Technology Guide: Building and Construction

How do I find industry information for building/construction?

See also Helpsheet #7 at the McGraw Desk for additional industry resources.

Industry Information/Data	Source	Location of Source
General overview: Construction	Encyclopedia of Global Industries	Company/Industry Section; also EIC database: Business & Company Resource Center
History, projections, leading companies, and analyses of Construction materials wholesalers; equipment & machinery (NAICs 421610, 421810)	Manufacturing & Distribution USA	Company/Industry Section
Financial and operating data/ratios for companies in Building Materials & Equipment	Mergent’s  Industry Review	Financial Services
Industry profile, current environment, market trends, and outlook for Construction, property development	MergentOnline	EIC Database
Industry survey and monthly investment review: Homebuilding	Standard & Poor’s Industry Survey	Company/Industry Section; also EIC database
1- page industry analysis/investment advice on “Homebuilding” and “Building Materials”	Value Line Investment Survey	Financial Services; consult Index at McGraw Desk; also EIC Database
Reviews, forecasts, and key indicators for Construction	WEFA Industrial Monitor	Company/Industry Section

How do I find out about technologies related to building/construction?

To find definitions, descriptions and technical data in the building/construction, consult ready reference sources such as: Dictionaries and Encyclopedias and Handbooks.

The following is a selection of resources that can be found in the open-shelf reference collection on the lower level of Science, Industry and Business Library (SIBL). Call numbers are in brackets after the title. Items with call numbers preceded with “*R-SIBL” can be found on the open shelves; numbers without “*R-SIBL” must be requested from the Altman Delivery Desk.

Search in the library’s CATNYP catalog or consult with a librarian for more resources.

Dictionaries and Encyclopedias

• Contractors' Dictionary of Equipment, Tools, and Techniques (*R-TA9 .W43 1995)
• Dictionar poliglot: constructii, materiale de constructii si hidrotehnica: engleza, româna, germana, franceza, rusa. 1979. (JSE 81-211)
• Dictionary of Architecture & Construction (*R-NA31 .H32)
• Dictionary of Engineering Acronyms and Abbreviations (*R-T11 .K43)
• Encyclopedia of Materials : Science and Technology (*R-TA402 .E53)
• Illustrated Building Glossary (*R-TH9 .M355)

Handbooks

• RS Means Cost Data Books including: (for info about RS Means publications: http://www.rsmeans.com/)
  • Assemblies (*R-TH435.B848)
  • Building Construction (*R-TH435 .B84)
  • Concrete & masonry cost data (*R-TA682.26.C66)
  • Electrical (*R-TK435 .M42)
  • Facilities Construction (*R-TH435.M425)
  • Heavy Construction (*R-TH435.M4291)
  • Interior (*R-TH435.I576)
  • Light Commercial (*R-TH4315.M43)
  • Mechanical (*R-TH435.M435)
  • Open Shop Building Construction (*R-TH435.O52)
  • Plumbing (*R-TH6235 .M43)
  • Repair and Remodeling (*R-TH3411.R6)
  • Residential (*R-TH4815.8.M43)
  • Site Work and Landscape (*R-TH435.M367)
  • Square Foot Costs (*R-TH435 .M44)
• Building Design and Construction Handbook (*R-TH151 .B825 1994)
• Civil engineering handbook (*R-TA151 .C57 )
• CRC Materials Science and Engineering Handbook (*R-TA403.4 .C74)
• Ecological Design Handbook: Sustainable Strategies for Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Interior Design, and Planning (*R-NA2542.35 .E26)
• Fire Protection Handbook (*R-TH9150 .F57)
• Kempe's Engineers Year-Book (*R-TA151.A1.E6 Latest ed.)
• Smithell’s Metals Reference Book (*R-TN671 .S55 1992)

What are regulations & standards that I have to follow for the building/construction industry?

The American Textile Manufacturers Institute (ATMI) defines standards as documented agreements containing technical specifications or other precise criteria to be used consistently as rules, guidelines, or definitions of characteristics, to ensure that materials, products, processes and services are fit for their purposes.  There are both voluntary and mandatory standards that can also become government regulations.

See SIBL’s Science & Technology web page on Standards for additional information.

