Featured Resources

Quantifying the Value of Union Labor in Construction Projects

A new report by Independent Project Analysis (IPA), an independent international construction project engineering and research firm, shows that union mechanical contractors were 15% more productive than non-union contractors, with a more than 40% reduction in risks of cost and schedule overruns. MCAA members can download the full report, including methodology.

Change Orders, Productivity, Overtime—A Primer for the Construction Industry

This planning tool helps you determine the costs associated with unplanned events, circumstances and factors that may impact the outcome, productivity and schedule of construction projects. New for 2024: a chapter exploring the factors that contribute to BIM cost and time overruns.

WebLEM

WebLEM is the industry’s most reliable authority for comprehensive labor units for typical project tasks. Quickly search for and retrieve information. WebLEM is reviewed and updated to reflect the latest products and joining methods. You will need your MCAA.org username and password to log in to WebLEM. For WebLEM access questions, please refer to the WebLEM Access FAQs page.

National Service and Maintenance Agreement

The National Service and Maintenance Agreement is an agreement negotiated and administered by the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry (UA) and the Mechanical Service Contractors of America (MSCA) and is a signed contract between the UA and individual mechanical service contracting firms who apply and qualify. The Agreement is a nationally recognized tool that helps contractors provide quality, consistent service to their customers throughout the country and helps reclaim lost market share.

Of Interest
UA ITF Offers 2025 Safety & Health Conference Grants

The United Association’s (UA) International Training Fund (ITF) is offering $5,600 grants for 35 individuals to attend the 2025 Safety & Health Conference (January 13 – 16, 2025 in Fort Lauderdale, FL). Grants are limited to one attendee per local union education fund, and eligibility requirements must be met.

MCAA is partnering with Dodge Construction Network to conduct critical research on the state of technology across the construction industry, and your participation is vital to its success. This survey should take approximately 15 minutes to complete. Your answers are strictly confidential and will not be associated with your name or the name of your company in any way.

Nominations for MCAA’s Board of Directors Are Due January 13

The future of MCAA is fundamentally linked to the quality of the individuals who serve on its Board of Directors. MCAA members who would like to be considered for one of five vacancies are encouraged to learn more and complete the application. Applications should be returned no later than January 13, 2025. Candidates and their spokespersons will be scheduled for interviews at the 2025 MCAA Annual Convention. Those who are selected will begin their terms in March 2025.

Outside advisors can help a company gauge management performance, answer operations questions, assist with planning for the future, arbitrate internal differences, and keep management alert to relevant changes in the external world. MCAA’s Corporate Structure: Using Outside Advisors/Directors offers tips for finding and involving these outside advisors. It’s just one of MCAA’s educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.

For many contractors, coffee is as essential as any tool on the job site. It’s reliable, it keeps you going, and it has been around forever. But, as every coffee drinker knows, even the best coffee can lose its punch if it sits too long. Eventually, you need a fresh brew to get the full effect. The same goes for trusted practices in construction. Register for the MEP Innovation Conference today and prepare for your fresh jolt of innovation and inspiration.

On November 7th, MCAA President Rick Gopffarth joined ALI contractor-facilitators and faculty on UNC’s beautiful Kenan-Flagler executive education campus to congratulate the newest graduates of MCAA’s Advanced Leadership Institute. ALI Class 24 began as a group of strangers and rapidly evolved into a community of peers committed to collaborative learning and growth in a way that made it very apparent that the future of the mechanical industry is bright! These 34 MCAA and MSCA executives rose to every challenge as they learned and practiced leading-edge strategies to advance themselves, their teams, and their businesses.

The Manufacturer/Supplier Training area of MCAA’s website connects our contractor members with training opportunities available from the members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show connects our contractor members with the members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

Recognizing the need for skilled professionals equipped with knowledge and practical experience, NIBCO, a leading provider of flow control products, has partnered with Chicago Pipefitter’s Local 597 Union to enhance its training programs. This collaboration aims to elevate the level of training and ensure that apprentices are well prepared for the field.

The 2025 dues rates for construction and service hours will increase to $.10 per labor hour effective January 1, 2025. The minimum dues assessment is based upon 12,000 hours ($1,200) per branch office, and the maximum assessment is 300,000 hours ($30,000) per branch office. New dues reporting forms will be provided in advance of the January 1 date. Watch MCAA.org and the National Update for an announcement.

Savvy mechanical contractors pay strict attention to the language in standard, preprinted contract forms and make modifications to protect themselves. MCAA’s Managing Killer Contract Clauses provides examples of killer contract clauses and suggestions for modifying the language to eliminate unnecessary risk. It’s just one of MCAA’s educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.

Nominations for MCAA’s Board of Directors Are Due January 13

The future of MCAA is fundamentally linked to the quality of the individuals who serve on its Board of Directors. MCAA members who would like to be considered for one of five vacancies are encouraged to learn more and complete the application. Applications should be returned no later than January 13, 2025. Candidates and their spokespersons will be scheduled for interviews at the 2025 MCAA Annual Convention. Those who are selected will begin their terms in March 2025.

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November 6 – 8, 2024
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November 6 – 8, 2024
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Chapel Hill, NC
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September 21 – 25, 2025
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September 22 – 26, 2025
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MCAA 2025 GreatFutures Forum
Salt Lake City, UT
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October 12 – 16, 2025
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November 2 – 6, 2025
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Chapel Hill, NC
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November 9 – 12, 2025
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January 25 – 30, 2026
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2026 WiMI Conference
Coronado, CA
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October 20 – 23, 2030
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View Full Calendar

Featured Events
January 13 – 16, 2025

MCAA, SMACNA, TAUC have partnered together to host the Safety & Health Conference, the biggest construction safety event of the year. The conference brings together safety professionals from across the construction industry to collaborate and explore the challenges and opportunities within our field.

January 27 – 30, 2025

Known as the best technology conference for mechanical, electrical, plumbing, service and sheet metal contractors, this conference will provide educational sessions led by contractors from all three trade associations.