TAPPED INBREWERIES FIND NEW SOLUTIONS

KEEPING MEGAYACHTS AFLOAT

GAS PIPING SOLUTION FOR TIGHT SPACES

OLD BUILDING GETS NEW LIFE

JOURNAL OF PLUMBING, HEATING AND PIPE JOINING SYSTEMS FROM VIEGA LLC

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Contents 3 Letter from the CEO5 Letter from the COO 6 Old building gets new life on campus8 Tapped In: Solutions for the craft beer craze12 Breaking ground in the U.S. manufacturing industry14 Keeping a legacy alive16 Lively beach-front resort brings Vegas luxury to east coast18 Keeping megayachts afloat a full-time job 20 Behind the scenes22 Making industry education and training accessible24 Tall tale turns into a gem for Tennessee 26 Fit for school28 A gas piping solution for very tight spaces30 Do more with training from Viega 31 TechTalk

WHAT’S INSIDE

Keeping megayachts afloat

28

Tapped in

8

Gas piping solution for tight spaces

18

Featured on the coverViega is providing solutions

for breweries all over the U.S., including Revolver

Brewery, pictured here with Co-owner, Rhett Keisler.

6Old building gets new life

In MemoriamThis issue of the Viega Voice is dedicated to the memory of Doug R. Martin, founding partner with Bruce Hornberger of M&H Sales. Doug passed away on October 2, 2015. M&H Sales is a long time independent rep agency and has been an integral part of Viega’s growth for the past 20 years in the Philadelphia area. Doug was a respected business partner, a true professional and a great friend to many. Doug touched lives in so many positive ways. His customer relationships and work ethic will be fondly remembered by all who knew him. Our sincere condolences to Doug’s business associates, family and friends.

2 v i e g a v o i c e • N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 5

LETTER FROM THE CEO

Dave Garlow

As another year passes, we look and plan ahead. At Viega, we have enjoyed

many successes over the years that form the foundation of our future; we have

always built on these successes.

More Viega product was installed in 2015 than any other year in Viega

history. This translates into simplifying and improving the work of our

customers, and provides quality safe piping systems for their clients.

We had record attendance at the educational facility in Nashua, NH this

year and we are planning further improvements to our program, including a

new training facility in Denver, CO. You will hear more about this in future issues

of the Viega Voice. The core of the Viega training experience won’t change,

though. It has always been about how engineers, contractors, code officials and

distributors leverage that newfound intelligence in the field to improve quality.

By modernizing our

behind-the-scenes processes,

it builds a stronger staff, even

better customer service and

the ability to get our products

to market faster.

We have continued

with heavy investments in

the supply chain, in both

manufacturing and logistics. We broke ground at the end of last year in

McPherson, KS on a facility that will provide additional manufacturing space

for our metal systems including Viega MegaPress – the only carbon steel press

fittings for gas and hydronic applications.

The successes of 2015 are the rock on which 2016 is built. All good

businesses reflect on the past and use it as a road map guiding them to their

next great milestone.

We hope 2016 represents your next great milestone, and may your reflection

at the year’s end inspire your successes for the New Year. We’ll be here if you

need us – so don’t hesitate to call.

From our Viega family to yours, we wish you a happy Holiday Season.

Merry Christmas. All the best for 2016.

THE SUCCESSES OF 2015 ARE THE ROCK ON WHICH

2016 IS BUILT.

v i e g a v o i c e • w w w . v i e g a . u s 3

Viega MegaPress Systems

For hydronic and gas applications

Viega MegaPress is the only clean, secure and effi cient choice for joining black iron pipe. It is suitable for renovations, repairs or installation of new steel pipe systems. Differentiated by sealing elements, Viega MegaPress for hydronic applications has a black EPDM sealing element and a green dot on the exterior.

In addition to the factory-installed EPDM sealing element, Viega MegaPress fi ttings are provided with a 304 stainless steel separator ring and a 420 stainless steel grip ring approved for use in hydronic heating, compressed air, fi re protection and cooling water applications.

All Viega MegaPress fi ttings are constructed with the patented Smart Connect feature, providing installers added confi dence in their ability to ensure the integrity of connections.

For more information, call 800-976-9819 or visit www.viega.us

T H E G L O B A L L E A D E R I N P L U M B I N G , H E A T I N G A N D P I P E J O I N I N G S Y S T E M S

LETTER FROM THE COO

Robert Boots

As I look out my office window I am reminded of just how great the last year

has been for the Viega Supply Chain. Earlier this year we broke ground on our

new Viega MegaPress manufacturing facility in McPherson, KS. With the facility

soon to be completed, I am reflecting on the past year and all of the actions we

have taken to get to this point and why.

For us, service drives everything we do. From the raw materials we source

to the finished goods we deliver, everything is about providing industry-leading

service and quality to our valued partners. It’s

why we come to work every day. It’s also why

it is so much fun. As Viega LLC President Dave

Garlow likes to say, “We spend most of our

waking hours at work so we ought to be able

to enjoy it.” I couldn’t agree with him more.

We live to provide quality, innovative solutions.

Utilizing our skilled, dedicated employees,

lean tools, state-of-the-art equipment and

strategically located distribution centers, we

take great pride and enjoyment in providing

you with the products and services

you deserve.

I’m confident that next year will bring more

of the same. Our Viega MegaPress facility will

be completed in early 2016, and production

will begin soon after. We are already working

on new and enhanced system solutions and are excited to show you more of

what Viega LLC has to offer you.

From all of us at Viega LLC, we wish you and your families a Merry

Christmas and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!

WE TAKE GREAT PRIDE AND

ENJOYMENT IN PROVIDING YOU

WITH THE PRODUCTS AND

SERVICES YOU DESERVE.

Viega MegaPress Systems

For hydronic and gas applications

Viega MegaPress is the only clean, secure and effi cient choice for joining black iron pipe. It is suitable for renovations, repairs or installation of new steel pipe systems. Differentiated by sealing elements, Viega MegaPress for hydronic applications has a black EPDM sealing element and a green dot on the exterior.

In addition to the factory-installed EPDM sealing element, Viega MegaPress fi ttings are provided with a 304 stainless steel separator ring and a 420 stainless steel grip ring approved for use in hydronic heating, compressed air, fi re protection and cooling water applications.

All Viega MegaPress fi ttings are constructed with the patented Smart Connect feature, providing installers added confi dence in their ability to ensure the integrity of connections.

For more information, call 800-976-9819 or visit www.viega.us

T H E G L O B A L L E A D E R I N P L U M B I N G , H E A T I N G A N D P I P E J O I N I N G S Y S T E M Sv i e g a v o i c e • w w w . v i e g a . u s 5

OLD BUILDING GETS NEW LIFE ON CAMPUST he industrial-style Tobey Building on the New

Hampshire Hospital campus in Concord, NH, was

part of a larger campus renovation. Originally built in

1930 as a home for male patients, today the building is

home to the State Depart of Employment Security and

is considered to have one of the most state-of-the-art

HVAC systems in the U.S.

SAM Mechanical Services, LLC, a commercial

plumbing and HVAC company in New Hampshire,

helped the facility and Lavalle Brensinger Architects

design and install the new HVAC system.

This unique, green cooling system significantly

reduces cooling costs. Power plants that serve New

Hampshire must keep their output stable in order to

provide needed electricity during peak daytime hours,

but during off-peak hours overnight, the unused

electricity goes to waste. As a result, local power plants

provide special pricing during off-peak hours, which is

metered separately. The off-peak ice storage

production cooling system uses this reduced-rate

electricity to greatest advantage.

The system uses chillers to make and store ice in

underground tanks overnight. During the day, when

other buildings of comparable size have chiller systems

running full bore, the Tobey Building is saving money by

cooling with a recirculating water loop integrated into the

underground ice tanks.

...IT WAS IMPORTANT TO CHOOSE A PRODUCT THAT WOULDN’T LEAK, GIVING ME PEACE OF MIND THAT I WAS HELPING KEEP THIS HISTORICAL BUILDING SAFE AND SECURE...

- Steve April, Owner, SAM Mechanical

6 v i e g a v o i c e • N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 5

SAM Mechanical installed Viega MegaPress fittings

for the chilled water applications, an additional savings

factor for the building.

“We had several miles of pipe on each floor,” said

Steve April, owner of SAM Mechanical. “It was a green

design concept where everyone else’s bid went

with geothermal.”

An efficient system all around, the time required

to transition the Tobey Building to this unique system

was critical, given the number of components that had

to come together to make it happen and perform to

required specifications.

“From our perspective we were able to pipe it up in

less time and overall less cost using Viega MegaPress

fittings,” April said. “It cuts labor in so many ways and

removes the sometimes-frequent problem of threading

and cutting equipment that’s not working properly.

