Let’s just get to this right from the start. What initially was meant to be an insult, Danielle “Twig” Browne (@thelittlestplumber) got the nickname from her high school rugby team. “I was lanky and my muscle hadn’t come in. I was the thinnest on the team but had been playing since I was 10 so Read more
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Let’s just get to this right from the start. What initially was meant to be an insult, Danielle “Twig” Browne (@thelittlestplumber) got the nickname from her high school rugby team. “I was lanky and my muscle hadn’t come in. I was the thinnest on the team but had been playing since I was 10 so I was more advanced than the other girls. One girl didn’t take kindly to the new girl being good, and popped the name ‘twiggy’ on me,” says Browne. The nickname has stuck with this Newfoundland, Canada plumber for most of her life. “There are a large majority of people on my island who don’t know my actual name, even my mom calls me Twig.”
But don’t let her physical stature fool you; she’s been kicking ass for years now. For the past nine years, she has been a facilities management plumber—specializing in plumbing service and maintenance—for the Canadian government, stationed at the Memorial University of Newfoundland. “The area where I shine is diagnostics and repairs of plumbing systems new and old,” boasts Browne.
Needing a job right out of high school, and college didn’t feel like the right move, Twig started in the automotive field. “To be honest, I’m not sure I even knew trade schools existed,” says Browne. “So, I applied to work on cars, and the boss took a liking to me and put me in the garage right away.” Twig loved the garage for the first couple of years, but eventually got bored into years three and four. It was then that she had heard about trade schools and she knew she wanted to stay in a mechanical career. “I looked through a college course booklet and thought ‘plumbing sounds cool.’”
When Twig finished her pre-employment “Plumber” classes in college, she was encouraged by her instructor to enter into a trade competition Skills Canada, which has grown exponentially since. Among the three trades schools entered, Twig won 1st place against both schools. “Shortly after, my first boss contacted my instructor because he wanted to meet ‘that girl that won,” and I haven’t been without a job in this trade since.
When asked about her image as a trailblazer for women, Twig was modest in her reply. “As the first female plumber in my province, I’ve been called a trailblazer, but I’ve never really considered myself one; I’ve always just seen myself as a plumber. Even when people refer to me as a female plumber, I never get the need to add the gender. I’m a plumber.”
However, leading by example is something Twig’s always been focused on. “It is so important to prove myself to the world every day. From the naysayers who have a preconceived idea of what I’m capable of, to the young girls out there who think they wouldn’t make it in the trades, I want my work to change stubborn minds and build confidence.”
Of course, Twig has encountered her share baseless stigmas from the first day on the jobsite when some of the guys buried her tools with a backhoe to present day on site, as well as online. “Just recently I spoke with a 4th-year apprentice online and he made an unprovoked remark that he was shocked when he realized I knew more. Or was better than him? I knew he was trying to compliment me, but I still wanted to ask him why he was shocked that a certified plumber who has been in the trade for 12 years longer than him, was better. He admitted he didn’t really think that way about the more senior men in our trade. It’s called subconscious bias, we all have it. He in no way meant his comment to be malicious, and I didn’t take it that way. But somehow, in his mind, he was automatically better with tools than me.
“Gender roles and strengths are instilled in a lot of people in many different careers. This happens all the time, so it never affects me anymore, I just like to get a healthy conversation going about it. I will say this, far more people are welcoming than not. The people that refuse progress are definitely on a sinking ship.”
Nevertheless, in recruiting and recognizing women in the trades, according to Twig, there’s a very strong chance you are going to need to work twice as hard for half of the recognition. “You’ll learn very quickly that pats on the back don’t pay your bills. Show up every day, wear your PPE, work hard, and never stop educating yourself. If there is one aspect of the trade that makes you nervous, that’s the one you should be focusing on.”
Twig can thank her mother for shaping her into the person she is today. Born with several physical disabilities, Twig’s mother has never once made an excuse for herself. “She worked hard and received an education, started her career as a Human Rights investigator, and raised two daughters as a single mother. I know she is in pain 24/7 but she never mentions it. She is a boss in every way.”
