Phcc winter 2015 by PHCC-WI

Volume 10, Number 4 â&#x20AC;˘ Winter 2015

The official publication of the PHCC Wisconsin Association and Master Plumbers/Heating & Cooling Contractors of Wisconsin

WISCONSIN PLUMBERS, ENGINEERS IMPACT SCHOOLCHILDREN IN

INDIA

INSIDE: Moving Forward with Enhanced A Surge in Aging in Educational Seminars Place Design and Products

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contents // Winter 2015 Features

2015/16 BOARD OF DIRECTORS PHCC WISCONSIN ASSOCIATION Master Plumbers/Heating & Cooling Contractors of Wisconsin

14 Wisconsin Plumbers, Engineers Impact Schoolchildren In India 18 A Surge In Aging In Place Design And Products 22 Go With The Touchless Faucet Flow

Reports 6 President’s Letter Moving Forward with Enhanced Educational Seminars 8 Zone Director’s Report Stories of Progress

PHCC Wisconsin Association P.O. Box 833 Germantown, WI 53022 888-782-6815 • Fax: 888-287-4116 mail@phcc-wi.org

10 From The Capitol Legislative Action Impacting Our Industry

Inside 11 Southern Wisconsin, Western Wisconsin Plumbing Seminars 26 2016 AHR Expo To Showcase HVACR Industry’s Latest Across Numerous Market Categories 28 State Plumbing Apprenticeship Advisory Committee 30 Pipeline News

Wisconsin News Federated Insurance Update

33 Wisconsin Code Book & POWTS 34 Membership Application On the cover: Randy Lorge with students from School 125 in Nashik, India. Photo courtesy of IAPMO

Directors Dale Arndt (Zone #4) Arndt & Son Plumbing P.O. Box 70 Brooklyn, WI 53521 608-455-6392 • Fax: 608-455-2113 arndtplumbing@frontier.net Larry Bayer (Zone #1) Bayer Plumbing 2295 Continental Drive West Bend, WI 53095 262-335-0300 bayerplumbing@yahoo.com

The Wisconsin P-H-C Contractor is published four times a year for the Wisconsin Association of Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors

Dan Callies (Zone #1) Oak Creek Plumbing 640 E. Ryan Road Oak Creek, WI 53154 414-762-4060 • Fax: 414-762-3440 danc@oakcreekplumbing.com

Senior Editor Jeff Beiriger Advertising and Editorial Office:

Ron Sonntag Public Relations Master Plumbers/Heating & Cooling Contractors of Wisconsin

Advertising Inquiries: Patty Johnson, Ron Sonntag Public Relations, (800) 969-0200, ext. 103, E-mail: patty@rspr.com. Editorial Submissions: Cynthia Marsh, Ron Sonntag Public Relations, (800) 969-0200, ext. 104, E-mail: cynthia@rspr.com.

4 / The Wisconsin P-H-C Contractor / Winter 2015

Vice President/Secretary/Treasurer Carol DeYoung (Zone #10) Countryside Plumbing & Heating, Inc. 321 Wisconsin Drive New Richmond, WI 54017-2614 715-246-2660 • Fax: 715-246-2676 carol@countrysideph.com Immediate Past President Keith Schedler (Zone #5) Don’s Plumbing Service, Inc. 1003 Clifton Street Tomah, WI 54660 608-372-4219 • Fax: 608-372-2303 keithschedler@centurytel.net

32 Advertiser Index/Calendar of Events

9406 N. 107th Street Milwaukee, WI 53224 p | 800.969.0200 f | 414.354.5317 www.rspr.com

President Greg Jones (Zone #4) Dave Jones, Inc. 2225 Kilgust Road Madison, WI 53713 608-222-8490 • Fax: 608-222-8503 gjones@davejonesplumbing.com

Fred Gardner (Zone #9) Badger State Plumbing 2507 Fortune Drive Eau Claire, WI 54703-3898 715-874-7777 • Fax: 715-874-7778 fred@badgerstateinc.com Jeffrey Kuhn (Zone #1) S&K Pump & Plumbing, Inc. 20880 W. Enterprise Avenue Brookfield, WI 53045 262-782-7190 • Fax: 262-782-9642 jeff@snkpump.com Steve Schneider (Zone #3) Tweet/Garot Mechanical 2545 Larsen Road, P.O. Box 11767 Green Bay, WI 54307-1767 920-498-7656 • Fax: 920-498-8130 Steve.Schneider@tweet-garot.com Cal Watters (Zone #6) Watters Plumbing 1303 Midway Road, P.O. Box 118 Menasha, WI 54952 920-733-8125 • Fax: 920-733-2713 cwatters@wattersplumbing.net Industry Partner Reps Jon Hirsch Auer Steel & Heating Supply 2935 W. Silver Spring Drive Milwaukee, WI 53209 414-349-0019 jon.hirsch@auersteel.com Rob Spence Rundle-Spence 2800 Industrial Drive Madison, WI 53713 608-222-0636 robs@rundle-spence.com

Master Plumbers/Heating & Cooling Executive Director Jeff Beiriger Contractors ofP.O.Wisconsin Box 833 Germantown, WI 53022 888-782-6815 • Fax: 888-287-4116 jeff@assocmgmtservices.com

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Our products and pricing are competitive, but it’s our staff, fast response, and services that make us the easy choice.

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President’s Letter

Greg Jones

// MOVING FORWARD WITH ENHANCED EDUCATIONAL SEMINARS Our mission at PHCC Wisconsin is to provide the plumbing and HVAC industry with the highest quality continuing education training experience and by that measure, 2015 was a great year for us! We completed our three new, enhanced educational seminars and we could not be happier with the results. Between Tomah, De Pere, and Eau Claire, we had more than 175 attendees and 40 exhibitors! We could not have done it without the support of instructors - Jim Davis and Mike Hanten - and all of our industry partners. Thank you to all of you who attended and gave us such high marks. Here are some examples of feedback that we received: “The best seminar I have attended. Jim was very informative. The food was great and the beer was a plus! Great job guys, I will be here next year!” “Great subject in great detail. I really liked the participation through the voting technology!” For those of you who did not attend, I would like to tell you more about our seminars. We start by providing multiple location options across the state, with the goal of making our seminars reachable for all of the industry. We pick great locations that provide us the room to learn and interact with our instructors, our industry partners, and each other. We start the day with our vendor/product show. This gives you the opportunity to see and touch many of the new products on the market and to meet the group of talented individuals who provide them to our industry. Licensed plumbers receive two hours of continuing education credits for this time. We then get into the heart of our day, which is a threehour refresher course of actual plumbing code training. The code is the very basis of our daily work, yet once we earn our license, it tends to be set aside and even ignored during continued education classes. We are changing that. Jim Davis is our code professional and he has nearly 40 years of experience of working with and teaching the plumbing code! Jim’s incredible teaching style keeps everyone engaged and makes you feel comfortable about

