Recently in Product Applications Category

What properties of decorative sheet vinyl flooring are important to consider when selecting pet resistant resilient flooring? Resisting surface abrasion and scratching, especially from large dogs, is a tall order for any flooring material, not just resilient flooring. Learn how to use the product standard to understand sheet vinyl flooring materials.

Visit http://www.conspectusinc.com/tech-tips.htm to view or download the latest C2030 Pet Resistant Resilient Flooring 12.01.01 and all previous Tech Tips.

Share your comments, your opinions, about this month's Tech Tips, by posting a comment, here.

Last business day before Christmas, I received two email messages about a project that will be issued for construction the first week of January. The architect's office always closes for Christmas week. So I called to find out if replies were needed, immediately. No, they could wait until the new year, I was told.

A Sore Point
The conversation revealed what was not in the email. An on-going confrontation was continuing between a purchasing agent and the architect. The agent was expecting written confirmation of fire code requirements that applied to the finishes and furnishings the agent was to provide.

By talking and listening (rather than emailing), I understood this issue was the source of much stress. An immediate solution would be best.

The Stress Source
The agent listed fire testing requirements that she believed to be commonly required for hotel guest rooms. However, the listed requirements were not entirely correct. Carpet was expected to be ASTM E84, Class A. This test is meant for wall finishes, not for floor finishes. Carpet cushion was expected to meet ASTM E648 and ASTM E662. Neither test is cited by the code. The code requires the cushion and carpet to be tested by NFPA 253. And the list goes on for several more similar items.

The Relief
I spent about an hour. I read the purchasing agent's comments; researched the California Building Code; and responded to the email. I provided details, including the applicable code citations, for each response. I recommended a solution for each condition. Some affected the construction specs. Some affected the interior design specs. Each solution was simple.

The Result
Near the end of my day, I received this reply from the architect.

"Quite impressive. It's a privilege to work with someone of such great knowledge. You make our business so much easier. I learn a lot from you.
I will pass this back to all parties.
Thank you again and have a great holiday weekend." - Rafael Velazquez, WATG

What a great way to end the day, the week, and begin the holiday season. I was glad I could help. And the recognition? It makes me want to help again, the right attitude to bring to the New Year.

The strength of mortar relative to the materials being installed is critical. Mortar must be strong enough and flexible enough to allow the structure to function as designed. Learn what mortar types are available and what cements may be used in mortar mixes. Each has a particular purpose. Also learn about the two completely different methods of specifying mortar.

Visit http://www.conspectusinc.com/tech-tips.htm to view or download the latest A2010 Choosing Mortar Types 11.121.01 and all previous Tech Tips.

Share your comments, your opinions, about this month's Tech Tips, by posting a comment, here.

It has been a couple of weeks since attending Arc-US in Boca Raton, FL. I think I recovered, or nearly so.

I was not sitting on the beach enjoying the southern sun. The weather was dreary, rainy, and windy, very windy - certainly unusual for Florida, except perhaps for hurricane season.

Meetings, Meetings, Meetings
I was exhausted after two days of non-stop meetings with product manufacturers and attending educational seminars. Arc-US is described as speed dating between architects (including specifiers) and manufacturers. The meetings are one-on-one. Okay, sometimes the manufactures had more than one. They are allowed since they finance the event. Architects attend free.

As a result of 24 meetings, I met the most senior manufacturers' representatives handling national and international accounts. What a blessing since we work for clients and projects across the US. Now I have reliable contacts when the local support is not enough. And I had an opportunity to comment on new and upcoming products. What a great way to interact.

I was looking forward to the dinner cruise, but remember the wind? The boat never left the dock. Oh well maybe next time.

First Time & Hopefully Another
This was the first time I attended the invitation only event. Thanks to Mike Hoffman, the Sales Manager Eastern Division at Bradley Corporation for making certain I had a chance to attend. I will gladly attend again, if invited. The experience was great.

CSI Members Abound
What struck me about the group of 104 architects was the abundance of CSI members. I recognized so many from attending the CSI national convention and region events. It certainly reinforces how influential CSI is within the industry. Here are the top architects in the country, representing CSI well.

While staying at a resort hotel, last week, I saw an interesting behavior in response to an interesting design solution. The entry level elevator lobby had two elevators, two hall call stations, and two elevator position indicators. The two call stations were less than four feet apart.

Guest Behavior
A hotel guest approached the elevators and without hesitation pressed the UP button on both call stations. I thought it odd that the guest felt the need to press both buttons. So I stood and watched as other guests tried to use the elevators. I saw the same behavior repeated several times. Each time, the second elevator arrived at an empty lobby (except for me). No passengers boarded. Soon afterward, both elevators were called to another floor. The position indicators gave this away.

Curious, I began exploring. The elevator lobby was arranged identically on all floors, two cars, two call stations, and two position indicators. (7th floor lobby shown in photo) I thought perhaps one car may have been a service car. No, both cabs were identical, fitted out as passenger cars.

Simplex Controls
The controls for both cars were a simplex type - meaning each call station calls only one car. When the call buttons on both stations were pressed, both elevators responded. Only one car collected any passengers.