As for a professional mentor, Twig has had a few but her old lead hand Charlie stands out. “What a pain in my ass. Charlie didn’t think I could do much when he first met me, and I didn’t take kindly to that when I was younger and more hard headed. We got into many screaming matches, which always ended up in him throwing a job at me that he didn’t think I could handle,” says Browne. It took some time but she eventually proved herself to him, and to this day, when he comes back for seasonal work, he picks me—out of a handful of other plumbers—to be his work partner. “He is still a pain in my ass though, haha.”
Overall, the plumbing trade has been very fulfilling, and “the satisfaction of working with my hands has been incredibly rewarding,” says Browne. Yet, helping people has always been Twig’s satisfaction No. 1. “There is no better feeling for me than seeing the relief on somebody’s face who, moments before, was so stressed out.”
Getting Personal
Unbeknownst to many, Twig used to be quite competitive at rugby, and it has been a huge passion over the years. “I played for 20 years and was once selected to team Canada’s long list, and, of course, I promptly broke my ankle as soon as I made that list. The sport has taken me all over the world as a player and spectator. It’s a phenomenal sport and lifestyle if you’re interested in the world and the people in it.”
But these days, spending quality “spare time” is a work in progress for Twig. “This whole COVID-19 pandemic has really shown me that for the last decade I haven’t really made spare time for myself. It’s been all about work, which I love. But now that work has slowed, I am finding myself lost. I use to love painting and Judo. Seeing how close contact martial arts are probably looked down upon during a pandemic, I’ll probably pick up some watercolors and see what happens.”
And balancing work and family life is something that Twig is working on, as well. “My partner is a nurse and we both have very busy work schedules. We try to make date nights or games nights with friends at least once or twice a month. Hikes with the dog, when we can fit them in, are great as well.
Just last weekend Twig was tearing apart her dilapidated front porch; the weather was gorgeous for a change. After not making a lot of progress on it, her friends from hockey called and asked her to join them on a hike. “I almost said no because I really needed to get at the deck. But I went and it was exactly what the doctor ordered—friends, the East Coast and cliff trails overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Afterward, we had a beer in their backyard and just shared a laugh. The deck will be done by 2022, I promise.”
Speaking of friendships, social media, especially Instagram, has been an incredible outlet for Twig, socially and professionally. “Growing up on an island is amazing in so many ways, but I was missing out on meeting people and friends who could teach me more about my trade, show me the newest technologies and tools. But mostly I was missing out on the amazing community of plumbers Instagram has. I can honestly say I have met some of my favorite people from that app.”
Danielle “Twig” Browne is a girl done good. Hard working, strong minded and proud of who she is and where she came from, “I’m a very proud Canadian. I can confidently say majority of people in this country want the best for each other, and have the same core values. I couldn’t really tell you if it’s in our blood or if it’s just our great beer.”
This beautiful contemporary design home in Harrisburg, Pa., was built by Alex Grass, founder of Rite-Aid pharmacy, in the early 1970s. When Mr. Rill purchased the sprawling 7,382 sq. ft. home from the late Alex Grass estate, he knew he would need to make some upgrades. Project Goals √ Convert from an outdated oil system Read more
This beautiful contemporary design home in Harrisburg, Pa., was built by Alex Grass, founder of Rite-Aid pharmacy, in the early 1970s. When Mr. Rill purchased the sprawling 7,382 sq. ft. home from the late Alex Grass estate, he knew he would need to make some upgrades.
Project Goals
√ Convert from an outdated oil system to a highly-efficient geothermal system
√ Reduce sky-high operating and maintenance costs
√ Increase comfort and improve level of control
√ Decrease large footprint of complex system in the basement
Equipped with a commercial boiler and chiller system using pneumatic controls, the residence cost Mr. Rill about $6,000 per month for electricity and heating oil. The complex pneumatic controls resulted in numerous service calls, averaging $700 per call. Excessive space required for the HVAC system, associated piping, ductwork, and controls in basement were less than ideal. Mr. Rill opted for a more efficient, cost-saving and simple system that would be easier to control and service.
