Viega Voice
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PORSCHEDESIGNTOWER
STAINLESS FIRE PROTECTION IN UTAH CHEESE PLANT
NEW EISENHOWER NATIONAL AIRPORT
ARTIC TRANSFORMS CALIFORNIA TRANSIT
JOURNAL OF PLUMBING, HEATING AND PIPE JOINING SYSTEMS FROM VIEGA LLC
JULY
20
15
Contents 3 Letter from the CEO5 Letter from the COO 6 In your neighborhood8 Porsche living11 Radiant systems seminars12 Success through teamwork for landmark California project14 Living the American dream 16 New airport makes good first impression 18 Legionnaires' disease a changing tide in the plumbing industry 20 Take training to the next level with Viega courses in French 22 Finding the next generation of plumbers is no joking matter24 Utah cheese plant protected with stainless fire sprinkler 26 California wastewater agency wins with radiant technology28 No more leaks for Kansas homeowner29 The best of the best: Viega top gun winners30 Training opportunities 31 TechTalk
WHAT’S INSIDE
Stainless fire protection in Utah cheese plant
24
Porsche Design Tower
8
New Eisenhower National Airport
16
Featured on the coverViega can now add Porsche to its list of reputable business associates. The new
Porsche Design Tower in Miami, FL utilized Viega ProPress and Viega
MegaPress in its mechanical design.
12ARTIC transforms California transit
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LETTER FROM THE CEO
Dave Garlow
We recently congratulated 40 winners of Consulting-Specifying Engineer
magazine's annual “40 under 40” issue – it inspired a few thoughts.
It’s refreshing to see people in their 20s and 30s excited about being in our
industry – and all trades, for that matter. Careers in technical fields rarely top the
“what I want to be when I grow up” list of a teenager. But something happened
along the way that inspired these folks to become engineers, craftsmen and
specialists. Whether it was a teacher, a mentor or a family member, these young
men and women have excelled and found a passion for the work they do.
There are more than a few of you who excel in our industry that fit within the
labels of “Generation X” and “Millennial.” We’re glad you’re here and appreciate
your contributions to the industry.
It brought into focus the
importance of being a mentor.
It’s easy to view the next wave
of “kids” that come into any
organization as upstarts, but
the truth is, you can learn from
each other. Those who have
been around for a while can
show newcomers the quality
and value we bring to the
everyday life of our contractors
and customers – and why it’s something to take pride in as a career.
The newcomers can provide fresh eyes, new energy and the idealism of youth.
Youth and wisdom. Energy and experience. It is that balance that drives our
innovation. It’s where our greatness comes from.
Speaking of balance, as we strive for excellence, it’s important not to get so
wrapped up in work that we forget to spend time with loved ones and nurturing
whatever it is that you love to do outside of work. It’s summertime – enjoy your
time with family and friends.
NEWCOMERS TO THE INDUSTRY
PROVIDE FRESH EYES AND THE
IDEALISM OF YOUTH.
v i e g a v o i c e • w w w . v i e g a . u s 3
Viega system solutions
Saving time and solving problems
Meeting and exceeding industry standards with every installation
For more than 115 years, Viega has been the global leader in plumbing, heating and pipe joining technology. Our patented press fi tting system allows pipes in multiple materials to be joined without soldering, making us the clear choice for new and existing plumbing applications.
Secure connections are made in less than seven seconds, saving up to 60% on installation and fl ameless technology means no burn permits or fi re watches. With the Smart Connect feature designed into Viega products, installers can easily identify unpressed connections, providing peace of mind on the job.
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
No industry ever succeeded without forward-thinking individuals and
companies who were willing to take risks for what they believe in. These people
and businesses have a vision of what life is supposed to be like and are always
preparing for what might happen between now and then.
You can always count on a forward thinker to come up with a solution that
suits the need and solves the problem because they are always looking to make
life better. It’s not art for art’s sake or even science for science’s sake. It’s a
practical lifestyle of seeing a problem, inventing a solution and making it work
for everyone involved.
The plumbing and heating industry has been around for centuries and until
the last 20 years or so, it hadn’t changed much. But a lot has happened in that
time to make the industry better, and it’s thanks to those people and companies
who decided there had to be more to our
industry than just joining pipe.
In the last 20 years, we’ve seen more
innovative installation methods for plumbing,
heating and pipe joining than there have
been in the 200 years previous. And it’s not
because anybody was tired of the old way
of doing things. It’s because someone saw
an opportunity to make plumbing, heating
and pipe joining more efficient and safer, with
higher quality manufacturing and new ways
to make connections.
However, it’s not just making a great product and expecting people to use
it. If you really want to make a difference, you have to make a great product and
be available to people. In today’s industry, quality matters absolutely, but if you
haven’t got the time to build a relationship with a customer, they may not have
time for you. And rightly so.
As always, there’s a balance between planning for the future and being a
caretaker of the past. Forward thinking is a great skill as long as you don’t lose
sight of the reason why it matters — and that’s the people around you.
IF YOU REALLY WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, YOU HAVE TO...
BE AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE.
Viega system solutions
Saving time and solving problems
Meeting and exceeding industry standards with every installation
For more than 115 years, Viega has been the global leader in plumbing, heating and pipe joining technology. Our patented press fi tting system allows pipes in multiple materials to be joined without soldering, making us the clear choice for new and existing plumbing applications.
Secure connections are made in less than seven seconds, saving up to 60% on installation and fl ameless technology means no burn permits or fi re watches. With the Smart Connect feature designed into Viega products, installers can easily identify unpressed connections, providing peace of mind on the job.
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
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Keep up to date with what’s happening in your neighborhood. If you have regional news you would like to share, please send your updates to [email protected].
IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
Pullman, WAProject: Washington State University North ResidenceContractor: McKinstryInstalled: Viega ProPress Applications: Domestic water
Memphis, TNProject: Bass Pro Shops Outdoor WorldContractor: Gipson Mechanical Contractors Installed: Viega ProPressApplications: Indoor cypress forest watering system
Clearwater, FL Project: 430 Place Condo Contractor: Ackerman PlumbingInstalled: Viega ProPress, Viega PEX manifolds, Viega MegaPressG, Viega ProPress ball valves, Viega PEX Press fittingsApplications: Hybrid plumbing system, natural gas
Draper, UTProject: Living Planet Aquarium Contractor: A-Tom PlumbingInstalled: Viega PEX PressApplications: Domestic water
Wichita, KSProject: Wichita Southeast High School Contractor: Kruse CorporationInstalled: Viega ProPress and Viega MegaPressGApplications: Domestic water, natural gas
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Laconia, NH Project: Laconia Fire DepartmentContractor: Oliver MechanicalInstalled: Viega ProPress and Viega MegaPressG Applications: Domestic water, natural gas
Wilmington, VTProject: The Hermitage ClubContractor: Economy MechanicalInstalled: Viega ProPress, Viega FostaPEXApplications: Hybrid plumbing system, heating
Clearwater, FL Project: 430 Place Condo Contractor: Ackerman PlumbingInstalled: Viega ProPress, Viega PEX manifolds, Viega MegaPressG, Viega ProPress ball valves, Viega PEX Press fittingsApplications: Hybrid plumbing system, natural gas
New York, NY Project: 432 Park Avenue high-rise residentialContractor: Paramount PlumbingInstalled: Viega ProPress Applications: Domestic water
Naples, FLProject: Naples Square apartmentsContractor: Bear's PlumbingInstalled: Viega ManaBloc and Viega MegaPressG Applications: Potable water, natural gas
Wichita, KSProject: Wichita Southeast High School Contractor: Kruse CorporationInstalled: Viega ProPress and Viega MegaPressGApplications: Domestic water, natural gas
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PORSCHE LIVING
T he shoreline of Florida’s Sunny Isles Beach just got a little more
desirable. From atop the 30th floor of the Porsche Design Tower, it’s
difficult to imagine that the view could get any better, but in June 2016 it will
do just that.
