MARCH/APRIL 2023 SERVING CONTRACTORS IN THE HVACR INDUSTRY PRIVATE EQUITY LEARN FROM THE BIGGEST PLAYERS How to Maximize Your Trainings Update on the GFCI Nuisance Trip Issue Experts Share Tips on Employee Retention
4 CEO’s Column 5 Chairman’s Column 6 Now@ACCA 8 ACO News & Committee Crunch 10 Capitol Insights 12 Training Tip 14 Safe@Work 24 Tech Tip 26 Service Savvy 28 Business Buzz 30 Resource Roundup 32 Legal Tools 34 Tech Challenge & Ad Index 6 contents Volume 12, Issue 2 / Published in March 2023 PUBLISHER Melissa Broadus melissa.broadus@acca.org EDITOR Kate Gadd kate.gadd@acca.org AD SALES Dylan Burkhart sales@acca.org 925-487-4667 ACCA NOW ASSISTANT Heather Donaldson accanowsupport@acca.org ART DIRECTOR Lynn Riley Lynn Riley Design www.lynnrileydesign.com BLOGGERS & COLUMNISTS David Bixby, Melissa Broadus, Chris Crew, Steve Coscia, Chris Czarnecki, Brooke Duncan, Kate Gadd, Tom Grandy, Barton James, Katie Kuehner-Hebert, Cody Novini, Keith Paton, Sean Robertson, Dick Shaw, Megan Stolz Rogers ACCA Now (USPS 9910) is published bi-monthly for $29 per year by ACCA, 1520 Belle View Blvd. #5220, Alexandria, VA 22307. Periodicals postage paid at Alexandria, VA, and at additional mailing offices. ©2023 by ACCA Association, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Postmaster send address changes to ACCA Now, 1520 Belle View Blvd. #5220, Alexandria, VA 22307 ACCA Now is published by the Air Conditioning Contractors of America. www.acca.org Air Conditioning Contractors of America ® 26 10 8 16 Private equity has become a buzzword in the HVACR industry. What is it, and what do business owners need to know? Industry experts weigh in. Private Equity What You Need to Know Now
A Stronger, Brighter ACCA CEO’S COLUMN Barton James is President and CEO of ACCA. He can be reached at barton. james@acca.org. EVERY ACCA MEMBER invests hard-earned resources aAnCdC Amwo ni lel ys t iannt do itnh et haes gs oa pc i, agt iuoanr dwyi ot hu rt hi net ebreelsi et sf , tahnadt gy ou ui dteo ys ot auy aonndt oypo uo rf wt ehaamt i st og obi un sgi on ne si sn st hu ec ci ne sdsu. sHt reyl pai nn dg iTnh ti sh ei s csooumn tert yh itnhga tt hwa it l lI at af fkeec ts eyroi uo ru sbl uy sai ns et hs se iPs rcersi itdi ceanlt. omf eAmC bCeAr. wI t ’hs omeonr ter tuhs at sn mj u es t amn dy jtohbe, iAt ’Cs CmAy md ua nt ya gt oe me aecnht teaTmotobwetotrekr evseerryvedaoyutro amdveamnbceertsh,eiwr ientemruesstts.have tahdev abnecset toeua rm swt roartke igni gc fpolra ny o up r. iAo sr i wt i ees’ v, ewset ’rvi ev e ds utco- ca es ss os fcui al ltyi orne sat dr du ci ttiuo rneadl ar ensdo ruer fcoecsu tsoe di n, av lel sotwi inn gb eytot ue rr serving HVACR contractors. In 2023, we are leverag- i n gNt oh te soen rl ye shoausr Ac eCsCtAo abde dt teedr tsoe rovuer ycooum. m u n i c a t i o n s ai nnvde smt eadr ki ne t ei nx gp atnedaimn gs , obuur t g owvee r hnamveen ta lrseol a rt ieocnesn tbl yy partnering with Capstone, a bi-partisan firm based in Washington, DC, and Milwaukee, WI. Retaining a firm like Capstone enables ACCA to more successfully npoavliicgya-tmeathkeincgopmrpolceexsmseesc. hanics of the legislative and tCoh rtAhiC s e C m t A e o a is s m t p r e l a e c s a e o s n e u t d l r y t r s o e e l wr a v t e i e l o c d n o a s m h s e i G p C o l h v e e r a i r d s n C w m z i e a t n h r t n C R e a c e p k la s i t t b i o o a n n c e k s . Me xapneargt iesre f bo ar cAkCtCoAy, oaunrda ws seo cairaet i eoxnc ai tse dh et or ebarsi snugmhei ss hs ei sn traotl iev ae si no uWr apsrhi mi n ag rt oy ng, oDv Ce r. nCmh reins twr ei lllaat il os on sb reespur pe -- pd eocr at edde sb yotf h ee xrpe setr ioefnCc ea p si nt o ngeo’sv esrtna mf f ,ewn th i crhe l abtoi aosntss, advAoCcCaAc y,palna ndsbut osi nleevsesrdaegveelCoappms teonnte. ’s ex per ienced bi-partisan team at the federal, state, and local levels to fight for our members and their businesses. Capstone has an impressive track record, and we are confident that adding them to our team will allow up es r tsop ebcot il vs tee wr hAeCrCe At ’hs e erxupbebret ri s me eaent ds tohne- trho ea -dg. rAoCuCn Ad rc eo tma imn ii tnmg eCnatp st ot o ndeo i st hj iunsgt so nd ei f fme roerne t el yx aamn pd l ef uorf t oh ue rr l e v Ae rsawg ee ocuorn rt iensuoeu rt oc epsutto tbheet pt ei er cseesr vt oe goeut hr emr etmo bf oerrms . ae sst tsr oo fn gHeVrAaCsRs occoi na tt iroanc ttoor sb, ei tt t iesr crrei tpirceasl etnhta tt hwe ei nhteearr- from you. I can’t think of a better place than our upcoming Conference to “fill your tank” and inspire ms uemmmb ee rr ss oe fa sy oo nu .r Wc oemhpoapney yaosuy owui l hl ema ad ki en ttoh et hien vb eussty- mwo e r n k t t a o t come together to learn, experience, and net- ACCA 2023 Conference & Expo, April 2-5, in Nb eeewn Oh ralreda na st , wL oAr. kOcurre ma t ei nmgbaenr leevaednetr tshaant di st ea as mi n hs pa ivre- it nhga tads i irteicst leyd aufcfaetcito ny oa ul . rS de sa syi-ot on -sdwa yi l lo tpoeur caht i oonn st, ospuicchs as employee hiring and retention, financial stability, economic impacts on your business, customer buying trends, electrification, and much more. o f Ke xe py enroi teen sc pe e aa nk de r , kDneoewAl endngTeu rt on e hr ,ebr r ipnrgess ae nwt ae tailot nh on the “secret sauce” of providing remarkable compp raensye nc ut al tt ui ornes. , Aws ied’ reef raol ms o tohfef seer i ns pg e tcht ae c oupl apro sr et us sniiot ny tnoo nc r- ce oa mt e poert isnt gr ebnug st ihneens si ne sv adl uu ar ibnl eg coounr n pe oc tpi uo lnasr wMi It Xh Group® events. m e Tmhbee rf us twu er es el ro voek. sWber iagrhet hfeorre AwCoCrAk ’isn tgeha amr da tnodptrhoe- vide not only the information, resources, and training you need but also to fight for your best interests on the local, state, and national levels. We look forward to coming together at the ACCA 2023 Confer- eE nx cpeo .&I fEyxopuo hi an vAe pn ’rti la al rt etahdey AdCoCnAe s2 o0 ,2 r3eCg oi snt feerr en no cwe a&t accaconference.com. See you there! Earlier this year, Virginia DOT and tollway operator Transurban increased the toll price on Virginia Express Lanes 495, 95, and 395 by 300 percent (from $5 to $15) for vehicles over seven feet tall. This change was made with minimal opportunity for the public to voice opposition and is negatively affecting contractors since most service trucks are over seven feet tall. Now people and businesses that use affected vehicles must choose between paying three times what they paid last year or using less efficient routes. For contractors, this means a choice between paying significantly more in tolls or higher fuel costs and longer unbillable drive times between service calls. Visit accanow.net/va-toll-increase to let local leaders know how this issue is affecting the industry. MARCH/APRIL 2023 4
