Phc News Blog

Peculiar, Mo. — Sioux Chief Mfg Co., Inc., hosted 84 plumbing students and their teachers to their facilities south of Kansas City, Mo. The SkillsUSA participants were able to experience first hand, the manufacturing capabilities and innovative processes that produce many of the top-quality products they install.
The 45th annual National Leadership and Skills Conference (NLSC) was again held in downtown Kansas City, MO from June 21st through June 26th. SkillsUSA is a national organization serving teachers and students from high school and college, who are preparing for careers in technical, skilled and service occupations, including plumbing occupations.
More than 15,000 people — including students, teachers and business partners – participated in the week-long event. More than 5,000 outstanding career and technical education students competed hands-on in 91 different trade, technical and leadership fields. Sioux Chief congratulates all of the National Conference attendees as well as the champions for each field.

Brampton, Ontario — Rheem Canada has consolidated the physical operations of its three business units – Heating and Cooling, Water Heating, and Swimming Pool Heaters and Boilers marketed under the Rheem, Ruud, Raypak and WeatherKing labels – into a single headquarters and distribution center in Brampton, Ontario, a Toronto suburb. The relocation to the new 220,000-square-foot, two-story facility in the Churchill Business Park is designed to drive higher levels of customer service as well as operational efficiency.

Boston — Addario’s Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical, LLC announced its partnership with GreenPlumbers. With the demand for Earth-friendly technology quickly on the rise, Addario’s is committed to educating Massachusetts consumers on how to “go green.” As a trusted installer for tankless water heater manufacturer, Rinnai, Addarios has taken the first steps to give homeowners new on-demand water options to drastically decrease the amount of gas and water usage in the home.

In 2008, after 10 years in business, Addarios expanded its services to meet all home service needs. As a trusted partner of some of the largest home improvement retailers in the country, as well as heating system giants, National Grid, Trane and Burnham, Addarios continues to build a positive reputation among the citizens of Massachusetts and believes this is the logical next step to building a future around new plumbing and heating technology.

Addarios is excited to carry the torch throughout Massachusetts with GreenPlumbers’ Urban Dam project which is a three-phase program to identify residential water and energy savings goals on a house-by-house basis. Each homeowner receives a comprehensive 50-point audit and installation opportunity providing immediate water and energy savings, followed by appliance and fixture change-outs and solar, gray-water and rain-water alternative technologies. The goal is to achieve and sustain water conservation through behavioral change and implementation of new technology.

“We’re proud to be the first GreenPlumbing Company in Massachusetts and are committed to giving our customers cutting-edge, eco-conscious information and products,” said Steven Addario, Jr., Owner of Addarios. “We are thrilled about doing something really positive for our company, our customers and most of all, our planet,” he added.

GreenPlumbers is a global brand formed by the Master Plumbers & Mechanical Services Association in Australia and is an innovative, national training and accreditation program that assists plumbers in understanding their role in the environment and public health. The program will result in increased water and energy savings for consumers and businesses across Massachusetts and America, and will create a positive image change for thousands of plumbers.

Ambler, Pa. — For the third year in a row Bradford White Water Heaters has been named the tank type water heater most purchased and recommended by contractors, according to an independent industry study conducted by Clear Seas Research. The annual report provides an in-depth analysis of the water heater industry including trends in product, installation, replacement & servicing, brand selection factors, brands most often purchased, product information resources and more. Bradford White was also the brand most chosen and recommended in the 2006 and 2007 Clear Seas Research Studies.

“To be named the water heater of choice in an independent study three years in a row is a testament of our dedication to professionals and the plumbing and heating trade. We make the highest quality and most reliable water heaters right here in the U.S., and we sell them only to professional contractors through wholesale distribution. It gives the entire industry a leg up in an era of oversees manufacturing and big volume retail,” said Bradford White’s Nick Giuffre, president and chief operating officer.

