Long-time ASPE Member Passes Away

Thomas Meacham passed away on March 31. He served as ASPE’s administrative secretary, vice president, membership, and vice president, legislative and also worked as an associate publisher of Plumbing Systems & Design. Tom retired after more than 30 years as a senior plumbing and fire protection designer with JE Sirrine.

Seattle Officially Becomes ASPE’s 61st Chapter

Last month, 50 ASPE members gathered at Ivar’s Salmon House in Seattle to witness the chartering of ASPE’s 61st chapter. The new Seattle Chapter board is President Patrick Cooper; Vice President, Technical Jason Hewitt; Vice President, Legislative Duane Lease; Vice President, Membership Kevin Jones; Treasurer Frank van der Harst; Corresponding Secretary Gregory Skaggs; and Administrative Secretary William Bennecker. To become a member of the Seattle Chapter, contact Kevin Jones.

Learn About the Plumbing Codes and BIM at ASPE’s Regional Workshops

ASPE is holding back-to-back, one-day workshops on BIM and the International and Uniform Plumbing Codes on May 3–4 in Atlanta, May 24–25 in Chicago, May 26–27 in Dallas, and June 28–29 in Washington, D.C Click here to sign up now.

Don’t Miss Your Last Chance to Prepare for the CPD Exam

In the last CPD Review webinar being held April 13, at 1 p.m. CST, presenter David DeBord will discuss the design methods and calculations that will appear on this year’s CPD Exam. Click here to register.

PS&D Seeks Authors for Fire Suppression System Articles

Do you have design experience with residential sprinkler systems, firestopping, or clean agents? Want to share your knowledge with your peers across the country? Plumbing Systems & Design seeks nonproprietary technical articles on all of these topics. To propose an article, contact Gretchen Pienta.

ASPE Publications Blowout Sale Is Going Strong!

ASPE needs to make room for new inventory, so we are offering many of our publications at amazing prices. You should have received a brochure in the mail, so don’t miss out on your opportunity to stock up your professional library. If you didn’t receive a brochure, call 847-296-0002.

Is It Possible for Plumbing Engineers to Hold Their Specs?

ASPE thinks it’s important for plumbing engineers to maintain their integrity during the design and construction process by holding to their specs. How can the Society help? Click here to take our poll.

Ring in the Future of ASPE at the 2010 Convention

Philadelphia, the birthplace of the United States, is the perfect location for ASPE’s 2010 Convention, since the Society also is looking toward a new beginning. A new board of directors will be installed. To run for office, click here. Also, long-time Executive Director Stanley Wolfson will be retiring, and a new executive will be introduced. How can you get involved? Become a chapter delegate today and see the ASPE governance in action. Being a delegate is a great way to start gaining experience to become a future ASPE leader.

How Can You Get the 2010 Commemorative Coin?

Everyone who registers for the 2010 Convention in advance will receive a 2010 Commemorative Coin, which, in addition to being a great keepsake, may help you win an extra ticket to the grand prize drawing or an instant $50 registration rebate.

What Do You Consider the Most Valuable Reason to Attend the ASPE Convention?

Is it the education? The professional networking? Click here to take our poll.

EDUCATIONAL AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES

April 14: Portland Product Show

The ASPE and ASSE Portland chapters are holding a Product Fair at George Morlan Plumbing. Contact Chris Scott for more information.

April 14: Northern California Trade Show and Seminars

ASPE’s Northern California Chapter and PHCC’s Sacramento Valley Chapter are holding this event at the Scottish Rite Center in Sacramento, California. The free tradeshow runs from 3–7 p.m., and the seminars ($50 for both) are at 1 and 3 p.m. Click here for more information.

April 15: Chicago Product Show

ASPE’s Chicago Chapter is holding its annual Product Show with more than 90 exhibits at the White Eagle in Niles, Illinois, from 3:30–8 p.m. Technical seminars offering CEUs will start at 11:30 a.m. A free lunch will be provided to those who attend the seminar and product show, and door prizes will be given away throughout the event. Go to aspe.org/Chicago for free tickets.

