Victaulic also displayed an array of solutions for the power industry, including its fiberglass-reinforced plastic (FRP) coupling, flue gas desulfurization (FGD) nozzle coupling, Style 152A expansion joint coupling, Victaulic Vortex Fire Suppression System, Installation-Ready couplings, and large-diameter Advanced Groove System (AGS) couplings. POWER-GEN is a leading conference covering the trends, technologies and issues facing the generation sector. More than 7,000 attendees come together for a look at the industry with emphasis on new solutions and innovations for the future.

“The biggest feature of our new VicFlex solution is the new in-room adjustable center bracket,” said Tom Savage, product manager, Victaulic Fire Suppression Systems. “This bracket builds on the patented open-gate design that separates Victaulic from the competition, and you are now able to loosen and tighten the center bracket from below the ceiling. This allows the contractor to adjust the height of the sprinkler head after ceiling installation, eliminating the need to cut an access hole into the dry wall and then consequently repair the dry wall.”

Reduce the number of visits to the jobsite and eliminate change orders when using VicFlex solutions for either stud or hat-channel hard-lid ceilings. Should an adjustment be necessary after the ceiling is installed, simply loosen the bracket using a hand tool, adjust the sprinkler height and re-tighten the adjustment screw. The adjustment screw is easily visible, even with a concealed sprinkler.

The VicFlex product line offers fast and dependable installation, durable performance and is cost effective for maintenance and retrofit applications. The Style AB2 for hard-lid stud ceilings and the Style AB4 Bracket for hat furring channel hard-lid ceilings are currently only available in North America.

Opened in response to increased demand and customer requirements across the Fire Protection, HVAC, Mining and Industrial sectors, the new location offers warehouse and storage facilities, and office space for a dedicated regional customer care department.

“We are extremely excited by the opening of our Perth warehouse,” said Dave Sharkey, Vice President Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia. “It links the West and East Coast of Australia with warehousing, logistics and inventory capability, and provides another means of servicing South Australia and the Northern Territory.”

“The Western Australian region is continuing to grow, and our new site acts as a gateway to connect product with market. Being closer to such a large and diverse market means we can work more directly with customers to understand their needs and deliver tailored solutions, on a shorter timeline.”

For Victaulic customers, the Perth facility will reduce lead times on orders, stock inventory specific to Western Australia market and customer requirements, and also allow for more direct customer care support for the regions customers.

“The overarching benefit for our customers located in the west is that we can now fit to their business requirements. Short timelines and cost saving activities are part and parcel with business life; the speed of delivery from warehouse to site as well as personnel availability will be extremely beneficial.”

Flying Fox was one of many mines making the switch from manually operated fire protection systems to automatic. Located in Western Australia’s Goldfields, Flying Fox mine is the first to use Victaulic automatic deluge systems in the underground magazine. By providing unparalleled quality and the fastest trip time on the market, Victaulic Series 769 FireLock NXT deluge systems ensured quick detection of hazards, the highest water coverage available and an automatic reset feature so your system is always in service. Simplified trim configurations allowed for fast and easy installation, and on-site training ensured proper installation of the system.

Victaulic Rigid and Flexible Couplings, Advance Grooved System (AGS) for large diameter piping, and Vic Press™ for Schedule 10 Stainless Steel were chosen by the EPC to provide a fast pipe joining method for a range of applications under an aggressive construction schedule and tight budget realities. Mine owner FMG had used Victaulic as part of the original mine construction and, thanks to the proven reliability of the system, chose to specify Victaulic as the preferred pipe joining method for this significant expansion project. 

The speed and simplicity of the Victaulic grooved system requires no highly specialized skills – an important advantage in the Australian market where skilled labour is in high demand and commands premium wages. Victaulic sales representatives’ on-site training in pipe-end preparation and coupling assembly ensured proper installation of the systems and allowed the reallocation of costly skilled labour to other parts of the project.

By focusing on a supply chain model that promotes communication and synchronization between strategic sourcing, factories, inventory management and logistics, Victaulic leads an operationally sound process. As Tom Neuhaus, Director of Global Supply Chain at Victaulic, states, “We have a team of category managers that are primarily devoted to product introduction. They work closely with our global product managers and our product development teams, and also direct global sourcing and supplier qualification activities.”    

Strategy

Focusing on global initiatives to optimize the efficiency of its operational and supply chain, Victaulic calls its strategy “Facilities Excellence Mapping,” or FEM. Basically, this means that every Victaulic facility is striving to qualify for bronze, silver and gold levels of excellence when it comes to business and operation performance. As is the case with most organizations on a path to achieve superior operations performance, each of the Victaulic facilities’ path begins at a different starting point. Neuhaus explains, “We recognize that we have different challenges and capabilities within the regions that we operate in, and view this as a continuous process for us, which is what drives our efficiency improvements.”

With an emphasis on growth, supply assurance, regionalization and IP protection, Victaulic recently invested in analytics tools to measure spend and inventory across a global spectrum. What’s so exciting and groundbreaking about this development is that it allows Victaulic access to real-time data for multiple ERP systems for the first time.

In addition, Victaulic follows a standardized inventory management system, which includes delivery metrics in order to track and manage inventory at factories and distribution centers across the globe. This system allows Victaulic to achieve on-time delivery to partnered distributors and customers.   Building partnerships with 3PL logistics providers has allowed Victaulic to successfully meet international supply chain needs. “Over the years, we’ve been able to identify, develop and partner with suppliers in various regions where we can expect sustainable cost, quality, lead time and delivery performance,” says Neuhaus.

Recently, the sophistication of the Victaulic supply chain process was brought to light when a challenge arose with one of the raw materials used in many Victaulic products – elastomers. In many cases, the chemical components used in elastomers came from one company. Because so many Victaulic products use elastomer as a component, the team made it a priority to accommodate multiple supply sources of each elastomer ingredient by working with the engineering team and material technology group. Foreseeing a potential issue before it impacted the supply chain is a prime example of how Victaulic is prepared to meet global demands.

Do you have any questions about how we determine our supply chain needs? Feel free to ask us on Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn or Twitter!

Featuring Victaulic installation-ready technology, the Style 171 eases and speeds installation. The Style 171 does not require disassembly prior to installation; the coupling is simply pushed onto the pipe end as a fully assembled unit and tightened using standard hand tools. The coupling’s design reduces labor hours to complete system installation, eliminates loose components that could be dropped or lost, and reduces installation clearance requirements.

The Style 171 creates a flexible pipe joint, accommodating expansion, contraction and deflection in the piping system.

The injection molded engineered composite housing offers corrosion and UV resistance, and is lighter in weight than ductile iron and stainless steel couplings.

The Style 171 coupling can be used to join standard roll- or cut-grooved PVC and cut-grooved HDPE pipe. The coupling can also be used on stainless steel and FRP. The Style 171 is available in 1½ to 4-inch (40 to 100 millimeter) sizes, and can withstand pressures of up to 150 psi (1,034 kPa), depending on pipe material and wall thickness. The Style 171 is supplied with the new Victaulic Grade “E2” EPDM gasket, and is suitable for operating temperatures of 33 to 130 degrees Fahrenheit (1 to 54 degrees Celsius).

For more information about the Style 171 and other solutions for the RO market, please visit the Victaulic desalination and reverse osmosis piping systems page.

About Victaulic

Since 1919, Victaulic has been the world's leading producer of grooved mechanical couplings and pipe-joining systems. Used in the most demanding markets, Victaulic innovative piping technologies and services put people to work faster while increasing safety, ensuring reliability and maximizing efficiency. The company has 15 major manufacturing facilities, 28 branches worldwide and over 3,600 employees who speak 43 languages across the globe. With more than 900 active global patents, Victaulic solutions are at work in 115 countries across diverse business lines including oil and gas, chemical, mining, power generation, water and wastewater treatment, military and marine, as well as commercial building and fire protection. For more information visit www.victaulic.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

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Victaulic, the world's leading manufacturer of mechanical pipe joining systems, will showcase its patented installation-ready,  and Advanced Groove System (AGS) product lines at the Gallagher Convention Centre, Johannesburg, this May. All three product lines offer contractors, engineers and owners an unmatched competitive edge, cutting piping system installation time, making installations safer and easing system maintenance.

Installation-ready technology is designed to address the industry’s need to compress project schedules and remain competitive. It is the fastest and safest pipe-joining method currently available. The installation-ready coupling installs up to ten times faster than other pipe-joining methods such as welding, brazing, soldering or flanging.

“In addition to simplified and faster installation, Victaulic couplings, fittings and valves are lighter in weight yet with higher integral strength and require less space than traditional products,” says Barry Van Jaarsveld, Victaulic Country Manager – South Africa. “This helps minimise the plant room footprint while maximizing HVAC system performance.”

The Victaulic patented Advanced Groove System (AGS) is the strongest and most dependable mechanical piping joining system for 350-1525mm size piping systems. The system is rated for pressures of up to 350psi/2400kPa and is designed to ease the installation of and provide a strong connection for large-diameter piping systems.

An extensive range of AGS products are now available for pipe sizes up to 60”/1525mm in diameter. AGS includes both rigid and flexible couplings, as well as a wide selection of grooved fittings, valves and accessories, and offers faster and easier installation of large-diameter piping for a wide-range of HVAC and other applications.

“Victaulic is able to demonstrate considerable total installed cost savings,” adds van Jaarsveld. “The company is committed to innovation and the AGS range demonstrates how new technology can serve the needs of industry here in South Africa.”

Visitors stopping by the Victaulic stand G7 in Hall 2 can see a pump set-up with Victaulic products installed which demonstrates all these benefits and more.

“The Victaulic grooved system works equally well with a variety of piping materials, including carbon and stainless steel, and with a wide range of pipe sizes,” concludes Van Jaarsveld. “This makes it the ideal choice to compress schedules in a wide range of industrial markets where it offers the combined advantages of design versatility, highly reliable operation, and fast installation.”
 

