Manufacturing and transportation projects drive gains Total construction starts rose 6% in August to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.3 trillion, according to Dodge Construction Network. Nonresidential starts rose 40% thanks to a large pickup in manufacturing and transportation buildings. Residential and nonbuilding starts fell 1% and 14%, respectively. Year-to-date through August 2023, total Read more
residential
Manufacturing and transportation projects drive gains
Total construction starts rose 6% in August to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.3 trillion, according to Dodge Construction Network. Nonresidential starts rose 40% thanks to a large pickup in manufacturing and transportation buildings. Residential and nonbuilding starts fell 1% and 14%, respectively.
Year-to-date through August 2023, total construction starts were 5% below that of 2022. Residential and nonresidential starts were down 18% and 9%, respectively; however, nonbuilding starts were up 22%. For the 12 months ending August 2023, total construction starts were unchanged. Nonbuilding starts were 20% higher, and nonresidential building starts gained 6%. Conversely, on a 12-month rolling basis, residential starts posted a 17% decline overall.
“Despite the August gain, the construction sector is running uphill,” said Richard Branch, chief economist for Dodge Construction Network. “Fear of an imminent recession seems to have abated, which should provide a boost of confidence to the sector. However, higher interest rates, labor shortages and significantly tighter lending standards will weigh down starts in the final quarter of the year. This will persist for the foreseeable future, lasting until interest rates start to move lower.”
Nonbuilding
Nonbuilding construction starts lost ground in August, falling 14% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $380 billion. The decline follows a strong July which saw the start of a $12 billion LNG project. Nonbuilding starts increased 12% in August when excluding the utility/gas plant category, which fell 45% during the month. Miscellaneous nonbuilding starts shot 39% higher, and highway and bridge starts gained 19%. However, environmental public works starts shed 1%.
Year-to-date through August, nonbuilding starts gained 22%. Utility/gas plants rose 40%, and miscellaneous nonbuilding starts were up 33%. Highway and bridge starts gained 13%, and environmental public works rose 17%.
For the 12 months ending August 2023, total nonbuilding starts were 20% higher than that of August 2022. Utility/gas plant and miscellaneous nonbuilding starts rose 23% and 30%, respectively. Highway and bridge starts were up 17%, and environmental public works rose 18% on a 12-month rolling sum basis.
The largest nonbuilding projects to break ground in August were the $3.5 billion TransWest Transmission Project spanning Wyoming, Colorado, Utah and Nevada, the $2.9 billion Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion projects in Port Sulphur, Louisiana, and the $1.5 billion New England Clean Energy Connect Power Line in Maine.
Nonresidential
Nonresidential building starts gained 40% in August to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $475 billion, largely due to a surge in manufacturing activity. Nonresidential building starts would have gained 24% when excluding these large manufacturing projects. Commercial starts rose 8% in August led by gains in parking structures and hotels, and institutional starts rose 35% with all sectors but dormitories increasing. Manufacturing starts rose 285% from July to August, fueled by two large projects. On a year-to-date basis through August, total nonresidential starts were 9% lower than that of 2022. Institutional starts gained 3%, while commercial and manufacturing starts fell 8% and 32%, respectively.
For the 12 months ending August 2023, total nonresidential building starts were 6% higher than that ending August 2022. Manufacturing starts were 2% higher. Institutional starts improved 8%, and commercial starts gained 6%.
The largest nonresidential building projects to break ground in August were the $2.5 billion John Palmour Manufacturing Center for Silicon Carbide in Siler City, North Carolina, the $2 billion VinFast electrical vehicle plant in New Hill, North Carolina, and the $1.4 billion Midfield Satellite Concourse at Los Angeles International Airport in California.
Residential
Residential building starts fell 1% in August to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $418 billion. Single family starts gained 2%, while multifamily starts lost 5%. On a year-to-date basis through August 2023, total residential starts were down 18%. Single family starts were 21% lower, and multifamily starts were down 12%.
For the 12 months ending in August 2023, residential starts were 17% lower than in 2022. Single family starts were 23% lower, while multifamily starts were down 3% on a rolling 12-month basis.
The largest multifamily structures to break ground in August were the $530 million Hub on Campus mixed-use building in Knoxville, Tennessee, the $425 million 250 Water Street mixed-use tower in New York, New York, and the $340 million Ritz Carlton residences in North Palm Beach, Florida.
Regionally, total construction starts in August rose in the Midwest, South Atlantic and West regions, but fell in the South Central.
Watch Chief Economist Richard Branch discuss August Construction Starts here.
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.