asking questions. Take advantage of this! After all, when else do you have access to someone with this type of code knowledge? We also keep it fun by utilizing an interactive technology called Turning Point. Basically, we provide you with a small, easy-to-use remote control that allows you to test your knowledge and see what you’ve learned. Our instructor will provide you with a review question and you can select one of the multiple choice answers. This response technology makes the training even more interactive and allows us to gain valuable real-time feedback that we can utilize during the session and to improve our future offerings. Licensed plumbers receive three hours of continuing education credits for this time. In the middle of the day, we provide a free lunch to everyone in attendance. To round out our day, we provide you with a ticket to purchase the drink of your choice that you can enjoy while listening to our Executive Director, Jeff Beiriger. Some say you need a drink to listen to Jeff, but that didn’t come from me! Jeff provides us a look at what’s happening behind the scenes, both in state and national government. He’ll let you know what’s on the horizon in regards to our codes, licenses, and legislation that could impact our industry. He even hands out some great door prizes. Licensed plumbers receive one hour of continuing education credit for this time, bringing the total for the day to six. But wait, there’s more! These are not one-time events. We’re coming back each year! We want to be your go-to source for continuing education. Both Journeymen and Master Plumbers need 24 hours of continued education in each 4-year license period to retain your license. Spend a day each year with us and you’ll know you’re covered! For 2016 and beyond, we have an aggressive plan to improve and increase our training offerings. In addition to expanding our plumbing code training, we’ll be adding two HVAC seminars along with a business management seminar at our annual convention in February. Thank you for all of your support and we hope to see you soon! Greg Jones is CEO and owner of Dave Jones, Inc. He can be reached at (608) 222-8503 or gjones@davejonesplumbing.com

SAVE THE DATE! Janesville

Ramada Janesville

February 5, 2016

Kaukauna

Liberty Hall

September 23, 2016

Warrens/ Tomah

Three Bears Lodge

February 18, 2016

Eau Claire

Plaza Hotel

October 21, 2016

Oak Creek

TBA

April 8, 2016

Stevens Point

Holiday Inn

November 11, 2016

6 / The Wisconsin P-H-C Contractor / Winter 2015

Zone Director’s Report

JEFF KUHN

// STORIES OF PROGRESS If you haven’t seen the PHCC National Association’s Annual Report, you should take a look (you can find it on National’s website under the news section). This has been PHCC’s year to tell our story, protect our interests, strengthen our skills, reinforce our reputation, make new connections, and build a better future for our members and our industry. We are definitely making progress throughout the association – local, state, and national – and we are focused on the opportunities and challenges ahead. Membership development – recruitment, retention, and engagement – remains a top priority on all fronts, and we’ve seen growth this year. Membership growth comes when we are focusing on the things that really matter to contractors, like workforce development, licensing, continuing education, code issues, and brand awareness. If you have a question, concern, or issue that the national association can help with, please let me know so we can provide you with the answers or assistance you need. Beyond sharing reports from the states, the PHCC board of directors reviews more than 20 committee reports at its meetings and reviews the progress of association programs and initiatives. I thought I would share a few to give you some insights into our work. Mega Issue Task Force on Workforce Development: President Kevin Tindall, who is chair of the Mega Issue Task Force on Workforce Development, reported on the progress in meeting goals set by the task force. Articles are being published, a special web section has been launched, outreach has occurred on Capitol Hill and conversations have occurred with industry partners. PHCC and Educational Foundation funding has been approved for additional initiatives, including collateral materials, a career video, an online Career Center, and a library of best practices for members and chapters. Government Relations and PAC Report: In his report, Government Relations Chairman Mark Giebelhaus summarized the current political environment on Capitol Hill, and briefed board members on the changes in leadership in Congress. He outlined PHCC’s involvement in legislative initiatives, including regulatory accountability, 179D expensing, the Perkins Act, and the redefinition of full-time employment. PHCC National activated legislative alerts on each issue and mobilized PHCC members to write their respective member(s) of Congress. PHCC is also involved in a series of regulatory actions including “Waters of the U.S.,” Confined Spaces rule, the FurnaceAir Conditioner-Heat Pump rule, the Overtime Pay rule, and refrigerant phase-out. Government Relations Director Mark Riso stressed the importance of regulatory accountability, which is so crucial to maintaining the country’s checks and balances system.

8 / The Wisconsin P-H-C Contractor / Winter 2015

Code and Technical Services: PHCC Vice President of Code and Technical Services Chuck White reported that PHCC is achieving increased visibility for the association through involvement in several industry groups, including the Plumbing Efficiency Research Council (PERC), Alliance for Water Efficiency, and the American Backflow Prevention Association. Phase 2 of a PERC study shows interesting data supporting the study’s previous Phase 1 conclusion that toilet paper strength is a major factor in drain line carry. The department is also very active in the regulatory arena, working with various government agencies, particularly the U.S. Dept. of Energy (DOE). PHCC’s presence at key meetings ensures a voice for the front line installation contractor on new regulations that could impact members’ businesses. Energy Efficiency and Water Conservation: President Kevin Tindall stated that this committee’s mission is to develop strategies that will position PHCC as a leader in providing plumbing and HVACR contractors with the tools they need to become energy and water conservation advocates. Toward that end, PHCC has been actively working with the DOE on a wide variety of increased HVAC efficiency standards, which seem beneficial on paper, but present installation challenges. When DOE changes standards, there is usually a connected change in the test procedure for the product. PHCC works within the industry to minimize the impacts of these changes as new procedures can require retesting of entire product lines. PHCC also provides input to the EPA on water conservation initiatives, and is a co-convener of the 2016 International Emerging Technology Symposium, scheduled for May 1011, 2016, in the Chicago area. HVACR Workforce Development Foundation Report: Executive Vice President Gerry Kennedy reported that the HVACR Workforce Development Foundation, of which PHCC is a founding member, released three new research reports confirming that demand outstrips the supply of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration employees. In particular, mechanics and installers are in critical shortage in most areas of the nation. An executive summary of the three reports, The HVACR Workforce: Demand Heats Up as Supply Melts Away, is available on the HVACR Foundation’s website. New Executive Vice President at PHCC National: It was a bittersweet moment to say goodbye to Gerry Kennedy, who announced earlier this year that he would retire following this year’s national convention. I want to thank Gerry for his leadership and guidance as executive vice president and, before that as the PHCC’s Educational Foundation Chief Operating Officer. But as we say goodbye, we also had a chance to say hello. We met with the incoming executive vice president, Michael Copp, who challenged us to, “…build an organization we need five years from now.” His call to action will guide us as we look at the many opportunities for growth and for communicating the value of what the association offers. Jeff Kuhn is President of S&K Pump & Plumbing, Inc., Brookfield. He can be reached at (262) 782-7190 or jeff@snkpump.com.

