ISSUE#149July 2014Outlet

The Offi cial Reece Customer Update We welcome your feedback so please send any comments by e-mail to outlet@reece.com.au or by fax to (03) 9274 0131.

In t

his

issu

e ARBSReport

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River ofsewage

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THE CRACKThe world’s most useless toilet gadgets

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Warm upyour poolthis winter

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Today more than ever you need to be responsive to your clients’ needs. Often you’ll need a product solution straight away so Click and Collect was created with this in mind. This feature allows you to place your product order online via My Account, and the Reece team at your chosen branch will pack the order and have it ready for you to pick up the next day, or even within the hour.

The way it works is seriously simple:

1. Jump onto My Account and select the products you need

2. Select the branch you want to collect your order from

3. Head down to the branch and pick up your order

It really is as easy as that.

Click & CollectA faster way to work

Last month we gave you a bit of an overview of some of the features of My Account. Over the next few issues we’ll be picking a particular feature of My Account and really running through how it works, and why it’ll help you get the most from your business.This month we’re looking atClick and Collect.

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Click & Collect is another example of how My Account works for you 24/7 | Find out more at reece.com.au/mytips

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Connecting with the industry at ARBS 2014Almost 8000 visitors descended on the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre for this year’s three-day Air Conditioning, Refrigeration and Building Services (ARBS) trade exhibition, making it one of the most successful ever. Attendees from a range of industries and organisations got to see the latest and greatest hvac-r and building services product innovations and technologies from a range of local, national and global exhibitors. Delegates also heard from various national and international speakers about how technology and legislation is impacting the industry, what the repeal of the carbon tax means for the sector, and the latest on the HFC phase down.

ARBS 2014 was also the fi rst time the TA FUS1ON valve was on display to the Australian market. A team of TA Hydronics and Reece hvac-r specialists were on hand to demonstrate the key features and benefi ts of TA FUS1ON’s revolutionary Controland Balancing valve which includes fully adjustable KV Values that are easy commissioning andenergy saving.

Other highlights included the A-Gas exhibit, which was promoting the latest generation of refrigerants and Rehau who were promoting their underfl oor heating systems.

With a large international contingent on handto present and discuss exciting hvac-r andbuilding services innovations, we’re expecting to see a number of new products heading our way from Europe, Asia and the US in the not toodistant future.

When the weather cools down, the pool is often forgotten.But it doesn’t have to be the case with the right type of heating. With so many options available, you’re sure to fi nd the right heating solution to meet your clients’ needs and budget.

Pool heating is the best way to extend the pool season and even enjoy it all year round. There are three main types of pool heating including solar, gas and electrical heat pumps. The best system for your client will be determined by numerous factors including what they’ll be using the pool for, their budget and also the physical location of the pool and house. The pool owner’s geographical location will also play a part in this decision, due to varying weather patterns and changing energy pricing structures by State.

Solar heating, a common choice for pool heating is a great, cost effective option that uses the energy directly from the sun to heat the pool or spa. Due to its reliance on weather conditions, solar heating is most utilised and effi cient in the warmer months. Solar heating is perfect for those looking for a heating system which allows for a warm pool during the periods when people most want to swim.

For those wanting to extend the swimming season beyond the warmer months gas and electrical heaters are great options to consider. The major advantages of gas heaters are their ability to heat water quickly, on demand and with greater temperature control. Gas heaters use natural gas or LPG to provide direct and continuous heat from a fl ame to the pool or spa. Gas heaters are suitable for virtually any pool or spa and can be used for both indoor and outdoor applications.

Electrical heat pumps also provide great fl exibility. Heat pumps operate similar to an air conditioner; they remove heat from the air and transfer it to the pool or spa. Heat pumps are extremely energy effi cient and have low running costs. There are models available to suit most regions, pools and budgets.

When the time comes to purchase your heating solution we’ve got you covered with a range of pool heating products on offer from leading brands such as Rheem, Zodiac, AstralPool, Waterco, Pentair and Davey. With solar, gas and electric heat pumps all available, there’s defi nitely a heating option to ensure your clients can enjoy their pool all year round.

In addition to the extensive heating options available at Reece Irrigation, a great range of pool maintenance products are also available. So when you’re next chatting to your client about pool heating, it’s also not a bad time to get them thinking about what they need to do to maintain their pool during winter, so that when the temperature rises, their pool will be in tip top shape and ready for action.

Head to reece.com.au/pools to view the full range of pool heating and pool care products on offer.

Warm up your pool this winter

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REECE.COM.AU/OUTLET | 3

2014 State and Territory budget wrap up

Good times aheadfor civil works

With most of the 2014/15 budgets now handed down by the federal, state and territory governments and funds allocated to new projects across the country, we thought we’d put together a bit of an overview of the biggest upcoming projects. And as you can see the next few years are lookingpretty busy for the civil industry.

