Organization: MSCA

Connect With the Latest Training from Trimble and SPX Cooling Technologies, Inc. at MCAA.org

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.

Participating companies highlight and link to new webinars and training opportunities across their product lines, services, solutions or web pages. Here are just a few of the recent additions:

Trimble
Trimble’s services don’t end after the sales transaction has completed. We are committed to partnering with your business to ensure that you are on the path to success. We offer instructor-led classroom and onsite experiences that blend product demonstrations with hands-on exercises and virtual instructor-led training to help you maximize the benefits of your new software as fast and as easy as possible.

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SPX Cooling Technologies, Inc.
Looking to tune up your evaporative cooling knowledge? SPX Marley Contractor Resources include live and on-demand webinars, School of Cool® training, installation videos and more. Check it out.

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Interested in More Training from Our Supplier Partners?

Be sure to visit the Manufacturer/Supplier Training area for all the latest offerings.

Learn More

November 5 is the Last Day to Apply for National Committee Service in 2022

Member involvement from those serving on MCAA and MSCA national committees helps all of us run more successful businesses and strengthens our industry. MCAA/MSCA members who are willing to serve on a national committee in 2022 are encouraged to learn more and complete the application. Completed applications are due by November 5, 2021.

White House Lifts COVID-19 Travel Bans for Fully Vaccinated Travelers

On October 25, 2021, the White House revoked the prior COVID-19 travel restrictions and announced that as of November 8, 2021, international travelers traveling to the U.S. by air will be permitted to enter the U.S. if they:

Are fully vaccinated.
Can present evidence of a negative COVID-19 test taken within three days of their entry into the United States.
Agree to comply with public health precautions established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC has published a list of vaccines that will be accepted as evidence of being fully vaccinated. (The list includes COVID-19 vaccines approved or authorized for emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, including Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson / Janssen, as well as those listed for emergency use by the World Health Organization, such as AstraZeneca/Oxford).

To be clear, the announcement is still a modified travel ban (“Global Suspension and Limitation on Entry of Certain Individuals Who Are Not Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19”). A failure to meet the requirements or an exemption will result in an international traveler being denied entry into the United States. The new modified ban will remain in effect until terminated by the President.

Exemptions

Limited exemptions exist for some travelers. Of note:

Minors who, based on their age and global vaccine availability for their age group, are not able to be vaccinated.
Noncitizens who are from countries where vaccine availability is limited (defined as less than 10% of the country’s total population being fully vaccinated, or as determined by the CDC) who seek to enter the United States on a nonimmigrant visa, except for a B-1 or B-2 visa.
Certain participants of clinical trials.
Persons granted an exemption by the CDC due to humanitarian or emergency reasons.
Persons who qualify for a National Interest Exemption as determined by the Department of Homeland Security, Secretary of State, Secretary of Transportation, or their designees.

Additionally, international travelers who are not fully vaccinated but permitted to enter the United States based on an exemption must agree to become fully vaccinated within 60 days of arrival or in a timeframe determined by the CDC and must provide proof of arrangements for becoming fully vaccinated after arrival, with some exceptions (sufficiently brief stay, among others).

This means that travelers from regions previously subject to U.S. COVID travel bans (Brazil, China, India, Iran, Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the Schengen Area) will now be able to enter the United States directly from those countries, so long as they meet the requirements for being fully vaccinated and can present evidence of a negative COVID-19 test taken within three days of their entry. This also means that minors, depending on their age, and travelers from countries with low vaccine availability (less than 10% full vaccination rate), may now be exempt from the travel bans.

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Find the Latest from Key2Act and Metraflex Company in MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show

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

Participating companies highlight and link to new products, product lines, services, solutions or web pages of particular interest. Here are just a few of the recent additions:

Key2Act
Key2Act is the construction and field service technology leader, focused on mechanical and non-mechanical specialty trades, facilities maintenance and other large asset or equipment-centric industries.

Learn More

Metraflex Company
Metraflex energy-saving LPD-Y-Strainer dramatically reduces pressure drops. ROI within 1 year. Larger screen with more holes. Re-engineered to reduce turbulence.

Learn More

Need Something Else?

Find many more smart solutions in MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show!

