy efficient equipment upgrades. 

• Low-Flow Pre-Rinse Spray Valves – 

Restaurants and food service companies 

will be encouraged to install 

these valves to improve cleaning 

capability while reducing energy and 

water consumption. 

• Building Envelope Program – Reduce 

air leakage leading to heat loss by 

upgrading the building envelope. 

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Atlantic Focus 

Continued growth at MEET 


Atlantic Canada’s premier mechanical 

event continues to grow. A 

record number of visitors viewed 

new products and technologies from 

over 400 exhibitors at the Mechanical 

Electrical and Electronic Technologies 

Show (MEET), held May 3-4 in 

Moncton, N.B. 

By the time the show ended, 4974 registered 

delegates had passed through the 

doors the Moncton Coliseum (Agrena 

Complex), a 20 percent increase over the 

2004 event. Comedian Glen Foster left 

everyone in stitches at the sold-out 

MEET industry dinner, held May 3 at 

the Delta Beausejour Hotel. 

Seminars were generally well attended. 

A wide-ranging Canadian Hydronics 

Council panel discussion on the CSA 

Barry Cunningham explains the CSA B214 hydronic 

heating code as Bill Hooper, left, looks on. 

B214 Hydronic Heating code and certification 

showed there is still work to be 

done. 

The code, a “work in progress for five 

years” is in the final stages of a rewrite 

so that it can be incorporated into Part 

9 (mandatory) of the National Building 

Code, reported Dave Hughes, head of 

pipe trades at the Northern Alberta 

Institute of Technology (NAIT). “Many 

municipalities say they will adopt it once 

it is in Part 9,” added Canadian Hydronics 

Council chairman Barry Cunningham. 

Several New Brunswick Community 

College (NBCC) instructors have completed 

the NAIT instructor training 

program in hydronic heating, reported 

panelist Bill Hooper, Atlantic Region 

manager, ITT Fluid Products, Saint 

John, N.B. 

The Canadian Hydronics 

Council also held its popular 

Pump Challenge, in which 

tradesmen compete for the 

fastest time to change out a 

pump. Stephane Bourque of 

Moncton Plumbing took the 

$300 first prize with a time 

of two-minutes, sixteen seconds. 

Serge LeBlanc, a student 

from NBCC Saint 

John, earned second place 

and $200 with a time of 

2:36. Todd Drummond of 

Red Isle Plumbing and 

Why is this man smiling? 

Reason # 4 

Leadership on 

Issues 

Membership in HRAC means this 

man’s company has a voice on 

issues that matter to Canadian 

HVACR contractors. HRAC takes 

leadership in representing contractor’s 

interests to federal, provincial 

and local regulators as well as 

wholesalers, manufacturers and 

others. HRAC listens to and 

speaks for contractors! 

So, why is this man smiling? 

Because his company is a 

member of HRAC. 

You should be too! 

Reno Castonquay, left, and Stephane Laforest compete in the Skills Canada 

competition. 

Heating took home $100 with his thirdplace 

time of 2:45. 

New Brunswick Community College 

hosted the plumbing division, Skills 

Canada, competition at MEET. NBCC 

Saint John plumbing student Nathan 

Milton took first, with Nathan Gee, a 

Fredericton region apprentice in second 

and Reno Castonquay, CCNB Bathurst 

plumbing student, in third. The winners 

represented New Brunswick in the 

Canada Skills competition in Halifax 

May 23-26. 

The Canadian Institute of Plumbing 

& Heating, the American Society of 

Heating Refrigeration & Air Conditioning 

Engineers, the Electro Federation, 

and the Illumination Engineers Society 

co-host MEET. The next event will take 

place May 7-8, 2008 in Moncton. 

Keeping You in Comfort 

Newmac has a reputation for developing high efficiency furnaces and 

boilers that our customers demand. Our multi-fired units are competitively 

priced and built under strict ISO 9001 standards to ensure years of 

dependability. All units are backed by the best warranties in the business 

and Newmac offers technical support that you can count on. 

Call today or visit our website for more information. 

