Industry Report Examines Plastic Pipe Materials and Health Impacts The latest report from Safe Piping Matters covers upcoming research showing commonly used plastic pipe materials can release significant amounts of microplastics and nanoplastics into plumbing systems. It also provides a look at current studies examining how these and other tiny plastic particles affect human health Read more
Industry News
Industry Report Examines Plastic Pipe Materials and Health Impacts
The latest report from Safe Piping Matters covers upcoming research showing commonly used plastic pipe materials can release significant amounts of microplastics and nanoplastics into plumbing systems. It also provides a look at current studies examining how these and other tiny plastic particles affect human health, including impacts on the gut, lungs, brain, and reproductive organs, as well as increasing risks from related toxins and pathogens.
“The explosion of plastic pollution around the world continues to contaminate drinking water, food, and air with microplastics,” said Paul Hagar, Executive Director of Safe Piping Matters. “Our report shows why the plumbing industry needs to study the ways in which plastic pipe materials contribute to microplastic contamination.”
The report summarizes a study from Polish researchers who analyzed materials taken from water-transmission systems and found that plastic materials degrade “relatively quickly” as they age. Scans of the interior pipe surfaces showed peeling and flaking that released plastic particles into the water, adding to humans’ already significant exposure to ingested microplastics.
Plastic Pipes Microplastics and Health Impacts Report
The report also looks at issues such as chemical leaching in addition to shedding of micro- and nano- particles from common plastic pipe materials PVC (polyvinyl chloride), PE (polyethylene), PEX (cross-linked polyethylene), and CPVC (chlorinated polyvinyl chloride). It then reviews effects that medical studies have begun documenting on humans and/or lab animals, describing associations with cancer, cell death, tissue inflammation and damage, disruption of nervous function, reduced fertility, and other impacts.
“Architects, engineers, and contractors who care about the health and safety of building occupants should consider these issues when selecting piping materials,” says Hagar. “Emerging research does not support industry claims of rigorous testing standards and product safety.”
The premier business training and coaching provider for the HVAC industry introduces its Emerging Business Academy program to guide motivated small business owners toward sustainable growth and increased profitability in 2024 Business Development Resources (BDR), the training and business coaching authority for home services industry professionals, introduces its Emerging Business Academy, a streamlined version of its Read more
The premier business training and coaching provider for the HVAC industry introduces its Emerging Business Academy program to guide motivated small business owners toward sustainable growth and increased profitability in 2024
Business Development Resources (BDR), the training and business coaching authority for home services industry professionals, introduces its Emerging Business Academy, a streamlined version of its flagship coaching program tailored to the unique needs of growing small businesses.
Business Development Resources (BDR) introduces its Emerging Business Academy, a streamlined version of its flagship coaching program that guides motivated small business owners to put specific foundational systems and processes into place to reach revenues of $1 million and beyond.
BDR’s Emerging Business Academy, designed for businesses with four people or fewer, guides motivated owners to put specific foundational systems and processes into place to reach revenues of $1 million and beyond.
“With our Emerging Business Academy, the goal is to introduce small business owners to the process of structuring their business to grow and be successful long-term,” said Kim Archer, President of BDR. “For over 20 years, our Profit Coach program has provided insights to help owners shift from a tactical role to a strategic one. We’re taking that same proven system and customizing it specifically for smaller businesses looking to take their first steps in driving profit and growth.”
Emerging Business Academy’s year-long series of 48 weekly sessions starts on Jan. 17. Each 60-minute session features 30-40 minutes of instruction followed by 20-30 minutes of discussion and follow-up. As the sessions progress, participants discover BDR’s core best practices and work with their coach to construct a business plan supporting increased profitability and growth to scale.
Participants in Emerging Business Academy build a foundation for their company to succeed and grow through insights of million-dollar business owners, focusing on actionable steps in areas such as:
- Proper pricing and job-costing
- Sales and estimation practices
- Building effective marketing programs
- The power of accessories and maintenance agreements
- Timely billing and collections
- Successfully managing and leveraging your team
- Delegation and performance accountability
Along with the weekly live sessions, the Emerging Business Academy also includes access to BDR’s industry-leading training program, with the ability to choose four different 3-Hour Power-Up courses throughout the year.
“BDR has worked with thousands of contractors over the last 25 years, and our Profit Coach program has helped business owners across the country go from the $1 million wall to $50 million and beyond,” said Bruce Wiseman, CEO and founder of BDR. “With BDR’s Emerging Business Academy, we now have the full range of resources available to support contractors at every level in building a successful and profitable home service business.”
Find out more about BDR’s Emerging Business Academy or register at https://www.bdrco.com/emerging-business-academy/.