Mount Isa, Australia – Xstrata Mining Expo (Stand #C5) April 30 – May 2, 2013 – Victaulic, the world's leading manufacturer of mechanical pipe-joining systems, is exhibiting a large range of their mining pipe joining solutions at the Xstrata Mining Expo in Mount Isa. Victaulic’s stand features mining specific solutions for the local Mt.Isa mining industry and the broader Australian market, with product and grooving demonstrations.

Victaulic will show a variety of mechanical pipe joining systems for a range of mining applications and pipe materials that will help reduce jobsite time, ease maintenance and quality control checks, and ultimately deliver projects on time and within budget.

Standard grooved end piping products

Victaulic’s standard grooved end couplings consist of four key elements: the grooved pipe, the gasket, the coupling housing and the nuts and bolts. Available in both flexible and rigid forms, the products cater for a variety of uses and are up to three times faster to install than welding processes, easier and more reliable than threading or flanging, and ensure safer worksite practices whilst also resulting in the lowest total installed cost. Victaulic will showcase a variety of grooved pipe joining solutions including QuickVic® installation-ready technology, a range of robust fittings and couplings for high pressure lines.

Solutions for shouldered pipe

The SC77 is the mining the industry’s first installation-ready coupling for joining standard shouldered pipes. Victaulic patented “Installation-Ready” technology eliminates the need to disassemble the coupling before installation, resulting in no loose parts to drop or lose on site. The coupling is prefabricated to permit fast installation without the need for field preparation, and the flexible design accommodates deflection, expansion and contraction. A full range of fittings and valves for shouldered pipe are available to complete the Victaulic shouldered solutions line.

Large Diameter Solutions - Advanced Groove System and Vic-Ring

Victaulic offers a revolutionary range of couplings, fittings, valves and accessories for large diameter mine piping systems up to 60”/1525mm. Victaulic Advanced Groove System (AGS) features a wider-set, wedge-shaped groove that creates a robust joint rated up to 2400kPa. AGS flexible and rigid couplings are installed on a direct-grooved pipe, ideal for water or non-abrasive services. For abrasive service piping, such as large diameter slurry or tailings lines, Victaulic offers the AGS Vic-Ring system. A ring with patented AGS groove profile is mounted on the outside of the pipe and an AGS coupling completes the joint. The AGS Vic-Ring system maintains full pipe wall thickness while providing a smooth inner flow path to maximize pipe life. Both the standard direct-groove and Vic-Ring AGS systems offer flexible and rigid couplings that feature a standard two-piece housing, making Victaulic AGS the fastest and easiet way to joing large diameter mine piping systems.

HDPE and PVC solutions

With a variety of HDPE and PVC piping systems installed in mines across Australia, Victaulic delivers a range of couplings which cater for both.Victaulic’s plain-end coupling system is the fastest and easiest method for joining HDPE and PVC pipes. With no pipe-end preparation necessary and half as many installation steps, couplings offer a much faster joining method than the heat-fusion process. This feature can increase productivity by 50 percent or more and does not require special equipment or tools or a remote power feed; the system can be assembled using a standard wrench. Additionally, Victaulic offers a mechanical pipe joinging system which joins HDPE pipes to PVC pipes.

Grooving demonstrations

Victaulic piping solutions evolved around a simple yet innovative concept – a grooved end pipe joined by a self-restricting coupling. At the core of the Victaulic system is the grooved end pipe. Victaulic will demonstrate the simplicity and speed of pipe grooving at the Goldfield Mining Expo. As the innovator of the grooved system, Victaulic has been supplying grooving tools to the industry for over 65 years.

Victaulic will have a team of representatives available at Mount Isa to assist with product enquiries, guide planning and offer in depth interviews. 

To read the full article click here

The job resided in a large mechanical room that posed challenges with many long corridors, and tight spaces where welding was not possible. To meet the tight schedule and site challenges, the contractor installed Victaulic couplings, valves and fittings. A time-saver on the project was the use of QuickVic® installation-ready couplings, which helped boost productivity and ensure consistent installation. The Victaulic grooved system also proved ideal for connecting and joining four modular Multistack chillers. TA balancing valves were installed to enable precise control of the building temperature.

To provide peace of mind to the University, who had traditionally welded, the Victaulic Inspection Services program was implemented. Through this value added service, multiple site visits were made by qualified Victaulic engineering staff who inspected and verified every Victaulic joint for proper assembly and installation.

PDC's first well and tank battery used threaded piping material and ended up behind schedule and over budget. The project team was looking for ways to reduce both on their second well. They committed to working with Victaulic's Construction Piping Services(CPS) group to configure a drawing package for the tank battery and installed Victaulic style 107H QuickVic® rigid couplings, Vic-300 MasterSeal™ butterfly valves and various fittings on the project. As a result of utilizing the easy to install products, PDC Energy was able to reduce the tank battery construction by two weeks and cut their total installed costs in half.

Following the completion of the Detweiler tank battery, PDC contacted Energy Services Corporation to return to their first tank battery to repair their threaded leaks. Once again the leaks were fixed using Victaulic grooved piping systems.

Search Terms: PS-OIL.41, PS.OIL.41, OIL-41, OIL.41, PSOIL41, battery, tank,  tank battery

The contractor chose to utilize Victaulic products on the compressed air, instrument air, plant water, process piping and water conveyance systemst. In addition to grooved products, the plant’s updates also included Vic-Press™ products on the stainless steel piping systems, which made this the first Vic-Press application sold in southern California. Brutoco, the contractor for the project, estimated that they were able to save two weeks of installation time thanks to the ease of installation with Vic-Press products and saved an additional week with Victaulic grooved products. Style 232 bolted splitsleeve couplings were utilized in lieu of harnessed flexible buried joints to save cost and installation time. The reverse osmosis skids selected Victaulic couplings and fittings over cheap competitive imports due to quality and EW gasket technology.

Search Terms: PS-MUN.88, PS.MUN.88, MUN-88, MUN.88, PSMUN88

The owner had a prime specification for grooved connections for buried and above grade applications, and the contractor chose Victaulic due to their reputation for reliability and superior quality. Victaulic products were utilized on buried and above ground piping at the plant, which provided quick and easy installation, seismic benefits and accommodation of settlement for buried pipe. Style 77 flexible grooved couplings and style 770 large diameter grooved couplings were chosen for the IPS systems. While style 341 AWWA Vic-Flange® adapters and style 31 AWWA couplings were used for the ductile iron piping systems.

Search Terms: PS-MUN.87, PS.MUN.87, Mun-87, Mun.87, PSMUN87

One of the architecture design elements challenges when completing the new international airport terminal was finding a sprinkler system that could accommodate the movement of a cloud ceiling structure with acoustical tiles. This structure hangs via cables that allow for a standard deviation of 1"+ angular movement that was designed for accommodating snow loads, air pressures and temperature fluctuations. The only way to accommodate this architectural design element was Vikings decision to incorporate the VicFlex™ solution. VicFlex was able to solve sprinkler coverage concerns, incorporate the structures subtle movements and enforce the aesthetic integrity of secured sprinkler heads and escutcheons within the floating cloud structure. Moreover, VicFlex drops saved significant times in cutting separate, custom length arm over drops into this suspended ceiling structure.

Search Terms: PS-FP.180, PS.FP.180, FP.180, FP-180, PSFP180

Visit us at booth 411 during expo hall hours to learn more about:

• Vortex® 500 Fire Suppression System
• VicFlex™ Flexible Sprinkler Fitting System
• ECLH Sprinkler – New Extended Coverage Low Hazard Sprinkler Head
• FireLock EZ® - New Style 009N Rigid Coupling

In case you’re not familiar with the Vortex® 500 System, it is specifically designed for information technology spaces including data rooms and server spaces. By using a unique, hybrid blend of nitrogen and water, the system promptly cools the hazard area while removing the fire-sustaining oxygen through a combination of high velocity and low pressure. Especially important for IT spaces, the distribution extinguishes fire with minimal water presence.

The VicFlex™ Flexible Sprinkler Fitting System line of products is used across a range of applications. Both cULus Listed and FM Approved, the VicFlex™ Series AH2 Braided Hose is 100 percent kink resistant and offers a 2-inch bend radius, the tightest on the market, as well as the most allowed bends. This feature allows for easy and efficient installation. In addition, the hose offers 50 percent lower friction loss over corrugated systems resulting in improved hydraulic performance.

Moving onto the VicFlex™ Brackets, the Style AB1 Bracket eliminates the need for sprinkler installers to handle ceiling tiles – including cutting holes in the ceiling and coordinating with the ceiling trade on site – reducing hands-on installation by as much as 39 percent.

The Style AB2 Bracket and the Style AB4 Bracket both eliminate issues related to hard pipe drops and hard-lid ceilings while cutting hands-on installation time by up to 60 percent. Especially worthy of noting is the in-room adjustable center bracket, with an open-gate design, which allows you to tighten and loosen the center bracket from below the ceiling – allowing the contractor to avoid cutting an access hole in the dry wall and then having to repair it. The Style AB2 Bracket is designated for use on hard-lid stud ceilings while the Style AB4 Bracket is used in hat furring channel hard-lid ceilings.

Another  VicFlex™ innovation at the show, the Style AB6 Bracket, allows contractors to provide sprinkled protection to a cooler or freezer space easier than ever before.  Avoid measuring and cutting hard pipe as well as waiting for foam seals to dry, reducing hands-on installation time by up to 75 percent.

Next up, we are excited to announce the new K8.0 FireLock® ECLH V3102 and the K11.2 FireLock® ECLH Sprinkler V3104, both offering extended coverage (up to 400 feet!) for light hazard spaces such as schools, hospitals, offices, residential and churches. Benefits to the new extended coverage sprinklers include an easier and safer installation process and fewer sprinklers needed since more space is covered – cutting down on installation time and cost. Plus, they’re easily installed with a socket wrench.

