Author Archives: Scott

EIMA Gives Support to ICC for Building Safety Month

Posted on by
Reply

Each May, the International Code Council (ICC) promotes Building Safety Month to help businesses and families understand what it takes to build a safe and sustainable building. This campaign is intended to generate awareness, and support for the adoption of modern building code as well as a well-trained work-force to maintain these systems. EIMA is on of the proud sponsors, again this year, for Building Safety Month and will continue to promote the use of safe and sustainable materials in building construction.

 

EIFS has proven itself to be a resilient cladding material, meeting the ICC regulations for both fire prevention and structural design. Due to its low weight, low construction costs, superior energy efficiency and moisture control, EIFS is a prime example of modern materials that are both safe and sustainable.

 

 

EIMA will continue to work with the ICC to promote Building Safety Month.

COMING SOON: 2013 EIMA Annual Meeting Update! More Good News from the EIFS Industry!

Posted on by
Reply

For those of you who were able to join us in San Antonio for the 2013 EIMA Annual Meeting, we hope you had a great time. For those of you unable to join us, we’re sorry you missed out on all the fun.  For those who attended and those who wish they had, remember next year the 2014 EIMA Annual Meeting is in Las Vegas!

With a special edition of EIFS Briefs about to be released, full of updates and photos, here are a couple of things to look forward to.  Chris Dixon’s Walls and Ceilings article EIFS: The Greenest of Wall Claddings was the 2013 recipient of the Mike Sweeney Press Award.  Just moments before this award was given out, Dow Construction Chemicals was presented with the inaugural EIMA Associate Member of the Year Award.

                        

 

 

In the coming issue of EIFS Briefs, you’ll also see updates from The Quarry Golf Course and the 2013 “Alamo” Cocktail Reception (which included the “STO-tini”), as well as the several committee meetings that occurred over the two-day period.  In an effort to bring new featured events to the 2013 Annual Meeting, EIMA held the first annual Associate Members Dinner at the Las Canarias restaurant in the Omni La Mansion Hotel Del Rio. 

 

Vela Insurance Services sponsored the first annual Associate Members Dinner, which

included over 55 individuals from the Manufacturing and Associate memberships.

 

Look for these updates and more in the special edition of EIFS Briefs, later this week!

To see additional photos from the 2013 EIMA Annual Meeting, visit our Facebook page.

Vela Insurance Sponsors First Associate Members Dinner at EIMA Annual Meeting

Posted on by
Reply

Vela Insurance Services is the sole sponsor of the inaugural EIMA Associate Members Dinner that is being held on March 19th during the 2013 EIMA Annual Meeting in San Antonio.  The purpose of the dinner is to recognize the very valuable contributions made by EIMA’s Associate Members toward advancing EIFS and the EIFS industry.  Members in the Associate member category are those firms that are engaged in the sale of components, equipment or supplies to the EIFS industry.

 

This is the second year in a row that Vela has stepped up and sponsored a major marquee event at the EIMA annual meeting.  Last year, Vela was the sole sponsor of the 2012 EIMA Golf Tournament.

 

Vela is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Berkley Specialty Insurance Services, LLC, and a member of W.R. Berkley Corporation (WRBC), a leading commercial lines property and casualty insurance provider. Vela’s issuing carrier, Gemini Insurance Company, is a WRBC subsidiary and is rated A+ (Superior) with a financial size classification of XV by A.M. Best Company and A+ (Strong) by Standard & Poor’s. Vela began operations in 1996 as an underwriting manager, writing excess and surplus lines casualty business with a primary focus on contractor and product liability coverages. Vela writes a variety of classes nationwide, exclusively through our network of appointed excess and surplus lines brokers. Vela representatives will be in attendance at the annual meeting to provide information about its services.

EIMA Shows at the NAHB International Builders Show

Posted on by
Reply

EIMA was a recent participant in the 2013 International Builders Show that ran from January 22-24 in Las Vegas.  Early last year, EIMA agreed to find a variety of ways to work more closely with the National Association of Home Builders, and having a booth at the IBS show was one of the ideas.  Joining EIMA staff was Brett Henry, who is the Western States Representative for Dryvit Systems Inc.

 

During the three-day show (that an estimated 49,000 individuals attended), EIMA was approached with a variety of comments about the current EIFS market.  Overall, there were several positive remarks about the choice of EIFS as an exterior wall system and additional questions about the new advancements in the system.  EIMA had information available on different finishes (with actual samples), two samples of EIFS with drainage, information on where to obtain insurance for EIFS, a folder that included information with a variety of items, as well as contractor information and a video showing handsome EIFS finishes and durability tests.

