Masonry Magazine April 2011 Page. 40
INDUSTRY NEWS Please submit your news and events to:
jmorrell@lionhrtpub.com
EPA Chooses Not to Include Masonry Site-Built Fireplaces in New Standard
At the March 2011 annual meeting of the Hearth Patio Barbeque Association, Gil Wood, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Staff Lead for New Source Performance Standard (NSPS), went on record to indicate that they were not pursuing the inclusion of masonry site-built fireplaces in the re-writing of the NSPS for New Residential Wood Heaters.
As noted in a Brick News Online article in July 2010, the EPA was previously advocating regulation of emissions on all masonry site-built fireplaces constructed in the United States. This would be a major change from the original NSPS published in 1988, which exempted fireplaces. The Brick Industry Association, along with other interested parties, has worked hard to educate EPA representatives about the masonry site-built market and the implications of regulating that market.
Citing the questionable cost-effectiveness of site-testing every fireplace built, the limited number of masonry site-built fireplaces constructed in the United States each year, and the extent to which small business masons would potentially be affected, EPA is choosing to not include masonry site-built fireplaces in the most current draft of the regulation.
Another key component in EPA's decision was the agreement of the MCAA to develop a course on the proper construction and use of masonry site-built fireplaces in their existing certification program. Wood indicated that EPA was encouraged by MCAA'S willingness to add a course on masonry site-built fireplaces to their curriculum and looked forward to its development and implementation.
For further information on the NSPS, please contact Chip Clark at 703-674-1531 or cclark@bia.org.
Indiana Cut Stone to Distribute 'Vanderbilt Classic'
Indiana Cut Stone has been awarded the rights to distribute and market the Vanderbilt Classic line from Indiana Limestone Co. Vanderbilt Classic is a solid, genuine natural Indiana limestone (stone masonry unit) sawn building veneer. The strong, clean look of genuine Indiana limestone masonry units is ideal for both residential and commercial structures.
Vanderbilt Classics, available in the market for a number of years, now is being made available through and promoted by fabricators and distributors. Indiana Cut Stone, a longtime customer of Indiana Limestone Co., is pleased to include Vanderbilt in their product offering.
Vanderbilt Classic building veneer will continue to be available through the Indiana Limestone Co., and the product and trademarks remain their property. Moving forward, Indiana Cut Stone will be distributing and marketing Vanderbilt Classic to their network of masonry customers, so that the material is readily available for both new construction and restoration projects worldwide.
MCAA Legislative Conference, New Certifications Earned
By Jeff Buczkiewicz
The 2011 Masonry Industry Legislative Conference will be held May 10-12, 2011, in Washington, D.C., and has been condensed to highlight hill visits. The main focus of the program for 2011 will be getting our issues and our positions in front of key congressional figures and tell them our story as to how their votes impact our industry.
The Keelen Group will make an effort to make appointments with attendee members of Congress, but will also focus on arranging appointments with key swing vote representatives that need to hear our story. One of the most important things you can do in today's business environment is take some time away and let the folks know who are responsible for regulating, taxing and setting rules for business how it will impact not only our industry, but the economy as a whole.
The 2011 Masonry Industry Legislative Conference will be a great opportunity to express your concern and care for the actions of the few in Washington, D.C. The registration deadline is May 9, 2011. For more information and to register, call 800-536-2225 and visit www.masoncontractors.org/legconf.
Three Companies Certified at MCAA Convention
Forrest & Associate Inc., Des Moines, Iowa; Genco Masonry Inc., Bethesda, Md.; and Masonry Arts Inc., Bessemer, Ala., have earned certification through the Masonry Certification program, sponsored by the MCAA.
The MCAA has developed the national Masonry Certification program to provide customers with a tool to select mason contractors who are committed to quality and end user satisfaction. Quality of work and end user satisfaction is the foundation of the certification program. In addition, companies must renew their certification every three years.
We congratulate these companies in their commitment to quality service. Our goal is to provide architects, designers, construction contractors and consumers with an easy way to select and specify professional mason contractors. Certification now gives them the tools to seek out contractors who have committed their entire firm to meet the stringent requirements of the program.
Jeff Buczkiewicz is the Executive Director for the Mason Contractors Association of America.