The Tobey job, which had thousands of fittings, saved

at least 50% of piping installation time.”

Viega has the only press system for black iron pipe

installations that covers hydronic applications with

MegaPress and Viega MegaPressG

for gas systems.

With system-matched tools and

jaws, connections are made in less

than seven seconds, making Viega

MegaPress suitable for virtually

any type of project. For the Tobey

Building, where time and quality

counted, SAM Mechanical trusted

Viega to get the job done right the

first time.

“I would encourage anyone

considering using Viega MegaPress

to do it,” April said. “At the end of the day a big job can

have a substantial savings especially in labor. As far

as the Tobey Building, with that many fittings, it was

important to choose a product that wouldn’t leak, giving

me peace of mind that I was helping keep this historical

building safe and secure for decades to come.”

SAM Mechanical used Viega MegaPress for chilled water in a state-of-the-art HVAC system.

The Tobey Building has a unique form of cooling that uses chillers to make ice that is stored underground.

v i e g a v o i c e • w w w . v i e g a . u s 7

SOLUTIONS FOR THE CRAFT BEER CRAZE

I n today’s growing craft beer market, there are many

things that make a good beer, but for most breweries,

it’s the ingredients that make a great beer.

Any good chef will tell you that it takes more than

just a list of ingredients to produce a great dish — it’s

the people who prepare it that make it unforgettable.

That idea proves true in this industry where grain,

hops, yeast and water combine to make beer — but

the passion, personality and do-it-yourself brewers are

creating nothing short of art.

In 2014 there were 3,464 U.S. breweries registered

with the Brewers Association, brewing a combined

22.2 million barrels — twice what was produced in

2011. While the craft beer market has taken off over the

last decade, the surge in number breweries hasn’t yet

matched the 4,131 recorded to be in operation during

Prohibition — though current production volume is far

above 1873’s nine million barrels.

Today breweries across the globe are using Viega

products to ramp up production even more in this

fast-growing market. From keeping beer cold, to

using compressed air lines to run equipment, Viega is

helping breweries stay on the top of their game. On

the following pages we feature three such breweries

that exemplify the success that can come with an

entrepreneurial spirit and willingness to pour years of

blood, sweat and tears into a dream.

SOMETIMES IN LIFE WHEN THINGS DON’T GO QUITE THE WAY YOU EXPECT THEM TO, IT PUSHES YOU DOWN ANOTHER PATH.

- Rhett Keisler, Co-Owner, Revolver Brewery

8 v i e g a v o i c e • N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 5

R evolver Brewery, a family-owned brewery

located on 16 acres in Grandbury, TX, produces

well-balanced, full-flavored beers. Co-owners, Rhett

Keisler and his father Ron say it’s the combination of

experience and a unique water source that have made

the business successful enough to expand.

“I had the thought of starting a brewery, but it was

kind of a pipe dream. Sometimes in life when things

don’t go quite the way you expect them to, it pushes

you down another path,” Keisler said. “If I'd had a

steady job with a nice paycheck, it might have been

difficult to take that leap of faith, but it was one of those

situations where I said; I don’t have anything to lose

here; and I just went for it.”

From the beginning, Keisler’s team did all the work

themselves. Every resource

they had was put to good use,

including the water. Revolver

Brewery uses fresh water

from its own well, fed by the

Trinity Aquifer, to make

the beer.

“There are ingredients,

and there’s art,” Keisler said.

“What sets us apart right

off the bat is that our water

comes from an aquifer

680 feet underground,

and that is a very stable

water source. It is what it

is. Our water profile has a

fingerprint of its own.”

Because beer is made mostly of water and as

Keisler says, “our water tastes fantastic,” it proves that

water is a defining factor in what makes Revolver’s beer

unique. But what good is having great water if you can’t

keep the beer cold? That’s where Viega comes in.

Revolver Brewery used Viega ProPress in 3" copper

to run the water and glycol mix that keeps the beer

cold. It required something in a larger diameter that

they could install themselves and would withstand the

cold temperatures.

“It’s critical for us to keep our beer cold. The

quickest way to go out of business is to let your beer go

out of temperature, so Viega is a very important solution

for us,” Keisler said. “Viega gave us a solution that was

quick, easy and affordable, and being able to do it right

and by ourselves is great.”

The crew at Revolver installed nine new 240-barrel

fermenting tanks as part of an expansion. Revolver

produced 14,903 barrels in 2014, and after the

expansion expect to produce more than 20,000 barrels

in 2015. To maintain its current production amounts,

the brewery had to install the tanks and plumbing lines

while the system was live.

“It was nice that we didn’t have to shut the water

down – you can do it under full pressure,” said Ricky

Hicks, Maintenance Supervisor for Revolver. “We had

a valve that was leaking, and we couldn't shut it off.

We had to put a new valve in.

We cut it off and put Viega

ProPress on there under

pressure, shut it off, and

we were done.”

Hicks estimated it would

have taken them twice

as long to finish if they

had soldered and Keisler

is confident that Viega

products will be used again

in the future. Revolver is

building a wastewater

treatment plant that will

treat the groundwater

they use so it can be

recycled to clean tanks and in

other processed water applications. Since Texas has

experienced a severe drought in recent years, Keisler

understands the importance of this

precious commodity.

“That’s our lifeblood out here. We want to make

sure we protect it,” Keisler said. “Our well will only do

so much. We want to make sure we're leaving that

capacity for brewing purposes, so the more we can

reuse, the better off we are. It's the green thing to do,

and it's also something we need to do.”

REVOLVER BREWERY

v i e g a v o i c e • w w w . v i e g a . u s 9

W ith the recent completion of a $45 million

expansion, Founders Brewing Co. now

encompasses an entire city block in Grand Rapids, MI

and boasts the production space necessary to keep up

with the increasing demand for its award-winning beers.

“The goal of the expansion is to continue producing

great beer and continue to expand Founders’

distribution footprint so our beer is even more available

to beer enthusiasts,” Dave Engbers, Co-Founder and

President, explained.

Started by two homebrewers in 1997, Engbers and

co-founder Mike Stevens said goodbye to their day

jobs and pursued a shared dream. It was not always

easy and the two found themselves near bankruptcy

as they tried to fit into the norm of creating a well-

balanced beer. With nothing left to lose, they decided

to go out with a bang by making the kind of beer they

dreamed of in the first place. The result has undeniably

been well received.

“Founders brews complex in-your-face ales with

huge aromatics and tons of flavor,” Engbers said.

Today, Founders is one of the highest recognized

breweries in the U.S. Their year-round beer repertoire

includes All Day IPA, Dirty Bastard, Centennial IPA, a

dry-hopped pale ale, and a porter. They can be found all

over the U.S. The production levels for these beers and

others had to remain stable during the expansion. Eric

Sochor, Industrial Maintenance Technician for Founders,

knew that in order to meet the project deadline he

would need to find a

way to save time.

“Founders is

renowned for having

very stringent

timelines,” Sochor

said. “We took on

a project under full

production and

decided to do this

expansion while

still maintaining our

present production

levels. We only had a few weeks that we were able to

get in here and do this install.”

Sochor had heard of Viega ProPress for stainless

and decided to use it in the installation of hot and cold

process water, compressed air, CO2 and chemical

disinfecting lines. He estimates 4,000 feet of pipe

was used, a significant amount for a small-to-medium-

sized brewery.

Founders Brewing Company used Viega ProPress for stainless and copper for processed water and compressed air.

FOUNDERS BREWING COMPANY

1 0 v i e g a v o i c e • N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 5

I f you believe that small breweries can take on the

world of megabrewers then you might also believe

that Coppertail is a sea monster that lives in Tampa

Bay, FL − at least according to the young daughter of

Kent Bailey, founder of Coppertail Brewery.

Even though they just opened their doors in 2014,

Coppertail is already building on to their existing space.

Right around the corner from the brewery is McLain

Plumbing & Mechanical and owner Tom McLain got

involved in the remodel thanks to his close proximity

to the brewery.

Originally tasked with simply installing new drains

at the request of the general contractor, McLain

eventually bid and received the entire HVAC job.

THE BREWMASTER WAS THINKING OF WELDING AND I SAID ‘NO YOU DON'T NEED TO WELD ALL THAT. WE'LL PRESS IT.’

- Tom McLain, Owner, McLain Plumbing & Mechanical

COPPERTAIL BREWERY

BREWED WITH PASSION, QUALITY AND PATIENCE

"The majority of it was stainless, and it looks really

good,” Sochor said. “The time savings was a big factor.

It takes so much longer to weld pipe when we could

just get up there and press it

and be done with it.”

Sochor also saw savings

in other forms, including

being able to utilize in-house

employees rather than hiring

out welding work, and he

appreciated knowing that

Viega’s sealing element in the

304 stainless could withstand

the cleaning process.

