Specialized Insulation Solutions: RFJ's Role in Maintaining New York's Energy Systems
The Insulation Industry isn’t always seen as glamorous, but when you build a team that has passion for their work, the knowledge and experience they accumulate is truly invaluable.
This has been the key to RFJ Insulation Contractor’s success in the New York Insulation Industry for over 35 years.
RFJ Insulation Contractors is an industrial and commercial power insulation contractor. They specialize in power plant maintenance, serving New York City and the 5 Boroughs. A significant portion of their work involves high-energy piping systems. They are primarily a maintenance-based company, ensuring the continued efficiency and safety of critical infrastructure. Their capabilities include in-house design and fabrication of reusable insulation, such as removable/reusable thermal blankets, insulated panels, and other custom insulation needs. They frequently fabricate blankets for high-heat items, often creating these solutions directly on-site. In fact, a large part of their work involves this type of insulation, commonly known as pad blankets.
Family Owned + Operated
Robert Jelardi Sr. was a General Foreman in charge of a crew of 80 Local 12 union members that worked on Shoreham Nuclear Power Plant, in New York. When the plant decided to shut down, Robert saw an opportunity and took a leap of faith to establish RFJ Insulation Contractor in 1990. This marked the beginning of his focus on power plant work.
New York Power Plants Trust RFJ
By specializing in power plant insulation work, particularly the maintenance of these systems, RFJ Insulation Contractor has become a trusted partner for New York Power Plants. An impressive 90% of RFJ’s projects are power plant maintenance jobs.
The company has worked with major entities like Con Edison and the New York Power Authority, serving all the primary power plants that power the New York City grid.
“We like our niche. We know what we’re good at, and we take pride in that,” said RFJ Supervisor Victor Galasso.
Specialty Work
A significant part of RFJ Insulation Contractors' specialty work involves boilers. A smaller job might involve a boiler in a building's boiler room, perhaps powering a small structure, such as a package boiler, or larger projects can involve massive, 11-story high boilers, often turbine-generated and filled with hot water, with turbines operating at around 1200 degrees. Their expertise also extends to the high-energy piping associated with these and other industrial systems.
New York City relies on underground tunnels and steam lines located 200ft beneath Manhattan. The RFJ team also provides maintenance for fire suppression system tanks that support the entire New York City area, extending from Manhattan to Astoria and Queens.
Safety Requirements
This type of specialized work necessitates strict safety measures to ensure the well-being of journeymen. They often work on very hot pipes that are essential main lines for the city. The high-energy piping they handle requires particular attention to safety protocols.
The nature of the work RFJ Insulation Contractor undertakes, and the potentially hazardous materials they encounter, demand rigorous safety protocols.
RFJ Journeymen are certified to wear half-faced respirators. They are also required to be physically fit for these projects and must pass an annual physical exam.
Competitive Advantage
Journeyman retention can be challenging in this industry, but RFJ Insulation Contractor has a strong track record. Robert F Jelardi Jr. was a Local 12 journeyman, and now President, who has been with the company for 35 years.
“There isn’t a single thing he doesn’t know how to do,” Victor commented.
Given the specialized work RFJ handles daily, having the right team is crucial. Teachability and mentorship are highly valued. While journeymen complete a 4-year apprenticeship, on-the-job experience is where true expertise is gained. Victor explained, “If you don't have good guys who take the time to show you how to do it, you can't run a business. At all. You need the experienced guys, who have been doing it for 30 years, to teach the younger guys.” This is particularly important when dealing with the intricacies of reusable insulation and high-energy piping systems.
Victor himself learned from a colleague who had been an Insulator for over 37 years. He worked alongside him as a first-year apprentice, and this mentor taught him everything he knows.
Victor attributes his success to this mentorship, stating, “If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be where I am at. I would have been able to go wherever and work because I learned from someone with that kind of knowledge.”
Finding the right, passionate individuals and fostering loyalty and longevity within your team are key to scaling your business, especially in a maintenance-focused environment dealing with specialized materials like reusable insulation.
“They have a passion for it. It’s tough to find people that have a passion for it – it’s not a glorious industry,” Victor remarked.
4 Generations of ICA
The RFJ team’s connection to the ICA spans an impressive three generations. Robert F Jelardi Jr. and his Son-in-Law Victor Galasso are currently active ICA members, with Victor serving on the ICA Board.
The ICA has provided numerous benefits for RFJ, including education, travel opportunities, and a strong sense of community. The more contractors that actively participate, the greater impact the ICA can have on the industry as a whole.