Ray Herbert interviewed on H2O Today TV
Plumbers in the United States will soon begin learning greener ways after signing on to the Australian GreenPlumbers initiative developed by the Master Plumbers’ and Mechanical Services Association of Australia (MPMSAA).

The California Plumbing, Heating, Cooling Contractors (CAPHCC) signed a 15-year deal with the MPMSAA to implement Australia’s most ambitious environmental program. Under the agreement up to 40,000 California plumbers will receive training in water and energy saving methods.

Ray Herbert, CEO of the MPMSAA negotiated the deal with California after addressing environmental leaders at the State Capitol in Sacramento in April. The discussion on global warming highlighted the significant impact ‘green’ plumbing has had on water and energy savings in Australia.

Source - Master Plumbers Association

When nature calls, visitors to the Bronx Zoo in New York now not only get to take a potty break—they also get a little education about conservation and environmental awareness along the way.Owned and operated by the Wildlife Conservation Society, the Bronx Zoo has been educating visitors since 1899 and is the flagship of the largest network of metropolitan zoos in the country. From its initial 22 exhibits, the Zoo has grown into an award-winning, cutting-edge facility that features more than 4,000 animals. Some of its conservation success stories include the development of the zoo’s bison herd and its devotion to snow leopards—it was the first zoo in the western hemisphere to exhibit the cats, and 82 cubs were born at the zoo between 1966 and 1999. Among the zoo’s current exhibits are its famous Congo Gorilla Forest, a naturalistic Himalayan Highlands Habitat (home to the snow leopards) and an acre of indoor Asian rainforest.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF JULIE LARSEN MAHER / WCS

But it was the need for amenities for the human species that led the zoo to replace its restrooms by the Bronxdale entrance. At the time, in early 2004, the old restroom building was in need of a replacement septic system—a proposition that led to concerns about pollution in the nearby Bronx River. A sewer connection was considered, but then abandoned due to cost concerns. Finally, in the fall of 2004, the Zoo decided to install composting toilets.

“Guest convenience dictated that we replace our old facilities located at a public entrance that services approximately 60 percent of our total annual attendance of 2 million visitors,” said Jon Dohlin, project manager for capital construction for the Wildlife Conservation Society. “There had long been a desire within the Bronx Zoo’s Design Department to explore the possibility of commercial application of composting toilets, which had been in use at some of our isolated Global Conservation field stations for years. The NYC Department of Environmental Protection was very interested in the use of the technology on a larger scale, and became a key funding partner in the construction of our Eco-Restrooms.”

But the endorsement of the Department of Environmental Protection did not mean the project was without its challenges.

“With any kind of unconventional approach in the public sector to standard building practice, permitting issues are problematic,” Dohlin explained, adding that the way the restrooms handle greywater, “black” water and solid waste are all “a radical departure from typical building systems. Bureaucracies are not well equipped to respond to unique situations, so extra time and effort has to be expended in explanation and education; inspection, re-inspection and special meetings with Building Department officials.”

He added that the ongoing maintenance of the composting system requires occasional inspection and mechanical turning of the waste piles, which created skepticism on the part of the maintenance staff that also had to be overcome.

Designed to accommodate more than a half-million visitors per year, the new Eco-Restrooms include 18 toilet fixtures, including 14 foam-flush toilets and four waterless urinals. Cartoon animals pictured on the walls praise the “power of poop”—and provide practical advice on conserving resources at home.

“As a conservation organization, we are constantly looking for ways to reinforce our mission in everything we do, and Eco-Restrooms were something that gave us a chance to ‘walk the green walk’ while meeting a real operational need,” Dohlin said. “At the same time, education is key to our mission and this gave us a chance to talk to our visitors in a fun way about resource conservation, water use and waste disposal.”

The foam-flush toilets use only 3 ounces of water per flush, saving more than a million gallons of water every year. And the restrooms’ greywater irrigation system means the building can manage wastewater sustainably on site. In addition to saving money, the odorless system captures and recycles the nutrients in human waste, providing compost for the gardens that surround the facility.

“This particular building is beautifully designed—filled with natural light, warm, airy and sleek—not your typical public bathroom,” Dohlin said. “And the experience of using it begins well before entering. We have interpretive graphics explaining the gardens and water collection devices on the pathway leading to the building. If people are so inclined, they are already aware of the ‘why’ we are composting and ‘why’ it makes so much sense by the time they get to the interior, which is filled with humor and more information about what’s going on behind the seemingly normal bathroom fixtures. It’s a terrific way to make people aware of the choices they can make in their everyday life—even in the most mundane activities—in order to make a difference for conservation.”

