Industry News

Contribution Helps Connect Volunteer Plumbers Around the World with People and Agencies in Need, Facilitates Access to Safe Water and Sanitation

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (May 8, 2014) – American Standard Brands is supporting the philanthropic work of Plumbers Without Borders (PWB) with a $60,000 donation that supports the group’s mission to connect volunteer plumbers with organizations that are working to increase access to safe water and sanitation worldwide.

“Plumbers Without Borders is a grassroots effort, born from the desire to help people in dire need,” said Fred Schilling, spokesperson for the group. “We know we can make a difference to alleviate human suffering and disease caused by the lack of safe plumbing and hygienic sanitation.”

The donation will be used to help PWB develop their database of plumbers and mechanical tradespeople around the world who want to volunteer their services to improve hygiene, access to clean water, and help save lives. Volunteers who are registered in this databank can then be connected with organizations seeking their assistance. PWB’s ultimate goal is to serve as a complete plumbing and sanitation information hub for both volunteers and humanitarian organizations

A current project of Plumbers Without Borders involves working with Seattle Anesthesia Outreach (SAO) to implement plumbing infrasture improvements in medical facilities located in Ethiopia. The PWB volunteers helped to outfit a portable dialysis center for the Black Lion Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where needless numbers of people were dying due to lack of dialysis treatment. PWB provided the installation labor for the portable unit built here in the U.S. After the portable clinic was shipped to Ethiopia, PWB volunteers handled the on-site implementation work to get this life-saving equipment up and running. The volunteer plumbers have also done extensive work in Haiti, following the devastating earthquake that hit that nation.

Here in the United States, PWB’s skills are utilized, as well. The organization has partnered with Habitat for Humanity to assist with home building needs throughout the country. The group also works to maintain the plumbing systems on a volunteer basis in the Children’s Home Society of Florida, an organization that rescues abused children and works to break the cycle of child abuse.

“We have always believed that plumbers play a crucial role in protecting health and helping to prevent disease,” said Jay Gould, president and CEO of American Standard Brands. “Plumbers Without Borders is doing so much to improve sanitation and quality of life around the world, and we are proud to help them expand their capabilities with this sponsorship.”

“It’s been very exciting to watch this organization grow and develop, borne from a desire to use our plumbing trade to save lives beyond our own communities,” said Schilling. “With this generous sponsorship from American Standard, we will be able to build a crucial resource that will allow us to help even more people all around the world.”

Flush for Good Campaign to Provide Safer Sanitation and Improved Quality of Life for 5.5 Million People in Developing Countries by 2017

View Videos: American Standard’s Flush for Good Campaign

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (April 30, 2014) – In 2013, respected plumbing manufacturer American Standard donated 533,352 SaTo sanitary toilet pans to help reduce the transmission of disease and improve quality of life in Bangladesh. Many of these SaTos were distributed to the needy in 2013, with the remainder being distributed and installed this year. This donation is expected to impact the lives of an estimated 2.5 million people by providing safer sanitation facilities.

In addition, American Standard made a Commitment to Action with the Clinton Global Initiative in October 2013, pledging to improve sanitation and quality of life for three million people around the world from 2014 through 2017 through the use of SaTos. Including the 2.5 million residents of Bangladesh receiving safer sanitation assistance during 2013 and 2014, American Standard will reach an estimated 5.5 million people by 2017.

This commitment is an important piece of the Flush for Good campaign launched by American Standard in 2013, with an aim of increasing awareness of the global sanitation crisis and creating innovative solutions to help prevent the spread of disease caused by lack of safe sanitation facilities in developing countries. In early 2013, American Standard unveiled the SaTo (pronounced SAH-toh, derived from Safe Toilet) sanitary toilet pan, invented to work without sewer infrastructure. The SaTo uses ingeniously simple mechanical and water seals to close off pit latrines from the open air, thereby reducing the transmission of disease and odor.

Careful planning took place during the research and development process to ensure that the SaTo pan incorporated local bathroom practices while being affordable for the local population to purchase. American Standard created partnerships with local manufacturing companies so the product could be made in Bangladesh at a low cost, thus maintaining a sustainable business model. Distribution throughout the country has been aided through various NGOs that include BRAC, WaterAid and Save the Children.

Field tests of these toilet pans received extremely positive feedback by users, who found the SaTo toilet pans easy to use and effective at reducing disease transmission and odor as well.

Following this success, American Standard sent a team of product engineers to Zambia and Kenya in the fall of 2013 to learn about the specific sanitation needs in this part of the world and begin developing an appropriate solution. Scarcity of water in these regions of Africa presents a different challenge as compared to Bangladesh, and requires the development of a new latrine pan prototype.

Creating a sanitation solution as part of a sustainable business model is also part of the latrine pan development for Sub-Saharan Africa. The company’s goals is to once again deliver an improved sanitation experience that is affordable to the local population.

