Contact: John Fullerton
NFBA Vice President
NEWS RELEASE
Lawrence, Kansas - Tuesday, March 21, 2006 - The National Frame Builders
Association (NFBA) held its annual convention and trade show, Frame Building Expo,
March 1-3, 2006 at Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville,
Tennessee. During the NFBA’s Award Luncheon on March 1, Patrick McGuire, P.E.,
chief engineer for Borkholder Buildings in Napanee, Ind., was bestowed with
the Bernon Perkins Award.
The Bernon Perkins Award is NFBA's highest honor. It is presented each year to
an individual giving exemplary service to the post-frame industry. Bernon G.
Perkins is credited with refining the evolution of the modern post-frame building
from a temporary "pole building" to a long lasting structure. Red cedar poles were
used before Perkin's time, lending up to a decade or more of longevity to structures.
When red cedar poles became scarce in the mid-1930's, Perkins used creosote-treated
poles to provide primary structural support. This extended a typical polebuilding’s
life by several decades. Perkins pioneered several design enhancements, and
postframe has since proven an economical and efficient building concept for many
uses.
As a chair of the NFBA technical and Research Committee, in the past decade Pat
McGuire spearheaded some very important breakthroughs for the Post-Frame Industry.
He united industry factions that were often at odds to push for new technical
research projects that safeguard the continued growth of the post-frame industry.
His vision led the way for acceptance of postframe design in the International
Building Code. He identified the urgent problem created when ring-shank
"pole-barn nails" were deleted from the National Design Standard, and
coordinated efforts to create a new ASTM Standard, F1667, for ring shank nails
under the new title of "Post-Frame Nails."
The National Frame Builders Association (NFBA) is the only trade association
representing the interests of the post-frame construction industry throughout the
United States. Members include construction, manufacturing, and marketing companies,
as well as code and design professionals. The Bernon G. Perkins Award will be
presented to another deserving recipient at the 2007 Frame Building Expo,
February 28, 2007 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. For more
information about the National Frame Builders Association or the annual
convention, Frame Building Expo, please call NFBA headquarters at
800/557-6957 or visit www.nfba.org.
