Fire is always a concern, causing drastic damage every year. In 2014 alone, the National Fire Protection Association estimated that there were 1,298,000 fires reported in the United States, responsible for 3,275 deaths, 15,775 injuries and approximately $11.6 billion in damage. Nearly half a million of those fires were structural, accounting for the large majority of deaths, injuries and damage. But how do you stop a fire in its tracks, either in a new construction or a retrofit? Hilti has been working on the answer with their Firestop products. Let's take a look at the available products and solutions.

Hilti's Firestop Solutions

Hilti provides a range of solutions for specifiers and other design and construction professionals. These resources include one of the most comprehensive research and resource libraries in existence, allowing you to search and filter for the exact situation you're dealing with. They also have available a team of highly-qualified fire protection engineers to work with developing a plan of action for projects that fall outside of their existing library of options. They have a range of continuing education opportunities in addition to their Hilti Accredited Firestop Specialty Contractor program. From curtain walls to cable management, Hilti has looked at potential fire situations and developed exceptionally well thought out solutions.

Obviously, the people at Hilti have spent a lot of time developing exceptional specifications and options for a variety of situations. But beyond that, they've also developed a wide range of products to be incorporated in a new construction or retrofit job. Here are a few of their more popular products.

Cast-In and Sleeve Devices

Whether you need to penetrate a concrete slab or work cables through an existing wall, these devices make it easy to pass cables and other penetrating items through a wall while still providing smoke and moisture barriers, helping prevent the spread of smoke and water damage following a fire.

Sealants and Sprays

These fire-stopping materials can be worked into cracks and crevices, sealing the bottom of a wall, spraying into joints and self-leveling sealant to get into retrofit areas that would otherwise be difficult to impossible to seal. They do a great job of sealing out water, smoke and fire, preventing the fire and related damage from spreading outside of a contained area.

Collars, Wraps and Bandages

Because it can be really difficult to seal around pipes, conduit and other perforations through your perimeter, Hilti has developed a line of collars and wraps to help seal these hard to seal areas. Their collars wrap around cables, pipes and similar materials, providing a ready solution to fire protection right out of the box, while the wrap can be used around oddly-shaped protrusions.

Mortars

Unlike the sleeve devices, collars and wraps, which may hit an end of life point where they no longer provide protection against fire, Hilti's mortar provides a permanent solution to cable, pipe and conduit openings that may otherwise pass fire, smoke and moisture from one part of the structure to another. It can be placed by using a trowel, pumping or pouring it exactly where it needs to be.

Putties

If you need to maintain a certain amount of flexibility in your system, such as the expansion and contraction of water pipes as the temperature changes within, the range of putties available from Hilti provides a great option. Available in rolls, discs, patches and sticks, the putty shapes to any oddly-shaped materials that need to perforate the wall.

Block & Plug Systems

When you're undertaking a retrofit, sometimes the easiest way to seal a perforation that is no longer needed is by blocking it off or plugging it. Hilti provides blocks, plugs, boards and rolls of material that will help seal up outdated pass-through locations.

Hilit Firestop Video

Stopping a fire will help prevent the dramatic losses that may otherwise occur, easily paying for itself when it stops the first blaze. If you need more information about firestopping products, please download our free product guide below.

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Whether you dream in color or walk to the beat of a different drummer, you want your business to reflect that. Beyond the average, ho-hum designs that everyone uses, you want an exterior that goes above and beyond to make a stylized, vivid impression on áyour customers, clients, vendors and visitors. These beautiful designs will blow your mind and provide you with some amazing inspiration on what you'd like to do with your own commercial building.

1. The Wavescape Pavilion

The Wave Pavilion was designed for the Yeosu Expo to reflect the city's close ties with water. The large expanse of glass on the water side reflects the waves onto the glass, making it appear to always be in motion. The skin translates the ocean's motion into the appearance of a rippling facade that soothes the mind and calms the spirit.

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2. The Energy Cube Structure

Don't let the flashy exterior of The Energy Cube Structure in Konstanz, Germany fool you - it's actually a net energy producer. The four-story structure incorporates numerous solar panels and a variety of energy-saving features that weren't even thought feasible five years ago, which is appropriate since it's the municipalityáutility's customer call center.

3. The UNStudio Gallery Cheonan

The UNStudio Gallery Cheonan may be an average if beautiful monotoneábuilding facade by day, but at night, it comes out to play with a wide range of colors, images and themes. This beautiful Korean work of art serves as a multi-level funhouse with a central stairwell designed around a propeller to facilitate easy access and traffic to the different floors.á

4. The KNN Media Center

The KNN Media Center may look like something out of "Back to the Future," but it was actually designed to represent the change from traditional broadcast to streaming media as our world becomes more and more connected. Located in Busan, South Korea, it holds a variety of broadcast studios, retail stores and a museum ofáteddy bears. The soft-surface base geometry blends the interior and exterior spaces at the building's base.

