CIPHEX West Trade Show

Sustainability, new products and new technologies will be the focus of the 2012 edition of the CIPHEX West trade show when it takes place in Vancouver in November of this year. The largest event in Western Canada for HVACR, plumbing and water treatment, CIPHEX West will take place at the Vancouver Convention Centre on November 7 & 8, 2012.

The show will feature displays from manufacturers of  heating, ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration, plumbing, geothermal heating, solar/hydronic combi- systems, fire protection, industrial pipe, valve and fittings, luxury bath and kitchen as well as water treatment products from Canada, the United States and overseas. A special “Hydronics Alley” section will showcase hot water heating products and technologies and a comprehensive program of technical workshops and seminars will round off the two day event.

The show will be 10:00 am - 5:00 pm November 7th & 8th.

For further information on attending or exhibiting at the show, please visit the show web site at: www.ciphexwest.ca

TECA's response to CTV's Heating Contractor News Series (January 10, 2012)

Click here to watch the CTV's Heating Contractor News Series »

Dear Ms. Steele –

As the executive director of TECA (Thermal Environmental Comfort Association), the industry association representing residential heating contractors collectively with stakeholders,  I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce myself and our organization in order to provide information to further support consumer awareness of this long-standing issue we battle daily.

Your piece reminds again of the need for us to continue our efforts in raising consumer awareness. Sadly no amount of consumer due diligence, can replace personal and corporate integrity. Your segment highlights a problem systemic to all service industries (ie mechanics, plumbers, electricians, carpet cleaners) where the customer is at the mercy of a person's (company's) honesty – conducting work in an area of life the customer does not have knowledge about and/or cannot perform.

As follow-up I wanted to expand on the consumer checklist you highlighted last night.  This provides you with a comprehensive checklist of items a consumer should ask for.  It can also be found on our website at www.teca.ca.

At the start of your contractor search:

1. Look for TECA and BBB members.
2. When possible, establish a service contract with the company that installed the furnace/equipment originally.
3. Ask if the technician is paid hourly or by the job/on commission as that can indicate a “pressure to upsell”

During the service consult:

1. Request to see the “problem” (i.e. where furnace is broken/not working).  If possible, ask to compare the broken part to what a new one looks like.
2. If a service technician reports a “heat exchanger is blown” or there is a CO2 leak, ALWAYS get a second opinion as this is a common scam.
3. Get the quote and references in writing, listing the parts to be replaced and work to be done.
4. Request to see their Gasfitter B ticket, not just their license.
5. Ask for what type of training they have taken (look for Quality First trained contractors, who are TECA and/or BBB members)

Before making a decision:

1. Get more than one quote.
2. Visit www.teca.ca and the BBB website to confirm your contractor is a member and has taken Quality First training.
3. Ask for and check 2-3 recent references.
4. Don't panic – one or two days with broken furnace is OK – take the time to do your due diligence.

During the service call:

1. Stay with your service technician to supervise exactly what he/she is doing and/or not doing.
2. Ask questions if something seems wrong.
3. Follow any post-service instructions given by the technician.

After the service call:

1. Maintain your equipment (i.e. clean your furnace filters) to keep you furnace in good working order.
2. Establish a regular service schedule with a reputable company to avoid emergency, costly and unexpected service work.

As an aside, I also suggest that part of the reason heating contractors endure this systemic reputation is that the real issue in the residential heating and cooling industry is the lack of inspections and regulation.  With only a couple of regulatory exceptions (i.e. the actual gas connection to the furnace), anyone in the province of BC can install a heating and ventilation system.  Therefore while there are many, many good contractors out there, it also means that the industry can attract individuals who may prefer to operate outside of any accountability or standards.

Said a different way, technically speaking, you or I could install a heating system in someone's home, it would not be inspected and there are no minimum standards to the quality of installation.  It is an unknown problem as consumers presume that like plumbers, electricians etc this work is inspected and/or regulated.  It is simply not the case.

From our perspective, the solution to cleaning up the service part of our industry is to get required training and installation standards in place so there are minimum requirements for people to even be involved in the industry.  From there, service work will improve.

Should you wish to pursue that conversation, I would be happy to discuss further as our organization is trying very hard to get standards in place and could use a platform such as your segment to push that agenda via consumer awareness.

Best Regards –
Kim Savage

Changes to the BC Building Code: What's in store for you in 2012?

The next edition of the BC Building Code will be coming out next year. What are some of the proposed changes that will affect you and your organization?

