ìThis is a great honor for Beam and its dealers because the judges included some of the nationís top architects as well as the most knowledgeable building design and building product editors in the U.S.,î says John Coghlan, president of Beam Industries.

In all, the panel of editors and judges selected 120 products in 13 categories for recognition this year. The Beam Central Vacuum System, was among 10 Best Building Products in the Equipment Category.

"Our jury was given the task of selecting products that address the major issues and design problems facing architects today. The Beam Central Vacuum System caught their attention and beat out many other great products in the competitive Equipment category," says Rita F. Catinella, products editor for Architectural Record.

The Beam Serenity Series was the central vacuum system used in a recent clinical study of allergy patients by the University of California, Davis School of Medicine. The study found that patients experienced significant relief of all seven symptoms of allergic rhinitis when they used a central vacuum system instead of a conventional canister or upright vacuum. The study results persuaded the American Lung Associationís National Health House Demonstration Program to include a central vacuum system in its Health House Program standards. A Beam Serenity Series Model 2250 was installed in the ALAís demonstration house near St. Paul, Minn.

Headquartered in Webster City, Iowa, Beam Industries is the worldís leading manufacturer and marketer of central vacuum systems. Beam products are sold in more than 45 countries around the world.

For more information about the University of California, Davis study, or to locate a Beam dealer, visit Beamís Web site at www.beamvac.com.