SustainableWorks starts Cross Training Classes

Classes for cross training tradesman from the Sheet metal workers, Electricians, and Pipe Fitters Unions begin on Monday September 29th at the Inland Empire Training Trust on East Ferry St.

Third year apprentice classes from IBEW Local 73 will be the first to receive instruction on HVAC systems, specifically on the plumbing and sheet metal part of the systems which in they past they haven’t been exposed to.

We will ask an Electrician to pipe, pull, and wire a temperature sensor on a chiller’s condenser water return line. He probably doesn’t know the difference between chilled water and condenser water or supply and return so he asks his foreman who probably isn’t sure either. Next one or both of them go looking for the fitter foreman to get clarification. Now we’re tying up the time of three men when a better trained mechanic could have gone right to the task. These classes hope to reduce that wasted time and money with cross training  and thus reducing the cost of the jobs. This makes more retrofits possible by reducing the return on investment time for the customer.

IBEW Local 73, Sheet metal Workers Local 66, and Plumbers and Pipe Fitters Local 44 should all be applauded for their investment in this training which will no doubt benefit our community.

Third year apprentices view a power point presentation in the classroom.

Third year apprentice class in the lab with the "hydronic trainer".

Apprentices Terry Douglas and Trish Matthews watch a proportioning valve modulate.

Shane Turley investigates the Taco zone controllers.

Apprentices Samantha Bentley and Jason Debeaumont look over the Allerton building automation control system donated by local automation contractor, ATS.

Apprentices Lorenzo Boe and Aleksandr Demko check out field control devices on the "building automation trainer".

Apprentice, David Leesen "fires up" the system.

Left to right:  SustainableWorks Project Manager:  Dave Sproull, IBEW Training Director:  Todd Turner, and instructors:  Greg Hudson and Dennis Middleton.

Dave Sproull with "Roof top unit trainer" donated by Sheet Metal Workers Local 66.

JATC Office Manager, Shellee Jaurez-Slaten and IBEW members in front of a sun tracking solar panel system installed at the Inland Empire Training Center by Pick Electric.