Building Management Hawaii August/September - (Page 36)

Industry News Beachside Roofing Recognized Beachside Roofing, LLC was recently awarded Partner in Quality status for 2014 by Firestone Building Products in recognition of the contractor's outstanding efforts in promoting the highest level of roofing quality. Recipients of this year's award need to have met the following criteria during 2013: installing at least four warranted Firestone roofs in each of the previous five years; maintaining at least one million square feet of Firestone roofs under warranty; and achieving an annual quality incidence rating of 1.5 or less. This is the second year in a row Beachside Roofing has qualified for Partner in Quality status. Call for Submissions: Top Roofing Awards 2014 The Roofing Contractors Association of Hawaii (RCAH) is gearing up for its third annual Roofing Awards program and is now welcoming submissions for consideration. Nominations will be accepted in both commercial and residential categories and for most types of systems, including fluid applied, singleply, modified bitumen, metal roofing, tile roofing and shingle roofing. The nomination deadline is Oct. 3, 2014; forms are available online at www.rcah.org. Scott Ai showcases Beachside Roofing's award. Movers & Shakers King & Neel Ownership Expands Hawaii insurance company King & Neel, Inc. recently welcomed Assistant Vice Presidents Sean Spencer and Patricia "Tricia" Miyashiro as owners in the agency. Spencer joined King & Neel in 2008 and offers 15 years of experience in diverse claims Sean Spencer handling and risk management and specializes in business insurance, including employee benefits, selfinsurance group programs and construction bonding. Patricia Miyashiro Preventing Backflow Continued from page 33 systems last about five years. The Honolulu Board of Water Supply (HBWS) requires that building backflow prevention assemblies be tested once a year by a certified tester and that a building's entire backflow system be certified every three years. Backflow prevention assemblies have internal seals, springs and moving parts that degrade over time. All parts should be examined regularly and replaced at the first hint of degradation or compromise. If repair costs will exceed $1,000, a certified contractor must do the work. "You should get your backflow system tested because it protects your property and clients from liability and health issues," advises Earl Ichimura, who is both president of Pural Water Specialty Co. Inc. in Aiea and Hawaii chapter president of the American 36 August-September 2014 BMH Backflow Prevention Association. Companies such as his can offer upkeep, maintenance and certification of your backflow system. While backflow systems can be maintained and inspected by private testers, boiler inspections must be conducted by state boiler inspectors for certification and by private insurance inspectors for policy requirements. Ichimura recommends preventive maintenance for both for insurance purposes and economical efficiency. "By keeping your boilers running as clean as possible, you can save on fuel. It pays to be preventive rather than reactive," he adds. "There's a backlog for boiler inspections by the state, so they should be scheduled about a month or more in advance," he notes. "Backflow inspections, which are done by private testers or by water department inspectors in each county, may be backlogged about two to four weeks out. The state won't send you a notice that a backflow inspection is due, even though it's required by law. The onus is on the property manager." For more on backflow prevention, HBWS offers information for consumers at www.hbws.org. On the site, pull up Frequently Asked Questions from the Customer Service menu, then click on Backflow Prevention FAQ. For information appropriate to commercial and other large-scale water protection needs, visit the American Backflow Prevention Association's FAQ page at www.abpa.org, click on Educational Resources and select Frequently Asked Questions. www.buildingmanagementhawaii.com http://www.rcah.org http://www.hbws.org http://www.abpa.org http://www.buildingmanagementhawaii.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Building Management Hawaii August/September

Roofing Warranties: Read Them
Heeding Pacific Cyclone Warnings
Eco-friendly Metal Roofing
Cool Roofing Technology
When Good Pipes Go Bad
Why Cast Iron Pipes Fail
Is Your Sewer Squeaky Clean?
Water Heaters Versus Boilers
Preventing Backflow
Safeguarding Your Building’s Water
Safeguarding Your Building’s Water
Why Regular HVAC Inspections Matter
Why Regular HVAC Inspections Matter
Industry News
Industry News
On Site: A Well-Run Association
On Site: A Well-Run Association

Building Management Hawaii August/September