Briefings

Manufacturer news

GAF-Elk wins award

For the third consecutive year, GAF-Elk Corp., Wayne, N.J., has received the Partners of Choice award from David Weekley Homes, a Houston-based homebuilder.

GAF-Elk is one of 18 vendors to receive the Partners of Choice award and one of 11 to win in both the quality and service categories. The awards are based on David Weekley Homes' National Trading Partner Survey, a quarterly review of about 150 suppliers. The ratings are provided by David Weekley Homes associates from all levels within the company.

"Our survey identifies those companies that are successful in overcoming their industry's unique challenges and creating value in the eyes of our team members," says Bill Justus, vice president of supply chain services and founder of David Weekly Homes' National Trading Partner Survey. "GAF-Elk has demonstrated their ability to do this—in both expanding and contracting markets. Through their actions, they have proven to be among the best of the best in creating value in the eyes of our team members."

Metl-Span launches educational program

Metl-Span, Lewisville, Texas, has launched Insulated Metal Wall & Roof Panels, an online educational program addressing the use of insulated metal panels for walls, ceilings and roofs for commercial and industrial applications in new and retrofit construction.

The course overviews materials and finishes and discusses code requirements, industry standards and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification. It has been approved by The American Institute of Architects, Construction Specifications Institute, and other U.S.- and Canada-based organizations.

The online course can be viewed by clicking on the education link at www.aecdaily.com/sponsor/metlspan.

Lapolla Industries appears on television

Houston-based Lapolla Industries Inc. participated in an Extreme Makeover: Home Edition project in Springfield, Mo., for ABC; the show aired Oct. 4.

Lapolla provided a high-performance spray polyurethane foam insulation system that reportedly will deliver energy cost savings and superior air quality within the home.

"This project allowed Lapolla to contribute to the community as well as to provide the family with the benefits of spray foam technology," says Douglas J. Kramer, Lapolla Industries' president and chief executive officer.

CertainTeed receives Green Approved status

More than 20 products manufactured by Valley Forge, Pa.-based CertainTeed Corp. have achieved Green Approved status from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Research Center.

Green Approved status is a third-party endorsement providing evidence that a building product meets specific green criteria and automatically can contribute to points that align with NAHB's National Green Building Standard.™ The program awards points based on various factors that contribute to a product's sustainability, including recycled content, ISO 14001 plant certification and the use of durable, termite-resistant materials.

"Receiving Green Approved status from NAHB validates our commitment to being the industry leader in the development of sustainable building products and the environmentally friendly operation of our manufacturing facilities," says Aman Desouza, CertainTeed's director of innovation and sustainability. "We want to walk lock step with builders, contractors, architects and specifiers to ensure we help them meet today's green building requirements."

The Dow Chemical Co. launches business unit

Midland, Mich.-based The Dow Chemical Co. has formed Dow Construction Chemicals, a business within the Dow Advanced Materials portfolio that combines capabilities of Rohm and Haas Co., which The Dow Chemical Co. acquired in April, and Dow Wolff Cellulosics, which was formed in 2007.

Dow Construction Chemicals offers technology platforms and application knowledge regarding acrylic, redispersible latex powder and cellulosic chemistries. The unit focuses on providing additive and formulation solutions to manufacturers of construction products such as elastomeric roof coatings, external insulation and finish systems, specialty cements, insulation, caulks and sealants.

Up the ladder

ABC Supply Co. Inc. has named Sean K. Tully controller for its Midwest region.

GenFlex Roofing Systems has named Mark Miller its Northwest region territory sales manager.

Firestone Building Products Co. LLC has named Phil LaDuke director of quality assurance.

Tecta America Corp. has named Chuck Chapman president of Central Roofing, a Tecta America company.

Contractor news

Thermal-Tec/Michigan is recognized

Cedar Springs, Mich.-based Thermal-Tec/Michigan Inc.'s safety record has earned it recognition in the Specialty Contractor category of Associated Builders and Contractors' (ABC's) 2008 National Safety Excellence Awards. Thermal-Tec/Michigan received the award June 24 during ABC's 19th annual Excellence in Construction Awards celebration in Washington, D.C.

The 2008 National Safety Excellence Award winners were selected from ABC member firms that achieved Platinum status in ABC's Safety Training and Evaluation Process program. Winners were judged on self-evaluation scores; lost workday case rates; total recordable rates; and interviews conducted by ABC's National Environment, Health & Safety Committee.

Other news

MCA defines green construction terms

The Metal Construction Association (MCA) has released Green Industry Definitions, a compilation of green construction industry terms designed for companies who want to market products, those trying to better understand environmental terms, and building owners who want to use correct language to develop or market high-performance buildings.

