CONSTRUCT2012 CSI Annual Meeting - Building Technology Education Program Task Team

CSI has voted to establish a task team to study the feasibility of developing a comprehensive building technology education program to address the long-recognized lack of availability for such training in college programs and internships. CSI is an organization whose members cover the gamut in design and construction of building systems. There seems to be no other group in this position, so someone finally said why don't WE do something to address this problem. Yes, there are groups who study building technology in depth in some areas, but none who offer comprehensive education designed to attract new and veteran professionals alike. The task team will continue by holding virtual meetings. 

This might be the greatest development that CSI has undertaken for the AEC community since MasterFormat.

The Yea's

The Nay's

CSI Brand Revitalization

CSI -
Building Knowledge
Improving Project Delivery

CONSTRUCT2012 Education Sessions F01 - tile std changes

CONSTRUCT2012 Education Sessions F01 - tile standard changes

www.greensquared.com
Expected to launch next week

DCOF AcuTest
In lieu of ASTM C 1028
http://www.tcnatile.com/trade-news/lab-blog/111-dcof-acutest-the-new-method-for-measuring-coefficient-of-friction-on-tile.html

Uses dynamic COF, and slightly soapy water. Highly repeatable.
0.42 DCOF will be the standard
(0.6 SCOF is about 0.38 DCOF)

This new standard was just formalized last week. All the TCNA mfr
members are comfortable with it. Non-dated eference to ANSI A137.1
will handle this as soon as ANSI updates:

"A new version of ANSI A137.1 Specifications for Ceramic Tile will
soon be published with the new DCOF AcuTest method. Additionally, for
the first time there will be a minimum COF requirement of 0.42 for
level interior tile surfaces expected to be walked upon when wet."

see www.TCNAtile.com, TCNA Tile Initiative (free)

This does not YET apply to stone. It is much more variable.

The DCOF for ramps might not be established for a few more years.

Does not sound like DOJ has weighed in on it yet. TCNA was going to go to Access Board next, but it was suggested that they go right to the DOJ too, since they were the ones who blew the last standard to bits.

Also, the new TCNA 2012 recommends inclusion of qualified labor
language. Lists several recognized programs.

CONSTRUCT2012 Education Session H10 - The Cost Impact of Integrated Practice

The Cost Impact of Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
Matthew Miller

History of IPD goes back to about 2006

Now AIA and AGC has IP based contracts

Goal is finding additional rewards through shared profit from use of new technology

When asked if we have succeeded at this yet, no one raised their hand

When asked if we have a long way to go, almost everyone raised their hand

Part of the problem is information developed by modelers is very disorganized, while information needed in specs is highly organized.

BIM Managers are not involved with daily progress, instead they are more focused on initial setup and output. PM's are involved with daily progress but may or may not be involved with BIM.
 Same thing occurs on contracting side.

The GSA is looking for spatial and energy data from the BIM, of paramount importance to them, not so much fly-throughs and detailed information. Also COBIE. Look at the contracts, and base activities to fulfill those needs.

The needs haven't changed, just because software and our methods have changed.

Sometimes the people you are dealing with on the owner team at end of project aren't the same as the people you developed the contract with. So it is important to be clear in the contract and initial documents at the outset, what the goals are, and follow through on those goals, so they will be happy with the end result. The goals can be established in a way similar to the contractor's schedule of values. Design team can then tell if they are at the right stage of completion. And if owner pulls the plug, you can readily show what has been completed and what it is worth.

Scope Creep is one of the biggest impacts in the last decade. Begins if programming is not comprehensive. e.g. Cheshire cat - if you don't know where you are going, either road will take you there.

Continues when people ask "can you do this?" and the BIM team gets excited and wants to proove that they can...without checking to see if it is part of the contract deliverables.

A senior PM should not see an output that isn't extremely recognizable and part of the contract.

An Integrated Delivery Manual (IDM) is a critical document to tell who is coordination with whom, and what the outcome is. Otherwise all you see is billable time and no one is accountable. Becomes a great tool for clients in the end. They are usually more than willing to pay for the use and handover of this tool if they are aware of it.

Every device in today's technology does not have a future.

The DATA has a future. And it needs to be organized, and be accessed by the right people.

