Snips articles from December 2008

Snips archives from December 2008

Born to run: Florida parts store uses unusual duct setup to stay cool.(Features)
December 1, 2008... J&P Cycles may be a seller of aftermarket motorcycle parts, but the $5 million retail store's HVAC system was anything but an afterthought. J&P Cycles in Ormond Beach, Fla., is part of Destination Daytona, a 150-acre, $50 million mega...

Contractors call struggling economy No. 1 challenge of 2009.(Making dollars & sense)
December 1, 2008... In their 28 years of running the family plumbing and HVAC company, Keith Beinvenu and his three brothers have rarely seen business this bad. "This is definitely one of the worst economic situations we've seen," Bienvenu said. Bienvenu...

Closing the gap: how to get older and younger people to work together better.
December 1, 2008... Face it: The generation gap these days in more like a canyon. People under 30 and people over 40 do not see eye to eye. The over -40 crowd wonders why the 25-year-olds want to be promoted to manager during their first week of employment--and...

New duct liner takes the stage at performing arts center.(applications in the field)
December 1, 2008... During a theater performance, the audience wants to hear the actors on the stage, not the sound of mechanical equipment in the background. That is why mechanical and electrical engineers W.L. Cassell & Associates paid special attention to...

Rooftop systems reduce vibration for radio station.
December 1, 2008... When listeners tune in to their favorite talk-radio station, the last thing they want to hear is noise from an HVAC system. To eliminate this from happening, Entercom Communications in Kansas City, Mo., installed McQuay rooftop systems....

U.S. Green Building Council awards project grants.(association news)
December 1, 2008... The U.S. Green Building Council announced several projects that will receive grants from the organization, including a green roof energy calculator. The Green Building Research Fund was created to spur research that will advance...

Building safety group presents awards.(association news)
December 1, 2008... Bob Weber, code consultant and director of the Clark County, Nev., Building Department, received the International Code Council's highest honor. Weber received the Bobby J. Fowler Award during the ICC's annual conference, Sept. 14-17 in...

Associations collaborate on energy efficiency.(association news)
December 1, 2008... With buildings accounting for 40 percent of primary energy use in developed nations, ASHRAE announced it would work with the International Facility Management Association to make structures more efficient. A memo of understanding between...

Grants available for manufacturing camps.(association news)
December 1, 2008... Grants ranging from $2,500 to $5,000 are now available to nonprofit camps that introduce young people to careers in manufacturing and engineering. The grants are a collaborative effort between the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association...

Building codes recognize vent-free gas appliances.(association news)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... International Code Council officials voted to uphold the ability of homeowners to install and use vent-free gas appliances in U.S. homes. "Considering that one of the ICC's missions is to protect health and safety, we are pleased that it...

Trumpf changes tool names.(supplier news)
December 1, 2008... Trumpf Inc. says that it has a new way for users of its electric, battery and compressed air power tools to recognize them. All products will have the name of TruTool, followed by the "core" name. For example, the N 500-8 nibbler, is now...

Unico unveils contractor training center.(supplier news)
December 1, 2008... Unico Inc. has opened its new 1,580 square-foot training center in St. Louis. "Unico's promise of superior indoor comfort is only possible when its systems are installed correctly, and the best way to ensure proper installation is...

Geothermal earns tax credits under new law.(supplier news)
December 1, 2008... Home and commercial building owners who install geothermal heating and cooling equipment are now eligible for federal tax credits, officials with WaterFurnace International announced. The credits were included in the Energy Improvement and...

Hyperthem honors Advance Cutting Systems.(supplier news)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Hyperthem presented an outstanding sales award to Advance Cutting Systems for selling Hyperthem's plasma units and computer numeric controls in 2007. Advance Cutting Systems is a supplier of CNC plasma cutting machines and coil lines for...

Mississippi man recognized as top NATE technician.(contractor news)(North American Technician Excellence)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Gary Hodges, service manager at Carthage Heating and Cooling in Carthage Miss. took first-place honors as the nation's top home comfort technician during the ninth annual Certified Technician Competition. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The...

Eight more contractors achieve GreenStar status.(contractor news)
December 1, 2008... The Mechanical Service Contractors of America awarded eight MSCA GreenStar designations in September. Since MSCA GreenStar was introduced in May, 11 member contractors have received MSCA GreenStar status, which recognizes MSCA...

ACCA introuduces 'ComfortU'.(contractor news)
December 1, 2008... The Air Conditioning Contractors of America has created a new online educational opportunity called ComfortU. According to ACCA officials, the program will provide access to training on topics such as management, marketing, sales, system...

