February 21, 2008

INDUSTRY ACCESS*

BHMA Issues Revised Standard for Master Keying Systems

The Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association (BHMA) announces the publication of ANSI/BHMA A156.28 - 2007 American National Standard for Master Keying Systems. This publication is an update of an earlier 2000 version of the standard and is now available as a free download on the BHMA website.

ANSI/BHMA A156.28 – 2007 covers requirements for system design and design criteria to establish and maintain a secure keying system for building owners and security professionals.

Among the general updates to ANSI/BHMA A156.28, a number of definitions from ANSI/BHMA A156.30 Hi-Security Cylinders standard and ALOA were added; the System Planning and Keying Conference sections were widely revised; and the master keying schematics were improved.

Master keying is the process of combining a group of locks or cylinders, so that each is operated by its own change key as well as by a master key for the entire group.

For more information, or to download a free copy of the ANSI/BHMA A156.28-2007, please visit BHMA's website at www.buildershardware.com.

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

Following a stretch of 3 months with an increase in demand for design services, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) reported the January Architecture Billings Index rating was 50.7, down sharply from the 55.0 mark in December (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings), and inquiries for new projects was 59.5. Full Story

The economic environment for construction worsened significantly over the last month and is almost certain to deteriorate further in the next few months, according to Reed Construction Data's Jim Haughey. Recession fears are the reason for the weaker business conditions. Builders and developers are now concerned that space demand may decline in 2008 or grow more slowly than they anticipated. Suddenly, the existing stock of building space and facility capacity looks excessive. Full Story

Guidance unveiled a best-practices guide to help companies of any size operate as environmentally aware organizations and reduce or eliminate their carbon footprints. The guide, How To Operate as an Environmentally Aware Organization and Reduce or Eliminate Your Carbon Footprint, includes strategies learned from the company's own experience throughout its quest to help create a sustainable environment, reported Buildings.com. The report is a step-by-step guide helping companies evaluate their operations, calculate their carbon footprint, and take action. Full Story Download Guide (PDF file)

Proposed ENERGY STAR program revisions for fenestration products were discussed when the Schaumburg, IL-based American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) met with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), reported Buildings.com. The two groups agreed that improving energy efficiency is a national priority. John Lewis, AAMA's technical director, says, "The DOE estimates that ENERGY STAR windows now make up over 50% of the market; this degree of market penetration would not have been possible without the direct participation of the fenestration industry." Full Story

CONSTRUCTION & DESIGN

The National Association of Home Builders launched the NAHB National Green Building Program, an education, verification and certification program that will allow builders anywhere to build green homes. The program features a dynamic online scoring tool at www.nahbgreen.org, which shows the builder how to accrue points in seven categories: water, energy and resource efficiency; lot and site development; indoor environmental quality; global impact and homeowner education, reported Environmental Design & Construction. Full Story

Efforts by Michigan health care systems to build new hospitals and renovate old ones are providing a boost to the state's construction industry, which has been hit by a downturn in the housing market. Thirteen of the largest projects are pumping at least $2.2 billion into their communities, reported Mlive. And for patients, the projects are offering things like improved technology and more private rooms. Full Story

Non-residential construction spending increased a slim 0.2% in December but remains nearly 15% higher than a year ago. Reed Construction Data expects month-to- month spending gains to average 0.6% to 0.7% in 2008. This is half of the growth pace during 2007, but about a third higher than the growth rate forecast for 2009. Non-residential construction spending in 2008 is projected to increase 12.3%. The make-up of the gain will be 25% for offices, 18% for health care, 15% for both hotels and education and 12% for retail. Full Story

The value of construction starts in January 2008, excluding residential contracts, totaled $21.347 billion, down 13.1% from January 2007 and 8.0% below December, according to Reed Construction Data. Monthly starts totals have been ebbing since October of last year, although starts increased 10.6% in full-year 2007 versus full-year 2006. Full Story

Hotel construction took off in California in 2007 despite the turmoil in the credit markets and concerns about a changing economy, according to a new report from Atlas Hospitality Group. Alan X. Reay, president of the Irvine-based consulting and brokerage firm, tells GlobeSt.com that the industry expansion — a 24% year-to-year increase in the number of hotel rooms under construction and a 74% increase in the number of rooms opened — is maintaining its momentum thus far this year. Full Story

