A WAY OF LIFE

Posted on by TP Mechanical

Our first core value is “Safety First, Always First,” and we relentlessly pursue the highest standard of safety so we can send each of our employees home to their families injury-free, every night. Achieving and maintaining the safest environment possible takes teamwork, employee involvement and commitment from all levels of management. Here’s how we do it: 

STRONG FOUNDATION  

  • The foundation of our safety culture is employee buy-in and management support, which creates a safety-first environment at all levels of the organization.  

 DAY ONE IMPLEMENTATION 

  • All employees, office and field, must complete the OSHA 10-hour training before new employee orientation. 
  • Once this is completed, we outline our policies and procedures, which exceed OSHA standards, during our half-day orientation. 

CONTINUOUS TRAINING 

  • Field team members participate in weekly safety meetings, Toolbox Talks, Job Safety Analyses and receive 30 hours of OSHA training per year. 
  • Office staff complete 10 hours of OSHA training per year and participate in weekly safety meetings. 

APPLY AND EDUCATE  

  • When a question of safety does arise, the safety team has a discussion with those involved, gathering information about the circumstances and asking employees what could have been done differently to make the task safer.  

OPEN-DOOR POLICY  

  • Employees are empowered to bring concerns, questions, suggestions and accolades to their superiors.  

IMMEDIATE REPORTING 

  • All safety incidents are reported immediately to President and CEO Bill Riddle, as they occur, to keep him informed of what is happening at the ground level. 

BE YOUR BROTHER’S KEEPER  

  • We foster the mindset that we look out for one another and ensure everyone is following proper safety protocols. 
  • We want all our employees to return home to their families injury-free, every night. 

TEAM MEMBER BUY-IN  

  • Safety at TP Mechanical is not just a standard we uphold. It is a way of life. Our apprentices, our field and office team members and our leadership believe in our safety culture and relentlessly pursue the highest standards of safety. 
  • Our team’s commitment to safety is contagious and often spreads to other organizations working on the same project.   

Save Energy (And Money!) This Winter

Posted on by TP Mechanical

With the rising cost of energy, conservation has become a hot topic. Everyone can do their part to lower energy costs and become more energy efficient. 
 
What Can YOU Do Today to Save Energy? 
    – Change HVAC filters 
    – Invest in smart thermostats and set a schedule 
    – Make sure all windows are sealed 
    – Unplug chargers when you are not using them 

Now Think Big Picture Energy Savings! 
Our service team at TP Mechanical is committed to helping our customers save money when it comes to repairs, replacements and energy efficiency. As part of our preventative maintenance contracts, our service team will look at a customer’s existing piece of equipment, take the number of estimated cooling hours in a year and factor in the kilowatt rate to give an estimated usage cost. Using the same formula, usage cost is then estimated for a new piece of equipment. Comparing the two estimates to show energy savings, the team can determine whether the best course of action is to replace or repair a piece of equipment.  

Call our service team today at (800) 829-1989 to discuss customized energy savings options.   

Safety Education and Communication 

Posted on by TP Mechanical

Safety is not just a standard we uphold. It’s a way of life at TP Mechanical. In 2021, we hit a milestone for company safety, surpassing 7,000,000 safe man hours without a lost time accident. We welcome in 2022 with the same focus and dedication to safety – safety first, always first. 
 
Our safety training, which begins immediately after hiring, goes beyond OSHA requirements and clearly sets expectations for all team members whether they work in the office or field. When a question of safety does arise, the safety team uses the situation as an educational opportunity. The safety team has a discussion with those involved, gathering information about the circumstances and asking employees what could have been done differently to create a safer environment in the future. 
 
At TP we have an open-door policy regarding safety issues. Employees should feel empowered and comfortable to bring concerns, questions, suggestions and accolades to their superiors because they believe in our safety culture and commitment to sending each employee home to their families every night, injury free.

TP’s Service Team Invests in Safety Measures for a 20-acre Chemical Manufacturing Customer

Posted on by TP Mechanical

Thanks to TP’s investment in company safety and our initiative to take safety training to the next level, our service team was awarded a sizable preventative maintenance contract for a chemical manufacturing client in Addyston, Ohio. Located on the Ohio River, the manufacturer’s 20-acre campus houses over 60 buildings, ranging from administrative spaces to large warehouses.

With a facility of this size and the environment of manufacturing chemicals, our team needed to be thoroughly prepared to safely begin work. Thirty days before setting foot on the premises, TP’s 22 team members underwent chemical mask fittings, background checks and drug testing. Additionally, they earned Kentucky Journeyman’s license certifications to prepare for working on the customer’s campus.  

