Construction Industry News

The International Code Council has joined the American Wood Council (AWC) and WoodWorks in branding a free app that calculates the maximum allowable heights and areas for buildings of various occupancy classifications and types of construction. The Heights & Areas Calculator is based on provisions in the 2006 to 2015 editions of the International Building Code (IBC). Details here.

AIA Board of Directors approves member-led resolution to rally architects in mitigating and adapting the built environment to fight climate change through greener design and construction. 

New website provides resources and information about volumetric concrete mixers and how to meet DOT specifications. 

At a special meeting of stockholders held Wednesday, ASV’s stockholders voted to adopt the merger agreement pursuant to which ASV will be acquired by Yanmar America Corporation in an all-cash transaction, which was first announced on June 27, 2019. Details here. 

Veteran economist to lead Dodge in tracking, analyzing and forecasting construction activity and further strengthen company’s position as the premier industry leader. 

The American Concrete Institute (ACI) has updated the names and requirements for its Flatwork Finishing Certification program. Updated names include ACI Concrete Flatwork Associate, ACI Concrete Flatwork Finisher, and ACI Advanced Concrete Flatwork Finisher. Details here. 

Nonprofit will use funds from lumber company to build beds for children in need. 

Illinois recently joined a string of states around the United States to enact a law that alters the rules for drafting construction contracts. Governor Jay Robert Pritzker signed Public Act 101-0432 into law, which limits the amount of permissible retainage clients can withhold from payments to contractors on construction projects.

Think your inbox looks scary? Think again. The U.S Department of Labor (DOL) has received more than 300,000 comments in response to its proposed changes to its federal program for apprenticeships. Many of those comments came from employees in the construction industry.

Still catching up from the long weekend? We’re right there with ya. While we’re moving slow, let’s talk about something that doesn’t—high-speed light rails. Here are updates on four rail projects currently in process: 

The United States Department of Labor (USDOL) has awarded nearly $1.5 million in grant funding to organizations in Illinois, Virginia and Wisconsin to help recruit, train and retain more women in quality pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs. The grants will help women pursue careers in manufacturing, infrastructure, cybersecurity, health care and other industries. Details here. 

Epiroc, a productivity partner for the mining and infrastructure industries, has introduced the Mining and Construction USA blog, a new information hub for the two industries. Visitors will discover content designed to help their operations increase productivity, safety and cost efficiency. They will also read about how to use latest advancements in technology to their full potential. More details here. 

Firms are boosting pay and benefits, adding new training programs and adopting new technologies to cope, but labor shortages threaten broader economic growth as officials outline federal measures to help with the skilled labor shortage. 

A federal judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania has awarded $1,047,399 in lost wages and punitive damages to two former employees of a Montgomeryville, Pennsylvania, manufacturer after a jury found the company and its owner fired them in retaliation for their participation in a federal safety investigation. Details here. 

Alloy steel pipe prices are seeing some upward pressure from rising nickel prices; however, carbon steel pipe prices remain flat due to weakness in demand from the upstream oil and gas sector and excess inventory level. Details here. 

To help address worker shortages, ICUEE 2019-The Demo Expowill host a special careers day at the show for hundreds of high school students to see the many rewarding industry careers available. Details here. 

North America's Building Trades Unions' President Sean McGarvey issued the following statement marking the end of the formal comment period on the Department of Labor’s (DOL’s) proposed rule to dramatically alter the nation's apprenticeship system with a new proposal known as Industry Recognized Apprenticeship Programs (IRAPs):

Skanska has merged its Polish and Czech/Slovak construction operations into one business unit—Skanska Central Europe. Michal Jurka, the business unit president (BUP) of Czech and Slovak construction operations, becomes BUP of the unit, effective September 1, 2019. Details here.