“Viega offers an FKM

sealing element that can be

cleaned with the chemicals

that we use,” Sochor said. “If

we did get something in one of

our lines, we could go back through and clean it and

not worry about the seal.”

Even after 18 years, the core of Engber and

Stevens's business remains the same.

“It's not about how big you are going to get,”

Stevens said. “It's about a group of individuals who

would not take no for an answer.”

McLain used Viega ProPress for 304 Stainless

for filtered heating and cooling water, CO2 and

compressed air.

“The brewmaster said he wanted to use stainless

steel, and he was thinking of welding and I said ‘you

don’t need to weld all that. We’ll press it,’” McLain

said. “So we showed him all about press and we went

from there. It’s a very clean job, and you don’t have to

worry about any leaks, which is what I like.”

Coppertail doesn’t filter its beer, they use whole

leaf hops and natural carbonation; only the natural

carbonation takes longer, but as the saying goes:

good things come to those who wait.

V iega is proud to have offered unique solutions

for the growing number of craft beer

enthusiasts. Revolver, Founders and Coppertail

wouldn’t be where they are today without the

right combination of ingredients: passion, quality

and patience.

As Revolvers Ron Keisler said, “It’s about making

sure we leave the right legacy, if there is such a thing.

I would like people to look at us and say that’s one of

the best darn breweries out there. There are a lot of

breweries out there, but I want to make sure we always

have our mind focused on the beer because that’s

what we’re in business to do. We want people to know

that we take the extra steps to make sure things are

done the right way.”

TAKING THE LEAD

Viega’s EPDM elastomer

is now certified FDA-

compliant, an essential

metric for suppliers in

the food and beverage

industry. In addition,

our EPDM elastomer

passed a major brewery’s

taste verification process.

v i e g a v o i c e • w w w . v i e g a . u s 1 1

BREAKING GROUND IN THE U.S. MANUFACTURING INDUSTRYT exas Refinery Corporation (TRC) accomplished

something that hasn’t been done in the U.S. in

the last 25 years – it built a lubrication plant.

Established in 1922, the family-owned business

produces specialty lubricants and protective coatings

such as oils, grease, gear lubricants, cleaners and

sealants. TRC products are used to help protect

equipment as well as a company’s capital investments

in industries including manufacturing, agriculture, waste

management, drilling, mining and steel mills. When the

company was ready for expansion, it built an entirely

new facility in Mansfield, TX.

“In the early planning stages, TRC knew this

plant needed to be special,” said Dennis Parks,

Executive Vice President at TRC. “We wanted a plant

so special that other companies would model their

future production facilities after this state-of-the-art

manufacturing facility.”

The facility represents TRC’s investment in the

future, and attention to every detail was important. TRC

spent 2015 working with A&G Piping, a mechanical

contractor out of Fort Worth, TX, to build the facility

from the ground up. A&G Piping has worked with

Viega’s systems for more than a decade and knew it

was the right solution for

the refinery.

“I’ve used all the

Viega products,” said

Tracy Auen, owner of

A&G Piping. “They save

a lot of labor time. You

can cut in on a line

where a valve is not

holding and not worry

about sweating it.

It’s a much simpler

installation process.”

Auen installed Viega MegaPress in ½" to 2" for

compressed air and Viega ProPress for copper in ½"

to 1½" for potable water and estimates he saved 30%

installation time over soldering. One of the best features

of Viega fittings, according to Auen, is the quality of

the fittings.

“When we know we're getting Viega fittings,

regardless whether it's the stainless, copper, or − in the

case of the refinery − carbon steel, we rarely have any

issues with the quality of workmanship,” Auen said.

Auen was introduced to Viega ProPress for stainless

in 2003 during a project at a local brewery and

recommends it to his colleagues. “Change is not easy.

Even I'm a creature of habit,” he said. “Even if you've

never done it before, just give it a shot.”

The involvement of three companies known for

devotion to providing customers with the best products

THIS WORLD-CLASS FACILITY IS A COMMITMENT TO OUR CUSTOMERS.

- Dennis Parks, Executive Vice President, TRC

1 2 v i e g a v o i c e • N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 5

– two of the three breaking new ground in the U.S. –

makes the trio’s partnership seem almost serendipitous.

“It is important for TRC that its customers, who

are valued friends, know they are getting the best

products for the best protection and performance, at

the best value,” Parks said. “This world-class facility is a

commitment to our customers.”

Viega is also showing its commitment to

customers by breaking new ground in the U.S. with

the construction of a metals manufacturing facility in

McPherson, KS. The approximately 80,000-square-

foot facility, scheduled to open in early 2016, will

manufacture the very Viega MegaPress line that was

used throughout TRC’s new facility. As A&G Piping

continues its work at the refinery, knowing that Viega

is invested in its U.S. manufacturing operations makes

him confident that the product he is using will continue

to help him do his job.

“The cost savings on labor is huge with Viega

MegaPress,” Auen said. “Being able to install it even if

the line is live is a big benefit. It’s a simple product to

install. It doesn’t take years of training. It simplifies the

skill level to install, but you don’t sacrifice on the

final quality.”

IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

Viega ProPress Systems are taking business to the next level at Minnesota Petroleum, where the 40-year-old company is integrating Viega ProPress in projects every chance it gets.

Bret Swan—owner of the complete fuel and related services company—was first introduced 10 years ago and his company now proudly utilizes Viega ProPress systems in various materials throughout its operations.

In Minnesota Petroleum’s showcase product, Aviation Refueling Cabinets, Product Designer Tracey Deutsch praised Viega ProPress for 304 stainless for the consistency, the efficiency of assembly and testing as well as the clean look and great function with no leaks in the finished unit.

“The safety of using the system is one thing, but the speed and reliability is what our customers really like,” Swan said. “It looks like the next product to be integrated into our company is Viega MegaPress and MegaPressG.”

COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MN

Viega MegaPress helped Texas Refinery Corporation save 30% on installation time at a new lubrication plant.

v i e g a v o i c e • w w w . v i e g a . u s 1 3

G asping at the top of a hill in

Southern California, Marine

Chad James could only think about

his grandfather. Disappointing Harold

James was not an option. So he kept

moving. He gave four years to the

Marine Corps. He made it back alive.

Then, he accepted the reins of his

family's business, in memory of

his grandfather.

In the city of cowboys, Chad

and his father David are carrying on

the legacy of one of the city's most

well-known and respected plumbing

companies. Harold James, Inc. is a

full-service, medium-sized plumbing

company based in Fort Worth, TX.

According to David, Harold was a hard-

headed, strictly business kind of man

with a knack for remembering even the

small details, even model numbers

for parts.

Focusing on primarily commercial

projects, the reputation Harold James

built up has led to not only great

referrals, but attracts the top plumbing

apprentices in the area. The business

has employed several graduates of

the five-year program at Fort Worth

Local Plumbers and Pipe Fitters

Apprenticeship Training at Local 146.

It’s the work ethic and the skills that

Harold James embodied and passed

down to his son and grandson that

made the business the highly regarded

institution it is today.

“All the younger guys were in awe of him,” Chad

said. “It wasn't just me − we were all in awe of him,”

Chad said. “You knew if something went south on a job,

that he would be there to bail you out.”

While some struggle with what they want to be when

they grow up, Chad knew from the time he was in

second or third grade. He wanted

to work alongside his dad

and granddad.

“I worked up here a few times in high

school over the summer,” Chad said. “But my granddad

said ‘I don’t really want you coming to work here. Go

to work for another contractor or go into the military or

whatever you want to do.’”

KEEPING A LEGACY ALIVE

Above: David and Chad James in their front office with a portrait of the business’s namesake, Harold James. Right: From left to right David James, Harold James, Chad James and his brother Dyer James, at Chad’s wedding in 1996.

1 4 v i e g a v o i c e • N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 5

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS IT WON'T WORK. IT'S OUR JOB TO MAKE IT WORK. IF WE CAN'T MAKE IT WORK THEY DON'T NEED US.

- Harold James, Former Owner, Harold James, Inc.

Harold James served in the U.S. Navy from 1946

to 1948, and when he returned home, he worked for a

couple of different plumbing companies before heading

out on his own in 1961. He operated the business out of

his home until he purchased the current location in 1977.

James’s service in the military is what motivated

Chad to join the U.S. Marines. Knowing he would

someday take over the family business, Chad worked

in water purification, purifying the drinking water for

the troops. But his real expertise came from his time

in Korea. He was part of the First Marine Division Rifle

Pistol Team while in Korea and taught marksmanship

his last two years in the service, having served from

1994 to 1998.

