Industry News

The Cast Iron Soil Pipe Institute (CISPI) is pleased to announce the launch of its new brand identity. The new logo and supporting brand assets were updated to introduce a new generation of plumbing engineers, designers, code officials, contractors and installers to the Institute.

Designed by Agency McKenna in Chicago, IL, the new brand identity fits into the Institute’s larger marketing communications strategy to build broad-scale awareness within the building and construction industry. Because the Institute communicates with a variety of audiences, it was especially important to create branding that was easily recognizable. The specification and implementation of cast iron soil pipe products involves a myriad of groups in the supply chain, including building owners, contractors and commercial plumbing professionals.

The new identity incorporates a bright red and blue color scheme that reinforces the Institute’s “Made in America” heritage and represents the CISPI member companies that manufacture cast iron soil pipe products domestically. The energetic use of color and multidimensional curves brings vibrancy to the “C I” trademark. The updated tagline, “CISPI – The Mark of Quality” emphasizes the product’s high-quality manufacture found only in American-made products. The new branding has a distinctly modern feel with continuity to the Institute’s past logo designs.

Dave Parney, CISPI Executive Vice President, was especially pleased with the new look. “I am very proud to announce the launch of our new brand. I believe our new branding is distinctive enough to appeal to younger audiences, but will still resonate with the seasoned industry professionals who have known the CISPI brand for years.”

CISPI Board of Director, Francesca Dunbar, continues, “Our new branding supports the Institute’s current priorities and highlights the quality that the Institute has maintained for years. It will be an important asset for us as we look to expand our reach to new audiences across the country.”

The Plastics Pipe Institute, Inc. (PPI), has published a new recommendation related to the direct connection of plastic piping materials CPVC, PE-RT, PEX, and PP to tankless water heaters.

Available on PPI’s website, PPI Recommendation H Direct Connection of Plastic Piping Materials to Tankless Water Heaters for Domestic (i.e. residential) Applications provides clear guidance on the question of direct connection of these piping materials to tankless water heaters. PPI is the major trade association representing the plastic pipe industry.

“PPI Recommendation H answers questions which plumbers and builders have been asking about whether it is appropriate for plastic pressure pipe materials to connect directly to the cold-water inlet and hot-water outlet of domestic tankless water heaters, without the use of metallic flex connectors. Based on our research, these direct connections are usually acceptable,” explained Lance MacNevin, P. Eng., director of engineering for PPI’s Building & Construction Division.

“To help answer this question, PPI and our members researched Canadian and US model plumbing codes,” he continued, “reviewed the published literature on dozens of tankless water heaters, and confirmed the recommendations of plastic piping system manufacturers. Based on the proven high-temperature capabilities of these piping materials and the relatively consistent water temperature control of modern tankless water heaters, there is no technical reason to prohibit direct connections. Of course, installers must follow local code requirements and the manufacturer installation instructions.”

“As stated in Recommendation H: Piping systems using the materials CPVC, PE-RT, PEX, and PP, which carry a pressure rating of 100 psi at 180°F (690 kPa @ 82°C), and which are intended and certified for hot and cold potable water distribution systems according to industry standards and relevant codes, may be connected directly to tankless water heaters which are intended for domestic (i.e. residential) applications, unless prohibited by local plumbing code or the specific water heater manufacturer.”

According to PPI President David Fink, “The research on this topic was prompted by an inquiry from a major builders group. The rapid development of Recommendation H demonstrates the ability of PPI members to collaborate and respond quickly to industry questions about responsible usage of plastic piping materials.”

Published on PPI’s website directly at recommendation-h-direct-connection-tankless, Recommendation H is one of several PPI documents related to the design and installation of pressure pipe materials for plumbing and mechanical applications, which are all published as a service to the industry. Additional information about PPI’s Building & Construction Division can be found at plasticpipe.org/building-construction/index.html.

