Contractor - May 2024

PLUMBING, HYDRONIC & MECHANICAL SYSTEMS

Book of Giants

National Drinking Water

2024All the Pieces in Place

The nation’s top mechanical contractors face a host of challenges ranging from a lack of skilled labor to economic uncertainty to a complex regulatory environment. But by partnering with their customers, reaching out to their communities, and empowering their employees, 2024 sees all the pieces in place for success. Turn to our full feature starting on pg. 20.

ABC’s Construction Backlog Indicator Rebounds in March

WASHINGTON, DC — Associated Builders and Contractors reported today that its Construction Backlog Indicator increased to 8.2 months in March from 8.1 months in February, according to an ABC member survey conducted March 20 to April 3. The reading is down 0.5 months from March 2023.

LABEL

WASHINGTON, DC — On April 10 the Biden-Harris Administration issued the firstever national, legally enforceable drinking water standard to protect communities from exposure to harmful per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as “forever chemicals.”

Exposure to PFAS has been linked to deadly cancers, impacts to the liver and heart, and immune and developmental damage to infants and children. This final rule represents ➤ Turn to National, page 10

The Gen-Eye Hot-Spot ® pipe locator makes locating easy. Its total field antenna array and on-screen icons lead you right to your target, without the long learning curve.

Whether you’re an experienced pro or a first time user, you can quickly locate inspection cameras, sondes, active power lines and utility lines with pinpoint accuracy.

The Hot Spot is the industry’s most rugged locator. It’s dust and dirt proof, water resistant and never too “delicate” to get the job done.

Call the Drain Brains ® at 800-245-6200, or visit www.drainbrain.com/hotspot

Features & Departments

Applewood Plumbing Helps Build Bathrooms in Nepal with NIVAS

Applewood Plumbing Heating & Electric is having an impact locally and globally through a special partnership with NIVAS, a Colorado nonprofit outfitting rural communities of Nepal with safe and sanitary bathrooms.

NIVAS aims to improve the livelihood of underserved families in Nepal by providing better housing opportunities. Through the sponsorship, Applewood has supported

Turn to Applewood, page 12

Armstrong Celebrates 90th Anniversary

TORONTO, CAN — Armstrong Fluid Technology marked its 90th anniversary this April, celebrating a significant milestone of longevity and innovation in the fluid-flow systems industry. Since its founding in Toronto, Canada, in 1934 by Samuel Allan Armstrong, the company has expanded from the challenges of the Great Depression to become a leader in its field. Today, Armstrong operates eight manufacturing facilities across four continents, showcasing its global reach and commitment to

Watts Water Remembers Life, Legacy of Donald Mullett

NORTH ANDOVER, MA —(BUSINESS WIRE)— Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: WTS) today shares news of the passing of Donald Mullett, former Chief Executive Officer of Bradley Company. Mullett passed away peacefully at his home in Wisconsin on April 8, surrounded by his family.

Robert J. Pagano, Jr. , Watts Water Technologies Chief Executive Officer, President, and

Columnists

EDITORIAL STAFF

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, Susan Lakin

Ad Services Manager, Deanna O’Byrne

Production Manager, Sam Schulenberg

Classified Production Designer, Terry Gann

Audience Development Manager, James Marinaccio

Business Media, LLC CEO, Chris Ferrell

, June Griffin

Industry News

In Brief

The Association for Materials Protection and Performance, in partnership with the European Federation of Corrosion, is launching an innovative global social media campaign, “Corrosion Around the Clock.” By synchronizing LinkedIn posts across every time zone at 08:00 UTC, the campaign aims to unite the global community in recognizing the impact of corrosion on infrastructure and the economy.

The Philadelphia Phillies and NEST, a pioneer of integrated facilities management, are joining forces to launch the Skilled Trades All-Star Program, an initiative aimed at guiding Philadelphia-area youth towards promising careers in the skilled trades. The initiative kicks off with a series of educational events at Citizens Bank Park this season.

The Brazoria County Petrochemical Council (BCPC), along with associate contracting firms, have extended an unparalleled 155 full-time job positions in various skilled trades to more than 100 high school seniors. The employment proposals were solidified during ‘Career Signing Day’ on April 23, 2024. The event took place at the Dow Academic Center of Brazosport College in Clute, TX.

Warren Controls, a leading manufacturer of control valves and specialty fluid handling products, is pleased to announce the addition of Brooks Matelan as a Senior Application Engineer. Brooks brings a very strong technical background to Warren Controls with over 15 years of customer service and technical sales/support experience working for a major electrical/electronic product manufacturer.

Building Controls & Solutions (BCS), a leading distributor of innovative building automation and control solutions and parts, has made a strategic move in the Canadian market. The company has announced the acquisition of Yorkland Controls Limited, a prominent player in the Canadian building controls, combustion controls, and parts industry.

On pg. 46 of the April issue, the Anthem + Digital Showering System from Kohler was incorrectly labeled as the FT Series Residential Floor Boiler. CONTRACTOR regrets the error.

CONTRACTORmag.com

Much Do You Know About Tools?

• ServiceTitan Acquires Convex Sales and Marketing Platform

• Thompson Pump Honored with Two Top Florida Business Awards

Videos & Media Galleries

March 1972

THE ULTIMATE TANKLESS SOLUTION

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.

• Robust stainless steel heat exchanger for longer life

• Residential and Commercial applications (Indoor/Outdoor)

• Cascade and common venting between standard and recirculation models

• ENERGY STAR® certified and Certified Green Product™ by the Green Restaurant Association

District-Wide Boiler Solution in Southwest Ohio

Northern Cincinnati is home to the 18,000-student Lakota Local School District. The school system operates 25 buildings within the area, the vast majority of which are served by boilers.

Years ago, district managers made four decisions that have since paid dividends for their boiler system longevity.

In 1996, Lakota established a dedicated HVAC department to maintain all the heating and cooling equipment owned by the district and oversee replacement work conducted by carefully selected subcontractors. They partnered with a local hydronic equipment manufacturers rep firm that is nearby for quick response and is well versed in handling the challenges common to Southwest Ohio.

Lakota also hired a water treatment subcontractor to oversee all their properties. Finally, they select boiler equipment with field-repairable, easily maintained heat exchangers.

“At Lakota, we are always working to determine what type of energy improvements can be implemented with our Master Facility Plan,” said Craig Hatfield , senior director of business operations. “Many of our 23 schools are older facilities, so we’re continuously working to improve and maintain our mechanical efficiencies,

which includes new installations and updating existing systems.”

HVAC Expertise on Staff

Barry Nuss, who’s been with the district for 27 years, serves as the HVAC department leader. He and the five other HVAC department staff maintain the district’s 45 boilers, not to mention all other heating, cooling and ventilation infrastructure.

“It’s a big task but our crew is solid,” said Nuss. “We handle preventative maintenance, service, troubleshooting, and upkeep of the energy management system and controls.”

Nuss is quick to point out that the Lakota HVAC department relies on assistance from the hydronic professionals at Weber-Huff, a Hamilton, OH-based

The quest for efficiency, redundancy and cost savings in the 18,000-student Lakota School District is a saga stretching back to 1996.

rep firm. The company’s managing partner, John Noyen , helps specify boilers and other hydronic equipment based on the district’s needs.

“Our relationship with Weber-Huff goes back as far as I can remember,” said Nuss. “John is a wealth of information, and Everett St. John and Joe Grove have been out a number of times as needed, providing maintenance and troubleshooting advice.”

In 2011, Trane managed an energy efficiency upgrade for the district that included many of its buildings. Air-side

equipment was added and changed, and more than a dozen boilers were replaced. Three different boiler brands were installed. This was Weber-Huff’s introduction to the school district because they represented Thermal Solutions’ boiler line. Noyen suggested the use of the Evolution boiler, a copper tube, medium-efficiency boiler that offered a field-repairable heat exchanger.

“Seven boilers from that big, original upgrade have since been replaced, but not a single Thermal Solutions boiler

Endeavor elementary is a 78,000 square-foot facility built in 2007 with an enrollment of roughly 725 students.

(Left to Right) Barry Nuss, Lakota’s HVAC department leader, Weber-Huff’s Joe Grove, Lakota HVAC technician Allen Fleenor, and Lakota Senior Director of Business Operations Craig Hatfield.

The HVAC department at Lakota Local School District often installs one new condensing boiler alongside one of the existing boilers, which remains in place for redundancy.

Tony Cornett, one of the district’s HVAC technicians, services an Arctic condensing boiler at Endeavor Elementary.

WOODFORD ACCESSORIES PREVENT PROBLEMS.

Accessories for our bestselling Model 17 and Model 19 residential outdoor faucets can solve the most common installation challenges and prevent problems down the road. Made with the same commitment to absolute quality as all of our products, they’re about the only way to improve a Woodford faucet. Model 19

VANDAL-RESISTANT STEM LOCK SL-17

■ Keyed access prevents water theft

■ Easy to retrofit a Woodford faucet

■ Key operates faucet

OVERSIZED FLANGE RK-OSF

■ Covers large holes, secures loose faucets

■ Fits behind Woodford faucet flange

WALL FAUCET MOUNTING SLEEVE WF-MS

■ Takes guesswork out of how far to stub out Woodford faucets through brick, stone and stucco veneer

■ Provides a better, more secure installation in rock, stone, stucco, etc.

■ Mate the faucet wall flange to the front of the mounting sleeve and secure with two screws (included) Visit our website to see even more problem-preventing accessories.

faucet

ABMA Releases More Details on BOILER 2024

[ Editor’s Note: This release previously appeared on HPAC.com.]

The American Boiler Manufacturers Association (ABMA) has announced its inaugural Women in the Boiler Industry Panel and Networking Luncheon at

BOILER 2024, set for next spring at the Gaylord Rockies outside Denver, CO. Celebrating the growing participation and contributions of women in the industry, this event will provide a platform for several accomplished women

to detail their journeys for attendees. Scheduled for May 1-3, 2024, ABMA’s Boiler Technology Conference & Expo will also include key insights and technical innovations, shared in the following sessions:

• Enhanced SCR Systems to Address Today’s Operational Challenges

• Firetube vs. Watertube – The Right Boiler Type for Your Application

• Practical Applications for Hydrogen Firing in Industrial & Utility Size Boilers

• Installing & Maximizing Ultra Low NOx Boiler Burners – Project Case Studies

• Rental Boiler Market – The Need, The Process, & The Equipment

• A Day in the Life of a Boiler Technician – Immersive Role Play

Bigger, Better

ABMA has expanded the exhibit area by almost 50% and already secured over 85 exhibitors, surpassing BOILER 2022. The Association now expects roughly 100 industry leaders will showcase their innovative products that continue to advance technology in the boiler room.

Keynote

Staff Sgt. Travis Mills (US Army-Ret.) of the 82nd Airborne will kick-off BOILER 2024 as the opening keynote speaker. A “recalibrated” veteran, motivational speaker, actor, author, and advocate for veterans and amputees, Mills is also the Founder and CEO of the Travis Mills Foundation, formed to benefit and assist post-911 veterans who have been injured in service to our nation.

For more information on BOILER 2024 or ABMA’s Annual Meeting in February, visit ABMA.com

Drinking Water Standard Issued to Protect from PFAS

➤ Continued from page 1

the most significant step to protect public health under EPA’s PFAS Strategic Roadmap. The final rule will reduce PFAS exposure for approximately 100 million people, prevent thousands of deaths, and reduce tens of thousands of serious illnesses. Today’s announcement complements the Biden administration’s government-wide action plan to combat PFAS pollution.

EPA is also making unprecedented funding available to help ensure that all people have clean and safe water. In addition to today’s final rule, EPA is announcing nearly $1 billion in newly available funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help states and territories implement PFAS testing and treatment at public water systems and to help owners of private wells address PFAS contamination. This is part of a $9 billion investment through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help communities with drinking water impacted by PFAS and other emerging contaminants—the largest-ever investment in tackling PFAS pollution. An additional $12 billion is available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for general drinking water improvements, including addressing emerging contaminants like PFAS.

The announcement of the final standard was made by EPA Administrator Michael Regan who joined White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Brenda Mallory at an event in Fayetteville, North Carolina. In 2017, area residents learned that the Cape Fear River, the drinking water source for 1 million people in the region, had been heavily contaminated with PFAS pollution from a nearby manufacturing facility. Today’s announcements will help protect communities like Fayetteville from further devastating impacts of PFAS.

“Drinking water contaminated with PFAS has plagued communities across this country for too long,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “That is why President Biden has made tackling PFAS a top priority, investing historic resources to address these harmful chemicals and protect

communities nationwide. Our PFAS Strategic Roadmap marshals the full breadth of EPA’s authority and resources to protect people from these harmful forever chemicals. Today, I am proud to finalize this critical piece of our Roadmap, and in doing so, save thousands of lives and help ensure our children grow up healthier.”

Enforcement

EPA is taking a signature step to protect public health by establishing legally enforceable levels for several

has effectively deployed a granular activated carbon system to remove PFAS regulated by this rule. Drinking water systems will have flexibility to determine the best solution for their community.