A Tailored Approach
As Michael Armstrong, Residential Sales Manager, Morrison Inc. explains, the needs of Mr. Rill’s family were taken into careful consideration, “This proposal was based upon a thorough heat loss/gain done on the structure using the original blueprints and then calculating the needs of the customer to design and adapt the existing ducting to provide comfort zones meeting the family’s lifestyle.” With this information, Armstrong moved forward with a highly-tailored system, “comprising of six closed loop Bosch SM two-stage water-to-air geothermal heat pump units feeding 11 different air zones.
“We were able to work in stages to allow a transition from the original system to the new geothermal system, thus allowing the family to stay in their home during the entire installation and removal process.”
In addition to the water-to-air systems, we proposed and installed a closed loop Bosch TW035 two-stage water-to-water geothermal heat pump unit which provides the home with all of its domestic hot water. The hot water system was coupled with a 120 gallon in-line storage tank to feed into the home’s existing recirculating domestic hot water piping. The total capacity of the geothermal system was 31 tons with 4,650 feet of closed loop vertical bore and 9,300 feet of HDPE piping.” All Bosch geothermal units have factory installed auxiliary electric heat coils as a secondary heat source if needed.
Bosch TW035 water-to-water system provides domestic hot water.
Finding the Remedy
Mr. Rill and his family are extremely happy with their decision to convert to a geothermal system. The home is now totally electric, with the highest single monthly electric bill being $1,141, during one of the region’s coldest winters on record! “Mr. Rill keeps detailed usage records and says he cannot be happier. The comfort level is fantastic and he loves the fact that he can set the various areas of his home to the temperature that he wants,” says Armstrong.
Two of six Bosch SM two-stage geothermal heat pumps installed in the basement.
Available from 2 to 5 & 10 tons, the Bosch Greensource CDi Series TW Model boasts industry leading efficiency – even at full-load heating. The TW provides maximum comfort with minimum energy usage, making it perfect for hydronic floor/baseboard heating, hydronic forced air fan coil heating/cooling, ice and snow melting, swimming pool/spa heating, and supplemental potable hot water generation. Features include:
• High efficiency two-stage scroll compressors
• Dual density compressor blankets for quiet operation
• Durable, high quality, painted galvanized steel cabinet
• Optional Heat Recovery Package (Desuperheater/domestic hot water)
Turning wrenches since he was 17 years old, George DeJesus (@georgetheplumber) considers himself relatively lucky during these crazy times were going through, as the service calls are still trickling in, with some days bit slower than usual. During the current state of the trades during the pandemic, DeJesus says it’s hard going into customer’s homes Read more
Turning wrenches since he was 17 years old, George DeJesus (@georgetheplumber) considers himself relatively lucky during these crazy times were going through, as the service calls are still trickling in, with some days bit slower than usual. During the current state of the trades during the pandemic, DeJesus says it’s hard going into customer’s homes right now, but he is taking the necessary precautions to take to keep himself as safe as he can. Pandemic or not, “I’ve learned to never get too comfortable that the jobs are going to come in,” says DeJesus. “You have to give great customer service so you get called the next time.”
DeJesus transferred to a trade school during his junior year of high school and got his first plumbing job at 17, and he hasn’t looked back. “High school just wasn’t for me. Finding this trade was my savior; I could have gone down a very bad road but I got a job, learned this trade and found I could be good at something. From there, it was easy to apply myself. I continue to learn every day, and teach when I can,” says DeJesus.
Having worked with various companies throughout the years has helped DeJesus become very well-rounded, learning more skills with each experience. For the past two years, DeJesus has worked for All Clear Plumbing and Drains, Succasunna, N.J., where he specializes in boiler and drain cleaning residential work, finding gratification in troubleshooting the most difficult service work jobs. “I love being a plumber. It’s hard work but when you have a difficult job and figure it out, it leaves you with great satisfaction,” says DeJesus.
