Viega Voice - November 2015
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Transcript of Viega Voice - November 2015
TAPPED INBREWERIES FIND NEW SOLUTIONS
KEEPING MEGAYACHTS AFLOAT
GAS PIPING SOLUTION FOR TIGHT SPACES
OLD BUILDING GETS NEW LIFE
JOURNAL OF PLUMBING, HEATING AND PIPE JOINING SYSTEMS FROM VIEGA LLC
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Contents 3 Letter from the CEO5 Letter from the COO 6 Old building gets new life on campus8 Tapped In: Solutions for the craft beer craze12 Breaking ground in the U.S. manufacturing industry14 Keeping a legacy alive16 Lively beach-front resort brings Vegas luxury to east coast18 Keeping megayachts afloat a full-time job 20 Behind the scenes22 Making industry education and training accessible24 Tall tale turns into a gem for Tennessee 26 Fit for school28 A gas piping solution for very tight spaces30 Do more with training from Viega 31 TechTalk
WHAT’S INSIDE
Keeping megayachts afloat
28
Tapped in
8
Gas piping solution for tight spaces
18
Featured on the coverViega is providing solutions
for breweries all over the U.S., including Revolver
Brewery, pictured here with Co-owner, Rhett Keisler.
6Old building gets new life
In MemoriamThis issue of the Viega Voice is dedicated to the memory of Doug R. Martin, founding partner with Bruce Hornberger of M&H Sales. Doug passed away on October 2, 2015. M&H Sales is a long time independent rep agency and has been an integral part of Viega’s growth for the past 20 years in the Philadelphia area. Doug was a respected business partner, a true professional and a great friend to many. Doug touched lives in so many positive ways. His customer relationships and work ethic will be fondly remembered by all who knew him. Our sincere condolences to Doug’s business associates, family and friends.
2 v i e g a v o i c e • N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 5
LETTER FROM THE CEO
Dave Garlow
As another year passes, we look and plan ahead. At Viega, we have enjoyed
many successes over the years that form the foundation of our future; we have
always built on these successes.
More Viega product was installed in 2015 than any other year in Viega
history. This translates into simplifying and improving the work of our
customers, and provides quality safe piping systems for their clients.
We had record attendance at the educational facility in Nashua, NH this
year and we are planning further improvements to our program, including a
new training facility in Denver, CO. You will hear more about this in future issues
of the Viega Voice. The core of the Viega training experience won’t change,
though. It has always been about how engineers, contractors, code officials and
distributors leverage that newfound intelligence in the field to improve quality.
By modernizing our
behind-the-scenes processes,
it builds a stronger staff, even
better customer service and
the ability to get our products
to market faster.
We have continued
with heavy investments in
the supply chain, in both
manufacturing and logistics. We broke ground at the end of last year in
McPherson, KS on a facility that will provide additional manufacturing space
for our metal systems including Viega MegaPress – the only carbon steel press
fittings for gas and hydronic applications.
The successes of 2015 are the rock on which 2016 is built. All good
businesses reflect on the past and use it as a road map guiding them to their
next great milestone.
We hope 2016 represents your next great milestone, and may your reflection
at the year’s end inspire your successes for the New Year. We’ll be here if you
need us – so don’t hesitate to call.
From our Viega family to yours, we wish you a happy Holiday Season.
Merry Christmas. All the best for 2016.
THE SUCCESSES OF 2015 ARE THE ROCK ON WHICH
2016 IS BUILT.
v i e g a v o i c e • w w w . v i e g a . u s 3
Viega MegaPress Systems
For hydronic and gas applications
Viega MegaPress is the only clean, secure and effi cient choice for joining black iron pipe. It is suitable for renovations, repairs or installation of new steel pipe systems. Differentiated by sealing elements, Viega MegaPress for hydronic applications has a black EPDM sealing element and a green dot on the exterior.
In addition to the factory-installed EPDM sealing element, Viega MegaPress fi ttings are provided with a 304 stainless steel separator ring and a 420 stainless steel grip ring approved for use in hydronic heating, compressed air, fi re protection and cooling water applications.
All Viega MegaPress fi ttings are constructed with the patented Smart Connect feature, providing installers added confi dence in their ability to ensure the integrity of connections.
For more information, call 800-976-9819 or visit www.viega.us
T H E G L O B A L L E A D E R I N P L U M B I N G , H E A T I N G A N D P I P E J O I N I N G S Y S T E M S
LETTER FROM THE COO
Robert Boots
As I look out my office window I am reminded of just how great the last year
has been for the Viega Supply Chain. Earlier this year we broke ground on our
new Viega MegaPress manufacturing facility in McPherson, KS. With the facility
soon to be completed, I am reflecting on the past year and all of the actions we
have taken to get to this point and why.
For us, service drives everything we do. From the raw materials we source
to the finished goods we deliver, everything is about providing industry-leading
service and quality to our valued partners. It’s
why we come to work every day. It’s also why
it is so much fun. As Viega LLC President Dave
Garlow likes to say, “We spend most of our
waking hours at work so we ought to be able
to enjoy it.” I couldn’t agree with him more.
We live to provide quality, innovative solutions.
Utilizing our skilled, dedicated employees,
lean tools, state-of-the-art equipment and
strategically located distribution centers, we
take great pride and enjoyment in providing
you with the products and services
you deserve.
I’m confident that next year will bring more
of the same. Our Viega MegaPress facility will
be completed in early 2016, and production
will begin soon after. We are already working
on new and enhanced system solutions and are excited to show you more of
what Viega LLC has to offer you.
From all of us at Viega LLC, we wish you and your families a Merry
Christmas and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!
WE TAKE GREAT PRIDE AND
ENJOYMENT IN PROVIDING YOU
WITH THE PRODUCTS AND
SERVICES YOU DESERVE.
Viega MegaPress Systems
For hydronic and gas applications
Viega MegaPress is the only clean, secure and effi cient choice for joining black iron pipe. It is suitable for renovations, repairs or installation of new steel pipe systems. Differentiated by sealing elements, Viega MegaPress for hydronic applications has a black EPDM sealing element and a green dot on the exterior.
In addition to the factory-installed EPDM sealing element, Viega MegaPress fi ttings are provided with a 304 stainless steel separator ring and a 420 stainless steel grip ring approved for use in hydronic heating, compressed air, fi re protection and cooling water applications.
All Viega MegaPress fi ttings are constructed with the patented Smart Connect feature, providing installers added confi dence in their ability to ensure the integrity of connections.
For more information, call 800-976-9819 or visit www.viega.us
T H E G L O B A L L E A D E R I N P L U M B I N G , H E A T I N G A N D P I P E J O I N I N G S Y S T E M Sv i e g a v o i c e • w w w . v i e g a . u s 5
OLD BUILDING GETS NEW LIFE ON CAMPUST he industrial-style Tobey Building on the New
Hampshire Hospital campus in Concord, NH, was
part of a larger campus renovation. Originally built in
1930 as a home for male patients, today the building is
home to the State Depart of Employment Security and
is considered to have one of the most state-of-the-art
HVAC systems in the U.S.
SAM Mechanical Services, LLC, a commercial
plumbing and HVAC company in New Hampshire,
helped the facility and Lavalle Brensinger Architects
design and install the new HVAC system.
This unique, green cooling system significantly
reduces cooling costs. Power plants that serve New
Hampshire must keep their output stable in order to
provide needed electricity during peak daytime hours,
but during off-peak hours overnight, the unused
electricity goes to waste. As a result, local power plants
provide special pricing during off-peak hours, which is
metered separately. The off-peak ice storage
production cooling system uses this reduced-rate
electricity to greatest advantage.
The system uses chillers to make and store ice in
underground tanks overnight. During the day, when
other buildings of comparable size have chiller systems
running full bore, the Tobey Building is saving money by
cooling with a recirculating water loop integrated into the
underground ice tanks.
...IT WAS IMPORTANT TO CHOOSE A PRODUCT THAT WOULDN’T LEAK, GIVING ME PEACE OF MIND THAT I WAS HELPING KEEP THIS HISTORICAL BUILDING SAFE AND SECURE...
- Steve April, Owner, SAM Mechanical
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SAM Mechanical installed Viega MegaPress fittings
for the chilled water applications, an additional savings
factor for the building.
“We had several miles of pipe on each floor,” said
Steve April, owner of SAM Mechanical. “It was a green
design concept where everyone else’s bid went
with geothermal.”
An efficient system all around, the time required
to transition the Tobey Building to this unique system
was critical, given the number of components that had
to come together to make it happen and perform to
required specifications.
“From our perspective we were able to pipe it up in
less time and overall less cost using Viega MegaPress
fittings,” April said. “It cuts labor in so many ways and
removes the sometimes-frequent problem of threading
and cutting equipment that’s not working properly.
