training

The 2022 AHR Expo traveled to Vegas with a strong return to in-person events, a critical need in the industry as HVACR continues to be on the front lines of many major world challenges. Discussions across the industry include energy efficiency, environmental changes, air quality, and a sense that the world has undoubtedly changed in recent years with HVACR being no exception.

“One of the immediate challenges in our industry is gaps in the workforce across all roles. This is a potential roadblock to the work we have in front of us. The good news is we are aware of it and the industry is in agreement that we need to work together and build career-driven experiences for all those coming into the industry,” said Mark Stevens, manager of AHR Expo.

The show is uniquely positioned to offer an introduction to HVACR that highlights how one can aspire to build a lifelong career in HVACR. Each year, professionals gather to discuss issues and create solutions, and to showcase the very best of what’s to come. It is in this spirit the AHR Expo recognized an opportunity to widen the reach and purpose of some of the show’s key elements – access to professionals, new markets, products and technology as well as the cutting-edge development via the Innovation Awards.

“We’ve felt a shift for many years as innovation in our industry grows and the world wakes up to what HVACR currently offers and what it must succeed in for the future,” continued Stevens. “Inside the industry, we understand the immense responsibility to grow our workforce to maintain the demands of the future. We have a deep understanding of the way HVACR is a part of nearly every human experience in our built environment. The show is a unique opportunity to see everything all at once and connect with a broad audience within our community. With workforce growth being a focus in every corner, we sought to add value with our unique offering.”

The Need for a Growing Workforce

One thing of rising concern among all stakeholders is the need to strengthen the future workforce across all channels to support a growing industry.

The HVACR industry, like many, was already heading into a workforce deficit, as noted in prior years’ trend reports. With the onset of the pandemic, the industry took an even bigger hit with employee burnout, early retirement decisions and those drawn to the Great Resignation.

“The changes that this industry is going to be seeing over the next several years is immense – something that we’ve never seen,” said Stephen Yurek, president and CEO of AHRI while participating in a state of the industry panel at AHR Expo 2022. “Number one is just getting people into the industry. We’re going to be seeing a huge amount of retirements like we have already. Just getting people into the workforce and trained and ready to go.”

What’s more, HVACR became a vital effort in the return to normal after COVID19. Today, indoor air quality is discussed mainstream as an important mitigation factor for health and safety inside our built environment – something the industry has been raising awareness of for years. With this new spotlight, demand for HVACR solutions has increased tremendously. Likewise, the need for a motivated workforce to sustain and continue to grow the industry to meet demands.

Innovating the Innovation Awards

The AHR Expo introduced a workforce development initiative to expose potential industry professionals to HVACR in a moment when the industry shines brightest – all together under one roof with miles and miles of products and tech on display. The program is a means to honor the innovation that our professionals are bringing to market through the Innovation Awards while simultaneously supporting future innovators through mentorship and leadership.

In its inaugural year, AHR Expo invited Western High School, a local area high school with a dual academic program that graduates students certified and ready for hire as technicians in HVAC. The soon to graduate class was invited for a special field trip at the 2022 AHR Expo.

“We are humbled by the warm welcome from the surrounding communities that host our industry for the AHR Expo, and it is always our goal to give back in as many positive ways as we can during our visit,” stated Stevens. “Coming into Vegas, we married the initiatives of strengthening our industry as well as the hosting city community by supporting the growth of the local Las Vegas workforce.”

The AHR Expo set the goals of showcasing what the industry has to offer and how an individual can build a strong lifelong career in HVACR. The manufacturing community, industry associations, and training-focused professionals were eager to share in this experience. Manufacturers curated experiences in their booths for the students to ask questions, interact with experts and demo products; associations offered mentorship; and individuals offered personal experience and insight into the possibilities offered in the industry.

“While all the booths and presentations were amazing, I was most taken by how personally invested each of the presenters was in our students as the future of the HVAC industry. They genuinely wanted to support our students and direct them to a sustainable career,” Michelle Dillmann, Counselor, Western High School.

Welcoming the next generation

During their visit, students were welcomed by ambassadors eager to guide them on a planned tour through the show floor. Colleen Keyworth and Angie Snow from Women in HVACR, and Bob Rohr and Mary Olsen from Caleffi North America guided 23 students – 6 women and 17 men– for in-booth visits, Q&A sessions and a scavenger hunt/trivia of HVACR knowledge.