“Even today, what keeps me going is the thought

of disappointing my grandfather,” Chad said. “I stayed

out of trouble when I was a kid because the thought of

letting him down would hurt me. When I was going to

boot camp, I was thinking ‘this sucks.’ There are some

serious hills out in southern California. You go up those

with a 60-pound pack, and you don't stop halfway up to

rest. You go to the top. You're slobbering, snot coming

out and everything, and I used to think, man, I can't go

back and face him and tell him I couldn't do this. That's

what would keep me going.”

Upon returning from the military, not wanting to be

labeled as the boss's son, Chad went to work for various

HVAC companies including Johnson Controls, Texas

Air, and Trane. In the meantime, Chad’s father David

and his wife Mary purchased the

company from Harold

and took over the

business in 1998. Mary

handled the inside staff,

and David took care of

the crews onsite. Harold

James passed away in

2004. David asked Chad

to come to work for him in

2013, the same year Mary

passed away. For the last

two years, father and son

have worked together, finding

strength in the lessons Harold

James taught them. Both agree that Harold James never

cut them any slack on the job just because they were

related. In fact, they were pushed harder than most.

“I’ve always told him I went through the same thing.

He had it hard, but not as hard as me,” David said. “I

started out sweeping floors in high school. Every job

that was difficult, like digging a ditch, well I’m the one

who did it. It didn’t hurt me. He did it to make a better

person out of me.”

Ironically enough, Chad earned his master

plumbing license at the same time his dad received his

journeyman license, although according to Chad, “My

dad could out-plumb me any day.” The two have a solid

relationship, so much so that the business is about to

become a third generation plumbing company. Chad will

soon take the reins of the business, bringing with him

the knowledge, passion and good customer base built

up by his father and grandfather.

“There is no such thing as it won’t work. It’s our job

to make it work. If we can’t make it work they don’t need

us,” Chad remembers his grandfather saying.

If Harold James were still with us today, peeking into

the office where his portrait now hangs proudly, David

and Chad know he would be proud of how far they’ve

come and how they keep his legacy alive.

“He’d be on cloud nine,” David said. “I was always

afraid, especially after he passed away, I would ask

myself, ‘Am I going to be able to keep this thing going?’

But everything just fell into place. I always have it in the

back of my head that I don’t want anything to happen to

this place.”

Chad chimes in, “I am my worst critic, but deep

down I know I can do it. I’ve had some pretty good

challenges in my life and I’ve come out on top.”

v i e g a v o i c e • w w w . v i e g a . u s 1 5

A fter a decade of anticipation, the approaching

completion of Opal Sands Resort is revitalizing a

site that was previously home to a Clearwater Beach,

FL landmark.

Before being demolished in 2005, the Adam’s Mark

Hotel stood at the spot where a lively beach resort will

soon open its doors. The Adam’s Mark hotel chain —

which at its peak included more than 20 luxury hotels —

adorned the coast of the Gulf Shore for nearly

30 years.

Developed by Ocean Properties, one of the largest

hotel chains with brands that include Marriott, Hilton,

Sheraton, Holiday Inn and Westin, Opal Sands Resort

will bring Vegas luxury to the east coast in 2016. The

crescent-shaped, 15-story resort features ocean views

from the balconies of each of its 230 rooms.

From the warm, sandy beach to the full-service

spa, guests can expect nothing less than perfection.

That’s why

hotels all across

the world are

now choosing

Viega’s complete

plumbing

solution. Guests

at luxury hotels

know when they

turn on the tap,

there will be

no wait for the

water to get hot,

and contractors know they are saving time and money

by doing it right the first time.

Dan Mantione, Superintendent at Ackerman

Plumbing in Sarasota, FL, is using a hybrid system for

Opal Sands Resort. Ackerman Plumbing installed Viega

ProPress for copper in ½" to 4" for potable water that

transitioned into Viega PEX Press fittings with ViegaPEX

Ultra tubing and Viega manifolds to feed the hot and

cold lines to each fixture. Manitone said he’s saved up to

50% in labor compared to soldering. Tiki torches outside

and the gas lines to the all eight of the resort’s kitchens

use Viega MegaPressG in ½" to 1".

“The system is fantastic. It’s really working out well,”

said Manitone. “Time-wise the system is very user-

friendly especially having the different-colored pipe, you

can visually identify them very quickly to see if there’s

any mistakes or crossed lines.”

A Viega representative provided training that walked

workers in each department through the ins-and-outs

of installation. They explained what to do, what not

to do, and showed tricks of the trade. Feedback from

employees has been positive and they quickly became

familiar and confident with the process, Manitone said.

“The press tool makes it really easy and really fast,”

he explained. “They like the fact that they don’t have

to carry around additional safety equipment — a fire

extinguisher or fire watch guy.”

Manitone added that support throughout the project

has been outstanding. When a press gun broke near the

end of a work day, Manitone was impressed with the fast

response from his sales representative.

“I called him at 4:30 p.m., and he had a gun in my

hand the next day,” Manitone said.

On this fast-paced project, Manitone emphasized

the impact Viega products are making in other aspects

as well. Viega MegaPressG for diesel lines is being used

for the emergency generator and Viega ProPress for

stainless for biofuel.

“The product saved a lot of time, a lot of training,”

said Manitone. “It takes a full day of training for every

guy I hire, so that aspect definitely saves me time. I can

use the same guys because they’re already trained on

the system. It’s just different piping.”

The ease of training, safety and man-hours saved by

using Viega products have added to the excitement in

being part of creating a luxury, Vegas-style hotel on the

shore of the Gulf Coast.

“I wouldn’t go with another product,” said Manitone.

“With the service and the training Viega supplied, it’s a

definite saver, and I’d recommend it to everyone.”

LIVELY BEACH-FRONT RESORT BRINGS VEGAS LUXURY TO EAST COAST

1 6 v i e g a v o i c e • N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 5

A large-scale condo project has Bear’s Plumbing in Naples, FL making the switch from Viega crimp fittings to Viega PEX Press.

Boasting a location in downtown Naples, FL and multiple floor plan options that feature open-concept design and open-air terraces, Naples Square’s condominiums are being constructed with luxury in mind. The inclusion of Viega PEX Press Systems and Viega MegaPressG from ½" to 1" is a seamless addition to the Naples Square development, where quality design and private amenities have set the bar high.

Naples Square will be constructed in four phases, with phase one expected to reach completion soon. The condominium community will consist of 300 units, priced from around $600,000 on up.

This was the first time Chris Stephens, Project Manager with Bear’s Plumbing, Naples, FL, had used the Viega PEX Press system in a full-scale application before the Naples Square project.

“So far we’re very pleased with the installation,” Stephens said. “The ViegaPEX tubing and PEX Press fittings are very easy to work with.”

Stephens was converted from hand crimping to Viega PEX Press fittings due to the size of the job and he estimates he saved 20% in labor by making the switch.

“There's nothing wrong with crimp. But it does take longer, and there's more room for error,” Stephens said. “Press is the new standard.”

NAPLES, FL

IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

Brass2Copper Mechanical, Inc. in Las Vegas, NV, is a residential plumbing contractor with a 25-year history of excellence. The contractor has been installing two-pipe ViegaPEX tubing systems and manifolds since the early 2000s and recently made the switch to Viega PEX Press fittings instead of crimp.

“It’s user friendly,” said Rob Blazek, owner of Brass2Copper Mechanical. “The crews in the field can install it easily. We’ve had no issues with any kind of defects, whether it’s the tubing or the fittings. The tools are easy to maintain. And there are no torches on the jobsite.”

Brass2Copper Mechanical does work for 15 different builders, including Pulte Homes, a national leader in energy-efficient homebuilding.

“With ViegaPEX, the biggest benefit for us is how easy it is to install,” Blazek said. “You have very few joints because the ViegaPEX has an 18-inch radius turn. That cuts down on a lot of joints when you compare it to copper. It’s just easy.”

LAS VEGAS, NV

v i e g a v o i c e • w w w . v i e g a . u s 1 7

F or some people finding their passion in life comes

naturally. That was the case for Nate Goodwin,

owner of All Points Boats in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, who

spent his summers on the water at his grandfather’s

camp on Catalina Island. The time spent swimming,

fishing and sailing led Goodwin to lifelong love of

the water.

In Goodwin’s case, the boating

industry he loves so much is part of the

nation’s trend toward luxury items that

advertise privacy and exclusivity. So far

this year, 300 superyachts have been

sold according to www.boatinternational.

com. The bigger the yachts get, the more

complicated they are to fix, which is where

Goodwin comes in.

All Points Boats, Inc., has been

working on megayachts in South Florida’s

Lauderdale Marine Center (LMC) for

close to 20 years. What began as a small

operation now boasts a waterfront office,

stockroom, machine shop, fiberglass molding shop

and wood shop. For Goodwin, repairing yachts is an

increasingly complex job that requires highly trained and

motivated people willing to get their hands dirty.

