Robert Jutras (UL/CLEB) hosted a seminar on the differences between how Canada and the United States evaluate field performance of windows and curtain walls in large buildings during the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) 82nd Annual Conference in Palm Springs (Feb. 25-28).
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The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the University of Minnesota are continuing efforts to shape architecture firm culture by publicly releasing “Guides for Equitable Practice”. AIA sponsored the development of the guides to help educate architects and firms on best practices for equity, diversity and inclusion principles and to provide strategies for incorporating the values into architectural practice.
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Yesterday the U.S. House Committee on Education and Labor passed the Rebuild America’s Schools Act (RASA) of 2019 (H.R. 865). This legislation creates a $70 billion grant program and $30 billion tax credit bond program targeted to help address significant health and safety challenges in public schools. An American Society of Civil Engineers report found that more than half (53%) of public schools require repairs, renovations and modernizations to be considered in good condition
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The American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) updated two documents for evaluating window wall, curtain wall and storefront systems when it comes to seismic drift. AAMA 501.4-18, “Recommended Static Test Method for Evaluating Window Wall, Curtain Wall and Storefront Systems Subjected to Seismic and Wind-Induced Inter-Story Drift,” and AAMA 501.6-18.”
Read More“The CMR document is an excellent resource for identifying the six parameters that need to be called out or specified to properly and clearly measure and compare color,” said Doug Holmberg (Wausau Window and Wall Systems), Co-Chair of the AAMA Finishes Steering Committee. “This is important for both matching colors and measuring the amount of color change over time. Although the document was originally published in 2016, once in use and after additional research, the Finishes Steering Committee felt it was a good time to update the document.”
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The following statement was issued by Nancy Somerville, Hon. ASLA, executive vice president and CEO of the American Society of Landscape Architects on the occasion of the signing into law of the Water Infrastructure Improvement Act (H.R. 7279). The new law provides flexibility to municipalities wishing to prioritize investments in wastewater and stormwater projects needed for Clean Water Act compliance and requires the EPA to promote the option of green infrastructure, which allows communities to use natural processes to infiltrate or reuse storm water runoff beneficially on-site where it is generated.
Read MoreThe American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) will host a webinar on Canadian energy codes and regulations and their movement toward higher performance levels over the next decade.
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Tuesday, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced that its newest version of the LEED green building program, LEED v4.1, is open for registration for both new construction projects as well as interior spaces with LEED v4.1 BD+C and LEED v4.1 ID+C.
Read MoreIn case you missed it: The Gypsum Association (GA) announced December 19, 2018, the release of “GA-600-2018 Fire Resistance and Sound Control Design Manual.” In a separate news item released December 5, the association announced that beginning in 2018 “GA-216 Application and Finishing of Gypsum Panel Products” will be revised and released to coincide with the 2021 code revision cycle and to better align with the Association’s other code-referenced documents, namely “GA-600 Fire Resistance and Sound Control Design Manual” and “GA-253 Application of Gypsum Sheathing.”
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The I-Codes are a family of fifteen coordinated, modern building safety codes used throughout the world that protect against disasters like fires, weather-related events and structural collapse. The development of the 2021 I-Codes began in early 2018 with the code change proposals for the Group A codes. The entire code development process takes place every three years and is open, transparent and inclusive.
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