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December 3, 2009

INDUSTRY ACCESS*

Chase Industries to Acquire FIB-R-DOR

Chase Industries (DBA Chase Doors) announces the acquisition of FIB-R-DOR, a division of Advanced Fiberglass Inc. Located in Little Rock, AR, FIB-R-DOR manufactures both fire-rated and non-fire-rated fiberglass doors and frames. The addition of FIB-R-DOR corrosion resistant doors to Chases' existing line of impact traffic doors, sliding fire-rated service doors and cold storage doors will allow Chase to provide a complete package of complimentary products to contractors, distributors, dealers and end users in industrial, retail, commercial, pharmaceutical and institutional markets, reported Professional Door Dealer. 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

For distributors, key elements to a successful pricing strategy include organization, strategy maps and playbooks, according to a recent article in Industrial Distribution. Full Story

Amidst a continued high level of inquiries for possible new projects, the Architecture Billings Index (ABI) reached its highest mark since August 2008, just before the serious credit problems emerged in our economy. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) reported the October ABI rating was 46.1, up sharply from 43.1 in September. This score, however, indicates a continued decline in demand for design services (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings). The new projects inquiry score was 58.5, following the 59.1 mark in September. Full Story

The municipal bond market and the related construction projects revived with the advent of Build America Bonds last April. Build America Bonds are now about 30% of the municipal bond market. Some of the $50 billion taxable bonds issued were simply conversions from planned tax exempt bonds. But a large share are bonds – and construction spending – that otherwise would not have occurred. As a result, public construction spending is forecast to expand at a 5% pace in the first two and a half years of the economic recovery through 2011 instead of experiencing the usual decline early in a recovery period. Build America Bond projects fill in the gap between the peak spending on shovel ready projects earlier this year and significant spending on stimulus building projects beginning mid-2010, reported Reed Construction Data. Full Story

The Conference Board said that its index of leading economic indicators rose 0.3% last month. Economists polled by Thomson Reuters had expected an 0.5% gain. The index climbed 1% in September. Full Story

A group of U.S. business economists boosted their forecast for economic growth over the next year, but said the jobless rate will remain stubbornly high. The National Association for Business Economists predicted real growth in gross domestic product for 2010 would be 2.9%, up from its October forecast for 2.6% growth, according to Reuters. Full Story

Led by California and Texas, twenty states account for more than 75% of the US construction market. The projected recovery in the construction market early next year must be driven by a significant improvement in a large share of these key states. A pickup in construction activity in the thirty smaller states would not be sufficient to set off a national market recovery. The strongest regional economies and the construction markets that have held up best are in the smallest states, such as Wyoming and the Dakotas, reported Reed Construction Data. Full Story

CONSTRUCTION & DESIGN

FMI's Non-Residential Construction Index for the fourth quarter 2009 is 47.7, a positive move from the third quarter 2009 reading of 44.8. While the near-term outlook for most construction markets remains weak, healthcare, education and "other" show some relative growth potential next year. Full Story

The year-to-date value of construction starts through October 2009, excluding residential contracts, totaled $209.7 billion, 10.1% less than in the same period in 2008, according to Reed Construction Data. Individual month of October starts were 6.5% higher than September so the latest month total was about a 3% decline after seasonal adjustment. October 2009 starts were about 3% below last October. Starts remain well above the depressed June total but continue to slip slowly lower. Full Story

Hotel development in the US remains on a downward spiral. Third-quarter statistics from Lodging Econometrics calculate that the total pipeline - which includes projects under construction, starts planned in the next 12 months and those hotels in the early planning stages - stands at 3,890 properties and 483,664 rooms, the lowest amount in three years, reported GlobeSt.com. Full Story

The Montgomery County (Maryland) Board of Education approved a $1.49 billion, six-year construction plan for the district. The plan developed by Superintendent Jerry D. Weast calls for building an elementary and middle school in Clarksburg, one of the county's fastest-growing areas, and expanding Clarksburg High School. If approved by the County Council, it would add wings to nine elementary schools, modernize 18 schools and construct 10 elementary school gyms, among numerous changes, reported The Washington Post. Full Story

Virginia Governor Tim Kaine helped break ground for the new Western State Hospital in Staunton. The $125 million, 246-bed hospital will be more efficient to operate and has been designed based on modern, person-centered therapy for individuals with mental illness, reported WHSV.com. Full Story

