commercial construction

The popularity of PEX in residential and commercial construction has produced an influx of engineered polymer (EP) F1960 expansion fittings claiming to be “just the same as Uponor ProPEX®”. However, these lower-quality F1960 fittings are putting systems and contractors at significant risk for leaks or poor performance. Uponor ProPEX fittings are certified by a third-party Read more

The popularity of PEX in residential and commercial construction has produced an influx of engineered polymer (EP) F1960 expansion fittings claiming to be “just the same as Uponor ProPEX®”. However, these lower-quality F1960 fittings are putting systems and contractors at significant risk for leaks or poor performance.

Uponor ProPEX fittings are certified by a third-party agency, NSF International, to prove the product is designed and manufactured to the ASTM F1960 standard. In addition, ProPEX fittings also include additional internal quality testing that extends beyond ASTM F1960 standard requirements to provide a higher-quality product.

Some suppliers claim their fittings are compliant to F1960, which means, in their opinion, they meet the standard. However, there is no third-party agency to confirm that compliance. This confusion between certification and compliance is resulting in PEX piping installations with lower-quality connections that are putting systems at risk for failure and jeopardizing installers’ reputations.

Uponor has performed a random sampling of these lower-quality F1960 EP fittings and found them to have a reduced internal diameter — up to 50% in some instances. Additionally, Uponor has received claims for failed connections that, after investigation, were found to be different suppliers’ low-quality F1960 fittings.

Many generic F1960 expansion fittings have a thinner sealing barb and weaker tube stops compared to ProPEX fittings. Those differences can result in leaks that cost time and money to repair — and also damage a contractor’s reputation.

It is important to be vigilant when ordering and purchasing F1960 fittings. Ensure you are getting the superior quality of ProPEX that comes with a 25-year transferable limited warranty when used as a system with Uponor PEX-a pipe and ProPEX rings.

To learn more about the differences in ProPEX and how it can impact your business, visit uponor.com/propex.

The construction of a new building is not an easy task. There’s a lot to do, from design to implementation of sophisticated systems to sourcing materials. One such area that many people often overlook while planning the construction of their commercial building is plumbing.  Just like the homes and other residential buildings, plumbing is important Read more

The construction of a new building is not an easy task. There’s a lot to do, from design to implementation of sophisticated systems to sourcing materials. One such area that many people often overlook while planning the construction of their commercial building is plumbing. 

Just like the homes and other residential buildings, plumbing is important for commercial buildings as well. Plumbing in any building includes laying of drain pipes, pipelines, valves, valve assemblies, and other devices installed in the property so that the water system functions well. Once you get in touch with a construction company to discuss all the details, it is equally essential to contact a plumbing engineer or service to install and maintain the water systems in various settings. 

The role of good plumbing for the longevity of any commercial construction is highlighted in the following points. 

Commercial Buildings include Bathrooms 

Like houses and other residential areas, commercial establishments also have functional bathrooms used by workers, clients, and other people. If you overlook the role of plumbing while installing bathrooms into your establishment, it may turn out to be a big problem. 

A reliable plumbing service can help you with the proper installation of bathrooms by installing showers, sinks, water pipes, and drainage systems to maintain a hygienic environment. 

To Keep Your Building in Good Shape 

Apart from installing essential bathroom ware, plumbing services also help fix common problems and issues like leaks from the pipelines, damage in the water valves, and others. Big or small leaks and damages in plumbing systems affect the quality, safety, as well as aesthetics of your establishment. 

Hence, before you construct a new building, you must get in touch with an expert plumbing service and ask them to lay out pipes and ensure that the building is equipped with the best plumbing system. 

To Address Water Issues 

Water issues aren’t merely restricted to pipe leaks or water valve damage but also cover other problems. A good plumbing service efficiently addresses such issues. 

For instance, commercial plumbing services install devices such as grease traps to keep oil and other wastes from mixing in the water. Some plumbing companies also install filters to cool down hot water to prevent damaging PVC pipes. 

To Address Emergency Plumbing Situations 

Emergency plumbing situations are a common occurrence. Such situations also highlight the importance of good commercial plumbing services. The emergencies can occur any time of the day, without warning, thereby disrupting your business operations. 

Efficient plumbing also involves preventive measures to keep these emergencies at bay. Many plumbing services use the latest technologies to prevent any mishap or plumbing disaster and ensure that all needs are addressed properly. 

To Offer Improved Plumbing Systems 

Good plumbing solutions offered by experts help you improve the overall plumbing system of your building. These experts can offer you the most effective and trending devices to add to your existing plumbing system. Some of these services also replace parts in your plumbing system to improve efficiency. 