 

Several attendees stopped by the booth and were impressed with the features of EIFS that they were previously unaware of, while others were impressed with the advancements the system has made over the last decade.  Additionally, several colleagues from Washington, DC and some members from different corners of the country were also in attendance and stopped by to see the traffic we were receiving.

 

Many of those who attended were also able to tour two different versions of a home built by BASF. One home was under construction, while the other was a completed look of what a home could look like. While touring the first house, EIFS was an example used for a building envelope.

 

The show was a success, and EIMA looks forward to its participation again next year to further educate and encourage construction of homes clad with EIFS.

EIMA Requests Interpretation from ICC on EIFS

Posted on by
Reply

The EIFS Industry Members Association (EIMA) recently requested an interpretation from the International Code Council (ICC) on the use of EIFS in the International Residential Code (IRC).  The interpretation was requesting further clarification on Section R 703.9 of the 2009 and 2012 editions of the IRC and the use of “barrier” EIFS.

 

It was the initial understanding, and intent, of EIMA that the code language was to be consistent with the Evaluation Reports of its members, precluding “barrier” EIFS on residential framed/sheathed construction.  EIMA’s intent with the initial inclusion of EIFS in the 2009 and subsequently the 2012 code was for EIFS with Drainage (“New” EIFS) to be required on framed walls with sheathing when designing in accordance with the IRC.  Further, “barrier” EIFS would not be included in this restriction when the substrate is concrete or masonry walls.

 

In the ICC’s response to EIMA, they give confirmation that the intent of EIMA’s initial request for inclusion in the 2009 IRC is as they intended.  EIFS with Drainage is required for all exterior walls except for concrete and masonry walls, where “barrier” EIFS can be used as an appropriate system.

 

The entire question and answer from EIMA and the ICC is attached on the following pages.

EIMA Heads to San Antonio for Annual Meeting and Festivities

Posted on by
1

 

The 2013 EIMA Annual Meeting is set to land at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, in San Antonio, Texas on March 19-20.  The two day event, held in conjunction with the Association of Wall and Ceiling Industry’s (AWCI) Convention and INTEX EXPO 2013, will be full of meetings, receptions and other events that have become traditional parts of the week, while also including a couple new events this year.

 

The EIMA General Session will be headlined by Scott Friedman presenting “Celebrate: The Secret to Greater Productivity and Performance”.  Friedman is trained in improvisation comedy; he is the two-time past president of NSA/CO and served as the National Speakers Association’s National President 2004-2005. Take a look at some of what you might see with this speech. Following the General Session, participants will have their chance to show off their drives and putting at the Quarry Golf Club, as they compete for the 2013 EIMA Cup.  In addition to the EIMA Cup, there are several individual awards as well, just ask Mike Murphy of Dryvit Systems Inc., who won several of them last year.

 

Annual Meeting Schedule of Events:

 

Monday, March 18

7:30 p.m. EIMA Board of Directors Dinner

 

Tuesday, March 19

8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. EIMA Board of Directors Meeting and Lunch (by invitation only)

10:45 – 11:30 a.m. AWCI EIFS & Related Products Committee

12:00 – 2:00 p.m. Registration

1:00 – 3:30 p.m. EIMA Technical and Research Committee

3:30 – 4:30 p.m. EIMA Advocacy and Industry Relations Committee

4:30 – 5:30 p.m. EIMA Communications and Education Committee

5:00 – 6:30 p.m. Registration

5:45 – 7:45 p.m. EIMA “Alamo” Cocktail Reception – Sponsorship Opportunities Available

8:30 p.m. EIMA Associate Members Dinner (by invitation only)

 

Wednesday, March 20th

8:30 – 9:15 a.m. EIMA Membership Committee

9:00 – 10:00 a.m. Registration

9:00 – 9:30 a.m. Coffee and Refreshment Break – Sponsorship Opportunities Available

9:30 – 11:15 a.m. EIMA General Session -Sponsorship Opportunities Available

Noon Departure for Golf Course

1:00 p.m. EIMA Golf Tournament – Sponsorship Opportunities Available

5:30 p.m. 19th Hole Reception and Award Presentation -

 

Sponsorship Opportunities Available

Contact Dave Johnston, EIMA’s Executive Director at (703)538-1616 or djohnston@eima.com to inquire about these opportunities.

 

Registration and Additional Information

Further information on all the events, meetings, and registration can be found here.

Nominate an Article for the Mike Sweeney Award

Posted on by
Reply

Mike Sweeney worked as the media relations manager for Sto Corp., for 10 years, until his death on January 4, 2011. While at Sto Corp., Mike was responsible for public relations and advertising, thanks in large part to his relationships with vendors and the media. For those of you who knew Mike personally, you’ll also remember his incredible sense of humor and good nature, which has been greatly missed. For all of those 10 years Mike was with Sto, he was a dedicated and enthusiastic participant on EIMA’s Communications Committee. Mike’s many contributions greatly advanced the work of EIMA and EIFS.