Last, the FireLock EZ® Style 009N Rigid Coupling is an installation-ready coupling that reduces installation efforts by 50 percent while also improving impact wrench battery efficiency by 100 percent.

And there you have it. We hope to see you at NFSA in a few days! If you can’t attend this year, we will be sharing updates from the show via Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn and Twitter, so be sure to follow along.

© Elnur - Fotolia.com

All of these product lines give contractors, engineers and owners an unmatched competitive edge, cutting piping system installation time and making installations safer and more economical. Installation-ready technology is designed to address the HVAC industry’s need to compress project schedules and remain competitive. It is the fastest and safest pipe-joining method currently available. The installation-ready product line, which visitors to the stand will be able to test for themselves in a hands-on demonstration, installs up to ten times faster than other pipe-joining methods such as welding, brazing, soldering or flanging. Installation-ready couplings require fewer steps to install, resulting in consistently faster pipe joints, which allow contractors to optimize crew size and better manage their labour risk. Visitors will also see on-site roll-grooving demonstrations using Victaulic roll-grooving tools to prepare pipework for joining.

Grooved mechanical pipe joining is a no-flame joining technique of forming or cutting a groove in pipe ends and then joining them with bolted housings around a sealed gasket. Pioneered during World War I as a fast and reliable way to get resources to front line troops, the method was invented by the company now known as Victaulic. Since being made commercially available in 1919 it has become a preferred joining method on many piping applications when compared with welding, threading and flanging.

A mechanical joint is comprised of four elements: grooved pipe, a gasket, coupling housings, and a pair of nuts and bolts. The pipe groove is made by cold forming or machining a groove into the end of a pipe. The key section of the coupling housings engage the groove and the bolts and nuts are tightened with a socket wrench or impact wrench and hold the housings together. The coupling housings engage in the groove around the circumference of the pipe and encase the gasket. A pressure responsive gasket then creates a seal unified joint that is enhanced when the system is pressurized.

For engineers, the benefits of the grooved system are many: the design versatility of the joint can allow both rigidity and flexibility, or a combination of the two, throughout a system when necessary; a mechanical joint provides noise and vibration attenuation, seismic relief, and accommodates for thermal expansion and contraction. In addition, the Victaulic integrated project delivery services and planning offering will be highlighted, including proposal models during the bidding stage, BIM construction drawing packages and lean construction techniques through prefabrication.
 

One of Cofely’s biggest challenges was the fifteen month deadline on such a meticulous job. Victaulic Installation-ready Technology and Advanced Groove System (AGS) was installed in the distribution piping as well as the mechanical room. The Advanced Groove System focuses on reducing installation time for large diameter pipe, while the installation-ready couplings focus on reducing installation time for 2 – 8" /50 – 200 mm. To minimize system noise and vibration, Cofely installed three flexible couplings in close vicinity to the pump. In addition to Victaulic couplings and fittings, Cofely also installed Victaulic check valve, butterfly valve, and Series 731 D suction diffusers.

By employing Victaulic products and onsite training from Victaulic engineers, installation time was kept to a minimum and future maintenance routines are simplified. The overall result has reduced system downtime and created a lower cost of ownership for ASML.

Search Terms: PS-HVAC.379, PSHVAC379, PS-HVAC-379, PS.HVAC.379

EPC Takenaka Europe designed the hot, chilled and cold water glycol system for the facility. After a Victaulic product demonstration, Takenaka and contractor, Ekobudowa were convinced about the Victaulic Installation-Ready technology. Benefits like onsite safety, product reliability, quality and an ease & speed of installation were the key factors in switching from traditional joining to the Victaulic Installation-Ready couplings. Victaulic Installation-Ready products were installed in the cold water glycol and hot water systems. The Victaulic Series 731-D Suction Diffusers were also installed in the hot water system because of their reliability and performance. The Victaulic Series 731-D Suction Diffuser reduces the effects of turbulence where fluid enters a pump impeller. Whilst suction pipes are traditionally kept as long and straight as possible before the connection onto the pump flange, suction diffusers straighten out the spinning fluid created by the change in direction and enable pipe work to be connected closer to the pump at a 90-degree angle. Victaulic stainless steel couplings were installed in the chilled water system for their strength andcorrosion resistance.

The largest solar power markets are situated in Europe, and when Bridgestone’s facility is up and running, it is likely to become Europe’s leading supplier in EVA film. The new production line is scheduled for completion in 2013.

Search Terms: PS-IND.208, PSIND208, PS-IND-208, PS.IND.208

Engineers, Zyhair Fayez Partnership Consultants and Dar Al Riyadh searched for a solution for their large diameter HVAC systems that needed to be completed in such short time-frames. By specifying the use of Victaulic products, they provided ease and speed of installation on large diameter pipe, which is unrivaled with alternative joining methods. 

Victaulic Advanced Groove System (AGS) couplings were installed for their seismic-shock resistance, as well as the ease and speed of installation on large diameter pipe process. FireLock products were installed to maintain a state of the art fire protection system with a reduced installation time. The use of Victaulic Construction Piping Services (CPS) department helped in cutting construction time. Installing Victaulic products helped ease and speed of installation and reduce future system downtime for routine maintenance.

Search Terms: PS-HVAC.367, PSHVAC367, PS-HVAC-367, PS.HVAC.367

Contractor Ekin Proje specified Victaulic products to be used for fire protection -, HVAC- and plumbing systems. FireLock products were installed to maintain a state of the art fire protection system with a reduced installation time. For the HVAC system, Victaulic Advanced Groove System (AGS) Valves were installed for their ease and speed of installation on large diameter pipe. The engineering team of the contractor, used Victaulic Construction Piping Services (CPS) for their detailed system drawings as a base for installation. 

Victaulic was specified for this project for its technical support, ease and speed of installation, flame free installation process and capability to provide complete systems. In total, over 500 valves where used in this state-of-the art project.

Search Terms: PS-HVAC.386, PSHVAC386, PS-HVAC-386, PS.HVAC.386

As the first five floors of the facility had already been balanced to ensure comfortable and stable temperature throughout, engineers knew the addition of two new floors posed a challenge. In order to ensure balancing of the new floors was attainable while the first five floors of the facility remained occupied, Victaulic recommended use of the Series 793 TA Differential Pressure Controller (STAP). This allowed the correct pressure to be delivered to the coil and balancing valve. By eliminating pressure changes, the STAP Controller enables the balancing valve to maintain the proper flow rate at the coil and keep the system in balance. Most important, this product gave the ability to balance in stages, effectively isolating the two new floors from the rest of the building without need to rebalance the entire system. The STAP Controller also ensures that the system designed today remains balanced even with future expansion, renovations or mechanical equipment changes.

While hooking up over 250 reheat coils, the contractor used Victaulic Koil-Kit™ Coil Packs. Consisting of a strainer, TA balancing valve, union and two flexible hoses, Koil-Kit Coil Packs arrived at the job site pre-packaged for faster, easier installation. These packs dramatically improved productivity and material handling with the flexible hoses saving tremendous time.

Search Terms: PS-HVAC.392, PSHVAC392, PS-HVAC-392, PS.HVAC.392

Victaulic couplings, valves and fittings were chosen as the pipe joining method in this high profile facility. With its proven performance and reliability, Victaulic QuickVic® installation-ready couplings enabled the contractor to efficiently join the hot and chilled water systems. QuickVic was also used on the domestic water system to join stainless steel pipe as an affordable alternative to copper. Use of TA balancing valves ensures comfortable, stable temperatures throughout the building while minimizing energy costs.

Drawings and 3D models were developed by Victaulic Construction Piping Services (CPS) to show the most efficient layout and installation of the piping systems. Referencing these drawings, Victaulic Bag & Tag services ensured products were delivered on-site where and when needed.

Search Terms: PS-HVAC.391, PSHVAC391, PS-HVAC-391, PS.HVAC.391

When it came time to install the piping systems, overall construction was behind schedule and the job site posed challenges. Being downtown there was no material staging area. Product had to be hoisted in, meaning prefabrication of larger piping sections was not an option to save time.

Having had success using Victaulic on past projects, the contractor, Ocean Park Mechanical, felt confident that Victaulic could address the challenges and help make up lost time. With no loose parts or disassembly required, Quick-Vic® Installation ready couplings ensured fast, easy pipe connections when joining both carbon steel and copper piping systems.

The project was a success and the building opened on schedule. With Victaulic in place the owner, Harvard Developments, now has a piping system that will be easier to access and maintain compared to a welded system.

Search Terms: PS-HVAC.389, PSHVAC389, PS-HVAC-389, PS.HVAC.389

Construction of this facility took place in downtown Toronto and faced a fast track schedule. To ensure efficient installation of the piping systems, the Victaulic Construction Piping Services (CPS) team was brought in to produce a variety of drawings and 3D models. These drawings allowed both the engineer and contractor to identify issues prior to installation. Upon analysis, Victaulic CPS recommended reconfiguration and relocation of piping systems to meet height and space requirements. These recommendations greatly benefited the project.

Compared with other methods of joining, use of the Victaulic grooved system ensured ease of installation to meet scheduled demands. In addition, Victaulic mechanical pipe systems delivered unsurpassed vibration isolation and sound attenuation characteristics, essential to a world-class opera and concert hall facility.

Search Terms: PS-HVAC.403, PSHVAC403, PS-HVAC-403, PS.HVAC.403

The buildings height and weather conditions in downtown Vancouver limited elevator availability and cause a lack of staging areas. This made material delivery very challenging.

To meet these challenges, Victaulic Construction Piping Services (CPS) developed 3D models and drawings illustrating the most efficient piping layout throughout the building, including areas where piping needed to accommodate seismic movement and vibration. These models, joined with coordinated bills of material as well as bag & tag product delivery helped create efficiencies and control costs.

Use of Victaulic products provided ease and speed of installation as well as performance benefits over other pipe joining methods. “Using Victaulic on riser offset piping, made best use of the real estate available and ensured the owner reliable protection where seismic is a concern” said Duane Goderis, from GML Mechanical Ltd.