Some of the common areas plumbing engineers extend their expertise include sanitary sewer, domestic/potable water, domestic hot water, stormwater system, and plumbing fixtures.. 

Takeaway 

Whether you are constructing a new building or renovating an old one, the importance of a good plumbing system should not be overlooked. Spending a bit more from the start on a good plumbing service that guarantees quality work can help you save a great deal of money and time in the long run. Additionally, by opting for a reliable plumbing service, you remain assured that your establishment will become better and more efficient.

As a leading global construction company, Tidhar’s success relies on the company’s reputation for quality and customer satisfaction. The dynamic international real estate group employs a unique combination of entrepreneurial, planning and execution capabilities, advanced management concepts, and uncompromising quality and service to develop, build and operate residential and commercial projects around the world. Challenge Read more

As a leading global construction company, Tidhar’s success relies on the company’s reputation for quality and customer satisfaction. The dynamic international real estate group employs a unique combination of entrepreneurial, planning and execution capabilities, advanced management concepts, and uncompromising quality and service to develop, build and operate residential and commercial projects around the world.

Challenge: Unfortunately, Tidhar, like many other construction firms, has been frequently challenged by leaks and water damage on jobsites. The company’s management was determined to put an end to the costs of property damage and remediation, the delivery delays and the impact of water leaks on customer satisfaction.

Additionally, the company sought tools to support its commitment to enhancing sustainability in the construction industry. Reducing water waste on building sites not only helps Tidhar save customers time and money; it also offers opportunities to incorporate long-term sustainability measures and establishes Tidhar as a pioneer in the evolution of sustainable construction practices.

Tidhar needed a solution that would mitigate damage from water leaks and even eliminate the risk altogether. The ideal solution would detect leaks, alert staff, and automatically shut water off to prevent damage. It would need to function during all project phases and continue operation regardless of any communication or power infrastructure failures at the site. It had to be adaptable, robust and modular so it could grow with the site as construction progressed.

 Solution: WINT is passionate about preventing the hazards and costs associated with water leaks, and about preventing water waste to reduce consumption and ongoing costs. Utilizing the power of artificial intelligence, signal processing, smart auto-shutoff valves and advanced IoT technologies, Water Intelligence units provide an all-in-one solution for organizations looking to eliminate water-leak damage and to reduce ongoing water waste. WINT’s customers include commercial facilities, construction projects and industrial facilities including the world’s leading construction and real-estate companies, facilities management organizations and prominent buildings.

WINT’s advanced solutions track water flows, learn usage patterns and behaviors and identify anomalies in real time. When an issue is detected WINT alerts staff and can automatically shut water off to prevent damage.

The WINT cloud, portal and mobile application provide maintenance staff with the tools required to manage water on the facility, track usage and control water flow and usage throughout the facility. WINT’s AI-based systems are installed at multiple locations at a site, with devices added to newly constructed areas and floors as the project advances. When the system detects a leak, it alerts staff and can instantly shut off water to the affected area.

Supervisors have the option to choose automated shutoff or an alert-only policy. Site supervisors and managers can remotely view related water-flow data from their mobile devices, and immediately shut-off or activate water flows in real time.

WINT systems can even communicate over the cellular network and be powered by battery, so they can be deployed even before Internet and electrical infrastructure has been installed.

 Result: Over the past two years, Tidhar has deployed the WINT solution at over 40 construction projects. These include residential high-rise buildings as well as large, million-square-feet high-tech commercial facilities.

Over this period, Tidhar experienced six shutoff incidents with flow rates up to 500 gallons an hour across its portfolio. Disruptions could be attributed to a defective fitting, a broken hose and a running tap. In each case, WINT technology identified the issue, shut off the water supply and alerted staff, saving the sites from massive damage and delays.

Since deploying WINT, Tidhar has not suffered a single water damage incident. In fact, the company has established WINT as a mandatory standard for all of its construction projects; any exclusion requires formal CEO approval.

“Water damage at construction sites is one of those things that keep construction executives up at night,” said Tidhar CEO Tal Hershkovitz. “The physical damage can be huge and the project delays a nightmare. WINT has made this one less thing to worry about. We sleep better knowing that WINT has an eye on water at our sites.”

Learn more at https://www.WINT.ai or email sales@wint.ai.

