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Alphabet Soup
If you’ve ever read an engineering report you’ve probably encountered a lot of acronyms. Here are some we frequently mention, with short explanations of what they mean. For the sake of brevity, we’ve only described items as they relate to building construction.
APA – The Engineered Wood Association, formerly known as the American Plywood Association. They define standards for the production of plywood and other engineered wood products used in construction.
ARMA – Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association is a trade organization that defines the standards for the manufacture of and uses for asphalt roofing products.
ASTM – Now known as ASTM International, ASTM formerly stood for American Society for testing and materials. They define consensus standards for testing the majority of products manufactured in the United States and other participant countries.
BIA – Brick Industry Association , formerly known as the Brick Institute of America, defines the standards for brick masonry construction and repair.
BOCA – Building Officials and Code Administrators developed model building codes used primarily on the east coast and in the mid-west of the United States. Similar organizations developed codes for other regions of the country until the major organizations merged to form the International Code Council (ICC).
IBC – International Building Code is the model code published by the ICC.
EIFS – Exterior insulating and finish system is a synthetic stucco typically comprised of a layer expanded polystyrene insulation attached to a building wall and surfaced with a cementitious coating.
EPDM – Ethylene propylene diene monomer is a synthetic rubber used in the manufacture of roofing and waterproofing membranes.
ICRI – International Concrete Repair Institute is a trade organization that defines standards for the repair of concrete.
NRCA – National Roofing Contractors National Association is a trade organization comprised primarily of roofing contractors and design professionals, in an associate capacity. They define the standards for roof design and installation.
PVC – Polyvinyl chloride is a thermoplastic used in the manufacture of numerous items used in construction, including water conductors, floor coverings, and roofing and waterproofing membranes.
Getting To Know The ETC Team #15
Lorena Michel | Project Engineer
10 Things You Didn’t Know About Me
1. Let me start by saying that I am an animal lover, a tree-huger, and a veggie eater. I have a thing for foxes and owls, cherry blossoms and orchids, strawberries and tomatoes.
2. Back in primary school I used to get in trouble for speaking during class. The teacher had me sitting next to her desk, and I would still talk… TO HER! I can be quite a chatter box.
3. At various points of my teenage years I wanted to be a veterinarian, an artist, and a psychiatrist, but at the end of the day they were not stimulating enough.
4. I love to dance. My incursion into the dancing spotlight started with ballet lessons at a very young age. I can proudly say that I am skillful in ballet and Raqs Sharqi.
5. I dislike cooking with a passion but I love baking wholeheartedly. I literally cannot prepare an egg Benedict for the love of my life, but I can humbly say that I am a skillful pâtissier.
6. My guilty pleasure? Belgian chocolate and coffee; they make everything better.
7. I am OCD-ish, with a big emphasis on the “ISH.” I have a compulsion to color-code everything: clothes, shoes, books, accessories, you name it! And hell will break loose if my system is messed with.
8. Although I’ve been living in the U.S. for the past 13 years, I still go through cultural shock from time to time.
9. Dubai is on by bucket list. But I wouldn’t mind going to Turkey, Greece, Italy, Switzerland, Ireland… and the list goes on and on.
10. I am quite a contradiction. I am shy yet outgoing, I am quiet yet loud, I am happy in my own company yet enjoy being surrounded by people, I love the hectic city life yet I need the solitude of Nature’s great outdoors to recharge energies
Cracking The Building Codes
Building codes were established to help ensure safety and some level of reliable performance in the construction industry. In the United States, the most widely known “model codes” were developed by Building Officials and Code Administrators (BOCA) International, Inc. That organization has evolved into the International Code Council (ICC). Governing bodies (states, counties and cities) typically adopt a model code and amend or modify it for application in their jurisdiction, primarily with respect to new construction.
When major repairs, renovations or rehabilitation to an existing structure become necessary, it is in the public interest to assure safety and stability, and that translates to government oversight in the form of building permits. It also often means that the end result must comply with “code”. Until recently in this region, that meant the code written for new construction and applying it to a repair project was more often than not complicated, open to broad interpretation and unwieldy.
Rehabilitation codes have been developed by Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia in the past several years in an effort to simplify matters. But even with the new codes, “government simple” doesn’t mean “actual simple”. There are different levels of rehabilitation addressed in most codes, each level requiring different degrees of compliance.
A maintenance or repair project is normally the most basic. One example might be the painting and repair of balcony guardrails. How the work is performed could elevate it to one requiring permits. It’s common practice to paint railings in-place, which would not normally necessitate permits. However, much better results are possible if the railings are removed and refinished in a controlled environment. This removal could trigger the permit process. If the existing railings do not comply with current codes, replacing them with new, compliant assemblies could be mandated. In fact, replacement could be advantageous. Compliant, forty-two inch high railings with openings no larger than four inches are safer than thirty-six inch high railings with openings through which a child could slip.
