How TAB Technicians Save Lives and Improve Air Quality in Schools and Hospitals with Matthew Cole
The ConTechCrewShow Notes
In this episode of The ConTech Crew, host Jeff Sample is joined by Travis Voss and Matthew Cole from Wings Testing and Balancing Co., Inc. to discuss the world of Testing, Adjusting, and Balancing (TAB) and its importance in the construction and HVAC industries. Matthew shares his journey into the industry, explains the crucial role of TAB technicians in building systems, and highlights the significance of proper indoor air quality, particularly in schools and healthcare facilities. From the technical side of balancing HVAC systems to ensuring fire life safety in buildings, Matthew sheds light on the unseen work that keeps buildings safe and operational.
Matthew Cole, based in Hamden, CT, US, is currently a Field Operations Manager at Wing's Testing & Balancing Co., Inc. With a deep passion for ensuring optimal building systems, Matthew now leads a team that specializes in testing and balancing HVAC systems to ensure they meet the design specifications, improving air quality and efficiency in various environments.
Key Learnings: What is Testing, Adjusting, and Balancing (TAB) and how it helps the process of testing HVAC systems. The impact of indoor air quality, especially in schools and hospitals, on health outcomes and productivity. The myths and misunderstandings contractors face, and how their role is often seen as adversarial. The importance of maintaining fire safety systems, including stairwell pressurization and fire dampers. Career opportunities within the TAB field, and how the industry offers a rewarding career path without student debt.
Timestamps: [00:00] – Introduction to the Episode [02:54] – Matthew Cole introduces himself and his background [04:10] – Explanation of the TAB process and how it works [05:58] – The potential adversarial relationships between installers and balancers [08:33] – What a typical day in the TAB industry looks like [13:28] – The impact of good indoor air quality in schools [17:58] – Importance of air quality in critical environments like hospitals [19:49] – Fire safety systems, including stairwell pressurization and smoke exhaust [24:51] – Importance of testing and maintaining fire safety systems regularly [30:14] – How the TAB industry offers stable, well-paying careers [31:52] – Matthew discusses his journey from apprentice to business owner [35:22] – Travis wraps up the interview, emphasizing the impact of the TAB industry
Follow Matthew Cole & Company: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-cole-wingstesting/ Email: [email protected] LinkedIn(Company): https://www.linkedin.com/company/wing-s-testing-balancing-co-inc/ Website (Company): http://www.wingstesting.com/
Follow Travis Voss & Company: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travis-voss/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/travis.voss.336 Website: https://www.constructiondorks.com/ LinkedIn(Company): https://www.linkedin.com/company/smacna/ Website(Company): https://www.smacna.org/ Facebook(Company): https://www.facebook.com/SMACNA Twitter(Company): https://x.com/smacna Instagram(Company): https://www.instagram.com/smacna/
Follow the Host: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ironmanofit/
Follow The ConTech Crew: Website: https://thecontechcrew.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-contechcrew/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheConTechCrew/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecontechcrew/?hl=en Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecontechcrew Twitter: https://x.com/TheConTechCrew
More from The ConTechCrew
In this episode, hosts Jeff Sample and Nathan Hood sit down with Brian Tracy, Director of Construction Management at Ausonio Incorporated, to explore a more sustainable approach to construction technology: people first, process second, product third. Brian shares lessons from his career in construction management, technology strategy, teaching, and training, including the ideas behind Managing Construction Technology. The conversation goes beyond individual tools to examine why technology implementations fail, how owners and construction managers can influence change, the importance of interoperability and shared standards, and why the industry's future may depend more on thoughtful evolution than wholesale disruption.
Construction runs on communication. Superintendents, foremen, subcontractors, suppliers, and project teams make countless decisions through phone calls and conversations every day. The problem is that those decisions don’t always make it into project documentation and a seemingly small missed detail can lead to expensive rework. In this episode of The ConTech Crew, Jeff Sample sits down with Karly Heffernan and Alena Tuttle, co-founders of Hardline, to explore how technology can capture the conversations already happening in the field without forcing construction teams into entirely new workflows.
Trade contractors operate at the center of some of construction’s most complex workflows; estimating, procurement, scheduling, fabrication, field execution, change management, and closeout, yet their critical project data often lives across disconnected systems. In this episode, the crew previews Trimble Dimensions 2026 and sits down with Yael Hanan, co-founder and CEO of Pelles AI, to explore how AI could help trade contractors connect those fragmented systems without forcing them to abandon the tools and workflows they already rely on.
Construction is facing a growing labor shortage while jobsite safety and productivity remain major challenges. In this episode, host Jeff Sample is joined by Shamoon Siddiqui, founder of Human Friendly Robotics, who explains why the future of construction automation isn't humanoid robots. It’s purpose-built robots designed to solve specific, repetitive tasks. From robotic tile installation to intelligent wire pulling, Shamoon shares how robotics can enhance skilled trades by protecting workers' bodies, improving reliability, and helping the industry scale without replacing craftsmanship.
What does it take to launch and grow a successful commercial construction company in today's market? In this episode, host Jeff Sample invites Melissa Drew to share her journey from spending two decades with a national contractor to building a nimble construction management firm focused on large-scale government projects. The conversation explores how smaller contractors can compete with industry giants by prioritizing relationships, quality, planning, and practical technology over unnecessary complexity. Melissa also shares hard-earned lessons on bonding capacity, company growth, and choosing technology that delivers real value.