SEALTECH BLOCK IN THE NEWS

Building Green with SEALTECH Block
April - May - June 2005

Ray Williams, President of U.S. Technologies and the creator of SEALTECH Block, addressing the Executive Council.

In 2004 SEALTECH Block and the International Masonry Institute (IMI) joined forces to create the country’s first and only certified training program for the installation of SEALTECH Block. This certification program, which is only open to BAC members, gives BAC a competitive edge in the growing sustainable or “Green” building market.

“Over the past decade there have been profound changes in the way our government, architects, developers and the construction industry as a whole view the future. The new buzz words of the industry are “sustainment” and “Green,” Ray Williams, President of U.S. Technologies and the developer of SEALTECH Block, told the Council. As the only concrete masonry unit in the country that can offer a third party certified Green masonry unit certification, SEALTECH Block is filling the growing demand for building products that meet LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) requirements.

The demand for LEED Certified projects is growing steadily. Four years ago, there were only a handful of LEED Certified projects in the United States. Today, that number has climbed to more than 167, and there are more than 1,800 projects registered for certification across the country. In addition to government agencies, Williams told the Council that the Green Building movement is gaining interest from the architectural firms that represent high-profile organizations such as Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Target. It is estimated that these types of companies alone will initiate more than 470 construction projects in 2005. Williams added that when “these ‘big box’ chain owners specify construction they want dependability and consistency more than low price. When you are building a hundred, $10M buildings a year you do not want uniqueness in the materials or installation on each one.”

"We need BAC because the block is only as good as the installed system.” –Ray Williams, President, U.S. Technologies

Bob Fozio, Director of the Northern Ohio Administrative District Council, who introduced Williams to BAC, reported that four Targets have already been built with SEALTECH Block using BAC members because the specifications said “IMI-trained
people” and those people are BAC members.

These projects not only offer SEALTECH Block an opportunity to grow, but because they only guarantee their product if installed by BAC craftworkers who are IMI-certified, BAC members gain tremendous opportunities.

“As good as SEALTECH Block is, and even considering the unique advantages that it offers, our product’s performance is only as good as the consistency of its installation,” said Williams. “Without the ability to install SEALTECH Block to exacting standards, the potential of its performance is diminished. We need BAC because the block is only as good as the installed system.”

“Since SEALTECH offers certified installation that’s only available through IMI, this gives our members the competitive edge,” says BAC President John J. Flynn. “But it’s up to us to keep this work Union by organizing the workers and getting the workforce trained.”

SEALTECH BLOCK has raised the standard
for architectural concrete masonry units
and is helping to build a greener future,
one block at a time.