SpecTalk

ARCOM at CONSTRUCT 2011, Chicago IL

2011-09-16T15:34:00.000-06:00

Thanks to everyone who came by our booth at this year's CSI CONSTRUCT show!

Joseph Berchenko Named Assistant Director of Architectural Specifications

2011-07-19T08:39:00.000-06:00

ARCOM is pleased to announce the promotion of Joseph Berchenko, AIA, CSI, CCS, to the position of Assistant Director, Architectural Specifications.

“Joe’s wealth of diversified specifying experience and agile mind will strengthen ARCOM’s wide-ranging efforts focusing on the future of master guide specifications. He will bring a fresh, welcome perspective to future developments of AIA’s MasterSpec and ARCOM’s Specware,” said Paul Brosnahan, ARCOM’s Vice President of Architectural Specifications.

Joe has been a Senior Architectural Specification Writer at ARCOM since 2003. Originally from Nebraska, he worked for a number of firms in Lincoln and also served as a commercial plans examiner for 10 years.

“The way specs are written is changing,” Joe said. “Not only are the written construction documents becoming BIM interoperable, but they're getting smarter and more automated every day. In the next few years, I expect to see product selection become increasingly integrated with a simplified writing process. It's a very exciting time to join the management team at ARCOM. I greatly look forward to my participation in what will surely prove a transformative period for specifications.”

Joe’s promotion is effective immediately, and he will continue to work from ARCOM’s Alexandria, Virginia, office.

Firm Profile: Anderson Design, Inc.

2011-07-11T14:33:00.001-06:00

"The supporting documents allow me to better understand specific construction materials and methods that I may have limited knowledge of. This allows me to write a tighter specification, minimizing potential construction phase conflicts." (John C. Anderson, Principal and Owner, Anderson Design, Inc.)

Anderson Design, Inc., a one-person landscape architecture firm, has provided site design and landscape design services in Georgia and the Carolinas since 2001. Located in Lawrenceville, Georgia, Anderson Design works on a broad spectrum of projects including higher education, K-12 schools, office buildings, streetscapes, recreation facilities, and church campuses.

John C. Anderson, the principal and owner of Anderson Design, has used MasterSpec since founding his company. He values MasterSpec because it facilitates coordination of specifications with other design disciplines on complex projects. He finds that the editor's notes and supplemental documents allow him to close holes in his document package by helping him answer questions about materials and construction methods.

As a one-man consulting firm, he depends on MasterSpec's construction industry knowledge to help shorten the learning curve when he is working with a particular design program element for the first time. By doing things quicker, he says he can move on to other billable tasks.

Here's a list notable projects from Anderson Design:

Earn Continuing Education Credits through the MasterSpec Independent Study Program

2011-07-01T07:31:00.002-06:00

Did you know you can get free continuing education credits just by reading MasterSpec?

MasterSpec users who license the A/S/C or Landscape libraries in Full Length or Short Form can earn continuing education credits from the AIA and ASLA for reading specific specification sections and their corresponding supporting documents.

AIA/CES Learning Units (LU) and ASLA Professional Development Hours (PDH) can be earned by reading a selected section and then taking a short, 10-question test on the ARCOM Web site. By scoring 80 percent or higher on each test, you can earn one AIA LU (HSW eligible) or ASLA PDH for every section reviewed. In addition, some MasterSpec sections qualify for sustainable design credit; tests and sections which meet the criteria for sustainable design credit are marked with a green globe icon.

Take full advantage of your MasterSpec license today by checking out the free MasterSpec Independent Study Program. Visit http://www.arcomnet.com/users/independent_study.php, or view the FAQs at http://www.arcomnet.com/users/support_faq_study.php. For questions or comments, please contact ARCOM at 800.424.5080 or by email at continuinged@arcomnet.com.

Upcoming Trade Shows

2011-06-23T14:03:00.000-06:00

Want to meet ARCOM's writers and other staff members? Interested in demonstrations of our software and new products? Simply want more of our famous chocolate truffles? You're in luck, because ARCOM will be exhibiting at the following upcoming trade shows:

Construct 2011
Chicago, IL
September 14-16, 2011
Booth #812

USGBC 2011 GreenBuild Conference & Expo
Toronto, ON
October 4-6, 2011
Booth #1925

ASLA Annual Meeting & Expo
San Diego, CA
October 31-November 1, 2011
Booth #2039

We're also offering in-depth training at Construct 2011 (Sept. 13) and ASLA (Nov. 2). If you'd like more information, visit the training page on our website or send a note to training@arcomnet.com.

We'd love to see you in Chicago, Toronto, or San Diego!