5. Anisotropica Busan Opera House

Sydney's got nothing on theáAnisotropica BusanáOpera House, the second beautiful structure from this lovely South Korean city. With a whimsical approach based around fluid music themes and piano parts, the building features a filigree exterior based on a piano piece that reflects the piece's repetitive musical elements in the elements of the structure.

6. Liege-Guillemins Station

In an attempt to allow for maximum permeability, the Liege-Guillemins Station in Liege, Belgium has no facade. Servingáthe country's high-speed railway, it features a steel and glass vaulted canopy covering five train platforms and reaching a height of 145 meters - no small feat for a vaulted ceiling.

7. The Perfomance Center Alexanderhoehe

The Performance Center Alexanderhoeheálooks like a something dreamed up by a science fiction writer, but it's actually built to create a single access point for visitors between the performance center and the town's Parktheater in Iserlohn, Germany. It combines the lobby for both structure while adding beautiful, modern space to the facilities.

8. The Kansas City Library

The Kansas City Library knows how to get the point across in terms of advertising what you'll find inside. The larger than life facade provides a nine foot by 25 foot cover for the parking spaces behind it, creating a much more interesting visual appearance than the usual assortment of sedans, SUVs and crossovers.áá

9. The Barcelona H20áBuilding

The Barcelona H20 Building was built to house the bottled water brand H2O, but goes well above and beyond your average office space. The six-story facade is constructed from a polymer composite that is suspended on steel trusses that are attached to the existing building.á

10. Hanoi Museum

Frank Lloyd Wright's influence in cantilevered structures and water featuresáis very apparent in the design of theáHanoi Museum. The upside-down pyramid reflects a right-side-up pyramid in the beautiful reflecting pool.

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Sources:áhttp://www.trendhunter.com/slideshow/architecture-exteriors

This Spring, Buy Qualifying GAF Accessories and Get Unlimited Business Building Club Reward Bucks!

BUY GAF ACCESSORIES. GET REWARD BUCKS!

It?s easy. Just purchase qualifying GAF Accessories between April 15, 2015, and June 15, 2015. Redeem your Reward Bucks at GAFBusinessBuildingClub.com.

Go to GAFBusinessBuildingClub.com to view the qualifying accessories and their values in your area. Qualifying accessories and the number of Business Building Club Reward Bucks you can earn may vary by area.á

HOW TO GET YOUR REWARDS QUICKLY:

1. Purchase qualifying GAF accessories between April 15, 2015, and June 15, 2015.á

2. Log on to GAFBusinessBuildingClub.com using your email address and password that you created during registration. NOTE: Registration for the GAF Business Building Club is FREE, and you must be a member to participate in this promotion.á

3. Complete claim form and submit invoice(s) online.á

4. Redeem your Reward Bucks upon validation of claim by following instructions provided in the GAF Business Building Club Rewards Center. Allow up to 4?6 weeks from the time claim is received for validation. Allow 8?10 weeks from the time Reward Bucks are redeemed for shipment of merchandise.

OR, IF SUBMITTING BY POSTAL MAIL:

1. Log on to GAFBusinessBuildingClub.com. NOTE: Registration for the GAF Business Building Club is FREE, and you must be a member to participate in this promotion.

2. Download and fill out the claim form completely.

3. Include it and your invoice(s) in an envelope and send to: Corporate Rewards, Greeley Square Station, 4 East 27th Street, PO Box 20306, New York, NY 10001-9998. NOTE: Be sure to make copies of your invoice(s) and your claim form for your files.

4. Redeem your Reward Bucks upon validation of claim by following instructions provided in the GAF Business Building Club Rewards Center. Allow 8?10 weeks from the time claim is received for validation. Allow 8?10 weeks from the time Reward Bucks are redeemed for shipment of merchandise.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Whether submitting online or by mail, submissions must be received by July 15, 2015, and invoices must be dated between April 15 and June 15, 2015.

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For homeowners who want to give their home's exterior a "magical makeover", opting for an alternative or upgraded siding can often provide just the boost needed to make the home look and feel new. In today's marketplace, there are several options to choose from, and each option offers its own unique characteristics and needs. Here, we will delve into some popular exterior siding options.

Wood

Due to its beauty and undeniable natural charm, wood siding has been a popular siding choice for many years. Wood is available in such a vast number of grades, finishes and species that no two wood exterior renovations will look exactly alike. Less expensive grades of wood work well if the homeowner intends to use an opaque stain or regular paint for finishing. By contrast, semi transparent stains are developed to highlight the wood's grain; therefore, a more expensive grade of wood is desirable in this scenario.

Wood is considered a highly sustainable raw material, and is often used in green building projects. It can also last for multiple generations with, of course, proper maintenance. The general rule of thumb: Semi transparent stains should be reapplied once every three years, while a new coat of paint should be applied in five year increments.

