Specifying suspended acoustic baffles

While many design options exist (e.g. baffles, banners, islands, and clouds), the use of NRC rating as a performance metric does not. The sound-absorbing performance of these individual, hanging acoustic objects is not quantified using NRC. Instead, their absorption is characterized using sabins, the unit of sound absorption.
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Demystifying fire-retardant-treated wood specifications

A step-by-step guide to writing a strong specification for generic fire-retardant-treated wood (FRTW) for specifiers. The history of FRTW, how it is manufactured, and how it compares to steel, concrete, and painted/coated wood products helps create a context to better understand when to use specific products in specific situations....
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A guide to field notching and drilling LVL and glulam

Laminated veneer lumber (LVL) and glue-laminated (glulam) timber products are designed for applications where they will be highly stressed under design loads. Drilling or notching of LVL and glulam should typically be avoided. But, in situations where it cannot be avoided, this article provides some helpful guidelines.
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Trial to trend: The growth of prefabricated exterior walls

When prefabrication enters the construction equation, the game changes dramatically. Manufacturers can produce complete exterior wall panels in a climate-controlled facility with no weather limitations. Wall panels can then be transported to a job site where they are hoisted into place and attached to the structure without the need...
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