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From The Capitol

// LEGISLATIVE ACTION IMPACTING OUR INDUSTRY

Material Purchases For Tax-Exempt Owners: The legislature has sent a bill to the governor that would exempt contractors from paying sales and use taxes when the materials are used for tax-exempt projects. Current law allows a tax exemption for schools, local governments, and nonprofit groups, but only if they purchase the materials directly. Under the new law, contractors would be able to purchase materials on behalf of the tax-exempt owner. Tax-exempt owners argued that construction costs for their projects were artificially inflated by the tax and that their only option to save costs was to take on the additional burden of purchasing materials. Contractors argued that owner-purchased materials often created hardships, including scheduling, material handling, security, and warranty among other issues.

Burton-Anderson representing the following Plumbing-Related Manufacturers

• Basco shower enclosure

• septronics • simmons mfg. co

• Bemis mfg. co

• sim/tech

• c & s manufacturing

• symmons inD.

• cooper B-line

• titeflex-gastite

• church seat Division

• union Brass

• wm harvey co.

• wellmate Div/pentair

• little giant pump

water

• e. l. mustee

• wooDforD mfg. co.

• oatey scs

• worthington torch

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green Bay (920)339-0158 Fax (920)229-0159 gbstaff@burton-anderson.com

www.burton-anderson.com

n112 w18518 w. mequon rd., germantown, wi 53022

10 / The Wisconsin P-H-C Contractor / Winter 2015

High-Capacity Wells: There are several bills circulating in the legislature dealing with high-capacity wells. One addresses fees for low-capacity wells on high-capacity properties and high-capacity fire protection wells. Another would allow the transfer of the permit for a high-capacity well to a new owner of the property and also allow a replacement well to be drilled provided, in both cases, the conditions of the permit are substantially unchanged. The last bill, and most controversial, deals with high-capacity well permits and creates a new regulatory scheme for their approval. Highcapacity wells have a significant impact on agricultural areas of the state and their surrounding communities. Worker’s Compensation: An advisory council on worker’s compensation issues has offered numerous recommendations to the legislature for consideration this session. The bill is viewed by many as one of the biggest policy changes in recent memory, bringing Wisconsin law in line with surrounding states. Tarnishing this perspective is a second bill on worker’s compensation introduced by a legislator. That bill includes additional reforms favorable to business owners but carries with it the potential to create a pendulum effect in the area of worker benefits, with laws to be set and reset as each party gains political favor. Recent reports suggest that medical costs are still more than 120 percent higher than the median for other states, and more than double the next closest state. The political realities are such that neither bill will contain a cost containment fee schedule for the state. Advisory Code Committees: We think it’s good for the industry to know that the Plumbing Code Advisory Committee has still not met. In fact, the committee has not even been formed. PHCC Wisconsin recently wrote a letter to the department asking that the committee be formed and meet to address several issues. The POWTS Advisory Code Committee was formed and met recently to address a single issue resulting from a statutory change last session. Waters of the U.S.: Legislation was passed in the U.S. House to overturn an EPA rule that would significantly expand the agency’s authority under the Clean Water Act. The legislation failed to pass in the U.S. Senate but even if it would have passed it would have been vetoed by the president. At the same time, the need for legislative action was diminished by a decision of the U.S. Appeals Court, which effectively stopped the EPA from enforcing the revised regulations. Some believe the regulations, if enforced, would have caused waterways as small as ditches to be regulated by the EPA. PHCC National was a strong opponent of the regulations.

Master Plumbers/Heating & Cooling Contractors of Wisconsin

Southern Wisconsin Plumbing Seminar

Western Wisconsin Plumbing Seminar

Friday, February 5, 2016

Thursday, February 18, 2016

Ramada Janesville • 3900 Milton Ave. Janesville, WI 53546

Three Bears Lodge • 701 Yogi Circle Warrens, WI 54666

Program Schedule

Credit*

7:30 - 8:30 a.m.

Registration & Product Displays

1.0 CE Credit

8:30 - 9:30 a.m.

Product Showcase & Safety Update

1.0 CE Credit

9:30 - 9:45 a.m.

Break & Product Displays

9:45 - 11:45 a.m.

Code Class: Drain Systems

11:45 - 12:30 p.m.

Luncheon & Product Displays

12:30 - 1:30 p.m.

Code Class: Drain Systems (Continued)

1:30 - 1:45 p.m.

Break

1:45 - 3:00 p.m.

Industry Update

3:00 p.m.

Door Prize Drawings

3.0 CE Credit

1.0 CE Credit

Don’t miss this great program and great chance to earn CE credits*! Questions? Contact PHCC & MP/HC Wisconsin Association at (888) 782-6815. About The Program/Instructors

Code is the foundation of everything we do in the plumbing industry. This year, PHCC-Wisconsin is beginning a series of coderelated programs designed to get back to the basics of our trade. For this session, we will be focusing on Drain Systems. Leading the discussion is Jim Davis, a Master Plumber and an experienced plumbing instructor. Jim has taught apprentices for 20+ years and has experience teaching continuing education programs for groups such as the Water Quality Association and the Madison Plumbing Inspectors. The program also features time to interact with vendors, our vendor showcase, an industry update by Jeff Beiriger of PHCC-Wisconsin, and a brief safety presentation by Federated Insurance.

*Continuing Education Credits

Please note that the number of hours of approved continuing education may vary depending upon the credential you hold. MP and JP will receive 6.0 hours of credit for attending the entire day of program. For other credentials, contact the PHCC & MP/HC at (888) 782-6815 or mail@phcc-wi.org.

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WISCONSIN PLUMBERS, ENGINEERS IMPACT SCHOOLCHILDREN IN

INDIA BY CYNTHIA MARSH

ive hundred students at School 125 in Nashik, India, have improved sanitation facilities thanks to the efforts of a global team, including members from Wisconsin, participating in the Community Plumbing Challenge (CPC) 2015, Nov. 2-5. The CPC is the second annual challenge involving students and advisors in an international competition to develop the knowledge and the skills to make a

14 / The Wisconsin P-H-C Contractor / Winter 2015

Photos courtesy of IAPMO and Randy Lorge

Putting the finishing touches to the newlyremodeled handwash room.

