President's Message Cht Update
MAY 2008 teca News
• The newsletter of the Thermal Environmental Comfort Association • Volume 2 No. 2
teca News
President’s Message
Meeting the challenge of new technology
thermal
With the inherent benefi ts of new technology also come challenges.
environmental
As a trade and association we need to keep abreast of the new
comfort association
advances in our industry and make sure that our members and the
In This Issue
training institutions are keeping up with the pace of technology.
President’s Message
1
We are seeing a rapid increase in new developments from Hi-Eff
equipment to Solar and Geothermal applications. Also aff ected is
CHT Update
1
the way these systems interrelate and communicate with the end
From the Offi
ce
3
user. Sophisticated controls such as Internet and computer-based
systems that allow the user to interface through their computers
Spring Training Schedule
4
and touch screens in any location are becoming common place.
Basics of Air: Excerpt
6
Your customer is now capable of interacting with his heating
Member Meeting Schedule 8
or cooling system from remote locations via the internet, and
at the same time you as a trade can monitor your customer's
Energy Effi
ciency Standards
system providing almost instant diagnosis of faults. All of these
Regulation: Update
8
advances will require more training. Our industry is like any other,
continuously evolving. Unless we are committed to keeping up with
RadiantLink Mixed System 10
the advances in technology we are surely going to be left behind.
Positive Changes to
Training and certifi cation become even more essential as technology
ecoENERGY Program
13
advances. Your association is in the forefront of these issues and
Forced Air Zoning Comes
with the support of its members and industry we can ensure a
of Age
14
viable and profi table trade in which to be employed.
—Pat Maguire, President
Current TECA Members
18
CHT Update
Accelerated program a huge success!
TECA AGM June 5, 2008
Attention all Voting Members!
Thank you to all the industry contractors who expressed interest
T h e 2 n d A n n u a l G e n e r a l
and participated in the CHT/CGT accelerated program to earn
Meeting of the Members of the
credit for Module A. Both classes were fi lled to capacity with a
Th
ermal Environmental Comfort
waitlist of more than 40 individuals.
Association of BC (TECA) will be
Th
e course ran for eight consecutive Saturdays. One started January
held at the Executive Plaza Hotel,
19, 2008, the second March 29, 2008. Th
e program brushed
405 North Road, Coquitlam, BC,
contractors up on their technical skills while preparing them for
starting at 5:30pm on Th
ursday,
the ITA Certifi ed Heating Technician Module A exam. Course fees
June 5, 2008. See pages 8 & 9 for
were waived and text books were provided free-of-charge.
meeting details & proxy forms.
Cont'd on page 2
teca News 1
teca News MAY 2008
teca News
CHT Update continued
Published 3 times a year by the
We are trying to off er at least one additional class in the fall of 2008 so
Th
ermal Environmental Comfort
for those on the waitlist, thank you for your patience. Please feel free
Association of BC.
to pass this information on to others within your company and in the
©TECA 2008
All rights reserved. Reprints by permission only.
industry as we want to ensure widespread participation.
Editor and Production: Anita Rathje
To be part of the CHT/CGT program, go to www.heatingtech.ca,
Contributors to this issue include:
or call Kim Savage at 604-596-0595 or e-mail execdir@teca.ca. To
Simon Blake, Einar Halbig, David Hill,
date, more than 150 individuals have registered to earn their CHT
Murdoch MacPherson, Don McAdam, Pat
designation.
Maguire, Anita Rathje, Kim Savage.
Under construction—development of hydronic
Copy and Advertising Deadlines
Aug 1—Dec 1—April 1
and forced air CHT training modules
Advertising Rates
TECA Member Others
With more than 150 individuals seeking out CHT training, TECA
1/4 page .........................$140...............$175
in partnership with ITA and RCITO are currently developing the
1/3 page .........................$185...............$230
1/2 page .........................$275...............$350
curriculum and learning resources for the CHT hydronic and forced
Full page ........................$550...............$700
air modules.
Spot colour 1/2 page ......$325...............$425
Spot colour Full page......$675...............$850
“It’s an exciting time as the industry defi nes and shapes what apprentices
Spot colour Cover ..........$750...............$950
Rate Sheets available online at www.teca.ca in the
will learn in their technical training. Th
ese modules truly prepare
newsletter section or by contacting the offi
ce.
students for their apprenticeships,” states Patrick Maguire, TECA
President.
teca 2007/2008 First Directors
Kim Savage with RCITO and TECA elaborates, “Th
is is a crucial
Executive
period for the CHT program. Th
e momentum has been building and
President
we have industry on board. Educational institutes are supportive of the
Pat Maguire ............ IPEX Inc
program, contractors and individuals are particpating in the training
Vice President
and the remaining modules are being developed to deliver specialized
Terry Regier ............ ECCO Heating Products
Secretary
instruction in either Hydronics or Forced Air. Th
e industry is so close
Roger Menard ......... MPH Supply
to realizing its goal of a fully functioning provincial training program
Treasurer
and credential.”
Andrew Dyck .......... Barclay Sales
Directors
It is expected in the fall of 2008 that both the Forced Air and Hydronics
Gary Fabbro ............ EMCO Corporation
modules will be off ered in pilot. As with the pilot of Module A, course
David Hill ............... Eneready Products
Rob Marchiori ........ RAM Mechanical
fees are waived and text books are off ered free-of-charge to those
Scott Miller ............. Integrity Mechanical
particpating in the classes. As soon as more information becomes
Gary Milligan .......... Milligan & Company
available, TECA will post upcoming module off erings both on the
Rob Pope ................ Solace Energy Home Htg
website and through email.
