Georgia Contractor July-Aug 2012

THE VOICE OF THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY OF GEORGIA

The Georgia

CONTRACTOR Volume 8, Issue 4

T-SPLOST Increasing Opportunities, Empowering Communities

July | August 2012

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The Georgia Contractor

Letter from the Editor

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he passage of the T-SPLOST bill later this month would mean the creation of over 20,000 jobs in Georgia—good news in a time when good news is hard to come by. It’s so refreshing to hear about moving in the right direction! We’re keeping our fingers crossed here at The Georgia Contractor that Georgians will vote “YES” on July 31st. Several articles in this issue will give you greater details on the projects and improvements that we will be looking forward to if T-SPLOST is passed. Our cover story, TSPLOST, Increasing Opportunities, Empowering Communities, is provided by Holly West, Deputy Communications Director or Connect Georgia. She says that praise goes to the plan for taking big government out of the picture: local funds would be used to fund local projects. Tom Leslie, Director of External Affairs at the Georgia Engineering Alliance, weighs in on T-SPLOST and its critical contribution to Georgia’s growth—the third fastest growing state in the country. And Doug Hooker, Executive Director of the Atlanta Regional Commission, explains the changes that have taken place in fuel consumption and the shrinking contribution that the fuel tax makes on transportation infrastructure, all at a time when that construction is getting more expensive. He gives us an excellent overview of ARC’s very conservative analysis of the projects that would come out of the T-SPLOST bill and explains how waiting will be much more expensive. So, as Tom Leslie encourages us to do, read and study the details and pass this important information on to others—and vote “YES” on July 31st.

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On The Cover

The Georgia Contractor www.thegeorgiacontractor.com

Managing Editor R. Petersen-Frey (770) 521-8877 Art Director Pamela Petersen-Frey (770) 521-8877

The Georgia Contractor is published bi-monthly on a calendar year basis. It is a magaT-SPLOST INCREASING OPPORTUNITIES, EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES On July 31, Georgia voters will answer a simple question: Should a one-penny sales tax increase be used to fund transportation projects around the state? .

See the story on page 6

zine designed around the construction industry associations and their members. It is supported by associations and their members. Executive, editorial, circulation, and advertising offices: 1154 Lower Birmingham Road, Canton, Georgia 30115 • Phone: (770) 521-8877 • Fax: (770) 521-0406 e-mail: rfrey@a4inc.com. Send address changes to your association and/or to A4 Inc.

Opinions expressed by the authors are not necessarily those of any of the associations or publisher nor do they accept responsibility for errors of content “Gort! Klaatu Borada nikto.”

or omission and, as a matter of policy, neither do they endorse products or advertisements appearing herein. Parts of this magazine may be reproduced with the written consent of the publisher.

A4 INC. (770) 521 8877 USE A COMPANY YOU CAN TRUST WITH YOUR TRANSLATION PROJECT, because a little mistake in another language can have unpleasant results.

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The Georgia Contractor

The Georgia

Contractor

July | August 2012

CONTENTS

6 T-SPLOST Increasing Opportunities, Empowering Communities

10 Countdown to T-SPLOST Vote

12 Billions of Dollars for Transportation Projects on the Line

6 16 Exploring Careers on the Open Road A Career Behind the Wheel

19 Efflorescence Observations & Lessons from the School of Experience by ECS

20 Full Speed Ahead Exciting Changes in the Transportation Industry

16 22 NFRC’s CMA: A Tool for Making Informed Decisions on Commercial Fenestration

24 Five Things Every Georgia Contractor Should Know about Surety Bonds

26 It’s About Investing in Possibilities

26 July | August 2012

28 Georgia Contractor News 5

T-SPLOST Increasing Opportunities, Empowering Communities

By Holly West | Deputy Communications Director | Connect Georgia

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The Georgia Contractor

O

n July 31, Georgia voters will answer a simple question: Should a one-penny sales tax

increase be used to fund transportation projects around the state?

Across the state, business and government leaders believe the transportation projects that will be funded by this transportation referendum, commonly referred to as T-SPLOST, have the potential to create jobs, attract new industries, boost Georgia’s economy, and improve quality of life for decades.

“Without good roads, you won’t win big business,” said David Moellering, executive director of the Georgia Highway Contractors Association.

“Without big businesses, job opportunities will continue to decline. An investment in transportation can lead to more jobs and better jobs.”

Officials and citizens in each of the 12 transportation regions across the state chose the transportation projects to be paid for with the funds generated during the life of the ten-year, one-cent sales tax increase. On the July 31 primary election ballot, each region will vote independently to fund the transportation improvements. All money raised in a region can only be used to pay for projects in that region, and no funds can be used in any other region of the state.

Supporters of T-SPLOST highlight the impact transportation investment will have on Georgia’s future. In November 2011, Site Selection Magazine rated Georgia No. 2 nationwide for best business climate. Yet even with such consistent recognition for its probusiness environment, Georgia has experienced July | August 2012

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unemployment rates higher than the national average for 54 straight months.

“Georgia has seen just as many hardships through the national recession as its neighboring states, and a lack of transportation funding has the potential to cause a serious economic gap,” said Moellering.

While the state’s population is increasing, Georgia spends less per capita on transportation than almost any other state. To rectify this, the Transportation Investment Act of 2010 (TIA 2010) established 12 districts throughout Georgia that follow state designated Regional Commission boundaries. The law also established Regional Transportation Roundtables consisting of elected officials from the counties and cities within each region. Last year, officials in each of the 12 regions created a list of urgent transportation projects, and on July 31 voters in each region will decide whether to approve a one-cent sales tax increase to fund transportation improvements. If TSPLOST is approved, a citizen’s accountability committee will be tasked with ensuring projects are completed on time and within budget.

Todd Long, GDOT Deputy Commissioner, estimated the nearly $19 billion TSPLOST is expected to raise throughout the state will give Georgia the only chance it will have to address its transportation problems over the next ten years, the life of the tax. The projects funded by the transportation tax would help spur growth throughout the state, which is why the

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economic development community has rallied behind it. Many political leaders also support it as part of the overall strategy to grow jobs in Georgia.

The need for Georgia to invest in transportation was identified in the Georgia Competitiveness Initiative created by Gov. Nathan Deal in 2011.

“For half a century, Georgia’s transportation assets, affordable energy, expansive telecommunications networks, and abundant natural resources were highlights of successful economic recruitment efforts,” Deal said in the final report produced by this business and governmental commission. “As other states and nations made investments in their own infrastructure in order to compete, Georgia maintained the status quo, and that advantage is diminishing. Reinvestment in and expansion of these assets, including long term planning, is critical to the state’s economic future.”

The Federal Highway Administration estimates that every $1 billion spent on T-

SPLOST transportation projects could generate up to $2.5 billion in direct and indirect economic activity and support 28,000 jobs amounting to more than 530,000 jobs throughout the state in the ten-year span.

What does this mean for Georgia Contractors? According to the Federal Highway Administration, T-SPLOST funds raised could support 9,537 construction jobs; 4,324 jobs in industries that directly or indirectly supply materials and services needed for construction projects; and 13,962 jobs supported when those employed at a construction site or in supplier industries spend their earnings.

The challenges of funding road repair and bridges begin with the current method of raising money: the gas tax. Although the state population continues to grow, Georgia’s gas tax revenue declines annually as cars become more fuel-efficient and people drive less. The price of fuel may rise, but the gas tax is per gallon, not by dollar. And the combination of increasingly fuel-efficient The Georgia Contractor

vehicles and drivers actually driving fewer miles causes the revenue available for transportation projects to decline.

