J. Michael Galway, PE, LEED AP, CPD, is well-respected by his peers for his expertise, attention to detail, calming professional demeanor, and the fact that he’s not afraid to get out into the field and get his hands dirty, which is why he has been selected as Plumbing & Mechanical’s 2024 Mechanical Engineer of the Year.

A western Wisconsin university chose a hydronic system with Uponor PP-RCT piping for their new sports complex to meet project scope, timelines, and space constraints.

Plumbing involves providing clean water, managing wastewater, and ensuring water quality for safe use. It also includes handling various other systems such as gas distribution, drainage, and laboratory systems.

By combining water heating with space heating through heat pumps, a synergy is achieved that maximizes efficiency. This dual functionality is particularly relevant given the constant demand for hot water in residential, commercial and industrial settings.

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?

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.

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.

As design professionals, our first and primary obligation is the protection of public health, safety and welfare above all other concerns.

“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?”

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.