To celebrate MCAA’s 20 Years of Safety Excellence, MCAA is offering monthly safety kits to benefit our contractors around the country and the mechanical industry workers they support. Each kit will include videos, webinars, trainings, and additional resources on each monthly topic.
December 2023: Safety Culture
Employers with positive safety cultures are often the safest contractors around. Excellent safety culture starts at the top and can have profound impact on your company’s bottom line. Alternatively poor safety culture can cripple a contractor and lead to serious injuries and violations. This month’s kit includes resources for workers and supervisors, and highlights three supervisory videos on safety leadership, safety management, and safety conflict resolution.
Worker Safety Training Videos & Accompanying Resources
The MEP Innovation Conference is renowned for selling out every year, and with good reason – it’s co-produced by three industry pillars: MCAA, NECA, and SMACNA. Join us in sunny Orlando, Florida, from January 29 – 31, as we bring together the best innovators in the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing industry. Our sessions are peer-focused, offering real-world case studies from contractors just like you. Explore multiple learning opportunities through sessions, workshops, breakouts, facility tours, networking, and exhibits. Don’t let this opportunity slip away. Secure your spot now and stay ahead of the game in the ever-evolving MEP industry. Register today!
The Madison Area Mechanical & Sheet Metal Contractors Association (MSC) and Steamfitters Local 601 hosted their 35th Heat’s On event on October 21, 2023. More than 50 area steamfitters volunteered a day of labor to inspect and service heating systems in the homes of 69 veterans throughout Dane County.
The day began with a breakfast featuring this special thank you video.
Trucks and equipment used for the day were donated by the following contractors:
1901 Inc.
Air Temperature Services, Inc.
Bassett Mechanical
Butters-Fetting
Hooper Corporation
JM Brennan, Inc.
Illingworth-Kilgust Mechanical
The Waldinger Corporation
Total Mechanical
Replacement parts were donated by these area suppliers: First Supply, Gustave A. Larson, Johnstone Supply, and Temperature Systems, Inc.
Veterans signed up for their free furnace checks through the Dane County Veteran Services Office and the Veterans Hospital.
“This program has impacted thousands of lives since its inception over three decades ago. Each year, our technicians share stories about their visits with the veterans and the impacts we have made on their lives. It’s a pleasure and an honor to be a part of a program that gives back to those who have given so much!”
Brady Farrell, President, 1901 Inc.
Service technicians and volunteers who are veterans.
Heat’s On has been serving Dane County residents since 1987 and has performed maintenance services on over 2,600 furnaces. The purpose of Heat’s On is to reduce the occurrence of veterans going without heat or facing other life-threatening emergencies associated with home heating systems.
Past Heat’s On programs have fixed a furnace for a veteran who survived the polar vortex without heat in his home and replaced the furnace of a World War II veteran who had been taken to the hospital twice with carbon monoxide poisoning.
MCAA congratulates the Madison Area Mechanical & Sheet Metal Contractors Association on their ongoing success with the Heat’s On program.
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:
Daikin Group Daikin North America LLC (DNA) has announced the launch of VRV IV-S-series heat pump – The next generation “Mini-VRV” for residential and light commercial applications.
SIEMENS Siemens ZCU is pre-engineered and factory-fabricated to reduce installation costs. It includes the VAV box with all controls & hydronics preassembled & leak-tested as a complete package. Guaranteed leak-free operation & warranty.
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!
Harris saw an immediate return on investment (ROI) from their Watts Specialties automated pipe cutter, with improved efficiency in cutting and handling and no need for hand-cutting for olets or saddles. Based in St. Paul, MN, Harris has 15 regional offices with more than 300,000 square feet of fabrication shops.
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.
United Association (UA) General President Mark McManus and MCAA President Robert Beck announced the creation of the Mechanical Industry Future Leaders Institute in a letter to their memberships. The new three‐day program will provide leadership education to future field leaders. The joint initiative is a key part of the UA/MCAA Strategic Planning Committee’s efforts to proactively position our industry for continued success and growth. The first session will take place in May 2024. See the attached letter for details and the nomination form. The deadline for submissions is January 12, 2024. This course is completely separate from the MCAA Fundamentals of Field Leadership online course that will start in Q2 of 2024.