Tim Smith .............. Smith & Sons Hydronics
Jerry Stroppa ........... Townline HVAC & Geo.
Options to earn your designation
Krystal Symons ....... Refrigerative Supply
Leo Vaillancourt ...... Watts Industries Canada
Traditional in-school technical training & apprenticeship program:
A block release model, 6-8 weeks of full-time school depending on the
teca Staff
module then back to work between modules to gain work experience
Kim Savage .........Executive Director
hours. Most appropriate for high school graduates wanting to enter
Kathryn Fallis ......Assoc. Administrator
Anita Rathje ........Editor, TECA News
the trades and/or someone with no experience in the industry.
teca News 2
MAY 2008 teca News
CHT Program Summary
Accelerated/Partial Challenge and apprenticeship program:
Common Core
An accelerated off ering of the technical training modules, part-time Module A (6 weeks)
evenings and weekends to allow existing workers in the fi eld to • Residential Heating Industry
earn certifi cation and gain the technical knowledge necessary. Most • Trades Math
• Workplace Safety
appropriate for someone who already has some work experience in the
• Safe Use and Care of Tools
industry, but requires technical training.
• Plan Reading
• Perform Basic Drafting
Certifi cate of Qualifi cation Challengers program:
• Basics of Framing
An option to challenge the certifi cation by writing a comprehensive • Insulation, Vapour Barriers
and the Building Envelope
exam. If successful, you earn your CHT. Only appropriate for • Fundamentals of Heat Loss/
contractors that have substantial work experience (10 years plus) and
Heat Gain
have taken industry-training programs such as Quality First™.
• Basics of Electrical & Wiring
• Ventilation
Apprenticeship registration forms can be found on ITA's website at • Job Skills
http://www.itabc.ca/forms.php#Apprentices_Trainees_Forms.
Module B: Energy Designation
One or more of:
—Kim Savage, TECA Executive Director
• BCSA Class B Gasfitter
• Domestic/Residential Certified
From the Office
Geothermal Technician
Endorsement
New incentives, new technologies... new staff!
Module C: Hydronics (8 weeks)
A
• Hydronic System Design
s TECA's 2nd annual general meeting swiftly approaches, big • Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV)
changes are afoot at all levels: new provincial regulations and incentive
• Installation Practices
programs, exciting training opportunities, development of a more • Control
• Cross Connection Control
functional, expanded TECA website, and biggest news of all here at • Servicing and Troubleshooting
TECA's offi
ce, a new staff person taking over all the administration.
OR
Beginning May 1st, my role as membership and training administrator in
Module D: Forced Air (7 weeks)
• Calculate Heat Loss/Gain
the Th
ompson-Okanagan offi
ce, and Diane's as fi nancial administrator
According to “Quality 1st
in the Lower Mainland, will be amalgamated in the capable hands of
Forced Air Guidelines”
newcomer Kathryn Fallis out of her home offi
ce in Surrey. By the AGM
• Equipment
in June, where you'll have a chance to meet her in person, Kathryn • Heating System Design
• Ventilation Requirements
will be the sole Association Administrator to serve our members and • Installation and Sheet Metal
training participants, contractors, regulators, and the general public. • System Controls
If you're calling over the summer about fall courses, membership, • Servicing & Troubleshooting
Systems
renewals or sales, please give her a warm welcome!
I will be staying on as editor of TECA News, and Kim as Executive
Contact teca
Director, coordinating the on-going development of the Certifi ed
Kathryn, new TECA offi
ce:
Heating Technician (CHT) program. Th
e two of us will also be working
Phone: 1-888-774-8484
on the re-design of TECA's website. Look for new features—including
(BC Toll Free)
online ordering & registration—coming this fall.
Email: training@teca.ca or
offi
ce@teca.ca
TECA News wants to hear from you! If you have a topic to suggest, a
Check www.teca.ca this
photo or an article to contribute, or a comment on this or past issues,
summer for Kathryn's
please send an e-mail to member@teca.ca, or give us a call.
complete new contact info.
—Anita Rathje, Editor
teca News 3
teca News MAY 2008
2008 Spring Training Schedule
TECA’s Quality First™ training runs from September to June. Visit our website at www.teca.ca in
August for course information, Fall 2008 schedules and registration forms. Courses are scheduled
when enough people express interest and may be cancelled due to lack of enrollment.
If you would like to attend training in your area and do not see a course advertised, contact us to
be put on our notification list:
• Call 1-888-577-3818 or e-mail training@teca.ca.
• Be sure to provide your name, phone number, location and the name of the course you are
interested in, Ventilation or Forced Air. For Hydronics, call BCIT—See pg 5.
• You will receive a registration form by fax or e-mail when a course is scheduled.
Encourage your local inspection authorities to post our latest training schedule and to require
Quality First™ certification for residential heating contractors. Municipalities such as Burnaby,
Township of Langley, Fraser Valley Regional District, Kelowna, and Comox Valley Regional District
already require one or more of Hydronics, Forced Air, and Ventilation numbers.
Quality First™ Forced Air Guidelines
Development of the new manual was funded in part
PENTICTON
by the BC Ministry of Energy, Mines & Petroleum
May 2, 3 & 4 Intensive
Resources under the Energy Effi
cient Buildings: a Plan
(3 days) Fri 8–6, Sat 8–6, Sun 8–3
for BC program.
Seats may still be available—Call now.