 

Last year, EIMA started the Mike Sweeney Press Award and will be continuing it again this year. The award has been designed to recognize an author and their story that shows the advantages of using EIFS as an exterior cladding system. Last year had nominations ranging from advocacy articles, to energy efficient and cost reductions, to continuous insulation benefits. Nominations should be received by January 31st for consideration.

 

Nomination Form

Completed forms with the article attached can be sent to srobinson@eima.com

 

 

 

ASHRAE Continues Work on Updated Energy Efficiency Standard

Posted on by
Reply

ASHRAE Standard 90.1, Energy Standards for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings provides the mini-mum requirements for the energy-efficient design of most buildings and offers, in detail, the minimum energy-efficient requirements for the design and construction of new buildings and their systems, new portions of buildings and their systems, and new systems and equipment in existing buildings as well as the criteria for determining compliance with these requirements. Due to the reliance that the Department of Energy places on the 90.1 standard to supply the requirements for energy-efficiency in buildings, the committee meets four times a year to expedite its work. Developing the revisions and acting on comments to the proposed revisions is ASHRAE’s 90.1 Special Standing Project Committee. The committee’s fall meeting was held on October 4-6 in Chicago.

Addressing the exterior of a building is the 90.1’s Envelope Subcommittee which meets in conjunction with the full 90.1 committee. This subcommittee had a very lengthy agenda of very complicated topics including thermal bridging, storm windows, new climate data, high speed commercial garage doors, and commissioning to mention just a few.

 

One of the more important actions was consideration of the public comments on providing an R Value for air cavities. Currently, ASHRAE 90.1 requires that this air space be at least one half inch and must be enclosed. At an earlier meeting, EIMA questioned whether this space had to be over ½ inch and sealed. Rushing in an attempt to finish its long agenda, the subcommittee agreed that air spaces just need to be enclosed on all sides and not sealed. This brings back the possibility that EIFS could claim its drainage plane as an enclosed space, particularly since, Dr. Dave Yarborough, formerly of Oak Ridge National Laboratory again cited a study that he did that shows that an enclosed space, no matter how small it is, can contribute to a wall’s R value. EIMA will continue to pursue this issue.

EIMA Gains Successes at ICC Final Action Hearings

Posted on by
Reply

The final step in building code development of the International Code Council is the Final Action Hearing. These hearings were held in Port-land, Oregon on October 24-28. Of interest to EIMA at these hearings were several proposed code changes that would, in essence, circumvent the requirement for fire resistance testing pursuant to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 285. NFPA 285 provides fire test methods for evaluation of fire propagation characteristics of exterior non-load-bearing wall assemblies containing combustible components.

 

The proposed code changes would enable building designers to specify non-compliance, untested water resistive barriers (WRBs) in the building envelope. EIMA opposed these proposed code changes and contributed to their defeat during the initial Code Development Hearings last May. The reasons why EIMA opposed these change were because the WRBs that the designers want to use are non-compliant and, in some cases, not intended for use in vertical assemblies and be-cause exterior wall assemblies with combustible components need to be tested.

 

Supporting these code changes were the American Institute of Architects and the National Institute of Building Sciences’ Building Envelope Technology and Environment Council (BETEC). AIA and BETEC offered the code change since designers wanted to provide innovative, un-tested designs while relying on a revised code with a less than reliable fire safety requirement while accommodating these designs.

 

Also, the proponents said that the requirements for fire testing were very confusing. Methods that the AIA/BETEC alliance advocated to achieve fire safety in lieu of testing were the use of fire blocking and use of sprinklers (During the hearings, it was cited.

 

Methods that the AIA/BETEC alliance advocated to achieve fire safety in lieu of testing were the use of fireblocking and use of sprinklers (During the hearings, there were varying degrees of reliability of sprinklers cited. Some wit-nesses said 85% and some said 98% with a few in between.)

Busting Durability Myths: EIFS Shows its Strength

Posted on by
3

The myth that EIFS isn’t strong enough doesn’t work anymore.  Advancements in the system have shown how strong it really is:

 

  • A 100% acrylic binder to prevent yellowing, chalking, and cracking.
  • A color that is tied into the finish, so if the system’s exterior is damaged with a scratch it will go unnoticed.
  • The system is designed to be flexible to movement when a building expands and contracts from weather changes.

 

Sometimes, seeing is believing though; so here are some videos to show you the durability of EIFS. It definitely packs a punch.

 

Here is a sledgehammer and screwdriver test from BASF Wall Systems:

 

Dryvit Systems “Missile Test”

 

So, when you’re told that EIFS isn’t a durable option, you tell them otherwise because you know better.