LET’S TALK ABOUT the ACCA 2023 Conference & Expo for HVACR Contractors to be held April 2 - 5 at tyheea rN’secwo nOf errl eeanncse iMs agrori ni ogt tt oi nb eNgerwe aOt !r l e a n s , L A . T h i s b an ei d n W g te e r c eh h p n a r i v e c e s a e l a n e tx e w p d i e d i r e n t s t v , h a c e r o i s n e e t t y r s a s ic o o t f n o A s r — C m C A e A C m C cb A o e n ’s r s s t t , r i m t a u i a n e n n e u r t s s - facturers, vendors, and Affiliated Contracting Organizations (ACOs), our state affiliations. We will have am loeraedienrvsohlivpe dw ionr ko suhr oapc twi viitthi etsh, ed eAvCeOl osp, ignegt bt iensgt tphr ea mc - t i c eTsh, earned ws ti rl lebneg tthr ea ni ni ni nggoaunrdr et el acthi no ni csahl ispess. s i o n s c o n - dt ius ec t—e dt hbeyy Aa Cr eC At hset aofnf ,e sw wh oh oh ahveel pt hwe r ri teeq uc oi rdeed f eoxr ptehre- ianbdouustt rt hy .eTtheecihr nsiecsasl i oans ps eacrtes aogf ryeoaut rwbauy stion el es as ,r ni nmc l ourde- it no gl et hv ee rl aa gt ees tt hr ee gsut lraetni og nt hs st hoaf t Ac Ca Cn Ai m’ s peaxcpt eyrot us . aWn ed nt ea ekde ao dn vMa no nt adgaey ,oWf tehs i Ds aovpips o, Ar tCuCnAi ’tsydtior el ce taorrno. fI nt e oc hn en isceasl ssieorn- vices, will discuss how to turn your techs into “trouble- shooting superheroes” and how to set your company apart so you can sell more equipment replacements. The ACCA 2023 Conference also offers sessions tdoi shc eulsps ewn oh raknfcoer cyeo udre vbeulsoipnme sesn, ti .n Tc lhuids i ni sg at hkoesye at rheaat tpheaotp laef ,f eacnt sd apl lr oovf i dues —c at rr ey ei nr g ptaot hhsi r feo rp eeomp lpel,o tyreaei sn, wthheiGchreiasteRveesnigmnoartieocnr. itical these days in the era of The 2023 Conference includes sessions presented by Ab eCsCt Ap rma ce tmi cbe es r. sA awr ho on Re xucdedl i ac kt , t fhoius nadnedr owf iRl le sl ihaabrl ee Ct ho emi r- fort Heating & Air Conditioning in Seymour, IN, pres- eHnotl sd ihnigs Ys oe us s Hi oons toang eM? ”o nAdl saoy , o“nA rMe oHnodraryi,bSl et eEpmh epnl oPyaepe es of Pape Service Co. in Desoto, TX, will lead the “Con- tractor Forum Live: Find and Keep Great People,” in wa nhdi cshh ac roen ht roawc t tohres yaasckhai ebvoeudt tchrei ti ri csaul cwc eosrsk. f o r c e i s s u e s a b o Iunt toht eh es ro fbt usski inl less ns esceessssi oa nr ys , t cooennshual tnacnet sy owu irl lbtuasl ik- nt oe sism, pa rs owv ee l lo uars oo trhg earn itzhaitni ogns swaen adl lonuere dc otmopkannoi ews oMvi ec rhaalel .l ISna uoenre pWr eesdennet ss d“aTy hsee sBsei so tn ,C bo un st ri na ec st os r cs o Ua cs he Key Metrics To Exceed Performance Goals.” l e a r Tn hme ocroenafbe roeunt cteh ea lvsaol ufee aotfuAr eCsC At w’s oM IsXe sGs iroonusp st,o ® hs he il pd abnydMMaItXt GG rr oi zuzpa rc do ,o Ar dCiCnAa ’tso rd. iTr ehcetsoer gorfo mu pesmabr ee ra- wn eocnt dwe ri tf hu lo pt ha er rt no fo nA -CcCoAm, pwe ht ii nc hg cc oa nn t hr ae cl pt oyros ut ot os hc ao rne- iTdheearsea wn di l bl ea sl st op rbaec at i cMe IsXa nGdr osue pe kMr IeXc eo rmMmoennddaayt i eovnes-. na ni ndgp, owtheenrtei ayl loyujociannomr ef oert mw iat hg rMouI Xp .Gr oup memb er s m aTn hu ef ar cetiusraelrsso ian c Thua enscde atyo’sl eMa rannmu foarcet uf rr oe rm LHeVa Ad eCrR- si nh-icph iFeof roufmA, C mH Ro dNe er awt se.dYobuy cKaynl ea sGkaqr guae rsot i, o ne ds i at onrd- ad di rdercet sl ys aa bpoaunt e l i sos fu ems a nc ruiftai cc at ul r et or ryeopurre s eb nu tsai nt ievsess, ianncdlutdhienHg VcAuCrRresnutppevlyenchtsaianf.fecting manufacturers t to im m T e e h t e o e t C g yo e o n t u t a r r a c n c r e o t e o s d r s s - T s a o e n w c d t n i o t H o n a d s l i l e s o n c n s u e Ws s f e o h d r a n h p e o p s w e d n a A i y n C i g C s s A a i g n a r i te m h a e s t Hl i fVeA. NC Ro t ionndluyswt riyl l tthhaetl ai mt epsat cotnytohuerpcool mi t ipc aa nl ay nadnrdeygouul ar- tory fronts be detailed, but this is also an opportunity to share best practices and other great ideas to benefit emveemr yboenres’st obguesti nmeos sr e. Tvha il su ei soau tvoefr Ay CpCoAs i. t i v e e v e n t f o r The trade show, ACCA Expo, is sold out, and there’s eo vues ns pa ownas iot ri ns hg ilpi sot pf op ro rvteunndiot iresst ao rgeest tiinl l; ahvoawi leavbel er ,. vAalroi t- oo ff vAeCnCdAo. rAs swt ahne tr et o’ s gaent et hv ee irr- cnhaamn eg ionug t wt oo rt hl de omu et mt hbeerres, this is a great place to get to know what vendors offer and experience new technologies and new ideas firsth a nWd e. Eavl es royht ha vi negai st ei nr roi fni ec skpeoy tnaott et hsepteraakdeer sthhoi ws .y e a r . Dl e ea ed sA hn enr Touwr nn ecro, aa c3h3i -nyge aa rn dv ectoenr sa un l toi fn Cg hf ii cr km- f, iDl - eAe, nAonwn Turner & Associates, LLC. Turner will headline the opening general session on Monday with her talk, “The Secret Sauce of Legendary Company Culture.” a w Aa rndds daonnd’ t fwo regl ceot mt oe mr ea cr ke pyt oi ounr cSaul ne nd da ya r se vf oe nr i tnhge, wH Vh Ae nC Rw ec ’ol ln tt or aa cs tt ot rhse wa chcoo mr upnl i ssht eml leanr t sb uo sf ienxecsespetsi oannadl m aJkoei na md ief feart etnhcies iyne tahre’si rc oc onmfemr eunnciet iiens .New O rle a n s and get the most value out of your association! Unlock Your Business Potential at ACCA 2023 CHAIRMAN’S COLUMN By Keith Paton, Vice President of Service at Ivey Mechanical Co. based in Kosciusko, Mississippi MARCH/APRIL 2023 5
NOW@ ACCA ACCA ANNOUNCES 2023 CONTRACTOR OF THE YEAR FINALISTS The ACCA Contractor of the Year award is given to one residential contractor and one commercial contractor annually. The award recognizes the contractor members and their impact on the HVACR industry by exceeding national standards and producing exceptional performance and high-quality results. Additionally, they must demonstrate a commitment to employee training and educational programs that will leave a positive impact on their community. The finalists in the commercial category are: Gillette Air Conditioning Co. Inc., San Antonio, TX Hickory Sheet Metal Co., Inc., Hickory, NC Oliver Heating & Cooling, Morton, PA The finalists in the residential category are: Classic Air’s One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning, Virginia Beach, VA Hiller Plumbing, Heating, Cooling, Electrical, Nashville, TN Korte Does It All, New Haven, IN “The Contractors of the Year award is always one of the most prestigious awards for ACCA members across the country,” said Barton James, ACCA president and CEO. “These six finalists are excellent examples of ACCA members who are doing great things for their companies, their communities, and our industry as a whole. I wish them all good luck in the competition.” The finalists are