Ideas:
Our thoughts, publications, white papers, research and current events.
Play Ball! at Fitzgerald Field
Our firm has the pleasure of working on a wide range of project types: schools, pharmaceutical, industrial, judge’s chambers, forensic work, historic preservation, major solar engineering, commercial, and large mixed-use. So it wasn’t out of our ballpark to be awarded the project of reworking Fitzgerald Field stadium in Benicia, California. Read More
Delta Diablo Plant Operations & Treatment Plant Roof Replacement, Antioch, California
CC BY ND
Interactive Resources is very happy to announce a recent award from the Delta Diablo (Delta Diablo Sanitation District) for the Plant Operations Center and Treatment Plant roof replacement. Edward Anisman, is the project manager at Interactive Resources who will be leading this roof replacement effort. Read More
Applied Technology Services Facility, Common Area & Calibration Lab Remodel, Danville, California
Common Area Lobby CC BY-ND
Interactive Resources recently completed several projects for a local utility company with facilities throughout Northern and Central California. The Applied Technology Services Facility in Danville is managed by the Applied Technology Services (ATS) group. You can recognize the building by its huge geodesic dome. ATS provides the utility with a myriad of specialized services, from evaluating the safety of protective clothing to inspecting gas pipelines with X-rays to discover invisible flaws. Read More
DGS, FMD Bay & Northern Area Architectural Retainer Services
We are happy to announce that State of California, Department of General Services (DGS), Facilities Management Division (FMD) selected Interactive Resources to provide architectural and engineering services for the Bay and Northern California regions. The FMD is comprised of the former Building and Property Management Branch and the Direct Construction Unit. FMD is tasked with ensuring the ongoing maintenance and management of several state-owned buildings. Read More
Coping with Building Disasters & Failures
Loma Prieta, California, Earthquake October 17, 1989. CC-ND
In this article, Thomas K. Butt, FAIA, offers constructive suggestions for building owners who want to be prepared for the unexpected, and proven techniques for reducing the recovery time following natural disaster or building failure. These helpful tips on preparing maintenance manuals and disaster reaction plans can also reduce operating costs and provide building owners with more efficient management throughout the life of the building. Providing such resources in the care of buildings could save substantial sums in ongoing maintenance costs and could make the difference between financial ruin and successful recovery when disaster strikes.
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Codes & Standards for Barriers & Flashings
Tom Butt overseeing Initial mockup for urethane injection grout waterproofing at BART's Powell Street Station. CC-ND
Both technology and available materials and products continue to proliferate, with new offerings in liquid-applied barriers and flashings, air barriers with water-resistive functionality and drainable interstices. Architects, contractors, builders and developers are faced with a dizzying number of choices. This presentation and related paper review applicable AAMA, ICC and ASTM standards and identify both gaps and works in progress. Read More
Window and Door Design and Installation Guide
Nystrom Elementary School CC-ND
This post explores basic information on the design, specifying and installing doors and windows. Techniques for installation of “punched” windows and doors have been evolving continually over the last two decades. For many years, the accepted standard involved four strips of flexible flashing integrated with a nailing fin and the water resistive barrier (WRB) at the window perimeter. This concept was easy to understand and implement because the window fins, the flashings and the WRB were typically all in the same plane. It is amazing, however, that so many designers and builders were still able to get it wrong. Read More
Plaza Deck Design Primer
Plaza Design, Frank Hagel Federal Building CC BY-ND
This primer points out key issues for designing and constructing a successful plaza deck system. A plaza deck is a walking surface, which sometimes can accommodate vehicles, typically waterproofed to protect the underlying structure and/or occupied spaces below. Common surface treatments include concrete, ceramic tile, stone or other paving material, usually with a bi-level drain used to accept both surface run-off and water at the waterproofing membrane level. Structural substrates are commonly wood or concrete. Read More
Westcon Tribune
Avoid litigation and achieve better design and construction, photo credit Joe Gratz. CC-ND
Architects and engineers become defendants in construction defect litigation because of allegations that they breached the standard of care – that is, they practiced in a negligent manner that caused or contributed to a construction defect that resulted in damage to someone. Tom Butt's presentation at the Westcon symposium included remarks about construction litigation in general, the design professional’s standard of care, using standards to avoid litigation and achieve better design and construction, and tips to avoid waterproofing failures. Read More
Water Resistance and Vapor Permeance of Weather Resistive Barriers
ASTM International. CC-ND
This paper, which is limited to the properties of water resistance and water vapor permeance, provides information that may be helpful in understanding, selecting, and using weather resistive barriers. Weather-resistive barriers (WRBs) are typically used in exterior walls of low rise frame buildings under claddings such as stucco (cement plaster), wood and wood derived products, vinyl (PVC), and masonry veneer. WRBs are primarily intended to provide resistance to water that may penetrate the outer cladding. WRBs also provide resistance to passage of air to varying extents but generally are moderately permeable to water vapor. Traditional WRB materials were limited to asphalt saturated felts and papers, but polymeric sheets have taken a growing share of the market in recent years.
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