Until the Paint Is Dry

2011-06-15T10:48:00.000-06:00

Some construction work is important only until the paint is dry, painting typically being the last job before an owner takes possession of a project. This work is usually classified as "temporary facilities and controls" and is normally the Contractor's responsibility with minimal guidance or limitations imposed by the Project's Architect or Engineer.

However, what and how much temporary work to do and what limitations are suitable to perform it as required for a successful project can be points of disagreement with the Contractor. This situation is where specifications for temporary work are important and must set only those requirements that are necessary to ensure successful Project completion.

Construction dewatering is an aspect of temporary construction addressed in MasterSpec Section 312319 "Dewatering." Construction dewatering lowers and controls ground-water levels before and during excavation to allow construction to be performed in near-dry conditions on stable subgrades and to reduce hydrostatic pressure against excavation support and protection systems. Temporary diversion of surface water from entering excavations or ponding is handled by separate means included in MasterSpec Section 312000 "Earth Moving."

A permanent dewatering system may be required in some instances if continuing control and removal of ground water from buildings is required. Permanent dewatering systems must be designed to meet long-term engineering requirements, are typically the responsibility of the design professional, and are generally specified with greater detail in another section, such as MasterSpec Section 334600 (Section 02620) "Subdrainage."

Authorities having jurisdiction sometimes do not permit the Contractor to assume responsibility for design of dewatering and ground-water control systems during construction.

The quality of water discharged from dewatering may also be subject to strict control by authorities having jurisdiction. Federal and state restrictions on water quality may be relevant, and the Contractor must obtain necessary discharge permits. Water pumped from excavations may have to pass through sedimentation tanks before it is allowed to flow into city sewer systems or be ejected outside the excavation. Stormwater erosion and sediment controls imposed by authorities having jurisdiction usually must be considered in the dewatering plan.

Construction below the water table without controlling ground water should not be attempted. Unrelieved hydrostatic pressure can cause piping or heaving of foundation soils, making them unsuitable to support construction. Dewatering intercepts seepage that would otherwise emerge from the slopes or bottom of an excavation, and it improves the stability of excavated slopes.

Tests of a dewatering system may be warranted to evaluate performance before excavating. Testing provides an opportunity to fine-tune the installed system before placing it in operation. The outcome of dewatering cannot always be accurately predicted; dewatering is a combination of science and art, and designs may require modification in the field and trial-and-error tests. Difficult soils and soils with low permeability may require time to yield their ground-water content.

Damage produced by dewatering may include cracking in structures and finishes caused by differential settlement. Existing structures built on weak, compressible soils or on saturated, loose sand could settle. The condition of structures, types of foundations, and water-table elevations immediately adjacent to the Project should be determined before dewatering. If dewatering and excavation will lower the water table significantly at such structures, precaution in the form of underpinning those structures may be necessary. Buildings with deep foundations are usually less affected by adjacent dewatering than those with shallow foundations; older buildings are usually more affected than newer ones. Excessive pumping of ground water may also adversely affect nearby wells, reduce available water necessary for plant and tree health, contribute to the development of sink holes, or increase the flow of nearby pollutants or sea water into the aquifer.

Three basic methods are common for ground-water control at excavations below the water table. The appropriate method or combination of methods depends on a project's location and the amount of water flow determined by comprehensive test borings and soil surveys.

Open Drainage: Water may flow into the excavation; be collected in ditches, drains, and sumps; and be pumped out.
Predrainage: The water table is lowered before excavation by using well points in granular soils, ejector systems, vacuum systems, deep wells, and other well systems, often placed outside the excavation perimeter.
Cutoff: Ground-water seepage is arrested or severely curtailed by sheet piling, cylinder walls, slurry or diaphragm walls, or soil freezing. Such cutoff methods that create a barrier to ground water may be used alone or with other dewatering methods, but cutoffs often minimize or eliminate the need for other dewatering efforts.

Electro-osmosis may be required for more effective operation of well points, as well as ejector systems and wells in some impermeable soils. It is a phenomenon whereby some fine-grained sediments with low permeability expel pore water when an electric current is passed through them. Electro-osmosis uses well points as negative electrodes to attract water. Rods are driven into the soil to act as anodes. A direct electric current is passed through the soil from the anode rods, causing the ground water contained in the soil to flow to the well point that serves as the negative electrode (cathode). The water is then removed by pumping.

Employee Profile: Ken Chappell, Assistant Director, Engineering Specifications

2011-05-20T07:45:00.001-06:00

With over 30 years of experience in mechanical engineering and the construction industry, Ken joined ARCOM in January of 2010. He has been directly involved in writing specifications and engineering construction documents for much of that time.

