Promovendus maakt recyclebaar rubber
- Home Page 5
loading...
Electronic Equipment Recycling
The Impact of E-Waste / Student Art Guide
We are observers in the development of a new ANSI accredited electronic equipment recycling standard produced with the leadership of NSF International; a Michigan-based standards developer (founded at the University of Michigan) not far from our own offices and one of the largest in the world.
The electronic recycling space is growing quickly — reaching far upstream the value chain into how electronic equipment is designed in the first place. An overview of the project is available in the link below:
Joint Committee on Environmental Leadership Standard for Servers
A public edition is linked below:
This standard moved swiftly to market under NSF International’s continuous maintenance process. We bring it to the attention of the education facilities industry as a recommendation for lowering #TotalCostofOwnership. Participation as a User interest in American national standards development reduces “wheel reinvention” in which many recycling workgroups unnecessarily start from scratch, eliminates the need to attend costly workshops hosted by trade associations and significantly minimizes destructive competition.
This title is on the standing agenda of our Redivivus colloquium. Since our interest lies primarily with electrotechnology we collaborate with the IEEE Standards Association. See our CALENDAR for the next online meeting; open to everyone.
Issue: [14-74], [15-147], [15-148]
Category: Electrical, Telecommunications, Interior
Colleagues: Mike Anthony, Jim Harvey, Richard Robben
Campus District Energy
University of California Merced Power Plant*
District energy plants for campuses are more easily modified over time than built from scratch due to their centralized, modular design and existing infrastructure. These systems, supplying heating, cooling, and sometimes power to multiple buildings, are designed with scalability in mind. District energy plants for campuses are more easily modified over time than built from scratch due to their centralized, modular design and existing infrastructure. These systems, supplying heating, cooling, and sometimes power to multiple buildings, are designed with scalability in mind.
Today at the usual hour we examine the status of best practice literature and prepare responses to relevant public consultations. Use the login credentials at the upper right of our home page.
The following list cites key codes, standards, recommended practices, and guidelines applicable to campus district energy systems, which provide heating, cooling, and sometimes power to multiple buildings. These are widely recognized in the United States and often internationally, ensuring safety, efficiency, and environmental compliance.
-
ASHRAE Standard 90.1 – Energy Standard for Sites and Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings
-
Description: Establishes minimum requirements for energy-efficient design of buildings, including district energy systems for heating and cooling, covering system efficiency, controls, and insulation.
-
Relevance: Ensures campus energy systems meet energy performance benchmarks and optimize thermal distribution.
-
-
ASME B31.1 – Power Piping
-
Description: Governs the design, construction, and maintenance of piping systems for steam, hot water, and other fluids used in district heating systems.
-
Relevance: Applies to high-pressure steam and hot water piping in campus district energy systems.
-
-
NFPA 54/ANSI Z223.1 – National Fuel Gas Code
-
Description: Provides safety requirements for the installation and operation of fuel gas piping systems, appliances, and venting for gas-fired equipment in district energy plants.
-
Relevance: Ensures safe operation of gas-fired boilers or cogeneration systems in campus energy facilities.
-
-
ASHRAE Guideline 0 – The Commissioning Process
-
Description: Outlines a systematic process for commissioning building systems, including district energy systems, to ensure they meet design intent and operational requirements.
-
Relevance: Critical for verifying that campus heating, cooling, and power systems perform as designed.
-
-
International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)
-
Description: Sets energy efficiency requirements for building systems, including district energy systems connected to buildings, focusing on reducing energy waste.
-
Relevance: Guides energy-efficient design and operation of campus-wide heating and cooling networks.
-
-
NFPA 85 – Boiler and Combustion Systems Hazards Code
-
Description: Provides safety standards for the design, installation, operation, and maintenance of boilers and combustion systems used in district energy plants.
-
Relevance: Ensures safe operation of large boilers in campus central plants.
-
-
ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC), Section I
-
Description: Governs the design, fabrication, and inspection of boilers used in district energy systems.
-
Relevance: Ensures structural integrity and safety of high-pressure boilers in campus energy systems.
-
-
ASHRAE Standard 188 – Legionellosis: Risk Management for Building Water Systems
-
Description: Provides guidelines for managing Legionella risk in water systems, including cooling towers and hot water systems in district energy setups.
-
Relevance: Critical for maintaining water quality and preventing health risks in campus cooling and heating systems.
-
-
API Recommended Practice 2000 – Venting Atmospheric and Low-Pressure Storage Tanks
-
Description: Offers guidelines for the safe venting of storage tanks used for fuel or other liquids in district energy systems.
-
Relevance: Applies to fuel storage for backup generators or boilers in campus energy plants.
-
-
EPA’s Clean Air Act Regulations (40 CFR Part 60 and 63)
-
Description: Regulates emissions from boilers, engines, and other combustion equipment in district energy systems to ensure compliance with air quality standards.
-
Relevance: Ensures campus energy systems meet federal environmental requirements for emissions control.
-
Additional Notes:
-
Jurisdiction-Specific Codes: Local building codes, such as those based on the International Building Code (IBC) or state-specific amendments, may apply and should be verified for campus projects.
