Archives: News Items

Tozour Energy Systems Keeps Costs in Control with Connect from KEY2ACT

Using Connect, a data collection and analysis solution powered by KEY2ACT, Tozour Energy Systems can pinpoint and even fix customers’ HVAC problems remotely, saving time and money. When Tozour’s technicians go on site, Connect helps them more accurately diagnose problems so they know exactly what they are looking for when they arrive. “They’re not wasting their time or the client’s time and money looking around for problems that don’t exist,” said Tozour’s Executive Vice President Frank Rhea.

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Looking for More Smart Solutions?

Visit the Smart Solutions Case Studies area of our website! You’ll see how other mechanical contractors found their win-win with productivity-enhancing and cost-saving applications from members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

Plus, you’ll find tips and ideas on other ways you and your company can save money and enhance your productivity.

VISIT SMART SOLUTIONS

Watch the MCAA18 Student Chapter Competition

The 2018 MCAA Student Competition brought together future leaders of our industry on the main stage of the convention.

Congratulations to our four finalists:

  • Colorado State University
  • Fairleigh Dickinson University
  • University of Washington
  • Wentworth Institute of Technology

The “Final Four” project involved the renovation of the heating and cooling systems for the Fogo De Chao Brazilian Steakhouse in New York City where chapters were tasked with coordinating the removal of the existing equipment and installing the new equipment.

The four finalists presented their plans to the on-stage judges and fielded a series of demanding questions. Missed the competition or want a second view? Watch the competition video from start to finish here.

Congratulations again to all the participants and this year’s winner…Colorado State University!

PCA Debuts New Seminar for Plumbing Service Contractors

This summer, the PCA is beta testing a new seminar on Plumbing Service to its members.  The Plumbing Service Roundtable is designed to be an efficient, one-day seminar that will allow attendees to be out of the office as little as possible.

The roundtable is scheduled for June 21st at the Hilton Chicago O’Hare, conveniently attached to the airport.  With a program scheduled from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM, attendees will have the ability to fly in and out the same day to maximize their time out of the office.

Sessions will primarily be led by contractors with the intention to open up dialog between attendees and share best practices.  The curriculum will include content on recruiting, training, technology, inventory, sales and truck setup.

With this new session being a beta-test, registration will be limited to 35 attendees and a limit of only one attendee per company.  It is also recommended that attendees already be engaged in plumbing service at some level in order to share their experiences.

Registration is open and available on a first-come, first-served basis.  For more information, download the brochure or register online.

 

Daikin Modular Central Plants Speed Installation, Eliminate Downtime for Data Center

With fast installation as high a priority as efficient cooling, Herakles Data of Sacramento, CA, chose pre-engineered, pre-assembled Daikin Modular Central Plants to meet their cooling demands. “Our number-one requirement in selecting a new system was speed,” said Laurence Stancil, director of facilities at Herakles Data. “The new cooling system had to be installed and operating as fast as possible, with minimal interruption.”

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Looking for More Smart Solutions?

Visit the Smart Solutions Case Studies area of our website! You’ll see how other mechanical contractors found their win-win with productivity-enhancing and cost-saving applications from members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

Plus, you’ll find tips and ideas on other ways you and your company can save money and enhance your productivity.

VISIT SMART SOLUTIONS

Need an Electrical Safety in the Workplace Program to Comply with NFPA 70E – 2018? This Model Program is for You!

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recently revised its standard for electrical safety in the workplace. NFPA 70E – 2018 requires affected employers to establish a written program for electrical safety in the workplace. MCAA’s Model Electrical Safety in the Workplace Program can be quickly and easily tailored to meet your company’s specific electrical safety applications.

This updated model program and all MCAA/MSCA safety resources are  free to members as one of many benefits of membership.

If you have any questions about this publication, or NFPA 70E – 2018, please contact Pete Chaney at pchaney@mcaa.org or 301-990-2214.

Discover the Latest from Sloan Valve Company, ServiceTrade and More in MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show

MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show connects our contractor members with the members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

Participating companies highlight and link to new products, product lines, services, solutions or web pages of particular interest. Here are just a few of the recent additions:
Sloan Valve Company MCAA Virtual Trade Show
Sloan Valve Company
Ideal for applications that require a reliable sensor activated faucet and efficient water savings.

Learn More

ServiceTrade MCAA Virtual Trade Show
ServiceTrade
ServiceTrade is customer service, sales, and service management software for mechanical service companies.

Learn More

Need Something Else?

