Arkansas HVACR NewsMagazine May 2021

News Magazine May 2021

Arkans as’ First and Only HVACRNewsMagazine

Continuing Education — Why?

pg 10 pg 24 pg 26 pg 25

Two Techs Killed in South Carolina

Licensing Scam Warning From Attorney General

During Service Call pg 22

Johns Manville : 3 articles on Filtration

Mold Hazards & What’s a MERV

Workers Comp: Saving Money, EMC--Nick Hall pg 31 Air Flow Through Air Handlers & Furnaces, Tom Turner pg 52 Recovery Tank, HVAC School pg 54 Coil Cleaning is Still Important, HVAC School pg 58 Unique Arkansas : Epitaph to Age pg 64 Strawberry Cake : Slap yo’ Momma pg 63

ByArkansans

For Arkansans

Table of Contents

Chapter Meeting Schedule

PG 4

Feature Stories

PG 6

Governor Signs HB1712 / Act 978 Into Law : Continuing Education

Editorial & Opinion HB1712: Continuing Education WHY

pg 10

Lunch & Learn

PG 15

Four & More

State, national, chapter news New Drip In 90+ Condensate : Hot Springs to Allow Discharge Into Sewer

PG 18

Two Techs Killed in South Carolina

pg 22

Licensing Scam: Warning from Attorney General Leslie Rutledge

PG 24

What is a MERV Mold Hazards

PG 25

pg 25

Johns Manville: Important Information on Filtration How 2020 Shaped HVAC Filtration Trends

pg 26

COVID Paradigm Shift

pg 27

High-efficiency Filtration Goes Mainstream

pg 28

PG 31

Worker’s Compensation: Payroll Exclusions and Limitations by Nick Hall

PG 43

Kirk’s Corner : Goodbye Winter — Hello Spring & Summer

Education News Training Programs

PG 35

PG 41

ESCO Learning Network

PG 44 pg 30 33 pg 36

Rebate Programs & Incentives

Tech News

PG 52

Air Flow Through Air Handlers or Furnaces (Tom Turner, Air Evangelist)

PG 54

Recovery Tank Safety (Emily Gutowski, HVAC School) Coil Cleaning Is Still Important (Bryan Orr, HVAC School)

PG 58

Unique Arkansas Featuring Arkansas Culture

PG 63

Strawberry Cake: OMG: Slap Yo’ Momma and Take Another Piece

PG 64

Epitaph to Age: The Legacy of Graceful Aging

chapter meetings

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

October 26 November 23 February 22 March 22 April 26

September 7 October 5 November 2 December 7 January 4 February 1 March 1

Fort Smith Chapter 1 st Tuesday

5:30 Meal : 6:00 Program Location : Western Sizzlin 5200 Towson Avenue Fort Smith

April 5 May 3

Hot Springs Chapter 2 nd Tuesday 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

October 12 November 9 February 8

March 8 April 12

September 23 October 28 February 24 March 24 April 28

chapter meetings

North East Chapter 3 rd Tuesday

October 19 November 16 February 15 March 15 April 19

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

North West Chapter 2 nd Thursday

October 12 November 9 February 8

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 8 April 12

October 7 November 4 February 3 March 3 April 7

South West / Texarkana 3 rd Thursday

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

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

News Magazine May 2021

FEATURE STORY

Governor Signs Act 978 Continuing Education

After 14 years of determination, the Arkansas HVACR Association finally achieved a victory in the journey toward Continuing Education. On

pass” recommendation from the House State Agencies and Government Affairs Committee. Due to some concerns, it

was amended and returned to the House Floor on April 7. It failed on the floor with only 45 Yeas. It needed 51. As though by

May 5, 2021 Governor Asa Hutchinson signed HB1712 making it Act 978.

HB1712 was sponsored

miracle, Representative Lynch enlisted help. The House moved to reconsider and passed it on April 12 th sending it to the Senate. Senator Jane English sponsored the bill in the Senate. Senator English

in

the

House

by

Representative Roger Lynch, District 14, from Lonoke. Representative Lynch carried similar legislation in 2017 and 2019 but failed both times in the House Committee

Representative Roger Lynch

Senator Jane English

due to those that believe in the virtual elimination of most licensing and regulation. As a HVAC contractor he understood the health and safety issues and the need for contractors to stay current with code and technology. It was his personal experience that kept him committed to the legislation for four years in three sessions. Even in this 93 rd session, Representative Lynch faced challenges. On March 17 th it got a “do

is the “Queen of Technical and the Trades” in the legislature. She has done as much or more to promote jobs and training for the trades than anyone in our State. An amazing Senator whose respect, dignity, and commitment carried the day. Though she got some push back, she remained committed and continued forward. It was her personal influence behind the scenes that passed the bill.

