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Virtual and simulation training isn’t necessarily new to the industry but its acceptance has been met with intrigue, and trepidation. But to say that this is the future of training? Not so fast. The consensus thoughts regarding this type of training is that will never replace in-person or on-the-job training, but it will become a Read more

Virtual and simulation training isn’t necessarily new to the industry but its acceptance has been met with intrigue, and trepidation. But to say that this is the future of training? Not so fast. The consensus thoughts regarding this type of training is that will never replace in-person or on-the-job training, but it will become a cog in the overall “wheel” for training assets.

According to Taco Comfort Solutions’ Product & Application Instructor-East, Dave Holdorf, Taco doesn’t want to change its training necessarily, rather seek to enhance the training experience.

“We ask many attendees how we can improve our classes and seminars.  One of the most frequent replies is: ‘Add a hands-on section to the class; the theory is great and useful, but I want to install.’

“In a classroom setting, this can sometimes be difficult for the space needed, the time it takes, and to accommodate the different skillsets of attendees. We believe we’re now on a track with virtual reality (VR) training to give that experience to attendees—whether they’re seasoned pros, or new to the trade. VR can help to guide participants in what to look for, and more importantly what not to do on a project,” says Holdorf.

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F.W. Webb’s Michael DelConte checks out the VR display at the Taco booth during the AHR Expo.

Ken Midgett, former teacher and apprenticeship Instructor, Lehigh Career & Technical Institute, now Plumbing, Marketing Director with Interplay—whose mission statement is “Better Careers Better Lives”—believes that they can play a part in a person’s career trajectory with that person using Interplay’s content. “When a person engages in learning and increases both their fundamental knowledge and the steps to do a task, we are helping that person upskill and creating more career opportunities for them. The value of a product that interplay offers is the demand function. You do not have to wait until a class is offered you can just connect and learn,” says Midgett.

Adaptation to simulation and on-demand training is paramount to success for the learner and the business. Midgett says that traditional classroom learning for skilled trades is becoming more and more challenging for several reasons:

  • Finding good instructors: Many think that because they know a skill, they can teach it effectively. As a former educator, this is not always the case. This leads to poor instruction and marginal learners who are not engaged.
  • The cost: The cost of running and maintaining a hands-on training center is much higher than instructor salaries and consumables.
  • Change or die: Young learners are not inept at learning from lectures. Most skilled trade learners need to be engaged with learning and it must represent meaningful learning.
  • The disruption of classroom learning to the workday: A rationale for going to class in the evening for 2-3 hours is losing traction to young learners. Business owners become frustrated with learning times and days as they view this as unproductive time. Young learners need to be met where they are with training that fits their lifestyle.

Interplay Learning training, combined with the new employee with the right attitude who is coachable and willing to learn, can be an explosive combination with a win-win result. “Taking an apprentice and having them spend time training and learning with on-demand training and then pushing that person into the field with a skilled person to watch and do in the real world is the best way to train this person or persons at scale,” says Midgett, who says there are numerous other advantages to this model:

  • On-job efficiency increases as the apprentice now possesses the foundational knowledge and skills to perform a given task.
    • Relationships are better between the journeymen and the apprentice, as the journeyman perceives the apprentice as engaged and productive.
    • Business owners experience low turnover, better culture, and increased revenue as these new hires have direction and are leaning at scale.
    • Technicians feel confident in their work due to training and upskilling.
    • Callbacks are reduced and remediation training for the technician to increase their confidence
    • Service managers can focus on coaching and maintaining technician stats instead of being the only technical lifeline for numerous techs.
    • When sending these apprentices to “factory training,” they can engage and understand this much better due to the foundational knowledge.

Nonetheless, Midgett says there are a few things to note and understand about simulation and on-demand training:
• On-the-job or hands-on training with higher skilled supervision cannot be replaced.

  • Simulations are great at teaching steps and muscle memory of a task.
  • Simulation or any on-demand training cannot teach “feel.” As an example, simulation training cannot teach the skill of what “tight” feels like with a pair of wrenches on threaded steel piping or how tight to make a tank-to-bowl connection on a closet, or how tight a screw should be on the control board. This is what the onsite skilled person or journeyman must understand and teach effectively on site.

