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June 2021 – MSD, Inc.
Monthly Archives

June 2021

Plumbing/Piping Foreman Mike D’Amico as Craft Professional of the Year for the 2021 ABC Awards Submission

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MSD is proud to nominate Mike D’Amico as the 2021 Craft Professional of The Year. Mike has been employed at MSD since 2003 and has excelled at his position as a Plumbing/Piping Foreman. Mike has twenty years of total trade experience and eighteen of those years committed to the commercial/industrial plumbing and pipefitting side. Mike is capable of leading any size job with any size crew and is currently involved in the Miami Valley Career Center project in Englewood, Ohio. This is a three-year project that is over twenty-two million dollars in revenue, therefore MSD needed a foreman that will be able to handle any delays or construction obstacles that are thrown his way. Mike is a valued leader in our company and respected by all his peers as a hard-working and very organized Foreman who excels at planning and executing large amounts of high-quality work production and adds a personal touch to every job and relationship to each contractor.

Mike strives toward total quality and innovation of new tools and processes to utilize cost savings and to achieve the best results possible. Mike has a long list of certifications and accomplishments such as Licensed Journeyman Plumber, Certified welder (structural, MIG, TIG, and Arc) section 9 welding certification, Vectren Natural gas trained and gas pipe fusion certified, Class A CDL, Heavy equipment certified operator, Medical Gas/Brazer certified (NITC), State of Ohio Backflow tester certified, Confined Space entry certified, and Qualified Rigging certification. Even with so much responsibility, Mike still finds time to help mentor and teach all new apprentices in the field and also teaches in MSD’s classroom for our apprenticeship program.

One of my favorite attributes of Mike is the fact that he is equally devoted to being a great husband to his wife and father to his three children. Mike is heavily involved in spending every possible minute with his family involving sports, camping, fishing, hiking, boating or just playing games and laughing. People like Mike are hard to find, and I am grateful that he is part of our team at MSD and that we are able to be part of his life. Mike is a former recipient of an Eagle award for the Dayton Corrections Institute (Women’s Prison Project), but I truly hope you will consider Mike as The Craft Professional of the Year. Thank you for taking the time to recognize his achievements and potential now and in the future.

Randy Metcalf
Plumbing\Piping Superintendent

Sheetmetal Journeyman Justin Ingram as Craft Professional of the Year for the 2021 ABC Awards Submission

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MSD Inc/ is proud to nominate Justin Ingram as a candidate for the 2021 Craft Professional of the Year. Justin graduated from Newton High School in 2008then he attended Upper Valley JVS in the HVAC program. He began his sheet metal career in 2007 and has been employed with MSD since 2014. He obtained his journeyman license with the ABC program. He has excelled in his sheet metal career while at MSD by working as a journeyman and currently as a sheet metal foreman. Justin is passionate about his career and the work he puts forth with each job he leads. His work ethic is strong and is a positive influence on others.

Justin has been trained in and currently holds certification in HILTI Fire Stop Systems, as well as HILTI, Qualified Powder Actuated Tools Operator, National Safety Compliance Aerial and Scissor Lift Safety, Certified Shearer Safety Service Scissors Lifts, Equipment Depot Rough Terrain Forklift Operator, Sunbelt Aerial Work Platform Operator, American Scaffolding INC Certification, CPR, AED and Basic first aid certified through the American Safety & Health Institute, Shearer Safety Services Fall Protection Competent Person and 30 hours OSHA. Justin has gained respect from his co-workers and leadership by the example he shows others. He always goes above and beyond what is asked of him. He is enthusiastic at work and provides an environment that is positive for his team. Justin has been the lead foreman at the UD administration building, Encompass, and currently at Wayne Hospital. His success in the field has shown his dedication to his craft. Justin and his wife Samantha live in Covington Ohio. They have a daughter Raelynn and son Colton. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with family working on cars. He also enjoys hunting and fishing with his wife Samantha.

Justin will be celebrating seven years with MSD this year and we are proud to have Justin part of our leadership team. We look forward to all the future projects he will lead for MSD.We hope you will join the consideration and recognition we feel he deserves in being considered the 2021 Craft Professional of the Year.