SECURITY & SAFETY

Security Installer looks at how incorrect specification of hinges can create an expensive legacy of spiraling repair bills - and compromise the security of the building. Full Story

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

About 1,000 U.S. employers will be audited for immigration violations as the federal government escalates pressure on business owners to resist hiring illegal immigrants. Authorities said it was the largest employer crackdown ever, reported The Wall Street Journal. Full Story

The idea of a national building code is gaining momentum, having been included in a climate-change bill that was passed in the U.S. House of Representatives in June and forming part of a climate proposal currently being worked out by Sen. Richard Lugar (R., IN). Having a one-size-fits-all minimum standard of how efficiently buildings should use energy, among other things, would force the hand of builders, who currently operate under a patchwork of state and local rules and voluntary standards, reported The Wall Street Journal. Full Story

SMALL BUSINESS NEWS

Estate Tax Relief

The House is scheduled to vote this week on a bill to "freeze" permanently the estate tax exemption and top estate tax margin rate at 2009 levels. H.R. 4154 sets the top rate at 45% and the individual exemption at $3.5 million. Unfortunately, it does not do one thing we would like, and that is to index the exemption for inflation. If the bill passes, the freeze would take effect at the end of this year and there would not be a one-year repeal.

No word yet on whether the House leadership will use a parliamentary maneuver to "deem" the attachment of a previously-passed statutory pay-go requirement bill to the estate tax upon passage. To refresh your memory, earlier this year, during the budget debate, the fiscally conservative House Blue Dogs arrived at an agreement with the House leadership under the terms of which they would let the budget resolution move forward provided the House leadership brought a statutory pay go bill to the floor. In addition, the leadership was able to convince the Blue Dogs that if the statutory pay go bill was enacted, four items would be exempt from the requirements. The permanent estate tax freeze was one of the four.

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

Fire Door Inspection Class Takes Place for Fire Officials in New York and New Jersey

Norm Stevens explains key aspects of a stairwell fire door to healthcare officials in New York.

Steve Seif leads a fire door training session to a classroom of full New Jersey fire officials.

Over 75 fire and health care officials recently attended fire door training courses in Cobleskill, NY and Somerset County, New Jersey.

"This is one of the best courses I have ever attended," shared a fire inspector from Somerset County. "We need this type of hands on information to help us enforce these new standards."

The training session in a New York hospital afforded the opportunity to walk around the facility and view several openings during the class.

"Being able to show the AHJs exactly what to look for and how complex an opening can be was a very useful tool to help bring our point across," said Frank Hueber.

The Foundation has held nine training sessions this year, each designed to provide the AHJ with an understanding of the fire door inspection program. This training will ultimately lead to a strong enforcement of the code by the AHJ community.

A special thanks to the instructors and sponsors of these two most recent events:

Instructors -- Frank Huber AHC/CDC, FDHI, CDT, Norm Stevens AHC and Steve Seif AHC. Each of the instructors is also a certified fire door inspector.

Sponsors – Assa Abloy, Door and Hardware Systems, Inc., Hager Companies, Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies, Mohawk Flush Doors, Securitech and VT Industries.

DHI NEWS

Fall/Winter Issue of the Plan Room newsletter now available!

From highlights of sessions at this year's Annual Conference to updates on DHI's current Legislative efforts and Foundation activities on Capitol Hill, this issue of Plan Room has something for everyone! Be sure to read the quarterly updates from the new DHI National and Canadian Presidents, and take a look at the new members joining DHI. Also, don't forget to see what chapter is leading in ParticipACTION Standings - is it yours?? If not, get your points submitted today! Click here to read the issue.

Make a New Year's Resolution to Advance Your Career Through Industry Education!

DHI's National School
April 25 – May 2, 2010 in Lansdowne, VA

Set yourself above your competition! DHI's National Education and Certification Program are designed to help you do just that! With only 2 National schools scheduled in 2010, take advantage of DHI's upcoming May 2010 National school to increase your technical knowledge and hone your skills!

This upcoming school offers 28 different classes – including the Fire and Egress Door Assembly Inspection class (DAI 600)!

Please note that due to consistent high demand for DHI National Education, we recommend that you sign-up for classes as soon as possible to secure your spot BEFORE classes sell out. For a complete list of course offerings click here!

***Please be sure to check out the December 2009 and January 2010 issues of Doors & Hardware for a summary of the Fall National School and complete registration information***