The Tobey job, which had thousands of fittings, saved
at least 50% of piping installation time.”
Viega has the only press system for black iron pipe
installations that covers hydronic applications with
MegaPress and Viega MegaPressG
for gas systems.
With system-matched tools and
jaws, connections are made in less
than seven seconds, making Viega
MegaPress suitable for virtually
any type of project. For the Tobey
Building, where time and quality
counted, SAM Mechanical trusted
Viega to get the job done right the
first time.
“I would encourage anyone
considering using Viega MegaPress
to do it,” April said. “At the end of the day a big job can
have a substantial savings especially in labor. As far
as the Tobey Building, with that many fittings, it was
important to choose a product that wouldn’t leak, giving
me peace of mind that I was helping keep this historical
building safe and secure for decades to come.”
SAM Mechanical used Viega MegaPress for chilled water in a state-of-the-art HVAC system.
The Tobey Building has a unique form of cooling that uses chillers to make ice that is stored underground.
v i e g a v o i c e • w w w . v i e g a . u s 7
SOLUTIONS FOR THE CRAFT BEER CRAZE
I n today’s growing craft beer market, there are many
things that make a good beer, but for most breweries,
it’s the ingredients that make a great beer.
Any good chef will tell you that it takes more than
just a list of ingredients to produce a great dish — it’s
the people who prepare it that make it unforgettable.
That idea proves true in this industry where grain,
hops, yeast and water combine to make beer — but
the passion, personality and do-it-yourself brewers are
creating nothing short of art.
In 2014 there were 3,464 U.S. breweries registered
with the Brewers Association, brewing a combined
22.2 million barrels — twice what was produced in
2011. While the craft beer market has taken off over the
last decade, the surge in number breweries hasn’t yet
matched the 4,131 recorded to be in operation during
Prohibition — though current production volume is far
above 1873’s nine million barrels.
Today breweries across the globe are using Viega
products to ramp up production even more in this
fast-growing market. From keeping beer cold, to
using compressed air lines to run equipment, Viega is
helping breweries stay on the top of their game. On
the following pages we feature three such breweries
that exemplify the success that can come with an
entrepreneurial spirit and willingness to pour years of
blood, sweat and tears into a dream.
SOMETIMES IN LIFE WHEN THINGS DON’T GO QUITE THE WAY YOU EXPECT THEM TO, IT PUSHES YOU DOWN ANOTHER PATH.
- Rhett Keisler, Co-Owner, Revolver Brewery
8 v i e g a v o i c e • N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 5
R evolver Brewery, a family-owned brewery
located on 16 acres in Grandbury, TX, produces
well-balanced, full-flavored beers. Co-owners, Rhett
Keisler and his father Ron say it’s the combination of
experience and a unique water source that have made
the business successful enough to expand.
“I had the thought of starting a brewery, but it was
kind of a pipe dream. Sometimes in life when things
don’t go quite the way you expect them to, it pushes
you down another path,” Keisler said. “If I'd had a
steady job with a nice paycheck, it might have been
difficult to take that leap of faith, but it was one of those
situations where I said; I don’t have anything to lose
here; and I just went for it.”
From the beginning, Keisler’s team did all the work
themselves. Every resource
they had was put to good use,
including the water. Revolver
Brewery uses fresh water
from its own well, fed by the
Trinity Aquifer, to make
the beer.
“There are ingredients,
and there’s art,” Keisler said.
“What sets us apart right
off the bat is that our water
comes from an aquifer
680 feet underground,
and that is a very stable
water source. It is what it
is. Our water profile has a
fingerprint of its own.”
Because beer is made mostly of water and as
Keisler says, “our water tastes fantastic,” it proves that
water is a defining factor in what makes Revolver’s beer
unique. But what good is having great water if you can’t
keep the beer cold? That’s where Viega comes in.
Revolver Brewery used Viega ProPress in 3" copper
to run the water and glycol mix that keeps the beer
cold. It required something in a larger diameter that
they could install themselves and would withstand the
cold temperatures.
“It’s critical for us to keep our beer cold. The
quickest way to go out of business is to let your beer go
out of temperature, so Viega is a very important solution
for us,” Keisler said. “Viega gave us a solution that was
quick, easy and affordable, and being able to do it right
and by ourselves is great.”
The crew at Revolver installed nine new 240-barrel
fermenting tanks as part of an expansion. Revolver
produced 14,903 barrels in 2014, and after the
expansion expect to produce more than 20,000 barrels
in 2015. To maintain its current production amounts,
the brewery had to install the tanks and plumbing lines
while the system was live.
“It was nice that we didn’t have to shut the water
down – you can do it under full pressure,” said Ricky
Hicks, Maintenance Supervisor for Revolver. “We had
a valve that was leaking, and we couldn't shut it off.
We had to put a new valve in.
We cut it off and put Viega
ProPress on there under
pressure, shut it off, and
we were done.”
Hicks estimated it would
have taken them twice
as long to finish if they
had soldered and Keisler
is confident that Viega
products will be used again
in the future. Revolver is
building a wastewater
treatment plant that will
treat the groundwater
they use so it can be
recycled to clean tanks and in
other processed water applications. Since Texas has
experienced a severe drought in recent years, Keisler
understands the importance of this
precious commodity.
“That’s our lifeblood out here. We want to make
sure we protect it,” Keisler said. “Our well will only do
so much. We want to make sure we're leaving that
capacity for brewing purposes, so the more we can
reuse, the better off we are. It's the green thing to do,
and it's also something we need to do.”
REVOLVER BREWERY
v i e g a v o i c e • w w w . v i e g a . u s 9
W ith the recent completion of a $45 million
expansion, Founders Brewing Co. now
encompasses an entire city block in Grand Rapids, MI
and boasts the production space necessary to keep up
with the increasing demand for its award-winning beers.
“The goal of the expansion is to continue producing
great beer and continue to expand Founders’
distribution footprint so our beer is even more available
to beer enthusiasts,” Dave Engbers, Co-Founder and
President, explained.
Started by two homebrewers in 1997, Engbers and
co-founder Mike Stevens said goodbye to their day
jobs and pursued a shared dream. It was not always
easy and the two found themselves near bankruptcy
as they tried to fit into the norm of creating a well-
balanced beer. With nothing left to lose, they decided
to go out with a bang by making the kind of beer they
dreamed of in the first place. The result has undeniably
been well received.
“Founders brews complex in-your-face ales with
huge aromatics and tons of flavor,” Engbers said.
Today, Founders is one of the highest recognized
breweries in the U.S. Their year-round beer repertoire
includes All Day IPA, Dirty Bastard, Centennial IPA, a
dry-hopped pale ale, and a porter. They can be found all
over the U.S. The production levels for these beers and
others had to remain stable during the expansion. Eric
Sochor, Industrial Maintenance Technician for Founders,
knew that in order to meet the project deadline he
would need to find a
way to save time.
“Founders is
renowned for having
very stringent
timelines,” Sochor
said. “We took on
a project under full
production and
decided to do this
expansion while
still maintaining our
present production
levels. We only had a few weeks that we were able to
get in here and do this install.”
Sochor had heard of Viega ProPress for stainless
and decided to use it in the installation of hot and cold
process water, compressed air, CO2 and chemical
disinfecting lines. He estimates 4,000 feet of pipe
was used, a significant amount for a small-to-medium-
sized brewery.
Founders Brewing Company used Viega ProPress for stainless and copper for processed water and compressed air.
FOUNDERS BREWING COMPANY
1 0 v i e g a v o i c e • N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 5
I f you believe that small breweries can take on the
world of megabrewers then you might also believe
that Coppertail is a sea monster that lives in Tampa
Bay, FL − at least according to the young daughter of
Kent Bailey, founder of Coppertail Brewery.
Even though they just opened their doors in 2014,
Coppertail is already building on to their existing space.
Right around the corner from the brewery is McLain
Plumbing & Mechanical and owner Tom McLain got
involved in the remodel thanks to his close proximity
to the brewery.
Originally tasked with simply installing new drains
at the request of the general contractor, McLain
eventually bid and received the entire HVAC job.
THE BREWMASTER WAS THINKING OF WELDING AND I SAID ‘NO YOU DON'T NEED TO WELD ALL THAT. WE'LL PRESS IT.’
- Tom McLain, Owner, McLain Plumbing & Mechanical
COPPERTAIL BREWERY
BREWED WITH PASSION, QUALITY AND PATIENCE
"The majority of it was stainless, and it looks really
good,” Sochor said. “The time savings was a big factor.
It takes so much longer to weld pipe when we could
just get up there and press it
and be done with it.”