Search Terms: PS-HVAC.353, PSHVAC353, PS-HVAC-353, PS.HVAC.353

Victaulic’s senior engineer, David Hudson discusses the importance of conducting regular maintenance in plant facilities in order to minimize system shutdowns and maintain the plant’s bottom line. Read his top four tips to consider when evaluating the best pipe joining method for your mechanical piping systems in  Plant Engineering.

Of all the pipe joining methods available, maintenance on HVAC systems installed using grooved piping products is the fastest, most efficient, and simplest to perform. They allow plant engineers to complete maintenance such as strainer/suction diffuser servicing quickly, and move onto other crucial tasks, such as equipment repair. 

Membrane Technology provides unique, comprehensive content that covers timely news, water and wastewater industry trends, technical solutions and best practices. Its readers work for municipalities, in industry, or as engineers. They design, specify, buy, operate and maintain equipment, chemicals, software and wastewater treatment services.

View the article online at Membrane Technology's website. 

Interested in learning a bit more about each seminar topic?

The energy savings seminar discusses everything from production units, terminal units, variable speed pumps and primary-secondary versus variable primary flow in HVAC system components, controllability and operating efficiencies, to how to properly analyze critical issues and interactivity. This seminar offers key insights and examples from the experts – you won’t want to miss out! The seminar will be held in San Francisco, CA, on April 9 from 1-6 PM at the Intercontinental Mark Hopkins Hotel.

“The Three Key Conditions” seminar covers the key conditions required in order for hydronic balancing to meet the goal of achieving the optimal indoor climate with the lowest energy cost. A thorough overview of the theory and practical application of hydronic balancing and design will be covered while delving into the three conditions:

• Design Flow Availability
• Differential Pressure Variations
• Compatibility Between Flows

It will be held in sunny Orlando, FL, on April 16 from 1-6 PM at the Ballroom at Church Street.

Registration for both of these seminars is now open, so don’t wait to register or you might miss out on important hydronic balancing training. In addition to the training sessions, attendees are invited to stay for refreshments followed by dinner to meet and network with other seminar attendees.

For more information, a schedule of events or to register, please visit www.victaulicbalancingseminars.com. Hope to see you in Orlando or San Francisco!

The Three Key Conditions seminar focuses on the key conditions required for hydronic balancing to meet the goal of providing the desired indoor climate at the lowest energy cost. The energy savings seminar will examine production units; terminal units, variable speed pumps and primary-secondary versus variable primary flow related to HVAC system components, controllability and operating efficiencies, as well as analyze critical issues and interactivity.

Upcoming 2013 seminar dates, locations and topics are as follows:

April 9, 2013 - Energy Saving Opportunities in Variable Flow Systems
          Intercontinental Mark Hopkins Hotel, San Francisco, CA

April 15, 2013 - The Three Key Conditions
                          Ballroom at Church Street, Orlando, FL.

For more information about the events or to register, visit http://www.victaulicbalancingseminars.com/.

Victaulic, the world's leading producer of grooved mechanical couplings and pipe-joining systems, will showcase its patented Advanced Groove System (AGS) and Installation-Ready technology product lines as well as mechanical room solutions at the world’s leading HVAC exhibition, ISH.

In addition, the Victaulic integrated project delivery services and planning offering will be highlighted, including proposal models during the bidding stage, BIM construction drawing packages and lean construction techniques through prefabrication.

Located in Frankfurt Germany, the exhibit runs from March 12-16, 2013 and features Victaulic solutions designed to address the industry’s need to compress project schedules and remain competitive. Look for us in Hall 5.1, Stand C29.

Victaulic attends ISH Frankfurt: Demonstrates Solutions and Integrated Project Delivery Services

Victaulic, the world's leading producer of grooved mechanical couplings and pipe-joining systems, will showcase its patented Advanced Groove System (AGS) and Installation-Ready technology product lines as well as mechanical room solutions at the world’s leading HVAC exhibition, ISH.

 In addition, the Victaulic integrated project delivery services and planning offering will be highlighted, including proposal models during the bidding stage, BIM construction drawing packages and lean construction techniques through prefabrication.

 Located in Frankfurt Germany, the exhibit runs from March 12-16, 2013 and features Victaulic solutions designed to address the industry’s need to compress project schedules and remain competitive. Look for us in Hall 5.1, Stand C29.

To read the full press release please click here.

Installation-ready technology is designed to address the industry’s need to compress project schedules and remain competitive.  It is the fastest and safest pipe-joining method currently available. The installation-ready coupling installs up to ten times faster than other pipe-joining methods such as welding, brazing, soldering or flanging. The AXREX exhibition takes place from March 7-9, 2013. Look for us in Area 24, Stand P26.

Victaulic, the world's leading manufacturer of mechanical pipe joining systems, will showcase its patented Installation-Ready technology, Advanced Groove System (AGS) and Vic-Press™ product lines at the ACREX trade fair at the Bombay Exhibition Center, Mumbai. These product lines give contractors, engineers and owners an unmatched competitive edge, cutting piping system installation time and making installations safer.  

Installation-ready technology is designed to address the industry’s need to compress project schedules and remain competitive.  It is the fastest and safest pipe-joining method currently available. The installation-ready coupling installs up to ten times faster than other pipe-joining methods such as welding, brazing, soldering or flanging. The AXREX exhibition takes place from March 7-9, 2013. Look for us in Area 24, Stand P26.

To read the full press release please click here.

Victaulic products are ideal for a variety of mining applications from slurry and tailings to water, air, and backfill lines to compressed air systems, to name just a few. Victaulic is used in a number of mines across the globe, including the Mina Aguablanca in Spain, the Sally Malay Nickel Mine in Australia, the Goldex Mine in Quebec, the Resolution Project in Arizona, and many more. We’re happy to discuss these applications and projects at SME. In fact, in light of the quickly approaching show, we thought now would be a good time to share an overview about how Victaulic high-pressure couplings solved deep mining challenges at the Resolution Project. Feel free to ask our experts at the booth about this ongoing project!

Background
Exploration between 2001-2003 revealed a large body of copper ore more than a mile beneath the surface at the Resolution Project. Owners Resolution Copper Company and BHP Copper estimated the resource at 1.624 billion metric tons containing 1.47% copper and 0.037% molybdenum. Production via panel caving is expected to begin in 2020 upon the successful completion of a land exchange and evaluation and feasibility studies.

In order to prepare the site for production, shaft 9 of the former Magma Mine had to be dewatered and a new exploratory shaft 10 had to be sunk 7,000 feet below the surface.

So, What’s the Big Deal?
The deeper mining operations progress beneath the earth’s surface, the higher the temperature of the rock. In the case of the Resolution Project, temperatures can range from 130° to 140°F. To provide a comfortable temperature for the workers, a chilled water line was required for cooling. However, running water to a depth of 7,000 feet is no easy feat.

Due to the nature of the vertical installation, a piping system that could withstand a maximum working pressure of 3,500 psi was required. Furthermore, the system would need to accommodate a rather hefty end-load, ideally without the need for extra pipe supports.

The next challenge was finding a solution for the variations in temperature produced by the chilled water running into a hot shaft, and the inevitable expansion and contraction of the piping system that would result.

Initially, the contractor, Cementation, planned to join the 8-inch schedule 80 through schedule 160 pipe for the chilled water line with 900-lb. flanges. This method, however, created a problem in that flanges would not provide the flexibility to accommodate the variations in temperature. As a result, Cementation considered other options.

Considering two different joining systems — a non-restrained flexible coupling and the Victaulic Style 808 double-grooved coupling — Cementation opted for the Victaulic solution. While both methods would have been able to accommodate the high pressure, expansion and contraction, the non-restrained flexible coupling would have required restraint systems on either side of the piping, resulting in increased installation time and cost.

The Resolution
Typically used in paste backfill, high-pressure slurry and various other solids piping systems, the Victaulic Style 808 high-pressure coupling is double-bolted and designed for use with Schedule 80 or heavier grooved steel pipe. Able to withstand working pressures of up to 4,000 psi, the Style 808 coupling could easily accommodate the 3,500 psi of the chilled water system at the Resolution Project.

The Style 808 coupling can accommodate up to ¼ in. of linear movement per coupling, meeting the need for the accommodation of thermal expansion and contraction of the pipe within the shaft.

The double-groove feature of the Style 808 provides superior joint integrity under high pressures by distributing the end loads of the pipe. The joint can accommodate a maximum end load of 103,410 lb. on 6-in. schedule 80 pipe and 319,190 lb. on 12-in. schedule 160 pipe, allowing Cementation to assemble the system without the need for additional pipe supports.

Offering quick and easy installation, less labor was required, thus reducing the total installed costs of the project compared to the other joining methods considered.

Hundreds of Style 808 couplings are in place on the now operational chilled water supply and return lines, and the company reports that it is pleased with the solution. The installation worked out so well for Cementation that it plans to use the Style 808 for high-pressure dewatering and discharge lines on the project as well.

Want to learn more about the Resolution Project? Check out our article from the June 2012 issue of Engineering & Mining Journal. We hope to see you at SME 2013 next week!

Offering proven reliability, Victaulic products installed much faster and easier than welding. Without need of a fire watch and risk of flames or noxious fumes, Victaulic contributed to a safer work environment and helped the City achieve cost savings on the installation. From a maintenance perspective, Victaulic couplings can be quickly disassembled for easy access to the system and Victaulic butterfly valves allow for shut-off service to isolate equipment.

Search Terms: PS-MUN.80, PSMUN80, PS-MUN-80, PS.MUN.80

Needing an efficient way to join large diameter 42"/1050mm and 60"/1500mm stainless steel piping in the plant, Victaulic Depend-O-Lok (DOL) F × F restrained couplings were specified. With only eight bolts and nuts, far fewer than competitive products, DOL couplings installed up to 70% faster with no star-pattern tightening or re-torquing required. Being much easier to assemble and disassemble than other types of restrained joints, the DOL solution will positively impact future maintenance activities.

