ASPE Introduces the 2009 Technical Symposium Economic Stimulus Program

For full registrants driving to the 2009 Technical Symposium, ASPE is offering this transportation stipend:

• $150 toward gas for those driving their own vehicle carrying up to 6 people
• $200 toward gas for those driving their own vehicle carrying 6 to 10 people
• $300 toward gas for those driving their own vehicle carrying more than 10 people
• $500 plus $200 toward gas for those who rent a van carrying 6 to 10 people
• $1,000 plus $300 toward gas for those who rent a bus carrying more than 10 people

To receive the stipend, you must bring the names and signatures of those in the vehicle (number of passengers includes the driver, but all must be full registrants to the Symposium) and proof of rental (if applicable) to the ASPE office in the Dearborn Hyatt Regency Hotel, and ASPE will make out a check within the hour. Check your e-mail next week for more Economic Stimulus Program incentives!

CPD Review Workshop Added to the 2009 Technical Symposium

This special one-day workshop will be held Saturday, October 24. Cost is $35, but participants will receive a copy of the CPD Review Manual (a $79.95 value). Space for this special workshop is limited, so register today!

Advance CPD Credit Offered

All attendees to the 2009 Technical Symposium who take and pass the CPD exam in April 2010 can get a jump on their recertification credits: You will be permitted to use the CEU credits earned at the 2009 Technical Symposium toward your first two-year continuing education requirement (for the period April 2009ñApril 2011).

So You Want to Be an Expert Witness?

On September 16 at 1 p.m. CST, Mark Passamaneck will present ASPEís next webinar on how to become an expert witness. Attendees will learn successful procedures to follow during investigation and how to determine the necessary depth of investigation to avoid disqualification and meet the standard of care. Cost is $69.95 for ASPE members, $129.95 for nonmembers. Participants can earn 0.1 CEU or 1 PDH. Click here to register.

CPDs: Be Forewarned. The CPD Certification Committee Is Completing Its Latest CPD Audit

For those holding the CPD designation, the CPD Committee conducts a random audit each renewal cycle to ensure that the continuing education requirement is being met properly. Those audited are chosen at random; however, the committee tries to examine at least one CPD from each chapter. Remember: The programs available at ASPE E-learning are a convenient and quick way to obtain CEUs.

Do You Support ASPEís Campaign to Mandate Residential Sprinklers? The Results Are In

Given the skewed response to our online poll, we reviewed respondentsí IP addresses. (We cannot identify individuals, only specific IP addresses.) Interestingly, we found that individuals from two separate IP addresses in Arkansas tried to "stuff" the ballot box. Of the 387 respondents, 227 were from these two IP addresses alone. Those results were all "against" the Societyís campaign to mandate residential sprinklers. When you remove the ballot stuffing (a time-honored tradition here in Chicago), the results are 60 percent for and 24 percent against ASPE's campaign to get state legislators to reject anti-sprinkler legislation (16 percent undecided). While the poll was open to anyone and individuals can vote more than once, this ballot stuffing was unexpected. ASPE will continue to support the IRC mandate for residential sprinklers in new homes.

ASPE E-learning ìis a great and convenient tool to learn new stuff and review old stuff.î

Raymond Cheng already has benefitted professionally from ASPE E-learning, in addition to earning CEUs. What are you waiting for? Check out our convenient online learning programs now!

Sponsors Make It Happen in Ohio

On June 23, more than 100 golfers participated in the Central Ohio Chapter Golf Outing. The chapter would like to express their gratitude and thanks to the participating members and employers for the outingís tremendous success. Concerns about scaling back the outing were erased when the following companies helped make this year's event one of the best ever. Major sponsors: American Standard, Buckaroos Inc., Bradley Corp., BWA South Inc., Eastway Supply, Guardian Equipment, Gutridge Plumbing, HAWA Inc., Industrial Sales Co., Omar McDowell Co., Trombold Equipment, Ventura Engineering, Whitfill-McCarthy Inc. Other sponsors: Allied Healthcare Products, Amtekco Industries, A.O. Smith, BBN Sales, Campbell Equipment Co., Dynamix Engineering Ltd., Ferguson, Heapy Engineering, Herbert & Conway, Kevin McGovern and Associates, Korda Engineering, Larsen Engineering, Libb Co., Lowder Sales, McMullin Engineering, Rep Source, Roger Fields and Associates, Spears Manufacturing, Speer Mechanical, Steffens-Shultz Inc., Streamkey Inc., Victaulic, Westwater Supply, Worly Supply. Thank you again. Like most things ASPE, it would not have been possible without you.