NL/NV SERIES Low Boy Oil Fired Forced Air Furnaces* 

Features 

• Firing range 77,000 

to 326,000 btu/h 

• Sealed Vent approved 

to 177,000 btu/h 

• A.F.U.E. rating up to 86.1% 

• Ceramic fiber corbel 

combustion chambers 

• Direct or Belt Drive models 

*Highboy and horizontal models available 

NBR SERIES Oil Fired Boilers 

Features 


to 300,000 btu/h 

• Sealed Vent approved 

to 155,000 

• Wet base and wet back 

• 12 ga SS Chamber A.F.U.E. rating 

up to 86.7% 

• Swing mount burner door 

Benefits 

• High combustion efficiency 

• No chimney required 

• Reduced installation time 

• Easy burner set up 

• Reduced service time 

• Suitability for local parts 

• Reduced fuel consumption 

• Durable construction 

Benefits 

• High combustion efficiency 

• Reduced fuel consumption 

• Easy installation of piping 

• No chimney required 

• Ideal for large or small homes 

• Ease of servicing 

CL SERIES Combination Wood/Coal and Oil Furnaces* 

Features 


to 170,000 btu/h 

• Preheated combustion air 

• Thermostatically controlled 

Forced Draft Fan 

• Ceramic fibre combustion 

chamber 

• Large firedoors 

• Single flue 

*Add-Ons and boilers also available 

Benefits 

• Ideal for new or old homes 

• Increased combustion efficiency 

• Easy servicing 

• High air filtering capacity 

• Easy loading 

• Single Chimney connection 

• Power failure operation 

1-800-267-2231 www.hrai.ca/hrac.html 

Head Office 

P.O. Box 9, Debert 

Nova Scotia, B0M 1G0 

Phone: 902-662-3840 

Fax: 902-662-2581 

Email: newmac@ca.inter.net 

Ontario Office 

P.O. Box 545, Woodstock 

Ontario, N4V 1P8 

Phone: 519-539-6147 

Fax: 519-539-0048 

Email: newmac@ca.inter.net 

w w w . n e w m a c f u r n a c e s . c o m 




People & Places 

People 

Doug Kennedy (Brass Craft Canada) 

has been elected president, Ontario 

Region, Canadian Institute of Plumbing 

& Heating (CIPH). Brahm Swirsky 

(Noble Trade) is past president and 

treasurer. Bryan Gilbart (Envirogard 

Products) is vice president, with Paul 

Silverberg, (Emco) second vice president. 

Denise Huestis (Jenkins-NH 

Valve) is director. 

Weil-McLain 

C a n a d a , 

Burlington, Ont., 

has appointed 

Godfrey Nash, 

P.Eng., application 

engineer based in 

Godfrey Nash 

Vancouver, B.C 

Barry Keicher, 

Armco Agencies, Mississauga, Ont., 

has received a Lifetime Service Award 

from the Canadian Institute of 

Plumbing & Heating (CIPH) after 40 

years in the industry. 

Rheem Manufacturing, New York, 

N.Y., has appointed Stewart (Stu) 

Farwell president 

and chief executive 

officer. He was general 

manager of Rheem 

Canada, a past chairman 

of the Canadian 

Gas Association and 

the Gas Appliance Stewart Farwell 

Manufacturers 

Association (GAMA), and a director of 

CIPH. 

Michael 

Warne 

Frederic (Fred) Perrin 

national sales manager. 

Selkirk Canada, 

Stoney Creek, Ont., 

has appointed Al 

Renaud manufacturers’ 

agent for Alberta 

Anvil International 

Canada, Stoney Creek, 

Ont., has appointed 

Michael J. Warne as 

general manager. 

Usines Giant Factories 

Inc., Montreal, has 

named 

Frederic Perrin 

and B.C., based in Coldstream, B.C., at 

250-549-6726. 

Schwank North America, Mississauga, 

Ont., has appointed Marc 

Grandbois as president, responsible for 

the Canadian and U.S. divisions. 

Viessmann celebrates 25 

years in North America 


When a prominent European boiler 

manufacturer set up operations 

in North America 25 years ago, it 

didn’t take long before company officials 

began questioning their decision. 

“I remember the 1980s very well. We 

faced some very rocky roads,” remarked 

Dr. Martin Viessmann, owner and chief 

executive officer, to more than 500 

guests that attended Viessmann 

Manufacturing Company Inc.’s 25th 

anniversary celebration held at the 

company’s plant and training facility in 

Waterloo, Ont. April 6. 

It was tough slogging 

at first, recalled 

general manager Harald 

Prell. In September, 

1981 interest rates 

soared to 21 percent. 

