AI-guided robot used on job site
PulteGroup, one of the largest homebuilders in the U.S., announced the successful pilot of the Hadrian X system, an artificial intelligence-guided construction robot from Australian-based automation tech firm FBR. The test took place at the community of TerraWalk in Babcock Ranch, Fla., according to Construction Dive.
Hadrian X is capable of building structural walls in a single day, says PulteGroup. The automated system uses an advanced robotic arm to place concrete blocks, which are then secured using a specialized adhesive that bonds twice as strong as traditional mortar.
PulteGroup claims the Florida home marks one of 10 in the U.S. constructed using the Hadrian X system.
Click here to watch a video demonstration of Hadrian X
“Our industry faces challenges when it comes to labor availability and the need to build more efficiently and sustainably,” Matt Koart, chief operating officer of PulteGroup, said in a press release. “We see opportunities to integrate technologies that can improve construction quality and safety while creating exceptional homes for our customers.”
SPRI updates RD-1 standard
SPRI has announced the 2025 revision of the RD-1 standard, “ANSI/SPRI RD-1 Performance Standard for Retrofit Drains.” Key updates include:
- Reorganized structure for clarity
- Evolution in testing requirements
- Expanded flow requirement standards
- Enhanced commentary for practical use cases
- Refined terminology and focused changes
The updated document is available at spri.org.
Study results show PPE challenges
NRCA member Keller & Associates, Grimes, Iowa, and the International Safety Equipment Association recently conducted a study about top challenges in managing personal protective equipment procurement and proper usage.
Key findings include:
- Ninety-five percent of survey respondents completely or somewhat have the time and resources needed to properly assess PPE needs, and 70% talk with their employees regularly about PPE.
- More than 75% of respondents reported they have difficulty getting employees to wear PPE at least some of the time.
- More than one-third of respondents prioritize durability, followed by comfort, emphasizing the need for PPE that workers can and will consistently wear.
- Although 75% of respondents have not experienced problems buying PPE in the sizes they need, those who have had issues find difficulty locating larger and smaller sizes.
- Although 84% of respondents factor weather conditions into PPE purchases, there is a growing need for more education about selecting PPE optimized for extreme temperatures.
- More companies are prioritizing PPE designed for women though nearly one-third of respondents still face challenges in finding properly fitting options.
- Nearly half of respondents struggle with training employees about critical PPE usage aspects, including when PPE is necessary, how to properly wear it and its limitations.
“Safety professionals are committed to protecting workers, but this research shows that persistent challenges remain, especially in compliance and training,” says Cam Mackey, president and CEO of ISEA. “By leveraging these insights, safety managers, manufacturers and industry leaders can take meaningful steps to improve PPE programs, ensuring workers have access to properly fitting, high-quality PPE and are consistently trained to use it correctly.”