News Magazine May 2021

FEATURE STORY

Another important aspect of the bill passing was help from the Department of Labor and Licensing. Though we do not know what they did, we know what they did not do. They did not speak against the bill behind the scenes. That played a significant role in the bill passing. Though we do not know what they did, we know what they did not do.

education regulation. As a result, the Association moved forward with Representative Lynch to ask for enabling legislation--legal and more acceptable to some in the legislature.

What is the Next Move?

Act 978 will become effective 90 days after the Legislature adjourns Sine Die. That just means it is over. Th is year, we don’t know when that will be because the Legislature and Governor agreed to return in September to take up legislative and Congressional redistricting which has been delayed due to issues with the U.S. Census Bureau. After they approve redrawn district lines, they will sine die and soon thereafter be called into a special session by the governor to discuss tax cuts and reform. It could be January 2022 before the law will take effect. Hopefully, the Licensing Board will move expeditiously to write and adopt regulations. Again, that is the purview of the Licensing Board; however, it has always been the goal of the Association that the process be simple and easy. In the past, we have proposed the following: • 4 total hours per year for license renewal  2 hours required for code training Plus option of  2 hours for technical or business  2 hours for additional code • Applies to year in which training was received What will the regulations include?

They did not speak against the bill behind the scenes.

What Act 978 Does —

978 gives the HVACR Licensing Board authority to propose regulation to require Continuing Education. The Board must propose regulations, host hearings, and submit their findings and recommendations to a Legislative Review Committee. It is enabling legislation. The reason for enabling legislation as opposed to a law requiring Continuing Ed was the preference of some in the legislature. In 2019 the effort failed in the House Public Health, Welfare, and Labor Committee by a couple votes because some thought a legislative requirement was too constrictive. They thought Continuing Education should be the result of regulation which is easier to change. The Health Department, our fiduciary supervision at the time, had vacillated between legislation and regulation for years. In 2019, the licensing program was moved under Labor and Licensing as part of the Governor’s reorganization plan. Their attorney determined that our law did not provide for continuing

News Magazine May 2021

FEATURE STORY

consumers and greater profits to contractors. Good work done right the first time is in everyone’s best interest. We wish to thank Representative Lynch and Senator English for their unwavering support and getting HB1712 to the desk of the Governor and to Governor Hutchinson for signing our vision into reality. Thank you to all the house members and senators that voted for HB1712. Thank you to all that spoke openly and quietly in support of the bill. Thank you to the distributors who for years have been the town criers spreading the message of professionalism. Thank you to Lennox for writing emails to legislators in their district. Thank you to ACCA for providing legislative contact support in past efforts. Thank you to those that showed up in 2007 as well as subsequent sessions to lend their support. Thank you to those that have remained strong over the years when it seemed impossible to move the needle toward consumer protection and health and safety. Thank you to Eddie Fox, now retired, of the Fort Smith chapter that championed the cause and lent moral and financial support to Chapter and State. AND thank you to Nancy McCool, first and past Executive Director of the Association. For almost 20 years she persisted in her efforts and represented our industry without tiring. Thank you to all that have believed in our industry and the essential service it provides.

• Applies to “A” and “B” licensee only • Training can be offered with Board approval by  Inspectors  Colleges & Institutes  Distributors and Manufacturers  Trade Associations  Other Recognized Teaching Institutions  Apprenticeship Programs  Online • Training should be  Effective  Affordable  Easily Approved  Easily Accessible  Easily Reportable While the HVACR License Board will determine the particulars, it has always been the Association ’s position that some training is better than nothing. Nothing is what we have AND we are excited about having something. We trust that it will not become a bureaucracy unto itself. In truth, we do not worry about that. We have total trust in the Board and the Department of Labor and Licensing. They are exemplary stewards of the industry and protectors of Arkansas consumers. We are confident that the wisdom of the parties and the industry will craft a program that will bring greater efficacy and value to all parties. The Association believes that a trained workforce benefits all parties — consumers, contractors, designers, installers, technicians, sales persons, staff, everyone. We believe that the result will be lower costs to

