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Industry News & Announcements
>>ABAA Hosting SPF Installer Training -- Deadline to Register Is July 27 For certification purposes, a minimum of 3,000 hours of work experience either directly with air barriers or in applicable related trade experience is required, with 1,000 of those hours being directly related to SPF.
The registration deadline is July 27 at 3 p.m. (EST). Download the Registration Form and email it to abaa@airbarrier.org or fax it to 866-956-5819.
Source: epa.org
Hybrid Coating Technologies/Nanotech Industries of Daly City, California, is one of the winners of the 20th Annual Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge for developing a safer, plant-based polyurethane for use on floors, furniture and in foam insulation. The technology eliminates the use of isocyanates.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recognized Hybrid Coating and five other companies for their landmark green chemistry technologies that are spurring innovation and economic development. "These innovations reduce the use of energy, hazardous chemicals and water, while cutting manufacturing costs and sparking investments," said Jim Jones, EPA’s Assistant Administrator for Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. "Ultimately, these manufacturing processes and products are safer for people’s health and the environment."
An independent panel of technical experts convened by the American Chemical Society Green Chemistry Institute formally judged the 2015 submissions from among scores of nominated technologies and made recommendations to EPA for the 2015 winners. The 2015 awards event will be held in conjunction with the 2015 Green Chemistry and Engineering Conference, July 14-16.
DOE has updated its original California-specific requirements for the program, with the release of DOE Zero Energy Ready Home California Requirements – Revision 5, which goes into effect for homes permitted after August 10, 2015. Revision 5 for California adds numerous clarifications which have also been added to the national Rev.05 specifications. The CA spec revision also offers more flexibility in terms of air tightness requirements (attached dwellings have a higher ACH50 spec), and alignment with upcoming Title 24 provisions such as the High Performance Attic (HPA) design strategy as a method for optimizing the duct system (see End Note 15 H).
Source: osha.org
On May 4, 2015, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a new standard for construction work in confined spaces, which will be effective starting August 3, 2015. Confined spaces can present physical and atmospheric hazards that can be avoided if they are recognized and addressed prior to entering these spaces to perform work. The new standard, Subpart AA of 29 CFR 1926 will help prevent construction workers from being hurt or killed by eliminating and isolating hazards in confined spaces at construction sites similar to the way workers in other industries are already protected. More Information: Frequently asked questions about the new standard are addressed on OSHA's website.
SPFA's Richard Duncan sheds some light on the topic in the Health & Safety section of this newsletter.
NAHB.org posts a summary of the new standard.
Dean McKenzie, deputy director of OSHA's Directorate of Construction, discusses the new standard at the 2015 Remodeling Leadership Conference.
ForResidentialPros.com provides a short summary of the new standard.
For compliance assistance regarding application of the final rule contact: Directorate of Construction, Room N3468, OSHA, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20210; (202)-693-2020.
Source: plasticsnews.com / Catherine Kavanaugh
There’s no place like home to illustrate how plastic products have pushed the envelope when it comes to changes in the building industry over the last quarter century.
Plastics have grown to dominate the residential markets for plumbing fixtures, siding and windows; meet new demands for thermal performance and moisture resistance; and reduce maintenance needs from backyard decks to polymer roof shingles.
Source: americanchemistry.com
The American Chemistry Council (ACC) issued its 2015 edition of the Guide to the Business of Chemistry, a detailed economic profile of the chemistry industry and its contributions to the U.S. and world economies. Prepared annually by ACC’s Economics and Statistics Department, The Guide to the Business of Chemistry divides the $801 billion business into more than thirty categories of production, ranging from inorganic chemicals to plastic resins; from adhesives and sealants to oilfield chemicals; and from fertilizers to pharmaceuticals and consumer products. Within each segment the report highlights distinct characteristics, including growth dynamics, markets, new developments, and other issues affecting each sector.
Source: trailer-bodybuilders.com
The EPA released its final rule specifying the details of its updated Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP), a program that is designed to evaluate and regulate substitutes for chemicals that are being phased out under the Clean Air Act (CAA) and the Obama administration's Climate Action Plan (CAP). While the first two rounds of SNAP focused on ozone depletion, the third iteration takes aim at climate change and targets emissions of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), explains Robert York, strategic marketing manager for Dow Polyurethanes. Among other changes, the SNAP plan calls for the elimination of the use of specific HFC "blowing agents," which refrigerated trailer manufacturers use in polyurethane insulation.
For details on SNAP, visit EPA's online Q&A. For a PDF of the new EPA rules, click here.
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