News + Views

IRE answers FAQ about its 2021 virtual and physical events

The International Roofing Expo^® has compiled a list of FAQ regarding its virtual conference and expo and the physical event being held this year. The virtual event will be March 2-4, and the in-person event is rescheduled from April to Aug. 10-12, 2021, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.

The list of FAQ is available at bit.ly/3qfp2vu.

California COVID-19 worker protection rule takes effect

An emergency rule aimed at protecting workers in California from COVID-19 infections took effect Nov. 30, 2020, according to the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health. The rule was formalized following a review by the state’s Office of Administrative Law.

The 21-page rule requires employers to develop and implement a coronavirus infection-prevention program that includes mandatory mask policies, using physical barriers to protect workers and maintaining social distancing. Employers also must follow the rule’s requirements for virus testing, notifying workers of infections and paid medical leave.

The emergency rule will stay in effect for 180 days and can be renewed for 90 days at a time.

CDC recommends construction workers get vaccines during third phase

A committee of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued guidelines Dec. 20, 2020, suggesting construction workers receive COVID-19 vaccine shots in the program rollout’s third phase after they are provided in earlier stages to the elderly and to health care and other “frontline” essential workers, according to enr.com. The third phase could start this month and continue into late spring if the vaccination program goes smoothly.

Brian Turmail, a spokesman for the Associated General Contractors of America, said the guidelines, which are built on federal classifications for essential workers created earlier during the pandemic, are believed to cover all types of construction workers.

AGC clarified the point with the CDC Dec. 21, 2020, after a Dec. 20 presentation regarding the guidelines seemed to indicate only construction workers employed on housing and shelter-related projects belong in the third phase.

In general, states and cities will determine the order in which COVID-19 vaccines will be provided.

Georgia-Pacific Gypsum becomes 40th One Voice member

Georgia-Pacific Gypsum LLC, Atlanta, is the 40th company to join NRCA’s One Voice initiative as a partner member.

NRCA’s One Voice initiative is a transformational approach to addressing the roofing industry’s most critical issues and concerns—with one voice—to secure its future. NRCA invites manufacturers, distributors, architects, engineers, consultants and service providers to fully engage with NRCA, as partners, and actively address the industry’s most pressing issues, including workforce and work certification; effecting change in Washington, D.C.; building codes and insurance; and increasing professionalism in all industry sectors.

Additional information about NRCA’s One Voice initiative, including a list of current One Voice member partners, is available at nrca.net/onevoice.

IRS releases 2021 standard mileage rates

The Internal Revenue Service has announced the 2021 optional standard mileage rates for calculating deductible costs associated with using an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes.

As of Jan. 1, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car, van, pickup or panel truck is 56 cents per mile for business miles driven. The standard mileage rate is 16 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes and 14 cents per mile driven in service to a charitable organization.

During 2020, the business mileage rate was 57.5 cents per mile and the medical and moving rate was 17 cents per mile. The charitable rate is set by statute and remains unchanged.

It is important to note under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, taxpayers cannot claim a miscellaneous itemized deduction for unreimbursed employee travel expenses. Taxpayers also cannot claim a deduction for moving expenses, except members of the Armed Forces on active duty moving under orders to a permanent change of station.

Additional information is available at irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-21-02.pdf.

LafargeHolcim to acquire Firestone Building Products

On Jan. 7, LafargeHolcim, Zug, Switzerland, the world’s largest cement supplier, signed an agreement to acquire Firestone Building Products Co. LLC, Nashville, Tenn., according to firestonebpco.com. The transaction is valued at $3.4 billion.

With the acquisition, LafargeHolcim will add 15 manufacturing facilities, 1,800 distribution points, and three research and development laboratories to its network. Once the sale is completed, Firestone Building Products will continue to be headquartered in Nashville, and the company’s 1,900 employees will transition to LafargeHolcim.

LafargeHolcim CEO Jan Jenisch says: “I am excited to be entering the highly attractive roofing business. With Firestone Building Products, we are strengthening our biggest market, the U.S., while also building a global growth and innovation platform for the company. Today’s milestone is a strategic leap on our journey to become the global leader in innovative and sustainable building solutions, to build a world that works for people and the planet. I have great respect for the high-caliber leadership and expertise of the Firestone Building Products team and look forward to welcoming them into the LafargeHolcim family.”

How do you define success?

“Success is making a difference in the world every day and loving your life and sleeping better at night than you ever did, no matter what the landscape holds. If I were going to put that into a success strategy for business, it would be to give more than you ever thought possible to give and make as many mistakes to become as adaptable as you can so you can survive and thrive in the world we’re shifting into.”
—Charles Antis, founder and CEO of Antis Roofing & Waterproofing, Irvine, Calif.

“Success is the grateful understanding that my life is abundant beyond measure. Success is the daily learning from lessons of missing the mark and the victories of attaining the goal. Every day I learn something new—that is a success.”
—Sherri Miles, vice president of J.D. Miles & Sons Inc., Chesapeake, Va.

“Success to me is more personal than it is about financial reports. It’s about finding the balance between pushing yourself to perform up to a standard and still being able to go home happy with yourself at the end of each day.”
—Kyle Thomas, co-owner of Thomas Roofing Co. Inc., Mobile, Ala