With 80 years of commitment to innovation and service, Binsky is a leading mechanical contractor in the Northeast US, delivering high-quality workmanship across a range of projects, from large-scale construction to commercial HVAC, high purity process, plumbing, and emergency services.
Binsky consists of four primary groups, Large Construction, Commercial HVAC, Electrical & Plumb-
ing Service, Commercial Renovation/Remodel Construction, and Residential HVAC & Plumbing ➤ Turn to Partnership, page 38
Registered Apprenticeships Expand Access to Living Wages
CHICAGO, IL — A new study commissioned by the United States Department of Labor has revealed that registered apprenticeship programs—career training alternatives to college in which enrollment has doubled over the past decade—dramatically increase the ability of ➤ Turn to DOL, page 36
Firms Predict Strong Demand in Certain Sectors for 2025
Construction contractors are optimistic about certain private-sector segments and have high hopes for most types of public-sector work, according to survey results the Associated General Contractors of America and Sage released. Yet contractors have very low expectations for several private-sector market segments, remain concerned about labor shortages and
are worried materials prices will climb amid threats of new tariffs, according to A Year in the Balance: The 2025 Construction Hiring and Business Outlook.
“2025 offers quite a few bright spots for the construction industry even as the outlook for some private-sector segments remains quite dire,” said Jeffrey Shoaf, the associ➤ Turn to Construction, page 12
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Features & Departments
Construction Underperforms Broader Economy in December
WASHINGTON, DC — The construction industry added just 8,000 jobs on net in December, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data released today by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. On a year-overyear basis, industry employment has increased by 196,000 jobs, an increase of 2.4%.
Nonresidential construction employment increased by 4,700 positions on net, with
➤ Turn to Construction, page 34
Vaughan Sworn in as New Business Manager of Plumbers Local 12
BOSTON, MA — James Vaughan, a 37-year member of Plumbers & Gasfitters Local 12, was sworn in this week as the new Business Manager to lead New England’s largest plumbing union, taking over for longtime Business Manager Tim Fandel, who retired at the end of 2024.
Vaughan, who joined Local 12 in 1988 and has served as a business agent for the past nine years, was officially sworn in during a
➤ Turn to James Vaughan, page 8
A. O. Smith Donates Seven Tankless Water Heaters to The Journey Home
ASHLAND CITY, TN — A. O. Smith, a leader in water heating and water treatment, announces the donation of seven tankless water heaters to Nashville-area nonprofit, The Journey Home. The donation supports the unhoused population in Rutherford County as they work toward independence and full reintegration into the community.
➤ Turn to A.O. Smith, page 10
Columnists
EDITORIAL STAFF
VP/Market Leader-Buildings & Construction Mike Hellmann, mhellmann@endeavorb2b.com
Group Editorial Director-Buildings & Construction
Mike Eby, meby@endeavorb2b.com
Editor-In-Chief
Steve Spaulding, sspaulding@endeavorb2b.com
Editor-At-Large
John Mesenbrink, jmesenbrink@endeavorb2b.com
Contributing Writer Kelly Faloon
COLUMNISTS
Al Schwartz, Management
Pat Linhardt, Hydronics & Radiant
Patti Feldman, Technology Matt Michel, Marketing
Art Director, David Eckhart
Ad Services Manager, Deanna O’Byrne
Production Manager, Sam Schulenberg
Audience Development Manager, James Marinaccio
Endeavor
In Brief
SFA SANIFLO USA, a division of SFA Group has announced the company will transition its website URL from www.saniflo.com to www. sfasaniflo.com. This strategic change highlights SFA Saniflo’s alignment with the global SFA Group, while refining the digital experience for its users.
The American Welding Society has announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Carey Chen as Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer. He succeeds Robert Roth, who has served as Interim Executive Director and CEO. Chen brings extensive experience to AWS, having previously held CEO roles at Fathom Digital Manufacturing Solutions, Cadrex Manufacturing Solutions, and Incodema Holdings LLC.
Leopardo is excited to announce that three of its projects have been honored with the 2024 Construction Industry Service Corporation (CISCO) Project of the Year Award. This annual program recognizes the top quality, union construction projects across six categories and represents the best in Chicagoland construction.
Jobber has announced its speaker lineup and agenda for its fifth annual virtual conference for home service professionals, Jobber Summit, taking place on Thursday, March 6. Attendees will hear from a lineup of 16 inspirational speakers including entrepreneur and digital marketing expert Gary Vaynerchuk (Gary Vee) and Codie Sanchez, a leading voice in small business success.
Right Time Group of Companies, a leading provider of residential heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), plumbing and electrical services, announced it has named Jason Moore as Chief Financial Officer. Right Time is majority-owned by Gryphon Investors, a San Francisco-based middle-market private equity firm.
Balfour Beatty’s Civils operations has been selected to deliver the approximately $60 million Bassett High School Stormwater Capture project in La Puente, California. In partnership with Los Angeles County Department of Public Works and Bassett Unified School District the project team will construct an underground infiltration gallery at Bassett High School to improve water quality of waterways as well as enhance green spaces.
CONTRACTORmag.com
Videos & Media Galleries
Alone. Brilliant
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Excitement Builds for 2025 Kitchen and Bath Industry Show in Las Vegas
Professionals from around the world will gather to see the best in design and innovation.
LAS VEGAS, NV – The Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) presented by the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) will take place this February 25th through the 27th at the Las Vegas Convention Center. KBIS is North America’s largest trade show dedicated to all aspects of kitchen and bath design, and will showcase the industry’s latest products, trends, and technologies.
KBIS co-locates with the National Home Builder Association’s International Builders Show (IBS) as Design and Construction Week. KBIS will occupy the North, West and South Hall and an outdoor exhibit area. Based on early registrations, KBIS 2025 is set to be one of the largest in show history. The show is planning on more than 100 first-time exhibitors and more than 200 international exhibitors. KBIS 2024 had more than 55,500 registered visitors.
Events
Away from the booths on the show floor, KBIS offers attendees opportunities to network, as well as participate in the work of the NKBA. Some highlights include:
Monday, February 24th at 5:00 PM
The 30 Under 30 Reception will be held at the Wynn Resort and Casino, allowing younger industry members the chance to get to know one another (and the show) a bit better.
Tuesday, February 25th at 8:00 AM
The Design and Construction Week Opening Ceremonies will be held at the Westgate Paradise Events Center. This year the Opening Ceremonies are sponsored by Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, and will feature as their special guest comedy legend David Spade.
Wednesday, February 26th at 8:30 AM
In Room N109 of the Las Vegas Convention Center will be the Annual NKBA Meeting of the Membership, followed by the State of the Industry presentation, an in-depth forecast for the business year ahead.
Thursday, February 27th at 5:00 PM
The IBS Closing Concert will be held at the Westgate Paradise Events Center, featuring country music performer Chris Janson. Note: this is a ticketed event and requires a full KBIS registration to attend.
There are many more events happening throughout Design and Construction Week. To get more of the
best of KBIS, visit the show schedule page at kbis.com/ show/show-schedule
Education Opportunities
NKBA offers more than 75 educational sessions at KBIS 2025 through its Voices from the Industry (VFTI) Conference taking place during the show. Industry and subject matter experts deliver daily courses, allowing you to choose from a variety of workshops, including 60-minute live sessions, 90-minute workshops, and exclusive on-demand only sessions.
Most 60-minute live sessions are also available on-demand for viewing throughout 2025. All VFTI sessions qualify for CEU credits, which are necessary to maintain NKBA certification and may also be applicable to other industry certifications and credentials.
The 2025 VFTI Conference features six learning tracks: Building & Remodeling, Leadership & Management, Design, Hot Topics, K&B Trends and Marketing. Keenly anticipated education sessions include:
Wednesday, February 26th
Tuesday, February 25th
8:30 AM - Room No: N258
The Interior Strategy: Maximizing Social Strategy the Gen Z Way
9:00 AM - Room No: N262
Transatlantic Trends: Bringing European Kitchen and Bath Designs to the USA
2:45 PM - Room No: N262
Smart Technology for Aging in Place: Sustainability & Universal Design
12:30 PM - Room No: N262
Luxury Kitchens Remain King Amidst Rising Mortgage Rates
2:15 PM - Room No: N256
Digging Deep Into Sustainability
Thursday, February 27th
8:45 AM - Room No: N258
Which Marketing Channels Are Right for You? ➤ Turn to Excitement Builds, page 34
The hallway from the North to the West Building at the Las Vegas Convention Center during Design and Construction Week 2024.
2024 Best Booth Award winner, Kohler Co.
Crowds outside the Las Vegas Convention Center during KBIS 2024.
James Vaughan Sworn in as New Business Manager of Plumbers & Gasfitters Local 12
Continued from page 3
ceremony at the Local 12 union hall in Dorchester by United Association New England Representative Harry Brett,
who himself is a former Business Manager for Local 12. “I’m very proud and honored,” Vaughan said. “I’m excited for what the future brings. We’re going
to make Local 12 better. The foundation has been set by Harry and Timmy and now we’re going to build upon it.” Vaughan worked as an apprentice for
four years before becoming a journeyman. He started as a truck driver and became a master plumber, an estimator, a foreman and a superintendent. He previously served on the Local 12 Building Committee and the Executive Board before he was elected a Business Agent in 2016. He has also worked as a plumbing inspector for 18 years.
Plumbers Local 12
Plumbers & Gasfitters Local 12 Boston was chartered on February 7, 1890 by the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing, Pipe-
Vaughn served on the Building Committee as well as the Executive Board.
fitting, and Sprinkler Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada. Plumbers and Gasfitters Local 12 has been aggressive with defending the integrity of the plumbing industry, and has made it a stated goal to, “Insure that hard working plumbers have job protection and top wages on public projects in the Commonwealth.” Plumbers Local 12 has long prided itself on serving its membership and assisting them with their future retirement. In addition, Plumbers Local 12 has one of the most advanced training facilities for journeymen plumbers in the region. Local 12 Apprentices attend five years of comprehensive training. Members of Local 12 who are licensed have the benefit of acquiring advanced skills, such as medical gas training, and certifications in welding. This training does not bear any cost to members. Classes for continuing education, which is mandated for licensed plumbers in the Commonwealth, take place in the hall for a nominal fee. To learn more about Plumbers Local 12, visit www.plumbersandgasfitterslocal12.org
➤
INFINITI® GS & GR TANKLESS GAS WATER HEATERS
Every contractor needs a go-to tankless that can tackle just about any job. That’s what we had in mind when we engineered the Infiniti® GS & GR tankless gas water heaters. They’re flexible and easy to install in many configurations.
• Residential and Commercial applications (Indoor/Outdoor)
• Robust stainless steel heat exchanger for longer life
• Cascade and common venting between standard and recirculation models
• Certified Green Product™ by the Green Restaurant Association
Learn more.
A. O. Smith Donates Seven Tankless Water Heaters
➤ Continued from page 3
The Journey Home’s primary focus is to provide practical resources, services and programs to encourage stability in all aspects of life. The organization supports community members as they achieve lasting change, helps them
set goals and enhance their life skills, addresses their health and self-worth, and secures jobs and stable housing. The organization’s new 20,000-squarefoot facility, expected to open in late 2025, will provide access to numerous resources for the community, allowing
Here for What’s Next in Heating
The Journey Home to expand its impact in the local area.
Abundant Hot Water
“Our current building was built in the 1940s and has very poor water volume. Right now, we can’t run the dishwashers
and the showers at the same time. Thanks to A. O. Smith, our new facility will have ample hot water supply, immediately,” said Scott Foster, Executive Director of The Journey Home. “We often take hot water for granted, but it is a big part of our everyday lives, as well as The Journey Home’s daily operations. Being able to provide showers throughout the day may seem like a small thing to some, but it makes all the difference for the people we serve. We couldn’t be more grateful to A. O. Smith and their support of our mission.”The new A. O. Smith tankless units will provide abundant hot water for the community cafe, commercial kitchen, laundry center, wellness clinic, shower stalls and more. Additionally,
they will support the hot water needs of 10 short-term family housing units. The tankless units were chosen because they are designed to heat water when it is needed, providing on-demand supply throughout the facility. Tankless water heaters are also incredibly efficient, decreasing the financial burden of running a facility of this capacity.
