Category: Uncategorized

Strategic Mechanical Expands Prefab Capacity Using PypeServer Technology

With PypeServer technology, Strategic Mechanical, Inc., has sped up its fabrication processes and opened up new avenues for prefabrication. Strategic Mechanical serves clients throughout California; its 70,000-square-foot shop in Fresno, CA, includes an HVAC sheet metal shop, pipe fabrication shop, industrial metals fabrication shop, and electrical prefabrication. In this Q&A, Miro Telesmanic, vice president of operations, describes how Strategic Mechanical put PypeServer to work.

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.

Registration Open for MCAA’s 2024 Safety & Health Conference

January 16-18, 2024 | Loews Ventana Canyon – Tuscon, AZ

MCAA is excited to open registration for the 2024 Safety & Health Conference.

We will be offering more than 50 hours of training and education from subject matter experts on safety, health, risk management, and legal issues. Join us for three days of presentations, discussions, and demonstrations with 300+ occupational safety and health professionals, principals, owners, local affiliated executives, UA instructors, industry partners, NECA & SMACNA, and anyone who has safety and health responsibilities.

For the first-time in conference history we are being joined by TAUC’s EHS Committee and welcome all TAUC members to participate in this event.

Registration Pricing
This conference is one of MCAA’s most popular conferences and it sells out quickly. Register today to secure your spot! Member registration is $895 and guests are $295.

*Upon completing your registration, a link to book your hotel room will be emailed to you. If you encounter any issues while booking with the hotel please contact events@mcaa.org and we are happy to assist.

Extended Learning Courses
CHST $499
CPR Instructor: $299
CPR Provider: $49
CPR Instructor Renewal: $99

Have questions or interested in exhibiting? Contact us at events@mcaa.org or 301-869-5800.

Connect With the Latest Training from Ridge Tool Company and SLOAN 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:

Ridge Tool Company
RIDGID pressing tools allow you to fix pipes with water in the line for faster and more efficient connections. Plus, our rings and jaws swivel, giving you the freedom to access hard to reach places.

SLOAN
Sloan CX Manual Flushometers are modern, elegant concealed flush valves designed to impress patrons. Learn how they are installed in this short video.

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 SLOAN 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:

SLOAN
More and more buildings are opting for gender-inclusive restrooms. Learn how contractors can keep up and deliver on inclusive design.

Morris Group International
Simplify maintenance with Murdock®, a member of Morris Group International. Murdock Maintenance Advantage® water coolers have 27 parts, compared with standard water coolers that have 60+ parts.

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!

Grodsky Tackles Tight Timelines and Tight Spaces With Easy-to-Use Press Fittings From Mueller Industries

To expedite construction of a new university housing project designed as a hybrid of wood and steel, Harry Grodsky & Co., Inc. turned to Mueller Industries and its Mueller Streamline Co. products and piping systems specialists “We were able to save an incredible amount of time on the project thanks to Mueller” and its Streamline® ACR Press Fittings in particular, said Ross Halket, superintendent at Grodsky. Mueller’s products gave Grodsky “the ability to get stuff into tight spaces, [and with] no fear of burning the building down, the ability to run piping in areas where brazing would have been hazardous,” Halket noted.

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.

Resource Highlight: MCAA’s Enforceability of Contractual Fines/Penalties for Subcontractor Safety Violations

Subcontract agreements often include contractual provisions that seek to impose additional fines or penalties for safety violations. MCAA’s Enforceability of Contractual Fines/Penalties for Subcontractor Safety Violations explains how those provisions could impact a subcontractor and how best to avoid them. It’s just one of MCAA’s educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.

The items covered include:

  • Why mechanical contractors should be aware of these provisions
  • What to do in the event such a provision is included in a subcontract
  • The law
  • Liquidated damages
  • Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) states
  • UCC states with added protections
  • Non-UCC states
  • Indemnity clauses

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.

Harris Realizes Immediate ROI With Watts Specialties Pipe Cutter

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.

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.

PCA Plumbing Service Conference Offered Information & Inspiration

The fourth annual PCA Plumbing Service Conference, held from August 21st to 23rd in Annapolis, MD, proved to be a monumental gathering that brought together plumbing professionals, industry leaders, and visionaries. The event, which aimed to address critical industry challenges and foster collaboration, featured an array of insightful sessions and activities that left attendees both informed and inspired. 

One of the conference’s standout highlights was the site visit to JPG Plumbing and Mechanical. Attendees had the opportunity to witness firsthand the inner workings of a successful plumbing service operation. This practical experience not only deepened participants’ understanding but also provided a platform for sharing real-world solutions to common industry challenges. 

Speakers Brought Practical Industry Know-How to the Event

The conference’s speaker lineup boasted industry leaders who delved into topics from recruitment and retention strategies to enhancing office culture for improved employee retention rates. Alternative forms of business were also explored, with a focus on changing government legislation on water efficiency standards and how to incorporate these changes into your business model.

