Legislative Issues

NEW Use of Crane in the Construction Industry
Effective November 8, 2010, the NC OSHA will have adopted the Federal OSHA regulations regarding the use of crances in the construction industry.  For the new regulations, click here.
Until November 8, 2010, companies are required to comply with all the provisions of NC specific crane rules listed here.

Health Care Reform Timeline... click here to read

NRCA release photovoltaic guidelines... click here to read full Press Release

NRCA's roofing manual and construction details CDs are available... click here to read full Press Release

NRCA Completes latest roofing manual... click here to read full Press Release

South Carolina Mechanic Lien Code
view the changes here!

LEED Training and How to Obtain LEED AP Certification
General Information
LEED AP information
Local USGBC Chapter information and classes

NEW Bill S 803... amendements to the lien law proposed by Senator Rand
click here for more information

SC Department LLR - Potential Increase of Licensing Fees
Click here for full article 

NRCA INFO, WEEK OF JUNE 6, 2011

High unemployment may be permanent, economists warn
Economists are increasingly convinced that high unemployment is the "new normal" and may persist for many years, even if the U.S. economy recovers. Bank economists said that when joblessness and vacancies are high at the same time, there is a mismatch between workers' skills and employers' needs. A Federal Reserve study speculated that workers who lost jobs in the decline of the construction, finance and real estate sectors have a hard time transferring into growing parts of the economy. McClatchy Washington Bureau

BRAC projects in San Antonio are on track to meet deadline
Several projects under the Base Realignment and Closure construction program in San Antonio are approaching completion as the program winds down. The San Antonio Military Medical Center opened its 5,000-space parking structure in March, and the 168,000-square-foot Headquarters, Installation Management Command building should be done this month. The BRAC program is scheduled to expire Sept. 15. San Antonio Express-News

Military construction projects surpass $500M in W. Va.
The West Virginia Army National Guard completed, is constructing or has planned more than $500 million worth of building projects, including a $150 million expansion project at Camp Dawson and a $250 million Homeland Security training center. WOWK-TV (Charleston, W.Va.)

Roof replacement is under way at Washington's Port of Olympia
A marine terminal warehouse at the Port of Olympia in Washington will be getting a new roof as well as 60 to 80 solar panels. The facility will have a roof made of PVC membrane that has a 20-year lifespan, said engineer Rick Anderson. The project is expected to be completed by Sept. 30. The Olympian (Olympia, Wash.)

Key to working in heat? Water and rest
Roofing contractors in Pennsylvania have changed their work strategy to cope with increasing temperatures. "Every half-hour we take a 15-minute break and drink a lot of water," said Gary Selleck of C and C Roofing. WPVI-TV (Philadelphia)

Senator finds partners to back 10 Million Solar Roofs measure
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., has collaborated with Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., and Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., to strengthen support for his 10 Million Solar Roofs Act of 2011. The measure is tied to a Department of Energy initiative and aims to reward communities that find ways to make the installation process less cumbersome and more affordable. SolveClimate.com

Solve problems, create customers
Traditional marketing often doesn't work because consumers are bombarded with too many messages each day, Michael Stelzner writes. The solution: Offer content that leverages outside expertise to help people solve problems -- at no cost. "Instead of investing in ad space, you invest in creating content, experiences, gathering places and communities where people who need help can find it," Stelzner writes. SocialMediaExaminer.com

Are you ready for recovery?
With the economy showing signs of life, experts say it may be time to invest more in your business -- if you do it wisely. Start by reviewing your business model and revenue streams, then look for ways to leverage your time and bulk up the business. But don't rely on a single big deal, warns Gwen Moran. "Instead, look at ways to grow your business incrementally and make smaller investments in areas that will generate a return," Moran writes. Entrepreneur's StartUps magazine

Court hears arguments in challenge to health care law
Judges asked pointed questions about the health care law's individual mandate as a three-judge panel in an Atlanta federal appeals court heard oral arguments in the challenge of the law's constitutionality by 26 states and that National Federation of Independent Business. "If we uphold the individual mandate in this case, are there any limits on congressional power?" asked Chief Judge Joel Dubina of the government's attorney. The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model)/In Charge blog (6/8) The Atlanta Journal-Constitution/The Associated Press (6/9) Bloomberg

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NRCA's weekly free electronic newsletter, NRCA E-News, offers brief stories covering events and issues in the roofing industry and involving NRCA. NRCA E-News subscribers receive information about educational classes, industry meetings and conferences, current industry news, technical advancements, and environmental and legislative issues, among other topics. Register now.

