The meeting will start with a continental breakfast and a networking session hosted by FW Webb then move on to an Ideas Exchange where ACCA members can provide attendees with information about the issues the association is tackling that protect HVAC contractors.

This will be followed by a sheet metal licensing regulations update and a FREE Duct Diagnostics 101 Class.

Duct Diagnostics 101: How and Why to Measure Airflow

• Measuring Static Pressure & Airflow
• Using a Duct Calculator
• Available Blower Static, Total Equivalent Length,
• And Friction Rate
• Duct Leakage Testing
• MA Code, ESQI, Cool Smart
• Duct Blaster and Trueflow Plate demonstration

This class is a $100 value, but will be offered at no charge. 

All interested HVAC subcontractors are invited to attend the ACCA February 28th Summit and Duct Diagnostics Class.  There is no charge to attend.

To register online go to: https://secure.blueoctane.net/forms/IRZ4YQB1Q9ME

Breakfast Summit Sponsored by:  

Duct Diagnostics 101 Class Sponsored by: 

The ACCA January 18th Dinner Meeting will feature keynote speaker Bill Napolitano from The Institute For Business Excellence®. Bill is one of the industry’s preeminent consultants.  He is working with the ACCA leadership team to update the association’s strategic plan to ensure that membership services continue to meet member needs now and into the future.

Is your business ready for 2012 and beyond? Is your strategic plan in place? Many ACCA members are small business owners, but being small does not mean that you should not have a long-term plan. Statistically businesses with a plan make more money than those that do not have a plan. So mark your calendar for January 18th and make the development of a business plan designed to help you grow your business one of your New Years resolutions.

On January 18th, Bill Napolitano will help you design your own strategy for success. He will take you through the steps you need to create and execute an organized strategic plan that will lead to company growth and increased profits.
Don’t miss this ACCA dinner meeting. It can lead to company growth and prosperity in the new year.

Click here to register for the January 18, 2012 Dinner Meeting.

STOW, Mass., Oct. 20, 2011 – Seven New England contractors are recipients of COOL  SMART awards presented at the annual Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) –  New England Golf Tournament. The event was held recently at the Stow Acres Country Club in Stow, Mass. and has been sponsored for six consecutive years by National Grid, NSTAR
Electric and Western Massachusetts Electric Co. The contractors, who specialize in heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), were honored during a luncheon after the tournament.

The awards were given out to recognize excellence in the quality installation of energy efficient air conditioning systems in 2011. Nearly 150 HVAC contractors throughout the region participated in the event, held last month.

Launched in 2004, COOL SMART is a rebate program for Massachusetts and Rhode Island residential customers of National Grid, NSTAR Electric, Western Massachusetts Electric Co. Unitil, and Cape Light Compact. The program promotes the purchase and verified quality installation of ENERGY STAR®-qualified central air conditioning systems.

The utilities sponsor the COOL SMART awards and the tournament to recognize participating contractors for their outstanding service and ongoing commitment to energy efficiency. Honors are based on leadership, quality installations and active program participation.

Dick Moran, NSTAR’s residential program manager, has been involved with COOL SMART for several years. He said, “These seven New England companies represent the best of the best trade pros in the region. We’re confident they’ll continue their best efforts to reduce pollution, harmful greenhouse gas emissions and energy use through quality installation of high efficiency air conditioning equipment. We hope other HVAC contractors will follow their lead.”
First place award recipients from Mass. are:
 Boucher Energy Systems — Mendon
 Central Cooling & Heating — Woburn (four awards)
 Central MA Mechanical — Shrewsbury

Top Rhode Island award recipients are:

 CARJON Air Conditioning and Heating – Smithfield
 Lawrence Air Systems – Barrington
 Providence Mechanical – Providence
 RB Queern & Co. — Portsmouth

In addition to the awards, top performing firms were entered into a drawing for several prizes, including an iPad and an ENERGY STAR-qualified LCD TV. Conservation Services Group, a Westborough, Mass.-based energy services firm, is the implementation contractor for COOL SMART on behalf of National Grid, NSTAR Electric, Western Massachusetts Electric Co., Unitil and Cape Light Compact. To find out about becoming a COOL SMART contractor, or for general program information, visit www.masssave.com or call 1-800-473-1105.

