The period from just before Thanksgiving until the middle of March is always a relatively slow time for incoming orders at HOT BOX® and the last several months have been no exception.  While I don’t want to boldly forecast the rest of the year, we have seen an up-tick in the number of orders we are receiving in the last couple of weeks.  That being said though, lead times are generally as good as they ever have been.  We have even been able to build some inventory.  If you have a customer who needs something in the last couple of weeks.  That being said though, lead times are generally as good as they ever have been.  We have even been able to build some inventory.  If you have a customer who needs something in a hurry, we can provide.  So sweep in those orders.

While talking to a wholesaler in Virginia last week, he gave me a website that may be of interest for all of you.  The website lists all of the “shovel ready” jobs that are awaiting federal funding and allows the public to voice their opinion as to whether it is a viable project.  I thought it may be a useful tool to see what is going on in your territory.  The website is www.stimuluswatch.org.  My email address has also changed and is now tmsullivan@hps.hubbell.com.  I look forward to seeing some of you at the enclosure class in April. 

EMAIL ADDRESS FOR HOT BOX STAFF:

Alan Bullen                            acbullen@hps.hubbell.com
Martin Devine                       medevine@hps.hubbell.com
Sandra Thomas                     sbthomas@hps.hubbell.com
Tom Sullivan                         tmsullivan@hps.hubbell.com
Nancy Marino                       ndmarino@hps.hubbell.com
Charlene Raines                    crraines@hps.hubbell.com
Madeleine Sheridan              mjsheridan@hps.hubbell.com

Please change your records accordingly. 
Thanks, 
Madeleine

Sandie Says…

We often are asked why many municipalities, water authorities and other purveyors insist on above ground installations of backflow devices. There are two explanations that can be offered with equal importance.

The first applies to the installation of an RPZ and RPDA being installed above grade to maintain its USC certification and remain in federal compliance to avoid creating its own cross connection while in a below grade vault.

The second is “OSHA Regulation # 29” pertaining to “permit-required confined space”.

Being familiar with USC, we are aware that the RPZ and RPDA will lose its certification if installed below grade in a vault. While some vaults do contain sump pumps, the ability of the pump to perform without failure is not obtainable. Too many times have testing personnel been subjected to the sludge that collects in the bottom of the vault. That sludge can be contaminated with chemicals, bacteria, fungus and other health hazards that no one wants contact with. If the RPZ discharges and hangs in that position, it can back-siphon the sludge and its contaminates into the water system spoiling the water used in our households, hospitals, restaurants and so on, thus creating its own cross-connection. This is where problems with federal compliance may become an issue. 

“Permit-Confined Spaces” create their own particular problems. These range from obtaining a permit, method of entry, equipment required for entry, personnel that must be on hand and more.

OSHA defines a confined space as this…
“Many workplaces contain spaces that are considered "confined" because their configurations hinder the activities of employees who must enter, work in, and exit them. A confined space has limited or restricted means for entry or exit, and it is not designed for continuous employee occupancy. Confined spaces include, but are not limited to underground vaults, tanks, storage bins, manholes, pits, silos, process vessels, and pipelines. OSHA uses the term "permit-required confined space" (permit space) to describe a confined space that has one or more of the following characteristics: contains or has the potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere; contains a material that has the potential to engulf an entrant; has walls that converge inward or floors that slope downward and taper into a smaller area which could trap or asphyxiate an entrant; or contains any other recognized safety or health hazard, such as unguarded machinery, exposed live wires, or heat stress.” www.osha.gov “Safety and Health Topics – Confined Spaces”.

The backflow industry does not often meet such hazards as asphyxiation from fumes in a hazardous atmosphere or exposed live wires but there are other health hazards that should be considered. Slipping or falling into the vault to land atop piping can cause bruising, lesions, broken bones or death. Failure of gate valves and flanges of large pipes during testing where a cracked surface can cause structural failure leading to a surge of fluid that can beat testing personnel to death or cause drowning. The bacteria, fungus and chemical contaminants in that sludge can cause respiratory problems, painful rashes, infections and sores. None of this makes me want to go into a vault…do you?

There is also the expense of the equipment to properly enter a “Permit-Confined Space” besides the permit itself. Ads for “Confined Space Entry Packages”, which include a 7’ tripod, 3-way fall winch, work winch, full body harness and 4-gas monitor, have prices that approach $3,000.00. A blower with 15’-0” of duct adds another $300.00. A five-minute emergency respirator is an additional $500.00. In addition, you have the hourly pay for the man entering the vault, the two men that should be on-hand to help get him into and out of the vault and someone that has emergency medical training in the event something hazardous does happen. You may also have to expend funds to pump out any vault full of fluid, muck and sludge that has a covered backflow device, preventing testing until it has been cleaned. Add to this more man-hours.

Many will enter these vaults without the permit and snub their noses at the regulations. The attitude of “I haven’t been caught” will eventually come to the attention of the proper authorities and a fine of unbelievable portions will be levied. We have heard of fines that range from $50,000.00 to over $70,000.00 for a single offense.

With all this to look forward to, we still have people that want to know why our product is “so expensive”. When you tally these entry expenses over several years along with the cost of installing the vault, our enclosures are not that costly at all. With a little care, our enclosures have been known to exceed fifteen years of use and you do not need permits, added personnel or expensive equipments to test the backflow device each year.

So what are the advantages to an above ground installation?

• The ability to maintain the backflow device’s USC certification

      and remain in compliance of federal edicts.

• Easy installation of the backflow device where testing and

      maintenance can be made without permits and special 
      expensive entry equipment.

• Installing an enclosure without heavy construction equipment.

• The ability to add freeze protection that cannot be maintained in a vault.

• No containment of the RPZ discharge, within a vault with a failed sump pump, since Hot Boxâ allows it to exit through drain ports to seek its own ground.

• Only one tester needed.
• Less cost over a longer period of time.

Think about it. Which is the better choice in today’s economy? Spend unnecessary money on ”Permit-Confined Space” vault containment or spend construction dollars more wisely with an above grade installation.

Now is the time to change the way vaults are viewed and change the minds of those that advocate their use. Above ground installation cost less in the long run and endanger fewer lives.

Hot Box® makes sense!

SCHEDULE

Enclosure Class         April 17-19     Jacksonville FL
ABPA                         April 27-29     Colorado Springs CO
AWWA                      June 14-18      San Diego CA
IA                                Dec    2-4        San Antonio TX