NEW! New Orleans Golf Outing Being Held April 16

The ASPE and ASHRAE New Orleans Chapters are holding this event at the Colonial Country Club in Harahan, Louisiana, starting with lunch at 11 a.m. Entry fee includes golf, awards, food, and refreshments. Hydronic Technology Inc. is hosting a crawfish boil for all golfers from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. E-mail aspenola@gmail.com for more information.

NEW! Dallas Casino Night Being Held April 17

ASPE’s Dallas/Ft. Worth Chapter is holding this adults-only event at Grapevine Concourse in Grapevine, Texas, at 6 p.m., followed by an auction at 9:30 p.m. Those who RSVP before April 15 will receive $1,200 in gaming chips. Contact Bryan Hutton to RSVP.

NEW! Pepsi Center Tour Being Held April 21

ASPE’s Denver Chapter has arranged a behind-the-scenes tour of the mechanical and plumbing systems at the Pepsi Center (home of the Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche), starting at 1 p.m. Only the first 30 participants to sign up may attend. RSVP to Rich Garner by April 14.

April 30: Central Florida Golf Outing

ASPE’s Central Florida Chapter is holding this event at the DeBary Golf and Country Club in DeBary, Florida. Click here for a registration form.

April 30: Baltimore Golf Outing

ASPE’s Baltimore Chapter is holding this event at the Timbers at Troy in Elkridge, Maryland. All proceeds go toward the John Jung Memorial Scholarship, given to a worthy local engineering student. Contact David Goodellfor more information.

May 6: New Jersey Golf Outing

ASPE's New Jersey Chapter is holding this event 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 11: Central Florida Product Show

ASPE’s Central Florida Chapter, in conjunction with ASHRAE, is holding this event at the Orange County Fairgrounds. Click here for more information.

NEW! Los Angeles Golf Outing Being Held May 14

ASPE's Orange County and Los Angeles Chapters are hosting this event at the Los Serranos Golf Course in Chino Hills, California. The chapters give a special thank you to the following event sponsors: Sloan Valve (Gold Sponsorship) and FBC Building Solutions and Speakman Company (Silver Sponsorships). Go to aspeoc.com more information.

May 21: Denver Golf Outing

ASPE’s Denver Chapter is holding this event at Eagle Trace Golf Club in Broomfield, Colorado. Hole sponsorships are available. Contact Tim Butts (720-217-8771) for more information.

NEW! Western Michigan Golf Outing Being Held May 25

ASPE’s Western Michigan Chapter is holding this event at the Quail Ridge Golf Club in Ada, Michigan, starting with lunch at 11:15 a.m. The registration fee includes golf cart, lunch, and dinner. For more information, e-mail ASPEWestMichigan@gmail.com.

NOTE: Events in June will be publicized in the next edition.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Energy Star Claims May Be Bogus

The U.S. Government Accountability Office recently investigated the Energy Star program by using four bogus manufacturing firms and fictitious individuals to apply for Energy Star partnerships and submitting 20 fictitious products with fake energy-savings claims for Energy Star certification. In its report, the GAO found that Energy Star is for the most part a self-certification program vulnerable to fraud and abuse. The GAO obtained Energy Star certifications for 15 bogus products, including a gas-powered alarm clock. In addition, two of the bogus Energy Star firms developed by the GAO received requests from real companies to purchase products because the bogus firms were listed as Energy Star partners.

Pipe Maker Extends Guarantee in Light of Lawsuit

JM Eagle, which was sued by a former employee who claims the company misrepresented research data and sold defective plastic pipe, announced on Monday that it will guarantee its products—both pipe already in use and that not yet manufactured—for 50 years. However, municipalities that already reported pipe failures may not qualify for a claim against the new guarantee because the new guarantee is only for pipes that fail on or after April 1, 2010, because of a manufacturing error.

New Green Construction Codes Available Online

The International Green Construction Code: Safe and Sustainable by the Book, sponsored by the International Code Council, American Institute of Architects, and ASTM International, is available for public review online. If you sign up for free access to view the code, you also will be able to view the ANSI/ASHRAE/USGBC/IES Standard 189.1: Design of High-performance Green Buildings, Except  Low-rise Residential Buildings, which was released earlier this year.