Additionally, elected leaders struggle to fund necessary projects in and around their communities. Voters have embraced local option sales taxes because the money raised stays within their county. But unlike local SPLOSTs, the TIA allows funds to be used for transportation needs like the repair of existing roads. Of the T-SPLOST revenue raised in each region, 75 percent would go toward that region’s list of approved projects and 25 percent would go to cities and counties in each region for discretionary needs such as road maintenance and additional community transportation projects.

With a ten-year sunset and local oversight of money raised in each region, T-SPLOST is seen by many to be a responsible investment in Georgia’s transportation system. No debt would be incurred, as money can only be spent once funds are raised.

Supporters also praise the fact that the regional transportation referendum takes big government out of the picture. Local funds would be used to fund local projects. It’s a new way of collaboration on transportation projects. In regions that approve T-SPLOST, GDOT will collaborate with local and state agencies, bringing focus on high-level project management, intergovernmental coordination, unprecedented transparency and successful program delivery.

This transportation program—which represents more than 1,644 projects if approved in all 12 districts—is more than twice GDOT’s current program. The timeframe of projects in each region is mapped out in three phases during a ten-year period.

Projects have a start and completion. Revenue collected and schedule of collections will determine when the Georgia State Financing and Investment Commission (GSFIC) aligns the funding for projects with available funding.

Georgia’s transportation resources already decided advantages over much of the country: the ports in Savannah and July | August 2012

Brunswick and Hartsfield-Jackson International airport. When Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle addressed groups in the Southern Georgia and Southwest Georgia regions, he emphasized the need for good logistics as one of the major benefits of T-SPLOST. “We’ve got the fasting growing port in the nation in Savannah and the International Airport in Atlanta,” Cagle said. “Now what we need is good roads to connect businesses everywhere in between and around these hubs.”

Georgia’s initiative for better roads and access to ports are reasons why reputable businesses like Caterpillar and Tractor Sup-

ply Co. recently selected Georgia for a manufacturing facility and distribution center.

The combination of growing transportation outlets and better roads can only make Georgia a more attractive place for companies looking to locate their businesses in a setting where infrastructure is among the best in the nation.

“We’ve all experienced the economic downturn personally and industries have as well, but we can’t cut our way out of it; we’ve got to grow our way out of it,” Cagle said. “And you grow your way out by making strategic investments like with the T-SPLOST.” v 9

Countdown to T-SPLOST Vote

By Thomas C. Leslie | Georgia Engineering Alliance | Director of External Affairs

I

f you haven’t heard, there is a vote on transportation in July. It is a very important vote with enormous consequences for Georgia. It is about mitigating traffic congestion, creating jobs, making Georgia and its regions economically competitive with other areas of the country and world, and lots more.

If you already know all this, then the final message is VOTE ‘Yes’ on July 31st. If you plan on a vacation at the end of July, vote early or vote by absentee ballot.

Leading up to this historic vote, there are many other things to do, including:

of funding transportation enhancements.

There are 12 regions, and each will vote on July 31, 2012, on whether to approve the regional T-SPLOST (so named because it is entirely devoted to Transportation and is a Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax).

For each region, locally elected officials have approved a Transportation Investment List. Seventy-five percent of the revenue from the sales tax must be spent on projects on the investment list and cannot be spent on anything else. The remaining 25 percent of revenue is allocated, by formula, to local governments within the region for the sole

July 31, 2012, is the next appointment for the current generation to continue the string of audacious transportation investments that distinguish our state and its regions in a new competitive world.

• Hold a Lunch ‘n Learn in your company to explain the referenda. Quite frankly, we have never had a vote like this in Georgia.When people fully understand the details of the vote, they tend to support the investment.

There is much more to the vote, however. To complete the story, here are some of the details.

purpose of transportation, with particular projects left to the discretion of local government officials. For Metro Atlanta, 85 percent of revenue goes to Investment List projects and 15 percent to local governments. All revenue collected within a region must be spent on projects within the region.

The deal is set and cannot be changed (the General Assembly could change the underlying law, but chose not to do so earlier this year, and the vote will occur before they convene for the 2013 session).

For the voters, the only choice is whether to vote ‘yes,’ ‘no,’ or not vote. The votes are tallied on a regionwide basis. For example, in Metro Atlanta, all the votes cast in ten counties in the region are added together and if the ‘yes’ votes exceed the ‘no’ votes, then the sales tax is enacted in all ten counties.

The Deal The Georgia General Assembly authorized regional votes on imposing a one percent sales tax for up to ten years for the purpose

The Problem Georgia is the third fastest growing state in the country, but our per capita expenditure on transportation is 48th out of 50 states.

• Help educate colleagues, co-workers, friends, neighbors, and family about the referenda and urge ‘yes’ voters to go to the polls.

• Volunteer your time to assist the ‘yes’ campaigns around the state • Above all else, VOTE on July 31st.

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Thomas C. Leslie In Metro Atlanta, the ten-county region is expected to grow by three million people by 2040. It currently has one of the longest commute times in the country—an average of over an hour round trip.

The primary source of federal and state transportation funding is gas tax, which is declining and is expected to continue that trend as vehicles move to more fuel-efficient models. Over the next 30 years, 70 percent of this revenue will be devoted to maintenance of the existing transportation system; and only 30 percent is available for new and expanded capacity.

Without approval of the regional TSPLOSTs, the transportation problems will only get worse and/or our economic vitality will decline. There is no Plan B on the horizon.

The Investment Lists There are 1,000s of projects on the 12 Investment Lists which amount to upwards of $19 billion (including the formula allocations to local governments and expressed in terms of year of collection—or $16 billion in 2011 $s). For Metro Atlanta, $6.14 billion is for 157 specific projects on the Investment List, and $1.08 billion is allocated to local governments (in 2011 $s).

The projects on the lists were selected

by Regional Transportation Roundtables, composed of the county commission chair of each county in the region plus a mayor from each county selected by a caucus of all mayors in the region. The Mayor of Atlanta The Georgia Contractor

was designated to sit on the Metro Atlanta Roundtable. Surprising to many, the 12 regional roundtables adopted their Investment Lists with only three dissenting votes out of a total of 319 votes.

The transportation projects were selected solely by locally elected officials and, where the referenda pass, will be funded by money derived from the region, and this money may not be spent on projects outside the region.

The Consequences According to the Federal Highway Administration, every $1 billion invested in highway improvements supports 27,823 jobs and generates $2.5 billion in direct and indirect economic activity. Many of those jobs are on the front end of the ten-year taxing period in the form of planning and engineering. But transportation investments have always affected land use and economic development that have consequences far beyond the direct transportation investments. With better mobility, Georgia will be more economically competitive, creating more follow-on development of buildings and other infrastructure (e.g., water and sewer).

For Metro Atlanta, the Atlanta Regional Commission modeled the transportation system for their adopted plan for the year 2040 with and without the TSPLOST investments (but both scenarios included projects expected to be funded by state and federal sources). Here are some of their conclusions: • Decreased delay: 24 percent average decrease in future travel delays for roadways improved with referendum funding •

Improved air quality: benefits will be equivalent to taking 72,000 vehicles off the roads daily.

•

Transit trips: 580,000 daily transit trips in 2025, compared to 417,000 today

•

Accessibility to job centers by cars: 18 percent more workers can reach jobs in the Cumberland-Galleria area by car

July | August 2012

within 45 minutes; other job centers will see up to eight percent increase in accessibility •

Accessibility to job centers by transit: 700 percent more workers can reach Emory by bus or rail within 45 minutes; 42 percent for Southlake and 61 percent for Town Center.

Georgia has invested in transportation and economic development since the very beginning. Augusta built a canal along the Savannah River in 1848 to power new textile mills rather than simply being a transportation hub for raw cotton. Surveyors drove a stake in the ground in 1838 in a wilderness in Georgia’s interior to designate the point where three railroads would meet.

