Arkansas HVACR NewsMagazine March 2019

News Magazine March, 2019

Arkansas’ First and Only HVACRNewsMagazine

Continuing Education Bill HB1060 “A” & “B” Licensees 4 Hours Annually How to make 1060 Pass pg. 21 Editorial pg. 12 Feature Article : Continuing Ed pg. 6

Copper in a Compressor??

Refrigerant Round-Up pg. 26

1060

pg. 38 Bryan Orr

Five Steps in Making a Decision Robert Gee Robert Gee & Associates pg. 8

Recipe pg. 55

ByArkansans

For Arkansans

Table of Contents

Chapter Meeting Schedule

PG 4

Feature Article Continuing Education Selling Comfort is Easy

PG 6

PG 8

Editorial & Opinion Continuing Education—For the Sake of All

PG 12

State, national, chapter news HB1060 : Continuing Education –What You Can Do to Make It Pass

PG 21

PG 26

Refrigerant Round Up Refrigerant Update Loss Control Insights EMC

PG 28

PG 30

PG 31

SB342 : Potential Changes to Contractor Licensing

PG 32

Why You Owe It To Yourself ESCO Appoints HERN Director

Pg 35

Tech News

PG 38

Copper Plating in Compressors???

PG 39

Heating Degree Days

PG 40

HVAC is All About Air (Tom Turner, Guest Writer)

Rebate Programs & Incentives

PG 45

Education News Training Programs

PG 49

Recipes, eateRies, Huntin’, FisHin’ & Fun

PG 55

Gumbo: Nana’s Recipe It’s time for sum of dem gumbos!

Continuing Education

A positive change

Coming Fall 2019

The Arkansas HVACR Association and Robert Gee & Associates

Online Sales and Management Training How To Increase Sales:

1. Understanding Why Buyers Buy 2. Increasing Confidence 3. Three Magic Words 4. Sell Up by Selling Down 5. Objections Into Opportunities 6. Quality Sales Call How to Create Lifetime Customers: 1. Increasing Customer Satisfaction 2. Customer Care & Retention Plan 3. Resolving Cusomer Complaints 4. Best Practices Taking Your Company to the Next Level: Assessing the Team

Measuring Productivity Positioning for Growth Building a More Productive Team

For Information: Arkansas HVACR Association, tomhunt@arhvacr.org

chapter meetings

Central Chapter 4 th Tuesday 6:00 Meal : 6:30 Program Location: Whole Hog 2516 Cantrell Road Little Rock, AR 72202

March 26 April 23 October 22 November 26

March 5 April 2 May 7 October 8

Fort Smith Chaper 1 st Tuesday

5:30 Meal : 6:00 Program Location : Golden Corral 1801 S. Waldron Road Fort Smith

November 5 December 3

Hot Springs Chapter 1 st Thursday 6:00 Meal : 6:30 Program Location: Smokin’ in Style BBQ 2278 Albert Pike Hot Springs North Central Chapter 4 th Thursday 6:00 Meal : 6:30 Program Location : Western Sizzlin’ 905 Hwy 62 – 65 North Harrison

March 12 April 9 October 8 November 12

March 28

April 25

September 26

October 24

chapter meetings

North East Chapter 3 rd Tuesday

March 19 April 16 October 15 November 19

6:00 Meal : 6:30 Program Location : Western Sizzlin’ 2405 East Highland Jonesboro 870/ 336 - 4417

North West Chapter 2 nd Thursday

March 14 April 11 October 10 November 14

6:00 Meal : 6:30 Program Location: Golden Corral 2605 Pleasant Crossing Drive Rogers 479/986-9201 South Central/ Camden 1 st Thursday 6:00 Meal : 6:30 Program Location: Ouachita Partners for Economic Development 625 Adams Avenue Camden 870/ 836 - 9354

March 7 April 4 October 3 November 7

South West / Texarkana 3 rd Thursday

March 21 April 18 October 17 November 21 Call for meeting Location

6:00 Meal : 6:30 Program Location: Rotates between restaurants. Call for a meeting location. 501/487-8655

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confirmation of the email being sent and the persons who received it.