People’s response to the new Eco-Restrooms has been “overwhelmingly positive,” Dohlin said. “The building is a pleasure to use, so I think the fear that some people might have going in that they’re going to be faced with an ‘outhouse’ experience is quickly overcome,” he added. “People ‘get it’…they come away realizing that a small change in behavior can result in a big change for the environment. Quite an accomplishment for a bathroom break!”

W.W. Grainger Inc. operates 23 locations throughout the tri-state area, and plans to increase that by 25 percent. The company also said it will increase its local workforce by 10 percent to 20 percent, and its local distribution network by 40 percent.

The company has said the market expansion initiative will help it better serve customers by adding people, products and sales outlets nationwide.

“We’re doing exactly what our customers asked us to do,” Mike Hade, regional branch services vice president for Grainger said in a statement. “Our customers told us they wanted more of the products they need to maintain, repair and operate their facilities, positioned closer to them, and we listened.”

The Chicago-based company said it expects to invest $50 million to $80 million in its market expansion program this year, including the tri-state project. To date, Grainger has expanded its presence in 20 markets across the country, including Seattle, Los Angeles, Denver, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Houston, South Florida, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia.

Grainger has expanded its product offering as well. The company launched an enhanced catalog earlier this year that features more than 138,000 facilities maintenance products—23,000 more items than last year’s offering. The new items include more than 7,000 plumbing products; 4,000 material handling supplies; 5,000 fasteners; and 1,600 security products.

A national distributor of heating and air conditioning parts has started construction on a distribution center in Jacksonville.

Johnstone Supply Inc. plans to open the new center in May on the Westside. The company has distribution centers in Oregon, Pennsylvania and Tennessee, but the 120,000-square-foot center in Jacksonville will be its first this far south. The center will service 54 Johnstone Supply stores in the Southeast with next-day delivery and will offer to stock customized product lines for heating and air conditioning contractors in the Southeast.

“Everyone here at Johnstone is excited about the new facility, which marks a significant strategic move for our company, and we’re looking forward to joining the Jacksonville community,” said Johnstone Supply President & CEO Gary Daniels, “We believe this new distribution center is going to have a very positive effect on our business. The added jobs and business support will be equally positive and beneficial to the Jacksonville area.”

Johnstone Supply has more than $1 billion in annual sales and more than 300 independently owned stores across America.

Ontario, Calif. — The Backflow Prevention Manufacturers Association (BPMA), in conjunction with the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials Backflow Prevention Institute, has created a program called Backflow Assist to help individuals and entities that do not have the resources to install needed and necessary backflow assemblies. The program installs backflow preventers, which are devices installed in a plumbing system to prevent wastewater from flowing back into the public drinking water supply. These devices need to be periodically tested to ensure they are working properly. At this time the program is limited to testable assemblies two inches and less in size.

Both Associations are committed to assisting the people in our communities who choose to help those in need. Working together as an industry and members of the community we can better protect our water supply. IAPMO is pleased to announce the first installation of a proper backflow device through the Backflow Assist program, to be installed at St. Phillips Lutheran Church and School in Milwaukee, Wis. A backflow protection device will be installed on the church’s boiler and mop sink. Plumbing will be tagged to show what is safe and unsafe in the water lines. These improvements will bring the church up to plumbing code for the city of Milwaukee.

“The whole process was very easy. All I had to do was fill out a short application and everything was done via email,” said Barb Allard, spokesperson for St. Phillips Church. “This will benefit the church greatly; who knows what something like this would have cost. We are a small non profit organization, so to be able to get this service done free of charge, with no hassle, was really a blessing.”

For more information on the Backflow Assistance Program, email assist@bpma.cc.

February 27th, 2007 - Underwriters Laboratories (UL) recently announced a new UL Plumbing Mark for the certification of plumbing-related products that demonstrate compliance with both plumbing codes used throughout the U.S.  

The new UL Plumbing Mark better serves the needs of manufacturers, users, installers, regulators and consumers by clearly identifying plumbing products that comply with all requisite health-effect and performance standards and product requirements. Products bearing the Mark are deemed suitable for use in accordance with both the International Plumbing Code (IPC) and the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC).

