Organization: MCAA

MSCA Classes Open – Register Now

The spring 2024 MSCA classes are on the calendar and open for registration. MSCA provides focused training programs for your operational and personnel. This collection of programs, unlike any other, provide the continued training to set your employees apart in the HVACR industry.

Dispatcher Training Program 

April 8-9, 2024, Denver, CO
This two-day program will provide critical Dispatcher skills such as leading technicians rather than letting technicians lead them, becoming the service manager’s partner, prioritizing customer emergencies, evaluating technician abilities, and managing their own careers in dispatching.  

LEARN MORE & REGISTER FOR THE DISPATCHERS TRAINING

Service Managers Training Program

April 22-25, 2024 Itasca, IL (near Chicago)
Get the management and leadership skills you need to help your company succeed by enhancing your management skills and becoming a more effective leader.   

LEARN MORE & REGISTER FOR SERVICE MANAGERS TRAINING

Field Service Supervisors Training Program

April 25-26, 2024, Wauwatosa, WI (near Milwaukee) 
The Field Service Supervisors Training Program is focused training designed specifically for improving the performance of your field service supervisors. Using proven methods, this program will advance skills in leadership, coaching, planning, time management, and communication. Sponsored by MILWAUKEE TOOL.

LEARN MORE & REGISTER FOR FIELD SERVICE SUPERVISORS TRAINING

MCAA24 – Enrich…Engage…Enchant

Orlando is a magical place. MCAA24 will build on that magic, offering learning, networking and discoveries throughout the week. Whether this is your first convention or you’re a seasoned veteran, whether you’re just starting out in the industry or starting to think about retirement, MCAA24 is a place where everyone comes together to share knowledge, best practices and connections. Join your peers for a week of learning, networking and discovery with top notch education seminars geared to our industry, fun social events and inspiring general session speakers. Register today to become part of the magic!

MCAA’s 2024 Annual Convention will take place March 17 – 21, 2024 at the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton Grande Lakes Orlando, Florida.

LEARN MORE & REGISTER

CLRC Reports Increase in First Year Settlements for Union Craft Workers in Construction

The Construction Labor Research Council (CLRC), a longstanding MCAA partner, reports an average increase of 4.7 percent in the first year of new settlements reached in 2023 for union craft workers in the construction industry. The findings appear in the CLRC 2023 Year End Settlements Report. The report covers the first year of newly bargained settlements to assist readers in understanding current trends. It also covers all years of negotiated settlements to assist in projecting future labor costs.

In addition to a general overview, the report provides various detailed data cuts, including by geographic region and specific craft. New this year, an addendum offers an alternate look at regional settlement increase averages for the first year in the form of maps that break things down by region.

For additional information, contact Carey Peters, Executive Director, at 202-347-8440 or clpeters@clrcconsulting.org.

READ THE REPORT

Watts Water Technologies Is Celebrating 150 Years of Innovation and Excellence

Watts Water Technologies, an MCAA member, is celebrating its 150th anniversary. Since 1874, Watts has been delivering innovative water technologies that make the world’s most precious resource safe and accessible. As Watts enters their 150th year in business, they would like to extend their most sincere “thank you” to their customers, representatives, employees, and stakeholders for being an integral part of the company’s journey.

Watts plans to host several exciting events throughout the year, including a year-long sweepstakes for customers and a celebration at their headquarters in North Andover, Massachusetts.

To learn more about Watts and their 150 years of industry experience, visit watts.com/150years.

About Watts Water Technologies, Inc.
For over 150 years, Watts has delivered innovative and sustainable technologies designed to safeguard the world’s most precious resource. Watts designs, manufactures, and sells an extensive line of flow control, water safety, water filtration & treatment, radiant heating, and drainage products for the commercial, residential, and institutional markets. Watts is committed to helping its customers optimize system performance and reliability and conserve critical resources. Together, we make every drop count. For more information, visit www.watts.com.

