Project Management


SMACNA’s project management resources and educational programs provide members with the necessary tools to help them manage projects efficiently, safely and on-time.

Book

HVAC Systems - Understanding the Basics

SMACNA's HVAC Systems-Understanding the Basics is a comprehensive non-technical manual written to provide an overview of HVAC systems used in residential, commercial, and institutional buildings. The manual addresses HVAC System Basics, Central Heating and Central Cooling Equipment, Hydronic and Air Distribution Systems, Central HVAC Systems, HVAC System Controls and the components that comprise these systems. This manual can be used for self-study, group training, or reference.


  • Dollar SignPDF $145.00

January 27-30, 2025

MEP Innovation Conference

The technology conference for mechanical, electrical, plumbing, service and sheet metal contractors on industry innovations in software, tools, and technologies.


  • Location Los Angeles, CA
  • Calendar Date Jan/27 - Jan/30 2025

November 10-13, 2024

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Project Managers Institute

Covers the essential skills of effective project management for project managers, including management/leadership, project planning, time management, change order management, and more.


  • Location Austin, TX
  • Calendar Date Nov/10 - Nov/13 2024

Contracts Bulletin

Contracts Bulletin #125: COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate for Federal Contractors

On September 9, 2021, President Biden signed Executive Order 14042, “Ensuring Adequate COVID Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors.” The Executive Order requires that federal department and agency contracts include a contractual clause forcing all contractors and subcontractors to comply with COVID-19 safety guidance published by the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force (the “Task Force”). 

MEMBER UPDATE

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Participate in a New NHF Study on Project Risks

Over the past several years, the project risk environment has become substantially more one-sided and challenging with risk shedding efforts by CMs, GCs, and designers. This alarming and apparent trend has in turn created significant impacts on trade contractors, including SMACNA members.

SMACNews Jun 29 2021

Design-Build Delivers Best Possible Outcomes

Being an engineer and running a full mechanical contracting company, I appreciate the benefits of bringing together architects or engineers and different trades to discuss projects before they are on the jobsite.

SMACNews Jun 29 2021

Choosing the Right Metal for Architectural Design

Stainless steel will never corrode or rust. Aluminum is too expensive for many applications. And zinc is quick to deteriorate. L. William “Bill” Zahner III said those beliefs are common among architects and designers in the architectural metals industry. They’re also wrong. 
 

Contracts Bulletin Jun 03 2021

Contracts Bulletin #118 (2.0) : Force Majeure Provisions: COVID-19

Updated June, 2021. Over the last year, many industries have experienced supply delays and workforce shortages resulting from the spread of COVID-19. The construction industry certainly was not immune to these issues. The current situation serves as a good reminder to review and understand contract provisions that cover unforeseen construction delays.

Contractor Operations Manual Jan 08 2021

Proven Practices for Conducting Successful Virtual Meetings

This publication covers the importance of foremen meetings to the success of a project. Meetings not only encourage collaboration by bringing stakeholders together, they help hold all parties accountable for on-time project completion. COVID-19 concerns and related safety protocols have mandated the need for increased virtual meetings, bringing the use of new technologies and communications and tracking tools to the forefront of project management. 

With regular meetings critical in construction, firms will continue to look for ways to limit on-site meetings while ensuring access to information, engaging participants and tracking accountability through virtual meetings and other technologies.

This document is free to members in the SMACNA Store.


  • Dollar SignPDF $75.00

Contractor Operations Manual Dec 18 2020

Integrated Project Delivery Guide

This Guide provides an overview of the Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) method from the perspective of sheet metal, HVAC, and mechanical contractors and can serve as a guide for those interested in expanding their market share into healthcare and other IPD market sectors.

IPD is found at the intersection of quality, cost and scheduling on a construction project where project teams, systems, business structures, and practices are all working collaboratively and tapping into the talents and insights of all team members in an effort to optimize efficiencies and reduce redundancies or waste throughout the construction life cycle (e.g., design, fabrication, installation, etc.).