The students had time to meet with members of the Podcast Pavilion, including a group discussion led by Rich and Kevin of The HVAC Jerks where they answered questions about career development, how to be more involved in the industry and general advice to begin their career.

“The AHR Expo was definitely inspirational and gave me more courage to continue in this field,” Geraldine Avila, an 11th-grade student.

After spending a few hours on the floor, the students were hosted by Mike Mayberry (hvac_refer_guy) for a special presentation on resume building and expectations for joining the workforce. Mike covered topics such as skills and qualities employers look for in their team and how to market yourself as an attractive employee candidate. Mike also shared practical tips and advice to sustain a successful career, and the many ways one can grow a career through experiential gain and networking. Mike, a well-known industry champion of HVAC and the trades, extended his mentorship to each student in attendance, and in doing so demonstrated the strong community that HVACR offers to its professionals.

The students were engaged in his presentation, eagerly participating in the conversation, and enthralled with the practicality of information being presented. Lunch service chatter revealed excitement in having met so many professionals dedicated to introducing them to the real HVACR experience and the warm welcome that was not expected but enthusiastically welcomed.

“The AHR Expo was a tremendous experience for the HVAC students of Western High School. Not only was the red carpet rolled out for our students, but they made great connections and now have a deeper understanding of industry opportunities. To be sure, this experience has greatly enhanced their career trajectory,” said Antonio Rael, Principal of Western High.

Looking to the future

At the close of their visit, students were surprised by a wealth of generosity from industry manufacturers and exhibitors of the AHR Expo.

• Veto Pro Pac gifted the students with their MB3 meter bag.
• Ridgid gifted each student with a custom hat and a heavy-duty pipe wrench, as well as many items collected in the booth demonstration.
• Klein Tools prepared a package with a full brim hardhat, their Pro Pack 6-piece apprentice toolset and an HVAC clamp meter.
• Fluke, a 2022 Innovation Award Winner, gifted each student a VoltAlert 1ACII non-contact voltage tester.
• DiversiTech equipped each student with a hilmor tool package consisting of a tool bag, a quick-engage flare & swage kit, a tube bender, a 2-valve aluminum manifold, a dual readout thermometer, and various items to complete an apprentice toolset.

The well-rounded experience was a highlight of the AHR Expo’s return. It served as an empowering addition to all the show aims to offer.

“The AHR Expo was a great place to see what HVAC students will do and achieve in the future,” Jose Cortez, an 11th-grade student.

AHR Expo offers a unique opportunity for the full industry to come together and experience HVACR by seeing what’s new, what’s to come and what is needed. Inviting career candidates at the student level sets the stage for a true understanding of their potential and to see themselves as a part of the industry with realistic expectations and experiences, rather than a cold introduction. What’s more, it gifts awareness to the size of the community available to them, as opposed to only networking with a small set of members on their team.

“We are continuously looking to evolve the best experience for the industry and the professionals that work within it,” continued Stevens. “We observe the trends and needs of the industry and build strong partnerships to strengthen the foundation not only of the AHR Expo experience but also for a thriving industry for years to come. We are privileged to have made the connection with the Western High School community and we look forward to supporting HVACR in more exciting ways such as this experience in the future.”

The industry is poised to thrive but will require dedication to building and maintaining a strong workforce. Curating experiences that showcase career opportunities, the inspiring and dedicated community and the ability to fulfill purpose can support this. The AHR Expo is honored to play its part.

“To recruit people, we need them to see not only a career but also an impact. Because that’s what most humans are looking for. They want to make a difference. They want to make things better. They want to be good stewards, whatever it happens to be. Most people come wanting to make things better. Let’s share what we do to make things better.” Mick Schwedler, 2021-2022 ASHRAE president.

The AHR Expo plans to continue the expansion of this initiative in the years to come, working to develop similar experiences for engineering students, sales and marketing within the supply chain and anyone looking to build a lifelong career in HVACR.

“We are so inspired by the nurturing support of our industry’s community,” concluded Stevens. “The number of people who have reached out looking to help us grow and connect our next generation audiences with established professionals is inspiring. This industry is like none other and we look forward to assisting where we can to close the workforce gap by working together with our strong partnerships.”

