June 2010 Product Solutions

June 1, 2010
New products/case studies, including: makeup-air units, propane stripping machine, exit signs and intelligent padlocks.

Top-level training

Culinary-arts center benefits from makeup-air units

Greenheck. Moraine Park Technical College, Fond du Lac, Wis., expanded its Culinary Arts Center by remodeling a production kitchen, and by adding a new gallery kitchen and learning kitchen. Because this is not a 24-hour kitchen operation, peak use occurs only during scheduled instructional periods followed by extremely low levels of operation. Achieving energy efficiency during non-peak times and effectively exhausting smoke and grease during high-use periods were primary concerns. Also, outdoor air during the school year in Wisconsin can range from -20ºF in the winter to 90ºF in the early fall and late spring, so student comfort needed to be addressed.

This project had many challenges because of the multiple kitchens and cooking stations. A meeting at Greenheck to coordinate the project was instrumental in solving those challenges, and included building facility manager Tim Flood and other consultants and architects. Flood wanted the kitchen to be air conditioned, but did not want to condition all the makeup air. Therefore, two makeup-air units were installed; each unit provides about 50 percent of the makeup air for the kitchen hoods. One unit provides heated air directly to the seven hoods, and the second unit provides heating and cooling to the hoods and also delivers air to the kitchen space. The makeup air supplied to the hoods is regulated by variable-air-volume (VAV) boxes to match the precise volume of makeup air to exhaust air drawn from hoods while in use during classroom sessions.

Grease Grabber dual-filtration systems within the hoods capture up to 80 percent of the grease particulate while as many as seven student chefs at one time practice grilling and frying skills.

Select the June 2010 issue RSN number 162 on AS&U's Product Information site for more information.

Swim safety

Anti-slip matting ensures safety around the pool

Plastex Matting, Inc. Magnolia (Texas) Independent School District’s natatorium, situated just outside Houston and used by more than 300 swimmers a day, has upgraded underfoot health and safety. The pool’s management was concerned that the damp indoor environment and the wet surroundings could create a slip-and-fall risk. This was important because the facility also offers classes for local seniors and those with physical disabilities.

While attending a swimming meet at Texas A&M, head coach and aquatics director Terry Jones noticed matting around the university’s pool. It wasn’t only the aggressive anti-slip surface or the four-way water draining channels that caught his eye, but the color of the matting. The color was A&M’s collegiate maroon. This, coincidentally, also is Magnolia’s color. As a result, distributor Tepromark was contacted, and several hundred linear feet of Teproflow matting, manufactured by Plastex Matting, Inc., were ordered to surround Magnolia’s Texas-sized indoor pool.

"We have been delighted with the results," says Jones. "Since we installed Teproflow, we haven’t had a single accident around the pool. The matting prevents water building up underneath, and the anti-slip surface provides a firm footing for all our swimmers no matter their age or physical ability. We are very proud of our facility and love that fact we were able to order the matting in our school colors."

The matting is made from UV-resistant vinyl and consists of 30 percent recycled material. Resistant to bacteria, the matting contains an antimicrobial additive that protects bare feet by helping to eliminate bacteria and fungus. The matting is simple to install and can be rolled up, making it easy to clean underneath.

Select the June 2010 issue RSN number 163 on AS&U's Product Information site for more information.

Intelligent padlocks

Videx. New intelligent padlocks provide electronic access control and auditing. A padlock can be converted quickly into a full-functioning access-control system simply by replacing its mechanical cylinder with a CyberLock electronic cylinder. Padlocks retro-fitted with these intelligent cylinders are a solution where controlled access and the ability to track lock openings are needed. A full line of padlocks with the electronic cylinder pre-installed also is available.

Select the June 2010 issue RSN number 150 on AS&U's Product Information site for more information.

Propane stripping machine

Betco Corporation. Lil Bertha XSM24 Propane Stripping Machine powers through floor finish four times faster than floor machines and two times faster than automatic scrubbers. Using advanced scrubbing technology, the machine has three under-deck grit brushes that rotate counter-clockwise while the entire deck rotates clockwise. This dual action scrubs through floor finish at extreme speeds, producing the ultimate strip out. The small size makes it easily transportable to and from worksites by one person.

Select the June 2010 issue RSN number 151 on AS&U's Product Information site for more information.

Exit signs

High-Lites. HPL Series exit signs are designed to absorb and store ambient fluorescent, metal halide or mercury vapor light energy, without any need for battery or electric power, making them an ideal, energy-conserving choice for green projects. In the event of a building power outage or other ambient lighting interruption, the HPL exit’s stored light energy immediately creates a clearly visible photoluminescent panel showing the path to the nearest exit.

Select the June 2010 issue RSN number 152 on AS&U's Product Information site for more information.

