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February 5, 2009

INDUSTRY ACCESS*

PGC International Announces New Monthly Webinars

The Protective Glazing Council (PGC) International announced a new monthly webinar series for architects, building owners, specifiers, glazing contractors and others in the architectural community. The free monthly webinar series will focus on various industry topics and will run an hour in length. Scheduled for the last Friday of each month, the first webinar features an introduction to the protective glazing industry by Don McCann of Viracon.

"Our goal with this series is to provide a wide range of industry members a great educational offering from PGC International," said Brian Pitman, Director of Marketing and Communications for the organization. 'As an interactive web‐based series, anyone around the world will be able to tune in and watch, ask questions and get valuable knowledge and solutions for issues they face on a daily basis."

McCann's presentation kicks off the series at 11:00 CST, January 30th. The presentation will cover blast product performance, protective glazing products used for specific threat classifications, building codes and standards utilized in the protective glazing market, and the characteristics of laminated glass. To learn more and register for this free presentation, click here.

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 American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) and its members are asking the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives to support legislation that would extend and expand the 25C tax credits for energy-efficient home improvements, including ENERGY STAR products such as doors and windows. Full Story

Builders say shell or envelope materials, including windows and doors, have the most "green" value, according to Market Resource Associates. Inc. The market research firm recently concluded a focus group with custom and semi-custom single family home builders attending the recent International Builder’s Show in Las Vegas, reported Window & Door. Full Story

See the new National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities webpage for the latest information on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Includes a comparison of the House and Senate bills, suggestions for What You Can Do Now, links to current news, and a list of resources that may be of special interest to recipients of economic stimulus funds. Visit the page

Sustainable real estate projects that were set in motion last year or even two years ago are completing in bunches, a trend that is likely to accelerate as the year progresses despite trouble on other fronts. The projects include prominent office towers, retail stores, hospitals and even a basketball arena and an FBI field office that have achieved LEED certification or the government’s Energy Star label, or implemented other green measures such as solar energy systems or green roofs, reported CoStar.com. Full Story

CanaData’s construction material price indexes for residential (+3.9%), non-residential building (+6.4%) and engineering (+5.2%) work, on a year-over-year basis, currently stand just about where one would expect. On-site activity levels in non-residential building are still high, but the worldwide and domestic recessions will soon have an impact, reported Reed Construction Data. Full Story

The International Code Council Board of Directors has revised the Code Development Process after several years of input from membership and industry. Full Story

CONSTRUCTION & DESIGN

Building Design & Construction looks at the 10 top design trends in senior living facilities. Full Story

About $600 million of new building projects are under construction on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus and more than $450 million of additional projects are in the planning stage, said Alan Fish, associate vice chancellor of facilities planning and management at the university, reported The Wall Street Journal. Full Story

Meanwhile, the WI State Building Commission approved the design of the first academic building to be constructed on the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh campus in 37 years. At an estimated cost of $48.3 million, the 117,597-sq.-ft. structure was touted by UWO Chancellor Richard Wells as not only "the most significant green building of its size in the state," but one that will create 2,000 construction jobs during the next two years, reported The Northwestern.com. Full Story

SECURITY & SAFETY

A survey conducted during fall semester at the University of Connecticut found that 40% of 1,667 students who responded to the question feel safe on campus, reported Security Solutions. Full Story

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

Implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act Tile III regulations has been delayed until the Obama Administration can review the guidelines, the Department of Justice has announced, reported Facilitiesnet. Full Story

Legislation was passed in New Jersey recently that encourages public entities, including the state, counties, municipalities, school districts and public colleges, to implement energy savings improvement programs. Through the new program, public organizations will be able to contract with energy services companies to implement energy saving measures. The money saved through the reduction in energy expenses will defray the cost of energy infrastructure improvements. The use of high-performance glass and glazing, windows, doors and other construction elements is just one way public agencies will be able to benefit from the acquisition of new and efficient energy-saving improvements, reported The USGlass News Network. Full Story

A graphic published Jan. 26 by Center for American Progress shows the state-by-state breakdown of planned spending for the stimulus package. While not all the spending could be tallied it gives a good idea of where much of the money would go. Some $63 billion would go to California, for example, while Texas would get $38 billion. Altogether, some 18 states would get more than $10 billion if current plans were passed as is, reported BusinessWeek. Full Story

SMALL BUSINESS NEWS

Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA)

While we have been talking about it forever, a lot of small businesses are just waking up to the fact the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) will have an impact on their businesses. As a result, small businesses have deluged Congress and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) with complaints that the requirements of the law are too ambiguous, making it almost impossible for them to figure out how to comply. As we have been telling everybody, the cost of compliance is extraordinary as well. The complaints have produced some results. The two Commissioners of the CPSC have issued a one-year stay on enforcement for "certain: third party testing and certification. Click here for more details.

Small Business Loans

The House Small Business Committee has said it will consider enhancing the 7(a) and Certified Development Company programs so that they are more effective in reaching borrowers unable to secure conventional loans. Additionally, the Committee has said it will review the Microloan program with the intent of making it more affordable for borrowers and reducing barriers to its growth.

The best way to find information on the SBA programs is to start with www.sba.gov.

To our knowledge, there are no simple federal "grant" programs for small businesses. We have noticed an uptick in inquiries about grants. It appears to be the blogs/internet world generating the buzz.

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.

DHI NEWS

DHI FREE ONLINE Program - Wednesday, February 11, 2009
"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 that impact our bottom line. Join DHI's Chief Executive Officer, Jerry S. Heppes, Sr., CAE, online on Wednesday, February 11, 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.

Click here to download DHI’s VCE program and participate in this "live" seminar. If you have any questions please contact DHI directly at 703-222-2010.

Space is Filling FAST for DHI’s Upcoming National Education Session
May 10th – 17th, 2009 in Lansdowne, VA

Make sure you reserve your spot at this MEGA school with 29 different classes – including DAI 600 Fire and Egress Door Assembly Inspection class! For a complete list of course offerings and to register online click here.

DHI education can help provide you and your company the competitive edge necessary to succeed in today's market. MAKE YOUR PLANS TO ATTEND TODAY because the next National Education offering won't be until September 2009 in Orlando!