judged by a panel of past ACCA Chairs and past Contractor of the Year award winners. Finalists must submit photos, videos, answers to questions from the judging panel, and a company profile highlighting the reasons their company should be selected. The 2023 Contractor of the Year awards will be presented at the Exclusive Awards & Welcome Reception on April 2, 2023, as part of the ACCA 2023 Conference & Expo held April 2-5 at the New Orleans Marriott in New Orleans, LA. ACCA Joins Forces with Government Relations Firm Capstone National Partners The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) is excited to announce Capstone National Partners, a bipartisan government relations firm based in Washington, DC, and Milwaukee, WI, has joined forces to represent ACCA’s members’ interests. The merging of both groups’ resources and expertise will expand ACCA’s reach in Washington, DC, and amplify the voice of contractors across the country. Chris Czarnecki, who most recently served as Government Relations Manager for ACCA, joined Capstone in June 2022. Czarnecki will resume his role as ACCA’s primary government relations representative in Washington, DC, supported by the rest of Capstone’s staff that boasts decades of experience in government relations, advocacy, and business development. “Bringing Capstone National Partners on board to represent ACCA’s members on Capitol Hill and with the federal agencies will allow us to have a stronger presence and a louder voice,” said Barton James, ACCA president & CEO. “Having Chris rejoin our team with this partnership only strengthens it. Chris knows ACCA’s members, understands their pain points, and knows how dedicated ACCA is to fighting for its members and making sure only commonsense legislation and regulations that benefit their businesses pass.” “I’m very excited to get back to work helping ACCA and its membership in my new role at Capstone,” said Czarnecki. “This partnership creates a whole new opportunity for ACCA members to voice their opinions and needs to the key people who are developing the legislation and regulations that affect how they do business. To learn more about ACCA’s government relations and advocacy efforts, visit http://accanow.net/ accagr. >>>>> Bringing Capstone National Partners on board to represent ACCA’s members on Capitol Hill and with the federal agencies will allow us to have a stronger presence and a louder voice. — BARTON JAMES MARCH/APRIL 2023 6
Here is what ACCA contractor members are talking about on the Contractor Forum: Vehicle Camera / GPS Guidance for Equipment Replacement Under New Standards Heat Pump Tax Credits – Inflation Reduction Act Want to get in on the conversation? Login to your ACCA member account and click the Contractor Forum/Online Groups under the Member Services drop down. If you need help accessing your account, email membership@acca. org or call 703-575-4477. WHAT’S HOT ON THE CONTRACTOR FORUM ACCA is sad to announce the passing of ACCA Past Chairman, James (Jim) Isaac, former president of Isaac Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc., on January 27, 2023. Jim was an HVACR industry hero. He was the President and CEO of Isaac Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc. in Rochester, NY, which he helped grow into one of the nation’s largest and strongest HVAC services firms. Jim was known for his innovation in marketing, customer service, and the customization of the products sold. While leading the Isaac team, Jim gave back to the industry through service on ACCA’s Board of Directors, ultimately serving as Chairman of the Board of Directors in 1990. He also served on several boards within the industry at the local, state, and national levels. Jim’s service to the industry was often highlighted through the many awards and recognitions he received throughout his life. Jim’s service to the HVACR industry was only rivaled by his many humanitarian efforts. He was honored by ACCA for his humanitarian efforts in 2014 as the inaugural recipient of ACCA’s Community Leadership Award, which was developed in honor of Skip Snyder, another past ACCA Chairman of the Board. “ACCA is saddened by the loss of Jim Isaac, who was such a strong champion of ACCA and the HVACR industry,” said Barton James, ACCA president and CEO. “Jim’s dedication to the industry and his community are unmatched. He was a leader who used innovation and compssion to grow Isaac Heating and Air Conditioning to the strong company it is today. His presence continues to be seen in the business that he passed on to his children, who continue to grow his legacy today.” >>>>> (800) 245-5858 forane.arkema.com Forane® is a registered trademark of Arkema. © 2023 Arkema Inc. All rights reserved. Products for Today and Tomorrow PAST CHAIRMAN, JAMES (JIM) ISAAC, PASSED AWAY MARCH/APRIL 2023 7
Committee Crunch By Melissa Broadus NOW @ ACCA ACO NEWS HVACR Association of Louisiana Becomes ACCA’s 21st Allied Contracting Organization In February, the HVACR Association of Louisiana became the 21st Allied Contracting Organization (ACO) to affiliate with ACCA. With the addition of Louisiana, ACCA’s Allied Contracting Organizations now serve 27 states and the District of Columbia. Founded as the Louisiana Heat Pump Association in 1987, the HVACR Association of Louisiana is a statewide consortium of HVACR contractors and organizations that work within the heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration industry. Its five chapters across the state include HVACR contractor members governed by a code of ethics that requires members to adhere to the highest quality of work and best practices in the HVACR industry. The timing of this agreement couldn’t be better. With the ACCA 2023 Conference & Expo coming to New Orleans on April 2-5, HVACR Association of Louisiana members will enjoy access to world class business training and networking in their backyard at discounted member rates. “We are pleased to welcome The HVACR Association of Louisiana as our twenty-first ACO,” said Barton James, ACCA president and CEO. “We know contractors’ voices are stronger when ACCA combines our efforts with state and local organizations. We believe this new relationship will help contractors in Louisiana be better represented on all levels.” Legislators Flock to FRACCA’s Day at the Capitol On January 25th, 18 contractor members of the Florida Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractors Association descended on Tallahassee for a day of meetings and a legislative reception. FRACCA’s lobbyists, Edward Briggs and Ron Pierce of RSA Consulting, arranged a meeting space in the capitol, and public officials came to them—two senators, four representatives, a cabinet secretary, and several additional legislative/agency