As many designers can attest, selecting the most appropriate HVAC system involves more than an off-the-shelf purchase. Designing a mechanical system for maximum energy efficiency, reliability, serviceability, and sustainability—while meeting the varying usage needs of the customer—requires broad expertise and a thorough understanding of key considerations in system design.
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Engineered wood products are specified for a wide range of light-frame floor assemblies in light commercial and multi-family construction. I-joists, glued-laminated timber (glulam), rim board, laminated veneer lumber (LVL), laminated strand lumber (LSL), and oriented strand lumber (OSL) are popular due to their availability, precision, strength, and consistent quality.
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Over the past few years, much has been written and said about equivalent (EQ) coatings for cold-formed steel (CFS) studs. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, there are lingering doubts and misconceptions harbored by some specifiers about these products’ performance.
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Designers are creating new and exciting contemporary masonry designs that demand clean, smooth wall plane elevations. One challenge that can interfere with unobstructed aesthetics is the visual effects of masonry drip-edge flashing. This potential obstacle has also carried through to traditional masonry design.
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Professionals involved with the installation of flooring must choose from a large selection of materials for a variety of projects. Whether selecting options for stone, tile, vinyl, etc., project teams are expected to be experts, know the ideal solution for every scenario, and deliver it on time.
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The words ‘errors and omissions’ (E & O) are practically taboo in architectural circles and are rarely spoken—even in private conversations between architects, engineers, and their professional employees.
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Sixty percent of U.S. commercial buildings were constructed before 1980. Retrofitting them for energy efficiency is essential to achieve the Department of Energy (DOE) Building Technologies Office’s (BTO) goal of halving building energy use by 2030.
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The most prized types of windows and doors—composed of custom, handcrafted, solid, hot-rolled steel—grace innumerable luxury residential, commercial, cultural, institutional, and historically prominent structures across the United States.
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Both fiberglass and stone wool insulation have merit, promote fire protection and sustainability, and offer value to architects, contractors, and property owners alike. This article’s intent is to present a scientific examination of the benefits of using each.
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In the new issue of The Construction Specifier, these two authors examine some of the many changes that can be found in the new, improved 2016 MasterFormat—the organizational resource co-published by CSI and Construction Specifications Canada (CSC).
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