Harald Prell 

However, by the 

mid-1980s contractors 

and their customers started to take 

notice of the company’s high efficiency 

gas and oil-fired boilers. And while premium 

priced high efficiency equipment 

may have been a tough sell at first, that 

changed dramatically as heating fuel 

Roto-Rooter Plumbing and Drain 

Service of Toronto will expand its 

presence in Ontario. It intends to 

add franchise operations in the rapidly 

growing communities of Barrie, Newmarket 

and Pickering/Ajax/Whitby by 

the end of 2006. 

Roto-Rooter wants to partner with 

experienced plumbing and drain cleaning 

professionals who may want to start 

a Roto-Rooter franchise or roll their 

current business into the Roto-Rooter 

system, reports company president Stan 

costs increased. 

The company enjoyed 

its strongest 

sales ever in 2005. 

“As fossil fuels 

decline, high efficiency 

boilers and 

renewable energy 

systems (such as 

solar) will become 

an important 

part of your 

business and our business,” Dr. 

Viessmann remarked in his anniversary 

address. With the right equipment, he 

added, a contractor should be able to 

reduce his customer’s heating fuel costs 

to what they were five years ago. 

“It’s not an accident that Viessmann 

is a German company,” said David 

Suzuki, guest speaker and host of The 

Nature of Things on CBC television. 

“(Europeans) have had to make do with 

far less than we have,” he added. 

And in a talk that pulled no punches 

and left SUV owners in the crowd trembling, 

he cautioned: “Fossil fuels are a 

one-time gift from our ancestors. They 

Collini. 

He started the Toronto master franchise 

in 1983 and then opened the 

Hamilton, Burlington and St. 

Catharines locations, which he has since 

sold, in 1988. 

“The company provides franchise 

holders with considerable business support 

to help them succeed. It’s not like 

starting from scratch,” he added. 

Additional support includes a Torontobased 

call centre, business and dispatching 

programs along with television and 

David Suzuki, left, chats with Dr. Martin Viessmann, right, 

as CIPH president Ralph Suppa, second from left, and 

P&HVAC’s own Roy Collver look on. 

cannot be replaced!” 

Prell credited Viessmann’s success in 

North America to good products and 

employees along with strong partnerships 

with heating contractors and 

engineers. Over the years, 20,000 have 

attended Viessmann training, he added. 

“Today is not only a celebration of 

the Viessmann success story in North 

America, but of what we have accomplished 

together as a team and as partners 

in the industry. Thank you to all of 

you for a 25-year joy ride,” Prell told the 

assembled guests. 

For more information, visit 

www.viessmann.ca. 

Roto-Rooter will expand presence in Ontario 

radio commercials. 

Roto-Rooter currently serves the 

aforementioned cities from its Toronto 

location but, due to population growth, 

it is becoming a logistical challenge to 

provide timely service. “So far we’re 

keeping up with demand but fuel costs 

and sprawl in these communities are 

dictating the need for a local presence,” 

said Collini. Recent population figures 

put Barrie at 126,000, Newmarket at 

74,000, Ajax at 90,000 and Whitby at 

110,000. 

The Highest Standard 

In Air Curtains 

Companies 

Redmond Williams Distributing, 

■ Low air velocity and full opening coverage 

Mississauga, Ont., will distribute 

■ Low noise levels and high energy efficiency (>90%) 

Peerless stainless steel boilers and indirect-fired 

■ High quality and low maintenance costs 

water heaters. 

■ Effective almost year round 

Boutette & Barnett Trade 

Distribution, London, Ont., has 

“The best comfort you can 

opened a 25,000-sq.ft. self-serve outlet 

offer in climate separation” 

at 2590 Bristol Circle, Unit B2-3, 

Oakville, Ont. 

Décor Grates Inc., North York, Ont. 

has appointed Darmac Agencies agent 

Biddle Air Systems Ltd. 

for B.C.; HRC Services for Manitoba, 

P.O. Box 1089 Cookstown, Ontario, Canada L0L 1L0 

Saskatchewan and Alberta; and MVP 

toll free 1-866-693-4333 tel. 705-458-0333 fax 705-458-1272 

Enterprises for Atlantic Canada. 

www.biddle.ca 




Coming Events 

HRAI will meet in P.E.I. 

“ Shaping the Future in Canada’s 

Birthplace” is the theme for the 

HRAI 38th Annual General 

Meeting (AGM). The event will take 

place Sept. 7-9, 2006 at the Delta Prince 

Edward in Charlottetown, Prince 

Edward Island. 