Thank you to our members who presented!

  • John Geiling, President of JPG Plumbing
  • Michael Wallenstein, Co-President of Neptune
  • Tom Axtell, President of Lexington Plumbing
  • Kevin Walsh, Executive Vice President of E.M. Duggan
  • Adrienne Bennett, President and CEO of Benkari LLC

We also heard from Andrew Morris, Senior Manager of Policy and Programs at the Alliance for Water Efficiency, and Leadership Speaker Steve Thomas.

Sponsors Contributed to the Event’s Success

We would also like to thank this year’s sponsors:

  • Zurn Elkay Water Solutions
  • Bradford White
  • MILWAUKEE TOOL
  • WINT Water Intelligence

These companies provided funding and sponsored events that contributed to the event’s success.

UA Guests Offered Added Insights

We also benefited from being right across from the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters (UA) headquarters. We were pleased to welcome General President Mark McManus who delivered an impactful address that emphasized the UA’s commitment to fostering growth and excellence within plumbing service. Ray Boyd, UA Director of Education, and Tom Bigley, UA Director of Plumbing, discussed the current efforts to update plumbing service education, and heard requests from audience members. Brian Kelly, UA Director of HVAC Services, and Russ Borst, VP of Service at Hurst Mechanical, shared a presentation on the National Service and Maintenance Agreement and how it can apply to plumbing service. 

We Look Forward to Seeing You Next Time

We look forward to seeing you at the next PCA Plumbing Service Conference. Watch for details on mcaa.org and in the National Update e-newsletter as the conference gets closer.

Celebrate MCAA’s 20 Years of Safety Excellence Each Month of 2023 With a Safety Resource Kit

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.

September 2023: Mental Health Awareness

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. MCAA is proud to tackle Mental Health Awareness & Suicide Prevention head on with a series of NEW resources developed in partnership with the United Association (UA).

Mental Health Awareness & Suicide Prevention Video

Our newest safety and health video highlights the success story of an industry veteran, with appearances from MCAA’s president Robert Beck, the UA’s Jen Massey, industry expert Dr. Sally Spencer Thomas, and MCAA member Ricky Reams.

Joint Statement from MCAA & UA

UA General President Mark McManus and MCAA President Robert Beck highlight the importance of mental health awareness and suicide prevention.

988 Chips & Hard Hat Stickers

The MCAA and the UA have partnered to create UA/MCAA branded chips and hard hat stickers  highlighting the 988 National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

  • MCAA members can order stickers here. To order chips, contact Lindsay Korpiniski at orderdesk@unionproud.com and reference the MCAA and UA 988 Chips. Both manufacturers employ union labor, and the chips and stickers carry the union label. Those with questions can contact Raffi Elchemmas (raffi@mcaa.org).
  • UA members can order right from the UA’s webstore. Those with questions can reach out to Nicole Jeup (nicolej@uanet.org).

Mental Health Toolbox Talks

This series of toolbox talks are easy to reference, quick to use, and a great way to start the conversation on mental health awareness and suicide prevention in construction at your company.

Additional Resources

UA workers and MCAA members can access several posters, flyers, and other resources through these sites:

Connect With the Latest Training from Ridge Tool Company and Mueller Industries, Inc. 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:

Ridge Tool Company
RIDGID product experts showcase & demonstrate the latest in sectional machines, including the K-50, K-60, K-1500, and K-5208.

Mueller Industries, Inc.
Streamline® ACR Copper Press Fittings | Installation Instructions
Watch this video to learn about the installation process of the Streamline® ACR Copper Press Fittings for HVAC & VRF applications.

Interested in More Training from Our Supplier Partners?

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

Heat Stress: ClickSafety Explains Your Responsibility as an Employer

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), employers have a responsibility to protect their workers from extreme heat. Every year, dozens of workers die and thousands more become ill while working in hot or humid conditions. Heat is the number-one cause of weather-related deaths in the United States. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 815 heat-related worker deaths and 70,000 heat-related serious injuries between 1992 and 2017. To protect workers, employers should establish a complete heat illness prevention program in addition to observing the heat index.

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.

Find the Latest from Kojo Technologies, Inc. and Omegaflex, 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:

Kojo Technologies, Inc.
Kojo is the industry’s leading material procurement solution, providing contractors with a digital solution to streamline materials management from pre-con to payment.

Omegaflex, Inc.
CounterStrike CSST, MediTrac CMT, and DoubleTrac double containment piping systems are now listed by the ICC for seismic resilience per the ICC-ES ESR-4565 Report.

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!

Registration for MSCA’s Autumn Classes Now Open

MSCA provides focused training programs for your operational personnel. This collection of programs, unlike any other, provide the continued training to set your employees apart in the HVACR industry. 