As more people struggle to pay their mortgage and fewer take out home-equity loans, many homeowners have cut back their spending on remodeling kitchens, replacing windows and other improvement projects, reported USA Today. Two out of three homeowners who had planned an improvement project this year said they would wait until the market stabilizes, and about 11% said they were abandoning the idea of a project this year, according to an email survey by research firm Zoomerang. Read More

SECURITY & SAFETY

A group of higher education associations launched a study aimed at assessing campus security and emergency response preparedness nationwide. The yearlong project will collect information about college and university response plans for such emergency situations — along with natural disasters, terrorist and cyber attacks and infectious disease outbreaks — through an online survey of higher education institutions and visits to about half a dozen schools that have experienced different kinds of threats. Other organizations have conducted similar assessments, but none has analyzed threats and preparedness from so many different angles simultaneously, said Jim Hyatt, who will direct the project through the National Association of College and University Business Officers, or NACUBO. The study will focus not on prevention but on preparation and will consider technology, public safety, legal, administrative, financial and personnel risks. Organizations representing university employees in those fields are helping to fund the project. Full Story

A nationwide survey conducted by the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE) reveals that 79% of Americans feel safer from fires at home than in a public building with an additional 9% feeling equally safe in both locations. These results are inconsistent with government statistics that show that home fires outnumber all other building fires by over three to one. At the same time, most fire deaths and injuries occur in the home. Public buildings are subject to tough fire-safety regulations and inspections, whereas most homes are not, reported Security Solutions.com. Full Story

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

Virginia Governor Timothy Kaine and Virginia Tech are lobbying Congress for federal money to study ways to secure open public environments from the violent incidents that occurred at VT ten months ago and most recently at Northern Illinois University. They seek a $1 million budget earmark to do a study, but face federal rules that make colleges and state universities ineligible to receive direct federal homeland security aid, reported The Richmond Times-Dispatch . Full Story

A bill that would allow colleges to use federal matching grants to purchase security and fire systems moved one step closer to becoming law on Feb. 7 when it passed the U.S. House of Representatives. Lauded by security and fire officials, the bill would also require colleges to make full disclosures to prospective students and parents about their life-safety systems and fire history, something fire industry advocates are happy about, reported Security Systems News. Full Story

The Idaho House Environment, Energy and Technology Committee voted to recommend passage of a bill that would require most state buildings to be 30% more energy efficient than buildings constructed to code. It's a more conservative goal than some states have implemented; other states have required as high as a 50% energy savings, reported Red Orbit. Full Story

Los Angeles is poised to adopt one of the toughest green building ordinances in the nation. Two City Council committees voted recently to require that all major commercial and residential developments slash projected energy and water use and reduce the overall environmental footprint, placing the city on the cutting edge of an international movement to address the global warming effects of buildings. Under the ordinance, privately built projects over 50,000 sq. ft. — of which there are roughly 200 constructed annually — must meet a "standard of sustainability" by incorporating a checklist of green practices into their building plans, reported The Los Angeles Times. Read More

Fire Engineering magazine provides and overview of international fire safety legislation. Full Story

SMALL BUSINESS NEWS

SBLC Hosts Annual Membership Meeting

Tax policy and consumer product safety legislation are SBLC's short-term priorities," said, G. Stephen Slagle, CAE, the incoming chairman of the Small Business Legislative Council (SBLC). “Our tax concerns range from the impact on small business of efforts to close the tax gap to securing estate tax relief,” Slagle continued. Slagle added, "Investment in our nation's infrastructure and controlling health care costs remain long-term priorities for the small business community." Slagle made his remarks at SBLC's 31st Annual Meeting at which Slagle, President and CEO of the Promotional Products Association International, was elected to the position of 2008 Chairman of the Board of Directors of SBLC. Full Story

Business Incentives

As a result of the stimulus bill, for 2008, the amount that can be expensed in the first year under Section 179 of the Internal Revenue Code is increased to $250,000. The asset purchase cap is increased to $800,000. These amounts are not indexed for inflation.

