Member Announcements
WMA WELCOMES NEW MEMBER
Merrick Machine / RUVO
RUVO has roots dating back to 1947, when company founder Rudolph “Rudy” Volkmer began manufacturing machinery in a small shop in Long Island, NY. RUVO was purchased by Merrick Machine Co. in 1990.
Since then, the RUVO machine product line has expanded to become the industry leader in automated door machinery for door and millwork shops. There are RUVO machines for pre-hung, architectural, and commercial doors; along with jamb prep, casing and door assembly.
For more information please visit www.ruvodoormachines.com
CODES & STANDARDS NEWS
National Floor Safety Institute Petitions
CPSC To Adopt Traction Standard
ProSales reports that the National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI) announced July 7th that it has petitioned the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) to require floor covering manufacturers to label their products’ traction, in accordance with their ANSI/NFSI B101.5 standard. Floor covering manufacturers are currently not required to include a label on their product that follows B101.5 and some oppose this proposed requirement.
2015 Codes Canada Unveiled
According to a recent article in Daily Commercial News revisions to Codes Canada, formerly known as the National Model Construction Codes, which includes the National Building Code of Canada, National Fire Code of Canada, National Plumbing Code of Canada and National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings were approved earlier this year and “unveiled” on June 28th. There are approximately 600 changes to the codes which include, the allowance of multiple uses in mid-rise wood buildings and the expansion of structural earthquake resistance requirements.
Building Codes vs. Copyright Law
Legal Showdown Heats Up
The long-running debate over who “owns” legally binding construction codes gets another big platform next month. In August, the American Bar Association (ABA) will vote on a resolution urging Congress to pass legislation that provides limited free online access to standards incorporated into state and local construction codes, including those related to fenestration.
Read More in DWM
HOUSING INDUSTRY NEWS
Housing Forecast: Second Half of 2016
One of the biggest headlines of the housing market in 2016 has been too much demand and not nearly enough supply to keep pace. Forbes staffer Samantha Sharf offers a forecast for the housing market during the second half of this year, focusing on such topics as the low inventory as well as new construction.
Read more at BUILDER
Which presidential candidate is better for housing?
The American people currently have two options for the leader of U.S., The self-described successful real estate executive Donald Trump, or the former U.S. Senator, first lady and U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton.
Read more at HOUSINGWIRE
Housing’s Labor Pain
Home builders today face wishing a lesser of two evils. One, is a continuation of lower volume, fewer starts than normal, so that the current level of capacity can keep up with the pace of construction without getting overheated, exponentially expensive, and out of control. The other, amidst higher demand and more normalized new housing construction, would be a labor capacity stress test.
Read more at BUILDER
Cost of OSHA Fines to Rise 78 Percent
If your company is penalized for violating Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations, you might be paying more for it in the near future — a lot more.
Read more at DWM
Consumer Credit Outstanding
Partly Fueled by Strengthening Demand
Consumer credit outstanding grew by a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 6.2%, $222.7 billion, in the month of May 2016, 1.7 percentage points faster than the 4.5% rate of growth recorded in April. Consumer credit outstanding now totals $3.624 trillion.
Read more at NAHB Eye On Housing
BUSINESS & ECONOMICS NEWS
THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION — JUNE 2016
Total non-farm payroll employment increased by 287,000 in June, and the unemployment rate rose to 4.9 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Job growth occurred in leisure and hospitality, health care and social assistance, and financial activities. Employment also increased in information, mostly reflecting the return of workers from a strike.
Read more at BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
Desert Botanical Gardens Tour
Tuesday, October 11th
11:00 pm – 3:00 pm
The Desert Botanical Gardens is a favorite well attended year-round by both locals and non-locals in Phoenix. You will experience the most popular Desert Discovery Tour. Green since 1939 and centrally located in beautiful Papago Park, the Garden is a wondrous and captivating way to experience the beauty of the desert without leaving Phoenix. The Garden’s collection includes over 20,000 catalogued plants representing one of the most important documented collections of desert plants in the world. Afterwards, you’ll have time for lunch and then to explore on your own.
Click here to learn more
about the WMA Spouse Program and the 2016 Annual Convention
