Smart Solutions Category: Plumbing

Advice from Ridge Tool Company: Look for Tools That Help You Work Smarter, Not Harder

In today’s high-tech world, when people talk about tool timesavers they tend to focus on the latest Bluetooth technology or the newest gadget. Yet, technology is not the only way to cut down time on a jobsite: tools that allow you to work smarter, not harder, can help any professional get to the next jobsite more effectively and efficiently. Here are a few questions to consider when evaluating the timesaving merits of a tool: 

  • Can the tool do more than one job? The best tools seem to help you do more with less: less gear, less time, less looking around. Anytime you can rely on a tool to perform more than one task, that is a win. You will reach in your toolbox less and have less to haul onto a jobsite. For example, some wrenches provide multiple surface wrench sizes on one side and have an open box-end for line nuts. This type of wrench has you covered for straight stops, appliance legs, shower heads, faucet nuts, stool bolts, and more. 
  • Are you maximizing the tool’s versatility? Knowledge of a tool’s full ability is also key to saving time and limiting redundancy in your toolbox. Pressing tools are a good example. Plumbers appreciate press tools because they save time on connections and eliminate the need for soldering. Some press tools can do more than just press pipe connections. For example, Ridge Tool Company has designed their RIDGID press tools to be multipurpose. Understanding that no two jobs are created equal, Ridge Tool built the RP 342-XL for them all: Its versatile design packs major power and boasts the widest range of applications of any press tool. It can press 1/2” to 4” copper, stainless steel, and carbon steel pipe and 1/2” to 2” PEX—in less than 10 seconds. It is also compatible with the full line of RIDGID Standard 32kN press tool accessories, including the StrutSlayr™ Strut Shear Head, Press Snap™ Soil Pipe Cutter, and all MegaPress jaws. 
  • How reliable are the tools you buy? Any tool is a timesaver if it is reliable. Think about the tools you have owned the longest. Which tools push through a hard job without breaking? What brand is a one- or two-year tool versus a lifetime of performance? When you are constantly having tools break down and you are investing time and money to replace or repair them, that is a waste. Buying reliable, proven tools is the best timesaver (and moneymaker). A strong warranty program is nice, but if the tool is always breaking—even if the repairs are free—that downtime will cost you money every time. 
  • Are you buying tools for today or tomorrow? This question builds on the issue of reliability. Sometimes cost is a hard line that you cannot cross. But when you can, always consider your long-term plans. You might buy a smaller drain cleaner because it costs less. Yet, you know that the larger commercial drain cleaner will allow you to do 10 times as many jobs and build your business in the future. Which is a better investment? Tool redundancy has its place, but for higher-cost items, it can be a drain on expenses and a sore spot if your small drain cleaner is collecting dust in a warehouse a year from now. 
  • Will I have to start from scratch when I need to upgrade? When you buy equipment to meet your immediate needs, consider whether there are products designed to complement the equipment as you upgrade. For example, RIDGID reels, imaging cameras, monitors, locators, recorders, and drain cleaning equipment are designed to work together, so setup time is fast and compatibility is a given. Along with faster setup time, purchasing tools that integrate with each other can save you money and minimize downtime for training. 

Saving time equals more jobs, and that means more income. There are many ways to adjust your tool inventory so you can work smarter, not harder. 

For more information, visit www.ridgid.com. 

SLOAN Demonstrates How Handwashing Is Moving Beyond the Restroom

By Kim Darke-Miller, Senior Manager for Strategic Accounts, SLOAN

Up until now, handwashing has always taken place within the confines of the restroom. But what if hand sanitation and where it takes place were reimagined?

With the pandemic bringing added attention to the importance of hand hygiene and inspiring new handwashing innovation, that’s exactly what is underway right now. Commercial restroom manufacturers and architectural firms are partnering together to begin integrating handwashing into our existing environment. Places such as hospitality venues, restaurants, public transportation, sports stadiums, and schools are ideal for this endeavor.

For example, imagine going to a professional sporting event and having a quick and easy way to wash your hands without waiting in long lines at halftime or during breaks before getting food? Similarly, double-sided wash stations in restaurants can help bridge the space between the entry and lounge areas. Guests who check in with the host can then wash their hands while waiting for their table.

This new concept, known as “Sinks Beyond the Restroom,” is integrating handwashing with the public spaces that we engage with in our daily routines to promote hand hygiene outside the restroom. But what does this mean for contractors, and how do these installations impact their work with connecting to water and drain lines, complying with plumbing codes, and more?

See examples and videos of Sinks Beyond the Restroom.

Installation Elements to Consider

Sink stations outside the restroom require necessary components that may be a no-brainer when it comes to restroom infrastructure but might not be as readily available in traditional public spaces. Contractors and installers need to ensure that a drain is located nearby for wastewater to flow into, without impeding the rest of the public space. Typically, drainage and water-source locations dictate the area where sinks can be located.

Take airports, for example. Most airports already have drains integrated into areas prior to walking through security for people to dispose of liquids, making them an ideal location for handwashing stations. In areas with existing plumbing, placing handwashing stations near restrooms or restaurants makes installation even easier to accomplish.

Office buildings present three critical moments where guests can benefit from a range of handwashing options as they enter and exit the building: directly adjacent to the entry, the reception desk, and the area adjacent to the elevators.

However, installing handwashing stations against an outside wall or other areas could involve more extensive renovations. Integrating handwashing into the infrastructure of the concourse during new construction allows the architect/MEP to easily account for water lines, etc., making new installations ideal.

When it comes to new construction, architects and engineers can account for all water lines when designing floors to avoid slip and fall potential. In this instance, perforated nonslip flooring is an ideal specification to let water fall into a drain and then reclaim the water, while integrated hand dryers help keep water off the floor. While local codes vary by state, the future of handwashing is changing, and codes will certainly evolve with it.

However, there might be certain instances where a permanent installation just isn’t the right fit. That’s where new mobile handwashing stations come into play. Equipped with hands-free, sensor-operated technology, mobile handwashing stations are designed to enable more convenient handwashing options placed anywhere inside or outside a building where hygiene is essential.

Additional Applications

This Sinks Beyond the Restroom concept can be practiced even further. Office buildings present three critical opportunities where guests can benefit from a range of handwashing options as they enter and exit the building.

The first location is directly adjacent to the entry and takes the form of an individual vessel. The second stop integrates with the reception desk and combines handwashing with opportunities to engage with informational and educational content like building and tenant information. Lastly, the area adjacent to the elevators is important, as highly visible sinks are especially important near high-touch surfaces, such as elevator buttons.

Airport concourses also present opportunities for handwashing in the midst of a bustling environment to help travelers feel safe and confident while staying on schedule. Public handwashing stations can integrate useful travel information on monitors above the sink listing flight departure and arrival information, digital airport maps, city highlights, and more.

Lastly, implementing handwashing outlets throughout school corridors presents an opportunity to reinforce learnings in the classroom thanks to a series of fun and teachable moments that develop healthy lifelong habits. This will help reinforce proper handwashing for students coming to and from their lockers in between class or before lunch.

SLOAN and a leading architectural firm are teaming up to accomplish this handwashing beyond the restroom innovation. The two organizations began this journey by gathering dozens of market and industry experts across the country to form focus groups to determine how to best achieve this goal. SLOAN’s touch-free technology, together with its architectural prowess, now has the capability to deliver hands-free handwashing in environments where we engage in everyday activities.

For more information, visit www.sloan.com.

Holaday-Parks Achieves Award-Winning Sustainable Plumbing Design With Morris Group’s AcornVac System

To renovate an historic building while simultaneously seeking to reach new heights in sustainability, Holaday-Parks installed a water-saving vacuum plumbing system from AcornVac, a division of Morris Group International. The AcornVac system was among the solutions that earned the building recognition as one of the most environmentally friendly office spaces of its size worldwide. It also eliminates the need for costly trenching or core drilling.

Once a two-story building, 400 Westlake now stands tall as a 15-story office building, encompassing 180,000 square feet of office space and ground-floor retail. Situated in the vibrant South Lake Union district of Seattle, WA, it has the distinction of being part of Seattle’s Living Building Pilot Program, earning the esteemed Living Building Challenge’s Petal Certifications in the areas of energy, beauty, and place.

See the sidebar, Living Up to the Living Building Challenge, to learn more about living buildings.

Revolutionary Renovation

When Holaday-Parks assumed the role of mechanical and plumbing engineer-of-record for the 400 Westlake project in Seattle, WA, they anticipated the inevitable challenges that lay ahead. For Jennifer Schneider, the Holaday-Parks project manager for 400 Westlake, the magnitude of the project truly hit home when their team, in collaboration with project partners, received the prestigious 2023 Energy Vision Award. “This project is a groundbreaking endeavor that has the power to revolutionize the world and our industry,” said Schneider.

The transformative office renovation meticulously preserved the Art Deco-style auto garage initially constructed in 1929 for the Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. The result is a testament to sustainability.

A Water-Saving Solution

The decision to use vacuum plumbing was primarily driven by its water-saving capabilities, as AcornVac’s toilets require less than .5 gallons of water per flush. Compared with other low-volume flush systems, the AcornVac system significantly conserves water use.

Laura Marshall, AcornVac vice president, emphasized the importance of the vacuum plumbing system’s water and waste treatment savings. The vacuum flush water savings can amount to thousands of dollars and millions of gallons per year in larger applications. For instance, a commercial office building with 500 occupants, equipped with a single vacuum center and .5-gallon-per-flush vacuum toilets, can save over 265,000 gallons per year compared with other low-flush toilets. In addition, the vacuum system also provides drainage for lavatories, urinals, and other plumbing fixtures.

Vacuum plumbing is a straightforward and viable alternative to below-floor waste drainage. By using a combination of vacuum pressure and gravity, reduced volumes of water are required for toilet flushing, and waste piping can be routed through the ceiling in the same floor on which the plumbing fixtures are installed, so installers do not need to dig trenches or use core drilling. Vacuum drainage systems are widely accepted and recognized by many code authorities and are included in the latest editions of the International Plumbing Code (IPC) and the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC).

