NEWS

ASPE Central Ohio Chapter Member Passes Away
It is with great sadness that the Central Ohio Chapter reports the passing of one of its charter members.
Jerry E. Higgins was a life member and staunch supporter of ASPE for more than 40 years. In addition to serving many chapter leadership positions, he was instrumental in developing the chapter’s Roster and Data Book. During his schooling, Jerry served our country with the Army Corp of Engineers, and he then went on to engineering positions with Tingury Engineering, A.M. Kinney, H.A. Williams, and Korda Nemeth Engineering During his retirement, he served on the Columbus, Ohio, Board of Plumbing Contractor Licensing and Testing. Upon his retirement from that position, the mayor of Columbus presented him the Key to the City award. Because of Jerry’s efforts, many of the chapter’s members continue to grow and develop for the betterment of the Society and the industry. His passing will be a loss to not only the Society, but also to all of those whose lives he touched.

 Time Is Running Out to Sign Up for the March 18 ASPE Webinar
FREE to ASPE members thanks to Bradley Corp. At 1:00 p.m. CST, ASPE will present the LEED Points Strategies webinar. 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.)

Registration Is Open for the April 15 ASPE Webinar
At 1:00 p.m. CST, David Anelli will present a webinar on Natural Gas and Propane Sizing, which will look at the different methods of sizing natural gas systems that are available to plumbing engineers and designers. The webinar is designed to help participants understand the sizing methods by using examples of various pressure ranges. Cost is $69.95 for ASPE members and $129.95 for nonmembers. Participants can earn 0.1 CEU or 1 PDH. Click here to register.

PS&D Seeks Author for Graywater Systems Article
Those skilled in designing graywater systems for various commercial applications who would like to write an article on the topic should send a proposed article outline to PS&D managing editor Gretchen Pienta. 

ASPE’s Career Center Connects Job Seekers and Employers
At this online resource, job seekers can post resumes and view jobs listed by top engineering firms around the country. Employers seeking highly skilled plumbing industry professionals can post jobs and view resumes. Visit it today!

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 CPD 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.

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

March 13 Dallas Clay Shoot Has Been Rescheduled
Due to rain, tomorrow’s ASPE/ASHRAE Clay Shoot is being rescheduled. The anticipated makeup date is March 27. If you didn’t sign up, you still have time! Contact Charles Crawford for more information about the makeup date or to register.

NEW! New Orleans Golf Tournament Scheduled for March 27
The 15th annual ASPE/ASHRAE tournament will be held at Colonial Country Club at noon. Cost is $175 per golfer or $500 per foursome. Contact Doug Ruckman for more information.

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 to register.

April 8: Buffalo-Niagara Trade Show
The ASPE Buffalo-Niagara Chapter/PHCC trade show is being held from 2:00–7:00 p.m. at the Hearthstone Manor in Depew, New York. Contact Dorothy Reddy 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 start at 11:30 a.m., and the product show starts at 3:30 p.m. Product show and all seminars are free. CEUs are available. Visit aspe.org/Chicago for more information.

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. Cost for this adults-only event is $30. Click here for more information.

April 24: Central Florida Golf Tournament
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.

April 24: Baltimore Golf Outing
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. Registration and payment are due by March 23. Click here to register.

May 1–2: Advanced Plumbing Design Course in Lubbock 
ASPE’s Dallas/Ft. Worth Chapter is holding this course on laboratory system design and fire protection design. Cost is $150 for ASPE members, $250 for nonmembers, or $275 to take the course and join ASPE. A $50 student rate 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. 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. Thanks to Speakman Company for being the premium corporate sponsor. Click here for more information.

May 20: Houston Product Show
ASPE’s Houston Chapter is holding its annual product show at the Sam Houston Race Park in Houston. For more information, contact Cyril Unger at 713-871-8484.Those who preregister at www.aspe-houston.com get three extra door prize tickets.

NEW! Quebec City Golf Tournament Being Held May 27
The ASPE Quebec City Chapter will hold this event at the Grand Portneuf golf course. Visit www.aspequebec.com for details.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Ottawa Fire Officials Back Residential Fire Sprinklers
According to the Ottawa Citizen, fire officials in this Ontario, Canada, city are urging city councilors to back a series of measures aimed at getting more residential sprinkler systems installed, including getting the provincial government to allow cities to make the systems mandatory in residential development.

