The primary requirement written into architectural practice acts for most U.S. states is that architects are licensed only for the purpose of protecting the public health, safety, and welfare (HSW).  In Illinois where I am a licensed architect, these..

Looking at the recent history of construction, we find that it is littered with a spectrum of failures, from minor cosmetic types up to and including those that are truly catastrophic.  The former may include mere annoyances - cracked finishes and the..

Architects and specifiers alike face significant and continuous challenges when it comes to identifying and validating reliable information about construction products.  Using an incorrect product for an application can lead to significant failure, and..

How many times have you labeled construction document issues by percent completion? It's a fairly common occurrence. The documents are ready to be issued at the end of Design Development, so they are labeled 100% Design Development. Then during the..

So many choices! What types and how many fire extinguishers do I really need? I don't have a copy of NFPA 10 that the code references. Isn't there a rule of thumb I can use? Learn how to select the correct fire extinguisher rating and extinguishing media..

Do we, as specifiers and architects, have an obligation to ensure public safety? I think we do.

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,..

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