The following is an excerpt from a keynote address by Skyjack group president Ken McDougall from his keynote address at the recent APEX conference. McDougall believes manufacturers should get behind standardized training for operating aerial work platforms.


"Operator training is paramount to ensuring the access industry is made safer,” McDougall said in his keynote speech at the APEX conference on 17 September in Maastricht, the Netherlands. “The more educated and trained operators of access equipment we can have, who have been globally trained to a documented standard, the better off the access industry is."

McDougall urged manufacturers to actively promote the safe use and operation of aerial platforms, as understanding the proper operations and limitations of equipment is paramount to safety.

“The best way to ensure we have this training implemented on a consistent basis is by having a standardized and accredited training program globally. We will not ensure uniformity and consistency in training by conducting ‘back of the truck’ sessions that may vary depending on the allotted time and skill of the person conducting the training.”

He commended and fully endorsed the International Powered Access Federation’s operator training program as the driving force behind global operator training. In North America, Aerial Work Platform Training, a subsidiary of IPAF, provides a training program that meets ANSI, CSA and OSHA standards and is based on the ISO-certified IPAF training program.


“The IPAF program gives the industry an example to follow on how to standardize and implement operator training. It is not manufacturer-specific but gives the fundamentals required to operate different types of equipment. I received my PAL Card (Powered Access Licensed-Registration) in 2006 and I am proud to say that Skyjack supports the IPAF training program worldwide.”

“Ken has hit the nail on the head,” commented Tim Whiteman, managing director of IPAF. “Standardized, generic operator training is the way to prevent unnecessary loss of life in what should be one of the safest industries in the world. Our audited program is a pragmatic solution developed by manufacturers and rental companies. It is available to anybody willing to become an approved training center. By auditing our training centers, we ensure that the PAL Card means the same no matter where your operator was trained. I invite any manufacturer, rental company or training institute to contact us and support the cause of standardizing operator training.”

The American Institute of Architects today announced the upcoming release of six new Contract Documents on October 17, 2008, including a new Building Information Modeling exhibit, as well as two new Integrated Project Delivery agreements, two new Design-Build agreements and a Scope of Services document. These new documents, collectively called the 3.5 Release, build on AIA Contract Documents’ 120 years of experience in defining the contractual relationships in the design and construction industry.
 
“We understand that the design and construction industry is evolving and we are pleased to lead the way by introducing new documents that provide a road map for navigating BIM and IPD,” says Suzanne Harness, managing director and counsel, AIA Contract Documents. “This latest release continues the AIA’s long-standing tradition of providing documents that are easy to use, reflect current industry practices, and fairly balance all parties’ interests.”
 
New BIM Exhibit
The first of its kind in the industry, the new E202-2008 was written by industry practitioners as a practical tool for managing the use of BIM across the entire project. Among other things, it sets the requirements and authorized uses for BIM content and identifies BIM authors at five progressive levels of development. It also establishes protocols for model ownership, conflict resolution, storage, viewing and archiving. Although written primarily to support a project using IPD, E202-2008 may also be used with more traditional methods of project delivery.
 
“For the first time in the industry, this new AIA tool effectively allows users to work in partnership and assign responsibilities to successfully manage a BIM model. All parties can specify and understand each other’s level of development within the model and reference it with confidence at any time,” says Jim Bedrick, Vice President of Virtual Building and Design at Webcor Builders in San Mateo, California. “So the bottom line is: all team members know what they can expect from each other with this new AIA BIM Exhibit.”
 
A free sample of the E202-2008 BIM Exhibit will be available at www.aiacontractdocuments.org after October 17, 2008.

New IPD Agreements
The two new IPD Agreements, C196-2008 and C197-2008, round out the IPD Single Purpose Entity family of AIA Contract Documents and provide the contractual structure the SPE needs to secure funding and to design and construct the project. These agreements take care of the details, such as how insurance will apply, how members may be paid for their services and limit their liability, which costs are “allowable,” how a member can earn profit through incentive compensation and what happens at the end of the project.
 
New Design Build Agreements
These two new design-build agreements, A441-2008 and C441-2008, complete the AIA’s Design-Build Family of documents by communicating down to the architect’s consultants and to the subcontractors the essential provisions of the original 2004 agreements. They address contractor/subcontractor and architect/consultant relationships including respective rights and responsibilities, roles, communications, compensation, dispute resolution and payment.  In developing the new agreements, the AIA followed its standard practice of soliciting input and feedback from across the industry to ensure that the new agreements would address stakeholder interests.
 