The History
The Massachusetts Board of Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters issued an interpretation on October 25, 2006 regarding the installation and venting of gas heating equipment. Some in our industry believe that through this interpretation the Board has exceeded its authority. The interpretation attempts to expand the legal definition of “gas fitting” and will include related work that is not covered by the original definition of gas fitting as set forth in the law.  ACCA New England has asked the State Board of Examiners of Plumbers and Gasfitters to clarify the language or modify it to allow the same exception for direct-vented equipment that is granted for all other types of equipment covered by this interpretation. The Board has remained steadfast and insists that in the case of direct vented equipment under 400,000 Btu’s and utilizing PVC vents, that a “qualified individual” cannot perform this work and indeed the work must be done by a licensed gasfitter.

Action Plan
We will now seek relief from the courts. To aid ACCA New England in this effort we have retained the services of David Kerrigan, Esq. of Kenney & Sams, P.C. Attorney Kerrigan will argue that the Board’s interpretation of their regulations concerning the definition of gas fitting has already been decided.

Industry Argument
Attorney Kerrigan will also argue that even if the Board is not precluded from issuing the same interpretation that was previously ruled “plainly wrong,” the Board should lose on the merits of its case. Mr. Kerrigan believes that the Board is acting outside the scope of its authority because the definition of “gas fitting” in the regulations does not give the Board authority to regulate exhausted vent flue gas.

David will argue that a 1986 Hughes case is binding on the Board because it specifically decided the very issues that are now in dispute with the Board. Moreover, the Board never appealed the Hughes decision, so they are now precluded from making the same interpretation that was already ruled “plainly wrong” by the Court.

Legal Defense Fund
To move this effort forward we have established a Legal Defense Fund to raise the resources we will need to fund this legal battle. Funds raised will be used for this and other regulatory and legislative issues that arise that would negatively impact the HVAC industry.

Will you help? We need to raise a minimum of $40,000. Your donation is critical to our success.  Please donate today.  Click here to make a donation online.

Click here for a pdf version of this information.

Click here for a link to pictures from the day.

We would like to congratulate the many winners of the Cool Smart Awards.   Here is a link to the winners.

Special thanks to our Presenting Sponsors:

Thanks to our Titanium Sponsors:

Thanks to our Gold Sponsors:

Thanks to our Hole-In-One Sponsor:

Thanks to our Contest Hole Sponsors:

Thanks to our iPad Raffle Provider:

Thanks to our Hole Sponsors:
  

Congratulations to all our winning golfers!

We share one goal: To make the HVACR industry, and every professional contracting business, more successful. How does ACCA do it? We bring you together with other contractors through unique learning opportunities. We provide exclusive technical, legal, and marketing resources. We bring customers to you. And we fight aggressively for your business interests in Washington, DC. With roots stretching back nearly a century, ACCA is the only nationwide organization of, by and for the small businesses that design, install and maintain indoor environmental systems.

We have recently created a LinkedIn Group for ACCA New England. You do not have to be a member of ACCA to join this group. We are encouraging anyone that lives in New England and works in the HVACR industry to join this group. The goal is to have as many members as possible, so that we promote events and business related topics, we have maximum participation.

We will also be posting benefits of joining ACCA, so that some people will want to join, because they see the value of joining.

Thank you to those that have already joined our group. For those that have not, please click the following link http://www.linkedin.com/groups/ACCA-New-England-3784601   If you already have a LinkedIn account then you can sign in and request to join the group.

If you are not yet a member of LinkedIn, we highly recommend you join. At the top of the page from the same link you can join and read about, “What is LinkedIn?”