That point in downtown Atlanta is in the center of a region of five million people. In 1925, an automobile racetrack owned by Coca Cola founder Asa Candler was converted to a municipal airport with dirt runways. From those humble beginnings, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International

Airport has grown to be the busiest airport in the world. Delta Airlines Headquarters building sits on the infield at the northern end of Asa Candler’s former racetrack. In 1948, the Georgia Ports Authority bought a 407-acre site from the US Army and created the beginnings of its Garden City terminal. It has become the country’s fastest growing port, is the largest on the East and Gulf coasts, and is poised for even greater things with the deepening of the Savannah River channel. During the 1950s to 1970s, Georgia built the Interstate Highway System that crisscrosses the state and cemented us as the hub of the Southeast. In 1972, MARTA was created by referenda, which passed in DeKalb and Fulton counties.

MARTA was certainly instrumental in helping capture the 1996 Centennial Olympics and has helped propel the region to worldclass status.

July 31, 2012, is the next appointment for the current generation to continue the string of audacious transportation investments that distinguish our state and its regions in a new competitive world. v 11

Billions of Dollars for Transportation Projects on the Line

By Doug Hooker | Executive Director | Atlanta Regional Commission

ost everyone in metro Atlanta agrees that we have a traffic congestion problem.

What they don’t necessarily understand is that what we really have is a math problem. As construction of transportation infrastructure becomes more expensive, funding for transportation improvements at the federal, state, and local levels is shrinking.

For example, Georgia has not increased its motor fuel excise tax since 1971. The federal government has not raised its tax rate since the 1990s. Meanwhile, the vehicles we drive have become more and more fuel efficient—roughly 40 percent more efficient today than in 1980. Better fuel efficiency is a good thing in most aspects, but not when it comes to gas tax revenues.

But the equation for Georgia changed in 2010. The Georgia Legislature, after several years of deliberation, decided to allow local regions throughout Georgia to decide if they want to invest in their transportation future.

The metro Atlanta region, along with 11 others around the state, worked through roundtables of elected officials last year to whittle down their vast lists of needs. They came up with a robust set of priority projects that can be realistically funded by a ten-year, penny sales tax. Some 200,000 residents of the Atlanta region participated in selecting our 157 projects.

The result is a diverse set of projects, including new and improved roads, interstate interchange improvements, safety enhancements, light rail and bus transit, bike trails, and sidewalks. These are significant and can bend the trends when it comes to traffic, while also giving our region a much needed economic boost.

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The Atlanta Regional Commission, the agency tasked by the state and federal governments to manage transportation planning for the Atlanta region, analyzed the region’s project list through extensive computer and economic modeling.

Whenever they had a choice, ARC analysts always took the more conservative route in their estimates, and vetted their work with a group of regional economists.

Here are the results of ARC’s analysis: • There will be a 24 percent average decrease in future travel delays for roads improved with referendum funding.

• Air quality will improve, equivalent to taking 72,000 vehicles off the roads every day.

• And, daily transit trips will grow by nearly 40 percent to 580,000 by 2025.

• On the economic front, referendum projects will provide a four-to-one investment return for the region.

• The $8.5 billion investment will generate a $34 billion increase in Gross Regional Product.

• The region would also realize an estimated $9.2 billion in travel time savings through 2040. Less time wasted in traffic means money in families’ pockets and more time together.

• Finally, economists have estimated that these transportation investments will create or support 200,000 jobs. Some 34,000 of those jobs are in the construction industry, a major casualty of the great recession.

In short, after several months of in-depth computer modeling and analysis, ARC researchers believe that these numbers represent a conservative estimate of the positive impacts these projects would have on the region’s economy. They also found that the Atlanta Regional Roundtable put together a list of projects that will relieve the region’s major bottlenecks, have a positive impact on economic development across the region, and will help the region see these improvements sooner and more cost-effectively. The improvements can be made at lower costs in the next ten years, than in 20 or 30 years when they might otherwise be constructed.

The infrastructure improvements and jobs will benefit residents across all ten counties of the Atlanta region, as 85 percent of the revenue ($7.2 billion) will be spent on projects that are regional in nature, and 15 percent ($1.08 billion) will be divided among the local governments for whatever transportation projects and programs they deem most critical for their communities. In the other 11 regions around the state, the revenue is divided 75/25 rather than 85/15. But, nowhere else in Georgia do so many people drive across city and county boundaries on a daily basis as in the Atlanta region.

As for the jobs, a subcommittee of the Atlanta Regional Roundtable has put guidelines in place to ensure that local and state agencies hire local firms, and at least some minority-owned firms, to design and build the funded projects, many of which have been on wish lists for decades. These delays have left local engineering and construction firms waiting for funding to develop. The same committee is also addressing the issue of training for regional residents so that these firms have a local workforce to draw from.

The Georgia Contractor

July | August 2012

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In fact, all of the projects funded by the regional 85 percent of the revenue are projects that were already in a local, regional or state transportation plan. This new revenue source will expedite implementation, giving the projects and programs a greater impact over a longer period of time and making them more cost-efficient than if construction started 15, 20, or 30 years from now.

Some of the larger road projects that promise to impact thousands of metro Atlanta drivers every day include several interstate interchanges. Improvements will be made at: • I-285 and Georgia 400 • I-285 and I-20 west • I-285 and I-85 north (spaghetti junction) • I-285 and I-75 north at Windy Hill Rd. Along with those, the referendum revenue will fund improvements on major freight routes like Highway 316 in Gwinnett County and Thornton Road/Camp Creek Parkway in Douglas, Paulding, and Cobb counties. It will also help move people

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across the region with improvements to several multi-county east-west connectors like Highway 120, Highway 92, Highway 140, and Campbellton Road.

Of course, unlike Georgia’s gas tax revenues, the money from the referendum won’t go entirely to roads. Half of it will be spent to expand the Atlanta region’s public transit system. The largest rail project will be the expansion of MARTA from the Lindbergh station to one of the region’s largest employment hubs, the area of Emory University and the Centers for Disease Control. There are also two large bus projects. One will connect Midtown Atlanta to Kennesaw, most likely along the Highway 41 corridor with queue jumper lanes and traffic signal optimization.

Another will connect residents of eastern and southern DeKalb County to more than 400,000 jobs via the interstate and road network. There is also funding for studies and next steps toward building rail into Gwinnett, further into north Fulton, and south toward Griffin.

Other metropolitan regions around the

United States have passed similar sales tax referendums to fund transportation infrastructure. Many of those, including Denver, Dallas, Salt Lake City, Charlotte and Phoenix, are moving ahead with construction of projects and using these projects against the Atlanta region when competing for economic development.

It is critical for all voters in the metro Atlanta region, and across Georgia to have as much information as possible when they go to the polls. To learn more, visit www.metroatlantatransportationvote.comv

The Georgia Contractor

Exploring Careers on the

Open Road

By The Go Build Georgia Team

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The Georgia Contractor

o you enjoy work activities that involve practical, hands on problems and solutions? Do you like the freedom of an open road? Pursuing a career in commercial truck driving could be a great path to your future.

According the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment within heavy and tractor-trailer truck driving employment is expected to grow 21 percent by 2020. This is an industry that continues to

D

Many technical colleges offer a Commercial Drivers License (CDL) course that can take as little as 6 weeks to complete. Training consists of traditional classroom training as well as time behind the wheel.

Over the years, society has placed negative stereotypes on a career in truck driving. Many people view a career in truck driving as being dirty, bringing in low-income, and having long hours. In 2011, the average annual wage in Georgia was $38,960. Drivers can drive locally and hold normal working hours or may choose to drive distance runs for increased earnings at many companies. Benefits can even rival some Fortune 500 companies.

