According to the Metal Construction Association, “Fire Safety is an important responsibility of the building designer and owner. Even if individual elements of a wall assembly are not combustable, the assembly must be tested. NFPA-285 is an important test that measures for vertical and lateral flame spread of the geometry and layers in a wall panel.” Don’t miss this FREE opportunity to learn more about the exterior wall assembly fire performance code with industry expert, Steve Gaynor, co-founder of RAiNA and Principal of PIVOTH.
NFPA 285 IS THE CRITICAL TEST FOR EXTERIOR WALL ASSEMBLIES.
Thank you Building Enclosure for featuring the Future Leaders Program! Now in its second year, the Metal Construction Association (MCA) and METALCON have been collaborating to offer several opportunities for the next generation. Any industry is only as good as its people. Sustaining success requires experienced industry veterans as well as the ability to attract, educate and develop a younger and more diverse workforce to eventually move into leadership roles within their companies and industry. Like a lot of industries, the metal construction industry is facing the challenge of retiring leaders with not enough replacements waiting in line to fill that void. Innovative ideas from future leaders have to be a valuable asset when making a difference in the continuing growth of the metal construction industry.
NFPA 285 IS THE CRITICAL TEST FOR EXTERIOR WALL ASSEMBLIES.
According to the Metal Construction Association, “Fire Safety is an important responsibility of the building designer and owner. Even if individual elements of a wall assembly are not combustable, the assembly must be tested. NFPA-285 is an important test that measures for vertical and lateral flame spread of the geometry and layers in a wall panel.” In two weeks, you won’t want to miss this FREE opportunity to learn more about the exterior wall assembly fire performance code with industry expert, Steve Gaynor, co-founder of RAiNA and Principal of PIVOTH.
MCN’s 2023 Top Metal Builders report is a tale of “yin and yang” showing a clear “return to growth” yet still showing labor shortage to be the biggest challenge among top metal builders. According to the results this year, the list of top metal builders shows a growing industry with the largest contractors and erectors reporting significant growth in the average tonnage and square footage of the metal buildings they constructed between 2021 and 2022.
Note that MCN breaks out the list of 20 top erectors from the list of 100 top contractors, so that they don’t end up counting work on the same building twice, once for the contractor furnishing the metal building system and again for the erector putting up the steel. Knowing that some companies furnish and erect, but also are contracted to only erect a building, making them both contractors and erectors. Rather than separate those numbers out in the same entity, MCN identifies those companies as contractors.
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Whether you’re a fabricator with multiple machines or a contractor using a portable hand brake on the job site, maintaining a safe work environment is your top priority. With labor shortages as challenging as ever, how do you get your employees to eat, breathe and sleep safety while still meeting your production deadlines? Industry leaders from two companies with exemplary safety records, voestalpine Roll Forming, and AMS Controls, will lead the discussion on roll forming safety in today’s METALCON Live! presented by METALCON Live! and The Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, International® (FMA).
Experts say safety should never be an afterthought. The set-up, operation and maintenance of roll forming equipment requires a keen safety awareness for anyone working in the same facility. Creating a safe place for employees should be at the top of the list.
The Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, International®, (FMA), puts safety as one of the organizations’ top priorities with their annual Safety Awards and Annual Safety Conference. Announced last month in the fabricator, “The Safety Awards program are open to all FMA Business members and acknowledges metal fabrication companies for achieving safety records better than the OSHA recordable rate for their North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes. Sponsored by CNA Insurance, the awards will be presented at next week’s FMA’s Annual Safety Conference.”
Shield Wall Media is conducting their mid-year survey and every voice counts. The survey will take you about 5 minutes and will contribute greatly to their “Mid-Year State-of-the-Industry” article, which aims to provide an in-depth analysis of the construction industry.
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Whether you’re a fabricator with multiple machines or a contractor using a portable hand brake on the job site, maintaining a safe work environment is your top priority. With labor shortages as challenging as ever, how do you get your employees to eat, breathe and sleep safety while still meeting your production deadlines? Industry leaders from two companies with exemplary safety records, voestalpine Roll Forming, and AMS Controls, will lead the discussion on roll forming safety in next Wednesday’s METALCON Live! presented by METALCON Live! and The Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, International® (FMA).
