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Building information modeling (BIM) helps improve accuracy, efficiencies, job-site safety, productivity, and even profitability potential on commercial projects. With the use of BIM expanding, many contracting firms are now outsourcing work due to resource constraints. However, before partnering with a BIM services provider, it’s important to do your research. Because BIM is a relatively new Read more

Building information modeling (BIM) helps improve accuracy, efficiencies, job-site safety, productivity, and even profitability potential on commercial projects. With the use of BIM expanding, many contracting firms are now outsourcing work due to resource constraints.

However, before partnering with a BIM services provider, it’s important to do your research. Because BIM is a relatively new concept to the construction industry, experience is in short supply. Here are three points to consider along with an informative webinar series to provide guidance when considering a partnership with a BIM services provider.

Location

One of the most important points to consider when choosing a BIM services provider is their location. Some companies are located overseas, which can make live interactions or collaboration challenging. Be sure to choose a provider located in your region, or at least in your
country, so collaboration can happen in real time.

To find out how BIM services providers can benefit your business, watch this Introduction to Uponor BIM Services webinar.

Experience

Ensure the team you’re considering has the necessary knowledge and experience with codes and standards in your jurisdiction as well as specific construction practices in your area. For example, certain commercial projects, such as hospitals, may have certain construction methods that must be adhered to for code. It’s vital the BIM services team you’re partnering with knows these important details.

For information about what BIM services providers can offer, check out this Benefits of Partnering with Uponor BIM Services webinar.

Industry Affiliations

Be sure to partner with a team that has affiliations with industry organizations, such as the American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE), the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), and the Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA). This will ensure they’re up to date on all the important industry trends and application practices your project may require.

Not all BIM services providers are the same. Discover the Differentiation of Partnering with Uponor BIM Services with this final webinar in the series.

To learn more or to get started on your next project, visit uponor.com/bimservices.

From risers to mains to in-suite piping, PEX is gaining popularity in multifamily construction as contractors are seeing the benefits to their crews’ productivity and their businesses’ bottom line. With sizes up to 3″, PEX is the flexible, durable, cost-effective solution for both domestic water and hydronic heating and cooling systems. It does not pit Read more

From risers to mains to in-suite piping, PEX is gaining popularity in multifamily construction as contractors are seeing the benefits to their crews’ productivity and their businesses’ bottom line.

With sizes up to 3″, PEX is the flexible, durable, cost-effective solution for both domestic water and hydronic heating and cooling systems. It does not pit, scale, or corrode, it offers more stable pricing for greater confidence when bidding a project, and it has no scrap value like copper, so there’s no concern about theft on the job site.

PEX is lighter in weight, which makes it easier for installers to move and adds to job-site safety. It also eliminates the need for heavy-lifting machinery or equipment, which can be costly and cumbersome.

The product is available in long, continuous coils, so installers can complete jobs faster and easier by just bending the pipe instead of stopping to make a connection with each change in direction. And for tight bends, there are bend supports available that simply snap onto the pipe to hold it firmly in place.

The flexible nature of PEX also makes it ideal for renovation, remodel, or re-pipe applications because it’s much easier to squeeze into tight areas and minimizes the need to alter the existing structure.

For connections, there are several options available. However, most professionals use the ASTM F1960 expansion method. This is because it provides a larger-ID fitting that does not restrict flow, and it can never be dry fit, adding peace of mind to installs.

PEX is a great alternative to traditional metallic systems for horizontal main piping. Using a steel support channel along with clamps and fixed points can help reduce linear expansion and contraction and can extend support hangers to be similar to that of metal piping.

PEX is also ideal for running below grade or in a slab. (Always follow local code as some jurisdictions require additional sleeving and protection.) For those types of applications, pre-sleeved PEX is available with color-coded red or blue HDPE sleeving for domestic-water systems.

Learn more about how PEX can benefit your multifamily installs with greater productivity and profitability potential.

 

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When Colorado-based Olson Plumbing & Heating was awarded the plumbing, variable refrigerant flow (VRF) system, and refrigerant lines in the $60 million, 185,000-square-foot Centennial High School project in Pueblo, they needed additional BIM resources to manage their expanding project load. Being committed to BIM as a business model, with only a three-person CAD department and Read more

When Colorado-based Olson Plumbing & Heating was awarded the plumbing, variable refrigerant flow (VRF) system, and refrigerant lines in the $60 million, 185,000-square-foot Centennial High School project in Pueblo, they needed additional BIM resources to manage their expanding project load.

Being committed to BIM as a business model, with only a three-person CAD department and this type of skilled labor being extremely hard to find, they found it difficult to develop their in-house capabilities. Having many successful projects with Uponor Construction Services for estimation and design on projects in the past, Olson turned to Uponor BIM Services to help manage the workload on the new high school project.

