Sprayfoam Pro Newswire
February 26, 2013
 
SPFA News and Announcements
Graco
Industry News and Announcements
ASHRAE and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) have launched their third biennial Work Plan for 2013-2014, based on a global cooperation agreement signed in 2007, at ASHRAE’s 2013 Winter Conference held in Dallas, Texas, Jan. 26-30, 2013.

The ASHRAE-UNEP cooperation agreement was developed to achieve several international goals, including the sustainable phase-out of Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) in refrigeration and air-conditioning applications; maximizing the climate benefits of using zero ODS alternatives including aspects of energy saving in buildings; as well as facilitating the transfer and adoption of suitable technologies in developing countries. 

The new work plan covers the 2013-2014 timeframe with an objective of increasing cooperation between ASHRAE and UNEP by transferring relevant technologies amongst different regions and continents. The plan is prepared based on success achieved and lessons learned from the implementation of two previous work plans.

The new work plan includes two main goals and several relevant actions. The first goal, which addresses emissions reduction, long-term refrigerants and energy efficiency in buildings, includes five different actions. These actions address promoting research of long-term refrigerants, building knowledge of specialists about refrigerants through education and certification, developing a specialized guide for refrigeration installations and coordinating efforts in the area of energy efficiency in buildings. 

The second goal aims at promoting expertise and technological information exchange to governments and specialists dealing with ASHRAE and UNEP, developing a regional roaster of experts, establishing an international advisory team to assist developing countries in instituting/updating relevant standards and codes, as well as developing joint online tools and a forum for partners and stakeholders, allowing for better communication and dissemination of related information.

The ASHRAE-UNEP coordination team will continue its work to oversee sound implementation of the work plan and facilitate the involvement of ASHRAE chapters around the world as well as UNEP regional teams.
 
Honeywell Performance Materials and Technologies
Foam Supplies, Inc.
SPFA Membership
SPFA held its annual convention and expo, Feb. 12-15, in Jacksonville, Fla. Thank you to all the sponsors, exhibitors, speakers and attendees who made this year's show a record-breaker! Last time SPFA was on the East Coast in Florida the convention had 996 attendees – this year attendance reached 1142. SPFA also offered its new Sprayfoam Professional Certification Program (PCP) for the first time publicly with several hundred attendees in classes and over 300 certification tests administered. SPFA will be offering a complete recap of the show, posting the session presentations on its website, issuing an online survey to attendees, and posting pictures from the events on its Facebook page all in the very near future – stay tuned!

Some of the comments from exhibitors this year include:

"Traffic has been fantastic!" said Chris Bryntesen, President of CJ Spray.

"It's been good; been busy," said Phil North of SprayFoamGear.com. "Coveralls are the biggest sellers." The winner of SprayFoamGear.com's "Compliance in a Can" item was Breck Cribbs of Cribbs Silver Creek Insulation, Edmond, Okla.

"You meet a lot of people at the expo," said James Calman of J. Calman Industries, LLC.

"The expo helps me maintain our business and we come here to support the industry and see our existing customer base," said Ron Shafer of R.K. Hydro-Vac, Inc. "SPFA does a good job of being on the leading edge of the business. Every year it's getting better and better, especially with education."











SPONSORS
Tier I:
CertainTeed Saint-Gobain
Gaco Western
GRACO
Honeywell
Huntsman
LaPolla
NCFI Polyurethanes
WDG

Tier II:
American Chemistry Council: Center for Polyurethanes
Premium Spray Products
Quadrant
Spray Foam Nation
SprayFoam.com
SWD
WDG