If you took the course prior to October 2006 when
the new material was added, you may wish to purchase
TECA’s Quality First™ Forced Air Guidelines course the 5th Edition of the Forced Air Guidelines manual
trains to the minimum standard for residential gas- to review. Th e Upgrade course is no longer off ered.
fi red forced air furnace installation, including room-
by-room heat loss and heat gain for systems with Please visit www.teca.ca for course pricing and
A/C coils and heat pumps; equipment selection to registration forms, and order forms for our manuals
heat loss requirements for furnaces, A/C coils, and and companion Quality First™ software.
heat pumps; and duct sizing and layout to selected Evening and intensive Forced Air Guidelines courses in
equipment capacity for standard and low pressure the Lower Mainland, the Okanagan and on Vancouver
systems. Cost: $625, TECA members pay $525.
Island resume in late September.
Quality First™ Ventilation Guidelines
TECA’s Quality FirstTM Ventilation Guidelines course
KELOWNA
trains to the new 2006 BC Building Code requirements,
May 26 Intensive
Section 9.32 Ventilation. Includes HRVs and make-
Monday, 8:30–5:30
up air for large kitchen appliances.
Registration Deadline: May 12th
Successful participants of the one-day course receive
KAMLOOPS
a certifi cate, wallet card, and numbered stamp for use
Dates TBA: either May 31 or June 7
on TECA’s Mechanical Ventilation Checklists. Cost:
Saturday, 8:30–5:30
$375, TECA members pay $300.
Registration Deadline: May 16th
Ventilation Guidelines courses resume in October.
TECA Voting Members and all their employees get member discounts on TECA’s
training courses and products. Join the Association and save on training.
teca News 4
MAY 2008 teca News
Quality First™ Hydronic Systems
Replacement Parts
Design at BCIT (PPGS-1140)
for Saskatoon-built vanEE®, ENEREADY vanEE®
and ENEREADY™ Heat Recovery Ventilators
BURNABY CAMPUS, Summer 2008
June 9–13
fan motor kits
Monday to Friday (5 days), 7:30–3:00
sponge
gaskets
Contact BCIT: Paula Rossetti, Piping Dept
604-412-7564 or Paula_Rossetti@bcit.ca
http://www.bcit.ca/study/courses/ppgs1140
damper motor kits
Successful BCIT course participants will be
mailed (or e-mailed) a Hydronic Systems
Designer Number Registration Form from TECA
standard
approximately four weeks after the course ends,
filters
based on the contact info you provide on your
exam. Registered Designer stamps are used on
system drawings from TECA’s Hydronic Guidelines
for submission to inspection authorities.
pleated
Already a registered designer? Current designers,
filters
please call TECA to update your contact info, to
ensure you appear in the new national, searchable
ENEREADY PRODUCTS LTD.
#4 - 6420 Beresford Street • Burnaby
Hydronic Designers online database being
British Columbia CANADA • V5E 1B6
developed by the Canadian Hydronics Council.
Telephone: 604-433-5697 • Fax: 604-438-8906
SEE
www.rsl.ca
Please Call For
HOW
More Information:
QUALITY
QU
Krystal Symons
WILL
604-944-0441
BUILD
YOUR
Y
BUSINESS!
teca News 5
teca News MAY 2008
Quality First™ Basics of Air
Excerpt from "Rectangular Fitting Loss Table", Basics of Air manual
The Basics of Air Technical Committee reports excellent progress in course development. Below is an
excerpt from the soon-to-be-released manual. TECA plans to have the course completed in time for
the Fall 2008 training season. Everyone on our lengthy wait list will be notifi ed when TECA classes are
scheduled. Th
ank you for your patience. Look for course info in the September issue of TECA News.
Equivalent Lengths of Drop Elbows
All air duct fi ttings, especially those which change
airfl ow direction, generate much more air fl ow
resistance than idenitical size straight duct. Th
e
eff ect can be compared to how many feet of straight
smooth duct would create 'equivalent' resistance.
R†
Here are two common examples of rectangular
elbows, (of seven discussed in Basics) typically used
Centreline Radius, r
Throat Radius, R† = 6"
at the return air connection to a furnace located in
Sharp Throat
Round Throat
Radiused Heel
Sharp Heel
the basement.
8x8
31 feet
13 feet
As you can see, one single sharp throat elbow, even
x12 35
14
with a radiused heel, has equivalent reistance to a
x14 36
16
duct run the full length of a large house.
x20 41
18
x24 43
19
Source: ASHRAE "Duct Fitting Database" 2006 V4.0
x32 50
21
at 1000 ft/min
Hydronic Heating Specialists
We've been in the business for 100 years as British Columbia's leading wholesaler of plumbing supplies and fixtures and we're proud to
have been named one of Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies for the fourth consecutive year. Join us! Take your first step towards a
challenging, profitable and satisfying career. We have immediate openings at our Burnaby, BC branch for Hydronic Heating Specialists.
The job involves:
· providing technical expertise and assistance with product selection; preparing quotes
· preparing heat losses for commercial and residential buildings
· providing high quality customer service
Qualifications:
· an approach to customer service that upholds our tradition of excellence
· excellent interpersonal skills and communication skills
· strong organization skills and the ability to handle multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
· hydronics design course or equivalent wholesale industry experience
BCP employees enjoy a competitive salary package, excellent benefits and pension plans, and other position-related benefits and
incentives. If you are interested in joining our team, please quote Job #BCP0828-01 and send us a detailed resume to:
B.C. Plumbing Supplies
7975 Enterprise Street
Burnaby, BC V5A 1V5
Fax (604) 444-2009
Email: hr@bcplbg.com
www.bcplumbing.com
While we thank all candidates for their interest, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
teca News 6
MAY 2008 teca News
teca News 7
teca News MAY 2008
Member Meeting Schedule, Spring 2008
Please join TECA for our fi nal two technical Doors & cash bar open at 5:30pm. Dinner is served
presentations of the season, at the Executive Plaza at 6:30 and the presentation begins at 7:30pm.
