Isaac Espinoza, master plumber and project manager for Cookey’s Mechanical, said Viega MegaPress® was the logical choice for this project, “We didn’t have time to do things twice.” Espinoza first learned about Viega about eight years ago. Since then, he’s worked on many large commercial and residential projects using Viega, as well as several smaller commercial and residential projects and service calls.

One of the challenges of the Village Cooperative was a 12” thick post-tension cable slab that separated the parking garage from the residential units. “We had to map out every hanger and every penetration for not just gas pipe but also water and drain, waste and vent. Once the concrete was poured, we were not allowed to core drill or hammer drill the slab at all. All penetrations had to be perfect. No core drilling and no second chances,” said Espinoza.

Using Viega MegaPress for the entire project helped Espinoza and his team stay on schedule. “I had two Journeyman running the natural gas on this project. We were able to run all 63 gas lines in the parking garage, suspended from the concrete, with two guys and stayed on schedule, and even ahead of schedule thanks to the use of MegaPress.”

Project by the numbers:
•    105,437 sq ft of heated space
•    26,128 sq ft heated garage space
•    14,637 feet of ¾" black iron installed with MegaPress 90s, 45s, and couplings
•    210 feet of ½" black iron installed with MegaPress 90s, 45s, and couplings
•    105 feet of 1", 1-1/4", and 1-1/2" black iron installed in the parking garage and mechanical room piped with all with MegaPress fittings
•    690 ¾" MegaPress 90s
•    696 ¾" MegaPress couplings
•    64 ¾" MegaPress tees
•    15 1" MegaPress 90s
•    Six 1-1/2" MegaPress 90s
•    Six 1-1/4" MegaPress 90s
•    Two 1-1/2" x ¾" MegaPress tees
•    Two 1-1/4" x 1" MegaPress tees

Espinoza, who has worked for Cookey’s Mechanical for 16 years, starting as an apprentice to a field superintendent and now project manager, had some advice for contractors considering Viega for their next project, “Don’t focus on the cost of the tool or the price of the fittings. You will make your money back with the cost of labor within just a few well-priced jobs,” he said. “You’ll be able to send one worker for a job that used to take multiple people to complete.”