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Collective Bargaining Considerations for Monitoring Technology

An overview of the law under the National Labor Relations Act concerning use of technology to monitor employees and employer property. 

Virtual Design and Construction Practice: Benefits, Challenges, and Proven Strategies for AEC Team

This 2017 white paper offers insight into the growing use of virtual design and construction on construction projects. It describes the opportunities and challenges of VDC including three projects conducted by a leading architectural metal firm, A. Zahner and Company, where VDC played an important role.

OSHA Rule on Silica in Construction

The OSHA rule for silica in construction became effective September 23, 2017 although OSHA included a 30-day “grace period” for full enforcement. SMACNA members affected by this rule are encouraged to take a “holistic” approach to silica compliance by assessing the tasks and processes where silica (found in concrete) is disturbed (cut, drilled, grinded, etc.). SMACNA members should be aware that “Table One” and dust collection tools are not the only options for compliance. 

Building Energy Codes: Why Should Homeowners Care?

Residential HVAC contractors take note: Homeowners overwhelmingly put energy efficiency at the top of their list of essential and desirable features, according to a survey by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). 

Who is Paying that Bill?

It is sometimes in a trustee’s best interest to retain an attorney at the outset of an investigation by the Department of Labor (DOL) for possible violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

Decision-Making Framework for New Market Opportunities: A 10-Step Process

Are you ready to add a new line of work or a new market for your existing line of work? Market opportunities can present themselves in a variety of ways:

• a customer could ask your company to expand geographically;
• an employee might offer up specific skills;
• or a new market in need of service can have a strong pull.

Enhancing Your Organizational Structure: An Approach to Profitable Operations

This white paper focuses on traditional and functional organizational structures. It offers a simple and easily understood contrast and comment on the appropriateness of each approach. In contrast to the traditional structure, the paper concludes that a functional analysis of a firm’s operations can be “a tool for designing their organization going forward. It views a contracting company as a system of various inputs coordinated to create one desired outcome.”

A Well-Run Benefit Fund is Clear, Concise, and Careful

Effective communication with plan participants is key to having a well-run benefit fund. Guidance on effective communication is abundant. In short, be clear, be concise, and be careful. 

Lean construction methods: efficient work, happy customers

This article describes how lean construction is a way of working that reduces waste, increases efficiency, helps the environment, and allows for working smarter, not harder. But while the concept is one that has unofficially been practiced in the unionized sheet metal industry for years, the ITI is leading an effort to make the concept more standardized in apprentices’ training.

Waiver of Recourse: Don't Get Caught Holding the Bill

ERISA trust funds are required by law to purchase a fidelity bond covering breaches of honesty by covered individuals. Fiduciary liability coverage on the other hand is not required by ERISA. 

2017 Update for Architectural Fascia and Coping Wind Tests Report

SMACNA’s Technical Resources Committee completed wind uplift testing on custom-fabricated fascia and coping architectural elements constructed in accordance with the SMACNA Architectural Sheet Metal Manual.

Navigating the Slippery Slope: Testing Apprentices

This is part of a three-part series providing guidelines for Joint Apprenticeship Training Committees (JATCs) to follow when recruiting and selecting individuals into an apprenticeship program. For information on

Navigating the Slippery Slope: The Application and the Interview

This post is second in a three-part series providing guidelines for Joint Apprenticeship Training Committees (JATCs) to follow when recruiting and selecting individuals into an apprenticeship program. For information on

Homeowners and contractors alike benefiting from PACE residential programs

In 2017, the U.S. Department of Energy released revised guidelines for best practices incorporating lessons learned from successful PACE programs.

OSHA agrees to SMACNA recommendations on flat roofs requirements

SMACNA contractors performing service work on flat roofs (low-sloped roofs) received a significant win after OSHA “agreed to” comments submitted by SMACNA and other industry stakeholders.

The Impact of Prefabrication on Productivity

This white paper offers a set of best practices to optimize the use of prefabrication to obtain peak productivity for HVAC and sheet metal contractors.

Using a Board of Directors, Peer Groups and Other Resources to Challenge and Enhance Performance

This white paper offers advice and suggestions on the effective use of outside resources to improve performance of HVAC and sheet metal contractors.

Navigating the Slippery Slope to Selecting an Apprentice for Training

Under the law, for all intents and purposes, when a local Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (JATC) selects apprentices for its program, it is treated as an employer. 

Compliance with Mental Health Parity Law Under Investigation

In 2016, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) let  people know they will be investigating their health fund’s compliance with the mental health parity laws.

Understanding The DOL Rules On Paid Sick Leave for Federal Contractors

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division implemented Executive Order 13706 in 2016, which requires contractors working on federal contracts to provide paid sick leave to certain employees. 