Fluke introduces Building Doctor Web site.(Website overview)
December 1, 2008... The doctor is in. Fluke Corp. has launched a new Web site at www.MyBuildingDoctor.com to help technicians diagnose problems and meet building maintenance challenges. Developers of the site say that users can research problems, check...

Farr APC site features new product info, case studies.(internet news)
December 1, 2008... Farr Air Pollution Control has redesigned its Web site with new product information. Farr APC officials report that the new site at www.farrapc.com will provide viewers with easier site navigation. The site also contains information on the...

Standex adds new product data.(internet news)(www.standex-electronics.com)(Standex Electronics Inc.)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Standex Electronics unveiled a new Web site, which the company says contains hundreds of product data sheets. The site at www.standex-electronics.com also provides information on the custom products listed on Web sites from companies...

Emerson adds refrigeration Webinar to site.(internet news)
December 1, 2008... Emerson Climate Technologies has added a refrigeration industry Webinar to its Web site. The Webinar, "Accurately Measuring How Your Refrigeration System Operates," deals with existing methods for measuring the efficiency of refrigeration...

Unified group offers service management forum.(meetings & conventions)(Conference news)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Representatives from more than 35 HVAC companies attended the Unified Group's 2008 Service Management Forum Sept. 24-27 in Salt Lake City. Officials from the Unified Group said that members were able to share best practices on developing...

Emersion addresses Clean Technology conference.(meetings & conventions)(Conference news)
December 1, 2008... Warren Beeton, vice president of engineering for Emerson Climate Technologies, participated in the Clean Technology 2008 event to address environmental and energy concerns. Beeton's presentation, which is available as a podcast...

Economy takes center stage at Nexstar meeting.(meetings & conventions)(Conference news)
December 1, 2008... The Oct. 2-4 Nexstar Super Meeting in Seattle took a close look at the current economic climate. Two speakers were invited to the three-day event to talk to members of the independent contractor group. Michael Gerber, author of The...

DMI companies names new president, CEO.(people in the news)
December 1, 2008... DMI Cos. announced that it has appointed Raymond W. Yeager president and chief executive officer. Prior to his employment at DMI, Yeager held the position of budget accountant at PPG. Yeager joined DMI Cos. in 1984 as controller. He...

Employee rules are not made to be broken.(contractor cents)
December 1, 2008... Last week I visited a contractor for the first time. A lot of changes had to be made. The biggest change that had to be made was by the company owners. For their company to be better, they had to change their actions. [ILLUSTRATION...

Standard covers ventilation in health care facilities.(indoor air quality)
December 1, 2008... A new standard from the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers tackles requirements for proper ventilation in health care facilities. "Ventilation of Health Care Facilities" defines ventilation system...

UVC improves pregnancy rates, says study.
December 1, 2008... An eight-year study found that the use of ultraviolet C lights, installed in the HVAC system, had a clinically significant impact on clinical pregnancy rates. The study was conducted in an in-vitro fertilization clean room laboratory at...

Air cleaner cuts home dust by half, company says.(wholesaler news)
December 1, 2008... Researchers have determined that the Trane CleanEffects whole-house air cleaner reduces dust accumulation in the home by more than 50 percent, its manufacturer said. Scientists at Environmental Health & Engineering Inc., in collaborations...

Temperature Equipment buys HVAC distributor.(wholesaler news)
December 1, 2008... Chicago-based HVAC distributor Temperature Equipment Corp. has purchased Excelsior Manufacturing & Supply, and HVAC distributor and sheet metal manufacturer. Terms of the sale were not disclosed. Excelsior is a privately owned...

Meier Supply expands distribution center.(wholesaler news)
December 1, 2008... Meier Supply Co. Inc. opened an expanded distribution center and corporate headquarters in Johnson City, N.Y. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Sept. 25. The expansion project added 10,800 square feet to the distribution center, which...

Grainger opens in Panama City.(wholesaler news)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Facility maintenance distributor Grainger has opened its first branch in Panama City. The new branch will offer businesses and institutions in Panama an inventory of products needed to keep their facilities running. "Grainger selected...

Air conditioner, heat pump shipments down.(indoor air quality)
December 1, 2008... Factory shipments of central air conditions and air-source heat pumps for August totaled 544,179, down 4.7 percent compared with the same month a year ago, AHRI reported. For the year to date, the Air-Conditioning, Heating and...

