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ACCA pressed the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, urging them to act quickly to to schedule a confirmation hearing for Isabel C Guzman, President-elect Joe Biden’s nominee to lead the Small Business Administration (SBA).

On Monday the Small Business Administration (SBA) opened opened applications for the second round Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans.

Now that we have a new calendar to look to for 2021, employers and employees have new FSA relief provided for in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (the “Act”).

On January 1, 2021, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) published its standard mileage rate for the year.

ACCA’s Hilary Atkins answers a member’s question about what they can do if an employee refuses to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

A member asked ACCA about how to properly and legally lay off employees that they will need to rehire when business picks up during the busy season.

Congress has passed a $2.3 trillion dollar spending bill, which includes $900 billion in COVID-19 related stimulus. ACCA is pleased to announce that several provisions will benefit contractors have been included in the agreement.

A member asked ACCA about whether or not they must compensate employees for court-related activities that are due to an accident that happened in a company vehicle.

The 2021 edition of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) has added a new leak testing requirement for ducts located within the thermal envelope.  Previous editions had exempted such testing for those locations.

At this time of year, consumers are turning on the heat.  Because of this, the gas appliance venting system must be inspected and tested to ensure safe operation.

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) unanimously approved to push back the date when California will transition to refrigerants with low global warming potential (GWP).

Typically, when I write about shots this time of year it has to do with duck season, but not in 2020. Last week, the United Kingdom became the first western country to approve a COVID-19 vaccine for mass use. Experts expect the United States to do the same within the coming weeks. This marks a tremendous scientific achievement and the first page of the last chapter of a pandemic that has disrupted our world and way of life in what seems like countless ways.

Earlier today ACCA spoke with individuals in Congress who are making the final push of 2020 for additional Paycheck Protection Program funds to be released, expanded PPP forgiveness, and full PPP deductibility.

Today ACCA urged the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which has been tasked with developing a COVID-19 vaccination game plan, to prioritize HVACR contractors and technicians for vaccine access given the critical, essential nature of their work.

Yesterday ACCA joined the US Chamber of Commerce to push for a second round of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, tax deductibility for PPP funds, and expanded PPP loan forgiveness.

San Francisco will ban the use of natural gas in new buildings starting next year, becoming the latest city in California to clamp down on the heating and cooking fuel because of climate concerns.  The measure will require all-electric construction for buildings — with exceptions for restaurants — starting in June 2021, according to an ordinance passed last month by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. It’s the strictest natural gas prohibition passed by a big city so far in California.

Today ACCA President and CEO Barton James pressed leaders in Congress regarding the non-deductibility of PPP funds, and ACCA’s sense that Congress should take rapid action during the “lame duck” session to rectify the issue.

The International Code Council (ICC) has begun its 2024 code development process and confirmed its Committee Action Hearings will go virtual for participants only.  This is the first time in the ICC’s history they have conducted code hearings in this way.

Working with modern furnaces, you should know the ins and outs of the equipment and operation sequence. For example, what do you do when the flames ignite but extinguish rather quickly? Let’s assume the flame sensor is the problem.

A part of fall furnace maintenance is measuring combustion efficiency.  The ACCA  4 QM Maintenance of Residential HVAC Systems requires the inspection of several furnace components; one of the key tasks is to perform combustion analysis.