That’s the hard deadline that Gil Dezer, President of Dezer Development,
has given himself and the hundreds of workers who are building the 60-story
Porsche Design Tower on the coast of Sunny Isles Beach.
One of South Florida’s most accomplished businessmen, as well as one
of the largest oceanfront property owners in Sunny Isles Beach, Dezer has
partnered with the Porsche Design Group on this $560 million project. The
650-foot tower boasts 132 units ranging from 4,200 to 17,000 square feet,
but its size is not what makes the tower so special.
In this case, not only does the tower hold Viega’s ProPress in ½" to 4"
copper for the domestic and potable water, Viega MegaPress in ½" to 2"
for chilled water and Viega MegaPressG in ½" to 2" for gas, it has three
elevators that will take owners and their car right into their home. The
patented elevator, the Dezervator™, can also operate with zero human input,
taking you from the entry floor to a private garage. Equipped with an RFID
chip, the car goes into the same space every time.
“The inspiration was to create a home,” Dezer said. “The whole idea
was to really raise the bar here in Florida and do something that’s never
been done before, and so that’s what we’re achieving.”
The simplicity of the elevator was an ingenious way of maximizing the
footprint of the building as well as the profits. Dezer picked up 200,000
square feet of parking and put it inside rather than adjacent to the building.
Adding the cost of the parking into the unit price saved money and
maximized the profits by 20-to-30%, according to Dezer.
“From a developer standpoint, and even from an architect’s standpoint,
what we’ve done in this building that’s really never been done before, is we
increased the efficiency of the floor plan,” Dezer said. “What that means is
that every developer is required to give away parking, but because we put
the elevator in the building, we are able to charge for parking. What is
typically a cost to a developer has turned into a profit center.”
The financial efficiencies of the building don’t stop there. The
mechanical engineering firm, Steven Feller P.E., PL in Ft. Lauderdale, FL,
knows how critical time is on these jobs, and knew that Viega was the right
way to go for a building of this caliber. Over the last few years, the firm has
seen the number of contractors requesting the use of Viega products
grow tremendously.
“We saw how well it was accepted, even overseas. All our contractors
started submitting it for use and now it’s come a long way,” Mike Torrey,
Plumbing Department Head at Feller said. “It’s something the contractors
want us to use. It’s affordable, and we like that we can put something in the
spec that they want to use and will be happy with.”
Continued on page 10
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IT'S GOING TO BE THE GREATEST BUILDING IN MIAMI. MIAMI IS HOME. YOU CAN DO BUSINESS...AND THEN COME SATURDAY MORNING, YOU'RE ON VACATION. Gil Dezer, President,
Dezer Development
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Heiselt Escobar, a Plumbing Engineer for Feller, said
it was the sales representatives that introduced the
product to the firm, but it was the number of requests
they received from contractors and the quality of the
product that made them specify it for the Porsche
Design Tower.
While the decision to use Viega systems may have
started with Feller, the installers had an easy time
keeping up with inventory demands because Lehman
Pipe and Supply keeps Viega systems stocked. As an
independent distributor and the second generation
owner of the 70-year-old company, Dennis Lehman
stocks Viega products because he believes in
the product.
“[Viega is] the Rolls Royce of the industry,”
Lehman said. "You make the finest products in
the industry."
For the Porsche Design Tower, Lehman sold Viega
system solutions to a contractor known for its excellence
in the plumbing industry, Olympia Plumbing Corporation.
Olympia is one of the largest commercial plumbing
companies in South Florida and the general contractor,
Coastal Construction, is known for its work on high-
end projects. The two have worked closely together on
several new high-rise buildings, but the Porsche Design
Tower is one of the more notable projects on Olympia’s
resume. Robert Jimenez, president of Olympia, and his
employees have used Viega ProPress and Viega
MegaPress on a variety of projects across the state
and stand by the product.
“The Viega ProPress was excellent. We’ve been
working well with it − there are no leaks,” Cesar Gamero,
Superintendent at Olympia said. “I pressurized it at 200
pounds and we haven’t had any problems with it. You
don’t have to come back to it. It’s a good product.”
Viega sales representatives played a major role in
this high-profile installation at the Porsche Design Tower.
Viega sales representatives have a great relationship
not only with Olympia, but all the mechanical and
plumbing contractors involved in the Porsche Design
Tower project.
“Any time we have an issue, we call our Viega sales
rep and he’s right there,” said Carlos Alvarado, Project
Manager for Olympia. “It's a great product. We want to
keep using it.”
Another contractor involved in the project, Jorda
Mechanical, visited the Porsche Design Tower while a
Viega sales representative provided training on Viega
MegaPress with hands-on demonstrations.
“I’ve used Viega ProPress before,” said Jose
Castelloa, a contractor installing Viega MegaPress in
sizes ½" to 2" for the heating and air conditioning
systems. “I think it’s great. It will speed up the work
for us.”
It’s not rare that jobs like the Porsche Design Tower
come together like this. With every inch of the project
specifying Viega systems - from the beginning with the
engineering firm, to the experience contractors already
have using the system - the tower is an example of how
seamlessly a project can run from conception to
completion. Impeccable timing is something important
to developers like Dezer who work to make Miami a
better place to live.
“It’s going to be the greatest building in Miami. Miami
is home. There is a real working environment here, where
you can do business and get jobs done, and then come
Saturday morning, you’re on vacation,” Dezer said.
“We live in paradise. We live where everyone else comes
to vacation.”
YOU ARE THE ROLLS ROYCE OF THE INDUSTRY. YOU MAKE THE FINEST PRODUCT.
- Dennis Lehman, Owner, Lehman Pipe and Supply
1 0 v i e g a v o i c e • J U L Y 2 0 1 5
Energy and Comfort Performance of Radiant Systems Advantages and differences of how radiant systems work
As part of Viega’s efforts to help inform the heating and cooling industry
about emerging trends in efficient building design, we created the Energy and
Comfort Performance of Radiant Systems National Seminar Series. This full day
seminar focuses on the integration of hydronic heating and cooling systems
into building design and the resulting efficiencies that are possible.
Attendees will learn about radiant vs. forced-air, thermal comfort, cooling
load fundamentals, control strategies and their impact on energy efficiency.
Additionally, design guidelines, tools, sizing examples and system integration
will be covered through discussions focused on successfully completed
buildings and initial design strategies.