St. Louis — In response to significant growth in the Illinois market, Murphy Company has opened a new office in Fairview Heights. Tom Hegger, vice president of the Quick Response Group, currently heads up the new office.
“As an Illinois native, I’ve been excited to see the growth in the region over the past few years,” said Hegger. “Murphy has made a commitment to become part of this community by establishing an office rather than working in Illinois as a Missouri contractor. We look forward to being part of continued growth in Illinois.”
Hegger said the office currently focuses on smaller to medium-sized projects but has capabilities to handle larger projects and can offer the full spectrum of Murphy services. Murphy’s recent Illinois work includes projects for Alton Memorial Hospital, Ameren, Ameritech, Collinsville and East Alton-Wood River High Schools, Cerro Copper, Gateway Regional Hospital, KUNA, Greenville and St. Elizabeth Hospitals, St. Clair County, SBC, Scott Air Force Base, Solutia and U.S. Steel. An open house is scheduled for July 8 at 3 p.m.
Murphy has hired two Illinois natives – Thomas C. Westerheide and Jeff Blandford – as project managers (photos at http://www.budurl.com/westerheide and www.budurl.com/blandford ). Westerheide brings more than 25 years of experience to Murphy. He has managed projects at American Steel Foundries, Belleville Memorial Hospital, the Columbia and Granite City, Ill., school districts, Trinity United Methodist Church and multiple banking facilities. A member of the Southern Illinois Builders Association and the Great Southwestern Illinois Association of Plumbing-Heating-Cooling and Mechanical Contractors (GSW-PHCC), he attended Southwestern Illinois College and earned an associate degree in HVAC from Ranken Technical College. Westerheide also holds the CFC certification from the Refrigeration Service Engineers Society.
Blandford’s 15 years in the mechanical construction industry include a wide-ranging list of projects, including work for Scott Air Force Base, the Belleville School District, St. Clair County, Dynegy Power Plant, Southern Illinois University, St. Elizabeth’s Hospital and the state of Illinois. He is a member of SIBA, GSW-PHCC and Southern Illinois Critical Hospital Engineers. Blandford completed Project Management Development training at the Johnson Controls Institute. He also holds an associate degree in air conditioning, heating and refrigeration from Belleville Area College and graduated from Ranken Technical College in industrial electronics technology.
Murphy’s CFO, Rob Koester, CPA, is a board member for the Leadership Council of Southwestern Illinois. Murphy Company is a member of SIBA, GSW-PHCC, the Council of Owners and Construction Associates Inc., the Southern Illinois Chapter for Healthcare Engineering, the Illinois Hospital Association, the Small and Rural Hospital Association, and Critical Access Hospitals.
Murphy Company delivers mechanical solutions to the industrial, commercial, institutional and heavy industrial markets. With corporate offices in St. Louis and Denver, Colo., and regional offices in Fairview Heights, Ill., and Colorado Springs, Colo., the firm offers process piping, HVAC, refrigeration, plumbing, design-build, piping fabrication, energy solutions and 24-hour service. Murphy currently is ranked No. 11 on Engineering News-Record’s list of top mechanical contractors in the United States. Founded in 1907, the firm employs more than 1,000 people nationwide. For more information, visit www.murphynet.com.

Loveland, Colo. — On June 15, 2009, Teal International Corporation launched www.HEATlibrary.com, a website designed to share training and educational materials across corporate and association lines throughout the heating, ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration and plumbing trades. The “HEAT” in heatlibrary.com is an acronym for Hvacr&plumbing Education and Training. “Library” refers to an extensive database that will grow as educators, associations and institutions contribute materials.

“The HEAT Library is a culmination of over three years of development and consulting with hvacr and plumbing industry education providers, ”said Lawrence Drake, Teal International Corporation president and past executive director of the Radiant Panel Association. “For the twenty years I have been involved with trade associations, there has always been a struggle to find ways to cooperate and coordinate training between organizations. It seemed everyone thought it was a good idea, but the concept was seldom implemented. Now, with the power of the Internet and the digitizing of everything from text books to webinars, the HEAT Library provides a central repository for educational programs and materials from all segments of the heating and plumbing industry.”

With its advisory board made up of several top executives in hvacr and plumbing associations, trade publications and the professional educator arena, the HEAT Library has its finger on the needs of the industry training world. Teal International Corporation says input of the advisory board and online forums will help keep the HEAT Library tuned to the needs of the industry.

Educators and education providers can become members of the HEAT Library for very little cost. As a member, they can upload an unlimited number of items into the database. These items include almost anything that can be put in digital form such as word documents, spread sheets, slide presentations, videos, e-books and so on. Even live webinars can be listed in the library with time and dates.

The member can restrict who will have access to their documents, such as trade associations, educational institutions, manufacturers, wholesalers or even specify other HEAT Library members by name. Members can also set a wholesale and retail price for each item, and provide detailed descriptions with promotional materials.

Members may browse the library and choose items to offer through their own network. They simply select the item, print out the access information, and provide it to their customers. Their customers access the items through a special, customized portal page.

The HEAT Library also contains areas accessible to any visitor. The online retail store has many of the education and training items available for immediate download by anyone. Other features of the HEAT Library include a set of calendars that list local and national training events across North America, open forums where anyone can post a discussion on events, materials or industry education in general. The site also hosts full-featured webinar rooms that can be rented by the month.

