Contractor articles from November 2002

Contractor archives from November 2002

Pilots show contractors how to run a successful mission. (Industry News).(Mechanical Service Contractors Association)(Afterburners Seminars)
November 1, 2002... LAS VEGAS -- Some contractors might think of themselves as Top Gun. At the Mechanical Service Contractors Association convention Oct. I here, a group of current and former fighter pilots showed contractors how to function like one. It may...

Encompass prepackages Chapt. 11 reorganization. (Industry News).(Encompass Services Corp.)(financial restructuring)
November 1, 2002... SPECIAL TO CONTRACTOR HOUSTON -- Encompass Services Corp. announced Oct. 14 that it was proposing a financial restructuring plan as a "prepackaged Chapter 11." The company is soliciting the approval of its restructuring plan from its...

CSI releases two MasterFormat drafts. (Industry News).(Construction Specifications Institute)(related article: Contractor in Focus)
November 1, 2002... ALEXANDRIA, VA. -- The Construction Specifications Institute's MasterFormat Expansion Task Team Oct. 22 released Draft 2 of a revised MasterFormat document. The second draft invites comments from everyone in the construction industry to...

Expect slow recovery, Kohler president says. (Industry News).(Kohler Plumbing North America's Ron Pace)
November 1, 2002... KOHLER, WIS. -- A handful of builders will control the U.S. housing market by 2011, Ron Pace, president of Kohler Plumbing North America, told plumbing contractors meeting here Sept. 19. Right now the Top 100 builders perform 26% of all housing...

Arizona subcontractors get defects law. (Industry News).(construction defect law)
November 1, 2002... PHOENIX -- Arizona subcontractors scored a major victory when Gev. Jane Dee Hull signed HB2620 this past summer, a law designed to bring construction defect lawsuits under control. The law was passed to combat construction defect suits, such as...

Jury convicts inspectors. (Industry News).(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania city plumbing inspectors convicted on extortion charges)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... PHILADELPHIA -- A jury here convicted eight city plumbing inspectors in October on extortion charges for routinely taking bribes of $5 to $20 from plumbers and others. Jurors also found seven of the eight inspectors guilty of extortion. ...

Comfort Systems USA.(secures credit facility with GE Merchant Banking)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... Comfort Systems USA in mid-October secured a $55 million credit facility with General Electric Commercial Finance's Merchant Banking unit. The facility provides up to $40 million on a three-year revolving basis and $15 million on a five-year...

NSF International.(certifies National Association of Pipe Fabricators )(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... NSF International has certified the National Association of Pipe Fabricators flanged and grooved ductile-iron pipe products to NSF/ANSI 61 2002 water quality standard. Compliance with all phases of the NSF certification program is a requirement...

The Colorado Division of Fire Safety.(adopts standards)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... The Colorado Division of Fire Safety has adopted the most recent edition of NFPA 1, Fire Prevention Code. Adopted statewide in 16 states, NFPA 1 is designed to ensure public safety from hazards caused by fire and explosion. Its primary purposes...

Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Educational Foundation's.(course dates)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... Dates in 2003 for the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Educational Foundation's newly revised managing PHC projects courses have been set. "Essentials of Project Management" will be taught Jan.8-11 in the Washington, D.C., area and May...

Associated Builders and Contractors.(files friend-of-the-court brief, U.S. Supreme Court)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... Associated Builders and Contractors filed a friend-of-the-court brief Sept. 25 with the U.S. Supreme Court in support of the right of workers who choose not to join a union--but who are covered by a collective bargaining agreement --to refrain...

Design-assist lets Goldman save hospital time, money. (Industry News).(Health Central, Ocoee, Florida; S.I. Goldman Co./Comfort Systems USA)
November 1, 2002... SPECIAL TO CONTRACTOR OCOEE, FLA. -- Health Central, a 141-bed hospital built in 1992 in Ocoee, near Orlando, is known for its unique, hotel-like architecture. Like many health-care facilities in central Florida, the area's increasing...