Engineered Wood

Created with exterior resins and wood fibers, engineered wood is built to give the appearance of natural wood siding along with exceptional durability. Available in a number of styles and textures, engineered wood is usually available in both factory finishes and in ready to paint shingles.

Engineered wood is easy to work with and is marketed as a cheaper alternative to the real thing. However, when it was initially introduced in the market, moisture problems created a number of complaints among early adopters. These early challenges have now been corrected.

Stucco

The beauty and durability of stucco siding has long made it a favorite building material among contractors and homeowners alike. The beautiful, organic colors and finish associated with stucco generally does not need to be repainted. Further, stucco is both fire and pest resistant.

Stucco requires a great deal of prep work and should only be attempted by well trained and highly skilled contractors. Well maintained stucco siding can last for a lifetime.

Synthetic Stone

Made from a unique mixture of sand, cement and aggregate, synthetic stone can be formed to look like a number of natural stone sidings including limestone and granite. Synthetic stone is used most often as an accent material, rather than as siding covering the entire exterior.

Synthetic stone is lightweight and marketed as a less expensive alternative to genuine stone sidings. However, critics assert that synthetic stone does not mimic the original well.

Fiber Cement

Made to look like real wood, fiber cement has quickly earned a stellar reputation for stability and very low maintenance. Fiber cement is manufactured using clay, sand, wood pulp and cement. Interestingly enough, it can also be crafted to look like stucco, brick masonry, shingles and wooden clapboard.

One of the most remarkable features of fiber cement is its ability to resist the expanding and contracting commonly associated with real wood. Those changes in either temperature or humidity does not cause the material to move, and exterior paints tend to adhere to fiber cement very well.

Drawbacks of using fiber cement include its weight (it is a rather heavy material) and the fact that special tools are needed to install it. Only contractors specially trained to install fiber cement should attempt to use this material for your next remodeling project.

The typical manufacturer's warranty for fiber cement is a 30 year warranty, and the material is both termite proof and fire resistant.

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According to OSHA, the construction industry is one of the most accident prone, with most accidents involvingáslipping and falling, especially from heights. One in ten construction workers is injured on the job every year and a 45-year veteran has a one in 200 chance of dying on the job, with 72% of fatal falls happen from a roof or scaffolding.áYet despite these grim statistics, the most commonly-cited OSHA violation isáfall protection. How do you protect workers on a roof? Here are some great tips to put into practice on your crew:

• Start by performing a safety inspection of the site. Take a good look at all possible safety hazards, including hard surfaces on the ground, electrical lines and rotten roof decking.

• Provide fall protection equipment for your people. Safety harnesses can be a great help to prevent injuries from falls. Roofing brackets can also help prevent falls by providing better traction, especially on steeper roofs.á

• Don't work in dangerous conditions. If it's been wet or freezing conditions, you'll should put off work until conditions improve. Dealing with these type of conditions on the level ground is difficult enough without adding a pitch and possibility of a fall from height into the equation. If you're working on a metal roof, make sure to sweep or blow off wood chips or sawdust to help maintain traction and stay on lumber or asphalt-shingled areas to take advantage of better traction. Keep your work area cleaned up and neat, so debris won't cause tripping.

• Move dangerous or hard items around the roof's perimeter. By moving these items away from the area around the roof's edge, there's less chance of someone falling on them, damaging the item and preventing additional injury if a fall does happen. You'll also want to keep tools and roofing materials away from the edges.

• Practice ladder safety on your job sites. Make sure your ladder is set up on a level, hard surface such as a board or concrete paver stone. Use ladder brackets to help prevent your ladder from slipping and falling over. Use an extension ladder that can reach at least three feet past the edge of the roof so you have something to hold onto while moving from the ladder to the roof or vice-versa. When possible, use a fiberglass ladder instead of an aluminum one, especially if you are anywhere near power lines.

• Make sure your people watch for electrical lines. Though this isn't specifically a fall issue in and of itself, it can add to the problem. Receiving a solid electrical shock can knock a person unconscious, causing the person to fall off the roof and receiveáfurther injury in addition to the injuries from the electrical shock.

• Use lifts to encourage safe materials handling. Don't allow your crew to haul roofing materials or tools up to the roof using ladders. Rent or buy a lift to get the materials where they're needed without endangering your crew. If you don't have a lift available, try putting items into a box or bucket that can be hauled up onto the roof using a rope.

• Don't skimp on your footwear. Good traction is vital to maintaining safe conditions on your roofing project. Soft-soled boots or treads designed to provide better traction are your best bet, especially those designed for construction work. Keep the treads cleaned to help allow better traction.

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Sources:

https://www.osha.gov/oshstats/commonstats.html

http://blog.capterra.com/13-shocking-construction-injury-statistics/

http://www.gaf.com/Roofing/Residential/DIY/Learn_Roofing_Safety