The Refrigerant Detection System Calculator is built into the Ducted Systems Solutions app, allowing contractors to easily and quickly determine if residential or commercial HVAC projects require a Refrigerant Detection System The Ducted Systems Solutions app is a centralized resource to find equipment information, including step-by-step installation guides and videos for commercial rooftop units and Read more
Industry News
- The Refrigerant Detection System Calculator is built into the Ducted Systems Solutions app, allowing contractors to easily and quickly determine if residential or commercial HVAC projects require a Refrigerant Detection System
- The Ducted Systems Solutions app is a centralized resource to find equipment information, including step-by-step installation guides and videos for commercial rooftop units and residential HVAC equipment
Johnson Controls Residential & Light Commercial has announced the launch of its Refrigerant Detection System (RDS) Calculator within the Ducted Systems Solutions (DS Solutions) mobile app. A first for the residential and light commercial HVAC industry, this innovative calculator is designed to help users determine the need for refrigerant detection systems based on specific conditions such as space dimensions and the amount of refrigerant being used.
This calculator is part of Johnson Controls’ broader initiative to transition to more environmentally sustainable refrigerants, like R-454B, which has a lower global warming potential (GWP) compared to traditional refrigerants. The calculator is also designed to assist contractors and distributors with simple step-by-step installation instructions if they determine a RDS is needed.
“The transition to low-GWP refrigerants has been complex, as building codes that reference safety standards vary from state-to-state,” said Chris Forth, vice president of regulatory, codes and environmental affairs, Johnson Controls. “Our goal is to make the transition as seamless and confusion-free as possible for contractors and distributors so they can focus less on calculations and conversions, and more on providing efficient, safe and compliant installations. Our user-friendly calculator gives straightforward recommendations in just a few, simple steps.”
Available within the company’s DS Solutions App and product selection tools, the patent-pending RDS Calculator prompts users to answer a few questions about the job, such as refrigerant volume, supply air discharge height, total area being conditioned and potential zone impact. Once submitted, the calculator provides an immediate report summary and indicates if an RDS is recommended to ensure the application is compliant with current standards (UL/CSA-60335-2-40, 1). The report will also flag additional mitigation details, including whether additional exhaust air is required in the conditioned space, and provides a rationale report so contractors can easily act on the results.
A year of research went into the development of the RDS Calculator, including close collaboration with safety agencies to confirm compliance with current standards. The calculator is being launched alongside the shipment of the company’s newly updated A2L portfolio of residential and light commercial ducted HVAC products.
To comply with safety standards and ensure customer safety, new R-454B equipment can be equipped with a factory-installed refrigerant detection system engineered to detect refrigerant concentrations as determined by the safety standards and building code requirements. If a leak is detected, the RDS activates an alarm sequence and automatically shuts down equipment compressors, de-energizes attached ignition sources and activates airflow circulation to prevent the refrigerant from reaching its lower flammability limit.
Launched in 2022, the no-cost DS Solutions App provides contractors with instant access to commercial and residential equipment information such as installation guides, parts list, start-up sheets, warranty information and training videos to help streamline installation, troubleshooting and maintenance processes. This digital resource was designed to help enhance contractor efficiency by reducing the need for physical manuals and paper assets that can be time-consuming to navigate and sort through while on the job site.
The DS Solutions App is available for Android and iOS and can be downloaded from Google Play and the Apple App Store. For more information, visit www.johnsoncontrols.com/ds-solutions-app.
Franchise Owners Can Now Leverage the Power of ServiceTitan to Enhance Performance, Optimize Customer Experiences, and Enable Profitable Growth ServiceTitan, a leading software platform built to power the trades, today announced a strategic partnership with Authority Brands, a home services franchise leader. This new partnership will deploy ServiceTitan’s platform across several of Authority Brands’ industry leading Read more
Franchise Owners Can Now Leverage the Power of ServiceTitan to Enhance Performance, Optimize Customer Experiences, and Enable Profitable Growth
ServiceTitan, a leading software platform built to power the trades, today announced a strategic partnership with Authority Brands, a home services franchise leader. This new partnership will deploy ServiceTitan’s platform across several of Authority Brands’ industry leading home service businesses including Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, Mister Sparky Electric, and One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning. The new integration will empower franchise owners to maximize business performance, grow profitably, and deliver a superior customer experience.
“ServiceTitan is purpose-built to solve the complex and always evolving challenges for trades businesses of all shapes and sizes,” said Ara Mahdessian, CEO of ServiceTitan. “Since 2018, we have partnered with Authority Brands’ franchise owners to increase close rates, ticket sizes, and efficiency across their operations. We’re excited to grow our relationship with their portfolio of businesses by integrating ServiceTitan across these franchisees, while empowering them to maximize performance, offer superior customer experiences, and become more profitable.”
As one of the largest franchise systems in the trades, Authority Brands provides home services through over 2,000 territories operated by more than 1,000 franchise owners. The company enables its brands with robust marketing capabilities, dependable technology, and operational support to ensure their growth and success.