staff members. The lobbyists thanked legislators for last year’s victory on the bill to streamline HVAC permitting and then sought support for this year’s top priority. Representative Randy Maggard’s HB 89 would, among other things, eliminate the requirement for a licensed electrician to perform routine HVAC tasks like swapping out a disconnect. They also discussed apprenticeship funding and rules surrounding the transfer of warranties. Attendees had the wonderful experience of touring the floor of the House and Senate chambers. They also had the opportunity to connect with more legislators and friends of FRACCA at a legislative reception the evening before. Has your state association arranged an advocacy day for 2023? Please share your experience with membership@acca.org so we can tell your story! HVACR Association of Louisiana Steps Up, FRACCA Takes Tallahassee by Storm By Sean Robertson ACb eC sAt’ swcaoyms mt o i thtaevees aanr ea cot ni vee os fa yt hi ne w uc h t a s t , s A e C r C v A ic e i s s , d a o n i d n g e v a e n n d t s t h t e h a p t r a o r d e - by oe ui nrg i ndteevr ee sl ot ps eldi e. , Rt heegraer di lse sas c oo fm mwiht et er ee tyhoautrsihnovuolldvepmiqeunet.your interest and needs m e mO nb ee rosf ts ha ey bt hi gegye sdtorne’ ta swoanns tmt oa nsye rAvCeC iAs tvhael iyd jcuosnt cde or nn ,’ t bhuat vl ee t t’ sh eb rtei amke d. oTwh ins hi so wa much time it really takes. Q: How much time do I need to give to serve on a committee? A: On average, ACCA committees meet once a month via Zoom for 1 hour. They ae nl scoe .mOe teht ei rn tphear ns o tnh ae ts et hme eAeCt Ci nAg sC, o fnrfoemr - taismk ee d t too rt iemv iee, wc oc omnmt ei nt tt e, es p me aekmabt eervse na trse, post to the Contractor Forum. Q: How long do I serve on a committee? A: a s eOanteoyne aa rc. oAmC CmAi tat seke s, yt ohua tsief ryvoeuf oa cr coenpet feunlcl eyteoa Ar, CwChAi cCho nr uf enrse nf rcoem. AC C A C o n f e rQ: What happens if I can no longer serve on a committee? A:A em C C aI A f i l y t c o h o u e m c m n o e i m e tt d m e ei t t , o t a e s l e l t e c y p h o a u d i r o n s w e a e n d n d f t r o Ao m C d C o A a i ’ n s s ComThmaitt’steite! TLhiaeistiomne. commitment is small, bmuetntthfea rr ee wx caeredds wy ho ua t ryeocue ipvue t fionr. St hoe, t ihnevreesits- only one last question…can we count you? JOIN A COMMITTEE>> ACCA’s committees only work if members actively participate in them. We are always looking for great committee members! Visit accanow. net/3Z830NL to apply and give back to your association! Serving on an ACCA Committee MARCH/APRIL 2023 8
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Looking at the 118th Congress The 118th Congress is in session. With sl ipklei tl yc own ot rno’ tl os fe teh ea sg omv eurcnhmaecnt ti v, wi t ye as last Congress, when major bills like the Inflation Reduction Act, BipartisAacnt , Iannfdr aCs Ht rIuPcSt uarned I Sncvieesntcme eAnct t awn edr eJ oablsl ss it gi lnl eadr ei na st o wl ahwe r. eWCi tohn gt hr ea st ss ac iodu, l tdh ea rc ec oamr e- pt hl iisnhg smt he aa tn ti nh ge yf unl ewe do rt ok gaest dwoenl el . a s s o m e The Debt Ceiling To rhi et y dfeobr t Ccoeni lgi nr egs si s r ti ghhe t nnuomwb. eI nr oJ anneu ap rr yi -, the United States reached its debt ceil- ing of $31.4 trillion, and the Treasury Dmeepaas rutrme se’ ntto baevgoai dn dt aekf ai nu gl t i‘ en xg t or anotrhdei ngaorvy- eg rr ne sms eunnt t’ si l tohbel i bg ea gt iionnnsi .n gT ohfi sJ u ng iev teos r eC aocnh- an agreement. On February 1, President Biden and Sppo et eankteira lMdceCaal r ot hny t mh ee tdteob td icseciul isnsg wmh iagthat li onoCkolni kger.ePs sr ehs ai dveenct oBmi dee no uatn idnDfeamv oorc roaf t as ‘ccol enadni t’ i or an iss ea tot fa ct hh ee dd. eObnt ct he iel i no tgh, ewr i ht ha nndo, Speaker McCarthy and House Republi- cans have proposed roughly $130 billion worth of cuts to non-defense spending. When asked more specifically about a ‘tchl ye asna’ i dd ,e“bTt hcaeti ’lsi nngo tr ag iosne n, aS pheaapkpeernM. Wc Cea’ rre- nr aoits eg ot hn en al i mj uist t o kne oe pu r scpreenddi ti ncga radn, dw jeu’ rset gonna do something different.” Nego- tiations are still in the early stages, so it’s not yet clear what a final agreement mR ei pg hu tb ll oi coakn lsi,kseo. mG iev el envtehl eosf tsapnecnedoi fn Hg ocuust es or at least controls will likely be included. Data Privacy Dt i sa at an pcroi voapceyr ai st ioonne ipno ttehni st i aCl oanr eg ar eosfs b. iLp aa sr t- Cp roondgur ce tsisv, eb ohteha rt ihneg sH oouns et haen di s Ss ue ne .a tDe ehme ol d- cr er af ot rs ma ni ds nReeepduebdl ,i cgai nv es ns et he me wt oi d ae garne de rt ha pa t- idly expanding digital landscape. House Energy and Commerce Chair Cathy McMorra i cs oRmopdrgeehres n(sRi v- We pAr) i vwaicl ly lbi ki lel ltyh ar et ilni mt riot sd ut hc ee wd aatyas. Tc ho me bp ial nl ipeas s sc eo dl l eocut t aonf dt hues ec osme nms ii tt ti ev ee last year by a 53 to 2 vote. Similar legisla- tmi oant ewl ya bs oi nt ht r sotdaul lceedd di nu et hteo Spernoavties ,i obnust ut hl tai t- ivnatceyr f ferraemd ewwiot rhk sct oa ut el dl ai wmsp. a Ac t fsemd earl la lb up sr ii -- ncuesstsoomwenr edrast abieschaaunsedleitdwanoduludseadf f.ec t how Administration Oversight While it might be difficult for Congress tRoe pg ue bt lmi c ua cnhs dionn et hoen tHhoeu lseeg i shl aa vt iev e ms ai ddee, oc avner seixgphet cotnet oofsteheeiirnct or epapser idorCitoiensg. rWese- sional supervision over things like the implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act and the Environmental Protec- tion Agency’s (EPA) phasedown of HFC rt ieof nr i ag ne rdaMn tasnuunf adcetru trhi ne gA(mA IeMr i)c aAnc tI. nHnoouvsae- Ca boiml i tmy i t Ct ehea i romn aOn v eJ arms i ge hs t Caonmde rA c(cRo-uKnYt)- has already written to the EPA asking for more information regarding the agency’s ban on non-refillable cylinders for HFC rbeyf r Ai gCeCr aAn tasb. oHuet eccohnoterda cctoonr c esranf es t yr a iasne dd supply chain impacts. ACCA Priorities Ac onoopt ehreart ipo onl iicsy t ha er ewa owr ki tf ho r cpeo. t eAnst iwa le faolrl kf onr o ywe, at rh se awnodr kwf oo rr cs ee ns he do r dt augr ei nhga st he ex i ps taend- dHeVmA Ci c . Wp rhoaf et sysoi ounma lisg h tc onmo tp kr insoew ai sl mt ho as tt half of all energy efficiency jobs in the United States and over one-third of all clean energy jobs, according to E2. This iws oirnk atdhdaitt ikoene pt os tshoec ii re t cyr irtui cnanl ,i negs.s eAnCtCi aAl will continue to stress the importance of America’s HVAC workforce to public officf oi ar l tshaensdh oprrtoamg eo toef fwu no rdki ne rgsainndt hs oe l ui ntdi ounss- torny . bLout hc ksi il dy ,e si nh