Maintenance Solutions Magazine

Product Pipeline | Best Practice | Product Focus: Utility Vehicles


General Pipe Cleaners Drain seal Flood-Guard^® operates like a check valve to seal off water backups caused by overloaded sewers. Water flows normally through the drain until the sewer begins to back up. The product’s float rises to seal the drain opening until the water recedes. The seal is available for 2-, 3-, and 4-inch floor drains. It also is available in a standpipe model for handling extended pressure.	Atlas Sales & Rentals Inc. Spot cooler The 7.5-ton portable air conditioner is UL listed and CSA certified for outdoor use. Design features include electromechanical control, a phase protector, a compressor-time delay, and electrostatic filters for enhanced indoor air quality. Belt-drive blowers deliver high airflow and can handle 80 feet of duct using an evaporator-nozzle plate. The unit also is pre-wired for use with a remote thermostat, allowing more precise temperature control in applications where the cooler is positioned in one area and the cool air is ducted into another. Its operating range is 60-115 degrees.
Barco Products Speed bump The 3-foot traffic-calming speed hump slows traffic to 10-15 mph. The speed bump reduces speeds, alerts motorists to potential hazards, is longer lasting and environmentally friendly, has a modular tongue-and-groove system that users can configure to suit various street widths, and is easier to install and remove for storage and relocation. It has rubber humps that adapt to uneven surfaces, end caps that provide a safer and protective finish, is highly visible and emergency-vehicle friendly, and has embedded reflective highway tape.	Bradley Corp. Hands-free faucet The Aerada^TM 1200 Series CS uses capacitive-sensing technology to create an omni-directional detection zone surrounding the spout. Water flow starts when a user’s hands enter the detection zone, regardless of the approach angle. The faucet shuts off after hands are removed from the zone, conserving water. The faucet’s water-pressure range is 20-80 pounds per square inch. The flow regulator maintains a constant flow rate at all pressures. The faucet has a chrome-plated, solid brass body.
Lyon Workspace Products Antimicrobial finish Powder-coating technology from DuPont and Agion^® antimicrobial inhibits bacterial, mold, and odor buildup on locker surfaces, as well as the touch transfer of microbes on locker handles and doors. Moisture triggers the controlled release of silver ions to provide antimicrobial protection. The silver ions are noxious to the drug-resistant methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) superbug. The antimicrobial compound is inorganic, less toxic than table salt, less irritating than talcum powder, and has been approved for medical devices and food-contact applications.	The Garland Co. Inc. Roof membrane StressPly^® IV Plus membranes incorporate a polyester and fiberglass scrim for enhanced strength. Available in smooth, mineral, and an ultraviolet (UV) mineral surface, these membranes deliver greater tensile and tear strength. The UV mineral option provides a reflective surface that can reduce energy use. The membranes also offer low-temperature flexibility and elongation for extended roof life. The torch-applied systems require no hot kettles, reducing asphalt fumes and odors typically found with conventional asphalt systems.
SCA Tissue Towel and tissue dispensers The Tork^® line of brushed aluminum dispensers features hygienic dispensing systems for hand towels, bath tissue and soaps. The anodized surface resists scratching and fingerprints and is easier to clean. One-at-a-time dispensing reduces hand-towel consumption and waste. Towel dispensers with see-through windows and bath-tissue rolls with red indicator strips help deliver maintenance savings.	Honeywell Light-tape protector Aclam^® EL-100 is a barrier film system that provides clear, moisture-resistant protection for Light Tape^®, a flexible light strip produced by Electro-LuminX^® Lighting Corp. The system encapsulates electroluminescent materials that glow when the light bulb is plugged in. The film protects the light-producing materials inside from decay due to moisture and allows light to fully shine without distorting color or interfering with the lamp’s flexibility.