“We are dedicated to enabling our loyal franchise partners with cutting-edge solutions that accelerate their businesses. The comprehensive functionality, intuitive design, and ability to consolidate operations into a single platform set ServiceTitan apart as a preferred partner,” said Craig Donaldson, CEO of Authority Brands. “We’re thrilled to establish ServiceTitan as the primary platform across all locations and further enable our franchise partners to run efficient and profitable businesses.
Through its partnership with ServiceTitan, all Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, Mister Sparky Electric, and One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning locations will operate across one unified CRM, enabling system-wide visibility and ensuring accuracy all on one centralized platform. Authority Brands franchisees will also have access to ServiceTitan’s all-in-one platform and comprehensive capabilities to manage their businesses.
“As a franchise owner, nothing is more important to me than growing my business every day. This partnership between our brands and ServiceTitan is the best way to help our entire network grow. Both ServiceTitan and our brands are the best at what we do. I am excited to see ServiceTitan’s stellar operations and marketing services matched with our multi-million dollar business for continued success,” said Aaron Hagan, franchise owner of Mister Sparky Mid-America.
For more information about ServiceTitan, visit https://www.servicetitan.com.
Leading manufacturer of water heating and HVAC products supports 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance Rheem®, the Atlanta-based manufacturer of water heating and HVAC products, joined forces with 9/11 Day Meal Pack to honor the 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance. “We are proud to support 9/11 Day and its mission to inspire the spirit of Read more
Leading manufacturer of water heating and HVAC products supports 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance
Rheem®, the Atlanta-based manufacturer of water heating and HVAC products, joined forces with 9/11 Day Meal Pack to honor the 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance.
Rheem Employees assembling 9/11 Meal Packs.
“We are proud to support 9/11 Day and its mission to inspire the spirit of unity, service and shared humanity throughout the country and in our own backyard,” said Dipa Homer, executive vice president, global human resources and communications, Rheem. “The 9/11 Day Meal Pack Program provides our team the opportunity to honor those impacted by the events of 9/11, while also solidifying Rheem’s commitment to the Atlanta community by directly serving those at risk of hunger or struggling to feed their families.”
In partnership with 9/11 Day, Rheem employees volunteered for this Day of Service by packing meals for those at risk of hunger. The program works in partnership with local Feeding America-affiliated food banks, and other hunger relief organizations, to receive and distribute meals through its networks of pantries, faith groups, and schools. Volunteers from Rheem, and other companies across metro Atlanta, packed more than 200,000 meals yesterday.
Rheem is focused on creating a lasting legacy by encouraging employees to take part in its philanthropy program, Heart of Comfort® and supporting ongoing efforts, such as 9/11 Day Meal Pack.
Rheem CEO Chris Peel, Rheem EVP HR & Communications Dipa Homer, and Rheem SVP and GM Greg Miller.
This is the second year Rheem has honored the 9/11 anniversary and National Hunger Action Month by participating in 9/11 Day Meal Packs. The anniversary of 9/11 has become America’s largest day of service, recognized under federal law. The observance, widely known as “9/11 Day,” now engages more than 30 million Americans, many of whom participate by volunteering, donating to charities and performing other acts of service.
“The 9/11 Day observance and our Meal Pack events are only possible because of the generosity and support of organizations like Rheem and its employees,” said David Paine, president and co-founder, 9/11 Day.
For additional information on Rheem, visit www.rheem.com.
Provides Guidance on Selecting and Installing The Plastics Pipe Institute’s Building & Construction Division has published a major revision of PPI TN-55 “Plastic Piping Materials for Ground Source Geothermal Heating and Cooling Applications”. Originally issued in 2018, the latest edition of TN-55 was published in August 2024 with the input of industry experts including PPI Read more
Provides Guidance on Selecting and Installing
The Plastics Pipe Institute’s Building & Construction Division has published a major revision of PPI TN-55 “Plastic Piping Materials for Ground Source Geothermal Heating and Cooling Applications”. Originally issued in 2018, the latest edition of TN-55 was published in August 2024 with the input of industry experts including PPI members and the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA).
According to Lance MacNevin, P. Eng., director of engineering for PPI’s Building & Construction Division, “Because the piping material is critical to the overall success of the ground heat exchanger (GHX) in a geoexchange system, PPI TN-55 focuses on piping, fittings, and manifold materials. TN-55 lists the technical requirements for systems using HDPE, PEX, and PE-RT piping, plus requirements for PP pipes used as indoor piping, headers, and manifolds.”
A coil of PE4710 HDPE ground loop piping configured as a premanufactured U-bend assembly. Photo courtesy of Centennial Plastics.
The new technical note describes eight types of installation techniques, such as vertical boreholes, inclined or angled configurations, horizontal directional drilling (HDD), and energy piles, and discusses design topics, such as the effects of borehole depth on static water column pressure. It also addresses why oxygen diffusion barrier layers are typically not required for ground heat exchanger piping.