You can view a full video recap of the 2022 AHR Expo student visit here.

To learn more about Western High School and its dual HVAC program, visit the school website. For more information on the AHR Expo and the Innovation Awards, visit the AHR Expo website.

The 2023 AHR Expo will be held at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA. Registration will open in the summer of 2022.

ABOUT THE AHR EXPO

The AHR Expo is the world’s essential HVACR event, attracting the most comprehensive gathering of industry professionals from around the globe each year. The show provides a unique forum where manufacturers of all sizes and specialties, whether a major industry brand or innovative start-up, can come together to share ideas and showcase the future of HVACR technology under one roof. Since 1930, the AHR Expo has remained the industry’s best place for OEMs, engineers, contractors, facility operators, architects, educators and other industry professionals to explore the latest trends and applications and cultivate mutually beneficial business relationships. The next show, co-sponsored by ASHRAE and AHRI, will be held Feb.6 – Feb. 8, 2023, in Atlanta, GA, and is held concurrently with ASHRAE’s Winter Conference.

For more information, visit ahrexpo.com and follow @ahrexpo on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Xylem Bell & Gossett recently reopened the Little Red Schoolhouse, the company’s suburban Chicago training center for professionals dedicated to the plumbing and hydronic HVAC industries.

Xylem Bell & Gossett’s Little Red Schoolhouse in Morton Grove, Illinois, has been an industry icon in education for over 60 years, having trained more than 62,000 engineers, contractors and other hydronic HVAC and plumbing professionals have been educated in the proper design, installation and maintenance of hydronic and steam systems.

The Little Red Schoolhouse offers training covering a wide range of seminars tailored to different occupations within the industry, and is accredited by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET).

“Industry professionals recognize the value of in-person training, and we are happy to welcome them back to the Little Red Schoolhouse,” said Mike Licastro, director of training. “Whether it’s manufacturers’ representatives, engineers or contractors, our goal is for training to provide a knowledge base that makes them better equipped to perform their daily job duties related to hydronic and steam product application and system design.”

Instruction at the facility is well known for taking a systems-based approach that teaches students not only about individual components, but also how those components work together once installed in a complete plumbing and HVAC system.

Xylem Bell & Gossett, through the Little Red Schoolhouse, has a long history of providing industry professionals with the in-depth hydronic system design knowledge they need to confidently and expertly help their customers. The learning center was updated in 2019 to ensure Bell & Gossett’s mission of education continues to add value to and advance the industry.

Along with cutting-edge technology, Bell & Gossett has reinforced its emphasis on hands-on training with dedicated space for three new demonstration areas that feature functional displays of equipment for a variety of commercial and industrial applications, including variable speed controller technology, plumbing products and service and maintenance.

Little Red Schoolhouse second quarter schedule

• Design and Application* (April 26-29)
• Modern Hydronic Heating Systems – Basic Seminar* (May 10-12)
• Large Chilled Water System Design* (May 24-26)
• Plumbing System Design (June 7-9)

* Seminar approved by GBCI to provide credit toward the credential maintenance requirements of the LEED Associate and LEED AP certifications

To learn more about the Little Red Schoolhouse, enrollment, course descriptions and online courses, please visit www.bellgossett.com.

Weil-McLain, the leading North American brand of hydronic comfort heating systems, invites contractors, installers, engineers and others in the industry to a series of product-focused educational webinars covering the latest heating innovations.

Each webinar session will cover the latest product introductions including the new Weil-McLain ProTools™ app that allows contractors and other heating professionals to conveniently access information on boiler setup, maintenance and troubleshooting. Sessions also will highlight the newest additions and enhancements to the Stainless Vertical Firetube (SVF) family of commercial boilers and the award-winning ECO Tec® high efficiency 95% AFUE premium residential boiler for multi-zone and combi applications.

Product Innovation Sessions

• Wednesday, February 9:  8:00 – 8:45 AM Central Time – Session 1

Link to register: https://spx.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_jI9B29gcS8iyRWRIsPEdxQ

• Thursday, February 10:  2:00 – 2:45 PM Central Time – Session 2

Link to register: https://spx.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_wwvxGgLXTSmAqK8CP6r23Q

For more information on Weil-McLain products, visit weil-mclain.com.