“With this new UL Plumbing Mark, manufacturers can now obtain a single certification listing to demonstrate product compliance nationwide from the most widely used, trusted and recognized safety certification organization in North America,” says UL’s Ann Marie Gebhart. “In addition to our plumbing industry expertise and the enhanced brand value for customers’ Listed products, this new certification Mark is another example of UL’s focus on serving the needs of the plumbing industry and our proactive leadership in offering services that benefit our customers.”

UL has more than 75 years’ experience in certifying plumbing products and actively participates on plumbing code bodies and standards groups. As with all UL certification programs, regulators can be assured that products listed to the UL Plumbing Mark are verified under UL’s Follow-Up Services protocol, which ensures ongoing compliance with all applicable standards.

The UL Follow-Up Services program includes periodic field audits of production facilities to assure that only authorized materials are used in product manufacturing. The program also observes that quality assurance and quality control procedures are followed, and that labeling and product literature is accurate with respect to UL-Listed products.

Key facts about the UL Plumbing Mark:

The UL Plumbing Mark is a Listing Mark, meaning that products displaying the UL Plumbing Mark have been evaluated to all applicable nationally recognized health-effect and performance standards, and have demonstrated compliance with both the IPC and UPC plumbing installation codes.
The UL Plumbing Mark will be rolled out in phases, with the long-term intent of using the Mark for all plumbing products, including plumbing appliances. This Mark will first appear on products covered under the category Plumbing Fixture Fittings. This product category includes faucets for lavatories, faucets with pullout spouts and side sprays, hand-held showers, pressure-balanced valves, and thermostatic mixing valves.
The UL Plumbing Mark is offered as an adjunct service in addition to other UL Marks.
To download the UL Plumbing Mark, visit www.ul.com/marks_labels/mark/art.htm#plumbing.

ATLANTA — The Home Depot Inc., the world’s largest home improvement store chain, said Monday it will consider shedding its division serving contractors, homebuilders and other business customers, distancing itself further from the strategies advanced by former Chief Executive Bob Nardelli. Its shares rose more than 2 per cent in early trading.The Atlanta-based company said it may sell or spin off its wholesale distribution arm, Home Depot Supply.Frank Blake, the current chairman and CEO of The Home Depot, said the company wants to concentrate more on its retail business.

Just last year, Home Depot announced it had completed its $3.2-billion purchase of Orlando, Fla.-based Hughes Supply Inc., a distributor of construction, repair and maintenance products.

The deal, Home Depot’s largest acquisition ever, doubled the size of HD Supply division, which serves business customers including municipalities and maintenance professionals.

The division was seen as a big opportunity for growth by former Mr. Nardelli, who resigned in early January after six years at the helm of Home Depot.

Mr. Nardelli had said repeatedly that he believed the company’s strategy under his watch did not need changing. But earlier this month, the company said it is giving a seat on its board to an investment group that wants the company to consider, among other things, a leveraged buyout as a way to generate shareholder value.

The group, Relational Investors LLC, had threatened a proxy fight over the home-improvement company’s strategic direction, part of an undercurrent that led to Mr. Nardelli’s resignation.

Mr. Blake said the announcement regarding Home Depot Supply was part of a strategic review the company conducted in November.

HD supply has annual revenues of approximately $12-billion, has nearly 1,000 locations nationwide and in Canada, and employs more than 26,000 associates, the company said.

Home Depot has retained the investment firm Lehman Brothers as its financial adviser to assist in this process.

Home Depot shares rose 92 cents, or 2.3 per cent, to $41.92 in morning trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

NSF Partners with International Code Council to Ensure Ongoing Compliance with International Plumbing Code

February 7, 2006 - Ann Arbor, MI and Falls Church, VA — NSF International and the International Code Council (ICC) today announced a first-of-a-kind agreement that will make NSF American National Standards available to building code and plumbing code officials through the International Code Council.

Under the new agreement, both non-profit organizations will work together to provide ICC members all NSF/ANSI standards referenced in the International Plumbing Code (IPC).  IPC currently references several NSF/ANSI drinking water product and food equipment standards.  The IPC includes regulations for plumbing facilities without restricting the use of new materials, products or methods of construction.

Having ready access to the standards referenced in IPC will result in additional time and cost savings for building and plumbing officials and will help consolidate these requirements throughout the industry.  Members who will benefit from the new agreement include:

• fire officials,
• architects,
• engineers,
• builders,
• contractors,
• elected officials,
• manufacturers, and
• others in the construction industry (state, county and municipal code enforcement).