Jill Vande Boom uses a black light to show what is on the hands.

difference in the world by demonstrating and applying plumbing innovations in needy areas. Team USA included Randy Lorge, instructor of plumbing apprenticeship at Fox Valley Technical College, and two of his students, Pete Hollmaier (SBS Plumbing, Oshkosh) and Adam Koenigs (J.F. Ahern Co.). They were joined by MSOE students Miya Preston, Jill Vande Boom, MSOE assistant professor Douglas Nelson, and architectural engineering graduate Judith Torres. Lorge, Nelson, and Torres were the team coaches. “It was quite the week,” said Lorge, who received a briefing of the project in July. School 125 had just three squat toilets, 13 urinals for girls and seven for the boys. The restrooms were dark, poorly ventilated, and students shared the handwashing facilities, the school’s lone source of water. “There were so many things that were earth shattering and took your breath away. We went in there knowing it was a poor area, but to actually experience it was life changing. We saw piles of garbage on the side of the road, and a dog digging through it. There were cattle on one side and then a little kid playing on the other side. Its everyday life for them, but for us, it was hard to grasp,” Lorge said. Besides Team USA, there were teams from India, Australia, and the Basque Country (northern Spain) to problem-solve the situation. Each team was composed of at least one plumber, one mason or carpenter, an engineer, and a designer who was responsible for developing project documentation, technical drawing and plans, and data visualizations. “This remodel had all the elements of a large-scale job: blueprints, specifications, material lists, cost estimates, and all to be done within of what was available in India,” Lorge said. “We had to use native products; we couldn’t even bring in our own tools. We worked with hammer and chisel.” Continued on page 16 >>

Team USA teaching the importance of handwashing.

Winter 2015 \ The Wisconsin P-H-C Contractor \ 15

>> Continued from page 15

The competition became more challenging In the challenge, the teams were to be scored on design, training documentation, community consultation, and training delivery. The plan was for each team to present to the school and the community, who would choose what would work best for their situation. “But when we got there on Monday, they said the scope had changed and they would take elements from each plan instead. Much of Team USA’s overall design was implemented however, which was very humbling to know that all the time and thought put into the project over the past few months was appreciated and found useful.” Lorge said. While the engineers worked on creating a redesign, the plumbers began demolition of the existing facility. With a four-day time frame, the project had to keep moving and the four teams had to unite as one. “It was an educational experience for the kids. When we got there, we were four teams gunning to be number one. By the time we left, we were just one team. Everyone was working together – they were friends. It was the neatest experience for me to watch them gel,” Lorge said. English was the common language, although not spoken perfectly by all members of the India and Basque teams. “Sometimes it was easier to pick up a whiteboard or draw in the sand to show them what you wanted to do,” Lorge said. Improvisations were often needed. “We needed to run a pipe from the roof-top water tank. But there was no drill so we built a fire on the roof of the school, heated up a steel pipe, and melted the two-inch pipe into the side of the tank,” he said. Float valves were also installed to keep the tanks from overflowing when the city supplied water. Previously, if the water ran longer than needed, it overflowed to the roof. While local plumbing vendors provided materials quickly, the reliability was questionable. “Anything that was threaded leaked. The quality was terrible,” Lorge said. “On completion day, just before the walk-through by school officials, we turned the water on. We had seven water meters in and all of them were leaking because of the threads. So we were tripping over each other to come up with a solution to fix it. We ended up cutting out the galvanized pipe, and found some plastic fittings and reducers. We reduced the pipe size and put in bushings and

16 / The Wisconsin P-H-C Contractor / Winter 2015

Randy Lorge preparing the installation of a water meter.

Pete Hollmaier installing handwash faucet mounts.

Adam Koenigs, left, and Pete Hollmaier at the school.

Team USA presenting their plans to the school and India Plumbing Association.

Adam Koenigs working with Team Australia to install a water tap. couplings. We just finished the job as the officials were arriving. The end result was everything worked great; they had plenty of water pressure and water volume. It was very primitive, yet effective, and it was (local) code compliant.” An element of the project on which the teams could be scored was creating a game for the children to understand the importance of handwashing. Team USA’s idea of using a black light to teach the kids about germs and the importance of washing hands was well received. They brought pencils and put them at the bottom of a bucket, along with black light powder. When the students pulled the pencils out, a black light was shone on their hands so they could see that there were germs or bacteria present. Then they had a demonstration on hand washing and when a second black light inspection showed they were clean, the students got their pencils as well as a piece of candy. The four teams also provided age-appropriate demonstrations in bricklaying, pipe threading and making water filters. “We left blueprints and know-how, which was the purpose of the project,” Lorge said. “They wanted us to do everything with native materials and native tools and when we got done, it was up to the Indian Plumbing Association to take this and run with it, since many schools are similarly built. “This project really showed how important the trade is, how important the plumbers are,” Lorge said. “If we changed one kid’s life, we made a difference.” Lorge found the experience so satisfying and meaningful that he has signed up to coach another team in 2016. Their destination will be an underserved area in Cape Town, South Africa. q Community Plumbing Challenge 2015 was an initiative of The IAPMO Group and World Plumbing Council, hosted and facilitated by the Indian Plumbing Association, and sponsored by WorldSkills Foundation. PHCC-NA was a major sponsor of Team USA.

WHAT THE TEAMS ACCOMPLISHED IN FOUR DAYS • From having only four taps available for hand washing the school now has 25 working taps and handwash drainage; two taps are located in the toilet areas and there is increased water tank storage capacity and better water pressure. • Push taps were used to reduce water waste and new PVC pipes added to supply water. • The troughs are sloped so water runs out quicker. • Pipe diameter increased to 32 mm for the main input and 25 mm for the tap branches to improve water flow. Pipes were placed on the wall for easy replacement. • After washing, the wastewater flushes urinal troughs in the adjoining toilet area. • Pipes and taps added to flush urinal walls. • Water meters were installed on the various branch lines of piping to assess water use, tap performance, design performance and maintenance needs and frequency – this information will be collected by school students and be invaluable if the program is to be expanded across India. • There was also a digital recording of all the construction details and specification of parts to be used as a teaching tool to allow the repeating of these types of works in other Indian schools.

Winter 2015 \ The Wisconsin P-H-C Contractor \ 17

R A Surge In Aging In Place Design and Products You can hardly open up a shelter magazine or a lifestyle article without hearing about the boomer generation living longer, healthier, and more active lives. Along with that goes that even though they may downsize a large home for a condo or a lakeside retreat, the majority of those people want to remain independent for as long as possible.