In addition, for 2008 only, there is also a 50 percent first year depreciation bonus for most assets.

For those hoping for an extension of the carryback period for net operating losses, that was not included.

Rebate Checks

This stimulus package also includes the issuance of tax rebate checks to millions of consumers. The rebate has two components. The first is an amount based on filing status and the second is an amount for each child. Part one of the rebate checks will be an amount equal to the net income tax liability for 2007, up to a maximum of $600 for a single taxpayer and $1,200 for married couples. If net tax liability for 2007 is less than $300 for an individual and $600 for a married couple, the taxpayer will still receive a check for that minimum amount. In order to be eligible for the rebate, the taxpayer must report $1 of tax liability or $3,000 of qualifying income, defined as the sum of earned income, veterans’ disability payments (including payments survivors of veterans), and social security benefits.

The amount of the rebate (including both the basic amount and the qualifying child payment) is phased out at a rate of 5% of adjusted gross income beginning at $75,000 ($150,000 in the case of joint returns). The provision denies the basic rebate and the qualifying child payment to individuals if the tax return does not include valid identification numbers for all persons listed on the return. A valid identification number is a Social Security Number issued by the Social Security Administration, and does not include a Taxpayer Identification Number issued by the Internal Revenue Service.

The game plan is to have the checks in the mail in May. There has been no official word from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) yet as to whether it can meet that goal.

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 Presenting at UL/ICC Fire Symposium, CSI Show
Booth space at CSI and AIA Show

The Foundation has been invited to present at a UL/ICC Total Fire Protection Symposium in April, and at the Total Fire Symposium at the CSI conference in June.

We will also have booth space at both the AIA show in May and CSI show in June. Through sponsorship, we will be providing the AHJ’s Guide: Swinging Fire Doors with Builders Hardware to all attendees of the UL/ICC symposium and CSI symposium. We will also have a large number of copies on hand at both the AIA and CSI show floor.

Watch for an email in the coming weeks soliciting your support for these events.

Video Promoting One-Day AHJ Class

The video promoting the one-day AHJ class narrated by Robert Polk, retired fire marshal, South Carolina is available for viewing at www.lifesafetysecurity.org/PolkVideo1.html or at www.youtube.com key word search ‘fire door inspection’.

Meeting with Legislator

The Foundation has met with the office of George Miller (D-CA), Chairman, Committee on Education and Labor to make them aware of our work with Head Start Centers and our role in fire door inspections and writing security guidelines for K-12. As a follow-up to this meeting, will we be visiting the office of Rep. Susan Davis, 53rd District of California (San Diego area) to discuss our work.

Meeting at Department of Education, Safe and Drug Free Schools

The Foundation met with staffers from Office of Safe & Drug-Free Schools at the Education Department (DoEd) to discuss our efforts with the nation’s K-12 schools. Foundation staff informed the staffers that are goals are to provide K-12 security guidelines as well as to provide training to school building officials to provide them with a better understanding of the role fire doors play in school safety. The meetings were successful in increasing our name recognition at the federal level and receiving guidance on how to proceed with securing DoEd federal funding, which goes directly to state and local educational agencies.

In Case You Missed It ..

Longtime Foundation Supporter National Guard Products visited by CBS 'Early Show.'

The 'Early Show' on CBS visited National Guard Products, a company believing in "downsizing" employees, that is, they pay them to lose weight because it saves money in health care costs. The live broadcast took place on February 14th.

To see a video of the interview, click here.

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

Check Out DHI’s Industry Recruitment Video!!!

The Industry Recruitment video showcased at DHI’s Annual Meeting last year in Nashville is now available online! Click here to view the video. DHI created this recruitment tool to assist members as they attract new employees to our industry. For more information or to find out how you can receive a copy of this video, please contact DHI directly at 703-222-2010.

Don’t Miss DHI’s MEGA School in May!
May 11 – 18, 2008 in Lansdowne, VA

Space is limited, so reserve your spot for this 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.

The list of classes includes DAI 600 - Fire Door Assembly Inspection, 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 or to register!