Community Partnership
“The Journey Home operates only an hour from our Ashland City, Tennessee, headquarters, making them a part of our community. We are impressed by the dedication and hard work of everyone at the organization. It’s an honor to be able to support their mission in the way we know best—by providing one of the most essential resources–hot water,” said Steve O’Brien, President and General Manager of North America Water Heating. “The Journey Home has managed to do a lot with a little for such a long time. We’re honored to be part of this next chapter of the organization’s story.”
To learn more about A. O. Smith’s product offerings, visit www.hotwater.com.
Crimp Barb PEX • Push Connect • Press Connect
Survey: Firms Predict Strong Demand For Specific Types of Work in 2025
➤ Continued from page 1
ation’s Chief Executive Officer. “Firms expect regulatory relief will help drive demand and they will continue to hire, when they can, and boost investments in technologies, particularly artificial intelligence.”
Key Findings
The net reading—the percentage of respondents who expect the available dollar value of projects to expand compared to the percentage who expect it to shrink—is positive for 15 of the 17 categories of construction included in the survey. The highest net reading, 42 percent, is for data centers.
Contractors are also very bullish about the prospects for water and sewer projects, with a net reading of 35 percent, and for power projects, with a net reading of 32 percent. They also are bullish about healthcare construction, with a net of 27 percent for non-hospital healthcare facilities, such as clinics, testing facilities and medical labs, and 24 percent for hospitals.
Survey respondents are largely positive as well about manufacturing plant construction, with a net reading of 25 percent. Contractors are also optimistic about the education sector with a net reading of 13 percent for kindergarten-to-12th-grade schools and 12 percent for higher education construction.
Five other segments have readings that range from moderately positive to negative. The net reading for warehouse construction is 14 percent, while the reading for multifamily residential construction is 12 percent. Contractors have a slightly positive net reading, 7 percent, for lodging. Meanwhile, the net reading for private office construction is -3 percent. And the outlook for retail projects is -5 percent.
Betting on Infrastructure
Contractor expectations are high for a range of infrastructure segments. The net reading for transportation structures, such as airport and rail projects, is 29 percent. Expectations for bridge and highway work are net 24 percent
Survey results from AGC and Sage show concerns about immigration and trade policies, material and labor prices.
positive. The reading for federal contracts, for agencies such as the General Services Administration and the US Army Corps of Engineers, is 22 percent. One other public category—public buildings—drew a moderately positive net reading of 14 percent.
“One reason contractors have a relatively positive outlook for many public sector market segments is that more contractors are starting to see the effects of increased federal investments in infrastructure,” said Ken Simonson , the association’s Chief Economist. He noted that 18 percent of respondents say they have worked on new federally funded infrastructure projects, double the 9 percent who said that was the case a year ago.
Postponements and Cancellations
Contractors continue to see a significant number of project postponements and cancellations. Roughly two-thirds of respondents say projects have been postponed or canceled. Forty-two percent of firms report projects were postponed in 2024 but rescheduled, while
34 percent of respondents report projects were postponed or canceled and not rescheduled. Sixteen percent have already experienced postponement or cancellation of a project that had been scheduled for either the first half of 2025 or later.
Top Concerns
Among contractors’ top concerns for 2025, the three most frequently listed are all workforce related. Sixty-two percent pick rising direct labor costs as one of their top three concerns, while 59 percent list insufficient supply of workers or subcontractors, and 56 percent name worker quality. The only other concern cited by a majority—54 percent—of respondents is materials costs. Given the supply chain improvements, this concern is likely related to President-elect Trump’s threats to impose a broad range of new tariffs, Simonson observed.
Officials with Sage noted that construction firms are increasingly leveraging technology to address industry challenges such as labor shortages and productivity demands. Artificial intelligence leads the way as the technology
with the biggest anticipated increase in investment, cited by 44 percent of firms. Other key areas for increased investment include document management software (40 percent), accounting software (36 percent), and project management software (35 percent).
“AI’s potential to revolutionize construction workflows is driving increased interest and investment,” said Dustin Stephens , Global Head of Construction, Sage. “Leading construction businesses are utilizing advancements in AI, cloud, and mobile technologies to operate more efficiently and tackle complex projects with greater agility.”
Stephens added that while cloud adoption remains steady—61 percent of firms now use cloud-based project management tools—cybersecurity has emerged as the top IT challenge, cited by 41 percent of respondents.
The Word from Washington Association officials said they are urging the new administration to work with Congress to establish new programs for temporary work visas that are dedicated to the construction industry. They are also urging President Trump and Congress to pass the Stronger Workforce for America Act, which boosts funding for post-secondary construction training programs and to boost funding for high-school construction training programs.
They are also urging President Trump to revoke President Biden’s executive order imposing project labor agreements for any federal construction project worth $35 million or more. They are also urging the president to be sparing in his imposition of new tariffs and to implement many of the measures to streamline permitting that Congress authorized but President Biden largely ignored.
Visit www.agc.org for A Year in the Balance: The 2025 Construction Hiring and Business Outlook. Visit www.agc. org/2025-construction-hiring-and-business-outlook for the survey results or to watch a quick video about the results.
JARAMAiStock/Getty Images Plus
by Al Schwartz
Have We Reached Critical Mass in the Trades?
Critical mass (noun): a point at which change occurs
Although the origin of the term “critical mass” was brought into our collective vocabulary during the development of nuclear technology, it has evolved to mean a pivotal point; a point at which some sort of change is going to occur.
Over the past few years, I’ve written columns about the state of labor in the trades and the increasing lack of qualified and quality trainees coming into the field. Not to belabor the obvious but I recently had the opportunity to talk with manufacturers’ rep who is also a friend of some 35+ years. This man is in a position to see and hear what is happening in our market, he opined on the subject and brought it into sharp focus. The topic was labor, and news wasn’t good.
The Gap
“The good mechanics and journeymen are all working,” my friend said. “There is a huge (his word) gap between the really good guys, the quality guys, and the next level of what I’ll call ‘mediocre’ tradesmen and it goes down from there. It’s become a chasm that must be bridged if the trades are going to thrive and survive moving forward. And, of course, the problem with the current pool of potential apprentices... none of whom I have found, know what ‘work’ is all about.”
The gap between the really good craftsmen and everyone else can partly be explained by education, or the lack thereof. First and foremost, there are precious few programs nationwide in our schools which address vocational education. Douglas Greene of Skilled Trades Centers and Humberto Martinez of Construction Career Days are the only two people who leap to mind when discussing the issue of truly training young people in the trades.
We’re not talking about wood shop, metal shop or even auto shop, which were once considered “fun” classes (but fed the trades with semi-qualified people), but a full-blown curriculum leading to tertiary education in a trade or craft.
A better way, or a different way, must be found to attract, train and maintain a quality workforce.
Not every student is college material. Not every student who can get into college wants to go to college. There are many students who like to work with their hands or who have an interest in the construction industry, but the powers that be consider such blue collar calling beneath their notice and tacitly (or actively) discourage it.
The European Model
Europe, by contrast, has elevated the construction trades to a level on a par with liberal arts or other schools of education. Regardless of the feckless political problems on the continent, there is pride in craft there that we have lost in the US. It’s noticeable, and it’s sad. If we in the trades specifically, and the construction industry generally, do not address this problem immediately we all will pay the price. Indeed, we are paying the price already.
Training and Quality
One of the brightest lights in trade education is apprenticeship training (in addition to the two relatively new approaches mentioned above) offered by the UA and the PHCC. Over the
years, pride in craft and trade skills have been passed down to apprentices through these programs and, to their credit, the programs have turned out some outstanding journeymen. There are other trade and craft organizations, such as the Association for Construction Career Development which have programs designed to bring qualified students into the industry as well, and give them a foundation for continuing in it successfully.
The one problem with these programs is that there simply aren’t enough of them. There isn’t a concerted effort, or drive, to locate and nurture the trade talent that the industry needs now and will need in the future. It will take a real—as opposed to halfhearted lip service—effort to get qualified and quality people involved and invested in the industry.
Be the Engine of Change
One problem with that idea is societal. Young people have become so accustomed to instant gratification that the idea of a four- or five-year apprenticeship is a huge negative. Pride in craft must be brought forward and made to mean something before the trade will get the
type of commitment from apprentices that it really wants to see. Bemoaning the lack of work ethic in our younger generation does nothing to solve the problem. If we want things to change, we need to be the engines of change!
There is a world of difference between working at a job for six months (regardless of what type of job that might be) and earning journeyman’s status after four or five years of intense education and on-the-job training. Would you want a doctor with only a few short months of education and training working on you? Of course not.
Regarding my conversation, my friend mentioned a large and well-known industrial company in the greater Phoenix area that cannot find enough welders to man the project. There are simply no qualified welders to be found. As for orbital welding, stainless and clean room welders, his comment was “good luck with that.” This is a sad commentary on the state of our trade. In these hard economic times, the opportunity is there to work, the work is out there to be had and yet there are not nearly enough qualified mechanics to get the job done.
A better way, or a different way, must be found to attract, train and maintain a quality workforce. We have the available population, we need to do a better job of getting our message out there. We need to petition our school boards and secondary schools to change the curricula and add more vocation training. We need to support apprenticeship training and encourage those young people that we come in contact with to pursue careers in the trades, and lastly we need to foster or continue to foster pride in craft.
The Brooklyn, NY-born author is a retired third-generation master plumber. He founded Sunflower Plumbing & Heating in Shirley, N.Y., in 1975 and A Professional Commercial Plumbing Inc. in Phoenix in 1980. He holds residential, commercial, industrial and solar plumbing licenses and is certified in welding, clean rooms, polypropylene gas fusion and medical gas piping. He can be reached at allen@proquilldriver.com
Armstrong International: Making It Easier for the Customer for 125 Years
CONTRACTOR
BY STEVE SPAULDING
talks with Brian
Armstrong, Director of Armstrong International’s Hot Water Group.
Through two world wars, two global pandemics, a Great Depression and a Great Recession, Armstrong International has grown and thrived as a company by serving the thermal utility needs of its customers.
Founded by Adam Armstrong in 1900, the company got its start manufacturing mechanical potato diggers. In 1911, the company introduced its inverted bucket steam trap and began to focus on thermal control solutions. Today the company is a fifth-generation, family-owned manufacturer with more than 3,000 employees serving markets around the world.
Brian Armstrong is from the latest generation of the family, serving as Director of Armstrong International’s Hot Water Group. He spoke with CONTRACTOR at the recent American Society of Plumbing Engineer’s Convention in Columbus, OH about the company’s new product offering, its promise to its customers, and what it sees as the future of hot water.
CONTRACTOR: So, what brings Armstrong International here to the ASPE show?
Brian Armstrong: We’ve been a part of the American Society of Plumbing Engineers going on 30-plus years now. We come to the show to highlight our technologies, which includes our water heater packages, and our digital mixing solution, the Brain, which we’ve had for 15 years now, and which is a very specifiable product for the industry that can help customers with legionella control, temperature control, and scald protection.
Ultimately, we’re here reinforcing our message that Armstrong is about providing healthy hot water systems for plumbing engineers, and for end users.
CONTRACTOR: What are you seeing as the growth opportunity for Armstrong right now? What are you moving into now because you see its importance a few years out?
Armstrong: The biggest growth opportunities we see right now are really in three areas within the hot water group.
The first is heat pump technology. We see as customers are trying to go be more energy efficient and work towards different sustainability goals. We’re now getting into that, in the heat pump space. We have a high temperature heat pump solution to support our customers.
We also now offer our new, on-demand, gas-fired water heater with an integral digital mixing valve. It means we can do everything in one solution. We can deliver for our customers precise temperature control, which again is going to mean energy efficiency, protection from legionella and other waterborne pathogens, as well as scald protection.
Last, we have a new product called the nano bubble generator. It allows customers to remove scale within their domestic hot water system. That’s also going to allow better energy efficiency, it will help lower maintenance and labor costs, as well as improve the longevity of their equipment.
CONTRACTOR: There are a lot of new water heating standards coming into place. There are also natural gas bans being enacted in some parts of the country. How is Armstrong adapting to this changing regulatory environment?
Armstrong: A wider product offering—kind of an all-around approach.