HB1060 Continuing Education Perfect timing It appears that HB1060, a bill that would require 4 hours of continuing education for “A” and “B” licensees, will be heard in the Arkansas House of Representatives the first part of March— just about the time that you are reading this article. That means you have perfect timing to send your support to your Arkansas State Representative and Senator. The bill is sponsored by Representative Roger Lynch, District 14. Easy to support The Air Conditioning Contractors of America, ACCA, has made a link available for you to easily send an email to your State Representative and Senator as well as the Governor and Lt. Governor. Click on the following link and you will be directed to the site. Link to Contact Your Legislators Support HB1060 : Continuing Education Once there, select the option for “Support Contractor Professionalism in Arkansas.” Fill in the contact information so the program can look up your Representative and Senator. After that, just click on “Submit and Review.” In a few seconds you will receive

Why Support HB1060 It is about protecting the folks that live in your community. You know that you can’t get all the business. You also know that much of the business you miss goes to guys that really don’t know what they are doing. They don’t keep up with technology and code. Here's a too common scenario: • A good guy gets a job, perhaps a little out of his comfort zone. • He hasn't stayed current with technology or code and doesn't know what he is doing. • The system has a problem. • The good guy tries to fix it. • He tries to fix it again. • The homeowner is getting upset. • He tries to fix it again. • He is running out of money and needs to go to the next job to pay his rent. • Now, he is embarrassed and doesn't want to go back. • In his mind, he has done everything he knows to do. He just wants to be free from the problem and the homeowner. • He ignores calls from the homeowner. • The good guy who meant to do good is no longer a good guy. • The homeowner hires another dealer to fix the mess. • The homeowner can't hire an attorney to file civil action due to the cost. Who looses? • The homeowner • The dealer • The industry A little education could have prevented the whole mess

Let's stop this in Arkansas by passing HB1060 : Continuing Education

http://www.edssupply.com/arkansas

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3. Resolution of Concerns. Concerns about your credentials as the salesperson or service provider. Experience, background or dependability of your company. Previous experience with your company. They will not move to the Decision step until all concerns are resolved in their minds. 4. The Decision. In making the decision the customer has to reach a level of confidence that they are comfortable with having your company install new equipment in their home that fills their needs. 5. Implementation. The closing of the sale and completion of the installation is the opening of the next purchase the customer makes from the installing dealer. It is the beginning of the creation of a lifetime relationship with the customer and all the benefits that produces. The most successful sales people, with the highest closing rates, highest dollar value sales and highest gross margins understand the 5 steps the buyer makes in reaching a decision and match the Buyers Process with a 5-step Selling Process. 1. Establishing Trust and Credibility. “The customer will not buy your product or service until they first buy you and your company.” The most successful salespeople and companies understand this principle and begin the selling process by giving the buyer “reasons” why they should choose their company. Years in business; qualifications of service and installation people; testimonials from satisfied customers; references;

Selling

Comfort is

Bob Gee Robert Gee & Associates

Easy…

Selling comfort is easy……selling equipment is more difficult. Let’s start with this simple principle. HVAC companies are

selling equipment. Buyers are buying comfort.

Selling comfort is easy if we know how buyers buy and match the selling process to the customer’s buying process. Research shows us that customers, over time, generally take five steps in making a decision to purchase a new HVAC system. 1. Recognition of a Need . The buyer can make this decision on their own, based on dissatisfaction with their current system. Or as the result of a recommendation of a service provider after a failure. The customer will not make the decision to purchase a new system until they recognize, “feel” the need to do so. 2. Evaluation of Options. Those options might include repair or replace? Replace a component or a complete system? Your company or another company? Which system to choose.

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satisfaction guarantees; etc. This is where the Closing of the Sale begins. 2. Determining Needs. “You can ask your way into more sales than you can talk your way into”. This is the most critical step in the Selling Process. It begins with preparing a Customer Needs Survey. Asking the potential buyer questions about the current status of comfort in their home and the objectives they want to achieve with a new system and writing their answers on the Survey form. In this process the customer will design their own system. More importantly the salesperson will create a powerful tool to close the sale. After customizing the system to the customer’s needs, the salesperson can lay the survey next to their proposal form and employ the Three Magic Words… “You Told Me”. This simple process and tool in itself will help increase sales, profit and closing rates. 3. Presenting the Proposal. This step becomes greatly simplified and more effective if you enter it equipped with the results of the Customer Needs step. Most HVAC dealers today employ the principle Good, Better and Best. Offering three options to the buyer. As a sales trainer for almost 30 years I buy into this concept. However, the way the process rolls out is vitally important. With the Customer Needs Survey as a tool, the most successful salespeople propose a system that best fits the customer’s needs. They only offer an option at the “point of objection”, when the customer asks for more options. For them the next

