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Mechanical Contracting

Industry Code: 42122

Compulsory
Industry Custom Pricing - ER

Mechanical contracting is an industry term to describe the plumbing, steam and gas fitting activities conducted in the industry. This is, for the most part, a supply and install industry, which includes the installation, repair and maintenance of various residential, commercial, oilfield, institutional and industrial mechanical systems.

Operation Details:

Mechanical contractors may sell, service and install residential and commercial washroom, kitchen and laundry room fixtures and other similar piping, fittings and fixture service work required in the use and distribution of water in a house or building. A business may also sell and install water softeners, install and service hot tubs, hot water tanks/heaters, humidifiers, and install pool equipment. Services in this industry may also include tapping water lines, auger/clean residential drainage systems.

A mechanical contractor may also do steam and gas fitting service work on commercial and institutional furnaces, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. In the oilfield, a mechanical contractor may service and repair pneumatic equipment and controls used to measure flow line production.

It is recognized some mechanical contractors may concentrate their plumbing, steam or gas fitting work more to the residential and commercial sector, others to the oilfield and industrial sector, and other businesses are diverse and perform mechanical contracting service work across all sectors.

In this industry it is also recognized some businesses may operate a store to sell related plumbing parts, fixtures and accessories. Businesses may employ plumbers, with support from refrigeration or electrical technicians or other technical staff, labourers, carpenters, sales/estimators, store clerks and personnel, office/administrative staff, and warehouse staff, and utilize handtools, pipecutters/benders, solder, racks, forklifts, and trucks.

The installation of Geo-thermal Heating and Cooling Systems requires drilling/trenching operations to locate an underground geo-thermal source (i.e. pond, lake, groundwater). Pipes are then placed in the drilled holes from 75 to 300 feet deep or laid in the trenches that run 100 to 400 feet in length. The piping system is then run from the source to the residential/commercial/institutional premises where a geo-thermal unit provides the controls for heating, central air conditioning and hot water.

A mixture of water/antifreeze (refrigerant) circulating inside the piping system moves from the earth where it absorbs heat and is carried back to the geo-thermal heat pump. The indoor coil and underground piping cause the refrigerant to change state, absorbing and releasing heat through boiling and condensing. The geo-thermal heat pump system requires no fuel; the pumps, fans, controls and small refrigerator-like compressor operate on a small amount of electricity.

All employers in this industry are members of the Alberta Construction Safety Association (ACSA). Safety associations represent the interests of employers and promote workplace safety through education and other initiatives. Improved workplace safety can result in fewer claims and help lower premiums. A portion of premiums collected is allocated to the association to support these initiatives.

Underwriting Considerations:

Generally businesses install, repair or maintain instrumentation and control systems. When these services are part of a contract, the entire operations are classified in the specific industry: mechanical instrumentation industry 42122; refrigeration/air conditioning in industry 89600; heating in industry 42117.

Companies in business solely for installation, repair and maintenance that do not extend into another industry identified above will have their operations classified in industry 42124. This includes pneumatic and all other instrumentation. Electrical contractors providing cabling/wiring services are included in this industry.

Contractors that only provide cabling/wiring services for office computer systems, telephones, etc. are classified in industry 42128.

Employers engaged in providing services relating to mechanical contracting, including any combination of plumbing, heating, air conditioning or refrigeration work will be classified in the industry within the Mechanical Contracting Services rate group that represents the majority of work done. Typically employers are classified in only one industry within a rate group.

Industrial boiler installation is classified in industry 42109. Businesses that sell, service and install furnaces, and other heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment are classified in industry 42117.

Industry Custom Pricing: Modified Experience Rating

This industry has chosen to participate in Industry Custom Pricing effective January 1, 2011. For employers participating in the Experience Rating Plan for Large Employers, the following experience rating features will be used in determining your premium rate:
-Maximum discount or surcharge of 60%
-Maximum participation of 100%
-Maximum experience used of 100%
-Participation rate of 1% for every $2000 in premiums

Premium Rate History:

Activities:

Drain and Sewer Cleaning Using Electric Augers
Gasfitting
Mechanical Contracting
Swimming Pool Equipment - Maintenance and Service
Swimming Pools, Metal and Plastic - Installation
Tank Liners - Fabrication, Sale and Installation
Water Lines - Tapping of
Water Slides - Installation
Water Softening Equipment - Sale/Rent/Install/Service
Plumbing
Pond and Pool Liners - Fabricate, Sell and Install
Reservoir Liners - Fabrication, Sale and Installation
Sewer and Drain Cleaning Using Electric Augers
Sewer Lines - Thawing and Clearing of
Slides, Water - Installation of
Steamfitting - Residential/Commercial

Rate Group History:

For 1997, a number of 'systems' industries were placed in rate group 426100 in recognition of similar activities and exposures relating to 'systems' equipment and service, and significant overlap and competition.

