Archives: News Items

Department of Defense Announces new Cybersecurity Requirements

In 2020, the Department of Defense announced a new strategic effort to provide enhanced cybersecurity efforts for their building projects going forward. The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) will ensure accountability for companies to implement cybersecurity standards to protect sensitive data during the design, build and operations of DoD facilities. Through research grants by the John R. Gentille Foundation and ELECTRI International, a video series, along with official DoD CMMC documentation, has been produced by MCAA’s Chief Security Fanatic, Nick Espinosa to provide ongoing updates on CMMC changes as the standard evolves and in-depth tutorials on all 110 CMMC Level 2 security controls.

Connect With the Latest Training from Uponor, Inc. and Conex Bänninger (IBP Group LLC) at MCAA.org

The Manufacturer/Supplier Training area of MCAA’s website connects our contractor members with training opportunities available from the members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

Participating companies highlight and link to new webinars and training opportunities across their product lines, services, solutions or web pages. Here are just a few of the recent additions:

Uponor, Inc.
Uponor is your one-stop shop for polymer piping. From concept to completion, our partnership delivers top-notch services and the highest quality products to take productivity to the next level.

Conex Bänninger (IBP Group LLC)
Conex Bänninger offers online training for >B< MaxiPro, the innovative, flame-free press-fit solution specially designed for ACR applications. From training courses to industry updates, you will have all you need to press ahead.

Interested in More Training from Our Supplier Partners?

Be sure to visit the Manufacturer/Supplier Training area for all the latest offerings.

Find the Latest from Morris Group International and Victaulic in MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show

MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show connects our contractor members with the members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

Participating companies highlight and link to new products, product lines, services, solutions or web pages of particular interest. Here are just a few of the recent additions:

Morris Group International
Murdock® Maintenance Advantage® ensures maintaining your water cooler is easier than ever in every way. Murdock is a division of Morris Group International.

Victaulic
Victaulic is raising the bar on confidence with the Style 107V featuring shift limiting slant pads that provide tactile and visual verification and one-touch tightening for streamlined installation.

Need Something Else?

Find many more smart solutions in MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show!

Speaking of Smart Solutions

Visit the Smart Solutions Case Studies area of our website to learn how other mechanical contractors found their win-win with cost-saving and productivity-enhancing applications from members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

This section of our website also includes tips and ideas to help your company save money and enhance your productivity. Don’t miss it!

F.W. Webb’s Rapid Response Helps City Resolve Water Main Crisis

Over a span of 32 hours, a city of about 20,000 people in upstate New York suffered 13 residential water main breaks. After making temporary emergency repairs, the Department of Public Works (DPW) turned to F.W. Webb, which supplied thousands of feet of HDPE pipe within weeks.

Looking for More Smart Solutions?

Visit the Smart Solutions Case Studies area of our website! You’ll see how other mechanical contractors found their win-win with productivity-enhancing and cost-saving applications from members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

Plus, you’ll find tips and ideas on other ways you and your company can save money and enhance your productivity.

New NCPWB Technical Bulletin Highlights Modifications to NCPWB’s Brazing Procedure Specifications

The National Certified Pipe Welding Bureau (NCPWB) has released a new Technical Bulletin that highlights modifications made to NCPWB’s Brazing Procedure Specifications (BPSs) due to the reassignment of P-numbers in section IX. NPCWB members may continue to use the old BPSs for work that is already in process under existing contracts. Members must begin to use the revised version for contracts that begin after January 1, 2024.

Resource Highlight: MCAA’s Laser Scanning

When called upon to produce plans for older buildings, contractors may need to take measurements for pipes and ductwork that are not easily accessed. MCAA’s Laser Scanning explains how laser scanning may be able to help facilitate this work. It’s just one of MCAA’s educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.

The bulletin explores:

  • What laser scanning is, and what it isn’t
  • Types of scanners
  • Accuracy
  • Conducting the scan
  • Registration/“stitching”
  • Point clouds
  • Scanning uses
  • Purchase vs. rental considerations

For a full list of available Management Methods Bulletins, including several on the topic of marketing, visit the Management Methods Bulletins page.

Have Questions or Need Personal Assistance?

Contact MCAA’s Frank Wall.