http://www.edssupply.com/arkansas

HVACR NewsMagazine May 2021

was in our trade name, HVAC. Today we are required to be the experts in ventilation. Houses with improper ventilation can have high humidity causing mold. Regretfully, that is part of the HVAC contractors responsibility-- as if he needed more. • Inverter technology yielding 40 to 45 degrees off the coil. As a result of the industry’s success in creating these cold coils, we also have the unintended consequence of condensation on the duct. R6 on attic supply may not be sufficient to prevent sweating duct and damaged sheetrock. • Load calculations on houses are revealing loads with much greater sensible ratios than in the past. The old 70/30 split is seldom the case now which means matching condenser to evaporator requires more than 3 ton to 3 ton defaults. • New Energy Code requirements will ask for a duct tightness test. While we may not like it, our industry is responsible for a significant reduction in equipment efficiency and increase in utility bills for consumers due to duct leakage. We only have ourselves to blame. You will need to invest in equipment and training to do your own Duct Blaster tests or hire someone else. It is obvious that staying current with technology and code is critical. For over 25 years I have watched Licensing Board hearings where “good ole’ boys” have made serious mistakes because they did not know better. The dealer spent time and money trying to fix something they did not know how to design and install in the first place. In so doing they lost money, lost reputation, and had to pay a fine. Being uninformed is expensive.

HB1712 Continuing Education Why?

There are two camps of opinion on the issue of continuing education as a requirement to renew one’s HVAC license. 1. The first says, “The government should stay out of my business. I’m too busy to go to all that stuff. It will cost me too much…etc.etc.” 2. The second says, “I already spend too much time and money on training. I don’t need to have anymore.”

Let’s look at both of those opinions.

Is continuing education needed?

§ First, “The government should stay out of my business…”. Our industry is virtually 100% agreed on the government staying out of our business. There are already lots of regulations. AND, we all are busy and don’t need to spend time and money needlessly. That is the key question, “Is continuing education neede d?” Well, this “ain’t” your Daddy’s business anymore. Just in the last 10 years, the industry has been turned on its ear. For example — • 90+ furnaces are becoming popular and how to run the condensate is a not nearly as simple as it sounds. Unlike AC condensate drains, the installer of a 90+ furnace must contend with freezing pipes — a problem that the entire industry is wrestling with. • Super insulated houses and ventilation. Ten years ago we didn’t know why “V”

HVACR NewsMagazine May 2021

A whole lot more expensive than 4 hours of continuing education. So, I would say to those in the first camp — how much time do you want to invest fixing stuff that you could have put in correctly the first time? How much money do you want to spend going back on jobs that should have been completed long ago? How much do you value your reputation in the community, with your friends and neighbors? Continuing education is going to make you money! § Now let ’ s talk about the second group. Those that think they already get enough training. Super, you probably do and the Licensing Board will design a continuing education system that recognizes your training and gives you credit for it. The only difference is that a couple hours of code training will be required. That couple of hours will help you get your job inspected and approved the first time instead of learning code as part of the inspection. That can be worth a lot of money by helping you get your draw. What does it cost to go back to correct something as well as pay a re-inspection fee? If you are already getting training from your manufacturer or distributor, you have it made. Congratulations. Continuing education has a super benefit to manufacturers and distributors. For years distributors have offered classes and the same few attend. It is only a small percentage of their dealer base; yet, the majority of their tech service calls are to help those that did not attend the training classes. That is a waste of time and “passed on” expense Continuing Education is going to make you money

that could be better used. Everyone needs help and the tech service department is there to serve. That is their business; however, it is expensive, time consuming, and frustrating always helping the same group that are “too busy” to attend classes. Manufactures will see a reduction in warranty claims as a result of continuing education. The stacks of equipment sent back for warranty that were not bad will reduce. That means a reduction in expense, maybe even a forestalling or reduction in price increases — well we can hope. One thing is sure, the relationship between manufacturer and dealer will improve. OK. Maybe my “Poly Anna” hopes are too high; but, I don’t think so. One thing I know for sure. Consumers are going to get better designed, installed, and serviced systems. Contractors will make more money AND the HVACR profession will have a better name. Things are looking up.

Continuing Education Benefits

Us All

Our many thanks to all those that worked over many years to pass continuing education legislation. We especially thank Representative Roger Lynch & Senator Jane English, without whom our dream would never have been achieved.

Don’t use hand-held phones while driving a CMV.