This event will continue to build on 

the highly successful format of the 2005 

Annual General Meeting, providing delegates 

with business sessions that will 

meet the needs of the three HRAI divisions 

(Heating, Refrigeration and Air 

Conditioning Contractors of Canada 

(HRAC), the Canadian Heating, Refrigeration 

and Air Conditioning Wholesalers 

(CHRAW) and the HRAI Manufacturers 

Division) and associate members. 

These will include sessions on electricity 

conservation and demand management, 

counterfeit equipment awareness 

and the business of indoor environment 

quality. 

The AGM kickoff breakfast will feature 

Maritime comedian Jimmy Flynn. 

Flynn became a popular radio and television 

personality during the early 

1990’s. To date, he has produced and 

broadcast over 300 radio shows, a television 

series, three feature length videos 

which have gone double and triple platinum, 

seven gold CD’s and a four-time 

best-selling joke book. 

For more information, contact 

Heather Grimoldby-Campbell at 1-800- 

267-2231 ext.238 or go to www.hrai.ca. 

APPRENTICESHIP. 

A Smart Investment. 

AMBITION, WILLINGNESS TO LEARN AND HARD WORK got you where you are today. Now, you can build on these 

qualities – and build your business – by hiring and training apprentices. A motivated and skilled workforce goes a long 

way towards ensuring your competitive advantage and maintaining a healthy bottom line. Apprentices’ knowledge and 

skills – coupled with the on-the-job training – makes for a profitable and smart investment for your business. 

Visit www.careersintrades.ca today. Find out how apprenticeship can help you build your business. 

WWW.CAREERSINTRADES.CA 

This year’s HRAI Annual General Meeting will take place at the Delta Prince 

Edward Hotel in the heart of Charlottetown’s beautiful downtown waterfront 

district. 

Calgary trade show 

Plans are well underway for Western 

Canada’s largest mechanical industry 

trade show. 

CIPHEX West will return to the 

Roundup Centre at Stampede Park in 

Calgary Nov. 14-15. Typically, the show 

draws over 3,000 delegates to view the 

latest technologies in plumbing and 

HVAC. Organized by the Canadian Institute 

of Plumbing and Heating, this 

year’s event will again be held in conjunction 

with Construct Alberta, the Homebuilder 

& Renovator Expo, Buildex Calgary 

and the Design Trends Calgary shows. 

Contact show manager Norm Schulz 

at (416) 695-0447, e-mail schulz@ciph.com 

or go to www.ciph.com for more 

information. 

Calendar 

June 18-21: ABC 2006: the Annual Business 

Conference of the Canadian 

Institute of Plumbing & Heating, 

Rimrock Resort Hotel, Banff, Alta. 

Call (416) 695-0447, www.ciph.com, 

e-mail rcp@ciph.com. 

JUNE 24-28: ASHRAE 2006 Annual Meeting 

& Technical Conference, Quebec City, 

Que. Contact: ASHRAE, (404) 636- 

8400, Fax: (404) 321-5478. 

SEPT. 7-9: HRAI 38th Annual Meeting, 

Delta Prince Edward Hotel, 

Charlottetown, P.E.I. Contact: 1-800- 

267-2231, (905) 602-4700, ext. 238, 

e-mail hraimail@hrai.ca, www.hrai.ca. 

SEPT. 16-21: Ontario Plumbing Inspectors 

Assoc. Annual Meeting and Educational 

Seminar, Courtyard Marriott Hotel, 

Brampton, Ont. Contact: Jerry Monaco 

at (905) 874-2447. 

SEPT. 28-30: ISH North America, McCormick 

Place, Chicago. Contact Jennifer 

Salvadori at (770) 984-8016, 

jennifer.salvadori@usa.messefrankfurt.com, 

www.ish-na.com. 

NOV. 14-15: CIPHEX West 2006, the 

West’s largest mechanical industry trade 

show, Roundup Centre, Stampede Park, 

Calgary, Alta. Contact Norm Schulz at 

(416) 695-0447, 1-888-275-2474, 

schulz@ciph.com, www.ciph.com. 

NOV. 28-DEC. 2: MCAC Annual National Conference, 

Paradisus Puerto Rico, San Juan, 

Puerto Rico. Contact: (613) 232-0492, 

e-mail mcac@mcac.ca, www.mcac.ca. 