18 / The Wisconsin P-H-C Contractor / Winter 2015

anch houses, main floor master bedrooms and laundry rooms, curbless showers, and comfort height toilets are nods to convenience for the “older” adult. This trend has spawned a range of monikers: aging in place, accessible design, cross-generation, universal design – the principal is the same, the design and use accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities. Dave Clark, CAPS, CGR, an award-winning design specialist for Callen Construction, Inc. in Muskego, a full service remodeling company serving southeastern Wisconsin since 1986, noted that requests for accessible design, especially in the bathroom and kitchen are increasing. “It’s a very hot topic right now and much more prevalent than even 10 years ago,” he said. “Some of my clients have been as young as their 40s, but are thinking ahead about what their needs may be down the road.” “The idea is that the home can be lived in comfortably by all members of the household. One of the nicer things is that manufacturers are turning out products that do not look institutional,” he said. “There are many things on the market now that are more user-friendly to people of all abilities. It’s more universal design than aging in place.” The aging population provides a growing market potential for plumbers. Americans over 50 control 77 percent of the total net worth and have nearly $46 trillion of wealth, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. “By 2030, 71.5 million individuals, or 20 percent of our population, will be age 65 or older and 80 percent are looking to age-in-place,” said Laurie Birko, Moen’s Senior Product Manager. “There’s a huge population of homeowners who are proactively seeking products that will make the aging process easier for them,” says Jim Morando, President of Mansfield Plumbing. “Taller toilets that are ADAapproved and walk-in tubs will be the winners for this category of people. It’s all about making life easier as we get older. Products like a SmartHeight™ toilet or a Restore walk-in tub will continue to have increased sales as Baby Boomers make aging-in-place purchase decisions in the years to come. “It’s important for today’s kitchen and bath fittings to be keeping in step with the latest market needs – including the universal design market – and we respond to those needs with innovative solutions,” said Margaret Cook, Grohe Trade Marketing Manager, Bath Products. “We are thoughtful about the enduser, and how the aging homeowner needs to operate the kitchen and bath. To that end, we are investing in research and focusing more on technology to develop products that make those experiences more intuitive, and our everyday home experiences more enjoyable.” “Products designed for the aging-in-place audience continue to be a priority for Grohe,” she said. “There is a growing aging-in-place population that seeks out products that allow for convenience, easier functionality, and that support the homeowner’s lifestyle. For Grohe, comfort, usability and safety are key when it comes to planning a bathroom suitable for use for this audience.”

Grohe offers single-lever faucets that feature SilkMove® technology – a wide operating angle ensures smooth and effortless one-hand control of the water temperature and flow. Frames for wall-hung toilets can be used to elevate the height of the toilet bowl to a comfortable height for users in wheelchairs. All flush actuation plates are easy to operate and meet the needs of the elderly. “You’ll continue to see new universal design products rolling out from Grohe. We are committed to providing products that enable safe use for homeowners of all ages,” Cook said.“Allowing people to age in place while benefiting from the latest technology that meets their needs and demands at any given time is one of the main objectives of our product development process.” “At Duravit, we focus a great deal on the concept of ‘universal bathroom design,’ which encompasses aging in place,” said Alex Bursac, NYC Showroom Manager. “Our products are designed to last a lifetime, so why not make sure that you’re able to comfortably use them for your whole life, too? Products like our SensoWash shower-toilet seat are designed to provide invaluable conveniences for someone of limited mobility for example, but still look sleek and are functional for people of any age. In the toilet category, we have strong ADA options, such as comfort height and height-adjustable wall-mounted toilets. We also focus on items like flush mounted shower trays and slip-resistant materials for tubs and showers that put safety and comfort at the forefront of their design.” Continued on page 20 >>

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Winter 2015 \ The Wisconsin P-H-C Contractor \ 19

>> Continued from page 19 For the kitchen, Broan has introduced an undercabinet range hood with an optional handheld remote allowing the user to control the lights and fan without reaching up – something difficult or impossible to do for a person with range-of-motion issues. “Broan has long strived to provide range hood options for every residential application need, including where remote operation is advantageous,” said Brian Wellnitz, Broan-NuTone Marketing Manager – Kitchen Ventilation. “Many of our hood models are designed to allow on/ off control operation from a household wall switch or handheld remote control. So, no matter the budget, there is a model that can provide this capability. Our Evolution undercabinet hood series provides a unique optional remote control (BCR1). The BCR1 remote provides large, touch-sensitive controls for easy, full function operation and magnetic feet so it can be attached in locations that make access easy for everyone in the house. “Broan is continuing to develop technology that will make it even easier to have remote mounted wall/cabinet controls through the use of low voltage digital communication,” he said. “Going a little further into the future, wireless communication and sensor technology will allow not just local remote access to the range hood, it will allow smart phone access, remote monitoring of cooking activity and automatic control for even greater convenience in the multi-generational household. Broan will continue to strive to make it easier for consumers to use our products and make universal access a standard.” q

Know The Code On Grab Bars Editor’s Note: While having grab bars in the bathroom is very helpful to those who want to age in place, specifics to height and placement are often a matter of personal convenience. However, for an ADA accessible bathroom, there are requirements for height and placement. Below is an article, courtesy of Moen, on what a contractor needs to know for ADA-compliant grab bars. Grab bars are crucial in accessible bathrooms, whether around a toilet or in a shower stall. Code requirements for grab bars are part of the International Code Council’s ANSII-ICC A117 standard. A summary of its requirements follows: • A toilet needs a vertical bar in front of it, and horizontal bars next to and behind it. • Both roll-in showers (which are big enough for a wheelchair) and transfer showers (which aren’t) require horizontal bars on at least two walls. • A transfer-type shower also needs a vertical bar on the showerhead wall. A117 specifies the distance from each bar to walls and floors, but code experts say that many contractors get it wrong, raising the chance that the bath won’t pass inspection and exposing the contractor and facility owner to liability. Avoiding such problems means paying attention to bar height and length, and making sure there are no obstructions.

Be Careful With Height

In toilets and showers, the tops of horizontal grab bars need to be 33 to 36 inches from the floor. In a transfer shower, the bottom of the vertical bar must be 3 to 6 inches above the horizontal bar on that wall.

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20 / The Wisconsin P-H-C Contractor / Winter 2015

De Pere 1782 Mid Valley Drive De Pere, WI 54115 P: 920-964-0444 W: 800-236-0022 F: 877-336-6381

Fond du Lac 1222 Industrial Pkwy Fond du Lac, WI 54937 P: 920-929-9540 W: 800-236-5839 F: 800-344-9530

Appleton 705 Hickory Farm Lane Appleton, WI 54914 P: 920-733-6685 F: 920-733-6605

The problem is that installers often aim for one edge of the range, and end up a bit high or low. Depending on the inspector, even a fraction of an inch can get you cited for noncompliance. The answer? “If you’re the architect, dimension the bar on the plans in the middle of the range,” advises Ken Schoonover, a code consultant in St. George, Utah. “If you’re the contractor and the plans show a range, install it in the middle.”