To quickly join 14"/350mm connections, galvanized Style 77 flexible couplings with only two housings and two nuts and bolts provided an optimal solution, allowing for expansion and contraction while delivering installation and maintenance benefits. Use of Victaulic on this project helped ensure the upgrades to the piping system was in place in time for the hot summer months when water demand is peak.

Search Terms: PS-MUN.78, PSMUN78, PS-MUN-78, PS.MUN.78

Given the ease of installation of Victaulic products, the District was able to install the system without need of an outside contractor, saving them time and money. The Victaulic Series 365 plug valve with full port design was utilized to ensure better flow while enabling operators to pig the line without removal of the valve or service disruption. By joining Victaulic Style 31 couplings to Victaulic Series 317 check valves tapped for pressure relief, access to the system from the top can be performed by simply removing 2 bolts. This ensures much quicker, easier and safer access compared with flanged components.

Victaulic products, with their smaller footprint and lighter weight, eliminated the need for gate valves. As a result, the chamber depth was reduced to a level that was no longer considered confined space entry, allowing for a single operator to access the system safely without need for a permit or a second operator to stand watch.

SEARCH TERMS: PS-MUN.70, PSMUN70, PS-MUN-70, PS.MUN.70

The intake was designed with a stainless steel piping system carrying brine anti-freeze liquid to prevent freezing during Winter months. To join this system, a reliable pipe joining solution was required that could provide quick and easy access to divers performing future underwater maintenance and repair. As a result, Victaulic Style 489 stainless steel couplings, fittings and caps were the products of choice for this unique application.

Providing corrosion resistance, strength and a union at every joint, the Victaulic grooved system was specified to avoid the hazards and time required to weld stainless steel. Since the system installs three to five times faster than welding the job was completed quickly and provided multiple access points to the system for ffuture maintenance.

Search Terms: PS-MUN.67, PSMUN67, PS-MUN-67, PS.MUN.67

To join this rugged and demanding piping system, Victaulic Style 28 couplings with Type “D” Vic-Rings and Fluidmaster 600 split sleeve couplings were specified and installed for their demonstrated installation, maintenance and cost savings. Compared to the traditional method of using 300 lb. flanges, the Victaulic method used less bolts making it much easier, faster and safer to install. Ongoing maintenance has become easier and more cost effective. With a union at every joint, the pipeline is easily accessible allowing ability to rotate and reuse both pipe spools and Victaulic couplings to increase system life. For systems needing replacement, the Victaulic system eliminates the need to discard expensive 300 lb. flanges. As a result, the Victaulic system has provided Shell years of ongoing maintenance revenue sales and cost savings.

Search Terms: ps-MIN.37, PS.MIN.37, PSMIN37, PS-MIN-37, PS.MIN.37

When a second tower was constructed, Maple Leaf Foods again turned to Victaulic,
taking advantage of the latest innovation from Victaulic, the QuickVic installation-ready coupling which they used to join chilled and hot water systems up to 6"/150mm. With no disassembly and no loose bolts, the Style 107 QuickVic coupling for steel and Style 607 QuickVic coupling for copper were installed much faster than the previous generation of Victaulic rigid couplings. Equipped with "EHP" gasket technology rated to 250°F/121°C, installation-ready couplings provide an unmatched level of performance on hot water systems.

To minimize noise and vibration generated on equipment in the mechanical room, Victaulic Style 77 Flexible couplings were utilized. Additionally, the Victaulic coil component package consisting of a port fitting, balancing valve and y-strainer/ball valve combination were installed on 110 ¾"/20 mm terminal coils because of their ease and speed of installation.

Search Terms: PS-HVAC.224, PSHVAC224, PS-HVAC-224, PS.HVAC.224

ISO Focus+ covers the complete range of ISO International Standards: technical, management, good practice and conformity assessment, and for products, services, processes, systems, materials and professionals. It has a circulation of 7,000.

View the interview online at the ISO website.

As one of the largest geothermal power plants in Indonesia with a total production capacity of 277 MW, Wayang Windu displaces up to 800,000 tons of CO2 emissions every year.  Victaulic couplings contributed to the project by providing fast, easy installation on-site, resulting in compressed construction schedules and reduced downtime. Specifically, Victaulic solutions were used on the "injection piping", which carries water over long distances above ground.  Here, water is converted to steam due to the heat of the hotspot and harnessed to create geothermal energy.

The additional Victaulic advantage is our inherent flexibility of the Victaulic Style 77 flexible coupling allows for piping deflection on uneven ground and accommodates thermal expansion and contraction of the piping system – a crucial element in laying the 1.7 KM of outdoor piping.

Read more about the project and silver award here.

E & P magazine is the world's leading publication dedicated to informing exploration, drilling and production operations managers, onshore and offshore and in all parts of the world, about the trends and technology they need to do their jobs more efficiently. It has a circulation of 51,648.

View the article online at E & P's website.

Despite hours on our feet, the conversations in our booth were revitalizing. We talked state-of-the-industry, showed off our new products (check out the photo tour of our booth for more details), and demonstrated Vic-Press, our hydronic balancing solutions and more. We introduced grooved technology to those unfamiliar with the concept, and discussed advanced pipe-joining and hydronic-balancing ideas with the veterans.

Tucked away downstairs and around the corner, the session rooms offered a welcome respite from the bright lights and commotion of the expo hall. Far away from the drone of HVAC equipment on the show floor, the atmosphere was contemplative and inquisitive as we learned about retro-commissioning, test and balance (TAB), custom designed mechanical rooms, HVAC corrosion protection, and connection communities. Check out our coverage on retro-commissioning for existing facilities and what engineers should know about TAB.

Back in the expo hall, we chatted with attendees excited about business prospects in 2013. ASHRAE Journal’s annual attendee survey confirmed those feelings. According to the results published in the Show Daily, 79% of attendees rate business prospects as good or excellent for the year. A couple other interesting stats from the survey:

Of 463 respondents,

• 88% are interested in green or sustainable products.
• 49% believe that retrofit/renovation will be the strongest sector. New construction followed with 30%, and maintenance captured 22% of the vote.
• 52% say customers are always or often willing to pay more for efficiency.
• 99% report that reliability is very or somewhat important to customers. 98% say first cost is very or somewhat important.

If the buzz on the show floor and the results of the attendee survey are any indication, 2013 should shape up to be a great year for the HVAC industry.

That’s a wrap for 2013. Thanks for following along with our coverage of AHR Expo. Special thanks to those who shared their knowledge and thoughts with us, and to those who stopped by our booth—we look forward to working with you soon. Finally, we’d be remiss if we didn’t acknowledge ASHRAE and AHRI, without whom AHR Expo would not happen. Thanks for putting on a great show, as always. We’ll see you next year in the Big Apple.

To handle plant and instrument air piping on this project, small diameter 304 stainless steel piping was joined using a complete system of Victaulic Pressfit couplings, valves and fittings. For the owner, Terasen Gas, Victaulic Pressfit not only installed faster, but also represented a safer, more reliable and cost effective solution thereby making it the logical choice.

Compared with threading, the Pressfit system minimizes the risk of leaks which in turn eliminates costly air loss. Likewise, Pressfit was a superior and more cost effective option over socket welding as it eliminated the delays and risks associated with hardardous fumes and was around 30% less expensive to install.

Search Terms: PS-IND.188, PSIND188, PS-IND-188, PS.IND.188

To perform a vacuum piping line upgrade for two paper machines, Harmac planned a mill shutdown. In efforts to minimize the time and costs of downtime, they turned to Victaulic for a complete stainless steel joining solution. For joining small diameter ½ - 2"/15-50mm lines, the Victaulic Pressfit system of couplings, valves and fittings installed in seconds and created a reliable permanent pressed connection. For larger sized piping, Victaulic Style 89 couplings were used to join systems to 12"/300mm and the Style W89 Advanced Grooved System (AGS) coupling joined large diameter 14"/350mm connections. Both couplings, with only 2 housings, allowed for fast installation and enabled easy access at every join which will simplify future maintenance and retrofit work.

Compared with the option of welding, Victaulic products proved to be much faster, easier and safer to install with no flames or noxious fumes generated. Eliminating the need for specialized labour, Harmac staff was able to quickly install and visually inspect all connections. As a result, the project was installed on time and on budget.

Search Terms: PS-IND.179, PSIND179, PS-IND-179, PS.IND.179

Looking to upgrade a domestic water system in the powerhouse, BC Hydro needed to join a 1"/25mm piping system quickly and easily. Having previously standardized on a tubing and valve solution that required welded connections, BC Hydro turned to the Victaulic Pressfit system for its many advantages. Featuring a full line of couplings, fittings and valves, the Pressfit system offered a reliable, permanent joining solution for schedule 5 stainless 304/316 pipe. Up to five times faster than other joining systems, Pressfit eliminated the risks, costs and delays associated with welding and helped to reduce rework.

Using Pressfit, BC Hydro staff were able to install the domestic water system easily and without need of specialized labour. Upon completion, BC Hydro realized significant cost savings of up to 60% compared with the previous alternative.

SEARCH TERMS: PS-IND.173, PSIND173, PS-IND-173, PS.IND.173

For small diameter stainless steel lube oil and reverse osmosis piping, the Victaulic Pressfit system was used. Pressfit installed significantly faster than alternative joining methods and provided improved reliability and a flame free installation. Victaulic grooved end couplings, fittings and valves ensured ease and speed of installation to join the stainless steel reverse osmosis system and the carbon steel piping for waste water. By using Victaulic, UBE also benefits from a piping system that will be easy to maintain and expand in the future.  

