Industry Briefing

• Photo courtesy of D.C. Taylor Co., Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Union groups make donations

Roofers Local No. 2 and Signatory Roofing Contractors recently donated materials and labor to install a low-slope roof system on a town home in north St. Louis. The project was part of a Habitat for Humanity revitalization initiative occurring in the area. The materials and labor were paid for by the groups' Industry Advancement Fund, which was established to maintain and promote the unionized roofing industry in Missouri and Illinois.

In addition, the groups used their Industry Advancement Fund to donate educational, life-size dolls to the Shriners Hospital for Children, St. Louis. The dolls feature anatomically correct skeletons that identify major bones and organ systems to help children understand their orthopedic illnesses and treatments.

CSI announces a resignation

The Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) has announced the resignation of Greg Balestrero, CSI's executive director. Balestrero left CSI to become chief executive officer of the Project Management Institute, a nonprofit association that establishes project management standards and provides seminars, educational programs and professional certification for project leaders.

CSI representatives state Balestrero's departure will not affect CSI's products, programs or services. The organization's executive committee has appointed CSI's Deputy Executive Director Tony Keane interim executive director until February 2003, when it expects to replace Balestrero.

D.C. Taylor donates roof system

Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based D.C. Taylor Co. received a letter of appreciation from the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art for donating a 10,000-square-foot (929-m²) roof system to protect the museum's art collection. D.C. Taylor provided the project management and labor for installation of the Sure-Weld TPO roof membrane, which was donated by Carlisle Syntec Inc., Carlisle, Pa. The roof system's insulation was donated by Atlas Roofing Corp., Meridian, Miss.

"We were happy to participate in this project by involving our manufacturers and donating our services to the job," says William Taylor, D.C. Taylor's chairman and chief executive officer.

Photo courtesy of D.C. Taylor Co., Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

D.C. Taylor Co., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received a letter of appreciation from the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art after installing a donated TPO roof system to protect the museum's art collection. Pictured from left to right are Bob Pence, D.C. Taylor's assistant vice president of purchasing; William Taylor, D.C. Taylor's chairman and chief executive officer; Terry Pitts, executive director of the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art; Ron Head, manager of Carlisle Syntec Inc.'s thermoplastic and fleeceback systems, Carlisle, Pa.; and Ray Dengler, D.C. Taylor's vice president of sales.

The Industry Online

• The Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association Inc. has made its technical standards and manuals available for purchase on its Web site, www.smacna.org.
  
  
• CertainTeed Corp. has integrated its Design Center on its Web site, www.certainteed.com/designcenter. The page helps homeowners choose building products that best meet their color and style needs.
  
  
• Digital Intent Inc. has created a Web site dedicated to the global spray polyurethane foam industry at www.sprayfoam.com.
  
  
• A computer-aided design library now is available to registered users of Aluma Shield's Web site, www.alumashield.com.
  
  
• Atlas Roofing Corp. has included its LTTR Calculator™ on its Web site, www.atlasroofing.com. The calculator allows users to input an R-value and automatically view the company's insulation products that meet the required R-value.
  
  
• On its Web site, www.majorskylights.com, Major Industries Inc. features the Quick Ship™ function, which allows users to choose designs, preview prices and order skylights.
  
  
• The International Code Council has launched its eCodes® Online Subscription Service at www.ecodes.biz. The service allows subscribers to download the latest building and safety codes.
  
  
• AppliCad has made available its Beginner's Quickstart Guides on its Web site, www.applicad-usa.com. The guides provide information about using the company's Roof Wizard and Roof Magician software systems.