The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Committee on the Environment (COTE) is releasing a new tool that can help architecture firms design high-performance building. The AIA COTE® Top Ten Toolkit presents curated, concise and effective strategies for achieving sustainable designs and provides criteria for evaluating a project after it is built.
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The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is joining forces with Avitru to help members of the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) obtain the specification skills they need to be successful in the workplace. Beginning today, AIA is providing AIAS members with a free license to the cutting-edge specification tool: MasterSpecⓇ. By using the technology, students will develop the critical specification skills they need to be practicing architects.
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ACI 563-18 Specifications for Repair of Concrete in Buildings is a reference specification that the Architect/Engineer can apply to any construction repair and rehabilitation project involving structural concrete by citing it in the Project Specifications. Mandatory requirements and optional requirements checklists are provided to assist the Architect/Engineer in supplementing the provisions of this Specification, as required or needed, by designating or specifying individual project requirements.
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The American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) updated a document for evaluating the performance and durability of rollers used in the operation of sliding doors and lift and slide doors. AAMA 906-18, “Voluntary Specification for Sliding Door and Lift and Slide Roller Assemblies,” was first released in 2005 and was last updated in 2015.
Read MoreAVITRU, the developer of AIA MasterSpecⓇ, and BIMsmithⓇ, the leading research-based BIM platform, announced the next milestone in the evolution of AECO content by delivering coordinated BIM and specification content through their respective platforms. Selected building product manufacturers who use BIMsmith and MasterSpec for their BIM and specification content fulfillment will have their content on each platform “e-SPECS Enabled” or “MasterSpec Enabled.” In either case, this means that BIM content on BIMsmith Market will automatically populate specification information when used in a Revit instance running the e-SPECS for Revit app and MasterSpec or Product MasterSpec content.
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The American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) recently released an updated document to describe a standard test method and performance criteria for side-hinged door systems in the locked position to resist entry under a specified load and conditions. AAMA 1304-18, the “Voluntary Specification for Determining Forced Entry Resistance of Side-Hinged Door Systems,” seeks to measure the ability of the operable slabs to deter opportunistic entry by unskilled intruders.
Read MoreA new report finds that manufacturers of flexible structural sheathing overstate their lateral load resistance values by as much as 42 percent. In a study by three independent laboratories—Clemson University, University of Oklahoma and APA – The Engineered Wood Association—five flexible structural sheathing materials available in the marketplace were tested for their wind and seismic lateral load (shear wall) performance. APA published the results in a new Product Advisory: Performance of Flexible Structural Sheathing.
Read MoreHelix™ Steel is pleased to announce the availability of Helix™ Micro-Rebar in the Building Systems Design (BSD) SpecLink-E platform. With the addition of Helix™ Micro-Rebar, the architect and engineering communities can now specify it in concrete applications ranging from footers, piles, mat slabs, slabs on grade, slabs on metal deck and walls. The module is referenced in Section 03 30 00 – Cast-In-Place Concrete.
Read MoreAvitru, the developer of AIA MasterSpecⓇ and Newforma, the developer of Project Center, announced a partnership. Starting with submittal management, the two companies will collaborate and coordinate on content and software functionality, starting with software releases in the third quarter of 2018 to selected shared customers. The initial release will pass submittal information in AIA MasterSpec to the submittal tools that are a cornerstone of Project Center and will help Architects with the management and processing of architectural product submittals.
Read MoreAvitru, the developer of MasterSpecⓇ, May 31 announced a partnership with the Specifications Consultants in Independent Practice (SCIP), an international organization that assists building professionals acquire professionally-written construction specifications from independent specifiers. “Accurate and well-written specifications are a critical building block of a thriving construction industry,” said Jim Contardi, Chief Executive Officer of Avitru. “Through this new partnership with SCIP, which engages their members around the world, we can advance the entire profession.”
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