Did you know, that around 500 000 US homes still do not have adequate plumbing? This shocking statistic has sent shockwaves through an industry much maligned for being too expensive for ordinary people and has led to a jump in students and apprentices registering for the trade – not a bad thing at all. The Read more
Did you know, that around 500 000 US homes still do not have adequate plumbing? This shocking statistic has sent shockwaves through an industry much maligned for being too expensive for ordinary people and has led to a jump in students and apprentices registering for the trade – not a bad thing at all. The more players there are in the field, the more competition will raise standards and force prices down, and hopefully, that will mean that more folks can get the work done that they really need.
So we thought we’d help you jump the gun (at least, a tiny bit), and help you discover what are the essential tools and skills that every aspiring plumber must-have.
First up, what tools should every plumber have – and know how to use?
Well, as your progress through your training and apprenticeship, you’re going to learn all about what you’ll need when, and depending on the discipline you’re pursuing, home-based or commercial, you’ll learn about different requirements and needs. But, as a general rule, you’ll not be worth any salt at all without:
- Pipe wrench
- Basin wrench
- Adjustable wrench
- Faucet key
- Hacksaw
- Tube and plastic pipe cutters
- Plumber’s torch
- Thread sealing tape
- Pliers
- Press fitting systems
- Plungers
- Hand Auger
- Snake Machine
- PPE
- Heat shields/pads
- PEX pipe expander & fittings
- Crimpers
- Stubby screwdriver
- Borescope
- Plumbing business software
- Communication skills
- Patience!
And when you’re really ready to up your game, you’ll be wanting a lathe too.
What skills will you be learning?
Plumbing is so much more than just working with waterpipes and you’ll want to make sure that you’re best placed to capitalize on opportunities when entering the market. So when choosing your school or training facility, you want to make sure that you’ll be learning:
INSTALLATION, TROUBLESHOOTING, AND REPAIR
- installing and repairing piping (for waste, drainage, and venting systems)
- installing and repairing plumbing fixtures (sinks, faucets, toilets, etc.)
- fixing leaking or clogged lines
- connecting appliances that use water (washing machine, dishwasher, etc,)
- installing piping for gas, pneumatic, and air handling systems
THE LATEST TRENDS AND TECHNOLOGY
- hands-free faucets and toilets that use motion technology to turn off and on
- programmable showers that can be set up with personalized lighting, temperature, and sound
- digital leak-monitoring systems that detect leaks fast, and send alerts straight to the client’s cell phone
- greywater recycling systems that take “gently” used water from showers, washing machines, and dishwashers, and recycle it for re-use in the home and garden
BLUEPRINTS & BASIC MATH
Interpreting blueprints correctly is a very savvy skill for all plumbers to learn. Without this, you won’t be able to understand mechanical or architectural drawings which help you correctly install fixtures and appliances. Learning how to do this correctly will also help you sharpen your analytical skills too.
Now, to learn all of this you’ll be wanting to make sure that you find the best possible training facility in order to get the best possible apprenticeship.
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.
Lochinvar, an industry leader in high-efficiency boilers and water heaters, recently announced the introduction of the Reverse Indirect Water Heater to its continually expanding family of best-in-class water heating solutions. This unit is currently available in a 125-gallon capacity for a variety of applications, both residential and commercial. “For decades, Lochinvar has been dedicated to Read more
Lochinvar, an industry leader in high-efficiency boilers and water heaters, recently announced the introduction of the Reverse Indirect Water Heater to its continually expanding family of best-in-class water heating solutions. This unit is currently available in a 125-gallon capacity for a variety of applications, both residential and commercial.
“For decades, Lochinvar has been dedicated to not only cutting-edge product innovation, but also superior durability and flexibility, offering long-lasting, quality systems for a variety of applications,” said Jeff Vallett II, segment market manager for Lochinvar. “The top performance and dependability offered by the Reverse Indirect Water Heater is an excellent example of the Lochinvar experience our customers have come to expect, and should expect for years to come.”
Providing up to 30 GPM of continuous hot water delivery, the Reverse Indirect Water Heater is designed perfectly for multi-family, commercial and large residential water heating applications using a hydronic system. The generous hot water supply allows for an extremely dependable hot water source. The Reverse Indirect Water Heater is available in ASME and Non-ASME construction, providing superior flexibility to fit most any job.
As with Lochinvar’s continued commitment to quality, the Reverse Indirect Water Heater comes standard with a 10-year limited warranty. It also features a 316L stainless-steel coil, a jacketed and insulated steel tank, and 2” HCFC foam insulation.
To learn more, visit www.Lochinvar.com.