Contractor articles from May 2003

Contractor archives from May 2003

PHCC chapter pays back sergeant serving in Gulf.(Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors members replace boiler at home of Sgt. Robert Slater )
May 1, 2003... STONINGTON, CONN. -- While Master Sgt. Robert Slater is stationed in the Persian Gulf as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, a group of plumbing-and-heating contractors helped him out of a jam back home. Replacing a leaky boiler that has...

Bosch buys Buderus.
May 1, 2003... FRANKFURT, GERMANY -- German tool and heating equipment manufacturer Robert Bosch Co. was on the verge of wrapping up its purchase of boiler maker Buderus in late April. Bosch announced in January this it wanted to buy Buderus (February,...

Is the end in sight?(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... THE COUNTRY'S LARGEST mechanical contractors are coming off of two tough years. Many of the Giants made their living last year from public jobs such as schools, prisons and water/wastewater treatment. The end of hard times may be in sight,...

At Contractors 2000 meeting: limit the opportunities for theft. (Industry News).
May 1, 2003... BOSTON -- Contractors might think that they are somehow immune to theft and embezzlement, but they are actually ripe for the picking, CPA John Edson told contractors here. Edson, an accountant since 1977 and a long-time consultant to...

Masco announces: new management. (Industry News).
May 1, 2003... TAYLOR, MICH. -- Masco Corp. in late April announced several key management appointments and organizational changes following the death of Raymond F. Kennedy, president and chief operating officer (March, pg. 5). Kennedy died suddenly at his...

NIBCO's Lee Martin dies. (Industry News).(Obituary)
May 1, 2003... ELKHART, IND. -- Lee Martin, former president, chief executive officer and chairman of the board of NIBCO, died March 26 at the age of 83, in Naples, Fla. Martin, vice chairman of NIBCO's board of directors since 1995, dedicated nearly 60...

Plumber makes living fixing '90s mistakes. (Industry News).
May 1, 2003... DALLAS -- Ah, the excesses of the 1990s! Remember the mid-'90s when business was booming, everybody had money for remodeling jobs and you couldn't hire a plumber to save your life? Joseph DiFrancesco III, president of Public Service...

DOC to be stronger advocate for U.S. plumbing exports. (Industry News).
May 1, 2003... BRASELTON, GA. -- The Plumbing Manufacturers Institute and the U.S. Department of Commerce plan to sign a memorandum of understanding later this year that would give the U.S. plumbing industry a stronger advocate in world trade issues. ...

Ed McMahon has accepted a $230,000 settlement to resolve his toxic mold suit against cleanup contractors Alliance Mechanical Group.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... * Ed McMahon has accepted a $230,000 settlement to resolve his toxic mold suit against cleanup contractors Alliance Mechanical Group. According to court records, Controlled Environmental Solutions paid the settlement. The former Tonight Show...

The National Standard Plumbing Code Committee.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... * The National Standard Plumbing Code Committee will consider proposed NSPC changes at a public hearing scheduled at 8 a.m. Aug. 21 at the Sheraton Premiere at Tysons Corner, Va. The code changes accepted by the committee will be included in...

The IAPMO Standards Council is ready to release the 2003 Uniform Plumbing Code and Uniform Mechanical Code.(International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... * The IAPMO Standards Council is ready to release the 2003 Uniform Plumbing Code and Uniform Mechanical Code. Developed over three years under the ASNI-accredited consensus process, the 2003 editions reflect recent technological advances in...

A fundraiser for association executive Brad Sell will help his family during his continued fight against cancer.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... * A fundraiser for association executive Brad Sell will help his family during his continued fight against cancer. It is scheduled for 6 p.m. June 4 at the Sheraton Towers in Framingham, Mass. The dinner is $100 a plate and includes comedy by...

The New Jersey PHCC and Pennsylvania PHCC will hold their first State-in-State Trade Show and Expo April 16, 2004, at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, N.J.(Brief Article)(Calendar)
May 1, 2003... * The New Jersey PHCC and Pennsylvania PHCC will hold their first State-in-State Trade Show and Expo April 16, 2004, at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, N.J. The one-day trade show will feature product ideas, seminars and technical...

Metropolitan Mechanical adds clean room fab facility. (Industry News).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... MINNEAPOLIS -- Metropolitan Mechanical Contractors (MMC), a unit of Exelon Services, announced the opening of its new Clean Room Fabrication Facility. With its state-of-the-art facility, MMC is positioned to provide high quality custom parts...

Yet another draft of MasterFormat released. (Industry News).(Construction Specifications Institute )
May 1, 2003... ALEXANDRIA, VA -- An outline has been published of Draft 4 of the expanded MasterFormat which, reflecting the industry's input, will have fewer divisions than the draft which preceded it but still have plenty of room for growth, the...