New On-Site Project Representation Document
The new On-Site Project Representation scope of services document, B207-2008 (formerly B352-2000), adds to the more than 30 existing AIA Contract Documents B-Series documents for use in establishing agreements between owners and architects. The B207-2008 document provides agreement on the number of architect’s representatives stationed at the project site, the services to be preformed and the owner’s responsibilities. B207-2008 eliminates the need to create a custom scope of services document, thus saving time and money.
 
Format and Availability
The new documents will be available electronically in AIA Contract Documents software beginning October 17, 2008, as well as in paper form (E202-2008 will only be available in AIA software). The software allows users to generate and customize Microsoft Word files for easy collaboration and distribution.
 
AIA Contract Documents software can be purchased at www.aia.org/docs. Documents in paper form are available through the AIA’s full service distributors.  For a listing of full service distributors and pricing information, please visit www.aia.org/docs_purchase.  
 

This news should create some discussion at METALCON next week.

Kingspan, a leading manufacturer of a range of sustainable products for the construction industry, completed the acquisition of MeTecno, Inc. a holding company for the MeTecno businesses in the USA, from MeTecno BV, a subsidiary of the MeTecno Group, a global manufacturer of composite sandwich panels. The agreement is unconditional.

MeTecno, operating under the ASI, API, and Benchmark brands, is the second largest manufacturer of composite sandwich panels in the US market, operating from three sites located in Florida, Ohio and California. MeTecno also comprises a leading architectural metal wall and roof panel profile business, operating under the Morin brand, from sites in Connecticut and California. The acquisition gives Kingspan critical mass in the United States and when combined with existing Canadian market leadership, gives unrivalled geographical market reach in North America at a time when demand for insulation products is expected to increase due to economic and regulatory pressures.

Consideration for the business is circa $111 millino, being cash paid on completion for shares of $86m plus bank debt acquired of circa $25 million. The consideration may vary depending on actual debt acquired.

In the 12 months to June 30, 2008, MeTecno had consolidated revenues of $137 million and earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation ("EBITDA") excluding management charges of $15.5m. Net assets excluding goodwill and debt are expected to be approximately $49m at completion. The current senior management team of MeTecno will be staying in the business following completion.
 
The acquisition is expected to be mildly earnings enhancing in 2008 and thereafter. The acquisition will be funded in full from existing Kingspan resources.
 
Greg Murtagh, Kingspan CEO, says, "The acquisition of MeTecno represents an excellent opportunity for Kingspan to assume a market leading position in one of the largest construction markets in the world. We believe that the long-term opportunity should more than offset the current economic conditions in this market. When MeTecno is combined with its existing businesses in Canada, Kingspan has developed a very powerful and influential position in the North American market. Kingspan's North American panel business now has six major facilities capable of serving the entire continent and significant available capacity in each. While composite panels have traditionally occupied only a very small position in the North American market, we believe that a combination of environmental and energy cost pressures, together with a strong market leader, can pave the way for a growing penetration of this product range in the medium term."

The Reflective Insulation Manufacturers Association International will be presenting a program workshop and luncheon at the 2008 METALCON show in Baltimore. The workshop will be held at noon October 2, beginning with lunch in the Baltimore Convention Center.
 
The seminar is entitled “Use of Reflective Technology in Metal Buildings” and will discuss the thermal performance of reflective insulation products and how they are evaluated. Reflective insulation systems can be combined with other insulation technologies to satisfy ever increasing demands for energy conservation in the metal building industry. Requirements like those in ASHRAE 90.1 can be met by redesigning existing systems or by employing hybrid systems that include a reflective insulation component.
 
The purpose of the workshop is to describe hybrid insulation systems and explain how they can be evaluated. The basic concepts related to reflective insulation will be followed by a discussion of R-values and U-values that can be achieved. Examples of existing hybrid insulation systems for metal buildings and their installation will be described.
 
The objectives of this luncheon/workshop are to present technical information, describe useful insulation systems, and discuss issues associated with the thermal performance of metal buildings. Attendees will leave with an increased understanding of how the product works, why it works and why you should be using more of it. Be ready to take notes and ask questions.
 
To register to attend this workshop and/or for more information on the entire METALCON 2008 event, you can visit www.METALCON.com or call 800/537-7765. Registration fees for this luncheon program are $60 with limited space available.

The area of Life Cycle Assessment was the focus of a recent training program sponsored by the Metal Construction Association.


