Trade News
SMA Releases Document “Wildland-Urban Interface”
The Stucco Manufacturers Association has released a new document called “Wildland-Urban Interface” for its members. The document, which explains that WUI is where human development and undeveloped land meet, is available through the company’s site.
Structures in the WUI zone face a higher potential to succumb to wildfires. The WUI zone is more widespread than most people know; almost 10 percent of the United States falls in a WUI zone, which grows yearly. According to the U.S. Fire Academy, 38 percent of all U.S. housing is in a WUI zone. While almost all states are impacted by WUI, the top five are California, Texas, Florida, North Carolina and Pennsylvania.
Fire protection requires attention to several elements, including windows, roofs and vegetation control around the house. Simply putting noncombustible stucco on the structure may not be adequate protection against a wildfire. A continuous, seamless, noncombustible cladding should extend from the foundation to an approved roof edge. Cement plaster (stucco) can provide significant wall and ceiling protection with proper detailing at the foundation, eaves, parapets, and areas such as exposed framing on the underside of balconies or decks.
The Stucco Manufacturers Association provides this brochure as a WUI guide for stucco details to protect framed structures from exposure to wildfire events. For more information, visit stuccomfgassoc.com.
Construction Employment Growth Strong, Reports ABC
The construction industry added 19,000 jobs on net in February, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. On a year-over-year basis, industry employment has increased by 174,000 jobs, an increase of 2.1 percent.
Nonresidential construction employment increased by 6,200 positions on net, with growth in all three subcategories. Heavy and civil engineering added the most jobs, increasing by 2,500 positions, followed by nonresidential specialty trade, which added 2,000 jobs. Nonresidential building added 1,700 jobs last month.
The construction unemployment rate rose to 7.2 percent in February. Unemployment across all industries increased from 4.0 percent in January to 4.1 percent last month.
“The February jobs report suggests that contractors’ ongoing optimism, as seen in ABC’s Construction Confidence Index, is justified,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “The industry added 19,000 jobs in February, making it the strongest month of growth since the third quarter of 2024, and the sizable jump in the industry unemployment rate indicates that the labor supply can accommodate ongoing hiring.
“Economywide job growth was also perfectly decent, with U.S. employers adding 151,000 jobs last month. Following several weeks of concerning economic data and rising economic uncertainty, a good-but-boring jobs report is a welcome development,” said Basu. "Federal government employment declined by 10,000 and will likely fall further in the coming months, but that segment is just 2 percent of overall employment. Federal job and spending cuts, as well as elevated uncertainty, could eventually diminish construction activity at the margins, but those effects have yet to appear in these employment data.”
ASSP Releases Safety Principles Report
An occupational safety and health coalition is calling for companies to adopt risk-based safety and health strategies. The group, The Intersociety Forum, comprises two dozen organizations including The American Society of Safety Professionals. It released a report that highlights several ways a business model of safety and health can create a strategic advantage that powers positive business outcomes, reports Construction Equipment.
“We urge today’s business leaders and policymakers to prioritize environmental, health and safety practices as a foundation of economic growth,” said ASSP CEO Jennifer McNelly, in a statement. “When workers are protected from injuries and illnesses, they perform at their best, which fosters productivity, innovation and global competitiveness. Safety strengthens resilience and enables businesses to thrive.”
Despite advancements in technology, workplace injury and fatality rates have remained relatively flat for the past decade. In 2023, a worker died on the job every 99 minutes, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
For more information, visit https://www.assp.org/about/core-principles-of-modern-occupational-ehs-practice.
FCIA Holds Tests During May Show
The FM & UL Firestop Exams provide an opportunity for Specialty Firestop Contractors and Special Inspection Agency personnel to demonstrate competence and requisite knowledge of the firestop and effective compartmentation industry when required. They are also one of the first steps for third-party accreditation program qualification.
Start your company’s accreditation journey with the FM or UL Exams at ECA '25 this May.
To register for ECA ’25, click the link with your corresponding membership classification below. The online process is simple and only takes a few minutes. To register a group or to get help with registration questions, please contact Lindsey Dutkiewicz or call (708) 202-1108.
For more information, visit fcia.org/EVENTS/Conferences-Symposiums/ECA-25/ECA-25-REGISTRATION.
CISCA’s First-ever Contractor Challenge
The first-ever CISCA Contractor Challenge will kick-off at the CISCA 2025 Summit in Las Vegas, this April 21-24. The competition will highlight and celebrate the craftsmanship of CISCA contractor members and allow opportunities for contractor members to highlight their top talent.
Each CISCA contractor member may enter a single, two-person team for the Challenge. A limited number of teams will participate in the competition as space is limited. Teams will layout and install a specialty ceiling or wall system in a 12 feet by 12 feet space. The Challenge takes place over a two-day period at the annual Summit event with a designated viewing pavilion planned at the installation area. There must be a person from the company registered for the entire Summit event.
Judges will evaluate and score each team’s craftsmanship and other criteria. Winning teams will be eligible for prizes and top teams will be announced at the CISCA awards ceremony during the Summit event.
For more information, visit cisca.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3597.
JM Announces Plan for Production in Georgia
Johns Manville announced a new Climate Pro blowing wool production line will be built in Winder, Ga. The announcement coincided with the start of the NAHB International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas.
“Climate Pro insulation continues to see strong growth and demand in the market,” said Bob Wamboldt, President and CEO of Johns Manville. “This new production line in Winder will help JM meet our customers’ growing demand for blowing wool.”
Construction is expected to start early next year, and the new production line will be operational in mid-2027. When this project is complete, JM will employ more than 350 people in Winder.
“The location of this production line will provide JM easy access to many of the East Coast and Central U.S. markets,” said Greg Clarke, President of JM’s Insulation Systems business. “Climate Pro is in high demand, and having more capacity in the Southeast will allow JM to provide excellent service to our customers.”
Climate Pro blown-in fiberglass insulation fills hard-to-reach cavities and corners while offering consistent coverage, resulting in a more comfortable, energy-efficient home. It can be quickly installed by professionals in attics and net and blow systems, among other applications.
The new production line is a significant investment in the Winder community from which JM will hire operators, maintenance technicians and warehouse employees. JM offers competitive hourly rates and training opportunities to learn new roles, develop new skills and build careers.
Spackle by Dave Coverly
People News
Craig Belrose has joined Sto Corp. as a senior product manager at its headquarters in Atlanta.
Ware Malcomb announced the promotions of Sofia Chagolla to director of resource services and Fernando Navarro to director of site supervision in the firm’s Mexico City office.