MacNevin continued, “The new TN-55 is intended to be a valuable resource on piping information, but this is just one of the latest tools available to specifiers and designers of geothermal heating and cooling systems. Details about pipe installation and pressure testing are found in PPI Model Specification MS-7, which published in 2023, and industry codes such as CSA/ANSI/IGSHPA C448 and the Uniform Mechanical Code.”
PPI is the non-profit North American trade association representing the plastic pipe industry, including several manufacturers of geothermal pipes, fittings, manifolds, and vaults. PPI formed its Geothermal Steering Committee in 2018 to develop industry publications, collaborate on codes, and create educational information about these systems.
A HDPE vault for connections of ground loop piping. Photo courtesy of PPI.
The revised PPI TN-55 is available directly from PPI at: www.plasticpipe.org/common/Uploaded files/Technical/TN-55.pdf
Additional information and data about ground source geothermal systems are available from the PPI Building & Construction Division at www.plasticpipe.org/buildingconstruction
Cala’s intelligent heat pump water heater will lower costs and carbon emissions from home water heating, which currently accounts for 19% of all home energy use and 3% of U.S. GHG emissions Cala Systems (Cala), creator of highly-intelligent heat pump water heaters that ensure comfort, save energy, reduce emissions, and integrate with the home, today announced Read more
Cala’s intelligent heat pump water heater will lower costs and carbon emissions from home water heating, which currently accounts for 19% of all home energy use and 3% of U.S. GHG emissions
Cala Systems (Cala), creator of highly-intelligent heat pump water heaters that ensure comfort, save energy, reduce emissions, and integrate with the home, today announced $5.6 million in seed funding and the commercial launch of its product. The round was led by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) and Clean Energy Venture Group, and included Burnt Island Ventures, Leap Forward Ventures, CapeVista Capital, Collaborative Fund, and Climate Capital. Cala’s heat pump water heater (HPWH) is now available for preorder on its website, with initial deliveries expected in the first half of 2025.
Cala has developed a highly efficient and intelligent heat pump system that heats water based on the patterns of hot water use in each home and the preferences of the homeowner. By understanding each home’s hot water patterns, Cala improves hot water availability during times of high demand and minimizes costs. In addition, homeowners can tailor water heating to their home and priorities; including synchronizing water heating with the power output of their home solar system, minimizing their greenhouse gas emissions by coordinating water heating with times of clean electricity on the grid, decreasing costs for homes with variable electric rates, preheating water before potential power disruptions, and more.
To achieve this, Cala combines sensors and advanced hardware with patented predictive control software originally developed by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Cala’s predictive controls blend artificial intelligence and physics-based techniques, enabling the system to plan ahead for future hot water use, and whatever other inputs (home solar output, electricity price, etc.) the homeowner has activated in the Cala app. It also incorporates a variable speed compressor and an integrated mixing valve, which enable it to take full advantage of its predictive controls by increasing water heating efficiency and producing more hot water when beneficial.
Cala’s HPWH is poised to benefit both homeowners and installers with local, state, and federal incentives, including up to a 30% tax rebate through the Inflation Reduction Act. Cala will conduct final assembly in Massachusetts, bringing high-quality, green manufacturing jobs to the local economy.
“Heat pump water heaters are beginning to grow rapidly because of their enormous savings and greenhouse gas reductions,” said Michael Rigney, CEO and Cofounder of Cala Systems. “Today’s heat pump water heaters are designed to deliver heat into the tank when the water is cold, a design that is virtually unchanged for the past 130 years. By contrast, our intelligent heat pump water heater is not only better at ensuring hot water is available and reducing cost, but also accounts for the other needs and goals of each homeowner. Cala is a superior way to heat water.”
Beyond developing and manufacturing its intelligent, efficient HPWH, Cala is also addressing obstacles to HPWH adoption by establishing a network of professional plumbers, electricians and HVAC contractors, as well as other partners, to support installation. To date, the company has already signed over ten Letters of Intent (LOIs) with installers.
Cala’s founders and senior team bring significant experience in the fields of consumer hardware, heat pumps, energy, and the built environment. CEO and Cofounder Michael Rigney has over 20 years of start-up experience at companies including EnerNOC, EnergySavvy and BlueTarp Financial. VP of Hardware and Cofounder, Mike Ting, led hardware and product management teams as Bose and SharkNinja. Cala’s senior leadership and key advisors are drawn from prominent companies including Nike, Google, Nest, Span, Gradient, and James Hardie.
“Other heat pump water heaters leave both money and emissions savings on the table because they don’t use the core technology as effectively as possible. Cala’s unit is the only one that seamlessly integrates with the home and the customer’s lifestyle to deliver an exceptional experience and maximum savings. The team has done remarkable work,” said Tom Ferguson, General Partner at Burnt Island Ventures.
“Heat pump water heaters are an essential tool for meeting our climate goals, and Cala’s innovative design realizes their full potential to cut emissions while helping residents save money and improve comfort,” said Susan Stewart, Managing Director of Investments at Massachusetts Clean Energy Center. “MassCEC is thrilled to support the Cala team through our 2030 Investment Fund as they grow their business and create jobs in Massachusetts to meet customer demand across the country.”