March 2006 - Plumbing & HVAC

Western UpdateIn BriefManitoba bans CFCsManitoba owners of air conditionerscan no longer refilltheir equipment with CFCbasedrefrigerants. And there isa 0.1 kg maximum purgerelease limit on chillers undernew provincial regulationseffective Jan.1, HRAI reports.Owners of CFC-based chillershave until March 31 to obtaina Class I chiller permit. Ownerscan refill a chiller if it hasundergone an overhaul only ifthere is a threat to health andsafety or the chiller will beconverted or replaced within12 months. The one-timeoption applies until Jan.1,2014.ASHRAE B.C. showThe B.C. Chapter of theAmerican Society of Heating,Refrigeration and Air ConditioningEngineers will holdits Chapter Trade Show May17. The show will featureexhibits of heating, ventilation,air conditioning, refrigeration,mechanical, electrical andenergy management productsand services. There will betechnical sessions coveringASHRAE energy (90.1-2004),thermal comfort (55-2004)and ventilation/indoor air quality(62-2004) standards, alongwith radiant cooling andheating, green design,Leaderhip in Energy andEnvironmental Design (LEED)commissioning, LEEDverification and measurementand LEED for contractors.The event will take place at theItalian Cultural Centre, 3075Slocan St., Vancouver, B.C.For further information, contactshow manager Gail Hutchisonat (250) 314-9981 or e-mailgail_hutchison@telus.net.School on the job for apprenticesIn recent years mechanical contractorshave been busy in just aboutevery region of the country. Findingtime to send an apprentice to school canbe tough. A new Alberta program is takingschool to the apprentices working atcamp jobs in Fort McMurray.More than 40 steamfitter-pipefitterand electrician apprentices at the SuncorEnergy and OPTI - Nexen Long LakeProject sites are taking their in-class trainingright on the work site, rather thanleaving for eight weeks to attend school.Since the success of the initial class ofelectrician apprentices in January 2005,more employers have signed-on to supportthe project, which is the result of aunique partnership between the AlbertaCircle Number 171 for More Informationgovernment, Suncor Energy, OPTICanada Inc., Nexen Inc., LedcorIndustrial, Flint Energy Services,Canonbie Contracting, CP Services,Jacob Catalytic, Laird Electric, KeyanoCollege and Red Deer College.Since January 2005, the Alberta governmenthas spent more than $300,000to support the project, which is benefitingboth employers and apprentices inthe oil sands as the demand for skilledtradespeople continues to climb.There are approximately 47,000apprentices working in Alberta rightnow - a 98 per cent increase since 1995.Calgary trade showPlans are well underway for WesternCanada’s largest mechanical industrytrade show. CIPHEX West willreturn to the Roundup Centre atStampede Park in Calgary Nov. 14-15. Typically, the show draws over3,000 delegates to view the latesttechnologies in plumbing andHVAC. Organized by the CanadianInstitute of Plumbing and Heating,this year’s event will again be held inconjunction with Construct Alberta,the Homebuilder & Renovator Expo,Buildex Calgary and the DesignTrends Calgary shows.Contact show manager NormSchulz at (416) 695-0447, e-mailschulz@ciph.com or go towww.ciph.com for more information.Is hydronic heatingyour business?You are not alone!Over10,000 contractors,engineers and wholesalersthat design and install hotwater heating systems havebeen using the dedicatedtechnical tips, news andissue coverage inThe New Hydronics to helpgrow their businesses.Thanks to the positive response from ourreaders and generous support from theindustry, The New Hydronics will now appearsix times a year.Watch for the next issue with your AprilPlumbing & HVAC Product News!Manitoba gas creditsManitoba Hydro, in co-operationwith the Heating, Refrigerationand Air ConditioningInstitute of Canada (HRAI)Manufacturers’ Division, isoffering credits for installingefficient heating systems.Manitoba Hydro customers areeligible for a $245 credit ontheir natural gas bill when theyinstall an Energy Star-ratedhigh efficiency furnace or boiler.The program is co-fundedby Natural Resources Canadaand Environment Canada aspart of its program to reduceglobal warming emissions.Circle Number 153 for More InformationCircle Number 170 for More Informationwww.plumbingandhvac.ca February/March 2006 – Plumbing & HVAC Product News 51