Category: Blog

Founder of R&W Engineering, Mark Wirfs, began his career in the engineering industry while he was still a student at Oregon State University. He worked for one year in the engineering department of a plant as he got his engineering degree. In 1971, he graduated with this Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, and thus began the path that would eventually lead him to start the R&W Engineering business.

Before he decided to study engineering, Mark considered becoming a musician. He has played the trombone since 4^th grade. But he decided to pursue engineering because it was more lucrative. As a senior in high school, he also considered studying physics and interviewed with a physics professor. Ultimately, he chose engineering because he liked that it was less theoretical and would allow him to build things.

After graduation, he started working for a large firm. But, unhappy with his level of advancement there, he changed jobs and went to a smaller firm. In need of something more, he then started looking for another opportunity. That was when he ran into Harry Reeder in an elevator. They struck up a conversation and several months later, they founded R&W Engineering.

When asked what he thought R&W’s greatest challenges have been overall, he said, “Staying in business during economic slowdown. And getting through slow periods of design and construction.” He said there were periods where they had to reduce staff, and that it became necessary to recognize that before real economic problems really hit.

He said during those times, they worked diligently to find new work. It was at this point that they developed a business of working with municipal clients, particularly water and wastewater treatment plants. “Therefore, water and wastewater projects allowed us to grow and find new avenues for work,” said Mark.

When asked what makes R&W successful, he said, “The people have been successful. As we expanded, we made sure to find good people. This really is a people’s business.” Wirfs said that he particularly enjoyed his association with great engineers and designers over the years. Involvement with so many different industries as well as the National Electrical Code (which he participated in as a member to write national electrical codes) meant he, “got to work with a great bunch of people.” R&W values its community, and it is clear this begins with our leadership.

Thinking back over the decades of projects he has worked on, Mark said he remembers several that were particularly interesting. “[R&W] was involved with a printed circuit board chemical treatment facility.” He said that the Chehalis wastewater treatment plant was a project that stood out in his mind. “It’s not often a city replaces a whole plant, and Chehalis did.” When asked what made these projects so unique, he said, “It was the opportunity to work in different environments, and the challenge to help contractors design and procure equipment.”

Outside of work, Mark is very active. He loves to play golf and does so quite a bit. And while he is not a professional musician, he still plays the trombone. He has even been in several different bands and symphonies at different times in his life.

Like so many of our leaders, Mark Wirfs’ dedication to R&W Engineering is one of the reasons we have thrived for as long as we have. With founders like him who prove their commitment to the company and its workers time and time again, we can trust the atmosphere built in this company is one intended to help us all succeed.

Since Oregon’s Shelter-In-Place orders were given, R&W Engineering’s employees have been working remotely. Our fantastic leadership and IT personnel have worked hard to ensure we can do our jobs effectively from home. And while this change presents challenges, adapting to other difficulties because of Covid-19 has also been an on-going process.

There are many challenges we each face as remote workers. For some, the biggest challenge is working from home while their children learn online. This means parents must juggle meal prep, snacks, and helping kids with their work, while also getting their own work done. Some parents try to mitigate this by planning meals and snacks the night before. “We have a menu for the week for lunches, so [the kids] know what they are having. Of course, there are times they want something different than the menu, but they are reminded that this is not a restaurant,” one parent said. Menu and meal prep can be one way to reduce the stress of at-home work and learning.

As for online learning, parents say that some kids do well, while others struggle. Older children can keep themselves on task. But younger children have struggled in the transition. “There are times I have my youngest read books or listen to stories while I work, and we complete his independent assignments when I have a break, am on lunch, or after work.  Each day is different, and we adjust as we go,” said one parent. What a great coping mechanism for these uncertain times, too: remembering that each day is different and it’s okay to adjust as we go.

Other quarantine challenges affect students, parents, teachers, and employees alike. The lack of social interaction can make a negative impact on all of us. Being in isolation for long periods when we’re used to having wide access to family, friends, restaurants, movie theaters, and other people/places, definitely wears on all of us. Many of us are used to being involved in social activities like play dates, softball or other group sports, summer camp, musical festivals, church functions, college, or other learning programs, etc. Being disconnected from all of that is a hard adjustment. “We really are social creatures,” an employee said.