Seventy-two percent of drug users are employed-but you won’t find them working at a company with an effective drug- and alcohol-free workplace program. This program by Federated Insurance offers the steps and resources you’ll need to help implement an effective drug- and alcohol-free workplace program at your company.  Speak with your local Federated Marketing Representative to learn more, or go to www.federatedinsurance.com
]]> http://accane.wordpress.com/2010/11/30/how-to-implement-a-drug-and-alcohol-free-workplace-program-at-your-business/feed/ 0 accane federated_large http://accane.wordpress.com/2010/11/30/contractors-settle-lawsuit-against-state-sheet-metal-board/ http://accane.wordpress.com/2010/11/30/contractors-settle-lawsuit-against-state-sheet-metal-board/#comments Tue, 30 Nov 2010 18:41:12 +0000 accane http://accane.wordpress.com/?p=1441 ]]> A group of sheet metal contractors has settled its lawsuit against the Massachusetts Board of Examiners of Sheet Metal Workers regarding proposed regulations that would have increased construction costs without providing corresponding improvements in quality, and tilted the playing field to favor union contractors.

“When we began this effort, few people thought we would have much impact,” said Paul O’Loughlin, outgoing chair of the Coalition for Fair Licensing, one of the lawsuit’s lead plaintiffs.  “Nearly two years later, we haven’t gotten everything we wanted, but open shop sheet metal contractors are getting their licenses and competing for work.”

Legislation passed in 2008 made sheet metal a licensed trade, like plumbing and electrical, and established a seven-person board to promulgate regulations.  The contractors’ challenge to the make-up of the Sheet Metal Board is outside the scope of the settlement.  

Thanks to pressure from the Coalition for Fair Licensing and the plaintiffs, open shop sheet metal contractors are also getting their licenses as provided for by “grandfathering” provisions included in the legislation.  

Click here for more information on this issue and the full press release.

• Good moral character
• Five years of sheet metal experience within the last ten years

Master Grandfather License 
(applications available late February / early March 2010)

• Good moral character
• Officer in a sheet metal corporation on or before June 29, 2009 or;
• Three years of personal professional sheet metal practice at the master’s level or;
• Ten years overall sheet metal experience

Apprentice License 
(applications available late February / early March 2010)

• Good moral character
• Employed by Master Sheet Metal Worker

School License 
(applications available April / May 2010)

• Owners / administrators shall be of good moral character
• Submit floor plan and occupancy permit
• Submit detailed curriculum
• Submit student contract
• Submit itemization of tuition and fees
• See application for additional requirements

Instructor License (applications available April / May 2010)

• Good Moral Character
• High school diploma or equivalent
• Journeyperson or Master License
• Seven years trade experience

Business License 
(applications available June / July 2010)

• Good moral character
• Corporations must have at least one master sheet metal worker as a corporate officer, and shall designate a master sheet metal worker to be its Responsible Craftsman
• All partners in a partnership or LLP shall be licensed master sheet metal workers
• Each LLC shall designate a master sheet metal worker as the Manager and Responsible Craftsman
• See application for additional requirements

Journeyperson J-1 License Exam 
(applications available February 2011)

• Good moral character
• High school diploma or equivalent
• Five years , 8000 field hours, 750 classroom hours within the last ten years

Journeyperson J-2 License Exam 
(applications available February 2011)

• Good moral character
• High school diploma or equivalent
• Three years , 4800 field hours, 450 classroom hours within the last ten years

Master M-1 License Exam 
(applications available February 2011)

• Good moral character
• High school diploma or equivalent
• Current Journeyperson J-1 license
• Complete 40-hour Master’s course

Master M-2 License Exam 
(applications available February 2011)

• Good moral character
• High school diploma or equivalent
• Current Journeyperson J-2 license
• Complete 40-hour Master’s course

Link to License Applications and More

Rules and Regulations Governing Sheet Metal Workers