Briefings

Manufacturer news

GAF receives awards

GAF, Wayne, N.J., has received Home Builder Executive's Gold Innovation Award for its new shingle lines, including Sienna Lifetime Shingles and Monaco Lifetime Shingles. GAF also was recognized for its introduction of a lifetime limited warranty on all its laminated shingles and complete roof systems. The Innovation Awards honor manufacturers that have brought unique products, features, and/or builder programs to market during the past year.

In addition, GAF received a Platinum award for Best Website Design and a Gold award for Best Social Media Strategy: Best Use of Facebook during Hanley Wood LLC's Brand Builder Awards. The awards recognize innovative and effective marketing campaigns in the construction industry.

Also, GAF awarded 21 $5,000 scholarships through its Roofing Scholarship Program. The program was created to encourage and reward undergraduate students in college programs related to careers in the roofing or building industries. For a list of scholarship winners, go to www.gaf.com/about_gaf/press_room.

Firestone facility wins award

Indianapolis-based Firestone Building Products Co. LLC's Firestone Metal Products facility in Anoka, Minn., received the Meritorious Achievement Award in Occupational Safety, a Governor's Safety Award, from the Minnesota Safety Council. The Anoka plant, one of four Firestone facilities manufacturing metal roofing products, received the award for exceptional safety performance.

Award applicants are judged on several years of injury data compared with the industry's national statistics and for progress made implementing comprehensive safety programs. The Meritorious Achievement Award is based on incident rates better than the industry average for at least three years with a score between 50 and 74 on a 100-point safety program evaluation scale.

Gaco Western launches certification program

Gaco Western LLC, Seattle, has introduced the GacoWallFoam Qualified Applicator Program to help Gaco Western contractors succeed in safety, performance, quality and professionalism.

Modeled after the new Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance's (SPFA's) Professional Certification Program, the GacoWallFoam Qualified Applicator Program was created to help ensure 300 additional SPFA certification exams are completed by Oct. 1, 2014. To make the certification process easier, Gaco Western is offering additional training opportunities, simplifying the registration and administration processes, and subsidizing the program cost for Gaco Western contractors.

Contractor news

Star Roofing receives award

Star Roofing Inc., Phoenix, received the Arizona Roofing Contractors Association's (ARCA's) 2013 Contractor of the Year award during ARCA's convention in October. Chosen by peers through a nomination and voting process, award recipients signify excellence and ongoing contributions to Arizona's roofing industry.

Tecta Solar announces financing program

Tecta Solar, Fort Washington, Pa., a division of Tecta America Corp., Rosemont, Ill., has introduced a roof and solar financing program for roof system replacements and roofing repair costs by leveraging current federal and state solar incentives.

The program particularly is attractive for customers with roof areas of at least 1 million square feet (either a single location or multiple sites in aggregate) located in East and West Coast states; however, there are certain areas in the Southeast and Southwest that also would work well for the program.

Distributor news

ABC Supply opens branch

ABC Supply Co. Inc., Beloit, Wis., has opened a branch in Pleasant Gap, Pa. This is ABC Supply's first branch in the State College, Pa., area. The branch currently offers roofing, siding and related supplies.

The industry online

Capital Safety has created Thinking About Fall Protection, a 30-minute video about the basics of fall protection and industry safety requirements. The video can be downloaded from Capital Safety's YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/user/DBISALA.

Owens Corning has launched www.owenscorning.com/roofing, a website to help homeowners quickly answer questions and find reputable contractors. After choosing products, homeowners can contact a local contractor for a quote and/or print and share the images via social media or email.

RIDGID® has enhanced its website, www.ridgid.com, with cleaner, simplified navigation and product registration; improved product and distributor search capabilities; and the ability for customers to review, rate and ask questions about specific products.

Metal-Era Inc. has introduced a new video illustrating the benefits of Metal-Era's Edge Systems One. The video compares the Edge Systems One product line to shop-fabricated edge medal, depicting a comparison installation demonstration with calculated cost and labor savings. The video is available on Metal-Era's YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/user/metalerasolutions.

Other news

MCA announces award winners

The Metal Construction Association (MCA) announced the winners of its 2013 Chairman's Awards during the 23rd METALCON International conference in Atlanta Oct. 1-3.

MCA's Chairman's Awards recognize outstanding building projects involving MCA member companies and honor innovation and creativity while showcasing how metal products help achieve exceptional building designs. Recipients are selected from projects submitted by MCA members to Metal Architecture magazine's annual design awards program.