Employment law guide is available

NRCA offers Employment Law: A Legal Guide for Roofing Contractors, Second Edition, which provides an overview of the most pertinent federal employment laws applicable to your business. The guide is organized according to the major stages of the employment relationship and addresses hiring, immigration issues, performance evaluations, disciplinary actions and employment terminations, union issues and personnel records. The member price for the guide is $195, and the retail price is $295. Purchase it here.

Single crane raises "extra-large" trusses at event center
The Ag Event Centre in Alberta, Canada, has been able to erect 22 large steel trusses atop the facility with a customized spreader bar that let a single crane do the lifting. The 175-foot trusses weighed 38,000 pounds each, and were put together inside the structure before they were placed atop precast-concrete walls. Daily Commercial News

Palo Alto, Calif., approves $5B hospital-expansion project
The City Council in Palo Alto, Calif., unanimously voted to approve Stanford University's $5 billion hospital-expansion project. The project will increase the university's medical and office space by 1.3 million square feet. The university will start preparatory work this summer, and facilities at Stanford Hospital and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital are expected to be operational by early 2018, said Michael Peterson, Stanford's vice president for special projects. Palo Alto Daily News (Calif.)

Extreme heat leads to altered workday for roofing crew
Workers installing a rubber roofing system -- which absorbs heat -- at a high school in Hammond, Ind., had to change their work schedule to avoid exposure to extreme heat. The crews begin their work at 5 a.m. to avoid high temperatures in the afternoon. The Times (Munster-Hammond-Merrillville-Valparaiso, Ind.)

Church embarks on extensive roof overhaul
St. Bernard's Catholic Church in Watertown, Wis., is planning a renovation that include roof and spire re-shingling and repair. The church initially planned to use cedar shake shingles for its spire, but chose a copper roof instead after learning that it could last 100 years and require less maintenance. It will also install grand slate shingles on its roof, which last for about 50 years. Watertown Daily Times (Wis.)

Technology eases documentation for safety management
When it comes to managing safety on-site, it is crucial to have the technology you need for documentation that satisfies the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, according to this article. Many construction companies have started to use such software, and some say it can even reduce the number of job-site safety incidents. Constructech (free registration)

Dow delays commercial launch of Powerhouse solar shingle to Q4
Dow Chemical decided to delay the market launch of its Powerhouse solar shingles to next year, pushing the company to miss this year's season of summer construction. "Previously announced launch timing for the Powerhouse solar shingles represented early estimates which have continually been refined to reveal that fourth quarter is the best time for our market introduction," the company said in a statement. "Construction activity seasonally tends to be stronger in the warmer months. The profits that they could have made this year now will be deferred until 2012," a chemical industry analyst said. Reuters

3 ways selling less could be good for business and the planet
Sustainable consumption is an increasing trend in green business that encourages businesses to build products that last longer and customers to think about how products will be disposed of when they're no longer needed. Experts say businesses can benefit with greater customer loyalty and engagement over businesses that use price as a primary motivator. Small Business Trends

The power of personalization
Nearly half of marketers in a recent study agreed that personalization is "highly effective" or better than mass marketing, but almost two-thirds said they don't offer personalized content on their websites. Even if the technology for personalization is lacking overall, marketers can still find ways to "slice and dice your target audience into more targetable groups" for better return on investment, Pamela Seiple writes. HubSpot.com

Alabama measure would crack down on illegal hires
Lawmakers in Alabama have passed legislation that would require employers to use the federal E-Verify system to check the legal status of new employees. It now heads to Republican Gov. Robert Bentley -- who supports immigration legislation -- for his signature. Los Angeles Times/The Associated Press

Join NRCA now
Join NRCA by June 30 and save $100 on your membership dues. You also will receive a money-back guarantee, as well as up to $1,500 worth of NRCA publications and DVDs free, including The NRCA Roofing Manual: Membrane Roof Systems-2011. When you join NRCA, your company will be listed in NRCA's online Membership Directory and online referral service, which generates thousands of leads each month; have access to customized worker training programs tailored to your company's specific needs; gain priority access to NRCA's technical experts for answers to questions about roof system performance, materials and application techniques; and receive a host of additional money-saving benefits. Learn more, and join.

NRCA offers LEED guide

NRCA has made available A Roofing Professional's Guide to LEED® to help roofing professionals who want to learn more about the roofing-specific issues related to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Rating System, which is the most recognized sustainable building rating system. The manual includes background information and an explanation of LEED's Professional Credentialing program, among other topics. The member price for the guide is $25, and the retail price is $50. Learn more or purchase it!