Drexel Metals products receive MCA certification.(roofing news)
December 1, 2008... The Metal Construction Association has approved several roofing products made by Drexel Metals Corp. of Ivyland, Pa. Products certified in the Metal Construction Association Roofing Certification Program meet or exceed standards published...

Association issues paper on lumber with metal components.(roofing news)
December 1, 2008... The Metal Construction Association has issued a white paper on the use of preservative treated limber with metal roofing and wall products. Titled "Metal Roof and Wall Panel Components in Contact with Preservative-Treated Lumber," the paper...

Alabama.(roofing news)
December 1, 2008... Lawson State Community College in Bessmer, Ala., was granted accreditation of its program by HVAC Excellence. HVAC Excellence says the staff and administration at Lawson State Community College have taken a leading role in recruiting and...

Arizona.(roofing news)
December 1, 2008... The Arizona Chapter of the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association held a go-cart racing and networking event for SMACNA-Arizona contractors and their guests. The chapter hosted 60 people Sept. 25 the F-1 Race Factory...

California.(roofing news)(Grainger new branch opening)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Grainger has expanded its operations in the San Francisco Bay area by opening a new branch in Fremont, Calif. "Grainger's local expansion was in direct response to customer requests for more facilities maintenance products closer to them,"...

Indiana.(roofing news)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Indianapolis-based Capitol Supplies celebrated 80 years in business by treating their customers to lunch. Over 150 customers attended the Sept. 25 luncheon, which featured hand-carved New York strip steaks. Vendor representatives were on...

Code series.
December 1, 2008... Delmar has released its Dewalt code reference series. Referencing the International Code Council products, this series provides users with 80 pages of up-to-date and illustrated code requirements, violations and installation concerns. Each...

Mechanical estimating manual.(books, software & lit)
December 1, 2008... BNP Media's AEC bookstore is offering a mechanical estimating manual that provides a resource for contractors, estimators, owners and anyone involved with estimating mechanical costs on construction projects. The book also includes labor and...

Solutions guide.(books, software & lit)
December 1, 2008... This new guide from Henkel Corp. provides detailed information on the company's line of adhesives, sealants, surface treatments and lubricants for a wide range of industrial assembly applications. This 78-page resource guide is divided into 12...

Training kit.(books, software & lit)
December 1, 2008... The Mechanical Contractors Association of America has released a new safety kit called "Right Before the Lift: Rigging Safety." The new kit includes a training DVD, a set of pocket-size guides, a documentation system and instructions for...

Boiler brochure.(books, software & lit)
December 1, 2008... A brochure is now available for Lochinvar Corp's new Sync condensing boiler. The Sync boiler combines stainless steel heat exchanger technology with modulating/condensing combustion to deliver thermal efficiency as high as 98 percent in low...

Selling handbook.(books, software & lit)
December 1, 2008... The Buck Starts Here is a handbook that aims to teach salespeople, sales managers and owners successful selling techniques. The publication is written by Lou Ward, who has over 60 years of sales experience. Ward explains in the book how selling...

Thermostat control.(new products)
December 1, 2008... The TK-400 universal twinning/paralleling kit is designed to allow a single thermostat to control two separate HVAC units. The TK-400 can also be expanded to control a total of four HVAC units. The device can be used on common or separate...

Laser meters.(new products)
December 1, 2008... The new Fluke 416D and 411D are designed to measure distances up to 200 feet using advanced laser technology. Faster and less cumbersome than traditional tapes or wheels, the manufacturer claims that these pocket-sized, professional-grade tools...

Spray sealant.(new products)
December 1, 2008... Spray-Seal is a new duct sealant specially formulated for spray applications on the jobsite. The manufacturer says that the Spray-Seal works in conjunction with Hardcast's mobile duct sealant delivery system to provide labor savings and...

Calendar of events.(Calendar)
December 1, 2008... DECEMBER 10 "LEED, Follow or Get Out of the Way" is the name of an online educational session from the Air Conditioning Contractors of America. the course is available through the ACCA's new ComfortU, an Internet-base training system...

Wholesalers & Mfr. Reps. Directory.(Directory)
December 1, 2008... The following is a paid directory of distributors, wholesalers and manufacturers representatives, listed by state. To have your company included in this list, please call Sally Fraser at 248-244-6240. We urge our readers to contact these...

Optimism is the correct economic plan for 2009.
December 1, 2008... The December issue of SNIPS magazine always devotes its cover story to the year ahead. We try to let our readers know what changes they can expect next year and how they will impact their business. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In preparation...