Sheet Metal And HVAC Industry News

How a New PHCC Program is Turning Inmates into Tomorrow’s Plumbers and HVAC Techs

keatinga@bnpmedia.com (Austin Keating) — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 07:00:26 -0400

A new PHCC-backed program inside Hamilton County Jail is equipping inmates with hands-on HVAC and plumbing skills.

Nippon Steel’s $2.5 Billion Gamble on Mon Valley: Resetting the Sheet Metal Supply Chain

keatinga@bnpmedia.com (Austin Keating) — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 16:39:56 -0400

An investment by Nippon Steel is reviving U.S. Steel’s Mon Valley Works: tighter tolerances and higher-value steel grades will mean less waste, better formability, and more durable end products for contractors.

Airoverse, Lowder Brothers Bring Scalable Building Automation to Fort Smith School District

Fri, 29 May 2026 09:48:51 -0400

Airoverse and Lowder Brothers partnered to bring scalable, accessible building automation to Fort Smith School District, helping the district manage HVAC across 33 campuses and roughly 100 buildings.

Chamber Clears Up Tariff Refunds and More at SMACNA Conference

keatinga@bnpmedia.com (Austin Keating) — Thu, 28 May 2026 12:58:00 -0400

Sheet metal contractors hoping for relief from the recent Supreme Court-mandated tariff refunds are likely to be disappointed: Unless you are the importer of record, you will not see a direct payout or price break.

Construction Cost Surge Accelerates Nationwide, Squeezing HVAC Contractors

keatinga@bnpmedia.com (Austin Keating) — Fri, 15 May 2026 13:22:55 -0400

Construction input costs are rising at the fastest pace in years – fueled by a global energy shock, metal tariffs, and escalating transportation expenses – putting contractors under pressure.

American Energy Dominance Act: What It Means for HVAC

keatinga@bnpmedia.com (Austin Keating) — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 13:03:11 -0400

A new bipartisan bill in Congress could restore and extend critical energy efficiency tax credits, including the 179D, 45L, and key clean energy credits.

Levelers vs. Straighteners: What Sheet Metal Contractors Need to Know

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 12:38:33 -0400

Coil straighteners tackle coil set and crossbow, but only levelers can deliver premium flatness by correcting length variations like edge wave and center buckle.

Experts Weigh Cost, Codes, and the Future of HRVs/ERVs

keatinga@bnpmedia.com (Austin Keating) — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 16:43:54 -0400

AHR Expo experts discuss the evolving role of HRVs and ERVs in home ventilation, focusing on cost, energy codes, and practical challenges for builders and homeowners.

Aluminum Skyrockets on War Shock

keatinga@bnpmedia.com (Austin Keating) — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 08:02:41 -0400

A new wave of geopolitical conflict and economic uncertainty is sending aluminum prices soaring – reshaping costs for the HVAC and sheet metal industries.

USMCA Review Fuels Trade Uncertainty as HVAC Industry Faces New Tact on Tariffs

keatinga@bnpmedia.com (Austin Keating) — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 17:12:36 -0400

As tariffs squeeze construction costs, the HVAC sector faces growing risks tied to the future of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement and its impact on manufacturing and cross-border supply chains.

Colorado’s New Emissions Law Leaves Residential Water Heater Market Scrambling

keatinga@bnpmedia.com (Austin Keating) — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 09:20:46 -0400

Colorado’s 2026 clean air law, while reducing pollution, inadvertently sidelines propane water heater users, sparking urgent calls for legislative relief.

Tariffs and Supply Woes Drive Metal Prices Higher, Squeezing U.S. Construction Industry

keatinga@bnpmedia.com (Austin Keating) — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 15:38:35 -0500

Contractors face rising input prices and shrinking project pipelines, with industry leaders warning that uncertainty over trade policy and federal funding could stall growth.

Illinois Halts Data Center Incentives Amid Water, Energy, and Local Backlash

keatinga@bnpmedia.com (Austin Keating) — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 11:15:10 -0500

Illinois suspends tax incentives for new data centers and considers new environmental rules, fueling a statewide battle over growth, power, and water.

State of the Union Draws Starkly Opposed Reactions from Construction Powerhouses

keatinga@bnpmedia.com (Austin Keating) — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 15:06:50 -0500

Construction industry giants clash over Trump’s State of the Union, exposing deep divides between merit shop leaders and organized labor on jobs, wages, and the future of the workforce.

Thermaduct Unveils Thermatuff Phenolic Panels at AHR Expo

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 14:53:38 -0500

Thermaduct’s Thermatuff phenolic panels simplify HVAC duct insulation and installation by enabling use in pre-insulated, lined, and glueless sheet metal systems for commercial applications.