EPA will be working closely with state co-regulators in supporting water systems and local officials to implement this rule. In the coming weeks, EPA will host a series of webinars to provide information to the public, communities, and water utilities about the final PFAS drinking water regulation.

Legally enforceable standard to protect communities from harmful per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as ‘forever chemicals.’

PFAS known to occur individually and as mixtures in drinking water. This rule sets limits for five individual PFAS: PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS, and HFPO-DA (also known as “GenX Chemicals”). The rule also sets a limit for mixtures of any two or more of four PFAS: PFNA, PFHxS, PFBS, and “GenX chemicals.”

EPA estimates that between about 6% and 10% of the 66,000 public drinking water systems subject to this rule may have to take action to reduce PFAS to meet these new standards. All public water systems have three years to complete their initial monitoring for these chemicals. They must inform the public of the level of PFAS measured in their drinking water. Where PFAS is found at levels that exceed these standards, systems must implement solutions to reduce PFAS in their drinking water within five years.

Implementation

The new limits in this rule are achievable using a range of available technologies and approaches including granular activated carbon, reverse osmosis, and ion exchange systems. For example, the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority, serving Wilmington, NC— one of the communities most heavily impacted by PFAS contamination—

To learn more about the webinars, please visit EPA’s PFAS drinking water regulation webpage. EPA has also published a toolkit of communications resources to help drinking water systems and community leaders educate the public about PFAS, where they come from, their health risks, how to reduce exposure, and about this rule.

Additionally, EPA has a nationwide Water Technical Assistance program to help small, rural, and disadvantaged communities access federal resources by working directly with water systems to identify challenges like PFAS; develop plans; build technical, managerial, and financial capacity; and apply for water infrastructure funding. To lear more about EPA’s Water Technical Assistance programs visit www.epa. gov/water-infrastructure/water-technicalassistance-programs.

Reactions

“We learned about GenX and other PFAS in our tap water six years ago. I raised my children on this water and watched loved ones suffer from rare or recurrent cancers. No one should ever worry if their tap water will make them sick or give them cancer. I’m grateful the Biden EPA heard our pleas and kept its promise to the American people. We will keep fighting until all exposures to

PFAS end and the chemical companies responsible for business-related human rights abuses are held fully accountable,” said Emily Donovan, co-founder of Clean Cape Fear, a community action group working to restore and protect our air, soil, water and food supply from PFAS contamination.United Association of Union Plumbers and Pipefitters (UA) General President Mark McManus hailed the final rule as an important step forward.

“For generations, the plumber has protected the health of the nation and worked to deliver clean and safe water to our communities. This legally enforceable drinking water standard will ensure that we continue our essential work and remove deadly PFAS contaminants from our water supply,” said McManus. “The Biden Administration is committed to protecting public health and making sure all infants and children can grow up without the deadly scourge of these forever chemicals. At the United Association, our members are incredibly proud of the work we do each and every day to achieve that goal. We look forward to our continued partnership with the EPA and the Biden Administration to deliver a future where clean and safe water, free from PFAS and other contaminants, is the norm.”

Applewood Plumbing Helps Build Bathrooms in Nepal with NIVAS

➤ Continued from page 3

the Nepalese communities by contributing to the construction of clean, sustainable bathrooms.

“We underestimate the importance of a bathroom in a home. Everyone deserves access to a bathroom no matter the circumstance,” said Josh Ward , owner of Applewood Plumbing Heating & Electric. “This is why we are eager to help the families that NIVAS serves to have the luxury that is a bathroom.”

Sanitation and Security

Last year, 12 homes with sanitary bathrooms were built for 53 people consisting primarily of single mothers and children. Providing a safe structure is a key part of these facilities, where women and children can be at risk of harm. Some bathroom rooftops have a dual purpose of providing a high platform to help dry harvested grains, which plays a part in feeding the families as well.

“Having Applewood Plumbing continue to be our plumbing partner put us in a zone of comfort,” said Lindsey Kruger, founder of NIVAS. “We can say yes to the families because we know that because of that partnership we will be able to provide them a sanitary bathroom.”

According to Kruger, a lot of times this is the bathroom for more than just the family. It can become the only

NIVAS is a Colorado nonprofit outfitting rural communities of Nepal with safe and sanitary bathrooms.

bathroom for the neighborhood.

“These are people who very much need a sanitary bathroom for safety and to reduce illness. Together with Applewood Plumbing we can make a big difference in their lives,” Kruger said.

Impacting Communities

NIVAS has been able to have a dramatic impact for the communities where they work. More than 180 people have gained new trade skills, resulting in more than 5,700 days of work with a stable income. The program

NIBCO Names Murphy Dir. of Supply Chain Planning

ELKHART, IN – April 2024 –NIBCO INC. has announced the promotion of Christine Murphy to director of supply chain planning.

In her new role, Murphy will be responsible for supply chain planning, vendor managed inventory demand planning, and material and vendor master data management.

“Christine brings 30-years of knowledge and history of NIBCO to her new position,” said Ashley Martin , president and COO, NIBCO. “NIBCO is excited for Christine to lead the

supply chain planning strategy that is instrumental in the company’s growth and success.”

Murphy joined NIBCO in 1994 as a credit analyst.

During her career at NIBCO, she held several positions including senior corporate accountant, supply chain analyst, supply chain planner, project manager-supply management, data management analyst, and manager of demand planning. She was

promoted to her most recent role of senior manager of demand planning and supply chain data services in March 2019.

Murphy holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from The University of Iowa and is a certified management accountant (CMA) and certified supply chain professional (CSCP). She completed the “Women in Leadership” certificate program from Valparaiso University in 2023.

Murphy is a member of the NIBCO 25-Year Club, the company’s club for recognizing associates with 25 years or more of service.

is helping women and children to live in safe, secure and sanitary environments for women—led families. Further, more than 200 community members attended construction trainings and 12 more developed advanced job skills.

According to the World Health Organization, 80% of Nepal’s population is using the least basic sanitation services. Which is why Applewood and NIVAS are on a mission to build 16 additional houses with bathrooms this year to decrease the number of people without quality bathrooms. In addition, NIVAS has expanded to a new community populated with people who have disabilities, expanding their support to build accessible bathrooms.

“Through the work of our trades, we hope to bring comfort and stability to these families in knowing they have a sanitary bathroom,” said Ward.

In addition to the sanitary bathrooms, the program also creates jobs and builds skilled trades, having a positive economic impact as well.

Applewood is committed to serving local organizations with an international impact. Located in Denver, NIVAS has helped more than 2,500 people in 17 communities in Nepal to build strong, long-lasting homes.

To learn more about Applewood Plumbing Heating & Electric, visit www.ApplewoodFixIt.com.

One of the outdoor sanitary bathrooms.

Using a rooftop to dry grain in rural Nepal.

ABC’s Construction Backlog Indicator Rebounds in March

➤ Continued from page 1

Backlog is down over the past year for every region except for the Middle States, which now has the second largest backlog of any region. The South continues to have the largest backlog despite a large decline over the past year.

ABC’s Construction Confidence Index readings for sales, profit margins and staffing levels increased in March. All three readings remain above the threshold of 50, indicating expectations for growth over the next six months.

“Given headwinds such as high borrowing costs, emerging supply chain issues, project financing challenges and labor shortages, the persistent optimism among nonresidential construction contractors is astonishing,”

said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu . “Last month, contractors reported rising backlog and greater conviction regarding likely growth in sales, employment and profit margins.

“While certain readings are below year-ago levels, there was broad-based improvement in March,” said Basu. “For instance, in the category of profit margins, 32% of those surveyed in February expected improvement over the next six months. That share rose to nearly 34% in March, with only 24% hinting at near-term margin compression. That indicates that though costs of

delivering construction services continue to rise, contractors collectively enjoy enough pricing power to support stable to rising margins. If interest rates

begin to decline during the summer as is widely expected, confidence is likely to climb further.”

Note: The reference months for the Construction Backlog Indicator and Construction Confidence Index data series were revised on May 12, 2020, to better reflect the survey period. CBI quantifies the previous month’s work under contract based on the latest financials available, while CCI measures contractors’ outlook for the next six months. View the methodology for both indicators. 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.

by Al Schwartz

Looking at Where We Are... and Where We Are Going

Acasual perusal of our trade publications today is extremely educational. Just reading the advertisements reveals a broad, deep— almost stupefying—degree of change. The changes encompass every facet of our trade, from the new materials we use, to diagnostics, to marketing and beyond. Everything is changing, and quickly. Add to these the wide-ranging changes in the economic and political situation and you have a perfect storm of the good, the bad and the ugly.

How’s That Workin’ for Ya?

How you deal with the changes and how you incorporate those changes into your business plans will, ultimately, tell the tale of your survival or demise. As we all know, being in business, especially the construction trades, is a tough way to go. The attrition rate for new starts in the pipe trades (as well as other construction related trades) is somewhere between 85% and 95%! That means that if you are reading this and still standing, you are in rare company. Congratulations!

How did you get here? How have the new political and economic realities affected your business? Have you embraced the new technologies? Do you utilize much of what the digital agehas to offer? Or are you too hard at work trying to stay alive to pay much attention?

You might not pay much attention to what’s going on in the country these days, but you do so at your own peril. It’s not talking out of school to say that we are in a bad way as a nation, in my humble opinion. Our politicians seem to have forgotten how business works. For some strange reason we, as members of the business community, have become the bad guys.

Sorry... Not Sorry!

I apologize in advance for some of my comments, but politely sitting on the sidelines hasn’t worked for most of us thus far. Somewhere along the way being a job producing, income producing, hardworking, taxpaying member

How you deal with the changes and how you incorporate those changes into your business plans will, ultimately, tell the tale of your survival or demise.

of this society has been equated with being greedy and an oppressive member of some elite club. How has this happened? Moreover, what can you do about it?

One thing you can do is to speak out every time someone tries to paint you as the bogeyman. Everyone knows that finger pointing and name calling are the popular sports du jour in our nation’s capital. As an industry, we need to push back against the unfair, and often scurrilous attacks leveled at our community by know-nothing imbeciles whose only claim to fame is that they’ve managed to hoodwink enough people to get sent to Washington to continue the madness that exists there today.

Taxes and tax rates are another area we as businesspeople need to take seriously. Right now it has been estimated

that most businesses and citizens of the nation are paying somewhere upwards of 60% of their gross profits in taxes of one kind or another. Some say that number is conservative, but the bureaucrats don’t think you’re paying your “fair share.” If you want to stay in business these days, you have to do something about the situation.

It’s Broke! Fix it?

What can you do? You can make some noise. You can start at the local level, while simultaneously making your objections heard in the highest offices in the land. Join or form organizations that have similar goals. Have an achievable agenda and work towards it. Set goals and work towards them. To put it more succinctly, become political! Of course, you can always just sit on your hands and complain, but

way too many of our contemporaries are already doing that. So, if you want company, just pi@# and moan.

In times past the pendulum has swung from one end of the political spectrum to another and, for the most part, we just kept on doing business while it swung back and forth. It’s painfully obvious that something has gone terribly wrong with the pendulum. Somewhere along the way a large weight has been added and it is now in danger of stopping completely.

You’ve had to deal with the terrible lack of employable people and tried to streamline your workforce (that’s another topic). You have adopted new technologies and materials. You’ve utilized the digital frontier for marketing, advertising, bookkeeping, inventory and payroll. You’ve adapted, you’ve innovated. In short, you’ve done what any good businessperson would do to keep your company alive. In times past that would have been enough. Do you think it’s enough these days?

We are moving into uncharted waters both economically and politically. It is no longer someone else’s problem. It is no longer just a difference of opinion. It is survival… of your business… of your country… of your livelihood. You can no longer afford the luxury of ignoring what is happening to our economy, to the business community at large and to our country. Anyone with a modicum of intellect can feel that there is something coming over the horizon. No one knows what, but something. Choose not to be blindsided by whatever it is. Make your voice heard. Be prepared!

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.

Zekelman Ind. Unveils $120 Million Investment

BLYTHEVILLE, AK — Zekelman Industries, the largest independent steel pipe and tube manufacturer in North America, will invest up to $120 million to expand the manufacturing capabilities and product offerings of its subsidiary, Atlas Tube, in Mississippi County, Arkansas. The project will bring Zekelman’s total number of employees in the area to more than 300. During the unveiling, the manufacturer also announced it will partner with Arkansas Northeastern College on a new workforce training initiative.

“Education and skills training are crucial to developing the next generation of workers. Our goal at Zekelman is to prepare, nurture and inspire students entering the thriving and well-paying steel industry,” said Tom Muth, Chief Operating Officer.

Expanded Offering

The leading manufacturer of hollow structural sections and steel pipe, Zekelman currently operates two Atlas Tube facilities in Blytheville. Its new project will allow it to manufacture inline steel tube galvanizing products in size ranges not currently available in North America.