MCAA Government Affairs Committee Chairman Jim Gaffney and former Congressman Earl Pomeroy, MCAA’s government relations consultant, testified on MCAA’s behalf at the November 21, 2023, Internal Revenue Service hearing. The hearing addressed proposed rules requiring prevailing wages and apprentice utilization for enhanced tax credits under the Biden Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) energy projects available for the next 10 years.
MCAA’s remarks and written statement delivered by Chairman Gaffney and former Congressman Pomeroy declared, “The Biden Administration energy project policy is laudable and worthy – and the market is eager for much more specific regulatory guidance from IRS and the Labor Department – which is absolutely essential to meet the statutory and public policy goals of the IRA.”
Chairman Gaffney noted that, “robust competition for qualifying projects depend on specific regulatory guidance for quality construction firms to assess the project performance risks and costs and commit resources to competing for that work.”
Chairman Gaffney continued, “lax regulatory and compliance guidance may well cede this market to low-road contractors over high-quality firms that would perform qualifying projects much more competently and productively.”
Chairman Gaffney and Congressman Pomeroy concluded by recommending a regulatory re-proposal that would adopt, “a Private Letter-type pre-award compliance review that would provide incentives for qualifying project owners to write full compliance specifications into their project bidding and prime contract and subcontract documents in a manner similar to the incentives allowed in the current proposal for owner use of Project Labor Agreements.”
Subcontracts frequently include indemnification clauses to transfer risk from the general contractor (GC) to the subcontractor. MCAA’s Indemnification Clauses explains what these clauses are and what mechanical contractors can do to mitigate their effects. It’s just one of MCAA’s educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.
The bulletin explores:
Limitations of indemnification clauses
What mechanical contractors can do to mitigate the effects of an indemnification clause
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 Watch a live demo of diaphragm assembly replacement for Sloan’s top mount G2, ECOS, SOLIS and Sloan flushometers. This training video makes it easy.
Ridge Tool Company RIDGID product experts provide a detailed overview of RIDGID’s full line of Drum Machines, highlighting the K-15, K-45, K-50, K-3200, K-6200, and K-7500.
MCAA welcomed its newest student chapter by granting a charter to Riverside City College during the MSCA23 Opening General Session on October 23rd on Marco Island, Florida.
Sponsoring Local Affiliate: ARCA/MCA • Cheryl James, Executive Director
Congratulations to Kolten Plekes and Gonzalo Ceja, the recipients of the new MSCA Barbara Dolim Scholarship. The scholarship is named for Barbara Dolim, former Executive Director of MSCA, in honor of her efforts in promoting and ensuring future support for the mechanical service industry.
Gonzalo is on track to earn an associate degree in HVAC Commercial Technology from Riverside City College and is looking forward to starting a career in the mechanical service industry. He is a dedicated student who focuses not only on his own educational excellence, but is also the head of the Associated Students of Riverside City College and a dedicated member of the student union chapter.
Kolten completed his associate degree in HVACR Technology at Ferris State University and is also the treasurer for the Ferris State University MSCA-MCAA student chapter. He has been enjoying getting to learn the industry, interning with MSCA members, and looking forward to graduating.
MCAA and MSCA congratulate Kolten and Gonzalo on this prestigious scholarship. MCAA recognizes MSCA’s continuing commitment to supporting students interested in pursuing a career in the mechanical service contracting industry.
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:
Total Service Our software powers your business ecosystem.
Morris Group International The BF12 matches the rough-ins and hole configurations of many existing bottle fillers and is compatible with numerous water cooler models. Murdock® is a division of Morris Group International.
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!
Advanced Institute for Project Management was established to further develop the project management skills of experienced mechanical industry project managers.
The course provides five days of intensive, advanced level study designed to make even the most experienced project managers more productive and their jobs more profitable.
With the industry’s top instructors leading the way, AIPM students will obtain a highly advanced level of education on leadership, how to keep clients forever, legal issues on difficult jobs, insurance and bonding, how to stay on top of scheduling and productivity impacts, negotiating skills for avoiding litigation, and operational management.
