MCAA Legislative Conference & New Certifications Earned

By Jeff Buczkiewicz

The 2011 Masonry Industry Legislative Conference will be held May 10-12, 2011, in Washington, D.C., and has been condensed to highlight hill visits. The main focus of the program for 2011 will be getting our issues and our positions in front of key congressional figures and tell them our story as to how their votes impact our industry.

The Keelen Group will make an effort to make appointments with attendee members of Congress, but will also focus on arranging appointments with key swing vote representatives that need to hear our story. One of the most important things you can do in today's business environment is take some time away and let the folks know who are responsible for regulating, taxing and setting rules for business how it will impact not only our industry, but the economy as a whole.

The 2011 Masonry Industry Legislative Conference will be a great opportunity to express your concern and care for the actions of the few in Washington, D.C. The registration deadline is May 9, 2011. For more information and to register, call 800-536-2225 and visit www.masoncontractors.org/legconf.

Three Companies Certified at MCAA Convention

Forrest & Associate Inc., Des Moines, Iowa; Genco Masonry Inc., Bethesda, Md.; and Masonry Arts Inc., Bessemer, Ala., have earned certification through the Masonry Certification program, sponsored by the MCAA.

The MCAA has developed the national Masonry Certification program to provide customers with a tool to select mason contractors who are committed to quality and end user satisfaction. Quality of work and end user satisfaction is the foundation of the certification program. In addition, companies must renew their certification every three years.

We congratulate these companies in their commitment to quality service. Our goal is to provide architects, designers, construction contractors and consumers with an easy way to select and specify professional mason contractors. Certification now gives them the tools to seek out contractors who have committed their entire firm to meet the stringent requirements of the program.

Jeff Buczkiewicz is the Executive Director for the Mason Contractors Association of America.

CONEXPO-CON/AGG & IFPE 2011 a Huge Success

The mood was overwhelmingly positive at the CONEXPO-CON/AGG and IFPE 2011 expositions held March 22-26 in Las Vegas. Despite continued uncertainty in U.S. construction markets and the overall economy, industry professionals expressed hopeful optimism for a sustained U.S. upturn in the coming months, while global sales continue to be strong.

CONEXPO-CON/AGG and IFPE 2011 attracted nearly 120,000 registered attendees; the shows were the global industry gathering place for the year and the largest gathering in North America since 2008 for the construction, construction materials and fluid power/power transmission/motion control industries. The shows were held at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

A record number of more than 860 co-located events, educational programs and pre-planned meetings were held with the shows, plus dozens more meetings scheduled onsite. Co-locations included ICON Expo for the concrete products industry and several annual conferences of national industry associations.

Quality Attendance, International Scope

International registrations accounted for a record 24 percent of the total, representing more than 150 countries. CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2011 and IFPE 2011 were among a select group invited to participate in the U.S. Department of Commerce International Buyer Program, which facilitates the participation of international visitors. The shows hosted 42 official international customer delegations from 37 countries, organized by the U.S. Department of Commerce as well as in-country associations and related groups.

On the Show Floor

More than 2,400 exhibitors occupied 2.34 million net square feet of exhibit space. IFPE was the largest ever, and CONEXPO-CON/AGG’s exhibit space was the second largest in the show’s history.

Reinforcing the global scope of the shows were 10 international exhibit pavilions - IFPE with pavilions from China, Italy and Taiwan, and CONEXPO-CON/AGG with pavilions from China, Finland, Germany, Italy, Korea, Spain and United Kingdom.

IFPE 2011 featured exhibit pavilions from the American Gear Manufacturers Association (AGMA) and the Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA), as well as an exhibit pavilion which highlights the expanded presence of sensors manufacturers at the show. CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2011 featured the IT & Business Solutions pavilion, sponsored by the Associated General Contractors of America.