A story from the road Rodney Williams has been driving for Southern Ag Carriers in Albany, Georgia, for more than 12 years. He started his career as a welder in a local company. When the company was forced to close, Rodney decided it was time to make a career change.

Williams acquired his Commercial Driving License through classroom and on-the-job training. After completing the certification, Rodney

A CAReeR behiNd The wheel expand even amidst a shaky economy.

In Georgia, there is a projected 12,600 jobs to become available in the trucking industry by 2016. This projection makes perfect sense with Georgia being a transportation hub for the southeastern United States. Atlanta is home to Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport which, according to the Department of Aviation brought in more than 52,000 tons of cargo in April alone.

Further south, Savannah is home to the bustling port. In the top ten U.S. container ports, Savannah ranked as number four in 2011.

These two locations are vital elements of Georgia’s economy.

The Governor’s Office of Workforce Development is using Go Build Georgia, a skilled labor initiative, to let Georgians know about this potential career and many other skilled trade careers.

July | August 2012

came home to begin his career at Southern Ag. When speaking to Williams, his passion for his job and career is evident. He takes pride in his daily job and works hard to uphold the reputation of his employer. Williams makes safety his number one priority every time he gets behind the wheel.

Williams has used his career as a platform to help those in need throughout the country. When asked what the most rewarding moment thus far in his career has been, Williams shares a moving story about helping bring comfort in the wake of a natural disaster.

After Hurricane Katrina ravished parts of the United States, there was a call to action for truck drivers across the country to deliver supplies to the victims. Williams was chosen to take part in this effort.

Williams explains “Many people lost every17

thing. Schools were damaged and some kids were left with no families to rely on.”

He explained the warm feeling of seeing students and teachers coming together in a time of tragedy and loss. Williams’ truck helped deliver backpacks filled with school supplies and food for the students.

“I wanted to tell the teachers that even though they may not get that pat on the back every day that they deserve, without them, these students’ success wouldn’t be possible,” said Williams.

When asked what advice he would give to any young person looking to pursue a career in truck driving, Williams said, “With any career you have to take the time to really think about what you want to do, really put thought into it and take initiative.”

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Not just a job When you go to the grocery store to buy a product, do you think of the process that brought that product from the manufacturer to your local store? According to the American Trucking Associations, nearly 70 percent of commodities in the United States are transported by trucks. Without skilled Americans filling the open jobs within the trucking industry, our country could face a serious economic challenge.

Right here in Georgia, the Governor’s Office of Workforce Development is encouraging students and the unemployed to take a closer look at the career opportunities in truck driving and transportation jobs across the state. Go Build Georgia’s Web site (www.gobuildgeorgia.com) hosts an abundance of information about these occupations.

These opportunities are not only jobs, but viable careers. It is time for society to break the antiquated theory that a fouryear degree is the only ticket to success.

Although that education route does fare well for many people, there are other paths to reaching the American dream. v

The Georgia Contractor

Efflorescence Observations & Lessons from the School of Experience By ECS Corporate Services LLC. fflorescence typically refers to the appearance of a white powdery substance on the surfaces of concrete and masonry buildings. This Lessons Learned provides information on how efflorescence occurs, discusses some of the implications of its occurrence, describes straightforward and common-sense ways to reduce its potential occurrence, and provides suggestions on ways to remove it, if it occurs.

What is Efflorescence?

Efflorescence refers to a blotchy, white powdery or crystalline substance that appears on the surface of concrete and masonry materials in buildings. It is composed of water-soluble calcium hydroxide (i.e. salts) originally present in cementitious materials of the building components. Via moisture migration, these salts leach through the cementitious building materials and deposit on the surface. Efflorescence occurs sporadically and is difficult to predict when and if it will occur, and to what severity.

Is it Harmful?

Although unsightly and a nuisance to remove, efflorescence is typically not harmful, nor does it typically affect the structural integrity of building components. However, the presence of efflorescence may be indicative of a larger problem attributable to moisture penetration through the exposed or exterior component surfaces. If the moisture penetration is left untreated for a long enough period of time, the eventual reduction in the compressive strength of concrete, grout, or mortar may occur.

How Does it Occur?

For efflorescence to occur, two simultaneous conditions must exist. Firstly, water-soluble calcium hydroxide must exist in enough quantity within the concrete or masonry building material. Secondly, a source of moisture penetration must exist and be in contact with these salts for a sufJuly | August 2012

ficient amount of time. In new concrete or masonry construction, efflorescence can occur as a result of the migration of moisture and leaching of salts internally within the building component (as opposed to moisture from an exterior source) to the surface.

Sources of Salts Water-soluble calcium hydroxide (salts) comes from many possible sources. The most common salts are carbonate, sulfate, and chloride compounds. These salts can be found inherently in cementitious-based concrete and masonry materials themselves.

Also, salts can be present in admixtures, groundwater, and the environment. During winter construction, ‘high-early strength’ additives are often salt-based compounds, and these can be significant internal sources of these salts.

Sources of Water Water must be present to dissolve the salts and transport them to where they are deposited, normally the surface of concrete and masonry. Water comes from many possible sources, including rain penetration, roof leaks, flashing and sealant problems, wall cracks and spalling, condensation, plumbing leaks, and groundwater, among others.

Control Measures While it may not be possible to prevent all efflorescence from occurring, the adoption of sensible control measures will significantly reduce its potential or severity. The key is to consider a threefold approach that consists of: 1) careful construction materials selection; 2) detailed design considerations; and 3) proper construction practices. Efflorescence can be decreased by reducing the permeability of the concrete or masonry material and/or by restricting water ingress.

For existing buildings where cementitious materials are already in place, coatings are typically used to reduce or eliminate the source of penetrating water.

Removal Procedures For new building construction where efflorescence has occurred recently, the calcium hydroxide is still water-soluble and should be removed by washing with water. For older construction or existing buildings, the removal of efflorescence is more difficult because, when exposed to carbon dioxide in the air over a period of time, water-soluble calcium hydroxide chemically changes to calcium carbonate, which is not easily cleaned with water. Efflorescence stains tend to fade over time, so an option to consider is do nothing, other than reducing or eliminating the source of penetrating moisture, and to live with the compromised aesthetics. Another option is to remove the calcium carbonate with a diluted solution (five percent to ten percent) of muriatic acid.

However the use of acid should be considered cautiously as it can damage (i.e. etch) the finished, aesthetic surface of the concrete and masonry construction.

We hope that this brief discussion of efflorescence has helped you better understand this common condition and has provided you with useful suggestions for its control and removal. Should you have any questions or comments regarding this topic, or with any other issues related to the built environment, please feel free to contact us. v Respectfully, ECS CORPORATE SERVICES, LLC © 19

Full Speed Ahead Exciting Changes in the Transportation Industry

By Erin Studstill | Executive Director | TEFGA

The transportation industry has been on the forefront of Georgia’s economy, as Governor Nathan Deal recently supported a budget which includes over $181 million dollars for the deepening of the Savannah Port. This project is necessary to prepare for a new class of larger container ships and to improve the movement of goods across and within Georgia, and to expand the state’s role as a global gateway for commerce. Georgia’s deep water 20

ports and inland barge terminals support more than 295,000 jobs throughout the state annually. This growth comes at a time when the maritime industry, along with other skilled labor industries, worries if there will be enough qualified candidates to fill the next generation of technical jobs. The Transportation Education Foundation of Georgia (TEFGA) is aiming to ease those worries.

