Sound isolation code requirements

As new construction techniques and certifications become more widely used, specifiers must be aware of the many factors impacting the transmission of sound in buildings. It is important to take sound isolation into account when designing multifamily residential buildings to ensure the long-term comfort and satisfaction of building occupants.
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Avoiding galvanic corrosion with dissimilar metals

When two different metals are in contact and exposed to moisture containing salts or pollutants, one of the metals can experience accelerated corrosion while the other remains protected. This type of accelerated corrosion between dissimilar metals negatively impacts the overall corrosion protection of the project and is referred to...
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The future is touch-free

With the COVID-19 pandemic creating a heightened sensitivity to proper hand sanitation, it is more important than ever to implement solutions that mitigate potential health risks in public environments. When one takes into account the fact thousands of users go in and out of public restrooms each day, ‘high-touch’...
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Specifying metal rainscreen assemblies

Metal can be formed into several shapes, sizes, colors, and textures to meet almost any aesthetic. If specified correctly, the assembly will last for the life of the building with very few issues. Three broad categories—composites, insulated metal panels (IMPs), and single-skin—of metal rainscreens are widely used.
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Specifying glass for sloped glazing and skylights

Custom-designed sloped glazing and skylights have long brought a distinctive architectural statement to atriums and other features of commercial buildings. While the framing is essential for supporting the structure and resisting environmental loads, the selection and specification of the overhead glass is of the greatest importance due to the...
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WRB-AB sheathing streamlines wall assembly and cladding compatibility

With the variety of cladding materials available today, and designers’ penchants to combine styles and textures, it is essential to specify building envelope controls that are compatible with multiple cladding types. This balancing act between aesthetic preferences and air and moisture management is where gypsum-integrated water-resistive barrier-air barrier (WRB-AB)...
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Reaching a new level of sophistication with panelized construction

Pre-panelized assemblies, while different from modular, can provide multiple benefits such as truncated construction time, increased safety, ease of quality control, and reduction of jobsite waste. Both structural steel and cold-formed steel (CFS) elements in these panels provide straight, dimensionally stable substrates for a variety of finishes and construction...
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