January 24, 2008

INDUSTRY ACCESS*

The Chamberlain Group, Inc. Acquires Digitech International, Inc.

The Chamberlain Group, Inc. has acquired Digitech International, Inc. of Asheville, NC, as part of its ongoing growth plans in the integrated access control industry.

For over twenty years, Digitech International has been a leader in developing and marketing access control and security systems for the worldwide self-storage industry. Products include automatic gates and keypads, video surveillance and recording systems, door alarms, site graphics and onsite communications systems. The Digitech acquisition follows the October 2007 purchase of PTI Integrated Systems, Inc., a leading access control, security and site management provider to the self-storage industry.

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

The Architecture Billings Index (ABI) recorded another healthy score in December. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) reported the December ABI rating was 55.4, up a fraction from the 55.3 mark in November (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings), and inquiries for new projects was 58.1 Full Story

The December Producer Price Index for Wood Doors (flush & panel, interior & exterior) was down 1.5% from 2006 and the Other Wood Doors (Incl. garage, screen, storm, etc.) PPI was up 2.9% compared to a year earlier. Compared to November, the unadjusted December PPI for Wood Doors was down 1.5%, while the PPI for Other Wood Doors was up 1.0%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The PPI for Metal Doors, Sash & Trim was up 0.2% from November and up 2.2% from a year ago. Click here to view the full December Producer Price Index report. (PDF file - Wood Door information is on page 12 and Metal Door data is on page 17)

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) announced the launch of "Walk the Walk," a multi-faceted campaign to educate, promote and encourage sustainable design among consumers, business owners and architects. The purpose of the program is to help inform the marketplace on the benefits of more energy-efficient homes and buildings, which coincides with the AIA's stated goal of making all buildings carbon neutral by 2030 and helping the U.S. design and construction industry reduce the consumption of fossil fuels in buildings. To advance its efforts in achieving a 50% fossil fuel reduction by 2010, the AIA also is implementing a comprehensive communications plan, inclusive of print and online advertising, new media and public relations. Full Story

At a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $518.4 billion, new construction starts in December were essentially unchanged from November, according to McGraw-Hill Construction. For the full year 2007, total construction came in at $611.2 billion, down 11% from 2006 and marking the first annual decline for the construction start series since 1991. Excluding residential building, new construction starts for the full year 2007 advanced 3%. Full Story

Buildings.com takes a look into the future with predictions for educational, hospitality, multi-family, healthcare, industrial, retail, and office building markets in 2008. Full Story

CONSTRUCTION & DESIGN

Weakness in the overall U.S. economy is translating to a tempered forecast for the nonresidential construction market, and spending is expected to increase by a modest 0.7% in 2008 in inflation adjusted terms. Led by demand for institutional projects, the growth in 2008 is expected to be at a slower pace than recent years, with commercial projects likely to see the most decrease. Also there is expected to be continued volatility in the costs of building materials, according to the AIA's semi-annual Consensus Construction Forecast, a survey of the nation’s leading construction forecasters. Full Story

The Social Economic Environmental Design Network (SEED), founded in 2005, held its first nationwide conference in Dallas. Its members are design practitioners, activists and theorists whose mission is to advance the right of every person to live in a socially, economically and environmentally healthy community. SEED's members hope to effect change by creating design principles for residential and commercial structures in settings that would be mutually beneficial to all, whether developer, owner, tenant, resident or neighbor. Among the outcomes would be the conservation of resources and minimized waste, reported GlobeSt.com. Full Story

Building Teams pursuing certification under the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Green Building Rating System now have the opportunity to view the Innovation & Design Credit Catalog – a listing of proven green building strategies that have been submitted and utilized by LEED Certified projects, reported Building Design & Construction. Full Story

Development projects are in high gear at higher education institutions in Massachusetts. Colleges and universities, striving to sustain enrollment, meet particular demands on their own campuses and stay ahead of the trends in academics, are on a building spree. The projects come as part of institutional master planning that has some schools looking as far as 50 years into the future, reported Boston Business Journal. Full Story

A full 16% of schools districts’ controllable costs is spent on energy. A new publication written specifically for K-12 school buildings will aid design teams in constructing energy-smart schools using off-the-shelf technology that can cut energy use 30% or more annually. The Advanced Energy Design Guide for K-12 School Buildings, published by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, instructs architects, engineers and others on building design teams how to use best design practices to create energy-saving buildings, reported Building Design & Construction. Full Story