Ken graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 1986 with a degree in Mechanical & Electrical Engineering. His early career was spent as a design engineer doing research and development in the fields of aerospace, automotive, automated equipment, robotics, and facilities. Ken not only designed equipment and facilities but often oversaw the construction, installation, and commissioning of the equipment and facilities all over the world.

He has also developed many relational database software applications to support his design work and for a variety of companies and service groups. His career later evolved into material handling and automated warehousing. He also spent time building up a successful book of business as a real estate agent in Cincinnati, Ohio, before deciding to write construction specifications full time. "Admittedly," Ken says, "writing architectural and engineering specifications as a career path was not on the radar, but it has been a very rewarding journey. My career at ARCOM has allowed me to 'laser focus' my knowledge and experience from past career paths into a single effort."

Ken has written specifications for projects in academia, government, and the private sector, including many types of commercial buildings, manufacturing facilities, biocontainment facilities, medical centers, senior-living facilities, high-end residential and university campuses, and community colleges. Ken is a member of the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) where he is becoming increasingly involved in various technical committees establishing standards in the construction industry.

When his face isn't staring at a computer screen, Ken spends his spare time at the gym; exploring Washington, DC; traveling occasionally; designing "stuff"; and painting portraits of friends and the occasional commissioned work. He works out of ARCOM's Alexandria, Virginia, office.

* * * * *

ARCOM’s staff of 40 professionals represents some of the most innovative and personable specification professionals, writers, editors, computer scientists, and service people in the industry. This occasional series provides brief biographical sketches of just a few of the people serving you at ARCOM.

GreenWizard and ARCOM Form Collaborative Alliance

2011-05-10T15:27:00.000-06:00

Charleston, SC, and Salt Lake City, UT – May 10, 2011 – GreenWizard® Inc., creator of web-based software to simplify building material selection, optimization, and documentation for projects seeking LEED® certification, and ARCOM, publisher of MasterSpec®, SpecWare®, and SpecAgent®, today announced they have entered into a collaborative alliance.

As part of this alliance, the two companies will develop cross-platform integration between their systems for sharing product performance data and green attributes of building materials. In addition, the companies will work toward the common goal of getting participating manufacturers’ product data in front of design and construction professionals at the critical time when they are making product decisions.

GreenWizard is the only data-driven workflow solution that puts product search, evaluation, selection, LEED credit modeling and assessment, and LEED documentation at the fingertips of the design and construction community. With the unique power of GreenWizard’s database and the specification and productivity software capabilities of ARCOM, users will have access to product-research, specification, procurement, and documentation systems that are second to none.

“ARCOM is the leader in specification systems with MasterSpec. Moreover, ARCOM’s new SpecAgent and Altarix platforms are attaining dominance in the product data and specification software arenas,” said Adam Bernholz, GreenWizard’s CEO. “The ARCOM-GreenWizard integration holds great promise for both companies’ users, as we can deliver search power, performance, and product specification choices unavailable elsewhere in the construction industry.”

“GreenWizard has sprinted to the head of the class in the green software sector for LEED construction information,” said ARCOM’s Matt Johnson, Director of Manufacturer Support Services. “We are excited to be implementing cross-platform functionality that leverages ARCOM’s specification and software expertise with the latest in LEED-related product data, LEED-point optimization, and documentation.”

About ARCOM

ARCOM publishes MasterSpec for The American Institute of Architects (AIA) for use by architects, engineers, landscape architects, and design professionals. MasterSpec, the most comprehensive master guide specification system available, can be used to create construction specifications for all project sizes, complexity, and delivery.

ARCOM is also the developer of SpecWare, a suite of specification productivity software tools that dramatically simplifies specification creation and use, and SpecAgent, a web-based resource that streamlines the process of construction product research and comparison, manufacturer selection, and specifying.

ARCOM is a Salt Lake City-based firm with an additional office in Alexandria, Virginia. The company employs more than 40 full-time specification development professionals: researchers, specification writers and editors, software developers, product/manufacturer experts, technical support staff, and customer service professionals. More info: www.arcomnet.com.

About GreenWizard

GreenWizard, Inc. is a technology company that has created a cloud software solution to help the design and construction communities simplify the process of green product selection and management. Architects, engineers, project owners, consultants, contractors, and others use GreenWizard’s WORKflow platform to compare and evaluate products from a centralized search engine and directly communicate with manufacturers. For those seeking LEED certification, it also offers an end-to-end solution by utilizing its proprietary credit assessment tools as a factor in the product selection process to optimize credits, manage product-related documentation, and ultimately automate the online submission component to LEED Online. Manufacturers and suppliers provide product data and documents through GreenWizard’s MARKET Pro platform, which populate its search engine. GreenWizard also has a LEED AP Consulting Division to staff projects and assist WORKflow Enterprise project teams in finding, specifying, and buying products on an as-requested basis. The Charleston, SC-based company was founded in 2008. More info: www.GreenWizard.com.