Sochor also saw savings
in other forms, including
being able to utilize in-house
employees rather than hiring
out welding work, and he
appreciated knowing that
Viega’s sealing element in the
304 stainless could withstand
the cleaning process.
“Viega offers an FKM
sealing element that can be
cleaned with the chemicals
that we use,” Sochor said. “If
we did get something in one of
our lines, we could go back through and clean it and
not worry about the seal.”
Even after 18 years, the core of Engber and
Stevens's business remains the same.
“It's not about how big you are going to get,”
Stevens said. “It's about a group of individuals who
would not take no for an answer.”
McLain used Viega ProPress for 304 Stainless
for filtered heating and cooling water, CO2 and
compressed air.
“The brewmaster said he wanted to use stainless
steel, and he was thinking of welding and I said ‘you
don’t need to weld all that. We’ll press it,’” McLain
said. “So we showed him all about press and we went
from there. It’s a very clean job, and you don’t have to
worry about any leaks, which is what I like.”
Coppertail doesn’t filter its beer, they use whole
leaf hops and natural carbonation; only the natural
carbonation takes longer, but as the saying goes:
good things come to those who wait.
V iega is proud to have offered unique solutions
for the growing number of craft beer
enthusiasts. Revolver, Founders and Coppertail
wouldn’t be where they are today without the
right combination of ingredients: passion, quality
and patience.
As Revolvers Ron Keisler said, “It’s about making
sure we leave the right legacy, if there is such a thing.
I would like people to look at us and say that’s one of
the best darn breweries out there. There are a lot of
breweries out there, but I want to make sure we always
have our mind focused on the beer because that’s
what we’re in business to do. We want people to know
that we take the extra steps to make sure things are
done the right way.”
TAKING THE LEAD
Viega’s EPDM elastomer
is now certified FDA-
compliant, an essential
metric for suppliers in
the food and beverage
industry. In addition,
our EPDM elastomer
passed a major brewery’s
taste verification process.
v i e g a v o i c e • w w w . v i e g a . u s 1 1
BREAKING GROUND IN THE U.S. MANUFACTURING INDUSTRYT exas Refinery Corporation (TRC) accomplished
something that hasn’t been done in the U.S. in
the last 25 years – it built a lubrication plant.
Established in 1922, the family-owned business
produces specialty lubricants and protective coatings
such as oils, grease, gear lubricants, cleaners and
sealants. TRC products are used to help protect
equipment as well as a company’s capital investments
in industries including manufacturing, agriculture, waste
management, drilling, mining and steel mills. When the
company was ready for expansion, it built an entirely
new facility in Mansfield, TX.
“In the early planning stages, TRC knew this
plant needed to be special,” said Dennis Parks,
Executive Vice President at TRC. “We wanted a plant
so special that other companies would model their
future production facilities after this state-of-the-art
manufacturing facility.”
The facility represents TRC’s investment in the
future, and attention to every detail was important. TRC
spent 2015 working with A&G Piping, a mechanical
contractor out of Fort Worth, TX, to build the facility
from the ground up. A&G Piping has worked with
Viega’s systems for more than a decade and knew it
was the right solution for
the refinery.
“I’ve used all the
Viega products,” said
Tracy Auen, owner of
A&G Piping. “They save
a lot of labor time. You
can cut in on a line
where a valve is not
holding and not worry
about sweating it.
It’s a much simpler
installation process.”
Auen installed Viega MegaPress in ½" to 2" for
compressed air and Viega ProPress for copper in ½"
to 1½" for potable water and estimates he saved 30%
installation time over soldering. One of the best features
of Viega fittings, according to Auen, is the quality of
the fittings.
“When we know we're getting Viega fittings,
regardless whether it's the stainless, copper, or − in the
case of the refinery − carbon steel, we rarely have any
issues with the quality of workmanship,” Auen said.
Auen was introduced to Viega ProPress for stainless
in 2003 during a project at a local brewery and
recommends it to his colleagues. “Change is not easy.
Even I'm a creature of habit,” he said. “Even if you've
never done it before, just give it a shot.”
The involvement of three companies known for
devotion to providing customers with the best products
THIS WORLD-CLASS FACILITY IS A COMMITMENT TO OUR CUSTOMERS.
- Dennis Parks, Executive Vice President, TRC
1 2 v i e g a v o i c e • N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 5
– two of the three breaking new ground in the U.S. –
makes the trio’s partnership seem almost serendipitous.
“It is important for TRC that its customers, who
are valued friends, know they are getting the best
products for the best protection and performance, at
the best value,” Parks said. “This world-class facility is a
commitment to our customers.”
Viega is also showing its commitment to
customers by breaking new ground in the U.S. with
the construction of a metals manufacturing facility in
McPherson, KS. The approximately 80,000-square-
foot facility, scheduled to open in early 2016, will
manufacture the very Viega MegaPress line that was
used throughout TRC’s new facility. As A&G Piping
continues its work at the refinery, knowing that Viega
is invested in its U.S. manufacturing operations makes
him confident that the product he is using will continue
to help him do his job.
“The cost savings on labor is huge with Viega
MegaPress,” Auen said. “Being able to install it even if
the line is live is a big benefit. It’s a simple product to
install. It doesn’t take years of training. It simplifies the
skill level to install, but you don’t sacrifice on the
final quality.”
IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
Viega ProPress Systems are taking business to the next level at Minnesota Petroleum, where the 40-year-old company is integrating Viega ProPress in projects every chance it gets.
Bret Swan—owner of the complete fuel and related services company—was first introduced 10 years ago and his company now proudly utilizes Viega ProPress systems in various materials throughout its operations.
In Minnesota Petroleum’s showcase product, Aviation Refueling Cabinets, Product Designer Tracey Deutsch praised Viega ProPress for 304 stainless for the consistency, the efficiency of assembly and testing as well as the clean look and great function with no leaks in the finished unit.
“The safety of using the system is one thing, but the speed and reliability is what our customers really like,” Swan said. “It looks like the next product to be integrated into our company is Viega MegaPress and MegaPressG.”
COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MN
Viega MegaPress helped Texas Refinery Corporation save 30% on installation time at a new lubrication plant.
v i e g a v o i c e • w w w . v i e g a . u s 1 3
G asping at the top of a hill in
Southern California, Marine
Chad James could only think about
his grandfather. Disappointing Harold
James was not an option. So he kept
moving. He gave four years to the
Marine Corps. He made it back alive.
Then, he accepted the reins of his
family's business, in memory of
his grandfather.
In the city of cowboys, Chad
and his father David are carrying on
the legacy of one of the city's most
well-known and respected plumbing
companies. Harold James, Inc. is a
full-service, medium-sized plumbing
company based in Fort Worth, TX.
According to David, Harold was a hard-
headed, strictly business kind of man
with a knack for remembering even the
small details, even model numbers
for parts.
Focusing on primarily commercial
projects, the reputation Harold James
built up has led to not only great
referrals, but attracts the top plumbing
apprentices in the area. The business
has employed several graduates of
the five-year program at Fort Worth
Local Plumbers and Pipe Fitters
Apprenticeship Training at Local 146.
It’s the work ethic and the skills that
Harold James embodied and passed
down to his son and grandson that
made the business the highly regarded
institution it is today.
“All the younger guys were in awe of him,” Chad
said. “It wasn't just me − we were all in awe of him,”
Chad said. “You knew if something went south on a job,
that he would be there to bail you out.”
While some struggle with what they want to be when
they grow up, Chad knew from the time he was in
second or third grade. He wanted
to work alongside his dad
and granddad.
“I worked up here a few times in high
school over the summer,” Chad said. “But my granddad
said ‘I don’t really want you coming to work here. Go
to work for another contractor or go into the military or
whatever you want to do.’”
KEEPING A LEGACY ALIVE
Above: David and Chad James in their front office with a portrait of the business’s namesake, Harold James. Right: From left to right David James, Harold James, Chad James and his brother Dyer James, at Chad’s wedding in 1996.
1 4 v i e g a v o i c e • N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 5
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS IT WON'T WORK. IT'S OUR JOB TO MAKE IT WORK. IF WE CAN'T MAKE IT WORK THEY DON'T NEED US.
- Harold James, Former Owner, Harold James, Inc.
Harold James served in the U.S. Navy from 1946
to 1948, and when he returned home, he worked for a
couple of different plumbing companies before heading
out on his own in 1961. He operated the business out of
his home until he purchased the current location in 1977.
James’s service in the military is what motivated
Chad to join the U.S. Marines. Knowing he would
someday take over the family business, Chad worked
in water purification, purifying the drinking water for
the troops. But his real expertise came from his time
in Korea. He was part of the First Marine Division Rifle
Pistol Team while in Korea and taught marksmanship
his last two years in the service, having served from
1994 to 1998.
