Zendo Project Stage 8

Installing the tubes and sand


 

There will be seven tubes carrying hot water through the sand under the zendo. Each pipe is 300 feet long, and made out of PEX, a flexible plastic that allows the maximum amount of heat to disperse from the pipe.

 

Here's a map of the tubes as they will snake through the zendo, each one represented by a different colored string.
 
300 feet of tubing can be a little awkward to manage. Tobrina, Walker, Destone, Jogen, Ryushin and David untangle it and begin to lay it down in the grooves between the sleepers.
 
The tubes are held in place using zip ties attached to staples sunk into the edge of the sleeper, or using plastic tape.
Ryushin ties a zip tie to a staple.
   
The Founder's room with the tubing in place. Tubing entering the Founder's room
Chozen's son Aaron helps tie the tubes in place with tape.
 
All seven tubes enter and exit the zendo through this hole in the wall.
 
The tubes are all securely in place.
The next stage is covering the floor with a layer of sand. This filtered sand was delivered just outside the zendo.
   
Ron shovels sand into a wheelbarrow and then into the zendo.
 
A bridge of 4x8 sheets of plywood was put down in the zendo. Wheelbarrows full of sand were brought in, and the sand dumped over the tubes.
Alex, Deston and Ron all work at distributing the sand over the tubes.
 
Once dumped, the sand is spread evenly over the tubes with brooms.
Warren sweeping.
Jogen sweeping.
Walker sweeping.
 
Deston and Walker move plywood to create a bridge to different parts of the floor.
 
 
As the sand is dumped, Evan checks the measurements for the level of the floor. Walker, Deston and Hogen discuss the next steps.
   
In the room with the heater Hogen and Bill hook the tubes to the plumbing, and complete a successful pressure test of the system.
   
The day's work ends with the sand almost completly covering the zendo.
   
Next stage - charging the system and turning it on to dry the sand, then putting down the sub-floor.
   
 
©2006 Zen Community of Oregon
Updated: September 8, 2006
Designed by Michelle Bagley

September 8, 2006