raevcee nb te gyuena rtso, lraewa lmi zaek tehr es ismk ipl loerdt atnr ac ed e so.f F mu nadkiinngg l ei nv ev less tf mo re nc at sr e ei nr and technical education (CTE) have ienxcpraenads ee dd sotpepa od ri ltyu na int di e sm af onry ssttuadt eesn thsa vt oe access in-demand career fields. ACCA also plans to bring awareness to the issue of installed efficiency. Systems that are improperly installed or maintained will not perform as efficiently as advertised—losing as much as half of their expected efficiency. When you cs oy sntsei dmesr i tnh taht eaUs nmi t ae nd yS taast ehsa al fr et hi em Hp rVoApC- eurpl yq ui incsktlayl. l eAdn, y tlhaew mwaaks teerdw ehnoeirsgsye rai do du ss ambaotuet c ohua nr geengeor ga yl s iwn di lel preenadl ieznec et h aotr t chliis- p r oFbi lneaml l yn, ewe de ’svteo hbeea ar dd df rreosms emd .a n y m e m - bf reorms ocno - tohpes , i us st ui lei t ioe fs , uannf da i ro tchoemr peenttiittiioens wd ihs po ruospeo ur tni do ne raht ea ns hd ea dr eporfawc toi cr eksi nt oc egratiani na markets. We hope to elevate this issue and find solutions wherever possible. Chris Czarnecki is ACCA’s Director of Government Relations & Advocacy and is responsible for government relations in Washington, D.C. He can be reached at chris.czarnecki@acca.org. Capitol Insights By Chris Czarnecki MARCH/APRIL 2023 10
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Training Tip By Chris Crew TRAININGS vs MEETINGS How to get maximum benefits from both Thsiedye,mbauytseem similar on the out- trainings and meetings awrhee nt wi to c voemr eys dt iof f et hr een ta t taennidmeael’ ss mindset. That’s why how you deliver them will determine their success. First, let’s define their key purposes. Ms oeme et i ncgass easr,e ggaetnheerra—l l yi n tf oo r smhaatrieo—n . a Mn de eitn- ienr ga sl csohmo up ladn yb en euws es do rt ou pc do amt ems uonni cc ao tme pgaenny- pc aonl icbiees , rpe rcoucrer si nsge s ,orora por oncee- odfuf,r edse. pTehnedy- ianl wg auypsobne tghi ev enne ae sd ,mbuucth yaoduvra nt ec ae mn ost hi coeual ds posTsriabilne iinngos,r doenrtthoemoet hnet ar lhlyanpdr e, pshaor eu.ld be specific to “skilling-up” your team mem- bp ea rr st i. cTuhl ae ry os uh tocuol md eb e( i dn ec sr iegansei nd gt ot i cf ok ceut ss aolne sa, it mo opl rs oavni dn gi ncfaolrl mt aakt ii no ng , teot ca .c) hai ne vdepirt o. Bv iedcea ut hs ee tarl wa i anyi ns g bs ea rsec ho ef tdeunl ei nd t ei nr a ca tdi vv ae n, tchee, ys os hyoouul dr t e a Ymo us h omwasyu pb ew iwt hotnhdeerriignhgt mwi hn yd s emt .e n t a l pa nr es pwaerraitsi os ni m pa lned: I f my oi un dt os es st s eme adtst eo rn. r oTchke, ns eoet dh si n ga ries gpol ai nngt etdo ti na ktei lrl eodo t s. oHi ol , wgervoewr , t ihf will be abundant. It’s the same concept ay os uymo uark et eaalmi v’si n gt hfor uo mg h bt epi nr ogciens ms . eUe nt ilnegs ss ad ne nd l yt rba ei ni ni ng gcsa al l lel ddianyt, ot ha ec ot hn of eurgehntc eo fr os uo dm- without advance notice can be disruptive as inodn dcoawn ncrriegahtte sac amr ye. nAt anl ergoaatdi vbel oicmk p, raensd- wi nhf oyrwmoaut ilodnytoouawcalonstetdo mi mi npda?r t i mp or t a nt r u nWn ii nt hg tshuac tc ei ns smf ui nl dm, eheetri en ga sr ea ns odmt reati inpi sn gf osr: Unless it is a secret reveal, give awt ht eent hd ee re si t ’ s aamt pr al ei n i nngo toi cr ea. mDe ieftf ienrge nwt ihaet ne yd oi fuf e rneont ti f ym it nhde sme .t sT, haenyd et vhoakt et ecrommi pn loel toegl yy alone is very powerful! Set a start and end time, as well as have an agenda. Structure is key! Identify the meeting subject from tt ehaemg emt- egmo . bTehr es tl aosst i tt hairnogu ynoduwwaai tni nt gi safnodr cdoenrafuilstehde. eAntnieregaetvievnetg. roup mindset can t s h ta in It f e g t . h H to e a e v p v i h n e y n g s t i t c ih s a e g l i l r o y i b n c o h g d a ty o n d g bo e e s t lo o h n m e g a e , t t d t h o e i nn s d o g e m d e i e s f - - ’ ft ehreenn tcwo ni lsl urme see ttthhee bn reaxitn csoomt hpaotntehnety yc oa nu wb rai nn gt tt ho e smh abraec kwmi tehn tt ah lel my b. yTshaeyni nygo, u“ Ncoawn we’re going to jump into...” Allow time for questions. If all we do is spew for 30 minutes straight and don’t gi ni vg eq aune ys t oi opnpso, rattut ne ni tdyefeosr mt haoyusgtha tr- tp ar os kv ionkg- oh tohwe rms iasnc odm/omr ut unni ceaot iuotnahl taopgpeet hn es r. . T h i s i s Stay true to your company’s culture. If your office is informal, don’t host as pmh eereet,i na ng dwviitche va esrus ap.eTr hcios rcpaonr cart ee aat et mt hoe- ultimate mindset obstacle, unfamiliarity. Lastly, you may ask, “What if I have to combine a meeting with a training?” t r a Ti nhi en gdso wt ongseitdheetroi ms tehsahti nygo um seeent idn gmsi axne dd swi gh ne na l cs o. mHboiwn ienvge rt ,h et ht we roe i smnaeyc e sbsea r tyi. mF oe sr ec ox ma mp pa nl ey: ’ sY os uo f’ vt we adreec. i dYeo du thoa vceh aa nmg ee eytoi nu gr tt or ari onlilnigt oaut tt ah ne de pn lda. nTtoo tardadn si ni t isoonmaet tbeansdi c- el eeasr’ nmi ni gn ,d ms eat kfer oi tmk np oa ws sni v we ht oe ni nt theer amc teievte- ii nf gp opsosri bt iloe n, aenndd st .a kP er oav imd ei nau tseh ot or t cbhraenagke, thhaevier a pt toesni dt ieoensi ns tga. nAd su pw, di tohj ulmo npgi n ge vj aecnkt ss ,, s t r eAttc Th ,hteo uBcl uhet hCeoilrl at or eSsu, cect ec s. s G r o u p ,® we smuebasncsribe to the acronym I.W.A.Y,™ which I Do, We Do, And You Do. All of twhaosseinatreer pvriet at el dt oceonr rseucrtelyt.hat t he t r a in ing Remember, the purpose of a meeting is to inform, while the purpose of a training is to elevate. That means the outcomes are going to be different. In his bestselling book, “The 7R H. Caobvi et sy owf rHoi tgeh “l yS tEafrf te wc t ii tvhe tPheeoepnl ed, ”i nS tme pi nhde .n” Wbehr se,nyyoouuhhavaevea na nopapuodriet nucneit oy ft ot eianmformmemor- ewl eavnat tteo. aIcf hyioeuv ed, onne i’tt hkenrowwi lwl thhaety.r e s u l t y ou After selling his successful, multilocational electrical business, Chris dedicated himself to training and coaching those in the plumbing, electrical, and HVAC trades. As president of The Blue Collar Success Group, Chris continues to share his knowledge and passion for accelerating the path of success for home service companies. You can reach Chris at thebluecollarsuccessgroup.com. MARCH/APRIL 2023 12
10 locations 47 locations 13 locations 22 locations 73 locations 8 locations SILVER GOLD THANK YOU TO OUR GOLD AND SILVER MEMBERS Your Commitment to ACCA's Mission Stands Out Interested in becoming a member or upgrading your membership? Please visit https://www.acca.org/upgrade for more information. 4 locations