Upcoming seminar locations and dates are as follows:
October 14 | New York, NY
November 3 | San Francisco, CA
To learn more about our Energy and Comfort Performance of Radiant
Systems Seminars, please contact us at 800-976-9819, ext. 200 or visit
www.viega.us/training to register for a seminar near you.
RADIANT SYSTEMS SEMINARS
v i e g a v o i c e • w w w . v i e g a . u s 1 1
SUCCESS THROUGH TEAMWORK FOR LANDMARK CALIFORNIA PROJECT
T he Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal
Center (ARTIC) is the Grand Central Station of the
future. Centrally located in Orange County, CA, ARTIC
will provide transportation service for three million local
residents as well as 40 million annual visitors.
A LEED Platinum building, the structure is 67,000
square feet with three levels, connecting people to a
variety of transit options as well as entertainment, dining
and retail shops, all in one location.
“The ARTIC station is pretty monumental for the
future,” said Paul Redgate, Pipe Fitting Superintendent
for California Comfort Systems in San Diego, CA. “It
has multiple resources — a bus station, large parking
facility for car pools. It’s the first of the high-speed rail
stations that has been built today. The project itself was
high profile for the city of Anaheim, much different than
a typical install.”
ARTIC’s unique architecture includes a large number
of windows and a dome-shaped structure, which
results in high solar gains. Due to ARTIC’s
unique architecture and size, controlling
the climate inside the building with a
conventional forced-air system would
have been practically impossible. HVAC
designers for the project chose to implement
a radiant heating and cooling system instead.
Radiant cooling allows for the instantaneous
removal of heat through absorption. Installing ViegaPEX
Barrier tubing at tightly spaced increments (6" on-
center), within two inches of the finished surface floor,
gave the engineer the ability to remove the solar gain
instantaneously. For the ARTIC project, the cooling
capacity ranges up to 40 btuh/sq.ft. This provides an
energy savings of 34% over ASHRAE 90.1-2007.
“We installed 44,000 feet of in-slab heating and
cooling pipe, 18 manifolds and 12 pumps,” Redgate
said. “It was pretty large. This was our first radiant
project of this size. We’ve done some smaller stuff
but nothing on this scale.”
Throughout all phases of design and
construction, the manufacturers, the
engineers, the installers and the
suppliers worked together to
streamline the building
process. This collaboration
helped improve
communication through
the entire project.
THIS WAS OUR FIRST RADIANT PROJECT OF THIS SIZE. WE’VE DONE SOME SMALLER STUFF BUT NOTHING ON THIS SCALE.
- Paul Redgate, Pipe Fitting Superintendent, California Comfort Systems
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“Personally, I’m very impressed with the teamwork
that took place between the contractors,” Redgate said.
“From Clark Construction and the engineering team to
vendors and field contractors, everyone was really
excited to be working on such a high profile project.
There was a lot of anticipation for this place to open.”
Redgate spoke highly of the Viega representatives
who worked on the ARTIC project along with his team.
“I want to really compliment them on their
preconstruction efforts with us,” Redgate said. “At the
beginning of this project, we weren’t very comfortable,
but they were hands-on and got out there with our
group and showed us best practices and installation
methods—what to do and what not to do. They put on a
great face for Viega, and it was great for our group.”
The ARTIC project marked California Comfort
Systems’s first radiant heating and cooling project with
Viega systems. It was also the first time the company
worked hand-in-hand with Viega for the design of
a project.
“From start to finish, from inception of the design
to the commissioning, Viega was there by our side,”
Redgate said. “Viega’s involvement was priceless—they
didn’t just hand us the package and walk away. To have
them out there all the way through to the end of the proj-
ect was probably the best feature overall. And we still
beat the industry average by 25%
on the install.”
Viega offers radiant heating
and cooling solutions that are
easy to install. With simple
connections and engineered
system designs, Viega makes
radiant heating and cooling
projects easy, regardless of the
project size. And for the more
complicated, large-scale projects
where the installers may not be
totally confident, Viega offers
training and assistance from start
to finish.
“I can’t express enough how
impressed I was with these guys
who were paying attention to our project,” Redgate said.
“I don’t think I ever waited for a return phone call for
more than 20 minutes. It’s about the
project but it’s about the people
too. Viega has a great team of
people that are very passionate
about their product.”
44,000 feet of ViegaPEX Barrier tubing was installed to regulate the climate inside the new trasportation center in Orange County, CA.
v i e g a v o i c e • w w w . v i e g a . u s 1 3
LIVING THE AMERICAN DREAMO n March 16, 1962, at the age of 18 and a half,
Manny Alonso left Cuba, arriving on the coast of
Florida with the hope of a new beginning. Eleven years
later, he would own one of the most successful plumbing
companies in Florida.
Seven months after his arrival, the Cuban Missile
Crisis began. Luckily, Alonso was already taking English
classes at night and working various jobs. Miami was a
small city at the time – much smaller than the metropolis
it is today – and work was scarce, so Alonso did
whatever he could to make ends meet.
Desk jobs weren’t for Alonso, so he picked tomatoes
for $7.50 a day. Later, he did odd jobs including running
a hot dog cart on the weekends at local events, building
dividers for bathroom stalls, and working for a window
manufacturer. At the time, Alonso would have to sell four
hot dogs to make 15 cents.
“For me, at that time, eight dollars was a lot of
money. The rent was $50 a month, but you lived in a
house that had no hot water and no air conditioning,”
Alonso said. “But that was life. Starting out like that and
getting to where I am now is why this country is
the greatest country in the world.”
After earning his license as a master plumber and
working six years at a plumbing company, Alonso
opened Professional Plumbing, Corp., from his home.
He wanted to use the word “sunshine” in his business
name, but it didn’t seem professional enough.
Manny Alonso, Owner, Professional Plumbing Corp., Miami, FL
IF I STOP WORKING, I'D BE DEAD. I LOVE THE JOB SITE. I HATE THE OFFICE.
1 4 v i e g a v o i c e • J U L Y 2 0 1 5
The 42-year-old business started in 1973 with five
employees and two trucks. In 2007-2008 during the
financial crisis, the company went from having 300
employees to 3 employees. Today, Professional
Plumbing works in the high-rise condominium,
apartment and commercial building markets in Florida.
Now there are more than 25 trucks and 170 employees,
but Manny still doesn’t have a desk.
“I wake up at 4:30 in the morning, work six days a
week, 12 hours a day,” Alonso said. “And that is only to
be successful. Never be satisfied with what you did, you
can always do better.”
By 2014, Florida’s population grew to 19.9 million,
surpassing that of New York’s 19.7 million. Today,
Professional Plumbing has touched so many high-rise
buildings in Florida that Alonso has lost count of the
exact number.
“Just like every company, we have our ups and
downs. Right now it’s a big boom. I think bigger than the
previous one,” Alonso said.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, a five-story
building was monumental for Miami and played a role in
Alonso’s decision to become a plumber. The situation in
Miami changed, with a lot of construction of apartments
and houses coming into the area. Today, Miami boasts
307 high-rises, 62 of which stand taller than 400 feet.
Alonso recalled a time when people considered a
seven-story building a high-rise until a taller one
came along.
“Today, if the building doesn’t have more than
10 stories, we don’t do it,” Alonso said. “It’s a
different time.”