To see more of the major projects across Australia go to reece.com.au/outlet

We recently spotted just another example of the importance of professionally plumbed sewage systems in Melbourne. Parts of Melbourne’s Yarra River are reporting levels of E.Coli bacteria a whopping 120 times above the safe limit, according to community water monitoring group Yarra Riverkeepers. And who’s partlyto blame? DIY plumbers.

As recently reported by The Herald Sun, there seems to be a growing number of frugal Melbourne homeowners attempting to save on the cost of professional help and council fees by cross-connecting their sewage and stormwater piping themselves.

The impact of these DIY sewage disasters isn’t just limited to the homeowners’ health - it is far more wide reaching than that. It is potentially jeopardising the health of the entire community by contaminating local waterways.

What homeowners don’t realise is that increased pressure on stormwater and sewerage systems during a storm forces water authorities to empty excess stormwater into the

surrounding creeks. The DIY cross-connection of sewage and stormwater piping means that human waste is then unintentionally emptied into public waterways. This poses a very real

danger to community health with the potential to cause outbreaks of deadly waterborne diseases.

According to The Herald Sun, Melbourne Water has confi rmed it is investigating cross-connection cases and their impact. It has reported that one particular footbridge along Gardiners Creek has the highest E.Coli reading in Melbourne – clocking 3,200 nasty organisms per 100ml. One sample showed 24,000 organisms swimming around in just 100ml – more than 120 times the safe limit.

Aside from the dangers these unsanitary practises pose to community health, it’s safe to say that those looking to save a few dollars on plumbing will now be forking out more to rectify their cross-connection plumbing attempts.

This serves as just another reminder to homeowners of the value of using alicensed plumber.

VIc$27bn

NSW$60bn*

QLD$5.4bn

NT$1.14bn

SA$10.1bn*

WA$23.7bn*

Don’t risk it:Stingy homeowners are causing a river of sewage

Northern TerritoryTop projects:• $408 million to build new and upgrade

existing roads and transport assets

• $135.5 million for projects to accelerate the release of residential, commercial and industrial land

• $122.8 million to build new, and upgrade existing, houses in remote communities

QueenslandTop projects:• Toowoomba Second Range Crossing

– $321 million towards the history making $1.6 billion, 41 km innovative toll road project

• $768 million in 2014-15 to upgrade sections of the Bruce Highway

• $495 million for infrastructure improvements under the Royalties for the Regions program

Western AustraliaTop projects:

• $2 billion Forrestfi eld Airport Link

• $1.24 billion Perth Stadium

• $1.8 billion Fiona Stanley Hospital

New South WalesTop projects:

• $8.3 billion North West Rail Link will be Australia’s fi rst fully automated, highcapacity, rapid transit network

• $3.5 billion (over ten years) will be committed for major road upgrades and new road infrastructure to support the developmentof an airport at Badgerys Creek

VictoriaTop projects:• $8.5–$11 billion for the Melbourne Rail Link

• $2–$2.5 billion for the Cranbourne-Pakenham Rail Corridor project

• $8–$10 billion for East West Link– Western Section

South AustraliaTop projects:

• $3.1 billion health infrastructure including New Royal Adelaide Hospital

• $1.3 billion roads projects including Torrens Road to River Torrens upgrade

• $296 million public transport upgrades

Plumbing plays an important role in the health and safety of the wider community. It’s more than just making toilets fl ush and taps turn on – it’s ensuring safe removal of waste and clean water sources for all to enjoy.

To see more of themajor projects acrossAustralia go toreece.com.au/outlet

Plumbing Supply Forum InsightsLast month we attended the Plumbing Supply Forum in Sydney where we heard from a number of leading industry fi gures who presented on a range of topics centred on this year’s theme of Building a Sustainable Future for the Plumbing Sector.

In the coming months we’re going to revisit several of the key topics that were covered to provide you with an overview of the issues that are likely to impact you and your business in the future.

In our fi rst instalment we’re taking a look at what Housing Industry of Australia (HIA) Chief Economist, Dr Harley Dale had to say in relation to current trends and future predictions for the building and renovation markets in Australia.

Head to reece.com.au/outletto read the full story.

*predicted expenditure over four years

TasmaniaProject budgetsexpected August 2014

*predicted expenditure over four years

*predicted expenditure over four years

Main Price Changes For the full list of price changes or if you have any queries, please see your Reece Branch Manager or visit www.reece.com.au/outlet for further updates.

In The PipelineProducts for smarter plumbingPlumbing is changing and there’s a lot more to it than pipes, trenches and taps. In The Pipeline keeps you up-to-date on a wide range of products.

TheCrack

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Conduit Spacers There are a large range of Conduit Spacers available at Reece Civil with trefoil, bore and baffl e spacers now available. With options to suit 100, 125, 150 and 200 millimetre electrical conduit, you can rest assured you’ll be able to maintain the correct spacing regardless of the job requirements.