Trudy Rotgans, MAIBC, MCIP is the Executive Director of the Building and Safety Standards Branch in the Office of Housing and Construction Standards at the Province of British Columbia. Trudy will detail the technical code changes and review the Province's preliminary concepts for energy efficiency for large residential projects.

This is a great opportunity to gain clarity and get all your questions answered from the person responsible for the development of the 2012 edition of the Code.

Register today!

Date: Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Time: 7:30 am (Registration & Breakfast); 8:00 to 9:00 am (Presentation and Q&A)
Location: Oceanview Suites, Pan Pacific Hotel, 999 Canada Place

Cost:
UDI Members: $60.00 + HST
Non-Members: $80.00 + HST

HOW TO REGISTER:

• Online
• Download the faxable registration form

Proudly sponsored by Fortis BC

Upcoming UDI events:

• Wednesday, October 26th > U40 Leadership Breakfast Series with Gregory Henriquez (Henriquez Partners Architects)
• Thursday, October 27th > Breakfast Seminar: Marketing to Asians in China
• Thursday, November 3rd > U40 Lunch with Peeter Wesik (Wesgroup/ParkLane)
• Thursday, November 24th > U40 Winter Social @ Brix Restaurant
• Thursday, December 8th > UDI Annual December Reception @ Fairmont Waterfront Hotel
  

Rebates & Incentives

• Live Smart - Efficiency Incentive Program
  Join your neighbours and invest in your home's energy efficiency. Click here to learn more »
  
  
• Fortis BC
  If you have your natural gas furnace and/or fireplace serviced between May 1, 2011 and October 31, 2011 you may qualify for a $25 grocery gift card for each (maximum of one card for fireplaces and one card for furnaces, for a total maximum of two cards per FortisBC natural gas account). Click here to learn more »

Switch the ‘Stat

Switch the ‘Stat is a free thermostat recycling program currently active in British Columbia. Electronic and mercury-containing thermostats are accepted in this program.

How can I participate in Switch the ‘Stat?
To register to be a collection point in the Switch the ‘Stat program please visit: http://www.switchthestat.ca/eng/register.php

If you do not wish to be a collection point you can still participate by visiting one of 60 drop off locations. For a complete list of locations across British Columbia for where you can drop off a thermostat for recycling please visit: http://www.switchthestat.ca/eng/dropoff.php

A few of the drop off locations are listed below:

• BA Robinson Co Ltd. - 7975 Enterprise Street, Burnaby V5A1V5
  
• BA Robinson Co Ltd. - 100-240 Industrial Ave, Penticton V2A3H8
  
• BA Robinson Co Ltd. - 830 Laval Cres., Kamloops V2C5P3
  
• MPH Supply - 11754 215th Street, Maple Ridge V2X5H6
  
• MPH Supply - 822 Henderson Ave, Coquitlam V3K1P2
  
• MPH Supply - 1856 Cosyan Place, Wilson Creek V0N3A0
  
• Andrew Sheret Ltd. - 4500 Vanguard Rd., Richmond V6X2P4
  
• Andrew Sheret Ltd. - 101 895 Langford Pkwy, Langford V9B4V5
  
• Andrew Sheret Ltd. - 440 Banks Rd., Kelowna V1X6A3
  
• Andrew Sheret Ltd. - 425 East Broadway, Vancouver V5T1W9
  
• EMCO CORP. #821 - 2258 Dorman Rd., Nanaimo V9S5G2
  
• EMCO CORP. - 550 Culduthel St, Victoria V8Z1G1
  
• Ecco Supply - 2969 Lake City Way, Burnaby V5A2Z6

For more information about the program please contact:
Melanie Lum
Program Director
416-922-2448 x367
mlum@summerhillgroup.ca

Geo Conference & Trade Show 2011

Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, May 5 & 6, 2011 - The 4th Biennial GeoExchange Conference and Trade Show May 5 & 6, 2011 is a great opportunity to network with colleagues and future clients, learn about leading edge technology and design, policy and system advances and hear the latest news in the world of geoexchange from the earth energy source to the point-of-use supply. We're back in the lower mainland for 2011 with the Conference at the Burnaby campus of Simon Fraser University...

Click here for details »

NRCAN Releases Proposed Amendments to Energy Efficiency Regulations

July 3, 2010 - Canada's Office of Energy Efficiency has recently released a bulletin concerning Natural Resources Canada's proposed amendment to Canada\'s Energy Efficiency Regulations for Chillers, Air Source Heat Pumps, and Electricity Reporting Requirements for Air Handling Systems, among others.  These bulletins are being distributed for review and comment and can be found at this website. Comments are invited on each document as well as several others related to HVAC-R systems, all listed on the web link under the individual bulletin.

