Sky-Facing Masonry Joints May 15, 2012 Sky-facing masonry joints have been problematic since at least the time of ancient Egypt and the pyramids. Horizontal joints between masonry units such as brick, cast stone, concrete, terra cotta, marble, granite, etc. have allowed water entry into the most prestigious buildings, not just those built on a budget. Over time, many methods have been […] Read More
The Daily Ritual: Common Practices For Maintaining a Watertight Roof During Installation May 15, 2012 “Tie-in,” “tie-off,” “water cutoff,” and “night seal” are some terms commonly used to denote the method for terminating the roof during installation at the end of a work day for purposes of “drying-in” the roof. As defined by the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA), tie-off is “usually temporary plies or transitional seals that are installed […] Read More
Roofing Bitumen “Probably Carcinogenic”, Says IARC January 27, 2012 On October 18, 2011, a Work ing Group of the World Health Organization (WHO) International Agency for Re – search on Cancer (IARC) drew a distinction among certain forms of bitumen, classifying occupational exposures to oxidized bitumen, such as those found in roofing asphalt, as “probably carcinogenic to humans” (Group 2A). In addition, IARC classified […] Read More
SIGDERS Data Raise Questions About Edge Zones December 27, 2011 Meeting in Ottawa, On – tario, on September 21 and 22, 2011, A. “Bas” Bask a ran and his Na – tional Re search Council of Canada (NRCC) colleagues gave the Special Interest Group for Dynamic Evaluation of Roofing Systems (SIGDERS) consortium a detailed report about the recently completed Phase V SIGDERS research activities. He […] Read More
Industry Takes A Close Look at Roof Fasteners Performance May 15, 2011 One of the primary concerns of roof consultants and designers is maintaining the integrity of the roof during high-wind events. Field research by both FM Global and the Roofing Industry Committee on Weather Issues (RICOWI) shows that the integrity of the roof and perimeter flashings is a critical first line of defense against roof failure. […] Read More
Inside Guide to Hiring a Professional Snow Removal Company May 15, 2011 40 • I N T E R FA C E OC T O B E R 2011 This man is breaking up ice with a rubber mallet on a log home at the base of the Mary Jane ski area in Winter Park, Colorado (elevation 9,052 feet), where the average annual snowfall is 450 inches. […] Read More
Below-Grade Blindside Waterproofing Membrane Systems: A State-of-the-Art Report May 15, 2011 Blindside waterproofing is a system in which the belowgrade waterproofing membrane is temporarily at – tached to the soil-retention system facing the excavation, prior to casting the concrete foundation against it. It is required where the exterior faces of foundation walls will be inaccessible. A common situation dictating blindside waterproofing is the proximity of adjacent […] Read More
Snow Retention Design in Action May 15, 2011 A private school in a picturesque New England town is the setting for our first case study in snow retention. This significant building (Figure 1), on the campus of a prestigious private school, houses the offices of the president, as well as the admissions office, where all campus tours for prospective students start and end. […] Read More