Educational Opportunities

Industry-focused education was an important component of the show experience, and there were a record number of education, training and certification programs offered. More than 80 allied associations and groups were official show supporting organizations, coming from the U.S., Canada and more than a dozen countries worldwide. They promoted the shows’ value and brought qualified buyer groups to the events, and many helped develop direction and content of the shows’ education programs to ensure they met industry needs.

Looking Ahead

The next edition of the triennial CONEXPO-CON/AGG and IFPE expositions will be held March 18-22, 2014, at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas.

Washtenaw Contractors Association Announces Mason Contractor Wins Innovation Award

The Washtenaw Contractors Association recognizes the outstanding performance of firms and individuals working in the construction industry in Washtenaw County, Michigan through their annual PYRAMID awards. The Awards will recognize exceptional effort in the areas of teamwork, service and innovation.

The Best Innovation Award went to Leidal & Hart Mason Contractors of Livonia for the University of Michigan Football Stadium Expansion and Renovation for innovative design of prefabricated arches used throughout the exterior of the stadium.Leidal & Hart is one of the largest mason contractors in the State of Michigan.

Leidal & Hart has provided industry leadership through participation and service in masonry trade associations. Don Leidal served as President of the Mason Contractors Association, Inc. and Jack Hart served as President of the Detroit Mason Contractors Association. Brad Leidal is serving his second stint as Chairman of the Michigan Mason Contractors Association and is past-president and treasurer of the Mason Contractors Association, Inc. Mike Harman is a trustee for the Masonry Institute of Michigan

Benefits of Elevated Scaffolding Article featured in First Issue of Masonry ENews

By Justin Breithaupt, Jr.

“When the block stops, the money stops.” Thatʼs the way one mason contractor put it, and he hit the nail right on the head. On the flip side, if your men work faster than you estimated, you spend less money on labor (and still get paid the bid price), and the leftover labor money is yours to keep. Just a little extra production returns a whole lot of extra profit. Only about one in 20 mason contractors really understands how much profit, and understanding it explains how a person can keep taking jobs below his competitor’s cost and stay in business.

While elevating scaffolding offers a significant advance when compared to frame scaffolding by eliminating most of the OSHA headaches, reducing back strain, etc., those may not be the most important benefits in these difficult times. How to beat the competition and make a profit are the important factors.

to read the rest of the article please visit www.masonrymagazine.com

First issue of Masonry ENews is Now Available

The first issue of our new, monthly e-newsletter, Masonry ENews, is now available. Our subscribers received their copy right in their inboxes yesterday. Don't miss this chance to learn about the latest news and products for the masonry industries. To subscribe for free, please visit www.masonrymagazine.com

Sign Up for Masonry eNews - It's FREE!

Tomorrow, we will launch Masonry eNews, a comprehensive, monthly e-newsletter from the editors at Masonry Magazine! Each month, you can receive dynamic feature articles, current news, cutting-edge product specs and other information pertinent to the masonry industry, sent directly to your inbox. And it's free!

You can sign up for Masonry eNews today by clicking the following link:

http://masonrymagazine.com/e-Newsletter-Subscriptions.html

Go ahead, it's free! Oh, and tell your friends!

AGC Charities Renovates Epileptic Child's Home

Dozens of volunteer contractors renovated the home of a Las Vegas family whose 16-year-old daughter is suffering from a rare form of epilepsy that is increasingly forcing her to be wheelchair bound. The renovation project, organized by the philanthropic organization AGC Charities Inc., was the group's second annual Operation Opening Doors effort.

"We can't build a healthier life for Ashlyn, but we can make things a lot more comfortable and safe for her and her family," said Tom Brown, president of San Diego, California-based Sierra Pacific West Inc. and the president of AGC Charities, referring to Ashlyn Rotta, the 16-year-old. "It is just amazing to see such an overwhelming response to our call for help with this project."

As part of the volunteer effort, contractors from a many Las Vegas firms donated time and labor to renovate the home of the Rotta family, whose daughter is suffering from an extremely rare form of childhood onset epilepsy. Those improvements included installing new interior and exterior wheelchair ramps, renovating Ashlyn's bathroom to make it handicap accessible, and improving wheelchair access to the girl's room and the rest of the house.

