Articles by Lowell Manalo

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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?

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?

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?

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.

“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?”