Author: Home Builders Association

Dave Elkas of James Hardie gave attendees an update on the latest trends and products available through the new partnership with the Magnolia Network. Attendees also heard a presentation from Kurt Johnson of the Maine Indoor Air Quality Council.

Discover what Kurt Johnson shared with attendees in our November Newsletter!

Learn more about the our upcoming meeting here.

Maine’s building code, the Maine Uniform Building & Energy Code (MUBEC), includes the ASTM E-1465 2008 standard, a construction standard for installing radon preventive systems in all new Maine homes. The standard provides residential design and construction professionals with clear, best practice guidance on how to design and install radon preventive components in new construction to reduce occupants’ lung cancer risk from exposure to radon.

Find out more about this course, offered by the Maine Indoor Air Quality Council, by visiting our October Newsletter.

Summer 2022 saw the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and we’ve all got questions. Last month, NAHB staff experts hosted a 30 minute webinar to begin the conversation around the IRA.

See our October Newsletter to see how it went and access the replay!

As reported last month, there was a hard push to include the fire sprinklers provision of the IRC in the upcoming MUBEC adoption of the 2021 Code update.

In the remainder of August and the first weeks of September, there was a strong showing of opposition from the building industry including the HBRAME, and the MUBEC board voted to remove the fire sprinkler provision of the code at their October meeting. 

Read more in our October Newsletter.

Between 2021 and 2022, 48 states and the District of Columbia saw growth in single-family permits issued. The District of Columbia recorded the highest growth rate during this time at 170.5%, going from 139 permits to 376, followed by Florida {+29.1 %), and Maine {+25.3%).

Find out more by visiting our May Newsletter.

As reported previously in this newsletter, the fire marshals’ office is pushing hard to ensure the fire sprinklers provision of the IRCis included in the upcoming MUBEC adoption of the 2021 Code update. HBRAME Members were alerted that a vote on this item could come as soon as the August MUBEC board meeting. Hearing this news alarmed many members who then took time out of their days to join the MUBEC meeting. 

Read more about the meeting in our September Newsletter.

The Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Maine is excited to announce a partnership with the Maine Indoor Air Quality Council. While the name of the Council could lead you to believe that the topics presented are specific to ventilation and air quality only, the learning modules and educational content presented by the MIAQC is broad based and valuable for any of our builder and supplier members working in the industry today. The requirements of the updated energy code requirements alone are reason enough to invest in the time spent learning more with the MIAQC. 

Read more in our September Newsletter.

Beginning in September, the HBRAME will host a coffee hour meet up for members and those who want to learn more about membership. We will have coffee, review membership benefits and discuss building the current building industry in Maine. The Midcoast Meeting is held on the 3rd Friday of the month at 9am, while the Portland Meeting is held on the last day of the month at 9am.

Check out our September Newsletter for more information.