Find the Latest from Zurn Elkay Water Solutions and LENOX® in MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show

MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show connects our contractor members with the members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

Participating companies highlight and link to new products, product lines, services, solutions or web pages of particular interest. Here are just a few of the recent additions:

Zurn Elkay Water Solutions
Elkay® WaterSentry® 71300C PFAS (PFOA/PFOS) Filter
Elkay’s WaterSentry 71300C filter is tested & certified to NSF/ANSI standards 42 and 53 for reduction of PFOA & PFOS to provide cleaner, healthier water for Elkay Enhanced Bottle Filling Stations.

LENOX®
LENOX has over a century of cutting expertise, delivering solutions that make our tradesmen more productive. LENOX is now redefining performance levels with the introduction of the LAZER CT™ Carbide Tipped Reciprocating Saw Blades.

Need Something Else?

Find many more smart solutions in MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show!

Speaking of Smart Solutions

Visit the Smart Solutions Case Studies area of our website to learn how other mechanical contractors found their win-win with cost-saving and productivity-enhancing applications from members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

This section of our website also includes tips and ideas to help your company save money and enhance your productivity. Don’t miss it!

2023 Internship Grants – Last Call: Submit by January 31, 2024

All 2023 internship grant applications must be submitted by January 31, 2024. Part 1 internship grant applications are $1,000 for 1 intern or up to $2,000 for 2+ interns. Then once you hire an intern full-time, come back and submit a Part 2 internship grant for a $500 gift card to present to your new hire. Keep in mind, the more interns you submit for Part 1, the more you’ll have eligible for Part 2 once they graduate. We want to hear about ALL of your interns, not just 2!

Part 1:
• Submit an application for each intern (Interns must be listed on a Part 1 application to be eligible for Part 2)
• Applications are accepted on a rolling basis
• Companies with one intern are eligible for a $1,000 grant OR companies with two or more interns may receive a $2,000 grant

Part 1: Internship Grant Application

Part 2:
For companies successfully converting an intern from their Part 1 list to a full-time new hire, a $500 gift card will be mailed to the company to present to their new hire. New hire conversions are unlimited, but the name must be included on a Part 1 list from an MCAA member company.  Submit the form below to notify MCAA of a new hire conversion.
• Part 2 application may not be submitted until after the full-time start date.

Part 2: Internship Grant Application

Resource Highlight: MCAA’s Why Contractors Should Do LEAN

Each contractor approaches its work differently, but there is one thing we all have in common – the desire to gain a competitive advantage. MCAA’s Why Contractors Should Do LEAN explains how LEAN construction can help contractors deliver better projects faster and at less cost by improving productivity and eliminating wasted resources. It’s just one of MCAA’s educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.

The bulletin explores:

  • What LEAN is
  • LEAN terminology
  • The types of waste that LEAN usually addresses
  • How LEAN can benefit mechanical contractors
  • 5S’s applications in LEAN, including examples and their results
  • The Last Planner System® of project management
  • The role of Muda/Waste Walks

You can find the Five S’s: The Road to Improvement bulletin mentioned within this bulletin here.

For a full list of available Management Methods Bulletins, including several on the topic of marketing, visit the Management Methods Bulletins page.

Have Questions or Need Personal Assistance?

Contact MCAA’s Frank Wall.

Connect With the Latest Training from SLOAN and Ridge Tool Company at MCAA.org

The Manufacturer/Supplier Training area of MCAA’s website connects our contractor members with training opportunities available from the members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

Participating companies highlight and link to new webinars and training opportunities across their product lines, services, solutions or web pages. Here are just a few of the recent additions:

SLOAN
Checking the water pressure helps troubleshoot any potential issues when it comes to flushometer maintenance. The right tools can make all the difference.

Ridge Tool Company
RIDGID product experts provide a live demonstration of the new PCS-500 Pipe Saw and B-500 Transportable Pipe Beveler, both created with maximum efficiency and safety in mind.

Interested in More Training from Our Supplier Partners?

Be sure to visit the Manufacturer/Supplier Training area for all the latest offerings.

Find the Latest from SAWIN Service Automation, Inc. and Morris Group International in MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show

MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show connects our contractor members with the members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

Participating companies highlight and link to new products, product lines, services, solutions or web pages of particular interest. Here are just a few of the recent additions:

SAWIN Service Automation, Inc.
SAWIN PRO ENTERPRISE is our premiere business offering, providing a streamlined service management software that consolidates all aspects of your business processes into one powerful solution. With SAWIN PRO ENTERPRISE you’ll be able to meet and exceed your customers’ expectations, even in the most complex service environments.

Morris Group International
The Maintenance Advantage® key tool removes the push button on our water cooler to stop the water so you can easily access your water strainer. Murdock is a division of Morris Group International.

