Industry News

January 2009

NSC Links Green Building Certification With Genuine Stone



The Natural Stone Council (NSC) has released the first case study in a series of research-based documents highlighting the environmental advantages of natural stone. The case study, "Application of Green Building Certification Programs to Natural Stone," can be found on the NSC's Web site, genuinestone.com/env_researchandresults.php.

The case study highlights the two predominant certification programs in the U.S. currently: the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and the Sustainable Project Rating Tool (SPiRiT), developed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Under LEED guidelines, natural stone may contribute to certification in several categories: Sustainable Sites, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, and Innovation and Design. SPiRiT is based on LEED 2.0 and is tailored to Army-specific needs allowing them to create and maintain sustainable facilities.

This first case study provides two examples of projects using natural stone that received certification from LEED and SPiRiT, respectively. ImaginOn in Charlotte, N.C., received a silver rating, the first USGBC LEED-certified public building in that city. Stone cladding used in the project helped contributed to a LEED Materials and Resources credit. A SPiRiT bronze rating was awarded to Jefferson Hall Library and Learning Center at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in West Point, N.Y. Natural stone was a key element in the design. Stone, including more than 130 tons of granite, was quarried regionally contributing to the bronze certification.

In partnership with The University of Tennessee Center for Clean Products, the NSC is conducting a life-cycle assessment to credibly evaluate the environmental footprint of natural stone industry operations. The results will allow the comparison of natural stone with competing building materials in order to validate the environmental advantages that stone has over other products. Information garnered from this research as well as further qualitative investigation will be shared through a series of best practice documents, materials fact sheets, and additional case studies.

NCFI Polyurethanes Wants Healthy Schools



NCFI Polyurethanes announced a corporate initiative, HS4HC.com, to help make every school being built and those being renovated healthy environments for children by educating architects, builders, school boards, administrators, superintendents, principals and teachers about the dangers of mold and the simple ways to prevent it.

When mold grows out of control in a classroom and school environment, it releases spores that are breathed in by all children. According to a Government Accounting Office report, 20 percent of the country's 80,000 public schools have indoor air quality problems.

The company believes most, if not all, of the nation's public schools can be made healthier by paying more attention to the building's envelope — the exterior walls, roof and insulation. The program will include free educational materials and an informational Web site.

Howard Crowned Ultimate Tradesman IRWIN Industrial Tools crowned Eric Howard as the 2008 Ultimate Tradesman. Howard, a general contractor from Concord, Calif., bested four other professional tradesmen to take home the coveted title and a treasure trove of cash and prizes. The second-annual Ultimate Tradesman Challenge is a timed event in which participants compete using an IRWIN STRAIT-LINE chalk reel, IRWIN tape measure and SPEEDBOR Max wood boring bit to mark, measure and drill as quickly and accurately as possible. More than 10,000 tradesmen competed in 200 local events in 37 states, four Canadian provinces, Australia and New Zealand. Howard won the North America finals with a qualifying time of 23:88 seconds, winning a Roush Performance Supercharged Stage III Ford F-150 valued at more than $60,000, a 600-square-foot IRWIN Ultimate Garage by Allied Steel Buildings and a year's supply of Dickies work gear. For details on the 2009 competition please visit, irwinchallenge.com.

Companion Guide to Fly Ash Study Released



The RMC Research and Education Foundation released a companion guide to the report released in September, "New Technology-Based Approach to Advance Higher Volume Fly Ash Concrete with Acceptable Performance." The guide complements the original study, which was conducted at the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association's Research Laboratory. The study demonstrates that ready-mixed concrete producers may use a greater amount of fly ash — a recycled material — in concrete mixtures, while maintaining strength and performance and still being able to attain the early-age strengths required for the application. This guide will assist in their efforts to integrate more fly ash in a variety of construction projects.

Both the original study and the guide are available for download from the Foundation's Web site at rmc-foundation.org and are available as part of the Foundation's Research Supporting Sustainable Development CD. The mission of the RMC Research and Education Foundation is to support research and educational programs that will increase professionalism and quality in the concrete industry.

Elliott Equipment Associates Win Awards



Elliott Equipment Co. associates Kenny Carl and Bill Wessling received the William M. Kizer Light of Wellness Healthy Behavior Award and the Activate Omaha Star Bike Commuter Challenge, respectively.

Carl was chosen over entries from nearly 140 companies. He lost 54 pounds and 22 percent of his total body mass in "Elliott's Biggest Loser" contest.