Using a digital model provided by project architect MOA Architecture, Uponor BIM Services populated it with all the pipe, fittings, equipment, and other products specified. They then moved into the coordination phase to identify potential clashes with other trades on the project.

“With Uponor, we had a professional third party who could take their modeling and drawing to full, fabrication-level detailing,” explains Lana Marsh, project manager, Olson Plumbing & Heating.

Uponor BIM Services provided full plumbing modeling and coordination, full VRF system modeling and coordination, spool and install drawings, and hangers with points for field layout along with representation during multi-trade coordination with the general contractor.

When it came to installation time, this benefitted the Olson team with less rework, reduced job-site waste, and higher workforce productivity. In fact, one project change to raise an underground plumbing drainage line several feet spared Olson from having to dig a deeper trench, which saved significant labor as well as earth-moving equipment rental costs.

“Using Uponor’s resources has enabled us to grow our company without having to create a whole office floor of CAD specialists,” Marsh professes. “We are definitely planning to use them for future projects.”

Learn more about Uponor BIM Services.

Highest Performance Flow Curve in a Compact and Lightweight Design Zurn Industries, LLC announces the release of the new Zurn Wilkins 500XL3 Pressure Reducing Valve. The new Zurn Wilkins 500XL3 Pressure Reducing Valve (PRV) has a patented integral venturi enabling the valve to have best-in-class flow performance. It also has the shortest lay length and Read more

Highest Performance Flow Curve in a Compact and Lightweight Design

Zurn Industries, LLC announces the release of the new Zurn Wilkins 500XL3 Pressure Reducing Valve.

The new Zurn Wilkins 500XL3 Pressure Reducing Valve (PRV) has a patented integral venturi enabling the valve to have best-in-class flow performance. It also has the shortest lay length and is the most compact PRV on the market for increased design versatility and easier drop-in installation.

“The new Zurn Wilkins 500XL3 has industry-leading performance with the flattest flow curve on the market today,” said John Mankins, Zurn Product Manager, Water Safety & Control. “The 3” 500XL3 has a 13 PSI pressure advantage when compared to the leading competitor at the typical 8-foot per second velocity plumbing design limit.”

The new valve’s all-bronze body, stainless-steel stem, and corrosion-resistant cartridge internals withstand heavy wear and harsh environments. The Zurn Wilkins 500XL3 is available in six sizes from 1 inch to 3 inches and with multiple universal connection options, including single union, double union, female thread, and flanged.

The Zurn Wilkins 500XL3 meets lead-free environmental requirements and meets the requirements of NSF/ANSI 61 and is ASSE listed 1003, IAPMO listed, and CSA certified.

Learn more about the new Zurn Wilkins 500XL3 and Zurn’s complete line of pressure reducing valves at Zurn.com.

Bosch Thermotechnology, a leading global source of high-quality heating, cooling, and hot water systems, debuted at two new versions within the IDS Family, IDS Premium Connected and IDS Light, and the third generation of the Climate 5000 ductless system mini-split heat pump. All three products are set to become available to the market in the Read more

Bosch Thermotechnology, a leading global source of high-quality heating, cooling, and hot water systems, debuted at two new versions within the IDS Family, IDS Premium Connected and IDS Light, and the third generation of the Climate 5000 ductless system mini-split heat pump. All three products are set to become available to the market in the first half of 2022.

“By expanding the Inverter Ducted Split (IDS) Family to include two additional versions by summer 2022, Bosch aims to extend accessibility to high-quality systems and boost connectivity,” said Goncalo Costa, Director of the AC Regional Business Unit at Bosch Thermotechnology. “We are excited to unveil the new game-changing IDS Light, the only 15-SEER inverter compressor solution on the market. It provides the comfort you expect from an IDS system at a more standard efficiency level and lower price point.”

The IDS Premium Connected provides the same high-quality comfort as the IDS Premium but also includes connected technology through a mobile app. The connected system was developed after extensive market research as a solution for the pain points that contractors and homeowners experience and offers installation guidance, remote monitoring, troubleshooting, easy warranty registration, and monthly energy usage monitoring.

As the market demand for ductless mini-splits continues to grow, Bosch will also showcase its newest mini-split heat pump, the Climate 5000 3.0. The highly efficient system provides ample residential heating and cooling up to 60,000 Btuh for single-zone and up to 48,000 Btuh for multi-zone applications. This inverter-driven heat pump is available in indoor and outdoor models and provides both regular and high heat solutions to suit any home. Additionally, it offers enhanced energy efficiency of up to a 28 SEER rating, which is a 6 point improvement from the 2.0 system, and improved humidity control.

Additional high quality heating and cooling solutions for both residential and commercial spaces to be featured at the Bosch booth include:

For more information about Bosch Thermotechnology and our participation at AHR Expo 2022, visit https://www.boschheatingcooling.com/ahr2022.