We want to support our customers, whatever market they’re in, whatever path they’re going towards. So for California, New York, states that are having more regulations around banning natural gas, that’s where our heat pump technology comes into play. That’s where looking at alternative fuel-compatible products— electric water heaters, electric boilers—and where we can help educate and support customers to meet their specific needs. Other areas across the US, where natural gas is still an acceptable fuel source, that’s where we have high efficiency, gas-fired water heaters. Again, it’s really asking how we can support our customers if they’re still going down that route, or if they want to start moving towards a more net-zero, decarbonization approach. We
can provide any system solution for our customers. So, really going with a wider product portfolio and range.
CONTRACTOR: What kind of education and training are you offering to support the contractors that are out there installing your products?
Armstrong: One of the sayings we have at Armstrong is, knowledge not shared is energy wasted. So, we’re always working to educate. We want to make it as easy as possible for our customers, even as technology gets more complex from an electrical, mechanical, and plumbing standpoint, trying to make our offerings as plug and play as we can. That means also having the educational seminars, schools, resources, as well as customer service and support. We want our customers to know we’re standing behind our system solutions in every way possible. So again, just bringing it back to how experience matters. We’ve been doing this for 125 years and our customers can trust that we’re going to be able to educate and inform as technologies get more complex.
CONTRACTOR: We’re here with an engineering crowd and the engineers all want to use BIM. Are you offering that kind of digital support?
Armstrong: We support Revit SolidWorks, and we’re also in different software packages called Spec Link and Construct Connect. Again, trying to make it as easy for our customers as possible with a plug and play solution. They could take one of our product models and easily put it into an overall system design that they’re building. We really can support all of the different avenues, depending on what the customer’s looking for.
CONTRACTOR: Has it been a successful show for you here at ASPE?
Armstrong: It has been a great show. We’re honored to be here. Just this year became an affiliate partner with ASPE, and we’re proud to be supporting the Society. And we appreciate CONTRACTOR Magazine for taking the time to talk.
OF CONTRACTOR’S STAFF
The Armstrong International booth at ASPE 2024, with the Armada system front and center. Armada is a digital solution designed to deliver safe, healthy hot water from the mechanical room to point of use.
Armstrong International
Building a Safer Future: Mental Health and Suicide Prevention in Construction
Mental health among construction workers is as much a safety concern as slips and falls. Discover how the industry is approaching the issue and how you can help.
By Kelly L. Faloon
Safety is an ongoing concern in the construction industry; 1 in 5 fatal injuries in 2021 occurred on construction sites. Jobsites include many hazardous tools, equipment and situations where workers can fall, suffer severe lacerations or are injured by heavy equipment.
Construction had the most fatal injuries among all industry sectors in 2023 and is the highest for the sector going back to 2011. Falls, slips and trips accounted for nearly 40% of all construction fatalities, with transportation incidents accounting for another roughly 22%. Specialty trade contractors in private construction account for the most fatal falls, slips and trips. This information comes from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries for 2023, released in December 2024 (www.bls. gov/news.release/cfoi.htm). “Most fatal falls to a lower level (64.4%) within construction were from a height of between 6 and 30 ft., while 67 fatal falls were from a height of more than 30 ft.,” the report notes. “Portable ladders and stairs were the primary source of 109 fatalities in construction.”
The problem has become so widespread that people can obtain degrees in construction safety. While safety may be part of a construction management curriculum, Google “construction safety degree programs” and you will find a plethora of colleges and universities offering these associate or bachelor’s degree programs. Many of these courses, also known as occupational safety and health degrees, can be completed online.
Students learn about general construction safety, working with hazardous materials, industrial hygiene, fire safety and risk management.
Mental health: Less Visible — Vitally Important
However, not all work health issues are physical. Mental health challenges abound in today’s society, including drug and alcohol abuse. Our modern life has put much pressure on us and some cannot carry the load alone. However, a stigma still exists for people working through those issues with medication or therapy; many people hide their illness and self-medicate or ignore the problem.
Our industry is not immune to this pervasive health issue.
“The construction industry has one of the highest suicide rates among professions—with the rate among male construction workers 75% higher than men in the general population, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC, https:// bit.ly/41M9qFU],” reports NBC News. “An estimated 6,000 construction workers [died] by suicide in 2022, an increase from 2021, according to the most recent data available. That compares to around 1,000 who died from a construction work-related injury.”
Brian Turmail, Vice President of Public Affairs and Workforce for the Associated General Contractors of America, told NBC News: “When you’re more likely
to be killed by your own hands than to get killed in a jobsite accident, that’s a crisis in our industry. We know pretty much what needs to happen to protect people physically. We’re figuring out how to protect people mentally.”
The Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing occupational injuries, illnesses and fatalities in the construction industry. Its mission is to reduce jobsite hazardous conditions, research various construction safety issues, and provide training to apply research results to real-world job conditions. Mental health is a safety issue it has been vocal about.
“There is not a simple answer to why this [suicide] increase has occurred—particularly among construc-
tion workers,” notes its website, www.cpwr.com. “However, just as we develop and identify resources to help workers and employers prevent visible injuries and illnesses, we are also committed to preventing those that may be less visible but equally as important to the safety, health and well-being of the construction workforce.”
CPWR and its creator, North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU), launched an e-newsletter in early 2024 to help the construction industry prevent suicides and deaths from opioids. The REASON (Resources and Effective programs Addressing Suicides and Opioids Now) publication shares comprehensive solutions, important research and free resources highlighting positive steps to help workers. It highlights
local trade organizations, online resources, research results and prevention strategies.
For example, the December 2024 issue highlights “fatigue management” programs for construction workers (https://bit.ly/3DpvagR). “Studies of the impacts of long work hours, excess consecutive days of work and irregular shifts are clear: Workers are less productive and at greater risk of both physical injuries and mental health problems, including suicide,” the article notes.
A fatigue management program is an “effective way to address mental health challenges on worksites, as well [as to] improve safety, productivity and quality, and to reduce absenteeism.” Programs monitor working hours and require senior management to sign off on
workers scheduled for more than 50 hours a week. Employers develop schedules so that all workers have a full weekend off once a month.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has resources available for workers on how to cope with suicidal thoughts (English and Spanish) and for employers to learn the signs of a worker in trouble and what to do to help (www.osha.gov/preventingsuicides).
The site also encourages anyone with suicidal thoughts to call the Suicide and Crisis hotline at 988.
September is National Suicide Prevention Month and OSHA promotes Construction Suicide Prevention Week (constructionsuicideprevention.com), which began in September 2020 when a whole lot of people were going through depressive episodes.
The week raises awareness about “the unique challenges workers face in construction that lead to suicide and what we can do to prevent it.” Construction and subcontractor work are physically demanding jobs with long work hours. Some workers must deal with seasonal layoffs, causing financial stress.
A Proactive Approach: Building Mental Resilience
The first holistic mental health certification program designed and built specifically for the construction industry was released in November 2024 (https://bit. ly/3ZF1sf6). The Building Resilience-Construction Mental Health Certification is to help construction professionals address mental health, suicide prevention, substance abuse and proactive mental health care on the job.
“Construction faces some of the highest rates of mental health challenges of any industry—including instances of suicide and substance abuse,” notes
Stephanie Lemek, Founder and CEO of the Wounded Workforce (www.thewoundedworkforce.com). “Yet, until now, there hasn’t been a comprehensive mental health program tailored specifically to the industry’s unique needs. Building Resilience is more than a certification— it’s a movement toward creating safer, more supportive workplaces in construction.”
The half-day, in-person program teaches construction professionals how to foster mental health awareness and understand mental health issues in the construction workplace, recognize warning signs and build proactive support systems to prevent suicide, address substance abuse with approaches to reduce the stigma and encourage seeking help, and cultivate resilience in the workplace by encouraging self-care and create sustainable practices for a construction workforce.
Participants who complete the course will earn the Construction Mental Health Certification from The Wounded Workforce.
“Construction professionals are resilient by nature,” Lemek notes. “This certification honors that resilience while providing the education and tools necessary to navigate mental health challenges head-on. We’re helping individuals and companies take concrete steps to prioritize wellbeing and safety.”
Global engineering and construction firm Bechtel has pledged $7 million to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) to provide critical resources and programming to 500,000 US construction workers for five years.
The initiative leverages Bechtel’s industry knowledge and reach with AFSP’s expertise in suicide prevention research, education programs and effective prevention strategies, along with support from its national network of local chapters.
“This is the start of a long-term, sustained effort to [lift the] whole construction community,” notes Brendan Bechtel, Chairman & CEO of Bechtel. “We want to see mental health become as much a priority as physical safety in our industry. This is the next frontier in taking care of our people.”
The partnership forms a construction working group and a first-ever senior advisory council to help guide the effort, so participation from others in the industry is welcomed.
“AII of us who work in construction have seen gains in physical safety that were once unimaginable become the standard for success,” says Sean McGarvey, President of North America’s Building Trades Unions. “It’s time to bring the same mindset, resources, and innovation to the issue of mental health and suicide prevention.”
Mental health still has its stigmas, and some workers won’t report problems because they believe their coworkers will see them as weak. However, it takes a strong person to admit to that “weakness” and get help. Whether it’s a coworker, friend, family member or an anonymous voice on the phone, please take the help offered.
For additional resources, visit the CDC at blogs.cdc. gov/niosh-science-blog/2020/09/09/suicide-in-construction And call the Suicide and Crisis hotline at 988 if you need help.
Kelly Faloon is a contributing writer to CONTRACTOR and principal of Faloon Editorial Services. The former editor of Plumbing & Mechanical magazine, she has more than 35 years of experience in B2B publishing, with 26 of those years writing about the plumbing, heating, cooling and piping industry. Faloon is a journalism graduate of Michigan State University. You can reach her at kelly@ falooneditorialservices.com.
Around 15% of all construction workers in the United States have a substance abuse disorder compared to 8.6% of the general population of adults, according to data from the National Survey on Drug Use conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration.
by Patrick Linhardt
HYDRONICS MANAGER AT CORKEN STEEL PRODUCTS
CO.
Revamped System with Eccentric — As in ‘Not Normal’ — Flow
Usually I write this column at a computer while eating maybe not so healthy snacks sourced from the warehouse vending machine because it has a better selection than the office vending machine. I also get caught up with the guys at the counter. Be nice to them—they are the true heroes in the industry.
Today however, I’m going old school by writing this column with paper and pen from my chair in the chemotherapy treatment room, where they encourage the consumption of their provided healthy snacks, or anything else you can bring in. I brought an apple, pretzels and pistachios for the three hour hookup to an IV line.
This is the start of my second treatment. In retrospect, the initial treatment wasn’t too bad. I don’t want to appear to be complaining or whining about this. It didn’t come close to my dad’s baseline for bad, which was sleeping in a foxhole in northern France during the winter of 1944. Like many of the Greatest Generation, he never provided any details, but one can imagine.
Inspecting the Collections
A few weeks ago, one of my regular customers and sometimes golf partner called to ask me to meet him at a steam job in one of the oldest neighborhoods in town. The older the system, the better I like it. He said I might find it interesting, since the homeowner was a big collector. The boiler was leaking and inoperable, so we met the next day.
We entered though the basement door and I was pleased to notice that all the piping was exposed, but concerned that none of it was insulated. We walked over to the boiler to check the size, which seemed big for a residence. To compare the boiler output to the installed radiation, we decided to go find all them all. In this instance, I was going to use the net output of the boiler instead of the gross output because it factors in the loss caused by all of the un-insulated piping.
Called in to consult on a new boiler in an older steam system, the author finds a prime example of a rare eccentric reducer.
Bare metal in the basement equals radiation load.
Upstairs turned out to be very interesting indeed. The bachelor that had lived there for 40 plus years was an organized collector of Lionel trains, toy cars and trucks, Plasticville buildings, and numerous other things I can’t remember. It was just like being an episode of American Pickers. All the rooms, other than the few he lived in, were filled with his various collections.
Not hoarder-style, but so you could easily walk around and see every item. He led us through all three stories. The collections were distracting (with a few vintage photos in his library quite distracting indeed). The house was much larger than I realized. When I added it up, the rating of the existing boiler was fairly close to the net rating of the existing boiler.
An Eccentric Development
I quoted a new boiler and lead time later that afternoon. Turned out the home-
owner was tired of a cold house and didn’t want to wait for my brand of boiler to come in. The contractor found a different brand in stock at a rival distributor. When this happens, I assure the contractor that it won’t hurt our relationship if he uses another source and I will still be glad to help in any way.