Recruiting may bring contractors into alien territory. (Industry News).(Robert Wendover, Center for Generational Studies, talks about recruiting young people into mechanical contracting careers)
November 1, 2002... LAS VEGAS -- Most contractors have no idea how different today's young job seekers are, consultant Robert Wendover told contractors here. Wendover, who runs the Center for Generational Studies in Aurora, Colo., told members of the...

PSI meets to `win the war'. (Industry News).
November 1, 2002... ST. LOUIS -- Plumbers' Success International welcomed its independent plumbing contractor members here in mid-September for its most recent summit. During the course of the five-day event, the contractors covered pricing properly, training and...

Steam accidents injure workers. (Industry News).(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating an explosion Oct. 10 that injured two people at an Eli Lilly Co. plant in Greenfield, Ind., a state OSHA representative told CONTRACTOR. He declined...

Smith promoted at AMPAM. (Industry News).(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... ROUND ROCK, TEXAS -- American Plumbing & Mechanical has promoted Lloyd Smith to president and COO/multifamily operations. Smith, who was previously president/HVAC operations, assumed his new responsibilities immediately. Smith began his...

Wenninger names officers. (Industry News).(Exelon Services Wenninger Co.)
November 1, 2002... NEW BERLIN, WIS. -- Exelon Services Wenninger Co. announced that Norbert Schmidt has joined the company as president. Schmidt brings 23 years of estimating, project management, labor relations, marketing and strategic planning experience with...

You can't be in control without a budget. (Schmitt On Management).(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... YOU NEED BUDGETS. This is the time of year when your accountant should be telling you how well you have done this year and suggesting changes to your budgeting process for next year. It doesn't matter whether you are a recently laid off or...

Murphy Co. Mechanical Contractors and Engineers. (Contractors).(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... ALAN M. FRANKLIN and Kerry T. Mowlam have joined St. Louis-based Murphy Co. Mechanical Contractors and Engineers as a project engineer and design engineer, respectively, in the company's Denver office. Keith Motz has joined the company as...

Haberberger Mechanical. (Contractors).(hires Tim Schneider)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... Haberberger Mechanical, a St. Louis-based contracting firm has hired Tim Schneider as an estimator and project manager and Kurt Devee as a service representative. Schneider interned with Haberberger for 2 1/2 years prior to joining the company...

Isaac Heating and Air Conditioning. (Contractors).(director of training appointed)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... Isaac Heating and Air Conditioning has announced the addition of Greg Goater as director of training and safety. He is a New York state-certified teacher and an OSHA-certified safety trainer with more than 20 years' teaching experience.

B&V Mechanical. (Contractors).(president Randall H. Ingraham to State Board of Mechanical Rules)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... Michigan Gov. John Engler has appointed Randall H. Ingraham, president of B&V Mechanical, a West Michigan Mechanical Contractors Association member, to the State Board of Mechanical Rules. The board licenses contractors and makes...

West Michigan Mechanical Contractors Association. (Contractors).(appoints Cindy Morse as executive director)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... Cindy Morse has been appointed executive director of the West Michigan Mechanical Contractors Association. She has worked for the group since 2000.

S.I. Goldman Co. (Contractors).(names Beth Goupil executive assistant)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... S.I. Goldman Co., a subsidiary of Comfort Systems USA, has named Beth Goupil as executive assistant and administrative manager at the firm's Longwood, Fla., headquarters.

Condaire. (Contractors).(Tony Morrow appointment)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... Tony Morrow has joined Condaire, St. Louis, as project manager. Morrow currently is overseeing a water treatment plant project for the city of O'Fallon, Mo.

New England Mechanical Services. (Contractors).(employee of the month Fran Reynolds)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... New England Mechanical Services of Vernon, Conn., has presented the company's employee of the month award to its operations coordinator, Fran Reynolds, who has been with the firm for four years.

Service Roundtable. (Contractors).(appoints Matt Michel )(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... Matt Michel has been named CEO and president of the Service Roundtable, a contractor group that provides sales, marketing and profit-improvement tools.

