Before you hurt yourself jumping out of your Barcalounger so you can dial up the editor to launch complaints about this piece, a thread on the Walls and Ceilings bulletin board regarding "Box Marts" struck a nerve in yours truly and was the motivation behind this month's diatribe.

The new tax law could mean a boom for certain industries.

The Gypsum Association and its member companies are committed to sustainability, and now, our industry is embracing another opportunity to contribute to a greener world.

What impact does insulation have on acoustic performance of a wall assembly?

The ACI Foundation announced new Trustees and the re-election of an existing Trustee to its Board. The Trustees re-elected Keith Kesner and elected new Trustee David Lange. New ACI Vice President Scott Anderson also joins the Trustees as part of his new role.

The American Concrete Institute recognized several professionals, groups and companies for their outstanding contributions and dedication to ACI and the concrete industry.

Industry change can come at any time, so it pays to be ready.

Knauf has been awarded a $3.28 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to improve its Life Cycle Assessments and Environmental Product Declarations. The grant will allow Knauf to provide accurate and reliable information, helping industry professionals make informed, eco-friendly choices and contribute to a more sustainable built environment.

The Center for the Polyurethanes Industry announced Oct. 2 that The 2023 End-Use Market Survey on the Polyurethanes Industry in the United States, Canada and Mexico is now available for purchase from the ACC store.

Prefab construction is here, and it’s happening. The combination of a severe labor shortage and extreme shortfalls in housing supply is driving a renewed interest in prefabricated construction as a more cost-efficient alternative to traditional building.

Without question, the building and construction industry has been impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. Approximately 1.1 million construction jobs were eliminated in the first two months of the pandemic prior to the industry’s designation as “essential.” While the industry has recouped nearly 80 percent of its workforce since then, companies will need to hire another 1 million workers over the next two years to meet the country’s insatiable demand for new home construction and improvement.

Tamlyn received the prestigious “Best Family-Owned Business” award from the Houston Business Journal.

Save time with Plastic Components’ non-rusting continuous insulation trims. They improve job quality and deliver a better finish.

I know that it has been a while since I was a small remodeling contractor, but has the state of the art really fallen this far?

TYPAR is introducing the industry’s first clear acrylic flashing. This game-changing product was developed in response to evolving builders’ needs and emerging building code changes requiring better visibility of the nail and screw-fin patterns on windows during window installations and inspections.

Makita has an expanding dust extraction system with vacuums, accessories and attachments for use in concrete drilling, breaking, surfacing and cutting applications. Select tools and dust extractors are equipped with the Auto-start Wireless System, which utilizes Bluetooth technology for wireless power-on/off communication between an equipped tool and dust extractor.

As national media interest in the riots fades, the sector needs to keep it firmly on the agenda

Centring missions, creating space for discussion and continuing to test and learn will help every charity tailor their approach to online spaces

Strategic communications is by no means a ‘silver bullet’, but it is a vital part of addressing the challenges we face

S-5!, together with National Women in Roofing, is sponsoring a new scholarship program to empower women who wish to pursue educational opportunities in the skilled trades. The initiative aims to support women in their journey toward successful careers in the trades and contributing to the overall advancement of the construction industry.

The distinction between “noise” and “sound” is expansive and the implications are significant in terms of subjective and objective attributes of the built environment.

CISCA has a new publication, Acoustical Terms & Definitions, to add to your technical and training library.

The deadline for early-bird entries is 11.59pm on 6 February

The emergence of manufactured stone has provided plasterers with a viable (and good looking) niche market.

Are we willing to reject the broken ‘as is’ and push towards a more radical new way of learning and working together?

The Care Quality Commission said addressing inequalities demanded better relationships between local authorities and the voluntary sector

The Portland Cement Association, representing America’s cement manufacturers, demonstrated the cement industry’s commitment to carbon neutrality to key executive branch decision-makers at the White House’s Concrete Innovation Summit – as well as outlined what steps must be taken to further reduce cement sector emissions.

EIMA announced the launch of its newly redesigned website. The modern, user-friendly platform is set to become the go-to resource for the Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems industry, providing an extensive array of technical resources, advocacy tools, educational materials and a gallery showcasing exemplary EIFS projects.

EIMA announced the release of a series of technical bulletins, meticulously crafted by the members of its technical and research advocacy working group. The bulletins are a testament to the commitment and expertise of EIMA in advancing the knowledge and application of Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems.

Houston’s Thompson Intermediate School features a modern, high-performance interior with stone wool ceilings.

These are testing times for trustees, but do we expect too much of them?

The signs of a failing board can be evident long before a crisis hits. Liam Kay looks at the common problems and the action charities can take

Yet another fraud against a charity shows why trustees need to brush up on their basic maths and grasp of finances

There have been calls for charities to pay board members to improve both diversity and professionalism in the sector. Liam Kay reports

This September, South Valley Drywall held its 29th Annual Customer Appreciation Golf Tournament for 160 of its valued customers and trade partners at Omni Interlocken Golf Club in Colorado. For the event, it partnered with National Sports Center for the Disabled and raised more than $18,000.

The ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia upholds the lower permissible exposure limit in OSHA’s updated silica rule. Supporters of the rule call the court’s decision a “huge victory” for workers, while opponents say it disregards “legitimate concerns.”

Washington — OSHA has released initial enforcement guidelines for the Respirable Crystalline Silica Standard for general industry and maritime, a couple of weeks before many of the rule’s provisions are scheduled to go into effect.

Washington — Workers who frequently drill concrete can experience reduced exposure to noise, silica dust and vibration if pneumatic rock drills are replaced with electric rotary hammer drills, according to researchers at the University of California, Berkeley.

Washington — OSHA has published answers to a list of frequently asked questions regarding the agency’s respirable crystalline silica standard for general industry.

Lowell, MA — Certain job tasks may expose construction workers to silica dust at levels more than 10 times the permissible exposure limit set by OSHA, according to the results of a recent study.

Tumwater, WA — The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries has published a hazard alert on the risks of worker exposure to silica dust.

Silver Spring, MD — Three new resources from CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training are intended to help prevent silica exposure among construction and surface mining workers who operate mobile equipment in enclosed cabs.

Nearly a third of charity chief executives have experienced discrimination or barriers during their career in the sector, Acevo says

The construction industry added 34,000 jobs on net in August, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data released Sept. 6 by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. On a year-over-year basis, industry employment grew by 228,000 jobs, an increase of 2.8 percent.

On Oct. 2, the Center for the Polyurethanes Industry of the American Chemistry Council announced the recipients of two prestigious industry awards – the 2024 Polyurethane Innovation Award and the 2024 Distinguished Leadership Award.

Passive, curmudgeonly openness is no longer good enough: the sector needs a more radical and sustainable approach

Wege Prize has announced a larger and more diverse pool of judges than ever before, promising to help students advance their game-changing concepts for a sustainable future. Now in its 12th year, the competition offers five more preliminary judges, bringing the total to 15.

The Rainscreen Association in North America announced the winners of the inaugural RAiNA Awards, recognizing outstanding achievements in rainscreen design and innovation. The award ceremony, which was held on Nov. 7 in Chicago, celebrated projects that exemplify creativity, technical excellence and sustainability in building envelope performance.

Armstrong Ceiling & Wall Systems has expanded its portfolio of acoustical solutions for exposed structure spaces with the introduction of SoundScapes Blades.