Buy technology for today, organize data for tomorrow. You NEED a data migration strategy.

CONSTRUCT2012 Education Session W10 - Balance between doing & managing

CONSTRUCT2012 - W10 Balance between doing & managing

7 steps to effective delegation

DEFINE task
Determine tangible & measurable OBJECTIVES
SHARE RESOURCES
TIMEFRAME
REPORT PERIOD
FEEDBACK
7?

SKILL: recognize what and when to delegate
Redefine a fulfilling day
Successful mgmt is "not doing"
Measure accomplishment by what your TEAM did, not by what you did
Determine ways to test progress without re-doing each task
To become a manager, STOP DOING AND START MANAGING

How to measure your own mgmt skill level
Look at the RESULTS not the method
let others think outside the box
measure your success at SUPPORTING DELEGATION even more than how well the task is achieved

Projects with short timeframes and measurable outcomes
Small projects that are not critical. Or large that cAn be broken down into manageable tasks
Then say that's what success looks like

Predefine reporting requirements
Predefine measurable milestones
  Create your own inspection process
This Avoids micromanagement

Never delegate in a rush:
 You can do it all better and faster than everyone who works for you. (should be the case). But you can always do more by delegating.

Communication requires clarity of expectations. Avoid teenage logic. Eg you can't be up until 2am playing computer games and do well on your homework.

Convey how you measure outcome

Encourage ingenuity and initiative

Set clear timelines

Provide authority with responsibility. If you make somebody responsible, don't make them run back to the boss every time they have to do something.

easier to measure a "do" task, not planning, strategy or organization

You are still ultimately responsible

Employees must agree with the Mission Statement of the business

Both you and the employees need to commit to delegation

Employees need to see the consequences

What motivates the people you are managing? What are their short term and long term goals?
-desire to learn
-willingness to try new things
-understand the company's needs not just their own needs

Don't let an employee hold you hostage
Perhaps this employee is expendable
Don't let one employee make or break your company. Don't think that one employee has that power.

In this country we have been too slow to fire and quick to hire. The recession changed that.

Growth an only be achieved though delegation
Allow for failures, allow for mistakes
You aren't perfect neither are they
Responsibility can be a true motivator for employees
Publicly acknowledge the success of others. Requires an honest effort.
Do it again!
Money is not the ultimate motivator
Some employees thrive on responsibility
Some want growth
Others want additional training opportunities,
flexible hours

Determine your passion
What do you like to do
What are you good at
What is an ideal day at the office
Best employee is one that wants your job when you get an even better one

Not delegating a task because only you can do it = you don't know how to manage

Look for improved process, not perfect results

Think about where there are less consequences of not getting it done right or on time (candidates for delegation) AND where your team can still make the most money for the firm (candidates for delegation!)

Feedback - after a failure, figure out together how to improve process. Those who can contribute well to that discussion are best to move forward for future delegation.

Backsliding (in your delegation abilities)
-Failure is measured incorrectly
-Look for opportunities to improve communication and forming expectations

Best executive has sense to pick good people and restraint to keep from meddling with them while they do it - theo Roosevelt

If you expect the best, you should be the best. Lead by example eg integrity. Think about messages you send by your actions

Mediocrity is contagious

An unhappy employee can do nothing but make other employees unhappy. Don't allow for mediocrity

Time is money. Do you value your time? Your employees time? If you promise an answer, give a time deadline AND FOLLOW THROUGH.

Get to work and spend an hour doing something other than email and phone.

Think about your communication style and what message it sends

In many cases it is more efficient to use a phone call, then follow it up wih a very quick email.

Sarcasm doesn't come through well in email, even with a smiley face.

For something urgent, use the phone

Don't try to "accomplish" stuff during meetings. Set priorities, assign accountability, report progress, see who needs help.

be on time to meetings!
-never reward latecomers. Ie don't summarize what we've been talking about for the last 10 minutes. And don't wait for everyone to show up.
-if you always start on time, even if only 1 other person is in the room, soon others will come on time
-have standing up meetings

Manage conflict
-handle it and move on

Evaluate your own relationships with:
Employees, clients, GC's, subs, other ae's, inspectors, fm's

Feel, felt, found

Treat employees fairly
Stand behind employee decisions. Don't undermine others.
Set rules and processes. Follow through.
Don't take your anger out in public
Don't take your anger out on the wrong people

Evaluate your company culture
Not just what they do but how
Describe in terms of internal communication, teamwork, mgmt style, respect
Ask others what they think about your company. How would somebody describe your firm?

