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McGraw-Hill
Construction, Tectonic Network Team with NIBS to Launch ProductGuide
Las Vegas,
NV - May 19, 2005 - - National Institute of Building
Sciences (NIBS), in alliance with McGraw- Hill Construction
a division of McGraw Hill (NYSE:MHP) and Tectonic Network,
Inc.(OTCBB:TNWK), today launched ProductGuide, the first
online database of building products that complies with Unified
Facilities Guide Specifications (UFGS) requirements for products
used in building construction projects funded by Department
of Defense (DoD), military agencies, and NASA.
ProductGuide serves architects, engineers, construction managers,
general contractors, and subcontractors involved in identifying
and selecting building products for federal construction projects
as well as project managers at DoD, military agencies, and
NASA.
"This new tool will substantially reduce the time needed
to identify compliant products. Before ProductGuide, product
selection for DoD, military agencies, and NASA projects often
required up to 150% more time than comparable private sector
projects," stated David Harris, FAIA, NIBS President.
"ProductGuide also reduces the risk and uncertainty associated
with specifying products for DoD, military agencies, and NASA
projects because the database contains only UFGS compliant
products. The database will increase the productivity of design
and construction firms involved with these construction programs."
Mr. Harris also noted that "Building Product Manufacturers
with listed products also stand to gain a greater share of
the over $9B of the DoD, military agencies, and NASA construction
budget. ProductGuide offers a cost-effective option for reaching
this segment of the construction market, which accounts for
about five percent of the nation's construction market."
With ProductGuide, industry professionals, for the first time,
will find UFGS compliant products in one place. ProductGuide
spells out product compliance requirements in a "Federal
Compliance Matrix," an easy-to-read standardized chart
that identifies applicable federal guide specifications and
standards for products listed by manufacturers.
ProductGuide is a service of the Whole Building Design Guide
(WBDG), the only online source for DoD's, military agencies',
and NASA's design and construction criteria. With ProductGuide,
WBDG users can search for products compliant with these criteria
without switching to other websites. Scheduled to open in
August 2005, the ProductGuide database is free to users.
"McGraw-Hill Construction is pleased to have this opportunity
to leverage our existing capabilities to provide another online
outlet for building product manufacturers, as well as make
the job of finding compliant products easier for construction
professionals," said Norbert W. Young, Jr., FAIA, President,
McGraw-Hill Construction. "We have been operating a dynamic
online business tool at www.construction.com which connects
people, projects, and products for commercial projects, so
our knowledge base in this area, and the marketing capabilities
to make it a success, lends itself perfectly for those who
want to do business under DoD building requirements."
Arol Wolford, President and CEO of Tectonic Network, Inc.,
added, "Tectonic Network is pleased to have this opportunity
to partner with NIBS and McGraw-Hill Construction on this
important product. ProductGuide provides an opportunity for
our customers to more effectively reach the important DoD
construction market, and we are excited to be in a position
to offer this service to our community."
Under the agreement with NIBS, McGraw-Hill Construction and
Tectonic Network, Inc. will market ProductGuide to building
product manufacturers, beginning mid-May 2005. Tectonic Network,
Inc. and McGraw-Hill Construction will also offer consulting
services to help building product manufacturers organize and
deliver their product information in the ProductGuide prescribed
format, making it easier for manufacturers to successfully
participate in the program. NIBS will manage the subscriber
listings and maintain the online database.
About National Institute of Building Sciences www.nibs.org
Founded in 1974, NIBS is a non-profit, non-governmental organization
that develops and disseminates information on building science
and technology issues. NIBS operates the Building Environment
& Thermal Envelope Council, Building Seismic Safety Council,
Facility Information Council, International Alliance for Interoperability,
Multihazard Mitigation Council, and Facility Maintenance and
Operations Committee. NIBS also publishes the U.S. National
CAD Standard and the Asbestos and Lead-Based Paint Guidance
Manuals. NIBS manages and maintains the Whole Building Design
Guide (WBDG), the only web portal for federal design guidelines
and Construction Criteria Base (CCB), the single integrated
source for all federal facilities design and construction
criteria.
About McGraw-Hill
Construction www.construction.com
McGraw-Hill Construction connects people, projects and products
across the design and construction industry. From project
and product information to industry news, trends and forecasts,
the Company provides industry players the tools, resources
and applications that help them save time, money, and energy,
especially through the new McGraw-Hill Construction Network
TM. Backed by the power of Dodge, Sweets, Architectural
Record, Engineering News-Record (ENR) and
12 Regional Publications, McGraw-Hill Construction serves
more than one million customers within the $4 trillion global
construction community.
About Tectonic Network, Inc.
www.tectonicnetwork.com
Tectonic Network, Inc. (OTCBB:TNWK) is an information management
company providing products and services that enable building
product manufacturers to more effectively reach and serve
their markets. The company provides end-to-end marketing and
sales support solutions that connect buyers and sellers of
building products and construction services. Its products
and services make it easier for designers, architects, contractors,
and owners to find, select, and buy commercial building products
and construction equipment. With the company's significant
combined user base, it also delivers higher market awareness
and more efficient sales channels for its clients.
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