DeJesus considers himself very fortunate to have had many mentors over the years, but perhaps none more influential than his father, a very hard working and dedicated general contractor. “There are new skills to be learned and I try to learn as much as I can about each position I take. The friends that I have met through the years are great guys and I love learning and sharing skills I know with them.”
What advice would DeJesus give to someone thinking about entering the trades? “It’s hard work but a good living. Don’t be lazy. If I’m showing you how to do something, pay attention and get involved. Keep your phone in your pocket. Measure twice and cut once,” says DeJesus.
One outlet DeJesus has found most satisfying and beneficial is social media. “I have definitely found social media to increase my friendships and knowledge,” says DeJesus. “It’s amazing that no matter how much you think you know, you can still learn more. I talk to most of my Instagram friends more than the friends I have locally. They can relate to what struggles come with the job and can celebrate the triumphs. I’m so thankful to have been able to make friends with so many great people.”
A proud install: oil-to-gas conversion; boiler was moved from one side of the house to the other to gain space. Added a zone of heat in the addition with a stat.
Yet one of DeJesus’ biggest struggles is balancing work and family time. In his “spare time,” DeJesus likes going to the movies with his wife and family, and he enjoys taking day trips and weekend trips. “I tend to put too much into my work. Even on my days off or when I get home, I tend to be catching up with IG and social media,” says DeJesus. “Lately, I’ve been trying to teach my kids some of the trade, and I do listen to my wife when she tries to focus me back to family time. Well, most of the time.”
In the end, DeJesus is a craftsman and he is proud of the work he does, and it shows. In fact, when asked when the last time he said, “Man, today is a great day!” he responded that it happened last week with his last boiler install. “I stepped back and felt that it was probably one of my best and favorite installs.”
With hard work and his willingness to get better, the trades have been good to DeJesus. You get what you put into it. “Not many people can say they make six figures and don’t even have a high school degree … well, at least working legally!” says DeJesus.
Ron George, CPD Below is a recommended flushing procedure for building owners, property managers, water utilities, health officials, code officials, service contractors, engineers, insurance companies and Interested parties to perform on buildings before re-opening buildings for occupancy after a long shut-down. With the recent coronavirus events causing many stay-at-home orders and extended vacancy of offices Read more
Ron George, CPD
Below is a recommended flushing procedure for building owners, property managers, water utilities, health officials, code officials, service contractors, engineers, insurance companies and Interested parties to perform on buildings before re-opening buildings for occupancy after a long shut-down.
With the recent coronavirus events causing many stay-at-home orders and extended vacancy of offices and workplaces, there is a looming, serious issue associated with stagnant water or aging water in the plumbing tanks, fixtures and pipes of buildings that have not been occupied for long periods of time. Bacteria will grow and flourish in the biofilm of the plumbing tanks, fixtures and pipes that have been sitting stagnant with ambient temperature or warm water where the water treatment chemicals have dissipated to levels that will not control bacterial growth. Studies have shown water treatment chemicals dissipate over time and there are several factors that affect the rate of dissipation such as pipe material, temperature, and organic contaminants in the water.
After the chlorine dissipates, bacteria can grow to high numbers. When bacteria and microorganisms are aerosolized in water from showers and other fixtures that can aerosolize the water it can be inhaled into the lungs causing Legionellosis or Legionnaires’ disease. Therefore, it is important to flush these stagnant pipes of bacteria laden water before re-occupying the buildings that have been vacant for long periods of time. I have been involved in developing Legionella standards & guidelines with ASHRAE and ASSE and I have spent over 42 years designing plumbing systems to simultaneously prevent scalding and Legionnaires disease. There are standards for flushing and disinfecting large public water mains but, there is no consensus standard for flushing and disinfecting plumbing systems within buildings.