“While VR, AR and simulation-based technology are great resources, I do not think that any one particular learning system or style is the future,” says Rich Camacho, CEO & Co-Founder, BlueRecruit. Having said that, Camacho utilizes Interplay’s services (all of Interplay’s certifications and courses live on BlueRecruit, and when a person completes an Interplay course, they can then add that qualification to their BlueRecruit profile to strengthen their profile for Employer) and he thinks Interplay is a fantastic tool to augment in-class learning and a great launch point for someone either just entering the trades or seeking to upskill a particular technique.

“However, at the end of the day true craft mastery will occur in the field with a wrench. As technology continues to improve and costs continue to decline, Interplay will play a larger and larger part of building the next generation of skilled trades professionals and we’re excited to work alongside them in building “Better Careers and Better Lives,” says Camacho.

Trinova, USA LLC manufactures pinch valves and replacement sleeves known for outstanding performance, specifically in high abrasion environments. These valves and sleeves, manufactured in the United States, are frequently used in industrial applications, wastewater treatment, power generation and similar harsh environments. Constantly seeking solutions Trinova’s North American General Manager, Ben Payne, oversees procurement, production, engineering Read more

Trinova, USA LLC manufactures pinch valves and replacement sleeves known for outstanding performance, specifically in high abrasion environments. These valves and sleeves, manufactured in the United States, are frequently used in industrial applications, wastewater treatment, power generation and similar harsh environments.

Constantly seeking solutions

Trinova’s North American General Manager, Ben Payne, oversees procurement, production, engineering, manufacturing, customer service, and daily operations, which means that he’s a busy guy with, literally, lots of moving parts to his job. He is constantly on the lookout for a better way of doing things.

BitRip, Asset Tracking App, BR Codes, Sticky Notes, plumbing, HVAC, mechanical rooms, Trinova, USA LLC, Valves“We had been looking for ways to help our clients reduce their total cost of ownership by allowing them to eliminate manual tasks, such as maintenance logs, and save time by accessing all pertinent product information directly on their cell phone,” Payne explains. The company was also considering using barcodes to help with inventory management.

Then one of Payne’s colleagues suggested checking out BitRip®, a free app that seamlessly tracks any type of physical asset using preprinted, scannable BR Code labels from Duck Pro® by Shurtape®. The app easily integrates with Trinova’s existing software workflows, and each code stores massive amounts of data and tracks every scanned location, unlocking field-level visibility. The app and labels were conceived in field combat operations by retired U.S. Marine, Nick Dimitruk, who co-founded the company with Catherine Chapman.

BitRip, Asset Tracking App, BR Codes, Sticky Notes, plumbing, HVAC, mechanical rooms, Trinova, USA LLC, Valves“We were in dirty, rapidly changing, dangerous places and using expensive, mission-critical gear. We realized that people in other industries had the same headaches, stress, and urgency to get the mission done quickly and effectively, so we invented this technology,” Dimitruk said.

Payne says the concept of BR Code’s robust labels combined with cloud-based data was exactly what they were seeking regarding inventory management. “We saw that it was a better solution than just a plain barcode and that BitRip and the BR Code labels would allow us to control our inventory,” he said. However, Payne and his team soon realized they could add and update notes, purchase order numbers, invoice numbers and other types of information.

A sticky situation

Of course, making the solution work for this application was entirely dependent upon that label staying where it’s been placed. “We did a lot of trial and error to make sure the label would withstand our high-temperature manufacturing process as well as stay affixed when they are installed,” Payne adds. Trinova uses BR Code’s heaviest duty labels, called PXL, which have stood up to the challenge.

The team quickly found that BR Code labels hold up to—and thrive—in dirty, wet, industrial fields of applications like mines, water treatment and energy plants, and paper mills. They began affixing a label to every item that ships from its multiple locations. The Trinova team simply affixes a label and scans it with the BitRip app, and then adds whatever information they choose. Then, when a valve or a skid arrives at a jobsite for installation, anyone with the app and permission—the installer, end user, distributor, manufacturer’s rep—can scan the label and pull up the pertinent documents preloaded by Trinova.

BitRip, Asset Tracking App, BR Codes, Sticky Notes, plumbing, HVAC, mechanical rooms, Trinova, USA LLC, ValvesHowever, the field level user can also add any other information—installation date, operating instructions, etc.—and update it whenever they choose. Payne says offering this innovative technology to customers as a value-add has differentiated BitRip from its competitors. “The label can provide access to any information we choose, like the purchase order, client name, client address, job location, pictures of the product prior to shipment, installation and operation manuals, maintenance logs, and schedule,” he says. “Really anything you want to capture can be loaded onto BitRip.”

