February 7, 2008

INDUSTRY ACCESS*

BHMA Issues Revised Standard for Electric Strikes

The Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association (BHMA) announces the publication of ANSI/BHMA A156.31 – 2007 American National Standard for Electric Strikes. This publication is an update of an earlier 2001 version of the standard.

ANSI/BHMA A156.31 - 2007 covers requirements for Electric Strikes and Frame Mounted Actuators.

The changes to ANSI/BHMA A156.31 include, an added definition for keeper, optional test for preload, requirements for monitor switch functions, increased cycle test values for Grade 2 and 3, and improved illustrations. Performance tests were also consolidated and the standard was reformatted throughout.

For more information, or to purchase copies of the ANSI/BHMA A156.31-2007, or any other BHMA standards, please visit BHMA's Web site at www.buildershardware.com. Purchased standards are available as printed documents or as electronic files (PDF) for immediate download. You can also order standards by phone by calling 800-699-9277.

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

Construction industry stakeholders are increasingly recognizing green building capabilities as "good" — and being a necessary part of a firm’s best practices, according to FMI’s 2008 U.S. Construction Overview. Green building is no longer a niche sector, and three major trends are pushing green building to the forefront of the construction industry. According to the Overview, green nonresidential construction put in place was $13.4 billion in 2006, and by 2008 $21.2 billion of all new nonresidential construction will employ the use of green building principles, reported Building Design & Construction. Full Story

Which markets look strongest for AEC firms in 2008? Building Design & Construction takes a look at predictions from chief economist, Dr. Jim Haughey and ZweigWhite's 2008 AEC Industry Outlook. Full Story

A Baltimore developer has donated $3 million to become the namesake of a new "green" real estate program at the University of Maryland's flagship College Park campus. The donation from John B. Colvin and his wife, Karen, will be used to create the Colvin Institute of Real Estate Development in Maryland's School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation. The donation will be used to create a new track in the program focusing on green design, sustainable development and energy financing, reported Baltimore Business Journal. Full Story

The U.S. Green Building Council has doubled its funding commitment for green building research grants to be awarded in 2008 to a grand total of $2 million. Of the additional $1 million in grants, $500,000 has been allocated for K-12 school facility research related to occupant impacts. The Green Building Research Fund was created to spur research that will advance sustainable building practices and encourage market transformation. Full Story

CONSTRUCTION & DESIGN

In the not too distant future there could be two U.S. standards for green buildings. Later this spring, the American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), in conjunction with two other industry organizations, is planning to release for public comment a second draft of its standard for high-performance buildings. Meanwhile, the three-year-old non-profit Green Building Initiative (GBI) is also working toward establishing its Green Globes rating system for commercial buildings as an official standard. Both organizations are following the protocols of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), and expect to release fully completed and approved documents by the end of 2008, reported Architectural Record. Full Story

In Canada, solid growth of industrial construction (3.5% quarter over quarter), commercial construction (2.9%) and institutional construction (0.7%) combined to increase the total investment in non-residential building construction in Canada by 2.4% in fourth-quarter 2007, its fourth consecutive 2%-plus quarter-over-quarter increase, according to Statistics Canada. For 2007 as a whole, the total value of non-residential investment increased by 10.8%, following increases of 10.9% in 2006 and 11.9% in 2005. In constant dollar terms, non-residential investment increased by a rather modest 0.1% in the fourth quarter. That figure brings the annual rise to 1.5%, compared to 3.2% in 2006 and 2.6% in 2005, reported Reed Construction Data. Full Story

SECURITY & SAFETY

A fair amount of both traditional proprietary and network-based access control systems are being specified. A recent Security Distributing & Marketing article helps you decide which is best for you to sell and install. Full Story

Changing technology has hotels looking beyond the traditional plastic key card as a way to unlock guest-room doors. The Plaza Hotel in New York, now closed for renovation, will open later this year with radio-frequency cards that unlock the door when swiped past the lock at close range. Paper cards, cellphones, fingerprints and iris scans are popping up as alternative unlocking devices, reported USA Today. Full Story

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

As Congress and the Administration discuss additional proposals to stimulate the nation’s economy, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) is advocating green incentives for homeowners, building owners, small businesses, retail establishments and education facilities. Full Story

Steep increases in the cost of construction materials and growing demand for qualified contractors have sabotaged the General Services Administration’s ability to deliver new buildings on time and on budget. GSA has more than 200 active building projects in development valued at $12 billion, reported the Federal Times. Full Story

