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.   

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.

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

TP Implements New Fabrication Method – Fully Prefabricated Mechanical Rooms

Posted on by TP Mechanical

In today’s ever-changing construction environment, TP Mechanical continues to adapt and innovate. We know the challenges of large-scale construction projects, and for over thirty years we’ve answered them with our market-leading, quality-driven fabrication division. As a leader in the fabrication industry, TP continues to push the envelope with new technology and capabilities. We are proud and excited to announce we are now building and pre-assembling entire mechanical rooms in our fabrication facilities.

There are many benefits to pre-assembling a mechanical room offsite. TP’s Distribution Center is an extremely safe and controlled environment where production continues even when there is inclement weather. With a portion of the project’s manpower shifting from the jobsite to our distribution center, onsite assembly requires less time while still achieving a seamless installation process. This strategy also ensures we have eliminated any and all issues before the field installation occurs. This high-level prefabrication allows for us to avoid jobsite delays and meet strict deadlines, which is a continued priority for all our projects.

TP Mechanical was thrilled to utilize this strategy for a new central energy plant at Big Walnut Schools with general contractor, Gilbane Building Company. This energy plant is equipped to provide a total of 1500 tons cooling capacity, twenty-four million BTU’s of heating, which supports the over 350,000 square feet for the new Big Walnut High School and Prairie Run Elementary.

To ensure the installation of piping and equipment went as effortlessly and fast as possible, TP built the entire mechanical room in our 100,000 square foot distribution center. This energy plant consists of (4) six million BTU boilers, (3) 500-ton chillers, hydronic pumps, (2) air separators, (2) expansion tanks, a chemical feeder, (3) 1500-gallon cooling towers, a makeup water system and more.

The mechanical room was completely pre-assembled while the energy plant structure was simultaneously being built.  Once the building was dried-in, the pre-assembled portion of the mechanical room was broken down into segments, then shipped to the jobsite to allow for an efficient and expedited installation. From disassembly to reassembly on-site, the process was performed in a period of four days.

To learn more about TP’s fabrication division, visit https://www.tpmechanical.com/fabrication/. Discover how our team offers unparalleled skill with sophisticated software to generate innovative, customized solutions for your primary challenges.

Unique Needs Call for Custom Solutions through Retro-Commissioning

Posted on by TP Mechanical

Shortly following a remodel of Indiana Farmers Insurance office, located in Carmel, Indiana, the need arose to upgrade the building’s dated HVAC equipment. Due to the enormous size of the existing air handling units and the expense associated with removing the units, TP Indiana’s General Manager, Mark Hunter, and the TP Mechanical Indiana team, worked to propose a creative solution through Retro-Commissioning.

“Taking something old and making it new is an excellent option to avoid unnecessary time and expense,” says Hunter. “Re-purposing older air handling units and re-engineering major components provides an efficient system that operates like new.  Additionally, this retro-commissioned equipment is covered under a new equipment warranty and helps with lowering maintenance costs for the coming years.”

For Indiana Farmers Insurance, TP completely replaced the system components on (4) air handling units to include a new blower motor, blower wheel, bearings, blower shaft and pulleys. Additionally, the old R-22 evaporator coils were replaced with custom built R-410A coils and the (4) old roof mounted condensing units were replaced with new energy efficient condensers as well.

TP Mechanical’s team was able to save Indiana Farmers Insurance time, frustration, and a large sum of money by eliminating office demolition which would have been required to entirely remove the old units.

Beyond the Build: High-quality construction is about patient care and treatment

Posted on by TP Mechanical

At the University of Kentucky’s Markey Cancer Center, there is no better phrase then “cancer free and finished with treatment.” Patients who receive this good news ring a large, silver bell to celebrate.  Everyone within earshot joins in this special moment alongside the patient with loud cheers and claps. This is one of the many ways Markey provides compassionate care to cancer patients and it’s one reason TP Mechanical was honored to have a role in the recent brachytherapy expansion project (part of an overall expansion of radiation medicine at UK Healthcare).

The project, which is a 7,000 square foot expansion, included excavation, expansion, and modification of an existing basement treatment room and waiting area space between the Markey Cancer Center and Pavilion H. It also includes installation of a new Varian linear accelerator to go with the center’s existing two. The linear accelerator (LINAC) customizes high energy x-rays or electrons to conform to a tumor’s shape and destroy cancer cells while sparing surrounding normal tissue. This state-of-the-art equipment enables Markey to provide the latest care to cancer patients and allows more patients to be seen in less time.

TP Mechanical provided all of the prefabricated plumbing and HVAC piping in the new addition, which was brought in on racks to hang all in one piece. They also installed all air handling units and duct work through the new portion of the hospital. Every aspect of the project is precisely designed around the cancer treatment equipment for maximum efficiency and highest quality patient care. Throughout the project, an  Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) barrier has kept the construction area from infiltrating the existing and operational hospital space which has eliminated treatment downtime. The project is nearing 80 percent completion, with an expected completion date of June 1.

Aside from the tremendous opportunity to contribute to Kentucky’s only NCI-designated cancer center, members of the TP Mechanical team have gained much from being on this project. Recently, an older gentleman rang the big silver bell and everyone in the room and in the adjacent construction area stopped to cheer and high five in celebration of this man and his family. Dennis Warren, superintendent on the project for TP Mechanical, said, “This is why we do what we do.”

Construction Manager:

Whiting-Turner

Other Team Members:

Marillia Design & Construction

JRA Architects

Baker Concrete

Davis H. Elliot Company

TP TEAM:

Rodney Bishop, Project Manager

Dennis Warren, Superintendent

Owners Representative:

David Lockhart, Chief Radiation Therapist at the University of Kentucky Medical Center