-Darin Salyers
Sheet metal Superintendent

MVCTC Co-Ops to Full Time Employees!

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We are excited to announce the following MVCTC graduates have elected to start full time with TEAM MSD after working as co-ops this past year. This past Friday they signed offer letters to join the MSD apprenticeship program as they continue in full time roles with our organization! TEAM MSD would like to congratulate these team members listed below:

Ryan Bennett

Jase Cvetkovich

Blake Thomas

Lucas Bradley

Project Zeus

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Work continues for TEAM MSD at Project Zeus with the setting of the condenser units with a few very challenging Helicopter lifts, completed by our partners at Midwest. Great job TEAM MSD and Midwest converting dreams into a REALITY!!!! #ProjectZeus, #TeamMSDSpecialProjects

The Effects of Hard Water

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The effects of hard water, with its high mineral content, can have a significant impact on both your body and household appliances. From interfering with the absorption of essential nutrients to causing dry skin and hair, the effects of hard water on your body should not be underestimated. Additionally, hard water can lead to buildup in household appliances and fixtures, causing reduced efficiency and the need for frequent repairs. Understanding the effects of hard water and how to remove hard water stains is crucial for maintaining both personal health and household functionality.

The Effects of Hard Water on the Human Body

Hard water can have several negative effects on your body if you consume it regularly. The high mineral content in hard water can make it difficult for your body to absorb and process certain nutrients. For example, calcium and magnesium, which are abundant in hard water, can interfere with the body’s ability to absorb iron and lead to iron-deficiency anemia. Hard water can also increase the risk of kidney stones, as the excess minerals can build up in the kidneys and form stones over time.

In addition to its impact on your health, hard water can also have a drying effect on your skin and hair. The minerals in hard water can strip away natural oils, leaving your skin feeling dry and itchy. Hard water can also make your hair look dull and lifeless, as it can build up on the hair shaft and cause tangles and split ends. Furthermore, hard water can also affect your home appliances and plumbing, causing them to wear out faster and reducing their efficiency. If you have hard water in your home, it’s important to be mindful of its potential impact on your health and the health of your household, and consider investing in a water treatment system to soften the water and remove excess minerals.

How to get Rid of Hard Water Stains

Hard water stains can be a frustrating and unsightly problem for many households. However, the good news is that there are several effective and cost-efficient methods to remove these stains without the use of name-brand products. One of the simplest and most effective methods is to use a mixture of white vinegar and baking soda. To use this method, mix equal parts of white vinegar and baking soda in a spray bottle and shake well. Spray the solution on the hard water stains and let it sit for 5-10 minutes before wiping it off with a cloth. For more stubborn stains, you can use a scrub brush or an old toothbrush to scrub the area before wiping it off.

Another effective method is to use lemon juice. Squeeze fresh lemon juice onto the stain and let it sit for 10-15 minutes. Then, rinse the area with water and dry with a cloth. If the stain persists, you can try mixing lemon juice with salt to create a paste and using this mixture to scrub the stain. You can also try using a mixture of equal parts water and hydrogen peroxide, which is a powerful natural oxidizer that can help to remove hard water stains. Simply apply the mixture to the stain, let it sit for a few minutes, and then rinse it off with water. No matter which method you choose, always test it in an inconspicuous area before using it on a larger surface to ensure it won’t cause any damage.

 

At MSD Inc, we understand the impact that hard water can have on both your health and the functionality of your household. That’s why we offer a comprehensive water treatment service program to help you address hard water and other water quality issues. Our team of experts can assess your water quality and provide you with customized solutions to help you achieve the best possible water quality for your home. Don’t let hard water stains and mineral buildup take a toll on your health and home. Contact us today to learn more about our water treatment services and take the first step towards better water quality.

Give to Grow Program

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By giving back to the community, MSD is able to take an active role in community development, help community members succeed, and help foster a deeper sense of unity. 2020 and 2021 was a hard year due to do the limitations of COVID-19 but MSD was able to give back and help out the community in a few different ways such as supply meals to the Victory Project young boys, donate to the foodbank, and give joy to families at Christmas that are struggling.

