This Tiny House on wheels may be small, but it is big on features. At a cozy 150 square feet, the home is nothing short of luxurious, with high-tech building systems combined with high-end appliances and furnishings. Designed in collaboration with 30 architects, engineers, and materials specialists, this safe and sustainable home has helped educate Read more
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This Tiny House on wheels may be small, but it is big on features. At a cozy 150 square feet, the home is nothing short of luxurious, with high-tech building systems combined with high-end appliances and furnishings. Designed in collaboration with 30 architects, engineers, and materials specialists, this safe and sustainable home has helped educate and inspire over 50,000 people who have toured it since 2015.
The homeowner, Tracey Powell, also happens to be its designer and builder. She and her brother, Trever Powell, wanted to ensure her home was safe, sustainable, durable, functional and technological. When it came to choosing a plumbing system to meet all of her needs, she first did her research, and then called Uponor.
Like many homes in this growing community, Powell’s tiny house is on wheels, and code-compliant for frequent transport. “We were worried that most plumbing connections wouldn’t hold up to vibration and movement during transport,” said Powell. “So thank goodness we found ProPEX® expansion fittings, which are highly leak-resistant and get stronger over time.”
Sustainability was an extremely important aspect of the project, especially when choosing a plumbing system.
“I wanted the quality of my drinking water to be high,” explained Powell. The fact that the ProPEX® expansion fittings don’t need adhesives and glues like other fittings was very important to me. I don’t want chemicals seeping into my water.”
Every inch counts in a tiny home, so Powell was pleased with the flexibility of the ½” Uponor AquaPEX® tubing. The bend-radius made it easy to install quick turns with each change in direction, without having to stop and cut a fitting. Building a tiny house comes with challenges, but Uponor helped tackle these challenges with a little creativity.
“We wanted to prevent the PEX tubing from touching the spray foam insulation, but needed it located as close to the interior conditioned space as possible and in a very narrow wall cavity,” said Powell. “Even though ProPEX resists freezing and condensation, we took extra precautions and used Uponor’s Ecoflex® insulation to protect the PEX tubing—it’s worked out great.”
Because the tiny house includes numerous high-end technologies, there are many plumbing fixtures with metal fittings. Powell was impressed with how easy and seamless it was to connect the ProPEX expansion fittings with the wide-array of metal fittings.
In the future, Powell plans to consult other homeowners in designing their very own tiny houses and wants to help navigate them through best products, practices and processes—and she says an Uponor AquaPEX plumbing system is definitely on her list.
“The Uponor plumbing system is the easiest and most efficient piping for any tiny house,” she said.
Project Highlights:
• 150-square-foot tiny home
• Uponor AquaPEX plumbing system
• Distributor: The Granite Group
• Engineer: RW Sullivan
Project Data:
• ½” Uponor AquaPEX
• ProPEX Fittings
The all new Webstone Hydro-Core™ Boiler Compatibility Matrix App is now available for download through the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Hydro-Core™ solutions are now available to fit approximately 300 boilers from 25 different manufacturers. Utilize this matrix to find the right Hydro-Core™ kit for your specific boiler and save over 4 hours Read more
The all new Webstone Hydro-Core™ Boiler Compatibility Matrix App is now available for download through the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Hydro-Core™ solutions are now available to fit approximately 300 boilers from 25 different manufacturers. Utilize this matrix to find the right Hydro-Core™ kit for your specific boiler and save over 4 hours on your next installation with expert looking results. Integrated within the app is the Webstone website and online store portal for simplified B2B ordering. Founded in 1954, Webstone now operates as a brand of NIBCO and is recognized as an industry leader for innovative design of residential and commercial valves used in plumbing, hydronic, radiant, solar and geothermal applications. These designs focus on time and space saving concepts that simplify future maintenance and upkeep of all piping systems. Some of Webstone’s trademarked and patented items include: Hydro-Core™, The Isolator®, Isolator EXP™, Pro-Connect™, and Pro-Pal® step saving valves.
Perrysville, Ohio — Mansfield Plumbing has awarded $1,000 scholarships to five college students whose parents each work at the plumbing product manufacturer located in Perrysville, Ohio. • Marissa Cox, daughter of Jody Aberts, who works in the Model Shop on first shift at Mansfield Plumbing, is attending the Mansfield branch of The Ohio State University Read more
Perrysville, Ohio — Mansfield Plumbing has awarded $1,000 scholarships to five college students whose parents each work at the plumbing product manufacturer located in Perrysville, Ohio.