And even though we have things like Zoom, Google Hangouts, FaceTime, and other technologies that allow us to socialize while maintaining distance, there are still other things we miss. Physical affection, being in someone else’s presence, and even being outside of our own home are important to our mental and emotional health. And while our employees have found ways of making this work (socially distancing outside with family and friends, for instance), it is still a struggle.

Not all challenges are directly related to the isolation of quarantine. Some employees say that one of their biggest challenges is managing technology. Learning new tools and utilizing them efficiently, and then switching between programs, can be difficult. Included in this is also the use of different forms of communication. All R&W employees have Microsoft Teams and Outlook on our phones now to increase the likelihood that we will receive any emails and messages that come through, even when not at our computers. “While these tools seem to work well for the most part, it is sometimes difficult to ignore a notification or string of notifications on my non-working hours. It can also be distracting when a conversation via a Team’s chat is taking place and the notifications keep coming.” Working remotely means managing through technological adjustments, and there are times when this is harder than it seems.

Many, if not all, of R&W employees expressed that they miss the social connection of in-person conversations while working. “I miss not being able to see or catch up with co-workers beyond our weekly video chats – larger group conversations make it harder to find out what’s going on with everyone.” Our leadership and management personnel have done a fantastic job of keeping everyone connected. We have a weekly Teams video chat where anyone who wants to can catch up. Our Halloween Party was also virtual last year, and included our Pumpkin Carving and Costume Contests, as well as Halloween Trivia. All of these we would do in-office. “I am typically a social butterfly but feel like a moth lately. I HATE MOTHS!” one employee said.

But we’re also adaptable. Making the most of situations is a healthy way of coping with the uncertain and unexpected. For this employee, having a small social bubble has made all the difference. “When the weather was better, we would do a lot of things outside with family and friends, keeping distance. We also have lots of video calls with family and friends.” Their family has done some online escape room/mystery solving games together, alleviating some of the monotony. Prioritizing virtual socialization is something I think all of us in quarantine need to remember to do. Knowing that there are so many ways to connect to people is helpful.

As we get closer to the one-year mark of working remotely, we’re reminded just how much we’ve endured. And while things continue to be difficult, it’s important to see the little victories. Finding ways of staying connected is a victory. Communicating our struggles is a victory. We hope as 2021 continues to progress through the Covid struggle, you will celebrate your little victories as we celebrate ours.

As we pass into autumn, it’s clear just how much our lives have changed since the global pandemic hit the United States. Amusement parks closed, cancelling many summer plans. State and national parks restricted access, making hiking, BBQs, and camping difficult. And while we have begun to settle into something resembling a new normal, we see how different things are than they were a year ago.

But it’s not all gloomy. R&W employees have kept up to date on a long list of quarantine projects. We have been busy with building and remodel projects, home schooling projects for those with kids, and other activities for personal enjoyment. Being quarantined and away from the office has meant adjusting to difficulties. But it also means more creativity in the ways we entertain ourselves.

Our at-home quarantine projects span a wide array of types and levels of complication. One member of the R&W family has finished a long list of projects, two of which included constructing a house for the well on his property and clearing away the underbrush near the fence around his property. Of all the projects, he listed the well house as his favorite: “[It] was built using metal [for the] siding and roof. I have done some metal roofing but never siding, so this was a fun challenge to figure out all of the connections, overhangs, and trim to make it weather-tight and look nice.”

The other large project he completed was clearing away the brush from around his property to make walking trails: “Clearing brush for the trails is a constant, never ending battle. I have let it go for too long and now it gives me a productive way to get exercise. It’s also a great stress reliever. There are some areas around our fence line that I have not been able to get into for more than 20 years.” Completing components of a project 20 years in the making! That is next-level productivity! This project began, he said, because his wife mentioned she wanted to see the other side of the property from their back deck. And now she can. You can see the before and after pictures below.

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What is interesting about these projects is how diverse they are in terms of what they accomplish. Some projects, like the two just mentioned, are more on the productive side, using quarantine to clean up, remodel, build, and finish up tasks needing to be completed. Other projects have been more on the fun side, taking time to invest in new and old hobbies, and spending time with family. Our next featured projects fall into this category.