Hotel, 405 North Road, Coquitlam. TECA will NEW in 2008, we have up to two display tables
once again request your top choices for presenters available for rent by suppliers or manufacturers at our
with a new poll this June. Please see David Hill member meetings. A great opportunity to showcase
at the next meeting if you have ideas for Fall '08 new technology! Please call us for more information.
presentations. And don't forget, June's meeting is
our AGM! See the proxy form opposite.
Association Membership
May 1: “Refrigeration: Heat Pump & Air
This spring, our member suppliers across the
Conditioning Equipment” a crash course by
province are displaying TECA brochures and
Krystal Symons, Refrigerative Supply Ltd.
newsletters to promote participation in the
June 5: “Thermal Comfort” by Jennifer
Association. Current members, promote TECA and
Sanguinetti, PEng, Stantec Consulting. Preceded
reap the rewards of our referral credits program! Not
by our Annual General Meeting–Be there!
a member? Give us a call or check out the display
Remember to RSVP by the Friday before at your local supplier to fi nd out more about the
the meeting!
benefi ts of membership for your company and the
activities your membership supports.
To attend, reserve your seat using the RSVP
form. Tickets for the presentation and dinner are Has your membership lapsed? Check out the list
$30 if you pay in advance by credit card on your of current TECA Members on page 18, and call
RSVP form, or you may hold your seat and pay us to re-issue your renewal invoice if you don't see
$35 at the door. Voting members are sent RSVP your company on the list. Remember, only current,
notices by e-mail or fax. You can also fi nd the forms 2008 TECA Voting members can nominate and
online at www.teca.ca in What’s New.
vote at our AGM on June 5th.
Energy Efficiency Standards Regulation
Update—Gas and propane forced air furnaces for new construction
On March 27th, the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources (MEMPR) issued an updated
information circular as follows: "A new mandatory minimum furnace effi
ciency requirement has taken
eff ect on January 1, 2008 for new residential, commercial and institutional construction under the
provincial Energy Effi
ciency Act and the Energy Effi
ciency Standards Regulation.
Products aff ected are: Gas-fi red forced air furnaces, other than furnaces for recreational vehicles and
replacement furnaces in pre-existing residential dwellings, for use with propane and natural gas having
input rating less than 66 kilowatts (225 000 BTU/h). Such products must achieve an Annual Fuel
Utilization Effi
ciency (AFUE) equal to or greater than 90%, as tested under the standard CGA P.2-91...
Th
is circular is to indicate that compliance with the regulation will be monitored for building permits
taken out on, or after April 4, 2008.
Suppliers can demonstrate compliance with the standard by ensuring that the product is listed in the
Natural Resources Canada furnace database, and that the database indicates an AFUE equal to, or greater
than 90%.... Concerns about compliance can be reported directly to the Ministry."
teca News 8
MAY 2008 teca News
teca Annual General Meeting Notice
Thermal Environmental Comfort Association of BC
BC Toll Free Tel: 1-888-577-3818 Fax: 1-888-577-3137 Email: member@teca.ca
Notice is hereby given that the 2nd Annual General Meeting of the Members of the Th
ermal
Environmental Comfort Association of BC (TECA) will be held at the Executive Plaza
Hotel, 405 North Road, Coquitlam, BC, from 5:30 pm to 9 pm on Th
ursday, June 5, 2008.
If you are a Voting Member in good standing and unable to attend the AGM, you may still nominate
someone to stand for the Board and you may still vote by Proxy, only by using the forms below. Th
ese
forms are also available in PDF from the Members section of our website, www.teca.ca. Please mail, fax,
or e-mail these forms—or your RSVP form if attending in person—to TECA by Friday, May 30th.
Member Nomination Form
Speak to the person you wish to nominate to the TECA Board of Directors and secure their consent to
stand. If they will not be in attendance at the AGM, get written consent and return with this form.
A second will be solicited at the AGM. Please print legibly:
I
hereby
Nominate
of
Name
Company
to stand for election to the 2007 Board of Directors of the Th
ermal Environmental Comfort Association of BC.
Nominated by
(Your
Name:
Please
Print)
Signature
Notice of Proxy Voting
Secure permission of the person you name to vote on your behalf. Confi rm they 1) will be attending
the AGM and 2) are the Voting member of a TECA member company. Current member lists and
contact information are posted on our website at www.teca.ca.
I hereby consent to give my proxy to vote on behalf of myself to:
of
Name
Company
At the 2007 Annual General Meeting of the Th
ermal Environmental Comfort Association of BC.
Your
name
(Please
Print)
Signature
Volunteer for your industry. Stand for nomination to the TECA Board!
Th
e TECA Board of Directors shape policy and serve on Board Committees. Expect to volunteer a
minimum of 5 hours per month. If you would like to stand for nomination, please contact a Nomination
Committee member:
Scott Miller of Integrity Mechanical:
778.889.7418
scottmiller@integritymechanical.ca
Jerry Stroppa Townline HVAC & Geo:
604.454.4678
townlinehvac@yahoo.com
Terry Regier of ECCO Heating Products: 604. 420.4323
terryr.bby@eccohtg.com
teca News 9
teca News MAY 2008
RadiantLink Mixed System
—by Murdoch MacPherson, P.Eng, MacPherson Engineering
RadiantLink is a closed-loop system conceived horizontally at the top of the plenum uses supply
in Western Canada that uses a residential furnace air from the furnace to heat a glycol solution
as the heat source for supplementary basement & fl owing through the tubes. Th
e coil is designed
garage radiant fl oor heating. Th
e result is a hybrid
to ARI standards and is custom manufactured
forced air furnace/hydronic system that is simple, to minimize the air pressure drop across it. Th
e
aff ordable and energy effi
cient.
plenum is sized to accommodate an “A” coil if the
house is equipped with air-conditioning.