Evaluating Forklift Safety in Your Workplace DISCLAIMER This article is for general information only and should not be considered legal or other expert advice. The recommendations herein may help reduce but are not guaranteed to eliminate any or all risk of loss. The recommendations herein are not intended to cover or identify all risk exposures. The information herein may be subject to, and is not a substitute for, any laws or regulations that may apply. Qualified counsel should be sought with questions specific to your circumstances. © 2022 Federated Mutual Insurance Company. SAFE@WORK By Nate Oland, Senior National Account Executive, Federated Mutual Insurance Company FORKLIFTS are versatile pieces of equipment that can be adapted for many lifting and transporting tasks. But are you following workplace safety rules to operate them correctly? The dangers from improperly driving a forklift can be devastating, and many forklift accidents result from operator error. Understanding the causes of improper or incorrect use may help lower the risk of accidents, and help keep you— and the equipment you use — safe and in good working order. Consider the following: Evaluate and train. If you are going to be operating a forklift, do you meet the following requirements? • The completion of a forklift operator training course • A good vehicle-driving record • Good hearing, vision, and health to perform the job safely • A positive and mature safety attitude Know your route. It can help to plan or know your route when driving a forklift to help avoid obstructions, sharp turns, intersections, ramps, and other employees. Load capacity. Ensure that forklift loads are kept at the vehicle’s rated capacity, and if a load is greater than the capacity it should be split instead of using a counterweight. Proper elevating and lowering. Avoid raising or lowering loads while moving, which causes the center of gravity to shift and could end with a tip-over. Ensure the area is clear before moving anything. Toxic fumes. Try to use the forklift in wellventilated areas, ensure that the forklift is properly maintained, and do not leave the forklift running unnecessarily, especially in small areas. Utilizing forklifts in the workplace can be beneficial, and takes the burden off of you to do the heavy lifting. However, using them in a safe, responsible way is necessary to help prevent injury and to get the job done right. Reach out to your local marketing representative for more information. MARCH/APRIL 2023 14
Safety Training Resources and HR Support at Your Fingertips Access industry-speci c training, sample forms and policies, an employee handbook builder tool, and more 24/7 with mySHIELD®. Commercial Insurance Property & Casualty | Life & Disability Income | Workers Compensation | Business Succession and Estate Planning | Bonding Federated Mutual Insurance Company and its subsidiaries**| federatedinsurance.com 23.02 Ed. 12/22 *View A.M. Best Rating Guide information at www.ambest.com. **Not licensed in all states. © 2022 Federated Mutual Insurance Company The content of this publication is for general information purposes only. Consult with a quali ed professional when you have detailed questions regarding any topic in this publication. AN ASSOCIATION MEMBER BENEFIT FOR 119 YEARS DIRECT, LOCAL MARKETING REPRESENTATIVES AUTO PROPERTY AND CASUALTY SELF-INSURED RETENTION POLICYHOLDER SURPLUS LIVE VOICE CUSTOMER SERVICE TAILORED, INDUSTRY-SPECIFIC COVERAGE BUSINESS SUCCESSION AND ESTATE PLANNING STABLE FACE-TO-FACE RELATIONSHIPS FINANCIAL STRENGTH MUTUAL COMPANY DIRECT CLAIMS REPRESENTATIVES 500+ EXCLUSIVE ASSOCIATION RECOMMENDATIONS ESTATE PLANNING ATTORNEY NETWORK ANNUITIES WE’RE BETTER TOGETHER LIFE AND DISABILITY INCOME PRIVATE BONUS PLANS KEY PERSON COVERAGE WORKERS COMPENSATION HIRING PRACTICES FEDERATED DRIVESAFESM TELEMATICS SOLUTION RISK MANAGEMENT RESOURCE CENTER EMPLOYMENT RELATED PRACTICES LIABILITY EMPLOYMENT LAW ATTORNEY NETWORK BONDINGEMPLOYEE SAFETY TRAINING RISK MANAGEMENT ACADEMY CLIENT CONTACT CENTER FIELD RISK CONSULTANTS CERTIFICATE CENTER SURETY SPECIALISTS MANAGED CARE CYBER MYSHIELD® IT’S OUR BUSINESS TO PROTECT ACCA MEMBERS Scan to learn more about mySHIELD®.
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By Megan Stolz Rogers What You Need to Know Now Private Equity Private equity, or PE, has become a buzzword in the HVACR industry. But what is it, and what do business owners need to know? PE brings the opportunity to make a decent amount of money and take a business to a higher level, but it is not the right choice for everyone. MARCH/APRIL 2023 17
WHAT IS PRIVATE EQUITY? Pt hEe i sa davti ys epre, oo rf iPnEv ef si rt mm ,e pn ot of ul sn tdh ien mwohni ce hy from a group of investors to invest back into the fund. In other words, the PE firm aa cnqdu ui rseess at ph oe r ftuf onldi os ot fopgr ri voawt eecaocmh poaf ntihe es businesses with the intention of selling theTmhelaPteErmataarkheigt hiserinptreorfniat.tional, so the firm and the acquired business may be icno udni ftfreireesn, tallot chaotui og nh s ,t hi ni cs l uddoiensgnd’ t i fmf eer ae nn t- ingfully impact day-to-day operations. WHY THE HVACR INDUSTRY? The PE market has been growing. According to a May 6, 2022, Forbes arti- cle by Rebecca Baldridge, “In the third quarter of 2021, private equity deal value reached a new record, topping $787 billion for the year,” and the HVACR ignrdouwsitnrgy ihnatesrebsete.n no stranger to such HVACR is a stable industry with rela- ti ti vaetl tyr amc et iavnei nt go f uPlE pfrior fmi tss., Twhhei c ihn dmuaskt re ys is also largely filled with small busi- ns oe stsheesrwe ’ si t hr ol oo mc a lf oo rr rceogni soonlai dl af ot iootnp,r si natyss, Doug Hart, CEO of Royal House Part- nDearllsa, sa,nTXin. vestment company based in n ch e i s Ml s d e a r s n e n a y r m e o f a n y e t ah n r e o i t n o g b w e r n e in e ti t r r e s e r me o s e f t ne t t d h , e a in s n e d t a b t k h u i e n s i i g r - over the business, says Ken Goodrich, CEO of Southwest-based Goettl Air Conditioning & Plumbing, so PE firms can fill a nGeeododinriscuhc,cweshsoionhapslanenxpinegr.ience with both buying and selling companies, has observed that, since the 1990s, technology has streamlined the PE process, mc oamk mi nug ni itc ea at es i earc rt oo sssc al ol en gb udsiisnteasnsceess .a nAdt thhaev es a hmeel ptei md et, hoer g ianndi uz as tt ri oyn sml iakt eu rAeC CbAy ianl icsrme aasni ndgbbuus isni ne es ss sa couwmneenr s. ’ p r o f e s s i o n - BENEFITS TO CONTRACTORS PE may be a good solution for a few types of b•usA inseososns-tcoe-nraertiiores:owner who needs • A aw s a m u n i c t d c s - e t t s o o s i t e o r a n a r n s ly s o i - l t c u i a o t r i n o e n o e u . r to owf nbeurs wi nhe os s • A os m w n a n o l e w l r b n s u h e s r ip i n w . ehsos wt oatnhtes nt oe xt at kl eev tehl ebiur t needs more resources. LEARN business and technical skills. GROW your business. CONNECT with bestin-class peers. FIGHT for contractor priorities. Become an ACCA Member acca.org/join Doug Hart, CEO, Royal House Partners Gary Marowske, President Flame Furnace MARCH/APRIL 2023 18