In early 2020, government officials issued stay at home orders, with guidance from health officials, which has caused many buildings to sit abandoned with little to no water usage for weeks or months. When a building has been empty or unoccupied for an extended period, bacteria like Legionella and various other bacteria, viruses or disease-causing organisms can be found in inadequately treated water or stagnant water after the water treatment chemicals dissipate.
Before re-occupying a building that has been unoccupied for an extended period, it is recommended to flush stagnant water from the piping system before opening the building to occupants. To minimize to chances of transmission of Legionella bacteria and other microorganisms to humans, flushing water from the plumbing fixtures is the easiest, quickest and cheapest way to prepare for occupants to return to the building.
I am encouraging government officials, health officials, water utilities, code officials and other non-profits to implement these simple and inexpensive flushing procedures into national, state and local ordinances or guidelines to help protect the occupants of buildings from bacteria laden water upon return to buildings that have been sitting idle for long periods of time. These entities should use the language in this document and create a local flushing and disinfection ordinance for documentation of flushing procedures before opening and occupying buildings that have been idle for long periods of time. The government entity can decide what length of shut-down justifies flushing based on chlorine or other water treatment dissipation rates in your area. If a building has been idle for more than four weeks, a Legionella test should be conducted on first draw water before flushing to determine if a chemical disinfection procedure is needed to be performed. Chemical disinfection should be performed on the hot water system before heating the water.
Domestic Water Systems Flushing Procedure:
Building Address: ________________________________________ Flushing Date: ______________
Name of Persons Conducting the flush 0peration:_______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________
For documenting the flushing operations, follow the tasks outlined below. Building owners or maintenance staff should be advised to perform these flushing operations in all buildings that have been closed for an extended period. This will reduce the risk of illness and death following a building that has been unoccupied for a long period. The objective is to replace all stagnant water in the potable water system with new water containing a disinfectant residual from the municipal distribution system.
Flushing personnel should wear an “N-95 respirator mask” and Personal Protective Equipment during flushing operations. When performing a flushing operation, complete the following flushing procedure in the following sequence:
1. Collect a water sample of first draw water for testing the water treatment chemical residuals in the building service pipe. Collect the sample from a monitoring point in the service pipe at or near the meter and backflow preventer or where the service pipe enters the building.
Note the Water utilities water treatment chemical type. This pre-flush test should be serve as a baseline to compare pre-flush water quality with post flush water quality.
Locaton ______________________; Free Chlorine Residual: _____ppm; Test By: ______; Time: ______ am/pm
Location ______________________; Legionella Test1: _________ cfu/ml; Test By: ______; Time: ______ am/pm
(Note 1. – Conduct a Legionella test if the building has been significantly unoccupied for more than 14 days.)
If the pre-flush water quality test indicates any water discoloration, odor or other unusual characteristics note them below:
Notes:_________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Collect a water sample from first draw water of at least five (5) remote locations within the building to determine the building water chemical residuals in the building. These locations should be documented for to serve as a baseline pre-flush to post flush to compare pre-flush water quality with post flush water quality.
Loc. #1 ______________________; Free Chlorine Residual: _____ppm; Test By: ______; Time: ______ am/pm
Loc. #1 ______________________; Legionella Test1: _________ cfu/ml; Test By: ______; Time: ______ am/pm
Loc. #2 ______________________; Free Chlorine Residual: _____ppm; Test By: ______; Time: ______ am/pm
Loc. #2 ______________________; Legionella Test1: _________ cfu/ml; Test By: ______; Time: ______ am/pm
Loc. #3 ______________________; Free Chlorine Residual: _____ppm; Test By: ______; Time: ______ am/pm
Loc. #3 ______________________; Legionella Test1: _________ cfu/ml; Test By: ______; Time: ______ am/pm
Loc. #4 ______________________; Free Chlorine Residual: _____ppm; Test By: ______; Time: ______ am/pm
Loc. #4 ______________________; Legionella Test1: _________ cfu/ml; Test By: ______; Time: ______ am/pm
Loc. #5 ______________________; Free Chlorine Residual: _____ppm; Test By: ______; Time: ______ am/pm
Loc. #5 ______________________; Legionella Test1: _________ cfu/ml; Test By: ______; Time: ______ am/pm
If the pre-flush water quality test indicates any water discoloration, odor or other unusual characteristics note them below:
Sampling Notes: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
(Note 1. – Conduct a Legionella test if the building has been significantly unoccupied for more than 14 days.)