During the year, MSD supported many community organizations and participated in a variety of philanthropic events, most notably:

    • The Foodbank (Dayton) – collected non-perishable items, our 12th year of participation.
    • Making Strides Against Breast Cancer – due to COVID-19, the walk was canceled, so MSD donated to the cause by matching purchases of employee Breast Cancer shirts
    • Polar Plunge held by the Special Olympics.
    • Giving Tree – MSD was given 4 families to purchase Christmas gifts to bring joy to these families during the holidays.
    • Victory Project – provide meals 3-4 times a year.

At MSD, our Give to Grow Commitment supports the ongoing improvements and social interactions that allow valuable relationships and a deeper sense of belonging to be established impacting the community in a positive manner. The community involvement committee takes a “community in the front, business in the rear” approach.

    1. Volunteering in the community helps impact each and every person affected by giving them the ability to grow and feel the love of the community. Helping out our community not only creates goodwill but also helps improve the area making it a better place to live and work.
    2. Another impact is that the Give to Grow Committee makes the employees feel proud to be associated with the company, and it also makes them feel better about their work personally. Volunteer options help build a positive culture within a company and can also influence teamwork in the workplace.

Preble Shawnee High School Case Study – Camden, Ohio

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TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION: Mechanical Jr. High/ High School EducationSCOPE OF WORK:
Upgrade the mechanical systems and add central cooling capabilities to the Jr. High, High school building.
• Over 9,800 feet of new Hydronic Piping
• (1) 289.5 Ton Screw Chiller
• (80) Unit Ventilators
• (10) Air Handling Units
• (7) VAVs
• (21) Cabinet Unit Heaters
• (7) Horizontal Unit Heaters
• (1) Duct Mounted Reheat Coil
• (3) New Boilers with a total Capacity of
7,497,000 BTU/h
• (2) HHW Primary Pumps
• (2) CHW Primary Pumps
BUILDING FEATURES:
• Junior High/High School Building for the district
SIZE OF PROJECT:
• 160,420 sq/ft
CONTRACTED VALUE:
• Original Contract – $2,192,438.00
• Final Contract – $2,207,461.00
LENGTH OF CONSTRUCTION PROJECT:
• 3 Months 12 days
CONSTRUCTION COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITIES BASED ON MERIT:When bidding a project, our estimators will send out a request for proposal to our database of pre-qualified subcontractors/suppliers. When awarding the contract/purchase orders for this project, we considered the amountof the bid, as well as the experience of the subcontractor/supplier with the type of work associated with this project.

 

The Preble Shawnee Junior High School and the Senior High School are combined into one very large, 160,420 sq/ft building and the school board was needing the addition of a central cooling system to the whole campus. Prior to the Covid-19
pandemic, the schedule for installations and upgrades would take place during the summer months when the students were out of school. It turned out that all work was needing to be done during the Covid-19 pandemic, with mechanics having to maintain safe working distances while maintaining the tight installation schedule.
The scope of work consisted of:
• Over 9,800 feet of new hydronic piping
• (1) 289.5 Ton screw chiller
• (80) unit ventilators
• (10) air handling units
• (7) VAVs
• (21) cabinet unit heaters
• (7) horizontal unit heaters
• (1) duct mounted reheat coil
• (3) new boilers with a total Capacity of 7,497,000 BTU/h
• (2) hot water heater Primary Pumps
• (2) chilled water Primary Pumps

To start things, we removed 10 existing air handlers either by removing the existing louvers or by taking the units apart and transporting them down the hallways and out of the building. The mechanical room had to be completely demolished and installed with new boilers, piping, pumps, valves, and controls. The existing breeching was modified to only accept the existing domestic water heaters. The new boilers are highefficient and required separate flues for each new boiler. Care was taken to ensure proper service clearance was maintained on each new piece of equipment. CO2 sensors were installed in all the classrooms to bring in outside air, based on occupied mode and current CO2 levels within the area. The new Unit Vents also came with enthalpy controls to allow for “free” cooling when outside air conditions are ideal. This will minimize the run time on the chiller and keep additional electrical cost to a minimum.