“Even today, what keeps me going is the thought
of disappointing my grandfather,” Chad said. “I stayed
out of trouble when I was a kid because the thought of
letting him down would hurt me. When I was going to
boot camp, I was thinking ‘this sucks.’ There are some
serious hills out in southern California. You go up those
with a 60-pound pack, and you don't stop halfway up to
rest. You go to the top. You're slobbering, snot coming
out and everything, and I used to think, man, I can't go
back and face him and tell him I couldn't do this. That's
what would keep me going.”
Upon returning from the military, not wanting to be
labeled as the boss's son, Chad went to work for various
HVAC companies including Johnson Controls, Texas
Air, and Trane. In the meantime, Chad’s father David
and his wife Mary purchased the
company from Harold
and took over the
business in 1998. Mary
handled the inside staff,
and David took care of
the crews onsite. Harold
James passed away in
2004. David asked Chad
to come to work for him in
2013, the same year Mary
passed away. For the last
two years, father and son
have worked together, finding
strength in the lessons Harold
James taught them. Both agree that Harold James never
cut them any slack on the job just because they were
related. In fact, they were pushed harder than most.
“I’ve always told him I went through the same thing.
He had it hard, but not as hard as me,” David said. “I
started out sweeping floors in high school. Every job
that was difficult, like digging a ditch, well I’m the one
who did it. It didn’t hurt me. He did it to make a better
person out of me.”
Ironically enough, Chad earned his master
plumbing license at the same time his dad received his
journeyman license, although according to Chad, “My
dad could out-plumb me any day.” The two have a solid
relationship, so much so that the business is about to
become a third generation plumbing company. Chad will
soon take the reins of the business, bringing with him
the knowledge, passion and good customer base built
up by his father and grandfather.
“There is no such thing as it won’t work. It’s our job
to make it work. If we can’t make it work they don’t need
us,” Chad remembers his grandfather saying.
If Harold James were still with us today, peeking into
the office where his portrait now hangs proudly, David
and Chad know he would be proud of how far they’ve
come and how they keep his legacy alive.
“He’d be on cloud nine,” David said. “I was always
afraid, especially after he passed away, I would ask
myself, ‘Am I going to be able to keep this thing going?’
But everything just fell into place. I always have it in the
back of my head that I don’t want anything to happen to
this place.”
Chad chimes in, “I am my worst critic, but deep
down I know I can do it. I’ve had some pretty good
challenges in my life and I’ve come out on top.”
v i e g a v o i c e • w w w . v i e g a . u s 1 5
A fter a decade of anticipation, the approaching
completion of Opal Sands Resort is revitalizing a
site that was previously home to a Clearwater Beach,
FL landmark.
Before being demolished in 2005, the Adam’s Mark
Hotel stood at the spot where a lively beach resort will
soon open its doors. The Adam’s Mark hotel chain —
which at its peak included more than 20 luxury hotels —
adorned the coast of the Gulf Shore for nearly
30 years.
Developed by Ocean Properties, one of the largest
hotel chains with brands that include Marriott, Hilton,
Sheraton, Holiday Inn and Westin, Opal Sands Resort
will bring Vegas luxury to the east coast in 2016. The
crescent-shaped, 15-story resort features ocean views
from the balconies of each of its 230 rooms.
From the warm, sandy beach to the full-service
spa, guests can expect nothing less than perfection.
That’s why
hotels all across
the world are
now choosing
Viega’s complete
plumbing
solution. Guests
at luxury hotels
know when they
turn on the tap,
there will be
no wait for the
water to get hot,
and contractors know they are saving time and money
by doing it right the first time.
Dan Mantione, Superintendent at Ackerman
Plumbing in Sarasota, FL, is using a hybrid system for
Opal Sands Resort. Ackerman Plumbing installed Viega
ProPress for copper in ½" to 4" for potable water that
transitioned into Viega PEX Press fittings with ViegaPEX
Ultra tubing and Viega manifolds to feed the hot and
cold lines to each fixture. Manitone said he’s saved up to
50% in labor compared to soldering. Tiki torches outside
and the gas lines to the all eight of the resort’s kitchens
use Viega MegaPressG in ½" to 1".
“The system is fantastic. It’s really working out well,”
said Manitone. “Time-wise the system is very user-
friendly especially having the different-colored pipe, you
can visually identify them very quickly to see if there’s
any mistakes or crossed lines.”
A Viega representative provided training that walked
workers in each department through the ins-and-outs
of installation. They explained what to do, what not
to do, and showed tricks of the trade. Feedback from
employees has been positive and they quickly became
familiar and confident with the process, Manitone said.
“The press tool makes it really easy and really fast,”
he explained. “They like the fact that they don’t have
to carry around additional safety equipment — a fire
extinguisher or fire watch guy.”
Manitone added that support throughout the project
has been outstanding. When a press gun broke near the
end of a work day, Manitone was impressed with the fast
response from his sales representative.
“I called him at 4:30 p.m., and he had a gun in my
hand the next day,” Manitone said.
On this fast-paced project, Manitone emphasized
the impact Viega products are making in other aspects
as well. Viega MegaPressG for diesel lines is being used
for the emergency generator and Viega ProPress for
stainless for biofuel.
“The product saved a lot of time, a lot of training,”
said Manitone. “It takes a full day of training for every
guy I hire, so that aspect definitely saves me time. I can
use the same guys because they’re already trained on
the system. It’s just different piping.”
The ease of training, safety and man-hours saved by
using Viega products have added to the excitement in
being part of creating a luxury, Vegas-style hotel on the
shore of the Gulf Coast.
“I wouldn’t go with another product,” said Manitone.
“With the service and the training Viega supplied, it’s a
definite saver, and I’d recommend it to everyone.”
LIVELY BEACH-FRONT RESORT BRINGS VEGAS LUXURY TO EAST COAST
1 6 v i e g a v o i c e • N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 5
A large-scale condo project has Bear’s Plumbing in Naples, FL making the switch from Viega crimp fittings to Viega PEX Press.
Boasting a location in downtown Naples, FL and multiple floor plan options that feature open-concept design and open-air terraces, Naples Square’s condominiums are being constructed with luxury in mind. The inclusion of Viega PEX Press Systems and Viega MegaPressG from ½" to 1" is a seamless addition to the Naples Square development, where quality design and private amenities have set the bar high.
Naples Square will be constructed in four phases, with phase one expected to reach completion soon. The condominium community will consist of 300 units, priced from around $600,000 on up.
This was the first time Chris Stephens, Project Manager with Bear’s Plumbing, Naples, FL, had used the Viega PEX Press system in a full-scale application before the Naples Square project.
“So far we’re very pleased with the installation,” Stephens said. “The ViegaPEX tubing and PEX Press fittings are very easy to work with.”
Stephens was converted from hand crimping to Viega PEX Press fittings due to the size of the job and he estimates he saved 20% in labor by making the switch.
“There's nothing wrong with crimp. But it does take longer, and there's more room for error,” Stephens said. “Press is the new standard.”
NAPLES, FL
IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
Brass2Copper Mechanical, Inc. in Las Vegas, NV, is a residential plumbing contractor with a 25-year history of excellence. The contractor has been installing two-pipe ViegaPEX tubing systems and manifolds since the early 2000s and recently made the switch to Viega PEX Press fittings instead of crimp.
“It’s user friendly,” said Rob Blazek, owner of Brass2Copper Mechanical. “The crews in the field can install it easily. We’ve had no issues with any kind of defects, whether it’s the tubing or the fittings. The tools are easy to maintain. And there are no torches on the jobsite.”
Brass2Copper Mechanical does work for 15 different builders, including Pulte Homes, a national leader in energy-efficient homebuilding.
“With ViegaPEX, the biggest benefit for us is how easy it is to install,” Blazek said. “You have very few joints because the ViegaPEX has an 18-inch radius turn. That cuts down on a lot of joints when you compare it to copper. It’s just easy.”
LAS VEGAS, NV
v i e g a v o i c e • w w w . v i e g a . u s 1 7
F or some people finding their passion in life comes
naturally. That was the case for Nate Goodwin,
owner of All Points Boats in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, who
spent his summers on the water at his grandfather’s
camp on Catalina Island. The time spent swimming,
fishing and sailing led Goodwin to lifelong love of
the water.
In Goodwin’s case, the boating
industry he loves so much is part of the
nation’s trend toward luxury items that
advertise privacy and exclusivity. So far
this year, 300 superyachts have been
sold according to www.boatinternational.
com. The bigger the yachts get, the more
complicated they are to fix, which is where
Goodwin comes in.