Schneider had experience with the AcornVac system for condensate drainage at major retail stores. The scale of the 400 Westlake project posed new opportunities, and AcornVac provided active support throughout the installation process, conducting inspections and offering guidance on layout, installation, and commissioning.

“I would recommend working with AcornVac because they were helpful and engaged in the design and all the way through startup and commissioning,” Schneider added. “We had excellent support.”

Before beginning the installation, Holaday-Parks opted for an onsite mockup in the first restroom. This allowed them to meticulously plan and arrange all components, including piping and fixtures, ensuring proper layout to suit both installation requirements and future maintenance access.

The vacuum plumbing project has been a learning experience for Holaday-Parks, enabling the company to propose and execute large-scale sustainable projects confidently. “While we added some complexity, our crew now possesses a specialized skill set that sets them apart from their peers. It’s not something that is taught when learning the trade,” said Schneider.

Setting a New Standard

400 Westlake also stands out because of Holaday-Parks’ innovative incorporation of a greywater/rainwater harvesting and management system that provides toilet flush water for the AcornVac system. The roof collects rainwater, filling a 100,000-gallon vault that supplies the rainwater/greywater management system. If the system lacks sufficient rainwater/greywater, it automatically switches to the domestic water supply.

Marshall said of the rainwater/greywater system, “We have encountered many unique requirements and applications on other projects, but this was a very clever and creative addition to the system, and its benefits will extend to future building owners.”

400 Westlake was recently commissioned, and Schneider is confident that the system will perform flawlessly once the building is fully occupied. Water savings will be quantified and documented over time through water metering, and water savings certifications are anticipated in approximately 18 months. It is anticipated that 400 Westlake will generate 105 percent of its energy needs and consume 35 percent less energy than a typical office building.

Marshall expressed pride in Holaday-Parks’ accomplishments, commending their willingness to embrace creative planning and use of vacuum plumbing and rainwater/greywater harvesting for water savings. “Their achievements have not only benefited their clients, but the community and the environment,” Marshall remarked. “They have set a new industry standard.”

For more information, visit www.morrisgroup.co.

Sidebar: Living Up to the Living Building Challenge

The Living Building Challenge is a green building certification program, administered by the International Living Future Institute. Seattle, WA, implemented the Living Building Pilot Program as part of a strategy to become carbon-neutral by 2050. The Challenge uses a flower motif, which symbolizes efficiency, and is organized around seven performance areas, or “petals”: place, water, energy, health and happiness, materials, equity, and beauty.

A Living Building is a sustainable structure that surpasses traditional green building standards by meeting rigorous performance standards in energy, water, materials, and indoor air quality. These high-performance buildings incorporate advanced engineering systems to reduce environmental impact and enhance human well-being. They use renewable energy sources, like solar and wind power, and innovative water management systems, such as rainwater harvesting and vacuum drainage.

Living Buildings promote a connection with nature through features such as natural ventilation, daylighting, and biophilic design. They are built with nontoxic, locally sourced materials and designed for disassembly and recycling, fostering a circular economy.  Living Buildings showcase cutting-edge sustainable engineering to create efficient, environmentally friendly spaces that prioritize human health and well-being.

Download Living Building Challenge 4.0: A Visionary Path to a Regenerative Future, here.

Sidebar: Keys to Success

The renovation of 400 Westlake in Seattle represents a collaboration of the following key individuals:

  • For Holaday-Parks: Jennifer Schneider, Project Manager; Michael Cook, Engineering Manager; Blake Hallauer, Engineer; and Tony Bandli, Plumbing Foreman
  • For Crutcher Lewis: Ashley Frederick, Project Executive

Grodsky Tackles Tight Timelines and Tight Spaces With Easy-to-Use Press Fittings From Mueller Industries

To expedite construction of a new university housing project designed as a hybrid of wood and steel, Harry Grodsky & Co., Inc. turned to Mueller Industries and its Mueller Streamline Co. products and piping systems specialists “We were able to save an incredible amount of time on the project thanks to Mueller” and its Streamline® ACR Press Fittings in particular, said Ross Halket, superintendent at Grodsky. Mueller’s products gave Grodsky “the ability to get stuff into tight spaces, [and with] no fear of burning the building down, the ability to run piping in areas where brazing would have been hazardous,” Halket noted.

High-Quality Housing

In October 2022, University of Massachusetts Amherst moved forward with plans to build new undergraduate, graduate, and student family housing on campus. The project calls for 150 two-bedroom units and another 824 new beds in total and is poised to address the university’s strategic housing needs. UMass Amherst approached Grodsky, a fourth-generation family-owned mechanical contracting business with offices in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Adding Grodsky to the project gave UMass Amherst more than a century of contracting experience with a local touch, and the Grodsky team quickly took to the unique project.

“It’s a large housing project that is 100-percent electric heat, using Lennox VRF systems,” said Halket. “It’s a hybrid structure, as it is wood framed. It was challenging to get lines to fit in places where they need to go, as you’re dealing with all the nuances that come with a wood structure, such as trusses. Spaces for large mechanical systems are limited. And no pre-fab was used, as everything was fitted on the job in real-time.”

In addition to housing, the $274-million project includes retail spaces for the school, dining spaces, and student social areas. It brings UMass Amherst’s total undergraduate rooming capacity to 14,700 beds, the sixth-largest on-campus residential program in the country. With an extremely tight local housing market, the university knew it had to provide high-quality living spaces with modern amenities in a central campus location.

Productive Partnership

Brian Caufield, vice president of Mueller Streamline Co., described meeting Dave Streeter, vice president of Design Build at Grodsky, at an industry event, where they discussed upcoming projects. “We agreed that there was an opportunity to provide Grodsky assistance and value with our new Streamline ACR Press Fittings. That conversation led to the UMass Amherst project,” said Caulfield.

In particular, Grodsky recognized the value of using Mueller’s Streamline ACR Press Fittings. “We saw benefits of the double O-ring design,” said Halket. “Mueller is heavy into the air conditioning and refrigeration space with their ancillary products. And they have a good support system, whether it be tech support or on-site training.”

The partnership with Mueller provided Grodsky with substantial and crucial time savings during the project. Mueller provided complete onsite installation training to get installers ready quickly, and the intuitive and flameless process eliminated the need for brazing. “That eliminated the concern of bringing an open flame to the wood structure, and we weren’t required to have a fire watch either,” said Halket.

Halket added that Mueller’s overall onsite support came with everything Grodsky needed for the project, whether it was tech support, tooling, or expediting necessary products.

Looking Ahead

So far, the first phase of student-family housing is complete. Seventy two-bedroom units and a multipurpose community center will soon be joined by 80 additional two-bedroom units. The next phase includes construction of apartment-style housing that will provide 623 beds for upper-level undergraduates and 201 beds for graduate students, scheduled to be completed in fall 2023.

Throughout the process, Grodsky team members cited the quality and reliability of the Streamline ACR Press Fitting’s dual O-ring design and the full 360-degree press contour. “I found it all to be very intuitive,” said one Grodsky team member. “The way the fitting and the jaws work together is very self-explanatory. The foolproof design led to no phone calls or installation issues.”

“We really found it very beneficial to partner with a company that is heavily involved in the HVAC and refrigeration space to provide support for the job,” added another team member.

Mueller Streamline Co.’s Caufield added, “We appreciate the opportunity to work with the Grodsky team on this project and look forward to many more collaborations in the future.” Halket anticipated Grodsky partnering with Mueller on future projects. “I really enjoyed working with the Mueller team,” he said. “I like the fitting. It provides a fast, quick, and reliable connection.”

For more information, visit www.muellerstreamline.com.

Ridge Tool Company Offers Tips for Selecting Ergonomic Tools to Minimize Strain, Increase Productivity

Not long ago, the impact of a tool on its user was not given much thought when it came to tool design. Today, thanks to advancements in technology and a better awareness of how repetitive use of a tool can contribute to injury, ergonomic tool design is becoming the norm. To help ensure you are making the best equipment investment for your team, here are basic ergonomic tool features to look for.

  • Tools that are well balanced, lightweight, and can be operated with one hand are ideal. The weight will vary depending on the use of the tool. Thanks to technology, tools are becoming smaller and lighter, minimizing strain and fatigue for the user while increasing productivity on the jobsite. Look for the smallest and lightest tools to meet the demands of your typical jobsites.
  • In the case of hand or press tools, the center of gravity should be aligned with the center of the gripping hand. In other words, the tool should feel “easy” to hold either in an upright position or in the position in which it will be used.
  • For hand tools used for precision work, the handles and grips should have a “power grip.” Handle diameter recommendations vary, but in general, cylindrical handles of 1½” offer a better power grip, although they can range from 1¼” to 2”. For precision grips, a diameter of 1¼” is recommended. The larger diameter will allow for maximum torque, while the smaller diameter helps with dexterity and speed.
  • To ensure a good grip, sufficient friction must exist between the hand and the handle, and friction should remain consistent even with a sweaty hand. Hand tools should be made of non-slip, non-conductive, and compressible materials, such as textured rubber, that help keep the tool from slipping out of the hand.
  • To avoid tendonitis in the index finger (otherwise known as “trigger finger”) from tool use, look for solutions that allow you to use two or three fingers to activate switches to reduce discomfort and minimize the risk of injury.

Minor aches and pains add up over time, taking individuals off the jobsite because of injuries or down a different career path entirely. Using tools with even a few ergonomic features will go a long way toward reducing this physical strain and injury.

For more information, visit ridgid.com. 

JPG Increases Efficiency, Builds Business With Zurn SmartPro Monitoring

JPG Plumbing & Mechanical Services’ adoption of new oil and grease interceptor monitoring technology from Zurn has significantly reduced pumping overspend and minimized the risk of backups for JPG’s customers. The increased monitoring is translating into more tank repair and replacement work as customers gain better visibility into their systems. Zurn Elkay Water Solutions is a benefactor of MCAA23.