The above photo was taken on the third return visit. Previously I was called in to lay out the piping, answer a wiring concern and determine the height of the low water cut-off. This day, I was there to consult with the service tech regarding erratic operation.
I was taking a second look at the system piping when I noticed this excellent example of an eccentric reducer. Since they are only used in steam systems when necessary, you don’t run across them very often. This is one of the two steam mains feeding steam to one pipe radiators. The two tees feed steam up to the radiators. The steam, air, and condensate move from right to left.
In the world of steam, this is called parallel flow. When the steam/air and condensate flow in opposite directions, it is called counter flow. At this system, the installing contractor has the steam mains as parallel flow, with the main high at the boiler and lower at the end to maintain good pitch for condensate to flow along the bottom while the air and steam flow along in the upper portion of the pipe. A larger pipe size would have been used for counter flow.
The piping to the one pipe radiators is always counter flow. Steam and air move up from the main to the radiator valve. The steam pushes the air out through the radiator vent and condenses to water as it heats up the radiator. That water has to pass back through the radiator valve and piping back to the main, where it joins in with the flow from the other radiators.
If the pipe reduction in the main was done with a concentric reducer, water would puddle up in the bottom of the pipe to the level of the bottom of the reduced pipe size, or about ¼” to ½”. With the use of the eccentric or offset fitting, condensate flows along the bottom of the pipe to the end of the main without any puddling caused by pipe fittings. He kept the flow nice and smooth.
Any puddle in the steam main will cause water hammer at the beginning of the steam cycle as the steam moving through the main picks up the condensate in the puddle to slam it into the next change of direction in the piping and make that load noise that people complain about. Well, most people will complain, but I’ve had a few eccentric people that like it.
Patrick Linhardt is a forty-year veteran of the wholesale side of the hydronic industry who has been designing and troubleshooting steam and hot water heating systems, pumps and controls on an almost daily basis. An educator and author, he is currently Hydronic Manager at the Corken Steel Products Co.
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Hydronics & R adiant
Geothermal Rescue — Owner Plagued by Intermittent, Inconsistent Operation
Confused heat pumps, angry electricians, faulty control boards—can Nelson Mechanical find a solution?
IBy BRIAN NELSON, SPECIAL TO CONTRACTOR
seem to run into two types of system rescue projects. We’ll call them “fun” and “layered.”
The “fun” rescues involve the careful study of what isn’t working in a system, developing and implementing an insightful solution, and seeing a dramatic improvement in performance and comfort. It is fun to identify the culprit or bottleneck that is hindering successful operation and then doing the necessary work (like re-piping, re-configuring, re-controlling, and swapping out of equipment) to get robust and reliable performance.
The “layered” rescues, such as the one I’m about to describe, involve peeling back layer after layer of issues and frustration and hearsay and homeowner perception to ultimately get to the multiple causes—small though they may be—that have resulted in a poorly performing system. These layered rescues are often defined by intermittency–things work and then they don’t and then they do.
The dynamic interaction between equipment and these small causes can be challenging to analyze and very confusing for the homeowner and the contractor.
The only way forward in these situations is careful documentation across all of the equipment, carefully noting all homeowner perceptions (these can be completely contradictory but end up making sense in the end once the dynamic interactions between equipment and the house are understood) and a step-by-step elimination of variables and sources of intermittency. The homeowner’s impulse to rip everything out and start over has to be managed calmly so that good equipment that is correctly sized doesn’t get unnecessarily tossed out and replaced.
Geothermal Systems Should Be Rock Solid
This HVAC system had multiple horizontal closed geothermal loops connected to four water-to-air heat pumps by two
pressure sensing circulators and motorized ball valves. Two of the heat pumps were split systems with separate air and compressor sections. Each heat pump had its own internet-capable thermostat. Systems like this are installed across the globe on a daily basis and are rock solid in their performance and longevity. The homeowner wanted a reliable, long lasting system, so they went with geother-
mal. Unfortunately in this installation, they got frustration and intermittent operation. The homeowner’s experience was that the system was not consistent—it never seemed to reach the heating or cooling setpoints, the house was always too hot or too cold. They wanted to blame the geothermal concept or the equipment sizing or the installation, but we knew that there must be other issues lurking to
cause the intermittent operation plaguing this system.
Was It Correctly Sized?
Our first task was to understand how the homeowner used the home and what his expectations were in terms of heating and cooling setpoints. Did the equipment size meet the Manual J heating and cooling loads? Was the ductwork adequate to connect the heat pump coils with the air flow into the living spaces? Did the architect sabotage success by changing floor register sizes or design to severely alter air flow and heating and cooling capacity? Were the two pressure sensing circulators and connecting piping adequate for the flow needed for all of the heat pumps?
Our initial study showed that the four heat pumps were more than adequate for their heating and cooling loads and that the geo field was large enough and balanced (between heating and cooling inputs) for years of continuous operation. Nothing jumped out as an obvious bottleneck or culprit. What could cause a well designed and installed system like this to fail so miserably in delivering reliable heating and cooling?
Many Variables in Play
Our next task was to study the system—now that we understood that the system sizing and infrastructure were more than adequate, we could dig into the various reports of intermittent operation and identify how and where they happened. Because many variables are in play at once, intermittent operation can be challenging to resolve. Additionally, the unforeseen and unintended interaction of the small issues often results in the poor performance the homeowner was complaining about.
It took a while, but we gradually came to realize that there were issues with control signals getting from the four thermostats to the four heat pumps, that there were issues within each of the heat pumps, and that there were issues depending on
Actuators were slow opening with spring return.
Two air handlers connected via line sets to compressor sections.
A defective refrigerant pressure switch leading to false low pressure faults.
how and when each heat pump turned on. Now we could resolve each of these issues and ideally remove the intermittent operation of the HVAC system.
Damaged Wires from an Angry Electrician!
The homeowner had complained that different heat pumps were sometimes not turning on and some rooms got too hot during cooling season and too cold during heating operation. Additionally, it appeared that the humidifiers were not working correctly and humidity levels were too low in the winter.
We started testing thermostat operation and realized that our call for heating or cooling wasn’t always getting through to the heat pumps. While examining the control wiring, we realized that some sections of the control wiring had wire staples smashed flush with the side of the wooden joists! The electrician had sunk those wire staples with a vengeance—it must have been one angry electrician!
We noted fluctuating and low voltages on various control wires—for example, the reversing valve wires at several heat pumps were getting 24 volts, then 0 volts, then 12 volts. No wonder the heat pumps got completely confused and ended up faulting out because they kept getting intermittent calls for heating and cooling modes. To the homeowner this manifested as no heating and cooling and led to his perception that the entire system was flawed. To us, we realized that the angry electrician should have taken the day off (or left the jobsite) instead of smashing wire staples which led to compromising so many conductors.
Testing a Theory
Once we understood this control wire situation, we ran temporary wires from thermostats to heat pumps to test our theory. Suddenly mode issues disappeared and heat pumps stayed on until the heat or cool call was satisfied. That was huge progress and gave the homeowner confidence that we knew what we were doing. Ultimately, the homeowner opted to not smash open the walls to replace controls wires; we noted that each thermostat location had a spare wire and we were able to steal enough conductors from spare wires to get heating and cooling to work at all four heat pumps. Unfortunately we didn’t have enough conductors to get humidification signals to work in two zones.
Heat Pump Issues
While we were working on the control wire issue, we started to look at the issues inside each of the heat pumps. Geother-
mal water-to-air units are great for plumbers as they have factory sealed refrigerant circuits—just hook up the water and power and you had heating and cooling. This also lent clarity to any issues on the refrigerant side; if there were any issues it was from the factory, not from guys in the field doing a bad or inadequate refrigerant installation.
We noted quite a few issues with these four heat pumps. There seemed to be a mix of low and high pressure error codes, low flow error codes, and a lack of heating and cooling capacity.
For the heat pumps with refrigerant pressure error codes, we confirmed that they had adequate water and air flow. Once we had confirmed this we could move to our next suspicions. Inadequate factory charge? Defective pressure switches? Leaking coils or refrigerant piping?
Heat Pump Leaks and Low Charge Issues
Though we didn’t want to (because they were factory sealed units), we put our gauges on the heat pumps so we could dive into the refrigerant side. Three of the four heat pumps had low pressure. We pulled the refrigerant charges and noted that they were low. Ultimately we found some refrigerant leaks between the separate blower and compressor sections and at one coil. We replaced the coil and corrected the refrigerant connections and recharged to factory charge.
We thought we were in the clear but we still got low and high pressure error codes! Our next step was to replace all four low pressure switches and two high pressure switches. This resolved the pressure fault codes with two of the heat pumps but we had to also replace
control boards in the other two heat pumps. This resolved the pressure fault codes and the four heat pumps operated within correct refrigerant temperature and pressure parameters.
We did experience one heat pump that worked well in heating but crapped out in cooling. It seemed like a floating obstruction in the refrigerant circuit. Replacement of the TXV in that heat pump resolved that issue.
Dynamic Issues – How Well Did the Heat Pumps Play With Each Other?
Now that we had resolved the local issues within each heat pump and could get any one of the four units to correctly heat or cool based on the call from its thermostat, we could move to how the entire system operated as a whole.
By studying the dynamic interactions between the heat pumps we could better understand when and where heat pump issues cropped up.We noted that these heat pumps had flow switches. Typically we see geothermal heat pumps using temperature sensors to detect low or no flow through the heat exchanger. Most heat pumps have some sort of “grace period” to let flow stabilize before the heat pump will go into fault on pressure or temperature. We looked back at our notes and saw that a lot of the faults were flow switch related. This was curious, as our testing of the pressure sensing circulators showed that they were able to provide adequate flow for all of the heat pumps running at once.
During our testing of the start up of various combinations of heat pumps, we realized that we were seeing the unforeseen dynamic interaction of the pressure
sensing circulator, each heat pump’s slow opening motorized valve, and each heat pump’s flow switch.
Because the pressure sensing pump only ramped up pressure when it saw pressure dropping—due to the motorized valve opening—it didn’t ramp up flow enough to satisfy the flow switch of the heat pump that was calling for geothermal water. The control board of the heat pump would see that as a low flow condition and make the heat pump go into fault and stop operation.
This situation only occurred during certain combinations of heat pumps. If enough heat pumps were running, then the pressure sensing circulator would already be ramped up and one heat pump could turn off and another heat pump could turn on without tripping their flow switches.
Jumped Out Flow Switches Prove Our Hypothesis
It was easy enough to jump out the flow switches and prove that the pressure sensing circulator, the four motorized valves, and the four heat pumps could all work nicely together. Once the flow switches were jumped out, heating and cooling worked as desired and the homeowner was happy with his system. We didn’t want to leave the heat pumps unprotected from a true low-flow situation, so we installed time delays on the flow switches at each heat pump. This was our way of giving each heat pump a “grace period” to give them a chance to run without faulting out so quickly as their geothermal water flow was ramping up.
Successful but Exhausting.
This rescue was exhausting as we had to convince the homeowner that the geothermal concept itself was sound, the system design and sizing were sound, and that the system could ultimately keep him comfortable in heating and cooling. But in the end, the homeowner was happy, they didn’t waste money on ripping out a perfectly good system, and we had completed another geothermal rescue.
Brian Nelson is the co-owner of Nelson Mechanical Design, a “green” mechanical contractor serving the energy efficiency and home comfort needs of Martha’s Vineyard, MA since 2004. The company designs, installs, and services just about anything to do with heating, cooling, domestic hot water, water treatment, geothermal, heat pumps, and radiant. NMD is committed to preserving the fabric of the Island it calls home. To learn more visit nmdgreen.com
A leaking coil causing the condensate sensor to trip.
Delay timer test to reduce flow switch faults.
Rheem® Celebrates a Century of Excellence, Partnership and Possibilities
Rheem’s rich history dates back to 1925 when the Rheem brothers—Richard and Donald—founded the company.
