Previous Polls
November 23 - November 27, 2020
The U.S. Green Building Council reported last month that more than 130 LEED projects have engaged in its Safety First pilot credits in support of “healthy reopening plans in response to the pandemic.” Do you think the number of projects will continue to increase?
November 23 - November 27, 2020
For the first time in American history, the U.S. Department of Transportation released a National Freight Strategic Plan regarding long-term investments in infrastructure, the workforce and other essential parts of the freight system. Do you think the plan will help maintain the nation’s competitive edge across major industries like agriculture, manufacturing, energy production and e-commerce?
November 16 - November 20, 2020
In October, the National Institute of Standards and Technology awarded the University of Connecticut $768,000 in federal funding for the continued research on premature degradation of concrete foundations containing pyrrhotite. Do you think the grant will help UConn develop a reliable and efficient way of testing the corrosive mineral?
November 16 - November 20, 2020
Reports have recently indicated that businesses that received Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program loans during the COVID-19 pandemic could experience higher taxable revenues. If you or your company received a PPP loan, do you plan to apply for loan forgiveness or use the tax write offs and pay the loan back?
November 18, 2020
How likely is it you will participate in a future virtual event?
November 9 - November 13, 2020
In recent reports by both the Associated Builders and Contractors and Associated General Contractors of America, data showed an increase or rebound in employment and construction backlogs. Do you think the industry is out of the weeds regarding the negative impacts experienced from the COVID-19 pandemic?
November 9 - November 13, 2020
Last month, engineers from RMIT University announced the development of an eco-friendly, zero-cement concrete that can withstand corrosive acidic environments, commonly observed in wastewater infrastructure. How long until you think the material is commercially available?
October 30 - November 7, 2020
On Nov. 10-12, Technology Publishing Co. will be hosting its virtual coatings event, PaintSquare Connect! What are you most looking forward to about the multi-day event?
November 2 - November 6, 2020
Next week Technology Publishing Co. will be hosting its virtual coatings event, PaintSquare Connect! What are you most looking forward to about the multi-day event?
October 26 - October 30, 2020
Last month, the National Football League’s Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers announced the official opening of the $5 billion SoFi Stadium—one of the most expensive stadiums ever built. Although spectators won’t be able to visit the structure until 2021, do you think the stadium will eventually pay for itself?
October 26 - October 30, 2020
Recently, researchers from Kazan Federal University published a paper detailing how sunflower oil could be useful in corrosion prevention. In the study, the multifunctional oil-inhibitor proved successful in protecting surfaces against gas hydrates and pipeline corrosion. Could you see the biodegradable oil being used in future corrosion protection practices?
October 19 - October 23, 2020
In late August, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health—part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—released guidance on counterfeit respirators. Do you believe the guidance has had a positive impact on how employers can keep their employees safe?
October 19 - October 23, 2020
Recently, two court-mandated engineering reports found that an 18-foot-high section of the border wall in Mission, Texas, was at risk of failure should the structure endure a “high flow event” from the nearby Rio Grande River. To mediate the structure’s current erosion and concrete cracking, nonprofit Fisher Sand and Gravel plans to conduct increased inspections, plant grasses and add a layer of rocks. Do you think the plan will work to resolve the issues?
October 12 - October 16, 2020
At the end of August, the AGC found in a recent survey that, despite COVID-19-related project delays and cancellations, the demand for skilled laborers remained high. In the survey, some firms reported that funding or assistance from the federal government would help the industry, do you agree?
October 12 - October 16, 2020
In September, the Naval Facilities Engineering Command Atlantic issued a Request for Proposals worth up to $5 billion in foreign and domestic construction projects for an eight-year, Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity Global Contingency Construction Multiple Award Contract. However, the contracts’ incumbent expiration date isn’t until March 2024. Do you think the early RFP will provide the Navy with more project flexibility?
October 5 - October 9, 2020
In August, the DOL issued its Final Beryllium Standard for Construction and Shipyards. According to OSHA, the final rule is slated to impact approximately 12,000 workers employed in nearly 2,800 establishments. When do you think affected entities will successfully reach compliance?
