https://vimeo.com/1076182999 With tax day come and gone, we hope Uncle Sam was gentle on you. Speaking of Uncle Sam, how the heck did he get that moniker? We also continue our talk on tariffs, we fire up Taco After Dark, we also talk action figures. Also, check out our podcasts. Taco After Dark Read more
Mechanical Hub
With tax day come and gone, we hope Uncle Sam was gentle on you. Speaking of Uncle Sam, how the heck did he get that moniker? We also continue our talk on tariffs, we fire up Taco After Dark, we also talk action figures. Also, check out our podcasts.
In the last several decades, increasing regulations on lead content in drinking water systems have directly impacted the evolution of plumbing materials. For Viega, the transition from leaded bronze to ZL (zero-lead) bronze represented a significant milestone in ensuring compliance and advancing industry standards. This is further exhibited by the Viega MegaPress® Transition Coupling, which Read more
In the last several decades, increasing regulations on lead content in drinking water systems have directly impacted the evolution of plumbing materials. For Viega, the transition from leaded bronze to ZL (zero-lead) bronze represented a significant milestone in ensuring compliance and advancing industry standards. This is further exhibited by the Viega MegaPress® Transition Coupling, which uses press technology to make transitioning between different systems easier than ever before.
The Shift to Lead-Free Alloys
Regulations on lead content have appeared with respect to gasoline, paint and plumbing systems.
- 1974: The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) was originally created in 1974 and been amended in 1986 and 1996. Allowed the EPA to regulate public water systems and impose limits on contaminants.
- 2008: California and Vermont reduced allowable lead content to 0.25% weighted average across wetted surfaces.
- 2011: The federal Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act (RLDWA) mandated a nationwide 8% lead limit.
- 2014: Full enforcement of RLDWA required manufacturers to adopt zero-lead materials for all new potable water systems, further reducing the lead limit for pipes, fittings, and fixtures to less than 0.25%.
These regulatory changes led to the development and adoption of alternative alloys that meet lead content requirements while maintaining performance.
Challenges in Transitioning to Zero-Lead Bronze
The shift from leaded to lead-free components presented significant engineering and manufacturing challenges:
- Material Properties: Traditional leaded bronze offered superior machinability due to lead’s lubricating properties. Lead-free alternatives, such as silicon and phosphorus-bronze alloys, required modifications of machining processes to mitigate tool wear and burr formation.
- Casting and Forming: Lead also contributes to metal fluidity, reducing shrinkage defects. Transitioning to zero-lead alloys necessitated mold redesigns and optimized casting techniques.
- Soldering and Brazing: The wetting behavior of lead-free materials differs from leaded solder, requiring adjustments to flux compositions and brazing temperatures. Installation techniques had to adapt as well due to differential heating between this new bronze and copper tubing.
- Corrosion Resistance: Some zero-lead alloys are more prone to dezincification and stress corrosion cracking, increasing the need for dezincification-resistant (DZR) alloys staying below 15% zinc or adding inhibitors.
- Compliance and Cost: Meeting NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 and 372 standards involved significant investment in new tooling, certification, and material procurement.
The Importance of Dezincification-Resistant (DZR) Bronze
Dezincification occurs when zinc is leached from brass, leaving a porous, weakened structure. Viega’s ZL bronze incorporates DZR properties to ensure:
- Enhanced corrosion resistance in aggressive water environments.
- Longer-lasting performance in high-temperature applications.
- Regulatory compliance without compromising material strength or durability.
Leading the Industry Forward
As part of our commitment to innovation and regulatory compliance, our zero-lead fittings exemplify how advanced material science can support safe drinking water initiatives. Notably, the MegaPress Zero-Lead Bronze Transition Coupling is the first and only press coupling of its kind, setting the standard as a durable, reliable and compliant solution for the plumbing industry.
https://vimeo.com/1070103550 Did you know that on this date in 1979, the infamous Three Mile Island accident occurred, which was a partial meltdown of the Unit 2 reactor of the Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station, located on the Susquehanna River near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. It is the worst accident in U.S. commercial nuclear power plant history Read more
| Did you know that on this date in 1979, the infamous Three Mile Island accident occurred, which was a partial meltdown of the Unit 2 reactor of the Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station, located on the Susquehanna River near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. It is the worst accident in U.S. commercial nuclear power plant history? |
Illinois’ Top Apprentices Showcase Elite Skills at Statewide Competition
RIDGID will select six winners for a VIP Experience at its global headquarters August 13th to 15th. Elyria, Ohio — Entries are now being accepted for a chance to win a spot at the 2025 RIDGID® Experience, taking place August 13th to 15th at their global headquarters in Elyria, Ohio. The exclusive experience designed to Read more
RIDGID will select six winners for a VIP Experience at its global headquarters August 13th to 15th.
Elyria, Ohio — Entries are now being accepted for a chance to win a spot at the 2025 RIDGID® Experience, taking place August 13th to 15th at their global headquarters in Elyria, Ohio. The exclusive experience designed to celebrate the trades continues to grow in popularity, with the all-expenses paid trip now in its eighth year. RIDGID, a part of Emerson’s professional tools portfolio, is accepting entries until April 14th.
Six winners will have the opportunity to shape the future of professional tool development by sharing their expert insights with RIDGID leadership and the engineering, marketing, research, and product development teams. They will also receive RIDGID’s signature VIP treatment that includes:
• An all-expenses-paid trip to RIDGID global headquarters.
• A VIP RIDGID headquarters tour.
• A custom iconic RIDGID pipe wrench.
• Professional photoshoot, celebrating winners’ dedication to the skilled trades.
• Suite seats to see MLB Cleveland Guardians.
• And more.
“We regularly hear from RIDGID Experience winners that their trip was a once-in-a-lifetime event that they won’t ever forget,” said Maddie Suvak, engagement marketing manager, RIDGID for Emerson. “Our team can’t wait to provide that same unforgettable experience to this year’s winners.”
Entries will be accepted through April 14th, 2025. Contest winners will be selected based on their response to questions, trade involvement, enthusiasm for RIDGID tools as displayed in submitted picture or video of them with their favorite RIDGID tool, and originality and uniqueness of entry. How to enter and full 2025 RIDGID Experience official contest rules can be found here.
Emerson’s professional tools business, which includes RIDGID as well as the Greenlee® and Klauke® brands, provides the industry’s broadest portfolio of advanced, reliable tools and technologies for the mechanical, electrical and plumbing trades globally. Visit emerson.com/professionaltools for more information. RIDGID®, Greenlee® and Klauke® are trademarks of Emerson or its subsidiaries. All other trademarks belong to their respective holders.
https://vimeo.com/1067501692 On this week’s Mechanical Hub update: As I watched the recovery efforts—for the astronauts stuck in space for nine months—live off the coast of Tallahassee, Fla., all I kept thinking about was, “Where have these two astronauts been going to the bathroom for that extended period of time?” I guess I’m not alone in Read more
On this week’s Mechanical Hub update: As I watched the recovery efforts—for the astronauts stuck in space for nine months—live off the coast of Tallahassee, Fla., all I kept thinking about was, “Where have these two astronauts been going to the bathroom for that extended period of time?” I guess I’m not alone in that thought because it is one the most commonly-asked questions for astronauts visiting the space station.
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