The session drew close to 50 attendees to Chicago and was presented for MCA members by Jennifer Cooper and Jeff Yorzyk of Five Winds International, a multi-disciplinary consulting firm serving clients in North America, Europe and Asia. Five Winds specializes in working with clients on strategic decision-making that considers a range of environmental, operational and competitive factors related to sustainable development.

They describe LCA as a holistic impact assessment tool that considers the entire value chain involved in producing a product. Creating an LCA for a product requires life cycle thinking, which Cooper and Yorzyk say involves looking at quantifiable areas and evaluating the total impact of a product on the environment.

In part, LCA’s increased visibility was brought about by the US Green Building Council’s intent to eventually award points in its LEED rating system for selecting construction products or entire buildings whose LCA values meet a certain level. An LCA calculation is generally based on an assessment tool that generates a single numerical value for assemblies or entire buildings.

Beyond LCA’s use by the USGBC, LCA calculations are also being promoted in product marketing tools. “We’ve seen a lot of misuse of LCA information as a marketing tool for or against a material type,” Yorzyk says. “Not all the tools in the market are equally accurate or draw the same boundary conditions, so I get nervous when I see strong marketing statements that cannot be well explained. Good documentation is a requirement to good LCA studies. I’m afraid many people are oversimplifying this, resulting in inaccuracies that will get us in trouble in the long run.”

He also reminded the audience that LCA is just one tool among others. “It’s not a single, silver bullet. But as you address routine “green” questions from key customers you will be collecting much of this information. And the process helps you better understand your market, opportunities, and goals,” he said. Yorzyk also noted that the bulk of and the most difficult work is done in the first stages before putting the information into a software program.

Cooper and Yorzyk explained that going through the process helps create a different way of approaching things. This new “LCA thinking” offers added benefits, including: improved decision making, opportunities for communication with both supply chain partners and end users, improved relationships with stakeholders and regulators, focused studies and research, and more efficiency in sustainable activities.

MCA Technical Director Scott Kriner organized this initial session and identified a need for further work on the topic.

“Based on the very positive response and obvious need for additional information we will move forward on this program to bring LCA to the attention of our Sustainability Committee and our Technical Committee. It is important for our industry and for our members to get the correct data for the appropriate assemblies inventoried in the databases used by the different LCA calculators. As an association we need to identify the data that need to be collected and understand how the information can be used before we launch into any LCA program for our members,” Kriner said.
A plan is in place to form a working task group of MCA members and possibly representatives from other related trade associations to work on this subject.

Drexel Metals Corporation, a manufacturer and supplier to the regional roll forming community, has added an easy to use spreadsheet for metal roof and PV estimation, to an already extensive list of tools for its Drexel Metals Association of Regional Manufacturer’s members.

“Our Drexel Solar Program offers our DMARM members complete access to a large inventory of Flexlight thin film laminates, and breaks down the barrier of entry into the solar market” says Brian Partyka, president of Drexel Metals.

The free estimator also breaks down the metal roof, inverter, and PV costs into an uncomplicated cost per square foot. “This allows our DMARM members to sell with confidence”, says Partyka.

To find out how to receive your free estimator; please send an email to phennessey@drexmet.com or call Drexel Metals at 888-321-9630 x 128.

Online registration is now open for the 2009 International Roofing Expo, scheduled for February 3-5, in the Shoreline A&B Halls at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. Attendees who register before December 16, 2008, will receive early-bird pricing rates.

Attendees can register at www.TheRoofingExpo.com, where information is accessible 24-hours a day, seven days a week. Registering in advance will save attendees not only money, but also time by not having to wait in long on-site registration lines.
 
“Registering online and early is a great convenience for all attendees,” said Donna Bellantone, Director of the International Roofing Expo.  “Those who take advantage will receive their show credentials in the mail and avoid the higher on-site registration fee, therefore saving money and time at the show."
 
Registration Options
 
Conference sessions are ticketed events and seating is limited, so early registration is encouraged to ensure access to their preferred classes. Whether attendees plan to spend a single day or the entire three days, there’s a registration package offering exactly the experience they are seeking. 
 
The best value, the Super Pass, includes conference sessions on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, as well as admission to the Expo, the Keynote by Bill Walton and the Welcome Party at TAO.  Through December 16, 2008, the Super Pass is available for $355 for members and $395 for non-members. Beginning December 17, prices increase to $415 for members and $455 for non-members. 
 
The Day Pass includes conference sessions on Tuesday only, Wednesday only or Thursday only, as well as admission to the Expo, the Keynote by Bill Walton and the Welcome Party at TAO. Prices are $205 for NRCA members and $255 for non-members through December 16. Prices increase to $265 for members and $305 for non-members on December 17. 
 