Mississippi County is Atlas Tube’s primary manufacturing hub for its southeast and southwest operations. Since 2011, Zekelman Industries has completed multiple projects at its Blytheville site, including expanding and modernizing its plant and warehouse. In 2022, Atlas Tube opened a second facility, the world’s largest continuous ERW mill, at an adjoining property with a more than $250 million capital investment.

Investing in Education

Along with the expansion, Zekelman said it would provide $250,000 to Arkansas Northeastern College to support area students in the steel industry and aviation maintenance degree programs. The funds, distributed over the next five years, will cover educational costs for at least 10 individuals annually who are obtaining associates of applied science. Benefitting Arkansas Northeastern College students will also have the opportunity to pursue

potential internship positions at Atlas Tube’s facilities in Blytheville.

“Arkansas Northeastern College has a strong track record of success in working alongside area employers to design tailored training programs that meet industries’ needs,” said Dr. Chris Heigle, President. “These partnerships benefit our students, equipping them with the real-world skills needed to secure good-paying jobs while fueling the growth of our region’s economy.”

Flexi-Rooter uses ClogChopper six-bladed cutters along with carbide and non-carbide-tipped chain cutters to break through the toughest clogs, scale and roots. The cutters then grind up the stubborn stoppages and scour the pipe walls clean.

The rotating shaft is 10 times faster than traditional shafts, yet easy to handle. It’s extremely flexible for clearing 2" lines, yet strong enough to cut roots in 4" lines up to 75 feet long. Plus, the foot pedal leaves both hands free to guide it into the drain.

To learn more, visit www.drainbrain.com/Flexi-Rooter, or call the Drain Brains ® at 800-245-6200.

Seth Mikulin • SureFlo Sewer & Drain

“ Flexi-Rooter’s ClogChopper rips open a hole for the chain knocker to work. It’s a great product.”

ClogChopper with carbide tip cutter

Environmental, Social, Governance –and the Unique Role of the Distributor

BY STEVE SPAULDING

We talk with Denise Vaughn, Ferguson’s Vice President for Environmental, Social and Governance, about her role and the future of ESG with the company.

Ferguson is a company instantly familiar to anyone in the skilled trades as the nation’s largest distributor of plumbing supplies, PVF, waterworks and fire and fabrication products. It is also a major distributor of HVAC equipment and industrial products and services.

In recent years, Ferguson has made ESG—Environmental, Social and Governance—a core component of how it does business. While there have been entire books written on ESG, the basic idea is that there are non-financial risks and opportunities involved in running a business, including the environmental and social impact.

The idea that a company should not just earn a profit, but also act as a positive force in its community has become an important factor in hiring and retention, in customer relations, investor relations and regulatory compliance. Tyler Sewall, Senior Director of Research for BuiltWorlds, writing in their 2024 Sustainable Jobsites Benchmarking Report, said, “ESG-related incentives, either by carrot or by stick, are forcing the industry to adapt to local and universal sustainability targets.”

Just over two years ago, Ferguson named Denise Vaughn its first Vice President for Environmental, Social and Governance. Vaughn has been with Ferguson for 18 years in various communications, public relations, and sustainability roles. She spoke with CONTRACTOR about her role, and the role of ESG in the company’s future.

CONTRACTOR: Can you tell us a little about your role at Ferguson?

Vaughn: My role was created with a singular focus on growing our ESG strategy in tandem with some of the disclosures that we’re required to make as a publicly-traded company—really looking at the foundation and the underlying data of our program.

‘It’s tough to be a contractor right now. They live in a world with increasing complexities.’

The ESG umbrella is very broad. The way we view it at Ferguson, it is really about leading a responsible business, and this is something that we’ve been doing since our founding in in 1953.

First, we want to create an environment that’s safe and inclusive, one where our associates want to come and grow their careers. We’re very, very focused on associate attraction, development, retention and really being a career, not a job.

When we look externally, we’re looking at not only how do we minimize our environmental footprint, but how do we help our customers achieve their sustainability goals?

Beyond that, how are we working to be a good corporate citizen? How do we contribute to the communities where we live and work? We do a lot of that through Ferguson Cares, our social impact program. Through that program we focus on three primary areas: promoting the skilled trades, affordable housing, and clean water and sanitation for underserved communities.

CONTRACTOR: Ferguson sits at a very special place in the value chain as a distributor. How does that influence your approach to ESG?

Vaughn: We sit in-between 36,000 suppliers and a million customers and so we’re able to influence upstream to work with our supplier partners to make sure that there’s a constant influx of innovation. We can help with new product development and then on the downstream side, we’re influencing the product decisions of customers across multiple groups—every facet of the built world on a daily basis.

So, where we can introduce more sustainable options from a product or a solution standpoint, we have the opportunity to contribute more broadly. We often refer to our “handprint,” which is our opportunity to have impact and influence the future of the built world.

CONTRACTOR: So training and education becomes a big part of what you’re doing. Can you give some examples?

Vaughn: I will tell you, I live in this world 24/7 and it’s overwhelming. I can’t imagine my primary focus being running a business and at the same time trying to keep tabs on the evolving regulatory framework at the local level up through the state, through the federal.

We are really looking at what can we do to alleviate some of that burden from our contractor customers and I’m super excited about an ESG or sustainability resource that we have just created for mechanical contractors in partnership with Sloan, Victaulic, Trane, Stanley Black and Decker, Watts Water and their associated subject matter experts. Those experts and Ferguson worked for about nine months and put together resources for mechanical contractors to help them use what they’re doing from a sustainability standpoint to be more competitive in the bidding process. So that’s one example. Another example of what we’ve done across the country is we’ve hosted decarbonization events for our dual-trade contractors to help them understand the changing regulatory landscape and the implications for their business. We’ve brought in city officials, we’ve brought in experts, and had panel discussions and said, hey, look, the world is changing, and this may be disruptive to your business if you’re not using it as an opportunity to differentiate.

There are tremendous opportunities from rebates and incentives to all the different funds that are now available to support sustainable work. I think one of the big value adds that Ferguson brings is simplifying complexity, so where we can help contractors understand, for example, how do you map to IRA fundings, how do you help your customer map to tax incentives and so forth. It’s tough to be a contractor right now. They live in a world with increasing complexities.

CONTRACTOR: As you know, one of the biggest challenges facing contractors these days is the shortage of skilled labor. Can you tell us a little

, SPECIAL TO CONTRACTOR

Book of All the Pieces in Place 2024

The nation’s top mechanical contractors face a host of challenges. But by partnering with customers, reaching out to their communities, and empowering employees, 2024 sees all the pieces in place for success.

By Steve Spaulding

Contracting has always been demanding work. To be successful requires a high degree of skill, technical proficiency, business acumen, and—because none of it happens in a vacuum—a deep understanding of human nature. But in 2024 the nation’s contractors face new challenges: a difficult regulatory environment brought about in response to climate change; an unprecedented pace of technological advancement that demands investment in equipment, software and training; and, above all, a lack of skilled labor able and willing to perform the work.

As incoming MCAA President Rick Gopffarth said in his recent exclusive interview with CONTRACTOR (April cover story), the biggest problem facing contractors today is, “navigating industry-wide labor shortages that impact ownership groups, developers, architecture/engineering firms, construction managers, general contractors, the MEP trades, and specialty contractors. Facing the size, speed and complexity of today’s projects with diluted talent at the top of the construction pyramid indirectly forces additional risk to the MEP trades.”

[To read more about the recent MCAA Convention that saw the gavel passed to Gopffarth, turn to the end of this feature, pg. 23.]

But what if each of these challenges represented an opportunity? Read on and you’ll find how some of the nation’s largest mechanical contractors have responded by investing in new types of work (Andy J. Egan Co.) or prefabrication facilities (AZCO). Some have partnered with local community colleges and unions to create a pipeline of skilled workers (Baker Group, Murphy Co.). Some have embraced sustainable design and construction and begun offering it as an added value to their clients (J. F. Ahern, MacDonald-Miller).

No doubt, it’s a challenging puzzle. But for creative, well-managed contracting companies, all the pieces are in place for success.

Andy J. Egan Co.

Baker Group

AZCO

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — (Feb. 9, 2024) Mechanical contractor and fabricator Andy J. Egan Co. (Egan) has earned an Open Globe Award from Johnson Controls for its outstanding sales in 2023. Johnson Controls selected Egan from approximately 300 other contractors in North America and honored the company as “the best of the best” at a ceremony on February 9, 2024.

“This award is significant to Egan’s Building Controls Division because it recognizes our industry leadership and experience with Johnson Controls systems,” said Dave Antonowitsch, Egan’s Director of Service and Controls. “Customers can rely on Egan’s deep knowledge and expertise when looking to manage their building controls.”

Egan’s Building Controls Division consists of eleven team members, who are uniquely positioned to install and service Johnson Controls systems. As West Michigan’s only Johnson Controls Authorized Building Controls Specialist, Egan is able to leverage the world’s largest portfolio of controls solutions to offer custom, turnkey packages for its customers. www.andyegan.com

APPLETON, WI — (March 26, 2024) In a strategic move that underscores a commitment to serving international markets, AZCO, a Burns & McDonnell company, is now certified to perform structural steel prefabrication for construction projects in Canada. Through its relationship with Burns & McDonnell as well as other construction companies, AZCO is poised to strengthen its long-standing service to utilities, manufacturers and other clients in Canada. By expanding its service offerings, the company will meet the region’s growing demand for prefabricated structural steel for existing and new critical infrastructure projects.

For more than a decade, AZCO has been certified to provide pipe fabrication services throughout Canada. AZCO’s prefabrication professionals are now equipped to work on structural steel projects for the Canada market from AZCO’s 90,000 square feet of shop space in Wisconsin. This allows for the expansion of offerings such as skids and modular assemblies, which are made in the company’s shops and shipped to Canada for installation. www.azco.burnsmcd.com

DES MOINES, IA — (Feb. 14, 2024) Baker Group is taking a proactive approach to building its future workforce by regularly engaging with community colleges and high schools. These outreach efforts, particularly with institutions like Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) in Ankeny and Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, are part of a coordinated strategy at Baker Group.

Dave Brown , Senior Talent Business Partner at Baker Group, says these partnerships are important in an increasingly competitive and tight workforce.

“We view our local high schools and community colleges as a direct pipeline to potential future employees,” Brown says. “And this doesn’t apply only to the trades. Schools like DMACC and Kirkwood are also providing skilled talent in areas like accounting, marketing, and HR.”

The collaboration with DMACC began through the college’s workforce readiness program, which caters to high schools in the Des Moines metropolitan area. Baker Group actively participates in career fairs, mock interviews, on-site tours, and classroom presentations, aiming to provide students with insights into potential career paths.

www.thebakergroup.com

Harris Company

ST PAUL, MN — (March 20, 2024) Harris has earned the 2024 Top Workplaces USA award. This is the second year in a row that the leading national mechanical contractor has been named to the Top Workplaces list.

“We’re honored to be recognized as a Top Workplace in 2024,” says Michel Michno , CEO. “We want to thank our remarkable team because this award wouldn’t be possible without them. We’re so proud to have engaged employees who offer feedback and push Harris to be better every year.”

The Top Workplaces winners and rankings are based solely on the feedback from employees gathered through a third-party research firm, Energage, LLC. Their anonymous survey measures 15 drivers related to engaged work environments, company culture, leadership and job satisfaction.

“We’re grateful to have a team that’s willing to offer their honest opinions and feedback,” says April Keizer, Director, Human Capital. “It’s a testament to our culture, which we have worked hard to build and improve on over the last decade. We would like to thank our employees for making Harris a great place to work.”

www.harriscompany.com

Book of Giants 2024

J. F. Ahern

Limbach

Holdings LLC

Murphy Co.

FOND DU LAC, WI — (March 4, 2024) The need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from commercial buildings has become more pressing, pushing building owners to redirect their attention towards smart building energy management and adopting sustainable design and construction practices. In response, the engineering and construction sector is increasingly confronted with the task of assisting building owners in reducing their carbon footprints.

As a leading provider of sustainable design and construction in the mechanical contracting community, Ahern has been involved with many LEED certified projects. The LEED certification serves as a blueprint for creating environmentally friendly, highly efficient, and cost-effective green buildings, delivering benefits across environmental, social, and governance aspects. Some projects inclue:

• Department of Defense Office Building (Milwaukee) – LEED Certified. Provided design/build HVAC system services and LEED documentation.

• Johnson Controls Headquarters Expansion (Milwaukee) – LEED Platinum Certified. Provided HVAC and Plumbing systems.

• SC Johnson “Project Honor” (Racine) – LEED Silver Certified. Provided HVAC, Plumbing, and

• Marquette University McCabe Hall – LEED certified. Provided the design/build HVAC, Plumbing, and Fire Protection systems and served as LEED consultant. www.jfahern.com

J. H. Kelly

LONGVIEW, WA — JH Kelly is the design/build mechanical, electrical, and plumbing partner for an expansion to the Washington Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Youth (CDHY) campus in Vancouver, Washington.