Th
e system includes the furnace-coil plenum
that is installed on top of the furnace and a wall-
Th
e coil is piped to the radiant fl oor manifolds that
mounted control panel that houses a circulation would be installed as part of a typical radiant fl oor
pump, expansion tank, air vent, relief valve and installation. Manifold zone valves and thermostats
zone controller. A multi-row fi n-tube coil mounted
are wired back to the panel zone controller and
will start the circulation pump if any zones call for
heat.
Th
e furnace is installed and ducted as it typically
would be, with the addition of the RadiantLink
plenum. Th
e furnace thermostat is installed on the
main fl oor where it would normally be located. It is
still the primary means of controlling the furnace,
with RadiantLink serving as a secondary means of
distributing a portion of the heat developed by the
furnace.
RadiantLink is most commonly used in new
residential construction to alleviate wintertime cold
and damp concrete basement and garage fl oors.
It can also be used as the heat source for radiant
bathroom and kitchen fl oors and as a means for
heating additions and solariums using an existing
furnace.
RadiantLink is less costly than boiler systems and
is simpler to install and maintain. Radiantlink
compares in cost but provides a superior alternative
to “open” radiant fl oor systems that use domestic
water heaters as the heat source as it is not connected
to and cannot not contaminate or freeze the potable
water system. RadiantLink is also far more energy
effi
cient than most water heater systems as its heat
source is generally a condensing high-effi
ciency
furnace.
Gilroy Showhome—Side View
teca News 10
MAY 2008 teca News
The result is a hybrid forced air furnace/hydronic system
that is simple, affordable and energy efficient.
“
”
RadiantLink is also eff ective in the summer time
as a means of distributing passive cooling from
the basement and garage slabs to the rest of the
house.
RadiantLink is currently available to qualifi ed
mechanical contractors from HVAC Sales in Regina
(306-721-7980) and is looking for interested
British Columbia distributors/wholesalers to
market and distribute the product.
For further information, visit the website at www.
embodiedenergy.ca or call Murdoch MacPherson
directly at 306-586-7972.
One of three partners who developed this product,
Murdoch gave a presentation on RadiantLink to
TECA members at our April 3rd meeting.
Gilroy Showhome—Inside View
teca News 11
teca News MAY 2008
teca News 12
MAY 2008 teca News
Positive Changes to ecoENERGY Grant Program
—by Einar Halbig, E3 Eco Group Inc.
Here’s the scoop on the recent changes to the ecoENERGY program:
Th
e basics: starting immediately the initial evaluation costs are fully subsidized, and BC has added more
grant money to the existing Federal money for work done after April 1, 2008.
More details:
LiveSmart BC
1) As of Feb 19, 2008, all “pre-retrofi t” evaluations
Homes account for one third of British
are charged at $150.00 to the homeowner
Columbia’s total greenhouse gas emissions.
A new three-year, $60 million LiveSmart BC:
2) If the homeowner performs upgrades and has the
Effi
ciency Incentive Program will help British
“post-retrofi t” evaluation done then the homeowner
Columbians reduce both their carbon footprint
will be reimbursed the $150.00 paid for the pre-
and their energy costs through incentives to
retrofi t evaluation by the BC government. Th
is will make their homes more energy effi cient. Th e
happen automatically when the evaluator submits
LiveSmart BC: Effi
ciency Incentive Program
the grant application for the homeowner.
will give homeowners access to rebates for audits
3) Upgrade work performed after April 1, 2008 and energy effi ciency incentives.
qualifi es for additional grant money under the Incentives will be announced soon. A detailed
“LiveSmart BC” program—details to be announced
table showing BC and federal incentives and
soon. (See inset.)
PST exemptions will be posted on www.gov.
bc.ca/empr (click on 'LiveSmart BC: Effi
ciency
4) Th
e LiveSmart BC money will not apply to
Incentive Program') when it becomes available.
any upgrades done prior to April 1, 2008. Only
Funding for this program runs until March 31,
work performed after April 1 qualifi es. Neither
2011.
the subsidy for the pre-retrofi t evaluation nor the
LiveSmart money will be retroactively applied to
Th
e LiveSmart BC: Effi
ciency Incentive
evaluations or work already performed.
Program also includes energy evaluations for
small businesses, and low income housing. Th
ese
5) Th
e cost of the post-retrofi t evaluation will remain
components will be launched in the coming
at $175.00 plus GST unless the LiveSmartBC months.
programs adds a signifi cant amount of time to the
Th
e program will help BC achieve its target of
post-retrofi t evaluations.
reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 33 per cent
As always, advise your clients that the pre-retrofi t
below current levels by 2020 and 80 per cent
evaluation must be performed before anything has
below current levels by 2050. It also supports
been dismantled or removed from the house. Under
the conservation and energy effi
ciency goals set
the new program NRCan requires more photos and
out in the BC Energy Plan: A Vision for Clean
documentation, requiring the evaluator to ensure
Energy Leadership.
he/she is there before changes are made.
Th
is website gives directions to obtain an energy
Th
e LiveSmart BC incentives will give a big boost
evaluation, get work done and receive a rebate. As
to the existing Federal ecoENERGY program. the LiveSmart BC program expands, so will this
Th
e enhanced program will be very attractive website to provide a wide range of information
to homeowners considering an upgrade to their on carbon-neutral lifestyles.
heating system.