LVI Services. (Contractors).(environmental remediation contractor appoints Thomas W. Gilmore)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... LVI Services, a national, full-service environmental remediation contractor, has appointed Thomas W. Gilmore as vice president of its Nuclear Decontamination and Decommissioning Services division.

Crane. (Manufacturers).(appointments)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... Crane has announced the appointment of Leonard Fruci to the position of president of Crane Valves of North America. He comes to the company from Flowserve's flow-control division where he was vice president/sales and product development. Tony...

Moen. (Manufacturers).(Rebecca K. Ross appointment)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... Moen has announced that Rebecca K. Ross has joined the company as director/marketing communications. Before joining the company, she was vice president/marketing for Advanced Lighting Technologies.

McGuire Manufacturing Co. (Manufacturers).(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... McGuire Manufacturing Co. announced that Bob Williams has joined the company in the newly created position of regional sales manager.

Burnham. (Manufacturers).(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... Burnham has made two changes in the hydronics division sales department management. Mike McDonnell has accepted the position of manager/ business development, and Daniel Kelbaugh moves to national sales manager. McDonnell joined Burnham in 1986...

Alsons Corp. (Manufacturers).(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... Steve McFarland has been named president of Alsons Corp., a subsidiary of Masco. He also has responsibility for Resources Conservation, a showerhead/accessories manufacturing company, and Mixet, a tub/shower valve and trim company. He replaces...

American Institute of Steel Construction. (Manufacturers).(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... Louis F. Geschwinder Jr. has been named vice president/engineering and research for the American Institute of Steel Construction. He will continue his duties as professor of architectural engineering for Penn State University while establishing...

Metabo Corp. (Manufacturers).(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... Metabo Corp. has appointed David Smith as executive vice president. He previously served as the company's vice president/marketing. Martin Cross has joined the company as director/corporate development. Before joining Metabo, Cross was general...

A.O. Smith Water Products. (Manufacturers).(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... A.O. Smith Water Products has named Michael C. Parker as vice president/marketing. He comes to A.O. Smith after 20 years with GE Appliances, where he had been marketing manager for the company's dishwasher business.

Weldbend. (Manufacturers).(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... Weldbend has retained Stephen G. Letko as account manager for Latin and South America as well as covering the eastern half of the United States. He also will be responsible for coordinating large domestic projects.

Little Giant Pump Co. (Manufacturers).(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... Rick Kelly has been appointed national sales manager/consumer products for the Little Giant Pump Co. He has been with the company since 1999, most recently as national accounts manager/ consumer products. Tracy Thomsen has been appointed...

Hernon Manufacturing. (Manufacturers).(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... Hernon Manufacturing appointed Gary Vaughn regional sales manager for the Southeast. He previously was an independent manufacturer sales representative as well as branch manager for Fastenal.

Lennox International. (Manufacturers).(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... Lennox International has appointed Robert A. Lauterbach vice president/corporate sourcing. He previously worked for GE, Motorola and Honeywell. Dale Tabinowski was recently appointed vice president/human resources for Lennox Industries....

FlowGuard Gold. (Manufacturers).(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... Harry Moos has joined the FlowGuard Gold plumbing systems national sales team as piping systems consultant. Prior to joining FlowGuard, he served in sales management for the Mansfield Plumbing Co., the Zurier Co. and the Sterling Plumbing Group...

Superior work at Reliant Stadium. (Letters).
November 1, 2002... HOUSTON -- As a frequent reader of CONTRACTOR for many years I have felt that I could rely upon the accuracy of your reporting. However, I have to tell you I was somewhat appalled at the obvious lack of attempt on your part to be accurate in...

Learning, licenses essential for PM. (Letters).(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2002... HOUSTON -- I enjoyed Kent Craig's column on "PM 101: Assess your aptitude, mindset, potential" (September, pg. 44). He is right in all these things as I am finding out. I am a one-year assistant PM for a mechanical contractor with eight...

Another view on grease traps. (Letters).
November 1, 2002... WASHINGTON -- In response to Dave Yates' column on grease traps in September (pg. 32), I too have witnessed the horrors of grease problems but I cannot agree with promoting automatic grease recovery devices. My experience with them has been...