MSCA Dispatchers Professional Development Training Program
November 9-10, 2023
Seattle, WA

SOLD OUT

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 Growing and Developing Service Supervisors 
November 9-10, 2023
Seattle, WA

SOLD OUT

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, 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 Service Managers Training Program
November 13-16, 2023
Seattle, WA

SOLD OUT

Get the management and leadership skills you need to help your company succeed during this intensive four-day program. Whether you have come up 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. Topics will include financial management, communications, coaching, managing conflict, motivating employees and more. 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. 

Get the management and leadership skills you need to help your company succeed during this intensive four-day program. Whether you have come up 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. Topics will include financial management, communications, coaching, managing conflict, motivating employees and more. 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. 

Simplifying the Way We Capture and Transfer Knowledge

With more than 70 million baby boomers set to retire by 2030—more than 10,000 each day—organizations need to rethink the way they capture and transfer knowledge before it is lost forever.

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.

Resource Highlight: MCAA’s Creating a Readable Corporate Newsletter

Staying in touch with customers, employees and others who may be interested in your company’s products and/or services, upcoming events, or other business developments is critical to your company’s growth and success. Thanks to the availability of myriad print and electronic media, the Internet and social media, companies have many options for connecting with their internal and external audiences. This bulletin focuses on one option—newsletters. It’s just one of MCAA’s educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.

The bulletin includes:

  • The purpose of a newsletter
  • Audience assessment
  • The mission statement
  • Content considerations
  • Budgeting considerations
  • Staffing, or who does what?
  • How it looks, including design, format and structure
  • Documenting style with a style sheet
  • The print/no print decision and how to proceed once it’s made

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.

ServiceTrade Helps B&W Mechanical Put Customers First, Building Long-Term Loyalty

B&W Mechanical, one of the largest mechanical contractors in the Southeast, chose ServiceTrade software to help them make the move from paper to digital, shortening the time it takes to provide quotes for repairs. Swift, detailed, clear communication is one way that B&W builds trust that leads to long-lasting customer relationships.

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.

MCAA Shares Safety & Health Videos to Support OSHA Safe + Sound Week

In honor of the Occupational Safety & Health Administration’s (OSHA) Safe and Sound Week campaign, August 7-13, 2023, MCAA is re-sharing a series of safety videos created by the Safety Alliance between MCAA, TAUC, NECA, and SMACNA for your use to highlight key safety topics with your employees and co-workers. From mental health, fall protection and other OSHA Focus Four topics like electrical hazards and caught in-between/struck-by, take time to focus on safety, you will be glad you did!

We kick off the week with a message from Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA) Executive Director of Safety, Health & Risk Management Raffi Elchemmas about how workers can stay safe while using ladders and stairs, or when working at heights.

On Tuesday, we hear from National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) Executive Director, Outside Line Safety Mike Starner, CUSP, CHST about how workers can protect themselves from line of fire incidents including caught-in, caught-between and struck-by. Lockout/tagout is also covered.

The Association of Union Constructors Director of Environmental Health & Safety Alex Kopp shares a message on Wednesday about the importance of mental health and resources that are available to provide support.

On Thursday, we hear from SMACNA Director of Safety Justin Crandol, CSP, ARM, CRIS with tips to help workers protect themselves from heat hazards.

To close out the week, we hear from National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) Executive Director of Safety Wesley Wheeler, SMS, CESCP about the importance of personal protective equipment (PPE), a critical component to jobsite safety.

Learn more about OSHA’s Safe + Sound week here and follow the week’s news at #safeandsound.

Resource Highlight: MCAA’s Credit Card Payments

Credit cards are rapidly becoming the preferred method of covering a variety of financial transactions between contractors and their vendors/suppliers and project owners. MCAA’s Credit Card Payments reviews the advantages and disadvantages of making payments via credit card to help you fully understand the benefits and costs involved. It’s just one of MCAA’s educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.

The bulletin covers:

  • Getting established with the appropriate accounts
  • Advantages to the contractor
  • Advantages to the vendor and supplier

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.

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
Learn about the installation process of the Sloan CX Sensor Flushometer, featuring the world’s smallest front-access wall panel. The design offers chic style and elevated design for high-end spaces.

RIDGID Tool Company
Learn more about the latest in RIDGID diagnostics – TruSense technology. Advanced sensors deliver unmatched in-pipe image clarity and camera position detail.

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 Ferguson 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:

Ferguson
Ferguson is a market leader dedicated to helping contractors keep projects on schedule and provide custom solutions. Our extensive inventory includes fixtures, faucets, equipment/instrumentation, pipe, valves, fittings, tools, safety and MRO supplies so you can find the products you need when and where you need them.

Morris Group International
Meet the Emergency Thermostatic Temperature Valve from ConTrols®, a member of Morris Group International. This valve is certified to deliver safe, tepid water to safety systems.

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!