EDUCATIONAL AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES

August 17: Rochester-area Golf Outing

If you missed the deadline, contact Jennifer Wengender (800-274-9000 x1094). A few spaces are still open! It will be held at the Victor Hills Golf Club in Victor, New York, for $70 per golfer.

August 17: Eastern New York Golf Outing

ASPEís Capital Region New York Chapter will host its golf outing at the Fairways of Halfmoon in Mechanicville, New York. Contact Andrew Cowan or Bill Sestak for reservations or hole sponsorship. 

August 20: San Francisco Engineered Plumbing Systems Course

This ASPE-sponsored class will be held on Thursday evenings from 7ñ10 p.m. at City College of San Francisco. Taught by Calvin Laws, PE, CPD, FASPE, the course curriculum includes the practical study of fluid flow in plumbing and HVAC systems. Students earn three units of college credit. Click here for more information.

August 21: Boston-area Golf Outing

ASPEís Boston Chapter is holding its golf outing at the Wayland Country Club in Wayland, Massachusetts. Cost is $100 per person for golf and dinner. Hole sponsorships are available for $100. Contact John Carter for more information.

New! Philadelphia Golf Outing Being Held September 10

ASPEís Philadelphia Chapter is holding its golf outing at the Northampton Country Club in Northampton, Pennsylvania. Cost is $100 per golfer. Corporate packages are available. For more information or to register, contact Bill OíDonnell or visit www.aspephila.org.

September 10: Minneapolis Plumbing and Hydronics Product Show

The ASPE and ASHRAE Minnesota Chapters are holding this all-day event at the Earle Brown Heritage Center. Free seminars on solar thermal water heating and geothermal heating systems offer CEU credit. For more information or to register, contact Becky Soderholm.

NEW! Philadelphia Plumbing Design School Starting September 21

The ASPE/ASSE Plumbing Design School will be held every Monday from 6:30ñ9 p.m. at the office of Lime Contractors in Philadelphia until Feb. 1, 2010. Tuition is $650. Areas of study include plumbing terms, codes, hydraulics and math, centrifugal pump fundamentals, domestic hot water design, backflow prevention, storm, sanitary, and vent design, purified water systems, and graywater and storm water reclamation. Contact Nelson White for more information.

September 21: British Columbia Golf Outing

ASPEís British Columbia Chapter is holding its golf outing at the Green Acres Golf and Country Club in Richmond, British Columbia. Cost is $125 per player (includes dinner). Contact Peter Way to register.

September 22: Tampa Bay Rays Baseball Outing

ASPEís West Coast Florida Chapter is holding a joint meeting with ASHRAE followed by an evening of baseball in the Rays Party Suite. Cost is $30 per person. Space is limited. Contact Rob Shorey for more information.

October 1: Dallas-area Product Show

ASPEís Dallas/Ft. Worth Chapterís Product Show will be held at the Ruthe Jackson Center in Grand Prairie, Texas. The theme is ìGreen Building Design and Technology.î Click here for more information.

October 2: Dallas-area Golf Outing

ASPEís Dallas/Ft. Worth Chapterís Fall Golf Classic will be held at Prairie Lakes Golf Course in Grand Prairie, Texas. Click here for additional information and registration forms. Hole sponsorships are available.

New! Philadelphia Product Show Being Held October 15

ASPEís Philadelphia Chapterís product show will be held at the Ramada Philadelphia Airport hotel in Essington, Pennsylvania from 1:45ñ7 p.m. Free one-hour CEU seminars on Revit and rainwater harvesting will be held. Click here for more information. 

INDUSTRY NEWS
Santa Barbara, California, Approves Fire Sprinkler Requirement

According to the Daily Sound, after revisiting a proposal to require fire sprinklers in all new residential and commercial building, as well as structures undergoing major remodels, through an amendment to the cityís fire code, the Santa Barbara City Council unanimously agreed last week to approve the new code requirement.