See also the following for industry specific standards information:

• ADA Compliance: The Complete Planning & Practice Guide (*R-KF3469. A937)
  http://www.access-board.gov/gs.htm
• A.S.T.M. Standards (American Society for Testing Materials) (*R-TA401.A653)
• Building Code of the City of New York http://nyc.gov/html/dob/html/code.html (*R-KFX2030 .A2B8 Latest ed.)
• Building Code of New York State (*R- KFN5813.A44)
• Directory of building codes and regulations: by city and state (*R-KF5701 .D57)
• High Performance Building Guidelines / City of New York Department of Design and Construction http://www.ci.nyc.ny.us/html/ddc/html/ddcgreen/ (*R-NA2542 .35 .H54)
• Index and Directory of Industry Standards (*R-T59.2 .U615 Latest ed.)
• International Building Code (International Code Council) (*R-K3538.A15.I5 Latest ed.) Note: supersedes BOCA
• International Fire Code (International Code Council) (*R-K4180.F57 I58 Latest ed.)
• National Fire Codes (NFPA) (call# for 2001 codes: JBM 01-619; call# for Master Index: JBM 01-620)
• International Mechanical Code (International Code Council) (*R-KF5701.A73 I58 Latest ed.)
• International Plumbing Code (BOCA, et al) (*R-K3542.I58 Latest ed.)
• National Electrical Code (NFPA) (*R-TK260 .N47b Latest ed.)
• Ramsey/Sleeper Architectural Graphic Standards (American Institute of Architects) (*R-TH2031.R35 2000)

How do I find contractors, suppliers, buyers, competitors and other related professionals in the building/construction industry?

Consult:

1. Trade associations and trade shows
2. Electronic and Print directories to locate manufacturers, suppliers, competitors, wholesalers
3. Industry Directories on SIBL’s home page: http://www.nypl.org/research/sibl/trade/index.cfm

1. Professional and Trade Associations

   Listed below is a selected list of associations, including their Web sites and major publications where appropriate:

   • American Association of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)
     http://www.ashrae.org/
   • American Concrete Institute
     http://www.aci-int.org/
     Concrete international (Monthly) JSM 94-230
   • American Institute of Architects
     http://www.aia.org/
   • Associated General Contractors of America
     http://www.agc.org/
     Constructor (Monthly) JSM 94-724
   • Construction Specifications Institute
     http://www.csinet.org/
   • Encyclopedia of Associations and Information Sources for Architects, Designers, and Engineers
     (*R-NA62 .B35)
   • National Association of Home Builders
     http://www.nahb.com/
     Builder (Monthly) JSP 86-392

   General reference sources for additional associations:

   • Encyclopedia of Associations (*R-AS22.E5) also available via the following database: Gale's Ready Reference Shelf (available in the Electronic Information Center (EIC), or from home with a library card at the following Web site: http://www.nypl.org/databases/index.cfm?act=2&j=home )
   • National Trade and Professional Associations of the United States (*R-HD2425.D53 Latest ed. at McGraw Desk)

   Tradeshow Resources

   • Trade Shows Worldwide (*R-SIBL T394.T723)
   • Tradeshow Week Data Book  (*R-SIBL T394.T725 )
   • TSNN.com - The Ultimate Tradeshow Resource (http://www.tsnn.com/)

2. Use Electronic and Print directories to locate manufacturers, suppliers,  competitors, wholesalers:

    

   Electronic Directories

   These resources are available in the Rohatyn Electronic Information Center (EIC) at SIBL only. The EIC is located on the lower level of the library. From the Electronic Information Center (EIC) menu, Select ‘Electronic Databases’, then ‘Business Resources’, then ‘Company Directories’.

   • Blue Book Building and Construction. New York. http://www.thebluebook.com/
   • Reference USA
     Directory. Provides addresses, sales information, executives, for over 12 million U.S. companies. Searchable by state, city, zip code, and SIC code and yellow page headings/industries such as textile manufacturers. Updated: Monthly. Zip code listing for all 5 boroughs Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island.
   • Thomas Register of American Manufacturers & Thomas Register of European Manufacturers (TREM)
     Directories of manufacturing companies. Thomas Register also has a free web site http://www.thomasregister.com and http://www.tipcoeurope.com/ for searching companies; registration is required. Print version of Thomas Register (U.S.) is on lower level Company/Industry Section, call number *R-SIBL T12.T6. This database is not on all networked computers.
   • Sweet's Catalog File. Architects, Engineers & Contractors Edition. http://sweets.construction.com/

   Print Directories

   Consult SIBL’s home page - Research Guides -  Industry Specific Directories for additional resources.