When the Trinova sales team mentions this option on sales calls, customers’ eyes frequently light up at the possibility of having such quick and easy on-the-go access to all this data—and the potential time and money savings. While Trinova can’t control how users use BitRip, they appreciate gaining insight they wouldn’t get otherwise.

One-way visibility is better than none

“We really like the visibility that we get in terms of seeing where our product is, wherever in the world it is. When a client scans it, it pulls a record and we can see, ‘oh, they did do maintenance,’ or if it’s a distributor, it tells us where they installed it,” Payne explains. Another differentiator from barcodes or QR codes is that there is no need for Trinova or its customers to keep a separate log of information—the documents specific to that one piece of labeled equipment are all right there in that digital, cloud-based file.

BitRip, Asset Tracking App, BR Codes, Sticky Notes, plumbing, HVAC, mechanical rooms, Trinova, USA LLC, ValvesOnce Trinova had settled on trying BitRip, the implementation was incredibly simple. “We just downloaded the app, purchased the labels, and that was it. It was very easy,” Payne says. He adds that the value gained from the app and labels pales in comparison to the miniscule cost and effort.

Trinova expects to potentially add installation and operation manuals, and drawings with basic dimensions, to BitRip in the future. Payne says that he would recommend the app and labels to any business, but he would prefer his competition ignoring the technology. Staying one step ahead of the competition is a key to any business’ success.

If last month’s attendance during the IBS/KBIS Show in Vegas is any sort of indicator for anything, in-person trade shows are still thriving. We’re hearing that this was the most attended show of the past 15 years. According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), more than 76,000 builders, remodelers, developers and other home Read more

NAHB, IBS, KBIS, International Builders Show, homebuilding, construction, kitchen and bath, bathroom design, plumbing, HVAC

Running into friends while enjoying the Vegas nightlife.

If last month’s attendance during the IBS/KBIS Show in Vegas is any sort of indicator for anything, in-person trade shows are still thriving. We’re hearing that this was the most attended show of the past 15 years. According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), more than 76,000 builders, remodelers, developers and other home building professionals filled the halls, “the highest level since 2009, which reflects the bullish outlook of the residential construction industry.”

This year also marked the 11th anniversary of Design & Construction Week® (DCW), the co-location of IBS and the National Kitchen & Bath Association’s (NKBA’s) Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS). DCW drew over 117,000 attendees, and more than 2,400 exhibitors occupied over one million net square feet of indoor and outdoor exhibits.

NAHB, IBS, KBIS, International Builders Show, homebuilding, construction, kitchen and bath, bathroom design, plumbing, HVAC

Pfister Faucet’s Spencer Brown, the Hub’s John Mesenbrink, Tim Goff, Pfister Faucets, and Dominic Sims, ICC, talk about the importance, and popularity, of the American Plumber Stories series.

Anyone who has visited the Las Vegas convention center knows that there are basically four separate halls—North, Central, South and West. I am of the opinion that the Central Hall usually gets the influx of traffic initially—over the course of the three-day event—with crossover to the North Hall fairly fluid. The North Hall is generally reserved for big bathroom players, and Central and South are filled with construction/builder booths. The West Hall, honestly, is almost at a different location where, in order to get there most of the time, you are sent underground, blindfolded and whisked through a tunnel via a manned Tesla. Pretty cool experience, actually, but not necessarily ideal if you are exhibiting in West because that’s where the trickle or “if I have enough time” traffic goes. My opinion, of course.

Oh, I almost forgot. There are a number of exhibitors set up outside—our friends from the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC), for example—right in front of Central Hall. The blue sky, 70° temps didn’t hurt those outdoor experiences either.

NAHB, IBS, KBIS, International Builders Show, homebuilding, construction, kitchen and bath, bathroom design, plumbing, HVAC

Dominic Sims CEO, International Code Council (ICC), talks about the partnership with American Plumber Stories for upcoming season 5 of the wildly popular docuseries.

Just a note of interest here, getting the show is getting easier with access to the monorail, which makes stops to a number of hotel locations—if it looks full, just keep nudging, you’ll find space—and hotel bus routes, which can be found in front of the Central Hall and to the side of the South Hall. Depending on when you are entering or leaving the show, Uber and taxi at your own risk.