JPG has deployed more than 70 Zurn Water Solutions SmartPro connected grease, oil, and sediment monitoring units on interceptor tanks at convenience stores, restaurants, big-box businesses, and dairy processing plants. The wireless monitoring lets JPG set alerts for grease, oil, and sludge levels and know what is happening inside the tank without being onsite.

Value Proposition

“The technology has allowed us to offer our customers just-in-time pumping, which reduces their costs and creates peace of mind,” said John Geiling, president and chief visionary at JPG. One convenience store client “discovered that they were getting pumped way too much,” said Geiling. “They should have been pumped every four months, but the authority having jurisdiction, not knowing how much grease was being used, says, ‘Oh no, you have to pump them every month.’ It’s about $450 or $500 every time.”

At $450 per pump and 200 stores, JPG can help that customer save as much as $720,000 per year. Geiling stated, “With wireless monitoring, we’re helping our customers better understand their business needs, and we’re providing greater value to them.”

Inner Tank Insights

It takes JPG about 45 to 60 minutes to install the Zurn SmartPro, including the sensor probe, which can be mounted on the inlet or outlet side of an interceptor tank. SmartPro measures the thickness of the top grease layer, bottom sludge layer, change in liquid level, and wastewater temperature inside the tank. SmartPro is the only grease interceptor monitoring tool that uses ultrasonic monitoring rather than direct contact alarms that are prone to clogging. The ultrasonic feature also provides real-time data and alerts instead of the on-off only alarms available with contact sensor products.

JPG uses Zurn’s SmartPro monitoring system to measure the thickness of the top grease layer, bottom sludge layer, change in liquid level, and wastewater temperature inside the tank—all in real-time and accessible via a mobile app.

Even more important to businesses is staying compliant with local authorities. Geiling shared how one of JPG’s major customers was having quality control issues. “One location found out through this monitoring system that people were illegally dumping into their grease traps. People were pulling the manhole lid and dumping their grease into the manhole. Another location caught the pumping company not actually doing the work they were billing for.”

JPG uses the Zurn SmartPro G3 and G5 models. The G5 transmits real-time data to an internet gateway and dashboard that can be viewed remotely on a mobile app. Users can set up a range of alerts and receive them via text message or email. Alerts include high liquid level, high total top solids, high total bottom solids, high percentage of total solids, and clogs or blockages. With remote interceptor monitoring, JPG can help their customers avoid costly backups and protect local wastewater systems. Customers can also avoid large fines resulting from environmentally hazardous spills.

“If there’s an emergency, such as a backed-up line or a backed-up sewer main or something downstream from the grease trap, the SmartPro will alert to high water levels to respond quicker,” said Geiling. “You can deploy a snaking or jetting contractor sooner to take care of the problem.”

With Zurn SmartPro monitors, JPG can receive automatic text message or email alerts about high levels of liquids or solids, clogs, or blockages.

The SmartPro also helps customers be good stewards by protecting wastewater systems and minimizing resources needed to keep a clean system by eliminating unnecessary pumps.

The Zurn SmartPro’s universal design works for retrofits as well as new builds. The battery-powered, wireless models eliminate the need for external power or a phone line. Battery life is about five years. With the reduction in pumping costs, the payback period for the SmartPro is typically one to two years.

“What we’ve discovered using this technology is that we can improve the quality of every pump because we know actual levels in the tank,” said Geiling. “We’re helping customers stay in compliance and keeping haulers accountable. Often, they’ll pump a tank and then dump what they say is water back into the tank. But sometimes the grease goes back in. Whoever is monitoring the data gets a good look at the tank in terms of quality assurance.”

More Efficiency, More Opportunities

Geiling’s efforts to keep JPG technology-forward is a transformative business strategy. With the switch to the just-in-time model with SmartPro versus time interval-based route work, JPG is pumping customers’ tanks with less frequency and more efficiency, which saves on cost. Geiling believes. “There are limited resources out there to do anything these days, especially labor. We’re able to take on more customers and do a really good job at it.” Geiling also noted that creating a great interceptor experience means “we have more opportunity to market to these customers to do other plumbing and VAC [industrial vacuuming] services.”

Geiling continued, “When these grease traps go bad, it’s a really big problem for these businesses. They’re changing managers and personnel all the time, and there’s always a problem when somebody’s not keeping an eye on it. Our value proposition is that they don’t have to worry about it, because we’re taking care of it. We’ll help them avoid costly backups, protect their wastewater systems, and stay compliant with local regulations.”

For more information, visit www.zurn.com. MCAA thanks Zurn Elkay Water Solutions for being a benefactor of MCAA23.

Stand Out by Incorporating Inclusive Restroom Design: Tips From Sloan

Barrier-free, accessible, and inclusive design is an important trend in building. Planning for a commercial restroom with all users in mind, regardless of ability, gender, or age, makes for a safer and more comfortable restroom that is easy for anyone to use. Contractors who embrace the concepts of inclusive design can stand out as partners who put users’ needs first, and Sloan, a benefactor of MCAA23, has innovative products to help. Inclusive design is pivotal for supporting people with disabilities and complying with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines. It is also important as society’s awareness of gender identity grows.

The ADA has been evolving ever since it was passed into law in 1990. The U.S. Department of Justice, which enforces the ADA, provides guidance and resources to help people better understand and implement ADA requirements.

Visit the recently revamped ADA website for information and resources: https://www.ada.gov

Mechanical contractors should become familiar with the elements of inclusive design, as they are likely to encounter more of this advanced design approach in commercial restrooms of all types. 

Proximity and Privacy

Proximity, privacy, and cleanliness are three key concerns when designing restrooms for inclusivity. Universally, people want to feel safe and comfortable in the restroom. Single-occupancy toilet rooms or restrooms are ideal, as they maximize privacy and flexibility.

Sloan’s offset adapters allow enough space for an ADA-compliant grab bar without having to relocate the water supply inlet pipe. This simple update avoids the costs and complexities of opening walls or the need for workarounds like split grab bars.

However, when single-occupancy restrooms are not feasible, designers can incorporate privacy measures in multiuser restrooms via ambient noise and floor-to-ceiling stall doors. Be aware that each compartment or stall will need separate ventilation, floor drains, lighting, and fire suppression for safety. Additionally, all signage should read “all inclusive.” For added security, each stall should have a visual lock that shows when the stall is occupied.

The ADA Impact

The ADA has many implications for designing and specifying commercial restroom products. For example, grab bar heights are measured to the top of the gripping surface. When ranges in heights are provided, pay attention to the optimal product for compliance. Plumbing product manufacturers almost always recommend choosing the maximum height limit for placement of a grab bar, which is 36”. This placement makes meeting proximity requirements for other fixtures and accessories easier.

To resolve conflicts between the rear grab bar and the required location of exposed flushometers, the grab bar must be split or shifted to the open side. This configuration is permitted only where applicable codes mandate flush controls in such a location. Offset adapters are an effective alternative that do not require the split grab bar. This unassuming adapter creates enough space for an ADA-compliant grab bar by lowering the total height of the flushometer by 1.5” without having to relocate the water supply inlet pipe. It is a simple update that saves facilities from the costs and complexities of opening walls or using workarounds like split grab bars.

When it comes to lavatories and sinks, floor space directly in front of the fixture must be at least 30” wide and 48” long to accommodate wheelchairs. The clear floor space needed by the sink can go all the way to the wall as long as there is no obstruction. Clear floor space underneath the lavatory must be a minimum of 17” and a maximum of 25”. At least one handwashing station must be placed with 30” of clear space from left to right, although many plumbing codes require 30” between every sink station. Check your local codes to confirm you are within code.

Height and reach are also very important. Manual faucets, soap dispensers, and hand dryers must be activated with a maximum of five pounds of pressure or less, allowing the user to activate them without tight grasping, pinching, or twisting the wrist.

Additionally, the operating components of manual fixtures cannot be higher than 48” from the floor. Sensor-activated fixtures help improve user accessibility and comply with ADA requirements, making them ideal for ADA compliance.

Many sink types are suitable for accessible design, but open-front basin and multilevel sinks stand out as ideal options for accommodating wheelchairs and users of varying heights. When it comes to what is under the sink, the ADA requires exposed water supply and drain pipes under lavatories and sinks to be insulated or otherwise configured to protect against contact. In addition, there should be no sharp or abrasive surfaces under lavatories or sinks. If the retrofitted sink does not have a cover over the plumbing, wrapping the plumbing is a simple step to protect users from potential scalding or other injuries caused by contacting the P-trap under the sink. Incorporating an enclosure or shroud is an alternative to wrapping exposed piping and ensures that pipes are hidden from the user.

Sensor-Operated Accessibility

Sensor-operated innovation is another emerging trend and can enhance hand hygiene. It also supports ADA goals and promotes inclusivity.

Sensor ranges can now be adjusted to multiple distances, which is important for those in wheelchairs. Sensor range is measured in units from one to five, with one being closest to the faucet and five being farthest. The factory default sensor range is three but should be easy to change following the manufacturer’s instructions.

Automatic entryways and stall doors are at the forefront of smart, accessible design. Automatic stall doors save space, are accessible, and increase privacy because there is no gap between stall partitions. Designers no longer have to provide the space for doors to swing open, creating more usable room for occupants and easier accessibility for wheelchair users. The added space is also beneficial for contractors working in the restroom.

When retrofitting existing restrooms for ADA compliance and inclusive design, simple fixes can make a huge difference in a barrier-free commercial restroom’s safety and overall compliance.

For more information, visit www.sloan.com. MCAA thanks Sloan for being a benefactor of MCAA23.

Danforth Turns to Mueller Industries’ Streamline Press Fittings to Meet Hospital Project Demands

A new, state-of-the-art hospital in New York required that John W. Danforth Company use solder connections for mechanical piping and press fittings for the plumbing, so they looked to a trusted and reliable partner, Mueller Streamline Co., a primary subsidiary of Mueller Industries, that could provide both. That decision has paid off with a smooth construction process to date, supported by building information modeling (BIM) technology that ensured accuracy for prefabrication. Mueller Industries, Inc. is a major sponsor of MCAA23.