3. Determine the building service pipe size and length. Service pipe size: _________ , Volume gallons per Linear foot Service pipe length: _________
4. Determine the volume in the building service pipe based upon its size and length in Table 1 below and multiply the volume by 2 for the required volume to be flushed from the service piping.
Service pipe volume from Table 1: _________ (Linear feet of service pipe x volume per foot from #3 above)
Service pipe volume from Table 1 x 2 = _________ Note 2
Note 2 – Volume of water to be flushed through the service pipe at 3 feet per second velocity per Table 2.
5. Determine and document the quantity and location of the fixtures required to be flowed simultaneously to have a velocity of 3 feet per second in the service pipe. (See table X) and hose valves will be flowing from the required number of flushing points in order to have a flushing velocity high enough to scour bio-film and sediment from the service pipe at a flow velocity in excess of 3 feet per second as determined in table 2.
6. Perform and document a pre-flush water quality test at the water service entrance and at 5 remote fixtures to determine water quality and water treatment residual, There should be a minimum 1 part per million (ppm) free chlorine at the building service entrance and 0.5ppm of free chlorine at the most remote fixture. For buildings with other water treatment chemicals in the utility water, consult with a professional for recommended minimum water treatment chemical levels or as directed by the facilities’ water management program team) entering the building. If the test shows the water quality is good, then no service pipe flushing is needed.
7. If the pre-flush water quality test indicates any water discoloration, odor or lack of sufficient free chlorine residual, perform and document a full velocity flush of 3 feet per second for the building water service pipe as follows:
a) Determining the proper number of fixtures to flow to flush the building service pipe at a minimum velocity of 3 feet per second, based on the size of the building service pipe size, (See table 2)
b) The flow can be through a combination of fixtures can be flowed through a combination of hose bibbs, hydrants and fixtures near the water service entrance. and test the potable water service connection until a disinfectant residual is detected or a volume equivalent to double the water held in the service connection is cleared, whichever occurs first.
8. If a disinfection residual is not detected, after 30 minutes of flushing the building service pipe, Stop flushing and do not continue with the potable water system flushing operation. Contact the water utility for direction and ask to have them or the fire department flush the water mains through nearby fire hydrants to bring chlorinated water close to the building. If the building is in a cluster of buildings or area with many unoccupied buildings ther may be a logical place to flush a hydrant near the end of the water main.
9. When a disinfectant residual is detected on the building service pipe, open some faucets that are the farthest away from the building water service and on the end of each major branch main of the water distribution piping and let the hot and cold water run continuously until a disinfectant concentration is detected close to or equal to that of the chlorine residuals in the building service connection. A branch main is defined as a main distribution pipe (typically greater than 3⁄4” diameter) which supplies other branch pipes and fixture branch pipes.
10. Flush all remaining fixtures, tanks, and appliances connected to the potable water system (including exterior outlets). Flow water from both the hot and cold water systems. The following flushing procedure should be used based on each fixture type:
- Toilets and urinals shall be flushed 5 times each for 1.6 gpf fixtures.
- All other fixtures shall be flushed for a minimum of 3 minutes each, both hot and cold water with flows of 2 gpm.
- Any water storage or hot water tanks should be flushed at a rate to flow at least 2 times the volume of the tank.
- Hydro-pneumatic and thermal expansion tanks should have the water pressure relieved from them so that they totally discharge all water within the tank.
Infra-red faucets shall be operated for a consecutive period of time equal to 20 cycles for every 10 feet of 3⁄4 inch branch piping.
