Continuing Education From Plumbing Systems & Design
Do you find it difficult to obtain continuing education units (CEUs)? Through this special series, ASPE can help you accumulate the CEUs required for maintaining your Certified in Plumbing Design (CPD) status or numerous regulatory-agency CE programs.
Click on the link below to find the latest CE article and exam. Reading the article and completing the accompanying form will allow you to apply to ASPE for CEU credit. For most people, this process will require approximately one hour. If you earn a grade of 90 percent or higher on the test, you will be notified that you have logged 0.1 CEU.
September 2010
Plumbing engineers play some part in the grand scheme of things, but they are not the green police. Their primary responsibility is serving the client that hires them to design a specific set of plumbing systems. However, plumbing engineers can try to educate clients and help them appreciate the immediate and long-term benefits of sustainable design, and as a result, an increasing number of projects is going green. In fact, some code authorities already require some of the practices discussed in this chapter. This chapter is designed to help plumbing engineers incorporate sustainable design practices in their designs, as well as to provide assistance in designing LEED-certified projects.
July/August 2010
Recirculating Domestic Hot Water Systems
This chapter addresses the criteria for establishing an acceptable time delay in delivering hot water to fixtures and the limitations of the length between a hot water recirculation system and plumbing fixtures. It also discusses the temperature drop across a hot water supply system, types of hot water recirculation systems, and pump selection criteria, and gives extensive information on the insulation of hot water supply and return piping.
June 2010
Plumbing for People with Disabilities
Plumbing engineers must be prepared to provide adequate facilities for people with disabilities, whether or not the requirements for these facilities are covered specifically in the local jurisdiction's applicable code. This chapter presents background information on past and current legislation affecting plumbing for people with disabilities and design requirements for compliance with ANSI A117.1: Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities and the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities.
May 2010
Chilled Drinking Water Systems
It is a well-known fact that water that is tepid is not as thirst quenching as water that has been cooled to a temperature of from 40 to 50°F. However, even water from a deep well warms up in the piping distribution system and is generally higher than 50°F. Because of this, it is desirable to cool the drinking water in offices, factories, restaurants, schools, and theaters. This chapter explains the different systems used to chill drinking water and the fixtures used to dispense the chilled water.
April 2010
Utilities for Pharmaceutical Process Equipmen
This chapter discusses the types of equipment the plumbing engineer may encounter in the design of pharmaceutical facilities. For a typical aseptically processed pharmaceutical product, several process stages are involved in its formulation. Associated with these processes are several types of equipment with which the design engineer should become familiar, such as pressure tanks, vessels, autoclaves, washers, filters, lyopholizers, dryers, compression machines, coating machines, pumps, filling machines, and packaging machines.
March 2010
Energy and Resource Conservation in Plumbing Systems
The construction market has made strides to reduce energy consumption by adopting model energy codes, efficiency standards, and alternate fuel sources. Just as important as energy conservation is resource conservation, especially water. A green movement has spread across the nation, pushing for the implementation of efficient and sustainable technologies. Thus, this chapter is intended to provide a plumbing engineer with design techniques that conserve both energy and water and to assist them in selecting energy- and water-efficient equipment and systems.
January/February 2010
This chapter provides the necessary principals governing the design and sizing of a modern vent system. It covers the basic vent types, as well as how to calculate the size of the vent system using drainage fixture unit values. Specialty venting systems such as suds venting and circuit and loop vents also are discussed.
December 2009
Elementary and Secondary Schools
This chapter provides guidelines for determining the hot water requirements for elementary and secondary schools. It discusses potential areas of hot water usage in elementary, middle, junior, and high schools and how to calculate the hot water demand for different areas based on the fixtures used and the school population.
November 2009
This chapter describes the bulk storage of cryogenic liquids used for laboratory purposes. There are two reasons to consider the cryogenic storage of gases. The first is where a facility uses a large volume of gas and desires storage on site for practical and economical reasons. The second is where a cold liquid is required for research, cooling, and other purposes.
October 2009
Self-regulating Heat Trace Systems
A hot water self-regulating heat trace system can be used for prompt delivery of hot water at the fixtures. This chapter helps designers understand electric heat tracing as it applies to hot water systems, including how to compare the merits of heat tracing and a recirculation system based on the requirements of a specific project; identify the extent of piping requiring heat tracing; understand the role of thermal insulation in hot water heat tracing; determine the circuit breaker/power requirements based on the estimated heat tracing circuit lengths; and translate the design requirements into a complete design for a project.
September 2009
Proper design of the domestic hot water supply system for any building is extremely important to ensure that an adequate supply of water at the desired temperature is delivered to each fixture when needed. This chapter covers the basics to any hot water supply system, including safety devices and the different types of water heaters and storage tanks, and provides sizing guidelines and installation tips.
July / August 2009
Potable Water Coolers and Central Water Systems
First invented in 1906, the water cooler has experienced an ever-changing transformation. The original units consisted of large blocks of ice used to chill the water. They evolved into cumbersome floor-standing units with belt-driven ammonia compressors used to chill the water. Today, a plethora of types and aesthetically pleasing models satisfies even the most demanding applications. The industry is focused on providing the highest quality of water while using the least amount of floor space, allowing water coolers to be installed in heavy-traffic areas while satisfying code and end-user requirements.
June 2009
This chapter discusses public indoor and outdoor swimming pool design and the selection of pool plumbing, piping components, and equipment required for operation in conformance with local codes. The first three sections can be used for the preparation of an initial scope outline of your project’s size, type, and location. The “Pool Operating Systems” section provides a listing of the key elements that are required for a complete circulation, filtration, water-heating, and chemical control system. The “Component Evaluation and Selection” section provides guidelines for making specific equipment selections.
May 2009
A subdrain is that portion of a drainage system that cannot drain by gravity into the building sewer. The wastes from a subdrain flow into a receiving tank, the contents of which are automatically lifted and discharged into the gravity drainage system. When the receiving basin collects the discharge of sanitary wastes, it is called an ejector basin and the automatic lifting and discharge equipment is called an ejector pump. When the wastes received are clear water discharges, it is called a sump basin and the equipment a sump pump. This chapter explains the difference between the two.