Professional Plumbing can be selective because they
have a reputation in the industry of having good
employees that specialize in the different components
of plumbing.
“I’m proud of what I’m doing. I love to come to work.
I feel very fortunate to have a dedicated and hard-
working team,” Alonso said. “We have a solid reputation.
It hasn’t been easy to build that reputation, but we are
committed to our clients and are highly specialized. We
have a plumber to do drain pipe, we have one to do
water pipe and one for fixtures. We try to do our best,
and we are known for that.”
Currently, Professional Plumbing is working on 11
projects with all the big developers in the city. Many
jobs include Viega systems, which make the projects
more efficient and reliable, leading to praise by
construction contractors.
“After 20 years at Morse Diesel at 13 projects and
working with over 400 subcontractors, Professional
Plumbing has earned my highest ranking of any
subcontractor, in any phase of construction,” Ronnie
Poliseo, General Superintendent, Morse Diesel
International said.
From selling hot dogs to today’s surge, Alonso has
made a name for himself and his company. At the age
of 71, Alonso is proud to work alongside his son,
Manny Alonso, Jr., who is a Master Plumber and Vice
President of the company. But Alonso has no plans
to retire anytime soon.
“I have to do this. I have to work. If I stop working,
I’d be dead,” Alonso said. “I love the job site. I hate
the office.”
Alonso’s employees are like his family, many of them
working alongside him for years, but his true blessing is
his family at home. Alonso and his wife, Isabel, have two
sons, Manny, Jr., and Robert, two daughters-in-law, and
five grandchildren.
“I’ve been actively involved since I was 15; I not only
worked in the office but on the job site. I worked during
the summer, after school,” Alonso, Jr., said. “The ground
work is there to continue.”
The hands-on, family-style approach is what Alonso,
Jr., says makes them stand out from the competition.
Every job site has personal involvement from Alonso, Jr.,
and his dad.
“You have to be competitive. There’s no way they are
going to pay me more. They may choose you because
they like you, but you have to meet the price,” Alonso
said. “It’s a big market, but it’s a rough market. In the
beginning, it was tough, too, but we’re here, and we’re
going to stay here because we love this community.”
Manny Alonso and his son Manny Alonso Jr. are supporters of Viega products, using them in many high-rise buildings throughout Miami.
v i e g a v o i c e • w w w . v i e g a . u s 1 5
Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport, Wichita, KS
I t’s been 10 years in the making, and Wichita’s new
airport is open for business. From the ground up,
the Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport combines
innovative design with the functionality of a modern
terminal.
Known as the Air Capital of the World, Wichita’s
latest addition to aviation is the first and last impression
visitors will see upon arrival to the city. In June, Wichita
said goodbye to its 61-year-old airport terminal and
opened its doors to a new 275,000-square-foot home.
Aviation themed inside and out, the building makes
you feel as if you are entering an aircraft, with those
details carrying over indoors. A swooping roof line
outside, decorative stainless steel
walls, public art and aviation
history pieces inside, the
airport is one-of-a-
kind. A terrazzo floor designed with inspiration from the
contrails of aircraft flying will guide the two million
passengers that pass through the airport each year.
Adjacent to the original building, the airport is
equipped with the latest technology, food services,
parking garage, baggage claim and loading gates.
The Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport was made of
quality products, including Viega systems, designed to
make traveling in and out of Wichita quick, efficient and
easy. It features 23,000 square feet of radiant flooring,
8½ miles of gas, hydronic and water lines, and 267
plumbing fixtures.
The Waldinger Corporation was subcontracted by
the general contractors, Key Construction and
Walbridge, for the mechanical work at the airport.
Formed in 1906, Waldinger has offices
throughout the midwest including Wichita,
KS. The Viega name and its products
were nothing new to Waldinger.
They understood Viega’s
press technology has
the ability to save
time and
money by
NEW AIRPORT MAKES GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION
1 6 v i e g a v o i c e • J U L Y 2 0 1 5
eliminating the need to solder every joint, and its
patented Smart Connect feature offers a secure
connection every time.
“I started using Viega ProPress when it first
came to the United States in 1999,” Matt Hildreth,
Construction Division Manager for The Waldinger
Corporation said. “The only time I have seen a leak is
when we cut it apart,” he said.
The Waldinger Corporation installed Viega ProPress
copper in ½" to 4" in the domestic potable water
applications. They also used ViegaPEX Barrier and
Viega FostaPEX tubing for a snow-melting system and
a Viega ProRadiant heating system in the behind-the-
scenes area of baggage claim, in parts of the tarmac,
the main entry and the loading dock. While most of their
work and Viega’s systems are hidden, Waldinger knows
the important stuff is behind the walls.
"The guys all like going ‘look at this mechanical
room.’ All the boilers are perfect, all the piping is perfect
that’s how we do our work,” Hildreth said. “It’s what’s
hidden in the walls. It’s what’s in that mechanical room
and behind the walls that makes this work.”
Press innovations allow mechanical contractors like
Waldinger to not only save time, but also money.
A highly engineered system, it’s the time savings that
contractors are using to sell their customers.
“Our opinion is that we are going to do it at least
20% better,” Hildreth said. “It’s what we use as a
standard of bidding. We’ve smoked that estimate
on occasion.”
Its functionality and reliability are part of the driving
force, but the value added is with the customer
service clients receive from the sales representatives.
Viega reps will drop what they’re doing, pick up the
phone or turn their car around and head to the job site
to consult on a project faster. On a project the size of the
airport, that kind of commitment was invaluable for The
Waldinger Corporation.
“Lucky for us you guys were here and were very
active and helped us,” Hildreth said. “Customer support
was fantastic. You’re one of the few manufacturers that
do that.”
IT'S WHAT'S IN THAT MECHANICAL ROOM AND BEHIND THE WALLS THAT MAKES THIS WORK.
- Matt Hildreth, Construction Division Manager, The Waldinger Corporation
Viega systems, including Viega ProPress, were used in the new terminal, pictured here in the mechanical room.
v i e g a v o i c e • w w w . v i e g a . u s 1 7
LEGIONNAIRES' DISEASEA CHANGING TIDE IN THE PLUMBING INDUSTRY
A n often ignored and serious issue
associated with building potable
water systems is now, with the recently
published ASHRAE 188, getting a lot of
attention in the U.S.
A common misperception today is
that Legionnaires’ disease (LD) outbreaks are caused
almost exclusively by cooling towers or HVAC systems.
This is not true. A significant amount, if not a majority of,
LD outbreaks are caused by potable water systems.
Another common misperception is that because
Legionnaires’ disease does not appear in the news too
often, the amount of cases must be declining. In fact,
the annual incidence of LD cases has increased
dramatically. A 2011 CDC study found that U.S. LD
cases increased 217% from 2000 to 2009. Another CDC
study, a study of waterborne diseases associated with
drinking water and non-recreational water from 2009 to
2010, found that LD accounted for 58% of outbreaks,
42% of illnesses, 96% of hospitalizations, and 100%
(all) deaths.
Litigation associated with Legionella cases has
increased dramatically over the past decade as well. I’ve
been involved in many Legionnaires’ disease litigations
and in most of these plumbing engineers, contractors
and builders were brought into the litigation. As stated
above, over the past decade this has become a real and
growing issue.