The Georgia Contractor

Formed in 2006, TEFGA is a non-profit organization working with education, industry, and state government to help Georgia students realize their transportation career dreams. These include automotive, aviation, maritime, and distribution and logistics.

There are many ways in which TEFGA is reaching out and encouraging students to understand the vast availability of transportation jobs. The expected growth in our industries is overwhelming, and according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the transportation, distribution, and logistics cluster is expected to have over 4.4 million job openings between now and 2020, with 38 percent of these coming from the creation of new jobs. During this exciting time of new growth, TEFGA is addressing Georgia’s transportation labor needs by facilitating career exploration opportunities in transportation and providing work-based learning options for students through an internship program, which is continually adding new industry partners who are willing to work with students and train them for a career in the transportation field.

TEFGA along with the Georgia Department of Education strive to constantly raise the standards of transportation career pathways education and ensure Georgia students receive rigorous training.

This is achieved by supporting local school systems in staffing, training, and certifying teachers. The Transportation Education Foundation of Georgia also establishes partnerships between local businesses and school systems with certified programs, which are training the workforce of tomorrow.

By utilizing strong industry ties, TEFGA is able to put on a world class event along with CEFGA and SkillsUSA, the SkillsUSA Career Expo and Championships. Held in the spring at the Georgia International Convention Center, the largest student focused career expo in the state rolls in for two days of excitement where students are able to explore different career opportunities within the transportation fields, network with industry representatives, and discover the options available for post-secondary education. The best students from across the state compete in comJuly | August 2012

petitions to test their transportation knowledge. These contests range from Automotive Service Technology and Collision Repair to Diesel Equipment Technology to Flight Operations and Aviation Service.

Other contests test students’ knowledge of small engines and marine and motorcycle service. The results are students realizing their goals and being rewarded for their hard work through prizes, recognition, and often scholarships for additional education.

The Transportation Education Foundation of Georgia is fully aware of the labor

shortages that Georgia, as well as the entire United States, is facing, and we also want students to realize that a traditional four year degree is not the only pathway to a career. As Savannah sees the expanse of transportation jobs, so will the rest of Georgia, and TEFGA will continue to be a conduit for helping students recognize their full potential in the field of transportation, as we work to build a skilled labor workforce.

For more information and to find out how you can get involved in with TEFGA, please visit www.tefga.org. v

SUPER CHARGE…

No Experience Necessary ~ Just Your Desire to “Earn while you learn.”

Your Earnings | Your Career | Your Future with IEC’s Electrical Training Program

What you get:

Job Referrals | Guaranteed Wage Increases | On-the-job and Classroom Training (770) 242-9277

www.iecatlanta.org

21

NFRC’s CMA: A Tool for Making Informed Decisions on Commercial Fenestration

By Jim Benney

H

igh performance building is quickly going mainstream as more sustainable building products enter the marketplace, building energy codes get tougher, and green building standards become more popular. In Georgia, there are already more than 275 LEED-certified building projects.

Today’s high performance windows, which use double or even triple panes, gas-filled cavities, and insulated frames, are an important part of green buildings.

Replacing old, inefficient home windows with new ENERGY STAR® qualified ones can lower utility bills by up to 15 percent, according to ENERGY STAR. High performance windows can also lower operating costs for commercial buildings.

Despite the array of energy-saving fenestration products available today, more than half of the nation’s existing non-residential building stock use single-pane windows, according to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Buildings Energy Data Book. Selecting the right fenestration products and systems for your project can make buildings more energy efficient. While it can seem challenging to decipher window energy performance (e.g., what does U-factor mean?), the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) can help.

NFRC is a non-profit organization that administers voluntary energy performance rating programs for windows, doors, skylights, curtain wall, and other fenestration products or systems. The NFRC temporary label is a common sight on many new residential windows. It provides NFRC-certified ratings for heat loss (‘Ufactor’), solar heat gain (‘SHGC’), visible transmittance, and air leakage. NFRC ratings can be used to demonstrate compliance with local or state building energy codes.

For two decades, contractors, architects, homeowners, and code officials have 22

relied on NFRC’s independent, easy-to-use energy ratings for residential fenestration products. NFRC has applied these same principles to its Component Modeling Approach (CMA) program for non-residential fenestration.

A Simpler Way to Select Commercial Fenestration Rating the energy performance of fenestration for commercial projects requires a different process than residential projects, because fenestration for homes typically is mass-produced and completed in a factory. The same window may be used again and again in a development of new homes.

Commercial fenestration, on the other hand, often is assembled or built on-site, and can involve project-specific designs.

In this case, attaching a temporary NFRC label to individual fenestration products or systems won’t work, particularly for commercial projects with large quantities of glazing.

NFRC designed the CMA program to make it easier to select and rate the energy performance of commercial windows, curtainwall, storefront, doors, and skylights.

The first step in using CMA is to download the CMA Software Tool (CMAST) from the NFRC Web site (www.nfrc.org). NFRC offers a free sixmonth evaluation period for the CMAST software, before charging a modest fee.

This software tool provides access to a database of pre-approved, NFRC-rated frames, glazing and spacers, the primary components of a window. Using these components, designers, contractors and other CMA users can configure different variations of a fenestration product to compare whole-product energy performance ratings. The preliminary ratings can help determine whether a fenestration design will meet the project’s specifications and local building energy codes.

At this point, the ratings are not certi-

fied by NFRC. After selecting the final design, the CMA user can then have the ratings certified for code compliance purposes.

The party responsible for fenestration energy ratings on a project contacts an NFRCApproved Calculation Entity (ACE) and signs a license agreement with NFRC. After the ACE verifies the ratings from CMAST, it issues a CMA Label Certificate, which lists the energy performance ratings for all NFRC-rated fenestration on the project.

The CMA Label Certificate should be filed on the project site, so that code officials can check it for compliance with local and/or state fenestration energy requirements.

This year, Georgia’s new building energy code, based on the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and ASHRAE 90.1-2007, took effect. Both the IECC and ASHRAE 90.1-2007 require NFRC 100 and 200 procedures to rate Ufactor, SHGC, and visible transmittance.

CMA uses NFRC 100 and 200 to calculate certified energy performance ratings. The certified values can be used to document energy code compliance for commercial fenestration in Georgia.

Proven Benefits One of the greatest benefits of using CMA is that it provides the most accurate energy performance ratings for commercial fenestration. A study conducted by Heschong Mahone Group in 2010, simulating the use of CMA in California buildings, found that it provided up to an 11.7 percent increase in energy code compliance margins when compared to the state’s other two options for rating fenestration. Because of its accuracy in rating the energy performance of fenestration, CMA ratings input into building energy software programs can contribute to more precise whole-building energy calculations. (Data from CMA can be shared easily with building energy analysis software such as DOE2 and EnergyPlus.) More accurate building The Georgia Contractor

energy analysis can mean better HVAC load modeling and sizing decisions, which translates into lower utility bills for the building owner or tenants.

One conclusion that can be drawn from the study is that CMA’s more accurate calculations may contribute to more benefits from above-code programs that provide building owners with greater financial incentives for exceeding minimum energy requirements. NFRC expects similar results when CMA is used for performance-based incentive programs in other states that allow CMA to be used in place of default calculation methods.

Another benefit of using CMA is that it can facilitate the selection of high performance fenestration, which can reduce a building’s overall energy consumption. In

fact, CMA can be used to select and rate fenestration for LEED projects, because LEED requires the use of ASHRAE 90.12007 as a minimum, which in turn requires NFRC 100 and 200.

The fenestration industry has made tremendous advancements in the energy performance of fenestration products over the past two decades. Selecting high performance fenestration products or systems

can have a significant impact on the total energy use of a commercial building.