EMCOR UK inks BA deal. (Industry News).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... NORWALK, CONN. -- EMCOR Group Inc. announced that British Airways has awarded the company's UK facilities services operation a three-year contract valued at $40 million per year to be the airline's single-source provider of facilities...

U.S. Industries wants Jacuzzi Brands. (Industry News).(U.S. Industries Inc. plans for name change)
May 1, 2003... WEST PALM BEACH, FLA. -- U.S. Industries Inc., the parent of the Jacuzzi brand and Zurn family of brand names and Rainbow vacuum cleaner systems, in late April announced that it wants to change its name to Jacuzzi Brands. The firm also...

Baggett leaves AMPAM. (Industry News).(David Baggett resigns as president of American Plumbing and Mechanical Inc. )(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... ROUND ROCK, TEXAS -- American Plumbing & Mechanical Inc. in late April announced that David C. Baggett has resigned as the company's president and chief financial officer to pursue other business interests. Robert Christianson, chairman...

Rooter-Man franchise lauded. (Industry News).(ranked number one by 'Entrepreneur' magazine)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... BILLERICA, MASS. -- Rooter-Man received top honors in the Plumbing category with a Number 1 ranking in the 2003 Franchise 500 issue of Entrepreneur magazine, the franchiser announced. The 30-year-old Massachusetts-based drain-cleaning...

PHCC, education group address training issues. (Industry News).
May 1, 2003... FALLS CHURCH, VA. -- In a move to address workforce development, Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors--National Association has partnered with the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) to develop a world-class plumbing...

U.S. Pipe shutters Anniston, Ala. castings plant. (Industry News).(United States Pipe and Foundry Co. ceased operations at its U.S. Castings plan)
May 1, 2003... BIRMINGHAM, ALA. -- United States Pipe and Foundry Co. has ceased production and manufacturing operations at its U.S. Castings plant in Anniston, Ala. The decision comes after several years of declining financial results at the U.S. Castings...

Make 'creative' sales to existing customers. (Schmitt On Management).
May 1, 2003... NOT ALL CONTRACTING businesses will survive the coming year. I won't cry over the loss. Some contractors who merely limp along in good times really become major problems at every level of the industry during downturns. Recessions and cyclical...

Red-White has new owner. (Schmitt On Management).(majority of existing shares of Red-White Valve Corp. sold to Valvoindustria Ing. Rizzio)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... LAKE FOREST, CALIF. -- Red-White Valve Corp., a plumbing and commercial valve manufacturer, is under new management as of March 14. Founded in 1971 as a joint venture of Mitsui & Co. and Toyo Valve Co. of Japan, the majority of its existing...

DOT requires drug tests for pipeline contractors. (Forum).
May 1, 2003... ON AUG. 27, 1999, the U.S. Department of Transportation made it mandatory for all gas companies to establish minimum requirements for both their employees and contractors who perform work on existing gas pipelines (49 Code of Federal...

Don't lower water temperature to save energy. (Letters).(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2003... SACRAMENTO, CALIF. -- I enjoyed Dave Yates' column in the March issue of CONTRACTOR ("Storing hot water at 120[degrees]F doesn't save energy," pg. 24). Dave's treatise was done well and should open a few eyes. The minor difference he had...

Two tough years: scrambling Giants find work in schools, hospitals, prisons, and water and wastewater treatment plants. (Book Of Giants).
May 1, 2003... I'm from the government and I'm here to help" has long been a line from an old joke. In the past year, however, it's been true as many of country's largest mechanical contractors found work building schools and prisons while markets such as...

Two views of ISH: despite war, SARS and a drop in visitors, ISH is still the world's best plumbing-and-heating show.
May 1, 2003... The themes of wellness and conservation that dominated this year's ISH show in Frankfurt, Germany, stood in stark contrast to what was happening elsewhere in the world. The world's largest plumbing-and-heating show ran from March 25 to 29,...

Options for controlling snow-melt systems. (Eatherton On Hydronics).
May 1, 2003... LET'S CONTINUE to look at the different options for controlling snow-melt systems. Remote snow cup controllers: This control logic, while better than no control logic at all, leaves a lot to be desired due to its lack of slab monitoring...

Crane acquires NH Valves. (Eatherton On Hydronics).(Crane Canada)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... STAMFORD, CONN. -- Crane Co. announced the acquisition in early April of NH Valves, a Newman Hattersley Canada Ltd. Co., by Crane Canada, a Crane Co. unit. The acquisition will become part of the Crane Valves North America division of Crane...

Circulation is the key to comfort. (Hydronic Systems).
May 1, 2003... THE HEATING SYSTEM is the heart of our home; and like our hearts, its operation determines how we exist. Can you imagine the repercussions if our heart operated like most heating systems? What do you suppose would happen if blood flow were...