ARCOM Contact:
Matt Johnson
mjohnson@arcomnet.com
801.521.9162 x 244

GreenWizard Contact:
John D. Wagner
Wagner Public Relations
Jdwagner@WagnerPR.com
919-796-9984

# # #

LEED is a registered trademark of the U.S. Green Building Council. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

64-Bit Version of Masterworks Is Now Available

2011-04-28T08:07:00.000-06:00

If you've been anxiously waiting for the 64-bit version of Masterworks to arrive, then wait no more: go to our website, log in, download, and let us know what you think. The tool is still in beta, so we would appreciate feedback about how the installation and spec editing process works for you.

We'll post an update when we release a fully stable version. Until then, we appreciate your help in making Masterworks the best spec editing tool available.

We're Expanding Our Team

2011-04-19T14:40:00.002-06:00

ARCOM has an expanding team and is looking for an Assistant Director of Architectural Specifications to work from our Alexandria, Virginia, office. Here's the official description--email VPArchitecturalSpecifications@arcomnet.com if you'd like to apply.

----------

Assistant Director of Architectural Specifications

ARCOM seeks an architect with 15 year’s varied project experience, an extensive knowledge of contract documents, and demonstrated ability producing architectural specifications.

You will work in ARCOM’s Alexandria, Virginia, office and assist the Vice President of Architectural Specifications in developing and maintaining the MasterSpec guide specification system.

Responsibilities

Assist in managing the production of architectural specifications

Provide guidance on technical content to architectural writers
Manage production schedule for architectural specification writers and consultants
Prepare and supervise the writing of new and updated specification sections
Provide quality control of architectural specifications

Evaluate products including environmental and sustainability attributes
Assist in managing the architectural budget
Coordinate peer review committee meetings

Knowledge and Experience

Well-organized, collaborative team member with strong verbal, writing, and computer skills
In-depth knowledge of architectural building systems, products, and materials including building codes, regulations, and industry standards
Skilled user of MasterSpec and associated specifications-automation software; database experience a plus
Proficient writing project specifications, including Division 01, for a wide range of building types; office master development a plus

Qualifications

Licensed or registered professional; AIA a plus
CDT; must obtain CCS within one year of start of employment
Strong leadership ability with experience in managing project teams

Send Resume to: VPArchitecturalSpecifications@arcomnet.com

How Specification Writing Differs from Other Writing

2011-04-14T13:34:00.000-06:00

In this installment in our occasional "How to Write and Edit Well" series, we'll discuss the differences between specification writing and other kinds of writing.

-------

Pick up a specification and it won't be long until you realize you're reading a special subset of the English language. Newcomers to the industry may find themselves confused on who does the work in the specs or why sentences are framed the way they are. Today we'll try to clear up some of that confusion by discussing three differences between spec writing and other kinds of writing.

First, specifications use specific grammatical "moods"--that is, ways of organizing a sentence. Most of the time, specs use the imperative mood, where the subject is assumed and the sentence skips right to the action: "Do this." Occasionally, the indicative mood is needed: "This shall be done." Other writing can use those two moods, but often uses others, too. Examples of other moods include interrogative and subjunctive.

Second, specifications are written in outline format, with some items clearly subordinated to others. In other writing, you have to get a bit more creative to inform readers of your structure. Using bullet points is one example; other more subtle ways include beginning each paragraph with "first," "second," etc. (as I've done in this article) or providing verbal cues like "further" or "on the other hand."

Third, specifications always address a certain person, the contractor, while other writing could address a single person, a group of people, or no person at all. When you're working with specifications, you know your role in relation to the specs. However, if you're reading another kind of writing, you don't start with any particular context. It's up to the writer to set the scene, organize the material, and hold your interest until the end.

Although spec writing can take a lifetime to truly master, getting to know the basic rules of specifications can help you understand what you're reading and give you a framework to write specs that your colleagues will understand. And writing better specs is something we can all aspire to.

Eric Anest is ARCOM's Assistant Editorial Director and works from the company's Alexandria, Virginia, office. Connect with him on LinkedIn or follow him on Twitter.

ASTM Standards and Their Referencing in MasterSpec

2011-04-05T14:33:00.000-06:00

You may have noticed three different styles for referencing ASTM International (ASTM) reference standards in MasterSpec. One style has ASTM references with the metric standard in the SI format; EX: ASTM A 325 (ASTM A 325M). Another style appears to be part of the standard designation; EX: ASTM A 283/A 283M. And yet another style has no metric reference in the standard designation; EX: ASTM A 500.

What is the distinction, you may wonder.

