Industry News

Pressure and Chlorine Ratings Revised

Recent revisions led by the Plastics Pipe Institute, Inc. (PPI) Building & Construction Division resulted in improvements to the latest edition of the ASTM Standard, F2389 Standard Specification for Pressure-Rated Polypropylene (PP) Piping Systems, which establishes requirements for polypropylene (PP-R and PP-RCT) piping system components including pipe, fittings, valves, and manifolds. The standard applies to hydronic heating and cooling, chilled water, water service lines, hot-and-cold water distribution, irrigation systems, and other related fluid transport applications.

PP-R and PP-RCT pipes and fittings discussed in the recently updated ASTM Standard F2389-24a are available in diameters from 16 mm to 710 mm, also known as nominal diameters 3/8 to 28 inches. Photo courtesy of PPI.

Originally issued in 2004, revisions to the latest edition of the standard published in July 2024, F2389-24a, include:

• Pressure-temperature ratings used for PP pressure pipe systems are clarified and harmonized by adding new definitions for “design stress” and “design coefficient” and then applying requirements for these factors in a new Section 5.6.1.
• Oxidative stability (i.e., chlorine resistance) classifications are revised from CL-TD and CL-R to Classes 0, 1, 3, and 5 for consistency with other pressure pipe standards (e.g., ASTM F876).
• Marking requirements are also revised.

According to Lance MacNevin, P. Eng., director of engineering for PPI’s Building & Construction Division, “As a result of these recent revisions, pressure ratings will be more consistent throughout the industry and classifications for resistance to hot chlorinated water will be consistent with other piping materials.”

MacNevin continued, “Polypropylene (PP) is a versatile piping material that is used in a wide range of applications. Two types of PP are used for pressure piping systems: PP-R (polypropylene random copolymer) and PP-RCT (polypropylene random copolymer with modified crystallinity and temperature resistance). With their high temperature and pressure capabilities, PP-R and PP-RCT pipes are suitable for demanding pressure piping applications, such as plumbing, hydronics, and chilled water in commercial high-rise buildings or data centers.”

PPI is the non-profit North American trade association representing the plastic pipe industry, including several manufacturers of PP pipes and fitting systems. PPI formed the Polypropylene Pressure Pipe Steering Committee in 2018 to collaborate on industry standards such as F2389, coordinate research programs, develop technical publications, and create educational information about these systems. The recent revisions to F2389 are the latest result of cooperation between PPI member firms, intended to help to grow this market in a technically correct and responsible manner.

The revised standard is available directly from ASTM at: www.astm.org/f2389-24a.html.

Additional information and data about the use and installation of PP is available from the PPI Building & Construction Division at www.plasticpipe.org/buildingconstruction.

Fourth New York City Location Highlights Midea’s Commitment to Industry Training and Consumer Education

Midea, the world’s leading air treatment brand, has opened its first showroom in Brooklyn, marking its fourth showroom in New York City and the latest in Midea’s strategic expansion to propagate the education and adoption of heat pump technology among consumers and industry professionals across the United States.

The grand opening event was graced by notable attendees including Dina Rabiner, VP of Economic Development and Strategic Partnerships at the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, and Yeraida Medrano, ICF/Con Edison Senior Account Manager, who shared their insights on Midea’s role in advancing sustainable HVAC solutions. The new showroom is operated by WOTEC HVAC Inc. and located at 1150 Metropolitan Avenue.

Midea’s showrooms go beyond traditional sales spaces by offering a unique educational experience tailored to both industry professionals and consumers. These showrooms serve as interactive environments where visitors can explore the practical applications of Midea’s advanced heat pump technologies. Each location showcases a range of heat pump solutions, including Cold Climate Heat Pumps, Packaged Window Heat Pumps, EVOX ducted systems, multi-zone heat pumps and domestic water heating systems, making it an ideal setting for gaining firsthand knowledge about heat pump innovations.

The showrooms are also dedicated to fostering technical expertise within the HVAC industry by hosting weekly training sessions for contractors and installers as well as installation demos and product consultations. The flagship Queens showroom is a designated site for Con Edison’s ongoing education programs that provide training courses on the standards for decommissioning old HVAC systems and the requirements for Con Edison incentives. Midea was also chosen to be the designated brand used for instruction at The Electrical and HVAC/R Training Center, the largest professional training school in New York.

Kai-Ki Wong, formerly the assistant chief plan examiner at the New York City Department of Buildings, and now a consultant working in the showrooms, emphasized the value these showrooms offer: “At our Queens showroom, we’ve brought together a team of experts to provide comprehensive consultations to both industry professionals and consumers. My role is to be the guide on HVAC system design and ensure that installations meet New York’s building codes. Midea’s showrooms are not only about showcasing products but also about empowering visitors with the knowledge and resources they need to make informed decisions about the most innovative heating and cooling solutions available.”

By October, Midea plans to have opened nine showrooms across New York and Chicago. Contractors and companies interested in becoming a Midea heat pump distributor, or consumers interested in upgrading to innovative Midea heating and cooling solutions, should call 1-888-MIDEA NA (1-888-643-3262).

