By / Joey Fabing, President, TIAC / Président, ACIT
I would like to start by saying that I hope that everyone had a safe and happy summer and fall. It was a very busy one for the team at TIAC. We had our conference, we are working toward filling the TIAC Technical Initiative and Strategic Relationship Coordinator position, we were organizing the Thermal Insulation Inspection Training Course, and the Innovators are busy working on their next initiative.
TIAC’s conference in Niagara Falls last year was our first back after COVID. I said to one of the other members that that conference was just getting the fire restarted and letting everyone know that TIAC is still here. Well, this year we came to Ottawa, and it was like someone threw a skid on the bonfire!
We had some great speakers. Hamza Khan kicked off the conference talking about navigating the multi-generational workforce. Tom McVicar spoke about the changes being done to the Denis Formula and how it is going to be a great tool for the industry. Rob English speaking about the North American Commercial Industrial Insulation Standards (NACIIS) manual that has been launched. Macan Nia from Manulife spoke about the Canadian financial future. And, of course, Jennifer Botterill wowed us with her stories about mental fortitude and playing for Team Canada. We wrapped up the Conference with the black tie President’s Ball—everyone looked stunning, and I believe some fun was had.
I found that the best part of the conference was the relationship that blossomed between TIAC and NIA. Joe Leo, President of NIA, along with Michelle Jones, NIA’s EVP/CEO, both attended the CAN/AM meeting, which was the highest-attended CAN/AM meeting in years. We discussed how we can grow this relationship. Since TIAC and NIA are now working with one set of standards throughout North America, the relationship between the two associations should, and will, be stronger. Joe assured me that the CAN/AM meeting at the NIA conference will change and become a viable meeting, instead of a 15-minute chat. NIA is willing to give us some time so we can promote our conferences and talk about what TIAC is up to. Please, if you can make it to the NIA conference at any time in the future, attend the CAN/AM meeting and join us in growing together to make this the industry it should be.
On October 24-27 we held our first Thermal Insulation Inspector Certification course in Calgary. We had 11 attendees, which is a great turn out. The course was a great opportunity to learn the procedures and applications of thermal insulation. Thank you to all who attended. Please watch for our eZINE, social media, and these pages announcing upcoming training courses and webinars.
Also in October, we had our second meeting with the NACIIS group. James Low, our representative, was just in Omaha with the NACIIS standards committee. James has become an important part of this committee as they come together to add more information (Plates) to the manual. The committee is currently working on adding Cryogenics, Plugs, Inspection Ports, Removable Blankets, and ASTM Standards. The committee asks that contractors read the manual and feel free to reach out if there is something they would like to be addressed. They are always open to new ideas.
Our Innovators continue their hard work. This year, their initiative is to bring new people to the mechanical insulation industry, including engineers, installers, estimators, project managers, and sales representatives. They are hoping to do this through multiple social media channels. What a great opportunity it will be to get more, and different, people involved in our industry.
Quebec is getting its QAC program up and running with classes for training the inspectors, which started in September. They are still hoping for a program launch early in the new year.
As I said at the conference in Ottawa, my goal in this term is to get more members involved or “bums in seats”. As the expression goes, “Many hands make light work.” If we want to make this industry what it deserves to be, everyone must be a part of the plan.
Talk to engineers, property owners, and inspectors. Tell them about our industry. Share all of the benefits they receive (read: return on investment!) when they have insulation with the proper thickness properly installed in their buildings. Get out support your local trade associations and talk about insulation. The more people hear about it, the more they will think about it. The more they think about it, the more they will remember insulation when they’re developing their plans.
Mark your calendar for the 2023 Conference, which will be held August 23-26 in beautiful Whistler, BC. I can’t wait to see you there! ▪