All Points Boats is one of the few repair companies

knowledgeable about specialty reinforcements and other

advanced materials. These processes are increasingly

commonplace in modern boat shops and Goodwin has

developed a reputation for his company’s expertise in

composite repair.

“I was raised on the water,” Goodwin said. “And I

know the kind of quality work that even the pickiest of

boat owners look for when his yacht needs repairs.”

Goodwin uses Viega SeaPress, a copper-nickel

system designed specifically to hold up to the harsh

environments of the sea. Goodwin uses Viega SeaPress

for air conditioning, raw water intake cooling systems

and fire protection main. He uses Viega ProPress for

stainless in fresh water cooling applications as well as

fuel lines.

“We do a lot of water systems in the copper-nickel

system because of the longevity of the product. It lasts a

lot longer than other materials,” Goodwin said. “And it’s

KEEPING MEGAYACHTS AFLOAT A FULL-TIME JOB

All Points Boats have been working with Viega SeaPress, a copper-nickel system, on megayachts all over Florida.

1 8 v i e g a v o i c e • N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 5

easier for us to go into a boat and make a repair or add

a piece of equipment without having to do any welding.

It definitely saves a lot of aggravation.”

Working on boats of this caliber requires a staff

of highly trained and specialized employees, many of

which have been with Goodwin since the beginning.

All Points Boat’s team of 45 includes pipefitters who

have built a stellar, world-wide reputation for inspecting,

removing, fabricating and installing pipe and fitting

systems to strict Lloyd’s and ABS standards. Viega

SeaPress carries type approvals for Lloyd’s Register,

ABS, U.S. Coast Guard, DNV, and many others.

“With the approvals and Viega being able to answer

questions and get us parts in a quick turnaround, we are

able to present quotes that are comparable to a welding

job in the same amount of time really effectively,”

Goodwin said. “And it’s a cleaner package when we

deliver to the boat. They know what they are getting – a

warranty, all their paperwork for the class society and

the big kicker is they don’t have a bunch of welders and

hot work going on in these multi-billion dollar interiors

and engine rooms.”

In fact, All Points Boats is one of the few authorized

installers for all class society boats that adhere to

those standards. Goodwin said they have such a great

relationship with Viega and the class societies that when

they propose to use Viega products, they don’t have to

go through the rigorous scrutiny.

“They put us on the fast track,” Goodwin said. “They

have confidence in it, and they know the people behind

the scene that can get them the paperwork. It works out

real well.”

Goodwin has used other press technology fittings

in the past, but it’s the support he gets from the sales

representatives that sold him on using Viega systems.

“We steered away from other press systems due

to the difficulty in getting parts, the tools, product

support, and our biggest concern is are they going to

keep making them in five years so we can get parts,”

Goodwin said. “With Viega if we have to go make a

repair I know we can get parts and get in there and get

it done.”

WE DO A LOT OF WATER SYSTEMS IN THE COPPER-NICKEL SYSTEM BECAUSE OF THE LONGEVITY OF THE PRODUCT...

- Nate Goodwin, Owner, All Points Boats

v i e g a v o i c e • w w w . v i e g a . u s 1 9

T here is no secret to navigating

the sea of codes and standards.

There have been millions of additions

and modifications to plumbing

specifications and regulations since

Herbert C. Hoover and Roy B. Hunter, the fathers of

modern plumbing codes, came into the picture in the

1920s. These regulations affect every product that hits

the market, so it’s important for companies like Viega

to have a role in the development and implementation

of today’s codes and standards. But to understand all

the work Viega has done, one must understand how the

rules are made.

BEHIND THE SCENES

N ational model codes are published on a three-year

cycle, but the code development work goes on

for two-to-three-years prior to the publishing year. There

are two major code bodies in the U.S., but they both are

developed in the same general format.

In the years leading up to a publication, there are

specific steps to complete, including deadlines for

the following:

1. Code change/additions submittals.

Anyone can submit a code change proposal.

2. Publication of proposed submittals for public review.

3. Technical Committee Hearings are held where

anyone can attend and participate/testify. The

committee decides on actions and reasons for

actions, which are then published. The committee will

decide by simple majority vote if a proposal can be

approved as submitted, approved with modifications,

or disapproved.

4. Publication of committee actions. Public

comments are sought on all approved and

disapproved proposals. Anyone is allowed

to submit comments.

5. Publication of public comments. The public

comments are published, generally including any

preceding versions of the proposal, actions taken,

reasons and supporting documentation.

6. Public comment hearings. Public comment

hearings are held, which anyone can attend and

testify for or against a proposed code change.

Alternatively, there may be hearings in front

of a technical committee.

7. Final vote. After all hearings are concluded and

arguments have been received, the respective code

body official voting members make the final decision

whether or not a proposal will be accepted. Results

are posted and new edition published.

DEFINES IMPORTANCE

TESTING

MANUFACTURING

USAGE

SHOWS COMPLIANCE

DEFINES PRODUCT

LEGAL REQUIREMENT

HOW CODES, STANDARDS AND PRODUCT CERTIFICATIONS WORK

Codes define where a product may be

used and references applicable standards.

• The Listings outline the test parameters

by passing of which a manufacturer

shows compliance to a standard.

• Standards define the requirements a

product must meet in order to be used

in an application.

• Code compliance is a legal requirement.

AN OVERVIEW OF THE CODES AND STANDARDS GROUP

CODE DEVELOPMENT, CODE CYCLES AND REGIONAL/LOCAL ADOPTIONS

By Martin Knieps, Director of Technical Marketing, Viega LLC

2 0 v i e g a v o i c e • N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 5

Once the new national model code is published,

each regional or local jurisdiction has the option to

accept all the code, portions of the code, or to keep the

existing code as it is. Many jurisdictions choose to work

with a code publication several years behind the most

recent model code. Depending on the state, and even

municipalities within a state, the choice of which code

a jurisdiction will follow can differ greatly.

The code development processes make bringing

new products to the market a challenge as code

proposals must be clear and not subjective in nature.

Interpretations of code language can vary from region

to region, so code development language must be

carefully drafted to avoid loose interpretations of the

code section.

For this reason, Viega LLC addresses regional and

local codes through the Technical Management group,

whose members are spread

throughout the U.S. Often

times challenges that are

presented in a regional

jurisdiction eventually find

their way into the national

model codes therefore the

role of Viega’s Technical

Manager group is significant

in communicating these

regional matters to

the model codes

development group.

MODEL CODE DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES

T he Codes and Standards group at Viega LLC is

composed of two Managers, Frank Shingleton and

Nate Buzzard, and two Industry Liaisons, Gary Morgan

and Mark Fasel, with nearly 100 years of combined

industry experience. This team formally represents the

company towards all code bodies, standards, testing

agencies and industry organizations related to the

applications of their products. Each member serves on

several committees and associations, including ASTM,

CSA, ASSE, NSF International, PPFA and AWWA.

Viega Codes and Standards separate between

regulatory, standards committee and code work.

Regulatory work encompasses all activities related to

listings and certifications for new or existing products,

compliance audits and certification testing. In the last

two years they have put a lot more focus on standards

and codes work. Viega products are used in a lot of

different applications, also beyond the borders of the

U.S., and they must be prepared to address all of them.

As part of the Technical Marketing department,

the group also provides internal support on matters

of product compliance or requirement, such as

product development.

Most recently Viega has been actively participating

in the 2018 International Code (ICC) development

cycle for what is known as the “A” group of codes

consisting of commercial and residential plumbing and

mechanical codes, as well as the fuel gas and general

building codes. In total, Viega prepared and submitted

approximately 20 code proposals, either directly

or indirectly.

“Often manufacturers, such as Viega, submit their

code proposals through trade organizations representing

an entire industry, which of course lend them added

credibility,” said Morgan. “The Plastic Pipe and Fittings

Association (PPFA) is one of the trade organizations we

are a part of, for this reason amongst others.”

Most of the proposals made through PPFA were

successful on the first round of hearings by gaining the

approval of the technical committees. One particular

code proposal, which was important to the PEX industry,

was to gain code acceptance for using compressed air

to pressure test PEX hydronic systems during and after

a concrete pour. For more information on this proposal

visit www.viega.us.

Viega also addresses code proposals which need

to be opposed as they could hurt the industry as a

whole as well as Viega’s own interests if approved and

adopted into the new model code. Morgan estimates

that approximately three-fourths of the proposals

Viega tracks fall into this category. While some of

these proposals could obviously restrict competition or

promote a single manufacturer’s product, most are well-

meaning and with good justification, but it is important

there are no unintended consequences.