ASTM has two different methods of managing the SI metric issues. For some of their standards, they have created a separate, but identical (except for units of measure) standard. For other standards, ASTM updates or creates a new standard that has both units of measure in it. An example of two separate standards is the standards for copper tubing.

ASTM B 88-03: Specification for Seamless Copper Water Tube
ASTM B 88M-05: Specification for Seamless Copper Water Tube [Metric]

In the above case, we present these two separate standards as alternatives like we do for the actual units of measure in the MasterSpec Section. Plus, for these two standards (and this happens more often than not), there are varying choices between them. For example, three "Types" of copper tubes exist, which mainly have to do with the wall thickness. Types K, L, and M are in the IP version; Types A, B, and C are in the SI metric version. We present these two standards as follows: ASTM B 88, Type K (ASTM B 88M, Type A).

The different colors represent character styles that we put on each unit of measure and each version of these types of standards. Depending on your project, you may use our Masterworks tools to elect to eliminate IP or SI units and standards references or to change the order of their presentation.

In the ASTM A 325 example, there are two separate standards. Note the variation in the titles. There may be hidden choices with these two standards that are different.

ASTM A 325-09: Specification for Structural Bolts, Steel, Heat Treated, 120/105 ksi Minimum Tensile Strength
ASTM A 325M-09: Specification for Structural Bolts, Steel, Heat Treated 830 MPa Minimum Tensile Strength [Metric]

An example of an ASTM that has both IP and SI units of measure included is ASTM B 36/B 36M-08: Specification for Brass Plate, Sheet, Strip, and Rolled Bar. In this case, a single standard has both units of measure included in it. ARCOM presents this type of standard in MasterSpec as a single standard without character styles, because regardless of whether your project is in IP or SI units of measure, this same standard designation applies. Caution: Because the IP and SI values in the standard are not exactly equivalent, your designs may be affected. So carefully study these standards to know what affect going from IP to SI, or vice versa, may have on your designs when referencing these types of standards.

In the case where there is no metric standard, we present only the IP standard because it is usually the only applicable standard (as in the ASTM A 500 example above). ASTM standards are all considered U.S. standards whether or not they have metric references and units in them.

Our style and presentation conventions are deliberately selected and employed and consider industry-standard editorial guidance, such as the Chicago Manual of Style and other prominent resources. Often there are options with style manuals and standards from which to choose, so ARCOM selects among these with an objective of brevity. We try to maintain consistency and accuracy within the MasterSpec library of Sections. We also strive for technical accuracy.

One final note: these standards are constantly being revised, updated, and superseded or withdrawn. When editing MasterSpec for a project specification, you must review the cited standards to verify that they apply to the particular requirements of your project and that nothing has changed since the master specification was last updated.

Michael J. King, FCSI, CCS, is ARCOM's Vice President of Engineering Specifications. Read more about him in this profile on our website.

----------

Please leave us a comment or tweet us (@MasterSpec) if there's anything you'd like to see us cover on this issue or anything else related to specs.

Altarix—ARCOM’s New Specification Productivity Tool—More Tools for the Specifier

2011-03-24T15:35:00.004-06:00

ARCOM recently announced its revolutionary Altarix™ product, a new productivity tool in its SpecWare® suite of specification software.

Built into the sleek Altarix interface are two unique panels that appear with the specification section editor: SpecAgent and SpecTools.

Altarix’s SpecAgent Panel provides a wide variety of resources needed by specifiers with the specification sections they are working on, including:

Manufacturer’s contact information and links to websites
Product information, photos, catalogs, and data sheets
List of referenced standards and links to standards organizations
Lists of relevant references
Product comparison tables

Altarix’s SpecTools Panel provides features to help improve specification writing, review, and editing efficiency:

The Altarix editor and the SpecTools Panel

Question and Answer (Q&A) Tools—Altarix incorporates ARCOM’s popular question and answer editing capabilities from the Linx Automated Editor, with several enhancements:

Altarix guides the user through a series of questions and answers, and automatically edits the specification text, deleting text and related text that do not apply, throughout the specification section.
Altarix allows the user to mark the text for deletion (rather than deleting the text) by showing deleted text as grayed out and in strikeout so the specifier can review edits and reverse deletions.
Altarix remembers where the user stopped in the last Q&A session.
Altarix automatically tracks how many questions were answered and how many still need to be answered, and displays this information at the end of each Q&A session
Altarix allows the user to print the questions and answers at any time during the Q&A session—either as a record of decisions, or for filling out by another project team member. The Q&A list can be exported to Word.

Navigation Tool—Navigating around specification sections can sometimes be difficult. Altarix includes a built-in tool that allows users to quickly jump to any article and first level paragraph, thereby improving editing efficiency. As specifiers add custom articles, Altarix also automatically adds them to the navigation list—in the correct location.

