Better Business Climate Expectations Help Drive Asset Prices Higher If someone were casting roles for a production of The Tortoise and the Hare, the U.S. economy would be a favorite to play the tortoise. While this analogy may be a bit harsh, economic growth remains mostly slow, but persistent. It …
Read More »FMI Forecasts Continued Growth in Construction
Increase of 5 Percent in 2018 Predicted FMI Corporation has released its latest construction forecast, the FMI Outlook, in a new streamlined format, designed to improve user experience and access to important data. FMI’s Q3 2017 forecast predicts an increase of 4 percent for total construction put in place for …
Read More »International Women in Engineering Day
Spotlight: Susan Schierwagen, Vice President for Coupling & Fire Suppression Systems at Victaulic Friday, June 23, 2017 is International Women in Engineering Day, a day that according to the Women’s Engineering Society “focuses attention on the amazing careers in engineering and technical roles for girls, and allows us to celebrate …
Read More »New Construction Starts to Increase Five Percent
Dodge Data & Analytics Predicts $713 Billion in 2017 Dodge Data & Analytics has released its 2017 Dodge Construction Outlook, a mainstay in construction industry forecasting and business planning. The report predicts that total U.S. construction starts for 2017 will advance 5 percent to $713 billion, following gains of 11 …
Read More »Fire Service Considerations
Assisting Firefighters from Construction Through Demolition Firefighters who respond to an emergency at a building with sprinkler and standpipe systems can perform their life-saving work (figure 1) with much greater efficiency if their first-responder needs have been considered by the building’s designers and code officials. OSHA’s manual, “Fire Service Features …
Read More »FMI Reports on Labor Shortages and Millennials in Construction
Skilled Labor Shortage Intensifies; Myths Debunked About Misunderstood Workforce FMI Corp., a leading provider of investment banking and management consulting services for the engineering and construction industry, recently released two reports: its “2015 Talent Development Survey in the Construction Industry” and “Millennials in Construction – Learning to Engage a New Workforce.” …
Read More »Steady Growth and Recovery Continue
Economists, Contractors, Manufacturers and Suppliers Report on 2015 and Forecast 2016 After a year of finally seeing signs of recovery and growth in 2015, the construction and fire protection industries seem to be at the same pace or better for 2016. Dodge Data & Analytics forecasts that overall U.S. construction starts …
Read More »New Construction Starts to Grow Six Percent
Dodge Data & Analytics Predicts $712 Billion in 2016 Dodge Data & Analytics (construction.com) has released its 2016 Dodge Construction Outlook, a mainstay in construction industry forecasting and business planning. The report predicts that total U.S. construction starts for 2016 will rise 6 percent to $712 billion, following gains of …
Read More »Hanging and Bracing Challenges to Lightweight Construction
Different Construction Materials Create Different Issues I may be aging myself, but do you remember the days of using the maximum spacing for hangers and the 40, 80 rule? There was no concern that the building structure would not support the sprinkler pipe, and we spaced lateral braces 40 ft …
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