Published earlier this month, the results from MCN’s 42 Annual Contractor Survey show “2022 was a year of steady work but not much growth.” Editorial Director, Paul Deffenbaugh comments, “If you wanted to sum up the overall attitude among respondents, you would use this phrase: ‘hold the course, and hope for better.'” Across all the project types surveyed — metal building systems, metal roofing, metal wall panels, and light-gauge steel framing — the survey takers who report they do those kinds of projects remained relatively flat in 2022 compared to 2021.
Regardless, Paul says, “One of the hallmarks of the construction industry and contractors in particular is their abiding optimism.” While numbers were relatively flat between 2021 and 2022, the same survey respondents report optimism toward 2023. With the exception of metal building systems, respondents anticipate being more involved in specific projects, especially with metal roofing and metal wall panels, than they had been in 2022.
Thanks to our friends at DrexelMetals and the MetalCoffeeShop®, this recent article highlights the limitless design potential of curved metal roofing panels. With the advent of innovative production methods like on-site roll forming, constructing curved roofs has become a more straightforward practice. Not only do metal roofing panels simplify the installation process, but they also provide a weather-tight solution for curved roofing. Discover how these features translate into versatile building designs and learn about the innovative ways in which curved metal roofing panels are being utilized today. Read on for three examples of the versatile power.
Join us tomorrow, March 8, at 1:00 pm EST for a live presentation with leading roll forming expert, Paul Tiefenthal, as he covers the basics of the roll forming industry. Roll forming isn’t a single process carried out on a single type of system, but a family of processes performed on a variety of systems. Learning about roll forming is a matter of learning about roll forming lines, the processes they perform, and the roles and capabilities of auxiliary equipment including seam welders, and more. Discover all this and more details about what makes roll forming an indepth process.
Join us next Wednesday, March 8, as leading roll forming expert, Paul Tiefenthal, leads us in an important presentation on the basics of the roll forming industry. Roll forming isn’t a single process carried out on a single type of system, but a family of processes performed on a variety of systems. Learning about roll forming is a matter of learning about roll forming lines, the processes they perform, and the roles and capabilities of auxiliary equipment including seam welders, and more. Discover all this and more details about what makes roll forming an indepth process.
In last week’s METALCONLive!, industry expert Todd Miller with Isaiah Industries detailed the importance of project management for metal roof restoration jobs. In today’s Magnificent Metal Monday, let’s take a look at one of the projects completed by a division of Isaiah Industries, Kassel & Irons along with Swita Metal Roofing. After being selected for the job for their reasonable estimate, efficient installation, and careful treatment of the roof and grounds, they beautifully replaced the old wood shake roof with a stylish, durable metal roof on a 19th-century Victorian home in Lake Mills, Wisconsin.
No stranger to METALCON and METALCONLive!, industry leader Todd Miller of Isaiah Industries will share his expertise on how to create a successful project management plan for a new construction or remodel project TODAY at 1PM. Join us to get the knowledge and tools needed for effective and efficient strategic planning for a new construction or remodel project.
No stranger to METALCON and METALCONLive!, join industry leader, Todd Miller of Isaiah Industries, next Wednesday, February 22, as he shares his expertise on how to create a successful project management plan for new construction or remodel project.
For 37 years and 42 years respectively, Metal Architecture magazine and Metal Construction News have been publishing annual surveys of the industry, looking at the results of prior years and speculating about the upcoming year. The last few years have been unparalleled in terms of the challenges the industry has faced and they want to know if the industry has settled back on its original path or will it continue to face challenges. Please take a few minutes to submit your surveys.
According to Construction Dive, “The industry will continue to face labor shortages, high materials costs and other headwinds, but infrastructure will be a bright spot.” Top construction economists say much like in 2022, signals are mixed. In a recent article, they took a look at five key indicators and what they suggest for contractors in the year ahead.