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

Visit the Virtual Trade Show

Speaking of Smart Solutions

Visit the Smart Solutions Case Studies area of our website to learn how other mechanical contractors found their win-win with cost-saving and productivity-enhancing applications from members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

This section of our website also includes tips and ideas to help your company save money and enhance your productivity. Don’t miss it!

VISIT SMART SOLUTIONS

Check Out MCAA’s New Model Lockout/Tagout Program for Electrical Safety (Based on NFPA 70E-2018)

Introducing MCAA’s newest safety resource… Model Lockout/Tagout Program for Electrical Safety. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recently revised its standard for electrical safety in the workplace. The most current version of the standard is NFPA 70E – 2018. This version imposes a new requirement concerning lockout/tagout of electrical energy sources. Affected employers must now establish a written lockout/tagout program specifically for electrical safety.  The new requirement is independent of the long-standing NFPA 70E requirement for a written electrical safety program.

The program is available electronically, and it can be quickly and easily tailored to meet your company’s specific applications. The new model program and all MCAA/MSCA safety resources are  free to members as one of many benefits of membership. If you have any questions about this publication, or NFPA 70E – 2018, please contact Pete Chaney at pchaney@mcaa.org or 301-990-2214.

New Report Looks at How MCAA Members Use Technology

The MCAA-sponsored 2017 Construction Technology Report by JBKnowledge took an in-depth look at how the construction industry utilizes technology, software and IT. This week, MCAA released an “MCAA Focused” Report that analyzed the responses of MCAA and MSCA members. It looked at how MCAA members use and estimate BIM costs, track productivity, and emerging tech tools.

Part of the report focused on how MCAA members compare to the rest of the construction industry.  It showed that MCAA members have a greater adoption of BIM and have higher use rates for BIM with especially with coordination and fabrication.

The MCAA focused report also explored how MCAA members are tracking BIM hours and estimating their costs.  It found that far too many contractors do not track their BIM hours per project and as a result cannot use those hours to estimate the amount of time needed to perform BIM on a project.

The report also looked at emerging trends that contractors are currently testing. While the industry at large favors drones by a wide margin, MCAA members are far ahead of the industry on fabrication and modularization.

There’s Valuable and Timely Information in MCAA’s New WebBook Library

MCAA members can now access some of our most valuable publications from their desktop computers on our new WebBook platform. You will be able to read Management Methods Bulletins and other resources, take notes, print sections, and share with colleagues. And most importantly, when we have updated content, unlike a downloaded pdf, our WebBooks can be instantly updated behind the scenes while your notes are preserved securely on your computer.

MCAA Kicked Off Targeted Programming for Women Professionals at MCAA18

Our association’s leading women kicked off our Women in the Mechanical Industry forum with a networking reception. During the event, women learned how the forum will further enrich their careers through networking, educational, mentoring and career development opportunities beyond those already offered through membership in MCAA and MSCA. Women in the Mechanical Industry also sponsored a special session on two proven career advancement strategies measured to have the strongest payoff for women professionals.

Colorado State Wins Student Chapter Competition

The team from Colorado State University won the final round of the Student Chapter Competition at MCAA18, taking home the first prize and $10,000 for their efforts. Their proposal for the renovation of a New York City steakhouse beat out proposals from the Fairleigh-Dickinson University, the University of Washington and the Wentworth Institute of Technology.

Second place honors and a $5,000 prize went to the University of Washington team.

University of Washington is Student Chapter Competition Runner-Up MCAA18

 

The other two finalist teams, from Fairleigh-Dickinson University and the Wentworth Institute of Technology, took home checks for $2,500.

Teams from six additional universities received Merit Awards and checks for $1,000. They were:

  • Ball State University
  • Kennesaw State University
  • McMaster University
  • Iowa State University
  • Milwaukee School of Engineering
  • Illinois State University

Member Company, Arista, Boosts Consumer Confidence with New XOi Wearable Technology

The collaboration of member company Arista, NYC metro area’s leading HVAC contractor, and XOi Technologies revolutionizes the way the HVAC service industry interacts with clients by empowering customers to see the tasks completed on a service call rather than trying to decipher job details from a bill. Customers no longer have to rely solely on trust when assessing job performance and are provided with video documentation of each service call.

Leading HVAC companies, like Arista, are beginning to use new video documentation technology provided by companies similar to XOi Technologies that helps them prove the value they provide to their customers with planned maintenance and repair service.

An HVAC technician in the field uses wearable technology that looks like a pair of
safety glasses, but actually allows them to take video of what they see and do. They can record video evidence that shows you exactly what they’re doing and why.