Career Training to Members of Detroit’s Gun Violence Reduction Program Interplay Learning, the leading provider of immersive skilled trades training, announces a transformative partnership with C.H.O.I.C.E.S (Choosing Honorable Options Increasing Chances to Establish Success), a community-based violence intervention program dedicated to reducing gun violence in Detroit as part of Mayor Mike Duggan’s “Detroit at Work” program Read more
Career Training to Members of Detroit’s Gun Violence Reduction Program
Interplay Learning, the leading provider of immersive skilled trades training, announces a transformative partnership with C.H.O.I.C.E.S (Choosing Honorable Options Increasing Chances to Establish Success), a community-based violence intervention program dedicated to reducing gun violence in Detroit as part of Mayor Mike Duggan’s “Detroit at Work” program. C.H.O.I.C.E.S is using Interplay Learning’s virtual reality and simulation-based training to empower at-risk youth and individuals affected by gun violence. Interplay’s innovative training equips them with valuable skills that open doors to a brighter future through sustainable employment in high-demand fields like HVAC, Plumbing, Electrical, Multifamily Maintenance, and Facilities Maintenance.
Aligning with C.H.O.I.C.E.S’ mission to empower violence-affected and/or justice involved individuals with practical job-ready skills, Interplay’s experiential videos, interactive 3D simulations, and immersive virtual reality courses complement the program’s existing in-person residential construction classes. Participants can now tailor their learning experience to align with their specific needs, schedules, and interests by taking the C.H.O.I.C.E.S in-person residential construction classes and/or Interplay’s online skilled trades courses. Using Interplay, learners can access 400+ hours of courses and hands-on simulations so they can practice their skills in a safe, realistic environment. They can leverage Interplay’s courses for as long as needed to prepare for industry certifications, secure meaningful employment with local employers, and ensure long-term success on their journey to self-sufficiency.
“We absolutely love Interplay,” said Stephanie Nixon, Chief Program Officer at Detroit at Work. “It complements our in-person learning well, and their team is great to work with. Our program participants are totally engaged; they’re having fun while learning, they’re competing with one another to complete courses, and all the while, it’s changing the trajectory of their lives.”
A critical feature of the training platform is the administrator reporting tools that enable program coordinators to identify participants who need help and provide timely support and intervention to those individuals. This proactive approach ensures participants stay on course with their training paths, bringing them closer to their ultimate goal of gaining employment and contributing positively to their communities.
“Our mission is to help institutions build better training, better careers, and better lives,” said Doug Donovan, founder and CEO of Interplay Learning. “C.H.O.I.C.E.S is making significant strides in reducing gun violence in Detroit and empowering individuals to lead fulfilling lives. We’re proud to partner with them to support the at-risk and underserved community with an innovative strategy that builds flexible pathways to meaningful trades careers.”
Report finds resilient businesses are adopting technology, outsourcing, and focusing on customer relationships 29% of contractors plan to invest in technology this year to increase revenue, customer retention, and customer acquisition. 27% of contractors have outsourced services as a solution to streamline their processes, scale, and grow revenue Repeat customers accounted for 39% of revenue Read more
Report finds resilient businesses are adopting technology, outsourcing, and focusing on customer relationships
- 29% of contractors plan to invest in technology this year to increase revenue, customer retention, and customer acquisition.
- 27% of contractors have outsourced services as a solution to streamline their processes, scale, and grow revenue
- Repeat customers accounted for 39% of revenue and 71% of business volume for contractors this year
ServiceTitan, a software platform built to power the trades, has released its first Residential Services Report, providing insight into the challenges and opportunities facing the industry, market outlook, business strategies, and emerging trends. These results highlight survey responses from more than 1,000 residential service contractors around the U.S.
“Residential contractors provide essential services that keep our world running, and that’s not going to change anytime soon”, said Vahe Kuzoyan, president and co-founder at ServiceTitan. “These contractors remain resilient and innovative amidst a year of diverse outcomes, using new strategies and purpose-built technology to allow them to focus on operational excellence and building lasting relationships with customers.”
Tempered sentiments reflect market uncertainty
Economic uncertainty, labor shortages, and reduced access to working capital have created a strain on businesses across the US, and in response, residential contractors have a mixed outlook for the current year. According to the survey, over half (67%) of contractors have neutral expectations for the future, 18% are optimistic, and 14% feel pessimistic.
Strategies to combat supply chain disruption
The tailwind effects of COVID-19, increased natural disasters across the nation, and global warehouse capacity issues are resulting in extended supply chain disruption. Contractors reported difficulty obtaining supplier parts (64%), raw materials (47%), specialty materials (44%), equipment (23%), vehicles (17%), and sustainable “green” materials (14%). Supplier diversification can increase supply chain resilience. 60% of contractors purchase directly from a supply house, 23% directly from the manufacturer, and 17% directly from the vendor.