All Points Boats, Inc., has been
working on megayachts in South Florida’s
Lauderdale Marine Center (LMC) for
close to 20 years. What began as a small
operation now boasts a waterfront office,
stockroom, machine shop, fiberglass molding shop
and wood shop. For Goodwin, repairing yachts is an
increasingly complex job that requires highly trained and
motivated people willing to get their hands dirty.
All Points Boats is one of the few repair companies
knowledgeable about specialty reinforcements and other
advanced materials. These processes are increasingly
commonplace in modern boat shops and Goodwin has
developed a reputation for his company’s expertise in
composite repair.
“I was raised on the water,” Goodwin said. “And I
know the kind of quality work that even the pickiest of
boat owners look for when his yacht needs repairs.”
Goodwin uses Viega SeaPress, a copper-nickel
system designed specifically to hold up to the harsh
environments of the sea. Goodwin uses Viega SeaPress
for air conditioning, raw water intake cooling systems
and fire protection main. He uses Viega ProPress for
stainless in fresh water cooling applications as well as
fuel lines.
“We do a lot of water systems in the copper-nickel
system because of the longevity of the product. It lasts a
lot longer than other materials,” Goodwin said. “And it’s
KEEPING MEGAYACHTS AFLOAT A FULL-TIME JOB
All Points Boats have been working with Viega SeaPress, a copper-nickel system, on megayachts all over Florida.
1 8 v i e g a v o i c e • N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 5
easier for us to go into a boat and make a repair or add
a piece of equipment without having to do any welding.
It definitely saves a lot of aggravation.”
Working on boats of this caliber requires a staff
of highly trained and specialized employees, many of
which have been with Goodwin since the beginning.
All Points Boat’s team of 45 includes pipefitters who
have built a stellar, world-wide reputation for inspecting,
removing, fabricating and installing pipe and fitting
systems to strict Lloyd’s and ABS standards. Viega
SeaPress carries type approvals for Lloyd’s Register,
ABS, U.S. Coast Guard, DNV, and many others.
“With the approvals and Viega being able to answer
questions and get us parts in a quick turnaround, we are
able to present quotes that are comparable to a welding
job in the same amount of time really effectively,”
Goodwin said. “And it’s a cleaner package when we
deliver to the boat. They know what they are getting – a
warranty, all their paperwork for the class society and
the big kicker is they don’t have a bunch of welders and
hot work going on in these multi-billion dollar interiors
and engine rooms.”
In fact, All Points Boats is one of the few authorized
installers for all class society boats that adhere to
those standards. Goodwin said they have such a great
relationship with Viega and the class societies that when
they propose to use Viega products, they don’t have to
go through the rigorous scrutiny.
“They put us on the fast track,” Goodwin said. “They
have confidence in it, and they know the people behind
the scene that can get them the paperwork. It works out
real well.”
Goodwin has used other press technology fittings
in the past, but it’s the support he gets from the sales
representatives that sold him on using Viega systems.
“We steered away from other press systems due
to the difficulty in getting parts, the tools, product
support, and our biggest concern is are they going to
keep making them in five years so we can get parts,”
Goodwin said. “With Viega if we have to go make a
repair I know we can get parts and get in there and get
it done.”
WE DO A LOT OF WATER SYSTEMS IN THE COPPER-NICKEL SYSTEM BECAUSE OF THE LONGEVITY OF THE PRODUCT...
- Nate Goodwin, Owner, All Points Boats
v i e g a v o i c e • w w w . v i e g a . u s 1 9
T here is no secret to navigating
the sea of codes and standards.
There have been millions of additions
and modifications to plumbing
specifications and regulations since
Herbert C. Hoover and Roy B. Hunter, the fathers of
modern plumbing codes, came into the picture in the
1920s. These regulations affect every product that hits
the market, so it’s important for companies like Viega
to have a role in the development and implementation
of today’s codes and standards. But to understand all
the work Viega has done, one must understand how the
rules are made.
BEHIND THE SCENES
N ational model codes are published on a three-year
cycle, but the code development work goes on
for two-to-three-years prior to the publishing year. There
are two major code bodies in the U.S., but they both are
developed in the same general format.
In the years leading up to a publication, there are
specific steps to complete, including deadlines for
the following:
1. Code change/additions submittals.
Anyone can submit a code change proposal.
2. Publication of proposed submittals for public review.
3. Technical Committee Hearings are held where
anyone can attend and participate/testify. The
committee decides on actions and reasons for
actions, which are then published. The committee will
decide by simple majority vote if a proposal can be
approved as submitted, approved with modifications,
or disapproved.
4. Publication of committee actions. Public
comments are sought on all approved and
disapproved proposals. Anyone is allowed
to submit comments.
5. Publication of public comments. The public
comments are published, generally including any
preceding versions of the proposal, actions taken,
reasons and supporting documentation.
6. Public comment hearings. Public comment
hearings are held, which anyone can attend and
testify for or against a proposed code change.
Alternatively, there may be hearings in front
of a technical committee.
7. Final vote. After all hearings are concluded and
arguments have been received, the respective code
body official voting members make the final decision
whether or not a proposal will be accepted. Results
are posted and new edition published.
DEFINES IMPORTANCE
TESTING
MANUFACTURING
USAGE
SHOWS COMPLIANCE
DEFINES PRODUCT
LEGAL REQUIREMENT
HOW CODES, STANDARDS AND PRODUCT CERTIFICATIONS WORK
Codes define where a product may be
used and references applicable standards.
• The Listings outline the test parameters
by passing of which a manufacturer
shows compliance to a standard.
• Standards define the requirements a
product must meet in order to be used
in an application.
• Code compliance is a legal requirement.
AN OVERVIEW OF THE CODES AND STANDARDS GROUP
CODE DEVELOPMENT, CODE CYCLES AND REGIONAL/LOCAL ADOPTIONS
By Martin Knieps, Director of Technical Marketing, Viega LLC
2 0 v i e g a v o i c e • N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 5
Once the new national model code is published,
each regional or local jurisdiction has the option to
accept all the code, portions of the code, or to keep the
existing code as it is. Many jurisdictions choose to work
with a code publication several years behind the most
recent model code. Depending on the state, and even
municipalities within a state, the choice of which code
a jurisdiction will follow can differ greatly.
The code development processes make bringing
new products to the market a challenge as code
proposals must be clear and not subjective in nature.
Interpretations of code language can vary from region
to region, so code development language must be
carefully drafted to avoid loose interpretations of the
code section.
For this reason, Viega LLC addresses regional and
local codes through the Technical Management group,
whose members are spread
throughout the U.S. Often
times challenges that are
presented in a regional
jurisdiction eventually find
their way into the national
model codes therefore the
role of Viega’s Technical
Manager group is significant
in communicating these
regional matters to
the model codes
development group.
MODEL CODE DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES
T he Codes and Standards group at Viega LLC is
composed of two Managers, Frank Shingleton and
Nate Buzzard, and two Industry Liaisons, Gary Morgan
and Mark Fasel, with nearly 100 years of combined
industry experience. This team formally represents the
company towards all code bodies, standards, testing
agencies and industry organizations related to the
applications of their products. Each member serves on
several committees and associations, including ASTM,
CSA, ASSE, NSF International, PPFA and AWWA.
Viega Codes and Standards separate between
regulatory, standards committee and code work.
Regulatory work encompasses all activities related to
listings and certifications for new or existing products,
compliance audits and certification testing. In the last
two years they have put a lot more focus on standards
and codes work. Viega products are used in a lot of
different applications, also beyond the borders of the
U.S., and they must be prepared to address all of them.
As part of the Technical Marketing department,
the group also provides internal support on matters
of product compliance or requirement, such as
product development.
Most recently Viega has been actively participating
in the 2018 International Code (ICC) development
cycle for what is known as the “A” group of codes
consisting of commercial and residential plumbing and
mechanical codes, as well as the fuel gas and general
building codes. In total, Viega prepared and submitted
approximately 20 code proposals, either directly
or indirectly.
“Often manufacturers, such as Viega, submit their
code proposals through trade organizations representing
an entire industry, which of course lend them added
credibility,” said Morgan. “The Plastic Pipe and Fittings
Association (PPFA) is one of the trade organizations we
are a part of, for this reason amongst others.”
Most of the proposals made through PPFA were
successful on the first round of hearings by gaining the
approval of the technical committees. One particular
code proposal, which was important to the PEX industry,
was to gain code acceptance for using compressed air
to pressure test PEX hydronic systems during and after
a concrete pour. For more information on this proposal
visit www.viega.us.
Viega also addresses code proposals which need
to be opposed as they could hurt the industry as a
whole as well as Viega’s own interests if approved and
adopted into the new model code. Morgan estimates
that approximately three-fourths of the proposals
Viega tracks fall into this category. While some of
these proposals could obviously restrict competition or
promote a single manufacturer’s product, most are well-
meaning and with good justification, but it is important
there are no unintended consequences.