Osram Opto Semiconductors Inc. Under-cabinet LED The Golden Dragon^® emits a halogen-like color temperature, projects 30 times more light than conventional push-on lights, and is available in white, stainless steel, and black. The lead-free LED has an efficiency range of 40–80 lumen/watt – for white – and a lifespan exceeding 50,000 hours. The LED features an infrared motion sensor. A wave of the hand in front of the light turns on its high-light setting, a second wave activates its low-light setting, and a third turns the product off. Each setting has an auto-off, 60-minute timer.	Dickson Co. Wireless data logger Managers can monitor the loggers in real time from a personal computer or another workstation. Features include real-time alarms signaling out-of-range conditions and up to nine days of backup data storage. It changes sampling rates, alarms, data display options, wireless network configuration and data-transmission frequency, provides a graphical display of real-time temperature and humidity data, and shows current conditions, battery level, and interchange of table- or graph-data displays.
Schneider Electric Harmonic filter AccuSine^® mitigates harmonics, reduces process-related voltage fluctuations, and improves electrical equipment operating life and distribution system capacity. The 320-by-240-pixel touch screen supports multiple languages and font sizes. The filter integrates ethernet and includes an alarm function with fault logging for improved traceability. It is available in 50A, 100A and 300A ratings, and managers can configure the filter into different capacities. It carries UL, CSA, CE and ABS certifications and meets major worldwide harmonic standards, such as IEEE-519, G5/4-1, GB/T 14549 and IEC 61000-3-2/3-4.	Krylon Products Group Polyurethane sealant Managers can use White Lightning^® for sealing expansion and control joints in pre-cast concrete panels, various roofing and siding applications, and perimeters of doors, windows, and other wall penetrations. Managers can apply the sealant during interior and exterior projects, and it does not require mixing. The sealant withstands up to 50 percent joint movement and is available in smooth and textured finishes. It also resists mildew and rust.
RIDGID Press rings The rings feature a swivel design with 180-degree rotation, allowing improved access in confined spaces or when working near ceilings or floors. The lightweight rings use swivel actuators to permit the tool to connect to the ring at almost any angle. Rings are available in six sizes and ring kits for one-half-inch to 2-inch tubing add more sizes to the press-ring line. The rings are compatible with the company’s existing press tools.	Lennox International Dehumidification system The Humiditrol^™ unit for split systems offers space dehumidification without overcooling. If a room or building’s humidity level exceeds the system’s set point, the SignatureStat™ control activates the unit, which works with the heating and cooling system to remove excess moisture by reheating cooled air. By reducing humidity, this reheat design helps control mold, mildew and dust mites, which have been linked to allergies and asthma. The unit activates the dehumidification cycle based on humidity levels, not temperature, for improved control. It also maintains ASHRAE 62.1-2004 fresh-air requirements.
Rubbermaid Commercial Products Utility cart The unit has a 400-pound capacity as a utility cart and 250-pound capacity as a platform truck. Its recessed top prevents items from falling during transport, and its extended lower deck helps make loading less strenuous. The cart features non-marking swivel casters for increased maneuverability and safety. Its fully round ergonomic handle reduces hand fatigue, and its flat configuration provides easier storage and transport.	Sensaphone Data-logging monitor The unit has eight universal inputs that accept dry-contact sensors, thermistors, 4-20 mA transducers, and pulse-count devices. The system is capable of low-temperature monitoring – down to minus-85 degrees Celsius – for use in medical, research, and development applications. It can store 32,000 time-stamped records for local or remote retrieval. Operators can monitor one site or multiple sites from a PC using Windows-compatible software or create a web page that allows data retrieval from the internet. Enhanced notification capabilities enable scheduled delivery options based on days of the week or time of day for up to 32 individuals.

