AAMA Fall Conference to Feature Keynote Speech

The upcoming American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) Fall Conference, to be held October 10-13 in Santa Ana Pueblo (Albuquerque), N.M., will feature a full roster of task group meetings, including a meeting of the AAMA Codes Action Committee, which is responsible for developing code change proposals, public comments and AAMA positions primarily directed to the International Code Council, and proposals to selected state or local codes as determined necessary by the committee. The work of this Committee comes in conjunction with the ICC development of the 2012 edition of the existing 2009 International Codes. The Committee has discussed the next set of code proposals and during the Fall Conference meeting will provide attendees with updates on the effects that this round of code development will have on the fenestration industry. Also to be featured at the Fall Conference is a keynote speech from Chris Nelson, the director of global commercial development for UL Environment. Nelson will provide an overview of the importance of third-party validation and certification of sustainable products, as well as how a company can set itself up for success to earn third-party claims by:
* Developing precise and measurable eco-claims
* Creating products in compliance with industry-wide sustainability standards
* Understanding the various sustainability aspects of products and document accordingly Nelson will provide an overview of the growing demand for green building and the resulting shift that this demand has caused in the real estate and high-density residential construction markets, creating a marketplace focused on greener and more sustainable products. His speech will also detail how the sudden growth of residential and commercial green building projects has resulted in builders, specifiers, architects and general contractors seeking validation of green claims to ensure the products they purchase are truly green and meet the environ­mental claims being made.