Search Terms: ps-IND.20, PS.IND.20, PSIND20, PS-IND-20, PS.IND.20

To ensure the plant was operational as soon as possible, Victaulic couplings, butterfly valves and check valves were used to quickly and easily joind galvanized piping comprising the paint recirculation system . 

Search Terms: ps-IND.19, PS.IND.19, PSIND19, PS-IND-19, PS.IND.19

Search Terms: ps-IND.17, PS.IND.17, PSIND17, PS-IND-17, PS.IND.17

A full range of Victaulic couplings, valves and fittings were used to join air and water system piping up to 16". 

Search Terms: ps-IND.16, PS.IND.16, PSIND16, PS-IND-16, PS.IND.16

For small diameter piping to 2"/50mm, the Victaulic Stainless Steel Pressfit system provided a fast, flame free joint while increasing installation productivity by up to five times that of alternative joining methods such as welding or threading. Larger piping to 6"/150mm were joined using Victaulic grooved couplings.  

Search Terms: PS-IND.14, PSIND14, PS-IND-14, PS.IND.14

Victaulic VicFlex™ products were chosen, which provide fast and dependable installation, durable performance and is cost effective for maintenance and retrofit applications. The contractor noted that he could not afford to have to come back to an out of town project to fix a leak, so he used Victaulic products in all areas. The VicFlex system also provides the advantage of saving time and money during installation because they install up to 10 times faster than rigid piping systems. The customer had a specific issue with the ceiling tile being backordered and subsequently arriving late to the jobsite. However, by utilizing the new VicFlex AB-1 bracket he was able to finish each sprinkler assembly without having to wait for the tiles to arrive. 

Other Victaulic products utilized to complete the system included FireLock EZ® style 009H rigid couplings, FireLock® series 705 butterfly valves, FireLock series 717 riser check valves and FireLock series 747M control riser modules. Like all Victaulic products, these too were able to keep installation time and man power required low.

Search Terms: PS-FP.177, PS-FP-177, PS.FP.177, PSFP177, FP177, FP-177, PS.177

The contractor chose Victaulic products in all areas because they wanted to provide a quality system that could keep costs competitive. Utilizing FireLock EZ® style 009H couplings provided the advantage of the Victaulic patented installation-ready technology and allowed the project to stay on schedule and reduce material waste on the project. FireLock NXT® devices were installed to reduce the footprint necessary to house the valves in certain areas of the building. Instead of one dedicated large valve area, the contractor went with small closets to reduce the need to use billable space for equipment. The NXT devices were also selected due to their ease of set-up, lack of return trips due to problems, and low air supply capabilities. The Victaulic VicFlex™ flexible sprinkler system was also used throughout the facility. The contractor realized the safety advantages of a factory leak tested head provided with a protective cover which gave them the best chance to prevent any problems on this high profile project. After seeing the sprinklers installed, the owner found the end result aesthetically pleasing and plans to use the VicFlex™ system in future projects.

Search Terms: PS-FP.174, FP174, PS-FP-174, PS.FP.174, PSFP174

Not only did it need be installed in time for the start of the fall school year, but the geothermal heating needed to be active before colder months. As a result, the contractor turned to Victaulic as their pipe joining method of choice to meet and exceed this demanding schedule. Victaulic proved to be a true time saver, especially when joining large diameter hot and chilled water piping 14"/350mm and above using Victaulic Advanced Grooved System (AGS) couplings. Featuring a 2-piece housing and ability to visually inspect for correct installation, over 100 AGS couplings were installed, resulting in a tremendous labour and time savings over other joining methods. For connections under 8"/200mm, Victaulic QuickVic® installation-ready couplings, with no disassembly required and no loose parts, maximized productivity.

To control building temperature, Tour and Andersson balancing valves were installed. Finally, given the pipe in this geothermal system was coated, the flame-free installation of Victaulic products eliminated the need to recoat areas of pipe that would have been exposed if welding.

Search Terms: PS-HVAC.381, PSHVAC381, PS-HVAC-381, PS.HVAC.381

In an attempt to have the resort open in time for the 2010 Winter Olympics, the project had an extremely fast-track construction schedule. Facing a penalty for late completion, the contractor required two shifts of 35 crew members to get the job done. Victaulic QuickVic installation-ready couplings were used everywhere possible to join the hot, chilled and domestic water piping systems. With no need to disassemble the coupling and no loose parts to drop or lose, QuickVic boosted productivity and enabled the entire crew to perform a fast, easy and consistent installation.

To join the potable water system, Victaulic enabled use of stainless steel pipe in place of schedule 40 carbon steel pipe making for a more cost effective and easier to handle solution. The resort’s heating and cooling needs were addressed by a geothermal system consisting of 150 bore-holes, each 400 feet deep, drilled into the rock around and beneath the hotel. Victaulic Tour & Andersson balancing valves were installed to precisely control and balance this hydronic system. As Patrick Waunch, President and CEO of Rambow Mechanical comments, “we have achieved great success with our projects using Victaulic products”.

Search Terms: PS-HVAC.333, PSHVAC333, PS-HVAC-333, PS.HVAC.333

Given the important function of this building, it was imperative that it be completed on time and on budget. As a result, the contractor turned to the latest Victaulic pipe joining technologies to ensure productivity was maximized. Victaulic QuickVic® couplings, with no disassembly required and no loose bolts, were used to quickly and easily join all steel and copper piping systems to 8"/200mm in size. Large diameter 14-20"/350-500mm piping was quickly joined using the innovative Advanced Groove System (AGS) coupling. With only 2 housings and 2 bolts, AGS couplings install in a fraction of the time of a welded joint and in nearly all sizes are visually inspectable to ensure proper installation. To control occupant comfort and reduce energy costs, TA circuit balancing valves were installed for their proven performance and reliability.

"We were faced with a tight schedule and financial penalties if we did not complete the project on time. We elected to utilize Victaulic on this project. Using these (Victaulic) products allowed for quick and easy field installation and helped us to successfully complete this project on time," commented Mark Sayers, Project Manager at Sayers & Associates Limited.

Search Terms: PS-HVAC.332, PSHVAC332, PS-HVAC-332, PS.HVAC.332

Given the need for the Oval to be ready in time for athletes to train for the games, construction faced an extremely tight schedule. Victaulic was called upon as the solution of choice for its ease and speed of installation and proven reliability on hot and chilled water systems.

A big challenge faced when installing the piping systems was a very tight and confined space in the chiller mechanical room. The Victaulic system of couplings, valves, and fittings was much easier to work with and easier to install in this environment compared with welding or flanging. As a result, the piping portion of the project stayed on schedule, contributing to the Richmond Olympic Oval being completed on time and on budget.

Search Terms: PS-HVAC.264, PSHVAC264, PS-HVAC-264, PS.HVAC.264

The Victaulic grooved pipe joining system was specified and installed on all chilled, condenser and hot water piping for its numerous benefits over welding including ease of expansion and ease of maintenance. Furthermore, Victaulic provided speed of installation and labour savings, allowing the contractors on both Phases to meet construction schedules and control deliverables.

A Dual Source Water valve package was also installed to join the two incoming water mains, a requirement in Vancouver. Compared to flanged components, the Victaulic package was a fraction of the weight and size and used a prewired valve to eliminate exterior components.

Search Terms: PS-HVAC.103, PSHVAC103, PS-HVAC-103, PS.HVAC.103

To protect occupants, a variety of Victaulic® fire protection solutions were installed for their performance advantages and demonstrated total cost savings to the contractor, General Sprinkler. Over 1500 sprinklers were quickly installed using AquaFlex® flexible sprinkler fittings. Installation-ready right out of the box with a single bracket design, AquaFlex provide the quickest and easiest solution of any flexible sprinkler drop system on the market.

To join system piping, FireLock EZ® Style 009H rigid couplings, with no loose parts, greatly increased productivity. In the valve room, Victaulic FireLock NXT® Series 768 Dry and Series 769 Preaction devices with Vic®-Quick Riser trim packages shipped ready to install with all trim pre-assembled and preset for air pressure at 13 psi/.89 Bar. This design required less time and labour to install and will provide operational cost savings.

Search Terms: PS-FP.139, PSFP139, PS-FP-139, PS.FP.139

Our hydronic balancing wall was a popular area of the booth. Hydronic balancing is an effective tool to achieve comfortable indoor climate, while minimizing energy costs and preventing problems during operations. Bigger and better than last year, we had two loops showcasing our line of hydronic balancing solutions, including balancing valves, coil packages, control valves and actuators, differential pressure controls and measuring tools. As the exclusive North American representative for Tour & Andersson (TA) products, Victaulic also offers TA instruments including the TA-SCOPE and TA-CMI, and software including TA Link and TA Select.

A mainstay of the booth, our product wall showcases just about every kind of product Victaulic offers, from couplings to fittings, valves and accessories, available in a range of finishes, from painted to stainless to galvanized. Above the shelves of products, our Virtual Truck Loading Software is depicted. A recent innovation, this first-of-its-kind software extends BIM coordination to the trucking process to maximize the efficiency of jobsite delivery. By virtually laying out trucks in advance, fabrication work can be sequenced accordingly and material handling reduced. Pipe spools can be fabricated and loaded immediately onto the truck according to the plan. At the job site, the first spool off the truck is the first spool assembled or delivered to the furthest point on the site.

The Virtual Truck Loading Software, custom designed by Victaulic, is inter-operable with Autodesk® Fabrication CADmep 2013, and allows the user to import fabrication spools to virtually lay out trucks while tracking the center of gravity of the load. The application also provides cribbing details in advance so fabricators can build and place cribbing prior to the pipe spools being placed.

With a more prominent position in the booth this year, our new Vic-Press system attracted quite a bit of attention. Vic-Press is the first press-to-connect system for joining off-the-shelf Schedule 10S stainless steel pipe. The Vic-Press system is quick, simple and safe to install. Pipe is cut to size and deburred, marked for visual verification, and inserted into a lubricated coupling, fitting or valve. A handheld, flame-free pressing tool is used to press the component onto the pipe-end, creating a rigid, permanent, leak-tight joint in a matter of seconds. Resulting joints can withstand pressures of up to 500 psi. Although more of an industrial solution, an increasing number of mechanical contractors have expressed interest in the system as the price of copper continues to rise.

