CSHQA, an award-winning design firm in Boise, Idaho, leads by example and adapts to changing practices and technologies in business, architecture and engineering. When renovating its new office, the firm decided to install radiant heating and cooling. After completing energy modeling and cost comparisons for six different systems, the team decided on the Viega ProRadiant Read more
Radiant Energy Systems
CSHQA, an award-winning design firm in Boise, Idaho, leads by example and adapts to changing practices and technologies in business, architecture and engineering. When renovating its new office, the firm decided to install radiant heating and cooling. After completing energy modeling and cost comparisons for six different systems, the team decided on the Viega ProRadiant solution.
The radiant floor heating and cooling system required 4.6 miles of Viega PEX Barrier tubing to be installed along with more than 12,000 square feet of Viega insulating panels. Viega technical services assisted in finalizing the design, fine-tuning the layout and zones, as well as provided support throughout the process.
Commissioning results show the building’s Energy Use Intensity (EUI) at approximately one-third the level that is standard for commercial office buildings in Idaho. When the project was finished, CSHQA chose to showcase part of the radiant flooring under a glass panel since it was one of the few building systems that was not visible.
The CSHQA office project was completed to LEED Platinum standards with official certification expected in 2015. The building is the largest in the state of Idaho to be cooled with a geothermal system and receive merit recognition by ENR Mountain States as a2014 Best Project.
LEESBURG, Va. — REHAU announces the launch of an advanced new weather-sensing control module developed for use with REHAU hydronic snow and ice melting (SIM) systems. The REHAU Smart Controls SIM Module also features an automated option that allows the system to operate with optimum efficiency. REHAU’s innovative hydronic SIM system is designed to Read more
LEESBURG, Va. — REHAU announces the launch of an advanced new weather-sensing control module developed for use with REHAU hydronic snow and ice melting (SIM) systems. The REHAU Smart Controls SIM Module also features an automated option that allows the system to operate with optimum efficiency.
REHAU SIM system at Salt Lake City condominium community
REHAU’s innovative hydronic SIM system is designed to quickly and efficiently remove snow and ice from vehicle or pedestrian pathways. SIM systems minimize snow removal and accompanying costs, as well as the need to apply salt or other melting agents that can be corrosive to outdoor surfaces and detrimental to the environment. Installed underneath or embedded within an outdoor surface such as concrete, asphalt or paving stones, the system includes RAUPEX® pipe, the EVERLOC® compression-sleeve fitting system and PRO-BALANCE® manifolds.
REHAU Smart Controls SIM Module
The SIM controls module employs the unique ability to “listen” to the weather forecast via web-enabled access to the National Weather Service (NOAA) and Environment Canada. Using the weather data and temperature sensors installed within the melting area, the control chooses an automatic idle temperature setting to warm the slab so that melting begins at the first sign of snow or ice. To save energy, the control turns the system off once the surface is dry.
REHAU SIM system being installed at Union Station in Toronto
“The REHAU hydronic SIM system combined with our Smart Controls SIM module provides a sensible alternative to the annual expense and complication of manual snow and ice removal,” said Ollie Carman, applications engineer at REHAU. “In comparison, operating costs are usually much lower while the ability to effortlessly maintain safer outdoor surfaces during winter provides unparalleled convenience.”
The SIM control module’s web-enabled feature also allows the system to be controlled remotely from any internet-accessible device. In addition, the module is flexible, scalable and programmed to meet a range of requirements including unlimited snow melting zones and priority scheduling to clear crucial areas such as walkways and entrances first. The SIM module can be used independently or integrated with a REHAU Smart Controls indoor comfort control system.
Challenged by an improperly installed heating system resulting in a house that was either above 80° or below 60°F, Joseph Keyes of Heat Tek Heating and Plumbing (Johnson City, N.Y.) was tasked with solving the problem. He first separated the house into four zones. He then created a primary/secondary system using a Caleffi hydraulic separator Read more
Challenged by an improperly installed heating system resulting in a house that was either above 80° or below 60°F, Joseph Keyes of Heat Tek Heating and Plumbing (Johnson City, N.Y.) was tasked with solving the problem. He first separated the house into four zones. He then created a primary/secondary system using a Caleffi hydraulic separator and sized all circulators for precise flow. A Caleffi AutoFill fill valve and QuickSetter balancing valve were also utilized. Not only were the expectations of the home owner AND Mr. Keyes’ himself exceeded, his installation was the January winning entry in the Caleffi Excellence contest.
Heat Tek’s winning entry was determined by most audience votes received during a recently held Coffee with Caleffi webinar. Mr. Keyes was presented with an iPadTM mini by Tom Mahon (Northeast Sales Associates) and Roger Corrente (Caleffi North America). Joe is now a contender for the grand prize: a trip to our global headquarters in Italy. After 12 months, the grand prize winner will be chosen from the 12 monthly winners by a panel of industry experts and Caleffi executives.