Find the Latest from AB&I Foundry and Team Industries, Inc. 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:

AB&I Foundry
AB&I Foundry manufactures cast iron soil pipe & fittings for DWV Plumbing Systems. Visit the website to see how cast iron is made right here in America.

Learn More

Team Industries, Inc.
Designed in accordance with “Lean Manufacturing” concepts, Team’s pipe welding positioners deliver economical, high quality pipe welding. Team’s positioners are designed for the highest quality and peak efficiency in pipe welding.

Learn More

Need Something Else?

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

Visit the 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!

Visit Smart Solutions

MCAA Student Chapter Competition – Final Four Named

Twenty-four MCAA Student Chapters submitted a proposal for the Kansas City Zoo Aquarium project.  Congratulations to the Final Four and Merit Award teams.  Final Four teams will present their proposals on the afternoon of Tuesday, March 19th at MCAA24 in Orlando, FL.

This is the 23rd year of the MCAA Student Chapter Competition and the student teams were asked to submit a proposal as the prime mechanical contractor for the Kansas City Zoo Aquarium.  This included all piping, HVAC, Controls, and additional work required from the bid documents.  Teams were also tasked with purchasing the equipment, materials and providing all the necessary labor and equipment to complete the entire project scope. 

Thank you to the following companies for their special contributions to the competition project:
MMC Contractors National Inc. (supplying the project)
Procore (use of their Project Management software)
Trimble (use of Trimble Estimation MEP software)
Ferguson (providing pricing for pipe valves and fittings)

For a second year, Trimble will be providing a $5,000 scholarship to one competition Final Four participant who has expressed interest in a career as an estimator within the mechanical contracting industry.  This scholarship will be presented at the Awards of Excellence Breakfast on Wednesday, March 20th. 

Northwest Mechanical Group Ramps Up Business With BuildOps

When their out-of-date software started slowing them down in the office and the field, Northwest Mechanical Group switched to the BuildOps platform, simplifying and streamlining data management so they could grow their business. “Before we knew it, we were seeing quicker turnaround times on job closeout and a huge improvement in the time it took for quotes to be accepted by our customers,” said Chris Howard, owner and CEO.

LEARN MORE

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.

VISIT SMART SOLUTIONS

Congratulations to Our First IPM Graduates of 2024

Congratulations are in order for the first IPM graduates of 2024! Classes 87 and 88 of MCAA’s Institute for Project Management certainly started the year off strong. The unexpectedly frigid temperatures in Austin during the second week of their programs did nothing to dampen the great energy and enthusiasm they brought to the classroom each day!

They negotiated change orders, reviewed contract clauses, studied and practiced strategies for everything from precon to close-out… and combined a whole lot of learning with a good deal of laughter. It was a pleasure to have these 72 individuals spend two weeks with us and we hope they all feel the same way! Here’s how some of these new grads describe their IPM experience:   

  • “I love the way this is tailored to mechanical contractor PMs. I have never had a training that captured so many different subjects of valuable information that was all directly related to what I do.”
  • “I had heard only good things about this class coming in, and it did not disappoint.”
  • “This is one of the best experiences of my career.”
  • “Loved the friendships I have developed during the two weeks. I will never forget my experience here. I realized that the mechanical contracting world is much smaller than I thought.”
  • “Enjoyed every single minute. I have absorbed and learned so much from all of the presentations and classmates.”
  • “This experience will stay with me for the rest of my life. It has advanced my professional development significantly in such a short time, and I have made meaningful connections with my peers that I hope to maintain throughout my career.”

The Institute for Project Management is MCAA’s longest-running and most popular project management program. It is intended for individuals with 3+ years of mechanical project management experience. Registration is done online on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration for our next IPM course opens soon! For full dates and details, please visit the IPM course page.

Journey into the Forefront of Welding at NCPWB’s Technical Conference/Committee Meeting

April 21 – 23, 2024 | Scottsdale, Arizona

Get ready for an exhilarating journey into the forefront of welding technology! Join us at the NCPWB Technical Conference/Committee Meeting for a showcase of cutting-edge presentations that delve into the latest innovations and challenges in the welding industry. Register today!