Now, if you’ve been to the IBS/KBIS trades shows in recent past, you’ll know that the setup is pretty formulaic, but it was brought to my attention that this year they pretty much simplified the approach with similar products located near each other so you don’t have to break your Fitbit traversing the LVCC universe trying to find something.

NAHB, IBS, KBIS, International Builders Show, homebuilding, construction, kitchen and bath, bathroom design, plumbing, HVAC

Everything from low-flow toilets, ADA & Living in Place to the latest in bidets, KBIS had it all. From the Bemis booth.

Invariably during every trade show I attend I get asked, “what was the most interesting thing you saw on the show floor?” Well, I gotta say it was the Genesis Systems WaterCube 100, which basically creates water out of the air. I was fairly shocked when I saw the size of this unit—large—to be installed on the exterior of the home. The company contends that the product sustainably generates more than 100 gallons of fresh water daily from the air around it—enough for a household of four, and it operates in humidity ranges of >40-100% and ideal climate temperatures of >59 degrees F.

NAHB, IBS, KBIS, International Builders Show, homebuilding, construction, kitchen and bath, bathroom design, plumbing, HVAC

Genesis Systems WaterCube 100

In the North Hall, we saw everything from the latest in bidets, low-flow toilets, high-end kitchen and bathroom fixtures to fancy multi-colored bathtubs—a kitchen and bath designer’s fantasy space, if you will.

NAHB, IBS, KBIS, International Builders Show, homebuilding, construction, kitchen and bath, bathroom design, plumbing, HVAC

Moen’s 3-in-1 Water Filtration Pulldown faucets dispense filtered cold water and hot and cold tap water, including a three-function pultdown wand. 3-in-1 Water Filtration Kitchen Pulldowns pair with any Moen filtration system and are available in many styles and finish options.

“2024 marks the 60-year anniversary of KBIS—a tremendous accomplishment and an opportunity to not only celebrate our growth but to set goals for how we want to continue to elevate the show and help drive the industry forward,” said Bill Darcy, Global President & CEO of NKBA|KBIS. “We’ve had great success collaborating with NAHB and IBS and are proud to announce our continued partnership as part of this milestone year. As the kitchen, bath, and wider residential building, architect, design, and remodeling sectors continue to grow it’s more important than ever to provide a central source for inspiration and innovation.”

NAHB and NKBA announced an agreement to extend the co-location of IBS and KBIS for four years through 2030.

Next year, DCW will return to Las Vegas, Feb. 25-27.

NAHB, IBS, KBIS, International Builders Show, homebuilding, construction, kitchen and bath, bathroom design, plumbing, HVAC

See you next year in Vegas!

Renovating historical, urban buildings offers a great number of benefits over demolition and replacement, including lower embodied carbon and the alure of a bygone era blended with the comfort and convenience of the 21st century. As cities evolve, repurposing old buildings becomes integral to creating more resilient, resource-efficient, and culturally rich urban environments. But with Read more

variable refrigerant flow, VRF, HVAC, Fujitsu, O’Neil Engineering, Snyder Solutions, Airstage V-Series heat recovery equipment

While working in the 120-year-old building, maintaining the historical integrity of the structure was one of the largest challenges all the contractors involved were faced with.

Renovating historical, urban buildings offers a great number of benefits over demolition and replacement, including lower embodied carbon and the alure of a bygone era blended with the comfort and convenience of the 21st century.

As cities evolve, repurposing old buildings becomes integral to creating more resilient, resource-efficient, and culturally rich urban environments.

But with miles of red tape to navigate, turn-of-the-century construction methods and materials to contend with, and special regulations to adhere to, revitalizing old urban structures requires a specialized team.

An outstanding example of the collaboration needed on such a project can be witnessed at The Mutual Building. It’s the oldest high-rise structure in Richmond, Va., originally housing a stock brokerage firm and later a law office. Built as a 9-floor building in the early 1900s, three additional stories were constructed later.

Key players

In November 2020, Shamin Hotels sold the 12-story building for $12.8 million to Landmark Property Services, Inc., a Richmond-based property management firm and The Wilton Companies, a Richmond-based commercial real estate firm. Their intent was to convert the high-rise into 168 upscale apartments. The 22-month project would present a wide array of challenges to overcome.