New program empowers HVAC service leaders to implement advanced IAQ solutions for commercial facilities across the nation

Lennox International, a global leader in the heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration markets, has announced additional training that will provide contractors with the proper knowledge to help improve indoor air quality (IAQ) through their Building Better Air initiative.

The Building Better Air training program provides a structure to improve indoor air quality of commercial spaces through the Evaluate, Solve, Maintain framework.  Contractors trained through the program will have key information to explain how HVAC systems impact IAQ and offer the right solutions for their clients.

“Contractors are seeing an increased demand for IAQ solutions recently with the second wave of COVID-19,” said Elliot Zimmer, president and Chief Operating Officer of Lennox Commercial. “Our training program will help provide contractors with the support system they need to assess equipment and make a proper recommendation to better improve IAQ for their customers’ facilities.

“Our strong partnership with our Lennox Commercial Alliance Contractor network gives us a unique ability to help buildings improve their indoor air quality and get back to business safely.”

In October, Lennox introduced the Building Better Air initiative, which helps facilities evaluate the state of their HVAC systems by using an IAQ survey and creates solutions tailored to the needs of the building. The training program is an additional step to further Lennox’s goal to create safe working environments for restaurants, movie theaters, schools, offices and similar facilities.

“Our goal is to help businesses return to a normal routine safely, and improved indoor air quality is a great start,” said Bobby DiFulgentiz, vice president of product management and marketing. “If COVID-19 has taught us anything, it has shown just how important HVAC is in our everyday life. We are focusing our efforts on spreading the knowledge we have on air purification, ventilation, and humidity control so that our customers have access to the right solutions to safely return to business.”

For more information about the Building Better Air initiative or to find a qualified contractor in your area, visit www.lennoxcommercial.com/buildingbetterair.

Neighborly Brings 3,700+ Franchise Owners to Thumbtack’s Growing Local Services Marketplace

Thumbtack, a marketplace connecting customers to local service professionals, announced today it has teamed up with Neighborly®, the world’s largest franchisor of home service brands. Bringing millions of customers to more than 3,700 franchises in the U.S., Thumbtack will help grow these vital home service businesses across the country.

“In this new era of hyper focus on the home, Neighborly is an important ally in helping homeowners manage their most important investment,” said Jeff Grant, COO at Thumbtack. “Neighborly’s community of quality home service professionals combined with Thumbtack’s digital-native customer base will help bring more business to local communities.”

Home services on Thumbtack have seen growth during COVID-19 and the trend towards digital has accelerated. As our homes continue to be the place where we work, play and live, owners are increasingly interested in making investments in their residences while seeing maintenance projects rise. Thumbtack will drive new business opportunities to small business owners within Neighborly ranging from plumbing and HVAC to painting and home inspections.

“We joined forces with Thumbtack because we were looking for a way to align more leads for our franchise owners, which became a critical decision in 2020,” said Luke Stanton, president of ProTradeNet®, Neighborly’s preferred vendor division. “What we’ve received is so much more.  Thumbtack has poured resources into the development of a program specifically for Neighborly, which has added immense value for our brands and franchise owners.”

Thumbtack’s marketplace connects customers to Neighborly’s home service professionals with the right expertise, availability, and pricing — a system Thumbtack has perfected over more than 50 million projects. With Thumbtack, Neighborly’s franchise owners can grow their businesses on their own terms, targeting the exact projects they want, setting when and where they work, and determining what they charge.

To help optimize time and maximize spend, Thumbtack has created a dedicated program for franchise owners. The company’s new national brand experience includes:

• White glove sales experience: Specialized team to share insights with local franchise owners to help businesses grow more profitably.
• Dedicated onboarding specialists: Hands-on experience when joining Thumbtack to tailor profile pages, set job preferences and provide visibility needed to maximize growth.
• Ongoing personalized support: To provide better results, our team helps create a customized job pipeline based on business needs, size and capabilities.

To learn more about Thumbtack, visit www.thumbtack.com.