Get The Right Length

For many years, code specified that the leading edge of the parallel bar next to a toilet be at least 54 inches from the rear wall, and the rear edge 12 inches from the wall. Because most contractors use a 42-inch bar, getting one dimension right automatically made the other correct also. Then in 2009, ICC changed the rear-edge 12inch standard from an absolute to a “maximum” distance. Because of this change, a lot of installers now place bars closer to the rear wall, according to Dominic Marinelli, vice president of United Spinal Association, a disability services consultancy based in Jackson Heights, N.Y. But most installers are still using 42-inch bars, which end up short of the 54-inch requirement. The simple solution, of course, is to use a longer bar. A shower may actually need a shorter-length

bar. That’s because the 2009 code requires shower seats in all accessible showers and prohibits the grab bar from extending over the shower seat.

Avoid Obstructions

Obstructions consist of items like shelves and paper dispensers. “They’re often installed too close to the grab bar,” says Kim Paarlberg, a senior staff architect with ICC. Code requires a minimum clearance of 1 1/2 inches below grab bars and 12 inches above. If the bar is on a framed wall (rather than a stall partition), she recommends recessed shelves and dispensers. Some problems can be traced to the framing crew, which needs to install blocking in the wall to which installers can fasten grab bars. “Often they either don’t think about blocking until it’s too late, or they put it in the wrong place,” says Jay Woodward, another ICC senior staff architect. For both showers and toilet stalls, the fix is obvious: The contractor should confirm blocking before installing the drywall or cement board. Woodward actually wrote the book on the new code requirements. Significant Changes to the A117.1 Accessibility Standard is $28.95, available from the ICC.

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Winter 2015 \ The Wisconsin P-H-C Contractor \ 21

GO WITH THE TOUCHLESS FAUCET FLOW Long a staple in public buildings, hotels, restaurants, and even some highway rest stops, touchless faucets, toilets, hand dryers, and soap dispensers are fast becoming a popular request in new build and remodels. Touchless, also referred to as hands-free, electronic, or sensor-activated, have come a long way from their original designs, which often proved unreliable. The earlier generations of motion-sensing infrared technology resulted in unpredictable water turn on or turn off. Manufacturers have been steadily improving touchless technology, making it ever easier for the consumer to use. Benefits include eliminating the transfer of contaminants, convenience, as well as significant water savings. Touchless or “tapon” faucets also are becoming more important as homeowners remodel to “age-in-place.” [See story, page 18] Touchfree technology varies by brand; some are battery and/or AC powered and sensor(s) are placed in varying locations.

Moen touchless

Moen’s MotionSense™ technology utilizes advanced sensors to detect movement in two sensing zones, setting water flow in motion as if on command. The water sensor at the top of the faucet starts and stops water flow with a simple hand movement above the faucet, while the ready sensor near the base of the faucet identifies when an object – such as a cup or hand – is placed beneath the spout. It runs water for as long as that item remains in range and automatically shuts flow off as soon as the object is removed from the sensing zone. The STõ® and Align® faucets include streamlined installation with fewer hoses under the sink and water temperature control at the faucet handle even when in hands-free mode. Danze has added the new Did-U-Wave model to its line. Motion sensor functionality is enhanced by LED task lighting. This white light at the tip of the spray head provides spot lighting that moves everywhere the head goes. Although offered as AC and DC options, only the AC version offers task lighting. Cinaton offers a touch-free faucet with five infrared sensors that regulate everything from water pressure to temperature. Introduced at KBIS in 2011, the company’s iSense technology turns the water on when a user’s hands or object is placed up to eight inches in front of the sensor, and turns off when the object is moved away. Another option for the user is to place a hand over tow sensors on the right side of the faucet. The water will turn on and run until it is turned off. A five-minute safety shutoff ensures it will not run continuously if left unattended. Continued on page 24 >>

22 / The Wisconsin P-H-C Contractor / Winter 2015

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>> Continued from page 22 Grohe’s Ladylux3 Café Touch that turns on with just a touch on the spout with wrist or forearm, even when the handle is in the off position. It comes with an ergonomic pull-down spray and a new dual-control button with locking feature, making switching between spray modes effortless. The Touch function can be in a cold water version or upgraded to include warm water controlled by the GrohTherm® Micro thermostatic mixing valve. Pfister’s Touch-free Kitchen Faucets with REACT™ (Response Activated Technology) have added a new model, the LITA. REACT allows users to turn water on or off by guiding their hand within the sensor’s range. SmartStop functionality automatically turns the faucet off after two minutes to save water. Other models in the line include the Pasadena and Selia. Kohler developed Response™ technology with a state-ofthe-art sensor to respond in 20 milliseconds for consistent and

reliable on/off operation for its Sensate faucet. Users can easily tweak the water temperature and flow when transitioning to new tasks. The Talo handle pull-down kitchen faucet by Brizo offers electronic smart touch technology for hands free use. It features a two-button, four-function pull-down wand with spray, stream, pause, and volume control. It also has a Euro-motion Diamond Valve with InnoFlex waterways and MagneDock magnetic wand docking system. The Moments no-touch bathroom faucet from American Standard offers hands-free convenience while saving up to

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77 percent water compared to conventional 2.2 gpm faucets. The faucet is activated when an object or hands are in the sensing zone. A built-in timer stops water flow two seconds after motion ceases. The Selectronic sensing zone is preset at the factory, but can be adjusted either manually or via remote control with the touch of a button. Delta’s Touch2O.xt™ technology for the bathroom was developed in response to consumer demand after the company debuted its Touch2O kitchen faucet in 2008. With Touch2O technology the user can have an entirely handsfree experience in addition to the tap functionality. It features a four-inch sensing field around the entire faucet. The faucet automatically responds when user approaches the sensing field. No infrared sensor is used. Moving hands out of range intuitively shuts off the water flow within seconds when not needed, helping to save water. In the toilet category, Delta features FlushIQ™ technology, which offers overflow protection and leak detection. A sensor on the back of the bowl monitors the water level and if the level rises to a critical point, the sensor will prevent additional flushes until the issue is resolved. A built-in sensor identifies possible tank leaks. If the water level drops and breaks contact with the sensor, the LED indicator will change to solid yellow the next time the toilet is flushed. American Standard also offers a no-touch toilet flush by waving a hand within two inches of the sensor. It also features a manual flush button located on the sensor on the outside