The project will add two additional buildings to the existing campus; a two-story K-12 Academic building encompassing 35,240 sf of classroom and common area, and a one-story Physical Education Building with 12,212 sf of instructional area. The project is remarkable in that it incorporates DeafSpace campus design guidelines, utilizes CLT throughout, and is targeting LEED Silver.

The anticipated completion date is March 2025. www.jhkelly.com

PITTSBURGH, PA — (Jan. 9, 2024) In the ever-evolving realm of facility management, translating insights into tangible actions is pivotal for seamless operations. Thanks to cutting-edge technology and advanced data analytics, facility management insights are no longer abstract concepts; they are now accessible tools for informed decision-making aligned with strategic goals.

The Limbach team, led by Erika Carl , Senior Sales Representative, and Richard Davis, Director of Product Development, had the honor of showcasing a practical use case at the International Association of Museum Facility Administrators (IAMFA) Annual Conference. Collaborating with client, John Castle of Winterthur Museum, Garden, and Library, the team delivered a session that went beyond theory—demonstrating how the strategic integration of technology and facility data can preserve the past and safeguard the future.

Winterthur, a custodian of an extraordinary collection of American decorative arts spanning centuries, confronted the monumental task of managing 175 rooms housing nearly 90,000 objects dating back to 1640. Limbach was called upon to elevate operational efficiency, and our innovative strategies showcased technology’s transformative power in handling a vast and diverse museum. www.limbachinc.com

MacDonald-Miller

SEATTLE, WA — (April 4, 2024) MacDonald Miller has issued its first company Sustainability Report. Responding to its clients’ call for robust sustainability solutions, MacDonald Miller has pledged to go beyond the basics and offer comprehensive services that prioritize environmental health. As of 2023, the company has joined both the Climate Pledge and the MEP 2040 (net-zero operations by the year 2040) sustainability commitments.

As a project spotlight, the report showcases the work MacDonald-Miller performed on the Seattle Convention Center Summit Building. The over 1.5 million sq. ft. of space was completed with 797,000 hours on-site, with a recordable incident rate of 0.5 (well below the national average of 3.9).

Key sustainability features included more than 232,000 sq. ft. of radiant flooring, rainwater harvesting systems, a 143kW rooftop solar array and more. The building achieved a greater than 50% indoor water use reduction along the way to earning LEED Platinum status. www.macmiller.com

ST LOUIS, MO — (3/10/2024) Every year, Murphy Company partners with MCA of Eastern Missouri (MCA-EMO), UA Plumbers and Pipefitter Local 562, and the Plumbing Industry Council (PIC) to take part in the Creating Hometown Advantages Minority Participation In Our Neighborhoods (CHAMPIONS) program. This program offers a fast track into the profession of plumbing and pipefitting with the ultimate goal of enrolling in Local 562’s five-year apprenticeship program. Since its inception, Murphy Company has been a proud supporter of this program and has hired many CHAMPIONS graduates.

www.murphynet.com

Shapiro & Duncan

ROCKVILLE, MD — (January 1, 2024) Shapiro & Duncan’s apprenticeship program stands as a beacon of commitment to nurturing talent and expertise within the construction industry. In partnership with the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC Metro Washington/Virginia), Association of Air Conditioning Professionals (AACP), and Howard County Community College (HCC), the program offers a comprehensive four-year journey for aspiring apprentices in plumbing, HVAC Service, and pipefitting.

Apprentices benefit not only from on-the-job training but also from the company’s in-house BootCamp, providing supplemental education to hone their skills. One of the distinctive aspects of the program is the financial support provided for apprentices to attend school or training, ensuring they receive a well-rounded education. Upon graduation, apprentices are equipped not only with invaluable practical experience but also with journeyman licenses, a testament to their readiness to excel in their chosen field.

This program exemplifies Shapiro & Duncan’s dedication to fostering the next generation of skilled tradespeople while maintaining the highest standards of quality and expertise within the construction industry.

www.shapiroandduncan.com

Book of Giants 2024

UMC

LYNWOOD, WA — (April 4, 2024) UMC, a premier full-service design-build mechanical contractor is beginning an exciting new chapter as they announce the move of their headquarters, signaling a significant milestone in the company’s century-long journey of growth and momentum.

The former Mukilteo, WA headquarters, which had served as the heart of the company since 2001, transferred to new ownership, making way for UMC’s transition to their new home on the fourth floor of the Redstone Corporate Center I in Lynnwood, WA. This relocation endeavor involved creating a visionary office space designed by JPC Architects, with a mission to showcase how readily available construction materials and sustainable processes can result in an exceptionally efficient, sustainable, and cost-effective tenant improvement construction project. www.umci.com

Mechancial Contractors Association of America Holds Annual Convention

MCAA24 featured speakers, education opportunities, networking events, and the introduction of the new Executive Committee.

ORLANDO, FL — Mechanical contractors large and small from around the nation gathered at the Grand Lakes Orlando resort this March 17-21 for MCAA24, the annual convention of the Mechanical Contractors of America Association.

Speakers on the first official day included outgoing President Robert Beck , who delivered a recap of the year gone by, and an update from UA General President Mark McManus about current UA initiatives. Keynote speaker Jocko Willink took the stage to talk about his experiences as a Navy SEAL and to motivate the crowd.

Other convention speakers included journalist Soledad O’Brien , NFL Hall of Fame Quarterback Jim Kelly, author and motivational speaker Kevin Brown , magician Oz Pearlman , and counselor

Dr. Christian Conte. Educational opportunities at the event included seminars and panel discussions— including three separate “Lunch and Learns”—on topics including government regulation, workforce development, new technology and more.

(Most speaker presentations are available for download at mcaaconvention.org/speaker-handouts/.)

Networking opportunities abounded, including the First Time Attendees meeting, the Women in the Mechanical Industry reception, and the closing party with special performance by the Barenaked Ladies. Activities such as golf, pickleball, and the MCAA Fun Run also helped to bring attendees together.

As always, the focal point of the convention was the annual changing of the guard, with President Beck turning over the MCAA presidential gavel to his

successor, incoming President Rick Gopffarth. (For CONTRACTOR’s exclusive interview with Gopffarth, visit contractormag.com.)

Joining Gopffarth on the new executive committee will be:

• President-Elect Brian Hughes from Hughes Environmental Engineering

• Senior Vice President and Treasurer Curtis Harbour from Brandt, a Southland Industries Company

• Vice President and Assistant Treasurer Michael Russo from Fresh Meadow Mechanical

• Immediate Past President Robert Beck from John W. Danforth Company

The next annual convention, MCAA25, will be held March 2–6, 2025 in Austin, TX.

Presented in partnership with Radiant Professionals Alliance

by Patrick Linhardt

HYDRONICS MANAGER AT CORKEN STEEL PRODUCTS CO.

Things at the End of a (One-Pipe Steam) Radiator

When you think about it, there are quite a few different things that we run into when we look closely at an installed radiator. Frequently overlooked, that thing can make a big difference in the performance of that radiator and ultimately the performance of the system. In this column, I’ll only be discussing the things at the end of a one pipe steam radiator, on the side opposite of the steam supply. Next time, I’ll attempt to tackle all the things at the end of a two-pipe radiator. It’s necessary to be that specific when you’re talking about a steam radiator, whether on a one-pipe system or a two-pipe system. A hot water radiator can be piped a number of ways, since it is full of water. However, a steam radiator should be full of steam, with a path to allow the air to escape and a path for the condensation to flow back to the boiler. Simple enough, what could go wrong?

Allowing the Air to Escape

Vent Types

The vents could be split into two varieties, automatic and vacuum. Both types could have an adjustment to the venting rate. The faster the venting rate, typically the hotter the radiator will become during a call for heat. The

from flowing back to the boiler. This was very popular during the coal-fired era, when boilers held a lot more water than they do today.

When this type of vent is causing a vacuum, it allowed the steam boiler to keep making steam as the coal fire cooled off overnight. Water under a vacuum makes steam at temperatures below the typical boiling point of 213F. Worked great and saved money, but only on hand-fired steam boilers of that era.

Today’s boilers hold a lot less water and keeping water up in the system causes flooding problems. Also, with automatic-fired boilers, the heat exchanger quickly cools below the boil-

The vacuum was produced in the basement and delivered to the radiator through that small pipe coming out of the floor. The vacuum pulled the steam to the radiator faster. The vent closed off when steam filled the radiator to prevent the steam from travelling to the vacuum producer in the basement. When the steam ceases to be present, the vent opens back up.

Ally Actuated

A further development of the one-pipe radiator vent is the thermostatic ally actuated air vent. The non-electric actuator senses the room temperature and closes off the air vent as the room approaches set point. This thing on the end of a radiator consists of a valve body that screws into the normal tapping, with an air vent and an actuator screwed into the body.

The things on the end of a one-pipe radiator are there to allow the air to escape, since the water goes back though the supply valve. Steam won’t enter the radiator unless the air is leaving. The most common thing is the radiator air vent, typically tapped about a third of the way up from the floor on the end section. You don’t want it at the top, like a hot water radiator, since the lighter than air steam is at the top of the radiator. You also don’t want it at the bottom, since the condensation is at the bottom.

Cast iron radiator manufacturers decided a long time ago where that tapping would be. What would be screwed into that tapping was the pursuit of many different steam specialties manufacturers. Today there are only a few vent choices, while 100 years ago there were plenty. I still run across an ancient vent that I’ve never seen before.

A hot water radiator can be piped a number of ways, but a steam radiator should be full of steam, with a path for the air to escape and a path for the condensation to flow back to the boiler.

slower the venting rate, typically the cooler the radiator. The adjustment is to the size of the hole that the air releases through.

The automatic type air vent releases the air, closes off to prevent the release of steam, then opens again to the atmosphere to allow air to flow back into the radiator when steam is not present. This is the most common and is recommended for gas and oil fired systems that cycle on and off.

The vacuum type air vent releases the air to allow the radiator to fill with steam, closes off to prevent the release of steam, then causes the radiator to pull a vacuum when steam is not present with a built-in check valve of some sort, keeping the air from flowing back into the radiator and also the water

ing point, even under the vacuum. My advice, and the advice of many before me, is to remove any vents on automatic-fired systems that cause a vacuum and replace with automatic type vents. Let that open vent break any vacuum that might try to form to allow the condensate to flow freely back to the boiler.

Vacuum Variation

Sometimes the thing on the side of a one-pipe radiator kinda looks like a typical vent, but has a small pipe coming out the bottom that goes down through the floor. These are more likely found in commercial buildings, but I have also found them residentially. They are another take on the vacuum idea, only without the check valve.

They look a bit bulky, but are quite effective in keeping rooms from overheating. Remember, you don’t use the radiator valve on a one-pipe steam radiator to balance temperature in a system. That valve has to be wide open or completely closed because the condensate is flowing out of the radiator while the steam is flowing in. If you restrict the area where that happens by closing off the valve, you cause water hammer and uneven heating.

Another detail for one-pipe radiators is the pitch. Make sure that the side with the thing is higher than the side with the supply valve so that water can flow freely out of the radiator. Over time, this type of radiator is prone to getting out of pitch. Keep your eyes open for strange things at the end of one-pipe radiators.

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.

Various vents you might find at the end of a one-pipe steam radiator.

•

•

•

& R adiant

Presented in partnership with Radiant Professionals Alliance

Chilled Water Rescue: a Struggle with Humidity

BY BRIAN NELSON, CO-OWNER, NELSON MECHANICAL DESIGN

Nelson Mechanical Design was asked to investigate an underperforming chilled water system at a large home overlooking the south coast of Martha’s Vineyard. The installing contractor had been let go due to their inability to get their system to work successfully and we were asked to perform a chilled water rescue.

The house was unbearably damp and humid in the summer—the cooling system was reaching the cooling setpoint in all six zones, but little to no dehumidification was occurring. We noted right away that the discharge air temperature was around 61 °F at the four air handlers but the chilled water temperature at the chillers was 44 °F. Something was seriously compromising the delivery of 44 °F chilled water to the air handlers. No wonder the house was uncomfortable!

In this latest system rescue story Nelson Mechanical does some extensive troubleshooting to help out a frustrated homeowner.

Existing Equipment

The house had four air handlers split up into six zones and three 5 ton Daikin Altherma air to water heat pumps/chillers located in a chiller pit 300 feet away from the house. Each of the four air handlers had a chilled water coil piped to a threeway zone valve and a hot water coil connected to a hot water loop served by two wall hung Buderus boilers. We determined that one of the Altherma heat pumps/chillers had developed

a leak over the winter that ended up shorting out everything inside. To complicate the problem, we weren’t able to find parts for it anymore.

There were no plans or any documentation of the system, but it appeared that the cooling load could be met by two of the three heat pumps. We gathered that at some point the Daikin Altherma heat pumps had provided first stage of heating and that that had been abandoned after the first winter.

Do We Need to Rip This Open?