TP’s team completed the manufacturer’s in-house safety course required for those working in a chemical plant. This one-hour course consisted of training on different emergency horn blasts and lights one may hear or see while working in the plant. Our team also participated in an odor test because chemical spills and the resulting smells can arise before the building sensors signal there was an incident. Lastly, they reviewed standard plant procedures, including confidentiality and cell phone use policies and the requirement for every person to have a partner while on the floor.

TP’s number one core value, “Safety First, Always First,” made this project possible. TP’s commitment to safety before, during and after the work made our team an ideal choice for a chemical manufacturer which values safety as much as we do. 

Replace versus Repair? TP’s Capital Assessments Guide Our Service Customers

Posted on by TP Mechanical

TP’s service team is committed to helping our customers save money on costly equipment repairs and unnecessary replacements. For this reason, we have developed a unique capital assessment and planning program for our service customers. 

Our capital assessments are developed annually using equipment data paired with real repair costs tracked within our service software program. We use color coding methods to categorize equipment based on type, age and typical lifecycle. This data, coupled with the service logs, provides our customers with an educated projection of the equipment’s lifespan.  

Armed with this information, the TP service team advises customers on an annual basis on the most cost-effective options and guides budget planning for replacement or repairs for the coming year and beyond. 

While we cannot predict the exact day and time equipment will fail, our capital assessments provide customers with a comprehensive equipment overview so they can make informed decisions and save money. 

To learn more about our capital assessment and preventative maintenance services, contact a TP representative at 513-851-8881. 

A Culture of Safety

Posted on by TP Mechanical

Safety is our number one priority at TP Mechanical. We recently hit another safety milestone having worked 7,000,000 safe man hours without a lost-time accident. Ask us how we continue to be an industry leader in safety, and the answer is simple: We start setting the foundation from day one.  

TP has made a commitment to eliminate injuries from everyday processes. Immediately after getting hired, all new employees, office and field, must complete the OSHA 10-hour training before new hire orientation. Once this is completed, we outline our policies and procedures, which go far beyond OSHA requirements, during our half-day orientation. Clearly outlining our expectations from the beginning empowers all members of our TP team–from the newest employee to our CEO–to put safety at the forefront of everything they do. 

Our President and CEO, Bill Riddle, models this commitment. When Bill walks a job site, employees are encouraged to ask him about safety; having held numerous roles at TP, Bill understands all aspects of the job and takes time to connect with those in the field and share the importance of Safety First, Always First.

TP Helps Ken Anderson Alliance Open Just Brew Coffee House

Posted on by TP Mechanical

Located in Cincinnati, Just Brew Coffee House serves much more than a cup of hot coffee or a fresh pastry. Just Brew is one of several work programs by the Ken Anderson Alliance (KAA)–a nonprofit organization with a mission to create LIVE, WORK and ENGAGE opportunities for adults with disabilities.

Working around a tight schedule to accommodate the grand openings of the Just Brew Coffee House and KAA’s new office spaces, TP was hired to install new plumbing, grease traps and the necessary drainage for the spaces. The TP team worked extended hours, met with plumbing inspectors, and kept the job site as clean as possible (mopping every day before leaving!) to help ensure the project was completed in time for the special openings. 

One week before the scheduled openings, it was discovered that two air conditioning units had been struck by lightning and the remaining functional unit was unable to keep the KAA offices cool against the 90-degree summer heat. The KAA building is also home to the Adult Day Services program that provides support to adults with disabilities, some of whom have medical conditions that can be exacerbated by extreme heat. TP responded immediately and brought four spot coolers into the space to keep employees and day program participants comfortable. This allowed both KAA and Just Brew to continue with the grand openings and their programs as planned until the three HVAC units could be fully replaced. 

TP Mechanical and the Ken Anderson Alliance’s day-to-day activities look different, but we share an important purpose–serve others and provide opportunities to better our communities. We look forward to supporting and partnering with KAA in the future.

To find out more about the Ken Anderson Alliance visit kenandersonalliance.org.

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Adventure Cove Region

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As the HVAC and fire protection contractor for the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium’s new Adventure Cove Region, TP Mechanical had the rare opportunity to work on a project to improve the comfort and safety of sea lions, harbor seals, stingrays and an immersive mixed-species habitat.

Adventure Cove consists of several habitats, including Stingray Bay, Animal Encounters Village and the sea lion holding and habitat pools and underwater viewing building. The HVAC for these new areas in the zoo will provide heating and cooling to keep visitors comfortable, while using heat exchangers to regulate water temperature in the habitats. For our team, one of the most exciting parts of the project was seeing the underwater viewing structure come together. Guests will now be able to walk through a comfortable, conditioned space while watching sea lions and harbor seals interact from above. 