Landmark Property Services, Inc. sought the expertise of Walter Parks Architects (WPA) to help bring The Mutual Building to new grandeur.

variable refrigerant flow, VRF, HVAC, Fujitsu, O’Neil Engineering, Snyder Solutions, Airstage V-Series heat recovery equipment

Representatives from Landmark Properties, Snyder Solutions, L.F. Jennings, Ferguson Enterprises and Harry Eklof & Associates gather in front of the main entrance.

“Our company specializes in historic tax credit work,” said Sarah McInerney, senior project manager at WPA, who completed the early project pro-forma. “Multi-family work is my preferred project type, though we handle other residential and medical facility projects as well.

WPA’s involvement included designing the apartments and working closely with the various engineers and contractors involved with the renovation. The firm has conducted similar work for 30 years, and McInerney herself for 20 years.

James Willis, design engineer at O’Neil Engineering, was one of McInerney’s first calls. WPA has worked with O’Neil Engineering on many similar projects. The involvement of a mechanical engineer familiar with challenges common to old buildings in Richmond would prove critical to success.

variable refrigerant flow, VRF, HVAC, Fujitsu, O’Neil Engineering, Snyder Solutions, Airstage V-Series heat recovery equipment

(left to right) Brian Adkins, with Harry Eklof & Associates, Alan Dukes, of Ferguson Enterprises, and John Jenkins, with Snyder Solutions.

Snyder Solutions, a full-service mechanical company founded by Ryan Snyder in 2009, was hired to install an extensive Fujitsu Airstage heat recovery VRF system to replace the boiler/chiller VAV system.

L.F. Jennings, a 350-person firm, was selected as the general contractor. They specialize in a broad array of project types but have relative experience with adaptive reuse, having just converted a similar office tower into apartments just two blocks away.

Unique challenges

“Qualifying for historic tax credits is a three-part process,” said McInerney. “The building must be nationally recognized in a historic district. Designers must comply with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, and finally, the project must pass inspection by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources and the National Parks Service.”

variable refrigerant flow, VRF, HVAC, Fujitsu, O’Neil Engineering, Snyder Solutions, Airstage V-Series heat recovery equipment

John Jenkins, assistant supervisor at Snyder Solutions, walks the rooftop of the Mutual Building.

All parties involved understood that installing new electrical, plumbing, heating and cooling systems must be completed in such a way that visual disturbance to the property, inside and out, be minimal. This meant preserving flooring, trim work, signage, and eliminating outdoor mechanical components from view.

To further complicate things, the building was originally constructed using a “Metropolitan Floor System.” Unlike conventional concrete or steel construction, the Metropolitan Floor System is an architectural relic from the 1890s utilizing pairs of twisted wires, as catenaries, draped over the steel floor beams and embedded in a plaster-of-Paris matrix. The load-bearing capability of the floor relies entirely on the tension in the wires.

Meticulous design

When working on the design, James Willis, Ryan Snyder and Andy Anderson, director of mechanical division at Snyder solutions, collaborated to confront their largest hurdle, the need to maintain the historical integrity of the building.

“If it weren’t for the need to conceal outdoor units, this project could have been conducted with mini-split heat pumps,” said Snyder. “But Willis determined that VRF systems would better serve the purpose. The outdoor units needed to be mounted so that all stories could be served by the new HVAC system, from the 12th floor down to the sub-basement. Landmark Properties has experience with VRF systems on other projects, so they understood the flexibility and efficiency it provides.”

variable refrigerant flow, VRF, HVAC, Fujitsu, O’Neil Engineering, Snyder Solutions, Airstage V-Series heat recovery equipment

John Jenkins (left), assistant supervisor at Snyder Solutions, discusses the Fujitsu Airstage heat recovery installation with Alan Dukes, of Ferguson Enterprises.

Willis and the team at Snyder Solutions tapped Brian Adkins, HVAC sales manager at Harry Eklof & Associates, and Matt Coley, commercial HVAC manager at Ferguson Enterprises, for specifications on the Airstage heat recovery system.

