NEW! CPD Practice Exams Are Now Available

Four CPD practice examinations are now available. Each practice exam consists of 30 questions covering the same five major job dimensions as what you will encounter on the actual exam. The fee is $75 per practice exam. The 2009 Certified in Plumbing Design exam will be held April 17 or 18 depending on the test taker’s chosen location. The deadline to register is April 3. Click here to register and take a practice exam.

Deadline to Participate in Grassroots Budget Meeting Is Tomorrow

The meeting will be held Saturday, March 21 at the ASPE office in Chicago or via webcast. Contact Pam Formento if you plan on attending.

ASPE Is only as Strong as Our Members…

And we don’t want to lose those who currently may be experiencing financial difficulties. If you recently lost your job or are otherwise unable to pay your dues, contact Membership Director Stacey Kidd at 773-693-2773 to discuss options such as a temporary deferral of dues.

Do You Have a Piece of ASPE History?

ASPE is compiling pieces of its history for its archives. If you have old photos, literature from past events (prior to 1996), or old marketing materials for ASPE products, please consider donating them to the ASPE office. Also, we seek first-person recollections from members. Send a few lines about your favorite (or not-so-favorite) ASPE memory to Gretchen Pienta at gpienta@aspe.org.

Tell Your Board of Directors What’s What!

If you need to get something off your chest, you can contact any ASPE board of directors member directly at our new Leadership Communications site. Post a note, and receive feedback from the BOD and other members. Share your thoughts today!

Don’t Miss Your Chance to Present at the 2009 Technical Symposium

Share your knowledge and expertise at the 2009 ASPE Technical Symposium, Oct. 23–25, in Dearborn, Michigan. ASPE currently is accepting proposals for nonproprietary educational sessions.

EDUCATIONAL AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES

NEW! Western Virginia Regional Jail Tour Being Held This Saturday

ASPE’s Virginia Blue Ridge Chapter is hosting a two-hour tour of this facility on February 28 at 1:30 p.m. The facility is the first to be constructed on the East Coast using vacuum for sanitary waste transport. The project is likely to be the first LEED-certified regional jail facility constructed in the U.S., and this will be the last opportunity to see these unique systems in operation before the facility is occupied. The tour is free, but pre-registration is required. To pre-register, e-mail Shannon Sweeney.

Feb. 27–28: Advanced Plumbing Design Course in Dallas

Sponsored by ASPE’s Dallas/Ft. Worth Chapter and TDI Industries, this two-day course will cover siphonic roof drainage, Sovent systems, chase clearances, and how to obtain LEED points. Cost is $150 for members and $250 for nonmembers. Click here for more information.

March 10: Northern California Product Show

The ASPE Northern California Chapter’s annual tabletop show is at the Radisson Sacramento from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. Technical seminars will be held on acoustics and vibration control at 1:00 p.m. and rainwater harvesting/catchment system design at 3:00 p.m. The cost of both seminars is $50. Click here to register.

NEW! Portland Product Show Being Held March 11

The Portland Chapters of ASPE and ASSE are holding their product fair at George Morlan Plumbing at 2222 NW Raleigh St., Portland, Oregon, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. After the show, Rich Prosper, president of ASSE, will speak about the environmental aspects of plumbing. For more information, contact Chris Scott.

March 12: Western Michigan Trade Show

ASPE’s Western Michigan Chapter and PHCC are holding this show at the Elk’s Lodge in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Seminars on fire protection and geothermal piping will be followed by a product show. Each seminar is worth two RUs. Seminar is free to ASPE members and $25 for nonmembers. Contact Ashley Baker at 616-796-0200 to RSVP. To book a product show table, contact Paul Sisovosky at 616-796-0200.

March 13: Dallas-area Clay Shoot

This event is sponsored by ASPE's Dallas/Ft. Worth Chapter and ASHRAE’s Dallas Chapter. The cost is $100 per person and includes lunch and shooting fees. Beginners are welcome, and a brief safety and instruction course will be held prior to shooting. Click here for additional information.