Another item to consider is whether the work would (or should) require alteration of load-bearing elements. If any change to the load-bearing elements is made, then the structure may need to be brought up to current code requirements.
These are just a few examples of items to consider when planning a rehabilitation project. Local building code officials should be consulted before beginning a rehabilitation project. Building codes and their interpretations vary among jurisdictions. Knowing your obligations at the beginning can avert legal entanglements and other unpleasant experiences
Getting To Know The ETC Team #14
Cassie Thompson | Staff Engineer
10 Things you didn’t know about me…
1. I am recently engaged! He popped the question on our way to San Francisco for our 4th of July vacation.
2. I have never been out of the country, but I did drive across the US during my senior year spring break. I even made it without getting a speeding ticket! (Parking tickets are a different story…)
3. I played the lead in my high school’s production of South Pacific. Please don’t ask me to act, sing, or dance now though!
4. During college, my fiancé and I hosted a radio show called Mild Confusion on our campus radio station. I doubt you would ever have heard it unless you were a night owl – we had the 2:00 a.m. – 4:00 a.m. shift!
5. I’ve been told I was born in the wrong generation. I’ll take the Monkees, Mamas and the Papas, the Beatles, and Herman’s Hermits over any of today’s music.
6. I absolutely love to bake! I even thought about dropping out of college and starting my own bakery back in the day.
7. I’m not a vegetarian, but I only eat chicken and turkey. I can’t stand the taste or texture of red meat.
8. I worked at a pizzeria throughout high school. I got really good at carrying large trays of pizza and pasta. And I never dropped a plate or cup!
9. I’m allergic to pistachios.
10. It’s hard to do in the Washington DC area, but I grew up a Pittsburgh Steelers and Pirates fan.
Getting To Know The ETC Team #13
Jeff Shuffleton | Operations Manager
10 Things You Didn’t Know About Me…..
1. I am a Star Wars Lego fanatic.
2. I met Kate, My wife, on Match.com
3. My son’s middle name is my father’s middle name (Dean).
4. I was 12 before I realized my father’s middle name isn’t David.
5. I hate to read books.
6. I was defensive MVP for my football team in 6th grade.
7. I can’t stand the taste of tea, coffee or beer.
8. I learned everything I know about computers by trial and error (see #5).
9. Healthy eating when Dad is in charge consists of donuts, mac and cheese and McDonalds. My kids love me for it!
10. I use to build plastic models as a kid and successively scotch taped an entire airplane together when I ran out or glue.
3G (Gimmicks, Gadgets & Gizmos)
Hardly a day passes when the inbox doesn’t include an advertisement for some miraculous new product, guaranteed to stop leaks forever, eliminate maintenance and otherwise make our lives easier. Property managers and owners must be on the same mailing lists because we encounter a fair number of these products in the field (usually soon after they were installed or applied) when we’re retained to figure out why they don’t work.
The advertising literature for these items is often well presented and convincing and as a society we are enamored of “cutting edge” technology. The principles described seem logical and the price is usually attractive. After all, it would be foolish to replace that $100,000 roof when $1,000 worth of “MIRACUWONDROUS WATER DEFEATER” will fix all your problems at a fraction of the cost.
It would be unfair and inaccurate to say that all products that claim to be “breakthrough” or “miraculous” are worthless. Some may actually perform useful functions under specific circumstances; however extreme skepticism should be your rule when considering new, untested technologies or unorthodox remedies. You don’t want to be the “lab rat”.
The fact is that new technologies are introduced all the time and some will be revolutionary. It’s also true that new products are seldom completely successful in their initial incarnations. Second and third generation products usually improve on the first and succeeding generations tend to get even better. Of course, in some cases the only thing that improves is the marketing. In other cases, the product began as garbage and even quantum improvements can’t elevate it above that status.
The time may come when force-fields replace conventional roofing and magic comes in a can. Our advice is to wait until they have proven effective in field applications rather than being the test case in what could be a costly experiment.
Getting To Know The ETC Team #12
Lisa Collet | Administrative Assistant
10 Things you didn’t know about me……
1. The first album I ever owned was Shaun Cassidy, Shaun Cassidy. I still have it.
2. I was a DJ on my college radio station. I miss vinyl albums.
3. I once had a pet rat name Sally. She died.
4. I toured Stonehenge in the rain and it was awesome!
5. I love all things British, especially Doctor Who, Monty Python’s Flying Circus, and Sherlock.
6. The first time I ever went to New York, I saw A Chorus Line at the Shubert Theater and had dinner at Mama Leone’s restaurant.
7. My favorite cocktail is a Manhattan.
8. I love the bagpipes and cold, rainy weather, so in a previous life I was probably Scottish.
9. Currently, my favorite author is Iain Banks.
10. My car is named after a demon from Buffy the Vampire Slayer
No Project is Complete Without Proper Paperwork
Obtaining the proper documentation is an important step in closing out a successful project. Many projects that run smoothly up until substantial completion can fall apart at the end because the Contractor drags his feet completing the punch list items and providing the necessary final paperwork.