Colorado Adds Conservation to the Plumbing Code

On Monday, Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter signed House Bill 1204, which will support better business practices and help conserve water. Conservation standards under House Bill 1204, sponsored by Rep. John Soper and Sen. Lois Tochrop, include water efficiency fixtures and installation guidelines that meet or exceed national standards. The bill also encourages the use of locally produced materials.

Water Is Life

The April 2010 issue of National Geographic called “Water: Our Thirsty World” features numerous articles on the world’s water crisis and how to solve some immediate problems. Included are articles on desalination techniques, the freshwater crisis, and how to conserve the water that is available.

Potty Parity Goes Mainstream

A new Facebook page called Potty Parity Now invites women and men to post images of public restroom facilities that make women wait in long lines because of an insufficient number of toilets. In related news, on March 18, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chair Edolphus Towns introduced H.R. 4869, the Restroom Gender Parity in Federal Buildings Act. Also known the Potty Parity Act, the measure would require any federal building constructed for public use to have a 1-to-1 ratio for toilets, including urinals, in women’s and men’s restrooms.

Oklahoma City to Remove Arsenic from Water with Iron Oxide

Norman, Oklahoma, plans to install an arsenic treatment system utilizing iron oxide in 11 wells (representing one-third of the city’s well supply) that were shut down when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency lowered the maximum contaminant level for arsenic in drinking water to 10 µg/L (0.010 parts per million or 10 parts per billion) in 2006. Adsorption with iron oxide-based media does not require chemical regeneration or flocculation, making the arsenic removal process simple and reliable and minimizing labor.

Astronauts to Test Water Filtration System

According to an article in SpaceTravel.com, technology for a water filtration system initially developed at NASA's Kennedy Space Center is going to be tested aboard the International Space Station. The technology filters microscopic contaminants, including heavy metals and toxins, out of drinking water to produce a sterile fluid to be used intravenously. If it works, the system could prove critical to future astronauts if they have a medical emergency in space. It also could be used by the military, in remote locations, or in humanitarian relief efforts.

Clog-resistant RO Membranes Could Reduce Desalination Costs

Researchers from the UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science have unveiled a new class of reverse-osmosis membranes for desalination that resist the clogging that typically occurs when seawater, brackish water and waste water are purified. The highly permeable, surface-structured membrane can easily be incorporated into commercial production systems and could help significantly reduce desalination operating costs. Learn more here.

Nonprofit Group Urges Companies to Report Water Usage

According to a New York Times article, the Carbon Disclosure Project, an investor-backed nonprofit organization that has persuaded some of the world’s largest corporations to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions, is asking 302 global companies to begin issuing detailed reports on their water use. While international protocols govern the measurement of greenhouse gas emissions, no such framework exists for water consumption, and a goal of this project is to help establish such reporting standards.

New Energy-efficiency Standards for Water Heaters Released

The U.S. Department of Energy recently released new energy efficiency standards for water heaters and other appliances that it says will save consumers $10 billion over 30 years while cutting greenhouse gas emissions. The DOE does not specify which technologies manufacturers must adopt to meet the standards, but they most likely will require the use of heat pump electric water heaters and condensing gas water heaters, The new standards would raise the cost of a water heater by about $120, but would save $143 over the life of the appliance, and the DOE estimates that carbon dioxide emissions will be cut by 164 million metric tons over 30 years. The water heater standards take effect in 2015, while manufacturers must meet new standards for pool heaters and direct heating equipment in 2013.

Run to Increase Awareness of Water Shortages Around the World

The Dow Live Earth Run for Water, being held on April 18, is a series of 6-kilometer run/walks (the average distance women and children walk every day to secure water) taking place over the course of 24 hours in 150 countries, featuring concerts and water education activities.

Calculate Your Personal Water Use on Facebook

A Personal Water Footprint Calculatordeveloped by Siemens Water Technologies helps individuals become more aware of how much water they are using and allows them to post personal, public commitments to conserve water. It also provides a visual graphic that quantifies the amount of water saved, either by individuals or collectively in groups.