ACCA Seeks 2021 Service Manager of the Year Nominations

07/12/2021 12:51 PM | M.J. D'Smith (Administrator)

The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) is seeking nominations for the Service Manager of the Year award, sponsored by XOi Technologies. Each year, ACCA presents the Service Manager of the Year award to one outstanding individual. This year, ACCA will present the award at ACCA's Service Managers Forum, November 2-3 2021 in New Orleans, LA.

Service Managers who work for an ACCA member company in good standing are eligible and must be nominated by their company's owner, president, or general manager. The ideal candidate promotes teamwork amongst all departments, emphasizes the importance of continuous training and learning, develops programs to motivate employees, and focuses on providing superior customer service.

"ACCA is proud to recognize the important role that service managers play in contracting businesses," said Barton James, ACCA president and CEO. "We look forward to receiving many outstanding nominations from ACCA's top contracting businesses across the country."

To nominate a service manager, contractors must submit the online form at acca.org/members/awards/smotyaward. Nominations are due September 24, 2021.

For additional information on ACCA's Service Manager of the Year Award, or any of ACCA's award programs, please contact Melissa Broadus, ACCA director of member communications at melissa.broadus@acca.org or (703) 824-8842.

For more information about ACCA, please contact Deb Weiner, ACCA manager of communications and strategic partnerships at deb.weiner@acca.org or (703) 824-8862.

BCC Hearing on Necessity for 2021 Residential Code Update

07/02/2021 12:49 PM | M.J. D'Smith (Administrator)

The Bureau of Construction Codes will hold a public meeting Tuesday, July 20, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. at the Michigan Library and Historical Center, 702 West Kalamazoo Street, Lansing, MI 48915, 1st Floor Forum.

The purpose of the meeting is to allow persons an opportunity to present data and comments on the general need to update the current Michigan Residential Code with the 2021 edition of the International Residential Code.

Comments may be presented in person at the public meeting on Tuesday, July 20, 2021. If presentations at the public meeting are available in written form, please provide a copy to the Rules Analyst at the conclusion of comments. Individuals who are not present at the meeting may submit written testimony by email or mail to be received no later than 5:00 pm, Tuesday, July 20, 2021,

We are asking our members for your opinion on whether or not you would like MIACCA to take a position on this. If you have an opinion you would like to share, please do so as soon as possible. If you would like us to take a position and if you would like MIACCA to submit your written testimony, please provide it to M.J. D'Smith at mjdsmith@miacca.org by July 16th at 5:00 p.m.

MIACCA's Introduced HB 4705 passes House Oversight Committee

06/24/2021 9:14 PM | M.J. D'Smith (Administrator)

This bill would mandate that every meeting of a public body that is a state licensing board, commission panel, or rule-making board, except a meeting or part of a meeting held in closed session, must be recorded in a manner that allows for the capture of sound, MIACCA has been active in trying to get these meetings recorded in order to reference things that are not always captured in minutes. This will provide our members involved in these meetings to access them in a thorough manner. The bill states that these recordings will have to be maintained for one year. You may view the bill here.

The bill has passed through the House Oversight Committee hearing. We will keep you posted on the next steps in the process.

We gratefully appreciate Representatives Luke Meerman, Gary Howell, Jeffrey Yaroch and Steven Johnson for introducing this important piece of legislation.

This bill would mandate that every meeting of a public body that is a state licensing board, commission panel, or rule-making board, except a meeting or part of a meeting held in closed session, must be recorded in a manner that allows for the capture of sound, MIACCA has been active in trying to get these meetings recorded in order to reference things that are not always captured in minutes. This will provide our members involved in these meetings to access them in a thorough manner. The bill states that these recordings will have to be maintained for one year. You may view the bill here.

The bill has passed through the House Oversight Committee hearing. We will keep you posted on the next steps in the process.

We gratefully appreciate Representatives Luke Meerman, Gary Howell, Jeffrey Yaroch and Steven Johnson for introducing this important piece of legislation.