“If you are not actively participating in the code
development process sooner or later there will be code
language adopted which could eliminate or greatly
hinder the use of your company’s products,”
Morgan said. “The best approach to successful
code development is to make sure you are
actively participating and have done your
homework ahead of time − gaining as much
support from industry peers as possible.
The code development process can be
highly political at times and
as such it’s paramount to
maintain the highest degree of
professionalism at all times to
maintain credibility in
the industry.”
Should you require assistance
gaining approvals for Viega LLC
products due to State or local
adopted code language, please
contact your local District
Manager who can direct you
to any necessary technical data
or work within the State or
local code development
process to update the codes
to recognize new and
innovative construction
technology advances of the
Viega product lines.
For the
full story, get the
Viega Voice App. Available
for iPad, Android and
Amazon Kindle Fire tablets.
v i e g a v o i c e • w w w . v i e g a . u s 2 1
N ot many people would define
professional development
as fun. Not the eager intern who
is told on day one that they will be
relegated to a room for two weeks of
on-boarding. Not the manager who is
asked to stay an extra hour after work
for training on the company’s software upgrade. Not
even the CEO who received an invitation to the latest-
greatest leadership conference.
The reality, however, is that education and training are
necessary to doing a job within the prescripts of the role,
ideals of the company, qualifications of the discipline,
and regulations for the industry.
The last part of that statement — regulations — is
one reason that has brought education and training
to the forefront of conversation in
our industry.
In my short time in the
plumbing, heating and cooling
industries, two major legislative
actions have impacted the
contractors, engineers and
manufacturers that I interact with
on a daily basis: the Reduction of
Lead in Drinking Water Act, and
the National Appliance Energy
Conservation Act. The first act
mentioned was enacted in 2014, and the latter just
one year later in 2015. The way in which some of the
professionals I have spoken to have described dealing
with such legislative changes is like being on a treadmill
that does not have a stop/pause button. They are
constantly playing catch-up.
And, it does not seem like the game will be over soon.
The growing social interest in efficiency is permeating the
legislative world. As a result, in coming years there could
be a rapid-fire of new regulations, codes, and standards.
Call that the bad news. The good news is that our
industry has already begun developing ways to make
education and training more accessible.
I have been invited to and attended various education
and training events in our industry. Many of these events
have taken place at national conferences or companies’
headquarters. However, in the past year, I have
been exposed to less traditional education and
training opportunities.
Just last month, I attended Viega’s Pathogen Control
by Design seminar in Houston, TX. The seminar was
part of the company’s 2015 U.S. seminar series. Since
2004, Viega has been conducting seminars at various
locations to meet customers’ needs to access learning at
a destination within their region instead of having to use
more time, and in some instances more money, to travel
across the country.
“Our training efforts continue to change based
upon how our industry is evolving,” explained Jason
McKinnon, Director of Technical Services and Training
at Viega LLC. “We recognize that our customers’ needs
change too, and we want to make sure that our training
always adds value for them.”
In 2006, Viega opened its Educational Facility in
Nashua, NH where industry professionals can come
for in-depth training. And, most recently, the company
began hosting webinars and webcasts for introductory
and overview levels of education and training.
“Many manufacturers offer training, and some do it
very well,” McKinnon said. “What we are learning is that
we must continue to move away from product-focused
training and educate industry segments more on the
systems and solutions that are needed and the best
practices for installations.”
This month, on Nov. 3, Viega hosted its Energy and
Comfort Performance of Radiant Systems seminar in San
MAKING INDUSTRY EDUCATION AND TRAINING ACCESSIBLEBy Ashlei Cooper, Editorial Director, PHC News, Plumbing Engineer
Viega offers training on the jobsite and at its Educational Facility in Nashua, NH.
2 2 v i e g a v o i c e • N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 5
Francisco, CA. The seminar offered an overview of the
advantages of integrating radiant heating and cooling
systems into building design. Currently, Viega is making
plans for both of the seminars to run again, across the
country, in 2016.
Integrated systems are a hot topic in our industry;
pun intended. Mark Eatherton, Executive Director of the
Radiant Professionals Alliance (RPA), said that getting
professionals out of their heating and cooling “bubbles”
has been a hard battle to fight when it comes to
education and training.
“Everybody in our industry needs to be brought into
this integrated design approach so that they can know
what is necessary in order to be able to deliver good
comfort,” Eatherton said.
Eatherton went on to explain that the RPA is
dedicated to not only educating the industry on
integrated systems, but also getting them invested in
the changes that will come based around the notion
of comfort. A large part of the RPA’s education and
training currently takes place online in partnership with
HeatSpring, a platform that provides professionals with
real-world skills through interactive, expert-led courses.
“We want to make this as convenient for the installers
and designers as possible, with the minimum amount
of interruption to their normal business practices,”
Eatherton said.
Some of the online classes that the alliance hosts
are self-paced and free. This allows for prospective
attendees to participate in a trial before making an
investment. Two of the classes currently being offered
are: Integrating Solar and Hydronic Heat, by Vaughan
Woodruff, owner of Insource Renewables, a solar
consulting firm in Pittsfield, Maine; and Mastering the
Outdoor Reset Curve, by Dave Yates, former owner of
F.W. Behler, Inc., a third-generation PHVAC firm.
Online education and training, similar to what the RPA
has been doing, was always the first example that came
to mind when I thought of convenience. That was until I
saw Northeast Gas Specialist’s Mobile Training Center at
the 2015 National Association of Oil and Energy Service
Professionals (OESP) Convention, in May. The 30-foot
trailer features live-fire heating and hot water equipment.
Carl Krause, owner and operator of Northeast Gas,
currently coordinates private classes for companies in
the metropolitan New York and New Jersey areas.
The creativity, resources and opportunities are there.
Our industry just has to tap into them.
“It requires initiative on their part to think outside of
the box,” Eatherton concluded. “You can charge more
money for delivering comfort. Which means more profit
margins, working less, and making more.”
You heard it. The money is there, too.
Ashlei Cooper is a multimedia storyteller with nearly
a decade of experience creating content for publications
and organizations. She received her B.A. in English from
Spelman College and M.S. in Journalism from The Medill
School of Northwestern University. In 2013, Ashlei joined
TMB Publishing as the Assistant Editor and Social Media
Coordinator. Currently, she serves as Editorial Director of
PHC News and Plumbing Engineer magazines.
Viega had more than 4,000 attendees from around the world visit its Educational Facility in Nashua, NH this year. So why not throw a party? Viega hosted an open house in August to do just that. The event hosted well over 150 attendees, coming from as far away as upstate New York and New Jersey. Guests had the opportunity to win many prizes ranging from training sessions and tool sets to jaws and sporting event tickets.
“This event has really exceeded our expectations,” Jason McKinnon, Director or Technical Services said. “The feedback we received
from our customers confirms that they want to learn more about our products and services. They are already asking about next year’s event.”
The Nashua Training Center is coordinating the 2016 Open House and cordially invites you to attend. Please be on the lookout for details in future issues of the Viega Voice or online at www.viega.us.
EDUCATING THE INDUSTRY
More than 150 attendees visited Viega’s Educational Facility Open House in August.
OUR TRAINING EFFORTS CONTINUE TO CHANGE BASED UPON HOW OUR INDUSTRY IS EVOLVING
Jason McKinnon, Director of Technical Services, Viega LLC
v i e g a v o i c e • w w w . v i e g a . u s 2 3
TALL TALE TURNS INTO A GEM FOR TENNESSEE
Big fish stories, or tall tales, have been around since
before American folklore began in the 16th century. For
most Americans, adventures of Johnny Appleseed and
Paul Bunyan come to mind, but in Memphis, TN, there’s
another big fish story to be told.
A few years back, Bass Pro Shops owner Johnny
Morris was fishing with legendary angler Bill Dance on
the Mississippi outside of Memphis, TN, and they made
a bet. If either of them caught a catfish weighing at least
30 pounds, Morris would bring his outdoor emporium to
the Memphis Pyramid, a 32-story steel-clad edifice on
the Mississippi shoreline that had been vacant for the
last decade. That day they caught a 34-pounder, so the
story goes, and in July 2015 the doors opened to Bass
Pro Shops Outdoor World – Memphis Pyramid.
That story is told on the website for Big Cypress
Lodge, a 103-suite hotel that encompasses half of the
second and third floors of the store. The first floor and
part of the second floor are retail space, and include
unique features such as the Cypress Swamp, with
100-foot-tall cypress trees and an 84,000-gallon alligator
habitat and underwater aquarium with more than
1,800 fish.