This project is funded by the Government of Canada’s Sector Council Program.

Coming in 

the Next 

Issue! 

Mechanical Marketplace 

The bulletin board of products, services, professionals, employment 

opportunities and more for Canada’s Mechanical Contracting Industry. 

■ Tracking systems 

for trucks 

■ Environmental 

Solutions 

■ Products, 

products, 

products! 

Index of Advertisers 

Advertisers 

Page 

A.M.T.S. Ltd. 14 

Anvil Canada 2 

Arkema Canada 15 

Biddle 35 

Bradford White Canada 20 

Cash Acme 21 

CGF Products 9 

DaimlerChrysler Canada 17 

Delta Faucet Canada 6 

ECR International/Olsen Div. 30 

Fairview Fittings 29 

Fujitsu 32 

General Pipe Cleaners 8 

Gordon R. Williams 5 

Grundfos 28 

Haws Corp. 27 

Honeywell, Genetron Div 13 

HRAI 34 

Int. Comfort Products 7 

LG Electronics 10 

Madok Mfg. 31 

Mitsubishi Electric Sales 39 

Mueller Flow Control 24 

Neo Valves 35 

Newmac 34 

Raptor Cutting Tools 30 

Ridge Tool Co. 40 

Selkirk-Metalbestos 19 

Skilled Trades-Apprenticeship 36 

Soler & Palau 30 

Taco Canada 11 

Thermo Mfg. 33 

Uponor Canad 3 

Urecon Pre-Insulated Pipe 38 

Victaulic Co. of Canada 18 

Viessmann Mfg. 4 

Watts Industries 23 

Weil McLain Canada 12 

Wilo Canada 26 

Yorkland Controls 31 

Zurn Industries 38 

Marketplace & 

Literature Showcase 37 

HRAI SkillTech, Mechanical 

Systems 2000, CTS, Brant Steel, 

Victaulic Co., Aeroflo 


Looking For Design Software... 

Available through 

that saves time, improves accuracy, 

produces CAD-quality HVAC designs 

& creates professional proposals? 

Right-Suite Canada Residential 

offers all of these design 

features and so much more! 

Commercial program also available. 

The Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada 

Call Cynthia at 1-800-267-2231 ext. 245 for more information. 



Literature Showcase 

Following are some of the latest catalogues, manuals, software and product 

brochures from the industry’s leading manufacturers. To receive a copy, please 

circle the corresponding number on the Reader Service Card in this issue, fill 

out your contact information, and mail it or fax it to (416) 620-9790. 

Fleetline Hot Water Boilers 

Home comfort starts here – Fleetline boilers 

from Brant Steel Products Ltd. have earned a reputation 

for being reliable, economical and efficient 

from thousands of satisfied customers coast to 

coast. Continuous, economical hot water supplies 

your customer’s needs from our internal tankless 

coil. The multi-firing range provides flexibility of 

boiler output. Fuel choices include fuel oil, natural 

gas or propane. Heating your customer’s home 

with hot water can provide a healthier environment 

for their entire family. Call (519) 756-5700 

or visit www.brantsteel.com. 

Brant Steel Products Ltd. 

Circle no. 143 

Pipe connection catalogue 

Victaulic, a manufacturer of mechanical pipe joining 

systems, has released its new general product 

catalog with data for all non-fire protection products. 

It is written as a basic reference guide by product 

type. It includes three-dimensional diagrams 

and detailed specification charts and provides many 

solutions, applications and data on couplings, fittings 

and valves, the Advanced Groove System, 

stainless steel piping, plain-end piping systems, 

HDPE plain-end piping, the Depend-O-Lok® system, 

grooving tools, piping software, Vic-300 

MasterSeal butterfly valve and more. 

Victaulic Co. of Canada 


Canadian General Filters is currently searching for a 

National Sales Manager. 

Reporting to the General Manager the incumbent will be an energetic 

self-starter with a proven sales record. • The position will require a 

significant amount of travel and the ability to manage and motivate a 

diverse group of direct sales employees and independent sales 

representatives. • The position will appeal to a results orientated, team 

player who is comfortable fighting in the trenches and has the ability 

to develop and implement strategic business plans. 

