Class tells MCAA members how to lower low-lead risks

The Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA) did its part to educate its members about low-lead plumbing products during a workshop March 18 at its annual convention in San Antonio, Texas. The new federal law, which goes into effect Jan. 4, 2014, modifies the existing U.S. Safe Drinking Water Act to a standard enacted in 2010 by California and Vermont. It will require that any valve, fitting or fixture coming in contact with potable water have a weighted average of less than 0.25% lead content.

The “Lead-Free: It’s Coming, Are You Prepared?” presentation featured Frank Schaetzke, Zurn Industries’ vice president of national accounts; Sean Martin, Zurn’s senior director of sales; and Bill Tavenner, Ferguson Enterprises’ vice president of commercial business development. The workshop sought to give MCAA members ideas to minimize their exposure, inventory depletion and bid risk.

“Our industry can learn from the experiences of California and Vermont,” Martin said. “In those states, manufacturers, suppliers and contractors had to convert their entire roster of metal fittings, solder and pipe, which caused problems with inventory, material acquisition and bidding. By preparing early, Zurn has provided a successful example to avoid that scenario.”

More details about Zurn’s lead-free products and lead-free conversion can be found at www.zurn.com/LeadFree.