SECURITY & SAFETY

Tucked quietly into the federal Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 is a section that calls for establishing voluntary environmental-health and -safety guidelines for states to consult when locating and constructing schools, and authorizes grants for states to develop programs around those standards, reported Education Week. Full Story

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley made a proposal requiring new schools to be constructed to meet "green" energy-efficient standards. O'Malley's "green" building proposal is one of several initiatives on energy policy and the environment in his package. It would apply to new state buildings, including schools. Although construction costs could be higher initially, the proposal is geared toward reducing energy costs, which would save money in the long run. The governor is also asking the legislature to codify an administration goal to reduce statewide per-capita energy consumption 15% by 2015. He also is proposing a "strategic energy investment fund" that will promote the use of emerging energy-efficient technology, as well as expanded incentives to use solar and geothermal energy, reported The Washington Post. Full Story

SMALL BUSINESS NEWS

Economic Stimuli

The stimulus effort continues to escalate and everybody is trying to get their priority items into the package. At this point, tax rebates and bonus depreciation write-offs seem to be the front runners.

The Senate returns to work this week. Senators will be wading into the debate with their own opinions so the dynamic will shift a bit.

Consumer Safety

We do not expect action on any legislation that would have direct significant impact on small business in the near future, with the possible exception of the consumer product safety overhaul bill. The House has passed their version of a bill. The next move is in Senator Mark Pryor’s (D-AR) hands. While the Senate Commerce Committee has approved a version of a bill, no one expects that to be the version considered on the Senate floor.

DHI's Jerry Heppes sits on the board of the Small Business Legislative Council. If you'd like more information on these or other issues affecting small businesses, feel free to contact him at jheppes@dhi.org.

This material is protected under copyright law and contains confidential information. It is for the sole personal, informational use of DHI members. It cannot be distributed, reprinted, referenced as a source for attribution, or otherwise made public.

FOUNDATION NEWS

Foundation Conducts AHJ Class in Orange County, California.

Thirty-three fire and building code enforcement officials from Orange County, CA were in attendance on January 16th for the class 'Fire-Rated Doors and Hardware – A Guide to Field Inspections' held at the Orange County, CA Fire Authority complex. These officials attended this one-day course to learn about the updated NFPA 80 Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives, installation, operation, features, basic criteria and maintenance of fire-rated doors.

The updated standard now makes the inspection of fire-rated doors a yearly requirement.

"This is an important step in helping local officials understand what to look for when they are approving the installation and on-going maintenance of fire-rated doors," said Bert Polk, a retired South Carolina State Fire Marshal.

The Foundation is providing these classes at no cost to the attendees. The class itself is providing fire and building code officials a better understanding of what to visually verify when they see that a fire-rated door has passed inspection.

"Part of a fire marshal’s job is to enforce life safety codes and an instructional class such as this certainly makes that job easier," added Polk.

A special thank you is extended to Anemostat, Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies and VT Industries for providing sponsorship to help make this class, and the availability of the AHJ Guide: Fire Rated Doors with Builders Hardware possible for all attendees.

For further information on sponsorship opportunities, please contact William Johnson, Managing Director of the Foundation. He can be reached at bjohnson@dhi.org

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

DHI National Education Opportunity!
May 11 – 18, 2008 in Lansdowne, VA

Don’t miss this upcoming education event. The next National Education offering won’t be until November 2008 in Boston, so ACT NOW and reserve your spot at the May Mega School!

With an EXTENSIVE list of courses (we are offering 28 of our 31 National classes), DHI has structured the schedule in a very logical and sequential manner in order to maximize your education experience.

Also part of this National Education session, DAI 600 - Fire Door Assembly Inspection will be offered, as well as the following DAI 600 prerequisite classes:

COR110 - Basic Architectural Hardware
COR115 - Hardware Applications
COR140 - Using Codes and Standards

JUST ADDED! EHC400 - Drawings for Electrified Hardware Systems is now part of the course offerings in May!

Go online to www.dhi.org/education or contact our Member Services team directly at 703-222-2010 for more information and to reserve your space!

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

Take advantage of the pro-rated price of only $113*! Do you have any employees or colleagues who would benefit from DHI? Now is an excellent time for them to join! To find out more about 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.