Finishing on time is the rewardCon� dence is key with a plumbing system, especially in a large project like a hotel where a single leak can cause major problems. The new FireKeepers Casino Hotel near Battle Creek, MI, opened in December 2012 and as far as their potable water system goes, they haven’t experienced one leak. Why? Because mechanical contractor John E. Green Company chose to install Viega ProPress® and Viega PEX systems.

Donovan Morehouse, General Foreman at John E. Green Company, had installed Viega ProPress systems previously but the FireKeepers project was his � rst experience with Viega PEX Press � ttings. Donovan and his team installed nearly 30,000 feet of ViegaPEX™ tubing with Viega PEX Press polymer � ttings in sizes 1⁄2", 3⁄4" and 1" for the potable water system in the 280-room FireKeepers Casino Hotel. Donovan also used Viega ProPress copper systems in the mains and none of the connections leaked.

“The � rst thing I think about when I start a job is the day I � nish,” Donovan said. “All my reward comes from � nishing.”

Thanks to his team’s hard work and Viega’s quality systems, Donovan and John E. Green Company had a project they could be proud of.

“We had minimum errors and omissions,” Donovan said. “Nothing’s perfect. We don’t live in a perfect world. We’ve had our issues but it’s been minimal. I can’t think of a single issue we’ve had with a Viega product and we got it done on time. It was a thing of beauty.”

The FireKeepers Casino Hotel is a 236,000-square-foot casino and hotel, with slot machines, table games, � ve restaurants, a sports bar and cabaret. The casino opened to the public in 2009.

The hotel portion of the project included an expansion with another restaurant, an event center and a smoke-free gaming area.

Donovan attributed his choice to use Viega PEX systems on this project to the general availability of the � ttings and the system design assistance provided by Viega’s Design Team.

“I got the catalog and got familiar with the product,” Donovan said, “and I got a hold of the design team and explained what I wanted to do.”

Donovan provided electronic drawings that showed the rooms in the hotel and how he wanted to install the plumbing lines. Many rooms were different, depending on whether they were presidential suites or other types of rooms.

“I could have done this all myself but Viega offered it,” Donovan said. “I quality controlled it. I told them what I wanted done and they

I didn’t have one leak and we tested with air... basically it was maintenance free. I didn’t have to insulate... another advantage that saved time.

“free. I didn’t have to insulate... another advantage that saved time. ”

CUSTOMER: FireKeepers Casino

APPLICATION: Potable water system

LOCATION: Battle Creek, MI

CONTRACTOR: John E. Green Company

©2014 Viega LLC

basically gave me that in a pretty much laid-out paperwork format showing what I needed. And they were someone to ask questions if I wasn’t sure.”

Donovan also appreciated that the Viega design team member he worked with had actual installation experience from the plumbing industry.

“I came from the � eld,” Donovan said. “I cut my hands. I smashed my hands. It helped to know that he understood that. He doesn’t just sit behind the desk and read out of a book.”

With the materials and the design from the Viega Design Team, Donovan and his team completed the plumbing installation quickly with little downtime and minimal errors.

“Every material has its place,” Donovan said. “With the time frame we had, I don’t think we could have done it with individual copper tubing. We all like right angles. PEX may go the way the crow � ies but it gave us the opportunity to move faster and be done quicker. It made a difference.”

Other challenges on a job site can often be availability of materials but, according to Donovan, that wasn’t a problem on the FireKeepers project.

“The Macomb Group, who supplied the job, was very good in getting me things,” Donovan said. “Some special clips and clamps that supported the studs, a lot of that I was able to get fast. Sometimes it can be a week or two out. The availability of stuff between Viega and Macomb was beyond good.”

Another challenge often prevalent during projects of this scale is the support from the manufacturer but Viega stayed ahead of the curve on that too.

“Sometimes just getting people to stay in contact is half the battle,” Donovan said. “But Viega was on top of it. It was a good experience. I’m one of those guys who says what I believe and if I’m not satis� ed, I’m the � rst to say something. I never had any bad points. I couldn’t ask for better.”

Donovan appreciated the simplicity of Viega ProPress and Viega PEX systems on this project.

“I didn’t have one leak and we tested with air,” Donovan said. “When you look at it generally, it was basically maintenance free. It was simple. You didn’t have to insulate. It was another advantage that saved time. That added a whole new dimension to installing it.”

For more information on Viega products, visit www.Viega.us, or call toll free: 800-976-9819.