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Lowell Manalo

About the Column

Explore Plumbing Essentials with Lowell Manalo, covering plumbing system design approaches, code interpretation, best practices, and practical solutions for modern building projects.

Looking for clear, practical guidance on plumbing design, codes, and best practices? Connect with Lowell Manalo.

]]> https://www.pmmag.com/rss/6669-lowell-manalo-plumbing-essentials en-us Backflow preventers in research and laboratory buildings A few examples of design approaches that a laboratory or research building may have to address potential contamination concerns within the building.

]]> http://www.pmmag.com/articles/106301 Fri, 17 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.pmmag.com/articles/106301-backflow-preventers-in-research-and-laboratory-buildings Out of sight, out of mind — pulling back the curtain on plumbing systems design Plumbing systems are often overlooked until they fail. Educational institutions can attract new talent by showcasing mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems with exposed piping and interactive elements. Features like color-coded pipes and transparent mechanical rooms can educate and inspire students about the vital role of plumbing in modern infrastructure.

]]> http://www.pmmag.com/articles/106200 Thu, 21 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.pmmag.com/articles/106200-out-of-sight-out-of-mind-pulling-back-the-curtain-on-plumbing-systems-design HCAI’s PIN’s and CAN’s — beneficial or not? A plumbing designer questioned the necessity of the California Plumbing Code and the standards of the California Department of Health Care Access and Information. This raises the question: Are these additional standards truly beneficial?

]]> http://www.pmmag.com/articles/105901 Wed, 11 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.pmmag.com/articles/105901-hcais-pins-and-cans-beneficial-or-not Water hammer arrestor — simply install one and be done with it Water hammer arrestors absorb the shock from changes in water flow in hydronic systems. They are commonly found in restroom plumbing fixtures. While there is a lot of information available about water hammering and its solutions, let’s explore this topic further.

]]> http://www.pmmag.com/articles/105721 Wed, 07 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.pmmag.com/articles/105721-water-hammer-arrestor-simply-install-one-and-be-done-with-it Building type is a key factor in the decision-making process Plumbing systems in buildings require careful selection of vertical or horizontal piping distribution. The building type is a key factor in this decision, and relevant codes and standards must be followed.

]]> http://www.pmmag.com/articles/105722 Mon, 08 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.pmmag.com/articles/105722-building-type-is-a-key-factor-in-the-decision-making-process The process behind seamless water faucet selection A reader asked if the process for water heater selection could be used for selecting a faucet. This column provides the process steps for selecting faucets, without discussing the findings in detail, as several resources are available for comparing faucet types.

]]> http://www.pmmag.com/articles/105723 Fri, 08 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.pmmag.com/articles/105723-the-process-behind-seamless-water-faucet-selection The process behind seamless water heater selection My house water heater recently failed. I want to replace it with something more efficient, like a heat pump. The easiest path would be to replace it with the exact same type. What would you do if you had a similar scenario with a client or project?

]]> http://www.pmmag.com/articles/105724 Mon, 08 Jan 2024 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.pmmag.com/articles/105724-the-process-behind-seamless-water-heater-selection Lighting the path of the next generation of plumbing engineers and designers How can we attract the next generation of young designers and engineers to join our industry, and how can we keep the ones already in?

]]> http://www.pmmag.com/articles/105725 Wed, 06 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.pmmag.com/articles/105725-lighting-the-path-of-the-next-generation-of-plumbing-engineers-and-designers Delivering a quality product is everyone’s responsibility I do not fully agree with the statement about the quality decline in the plumbing industry. A couple of bad installations do not define the entire plumbing contractor industry. How do we fix it?

]]> http://www.pmmag.com/articles/105726 Thu, 09 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.pmmag.com/articles/105726-delivering-a-quality-product-is-everyones-responsibility An approach to efficient MEP equipment room design Often early equipment room planning focuses on the larger electrical and mechanical room components, but it is important not to overlook plumbing and fire protection needs.

]]> http://www.pmmag.com/articles/105727 Fri, 06 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.pmmag.com/articles/105727-an-approach-to-efficient-mep-equipment-room-design Plumbing systems for lab? What is so special about it? “Should we wait for lab planning to identify the plumbing fixtures and equipment before getting involved to save time and budget?” or “Should I get involved early on during the program development?”

]]> http://www.pmmag.com/articles/105728 Wed, 06 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.pmmag.com/articles/105728-plumbing-systems-for-lab-what-is-so-special-about-it Defending your hospital system design from VE and cost-cutting With people in our industry moving around, it is not uncommon to run into plumbing contractors and installers that are not well-versed with the code for the state in which they just moved to.

]]> http://www.pmmag.com/articles/105729 Wed, 09 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.pmmag.com/articles/105729-defending-your-hospital-system-design-from-ve-and-cost-cutting Lowell Manalo: The importance of group collaboration in plumbing systems’ design Plumbing systems engineering and design are better with group collaboration. I was in the U.S. Navy, and the Seabee’s motto is, “Construimus, Batuimus,” which means “We Build, We Fight.” We are trained to fight and defend what we build.

]]> http://www.pmmag.com/articles/105730 Thu, 06 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.pmmag.com/articles/105730-lowell-manalo-the-importance-of-group-collaboration-in-plumbing-systems-design