This document is free to members in the SMACNA Store.


  • Dollar SignPDF $75.00

Webcast Aug 07 2020

Pandemics and Productivity

This webcast breaks down the New Horizons Foundation report on Pandemics and Productivity in easy-to-understand pieces and explains how contractors can use the findings.

New Horizons Foundation Jul 16 2020

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Pandemics and Productivity: Quantifying the Impact

Before these findings were issued, no specific resource existed to help contractors quantify the cost impacts of lost productivity working under pandemic-driven protocols. The New Horizons Foundation and ELECTRI International, the National Electrical Contractors Association’s foundation, commissioned this report assessing the productivity impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

Contracts Bulletin Apr 17 2020

Contracts Bulletin: COVID-19: Increased Construction Costs

Many subcontractors have faced additional costs associated with performing work at jobsites during the COVID-19 outbreak. These additional COVID-19-related costs come in many forms, including extra hand-washing stations, before-shift health checks, and larger quantities of personal protective equipment such as gloves, masks, and goggles. Learn more about several common construction contract provisions that could allow subcontractors to recover costs incurred as a result of COVID-19.

Webinar Mar 21 2020

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Webinar: Federal Procurement Overview

The first webinar on the subject of contracting with the Federal Government explains what many other contractors have already discovered — how easy and profitable working for the Federal Government can be for your business.

Contractor Operations Manual Jul 19 2019

Strategies and Tools for Effective Procurement

Explore the importance that procurement has on the success of a construction project. 

Procurement on a construction project can account anywhere from 15% to 70% of a projects direct costs, yet this area is not often given the same weight as managing the risk of construction labor on a project. An effective procurement plan for any contractor should be focused on delivering the right material, at the right time, to the right location for the right price

This document covers the elements of an effective procurement plan, different methods for contracting materials, and tools to  manage that procurement. 

This document is free to members in the SMACNA Store.


  • Dollar SignPDF $75.00

Contractor Operations Manual May 01 2019

Contractors Role in Preconstruction Planning

In the construction industry, project success depends on planning in schedule, cost, design, and other deliverables. That planning includes the organization of the resources (people, equipment, and tooling) and costs (materials and labor) to perform at the right time (scheduling).

The goal of preconstruction planning is to standardize the planning process, leading to predictability in resources, costs, and scheduling for each project.  This manual focuses  on the general processes a contractor must perform to implement preconstruction planning and how to manage a designer and the design aspects of the process. Also covered is the use of technology in preconstruction.

This document is free to members in the SMACNA Store.


  • Dollar SignPDF $75.00

SMACNews Apr 29 2019

University Innovation Center Designed for Collaboration

The roof and façade design for a new academic building project created “the perfect blend of high-tech and natural esthetics” for the University of Maryland’s new Brendan Iribe Center for Computer Science and Engineering, according to Scott Callaway of Overly Custom Metal Systems.

Contractor Operations Manual Dec 01 2018

Transforming Your Organization for the Future

Transforming Your Organization for the Future takes a hard look at why lean transformation using a “kitting strategy” is a true, long-term, strategic solution to manpower shortages, pricing pressure, and schedule compression.

This addition to the Contractors Operations Manual contains detailed case studies about contractors who have adopted this technique and experienced long-term, meaningful competitive advantages.

Companies that have adopted this strategy have experienced cost savings, labor productivity, increased manufacturing, reduced install times, less field manpower, material savings, improved safety, improved quality, schedule reduction, customer satisfaction, business growth, and opportunity.

This document is free to members in the SMACNA Store.


  • Dollar SignPDF $75.00

Resource

Lean construction methods: efficient work, happy customers

This article describes how lean construction is a way of working that reduces waste, increases efficiency, helps the environment, and allows for working smarter, not harder. But while the concept is one that has unofficially been practiced in the unionized sheet metal industry for years, the ITI is leading an effort to make the concept more standardized in apprentices’ training.