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March 5, 2009

INDUSTRY ACCESS*

6 Great Tips for Specifying and Installing Windows and Doors

New standard practices from the American Architectural Manufacturers Association provide design, installation, and specification advice on the installation of windows and exterior glass doors for commercial and institutional buildings. Building Design & Construction highlighted six of the best tips it found in the 317 page manual. 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

Firestops in egress corridors and similar sections of facilities are especially critical. Properly installed passive firestops, teamed with the firestop capabilities of appropriately fire-rated doors, will confine fire and smoke locally and extend evacuation time. The first place technicians should look when conducting a firestop inspection is around doors and walls at the ends of hallways. Every hallway also should have fire doors that section it off and prevent fire from spreading up a stairway or to other parts of the building, reported Facilitiesnet. Full Story

Rutgers is launching a $500 million capital construction program. The plan includes $270 million for the construction of dorms, $55 million for a technologies center in Piscataway, NJ and $25 million for the Institute for Health Sciences in downtown New Brunswick, NJ, reported the Courier News. Full Story

CONSTRUCTION & DESIGN

A bright spot exists amid all the economic doom and gloom, as some local cities and school districts find prices dropping on construction projects, reported The Dallas News. Lower fuel costs, cheaper materials and less work have contractors bidding at basement prices, said Brian Turmail, spokesman for the Associated General Contractors of America. Full Story

Real estate and energy efficiency professionals have called into question the credibility of a recent study by NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association, which challenged the economic feasibility of developing office buildings with progressive energy efficiency goals, reported the CoStar Group. Full Story

Business construction fell by 4.3%, the largest decline since January 1994, bringing total private non-residential construction spending to its lowest level in a year. Despite January's steep decline, business construction spending is still up 0.3% over the last twelve months. Private non-residential construction fell in all categories except for a meager 0.3% gain in education construction spending, reported Reuters. Full Story

SECURITY & SAFETY

NFPA 101 Life Safety Code is an important document that provides the latest rules for fire-safe design and construction in new and existing structures. MADCAD.com's February enewsletter outlines some of the most critical changes in the new NFPA 101 Life Safety Code, 2009 Edition. Full Story

Schools across the U.S. are generally doing a "decent job" of maintaining security in a time of strained budgets although much more could be done, according to new research by the American Association of School Administrators (AASA). The study found that while two-thirds of all responding districts lock public entrances to buildings, one-third reported that exterior doors are occasionally or often propped open. The study also notes that almost 60% of school buildings have no "panic" exit devices installed in strategic locations, which is a potential violation of fire/life-safety codes, reported Security Sales & Integration. Full Story

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors has prepared an outline of the key provisions of the Stimulus Bill that touch COBRA continuation coverage and how employers may be affected. Read the outline

The Energy Star website outlines the Federal tax credits for installing energy efficient windows, doors and skylights under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Tax Act of 2009. Full Story

SMALL BUSINESS NEWS

LIFO Accounting Repeal

President Obama is making a budget request to Congress that includes calls for repeal of the LIFO (Last In, First out) accounting method in 2012. If you use the method, this is of huge concern to you.

For those not familiar with LIFO, the LIFO method assumes the items of inventory you purchased or produced last are the first items you sold, consumed, or otherwise disposed of. Items included in closing inventory are considered to be from the opening inventory in the order of acquisition and from those acquired during the tax year.

Typically, a business carries a LIFO reserve on its books that reflects the amount of taxable income that has been "deferred" by using the method. This amount reflects the difference between what the dollar value of the inventory would have been under FIFO and the LIFO value.

If the LIFO method is repealed, the LIFO reserve is eliminated and taxable income is increased immediately and taxes are owed. Usually, when taxpayers convert from LIFO, the tax can be paid over a four-year period under change of accounting rules. Discussions about LIFO repeal usually include some discussion of a firm and longer transition rule to stretch out the period in which the business has to pay the accrued tax liability. For a small business that has used LIFO for a long time (think multi-generational family business), the reserve number can be huge.

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 The Door and Hardware Institute members. It cannot be distributed, reprinted, quoted, or otherwise made public.

DHI NEWS

Don't Miss DHI's Upcoming National Education Session
May 10th – 17th, 2009 in Lansdowne, VA

In today's economic climate it is more important than ever that you maintain your competitive edge! DHI can help you stay on top! DHI's May MEGA school offers 29 different classes – including the DAI 600 Fire and Egress Door Assembly Inspection class! Space is FILLING FAST so start making your plans to attend! For a complete list of course offerings and to register online click here.

DHI FREE ONLINE Program - Tuesday, March 10, 2009 at 2:00 PM EST
"Withstanding the Downturn through Profit Performance Management"
Presented by Jerry S. Heppes, CAE

In today's economy it is extremely important that we pay attention to the small details which impact our bottom line. Join DHI's Chief Executive Officer, Jerry S. Heppes, Sr., CAE, online on Tuesday, March 10, 2009 and learn about the critical profit variables impacting distribution and why we should pay attention to this as we enter into this recession.

Heppes joined DHI in 1987 as the assistant to the executive vice president and has been the Chief Executive Officer since December 1994. He has traveled extensively throughout the total openings industry teaching on distributor profits, strategic planning, marketing, management, codes and trends.

Please note that you must load the VCE program onto your computer prior to the event. Click here and follow the prompts. If you have any questions please contact DHI directly at 703-222-2010.