SMACNA-BC Summer Updates

The SMACNA-BC Board of Directors held their monthly board meeting in the Surrey office and are pleased to announce Bernie Antchak of Northwest Sheet Metal as the Association’s 2011 Vice-President.

Bernie Antchak is a co-owner/operator of Northwest Sheet Metal Ltd. located in Surrey, BC. Bernie’s sheet metal career began after graduation. He had many different jobs all while his brother Dave worked within Local Union No. 280 as a sheet metal worker. This career path caught Bernie’s interest and a few months later he was a material man for Mercury Metals and waiting for his apprenticeship interview.

After the interview, he was placed with Viaduct Sheet Metal and had a great experience developing his skills as a tradesman and a foreman. In the early 2000’s Bernie ventured out with a partner to start their own company. This was a short-lived encounter with much gained experience. With this learned experience, in 2005 Bernie and Dave established Northwest Sheet Metal. Northwest started off without a lot but soon grew into specializing in fabrication and installation of ductwork ventilation. In July 2009, Northwest secured and purchased a 12,000-square foot building on an acre lot in Surrey, BC and began operating from it November 2009.

Bernie lives and works with his supportive wife Tricia and his two children, Karissa and Jacob. The Antchak clan enjoy participating in various industry functions as it has become a large part of Bernie’s life, and to a degree, theirs as well.
Bernie looks forward to serving SMACNA-BC for many years to come and feels privileged that other contractors have given him the opportunity to do so.

Contact Bernie at Northwest Sheet Metal Ltd., 19337 Enterprise Way, Surrey, BC, V3S-6J8. by calling 604.530.0038 or sending email to bernie@northwestsheetmetal.ca.Visit www.northwestsheetmetal.ca.

New Northern BC Regional Director

On June 21, SMACNA-BC President Joe Toso and myself made a trip up to Prince George for the Annual Northern BC Membership meeting at the Aberdeen Glen Golf and Country Club and are pleased to announce Brad Popoff, Equity Plumbing and Heating as the Association’s new Northern BC Regional Director.

Brad Popoff is the owner/operator of Equity Plumbing and Heating Ltd. located in Prince George, BC. EPH is a full Division 15 Mechanical Contractor and operates in the Bid Spec and Design Build market. Brad began his career in the Mechanical industry at Alpha Mechanical, where he worked as an Estimator. Brad then moved on to Equity Plumbing and Heating where he held the title Estimator and Project Manager before becoming the President in 2010.

Brad holds a Diploma of Technology in Mechanical Engineering and a Bachelor of Technology in Construction Management from BCIT. Brad also obtained his Gold Seal Certificate as Mechanical Estimator and sits on the Board of Directors for the Mechanical Contractors Association of BC and the Prince George Construction Association.

Brad lives in Prince George with his wife Stephanie and son Zachary were they enjoy recreational outdoor activities such as boating and hiking. Contact Brad at Equity Plumbing & Heating Ltd., 881 Fourth Avenue, Prince George, BC V2L 3H5. by calling 250.563.1191 or emailing brad@equityplumbing.ca. Visit www.equityplumbing.ca.

SMACNA “Rectangular Industrial Duct Standard” now ANSI accredited

SMACNA’s Rectangular Industrial Duct Construction Standard, (IP) 2nd edition, 2004, was recently accredited as an American National Standard (ANSI).

The standard is intended for use by contractors, fabricators, and designers of air pollution control, pneumatic conveyance, and industrial ventilation systems. It covers the simple, low or moderate temperature and pressure (or vacuum) indoor systems as well as the more complex outdoor systems that operate at moderate to high temperature and pressure (or vacuum), and are subject to higher and more complex external loading.

The manual is based on generations of firsthand experience from SMACNA’s industrial contractors, physical testing, finite element analysis studies, and design guidance related to the issue of nonlinear elastic buckling of duct side panels on rectangular industrial duct.