Plumbing

Bradley has introduced a new daylight drain option for its barrier-free cabinet mount eyewash, eye/face wash and combination units, expanding its suite of emergency fixture products.

The external daylight drain feature is designed to drain wastewater from the eye or eye/face wash out the front face of the unit instead of connecting to a building’s drainage system. This allows the unit to be used and tested without being connected to wastewater plumbing.

The barrier-free design of these models makes them fully accessible to people with physical disabilities while Bradley’s Halo eye/face wash provides the industry’s most effective washdown coverage and spray pattern.

“In addition to preventing contamination of sanitary sewer systems and supporting safe water management, these daylight drains offer multiple benefits to facilities, including cutting time and costs on installation and maximizing flexibility,” says Valerie Bonney, product manager, Bradley. “These fixtures are especially helpful for use in facilities where plumbing connections to sanitary or stormwater drains are not feasible or permitted.”

A variety of cabinet-concealed eyewash units, as well as recessed drench shower/eyewash units, are available, making them suitable for applications where space is limited. Vandal-resistant ceramic valves limit wear and tear on moving parts, providing dependability and long-lasting performance. The innovative design of the barrier-free cabinet mount units exceeds American National Standard Institute (ANSI) Z358.1 specifications.

Bradley’s exclusive Halo eyewash models, designed with fluid dynamics technology, have provided the most effective washdown coverage and spray pattern available for emergency use. In addition, this eyewash design includes an integral strainer to reduce debris in the water and prevent clogging. The self-draining sprayhead ensures no stagnant water remains for any bacteria to grow.

For more information visit https://www.bradleycorp.com/product-category/laboratory.

For one lakeside condo, hot water isn’t just a luxury—it’s a necessity. The unit serves dual purposes: a recreational retreat for its owners and a rental property for guests. That means hot water needs to be dependable, ensuring comfort for everyone, every time.

When the new owners of the condo purchased the property, one of the first orders of business was to have a whole-unit inspection prior to completing the transaction. What the inspector found was that while running the water throughout the condo, the water ran hot after only a few minutes of use, making its way for turning the shower into what is essentially known as a cold-water sandwich, and nobody wants to experience that.

After further “inspection,” the culprit was a nearly 30-year-old water heater, which—in terms of water heater life—had made a really strong run. But it was time. Time to replace with a similar unit in terms of reliability. “We were so impressed with the longevity and durability of the existing water heater, we decided to swap the unit out with a nearly identical one, with new and improved features,” said the condo owner. “If we can get even similar or even better performance out of the new unit, we’d be extremely happy.”

The upgrade included the swap out of an aged State Courier 510 unit with a residential 48-gallon State ProLine Lowboy Electric Water Heater, which is a residential product built to commercial-grade standards, and is only available for purchase through professional wholesalers and contractors.

As one might imagine, for a one-bedroom condo, space is at a premium, and you guessed it, the mechanical space resides in a small storage closet, which makes it ideal for a low-profile unit with top mount access. Due to the size of the working mechanical space, and because all appliances in the condo run on electric, the choice was simple.

Because the ProLine’s compact lowboy design and top water connections, it was ideal for this tight space. The installation—with a cramped working area and low-height clearance—was seamless for the local plumbing contractor. But the real advantage? The ProLine’s advanced features which include:

• Consistent hot water delivery with a first-hour rating of 60 gallons
• High efficiency with a 0.93 Uniform Energy Factor (UEF) rating
• Commercial-grade durability, featuring a long-lasting lower Incoloy stainless steel element
• State’s industry-leading tank protection, including:
• CoreGard™ stainless steel anode rod
• Blue Diamond® glass lining for corrosion resistance
• DynaClean™ automatic sediment-cleaning system to extend tank life

And while the previous State unit lasted for more than a quarter of a century, the condo owners have the peace of mind knowing that with dual 4,500-watt heating elements, the ProLine delivers powerful, reliable hot water—ensuring no more cold-water surprises. And with State’s 6-year limited tank and parts warranty, the condo owners also can rest easy knowing their investment is protected.

Finally, because the residential ProLine unit was a recently swapped in, the condo owners have had somewhat limited use, but are extremely satisfied with the hot water production. The owners are confident in the ProLine—in the end, it was the reliable choice when looking to maximize hot water output while seeking energy savings. “We’ve used it multiple times, and BOOM! There is no better feeling knowing that we, and our renters, will have consistent hot water and comfort while bathing or showering,” said the condo owner.

Welcome back everyone, we are in the midst of our busy traveling schedule, just returning from the WWETT Show in Indy. We’ll check in from the show with some highlights from our friends from Milwaukee Tool and General Pipe Cleaners. We’ll also visit with Dan Foley, the most recent recipient of the Carlson/Holohan Industry Award of Excellence.

This Weekly Update is powered by our partners at Milwaukee Tool.

Franklin Electric Co., Inc. announced that its Little Giant brand is expanding its condensate removal product line with the addition of a series of condensate neutralizing products. The new products include an integrated condensate neutralizer media, helping to treat acidic condensate before it enters a residential plumbing system.

The Little Giant VCMA-20-NPTC Neutralizing Condensate Pump is driven by a 1/30 hp high-performance motor and features a specialized blend of neutralizing media made of calcite and magnesium oxide for the best neutralizing effect without clumping or clogging. An easy-to-remove clear cover allows for simple media changing and routine maintenance.

The NC-2 Series tube-style neutralizers from Little Giant feature integral unions with O-ring seals and snap-in mounting brackets. Little Giant offers three different models, accommodating both horizontal and vertical installation–as well as 220,000 and 300,000 BTU/hr of appliance input.  The neutralizing media-filled sack allows for easy removal for service and recharging to maintain the effective treatment of acidic condensate to prevent damage to a building’s infrastructure, local sewage systems and the environment.

Easy-to-install replacement media kits will be available for all four Little Giant models.