Mechanical contractors in Windsor and London saw record workloads in 2021 after COVID-19 sparked concerns about air quality and led to widespread upgrades of ventilation systems across virtually every sector.

The Mechanical Contractors Association of Windsor said the trend will continue through 2022, along with an increasing shortage of skilled trades people in Southern Ontario.

“We’re looking at a total increase in activity in residential, commercial, institutional and industrial sectors,” said association president David Holek. “We’re getting it from every direction, all of sudden. Some of it has had to do with COVID and it will continue probably for another year or so. Everybody’s got more concerned about the air we breathe every day inside of buildings, so there’s been an uptick in work for improvement in air quality inside buildings.”

Before the pandemic, about 10 per cent of the air circulated by Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems in institutional buildings came from outside, according to the contractors association.

Systems are now being upgraded to increase outdoor air to 20 per cent or more, and in some cases up to 100 per cent.

The Mechanical Contractors Association of Windsor saw a 15 per cent increase in work for members doing HVAC upgrades in schools, universities, medical offices and other buildings in 2021. Holek said that’s an increase of about 45,000 man-hours. Another 15 per cent increase is forecasted for 2022.

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