step is to “re-customize” the proposal as an option. 4. Obtaining Commitment. The natural follow up to the customer’s agreement that the salesperson’s proposal fills their needs. Asking for the commitment is the natural conclusion to the first four steps of the selling process. The customer expects to be asked to make a decision. 5. Follow up. The Selling Process is not complete until we assure the customer’s complete satisfaction with their interaction with our company. Remember this can be the start or continuation of a lifetime relationship. It is time for a customer satisfaction survey and some manner of showing the customer you appreciate their business. So, what about Overcoming Objections? It is not a part of this Five Step Selling Process. The most successful HVAC salespeople have found that approaching the selling process with the principle of helping the customer buy what is in their best interest; preparing the tool that facilitates the use of You Told Me; and asking for a commitment overcomes customer’s objections. Good Luck…and Good Selling (Bob Gee has trained over 25,000 HVAC salespeople on how to apply this 5-step Selling Process. Over 7,500 salespeople have completed his 3-day training session and earned the designation of Certified Comfort Consultant. Bob is a native of Little Rock where his consulting firm, Robert Gee & Associates is located.)

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HB1060 Continuing Education For the sake of all Why HB1060 : Continuing Education? There isn’t a short answer. That is because it helps so many people. We’ll cover how it helps

current code. The Association trusts that this can make a significant difference and reduce the number of homeowners left with a bad install and the need to hire a second contractor to fix the mess.

1. Homeowners 2. Contractors 3. Distributors 4. Manufacturers 5. Inspectors 6. The Industry

Here's a too common scenario: •

A good guy gets a job, perhaps a little out of his comfort zone.

I know this is a lot. Just go to the section that applies to you if you don’t have time to read the whole thing. 1. HB1060 helps HOMEOWNERS Homeowners aren’t a limitless pot of money and they have to shop. Regretfully, this means that they frequently deal with HVAC dealers that don’t take the time to keep current on technology and code. Since technology is constantly changing to provide greater levels of energy efficiency and code is running as fast as it can to keep up with the new technology, dealers can easily get left behind if they aren’t committed to staying current. HB1060 will require an “A” or “B” licensee to take a minimum of 4 hours of continuing education each year. While this is a small amount, it will at least give all dealers an

He hasn't stayed current with technology or code. The system has a problem. The good guy tries to fix it.

•

• • • • • •

He tries to fix it again.

The homeowner is getting upset.

He tries to fix it again.

He is running out of money and needs to go to the next job to pay his rent. Now, he is embarrassed and doesn't want to go back.

•

• In his mind, he has done everything he knows to do. He just wants to be free from the problem and the homeowner. • He ignores calls from the homeowner. • The good guy who meant to do good is no longer a good guy. • The homeowner hires another dealer to fix the mess. • The homeowner can't hire an attorney to file civil action due to the cost. Who looses? • The homeowner • The dealer • The industry A little education could have prevented the whole mess

The Association believes that a homeowner should be able to trust that their HVAC dealer is making an attempt to stay current on technology and code so they, the dealer, can deliver the system and installation that the homeowner was promised. 2. HB1060 helps HVAC Dealers Most HVAC dealers spent time learning about new technology and code. It is to their benefit because they can design and install systems that do a better job of meeting the homeowner’s needs. Both the homeowner and the dealer win. However; not all dealers want to go to classes regardless of how helpful or how familiar the site. That’s right, “familiar”. Most of these classes are offered by and held in the stores of distributors from whom the dealer purchases their equipment and supplies. It is not like they are going to English class in high school. So when the dealer doesn’t stay current and attempts to install unfamiliar equipment in a home with unfamiliar building materials and processes, it is easy to make mistakes. Old Defaults, that once worked, don’t work any more. 500 sq ft per ton and beer can cold is a recipe for disaster; i.e., carbon monoxide poisoning, super high humidity leading to mold and mildew, inadequate ventilation aggravating respiratory illnesses.

The dealer with inadequate information is a “good guy”. He doesn’t wake up meaning to harm.

The dealer that doesn’t stay current

Doesn’t Know What He Doesn’t Know

He just doesn’t know what he doesn’t know. After all, who does? The result is that when the system doesn’t work correctly, it costs him money to go back to try to fix it— again and again and again. Eventually, he runs out of money, patience, and time. He must go on to the next job so he can pay the rent. Now he avoids the job and leaves the customer hanging.

So the dealer • looses money,

• looses reputation, • looses self-respect.

His business remains unprofitable, and only

survives by not providing his customers what they paid for. You see the dealer gets at least 50% down and usually gets the rest before the system has the opportunity to prove it works. Yes, the homeowner looses but so does the dealer. He started out as a good guy but looses that somewhere along the way.