Follow the fleet: contractors find that GPS fleet-tracking devices save fuel, eliminate personal use of vehicles and end disputes over time on the job. (Global Fleet Tracking).
November 1, 2002... GPS-type truck-tracking devices are proving to contractors that they can save time and money as they improve customer service. Three plumbing contractors, two in Florida and one in Texas, use three different global positioning systems in three...

Radiant walls for everyone, part 2. (Eatherton On Hydronics).(Column)
November 1, 2002... IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN my personal conviction that radiant walls are among the most overlooked potential applications of radiant for residential space heating. It makes the most sense if you look at it from my perspective. In both retrofit and...

NAOHSM plans 50th convention in 2003. (Etherton On Hydronics).
November 1, 2002... EAST PETERSBURG, PA. -- The 50th convention and trade show of the National Association of Oil Heat Service Managers will be held May 18-22, 2003, at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center in Hershey, Pa. To honor the 50th anniversary,...

PDF format allows sharinq of CAD drawings. (Feldmans On Computers).
November 1, 2002... WITH EVERY project comes daily obstacles or time-gobbling requirements that could snag adherence to any job schedule, including such tasks as getting approvals on job drawings and drawing changes. Obtaining required approvals or comments on...

Lowe's launches Energy Smart water heater. (Feldmans On Computers).
November 1, 2002... WILKESBORO, N.C. -- Whirlpool Corp. and Lowe's Corp. in September launched the new Energy Smart electric water heater that they say can cut homeowners' standby electricity costs by as much as 30% when compared to a standard electric water...

On the pvf pulse: Mfr. consolidation is obscuring brand names ... and their implicity added value. (Advertisement: Pipe/valves/Fittings).
November 1, 2002... WITH IMPORTED AND GENERIC PVF PRODUCTS, especially commodity items, becoming ever more prevalent, many people believe brand names no longer carry the cachet they once did--particularly in terms of value added to specific product group. In...

Unbalanced bids are risky business. (McGreevy On Law).
November 1, 2002... CONTRACTORS HAVE chafed at what they see as financing an owner's project through the withholding of retainage. As we have seen, more and more state legislatures are trying to help them out by putting limitations on the amount and length of time...

BGE HOME to close stores. (McGreevy On Law).(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... BALTIMORE -- BGE HOME, a member company of Constellation Energy Group, will close its eight retail appliance stores by the end of 2002 and focus on selling and servicing HVAC equipment, and plumbing and electrical systems. "In the current...

FLIPs create perfect tax-planning strategy. (Blackman On Taxes).(family limited partnerships)
November 1, 2002... MY CLIENTS LOVE family limited partnerships. So do I. So do all 50 of the United States; each state has passed legislation recognizing FLIPs. And every time the IRS pokes its head up to complain about some aspect of FLIPs, the courts beat...

Still time left to replace PB pipe. (Blackman On Taxes).(polybutylene)
November 1, 2002... PLANO, TEXAS -- Homeowners with polybutylene plumbing inside their homes or used for yard service lines outside may qualify for a free replacement of their plumbing system. If they bought their house, mobile home or multifamily structure after...

How to assess potential PM employers. (Craig On Project Management).(project management)
November 1, 2002... IN MY LAST TWO columns I talked about determining if you had the aptitude to be a project manager and, if so, what credentials you should earn. Making what you hope are the right choices about which employers to pursue can make or your break...

Safety engineers urge colleges to retrofit. (Craig On Project Management).
November 1, 2002... DES PLAINES, ILL. -- In light of recent accidents occurring in campus facilities, the American Society of Safety Engineers is recommending that all university facilities, including classrooms, dormitories, gyms, and fraternity and sorority...

Inspectors are qualified. (Letters).(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2002... BOOTHWYN, PA. -- I read Dave Yates' column on inspectors in the July issue (pg. 16) and the responses to it in September (Letters, pg. 22). I'm replying to those responses, including Dave Yates' comments about inspectors. I know for a fact...