The publication defines Building for Environmental and Economic Sustainability; details carbon emissions, carbon footprint and carbon offsets; and explains carbon-neutral, climate-neutral, down-cycle, Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency, E-scale, life-cycle assessment, LLC, LCI sustainability, sustainable design and more.

"It's important to have a starting point to help MCA member companies understand the terminology and definitions of the green building market," says Brian Partyka, chair of the MCA Sustainability Council and president of Drexel Metals LLC, Ivyland, Pa. "[The publication is] a great point of reference and a good tool to build on for the entire industry."

USGBC recognizes organizations

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has awarded its 2009 Excellence in Green Building Curriculum Recognition Awards and Incentive Grants to organizations and institutions that promote existing green building educational projects, activities or programs as well as develop new green building curricula.

USGBC's Recognition Awards honor existing green building educational programs and include a $1,000 honorarium. Incentive Grants provide monetary support of $10,000 each for schools or organizations to develop new green building curricula.

Winning organizations and institutions include a pre-kindergarten and kindergarten curriculum using the school's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Platinum certification to educate students about the value of a green building; a community college's efforts to expand an existing construction technology program to include a focus on alternative and renewable energy sources; and a multiple-year architecture school's initiative to create a net-zero energy modular classroom prototype that architecture students will use as design studio space.

The Recognition Awards were judged on demonstrated success, ability to be replicated, scope of influence, advancement of green principles within the educational community, and the fostering of a collaborative or interdisciplinary approach. Projects receiving Grant Incentives were evaluated on originality, collaborative or interdisciplinary approach, scope of influence, feasibility and ability to be replicated.

Vinyl roofing group offers free course

The Vinyl Roofing Division of the Chemical Fabrics and Film Association now offers "Cool Roofing: A Solution to National Energy and Environmental Challenges," a free online educational course about white reflective roofing materials for architects accumulating their first Sustainable Design (SD) credits under new requirements by The American Institute of Architects (AIA). AIA has approved the course for SD credits; it is available at www.vinylroofs.org.

The educational course addresses how reflective roofing curbs the urban heat island effect, contributes to improved air quality, and reduces building energy costs and peak energy demand; which government, green building and product rating programs address and offer incentives for cool roofing's use; how Web-based tools such as energy calculators can analyze potential building energy savings; and vegetative roof systems' components and vinyl's role as a waterproofing layer.

Organizations partner to create online resource

The American Chemistry Council's Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI) and the Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance (SPFA) have launched an enhanced product stewardship program to support further understanding of spray polyurethane foam's benefits, safe use and handling.

The program includes a new Spray Polyurethane Foam Health and Safety Web site, www.spraypolyurethane.com, which contains new materials, literature and posters.

SPFA and CPI plan to announce additional program-related information and materials during the coming months.

"As the use of spray polyurethane foam continues to increase over the coming decades, it is critical for the spray polyurethane foam industry to continually enhance its product stewardship information and outreach efforts," says Kurt Riesenberg, SPFA's executive director.

Affiliate news

MRCA participates in solar project

The Midwest Roofing Contractors Association (MRCA) is participating in the Diamond Solar Solutions system, a solar demonstration project that features photovoltaic (PV) laminates adhered directly to various roof membrane types. The Diamond Solar Solutions system was installed at the Diamond Roofing Co., Manhattan, Kan., and is the state's first commercial-scale solar roofing project, according to MRCA.

MRCA's Technical and Research Committee is providing project design and installing instruments on various membranes to monitor and record temperature fluctuations. A data acquisition system composed of 27 thermocouples installed on nine membranes will measure and record temperature data 24 hours per day for three years. Additionally, a rooftop weather station has been installed to measure and record air temperature, wind velocity, solar radiation and other weather data.

"The three-year project will provide useful information to MRCA members and roofing contractors as to operating temperature extremes that may be harmful to some roof membranes," says Kevin Gwaltney, MRCA's PV Task Force chairman. "Interactive monitoring of the performance of these solar roof systems will allow the development and dissemination of 'best roofing practice' guidelines for contractors interested in installing photovoltaics."

MRCA will display active data measurements and report project progress at its Web site, www.mrca.org.

The industry online

The Power Tool Institute Inc. recently revised www.powertoolinstitute.com to include free downloadable PDFs of its major publications.

American WeatherStar has relocated its Web site to www.americanweatherstar.com.

A Better Tomorrow Media has launched www.eco-intel.com, which is composed of four topic-specific sections—Design, Building Science and Performance, Business, and Materials—and features industry news and events, blogs, photos, videos, audio, slideshows and other resources for building professionals.

Hanley Wood LLC has redesigned www.TheRoofingExpo.com to feature simplified navigation and improved usability. The Web site is divided into three sections—attendees, exhibitors and press—with each section containing user-specific information about the 2010 International Roofing Expo.®