ADA Experts Discuss 2010 Standards

Get some questions answered regarding the new 2010 ADA Standards by checking out  ADA Experts Discuss 2010 Standards.

Also, download the 2010 ADA Standard or the Guidance on The 2010 ADA Standard listed on the Federal Register.

--MS

Code Council Updates ICC A117.1 Accessibility Standard, Offers New Resources to Identify Changes

Below is the press release from the ICC rearding the new ANSI A117.1-2009: Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities. This document will used as a reference for future revisions made to the ADAAG. You can order a copy at the ICC store.

For Immediate Release Contact: Jay Woodward
January 13, 2011 1-888-ICC-SAFE (422-7233), ext.3814
www.iccsafe.org
The International Code Council serves as the publisher and convener for the standard that makes buildings accessible to people with disabilities. The Code Council’s process has resulted in an update of this standard with essential new requirements. ICC A117.1 Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities, contains technical accessibility requirements for both new and existing buildings. Released alongside the updated standard are a new guide and seminar spotlighting significant revisions.

“The Code Council is proud of its leadership role in shepherding the development of ICC A117.1 over the years. These critical updates represent a consensus approach from advocates and industry to promote a more accessible built environment,” said Code Council CEO Richard P. Weiland. The ICC A117.1-2009: Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities includes many new or revised requirements such as: clarification of requirements for dwelling units, addition of Type C dwelling unit requirements for use by jurisdictions adopting visitability ordinances for dwellings not regulated by Fair Housing, a series of revisions for restroom requirements, a new chapter for recreational facilities, and a new section addressing variable message signs.

The new companion guide and seminar addresses the critical need for professionals in the building industry to keep current in their understanding of accessibility standards. The Significant Changes to the A117.1 Accessibility Standard, 2009 Edition book and seminar analyze the most critical, frequently used requirements and provisions with a significant change in application. Each change is accompanied by a photograph, real-world example or illustration, and is followed by a summary and analysis. The book and seminar also discuss where the standard coordinates with the Americans with Disabilities Act and 2009 International Building Code (IBC), as well as where it differs and affects application.

Significant Changes to the ICC A117.1 Accessibility Standard, 2009 Edition is authored by Jay Woodward, Code Council Senior Staff Architect and the Technical Secretariat for the 2003 to 2009 development cycle of the Standard. Woodward developed the book and seminar to familiarize Code Officials, plans examiners, inspectors and designers with the many important changes in the 2009 edition of ICC A117.1 that will be applicable when using the IBC. In his role as Secretariat, Woodward served as an impartial observer to committee discussion that resulted in the changes to the standard, and has articulated in these materials why certain requirements were adopted.

For more information on ICC A117.1-2009: Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities and the Significant Changes book and seminar, please visit www.iccsafe.org/access. The ICC A117.1-2009 Standard and Significant Changes book are also available as a combo at a reduced rate.

The International Code Council, a membership association dedicated to building safety, fire prevention and energy efficiency, develops the codes used to construct residential and commercial buildings, including homes and schools. Most U.S. cities, counties and states choose the International Codes, building safety codes developed by the International Code Council. The International Codes also serve as the basis for construction of federal properties around the world, and as a reference for many nations outside the United States.
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Small Business Depreciation Bonus 2011

Small businesses may be growing again

The percentage of firms expecting more sales rose to the highest level in more than three years. This is worth celebrating because lack of sales growth has been the No. 1 problem for small businesses.

There’s also evidence that these companies are beginning to invest for the future again. The number of firms in the NFIB survey who said they planned to hire more workers rose in December to the highest level in more than two years.

More importantly, these companies are actually hiring, not just talking about it.

In December, employment in small firms (fewer than 50 employees) rose by 117,000, the biggest gain in nearly five years, according to the ADP employment report.

For confirmation, the Intuit small business employment index (which covers even smaller companies with fewer than 20 employees) has increased for 15 months in a row. The average employee at one of these companies is working nearly three hours more per month than she was during the worst of the recession.

--DM

Source: MarketWatch.com

ISA SmartBrief

I'm not sure how may of you that read our blog are ISA members, but regardless of membership there is a great resource sent our by the ISA called SmartBrief.

SmartBRief is designed specifically for the sign and visual communications industry. ISA SmartBrief is a FREE weekly e-mail newsletter. It provides industry developments, new technology and special offers from the ISA. You can learn more by clicking here.

In the latest edition, it discusses how spray painters who are not certified are now subject to fines. You can read more detail about this here. 

If you have questions about the rule or would like information on the training, e-mail Sapna Budev, ISA director of industry programs, at sapna.budev@signs.org

If you would like to sign up for the course, click here. 

If you are one of our customers using NovAcryl®, remember that all signs need a surface coat - either clear if you are sub-surface decorating or leaving clear with just tipped tactile areas, or a coating of paint in surface coating.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.

--DM

How To Be A Green Sign Company

Check out the latest issue of Sign Builder Illustrated. This issue has a green supplement, Exploring the World of Greener Signage, with several articles related to green practices in the sign industry. I wrote the article titled "How To Be A Green Sign Company."

The goal of the supplement and the article is to talk about some of the ways people are implementing green practice in their businesses. The trend towards being more responsible in business is not going away as there are many benefits in taking a close look at business and making changes that effect both the environment and your companies bottom line.  --MS

Recovery in Commercial Building Is Forecast for 2011

The nation's construction industry, virtually on life support during the economic downturn, will begin a slow recovery next year, according to a forecast set to be released Friday.McGraw-Hill projects that construction starts of manufacturing buildings will increase 9% and expects the U.S. economy will grow 2.5% in 2011.

Commercial buildings—which includes offices, stores, hotels and warehouses (all public spaces which require ADA compliant signage), will improve with a 16% gain to $44.9 billion.

- source http://online.wsj.com

This information can be further confirmed by the number of projects in which Novacryl has been specified on Arcat.com - the nations largest source for on-line specification related to commercial building projects.

If you want to be part of the recovery process, contact us.

--DM