EXHIBITORS
2-Track
3M
Acme Machinery
ADO Products
Air Barrier Association of America (ABAA)
Aldo Products Company, Inc.
American Weatherstar
Applegate Insulation Mfg.
BASF Corporation
Bayer MaterialScience
BioBased Technologies
Building Performance Institute (BPI)
Building Professionals
Bullard
Center for the Polyurethanes Industry
Certainteed Insulation
CFI FOAM
Christian Fabrication
CJ Spray
Coating & Foam Solutions
Compressed Air Systems
Com-Ten Industries
Conklin Company
Convenience Products
Demilec USA LLC
Diamond Liners
Dow Building Solutions
DuPont
ERSystems
Flame Seal Products, Inc.
Fomo Products Inc.
Gaco Western
Gaco Western/Gaco University
Graco Inc.
Guardian Building Products
Honeywell
Honeywell Safety Products
Icynene
IDI Distributors
International Cellulose Corp.
International Fireprood Technology
International Pump Manufacturing
Intertek
JobPro Technology
Johns Manville
Lapolla Industries Inc.
MCC Equipment & Service Center
Momentive Performance Materials
Monroe Infrared Technology
National Coatings Corp.
Naylor
NCFI Polyurethanes
Next Generation Power, Inc.
Polycoat Products
Polyurethane Machinery Corp.
Premium Spray Products
Proviron
PU Magazine
Quadrant
RESNET
RHH Foam Systems
RK Hydro-Vac Inc.
Schmidt & Dirks Designs Inc.
Sealant Technologies Inc.
Service Partners, LLC
SES Foam
SESCO
Specialty Products, Inc. (SPI)
SPFA
Spray Equipment of Oklahoma
Spray Foam Equipment and Manufacturing
Spray Foam Gear
Spray Foam Polymers, LLC
Spray Foam Systems, LLC
Spray Market
SprayFoam.com
SprayWorks Equipment Group
SWD Urethane
Thermo Foam Systems
TTR Systems
TVM Building Products
U.S. Fireproofing/Krendl Machinery
Ultra-Aire
United Coatings (Quest Construction Products)
USG-Securock Roof Boards
Versaflex Incorporated
West Development Group
 
Icynene, Inc.
SPFA Courses and Certification
SPFA has been engaged over the past 12 months in development of a new SPF Professional Certification Program, which was rolled out at the Annual Convention and Expo, February 12-15 in Jacksonville, Fla.

Visit SPFA’s website, www.sprayfoam.org, to access information about PCP.

To read the "Anatomy of a Certification Program" article, click here.
 
"The SPFA Professional Certification Program (SPFA-PCP) is the most rigorous, extensive and defining program for spray polyurethane foam (SPF) professionals in the world," according to a recent article at SprayFoam.com. "It is consistent with all industry standards, best practices and known building science. The SPFA-PCP is a measure of personal and professional accomplishment in the industry, and a demonstration among professionals of the essential knowledge, skills and abilities inherent among the highest class of spray foam professionals." 

For further information on the SPFA-PCP program, click here.
 
SPFA Job Board
Graco Inc. (NYSE:GGG) Graco’s high-performance coatings and foam (HPCF) business unit recently announced its Top 20 HPCF North American distributors for 2013. The distributors were selected on the basis of annual sales during 2012.

The Top 20 North American distributors for protective coatings equipment are: Abrasive Products & Equipment; Advanced Finishing Systems; Air Power Inc.; Airtech Spray Systems Inc.; Bolair Distribution Inc.; Carolina Equipment & Supply Co Inc.; C.H. Reed Inc.; Clemtex Inc.; Coast Industrial Systems Inc.; Corrosion Specialties Inc.; Dove Equipment Co Inc.; EnDiSys Fluid Delivery Systems; F & S Equipment & Supply Inc.; Golden State Paint Corp.; Howard Marten Fluid Technologies Inc.; Marco; Midway Industrial Supply; Spray Equipment & Service Center; Spray Pump Inc.; Spray Quip Inc.
 
The Top 20 North American distributors for foam and polyurea equipment are: BASF Corporation; Bolair Distribution, Inc.; C.J. Spray Inc.; Demilec (USA), LLC; EnDiSys Fluid Delivery Systems; Foampak, Inc.; Howard Marten Fluid Technologies, Inc.; Intech Equipment & Supply, LLC; MCC Equipment & Service Center; N.C.F.I. Polyurethanes; Parker-Lajoie Industries, Ltd.; Premium Spray Products Inc.; Service Partners Supply; Spray Equipment & Service Center; Spray Foam Distributors of New England Inc.; Spray Foam Nation; Spray Foam Systems, LCC; Spray Polyurethane Parts; Ultimate Linings, Inc.; Urethane Supply.    
 
