Industry News
We would like to take this opportunity to give a special thanks to this edition's sponsor -- Caroma: leaders in high efficiency dual flush toilets (HETs) and urinals (HEUs). New Caroma Smart Technology* provides significant water savings, averaging 0.9 gallons/flush, saving up to 44% compared to 1.6 gpf and 74% compared to 3.5 gpf toilets. The Smart technology is also used in the recently introduced waterless and 1 pint urinals. All Caroma toilets have a large trapway, virtually eliminating blockages. With 45 WaterSense labeled toilets, Caroma provides exceptional performance while conserving valuable water resources. www.caromausa.com
To find out more about special e-newsletter advertising opportunities, please contact your Plumbing Engineer sales rep by visiting www.plumbingengineer.com.
St. Regis Atlanta use Caroma HETs
Located in the exquisite enclave of Buckhead just a few miles from downtown Atlanta, Georgia, the St. Regis Atlanta stands out as an impeccably groomed “in-town” resort with a gracious, residential feel. At the beautifully-designed hotel, guests can expect unsurpassed pampering in this grand location.
“While the review process was going on, there were several features that were critical to the St. Regis for the bathroom fixtures,” states Mike Charleville, Director of Engineering. “The toilets, for example, needed to fit the style of the elegant rooms and have the appropriate options for the ADA compliant rooms and stalls. Additionally, having toilets that are low maintenance is always preferred, and water conservation is critical for our dry area.”
223 Caroma HETs were installed throughout the hotel, and the results have been impressive. The St. Regis expects to save up to 300,000 gallons of water annually. Additionally savings have been experienced by reduced maintenance costs. They have not experienced any blockages or overflows. Finally, the authentic designs of the Caroma toilets match the St. Regis bathroom style without compromising performance.
Read the full case study at www.caromausa.com.
Unsafe water kills more people than war
In a recently released report from the United Nations (UN), it has been stated that more people die from unsafe water than from all forms of violence, including war. March 22, 2010 marked World Water Day, where UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon said, “These deaths are an affront to our common humanity, and undermine the efforts of many countries to achieve their development potential,” Mr. Ban said in his message for the Day, which this year focuses on “Clean Water for a Healthy World” as its theme.
“Our growing population’s need for water for food, raw materials and energy is increasingly competing with nature’s own demands for water to sustain already imperiled ecosystems and the services on which we depend,” he noted.
“Day after day, we pour millions of tons of untreated sewage and industrial and agricultural waste into the world’s water systems. Clean water has become scarce and will become even scarcer with the onset of climate change,” added the Secretary-General.
"At the beginning of the 21st century, the world faces a water crisis, both of quantity and quality, caused by continuous population growth, industrialization, food production practices, increased living standards and poor water use strategies," stated the report by the U.N. Environmental Program.
According to the report, “Sick Water?” 90 percent of wastewater discharged daily in developing countries is untreated, contributing to the deaths of some 2.2 million people a year from diarrhea-related diseases caused by unsafe drinking water and poor hygiene. At least 1.8 million children younger than 5 die every year from water-related diseases.
IAPMO releases first ever Green Plumbing and Mechanical Code Supplement
Ontario, Calif.— The Sustainable Building Industry today has a powerful and revolutionary new tool at its disposal with the formal release of IAPMO’s Green Plumbing and Mechanical Code Supplement, the most comprehensive document ever created to standardize sustainable residential and commercial plumbing and mechanical systems.
The Green Supplement serves as a complement to any adopted plumbing and mechanical code, smoothly bridging the previously troublesome gap between existing codes and established green building programs. Where code language and green building concepts lack cohesion, the Green Supplement creates harmony by addressing such areas as:
• Use of alternate water sources (gray water, rainwater harvesting)
• Proper use of high-efficiency plumbing products
• Conservation of hot water
• Energy conservation in HVAC systems
• Training/education in green plumbing systems
IAPMO’s Board of Directors created the GTC and charged these individuals with the development of the Green Supplement in an effort to fulfill the Board’s call for a reduction in energy and water consumption as permitted in the Uniform Codes. Established in January 2008 and comprised of a who’s who of industry leaders in all facets of the sustainable plumbing and mechanical fields, the 25-member GTC (and 60 other plumbers, contractors, engineers, inspectors and energy/water conservation experts enlisted for task groups) was chaired by IAPMO Board Member Bill Erickson of CJ Erickson Plumbing.
“Many of the provisions in the Green Supplement are very advanced,” said Amir Tabakh, director of Environmental Engineering, Environmental Affairs Division of the City of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, and a member of the GTC. “These standards are 5-7 years ahead of the local codes. As you know, a code cycle takes 3-5 years and we cannot wait five years for products that are advanced or highly sophisticated before they are approved by the code. The Green Supplement gives a local jurisdiction the opportunity to adopt a superior product, a superior standard without waiting 5-7 years.”
Though provisions dealing with sustainable plumbing are prominent, Tabakh contends the mechanical aspects should not be overlooked. “According to the California Energy Commission, 30 percent of the state’s energy consumption within commercial buildings is mechanical equipment,” he said. “If that 30 percent is positively impacted, it means many more electrical systems will become highly efficient. So, this document ultimately touches national standards for electrical efficiency.”
NFPA announces Ronald H. Brown Standards Leadership Award recipient
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) congratulates Marsha Mazz, a charter member of the NFPA Disability Access Review and Advisory Committee (DARAC), for being selected as the recipient of the Ronald H. Brown Standards Leadership Award by the U.S. Celebration of World Standards Day Planning Committee. Mazz is a senior accessibility specialist and the technical assistance coordinator for the U.S. Access Board.
Mazz’s involvement and work on behalf of persons with disabilities have touched all manner of buildings and structures including office buildings, sports stadiums, train and subway stations, cruise ships, recreational vehicles, manufactured housing, airport terminals and court houses, among others. She is a representative on many committees that set guidelines for accessibility for persons with disabilities and has helped to harmonize accessibility criteria across codes and standards as well as federal guidelines. As a member of the NFPA’s DARAC committee, Mazz shares her expertise to help shape decisions as codes and standards are developed, including issues related to evacuation planning and messaging.
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