“To overcome the vertical height challenges, we settled on a plan to mount the majority of the outdoor equipment on the roof,” said Willis. “This project had a zero lot line, with almost no room at ground level for equipment. To serve the lower levels of the building, we planned to install several systems in the light wells just below street grade, maintaining the original look of the building.”

variable refrigerant flow, VRF, HVAC, Fujitsu, O’Neil Engineering, Snyder Solutions, Airstage V-Series heat recovery equipment

A fan used to pressurize stairwells and elevator shafts is craned to the roof of the building.

The five systems installed in the light wells serve the lower three levels of the building, which include the main floor lobby, mail room an indoor dog park, golf simulator, gym, and storage space.

In all, 200 tons of Fujitsu Airstage V-Series heat recovery equipment was installed, consisting of six, eight and 10-ton outdoor units. Inside, slim-duct air handlers were installed in living spaces, with ceiling cassettes in common areas. A total of 217 terminal units were installed.

This approach lent itself well to the building layout. Apartments range in size from 500 to 1,050 square feet, meaning that flexibility was needed in the HVAC design.

Training and support

Heat recovery VRF systems were selected over heat pump systems for the ability to provide simultaneous heating and cooling from the same system. Heat recovery has the added benefit of salvaging BTUs from a zone calling for cooling and rejecting the energy into a zone calling for heat.

One heat recovery system serves two floors. These systems are 16 tons in capacity, save those serving the lower three floors.

variable refrigerant flow, VRF, HVAC, Fujitsu, O’Neil Engineering, Snyder Solutions, Airstage V-Series heat recovery equipment

Alan Dukes (left), of Ferguson Enterprises, and John Jenkins, assistant supervisor at Snyder Solutions, discuss the Fujitsu Airstage heat recovery installation on the roof of the Mutual Building.

“When it came time to install the equipment, Alan Dukes, VRF Technical Advisor at Ferguson, was very involved,” said Willis. “We’ve worked extensively with him on other projects like this. He’s extremely detail oriented, and visited the site frequently to answer questions and ensure that the equipment was being installed to spec.”

Dukes has a relationship with Snyder Solutions, too. He has provided Fujitsu training to Snyder technicians in the past.

variable refrigerant flow, VRF, HVAC, Fujitsu, O’Neil Engineering, Snyder Solutions, Airstage V-Series heat recovery equipment

John Jenkins removes wooden casing from around a vertically-mounted Airstage ARUL slim duct fan coil.

“An application like this requires precision in the design and installation,” said Snyder. “We’ve worked with Ferguson since I founded Snyder Solutions, and Alan is the grandmaster of VRF. They don’t make guys like him anymore. He’s forgotten more about VRF than I’ll ever know.”

Snyder Solutions has one or two VRF projects going on at any given time, but this is the largest Fujitsu installation they’ve undertaken. The company’s initial training session with Dukes included 12 technicians at Ferguson’s Chesapeake location, and subsequent training sessions are ongoing.

variable refrigerant flow, VRF, HVAC, Fujitsu, O’Neil Engineering, Snyder Solutions, Airstage V-Series heat recovery equipment

Snyder Solutions is a 100-person mechanical firm serving the Richmond metro, focused on commercial and industrial work.

“The help that Alan provides is a great example of why we install Fujitsu more often than other VRF brands,” said Snyder. “They give us the most support and the product quality is fantastic. From the factory team to the reps and wholesalers, they have a knowledgeable team that’s aways quick to help.”

Old building, new solutions

“Like most historical projects, there were no building blueprints to reference,” said Anderson. “You don’t know what you’ll run into until you open up walls and floors, at which point you need to come up with solutions on the fly.  Pippa Brown, L.F. Jennings’ assistant project manager and lead coordinator, was a great asset whenever we ran into an issue.  She kept everything on track with the retrofit’s objectives.”

variable refrigerant flow, VRF, HVAC, Fujitsu, O’Neil Engineering, Snyder Solutions, Airstage V-Series heat recovery equipment

One of many Fujitsu Airstage heat recovery condensing units is craned to the 12th story roof.

Snyder Solutions technicians—led by Adam Mitchell, superintendent, Tony David, lead service technician, and John Jenkins, assistant superintendent— worked with the L.F. Jennings crew to open walls. Refrigerant lines were run down through stud bays. Terminal units and ductwork had to be hidden, and louvers could only be installed in specific places.

