January 10, 2008

INDUSTRY ACCESS*

Amarr Opens San Antonio Distribution Center

Amarr Garage Doors opened a door distribution center in San Antonio in early December. The 21,550-square foot facility, which Amarr calls a "Door Center," has three employees and is the company’s 68th Door Center. Amarr products will be distributed from the San Antonio Door Center to independent garage door dealers in southern Texas, allowing them to provide rapid delivery of Amarr products to their customers, reported Professional Door Dealer. Full Story

Click here for more Industry Access news including recent new hires, merger & acquisition activity and who's offering new products.

* DHI Members may submit news releases to be considered for inclusion in DHI's IndustryWatch. Send to: jmadden@dhi.org.

BUSINESS UPDATE

U.S. Construction spending rose 0.1% in November 2007. Again, falling spending at housing job sites was offset by rapidly increasing spending at non-residential job sites. Construction spending is essentially unchanged over the past year, but remains 5% below the peak in construction activity in February 2006. The November report should not be interpreted as an end to the long slide in construction activity because construction costs have begun to rise again, reported Reed Construction Data. Full Story

Going green can add to the construction costs of local companies and institutions. Just how much depends on how deep a shade of green is targeted, reported Triangle Business Journal. In recent years, Triangle area governments, universities and companies have ramped up plans for earth-friendly buildings while seeking various levels of national certifications for their efforts. While achieving lower certification levels may be inexpensive, the cost of achieving higher levels may increase the project's cost by as much as 10% or more, according to local industry experts. Full Story

Following a rebound in October, the Architecture Billings Index (ABI) continued up more than two points in November. As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI shows an approximate nine to twelve month lag time between architecture billings and construction spending. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) reported the November ABI rating was 55.3, up from 53.2 in October (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings), and inquiries for new projects was 56.6. Full Story

During 2008, total material demand will turn from decline to increase, according to a Jim Haughey article for Reed Construction Data. Inflation pressures on domestically priced materials will weaken. Inflation pressures on internationally priced materials may ease slightly but will strengthen for some key materials, especially steel. However the long slide in the trade value of the $US will end, easing inflation pressures for imported materials. Also, expect a turnabout during the year with materials demand shifting from decline to increase for materials principally used in residential markets and a significant demand slowdown for materials principally used in nonresidential building. Full Story

CONSTRUCTION & DESIGN

Construction put in place is expected to grow by 5.8% next year, despite a decline of 3.7% in 2007, according to a new report from FMI Research Services. The report, 2008 U.S. Construction Overview, forecasts that in 2008, construction put in place will total $1.21 trillion, reported Facilitiesnet. Full Story

The Atlanta Journal Constitution profiles metro Atlanta's growing EarthCraft program, which inspects and scores homes on a point scale designed to promote conscientious construction practices, energy efficiency and sustainable materials. Full Story

The completion of new hotel rooms caught up with demand in 2007, bringing an end to a five-year rise in occupancy rates of about 60-67%, slowing room rate increases from 6-8% to about 3-4%, and reducing prospective investment returns from buying or building a hotel, although hotel investments are still relatively attractive to real estate investors. Hotel construction spending is estimated to have increased 66% in 2007, but the gain will be lower than 30% next year, and slow to 12% in 2009—still stronger than other commercial properties, reported Building Design & Construction. Full Story

Forty miles Southwest of Central Seoul, South Korea, construction is underway to build a planned 50 million square feet of office space, 35 million of residential, 4 million of retail, 5 million of hotels and 10 million of parks and greenswards. New Songdo City won't be complete until 2014, at the earliest, reported Forbes. By then, perhaps 65,000 people will live, and 300,000 will work, in this fabricated-from-scratch urb. There will be an international school (already half-built), a hospital, museums, a convention center, a golf course overseen by Jack Nicklaus, a giant mall designed by Daniel Libeskind and a 65-story office tower. Songdo is being pitched as a digitally linked and model green city. Total estimated cost: $30 billion. Full Story

SECURITY & SAFETY

The Security Industry Association’s (SIA) recently published its 2008 Legislative Agenda. The ambitious 12-point plan includes advocacy in a range of new areas including agriculture, trade, education and health care. Full Story

A streamlined, updated door locking system has provided the Hilton Atlanta Northeast with greater reliability, versatility and style in managing guest and employee security. The new electro-mechanical system provides an added level of security at the 272-room facility due to a battery back-up feature that allows encoders to continue checking in guests even when the power is down. In addition, the software-based system allows management to control employee access to programs and specific areas of the hotel, reported SecuritySolutions.com. Full Story

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

Federal lawmakers are considering a plan to hand out $100 million to suburbs overwhelmed by sprawl or slammed by natural disasters to help beef up critical building inspections, reported The Daily Herald. Full Story

In West Virginia, the School Building Authority hopes that by the time funding is allocated to new school construction in July, a new building quality and performance criteria document will be in effect, reported The Charleston Daily Mail. The document will ensure more uniform facility components at all schools across the state, said Mark Manchin, executive director of SBA. Full Story

Maine Lawmakers are getting ready to take another crack at licensing general contractors, reported the Morning Sentinel. Almost everyone in the building industry is licensed, from electricians to plumbers to architects. But not general contractors. Builders' associations and alliances have opposed licensing contractors because Maine lacks a statewide building code, a set of rules that establishes minimum acceptable levels of safety. Full Story

FOUNDATION NEWS

Forum for the Future Videos Online

View the Forum for the Future and get a first-hand look at each presentation that discussed multiple perspectives of the fire-door inspection program. At a minimum, be sure to view retired fire marshal Bert Polk's presentation. Click here to view the videos.

The Foundation Auction Continues

Make your bid to support the Foundation. Check back regularly for new items. Click here to see what items are up for bid.

Keep up-to-date with the latest Foundation news and programs, please visit www.lifesafetysecurity.org

DHI NEWS

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM DHI!

Keep Your Resolution to Advance Your Career!
Don’t Miss Upcoming DHI National Education
May 11 – 18, 2008 in Lansdowne, VA!

With an EXTENSIVE list of courses including the Fire Door Assembly Inspection class, you won’t want to miss this event! The next National Education offering won’t be until November 2008 in Boston. Make your plans NOW! A complete course listing and registration is available online at www.dhi.org/education.

Not sure what classes are right for you? Contact our Member Services team at 703-222-2010 and we can help you select the courses that will best meet your needs.

Join DHI in January or February for HALF PRICE!!!

Do you have any employees or colleagues who would benefit from DHI? Now is an excellent time for them to join! Sign-up today at the pro-rated price of only $113*! Find out how DHI members succeed with:

An enhanced competitive edge
Comprehensive career development opportunities
Extensive networking both nationally and locally

Go online to www.dhi.org/membership or call 703-222-2010!

*DHI membership cycle is from July to June each year.