Sheet Metal & Roofers Employer's Association of Southeastern New York, Inc. By-Laws

A New Era of Customer Service: How to Manage Customer Relationship

This paper includes a list of best practices to identify customer needs and satisfaction and outlines a cost-effective process to create a customer-centered culture. The white paper was written for HVAC and sheet metal contractors by Tom Schleifer, an author with experience and instant credibility in the industry.

OSHA Confined Spaces in Construction Final Rule

The OSHA Confined Spaces in Construction final rule, issued May 4, 2015, was unclear about how it applied to attics and crawlspaces in residential construction. However, a settlement was reached between OSHA and interested parties who negotiated the rule. 

What’s in it for me? Documenting the benefits of Lean

Documenting the benefits of Lean admittedly is a challenge, because no two projects are exactly alike. However, we have a substantial body of analysis that suggests the success realized on Lean projects is real and can be duplicated from project to project. This is Part II of a two-part series that explores the benefits and challenges of lean construction. 

Lean Design: What’s it all about?

The intent of this article is to provide an overview of what Lean is all about and begin to answer the question: What’s in it for owners and others in the supply chain?

Southland Industries: Multi-trade Modular Rack Design and Construction Video

In this video, Southland Industries explains how the use of in-house engineering and construction resources build multi-trade modular rack systems.

ENR SmartMarket Report: Prefabrication and Modularization

This ENR SmartMarket Report examines the impact of prefabrication and modularization on industry productivity. 

MMC Contractors: Prefab and BIM Expertise Video

This video showcases SMACNA member MMC Contractors ability to use Building Information Modeling (BIM) and modularization techniques to go beyond just fabrication. 

J.F. Ahern: Prefab Time Lapse Video

J. F. Ahern Co. recently unveiled a time-lapse video that was filmed over several months, chronicling the assembly and installation of 32 multi-trade racking systems for the Froedtert CFAC project in Milwaukee.

J.F. Ahern: Prefabrication that Benefits Your Project

This video addresses estimating and design, shop fabrication and assembly, quality control, delivery and installation, and final occupancy.

J.F. Ahern: What is Prefabrication? Video

In this video, SMACNA member J.F. Ahern takes you through project stages including estimating, pre-planning, design/coordination, scheduling and purchasing, fabrication/assembly, quality control, and field installation to show how prefabrication works and benefits projects though improved risk, timing and cost.

Overview of Withdrawal Liability Considerations in the Transfer and Sale of a Business

Presented in 2016, this overview of withdrawal liability discusses considerations involved in the sale or transfer of a business.

OSHA issues final rule on reporting injuries electronically

With this new rule, OSHA now requires employers in the sheet metal and HVAC industry to send OSHA injury and illness data through a dedicated webpage for posting on the agency's website.

The Search Is On: Finding Lost Participants

Participants have gone missing. Are you doing enough to find them? If you are not asking that question of your fund, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) may soon be asking it for you. 

Is Cyber-Liability Insurance Really Necessary?

If your trust fund is the keeper of personal identity or sensitive information on participants and their beneficiaries, the answer is likely, yes. 

Bylaws for the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association, Inc.

Successful Marketing and Business Development Strategies for HVAC and Sheet Metal Contractors

This white paper helps HVAC and sheet metal contractors use marketing and business development more strategically. It also provides an approach on how to create a plan, implement it, measure the results and, ultimately, create a long-term plan to build customer relationships and backlogs.

The HVAC and Sheet Metal Industry Futures Study Update 2016

The 2016 Futures Study Update begins with a review and analysis of the 2012 study with a focus on the viability of the predictions outlined in the earlier report. The publication offers a broad environmental sweep, an examination of unanticipated changes, and validation or modifications to the 2012 implications and emerging trends.

Making RFIs More Effective

This white paper offers practical tools and ideas to help contractors improve the Request for Information (RFI) process.

The Business Case for BIM

SMACNA’s white paper “The Business Case for BIM” can help contractors justify the cost of investing in BIM capabilities. This research demonstrates that the benefits of BIM can be substantial ̶ increasing profitability, bidding opportunities, and manufacturing efficiency and volume.

Cybersecurity - Hacks, Breaches, & Inadvertent Disclosure - Oh My!Disclosure!

There is a lot of talk about cybersecurity, even from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). In fact, how funds are protecting participants’ personal information has emerged as an issue of concern for the DOL.

Time to Audit Your Auditor?

Is your audit deficient? There is a good chance it is. In May, the Department of Labor Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) released a disturbing report assessing the quality of benefit plan audits.