News + Ideas
Our thoughts, publications, white papers, research and current events.
Interactive Resources, Inc. Attends the 2024 California Preservation Foundation Conference
The annual California Preservation Foundation (CPF) Conference was recently held in downtown Los Angeles, hosted at the fabulous Millenium Biltmore Hotel, which celebrated its 100th Anniversary last year. The conference theme this year was Building Shelter, Community,...
Interactive Resources, Inc. Attends the 2024 California Preservation Foundation Conference
The annual California Preservation Foundation (CPF) Conference was recently held in downtown Los Angeles, hosted at the fabulous Millenium Biltmore Hotel, which celebrated its 100th Anniversary last year. The conference theme this year was Building Shelter, Community,...
Environmentally Certified Wood Products
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an independent, non-profit, non-government organization that was founded in 1993 by a diverse group of representatives from environmental institutions, the timber trade, forestry professionals, indigenous peoples' organizations,...
Water Testing as a Diagnostic Tool for Building Leaks
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 Search for the Perfect Weather-Resistive Barrier
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...
Local Government Takes Aim at Invasive Exotic Plants
The following article is from the Winter issue of Noxious Times, a quarterly publication of the California Interagency Noxious Weed Coordinating Committee. It describes legislation authored by Interactive Resources, Inc. President, Thomas K. Butt, FAIA, who is also a...
Architects Required To Use Written Contracts for Architectural Services
Assembly Bill 969, signed by Governor Wilson on July 17, 1995, requires architects to use written contracts. The California Business and Professions Code now includes the following requirement for written contracts: Section 5536.22. (a) An architect shall use a...
Vinyl Windows May Exacerbate Water Intrusion in Stucco Walls
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...
ICBO Reports Now Available On-line Free
International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO) The ICBO Evaluation Service provides evaluation reports on proprietary building products. These reports are relied on by local building officials to determine code compliance. The utilization instructions and the...
WESTCON Roster Provides List of Bay Area Construction Consultants
WESTCON Consultants Association WESTCON ROSTER PROVIDES LIST OF BAY AREA CONSTRUCTION CONSULTANTS WESCON (Westcon Consultants Association), formerly Western Construction Consultants Association, is an organization of both general and specialty architects, engineers,...
What Is the California Building Code?
Many people involved in building design, construction, or even construction litigation are under the erroneous impression that the prevailing building code in California is the Uniform Building Code (UBC) and that it is adopted and amended by local cities and...
ICBO Reports Now Available On-line Free
International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO) The ICBO Evaluation Service provides evaluation reports on proprietary building products. These reports are relied on by local building officials to determine code compliance. The utilization instructions and the...