Here are some recent happenings from around the industry.

The AHR Expo 2007 (International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition) takes place January 29-31, 2007 at the Dallas Convention Center. An estimated 45,000 total attendees are planned for the event, which is billed as the world's largest trade show for the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration industry.

The AHR Expo 2007 (International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition) takes place January 29-31, 2007 at the Dallas Convention Center. An estimated 45,000 total attendees are planned for the event, which is billed as the world's largest trade show for the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration industry. More than 1,300 exhibitors, both national and international, will be on hand. Visitwww.ahrexpo.comfor complete information or call the International Exposition Company at (203)221-9232. Co-sponsors of the show are the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI).

Registration opens this month for the nationwide annual certification exam by the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI). The exam will be held in more than 80 cities on March 31, 2007. The early registration deadline is Dec. 1, 2006, and final registration deadline is Jan. 31, 2007. Individuals can earn any of four CSI designations by taking one of the certification exams: CDT (Construction Documents Technologist certificate), CCS (specifications), CCCA (contract administration) and CCPR (product representation). For more information on the certification programs visitwww.csinet.org/certification.

Grainger opened a new, full-service branch in Grandview, MO in June, completing the company's market expansion activities in the Kansas City area. The new facility features a 2,500 square-foot showroom with product displays. In August, Grainger announced the opening of a new, expanded showroom at the company's branch located at 6240 B Street in Anchorage, AK, and the relocation its existing Honolulu, HI, branch to a new, larger facility nearby at 2833 Pa'a Street. The new facility is 40,000 sq. ft. or double the size of the previous location. The company's Alaska expansion includes the new Anchorage showroom and a new full-service branch in Fairbanks, scheduled to open early this fall.

Building and fire safety professionals can expand their code knowledge at two International Code Council education institutes scheduled for this fall. The Fire Prevention Institute includes sessions on high-piled combustible storage, fire protection systems, hazardous materials and means of egress in commercial buildings. Attendees of the Plan Review Institute will learn how to perform exceptional structural, non-structural and residential plan reviews based on the 2006 International Building and Residential Codes. The Fire Prevention Institute is Oct. 23-26 in Las Vegas, Nev., and the Plan Review Institute is Nov. 6-9 in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Both institutes offer continuing education units (CEUs), AIA learning units (LUs) and Health, Safety and Welfare (HSW). To register for these institutes online, visitwww.iccsafe.org/training. For more information, call ICC at 888-422-7233, ext. 33818.

Bobrick Washroom Equipment, Inc. has announced that it has acquired the assets of General Accessory Manufacturing Company (GAMCO) from The Liberty Hardware Group of the Masco Corporation. GAMCO is a manufacturer of stainless steel and specialty washroom accessory products used in nonresidential buildings. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. GAMCO products will continue to be available through GAMCO Sales Service from its Durant, OK, facility. The company will operate as a separate division of Bobrick. Mike James will continue as operations manager of the Durant facility and will be responsible for all manufacturing, sales service and distribution functions. He will report to Dan Frame, the newly appointed division manager of GAMCO. Frame will be based in North Hollywood, CA.

The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) have begun holding certification preparation workshops that will take place until June 2007 in various U.S. locations. These workshops include: the Math Review for Certification Exams, Associate Safety Professional (ASP) Examination Preparation Workshop, Certified Safety Professional (CSP) Examination Preparation Workshop, Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST) Preparation Workshop and Occupational Health and Safety Technologists (OHST) Examination Preparation Workshop. The schedule is as follows: Atlanta, GA, The Westin Atlanta North, October 8-14, 2006; Scottsdale, AZ, Chaparral Suites, November 12-17, 2006; Des Plaines, IL, ASSE headquarters, December 3-9, 2006. Planned workshops include those in Las Vegas, NV (January 2007), Jacksonville, FL (February-March 2007) and Orlando, FL(June 2007). Interested persons may register online atwww.asse.orgor call 847-699-2929 to either register by phone or request a mailed application.

he Plumbing Manufacturers Institute (PMI) announced a web site redesign in late July. The PMI's new site boasts a fresh new look and features and reflects the Association's continued growth, increased value-added member benefits, as well as its expanding role in the industry. Among the highlights of the new site are: About PMI (mission statement; why and how to join PMI - membership application, dues abatement program, dues schedule; listing of PMI Members; board of directors; staff); Calendar of Events (interactive "Add-A-Date"