The Province of British Columbia Approves the Industry Led Thermostat Recycling Plan

June 1, 2010 - With the support of the thermostat manufacturer members of The Canadian Institute of Plumbing & Heating (CIPH) alongside allied associations The Thermal Environmental Comfort Association (TECA), and the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI), Summerhill Impact has brought the “Switch the Stat”Ô program to British Columbia as part of a responsible, industry-driven plan to recycle all thermostats as mandated by the province's regulations and commitment to divert waste products from landfill.

TECA members in the region consist of over 350 wholesale locations, hydronic installers and professionals. Every member removes or handles old thermostats as they off the wall at a jobsite.  TECA members can have a bin situated in their trucks or workplaces to make sure more thermostats are recycled.

The approved plan calls for putting thermostat recycling bins into the hands of contractors, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers; i.e. anyone who may have contact with old thermostats.

With the approval of this recycling plan, implementation can begin.

For TECA members, having a thermostat recycling will make it easier to support your local customers and participate in this program and stay green.

What this means to you:

a) There will be no cost to the installer, contractor, wholesaler or distributor to participate;

b) Make the bin available and your customers just have to put the old thermostats in;

c) A bin at your wholesale location will drive some traffic to you as you provide this service to the contractor;

d) The responsibility ultimately falls to the thermostat manufacturers - they are funding the program to recycle old thermostats and divert them from landfill.

If you want to become part of the solution, please register for a recycling bin at your location at http://www.summerhillgroup.ca/eng/impact/programs/switch-the-stat-signup.php

The more people participating, the more successful the program will be. REGISTER TODAY!

For information, please contact Jenna Bentley at

jbentley@summerhillgroup.ca
Telephone: (416) 922-2448 ext. 358
Fax:  (416) 922-1028
1216 Yonge Street
Toronto, Ontario   M4T 1W1

LIVESMART BC Program Extended

VICTORIA – The Province will extend provincial incentives for the popular LiveSmart BC: Efficiency Incentive Program for participants entering the program as of April 1, 2010, announced Blair Lekstrom, Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources today. Click here for details about this announcement or click here to view incentives brochure for the extended LiveSmart BC: Efficiency Incentive Program. 

Amendments to the Power Engineers, Boiler, Pressure Vessel and Refrigeration Safety Regulation

March 9, 2010 - The Power Engineers, Boiler, Pressure Vessel and Refrigeration Safety Regulation has been amended with sign off from the Province of BC, effective immediately. An Information Bulletin providing details and the Ministerial Order can be found here.

Key highlights include a change in the prescribed qualification requirements for the BC Safety Authority boiler safety officers, and the elimination of prescribed power engineer staffing for low pressure thermal fluid plants equipped with modern safety systems.

BC Issues Proposed Changes within the Boiler Safety System

Vancouver, BC - February 2010 - The need to modernize the regulatory framework in British Columbia and make changes to certain components of the Power Engineers, Boiler, Pressure Vessel and Refrigeration Safety Regulation has been raised by various stakeholders in the boiler safety system.

• To read more, please click here.
• To view the Notice to Stakeholders, please click here.

TECA Member Health Benefit Program

TECA and Independent Business Contractors Association (ICBA) have partnered together to provide TECA members and their employees with exclusive health and dental benefits. TECA Members please checkout this page of our web site for further information.

CIPH Works Cooperatively with Province of BC to Influence Positive Change for
Efficiency Regulations for Residential Water Heaters for 2010

For Immediate Release: October 8, 2009

CIPH along with its water heater manufacturer members worked cooperatively with BC Ministry of Energy, Mines
and Petroleum to find a practical and workable solution to meet the province's objective of raising the minimum
efficiency requirement for residential water heaters.

Working cooperatively over a 6-month period, CIPH and the BC government developed a win/win efficiency
regulation for gas and electric water heaters which will come into effect September 2010. A copy of the regulation
follows this Advocacy Link... Click here to view complete details.

UPDATE FROM THE BRITISH COLUMBIA SAFETY AUTHORITY

As of April 1st 2009, changes to gas regulations under the Safety Standards Act took effect in order to align the Regulations with provision of the Trade, Investment, and Labour Mobility (TILMA) and agreement on internal trade. Changes are for gas fitters who received their certification after April 2009 where they will be restricted to appliances with an input 120kW (409.000 BTU/hr) regardless of the type or approval. Class B fitters obtaining certification prior to April 2009, will continue under the original conditions of their certification. Out of province gas fitters wishing to obtain BC certification will have to produce the certification from other Province and pay the administration fee.

UPCOMING COURSES

TECA MEMBER BENEFITS