Our next step was to dig into the existing installation to understand the original design and to figure out where things went astray. As often happens with these rescue projects, the homeowner had become so frustrated with their chronic cooling issues and complete lack of dehumidification in their vacation home that they allowed us to dissect their HVAC installation.

We started digging and found lots of issues and lots of design confusion. The heat pumps in the remote chiller pit (300 feet away at the end of the rolling lawn) were satisfied on loop temp, but the house was sweaty and miserable. Clearly the heat pumps were not being connected to the dehumidification load.

Chiller Pit Piping Issues

The three heat pumps in the chiller pit had their own internal circulators and were connected to a reverse return chiller loop. The 300 foot supply and return pipes from the main house were connected via closely spaced tees to this chiller loop.

This made sense as each chiller would see chiller loop temp and cycle on and

Parts and Equipment

• Aermec ANK Heat Pump

• Viega Propress copper fittings and valves

• Wiess thermometers

• K-flex closed cell pipe insulation and fittings

• Spirovent air separators

• Nibco sweat copper fittings

• Grundfos UP26-99 circulators

• Ashcroft pressure gauge and thermowells

• Spacepak AC-BT26 26 Gallon Buffer Tank

• Mueller copper pipe

off to maintain their setpoint. Unfortunately, no thermometers had been installed so the original contractor didn’t realize that the return water from the main house was mixing with the chilled loop supply water and compromising cooling capacity for the entire house. Because the closely spaced tees were backwards, we measured 42° F in the chiller loop and 48° F for the supply water going up to the house. Yikes! That was an easy fix with press fittings; we added thermometers so we could see our chilled water temperatures.

Mech Room Design Confusion

Insulating a chilled water system is a tough job and it was a shame to have to strip all of this nice insulation off to make our piping changes. We

Three Daikin Althermas in the chiller pit.

A Daikin Altherma being lifted out.

Outside, the closely spaced tees are backwards in the chiller pit.

Comfortable workwear has

Get with the program.

Give your team back some personal time and cross laundry off their list. Our comprehensive workwear program delivers clean, comfortable and worry-free workwear right to your place of business. That means no more purchasing, managing and replacing clothes yourself. Plus our large range of clothing options makes it easy to find the best fit for your industry and your team.

It’s no wonder why so many industry professionals turn to Cintas to handle all their workwear needs

Hydronics & R adiant

Presented in partnership with Radiant Professionals Alliance

Continued from page 26

immediately noted that the system as it was installed was mixing return water from the air handlers with chilled water supply coming up from the chiller pit. As in the chiller pit, this piping confusion compromised the cooling ability for the entire house.

The existing Grundfos Magna circulator connected the remote chiller pit 300 feet away with this mechanical room— our pressure drop calculations told us that it was large enough to provide the necessary flow between the chiller pit with the three 5-ton chillers and the chilled water system of the house.

Each of the four air handlers had its own chilled water circulator. Due to inadequate pipe size between this mech room and the four air handlers each of these circulators would need to be replaced with a larger unit.

Finally, the two existing buffer tanks were starting to rot out so they would need to be replaced.

And Even More Design Confusion!

At each of the four air handlers, we stripped back the pipe insulation to reveal more design confusion. Each of the four air handlers had its own chilled water circulator in the mech AND its own three-way zone valve at the coil. Why use both? We thought that perhaps the air handlers were installed first and the thought may have been that the Magna circulator would be large enough to do ALL of the pumping. When they figured that it wouldn’t be able to handle all of the flow they added a circulator to

each air handler zone.In any event, the Cv through this Taco three-way valve was miserably low and this was another bottleneck that reduced chilled water flow through the air handler coils.   We discovered that all of the chilled water coils were piped in backwards as well! Entering water was going into the coil nearest the return air and leaving water was leaving the coil on the air supply side, which meant that leaving water temps were in the low 60s, and discharge air temps were in the low 60s. We also noted that there were no thermometers and no air separators. What a recipe for inadequate flow and air bound systems!

Mech Room Corrections

Once we had finished our investigation, the re-design and re-pipe was fun and easy. We installed a new buffer tank and disconnected the mixing of chilled water supply coming from the chiller pit with air handler return water. We connected the Magna circulator to the buffer tank and the chiller pit 300 feet away and installed larger circulators for each air handler zone. Finally, we connected the supply for the four new circulators to the buffer tank so each zone would get 44 F water. We insulated our work using Armaflex instead of fiberglass insulation.

Air Handler Corrections

At each of the four air handlers, we chopped out the three-way Taco zone valves and piped supply and return lines directly to the chilled water coil. Each air handler also got an air separator

and thermometers before and after the chilled water coil. We finished with Armaflex insulation.

Chiller Pit Replacement

The last part of our work was to replace the failed Daikin Altherma with a new 5 ton Aermec heat pump/chiller. We disconnected the Daikin from the chiller loop and yanked it out with an excavator and gently dropped in the new Aermec. Unfortunately, Daikin and Aermec don’t talk to each other so we had to install an HBX staging control to handle staging on and off the three units.

Success!

We got the repairs done before summer arrived and had a month to confirm flow and operation.  We replaced all six of the thermostats with Venstar

wifi thermostats that were able to control humidification, dehumidification, heating and cooling. We were able to use their re-heat function to improve dehumidification ability.

The homeowner arrived and the system was put to the test. Chilled water at each air handler was now 44 °F like it should be. Discharge air temperature was now at 52 °F which was well below the dewpoint. Relative humidity in the house dropped and dropped from 75% down to 40%.

Even though it was humid and hot outside, the homeowner was cool and dry inside. We noted that all three chillers were running during start-up as we had finally connected them successfully to the cooling load of the house. The homeowner was happy—another successful chilled water rescue!

Seriously confused piping in the mechanical room along with insulation.

Corrected mechanical room insulated for chilled water.

No more three-way valve and a new air separator improves coil flow.

Thermometers and insulation complete the piping corrections.

The Aermec heat pump replacement units.

You’re Invited to the Largest Event for Plumbing System Professionals

+ New plumbing technologies from more than 250 global exhibitors Practical solutions to your plumbing design challenges directly from product engineers

A show floor filled with industry experts providing hands-on technical solutions

New skills from professional development and technical education sessions

Patti Feldman

Optimize Opportunities and Operations

OctopusPro ( www.octopuspro. com ) is a fully integrated online solution for service-based businesses of all sizes. It offers a wide range of features to help manage services in the office and on the go, from initial inquiries, lead management, estimating, and scheduling and dispatching to invoicing and payment processing, and analytics, including customer ratings of your company services. The platform, which includes a mobile app, can be integrated into a company’s website using their own branded app or via a third-party service such as Facebook or Yelp.

How it works : Management can cultivate leads, generate quotes, set seasonal prices and discounts and emergency/urgent pricing, assign and dispatch technicians (including through integration with Google), receive field updates and check progress of the work, and handle invoicing.

Field technicians utilize the mobile app to receive job notifications which they can accept or reject. If they accept, they can take advantage of built-in GPS support for travel and arrival/delay notifications, clock in and out from the jobsite, upload photos, and provide live updates. They can also receive customized checklists of tasks to be performed.

Customers can manage scheduling and confirm, cancel or reschedule bookings; track technician travel and arrival time via GPS; add job-related photos and attachments; manage payments and invoices, and, upon completion of the job, rate the HVAC service. The built-in feedback system to collect reviews from clients using the platform features a standard template for ratings, customizable with criteria and questions that relate to your business and services.

OctopusPro enables automated invoice and payment reminders and integrates with Google Calendar, Xero, and QuickBooks. It also supports the export of reports and analytics to Google Calendar.

For commercial installations of largescale HVAC systems, OctopusPro offers options for incorporating building automation, energy management, and

Reviews of the OctopusPro, DataPins SEO software, Intuit Mailchip marketing platform, FieldEdge and Successware.

remote monitoring modules, as well as software to prepare professional HVAC proposals, and analytics software to evaluate profitability and other criteria.

Pricing: subscription, per user/ month, with unlimited number of customers your company services. Free 14-day trial available.

DataPins

DataPins ( www.datapins.com , 800/775-1250) is local SEO software for small businesses, including HVAC and plumbing, designed to maximize visibility online and enhance company reputation through engagement, on the company website, of recent satisfied customers who agree to supply reviews/feedback. The solution features a Map Ranking App that converts completed local jobs into “pins” to help better showcase your company locations and services and improve/ optimize the ranking of your company on search engines such as Google, Facebook and Yelp.

How it works: after completion of a job, the contractor/field technician drops a pin on the DataPins app, where it is distributed to the appropriate service and location pages before sending a customer a review request by SMS or email. The contractor/technician in the field can snap a photo of the job and add a shot caption and relevant

tag (e.g. type of repair) and can push an automated review request to the customer’s phone via SMS and email.

Pricing: monthly fee per business location

Intuit Mailchimp

Intuit Mailchimp ( www.mailchimp. com ) is an email and marketing automations platform for growing businesses designed to help a company find and engage customers using email, social media, landing pages, and advertising.

The solution includes Intuit Assist, a Gen AI-powered marketing assistant, which helps in generating personalized content and optimizing marketing strategy by capitalizing on insights drawn from your customer data.

The platform offers four plans (free, Essential, Standard, and Premium), with escalating capacities and capabilities in terms of number of seats, number of audiences, and number of pe-built templates, as well as the ability to remove Mailchimp branding, set up email scheduling, and generate comparative reports, and other business-enhancing features.

All the plans have access to Mailchimp’s free online survey for gathering customer responses that could help shape marketing and other business decisions.

Pricing: fee per month, dependent on plan

FieldEdge

FieldEdge by Xplor (www.fieldedge. com ) is a cloud-based all-in-one field service management software with native iOS and Android mobile apps, aimed at home services contractors and addressing scheduling and dispatch, quotes and invoicing, service agreements, work orders, and customer management (see September 2018 tech column for full review), recently introduced Marketing Edge, a digital marketing tool designed to help businesses present a professional brand image, upsell their services to existing customers, and attract new prospects more easily.

Available at no extra cost for elite members, it enables contractors to automate marketing campaigns with prebuilt email, text, and landing pages; unlimited texts and emails; “smart” audience segmentation that enables sending messages based on customer behavior and preferences; and real-time tracking and analytics for viewing email open, engagement, and conversion rates and easily assessing how a campaign performs.

Successware

Successware business management platform for residential work ( www. successware.com, see Jan. 2021 review) recently introduced the addition of Purchasing Wizard to the platform to assist in the creation of purchase orders based on restocking requirements (min/max or usage) or based on task part lists. The wizard, accessible from the popup menu in the purchasing manager, automates the creation of an item list which identifies all items to be ordered and specifies the vendor with which to place the order of each item. Once the correct items, quantities and ‘source vendors’ are identified, POs can be created and managed as ordinary POs.

Patti Feldman writes articles and web content for trade magazines and manufacturers of building products. She can be reached at productpad@yahoo.com

The OctopusPro platform, which includes a mobile app, can be integrated into your website using your own branded app or via a third-party service such as Facebook or Yelp.

by Philip Portman FOUNDER/CEO OF

SMS Marketing for Home Services

The home services and the construction industries utilize text messages for direct and immediate communication with homeowners, property managers, and construction professionals. This quick and efficient method is important in these dynamic sectors as it facilitates efficient updates, personalized communication, and promotional outreach.

By leveraging the immediacy and personalization of text messages, home service and construction providers can build strong relationships with their customers. Let’s examine SMS marketing’s role in improving customer engagement, driving sales, and streamlining communication.

Crafting an Effective SMS Marketing Strategy

A successful SMS marketing strategy requires careful consideration and purposeful planning. This involves both setting industry-specific goals and developing compelling content to engage and resonate with the target audience.

1. Setting industry-specific goals

When you want to target homeowners in need of renovation, the goal is to generate leads effectively. Craft messages that showcase expertise and prompt recipients to inquire about personalized renovation solutions.

Example: Call to Action (CTA): “Transform your home! Reply ‘RENO’ for a free consultation and turn your dream project into reality.”

Building relationships with property managers requires a focus on ongoing services. Messages should highlight reliability and efficiency, encouraging property managers to explore collaboration possibilities.

Example CTA: “Simplify property management! Reply ‘MANAGE’ to discover tailored services that streamline maintenance tasks and increase property value.”

Engage construction professionals by promoting exclusive offers. The goal is to incentivize them to choose your services for their upcoming projects.

Example CTA: “Build with savings!

By leveraging the immediacy and personalization of text messages, home service and construction providers can build strong relationships with their customers.

Reply ‘BUILD’ to unlock a 15% discount on your next construction project and experience top-notch services.”

2. Developing compelling content

Keep messages short and to the point, focusing on the key benefits of the services offered. Provide essential information such as services offered, unique selling propositions, and contact details. Use clear language and a friendly tone to improve readability and encourage engagement.

Example: “Upgrade your space with our premium renovation services! From concept to completion, we’ve got you covered. Reply ‘UPGRADE’ to learn more about our personalized solutions.”

