SPECTRUM

Newsletter of the Puget Sound Chapter CSI

The Panelists are: Perry White, CSI CCPR, PPG Architectural Coatings Group, past president of the Mt Rainier Chapter, Ed Storer, CSI CCA, SpecRite, past president of the Puget Sound Chapter, Bill Jaillet, Project Manager, Grund & Company, past president of Seattle PDCA.  

The panel will discuss how the construction team can communicate and work effectively in tandem during construction.  

Make plans now to attend this meeting and hear from our panel of experts. Find out what they think are some great tools to improve communication, facilitate cooperation and achieve expectations as a team. See you at the meeting to welcome PDCA to CSI.

 $35 members, $40 non-members, $25 students

Social Hour 5:05-6pm, Dinner 6-7pm, Program 7-8pm 

After Midnight Monday, November 11, tickets will cost an additional $10  

Vicki Long, CSI

Greetings!

It's November, the air has a brisk chill and the leaves are turning; pumpkins are as ubiquitous as leftover bags of Halloween candy. Thanks to everyone for the great turnout for our first lunch meeting of the year. I wish we had time for the usual introductions but we are committed to ending on schedule. As expected Chris, Beth and Lowrey did a great job discussing BIM, specifications, and how the two will hopefully meet.   

The CONSTRUCT Conference in Nashville was located in the beautiful new Music City Center. Seminars were engaging and the music was plentiful. If you've never attended the national conference I completely recommend it, not only is it exciting and educational, but there are opportunities to see new products and ideas in construction. The best news is that Beth Stroshane and Marc Chavez were invited to present their seminar to the National CSI Board in November.

We will have a combined dinner meeting in November with the Washington State Council of Painting and Decorating Contractors of America. It promises to be a large and lively group with plenty of knowledge concerning coatings and wall coverings. We haven't had a combined meeting in some time and it will be a great opportunity to see familiar faces and hear about new trends and products.    

Start thinking now about what you have to contribute to the popular event and for a worthy organization. Don't forget to bring your checkbook!

$10 member/seminar, $20 non-member/seminar 

1 AIA CEU /seminar    

Substrate Preparation for Paint and Coatings: The Required Means, Methods and Related Costs to Doing it Right; 3-4pm 

It was a Bad Can of Paint, or was it! Over 80% (some say 90%) of paint failures occur due to inadequate surface preparation. We will explore the mechanisms of preparation and how they improve adhesion and the performance of coating systems. A review of standard preparation methods used for masonry, ferrous, and non-ferrous surfaces will be shown as they relate to the project environment and application of the coatings. Our understanding of how the level of preparation will affect the service life of a coating system will show the value in surface

Master Class on Paintings and Coatings; 4:05-5:05pm

Blame the Painter? Why does the painter get blamed for scheduling, poor indoor air quality, and adhesion issues? Instead of pointing fingers, we will analyze the issues from different perspectives. Representatives from the field and various painting and coating manufacturers will discuss the performance and durability of complex coatings and coating failures. This seminar will help you understand paint chemistry, painting and coating standards and failure analysis. Plan to attend this master class on paintings and coatings whether you have the answers or are looking for more information on the application and inspection of coatings.

Click on the graphic to register for the seminars  

At the October Chapter Meeting, three presenters explained what BIM means for specifications: Chris Dixon and Beth Stroshane, both experienced specifiers; and Lowrey Pugh, a BIM coordinator for a contractor.  

The presentation highlighted both challenges and benefits of software programs that promise specification integration with BIM. Challenges include investing in initial set-up, enforcing properly managed and utilized BIM content, and managing industry changes. Benefits include editing efficiently as decisions change, and having the ability to manage keynotes (a tool to match terms on drawings to terms in specifications). The contractor uses BIM in various ways to increase construction efficiency, and sees high value in the use of keynotes.   

A key question to ask when evaluating the degree to use the software is: What value does it bring?

If you missed the October BIM seminar - you missed participating in four discussions.

• Contractors use the model to help manage risk, save time, and build the building; as opposed to architects who use the model to communicate design.  Energy models are used to provide data; yet tend to be separate models created for a specific use.

• Project Teams should establish a "BIM Execution Plan" and set up expectations for the model, clearly delineating roles and responsibilities.

• The need for owners to articulate what information they want from the model while understanding the downstream advantages and the cost implications of LOD.  Hence, contracts will need to reflect different expectations.

• Having a common base point between all files is crucial.

November's seminars will focus on substrate preparation and the application and inspection of coatings. Please plan on attending.

With nearly 40 years in the construction industry, the best thing I've done for my career has been to obtain CSI Certification.

1.     Establish your professional credentials.
2.     Earn recognition.
3.     Sharpen your competitive edge. 

4.     Improve your construction

        communication skills and knowledge.
5.     Increase your earnings potential. 