“We take great pride in creating solutions for difficult projects, and this one brought out the best of our team,” said Anderson. “There was no straight path from A to B, and we had to be careful not to disturb historical artifacts, like trim and molding.”

variable refrigerant flow, VRF, HVAC, Fujitsu, O’Neil Engineering, Snyder Solutions, Airstage V-Series heat recovery equipment

Airstage condensing units were mounted on seismic isolators.

The biggest hurdle, however, came each time the installation crew penetrated a floor.  Thanks to the Metropolitan Floor System, this proved to be every bit the arduous task that Snyder Solutions and Willis knew it would be. O’Neil Engineering, Snyder Solutions and L.F. Jennings had previous experience with the unique system.

The catenary wire system within the plaster can’t simply be cut without compromising the integrity of the floor. To create a floor penetration, the plaster slab must be dug away, wires cut, and a custom fabricated steel sleeve inserted, designed in-house by L.F. Jennings and Balzer Associates. Once the sleeve is set, the wires are then secured to the sleeve and the penetration is poured back. There are various different penetration types and sleeve sizes that required coordination.  These penetrations may be no less than nine inches apart, making plumbing penetrations especially difficult.

variable refrigerant flow, VRF, HVAC, Fujitsu, O’Neil Engineering, Snyder Solutions, Airstage V-Series heat recovery equipment

A Snyder Solutions crew prepares to mount heat recovery condensing units on seismic isolators.

To minimize the number of penetrations needed, combination sleeves were designed to house multiple penetrations in a line; only refrigerant lines, the plumbing system, and outdoor air risers run vertically through the building. All ductwork connected to the Fujitsu air handlers runs horizontally. Ventless dryers were used, so no drier stacks were needed.

A textbook success

Instead of commissioning all the VRF systems at once, Dukes worked with Snyder Solutions to start up each floor individually as they were completed from the top down.

variable refrigerant flow, VRF, HVAC, Fujitsu, O’Neil Engineering, Snyder Solutions, Airstage V-Series heat recovery equipment

While most of the building is served by slim duct air handlers, a variety of ceiling cassettes were used on common areas storage space.

“The installation and commissioning went very smoothly,” said Dukes.  “That’s a testament to a solid, adaptable design, fantastic communication between all parties, and an installation team that really committed to doing their best work.”

“The building has been occupied for almost a year and we’ve had no issues,” said Snyder. “With the number of systems installed here and the severity of last summer, it’s quite impressive.  I can proudly say that we delivered what we promised.”

This project exemplifies the delicate dance between preserving the past and embracing the future in architectural endeavors.

Training in 2024 is just as important as ever. How do you integrate training, education and continued learning with today’s busy contractor? Power Points, sales pitches and doughnuts. Tried and true methods of training gone by, that’s for sure. But what does today’s training look like, especially in the purview of the younger generation of Read more

Training in 2024 is just as important as ever. How do you integrate training, education and continued learning with today’s busy contractor?

Power Points, sales pitches and doughnuts. Tried and true methods of training gone by, that’s for sure. But what does today’s training look like, especially in the purview of the younger generation of contractors that digests information in 90 seconds or less?

“What was that? Sorry, I was looking at my phone,” jokes Max Rohr, Director, Education and Technical Marketing, Caleffi. “Five years ago, a three-minute-long video was a good option, now it will seem long if it is over that 90-second threshold. Ideally, you get to the point in the first five seconds and work the explanation back from there. Like showing the cake and then going back to bowls of ingredients.”

According to, Dave Holdorf, Residential Trainer & Rep Training Manager—Eastern Region, Taco Comfort Solutions, it’s a challenge. “We’ve found that it helps to bring different instructors in for specific segments of the training. Each instructor brings their own perspective; even hearing a different voice in the room makes for a more compelling presentation. Every facet of our training is now geared to maintain the attention of participants. We also make sure to schedule breaks so that the attendees can attend to business, or need at home. By creating the curriculum with attendees in mind, their focus remains with the topic in front of them.”

Nevertheless, the training department at Taco has always looked at training not from a product view but from an application perspective, giving attendees the information they need to do their job better, and to give their customers the comfort they deserve. “We use real world experiences to solve real world problems with personal experiences and a bit of humor—as you know, John, it ain’t worth doing if you’re not having fun as well,” says Holdorf.

Taco Comfort Solutions, training, Caleffi, continuing education, education, plumbing, HVAC, hydronics, learning

Caleffi’s Bob “Hot Rod” Rohr brings his props and his wealth of experience and knowledge to trainings.