The project had a tight schedule from the start with the amount of manpower we had available, and upon mobilizing, it was brought to our attention the factory which supplied the blowers motors for the new unit vents had been shut down due to Covid-19 and we did not know if we were going to receive the unit vents in time to get them installed. We determined that we could meet the scheduled end date by working some additional hours and adding a few people to assist if we could get the unit vents on-site by July 1, 2020.

That was our drop-dead date to still meet the schedule for school to open on-time. In the first 42 working days, we were working diligently on gettingthe main mechanical room complete, the AHUs replaced, and the new chilled water
and heating hot water piping installed within 5’ of the new unit vents. Final confirmation of the unit vents was scheduled to be delivered on July 1, 2020 and that would allow us only 34 working days to remove the existing unit vents, install, test/flush, insulate and commission the 80 new unit vents. Originally, we had a total of 75 working days to include this in our tasks to complete. In addition, we did not want to demolish the existing unit vents without having the new ones
on-hand first, because once we started the removal, there was no turning back. At the time of the removal, school was to be back in session on-time, and an order had not been issued from the governor at that point for remote learning for the
district, so we continued our push for a quick installation.

Not only did we have a delay with the blower motors, but AHU-10 was delayed by 21 days and did not ship out until July 1, 2020. So now we also had to fit in AHU- 10 replacement, all (80) unit vents and 28-unit heaters, all to be replaced in the 34- day period. The unit heaters did not ship until July 16, 2020 which means we were cutting it close on the unit heater installation. Working around the existing services in the building brought about issues with the installation of our new services above the ceiling. We had to strategically find locations to route our piping and minimize offsets up or down to limit the amount of vents and drains in the system.
The entire project took three months and 12 days to substantial completion with a total of 8,499 installation hours.

-Greg Norris, Project Manager

 

Plumber Keith Fortin as Craft Professional of the Year for the 2021 ABC Awards Submission

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MSD is proud to nominate Plumber Keith Fortin as Craft Professional of the Year for the 2021 ABC awards program. Keith is currently a Plumbing/Piping foreman for MSD and is responsible for leading all sizes of projects from start to finish and provide organized, professional, and high-quality installation of all plumbing and piping-related work.

Keith has been an important addition to the MSD Construction team for 15 years and has been involved in the trade for more than 35 years. The most recent project Keith worked on and completed was the Speedway Corporate building in Enon, Ohio. This was a very fast-paced and challenging job with multiple floors and Keith oversaw all plumbing and Hydronic piping install from underground to finish. The General contractor for Speedway was Gilbane Construction and Keith received many praises for his abilities during and upon completion of this job. Keith has many attributes that make him a good plumber but more so a better employee and better person. Keith is well known for his strong work ethic and diversity at working or operating equipment and the fact he never misses a day of work. He also can fit into any role whether working alongside others to reach a completion goal or overseeing a
project and driving towards each daily production goal to achieve a high-quality installation for the user and/ or customer.

Keith served in the U.S. Army from 1979 – 1983 as a heavy equipment operator and carried a Sergeant rank, with most of his time serving in Germany. Keith spent time in New Jersey working for his father who was a master plumber and established his own business in Pennsylvania until moving to Ohio where he has lived with his wife since. He and his wife live in Vandalia where they raised their daughter and is now spend time with their three-year-old granddaughter. His hobbies include camping, Nascar racing, cornhole, and Euchre card parties with friends.

Plumbing professionals like Keith are becoming very scarce in our trade these days and MSD and myself appreciate the fact that Keith passes along his techniques and help train our younger apprentices and journeyman to be as great and highly trained as he is, as well as promoting and teaching a hard work ethic.

