Austin Keating

Austin Keating is the special section editor of SNIPS NEWS at The ACHR NEWS. He covers sheet metal, mechanical contractors, duct cleaning, testing and balancing, steel, building information modeling (BIM) and architecture, engineering and construction (AEC). Prior to joining BNP Media, he served as field editor for Prairie Farmer and media specialist at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications. Email him at keatinga@bnpmedia.com.

Why Flame Attenuated Insulation is Better than Rotary for Most HVAC Applications

While flame-attenuated marbles do add an extra step to production, they also add a step of quality control

Austin Keating

March 7, 2024

Fiberglass produced on rotary equipment, with a less consistent distribution of fibers, is better suited for thicker insulation; whereas fiberglass produced from the flame-attenuated pot and marble method is more consistent.

How contractors are using mixed reality to improve construction and communication

ES Magazine sits down Jared Redelman, VDC and project controls team leader at Bowen Engineering, to discuss his recent presentation at MEP Innovation 2024

Austin Keating

February 28, 2024

Redelman discusses the advantages of mixed reality headset adoption in the construction, multitrade and engineering industries.

Why Sheet Metal Contractors go Above and Beyond Code with Duct Insulation

The acoustical and thermal qualities of different types and sizes of duct insulation can compensate for the unique challenges of a given space

Austin Keating

February 26, 2024

Code for ductwork insulation focused primarily on energy efficiency is the starting point for meeting customer objectives, but there are other factors to consider, says David Burd, air distribution products technical manager for North America at Owens Corning.

SMACNA MEP Innovator of the Year Shares How He Addresses Manufacturing Bottlenecks

Chris Hronek of Tweet/Garot Mechanical wins SMACNA Innovator of the Year award at the 2024 MEP Innovation conference

Austin Keating

February 16, 2024

Aligning the shop, office and management is essential to improving productivity, says the SMACNA 2024 Innovator of the Year.

Lindab Closes on Purchase of Vicon Machinery

Lindab triples its sales in the US with the acquisition of Vicon, a leading manufacturer of machines for rectangular ventilation ducts

Austin Keating

February 13, 2024

Lindab group closed on its acquisition of Vicon Machinery from Matt and Tim Walsh on Thursday.

WaterFurnace Executives Give Update on Geothermal Industry Trends

Slideshow: Executives highlight geothermal tax incentives as a demand driver, spurring the company to invest in more manufacturing capacity and research

Austin Keating

January 24, 2024

WaterFurnace CEO John Thomas joined his vice presidents of sales and marketing to discuss the direction of the business.

Industry Trends: Sheet Metal Shop Automation Leveraging Digital Transformation

Spiral Duct Manufacturing Association presentation from leading sheet metal equipment manufacturer senior VP highlights the direction of the industry

Austin Keating

January 23, 2024

As Mike Bailey of Mestek Machinery travels the country speaking to groups like Spiral Duct Manufacturing Association (SPIDA), he is funneling insights internally to develop expanded automation and digital dashboards for customers.

2023 NEWSmakers: Stanley E. Kolbe Jr., Executive Director of Government and Political Affairs for SMACNA

Addressing the logistical and administrative challenges of properly implementing the latest HVAC laws are what fills Kolbe’s schedule

Austin Keating

December 22, 2023

Kolbe Jr. has helped all levels of government effectively follow through on recent landmark pieces of legislation.

Step by Step Guide for Air Handler Restoration

Here’s how you go about repairing rust and relining insulation in air handlers

Austin Keating

December 20, 2023

There are no recognized professional protocols on how to repair air handler units. “You and your customer are really on your own when you enter into air handling unit restoration," says David Monson of Armstrong Duct, Vent, Hearth and Home.

How climate change is impacting university operations

Video: Dealing with storm water surges, storing backup fuel and other topics dominate university climate panel

Austin Keating

December 11, 2023

Universities in the United States are increasingly eyeing electrical reliability as fires, floods, and blackouts threaten campuses.

Austin Keating

ARTICLES

Why Flame Attenuated Insulation is Better than Rotary for Most HVAC Applications

How contractors are using mixed reality to improve construction and communication

Why Sheet Metal Contractors go Above and Beyond Code with Duct Insulation

SMACNA MEP Innovator of the Year Shares How He Addresses Manufacturing Bottlenecks

Lindab Closes on Purchase of Vicon Machinery

WaterFurnace Executives Give Update on Geothermal Industry Trends

Industry Trends: Sheet Metal Shop Automation Leveraging Digital Transformation

2023 NEWSmakers: Stanley E. Kolbe Jr., Executive Director of Government and Political Affairs for SMACNA

Step by Step Guide for Air Handler Restoration

How climate change is impacting university operations

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