Houses Hewn from Hemp? July 02, 2018 Hemp is making a comeback in the U.S. in more ways than through the legalized use of marijuana for recreational and medicinal purposes. It is undergoing a revival as a building material. While both George Washington and Thomas Jefferson grew hemp on their plantations in the 1700s, it was outlawed in the U.S. starting in […] Read More
Mandated Reports Reveal UK Construction Firms’ Gender Pay Gaps July 02, 2018 In April, firms in the United Kingdom revealed through their first government-mandated compensation reports that the construction industry has the largest gender gap out of 27 business sectors. More than 100,000 firms with 250 employees or more reported, showing a 24% median gap in hourly pay between men and women in the construction industry. Among […] Read More
“In Bamboo” Is Shaped Like Infinity Symbol July 02, 2018 A bamboo and tile structure in the shape of an infinity symbol has been created in the rural town of Daoming in Sichuan Province, China. Archi-Union Architects combined traditional Chinese construction techniques with prefabrication technology to create “In Bamboo,” a pavilion that serves as a multi-functional community cultural center celebrating the town’s renowned bamboo-weaving craftsmanship. […] Read More
RCI Interface Featured Article: Roof Decks: A to Z; Part XI: Post-Tensioned Concrete July 02, 2018 By L.D. Hogan, RRC, FRCI, PE Abstract This is the 11th in a series of articles examining various deck types. Among the numerous considerations when selecting a roof system, the type of decking is among the most important. With the variety of decks to be encountered (both new and old), it is incumbent upon roofing […] Read More
Tiled Shower Walls are Comparable to Clad Exterior Walls May 03, 2018 Introduction In many ways, ceramic-tiled shower walls can be investigated and evaluated in the same manner as clad exterior walls. Both rainwater and plumbed interior water have the same potential to promote decay, deterioration, and fungal growth via unintended breaches in a wall’s water-protective envelope. In all cases, the most severe levels of internal damage […] Read More
Air Intrusion Impacts in Seam-Fastened, Mechanically Attached Roofing Systems February 28, 2018 By Suda Molleti, PEng; Bas Baskaran, PEng; and Pascal Beaulieu Editor’s Note: This article presents the summary of a research study. A peer-reviewed paper on the study was published at the 15th Canadian Conference on Building Science and Technology in November 2017. Background Air intrusion is termed as “when conditioned indoor air enters into a […] Read More
HVAC Interaction With the Building Enclosure in Natatoriums January 30, 2018 By Paul Totten, PE, LEED AP; and Amanda Stacy, LEED GA Natatoriums and similar buildings with a body of water set within an interior space have requirements that differ from most buildings as they pertain to the control of HVAC systems and considerations for building enclosure design and management. Natatorium operation must consider pool water […] Read More
American Wood Council Notes NDS Changes to Nail Withdrawal Testing January 30, 2018 The National Design Specification for Wood Construction (NDS®), published by the American Wood Council, has made changes with respect to the withdrawal (pullout) values of nails in wood and wood products. The International Staple, Nail, and Tool Association (ISANTA) has published an advisory on the changes. In the 2018 edition, there were five areas of […] Read More
Misconceptions of Wind Damage to Asphalt Composition Shingles December 28, 2017 By Carlos R. Lopez, PhD, PE; Jonathan S. Goode, PhD, PE; and Scott R. Morrison, PE The topic of wind-lifted shingles remains a controversial subject in the roofing industry. There are many misconceptions and a number of issues with asphalt shingles that are commonly incorrectly attributed to wind effects. Some of the current and most […] Read More
RCI Interface Featured Article: Moisture Analysis in Unconditioned Concrete September 27, 2017 By Kip Gatto, PE, SE and Grace Wong, AIA, LEED AP Introduction Moisture-sensitive materials such as adhesives and coatings (simplified as “coatings” for this article) are routinely applied to concrete surfaces in exterior plazas, roof structures, concourses, retention structures, parking garages, etc., for various purposes, including waterproofing and protection. The service environments for the coatings […] Read More
