A concrete pavement’s longevity of can be affected by several factors, including the design and construction of the transverse joint. Research was recently conducted to determine what conditions will influence the performance and life cycle cost of a sealed pavement joint, and to understand how the initial conditions affect...
Bob Dylan’s famous song lyric, “The times, they are a-changing,” aptly describes building science and the role of fluid-applied air barriers in construction today. Regarding fluid-applied flashing materials, we are seeing this change take place right before our very eyes. However, as times change, some things remain the same.
The unique characteristics of the construction industry—most notably, the complexity of the delivery process—present several barriers to achieving efficiency with paper-based practices. Manual processes, characterized by paper and clipboards, create an obstacle to speed, accuracy, efficiency, and the achievement of higher standards of customer service. By hindering the productivity...
Cleanrooms present unique design challenges because they must meet specific requirements that go beyond what is encountered in a typical commercial space. When specifying HVAC equipment in a critical environment such as a cleanroom, engineers must consider the key issues of air filtration, humidity control, and pressurization.
Changing social attitudes have prompted a nationwide trend toward gender-neutral and high-privacy restrooms in the United States, particularly for use in universities and commercial office facilities. This approach to public and institutional restroom design has been further reinforced by legislation, with more than 20 states—most recently, Massachusetts—passing laws aimed...
Moisture presence in concrete slabs can cause problems for all types of floors, including carpeting, wood, stone, poured polymeric, and resilient finish. Too much moisture can cause floorcoverings to cup, buckle, blister, and discolor, and these problems can occur days, months, or years after installation. In other words, excess...
Most fire deaths are not caused by burns, but by smoke inhalation. Often, smoke incapacitates so quickly people are overcome and cannot make it to an otherwise accessible exit. (See National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA’s), “A Reporter’s Guide to Fire and the NFPA” by visiting www.nfpa.org.) Given the nature...
With appropriate specification, stainless steel can last the life of a building. However, as with any other material, unsightly surface deposits can accumulate after many years of service. Accidents, vandalism, use of inappropriate cleaning procedures, and installation issues can make surfaces unsightly, cause damage, or even lead to rapid...
Hotel owners are prisoners of a paradox—they must build near major thoroughfares, highways, and rail services so they are accessible and convenient, but this ideal location is also often the source of the noise problem. As noise awareness grows, some proprietors mistakenly believe the only solution is replacing every...
Eliminating fossil fuel consumption in buildings is best done by achieving both energy conservation and energy generation. Sprayed polyurethane foam (SPF) roofing provides a method for accomplishing the first goal, and photovoltaic (PV) systems offer high performance for the second. Given the core energy solutions SPF roofing and PV...