CSD-1 Training June 22, 2021

06/09/2021 10:10 PM | M.J. D'Smith (Administrator)

Earn your CSD-1 Certification!

Hosted by:

Tuesday June 22nd - 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Join us at Behler-Young

to earn your NATE Accredited CSD-1 certification

31899 Glendale St. Livonia, MI 48150

The class will cover code requirements for CSD-1 testing and certification, forms needed, how to test and record, and code updates.

There will be a review of current CSD-1 codes, test procedures and recording of information, how to fill out forms for state mandated CSD-1 testing, and best practices and troubleshooting.

Cost Includes Lunch
MIACCA Member: $250 * Non Member: $350

Not a Member? Join Today! Your $300 MIACCA membership includes membership for up to 10 employees.

Presented by Phil Forner

Attendees need to bring a copy of:

• ASME CSD-1-2018

• Article 9 of the Skilled Trades Regulation Act

• Michigan Boiler Rules

Reserve Your Spot Today- Limited Seating!

There is minimum of 10 attendees necessary to run this training.

We will be practicing appropriate social distancing measures.
Information on the specifics will be forth coming.

REGISTER HERE

View Flyer Here

Consumers Energy Business Instant Discount Program

06/09/2021 10:07 PM | M.J. D'Smith (Administrator)

Consumers Energy Business Instant Discount Program is expanding their team of distributors! We have also improved our incentive structure to now include new construction projects to better serve our customers. Once enrolled, you will have the ability to provide an instant discount over the counter and earn bonuses based on your level of participation. Processing Instant Discounts is the fastest, easiest way to provide incentives to your valued customers. For a list of current incentives, please visit

Instant Discount Service For Business | Consumers Energy. To enroll please contact Brandon Scott @ 517-243-1070 (brandon.scott@cmsenergy.com) or Todd Lohenry @ 517-512-0144 (todd.lohenry@cmsenergy.com).

June is National Safety Month

06/02/2021 10:09 PM | M.J. D'Smith (Administrator)

Get your free National Safety Month Materials from the National Safety Council.

Join them in celebrating the 25th anniversary of National Safety Month! Sign up now to access free materials on pressing topics, including:

Week 1 - Prevent Incidents Before They Start: Identifying risks and taking proactive safety measures to reduce hazard exposure on important topics from ergonomics to chemical management is crucial to creating a safe workplace.
Week 2 - Address Ongoing COVID-19 Safety Concerns: As the pandemic looms on, employers play an important role in the return to physical workspaces, building trust around vaccines, mental health and so much more.
Week 3 - It's Vital to Feel Safe on the Job: Being able to be one's self at work without fear of retaliation is necessary for an inclusive safety culture. Leading organizations focus not only on physical safety, but psychological safety as well.
Week 4 - Advance Your Safety Journey: Safety is all about continuous improvement. Whether organizationally or individually, NSC can help provide guidance for your path forward.

Sign Up for Free today!

ACCA Course - Practical HVAC - Beyond the Box Diagnostics

05/04/2021 11:42 AM | M.J. D'Smith (Administrator)

Practical HVAC - Beyond the Box Diagnostics

ACCA is proud to present our new in-person course, Practical HVAC - Beyond the Box Diagnostics. This course provides a fundamental turning point for your Service Technicians, Installers, Sales Advisors, Production Managers, and Service Managers to transition to an improved and consistent performance level. This training encourages a higher level of service, reducing liabilities, increasing knowledge, and ramping-up sales opportunities. Anyone can sell another box, but this is for the team members ready for the next level.

Students will learn how to test and design ducting the correct way while dealing with real-world installations how we find them. Students will gain a core understanding of the fundamentals of heating and air conditioning.

This practical problem-solving approach arms students with the very best practices to increase technician competence. ACCA's technical training delivers proven best practices with industry-accepted techniques that reinforce the science in HVACR.

ACCA has the following upcoming class:

Indianapolis, IN - May 18-20, 2021 8AM-5PM EDT

This course costs $1,000 for ACCA members and $1,200 for non-members. You can learn more about the course on our website.