October 5 - October 9, 2020
Last month, construction of the two 318-meter-high towers for Turkey’s 1915 Canakkale Bridge, set to be the longest suspension bridge in the world, reached completion. Slated to have a 2,023-meter-long (over 6,600-foot-long) main span, how long do you think the structure will be able to hold the world record?
September 28 - October 2, 2020
In the wake of a new construction schedule, DEMAG CC-8800—the world’s fourth-largest crawler crane—has begun work on the $1.66 billion Las Vegas’ MSG Sphere. While the crane is reported to weigh 869 tons, an 850-ton counterweight is slated to be added for stability. Do you feel these measures will prove successful in lifting the 182-ton center compression ring for the domed roof?
September 28 - October 2, 2020
Recently, New York officials announced that the Hudson River rail tunnel project had climbed $275 million in price and delayed the project’s start date by another year. Still requiring the approval for a February 2018 draft environmental impact statement and confirmed financial backing, do you believe the project will stay on the new timeframe?
September 21 - September 25, 2020
Last month, a new wearable exoskeleton was unveiled with the aim to help contractors, tradesman and management tackle health and safety as well as labor shortage challenges. Do you think these goals will be achieved by this type of product?
September 21 - September 25, 2020
A recent study has found that bird death from collisions with turbine blades dropped by 71.9% when one of the blades is painted black. Do you think that this technique will become popular?
September 14 - September 18, 2020
The Seattle Department of Transportation is considering whether to repair or replace the West Seattle Bridge (built in 1984) after serious cracking was found in March and emergency work went underway. What do you think the bridge’s fate will be?
September 14 - September 18, 2020
Chemists have reportedly developed a method to make or modify “smart bricks,” that they say can store energy until required for powering devices. The trick is a polymer coating. Do you think this technology will eventually be commonly used?
September 8 - September 11, 2020
Last month, a gas explosion in Northwest Baltimore killed two people and seriously injured at least seven others. While the cause is still unknown, reports have been documenting the city’s aging gas infrastructure, which was installed in the 1960s. Do you think that's the culprit?
September 8 - September 11, 2020
An industry professional in New York was recently sentenced to 24 months in prison for evading taxes on more than $420,000. Do you think that penalty was warranted?
August 31 - September 4, 2020
SSPC and NACE within the last month have announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement to merge as well as unveiling ad-hoc committees to assist in the details of the merger. In addition to this, the two announced a handful of virtual town hall meetings to take place over the next few weeks. Do you plan on attending a meeting?
August 24 - August 28, 2020
French President Emmanuel Macron has officially dropped the unpopular idea of building a modern spire atop a restored Notre Dame Cathedral. Do you think this was a wise decision?
August 24 - August 28, 2020
Last month, OSHA issued a compliance directive designed to ensure uniformity in inspection and enforcement procedures when addressing respirable crystalline silica exposures. Do you think this needed extra guidance for uniformity?
August 17 - August 21, 2020
A $100M fix was approved for San Francisco’s leaning, sinking high-rise Millennium Tower that involved drilling 52 concrete piles 30 feet into bedrock. Do you think this solution will work?
August 17 - August 21, 2020
Quarterly earnings reports were released late last month (including those from the top coatings companies such as Sherwin-Williams, PPG, AkzoNobel and RPM), with the first wave of COVID-19 impacts on revenue. How long do you think it will take for these top companies to recover?
August 10 - August 14, 2020
In July, the Titanium Dioxide Manufacturers Association and its member companies submitted an action to the General Court of the European Union seeking an annulment of its recent classification of TiO2 as a Category 1B carcinogen. Should the ruling be challenged?
August 10 - August 14, 2020
Last month, OSHA issued a directive that provided safety and health officers with guidance on how to enforce silica standard requirements. Do you think clarification on the enforcement of this rule was necessary?
August 3 - August 7, 2020
Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have reportedly designed a new face mask that is designed to be easily sterilized and reused multiple times. While the mask is being made as a response to COVID-19, do you think the design will be popular in the paints/coatings industry as well?
August 3 - August 7, 2020
A U.S. District Judge recently ordered that details of an inspection and fix be provided for a $42 million privately funded segment of the U.S.-Mexico wall after the portion was found to be showing signs of erosion months after completion. Do you think we’ll see more erosion issues as border wall construction progresses?
