Industry News

>> Justin Koscher Named PIMA President
Source: polyiso.org
The Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association (PIMA) announced that Justin Koscher, Director of Polyurethanes Markets at American Chemistry Council’s Center for Polyurethanes Industry (CPI), will assume presidency of the association as of January 1, 2017. Koscher succeeds Jared Blum who served as PIMA President from 1990 to 2016. 

>> Recordkeeping Violations Continue for 5 Years
Source: lexology.com
As a parting gift, OSHA has issued one of its last final rules for this administration, "Clarification of Employer’s Continuing Obligation to Make and Maintain Accurate Records of Each Recordable Injury and Illness." 81 Fed. Reg. 91792 (December 19, 2016). The final rule amends the OSHA recordkeeping regulations to clarify that the duty to make and maintain accurate records of work-related injuries and illnesses is an ongoing obligation. 

>> Growth in Homeowners’ Equity Continues
Source: eyeonhousing.org
According to the Federal Reserve Board’s third quarter of 2016 release of its Financial Accounts of the United States report, household holdings of real estate, measured on a not seasonally adjusted basis, totaled $22.725 trillion in the third quarter of 2016, $1.520 trillion higher than its level in the third quarter of 2015, $21.204 trillion.
 
>> Builder optimism hits highest level since July 2005
Source: constructiondive.com
Builder confidence in the market for new single-family construction jumped seven points in December to a reading of 70 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index, the highest reading since July 2005.

>> USGBC Announces International Ranking of Top 10 Countries for LEED
Source: usgbc.org
USGBC announced the Top 10 Countries for LEED, a list that highlights countries outside the United States that are making significant strides in sustainable building design, construction and market transformation. These countries represent the ever-growing international demand for LEED-certified green buildings. This year, China moved from second to first on the list as the largest user of LEED, with 34.62 million gross square meters (GSM) of certified LEED space. Canada, India, Brazil and the Republic of Korea rounded out the top five countries on the list, respectively.