Briefings

Manufacturer news

Metal-Era expands minority program

Waukesha, Wis.-based Metal-Era Inc. has announced it has expanded its Minority Business Program. The company, which is a National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) member, has obtained minority business certificates for NMSDC's regional chapters. Minority credit is available on all Metal-Era product lines.

"This is a wonderful opportunity to allow our customers to receive credit for something they are already doing," says Tony Mallinger, Metal-Era's chief operating officer.

Firestone joins environmental programs

Indianapolis-based Firestone Building Products Co. has announced its Salt Lake City insulation plant has been accepted into the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's National Environmental Performance Track program. The facility has also joined the Utah Department of Environmental Quality's "Clean Utah" program.

"Firestone Building Products recognizes the importance of being accepted into these prominent organizations and will continue to do its part to help keep our environment clean," says Mike Gorey, president of Firestone Building Products and chairman, chief executive officer and president of BFS Diversified Products LLC.

Sika Sarnafil honors university

Canton, Mass.-based Sika Sarnafil Inc. has awarded its 2007 Sika Sarnafil Sustainable Roofing Performance Award to The University of Iowa, Iowa City, for recycling the thermoplastic roof system on its Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

The arena's original Sarnafil roof system was damaged by a severe storm in April 2006. The university chose to reroof with a Sika Sarnafil membrane so the new thermoplastic membrane could be welded to the old membrane, allowing for project phasing.

Contractor news

D.C. Taylor receives award

Cedar Rapids-based D.C. Taylor Co. has received a safety award for accident prevention during 2006 from the Iowa-Illinois Safety Council. D.C. Taylor is one of 148 businesses, industries and government agencies in Iowa and Illinois to receive this award for reducing Occupational Safety and Health Administration-recordable injuries among employees.

"D.C. Taylor is proud to be receiving this safety award," says Brad Richardson, D.C. Taylor's director of environmental health and safety. "Safety is part of our culture. We are committed to creating a safer work environment while reducing risk to our clients."

Open Energy signs agreement

Open Energy Corp., Solana Beach, Calif., has signed an open purchasing agreement with Motech Solar, a Taiwan-based producer of solar photovoltaics, to supply Open Energy with 6-inch multicrystalline cells for its SolarSave® products.

"Our polycrystalline cells are well-suited for SolarSave products, and we look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship with Open Energy," says Simon Tsuo, Motech Solar's chief executive officer.

Other news

Safety engineers group approves fall-protection code

The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), Des Plaines, Ill., has announced it has approved the Z359 Fall Arrest Code, which is a series of American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/ASSE fall protection/arrest standards. The series includes ANSI/ASSE Z359.0-2007, "Definitions and Nomenclature Used for Fall Protection and Fall Arrest"; ANSI/ASSE Z359.1-2007, "Safety Requirements for Personal Fall Arrest Systems, Subsystems and Components"; ANSI/ASSE Z359.2-2007, "Minimum Requirements for a Comprehensive Managed Fall Protection Program"; ANSI/ASSE Z359.3-2007, "Safety Requirements for Positioning and Travel Restraint Systems"; and ANSI/ASSE Z359.4-2007, "Safety Requirements for Assisted Rescue and Self-Rescue Systems, Subsystems and Components."

These standards offer employers tools and resources to prevent fall-related injuries and deaths. For more information, contact ASSE customer service at (847) 699-2929 or visit www.asse.org.

ASTM International offers standards on CD-ROM

The third edition of ASTM International Standards for Sustainability in Buildings is now available on CD-ROM and includes all ASTM International standards referenced by the U.S. Federal Green Construction Guide for Specifiers as of January.

The new edition includes 143 ASTM International standards that address sustainable design and cover issues relating to site and ecosystems, water, energy, materials, indoor air quality and operations.

The third edition of ASTM International Standards for Sustainability in Buildings is available at www.astm.org.

Institute initiates field study

The Reflective Roof Coatings Institute, Kansas City, Mo., has launched a comprehensive field study of the reflective properties of roofing materials.

The study is intended to measure the significance of factors that influence loss of radiative properties over time. The study will seek to determine the changes in reflectivities and emissivities of elastomeric roof coatings as a function of coating chemistry, coating film thickness, geographic location and roof substrate as a function of exposure time.

Up the ladder

Carlisle Coatings and Waterproofing Inc. has named Jason Covington general manager of its waterproofing division.

ABC Supply Co. has named Brent Fox vice president of merchandising and purchasing.

Industry online

Polyglass USA® has updated its Web site, www.polyglass.com. The Web site now offers resources regarding Polyglass USA products, access to product catalogs, application videos and technical resources. In addition, the site offers an interactive color-range studio that showcases Polyglass USA's SA self-adhering membranes.

Gerard Roofing Technologies has launched its redesigned Web site, www.gerardusa.com. The site includes new images of Gerard Roofing Technologies products, a navigation system, case studies, product testimonials, literature and direct links to information.

The Scaffolding, Shoring & Forming Institute has updated its Web site, www.ssfi.org. The Web site provides information focusing on engineering and safety aspects of field safety; safety practices and guidelines; educational information; technical bulletins and documents; and product testing.