Insulation industry news from Global Insulation

US: Knauf Insulation, a manufacturer of fibreglass insulation used in new homes, is halting production at its plant in nearby Lanett, Alabama a move that will see layoffs for 146 employees. Joey Viselli, Knauf's vice president of marketing, said that the 800,000ft² facility would be shuttered because of the continued and extreme downturn in demand in the home construction sector.

The workers impacted by the move will be will be paid through to 18 August 2011, according to an official notice filed with the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs. Workers were informed of the closure on 14 June 2011, with most being released from their jobs immediately.

"The building economy has taken a turn for the worse in a fairly dramatic way," said Viselli. "At the peak of the market, (the industry was) starting about 1.7 million homes a year in the US. This year we'll be lucky to start 500,000 homes." A report released last month by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development and the US Census Bureau showed privately owned housing starts were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 523,000.

Viselli said severance deals would be offered and that some workers will be given opportunities to relocate to other Knauf facilities in Shasta, California and Shelbyville, Indiana, where Knauf Insulation North America is headquartered. He added that there were no plans to sell the Lanett plant at this time.

"It is a difficult decision to mothball a plant," said Mark Andrews, CEO of Knauf Insulation. "It is our sincere regret that we must take this action at this time. We will re-examine the status of the Lanett facility as market conditions change."

US: The global headquarters of Owens Corning in Toledo, Ohio, has become the third existing building in Ohio to earn the prestigious gold certification under the US Green Building Council's (USGBC) Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) Existing Building (EB) programme.

To achieve the award, the building's design and operation has met stringent standards as an energy-efficient, environmentally responsible and healthy place to live and work. The building was first recognised for silver certification under the LEED-EB program in 2007.

The LEED certification of an existing building is a significant achievement because it is generally easier to design these features in new construction. The Owens Corning global headquarters building has already earned an Energy Star rating, which ranks it among the top 25% of energy-efficient buildings in the United States.

"The gold-certified LEED-EB status of our global headquarters building in Ohio is an iconic representation of Owens Corning's deep commitment to sustainability and energy efficiency," said Chief Sustainability Officer Frank O'Brien-Bernini. "It's also an example of the operating cost advantages that are achievable through sustainable building practices. There are significant economic and environmental benefits to ensuring that new and existing buildings exceed today's energy efficiency standards through the use of insulation, air-sealing solutions and many other energy-saving technologies."

US: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) had imposed a penalty of US$1.2m on Cicero-based AMD Industries, because it failed to protect its workers effectively from loose asbestos fibres during a 2010 abatement process.

The Assistant Secretary of Labour for Occupational Safety and Health Dr David Michaels notified that the asbestos exposure to humans can be deadly and blamed AMD for negligence. The company was aware of its lethal effects but had failed to offer the most basic safety precautions. Further, he accused the company of not providing efficient respirators or even any warnings to the workers about the health disorders that could be encountered. The material removed at the site was particularly hazardous because the material removed was up to 50% asbestos.