The Wynn Hospital—owned by Mohawk Valley Health System—in Utica, NY, is one of Danforth’s most significant projects yet in New York. It is a 680,000-square-foot, 10-story facility that combines several different hospitals under one roof.

“It’s a full-service, state-of-the-art hospital that combines just about any service that you would need, healthcare-wise, in one building,” said Richard DeLotto, vice president of operations at Danforth. The Wynn Hospital includes an emergency department, imaging services, behavioral health, and 22 procedural and operating rooms. “It’s a very big project within this area, and we knew it would be a challenge organizing the amount of manpower we needed onsite and getting all the materials we needed in a timely manner,” said DeLotto.

Focusing on big-picture planning and attention to small details is critical for a project of this magnitude, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Though the project faced many obstacles, such as supply shortages and the increased cost of materials, DeLotto’s planning skills ensured his team succeeded on every job.

With full access to Mueller’s CAD library, Danforth uploaded all of the necessary Streamline fittings information into their building database, allowing them to draw with precision accuracy and to precut all of the pipes and within a dimensional tolerance that was nearly perfect in the field.

Danforth has purchased and installed plenty of Mueller materials in the past, but this was the first time it decided to use the company’s Streamline® Press Fittings. “We know Mueller and their leadership position in the industry,” said DeLotto, “and we wanted to standardize things and use a partner that could serve us on both systems, before and after, from both a quality and quantity standpoint.”

Brian Caufield, vice president of Mueller Streamline Company, said, “We value our relationship with Danforth at the highest levels within our company, so when we discussed this project with them, we knew that we needed to perform with a quality product—copper tube, copper solder fittings, and copper press fittings, accessible BIM information, engineering submittals, and timely service. I believe Mueller Streamline’s unique ability to provide a copper piping system—copper tube with various types of copper fitting connections—allowed us to deliver on the metrics required by Danforth for a successful installation on this project.”

A significant key to the project’s success was the continued access to high-quality goods in a tough market, a point that DeLotto stressed. “We’ve had some quality issues with other products in the past for one reason or another,” he explained. “Quality here has been consistent and excellent, and as far as availability goes, it’s been very good in a tough market where it’s difficult to get certain elements of installation materials. Mueller Streamline Co. and its support team worked with our staff and our preferred wholesale distributor to make things as seamless as possible.”

As a company driven by virtual design and construction, Danforth relies on manufacturer information when designing project plans. With full access to Mueller’s CAD library, Danforth uploaded all of the necessary Streamline fittings information into their building database. When it came to drawing the job, all the right fittings and dimensions were already in place, making the transition from virtual design to procurement much more straightforward.

“Working with Mueller made creating bills of materials for procurement very accurate,” said DeLotto. “Once we created those bills, it wasn’t generic. We had all our specific part numbers. We know we’re buying an ID, buying a T, buying the right female adapter.”

As a prefabricator, Danforth depends on accurate dimensions. Sometimes, a team can build a catalog of generic fittings that are close to what is needed in the field. Danforth did not have that option. Having the exact specifications and information directly from the manufacturer reduces the time and labor required to build such a catalog and lessens the risk of parts not lining up correctly.

“We get to draw with precision accuracy, which gives us the confidence to precut all of the pipes and get into a dimensional tolerance that is going to end up being pretty much perfect in the field. And going with Mueller gave us complete consistency on how we drew the job. We count on that as a prefabricator and someone that puts in everything based on the model,” said DeLotto.

The Wynn Hospital is projected to open to the public in mid-2023. Throughout the project, DeLotto has praised the quality, service, and savings that the relationship with Mueller brought. “You get wins on all counts, and we certainly like having an upstream relationship with a manufacturer,” he said. “There’s easy access because our distributors carry Mueller’s Streamline products, and you get the wins on cost, quality, and viability. After how well this has gone, I think there’s a lot of opportunities for us to work together in the future.”

For more information, visit www.muellerindustries.com. MCAA thanks Mueller Industries, Inc. for being a major sponsor of MCAA23.

Great Lakes Plumbing and Heating Company Overcomes Challenges for New Sloan Showroom

Plumbing a new Sloan showroom comes with high expectations, so Great Lakes Plumbing and Heating Company placed a priority on early coordination and constant communication with Sloan and its construction company, Skender, throughout the project. That partnership paid off when the project faced some roadblocks, which Great Lakes Plumbing resolved using Sloan products.

For Sloan’s largest North American showroom, Great Lakes Plumbing was faced with creating a space that would not only spotlight Sloan products on day one, but also adapt to show off those products as the company expands with new innovations. Sloan opened its new flagship showroom and office space in downtown Chicago in May 2022. Showcasing Sloan’s touch-free, sustainable, and aesthetic product offerings across the entire restroom, the space offers visitors an immersive experience in restroom design.

Mark Harmon, vice president, Special Project Division at Great Lakes Plumbing, called the challenge of creating custom displays for Sloan products “a rewarding experience.” Serving the greater Chicago area since 1946, Harmon said it was also an opportunity for Great Lakes Plumbing to collaborate with architectural and construction firms to bring the showroom to life.

As a leader in sustainability and wellness, Sloan wanted its new showroom to mirror that commitment, ensuring the project was LEED Silver and WELL Gold certified. But challenges pertaining to the newly finished yet unoccupied space below Sloan’s 10th floor showroom provided a few roadblocks to meeting the plumbing requirements.

For example, in one instance the drawings called for a fitting to allow for future waste tie-in (or waste future) on the ninth floor that was in a finished space on the floor below. To avoid having to open up these finished ceilings in the space below, Great Lakes Plumbing was able to find another waste stack in the unfinished portion of the space below and cut into the waste stack to run Sloan’s piping.

In another example, the layout for an individual restroom was changed because of a new door location. The new layout had a vertical steel beam in the plumbing wall, so the original plan to use a wall-hung toilet on a carrier would no longer work. Great Lakes Plumbing instead used a Sloan floor-mounted toilet and piped the restroom to the new desired layout.

The new showroom also serves as an office space for Sloan employees. Great Lakes Plumbing and Skender looked at the space as essentially two separate projects, each with its own unique characteristics and properties. The result is an innovative area for Sloan guests and employees alike to enjoy.

“The opening of the new Chicago office is an important component of Sloan’s continuous efforts to retain and attract new talent with state-of-the-art amenities, multiple locations, and flex working policies,” said Kim Darke-Miller, Sloan senior manager of strategic accounts. “With a cutting-edge collaboration center, product showroom, and offices, the Fulton Market District location enables Sloan to offer employees an amazing building and workspace.”

For more information, visit www.sloan.com.

W.D. Manor Partners with Morris Group International to Expand Reach of Dialysis Box – Novel System Cuts Installation Time and Labor Costs

W.D. Manor Mechanical Contractors devised a better, safer dialysis box plumbing system, and now they are partnering with Whitehall Manufacturing, a division of Morris Group International, to manufacture and market the system. The W.D. Manor All-In-One Modular Dialysis Box by Whitehall® (model numbers 8193 and 8194) is easier and faster to install than traditional systems. Banner University Medical Center of Phoenix, AZ, installed the All-In-One Modular Dialysis Boxes in a major expansion project, saving hundreds of hours compared with traditional dialysis systems.

Combating Infections

Healthcare-associated infections are a top concern for hospitals. Patients undergoing dialysis treatment are of particular concern because they have weakened immune systems, so they are at higher risk for infection. They often require frequent hospitalizations and surgery, putting them in an environment where they might acquire an infection. Regrettably, the very tool used for treatment—dialysis—puts patients at risk of infection caused by water-borne pathogens.

Typically, a health care specialist uses a dialysis machine that requires cold, potable water at the unit itself. The process also entails that the wastewater connection is adequate to receive no less than 1.6 gallons per minute.

That machine connects to a dialysis service cabinet, commonly called a dialysis box, containing a hose bib and drain connection. Hidden from view is the backflow preventer and trap primer (required by code) and all the distribution piping that goes from the box up into the ceiling and back to a closet or utility room.

Traditional dialysis box plumbing designs often have long, dead legs of water stagnant in the pipe between the dialysis boxes, potentially traveling hundreds of feet from the utility closet. Certain jurisdictions allow the supply boxes to be linked downstream of one backflow preventer, increasing the risk of cross-contamination between dialysis supply boxes.

W.D. Manor designed a dialysis box plumbing system with the needs of health care facility owners, caregivers, designers, construction teams, and patient safety top of mind. The all-in-one dialysis box system has a point-of-use backflow preventer, eliminating any potential for cross-contamination.

“When you protect the source, you protect the patient,” said Pete DeWitt, vice president and owner of W.D. Manor.

Expanding Reach

While contractors were thrilled with W.D. Manor’s all-in-one system, the company knew it was not reaching as many people as it could. DeWitt explained, “We’re a contractor who became a manufacturer by circumstance, because we had such a great product the customers and contractors wanted. But we didn’t have a sales or marketing team, so engineers and contractors had to find us.

“We need to get the message out to engineers because our product has to be incorporated into the design. This is a specification and design-driven dialysis box,” DeWitt noted. Joining forces with Whitehall Manufacturing, a division of Morris Group International, was just what W.D. Manor needed.

Whitehall Manufacturing President Kristin Kahle said, “Whitehall has been making dialysis boxes for decades, but we sat up and took notice when W.D. Manor released their all-inclusive units. Their boxes were the best dialysis units on the market.” Kahle added, “They are better because they were designed by mechanical contractors with a deep knowledge of their market.”