Dallas to Cut Water and Energy Use as Part of EPA Performance Track
The City of Dallas has added another support to its Green Dallas initiative and its effort to build a greener city by joining the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Environmental Performance Track program. As part of the program, the city plans to lower total water use at its facilities by nearly 50 million gallons and cut its total energy use by more than 95 million kilowatt hours, or 13 percent. Click here for more information on the program.

U.S. House of Representatives Considers Legislation to Coordinate Water Research
The Committee on Science and Technology recently held a hearing to examine the need for a coordinated federal approach to water research and development, in an effort to help communities that are facing, or that will be facing, water shortages. Members also received testimony on H.R. 1145: The National Water Research and Development Initiative Act and on opportunities for the federal government to better coordinate and support research and technological innovation. Read more about the legislation here. 

Real Estate Association Questions Energy-efficiency Standards
NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association, released a report demonstrating the levels of energy efficiency that standard office buildings can reach while remaining economically feasible. The study was initiated to determine if commercial development could achieve reduction targets of 30–50 percent above the ASHRAE 90.1 standard. Findings show that although significant energy efficiencies can be achieved, reaching a 30 percent reduction above the ASHRAE standard is not feasible using common design approaches and would exceed a 10-year payback. The study concluded that achieving a 50 percent reduction above the standard is not currently reachable.

New Report on Biofuels Available
Worldwatch Institute and Sierra Club have released the report “Smart Choices for Biofuels,” which explores new ways to create sustainable and environmentally friendly biofuels. Read it for free here.

EPA Invests $2M to Secure Philadelphia's Drinking Water Supply

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency presented a $2 million grant to Philadelphia to help the city address the risk of intentional contamination of its drinking water. The grant will fund the Philadelphia Water Department to pilot monitoring and surveillance components of an early warning system. The project, called the Water Security Initiative, is expected to serve as a model for the nation's drinking water utilities. Similar water security pilot grants were awarded by EPA to New York City, San Francisco, and Dallas. The contamination warning system to be developed and evaluated by Philadelphia involves online real-time drinking water monitoring, public health surveillance, laboratory analysis capabilities, enhanced security monitoring and consumer complaint surveillance. The warning system will be designed for long-term operation.

Canadian Plumbing Inspector Education and Training Program Announced
Canadian Standards Association and the Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating are developing a program to help ensure that standardized, quality education and training is available to plumbing inspectors across Canada. The online program will address interpretation and application of codes, standards, and regulatory requirements; identification and management of counterfeit or non-approved plumbing products; improving the inspection process, methodologies, and allowable time for inspections; and recognized qualifications and abilities inspection and enforcement personnel.

UPC and UMC Declared American National Standards
ANSI has announced that the 2009 Uniform Plumbing Code and Uniform Mechanical Code, released on March 1, have been awarded designation as American National Standards. The public at large is encouraged and invited to participate in IAPMO’s open consensus code development process. The development cycle for the 2012 UPC and UMC kicks off May 4-5 at IAPMO’s Technical Committee Meetings at the Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark in St. Louis. To participate, click here.

New Contractor Liability Insurance Available

Zurich North America Commercial’s Construction unit has launched the Contractor’s Protective Professional Indemnity coverage, available to a broad range of contractors ranging from general and highway, to trade and design-build. The product covers both first and third-party liability damages; provides expanded professional liability coverage for contractor’s means and methods; and includes expanded definition of professional services that now includes technology services, specifically addressing LEED and BIM.

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Insulated PEX Piping Offers Energy Savings
Uponor pre-insulated AquaPEX offers flexibility, durability, and corrosion resistance. A layer of ½-inch PEX-foam insulation surrounds the tubing to insulate potable water lines and meet national, state, and local energy-code requirements. 

RO Water Treatment System Reduces Scale and Waste
The PureOFlow high-volume reverse osmosis water purification system uses a special membrane technology that delivers both purification and desalination (soft water) in one unit. It reduces up to 98 percent of substances such as arsenic, lead, and radium; can deliver as much as 5,600 gallons per day; and eliminates mineral scale buildup in water heaters. Also, it is a green solution with a 1:1 purified-to-wastewater ratio that softens water without the use of salts, so wastewater can be rerouted within the system for a zero-wastewater solution.

New Submersible Model Solves Pumping Dilemma
A common problem in the design of sewage and wastewater pumping systems is the effective handling of large solids for low-flow high head applications. Yeomans Chicago Corp. has solved this dilemma with the introduction of the Model 412.53SV submersible solids-handling pump. The pump utilizes a single-vane impeller that is trimmable to meet the specific duty rating necessary for each application and will pass full 3-inch spherical solids.