“If you are not actively participating in the code

development process sooner or later there will be code

language adopted which could eliminate or greatly

hinder the use of your company’s products,”

Morgan said. “The best approach to successful

code development is to make sure you are

actively participating and have done your

homework ahead of time − gaining as much

support from industry peers as possible.

The code development process can be

highly political at times and

as such it’s paramount to

maintain the highest degree of

professionalism at all times to

maintain credibility in

the industry.”

Should you require assistance

gaining approvals for Viega LLC

products due to State or local

adopted code language, please

contact your local District

Manager who can direct you

to any necessary technical data

or work within the State or

local code development

process to update the codes

to recognize new and

innovative construction

technology advances of the

Viega product lines.

For the

full story, get the

Viega Voice App. Available

for iPad, Android and

Amazon Kindle Fire tablets.

v i e g a v o i c e • w w w . v i e g a . u s 2 1

N ot many people would define

professional development

as fun. Not the eager intern who

is told on day one that they will be

relegated to a room for two weeks of

on-boarding. Not the manager who is

asked to stay an extra hour after work

for training on the company’s software upgrade. Not

even the CEO who received an invitation to the latest-

greatest leadership conference.

The reality, however, is that education and training are

necessary to doing a job within the prescripts of the role,

ideals of the company, qualifications of the discipline,

and regulations for the industry.

The last part of that statement — regulations — is

one reason that has brought education and training

to the forefront of conversation in

our industry.

In my short time in the

plumbing, heating and cooling

industries, two major legislative

actions have impacted the

contractors, engineers and

manufacturers that I interact with

on a daily basis: the Reduction of

Lead in Drinking Water Act, and

the National Appliance Energy

Conservation Act. The first act

mentioned was enacted in 2014, and the latter just

one year later in 2015. The way in which some of the

professionals I have spoken to have described dealing

with such legislative changes is like being on a treadmill

that does not have a stop/pause button. They are

constantly playing catch-up.

And, it does not seem like the game will be over soon.

The growing social interest in efficiency is permeating the

legislative world. As a result, in coming years there could

be a rapid-fire of new regulations, codes, and standards.

Call that the bad news. The good news is that our

industry has already begun developing ways to make

education and training more accessible.

I have been invited to and attended various education

and training events in our industry. Many of these events

have taken place at national conferences or companies’

headquarters. However, in the past year, I have

been exposed to less traditional education and

training opportunities.

Just last month, I attended Viega’s Pathogen Control

by Design seminar in Houston, TX. The seminar was

part of the company’s 2015 U.S. seminar series. Since

2004, Viega has been conducting seminars at various

locations to meet customers’ needs to access learning at

a destination within their region instead of having to use

more time, and in some instances more money, to travel

across the country.

“Our training efforts continue to change based

upon how our industry is evolving,” explained Jason

McKinnon, Director of Technical Services and Training

at Viega LLC. “We recognize that our customers’ needs

change too, and we want to make sure that our training

always adds value for them.”

In 2006, Viega opened its Educational Facility in

Nashua, NH where industry professionals can come

for in-depth training. And, most recently, the company

began hosting webinars and webcasts for introductory

and overview levels of education and training.

“Many manufacturers offer training, and some do it

very well,” McKinnon said. “What we are learning is that

we must continue to move away from product-focused

training and educate industry segments more on the

systems and solutions that are needed and the best

practices for installations.”

This month, on Nov. 3, Viega hosted its Energy and

Comfort Performance of Radiant Systems seminar in San

MAKING INDUSTRY EDUCATION AND TRAINING ACCESSIBLEBy Ashlei Cooper, Editorial Director, PHC News, Plumbing Engineer

Viega offers training on the jobsite and at its Educational Facility in Nashua, NH.

2 2 v i e g a v o i c e • N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 5

Francisco, CA. The seminar offered an overview of the

advantages of integrating radiant heating and cooling

systems into building design. Currently, Viega is making

plans for both of the seminars to run again, across the

country, in 2016.

Integrated systems are a hot topic in our industry;

pun intended. Mark Eatherton, Executive Director of the

Radiant Professionals Alliance (RPA), said that getting

professionals out of their heating and cooling “bubbles”

has been a hard battle to fight when it comes to

education and training.

“Everybody in our industry needs to be brought into

this integrated design approach so that they can know

what is necessary in order to be able to deliver good

comfort,” Eatherton said.

Eatherton went on to explain that the RPA is

dedicated to not only educating the industry on

integrated systems, but also getting them invested in

the changes that will come based around the notion

of comfort. A large part of the RPA’s education and

training currently takes place online in partnership with

HeatSpring, a platform that provides professionals with

real-world skills through interactive, expert-led courses.

“We want to make this as convenient for the installers

and designers as possible, with the minimum amount

of interruption to their normal business practices,”

Eatherton said.

Some of the online classes that the alliance hosts

are self-paced and free. This allows for prospective

attendees to participate in a trial before making an

investment. Two of the classes currently being offered

are: Integrating Solar and Hydronic Heat, by Vaughan

Woodruff, owner of Insource Renewables, a solar

consulting firm in Pittsfield, Maine; and Mastering the

Outdoor Reset Curve, by Dave Yates, former owner of

F.W. Behler, Inc., a third-generation PHVAC firm.

Online education and training, similar to what the RPA

has been doing, was always the first example that came

to mind when I thought of convenience. That was until I

saw Northeast Gas Specialist’s Mobile Training Center at

the 2015 National Association of Oil and Energy Service

Professionals (OESP) Convention, in May. The 30-foot

trailer features live-fire heating and hot water equipment.

Carl Krause, owner and operator of Northeast Gas,

currently coordinates private classes for companies in

the metropolitan New York and New Jersey areas.

The creativity, resources and opportunities are there.

Our industry just has to tap into them.

“It requires initiative on their part to think outside of

the box,” Eatherton concluded. “You can charge more

money for delivering comfort. Which means more profit

margins, working less, and making more.”

You heard it. The money is there, too.

Ashlei Cooper is a multimedia storyteller with nearly

a decade of experience creating content for publications

and organizations. She received her B.A. in English from

Spelman College and M.S. in Journalism from The Medill

School of Northwestern University. In 2013, Ashlei joined

TMB Publishing as the Assistant Editor and Social Media

Coordinator. Currently, she serves as Editorial Director of

PHC News and Plumbing Engineer magazines.

Viega had more than 4,000 attendees from around the world visit its Educational Facility in Nashua, NH this year. So why not throw a party? Viega hosted an open house in August to do just that. The event hosted well over 150 attendees, coming from as far away as upstate New York and New Jersey. Guests had the opportunity to win many prizes ranging from training sessions and tool sets to jaws and sporting event tickets.

“This event has really exceeded our expectations,” Jason McKinnon, Director or Technical Services said. “The feedback we received

from our customers confirms that they want to learn more about our products and services. They are already asking about next year’s event.”

The Nashua Training Center is coordinating the 2016 Open House and cordially invites you to attend. Please be on the lookout for details in future issues of the Viega Voice or online at www.viega.us.

EDUCATING THE INDUSTRY

More than 150 attendees visited Viega’s Educational Facility Open House in August.

OUR TRAINING EFFORTS CONTINUE TO CHANGE BASED UPON HOW OUR INDUSTRY IS EVOLVING

Jason McKinnon, Director of Technical Services, Viega LLC

v i e g a v o i c e • w w w . v i e g a . u s 2 3

TALL TALE TURNS INTO A GEM FOR TENNESSEE

Big fish stories, or tall tales, have been around since

before American folklore began in the 16th century. For

most Americans, adventures of Johnny Appleseed and

Paul Bunyan come to mind, but in Memphis, TN, there’s

another big fish story to be told.

A few years back, Bass Pro Shops owner Johnny

Morris was fishing with legendary angler Bill Dance on

the Mississippi outside of Memphis, TN, and they made

a bet. If either of them caught a catfish weighing at least

30 pounds, Morris would bring his outdoor emporium to

the Memphis Pyramid, a 32-story steel-clad edifice on

the Mississippi shoreline that had been vacant for the

last decade. That day they caught a 34-pounder, so the

story goes, and in July 2015 the doors opened to Bass

Pro Shops Outdoor World – Memphis Pyramid.

That story is told on the website for Big Cypress

Lodge, a 103-suite hotel that encompasses half of the

second and third floors of the store. The first floor and

part of the second floor are retail space, and include

unique features such as the Cypress Swamp, with

100-foot-tall cypress trees and an 84,000-gallon alligator

habitat and underwater aquarium with more than

1,800 fish.

Viega ProPress for copper was used to help pipe

the 600,000 gallons of water that feeds into a heat

exchanger line inside the swamp. Viega ProPress for

copper was also used in the hot water lines throughout

the entire structure.