Mechanical contracting is an industry term to describe the plumbing, steam and gas fitting activities conducted in the industry. This is, for the most part, a supply and install industry, which includes the installation, repair and maintenance of various residential, commercial, oilfield, institutional and industrial mechanical systems.

Premium Rate History:

Activities:

Drain and Sewer Cleaning Using Electric Augers
Gasfitting
Mechanical Contracting
Swimming Pool Equipment - Maintenance and Service
Swimming Pools, Metal and Plastic - Installation
Tank Liners - Fabrication, Sale and Installation
Water Lines - Tapping of
Water Slides - Installation
Water Softening Equipment - Sale/Rent/Install/Service
Plumbing
Pond and Pool Liners - Fabricate, Sell and Install
Reservoir Liners - Fabrication, Sale and Installation
Sewer and Drain Cleaning Using Electric Augers
Sewer Lines - Thawing and Clearing of
Slides, Water - Installation of
Steamfitting - Residential/Commercial

Operation Details:

Mechanical contractors may sell, service and install residential and commercial washroom, kitchen and laundry room fixtures and other similar piping, fittings and fixture service work required in the use and distribution of water in a house or building. A business may also sell and install water softeners, install and service hot tubs, hot water tanks/heaters, humidifiers, and install pool equipment. Services in this industry may also include tapping water lines, auger/clean residential drainage systems.

A mechanical contractor may also do steam and gas fitting service work on commercial and institutional furnaces, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. In the oilfield, a mechanical contractor may service and repair pneumatic equipment and controls used to measure flow line production.

It is recognized some mechanical contractors may concentrate their plumbing, steam or gas fitting work more to the residential and commercial sector, others to the oilfield and industrial sector, and other businesses are diverse and perform mechanical contracting service work across all sectors.

In this industry it is also recognized some businesses may operate a store to sell related plumbing parts, fixtures and accessories. Businesses may employ plumbers, with support from refrigeration or electrical technicians or other technical staff, labourers, carpenters, sales/estimators, store clerks and personnel, office/administrative staff, and warehouse staff, and utilize handtools, pipecutters/benders, solder, racks, forklifts, and trucks.

The installation of Geo-thermal Heating and Cooling Systems requires drilling/trenching operations to locate an underground geo-thermal source (i.e. pond, lake, groundwater). Pipes are then placed in the drilled holes from 75 to 300 feet deep or laid in the trenches that run 100 to 400 feet in length. The piping system is then run from the source to the residential/commercial/institutional premises where a geo-thermal unit provides the controls for heating, central air conditioning and hot water.

A mixture of water/antifreeze (refrigerant) circulating inside the piping system moves from the earth where it absorbs heat and is carried back to the geo-thermal heat pump. The indoor coil and underground piping cause the refrigerant to change state, absorbing and releasing heat through boiling and condensing. The geo-thermal heat pump system requires no fuel; the pumps, fans, controls and small refrigerator-like compressor operate on a small amount of electricity.

All employers in this industry are members of the Alberta Construction Safety Association (ACSA). Safety associations represent the interests of employers and promote workplace safety through education and other initiatives. Improved workplace safety can result in fewer claims and help lower premiums. A portion of premiums collected is allocated to the association to support these initiatives.

Underwriting Considerations:

Generally businesses install, repair or maintain instrumentation and control systems. When these services are part of a contract, the entire operations are classified in the specific industry: mechanical instrumentation industry 42122; refrigeration/air conditioning in industry 89600; heating in industry 42117.

Companies in business solely for installation, repair and maintenance that do not extend into another industry identified above will have their operations classified in industry 42124. This includes pneumatic and all other instrumentation. Electrical contractors providing cabling/wiring services are included in this industry.

Contractors that only provide cabling/wiring services for office computer systems, telephones, etc. are classified in industry 42128.

Employers engaged in providing services relating to mechanical contracting, including any combination of plumbing, heating, air conditioning or refrigeration work will be classified in the industry within the Mechanical Contracting Services rate group that represents the majority of work done. Typically employers are classified in only one industry within a rate group.

Industrial boiler installation is classified in industry 42109. Businesses that sell, service and install furnaces, and other heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment are classified in industry 42117.

Industry Custom Pricing: Modified Experience Rating

This industry has chosen to participate in Industry Custom Pricing effective January 1, 2011. For employers participating in the Experience Rating Plan for Large Employers, the following experience rating features will be used in determining your premium rate:
-Maximum discount or surcharge of 60%
-Maximum participation of 100%
-Maximum experience used of 100%
-Participation rate of 1% for every $2000 in premiums

Rate Group History:

For 1997, a number of 'systems' industries were placed in rate group 426100 in recognition of similar activities and exposures relating to 'systems' equipment and service, and significant overlap and competition.