Notes Tool—ARCOM recognizes that spec writers typically need to make notes while writing and editing specification sections. These notes are often reminders to check on items that need clarification, or notes to other project team members. Altarix makes creating and managing project notes easy by allowing users to:

Add multiple project notes to any article or paragraph
Find project notes in the specification text through a notes icon
View project notes in the Notes Panel Bar
Graphically indicate whether project notes are resolved or not
Navigate to the location in the text where a note applies by clicking on the note in the Notes Panel Bar

Status Panel Bar—Altarix is the first software that helps specifiers to keep track of the completion progress of specification writing efforts. Initially, specifiers will be able to track the percentage completion of each section, as well as the last date a section was updated and by whom. This information is aggregated to the project level so one can see overall project completion. Specifiers can also view all sections in the Completion Progress report and export it to Word.

“Altarix’s SpecTools are the latest evolution in providing the tools that design professionals need to easily and quickly create project manuals,” stated Christopher Bushnell, ARCOM’s President and CEO. “Along with the built-in SpecAgent resources and the MasterSpec Supporting Documents, Altarix provides unparalleled productivity enhancements right at your fingertips.”

For more information on Altarix, visit the ARCOM website at www.arcomnet.com, or contact Angie Matinkhah, MArch, CSI, Assoc AIA, ARCOM Vice President of Marketing and Sales at amatinkhah@arcomnet.com.

Now Just a Bit More to the Left...No, to the Right (Part 3)

2011-03-24T08:00:00.009-06:00

In part 1, we introduced the topic of transplanting and went over some basic terminology that you'll see in MasterSpec and elsewhere. Then, earlier this week, we reviewed detailed procedures for transplanting. Today, we're going to wrap up the series and discuss tree stabilization, mulching, and post-transplant care.

Tree Stabilization

Trunk stabilization, called staking, is a common tree-stabilization practice to keep a newly planted tree from blowing over. It is done either with upright stakes and horizontal tie wires to the tree or with diagonal guy wires, usually called guys, secured with stakes driven at an angle into the ground. Recent recommendations are to use wide rubber or elastic material in lieu of wire cable, and hose where tie wires or guys are needed. Tree experts now believe staking trees is rarely necessary, performed too often, and more often harms the tree instead of helping it. In a few situations staking can be justified, such as when a tree is planted in a windy area, if it has a large crown that needs supporting, or if it might be subjected to physical abuse when freshly planted.

The common practice is to place two or three wooden stakes around the tree with metal tie wires or guys and rubber hoses wrapped around the trunk. This practice can abrade bark and constrict the flow of water and nutrients up the trunk. Shading one side of a young tree with a single stake can result in the trunk leaning in the opposite direction.
Unstaked trees sway naturally with a breeze, and such minor motion and stimulation has been demonstrated to both help roots get better established and help build stronger trunk wood. Artificially stabilizing the trunk with stakes and wires may result in a tree that is more prone to blowing over or breaking when stakes are finally removed.

Root-ball stabilization has been gaining popularity in recent years; instead of stabilizing the tree trunk above ground, it secures the root ball in position with anchors that are flush with or below the ground surface. This tree-stabilization method avoids some problems, such as bark abrasion and tripping hazard, associated with staking, but by restricting the root-ball movement this method may still retard root stimulation for strong root growth. This method has not been definitively proven to be better than staking, but research is continuing. Root-ball stabilization may not be usable with broken or poor root balls. Currently, tree experts do not recommend its use unless stabilization is deemed necessary.

Mulching and Post-Transplant Care

Mulches are primarily a surface dressing of the soil, which attempt to emulate the natural conditions of wooded forest floors. Mulches maintain soil moisture and shade, moderate soil temperature, reduce weed germination, and cushion soil from traffic compaction. Mulches may also be used for decorative effects. The depth recommended by many authorities is no more than 3 inches (75 mm).

The term volcano mulching refers to mulch piled against trunks or stems. This too-common practice can harm trees by retaining moisture on normally dry bark tissue and fostering growth of harmful organisms and pests. Mulch should be kept away from contact with trunks or stems.

Watering is the most important tree-care activity subsequent to transplanting a tree. The reduced root system may have difficulty supplying the amount of water required by the tree canopy.

Plastic watering pipes were, until recently, the only watering devices. They are installed vertically in the planting pit at time of planting for the purpose of depositing water deep into the pit or root ball. The watering attendant inserts a hose in the top opening of the watering pipe and fills it on a regular basis. Unfortunately, it is difficult to know how much water has been applied or whether the water is properly draining or flooding the roots. The pipe can also clog or offer vermin a shelter or means of entry.

