Mechanical

Electrical

Plumbing of

Oklahoma

Electrical News:

Electrical code: Bonding Is Your Parachute: Connecting up to Code

Having established what systems we need to ground and how the grounding electrode system is to be installed to meet the performance requirement of Section 250.4, we shift focus to the second half of Article 250’s title. Let’s examine the concept of bonding.

Bonding is to electrical systems what a parachute is to skydiving. Could you go without it? I guess so! But you would be a lot safer if it was included. If we think all the way back to our discussion on Section 250.4, normally non-current-carrying conductive material needs to be connected in a manner that establishes an effective ground-fault current (EGFC) path. This pathway must be a low-impedance circuit to facilitate the operation of the overcurrent protective device (OCPD). It is the OCPD operation function of the EGFC path that makes bonding the parachute of the electrical system.

every three years.

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Mechanical News:

Advances in Heat Pump Rooftop Units for Cold Climates

Following its 2021 residential Cold Climate Heat Pump (CCHP) challenge, the Department of Energy (DOE) recently launched a similar program for commercial rooftop heat pumps. The DOE’s Commercial Building Heat Pump Accelerator program, introduced earlier this year, encourages manufacturers to produce more efficient and cost-effective heat pump rooftop units (RTUs) suitable for cold climates by December 2027.

According to the DOE, heat pump RTUs can cut GHG emissions and energy costs by up to 50% compared to conventional RTUs with natural gas heating. Yet despite growing demand, fewer than 15% of U.S. commercial buildings use heat pumps, and adoption is even lower in cold climates, where commercial equipment performance and availability lag behind residential systems.

Through the new program, DOE is working with key stakeholders — including AAON, Budderfly, Carrier Global Corp., Lennox Intl., Rheem Mfg. Co., Trane Technologies, and York Intl. Corp. — to develop and deploy next-generation heat pump RTU technology. The program also includes commercial retailers such as Amazon, IKEA, and Target, which have pledged to evaluate and adopt the new heat pump RTUs once they become available.

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Plumbing News:

Commercial Hydronic Innovations that Speed Installs and Maximize Efficiencies

A first in the North American market, these prefabricated, self-contained, heat-interface units (HIUs) convert a building’s hydronic heating supply to on-demand domestic hot water (DHW).

Ideal in multifamily structures, hospitality buildings, dormitories, assisted-living centers, and healthcare patient towers, these HIUs (sold under the brand name AquaPort™) feature a proportional control valve (PCV) and double-wall heat exchanger to create the DHW from the hydronic heating supply.

This solution removes the centralized DHW and recirculation piping to provide numerous benefits, including energy and water savings, improved water quality, installation efficiencies, reduced maintenance, and reduced risk. The PCV does not require any utility connections and eliminates the DHW heat source, supply piping, recirculation network, pumps, and storage tanks. It also optimizes efficiencies of the hydronic heating supply.

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Executive Director Jerry Fairchild

Call or text (918) 282-7864

Email mepo.edu@gmail.com

P.O. Box 2975

Broken Arrow, OK 74013

www.mepo.org