Leslie Newman, Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, filed emergency rules with the Secretary of State's Office to allow building plans to be submitted and reviewed under the 2006 International Building Code (IBC) and the 2006 Uniform Fire Code, reported Insurance Journal. With these emergency rules, the Fire Prevention Division will review plans submitted under the 1999 Standard Building Code, the 2006 IBC, the 2003 Uniform Fire Code and the 2006 Uniform Fire Code. Now, the construction and design firms which had relied on rules adopting the 2006 International Building Code and the 2006 Uniform Fire Code as the minimum standard that were withdrawn by the department last month can proceed with submitting plans under those codes. These emergency rules are effective immediately and will remain in effect until July 8. The department hopes to have formal permanent rules in effect by that date. Newman will be considering which of two fire codes to adopt: the 2006 International Fire Code or the 2006 Uniform Fire Code. Full Story

SMALL BUSINESS NEWS

New Disabilities Rule

You probably have heard that a bill, H.R. 3195, to make changes to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), is perking through the House. The bill attempts to make changes that reflect the disabled advocacy community’s concerns with how the law operates in the real world and how the courts have interpreted the scope of the law. Basically, the bill expands the nature of impairments to which the law would apply; reverses the Supreme Court’s interpretation that favored employers, that they could consider “mitigated measures” (e.g. glasses) when determining whether an individual is disabled; and, creates a shift in the burden of proof to the employer when the parties are litigating whether someone has suffered from discrimination..

Our concern is that the nature of the impairments should be easily understood and reasonably defined. Otherwise, it does a disservice both to the small businesses that want to comply and those whose disabilities require the attention and support of the business community.

In recent years, experience with the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) has made us even more skittish about the line between medical conditions, impairments and disabilities. While it is true the smallest of businesses are not covered by the ADA and FMLA, our experience is that managing the practical ramifications of both laws on daily operations are the big challenges, not the potential for litigation. It would seem the proposed change regarding the nature of an impairment would further blur the line between FMLA and ADA compliance and exacerbate the daily management challenges.

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

Orange County Fire-Door Inspection Class Receives High Marks

Tom Oakes, Asst Fire Marshal, Orange County California had the following comments which he shared after the class 'Fire-Rated Doors and Hardware – A Guide to Field Inspections' was taught to thirty-three fire and building code officials from Orange County.

"I would like to thank all of the instructors and local representatives who attended and taught the training class on January 16. Everyone I talked to had only good things to say about the class. Both the Fire and Building Inspectors were able to come away from the class with new knowledge and tools to do a better job of inspecting and approving fire door installations. I found the comments did not focus on one specific area but each participant was able to take away new information for their use.

Again thank you for an excellent class. Please feel free to use me as a reference should any other organizations have questions." — Tom Oakes, Asst. Fire Marshal Orange County, CA

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

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

Foundation Participates in Total Fire Protection Symposium

Over 120 individuals attended the 'Total Fire Protection Symposium' an event that took place at the Los Angeles County Public Works Building on January 31st and February 1st.

The ICC LA Basin Chapter, Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and the Firestop Contractors International Association (FCIA) hosted this comprehensive and informative symposium for architects, specifiers and regulatory authorities. AIA has accredited this course and six HSW CEUs were earned as a result of attending the seminar.

This Symposium provided education to the design, specification and enforcement professional about the value of utilizing effective fire safety technologies in building design today. Topics include code requirements for each fire protection approach, the building applications where each fire protection element may be used, new standards developed for quality installation and inspection, and new technologies and improvements in all these fire protection elements.

A special thank you to the following companies (whose name appeared on the inside cover) for making the distribution of over 200 of the AHJ’s Guide: Swinging Fire Doors with Builders Hardware available to the attendees — ASSA ABLOY North America, Belcam Door & Frame Supply, Bommer Industries, Inc. Contract Hardware, Inc. (Seattle), Detex Corporation , Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies, K2 Commercial Hardware/Black & Decker HHI, Rutherford Controls Int'l Corp., Security Door Controls, Sunncet, Inc., Timely Industries, Inc., VT Industries, Inc.

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

Reserve Your Spot at DHI’s May MEGA School!
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!

With 28 different courses offerings, you can MAXIMIZE your education opportunity.

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

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 the Month of February for HALF PRICE!!!

Take advantage of the pro-rated price of only $113*! Now is an excellent time to join DHI!

Enhance your competitive edge!
Take advantage of comprehensive career development opportunities!
Network with key industry leaders both nationally and locally!

To find out more about how DHI members succeed, go online to www.dhi.org/membership or call 703-222-2010!

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