Industry News

The new NRCP line of residential tankless water heaters from Noritz America combines the high efficiency of condensing technology with the comfort and savings of hot-water recirculation. A circulating pump inside the water heater keeps hot water close to the outlet, minimizing the wait and, therefore, the waste of unused potable water down the drain. Saving water, in this case, is doubly beneficial, because recirculation also avoids wasting the energy used to heat that water.

Using the integral digital display on the front of the water heater, homeowners can program the recirculation system to operate only when needed, with a precision down to the hour. An alternative, “auto” setting allows the system to quickly “learn” a household’s water-usage routines and automatically control the recirculation loop activation times, allowing for immediate hot water when it is needed most.

High efficiency for larger homes: Part of the Noritz ecoTOUGH™ Series of gas-fired residential tankless water heaters, the NRCP98-DV and the NRCP1112-DV have an Energy Factor of 0.95 for both natural gas and LP gas. These ratings are more than 10 points higher than that of a comparably sized, conventional tankless unit, and approximately 30 points higher than a standard, tank-type gas-fired water heater.

• With a maximum input of 180,000 BTU per hour (BTU/hr), the NRCP98-DV has a maximum flow rate of 9.8 gallons per minute (gpm), making it generally suitable for homes with up to two-and-a-half baths.
• The NRCP1112-DV, with a maximum input of 199,900 BTU/hr and a maximum flow rate of 11.1 gpm, is suitable for homes with up to three and a half baths.

Each unit delivers water from 100°F to 140°F, with a minimum flow rate for activation of 0.5 gpm.

How recirculation works: Recirculation is accomplished through a combination of an integral pump and temperature sensor and the home’s water-distribution system. The recirculation control works by monitoring the temperature of the water exiting the heat exchanger inside the water heater.

• When exiting water reaches the maximum cutoff temperature, the recirculation pump shuts off, which also shuts down the burner.
• Both remain off until the water temperature falls to the minimum cutoff — or there is demand for hot water — at which point they reactivate until the maximum cutoff level is attained again. Homeowners can choose whatever minimum cutoff temperature best meets the comfort and energy-saving needs of their households.

Warm water returns to the tankless unit from the various outlets in a home via one or more recirculation loops. The maximum loop run from the tankless unit is 200 feet for 1/2-inch pipe; 500 feet for 3/4-inch pipe.

Easier, less costly venting: Using a half-inch gas line up to 120 feet in length, the NRCP98-DV and the NRCP1112-DV can be vented with PVC or CPVC pipe. With two-inch PVC, vent lines can extend up to 50 feet; with three-inch, 100 feet. (See adjacent box.)

“Condensing technology results in lower flue gas temperatures, permitting the use of plastic piping, which is less expensive than the Category III Stainless Steel venting required by conventional tankless units,” explains Noritz marketing manager Jason Fleming. “The zero-clearance plastic piping provides greater installation flexibility, as well as a lower installation cost, for the plumbing installer.”

Two other key features further simplify and speed installation:

• Two units can be quick-connected and then vented through a common termination point, saving installation material as well as time.
• There is no need for extra dipswitches to accommodate different vent runs.

No buffer tank needed: Unlike some condensing units, the NRCP98-DV and the NRCP1112-DV do not need a built-in buffer tank to stabilize water temperature at the outlet. Not having to maintain a reservoir of hot water inside the unit further saves energy. “Hot water on demand with no storage whatsoever is what tankless technology is all about,” says Fleming.

Measuring 17.3 inches wide x 27.6 inches high x 14.8 inches deep, both units are equipped with a gas leak detector and a water leakage cutoff. Other key features include:

• BUILT-IN DIGITAL DISPLAY: In addition to controlling operations, the integral digital display permits basic servicing without the need for a remote device. Located on the front panel, this readout assists in the troubleshooting by indicating flow rates, tem-perature and common error codes.
• 12-YEAR WARRANTY: Like other ecoTOUGH models, the NRCP98-DV and the NRCP1112-DV protect the environment by heating water strictly on demand, while offering a longer product life cycle than storage tank-type models. The warranty for each unit is 12 years on the two heat exchangers, made of long-lasting, high-grade stainless steel; five years on parts; one year on labor.
• ECO-FRIENDLY OPERATION, COMPONENTS: Both models promise lower emissions, reduced electrical consumption, smaller amounts of potentially hazardous construc-tion materials, and easier recyclability of those materials and components once the product is removed from service.

For more information on the NRCP98-DV and the NRCP1112-DV condensing tankless water heaters, visit www.noritz.com.

(Uponor) announced it has purchased a minority position in Upstream Technologies, a New Brighton, Minn.-based company.

Upstream Technologies is involved in the stormwater management market and has introduced innovative products that significantly improve process and efficiency in these areas. The opportunity came to Uponor through its recently launched subsidiary Uponor Innovations LLC.

“We are excited about this opportunity and although it is outside Uponor’s core strategic focus, Upstream Technologies’ products align with our sustainability goals and our vision of enriching people’s way of life,” says Bill Gray, president, Uponor North America. “Uponor believes companies play a special role in leading sustainability initiatives by producing products and services that make it convenient, affordable and effective to do the right things for the environment.”