Thanks to CMA, it’s easier than ever to make informed choices when selecting fenestration as well as rating the energy performance of those products to demonstrate code compliance.

For more information on NFRC and the CMA program, visit www.nfrc.org. v

NFRC’s Component Modeling Approach (CMA) can provide the most accurate energy performance values for the following fenestration ratings: U-factor ~ A measure of how well a product prevents heat from escaping or entering a building. It generally falls between 0.09 and 1.20. The lower the number, the better.

Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) ~ A measure of how well a product blocks heat from the sun, expressed as a number between 0 and 1. The lower the number, the better the product blocks unwanted heat gain.

Visible Transmittance ~ A measure of how much light comes through a product,on a scale between 0 and 1. The higher the number, the greater the potential for daylight.

Jim Benney is the chief executive officer for the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC). For more than 25 years, he has been involved in developing product and performance standards for the window and glass industry. You can contact him at jbenney@nfrc.org.

July | August 2012

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Five Things Every Georgia Contractor Should Know about Surety Bonds

By Danielle Rodabaugh | SuretyBonds.com

W

hether you’re new to the construction industry or have been working in it for decades, you’ve likely heard of surety bonds. Unfortunately, contractors often don’t know much about bonds other than the fact that they’re required before they can begin working on certain projects.

Contractors can prepare themselves for the surety bond application process by educating themselves about the role surety bonds play in the construction industry, as well as how these insurance products might affect their business.

Surety bond basics Surety bonds have existed as a way to financially guarantee contractual agreements for hundreds of years. The nature of the surety bond process has encouraged government agencies across the country to establish surety bond requirements to help regulate various markets.

In the construction industry, surety bonds are generally used to protect project owners from facing financial loss on the construction projects they fund. If a bonded contractor should break the contract, the surety company assumes liability for the financial loss that could result. The surety ensures the project owner will be compensated for losses when necessary, which keeps them from suffering due to a contractor's negligent performance.

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Each surety bond that’s issued functions as a legal contract that binds together three entities. The contractor who is required to purchase and maintain the bond is the principal. By purchasing a bond, the principal agrees to perform a certain task according to the bond’s contractual terms.

The project owner who requires the bond is the obligee. By requiring a principal to purchase a bond, the project owner protects against financial loss. The insurance company that underwrites the bond is the surety.

By issuing a bond to the principal, the sure-

ty provides a financial guarantee that the principal will fulfill the bond’s obligations.

If a bonded contractor violates the terms of their bond, the surety acts as an intermediary between the contractor and project owner. For example, if a contractor goes bankrupt mid-project and backs out of the job, the project owner can make a claim on the bond for the anticipated losses. The surety would then try to find a contractor that will finish the job or else pay a claim

from the bond amount to cover the losses.

Depending on the bond’s legal language, the contractor might have to be convicted in court before the surety will provide reparation to a project owner. If a payout is made, the bond’s indemnity agreement allows the surety to seek reimbursement from the contractor, which is the main difference between traditional insurance and surety insurance.

Contract bond types Government agencies at the federal, state, county, and city levels make use of various surety bond types when regulating the construction industry. More than a dozen individual contract bond types exist, but four of them are used the most frequently.

Contractor license bonds are often required by state, county, and/or city level licensing authorities. Contractors usually have to provide these bonds as a part of the contractor licensing process. Contractor license bonds require contractors to follow all applicable licensing regulations as outlined on the form.

Bid bonds are often required as a part of the bid process. Contractors typically must provide these bonds when submitting a bid to a project owner. Bid bonds guarantee that the contractor won’t increase the bid amount after being awarded a contract.

Performance bonds are often required prior to a contract’s execution. These bonds proThe Georgia Contractor

vide a financial guarantee that a contractor will complete the project according to contractual terms.

Payment bonds are often required in conjunction with performance bonds. In fact, sometimes payment and performance bonds are issued on the same bond form.

Payment bonds ensure that contractors pay their subcontractors and material suppliers appropriately.

Georgia contract bond requirements Before contractors can get a license in Georgia, they must file a line of credit form for at least $25,000 with the Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors. A $25,000 Georgia Residential & General Contractors Bond is one such accepted form of credit.

Georgia enforces the minimum standards of the federal Miller Act, which requires payment and performance bonds on all publicly funded projects that are estimated to be more than $100,000. However, the Georgia Code does note that the state may require payment and/or performance bonds for public works construction contracts estimated at $100,000 or less. These bond requirements apply to new projects as well as site improvements and/or remodels.

rates possible, contractors need strong financial credentials, a credit score above 700, an impeccable work record, and quality references. Contractors who cannot provide documentation of these qualities typically face a more difficult bonding process that comes along with higher premiums.

Getting contract bonds The contract bond application process varies depending on the type of bond being issued, its needed amount, and the risk the surety will take on by issuing the bond.

Insurance companies make sure that they fully understand all contractual terms before issuing a bond, which means intricate contracts require the surety to take on more risk. For this reason, getting contract bonds for multi-million dollar projects typically takes more time than getting ones for smaller projects.

To ensure they get the best rates on their bonds, contractors should work with a nationwide surety provider that has significant experience in writing contract bonds.

By choosing a nationwide surety provider, contractors can build a repertoire with an underwriter who will be able to issue bonds no matter where their future projects might be located. Working with an experienced surety specialist also allows for accurate bond processing in a shorter amount of time.

All too often construction professionals consider contractor bonding to be a hassle.

However, a basic understanding of contract bonds better prepares contractors for the application process. When fully informed of their purpose, contractors can appreciate the crucial role bonds play in their local construction market.

About the Author~ Danielle Rodabaugh is the chief editor at SuretyBonds.com, a nationwide surety provider that works with contractors every day. As a part of the SuretyBonds.com educational outreach program, Danielle writes to help construction professionals better understand contractor bonding. v

Contract bond costs When contractors aren’t prepared for the costs of their surety premiums, their progress can be hindered. All too often, unexpected surety bond costs limit the projects that individual contractors have access to. For example, if a contractor cannot afford the contractor license bond premium, a contractor’s license will not be granted. Without a license, the contractor obviously cannot legally work within the market.

Furthermore, small contracting firms oftentimes struggle to compete against larger companies because they have limited capital and thus limited bonding capacity. If a small firm cannot qualify for a large contract bond, it automatically becomes ineligible for the project. Even when small firms do qualify, they might then have trouble paying the high premiums that come along with multi-million dollar projects.

To ensure they get the lowest surety July | August 2012

25

It’s About Investing in Possibilities

By Matt Hayden | Cedartown High School e started competing in the program (known then as VICA) two decades ago. He placed second in the nation in 1992 in the Welding Competition. Today, he sits just outside the draped competition area on a massive competition floor the size of nine football fields.

Hayden speaks glowingly of his young student, competing in the very same national welding competition that he did 20 years earlier. Matt Hayden is the welding instructor at Cedartown High School.

“He’s only a junior and he’s doing a really good job,” Hayden said of his Georgia state welding champion, Zach Bright.

Zach is a good welder and a handsome young man, which is probably why one of the local television stations in Kansas City, home of the SkillsUSA National Championships, really wanted to interview him.

“He didn’t want to do it,” said Hayden.

“I told him he needed to do it. He told me he really did not want to do it. I told him I’ve had to do a lot of things that I did not want to do.”

No doubt lessons like this one, mixed with long nights and extra hours in the welding lab are the reason Zach Bright is in Kansas City, representing Georgia and competing alongside 49 of the best, young welders in the nation.

Hayden took a state champion to Kansas City last year, too, and he learned a valuable lesson from that experience (good teachers never stop learning, you know).