Are you motivated, or demotivated?

Do not give up. It is a hard skill to master. Leadership and delegation provide growth and success. But in the beginning it's harder. Do you want to be a mgr?
Make time to work ON the business, instead of IN the business.

What is the first task you want to delegate?
How will you improve the way you manage?
What worked and didn't work?

CSI CONSTRUCT2012 Keynote Address - Empowering Sustainable Reconstruction

Phoenix sure knows how to capture our attention to open the keynote, with a Hopi Indian dance.

KEYNOTE ADDRESS

"Empowering Sustainable Reconstruction"

Dr. Tracy Kijewski-Correa, University of Notre Dame Civil Engineering, and co-founder of Engineering2Empower

"We knew it was a problem, but it was just too difficult to solve." This is the unfortunate prevailing approach to seismic issues in Haiti preceding what is now the largest disaster in modern history. A recurring culprit is masonry, unreinforced, and intersected by haphazard columns.

In a nation that is deforested, you don't have much wood for formwork. Also not enough reinforcing was used. 

Confined masonry was not typically used, costing twice as much. The goal of a safe home was completely unattainable.

Two immediate questions:

 - How to make sure this never happens again?

 - How to repair that block over there?

In the U.S. we adjust our codes and standards and reduce repeating failures. Because we have a strong government and educational pipeline, engineers available and a strong economy. But in many places like Haiti those fundamental underpinnings are missing. 

Best question 

 - Why did they over-rely on block in the first place?

To answer, first listen. What were the underlying factors in how they built? 

 1. Resiliency

 2. Feasibility

Construction materials at their disposal where heavy, attracting more seismic force. Blocks were hand-pressed. Stones were smooth and round. Concrete mixed on the ground, eyeballing proportions.

Understand the market. Homeowners could not afford engineering services like we have, and not workers like we have in the US - they could not even afford the most qualified local workers. They could save every day for the rest of their lives and not be able to afford a safe home. No mortgages or insurance. You just build block by block every chance you have a little money.

Need to also ask, what would add:

 3. Sustainability

 4. Viability

Need a single family home, 3 bedrooms, porch, good ventilation, cool interior, hurricane and earthquake resistant, security, and appearance of modern block home.

Empowerment model - includes those 4 pillars

Held a community meeting

The top 4 solutions all included concrete unit masonry. Not the answer we wanted to hear.

Are the top solutions the same as the ones that killed so many people?!

So we decided to innovate.

Looking at the early colonial structures they had, that actually outlasted the block homes, they were built with a wood structural frame. But they didn't have wood anymore.

So we proposed using what steel reinforcing they have and coupling it with proper building standards to make a durable structural frame, and adding lightweight concrete panels. Using prefabrication at a depot to ensuring that assemblies meet seismic detailing requirements. And paraskilling to make sure workers are efficient and skilled at their tasks. Introduced communal materials like reusable formwork, and equipment like mixers.

Prefabrication helps fill in for lack of strong government. Paraskilling helps make up for lacking education. Standardized design helps with lack of engineering availability. Communal materials and equipment help address the extreme need for economical solutions.

Actually ended up cheaper than block construction. But we also had to be sure this type of house is something the Haitian families would want to live in. Learned a few things that helped change the design. Made it modular so they could begin with 2 rooms, and add more later. The interior panels could actually be detached and redesigned. This gives the homeowners a sense of empowerment. But still not really enough until the whole community was understanding and accepting the solutions, so they could become the voice not me. Self-financed recovery is stronger than continual dependence. So partnered with local groups such as CURL to make sure the solutions worked for them and would have deep roots in the community. Also gave encouragement to residents to save what they could regularly, using messaging through their cell phones to communicate their saving patterns and getting feedback on how soon they could meet their goals for new homes. This further strengthened empowerment in a sense of a social network on the streets that somebody is offering a way out, not a handout.

There are silent Haiti's all over the world, waiting for the next disaster. 