It’s the law. A CMV can be as small as a 3/4 T Truck and a Tandum Axle Trailer

©Copyright Employers Mutual Casualty Company 2017. All rights reserved. Image ©2012 iStockphoto.com. RI6359

Lunch & learn

code and manufacturer’s instruct ions so our industry can design and install systems right the first time. Getting turned down by an inspector and going back to make a repair is expensive, time consuming, and can delay your draw at rough-in on new construction — even final payment on new and retrofit. Just because you found a retrofit job in a gosh awful condition doesn’t mean we can leave it that way. Sometimes the new contractor is responsible and sometimes not. Supply and return plenums are one of those, “you get the contract — its your baby.” If you are not getting the Lunch & Learn Zoom notices, please text your email to 501-487-8655. You can also send a text to tomhunt@arhvacr.org

May 10 Topic----- NFPA 90B Supply & Return

Plenum Reqirements

Not all codes are intuitive in that “everyone” would know them without any training. Well, well, well!! Unless you have seen what can go wrong, NFPA 90B regarding the length of a supply and return plenum are in the category of “Who’d a thunk it.” On Monday, May 10 th at noon, Chief Inspector, Tony Woodard, and Tom Hunt will discuss the Fire Code and how it relates to HVAC supply and return design — New and Retrofit.

Lunch & Learn Zoom Webinars are designed to inform the HVAC industry of

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HVACR NewsMagazine (May 2021 Corrected)

State National Chapter News

New Drip In 90+ Condensate

the drawing and directions to the builder to give to the plumber. Aaron’s drawing follows. He put it together quickly so we could include it in this issue of the NewsMagazine. If any of you are skilled draftsmen or with CAD, wish you would take on this project and let us send it out in a special mailing for the industry to use. Send it to tomhunt@arhvacr.org

Hot Springs OKs Discharging Into Sewer w/Caveats Been a tough year for 90+ furnace condensate in attics. Lunch & Learn dealt with the issue in the March & April issues with lots of “stuff” unclear. No, the code was clear but exactly how to solve it unclear. Code and manufacturer’s instructions say you can’t let it freeze. Slope, insulation, and heat tape are all important and discussed but the elephant in the room is, “Why can’t we put it in a plumbing vent stack?” Well, th is article is not designed to say why you can’t do that — and you can’t . Rather, it is designed to say that Hot Springs looked at the issue and designed a way to dump into the waste water and meet code. If you follow the rules, the first step in solving our 90+ condensate problem is solved. You may still have to use insulation and maybe heat tape; however you don’t have to run it outside the house and risk it freezing there. Monty Ledbetter, Utilities Director for Hot Springs, gave the OK and Aaron Shaw, inspector for Hot Springs, drew an acceptable method of ty ing into the home’s drain. While it may seem complicated to an HVAC installer, it is simple to plumbers and you should ask the plumber to do the work. In fact, this is plumbing and a licensed plumber is required. This will be easy on new construction and you should give

HVACR NewsMagazine (May 2021 Corrected)

State National Chapter News

Drawing for 90+ Furnace Condensate Discharge to Sanitary Sewer

Please see the following page for corrections to this previous drawing.

Please note that this is only for Hot Springs. Hopefully other cities will follow their lead. Let us know as others follow.

HVACR NewsMagazine (May 2021 Corrected)

State National Chapter News

90+ Furnace Condensate into Waste Water

Addendum / Correction Ric Mayhan; Director, Plumbing & Natural Gas Section, Protective Health Codes; updated drawings for disposing condensate into the Waste Water System through the clothes washer box. The NewsMagazine made a mistake in the previous version. Please remember that this work is plumbing and the HVAC license does not permit our industry to tie into or install a washer box. According to Director Mayham, we can tie into a riser installed by a plumber. We appreciate the Plumbing Department providing correct drawings. Also remember that disposing condensate into the Waste Water system requires approval from that department.

Using two washer boxes

Using a common washer box

We appreciate those that built the previous version of a 90+ condensate disposal into the waste water system. The mock up and drawing were designed based on the information that was available at the time. We regret any confusion created by the previous version of the article.

