The most frustrating thing about being in business right now is all of the issues hanging out on the periphery. It’s hard enough to compete in a tough economy on the traditional parts of business but now we as an industry also have to deal with things like the EPA and the lead paint doctrines. The residential installers have been on this for a while, and now word via David Walker VP of the NGA, shows that these rules are headed for the commercial world. If it’s anywhere near as crazy as what the residential guys are dealing with, it will not be good for us as an industry. Get ready to break out the HazMat style suit to deglaze storefronts and curtainwalls and so on. Believe me it won’t be good. So now while you are out selling, running your business and fight fires all over the place, you may as well add this one to the list. It really is crucial for your voice to be heard, and now is the time to let it fly. So pick your flavor- whether it’s the folks at NGA or GANA or both, you need to get on top of this issue and be heard… or else you will be stuck with misery. And trust me you can ask many fine people in the State of Utah that are dealing with NFRC nightmares that wish they woulda got involved in that issue before it was too late.
Oh and while you are at it- check out this white paper on the new “Building Star” act. Again get up to speed and be involved!
Elsewhere…
-- If you need more info you can go to the NGA by clicking HERE. Also GANA just announced an advocacy website that can be found HERE.
-- A few days in the wilderness really did wonders. Shutting the phone and e mail off for 4 days may be killing me today but the clearing of the mind was spectacular. As for the trip, I learned that my son and I are GPS guys as we got lost in the forest using our compass… in any case I am thrilled I did not get eaten by anything.
-- Each day I see the use of Twitter growing. So as a new feature here on From the Fabricator, I am going to do a “TWEET of the WEEK” where I give props to a feed that you should be following. (For those of you unaware, Twitter is a “Short Attention Span” theater. Short blurbs, 140 characters that usually lead you to more information… it’s very helpful info from an information standpoint and not a major time user.) So this week’s TWEET of the WEEK is: @glassandglazing that is run by Greg Carney. (Click Here to see it) Greg does a nice job of making sure you are aware of what maybe happening from a tech or code side out in the world. Well worth the follow! As for going forward please feel free to send me your submissions for Tweet of the week and we’ll get em on here.
-- Upon popular demand later this week I’ll have my daughter’s Preakness Stakes pick. We’ll see if she can go 2 for 2….
-- For those of you that travel the merger between United and Continental is pretty depressing. Means more packed flights and less inventory. Yeesh… then again I do have to say that it is an industry that needed consolidation since no one was making money…. So a thinning of the herd… hmmmmmm… wonder what other industry could use that….
-- Shorter post this week because of all of the links above and their importance....
Links of the Week!
-- As someone who travels a ton, this piece was awesome! A flight attendant shows how she packs for 10 DAYS in her overnight bag. Brilliant step by step look.
-- Solar panels are the newest “hot” material to steal. See here for what people are doing to stop the crooks!
-- Crazy story... a woman wins the lottery 2 years after her brother won! Seriously? I mean that family is waaaay too lucky. Now I could say that my brother and sister both won the lottery when they got me as a brother… (a mistake for sure 10 years late- though because of me my parents did get air conditioning for the house, so there was that benefit!) but somehow I think they’d take the cash instead!
Video of the Week:
Last week the Round Rock Express minor league baseball team added a new pitcher… and the guy was a riot… check out the video and you’ll see “who” this guy is but can you imagine if you could ever have some fun like this guy does while playing? Funny stuff.
4 comments:
Thank you very much for the mention of @glassandglazing and the "Tweet of the Week" Max! Please note that I have "protected" my "Tweets" in order to keep out the unwanted that tend to show up on some of these resources. If industry members want to "follow" my messages all they have to do is set up an account with Twitter (free of charge) and request the opportunity to follow @glassandglazing.
I should also recognize Brian Pitman with GANA as he encouraged me to start this activity. While I was skeptical at first, I must admit that I have received some positive feedback and benefited from the minimal amount of time it takes to add the occasional message. Amazingly people do want to follow the posts -- I was surprised when I accumulated 10 "followers" and I am amazed with the current 85 followers.
Keep an eye on the mail box because I'll be sending you $ 000.001 for each additional follower added as a result of your mention. I'm sure you recognize the importance of taking this out to the third digit! I'll even buy you some ice cream when I reach 100 followers.
Best regards,
Greg Carney
C. G. Carney Associates, Inc.
Architectural Glass & Glazing
Technical Consulting Services
11655 Stanton Circle
Gulfport, MS 39503
Office: 228.896.7643
Cell: 228.380.7643
E-mail: gregcarney@cgcarneyassociates.com
Website: www.cgcarneyassociates.com
Thanks Greg! As long as it's M&M ice cream I am all in!
Max, we might finally disagree on something. I fail understand the issue with the EPA rule change, it's been coming for a long time, everyone knew about it. As well, what's so wrong with with?
From the EPA site: "Common renovation activities like sanding, cutting, and demolition can create hazardous lead dust and chips by disturbing lead-based paint, which can be harmful to adults and children.
To protect against this risk, on April 22, 2008, EPA issued a rule requiring the use of lead-safe practices and other actions aimed at preventing lead poisoning. Under the rule, beginning April 22, 2010, contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 must be certified and must follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination."
Are we angry because the opt-out part was removed? Again, it's not like lead based paints are suddenly bad, they are nasty for all of us.
IMO, it's a case of "let's hope they forget to remove the opt-out" so we can keep not having to be ultra clean. Bottom line, we know lead is bad and not just for babies and pregnant women, it's bad for everyone. I fail to see where the health risk is less important than the cost of proper clean-up. About the only part I think you and I might agree on would be that we could do without the costly certification process. Keep the rule and remove the opt-out but keep the rule, it just makes sense.
:)
Kris
Thanks for the post! You got me, as I probably didn't explain myself well enough. My issue of course is with the Certs and the details that the installers now have to do like roping off 20 feet from the window and the furniture removals etc. It's massive overkill that will cost too much and then what happens is people WON'T get their windows changed and so everyone loses.
In any case you know me, I hate overkill from the 3rd party!!!
Thanks again for the post. Hope you are well!
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