4. HB1060 helps Manufacturers Manufacturers offer very attractive warranties that help consumers; however, dealers that condemn parts because they don’t know what else to do are causing manufacturers to be more systematic and critical in their warranty claim approval process. This costs the manufacturer in warranty claim investigation and also costs the distributor in warranty claims that are rejected back to the distributor. Once warranty claims were easily and quickly settled. Now, the process is longer and the likelihood of it being rejected is greater. Why? Because the number of compressors and parts being returned for warranty claims is skyrocketing. Why? Because guys that don’t stay current on technology are becoming parts changers rather than true mechanics and technicians. The result is parts being changed until the unit works. Rather than being able to diagnose and going directly to the problem, the dealer adopts a change everything approach which results in the replacement of parts that were in good condition. Additionally, the homeowner thinks the equipment is inherently bad and the manufacturer is bad and they will never buy that brand again. The manufacturers looses reputation with the homeowner and all their

On the flip side, the dealer that stays current on technology and code • Makes money • Increases His Reputation • Gains Self-respect 3. HB1060 Helps Distributors Every distributor has a non- collectable file. It is filled with guys that didn’t know their trade or business-the untrained, uninformed, the ones that do not take the time to stay current. You see, the guys that loose money trying to do jobs for which they are ill prepared have problems paying their bills at the distributor. The distributor looses. He also spends an exorbitant amount of time on the phone trying to diagnose technical problems. The dealer that calls for help is frequently the dealer that never attends training. I have sat in more than one technical rep’s office and heard them say to a dealer on the phone, “You know, we covered this in the last class you did not attend.” So in addition to loosing money on bills dealers can’t pay, they spend money and have poorly applied time of their technical trainers. HB1060 will greatly increase the number of dealers attending the distributor’s “free” classes on new technology. The more profitable dealer will spend less time on the phone to the technical trainer and be able to pay his bill. The distributor wins.

friends and family due to no fault of the manufacturer.

the other hand, when one in our industry doesn’t know what they are doing and takes advantage of our friends and neighbors, it makes the whole industry look bad. That hurts us all. We trust that continuing education will serve everyone and with better design, installation, and service, our communities will think more highly of our chosen trade. We’re proud of what we do and want everyone to be a success; however, success can only come from staying current with technology and code. To that end we support HB1060. We thank Representative Roger Lynch for sponsoring the bill and hope that our elected legislators will understand our heart. Our heart is for HB1060 to help 1. Homeowners 2. Contractors 3. Distributors 4. Manufacturers 5. Inspectors 6. The Industry Supporting HB1060 : Continuing Education for HVACR Professionals and Arkansas Homeowners

5. HB1060 helps Inspectors A HVAC dealer keeping current with technology and code makes the code inspector’s life so much easier. There are fewer infractions, fewer negative interactions with dealers, and homeowners are more likely to get what they paid for. Inspectors are an important line of consumer protection. Inspectors assure

homeowners of a safe and effective design and install. They are

important to the homeowner but also to the dealer. A good dealer considers the inspector a partner. It is far less expensive to fix a problem at rough in when the inspector catches it than to wait until the homeowner moves in and discovers the problem. A dealer that is staying current with technology and code understands the partnership relationship between him and the inspector. The result is an amiable relationship with a better design and install for the homeowner. 6. HB1060 helps the Industry Every person wants to be proud of their chosen trade. We all know that every trade has a few malefactors but we also know that most guys in the HVACR industry are good guys wanting to provide a service and make a living for their families. On

HVACR NewsMagazine March 2019 Code REgulation Legislation

Free Public Access to Arkansas Codes from International Code Council These are non-printable PDF files. Assess these codes through the following web site: https://codes.iccsafe.org/public/collections/AR You can purchase these code books at http://shop.iccsafe.org/state-and-local-codes/arkansas.html

Remember that the Arkansas Mechanical and Energy codes have limited amendments to information that you may find in these books. Also, local city code authorities may have more stringent regulations than those adopted by the state. It is always the best policy to consult your local authority/inspector for clarification on issues or topics of concern.