HVACR NewsMagazine May 2021

State National Chapter News

adored.” His mother Linda Tucker told WSOC- TV: “He helped anybody, he was a kind guy, a great dad…” Shook was a husband and father of three. His cousin Heather Thompson told USA Today that “He walks this earth and puts those work boots on every day for those three kids and his wife.” McClintock shared that “Joel [Long] and the entire GSM Community also wanted to express [their] gratitude for the outpouring of love and support they have received in this difficult time.” “This is a heartbreaking incident,” said PHCC — National Association President Hunter Botto. “Our hearts go out to the families of Mr. Lewis, Mr. Shook, the entire GSM Services organization, as well as the Lesslie’s. We are grateful for these GSM technicians: honorable people who, while providing essential services to protect public health and safety, became innocent victims of such a horrific tragedy. The entire PHCC family extends our deepest sympathies for the loss of Mr. Lewis and Mr. Shook.” PHCC— National Association Executive Vice President Michael Copp remarked, “Though we look down in deference with bowed heads, our eyes will slowly rise to see a way forward through the thick haze of hurt to honor these professionals who we will never forget.” Copp shared additional comments in a mechanical- hub.com podcast here: https://bit.ly/3wRwscu . The message from PHCC of North Carolina Board President Rob

PHCC — National Association Shocked and Saddened; Two GSM Services Technicians Killed in Mass Shooting April 12, 2021 By Staff Writer, PHCC-National Association PHCC — National Association is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of GSM Services employees James Lewis and Robert Shook, two HVAC service technicians who were killed during a mass shooting that took place April 7 in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Lewis and Shook were working on a couple’s home when a gunman entered the residence and killed the couple, their grandchildren and the two GSM Services employees. The family included Dr. Robert Lesslie, his wife Barbara, and two grandchildren. Lewis died on the scene and Shook was in critical condition with multiple gunshot wounds until he passed away April 10. PHCC — National Association President- elect Joel Long is a co-owner with his brother Steven Long of GSM Services , a PHCC Contractor-member located in Gastonia, North Carolina, who in an April 8 statement issued by the PHCC of North Carolina , stated that “ These were two of our best!” Joel Long later told the Gaston Gazette that a GoFundMe account had been established to benefit the Lewis and Shook families. On April 20, he issued this heartfelt thank you message to PHCC members. CNN affiliate WSOC-TV reported that Lewis, 38, was a single father of three children wh o “was killed doing the job he loved, making a living for the family he

Reprinted with permission from the Plumbing- Heating-Cooling Contractors National Association (PHCC) www.phccweb.org

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

HVACR NewsMagazine May 2021

State National Chapter News

HVACR NewsMagazine May 2021

State National Chapter News

What is a MERV rating?

Got Questions about

Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values, or MERVs , report a filter's ability to capture larger particles between 0.3 and 10 microns (µm). • This value is helpful in comparing the performance of different filters • The rating is derived from a test method developed by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) [see www.ashrae.org]. • The higher the MERV rating the better the filter is at trapping specific types of particles.

MOLD HAZARDS

“The Arkansas Department of Health has broad overview of environmental conditions and hazards that affect the citizens of Arkansas. Through our Mold program, the agency identifies and quantifies exposures to environmental contaminants; conducts risk assessments and risk communication; provides surveillance for adverse health effects; and provides health-based guidance on levels of exposure to such contaminants. You will find more information about the Mold program in the documentation listed below.” Downloads Arkansas Mold Investigation Advisory Board Final Report Facts about Molds in Indoor Environments Guidance for Mold Cleanup This information is from the Arkansas Department of Health at https://www.healthy.arkansas.gov/programs- services/topics/mold-hazards We direct you to the site as lots of folks are talking about virus and molds and things that go “ Creep in the Night ” . In other words, there is lots of information out there — not all of it exactly accurate. Tracking sources and evaluating their perspective is super important before making “ stuff you hear ” part of your sales pitch. The first download above is dated but not necessarily out of date. It is the final report of the ARKANSAS MOLD INVESTIGATION ADVISORY BOARD, November 2012, initiated by Act 341 of 2011. All three are interesting and worthy of a read before you get too involved in mold conversations.

Information available from the EPA at https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/what-merv- rating-1

HVACR NewsMagazine May 2021

State National Chapter News

that ranges from 0.3 microns to 1.0 micron in diameter).

