CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Hanson Brick & Tile, a brick manufacturer and producer of concrete roof tile, has launched a new Web tool designed to help builders and architects identify brick and roof tile that qualifies as a regional material in the LEED-NC Materials and Resources category. Users enter the zip or postal code of a project into the plant locator, which is located on the Hanson Brick and Hanson Roof Tile Web sites, to find the distance from Hanson plants in the region. LEED-NC deems materials regional if they are shipped to project sites within 500 miles of the manufacturing and extraction facility. To earn points in the Materials and Resources category, LEED projects must tally all materials delivered to the project site and take the percentage of each material (based on cost) that is regional in content. If the total average is more than 10 percent, a project can earn one point; an average over 20 percent scores two points. To use the online plant locators navigate to www.na.hansonbrick.com or www.hansonrooftile.com.

Sidebar: NERCA Convention Showcases Education

The North/East Roofing Contractors Association’s 82nd annual convention and trade show was held March 12-14 in Atlantic City. The exhibit hall boasted more than 170 booths showcasing the industry’s latest offerings, including educational programs, safety training, workers’ compensation, copper installations and environmental and technical issues. At its annual business meeting, the association awarded Skip Gentile (SRC Roofing Inc., Quincy, Mass.) with its highest honor - the Clarence J. Carr Roofing Industry Award - recognizing his dedication to the industry. A new slate of officers was also announced. They include: President David Cazeault (J.T. Cazeault & Sons of Plymouth Inc., Plymouth, Mass.); First Vice President Charles Gorman (Gorman Roofing Inc., Cumberland, R.I.); Second Vice President Robert Marshall (Marshall Roofing & Sheet Metal Inc., Malden, Mass.); and Treasurer Christopher Sears (John F. Shea Co., Mattapan, Mass.).