Industry News & Announcements

Source: bpi.org
The Building Performance Institute, Inc. (BPI) announced that BPI has signed on to be a partner organization for REMODELING magazine's 2014 Home for Life project. REMODELING's Home For Life project is an online virtual home tour that showcases how to remodel a home to save money and live well throughout the retirement years.

As part of the partnership, BPI will be providing high-level content focused on home performance, which will be featured in the Home for Life resource center and  throughout the site. Content will include check lists, summary papers, and other resources. Additionally, BPI will provide key content bites to be included in pop up boxes contained in the virtual renderings specific to home performance issues. BPI will also provide a link to connect the site's consumer visitors to BPI's online directory of certified contractors, located by zip code search.

View REMODELING's 2013 Home for Life virtual tour.
 
Source: buildingscience.com
The practice of building commissioning is changing with the new push to certify and license commissioning agents. In this Conversation, Joe Lstiburek and John Straube discuss what the impacts might be and why the building industry should pay attention.
 
Source: americanchemistry.com
A new campaign was launched that celebrates more than 75 years of innovation enabled by polyurethane. "Versatile. Durable. Incredible. Polyurethane." will employ a website, social media, advertising, and event marketing to highlight the ways polyurethane touches lives everyday.

"We want to recognize this nearly $20 billion industry and the many ways polyurethanes are used in products that we take for granted everyday," said Lee Salamone, Senior Director of the Center for Polyurethanes Industry at the American Chemistry Council. "Polyurethane’s versatility and durability are essential in a number of industries from construction to furniture, to clothing, to automotive and we look forward to celebrating the incredible success of polyurethane-enabled products with these industries."

The "Versatile. Durable. Incredible. Polyurethane." website (www.incrediblepolyurethane.com) will feature products that benefit from the flexibility and durability of polyurethane. Manufacturers are welcome to submit their products to Jessica_Knutzon@americanchemistry.com.
 
Source: americanchemistry.com
In March 2014, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) released the first three products to serve as test cases for the new Safer Consumer Products Regulation. One of the products listed is Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF) Systems containing "unreacted" diisocyanates. 

This California state program has been in the works for seven years, and is intended to assess the necessity of certain chemicals in consumer products. Though the state has long said they intend the program to be "practical, meaningful and legally defensible," the American Chemistry Council, its member companies and other industry organizations, have continued to express concerns about whether the program in its current form will achieve those goals.

>>Huntsman Polyurethanes Signs New Spray Foam Coalition Code of Conduct
Source: huntsman.com 
Huntsman Corporation’s Polyurethanes division is one of the first companies in the industry to sign the new Spray Foam Coalition (SFC) Code of Conduct from the Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI). The SFC Code of Conduct serves as a framework for Coalition members to further demonstrate their dedication to the health, safety and product stewardship of spray polyurethane foam (SPF) products. 

"The Code of Conduct shows an important and continuous commitment to product stewardship that benefits the entire SPF value chain, as well as everyone in the built environment," said Lee Salamone, Senior Director, Center for Polyurethanes. The use of SPF continues to grow, and is one of the most effective tools to efficiently air seal and insulate residential and commercial buildings. The signatories, SFC members that manufacture SPF systems, promote worker and public health and safety with respect to their SPF products, which include the chemicals that react to make SPF and the final SPF materials."  

The SFC Code of Conduct is the first of its kind and includes commitments to leadership, hazard communication, applicator training, education and research. 

"Internally, as well as externally, Huntsman Polyurethanes strives to maintain a culture of product safety and product stewardship," said Steve Burns, Vice President, Americas, Huntsman Polyurethanes. "This shows in the way we manage the manufacture, sale and handling of our products for the SPF industry. Supporting the new SFC Code of Conduct is a natural extension of our strong commitment to the market and to our product  stewardship principles."

Examples of best practices outlined in the SFC Code of Conduct include:
  • Providing customers with appropriate health and safety information specific to each product;
  • Supporting and encouraging professional SPF contractors to seek professional certification; and
  • Encouraging innovation through research in building sciences, new products and technologies.
The SFC Code of Conduct will be reviewed at least annually to ensure the code remains an up-to-date reference for members.
Source: census.gov
The 2012 Economic Census Advance Report is now available at business.census.gov. This report highlights national-level data for over 100 industry groups, including number of establishments, revenue, payroll and number of employees. Visit the Advance Report page to view the data. Additional releases of detailed industry and geography statistics will be released over a two-year period, through June 2016.