Working within a zoo environment presented new and unique project challenges. In the Animal Encounters Village, exhibit and interpretive designers created an immersive street scene. The detailed exhibits required TP’s fire protection team to work closely with inspectors and designers to ensure equipment provided adequate coverage. With safety as our top priority, our team also guaranteed the sprinkler system was code compliant while maintaining the aesthetic appeal of this habitat.

The project first began in mid-2018 and was completed in July 2020. Our team is excited to have put the TP footprint into this magnificent new region of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.

Other Team Members:

Smoot, Construction Manager

TP Team:

Joel Walter, Project Manager

Evan Reed, Assistant Project Manager

Bringing New Life to St. Catharine College

Posted on by TP Mechanical

Our Kentucky team is currently wrapping-up a 45-day long renovation project near Springfield, Kentucky. The old St. Catharine College will now be the Crown Recovery Center – Addiction Recovery Care Center’s (ARC) newest location.

TP Mechanical’s scope included HVAC and plumbing in two of the buildings on the campus. In the first building, our team installed 17 new VAV boxes, added plumbing for washers and dryers, as well as added and reworked the vent systems to better accommodate a new layout and function. In the second building, our team redesigned the HVAC and added new registers, grilles, and diffusers.

During one of the February winter storms, a shipment of VAV boxes was delayed coming from Atlanta, Georgia. Our supplier, RL Craig, knew of our critical timeframe. Their team went above and beyond to help us remain on schedule by sending a representative to Atlanta and then delivering the material on-site in a timely manner.

“The most challenging aspect of the job was the tight timeframe,” said Assistant Project Manager Chad Trayner. “This type of project would typically take almost three months, but it will be done in about half the time. This was only possible due to the high level of coordination, communication and everyone stepping up to the plate.”

Addiction Recovery Care has over 30 treatment locations. Headquartered in Louisa, Kentucky, they offer a variety of services including detox, full-time and transitional housing, intensive outpatient, outpatient, medically assisted treatment (MAT), job training, and vocational rehabilitation.

Other Team Members:

The Walker Company, General Contractor

Fayette Electrical Services, Inc., Electrician

R. L. Craig Company, Inc., Supplier

TP Field Management Team Members:

Chad Trayner, Assistant Project Manager

Greg Jordan, Superintendent

WOSU Public Media New Headquarters

Posted on by TP Mechanical

TP Mechanical is excited to be part of a special community project opening Spring 2021 – the new WOSU Public Media Headquarters in Columbus, OH. The building is five floors, totaling 52,000 square feet and will include a community studio, an expanded newsroom, broadcast studios, a performance studio and media learning lab. Each space was expertly designed and engineered with special attention to the building’s acoustics to ensure quiet studio spaces.

As the plumbing and HVAC contractor on the project, TP’s focus was precise sequencing which minimalized delays which allowed for quick progression. Additionally, TP utilized 3D BIM coordination – a critical element to guarantee the systems fit in the tight spaces and will avoid any unwanted vibrations in the studio spaces.

The entire construction team, including Messer Construction, Settle Muter Electric, and Valley Interiors, has executed excellent communication throughout the entire job. “Everyone knew it was going to be a project requiring constant communication. This team truly stepped up,” said TP Project Manager, Shawn Stover.

The new headquarters will be well equipped to help grow and engage the community. The mission of WOSU Public Media is to engage, inform and inspire our diverse community. An NPR and PBS affiliate, WOSU is a noncommercial multimedia organization serving over two million citizens in Central Ohio through broadcast, digital, programming, events, and education experiences. If you would like to support the mission of WOSU, please visit wosu.org.

Other Team Members:

Messer Construction, Construction Manager

Settle Muter Electric, Electrician

Valley Interior Systems, Drywall Contractor

Prater Engineering, MEP Engineer

Meyers + Associates, Architect

Russ Berger Design Group, Acoustical Consultant

Ambia, Lighting Designer

TP Team:

Shawn Stover, Project Manager

Jason Shute, Superintendent

Brian Powell, Superintendent

Mike Shoemaker, Foreman

James Keller, Foreman

Chuck Wolcott, Foreman

Neal Mobley, Journeyman Plumber

Ryan Koska, Journeyman Plumber

Victor Espinoza, Sheetmetal Journeyman

Jacob Praither, Apprentice

Tyler Robinson, Apprentice

Jayden Tackett, Apprentice

Dakota Fischer, Sheetmetal Apprentice

Wyatt Fischer, Sheetmetal Apprentice