This article describes the air barrier performance requirements for the desired wind load design specifications. The performance level is not determined by the type of air barrier material, but by the installation details.
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When choosing a marquee entry door system, specifiers need to consider several criteria including traffic, the building’s wind and stack action pressure, accessibility, and obstructing pedestrian traffic.
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The 2010 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Standards for Accessible Design has several requirements that continue to surprise architects and specifiers. This article examines changes to door hardware operable force, use of low-energy automatic operators, protrusions into egress, and the need for proper maneuvering clearance.
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The article offers an in-depth look at design considerations for fire resistance when building with wood products. It also looks at wood engineering mechanics and design procedures that comply with the International Building Code (IBC), recognizing fire resistance demonstrated by structural wood beams and columns in actual fires.
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There are two main field testing methods used for water repellency of concrete masonry units (CMUs), for quality assurance before being placed in a wall: droplet and RILEM tube testing. Completed assemblies can also be tested with RILEM tubes or other standard water spray tests.
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A single-wythe concrete masonry wall may be a cost-effective structural element, but it can present challenges for waterproofing. The National Concrete Masonry Association (NCMA) recommends redundancy to keep concrete masonry walls dry through techniques at the surface of the wall, within the wall, and through adequate drainage systems.
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The sound transmission class (STC) and impact insulation class (IIC) are ASTM-derived single number ratings that try to quantify how much sound a stopped by partition being tested. Laboratory testing involves an ideal setting for the floor/ceiling assembly.
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Demand for better floor/ceiling acoustics in multifamily construction has been spurred by consumer desires, new guidelines from code bodies, and stricter enforcement of existing codes. This article reviews important new guidelines, delving into how construction manufacturers have created new products or enhanced existing ones.
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Using curved surfaces in performing arts facilities can diffuse sound and create distinctive appearances; the wide variety of options—may made available through use of modeling technologies and cold-formed steel (CFS)—means a wide palette of dramatically different visual results.
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“A building is only as strong as its foundation,” is a common idiom uttered across the construction industry. Time can be spent applying this to anything, in the metaphorical sense, but in the construction business it can be taken literally.
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