To find the Graco distributor nearest you, click here.
 
Naylor, LLC
Federal/State Government News

President Obama Calls for Cutting Commercial and Residential Energy Waste in Half Within 20 Years in State of the Union

President Barack Obama delivered his first State of the Union Address since his reelection, during which he laid out his priorities for 2013 and the first portion of his second term. During his speech the President called for a greater focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education to help prepare students for current and future jobs, and called on Congress to work with him to address the looming the effects of the across-the-board spending cuts, also known as sequestration, which is scheduled to begin on March 1, 2013, unless Congress and the White House act.

The President also issued a new goal: to cut commercial and residential energy waste in half over the next 20 years. President Obama stated that his administration would work with states to accomplish this goal, and would provide federal support to the states that have “the best ideas to create jobs and lower energy bills by constructing more efficient buildings.” Additional details on the President’s proposals are expected in the months to come.

Audio and visual of the President’s speech, including the complete text of his remarks, can be found here.

President Obama and Rep. Lipinski Issue Statements in Support of EWeek

This week is National Engineers Week (EWeek) – a time when the many contributions that engineers make to society are celebrated throughout the United States. Sponsored by the National Engineers Week Foundation, EWeek runs February 17-23, and involves a number of events designed to inspire interest in and encourage K-12 students to pursue a career in engineering. For a complete list of programs, and ways to get involved in the Foundation’s year-round events, click here.

President Obama recently issued a statement supporting EWeek, which reads:

“I send greetings to all those observing Engineers Week 2013.

“If there is one idea that sets our country apart from every other nation, it is the idea that in America, success does not depend on where you were born or what your last name is. Success depends on the ideas you can dream up, the possibilities you can envision, and the hard work you are willing to do to make them real.

“Initiatives like National Engineers Week help instill this believe in our next generation of doers and makers. By sparking young people’s interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, these efforts will keep the American spirit of curiosity and innovation alive for years to come.

“As you celebrate the ways engineering improves our lives, I wish you all the best for an enjoyable week.”

Similarly, U.S. Representative Daniel Lipinski (IL-3), who is one of the few Members of Congress with an engineering degree, also issued a statement in support of EWeek:

“Engineering is problem solving, and we need engineers to help solve many of the problems that our nation and our world face today,” Lipinski said. “Engineers are working to bring us cheaper and cleaner energy. They are making us safer on the roads and in the air. And they are helping to design and produce other life-saving devices. Engineers play a tremendously important part in our society.

“Surveys have shown that teenagers are more likely to consider a degree in engineering after learning about what engineers do,” continued Lipinski. “Although just 4 percent of the country’s work force is composed of engineers and scientists, they create the jobs for the other 96 percent. We owe it to our children and ourselves to get them interested in science, technology, engineering and math. That’s why calling attention to this fascinating field and career opportunities during National Engineers Week is so important.”

To view the full statement click here.

Representative Lipinski, along with a bipartisan group of 12 other Members, plan to introduce a resolution in support of National Engineers Week when Congress returns from its recess next week.

ASHRAE is a long-time supporter of EWeek, serving on the Foundation’s Engineers Week Committee, and as a past co-chair of the Week.

Grassroots Government Activities Report: From EWeek to Engineering Licensure

ASHRAE members across the U.S. are getting excited about and engaged in grassroots activities as the standing Grassroots Government Activities Committee (GGAC) prepares to come online in earnest after ASHRAE’s 2013 Annual Meeting in Denver. Here are a few examples:

Several ASHRAE members and chapters worked with policymakers in their communities to encourage the issuance of proclamations and resolutions in recognition of EWeek. The cities of Seattle, Tulsa, Lexington (Kentucky), and Houston, and the states of Arkansas, Kentucky and Texas – to name just a handful – issued these measures. 