One of Upstream Technologies’ products to make waterways clean in an affordable way is the SAFL Baffle. Developed out of the University of Minnesota College of Science and Engineering’s St. Anthony Falls Laboratory (SAFL), this product keeps sediment pollution out of lakes, rivers and oceans.

“Urban runoff hits the road, goes into the storm sewers and ends up in receiving water bodies such as lakes and rivers,” says John Gulliver, a professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Geo-Engineering and co-inventor of the SAFL Baffle. “Cities are required to treat urban runoff and are trying to figure out how to deal with this in times of limited funding.”

Jay Schrankler, director of the University of Minnesota Office for Technology Commercialization, says, “Uponor’s commitment to University of Minnesota start-up licensee Upstream Technologies further cements the SAFL Baffle’s place as an affordable tool to keep our waterways clean.”

A.J. Schwidder, CEO of Upstream Technologies, is very excited with Uponor’s investment in the company. “Uponor has a reputation of creating innovative and green products to save energy and ensure safe water — with a focus on reducing our carbon and water footprint locally and globally,” he says. “Their investment is an endorsement of our products, our company and our vision of improving the quality of our water in an affordable way.

The Upstream Technologies story has been an outstanding example of the good that can come from government, academic and corporate collaboration. “Uponor’s commitment to Upstream, along with the Minnesota Department of Transportation and the University of Minnesota’s St. Anthony Falls Laboratory, makes them a member of a group dedicated to improving our waterways,” Schrankler says. “With Upstream and Uponor behind the SAFL Baffle technology, we believe adoption will be accelerated for the good of our environment.”

(Uponor) was recently honored with the prestigious Partners of Choice Award from Houston-based Weekley Homes, the nation’s largest privately held home builder and the first builder in the United States to be awarded the Triple Crown of American Home Building.

Uponor is one of only 13 companies out of 200 David Weekley Homes’ U.S. suppliers to receive the highly coveted “A,A” ranking for world-class excellence in both quality and service.

The award is based on the home builder’s elaborate supplier evaluation platform, which features their comprehensive National Trading Partner Survey. The survey is administered to approximately 800 team members from all levels of the David Weekley Homes organization, in which raters are asked to evaluate their trading partners on the basis of quality and service. Those companies that consistently rate in the top 20 percent of the rankings each quarter receive the “A,A” ranking for the year signifying an “A” in both quality and service.

Bill Justus, vice president of Supply Chain Services at David Weekley Homes, started the supplier-assessment platform in 2004 to improve the relationship and interaction between the builder and its suppliers. Ten years later, the company’s National Trading Partner Survey has become a way of life for the builder and its suppliers to ensure both sides are working together toward a common goal of excellence.

“You can’t talk your way to a good score,” says Justus. “The only way to get an ‘A,A’ ranking is through consistent, sustained action.””

This is the first Partners of Choice Award for Uponor, which provides PEX plumbing and fire sprinkler systems for David Weekley Homes.

“We are very honored to receive this recognition,” says Carl Hines, national builder sales manager at Uponor. “Being chosen by the employees of David Weekley Homes as a top supplier is quite humbling, and we intend to continue to provide only superior quality and service in our partnership.

• Residential Application SV Model Split Systems
• Eight Sizes from 1 ½ through 6 tons
• Condenser Section May Be Located Up To 75 Equivalent Feet From Air Handler
• Condenser & Air Handling Section Designed & Rated For Indoor Installations Only
• Air Handler /Fan Coil Comes Standard With Constant Torque ECM
• Variable Speed Constant Airflow ECM Available As An Upgrade Option

Bosch Thermotechnology has released its residential Greensource Innovation Series SV model in a split system version.  Heat pump split systems allow the condenser unit to be installed separately from the fan coil to reduce noise, vibration and heat from the conditioned space. The condenser may be located indoors away from living areas.

Bosch Greensource Splt Systems are rated for water loop heat pumps (WLHPs) with EEER up to 13.8 and COP up to 4.3. Ground loop heat pumps (GLHPs) have an EER up to 15.7 and COP up to 3.5.

Eight split system sizes are available from Bosch: 1 ½, 2, 2 ½, 3, 3 ½, 4,5 and 6 tons. Air handler/fan coil and condenser section cabinets are constructed with G90 galvanized steel, with air handlers available in either horizontal and vertical configurations depending on the application preference.

Thermal expansion valves (TXV) are a standard feature in both the air handler/fan coil and the condenser section as well as 1/2″ dual density micromat fiberglass insulation; a closed cell foam insulation option is lso available. A filter drier can be installed in the SV Split in the field.

The SV Split System is available with a state-of-the-art air coil protection option that features two layers of corrosion protection. All active copper heat transfer surface on the air coil is coated in a tin plating to resist all common forms of formicary coil corrosion. DuoGuard protected coils exceed 1000 hours of ASTM B117 salt spray testing.

Greensource SV Model Split Systems carry a 1-year limited warranty and a 5-year limited warranty on the compressor.

Engineering submittal sheets, installation-owner’s manual and warranty certificate can be found at www.boschheatingandcooling.com.