Another all-too-common misperception is that
designing plumbing systems to reduce the risk of
Legionella means extra costs and less efficient systems.
In fact, I recommend the same items for engineering
design to reduce the risk for Legionella colonization as
most leading engineering experts do for water and
energy savings. Some plumbing component
manufacturers aware of the market opportunities are
improving existing products and developing new
products that address these issues.
If you are surprised by any information above,
don’t feel bad. The lack of awareness regarding this
serious issue is pervasive in U.S. public health,
the healthcare industry, non-healthcare industries,
associations, code development and trades. There are
very good U.S. guidelines that are legally recognized
standards of care published on the issue that are more
than a decade old. These U.S. standards of care include
OSHA (1998), ASHRAE 12-2000 (2000), Joint Commis-
sion (2001) and CDC (2003) to name a few. All of these
national U.S. Legionella guidelines are
scientifically based, useful and effective tools for
Legionella control in plumbing design.
Water heater manufacturers address the ‘failure
to warn’ scald negligence risk associated with their
product by insuring every water heater manual has a full
page or more on scald risk. But Legionnaires’ disease
issues in the U.S. − though associated with many
different plumbing products − especially those that
temper the water, reduce flow, destroy disinfectants,
Tim Keane, Consultant, Legionella Risk Management, Inc.
Legionella pneumophila which thrives in potable water systems is responsible for over 90% of Legionnaires' disease cases, which have increases by 217% from 2000 to 2009.
1 8 v i e g a v o i c e • J U L Y 2 0 1 5
I n the U.S., most of us take safe drinking water for granted. It’s taken serious
events such as severe drought and multiple outbreaks in hospitals for the general public to become aware of the risks associated with one of our most important resources − our water supply.
As an industry leader in pipe joining technology, Viega takes the issue of safe drinking water very seriously. To learn more about minimizing your risk of waterborne pathogens, from ASHRAE 188 to new concepts in commercial plumbing, contact a Viega Technical Manager at viegawaterquality.us.
or allow potential for cross-connection between hot
and cold water, has been largely ignored. The plumbing
industry is much more concerned and aware of scalding
issues even though rates of potable water system issues
associated with scalding are almost insignificant when
compared to Legionnaires’ disease.
The new ASHRAE 188 standard will help increase
awareness in the plumbing industry and hopefully will
result in beneficial steps to reduce the plumbing
industry's risk of negligence litigation associated with
this issue. The long term result should be improved
plumbing codes, plumbing system design and plumbing
products that reduce the potential for Legionella to grow
in plumbing systems.
Tim Keane is an internationally recognized expert in
Legionella control in potable water systems. He has
authored numerous papers and presented at numerous
scientific and industry meetings on the issue. He has
provided training to engineers, plumbing designers and
building operators for over a decade on best practices
for controlling Legionella in building water systems
based on his first-hand experience with Legionnaires’
disease outbreak resolution.
According to the CDC: Of all waterborne diseases
associated with drinking
and non-recreational water in
the U.S., Legionnaires' Disease
accounts for:
100%
OF
DE
ATH
S
96%
OF
HO
SP
ITA
LIZA
TIO
NS 58
% O
F O
UTB
RE
AK
S
42%
OF
ILLN
ES
SE
S
THE IMPACT OF LEGIONNAIRES' DISEASE
v i e g a v o i c e • w w w . v i e g a . u s 1 9
F rom the time of its foundation in 1899 to the
present, Viega’s success has been built on
innovation. First by changing the way industry works,
now by changing the way industry learns.
Viega has recently unveiled industry training
presented in French for its Canadian customers, offering
complete Viega design and installation training at the
Viega Educational Facility in Nashua, NH.
“Like many other companies operating in Canada,
we have offered French language training locally in
Quebec,” said Mark Evans, Viega Director of Sales,
Canada. “This training, however, was never able to
provide the full advantage of our program to those
customers who participated. In my 35 years in the
industry in Canada, I have never seen another program
like this where French language training was offered
outside of Quebec, let alone in the United States.”
By offering these training options in French at the
Viega Educational Facility, the program offers education
for Canadian distributor partners, contractor customers
and members of the engineering and design community.
“Feedback from the first two groups of our
customers who participated has been phenomenal
and far exceeded even my expectations,” said Francis
Longtin, Viega District Manager for the eastern sales
district in Canada. “This training respects the needs of
my customers and demonstrates our commitment to the
industry. We promoted this French training at our booth
at the recent MCEE Trade Show in Montreal and many
people wanted to know where to sign up for the
next session.”
René Lauzé from TBC Constructions, Inc. is a
contractor from Quebec City who participated in the
inaugural session this past February.
“The training was given with care for detail,” Lauzé
said, “and all questions I had were answered with ease
indicating a very good knowledge of your products.
The space for the training is very well suited to the reality
of today. The lodging and the food was excellent.
I recommend this training to everyone!”
Joel Gagnon from Tuyauterie BGR attended the most
recent training session.
TAKE TRAINING TO THE NEXT LEVEL WITH VIEGA COURSES IN FRENCH
ALL OF THE QUESTIONS I HAD WERE ANSWERED WITH EASE INDICATING A VERY GOOD KNOWLEDGE OF YOUR PRODUCTS...
- René Lauzé, Contractor, TBC Constructions, Inc.
A group of Canadian customers received industry training in French at Viega's training facility in Nashua, NH.
2 0 v i e g a v o i c e • J U L Y 2 0 1 5
“The training was very technical and the history of
the company was interesting,” Gagnon said. “I did not
even realize the time passing during the
training hours.” Gagnon mentioned the food
and the accommodations, stating that it
exceeded his expectations. “I did
appreciate all those details. Bravo!”
The training begins with an explanation
of the system solutions installed and
on display at the Viega Educational
Facility. Afterward, the training moves
to the classroom, and from there the class
moves into the construction lab for real-life,
hands-on installation training.
“Being able to rough-in actual products under job
site conditions allows customers not just to hear about
the benefits of our products, but to discover them for
themselves,” Longtin said. “It is much more meaningful.”
Viega has a legacy of excellence and dedication to
customers through quality and innovation. Now, with this
complete industry-focused system solution training for
French-speaking customers, Viega is taking the
plumbing, heating and pipe joining market in Quebec
to the next level.
For more information on Viega training, in French
or in English, call 877-843-4262 or email Viega at
A group of Canadian customers received industry training in French at Viega's training facility in Nashua, NH.
v i e g a v o i c e • w w w . v i e g a . u s 2 1
W hen Jay Leno spoke at the
opening session of the Water
Quality Association’s convention in
April in Las Vegas, NV, he told a joke
about plumbers. It went something
like this:
"Researchers have discovered that a common toilet
plunger can be used to restart somebody’s heart during
a heart attack. Great! Now I need to bring along my
plumber with my doctor. How expensive is that going
to be?"
Jay’s joke points out a paradox I’ve noticed for
a long time. The perception of the American public is
that plumbers make as much money as doctors and
lawyers – and many plumbers do very well financially,
both as company owners and employees. In 2012, the
median annual income for plumbing technicians was
almost $50,000.