ATLANTA, GA —/PRNewswire/—
Rheem®, a leading manufacturer and household name in the water heating and HVAC/R industry, kicked off the New Year with the launch of its 100th anniversary celebration—a major milestone reflecting a century of excellence, innovation, and ingenuity. Rheem attributes its legacy of success to the company’s nearly 14,000 dedicated employees, its unwavering commitment to customers and industry partners, and an entrepreneurial drive that has made the company a global leader in the marketplace. Events to honor the centennial will run through 2025. “As we celebrate Rheem’s 100th anniversary, we reflect on the incredible journey that has brought us to this moment—a journey fueled by innovation, dedication, and the strong relationships we’ve built with our customers, partners, and
employees. From the early aspirations of our founders through our evolution as a global leader in sustainable water heating and HVAC/R solutions, Rheem’s success is a direct result of the values that have guided us for nearly a century,” said Chris Peel, CEO, Rheem. “As we look to the future, we are excited about
the contributions we will make to help shape the next 100 years of progress in our industry to build on Rheem’s legacy.” Rheem’s rich history dates back to 1925 when the Rheem brothers—Richard and Donald—founded the company in California to manufacture steel drums, barrels and other metal products in a
Bradford White Showcases Growing Portfolio at AHR Expo
Trusted manufacturer will highlight six businesses including newest acquisitions.
AMBLER, PA — Bradford White Corporation, an industry-leading manufacturer of water heaters, boilers and storage tanks, will unite its growing portfolio of companies in one booth at AHR Expo 2025, the premier education and networking conference for the HVACR industry. The event will be held Feb. 10-12 in Orlando.
Product and technical experts from Bradford White Water Heaters, Laars Heating Systems, Niles Steel Tank, Electro Industries, Heat-flo and FloLogic will be available at Booth 1343 to meet with attendees and host live presentations. FloLogic representatives will also offer a live demonstration of the company’s
smart plumbing leak detection system.
“AHR is one of the biggest events of the year, and we’re thrilled to be bringing them together as one family to showcase the strength and breadth of our offerings,” said Neal Heyman, Senior Director of Marketing for Bradford White. “Each business is an integral part of Bradford White Corporation, and together they allow us to meet the diverse and growing needs of our customers.”
In July 2024, Bradford White Corporation announced two key acquisitions:
• Heat-flo, a leader in stainless steel indirect water-heating and hydronic storage tanks
• FloLogic, a manufacturer of pre-
mium leak detection and automatic shut off solutions for homes and light commercial applications
Earlier that same year, the company announced the acquisition of Electro Industries, Inc., a manufacturer of electric boilers, air-to-water heat pump technology, electric duct heaters and controls.
“2024 was a year of amazing growth for Bradford White Corporation,” said Bruce Carnevale, President and CEO of Bradford White Corporation. “We already had strong showings in Laars Heating Systems and Niles Steel Tank, but with our new acquisitions, we expanded our portfolio to offer additional product solutions for our customers and reinforced our commit-
plant that became renowned for its cutting-edge technology. One innovation led to the next until the company became synonymous in the industry with breakthrough solutions and technological advancement. Now, one hundred years later, the company is known for being at the forefront of heating, cooling and water heating solutions. Rheem has planned celebrations around the globe to commemorate its centennial with milestone events such as the sealing of a historic time capsule filled with memorabilia that is slated to be opened in 2050. Rheem’s newly launched anniversary microsite Rheem.com/100 will capture Rheem’s 100 years of innovation. Visitors will be able to glean insight into Rheem’s history by way of vintage advertising, videos, and a showcase of past and current product innovations. For additional information visit www.rheem.com.
ment to providing the best products and services in the industry. We’re proud to be able to feature them together at AHR.”
For more information about Bradford White Corporation, visit www.bradfordwhitecorporation.com.
by Patti Feldman
Details, Data, and Communications
Simpro (www.simprogroup. com, 855/338-6041) is field service management software for trade businesses. It offers workforce and business management solutions to help drive efficiency and growth.
Designed to assist contractors in job quoting and lead management, scheduling, inventory tracking, invoicing, and reporting, it also features Stock & Catalogue Barcode Scanners for in-app QR code and barcode scanning of stock and catalog items, eliminating need for manual entry enabling tracking movement of items.
The integrated SimPro Mobile supports a centralized data management system enabling field staff to access designated jobs, site history, customer details, job notes, video and photo attachments and other information related to completing a job, with that information communicated to the office in real-time.
Reviews of Simpro field service software, GoCanvas data collection solution, FinishLine app, with updates for Knowify and STACK.
communicate with team members about project details. Once all the information is inputted in the field, reports can be shared quickly with the responsible parties, helping ensure everyone is on the same page. Pricing: monthly fee.
Knowify
Knowify (www.knowify.com), construction management software for trade contractors (covered in December 2021 column) has recently made available several updates, incorporated in all plans. These include enabling creating and sending AIA G702 and G703 forms in PDF format, including (for a small fee) the official AIA logo; the ability to use filters on most columns of a report and apply multiple filters simultaneously; and the ability to accept payments for invoices using QuickBooks Payments.
The solution supports tracing labor costs by recording billable and non-billable hours worked and comparing scheduled vs. actual.
Users can create multiple quotes with standard service fee, discounts, and add-on pricing. Quotes can include images and manuals to support the sales process. Once a quote is approved, it converts to a job. After a job is complete, field team members can email generate an invoice and accept and process payment on the spot (through available integrations such as Simpro Payments powered by Stripe, a global processing platform with payment methods including debit and credit cards and bank transfers).
Team members can each job clock in/ out and pause work or add travel time. They can also send invoices to customers and get paid.
Simpro integrates with several accounting packages, including QuickBooks and Xero, and accommodates add-ons.
Pricing: varies.
GoCanvas
GoCanvas (www.gocanvas.com) cloudbased software is designed to automate collection of data on mobile devices
and PCs, reducing manual input and increasing workflow efficiency. It features thousands of pre-formatted templates (through the integrated PDF Designer) including those for foreman, supervisor, inspector, service operator, invoice, waiver, clock-in/clock out, new leadmobile form, preventive maintenance form, weekly installation appointment schedule, field service repair order, daily job report, Job Scope and Safety Check Report, and field service engineer, as well as the ability to create custom forms to fit your company’s exact business needs. The real time dashboard shows daily work order, delineated by technician(s).
The solution, available in Pro and Max plans, supports photo capture with annotation and the Max adding video capture with annotation. It also features If/Then Logic (a feature that allows the user to conditionally display or hide specific fields or screens in a form based on the value selected in a previous screen, i.e. only displaying content relevant to the task at hand), automated reminders, digital work order and invoices. The solution integrates with 1000+ software apps, including SalesForce, Sage, Google
Calendar, Dropbox, GoogleDrive, Google Sheets, Survey Money, and Xero. Both plans allow unlimited forms, the ability to collect and track signatures, and offline access, while the Max plan (suitable for companies with advanced needs and custom requirements) adds web forms and video capture, attachments, and the ability to White Label. Max also includes one free Custom Form Build and dedicated onboarding support and training.
FinishLine (dayonesolutions.io) is a cloud-based, real-time app, available on PCs, iOS, Android and Surface, that is designed to provide an efficient and collaborative method for managing inspections.
Functioning as a sort of “rolling punchlist” to be used during inspections throughout a project’s lifecycle, the solution enables quick and easy entering of items on the touchscreen of the user’s device, providing a proactive way to
STACK Construction Technologies
STACK Construction Technologies (www.stackct.com, 866/7026078), the developer of STACKCt cloud-based construction management software for subcontractors (reviewed in the November 2019 Technology column) that is designed to enable fast and accurate take-off and estimating and to serve as a centralized hub for storing, viewing and sharing plans, specs, and other project documents) recently launched STACK Assist, a new feature within STACK which provides Artificial Intelligence functionality. The upgrade enhancement provides automating takeoff tools that will allow contractors to use measurements specific to the trades they need take advantage of STACK’s built-in AI to perform takeoff and counts automatically, saving time otherwise spent on manual data entry and other repetitive take-off related tasks.
Pricing: per user/per year fee structure; free trial (with limitations) available.
Patti Feldman writes articles and web content for trade magazines and manufacturers of building products. She can be reached at productpad@yahoo.com.
Simpro field service management software
by Matt Michel
5 Times When Your Business Can Celebrate
Most business owners are focused on making sure there’s money left at the end of the month and not month left at the end of the money. In the stress and pressure of business ownership, it can be easy to forget the need to stop and celebrate from time to time.
Celebrations are important for your team. They help build an esprit de corps and reinforce the culture. When business has been especially stressful on the team and the workload has been harder than normal, pausing for a celebration is not only a reward. They help relieve the stress and sharpen the saw. Productivity increases.
Celebrations also provide opportunities for people to build interpersonal relationships. Some celebrations can help the families of employees become more invested in the company. They are also fun. All of these increase employee loyalty and retention.
How you celebrate should be consistent with your company culture. Some plumbing companies are more cake and ice cream oriented while others break out the beer and wine. If yours is the latter, be cautious about limits and liabilities, but remember that you run your company, not the lawyers. Maybe you celebrate at the shop and maybe you take it to a nearby tavern or restaurant with the first round or two on the company.
Companies that make an effort to celebrate, perform better over time. Their workforces tend to be more engaged and loyal. Here are five times you can celebrate.
1. Company Milestones
When the company attains major milestones, stop and recognize them. These could be sales achievements, such as the first million dollar year or million dollar month. They could be based on the number of service calls, customers, water heaters replaced, company workdays without an accident, or any other metric that is meaningful to your company.
2. Anniversaries
Two types of anniversaries merit recognition and celebration. The first is
Companies that make an effort to celebrate, perform better over time— their workforces tend to be more engaged and loyal.
company anniversaries. Every year in business is a reason to celebrate and major anniversaries occur every five years. Break out the champagne and toast your success.
The second type of anniversary is employee anniversaries with the company. When someone hits the five- or ten-year mark, do something special for the employee. Not only does this make the employee feel good, but it’s a strong message to the rest of the team that your company is a place to build a career.
3. Life Events
When employees experience major life events you have an opportunity to recognize them, celebrate them, and involve their families. These include wedding showers, baby showers, and birthdays. They can also include promotion announcements.
4. Stress Relief
As a business leader, you should know the pulse of your team. There will be times when the stress builds and needs to be let off. Call a happy hour, special lunch, or
other way of letting the pressure off that’s consistent with your company culture.
5. Holidays
Holidays are great times for celebration and they occur every month. Some are obvious like Thanksgiving and Christmas. Some may not be your thing, such as Halloween, but your team might be into it and want to dress up and decorate the office. Let them.
Don’t forget the plumbing specific days, such as World Plumbing Day on March 11, Hug a Plumber Day on April 25, World Toilet Day on November 19, and other dates.
Need help with sales promotions around your celebrations? Check out the wide variety of collateral at www.ServiceRoundtable.com. Also, for inspiration and practical ideas to as a plumbing company business leader, pick up a copy of Matt Michel’s book, “Contractor Stories” at Amazon.
Building Your Plumbing Business Brand
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These case studies get into the technical details of specific applications including system design, tools, equipment, problem solving and much more. For
by ELLIE GABEL FREELANCE WRITER & EDITOR
Retrofitting Older Buildings with Modern Plumbing Systems
Retrofitting older buildings with modern plumbing systems is a complex but essential endeavor to ensure functionality, compliance with current codes and sustainable performance. Historical buildings often come with aging infrastructure that fails to meet the demands of modern water usage, energy efficiency standards and health safety regulations.
Successfully upgrading these systems requires careful planning, adherence to evolving codes and strategic implementation of advanced technologies.
Structural Constraints
Due to their original construction materials, layouts and design intents, older buildings present unique challenges. For instance, retrofitting structures built with lead or galvanized steel pipes necessitates complete system replacement to meet health and safety standards outlined by organizations like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Additionally, these buildings often lack adequate space for modern plumbing configurations, demanding innovative design solutions like manifold systems or vertical stack plumbing to optimize efficiency without significant structural alterations.
Codes and Standards
Plumbing retrofits must comply with current codes such as the International Plumbing Code (IPC) and the National Standard Plumbing Code (NSPC). These codes include guidelines on water efficiency, material standards and system safety.
The latest NSPC revisions incorporate provisions for efficient water use and address the risks of Legionella growth by including standards for temperature control and system design. Staying current with codes ensures the retrofit aligns with functional and regulatory expectations.
Pressure Regulation
Pressure regulation is a critical consideration in retrofitting older buildings. Many historical plumbing systems cannot handle the improved water pressure that comes with modern systems. Excessive pressure can cause leaks, pipe bursts
Successfully upgrading these systems requires careful planning, adherence to evolving codes and strategic implementation of advanced technologies.
or premature wear on fixtures. Installing pressure-reducing valves (PRVs) can help mitigate these risks.
