Updated Florida Building Codes take effect June 30
The International Code Council (ICC) and the Florida Building Commission, which is housed within the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, have announced significant changes to the Florida Building Codes that reportedly will result in safer, sustainable buildings and homes. The updated building codes are mandatory for all new construction or rehabilitation projects with a permit application date of June 30 or later.
The new Florida Building Codes, 5th Edition (2014) are based on the 2012 International Codes® and include various updates from ICC and the Florida Building Commission. The codes also include the Florida Accessibility Code and updated Test Protocols for High Velocity Hurricane Zones. The codes are available as a complete collection, designer collection, and building and residential combination.
One of the most visible changes is the reformatting of the Energy Code, which now consists of two independent sub-documents: one for low-rise residential and one for commercial or high-rise residential. The Florida Building Commission also expanded options for compliance methods for commercial and high-rise residential buildings to include ASHRAE Standard 90.1, "Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings."
Additionally, Significant Changes to the Florida Building Code: Building and Residential, 5th Edition (2014) is a resource that details the most critical updates to the Florida Building and Residential codes; the reason for the updates; and how to apply the changes.
For more information, visit the Florida Building Commission's website, www.floridabuilding.org, or ICC's website, shop.iccsafe.org/codes/state-and-local-codes/florida.html.
Oregon State University seeks to improve construction worker safety
To help combat the risk of injury to workers in construction, Knife River Corp., Bismarck, N.D., and MDU Construction Services Group, Bismarck, have partnered with Oregon State University, Corvallis, to develop a facility for improving safety for construction workers and the general public, according to www.probuilder.com.
Each year, thousands of construction employees are injured or killed on the job because of safety issues. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reported 4,405 workers were killed on the job in 2013.
The most common causes of death among construction workers are known as the "fatal four": falls, being struck by an object, electrocutions, and being caught in or between pieces of equipment. OSHA reported its most frequently cited standards violations were for failure to protect construction workers from falls and scaffolding injuries.
According to Oregon State University, a $1 million grant from Knife River and MDU Construction Services Group will help fund the construction of the facility, which will be named the MDU Resources Group Construction Safety Laboratory.
Once completed, the lab will house two areas for the creation of a virtual construction environment to help students replicate real-world job sites. It will include an interactive, high-definition projection system that will allow users to perform sample work operations without putting workers in dangerous situations, as well as a connected driving simulator to evaluate driver and worker actions when driving through work zones.
Oregon State University first began its initiative to improve worker safety in construction when it encouraged "prevention through design," a concept that considers safety at the design stage to make roadways, bridges and buildings safer to build and maintain.
DaVinci Roofscapes recycles more than 300,000 pounds of scraps annually
The 45th anniversary of Earth Day, April 22, called attention to U.S. recycling efforts, such as those at DaVinci Roofscapes in Lenexa, Kan., where more than 300,000 pounds of polymer roofing tile scraps are recycled each year.
"Most manufacturing operations have scrap materials," says Bryan Ward, DaVinci Roofscapes vice president of operations. "The difference here is that every roof tile we create is 100 percent recyclable, so we are able to reuse every pound of scrap that comes off our production line into our roofing material's starter shingles. This saves a significant amount of material from going to the landfill, along with making us an efficient, environmentally friendly operation."
The manufacturer also offers two recycling programs that provide a way for roofing contractors to return scraps, cuttings and unused synthetic roofing material to the company's facility for recycling. Waste products from a job site can be returned to the company's Kansas plant for recycling (with shipping paid for by DaVinci Roofscapes within a 500-mile radius of the plant), and expired tiles (more than 50 years old) also can be returned for recycling. Ward estimates almost 5,000 pounds of product are returned from field projects each year for recycling.
The company also chooses to manufacture polymer roof tiles to help save trees and energy.
"Just as it's important to us that all our sustainable roofing products are made in America, it's also vital we keep our Earth as clean and healthy as possible for future generations," Ward says. "We're a company that celebrates Earth Day every day of the year. By creating roofing products that meet LEED® certification process standards, we're taking a step toward saving valuable resources."
FM Global clients will receive $465 million membership credit
Commercial property insurer FM Global has announced its mutual clients will collectively receive an estimated $465 million in premium credits when they renew their policies between June 30, 2015, and June 29, 2016, as a result of the company's favorable operating performance. The "membership credit" each policyholder will receive will be based on annual premium and client tenure.
Following this credit, FM Global clients will have benefited from about $3 billion in membership credit since the program was introduced in 2001. About 1,900 clients qualify, some of whom have been FM Global policyholders since the late 1800s.
"As a mutual company owned by its clients, we are focused on helping our policyholders be more resilient in the face of adversity," says Thomas A. Lawson, FM Global's president and CEO. "Our clients' diligence toward property risk improvement efforts, combined with our favorable loss experience and financial strength, make it possible for us to provide eligible policyholders with this premium credit and share in our mutual success."
FM Global clients holding policies consecutively for less than five years will be eligible for a 5 percent credit; five to 19 consecutive years will be eligible for a 10 percent credit; and 20 consecutive years or more will be eligible for a 15 percent credit.
For more information about the 2015/2016 membership credit plan, visit www.fmglobal.com/assets/PDF/P07017a_2015.pdf.
Children's Art Contest winners announced
NRCA has announced the winners of its 2015 Children's Art Contest, sponsored by A.C.T. Metal Deck Supply, Aurora, Ill.
To celebrate the upcoming National Roofing Week, July 5-11, NRCA held the contest to promote the importance of roofs and value of professional roofing contractors. The contest was open to children in grades 1-8 who are relatives of NRCA contractor members or their employees. Entries were divided into three categories: Group 1 included grades 1-3; Group 2 included grades 4-6; and Group 3 included grades 7-8. Following are the winners:
Nearly 3,000 votes were cast; finalists' entries from each group were posted on NRCA's website. The winners will have their artwork featured on all 2015 National Roofing Week material and additional promotional material to be displayed at industry events throughout the year, including the 2016 International Roofing Expo® in Orlando, Fla. Each winner also won an iPad and $100 gift card.
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