For more info, call 1-866-430-8765
teca News 13
teca News MAY 2008
Forced Air Zoning Comes of Age
New equipment offers unprecedented comfort with minimum complexity
—by Simon Blake
This article originally appeared in the September/October 2007 edition of Plumbing & HVAC
Product News. Thanks to Simon Blake, Editor, for permission to reprint here.
“Complicated” is one of the nicer words that dampers have dramatically changed the way zoning
contractors have used to describe the installation of is applied.
zoned residential forced air systems. Th
e others are Th is equipment addresses the major problem with
unprintable. Many have sworn “never again” after zoning forced air in the past—the diffi culty in
struggling with single-stage heating, bypass dampers, delivering small amounts of heat when only one
complex wiring and master/slave thermostats. zone is calling.
However, new technologies are changing that.
“If you are building a system from scratch, there’s
“Really, it’s the new equipment that has made no reason why, if a customer wants an exact
zoning work,” reports contractor Peter Messenger, temperature somewhere, that they can’t have it,”
co-owner of A1 Air Conditioning & Heating in says Messenger.
Oakville, Ont.
Th
e software and variable speed blower motor do
Microprocessor controlled zoning panels, multi- much to balance out the intermediate seasons, where
stage heating and cooling equipment and specialized the demand for cooling or heating is small, that
have been a problem in the past. “Th
ere is no need
for a bypass damper. It will use the variable speed of
the furnace fan motor to supply the amount of air
required for whatever zones are calling,” he added.
Today’s computerized zoning panels can also
control humidity, ventilation and other indoor air
quality factors. On the West Coast, “there’s such a
demand for heat pumps, you are now seeing heat
pump panels or all-in-one panels that will do the
heat pump and up to three stages of heating and
cooling,” reports Andrew Dyck of Barclay Sales
Ltd., Port Coquitlam, B.C., a distributor of Zone
First systems.
Design and planning
Th
e design and planning stage is critical. It’s
important to talk to the homeowner and fi nd out
what they are trying to achieve. “Is the homeowner
most interested in comfort or saving money (on
energy)? With a zoning system it is either/or,”
said Mark Schilling, residential trade leader for
Honeywell, Scarborough, Ont.
Today’s controls (Carrier Infinity pictured) are
dramatically easier to program.
teca News 14
MAY 2008 teca News
Like any heating system, an accurate heat loss on
the home is a critical fi rst step. Equipment must be
sized correctly and with zoning in mind. When only
one zone is calling for heat, an oversized furnace
will quickly short cycle.
Probably the second step is to decide how to
divide the home. Again, the homeowner will have
signifi cant input, but it’s important not to get
carried away with too many zones. On most houses,
dividing by fl oor and then by most occupied areas
makes more sense than zoning each room.
On a simple ranch-style house, for example, the
bedrooms may be at one end while the living area
is at the other. Simply dividing the house in half
may be adequate, says Dyck.
Unlike with a conventional system, each duct
must fl ow enough air to fully heat/cool the zone it
serves with all other ducts closed. Sealing the ducts
becomes critically important.
Dampers should be as close to the trunk—or the Keep it simple, advises Peter Messenger. In his own
plenum—as possible. Th
is allows better control, home, two trunk ducts (upper right) supply two zones.
better access for service, reduces noise and
minimizes leakage. “If you can keep the dampers or cold, causing overheating or freezing up of the
in the mechanical room, that’s great.” Access doors equipment. Sensors should be installed to shut
should be provided where not possible.
down the equipment when either condition exists.
Where a bypass is ducted into the return air, it is Simple wiring
important that the air isn’t coming back too hot Complex wiring created many headaches for
contractors on earlier systems. Today’s systems, with
components that are designed to work together,
are simple “a, b, c, d” connections or “plug-and-
play,” often with telephone jack or “snap” type
connectors.
And because the equipment communicates through
the zoning panel, setup and troubleshooting is now
primarily a matter of confi guring the software rather
than changing components.
Th
e new Honeywell panel, for example, includes
a “digital checkout” that allows the technician to
check operation in each zone at the panel rather
Today’s zoning panels, like this one from Honeywell, than having to run upstairs.
are dramatically easier to wire.
Cont'd on page 16
teca News 15
teca News MAY 2008
There’s no reason why, if a customer wants an exact temperature
somewhere, that they can’t have it.
“
”
Th
e components of the Carrier Infi nity system “talk said Dyck. “I wish I could fi nd the magic pill that
to each other,” making setup dramatically easier will help contractors understand that this will make
than previous generation equipment. “Th
e reason I them money… If the contractor was to off er it on
like it and others that function like it is that they are every HVAC system, he’s probably going to (sell
integrated with the equipment,” adds Messenger.
zoning) on one or two of every ten systems.” And
given the price of homes today, it’s a relatively small
Retrofits
cost for the comfort it adds.
Adding zoning to an existing forced air system has
also become easier thanks to a number of specialized “Th
e way we like to sell it is: (In the summer)
products, reports Schilling.
everybody’s top fl oor is a little too warm, the main
fl oor is just right and the basement is freezing. It’s par
A good candidate for zoning is a home where the for the course around here with new construction
basement is open and the contractor can access style heating and air conditioning. (With zoning),
the ductwork or, at least, the round takeoff s, says you can basically re-duct the basement and control
Messenger. “If the basement is fi nished or partially the top fl oor as if it was a separate system,”says
fi nished, we do zoning but you are really restricted Messenger.
(to zoning by existing trunk duct.)” It’s not perfect,
he adds, but the software with today’s computerized Off ering options—humidity control, an HRV, etc.
equipment really helps in balancing it out.
Another major advance are dampers that fi t into
existing round ducts. Basically just a blade and
motor, they are installed by cutting a hole and
attaching the damper to the duct with screws.