Reply with total target compensation requirement to: 

Mr Dave Chale, Canadian General Filters 

39 Crockford Blvd., Toronto Ontario, M1R 3B7 

Fax (416) 757-4687 


Superior lighting and ventilation 

The contractor can offer the homeowner a way to 

compliment their bathroom and shower décor with 

the elegant design of an AeroLight exhaust grille 

from Aeroflo. Deliver quiet and efficient ventilation 

by adding an AXC or EXT remote mounted fan. 

AeroLight features a dimmable 50-Watt halogen 

light. For more information, call 1-800-779-4021 or 

go to www.aeroflo.com. 

Aeroflo 



Shop Management 

Craftsmanship returns 

Education plays a pivotal role 

By Barry Cunningham 

“Education is the key to 

success!” Well no kidding. 

How often have 

you heard that? But 

really, what does it 

mean? For lots of us it’s 

just something our dads used to say 

when we talked about quitting school 

and getting a job. 

I think getting educated is more than 

the single act of going to school though. 

It’s more like a process or a series of 

related decisions, more like a winding 

road than a freeway. I guess for a limited 

few the streets were pretty straight. 

They got ‘A’s all through school, went to 

college and didn’t look back. You could 

tell the guys who thought they’d be 

lawyers. They weren’t as into beer and 

parties as the rest of us. 

Education can take many forms. 

People in the mechanical construction 

industry used to learn their trades in the 

purest form of apprenticeship. They 

learned from a master. Back then the 

masters really knew their stuff. 

Hydronic heating speaker and author 

Dan Holohan calls them the ‘Dead Men’ 

because, well…they’re dead. We’re talking 

at least that long ago now. 

But man, they were craftsmen, artists 

even. Look at some of the work the dead 

men left behind. Imagine doing that 

now. The apprentices learned that art 

and passed it on. It was proud work and 

those pearls of education produced 

decades of tidy craftsmanship and 

innovation. 

After the war (the big one) the 

importance of craftsmanship began to 

diminish. Production became the 

mantra. Do more; bill it out and on to 

the next job. Plastic pipe appeared and 

craftsmanship took another step back. 

Don’t get me wrong, I really like plastic 

pipe from a functional point of view. 

But it’s really hard to be a craftsman 

using plastic pipe. You need copper and 

steel, cast iron and lead. That’s stuff you 

can work with. 

Now, I know I’ll probably get letters 

about this. I want to stress that it’s true 

that some hardy and dedicated practitioners 

were still earning their clients’ 

support by not 

bowing to the pressure 

of production. 

My mom’s house is 

all plumbed in copper, 

all bent with 

hand benders and 

the solder joints 

carefully cleaned. 

It’s beautiful but 

rare. By the eighties 

most work was being 

completed by 

the lowest bidder 

and profit was the difference between 

the input cost and the bid. Craftsmanship 

was really suffering by then. 

Well, I think craftsmanship is on the 

rise again. Sure, there are some real 

messes out there. Way too many in fact, 

but there is a large and growing corps of 

enthusiastic, talented tradesmen doing 

excellent work and earning back the 

public trust as a result. It’s education 

that’s changing again. 

Trade schools are doing an excellent 

job of preparing new tradesmen to be 

craftsmen. I’m mighty impressed these 

days by the calibre 

and dedication of 

these instructors, 

but encouragement 

to continue to do 

good work needs to 

come from 

employers, peers 

and even clients. 

Those guys who 

make art when they 

work are usually 

well known. The 

industry community 

knows who the craftsmen are. They 

also know who isn’t. Don’t you want to 

be one known for quality work? Where’s 

the pride in “Yeah, he’s fast alright”. 

A very important piece of the education 

stream is in what happens after the 

license is issued. Don’t stop trying to get 

better. More and more tradesmen are 

looking for ways to improve their level 

of knowledge by attending seminars, 

conferences and trade shows. 

The industry 

community knows who 

the craftsmen are. 

They also 

know who isn’t. 

they want you to buy their products, but 

the increasing complexity of their 

equipment means they really have to 

teach you how to use it. The manufacturers 

are competing with each other 

for your purchase and one of the ways 

they are doing so is with quality educational 

material. 

Another place to look for quality 

material is your trade associations. The 

Canadian Hydronics Council, the 

Heating, Refrigeration and Air 

Conditioning Institute of Canada and 

the Mechanical Contractors Association 

of Canada, along with a number 

of other groups, are becoming good 

educators. Their members are 

demanding it. Join your local chapter 

and feast on the same stuff other progressive 

operators use. Incidentally, 

these associations are great places to 

network with your peers. Education 

takes many forms. 