Visit the Virtual Trade Show

Speaking of Smart Solutions

Visit the Smart Solutions Case Studies area of our website to learn how other mechanical contractors found their win-win with cost-saving and productivity-enhancing applications from members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

This section of our website also includes tips and ideas to help your company save money and enhance your productivity. Don’t miss it!

Visit Smart Solutions

More than 60 of Our Industry’s Best Contractors and Thought Leaders Will Present at the 2022 MEP Innovation Conference

MCAA has developed the most in-depth conference on construction technology and innovation to date. MCAA first launched the Technology Conference for MCAA members back in 2016 as a way to share knowledge and spark ideas and innovation through collaboration, demonstration and peer-to-peer instruction. The event has continued to grow year after year. In 2021, the conference was renamed and pushed further with the inclusion of NECA and SMACNA contractors providing a broader depth of experience. This year, MCAA, NECA and SMACNA have announced a joint partnership, bringing over 60 of the most innovative contractors to present January 24-26 at the 2022 MEP Innovation Conference, powered by Trimble.

Sessions at this year’s conference will be led by the country’s leading mechanical, plumbing, electrical, sheet metal and service contractors. The MEP Conference will provide a comprehensive view of the solutions digitizing our processes, using VDC software, fabricating all trades, coordinating projects with new software and using new tools to improve productivity. Sessions will be geared toward Operations Managers, VDC teams, Project Managers and Fabrication Managers.

Conference registration will be limited due to COVID restrictions. Registration will be open to MCAA/MSCA, NECA and SMACNA members as well as their union affiliated partners. For more information, visit the MEP Innovation Conference Website and register today!

REGISTER NOW

U.S. to Lift COVID-19 Travel Ban to Allow Fully Vaccinated Travelers

On October 15, 2021, the White House announced that as of November 8, 2021, the COVID-19 travel restrictions for international travelers coming into the United States will be lifted for those who:

Are fully vaccinated.
Can present evidence of a negative COVID-19 test taken within three days of their entry into the United States.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has published a list of vaccines that will be accepted as evidence of being fully vaccinated. In short, the list of approved vaccines includes COVID-19 vaccines that have been approved or authorized for emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration:

Pfizer-BioNTech
Moderna
Johnson & Johnson / Janssen COVID-19 vaccines

The CDC has indicated that the guidance also applies to COVID-19 vaccines that have been listed for emergency use by the World Health Organization, such as AstraZeneca/Oxford. The CDC considers individuals to be fully vaccinated either two weeks after their second dose in a two-dose series, such as the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines, or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine.

COVID-19 testing requirements will remain in place for all airline travelers entering the United States, including U.S. citizens and fully vaccinated people. Travelers are required to present evidence of a negative COVID-19 test result from no more than three days before their entry into the United States or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 in the past three months before being permitted to board a flight to the United States. (For more information, see International Travel During COVID-19.)

Last week, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that the department will ease restrictions on entry into the United States for fully vaccinated travelers from Canada and Mexico in early November. The United States had imposed entry restrictions on border crossings with Canada and Mexico to limit nonessential travel since the start of the pandemic. The restrictions have been extended monthly. According to DHS Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas, the new rules will be implemented in phases, starting on November 8, 2021, to allow fully vaccinated travelers to cross the border for nonessential reasons, while unvaccinated travelers will only be allowed to enter for essential reasons. By early January 2022, DHS will require evidence of being fully vaccinated for travelers to cross the border into the United States for any reason.

This most recent update means that travelers from regions previously subject to U.S. COVID travel bans (Brazil, China, India, Iran, Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the Schengen Area) will now be able to enter the U.S. directly from those countries, so long as they meet the requirements for being fully vaccinated and have evidence of a negative COVID-19 test taken within three days of their entry into the United States. Land border crossings will now be easier for fully vaccinated travelers.

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UA International Training Fund’s Preparedness Plan for In-Person Training

To MCAA members and JATC trustees considering attendance at events sponsored by the International Training Fund:

The Trustees of the UA International Training Fund (ITF) are committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace for all employees, instructors, and students participating in training events sponsored by the ITF.

To ensure safe and healthy training, the ITF has developed and adopted the following Preparedness Plan for in-person training that requires proof of COVID vaccination as a precondition of in-person participation.