But what about those PowerPoints and doughnuts? “Every learning style is different, so you have to be adaptable. If you see the audience tuning out a PowerPoint, stop and grab a product to bring to an attendee and talk about a case study that is related instead,” says Rohr.

In addition, everything falls apart for a trainer if the audience gets the impression they are overpromising, adds Rohr. For example, “Honesty is something Hot Rod is specifically good at in contractor training sessions. As a former installer, he always has tips for getting the job done and workarounds that are really tangible,” says Rohr.

The New Normal?

The Covid pandemic saw what we thought was going to be a new normal with virtual training, but what we are now seeing is the importance, and return, of in-person training.

This past year Taco saw a huge jump of in-person training, on the road as well as at Taco HQ in Rhode Island. So much so that the company had to dramatically increase the number of sessions back in Rhode Island to accommodate. “However, that does not mean to diminish the virtual training, Taco Tuesday and Taco After Dark webinars are still posting a large number of attendees that are hungry for information in bite size chunks, not as large as when we all locked down at home, but still popular,” says Holdorf.

Taco’s Holdorf conducts a training at the Cranston, R.I. HQ.

Nonetheless, “when we’re online, we know it’s so easy to stray off to the next shiny thing online, so to keep attendees engaged, we encourage two-way communications. If participants have questions, we want them to ask immediately,” continues Holdorf.

In fact, Holdorf says that people who attend Taco’s webinars typically take it to the next level and seek live training. A combination of both virtual and live training can help attendees dial in on what they want to learn—or perhaps didn’t initially develop a full understanding of what it is they most needed to know. “These options allow them to fine-tune their training experience to make them as good as they want to be. And, ideally, we help them raise the bar. We routinely heard from trade pros who came to us for a better understanding of a single application or concept, and through that experience come away with an energized desire for much more,” says Holdorf.

 

In 2023, Caleffi performed almost a 50/50 mix of in-person and virtual. Contractors like hands-on training, says Rohr, so it is good to be back on job sites for that type of interaction. And, engineers didn’t all go back to the office after COVID. “Many of the engineering sessions we do are virtual because that firm may be scattered all over the region. You might catch 20 people in a virtual training, where only 10 of them are in the office that day,” says Rohr.

Know-It-Alls

What about those who are stubborn enough to think that they don’t need further education and training? “I love this question and see and hear it often in the industry,” says Ken Midgett, L.M.P, Plumbing, Marketing Director, Interplay Learning, and former Teacher and Apprenticeship Instructor, Lehigh Career & Technical Institute.

Those in skilled trades should embrace the concept of being “lifelong learners,” consistently expanding their knowledge in their current specialty and exploring related disciplines. Whether licensed or not, individuals in skilled trades should assess their goals, career paths and professional growth within their field. It’s common for some to reach a point where they feel adequately skilled and think further education is unnecessary. According to Midgett, this assumption is misleading for several reasons:

• For example, a residential plumber could benefit from learning about commercial plumbing, Med Gas, Backflow, Water Well work, Water Conditioning, HVAC, Electrical, etc. Diversifying skills not only enhances one’s expertise but also increases their marketability across various skill sets, intern boosting income and long-term employability.

• Despite advancements in safety measures within the construction industry, the misconception that skilled trades workers are immune to injuries persists. While the overall safety landscape has improved, life-changing injuries can still occur. In such unfortunate instances, if an individual can only rely on skills specific to their trade and lacks versatility, their career may face irreparable damage. Therefore, investing in ongoing training, education, and professional development becomes crucial for ensuring resilience in the workforce and mitigating the impact of unforeseen challenges. Repurposing skillsets may be challenging when there has been no prior skill or professional development planning before the injury event.

• The industry, codes, tools, and methods to do a task are constantly changing. Skilled trades workers need to educate themselves and stay on top of new developments. This is critical to the success of a technician and company.

In the end, it’s what ends up in the ol’ noggin as useful information that translates to the jobsite. “Students only retain a tiny amount of the information that you present to them, but they will remember their feelings about the trainer for a very long time,” says Rohr. “It is hard to know if a bigger win is when customers retain a piece of information you presented or if they remember that you seem like you know what you are talking about. “If they trust that you did a good job, that memory will stay with them for a career, potentially.”