Zurn | Blog September 26, 2023 New Webinar - IoT Connected Product Design for Engineers, Facility Owners, Maintenance & Regulator Compliance This blog post is a snapshot from the webinar “IoT Connected Product Design of Grease Monitors for Engineers, Facility Owners, Maintenance & Regulator Compliance.” IoT and automation in the right tools can provide bottom line results for businesses. IoT has changed the world of plumbing to create efficiencies for those who maintain the plumbing systems and cost savings for building owners. Let’s look at three main ways business are impacted by IoT plumbing products. IoT in plumbing The first way businesses are impacted by IoT in plumbing is through automating repetitive tasks. Some businesses need to check and document line pressures. Other businesses need to clean out grease or oil separators on a regular basis. All businesses need to plan out preventive maintenance. When automated, all these tasks can significantly reduce required labor by using technology already available in the plumbing industry. The second way is IoT creating visibility into the health of building operations. For example, connected fixtures, such as connected faucets and connected flush valves, can show how much the system is getting used right down to the individual faucet. Connected plumbing can also notify maintenance teams when something needs to be addressed in a restroom, like when a flush valve stops working or when a battery needs to be replaced. Did you know a dead battery is one of the leading causes of emergency maintenance dispatch for a non-functioning commercial faucet? Do you think the head of maintenance would like to know of a failing battery before it is an emergency? What do you think it does to maintenance costs when changing batteries moves from an emergency service call to a preventive maintenance task? One can imagine how some facilities could save a significant amount of money when the plumbing fixtures keep building managers informed of what is going on instead of waiting for a client or employee to report a problem. The third way is the ability to assess priorities earlier than before. Jan-san teams can see how often fixtures are activated, informing them where bathrooms are getting used or ignored. Usage insights allow team leaders to right size cleaning crews in specific areas while limiting crews in unused areas of a building or campus. SmartPro & IoT Savings from IoT go beyond restrooms such as with the SmartPro grease interceptor monitor. The SmartPro measures how much grease and sediment are in an interceptor tank. Those results are automatically recorded for regulatory compliance, but the daily measurements also mean pumper trucks can be schedule based on demand, based on when an interceptor tank is actually nearing its maximum limits, not based on a blind schedule. Blind schedules or calendar-based schedules for pumper trucks mean the trucks come more often than necessary creating unnecessary costs. In some cases, the trucks do not come often enough, which means breaking the law with grease flowing into the sewer. One chain of convenience stores started installing SmartPro to find one location out-of-compliance with local regulations, but most of the stores were over-pumping. Once all the stores have a SmartPro installed to change from interval pumping to on-demand pumping, the company expects to see annualized savings of up to $720,000 per year with an estimated ROI of 12-15 months. One may debate whether it is better to turn off a light by hitting a switch or through an app on a phone, but a $720,000/year savings in operating costs means IoT in plumbing is not a fad. Instead, IoT is a potential big win for maintenance teams, jan-san teams, and building owners as well as the engineers who bring these opportunities to the attention of stake holders. For a deeper dive into how IoT in plumbing products, be sure to check out our recent webinar called “Internet of Things: IoT Connected Product Design for Engineers, Facility Owners, Maintenance, & Regulatory Compliance.” December 5, 2022 Improving Compliance and Saving Money with Grease Interceptor Monitors Grease interceptors are often pumped too often because pumping intervals are set using a best guess to ensure compliance. If the interceptor tank is pumped too often, clients could pay thousands of dollars in unnecessary pumping costs. If an interceptor is not pumped often enough, significant amounts of grease could move down into the sewer system, creating a risk of clogs or government penalties. The SmartPro-connected interceptor monitor ensures people know exactly when a tank needs to be pumped. Grease, Oil, and Interceptors Zurn produces a range of grease interceptors specifically engineered for the removal and retention of grease from kitchen and restaurant wastewater. Zurn provides an assortment of grease interceptors tailored for the elimination of grease from kitchen and restaurant wastewater. When in the market for grease interceptors, it's crucial to take into account elements like design, size, installation, and upkeep. Here are some recommended products to explore: Z1165 Grease Interceptor Z1170 Grease Interceptor ZS1170 Grease Interceptor Z1174 Grease Interceptor GT2700 Grease Interceptor Z1170-UN Grease Interceptor with User Notification Z1171 Low Profile Grease Interceptor GT2701 Low-Profile Grease Interceptor Z1172 Large Capacity Grease Interceptor GT2701-20-3NH Low-Profile Grease Interceptor GT2701-20-3IP Low-Profile Grease Interceptor GT2701-35-4IP Low-Profile Grease Interceptor GT2701-50-4IP Low-Profile Grease Interceptor GT2701-50-4NH Low-Profile Grease Interceptor GT2701-50-3NH Low-Profile Grease Interceptor GT2701-35-3NH Low-Profile Grease Interceptor Proceptor GMC Gravity Grease Interceptor Proceptor GMC 50-300 CSA CSA Fiberglass Hydromechanical Grease Interceptor CSA Certified Z1172-UN Low-Profile Grease Interceptor Z1171-RD Low Profile Grease Interceptor with Rigid Pipe Draw Off Z1171-TD Low Profile Grease Interceptor with Accumulating Cone and Flow Control Tee Proceptor GMC UPC Proceptor GMC 100-500 Retroceptor RC35 and RC50 Retroceptor RC35LP GT2700-35-4NH GT2700-07-2NH GT2700-04-2NH GT2700-10-2NH Grease interceptor monitoring systems Grease interceptor monitoring systems offer cost savings and aid in complying with local sewer regulations for businesses. These systems can: Track and record FOG (Fat, Oil, Grease) buildup. Reduce unnecessary pump-outs. Simplify