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Bellevue, NE upgrades to ICC 2009 Building Codes

Jan 18, 2012 - Today the International Code Council posted new testing standards to for Bellevue, NE. Instead of the 2006 IBC & IRC code books being the only reference materials (depending on test class A, B, C, D or E), Bellevue has upgraded to the 2009 building codes. Testing materials will now include the 2009 IBC, 2009 IRC and ACI 318-08 Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete and Commentary or 2009 ICC Concrete Manual.

Here is the official Exam Bulletin from ICC (test specifics are on the last few pages).

Test criteria for Omaha, NE has not changed. Contractors will still require a minimum passing grade of the 2006 IBC and/or 2006 IRC test.

If you need to take the 2009 test for Bellevue, Omaha will also accept a passing grade on the new Bellevue test requirements, so you only need to take the test once. Bellevue has confirmed that if you take the test for Omaha or Council Bluffs, IA, your passing grade will be accepted for licensing. So additional tests will not be required.

Please be aware that before the end of 2012, Omaha and Bellevue will be upgrading to the 2012 Building Codes. Don't be suprised if this transition begins in July.

Frameworks Connect, LLC will continue to do Contractor Licensing Review seminars for Omaha's 2006 test requirements. For more information visit on the next seminar checkout the Frameworks Calendar

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Single-Family Housing Starts Rise 4.4 Percent in December

Jan 18, 2012 - Nationwide production of new single-family homes rose 4.4 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 470,000 units in December, according to newly released figures from the U.S. Commerce Department. This marked a third consecutive increase and the fastest pace of single-family housing starts since April of 2010. Meanwhile, the overall number of housing starts for the month declined 4.1 percent to a 657,000-unit rate due to a 20.4 percent dip on the more volatile multifamily side.

"Today's report adds to the growing evidence that demand for new, single-family homes is finally starting to firm up in an increasing number of markets nationwide," said Bob Nielsen, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder from Reno, Nev. "This emerging trend is allowing builders to put more crews back to work, and could be even stronger if not for the overly tight credit conditions that prevail for both builders and buyers, as well as the continuing foreclosure crisis and the challenges of obtaining accurate appraisal values on new homes. Policymakers should be doing everything possible to alleviate these problems and nurture the fledgling housing recovery in order to promote job and economic growth."

"This report is in keeping with our expectations for slow but steady improvement in the single-family market, where production hit its lowest yearly rate in over 50 years in 2011," said NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe. "Meanwhile, it should be noted that the decline in multifamily starts in December was coming off a dramatic increase from the previous month and simply brought that sector back closer to trend. Apartment production generally continues to gain strength heading into 2012 after posting a more-than 50 percent gain in 2011." Looking forward, NAHB is forecasting gains of approximately 17 percent in both single- and multifamily housing production in 2012.

Combined single- and multifamily housing starts fell 4.1 percent to a 657,000-unit rate in December due to the multifamily side retreating 20.4 percent from a big gain in the previous month, to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 187,000 units. However, for the year as a whole, overall housing production was pegged at 606,900 units, which was 3.4 percent better than the overall number of starts in 2010.

Regionally, December housing starts rose 54.8 percent in the Midwest following a big decline in the previous month. The Northeast posted a 41.2 percent decline that offset a big gain in the previous month, while the South and West also posted declines of 3.0 percent and 17.6 percent, respectively.

Permit issuance, which can be an indicator of future building activity, held virtually flat at a 679,000-unit rate in December. Single-family permits rose for a third consecutive month, by 1.8 percent to 444,000 units, while multifamily permits declined 3.7 percent to 235,000 units.

Regionally, permits rose 5.8 percent in the Midwest and held unchanged in the West, but declined 6.5 percent in the Northeast and 0.6 percent in the South in December.

Story from the National Association of Home Builders. Read More...

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Majority of OSHA's Most Frequently Cited Standards in 2011 Apply to Home Building

Jan 15, 2011 - Each year, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration compiles an annual list of the top 10 most frequently cited standards across all industries. The majority of standards that OSHA has identified as the most frequently cited are directly applicable to the construction and residential home building industries.

Employers who were cited for violations in 2011 may have noticed that the penalties were higher than in the past. The average serious violation penalty for 2011 was $2,132 - more than double the average of $1,053 for 2010.

OSHA last year also issued 215 citations totaling at least $100,000 - up from the 164 in 2010.

OSHA's top 10 most frequently cited standards across all industries in FY 2011 were:

1. Scaffolding, general requirements (29 CFR 1926.451)
2. Fall protection (29 CFR 1926.501)
3. Hazard communication standard (29 CFR 1910.1200)
4. Respiratory protection (29 CFR 1910.134)
5. Control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout) (29 CFR 1910.147)
6. Electrical, wiring methods, components and equipment (29 CFR 1910.305)
7. Powered industrial trucks (29 CFR 1910.178)
8. Ladders (29 CFR 1926.1053)
9. Electrical systems design, general requirements (29 CFR 1910.303)
10. Machines, general requirements (29 CFR 1910.212)

Residential builders can take a few easy steps to reduce or eliminate the chance of being cited by OSHA.

• Review their safety program
• Understand any national and local emphasis programs
• Develop procedures for an OSHA visit and train their employees in those procedures
• Have records (300 Logs, training records, etc.) readily available and up-to-date
• Make sure their workers are properly trained on the safety requirements of the job site

Story from the National Association of Home Builders. Read More...

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Housing Sector Finally Gaining Some Momentum

Jan 13, 2011 - 2011 ended on a positive note with economic activity continuing to expand at a moderate rate and the housing sector finally gaining some positive momentum after bouncing along the bottom for most of the year.

Real growth of the gross domestic product was adjusted down to 1.8% for the third quarter, but it remained an improvement over growth of 0.4% in the first quarter and 1.3% in the second. Expectations are that statistics for the fourth quarter will show GDP growth strengthening further as businesses replenished inventories and the holidays boosted retail spending.

Despite concerns over the sovereign debt crisis in the Euro zone and slowing growth in emerging markets, particularly China, domestic conditions have shown improvement and the Federal Open Market Committee decided at its Dec. 13 meeting to maintain its current course.

After a mid-year slump, employment growth began to regain some momentum with the addition of 200,000 jobs and a decline in the unemployment rate to 8.5% in December, down 0.6 percentage points since August.

Employment growth is being supported by a steadily improving rate of job openings, which remained steady at 2.4% in October. The hiring rate in the construction sector was at a relatively high level of 5.8% in October, with construction job openings on pace to exceed total separations for the first time since 2006.

Largely positive housing news over the past few months suggests the recovery may finally be underway.

Story from the National Association of Home Builders. Read More...

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