Another staff member bought a metal detector and spends time with his daughter every week looking for loose change and other treasures. When asked what prompted this project, he said: “My daughter was at her grandparent’s house for the day and brought home treasures from their backyard…I saw her excitement…and it was a no brainer. Even though she only brought home trash, to her it was buried treasure.” 2 to 3 times each week, they take the metal detector to neighborhood parks, schools, and to the beach to search the sand for buried items that have been left behind and forgotten.

He said they mostly find loose change, primarily pennies. But they have also found match box cars, nails, pop cans, keys, and a couple of bullets. They even found a ring and a charm bracelet, which his daughter loves to wear and are her favorite found items. And he is most excited by the silver nickel and 1954 half-dollar they found. They have been saving all the loose change to show people. “The best part” he said, “is hanging with the kid, for sure!” They usually go out for a couple of hours at a time. Not only is there great bonding between the two of them, but it gets them out of doors in a way that is safe and allows exercise.

Some of our quarantine projects have been simple, but helpful. One staff member built a deck vision screen to maintain privacy as the lot next to their house was sold and was being divided. He said they built it “…using reclaimed fence wood and metal from auto ramps and other materials. Along with some welding and ingenuity, we constructed our 16ft long and 6ft high vision screen.” Maintaining privacy during a time when so many people are staying home is becoming more essential.

Another staff member has been painting. She began in junior high. When asked how she came to be interested in painting, she said, “Watercolors. I did a beautiful watercolor of a vase of roses in 7^th grade and have been hooked ever since.” She primarily works in acrylics since it’s what she has. She said she tried oils over this last weekend and learned it’s not her medium.

She has also taken up relearning to speak French. It was something she started in high school. She said she’s been working since May to expand her knowledge. When asked what her long term plans are for painting and French, she said, “I think with painting I would love to make gifts for people…As for French, it’s just to pass the time.” She did recall once when she was 22 and working at Applebees, a large group of primarily French-speaking customers came into the restaurant. She was the only one working who spoke any French. She was able to help them order. “They were very polite and left a great tip.”

And lastly, another member has been remodeling sections of his home with his wife. They’ve completed quarantine projects, including the extension of their kitchen island to make room for breakfast/prep area, adding a leveled paving stone walkway from the front of the yard, painting their bedroom, and refurbishing a small floor cabinet to hold towels and other toiletries. When asked which project was the hardest, he said, “The island extension by far. It was a lot of standalone kitchen parts…that we put together to make the full extension. [It meant] making sure they all aligned properly and matched…cutting pieces to better lengths, sanding, painting, matching style…” This kitchen island project was also his favorite, he said, because it turned out really well and they use it every day.

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These are only a few of our at-home projects. I’m sure there will be even more as we go into 2021. And while this year has not turned out the way we thought it would, it’s great to see some of the things we still accomplished. Because this is evidence of some of what makes R&W such a fantastic company. We are full of problem solvers, devoted workers, creative thinkers, and strong leaders. As a company and as individuals, we go above and beyond. Even during a global pandemic when stakes are high and so much is uncertain, we still find ways to be productive, both on the job and at home.

2020 has been turbulent, unpredictable, and uncertain. What we all hoped would be only a few months of quarantine has shifted to form a new way of life. Even now, the regular ins and outs of life remain uncertain. However, even with the changes to our daily life, R&W Engineering remains in business. Projects are still in various stages of progress. New projects have been coming in. But the most notable change in all of this has been R&W’s shift to working remotely. Since the last week of March, following Governor Brown’s Shelter-In-Place order, all R&W staff have been working remotely.

But how are R&W’s staff members fairing long term in this working remote situation? I asked around to see how people were doing and found there have been some challenges as well as a lot of success. Most of the challenges have revolved around adjusting to the limitations of working from home. As one person said, “One of the early work arounds was getting used to doing markups in Bluebeam rather than relying on pen and paper.” Having limited access to the office makes aspects of work challenging and adjusting to the digital platforms takes time. Another employee said, “A good amount of my work is doing things around the office so I’m having to shift that work over to archiving.” Adjusting to the at-home workload has been complicated at times, but we have also been learning and growing.

Using online communication platforms, like Microsoft Teams, has made communication much easier. Features like Screen Share mimic the in-office ability to go to someone’s desk to see what’s on their screen. Teams is also available as a mobile app. This allows us to chat with or call coworkers directly, making communication much easier and almost like being in the office. One employee said, “I have grown in my knowledge and comfort on web meetings and working remotely on screen-share with fellow employees.” They were also able to set up a remote site visit for a project out of state.

