The Field Report - The Field Report (Page 2)

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PHCC Names Dan Quinonez as Next CEO After Sheridan Retires

The Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors—National Association announced in May 2026 that CEO Cindy Sheridan will retire at the end of this year. The PHCC board of directors unanimously selected COO Dan Quinonez as her successor. Quinonez also serves as executive director of the PHCC Educational Foundation. He will take

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New Hampshire Vocational School Gets $1,500 Electrical Tool Grant

Bring Back the Trades awarded its first Tool Grant to Manchester School of Technology in Manchester, New Hampshire, in September 2026. The program provided a professional-grade electrical toolkit valued at $1,500, funded through Milwaukee Tool. The grant is part of a broader initiative to equip vocational programs with

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HARDI Study: HVACR Distribution Supports 101,000 Jobs Nationwide

Heating, Air-conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International released a study in September 2026 showing HVACR wholesale distribution directly supports 101,817 jobs across the United States. The industry generates $32.9 billion in annual economic output. The study also found the industry contributes $17.8 billion in value added to

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HVACR Distributors Generate $32.9 Billion in Economic Output

Heating, Air-conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International released an economic impact study in September 2026 showing that HVACR wholesale distribution generates $32.9 billion in annual economic output across the United States. The first-of-its-kind study found the distribution channel directly supports 101,817 jobs. It contributes $17.

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HVAC Trade Groups Push to Delay September 2026 GFCI Deadline

The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute told the National Electrical Code technical committee in late August that the September 1, 2026 compliance deadline for HVAC GFCI requirements should be delayed. AHRI and ACCA reported that compatibility issues between GFCI products and HVAC equipment remain unresolved. Test data shows HVAC

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HVACR Wholesale Distribution Supports 101,817 Jobs Nationwide

Heating, Air-conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International released an economic impact study in September 2026. The study shows that HVACR wholesale distribution directly supports 101,817 jobs across the United States. The industry generates $32.9 billion in annual economic output. It contributes $17.8 billion in value added to

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35,000 Sheet Metal Workers Near Retirement, Only Two Enter Per Five Leaving

Workforce The Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association reported on September 30 that approximately 35,000 sheet metal workers are expected to retire soon. More than half of the current workforce is already over age 45. For every five workers leaving the trade, only two new workers

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Four HVAC Groups Ask Feds to Exempt USMCA Gear from Tariffs

HARDI, AHRI, ACCA, and PHCC sent a joint letter on September 2 to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. They requested broad exemptions for HVACR equipment, parts, and components from Section 232 tariffs. The coalition asked that products originating under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement be exempt from duties

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DiversiTech Buys DITEK to Boost Surge Protection Line

DiversiTech Corporation announced on September 2 that it has acquired DITEK, a surge protection manufacturer serving HVAC and electrical contractors. The combined company will offer an expanded portfolio of surge protection and electrical protection products. DiversiTech says the acquisition will provide enhanced technical support for installation and troubleshooting. Contractors working

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OSHA Expands Heat Safety Inspections to 55 High-Risk Industries

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration updated its National Emphasis Program in April 2026. The program now focuses heat safety inspections on 55 high-risk industries, including HVAC contractors. It targets both outdoor and indoor heat hazards based on injury data from 2022-2025 collected by OSHA and the Bureau

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Skilled Trades Shortage Squeezes Construction Industry Hiring

The construction industry faces a persistent shortage of skilled workers across plumbing, electrical, and HVAC trades, according to the Home Builders Institute. Ed Brady, president and CEO of the organization, said experienced workers are leaving the workforce faster than new workers are entering it. This creates pressure on homebuilders, infrastructure

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Trade Groups Ask NEC to Delay HVAC GFCI Requirement

Regulation The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute and the Air Conditioning Contractors of America asked the National Electrical Code technical committee in September to push back the September 1, 2026 GFCI deadline. AHRI told the committee that the current timeline doesn't give the industry enough time to