Not only does the W.D. Manor dialysis box help protect patients by protecting the water source at the point of connection, but it also has significant advantages for the installing plumber or mechanical contractor:

  • Easy to install, reducing installation labor hours and material costs
  • Pre-plumbed for speedy connections
  • Consolidates all the required components in one convenient, self-contained, stainless steel box
  • No need for a designated room to house the backflow preventer
  • Eliminates excess distribution piping and associated hangers in crowded wall and ceiling spaces, making much-needed room for other systems and eliminating unnecessary building information modeling coordination
  • Self-contained unit reduces the number of connections, thus reducing potential mistakes in the process
  • Point-of-use backflow preventer minimizes liability and protects patients when they are most vulnerable

Real-World Results

Recently, Banner University Medical Center planned a 17-story hospital expansion. The project had four levels with 22 patient beds each that included dialysis supply connections in each room. By changing the plumbing design to use the all-in-one dialysis boxes, the medical center eliminated the excess piping and all the labor and material that goes with a conventional plumbing design for dialysis service. The W.D. Manor dialysis box by Whitehall yielded considerable savings to the project by reducing material and labor costs.

“A traditional stick-built system would have required more than 840 labor hours plus additional material at an estimated cost of $128,000 per floor at the time of this project. Instead, we were able to get the job done in just 300 labor hours (a 64% reduction) for $89,000 (a 30% savings),” said DeWitt.

“The hanger installation labor on an overhead system can be 40 to 60 percent of your labor, so our box becomes a big labor saver for the installing contractors,” DeWitt continued. “The W.D. Manor box system is a plug-and-play unit. You take it out of the box, mount the unit to the framing, you make one connection on the supply and one connection on the drain, and you walk away.”

By selecting the W.D. Manor All-In-One Modular Dialysis Box by Whitehall (Model No. 8193) for a major expansion project, Banner University Medical Center saved hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars in labor costs.

Creative Applications

The partnership with Whitehall Manufacturing gives W.D. Manor the marketing expertise they need to get their box into more hands and the precision manufacturing power to ensure the boxes are built to last and perform exceptionally well. DeWitt noted, “Whitehall brings with them their relationships with health care organizations and the health care design community.”

Kahle is satisfied with how well the partnership is working. “Word is getting out, and engineers are embracing the box. Of course, engineers being engineers, they’ve impressed us with their creative problem solving and uncovering other ingenious uses for the dialysis box in situations where cross-contamination could be a problem.”

Engineers have added the W.D. Manor box system to a surgical waste management system for operating rooms, sterilizer hook-ups, laboratory spaces, and birthing tubs. They are also finding creative uses outside of health care applications, such as using them with ice machines and soda fountains.

With 28 divisions spanning commercial construction markets from health care to correctional to fire safety, Morris Group International has a broad range of skills, expertise, and capabilities to help mechanical engineers do their jobs effectively and efficiently. They also recognize an exceptional product when they see one.

“We are a company that grows. We grow by enhancing our brands. We drive our business with new products, engineering, and uniqueness. If there are no new products, we suffer in the future,” said Donald E. Morris, CEO of Morris Group International.

For more information, visit www.morrisgroup.co/home.

 

The most comprehensive study to date from the U.S. Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention (CDC) found an estimated 687,000 healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in U.S. acute care hospitals in 2015 (https://www.cdc.gov/hai/data/portal/index.html). Furthermore, 72,000 hospital patients with HAIs died during their hospitalizations. Since then, CDC has been tracking specific types of infections. While the overall HAI numbers have gone down quite significantly in certain categories, infection remains the second leading cause of death among hemodialysis patients.

Har-Con Saves Time and Materials With MIFAB’s Quick Hub Couplings

Since the beginning of 2022, Har-Con has played a crucial part in a school expansion project, using MIFAB’s Quick Hub couplings and fixture carriers to stay on track. “The quick coupling is a great product that has saved Har-Con time and money through material cost and labor savings,” said Travis Welch, Har-Con project estimator.

“The [MIFAB] quick coupling is a great product that has saved Har-Con time and money through material cost and labor savings.”

—Travis Welch, Project Estimator, Har-Con

The 30,000-square-foot expansion at Legacy Preparatory Christian Academy will house 21 new classrooms to accommodate the recent growth of the school in The Woodlands, just outside of Houston, TX. The project will continue through the rest of 2022. The expansion will allow the Academy to lift restrictions on enrollment and will provide ample space for learning and classroom activities.

While contractors have struggled with supply chain issues across the nation, MIFAB has over a million couplings stocked in their Chicago warehouse, ready for deployment. In contrast to traditional couplings, MIFAB’s Quick Hub couplings do not require the separation of the gasket and seal, so they can simply be placed on the pipe for installation.

Some contractors are skeptical that Quick Hub couplings will not work the same as traditional couplings, but Har-Con did not find that to be the case. “This is a highly recommended product, and it was much quicker than the traditional method,” said Welch.

The couplings come in both regular and heavy duty and in diameters up to 15” for the heavy duty version. Har-Con used both on the school expansion progress. They found that MIFAB’s heavy duty couplings were less expensive than competitors’ versions and could be installed in half the time as traditional couplings. Har-Con appreciated that Quick Hub couplings are industry-certified by the IAPMO, UPC, and the National Sanitation Foundation.

To complement the Quick Hub couplings, Har-Con used MIFAB’s fixture carriers. MIFAB makes installation easier by shipping the hardware in two separate packs—one for the rough-in and one for the finished trim—to prevent the potential for misplacing hardware over the course of an installation. In addition, the bolts of legs on the carriers connect directly to the faceplate from the front and come with built-in washer designs, which also saved Har-Con installation time.

For more information, visit www.mifab.com.

AMS Mechanical Counts on Sloan to Keep Installation Timeline on Track

Chicago’s Lakefront Treasure Specifies Sloan

AMS Mechanical Contractors relied on Sloan products for a new Welcome Pavilion on Chicago’s Navy Pier because “Sloan’s products definitely saved us time on installation,” said John Brassfield of AMS, the project’s site foreman. “A lot of them come assembled, and it’s very cut and dry as far as the installation. We definitely save on labor costs,” said Brassfield.

Welcome to Navy Pier

Navy Pier is one of the most visited leisure and cultural destinations in the world and is Chicago’s lakefront treasure. With parks, restaurants, exhibits, and more—all situated on the shore of Lake Michigan—it is a very popular tourist attraction.

Navy Pier opened its People’s Energy Welcome Pavilion in 2017, designed to greet people coming to enjoy the Pier’s numerous amenities. For the more than nine million guests that visit the Pier annually, the Welcome Pavilion must make a good first impression on visitors and set the tone for the rest of their experience. For the Welcome Center, AMS installed Sloan products that deliver an elegant aesthetic along with the durability to stand up to millions of users each year. “There really isn’t any failure rate, either, so that’s why we continue to use Sloan products,” said Brassfield.

AMS saves money and time by specifying durable, efficient Sloan products. “There really isn’t any failure rate,” said AMS’ John Brassfield.

Windy City Water Savings

The Pier also needed products that would match its commitment to sustainability. Along with the facility’s energy-saving green roof and LED lighting, Sloan’s products help make the building over 20 percent more efficient than traditional structures. With Lake Michigan in its backyard, the Pier strives to protect and conserve water and the life around it. The Navy Pier wanted water-saving flushometers that would contribute to its sustainability efforts in maximizing the guest experience while minimizing the environmental impact. Sloan SU-7009 Small Washdown Urinals were paired with Sloan Royal® Sensor Flushometers (Royal 186 SFSM) to deliver an efficient 0.125 gallons per flush (gpf). For AMS, Sloan was the preferred solution because of their touchless, sustainable products, as well as the products’ versatility.

Additionally, Sloan ST-2459 Elongated Wall-Mounted Water Closets were installed with Sloan Royal 111 SFSM Sensor Flushometers. With a static load rating of 750 pounds, the water closets can withstand the Welcome Center’s high traffic, while the flushometers’ 1.28 gpf contributes to water savings across the facility.

Lakefront Lavatories

The Pier paired Sloan DSG Designer Series™ sinks with its BASYS® EFX800 wall-mounted faucets for an aesthetically pleasing, sustainable handwashing experience. Featuring a Silestone Spa Suede finish, the ADA-compliant sinks complement the faucets’ sleek polished chrome. The faucets’ infrared sensors allow for hygienic, touch-free handwashing, with a flow rate of just 1.5 gallons per minute and a line purge feature to eliminate stagnant water.

“Sloan’s products do an excellent job of inviting guests to the Welcome Pavilion with an elegant aesthetic that they can expect throughout Navy Pier,” said Harry Smyrniotes, Navy Pier brand activations and marketing associate. “Not only that, but they match our unwavering commitment to sustainability,” he noted.

For more information, visit www.sloan.com.

10 1/2 Tips to Properly Specify Your Trench Drainage System

Learn from Jay R. Smith Mfg. Co.’s Years of Experience

With years of manufacturing all types of trench drain under their belts, engineers at Jay R. Smith Mfg. Co.® have come up with a list of 10 tips—and a bit extra—to assist you in specifying a trench drain system. By applying the following tips during design, you will avoid situations that might cause headaches both during and after installation.

1. Identify the anticipated traffic traveling over the trench drain. Areas such as an airport runway will have significantly higher load requirements than areas devoted to pedestrian traffic and, therefore, require different materials. That much is obvious, but you also want to consider the direction a vehicle will be approaching the trench drain and the speed that traffic will be moving when it drives over the trench. Forklifts running parallel to the drain versus perpendicular are going to cause very different wear and tear on the drain, as will tractor trailers slowly backing up to a loading dock versus those speeding over the trench at 50 mph.

Bonus Tip: Even pedestrian traffic has its own set of considerations—footwear. If you are specifying trench drains for shopping centers, office plazas, or similar locations where people might be sporting pointy heels, consider “heel-proof” grates.

2. Calculate the length and width of the catchment area. Calculating the catchment area seems pretty straightforward, but sometimes the catchment area can be deceiving.Say you have a parking lot that is 200′ by 400′. That is a simple calculation: 800 square feet. However, what if that parking lot is sitting next to a warehouse (200′ by 600′), and the rainwater runoff from the roof goes directly onto the parking lot? In this case, your catchment area is actually the combined measurements of both the parking lot and the warehouse roof.