Wessling was chosen over 900 other riders. He began as a team of one and rode hundreds of miles to and from work during 2008. He lost more than 15 pounds and won a new bike as part of this award.

Summit Held on Aerial Platform Training



Senior management from North American aerial work platform (AWP) manufacturers and rental companies met in November to discuss AWP operator training. Although not sponsored by the International Powered Access Federation, IPAF convened the meeting and acted as secretary for the group. The meeting was prompted by a keynote address that Skyjack group president Ken McDougall delivered at the APEX Conference held in September in Maastricht, Netherlands. During his speech, McDougall discussed the need for some form of standardized training for AWP operators and called for action by manufacturers to promote standardized training as the surest way of minimizing the risk of accidents. The purpose of the November meeting was to discuss how operator-training standards can be raised and to investigate whether it is possible to agree on minimum standards of operator training.

The meeting allowed participants to review current national and international regulations and standards, hear how other industries address training, and discuss the many various aspects of training. During discussions, the group uncovered multiple issues that need to be analyzed and researched before any recommendations can be made. Included among those issues was a review of the activities of other trade associations, governmental bodies, unions and others involved in AWP operator training and benchmarking best practices.

IPAF agreed to facilitate future meetings and, along with volunteers from the group, work on the research requested. The group agreed to meet again during The Rental Show in March 2009 to review the additional information.

Grace Appoints Ragan as VP, Global Ready-Mix



Grace Construction Products announced that Michael D. Ragan has been promoted to VP, Global Ready-Mix, and was appointed to the Grace Construction (GCP) Leadership Team. In this new global position, Ragan will focus on business strategies for ready-mix concrete in key growth regions around the world. In addition, he will lead efforts to develop global key accounts in the concrete industry, and provide guidance and leadership to Grace's newly formed Global Specification sales organization.

Ragan also will retain his current position as VP and business director for the Americas Concrete and Cement business unit. Ragan joined the Grace Construction Products division in 1982 and has held a succession of marketing, general management and sales management positions including global leadership responsibilities across a full product range spanning Grace building products, masonry products, and cement and concrete products.

JLG Manufacturing Facility in China JLG Industries broke ground for a new manufacturing facility in Tianjin, China. It was another step in parent company Oshkosh Corp.'s strategic business initiatives to meet the demands of a global economy and the growing demand for aerial work platforms in the Chinese and Asian markets. The facility will produce JLG access equipment specifically for the Asian market. JLG currently has manufacturing operations in Pennsylvania; Ohio; North Dakota; Maasmechelen, Belgium; Tonneins, France; and Medias, Romania. As part of an ongoing social outreach program in China, the company also donated two JLG telehandlers to help local officials in the rebuilding in Wenchuan County, which was tragically impacted by the major earthquake that occurred in May in Sichuan Province.

Peppers Named Panthers Sakrete Sack Winner



Sakrete and the Carolina Panthers presented a check for $5,000 in Julius Peppers' name to HomeAid (homeaid.org), a national non-profit provider of housing for the homeless and its local chapter in Charlotte. This is the third year of the Sakrete Sack program, created by Sakrete to raise money to help fight homelessness. The program tracks the number of quarterback sacks for each participating team. At the end of the regular season, the player with the most sacks from each team has $5,000 donated in his name to HomeAid. The overall league sack leader will have an additional $10,000 donated in his name. Four teams participated this year: Carolina Panthers, New York Jets, Buffalo Bills and Atlanta Falcons.

ASSE South Carolina Chapter Warns Against Safety Cuts



The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) South Carolina Chapter cautions employers against cutting back on workplace safety in time of economic difficulty. The chapter encourages that they explore creative ways of generating temporary and long-term savings in safety and training expenses, while still ensuring that the safety needs of employees and safety regulations are met.

During economic downturns, employers seeking to cut expenses may target variable operating costs such as travel, training and safety. According to the ASSE South Carolina Chapter, although some safety expenses can be delayed or deferred, some safety expenses are critical.

Masonry Scores at Yankee Stadium Members of the construction team building the new Yankee Stadium — HOK Sport, Turner Construction, and Tishman Speyer — recently had the chance to see how good BAC members are at their jobs, and how International Masonry Institute (IMI) education and training helps everyone. In November, the IMI worked with Del Savio Masonry and Port Morris Tile and Marble to deliver a custom "Yankee Stadium Masonry Day" to the construction site, educating project officials on topics like construction detailing, and letting them try laying brick walls and spreading terrazzo.

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