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HB1060 Continuing Education

How You Can Help Pass

their phones. Of course, if they don’t agree, we don’t force anyone to do anything; however, virtually all agree but need a little nudge to act and time to make it happen. It should be totally voluntary. Third, ask your Facebook and Twitter friends to send the message to their legislators. The process is even more simple. They only have to enter the following link, fill out the form so it can look up their legislators, and click on “submit and review”. It is worded for a consumer and is very polite yet compelling. Consumer Support Link to Contact Your Legislators Support HB1060 Continuing Education

What you can do! We covered the bill and we talked about the benefits of HB1060 in the Editorial. Now we need to make it simple to help pass the bill. There are four things that you can do. First, send an email to your legislator. Follow the link, click on “Support Contractor Professionalism in Arkansas” and fill out the form so it can look up your representative and senator. Click submit and review and they’ll have your support. It is just that easy. Link to Contact Your Legislators Support HB1060 : Continuing Education Second, enlist your employees to support HB1060. The process is the same as above. They can use their cell phone or computer. Have a meeting and ask them to support it right then on

Fourth, enlist your customers. Your customers trust you. After all they let you in their home. They will see you as

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contact you. I appreciate their help. After all, everyone is super busy. Without their help, I would not have known where to start. However, I am none the less committed to the issue of all heating and air conditioning dealers staying current with technology and code so they can provide safe and effective design and installation of systems. I am committed to HB1060 and hope that you are too. Thank you for taking time to consider my request. I wish you the best in this legislative session. The email your representative and senator will receive from you and your employees follows: As an HVACR professional, I support House Bill (HB) 1060, which would require four hours of continuing education to maintain an "A" and "B" HVACR licenses. This is important because our industry recognizes that many contractors and technicians are not installing equipment properly. HB 1060 would help address this problem by ensuring that all HVACR contractors and technicians can meet the qualifications necessary to install HVACR systems safely and according to code. Additionally, this legislation will help maintain professionalism in the HVACR industry. Continuing education programs help support contractor excellence and provide assurances that contractors are trained on the latest technology and design requirements, helping them address safety issues, excessive humidity, mold and mildew problems, and essential

a civic minded company whose goal is to serve them as well as protect the entire community. The link they use is like the one for Facebook and Twitter. Again, we worked with the Air Conditioning Contractors of America, ACCA, to make this easy and effective. Customer Support Link to Contact Your Legislators Support HB1060 Continuing Education To make sure your Facebook, Twitter, and customers know what you are asking them to do, the email from them to their legislators follows: Email from your Facebook, Twitter and customers to their legislators… Like you, I depend on heating and air conditioning systems to keep me comfortable in my home. I want to be comfortable, but I also want to be safe and for the system to work efficiently. HB1060 will assure me and my family and friends that heating and air conditioning dealers stay current, know what they are doing, and are protecting my home and my family when they sell me a system to keep me comfortable. Four hours of continuing education is a very small thing to ask of someone that wants to be in business. Please protect my family and my home by supporting HB1060 . I assume that you will get several of these emails that look alike. That is because our heating and air conditioning dealer made it simple for us to

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comfort. Every elected official and every constituent uses heating and cooling systems in their homes and offices. HB1060 assures all of us that our system will be designed and installed to perform safely and efficiently. The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA), the Arkansas HVACR Association (ARHVACR), and the national distributor association, Heating, Air-conditioning, and Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI), all support this legislation. Please support HB 1060 and quality HVAC contracting practices by ensuring that we maintain professionalism in the industry. Thank you and I look forward to hearing from you. If you need more information on how to contact your legislator, contact the Association office at 501-487-8655. Only the efforts of the entire industry can help pass this important piece of legislation. We need your help. Finally, you may be a consumer, read this article and feel that you don’t have a “dog in the fight.” Truth is you do. If you use heating and air conditioning, if your family and friends use heating and air conditioning, HB1060 is about you. It is about making your home safe and comfortable and your equipment work efficiently and to capacity. The EPA estimates that you loose over 20% of all that you pay in heating and cooling in poorly installed ductwork alone. The numbers are even higher when you

consider equipment installed that does not work to its manufacturer stated capacity. It is not an easy thing to do but a dealer current in technology and code will do a much better job and you will have save money. Think about how much 20+% of your heating and cooling bill is over a 10, 20, or 30 year period. That is how much you might save. Is it too much to ask “A” and “B” licensees to spend 4 hours per YEAR, keeping up with current technology and code. Why “A” and “B” licensees? Because they are the ones that design and oversee the installation of very home heating and cooling system in Arkansas. They owe it to you. They owe it to themselves. Supporting HB1060 : Continuing Education for HVACR Professionals and Arkansas Homeowners

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the federal government create an HFC phase down schedule would ensure the phase down schedules are not done on a state-by-state basis (i.e. 50 different timelines), which could create a logistical nightmare for the industry, like contractors who work across state lines. To re-iterate, it’s unlikely like that the Kigali Amendment, or legislation granting the EPA the authority to phase out HFC refrigerants, is a priority for the Trump Administration or the Republican-led Senate. When the federal government doesn’t take action, state government fill the void, and when it’s related to climate issues, California takes the lead. Indeed, California did just that. In August 2018, California Governor Jerry Brown signed the California Cooling Act which sets California on a course to cut HFC emissions by 40 percent by 2030. Shortly after California enacted the California