Use the Internet! 

If you don’t already have one, get a 

computer. Learn how to use it. It’s not 

hard. Really! The amount of information 

available to our trade on the 

Mentorship disappears 

Internet is staggering. Sure there’s a lot 

All along, though, the system by which 

of crap there too, but with a little persistence 

these new ‘apprentices’ were being educated 

and some learnable skills 

had been changing. The long established 

there is almost no problem that you 

practice of mentorship had been 

can’t find an answer for out there. 

replaced by desks and books and practice 

High-speed Internet connections are 

labs. With that, the attitude also changed 

cheap and available in most areas of 

from mentoring to tolerance and even in 

the country. 

some cases to wariness. The older guys Manufacturers on board 

I find that the vast majority of manufacturers 

began to protect their hard won knowledge 

Manufacturers are spending huge doling 

have quality web sites that 

as the younger guys started competlars 

creating worthwhile courses that store vast amounts of data, available lit- 

for their jobs. “Whadaya mean you put valuable information within reach. erally at the push of a button. Many can 

can’t do that? Don’t they teach you anything 

Gone are the days when manufacturer also offer CD’s and DVDs with cata- 

in school these days?” 

seminars were just sales pitches. Sure logue information, design programs 

and even seminars in the form of 

movies, most if not all of it free. In fact 

they want you to have it. 

Read. Trade magazines have well 

written articles that are instructive and 

Roof-To-Basement Drainage Products 

entertaining. Trade association newsletters 

have great information directly 

related to what you do. Also check out 

Flush Valves and Sensor Products 

the manufacturers’ literature that came 

with that boiler or makeup unit you’re 

just about to install. They spent a lot of 

AquaSpec Commercial Faucets and Tubular Traps 

money creating it and making sure it’s 

included in the package. They did that 

for a reason. 

PEX Plumbing and Radiant Heating Systems 

Education continues to change and 

evolve but the unwavering truth is that 

Chemical Drainage Systems 

the well-educated tradesman is a valuable 

asset to the industry. Comparing what 

was with what is can be interesting and 

Trench Drain Systems 

revealing. Lots of things have changed 

and looking back at those knowledgeable 

and proud craftsmen and the lessons we 

Backflow Preventers and Pressure Regulators 

learned from them makes me think the 

real truth is that the more things change, 

the more they stay the same. 

Light Commercial Products 

Barry Cunningham is chairman of the 

ZURN INDUSTRIES LIMITED 

3544 NASHUA DRIVE · MISSISSAUGA, ON L4V 1L2 

Canadian Hydronics Council and sales 

PHONE: (905) 405-8272 · FAX: (905) 405-1292 

www.zurn.com 

manager at Triangle Supply Ltd., Red 

Deer, Alta. 





Cuts Tube. 

Cuts Time. 

The RIDGID ® 150/150-L Tubing Cutters – now with X-CEL ® Features 

The Emerson logo is a trademark and service mark of Emerson Electric Co. ©2006, Ridge Tool Company. 

The plumbing industry’s Number 1 tubing cutter line is now even faster. The Constant- 

Swing series (Model 150/150-L) are the latest RIDGID Tubing Cutters to be improved 

with the new X-CEL ® features that increase productivity and value. 

X-CEL Upgrades Use our X-CEL wheel pin to switch from cutting copper to plastic 

or stainless, or replace a worn wheel – all in a matter of seconds with no clips or tools 

required. Feel the difference in our larger, more comfortable X-CEL knob, and maximize 

your uptime with our spare cutter wheel. Whether large or small, your cutting jobs will 

be quicker and easier, which means you’ll be one step ahead of the competition. 

As always, RIDGID Constant-Swing Tubing Cutters deliver accurate cutting, quick adjustments 

to desired capacity, and a built-in reamer for added convenience. Use the 150-L 

when you need increased cutting capacity up to 1-1/4" tubing. 

Backed by the RIDGID lifetime warranty, the redesigned tubing cutters give you the 

speed you need. To learn more or to schedule a demonstration, contact Ridge Tool at 

800.769.7743 or www.ridgid.com. 


TM 

EMERSON. CONSIDER IT SOLVED.

June 2006 - Plumbing & HVAC

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