Use actionable language to prompt recipients to take specific and immediate action. Incorporate urgency in CTAs to drive quicker responses (e.g., “Limited slots available,” “Act now for exclusive discounts”). Include a direct link or contact information for seamless conversion from the SMS to the desired action.

Example: “Don’t miss out! Limited

slots are available for our exclusive construction offer. Text ‘BUILDNOW’ to 555-1234 to claim your discount and kickstart your dream project today.”

Legal Compliance

The home services and construction industries, with their intricate regulatory landscape, demand a meticulous approach to legal compliance. Two key aspects highlight the critical importance of adherence to legal considerations.

The first is to prioritize compliance with regulations by implementing clear opt-in and opt-out mechanisms. Ensure that recipients have willingly subscribed to your SMS campaigns and provide easy ways for them to optout if they wish. Respect privacy and preferences to build trust and maintain a positive reputation.

The second is to navigate the legal landscape of home services and construction by staying informed about industry-specific regulations. Address any legal considerations in your SMS campaigns, such as licensing information or disclaimers. Ensure that your marketing efforts align with local and national laws, fostering credibility and accountability.

Executing Effective SMS Campaigns

Executing effective SMS campaigns for home services and construction requires careful planning and targeted communication. Here are some tips to help you create and execute successful SMS campaigns in this industry:

1. Build a targeted subscriber list

Ensure that you have permission to contact individuals via SMS by obtaining their explicit consent. Segment your list based on demographics, location, and preferences to send targeted messages.

2. Craft compelling messages

Keep your messages concise, clear, and relevant. Highlight the value proposition and benefits of your services. Use language that resonates with your target audience and addresses their pain points or needs. Include a clear call-to-action that prompts recipients to take the desired action, such as scheduling a consultation or requesting a quote.

3. Timing is key

Consider the time zone of your target audience when scheduling your SMS campaigns. Avoid sending messages during late hours or inconvenient times to ensure a positive customer experience.

4. Use personalization

Use personalization tokens to include the recipient’s name in the message. Tailor your messages to specific customer segments, addressing their unique needs and preferences.

5. Promotions and discounts

Offer exclusive promotions, discounts, or limited-time deals to encourage immediate action. Communicate the benefits of the offer and any urgency associated with it.

6. Use multimedia

If applicable, include images or videos showcasing your work, before-and-after transformations, or testimonials. Multimedia content can

➤ Turn to How, page 37

by Lynn Karam FOUNDER AND CEO OF LEK MANAGEMENT INC.

How to Create a Strategic Tax Plan

Business owners who generate profits due to their hard work and astute decisions often discover that running a successful enterprise can also have a downside. All things being equal, as profits increase, so does tax liability. A professional tax planner can be a valuable part of a business team, using their expertise to provide strategic advice and keep tax liability to a minimum.

Fail to Plan? Plan to Fail

Tax planning is the assessment of a taxpayer’s financial situation to minimize the tax liability using provisions in the current tax code. It is an essential part of the financial planning process for any business. Handing over a percentage of one’s earnings to a governmental entity is always difficult, but paying more than is absolutely necessary effectively demonstrates negligence on the part of the business owner regarding their company’s profitability. It is not uncommon for business owners/shareholders to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxes that could have been avoided through proper tax planning.

Tax plans are designed based on the circumstances of the taxpayer. In a situation where a business is an integral part of the tax planning, the company’s overall strategy will provide crucial information for the tax planner as they put together the optimal plan. There will be times when having the absolute minimum tax liability may not be the most desirable when considering the strategic growth plan of the business.

Two of the strategies businesses can enact as part of a tax plan include deferring taxable income and the implementation of an employer-sponsored defined contribution account.

Deferring Income

Deferring taxable income to the future is a common tax strategy employed by businesses. Business clients are encouraged to pay outstanding invoices in the last month of the year to maximize their annual expenses. The counter side to this is the businesses

It is not uncommon for business owners to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxes that could have been avoided through proper tax planning.

receiving the payments experience a substantial increase in their revenue, which could increase their profits and tax liability.

To counter this effect, businesses with significant outstanding accounts receivable in the last month of the year should try to defer payments to the following year. This will result in the minimizing of their profitability which can reduce their tax liability, while improving their cash availability.

Defined Contribution Account

Implementation of an employer-sponsored defined contribution account can provide benefits for both the business

and their employees. Employers may be able to take advantage of a credit for small employer pension plan startup costs. Qualifying businesses can take a credit of 50% of the eligible startup cost. Employees’ contributions to these plans are tax deferred. Both the credit and the contributions will increase the net profit and potentially decrease the tax liability of the business.

Don’t Go It Alone

Some business owners underestimate the role the business entity plays in the tax planning process. Every business has its unique strengths and weaknesses, which is why it’s always

advisable to engage a tax professional to assist in assessing the pros and cons of each business entity.

Changes in the tax laws are to be expected as new provisions are implemented, and current ones expire or are extended. Staying up-to-date with the opportunities and challenges is part of every solid tax plan. Engage a tax professional for advice on additional tax planning strategies.

Founder and CEO of LEK Management Inc., Lynn Karam has two decades of experience in finance, operations, and strategic planning. Karam is an Enrolled Agent authorized by the United States Department of the Treasury to represent clients who are undergoing an audit and to negotiate with the IRS on her clients’ behalf. Her success rate in resolving even the most challenging of IRS scenarios has become the cornerstone of her success. As CEO, Karam uses her financial expertise to establish sustainable strategies that result in significant business growth for her clients.

by Mike Tresidder DIRECTOR OF SURETY AT INSURANCE OFFICE OF AMERICA

Establishing Trusted Relationships with Bonding Agents: Tips for Subcontractors

Construction projects today are growing in complexity as labor shortages, supply chain issues, and rising costs persist. As a result of unpredictable risk exposures like these, surety bonds continue to be an essential part of long-term business and risk management strategies for contractors.

Given this unpredictability, we are seeing general contractors (GCs) more frequently requiring subcontractors to provide bonds back to them, referred to as subcontractor bonds or sub bonds, even though there is no legal requirement to do so.

The subcontractor performance and payment bonds provided protect GCs from the risk of subcontractor failure on the project. This means, if there is an issue with a subcontractors’ performance, if they cannot complete a project, or if they are not paying their subs, supplier, or labor, the surety company will step in to either assist the subcontractor in finishing a project or find another subcontractor to complete the work.

To meet the growing requirements for sub bonds, subcontractors will need to ensure a strong relationship with their surety underwriter and agent.

State of the Market

In 2023, the market size of the US construction industry reached $3.0 trillion. While the industry helps to power a significant portion of the economy, labor shortages, supply chain issues, and inflation are slowing its growth. Ever-present labor shortages lead to construction delays, drive up wages, and lower profit margins for projects. As subcontractors continue to face the industry’s many challenges—such as labor shortages, supply chain challenges, higher lead times, and heightened costs—their bond program and team can serve as the lifeblood for their business.

The Right Surety Partners

Finding the right surety agent is critical for helping subcontractors navigate the intricacies of the bonding

To meet the growing requirements for sub bonds, subcontractors will need to ensure a strong relationship with their surety underwriter and agent.

process and secure surety solutions tailored to their needs.

The right surety agent is one who acts as a trusted business advisor and consultant as well as an advocate who can help articulate the story of the subcontractor so that the surety understands the company’s management and business plan. The surety producer that is the best fit will also have the experience, knowledge, and relationships for securing bonds that meet current and future needs.

Experience

Agents who specialize in construction surety bonds are experienced in contract bond requirements and bond underwriting and have a strong background in analyzing construction industry financial statements. These agents bring this experience to bear when helping subcontractors successfully prepare for the surety underwriting process. Every surety has different requirements for providing surety to subcontractors, and many are more stringent on key underwriting metrics such as net worth and working capital case requirements. The

more specialized the subcontractor is, the more potential for increased underwriting requirements and limited marketplace appetite. An experienced agent can navigate their client through these differences.

Knowledge

Surety agents will know industry trends, the local construction marketplace, and the local economy. They will become trusted advisors to their contractor clients. Knowledge of GC and owner reputations—and payment tendencies—can be critical to a subcontractor client when considering whether to enter into a contract with a new GC or owner.

Keys to Building Relationships

Relationships with reputable surety companies provide access not only to underwriting but also to resources and advice that can help inform solutions. The marriage between subcontractor, agent, and underwriter is critical in the long term.

Building a strong relationship with their surety agent and underwriter can

benefit subcontractors in many ways. Some of the key steps subcontractors should take to build a successful relationship with their surety agent include:

Maintaining regular communication. Communication is key in every successful relationship, so be proactive and timely – especially regarding financial updates, changes within the business, and job schedules. This will help to build trust and strengthen the relationship.

Knowing your partners. Subcontractors should take time to meet with their surety agent at least once a year. At a time when Zoom and Microsoft Teams meetings have become the norm, in-person meetings are ideal to foster personal interaction and connection and provide an opportunity to keep the surety agent up to date on work and financial performance and check in on growth plans.

Prioritizing transparency. Surety professionals don’t want to be surprised by company challenges. It is critical for subcontractors to be transparent with their surety agent on company changes—whether good or bad. Withholding information will compromise the relationship with the agent, and ultimately the underwriter. The sooner the surety team knows about a problem, the quicker it can be addressed.

The challenges facing the construction industry today are driving increased GC requirements (many times a condition from their surety) for subcontractors to secure sub bonds. By finding the right surety agent to help navigate the intricacies of the bonding process and by developing a strong relationship with a surety agent, subcontractors can meet the ever-increasing demands of bonding requirements, differentiate themselves from competitors, and position their company to succeed.

Mike Tresidder is the director of surety at Insurance Office of America. He can be reached at michael.tresidder@ioausa. com.

by Natalie Abshier PRODUCT MANAGER FOR PROJECTSIGHT AT TRIMBLE

Taking BIM Beyond Preconstruction

Construction projects are bigger and more complex than ever, making project management and execution an increasingly difficult job. While others may be responsible for particular tasks or defined roles, project managers must be a “jack of all trades,” keeping tabs on everything from labor, accounting and job costing to inventory, materials, and compliance. Then there’s the project itself, which may involve coordinating with other subcontractors, dealing with change orders and submittals, and ensuring that ever-changing plans are up to date for everyone working on the project.

Project management becomes even more complex when disconnected systems keep data locked up in silos. However, with a growing number of MEP contractors already investing in building information modeling (BIM) during the design phase, a logical next step is to leverage the model as a collaborative source of data throughout the project.

Leveraging BIM for Visibility

A growing number of MEP contractors are extending the value of BIM beyond the office to project managers in the field using cloud-based collaboration platforms that provide visibility and access to the 3D model.

Having a 3D model available for a project unlocks more than just space coordination. 3D models can be used to report quantities; track the progress of fabrication, installation, and other project milestones; visualize prefabrication packages; and to supplement RFIs, change orders and daily reports with model information. Contractors can also extract valuable data from model components, including material, size, labor rates, cost codes and more.

Huntsville, Alabama-based contractor HC Blake, for example, has implemented a fully integrated workflow that gives field teams access to constructible models from the jobsite. This enables them to build confidently from the coordinated model with visibility to real-world dimensions of building materials.

“By using the model, I don’t need to print out a dimension drawing [for the field], they can pull it themselves.

MEP contractors are extending the value of BIM beyond the office to project managers in the field.

Between handling phone calls, printing out the drawing, and having it driven out to the site, we’re easily saving one or two hours for each dimension request by using the model,” said Mark Campo , Director, VDC department at HC Blake.

This type of visibility, along with the ability to use the model as a collaboration tool and a centralized source of information throughout the project, provides big benefits for project managers, including:

• Time-saving Collaboration. Project managers can collaborate from anywhere at any time with project teams, offices or remote teams without costly specialized CAD software or training. Everyone has access to a single source of truth and up-to-date project data for collaborative decision-making, and the model can be used for real world procurement, fabrication, and installation.

• Efficiency and Preventing Rework. By extending the use of BIM in the field, project managers can make decisions on the spot without driving to the office to view changes or current specs. They can even utilize augmented reality technologies to visualize the model on site, see what it should look like and compare it to the real world with digital models at

1:1 scale. This makes it easier to communicate back with the design team and enable the project team to detect errors, observe omissions, and visually collaborate to resolve them and prevent costly rework.

• Visualization and Completion Tracking. With model-based status tracking, project data is available throughout the entire construction workflow, and the project manager can visualize the progress within the model whenever they need to, thereby eliminating the need for a phone call or email asking for a status update. In addition, by working from a model to track completion, project managers can track statuses of work not started, in progress or completed, allowing them to more accurately bill for work completed and get paid faster. It also helps them better understand how long certain tasks take in the field, which allows for more accurate project bidding and planning in the future.

• More Accurate, Efficient Procurement. The model can include additional data, such as the size and type of materials, labor rate, cost code and quantities, which can then be used to create the bill of materials (BOM). After leveraging the model to generate the BOM, it can be sent

to the digital ordering platform where the project manager can obtain quotes, review and validate the items, and order directly from their local supplier.

