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Power 150/22
This high-performance product line exceeds the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards for photoluminescent safety markings. The ASTM code requires the product to emit luminance values of 20 millicandela per meter (mcd/m) after 10 minutes in the dark, and 2.8 mcd/m after 60...
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Go-Ahead to Study PV Use
The Electrical Contracting Foundation has recognized a need to better understand the photovoltaic (PV) market, and has voted to fund a study of the technology. In addition, the foundation has noted that the increasing application of PV systems is 'sparking turf wars among various building trades.'
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Coming to America
Product innovation. It is one of the many challenges facing lighting manufacturers. While some companies strive to achieve this through in-house resources, others look to European manufacturers, which are known for their progressive design approach. And while U.S. companies have imported European...
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New Ballast Efficacy Standards
New Ballast Efficacy Standards
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IALD Energy Policy Approved
The IALD board of directors has approved an internal energy agenda at its board of directors meeting on October 23. In addition, the organization has initiated a business plan for its Energy Task Force in order to help it better communicate with energy-policy-making bodies around the world. The...
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Prefabricating the paneled sections on the floor speeds installation.
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Q: Is it okay to use Schluter's Kerdi material as a waterproofing membrane beneath a stone countertop? Because it's flexible, I plan to use it to cover the plywood substrate on top of the cabinets, and then turn it up the wall a few inches so that I can w
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Q: In a SIP, how secure is the bond between the OSB skin and the EPS (expanded polystyrene) core? Can this bond be compromised by water infiltration or insect damage, or could the insulated core deteriorate over time? If that bond were to fail, it seems to me the whole structure would fall apart...
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Q: I live in northern coastal California, in the heart of the redwoods. We're currently remodeling a simple structure (in a highly visible town-square location) into an elaborately detailed storefront, in keeping with the surrounding 1880s architecture. While all the vintage storefronts (and their...
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Q: There's a framing rule of thumb I've used for years that says it's okay to offset a second-story bearing wall from the first-story bearing wall below, as long as you don't offset it by more than the depth of the joist. We use this rule for standard dimensional lumber, but would it also apply to...
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Q: Ideally, pier/beam connections are always properly aligned, with the pier at the right elevation to fully support the beam above. But in the real world, a little shimming always seems to be required. Are shims ripped from framing lumber really adequate
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May the Best Practices Succeed
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Framing an elliptical staircase
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Q: We're remodeling a 1930s vintage San Diego home and have to seismically reinforce its cripple walls with plywood, shear transfer plates, and hold-downs. Because all the framing is very dry and most of the cripples measure only 1 foot to 2 feet in lengt
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Our annual pick of products designed to help you work smarter, faster, and better.
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Section R602.10 of the International Residential Code calls for "braced wall lines" composed of "braced wall panels." The location, width, and construction details of these braced wall panels, as well as the materials that can be used to build them, are spelled out in the code's text, tables, and...
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A steel frame anchored to a new concrete foundation provides support.
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Spell out your standards of workmanship
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Auditing issues worry LIHTC industry
Work continues on solving one of the big issues facing the low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) market this year: the possibility of more expensive accounting requirements.
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A good job addresses the building's weakest link - where the foundation attaches to the first floor.