Brown said the contractors' volunteer efforts were supported by dozens of construction firms from around the country, who donated over $10,000 to help purchase key construction supplies, including a new accessible shower, concrete, stucco, wood and drywall. He added that the project was scheduled to coincide with the national convention of the Associated General Contractors of America, which begins March 21.

Brown noted that the Las Vegas division of construction firm Jaynes Corp. volunteered as the lead contractor for the charitable effort. “This has to be one of the most rewarding projects we have ever worked on,” said Steve Brooke, the firm's senior VP.

Brown noted that Lee & Sakahara Architects’ Gary Congdon donated his time to draft the renovation plans and secure construction permits for the project. Other firms supporting the effort included New York-based The Blue Book Building and Construction Network. View complete list of project supporters.

Brown added that he was particularly impressed that so many contractors were eager to volunteer their time and donate money to support the effort. He noted that, all told, over 23 firms and individuals either contributed time, money or both to support this year's Operation Opening Doors project.

Henry Co. Integrates Antimicrobial Agents With Air Barriers

Henry Co. is the first to integrate antimicrobial agents into spray-applied air barrier technology. Air-Bloc 31MR, Air-Bloc 32MR and Air-Bloc 33MR fluid-applied air and water barrier membranes incorporate a universally dispersed biocidal agent throughout the cured membrane, which helps to resist exponential proliferation of mold, mildew and fungus on the membrane’s surface. The antimicrobial technology that Henry has built into its line of air barrier products works by inhibiting enzyme reactions that mold cells use to produce energy for growth and reproduction. These products will supersede Air-Bloc 31, Air-Bloc 32 and Air-Bloc 33 air and water barrier membranes.

The resistance of the new Air-Bloc MR air and water barrier membranes to mold proliferation was determined using the industry-recognized test procedure ASTM D5590 and resulted in a zero-growth rating for all products developed. The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that inhibiting the exponential proliferation of mold protects people who are sensitive or allergic to mold, as well as the respiratory health of all.

10 Real Estate Markets to Watch in 2011

Inman News examined housing, economic and demographic data for metropolitan areas nationwide in compiling a list of 10 housing markets that are showing signs of strength and may outperform other housing markets in 2011 in several key metrics. Inman News also asked a host of real estate search and data companies to share research and methodology to identify high-performing real estate markets across the United States.

Real estate markets in the Midwest and Northeast dominated a list of 10 fast-rising real estate markets nationwide identified in the Inman News analysis, as many markets in the Sun Belt states are still struggling through the housing downturn.

The Midwest and Northeast U.S. accounted for eight of 10 markets on the list: Bismarck and Fargo, N.D.; Des Moines, Iowa; Bloomington-Normal, Ill.; Elmira and Buffalo-Niagara Falls, N.Y.; Portland-South Portland-Biddeford, Maine; and Burlington-South Burlington, Vt.

The other two markets on the list: Kennewick-Richland-Pasco, Wash.; and the Washington, D.C., metro area.

Nationwide, unemployment is high, home prices are flat and trending lower since the expiration of the federal homebuyer tax credits, and overall sales fell last year compared to the prior year.

Stan Humphries, chief economist for Zillow, said it's unlikely that "substantial price appreciation" will occur "in any market nationwide in the near term." Rather, the company identified some "stabilizing" markets in a chart provided for this report.

Story by Andrea V. Brambila, Inman News

Big Win for Masonry: EPA Won't Include Masonry Site-Built Fireplaces in New Standard

At the March 2011 annual meeting of the Hearth Patio Barbeque Association, Gil Wood, EPA Staff Lead for NSPS, went on record to indicate that they were not pursuing the inclusion of masonry site-built fireplaces in the re-writing of the New Source Performance Standard (NSPS) for New Residential Wood Heaters.