Other things that have helped staff members have been working at an in-home office rather than at the dining room table and bringing their work chair home from the office. One coworker said, “The other thing that has helped is using a remote local drive that I can download all the stuff from the network I need but it doesn’t bog down the memory in my laptop. When we start returning to the office eventually, the drive is portable and will be easy to bring to the office with me.” Another said, “I’m very frequently on Teams for chatting about projects, video calls with co-workers, and meetings with clients. The in/out board is a great help in figuring out who is around or when someone will be back.” We’ve been making the remote access work for us as much as we can, and so far with great success.

And there are certainly other perks to working from home. One coworker mentioned, “I enjoy the relaxation and comfort of working from home…I coparent two dogs with my mom and they love getting mad that I’m right there but won’t play with them.” Another coworker and his family just adopted two kittens. Another coworker said that he’s an uncle for the 12^th time (wow!), and that his new niece was born so quickly, her parents didn’t make it to the hospital and she was delivered at home (double wow!). Mother and daughter are both healthy, he said. That is exciting news, and we wish all congratulations to his family!

We are curious to know when we will again make our way to the office for work. We even have a contest for employees to guess when Washington County will enter Phase II, allowing us to resume in-office work. The guesses range from mid-September through the end of January of next year. But until then, whenever that might be, we will make the best of where we are. We are determined to keep working. We are dedicated to our clients. And we will keep working hard during this time so that you can rely on us.

Author: Janel Brubaker

The culture, atmosphere, and values of a company are exemplified and upheld by its leadership. Because of this, owners, managers, and other leading personnel set the tone of a workplace through their actions, attitudes, and personal commitments to the rest of the staff, as well as to the company as a whole. R&W is lucky to have so many incredible leaders and one of them is Greg Robertson.

Mr. Robertson began his career in the engineering industry in 1979. He started as a drafter for an electrical manufacturing company. But after a time, he decided he needed something more. So, he joined a newly formed local consulting engineering firm. When asked what he liked most about engineering, he said, “I liked that I could work independently on projects, and that I could see a project all the way through to its final construction.”

In 1998, Mr. Robertson left a large national company which offered commercial, mechanical, and electrical engineering services because it was going out of business. He and several others approached R&W and offered to expand their company’s engineering services to include commercial engineering. Because R&W hadn’t yet branched out to that market, the whole group joined the R&W family. Fun fact: another member of this group moving over was Ed Carlisle, R&W’s current Vice President! Mr. Robertson said the transition into R&W was incredibly smooth. “We were coming from a typical big business, impersonal company into a more community, family focused company,” he said. “It was a nice change.”

After the transition into R&W, Mr. Robertson continued expanding his skills. Because of this, he progressed from being a junior designer to becoming a senior designer and project manager working primarily on cell sites. He spent years managing projects and building client lists. And as a result, after several years, he was asked by Mark Wirfs, one of the founders of R&W, if he would become a partner. Mr. Robertson’s devotion to both the clients and the company proved his reliability, trustworthiness, and commitment. These are only a few of the qualities that make him an exceptional leader in our company.

Mr. Robertson has worked on various types of projects, but cell sites are his favorite. “I love the trips,” he said, “There are so many diverse locations for cell sites. We build them on mountain tops and I get to look out for miles at the different landscapes. It’s beautiful.” Because of this, Mr. Robertson has travelled to many places for work on such projects. Some have been in National Parks. One project was done at Crater Lake National Park. He said of the experience, “I felt guilty that I was being paid to go there!” And his favorite project locations have been on the coast, at Timberline Lodge, and other mountain ranges.

In his downtime, Mr. Robertson loves spending time with his family. He has four children and 21 grandchildren. All of them live close by, so every summer, he and his wife take their grandchildren camping in groups of two. A favorite camping site of theirs is at the coast near Nehalem Bay. There, they ride bikes, have a campfire, and make s’mores. Mr. Robertson also enjoys taking photographs of wildflowers and waterfalls with his wife. “It’s another way to enjoy the outdoors,” he said.

R&W appreciates all that Mr. Robertson has done for us. We’re lucky to have him on our team!