The Plan applies to all in-person training events sponsored by the ITF in any location throughout the United States, including the upcoming Pipe Trades Training Conference, as well as Instructor Training Program, International Apprentice Contest and all Regional Training Classes.

Participants in any sponsored ITF event are responsible for complying with all aspects of the Plan.

VIEW PLAN

MSCA and Convoy of Hope Give Back to the Community During MSCA21

For the past eleven years, MSCA has partnered with Convoy of Hope to help local charities in the communities where we have held our annual conferences. On Tuesday, October 12, numerous MSCA Board and member volunteers delivered a tractor trailer of needed supplies to the Phoenix Rescue Mission, a short distance from the location for MSCA21.

Thanks to your incredible donations, we raised over $40,000 to assist the Phoenix Rescue Mission.

Spouses did their part by participating in the annual Packing Party on Saturday, October 16. Take a look…

https://vimeo.com/636465531

About Convoy of Hope

Convoy of Hope is a nonprofit organization that serves more than 35 million people throughout the world through international feeding programs, community outreaches and disaster-response. Convoy is always one of the first relief organizations on the ground when a natural disaster strikes anywhere in the world. Recently, for example, they were the first organization to arrive when the 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti and when Hurricane Ida devastated the south, distributing meals, hygiene kits and sheltering supplies. They have also been sending water supplies to the western US where fires, drought and record-breaking heat are having a major impact on the area.

About the Phoenix Rescue Mission

The Phoenix Rescue Mission is a place of hope, healing, and new beginnings for men, women, and children in the community struggling with homelessness, addiction, and trauma. At the mission, they also helped out by unloading the truckload of supplies, spreading gravel at the women’s campus, packing food totes and working at the local elementary school.

MCAA22 Reunite: We’re Going to Party Like It’s 1989

Reunite with your MCAA family and dance the night away with the Spazmatics! Come enjoy all the awesome sounds, styles and way cool dance steps from the 1980’s decade we’d love to forget, but are happy to remember. Complete with skinny ties, fashionable hairstyles, and horn-rimmed glasses, the Spazmatics recapture the best of the worst. Outstanding musicianship combined with creative flair and style makes for an evening of pure energy and entertainment. Don’t miss the Spazmatics at MCAA22’s Opening Party on Sunday, March 17th.

Registration is now open. Save your spot today!

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UPDATED Management Methods Bulletin on Using Social Media in Your Business

It’s hard to believe that social media has been around in some form since the mid-’90s. That means every member of Gen-Z and most Millennials can’t recall life without some form of online, social connection with others. In addition to allowing people to communicate with one another like never before, social media has created new opportunities for businesses to reach their target audiences.

With a combination of planning, clear policy, and common sense, your business can use social media to engage with its target audience and achieve its goals. MCAA’s Management Methods Bulletin: Guidelines to Using Social Media in Your Business is intended to provide necessary advice and insight to businesses that choose to use social media platforms to promote their products and services and connect with their customers.

VIEW BULLETIN

NECA Recognizes MCAA with the 2021 NECA Industry Partner Award

Since 1996, the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) has presented their annual Industry Partner Award to individuals or organizations who are allied with the electrical construction industry. This year, NECA presented and recognized MCAA with the 2021 NECA Industry Partner Award at their annual Convention in Nashville.

In early 2021, MCAA, NECA and The Association of Union Constructors (TAUC) joined forces in a strategic alliance agreement to collaborate on issues impacting the construction and maintenance industry on a national and regional level. Through this alliance, the associations conduct joint meetings and share information of mutual interest relating to environmental health and safety, industrial relations, government affairs, innovation and technology. The associations work to develop products and practices to jointly benefit their respective memberships, increase membership awareness of industry issues and more.

Earlier this year, MCAA and NECA also partnered together to put on the 2021 MEP Innovation Conference, held virtually this past April. Registration is already open for the 2022 MEP Innovation Conference held jointly with MCAA, NECA and the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA) for January 24-26, 2022. This annual event will be held in-person, showcasing the industry-defining innovations being seen across the mechanical, electrical and plumbing contracting industries.

MCAA thanks NECA for this recognition and looks forward to many more years of joint collaboration in order to advance the unionized construction industry.

