At the December 2017 meeting of the Construction Sustainability Council, the American Iron and Steel Institute presentation showed that ongoing U.S. economic improvement will continue to boost growth in jobs and business investments throughout 2018. Predictions also showed an increase in the use of steel, as well as a 2 percent increase in nonresidential building construction. These trends signify that the demand for and use of steel conduit will remain strong, specifically in the construction of new buildings.

Presenters at the 2017 Greenbuild International Conference and Expo and other industry gatherings have noted a growing trend in designing more resilient buildings. The Industry Statement on Resilience, co-authored by the American Institute of Architects and the National Institute of Building Sciences, defines resilience as "the ability to prepare and plan for, absorb, recover from, and more successfully adapt to adverse events." Electrical systems are a significant component of any building design, and steel conduit is the most resilient product for protecting physical conductors, according to STI. Logic suggests engineers and architects will continue to specify steel conduit in the coming year as part of the push to improve community resilience.

In preparation for this growth, STI has hired Dale Crawford as director for steel conduit. He is responsible for activities, strategies, and programs involving North America's leading steel conduit manufacturers.

Source: The Fabricator