My Moncton experience

The Canadian Institute of Plumbing & Heating (CIPH) Innovation Award went to Bosch Thermotechnology Greentherm 9000 tankless water heaters. At the awards presentation: Thomas Geneau and Khuzema Janoowalla of Shoreline Mechanical Sales, Mike Patterson-show chair, George Bell of Shoreline Mechanical Sales.

Filtration Plus took home the Atlantic Canada Mechanical Exhibitors (ACME) Innovation Award, for its Sensor 360 filtration monitoring technology. From left, Mike Stewart and Dave Kerr of Filtration Plus, Norm Caissie of Imperial Manufacturing and Jarid Wilson of Filtration Plus.

Held biennially, MEET attracts an array of contractors, developers, engineers, architects, tradespeople, building managers, distributors and utilities in the industrial, commercial and residential sectors.

John-Daniel Chabot and Connie Chabot of Stelpro with the EFC Innovation Award. Photo Anthony Capkun, Electrical Business

BY KERRY TURNER

Earlier this month I headed to the Mechanical Electrical Electronic Technology Show, otherwise known as MEET. It was my first time at the trade show after hearing about it and writing about it for years.

This trade show consistently receives great reviews from exhibitors and attendees alike.

What is it about MEET that prompts the kudos? It may be the engaged audience or the East Coast pace, or a combination of factors. Whatever it is I can’t disagree–this medium-size show has a certain cachet.

Some attendees had to head home earlier than they normally would before the floodwaters in Fredericton, Saint John and the surrounding area left them stranded. In fact, the closure of the Trans-Canada Highway was a first.

As Fredericton and other cities across Canada struggle to contend with extreme weather events, the National Research Council is working to address how codes and standards would be updated to deal with the results of climate change.

Philip Rizcallah was on the MEET seminar agenda to share NRC’s progress on development of the National Guideline for Wildland Urban Interface Design; its new approach to codes and standards; and other initiatives.

Rizcallah, who is executive director of NRC, drew a standing room crowd. Interest in designing for the future is high.
“We have an idea what the future might look like, why don’t we build for that,” said speaker Chris Mathias of Mathias Consulting Company. “Building envelope decisions will live with the home, usually for a hundred years or more.”

Mathias noted that the biggest issue in future building performance is that people do not want to change how they do things. With attendees flocking to see new technologies at MEET, one would hope change is actually not so daunting for people.

Traffic slowed down on the final afternoon, likely weather related, but the show floor was transformed into an opportunity for wholesalers, manufacturers, distributors and associated industry colleagues and competitors to catch up. All in all, the show had a great vibe.