• Communicate Issues and Changes. By linking a specific BIM view to show the need for a change, project managers can help improve the response times for RFIs and change orders. This makes it easy for all construction stakeholders to quickly understand the full context of changes and what is needed to keep building. When everyone works from the same model, they can see issues in the model and who is working to address them.

• Hedge Risk by Capturing Project Information. BIM models, 2D drawings, and other project documents are stored in one place and accessible via the cloud, so everyone is working from current information and is notified when revisions are made. This also creates an audit trail, lowering the risk of disputes and making it easy for project managers to answer questions about what happened and when.

HC Blake has experienced many of these benefits firsthand. Being able to visually share what the building looks like before it is built helps them save time and improve efficiency. In addition, they can see how the systems should be constructed and if there’s a mistake, they can spot it a lot faster in a 3D model than in a 2D drawing and correct it in the software.

By democratizing the model so it is available across the entire project, project managers are empowered to deliver better outcomes, lower risk, and increase profitability.

Natalie Abshier is a Product Manager for ProjectSight at Trimble with over 30 years of experience in construction project management. Her breadth of experience includes serving as a project manager for a mechanical contractor, implementing software for large contractors and founding two project management software companies. For more information visit, mep. trimble.com

Armstrong Celebrates 90th Anniversary

➤ Continued from

excellence in design, engineering, and manufacturing. The year 1952 saw the company, under the leadership of James Allan Cary Armstrong, adopt a series of strategic initiatives that reshaped its operations and facilitated international growth. These initiatives have been fundamental to Armstrong’s development and success on a global scale.

Charles Armstrong, the current Chairman, underscores the company’s dedication to innovation, customer satisfaction, and environmental sustainability. “Innovation and a focus on customer experiences remain at the heart of what we do,” he says. Armstrong is also committed to sustainability and social responsibility, working towards reducing the carbon footprint of its operations and those of its customers. “We are proud of our contributions to sustainability and the positive impact our optimization focus has had through our work,” he adds.

Global Celebration

Over its 90-year history, Armstrong has contributed to numerous iconic buildings and projects worldwide. Despite changes and growth, the company’s commitment to its founding values remains strong. The anniversary was celebrated by Armstrong’s offices globally,

with events reflecting the diverse cultural traditions of its international teams. These celebrations were a nod to the company’s rich history and its future aspirations. “As Armstrong Fluid Technology looks to the future, it remains dedicated to advancing intelligent

Since its founding in 1934 the company has expanded from the challenges of the Great Depression to become a leader in its field.

fluid-flow technology, maintaining high standards of customer service, and promoting sustainability in its practices,” Charles Armstrong stated. With eight manufacturing facilities on four continents, and employees around the world, Armstrong Fluid Technology is known as an innovator in t he design, engineering and manufacturing of

Watts Water Remembers Life, Legacy of Donald Mullett

➤ Continued from page 3

Chairperson of the Board, issued the following statement:

“As we recognize the loss of an industry pioneer, this is a time to reflect on his dedication to family, the great accomplishments of his career and the many philanthropic endeavors he had supported throughout his life. Five generations of Mullett family leadership, and more than 100 years of growth, are a testament to their legacy. Mr. Mullett was a leader, friend and mentor to many, and a remembrance of his inspiration can bring strength to those who mourn his passing.”

Bradley Company was acquired by Watts Water Technologies, Inc., a global leader in the plumbing, heating and water quality industries, in October 2023.

Donald Mullett Remembered

Mullett was a visionary in the manufacturing industry, with his career at Bradley Company spanning 55 years. He began serving as Chief Executive Officer in 1980, assuming the role from his father, Howard G. Mullett

Under his direction, the company achieved consistent growth, expanding its reach to serve customers

worldwide. In addition to overseeing the development of cutting-edge washroom equipment like touchless handwashing fixtures, metering valves, washbasins and showers, he also extended Bradley’s portfolio to include the emergency and safety fixtures market. His mantra was innovating the most durable, high-quality solutions while treating employees and customers like family.

While being a champion of innovation, corporate social responsibility and environmental stewardship, his commitment to sustainability directly resulted in the development of countless water and energy-saving technologies that Bradley is renowned for.

Mullett served as Chairman of the Board for 27 years and became Vice Chairman after appointing Bryan Mullett , his oldest son, as Chairman in 2020. His philanthropic efforts also strengthened the surrounding Bradley Company community including a deep commitment to education. For more information about his life visit www.bradleycorp. com/donmullett.

He leaves behind his wife of 55 years, Barbara , and their three sons, Bryan, Erik and Christopher, along with their families. He was 81.

intelligent fluid flow equipment, control solutions and optimization technologies.

On the Leading Edge

In the shift toward digitalization and integration of fluid-flow systems, Armstrong leads the industry. With advanced solutions that leverage edge computing, IoT, machine learning, digital twin technology and demand-based control, Armstrong provides and protects efficiency in building mechanical systems, approaching energy optimization as a whole-building challenge and advancing the practice of full lifecycle management. Focusing on HVAC, Plumbing, Gas Transmission and Fire Safety applications, we provide energy-efficient, cost-effective solutions and performance management services to building and facility professionals around the world. Armstrong Fluid Technology is committed to sustainability. In 2019, Armstrong signed the Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment, a program launched by the World Green Building Council. As a signatory to the program, Armstrong has pledged to ensure that all its offices and manufacturing facilities operate at netzero carbon by the year 2030. To learn more visit armstrongfluidtechnology.com [In the year of its own 70th anniversary, the staff of CONTRACTOR would like to extend its congratulations to Armstrong Fluid Technologies, and best wishes for future success.]

page 3

District-Wide Boiler Solution in Southwest Ohio

➤ Continued from page 6

has been removed,” said Nuss. “Those all remain in service, along with a number of Bryan steam boilers that have been running since the 1990s.”

Over the years, the HVAC department has found that Evolution boiler parts have been available and affordable through Weber-Huff. Repairs and maintenance are also simple enough that they can handle the work without having to hire third parties.

Tepid Water Solutions

Bradley’s tepid water solutions are designed to create a safe tepid temperature, a necessary addition to your safety planning. The current ANSI standard calls for emergency eyewash and drench showers to deliver tepid water for 15 minutes. This assures that a user would not be subjected to very cold water and possible hypothermia or very hot scalding water and possible skin burns.

Tepid Water Solutions. Brought to Life.

To learn more please visit bradleycorp.com/industrial

The school district has grown since that first big retrofit, and so has its commitment to energy efficiency. As boilers required replacement, the HVAC department began seeking higher performance across their heating systems.

“The ease of maintenance and the ability to disassemble heat exchangers for service or replacement won the district over to the Evolution boiler, but they began looking for a condensing boiler that could offer the same benefits with higher efficiency,” said Noyen. “We introduced them to the Arctic boiler several years ago.”

Today, Arctic boilers are installed at four of the district’s facilities: Cherokee Elementary, Independence Elementary, Ridge Jr. High, and Endeavor Elementary. The most recent of these installations occurred at Endeavor, a 78,000 square-foot facility built in 2007 with an enrollment of roughly 725 students.

Redundancy and Efficiency

Many of Lakota’s mechanical rooms include two large boilers. Because the old units have been well maintained, most of the boiler replacements are preventative, with the goal of increasing efficiency. This means that the healthier of the two boilers in any given mechanical room generally has plenty of service life left.

“We typically remove one of the existing boilers and replace it with an Arctic of similar capacity,” said Nuss. “We run the remaining old boiler several times a year to ensure it’s serviceable, but the new boiler serves as the primary source of heat. This way, we capitalize on the efficiency of the new unit while maintaining the redundancy we want. Keeping the old boiler online also gives us great flexibility for mid-season service of the new boiler.”

The district’s long-term goal is to conduct upgrades in this manner across all its buildings before converting mechanical rooms to 100 percent condensing equipment.

“We’re proud to be involved with Lakota’s energy improvement projects,” said Noyen. “My house is in the district. Many of my associates have kids that attend these schools. We’re part of this community and our education dollars fund these facilities. Seeing the district invest in long-lasting, high-efficiency solutions is just one marker that indicates the district is using its funds wisely.”

How SMS Marketing Works for Home Services and Construction

➤ Continued from page 31

visual representation of your services.

7. Provide easy contact options

Include a clickable phone number or link that allows recipients to contact you directly or visit your website for more information. Make it easy for customers to inquire about your services or schedule appointments.

8. Track performance

Implement tracking mechanisms to monitor the performance of your SMS campaigns. Analyze metrics such as open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates to evaluate the success of your campaigns and make data-driven improvements.

9. Compliance with regulations

Ensure compliance with local regulations, including privacy and anti-spam laws, when sending SMS messages.

10. Follow up Consider sending follow-up messages to those who have engaged with your initial SMS, providing additional information or incentives to encourage further action.

Evolving Consumer Expectations

Consumers increasingly seek tailored and unique experiences in home renovation. To meet this demand, personalize your SMS campaigns by:

• Addressing recipients by name in messages.

• Offering customized service packages based on individual preferences.

• Providing virtual consultations to understand specific project requirements.

• With a rising focus on sustainability, consumers are keen on environmentally friendly construction practices. Adapt your SMS communication by:

• Highlighting the use of eco-friendly materials and construction methods.

• Sharing updates on sustainable initiatives within ongoing projects.

• Offering special promotions for green construction services to

align with eco-conscious consumer values.

Conclusion

SMS marketing is poised to play an even more integral role in shaping the future of home services and construction marketing. By leveraging

the opportunities, you can confidently steer your business toward growth with the enduring efficacy of SMS marketing.

With SMS marketing businesses can maximize the impact of their marketing efforts and achieve greater success in these competitive industries.

This HVAC Season, Leave the Heavy Lifting to Us

Whether you’re doing routine HVAC maintenance or a complete system overhaul, save all Summer long with SupplyHouse.com.

Philip Portman is the Founder/CEO of Textdrip, a business texting platform for E-Commerce, Recruitment, Insurance, Hotels & Hospitality, Real Estate, and Healthcare. He is a leading expert in SMS marketing and automation in digital marketing.

T&S Brass Announces Key Leadership Changes

TRAVELERS REST, SC — T&S Brass and Bronze Works, a leading global manufacturer of foodservice and commercial plumbing products, is pleased to announce significant changes to its leadership team, effective March 1, 2024.

Claude Theisen has assumed the role of chairman and CEO, after 50 years with the organization. His dedication and leadership over the years has helped guide the organization to achieve a solid presence on the world stage, making T&S a globally recognized commercial plumbing brand.

Eva-Marie Fox steps into the position of president and COO, bringing a wealth of experience to direct day-to-day operations. Theisen acknowledges, “I have full confidence in Eva-Marie’s ability to lead our operations with vision and integrity.”

With more than 30 years of dedicated service at T&S Brass, Fox has transitioned through various roles and responsibilities, including vice president of marketing. Actively engaged in the manufacturing industry, she currently serves as President-Elect for the North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers (NAFEM).

Claude Theisen moves to board chairman, Eva-Marie Fox assumes president role.

Ken Gallagher , a seasoned veteran with T&S Brass since 2000, has expanded his role to become the global vice president of sales and marketing. Theisen acknowledges the milestone by stating, “Ken is undeniably a driving force in our industry, showcasing unwavering dedication and expertise in every endeavor. His promotion is well-deserved.”

Furthermore, Zachary Theisen , who has been with the company for more than 12 years, has assumed the role of vice president of plumbing sales, solidifying his dedication and proven track record leading the plumbing sales team to success.

Theisen emphasizes, “With these changes and the rest of the dynamic leadership team in place, T&S Brass is poised to continue thriving and achieving new milestones of excellence. I’d like to congratulate these individuals on their new roles and offer them full support as we embark on this exciting chapter together.”

The transition at T&S Brass marks a significant milestone in the company’s trajectory. With a blend of experience and fresh perspectives, the new leadership team is poised to steer the company through its next phase of growth and innovation, further solidifying T&S Brass’s position as a leader in the foodservice and commercial plumbing products industries.

For more information, go to www.tsbrass.com

Environmental, Social, Governance

–

and the Unique Role of the Distributor

Continued from page 18

about that aspect of the Ferguson Cares program?

Vaughn: We’re really leaning in on the social side to make sure we’re supporting programs like Ace, Mentor and mikeroweWORKS, as well as working locally with school districts—even at the middle school level—to make sure that exposure is there and really elevating the reputation of skilled trades. We’re building skills labs in schools across the country in the hope of addressing, alleviating that worker shortage.

Another part of Ferguson Cares is access to clean water and sanitation. There are over 2,000,000 Americans in 2024 that don’t have access to proper

sanitation and clean drinking water. So, we’re working with organizations like Dig Deep and IAPMO to tackle that challenge. At the same time our green stormwater infrastructure team is doing incredible work helping municipalities adapt to changing or erratic weather conditions.