Author: Janel Brubaker

R&W Engineering has seen some incredible milestones in the last couple of months. From reaching 100 projects with CIDA to celebrating our 41^st anniversary, 2019 has already been a fantastic year. As we reflect on all we’ve accomplished, it’s clear that none of it would have been possible if not for our founders. With this post we’d like to honor one of them, Harry Reeder.                                                  

Mr. Reeder has been in the engineering and construction field for 64 years. He graduated from Oregon State University with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. He also has an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering. When asked why he chose such a degree, Harry said, “Because I loved airplanes and wanted to work in the airplane industry.” And he did! Mr. Reeder worked for Boeing for 11 years before he left and worked another 11 years as a mechanical engineer for a consulting engineering firm. “The big changes in my life have occurred in cycles of eleven years,” he said.

One of the most challenging aspects of starting R&W, he said, was the finances. Finding clients so they could make enough to stay open was a concern for the first two years. “So we just had to keep on working,” Mr. Reeder said. Because of this, he and the co-founder, Mark Wirfs, decided to focus the company on electrical engineering, instrumentation, and control systems. The Portland area was already saturated with mechanical engineering firms and other engineering needs were given less attention. Mr. Reeder and Mr. Wirfs saw in that an opportunity to meet a need in the area and bring in more clients simultaneously.

As they focused their initial efforts on establishing themselves as an electrical engineering, instrumentation, and control systems firm, they also worked hard to launch a mechanical engineering side. These different services allowed them to generate a diverse list of clients who could come to R&W for a variety of engineering needs. Because of this, the company became financially solid after two years and by the five-year mark, had an excellent client list.

“The most rewarding part of being an owner of R&W has been watching it grow and watching the employees grow,” said Mr. Reeder. He described R&W as being a culture of honesty filled with respectable people. “I always tried to hire people smarter than me,” he said. “So I think we’ve built a company we can be proud of.” Mr. Reeder has been a pillar of strength for R&W. His leadership, his unwavering dedication to the company, the employees, and the clients, and his love for the industry are part of what has made R&W so successful.

Harry Reeder loves to play golf and he’s an Elder in his church. Mr. Reeder was very active in the American Society of Mechanical Engineering where he served in several positions, including as member of the Governing Board. He has travelled for a lot of different jobs, relocating to several states, though Oregon has always called him back. Also, he was the 30th President of The Consulting Engineers of Oregon (now called the American Council of Engineering Companies of Oregon). Mr. Reeder likes to read historical novels and is currently working his way through Churchill. Harry played football, basketball, and baseball in high school. When he worked for Boeing, he played in their company’s softball league.

We love and respect him as a person and for all he’s done for R&W, and find great value that he still visits the office and mentors us in his free time. Thank you, Harry!

Author: Janel Brubaker

Inspiration is often an undervalued component to office life. Some workplaces focus on other aspects of running an office, like time management and safety. And understandably so; these are important to the success and efficiency of a workplace. But this also means that some aspects of what drives a work environment can be overlooked. When companies emphasize the importance of lasting professional relationships, the results can be astounding. 

One company that R&W has worked with that meets this standard is CIDA, Inc. They’re a company R&W has enjoyed working alongside for over 25 years. The positive interactions between our respective team members has built an environment of trust and respect. Because of this, R&W has worked with CIDA on 100 different projects. This is an exciting prospect that reflects R&W’s dedication to building lasting relationships and also speaks to the type of relationship we have with CIDA.

One of our team members said his favorite part of working with them is the positive professional relationship between our two firms: “There’s more of an understanding of people, in terms of deadlines and people’s personal time. Everyone still has a life outside of the office.” When asked about the importance of R&W’s professional relationship with CIDA, he said, “It’s very important. Without them, I would not have been referred on other projects.” He continued, “Projects are not always perfect. They have their own oddities. CIDA understands that and the team works together to resolve problems in a timely manner.” Understanding the perspectives of employees, clients, and contractors is exactly the kind of professionalism that inspires loyalty. It also fosters strong connections between not only a company and their clients, but also a company and others they may work with.

In 2017, CIDA was recognized as one of the top 100 best companies to work for in Oregon. Companies that are good to work for are also often the companies that are good to work with. Another member of our team said of his favorite part of working with CIDA, “It’s the people. R&W’s vision is Building Lasting Relationships, and with the team at CIDA this has been easy. No matter who is assigned to projects at either company, we work well together and have mutual respect that makes projects fun and successful.” He continued, “…CIDA is a group of people that you know enjoy their work…and respect those they work with. Knowing my input is valued makes CIDA a great partner.” So, fostering positive professional relationships is a key inspirational tool.

