Briefings

Manufacturer news

Firestone awards roofing contractors

Carmel, Ind.-based Firestone Building Products Co. has presented 269 commercial roofing contractors with its 2004 Firestone Master Contractor Award.

The annual award is given to Firestone Building Products-licensed roofing contractors who have earned Quality Points for exceptional inspection ratings on Firestone Red Shield-warranted RubberGard® EPDM, UltraPly® thermoplastic or asphalt-based roof system installations. The Master Contractor award was earned this year by inspection ratings and total square footage for all qualified Firestone roof systems installed during 2003.

Thirty-five roofing companies with Master Contractor status also were given the 2004 President's Club Award for garnering the highest level of Quality Points. And the Inner Circle of Quality Award was given to 109 contractors of Master Contractor status who installed a minimum of 1 million square feet (92900 m²) of warranted roof systems between 1996-98, as well as kept a warranty repair record in the 75th percentile or better.

MetalForming will distribute VIPRO

MetalForming Inc., Peachtree City, Ga., has agreed to become the exclusive distributor of Taipei, Taiwan-based Sen Fung's Variable Profile Rollformer (VIPRO) Systems. MetalForming will sell three types of VIPRO rollforming machines—fixed base for single profiles; rafted system for multiple profiles; and double high for two profiles with minimal changeover.

Georgia-Pacific gives to charity

Georgia Pacific Corp., Atlanta, has partnered with HomeAid America and will provide resources for building temporary shelters for the homeless. HomeAid America, a national nonprofit organization, offers such housing to homeless individuals who have experienced job loss, violence, illness or other afflictions. Earlier this year, Georgia-Pacific donated a four-bedroom, 3,400-square-foot (315-m²) house to HomeAid America and will continue to provide financial assistance.

In other news, Georgia-Pacific's G-P Gypsum Corp. no longer will manufacture and sell paper-faced exterior gypsum sheathing products for use during exterior construction. G-P Gypsum has discovered limitations with regard to the paper-faced sheathing, such as weak resistance to moisture that can lead to mold growth or the need for removal. G-P Gypsum now will offer more paperless options, including its new DensGlass® Silver exterior sheathing product.

Sarnafil forms supply agreement

Canton, Mass.-based Sarnafil Inc. has entered into a supply agreement with Solar Integrated Technologies (SIT), Los Angeles. Sarnafil exclusively will supply SIT with its thermoplastic roof membrane for the North American market. Sarnafil and SIT also jointly will market the SIT SR2001 Solar Electric Roofing System, a solar-electrical roof system said to protect a building's interior while generating electrical power. The roof system uses the Sarnafil EnergySmart Roof® membrane.

In addition, Sarnafil received the 2004 Premier Business Partner award from Rebuild America, a U.S. Department of Energy conservation initiative. Sarnafil earned the award because of its strong participation in events sponsored by Rebuild America, especially its informational seminars addressing such topics as energy-related technology. In 2002, Sarnafil won Rebuild America's Energy Champion Award, which was replaced by the Premier Business Partner award this year.

Up the ladder

Robert Andrea has been named Midwestern region sales manager at Benjamin Obdyke Inc.

EcoStar™ has appointed Spence Bardeen Southern regional manager.

National Coatings Corp. has named Vince LaBruzzo Western regional sales manager.

Roger Meunier has been appointed Western region applications training manager at RHEINZINK America Inc.

Other news

SPRI receives ANSI approval

SPRI's retrofit roof drain standard has been approved as a national standard in accordance with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The standard, ANSI/SPRI RD-1, 2003, "Standard for Retrofit Roof Drains," was developed as a response to a lack of retrofit drain information and guidelines. The new standard offers a protocol that ensures a leak-free connection, as well as ways to create sufficient drainage.

ARMA research produces tests

The Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA) has released the results of research from the ARMA High Wind Task Force. The 14-year research about the wind performance of asphalt shingles has led to the development of two ASTM International shingle tests and an American National Standards Institute-approved Underwriters Laboratories Inc. wind-uplift test.

With these new tests, roofing professionals will be able to choose the proper shingle with regard to wind zone and code-compliant specifications will be available. ARMA also will educate industry professionals and distribute information about the research and results.

For more information about the results, contact ARMA at (202) 207-0917 or access www.asphaltroofing.org.

New scholarship program announced

The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) has announced it will fund a construction safety scholarship for students pursuing an occupational safety and health degree that focuses on construction. ASSE has estimated that the first scholarship will be awarded in spring 2006 and applications will be available Sept. 1, 2005.

ASSE will raise funds for the new construction safety scholarship from the royalties of its recently published book, Construction Safety Management and Engineering. Written by ASSE members and other professionals in the construction safety field, the book is a construction safety reference for professionals and students.

For more information about ASSE scholarships, visit www.asse.org/foundat.htm.

INSPEC receives RCI award

INSPEC Inc., Minneapolis, received a first-place award from the Roof Consultants Institute (RCI) in the "Large Project" documents category at RCI's 19th International Convention & Tradeshow. The RCI Document Competition recognizes excellence in roofing project documents and report writing submitted by RCI members. INSPEC won for documents used during a project at Rush City High School, Rush City, Minn. The Rush City High School project also was a finalist in NRCA's Excellence in Design Award competition.

Industry online

• The Metal Building Manufacturers Association now offers updates to its Metal Building Systems Manual on its Web site, www.mbma.com. The online manual features an expanded chapter, corrections to the 2002 edition and revised seismic coefficients.
  
  
• The U.S. Green Building Council and National Environmental Education & Training Foundation have launched www.GreenerBuildings.com, a Web site devoted to providing companies with information and resources about the relationship between environmental issues and buildings. The Web site provides access to case studies, news stories and ways to promote greener building practices, among other features.
  
  
• The International Staple, Nail and Tool Association has posted building code information on its Web site, www.isanta.org. The information on the Web site, found in the "Building Codes" section, explains the misuse of the phrase "code approved" with regard to fasteners and clarifies some misunderstood building code concepts.