>>The ASHRAE Utah Chapter is attempting to engage state legislators to ensure that state building and energy code cycles are not extended from three to six (or more) years. There are several negative ramifications of such policies being enacted. For example, a delay in code adoption cycles would likely bring about: 

  • A time lag for the introduction of new safety, energy efficiency, and construction requirements. 
  • A loss of choice for consumers in that builders would be less likely to install the most up-to-date, efficient, and highest-performance equipment and technologies. 
  • Higher building insurance costs due to buildings not being up-to-date as far as codes are concerned. 
  • Government waste as new government buildings will not include the most up-to-date long-term cost-saving practices. 

Chapters and members in Arizona, Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia are in the process of ascertaining how they can persuade state legislators and the executive branches within those states to include ASHRAE members in discussions about high-performance, energy-efficient K-12 school buildings – including the possible appointment of ASHRAE members to state advisory panels on the subject. 

In Vermont and West Virginia, threats to PE licensure vis-à-vis “master’s-or-equivalent (MOE)”/“bachelor’s-plus-30 (BS+30)” proposals are vigorously opposed by the Champlain Valley Chapter and Mountaineer Section, respectively. ASHRAE is working with the Licensing That Works Coalition, a consortium of engineering societies representing more than 300,000 engineers in the U.S., to ensure that such measures are not enacted in any state. 

These activities listed are just a few examples of what the GGAC apparatus – the Society standing committee, regional vice chairs, chapter and section GGAC chairs, and the individual ASHRAE member – can do in bringing about sound public policy that aligns with ASHRAE’s policy aims. It’s important to point out that these activities are not limited to the boundaries of the U.S., rather all 14 regions, 174 chapters and 53,000-plus ASHRAE members have the opportunity to get involved – and should get involved. ASHRAE is a global society and members are afforded the chance to provide technical expertise to government decision makers in their communities, thus expanding the reach of the Society’s mission “to advance the arts and sciences of heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigerating to serve humanity and promote a sustainable world.”

To learn more about involvement in GGAC activities, contact Mark Wills, manager of State and Local Government Affairs, at mwills@ashrae.org.

ASHRAE's Government Affairs Updates detail information on government affairs-related activities of interest to ASHRAE members and others interested in the built environment. Archives of previous updates are available from the Government Affairs website.

 

 

 
Current Call to Action
The SPFA technical programs and committees that support them are in need of a select few interested professionals (equipment, suppliers, systems houses and contractors) to carry the momentum onward on various technical projects of the association. Admittedly, the certification development effort has dug into our volunteer base deeply.  But there are lots of critical, relevant and interesting technical projects ongoing or starting within the Building Envelope Committee (BEC), Roofing Committee (RC) and new technical committees. Please contact Rick Duncan at rickduncan@sprayfoam.org if you are interested or willing to assist with these important efforts.
 
SPF-Related Codes & Standards

The Building Codes Assistance Project releases regular updates on building energy codes through its quarterly BCAP Newsletter and weekly Code Alert Bulletin.

BCAP Newsletters are quarterly summaries of what's been happening at the Building Codes Assistance Project and building energy code progress around the nation.  To access the full archive, click here.

BCAP Code Alert Bulletins are released weekly by the Building Codes Assistance Project (BCAP) and its website, the Online Code Environment & Advocacy Network (OCEAN). Code Alert Bulletins are designed to share information and support timely participation in state and local activities related to the adoption and implementation of building energy codes. The bulletins highlight immediate opportunities to influence state and local policy outcomes, indicate code status, and recommend contacts for action. If you know of activity that should be on this bulletin or would like to sign up for this bujlletin, contact Matt Kerns at (202) 530-2252 or mkerns@ase.org.

 
On February 21, the General Law Committee of the State of Connecticut Legislature held a hearing regarding HB 5908, a bill considering the need for professional certifications for the SPF industry.  This hearing was only announced five days prior to the date, during the end of SPFA’s Annual Convention and Expo, which left very little time to prepare. Dr. Duncan attended the hearing and offered testimony found on SPFA’s YouTube page here.  SPFA testified that it would support the committee’s efforts to consider certification requirements for SPF professionals, and informed the committee of its new industry consensus-developed, ANSI/ISO-accredited Professional Certification Program.  SPFA hopes that should this bill move forward, such a program would be a reference point and resource for the state rather than having legislators look to create requirements from scratch. The final product and exceptionally hard work put in by the SPFA members in development of this program could not have come at a better time.
 