Brochures on grease traps? (Letters).(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2002... WEST PALM BEACH, FLA. -- Great article by Dave Yates on grease traps in the September issue (pg. 32) and a great sense of humor. But VERY true. We could hold a class about septic and grease trap maintenance in Florida; no one takes care of...

New grease trap technology. (Letters).(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2002... BARRIE, ONTARIO -- I just read Dave Yates' column titled "In a FOG about grease traps" (September, pg. 32). I thoroughly enjoyed it and it provided me a number laughs. Dave mentioned that grease trap technology has remained relatively...

The 2003 Savana. (editor's choice).
November 1, 2002... THE 2003 SAVANA has had its first major redesign in seven years. New features include all-wheel drive, a left-side entry/load door and side access panels. A newly-available lineup of Vortec 4,800, 5,300 and 6,000 V8 engines provide it with...

The FPS folding platform step. (editor's choice).
November 1, 2002... THE FPS FOLDING PLATFORM STEP provides a portable platform step for safe, quick access to cargo beds of storage and utility trailers. Constructed of cold-rolled, light-weight heavy-duty steel, it supports up to 2,000 lb. Simply unlock, pull...

The EZ-glide aluminum ladder rack. (editor's choice).
November 1, 2002... THE EZ-GLIDE ALUMINUM LADDER RACK features an ergonomic design with hydraulic action, allowing easy raising and lowering of ladders without strain or injury. It is made to fit a wide range of vehicles including vans, mini vans, hi-cube vans and...

The Aerocell SRW Van Body. (editor's choice).
November 1, 2002... THE AEROCELL SRW VAN BODY for the Chevrolet and GMC single rear wheel cutaway chassis provides more space and headroom in a cargo van. The fiberglass body sweeps the door lines back and upward resulting in the distinctive, aerodynamic style. A...

The Freightliner Sprinter. (editor's choice).
November 1, 2002... THE FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER is designed specifically for commercial use. It is available in three different wheelbases, short 118", intermediate 140", and long 158", in cargo or passenger configurations, all of which can be delivered with two...

A full line of medium duty trucks. (editor's choice).
November 1, 2002... A FULL LINE OF MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS is available with cab-over design, making them easy to drive and highly maneuverable in urban environments. A variety of models are offered from class 3 to class 7 trucks, including the only four-wheel-drive...

The 2003 Hummer H2. (editor's choice).
November 1, 2002... THE 2003 HUMMER H2 is powered by a standard Vortec 6,000 V8 mated to a heavy-duty 4L65-E four-speed automatic overdrive transmission. A fully-welded ladder-type frame with modular, three-piece design offers outstanding strength. A standard...

The P/2000 truck body and shelving system. (editor's choice).
November 1, 2002... THE P/2000 TRUCK BODY AND SHELVING SYSTEM is available in 12'6" and 14' models. It utilizes double-wall all-aluminum construction and is built to encourage remounting when the chassis wears out. Inside is a system of flexible track shelving...

The 6.0-liter power stroke diesel engine. (editor's choice).
November 1, 2002... THE 6.0-LITER POWER STROKE DIESEL ENGINE delivers 560 ft.-lb, of torque at 2,000 rpm. The new engine will be available for 2003 models of F-Series Super Duty trucks and Excursion SUVs. The new powertrain will also produce a best-in-class 325 hp...

The 200E Chevrolet Express Van. (editor's choice).
November 1, 2002... THE 200E CHEVROLET EXPRESS VAN features major changes: a left-side passenger door, all-wheel drive, access panels and an upgraded powertrain. Superior traction is provided by a viscous-coupled transfer case that automatically transfers torque...

The Big Tex Grille Guard. (editor's choice).
November 1, 2002... THE BIG TEX GRILLE GUARD is made from 14-gauge, 1.9" thick steel tubing to provide protection from road debris and off-road brush. Heavy, outside welds prevent the guard from bending or flexing when in use. The guard is made to custom fit...