House and Senate Vote to End Canadian Tariffs; Sheet Metal Industry Responds

keatinga@bnpmedia.com (Austin Keating) — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 14:01:31 -0500

The U.S. House of Representatives voted Monday to terminate the national emergency declaration that enabled tariffs on Canadian imports.

Boston’s Otis Elementary Now Meets ASHRAE 241 Benchmark – But Who Pays for the Next 1,000 Upgrades?

keatinga@bnpmedia.com (Austin Keating) — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 10:27:24 -0500

Boston’s Otis Elementary has become the first school nationwide to exceed ASHRAE 241’s tough new air quality benchmarks, spotlighting both the promise of innovative funding models and the persistent challenges districts face in bringing safer air to every student.

Tom Martin Reflects on a Year of Challenge and Change as SMACNA Welcomes New Leadership

keatinga@bnpmedia.com (Austin Keating) — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 11:25:17 -0500

As SMACNA turns the page, new president Todd Hill brings his own story, optimism, and deep sense of gratitude to the role.

SMACNA Names Frank Wall as New CEO

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 13:34:48 -0500

SMACNA's statement declared Wall "a dedicated executive," with even more extensive experience outside of his prior COO role with MCAA.

Mike Kelly on Duct Leakage, Craftsmanship, and the Invisible Costs of Air

keatinga@bnpmedia.com (Austin Keating) — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 12:23:17 -0500

A veteran HVAC expert argues that invisible duct leaks cost owners far more than they realize – and that better craftsmanship and stricter standards can pay off for decades.

Small Moves, Big Impact: Strategic Facility Upgrades That Strengthen K-12 Learning Environments

Fri, 26 Dec 2025 10:38:27 -0500

School leaders can improve student outcomes, save on energy, and reduce long-term costs by focusing on strategic upgrades and data-driven decision-making.

Families Forge New Traditions Together in the Sheet Metal Trades

Fri, 26 Dec 2025 10:25:53 -0500

Two generations share tools, classrooms, and life-changing opportunities in union sheet metal work.

Murder of Young Welder at Minnesota Workplace Sparks Union, Industry Outcry

keatinga@bnpmedia.com (Austin Keating) — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 12:44:55 -0500

SMART Women's Committee calls on the sheet metal industry to "confront the culture that allowed this to happen."

Metals and Diesel Prices Squeeze Contractors as Construction Input Costs Edge Up in 2025

keatinga@bnpmedia.com (Austin Keating) — Fri, 28 Nov 2025 10:33:25 -0500

The bottom line from AGC's chief executive: “Contractors can manage modest cost increases, but they need a predictable environment to keep projects moving."

How Cloud and AI Are Rewiring Building Efficiency

keatinga@bnpmedia.com (Austin Keating) — Fri, 28 Nov 2025 09:57:00 -0500

Explore how advances in cloud-based automation, open protocols, and AI-driven controls are redefining HVAC operations and demand response participation, offering contractors new ways to deliver value in an evolving energy landscape.

Wisconsin’s Tweet Garot Expands Into Michigan After Southwest Push, Acquires Traverse City Firm

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 12:33:36 -0500

New acquisition follows company’s recent Phoenix expansion and reflects Tweet Garot’s nationwide growth ambitions.

Fed Rate Cut and End of Tightening Signal New Era for HVAC Contractors and Sheet Metal Fabricators

keatinga@bnpmedia.com (Austin Keating) — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 23:16:39 -0400

The Federal Reserve’s rate cut and new policy stance bring both relief and fresh challenges for HVAC and sheet metal firms navigating surging tariffs, shifting demand, and economic uncertainty.

Data Center Spending Set to Surpass Office Projects

keatinga@bnpmedia.com (Austin Keating) — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 10:52:26 -0400

Spending on data centers is set to eclipse new office construction for the first time, fueling a building frenzy that’s sending ripples through the U.S. economy, reshaping job sites, and driving power bills sharply higher from New Hampshire to Illinois.

Steel Under Pressure: Imports, Plant Uncertainty, and the Tariff Question

keatinga@bnpmedia.com (Austin Keating) — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 12:20:03 -0400

Granite City Works’ future secured through 2027 — but financial and community challenges loom for the site. And tariff pressures on manufacturers are mounting.

Malco Tools: Duct Board Cutting Tools

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 11:13:19 -0400

Malco’s new Duct Board Cutting Tools deliver fast, consistent v-groove and clean edge cuts for fiberglass duct board.