3. Consider site restrictions and utilities. Be sure to consult as-built drawings when calculating trench drain for installation in and around existing buildings. Certain obstructions, such as shallow utilities, can often be relocated and will not have any effect on your system design. Even when relocating utilities is not an option, a shallower, wider trench will often be able to handle the same amount of fluids.

4. Identify the outlet position and source and flow rate of the liquid to be drained. If all you are dealing with is rainwater runoff, you can find your installation area’s rainfall intensity charts very easily online. Be sure to check rates for 20-, 50-, and 100-year storms—keeping in mind that 100-year storms, despite the moniker, can happen more frequently than once a century. Indoor situations often have more factors to consider. For example, what if you were working with a dairy that uses several 2,600-gallon bulk tanks? You will need to find out what the flow rate is when the valves on the tank are opened. You also need to consider not just what those tanks are for—meaning the liquid being stored—but you also want to know how they are being cleaned. For example, brewery tanks hold beer, and they are often cleaned with caustic, which leads to Tip 5.

5. Determine the concentration of the chemicals to which the system may be exposed. Whenever chemicals are involved, you need to know the precise chemical, the concentration of the chemical, the temperature of the affluent, and how long the drain will be exposed to the compound. For example, you might be designing a trench system to be built around an area where there could be battery acid leaking onto the floor. You will want to know whether that acid will sit in the drain for only a couple hours before it is flushed out or sitting all weekend or even for weeks. That information is going to affect the desired material of the trench you specify (more on that in Tip 8).

6. Determine runoff surface flow characteristics. Liquid runs at different speeds across concrete, asphalt, and pavers because of their surface characteristics. The smoother the surface, the faster the fluid will flow. However, that is not the only variable you need to know. You also want to consider how steep or shallow the approach slope is, as well as the length of that slope.

7. Determine the number, size, and positions of outlets to the drainage system. The size and position of the outlets determine the efficiency of the drain, and that information is usually taken into consideration by the design engineer. However, if you are simply replacing or installing a trench as part of a smaller renovation, you need to know the size of the outlet into which the channel is directing the flow. A 4″ outlet at the end of the trench could restrict the flow, whereas dropping fluid directly into a catch basin would not.

8. Match the trench drain material with the application. Trench drains are typically made of cast iron, polypropylene, stainless steel, polymer concrete, and fiberglass. Stainless steel trench drains have the best chemical resistance, but you should also look for one that is manufactured with radius-rounded edges, so contaminants cannot get a foothold and grow. That chemical and contamination resistance and the fact that stainless steel can stand up to boiling water make it perfect for kitchens, dairies, and breweries. If you have steel-wheeled pallet jacks, solid tire fork lifts, or track vehicles such as tanks or heavy construction equipment rolling over your trench, polymer concrete is probably the material of choice. However, if you are looking for an excellent general-purpose trench drain with optimal flow characteristics, chemical resistance, and a low price point, consider polypropylene.

Polypropylene Zip Trench with an extra-heavy-duty frame and grate is appropriate for busy loading dock traffic.


A Polymer Concrete Trench Drain System is appropriate for extra-heavy-duty hard wheel traffic applications.

9. Specify trench drains appropriate to the area. Whether the area you are draining is vast or just complicated, break it down into manageable areas, because insufficient drainage will cause pooling and possibly flooding. If standing water could be an issue—for example, in cold climates where ice could cause someone to fall—work with the manufacturer to find the best solution.

10. Have a preinstallation discussion with your trench drain manufacturer. Before you even discuss plans for how you intend to install the product, consult with your manufacturer on recommended installation techniques. Not having this talk is at the root of most problems MCAA contractors experience. You will end up saving time, money, labor, and quite possibly your back if you do. Manufacturers can even give you recommendations on how to make the job more bearable on a 90-degree day.

10 1/2. Take advantage of your manufacturer’s resources. Whether it’s resources on the website or technical engineers walking you through everything from specification to installation, be sure to take advantage of what is available from the manufacturer. It is a whole lot smarter and cheaper to use those resources at the very beginning of a project, instead of once the product is already in the ground. If you have questions about the load, hydraulics, or any unusual situations, a manufacturer will be happy to provide assistance and direction.

For more information, visit www.jrsmith.com.

Notre Dame Scores with State-of-the-Art SLOAN Products

The University of Notre Dame and SLOAN have a 113-year-long relationship, so the university chose SLOAN products as the basis of design for the expansion and renovation of their athletic complex. As a result, Notre Dame is conserving water, saving money, improving hygiene, and paving the way for easy maintenance in the long term.

Upgrading an Icon

One of the most iconic sporting venues in collegiate athletics, Notre Dame Stadium is not only at the center of Notre Dame’s campus in Indiana, but also the center of the college football universe. Starting in 2014, the university began a 4-year campaign to transform the 88-year-old athletic complex and its surrounding areas into a year-round epicenter for academic and student life.

The result was the Campus Crossroads Project (CCP), the largest building initiative in the school’s illustrious history. It was designed to place Notre Dame Stadium at the intersection of research and student life while also serving as an event and hospitality space. A total of 2,105 SLOAN products were specified as part of the CCP, including water closets, urinals, Royal® and ECOS® flushometers, BASYS® and Optima® faucets, and soap dispensers in both new construction and renovations.

“The Campus Crossroads Project was a historic endeavor for the University,” said Mark Hummel, the university’s assistant director of utilities. “We’re thankful that SLOAN was a part of it and excited about its presence in so many of the exciting new facilities on campus.”

Efficient, Hygienic Solutions

SLOAN’s Optima sensor faucets (EAF-100 LT ISM) provided water-efficient and hygienic solutions for the majority of the CCP installations. SLOAN’s BASYS (EFX-200) faucets were specified for the remainder of the CCP projects, installed in buildings such as McCourtney Hall, Jenkins/Nanovic Hall, and parts of the stadium. The BASYS faucets have a water flow rate of 0.5 gallons per minute and sensor-based, touch-free operation. These faucets also allowed for above-deck access for maintenance and adjustments. In addition, they have customized, engraved crowns sporting the Notre Dame logo. SLOAN’s ESD-300 soap dispensers were installed throughout the stadium.

SLOAN Royal (186-0.125 ESS TMO) sensor urinal flushometers and SU-1009 urinals were installed across each phase of the CCP, delivering water savings and hygienic benefits to the Duncan Student Center, Notre Dame’s music department in O’Neill Hall, and more. The sensor-activated urinal flushometer only uses one eighth of a gallon of water per flush (gpf) and limits false flushes with an eight-second arming time, which together reduce maintenance and operation costs. This type of durability and water conservation are especially critical in high-traffic facilities like the Student Center and the Smith Center for Recreational Sports.

ECOS Dual-Flush Sensor-Activated Flushometers were specified for the third and final phase of the CCP—the renovation of Notre Dame Stadium. Matched with SLOAN’s ST-2459 (wall-hung) and ST-2029 (floor-mounted) water closets, the ECOS 8111 automatically provides 81,000 Fighting Irish fans a full flush (1.6 gpf) or a reduced flush (1.1 gpf), based on the time spent in sensor range, to reduce water use by up to 30 percent.

Notre Dame was challenged to keep its vitreous china water closets and urinals clean due to high traffic and the use of well water. SLOAN provided its unique and proprietary SloanTec® Hydrophobic Glaze on all of the fixtures. SloanTec uses nanotechnology to create a liquid-repelling surface that is seven times more effective than other glazes, making it easier to clean—and to keep clean longer. It also eliminated rust stains that had previously been difficult for the Notre Dame janitorial staff to clean.

For more information, visit www.sloan.com. MCAA thanks SLOAN for being a benefactor of MCAA19 and sponsoring Awards of Excellence Speaker Theo Epstein.

Muir-Chase Saves Caltech Gallons with High-Efficiency Zurn Urinals

Since Muir-Chase Plumbing installed Zurn Retrofit Pint urinal systems in every bathroom across campus, Caltech is saving 6,056,130 gallons of water and $42,393 per year. Californians know the value of every drop of water, and the world-renowned science and engineering institute in Pasadena recognizes the importance of being a responsible steward of water resources.

Caltech’s plumbing shop regularly retrofits its water systems, from cooling towers to plumbing fixtures. But even with its own in-house experts, Caltech needed more bandwidth to make a campus-wide upgrade happen. Fortunately, opportunity and timing aligned.

The City of Pasadena Water & Power (PWP) approached Caltech about its water conservation programs. Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, regional water supply wholesaler, teamed up with PWP to offer water-saving services and valuable rebate incentives. The water conservation team visited
Caltech’s impressive 124-acre campus.

With oversight from the institute’s plumbing experts, the team completed the efficiency studies and offered water-saving options, along with the calculated
project costs after rebate and the return from future savings.

Caltech decided to retrofit its restroom urinals campus-wide. It would take time and resources, but the program rebate offset some of the project costs, providing a faster payback. The project also benefitted the institute and surrounding communities. Every flush uses gallons of water—a shared, limited resource in
California.

“We completed smaller urinal retrofit projects consistently over the past several years, but we needed to really move the meter with regard to water consumption,” said John Onderdonk, director of sustainability programs at Caltech. “The program fit our initiative and wouldn’t have been possible without collaborative effort by the whole project team.”

Zurn’s highly efficient urinals optimize flow by using more power with less water. Today, Caltech’s upgraded urinals consume 87-percent less water than traditional urinals that use 1 gallon per flush, exceeding the 30-percent threshold set by LEED for green buildings. Caltech is already looking into future project investments, such as low-flow faucets and toilets.

For more information, visit www.zurn.com.

Jay R. Smith Mfg. Co. and Pan-Pacific/Murray Company Team Up for New LA Stadium

Close coordination with Jay R. Smith Mfg. Co. is helping the mechanical design assist subcontractor Pan-Pacific/Murray Company (PPMC) tackle a tough job: building the NFL’s most massive stadium complex. At 3.1 million square feet, the Los Angeles Stadium and Entertainment District at Hollywood Park will house not just a 70,000-seat stadium but also a hotel, offices, retail spaces, residences, and restaurants.