CONSTRUCT2012 Education Session W01 - Avoiding problems with floor finishes on conc slabs

CSI CONSTRUCT2012
Avoiding problems with floor finishes on conc slabs
Emily R. Hopper, Peter Nelson of Simpson, Gumpertz & Heger, structural engineers and building science
Wed 9/12/2012 8:00

Adhesive failures
- moisture, or ph. Adhesive oozes.
- or edges of vct curls.

Wood flooring
- dimensional change problems
- biological degradation - mold/mildew

Carpet
- debonding
- phthalates released

Resinous terrazzo
- debonding
- curling
- blistering

Silicates
- surface of floor becomes hygroscopic, wet, slippery

Concrete e.g. Exposed agg or ground face
- alkali silica reaction

Why?
- Change in government regulations and sustainable design requirements. We no longer use asphalt cutback adhesive. Need to meet VOC limits. So we're using water-based adhesives, that fail when they are re-wetted.
- Increased use of pozzilans e.g. fly ash
- Lightweight conc saves a lot in steel framing and increases fire ratings. But lightweight aggregate takes twice as long to dry. E.g. 160 days instead of 80 (may vary depending on thickness of conc).
- if any significant rain is allowed to fall on the conc, you have to start the 80 or 160 days all over.
- Fast track construction
- Lack of or compromised vapor retarder below slab

Suggested solutions:
- Require low w/c ratio
- Consider requiring plastic moisture retaining curing covers , and not allowing curing compounds, burlap, and definitely not continuous water fog curing.
- Avoid blotter layer. It usually becomes a bathtub, in spite of the best intentions.
- {Make CA staff aware to} expect to see many not just one calcium chloride tests. See the spacing requirements in the ASTM. Three tests for first 1,000 sq ft. One more for each additional 1,000 sq ft.
- {Make CA staff aware to} expect to see where they ground away any curing compound or other surface treatment if any.
- regarding use of ASTM F 2170 Internal RH probe test, instead of ASTM F 1869 anhydrous calcium chloride test - most people do not have equipment that passes the standard's requirements for statistical error. A study was done of several mfr's probes, results were all over the place, and retested later and results weren't even consistent among a mfr's own probe.
- If this method is used, {make CA aware that} the tester needs to brush, vacuum, and repeat until there is no dust. And the report should show a number of things listed in the ASTM, including the make and model of tester and when it was last calibrated.

pH is a big issue too. But nothing can be done about it. Also since it requires moisture for it to be a problem, we expect ASTM will eventually say fix the moisture problems and you will fix the pH.

Who should do the moisture testing?

Who should hire the tester?

Recommend independent, hired by owner.

Intl conc repair institute (ICRI) now has a certification for testers.

Vented metal deck - don't use as a moisture mitigation strategy. Won't hurt but doesn't help much.

"Accelerate" drying of the slab - not much data

Install moisture mitigation system
- assume you are going to need it up front. So many factors, and not one person's responsibility
- consider an allowance, alternate, or unit price - {though after discussion, agreed somewhat with a plan to just include whatever methods the GC chooses to manage it in the base bid, with mitigation as one option}
- systems are not all created equally. See slide for types of moisture mitigation. Speaker believes best type are 100% solids epoxy based topical products that are pH tolerant, with 0.1 perms or less. {need to discuss further, may be too restrictive - perhaps 0.3, and retesting is the key.}
- include the shot blasting, and a special type of blotter layer for the coating(?),
- expect $5-10/sq ft, in the base bid.

Avoid:
- penetrating coatings,
- water-based types, will have the same problem we started with because they will break down from moisture.
- magic admixtures that will lock water in and can't be tested, cause pH and bonding problems and doesn't address cracks.

CONSTRUCT2012 Technical Tour - DIRTT

CSI CONSTRUCT2012 Factory tour of DIRTT demountable partitions.
They also offer access floor systems.

DIRTT = Doing it Right This Time

http://www.dirtt.net/

A panel can be removed in seconds using special prybar tool, to access electrical or other services, or change panels.

Wide range of designs to work with, very flexible, even a system of easily irrigated plant trays called Breathe living wall modules are available

Site assembled?
-yes
Therefore not unitized?
-correct, usually not unitized

Progressive or non-progressive?
-Non. (That is better - you can remove any panel without affecting adjacent panels.)