Today, drip-irrigation products are the most popular, and certainly the most visible, watering devices. They are slow-release devices that look like large plastic bags, which are placed on top of the ground or mulch, and they loosely wrap or encircle the tree. The watering attendant inserts a hose in the capped opening and fills the device to its capacity, which is a known volume. Over several hours, the device drains through small holes, usually giving enough time for the water to soak in rather than run off the planting site. If the device is damaged, it can easily be replaced.

An extended care period for a transplant tree is necessary to promote tree recovery and survival. According to industry practice this period is one year of care for each caliper inch of tree size. A 10-inch- (254-mm-) caliper tree can reasonably commit the Owner to 10 years of attentive care. Watering is the most critical aspect of this care.

----------

Please leave us a comment or tweet us (@MasterSpec) if there's anything you'd like to see us cover on this issue or anything else related to specs.

Tim Werbstein, AIA, CSI, CCS, SCIP, is a senior architectural specification writer at ARCOM. Read more about Tim in this profile on our website.

Now Just a Bit More to the Left...No, to the Right (Part 2)

2011-03-21T08:00:00.018-06:00

Last time, we introduced the topic of transplanting and went over some basic terminology that you'll see in MasterSpec and elsewhere. Today, we're going to discuss some more detailed transplanting procedures.

Root pruning is a form of preparatory pruning to stimulate growth of new feeder roots, reduce transplanting shock, and increase the likelihood of survival when a tree is actually extracted and replanted. Root pruning is a recommended practice in the industry, particularly for large trees; it should be done at least one growing season or about six to 12 months before extracting the tree. This time allows the tree to generate many small roots within the root-ball mass before actual extraction. Root pruning is performed by cutting through the roots with a mechanical tree spade, a hand spade, or by digging a trench through the roots at a measured distance away from the trunk.

Root-ball diameter when extracted should be larger than the diameter of the pruned root ball. To ensure adequate root mass during transplanting, a minimum ratio of 10 inches (250 mm) of root-ball diameter (or least dimension for non-round root balls) for each caliper inch (25 mm) of tree is encouraged. This minimum is often increased for out-ofseason transplanting.

Mechanical tree transplanting by a mechanized tree spade is now a common procedure in landscaping. A tree spade is a large, hydraulically powered device with vertical, curving blades that encircle the bottom of a tree, cutting downward through earth and beneath the tree. These devices can excavate and transplant trees up to a caliper of approximately 12 inches (305 mm), although 10 inches (250 mm) is a more common maximum. Spade-dug root balls are conical and have different proportions than balled nursery stock.

Hand excavation is generally used for excavating a square root ball, followed by building a wooden box around the root system (boxing) for moving. The boxed tree is moved with a crane. A backhoe or other equipment that rips, tears, or pulls roots is generally prohibited for tree excavation. Smaller trees can be boxed, but all tree root balls larger than can be handled by a tree spade are boxed.

Bare-root transplanting is a new method that uses an air spade to remove soil from tree roots. An air spade is a nozzled compressed-air hose with air pump, often used to reduce soil compaction or expose deep trunk flares, girdling roots, and other buried problems for diagnostic evaluation without inflicting much damage on fine feeder roots. The bare-root transplanting method uses an air spade to excavate a more extensive and less damaged root system than can be excavated by hand or with a tree spade; the root mass is much lighter without the soil.

Tree-planting pits are excavated and planted generally by two methods.

One method uses a mechanized tree spade to dig the same conical form as the excavated tree's root ball. At planting, the tree is set, leveled, and adjusted to an elevation matching its native state. In clay or cohesive soils, the glazed machine-dug conical wall is roughened to permit root penetration. A slurry of backfill soil and water is used to fill voids between the tree-planting pit and the root ball.
The other method excavates a tree-planting pit larger in width than the root ball. At planting, the tree is set, leveled, braced, and adjusted to an elevation matching its native state, then backfilled with soil in lifts, compressing each lift, but not compacting it tightly. This method is usually slower and more labor intensive than mechanized tree-spade excavation and planting. It is more commonly used as tree size increases. Hand digging, a backhoe, or other cutting equipment may be used to dig the largest pits.

Backfill soil is often excavated soil with minimal improvement, which is excellent material ifit is similar to the soil in which a tree has been growing. Use of excavated soil for backfill also reduces transportation cost and waste. Experts discourage using greatly improved backfill soil or fertilization at planting time because it can discourage root development beyond the planting pit. If improvement of excavated soil by amending or fertilizing is required, this is often accomplished by mixing excavated soil with a higher-quality planting-soil mixture.

Tree planting depth continues to be a subject of much discussion. There have sometimes been problems with planting too high as well as too deep, and the best protection against either problem is good supervision during planting.