6.     Build confidence.
7.     Prove your commitment to excellence.
8.     Reduced project costs, paperwork, and contractual disputes.
9.     Prepare for greater on-the-job responsibility.
10.   Show your proficiency to potential employers.

No question, it's challenging, but that's why these credentials are so respected in our industry.

Classes usually begin just after the first of the year, check with your local Chapter now to register for a Certification Study Group and Exam.

The Business Case for the Evolution
of the Specifier

Life in the AEC industry is becoming increasingly challenging, more so at an exponential rate.  This is due to the difficulty caused by additional rules, additional assemblies, specialization and dispersion of knowledge, faster delivery, and non-linear processes. 

Many delivery methods have attempted to manage this new complexity by having more people join the team earlier with different contract arrangements.  The point that none of the delivery methods are addressing is the ever expanding information involved in modern projects. Who manages that information?

The solution proposed is to expand the current role of the specifier to Information Manager to fill this void.  Further discussion includes economic principals supporting this solution, contractual language, and required insurance for a professional to take on this new role.  

This subject was presented at CONSTRUCT 2013 by myself and Marc Chavez in Nashville. Like our national counterparts, our local Chapter is wrestling with what the future of the specification profession might hold. We will be sharing our presentation at the March 13, 2014 Puget Sound CSI dinner meeting.   

Please join us and either agree wholeheartedly or broaden the discussion with a dissenting opinion.

 Brian Keil, CSI, CCPR 

Talk to your Region leaders or Chapter officers about getting your name on the list to attend our Leadership Training weekend coming up in May 2014. Just look at all of the great professional development training and success training you get for being an active member of your CSI Chapter and this Region. 

NW Region Conference:

It is early, so NOW is the time to start making plans to attend the 2014 Northwest Region Conference, hosted by our warm and progressive Portland Chapter. They plan to make it a full and exciting event, so don't miss this one. Click here Portland CSI Registration to register early. You can also click on NWRC 2014 for a detailed description of the event and the presenter bios.  

Join us this spring at the Northwest Region Conference in the charming heart of beautiful downtown Portland, and find out how you too, might become a genuine "KRAKEN".  

On behalf of the NW Region Coordinating Council, HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Many of us learn to do things better by making mistakes.  However, learning can be both expensive and embarrassing.  Take this screaming cheap opportunity to both teach and learn.  See if you can find any errors in the specification in this article on Louvers and Vents.  

Is the product current?  Are the ASTMs wrong?  Is it confusing?  If you were (or are) a contractor or manufacturer would you be able to price and install this scope?  Please share a couple minutes of your time and explain how you would make this spec more clear, concise, and correct.  Is there a way to make it cheaper without sacrificing performance?  Is some of the language making it more expensive than it needs to be?  Is an important piece of performance criteria missing? 

Please include a short description of why the changes are important.  Check back next month and see the compilation of corrections and hopefully you'll learn something.  If you don't learn something you can still revel in your own brilliance. Submit corrected spec to office@psccsi.org.

If you have a challenging spec that you'd like to be used for this article please submit it, though project names should be removed.    

Mr. Dale A Henning, CSI-S

Mr. Brian Henry, CSI-EP, NBBJ

Mr. Yangchuan Sun, CSI-S

Mr. Philip J. Agnelli, CSI, 12 years

Mr. David S. Chatburn, CSI, Arcadia Inc., 6 years

Mr. Bill Coady, CSI, CCPR, Guardian Industries Corp., 19 years

Mr. Dennis W. Dean Jr., CSI, CDT, LEED AP, KPG, Inc., 5 years

Mr. Frank Demarinis, CSI, CertainTeed Gypsum, 1 year

Mr. Douglas A. Diel, CSI, CDT, AIA, KDW, PS Architects/Engineers, 25 years

Mr. Wayne M. Drexler, CSI, Grace Construction Products, 14 years

Mr. Robert Drucker, CSI, CDT, LEED AP, Red Cottage Studios, 1 year

Mr. Brian D. Fitzgerald, CSI, TCF Architecture PLLC, 9 years

Mr. Douglas A. Holderman, CSI, CDT, AHC, Assa Abloy DSS, 19 years

Mr. Brian D. Keil, CSI, CCPR, The Sherwin Williams Company, 17 years

Mr. George E. Pfeiffer, Coastal Specified Products, 5 years

Ms. Joan Annette Schaefer, CSI, CCPR, USGBC, Solatube International, Inc.,

18 years

Mr. Garth Tait, CSI, CDT, Hartung Glass Industry, 14 years

Ms. Nora Vivarelli, CSI, 19 years

Mr. Charles J. Weldy, CSI, CCS, Miller Hull, 29 years

Mr. Vern C. Wigen, Jr., CSI, CCS, DLR Group, 20 years

Mr. Todd Bell, CSI

November 2013

Volume 53 Issue 5