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According to the latest numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau, there are more than 50,000 hotels in the United States, with more added every year. Due to concerns about rising maintenance costs, sustainability and branding, a lot of the new ones will wind up having metal roofs.

Commercial energy codes for metal buildings are frequently misunderstood by many people, including industry veterans. In this article, Bill Beals of Therm-All Inc. shares some of his many years of experience with energy codes, focusing on four specific tips to make energy codes easier to understand.

Atlanta, GA - Since completing the Helene S. Mills Multipurpose Facility in Atlanta in early 2013, Ideal Building Solutions has become much more active in the commercial metal roofing market. A trip to the annual METALCON show, in their home city of Atlanta in 2013, has been a key to their success that has followed.

Chicago, IL – The nation’s largest energy user, the Department of Defense (DoD), is learning how to transform some of its 577,500 buildings and structures into state-of-art energy-saving powerhouses, by retrofitting old buildings with new high-tech roofing systems. In partnership with the Metal Construction Association (MCA) and the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the DoD is host to a demonstration project for reducing a building’s carbon footprint and lowering demand for energy and water. The demonstration project was part of the DoD’s Strategic Environmental Research and DevelopmentProgram (ESTCP) at Goodfellow Air Force Base (GAFB) in San Angelo, Texas. The model will be replicated at potentially thousands of DoD buildings throughout the country.

Minneapolis, MN - With its high durability and large color palette, Valspar’s Fluropon® exterior coatings have become an industry standard for both metal coil coating and aluminum extrusion applications. These field-proven, high-performance, 70 percent polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) coatings are offered in two- to four-coat systems in nearly any formulation, including low gloss, low sheen, solar reflective and ENERGY STAR. A wide variety of colors also are available, from neutral to bright colors, micas, metallic, pearlescent and Kameleon® color shifting coatings.

When it comes to cavity wall products, it’s all about the wall assembly. That fact was a driving force when Firestone Building Products developed and introduced its new line of Enverge™ Cavity Wall Products, which benefits everyone involved in a given commercial building project: from architects to contractors to owners.

McHenry, IL – As Sno Gem® Inc. celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2014, it is an opportunity to reflect on its journey from start-up to the forefront of the snow retention industry.

Molybdenum is extracted from the mineral molybdenite, discovered by Peter Jacob Hjelm in 1782. It remained a laboratory curiosity until the extraction of commercial quantities became practical. Today it is used in many industries including construction, where it is a key component in stainless steel.

Throughout its 24 years, METALCON has offered new features, ideas and products with a consistent quality unmatched by other industry events. This year’s tradeshow and conference offers the excitement of being in Denver for the first time, an innovative education format that combines classroom and interactive exhibit hall sessions, and a fantastic line-up of new exhibitors and products.

As an architect or specifer, you are ultimately responsible for establishing the louver requirements for your valued project. When selecting a louver product; performance, familiarity, reputation of a manufacturer, options and cost all play a part. Due to various reasons, architects and specifiers need to be cognizant of numerous variables when selecting a louver product – the depth of a louver, type, blade profile, color, free area, water penetration, pressure drop, AMCA certification and the list continues. Contingent on your application, one or all of these details may come into consideration.

Everyone has a story. The story of David “Homie” Mulcahy, a custom metal manufacturer and fabricator in Utah, is truly like no other.

Butyl sealants are a relatively small portion of metal buildings – yet they play an important role in assuring the integrity and weathertightness of each finished structure. So contractors and manufacturers look to sealant producers for reliability in these behind-the-scene products. Family-owned GSSI makes sealant tapes for the metal building and components industry. Just like its high quality sealant products, GSSI offers reliability and design flexibility to its customers, which has resulted in long-term customer relationships.

Premier Products Inc. of Monroe, La., manufactures commercial hollow metal steel doors and frames, as well as a complete line of building doors, frames and aluminum windows for metal building applications. With the help of roll forming equipment from Samco Machinery, Premier plans to improve its manufacturing capabilities.

At first glance you'd swear the building was clad in real mahogany. But after another look, you'll find that Alcoa Architectural Products' (AAP) Reynobond® Aluminum Composite Material (ACM), coated with a natural Mahogany Brown wood grain Design Line paint coating, was used instead. Virtually indistinguishable from nature's own handiwork, AAP's Design Line finishes can be used to inject the natural warmth of wood, the strength of granite or the rustic tone of terra cotta in any way you might imagine.

Attaching equipment to the building structure, through the roof, is the most efficient method of attachment, but often such work is done without consideration of waterproofing concerns. Any attachment penetration must not compromise the integrity of the roofing system. This is why RoofScreen Manufacturing got into the business … to discover and develop a better method for leak-proof attachment for all types of roofing and building structures.

AppliCad has led the world in waste reduction and material optimization in its software tools for metal roofing for over 20 years. AppliCad is continuously striving for even better results and forever fine tuning their software tools to further improve ease of use and provide greater efficiency. With that in mind, the company has announced its latest RoofWizard software enhancement: Block-Cut.

An improving construction market leads to increased confidence and that confidence leads to spending or investing. If you’re making a living in the construction industry, Bob Repovs, CEO of Samco Machinery, says 2014 is likely the year to grow your business through the purchase of capital, specifically, roll forming equipment.

RoofScreen Manufacturing developed modular rooftop equipment screens to aid architects and contractors in the quest to improve building aesthetics. The company offers a variety of systems designed to mask unsightly rooftop equipment. RoofScreen often works directly with architects to match the aesthetics of the host building.

When you first look at the typical collegiate boathouse, you’re likely to get a little confused. When we think of boathouses, we usually think of small buildings nestled against a dock and extended over the water. The truth of the matter is that most college boathouses look more like barns or large garages. And because of the kinds of boats they house and the types of crews that use them, more often than not they aren’t located right on the water—but near it.

Gutter systems and related architectural sheet metal trim can have a profound impact on both the functional & visual quality of the building exterior. Managing the runoff of any roof is a key strategy for keeping the building dry and façade clean. Enhancing the gutter system & trim with preweathered zinc can not only extend the durability and improve performance, but also provide a natural aesthetic that can’t be imitated by paint, pigmented stains, or metallic coatings.