In the HVAC industry, it’s easy to feel like everything is becoming more advanced and more complicated. Building automation systems (BASs) are more capable.

Summer 2026’s global soccer tournament is unlike any other, with matches spread across 16 stadiums in the United States, Mexico and Canada. 

In last month’s column, we covered a brief history of backflow prevention in the United States and how the plumbing industry responded over time, developing backflow devices and standards for adoption in plumbing codes. 

If you’ve spent any time around fire pump submittals or fire pump rooms, chances are you’ve probably run into this scenario. 

Toot will lead Oatey's engineering team, driving product innovation and long-term growth.

Ask any facility manager or plumber, and they’ll tell you that identifying and fixing crossflow issues is one of the challenges that costs them significant time and effort on the job.

Some existing systems were never hydraulically calculated. Some were designed around pipe schedules. Some have little or no remaining safety margin. Add a backflow preventer without understanding the available water supply, system demand and device pressure loss, and a system that once appeared adequate may fail to deliver.

In a 2025 article in Health Facilities Management titled “Deferred maintenance and master planning,” author Mike Mochel discusses the growing need for organizations to prioritize infrastructure renewal due to building age and systems that are beyond their serviceable life.

On July 1, 1976, President Gerald Ford dedicated the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum as “a perfect birthday present from the American people to themselves.” More than 1 million visitors passed through its doors in the first six weeks.

In hospitals and outpatient facilities, the Facility Guidelines Institute (FGI) is the standard basis for patient care and staff safety requirements for engineering and architectural firms to follow