NEWS

ASPE Tech Symposium breaks attendance records

On Sept. 23–26, the American Society of Plumbing Engineers convened its 2021 Tech Symposium at the San Diego Marriott Mission Valley. Attendance reached an all-time high for this biennial event (more than 610 total attendees), eclipsing the previous attendance record in 2019 in Pittsburgh.

To kick off the weekend, more than 330 plumbing engineers and designers enjoyed interacting face to face with the sponsors of the event at the two-day Tech Symposium Product Show on Thursday evening and Friday morning. Attendees learned about the newest innovations and plumbing products from 54 of the industry’s top manufacturers and service providers while reengaging with their peers from across the country for the first time in almost two years. In fact, numerous attendees remarked on how glad they were to be back in person for a national ASPE event.

“We at McWane Plumbing Group believe the show attendance was far better than expected, and that was apparent as our booth was constantly buzzing with engineers,” said Francesca Dunbar, vice president, group marketing for McWane Plumbing Group. “It was good to actually see people’s faces and have meaningful conversations.”

The cornerstone of the ASPE Tech Symposium is the Technical Education Program, which spanned 2 1/2 days this year and included 40 sessions offering up to 1.2 CEUs. Attendees crowded the session rooms to learn from expert speakers on timely topics such as reopening buildings after shutdowns, changes to the latest plumbing codes, the environmental benefits of heat pump water heaters, balancing sustainability and water safety and more.

An unexpected rainstorm in typically sunny San Diego couldn’t dampen attendees’ spirits at the welcome party sponsored by Charlotte Pipe, and ASPE Young Professionals (AYP) also hosted a special get-together at Park & Rec in University Heights. Prior to the symposium, AYP held its biennial Leadership Academy, sponsored by Zurn, where young professionals gathered to learn proven strategies to bring out the best in themselves and their team members.

“After such an unsettled time, it was extremely exciting to see our members, sponsors and industry partners at the 2021 ASPE Tech Symposium,” said William “Billy” Smith, FASPE, ASPE’s executive director and CEO. “As reflected in the attendance numbers, the industry remains committed to ASPE and our members, and I wholeheartedly thank everyone who took the time to travel to San Diego to be part of such an amazing event.”

The next national ASPE event will be the 2022 ASPE Convention & Expo in Indianapolis on Sept. 16–20, 2022. Registration will open in the spring.

IWSH annunces award winners

The International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation presented three new IWSH awards to Milwaukee School of Engineering students Kathryn Ashley and Sarah Ceurvorst and Plumbers Local 68 director of Marketing and Recruitment Jeremy Pavlich.

The awards were presented by IAPMO President David Gans and Vice President Steve Panelli as part of the opening session of IAPMO’s 92nd annual Education and Business Conference, hosted online Sept. 27-30.

“It is my distinct privilege to present the IWSH Award to a trio of recipients who have demonstrated a commitment to improving the lives of others through their work on an IWSH project, motivated others to become involved, and exhibited a passion for helping and educating others in the WASH sector,” Panelli said.

Individual IWSH Awards were presented to the duo of Ashley and Ceurvorst, students from the Milwaukee School of Engineering. The women led a range of key testing and troubleshooting activities on two unique prototype handwashing units, originally designed by IWSH and DigDeep staff, and built during winter 2020 in collaboration with UA Local 400 in Kaukauna, Wisconsin. Their contributions to the inaugural Wash Station Challenge helped reduce the weight and production cost and improve mobility of the two prototypes before a finalized design went forward for building at 10 separate UA locals located across the United States this June and July. As a result, 21 mobile wash stations were built and shipped to the Navajo Nation, where they are being deployed by the DigDeep Navajo Water Project to provide community handwashing capacity through the winter of 2021 and onward, IWSH explained.

“This award isn’t for me,” Ceurvorst said. “It’s for the Navajo Nation and anybody who benefits from this project — really anybody who’s benefiting through IWSH or science and engineering; this is who we’re doing this for.”

“I want to give this award a shout-out to all the little girls who are out there trying to do something with STEM [science, technology, engineering and mathematics] or not sure they want to do something with STEM or engineering,” Ashley said. “You are recognized, and you matter; as long as you stick with it and are passionate about it, you can go places.”   

A third IWSH Award was presented to Pavlich, the backbone of “Safer Water for Nome,” a two-phase collaboration between IWSH and Local 68 to assess water quality and provide corrective measures for the community of around 500 people.

Pavlich worked tirelessly to connect residents and elected officials with licensed and certified plumbers, hosting a town hall during which he led a discussion on water quality, infrastructure and programs available to the community, and participating in “Days of Action,” during which assessments were performed to determine which chemicals and other waterborne pathogens are present in the drinking water.

“We listened to some local kids who had concerns about their drinking water,” Pavlich said. “These kids wanted to get to the bottom of why their water had issues with mustiness, with color, with taste. When it comes down to it, we applied the scientific method, we used licensed plumbers with certifications, and we found out what their issue was and how to remedy that situation.”

