James Dipping: Engineer Viewpoints

Smart plumbing systems – a ways to go

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0400

This article revisits smart plumbing systems and the need for our industry to adopt monitoring and automation strategies like those in HVAC for improved efficiency. At the recent ASPE Convention in Columbus, OH, I discussed how integrating intelligence into plumbing can significantly enhance building occupant safety.

Advancing sustainability in commercial plumbing systems

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Sustainability in commercial plumbing focuses on modern pipe sizing to reduce material use and Legionella risk. Efficient layouts and lower-carbon materials like PEX and recycled PVC can lower greenhouse gas emissions, while improved equipment efficiency and training help reduce operational and embodied carbon emissions.

Lessons can be learned in difficult situations

Fri, 05 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Encountering the Blowhard in any industry is common. I recently came across one and thought it was worth writing about.

Getting serious on how hospitals are built

Thu, 07 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -0500

When a plumbing engineer receives the design of a health care building — our minds gravitate to designing the system to optimize all the different considerations I mentioned above — with the fixture layout the architect has developed. But what if the layout changed? What if the amount of fixtures were reduced?

How are you polishing your technical skills?

Wed, 08 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0500

How are you polishing your technical skills? How are you taking those next steps in your career? How are you positioning yourself for new opportunities? For me, it’s in-person, in the office.

James Dipping: Delivering products as engineers

Wed, 05 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0400

As an engineering manager, I have a responsibility to maintain a high level of quality in our “product.” But it’s my opinion that consulting engineers don’t really have a product. You might counter with — drawings and specifications are our product, are they not? Yes and no. Allow me to explain.

James Dipping: Remediation tactics for Legionella outbreaks

Mon, 08 May 2023 00:00:00 -0400

My last two columns discussed both chemical and non-chemical additives or technologies that I treat as “must consider” for plumbing engineers in their design practices to reduce the risk of Legionella bacteria developing in the domestic water system. As I mentioned, these topics might not be a code minimum requirement, but as an engineering community, we have a responsibility to uphold the health and safety of the public. Therefore, we should discuss these technologies with our clients for many different building types we come across in our design.

James Dipping: Non-chemical water treatment options for Legionella control

Mon, 06 Mar 2023 00:00:00 -0500

In my January column, I began a series focused on chemical and non-chemical additives or technologies that I treat as “must consider” for plumbing engineers in their design practices to reduce the risk of legionella bacteria developing in the domestic water system.

James Dipping: Chemical and non-chemical additives for Legionella control

Fri, 06 Jan 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Many of the topics I have discussed in my column to this point have been about temperature considerations within the supply and return system based on recommendations in the community and right-sizing domestic water piping to reduce the overall volume of water in the building’s piping system.

James Dipping: A deep dive into water pipe sizing

Tue, 08 Nov 2022 00:00:00 -0500

There is a battle going on in the industry when it comes to domestic water distribution systems, and it lies in how plumbing engineers size domestic water piping. System longevity, pressure drop, water age, noise and building codes will influence the approach taken in sizing a domestic water system.

James Dipping and Molly Scanlon: 5 tips for reducing Legionella risk

Wed, 07 Sep 2022 00:00:00 -0400

There has been a lot of discussion and new guidance documentation about Legionella in building water systems and the implementation of water management programs (WMP) for ongoing operations. This has led to discussions about plumbing engineering best practices to allow the building water distribution system (BWDS) to operate efficiently and safely when the building is occupied.

James Dipping: The facts about Legionella, and why we should care

Thu, 07 Jul 2022 00:00:00 -0400

Here are four facts about Legionella and why we as plumbing engineers should care.

James Dipping: Water intelligence: Are you warmer or colder in finding a solution?

Wed, 11 May 2022 00:00:00 -0400

In my January 2022 column, I made a broad call for improved water intelligence to offer improved building occupant health. This is nothing new to the HVAC industry, with system monitoring and control extending far beyond the mechanical room and into the most remote areas of the building

James Dipping: Does your building’s tap water have an expiration date?

Wed, 09 Mar 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Fresh water is an undeniably valuable and essential natural resource. But are plumbing engineers unintentionally putting building occupants are risk by implementing water conservation guidelines and equipment? What are the unseen consequences of water conservation?

James Dipping: Plumbing engineering for 2022: A call for water intelligence in the age of smart buildings

Fri, 07 Jan 2022 00:00:00 -0500

The commercial building community is giving its full attention to improving indoor air quality as we attempt to make our way out of the COVID-19 pandemic. While it’s true that germs and pathogens can be carried through the air, we’re forgetting how easy it is to pick them up through the water we drink, wash our hands with and cook our food in.