• Marissa Cox, daughter of Jody Aberts, who works in the Model Shop on first shift at Mansfield Plumbing, is attending the Mansfield branch of The Ohio State University. She is majoring in dental hygiene.
• Ridge Durbin, son of Mansfield employee Kirk Durbin, is attending West Liberty University majoring in pre-dentistry. His father works in the Grade & Pack department at the Perrysville plant as part of A-Crew.
• Samuel Pember, son of Gary Pember, the vice president of marketing at Mansfield, is attending Kent State University. He is majoring in managerial marketing.
• Jessica Shaw, daughter of Mansfield employee Christopher Shaw, who works in the Spray department (A-Crew), is attending Mount Vernon Nazarene University. She is majoring in accounting.
• Jordan Westfield, daughter of employee Brandon Westfield, is attending the Mansfield branch of The Ohio State University to study education. Her father works in the Grade & Pack department as part of A-Crew.
“Each year we offer scholarships to deserving children of our employees who are headed to college,” says Natalie Thomas, vice president of human resources at Mansfield Plumbing. “We consider the $1,000 scholarships we’re providing to these students as an investment in their futures.
“The monies for the scholarship program are dedicated to helping students pursue their dreams for higher educational opportunities. All our employees with children going to college are invited to apply for the yearly scholarships.”
Mansfield Plumbing precision manufactures millions of pieces of sanitaryware and bathware each year at its facilities in Perrysville and Big Prairie, Ohio and in Henderson, Texas. Founded in 1929, Mansfield Plumbing, which is owned by Corona, is a leading producer of top-quality, high-design, performance plumbing fixtures and fittings for use in residential, commercial and institutional markets. For more information, visit www.mansfieldplumbing.com
As the market for commercial building restroom renovations and construction picks up steam, more attention is being focused on what matters most to all facility stakeholders – owners, employees, business patrons, facility maintenance, and so on. While most of today’s restroom design trends aim to increase durability, maintainability, ease-of-installation, convenience and sustainability within restrooms, perhaps Read more
As the market for commercial building restroom renovations and construction picks up steam, more attention is being focused on what matters most to all facility stakeholders – owners, employees, business patrons, facility maintenance, and so on.
While most of today’s restroom design trends aim to increase durability, maintainability, ease-of-installation, convenience and sustainability within restrooms, perhaps the two most important goals are cleanliness and operational efficiency.
Bradley Corp. recently conducted research, which shows the condition of restrooms has taken a nosedive, according to consumer perception. Almost 70 percent of Americans reported experiencing unpleasant conditions in restrooms in 2015 – a 20 percent increase since 2012. When asked the most important improvement they’d like to see in restrooms, survey respondents overwhelmingly said “clean them more regularly.”
As for building owners, the challenge is optimizing the appearance and cleanliness of restrooms while minimizing time and costs for installation, maintenance repairs and replacement parts. Gaining operational efficiency on the front end of restroom design can free up valuable staff time and extend the lifespan of restroom fixtures.
Here are some restroom design trends that enhance cleanliness and efficiency in the eyes of both restroom users and building owners.
Touch-free fixtures. Touchless fixtures can help users in their quest to avoid touching restroom surfaces, reduce the transmission of germs and bacteria from users’ hands, and improve overall facility hygiene as users leave the restroom area and enter other parts of the building. These fixtures are also easier for staff to keep in good working condition. The “hands-free” design reduces wear and tear from usage, and helps discourage vandalism attempts such as leaving a faucet running to create a mess. Sensored faucets, and automated soap and towel dispensers prevent waste and overflows with an automatic shut off.
Some newer touchless fixtures use 0.38 GPM faucets vs. 0.5 GPM, which achieves a 24 percent water savings. A new “all-in-one” completely touchless hand washing fixture – with touch-free soap, faucet and hand dryer in the same unit – eliminates dripping water on the floor and safety in commercial restrooms since the user’s hands stay within the sink area until they are dried.