“This agreement demonstrates our commitment to public health protection,” said Bob Ferguson, NSF Vice President of Water Systems.  “Working together, we will provide services to building code and plumbing code officials to make sure they obtain the information they need regarding code and regulatory compliance.  We are two organizations with a similar mission – we help the world live safer.”

These NSF/ANSI standards referenced in the IPC include: 

• NSF/ANSI Standard 3: Commercial Warewashing Equipment
• NSF/ANSI Standard 14: Plastics Piping System Components and Related Materials
• NSF/ANSI Standard 18: Manual Food and Beverage Dispensing Equipment
• NSF/ANSI Standard 42: Drinking Water Treatment Units - Aesthetic Effects
• NSF/ANSI Standard 44: Residential Cation Exchange Water Softeners
• NSF/ANSI Standard 53: Drinking Water Treatment Units - Health Effects
• NSF/ANSI Standard 58: Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Treatment Systems
• NSF/ANSI Standard 61: Drinking Water System Components - Health Effects, and
• NSF/ANSI Standard 62: Drinking Water Distillation Systems

“The agreement between ICC and NSF underscores our commitment to public health and safety,” said International Code Council CEO Rick Weiland. “This is the beginning of a collaborative effort between both organizations to support the plumbing and HVAC industries.”

NSF is a non-profit organization committed to protecting the public by certifying products and writing standards for food, water, air and consumer goods.  Similarly, ICC is committed to providing quality codes, standards and services to stakeholders concerned with the safety and performance of the building environment. 

If you would like additional information on the NSF/ICC agreement, please contact Bob Ferguson at 734.827.6883 or ferguson@nsf.org.

Source:

Based on the International Plumbing Code® and common construction management philosophy.

Pottstown, PA (PRWeb) — Pal Publications, Inc. in partnership with DEWALT Industrial Tools, announced today the release of their newest edition to the DEWALT Exam and Certification Series, Plumbing Licensing Exam Guide.

This comprehensive exam study guide will prepare candidates for both state and county exams in every state. Based on the International Plumbing Code® and common Construction management philosophy, virtually any type of plumbing related question will be covered.

Subjects included are test-taking strategies, guidelines for preparation, exam rules and regulations, sample exams, helpful diagrams and illustrations, explanations, answer keys with code references and much more. This guide will help you prepare and pass the Journeyman, Contractor, Master Licensing and Apprentice exams in your state or county.

The DEWALT Trade Reference Series is a complete line of on-the-job reference guides designed to increase productivity, reduce downtime and get the job done right. With quick and easy access to hundreds of charts, illustrations, formulas, laws, conversions, tables, and symbols, the DEWALT® Trade Reference Series delivers critical, jobsite reference material for trade professionals. For more information on these titles as well as the complete line of the DEWALT Trade Reference Series, visit www.dewalt.com/guides.

About Pal Publications, Inc. (www.palpublications.com)
Pal Publications, Inc., together with DEWALT, a trusted brand name in the building trades, is the leading provider of on-the-job reference resources for today’s trade professionals. They offer an extensive library of pocket-sized reference books and exam certification books which are specifically designed and manufactured for the professional trades and cover a variety of topics including electrical, commercial/residential construction, HVAC/R, plumbing, data communications, wiring, safety, estimating, maintenance, and Spanish/English communication.

Pal Publications, Inc. is an officially licensed partner of DEWALT Industrial Tools

NEWARK, N.J. – American Standard Cos. said Thursday it will sell its well-known plumbing fixture business and spin off a unit that makes auto braking systems, then rename the company Trane after its signature brand of air-conditioning systems.

Wall Street applauded the breakup, sending the stock rising more than 7 percent to $53.25, its highest level since the company went public in 1995.

Although American Standard, based in Piscataway, N.J., is best known for its kitchen and bath products, the Trane operation brought in $6.8 billion, or 60 percent of its sales in 2006.

Trane is among the leading suppliers of commercial and residential heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems. The new Trane company will retain the right to use the American Standard brand name for such products.

Trane on Wednesday announced plans to invest nearly $3.4 million into expanding its Fort Wayne operations, including a warehouse.

Trane’s vehicle control systems business, which posted $2 billion in revenue in 2006, will be spun into a publicly traded company to be called WABCO. American Standard shareholders will be issued one share of WABCO stock for every three American Standard shares currently owned.

American Standard also said it will sell its bath and kitchen business, which generated $2.4 billion in revenue in 2006. The company plans to use proceeds from that sale to pay down debt and buy back Trane common stock.

The breakup, which does not require shareholder approval, is to be completed by early fall.