Industry news, analysis and trends: Week in review
The latest construction industry news covering building and fire safety, resiliency, mitigation, energy efficiency, design, building science and technology and more that we’re reading, following and covering for the week of September 16.
House passes bill requiring carbon monoxide detectors in public housing
NBC News
An NBC News investigation found that at least 13 public housing residents have died from carbon monoxide poisoning since 2003. READ MORE
Accelerating the practice of sustainable building… with data
AEC Next News
How do designers and project developers confront some of the major environmental challenges that come as a byproduct of rapid development? Understanding climate change, population migration to cities and other environmental impacts will inform the future of urban design – but that information can be difficult to access. READ MORE
CII study finds virtual reality helps reduce design errors
Engineering News-Record
Compared to traditional desktop-based review methods, construction novices with less than three years of experience were able to double their ability to spot design errors in a 3D model using a virtual reality interface, according to a new study released by the Construction Industry Institute. READ MORE
Builder confidence hits yearly high in September
NAHB Eye on Housing
Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes rose one point to 68 in September from an upwardly revised August reading of 67, according to the latest National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index. Sentiment levels have held in the mid- to upper 60s since May and September’s reading matches the highest level since last October. READ MORE
Embodied carbon tools: Assessing the options
Building Green
Interest in embodied carbon is growing. Here’s a guide to the tools that can help you measure and reduce these emissions on projects. READ MORE
Fires can be risky, deadly drawback of living in mobile homes
The Seattle Times
For many with low or fixed incomes, mobile homes provide an affordable housing option that’s hard to beat as housing costs continue to rise in Colorado. READ MORE
Design for an aging population
Architect Magazine
Globally, the demographics of our population is shifting and growing older, a change that is being powered by more access to the right resources and education on health and well-being. This aging population requires a different approach to design, from where they live, work, and play. READ MORE
Top 100 green building contractors and design firms
Engineering News-Record
Sustainable design and construction used to be fairly straightforward. But with the proliferation of standards, more state and local requirements and growing sophistication of owners about what they want or need, the industry is now faced with a more daunting task to ensure work is sustainable. READ MORE
Can construction truly go green?
StrategicRISK Europe
After a sustained push to improve the energy efficiency of homes and offices, the focus has now shifted to the construction companies that build them – and they are not performing well. READ MORE
Why you should construct green buildings only
World Construction Today
Several factors contribute to the thinking of making a building stand on the green concept. Solar and renewable energy, pollution and waste reduction measures, recycling of resources, usage of non-toxic materials both during pre- and post-construction, good indoor air quality are some of them. READ MORE
20 TED talks to help architects work better
ArchDaily
Since its founding in 1984 by architect Richard Saul Wurman, TED has been a powerful force in the fields of technology, entertainment, design and beyond. READ MORE
Changes to classroom fire safety rules aim to keep kids safer
The Bay Net
The National Fire Protection Association decided to amend their Life Safety Code to allow for second releasing operation when retrofitting existing classroom doors. READ MORE
Modern building codes boost resiliency
Builder Online
Building codes are where they need to be when it comes to resilience against natural disasters, according to a new report commissioned by the National Association of Home Builders. READ MORE
U.S. construction index at record high, more work than workers
Washington Examiner
Optimism in the U.S. construction industry has reached a record high, with builders forced to push off work because finding help is difficult due to the historic unemployment low. READ MORE
Software is solving problems common to the construction industry
CREATE
Emails lack traceability and openness. Storage drives are disorganized and hard to search. Issues with paper are too numerous to mention. And construction software can be complicated to use. READ MORE
U.S. construction spending now slowing as economy sputters
Daily Commercial News
Nonresidential construction spending declined 1.8 percent on a monthly basis in June but is up 2.3 percent year-over-year. Total nonresidential spending in June was $773.8 billion on a seasonally adjusted annual basis, as compared to $756.4 billion in June 2018. READ MORE
Lagoon language finalized for Florida Building Code
Aquatics International
For several years, this category of water body has eluded officials. READ MORE
Study: Home wildfire resistance starts with defensible space and proper materials
Architect Magazine
A recent side-by-side comparison at the IBHS Research Center shows how builders can construct more fire-resistant homes. READ MORE
Habitat for Humanity program will install its first solar project
Solar Power World
Part of Habitat for Humanity’s “Women Build” initiative, this first U.S project in the organization’s 28-year history will include the installation of solar panels. READ MORE
FEMA releases new three-dimensional roof snowdrifts design guide
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Following a series of heavy snow and wind events in February of 2015, a FEMA team assessed four partial school building collapses in the Greater Boston area. In all four cases, the partial collapses were due to roof snowdrift loading. READ MORE
The rise of premium prefab
Building Forward
See why high-quality, factory-built homes are changing construction, for a price. READ MORE
About the Author
Tara Lukasik is an editor for the International Code Council, working out of its Western Regional Office in Southern California. Starting with the International Conference of Building Officials as the managing editor of its Building Standards Magazine, she has more than 25 years of experience in writing and editing feature content and advancing digital newsletters and magazines from conception to completion. She is currently putting her experience to good use managing the Code Council's Building Safety Journal and its BSJ Weekly newsletter, which connects construction professionals with the Code Council community and the latest industry news and resources. A California native, she enjoys volunteering in her local community and exploring the Golden State with her husband and three spoiled dachshunds. Follow her on Twitter @ICCTLukasik and Linkedin at linkedin.com/in/taralukasik.
