An ACT that makes sense

Have you ever heard of the Buy American Act? Well if you have lost or are about to lose a job to China or Columbia it’s something you should take a few minutes to investigate. This act, was put into place to protect domestic goods and on jobs that feature public money, using foreign material is prohibited unless a series of items are met. However, most of the time, no one pays attention to this act, and projects are allowed to skate through. (Like the KC arena where the mayor made the shortsighted call and no one challenged it) So do some research and chew on it a bit. I am putting together more information and will share it soon.

Elsewhere…

-- Great article that was e-mailed to me HERE on China and the growth there… like 4 New Manhattans…
In addition, Forward Magazine ran a piece on the biggest issue we have in dealing with China is that we are all splintered. They listed 4 groups who have issues with China. The manufacturing side, the unions, the environmentalists, and the human rights folks. The article said if all 4 could work together possibly good things could come of it. Will it happen- probably not- but very interesting to say the least.

-- Well this is what you would call the “Dog Days” of summer. Basically everyone is busy and any real “news” is slow to come out. That’s why some rumors percolate longer than others, because there’s nothing else to take the spotlight. And aside from the handful of people who follow the NFRC adventures, it really is slow news wise… but despite that, I still try and keep up the flow of info…On the Pella/Efco rumors, I feel like its kinda like when Nightline did its “America Held Hostage-Day 33” back in the 80’s. Everyday people are checking and waiting for word on this.. Now we are just waiting to see if the scuttlebutt that continues to be seemingly everywhere finally plays out. I’ll tell you this, if it does not, this will be the smokiest non fire ever.

-- Saw the note that Sage Electrochromics announced new funding that will help them reduce costs. That is great news. It’s a solid company with a true cutting edge product. Count me as a fan. Being able to bring the costs down will only help the momentum they have started.

On NFRC, a few items…

1. E-Glass Weekly had a poll on the NFRC adventures and how many people had heard about it. Almost 70% of the respondents had never heard of this stuff or heard about it but knew little to nothing about it. And people think the magazines spend TOO much time and effort on this! My goodness when this thing is resolved, if people are so unaware, it’s not going to be pretty. By the way, I would venture a guess that even more architects and developers are unaware- and they’ll be the ones on the hook.

2. Got an e-mail that ranted better than I do:

"What have you done to me? I now can’t help but read anything I see about NFRC CMA . I’m shocked there is debate about “…whether one project could use a previously documented rating for an identical system.” What’s the big deal? Are they worried about product substitutions? – e.g. supplying a configuration that isn’t what the supplier says it is? Pretty soon NFRC is going to charge a fee for one of their people to sit in your factory inspecting the fenestration construction to make sure no substitutions happen … oh wait, better send them to the extruders & float plants too so they’re not using inferior ingots or sand that will cause a building’s energy consumption to triple over night. Thanks for looking out for me NFRC?? And again, where are all the building owners, tenants, architects, and fabricators at that are begging for NFRC to develop this CMA program? Have a Great Day!"

Wait you just gave them an idea- have the IA’s go to the extruders and the float plants!

Remember this is a group (NFRC) that has patently ignored the fact that the architect or designer SPECIFIES specific products. This is a group that thinks the glazier just wily nily orders “Low E” or “Storefront” instead of calling it out and of course believes the evil fabricator will just grab whatever they want off the shelf to satisfy the order.

2 things- NFRC has never accepted the fact that in commercial glazing, its professionals dealing with professionals- on every level. This is not like residential where you have a homeowner involved. Second, the goal of the program should be to promote a simple, cost effective, easy to use rating system. This way designers, WHEN THEY SPECIFY, could use such a tool to call out the products they want. However, in the charitable world of a 501c3- 3^rd party oversight, you can never, ever, ever trust the manufacturers… so instead of creating a doable system, we’ll make it as insane as we can. And yes I understand oversight and respect it, (and in any certification program it is needed) but the angles that NFRC has taken have been out of the stratosphere and it’s mainly because too many people make too much money from their association with NFRC- thus keeping it simple and smart falls down the ladder because someone’s revenues will suffer. Because end of the day, the glazier will glaze, the manufacturer will manufacture, the fabricator will fabricate but the test lab… the inspection agency… they need the NFRC to help their businesses by creating extra layers and levels.
Sorry that was too much NFRC… but man its tough not to go off on.

-- Last, Oil on Tuesday hit an alltime high today… but gas prices were dropping… so how long before a refinery has a leak and gas prices start shooting up again?

OK video of the week… it’s a guy fighting off a mob after he steals a parking space… it must’ve been a plum of a space, and this guy was able to keep everyone off of him…