Visit www.iwsh.org to learn more about the International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation.

ASHRAE, AABC, ACG and EMA sign Memorandum of Understanding

ASHRAE, the Associated Air Balance Council (AABC), the AABC Commissioning Group (ACG) and the Energy Management Association (EMA) have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) formalizing the organizations’ relationship.

The MOU was signed by Mike Kelly, TBE, CxA, AABC president, Troy Byers, P.E., TBE, CxA, ACG president, Chris Smith, CxA, EMP, EMA president and Wade Conlan, ASHRAE director-at-large, at a signing ceremony during the AABC annual meeting in Destin, Florida. The agreement specifies the path forward and defines parameters by which the organizations will work cooperatively to promote the advancement of emerging research and technologies to support a more sustainable built environment.

“With a focus on maintaining safe, healthy and efficient built environments, ASHRAE is pleased to have the opportunity to partner with AABC, ACG and EMA to enhance innovative technologies and resources to meet the challenges of the communities we serve,” said 2021-22 ASHRAE President Mick Schwedler P.E., Fellow ASHRAE, LEED AP. “The global pandemic along with environmental threats have raised the profile of building industry organizations such as ours to set the foundation for impactful solutions to improve the built environment for us all.”

“Properly performed testing and balancing by a certified, independent firm has positive ripple effects on the performance of equipment, systems, and entire buildings that help give owners what they paid for,”  Kelly said. “Through ASHRAE's leadership position among HVAC engineers, manufacturers and others, we believe a better understanding of TAB’s central role in improving performance can lift standards and expectations across the industry, to the benefit of everyone.”

“One of ACG’s primary missions is advocating for early involvement of the commissioning provider on all projects, and that an independent provider working directly for the building owner should be the norm,” Byers said. “We look forward to working with ASHRAE and their extensive reach within the building industry to communicate those messages.”

“We look forward to exploring ways we can combine our education and advocacy efforts to promote EMA’s commissioning-based energy management process, with the goal of maximizing energy savings for building owners everywhere,” Smith added.

Areas of alliance include:

• Ongoing advancement of collaborative projects;
• Consistent leadership communication of major initiatives between organizations; and
• Discussion of new collaborative opportunities.

Goulds announces scholarship recipients

Goulds Water Technology, a Xylem brand, announced this year’s recipients of the Goulds Professional Deal Association scholarships. Sixteen students across the United States will each receive a $1,500 scholarship, totaling $24,000. Recipients were chosen based on academic standing, volunteerism and leadership skills, Goulds noted. As a resource for GPDA members, the scholarship emphasizes the company’s support and commitment to independent dealers. The scholarships will help students obtain higher education at a college or technical school.

“Every year, we have the opportunity and privilege of supporting 16 young students in pursuit of their dreams in higher education,” said Susan O’Grady, director of marketing, building services and agriculture at Xylem. “Financial uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic still lingers for many families. Through these scholarships, we are honored to support our dealers’ families and contribute to these students’ future, success and professional development.”

GPDA is a network of independent water system professionals established in 1969 and is the industry’s oldest and largest dealers’ association. The professional network provides independent dealers with extensive technical and product training, and has graduated more than 20,000 dealers and distributors from its education center. GPDA scholarship recipients are family members of GPDA members. Since its inception, the annual GPDA scholarship program has awarded more than $348,000 to 304 recipients.

The full list of the 2021 GPDA scholarship recipients:

• Grayson Wiggins – San Angelo, Texas – Water Logistics;
• Christopher Nagle – Hermitage, Pennsylvania – Parker Brothers Well Drilling;

• Erin Saunders – Westminster, Maryland – Legacy Septic and Excavation;
• Ashley Maggiora – Hollister, California – Maggiora Bros Drilling;
• Clayton Royall – Luling, Texas – Royall’s Windmill & Pump;
• Abbey Herendeen – Clifton Springs, New York – Herendeen Brother Corp.;
• Thomas Palermo – Monroe, Connecticut – A & A SystemsControl;
• Hannah Wheeler – Odessa, Texas – Wheeler Drilling;
• David Hartley – Chocorua, New Hampshire – Hartley Well Drilling;
• Jason Neidigh – Shippensburg, Pennsylvania – Rosenberry Septic Services;
• Calvin Christensen – Hartington, Nebraska – Christensen Well and Irrigation;
• Taylor Newman – Lithia, Florida – Kens Well Drilling;
• Jaxson Cadwallader – Atkinson, Nebraska – Schrunk Well Service;
• Lukas Adamek – Yoakum, Texas – Chandler Drilling;
• Caroline Hilliard – West End, North Carolina – Jack’s Supply; and
• Evelyn McKenny – Baldwin, Maryland – Sweet Air Plumbing.

To learn more about the Goulds Professional Dealer Association and GPDA scholarship, visit https://info.xyleminc.com/gpda-program.html.

Rinnai announces commercial business program

Rinnai is now offering a national accounts program to its commercial business partners. The program is designed to be a turnkey hot water solution for its commercial customers and includes both repair and replacement services.