“We feed the system that actually feeds the

swamp,” said Eric Gipson, Project Manager for Gipson

Mechanical. “Another contractor did the piping for

the swamp, and his equipment is fed by our piping,

which allows them to heat and cool the swamp. Our

systems never touch each other, but each system goes

through a set of tubes that are intertwined. My pipe

takes the heat out of the water coming out of the swamp

and ours goes in cold and come out hot.”

Gipson has had experience with this type of heat

exchange in other projects, including a zoo in Memphis,

where they use the same idea to heat and cool the

rocks that animals can rest on. But there was no rest for

Gipson on this job. What should have been a 36-month

job was completed in 16 months. Having used Viega

products in the past, Gipson said he was happy the

design engineer, Haltom Engineering, allowed them to

use it for this project.

“We use Viega ProPress every chance we get,”

Gipson said. “For this project it was a perfect

opportunity to use it, and it was just a point of getting

approval from the design engineer and he is open-

minded and saw the benefit and he allowed us

to use and we moved forward with it.”

Haltom Engineering had never

used Viega products before,

The tallest, freestanding elevator in America showcases the grand pyramid.

2 4 v i e g a v o i c e • N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 5

but knew it was a great alternative to traditional methods

given the quick turnaround time.

“They wanted to open retail while working above them

on the hotel piping,” Jeff Haltom, P.E. said. “It turned out

they completed all at the same time, but the schedules

were hyper-fast track and this method allowed them to

complete the project faster. It saves time and money

versus traditional methods.”

With Viega, Gipson estimates he saved between 40%

and 50% on the labor. When factoring in the cost of the

fittings versus the labor it takes to solder, Gipson said it

just makes sense to use Viega.

“With Viega ProPress I don’t have to have a driver

picking up torches, oxygen bottles to make solder joints

so you eliminate that time all together,” Gipson said.

Gipson, a certified minority-owned business, has

been working in Memphis since 1983. He’s watched the

rise and fall of the pyramid since it originally opened in

1991 as a 20,142 seat arena. It served as the home of

the Memphis Grizzlies of the NBA and the University of

Memphis basketball program until 2004 when the FedEx

Forum was built after it was determined the pyramid did

not meet NBA standards. To add to its woes, on opening

night the entire arena began to flood, requiring stage

hands to sandbag the entire perimeter to preserve the

electrical runs under the stage. After all this, Gipson said

he’s happy he was a part of this special project.

“The job itself is nothing but positive. The arena stayed

dormant for several years, but just the name in itself is a

positive for the city. When Bass Pro comes, they bring

so much to the city. There are several opportunities for

growth. It’s a magnet,” Gipson said. “To put a project of

that magnitude − in the time frame that we’ve done − is

one that we’re proud to put on our resume.”

IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

On the plateau overlooking Eagle Mountain Lake sits a contemporary home designed with efficiency in mind. Created by award-winning Architect Norman Ward, the home’s potable water runs through Viega FostaPEX, which was specified by Ward himself and installed by Hargis Plumbing in Fort Worth, TX.

The Eagle Mountain job was the first time owner Eddie Hargis had used Viega FostaPEX, but today that’s all he uses in addition to copper.

“We use this under the slab and you can make a nice-looking manifold because it holds its shape,” Hargis said. “If you were using another product it would be difficult to bend it and keep its shape and still make it stable.”

For the Eagle Mountain home, Hargis used Viega FostaPEX with ½" and ¾" Viega PEX press 90° elbows in bronze and was satisfied with the look and quality of the finished project.

FT. WORTH, TX...I DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A DRIVER PICKING UP TORCHES, OXYGEN BOTTLES TO MAKE SOLDER JOINTS...

- Eric Gipson, Project Manager, Gipson Mechanical

v i e g a v o i c e • w w w . v i e g a . u s 2 5

W hen the new Southeast High School opens

for the 2016 school year, it will be the final

project completed as part of a $370 million bond issue

implemented by the USD 259 school district in

Wichita, KS.

Passed in 2008, the bond issue touched all 90

schools in the district, with Southeast being one of

nine brand new schools. It is also the largest and most

expensive project funded by the bond issue. With

a $60 million price tag, the new Southeast High will

accommodate 1,800 students and feature a 900-seat

auditorium and fine arts suite, a gymnasium with a

walking track, swimming pool, storm shelters and

much more.

While not all the finishing touches will be completed,

the construction is scheduled to end in January 2016, a

mere 16-months after they broke ground on September

29, 2014. It was the tight construction schedule that led

Brad Ward, Vice President of Midwest Engineering, to

specify Viega products for the school.

“For the Southeast high job, the selling point to using

Viega products was the construction schedule,” Ward

said. “They have a 16-month build period on a roughly

300,000 square foot building with a lot of piping on the

hydronic and plumbing side so their guys can get it in

a lot faster.”

It was Ward and his support of Viega products that

has led USD 259 to use Viega products universally

across the district for repairs and new builds. In the

case of Southeast High, Ward specified the use of Viega

ProPress for copper on all the hot and cold domestic

water lines 2" and smaller and Viega MegaPressG on

heating and air 2" and down. Kruse Corporation, who

worked closely with the general contractor, Dondlinger

Construction, performed all the mechanical work.

“The reason we like it so much is that it saves labor,”

said Rusty Williams, the Plumbing Foreman for Kruse.

“When you’re doing connections on live systems then

you don’t have to worry about putting bread in or drain

the system down to solder. You can just cut it, put your

no-stop couplings on and slide them in place, press

them and you’re done. It makes it a lot easier.”

Kent Kruse, owner of Kruse Corporation, said it

makes his job easier when he’s able to facilitate help

for his employees and save money on labor as well. On

Southeast High, Kent estimates he saved about 20% on

labor by using Viega products.

“It’s not rocket science – a job like this most all of our

costs are labor, so anything we can do to save labor will

save us all time and money,” Kruse said. “And hopefully,

with the savings, we can go out and get another job.”

FIT FOR SCHOOL

2 6 v i e g a v o i c e • N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 5

Kruse has about 200 employees, with approximately

40 employees on the Southeast jobsite, 24 of those

being plumbers. To date, the Southeast High job is

the largest in company history, having diversified

into plumbing six years ago after being solely a

HVAC contractor. Kruse and Williams agreed that the

innovation behind of Viega’s press system and its quality

has contributed to the labor savings.

“When you go to flush a system and if you’ve

soldered, you have all kinds of debris in the line and

we’ll have strainers on them filled with solder and flux.

Well with Viega ProPress you don’t have near the

debris so you really save a lot of time and headache,”

Williams said.

With the mechanical work scheduled for completion

shortly, Kruse said he is grateful for Viega’s Smart

Connect feature, which provides installers added

confidence in their ability to ensure the integrity

of connections.

“During a remodel on another large-scale industrial

building we discovered an older fitting that started

leaking because it had never been soldered,”

Kruse said.

It’s situations like these which

make Kruse and his team grateful

for the multiple savings provided by

Viega, from the time on the job to

the final product.

“We press everything now,”

Kruse said. “Our personal belief

is you save money by pressing.

There’s more savings on the labor

than the actual addition of the fitting

cost. The labor is a huge pool of

money. If you start doing the math,

it’s pretty easy math usually.”Kruse Corporation installed Viega ProPress for the domestic hot and cold water lines in Southeast High School, saving an estimated 20% in labor over soldering.

...YOU SAVE MONEY BY PRESSING. THERE'S MORE SAVINGS ON THE LABOR THAN THE ACTUAL ADDITION OF THE FITTING COST.

- Kent Kruse, Owner, Kruse Corporation

Illustration courtesy of Schaefer, Johnson, Cox and Frey Architecture

v i e g a v o i c e • w w w . v i e g a . u s 2 7

Founded in 2008, Forbes Mechanical Inc. in

Edmonton, Alberta, may be a relative newcomer to

the market, but with its high customer service ratings,

zero-claim record, and a history of completely satisfied

clients, it’s a company poised for continuing success.

Forbes Mechanical is a premier service provider and

commercial project vendor, licensed, bonded, and

certified in plumbing, gas fitting, HVAC, and

septic systems.

Andrew Long, Commercial Foreman for Forbes

Mechanical, took the reins on a piping installation at

the Excel Society’s Grand Manor in Edmonton. The

Excel Society is a non-profit company that supports

and advocates for people with mental, physical, and

developmental disabilities in Alberta. Grand Manor is a

one-of-a-kind facility, which allows Excel Society clients

to build a life in a community.

The Excel Society planned to add a new 64-suite

addition to its existing 56-suite facility. The biggest

complication: Grand Manor’s new addition didn’t have

a boiler room. Forbes Mechanical would have to run

eight or nine different piping lines through a 55-foot

underground chase from the old building to the new one.