Refrigerant Round-Up By Todd Washam,

Director of Industry & External Relations, Air Conditioning Contractors of America

For the past few months there has been significant action from state governments to address greenhouse gas emissions, and there is more action coming from the states and the Democrat-led House of Representatives. Environmental groups, climate activists, and the elected officials who support their causes are working to reduce/phase down/eliminate greenhouse gases and one of their top targets are hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants, like R410a. R-22 is being eliminated because it is an ozone- depleting substance and, since the U.S. Senate ratified the Montreal Protocol on Substance that Deplete the Ozone Layer , the U.S. is obligated to follow an international phaseout schedule. The R-22 phaseout began in 2010, and although it is still being phased-out of the market, there are efforts underway to eliminate the use of R410a, which has a high global warming potential (GWP). The phaseout of high GWP refrigerants began as an Obama Administration effort but was not (and is not likely) a priority for the Trump Administration. The Obama Administration’s goal was to adopt the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, an international treaty that set the phasedown schedule of HFC refrigerants. While the Kigali Amendment was a priority for former-President Obama, it was not a priority for the Republican-led Senate, which, constitutionally, ratifies treaties. In the current political environment, there is little appetite in the Trump Administration and the Senate to consider the Kigali Amendment, which is widely viewed as a climate change treaty. While it is widely viewed, in political terms, as a climate change issue, there is some support from policy makers because of the positive economic impact a national phase down schedule would have. Having

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Good for snuggling

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Regulating

Cooling Act, New York, Connecticut, and Maryland followed with similar commitments. A number of other states, including Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, and others are following suit. What’s next in the refrigerant market? As we transition from HFCs, the next generation of refrigerants will include flammable or mildly- flammable products (ASHRAE Standard 34 designated A2L and A3 refrigerants). ACCA is

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concerned about this because there is little to no focus on flammable refrigerant training, transportation and safety protocols, consumer education, or quality installation practices. All of these issues need to be addressed before we bring the next generation of refrigerants into the market. ACCA is developing flammable refrigerant training programs, with generous support from Arkema, Inc. – an ACCA corporate sponsor – but the rest of the industry needs to support these efforts to

everyone is moving together and preparing consumers and contractors for these changes. If the industry and policy makers do not properly address these changes then there could be some serious injuries. We’ve already seen technicians killed from mixing refrigerants in Australia! (Article furnished by Todd Washam, Director of Industry & External Relations, Air Conditioning Contractors of America, ACCA : The Association encourages members to check out the benefits of ACCA at www.acca.org )

ensure the whole industry is moving forward together. These refrigerant changes are several years away, but ACCA is concerned about them today because the codes, standards, and training must be in place

The Future??

before flammable refrigerants become the norm. These issues can take 3-5 years to advance through the codes process and penetrate the market, and we need a whole-of-industry focus to ensure the training and consumer awareness are fully in the marketplace. ACCA is educating policy makers about these issues, at the state and federal levels, and our efforts are more important than ever. Climate issues are going to be a priority for the next two years as scores of Democrats enter the race for to be the 46 th President of the United States. The democratic platform in Congress and for presidential candidates will include efforts to rid the United State of greenhouse gas emissions, and our industry will be a prime target. In fact, the Democrat-led House has even created a Select Committee on the Climate Crisis which we expect to examine greenhouse issues. Policy makers must understand the concerns about the next generation of refrigerants and that their efforts to phaseout HFC must not be done hastily. ACCA is advocating for a slow and methodical approach to these phaseouts so that

REFRIGERANT UPDATE ACCA

REFRIGERANT PHASEOUT R- 22 ( a hydrochlorofluorocarbon; HCFC) is still being phased out under the Montreal Protocol Treaty, but efforts are already underway to phase out hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants, like R 410 A. R- 22 was phased out because it is an ozone depleting substance. R 410 A is going to be phased out because it has a high global warming potential (GWP).

NATIONAL EFFORTS The HVACR Industry, including the national contractor association – the Air Conditioning Contractors of America – are seeking a national phaseout schedule instead of a state- by-state approach. These efforts are being addressed with Members of Congress; who must give the EPA clear authority to address the phase-down schedules. Currently, the EPA does not believe it has the authority to regulate refrigerants that have high global warming potentials because Section 608 of the Clean Air Act is for ozone depleting substances. This could lead to the open-sale of refrigerants to consumers.