Resource Highlight: MCAA’s Accident Investigation for the Mechanical Trades Safety Training Video

Each week, MCAA will highlight one or more of the educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership. This week, we focus on MCAA’s Accident Investigation for the Mechanical Trades Safety Training Video. This video provides your supervisors with step-by-step instruction on how to conduct a thorough accident investigation. It also helps them understand why accident investigations are so valuable.

The video outlines the importance of taking action when an accident occurs. This does three things:

Helps prevent other accidents
Shows workers that the company is committed to safety
Saves money

Download the Video

You Might Also Like This Resource

Model Accident/Incident Investigation Program

Have Questions or Need Personal Assistance?

Contact MCAA’s Raffi Elchemmas.

Connect With the Latest Training from NIBCO INC. and Ridge Tool Company at MCAA.org

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.

Participating companies highlight and link to new webinars and training opportunities across their product lines, services, solutions or web pages. Here are just a few of the recent additions:

NIBCO INC.
NIBCO is here to support the industry and we’re here to support you! When in-person training or distance is an issue, we bring the virtual classroom to you. Topics include Press System Installation, PressACR™, PressG™, BenchPress™, Valve Selection Basics, and Lead-Free Soldering.

Learn More

Ridge Tool Company
RIDGID is #1 in pressing for a reason. In this training we walk through the RP 350 and RP 342-XL. We talk about all the applications and uses to ensure you get the most out of these tools.

Learn More

Interested in More Training from Our Supplier Partners?

Be sure to visit the Manufacturer/Supplier Training area for all the latest offerings.

Learn More

FARO’s Laser-Based Reality Capture Tools Cut Limbach’s Labor Costs

FARO Technologies Inc.’s FARO® Focus S 350 Laser Scanners “are really allowing us to send one guy in to a project and capture in a few hours what a team of people used to do over the course of a week—field measuring, documenting, etc.,” said Mark Lamberson CPD, national virtual design and construction manager of Limbach Holdings Inc.

LEARN MORE

Looking for More Smart Solutions?

Visit the Smart Solutions Case Studies area of our website! You’ll see how other mechanical contractors found their win-win with productivity-enhancing and cost-saving applications from members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.

Plus, you’ll find tips and ideas on other ways you and your company can save money and enhance your productivity.

VISIT SMART SOLUTIONS

Biden Administration COVID Vaccination Mandates Update

Below are two items relevant to the Biden Administration’s recent COVID vaccination mandates.

The General Services Administration and the Civilian Agency Acquisition Council (CAAC) issued a broad Federal Acquisition Regulation Class Deviation for direct Federal Government Civilian Agency Contracting Officers to implement President Biden’s Executive Order 14042.

The executive order is for direct Federal prime contracts and subcontracts above the Simplified Acquisition (SAT) dollar threshold of $250,000. The CAAC letter reiterates that Federal agencies are required to include the clause – Far Part 52.223-99 Ensuring Adequate COVID-19 Safety Protocols For Federal Contractors, to be included in:

all contracts awarded on or after November 14, 2021 (based on solicitations issued before October 15, 2021) (including new orders issued on or after 10/14 under existing indefinite-delivery contracts based on solicitations issued before October 15^th);
new solicitation issued on or after October 15, 2021, and new contracts (and indefinite delivery pacts) entered into based on those solicitations;
extensions or renewals or options on existing contracts exercised on or after October 15, 2021.

The CAAC Letter also “strongly encourages” (but does not require) Federal agencies to include the COVID-19 vaccination requirement clause in contracts that will be awarded before November 14^th on solicitations issued before October 15^th and to include the requirements on prime and subcontracts under the $250,000 SAT.

The clause itself requires covered prime contractors and subcontractors to comply with all guidance, including guidance conveyed through Frequently Asked Questions, as amended during the performance of this contract, for contractor and subcontractor workplace locations published by the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force Guidance at https:www.safefederal workforce.gov/contractors/.

The clause incorporates automatic adoption of yet-to-be issued requirements published by the Federal SFW Task Force.

The clause also clarified that the prime contract flow-down of the requirements applies only to subcontracts above the SAT of $250,000, with the caveat of the strong suggestion of broader application noted above.

It remains to be determined what, if any, further guidance may be issued by the full Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council.