March 18: ASPE Webinar on LEED Points Strategies

FREE to ASPE members thanks to Bradley Corp. At 1:00 p.m. CST, ASPE will present the LEED Points Strategies webinar. Presenter David DeBord will provide the tools to assist your efforts to incorporate sustainable design practices into your projects. Click here to register. (Save the confirmation e-mail. It is your link to enter the webinar.)

March 20: Phoenix Golf Tournament

ASPE's Phoenix Chapter is holding its annual golf tournament at the Starfire Golf Club. Registration deadline is March 9. Click here for a registration form.

March 28: Plumbing Design Workshop in Orlando

ASPE’s Central Florida Chapter is holding this day-long workshop at the RDV Sportsplex in Orlando. Cost is $125 for ASPE members, $175 for nonmembers, and $50 for students. CEUs are available. Click here for a registration form.

April 8: Buffalo-Niagara Trade Show

The Buffalo-Niagara/PHCC trade show is being held from 2:00–7:00 p.m. at the Hearthstone Manor in Depew, New York. Click here for more information.

April 16: Chicago Product Show

ASPE’s Chicago Chapter’s Product Show is being held at the White Eagle Restaurant in Niles, Illinois. Technical seminars will run from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and the product show runs from 3:30 to 8 p.m. Product show and all seminars are free. CEUs are available. For additional information, contact Frank Sanchez.

April 18: Dallas-area Casino Night

The fifth-annual ASPE Dallas/Ft. Worth Chapter Casino Night will be held at the Grapevine Municipal Golf Course Concourse in Grapevine, Texas. Doors open at 5 p.m., gaming starts at 6 p.m., and an auction begins at 9 p.m. Dinner and non-alcoholic drinks will be served, and a cash bar will be available. The cost for this adults-only event is $30. Click here for more information.

NEW! Central Florida Golf Tournament Scheduled for April 24

ASPE’s Central Florida Chapter is holding its annual golf tournament at the North Shore Golf Club in Orlando, Florida. Cost is $75 per golfer or $300 per foursome. Hole sponsorships are available for $100. For more information, contact Dale Peterson at 407-487-1122.

NEW! Baltimore Golf Outing Being Held April 24

ASPE’s Baltimore Chapter is holding its annual golf outing at the Timbers at Troy in Elkridge, Maryland. Cost is $125 per golfer, and hole sponsorships are available for $100. To register, contact Rich Goins.

May 1–2: Advanced Plumbing Design Course in Lubbock 

ASPE’s Dallas/Ft. Worth Chapter is holding this two-day course on laboratory system design and fire protection design. Cost is $150 for ASPE members and $250 for nonmembers. Pay $275 to take the course and join ASPE. A special $50 rate for students includes the class and student membership in ASPE. Click here to register.

May 7: New Jersey Golf Outing

ASPE’s New Jersey Chapter's annual golf outing will be held at The Architects Golf Club in Phillipsburg, New Jersey. All teams that register as Platinum Sponsors will be entered in the Corporate Challenge. The team that finishes with the lowest net (Calloway) score will be crowned the Tournament Champion and receive the coveted Maloney & Curcio-PVI Perpetual Cup. Contact Fred Holzapfel for more information.

May 8: Southern California Golf Tournament

ASPE’s Orange County and LA Chapters will be hosting their annual Spring Classic Golf Tournament at the Los Serranos Golf Course in Chino Hills, California. The chapters thank Speakman Company for being the premium corporate sponsor. Click here for more information.