STATE EFFORTS Without a federal mandate, many states will implement their own phase-down schedules; creating a patchwork of refrigerant regulations and different types of refrigerants available in each state. California has already adopted a phaseout schedule, and New York, Washington, Maryland, Illinois, and a number of other states are following suit, but they have different schedules.

CONTRACTOR CONCERNS The replacements to HFCs will likely include a mix of flammable and mildly flammable refrigerants (designated as A 3 / A 2 / and A 2 L by ASHRAE Standard 34 ), and ACCA is working to address a number of concerns, including: Will contractors/technicians be required to have HAZMAT certifications to transport these products and will they be required to stop at rail crossings? How will we guarantee that contractors and technicians are trained on the safe use and handling of flammable refrigerants? How will consumers be certain that their system was properly charged and not compromised with mixed refrigerants?

ACCA EFFORTS ACCA has begun the development of a flammable refrigerant educational program to address the training concerns. There are still too many unanswered questions about the use of the next generation of refrigerants; how they are to be safely applied in the field, what sensors/controls may be required, maximum quantities of refrigerant that may be used in a conditioned space, etc. A hasty state-by-state approach to phasing out HFC refrigerants is dangerous for contractors, technicians, consumers, and every building that contains an air conditioning system. By giving the EPA the authority to implement the HFC phaseout, there is more certainty that there will be uniformity in the phase-out schedules, training, transportation issues, the codes process, and the other areas of concern to the HVACR industry.

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Driving During Off Hours Your jobs start early, and employees may be traveling several hours from their homes to get there. lf they're behind the wheel of a company vehicle during the very early hours of the morning or late at night , they face additional hazards that are less common during day time driving. • Fight fatigue that can make employees less alert. The peak period for sleepiness behind the wheel is midnight - 6 a.m., so encourage employees to avoid driving during these times whenever possible. • Spend extra time prepping vehicles that are often driven in the dark. Realign headlights to make sure they are illuminating the right part of the road, and regularly check that headlights, directional signals and taillights are working. • Watch for animal hazards, because deer and other kinds of wildlife are especially active around dawn and dusk. Careless Driver Selection Employees' poor driving behaviors can put your company (and your company's reputation) at risk. Make sureyoudon't hand thekeys to just anybody. We've got a full list of recommended driver qualification criteria , but these points are especially key: • A valid driver's license is a must-have item for anyone driving one of your vehicles. Make sure they have one. • A clean motor vehicle record (MVR), because past behavior is the best indicator of future behavior. • A clean drug/alcohol test, especially if your company's vehicles are considered commercial vehicles by the DOT. • For heavy trucks and trucks pulling trailers, the driver needs to have the appropriate commercial driver's license. Need a hand making sure your drivers have got

Loss Control Insights 5 Surprising Things That

Put Your Fleet at Risk Sometimes the dangers to your organization's vehicles are obvious: a deer runs across the road in front of you, or you need to drive through an overhang with low clearance on the way into a worksite. But some hazards are not so easy to spot. Here are five less-obvious fleet risks that contractors deal with. Poorly Managed Personal Use ln many organizations that specialize in contract- type work, company trucks are assigned to employees like superintendents and foremen because they spend a lot of time driving from site to site on company business. This is a nice job perk for the employee, but if not managed appropriately this can quickly become a headache for the employer. • Make sure employees understand that their company truck is not a gift. lt's an asset of the organization and should be treated as such. • Establish clear boundaries and expectations for the use of company vehicles. Consider creating a personal use policy that outlines what activities are allowed (traveling to and from job sites, running business-related errands) and which are prohibited (using a company- owned truck to help a buddy move, going on a family vacation). Other things to address include seat belt use and operating the vehicle under the influence of alcohol, medications or other substances that might impair driving ability . • Enforce the rules once you've set them. lt's a good idea to think in about consequences for violations, and it's always good to check with legal counsel to make sure your policies are in- line with state and federal regulations.

