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Insulation Update

New from the insulation industry.

Peak Performers Rewarded: Bruce Hoskisson, second from left, co-owner of Sure Steel Inc., Sandy, Utah, builder and steel erector company, accepts the Peak Performer Award from Jeff Craney, center, vice president, commercial and industrial division at Owens Corning, Toledo, Ohio. The annual award recognizes contribution to advancement of insulation technology for metal buildings. Others pictured, from left to right, are Terry Sanderson; Chuck Law, vice president, DAW Inc., Salt Lake City; and Denny Wenrick.

ICAA Committees to Meet, Officers Introduced

Join the Insulation Contractors Association of America (ICAA) when its commercial building insulation committee and the technical marketing committee meet in San Diego on Friday, March 16, 2001. Agenda items include a review of standard bid terms and conditions used throughout the industry and a discussion of proposed modifications to CSI specification Section 7210 Building and Acoustical Insulation used in commercial construction. Call 703.739.0356 for more information.

The new officers for 2001 at the ICAA: Ginny Cameron, president and owner of A.C. & R. Insulation Co. Inc., Beltsville, Md., will serve as ICAA president during 2001. President-elect is Wayne Sullivan, chief executive officer of American Building Systems Inc., Sagamore Beach, Mass. Dale Hunziker of Home Comfort Insulation, Peoria, Ill., was elected second-vice president. Phil Rice of Rice Insulation & Glass Inc., Bonita Springs, Fla., will serve as secretary, and Ed Blanchard of Davidson Insulation & Acoustics Inc., Murdock, Fla., was elected treasurer.

Network Presents Insulation Exposé

On January 30, television newsmagazine Dateline NBC presented an investigative report on loose-fill blown insulation. The program’s hidden cameras videotaped three insulation contractors performing residential jobs, only to discover that each of the three contractors did not install as much insulation as they promised they would. Anchors warned viewers: “When it comes to insulation, what you pay for, you don’t always get.”

Interviewed for the segment was Michael Kwart, executive director of the Insulation Contractors Association of America (ICAA). Kwart clearly stated that in no way does the ICAA condone attic cheating, and the association publishes literature specifically discouraging this behavior. He also pointed out the need for manufacturers to develop a uniform product that can’t be fluffed, thereby making it more difficult for dishonest contractors to cheat the customer in the first place. “We feel everybody has a part in this,” Kwart explained to Dateline reporters.

Customers who saw this program may need reassurance that you are giving them all of the insulation they deserve. Dateline gave consumers the following advice you may want to keep in mind when dealing with wary homeowners.

Find a reputable installer certified by ICAA or National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).
- Get involved and ask questions.
- Make sure your installer measures your house and does his homework.
- Count the number of bags going into the hopper.
- If you’re moving into a new house, hire a certified home inspector to check your insulation.
- Talk to the insulation contractor if you think you’ve been cheated.
Remember, your customers are looking for honest, qualified installers, so do your best to promote the integrity of the industry.