The Spouse Pass includes conference sessions on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, as well as admission to the Expo, the Keynote by Bill Walton and the Welcome Party at TAO. Through December 16, 2008, the cost for members and non-members is $245; the price increases to $295 beginning December 17. The Spouse Pass is only available to spouses of a paid registrant. 
 
The Expo Only option includes Expo admission on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, as well as admission to the Keynote by Bill Walton. Admission to the Welcome Party at TAO is not included, so tickets must be purchased separately. Members and non-members pay $25 through December 16; the price increases to $35 beginning December 17. 
 
Taking place prior to the show, additional educational opportunities are available from NRCA.  Details and prices can be found at www.TheRoofingExpo.com.      
 
Housing & Travel
 
Special discounts have been arranged for show participants and can be made through HanleyWoodHousing.com’s online reservation system. Attendees can choose from 6 Las Vegas hotels with nightly rates ranging from $80 to $281. Discounts are available off published airfares and based on availability from American, Continental, JetBlue and Northwest Airlines, offering service from destinations nationwide to Las Vegas’ McCarran Airport.  Special car rental rates are also available from Avis and Budget to help you get around Las Vegas easily.  To receive the special Expo discounts, you must book through www.HanleyWoodHousing.com, or by calling 800.895.3978.

The partnership of the Swenson Shear and AppliCad's Roof Wizard certainly creates value for a roofing contractor far in excess of the value of the component parts. The savings are real and you may recover the initial investment from the savings on your first job!

The process is simple -

Model the roof
Check the model is correct
Simulate the laying of the roof panels and nest the panels
Create the cutting lists and panel placement drawing
Order the panels cut to length (according to the automatically generated cut list)
Cut the panels
Fit the panels

No other process combination can make such a valuable contribution to the roofing contractor's bottom line

reduces waste
improves efficiency on the job site
improves job safety
reduces strain on the installation crew
makes a cleaner job site
reduces bin costs

How?

Process - Benefit

Model the roof in 3D - A more accurate take-off and cutting list

Check the model's accuracy - accurate model geometry allows software to generate correct panel cutting list

Compare model with architect's plan - 3D model allows review from any point of view, confirming model geometry

Simulate application of roof panels - generates precise cutting list

 

Linear Nesting joins panels that may come from a single panel - one cut, two panels, NO WASTE! This is reproduced over the entire roof - every panel is compared with every other panel to check for best fit and least waste. This process can achieve 10-15% waste reduction.

 

AppliCad's Roof Wizard generates the cutting details for every single panel, taking account of lap side and direction of lay. A detailed set of reports is produced to guide the installers. They know how big and at what angle each panel is to be cut, and where on the roof plan that panel is to installed. No errors and absolutely minimum waste.

Simply mark and cut as indicated - quick and easy.

 

The portable pivot shear from Swenson provides the hardware to take full advantage of this very clever AppliCad system. You can learn more at METALCON in Baltimore, October 1-3.

Decra Roofing Systems, a leading manufacturer of stone-coated steel roofing panels, is a proud participant in first international sustainable energy demonstration community in Beijing. The Future House community consists of 10 homes, sponsored by countries from around the world, each designed and built with the common goal of bringing together the best building practices and materials demonstrating environmental responsibility.

The Future House project was commissioned by China’s Ministry of Construction, PRC to address the issue of greenhouse gases and demonstrate a community in which the most sustainable building practices were implemented. Prompted by the phenomenal growth anticipated in China during the next decade, the Future House community is intended to help with promoting solutions to address China’s growing energy concerns as they prepare to build over 100 million homes. The Future House USA project will specifically provide practical information and education on the use of advanced non-toxic building materials (no/low volatile organic compounds) as well as energy efficiency (high energy performance) and sustainability (Zero Net Energy Home).

Decra Tile was selected for the roof and installed on a batten system. An ideal alternative to traditional clay or concrete tile that can weigh up to of 800 lbs per square, products made of steel weigh between 125 to 150 lbs per square and place less stress on the structure of the home. Strong and durable, steel is a walkable material; there is no fear of breaking tiles.

Decra Tile when installed on a batten system increases over the deck airflow. A recent test by Oak Ridge National Labs compares products installed direct to the deck, like asphalt shingles, and those installed on a batten system. The test concluded the over the deck venting system, created by the battens, was key in keeping heated air out of the conditioned space; in fact, it was just as important as increasing solar reflectivity of the roof color.