-
Sustainability Guidelines: Guidelines like LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) or ASHRAE’s Building Decarbonization resources may be relevant for campuses pursuing sustainability goals.
-
Verification: Consult local authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs) and campus-specific requirements, as codes may vary by region or institution.
Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code
“Mechanic and Steam Pump” | Lewis W. Hine (1921)
The heating and cooling requirements of K-12 schools, college and university educational, medical research and healthcare delivery campuses are a large market for boiler pressure vessel manufacturers, installers, maintenance personnel and inspectors. The demand for building new, and upgrading existing boilers — either single building boilers, regional boilers or central district energy boilers — presents a large market for professional engineering firms also. A large research university, for example, will have dozens, if not well over 100 boilers that heat and cool square footage in all climates throughout the year. The same boilers provide heating and cooling for data centers, laundry operations, kitchen steam tables in hospitals and dormitories.
The safety rules for these large, complex and frankly, fearsome systems, have been developed by many generations of mechanical engineering professionals in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC). From the BPVC scope statement:
“…The International Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code establishes rules of safety — relating only to pressure integrity — governing the design, fabrication, and inspection of boilers and pressure vessels, and nuclear power plant components during construction. The objective of the rules is to provide a margin for deterioration in service. Advancements in design and material and the evidence of experience are constantly being added…”
Many state and local governments incorporate the BPVC by reference into public safety regulations and have established boiler safety agencies. Boiler explosions are fairly common, as a simple internet search on the term “school boiler explosion” will reveal. We linked one such incident at the bottom of this page.
University of Michigan Central Heating Plant
The 2023 Edition of the BPVC is the current edition; though the document is divided into many sections that change quickly.
ASME Codes & Standards Electronic Tools
ASME Proposals Available For Public Review
ASME Section IV: Rules for the Construction of Heating Boilers (2019)
Public consultation on changes to the BPVC standard for power boilers closes February 7th.
This is a fairly stable domain at the moment. We direct you elsewhere to emergent topics:
Ghost kitchens gaining steam on college campuses
College: the Next Big Frontier for Ghost Kitchens
Illinois Admin. Code tit. 77, § 890.1220 – Hot Water Supply and Distribution
Design Considerations for Hot Water Plumbing
FREE ACCESS: 2019 ASME Boiler and Pressure Code (Section VI)
Two characteristics of the ASME standards development process are noteworthy:
- Only the proposed changes to the BPVC are published. The context surrounding a given change may be lost or not seen unless access to previous version is available. Knowledgeable experts who contribute to the development of the BPVC usually have a previous version, however. Newcomers to the process may not.
- The BPVC has several breakout committees; owing to its longer history in the US standards system and the gathering pace of complexity in this technology.
We unpack the ASME bibliography primarily during our Mechanical, Plumbing and Energy colloquia; and also during our coverage of large central laundry and food preparation (Kitchens 100) colloquia. See our CALENDAR for the next online meeting, open to everyone.
Issue: [12-33] [15-4] [15-161] [16-77] [18-4] [19-157]
Category: District Energy, Energy, Mechanical, Kitchens, Hot Water
Contact: Eric Albert, Richard Robben, Larry Spielvogel
More:
Standards Michigan BPVC Archive
Big Ten & Friends Energy Conference 2023
Standards Michigan Workspace (Requires access credentials from bella@standardsmichigan.com).
School Boiler Maintenance Programs: How Safe Are The Children?
Boiler Explodes at Indiana High School
Engineers at @virginia_tech are boosting heat transfer by prompting bubbles to jump from a heated plate during boiling, potentially increasing power plant efficiency with microstructures: https://t.co/W1gLvhn15q pic.twitter.com/45PNRAEmpB
— ASME.org (@ASMEdotorg) January 30, 2024
Natural Gas Transmission & Distribution
Natural gas systems are deeply integrated into educational settlements: providing fuel to district energy plants, hospital backup power systems, hot water systems to residence halls and kitchens to name a few. The AGA catalog is fairly stable; reflected in the relative reliability of the US natural gas distribution network. Still, the door is open for discovering and promulgating best practice; driven largely by harmonization with other standards and inevitable “administrivia”. The current edition is dated 2024 and harmonizes with NFPA 54.
Poster showing benefits of gas lighting and heating (Italy, 1902)
Why did WTI Crude oil price crash?
1) Because America’s main WTI oil storage is in Cushing in Oklahoma state. Cushing was at 77% capacity on April 17th. Storage would be full by May 1st week. Cushing is landlockded and 800 km from sea. So storing oil on a ship is not possible. pic.twitter.com/Ye2h8XI3jB
— Kiran Kumar S (@KiranKS) April 22, 2020
Most school districts, colleges, universities and university-affiliated health care systems depend upon a safe and reliable supply of natural gas. Owing to safety principles that have evolved over 100-odd years you hardly notice them. When they fail you see serious drama and destruction.