Pan-Pacific Senior Project Manager Carl Wisdom and Purchasing Agent Andrew Glendinning will tell you that what particularly stands out in a job of this scale is the sheer volume of the plumbing involved—despite all their experience working on substantial projects.

Given that extraordinary volume, you want to do as much prefabrication work as possible, and that takes precise coordination and collaboration between all parties involved, from the supplier to the contractor, as well as other trades working on the project. The demand for coordination can be seen with something as standard as the installation of drains needed to remove water from the stadium’s seating area risers.

Team Work

The stadium seating area of the arena was precast in concrete. Structural precast risers and tubs (the front row of each deck) were cast offsite in sections that stretched up to 45’ in length and weigh in at about 30 tons each. Then they were shipped to the stadium for installation.

Jay R. Smith Mfg. Co. scupper drains (1520T-G-U-SSM) were located in the tubs to remove water and debris running through the stadium during wash downs and weather events. The drains would eventually be installed in forms used to cast the concrete. However, they first needed to be prepped and protected for the pour.

Jay R. Smith Mfg. Co. scupper drains (1520T-G-U-SSM) were integrated into the forms used to cast the concrete stadium seating sections. Smith and PPMC worked together to speed up the preparation for the precast, so that after the sections were installed, PPMC could quickly make connections and install the grate onto the drains.

To help speed up this process, Jay R. Smith Mfg. Co. removed the finished grate and added protection by covering the drain opening with fiberboard, then adding layers of tape to bring it flush with the precast. To ensure Smith understood the magnitude of what was coming their way (259 scupper drains) and to allow time to prep the drains as required, PPMC ordered the drains far in advance.

The prepped drains were then delivered to PPMC, which added the specified nipple for the waste portion of the pipe and protected the threads from concrete using a foam gasket. Once all the preparation work was complete, PPMC shipped the scupper drains for the pour. After installation of each section at the stadium, all PPMC needed to do was go in, make their connection, and install the grate onto the drains.

Coordinating on a Game Plan

The carriers, however, were a different story. To put things into perspective, the project has more than 2,700 lavatories, urinals, and toilets throughout the stadium, and each fixture required a carrier. Wisdom said PPMC elected not to preorder the carriers, as there was a good chance they would run into trouble nailing down the number of right, left, and back-to-back connections needed. If anything changed in the plans, they would then have to go back to Smith and revise the order.

It seemed like a good call at the time, but Wisdom said that decision led to a deficit of carriers when they were needed. While Smith knew precisely which types of carriers they would need to manufacture for the project, they also had to fight against the clock to complete the order. To add to that slow start out of the gate, Smith had to modify 75 percent of the carriers to fit the low-profile, floor-mounted back outlet water closets installed throughout the stadium.

To help PPMC meet their goals and avoid further delay, Smith preassembled every carrier by attaching the barrel, faceplate, and nipple before shipping. This way, once PPMC had the preassembled pieces, they could immediately start prefabricating each battery of lavatories, urinals, and water closets.

“Smith is jumping through hoops to get them to us on time,” said Glendinning.

Smith engineers said that PPMC would be the last customer to need modifications on the carriers to accommodate similar low-profile water closets that are appearing more and more on job specifications. Creating high-quality, contractor-
friendly products that help make a job go smoother and faster is a high priority for Smith. To that end, what were considered modified carriers for this job are now available as standard figures in the Smith catalog.

Marching Toward the End Zone

Ground was broken on the new stadium in 2015, and it is expected to be finished by 2020. Once it is complete, it will be the world’s most expensive stadium, coming in at just under $5 billion. The Los Angeles Stadium and Entertainment District at Hollywood Park will be the home of the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers and Los Angeles Rams. It will also host Super Bowl LVI in February 2022, the College Football National Championship game in 2023, and the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2028 Olympic Games.

In addition to the stadium, the district will include the new NFL Media headquarters; a 6,000-seat performing arts venue; 780,000 square feet of office space; 890,000 square feet of retail space; 300 hotel rooms; 2,500 modern residences; 25 acres of public parks, open space, pedestrian walkways, and bicycle paths; and family and fine dining.

For more information, visit www.jrsmith.com.

Advance Mechanical Brings Big League Bathrooms to Wrigley Field

Sloan Products Increase Hygiene, Efficiency

Restoring Wrigley Field was an opportunity for Advance Mechanical to install sleek Sloan products that allow fans to experience an efficient, hygienic trip to the restroom and get back to their seats to enjoy the game. Sloan was named the official Water Efficiency Partner for the Chicago Cubs baseball team in 2015.

The legendary ballpark is undergoing extensive restoration, known as the 1060 Project, that began in 2015 and continues through 2018. It was outfitted with faucets, flushometers, and other Sloan products in all of the restrooms. The restrooms are designed for high-traffic use on game day to provide Cubs fans with a hygiene-friendly experience across all restroom fixtures. The largest public restroom in Wrigley Field is located 50 yards from the main entrance on the third base line.

The large restroom has two identical rooms with a corridor of Sloan products, built to funnel high volumes of people. Fans will appreciate the increased hygiene offered by concealed flushometers on Sloan’s hybrid urinals.

Everything in the ballpark’s restrooms is sensor-activated and operated hands-free, perfect for hygienic use by thousands of Cubs fans. Recognizing that the emphasis placed on hygiene and hands-free operation is bigger than ever, both flushometers and faucets utilize sensors to limit the spread of germs in the iconic ballpark’s high-traffic restroom.

The bathrooms feature Sloan’s innovative BASYS® faucet and soap dispenser line, which provide hands-free operation ideal for high-traffic restrooms. The sleek and modern faucet is both durable and versatile enough to meet the demands of Wrigley Field’s busy restroom.

Cubs Manager Tom Ricketts said, “Teaming up with Sloan is an important move for the Chicago Cubs. Sloan brings more than a century of experience and success in creating cutting-edge water solutions for a wide variety of venues all around the world. We are pleased to work with and learn from Sloan as we enhance our facilities and build for the future.”

For more information, visit www.sloan.com. MCAA thanks Sloan Valve Company for being a benefactor of MCAA18 and sponsoring the Tuesday Luncheon featuring Mark Gungor.

See the faucets and Sloan’s partnership with the Chicago Cubs in action!

Easy Installation, Reliable Service Lead Cannistraro to Name Jay R. Smith Mfg. Co. as Supplier of Choice

When Cannistraro, Boston’s largest mechanical contractor, needed a drain system for their own new fabrication and manufacturing facility, they turned to Jay R. Smith Mfg. Co.® for a solution that was delivered on a just-in-time basis to avoid the need for storage and was easy to install quickly. The level of service Smith provided cemented Cannistraro’s decision to name Smith their supplier of choice.

Building for Efficiency

Cannistraro is renovating an industrial Art Deco-style building at 25 Fid Kennedy Avenue in Boston’s Seaport District. It was built in 1940 by the U.S. Navy as a multi-trade, heavy machine shop. The renovations are preserving the legacy of the architecture and its original utilitarian use. The new 157,000-square-foot building will be Cannistraro’s manufacturing facility for plumbing, HVAC piping, fire protection, and sheet metal trades.

Courtney Carroll, a project manager for Cannistraro’s Plumbing Group, said they do a great deal of fabrication. “We fabricate as much of our work as we can. It makes the field more efficient, and it’s safer working at a table level height rather than onsite, where we’re sometimes working in precarious positions.”

This new facility will replace three separate shops spread out over the Boston area. Not only will each trade have its own state-of-the-art space in the single location, but there will also be collaborative space for multi-trade modular assemblies.

The extra space will also allow Cannistraro to utilize flex space within the facility for innovative modular projects in collaboration with other industry partners. “This space is not just about mechanical, plumbing, and fire protection fabrication; we have an opportunity to give back to a city that has helped build us as much as we have built it. We are dedicated to employing Boston residents and growing the community workforce,” said Joseph Mierzejewski, vice president of plumbing at Cannistraro.

“Our clients used to have to rent out space for this purpose. Now they can all come to our Collaboration Space,” said Carroll. “It’s more efficient to send fabrication from all of our trades from one site on one truck.”

A worker begins installation of a Smith Enviro-Flo® II Trench Drain System
A worker begins installation of a Smith Enviro-Flo® II Trench Drain System in the facility that will be Cannistraro’s manufacturing facility for plumbing, HVAC piping, fire protection, and sheet metal trades. Cannistraro was so impressed by Smith products and services that they named Smith their supplier of choice.

Smith Drains Speed Installation

The new building required about 250’ of trench drains in total, and the longest single span was 120’. Smith supplied the Enviro-Flo® II Trench Drain System. Each section included a flow arrow and was numbered sequentially to match the drawings, which made for a smooth and efficient installation. The system was crated and shipped in batches to arrive in time for each of the four scheduled pours.

“It was nice to phase it onto the site,” said Carroll. “Often, things get damaged, misplaced, or just get in the way. Storing 120’ of trench would cost money just to move it around. Shipping it right when it’s needed for the install saves on shifting it around the facility.”

One of the features of the Enviro-Flo II that Carroll found beneficial was the removable factory insert board constructed from post-industrial recycled material that functions as a stabilizer and debris guard. She said, “Having
the insert board slide in to keep [the drain] as straight as possible is a great
feature, especially on 120’ of drain, and it protects it from the pour.”

The entire installation was done with one-meter (3.28’) sections. Typically, in situations like this, Smith would prefabricate the system in 10’ sections for the customer. However, because changes to the drawings bumped up against the pour timeline, Cannistraro decided to go with the one-meter sections instead of waiting on the prefabricated pieces.

Despite working with the shorter lengths and a system that was new to the installation team, Cannistraro was able to install 120’ of Enviro-Flo® II trench in just one working day.

Watch a short, time-lapse video of the Cannistraro crew installing the system as well as real-time, step-by-step installation of one section.

Building Relationships

As part of its business strategy, Cannistraro selects “vendor partners” with whom they can build a relationship. Smith had made the short list, and they invited the  Cannistraro team to Montgomery, AL, to get to know the people they would be working with and tour Smith’s manufacturing facility.