Reaching the benchmark of 100 projects with CIDA is exciting for us at R&W. To have the kind of professional affiliation with a company where our team members enjoy interacting with their team members, even when stress is high, is a tremendous thing. It’s also precisely what has established the trust and respect that exists between our respective companies. And that trust and respect are the foundation of the rapport we’ve built over the last 25 years.

Attitude is another way that companies can inspire. It effects the daily life of the office as well as the continued relationships between a company and its clients. When asked about the 100 projects R&W has worked on with CIDA, a team member said, “This number indicates two firms that are more focused on getting good projects and doing the best quality work without allowing ego or territory to ruin the final product.” He continued, “Not only does R&W work for CIDA, but when appropriate, CIDA works for R&W. This sharing of the lead role to make a team that best serves the product and the client is telling and paints a picture of our relationship.”

The values, cultures, and attitudes of a company stem from its leadership. Owners and managers who emphasize the importance of professional relationships will likely create a working atmosphere that also emphasizes those relationships. Another member of R&W’s team said of her experience with CIDA, “There’s a comradery between our companies that has created great relationships and positive interactions. CIDA is the client you enjoy calling, and that makes jobs flow smoothly. It opens channels of efficient communication. There’s a greater feeling of being part of a team and cooperating toward the same goal.” She also said that, in her experience, these values are applied to every interaction she’s had with CIDA, regardless of whom she interacts with. This kind of inspiration builds professional success and establishes environments the clients and contractors enjoy being a part of.

Inspiration comes in many forms and through endless mediums. CIDA is an inspiring company for many reasons, some of which have been discussed here. What stands out is the positivity of their interactions with R&W. From being friendly and communicative to understanding the oddities of each job, CIDA has impacted R&W in positive ways. To see our firm reach 100 projects with CIDA is inspiring and serves to remind us that cultivating positive professional relationships is a worthwhile endeavor.

Here’s to 100 jobs with CIDA and many more to come!

Author: Heidi Speer

 

The task of balancing your work-life with your personal-life can be daunting, and in some cases, it can result in one of those two sides, losing. So which do you sacrifice: Work or Family?

For me neither was an option. Which was why “who” I worked for was so important when it came time to commit to a permanent position.

I had spent three years in that precarious position of contract employee, where your income was only guaranteed for a short amount of time. As a single parent that caused more than a few sleepless nights. I was eager for the stability that a permanent position offered, but I was worried what a permanent position might cost me when it came to my young child.

It was always the most heart pounding moment of a job interview. Bringing up the fact that I was a single parent to a 5-year-old and asking how a potential employer felt about the inevitable sick child phone call I’d get from the school that would cause me to leave work suddenly. There was the chance that your employer would appear to be sympathetic and understanding of your situation during the interview, however, in reality, if your child called you away from work more than two times it would actively start to affect how your employer treated you.

When R&W informed me that they were a “family first” company, I was relieved but knew to take all comments with a grain of salt, realizing that each company had their own definition of the phrase.

I’m happy to say that almost 12 years later, R&W is still true to their word. Whether you, a child or a pet is fighting an illness. If you must leave early for soccer practice, a school production or an anniversary dinner; management and co-workers are understanding. Flexible hours are available to help make-up missed time, and remotely accessing your work computer from home to keep on top of projects, helps relieve any stress someone may have for being away from their work obligations. It creates a balance that can be hard to achieve.

Finding a company that understands and accepts that an employee has responsibilities that lay outside the office, is important. Being a part of a company that believes that, and proves their belief every day creates a loyal work force that will give 110%, knowing that their company will support them in return.

Author: Tonya Minnick

Growing up in Nampa, Idaho near Boise (boy-see to the natives), and being a young single parent, I never got the opportunity to explore outside my boundaries. (Un)fortunately for me, the company I had been working at for the last couple years, decided to downsize starting with the newest employees in my department. No notice, just took my key card and booted me. Coworkers were nearly in tears as they lost two people that day and we were already working fifty hours a week. So, I saturated the market with my resume.