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the right stuff? Consider subscribing to a driver monitoring service that will run initial MVRs and send alerts when a driver receives a violation. EMC lnsurance policyholders can get discounted driver monitoring services from SuperVision . Confusion about the Rules ln larger organizations, it's common for confusion to occur between the people that manage drivers and fleet vehicles. The person in charge of safety might think a certain set of driver selection criteria are being followed, but the human resources area may be using completely different guidelines when they actually do the hiring. As a best practice, get together at least annually (more is better) with HR, safety/loss control and your fleet manager. Make sure everyone is on the same page about your fleet safety program and who is cleared to drive company vehicles. This is also a great time to update your driver list. Distracted Driving Distracted drivers put themselves, your vehicles and the general public at risk. To minimize distraction, ban the use of electronics (tablets, phones, etc.) while behind the wheel of a company vehicle. Creating a distracted driving policy , and asking employees to acknowledge it, is a good way to ensure employee awareness. Find More Online Does Your Fleet Safety Program Contain These Six Components? Driver and Fleet Safety Resources

SB342 “Could” Significantly Change

Contractor Licensing

Contractor Licensing Board licenses and supervises contracts of over $50,000 in Arkansas. Their authority over the years extended from primarily commercial work to homebuilding and virtually every aspect of construction. Person’s in trades requiring licenses still need their trade license but are also required to have a Contractor’s License if the job exceeds $50,000. The Contractor’s License is primarily a fiduciary license which attempts to assure the building owner that the contractor has the experience and is financially capable of doing the project. Presently, General Contractors must provide a financial statement from their accountant, provide proof of experience, and workers compensation insurance to receive a license. SB342 would allow an alternative to the accountant supplied financial statement. The Contractor could elect to provide a bond in an amount equal to 10 times the minimum net value required by the financial statement requirement. This will aid out of state firms doing work in Arkansas but not having time to provide a financial statement. SB342 would also give the Licensing Board authority to require the contractor make the building owner whole if there was a problem with the quality of the construction.

Article provided by EMC Insurance Endorsed Commercial Insurance Provider

Travis Hill CrossPointe Insurance 1120 Garrison Ave, Ft. Smith 479-785-2912

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already satisfied with your present company? Don’t change. The Association would never ask you to do anything that is against your best interest; however, if their quote is less and you get a 10% discount, “WHY WOULD YOU NOT CHANGE?” Your changing to EMC helps the entire industry because of the financial help EMC gives the Association. How is that true? Let me be very presumptuous and say that the Arkansas HVACR Association offers benefits to its members that are unavailable elsewhere at an affordable price. 1. The Association works tirelessly on legislative and regulation issues. 2. The Association has saved the industry thousands of dollars that most will never know about. It is usually behind the scenes. Just one example. Those that attended the Manual J classes this fall were part of a $22,250 cumulative savings. 3. The Association offers training and informative sessions in each of the eight chapters during their five meetings. Three especially important examples are a. “So Called” Drop In Refrigerants b. Mechanical Ventilation c. DOT licensing surprise requirements Not to say that the others were unimportant but these really stand out. Again, these were made possible in part by EMC Insurance. So, I am not embarrassed to ask you to give EMC a shot at your business. What have you got to loose?

Why you owe it to yourself and the industry

OK! It is obvious that the Arkansas HVACR Association promotes EMC insurance. Truth is, there is something in it for us. EMC pays the Association an advertising/marketing fee that is important to the finances of the Association. BUT THAT ISN’T THE ONLY REASON! First, EMC came recommended by several HVACR companies in the Ft. Smith chapter. Why? Here are three reasons: 1. EMC is very competitive 2. EMC offers Association members a 10% discount in addition to their competitive rates 3. EMC has a record of quick and fair claims service. Second, the fee paid by EMC to the Association allows us to keep our membership dues low, only $200 per year. Most other Associations begin at $400 and go to over a thousand. Third, we sincerely believe that every HVACR contractor in Arkansas owes it to themselves to get a quote prior to their next renewal. Notice, I did not say buy from EMC. They still have to compete for your business with pricing and service. It costs noting to get a quote and the benefits can be substantial. What if they come in higher and you are

An important way to distinguish your company from all the other “me too” HVAC dealers is to have the best employees that can be trusted in the homes of your clients / customers. More important than cool air or warm air is the peace of mind in knowing that one’s belongings and family are safe. A tech that has passed a background check and has a company photo ID demonstrates professionalism and trustworthiness to the client / customer. Employee background checks are also important for the dealer. The dealer can manage their liability and their insurance costs by making sure that their employees have passed a background check, a drug screening test, and a driving record search. A member of the Arkansas HVACR Association can have that peace of mind by using the endorsed service, CourtHouse Concepts. Their prices are affordable and their reputation is great. Association members that are already using CoutHouse Concepts have given them a glowing recommendation. Be sure to identify yourself as a member of the Association to get a 10% discount.

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Arkansas HVACR Association, P. O. Box 1296, Little Rock, AR 72203, 501-487-8655 : tomhunt@arhvacr.org ; www.arhvacr.org