Today’s dampers draw signifi cantly less electricity.
Th
ey can all be connected to one zoning panel
and one transformer. “In a 2,000 sq. ft. home, you
could be looking at 12-18 runs depending how it
was designed… You could put a round damper into
each run if you can’t fi nd an easier way…” added
Schilling.
And variable speed furnace motors overcome
one of the most common problems in retrofi ts –
undersized ducting. “A variable speed motor senses
the static pressure and bumps up the speed,” noted
Dyck.
Selling zoning
Homeowners understand the concept of zoning.
“Th
ey understand that when they fl ip a light
switch, every light in the house doesn’t come on,” Today’s technology allows dampers to be partially
open – it’s no longer all or nothing.
teca News 16
MAY 2008 teca News
—will enhance both the contractor’s profi t and the But success with forced air zoning all boils down
homeowner’s satisfaction with the system, notes to careful design and the correct selection of
Schilling.
equipment. Messenger is very specifi c about the
product he will or won’t use. Zoning is a high-end
Computer control gives a zoned system a number option and he doesn’t expect to make do with an
of other advantages, says Messenger. In the near existing furnace or air conditioner where they don’t
future, he expects homeowners will be able to meet his requirements.
communicate with their HVAC system through the
Internet, allowing them to check temperatures and “When people call us, I tell them that this is what
IAQ, making adjustments from work or when they I’ll put in. If you don’t want to go with this product,
are on vacation.
then I don’t want to do it. It’s expensive, not because
of the zoning, but because you need to have this
“With time shifting (electrical) meters coming furnace and it’s nice to have this air conditioner…”
along, you can tell it to behave diff erently when Today’s government energy effi ciency rebates have
hydro rates are higher or lower. You can set it up made the sale considerably easier, he added.
to get the most effi
ciency or the most comfort, or
somewhere in between… In the past, that would Schilling urges contractors that had bad experiences
have involved changes that only a service tech with early zoning equipment to give the new
could make. Now the homeowner can just go and technology a try. “Th
ey are reluctant to learn. My
reconfi gure the system like they do their personal feeling is that if they did one job and did it right the
computer…”
fi rst time they would do it every time.”
PROVEN RELIABILITY
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE
Tili 13 SEER, R410A Ductless-Split
System Air Conditioners
Features:
Quiet operation
Gentle sleep mode
www.tili-northamerica.com
Multi-directional air fl ow
Dehumidifi er mode
Easy to remove, washable fi lter
Power failure auto-start
Fully functional remote with
24-hour timer
Built-in protection circuitry
Call your local ECCO Sales Branch for more information.
2969 Lake City Way
555 Ardersier Road, Unit A9
19700 Landmark Way
BURNABY, B.C., V5A 2Z6
VICTORIA, B.C., V8Z 1C8
LANGLEY, B.C., V3A 7Z5
Phone: 604-420-4323 Fax: 604-420-6523
Phone: 250-361-3395 Fax: 250-361-3392
Phone: 604-530-9755 Fax: 604-530-7046
Toll Free: 1-800-663-7684
Toll Free: 1-866-361-3226
Toll Free: 1-800-881-3226
www.eccohtg.com
teca News 17
teca News MAY 2008
Current TECA Members Have you renewed for 2008?
101 Industries
Comfort Zone Htg & A/C
Island Energy
R.A. Buzza Heating & A/C
Ace Plumbing & Airtec Htg
Commercial Sheet Metal
J. Wright Plumbing & Heating
RAD Hot Water Mechanical
ACRO Radiant Floor Heating Comprehensive Design Review
Jade West Engineering
Rainbow Mechanical
Advance Installations
Con-Cur West Marketing
JB Sheet Metal
RAM Mechanical
Air Matters Sheet Metal
Conematic Heating Systems
Jensen’s Appliance Service
Rapid Cool Heating &
Airco Heating & Cooling
Coppertec Refrigeration
Joe’s Plumbing & Heating
Refrigeration
Airstream Heating & A/C
Corona Plumbing & Heating
John Mulder Heating
Reach Enterprises
Al Stouff er Enterprises
Cozy Home Heating
John Sadler Mechanical
Refrigerative Supply
Al’s Home Comfort Htg
Crawford Htg & Sheet Metal
Jomaa’s Ventilation
Rehau Industries
Alberni Valley Refrigeration
Custom Metal & Heating
JSA Sales Inc
Reid Brothers Plmbg & Htg
ALDI Services
D. Bauer Mechanical
Julian Mechanical
Roto-Rooters Plumbers
Allied Engineering
Dan D. Heating
Just Gas Ltd.
RPR Heating & A/C
Almar Mechanical
Darin’s Plumbing
JV Gasworks
RSVP Design Services
Alouette Heating & Gas
DHL Mechanical
K-West Mechanical
Salt Spring Sheet Metal
Alpha Home Energy
Dickinson Fab & Sheet Mtl
Kirkland Metal Shop
Sarsons Mechanical Services
Alpine Gas
Don’s Appliance Repair
Klassen Heating
Saxon Mechanical
Ames Metal Fabricators
Ductworks Heating & A/C
Knaps Mechanical
Schulz Sheet Metal
Ampco A/C & Heating
E.G. Heating
Koolen Consultants & Services
Sebco Gas
Andrew Sheret
E.L. Fox & Sons Plmbg & Htg
Kootenay Furnace
Seymour Installations
Applewood Heating & A/C
E3 Eco Group
L & M Plumbing & Heating
Shaper Sheet Metal Ltd
Aquarius Metal Fabricators
Earth GeoEnergy
Lakeview Geotech
Sino Plumbing & Heating
Ark Solar Products
Ecco Heating Products
Latek Gas Fitting
Skyline Plumbing & Gasfi tting
Armaur Plumbing
Econo Heating & A/C
Leask & Company
Smart Choice Plmbg & Htg
Arrow Lakes Mechanical Syst.