Ten (10) percent of the contract amount should be held back until all punch list items are complete and all the final paperwork has been received. This retainage serves two purposes. It gives the Contractor incentive to properly address the outstanding items and it also provides the Owner with funds to have the remaining work completed if the Contractor fails to.
The Owner should be provided with the following items before processing the Contractor’s final invoice.
- A letter from the Engineer stating that all of the outstanding (punch list) items have been properly addressed
- The Contractor’s final lien release, affirming in a sworn statement that the Contractor has paid all of his employees, subcontractors and material suppliers associated with the project.
- The Contractor’s payment and performance bond release which states that the Contractor has paid all subcontractors and suppliers involved in a project and that the Contractor has completed the work for a project in accordance with the terms of the Contract and industry standards
- The Contractor’s warranty, which requires him to correct at no cost to the Owner any defects in workmanship that may arise during the warranty period.
- The Manufacturer’s warranty for each material used during the project, which requires the manufacturer to replace at no cost to the Owner any material found to be defective during the warranty period.
- Cleaning and maintenance information for proper care of involved materials, along with and any special instructions for maintaining warranty coverage.
The Contractor’s final invoice should not be processed until all of the above items are received. Contractors are generally more apt to provide these documents in a timely manner if money is still owed to them. Acquiring final paperwork is the last but not least step in successfully closing out a project.
Getting To Know The ETC Team #11
Ken Varron, RRO | Assistant Project Manager
10 Things You Didn’t Know About Me….
1. I lettered in both wrestling and gymnastics in high school.
2. I come from a large family, including four brother and two sisters.
3. My favorite snack is ice cream. I haven’t tried a flavor I didn’t like yet!
4. Watching a sunrise or sunset is one of my favorite pastimes. The colorful sky is just beautiful.
5. Back in the day, I hitch-hiked across the United States….from Maryland to California. (I wouldn’t recommend it in today’s world.)
6. I once worked in the desert picking up fossilized slate for a contractor. It was one of my odd jobs during the hitch-hiking adventure.
7. When I find a little free time, I enjoy remodeling my home. There always seems to be something on my “honey-do” list.
8. I’m very appreciative of anyone that wants to cook me dinner, however please never serve liver or brussels spouts. I just can’t eat them!
9. Having a pet in my life has always been a MUST! From cats, to dogs, to boa constrictors…..I have enjoyed them all!
10 I HATE YARD WORK!
ETC Defies Gravity
ETC has three staff who are trained to rappel down building facades via a bosun chair. Chris Upperman recently did his best Spiderman impression to check for possible water entry defects in a brick facade. We find this to be quicker and more cost effective than assembling a swing stage to get nose-to-nose with higher story building areas. You never know when you might find these ETC daredevils assessing the face of a building and defying gravity.
Joint Sealants
Joint sealants (caulks) are often used as a quick fix to address a problem leak, but proper attention to material selection and the joint onto which it is applied can make the difference between a long-term repair and a recurring leak. See our BLOG entry on proper sealant joint preparation, design, and application http://blog.etc-web.com/?p=854.
The most widely used commercial-grade building sealants are made of either silicone or urethane. Other materials regularly enter the marketplace, many of which are specialty products for unusual/unconventional uses. Acrylic terpolymers comprise another family of sealants (and will be a topic for a future blog entry), but silicones and urethanes are mainstays in the construction trades.
Silicones tend to be longer lasting, are resistant to ultraviolet (UV) degradation, and most commonly used on non-porous substrates like metals, window-glazing and certain masonry projects. Paint will not adhere to silicone. Urethanes are normally less expensive and are paintable . They are often used on porous or natural materials like wood, masonry, concrete, and stone repair projects.
Sealants come in a wide range of colors, single and multi-component formulations, and non-sag or self-leveling viscosities. They’re also classified by elongation characteristics. For example, a rating of 50% means that the sealant in a half-inch-wide joint can stretch or compress up to one-quarter of an inch without tearing. There is no single sealant that’s suitable for every application and product selection is key to performance.
Surface preparation is essential to achieving a long lasting bond. Many sealant manufacturers require application of a designated primer to the substrate. Pull tests should be performed on a section of cured sealant to ensure adequate adhesion. In a standard pull test, the sealant should tear before it debonds from the substrate.
Silicone and urethane sealants do not stick to each other and should never be used where such a bond would be necessary to performance. When replacing sealants in a joint, the old materials must be completely removed.
Lastly, always tool the sealant into the joint. This not only imparts a finished appearance, it helps achieve a better bond to the substrate
Always Up Fore A Good Cause!
Good friends….Good Golf…Good Cause.