This two-week executive leadership program is custom designed to develop the talents and business networks of leaders in the mechanical contracting industry. ALI is held at UNC’s Kenan-Flagler School of Business in Chapel Hill, which is ranked #2 in the nation for ‘Custom Executive Education’ and #1 for ‘Best Value in Executive Education’. The program is highly interactive and workshop-based, with a focus on helping senior industry leaders develop and practice skills and proven strategies that can be immediately applied to the day-to-day challenges of running a company or business unit.
This two-week executive leadership program is custom designed to develop the talents and business networks of leaders in the mechanical contracting industry. ALI is held at UNC’s Kenan-Flagler School of Business in Chapel Hill, which is ranked #2 in the nation for ‘Custom Executive Education’ and #1 for ‘Best Value in Executive Education’. The program is highly interactive and workshop-based, with a focus on helping senior industry leaders develop and practice skills and proven strategies that can be immediately applied to the day-to-day challenges of running a company or business unit.
This course is a unique educational opportunity designed by mechanical contractors, for mechanical contractors. The two-week program provides intensive, in-depth coverage of topics essential to successful mechanical project management. The IPM is designed to provide attendees with real-world skills that can be taken back to their companies and immediately applied. Taught as a combination of lecture and workshops, sessions are presented by both industry experts & professional educators, all of whom have practical experience in the field of mechanical contracting. The IPM curriculum is constantly evaluated and developed to keep pace with the current demands of the industry. The IPM also provides peer-to-peer learning and networking opportunities that are every bit as valuable as the in-classroom learning.
If your project manager has a lot of experience, you may want to consider the Advanced IPM class.
This course is a unique educational opportunity designed by mechanical contractors, for mechanical contractors. The two-week program provides intensive, in-depth coverage of topics essential to successful mechanical project management. The IPM is designed to provide attendees with real-world skills that can be taken back to their companies and immediately applied. Taught as a combination of lecture and workshops, sessions are presented by both industry experts & professional educators, all of whom have practical experience in the field of mechanical contracting. The IPM curriculum is constantly evaluated and developed to keep pace with the current demands of the industry. The IPM also provides peer-to-peer learning and networking opportunities that are every bit as valuable as the in-classroom learning.
If your project manager has a lot of experience, you may want to consider the Advanced IPM class.
This course is a unique educational opportunity designed by mechanical contractors, for mechanical contractors. The two-week program provides intensive, in-depth coverage of topics essential to successful mechanical project management. The IPM is designed to provide attendees with real-world skills that can be taken back to their companies and immediately applied. Taught as a combination of lecture and workshops, sessions are presented by both industry experts & professional educators, all of whom have practical experience in the field of mechanical contracting. The IPM curriculum is constantly evaluated and developed to keep pace with the current demands of the industry. The IPM also provides peer-to-peer learning and networking opportunities that are every bit as valuable as the in-classroom learning.
If your project manager has a lot of experience, you may want to consider the Advanced IPM class.
This course is a unique educational opportunity designed by mechanical contractors, for mechanical contractors. The two-week program provides intensive, in-depth coverage of topics essential to successful mechanical project management. The IPM is designed to provide attendees with real-world skills that can be taken back to their companies and immediately applied. Taught as a combination of lecture and workshops, sessions are presented by both industry experts & professional educators, all of whom have practical experience in the field of mechanical contracting. The IPM curriculum is constantly evaluated and developed to keep pace with the current demands of the industry. The IPM also provides peer-to-peer learning and networking opportunities that are every bit as valuable as the in-classroom learning.
If your project manager has a lot of experience, you may want to consider the Advanced IPM class.
This course is a unique educational opportunity designed by mechanical contractors, for mechanical contractors. The two-week program provides intensive, in-depth coverage of topics essential to successful mechanical project management. The IPM is designed to provide attendees with real-world skills that can be taken back to their companies and immediately applied. Taught as a combination of lecture and workshops, sessions are presented by both industry experts & professional educators, all of whom have practical experience in the field of mechanical contracting. The IPM curriculum is constantly evaluated and developed to keep pace with the current demands of the industry. The IPM also provides peer-to-peer learning and networking opportunities that are every bit as valuable as the in-classroom learning.
If your project manager has a lot of experience, you may want to consider the Advanced IPM class.
