Dynamic Systems, Inc. (DSI) chose Merit Brass Company copper press fittings on the chilled water system for a multi-billion-dollar facility because of the ease of installation, cost savings, and cleanliness of the installation. Moreover, Merit’s fittings are equipped with distinctive Visual Indicator Press Ring® (VIPR) technology—which provides an external visual confirmation of a pressed fitting and enabled DSI to avoid the common problem of missed pressed fittings that can derail projects.
Headquartered in Austin, TX, DSI was awarded the contract for a new manufacturing facility project in Chatham County, NC, by Wolfspeed, a global leader in silicon carbide technology. The facility sits on 445 acres with an expansion goal of more than 1 million square feet within the next 10 years.
Bret Randall, senior project manager at DSI, explained the decision to partner with Merit Brass. “The complexities of this project drove us to seek out product(s) that could contribute to our overall success, which was focused on budget, efficiencies, safety, and meeting the project timeline,” he said. “We partner with companies driven by innovation with a commitment to quality, because we understand how critical piping systems are to our customers.”
Risks of a Missed Connection
As the adoption of press technology continues to grow within the industry, minimizing avoidable challenges, such as a missed press, is increasingly crucial. DSI recognized that a missed press connection could lead to significant disruptions on a jobsite, including leakage, water damage, increased labor costs, delays, system failures—both immediate and over time—and even safety risks.
Most press systems incorporate some type of technology to their fitting or sealing element to identify a missed press at the time of testing, and it is industry standard to “mark the fitting” as fittings are pressed. Still, despite onsite training and experience with press installations, missed presses can go undetected, especially in large or complex systems.
To avoid the risks, DSI chose Merit Brass’ unique CopperPress® fittings with VIPR for the installation. The VIPR technology features a thin, green band around the fitting that breaks once the fitting is pressed, eliminating the uncertainty that often arises with traditional press systems. Merit Brass developed this technology because they understood the challenges contractors faced with a missed press. For DSI, the added layer of assurance with Merit’s CopperPress was critical in ensuring a smooth and efficient installation process.
Randall stated, “We decided to partner with Merit Brass for this project to stay on schedule and eliminate any avoidable challenges. Every contractor using press systems has experienced the frustration of a missed press fitting at some point. With Merit’s press technology, not only was our team confident, but the engineering and facilities teams were also reassured that we could easily identify any missed presses early in the installation, allowing us to keep the project moving forward without delays.”
Success Starts With Training
Jobsite training remains a critical element for the success of any project, whether using traditional installation methods or adopting new technologies like press systems. As the industry continues to evolve, ensuring that teams are well versed in both conventional and innovative techniques is essential for achieving efficiency, safety, and quality outcomes.
DSI consistently partners with preferred manufacturers that not only provide comprehensive training but also deliver cutting-edge solutions for a more streamlined and secure jobsite. DSI received training from Merit Brass in advance as well as onsite support as the system was being installed.
“DSI is committed to maintaining the highest standards of performance and reliability. Merit Brass will play a key part in our strategy for success moving forward because of their products, advanced technologies, support, and experience in the field,” Randall concluded.
For more information visit meritbrass.com.