How 2020 Shaped HVAC Filtration Trends Steve Payne, Johns Manville For many years there has been a trend toward higher performance filter systems that are also more energy efficient. When COVID-19 surfaced, it accelerated this trend and gave global visibility to the importance of improved indoor air quality in both residential and commercial applications. In North America, filters are rated by MERV – Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, with higher numbers indicating better performance in removing particulates/contaminants (an analogous system exists in Europe under ISO standards). A typical residential filter resides in the MERV 8 performance range, while most hospitals utilize filters in the MERV 14 or higher range – oftentimes, using multiple filters in sequence to achieve the high level of filtration required for hospital applications. The table below demonstrates how higher rated MERV filters are able to filter more contaminants out of the air, with MERV 13 to MERV 20 filtering all the way down to the level of a virus carrier (debris

As 2020 progressed, we saw a further focus on higher efficiency media and increased ventilation across all applications. The CDC and ASHRAE provide general guidance for the use of higher-efficiency filter media where possible – recommending at least MERV 13 to combat SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. With the onset of COVID-19, these higher rated filters have become an area of focus for many building and HVAC system designers who are looking for solutions that could potentially help slow or stop the spread of the virus between rooms. While historically, these types of filters have been required only in hospitals, we are now seeing emphasis on high filtration media for commercial buildings, homes, and schools as a potential stop gap to help protect building occupants. For residential settings, the California Energy Commission (CEC) recently mandated that MERV 13 filter media be used in new construction, per Title 24 Standards. Last year, the state of New York ordered shopping mall owners to upgrade to MERV 13 filters as a condition of reopening in the summer. The prevalence of HEPA (High- Efficiency Particulate Air) media, which is media with higher particulate efficiency than the MERV designation, is also increasing rapidly in medical

HVACR NewsMagazine May 2021

State National Chapter News

applications, commercial settings, and even schools. HEPA filters are designed to capture 99.97% of particles that are 0.3 microns or larger. 2 If we see a significant shift toward HEPA media, it is worth noting that some HVAC systems will need to be upgraded to augment air flow, in order to balance increased system pressure requirements against more efficient filtration media. With this increased emphasis on filtration comes higher performance requirements and greater demands on filter media, including more frequent filter changes.

With this increased emphasis on filtration comes higher performance requirements and greater demands on filter media, including more frequent filter changes. It is also likely that many HVAC system designers will need to begin considering the impact of high performing filtration media on HVAC system airflow and energy requirements to ensure that system performance does not suffer as a result of improved filtration. For more information on the air filtration media that JM offers, please visit the HVAC Filtration page of our Engineered Products division.

AAF Flanders

As the current pandemic wears on, we continue to learn how this virus spreads from person to person, and how we can prevent this spread. Contrary to its original stance, the CDC now states in a scientific brief that airborne transmission of the virus that causes COVID-19 is not merely likely but commonly occurs in conditions such as enclosed spaces, prolonged exposure, and

poor ventilation/air movement. As our knowledge about the germs that cause illnesses deepens, we revisit the ways that we defend against them. Sometimes we simply need to bolster existing practices, but sometimes we need to shift our way of thinking first to take the necessary precautions.

Five Paradigm Shifts Pertaining to Air Filtration and Illnesses

HVACR NewsMagazine May 2021

State National Chapter News

Threat Posed by Airborne Transmission

High-efficiency filtration goes mainstream

When a contagious person sneezes, coughs, talks, or even breathes, infectious particles spread throughout the room and contaminate the air in it. However, those same particles can enter the return air ducts of the HVAC system, which then circulates those particles throughout a building.

Chris Plotz, Johns Manville

Photo courtesy of BanksPhotos/iStock

Clean Air Is the Answer The solution to this problem, as recommended by ASHRAE, involves diluting the concentration of infectious particles with increased amounts of outside air, and cleaning the air with filters with an efficiency rating of at least MERV 13.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, high-efficiency filtration is making significant inroads in awareness and use in commercial and residential settings. Air filters are rated for how effective they are at removing a range of particles – from very small particles to larger particles that are visible to the human eye. The MERV rating for HVAC filters is an acronym for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. This rating is determined by filter manufactures in accordance with ASHRAE 52.2 – which is the method of testing general ventilation air-cleaning devices for removal efficiency by particle size. Prior to the COVID pandemic, office building and residential air filtration was typically utilizing MERV 8- to MERV 10- rated filters. However, protection against certain airborne particulate, as well as the SARS CoV-2 virus, can be enhanced by including filters with higher MERV filtration rates. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Centers for Disease

Upgrading from a MERV 7 air filter to a MERV 13 filter reduces the likelihood of infection by nearly 40% .