Roofing members play important role in tornadoes
Research in Kansas found that much of the damage from recent tornadoes came from inadequate connections among trusses, roof rafters and walls. "We advocate people spend a little extra tying their house together -- connecting roof to wall and wall to foundation," says Tim Reinhold, senior vice president for research and chief engineer at the Institute for Business and Home Safety. "You can do a tremendous amount to strengthen a house." The Wichita Eagle (Kan.)

Funding, competing proposals stall Las Vegas stadium bill
Financing of a new sports stadium in Las Vegas is a contentious point and has legislators looking at options. Various proposals from developers are also in question. The city and the Cordish development group want to construct a $420 million basketball stadium and a shopping center, while developer Chris Milam proposes to build a $2 billion complex that would include a ballpark, arena and stadium. The bill must get through Nevada's House of Representatives and Senate by the end of today if it is to survive. Bloomberg Businessweek/The Associated Press

Roof replacement under way at historic Lincoln Home
The roof replacement of the Lincoln Home in Springfield, Ill., requires the use of cedar shingles to be in keeping with the historic naturee of the building. The crews will use a "blue-label" cedar shingle, and the roof's old shingles will be recycled. The project on Abraham Lincoln's home has been in the planning stages for a while and has received all necessary approvals. The State Journal-Register (Springfield, Ill.)

Retrofit program aims to boost economy, energy cost savings
Green Refinance Plus in an initiative of the Federal Housing Administration and Fannie Mae that aims to retrofit affordable multifamily properties to make them energy efficient while refinancing mortgages. "That greening our homes is one of the keys to the 21st century economy -- and to out-innovating our competitors," writes Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan. The Huffington Post

$650M bio-defense facility in Kansas to be tornado-resistant
Design upgrades for the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility in Manhattan, Kan., should allow the building to withstand wind speeds of up to 230 mph. The "hardening" of the structure includes the use of reinforced concrete and tornado dampers that are meant to prevent the release of pathogens stored within the facility in the event of a tornado. The Kansas City Star (Mo.)

Japenese company creates solar panels that follow the sun's direction
A Japanese firm has invented solar panels that can produce more energy than other solar devices because they follow the direction of the sun throughout the day. The system has a row of aluminum mirror bars that move according to the direction of the sun, and then reflect light onto a central tube that contains layers of solar cells. The panels have a mechanism that allows surplus heat to be diverted, which helps avoid overheating. Yahoo!/Agence France-Presse

Effective word-of-mouth marketing takes a little cash and a lot of prep
Word-of-mouth marketing can save money, but you'll need to spend time at it, writes Ivan Misner. You'll also need materials: Networking meetings, fliers, a list of questions, testimonials and other documents like annual reports. Also, he says, collect news items of interest to your clients, along with articles that mention your company. Entrepreneur.com

3 ways to enhance your website with Twitter's and Google's buttons
Businesses no longer need to worry about customers getting redirected from their websites when the visitors click to follow their Twitter pages. Google and Twitter have unveiled buttons that, once added to a website, will allow instantaneous following with no redirection needed. Ilie Mitaru advises companies to get the buttons, be compelling enough to warrant followers and remind users about the buttons' presence. PC World Business Center/BizFeed blog

Atlanta federal appeals court to hear suit against health care law
The Atlanta federal appeals court is slated to begin a hearing on a lawsuit filed by 26 states against the federal health care law. The suit claims that Congress has violated the authority of the states to provide health care coverage. Former Solicitor General Paul Clement will represent the states, while acting U.S. Solicitor General Neal Katyal will air the government's side. USA TODAY

ROOFPAC will host event during NRCA's Midyear Meetings
ROOFPAC, NRCA's federally registered political action committee, will host "An Evening with a View," Wednesday, July 13, during NRCA's Midyear Meetings. The event will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on the 67th floor of the Willis (formerly Sears) Tower with access to the Skydeck on the 103rd floor. Attendees will enjoy a premium open bar, hors d'oeuvres and food stations, as well as amazing views of Chicago's skyline. Learn more.

Students win roofing industry scholarships
The Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress has announced the winners of its Melvin Kruger Endowed Scholarships for the 2011-12 academic year. The Melvin Kruger Endowed Scholarship, which permanently replaced the Alliance's previous scholarship program in 2008, provides recipients with $5,000 per year based on eligibility for up to four years of enrollment in accredited university or vocational programs. NRCA member contractor or supplier companies or immediate family members of employees of NRCA member contractor or supplier companies are eligible for the merit-based scholarships. Learn more.