American Standard of the toilet tank. ActiVate toilets also provide simple onestep deactivation to power the sensor off to avoid accidental flushes while cleaning the toilet. The ActiVate HETs can successfully flush 1,000 grams of waste with a 1.28 gpf. Introduced in 2014, Kohler’s Touchless toilet utilizes emerging sensing technology which projects an electromagnetic field that is accurate and reliable. This type of sensor detects the user in the projected field and initiates the flush. Offered in the Cimarron and space-saving SansSouci models, the company also offers a kit to retrofit conventional Kohler and Sterling toilets to touchless. q

262.253.1353 • 800.234.5490 • www.jimmurrayinc.com N116 W18455 Morse Drive • Germantown, WI 53022 Winter 2015 \ The Wisconsin P-H-C Contractor \ 25

2016 AHR EXPO TO SHOWCASE HVACR INDUSTRY’S LATEST ACROSS NUMEROUS MARKET CATEGORIES With annual participation nearing 2,000 yearly exhibitors and more than 60,000 attendees, AHR Expo has grown to become one of the most significant annual events for contractors from across the country. The 2016 AHR Expo, will take place Jan. 25-27 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. Over 80 percent of the Show Exhibitors plan to introduce new or upgraded products, systems and technologies that will be unveiled and showcased on the 2016 AHR Expo floor.

Heating • Multi-fuel condensing (MFC) hydronic boiler that can operate on #2 fuel oil, providing a back-up solution for healthcare, industrial, military, emergency operation and other mission-critical environments. • Rotary air-to-air heat exchanger primarily designed for comfort ventilation applications, with compact casing and new matrix geometry that facilitate efficient and optimized performance. • Condensing boiler unit engineered with a high mass, resilient cast iron heat exchanger capable of holding latent heat longer than traditional materials.

• Combined louver/damper with drainable 45-degree fixed exterior-facing blades and adjustable interior-facing blades with seals that can be completely closed, offering superior resistance to weather infiltration.

Air-Conditioning & Refrigeration • Wireless Bluetooth transducer app for monitoring refrigerant pressure, with remote, real-time data management capabilities from any WiFi-enabled device. • Brazed plate heat exchangers with maximum performance at both full and partial loads, and capabilities as either an evaporator or a condenser. • High-temp cushioned clamping system featuring proprietary thermoplastic rubber that resists high Plumbing • Insulation couplings designed for polypropylene metric heat and facilitates elongated pipe life by minimizing pipe that create a vapor barrier at the clamping points in vibration fatigue. • Quick-install mounting brackets for VRF/VRV systems. insulated tube and pipe installations. • Hydronic balancing coil kit bag and tag valve solution, Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy featuring automatic, multi-turn and circuit setter • Active desiccant hybrid air handling system that has balancing valves and accessories including strainers, ball been optimized to deliver low dew point air while valves, PT port unions and stainless steel hoses. minimizing regeneration energy input. • Mechanical temperature-sensitive water main controls • Cooling tower filtration system designed to overcome that do not require batteries or electricity, and elicit inefficiencies in water usage and power consumption automatic water shutoff to avoid pipe damage when associated with older technologies used on cooling tower detected temperatures fall below freezing. basins. • Low Pressure Drop (LPD) Y-strainer that eliminates a Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) • Non-woven polyester pleated filters with integrated bridge wall to facilitate direct and lower-velocity fluid activated carbon for economical odor and molecular flow while lessening turbulence, minimizing pressure drop and reducing overall energy costs. filtration management. • All-in-one steam humidification system, which feeds Software high-purity water to the humidifier water tank, reducing • Intuitive selection software that streamlines the design operating costs and maintenance via prevention of scale engineering process by providing complete lines of build-up. radiant, fan coil, heat pump and hydronic heating Ventilation Equipment • Cost-effective mechanical ventilation system for residential applications that manages both humidity and temperature, with an independently powered and controlled 120 volt ENERGY STAR fan that operates separately from air conditioning and heating units. • Fabric end air duct/dispersion system that replaces traditional ductwork, insulation, diffusers and air valves, providing even air distribution, improved energy efficiency, streamlined installation and reduced maintenance.

26 / The Wisconsin P-H-C Contractor / Winter 2015

systems, and facilitating schedule creation, dynamic submittals and other automated report generation. • Cloud-based platform designed specifically for mechanical and HVAC contractors to manage information exchange to and from the jobsite • No-cost web-enabled tool that harnesses the power of Google Maps to remotely perform ACCA-approved Manual J load calculations and generate professionally formatted reporting for residential applications. For additional information or to register for 2016 AHR Expo, visit www.ahrexpo.com.

State Plumbing Apprenticeship Advisory Committee

This summary counts employers and apprentices with contract(s) active or unassigned on 10/10/2015 in trade(s) associated with this committee.

APPRENTICES Sponsor Name Trade

Minority

Female

EMPLOYERS

Union

W/Union Appr

Non-Union

W/NonUnion Appr

Total

All Sponsors Total

693

4.9

0.01

253

36.5

440

63.5

372

23.7

288

77.4

ABC of Wisconsin (All) Plumber (186238103001)

196

4.6

0.01

196

100

102

100

196

4.6

0.01

196

100

102

100

31.8

68.2

22.2

77.8

31.8

68.2

22.2

77.8

15.4

84.6

18.2

81.8

15.4

84.6

18.2

81.8

33.3

70.8

33.3

70.8

64.3

35.7

62.5

64.3

35.7

62.5

0.04

87.5

12.5

0.04

87.5

12.5

34.1

65.9

27.6

75.9

34.1

65.9

27.6

75.9

23.5

76.5

23.5

76.5

3.7

0.02

22.6

77.4

3.7

0.02

22.6

77.4

22.2

77.8

33.3

66.7

22.2

77.8

33.3

66.7

0.03

100

0.03

100

5.1

35.9

64.1

5.1

35.9

64.1

100

22.2

77.8

22.2

77.8

22.2

77.8

22.2

77.8

100

13.3

86.7

18.2

81.8

13.3

86.7

18.2

81.8

26.7

73.3

18.2

90.9

26.7

73.3

18.2

90.9

Appleton Area Plumbing JAC Plumber (186238103001)

Central WI Area Plumbing JAC Plumber (186238103001)

Eau Claire Area Plumbing JAC Plumber (186238103001)

Fond du Lac Area Plumbing JAC Plumber (186238103001)

Kenosha-Racine-Walworth Plumbing JAC Plumber (186238103001)

