Building & Electrical Industry News

Quinn announces Chicago area and statewide school construction funding

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 09:05:00 PST

More than two dozen Illinois school districts, including CPS and Chicago area suburbs will get around $623 million in capital funds to update and repair schools. See the list of school districts to receive funding

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New 2012 Canadian Electrical Code Released

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 12:21:00 PST

CSA Standards, a leading standards-based solutions organization, today officially announces the availability of the 2012 Canadian Electrical Code (CEC), Part 1. The 2012 CEC is the 22nd edition of Canada's primary standard for electrical installations and includes more than 180 updates and revisions - the most comprehensive set of changes ever - including future-looking developments toward...

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Homebuilder optimism rises for 5th straight month

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 14:16:00 PST

U.S. homebuilders are gradually growing more optimistic about the depressed housing market and believe homes sales could pick up sharply at the beginning of 2012. The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo said its builder sentiment index rose for a fifth straight month in February to 29, up from 25 in January. The index has climbed 15 points since September and is now at its...

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ABC Reports 4Q-2011 Construction Backlog Slips 3.2 Percent

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 06:21:00 PST

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today released its Construction Backlog Indicator (CBI) for the fourth quarter of 2011. CBI declined 3.2 percent from the previous quarter from 8.1 months to 7.8 months, but is still up 10.9 percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2010. “Overall, the latest CBI numbers indicate a degree of stalling in the recovery of the nation’s...

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McHugh Construction Under Investigation

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:50:00 PST

McHugh Construction, a 115-year-old Chicago general-contracting giant with billions of dollars in government and private business, is at the heart of a federal investigation into minority- and women-owned business fraud on four of the biggest government construction projects in Chicago in recent years, a federal criminal complaint unsealed Tuesday revealed... Read the full story

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Kenny Construction Company Welcomes Two New Board Members

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 09:35:00 PST

Kenny Construction Company has named two new members to its board of directors. The family-owned and operated construction company, now in its 85th year, announced today that Michael Africk and Michael Futch have joined the company's board of directors. Both men bring decades of experience and leadership in the construction industry to the Kenny board... Read the full press release

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The Electrical Safety Questions OSHA Will Ask During an Investigation

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:32:00 PST

A good starting point is to understand OSHA’s approach to electrical safety. OSHA’s goal is for employers to identify all electrical hazards, both potential and actual. In the past, OSHA focused on process changes, encouraging companies to de-energize circuits before working on them, perform lockout/tagout procedures and develop ongoing safety programs that include worker training and...

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Chicagoland Electric Association Announces 2012 Spring Training

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:21:00 PST

Everybody has their own signs of spring they anxiously await; it could be warmer weather, Cub's spring training, the bloom of new growth or for some of us it might be the announcement of the Electric Association's Spring Semester! If you have new hires onboard or associates who can benefit from a little refresher, you can't go wrong with these outstanding, local, CEU accredited...

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Builders step up spending for fifth straight month

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:39:00 PST

The Commerce Department says spending on construction projects rose 1.5 percent in December after a revised 0.4 percent gain in November. That pushed spending to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $816.4 billion, the highest level in 20 months... Read the full story

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AIA Launches Stalled Projects Database

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 06:45:00 PST

The American Institute of Architects has launched its Stalled Projects Database, where industry leaders can connect with investors and re-start projects nationwide that make solid economic sense but which lack the financing needed to be finished. The site will be a tool to help bring the two sides together. The AIA announced its commitment to building this database earlier this year as a...

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New AGC Report Finds Fewer Construction Layoffs in 2012

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:34:00 PST

Significantly fewer construction firms are planning to make layoffs in 2012 than at any point in the past few years according to survey results released today by the Associated General Contractors of America and Computer Guidance Corporation. The survey, conducted as part of the 2012 Construction Industry Hiring and Business Outlook, shows many firms expect key private sector market segments to...

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2012 Construction Recovery Projected to be Modest Says American Institute of Architects (AIA) Report

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:25:00 PST

In spite of all the serious problems in the economic outlook, there is still some upside. Corporate profits at U.S. businesses are very strong, and have returned to pre-recessionary levels, which in turn has generated a recovery in stock prices. "Spending on hotels, industrial plants, and commercial properties are going to set the pace for the construction industry over the next two...

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ABB to Acquire Thomas & Betts for $3.9 billion

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:06:00 PST

Swiss engineering group ABB (VTX:ABBN.VX - News) has agreed to buy U.S. electrical components maker Thomas & Betts (NYSE:TNB - News) for $3.9 billion to ramp up its presence in the world's largest market for low-voltage products. Under the terms of Monday's deal... Read the full story

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CSST Gas Lines Under Investigation as Reports of Fires Increase

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 04:33:00 PST

Reports of lightning-related fires and gas leaks in at least a dozen states have raised concerns about the use of flexible gas lines made of corrugated stainless steel tubing and have led to lawsuits, studies and efforts to better track the incidents. Manufacturers have defended the plastic-coated metal tubing, known as CSST, which has become increasingly common in new homes since it was...

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North American & Global Construction Report released by Coface Group

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 06:12:00 PST

Coface Group, a trade credit insurer, released a comprehensive report examining the state of the construction sector in North America and worldwide. "The intensity of activity in the construction sector vary according to the impact of the crisis on the economy of the concerned country and according to sensitivity to economic conditions that varies from one subsector to another....

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