Elliott industries
Lew Plumbing & Heating
Smith & Son Hydronics Ltd.
ASA Heating & A/C
EMCO Corporation
Lloyd Paskall
Smith Plumbing & Heating
Aspen Heating & Sheet Metal Emerald Green Bldg Services
Magnum Plumbing & Heating
Snowball Ventures
Astro Plumbing
Ener-Save Mechanical
Maguire Enterprises
Sternig Mechanical
B & J Gas Works
Eneready Products
Majestic Mechanical
Stratton Plumbing & Heating
Barclay Sales
Energywise Technologies
Mannix Heating
Sun Valley HVAC
Bargens Heating
Enertech Heating Centre
Marc Carrier & Sons Htg & Plmbg Super Cool Refrigeration
BC Fireplace Service Inc.
Envirotek Energy Systems
Markey Mechanical
Superior Gas Installations
BC Hydro
Equipco
Marshall Plumbing
Superior Propane
BC Plumbing Supplies
Fast Frost Enterprises
Mayvin Gas & Heat
Superstar Elec., Plmbg & Htg
Benko Mechanical
Fehling’s Sheet Metal
Meer Mechanical
Target Plumbing & Heating
Bennett Sheet Metal
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Mega-Tech Custom Sheet Metal Temp Quest Heating
Big Valley Htg & Sheet Mtl
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Merkel’s Plumbing & Heating
Tempco Refrigeration & A/C
Billco Industries
Flashpoint Climate Solutions
Millstone Htg & Sheet Metal
Terasen Gas
Blair Mechanical
Fraser Valley Htg
Mission Gas Busters
Th
ermo Tec Mechanical Ltd
Bluenose Plumbing & Htg
G.P. Peterson & Son Heating
Mixed Metals Contracting
Th
omas Heating & Electric
Blueridge Engineering
Gandy Installations
Moore & Russell Heating
Th
ompson Heating Ltd
Border Mechanical Services
Gannon Heating
MPH Supply
Th
omson Plumbing & Htg
Bright Star Plumbing
Gatteca Contracting & Design
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Top Group Industries
Bush Sales
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Torry & Sons Plmbg & Htg
Calypso Lane
Geo-Tech Geothermal
Natural Air-Flow Heating
Townline HVAC & Geothermal
Campbell Industries Ltd
Geoforce Energy Solutions
Neels Heating
Ty French Contracting
Canadian Comfort Air
Geopan Heating
Nickel Heating & Ventilation
Universal Heating Ltd.
Canadian Sheet Metal
Geosynergy Corp.
Nicolson Htg & Metal Works
Uxbridge Mechanical
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Geotility Corp
North Shore Plumbing & Htg
Veltex Heating
CCS Climate Control Systems Gill Plumbing & Htg
North Star Mechanical
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Viega LLC
Central Heating & Cooling
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Optimum Air
Viessmann Mfg
Central Island Htg & Refrig.
Haakon Industries
Outer Limits Sheet Metal
Vosh Mechanical
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Hagley Heating & A/C
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WD Sheetmetal
Chilliwack Heating
Hallworth’s Plumbing
Pacifi c Breeze Heating
West-Kam Heating & AC
Chimo Furnace Service
Hamilton Home Services
Paradigm Control Specialists
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City Service Plumbing
Heatlink Group
Parkinson’s Heating
Westrim Plumbing & Htg Ltd
CJ Heating
Heatwave Plumbing & Heating Pemberton Htg & Sheet Mtls
Wolseley Mechanical Group
CMJ Heating
Hibbs Mechanical Services
Pipeline Mechanical
YPP Mechanical Ltd
CMP Enterprises
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Platinum Mechanical Systems
Zappone Plumbing & Htg
Coastal Heating & Ventilation Hugh Milligan & Co
Premium Comfort Htg & A/C
COEX Heating & Sheet Metal Hydro West Products
Primo Heat
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Combined Mechanical
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Quality Stoves
Contractors
Ipex Inc
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teca News 18
MAY 2008 teca News
teca News 19
teca News MAY 2008
Multiple boiler staging with Domestic Hot Water
Energy Savings for Commercial Buildings Done the IBC Way
Generous venting and
combustion air supply options
provide for easy installation solutions.
IBC condensing boilers in multiple arrays combined with
IBC’s built-in controls stage and rotate the boilers,
efficient indirect storage water tanks are ready “out of
providing outdoor reset for heating, and fixed
the box” to deliver unparalleled energy savings.
temperature set-point operation for DHW.
IBC
IBC
BOILER
BOILER
IBC
IBC
BOILER
BOILER
IBC
IBC
IBC
IBC
Our unique DHW opt-out feature results in
very efficient operation by elevating the
DHW
DHW
water temperature of only those boilers
needed for DHW production. The rest of the
boiler plant continues to operate at more
efficient reset temperatures. The benefits
are obvious, especially in the Summer, since
only the DHW boilers and their associated
TO HEATING SYSTEM
INDIRECT
INDIRECT
piping components heat up on a DHW call.
DOMESTIC HOT
DOMESTIC HOT
The rest of the building piping remains at
WATER HEATER
WATER HEATER
room temperature to further save energy
and enhance occupant comfort.
E n e r g y
1543 Venables Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada V5L 2G8
S a v i n g
IBC
Tel: 604 877 0277 Fax: 604 877 0295 E: info@ibcboiler.com
T e c h n o l o g i e s
www.ibcboiler.com
teca News 20