Rinnai’s one-stop hot water experience for hotels, restaurants and other commercial customers provides 24/7, 365 hot water support. Regardless of whether the water heater is a Rinnai unit or not, plumbers will be deployed from Rinnai’s vast network to assess the situation and repair product, the company adds.

If a replacement is needed, the plumber will work with the customer to identify the best solution for their business, plus the program delivers pricing quotes and 100% guaranteed system sizing. Additionally, Rinnai handles all aspects of the businesses’ hot water from selecting the plumber to processing payments for the job.  

“Hot water is a necessity and a vital part of our customer's business,” said James Woodruff, senior director of commercial business for Rinnai America. “We offer our expertise in water heating as a service to our customers that is turnkey and simple. This allows them to worry less about their business operations while we ensure their hot water is there when they need it.”

“Through our extensive contractor network, we can coordinate our premium response program and offer a service that is much-needed by our customers in the industry,” Rinnai America Corporation’s President Frank Windsor said. “We are committed to creating a healthier way of living, and providing a worry-free, turnkey solution for our customers is a great step towards achieving that commitment.”

Water Quality Association opens new headquarters

The Water Quality Association hosted a grand opening Sept. 13 for its new international headquarters and laboratory in suburban Chicago. The larger, state-of-the-art facility allows increased capacity, flexibility and efficiency for Gold Seal product testing, industry training and membership services.

“Our amazing new laboratory and offices will allow us to serve more members of the industry, certify more products at a quicker pace, and provide additional education and training that will ensure that our members have the know-how to provide the proper solutions,” said Pauli Undesser, WQA’s executive director. “So this new building is a launching pad for all of the incredible things our industry can do for residential, commercial and industrial water treatment.”

WQA President Toby Thomas, president of Kinetico, said:“We are at a pivotal moment in the marketplace. We are being called upon to help protect people’s lives and improve the quality of their lives. This new facility allows us to take not just a next step, but a ‘giant’ next step forward.”

Among the local officials who attended the ceremony and toured the building were Lisle Mayor Chris Pecak, Illinois Sen. Laura Ellman, D-Naperville, and Greg Bredalov, president and CEO of Choose DuPage, an economic development group.

WQA, a not-for-profit trade association representing the residential, commercial and industrial water treatment industry, moved to the facility at 2375 Cabot Drive in Lisle from a building it had constructed in Lisle in 1982. The WQA Board of Directors officially approved the relocation plan in April 2019, after more than two years of research and planning, and the former headquarters was sold to another Lisle-based association in March 2020, right as the coronavirus pandemic hit.

WQA, an $11 million association, employs 70.

“When we decided we needed to move, we could have looked elsewhere, but we felt this is our home,” Undesser said. “And we kept these jobs right here in Lisle and DuPage County.”

Most WQA employees began working remotely in March 2020, but the laboratory remained open throughout the pandemic and during the year-long buildout and relocation process. Over the last several months, other WQA employees have been returning to the workplace, at least a few days a week, although the new facility’s technology allows seamless teamwork between remote and in-person employees.

The relocation was assisted by a “Building Our Vision” capital campaign, which contributed more than $400,000 in funding and equipment. Donors are honored in a mural on the building’s second floor.

WILO USA acquires QuantumFlo

As part of an asset deal, WILO USA, a subsidiary of WILO SE, has acquired the operating business of QuantumFlo, a specialist in pressure boosting systems and intelligent pump systems. The company, based in Sanford, Florida, employs 32 people and offers high-quality products and innovative, user-friendly software solutions for the design and operation of pressure-boosting systems.

“With this acquisition, we are strengthening our regional presence in line with our ‘region-for-region’ approach,” explained Oliver Hermes, chairman and CEO of the Wilo Group. “We are, thus, countering decoupling, the politically motivated disengagement from global tendencies, and can meet local customer needs with locally manufactured products in an even more targeted manner. In addition, the acquisition of QuantumFlo expands our customer base to accelerate market development in the U.S.”

David Carrier, founder and president and CEO of QuantumFlo, said at the closing of the deal on Sept. 30: “As the leader in intelligent pumps systems in the U.S., and the creator of the world’s first variable-speed booster operating system, we are excited and honored to join our technologies with Wilo USA. This exciting new opportunity will allow QuantumFlo to further develop these innovations for a variety of markets throughout the Americas. The primary beneficiary of the sum of these companies is our representatives, specifying engineers and distributors.”

“In the pressurized booster market in the U.S. the QuantumFlo brand represents leading technology, quality and a passion to provide solutions to their customers,” said Jeff Plaster, managing director of WILO USA. “This is the same value proposition that Wilo’s other strong brands provide in the OEM, water management and building services sales channels.”

As a recognized and established U.S. manufacturer of booster sets and HVAC systems, QuantumFlo is a real asset for the Wilo Group and we are already looking forward to working together," adds Mathias Weyers, member of the executive board and CFO of the Wilo Group.