MCA Chairman's Awards recipients include 3A Composites USA Inc., Statesville, N.C.; NRCA member ATAS International Inc., Allentown, Pa.; CENTRIA, Pittsburgh; Metal Sales Manufacturing Corp., Louisville, Ky.; Precoat Metals, St. Louis; RHEINZINK America Inc., Woburn, Mass.; Sobotec Ltd., Hamilton, Ontario; Steel Dynamics Inc., Fort Wayne, Ind.; Umicore Building Products USA, Raleigh, N.C.; U.S. Steel Corp., Pittsburgh; and The Valspar Corp., Minneapolis.

Additionally, METALCON International donated $16,050 through its Giving Back Program to a two-day Walk for Breast Cancer held Oct. 5-6. A five-person METALCON team walked 90 miles to raise funds and awareness for Atlanta-based It's the Journey Inc., a charitable organization and producer of the walk. The walk had 811 registered walkers, 71 survivor victory lap participants, 200 crew members and more than 100 volunteers.

Gypsum Association develops rules

The Gypsum Association has developed a Product Category Rules (PCR) document for North American gypsum boards.

The PCR document provides a common set of specific rules, requirements and guidelines for developing International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14025 conformance Type III environmental product declarations for North American gypsum board products and specifies the underlying requirements of the life cycle assessments (LCAs) to conform with ISO 14040 series of LCA standards.

The PCR document was developed in collaboration with FPInnovations, Vancouver, British Columbia, which will serve as program operator. The document is limited to the environmental performance of North American-produced gypsum boards and does not address gypsum's economic or social aspects. The PCR document is available at www.gypsum.org/environment.

ARMA publishes sealant facts

The Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA) has published an ARMA Fast Facts document, Sealants: The Magic Touch. Document topics include how shingle sealants bond a roof together; how shingles are attached to a roof deck; nailing practices to properly secure shingles to a roof deck; how sealant works; the importance of proper installation; and how to make sure a sealant does its job.

Rebuilding Together® announces winner

Rebuilding Together announced Mark Egner, contractor for Frank and Sons Construction, Tacoma, Wash., the winner of its Tradesperson of the Year™ contest.

The announcement was made during the Remodeling Show & DeckExpo in Chicago Oct. 17. This year, Rebuilding Together partnered with Lowe's,® HGTV, DIY Network, MyFixitUpLife® and Choice Hotels International Inc. to find skilled U.S. tradespersons giving back to their communities and adding value to their industries.

Up the ladder

ABC Supply Co. Inc. has promoted 34 branch managers to managing partners: Wayne Adkins; Matt Belcher; Frederick Bogdon Jr.; Jason Brooks; Bruce Brown; Tom Campbell; Sean Cummings; Tim Diehr; Bruce Donaldson; Mike Ford; Dan Gassert; Lloyd Hamilton; Doug Hammitt; Brian Hubbard; Keith Juhant; Greg Jumper; Katie Kost; Gary L. Laurie; Gary Laurie Jr.; Nate Lunger; Isaac Martinez; Shane Meeks; Brad Messer; Craig Mitchell; Matt Moody; Mike Morgan; Barry Oister; Mick Palazzolo; Kevin Ryan; Jonas Sanders; Al Sharp; Scott Toumbleston; Joe West; and Robert Williams. ABC Supply also has named Brad Money vice president of divisional operations and Daniel Piché vice president of national business development. In addition, Brent Fox has been elected to ABC Supply Co.'s board of directors and named chief executive officer of Hendricks Holding Co. Inc.

Quick Mount PV has named Preston Booker senior vice president of sales and Stri Zulch vice president of marketing.

American WeatherStar has named Kristin Dixon director, business development center.

NRCA NEWS

NRCA introduces prescription card program

NRCA has introduced the RxAdvantage Card, an NRCA member benefit that is free, easy to use and recognized by more than 60,000 pharmacies nationwide to help save money on prescriptions, including pet medications. The card is not insurance and not intended as a substitute for insurance.

The card can be used by those without prescription coverage; taking a drug not covered by prescription coverage; those having a high co-pay or deductible; and those using another prescription discount card. One card covers an entire family; is accepted at all major chains and most independents; provides savings up to 75 percent retail cost; has no paperwork; is immediately ready for use; and offers average savings of 54 percent. Actual savings will vary depending upon location and specific medications.