July 27 - July 31, 2020
Nine states recently issued a brief to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, requesting a preliminary injunction that would halt the Environmental Protection Agency’s enforcement discretion policy. In regard to relaxing company compliance and monitoring requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic, do you think the EPA’s policy should be fought or approved?
July 27 - July 31, 2020
Researchers at Espoo, Finland-based Aalto University recently published findings about new potential uses for an armor-plated superhydrophobic material. Do you think the coatings have will one day benefit photovoltaics, among other applications?
July 20 - July 24, 2020
Last month, New York City began opening up nonessential construction sites as directed by the phased reopening of the state put forth by Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Given current circumstances, do you think that the reopening occurred too soon, or should have happened sooner?
July 20 - July 24, 2020
Throughout May and June,researchers from Arizona State University and the EPA were looking at new approaches to monitoring SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater. Do you think the practice will prove to be a faster indicator of an infected community verses current individual testing methods?
July 13 - July 17, 2020
In June, officials with the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority announced that they would be cutting $371 million from Orlando International Airport’s South Terminal project in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Do you think the pandemic’s effect on air traffic will cause budget cuts on other commercial airport projects as well?
July 13 - July 17, 2020
Last month, researchers from the University of Houston announced that they had started using chitin and 3D-printing techniques to produce bulletproof coatings. Do you think the U.S. Department of Defense-funded project will successfully develop a coatings technology that will be capable of resisting various impact, lasers and simultaneously absorb toxic gas?
July 6 - July 10, 2020
Researchers from the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, in Israel, recently announced that they were developing a novel surface coating aiming to “contain nanoparticles of safe metal ions and polymers with anti-viral and anti-microbial activity,” a route in combating the COVID-19 pandemic. How soon do you think a coating like this would be available to the public?
July 6 - July 10, 2020
In May, the WaterJet Technology Association announced that it had partnered with the Houston Area Safety Council to create a new field verification training and certification program for safe and standardized hydroblasting operations. Do you think the program will be more beneficial to professionals than WJTA’s mid-1980s reference: Industry Best Practices for the Use of High-Pressure Waterjetting Equipment?
June 29 - July 3, 2020
The United States Geological Survey released last month its first map of where the mineral pyrrhotite could occur in the nation. Pyrrhotite is a mineral that consists of iron and sulfur. When exposed to water and air, it can break down to form secondary minerals that expand and crack concrete, causing concrete structures to fail. Do you think the map will benefit future residential construction efforts?
June 29 - July 3, 2020
International research firm, Lux Research Inc. recently issued its report, “Analyzing the Technical Barriers to Realizing the Hyperloop,” which claims that the first passenger-carrying high-speed Hyperloop projects shouldn’t be expected to open until 2040—at the earliest. What timeframe estimate would you give the Hyperloop?
June 22 - June 26, 2020
In May, researchers from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology announced that they had developed a multilevel antimicrobial polymer (MAP-1) coating that they claim to be effective in killing viruses, bacteria and spores. How soon until you think the coating will be brought to the market?
June 22 - June 26, 2020
Recently, two lawmakers on the Senate Environmental and Public Works Committee released two pieces of draft legislation that would authorize the investment of $19.5 billion in the nation’s water infrastructure. Do you think the legislation will have a positive impact on pending Army Corps projects and EPA-headed endeavors?
June 15 - June 19, 2020
Last month, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued further interim enforcement guidance on the reusing of disposable N95 filtering face piece respirators. Do you think the additional guidance has been beneficial to the industry?
June 15 - June 19, 2020
The United States Army Corps of Engineers recently announced a preliminary proposal of a $1.75 billion seawall around the lower Charleston Peninsula in South Carolina. Do you believe other U.S. coastal cities will begin to combat future flooding and rising sea levels with new infrastructure projects?
June 8 - June 12, 2020
The Sherwin-Williams Company recently announced the creation of its Pro Support Center, a website that the firm says is dedicate to tools and education resources for painting contractors and other professionals. Do you think this will be beneficial to industry professionals in the commercial sector?
June 8 - June 12, 2020
In May, President Donald J. Trump officially gave the order to senior adviser Jared Kushner and associated aides to seek cost estimates for coating the United States-Mexico border wall. Do you think coating the wall will be a benefit to the infrastructure?
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