Sustainable materials. Made of natural and recycled materials, sustainable materials can increase the durability, maintainability, life span and aesthetic of countertops, basins and lavatory systems. For example, molded natural quartz material, which has the resilience of granite, can be sculpted into a range of design options for lavatories. Natural quartz is virtually maintenance-free, since it does not require sealing, buffing or reconditioning like granite.
In addition, solid surface material made of recycled materials and rapidly renewable material is also a popular choice. Solid surface resists stains, chemicals, scratches and heat, which reduces the likelihood of repairs and the need for replacements. Both natural quartz and solid surface utilize integrated bowl designs, which eliminate crevices for microbes to hide, are easy to clean and help prevent the spread of germs. These materials also have nonporous properties, helping them to stay cleaner and germ-free longer.
Flexible and durable products. Choosing products that are engineered to address specific restroom needs and environments also promotes operational efficiency. Products that optimize flexibility require few connections and parts help to simplify installation, adjust easily to low or fluctuating water pressure and reduced water flow, stand up to harsh water conditions and high restroom traffic, and are adaptable to both aged infrastructures and new construction. Flexible product features also include universal design and vandal resistance. The result of using such products optimizes time and costs and minimizes headaches.
In all, today’s commercial restroom design innovations improve the customer experience, promote lasting durability and efficiency, and increase satisfaction for all stakeholders.
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Restroom Trendwatch:
express® Elx-series Lavatory System offers updated and cost-effective multi-user design
Bradley Corp., introduces its Express® ELX-Series Lavatory System – a contemporary alternative to china sinks and laminate counter tops designed for commercial restrooms. Its single bowl, multi-user design is easy to install and maintain, while offering contoured styling and personal hand washing space.
A step up from ordinary lavatories, the award-winning Express ELX-Series is a cost-effective fixture that is easy to specify, install, clean, and maintain. With the look and feel of an individual lav, this streamlined hand washing system provides the economies and conveniences of a group fixture, which accommodates up to three people at one time.
Made of Bradley’s Terreon® Solid Surface material, the Express ELX-Series Lavatory offers superior durability and is easy to clean and repair. In addition, its contemporary contoured design elevates the look of commercial restrooms while being easy to clean. The bowl’s seamless construction eliminates mold and delamination, offering a more hygienic and attractive washroom solution.
Due to its long-term durability and simplified maintenance qualities, the ELX-Series is a cost-effective choice for high-traffic washroom applications, such as schools, retail, recreation centers, municipal office buildings and transit stations.
The Express ELX-Series Lavatory also cuts down on installation time and costs, and requires few connections and parts. It incorporates a unique mounting plate for faster installation, and requires only a single drain and supply rough-in for new construction, or for an easily installed retrofit.
For more information, visit https://www.bradleycorp.com/elx-series-express-sinks.
Kris Alderson is a Senior Marketing Manager at Bradley Corporation, a leading manufacturer of plumbing fixtures, washroom accessories, partitions, emergency fixtures and solid plastic lockers. She can be reached at Bradley Corp., W142 N9101 Fountain Blvd., Menomonee Falls, Wis., 53052-0309. For more information, call (800) BRADLEY or visit www.bradleycorp.com.
Light and powerful for a machine of its size, the DRZ is ideal for clearing clogged sinks, tubs, and laundry drains in 1-1/4″ to 3″ drain lines up to 50 ft. long. The variable speed power cable feed on the DRZ-PH gives you complete control as it feeds and retrieves the cable at up to Read more
Light and powerful for a machine of its size, the DRZ is ideal for clearing clogged sinks, tubs, and laundry drains in 1-1/4″ to 3″ drain lines up to 50 ft. long.
The variable speed power cable feed on the DRZ-PH gives you complete control as it feeds and retrieves the cable at up to 16 ft per minute. The four foot guide tube means you never have to touch the cable so your hands, and the jobsite, stay clean.
Operate the machine horizontally on the kitchen counter or vertically on the floor next to the tub. The silent motor won’t disturb your customers while on the job. Use the pneumatic pedal to keep your hands free to control the feed and guide hose.
The rust resistant aluminum drum carries up to 50′ of 1/4″ or 5/16″, or 35′ of 3/8″ Flexicore® wire rope center cable. A quick-change cartridge system allows you to switch to a different diameter cable without pulling the old cable out of the drum.
Weighing as little as 30 lbs. the lightweight machine is easy to handle. Use the carrying handle on top to carry to and from the job.
