For many companies this time of year means planning the annual holiday party. This is not as simple as it seems. When employees cut loose at company-sponsored functions, the results can lead to sexual harassment charges and other liability issues.

A new kind of roof-and-attic system field-tested at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has been developed to keep homes cool in summer and prevent heat loss in winter, a multi-seasonal efficiency uncommon in roof and attic design.

In this month’s troubleshooting problem we have a customer who can only tell us that their heat pump “isn’t working” and “the temperature in the building isn’t right.” When you arrive, you confirm the system isn’t operating properly. The indoor fan motor is running normally, but the building temperature is far from the thermostat set-point.

The first two parts of this series dealt with the use of cast iron components in refrigeration equipment. This last part will focus on the construction of such components.

According to a 2012 study of more than 1,300 U.S. workers, 75 percent of employees believe their company is not well-prepared for a natural disaster. Cintas Corp., a leader in first-aid and safety products, identifies seven mistakes businesses make in emergency planning to encourage better preparation.

Entropy Solutions Inc., a bio-based specialty company, has announced the launch of Chillin’ Brew™ panels, a new product designed and engineered to keep beer at the absolute coldest temperature possible.

Bob and Tim have arrived at a “no cooling” call at a commercial building location. They went first to the thermostat and noticed that the indoor fan was running, but there was no cool air coming out of the air registers.

In the first part of this three-part series, we talked about the effect cold shortness has on the use of cast iron in refrigeration equipment. Now we will look at porosity and abrasion resistance.

As the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) beefs up its whistleblower program, employers should brace themselves for more claims and investigations. Over the last year, OSHA has been developing a “multifaceted plan for strengthening the enforcement of 21 whistleblower laws under its jurisdiction.”

Autodesk Inc. has announced that Huntair Inc. has utilized Autodesk’s software to develop a unique new airflow delivery system that has the potential to reduce healthcare-acquired infections.