How To

Contractor Profit Advantage

Understanding Proper Price Calculation of Additional Tasks

A travel time expense when those tasks are to be performed during the initial service call visit shouldn’t be included in the job price.

August 5, 2022

Richard DiToma

Many times contractors are asked to perform additional tasks during a service call, or the technician uncovers a problem that must be fixed.

Contractor Stories

Mod-Cons and Cast-Iron Radiators

Put in the work to ensure it’s the proper design for the application long before you pick up the first wrench.

August 5, 2022

Stephen Minnich

For a hydronic system to provide the efficiency promised, it is crucial to put in the work and ensure the design is proper for the application.

Product App

99 Problems but a Pitch Ain’t One

The siphonic drain design eliminates air from entering the pipework, which, in conjunction with the negative pressure, pulls the water off the roof.

August 5, 2022

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Feature

Designing to Combat Legionella

Proper design of domestic water systems and use of standards are key to mitigating Legionella bacteria in facilities.

August 5, 2022

FPE Corner

ITM of Sprinkler Systems: The Five-Year Internal Assessment

Corrosion, rocks and debris have been found during internal inspections of fire sprinkler systems.

August 5, 2022

Inspecting water-based fire protection systems on a five-year rotation is deemed a significant value, considering the corrosion, rocks and debris found in such systems.

Legal Pipeline

Terminate with Care: Avoiding Contractual Liability for Wrongful Termination

Carefully follow the terms of the subcontract to ensure there are proper grounds to part ways with a subcontractor.

August 5, 2022

Steven Nudelman

Before ending a contract, make sure you or your attorney understand the terms dictating when termination is warranted.

Code Classroom

How to Size a Boiler Blowdown System and Drains, Part 1

Boiler effluent is scalding hot and can severely injure plant engineers and other workers.

August 5, 2022

Ron George

After a renovation project, a physical plant stationary engineer fell into the overflow of scalding hot boiler effluent; he eventually died of his injuries.

Feature

Serving Customers During a Time of Inflation

Understanding how we can deliver value in today’s market will be the largest opportunity for contractors to differentiate themselves.

July 4, 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the construction market for the next few years.

Legal Pipeline

Even Limitation of Liability Clauses Have Limits

The enforceability of these clauses varies by jurisdiction, but most are allowed — with a few exceptions.

July 4, 2022

Steven Nudelman

Limitation of liability clauses are added to project contracts and shift the risk of misconduct perpetrated by design professionals, such as architects and engineers, to the building owner.

Contractor Stories

Siggy Strikes Again

The technology in our industry is moving forward at a brisk pace, and I want to move forward with it.

July 4, 2022

Stephen Minnich

John Siegenthaler’s “Modern Hydronic Heating” is now its fourth edition, with 867 pages describing the cutting-edge technology found in the industry today.