Mierzejewski was part of that visit, and he was impressed with the culture and family feel of Smith. “Cannistraro is not a small company but still retains the important family values and culture that started when the company was founded by John Cannistraro, Sr. We definitely appreciated that alignment of cultures as well as the Smith product,” he said. Another point that stood out to Cannistraro was the longevity, friendliness, and happiness of the people who work at Smith. It is not unusual to meet someone who has been working at Smith for over 20 years or even come across a second- or third-generation employee. In fact, almost half of the Smith employees have been with the company for 20 years or more, and 32 percent of that group has been with Smith for over 38 years.

Mierzejewski’s impressions do not come as a surprise to the employees at Smith. Al Mills, a senior engineer at Smith, said, “I think this industry is more conducive to relationships. We are all customer-driven. We like what we do, and everything we do is for the customer.”

Smith’s vice president of engineering, Jerry McDanal, added, “We work as a team, and we have each other’s backs. People get along, and they enjoy working with one another. Many of us have worked together for many years. When I look around, I see a lot of people smiling. I see people wanting to help each other. We are a family.”

As much as anyone wants to partner with and work with helpful, friendly people, that is not enough to merit being named a supplier of choice. Cannistraro was looking to build a relationship, and service was an essential part of their selection process.

“From a technical side, [Smith] has been great since we’ve committed to them. People are always available, quick to get back to us, and quick to help us out. They keep us out of trouble, which is something we try to do with our clients. We need vendor partners that share that same commitment with us. Between Smith and our local vendors, we’re confident in the team that has been built” said Mierzejewski.

For more information, visit www.jrsmith.com. MCAA thanks Jay R. Smith Mfg. Co.® for being a supporter of MCAA18 and supplying badges and lanyards.

Jay R. Smith Crafts Speedy Solution for J.W. McClenahan’s Drainage Dilemma

Faced with new, more stringent building requirements mid-project, J.W. McClenahan Co. got a boost from the engineers at Jay R. Smith Mfg. Co.,® who rapidly designed new trench drains and had them verified by a third party to satisfy city inspectors—all in just four months.

McClenahan is the design/build plumbing contractor on the Transbay Block 8 mixed-use development project, located just two blocks from the Transbay Transit Center in San Francisco, CA. While San Francisco’s building code stipulates placement of a trench drain that can accommodate a 100-gallons-per-minute (gpm) flow of the automatic fire sprinklers in remote areas outside the fire service access elevator lobbies, the city has become more stringent in evaluating drains. McClenahan learned that city building inspectors and the fire marshal were now requiring full documentation for the drains at Transbay Block 8. (Elevator lobby trench drains prevent water from infiltrating the shaft enclosure and keep the elevator lobby area free of water to allow firefighters to do their jobs safely.)

Smith had a standard drain available that met the requirements, but the architects for Block 8 specified lengths that were not yet available anywhere. Rick Kelly, a superintendent at McClenahan, said that one of the problems was that the architects had included different-size door openings into the elevator lobbies.

The other issue encountered was the depth of the trench drain due to structural restraints. McClenahan wanted to put the outlets at the ends of the drain instead of the center, which would affect the flow rate.

McClenahan had two choices. Go back to the architects and have them revise the design to specify the lengths and depths available or find a manufacturer who could come up with a solution that satisfied the design and met the code at the lengths required. McClenahan approached Smith, where engineers got to work right away to design drains that would accommodate the lengths required and the 1 3/4” drain for the shallow application.

McClenahan prepared the customized trench drains from Jay R. Smith in their prefabrication shop. The drains helped them stay on track when unexpected building requirements required a quick pivot.

Smith engineers created and tested lengths from 42” to 123” with outlets in three different positions to ensure water would not overflow the threshold drain and spill into the elevator lobby and hoistway. To meet the San Francisco Fire Department’s requirements, the drains were promptly sent out for third-party testing and verification. The whole process, including the much-needed third-party certification, took less than four months. With that certification in hand, McClenahan had proof of the efficacy of the drains that the city inspectors and fire marshal needed.

While McClenahan’s main concern was that the drains met the required flow rate, the architects were also concerned with the aesthetics. Fortunately, the Smith low-profile threshold drains lived up to those demands as well. The drains use 1/4” grate spacing, which complies with ADA requirements, and they are heel-proof to help prevent falls and injuries.

McClenahan’s Kelly confirmed that Smith was the right choice for the job. “We received the [stainless steel threshold drains] on time, and they are easy to work with,” he said. Transbay Block 8 includes a 56-story residential tower will have 118 condominiums, 279 luxury apartments, and 70 below-market-rate apartments. The ground floor will feature 17,000 square feet of retail space set around an open public paseo. The project is scheduled to be completed in March of 2020.

For more information, visit www.jrsmith.com.

Pan-Pacific Mechanical Combines Expertise with Jay R. Smith Mfg. Co. Flexibility to Meet Challenges

With customized solutions from Jay R. Smith Mfg. Co., Pan-Pacific Mechanical (PPM) sidestepped the challenges of the California Building Code and met their client’s demand for a visually pleasing building. PPM has the expertise to engineer creative and efficient processes, an inherent understanding of the importance of aesthetic details, and the ability to come up with the best solutions to any request. Jay R. Smith’s willingness to provide products that adapt to PPM’s custom approach ensured that construction of the new Kaiser Permanente San Diego Regional Medical Center (KPSD) went off without a hitch.

A Better, Faster, Safer Way

Chris Young, a project manager for PPM, explained that they have had challenges on past projects stemming from the California Building Code regarding anchor design for “cracked concrete” and the complexity of working with post tension (PT) decks. PPM decided that challenge needed a better solution—and it needed one before they started installing more than 1,000 lavatories and sinks on the KPSD project.

PPM likes the flexibility and ease of working with the Jay R. Smith’s Labor Saver® lavatory supports. However some situations require a more customized approach. PPM was unable to put all four Hilti TZ bolts into the support legs of the Labor Saver supports because that would breach minimum TZ spacing requirements. While Smith will supply the contractor with a letter confirming the acceptability of using just two anchor bolts in each support leg, not all inspectors are satisfied with that confirmation.

In addition, while you can scan the deck to identify where a PT cable is, you do not have a lot of flexibility as to where the posts can go. You often have to install a subframe to move the bolts off the PT cable.

As an alternative, PPM designed a custom lav plate using 1/4″ flat stock steel with an angle iron welded to the plate. That plate is then affixed directly onto the studs, eliminating the need for a floor-mounted frame. Smith 0723 concealed arms, which come with a bulkhead adapter, are then attached to the plate.

“We use the Smith products because they are applicable in so many different situations. They [Smith] are willing to work in conjunction with us when a custom approach makes the most sense,” said Young.

Not only does that plate eliminate many of the problems relating to the concrete deck, but it also can prevent a lot of headaches post installation. The Americans with Disabilities Act requirements demand sinks be a minimum of 18″ dead-center from a wall. If an extra 1/8″ or 1/4″ too much mud is applied when tiling over drywall, the contractor will have to open up the wall and re-drill the frame.

PPM’s plate eliminates that headache because it builds in 1/2″ of left/ right flexibility. PPM can make any adjustments that are needed outside the wall, saving a significant amount of time and money.

PPM designed—and Jay R. Smith fabricated—a custom lavatory plate that builds in 1/2” of left/right flexibility so PPM can make any adjustments outside the wall, saving a significant amount of time and money. This custom solution is an example of the partnership between the two companies that contributed to successful construction of the new Kaiser Permanente San Diego Regional Medical Center.
PPM designed—and Jay R. Smith fabricated—a custom lavatory plate that builds in 1/2” of left/right flexibility so PPM can make any adjustments outside the wall, saving a significant amount of time and money. This custom solution is an example of the partnership between the two companies that contributed to successful construction of the new Kaiser Permanente San Diego Regional Medical Center.

Experience Breeds Expertise

Kaiser was adamant that the main entry of the new hospital be as aesthetically pleasing as possible. Early in the project, it became apparent that penetrations in the envelope of the building for overflow drains were causing a great deal of concern. Kaiser felt the standard cow tongues were not consistent with the face of the building. On top of that, the large openings could eventually be a place people would stuff with garbage or debris.

The only alternative apparent to almost everyone was to route the overflow drains to the other side of the building. However, this solution would cost an exorbitant amount of money and consume valuable space in the already-congested overhead space of the hospital.

PPM was familiar with this type of request and therefore was able to suggest a much better solution. A couple years ago, they had a similar issue when working on the Camp Pendleton Naval Hospital. At Camp Pendleton, the concern was that someone could potentially insert an explosive device into overflow drains at the ground level of the building.

At that time, PPM asked Smith to come up with a locking cover for the ground level overflow drains. The result was a downspout nozzle with a perforated latching stainless steel hinge cover that could be locked securely and sits flush with the building. Those covers are now a standard Smith product. (See Smart Solutions, Summer 2015, for more details.)

“We showed the covers to Kaiser, and they were very happy with our solution,” said Young.

Success Is In the Details

It is not unusual to come across a surprise or two as you are completing a big project, and the KPSD project was not immune to those surprises. Quick thinking on the part of the contractor and fast shipping on the part of the supplier can turn a potential disaster (or, at the very least, an embarrassment) into the perfect solution that keeps the project on schedule.

“We were just days away from the turnover of the hospital support building project when we identified a cleanout located in the main entryway,” said Young.

Given Kaiser’s exacting standards for the front of the building, PPM knew their client would not want a bronze or stainless steel cleanout cover marring the aesthetics of their beautiful terrazzo floor, and they needed to do something quickly. Smith manufactures a terrazzo cleanout cover (4180) just for this very situation. The cover was rush shipped to the jobsite, and the only thing the client saw was their perfect, unblemished lobby floor.

The state-of-the-art KPSD is expected to achieve LEED Gold certification. It is targeted to open in 2017, bringing quality medical care to those who live and work in the San Diego area.

For more information, visit www.jrsmith.com.