One of the first names in standards setting for the natural gas industry in the United States is the American Gas Association (AGA) which represents companies delivering natural gas safely, reliably, and in an environmentally responsible way. From the AGA vision statement:
“….(AGA) is committed to leveraging and utilizing America’s abundant, domestic, affordable and clean natural gas to help meet the nation’s energy and environmental needs….”
We do not advocate in natural gas standards at the moment but AGA standards do cross our radar because they assure energy security to the emergent #SmartCampus. We find AGA standards referenced in natural gas service contracts (for large district energy plants, for example) or in construction contracts for new buildings. As with all other energy technological developments we keep pace with, improvements are continual even though those improvements are known to only a small cadre of front line engineers and technicians.
AGA has released seventeen redlines containing proposed changes to one of its parent documents for natural gas delivery” GPTC Z380.1 Guide for Gas Transmission, Distribution, and Gathering Piping Systems. The redlines are listed in the link below:
American Gas Association Standards Public Review Home Page
Public consultation on the 2027 National Fuel Gas Code closes June 4, 2024.
You may obtain an electronic copy from: https://www.aga.org/research/policy/ansi-public-reviews/. Comments should be emailed to Betsy Tansey GPTC@aga.org, Secretary, ASC GPTC Z380. Any questions you may have concerning public reviews please contact Betsy Tansey (btansey@aga.org) as well.
.jpg)
University of Michigan Central Heating Plant
We meet online every day at 11 AM Eastern time to march through technical specifics of all technical consensus products open for public comment. Feel free to click in. Also, we meet with mechanical engineering experts from both the academic and business side of the global education community once per month. See our CALENDAR for our next Mechanical Engineering monthly teleconference; open to everyone.
Issue: [19-27]
Category: Energy, Mechanical, Risk Management
Colleagues: Mike Anthony, Richard Robben, Larry Spielvogel
Interconnected Electric Power Production Sources “Microgrids”
“Landscape with a Farm House and Windmill” (1680) / Jacob Isaaksz van Ruisdael
We have always taken a forward-looking approach to the National Electrical Code (NEC) because there is sufficient supply of NEC instructors and inspectors and not enough subject matter experts driving user-interest ideas into it. Today we approach the parts of the 2023 NEC that cover wiring safety for microgrid systems; a relatively new term of art that appropriates safety and sustainability concepts that have existed in electrotechnology energy systems for decades.
Turn to Part II of Article 705 Interconnected Electric Power Production Sources:
Free Access 2023 National Electrical Code
You will notice that microgrid wiring safety is a relatively small part of the much larger Article 705 Content. There were relatively minor changes to the 2017 NEC in Section 705.50 — but a great deal of new content regarding Microgrid Interconnection Devices, load side connections, backfeeding practice and disconnecting means — as can be seen in the transcripts of Code-Making Panel 4 action last cycle:
Code‐Making Panel 4 Public Input Report (692 Pages)
Code-Making Panel 4 Public Comment Report (352 Pages)
Keep in mind that the NEC says nothing (or nearly very little, in its purpose stated in Section 90.2) about microgrid economics or the life cycle cost of any other electrical installation. It is the claim about economic advantages of microgrids that drive education facility asset management and energy conservation units to conceive, finance, install, operate and — most of all — tell the world about them.
In previous posts we have done our level best to reduce the expectations of business and finance leaders of dramatic net energy savings with microgrids — especially on campuses with district energy systems. Microgrids do, however, provide a power security advantage during major regional contingencies — but that advantage involves a different set of numbers.
Note also that there is no user-interest from the education facility industry — the largest non-residential building construction market in the the United States — on Panel 4. This is not the fault of the NFPA, as we explain in our ABOUT.
The 2023 NEC was released late last year.
The 2026 revision cycle is in full swing with public comment on the First Draft receivable until August 24, 2024. Let’s start formulating our ideas using the 2023 CMP-4 transcripts. The link below contains a record of work on the 2023 NEC:
We collaborate with the IEEE Education & Healthcare Facility Committee which meets online 4 times per month in European and American time zones. Since a great deal of the technical basis for the NEC originates with the IEEE we will also collaborate with other IEEE professional societies.
Mike Anthony’s father-in-law and son maintaining the electrical interactive system installed in the windmill that provides electricity to drive a pump that keeps the canal water at an appropriate level on the family farm near Leeuwarden, The Netherlands.
Issue: [19-151]
Category: Electrical, Energy
Colleagues: Mike Anthony, Jim Harvey, Kane Howard, Jose Meijer
New update alert! The 2022 update to the Trademark Assignment Dataset is now available online. Find 1.29 million trademark assignments, involving 2.28 million unique trademark properties issued by the USPTO between March 1952 and January 2023: https://t.co/njrDAbSpwB pic.twitter.com/GkAXrHoQ9T
— USPTO (@uspto) July 13, 2023
Welcome
Standards Michigan Group, LLC
2723 South State Street | Suite 150
Ann Arbor, MI 48104 USA
888-746-3670
DIRECTIONS
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
Layout mode
Predefined Skins
Custom Colors
Choose your skin color
Patterns Background
Images Background