11. The person performing the flushing operation should record the room number, the fixture type & ID, flow rate in gpm, start time and temperature, end time & temperature, chlorine residual near end of flushing operation, and notes or observations for each fixture like: ambient temperature of the room, when the water temperature starts to change indicating fresh water is arriving at fixture, chlorine residuals in the first draw and at completion. thereafter until a minimum chlorine residual of 0.5 ppm is achieved at each fixture. Take a water sample in the first draw and upon completion of the flushing and Note any water discoloration, odor, etc) for first draw and test the chlorine residual in the final draw at the completion of the flushing operation. If the measured chemical residual is insufficient to control bacteria growth, perform and record the flushing operation as shown on the following “Fixture Flushing Record Sheet.”
12. The water utility has a duty to deliver safe drinking water to the building service meter according to the safe drinking water act. Note: the utilities are allowed fall below the level of quality in the safe drinking water act for three, consecutive 6-month reporting periods before they must notify the public. The responsibility for building water safety is the responsibility of the building owner. The drinking water provider has no responsibility for water quality on the building side of the water meter. A water utility should strive to deliver quality water, but we know that the water utilities cannot guarantee safe drinking water because there are often water main breaks, construction, fire events and other disruptions of water main flows that cause turbid water and high bacteria events. For this reason, the building owner has a duty and responsibility to monitor the water quality coming into their building and have a water management plan in place to address water quality issues. In this day of water conservation, water flows have been reduced to levels that are less than 20 percent of flows prior to 1992. The flow in water mains have been reduced to the point where water treatment chemical residuals dissipate to levels that will not control bacteria growth in the water mains. Building owners must monitor the incoming water and adjust the water quality if needed by using supplementary water treatment systems. When a building owner is considering a supplementary treatment system, they should consult with a professional to determine if they need licensing, certification and any filters.
13. When a building is unoccupied for more than 7 days or a period of time agreed to by the building’s water management Program team, flushing should be performed immediately prior to re-occupancy. When a building is unoccupied for more than four weeks (28 days), or a period of time agreed to by the building’s water management Program team, flushing and disinfection should be done immediately prior to the building being reoccupied.
Note: Flush all sinks first, then flush showers, then flush water closets & urinals. Fixtures with flush valves can become clogged with debris and not flush properly if they are flushed first. If flush valves do not perform properly and run-on, shut off water and remove diaphragm and clean the orifice. When done flushing, remove faucet strainers and shower heads and clean or replace them.
Storage Water heaters should be maintained at a minimum temperature of 140F or higher in the tank as needed to offset heat loss and maintain a minimum hot water temperature at the lowest temperature in the system a couple of degrees above the Legionella Growth temperature of 122 F. (124 F) on the hot water return pipe connection to the water heater. The hot water return pipe just before the cold water connection to the water heater is the lowest temperature point in the hot water system. See the “Temperature Effects on Legionella Bacteria Table” Below. To prevent Sclading, all shower valve maximum temperature limit-stops should be adjusted to a maximum temperature of 115 F at showers & bathtubs to prevent scalding. (Consider a maximum temperature limit stop setting for showers and tub/showers of 110 F at hospitals, nursing homes and similar facilities where there is additional risk of scalding.)
Hot water temperatures can be higher in the storage and distribution piping and should be reduced or limited at or near the fixtures by code compliant temperature limit-stops that are properly adjusted on tub/shower valves or by temperature limiting valves that are properly set to limit temperatures at the point of use.
Every fixture in the building should be flushed in accordance with these guidelines or until the water treatment chemical residuals reach an acceptable level. Following these procedures should prevent thousands of workers from getting sick and dying from Legionnaires disease and other types of waterborne illnesses associated with stagnant water.
The reinvigorated program pairs ideas with investment. Did you know that Uponor North America has a division called Uponor Innovations (UI), where highly motivated entrepreneurs can submit innovative ideas and turn them into protected, substantive, viable products or technology? What started seven years ago as a central resource site for entrepreneurs, startups, business owners, management Read more
The reinvigorated program pairs ideas with investment.