If you would like to schedule a private training for your company, please contact us at training@acca.org for more information.

Learn More and Register Here

May is National Electrical Safety Month

05/01/2021 11:40 AM | M.J. D'Smith (Administrator)

May is National Electrical Safety Month

Every day, we rely on electricity to power our homes and offices. However, it is important to always be safe around electric appliances, equipment, and power lines. May is National Electrical Safety Month, and it's a great time to raise awareness on how to avoid potential electrical hazards.

By taking simple precautions, everyone can avoid electrically related fires, fatalities, injuries, and property loss.

Here are some safety tips:

Indoors:

Check electric cords for fraying or cracking. Replace cords that may be damaged, and don't overload electric outlets.
Remember extension cords are intended to be temporary; they are not intended as permanent household wiring.
Don't run cords under carpets or rugs and don't tack or nail cords to walls or floors.
Keep electric appliances and tools away from water. Never reach for or unplug an appliance that has fallen into water; instead, turn the power off at the breaker before you unplug the appliance or remove it from the water.
Never put anything other than an electrical plug in an outlet. Use outlet covers or caps to protect children.
Keep your home's electrical system in good repair. Contact a licensed electrical contractor if you have flickering lights, sparks, non-functioning outlets, or need wiring repairs or upgrades.

Outdoors:

Never touch downed power lines!
Always call your local utility or 911 if you see lines down.
Watch for overhead lines every time you use a ladder, work on roofs, trees, or carry long tools or loads. Keep kites, model airplanes, and metallic balloons away from power lines.
Know what's below before you dig. At least 3 days before starting any digging or excavating project, call 811, the National One Call Center, to have underground utility lines, pipes, and cables marked for free.
Avoid planting trees underneath power lines or near utility equipment

APRIL IS DISTRACTED DRIVING AWARENESS MONTH

04/02/2021 7:53 PM | M.J. D'Smith (Administrator)

Distracted driving has become a deadly epidemic on our roads. While drivers texting behind the wheel tops what seems like an endless list of distractions, other risky actions include talking — whether it be on the phone or to others in the car, setting your navigation, adjusting what you're listening to, drinking coffee, applying makeup, and more. By driving distracted, you're robbing yourself of seconds that you may need to avoid a close call or deadly crash.

In 2019, distracted driving killed 3,142 people – a 10% increase from 2018. Young drivers seem more prone to using their phones while driving. According to NHTSA research from 2017, drivers 16 to 24 years old have been observed using handheld electronic devices while driving at higher rates than older drivers have since 2007. But make no mistake: It isn't just young people who are driving distracted, since drivers in other age groups don't lag far behind.

Drive Responsibly

April, which is national Distracted Driving Awareness Month, is a good time to regroup and take responsibility for the choices we make when we're on the road. Follow these safety tips for a safe ride every time:

Need to send a text? Pull over and park your car in a safe location. Only then is it safe to send or read a text.
Designate your passenger as your "designated texter." Allow them access to your phone to respond to calls or messages.
Do not scroll through apps, including social media, while driving. Cell phone use can be habit-forming. Struggling to not text and drive? Put the cell phone in the trunk, glove box, or back seat of the vehicle until you arrive at your destination.

MIACCA submits Statewide Permit form to the CCC

03/05/2021 2:03 PM | M.J. D'Smith (Administrator)

MIACCA's Initiative on the Statewide Permit Result in CCC's Request Form Proposals- See MIACCA's Submission

At the January 27th Construction Code Commission (CCC) meeting, MIACCA's request for a statewide permit was on the agenda. They are now seeking input for building, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permit applications. MCL 125.1510(1) requires these applications to be on a form prescribed by the commission. The Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) highly encourages the CCC to prescribe these forms, and the CCC acknowledges assistance from the Bureau of Construction Codes and input from interested stakeholders such as yourselves is necessary in accomplishing this task.

For your reference, this was the MIACCA proposed form, that we will be submitting.

All submissions will be presented to the CCC at their next regularly scheduled meeting on April 14, 2021 at 10:00 AM.