November 2005

The State of Florida has recently changed the application to take the State exam.  You can obtain the new application form here or apply on-line at Professional Testing, Inc. .  The NEW fee for taking the State exam is $135 and is payable to Professional Testing, Inc.  The application is now only 2 pages long and is much simpler to complete.  NOW is the time to acquire your State Certified Contractor's license! 
Session I 2006 begins on January 12th in Tampa,  and January 13th in Orlando and Ft. Myers.
Please Note: The deadline for the February 2006 exam is January 13th.
  Exam site seating is limited and meeting this deadline does not guarantee your admission to the exam. We recommend you apply as early as possible.
 

Our next class session begins on January 12th, 2006 in Tampa and on January 13th, 2006 in Orlando and Ft. Myers. You can print out a class schedule in our Schedule section, you can register for classes in the Register section, and you can purchase books in our online Bookstore!

Cam Tech does not endorse any of these companies or websites. This is a list of construction-related news, companies and websites provided for your convenience. Cam Tech is not responsible for the content of the following websites.


Building prototypes need to consider location, context, cost
In planning a prototype for a brand's building design, various considerations are essential, including the adaptation to a location, the image of the company and the cost to attract the customer. Quickservice restaurants, for instance, may have basic floor plans that remain the same, but the exterior must fit in with the architecture of the area.   GlobeSt.com

Organizations push for green principles in rebuilding Gulf
A group of organizations, including the U.S. Green Building Council and Habitat for Humanity, are joining forces to make sure green building practices are a priority in the rebuilding of the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast. The efforts will be discussed at the USGBC's annual conference in Atlanta next month.   Buildings.com

Cleanup of Rocky Flats weapons site near Denver concludes
The Rocky Flats plutonium production site outside of Denver, predicted to take 70 years and $37 billion to cleanup when it was raided in 1989 by the Environmental Protection Agency and the FBI, has completed a 10-year, $7 billion cleanup effort. Cleared of hundreds of contaminated structures, the site will now be prepared for a new life as a wildlife sanctuary.   Construction.com

Women-owned construction businesses on the rise
Women increasingly are putting their entrepreneurial efforts behind construction businesses, entering the fields of plumbing, electrical contracting, custom-home building and general contracting. Research shows the number of construction companies owned by women increased by 30% from 1998 to 2004, whereas the number of women-owned businesses in all fields grew 17.4% in the same period.  
The Arizona Republic (Phoenix)


Florida Panhandle building codes questioned
The Florida Building Commission has asked experts to study and model wind pressure from the Florida Panhandle using data from recent storms. The request comes from the Florida State Legislature, where there is debate over whether the Panhandle should have the same building codes as the rest of the state.   Engineering News-Record

Greenspan: U.S. economy will weather storms
U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan on Thursday told Congress the economy will not be seriously damaged by this year's devastating hurricanes, but added the Fed was watching overall prices in light of high energy costs. "We are very firm in the notion that this country should not visit the 1970s again in the way of inflation," Greenspan said, adding that Congress should rein in deficit spending.   ABCNEWS/Associated Press

New Ideas For a Thirsty Planet
Our thirsty planet needs more ways of providing clean water to prevent future drought-related disasters, according to speakers on the opening day of the Water Environment Federation conference in Washington, D.C.
Engineering News Record

Identity-THEFT Fears Change Online Habits;
Poll Says 1 in 4 Web Users Have Stopped Shopping Online, Citing Perceived Security Threats
Fear of identity theft is dramatically changing the way Americans use the Internet.
A Consumer Reports poll released yesterday found that one in four Web users say they have stopped shopping online because of perceived security risks, and more than half no longer give personal information such as addresses or birthdates over the Internet.
www.construction.com
 

Superdome roof repairs to begin
Work was scheduled to begin to repair the gaping holes in the roof of the Louisiana Superdome, although a decision on how the structure will be fully restored is not expected until November. Officials initially discussed demolishing the structure altogether because of hurricane damage and subsequent vandalism, but some now say that with an aggressive effort, the dome could be operational within 12 months.   Seattle Post-Intelligencer/Associated Press

Making buildings airtight can save heating, cooling costs
Efforts to make buildings more airtight can result in as much as a 37% savings each year in heating and cooling costs, according to a new study from the National Institute of Standards and Technology. While buildings in warmer climates were less likely to see substantial savings, the improved airtightness could offer benefits over time, according to the study.   Buildings.com
 

"You miss a 100 percent of the shots you don't take."
 Wayne Gretzky