Sustainability #1 for Natural Stone Council in 2014

 

HOLLIS, N.H. – The release of the ANSI/NSC 373 Sustainability standard topped the list of 2014 highlights for the Natural Stone Council (NSC), said chairman Moe Bohrer.

200 NSC2015Click photo to enlargeBohrer, speaking before stone-industry leaders at StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas in January, also noted that the sustainability effort is far from over.

“The NSC’s commitment to sustainability goes far beyond producing the ANSI approved standard (a three-year effort), assisting the first company (TexaStone Quarries) to achieve the new standard, and producing tools to educate the design community about the standard,” he said.

Bohrer also announced that Kathy Spanier of Coldspring will be chairing an effort to pursue acceptance of the standard by various sustainability market drivers, such as the USGBC and the Living Building Challenge, in upcoming months.

Additional 2014 NSC accomplishments include:

  • Joining the Construction Industry Safety Coalition (CISC) to insure the natural stone industry’s voice is heard specific to proposed changes to the allowable silica exposure levels by the U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA).
  • Monitoring and keeping member associations informed about a variety of regulatory agencies impacting the stone industry.
  • Establishing an associate membership category for stone associations outside of the U.S. to become active with NSC initiatives.
  • Assembling a new NSC member association annual dues structure to help provide a regular base of ongoing financial support.
  • Joining together with several stone associations to provide continuing education on the show floor at the American Institute of Architects (AIA) annual convention in Chicago.

At StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas, the NSC also re-elected Bohrer (Anderson Bros. & Johnson/Michels) as chair. Other elected officers are Brenda Edwards (TexaStone Quarries) as vice chair, Jim Owens (TexaCon Cut Stone) as secretary and Jeff Buczkiewicz (Mason Contractors Association of America) as treasurer.

Other committee chair appointments included: Dan Posthuma (Michels Corp.) for the Environmental Regulatory Compliance Committee; Matt Pruitt (Elberton Granite Association) and Ted Huppert (Grazzini Bros.) as co-chairs to the MSHA/OSHA Regulatory Compliance Committee; and Holly Luehring (Michels Corp.) to the Website Committee.

While at StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas, the NSC also hosted the 2nd annual Stone Pavilion Block Party which brought together hundreds of natural-stone-industry professionals on the exhibit floor.

The Natural Stone Council (NSC) is a collaboration of trade associations that have joined forces to promote the use of natural stone in commercial, residential, government, institutional, educational and all types of applications interior and exterior. The NSC has published the ANSI/NSC 373 Sustainability Standard, promotes the “Genuine Stone®” brand, and focuses attention on regulatory requirements placed on the stone industry. Learn more at www.naturalstonecouncil.org.

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