It’s that time of year again where media, prognosticators and media prognosticators try to look into the immediate future to predict, and make sense of, the short-term economy. And, yes, even in this uncertain climate. Mechanical Hub will be featuring a series of exclusive Q & A sessions with industry leaders and players to get Read more

It’s that time of year again where media, prognosticators and media prognosticators try to look into the immediate future to predict, and make sense of, the short-term economy. And, yes, even in this uncertain climate. Mechanical Hub will be featuring a series of exclusive Q & A sessions with industry leaders and players to get their views on the future, and living in a COVID world. The second part of the series, we talk with Matt Erickson, CEO, C.J. Erickson Plumbing Co., Alsip, Ill., a plumbing contractor for commercial and site work since in the Chicago area since 1906.

non-residential construction, plumbing, commercial plumbing, commercial construction, industry forecast, short-term economic forecast

MH: When it comes to 2021 industry forecasts, the most resonant word I hear is optimistic. That word can become hollow if it doesn’t have any substance backing it up. What does the short-term economy look like as it relates to your company?

ERICKSON: I hear the same “optimistic” description but believe that it is a National forecast and includes all sectors.  We’ve been following the AIA info since March and believe non-residential construction will be down in 2021 and look brighter for 2022 in the local Chicagoland market. Our estimating has been steady so far this year compared to 2020 but don’t feel the pace will remain the same for February and March.

MH: Piggybacking off of that , what are some indicators you look at to determine trends, movements, etc.?

non-residential construction, plumbing, commercial plumbing, commercial construction, industry forecast, short-term economic forecastERICKSON: In addition to the AIA data, we follow local trade employment statistics (how many tradesmen are out of work), we look at hours worked by our field employees and compare week, month and year over year. Our estimating data can point to general trends in quantity and size of projects in the market.

MH: Do you think companies have enough backlog to carry them through at least the first half of 2021?

ERICKSON: That’s a tough one… we’re seeing a fair number of opportunities but they are smaller in value and duration. I think there will not be enough large, long duration (12 – 24 months) projects available this year to maintain the collective industry hours worked in 2020. Prices are falling and end users are getting great deals as everyone competes for fewer good opportunities.

non-residential construction, plumbing, commercial plumbing, commercial construction, industry forecast, short-term economic forecastMH: I read somewhere that at the rate the U.S. is distributing the vaccine, we should be back to “normal” by 2024. Perhaps that’s a bit overly dramatic, but how does (has) C.J. Erickson positioned itself from the “fallout” of COVID-19?

ERICKSON: The non-residential construction process can be time consuming and I believe the industry will feel the pain from the pandemic long after the some sort of “normal” returns for the most affected industries. We are taking some time to clean-up some processes and update our training, in preparation for the gradual climb back to normal.

MH: Does a change at the presidential level change outlook for your company, if at all? (Infrastructure, green energy initiatives, stimulus, etc.)

ERICKSON: Possibly, if any of the programs or spending props up the commercial and industrial constriction market. Otherwise, I do not believe the new administration will change the outlook for our company.

non-residential construction, plumbing, commercial plumbing, commercial construction, industry forecast, short-term economic forecastMatt Erickson is CEO of C.J. Erickson Plumbing Co., a Chicago-area plumbing contractor since 1906. C.J. Erickson Plumbing Co. employs over 100 people including union plumbers, laborers and operating engineers. We specialize in commercial plumbing, industrial plumbing, hydro-excavation and site utility and underground services.

 

The Coronavirus, unrest in the Middle East, the impeachment process, and the presidential election later this year all have had or can have an effect on the markets and people’s confidence in the new year. From everything I’ve heard, the economy still continues trending up, albeit at a bit of a slower pace for 2020 Read more

The Coronavirus, unrest in the Middle East, the impeachment process, and the presidential election later this year all have had or can have an effect on the markets and people’s confidence in the new year. From everything I’ve heard, the economy still continues trending up, albeit at a bit of a slower pace for 2020.

“With the exception of the unknowable effects from election events, we see continued moderate GDP growth with very little likelihood of recession in the near term. From a macro-economic perspective, we see 2020 will be much like 2019, but with the implementation of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and the de-escalation of the trade war with China, we anticipate less uncertainty and less volatility,” says Bruce Carnevale, President & CEO, Bradford White Corporation.

2020 construction forecast, economic forecast, plumbing, HVAC, construction, housing market, commercial construction, residential construction, residential remodeling

According to the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB), although the economy is slowing slightly, the risk of a recession is low and remodeling should keep pace with inflation into 2021.

“On balance, we are optimistic, and 2020 being an election year historically supports that view. We expect to see moderate growth and opportunity overall,” says Bill Gray, president of Uponor North America.

At this point when the economy seems to be relatively healthy, you almost hate to bring up the “R” word, but Gray says that with commercial construction flat to slightly up currently, a looming recession depends on owner and builder confidence—with development times, size of commercial projects and long lead times to completion increase risk as we move into 2021 and beyond.

