Dave Merchan, Washington and Lee University Facilities Director of MEP Services, immediately saw the value in teaching his facilities staff the Armaflex installation techniques demonstrated at the 2017 AHR Expo show. After making an inquiry with the sales team at the booth, an education session was set up onsite at the university with Dave’s team. The presentations were given by Tom MacKinnon, MDM, Steve Johnson and Mark Hayes, both Applications Trainers.
W&L Background
Dave Merchan, a Mechanical Engineer himself, heads up the MEP Services department, part of W&L’s University Facilities group. University Facilities is responsible for the plan, design, build and care of all university-owned properties. They have a mission to implement campus-wide environmental and energy initiatives and oversee the systems that heat, cool and power the organization. Among the many responsibilities of the group, they are also stewards of the campus which has been designated a National Historic Landmark in Lexington, VA.
Primed for Training
In June 2017, the Armacell team visited W&L to present our CEU presentation and perform an Armaflex Qualified Installer Program (AQIP) session for the facilities team. First, Tom MacKinnon gave Armacell’s CEU presentation to Merchan featuring a detailed explanation the different types of insulation, chilled water systems, and proper specification strategy. The accredited presentation earns the participant one Professional Development Hour, key for maintaining engineering certification. Merchan described that he has seen firsthand the damage that inappropriate insulation choices and improper installation methods can have on systems throughout his campus and was excited about the advantages and protection Armacell's products can provide. Because W&L is continually updating their buildings on campus, Merchan wants to make sure that the insulation is “done right the first time.” As he begins updating job specifications, MacKinnon offered his help to write or review specs, although Merchan has already stated that he wants to “use Armacell on everything.”
Meanwhile in the W&L facilities shop, Mark Hayes and Steve Johnson were conducting an AQIP training for fourteen of Merchan's MEP staff. The facilities crew was interested in learning more about Armaflex and how to properly install it on piping. After the training concluded, one of the senior members of the team told the trainers how happy he was to be able to “do these installations himself, on the spot.” Today they have to call an insulation contractor to replace even simple sections of piping, often having to wait a week or more to get on the contractor’s schedules.
The Armacell team is here to help you!
Are you a Facilities Manager? We can bring our Armacell team to you for Lunch & Learn CEU presentations or AQIP installer certification classes. Click here to schedule a technical presentation.