The Ridge 920 roll groover. (editor's choice).
November 1, 2002... THE RIDGE 920 ROLL GROOVER has a capacity range of 2" to 24" diameter pipe, the largest of any non-stationary groover. The portable unit mounts to a power-drive for use in the field or the shop. Detachable transporter wheels allow one person to...

This stainless steel undermount sink. (editor's choice).
November 1, 2002... THIS STAINLESS STEEL UNDERMOUNT SINK has no raised edge around the sink's top edge to keep clean. The sink sits flush beneath a smooth-finished opening in the countertop. Since the only visible steel is in the basin, the line of the countertop...

Tripod vice kits. (editor's choice).
November 1, 2002... TRIPOD VICE KITS are an ideal method for gripping and clamping without damaging PVC-coated steel pipe and conduit used in high corrosive environments such as chemical plants and sewage treatment plants. The kits come complete with tripod, yoke...

The Sewerooter T3. (editor's choice).
November 1, 2002... THE SEWEROOTER T3 can clear clogs from 2" to 4" diameter lines up to 100' long. The portable unit features a chrome-plated fold-down handle and durable tubular frame on 8" wheels for easy transport to and from the job. A power cable feed...

A quick twist plus fitting brushes. (editor's choice).
November 1, 2002... A QUICK TWIST PLUS FITTING BRUSHES have soft, easy-to-grip handles made of dip-molded plastic that prevents slippage when hands are wet or oily. They are made from all stainless steel (stem and fill wire) to endure years of use, and meet ASTM...

The sensation corner tub. (editor's choice).
November 1, 2002... * THE SENSATION CORNER TUB features a removable skirt. Easy to install and maintain, the tub measures 54" X 54" X 20", allowing it to fit smaller bathrooms. It has a non-porous acrylic gloss surface that is easily cleaned with any soft,...

This fail-safe actuated ball valve. (editor's choice).
November 1, 2002... THIS FAIL-SAFE ACTUATED BALL VALVE is constructed of Corzan CPVC for use in applications that require elevated temperatures and corrosion resistance. Designed for on/off service, the actuator will close the valve automatically in the event of a...

Journeyman pump pliers. (editor's choice).
November 1, 2002... JOURNEYMAN PUMP PLIERS feature six machined tongue-and-grooves for smooth adjustments up to a maximum of 1 3/4". They have a dual-material handle design to give the user a better grip without sacrificing tool strength or durability. Jaws are...

Series 4G grease duct. (editor's choice).
November 1, 2002... SERIES 4G GREASE DUCT requires no additional chase, allowing for quick and easy installation. The system is accepted by SBCCI, BOCA and ICBO as a 0" clearance to combustibles system; and there is no need to fabricate and install an additional...

Portable drainage pumps. (editor's choice).
November 1, 2002... PORTABLE DRAINAGE PUMPS enable construction crews to manage unexpected rain water, run-off and underground wells. A modular system of pre-assembled parts, the pumps are easy to install, lightweight, and long-wearing. Pumpex CIRCLE 121...

The model TL-M valve. (editor's choice).
November 1, 2002... THE MODEL TL-M VALVE is designed for temperature control of light-load steam systems. Typical applications are winterization protection of condensate lines, steam tracing, instrument tracing or other systems requiring control based on ambient...

This low water cutoff control. (editor's choice).
November 1, 2002... THIS LOW WATER CUTOFF CONTROL is for use with hot water and steam boilers. It can serve as either primary or secondary cutoff, depending on the installation. It can be set to trigger alarms or automatic water feeders. Taco CIRCLE 123...

The T series automatic reset thermostats. (editor's choice).
November 1, 2002... THE T SERIES AUTOMATIC RESET THERMOSTATS feature a dry seal design for protection against moisture, dust, water and oil. They have a 25-amp capacity and can be used in a wide range of operating temperatures. Selco Products CIRCLE 124...

Air-Data Multimeter. (editor's choice).
November 1, 2002... This Air-Data Multimeter is a handheld electronic digital readout meter offering HVAC contractors precision accuracy in the measurement of air flow, velocity, pressure and temperature. It has automatic correction for local air density;...