But how many parents do you know who dream
about their kids growing up to be plumbers?
No one is laughing these days when the
subject turns to where we will find the next
generation of plumbers, especially with
construction back on the upswing. The
construction industry lost a tremendous
number of tradespeople during the
recession. In February 2015, The Atlantic
reported that construction overall in the U.S.
employs 1.4 million fewer people than in 2007.
As plumbers get older, more and more are retiring.
When Plumbing & Mechanical conducted our Reader
Profile & Preference Study last year, the average age of
survey respondents was 56 years old, which is close
FINDING THE NEXT GENERATION OF PLUMBERS IS NO JOKING MATTERBob Miodonski, BNP Media Plumbing Group Publisher
Photo courtesy of PHCC National Association
2 2 v i e g a v o i c e • J U L Y 2 0 1 5
to the industry’s average age for owners of
plumbing companies.
U.S. Census numbers show the need for 21%
more plumbing technicians by 2022. During their
Legislative Conference in April in Washington,
members of the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling
Contractors (PHCC) – National Association told
legislators they expect a shortage of 100,000
plumbing and HVAC technicians over the next 10 years,
not including people retiring from the industry.
The plumbing industry needs to do a better job of
recruiting and training young people. Without a growing
and qualified workforce, manufacturers such as Viega
and their contractor customers will fall short of their
business objectives because construction projects will
be postponed or abandoned.
Fortunately, industry associations and their corporate
partners have initiated programs to improve recruitment
and training. Viega employees should recognize – and
be commended for – the fact that they work for
a company in the forefront of supporting many of
these initiatives.
I personally have been involved with the Explore
the Trades Committee created by the Nexstar Network
Legacy Foundation. Nexstar is a best practices group
of plumbing, HVAC and electrical service contractors
who are experiencing the shortage of qualified
technicians firsthand.
“Only 6% of students are looking into careers in the
trades – all the trades, not just plumbing, HVAC and
electrical,” said Renee Cardarelle, the Nexstar
Foundation’s Executive Director. “We feel the general
public, as well as those who run our school systems,
don’t understand that these are areas where students
can have a lucrative, life-long career. It’s an uphill
struggle because we’re trying to change the culture.”
During the committee’s monthly conference calls,
I hear from Nexstar members around the country about
their efforts to recruit young people at high school career
days as well as their varying degrees of success in hiring
graduates of their local vocational technical schools.
Along the way, we created a website, job board and
recruitment video, which you can explore yourself at
www.explorethetrades.com.
Like Viega, Plumbing & Mechanical (PM) supports
the efforts of industry associations such as PHCC and
Mechanical Contractors Association of America. PM
is a PHCC Associate Member and Industry Partner of
PHCC’s Quality Service Contractors group. Viega is a
PHCC Corporate Partner and member of the PHCC
Partners for Professionalism program.
Viega also is a member of the PHCC Educational
Foundation and a strong supporter of its apprentice
training programs. In addition, Viega hosts the
foundation’s two-day foreman development workshop
at the training center in Nashua, NH.
When I toured the Viega booth in March at the
International Sanitation and Heating (ISH) trade show
in Frankfurt, Germany, the large number of young
tradespeople I saw there and everywhere on the trade
show floor astonished me. Finding ways to attract the
same numbers of young people to the construction
trades in this country is serious business. We can get
there if we all work to make it happen.
Bob Miodonski is Group Publisher of BNP Media’s
Plumbing Group, whose titles include Plumbing &
Mechanical, PM Engineer, Supply House Times, Reeves
Journal and Radiant & Hydronics e-News. You can email
him at [email protected].
ONLY 6% OF STUDENTS ARE LOOKING INTO CAREERS IN THE TRADES-ALL THE TRADES, NOT JUST PLUMBING, HVAC AND ELECTRICAL.
- Renee Cardarelle, Executive Director, Nexstar Foundation
v i e g a v o i c e • w w w . v i e g a . u s 2 3
Gossner Foods cheese plant in Utah used Viega ProPress for stainless steel for a newly installed fire sprinkler system.
T he Gossner Foods cheese plant in Logan, UT,
needed a new fire protection system retrofitted
in the shelf-stable milk section of the plant. This area
processes and packages milk into self-serve cartons.
“We retrofitted their production area in the old part
of the building,” said Chris Gilden, Project Foreman for
Paradise Fire Protection, Inc., in Logan, UT. “For some
of the project, we used the traditional roll-and-groove
joints, but we used Viega ProPress for stainless steel in
in the food grade sections so it would match.”
Paradise Fire Protection, Inc. installed Viega
ProPress for 304 stainless in a range of sizes, 4"
mains and branch lines in sizes 1", 1¼", 1½", and 2".
“We used just about all the pipe we ordered,” Gilden
said. “We flew out a designer and went through and
designed the project. From that design, I came up with
what parts we needed and ordered them. Then we
installed them.”
Gossner Foods, founded in 1966 by Edwin Gossner
and his family, is a cheese-making company in Utah and
Idaho. Specializing in Swiss, Gossner Foods also offers
cheddar, Monterey Jack, Muenster and others and
uses more than a half million pounds of milk daily for
cheese production.
Paradise Fire Protection Inc. is a full-service fire
sprinkler company, specializing in the design,
installation, service, testing and inspecting of
water-based fire sprinkler systems.
“We had some areas where you couldn’t necessarily
put a ladder,” Gilden said. “So that was challenging.”
What Gilden and his team learned about Viega
ProPress systems, though, is that the pipe and fittings
can be preassembled before installation.
“We would put two or three pieces and press them
on the floor,” Gilden said, “and then we’d press several
pieces with fittings together. We’d get 30 feet at a time
and press a bunch of it together. We could carry that in
preassembled and get it up in the air where we could
get to the ladders. That was a plus to the Viega
ProPress system.”
UTAH CHEESE PLANT PROTECTED WITH STAINLESS FIRE SPRINKLER
2 4 v i e g a v o i c e • J U L Y 2 0 1 5
The preassembled piping runs weighed less than
Gilden expected, too. “You can do most of your work on
the floor,” Gilden said. “The pipe is really light, it goes
together quickly, and we didn’t have a single leak. So
you don’t have to worry too much about the outcome of
pressurizing and testing.”
A project the size of Gossner Foods isn’t new to
Paradise Fire Protection, Inc. The company always does
commercial jobs that size or larger. Currently, they are
working on three separate high schools. One-or-two-
year jobs are normal for them. But the Gossner Foods
project was the first time Paradise Fire Protection, Inc.
had installed Viega ProPress systems.
When Gilden and his team were working
a different project, a Viega
representative stopped by to meet
with the company. Gilden and
his team happened to be
there installing a fire
protection system.
“He gave us his information,”
Gilden said, “and we found out later
that Gossner required stainless
shortly after that. So the timing was
perfect. The rep made a good
impression on us.”
Gilden reported
that compared to the other
brands of press fittings, Viega
ProPress performed at a much
higher standard.
“We didn’t have any leaks or issues,” Gilden said.
“We have not been called back to Gossner with leaks or
anything. With the other stuff, we had joint leaks at low
pressures, but once it got up to pressure it would stop.
It was kind of scary.”