My interviews went great but Idaho isn’t known for fair wages. I continued to get interest at wages lower than what my unemployment checks were already supplying. Then the out of state calls started coming. North Dakota had a great offer, but I wasn’t interested in living there.  Seattle would be a nice place to live but who can survive in Seattle on the, twenty dollars per hour, offer I received?  This continued to discourage me.  Then I got a call from Volt Workforce saying they had an opportunity in Beaverton.  “Where is Beaverton?” I asked. “The home of Nike.” *silence* “Near Portland Oregon.” “Oh” I replied. “Sure, I’ll come out for an interview.”  Two days later I was in my car headed to a town full of Beavers.  Ten days after that, I was in that same little Saturn loaded to the brim with as much as I could pack into it. This included an air mattress, a relentlessly howling cat, and a little dog that insisted on riding atop the immense pile of precious necessities.

When I got here I had very little and was extremely nervous, as this was my first big adventure. Luckily the apartment I managed to get at the last minute, worked out wonderfully and was near work. Right away I noticed people were willing to help with my situation. I was given furniture, dishes, advice, etc.  These items came from, co-workers, new friends, one old friend that happened to be in the area, and a plethora of strangers. In what seemed like a very short time and only about five hundred dollars later, I had my apartment in a livable condition. I even had a real bed. And I was starting to make more friends that I could explore Oregon with.

Since getting settled in, I have taken many a trip to the coast and watched the gray whales and was able to witness some pretty spectacular breaches. While I had seen the Oregon Coast before, I never had the time to just relax and take it all in. Nor had I ever seen a whale in its natural habitat. Now I can go every weekend if I feel the need, and spend hours just looking out into the vast horizon. I finally experienced one of the most exhilarating moments of my life when I saw the tails of two Orca swimming toward the deep from Cannon Beach.  Did I mention that as a teen I had planned to attend OSU to become a marine biologist and study the Orca? Unfortunately, only the Jacque Cousteau’s of the world make a living sailing the seas and widening minds. But to see the multitudes of gray whales and then my Orca sighting, I was finally home.

While the sea side is my favorite Oregon location, I have found several other exciting places. The Tualatin Hills Nature Park is one of my favorite locations. It is chalk full of little critters and it’s a beautiful place to get your daily 10,000 steps in. Apparently, there are deer hiding in there too, but I have yet to find them. I personally have found, owls, bunnies, squirrels, toads, lizards, slugs, and a plethora of birds. It’s only one of many available trials in the area. Including the lovely Fanno Creek Trail. I have seen several great blue herons in the creek. Multnomah falls is also amazing. I have been up on the bridge but have not explored the higher trails. It’s a gorgeous natural waterfall with a manmade bridge to get us closer to nature. Oxbow park is also a wonderful place to visit.  I love the river, as it reminds me of the parts of Idaho I tend to miss on occasion. The self-titled little town at the base of Mount Hood also reminds me of the little Idaho town, of Marsing. The orchards and vineyards here are breathtaking in the fall. The little lodge at the base of the mountain was quaint but the road to the peak was closed due to snow, when I went. I can’t wait for next summer to explore some more.

The food scene is also spectacular here. I have discovered several scrumptious locations for tasty goodies.  I know Voodoo Donuts is a landmark but I’m in love with Beaverton Bakery.  I also found Mizumi Buffet, some delectable Chinese style seafood in a nice sized buffet.  Then all the noodle options to choose from at various places. I also love Mod Pizza, as they are like the super subway style pizza palace, with marion-blackberry lemonade that is amazing.  Portland Saturday Market with all the lovely food cart options, food pods as far as the eye can see, in downtown Portland and strewn about all the outlaying cities. My favorite Mexican food is in Vancouver (I know, not in Oregon), Taqueria El Antojo. They have the best tortilla soup and Mexican juices ever! This is accounting for the fact that Nampa has a heavy Hispanic population. There are also plenty of health conscious, yet delicious marvels to be found. Sweet Tomatoes is a nice healthy buffet. Just don’t overload on salad and soup. I am still hunting for my favorite places. It could take me years to find the best of the best. I am however, up for the challenge.