Make the most of your ACCA Membership by joining an ACCA Committee to help us define and produce resources, events, products, and services. Join a Committee acca.org/acca-committees F u rGnaarcye Mb aa sr eodw si nk eD, eptrreosi it d, eMn It , os fa yFsl aomn ee benefit of PE is that the owner gets paid uf rpi ef rnodn ot , r wr ehl ea rt ievaes r ae qcuoi mr e ps aan lyo asna .l eF l taom ae Furnace is now owned by Heartland Ha nodm eK eS ne rt uv ci ckeys. , Aa PPEEf iar cmq ui ni sti ht ieo nM ibdrwi negsst the opportunity to make money, either in the first or the second sale, allowing o(owr nlei rf essttoy laef)f otrod wt hhei ckhi ntdh eoyf raest iprierme . e nI nt addition, a PE firm can ensure that cur- rceanret eomf ipnlothyeeelosnagndtecrums.tomers are taken Being part of a larger firm gives st hmeayl l mbiug shitn ensoste so tahcecrews si s et o b er e saobul er c et os afford. Post-acquisition, Flame Furnace offered a better employee benefits packaMgaer oa wt as kl oe .w eFrl acmo set Ft ou rt nh ae cbeu sailns eos sa, dsdaeyds Ha ej oa br t- tl ar na idnAi ncga dpermo gyrianms i dt eh at ht egi er tbsugi lrdaidnug-, ates from trade school to a truck in less than 12 months. Another advantage to being part of a Ph Ei g hf ierrmc oi ms af ocrctews si ttho rmi s ok r. eI ncaadpdi ti tailo ann, PdEa- bt aagcek ei dn bnuesgi no et isastei os nhsa vwe iat hg rveeant edro ar sd vaannd- manufacturers, says Marowske. Businesses within the PE firm portfolio become a network that shares bwehsitc hp rcaacnt i cc eosm ae n wd i bt hu sui nn ee sxsp es ct tr ea dt e gb ieens-, efits. Royal House Partners’ family of ct roime sp: apnl ui ems bairnegi na ncdo me lpelcetmr iec na tl aarsywi nedl luass- He dVgAeCoRf . aBcyo mu spi lnegmtehnetiar raycicnedsus sttor yk, nt ho ewsle- st hmeairllobwunsinneeswsessercvainceesxpdaivnidsiboyn.creat ing A savvy PE firm will not change ea vn e rayctqhui ni rge da b ob uu ts ian ebsus s i snheos us ;l dh oewxepveecrt, some adjustments. DOWNSIDES TO PRIVATE EQUITY PE is not a solution for everyone. An owner looking for a quick exit should look for another solution as PE firms tsyopmi ceallel yn getxhp eocf t ttihmeeotwo nleera dt otshtea yd oa yn- ftoor- dayAonpeorwatnioernsw. ho is happy with the status quo may not want to partner with at oPgErfoi rwmt. hTeh be upsoi innetsosf, aa nPdE itnhveefsitrmme mn taiys soebts et rhvee gd r ot hwatth oowbnj eecrtsi vwe . hGoo opdu rt i ci nh ht ha es wa nodr ka roef ei nnijtoi ay li lnyg gtrhoewl ii nf egs tt yh leei rt hbeuys ihnaevs es created are sometimes surprised by the PE firm’s new growth expectations and Ken Goodrich, CEO, Goettl Air Conditioning & Plumbing MARCH/APRIL 2023 19
tthheemlevreeql oufirdeasy. -to-day work that meeting t h aItt iids ennot irtmy aal f tt eor htahvee saa lsee, nesvee no f i lf ops sa rot -f nering with a PE firm is a sound choice amnadn ya n s ompapl ol r bt uuns ii tnye sf so r otwh en ebrus s icnoens ss i. dAe sr ot iwt yn, ai nngoawbnuesri -noepses rtaot ob re mp aurstt oafdtjhues itrt iod tehne- mindset of the business no longer being fully their own. A PE firm will not change es tviel lr yh tahvien gs o ma beosuat y . oApnedr aGt iooonds r, i cbhu tk ntohwe ys fs raol em, apperres vo inoaul s eoxwp ne re ire wn ci el l nt he ae td at of t ea rd j tuhset tboe i nt hgeai rmnaenwa greor loe r, ewxheiccuht i hv ea .s s h i f t e d t o b no e t a G s o p e o l e a d c lr a e i r c f g h o e r p t cr h o e e r d p i o c o w t r s a n t t e h i r o a - n o t s t p h e d e r o r a m e t o w i r n i a a ll t n i a d n l w g d o a th y e e s s HVACR industry. While being part of a PE firm brings new knowledge and perspec- toiwv en efrosr c abnu sailns eo ssst aoywi nndeerps e ni nd etnhtea nt dr agdaeisn, ke dn uo cwaltei do ng eabnydc tornati inniunign, gs tuhcehi raps rboyf eas tsti eonnda -l ing ACCA’s annual Conference & Expo and networking in ACCA MIX Groups.® HOW TO PREPARE If an owner is interested in exploring PE, ti nh ge yf osrhao juolbd i nt at ke re v ti he we , ms ai ny ds sGeot oodfr ipcrhe. pAasrk- a firm for their due diligence checklist and start pulling together the relevant information: year-over-year financials, ea mn dp l ot yheee ibnuf os irnme sa st i’ so n s, ya sntye ml e sg,a l sreercvoi rc de ss ,, and geographic footprint (the checklist is practically the same for every firm). JOIN THE UNLEASHING IRA POTENTIAL SERIES Powered by Pearl ere’s never been a better time to join the ELITE. pearlcertification.com/ news/unleashing_ira 844.732.7500 MARCH/APRIL 2023 20
NEW ADDRESS 1520 Belle View Blvd #5220 Alexandria, VA 22307 WE HAVE MOVED OLD ADDRESS 1330 Braddock Place Suite 350 Alexandria, VA 22314 Gi nogotdarsikc ha syue ga rgei ns tasdsvtaanrct ien. g t h i s t i me - c on s u mn e tIwn oardkd—i t isounc ,ho aws ntehres i rs hAoCuCl dA aMs kI Xa rGoruo nu dp —t h feoi rr recommendations for PE firms. Marowske used a business broker to begin the process, and familiarity with different firms’ reputations helped him narrow down the list of interested firms. Ask firms for a list of former CEOs of acquired businesses, says Goodrich, to contact about their experience. Look for PE firms with a proven track record of growth. In addition, Hart says that a PE firm may reach out to businesses they are interested in acquiring. The PE firm–HVACR business relationship iosn ab po tahr tsni de ressh. Hi pa ar tn sda syhs ot uhlids pbaer tt rneeartsehdi pams es ua nc hs that it is important for both sides to look for a cultural and operational fit. When reviewing pe rosthe inpt’ isa ld ra icvqeu itsoi wt i oa nr ds , choen tai lnsuoa le vi ma l pu ra ot evse ml eeandt-, Ask a firm for their due diligence checklist and start pulling together the relevant information: year-over-year financials, employee information, any legal records, and the business’s systems, services, and geographic footprint. MARCH/APRIL 2023 21