Gilden was pleased with the time savings Viega
ProPress systems provided and stated that the
part of the job he took the most pride in was the
finished product.
“It’s a stainless facility,” Gilden said. “You can look
up in the air and see the stainless and it matches.
You can see how clean everything looks. It’s kind of
hard to spot the lines because they blend in with
everything else.”
Gilden appreciated that Viega ProPress fittings offer
the patented Viega Smart Connect feature, which helps
installers identify unpressed connections during
pressure testing.
“I like that Viega ProPress
fittings won’t hold any pressure,”
Gilden said. “If you dry fit, it will
leak through. A lot of fittings, if
you dry fit, will hold 20 or 30
pounds and then blow apart.
If you’re in a situation where you can’t have a blowout
like that, Viega ProPress works great.”
Overall, Gilden and Paradise Fire Protection, Inc.
were extremely satisfied with the project.
“The job was a retrofit above a bunch of equipment
that was already installed, so it was a pain,” Gilden said.
“But Viega made it easier.”
Gossner Foods cheese plant in Utah used Viega ProPress for stainless steel for a newly installed fire sprinkler system.
YOU CAN DO MOST OF YOUR WORK ON THE FLOOR. THE PIPE IS REALLY LIGHT, IT GOES TOGETHER QUICKLY AND WE DIDN'T HAVE A SINGLE LEAK.
- Chris Gilden, Project Foreman, Paradise Fire Protection, Inc.
v i e g a v o i c e • w w w . v i e g a . u s 2 5
W hen most people think of
radiant heat or hydronic snow
melt, the usual applications come to
mind: warm floors heating a room,
heated sidewalks and driveways
remaining snow-free without the need
for conventional snow removal. No doubt Viega Radiant
Design Services in Nashua, NH, has designed and
quoted thousands of projects like those, but occasionally
they receive requests for assistance with some very
out-of-the-box type of projects.
The ProblemIn April 2013, the Big Bear Area Regional
Wastewater Agency (BBARWA) in Big Bear, CA
contacted Viega Radiant Design Services regarding a
project that needed an innovative solution.
A byproduct of their treatment process is sludge,
which is composed primarily of water by weight. Since
the sludge must be hauled by truck to an off-site
disposal area, BBARWA had been looking for a way to
reduce the water content and weight of the sludge,
making it less expensive to haul. BBARWA had tried
CALIFORNIA WASTEWATER AGENCY WINS WITH RADIANT TECHNOLOGYJim Erhardt, Technical Trainer, Viega LLC
...THE SYSTEM WAS PERFORMING BEYOND EXPECTATIONS AND EVEN BETTER IN THE LOW-HUMIDITY WINTER MONTHS.
2 6 v i e g a v o i c e • J U L Y 2 0 1 5
several different methods to dry the sludge with only
marginal success and complaints from surrounding
homes of unpleasant odors. Additionally, the previous
method of using an open asphalt drying bed to
evaporate the water from the sludge was only effective
in the summer months.
BBARWA decided to devise a new system that
would be more effective, more efficient and would
reduce the odor complaints.
The Innovative SolutionBased on the idea of an enclosed building with
a heated slab, a new concept began to take shape.
BBARWA Plant Manager Fred Uhler contacted a Viega
Radiant Sales Manager and District Manager to discuss
the viability of the concept − an enclosed, ventilated
building with a heated slab for the sludge to dry on.
Since the facility produces its own electricity with three
diesel generators, the water flowing through the slab
would be heated with a heat exchanger in one of the
generator’s exhaust, making it an efficient co-generation
system. The new system was projected to save up to
$200,000 per year in transportation and fuel costs.
Once the project was approved, Viega Radiant
Design Services went to work on the specifics of the
slab heating system design, focusing on what would be
required to generate enough heat from the slab to meet
the sludge-drying objectives. Viega design engineers
used finite element analysis to determine the optimum
tubing size, spacing and install-depth in the slab based
on the water temperature supplied from the diesel
generator’s exhaust. Due to the shape and size of the
heated slab, it was clear that this project was an
excellent application for Viega’s revolutionary radiant
mat system. Viega Radiant Design Services provided a
list of the necessary materials, which would allow the
Viega mat system to be embedded in the slab of the
new 315-foot-by-60-foot covered drying bed building.
Installation of the Viega radiant mat system and
distribution manifolds was completed in less than one
day in January 2014. The contractors were impressed
with the speed and ease of installation of the Viega
radiant mat, as well as its quality of material and design.
They also appreciated the support provided by Viega
throughout the entire process, from design to
installation. With the Viega mat and manifolds installed,
the system was pressurized, the slab was poured, and
construction of the metal building that would be built on
it began the following week.
The Incredible ResultsThe covered drying bed building was completed
and went into operation in June 2014. While many
U.S. agencies use covered drying beds, using them in
conjunction with a heated slab is unique. Within a few
months, it became clear that this unique application of
radiant heating was a resounding success. In late 2014,
BBARWA Plant Manager Fred Uhler reported that the
system was performing beyond expectations and even
better in the low-humidity winter months. Additionally,
the project received the California Water Association
Desert Mountain Award for Innovation.
While conventional radiant heating and snow melting
projects are everyday business for the Viega ProRadiant
team, projects like the Big Bear Area Regional
Wastewater Agency covered drying bed are prime
examples of how Viega can design and deliver
innovative solutions that improve people’s lives, reduce
energy usage and help protect the environment.
A custom designed Viega ProRadiant system was installed in a drying bed building for a wastewater agency in California.
v i e g a v o i c e • w w w . v i e g a . u s 2 7
I t’s difficult enough to plumb a new
house, but how about a home
that’s more than 50 years old? Sure,
it depends on the house, but it also
depends on the system solution
being installed.
I had the opportunity to answer that question while
working on a job site where a 1960s-era house
desperately needed new plumbing.
The house had been
experiencing many leaks
with the current copper
piping. The homeowner
had tried over the years
to repair the leaks himself
but they kept appearing.
The house’s piping system
needed to be completely
replaced but it couldn’t be
done the same way it had
been done before.
Due to the harsh water
conditions in the area,
repiping the house in
copper wouldn’t solve the
problem. The harsh water
would continue to wear the copper down and would be
leaking again in a few years, so the homeowner decided
to pipe the house with ViegaPEX Ultra tubing, which
is more resistant to corrosion than copper. The install
team and I slapped on our safety equipment and started
removing the copper pipe. It was not an easy task, but
every piece of leaking pipe that was taken out was a
celebration, knowing the homeowner would no longer
have to worry about leaks that could flood his home.
Once the copper pipe was removed, we installed
the Viega ManaBloc homerun water distribution system
along with ViegaPEX Ultra tubing. We mounted the
Viega ManaBloc in the finished portion of the home’s
basement, close to the water heater and water
softener for ease of access for the homeowner. Once
the Viega ManaBloc was set, we ran tubing to each
fixture. Since the tubing is available in multiple colors,
we were able to run different lines at the same time
without getting them confused.
In a traditional installation, repiping a house could
take a day or more, but
with Viega products an
installer can finish a whole
house in a few hours.
Teamwork makes this
process fast, so the
homeowner still occupied
the house and his wife and
kids were able to go about
their day as normal.
