Sales Reps Needed in Key Expansion Markets

Barrier has identified Southern California, Eastern Texas, and Central Arizona as key markets to penetrate and focus Blazeguard sales efforts. These areas continue to expand in the multifamily construction arena as the demographics continue to demand this type of housing.

Our sales program is focusing on enlisting new representation in these areas. We are actively seeking contacts who can help us find the right people.Fire-rated sheathing, town homes, multi-family construction, housing market, small cap, otcbb, ibtgf, barrier, blazeguard, mycoguard, fire-rated paint, intumescent paint, mold, mildew, fire-retardant plywood, frt, sips, structurally insulative panels, fire-rated wall assemblies, commercial modular, modular home construction, green building products, LEED,

Mortgage Rates Fall

From an article in the Wall Street Journal this morning, the average home mortgage 30-yr fixed rate fell for the week ended yesterday (April 19th) from 6.22% to 6.17% according to Freddie Mac. The 15-yr loan also decreased to 5.89%. Hopefully all homebuilders will see this as positive news and we anticipate this will lead to a boost in the spring movement of homes.

We also hear from our contacts, that the lumber mills are starting to feel more demand and prices of lumber are slowly starting to rise. This falls in line with Barrier's forecast of a gradual and moderate return to sustainable building levels.

Chemicals Taint Vintage Wines

Just browsing the latest issue of Wine Spectator and found a discomforting reference to chemicals used in some fire-retardant materials. Apparently, according to author James Molesworth, a Chilean winery is the latest of several choice wine producers who are battling contamination in their cellars. TBA (2,4,6-tribromoanisole), has been detected as the cause of dry, musty odors and flavors in the wines. TBA originates in wood preservatives and some flame-retardant paints used in cellar construction.

Once TBA is in the winery, it is very difficult to remove all sources of contamination. Even a source as small as a bung plug can spread the chemical and the exact source can be challenging to find.

Despite the fact that no health risks are associated, the premium wineries won't sell or market the off-tasting wine and thus suffer financial losses.

We know that Blazeguard does not contain ANY harmful chemicals and is inert in all applications. Maybe we should start making sales calls on wineries...probably can't do more than one a day, though. :)
Fire-rated sheathing, town homes, multi-family construction, housing market, small cap, otcbb, ibtgf, barrier, blazeguard, mycoguard, fire-rated paint, intumescent paint, mold, mildew, fire-retardant plywood, frt, sips, structurally insulative panels, fire-rated wall assemblies, commercial modular, modular home construction, green building products, LEED,

Barrier's Environmentally Friendly Products

With the topics of "green" and "environmentally friendly" on the minds of what seems like everyone these days, we wanted to take a minute to re-emphasize the attributes of Barrier's products that have been environmentally friendly from conception.

Blazeguard Fire-Rated Sheathing is environmentally friendly throughout all stages of its life cycle:

• Manufacture
• Sales and Use
• Performance

Manufacture
-Solid waste from manufacturing process is ordinary landfill friendly.
-Liquid waste contains no harmful or regulated materials and is processed through the local treatment facility.
-If specified, Blazeguard can be manufactured using FSC wood with a complete chain of custody certification.

Sale and Use
-No special handling on construction site.
-No hazardous chemicals to leach into the ground.
-No special handling/precautions needed to protect construction personnel.
-Trimming and/or construction waste can be put into any ordinary landfill.
-Potential contribution to LEED points - 7.2.1 Construction Waste Management, 7.5.1 Local/Regional Materials, 7.7 Certified Wood.

Performance
-Releases simple water molecules to act as the first defense to cool the surface and inhibit the spread of fire.
-The secondary defense is an inert, inorganic, zero emissions material that protects the strength and integrity of the substrate.

Mycoguard - field applied mold/mildew resistant coating

-Has long-term resistant properties - protects from fungus, mold, or other odor causing bacteria even in damp conditions.
-Low in odor and non-hazardous to apply/use.

We want to thank our Blazeguard customers for being astute and recognizing the total value package of Barrier's products.

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