La Crosse Area Plumbing JAC Plumber (186238103001)

Lake To Lake Area Plumbing JAC Plumber (186238103001)

Madison Area Plumbing JAC Plumber (186238103001)

Marshfield Area Plumbing JAC Plumber (186238103001)

Milwaukee Area Plumbing JAC Plumber (186238103001)

Northeast WI Area Plumbing JAC Plumber (186238103001)

Northern WI Plumbing Advisory Committee Plumber (186238103001) Rhinelander Area Plumbing JAC Plumber (186238103001)

Southwest WI Area Plumbing Advisory Plumber (186238103001)

Wausau Area Plumbing JAC Plumber (186238103001)

Western WI Area Plumbing JAC Plumber (186238103001)

28 / The Wisconsin P-H-C Contractor / Winter 2015

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

1,290 1,244 1,202 1,068 861 682 583 479 481 615 746

606 594 568 520 459 389 335 280 277 330 385

Historical Report by Year

Year

Active Apprentices

Active Employers

2005

1,290

606

2006

1,244

594

2007

1,202

568

2008

1,068

520

2009

861

459

2010

682

389

2011

583

335

2012

479

280

2013

481

277

2014

615

330

2015

746

385

1/1

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Member News

// WISCONSIN NEWS Scholarship Applications for the PHCC Wisconsin Auxiliary Scholarship are available online at http://phcc-wi.org/ phcc-auxiliary-scholarships. Applications are due on or before Jan. 15 and winners will be announced at the state annual convention in February. Code Books PHCC-WI just added additional forms to our code books, just in time for apprentices starting their classes in January. Code book sales were huge this fall as the industry experienced a surge in the number of new apprentices and the number of individuals looking to write their Master’s examination. Design manuals were not available for a brief period of time while updates were made by the manual’s author. We are in the process of finalizing our code book advertising opportunities for 2016. If you would like to reach an audience of licensed plumbers with a message that will make impressions for years to come, contact the PHCC-WI office to learn more about this opportunity.

WHY PAYNE? Every time you sell a furnace, you make a commitment to your customers. Payne gives you an affordable, high-quality alternative that’s perfect for limited budgets. Homeowners who choose Payne are delighted with their decision because it is such a sensible choice that saves them money and keeps performing winter after winter. Payne furnaces are so reliable and hassle-free, once you sell one, you’ll never have to think about it again. PG96VAT 96% 2-STAGE VARIABLE SPEED FURNACE PG95XAT 95% 2-STAGE FURNACE W/ECM MOTOR PG95SAS 95% SINGLE STAGE FURNACE W/PSC MOTOR PG92SCS 92% FURNACE W/PSC MOTOR

See PHCC Wisconsin at Mid-States Supply Shows Thanks to our friends at Mid-States Supply who offered PHCC-WI the opportunity to come out and visit with friends at one of their three shows this January. We’ll be there all three days with code books, information about our upcoming code seminars, and membership information. We’ll also be doing the wrap-up educational session each day, a one-hour credit program providing an update on industry issues at the State and National levels. The dates are Jan. 19 – Fond du Lac; Jan. 20 – Wautoma, and Jan. 21 – De Pere. For more information, contact MidStates Supply. Zimmerman Plumbing Wins Award The Columbia County Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC) recently honored Zimmerman Plumbing, Inc. (Portage) with its 2015 Business of the Year Award. Board Service PHCC Wisconsin has a couple of vacancies on our board of directors. If you are interested in learning more about the opportunity and the commitment, contact the PHCC Wisconsin office at (888) 782-6815 x1.

WHY BUY PAYNE FROM AUER STEEL... DELIVERY via Auer Truck! (Delivery days depend on your location). We’ve got it when you want it — we’ve invested heavily in our INVENTORY to serve you better. Payne means DEPENDABLE QUALITY your customers can count on. Auer Steel has a fully staffed TECHNICAL SUPPORT department to answer all of your Payne service or installation questions. Payne equipment has a standard 10 YEAR PARTS WARRANTY available. EXTENDED WARRANTY plans are available. Payne offers a variety of CONSUMER FINANCING plans through Wells Fargo.

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FEDERATED INSURANCE UPDATE Wisconsin PHCC board of directors met in mid-November and received its annual update from Federated Insurance. The news is all good, with Federated keeping almost its entire book of business year over year while increasing the number of contractors it writes. On a national basis and across several industries, Federated is reporting an all-time high in premium and surplus while continuing to reduce its workforce through retirement attrition. The firm reported an A+ rating with AM Best, placing it among the top 10 percent of property and casualty insurance carriers. Are you insured to value? One of the discussion points during the meeting with Federated was the need for companies to carefully consider whether they

have the proper coverages in place. According to insurance industry experts, as much as 25 percent of personal property may be underinsured. Directors learned that some carriers (not Federated) will apply a penalty for being underinsured, even when the total amount of a claim is less than the value of the policy.

Another area to look for is whether the umbrella policy follows company vehicles when they are used for personal activities. Federated is the recommended insurance carrier of PHCC Wisconsin. For more information, contact a Federated representative or call the PHCC-WI office for the name of the representative in your area.

Have you checked your umbrella? Directors also learned that many companies leave their umbrella liability policies at $1 million because thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve always had. Time has a way of eating away the value of the umbrella policy and Federated is recommending that business owners reevaluate their umbrella limit and consider raising their limits. Additional costs related to higher premiums are minimal.

Federated Hosts Safety Program On Sept. 22, Federated Insurance hosted a Risk Management Academy with more than 30 people attending a program covering driving records, distracted driving, hiring and screening employees, safety ideas to reduce workerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s compensation costs, and business succession.

Winter 2015 \ The Wisconsin P-H-C Contractor \ 31

Member News

Membership

Member Benefits PHCC/MP/HC - Wisconsin Association + Company listing on www.phcc-wi.org

+ Savings on Grandy & Associates Programs for Business

+ Coupons Offering Discounts on Products & Services

Owners/Managers

+ Legislative & Regulatory Representation

+ Networking with Other Contractors

+ Representation on Code and Licensing Councils

+ Networking with Wholesaler and Manufacturer Reps

+ Monthly Newsletter

+ Networking with Business Partners Including Legal, Banking,

+ Discounts on Plumbing Code Books and POWTS Manuals + Discounts on NFPA 13D Manuals and Plumbing Design Manuals

and Accounting Professionals + Access to Federated Insurance Member Programs (Liability, WC, Health, etc.)

+ Discounts on Technical Education Programs (Continuing

+ Retirement Planning Services + Scholarship Programs with Preferences for Member-

Education) + Discounts on Business Education Programs