Operating both cars to respond to a passenger call on the same floor is a complete waste of energy. One car chases the other, only to find no passengers. Then the process is repeated. It would be interesting to check the elevator control records, especially if the cars included a weight sensor to see how may "empty" trips were made in a day, a week, or a year. Then calculate the energy that was totally wasted and the unnecessary wear and tear on the machine. The annual operating costs are likely double what they should be.

Select the Right Controls
Use simplex controls for a single car. Use duplex controls (single call station) for two adjacent cars. Use group controls (one or more call stations tied together) for more than two cars in a single bank of elevators. Duplex and group controls will dispatch a single car to each hall call. The controls analyze each car's position and direction of travel to select the most efficient response to each call.

Elevators consume a lot of energy. Today's electronic controls are designed to minimize the expended energy while minimizing the passenger wait time.

Providing simplex controls on adjacent elevators keeps the power companies and elevator service companies happy. Owners, however, deserve a better design solution to help minimize operating costs.

Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) products are plentiful and manufacturers are constantly developing adaptations to current building trends. This article compares solid wood standing and running trim to similar products made of MDF, and explores the implications for using both materials. Learn what advantages MDF provides and when it may be appropriate.

Download
Visit http://www.conspectusinc.com/tech-tips.htm to view or download the latest C1090 Interior Woodwork Wood vs MDF 11.11.01 and all previous Tech Tips.

Comment
Share your comments, your opinions, about this month's Tech Tips, by posting a comment, here.

Tech Tips received a CSI National Communications Award September 23 at the national convention. Read more at http://www.conspectusinc.com/firm-news.htm.

The code includes two very different requirements for exterior wall water-resistive barriers (WRB). When using cement plaster exterior finishes, ensure the WRB is equivalent to two layers of Grade D paper, and not Type I (No. 15) asphalt felt. There is a big difference between the two. Find out what it is.

Visit http://www.conspectusinc.com/tech-tips.htm and view or download B2010 Cement Plaster Water-Resistive Barrier 11.10.01 and all previous Tech Tips.

Share your comments, your opinions, about this month's Tech Tips, by posting a comment, here.

Brick selection is usually based on aesthetic factors, first, such as size, color, and texture. These aesthetic factors can dramatically affect the perception of a completed building. For designers making the aesthetic selections, there is usually little concern for the brick construction.

Construction
Brick used for building veneers is available in two primary types: solid brick (facing brick) and hollow brick. Different standards govern the manufacturing of these two brick types. Facing brick is manufactured to ASTM C216. Hollow brick is manufactured to ASTM C652.

The principal difference between the two brick types is the voids permitted. Facing brick must be a minimum 75% solid. Hollow brick is available in two Classes defined by ASTM C652 as H40V and H60V that are distinguished by the required voids.

• H40V - 25% minimum and 40% maximum voids
• H60V - 40% minimum and 60% maximum voids

Facing brick voids are created by cores or frogs. Hollow brick voids are cores, frogs, or cells. Cells are, in effect, large cores required to accomplish the larger voids. Cores and cells can be combined in the same brick for hollow brick to create double face shell or cored face shell bricks.

Physical Properties
ASTM standards require identical physical properties for facing brick and hollow brick. The standards regulate compressive strength, water absorption, and saturation coefficient properties that help predict the brick durability and performance. Since the minimum properties are the same for facing brick and hollow brick, similar performance can be expected.

So Why Choose?
Remember, aesthetics, first! The designers must be happy with the size, color, and texture of the selected brick. The aesthetics of a facing brick and hollow brick may not match well enough to permit an option.

Environmental stewardship. Hollow bricks use less natural resources to manufacture: less clay and water to form, less energy to fire, less fuel to transport - all these benefits simply by increasing voids and reducing mass, without sacrificing performance.

Structural performance. The H60V hollow brick with large cell voids will permit vertical reinforcing and grouting for structural applications, an application not possible with facing brick.

Is marine grade plywood specially treated to resist salt water environments or severe exterior exposure?  NO.  Okay then what is marine grade plywood and why would it be used?

Marine grade plywood is a special grade of softwood veneer core plywood as defined by APA - The Engineered Wood Association and Voluntary Standard PS 1 "Structural Plywood." the standard is available as a free download from APA after registering.

Marine grade plywood must meet all the requirements for Exterior plywood plus the following: 

1. Only Douglas-fir and Western Larch plies without knotholes are permitted in the plywood construction.
   
2. The panels are available with sanded A-A, A-B, B-B faces or HDO and MDO faces, only.
   
3. The standard limits repairs in Grade A faces to a maximum of 9 in a 4 x 8 foot panel.
   
4. Inner plies to be minimum Grade B.
   
5. Crossband gaps and edge splits and end splits and gaps are limited by dimension and number.

So there you have it. No special preservative, no special adhesive. Merely limits on the veneers. If decay is a concern, even marine grade panels should be preservative treated.

Other EXTERIOR plywood may contain plies of other species, Grade C plies that do contain knotholes, and larger gaps in the plywood core.