Doing More with Less Requires a Better Approach

Increasing the structural and energy efficiency performance of a building, while simultaneously removing raw materials out of the structure, is a growing trend in the building construction industry. It’s not an easy task, and takes effective communication and collaboration between building architects, structural designers, component manufacturers and framing labor contractors. I’ve provided labor and turnkey operations in constructing homes and multi-family wood structures for over 35 years. I’m committed to open communication with the various design professionals and manufacturers I work with because it’s clear to me, and to many of my fellow framers, that in today’s market this collaborative approach is vital to survival.

As its first Chairman, I am happy to introduce the formation of the National Framers Council (NFC). From my perspective, the primary goal of NFC is to provide a voice for framers as we work together with other professional organizations in our industry. NFC can play a vital role in addressing this market push to maximize the use of raw materials in building structures. Further, through collaboration and educational programs, NFC can raise the bar for framers nationally and help to ensure safe, good quality framing across the U.S.

Beginning in June 2013, members of the Structural Building Components Association (SBCA) began discussing the value of having component manufacturers develop a closer working relationship with us, the framers who install their products. Through a series of subsequent meetings, a group of us realized there was a strong interest in creating a national framing council as part of SBCA. Thus, NFC was born. Since then, we have received input and interest from framing contractors (both labor and turnkey), engineers, building designers, manufacturers, general contractors and material suppliers, as well as safety professionals eager and interested in the potential of such an organization. Frankly, the amount of energy and enthusiasm behind this group has been very encouraging to those of us who started it.

From a practical standpoint, NFC’s first focus is to develop a national safety program for framing contractors. Without a strong workforce of framers, there will not be an adequate pool of labor to build today’s more complicated structures. Beyond developing a visually-based, standardized safety program comprised of training, a jobsite-specific safety manual and toolbox talks, a multi-pronged approach to safety on the jobsite will help us minimize risk and promote framing as a valuable career path with professional growth opportunities.

The program NFC is currently developing will be available in English and Spanish, and includes best practices for the installation of all the component types that goin into framing, such as floor joists, I-joists, floor and roof trusses and cornice/fascia. Furthermore, developing industry standard details for these installation best practices will help ensure consistent, first-rate work is being performed across the country. Through this educational program, framers will become NFC-certified. Our goal is for every framer to become certified and establish that he/she knows what needs to be done in order to be safe on a jobsite and follow installation best practices. By raising the bar, NFC-certified framers will show the rest of the industry the commitment they have to safety and performing high-caliber work.

Working with component manufacturers, suppliers and designers to develop common sense-based, best practice approaches to framing will naturally lead to better material utilization and ensure quality framing on the jobsite. Components can save a lot of time on the jobsite, but only if they are designed and installed correctly. One of NFC’s goals is to encourage framers to use components and to promote components to their builders. By closing the communication gap between component manufacturers, designers and framers, and emphasizing safe installation practices, I am confident we can increase the use of properly designed and installed components and decrease jobsite headaches.

Future plans for NFC include developing a scope of work document outlining standard responsibilities for framers and subcontractors. Currently, there is no standard scope of work for framers. By establishing an industry-wide standard that defines what framers are responsible for on a jobsite, NFC can help clarify changes to compensation if the scope of work is increased (or decreased) by the general contractor.

Another NFC goal downstream is to help provide insurance to all NFC-certified employees on the jobsite, in order to protect framers and their livelihood. Through NFC, we also want to address other issues such as communication with design professionals and standardizing details and processes, quality control programs, and professional training, which will help to attract and maximize labor in today’s market, as well as increase product awareness and spur further innovation.

From the framer’s perspective, there are many pressures today to do more with less. The only way that’s going to happen is for framers—the individuals tasked with actually constructing the physical building—to have a voice in the process. Framers are a rowdy bunch and we want our voices to be heard. We need to be able to communicate and collaborate effectively up and down the supply chain. Further, we need to have a more united approach to implementing safety and installation best practices to ensure we accomplish our part in the construction process as effectively as possible. NFC can and will help us accomplish this in a way that will ultimately improve the entire building construction industry. 

George Hull is President of Hull Associates, LLC in Arlington, TX. He brings more than 35 years of framing experience as the first Chairman of the National Framers Council. For more information about NFC, visit framerscouncil.org.