Arista’s evidence-based approach to service assures customers they are getting what they pay for; the bill matches the services rendered. The video documentation is a useful record-keeping tool, especially for business owners and property managers in charge of multiple sites.

MSCA Discussion Forum is LIVE!

Here are the easy instructions on how to use MSCA Discussion Forum:

  • Log into MSCA’s website with your username and password
  • Go to Discussion Forum tab at upper right hand corner and click
  • Scroll down and pick a topic that you want to join or start a new topic
  • Share your thoughts or ask a question and hit the submit button
  • Connect with experts and peers in interesting discussions and get feedback

Want to share a profile image or go “incognito” with a different name?

  • Go to “My Forum Settings” and click
  • Click “Edit” if you want a different name to appear for your profile and save changes (default is your first name)
  • Click “Change Profile Photo” if you want to add an image or profile pic
  • Click and drag an image or select one from your files
  • Adjust the square frame over your image and click “Crop”
  • Clicking “Crop” saves your image and you can change it at any time

Want to Teach Your Workers How to Safely Use Air-Purifying Respirators? This Video Can Help!

MCAA’s Respiratory Protection Safety Training Video will teach your workers to protect themselves from certain types and concentrations of airborne hazards using air-purifying respirators.

Your workers will learn about:

  • User responsibilities
  • Hazard assessments
  • Respirator selection
  • Medical evaluations
  • Fit testing
  • Proper respirator use
  • Cleaning and sanitizing
  • Maintenance
  • Change schedules
  • Storage

Download or play

There’s More…

Accompanying materials are also available to assist you in highlighting key training points, documenting worker training and confirming that workers understand the training concepts:

Highlight key training points

Download the Pocket Guide

Document worker training

Download the Documentation Sheet

Confirm that workers understand the training concepts

Download the Test

Download the Test Answer Key

And don’t forget this related resource

Create a customized model program

Download the Model Program

Want More Safety Resources?

MCAA has you covered, with a full range of resources to help you protect your workers from injury and comply with applicable safety regulations. Here’s where to find them:

On our Direct Links to MCAA & MSCA Safety Resources page, where they’re listed by category with links.

Go there now

In the Resource Center, where you can use the blue Refine Your Search bar to pinpoint exactly what you’re looking for.

Visit the Resource Center

Have questions or need personal assistance?

Contact MCAA’s Pete Chaney.

New MCAA Safety Bulletin Covers Key Changes to NFPA 70E (Electrical Safety in the Workplace)

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recently released its latest standard covering electrical safety in the workplace. The most current version of the standard, which is on a 3-year revision cycle, is NFPA 70E – 2018. MCAA has prepared a safety bulletin covering the key changes that affect mechanical service workers who are working on equipment pushing 480 volts or less. The bulletin highlights the key changes on the front page, and provides a side-by-side comparison of the key changes between the 2015 and 2018 versions of the standard on subsequent pages.

Safety Bulletin

Additional MCAA/MSCA safety resources to help your company address the key changes to NFPA 70E  for 2018 will be available later this month. The resources include:

  • A new model lockout/tagout program for electrical safety in the workplace (the revised standard requires a written electrical safety lockout/tagout program); and
  • A revised model program on Electrical Safety for Service (Based on NFPA 70E – 2018).

If you have questions about the new standard, please contact Pete Chaney at pchaney@mcaa.org, or 301-990-2214.

Strengthen Your Service Dispatcher’s Performance!

Registration is now open for the much-anticipated and in demand MSCA Dispatchers Professional Development Training Program to be held September 12-13, 2018 in Kansas City, MO!

As the first point of contact for your customers, service dispatchers are vital to your business. To ensure these crucial team members are well-prepared to effectively perform their role, register them for the MSCA Dispatchers Professional Development Training Program.

New and experienced dispatchers will gain valuable insights and understanding about their importance to your business and its current and future success. This class SELLS OUT FAST so sign up your dispatchers today!

MCAA’s Student Chapter Competition: Final Four Selected!

The results are in! Congratulations to our four finalists for the 2018 MCAA Student Chapter Competition:

This year MCAA’s Student Chapter Competition drew 28 teams, including two new chapters. The project involved the renovation of the heating and cooling systems for the Fogo De Chao Brazilian Steakhouse in New York City where chapters were tasked with coordinating the removal of the existing equipment and installing the new equipment.

The top competition prize is $10,000. The second place team receives $5,000 and the other two finalists will each receive $2,500.