Best Practice

Two campuses, many repairs, one CMMS solution
To ensure compassionate care occurs throughout a patient’s experience, St. Charles Medical Center must keep everything in order at all times, and this mandate applies to both of the medical center’s locations, in Bend and Redmond, Ore.

The Bend location boasts more than 800,000 square feet and serves as the main hospital, with 200 patient beds and 11 buildings. Redmond, located 25 miles away, has 150,000 square feet, seven buildings, and 48 patient beds.

Ron Neet, director of facilities services, oversees the facilities operations and maintenance team that handles operation and maintenance issues on both campuses. He understands their critical role is delivering the best possible patient care for residents within the 32,000-square-mile area surrounding Bend and Redmond.

Keeping both campuses in compliance with the Joint Commission is no easy task, and it became more difficult for the medical center because of outdated processes. Staff manually tracked maintenance activities, primarily on paper. Equipment maintenance and work-order tracking was not automated, and record keeping was a chore.

To properly adhere to compliance issues, Neet and his department had to document preventive maintenance measures and actual work performed. Regulatory-compliance mandates drove the medical center to move from a manual maintenance management process to one that is fully computerized. Neet already was familiar with the Benchmate maintenance software system, manufactured by Benchmate Systems Inc., so he purchased the system and led the implementation effort. Neet and his staff converted equipment records, maintenance work information and all other data on paper to Benchmate.

Staff determined preventive maintenance frequency and intervals during the transfer so they could be incorporated in the new system. By having this information assigned to specific equipment records, Benchmate now automatically produces preventive maintenance work orders for the medical center’s maintenance team.

Benchmate is the hub for all facility operations, testing and maintenance at both medical campuses. A centralized help desk serving both locations handles all work requests for repairs or service needs. Supervisors then review work requests, determine priorities and create work schedules within Benchmate. They also make technician assignments within the system.

More than 28 users access Benchmate routinely to respond to maintenance needs, perform scheduled work and close out work orders on completed jobs.

Product Focus: Indoor Air Quality The Inside Track on IAQ
*Permatron Corp.* Electrostatic air filter A three-stage filtration process allows the filters to hold dirt without face-loading or restricting airflow. Multiple filtration panels are encased within an outer steel frame, building a multi-stage filter bank. The first panel acts as a prefilter. When particulates build up on the prefilter, airflow causes them to break off and be swept into the Accumulator Chamber^®.	*Purafil* Utility vehicle The monitor can gauge the real-time effects of corrosion on electronics. The unit uses copper- and silver-plated-quartz-crystal, microbalance sensors to measure the mass accumulation of corrosive film on sensitive metals. It also generates minute-by-minute corrosion-level readings that can predict and prevent computer failure and increase the reliability of electronic instruments.
3M High-performance filter The heating, ventilation and air conditioning filter has an initial resistance of 0.37 inches of water at 492 feet per minute. It features a UL 900, Class 1 flammability rating and an operating temperature range of minus-22 degrees to 122 degrees. The filter’s physical characteristics include 100 percent synthetic media, a 100 percent synthetic frame and integral gaskets.	*TSI Inc.* Air-quality meter The IAQ-Calc™ uses temperature and relative humidity measurements to help determine thermal comfort and verify heating, ventilation and air conditioning system performance. The meter calculates the percentage of outside air from either carbon dioxide or temperature; produces statistics, including average, maximum and minimum values; downloads to a spreadsheet or database using LogDat2_™ software; and calculates dew point and wet-bulb temperatures.
*Camfil Farr* Filter gasket The poured-in-place sealing method is uniform in depth and encompasses the entire filter-sealing surface, eliminating gasket junctures, blemishes and other corner leaks. The technology eliminates leak paths to ensure efficiency is maintained at 99.97 percent on 0.3-micron particles for high-efficiency particulate air filters, or 99.99997 percent on .012-micron particles for ultra-low penetration air filters.	*Fluke* IAQ meter The 975 AirMeter^™ gathers 10 fundamental IAQ parameters: temperature; humidity; dew-point temperature; wet-bulb temperature; carbon dioxide (C0²); carbon monoxide; air velocity; air volume; and percentage of outdoor air – calculated from temperature or CO². The meter-velocity probe contains a thermal anemometer and a compensating temperature sensor.
*Kimberly-Clark Filtration Products* Synthetic media The media’s structure is designed to provide a mix of fiber diameters to ensure high efficiency while minimizing pressure drop. Their design features a gradient density structure, which provides a mechanical foundation to maintain high efficiency over the useful life of the filter. The media is designed for 65-95 percent efficient rigid-filter products, including aluminum separator filters, mini-pleat filters, and v-bank filters.