What resources are available to you as a member of ACCA. Where you can get engaged with your peers. Answers to any questions you may have about membership. Unlock your ACCA Member Benefits when you attend the Member Benefits Webinar. You will learn: Register Now acca.org/events ianptpeerteistteifnordachtaa-ndgreiv. en metrics, ethics, and After the initial review, a PE firm usu- an lol ny -sdui bs cml oi tssu ar el eatgt reer eomf ienntte. nAtn( LL OO II )i sa tnydpa- ipcoailnl yt s n oo fn bai npdoi nt egn bt iuatl iangcrl ue edme se nt ht .e Ohni gche ibte gi si nssi.gAntetdh,i st ph eo i ndtu, ei f tdhiel i gbeuns ci nee spsr oi scne os st ao lurtesai dd ey cuos ui nngs ea lb. rHoakret rc, oi tmi sptai mr ees ttoh oi sbpt ar oi n- cdeos ist taol lb ou ny i ynoguorr oswe lnl i, nbguat ha opmr oe f: eYsosui ocnaanl mP Ea fki er smt hwei lpl roof tceens su ss ieg onui ftisciadnet cl yo ue na ss ei el rf.oAr its own due diligence, depending on the st oi z fei nodf tthhee ifri romw. nI tr iesp wr eisseenftoart itohne toowc no enr - sider the business’s best interests. The entire process can take any- wb ehfeorree tf hr oemd e9a0l ids af yi nsatloi z ea dy. e a r If an owner is interested in PE, the time to explore the posss iabmi lei t yt immoer, edfou lnl yo ti s fna ol lwp. rAetyt ht oe the fear that PE will take over ef ovre rt yh teh wi nrgo no gr sr ee lal s toonos . eAatrtl eynodr- e&eEs xopf ot hi ne 2N0e2w3 AO Cr lCeAa nCsown fiel lr he na vc ee the opportunity to learn more about PE by talking to represaenndt Ha tei va er tsl a nodf HFol ma me eS e rFvui rc ne sa caet the ACCA MIX Group MIXer on April 3. To register, go to www. accaconference.com. MARCH/APRIL 2023 22
Resolving the GFCI Nuisance Trip Issue for HVACR Tech Tip By David Bixby Rec oc eanl ittliyo n AsCuCcAc e sasnf du l l ay n c oi nn dv ui nscter dy tAhses o cNi aatti oi onn a lS t aFnidr ea r d Ps r oCt eo cutni oc inl to approve an exception to the National Electrical Code (NEC) regarding the ri ne tqeur irruepmt ee rn t ( Gf oFrC I a) gdreovui cned - ff aour l t o uc ti rdcouoi rt equipment. The new exception to 210.8(F) exempts listed outdoor HVACR equipment f2r0o2m6 . hTahviisn gc ht ao ncgoemwp lays uanptpi lr So ev pe dt e mf obr etrh1e, en xe iws tl yi n gp u2 b0 2l i0s hNeEdC 2a0n2d3 ael sdoi t ai opnp.e aHroswi ne vt eh re, wT hheerne ’tshae l aobt og voei ndgaot ne tehxipsi yr eesa,rwt oh aptr et hp ea nr e? for the expiration date, so read on. How We Got Here Over the past few code change cycles (they occur every three years), the NEC wr eaqsu irrei vn igs eGdF Ct Ios ef oxrp pa ne rds ot hn en eal ppprloi ct ea ct itoi onns to mitigate the risk of electric shock. The aNpEpCl i cwa taiso ne xopf aGn Fd Ce dI dt eov iicnecsl uidne t oh ue t d2 0o 2o0r he ve eart , pwuhme np sG Fa Cn dI s awi re rceoinndsittai ol lneedr so.n Hsouwc h- equipment in the field to comply with the nt rei wp s ,c or edne d, ietr icnr ge attheed enquumi pemr oeunst ni nu oi spaenrcae- bp li en.gT hmeapyr ebvea icl ai nugs et hde ob ryy hi si gt hh-aftr et hqeu et rnicpy- he laercmt roi cnai cl lsoi ag dn sa, l ss uecmh i tatse dv abryi a bnloen sl ipneeeadr dn or ilvoegsy oirs f br eeqc uo me nicnyg i nmvoerret epr sr e. Tv ahliesntte cf ohr- heat pumps and air conditioners comply- i(nDgO wE )i tehf f ti chiee nnceyws tDaenpdaarrtdms .e n t o f E n e r g y Fixing the Code: NEC 2026 Ta nhde innokwi s ab anreewl y NdEr yC ocno dt he ec2h0a2n3g ee dci tyicolne has begun. We must work fast not only to ft irni pd pa rnodb vl eemr isf yi nt ht he ec af iuesl de bo uf tt hael snoutios apnr coe - pose solutions for the relevant safety standards and potentially for the NEC itself. In order to provide our industry’s input to the upcoming NEC code cycle, ACCA and other industry allies applied fMo ar kviontgi nPgamn eelm2 b, ewrhs hi cihp iosnr tehs ep oNnEsCi bCl eo df oe r- the GFCI coverage in the NEC. Standards Activities Related to GFCI Issues Sc ae lvienrcaol mU pL astti ab ni ldi tayr ids ss ua edsdbr ee ts ws teheen eHl eVcAtCr Ri - equipment and Class A GFCI devices. On t2h-4e0,eqwuhipicmhenist st hidee, stahfeetrye sist aUndL a6rd03 3fo5r- eC luercrt er ni ct h pe ra ot ppousma lpss as enedka i troc odni ds ti ti ni ognueirssh. b“ teotuwc ehe nc utrhree nt et r, ”mws h“ il ce ha ki as gde ecf ui nr er de nat ”s at nhde ewl eh ce tnr i ict ct uo ur rc ehne ts tohnreo uogrh mao rheu ma cacne sbs oi bdl ye parts of an installation or equipment. In addition, the UL 101 Standard for Leakage Current for Utilization Equipment has recently proposed a “GFCI Interoperability Test.” This test is intended to evalu- ai nt et e nt hdee da opnp lai acni rcceu’ si t atbhial ittiys pt or o ot epcetreadt eb ya as Ch al assbs eAe nG Ff oCcI u. Cs eudr roennl tyl yo, nt hh iosui snevheos ltdi gaapt pi ol in- ances, and other types of permanently connected products, such as 240 V HVAC equipment, have not yet been studied. GFCI Research Project Ii sns ureess, p ot nh es e At ior - Ct ho en d ni t ui oi snai nn gc e, Ht rei ap tpi inngg, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) began a research project last year to find and document the causes of the problem. The research is being conducted by the ElectPrhi ca s eP o1 owf et rh eRpersoej ea cr ct hh a sI nbset ei tnuct oe m(pEl Pe tReId) ,. as pnrdi nag .r eOpno cr et i st heex ppercotbelde ms os mheat vi me ebteheins identified and verified in the laboratory, tphr eo proesseeda r cthe c ihsn iecxapl e cstoeldu t itoon sd, e t ce or mo ridnie- nmaetne t i ot hnoesde Us Lo l ustti oa nn ds a rwdist h g rt ho ue p sa,b oavned- potentially support additional proposed changes to the NEC. Other Nuisance Tripping Problems At rCi pCpAi n gi s i sisnuveess tci rgeaat itne gd boyt hCelra s sn uAi s Ga nF cCeI devices, which are required on basement receptacles per the NEC. One example is cl oocnadt ee nd s ii nn g b fausrenma ec ne t sc, o nwdhei nc hs a taec c po ur dmi np gs to contractor reports, have resulted in flooding damage. Another potential trippu isnegd i sfsour e ai ni rc-lhuadneds l i cnogn deeqnus ai pt em epnutm pi ns basements or the furnace itself if it has a variable speed ECM blower motor. At tahni si ntsitma el l,a itti oins pnroatc dt iectee ri sms ui neeodr iaf nt hi si ss uies tshtaant dmarudsst abreenreas. olved in the codes and ACCA is Involved Ai nCgC Aw ci tohn tai nl lui eeds taos sl eoacdi atthi oenws atyo i nr ews oo lrvke- tsht aenGdaFrCdI sn. uWisea ncaereiscsuooesrdiinnactoindges waint dh go fr oHuopms es uBc hu i al dsetrhs e ( NNaAtHi oBn)a, l t Ah es s oL ceiaadt ii on ng Bo tuhi el dr es rtsooaf cAhmi e evrei ct ah i(sL gBoAa)l, . tAhCe CAAH’ sRCI ,oadneds Si nu bt choi sm me f fi totrete. Oaul sr o c opnrtorvaicdteosr mg ueimd abnecr es aproet einnt iaa lpnr ue ci saarni oc ue st rpi po spiitni og ni sisnu et hs ai tn at nh ye field can adversely affect their reputation ad no du bbt us s ianbeosus t a st hwe e lel qausi pc mr eeant et ct uh setyo ma re er imn es mt a bl l ei nr sg . i nWf oe r wm iel dl caosndt ienvueel o tpomkeenet ps do iucr- tateSttahyrotuungehdo!ut the year. David Bixby is ACCA’s Manager of Codes and Standards. He can be reached at david.bixby@acca.org or 703-575-4477. UPDATE MARCH/APRIL 2023 24
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