CAAC Letter

Frequently Asked Questions About Affordable Care Act Implementation Part 50, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act Implementation. (CCIIO OG MMRD 1808, October 4, 2021) The Department of labor, Health and Human Services Administration and Department of Treasury revised and updated their FAQs on the ACA, HIPAA, and CARES Act implementation guidance to address health plan coverage of COVID vaccination expenses, the permissibility of allowing health plan wellness incentives for vaccinations, and the impermissibility of denying health plan eligibility and coverage to unvaccinated participants.

Revised FAQs Part 50

Don’t Miss the Recently Released MCAA/CNA Microlearning Safety Video Series

MCAA recently announced the launch of the new MCAA/CNA Microlearning Safety Video Series. Together with our partners in safety, CNA, we developed a series of easy-to-watch safety videos that are each under 3-minutes! Please enjoy the four MCAA/CNA Microlearning Safety Videos below.

Five Spots Remain for MCAA’s Fabrication Conference

The Baker Group will host the 2021 MCAA Fabrication Conference, powered by MSUITE, in Des Moines, Iowa November 8-10. The conference combines a full day facility tour of The Baker Group’s fabrication facility with education and programming on new processes, tools and techniques to improve your productivity and fabrication.

While the conference originally sold out when it first opened, limitations were made based on COVID protocols at the time. With final protocols in place, five additional spaces have been opened to allow for attendees to participate.

The fabrication conference offers a unique experience to attendees – a full look inside the operations of a contractor peer to get some direct insight on how they perform their work. You will learn how The Baker Group expanded their facility in order to improve their fabrication capacity and flexibility so that they can compete on new projects and go after new market segments.

Attendees will also learn how they tie in their VDC operations, the software that allows them to digitize their workflow and leverage that data to improve accuracy and speed. Projects are designed, coordinated and built in-house which allows The Baker Group to work beyond their local jurisdiction with contractors around the country.

For more information, visit the registration page to download the brochure or register.

REGISTER NOW

Resource Highlight: MCAA’s Heavy Equipment Safety Training Video & Materials

Each week, MCAA will highlight one or more of the educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership. This week, we focus on MCAA’s Heavy Equipment Safety Training Video and its materials. This video reminds your workers that awareness is key to accident prevention when they are working around heavy equipment.

The video stresses the importance of:

Being aware at all times
Listening for backup alarms
Knowing what heavy equipment is operating nearby
Making sure equipment operators know where they are
Avoiding positioning themselves in any danger zones
Looking out for their coworkers

The video comes with a pocket guide that highlights key training points, a training documentation sheet, a 20-question multiple choice test, and a test answer key.

Download the Video and Accompanying Materials

Video | Pocket Guide | Documentation Sheet | Test | Answer Key

Have Questions or Need Personal Assistance?

Contact MCAA’s Raffi Elchemmas.

Find the Latest from Lochinvar, LLC and Penta Technologies, Inc. in MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show

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

Participating companies highlight and link to new products, product lines, services, solutions or web pages of particular interest. Here are just a few of the recent additions:

Lochinvar, LLC
Whatever your water storage needs, Lochinvar has a tank designed, engineered and assembled in the USA for you!

Learn More

Penta Technologies, Inc..
From maintenance contracts to mobile field data collection, PENTA empowers contractors with the information they need to optimize service operations from the field to the office. Save time and increase efficiency, with PENTA.

Learn More

Need Something Else?

Find many more smart solutions in MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show!

Visit the Virtual Trade Show

Speaking of Smart Solutions

This section of our website also includes tips and ideas to help your company save money and enhance your productivity. Don’t miss it!

Visit Smart Solutions

MCAA and the UA Introduce Clean Energy Heat Pump Performance Training Program

Together with the United Association (UA), MCAA is excited to bring you a new Clean Energy Heat Pump Performance Program. Heat pumps provide clean energy that can reduce or eliminate carbon dioxide from energy sources, thus operating more efficiently. Numerous state and federal financial incentives make heat pumps beneficial to both building owners and contractors. Signatory contractors and UA members are uniquely qualified to get trained and perform the work to reduce the carbon footprint for any state or city. Email Raffi Elchemmas (raffi@mcaa.org) or Robert Vilches (rvilches@uanet.org) to sign up.