WestCon Tribune

WEB SITES UPDATED

Westcon Webmaster, Art Zigas has taken a great deal of time and effort to update all of the websites for Westcon members. Mr. Zigas recommends that all members check their web pages and discipline cross references. If you see a problem, if you need any help, or would like to make changes to your web page, please contact Mr. Zigas at ArtZigas@compuserve.com.

*Please note that making creative changes to your site may require additional fees to Hare Brain Studios, the Westcon website administrator.

New Bill Signed by Governor Davis

AIACC sponsored legislation, AB 540 was authored by one of the architectural professions strongest supporters, Assemblyman Mike Machado (D-Linden) and recently was signed into law.

Beginning January 1, 2000, anyone suing an architect alleging professional negligence must serve the architect a Certificate of Merit, in addition to filing it with the court.

With the implementation of AB 540, design professionals who are defendants in a professional negligence suit will now have advance knowledge that a potential court battle may follow. The bill also shows whether the plaintiff has complied with the Certificate of Merit law without having to take the time to check the court file and most importantly, give the design professional a chance to formulate his or her defense

MEMBER FIRM SURVEY FOR LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS

The following fax was sent to California AIA member firms from Mehrdad Farivar, AIA, V.P. Legislative Affairs:

Have you ever found state law to obstruct your ability to serve your clients? Have you ever thought of how state law could be changed to improve the practice? Now you have an opportunity to help make those changes to state law.

The AIACC is surveying California AIA Member Firms to develop proposals to change state law for the improvement of conditions of practice. We are looking for any ideas you have, whether they are large or small, general or specific.

For example, the AIACC successfully changed state law to create the Certificate of Merit Law to reduce the number of frivolous lawsuits; the Prompt Payment Law to require public entities to pay design professionals in a timely manner; and the Design Professionals' Lien Law to ensure that architects are paid for their services.

When thinking of a proposed change to state law, it might help to consider if there are obstacles/government processes that adversely affect or delay the completion of a project. Or if other professions are encroaching on the architectural profession and affecting the ability of architects to serve their clients. Of course, do not allow these to limit you in your response - all ideas are welcome. You can consider this your "wish list" of changes in state law you would like to see.

Please fax your responses to (916) 442-5346, attn: Mark Christian, by Friday October 15th.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Coming up For the November Meeting :

"The Do's and Don'ts of Window Installation in Wood Frame Buildings"

Presented by Harv Abernathy and Bruce Mosias, Aquatech Consultancy, Inc.

October 29 - 30 / San Francisco

Leadership Development

A public education program by the Advanced Management Institute for Architecture and Engineering. For courses and dates, contact Kalen Lagerquist at (415) 512-0360 of klagerquist@advanced-mgmtinstitute.com

UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN MADISON, DEPARTMENT OF ENGINEERING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Below grade facilities, plaza decks, slabs on ground. This two day, continuing education credit seminar will be covering new construction and restoration projects. For additional information, call toll free (800)462-0876 and ask for Program Director, Raymond Matulionis or Program Assistant, Ruth McDowell.

A perfect reason to belong to Westcon, come to meetings and to share your knowledge:

A recently completed IRC research project conducted in partnership with the Canadian Plastics Industry Association, the Canadian Urethane Foam Contractors Association, Owens Corning Canada, and Roxul Inc., is yielding new information on the thermal performance of a number of insulation products used as exterior basement insulation.

The project began in October 1995 and involved the installation of insulation specimens on the exterior of basement walls at Test Hut #1 at the National Research Council site in Ottawa. The specimens included glass fiber and mineral fiber insulation, sprayed polyurethane foam, and expanded polystyrene board of different types, including one specimen wrapped in polyethylene.

Eight identical specimens were affixed to the east and west walls of the hut, and were instrumented prior to back-filling. For two years thermal performance was monitored. Soil temperatures and moisture content were monitored concurrently, and weather conditions recorded on a daily basis.

The specimens were retrieved at the end of the period and samples taken. Thermal, moisture and mechanical properties were then tested in the laboratory and compared to the initial properties.

The researchers discovered that the thermal performance of all specimens remained stable over the two-year period and was not affected in any significant way by water movement at the exterior face of the insulation. Many samples, in fact, showed marginal improvements in the second year. It is possible that the dry summer and the dryer than normal soils during that year contributed to this slight improvement.

Analysis of the surface temperatures of the specimens showed that they were handling water at their outer surfaces well, notwithstanding periods of heavy rain and major thaws. The concrete on the inside of the insulation showed no evidence of being wetted over most of the basement wall for the same period. Some insulation specimens had grooves and others did not; however, no significant difference in their performance was observed.

While many people believe in the importance of using exterior basement insulation as a means of improving the thermal performance of the building envelope, this research adds solid supporting data.

In the end, this research may lead to design modifications for exterior basement insulation systems, as well as altered manufacturing processes and a broader range of choices for this type of application.

Specific questions can be directed to Mr. Mike Swinton at (613) 993-9708, fax (613) 954-3733, or Email mike.swinton@nrc.ca.

© National Research Council of Canada, Institute for Research in Construction

 

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