Storage system

Smith System. A scalable solution, Cascade Storage enables educators to effectively organize, store and distribute 3-D learning materials. Comprising shelving and tote tray storage units in an array of heights and widths, the system is a scalable solution made to house materials of nearly any shape and size—from art supplies and science tools, to 3-D models. The short, wide units provide students easy access to tote trays, and the taller units provide high-density storage at a teacher’s height.

Select the June 2010 issue RSN number 153 on AS&U's Product Information site for more information.

Natural quartz

Bradley Corp. The new Evero Natural Quartz Material fuses the elegance of quartz with the durability of granite and the luminance of exotic materials, bringing new levels of sophistication—and design opportunities—to commercial washroom design. The material gives designers the freedom and flexibility to mold the material into round and curved shapes. In addition to its lustrous, high-end look, the material costs less than granite and is virtually maintenance-free because it does not require sealing, buffing or reconditioning. The resilient material also is repairable; granite is not. Constructed with a smooth, seamless finish, Evero’s non-porous surface does not support microbial growth, and is resistant to stains, chemicals, scratches and heat.

Select the June 2010 issue RSN number 154 on AS&U's Product Information site for more information.

Flooring certification

Flexco. The company has earned FloorScore indoor air quality certification from Scientific Certification Systems, the leading environmental certifier in the United States. Developed by the Resilient Floor Covering Institute, FloorScore tests and certifies hard-surface flooring and flooring adhesive products for compliance with rigorous indoor air quality emissions requirements. Individual volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are evaluated using health-based specifications. Products bearing the FloorScore label meet the indoor air emissions criteria of the Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS), LEED Green Building Rating Systems, and the Green Guide for Health Care.

Select the June 2010 issue RSN number 155 on AS&U's Product Information site for more information.

Sprinkler control

Underhill International. Water Dex is an innovative, palm-sized remote that adjusts sprinkler run times without reprogramming the irrigation controller. It includes a mini-transmitter (3 inches by 2 inches by 2 inches) with a 200-foot, line-of-sight range and micro-receiver that hard-wires into the irrigation controller. The controller remains set at a maximum summer schedule and is fine-tuned by percentage (in 10° increments) as the seasons change, based on zip code and the regional Watering Index.

Select the June 2010 issue RSN number 156 on AS&U's Product Information site for more information.

Letter board

Displays2go. A new interior changeable letter board with landscape orientation breaks the mold of traditional portrait formats and offers greater flexibility for custom text. The 36-inch by 24-inch letter board features an extruded aluminum frame with satin silver finish. The door is hinged at the top, and a support rod enables hands-free access to the letter board. The letter board is fabricated from seamless, vacuum-formed black styrene. Three sets of letters are included, sized at 1, 2 and 3 inches.

Select the June 2010 issue RSN number 157 on AS&U's Product Information site for more information.

Sod cutter

Turfco. The Kiscutter Sod Cutter weighs only 140 pounds and is simple to use. An inexpensive option, it is easier to operate and transport than traditional sod cutters. Four-wheel design, pneumatic tires and a rear-wheel drive make it easier to operate and transport. It also features a 5.5 hp Honda engine, which can cut up to 150 feet per minute but produces lower vibration, reducing operator fatigue.

Select the June 2010 issue RSN number 158 on AS&U's Product Information site for more information.

Retrofit kits

Sloan Valve Company. Sensor-operated Flushometer retrofit kits are ideal for commercial restroom renovations and to upgrade existing flush valves to the latest in water-efficient, electronic flushing technology. The company offers numerous Flushometer retrofit kits, including the solar-powered Sloan SOLIS and the battery-powered Sloan ECOS and G2 Optima Plus. These retrofit kits provide an efficient and economical way to convert most existing manual Flushometers to electronic operation or to upgrade valves to dual-flush functionality.

Select the June 2010 issue RSN number 159 on AS&U's Product Information site for more information.

Vinyl cover system

Action Floor Systems. AirRide is a vinyl rollout gymnasium floor cover system that uses a patented air blower to drive a cushion of air that simplifies installation and removal. AirRide’s lift effect greatly reduces potential for scuffing and scratching of the floor’s surface during either process. Deploying and removing the cover can be managed quickly and simply by two people. The AirRide cover vinyl is phthalate-free and is available as a 10-foot-wide, 20.5-ounce seamless sheet to protect floors against damage from tables, chairs, street shoes and other abrasive items.

Select the June 2010 issue RSN number 160 on AS&U's Product Information site for more information.

Reception table

PS Furniture. The new Revolution Reception Tables dramatically decrease the amount of storage space needed for pedestal-type reception tables by up to 60 percent. The product enables users to stack and store 20 complete tables, including columns and bases, in less than 10 square feet of storage space.

Select the June 2010 issue RSN number 161 on AS&U's Product Information site for more information.

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