Consulting-Specifying Engineer - March 2009 - (Page 20) Codes & Standards Point-of-use systems Fairly new to the commercial scene is the point-of-use gray water system, which can be used for small-scale water reuse. These systems address many of the concerns of a whole-building system: • They’re less costly, and can be used in one or several locations within a building; cost is capped by the number of systems put in place • They don’t violate any codes, and they address the concerns an AHJ might have with health and safety or water cross-contamination issues • Little to no room for water storage is required, plus maintenance is simple • They can be used as a learning tool in schools or other facilities interested in teaching its residents about efficiency. however, don’t want to be first in their cities on anything. Dealing with AHJs and other municipal or state entities could drive up costs or unbillable time. Guidelines may come case-by-case from building inspectors who are struggling to ensure the International Plumbing Code’s guidelines are met in conjunction with their own city’s guidelines. For example, International Plumbing QUESTIONS ABOUT EQUIPMENT GROUNDING? http://www.steelconduit.org Code Table 605.4 lists all the different pipe materials that can be used, but AHJs often have their own codes, so engineers need to work with both. Another concern, though not directly addressed by national or local code, is where the water is eventually going to be used. If gray water is collected and used in a water closet in a school, is it safe around young children? Or if the gray water is collected from a hospital or medical facility that uses a lot of water, is it being treated properly before reuse? Overall, these systems will gain traction as more engineers install them. Buildings working toward U.S. Green Building Council LEED certification can gain up to 5 points for freshwater and wastewater reduction as well as for using innovative techniques to do so. Programs like this may help push gray water reuse into the spotlight. Help is Just a Click Away. STI’s GEMI (Grounding and EMI) software analysis program helps you calculate steel conduit and EMT run lengths to assure compliance with the National Electrical Code. Shows you if there are any advantages to running a supplementary EGC. Visit our website and check out our new TechTalk on the subject. Is your MEP firm among the Giants 100? The 2009 survey begins February 16, 2009. Visit www.csemag.com/giants for more information. PRESEN TED BY: SPONSORED BY: CONSULTING – SPECIFYING 2000 Ponce de Leon, Suite 600, Coral Gables, Florida 33134, (305) 443-1603 • www.steeltubeinstitute.org Input #212 at csemag.com/quickResponse 20 Consulting-Specifying Engineer • MARCH 2009 http://www.steelconduit.org http://www.steeltubeinstitute.org http://www.csemag.com/giants http://www.csemag.com/giants http://www.steeltubeinstitute.org http://www.csemag.com/quickResponse
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.