Topics to be covered include:

Orbital Welding Technology for Med Gas: CSI’s breakthroughs in universal power supply and copper orbital welding machines take center stage. Uncover the struggles and triumphs as they overcome hurdles in temperatures, materials, and code requirements to bring this technology to the commercial market.

Adaptive Welding â€“ Case Study and Recent Advancements: Experience a first-of-a-kind welding system designed for spent nuclear fuel encapsulation. Witness the evolution of autonomous technology with minimal operator input, showcasing active path compensation, adaptive welding parameters, and the use of Artificial Intelligence for joint geometry characterization.

Advancements in Pipe Welding: Dive into Miller welding educational resources and the latest in pipe welding technologies. From RMD for root passes to Pulse for fill and cap passes, explore the innovations shaping the future of pipe welding.

Closing the Welder Gap – Education and Automation for Future Success: Addressing the critical shortage of welders, this presentation advocates for a paradigm shift. Embrace education and automation solutions, from Augmented Reality to Cobots and Additive Manufacturing, to secure the industry’s future.

High-Purity Tube Welding: Discover the intricacies of building piping systems that prevent contamination, navigating ASME piping codes, and the ASME BPE Standard. Learn about weld acceptance criteria ensuring the safety of drug products in pharmaceutical systems.

Advances and Challenges in Welding and Additive Manufacturing: Explore recent developments in welding, from pulsed GMAW to laser welding, and delve into the world of additive manufacturing. Uncover the challenges and opportunities presented by demographic trends, diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Welder and Welding Operator Qualification: Delve into the intricacies of qualification tests ensuring welders and operators are prepared for specific job sites. A comparative exploration of various qualification codes promises insights into industry best practices.

Selecting, Adopting, and Submitting NCPWB WPSs: Navigate the extensive world of welding procedure specifications with NCPWB. Gain valuable insights into selecting, adopting, and submitting WPSs and BPSs, ensuring compliance with industry standards.

The committee meeting portion of the event will cover topics such as policy and procedures regarding the joint UA/NCPWB welder certification program and address chapter inquiries. In addition to the annual event, a one-day chapter operations seminar will educate chapter administrators about the policies and procedures associated with maintaining welder qualification records.

Don’t miss the chance to be at the forefront of welding innovation! Join us at the conference for these  groundbreaking presentations and the information you need to stay on top of other welding issues.

Learn More & Register

Resource Highlight: MCAA’s Tips to Help Contractors Manage Through an Economic Downturn

Managing through an economic downturn and coming out whole on the other side requires planning, savvy business decision making, execution of a plan and, frankly, a little luck. MCAA’s Tips to Help Contractors Manage Through an Economic Downturn provides information to help contractors think about survival and manage risk. It’s just one of MCAA’s educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.

The bulletin explores:

  • The five stages of a business cycle
  • Early warning signs
  • Survival steps
DOWNLOAD

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.

2023 MCAA Safety Professional of the Year Announced…Mark Rook, AMS Industries

During the annual Safety & Health Conference in Tucson, AZ, MCAA and MILWAUKEE TOOL announced the winner of the 2023 Safety Professional of the Year as Mark Rook of AMS Industries.

Each year, this award is presented to a mechanical industry safety and health professional who has led their company to achieving an exceptionally high degree of safety excellence.

Mark has been a longtime national safety and health advocate and industry leader, volunteering his time and experience to both national and local committees. His work to advance worker safety has helped create safer jobsites around the country. He is the Safety Director at AMS Industries outside Chicago, IL.

“Mark has been a mentor to many safety professionals and is always the first to offer his guidance on best practices for safety in the mechanical industry. He is very deserving of this once in a lifetime recognition,” said Raffi Elchemmas, MCAA’s Executive Director of Safety, Health, and Risk Management.