Texas Law Mandates High-efficiency Fixtures

A coalition led by the Plumbing Manufacturers Institute recently helped Texas join California as the second state to require high-efficiency toilets in all new residential and commercial construction. Texas House Bill 2667, signed into law on June 19, also sets maximum showerhead flow rates at 2.5 gallons per minute and urinal flush volumes at 0.5 gallon per flush. Effective September 1 of this year, the legislation mandates that toilet and urinal manufacturers phase in HETs over the next four years. Any plumbing product certified by the federal WaterSense program is exempt from the new Texas efficiency standards. The bill also repeals all manufacturer product-filing fees and testing requirements, formerly required by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the state testing and certification agency.

International Code Council to Develop Swimming Pool Code

The ICC board of directors has voted to develop the nationís first all encompassing Comprehensive Swimming Pool Code. This action is designed to provide a coordinated code with other International Codes that will meet the requirements of the Virginia Graeme Baker Act and upgrade pool safety. The code will be developed under the Councilís governmental consensus process with the support of the Association of Pool and Spa Professionals. (NOTE: See the upcoming September 2009 issue of PS&D for an article on the Virginia Graeme Baker Act.)

Burbank, California, to Consider Low-flow Fixtures

According to the Burbank Leader, an ordinance that would require homes and commercial buildings to be fitted with low-flow plumbing fixtures and appliances as a condition of resale is slated to return to the City Council this week after being postponed for three months.

EPA Developing Great Lakes Restoration Plan

The President's 2010 budget provides $475 million for a new Environmental Protection Agency-led, interagency Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, which will target the most significant problems in the region, including invasive aquatic species, non-point source pollution, and contaminated sediment.

This summer, the EPA is holding a series of meetings with stakeholders to receive input on the plan.

Indianapolis Seeks Solutions to Improve Water and Wastewater Systems

Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard has released a request for expression of interest (REI), seeking ideas from qualified organizations to improve the cityís water and wastewater systems and deliver services from both systems at reduced cost to users. Responses to the REI are due August 21.

National Fire Sprinkler Association Responds to Habitat for Humanity's Campaign Against Fire Sprinklers

Last week, NFSA delivered a letter to Habitat for Humanity International CEO Jonathan Reckford, in response to that organization's campaigning against governmental adoption of the recently passed International Residential Code. Find text of the letter here.

IAPMO R&T Accredited to Certify Electrical Products

IAPMO R&T has received a scope extension from ANSI for the certification of electrical products. The accreditation includes such electro-plumbing products as Whirlpools (covered by UL 1795), spas (covered by UL 1563), and the components within them. Other products fitting within the scope of this accreditation include electrical faucets, flushometer valves and similar plumbing fixtures utilizing electrical components. For more information on having electro-plumbing products certified and listed, contact Shahin.Moinian@IAPMORT.org.

Plumbing Feud Threatens Jacksonville, Florida, Water Supplies

According to the Florida Times-Union, more than 900 Jacksonville households could have their water cut off because of a simple design problem in their plumbing systems: They donít contain a backflow preventer.

EPA Seeks Public Input on Clean Water Enforcement Action Plan Through Online Forum

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has launched an online discussion forum to receive public input on the future direction of EPA's national water enforcement program. The public will be able to provide feedback until August 28. The forum is part of a larger agency effort to improve the performance and enhance public transparency of state and federal Clean Water Act enforcement programs. All ideas from the public will be evaluated and considered for recommendations to the EPA administrator about the future direction for EPA's water enforcement program.

IAMPO Codes Now Can Be Found Online

IAPMO is now offering online access to its most current plumbing and mechanical codes through the IAPMO Web Portal. Through this portal, plumbing and mechanical professionals can access the Uniform Plumbing and Mechanical Codes, as well as several state and international custom codes using a dynamic interactive and annotatable Web platform powered by citation. The tool is fully searchable and will be updated automatically whenever changes are made to the codes. Click here to order a subscription to the IAPMO Web Portal.

Massachusetts Senate Bill Would Reinstate Professional Registration for Plumbing Engineers

Years ago, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Division of Professional Licensure (DPL) stopped official recognition of plumbing engineering, but new legislation, Senate Bill 181, is being considered to reinstate the professional registration for engineers involved in the plumbing discipline. The bill currently is held in the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure. Interested parties are encouraged to contact members of the committee with their opinion of this bill.