Alliance to Save Energy's Efficiency News
Some of the topics that are addressed in the newest update from Alliance to Save Energy include:

Energy 2030 Plan: Part of Obama's State of the Union 

"When the President issued a goal to cut energy waste in half, he advanced the Alliance's Energy 2030 plan, unveiled Thursday in Washington," said Alliance to Save Energy President Kateri Callahan.

A diverse coalition of energy leaders unveiled a set of recommendations designed to double U.S. energy productivity by 2030. Achieving this goal could save $327 billion annually and add 1.3 million jobs.

 

Plug Heat Bleed Calculator

See how the Energy Response Corps' online tool can evaluate how much your home is losing to Heat Bleed.

 

Living Efficiently? Videos Show Energy-Saving Suggestions for Your Life 

Check out this video series for every day energy-saving suggestions.

For complete list of articles, click here.

 

 
After an intensive, year-long effort, Alliance to Save Energy is rolling out the final report and recommendations of the Alliance's Commission on National Energy Efficiency Policy.

Energy 2030 Goal

The plan, Energy 2030, calls for a doubling in U.S. energy productivity by 2030. It includes a set of recommendations to achieve this ambitious goal of doubling the amount of GDP produced from each unit of energy consumed in 2030 compared to 2011. 

The Commission recommendations are built on a large body of research that discusses the issues of investment, technology, human behavior, and government as they relate to increasing energy productivity in the U.S. and outlines successful case studies. It is our hope that these recommendations will be embraced by a bipartisan group of local, state and federal policy makers as well as the manufacturing, business and transportation sectors, and, importantly, American families. An independent analysis by the Rhodium Group found that doubling our nation's energy productivity by 2030 could:

>>Save the average household more than $1,000 a year; 
>>Save American businesses $169 billion annually;  
>>Reduce government agency spending by $13 billion a year;  
>>Create 1.3 million jobs and increase GDP by up to 2%;  
>>Decrease energy imports by more than $100 billion annually; and,  
>>Reduce CO2 emissions by 33 percent below 2005 levels. 

Click here to learn more about the Commission, Energy 2030, and to keep up-to-date on  progress to implement the recommendations. 

Legislative Outlook 

There is new receptivity to energy efficiency as an economic boost that can earn bipartisan support. I see it in public interest by House Energy and Power Subcommittee Chairman Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.), in Senate Energy Committee Ranking Member Lisa Murkowski’s (R-Alaska) new energy plan, and of course, in Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Rob Portman’s (R-Ohio) work to introduce a new version of their efficiency bill. And I see it in new programs and ideas in states and communities around the country. 

You can rest assured that the Alliance to Save Energy will be conducting a massive advocacy effort at the federal and grassroots levels to ensure that these policy recommendations are embraced and implemented in communities and states nationwide. 

Acknowledgements 

There are scores of people to commend and thank for the success of the Commission, but none more so than our strong and effective leaders, Co-Chairs Senator Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Tom King, President of National Grid U.S. The tireless efforts of the key business, environmental, and governmental leaders on the Commission and our Board were inspiring. And the dedication of their aides, the Technical Advisory Group members, the International Advisory Board members, the scores of researchers and contributors, and of course the Alliance's own intrepid staff, are equally responsible for the success of Energy 2030. 

With your help, implementing Energy 2030 will create a stronger and more resilient economy, a cleaner environment, and a more secure homeland. 
 
Sprayfoam Professional Call for Submissions
Events

"Introduction to Air Barriers" provides an overview of the performance requirements of air barrier materials, assemblies, and systems, and includes a discussion on relevant building code requirements. This course AIA and state credits and qualifies for HSW. Please check course specifications for all available credit and details: www.aecdaily.com/sponsor/abaa

 
 

 

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