Our Advanced Groove System (AGS) display is always a draw. With a two-piece housing and a wedge-shaped groove profile, AGS offers unprecedented assembly speed and reliability in sizes up to 60 inches. AGS-joined pipe handles higher end loads and a higher pressure rating—up to 350 psi, depending on pipe size and schedule—with a nominal three-to-one safety factor. AGS provides advantages such as flame- and fume-free installation, accommodation of piping system movement, a union at every joint, and faster, safer and easier installation, reducing costs.

We hope you enjoyed this photo tour. From the Victaulic booth staff to all of you, safe travels, and see you at AHR Expo 2014!

Needing to install over 1000 sprinkler heads, the contractor tried for the first time, Victaulic Aquaflex® stainless steel sprinkler fittings. They were immediately impressed with the ease of use and speed of installation resulting from the single bracket design and installation-ready state right out of the box. For further time savings,
over 2000 FireLock 009H installation-ready couplings were used to quickly join fire system piping and components up to 6"/150mm in diameter. In the valve room, Victaulic FireLock NXT® Automatic Devices were ordered in the Vic®-Quick Riser configuration allowing for shipment to the jobsite with all trim preinstalled, ready to mount on the riser and connect. Featuring a single set point for easier set up (13psi/.89 bar), no need for air to water differential calculations and the most compact installation footprint in the industry, NXT devices were truly a time and money saver.

Search Terms: PS-FP.138, PSFP138, PS-FP-138, PS.FP.138

The first thing engineers should know about TAB is its history. TAB came about in the 1960s as systems became a lot more complex. In 1965, the Associated Air Balance Council (AABC) was formed to provide independent TAB. Several other certifying agencies have joined the ranks of AABC since then, but all of them share a single principle, which happened to be Keene’s top takeaway: TAB should be done with instruments, not a pencil.

The second item on Keene’s list, and a theme that permeated his entire presentation, is that independence matters. Hiring an independent TAB contractor will ensure an impartial, objective approach to the project that will result in a better end product. This is typically a very important consideration for engineers. In fact, more than 70% of the time, engineers specify an independent TAB provider.

The third thing engineers should know is who hires TAB. This could be a number of entities, including owners, general contractors, engineers, the mechanical contractor, controls contractor, or others involved in a project, such as commissioning agents. According to an AABC study, TAB agencies are hired by the mechanical contractor over 55% of the time, which is not necessarily the best way to approach it. The TAB provider would be getting paid by the organization they’re inspecting, creating a potential conflict of interest. Keene added that, in his opinion, the owner is the best person to hire the TAB agency.

Next on the list is when TAB should be hired. Keene offered a number of stages at which TAB is beneficial:

• Prior to construction starting
• When there is time to perform inspections
• When the document review can be helpful

The AABC study asked TAB firms how often they are hired early enough to perform a review of systems for balanceability prior to construction. The results? Not very often.

The fifth item on Keene’s list is specifications. The following items should be included in TAB specifications:

• Is it independent?
• Who will hold the contract?
• Who will receive the TAB firm’s information?
• Schedule
• Control access
• Is it project specific?
• Tolerances

The AABC provides examples of detailed TAB specifications on its website.

Number six is services provided. In addition to traditional services, engineers should know that TAB agencies also offer services such as:

• Duct leakage testing
• Sound testing
• Vibration testing
• Smoke control
• Pre-demolition readings
• Controls verification
• Site inspections
• Kitchen hood testing
• Domestic hot water testing

Next on the list is TAB reports. Keene mentioned several things for engineers to keep in mind. First, reports will appear different, but the information should be the same. Second, the numbers may not match up. Third, there should be an executive summary at the beginning of the report explaining anomalies in the system and deficiencies, etc. Keene encouraged engineers to spend time reviewing the reports.

Number 8 of the top 10 things engineers should know about test and balance is verification. Although typically specified, it is rarely done. Good firms, however, welcome it. Verification improves overall importance, and engineers should know what to expect during the process.

The next item on Keene’s list is technical aspects of TAB. TAB agencies have experience with many different devices and have tested many different types of equipment. They know how and where to take various readings, and look at the building as a whole.

And last but not least on the top 10 list of things engineers should know about TAB is quality assurance. There are several ways to ensure the agency will do good work. Those include:

• Warranty: Make sure there will be one and that it will be honored.
• References: Ask for these and talk to the sources before hiring an agency.
• Reputation: Ask around for recommendations. Just because a firm is busy, doesn’t mean it’s good. Low bid still wins in many cases.
• Performance guaranty: Firms that are members of certifying agencies are often subject to a performance guaranty. The AABC performance guaranty is a good example.

And with that, we wrapped up the session as well as day 1. Thanks to Jeff Keene and the Associated Air Balance Council for this informative session on test and balance. We’ll be back with more coverage from day 2. Hope everyone is enjoying AHR Expo so far!

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Meyer defined retro-commissioning as the systematic process by which systems are tested and optimized to perform interactively to meet the current operational needs of the owner, as opposed to the original owner performance requirements (OPR). All forms of building commissioning—new construction, retro and ongoing—share the same goals. Those are:

1. Produce a building meeting the unique needs of its owner and occupants.

2. Operate as efficiently as possible while providing a safe, comfortable work environment.

3. Operated and maintained by a well-trained staff or service contractor.

Why is retro-commissioning important? Meyer asked for a show of hands from the audience of who is making a killing in new construction. The response? Muffled laughter and shaking heads. 66% of buildings were constructed between 1960 and 1990, so in many cases, we have to make what we have work. We can improve building performance through retro-commissioning.

Building performance is dependent on four things:

1. Design

2. Construct

3. Commission

4. Operate

Take one of these away, and you have an unstable building. So what’s not working? In many cases, the answer is commissioning and operations. Most buildings are not working correctly when they are turned over to the owner, Meyer said. Why? Construction is driven by schedule and costs, not performance. In terms of operations, most buildings do not measure performance so they don’t improve. Since performance is not measured, operators are not held accountable for performance. Retro-commissioning can set the path straight.

The retro-commissioning process follows these steps:

• Initial site review: The owner and commissioning provider survey the facility to determine the extent and purpose of the project.
• Retro-commissioning pre-site investigation: Before beginning field work, the provider creates a retro-commissioning plan; reviews existing documents, utility use and costs (energy audit), and maintenance management work orders; and performs management and operator interviews.
• Retro-commissioning site investigation: This includes activities such as occupant interviews, change of use for occupancy and change of use from original design (CFR), and heat load study (if required).
• Retro-commissioning investigation and analysis: As issues are discovered, the commissioning provider analyzes each issue and associated causes and impacts. An issue report is created, which details:
  • Description of issue
  • Recommended corrective action
  • Estimated costs
  • Estimated savings, payback and ROI
• Retro-commissioning corrective actions: The owner decides which corrective actions are implemented and when.
• Retro-commissioning: Retro-commission and optimize energy-using building systems.

Good operational practices must be implemented to maintain the benefits achieved through the retro-commissioning process, and a large portion of that involves measurement and training. Data should be collected, analyzed, compared to baselines and reported to management, operators and occupants, and corrections should be made based on this data. Operator instruction and training is the most neglected yet most important part of commissioning. It should take into account the following considerations:

• Personnel turnover
• Task assignment: Is the right person assigned to the job?
• Training of building users as operators. Users can affect building performance by up to 40%, so they should be trained.
• Real training on the actual system and components. How it integrates into the building system should also be included.
• Solving service call systems without clearly understanding the ripple effect.
• “As designed” vs. “as operated”: Obviously, the idea is to get them as close together as possible. Operators need to understand what the designers had in mind.
• To what level should we train the O&M staff? Meyer believes the basis of training should be how the pieces fit together, and cause and effect.

Another best practice is to implement an effective maintenance request system. Users are less likely to “self-help” when a responsive maintenance system exists. Furthermore, chronic maintenance problems become visible, allowing for proper fixes, thus reducing user discomfort and dissatisfaction. This helps avert possible higher repair/replacement/operating costs.

Building commissioning is a process. If it’s not done correctly or not supported by the owner, it’s a waste of time, Meyer said. Have properly trained, certified, experienced people help you. And to maintain the benefits long-term, properly train the appropriate personnel, and ensure they are motivated, conscientious, equipped and funded.

That’s a wrap for this session. Special thanks to Tom Meyer and the National Environmental Balancing Bureau for their words of wisdom. Stay tuned as we bring you more coverage live from AHR Expo 2013.

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Victaulic now has 15 production facilities and 28 branches globally and the investment in Pune will strengthen its distribution capability to better serve an expanding customer base in India. The new 40,000 square foot/3,700 square meter facility includes extensive storage and local operations offices as well as visitor demonstration areas that will increase capabilities for customer demonstrations and installer training. 

Recent Victaulic successes have included a complete fire protection system install for Tetra Pak India Pvt Ltd in Pune, as well as projects for BMW in Chennai and CISCO in Bangalore.

“The opening of the new branch signifies the growth of Victaulic in India and will help us meet the strong demand for our products in the region,” said Mark Gilbert, Vice President and General Manager for Europe, Middle East, Africa and India.

Easy, safe to install and environmentally friendly, Victaulic piping solutions have a significant impact on the construction industry worldwide. The company takes sustainability extremely seriously and is a Founding Member of the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), as well as being involved with other international initiatives including the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM).

The Victaulic Mumbai branch will continue to handle other aspects of business, including project design, technical and financial analysis, 3D modeling, installation plans and project management.

“We have operated out of our Mumbai office for five years and are very excited to increase our investment in India,” added Pankaj Soni, Country Manager – India. “Victaulic is committed to being a good neighbor in Pune and we are very much looking forward to building a relationship with our new employees and their families, as well as local businesses and the community.”

