Spontaneous Glass Breakage
Why it happens and what to do about it: Balcony glass failures are in the news. Despite high strength levels, spontaneous breakage occurs with tempered glass. Ironically, its center tension zone is also what makes it vulnerable to failure. Is heat-soaking an option?
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Avoiding Problems in Aquatics Facilities
The indoor swimming pool can be a perfect storm when it comes to thermal, moisture, and energy efficiency management. This article discusses typical problems found in existing natatoriums.
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Energy-efficient Building with EIFS
For structures old and new, exterior insulation finish systems offer an air barrier, continuous insulation, and aesthetic finish in one assembly—and it’s an assembly that continues to evolve.
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Behind the Scenes: Another Look at a Terra Cotta Failure
Whenever we do readership surveys, the Failures column consistently ranks as one of the most popular parts of The Construction Specifier. Over the years, Deborah Slaton and David S. Patterson (along with many guest authors) have used the magazine’s final page to delve into what went wrong with a building, and explore how it could have been prevented.
As it is always limited to a single page, the Failures column must be concise. Given …Continue reading
EIFS: Then and now
Our September 2013 article on entrapped moisture touched on issues related to early iterations of exterior insulation and finish systems (EIFS). It led to this letter to the editor from Scott Robinson, of the EIFS Industry Members Association (EIMA).
While going through the September 2013 issue of The Construction Specifier, I read, “Claddings and Entrapped Moisture: Lessons Learned from Early EIFS,” by John …Continue reading
CONSTRUCT 2013: Looking Back on Nashville
As the editor of The Construction Specifier, I attend CONSTRUCT & the CSI Annual Convention every year. It’s a busy few days, but it’s always nice catching up with writers, friends, and editorial advisors. There are also lots of opportunities to meet with building product experts on the show floor. Between the exhibit hall and the various seminar rooms, CONSTRUCT is a direct or indirect source for many of the features and articles finding their …Continue reading