It’s not too late to share your design innovation in the Excellence contest. Visit us.caleffiexcellence.com for contest details.
Taco’s popular FloPro Factory Training program will resume this year, with the first class on April 30 to May 1 to take place at Taco’s Innovation & Development Center (IDC) in Cranston, RI. In response to requests from residential contractors and installers who have participated in Taco online training, 2015 Factory Training will focus Read more
Taco’s popular FloPro Factory Training program will resume this year, with the first class on April 30 to May 1 to take place at Taco’s Innovation & Development Center (IDC) in Cranston, RI.
In response to requests from residential contractors and installers who have participated in Taco online training, 2015 Factory Training will focus on the company’s most popular course: “Residential Hydronics: Advanced Soup to Variable Speed Nuts.” For more information and to register go to: http://flopro.taco-hvac.com/2015flopro_training.html
Trade professionals have five opportunities this year to experience the highly acclaimed program. All classes will be held in Taco’s state-of-the-art IDC training facility. Seating is strictly limited for all courses, so register early to assure your place on the dates of your choice.
In this updated and comprehensive, two-day course, John Barba guides participants through every vital step of designing and installing an efficient, modern residential hydronic system. Attendees will learn these essentials:
- Heat loss — How to determine the heat loss of any structure.
- The Universal Hydronics Formula — The essential building block for all hydronic systems.
- Circulator sizing — How to choose the best circulator for every job.
- Understanding pipe sizing — Piping, air control and near-boiler piping, including trunk and branch systems, one-pipe primary-secondary layouts, “moose antler” piping and hydraulic separators.
- Low voltage wiring — Get a working knowledge of low voltage wiring, plus the pros and cons of zoning with zone valves versus zoning with circulators.
- Domestic hot water systems — From ratings, output and spec sheets to making the most of indirect systems.
- Operating costs — Understanding the real dollars and cents of any system, plus how to decide whether to replace or improve a system, and five ways to make any system more efficient.
Like all FloPro Factory Training courses, “Residential Hydronics” focuses on real-world solutions to the problems you encounter daily in the field and offers ample opportunities for hands-on learning, plus plenty of interaction with the instructor and classmates
2015 Factory Training Dates
* April 30 – May 1
* June 18-19 (SOLD OUT)
* August 20-21 (SOLD OUT)
* September 24-25
* October 22-23
All courses include hotel accommodations, ground transportation between Providence Airport, Taco and the hotel, breakfast and lunch on Thursday and Friday, as well as dinner and entertainment Thursday evening. Airfare is not included. Click for more information and to register: http://flopro.taco-hvac.com/2015flopro_training.html
Act now to reserve your seat. Factory Training is available exclusively to members of the Taco FloPro Team. Joining the team is easy and free for any residential installer or contractor.
If you’re a residential installer or contractor and not yet a FloPro Team member, please go to www.flopro.taco-hvac.com to get your free membership.
Wichita, Kan. — Viega announces vertical integration of its PEX tubing manufacturing process. The company’s resource consolidation includes producing resin and extruding PEX tubing, which makes Viega the only manufacturer to quality control PEX tubing from the raw-material stage through the finished product. ViegaPEX Ultra tubing, which offers the highest industry ratings for UV exposure Read more
Wichita, Kan. — Viega announces vertical integration of its PEX tubing manufacturing process. The company’s resource consolidation includes producing resin and extruding PEX tubing, which makes Viega the only manufacturer to quality control PEX tubing from the raw-material stage through the finished product.
ViegaPEX Ultra tubing, which offers the highest industry ratings for UV exposure and chlorine resistance, is extruded from Viega’s own resin. This step creates higher quality product that will provide excellent performance and offers increased flexibility compared to tubing made from third-party resins. ViegaPEX Ultra tubing can withstand up to six months of exposure to sunlight without damaging its performance.
The increased flexibility of Viega’s PEX tubing helps installers reduce labor costs and minimize materials costs by needing fewer fittings. This also decreases the potential for leak points in a plumbing system.
“Beyond offering higher UV exposure ratings and cost savings to our customers, making PEX from our own resin increases Viega’s freedom to research product quality,” said Paige Riddle, product manager, Viega. “By controlling the quality of PEX tubing from start to finish, Viega has taken another step in keeping our quality the highest and providing innovative opportunities for our partners.”
Viega has a heritage of manufacturing excellent high-performance products and innovative concepts such as its PEX solutions which include ViegaPEX Ultra tubing, Viega ManaBloc and Viega PEX Press fittings.