Water Conservation
Water conservation is a primary focus of modern plumbing systems. Retrofitting efforts can leverage low-flow fixtures, dual-flush toilets and advanced flow restrictors to reduce water consumption.
Building owners may also benefit from implementing the Water Demand Calculator, now part of the NSPC, to size plumbing systems accurately and avoid over-specification, which can lead to inefficiency and increased costs. Greywater recycling and rainwater harvesting can further enhance sustainability in retrofits.
Drainage Challenges
Older buildings often have insufficient or poorly designed drainage systems, leading to recurring blockages and slow water flow. Retrofitting provides an opportunity to replace undersized drainpipes or
introduce innovations such as dual-purpose storm and sanitary sewer systems. Where trenching is impractical, pipe-bursting or cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) technologies can modernize drainage lines with minimal structural disruption. These methods are particularly effective in urban retrofits, where preserving existing landscapes or pavements is critical.
Prioritizing Energy Efficiency
Hot water systems in older buildings are often outdated and inefficient, resulting in high energy consumption. Retrofitting these systems with tankless water heaters, modulating-condensing boilers, heat pump water heaters or solar thermal systems can significantly reduce energy costs.
These upgrades should consider pipe insulation and recirculation systems to minimize heat loss and water waste. Energy modeling tools can assist in predicting performance outcomes and optimizing system design during the planning phase.
Ensuring Boiler Efficiency
When retrofitting older buildings, addressing boiler efficiency is essential for hydronic heating systems and industrial applications. Scale buildup and corrosion are two major threats to boiler performance. Even minimal scale deposits—less than 1/8 inch—can reduce boiler efficiency by 15%, significantly increasing energy costs and operational stress.
Mitigating these issues involves proactive chemical treatments. Scale inhibitors—such as polymers and phosphates— prevent mineral deposits by neutralizing hardness, allowing solid particles to be flushed before they adhere.
Meanwhile, oxygen scavengers like sulfites or tannins reduce corrosion by eliminating dissolved oxygen, which reacts with the boiler’s metal surfaces to form rust. These measures enhance energy efficiency and extend the operating life of boilers, making them a critical consideration in any retrofitting plan.
Minimizing Health Risks
Health risks associated with older plumbing systems—such as lead contamination and bacterial growth—must be addressed during retrofits. Replacing lead pipes and fixtures—as required by the Safe Drinking Water Act—is a baseline measure.
Additionally, retrofitting plans should consider the risks of Legionella bacteria, particularly in hot water systems. Advanced water treatment methods, such as ultraviolet (UV) disinfection or copper-silver ionization, can be integrated to reduce microbial risks. Proper system flushing and monitoring post-installation are essential for maintaining longterm water quality and user safety.
Accessibility and Maintenance
Older plumbing systems are notorious for inaccessibility, making maintenance challenging. Retrofitting offers an opportunity to reroute or reorganize plumbing lines to facilitate easier access for repairs and upgrades. Transitioning to materials like PEX or copper improves durability and reduces maintenance requirements.
by CHRIS BUTTENHAM CO-FOUNDER, REINS
Incentives to Attract, Retain Gen Z
For Gen Z, the cost of attaining a college degree no longer has the prestige or return on investment that it once held for the generations who came before them.
In some circles, the generation born between 1996 and 2010 is becoming known as the “Toolbelt Generation,” as more young people opt for less expensive trade schools that offer a greater ROI in less time, higher placement rates and tremendous job security.
Simultaneously, however, this group of young workers also presents a challenge for small contractors to recruit and retain as employees. In a 2023 survey by ResumeLab, 83% of Gen Z workers said they consider themselves job hoppers, which means to keep them happy and on the payroll, employers have to get creative.
And, while large companies have a collection of options at their disposal to entice these workers to apply for posted positions, this isn’t always true of smaller companies. This includes the smaller home service companies looking to hire plumbers.
As Gen Z acknowledges a preference for long-term gain, many perks, like unlimited paid time off (PTO) or free lunches, are too superficial to attract the most talented workers. This means that independently owned businesses need to be more creative in offering incentives that mirror the options their larger competitors are able to provide.
Stake in the Company
While larger, publicly traded organizations can provide compensation in the form of stock options, this incentive isn’t available to small businesses.
But thanks to some creative ingenuity, privately held companies can offer their employees a stake in the business’s future success, and there are two ways to share this equity with a team: phantom stock and profit sharing.
Phantom stock is a benefit that gives employees the benefit of stock ownership without transferring any actual stock. Phantom stock isn’t traded on the market, but it still offers employees a percentage of a company’s worth. This provides employees with a stake in the company, giving them a sense of ownership that is based on the value of the business.
And, when turnover is low, companies save on training costs. While any good home service company should offer ongoing training to its employees to learn new skills or provide education about new products, businesses will still reduce the time and money they spend recruiting and onboarding. Since it costs nearly $4,700 to hire a new employee, employers can easily see how retention positively impacts their bottom line.
Independently-owned businesses need to be more creative in offering incentives that mirror the options their larger competitors are able to provide.
Used effectively, phantom stock is a way to retain key employees or senior executives based on longevity, becoming more valuable the longer they stay with the company. Company owners can set a deferred compensation payout that is triggered by certain events, such as the employee’s retirement, the sale of the business, or another future event.
Another valuable incentive small businesses can use to attract and retain Gen Z workers is profit sharing.
With this type if bonus, companies distribute a portion of their profits to their critical employees, giving them a share of the company’s financial success. This is usually based on the business’s overall profitability but can also be tied to an individual’s performance.
Offering employees cash in hand on a more frequent basis can be a strong incentive for job seekers to join the company and incentivizes existing employees to stick around.
Sense of Ownership
When employees feel as though they have a stake in the company, they often feel recognized and more invested in its success.
But there are other reasons why offering phantom stock or profit-sharing leads
to higher employee retention rates and a greater sense of loyalty. These include:
The alignment of goals: Owning a stake in the company aligns the employee’s personal success with the company’s vision. When employees are accountable for outcomes, they feel their efforts are more valued.
A sense of belonging: Employees with a stake in the company take a greater sense of pride in their work and feel more committed to the company’s culture.
Greater personal investment: Because of their stake in the company, employees understand their future compensation is tied to the success of the business. This generally makes them work harder to improve the company’s financial performance.
Reducing Turnover and Training Costs
Providing this sense of ownership also helps small businesses retain their employees. Not only do profit-sharing and phantom stock incentives make key employees feel more vested in the company, it also allows employers to set deferred payments that further incentivize employees to stay on for the long term.
Additionally, a stable workforce means that a company has a deeper knowledge base. Employees who have worked at a company for several years have more time to gain an in-depth understanding of company procedures and the skills needed to work their positions more effectively.
Employee Equity Programs
In the past, only larger companies could offer such interests in their companies as part of an overall employee equity plan because their companies are traded on Wall Street. But with the availability of improved compensation plans available to smaller companies, the ability for independently owned home service businesses to build an employee equity program if a very real prospect.
Because stock incentives are more than just a paycheck, they can become as integral a part of a competitive benefits package as providing health insurance and retirement benefits.
Today, small business contractors have the unique opportunities to create the same compelling employee equity programs the “big dogs” in the industry can offer to cultivate the loyalty and longevity necessary to grow a business.
In an era of labor shortages and job hopping, contractors shouldn’t be afraid to think outside of the box to keep talented employees, reduce recruiting and training costs, and ensure key talent stays with the company long term to make a business more successful. Building a competitive employee retention program with innovative compensation packages should be a part of that strategy.
Chris Buttenham is co-founder of Reins, a pioneering technology firm founded in 2023 dedicated to empowering small businesses through modern equity solutions.
by IDAN SHIPZEAR FOUNDER, 911 RESTORATION
Why Restoration is a Perfect Addition
As natural disasters become more frequent—with 20 confirmed weather and climate disaster events in 2024 causing losses exceeding $1 billion in the US—there is a rising need for plumbing and restoration providers for both residential and commercial property jobs. Restoration and remediation often go hand-in-hand with the plumbing industry in addressing water damage to property. Yet, the entrepreneurial potential of combining these services remains largely untapped by many plumbing contractors and business owners. For those looking to build a “one-stop-shop” home service empire, investing in restoration is a great first step. This strategy not only addresses immediate financial opportunities but also paves the way for long-term success and growth.
Here is a closer look into the benefits that plumbing entrepreneurs can expect when expanding into restoration:
Boost Employee Growth Opportunities and Customer Loyalty
Some of the first questions a plumbing entrepreneur may have when considering the addition of restoration are: What will this mean for my employees and current product inventory? and How much training will be needed for myself and my team? The work itself involves a straightforward transition. Plumbers are already comfortable assessing water damage and implementing solutions for customers, often using similar equipment—with the exception of extraction machines. The biggest learning curve for new owners and employees lies in understanding the science around drying, providing accurate estimates based on the problem and navigating relationships with insurance companies. These are essential steps in the restoration process. Once learned, cross-training employees to offer this new service enhances their skill sets and increases the value they bring to your business.
Any skills-based training can be taught, and cross-training employees will allow for increased revenue potential for both employees and the business in the long term. These benefits are part of the package when choosing franchise ownership over an independent startup—an important consideration for plumbing entrepre-
Here is a closer look into the benefits that plumbing entrepreneurs can expect when expanding into restoration.
neurs who have less time to commit and need a bit of extra support to kickstart their restoration business. By operating with a franchise system, the hands-on training, resources for purchasing new equipment, vehicles and assistance with hiring technicians are all included. This creates a faster, more comprehensive path to startup then independent ventures.
Cross-trained employees and opportunities for promotion from within can also boost employee loyalty, as restoration work increases the number of jobs for plumbers and maximizes their earning potential. Additionally, plumbing entrepreneurs can build stronger customer loyalty and retention as a business committed to extending offerings that provide quality, well-rounded home services.
Maximize Long-Term Revenue Potential
The entrepreneurial life is a busy one, and many business owners hesitate to start a new venture for fear of sacrificing the success of their existing business. However, in the home service industry, there is endless potential for maximizing revenue by offering customers more than one service, making the startup well worth it. Typically intertwined with res-
toration professionals through referrals, plumbing contractors give up hundreds of leads monthly that could be turned into long-term projects, loyal customers and increased revenue. By building a centralized team capable of performing both restoration and plumbing work, entrepreneurs can unlock a new revenue stream while giving employees the opportunity to earn more through an increased amount of jobs.
While pursuing restoration as an individual startup may seem daunting, evaluating franchise opportunities is a solid way to eliminate the biggest challenge plumbing entrepreneurs face when opening a new venture: lack of time. Joining an established franchise system provides the resources, big and small, that new owners need for training, operations support, marketing, lead generation and more. These tools, provided by industry professionals, help owners optimize their new opportunity, leading to increased business stability and value over time. With the people, tools, processes and products that come with joining a restoration franchise, entrepreneurs can reclaim valuable time while maintaining the quality and momentum of their startup process.
As for independent or family-owned plumbing brands, entrepreneurs looking to expand their home service business empire can benefit even further when joining a franchise. The home service industry continues to thrive as a reputation-based business, and creating a cohesive, full-service concept allows plumbing contractors to expand their service offerings, increase market saturation, enhance brand recognition and attract built-in customers already established in the community.
Adding a service like restoration to an existing business helps smooth out the startup kinks that often come with first-time entrepreneurship. Boosting ownership potential through a new venture allows plumbing business owners to further establish themselves within their community as a one-stop-shop for home service needs. This approach not only strengthens their presence but also ensures that, rather than referring restoration jobs to others, they can increase their earning potential by taking on the jobs themselves.
Idan Shpizear is the founder of 911 Restoration, one of the leading restoration franchise brands in the United States and Canada, dedicated to providing customers with the fresh start they deserve after disaster. Specializing in both residential and commercial property damage mitigation, 911 Restoration offers rapid-response services including water damage restoration, mold removal, fire and smoke damage repair, sewage cleanup and more.
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Construction Underperforms Broader Economy in Dec.
➤ Continued from page 3
growth in all three subcategories. Nonresidential specialty trade added the most jobs, increasing by 3,900 positions. Heavy and civil engineering added 600 jobs, while nonresidential building added 200 jobs last month.