By Norman Hall

Your new employee is in the job and doing great. You used a system, as mentioned in part 1, to introduce the employee to the company core values and team members. Now, how do you increase their value to your customers? By enhancing their knowledge. In this article we will walk through the system we use at R. L. Deppmann to train new hires on hydronic system design and product knowledge.

The Hydronic System Training Program – Step by Step

A perfect example to get us in the long-term training mindset is to think about the key educational stages in a medical career. Think of your long-term heating and cooling training program for employees as a series of steps. A basic overall “pre-med” program for hydronic system parts and pieces. Then you move to a “med-school” program where the employee learns a lot of detailed things needed in the job. A “residency” program allows them to use the knowledge with little supervision or oversite. This is where they may choose to become an expert in some area of interest.

Internally we refer to this program as our “Doctoral Program.” While not a formal official university program, this metaphor works well to help the new hire understand that they will increase their knowledge and expertise in stages

This outline for training may be used for any job classification: product salespeople, customer service, estimation, and even startup personnel. Let’s use an example of a startup technician.

The Start-up Technician Job Overview

1. L. Deppmann (RLD) is a manufacturer’s representative. We startup pumps, boilers, steam condensate units, and packaged heat transfer and water heater systems. Our technicians do much more than a startup. We also get calls to assist contractors and plumbers in troubleshooting system issues. Obviously, the more seasoned technicians are more knowledgeable. What does their training program look like?

The Start-Up Tech ‘Doctoral’ Program

Part One: “Pre-Med.” Our technicians need to understand a great deal about how hydronic, steam, and plumbing systems work. This portion of training involves understanding the parts and pieces of each system and why they exist. This stage of training is done concurrently with the “hands-on” knowledge. The tech can be, for example, aligning pumps and basic startups most of the week. Their designated pre-med training happens just 4-6 hours per week. Most of it uses existing training programs internal to RLD or from other sources. One example is the Bell and Gossett Little Red Schoolhouse e-learning program.

As an example, let’s think of the air control portion of a hydronic system. This part one training would include “what they are” and “why they exist” for cold fill reducing valves, pressure relief valves, expansion tanks, air/dirt separators, and air vents.

This is the same knowledge an estimator or outside salesperson would need.

Part Two: “Med School.” This portion of the training plan really focuses on what can go wrong in the system or equipment as well as what can cause the issue. It now gets into the details of troubleshooting and servicing the equipment.

Keeping with the air control system example. How to set the cold fill pressure. How to replace an expansion tank bladder. Identifying the point of no pressure change issues.

This is where we introduce in-person classes at some of the manufacturers as formal training. An example is the Xylem Bell & Gossett Little Red School House in Morton Grove, Illinois. Once someone understands the basic what and why from part one, they are ready for the subject immersion of these classes.

“Med school” can go on for years depending on the number of opportunities to gain experience. Like gaining one’s medical degree, expertise in our industry is a marathon, not a sprint. The focus here is not on knowing how to do the day-to-day of one’s job, but rather mastery of their field. This takes time and patience.

Part Three: “Residency.” Now the Tech is ready to go beyond their basic job. Here they learn that trouble caused to one piece of equipment may be due to another. A true understanding of how everything interacts in the mechanical room. They are also able to train new people and customers at this point.

Using our air control example once again. How does a nuisance call about poor heating on the top floor lead the tech to check the cold fill pressure settings?

Multiple Concurrent Paths to Knowledge

Remember that an employee could be at multiple levels of knowledge at the same time. Someone could be done with air control med school knowledge while being in pre-med for steam and residency for boilers.

The team leader or manager is responsible for keeping “degree” records and identifying the order of subjects to be learned. This is a key success factor to the program. Knowledge and the ability to use it should be woven into employee accountabilities, reviews, one-on-one meetings, and even salary levels. The leader must understand the program and own it in order to seamlessly integrate it into the culture of their team and motivate employees to seek a higher understanding of their industry.

Your program will look different than mine. Any employee training program will help your company. You just need to commit to this fact: you cannot afford not to invest in new employee training.

Norman Hall is an engineer and leader at the R. L. Deppmann Company, a manufacturer’s representative, in Michigan and Ohio. Norm has assisted in the design and troubleshooting of hydronic and steam systems for 45 years.