ASPE Congratulates 2009 Symposium Prize Winners

21 ASUS netbooks were given away at the 2009 ASPE/PCA Technical Symposium. The winners from the event were Jeffrey Knighton, Henry Koppelo, Laurence Lane, Gregory Morin, John Snyder, Elizabeth Snyder, John Nussbaum, Cory Powers, Frank Taylor, Joe Eppolito, Chad Comfort, Lingyan Gorsuch, Juan Rojas, Dennis Cavallaro, Chris Scott, Patrick Cooper, Stuart Fisher, Robert Frey, Robert Mutsch, and James Miller. After the Symposium ended, a final winner was selected for turning in his overall Symposium evaluation. Congratulations to Aaron Backs (see photo), who received his netbook this week!

Attention 2009 ASPE PCA Technical Symposium Attendees: CEU Certificates Are Coming Soon!

CEU/PDH certificates for those who attended Symposium technical education sessions are in the mail. If you donít receive your certificates in the next few weeks, contact Director of Education Cliff Reis. Thank you again for attending and participating in the 2009 event.

ASPE Thanks the Chapters that Created the Foundation for Its Purchase of an Office Building

The Oct. 31 deadline to contribute all of a chapterís remaining past dues rebates to the Society, whether through a sponsorship, the purchase of items, or a direct donation to the ASPE Building Fund, has passed.

The chapters that forgave all of their old dues rebates created the financial foundation that we used to help fund the ASPE office building. For these chapters, a special permanent plaque will be placed in the lobby of the headquarters building in tribute to them for making it possible for the Society to fund the purchase of the building. The chapters are Capital Region New York, Richmond, Central New York, Virginia Blue Ridge, Central Florida, Atlanta, Central Ohio, Columbia, Pittsburgh, Phoenix, New Orleans, Quebec, Raleigh, West Coast Florida, North Florida, Charlotte, Nashville, Greenville, Rochester, Western Michigan, Omaha, Ottawa Region, British Columbia, Memphis, Baltimore, Southwestern Ohio, Cleveland, Los Angeles, Johnstown, Buffalo-Niagara, Eastern Michigan, Washington, D.C., Portland, Philadelphia, and Miami.

It is not too late to contribute to the ASPE Building Fund. A special electronic plaque will be installed in the office foyer to recognize everyone who made a contribution to the Building Fund. Size does not matteróit is the generosity and support of the membership and our plumbing industry friends that will be forever immortalized in recognition of their support of the Society in helping pay for and maintain the building.

Hold the Date

Saturday, January 23, 2010, during the ASPE board meeting, will be the official Open House for the ASPE office building. Try to make it. Snow or no snow, we promise good food, something hot to drink, and some great friendship.

Have We Got a Bargain for You: Check It Out!

The 2010 ASPE Convention and Engineered Plumbing Exposition will be held in Philadelphia, October 29 through November 3. We have arranged for almost everyone to be housed within a half block of the convention center in three hotels: the Marriott (attached to the convention center), Marriott Courtyard (next door), and Lowes (across the street). For our members, most rooms will be in the $149ñ159 rate bracket. This is in the heart of downtown Philadelphia. Be sure to start planning now!

Baltimore Chapter Awards First Engineering Scholarship

ASPEís Baltimore Chapter is proud to make Jason Dunthorn, a student at the Community College of Baltimore County, its first recipient of the Baltimore Chapter of ASPE Engineering Scholarship. The Baltimore Chapter funded this scholarship from the proceeds of its annual golf outing. This yearís outing, the first for the scholarship fund, netted $1,500. The chapterís next golf outing will be April 30, 2010.

Past Virginia Blue Ridge Chapter President Passes Away

Doug Knowles passed away Saturday, Oct. 24, after a long illness. Doug was an employee of Southern Air for 33 years and was president of the Virginia Blue Ridge Chapter of ASPE. He was involved in Lynchburg Little League baseball and was an active member of Holy Cross Catholic, its youth group, Christian Formation, and Pastoral Council. Doug is survived by his wife Karen and two sons, Christopher and Joseph.

ASPE College of Fellows Is Accepting Nominations

The ASPE Kenneth G. Wentink College of Fellows honors ASPE members of established reputation who have made significant, sustained contributions to the plumbing engineering profession, the Society, or the plumbing industry in the areas of contracting or manufacturing. Any Society member may nominate any other member, but members may not nominate themselves. Click here for more information and nomination forms.

ASPE Archived Webinars Offer CEUs

Click here to access ASPE archived webinars, which allows you to view and listen to previously recorded events at a time that is most convenient for you. Pay a small fee to earn quick CEUs.

EDUCATIONAL AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES

November 9: Atlanta Product Show

ASPEís Atlanta Chapter is holding this event at the Retreat of Dunwoody from 2 to 8 p.m. Door prizes, hors díoeuvres, and a cash bar will be available at the free product show. Four seminars offering CEUs will be held. Contact Steve Mastley for more information.

November 10: Interim Meeting to Form Seattle Chapter

The second interim meeting to form the Seattle Chapter will be at the Rock Bottom Brewery at 5:30 p.m. Contact Kevin Jones for more information.

NEW! Houston Christmas Dinner Party Being Held December 5

ASPEís Houston Chapter is holding its annual holiday party at Moeís, a Place for Steaks. A cocktail reception begins at 7 p.m., with dinner at 7:30. Space is limited to the first 40 people, so register by November 30. See the chapterís newsletter (page 12) for more information.

December 10: Phoenix Product Show

ASPEís Phoenix Chapter, with the ASHRAE Central Arizona Chapter, are holding this event at the El Zaribah Shrine Auditorium from 5ñ8 p.m. A free buffet, cash bar, and technical sessions with PDH credit will be offered. Contact Ben Madsen for more information.

