Director's Message: Moving the Needle Together

Maintaining, Expanding, & Improving the Benefits of the Structural Building Components Industry

At SBCA’s May Open Quarterly Meeting (OQM), our attendees heard from two researchers from Oak Ridge National Laboratory, based in the Knoxville area. Dr. Diana Hun highlighted the work her group is doing in Building Materials Envelope Research. Her group’s work is focused on retrofitting existing structures with more energy efficient panels, among other things. It includes a Real Time Evaluator (RTE) that aims to improve installation times and accuracy of retrofit insulated panels with potential applicability to the wood wall panels used by our industry. SBCA included the RTE in the Innovative Housing Showcase build in June. Dr. Katie Copenhaver discussed the work the Sustainable Manufacturing Technologies Group is performing related to 3D printing. 

Dr. Copenhaver highlighted 3D printed projects ranging from boat hulls to residences, including the molecular detail of various polymers utilized in several projects. 3D printing is no longer a novelty using concrete that appears to squirt out of a toothpaste tube. Each of the polymers can be highly engineered for various structural needs and includes a variety of substrates, such as renewable resources like wood. Combining advanced polymers with highly robotic applicators results in a solution to two of the major problems facing construction today: wood variability and labor shortages.

Now, I do not believe that 3D printing is going to displace the component industry, specifically roof trusses, in the near term. However, it’s imperative for component manufacturers (CMs) and our supplier partners to remain diligent in promoting the value proposition components provide to the construction industry. We need to remind customers and decision makers at all levels as to all the reasons why they should continue to use roof trusses, floor trusses, and wall panels along with converting more projects to these solutions. 

While the promotion of components should be an ongoing responsibility of everyone in our industry, to me, it seems that we are a bit behind. For much of our history we have focused on the engineering proficiency of trusses, and rightfully so. When trusses were first introduced to various markets, they were revolutionary in that they utilized less wood fiber and provided a faster installation to the stick framing alternative. Rarely is a product better, faster, and cheaper, but that sums up the comparison between roof trusses and stick framing roofs. 

We now need to promote as an industry and association not only engineering viability, but also the various other benefits we all know and love. SBCA is poised to make this happen, most notably with the promotion of Sean Shields to Director of Marketing. Included in his responsibilities are market development efforts to promote the use of components to decision makers like architects, engineers, building/home designers, builders, and even framers. He’ll also lead efforts with code/building officials, fire service, and others. I envision, among other things, weekly webinars oriented to a different audience each week, providing a regular opportunity for those adjacent to our industry to learn and earn various continuing education units (CEUs). 

SBCA will lead this effort by providing content, courses, and materials required for a robust outreach effort. However, we can’t move the needle by ourselves. If we want to maximize our promotion of components, we need a unified effort from three distinct levels: 

• National
• State/Regional
• Local

SBCA can easily engage various national organizations and provide content/education to these groups through their channels (conferences, webinars, asynchronous modules, etc.) as well as our own. SBCA can also lead the effort on a state/regional level but will need the help of local chapters to identify which events and opportunities make the most sense to deploy resources. A robust chapter network is absolutely necessary in order to facilitate efforts on a state/regional level and will help us specifically identify opportunities for improvement. And finally, on the local level, CMs can always participate by taking advantage of education/market development opportunities, both formal and informal.

So how can you help? Well, you can participate in your local chapters, help reinvigorate an inactive chapter, or even start a new one if there isn’t one that represents your market. You can also host facility tours, speaking engagements, and encourage local/state/national legislators to learn more about our industry and benefits. Beyond that, we must stay the course and keep in mind that even though we currently command a broad market share, disruptions, such as 3D printing, could displace our market as we know it. The future for components in construction is robust, but only if we collectively make a concerted effort to maintain, improve, and expand the benefits to the industry in the near and long term. 

Jess Lohse, Executive Director