I am sure there are a multitude of Oregonian things I haven’t tried. I know there are several things on my list to explore. I am always eager for suggestions.  It would be awesome if some of you would leave some of your favorite places in the comments below. Hint, hint. Maybe you’ll feel the need to try a new place that I happened to find and mention here. I just want to say, I am so thankful to have found a company to work for, where my coworkers are also my friends. It was a leap of faith that brought me here and I am so glad I took that leap. I have found people I can count on if need be, in this new little family. This new adventure has definitely been a positive move. Of course, I miss aspects of Idaho, with friends and family at the top of the list. But, I feel like I belong here. I would like to thank each of you all for that.

 

Author: Tonya Minnick

Fire Flow Tests, also known as Hydrant Flow Tests can be performed for several different reasons.

Why

In general, fire flow tests are conducted on fire hydrants to determine the water availability.

There are multiple reasons why a flow test could need to be performed, below is a list of several of these reasons:

• To determine water availability in planning for firefighting activities.
• To determine water availability for the design of fire sprinkler systems.
• To determine water availability for the design of domestic water systems.
• To evaluate development of water main extensions.
• To evaluate system improvements and replacements.
• To determine the general condition of the water distribution system by detecting closed valves.

Fire flow testing produces accurate water data which can be used for various purposes. Fire Fighting Agencies use this water data for training, planning and marking hydrants. This water data is also used for water system planning and design. Municipalities also use the water data to simulate high flow conditions, to determine pressure and flow-producing capabilities of the water distribution system and for calibration of hydraulic models.

How

How often do Fire Flow Tests need to be performed on hydrants?

• AWWA recommends flow testing all areas at least every 10 years (AWWA M17, chapter 6).
• NFPA requires flow testing of underground and exposed piping at least once every 5 years (NFPA 25, Table 7.1.1.2, 2014).

How are Fire Flow Tests performed?

There are two types of Fire Flow Tests:

• Main Capacity Test determines the water supply availability in the water main. If you are designing a fire sprinkler system, use this test (residual hydrant + separate downstream flow hydrant).
• Hydrant Capacity Test determines the flow-rate available from the hydrant and if it will deliver in a fire emergency situation. If you are performing fire flow tests of hydrants, use this test (residual hydrant and flow hydrant are the same one).

 

For the purpose of this Blog we will only discuss how to perform a Main Capacity Flow Test, which is the two hydrant flow test. A Main Capacity Test evaluates the water supply of the fire main at the location of the test hydrant. The information derived from this test is used by city planners and contractors to consider the water supply for general use and fire sprinkler systems.

Setup:

At the test hydrant (pressure hydrant, static/residual hydrant):

1. Attach gauge cap to test hydrant. Tighten all other caps.
2. Open test hydrant, vent air from hydrant body through the valve on the gauge cap assembly. Close it when air is vented.

At the flow hydrant

1. Set the Little Hose Monster™ with gauge to the Pitotless Nozzle™ in an appropriate location for flowing water.
2. Attach Remote Reader and gauge to the Pitotless Nozzle.
3. Attach hydrant gate valve to the hydrant and close the gate valve.
4. Tighten other caps.
5. Attach the hose to the Pitotless Nozzle and Little Hose Monster assembly.

Conduct the test

1. Record static pressure reading from gauge cap.
2. Slowly open hydrant using the gate valve to purge air from the hydrant. When hydrant is full of water, open gate valve to desired flow-rate (usually full open).
3. When the flow-rate stabilizes,
4. Record nozzle pressure from the remote reader.

and at the same moment

At the test hydrant

1. Record the residual pressure reading from the gauge cap.

At this point, the test is complete.

4. Slowly close gate valve on flow hydrant, then close the hydrant. Remove test equipment from hydrant. Replace and tighten cap. If the hydrant is a dry barrel type, note that water drains properly from the hydrant.
5. Record the number of minutes that water was flowing. This can be used to account for the amount of water used during the flow test.

At the test hydrant

6. Close the hydrant. Remove gauge cap and replace hydrant cap. If the hydrant is a dry barrel type, note that water drains properly from the hydrant.

The information collected from this test can be used to predict flow-rates and residual pressures.

Now you know the How & Why of Fire Flow Tests a valuable tool in the engineer’s arsenal.

 

About the Author: Dwayne Johnson

Mr. Johnson brings over 25 years of experience in the industry and a majority of his experience is with design build contractors preparing detailed installation drawings and calculations.  His expertise is in fire protection, plumbing and all aspects of mechanical systems design.