Editor's Message: Diving into NFC’s Newest Effort
Welcome to Framing Today!
Welcome! It is with great excitement that we present to you the very first edition of the National Framers Council’s (NFC) newest effort, Framing Today! This is a significant milestone for NFC, as it embarks on more ways to serve the hardworking community of framers and those in the framing industry across the nation. The goal of this magazine is to offer insights into the framing world as well as valuable resources, provide support for framing businesses and projects, and share stories of the every day for the every day.
Whether you are a seasoned professional framer, a general contractor, a supervisor, a laborer, work on the administrative side of framing, or are new to the industry altogether, we aim to provide an outlet that can reach each of you. The magazine will serve as a reliable companion that is a source of education and helpful content, in addition to a platform for sharing stories, experiences, challenges, and successes.
The goal of this magazine is to offer insights into the framing world as well as valuable resources, provide support for framing businesses and projects, and share stories of the every day for the every day.
In this inaugural issue, you will find a variety of content designed to introduce you to both the National Framers Council and who is behind this magazine, and to provide knowledge and insight into the framing world today, while starting the conversation that will continue in future issues.
One of our objectives is to foster a sense of community and connection among both framers and those in the broader industry. Feedback and engagement are crucial to the success of this publication, so we encourage you to share your thoughts, suggestions, and experiences with us. Your input will help shape future editions and ensure that we are addressing the topics and issues that matter most to you.
We want to extend our thanks to the NFC Steering Committee, the Structural Building Components Association (SBCA), members, and contributors who have aided in its production.
Please explore the pages of Framing Today’s first issue. We are excited to start this journey with you and implore you to spread the word about this publication among your contractors, laborers, framers, component manufacturers, and anyone else who may be interested!
Thank you for your support, and welcome to NFC’s magazine, Framing Today.
Sincerely,
Christine Wagner
Managing Editor
The History of NFC & SBCA
In June of 2013, a small group of framers and component manufacturers met to discuss mutual goals within the framing industry. The outcome of the meeting was to begin a more formal dialogue and collaboration under the umbrella of a “National Framers Council.”
The National Framers Council (NFC) came to life as a council within the Structural Building Components Association (SBCA). With aligned missions, this gave NFC the ability to leverage the best practices and training work that SBCA had already created. The initial focus was on framing field operations and management to be used as industry best practices nationally with the ultimate purpose being to help ensure all framers leave the jobsite the same way they came to it in the morning. As a result, FrameSAFE was created and the first version released Summer 2015.
In mid-2021, SBCA and NFC began working on bringing the two groups together more often by planning events that incorporated programming of interest to both component manufacturers and framers. This includes the annual tradeshow, BCMC & Framer Summit, as well as SBCA’s long-standing Open Quarterly Meetings (OQMs). In 2023 and 2024, the Framer Summit integrated within the main show floor of BCMC, where attendees and exhibitors collaborated to provide additional value, insight, and information to the entire industry. The show expanded with additional value-add through education sessions geared towards framers, and component manufacturers, plus various framer-focused and CM-focused events throughout BCMC & Framer Summit week.
In addition, members of NFC sit on both the SBCA Executive Committee and SBCA Board of Directors and, in turn, SBCA Members actively participate in NFC Committees.
Over the last couple years, NFC has been a key contributor to SBCA’s exhibit for HUD’s Innovative Housing Showcase on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Providing aid in the building process of the two-story, 2,400 square foot home that was framed up in less than eight hours for the event.
SBCA and NFC have made great strides collaborating together over the last decade and it has provided great benefit to framers and component manufacturers alike.