“Our first big challenge is to stock the shelves, so to speak” said Drake. “Any organization, business or individual having educational materials to sell and/or share can become a member and upload items to the library.” The HEAT Library is offering a 90-day free trial to new members in order to build content in the library.

The Canada Green Building Council has recently announced that a LEED® Rating System for homes is now available in Canada.
LEED® Canada for Homes promotes the design and construction of high-performance green homes. A green home uses less energy, water and natural resources; creates less waste; and is healthier and more comfortable for the occupants.
The rating system allows points for innovation such as water reuse, indoor water use, efficient hydronic design, efficient domestic hot water design, and appliance choices, to name a few.
To find out more on the rating system, visit: http://www.canadagreenhomeguide.ca/home.aspx.

Dallas — The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA), North America’s largest organization of fire sprinkler contractors, has announced a new fuel card program as a benefit for its members. Now AFSA members can get a nickel per gallon rebate when they enroll in AFSA’s new Exxon/Mobil Fleet Card Program.
In an industry where time is spent each day driving to the job site, fuel costs directly affect the bottom line on a daily basis. Saving money and tracking your fleet expenditures is critical. That’s why the ExxonMobil Fleet Card offers one of the most generous rebate programs in the industry.
When you and your employees use your AFSA Exxon/Mobil fleet card, your monthly statement will reflect the reduction, saving you money right off the top! Plus, the $50 enrollment fee is WAIVED for AFSA members. There’s no risk or obligation, and this program is exclusively for AFSA members.
Whether you have five vehicles or 500, the ExxonMobil Fleet Card can help you manage your business expenses. Visit www.ExxonMobilFleetOffers.com/AFSA or call 214/356-8325 to learn more about this program.

Newport News, Va. — Ferguson has teamed with Habitat for Humanity to build 20 homes for those impacted by the 2008 floods. The construction is part of the annual Habitat for Humanity AmeriCorps Build-a-Thon, June 14-20.
Ferguson will provide toilets as well as lighting fixtures for the family rooms, kitchens and bathrooms of the homes.  Ferguson is a national partner with Habitat for Humanity and provides two PROFLO toilets for Habitat houses built throughout the country.
“Ferguson is honored to help our friends and neighbors rebuild our community,” said Jess Gonzalez, general manager for Ferguson. “Everyone in this community was impacted by the devastation of the floods last year.  By working together and each doing a little, we can help provide new homes and a fresh start for our hard-working citizens.”
The 2009 Build-a-Thon celebrates 14 years of AmeriCorps members helping Habitat for Humanity affiliates and partner organizations build affordable houses and eliminate substandard housing. To learn more about the build please visit www.cvhabitat.org. 

Ontario, Calif. — The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) and GreenPlumbers® USA have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a collaborative arrangement to enhance the technical content of GreenPlumbers’ training and accreditation modules by extracting provisions contained within IAPMO’s Uniform Codes. IAPMO and GreenPlumbers will also partner to develop additional programs and services that will advance the sustainability goals of both organizations.

Through the collaborative agreement, GreenPlumbers will adapt their training/accreditation modules to follow provisions as outlined by the 2009 editions of IAPMO’s Uniform Plumbing Code, Uniform Mechanical Code, Uniform Swimming Pool, Spa and Hot Tub Code, Uniform Solar Energy Code and the 2010 IAPMO Green Plumbing and Mechanical Code Supplement.

IAPMO and GreenPlumbers will also develop a Green Plumbing and Mechanical Inspector Certification Program derived from the Uniform Codes and the GreenPlumbers curriculum, with a target date for delivery in late 2009. GreenPlumbers has provided IAPMO with an exclusive Conservation/Foundation Partnership with regard to GreenPlumbers training and accreditation modules and programs.

Moving forward, the organizations will explore the feasibility of mutually creating an Engineer/Specifier certification module and training program.

“From its inception more than 80 years ago, IAPMO has embraced the conservation movement through its partnerships and provisions within its Uniform Codes,” said Russ Chaney, IAPMO executive director. “The development of a Green Plumbing and Mechanical Certification program is an exciting next step in IAPMO’s ongoing advancement of a sustainable environment and we are excited to work with GreenPlumbers on this progressive project.”

GreenPlumbers® USA is an innovative, national training and accreditation program that assists plumbers in understanding their role in the environment and public health. The organization’s goal is to train and deploy a “green army” of thousands of plumbers to promote the benefits of water conservation and the reduction of GHG emissions by changing consumer and plumbing behavior through the use of energy efficiency and water saving technologies. For more information, direct your Web Browser to www.greenplumbersusa.com.