Did you know that Uponor North America has a division called Uponor Innovations (UI), where highly motivated entrepreneurs can submit innovative ideas and turn them into protected, substantive, viable products or technology? What started seven years ago as a central resource site for entrepreneurs, startups, business owners, management teams and investors to submit an idea that improves the way people design and construct the human environments, this accelerated think tank of innovative ideas is gaining momentum once again.
According the website (www.uponorinnovations.com), Uponor Innovation’s interests include acquisitions, equity participation and licensing. The approach is to pursue involvement where UI can best leverage mutual success through existing Uponor assets and resources. “Someone may have a good idea, but lack the resources to gain any traction or success,” says Bill Gray, president of Uponor North America. “That’s where Uponor can help. We have a successful and established infrastructure to help introduce ideas, products, processes and technology to our industry.”
The joint venture between Uponor and Belkin was initiated through Uponor Innovations.
A pipeline of ideas, the core concept that initiated the discussion behind Uponor Innovations was that “no one company has all of the good ideas,” says Carl Moe, Business Analyst at Uponor Innovations LLC. “We have the global expertise and employees in technical, marketing and product design areas where we can become a resource for idea generators.”
The force behind UI is that an idea will offer viability and acceptance, which, in turn, will contribute value to society. “We want to invest in an opportunity where the entrepreneur has a good idea and is already in a position to bring it to market—and we can help them. The strategy is for UI to invest more than just money. We have to see a way for Uponor to help leverage or help grow what we perceive to be a very good idea,” says Moe.
Piggybacking off the idea of growing and nurturing a very good idea,“Unlike a venture capitalist, we don’t have to ‘own’ your company. We can own it, but it isn’t a required part of our model. We want to invest in an opportunity where the entrepreneur has a good idea and is already in a position to bring it to market—and we can help them,” says Moe.
Upstream Technologies SAFL Baffle has saved Minnesota taxpayers $8.5 million over the past few years and projects additional savings to the state of $26.4 million over the next 10 years.
Gray believes that building an innovative culture internally and externally is a great opportunity to build products and create new processes and technologies that help its customers differentiate and grow their businesses. “We are looking for products and innovations that align with our sustainability goals and our vision of becoming a ‘recognized leader in sustainable building solutions,’” says Gray.
One recent success story was Uponor’s investment in Upstream Technologies. According to the Minnesota Department of Transportation, the Upstream Technologies SAFL Baffle—developed out of the University of Minnesota College of Science and Engineering’s St. Anthony Falls Laboratory—has saved Minnesota taxpayers $8.5 million over the past few years and projects additional savings to the state of $26.4 million over the next 10 years. The product is a proven, cost-effective method to help municipalities, developers, watershed districts and transportation departments improve sediment capture in urban runoff before it goes into storm sewers and eventually ends up in lakes, rivers and oceans. Uponor subsequently supported launch of the Upstream’s new Modified Philip Dunne (MPD) Infiltrometer, which provides an innovative solution for quickly and efficiently measuring the rate of water infiltration into soil.
Another great example was the joint venture between Uponor and Belkin International to create Phyn in May 2016. Phyn’s mission is to help consumers reduce their water usage and contribute to the global water shortage problem, protect their homes and save money. “There was interest in it at Uponor because it pertains to water management, so the decision was to see if Belkin had interest to take on a partner. I reached out to the exec team at Belkin and introduced Uponor,” says Moe.
Currently, with multiple projects in the pipeline and in various stages of development, Uponor Innovations is an approach to pursue involvement through existing Uponor assets and resources, the UI infrastructure includes staff, funding, manufacturing, marketing, sales, technical support and a national distribution network.
Do you have an idea that would inspire the industry with fresh, innovative and sustainable solutions, and enrich people’s way of life? Uponor Innovations may be worth a look and worthy of consideration. “There is a wide network of really creative entrepreneurial people out there, for whom we would like to widen our front-door welcome mat to Uponor,” says Moe.