CONTRACTOR: Like you said to begin with, ESG is a very big umbrella.

Vaughn: It is, but it’s all connected. We can’t think like we have thought previously if we want to solve the challenges that we face today. We all need to think differently and more creatively, and the opportunities around water are plentiful.

Eva-Maria

Ken-Gallagher

Zach-Theisen

Software Showcase

software spotlight

SUCCESSWARE FIELD SERVICE MANAGEMENT

SOFTWARE for home service companies makes it easier to bulk renew customer agreements. In addition, its dispatching module has been updated: relevant job and technician information is available in a single location, quickly sort through unscheduled or unassigned jobs, filter jobs by more than one technician to see who is available, and send each technician a list of their jobs for the day or a communication by job to the assigned technician.

With Successware Connection, technicians can call the homeowner from dispatch without navigating to the customer record.

Successware

WWW.SUCCESSWARE.COM

▲

LSA MESSAGE LEADS

INTEGRATION from Scorpion allows clients to benefit from faster response times as the recent updates consolidate all communication threads within the platform, ensuring a unified view for each customer or lead. It also boosts responsiveness scores by sending an auto-response to any message leads a client receives. This helps to increase local services ad exposure.

Scorpion

WWW.SCORPION.CO

▼

▲ SERVICETRADE

COMMERCIAL

FIELD SERVICE SOFTWARE for commercial mechanical and fire protection contractors improves productivity with bestpractice workflows. It includes an administrative dashboard that provides complete visibility, streamlined scheduling and dispatching, and realtime AI-driven insights.

ServiceTrade

WWW.SERVICETRADE.COM

HOME SERVICES FINANCING OPTIONS

from Sera Systems and Service Finance Co. allows HVAC, plumbing, electrical and other home service contractors to instantly present multiple lending options at competitive rates for their customers without leaving the Sera app — while they are on customers’ premises, which helps close more sales. Customers can apply for financing for repair and replacement projects through Sera’s software: low-interest, no-interest and no-money-down options to meet customers’ preferences and financial requirements. Fast loan approval gets work started sooner, which improves cash flow.

Sera Systems

WWW.SERA.TECH

▲ REDTEAM FLEX CONSTRUCTION

MANAGEMENT from RedTeam Software is a cloud-based solution, now with preconstruction functionality and enhanced, collaborative features. The capabilities support a workflow designed to enable those running Construction Management at Risk projects and those looking to streamline their suite of preconstruction software tools.

RedTeam Software

WWW.REDTEAM.COM

REVIEW AND CAMPAIGN MARKETING TOOLS

from Jobber help home service businesses grow by leveraging the power of their existing clients. With the Reviews tool, service pros can stand out on Google and meet homeowners’ high expectations by automating review requests to their preferred clients as a part of their existing Jobber workflow. The Campaigns tool makes it easy to create targeted, branded emails.

Jobber

▲ FABRICATION SMARTTOOLS

is a drawing, routing and fabrication toolkit built to amplify Fabrication Parts in Revit to save time and increase productivity. In addition, it allows users to automate manual and repetitive processes—such as tagging, numbering, hanger location and placement—and define assemblies for prefabrication to reduce 3D modeling time by half.

Trimble

MEP.TRIMBLE.COM

▲

IGUIDE 3D VIRTUAL

WALKTHROUGH & FLOOR

PLANS

let contractors replace manual measurement and shorten project timelines. The system uses 360° lidar laser technology to capture millions of measurements in minutes. The iGUIDE team of professional drafters use this data to generate a 3D virtual tour, DWG floor plan and photos.

WWW.GETJOBBER.COM

▲

DOCUMENT CRUNCH

CONTRACT PLATFORM partners with PCL Construction to train and empower PCL’s project teams to derisk the company’s projects around contract compliance by leveraging its artificial intelligence and machine learning technology. Project teams can tap into a century’s worth of institutional knowledge to mitigate contractual risks.

Document Crunch

WWW.DOCUMENTCRUNCH.COM

iGUIDE

WWW.GOIGUIDE.COM

▲

TRUE BLUE PARTNER

PROGRAM from Simpro now includes XOi’s AI-based, tech-focused smart solution. This allows Simpro users to enhance technician experience, generate immediately actionable insights and drive revenue and profitability. Users can document the jobsite, register assets, and more. Simpro

WWW.SIMPROGROUP.COM

New Products

editor’s choice

EKLAY EZH20 SMART BOTTLE FILLING STATIONS

from Zurn Elkay offer fresh, filtered water while letting facility managers track stats across every unit. The units are ideal for large offices, airports, colleges and public facilities. With the ability to monitor filter status across all units it’s easier to plan and anticipate filter replacements. Select enhanced units also feature the quick filter-change wrapper for easy access to the filter for quicker changes. The FillSafe™ recognition will automatically update the LED light back to green when a new filter is installed.

Zurn / Elkay

WWW.ZURNELKAY.COM

WEBSTONE G-SERIES

Y-STRAINER from Nibco are lead-free, dezincification-resistant (DZR) strainers available with new G-thread bodies that are compatible with a host of fittings and accessories for a custom installation. Options include a DZR brass Y-strainer and the patented Pro-Pal Ball Drain strainer.

Webstone/Nibco

WWW.NIBCO.COM

▼

AUTO DRAIN SHOWER SYSTEM

is an anti-stagnation solution suited for use in healthcare facilities, nursing homes, or gyms. The diverter with integrated Auto-Drain drains the water from the pipes regardless of the position of the diverter handle. The latest enhancements include a diverter for dual shower sprays.

Chicago Faucets

WWW.CHICAGOFAUCETS.COM

▲ TECHNOFORCE 3-HVX/E-HVXR PACKAGED BOOSTER SYSTEM

combines the trusted performance from its line of pre-engineered and fabricated packaged booster pump systems with the efficiency delivered by Xylem’s hydrovar® X Smart Motor. The result is higher performance with a reduced footprint compared to legacy generation e-HV packaged systems, a reduction in space requirements of up to 30% by the e-HVXR.

Xylem

WWW.XYLEM.COM

GL1010W PREMIUM COWHIDE

SAFETY CUFF GLOVE from Pyramex are crafted from A-grade split shoulder cowhide leather and reinforced with Kevlar stitching. Its smart design includes heavyduty knuckle protection and exceptional abrasion resistance. The rubberized safety cuff shields wrists while also allowing for quick and easy removal. Pyramex

WWW.PYRAMEX.COM

GRINNELL G-FIRE ONE-BOLT

FIGURE 579A COUPLING features a a top-of-the-line polycarbonate lens for impact protection, durability and clarity. Hydrophobic coatings repel any water, sweat or debris, and anti-slip rubberized temples and nose grip keep the frames locked on when it matters. The G850 Nylon frame is made from a sustainable plant-based plastic. Studson

WWW.STUDSON.COM

ALTA HIGH VIS WATERPROOF SHELL JACKET from Helly Hansen is a hardcore waterproof, breathable shell jacket with Helly Tech performance membrane. CSA-certified with shoulder reflective for extra visibility. Mesh lining for comfort. Packable

hood with draw cord adjustment at front and Velcro adjustment at back.

Helly Hansen

WWW.HHWORKWEAR.COM

MEM X GLASS DESIGN

▲ RANGER AIR 260MPX MULTIFUNCTION ENGINE DRIVE from Lincoln Electric, designed specifically for the work truck industry. It is an air compressor, generator, battery charger, battery jump assist and multiprocess welder all in one. The Vanair compressor delivers 40 cfm at 150 psi. The 26.5-hp Kohler electronic throttle body engine delivers 10 kW of continuous AC generator power. Lincoln Electric PROMOTIONS.LINCOLN ELECTRIC.COM

▼ THE HAVEN 2000 BIDET SEAT boasts an unusually slim design. Equipped with instant water heating technology, this elongated seat eliminates the bulkiness of traditional bidets. It has a dual nozzle system, ensuring a thorough and hygienic cleaning experience. Bemis

WWW.TOILETSEATS.COM

BATHROOM COLLECTION is a collaboration of Dornbracht and Glass Design. The bathroom fittings collection features handles made from handcrafted artisan glass. Celebrating MEM’s 30-

year anniversary, this new collection includes two minimalist designs.

Dornbracht

WWW.DORNBRACHT.COM

▼ I-FLUSH AUTOMATED FLUSHING SYSTEM from Flushmate offers improved touchless flushing operations to help reduce touchpoints and spread of bacteria, help diminish recurring odors, and highlight the convenience of automatic flushing. The I-Flush’s wall sensor design is equipped with an auto-calibration feature that adjusts to the environment around it.

Flushmate

WWW.FLUSHMATE.COM

by Steve Spaulding

On Being a Good Corporate Citizen

Idon’t know who needs to hear this, but there’s more to running a company than making a profit.

Let me backpedal to say of course, making money is the main reason people start a business, the main reason they get up every day and run a business, and that companies that don’t turn a profit don’t stay in business very long.

Profits are also an important metric of success and success is nothing to be ashamed of. Although, if you read Al Schwartz’s column this month (on pg. 16) there’s a sense among some people that it should be! That being hardworking and successful equates to being a “greedy and oppressive member of some elite club.”

Part of that notion—business guy as bad guy—stems from a misunderstanding of how business works. There’s this idea that profits are just a pile of gold the owner sits on like a dragon, when in fact they’re the lifeblood of a company. They flow back into the economy in taxes, in capital and operating expenses.

And part of that notion comes from

ADVERTISER INDEX

income inequality, which is a bigger problem than just the “have-nots” envying the “haves.” According to the Economic Policy Institute, in 2022 CEOs were paid 344 times as much as a typical worker. Now, I’ve seen plenty of CEOs, I’ve read a few of their books, I’ve even met one or two, and I can tell you

a company that was only about making a profit. When you go into work each day there’s a big sign on the wall that says: “Company Value: Maximize Profits.”

It would be a company that paid its workers the bare minimum. A company that never invested in training. (Workers, after all, are an expense to be controlled,

this: they are none of them 344 times smarter or 344 times harder-working than any other human being. Because no one is. So I have trouble seeing how they are delivering (or deserving) 344 times the value.

(Chris, if you’re reading this? Please don’t fire me. Thanks.)

But when I say there’s more to running a company than making a profit… well, try a little thought experiment. Imagine

not a resource to be developed.) It would invest in workplace safety only to the point where that investment matched its level of liability; not “zero” accidents but finding the “acceptable level” of accidents. Recycling program? Carbon emissions reduction? Well, those things cost money. Help with the local food pantry? Do free work at the shelter? Where’s the profit in that?

For this issue I was able to interview Denise Vaughn, the Vice President of Environmental, Social and Governance for Ferguson (our conversation starts on pg. 18), and at one point she says ESG is, in essence, about being a “good corporate citizen.”

She went on to list several examples of what Ferguson does, but it got me thinking about regular citizenship. You vote. You show up for school board meetings. You pick up trash in the park on Earth Day. You return your grocery cart. You don’t have to do any of these things. You don’t make money for doing them, and you won’t get fined for not doing them. But the more people that do them, the better things are for everyone.

This is our annual Book of Giants issue (the feature starts on pg. 20). Read how some of the largest mechanical contractors in the nation are being good corporate citizens, and along the way delivering value that goes beyond profits.

Ask yourself, is that the sort of company you would want to work for? Is that the sort of company you would want to do business with?

Dunkirk - Keeping Families Comfortable

100% Effici nt, Z ro Emissions!

No wast d n rgy and no fossil fu l.

Availabl in 2 or 4 l m nt mod ls:

2 El m nt (from 6 kW to 12 kW)

4 El m nt (from 12 kW to 24 kW) Id al for radiant syst ms, applications r quiring sp cial t mp ratur s ttings and for us as a back-up h at sourc for solar applications.

Advanc d control saf ly and ffici ntly controls th l m nts by monitoring th r lay contacts that pow r th l m nts. Start-up l m nt is rotat d to nsur th ir long vity.

High Effici ncy Gas Boil rs

Less CO2 emissions and ENERGY STAR® c rtifi d with up to 95% AFUE - qualifying for utility r bat s!

Wall hung and floor standing mod ls fit any location. Combi mod ls off r dom stic hot wat r and hom h ating in on applianc . V nting fl xibility with approv d PVC, CPVC and polypropyl n .

Oil Boil rs W off r a full lin of oil boil rs including or ffici nt 3 pass boil r and st am boil r with optional DHW coil.

Electric BoilersGas & Oil Boilers Accessories

H2O Tanks W off r a full lin of stainl ss st l singl /dual coil indir ct hot wat r h at rs, storag tanks, buff r tanks and solar tanks.

Hot Wat r Radiators Radiators are a p rf ct match for Dunkirk hydronic h ating applications and op rat ff ctiv ly and ffici ntly with both low and high t mp ratur syst ms. Pan l, Flat Tub , Bas board, Hot Wat r Radiators.

Multipl Boil r Control Op rat s up to four boil rs to provid outdoor r s t op ration, dom stic hot wat r and s tpoint op ration with priority.