Randy Metcalf
Plumbing\Piping Superintendent

Speedway Corporate Headquarters Case Study – Enon, Ohio

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TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION: Plumbing & Mechanical – Commercial

SCOPE OF WORK:
Installation of Plumbing & Mechanical systems for a
new office building, including but not limited to;
• 27,400+ feet of plumbing piping
• 127,300+ pounds of metal ductwork
• (9) Air Handler Units
• (2) Boilers
• (2) Domestic Hot Water Heaters
• (170) VAVs
• (19) Exhaust Fans, Relief Fans, Supply Fans, &
Gravity Vents
• (2) Air Cooled Screw Chillers
• (1) VRF System
• A new BAS system
BUILDING FEATURES:
• (4) Levels of Office Space
• Full Service Commercial Kitchen
• Connector Wings to Two Existing Office Buildings
SIZE OF PROJECT:
• 143,050 sq/ft
CONTRACTED VALUE:
• Original Contract – $5,422,260
• Final Contract – $5,860,910
LENGTH OF CONSTRUCTION PROJECT:
• 12 Months
PERCENTAGE OF WORK SELF-PERFORMED:
• 79%
CONSTRUCTION COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITIES BASED ON MERIT:
• When bidding a project, our estimators will send out a request for proposal to our database of pre-qualified subcontractors/suppliers. When awarding the contract/purchase orders for this project, we considered the amount of the bid, as well as the experience of the subcontractor/supplier with the type of work associated with this project.

Mechanical Systems of Dayton Inc. entered into an agreement in June of 2019 with Gilbane Building Company for the Plumbing and HVAC Scope of Work for the construction of a new Speedway Campus Expansion Office Building located in Enon, Ohio for a total contract value of $5,860,910. The project consisted of a total of 143,050 S.F. with four floor levels and a mechanical roof penthouse and was asking for substantial completion by the end of June 2020. We had basically one year to fulfill the installation of the following;
HVAC
• Boilers
• Chillers
• Modular Air Handler Units
• Hydronic pumps
• Variable Air Volume Boxes
• Unit heaters & Fan Coils
• Exhaust fans & gravity vents
• Variable Refrigerant Flow Heat Pump System
• Commercial Kitchen Hoods
Plumbing
• (7) Restroom Groups and several individual Restrooms
• (7) Coffee Bars
• Domestic Water Booster Pump System
• Gas Fired Water Heaters
• Equipment Connections to Kitchen Equipment
• Kitchen Waster Interceptor System
• Backflow Preventers
• Natural Gas Piping System

Upon receiving a Letter of Intent, the structural steel was quickly being set in place and the concrete slab on the decking would soon follow. We knew going into this project that there would need to be an expedited coordination effort in order to begin our Scope of Work on schedule. MSD’s Virtual Design Construction team hit the ground running to begin locating the required floor and roof openings along by launching into a whole building coordination process with all mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection trades that would need to produce the first working drawings within 90 days. Although that may sound like an adequate time-frame for the coordination effort, there was much coordination required for this project to begin and stay on schedule and to be considered an overall successful project. The coordination effort included;
• (7) mechanical rooms that housed (6) Modular AHU’s.
• (3) Modular AHU’s located on the roof.
• (170) Variable Air Volume boxes
• Roof Penthouse that consisted of (2) boilers, associated hydronic pumps, and
domestic hot water heaters.
• (2) Air Cooled Screw Chillers located in an exterior chiller yard along with
associated pumps.
• (2) Mechanical riser shafts from the lowest level through the roof.
• Full service commercial restaurant style kitchen.

And while it may seem that the coordination effort for this type of building is straightforward, there were many times that additional design issues would be discovered and would require further details from the design team. This had the potential for pushing back the completion schedule. As the coordination effort was completed floor by floor, our work was ready to begin. MSD is fortunate to have an in-house prefabrication
team and they reviewed the final coordination drawings to identify areas of opportunity for material fabrication which included the following;
• Hot water and chilled water loop piping system.
• Natural gas piping.
• Skid built water closet and urinal carriers for restroom groups which would allow for the Carrier group to be set in place as one unit followed by immediate tie-in of the domestic water and sanitary piping.

We were also able to utilize our pre-fabrication department to build housekeeping pad forms for the HVAC and Plumbing equipment with the required rebar welded in place which allowed for a quicker and more simple installation. The coordination and pre-fabrication not only resulted in labor cost savings, but was a contributing factor in realizing a successful completion of this very time-aggressive project thanks to Team MSD!