NEW! Houston Product Show Being Held May 20

ASPE’s Houston Chapter is holding its annual product show at the Sam Houston Race Park in Houston. The show includes seminars, a free buffet, thousands of plumbing products, and door prizes. For more information, contact Cyril Unger at 713-871-8484. Those who preregister at www.aspe-houston.com get three extra door prize tickets.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Manufacturers: Share Your Knowledge at the University of ASPE

ASPE is looking for speakers to present educational sessions at its 2009 Technical Symposium, and who knows the technical aspects of plumbing systems better than your staff engineers? The focus this year is on green and sustainable plumbing systems. To propose a technical session or for more information, contact Cliff Reis at 773-693-2773.

Minnesota Delays Residential Sprinkler Mandate until 2012

The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry has decided to forego adoption of the 2009 International Residential Code, which contains the new residential sprinkler mandate, and will keep the current version until the next edition is published in 2012.

Projects that Turn Seawater into Tap Water Gaining Favor

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that desalination systems are being debatedas a method to combat worsening drought, dwindling species of freshwater fish, crumbling plumbing systems, and unyielding demand.

Brass Fittings Failing in Nevada Due to Hard Water

The Las Vegas Sun reports that yellow brass fittings installed in residential communities in Southern Nevada are failing due to the area’s mineral-rich hard water.

NSF Offers Certification for Low Lead Plumbing Products

The new section of NSF/ANSI Standard 61, Annex G: Weighted Average Lead Content Evaluation Procedure to a 0.25 Percent Lead Requirement includes the recently enacted legislation in California and Vermont. The new lead requirements apply to manufacturers of faucets, valves, water fittings, and other products that come in contact with drinking water. Kohler, Moen, and Price Pfister are the first faucet companies to have certain plumbing products comply with the new low lead requirements.

British Colombia Approves Electrical Product Recycling Program

The British Columbia government recently approved legislation to mandate recycling and stewardship plans for all electrical products by July 2010 and all appliances by July 2012 to divert all waste from landfills and incinerators by 2020. In this scheduled phase of the regulation, plumbing and drinking water treatment products that are powered by electricity or battery are included. Similar regulations are being developed in Ontario and Nova Scotia, and it is anticipated that Quebec and Saskatchewan will follow and announce similar programs.

ASHRAE, GBI Pledge to Collaborate to Promote Building Sustainability

Through a new memorandum of understanding, ASHRAE and the Green Building Initiative (GBI) will work together to accelerate the adoption of sustainability principles in the built environment. Specifically, the agreement calls for the two groups to promote the design, construction, and operation of energy-efficient buildings that are healthy and environmentally responsible

Fire Protection Expo Being Held in Kansas City

The Mo-Kan Chapter of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers is hosting the 2009 SFPE Vendor’s Expo and Training Seminars on Tuesday, March 10, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Holiday Inn at 8787 Reeder Road in Overland Park, Kansas. Click here for more information.

ASHRAE Publishes Updated Guidance for Buildings in Hot and Humid Climates

The second edition of ASHRAE Guide for Buildings in Hot and Humid Climates includes four new chapters to guide architectural design toward reduced energy consumption, reduced mold risk, and lower-cost mechanical systems. Six new chapters help system designers quantify and reduce cooling and dehumidification loads, design more economical ventilation systems, and save more than 25 percent of annual HVAC&R energy through low-cost sealing of air distribution components. Suggestions for contractors are also provided to reduce mold risk and prevent scheduling problems through simple improvements to jobsite practices as well as through modern drying technology.

MANUFACTURER SPOTLIGHT

Water Cooler Can Help Earn LEED Points

Elkay’s VRCGRN pressurized water coolerincorporates a low-flow bubbler, which consumes 40 percent less water than comparable coolers. Its compressor optimizes heat transfer within the evaporator and uses a reduced amount of refrigerant, realizing a 50 percent improvement in energy efficiency over comparable water cooler models. In addition, it is constructed of 60 percent recycled content stainless steel and manufactured without using VOC-emitting paints and coatings.

Nibco Unveils Green Micro Site

Visitors to this new area of Nibco’s websitewill have access to a central repository of resources and tools to keep them informed of green building practices and changing standards and codes which are driving the demand for green NIBCO products.