History STM Task Group E06.21.14, chaired by Serge Fedorov, AIA, an architect with the Oakland, CA Housing Authority, is closing in on a national standard that is intended to result in low-rise frame buildings that are resistant to leaks. The draft document, entitled...
The Uniform Building Code requirements for plaza decks (waterproofed surfaces designed for pedestrian-type occupancy) has always been somewhat ambiguous in the past, inviting experts in construction litigation to testify both in defense of and in criticism of...
In the field of construction diagnostics and litigation, water testing is frequently used to find the source of water intrusion, and less frequently, to proof test prototypical repairs. Selecting the type of test and conducting it properly is important, not only so...
The following article appeared in the February 1999 edition of Energy Design Update, a technical newsletter published by Cutter Information Corporation. ASTM Task Group to Write New Standards for Weather-Resistive Barriers We have some good news…and some bad. The good...
In a recent investigation by Interactive Resources, Inc. of water intrusion into stucco walls, it appeared that the leak path was through an unusually large joint between the stucco and the frame of vinyl windows. Thermal Expansion of Building Materials Used for and...
Outbreaks of mold and mildew in buildings appear to be on the upswing, sometimes resulting in foul odors, allergic or toxic reactions of occupants and obvious aesthetic concerns. Although fungi have always been here, they are only recently emerging as a public health...