In addition to the announcement at the Safety & Health Conference, Mark will be receiving this award at the MCAA24 convention in Orlando, FL, in March 2024.

MCAA congratulates Mark Rook and AMS Industries.

MCAA Shares Safety & Health Video with the General Public

Mental Health Awareness and Suicide Prevention Video available to all in English & Spanish

The Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA) is proud to announce the creation and distribution of one its most requested safety & health resources to the public, a 22-minute mental health awareness and suicide prevention video.

“Construction has one of the highest rates of death by suicide of all industries in the United States, about four times higher than the general population,” said Robert Beck, MCAA President. “Rethinking how our industry approaches mental health will have immediate impacts.”

MCAA has long touted a 20-year track record of safety excellence and loudly voiced a commitment to make job sites safer for the mechanical industry and all construction workers nationwide.

“Today’s announcement is a culmination of years of planning and development, and is a win for employers, workers, families, and for safety & health”, said Raffi Elchemmas, MCAA Executive Director of Safety, Health & Risk Management. “As one of the industry’s leaders in safety & health it is our responsibility to share our knowledge and resources on this topic and we are proud to do it.”

Historically, MCAA safety & health resources have been made available exclusively to MCAA members, but today, in a first-of-its-kind move, MCAA shares one of the most impactful videos with the industry and general public, Mental Health Awareness and Suicide Prevention.

In a statement, the United Association (UA) General President, Mark McManus, said “Our joint investment to spread awareness and normalize conversations around this issue could be one of the biggest opportunities to impact safety and health across our entire industry today. Mental health has a personal impact on so many people; everyone has a story; everyone is dealing with things on and off the jobsite.”

The public video can be found at YouTube.com/@MCAAmerica or directly here in English or Spanish.

For more information, please visit mcaa.org.

About the Mechanical Contractors Association of America

The Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA) represents approximately 2,600 heating, air conditioning, refrigeration, plumbing, piping, and mechanical service firms, who employ more than 375,000 union workers nationwide for 132 years. MCAA’s mission is to guide and support member success to build a stronger, more sustainable future for the mechanical contracting industry. Through member-driven resources, comprehensive education, and strategic partnerships, we empower members to shape a future of unparalleled innovation and growth.

Connect With the Latest Training from Reliance Worldwide Corporation and Lochinvar, 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:

Reliance Worldwide Corporation
The HoldRite training portal enables you to learn about our complete range of solutions, including secondary pipe supports, acoustic noise & vibration, firestopping systems, DWV testing, equipment supports & water heater accessories.

Learn More

Lochinvar, LLC
Lochinvar’s commitment to training and education hasn’t wavered in over 80 years. Learn with us on-line at LochinvarU.com, on-campus in Lebanon, Tennessee or at a sponsored event in your hometown.

Learn More

Interested in More Training from Our Supplier Partners?

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

Learn More

First Labor Estimating Manual Unlocks a Slice of MCAA History

Glenn Rex received a slice of MCAA history when Jim Reynolds gave him the very first copy of MCAA’s Labor Estimating Manual (LEM), precursor to today’s WebLEM. The book bearing Serial No. 0001 was issued to Jack Thompson of the George Linsky Company in Dallas, the first chair of MCAA’s Labor Estimating Manual Committee. Formed in 1968 to develop the manual, the committee achieved their task when the first LEM was published in 1971. Jack’s contributions to those efforts earned him the MCAA Distinguished Service Award in 1980.

Glenn Rex manages four Texas associations: the MCA of Dallas, Inc.; the MCA of Texas, Inc.; the MCA of Fort Worth; and the MCA of Houston, Inc. Jim Reynolds manages the MCA of Austin, Inc. and is the Administrative Vice President at the MCA of Texas, Inc.

Jim received the manual from Jay Thompson, Jack’s son. It was accompanied by a copy of the September 1984 issue of Plumbing & Mechanical, which includes an article highlighting Jack. Upon reading the article, Glenn Rex said, “It is remarkable how the issues and challenges Thompson discussed are so similar to those facing the industry today.”