For more information about Midea’s products and the new Brooklyn showroom, visit www.mideacomfort.us.

WINT Water Intelligence, a leader in cutting-edge water management, leak detection and water damage mitigation solutions, challenges stakeholders and governmental institutions to prioritize the management of water in real estate and address some of the most unnoticed sources of water waste.

Commercial buildings and institutional facilities consume 17% of the public freshwater supply in the United States and are also significant sources of waste. Up to 25% of that water is ultimately wasted due to the lack of proper monitoring and management of water.

A strategic approach to water management using artificial intelligence (AI), signal processing technology and deep data insights can help organizations reduce waste, cut costs, mitigate risk and meet sustainability goals.

WINT joins the concerns of experts gathering in Sweden Aug. 25–29 for World Water Week, an international conference on global water use, where trailblazers from all over the world share new ideas, learn from each other and collaborate on innovative solutions.

“Water is an essential resource, but we don’t have an unlimited supply,” said Yaron Dycian, chief product and strategy officer for WINT. “The global water system is under increasing stress. Water cooperation is the key to long-term water security and ensuring everyone has access to adequate supplies of clean, safe water. At WINT, we’re committed to working with thought leaders and decision-makers to develop and implement innovative strategies and technological solutions for the world’s water supply.”

According to the United Nations World Water Development Report, droughts affect more than 1.4 billion people. As of 2022, roughly half of the world’s population experienced severe water scarcity for at least part of the year, while one quarter faced ‘extremely high’ levels of water stress, using over 80% of their annual renewable freshwater supply.

Inefficient management of water supplies in the built environment contributes significantly to water stress and raises organizations’ carbon footprint. According to “The Carbon Impact of Water” report:

• On average, every cubic meter of water consumed generates 23 pounds of carbon emissions.
• Just one leaky toilet wastes more than 1 million gallons of water and generates 46 tons of carbon emissions in a year – as much as a typical passenger car.

“To ensure ESG policies and water sustainability are widely addressed, some oversight and regulation can be useful,” Dycian said. “It can help create clarity and ensure the right goals are put in place. Yet as with any government intervention, we strongly urge a minimalistic approach that will help guide the market while not creating overbearing requirements that can stifle innovation.”

WINT is partnering with organizations around the world to advance proactive water management technology throughout buildings’ lifecycles and helps its customers reduce water consumption by an average of 20%-25%. Last year WINT saved in total 652 million gallons of water for over 400 leading global enterprises which would have resulted in the release of 22,000 metric tons of carbon emissions. WINT’s AI-powered technology can:

• Monitor water flows to identify leaks and inefficiencies.
• Enable automatic and remote shut-off of water supply at the source of the leak to prevent water damage.
• Provide complete visibility to water usage across all water systems within the building.
• Detect sources of water waste and eliminate them.
• Accurately measure water consumption in real-time.
• Present detailed reports and dashboards that provide deep analytics on water and carbon footprint.

WINT equips contractors, developers and property management teams with holistic solution for managing water throughout the lifecycle of a building, from construction to operation. It is used globally by customers including Suffolk Construction, HP, PepsiCo, the Empire State Building, as well as many other leading enterprises, general contractors (GCs) and facility owners.

The WINT enterprise-grade water management platform includes portfolio-wide water monitoring and analysis for operation in large and mid-sized facilities. Green buildings who deploy WINT can add multiple credits to their overall LEED, BREEAM or NABERS sustainability score to increase their overall ranking towards certification.

The group’s president to speak to students and apprentices who attend the event’s student summit

Women in HVACR (WHVACR), a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering women in the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration trades, announced today that it is a sponsor of the 2024 ServiceTitan Elite Trades Championship Series (ETCS) to be held at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 11–13.

“This competition is like the Olympics for HVAC employees in that it showcases the very best HVAC technicians and apprentices from across the country who will compete at an elite level,” said Women in HVACR Executive Director Amy O’Grady. “Women in HVACR is thrilled to sponsor such an exciting event that celebrates the skills that hardworking men and women of the trades have to perform every day to make sure we stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer.”

The ServiceTitan ETCS series is a competition of elite professionals and apprentices in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) industry who will showcase their skills in a custom-built arena. The program was built to celebrate the incredible range of skills tradesmen and women perform daily to install, maintain and repair America’s HVAC systems.

In addition to the competition, Women in HVACR president, Lori Tschohl, has been selected as a featured speaker at the ETCS Student & Apprentice Summit held alongside the championship competition. The summit welcomes hundreds of students who are studying or apprenticed to become skilled trades workers and allows them to experience some light hands-on activities to gain a deeper understanding of the trade, explore potential career paths and connect with industry professionals.

At the summit, Tschohl will give a 10-minute presentation and then answer student questions.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for Women in HVACR to speak to the next generation of women about the advantages they have if they choose a career in the skilled trades,” said Tschohl, owner of Eagle Pipe & Mechanical, a leading HVAC contractor in Poulsbo, WA. “We’re excited about our role at the event and the student summit. We look forward to both the competition and to talking with students entering the HVAC industry.”

For more information about Women in HVACR, visit www.womeninhvacr.org.