The construction unemployment rate rose to 5.2% in December. Unemployment across all industries decreased from 4.2% in November to 4.1% last month.
“The December jobs data bode well for the broader economy but poorly for the construction industry,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “Nationwide employment increased for the 48th consecutive month in December, and it increased rapidly. The 256,000 net new jobs were the most in any month since March, while the unemployment rate ticked down to 4.1%.
“Construction job growth, on the other hand, has clearly slowed in recent months,” said Basu. “The 15,000 jobs added during the fourth quarter of 2024 represent the fewest over any three-month period since the middle of 2021. While industrywide job growth is still significantly faster than economywide hiring over the past year, the interest rate implications of these data represent a greater concern for contractors. Bond yields surged even higher as a result of this jobs report, suggesting that the Federal Reserve may not cut interest rates during the first half of 2025. Contractors intend to increase their staffing levels in the coming months, according to ABC’s Construction Confidence Index, and it will be interesting to see if those intentions remain intact in early 2025.”
Visit abc.org/economics for the Construction Backlog Indicator and Construction Confidence Index, plus analysis of spending, employment, job openings and the Producer Price Index.
Excitement Builds for 2025 KBIS in Las Vegas
12:45 PM - Room No: N252
AI in Kitchen & Bath Design Business Management: Harnessing Innovation
2:15 PM - Room No: N254
Winning Contractor Partnerships: Collaboration for Mutual Profitability
5:00 PM - On-Demand Only
Welcome to the Technaissance: Unraveling the Complex Layers of Kitchen and Bath Trends 2026+
Awards
KBIS honors industry excellence by rewarding brands that push the boundaries of innovation and design. The Best of KBIS program is the spotlight for innovation in the kitchen and bath industry, celebrating the visionaries driving the latest trends and groundbreaking designs. With seven categories, the program showcases the most cutting-edge products that are redefining the
future of design. Best of KBIS Awards Ceremony will be held Wednesday, February 26 fro 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM at the NEXTStage in the South Hall (to be immediately followed by by the Best of KBIS Happy Hour).
This year the best of KBIS Awards ceremony will be hosted by Sarah Shelton, Senior Market Editor, Luxe Interiors + Design. A judging committee, comprised of a panel of design professionals, reviews all product entries before the show and narrows the pool down to approximately 50 finalists. The product finalists will be judged onsite by the judging committee.
This year’s Best in Show finalists include: Brizo® Effe Perfect Wellness EGGER Wood Products JennAir® Kallista Signature Kitchen Suite SMEG Awards will also be presented as part of the DesignBites Competition, to be held Tuesday, February 25 from 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM at NEXTStage in the South Hall. Eleven selected brands introducing new products will give a three-minute product pitch with 3-5 graphic slides to wow the audience and the judges.
DesignBite is an open competition welcoming brands, designers, media, influencers—anybody registered for KBIS. While the judges will decide who will win Brand with the Biggest Bite, the audience will vote for the People’s Pick award.
A shot from the 2024 Best of KBIS Awards presentation.
WHERE FACILITY CHALLENGES FIND SOLUTIONS
CENTRAL VALLEY
March 19-20, 2025
Modesto Centre Plaza
Modesto, CA
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
April 16-17, 2025
Anaheim Convention Center Anaheim, CA
NORTHWEST
May 14-15, 2025
Oregon Convention Center Portland, OR RENO
August 20-21, 2025
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DOL: Registered Apprenticeships Expand Access to Living Wages for Millions
➤ Continued from page 1
participants to afford basic needs in their communities, with union-affiliated programs delivering the biggest gains across all occupational sectors. The research was performed by Economist Frank Manzo IV of the Illinois Economic Policy Institute (ILEPI) and Professor Robert Bruno of the Project for Middle Class Renewal (PMCR) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Registered apprenticeships are training programs in which participants “earn while they learn” and obtain portable, nationally recognized occupational credentials, with tuition costs covered either by employers alone or through joint labor-management organizations negotiated through the collective bargaining process.
The vast majority of registered apprenticeship investment in the US occurs through the joint (union-affiliated) apprenticeship model, which also delivers better wages, completion rates, and workforce diversity metrics. Lasting between one and six years, apprenticeship programs are structured such that participants earn lower wages as they begin their class-based instruction and on-the-job training, with higher hourly incomes as they progress. These graduated wage scales are typically tied to a percentage of the exit wage (or journeyworker rate), which incentivizes employers to hire apprentices who are more affordable on a per-hour basis than fully trained journeyworkers while building long-term careers for workers in industries with high demand.
Methodology
For their report, Manzo and Bruno analyzed data on nearly 2.8 million registered apprentices from the US Department of Labor’s Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Management Data System (RAPIDS) between 2019 and 2022. The data was then compared against three living wage metrics—a $15 per hour wage, an earnings level below which nearly one-third of working Americans fell
Apprentices Earning Living Wages (Three Metrics) by Industry and Program
during this period; the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) Living Wage Calculator, which estimates the employment income that full-time workers must earn per hour to cover costs for basic needs, such as food, childcare, health care, housing, and transportation; and the National Low Income Housing Coalition’s (NLIHC) published standard of the wage needed for workers to afford modest two-bedroom apartments in their communities. “Overall, the data show that from the starting wage to the exit wage, registered apprenticeship programs deliver significant expansions in access to living wages for participants across the country,” Manzo said. “That said, the data also reveals that differences in program structure, industry, location, and labor policy can either mute or amplify the success of these proven workforce development institutions.”
Key Findings
Across all program types, regions, and occupations, the study showed that 76 percent of all apprentices earned starting wages of $15 per hour or more, 56 percent earned living wages based on the MIT Living Wage Calculator, and 35 percent earned starting wages that were enough to afford two-bedroom apartments at fair-market rent in their communities. For those who completed their programs, 95 percent earned wages at or above $15 per hour, 92 percent could cover basic expenses, and 74 percent could afford two-bedroom apartments. However, researchers found that once program type, location, and occupation were considered, important distinctions were revealed. For example, apprentices in joint labor-management programs were significantly more likely to meet living wage thresholds, both from day one and after graduating. This
was especially true in the construction sector, which currently accounts for the majority of registered apprenticeships in the United States and where nearly all completers from joint labor-management programs earned at least $15 per hour (100 percent) and living wages according to the MIT Calculator (98 percent).
“The data makes clear that apprenticeships are a viable pathway to living wage careers, and that partnerships between employers and trade unions are the most effective framework for delivering these outcomes at scale,” said Bruno. “The historic growth of these programs and demand for debt-free career development alternatives argues strongly for policies that can bolster the registered apprenticeship system.”
Joint Labor-Management Programs
While registered apprenticeships boost access to living wages across all industries, the authors noted that union affiliation and state-level labor policy interventions can also have significant effects. To analyze these distinctions, authors used advanced statistical analyses to parse out the impacts of participating in joint labor-management programs, the presence of prevailing wage laws that establish local-market minimum wages and training standards for construction workers on public works projects, and the impact of “right-to-work” laws that erode the resources that unions would otherwise have available—including to collectively bargain with employers over wages and training investments.
“Apprentices in joint labor-management programs and those in states with prevailing wage laws have higher completion rates, earn significantly higher starting and exit wages, are much more likely to earn living wages,” Manzo added. “On the other hand, so-called ‘right-to-work’ laws are correlated with worse completion rates, lower wages, and fewer apprentices earning $15 per hour or achieving other living wage thresholds.”
Retrofitting Older Plumbing System
Continued from page 30
Monitoring and Automation
Integrating Internet of Things (IoT) technologies can enhance the functionality and efficiency of retrofitted plumbing systems. Smart sensors, leak detection devices, and automated shut-off valves provide real-time monitoring and quick responses to issues, reducing water damage risks and system downtime.
Additionally, water quality sensors can ensure compliance with safety standards by monitoring for contaminants and system performance issues.
Future-Proofing
Future-proofing involves designing adaptable systems that can accommodate changes in building use, regulations or technology. For example, integrating modular components allows for easy upgrades or expansions without major disruptions.
Additionally, compliance with emerging standards—such as those in the Water Efficiency and Sanitation Standard (WE•Stand)—ensures retrofitted systems remain relevant as codes evolve. Implementing building information modeling (BIM) during the design phase can help predict future challenges.
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Plumbing retrofits in older buildings often involve significant upfront costs, but the long-term benefits outweigh the investment. Reduced water and energy bills, improved system reliability and enhanced property value are among the key advantages. The EPA highlights that structures implementing energy efficiency technologies into their water systems can reduce consumption by up to 30%.
Additionally, retrofits addressing health risks can reduce liability and enhance tenant satisfaction. Detailed cost-benefit analyses—considering both tangible and intangible returns—are essential to make informed decisions.
A Strategic Approach
Retrofitting older buildings with modern plumbing systems requires balancing historical integrity and contemporary efficiency standards. Strategic planning, compliance with codes and leveraging advanced technologies can transform out-
dated infrastructure into high-performing, sustainable systems.
Collaboration with skilled professionals ensures a seamless integration of modern solutions while addressing the unique
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Streamlining Operations with Effective Database Management
➤ Continued from page 1
Service. Departments are supported with strong internal functions such as Virtual Construction, Manufacturing, HR and Finance, all of which provide construction solutions in a wide range of verticals focused on Education, Pharmaceuticals, and Healthcare in New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania.
To successfully keep pace with increasingly complex projects, Binsky needed to build a well-structured and accurate database to streamline its operations. This effective database management has become a foundational element, enabling the company to be more agile and responsive, giving them a competitive edge in the mechanical contracting industry.
Database Upgrade
As Binsky continued to expand its capabilities, the strain from an outdated database system and limited staff and resources began to hinder their ability to operate efficiently. Seeking a more efficient solution, they partnered with Symetri, a leader in digital design and engineering services, upgraded to Autodesk Revit and began using Naviate Database Administration Services.
Symetri’s involvement began with a comprehensive overhaul of Binsky’s database, including cleaning up the existing library, revamping connector logic issues, and standardizing templates to create a global profile that could be used for future projects.
Staying on Task
The partnership with Symetri had an immediate impact. By taking over the database management, Symetri allowed Binsky’s team of designers and engineers to focus on their core tasks without the constant distraction of database issues. With accurate and consistent data, they were able to focus on design and construction without being bogged down by errors or inconsistencies, leading to higher-quality outputs and smoother project workflows.
“It allowed our team to focus on what they’re good at, and not get pulled away
The strain of an outdated database system and limited resources began to hinder their ability to operate efficiently.
from it,” explained Jason Bayer, Director of Virtual Construction at Binsky.
“The distractions cost a lot more than just time. We need continuity, with our heads in the game and minimal interruption, so we can stay on task to develop the best product we can.”
Symetri also established a baseline of consistency across Binsky’s projects. This standardization ensured that all projects adhere to the same data protocols, which streamlined processes and reduced the time spent on data-related tasks. The introduction of global profiles and standardized templates meant that Binsky’s designers could work more efficiently, knowing that their data was reliable and consistent. Bayer added, “We’re not rebuilding everything from the start. We have baseline templates that remain consistent. For our designers, this means they always know where everything is, down to every gasket and bolt set.”
Trust and Collaboration
As the partnership evolved, trust and collaboration have become fundamen-
tal to its success. The relationship between the two teams is built on open communication and mutual reliability, which allows them to tackle challenges together effectively.
“When we have hurdles, we get over them together by putting our heads together,” said Brian Madden, Database Administrator, at Symetri. “With every single job that Binsky takes on, we have the profile and a process in place for service template creation that just streamlines the entire workflow.”
Improved Project Outcomes
The partnership has had a significant impact on Binsky’s operations and overall success in delivering the best outcomes for its clients. With the established database support, Binsky has been able to execute complex projects with greater accuracy and efficiency. The enhanced database management has led to quicker turnaround times, more accurate modeling, and improved estimation processes. As a result, Binsky has been able to win more jobs and increase their profitability.
Bayer shared a large building project example where his team was challenged with redrawing and building from an existing model while maintaining unique parameter data embedded across over 40,000 parts. “There were thousands of pieces of data that we needed to redraw and deconstruct down to the database level, and then repopulate and maintain with our own fabrication items. We were able to brainstorm how to use our existing fields and develop a workflow to solve this complicated situation, saving time and significant cost.”