Unrelated software vendors create tie-ins. (Feldmans On Computers).(Product/Service Evaluation)
May 1, 2003... TIE-INS OF UNRELATED software products to streamline productivity are increasingly common. Here are three solutions for contractors that, while they can also stand alone, integrate with other programs to bolster efficiency. Streamlining...

Who says that warranty is for one year? (McGreevy On Law).
May 1, 2003... IN OUR EXPERIENCE, warranties are one of the most misunderstood concepts in the construction industry. Many owners, designers and contractors think they have put a one-year warranty in their contracts, when in fact they are 100% wrong. ...

Trusts keep everyone happy except the IRS. (Blackman On Taxes).
May 1, 2003... A FAMILY BUSINESS owner (Joe) was advised by his lawyer and accountant to sell his business (Success Co.) to his daughter for $1.8 million. He called me for a second opinion. My guess is that Joe's problems apply to millions of small family...

What you should do before job mobilization. (Craig On Project Management).
May 1, 2003... IN BETWEEN THE JOB being sold and the job being bought out is a critical stage of project management. Most companies don't pay enough attention to this stage of job "gestation" where the job just kinda sits out there in a state of limbo. The...

Reader questions energy savings. (Letters).(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2003... DELTON, MICH. -- I just read Dave Yates' column in CONTRACTOR on storing hot water ("Storing hot water at 120[degrees]F doesn't save energy," March, pg. 24). I believe that Dave made an error in his logic. The 1,817.7 additional Btu per...

Craig helps firm to grow. (Letters).(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2003... METAIRIE, LA. -- As the business owner of a small and emerging HVAC firm, I can tell you that every month I look forward to reading the columns by H. Kent Craig in CONTRACTOR magazine. I also read the other contributors, but I find that the...

A new line of molded large-diameter fittings. (editor's choice).
May 1, 2003... A NEW LINE OF MOLDED LARGE-DIAMETER FITTINGS offer contractors and engineers a dependable alternative to fabricated large-diameter fittings. The 10" and 12" fittings are made from injection-molded PVC for high strength and durability. The...

The Heirloom suite collection of fixtures. (Products).
May 1, 2003... THE HEIRLOOM SUITE COLLECTION OF FIXTURES includes two Victorian pedestal lavatories and a matching two-piece elongated toilet. The Heirloom lavatory measures 26" X 22" with a large shelf area and a concealed front overflow drain. The Petite...

The 320-E battery-operated crimp tool. (Products).
May 1, 2003... THE 320-E BATTERY-OPERATED CRIMP TOOL is designed for use with the ProPress press connection system. The new tool features a lightweight (10 lb.), compact design and runs on a 14.4v. nickel-metal hydride battery. The tool's head swivels...

The DHW green water heater module. (Products).
May 1, 2003... THE DHW GREEN WATER HEATER MODULE is a cost-effective approach to domestic hot water needs when connected to hydronic boilers. It easily mounts to equipment room walls to provide significant installation and space savings. It has a capacity...

The CA-6203 CA-CALC combustion analyzer. (Products).
May 1, 2003... THE CA-6203 CA-CALC COMBUSTION ANALYZER is a practical tool for tuning boilers and low NOx systems for safe, efficient operation. Real time flue gas data including [O.sub.2], CO, C[O.sub.2], NO, NOx, temperature, draft pressure, excess air and...

The Veritek bathtub and bath alcove. (Products).
May 1, 2003... THE VERITEK BATHTUB AND BATH ALCOVE are made from a compression-molded material that has the color blended throughout, so there is no coating to chip or crack. The one-piece tub has a generous 16" height with a 1 1/2" water retention flange to...

The Stratford widespread lavatory faucet. (Products).
May 1, 2003... THE STRATFORD WIDESPREAD LAVATORY FAUCET features solid brass construction and is available in over 30 finishes and 41 handle trim options. It may be easily coordinated with matching accessories. Watermark CIRCLE 107 ON INQUIRY CARD...

The weatherguard van shelving system. (Products).
May 1, 2003... THE WEATHERGUARD VAN SHELVING SYSTEM is designed for Sprinter vans, cube vans, step vans and trailers. The system is easy to assemble and accommodates a wide selection of shelving accessories including modular drawer unit, cabinets and...

BK mechanical channel. (Products).
May 1, 2003... BK MECHANICAL CHANNEL is equipped with convenient tick marks located on 1 1/2" centers along the length of the channel, serving as a built-in tape measure for fast and accurate field cuts. Pre-punched 9/16" holes can accommodate up to 1/2"...

Test Tee mechanical test plugs. (Products).
May 1, 2003... TEST TEE MECHANICAL TEST PLUGS for cast iron and plastic pipes come in eight sizes for 2", 3", 4", 5", 6", 8" and 10" pipe. They are safe and efficient, able to hold the pressure of a 15-story building, as compared to pneumatic test plugs...

