Editorial 'We haven't heard of any problems.' Yesterday, I spoke with a construction specifier who said that his rule of thumb is to give a product ten years in the field before speccing it on a job. Too many things go wrong, he said, and too many products come and go. On the other hand, I know many builders who can't wait to try out the latest insulation system, heating system, high-tech window, or low-flush toilet. Some innovative products work well and become standard practice—low-e windows, for example. Some, such as condensing furnaces, have many problems because they are brought to market before they are ready. Some, such as urea-formaldehyde foam, are disastrous. Nearly all innovations, however, take extra time to get used to—the so-called learning curve. And inherent