Fire and sound ratings available?
-Fire-no
-Stc 37-51

Are vinyl-free systems available?
-yes, they have a foil laminate over mdf that is highly cleanable.
-abs seals are available however they are not as resilient as PVC
-asked if they tried neoprene, will email Max

Wood veener species?
-teak, 30 species total
FSC Certified wood?
-available

Lunch-n-learns or webinars available

CONSTRUCT2012 Technical Tour - F L W - T W

Visited a certain famous architect's desert home/studio/school. We were greeted with a card that said not to take pictures, but then on closer inspection it seemed that maybe taking pictures of the exterior was OK if for personal use. So to be on the safe side, here is just one exterior picture, and I promise I'm in no way gaining from posting it here, it is for the enjoyment of me and my spec-geeky friends who were on the tour.

The harmony with nature is truly remarkable, and amazing if the roof doesn't leak since it is sheet metal that is in some places dead flat.

I don't need any trouble from the foundation so I will not even say who this famous architect is, but we really enjoyed the tour, and it inspires me to one day convince some apprentices to study specifications under the master and charge them for the privilege while they build a winter home for me and my wife, and when they are finished they can be cast out to sleep in tents.

SCIP Lunch Presentation - BIM and SCIP

BIM and SCIP
Presented by Mark Kalin, Kalin Associates Specifications
---
Sponsored by PPG
New products include:
Solarban 72
Sungate 400
---
There is work to do.
30 million bldgs needing work in the next few years.
5 million people move to cities every month.
The AGC is the #1 trainer for BIM in the country. They get it.
What should we do?
-meet with the BIM drivers
-with office BIM managers.
(be aware, the estimators will want to get more info from the model has in it, e.g. Sq ft of paint.
-lock in relationship - be their best buddy for finding the right spec#, etc. So they'll never need to go to somebody else or struggle through it themselves and have a poor result.
-review office BIM keynotes
-provide attributes of the BoD
-assemble manuf objects
-add attributes in model
-add as-built model info
-add attributes into spec

Our role is moving toward a dynamic one as a knowledge manager, from a static one as a specification writer.

We should be working with our BIM Managers to develop training for Reviteers who are plugging in manuf info & other bits into the model, to make sure when schedules are published and specs "refreshed" or otherwise updated, we aren't seeing some as 5-digit, some 6-digit, some no digit, some UniFormat, etc.

See Kalin website for the PowerPoint.

Currently, without working together, bids are apples, oranges, and elephants

[cid:0262BCBF-FE34-4557-B762-6A405127AE91]

SCIP Annual Meeting

Introductions.

Membership had declined but is rebounding.

Member benefits now includes a conferencing system.

SCIP has an official phone 818-390-7692.

    Please pass the matza

SCIP members, affiliates, and retired members are encouraged to participate in the online discussion groups such as the CSI Specifications Practice Group.

SCIP is the voice of the specifications community and works as a complimentary organization with CSI, not in competition with CSI. Going back 20 years ago, SCIP did not have nearly this level of acceptance from CSI. But in the last few years the two originations have worked well to compliment each other and there is no visible remnant of the initial perception that SCIP was any sort of threat.

John Regener chomps at the bit to discuss CSI+SCIP, and automagic spefications

Discussed several business items such as online payment system to be developed.


Walt Marlow of CSI puts in a plug for partnering together with SCIP especially for educational programs, such as the CSI Academies

Manufacturer specks were discussed, as well as A/E spefications by project managers using semi-automagic tools. Education is increasingly important, to help deliver projects without increasing claims and change orders.

Greg Markling of CSI - We are looking for any and every way to work together with SCIP

By-laws revisions reviewed in general. Clarifications to language for affiliate membership, and added retired member status. Discussed whether to reduce the 5 year experience requirement for members, such as to 3 years in order to capture more full Members during the time when they really need SCIP the most, for mutual benefit. John Regener pointed out the Affiliate status was designed to be inclusionary, not exclusionary. Discussed proposed wording change to requirements for Affiliates, which would only require them to be full time specifiers who would not otherwise qualify as Members. Discussed allowing retired Affiliates to become Retired members.