I don't like using public restrooms when I travel for work. You never know what condition they'll be in. I choose a stall away from other people. Others feel the same, according to Bradley Corp.'s Healthy Handwashing Survey.

A design engineer invited me to a school building for a challenging project. I found an old boiler with several leaks and a tight budget. The system was a two-pipe system that circulated heated water during winter and chilled water during summer. The owner wanted lower fuel costs and a quicker changeover between heating and cooling.

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.

The author reflects on a recent trip to South America and Antarctica and discusses the topic of identifying back-feed potentials within domestic hot water risers, drawing from an article by Miles Ryan, PE, about typical issues found in high-rise residential buildings.