Worldwide, 2.5 billion people lack access to adequate sanitation facilities. Every day, 2,000 children die from diseases caused by this lack of proper sanitation. The United Nations has set a 2015 Millennium Development Goal of reducing by half the proportion of people who lack access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation.

“American Standard has been dedicated to raising the standard of sanitation since the very beginning,” said Jay Gould, president and CEO of American Standard. “The Flush for Good campaign represents the newest chapter in this proud history. It is an honor and a privilege to have the ability to make such a difference in so many people’s lives.”

For more information on this announcement, visit www.americanstandard.com or www.flushforgood.com.

via American Standard – Press Room.

American Standard AccessPRO Toilet: Achieve Accessibility Standards with Less Time, Cost

Innovative Design Allows Toilet to Be Relocated Closer to or Further from Wall Without Moving Floor Flange

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (May 6, 2014) – Relocating a toilet to conform to accessibility standards is easier and less expensive than ever with the new high efficiency AccessPRO toilet from American Standard. Its unique design allows up to 3 ½-inches of lateral adjustment of the toilet bowl to the right – or to the left when used with the left hand bowl – without changing the floor flange outlet location.

Intended to help conform to the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Fair Housing Act (FHA), and Multifamily Housing Resource Program (MHRP), this innovative model saves both time and money when relocating a toilet to meet accessibility standards.

For easy installation, a floor template, adjustable trapway kit, and slow-close seat are all included with the toilet. The AccessPRO toilet boasts comfortable 16 ½-inch Right Height styling, with an elongated bowl for added user comfort and accessibility. It has a 12-inch rough-in.

This two-piece toilet features a 3-inch flush valve and 2 1/8-inch trapway that provides reliable flushing performance. The AccessPRO also leverages the American Standard PowerWash bowl cleaning technology for a quiet, yet powerful, flush that scrubs the bowl with pressurized water from the rim during each flush to remove every last trace of paper and waste.

Thanks to these top-quality features, the AccessPRO achieves the highest bulk removal score on the Maximum Performance (MaP) test, an independent report of toilet performance. This toilet can successfully flush 1,000 grams (2.2 pounds) of waste while using a water-saving 1.28 gallons per flush (gpf). This earns it WaterSense-certification from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for providing high performance while consuming 20 percent less water than standard toilet models.

Even regular maintenance and cleaning is easy with the AccessPRO, which features EverClean, the unique permanent finish from American Standard that inhibits the growth of stain and odor-causing bacteria, mold and mildew on the surface, helping toilets stay cleaner, longer.

The AccessPRO is available in white with two additional colors – bone and linen – available by special order. The choice of a robust metal left or right hand trip lever, in polished chrome finish, is also offered. The AccessPRO is covered by a five-year limited warranty.

For more information on the AccessPRO toilet, visit www.americanstandard.com or call (800) 442-1902.

via American Standard Press: American Standard AccessPRO Toilet: Achieve Accessibility Standards with Less Time, Cost.

New training supplement gives plumbing and heating contractors of all experience and skill levels an easier way to gain product knowledge.

Noritz America today announced the release of its Online Residential Level 1 (R1) tankless water heater training for plumbing and heating contractors. The Noritz University course will supplement personal training by Noritz sales personnel, allowing those tradespeople who are unable to attend in-person sessions the ability to gain and deepen their tankless knowledge quickly and effectively.

“The training is useful for contractors of all levels of experience, because we continue to develop and improve our technology,” says Jason Fleming, Marketing Manager for Noritz America. “Now there’s a new way to get the right information quickly and efficiently without always having to travel to a Noritz facility or a distributor location.”

The Noritz website will host the training slides, which also furnish information on a shortcut to Training signup, available courses, as well as the benefits of participating in the company’sPROCard rebate program. A checkpoint quiz at the end of the module allows contractors to complete their education courses in order to be listed in the “Find an Installer” section of the website, while also elevating their status as PROCard members.

The 45 training slides in the new R1 program take approximately an hour to complete, according to Fleming. Topics include:

PRODUCT LINE

• What is a Tankless Water Heater?
• Residential Condensing and Non-Condensing Product Lines
• Large Residential/Commercial Product Line

INSTALLATION

• Sizing
• Gas
• Combustion Air
• PVC Considerations
• Direct and Standard Venting, Vent Termination Clearances
• Circuit Board Dipswitches
• Special Applications

MAINTENANCE

• Water Treatment
• Descale Procedure

Noritz intends to expand its instruction on these key tankless topics in future courses. “It’s always beneficial to get the latest on our products,” says Fleming. “The more a contractor knows, the easier it is for him to sell his knowledge, skills and services.”

For more information on the full line of Noritz tankless water heating products, visit www.noritz.com. You can also telephone us at 866.766.7489 or e-mail us at support@noritz.com.