Other features include:

To see the full range of conduit spacers, head to reece.com.au/civil

To fi nd out more, head to reece.com.au/irrigation

To fi nd out more, head to reece.com.au/hvac-r

• No need for special tools

• Quick installation

• Appropriate for light or heavy duty conduit

• Easy, lock together system

• Manufactured in Australia using 100% recycled materials

• The “milk crate” design allows penetration of sand or other fi ll medium in order to enclose all cavities around the spacers, minimising ´hot spots´

• Also available are spacer hold downs, conduit hold downs, spacer blocks, and custom made bore and baffl e spacers

Dura Drybox The Dura Drybox offers maximum protection for all types of irrigation valves and manifolds. Made from high density Polyethylene, the drybox features a double seal design and a honeycomb lid design for added strength.

Other features include:

• Waterproof – keeps surface water from entering

• Insect and pest resistant

• Keeps work area safe and clean

• Optional dirt skirt

Purmo Compact Purmo Compact is a traditionally styled radiator made to suit a wide range of applications. Attractive top and side covers give the Compact a discreet, yet beautifully classic design. Available in a range of sizes.

Other features include:

• Energy effi cient design as it only requiresa small amount of water to function

• Can be easily installed in new builds or as a replacement system within existing properties

• Designed for zoning, so you have thefreedom to heat individual rooms or areaswithin your home

• Allergy friendly as it doesn’t dryout the air like ducted alternatives

• Reliable and easy to clean

• Anti corrosion and fi nishing treatmentsmean long life

• 25 year warranty

Supplier Products % Increase Date Effective

Ace Gutters Roofi ng gutters and downpipe (NSW & VIC only) 5% 1 July 2014

Apex Building Products Roofi ng products 5.25% 1 July 2014

AW&F Sheetmetal Roofi ng products 6% 1 July 2014

BlueScope Lysaght Roofi ng products 5.30% 1 July 2014

Combined Metal Industries Flashing (WA only) 5-7% 1 July 2014

Concept Sheet Metal Flashing (VIC only) 0-6% 1 July 2014

Custom Sheetmetal Flashing (VIC only) 3-5.5% 1 July 2014

Davey Water Products Irrigation products and pool equipment 4-5% 1 July 2014

Enterprise Agencies Tapware (SA only) Various % 1 July 2014

Enware Australia Commercial tapware and bathroomware 5% 1 July 2014

Filterfi t Ventilation fi lters Various % 1 July 2014

Galvin Engineering Commercial and maintenance products 4% 1 July 2014

Grundfos Pumps Irrigation pumps 3-4% 1 July 2014

ITW Buildex Fasteners and screws 4-5% 1 July 2014

Methven Australia Tapware Various % 1 July 2014

Metroll Wagga Roofi ng products (Wagga region only) 4.5-7.5% 1 July 2014

Stramit Industries Roofi ng products 0-15% 1 July 2014

Unistrut Australia Clips, bolts and nuts up to 10% 1 July 2014

Warren & Brown Technologies Flaring tools up to 3% 1 July 2014

Wasteland Plumbing Waste and drainage 2.50% 1 July 2014

Abey Australia Clips, bolts and nuts 5-10% 1 August 2014

Collis Marketing Service Plumbing miscellaneous (QLD & NT only) 2.5% 1 August 2014

Netafi m Australia Irrigation tubes and accessories (excluding Low Density) up to 6% 1 August 2014

Philmac Plastic pipe and fi ttings, and irrigation products 3.5% 1 August 2014

Steve Molloy Agencies Drainage and grates (SA only) Various % 1 August 2014

The world’s most useless toilet gadgets There are some seriously pointless gadgets out there and possibly none less useless than the three toilet related ones The Crack has uncovered this month.

How many of you have had your phone leap from your hands into the toilet bowl? The iGadget toilet roll holder has been designed so you’ll never lose an iPhone to the dark depths of the porcelain ever again. An iPhone or iPod dock with a twist, the iGadget combines a phone dock and toilet roll holder, so that you can also play your own soundtrack to your bathroom symphonies while collecting toilet paper from the roll.

Next we have the iPotty. Winner of several ‘worst toy of the year awards’, this gadget is a bizarre combination of iPad and potty designed to help young children with toilet training. A clip-on seat cover can be attached to convert the potty, so they can play apps and watch videos while going about their business.

Last we have the Loo Read. This nifty retractable banner-style tabletop can be pulled across your lap so that you can read the paper or even do your makeup all while sitting on the toilet. While multitasking is a great skill to have, it’s perhaps not necessary in this particular environment.

Want two minutes of your life back after reading that? We’re not surprised. But at least you can trust in The Crack to bring you the latest in novelty toilet technology.

Expanding the networkBranch Relocation:Belmont85 Belmont Avenue, Belmont WA 6104

PlumbingPh: 08 9277 1788Fax: 08 9277 1625Email: Belmont.Plumbing.WA@reece.com.au

IrrigationPh: 08 9479 7077Fax: 08 9479 7577Email: Belmont.Irrigation.WA@reece.com.au

HVAC-R Ph: 08 9373 2230Fax: 08 9373 2239Email: Belmont.HVAC-R.WA@reece.com.au