“They were using newer models of welding machines out here, with all sorts of new bells and whistles. It threw off our competitor last year. This year, we found out exactly what type of machines they would be using,” Hayden said. “We found a similar machine at a company near our school, and at night we would go over and work with that machine. So, he should be pretty comfortable.”

The focus, as it should be, was on the 26

5,000+ young men and women competing at the 48th Annual National Leadership and Skills Conference in Kansas City, June 23-27, 2012.

Zach Bright was one of those 5,000.

But behind each Zach Bright is a support system of parents, teachers / advisors (like Matt Hayden), and industry representatives who want these young men and women to succeed.

According to SkillsUSA National, business and industry partners invest more than $36 million in support of the National Leadership and Skills Conference each year!

The conference’s keynote speakers asked a good question: “Why?” Why does business and industry support SkillsUSA at such a high level every year? Is it because they don’t have anything else to do? Do

It's hard to capture with a camera, but the floor of the SkillsUSA National Competition in Kansas City is larger than 9 football fields!

The Georgia Contractor

thousands of industry volunteers support SkillsUSA because they don’t have anything else to do with their time and resources?

“Of course not,” said Chef Jeff Henderson. “They are investing in possibilities.

Investing in SkillsUSA is about investing in possibilities.”

For teachers like Matt Hayden, investing time and energy in their students is about investing in the possibility of success at a high level; the feeling of knowing that they helped a young man or woman take it Carpentry AD&D Building Maintenance Cabinetmaking Career Pathway Showcase CNC Milling CNC Turning Electrical Construction Wiring Heating and Air Conditioning Masonry Plumbing Sheet Metal TeamWorks Welding Welding Fabrication Welding Sculpture

all the way to the top!

For industry, investing time and resources in SkillsUSA is about investing in the possibility of that skilled, motivated young man or woman one day coming to work in an industry filled with aging Baby Boomers.

I am proud of what CEFGA and its industry partners do in our state every year for the young men and women of SkillsUSA Georgia. We invest hundreds of thousands of dollars in our state-level Champi-

onships at the Georgia International Convention Center. Then, we reward the state champions by sponsoring them to represent Georgia at the SkillsUSA National Championships in Kansas City each year.

I would like to offer a special thanks to the companies and organizations who sponsored this year’s SkillsUSA Georgia State Champions to represent our state at the National Championships:

Governor’s Office of Workforce Development Applied Software Construction Clean-up Specialists Inc. Governor’s Office of Workforce Development Governor’s Office of Workforce Development HAAS Factory Outlet HAAS Factory Outlet Atlanta Electrical Contractors Association Shumate Mechanical Pyramid Masonry Governor’s Office of Workforce Development Governor’s Office of Workforce Development AGC Georgia Young Leadership Program Holder Construction Company Georgia Power Governor’s Office of Workforce Development AGC Georgia Young Leadership Program Georgia Power Governor’s Office of Workforce Development

/ Go Build Georgia

/ Go Build Georgia / Go Build Georgia

/ Go Build Georgia / Go Build Georgia

/ Go Build Georgia

/ Go Build Georgia

And congratulations to our state’s best, young skilled workers for their success at the 2012 SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference. Following are students in construction-related contests who medaled at the 2012 SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference: Gold Medalists Brett Jenkins, Thomson High School, Plumbing Daniel Sumner, South Georgia Technical College, Welding Sculpture Silver Medalist Caleb Floyd, Warner Robbins High School, Cabinet Making Bronze Medalists “Team S” consisting of Will Howell, Andrew Taylor, David Smith, South Georgia Technical College, Welding Fabrication As of press time for this story, only information on medalists was available. Please look for complete results for all Georgia finalists on CEFGA’s Web site at www.cefga.org.

Scott Shelar is entering his 15th year with CEFGA - the Construction Education Foundation of Georgia. CEFGA is building the construction industry one person at a time. For more information, please visit CEFGA’s Web site at www.cefga.org v July | August 2012

27

Georgia

News

From the Dakotas to Atlanta for North Carolina Continuing Education Units Ever wondered where you can save time and money in one place? The Atlanta Chapter Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) works tirelessly to connect electrical contractors to time and money saving ideas. One of the ways we do this is by advocating for your time in ways that help you meet the need for Continuing Education Units (CEUs). IEC currently offers CEUs for three states when a contractor attends the Code by the Article class. Promoting the Code by The Article class helps contractors gain valuable education while saving them money and time by obtaining four hours of CEUs for Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia when they attend just one class. No longer does a contractor that holds a license in these three states need to travel outside of Georgia multiple times in order to satisfy the education requirements for license renewal. Recently, IEC gained the ability to prepare electrical contractors for Florida license renewals when we added the four hour 2012 Changes to the NEC as an approved CEU class, so this class is actually good for four state CEUs, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia.

IEC will continue to promote money saving options to electrical contractors throughout the Southeast and across the country. Our goal is to make the prospect of obtaining CEUs for state license renewal very palatable.

We look forward to helping electrical contractors obtain multiple state CEUs for many states when they attend education courses at the Atlanta Chapter IEC. Georgia contractors need to earn the required CEUs on or before June 30th, 2012 in order to qualify for license renew28

Contractor

al. Please see IECAtlanta.org for a list of classes that will help you meet this need or CEU requirements for Florida, North Carolina, or Virginia. v Daniel A. Viscardi, P.E., Joins LEO A DALY as Vice President, Corporate Director of Aviation Programs International architecture, planning, engineering, interior design and program management firm LEO A DALY welcomes Daniel A. Viscardi, P.E., as vice president, corporate director of aviation programs. Viscardi will be responsible for providing the vision and strategy for growing the firm’s aviation practice, identifying and establishing new clients, as well as maintaining existing client relationships.

Viscardi has more than 30 years of

Daniel A. Viscardi experience in the aviation industry. Prior to joining LEO A DALY, he served as the chief operating officer of Thompson Company Inc., where he provided day-today management of the firm’s resources and developed and collaborated with multiple airports and concessionaire clients.

Previously, he was executive vice president of Gresham, Smith and Partners for ten years, where he oversaw significant expansion of the firm’s aviation clients and revenue and helped achieve Engineering News Record’s top ten position. He also led the firm’s diversification efforts, particularly into the environmental compliance fields. Viscardi was also the principal-incharge of the $800 million Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Prior to that position, he served as vice president of Camp Dresser & McKee Inc., where he started the firm’s aviation practice and was instrumental in its growth as one of the leading consultants in the aviation business.

“Daniel Viscardi’s broad range of aviation projects and client relationships will be critical in further establishing LEO A DALY as a leader in one of our firm’s key market sectors,” said Charles Dalluge, LEO A DALY’s executive vice president.

“With his hire, we are continuing our commitment to meeting the diverse challenges affecting the aviation industry.”

Viscardi has actively served the Airports Council International and the American Association of Airport Executives through numerous committee positions, speeches in seminars and conferences, and as a trainer for multiple engineering and safety programs across the United States and Canada. He also is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Transportation Research Board.

Viscardi received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering from the University of New Hampshire. He is a registered professional engineer in South Carolina and Maine. v The Georgia Contractor

Dynalectric Company in Georgia Recognized with Two Awards—for Safety & Contracting Excellence EMCOR Company Honored For Superior Performance By ABC of Georgia~ Dynalectric Company in Georgia was recognized with two awards by the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Georgia during its annual Excellence in Construction awards program in June 2012—a Gold Level 2012 STEP (Safety Training and Evaluation Process) award for exemplary safety practices and performance, and a 2012 Award of Merit for superior contracting performance.

Dynalectric Company in Georgia, a premier electrical contractor serving the southeastern U.S., is a subsidiary of EMCOR Group Inc. (NYSE:EME), a Fortune 500® leader in mechanical and electrical construction, energy infrastructure, and facilities services for a diverse range of businesses.