reporting to ensure compliance. Transmit data wirelessly to a display panel. Utilize ultrasonic monitoring technology. Notable grease interceptor monitoring solutions include: SmartPro: Employs ultrasonic monitoring technology. Additionally, proper installation, usage, and regular cleaning of grease interceptors contribute to time and cost savings. SmartPro stands out as a grease interceptor monitoring system that employs ultrasonic monitoring, eliminating the common issue of clog-prone direct contact alarms. It offers real-time data on crucial metrics like grease/oil level, solids/sediment level, total liquid level, temperature, and battery life, all transmitted wirelessly. This allows JPG to remotely monitor customer interceptors, enabling faster responses to problems within the interceptor or downstream. The result? Prevention of costly backups and catastrophic overflows. According to Geiling, "With frequent personnel changes, it's difficult to have consistent oversight of the interceptor. When interceptors overflow, it's a really costly problem. Now our customers know we are monitoring their interceptors with SmartPro, and they don't have to worry about overflow or compliance issues." How SmartPro help restaurants and contractors SmartPro empowers restaurants and contractors to replace estimates with real-time data, ensuring compliance with regulations and avoiding potential fines for illegal discharges into municipal wastewater systems. It offers multiple monitoring options, such as wireless radio, cell network, gateway cloud solutions, and building automation connectivity. Geiling further notes, "We're using SmartPro to improve the quality of every pump by knowing the actual levels in the tank. That helps customers stay in compliance and keeps haulers accountable. The data gives a good look at the tank from a quality assurance perspective. Restaurants can make sure they're getting what they pay for when they get pumped." SmartPro's real-time insights into interceptor performance empower restaurants to maintain high-quality operations while achieving cost savings. The shift to demand-based pumping reduces unnecessary cleaning and associated waste. For JPG, SmartPro has revolutionized interceptor pumping. Remote monitoring not only enhances service quality and cost savings for customers but also expands pumping service capacity. Additionally, it fosters responsible wastewater system management, minimizing resources and unnecessary pumps. Installation is a breeze, typically taking less than 60 minutes. Geiling acknowledges the value of technology-driven solutions, stating, "We're trying to do more with new technology, and Zurn is doing a lot of the things we want to deploy to our customers. Technology-driven solutions and monitoring allow us to help our customers understand their needs a little bit better." “One JPG customer went from pumping every month for compliance to pumping every quarter based on their actual need,” says John Geiling, President and CEO, JPG Plumbing & Mechanical. “The data presents itself through the SmartPro System. At $450 dollars per pump at 200 stores, this customer could save up to $720,000 a year.” You can learn more about SmartPro Grease Interceptor Monitors in a new case study. November 18, 2022 Creating Smarter Maintenance Schedules with Smart Restroom Products Labor shortages have hit university maintenance teams hard, causing delays and backlogs in their plumbing work. However, one southern university has found a solution. With Zurn Elkay smart restroom products, they’re able to send staff where they’re needed most. Gaining insights across campus At this 300+-acre campus, a team of eight plumbers manages nearly 200 buildings. The lean team was spread thin trying to keep up with routine and unanticipated maintenance tasks. The talent shortage created delays in responding to work orders. Now Zurn Elkay smart remote monitoring provides insights across campus down to the room level. The team checks solenoid and diaphragm life without leaving the department and can plan maintenance more efficiently and schedule preventive work before issues occur. The use of Zurn Elkay’s Hydro-X fixtures with smart sensor technology reduced battery changeouts by 1,197 annually, saved 4,788 batteries, and reduced the number of batteries going into landfills. Single-source standardization across all flush valves and faucets on campus simplifies the ordering of repair parts. With Zurn Elkay smart restroom products, the lean team has reduced truck rolls and maintenance visits by 50%. Smart Restroom Management System The workplace restroom is crucial, especially during flu season. Up to 50% of working individuals miss work due to illness, as per the CDC. Businesses must take precautions for employee health and productivity. Recent regulations focus on hand washing stations, proper restroom cleaning, and supplies. However, many companies still struggle with restroom cleanliness. Manual inspection is costly. Cleanliness challenges persist, driving the demand for smart washroom systems. IoT (Internet of Things) technology has revolutionized smart restroom management by connecting physical objects to the web. It monitors essentials like toilet paper levels, occupancy, and usage trends, reducing costs and enhancing janitorial efficiency. Smart restroom systems benefit both commercial and facility washrooms. Role of IoT in Turning Restrooms Smarter: IoT connects restroom devices to monitor and provide real-time data, enabling proactive issue resolution. Smart restroom management relies on accurate data for optimization. From soap dispensers to paper towels, smart systems eliminate guesswork and stockouts. IoT-connected dispensers transmit data through cloud, Wi-Fi, or cellular networks. Building managers access this data remotely, streamlining supply refills and orders. Smart restroom systems empower building owners to remotely manage cleaning routines and optimize janitorial expenses, focusing on high-traffic areas. Key Benefits: Enhanced Maintenance Schedules: Track restroom usage, cleaning frequency, products used, and time spent per task. Streamline cleaning schedules for efficiency. Consumable and Waste Control: IoT alerts prevent unnecessary device replacements, saving time and resources. Improved Occupant Experience: Prevent waste and stockouts with user reminders and low-supply alerts. Enhanced Facility Appearance: Clean restrooms significantly impact cu