READ THE ARTICLE

MSCA Growing and Developing Field Service Supervisors, November 2024

MSCA’s Growing and Developing Service Supervisors is focused training designed specifically for improving the performance of service field supervisors. Using proven methods, this program will advance skills in leadership, coaching, planning, time management, communication, and motivational techniques, all of which will give the field supervisor an edge and the confidence to deal with the workplace challenges of today.

MSCA Dispatcher Training Program, November 2024

This two-day program will provide dispatchers with all the skills they need to dramatically improve job performance. Custom designed especially for MSCA members, this program goes beyond traditional technical training to cover such critical dispatcher skills as leading technicians rather than letting technicians lead them, becoming the service manager’s partner, prioritizing customer emergencies, evaluating technician abilities, and managing their own careers in dispatching. After attending this program, dispatchers will be able to improve their job performance by learning how to: identify the service life cycle and the critical contact points that impact service success; recognize the importance of the dispatcher’s job and its impact on the organization’s profitability; communicate effectively with technicians and customers; and use good decision-making approaches for optimum priority setting and effective resource allocation.

MSCA Service Managers Training Program, November 2024

Get the management and leadership skills you need to help your company succeed during this intensive four-day program. If you have advanced through the trades with little or no formal management training or you want to enhance your management skills to become a more effective leader, this course is for you. A variety of small group activities, assessment tools, and skills building exercises will help you apply the skills you learn in class, preparing you to go back to the office ready to use what you’ve learned.

MCAA Recognizes Tracy Haus, Baker Group, for a Decade of Service to Safety & Health

Over the last decade, the MCAA Safety Excellence Initiative has seen a lot of changes. The industry has changed, PPE has changed, and even the rules we follow from OSHA have changed, but at MCAA one thing has remained constant, Tracy Haus. Tracy joined MCAA’s national Safety & Health Committee years ago and has led this committee as its chair for over a decade.

As Tracy’s chair term comes to an end, we’d like to thank him for his years of service and recognize the work that he, his team, and Baker Group have put into MCAA to make it what it is today. On behalf of the past and current MCAA Boards of Directors, MCAA’s national staff, and contractors all over the country, Thank you, Tracy!

MCAA & Coalition Urge Narrow Scope of Aluminum Extrusions ITC Investigation

MCAA joined a coalition of trade associations and industry groups in urging U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo to narrow the scope of the International Trade Commission’s (ITC) ongoing antidumping duty and countervailing duty investigations regarding aluminum extrusions. The investigation’s goal would be to level the playing field for American manufacturers but would create problems for our industry especially in the HVAC sector.

The effort was spearheaded by the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) at the request of its Aluminum Extrusion Task Force.

Aluminum extrusions are found in a variety of manufactured products, such as HVACR and water heating equipment, automotive engines, trailer components, RV components, retail shelving, etc., some of which contain thousands of individual aluminum extrusion components. AHRI raised concerns regarding the unusual scope proposal from the investigation petitioners [14 domestic aluminum extruders and one trade union] that would “impose duties on the value of the extruded inputs contained in downstream products (which the petitioners do not even produce or compete with) is deeply misguided and contrary to the interests of the United States.”

The practice is prohibited by the Tariff Act of 1930, and this interpretation has been upheld by the Court of International Trade as recently as 2023. Further, the current broad scope (to include downstream products and components) would force the importer to report the volume, value, and country of origin for every component or finished product covered. The letter argues that imposition of such duties would “be significantly detrimental to manufacturers, retailers, and consumers in the United States, while also adding tremendous burdens to the government agencies charged with collecting such duties.”

AHRI and its partner organizations call on Commerce to exclude downstream and further manufactured products that contain aluminum extrusions from the scope of its investigations to protect U.S manufacturers’ role in the global marketplace, maintain reasonable prices for U.S. consumers, and prevent unnecessary burdens on U.S. government agencies. AHRI plans to share these concerns during a meeting with Commerce later this week.

Letter