Industry Briefing

FM Research restructures

Factory Mutual (FM) Research has integrated with FM Global's risk-management operations. The research division has been named FM Global Research, and the approvals division has been named FM Approvals.

"FM Global Research and FM Approvals will continue to do work that is business-relevant and sets loss-prevention standards and practices worldwide," says Tom Lawson, FM Global's senior vice president of research and approvals.

NRF elects officers

The National Roofing Foundation (NRF), a separate but related educational and research organization of NRCA, elected its 2002-03 officers during its board of trustees meeting. The following officers began their terms June 1: president—Jude Laperouse, president of Edward J. Laperouse Metal Works Inc., Houma, La.; vice president—Nelson Braddy, president of King of Texas Roofing Co., Grand Prairie; and secretary/treasurer—Steve Kruger, president of L.E. Schwartz & Son Inc., Macon, Ga.

In addition, NRF awarded $1,000 roofing industry scholarships to Ashley N. Auker, Ephrata, Pa.; Colleen E. Erbsen, Salida, Colo.; Abigail E. Lauver, Spring Mills, Pa.; Jarod W. Olds, Dallas; and Jessica L. Watson, South China, Maine. Recipients were chosen based on academic record, potential to succeed, leadership, participation in high-school and community activities, honors, work experience, a statement of educational goals and third-party appraisal. Financial need is not considered.

For more information regarding NRF scholarships and this year's application deadline, contact Chris Seidel, NRF's executive director, at (847) 299-9070, Ext. 264; fax (847) 299-1183; or e-mail cseidel@nrca.net.

ANSI offers ICC codes online

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is distributing 14 International Code Council (ICC) International Codes^TM and standards in PDF format on its online store, webstore.ansi.org. The codes and standards can be purchased and downloaded.

Maryland group awards scholarships

The Associated Roofing Contractors of Maryland awarded five scholarships from its Annual Clarence Wolf III Scholarship Memorial Fund. The following high-school seniors were given $1,000 scholarships: Christina Boyd, White Hall, Md.; Jessica Brown, Hanover, Pa.; Matthew Menefee, Severna Park, Md.; and Adam Pelc, Owings Mills, Md. Kristin Wirtz, Freeland, Md., received a $500 continuing-education scholarship.

Students must have a 2.75 grade point average and exhibit civic interests not included in their schools' curriculum to be considered for the scholarships. Association members and their employees' immediate family members are eligible for the scholarships.

Colorado association holds awards dinner

The Colorado Roofing Association (CRA) recently held its annual Awards Dinner during which the association gave its Lifetime Achievement Award to Bob Bellitt, co-owner of Arapahoe Roofing and Sheet Metal, Broomfield, Colo. Bellitt received the award for his long history with CRA, including his efforts to establish CRA from the Boulder County Roofing Association, which he founded in the late 1970s.

In addition, the association honored six contracting companies for outstanding service during 2001. Residential contracting company winners were Platte Valley Roof Systems, Denver, as well as NRCA members Boulder Roofing Inc., Colo., and Academy Roofing Inc., Aurora, Colo. Commercial contracting company winners were Belfor Restoration, Denver; Tiley Roofing, Westminster, Colo.; and NRCA member Black Roofing Inc., Boulder.

ASTM presents merit awards

ASTM International presented 2002 Awards of Merit to Robert E. Metz, general manager of Anderson, S.C.-based Apache Products Co.'s Lakeland, Fla., facility and William M. Edmunds, retired manager of codes and standards for Toledo, Ohio-based Owens Corning's Granville, Ohio, facility. The annual honor is the highest ASTM award given for contributions to standards development, and recipients receive the accompanying title of Fellow.

Metz was recognized by ASTM International Committee D08 for Roofing, Waterproofing and Bituminous Materials for his outstanding performance, leadership and personal dedication while developing and promoting standards for the roofing and asphalt industries. Metz, an ASTM member since 1985, serves on several D08 subcommittees and task forces, as well as ASTM Committee E33 for Environmental Acoustics.

Edmunds was recognized by ASTM International Committee C16 on Thermal Insulation for writing reports and technical papers about fiberglass test methods, physical characteristics and applications. Edmunds, an ASTM member since 1976, serves on Committee C16, Subcommittee C16.16, the U.S. Delegation to Technical Committee 163 and others.