Residential is trending upward, says Gray, which is balanced by affordability and consumer debt issues. Commercial is at least holding its own or up slightly from one month to the next. “So confidence is good because of all the projects in the funnel. But if people start to see storm clouds, post-election, that confidence could weaken substantially and quickly, and 2021 could become a challenging year for our industry,” says Gray.

“But even so, we expect more of a correction than a sharp downturn. I state the above with the proviso that the emergence of coronavirus is a threat, with new information surfacing daily. We are a long way from knowing what the impact on 2020 and beyond will be,” continues Gray.

2020 construction forecast, economic forecast, plumbing, HVAC, construction, housing market, commercial construction, residential construction, residential remodeling

(PRNewsfoto/Fairmont Supply Company)

How does the upcoming presidential election affect the economy? “The lead up to the election might affect projects not yet funded, especially projects with government funding sources, but I don’t anticipate any effect on private sector projects—those might be influenced by the stock market and interest rates, both of which are currently favorable,” says Mark Evans, Sr. Director of North American Sales, Viega.

2020 construction forecast, economic forecast, plumbing, HVAC, construction, housing market, commercial construction, residential construction, residential remodelingAccording to Carnevale, the economy so far seems to have shrugged off the partisan bickering in Washington. “Favorable tax policy had a positive impact on the overall business environment, but we believe that regulatory relief provided an even greater level of economic stimulation. Increases in business taxes or regulatory burden would have a negative impact on overall business performance, investment, and the economy in general.”

For some, naturally, the economy affects those differently in various segments of the country. For example, with a good balance of work across residential, healthcare and commercial sectors, J.C. Cannistraro, Watertown, Mass., sees moderate growth in the short term, “The construction market in Boston is still strong and there does not appear to be any slowdown in the next several years,” says Mark Perrone, purchasing manager, J.C. Cannistraro. “Interest rates are still relatively low, and I think if there is an increase, we could see a change in if/how projects are financed.”

Residential Remodeling

According to experts from the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB) at this year’s International Builder’s Show (IBS), spending on residential improvements will continue to grow over the next two years at a gradual pace, citing increased consumer confidence and demand.

2020 construction forecast, economic forecast, plumbing, HVAC, construction, housing market, commercial construction, residential construction, residential remodeling

“NAHB estimates that real spending on home improvements will even out at a slower place of about -.6% in 2020 and an increase of 1.2% in 2020,” said Paul Emrath, Ph.D., NAHB’s assistant vice president for Surveys and Housing Policy Research. “The biggest factors prohibiting stronger growth is mainly the ongoing labor shortage.”

And that labor shortage is on the list of “things to keep an eye on” for Viega’s Evans, “Consumer debt is a concern, as is a shift in starts from single-family dwellings to multi-family construction, and a lack of skilled labor in some markets.”

Skilled Labor

The number one business challenge in our industry, says Carnevale, is still the lack of skilled labor. “The trades are ‘aging’ and the challenge of bringing young men and women into the trades continues. Many industry organizations are investing time and funding into workforce development and recruitment initiatives, but we still have a long way to go. This is a deeply embedded cultural challenge that will take a significant amount of time to address,” says Carnevale.

To emphasize this concern, according to Stephen E. Sandherr, Associated General Contractors of America (AGC)—in regard to findings detailed in the Strong Demand for Work Amid Stronger Demand for Workers: The 2020 Construction Hiring and Business Outlook Report, co-produced with Sage Construction and Real Estate,  “Contractors are very optimistic about demand for construction in 2020,” said Stephen E. Sandherr. “At the same time, many construction executives are troubled by labor shortages and the impacts those shortages are having on operations, training and safety programs, and bottom lines.”

Adapt and Move Forward

One thing is for certain, the companies that can adapt to today’s issues will be at the forefront of today’s modern contracting. How can contractors ready themselves responsibly? Diversification and a focus on improving business processes and systems, says Evans.

Yet, the technology landscape in construction, and every industry for that matter, is constantly evolving. This can be overwhelming since there always seems to be a new software, AI or robot that can do it faster, cheaper and better. “I believe the companies that can embrace this and find the proper balance between people and technology will be the leaders in industry,” says Perrone.

Enhanced training capabilities—video, VR, etc.—remote diagnostic capabilities, which improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the contractor, and high efficiency products that can provide proactive replacement opportunities can all factor into business growth, says Carnevele. “Train with the goal to be the product experts in your trading area, and train to diversify into adjacent businesses which are of interest to and valued by your customers,” says Carnevale.