You can see the final four teams compete at the 2018 MCAA Convention in the Grand Oaks Ballroom on Monday, March 26 at 1:30 p.m.!

The winners will be announced at the Awards of Excellence breakfast on Wednesday, March 28 at 7:00 a.m. We’ll also be announcing the Chapter of the Year, Educator of the Year, and presenting new student chapter charters to:

Our convention is a great place to meet students from many schools who are interested in internships or jobs with MCAA member companies. You can attend the Annual Manufacturer/Supplier Exhibit on Tuesday, March 27 from 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m., where you will be able to talk to the students at their chapter tables.

Don’t miss the chance to meet our future industry leaders at this year’s Convention!

Visit the MCAA18 Website

Register Now!

Targeted Programming for Women Professionals Begins at MCAA18

If you’re a woman executive or employee of an MCAA/MSCA member company and you’re headed to MCAA18, join us for a networking reception and education session. The events kick off MCAA/MSCA’s Women in the Mechanical Industry forum. The forum will enable women in the mechanical industry to further enrich their careers through networking, educational, mentoring and career development opportunities beyond those already offered through membership in MCAA and MSCA.

Network with MCAA/MSCA’s Leading Women

On Monday, March 26, 2018 join us from 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. to meet and network with some of MCAA/MSCA’s leading women and share your ideas for future programing and other career-enhancing events!

Take Charge of Your Career Education Session

Women in the Mechanical Industry will sponsor a special education session on Tuesday, March 27, 2018 from 10:15 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. The session, based on Catalyst’s in-depth research study, The Promise of Future Leadership: A Research Program on Highly Talented Employees in the Pipeline, focuses on the two proven career advancement strategies that have the strongest payoff for women professionals:

  1. Building mutually-beneficial relationships with influential others
  2. Making achievements visible in ways that benefit the individual and organization

During this session, you will learn to:

  • Recognize the strategies you use to accelerate your career
  • Understand the full range of career strategies available
  • Discover which strategies work for women vs. men and why
  • Identify the areas in which you need help—whether in the form of opportunities, skills or insights—as you work to advance your career
  • Build or strengthen skills that will enable you to effectively leverage the career-advancement strategies that work for women
  • Develop a concrete plan for implementing these strategies at work
  • Expand your professional network

The session will be presented by Audrey Gallen, a Senior Director in the Learning Products & Programs Department at Catalyst. The organization works with some of the world’s most powerful CEOs and leading companies to help build workplaces that work for women and accelerate and advance women into leadership positions. She is a frequent speaker on the topics of unconscious bias, inclusive leadership, career advancement strategy, and LGBT workplace inclusion.

Learn More About MCAA18

Visit the MCAA18 Website

Discover How to Improve Staff Job Performance and Engagement at MCAA18

Connie Podesta Our industry is all about people who bring their skills, experience and personalities to work every day. Making sure your employees perform at their best and get along well with each other ensures your company will grow and thrive. Connie Podesta will lead two sessions at MCAA18 that will show you how to create a team of over-achievers who enjoy what they do and who they do it with.

Learn How the Power of Accountability and Ownership will Increase Performance at MCAA18

In a perfect world, all employees would be high achieving, self-motivated, engaging team players who see the big picture and always strive to do their best to get the job done on time without complaining. In the real world, many employees simply “meet expectations,” lack initiative, bring their personal life to work, stress over every change and whine about having to work…on the job!

This session will empower you with the attitudes, mindsets and strategies necessary to create a team that’s willing, able and excited to get the job done the right way! You will learn how to turn negative attitudes into positive ones, entitlement into accountability, complacency into productivity, complaining into solutions and “that’s not my job” into ownership.

Discover How the Power of Personality and Communication Will Increase Engagement at MCAA18

Imagine what you could accomplish if you could decode the mystery of human behavior and truly understand what makes people do what they do and say what they say. Research shows that the #1 key to success is the ability to get along with other people…at work and at home.

This session will both challenge you and empower you with the knowledge you need to get along better with the people in your life. It takes you inside the minds and personalities of the people you deal with every day – bosses, colleagues, partners, customers, friends, and family – so you can act, rather than react to whatever life throws your way. Get ready for less stress and more success!

Connie Podesta is a game-changing, revenue-building, sales-generating ball of fire whose rare blend of laugh-out-loud comedy, killer take-away strategies, and interactive, no-Power-Point delivery style have made her one of the most unique and memorable speakers on the stage today. A Hall of Fame speaker, she is also the award-winning author of seven books.

Learn More About Connie Podesta

Learn More About MCAA18

Visit the MCAA18 Website