Additionally, the focus on prefab construction has been a significant advantage. Binsky’s team can now rely on precise and well-organized database information to support their prefabrication processes. This accuracy ensures that components fit together as intended, reducing errors and improving the overall quality of the finished product.
Madden added: “Binsky’s extensive use of prefabrication, which stems from their database, is impressive. Watching the seamless transition from database to Revit, through coordination, to actual prefab and final installation in the real world is truly incredible.”
Enduring Partnership
The collaboration has resulted in a more efficient and effective database management system, which has, in turn, led to significant improvements in project execution and client satisfaction. Binsky’s team can concentrate on their core competencies, confident in the knowledge that their database management needs are being expertly handled. The success of this partnership is also reflected in Binsky’s enhanced ability to compete in the market. With a more reliable and accurate database, Binsky has been able to deliver higher-quality projects and respond to client needs more effectively. By working closely together, Binsky and Symetri have created a partnership that drives innovation, efficiency, and success.
For more information, visit www.symetri.us and www.binsky.com
Prefabricated piping sections at the job site.
Binsky
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NIBCO, Inc.
WWW.NIBCO.COM/BRANDS/WEBSTONE/FITTINGS
▲ GLM165-27 BLAZE GREEN LASER DISTANCE MEASURE from Bosch can measure up to 165' with an accuracy up to +/- 1/16". The green beam generates a point that’s up to 4x brighter than red beams. The easy-toread display illuminates numbers with distinct resolution for work in lowlight or no-light conditions. Bosch
WWW.BOSCHTOOLS.COM
PROFLEX 7073 CUT-RESISTANT
GLOVES from Ergodyne features ANSI/ ISEA 105-2016 level A7 cut protection and level 6 abrasion resistance for protection when working with incredibly sharp or jagged materials. Durable sandy nitrilecoated palms and thumbs secure handling on rough surfaces. Ergodyne
WWW.ERGODYNE.COM
STAIN-FREE PLUMBER’S PUTTY
from Oatey has been reformulated. Now compatible with ABS plastic pipe, it is the only plumber’s putty that provides a solution for ABS connections. The putty creates a waterproof seal between rigid surfaces, effectively preventing leaks.
Oatey
WWW.OATEY.COM
▲
EVERLAST TRIPLEX PUMP
STATION from Smith & Loveless incorporates a three-pump arrangement that significantly increases its pumping capacity, capable of handling up to 2,600 gallons per minute with a total dynamic head of up to 160'. All pumps are positioned aboveground on a stainless-steel baseplate, eliminating the need for confined space entry for maintenance with ease.
Smith & Loveless
WWW.SMITHANDLOVELESS.COM
▲
GEN-EYE SEWER CAMERAS
from General Pipe Cleaners spot hidden problems, boost profitability and avert needless repairs. Depending on the model—Gen-Eye POD, GenEye X-POD Plus, Gen-Eye USB-P and Gen-Eye Micro-Scope3— “allin-one” tools combine camera, reel, monitor and Gel-Rod video cabling into compact, convenient packages that improve jobsite efficiency. All Wi-Fi-equipped, they are ideal for troubleshooting anything from close-in conduits to 10" drains.
General Pipe Cleaners
WWW.DRAINBRAIN.COM
▲
LEVELSAFE PRO EXTENSION
ACCESSORY from Werner allows the user to simply place a ladder on uneven surfaces and the leveler adjusts to find level. The new innovative system provides precision and convenience, while smoothly and automatically leveling the ladder up to 8.5” without having to pick up the ladder. It installs in half the time of other levelers and requires no cutting of the ladder. The accessory includes two ladder levelers (one per rail), mounting hardware, template and instructions.
Werner
WWW.WERNERCO.COM
HYBRID ELECTRIC HEAT
PUMP WATER HEATER from Noritz consumes up to one-third of the electricity required by a standard residential electric water heater with a resistive element, yet maintains the same level of hot-water delivery. The “hybrid” designation denotes the inclusion of dual 4.5-kilowatt electric elements positioned at the top and bottom of the tank to provide backup water heating or accelerate recovery times when necessary. The new heat pump water heater will make its debut at AHR Expo in Orlando this February. Noritz
NORITZ.COM
APOLLO LD/WD 141 SEATED BUTTERFLY VALVE from Aalberts
Integrated Piping Systems features a body made of ASTM A536 cast ductile iron, and a durable UV-resistant epoxy powder coating that resists a broad range of chemicals. It provides a resilient elastomeric seating and concentric disc design and is rated for working pressures up to 200 pounds per square inch (psi). Aalberts
HTTPS://AALBERTS-IPS.U
▼ A2L-COMPLIANT PRESS
FITTINGS —couplings, elbows, reducers, tees, caps, bushings and SAE flares—provide a more sustainable and environmentally friendly solution to the market. Attaining A2L compliance required the manufacturer to participate in a testing and screening process across multiple third-party testing labs, ensuring that the fittings adhere to industry code requirements.
Rapid Locking System
WWW.RAPIDLOCKINGSYSTEM.COM
▲
AUTOMOTIVE ACCESSORIES
COLLECTION from Channellock and MULTY Rack Systems features adaptable storage and cargo solutions, including truck racks for ladders, bikes, UTVs, kayaks, and more. Available for purchase beginning in mid-February 2025.
Channellock
DURASHOWER from Duravit is offered in single or multi-functional, square or round, Shower faucets and accessories are available to fit a variety of needs, all while providing a sanctuary-like bath experience.
DuraShower complements any aesthetic with its offerings, from soft, fluid designs to modern, clean lines. It is offered in four popular finish choices: Chrome, Brushed Nickel, Matte Black, and Brushed Gold. Duravit
WWW.DURAVIT.US
▲ MATTE BLACK SPECIAL FINISH WATER SUPPLIES from BrassCraft is designed for an on-trend look from the stub-out to the fixture. Available in G2 ½" compression angle and straight water stops, Speedi Plumb PLUS toilet and faucet water connectors, and an escutcheon and cover tube to provide the finishing touch.
BrassCraft
WWW.BRASSCRAFT.COM
EMERGE X AIR SOURCE HEAT PUMP WATER HEATER optimizes heat transfer and minimizes emissions making it both environmentally friendly and costeffective. The unit utilizes a low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerant (R-513A) to help meet sustainability goals and adhere to local regulations. The unit’s variable-speed Electronically Commutated Motor (ECM) operates in tandem with the flow control valve to provide tighter control of the unit, decrease the noise level and promote higher efficiency. The Emerge X HPWH is one of the only heat pump water heaters on the market that operates at high efficiency in below-freezing temperatures due to its innovative reversing defrost cycle.
▲ SANSHANDS FAUCET from Sonoma Forge deftly melds the modern, hygienic convenience of touchless technology with the company’s rustic, artisan-crafted design aesthetic. And it’s even more unique in its operation: It uses electromagnetism rather than visible sensors, a vast improvement over outdated, infrared systems.
Sonoma Forge
WWW.SONOMAFORGE.COM
DISCO-RECTANGLE TILE INSERT
▲
CROSSTOWN STAINLESS
STEEL FARMHOUSE SINK from Zurn Elkay features an interchangeable apron, allowing homeowners to alter the appearance of their kitchen without the time investment.
A. O. Smith WWW.AOSMITH.COM
▲ NEXT-GENERATION
WASHDOWN HEATER from Marley is constructed with stainless steel and corrosion-resistant materials, Marley’s washdown heaters are designed for environments exposed to moisture, chemicals, and frequent cleaning processes, delivering longlasting, reliable performance. Ideal for demanding environments such as wastewater treatment facilities, the Washdown Heater provides durable, efficient heating where harsh atmospheric conditions are common.
Marley
WWW.MARLEYMEP.COM
LINEAR DRAIN from Infinity Drain features soft, rounded corners and is inspired by mid-century modern design. It seamlessly integrates with the surrounding shower or wet room floor for a clean visual. Available in three installation options: fixed length, fixed flange and flange with Schluter-KERDI. Also available in 10 designer finishes crafted to match other fixtures in the bathroom, offering flexible solutions to fit any design.
Infinity Drain
WWW.INFINITYDRAIN.COM
▼ 6100 SERIES POWER REWIND
REELS from Hannay are designed to handle single 3/8"or ½" I.D. hose for water blasting, sewer cleaning and jetting. Features heavy-duty construction and a strong spool to control hose expansion. Hydraulic, air and electric motorized rewinds are available (model shown has air rewind with optional rollers and auxiliary crank rewind). The steel-hub assembly is rated to 5,000 psi. Standard fluid temperatures range from -40° F to 250° F.
Hannay
WWW.HANNAY.COM
Geometric design offers straight sidewalls and a flat bottom for a contemporary look and more usable space; easy to clean. Sound-deadening material minimizes sound and vibration for a quieter time at the sink. Drain placement provides more usable space on the bottom of the sink and in the cabinet below.
Zurn Elkay ZURNELKAY.COM
▲
MUV-1 MANUAL FLUSH VALVES
from MAC Faucets offer universal fit: the valves are designed to retrofit most standard urinals and toilets, making them an easy upgrade for new builds and remodels. These valves are ideal for high-traffic commercial spaces like hotels, offices and public restrooms. MUV-1 flushometers give designers and project owners more control over maintenance and water use compared to sensor-based systems, with fewer disruptions due to sensor malfunctions. More than 22 finishes are available.
MAC Faucets
WWW.MACFAUCETS.COM
by Steve Spaulding
Disaster and the Limits of Design
The images on our screens have been astonishing. The orange glow across Los Angeles as seen from the Griffith Observatory; arial shots of acres of smoldering ruins; lines of parked luxury cars, covered in ash, haloed in sparks; and soot-stained firefighters, their faces masks of exhaustion.
As of this writing, the 2025 California Wildfires which began on January 7th are still burning. According to the Cal Fire website (www.fire.ca.gov) the disaster currently involves 255 different fires that have so far burned 50,683 acres, destroying more than 16,000 structures. Confirmed fatalities number at 28.
The largest and most devastating of these fires, the Pacific Palisades Fire in Los Angeles County—which has burned 23,448 acres—currently stands at 72% containment. Containment, it should be noted, means only that the fire is no longer spreading; within that area of containment a fire can still be burning.
This is a plumbing magazine, and plumbing intersects with so many facets of our day-to-day lives—cooking,
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cleaning, bathing, drinking—but almost nothing brings the absolute necessity of well-designed water systems so clearly into focus as buildings on fire.
And one of the many big stories coming out of the California wildfires has been inadequate water supply to combat the blaze, with firefighters reporting they had
posts/113793724958051185).
But the truth, as reported in our sister publications Water World (which serves the municipal water community) and Stormwater Solutions (which serves the stormwater and erosion control industry) is more complicated.
In an interview with Water World, Dr.
Almost nothing brings the absolute necessity of well-designed water systems so clearly into focus as buildings on fire.
low pressure or even no pressure in certain areas (www.nytimes.com).
We live in a politicized and polarized age, so it was little surprise that President Elect Donald Trump was quick to point the finger at California Governor Gavin Newsom on January 8th in a Truth Social post accusing him of putting environmental concerns over the well-being of Californians in his water management policy (truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/
Mark Gold, Director, Water Scarcity Solutions for the Natural Resources Defense Council, stated that the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, at the time of the crisis, had the most water stored in the reservoir system in the history of the agency. Why? Because the previous two-and-a-half years were some of the wettest on record.
But conversely, the last eight months have been some of the driest on record.
“We’ve had 0.16 inches of rain since May 5 of last year,” Dr. Gold said. “It’s the second driest period from May to January in 150 years in California.”
Then, just as the fires broke out, came the Santa Ana winds, extremely dry katabatic winds that originate inland and affect coastal Southern California, with gusts from 60 to 100 mph and sustained winds in the 30 to 40 mph range.
Those winds not only fanned the flames but made it impossible for air support to get off the ground in the early stages of the disaster. Given how fast the fires spread, and without help from the airtankers, water distribution systems were simply overwhelmed.
In the past few years, I’ve seen the conversation shift from sustainability— designing systems that will limit climate change—to resiliency—designing systems that will instead cope with the effects of climate change. I think, when the time comes to rebuild in California, we will see the results of that conversation manifest in a great deal of the system design and building practices involved.
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