Repiping a home with
ViegaPEX Ultra tubing
provides tremendous
efficiencies for plumbers
during installation as well
as for homeowners after
the project is done.
According to the homeowner, there have been no leaks
since the installation.
Another advantage to the homerun water distribution
method is the reduction of wait time for hot water, which
can be done by using ⅜" tubing to the low demand
fixtures such as lavatories.
The speed at which we were able to repipe the
house was phenomenal. We were able to provide the
homeowner with greater efficiencies on water and
energy, as well as with peace of mind.
NO MORE LEAKS FOR KANSAS HOMEOWNERPaige Riddle, Product Manager, Viega LLC
The Viega ManaBloc makes repiping a house easier and more reliable than traditional methods.
2 8 v i e g a v o i c e • J U L Y 2 0 1 5
Back row (left to right): Dave Garlow | CEO Dave Logsdon | West Region
Scott Rea | Northwest Region
Andrew Richards | New England Region
Garry Miller | Southeast Region
Ryan Olsen | West Region
Dalyn Cantrell | VP of Sales and Marketing
Front Row (left to right):
Vaughan Latham | Midwest Region
Casey Blew | Inside Sales
Jaime Gomez | Central Region
M ore than 200 sales professionals and other
VIPs gathered for Viega LLC’s National Sales
Meeting to hear about Viega’s vision for the future. It is
the one time of year that Viega’s sales team and all of
its employees have the opportunity to celebrate their
success together and hear about the future of the
company from the leaders themselves.
These discussions and vision will take the U.S.,
along with the other markets, to new heights. Plans
for the U.S. to embark into new industries, advanced
applications and major success stories were just a
fraction of the news Viega employees took away from
this gathering.
Product updates and sales tactics also play a role in
the sales meeting, with Viega's industry experts leading
the charge during detailed workshop groups. A highly
organized and well-attended event, many employees
spend a great deal of time making this a worthwhile trip
for attendees.
Top Gun Award WinnersEach year Viega recognizes the top sales
associates in the company. At the 2015 National Sales
Meeting, Viega Vice President of Sales and Marketing
Dalyn Cantrell recognized eight of them for outstanding
achievements in 2014.
“The Top Gun winners are chosen through a process
each year that includes nomination by their peers,
exemplifying the Viega core values and, of course,
increased sales," Cantrell said. “This year’s winners
worked very hard to earn this prestigious award and
placement in the elite group of Top Gun recipients.”
The Viega sales team is known around the world for
providing dedicated support and individual customer
service. Viega Top Gun Awards are given to sales team
members who have gone above and beyond the
expectations of their peers and upper management.
THE BEST OF THE BEST: VIEGA TOP GUN WINNERS
v i e g a v o i c e • w w w . v i e g a . u s 2 9
W hether you need a refresher or are new to
the game, training is an essential part of
performing at your best in the field.
Manufacturers are the best teaching resource
for their own system solutions because they are
the inventors. Although the simplicity of Viega
products is one of its selling points, becoming
familiar with the tools will help reduce time and
create confidence on the job.
Viega consistently offers training opportunities
at the educational facility in Nashua, NH as well
as on the job site and in the office. The technical
services team will be part of an open house
from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Aug. 7. Learn about
the training opportunities available and enter to
win great prizes at the Viega Educational Facility
Open House in Nashua, NH. Call 877-843-4262
for more information.
LEARN FROM THE BESTTRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
Register for classes at viega.us/training
3 0 v i e g a v o i c e • J U L Y 2 0 1 5
TECHTALKViega Tech Talk Experts Jason Allison, Jacob Demars and David Melendy
Are there any advantages to using Viega
zone valves compared to using traditional
zone valves?
Yes. One advantage is the on/off indicator on
top of the valve. When the valve is open, a
cylinder on top of the power head will rise up.
The cylinder is color-coded blue, which makes
it easy to see that the zone valve is open. Also,
unlike traditional zone valves, Viega zone valves
offer several different connection methods. There
is a solder by Viega PEX Press zone valve, which
eliminates the need for additional copper by
PEX adapters. We also offer a Viega ProPress
by ProPress zone valve that makes installing the
valve in your hydronic heating system simple and
efficient. Lastly, the Viega ProPress by PEX Press
zone valve makes the transition from copper to
PEX cost effective. It is also important to note
that all of our zone valves use a reliable 24-volt
powerhead with an end switch, which many
traditional zone valves also use. The end switch
allows you to call your boiler on or activate a
pump and boiler relay. If you choose not to use
the end switch at all, the two red wires can be left
disconnected and available for future use. Viega
zone valves provide quality and simplicity for your
hydronic heating needs.
What does Viega offer for residential fire
protection projects?
Viega offers a complete line of UL-listed fittings
for use in NFPA 13, 13R and 13D fire sprinkler
systems. Our newest addition for residential
PEX fire protection systems is an innovative and
versatile installation bracket along with Viega
PEX Press fittings in high-performance polymer.
This new product offering can be mounted in
various configurations to accommodate nearly
any type of sprinkler installation. Simply choose
the type of sprinkler that is to be installed and
orient the bracket appropriately. Mounting the
bracket flush with the bottom of the floor joist
will position the fitting at the appropriate rough-
in dimension. This feature makes the installation
simple and efficient for the installer. Viega also
offers a selection of metal press fittings for
NFPA 13, 13R and 13D fire sprinkler systems.
Viega ProPress for copper and 304 stainless and
Viega MegaPress for black iron are included in
our complete line of UL-listed products. These
products offer reliable and consistent connections
in a variety of materials that can be utilized in
any fire protection installation. Not only can
Viega offer system solutions, but we also offer a
residential fire protection design service for our
PEX solutions. Our design service implements
the best industry practices to ensure smooth and
efficient installation from start to finish. Whether
you need expert design help or quality products
to install your system, Viega has the solution.
Can the ViegaPEX Barrier radiant tubing be
used in a potable water application?
ViegaPEX Barrier can be used in potable
water applications as it is made to the same
standards as our ViegaPEX Ultra tubing. The
ViegaPEX Barrier tubing features an additional
layer of EVOH oxygen barrier, which is intended
to prevent oxygen infiltration into closed-loop
heating and chilled water systems. All ViegaPEX
tubing is listed to both the NSF-61 and NSF-14
standards for use in or connected to a potable
water system.
v i e g a v o i c e • w w w . v i e g a . u s 3 1
305_EN_0715_1
VIEGAVOICEViega LLC 100 North Broadway, 6th FloorWichita, KS 67202
Return address requested
©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.
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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
July 2015
Director of Marketing
Kevin C. Fox
Marketing Manager
Tim Allbritten
Creative Marketing Manager
Bob Ale-Ebrahim
Marketing Coordinator
Roberta Rickard
Graphic Designers
Jason Green
Nicole Mandina
Content Marketing Editor
Kristin Marlett
Contributing Authors
Tim Allbritten, Jason Allison,
Robert Boots, Jim Erhardt,
Dave Garlow, Kristin Marlett,
Bob Miodonski, Paige Riddle,
Amy Williams
Contributing Photographers
Brandon Chauncey,
Darren Decker, Jason Green,
Jim Oertle, Skott Snider
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