   • Blue Book Building and Construction NJ (*R-TH13 N50 Latest ed. McGraw Desk)
   • Blue Book Building and Construction. New York. http://www.thebluebook.com/
     (*R-TH13.N53.B58 Latest ed. McGraw Desk)
   • Construction Equipment Buyers Guide.
     (JSM 94-371: Supplement, usually bound with June or July issues; request at the Delivery Desk with call slip)
   • Directory of Industrial Designers ( *R-TS171 A1 I49315)
   • Membership directory / American Consulting Engineers Council (JBM 97-908, 2000/01 last edition)
   • New York construction news directory (*R- HD9715.U5.N92)
   • Pro File / American Institute of Architects (*R-NA53.A39 Latest ed.)
   • Sweet's Catalog File. Architects, Engineers & Contractors Edition. http://sweets.construction.com/ (*R-TA401.S8 Latest ed.)
   • Sweet's Directory (*R-TD195 B84 D57)
   • Top 500 Design Firms Sourcebook (*R-TA12 E4 Latest ed. McGraw Desk)
   • Top 400 Contractors Sourcebook (*R-HD9715 U5 C663 Latest ed. McGraw Desk)

How can I keep current with the latest news and information in the building/construction industries?

• Locate articles trade journals and newspapers in Indexes and Abstracts by formulating a search strategy.
• Search in electronic databases and print indexes for abstracts, full text articles, research reports.
• See also “Best of the Web” or “Internet Sites by Subject” (Technology > Building & Construction) for additional related web sites.

Indexes and Abstracts

An index is a print or electronic resource that provides citations to articles published in periodicals, journals or newspapers. Some are general while others are specific in their subject coverage.

An abstract has all the information provided by an index with the addition of a summary of the article.

Note: For additional information on Indexes/Abstracts: see: http://www.nypl.org/research/sibl/science/scindexes.htm

Guidelines to formulating a search strategy:

1. Use AND, OR, NOT to combine your keywords: i.e.

   “brick* and chimney*” will yield articles with both terms
   “cement or concrete” will yield articles with cement or concrete or both
   “window* not Microsoft” will yield articles with windows without Microsoft

2. Use truncation or wildcards (usually represented by * or ?) to find terms with similar roots:

   E.g. techn* with yield articles with technical, technology, technologies, etc.

3. To search a phrase, use quotes: e.g. “building code”; “air conditioner”
4. To be more specific in a search, limit the search by:

   Language (e.g. English)
   Date (e.g. last 12 months)
   Type (e.g. industry surveys; company overviews)
   Format (e.g. full text)
   Level (secondary; research)

Selected Electronic Databases Related to Building & Construction

These resources are available in the Rohatyn Electronic Information Center (EIC) at SIBL or are available from home/school/office with an NYPL borrowers card  (*) from the library website, (http://www.nypl.org/databases/index.cfm?act=2&j=home).   See also the Research Libraries listing of online databases: http://www.nypl.org/databases/ for a complete listing of on-site databases.

Note: For additional information on electronic databases, see: http://www.nypl.org/research/sibl/science/scieic.htm

• Applied Science and Technology Abstracts
  Articles. Abstract and Index Database. Locate articles in 390 key English language periodicals in applied sciences. Covers engineering, computers, mathematics, physics, energy related topics, chemistry, and data processing. 1983 - Present. Updated: Monthly. Also available in print 1958 - Present. (*R-SIBL Z7913.I7).
• Compendex Plus
  Articles. Abstract and Index Database. Locate articles in all fields of engineering. Journal articles, technical reports, monographs, and conference proceedings are included. 1970 - Present. Updated: Weekly. Print copy of Engineering Index is available on the lower level, call number *R-Z5851.E622.
• EBSCOHost (EIC) and (*)
  A family of abstract and full-text databases. Relevant ones include: Academic Search Premier, Business Source Premier, Masterfile Premier, Newspaper Source, Professional Development Collection.
• PROMT (Predicast Overview of Markets and Technology) (EIC)
  Articles. Full Text and Abstract Database. Use this database to research companies, the products and technologies they produce, and the markets in which they compete. Includes summaries and full text from nearly 1,000 business and trade journals, industry newsletters, newspapers, market research studies, news releases, and investment and brokerage firm reports. 1994 - Present. Updated: Daily.

The following electronic databases also contains relevant articles/reports regarding building and construction:

• Business & Company Resource Center (EIC) and (*)
• Environmental Policy Index (EIC)
• General BusinessFile ASAP (EIC)

Selected Print Indexes and Abstracts

• Ceramic Abstracts, 1922 - Present (*R-TP785.A64 (current), JSM 95-47)
• Environment Abstracts,  1974 - Present (*R-GF1.E553 (current), JLM 84-118)
• Metals Abstracts, 1968 - Present (*R-TN1.M5153 (current), JSM 94-290, also see CATNYP)
• Pollution Abstracts, 1970 - Present (*R-TD172.P65 (current), JSM 95-12)
• RAPRA Abstracts (Rubber and Plastics), 1968 - Present (*R-TS1870 .R68 (current), JSM 94-799, also see CATNYP)

Websites