 February
2011 - Hot water pressure at the Radisson
Hotel Grand Rapids Riverfront had been steadily deteriorating for
years,
resulting in higher energy costs and numerous guest complaints.
Repiping water
lines throughout its property would be cost-prohibitive,
time-consuming, and
disruptive to business, so the Radisson looked to CuraFlo
for answers. CuraFlo responded with a process that renewed the aging
and
corroding piping system, resulting in greater water pressure and purity
than
ever before. The CuraFlo process took considerably less time to
complete than
conventional repiping – and did so at a significant comparative
savings.
Situation Analysis Located near downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan, the Radisson Hotel Grand Rapids Riverfront (“the Radisson”) is a 42-year-old, seven-story, 162-room full-service hotel. Despite its desirable location and first-class amenities and service, the Radisson’s management had, over time, fielded an increasing number of complaints from guests regarding low water pressure and insufficient hot water. In early 2009 they concluded that something needed to be done. Pressure within the hot water pipes had steadily deteriorated over the past 10 years, compelling the hotel’s maintenance staff to set boilers at 150 to 160 degrees Fahrenheit to maintain an acceptable level of hot water. In addition, decades of patching and spot repairs had been made to the system, and the water lines had deteriorated to the point where additional repairs were not possible over a prolonged time frame.
In researching options to address the Radisson’s plumbing issues, Roesler discovered epoxy lining as a viable alternative to repiping with copper or PEX. “I had not known about epoxy lining or CuraFlo beforehand, and there are a number of companies out there that offer this service. In doing our due diligence, CuraFlo kept coming up as the company that we should strongly consider,” Roesler recalled. “I contacted business owners and property managers around the country who had worked with CuraFlo, and they just stood out above all the rest.” Roesler contacted a CuraFlo professional who conducted a thorough inspection of the hotel’s plumbing system. CuraFlo professionals are water infrastructure specialists carefully trained to evaluate a building’s entire water infrastructure, and work with the customer to formulate the best solution.
The CuraFlo Difference CuraFlo’s epoxy solutions utilize innovative technologies and proprietary processes. These technologies apply to copper, galvanized steel, lead and cast iron pipes. The company offers two proven technology solutions: the CuraFlo Engineered Flow Lining System® for smaller diameter pipes (1/2” – 4” diameter) found in homes and buildings; and the CuraFlo Spincast System™ for larger diameter pipes (3” – 36” diameter) such as water mains. Additionally, the company’s CuraPoxy® epoxy is unmatched in the industry. It is certified to ANSI/NSF Standard 61 (the federal government’s stringent safety standard for drinking water) by both NSF International and IAPMO (International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials) for commercial hot water, the highest standard established for potable water. It features the shortest cure times in the industry, which enable CuraFlo professionals to provide a speedy return to service. CuraPoxy has also been certified compliant to the relevant sections of the Uniform Plumbing Code® and the International Plumbing Code®. CuraFlo produces its epoxies in its own ISO 9001:2008 certified manufacturing facility. Smooth Process From Start to Finish Work at the Radisson began in May 2010 and proceeded according to a week-by-week plan established at the outset of the project. The Radisson has a typical commercial plumbing configuration that consists of horizontal mains running the length of the building with vertical risers that run from the mains to the top floor. Each riser feeds 14 rooms through branch piping connected to individual fixtures. CuraFlo’s plan was to isolate the individual risers and then line them at a pace of two risers per week. For the Radisson, the first step of the CuraFlo Engineered Flow Lining System involved installing isolation valves on the risers. These valves allow for specific risers to be isolated from the mains while they are restored. The pipes were then drained and dried with pressurized hot air. Next, pipe interiors were “sandblasted” with abrasive particles to remove all corrosion, debris and mineral build-up. This cleaning process also prepared the interior surface of the water pipe for bonding with the epoxy. Once the cleaning process was completed, technicians used compressed air to blow a specially formulated epoxy through the pipes, bonding it to the cleaned and prepared walls and creating a seamless, permanent and protective barrier. After the coating cured, a pressure test was applied to assure a leak-free system. In some cases, the existing pipe was too damaged to be lined and had to be replaced. As Roesler explained, CuraFlo professionals responded accordingly. “These guys are master plumbers, and quite frankly, they taught us something about our own plumbing. They even gave us recommendations on specific plumbing system improvements for our property.” Work proceeded on a Sunday through Thursday schedule, allowing Roesler to have all rooms available for customers on the weekends. “In the summer, weekends tend to be our highest demand,” he said. “That allowed me to keep the property up and running with little or no impact on guest arrivals and departures. On top of that, CuraFlo’s ability to time critical elements of this project was exceptional. Occasionally, it was necessary to shut off water building-wide in order to implement repairs. In those cases, CuraFlo was able to bypass various risers so that only one or two sections were without water for more than a few hours at a time. It was amazing to me how quickly they were able to do that. From an execution standpoint, CuraFlo was first-rate.” CuraFlo’s crew foreman on site worked diligently to keep Roesler and his team updated throughout the duration of the project with daily reports that detailed progress made to date, plans for the day ahead, and overall results. Tough Test Yields Impressive Results By July, the project was completed. Before work began, water pressure throughout the property was unacceptably low. Now, Radisson guests – many of whom visit the hotel every week on business — are complimenting Roesler on the improved water pressure and quick access to hot water. “Overall, we have not had a single complaint about hot water or water flow issues. In fact, guests who stay here regularly have told us that they’ve experienced a dramatic improvement,” he said. “One of our guests stays with us two to three nights each week, and he told us it’s like taking a shower in his own home, or a brand-new hotel! Hot water on demand is instant, all because there’s no resistance to the circulation.” Beyond the satisfaction of his guests, Roesler under-scored the cost-savings of selecting CuraFlo over traditional repiping. In fact, he estimated substantial per room savings by choosing CuraFlo over a property-wide repiping. “It proved to be an enormous cost savings for us,” Roesler said. Overall, Roesler and his management team were impressed with CuraFlo’s ability to meet the unique plumbing demands of a hotel like the Radisson. “This was just a smart thing for us to do, and hotel owners and managers everywhere would be wise to consider it, too,” he said. “The CuraFlo team really became our business partner throughout this process. I’m pleased with the solution, with the work that CuraFlo performed, and with the people who stand behind it. I would absolutely recommend them to hotels throughout the country.” About CuraFlo CuraFlo® is North America’s leading provider of pipe restoration services for apartment buildings and other multi-tenant residential, commercial, industrial and municipal structures. Headquartered in Beachwood, Ohio, the company offers comprehensive pipe restoration services through a network of franchisees. In 1996, CuraFlo was one of the first companies in North America to provide epoxy pipe lining services in commercial and residential multi-tenant buildings. Since then, CuraFlo has remained the provider of choice for pipe restoration services throughout North America. For more information, visit curaflo.com or contact: |