“ABC’s Safety Awards are presented to Georgia contractors achieving low onthe-job accident rates and demonstrating the highest commitment to safety,” stated Ray Hopkins, President, Dynalectric Company. “Being honored with a Gold STEP Award is testament to the dedication of Dynalectric in its continuing efforts to strive for a goal of zero accidents so employees may return home safely every day.”

ABC’s STEP awards recognize member companies employing effective jobsite safety practices; evaluations are based on 20 key elements of contractor safety programs, such as management commitment, pre-planning for safety, safety training, and resources committed to safety. The STEP process, which was developed and written by contractors for contractors, is a tool designed to objectively evaluate safety programs, as well as policies, procedures, and training.

“ABC’s Excellence in Construction awards recognizes skill and creativity of the entire team—contractor, owner, architect, and engineer—responsible for an outstanding construction project---recipi-

July | August 2012

ents are leaders in innovation, safety and quality,” explained Mr. Hopkins.

“Dynalectric was honored with an Award of Merit in the Specialty Contractors category for work on The Athens Medical Complex, which means an enormous amount to the entire Dynalectric team, who stepped up and met an aggressive schedule, safely, and with the workmanship, quality, and precision second-tonone.”

For its work on The Athens Medical Complex, a new ambulatory surgery center in Athens, Georgia where Dynalectric was responsible for installation of electrical systems for the entire facility, including operating rooms, patient stations, pre-op stations, recovery areas, and endocrinology stations, as well as installation of a fully addressable nurse call system and a 300 kw backup generator, Dynalectric was recognized in the category of ‘Electrical: Commercial under $2 million.’

Dynalectric’s commitment to safety is part of a multi-tiered, integrated approach that includes a Zero Accident program as well as a host of supporting initiatives, such as the ‘Be There For Life’ program.

This EMCOR effort is designed to educate its employees and their families about the importance of safety through use of workplace posters, company newsletters, mailings, and a number of other creative tactics intended to instill the conviction that every accident is preventable.

EMCOR also conducts regional ‘Target Zero’ safety conferences, bringing together industry experts from its operating companies and partners to share information and successful strategies. v IEC Georgia Brings Custom Training to Company Doorsteps Independent Electrical Contractors Atlanta/Georgia chapters are announcing the implementation of another service designed to educate its members and their electrical workers. IEC is providing customized training sessions for your business in your area. Companies can have a certified IEC instructor at their office to facil-

Todd Hawkins itate the class, or organize with others in the industry to bring a class to your area!

What classes are offered? IEC covers a wide range of subjects from management to technical areas! You can enlist in classes on OSHA 10, Safety, Motor Control, Code Changes, Project Management, and other areas pertinent to your business operations. Classes range from two to four hour sessions or up to multiple days.

Prices vary depending on length, subject, and participation. Companies normally must have a minimum of six employees to provide training.

IEC Atlanta/Georgia Training Director, Todd Hawkins is excited about the potential of the program. Mr. Hawkins states, “This is a great program to have and it is another benefit of being an IEC Member.

We can tailor a program to meet your company needs!” That says it all! Education, information and convenience, enveloped neatly for IEC members!

Tell us your needs, and IEC can prepare a package just for you!

For additional information, contact Todd Hawkins, Training Director at (770) 242-9277.

IEC is a trade association for merit shop electrical contractors. IEC offers a wide array of training programs for apprentices and experienced electricians, personnel referral including loan/borrow programs, and provides a broad range of informational resources for electrical contractors in Atlanta

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McCarthy to Build Georgia Tech’s Engineered Biosystems Building State-of-the-Art Research and Education Facility to Attain LEED Gold Certification McCarthy Building Companies Inc. has been selected as the construction manager for the Georgia Institute of Technology’s new $98 million Engineered Biosystems Building (EBB). The 200,000-square-foot building, targeted for a minimum LEED Gold certification, will support Georgia Tech’s continued growth in the areas of bioscience and biotechnology, furthering Georgia Tech’s reputation as a leader in health and life systems research. Construction on the new research facility is scheduled to begin this summer.

The new facility will be located in the center of the northern end of Georgia Tech’s campus, on a square block bounded

by Tenth Street on the north, Peachtree Place on the south, State Street on the west, and Atlantic Drive on the east.

The land is currently used as a service lot for Georgia Tech.

The EBB will feature shared laboratory facilities that foster the merging of engineering and science disciplines along with interdisciplinary neighborhoods initially focused on areas ranging from chemical and systems biology to cell therapy. “The new facilities will support Georgia Tech’s strategic goals to strengthen the Institute’s biology and health sciences activities and create an environment for transdisciplinary research,” said Howard Wertheimer, director of Georgia Tech Capital Planning and Space Management.

McCarthy will utilize Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology to help deliver seamless and efficient communication between the design and construction teams throughout the building process.

“We’re honored that Georgia Tech, the Board of Regents, and GSFIC have selected McCarthy for such a prestigious project, and we’re looking forward to completing it with the high standards they have come to expect from McCarthy,” said

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Kevin Kuntz, president of McCarthy’s Southeast Division.The project architect is Cooper Carry Inc. with Lake Flato. v

Local Crane Goes Pink for National Breast Cancer Awareness Phoenix Crane Rental of Mableton, Georgia, proudly announces its support for the National Breast Cancer Foundation (www.nationalbreastcancer.org) with a generous corporate sponsorship and a pink 40-ton Terex crane to show it off.

Family-owned and operated since 1983, Phoenix Crane Rental (www.phoenixcrane.com) is spearheading an effort within the crane industry and

Family-owned crane company boldly shows its support for the National Breast Cancer Foundation by painting one of its 40-ton cranes pink and donating a portion of its revenues to the cause. their community by donating a portion of the revenues generated by the Pantone® pink crane to the NBCF, whose mission is “to save lives through early detection and to provide mammograms for those in need.” Corporate sponsorships are critical in furthering and strengthening the NBCF’s mission to gain the advantage over breast cancer. Their initiatives have been lifesaving to thousands of women.

In sponsoring the NBCF, and raising awareness about the nonprofit so that others will follow, the pink crane around town contributes substantially to free mammograms for women in need, pro-

motes early breast cancer detection and provides educational programs that offer answers and advice to anyone whose life is touched by breast disease.

“Over the years, we have contributed regularly to a variety of charities, but have not gotten involved with any particular cause with passion, until now” said Mike Phillips, President of Phoenix Crane. “We knew we had the resources to contribute and the willingness to become involved, we just needed the right partner. Looking at the NBCF, which is also a family-supported organization, we feel we have found our partner.”

National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) and Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) certified crane operator Jessica Ives has operated the pink crane since its maiden voyage just after Mother’s Day on May 14, and will gladly continue to do so.

“Phoenix Crane has every intention to keep the crane in operation for the lifetime of the equipment” said Karen Barton, Chief Financial Officer and Vice President. “Every dollar we can contribute yields a far greater personal and organizational return than anything else we could have gotten involved in.” v Photo Science Purchases MJ Harden Photo Science is pleased to announce that it has entered into a definitive agreement to purchase the assets of MJ Harden (Mission, Kansas). “This agreement directly supports Photo Science’s ongoing growth strategy centered on services diversification and geographic expansion,” stated Mike Ritchie, President and CEO. “Along with the location of our Colorado Springs and San Francisco Bay area facilities, Photo Science is now ideally positioned to serve our national client base.”

In addition to enhanced client support, this agreement increases the firm’s flight operations to 13 aircraft. With significant acquisition staging from this new location, Photo Science is able to more efficiently support our client’s acquisition requirements. v

The Georgia Contractor