Need Something Else?

Find many more smart solutions in MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show!

Speaking of Smart Solutions

Visit the Smart Solutions Case Studies area of our website to learn how other mechanical contractors found their win-win with cost-saving and productivity-enhancing applications from members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

This section of our website also includes tips and ideas to help your company save money and enhance your productivity. Don’t miss it!

Engineered Water Heater Solutions Versus Field-Devised Methods: Advice From Reliance Worldwide Corporation

Confidence in your installation and its reliability are important to any contractor, but labor shortages and economic constraints can often make you feel like you have to choose between speed, cost, and quality. Balancing all three can be a challenge, especially when it comes to water heater installations. Water heater supports, in particular, often get cobbled together using leftover jobsite materials or other makeshift methods in hopes that they will keep the unit stable in the long run. While this may be the cheapest solution in the moment, it is not the best choice for your budget or your reputation.

Looking for More Smart Solutions?

Visit the Smart Solutions Case Studies area of our website! You’ll see how other mechanical contractors found their win-win with productivity-enhancing and cost-saving applications from members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

Plus, you’ll find tips and ideas on other ways you and your company can save money and enhance your productivity.

MCAA24 Early Bird Registration Ends December 31!

December 31 marks the deadline for Early Bird registration for the 2024 MCAA Annual Convention, so register today to take advantage of the discounted rates. 

The stunning JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton Grande Lakes Orlando will serve as the backdrop of MCAA24 to be held March 17 – 21, 2024. We have an incredible line up of general session speakers that you won’t want to miss as well as a wide array of education seminars that will attract the convention veteran and the convention newbie alike. And, of course, no one wants to miss a private concert with one of the most popular bands of the 90s, The Barenaked Ladies, who will be performing exclusively for MCAA24 attendees the night of March 20. 

Hotel rooms are going fast so don’t delay…register today at www.mcaaconvention.org.

We can’t wait to see you in Orlando!

Resource Highlight: MCAA’s Managing Office Operations with PaperVault

Looking to manage company operations and identify potential bottlenecks, DPW, Inc. developed a software solution that streamlines day-to-day work and is scalable for growth. MCAA’s Managing Office Operations with PaperVault provides an overview of the system to assist others in pursuing a similar project. It’s just one of MCAA’s educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.

The bulletin covers:

  • The evolution of PaperVaultTM
  • Features and benefits of the system

For a full list of available Management Methods Bulletins, visit the Management Methods Bulletins page.

Have Questions or Need Personal Assistance?

Contact MCAA’s Frank Wall.

MCAA’s 2024 MEP Innovation Conference Room Block is Closing Soon!

January 29 – 31, 2024 | Orlando, FL

MCAA, in collaboration with NECA and SMACNA, is excited to showcase cutting-edge technology and innovations in all three industries. Join us January 29 – 31, 2024, for engaging educational sessions, interactive roundtable discussions, a bustling trade show floor, and insightful contractor tours. The designated hotel room block at Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek will close on Thursday, January 4. Secure your spot and room for the 2024 MEP Innovation Conference today!

Session Highlights

  • Understanding the Value of VDC
  • The MEP Fabricators Tech Stack
  • Practical Applications of AI in Construction
  • How to Make APIs Work For You
  • How to Fix Your Hot-Mess of a Database
  • Model-to-Fabrication Workflows

Benefits of Attending the 2024 MEP Innovation Conference

  • Hear and learn from 84 speakers across all three industries
  • Get hands-on demonstrations and discover solutions from 39 exhibitors
  • Choose from 35 breakout sessions to dive deeper into trending topics in the industry
  • Engage in 5 dynamic round tables
  • Experience excellence through 3 different contractor tours
  • Network with 600+ attendees

Register today for an unparalleled experience at the forefront of technology and innovation!

Thank You to Our Conference Sponsors

Find the Latest from SLOAN and nVent in MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show

MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show connects our contractor members with the members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

Participating companies highlight and link to new products, product lines, services, solutions or web pages of particular interest. Here are just a few of the recent additions:

SLOAN
Sloan now offers Molded Quartz Sinks that are made with industry-leading 85% quartz. Engineered with a molded, seamless, non-porous surface, these quartz sinks offer easy maintenance and high resistance to scratches and stains.

nVent CADDY Rod Lock Strut

nVent
The nVent CADDY Rod Lock Strut allows for the quick creation and installation of trapeze assemblies. The pre-cut strut is ready to use out of the box and allows for quick prefab and easy installation.