Viega ProPress for copper was used to help pipe
the 600,000 gallons of water that feeds into a heat
exchanger line inside the swamp. Viega ProPress for
copper was also used in the hot water lines throughout
the entire structure.
“We feed the system that actually feeds the
swamp,” said Eric Gipson, Project Manager for Gipson
Mechanical. “Another contractor did the piping for
the swamp, and his equipment is fed by our piping,
which allows them to heat and cool the swamp. Our
systems never touch each other, but each system goes
through a set of tubes that are intertwined. My pipe
takes the heat out of the water coming out of the swamp
and ours goes in cold and come out hot.”
Gipson has had experience with this type of heat
exchange in other projects, including a zoo in Memphis,
where they use the same idea to heat and cool the
rocks that animals can rest on. But there was no rest for
Gipson on this job. What should have been a 36-month
job was completed in 16 months. Having used Viega
products in the past, Gipson said he was happy the
design engineer, Haltom Engineering, allowed them to
use it for this project.
“We use Viega ProPress every chance we get,”
Gipson said. “For this project it was a perfect
opportunity to use it, and it was just a point of getting
approval from the design engineer and he is open-
minded and saw the benefit and he allowed us
to use and we moved forward with it.”
Haltom Engineering had never
used Viega products before,
The tallest, freestanding elevator in America showcases the grand pyramid.
2 4 v i e g a v o i c e • N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 5
but knew it was a great alternative to traditional methods
given the quick turnaround time.
“They wanted to open retail while working above them
on the hotel piping,” Jeff Haltom, P.E. said. “It turned out
they completed all at the same time, but the schedules
were hyper-fast track and this method allowed them to
complete the project faster. It saves time and money
versus traditional methods.”
With Viega, Gipson estimates he saved between 40%
and 50% on the labor. When factoring in the cost of the
fittings versus the labor it takes to solder, Gipson said it
just makes sense to use Viega.
“With Viega ProPress I don’t have to have a driver
picking up torches, oxygen bottles to make solder joints
so you eliminate that time all together,” Gipson said.
Gipson, a certified minority-owned business, has
been working in Memphis since 1983. He’s watched the
rise and fall of the pyramid since it originally opened in
1991 as a 20,142 seat arena. It served as the home of
the Memphis Grizzlies of the NBA and the University of
Memphis basketball program until 2004 when the FedEx
Forum was built after it was determined the pyramid did
not meet NBA standards. To add to its woes, on opening
night the entire arena began to flood, requiring stage
hands to sandbag the entire perimeter to preserve the
electrical runs under the stage. After all this, Gipson said
he’s happy he was a part of this special project.
“The job itself is nothing but positive. The arena stayed
dormant for several years, but just the name in itself is a
positive for the city. When Bass Pro comes, they bring
so much to the city. There are several opportunities for
growth. It’s a magnet,” Gipson said. “To put a project of
that magnitude − in the time frame that we’ve done − is
one that we’re proud to put on our resume.”
IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
On the plateau overlooking Eagle Mountain Lake sits a contemporary home designed with efficiency in mind. Created by award-winning Architect Norman Ward, the home’s potable water runs through Viega FostaPEX, which was specified by Ward himself and installed by Hargis Plumbing in Fort Worth, TX.
The Eagle Mountain job was the first time owner Eddie Hargis had used Viega FostaPEX, but today that’s all he uses in addition to copper.
“We use this under the slab and you can make a nice-looking manifold because it holds its shape,” Hargis said. “If you were using another product it would be difficult to bend it and keep its shape and still make it stable.”
For the Eagle Mountain home, Hargis used Viega FostaPEX with ½" and ¾" Viega PEX press 90° elbows in bronze and was satisfied with the look and quality of the finished project.
FT. WORTH, TX...I DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A DRIVER PICKING UP TORCHES, OXYGEN BOTTLES TO MAKE SOLDER JOINTS...
- Eric Gipson, Project Manager, Gipson Mechanical
v i e g a v o i c e • w w w . v i e g a . u s 2 5
W hen the new Southeast High School opens
for the 2016 school year, it will be the final
project completed as part of a $370 million bond issue
implemented by the USD 259 school district in
Wichita, KS.
Passed in 2008, the bond issue touched all 90
schools in the district, with Southeast being one of
nine brand new schools. It is also the largest and most
expensive project funded by the bond issue. With
a $60 million price tag, the new Southeast High will
accommodate 1,800 students and feature a 900-seat
auditorium and fine arts suite, a gymnasium with a
walking track, swimming pool, storm shelters and
much more.
While not all the finishing touches will be completed,
the construction is scheduled to end in January 2016, a
mere 16-months after they broke ground on September
29, 2014. It was the tight construction schedule that led
Brad Ward, Vice President of Midwest Engineering, to
specify Viega products for the school.
“For the Southeast high job, the selling point to using
Viega products was the construction schedule,” Ward
said. “They have a 16-month build period on a roughly
300,000 square foot building with a lot of piping on the
hydronic and plumbing side so their guys can get it in
a lot faster.”
It was Ward and his support of Viega products that
has led USD 259 to use Viega products universally
across the district for repairs and new builds. In the
case of Southeast High, Ward specified the use of Viega
ProPress for copper on all the hot and cold domestic
water lines 2" and smaller and Viega MegaPressG on
heating and air 2" and down. Kruse Corporation, who
worked closely with the general contractor, Dondlinger
Construction, performed all the mechanical work.
“The reason we like it so much is that it saves labor,”
said Rusty Williams, the Plumbing Foreman for Kruse.
“When you’re doing connections on live systems then
you don’t have to worry about putting bread in or drain
the system down to solder. You can just cut it, put your
no-stop couplings on and slide them in place, press
them and you’re done. It makes it a lot easier.”
Kent Kruse, owner of Kruse Corporation, said it
makes his job easier when he’s able to facilitate help
for his employees and save money on labor as well. On
Southeast High, Kent estimates he saved about 20% on
labor by using Viega products.
“It’s not rocket science – a job like this most all of our
costs are labor, so anything we can do to save labor will
save us all time and money,” Kruse said. “And hopefully,
with the savings, we can go out and get another job.”
FIT FOR SCHOOL
2 6 v i e g a v o i c e • N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 5
Kruse has about 200 employees, with approximately
40 employees on the Southeast jobsite, 24 of those
being plumbers. To date, the Southeast High job is
the largest in company history, having diversified
into plumbing six years ago after being solely a
HVAC contractor. Kruse and Williams agreed that the
innovation behind of Viega’s press system and its quality
has contributed to the labor savings.
“When you go to flush a system and if you’ve
soldered, you have all kinds of debris in the line and
we’ll have strainers on them filled with solder and flux.
Well with Viega ProPress you don’t have near the
debris so you really save a lot of time and headache,”
Williams said.
With the mechanical work scheduled for completion
shortly, Kruse said he is grateful for Viega’s Smart
Connect feature, which provides installers added
confidence in their ability to ensure the integrity
of connections.
“During a remodel on another large-scale industrial
building we discovered an older fitting that started
leaking because it had never been soldered,”
Kruse said.
It’s situations like these which
make Kruse and his team grateful
for the multiple savings provided by
Viega, from the time on the job to
the final product.
“We press everything now,”
Kruse said. “Our personal belief
is you save money by pressing.
There’s more savings on the labor
than the actual addition of the fitting
cost. The labor is a huge pool of
money. If you start doing the math,
it’s pretty easy math usually.”Kruse Corporation installed Viega ProPress for the domestic hot and cold water lines in Southeast High School, saving an estimated 20% in labor over soldering.
...YOU SAVE MONEY BY PRESSING. THERE'S MORE SAVINGS ON THE LABOR THAN THE ACTUAL ADDITION OF THE FITTING COST.
- Kent Kruse, Owner, Kruse Corporation
Illustration courtesy of Schaefer, Johnson, Cox and Frey Architecture
v i e g a v o i c e • w w w . v i e g a . u s 2 7
Founded in 2008, Forbes Mechanical Inc. in
Edmonton, Alberta, may be a relative newcomer to
the market, but with its high customer service ratings,
zero-claim record, and a history of completely satisfied
clients, it’s a company poised for continuing success.
Forbes Mechanical is a premier service provider and
commercial project vendor, licensed, bonded, and
certified in plumbing, gas fitting, HVAC, and
septic systems.
Andrew Long, Commercial Foreman for Forbes
Mechanical, took the reins on a piping installation at
the Excel Society’s Grand Manor in Edmonton. The
Excel Society is a non-profit company that supports
and advocates for people with mental, physical, and
developmental disabilities in Alberta. Grand Manor is a
one-of-a-kind facility, which allows Excel Society clients
to build a life in a community.