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Control and Prevention (CDC) is recommending the use of the highest efficiency filters as possible that do not compromise the overall effectiveness of the HVAC system. Filtration is only one aspect of indoor air quality. The four basic factors that influence indoor air quality are: 1. buildings occupants; 2. pollution pathways; 3. other sources of contamination; and 4. the HVAC system. There are many variables within the HVAC system itself, including personal activity levels, uniformity of temperature, humidity, ventilation and air exchange. The HVAC system design and operation are at the heart of indoor air quality control. A properly balanced system isolates and removes contaminates through pressure control, filtration and exhaust. The MERV 13 factor MERV 13 is not the highest-rated filter available, but it is the filter rating that has risen to the forefront as the CDC has recommended the use of high-efficiency filters in response to the pandemic. The MERV scale rates filters from MERV 1- 20. The higher the number, the higher the efficiency over a range of particle sizes. Having a filter that is rated a MERV 13 or higher has a removal efficiency in the 0.30 – 1.0 micron, ranging from 50% to 95%. The bioaerosol particle size range that contains viruses, including corona viruses, is within this typically range. Installing a MERV 10 or less filter – as was typically the case in commercial and residential systems prior to the pandemic – has no effect on particulates in the 0.30 – 1.0-micron size range. There are some complications relating to the installation of MERV 13 filters in systems with 1” and 2” filter racks, as MERV 13 filters are typically deeper to minimize pressure drop. A basic switch to a MERV 13 from a lower-rated filter in a 1” or 2” system presents unintended consequences, which result in a cascade of increases within the

HVAC system. These manifest in higher resistance, increased pressure, as well as increases in energy use in the system. This can cause airflow reductions, freezing of the air conditioner coil and, potentially, damage to the compressor. A workaround could be to retrofit a larger rack to accommodate a deeper filter with significantly more filtration media. This is not a simple or cheap task. Cost is not the only factor though, as a retrofit would also require steps to ensure the enlarged filter rack is as airtight as possible to prevent air bypass or depressurization effects from occurring. High-efficiency filtration operating considerations After higher-rated filters are installed and operating, they should be monitored and maintained to provide maximum filtration, while not overworking the supply fan. Overloading the fan can lead to filter “blow - out” situations, which leads to virtually no air filtration. To help automate this, a differential-pressure measurement device can be installed across the filter bank to identify the appropriate change-out times. Also, pressure drop switches may be used to provide an alarm input to a Building Automation System that alerts operators to change the filter. With the internet of things (IOT), this technology is also becoming more accessible to residential applications. These articles on filtration were provided by Johns Manville and first appeared in their blog dated April 22, 2021. We appreciate their sharing their information to the Arkansas HVACR industry. We recommend that you subscribe to their blog for ongoing information and training. To learn more about Johns Manville HVAC Insulation go to https://www.jm.com/en/hvac/ or to their library at https://www.jm.com/en/hvac/the-source/

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Nick Hall, CIC Sr. Risk Management Advisor nickh@cp-ins.com (501) 680-1186

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Worker ’s Compensation Payroll Exclusion and Limitations

By Nick Hall Cross Pointe Insurance Advisors In Partnership with Arkansas HVACR Association

It is hard to believe that it is already May. I know the busy season is about to hit you all and hope that you have a safe and profitable summer. Our Tool this Month - Workers Compensation Payroll Exclusions and Limitations - may not necessarily make you a safer workplace, but it can directly save you money on your Workers Compensation Premium. It is too common for businesses to overpay on Workers Compensation Premium simply because they provide their total paid wages without realizing there are some wages that can be excluded or limited on the audit. The most commonly overlooked Payroll Exclusion is Overtime Pay. Did you know that Overtime Wages excess of an employee ’ s normal hourly wages can be excluded from Payroll on your Policy? As with most things, this varies by state and does not apply to every class code, but for HVAC Contractors in Arkansas, you can take advantage of this! Overtime wages are those for hours worked where there is an increase in the rate of pay for: • work in any day or week in excess of the number of hours normally worked, or

• hours in excess of 8 hours in any day, or 40 hours in any week, or • work on Saturdays, Sundays, or Holidays. Let’s go through a quick example to show you how this works. Employee John Doe has a wage agreement at $10/hr. – 8 hrs./day, 40 hrs./wk. – any hours worked above 8/hrs./day or 40hrs./wk., he can earn time-and-a-half pay or $15/hr. For our example, John worked 50 hours in one week. Earning Wages of: • 40 hrs. @ $10/hr. = $400 • 10 hrs. @$15/hr. = $150 • Gross Weekly Wages = $550 In this example, you would only have to report $500 on your Workers Compensation Audit, excluding the extra $50 John earned while working overtime and earning time-and-a-half pay. In effect, you can adjust the overtime wages back down to an employee’s normal hourly wages . Another common way many companies overpay on their Workers Compensation Premiums is by not Limiting Owners and Officers Payrolls . In Arkansas you can cap an

