Supply Chain Issue Forecast

In 2020, while manufactured equipment shipments were up, commercial building construction was down. This certainly impacts the HVAC contracting community.

Many HVAC contractors faced shortages in crucial components during 2020 (mostly attributed to workforce issues cause by COVID-19 absences) in the distribution channel. General contractors also felt this.

According to Associated Builders and Contractors Chief Economist Anirban Basu, many general contractors experienced repeated interruptions in project work. ‘Acquiring key materials and equipment has also become more difficult, with occasional price shocks for certain commodities.

‘With vaccinations proceeding apace, many contractors will benefit from fewer interruptions going forward and the restart of many postponed projects,’ Basu says.

Trends and Predictions

For the HVAC Industry at large, technology waits for no one. Our 2021 commercial market forecast shows bellwether winds of change pushing advancements in smart technology, refrigerant development, and renewable energy. All of these impact the progress toward building safety and control which bodes well for the entire construction market.

Now is the time for more HVAC contractors to begin incorporating a more holistic view of system technology. Such a view should include ventilation.

They can do this with better-trained technicians focused on testing, measuring, repairing, and balancing. Then they can prove to building owners and facility managers that their HVAC systems deliver what they are designed to deliver.

As a result of the pandemic, the commercial HVAC market is on the edge of a terrific growth spurt.

Add in the continuous aging of equipment, better technology, and better ways to test and prove that systems are operating as designed, and contractors can look forward to a much better year in 2021 and beyond.