The Excel Society planned to add a new 64-suite
addition to its existing 56-suite facility. The biggest
complication: Grand Manor’s new addition didn’t have
a boiler room. Forbes Mechanical would have to run
eight or nine different piping lines through a 55-foot
underground chase from the old building to the new one.
“I had to run a 2" gas main down that chase,” Long
said. “The free area you’ve got to work with in that chase
was about three-and-a-half feet of headroom with about
18" side to side. It’s very, very tight.”
In a workspace that cramped, Long realized there
was no possible way to tighten a 2" gas line. Forbes
Mechanical thought of several different methods to
install the gas line, including pre-fabbing the line and
sliding it into the chase. But the concern for possible
leaks prevented that option. That’s when Long
discovered Viega MegaPressG.
“I was kind of leery of it at first,” Long said. “I
knew of Viega ProPress, but I’d never seen the Viega
MegaPress until I saw a blurb about it at a wholesaler.”
A Viega District Manager met with Long and
presented the black iron pipe solution for gas lines,
loaning Long an available pressing tool.
“It was looking to be hugely labor intensive,
spending days down there,” Long said. “But with Viega
MegaPress, I had two guys down there for six hours,
and it was done. It was a huge benefit.”
An additional project connected to Grand Manor was
a large parkade, a multistory parking garage. Forbes
Mechanical also used the loaned pressing tool on that
project, where they installed all the heating mains. Long
estimated that it would have taken a three-man crew a
week-and-a-half to complete the project using traditional
soldering for copper and welding for black iron.
A GAS PIPING SOLUTION FOR VERY TIGHT SPACES
Installers had to install gas piping in an area with about three-and-a-half feet of headroom and 18" wide.
I HAD TO RUN A 2" GAS MAIN DOWN THAT CHASE. IT'S VERY, VERY TIGHT.
- Andrew Long, Commercial Foreman, Forbes Mechanical
2 8 v i e g a v o i c e • N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 5
“I put all my pipe up,” Long said, “and
then − by myself − in 10 hours, I made all the
connections. We saved probably 80 manhours
on the parkade alone.”
Forbes Mechanical was so impressed with
the time savings and security they experienced, the
company decided to start pressing as many projects
as possible.
“We already had the pressing tool from another
company we bought out, but we always soldered,”
Long said. “So it was just sitting on the shelf. After
seeing how fast we went through that parkade, it was
a no-brainer. All we had to do was buy the jaws for
Viega MegaPress.”
Long also appreciated the security of the
connections. Since this project marked his first
experience with Viega systems, Long fully
expected leaks.
“I was ready for them,” he said. “I had three bottles
of leak detector. I expected I would have to go through
and test all these joints and find all the leaks, but there
was nothing. I was very impressed. I still have three full
bottles of leak detector left.”
Long stated that he could solder a joint quickly but
that it would probably leak. But with Viega, you get a
faster installation and a more reliable connection.
“From now on, I’ll do next-to-no soldering,”
Long said. “As much as I possibly can, I’ll only be
using press.”
v i e g a v o i c e • w w w . v i e g a . u s 2 9
Viega’s training opportunities are
nontraditional – they go beyond the scope of
its products into creating solutions that enhance
lives. Customers who have attended Viega’s
training seminars walk away with the knowledge
and experience that will improve their business.
From learning about how press technology can
save them time and money, to sharing its vast
knowledge of water quality, Viega is committed to
providing the best training in the industry.
No matter the topic – or the location – Viega
is available to get you the answers you need to
get the job done right the first time. So whether
you attend a training seminar, or call your local
District Manager, you’ll see how accommodating
Viega is to the needs of its customers.
DO MORE WITH TRAINING FROM VIEGA
Register for classes at viega.us/training
3 0 v i e g a v o i c e • N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 5
TECHTALKViega Tech Talk Experts Jason Allison, Jacob Demars and David Melendy
I have an older Viega brass manifold in my
home that is leaking. Can these be repaired,
or should I replace it?
The choice is yours. Viega offers a large variety
of replacement parts for both our brass and
stainless steel manifolds. Most of the parts
needed to repair brass manifolds and the
transition parts to convert to the newer stainless
steel manifolds can be found in the spare parts
section of our April 2015 catalog. In addition
to valve seats and other wet connection
replacement parts for our older brass manifolds,
we also offer adaptor rings to connect new power
heads to our older brass manifolds.
Can I install my finished floor directly on top
of the Viega Climate Panel?
There are four common types of finished
floor options when dealing with residential
construction: wood floor, tile, vinyl/linoleum and
carpet. The floor surface temperature should be
no higher than 85°F in any of these applications.
1. When installing hardwood floors, you can
install the flooring directly onto the Viega
Climate Panel. The floor should be installed
perpendicular to the climate panels and be
in accordance with the flooring
manufacturer’s instructions.
2. When installing tile with Viega Climate Panel,
there needs to be a ¼" to ⅜" concrete
fiberboard glued and screwed on top of the
panel followed by thin set and then the tiles.
3. With a linoleum or vinyl finished floor, you
will need to install either a sheet of ¼" to
⅜" finished plywood or concrete fiberboard.
The linoleum or vinyl floor can then be glued
directly to the subfloor.
4. Carpet is the final option for a finished floor
over Viega Climate Panel and this application
requires careful planning. Install the carpet
pad and carpet with nailing strips directly on
the climate panels. When installing carpet
with radiant heat you must be careful not
to exceed a total of 2.5 for R-Value. Please
remember both the carpet pad and carpet
are insulators thus restricting the heat from
getting into the room, so keeping the R-Value
low is a must.
What is the recommend maximum velocity
for domestic water distribution design with a
PEX plumbing system?
Traditionally, model plumbing codes adopted
a maximum velocity of five feet per second for
hot water piping and a maximum of eight feet
per second for cold water piping. These velocity
recommendations were adopted in order to help
minimize the effects of erosion corrosion and
other issues that water can cause in metallic
piping used in plumbing systems. The maximum
recommended velocity for hot water is less than
cold because heat can speed up a chemical
reaction which makes hot water more aggressive
than cold water.
Now that PEX plumbing systems have
become more popular and widely accepted by
major plumbing codes, designers realize some
of the restrictions may not apply to PEX piping
systems, such as velocity limitation.
Most recently the 2015 edition of the Uniform
Plumbing Code has adopted an IAPMO standard
for the installation of PEX tubing systems. This
IAPMO standard makes these higher velocity
recommendations. One of the benefits of
designing at higher velocities using PEX tubing is
that there may be less of a need for larger sized
piping as would be required for metallic piping.
This will lead to a much more efficient plumbing
installation. Viega has always supported model
plumbing codes in promoting safe and innovative
piping systems, which is why Viega agrees with
the new velocity recommendations of eight feet
per second for hot water and 10 feet per second
for cold water when using PEX tubing.
v i e g a v o i c e • w w w . v i e g a . u s 3 1
306_EN_1115_1
VIEGAVOICEViega LLC 100 North Broadway, 6th FloorWichita, KS 67202
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©2015, FostaPEX®, GeoFusion®, MegaPress®, ProPress®, SeaPress® and Viega® are registered trademarks of Viega GmbH & Co. KG. ManaBloc®, Radiant Wizard® and Smart Connect® are registered trademarks of Viega LLC. MiniBloc™, Poly Alloy™, ProRadiant™, SmartLoop™ and Zero Lead™ are trademarks of Viega LLC. ViegaPEX™ is a trademark of Viega GmbH & Co. KG. Eco Brass® is a registered trademark of Chase Brass and Ingot Metal Co. RIDGID® is a registered trademark of RIDGID, Inc. Amazon™, Kindle™, and Fire™ are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. iPad® is a trademark of Apple.
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The term Viega, as used in this publication, does not apply to a specific company within the various separate and distinct companies comprising the Viega group of companies. The term Viega as used in this publication refers to the Viega brand itself or generally to the Viega group of companies. References to activities in North America specifically refer to activities of Viega LLC.
Zero Lead identifies Viega products meeting the lead-free requirements of NSF 61-G through testing under NSF/ANSI 372 (0.25% or less maximum weighted average lead content).
Please recycle this magazine
a publication of Viega LLC
November 2015
Director of Marketing
Kevin C. Fox
Marketing Managers
Bob Ale-Ebrahim
Tim Allbritten
Marketing Coordinator
Roberta Rickard
Graphic Designers
Jason Green
Nicole Mandina
Content Marketing Editor
Kristin Marlett
Contributing Authors
Ashlei Cooper, Jim Erhardt,
Martin Knieps, Jess Lindsey,
Kristin Marlett, Amy Williams
Contributing Photographers
Darren Decker, Jason Green,
Shane Kislack, Jim Oertle,
Skott Snider
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