The Pune facility is the most recent addition to Victaulic global investments and follows the new locations in Dalian, China; Queretaro, Mexico; and Chihuahua, Mexico.

About Victaulic

Founded in 1925, Victaulic is the global leader in mechanical pipe joining solutions. A full range of mechanical pipe joining systems can be found in leading regional projects such as Tetra Pak in Pune, the Park Hotel Hyderabad and the IOCL Naptha cracker plant at the Panipat Refinery in Haryana.

The Victaulic operational office in India is located in Pune, and the company’s EMEA-I headquarters is located in Nazareth, Belgium. Victaulic employs more than 3,500 people worldwide.

Victaulic develops products and services for some of the world's most demanding markets, including oil, gas and chemical, mining, power generation, water and wastewater treatment and military and maritime systems as well as commercial building and fire protection applications. Victaulic products are available in 115 countries.

For more details, visit http://www.victaulic.com Keep .in touch with Victaulic on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Facing a daily percentage penalty from the owner if not completed by deadline and needing to install over 1100 sprinkler drops in the lobby and foyer areas, they needed a fire protection solution capable of getting them back on schedule. Kraico realized their current method of sprinkler installation, threaded hard-pipe arm-overs, would be a very time consuming task, especially given the main foyer and entrance areas had 28 ft. high ceilings. For every drop, one crew member on scissor lift would need to examine and communicate measurement distances to the threading machine operator so candlesticks could be produced.

To alleviate this process, Victaulic introduced the VicFlex™ braided sprinkler assembly system with one-piece patented 1-BEE bracket and pre-assembled sprinkler head. Installation-ready out of the box, VicFlex allowed for fast, easy positioning and placement of the sprinkler heads without needed for custom arm-over fabrication or threading.

Search Terms: PS-HVAC.401, PSHVAC401, PS.HVAC.401, HVAC-401, HVAC.401

As always, a crew of friendly faces will be staffing the Victaulic booth (#2149), where we’ll have the latest grooved pipe joining and hydronic balancing products on display. Stop by to learn about our Virtual Truck Loading Software and exciting new features of the TA-SCOPE.

Between working the booth and roaming the expansive expo hall, we’ll be attending several of the educational sessions offered throughout the first two days of the show and sharing the lessons learned right here on our blog. Here’s a quick peek at some of the sessions we’ll be taking in:

Day 1 – Monday, January 28

10 AM: Retro-Commissioning for Existing Facilities
As the crowds gather at the gates for the expo hall grand opening, we’ll be sitting comfortably in room D165 for this session, presented by the National Environmental Balancing Bureau (NEBB). The session aims to cover a variety of topics, including the optimization of HVAC systems, best practices for temperature control systems, evaluation and improvement of electrical systems, and how to properly evaluate system performance and operations.

2:30 PM: Top 10 Things Engineers Should Know About Test & Balance
After lunch, we’ll head back to room D165 to hear from Jeff Keene of Delta-T, organized by the Associated Air Balance Council (AABC). Key concepts that will be reviewed include development of project-specific test and balance (TAB) specifications; how to read, understand, and effectively use TAB reports; the importance of insisting on an independent agency and involving them early in a project; and technical issues such as the proper placement of valves and dampers.

Day 2 – Tuesday, January 29

9 AM: Benefits and Strategies of Custom Designed and Tested Mechanical Rooms
We’ll start day two bright and early in room D162 with Ryan Whaley of TMI Custom Air Systems, organized by HARDI. The benefits and design strategies of custom-designed, installed and tested mechanical rooms will be discussed, along with components of these systems, including AHUs, chillers, boilers, pumps, controls, electrical wiring, controls wiring and plumbing. The importance of factory testing prior to jobsite delivery will also be reviewed.

2 PM: Why We Need to be Part of Several Connection Communities: An Educational Overview
For our last session, we’ll head over to New Product & Technology Theater C to learn about connection communities. Ken Sinclair of AutomatedBuildings.com will moderate this session, which will include presentations from BACnet, Lonmark, EnOcean, Niagara, and more. The session will cover the importance of being a part of a connection community to stay abreast of the latest industry standards.

We hope you’ll join us at AHR in our booth and at one or more of the technical sessions. Not attending? Follow along here, as well as on the Victaulic Twitter feed for live coverage of expert sessions, the latest happenings in the expo hall and more. See you in Dallas!

Day 1 – Monday, January 28

10 AM: Retro-Commissioning for Existing Facilities
As the crowds gather at the gates for the expo hall grand opening, we’ll be sitting comfortably in room D165 for this session, presented by the National Environmental Balancing Bureau (NEBB). The session aims to cover a variety of topics, including the optimization of HVAC systems, best practices for temperature control systems, evaluation and improvement of electrical systems, and how to properly evaluate system performance and operations.

2:30 PM: Top 10 Things Engineers Should Know About Test & Balance
After lunch, we’ll head back to room D165 to hear from Jeff Keene of Delta-T, organized by the Associated Air Balance Council (AABC). Key concepts that will be reviewed include development of project-specific test and balance (TAB) specifications; how to read, understand, and effectively use TAB reports; the importance of insisting on an independent agency and involving them early in a project; and technical issues such as the proper placement of valves and dampers.

Day 2 – Tuesday, January 29

9 AM: Benefits and Strategies of Custom Designed and Tested Mechanical Rooms
We’ll start day two bright and early in room D162 with Ryan Whaley of TMI Custom Air Systems, organized by HARDI. The benefits and design strategies of custom-designed, installed and tested mechanical rooms will be discussed, along with components of these systems, including AHUs, chillers, boilers, pumps, controls, electrical wiring, controls wiring and plumbing. The importance of factory testing prior to jobsite delivery will also be reviewed.

2 PM: Why We Need to be Part of Several Connection Communities: An Educational Overview
For our last session, we’ll head over to New Product & Technology Theater C to learn about connection communities. Ken Sinclair of AutomatedBuildings.com will moderate this session, which will include presentations from BACnet, Lonmark, EnOcean, Niagara, and more. The session will cover the importance of being a part of a connection community to stay abreast of the latest industry standards.

For more information during the event, check out Victaulic on Twitter

Further, since the Victaulic Vortex system utilizes a minimal presence of water, it was well-suited to this environment. Suppression systems using dry chemicals were also not applicable since they could ruin the equipment and lead to long facility down time for repairs or replacement.

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Victaulic couplings and fittings were used on multiple water lines throughout the new generating unit. The ease and speed of installation allowed the contractors to maintain their pre-determined construction timeline. The lack of loose parts associated with Victaulic products also helped to maintain safety at the jobsite. This was such a large extension to the preexisting plant that reliability of the new system was crucial to the success of the overall plant, and Victaulic solutions added to the integrity of the new unit. 

Search Terms: PS-IND.181, PSIND181, IND.181, IND-181, 181, PS-IND-181, PS.IND.181

To address these issues, Victaulic mechanical couplings were installed in place of welded pipe joints on the penstock. During construction, rain often fell heavily. Since Victaulic couplings could be installed in any weather condition, and with no special requirements, crews were able to proceed without costly delays. The tents and preheating of the pipe required when welding were eliminated and the amount of excavation, bell holing and dewatering was reduced. In addition, the two-piece housing design of the Victaulic couplings made for fast and easy installation that could be visually inspected. Specialized personnel typically required to weld and x-ray the joints were not required. Use of Victaulic also improved site safety as the pipe on site could be grooved and re-coated prior to sending it up the single-lane logging road to be assembled. This process also eliminated need for field repair (repainting) of the line post assembly meaning less noxious fumes and fewer delays.

Victaulic proved to be the perfect solution resulting in early completion of the project. A joint that typically would have taken up to six hours to weld was completed in as little as 20 minutes. Along with the cost savings, the ease of assembly of Victaulic products brought another important benefit to the owner−the ability to positively impact the community by using more of the local Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation labour force to accomplish the task.

Search Terms: PD-IND.160, PS-IND-160, PS.IND.160, IND.160, IND-160, PSIND160

Victaulic Firelock® couplings, check valves, sprinkler heads and Vicflex® flexible drop sprinkler fittings were chosen to be installed on the plaza’s fire protection system. Victaulic Firelock® check valves’ and sprinkler heads’ proven outstanding performance and quality ensured a reduction in risk and associated costs. Moreover, Victaulic Vicflex® flexible drops offered a fast, simple installation process that reduced installation time and cut material losses by eliminating the challenges associated with hard pipe connections to the sprinkler heads.

Search Terms: PS-FP.176, PS-FP-176, PS.FP.176, FP.176, FP-176, PSFP176

Victaulic Firelock® couplings, fittings and Mechanical-Tee's were chosen to be installed on the complex’s sprinkler systems because they provided an easy and fast installation. A union at every joint provided by the Victaulic grooved system also allows for ease and speed of future system maintenance. In addition, Victaulic products were valued by the contractor and owner for the proven reliability, durability and outstanding performance of the joints. No fire hazards and hot works during installation not only improved on-site safety for installers, but also increased productivity and helped to compress the overall schedule of construction.

Search Terms: PS-FP.175, PS-FP-175, PS.FP.175, FP.175, FP-175, PSFP175

Needing to replace copper lines in the mill, Domtar turned to the Victaulic Vic-Press™ system for joining schedule 10S stainless steel. With fire always being a concern in an operating mill, Vic-Press was the product of choice for its flame-free installation and productivity advantages. Eliminating noxious gases,
fumes and the need for fire watch and welding, Vic-Press installed quickly using standard off-the-shelf schedule 10S pipe. On this project, Vic-Press resulted in significant cost savings given the system installed 2 weeks faster than welding.

As a result of the increased productivity and safety that Vic-Press delivered on this first project, the Domtar Kamloops Mill is now using the product on a regular basis.

Search Terms: PS-IND.201, PS.IND.201, PS-IND-201, IND201