NEW! Central Ohio Holiday Party Being Held December 11

ASPEís Central Ohio Chapter is holding its annual holiday party at the Buckeye Hall of Fame CafÈ in Columbus, Ohio, from 12ñ2 p.m. Spouses and guest are welcome. Cost is $20, which includes two drink tickets. Attendees are encouraged to bring a $10 or less wrapped gift for a blind exchange. View the chapterís newsletter (page 4) for more information.

NEW! Baltimore Holiday Party Being Held December 16

ASPEís Baltimore Chapter is holding its annual Holiday Party at the Bowman Restaurant from 6ñ8:30 p.m. Attendees are asked to bring one new unwrapped toy as a donation to Toys for Tots. Contact Ben Ploskon to RSVP.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Fire Sprinklers Set to Become a Standard in All New Homes

The fire sprinkler requirement, which was added to the International Residential Code (IRC) last year, now is scheduled to become effective January 1, 2011, in states that adopt the latest version of this code. At a hearing held last week, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) had petitioned the ICC, which publishes the IRC, to repeal the fire sprinkler requirement, but the Residential Building Code Committee (RBCC) rejected that request by a vote of 7 to 4. Following the committee vote, NAHB attempted to use a new procedure in the ICC process that allows members assembled at the hearing to overrule a committee decision, but the more than 1,000 ICC members in attendance voted overwhelmingly to affirm the RBCC's decision. The final action on this issue will occur at the ICCís May 2010 meeting, at which only building officials and code enforcers can vote.

New Study Shows the Ease of Integrating Home Fire Sprinklers with Local Water Supply Systems

According to a new NFPA report, which looked at detailed information for 20 U.S. communities with a residential sprinkler ordinance, water supply integration requirements have been put into place with no examples of insurmountable problems or issues. Neither design problems nor significant added costs were found in the communities surveyed.

Energy Star Appliances May Not Be All Efficient

An internal audit by the Energy Department has found that not all Energy Star appliances have met the required specifications for energy efficiency because of a glitch in the tracking system. 

Washington, D.C., Study Says Galvanized Pipes Contribute Lead to Drinking Water

A study by the Washington, D.C., Water and Sewer Authority states that in-home plumbing, specifically galvanized pipes, may contribute lead to residential drinking water and should be considered a potentially important lead source as lead service lines themselves.

California Approves Wide-ranging Water Package

State lawmakers worked through the night to adopt a set of measures to deal with groundwater monitoring, urban water conservation, and management of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The package includes a $11 billion bond that will go before voters next year. Read more here.

USGBC Launches LEED Pilot Credit Library

The LEED Pilot Credit Library is intended to facilitate the introduction of new prerequisites and credits to LEED. LEED 2009 project teams are encouraged to review the pilot credits currently available for testing. All LEED 2009 projects that participate in the piloting of a credit or prerequisite will be awarded one point under the Innovation and Design Credit 1 or Innovation in Operations Credit 1 after completing the required documentation.

Toxic Waste Is Seeping into the Rio Grande

According to a report in The Los Angeles Times, toxic waste is seeping from a mountain burial site used by the Los Alamos National Laboratory and has migrated hundreds of feet to the edge of the Rio Grande, one of the most important water sources in the Southwest. The waste also is trickling toward aquifers, springs, and streams that provide drinking water for 250,000 residents of northern New Mexico.

ICC and UL Introduce Dual PMG Listing Program

ICC Evaluation Service and Underwriters Laboratories have established a Dual PMG Listing Program for plumbing, mechanical, and fuel gas (PMG) products. The purpose of the program is to provide code officials and construction professionals with a reliable means to verify that PMG products comply with applicable codes and standards.

Plan to Reactivate MA Drinking Wells Is Put on Hold

The Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs secretary has raised questions about a controversial plan in Framingham, Massachusetts, to reactivate old drinking water wells and build a water treatment plant to reduce the cityís reliance on more expensive water from the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority. The project had been fast-tracked to qualify for more than $5 million in federal stimulus funding.

U.S. Citizens Are Using Less Water than 35 Years Ago

According to a new U.S. Geological Survey report, the United States is using less water than during the peak years of 1975 through 1980, based on water use estimates for 2005. Despite a 30 percent population increase, overall water use has remained fairly stable.

City Fights State over Illegal Storm Water Piping System

Newton, Massachusetts, city officials are asking the state for permission to allow illegal storm water piping that already has been installed at a new public high school scheduled to open next fall. The city previously had requested a variance from the State Board of Plumbers and Gasfitters after inspectors determined that the project's storm water piping was installed improperly and was made of material that violated the state building code. Read more here.

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Double Eccentric Butterfly Valve Now Offered in Larger Sizes

GF Piping Systems has expanded its large-diameter size range for the Type 567 butterfly valve to include 14-16 inches. The new size range features a unique double eccentric off-center design and excellent chemical compatibility. 

Domestic Hot Water and Hydronic Space Heating Combined in a Single Package

Heat Transfer Productsí Phoenix Evolution melds hydronic space heating and domestic hot water with complete system control in a single, compact, 96 percent-efficient package. One Phoenix Evolution unit effectively replaces a gas-fired water heater, a 135,000-btu/hour boiler, and a buffer tank in a space the size of the average residential water heater.

New System Harnesses the Sunís Power

Titeflexís FlexSure system is a safe, effective, and efficient way to connect solar panels to hot water storage tanks. It features supply and return linesótwo flexible stainless steel tubes pre-insulated with EPDMó in one enclosure and comes with a wide range of accessories and fittings.