METALCON and Shield Wall Media have joined forces to conduct this “State of the Construction Industry” survey. By collecting, evaluating and disseminating valuable industry data, we can all make better business decisions, chart a course towards a more prosperous future, and gain some clarity in an uncertain world. Let’s work together to grow our industry by gathering and sharing market data on the segments of the construction industry we serve.
Now in its 19th year, Metal Roofing Magazine will present its Metal of Honor Awards in their April issue. Cast your vote for the suppliers who do the best job of providing the services and products you need to successfully run your business. Select three from the existing list, or if you don’t see your favorite supplier listed, you can nominate up to three.
The Metal Construction Association‘s annual Winter Meeting will take place January 22-25, 2023 at the Hyatt Regency in Clearwater Beach Resort and Spa in Clearwater, FL. The MCA Winter Meeting is open to members and non-members and the event will cover an array of topics pertinent to the use of metal in the building envelope, plus several opportunities to network with industry leaders. Registration is NOW OPEN.
With the sounds, tastes and smells of Thanksgiving still fresh in our minds, let’s travel to Thanksgiving Station, a relatively new residential and commercial mixed-use community located within Thanksgiving Point, located in Lehi, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City. Appropriately named to express gratitude after receiving the land as a gift from her husband, wife of tech giant WordPerfect co-founder first established Thanksgiving Point in 1995 as a nonprofit indoor and outdoor farm, garden and museum complex. Much growth and expansion has occurred over the past 20 years including the Thanksgiving Station Office Park, a 1,000,000-square-foot mixed-use development that has offices, restaurants, fitness centers, a park and access to public transportation.
When architecture firm Beecher Walker sought to create the 150,000 square-foot building Thanksgiving Station 3, the fourth of five buildings, to embody the innovation associated with prospective tech company tenants, they turned to a design that integrated boxy forms clad with metal composite material (MCM) and glazing.
METALCON and Shield Wall Media have joined forces to conduct this “State of the Construction Industry” survey. By collecting, evaluating and disseminating valuable industry data, we can all make better business decisions, chart a course towards a more prosperous future, and gain some clarity in an uncertain world. Let’s work together to grow our industry by gathering and sharing market data on the segments of the construction industry we serve.
Super-Charge Your Metal Knowledge at METALCON ’22— Learn from Metal Hall of Famers
With METALCON ’22 roaring into Indianapolis this week, it’s time to make your final plans to maximize your time at the most influential metal construction and design event in the world. While meeting with exhibitors is an essential part of the event, so can learning from experts to super-charge your knowledge. Here is your “ultimate road-map” to navigating the show floor, where EVERYTHING happens ON THE SHOW FLOOR … AND … included in your Total Experience registration (see FLOOR PLAN). REGISTER HERE!
METALCON is thrilled to welcome four MCN Hall of Famers as presenters this year including:
Cat 4 Hurricane Ian as it makes landfall in SW Florida
With over a million still without power, Florida residents are dealing with immeasurable loss. From flood-ridden homes to structural damage due to fallen trees, wind and rain, the rebuilding will go on for months and years to come. Resources, workers, equipment and more are needed to help. While still too early to assess what structures stood up to this Cat 4 hurricane, here is a quick compilation of some stories coming in … METALCON’s Give Back organization, World Central Kitchen, has mobilized to help hurricane victims, a success story of a Tesla Solar Roof surviving the storm, a Hurricane Ian Recovery Guide for Contractors courtesy of RoofersCoffeeShop®, and how IMPs stand up to hurricanes.
With the recent passing of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, United Kingdom’s longest-reigning monarch, we take a look at the impact of her reign over the architectural style of buildings in London over the past 70 years. ArchDaily’s “The Architectural Legacy of Queen Elizabeth’s 70 Year Reign,” reflects upon her legacy in terms of culture, technology, and architecture.
When she first came to the throne in 1952, according to The Guardian, the tallest building in Britain was St Paul’s Cathedral. Today, London’s skyline is marked by glass and steel office towers, many measuring over 500 feet in height, marking an end to low-rise buildings being one of the city’s trademarks.