Outsourcing is one effective strategy for contractors looking to increase stability and growth. Approximately one-third of businesses (27%) have leveraged outsourcing as a solution to streamline their processes. The three most common areas for outsourcing included call centers (76%), customer service (49%), and digital advertising/SEO (32%). Outsourcing allows businesses to centralize their operations and create a more consistent, reliable customer experience while scaling.
Developing trusted, deep customer relationships
Customer relationships, both existing and new, play a major role in business success. Repeat customers accounted for 39% of contractors’ annual revenue, and satisfied customers are also more likely to offer referrals or recommendations, which can help generate new leads. Respondents reported 71% of business volume in the last year came from word-of-mouth referrals. Growing revenue (56%) as well as customer retention (50%) and customer acquisition (46%) were all top priorities for residential contractors in 2023.
Attracting and retaining high-performing technicians and employees is also top-of-mind, as competition for talent remains fierce amidst a skilled labor shortage. In response, businesses are being very intentional with recruitment and retention practices. Over one-third of contractors surveyed (38%) will increase technician salaries between 4% or more as a strategy to attract and keep top talent, while 39% of respondents stated that they plan to increase technician pay by 1-3%.
Continued investment in technology presents new benefits across the business
Through emerging technologies like automation and AI, contractors can offload much of their administrative work and focus their time on boosting productivity, optimizing resources, and doing what they do best: serving customers and building lasting relationships in their communities. Survey results indicate that contractors are leveraging technology primarily for business management (63%), field service management (48%), accounting (42%), enterprise resource planning (38%), payroll (33%), and human resources (33%).
“AI is changing the way we work in the trades,” said Jason Brady, Owner and CEO at Above & Beyond Heating & Cooling. “We’re going to be able to stop focusing on the insignificant things, and really focus on the things that matter to the business. New technology isn’t always perfect, but it’s helping contractors tackle some of the menial tasks of the job so they can focus more on servicing customers.”
Technology is not only freeing up resources, but also improving worker satisfaction, enhancing safety, and creating more attractive career paths and opportunities for professional development. With technology as a key tool to achieve business goals, 29% of residential contracting businesses plan to invest in technology this year to increase revenue (56%), customer retention (50%), and new customer acquisition (46%).
To view the full findings and key takeaways, download ServiceTitan’s Residential Service Report here.
About the research
The survey was conducted on behalf of ServiceTitan by Thrive Analytics, an independent third-party research provider and a leading digital marketing research firm, polling more than 1,000 residential service contractors representing a variety of geographical regions, business growth stages, and revenue levels. For the purposes of this survey, a “residential service contractor” is defined as any business generating 60% or more of their revenue from residential services. This research is for informational purposes only and ServiceTitan provides no assurances (express or implied) with respect to the accuracy of the survey data.
Covers Performance Requirements and Details Comparisons The Plastics Pipe Institute, Inc. (PPI) recently announced the publication of a new document that provides the technical basis for comparing PE 100-RC to PE4710 pressure pipe. Called PPI TN-68, Historical Review of the PE 100-RC Concept – How PE4710 Compares to PE 100-RC, it will provide a perspective Read more
Covers Performance Requirements and Details Comparisons
The Plastics Pipe Institute, Inc. (PPI) recently announced the publication of a new document that provides the technical basis for comparing PE 100-RC to PE4710 pressure pipe. Called PPI TN-68, Historical Review of the PE 100-RC Concept – How PE4710 Compares to PE 100-RC, it will provide a perspective on the Slow Crack Growth (SCG) resistance requirements for the PE 100-RC designation in comparison with the North American PE4710 designation. This publication offers a common basis and understanding to industry. PPI is the major North American association representing the plastic pipe industry.
“The PE 100-RC concept has been around since 2009,” stated Patrick Vibien, P.Eng., technical director, PPI, “but there is a lack of clarity to the implications of the designation and a lack of consensus on whether a comparable designation has value for the North American industry given the already elevated SCG resistance requirements of PE4710. The development of the PE 100-RC designation was not due to documented performance issues with PE 100. This grade designation has been promoted internationally by the PE 100+ Association and is now being introduced into ISO and CEN standards. Although PE compounds are fairly similar, the test methods and requirements for assessing the performance of the designations differ significantly. Our new document goes into detail about this plus provides a comparison chart and other data that can be helpful and useful.”
TN-68 can be found on the Technical Notes page of the PPI website www.plasticpipe.org.