Home builders seem to support new energy code proposal

The Natural Resources Defense Council says it has the support from 20 of the largest U.S. home builders for a new, comprehensive energy building code.

By Ron Gallagher • Sept. 10, 2013

Florida says storm winds are blowing harder, but current design standards are OK

New data shows peak winds along the Florida coasts are running 20 to 30 mph higher, but the state says that's already factored into the design standards in the building code.

By Ron Gallagher • Sept. 9, 2013

Developer hopes micro-apartments will compete with hotels

Potter hopes to take a chunk out of Google and Amazon.com's budgets for temporary housing.

By Brian Warmoth • Sept. 9, 2013

Marketing residential? Be careful referring to 'active adults'

Never mind calling potential customers what they consider themselves to be – but the "active adult" category may raise fair-housing issues.

By Ron Gallagher • Sept. 4, 2013

Calif., paving industry pushing to work out last worries over new paving specs

The California Department of Transportation is trying to implement Superpave asphalt specifications on work after next July 1, but some "issues of concern" remain for a government-industry committee.

By Ron Gallagher • Sept. 3, 2013

EPA pushes on toward potentially troublesome ozone standards

Buoyed by a recent court decision on proposed air-quality standards, the federal government is working on how states can implement rules that could seriously affect construction equipment.

By Ron Gallagher • Aug. 28, 2013

Hospital, budget overrun, contractor wants out: It's the 'VA Story'

In a case reminiscent of a Florida dispute, the contractor for a Veterans Affairs hospital being built in Denver says it wants to quit because there won't be enough money to finish the job.

By Ron Gallagher • Aug. 27, 2013

Ontario engineers: Standards, not client's wishes, should drive inspections

No one took an in-depth look at the damage from ongoing leaks in the roof of a mall in Elliot Lake, Ontario, because the owner could not afford extensive repairs that might have prevented a fatal collapse.

By Ron Gallagher • Aug. 27, 2013

Construction gets separate treatment as silica-dust rules released

OSHA is inviting comments on silica-dust control rules that would address construction as an industry separate from the rest of the regulated community.

By Ron Gallagher • Aug. 26, 2013

LEED war rages in Oregon

The forestry industry in Oregon is not pleased with LEED certification's position on its forests.

By Nicole Wrona • Aug. 26, 2013

New code sets up an efficiency competition among home builders in Lawrence, Kan.

In Lawrence, Kan., every new home now has to have an energy audit before the wallboard goes up, and the results are posted for everyone who wants to see them.

By Ron Gallagher • Aug. 22, 2013

Dallas code would take a lot of the shine off new downtown towers

New building code language awaiting a City Council decision would limit reflectivity of new buildings to 15% of the exterior surface in a war on glare.

By Ron Gallagher • Aug. 20, 2013

Hollywood skyscraper developer worried about fault line

Digging down will reveal whether 35- and 39-story towers can go up in Hollywood or if the Hollywood Fault runs under the project, which would kill it.

By Ron Gallagher • Aug. 20, 2013

AGC urges contractors to be heard on immigration reform

The construction industry has a significant stake in immigration reform, and Associated General Contractors is urging members and others to make sure members of Congress know it.

By Ron Gallagher • Aug. 16, 2013

Texas takes aim at bogus use of 'self-employed' workers

Claiming workers are not actually employees of any contractor or sub on a building project may leave them unpaid and the state without taxes it should collect on the wages.

By Ron Gallagher • Aug. 12, 2013

Industry says new study shows good hiring record for veterans, disabled

A new study that Associated General Contractors gave to the federal government says that veterans do better than nonveterans in being hired, and disabled workers have the same chances of being hired as others, so federal rules are unneeded.

By Ron Gallagher • Aug. 9, 2013

Amphibious foundations advocate floats her idea to federal officials

Architect, planner and engineer Elizabeth C. English believes she has an answer for flood protection.

By Ron Gallagher • Aug. 7, 2013

Improve construction site safety—with an iPhone app?

The iConstructSafe app provides videos for iPhones and iPads that cover best practices for equipment and personal protective equipment.

By Ron Gallagher • Aug. 6, 2013

U.S. is moving ahead with hiring rules that will add contractor expenses

Rules that require efforts to hire disabled people and veterans as well as more record-keeping by contractors have been sent to the Office of Management and Budget for review.

By Ron Gallagher • Aug. 5, 2013

Largest builder in nation settles utility dispute for $2.3M

Centex Homes will pay for connecting hundreds of homes to the city water system, although it had received authorization from the Florida city to do so.

By Nicole Wrona • Aug. 2, 2013

$1M earthquake simulation study may lead to changes in building code

Scientists and engineers are studying the effects of seismic activity on steel structures.

By Nicole Wrona • Aug. 1, 2013

China halts construction on world's tallest building

Construction of the Sky City tower was forced to stop, just days after it was started, due to lack of government approval in addition to safety concerns.

By Nicole Wrona • Aug. 1, 2013

New LEED standards adopted amid protest

Although the new LEED standards were approved by a majority of USGBC members, certain groups are vehemently opposed to the updated draft.

By Nicole Wrona • Aug. 1, 2013

A tale from the rails: How 'buy American' killed a project

A proposal to construct a high-speed rail link between Las Vegas and Los Angeles lost any chance of federal funding because of a rule saying it had to buy what doesn't exist.

By Ron Gallagher • July 29, 2013

China, Pentagon City and NYC plumbing: The week's most read construction news

These were the five most popular reads of the past week on Construction Dive.

By Brian Warmoth • July 29, 2013