According to the article, “Through the decades, Modernism marked the postwar period in England, with its variation, Brutalism, being the prevailing architectural style for new housing estates in Britain throughout the 1970s. The 1980s brought a slow down of Britain’s investment in public and social buildings, thus the influence of the state upon the architectural agenda also diminished … the statement architecture of private capital came to influence the image of UK’s development. Glass and steel towers now define the appearance not only in London, but in many of the UK’s major cities. New monuments like Norman Foster’s The Gherkin or Renzo Piano’s The Shard have little to no connection to England’s architectural traditions but instead aim to create a globally recognizable image and stimulate local economic growth. There is no linear stylistic development, but representative buildings have taken cues from the High-Tech movement in the 1990s, as exemplified by Lloyd’s building in London, Post-Modernism, in the case of Sainsbury Wing of the National Gallery, designed by Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown, or Deconstructivism, as in Daniel Libeskind’s Imperial War Museum North.”
London skyline overlooking the Thames from The Globe Theatre; Photo Credit: Nancy Reilly
While overseeing the architectural landscape of the city was not the monarch’s primary obligation, it will be hard for architectural communities and historians to overlook Queen Elizabeth II’s impact and legacy over the past 70 years. The article states, “Whereas the Queen’s forbears sealed their legacies by commissioning cities, palaces, and cathedrals, the Queen has been discreet in expressing interest in directly influencing the built environment. It might be a little early to assess it. Still, maybe in the future, with the added benefit of hindsight, we might appreciate Elizabeth II’s era as one of progress, innovation, and constantly improving quotidian comforts.”
For a deeper dive into the relationship of architecture and metal and its impact on cities and communities, we invite you to join us next month for The Architect’s Experience at METALCON, a “show-within-a-show” produced in partnership with AECDaily, offering design professionals an intimate look at how metal can help you solve your toughest architectural, structural, environmental, and building performance challenges. METALCON ’22 takes place October 12-14 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The program features founding principal of Building Science Corporation, Dr. Joe Lstiburek, who will delve into the world of energy flow with his keynote address, “There’s No Such Thing as a Free Thermodynamic Lunch – How Changing Energy Flow Changes Everything.” In addition, get a special architects-only guided tour of the show floor, exclusive networking opportunities with key manufacturers of metal products, and the opportunity to earn up to 19 AIA LU’s including 12 HSWs with 25+ expert-led education sessions curated for design professionals.
In one month, the metal construction community will come together in Indianapolis for the most influential metal construction and design event in the world. While we know most of your time will be spent inside the convention center, there is much to enjoy outside. October is one of Indy’s comfortable autumn weather months with very low humidity and average temperatures in the low to mid 60s, perfect for exploring the city during non-show hours. In addition to the dining scene, Indy’s unique collection of attractions offer a variety of experiences for all ages and interests. An easy way to explore in a short amount of time is to take advantage of Indy’s Attraction Pass with their 1-or 3-day pass option.
Already a $3.3 billion industry in North America, the metal roofing market is expected to grow 4.3% through 2026. To help manufacturers and contractors sell more residential and commercial metal roofs, Sherwin-Williams has launched their new MetalVue program. As the industry leader in metal roof coatings, they are dedicated to growing the metal roofing industry and the share of business for their partners faster than the current rate of growth. To achieve this, MetalVue is designed to be a complete network of metal roofing expertise to connect you to training, software and an online community.
FREE WEBINAR ALERT! REGISTER NOW AND JOIN US IN 1 HOUR! Join Sam Gray and “The Code Man” Bill Beals TODAY at 1:00 PM as they dive into a critical topic for most builders — air flow in metal buildings.
Discover the benefits of ventilation to maximize comfort and gain an understanding of national and regional codes. Bill will explore and explain the current codes in metal buildings relevant to ventilation and air flow. Considered a “must attend” for anyone in the metal building industry, learn best practices, products, and systems for all things ventilation. Reserve an hour of your time next week and receive an immediate return on your investment – for free!
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