The Power-Vee automatic feed drain cleaner. (Products).
May 1, 2003... THE POWER-VEE AUTOMATIC FEED DRAIN CLEANER now has a simplified feeding system that's lighter and easier to operate. The cable feeds at a rate of up to 16' per minute. It easily unclogs sink, shower and laundry drains up to 3" and can quickly...

These two caddy fasteners. (Products).
May 1, 2003... THESE TWO CADDY FASTENERS allow the user to easily create multiple strut trapeze installations. Adjustable and removable, they have a load rating of 220 lb. Erico CIRCLE 112 ON INQUIRY CARD [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

The Asceri collection of customized accents. (Products).
May 1, 2003... THE ASCERI COLLECTION OF CUSTOMIZED ACCENTS can provide faucet hub, shower trim and accessories that compliment other bathroom design patterns for a luxury, integrated appearance. Specialty orders (such as company logos) can be custom made. ...

Knapheide KUV series service bodies. (Products).
May 1, 2003... KNAPHEIDE KUV SERIES SERVICE BODIES are made for use with Ford's E-Series utility vans, the SRW E350, DRW E350 and DRW E450. They deliver greater interior space, plus easy-to-get-to outside storage compartments. H&H Equipment CIRCLE...

These plastic landscape rocks. (Products).
May 1, 2003... THESE PLASTIC LANDSCAPE ROCKS hide unsightly vents, cleanouts, well pipes and much more around houses or wherever needed. They come in gray, white and sandstone to coordinate with any landscape design. Topp Industries CIRCLE 115 ON...

The Cirrus limited use half-mask. (Products).
May 1, 2003... THE CIRRUS LIMITED USE HALF-MASK for short-term construction projects is available in two sizes: small/medium and medium/large. The thermoplastic elastomer material withstands physical and chemical exposure. The single head strap and cradle...

The economy basic radiant heat panel. (Products).
May 1, 2003... THE ECONOMY BASIC RADIANT HEAT PANEL provides fast, easy installation and trouble-free operation for small area (less than 1,250 sq. ft.), hot water radiant systems. It is pre-wired and pre-assembled. Consolidated Plumbing Industries ...

The Oxfordshire vanity. (Products).
May 1, 2003... THE OXFORDSHIRE VANITY features intricately hand-painted floral and leaf patterns on a black background. It includes three drawers, two cabinets and adjustable shelving. Habersham CIRCLE 118 ON INQUIRY CARD [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

The Polycast presloped trench drain system. (Products).
May 1, 2003... THE POLYCAST PRESLOPED TRENCH DRAIN SYSTEM is designed for both indoor and outdoor applications. It is made of polymer concrete, a high strength, chemical-resistant, closed cell material with a water absorption value of less than 1%. The system...

The Bermuda whirlpool tub. (Products).
May 1, 2003... THE BERMUDA WHIRLPOOL TUB measures 59" by 59" by 17" deep. allowing for a full-body soak, while the offset optional seat provides a comfortable space to sit for sponge bathing or shaving. Constructed of Lucite, it is available in 23 colors. ...

The 604 series differential pressure switch. (Products).
May 1, 2003... THE 604 SERIES DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE SWITCH features automatic calibration, trapezoidal bead diaphragm design, multi-plated contacts and compact packaging. Clark CIRCLE 121 ON INQUIRY CARD [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

The Callisto line of shower, tub, lavatory and kitchen faucets. (Products).
May 1, 2003... THE CALLISTO LINE OF SHOWER, TUB, LAVATORY AND KITCHEN FAUCETS provide high-end design at an affordable price. The faucets feature ceramic disc cartridges and are available in an assortment of popular finishes. The dual handled lavatory faucets...

The Rollabench mobile maintenance shop. (Products).
May 1, 2003... THE ROLLABENCH MOBILE MAINTENANCE SHOP allows the user to easily wheel 2,000 lb. or more of tools and equipment up to a job site. It features all-steel welded construction, and from ,5 to 17 lockable drawers, depending on the model. Torqer...

The Capri widespread lavatory faucet. (Products).
May 1, 2003... THE CAPRI WIDESPREAD LAVATORY FAUCET features dramatic lines and wide flared handles. Pictured in polished chrome, it is also available in polished nickel, satin nickel, and pearl nickel finishes. Harrington Brass Works CIRCLE 124 ON...

How Giants are dealing with the downturn. .(2002 a tough year for contractors)(Editorial)
May 1, 2003... WITH MORE MINUS signs in the percentage change column than we've seen in awhile, our 2003 Book of Giants graphically shows what many mechanical contractors already know: Last year was tougher than the year before. Another sign on our list...