HYDRONICS e Continued from p 40
difficult 2009–2010 marketplace, combined with a gradually improving commercial housing market in 2011, leads us to great expectations for this year. phc: How do you see the long- and
short-term economic forecast shaking out for the boiler market? Young: Like all industries, the
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commercial boiler/DHW market fluctuates with the economy, both short and long term. New commercial construction tends to be a lagging indicator. The more steady opportunity is in replacements and existing system upgrades. We know residential housing remains anemic. Due to current economic conditions, private multi- family housing is recovering, albeit from a very steep drop. The government stimulus of 2009–2010 was a major factor in those years. It focused on investment in green projects in government buildings. We expect these programs to wane, if not disappear, in 2011. Consequently, it’s a mixed bag in the short run, but we believe that, due to the reawakening private sector, the recent upward trend in commercial construction will continue. phc: How can your company help
the contractor conduct his business better? Young: It is Raypak’s belief that
recent technology advancements in the commercial boiler/DHW and overall building management systems have been so rapid that they have far outpaced the availability of truly qualified application, installation, startup and maintenance field technicians. A major factor in Raypak’s boiler and control design criteria has always been operational simplicity, reliability and easy maintenance. This is no longer enough. A more complete solution includes field training, training and more training. Raypak’s service training facility in
Oxnard has recently been upgraded to accommodate more schools, smaller groups and heavy hands-on training.
We have also selected several regional locations around the country where similar operational training for any or all of our product lines will be scheduled. These will be addressed on a region-by-region basis, utilizing both factory and field Raypak personnel.
some point these approaches are forced to face a real world economic pay back analysis, their rapid growth curve will be seriously challenged. This is particularly true of solar. We all want and need alternate
energy sources that are not fossil-fuel
Skid-mounted and complete DHW systems are becoming popular with developers who do multi city installations. This system for a 230-unit condo in Texas was done by Teal Systems, San Antonio, a company that specializes in total management multi-family mechanical rooms. The skid includes all necessary components, pre piped, wired, and ready to “plug and play”. Package includes BMS command and control, Plus start up and operational supervision. Local trades are utilized for installation and trained for ongoing support of systems.
Raypak has long been recognized for its extraordinary factory support in application assistance, troubleshooting and contractor service training. We know our efforts must be redoubled now, both at home office and locally. Obviously, the light to medium
commercial hydronic and DHW markets have always been Raypak’s special niche. The economic factors previously outlined indicate a gradual growth, both in replacement and new construction, as long as the economy continues to recover. Alternative energies such as solar thermal, ground water heat pump, waste heat recovery and more will see a rapid percentage expansion, as long as government subsidies continue. However, if at
copper finned tube heat exchanger technology to hydronic boilers. This new concept for light weight, very low water content, rapid recovery package boilers was embraced for use in high comfort radiant floor heating in luxury Hollywood homes. The original name “Radiant System Package Boilers” was soon shortened to “Raypak”.
Raypak and the Copper Fin industry F
ounded in 1948, Raypak pioneered the adaption of
based. Still, we expect natural gas products to become the primary fossil fuel for heating, electricity generation and, perhaps, automobile fuel, as the Western nations develop and invest in the conversion to alternative energy. New products and/or controls developed for hydronic and hot water heating should now include a convenient method for incorporating any and all potential supplemental sources as an option. For our industry, the biggest long term positive influence is that natural gas, already the cleanest and most available fuel, will be the bridge to a greener future. It will definitely be needed as a growing source of energy for several decades. ;
Subsequently the fin tube design
was extended to Commercial Domestic Hot water and Pool heating, where the fast recovery, reduced energy consumption, and space saving were highly prized. Over the past sixty years, Raypak’s continuing copper fin tube product development has spawned an industry which holds a significant to commanding share in each of the three aforementioned markets.
Raypak remains a leader in each and continues to enjoy the largest copper fin installed base in the industry. During the 1970s, the
commercial Hydronic Heating and Plumbing Industries grasped the significance and application advantages afforded by the use of copper fin tube, low mass/water content, high recovery boilers, with modulating control to better track demand.
phc june 2011
www.phcnews.com
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