As noted in a Brick News Online article in July 2010, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was previously advocating regulation of emissions on all masonry site-built fireplaces constructed in the U.S. This would be a major change from the original NSPS published in 1988 which exempted fireplaces. BIA along with other interested parties has worked hard to educate EPA representatives about the masonry site-built market and the implications of regulating that market.

Citing the questionable cost-effectiveness of site-testing every fireplace built, the limited number of masonry site-built fireplaces constructed in the U.S. each year, and the extent to which small business masons would potentially be affected, EPA is choosing to not include masonry site-built fireplaces in the most current draft of the regulation.

Another key component in EPA’s decision was the agreement of the Masonry Contractors Association of America (MCAA) to develop a course on the proper construction and use of masonry site-built fireplaces in their existing certification program. Wood indicated that EPA was encouraged by MCAA’s willingness to add a course on masonry site-built fireplaces to their curriculum and looked forward to its development and implementation.

For further information on the NSPS, please contact Chip Clark at 703-674-1531 or cclark@bia.org.

Heckmann, Hohmann and Barnard Settle Suit

Heckmann Building Products Inc., Masonry Tie Systems Inc. and Hohmann & Barnard Inc. have settled their pending-patent suit regarding the Heckmann Wing Nut Pos-I-Tie Anchoring System among themselves and insofar as such suit affects certain other named Defendants upon terms which they deem to be acceptable. All other terms of the settlement are confidential. The Wing Nut Pos-I-Tie is available only through Heckmann Building Products Inc.

Publisher Strengthens Commitment to Safety of Spanish-Speaking Workers

MANCOMM, a national safety and compliance publisher, is now the official, exclusive distributor of Reglas Press LLC, a provider of safety materials for bilingual English/Spanish trainers and companies that employ Spanish-speaking workers. With this development, MANCOMM has strengthened its commitment to the safety of America’s Spanish-speaking construction workforce.

A report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals that in 2006, an estimated 19.6 million workers in the United States were Hispanic, 56 percent of whom were foreign born (Spanish speakers). During 2003–2006, the occupational-injury casualty rate for foreign-born Hispanic workers was 5.9 per 100,000 workers, compared with a rate of 3.5 for U.S.-born Hispanic workers. Also, 67 percent of the deceased Hispanic workers were foreign born.

The report also states that during 2003–2006, the construction industry employed the most Hispanics who died from work-related injuries. Foreign-born Hispanic workers were at especially high risk. The report noted that “Preventing work-related injury deaths among Hispanics will require…employers to take additional responsibility for providing a safe work environment,” and that such an initiative would require “materials that are culturally appropriate and effective for workers who speak different languages.”

Previously, MANCOMM published OSHA Construction Fieldbooks that contain safety-compliance content in both English and Spanish. To order Reglas Press products or find out more about MANCOMM, call 800-626-2666, or visit Mancomm.com.

MIT Research to Set Life-Cycle Assessment Standard

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has released preliminary research findings that will help set a new standard in life-cycle assessment (LCA) modeling. The studies, which are part of an ongoing research initiative at the MIT Concrete Sustainability Hub, will quantify the cradle-to-grave environmental costs of paving and building materials, and will ultimately result in the most comprehensive LCA model produced to-date.

According to MIT professor and research team leader John Ochsendorf, the expanded life-cycle window – 50 years for paving materials and 75 years for building materials – combined with the level of detailed analysis conducted on the use phase of structures and pavements will distinguish MIT’s latest research. Initial reports have shown the importance of including the use phase, with MIT researchers finding that more than 90 percent of residential building life-cycle carbon emissions and up to 85 percent of highway pavement emissions occur during this period.

MIT’s ongoing work on measuring the life-cycle carbon emissions of these materials is scheduled to be completed by August 2011. The environmental findings will then be supplemented by economic analyses in 2011 to provide the most accurate assessment of the economic and environmental impacts for buildings and pavements yet produced.