Need Something Else?

Find many more smart solutions in MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show!

Speaking of Smart Solutions

Visit the Smart Solutions Case Studies area of our website to learn how other mechanical contractors found their win-win with cost-saving and productivity-enhancing applications from members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

This section of our website also includes tips and ideas to help your company save money and enhance your productivity. Don’t miss it!

Deliver Higher Performing Projects with Best Practices & Procedures from NEI Instructor Kathryn Crosby – NEW CLASSES Added

MCAA’s National Education Initiative (NEI) Seminars bring our world class education to your local association or your company thanks to instructors like Kathryn Crosby, owner and founder of C2 Consulting, Inc. Kathryn gives field and office leadership teams the good operational practices and solid procedures they need to deliver higher performing projects, reduce duplication of effort, and allow your company to measure tangible results. Her newest classes demystify construction and service finance.

Kathryn has more than 30 years of industry experience, including time as the Vice President and CFO for a mechanical contractor. A past member of the MCAA Board of Directors, Kathryn now focuses on education and training. She serves on the faculty of MCAA’s  Institute for Project Management (IPM), the Construction Education Institute, and the UA’s Instructor Training Program.

Her Job & Company Operations (JCO) Seminars give field and office leadership teams the good operational practices and solid procedures they need to deliver less problem prone projects, reduce duplication of effort, and allow your company to measure tangible results.

Like our other NEI instructors, Kathryn brings her unique blend of industry and teaching experience to virtual courses, a new NEI offering. Providing top notch, accessible education for everyone in your organization is what the MCAA’s NEI is all about! Visit the NEI website for more information about these seminars and a full list of the NEI courses available to MCAA members.

Book your courses via the NEI website, then apply for a 20% rebate on the instructor fees, up to $5,000 per class.*

*This benefit is available only to MCAA members and local affiliates in good standing who book courses via the NEI website. Learn more about the rebate program here. Have questions or need personal assistance? Contact MCAA’s Frank Wall or call him at 301-990-2215.

Western Allied Mechanical Saves Time, Expands Reach With Novarc’s Spool Welding Robot

Like every contractor, Western Allied Mechanical is always looking for innovative ways to get ahead in their market and deliver projects better, faster, and cheaper for their clients. Also like every contractor, Western Allied is facing the nationwide shortage of qualified welders. By adopting Novarc’s spool welding robot (SWR), they have not only increased productivity dramatically, they also increased capacity and are taking on bigger jobs.

Looking for More Smart Solutions?

Visit the Smart Solutions Case Studies area of our website! You’ll see how other mechanical contractors found their win-win with productivity-enhancing and cost-saving applications from members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

Plus, you’ll find tips and ideas on other ways you and your company can save money and enhance your productivity.

Nominations Are Open for MCAA’s Board of Directors

The future of MCAA is fundamentally linked to the quality of the individuals who serve on its Board of Directors. MCAA members who would like to be considered for one of four vacancies are encouraged to learn more and complete the application. Applications should be returned no later than January 12, 2024. Candidates and their spokespersons will be scheduled for interviews at the 2024 MCAA Annual Convention. Those who are selected will begin their terms in March 2024.

The Power of Your Peers: How Contractor Case Studies Drive the MEP Innovation Conference

In today’s ever-changing MEP industry, innovation is key. The MEP Innovation Conference is the go-to event for professionals looking to stay up-to-date. Amidst the conference’s buzz, it’s the contractors’ practical experiences and insights that lead the way to innovation. We’ll explore how contractor case studies drive progress and collaboration among peers, making this event a hub for groundbreaking solutions in the construction industry for MEP contractors. Join us in sunny Orlando, Florida, from January 29 – 31, as we bring together the best innovators in the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing industry. Register today!

At the MEP Innovation Conference, we’ll explore how professionals, including plumbing, mechanical, and service contractors, harness these technologies for efficiency and collaboration in construction. The conference serves as a platform where experts from various disciplines come together, transforming the way construction projects are conceived, designed, and executed through digital tools. The main difference with this conference is that the presentations are almost entirely led by contractors, sharing real life case studies of their success and failure.

The conference will take place in Orlando, Florida from January 29th to January 31st. This event is exclusively for members of MCAA, NECA, and SMACNA and is forecasting its largest registration of over 650 attendees. Registration is still available, but the conference has sold out every year. Don’t delay, learn more and register today!

For more information, please visit the conference website.