“I had to run a 2" gas main down that chase,” Long

said. “The free area you’ve got to work with in that chase

was about three-and-a-half feet of headroom with about

18" side to side. It’s very, very tight.”

In a workspace that cramped, Long realized there

was no possible way to tighten a 2" gas line. Forbes

Mechanical thought of several different methods to

install the gas line, including pre-fabbing the line and

sliding it into the chase. But the concern for possible

leaks prevented that option. That’s when Long

discovered Viega MegaPressG.

“I was kind of leery of it at first,” Long said. “I

knew of Viega ProPress, but I’d never seen the Viega

MegaPress until I saw a blurb about it at a wholesaler.”

A Viega District Manager met with Long and

presented the black iron pipe solution for gas lines,

loaning Long an available pressing tool.

“It was looking to be hugely labor intensive,

spending days down there,” Long said. “But with Viega

MegaPress, I had two guys down there for six hours,

and it was done. It was a huge benefit.”

An additional project connected to Grand Manor was

a large parkade, a multistory parking garage. Forbes

Mechanical also used the loaned pressing tool on that

project, where they installed all the heating mains. Long

estimated that it would have taken a three-man crew a

week-and-a-half to complete the project using traditional

soldering for copper and welding for black iron.

A GAS PIPING SOLUTION FOR VERY TIGHT SPACES

Installers had to install gas piping in an area with about three-and-a-half feet of headroom and 18" wide.

I HAD TO RUN A 2" GAS MAIN DOWN THAT CHASE. IT'S VERY, VERY TIGHT.

- Andrew Long, Commercial Foreman, Forbes Mechanical

2 8 v i e g a v o i c e • N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 5

“I put all my pipe up,” Long said, “and

then − by myself − in 10 hours, I made all the

connections. We saved probably 80 manhours

on the parkade alone.”

Forbes Mechanical was so impressed with

the time savings and security they experienced, the

company decided to start pressing as many projects

as possible.

“We already had the pressing tool from another

company we bought out, but we always soldered,”

Long said. “So it was just sitting on the shelf. After

seeing how fast we went through that parkade, it was

a no-brainer. All we had to do was buy the jaws for

Viega MegaPress.”

Long also appreciated the security of the

connections. Since this project marked his first

experience with Viega systems, Long fully

expected leaks.

“I was ready for them,” he said. “I had three bottles

of leak detector. I expected I would have to go through

and test all these joints and find all the leaks, but there

was nothing. I was very impressed. I still have three full

bottles of leak detector left.”

Long stated that he could solder a joint quickly but

that it would probably leak. But with Viega, you get a

faster installation and a more reliable connection.

“From now on, I’ll do next-to-no soldering,”

Long said. “As much as I possibly can, I’ll only be

using press.”

v i e g a v o i c e • w w w . v i e g a . u s 2 9

Viega’s training opportunities are

nontraditional – they go beyond the scope of

its products into creating solutions that enhance

lives. Customers who have attended Viega’s

training seminars walk away with the knowledge

and experience that will improve their business.

From learning about how press technology can

save them time and money, to sharing its vast

knowledge of water quality, Viega is committed to

providing the best training in the industry.

No matter the topic – or the location – Viega

is available to get you the answers you need to

get the job done right the first time. So whether

you attend a training seminar, or call your local

District Manager, you’ll see how accommodating

Viega is to the needs of its customers.

DO MORE WITH TRAINING FROM VIEGA

Register for classes at viega.us/training

3 0 v i e g a v o i c e • N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 5

TECHTALKViega Tech Talk Experts Jason Allison, Jacob Demars and David Melendy

I have an older Viega brass manifold in my

home that is leaking. Can these be repaired,

or should I replace it?

The choice is yours. Viega offers a large variety

of replacement parts for both our brass and

stainless steel manifolds. Most of the parts

needed to repair brass manifolds and the

transition parts to convert to the newer stainless

steel manifolds can be found in the spare parts

section of our April 2015 catalog. In addition

to valve seats and other wet connection

replacement parts for our older brass manifolds,

we also offer adaptor rings to connect new power

heads to our older brass manifolds.

Can I install my finished floor directly on top

of the Viega Climate Panel?

There are four common types of finished

floor options when dealing with residential

construction: wood floor, tile, vinyl/linoleum and

carpet. The floor surface temperature should be

no higher than 85°F in any of these applications.

1. When installing hardwood floors, you can

install the flooring directly onto the Viega

Climate Panel. The floor should be installed

perpendicular to the climate panels and be

in accordance with the flooring

manufacturer’s instructions.

2. When installing tile with Viega Climate Panel,

there needs to be a ¼" to ⅜" concrete

fiberboard glued and screwed on top of the

panel followed by thin set and then the tiles.

3. With a linoleum or vinyl finished floor, you

will need to install either a sheet of ¼" to

⅜" finished plywood or concrete fiberboard.

The linoleum or vinyl floor can then be glued

directly to the subfloor.

4. Carpet is the final option for a finished floor

over Viega Climate Panel and this application

requires careful planning. Install the carpet

pad and carpet with nailing strips directly on

the climate panels. When installing carpet

with radiant heat you must be careful not

to exceed a total of 2.5 for R-Value. Please

remember both the carpet pad and carpet

are insulators thus restricting the heat from

getting into the room, so keeping the R-Value

low is a must.

What is the recommend maximum velocity

for domestic water distribution design with a

PEX plumbing system?

Traditionally, model plumbing codes adopted

a maximum velocity of five feet per second for

hot water piping and a maximum of eight feet

per second for cold water piping. These velocity

recommendations were adopted in order to help

minimize the effects of erosion corrosion and

other issues that water can cause in metallic

piping used in plumbing systems. The maximum

recommended velocity for hot water is less than

cold because heat can speed up a chemical

reaction which makes hot water more aggressive

than cold water.

Now that PEX plumbing systems have

become more popular and widely accepted by

major plumbing codes, designers realize some

of the restrictions may not apply to PEX piping

systems, such as velocity limitation.

Most recently the 2015 edition of the Uniform

Plumbing Code has adopted an IAPMO standard

for the installation of PEX tubing systems. This

IAPMO standard makes these higher velocity

recommendations. One of the benefits of

designing at higher velocities using PEX tubing is

that there may be less of a need for larger sized

piping as would be required for metallic piping.

This will lead to a much more efficient plumbing

installation. Viega has always supported model

plumbing codes in promoting safe and innovative

piping systems, which is why Viega agrees with

the new velocity recommendations of eight feet

per second for hot water and 10 feet per second

for cold water when using PEX tubing.

v i e g a v o i c e • w w w . v i e g a . u s 3 1

306_EN_1115_1

VIEGAVOICEViega LLC 100 North Broadway, 6th FloorWichita, KS 67202

Return address requested

800-976-9819www.viega.usinsidesales@viega.us

©2015, FostaPEX®, GeoFusion®, MegaPress®, ProPress®, SeaPress® and Viega® are registered trademarks of Viega GmbH & Co. KG. ManaBloc®, Radiant Wizard® and Smart Connect® are registered trademarks of Viega LLC. MiniBloc™, Poly Alloy™, ProRadiant™, SmartLoop™ and Zero Lead™ are trademarks of Viega LLC. ViegaPEX™ is a trademark of Viega GmbH & Co. KG. Eco Brass® is a registered trademark of Chase Brass and Ingot Metal Co. RIDGID® is a registered trademark of RIDGID, Inc. Amazon™, Kindle™, and Fire™ are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. iPad® is a trademark of Apple.

PRSRT STDUS POSTAGE

PAIDWICHITA KS

PERMIT NO 485

The term Viega, as used in this publication, does not apply to a specific company within the various separate and distinct companies comprising the Viega group of companies. The term Viega as used in this publication refers to the Viega brand itself or generally to the Viega group of companies. References to activities in North America specifically refer to activities of Viega LLC.

Zero Lead identifies Viega products meeting the lead-free requirements of NSF 61-G through testing under NSF/ANSI 372 (0.25% or less maximum weighted average lead content).

Please recycle this magazine

a publication of Viega LLC

November 2015

Director of Marketing

Kevin C. Fox

Marketing Managers

Bob Ale-Ebrahim

Tim Allbritten

Marketing Coordinator

Roberta Rickard

Graphic Designers

Jason Green

Nicole Mandina

Content Marketing Editor

Kristin Marlett

Contributing Authors

Ashlei Cooper, Jim Erhardt,

Martin Knieps, Jess Lindsey,

Kristin Marlett, Amy Williams

Contributing Photographers

Darren Decker, Jason Green,

Shane Kislack, Jim Oertle,

Skott Snider

Future articles and tips

Please send in your interesting

stories and tips relating to

Viega products for possible

publication in future issues

of the Viega Voice to

press@viega.us.