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Officer’s Payroll for the year, or not include their payroll in the premium calculation at all if they elect to exclude themselves from coverage. Some other “wages” that you can exclude are Work Vehicles, Work Uniform Allowances, Special Rewards, Severance Pay , and more. While any one of these categories may not move the needle much on your Workers Compensation Premiums, we know every dollar counts. If you have any payroll that falls into any of the excludable or limitable categories and you are not doing this now, you are leaving money on the table! Finally, I have to mention that proper bookkeeping is a must to take advantage of these savings. If you cannot prove the portion of payroll that falls into any of these categories, your Workers Compensation Carrier will not be able to exclude any total payroll from your premium calculations. Feel free to reach out with any questions about this or anything Insurance and Risk Management related. Stay Safe Out There!

Need to Save Money and Get Great Service? Now may be the best time to review your commercial insurance: General Liability, Workers Compensation, Vehicle, Building, etc.

Travis Hill……………....(479) 424 -4918 Nick Hall…………………(501) 680 -1186 Cash McMillin…….….(501) 581 -1176 David Hoffmans…….(501) 908 -2395 Association Members Receive 10% Discount Don ’t Forget Mother ’s D ay May 9th

Nick Hall

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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 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 lose? (479) 424-4918 or (501) 581-1176

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

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NTI Business & Industry 550 Bain St, Springdale, Arkansas 72764 Ronni Hammond : rhammond@nwti.edu 479-751-8824 SAU Tech 6415 Spellman Rd, East Camden, AR 71701 Eddie Horton : ehorton@sautech.edu 870-574-4500 Southeast Arkansas College 1900 Hazel Street, Pine Bluff, AR 71603 John Pyland : jpyland@seark.edu 870-543-5900 UACC Hope / Texarkana 2500 South Main, Hope 71802 Leo Rateliff : leo.rateliff@uacch.edu 870-722-8507 UACC Morrilton 1537 University Blvd., Morrilton, AR 72110 3000 West Scenic Drive, NLR 72206 Robert Dixon : rdixon@uaptc.edu 501-812-2200 EEDD 1224 Fayetteville Road, Van Buren Rick Rosenthal : rr.eeddinc@outlook.com 479-926-7462 If you are a college or technical institute and want to be included in the list of HVACR education providers, contact the NewsMagazine 501-487-8655 news@arhvacr.org We’ll make sure you are in the next issue. Also, if we need to correct your information, please let us know. (501) 977-2053 UA Pulaski Tech Add Your Name

Training Programs

Arkansas North Eastern College 4213 Main Street, Blytheville 72315 Rick Sones : rsones@smail.anc.edu 870-763-6222 Arkansas Tech University, Ozark 1700 Helberg Lane, Ozark, AR 72949 Kenneth Beeler : kbeeler@atu.edu 479-508-3333 ASU Mountain Home 4034 Hwy 63 W, Mountain Home 72653 Eric Smith : esmith@asumh.edu 870-508-6221 ASU Newport 33500 US 63, Marked Tree 72365 Mark Constant : mark_constant@asun.edu 870-358-8627 ASU Searcy 1800 East Moore Avenue, Searcy 501-207-6221 East Arkansas Community College Newcastle Road, Forrest City, AR 72335 Robert Jackson : 870-633-5411 National Park College 101 College Drive, Hot Springs, 71913 Kelli Albrecht : 501-760-4349 501-760-4222 North Arkansas Community College 1515 Pioneer Drive, Harrison, AR 72601 Jeff Smith : jsmith@northark.edu 870-391-3382 Northwest Arkansas Community College One College Drive, Bentonville, AR 71712 Michael Dewberry : mdewberry@nwacc.edu 870-391-3382

25 Years of People-Driven Sustainability

This year marks Enertech’s official 25th year in business. We’ve come a long way since 1996, and we want to make one thing clear: We wouldn’t be here without our people.

Fromour employees, to our partners, to the folks who trust their homes and buildings with our products, we see every one of them as part of the very reason we innovate in geothermal and solar PV technologies. Enertech is a people-first company – it’s simply in our nature. Follow along this year as we celebrate howwe started, where we are now, and howwe will continually strive to be at the center of where Energy meets Technology.

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