IN BRIEF

March 1, 2012
Third Public-Comment Period for LEED to Close March 20 A proposed update of the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC's) Leadership in Energy and Environmental

Third Public-Comment Period for LEED to Close March 20

A proposed update of the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC's) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green-building certification program is in the midst of a third public-comment period, which will close March 20.

Members of the public can comment on any substantive change made to the rating system since the second public-comment period concluded on Sept. 14, 2011. To comment, go to usgbc.org/LEED2012.

LEED 2012 will be balloted in June and launch in November. Beginning April 2, employees of USGBC national member organizations in good standing will have the opportunity to join the consensus body that will vote.

Metraflex Introduces Free Wall-Penetration-Seal App

The Metraflex Co., the Chicago-based manufacturer of specialty piping products, recently launched a free application for iPhone/iPad and Android that helps users quickly calculate the links required to fill pipe gaps in wall penetrations.

Named for the company's MetraSeal pipe-penetration seal, the app requires only the inputting of wall-penetration inside diameter and round-pipe outside diameter. The appropriate MetraSeal mechanical-link model number and number of links to properly fill the gap are displayed immediately.

Once installed on a smartphone or tablet, the app works without a cell signal.

To download the MetraSeal app, go to Apple's iTunes store or Android Market (http://bit.ly/MetraSeal_Android).