Soil fill around trees can suffocate them; to live, their roots need air in the soil. Root systems develop naturally and achieve an intricate balance of air and water requirements. Trees should generally be replanted at the same level or slightly higher in relation to grade elevation as they originally grew.
Stem girdling roots (SGR) is another problem identified with deep planting. SGR is a growth problem where roots can grow and encircle the trunks, also called stems, of trees below the soil surface. As SGR grow in diameter, they essentially strangle the tree with the potential for tree death or structural failure that can affect public safety. Many cities around the country have experienced long-term problems from trees being planted too deeply, which was not evident at the time of original planting. Installers thought they were planting at the correct depth but found that the trees were growing poorly or dying after 10 to 15 years. Subsequent investigation determined the trees were planted too deeply.
If the root flare is not visible before planting, examine the root ball to locate and expose the root flare, then plant the tree so that this flare is at or above ground level a prescribed dimension, never below ground level.

----------

In part 1 of this brief series, introduced the topic of transplanting and went over some basic terminology. Next time, we'll wrap up the series by reviewing tree stabilization, mulching, and post-transplant care. Please leave us a comment or tweet us (@MasterSpec) if there's anything you'd like to see us cover on this issue or anything else related to specs.

Tim Werbstein, AIA, CSI, CCS, SCIP, is a senior architectural specification writer at ARCOM. Read more about Tim in this profile on our website.

Now Just a Bit More to the Left...No, to the Right (Part 1)

2011-03-17T07:56:00.000-06:00

Oh, come on! That's a tree you're moving! However, if a tree is in the wrong place yet attractive, healthy, and valuable, it may well be worth the effort and cost to transplant it to a better location. That location may be selected to show off or benefit from its unique qualities or to enable it to thrive better than it could in its present location. Transplanting can save notable trees and valuable specimens from damage or destruction if they are endangered by new construction such as building enlargement or highways; it may or may not be economical to transplant.

Section 329600 - Transplanting is part of a growing list of landscaping sections offered in MasterSpec's Basic Landscape Architecture Library and Expanded A/S/C Library. This Section specifies transplanting non-nursery-grown trees within a site or between sites. Nursery-grown trees are generally delivered to the Project site with their root balls already balled and burlapped or in containers; they are grown, handled, repotted, or frequently root pruned specifically for landscaping purposes. Section 329600 specifies planting trees up to a maximum caliper of approximately 10 inches (250 mm). Larger trees are generally transplanted by specialty tree-moving firms.

A tree undergoes considerable stress when it is root pruned, dug, burlapped, or boxed; transported to a nursery, to another part of the site, or to another site; perhaps temporarily planted, fertilized, and watered for the duration of construction; and eventually transported to the planting location and planted. Direct transplanting from an original site to a new location is much less stressful to the tree and also more economical. Smaller trees are inherently more vigorous, and transplanting larger trees should be done with a clear understanding that mortality rate increases as tree size increases. Tree death is a process that may take years to become evident.

A qualified arborist should oversee tree transplanting. Arborists are trained in the field of arboriculture to promote tree health, discern tree problems, and take measures to correct them. Many in the tree care profession call themselves tree care professionals, tree specialists, or arborists; hence, verifiable qualifications are important. Qualified arborists may be independent consultants or employed by arboricultural contractors. There are several ways to qualify an arborist, as discussed in the Evaluations in Section 329600.

Tree characteristics that most affect transplanting procedures are tree size, measured as trunk diameter, not trunk height, and root location relative to the ground surface.

The term caliper is defined as the "diameter of a tree, measured at a point 6 inches (15 cm) above the ground line if the resulting measurement is no more than 4 inches (10 cm). If the resulting measurement is more than 4 inches (10 cm), the measurement is made at a point 12 inches (30 cm) above the ground line."
The term diameter breast height (DBH) is the diameter measured at a height 54 inches (1372 mm) above the ground line. DBH is how tree diameter is measured in the timber industry, which is notably different from measuring tree size in caliper for landscaping purposes. To add confusion, some landscapers also use DBH measurement, and ANSI A300 (Part 6), Tree, Shrub, and Other Woody Plant Maintenance - Standard Practices (Transplanting), uses it; but only for trees measuring more than 8 inches (200 mm) in diameter.
Root flare, also called trunk flare, is the area at the base of the tree’s stem or trunk where the stem or trunk broadens to form roots. It is an important point of measurement to determine the proper depth at which to plant a tree's root ball.

----------

In part 2 of this brief series, we'll discuss detailed procedures for transplanting, and in part 3 we'll review tree stabilization, mulching, and post-transplant care. Please leave us a comment or tweet us (@MasterSpec) if there's anything you'd like to see us cover on this issue or anything else related to specs.

Tim Werbstein, AIA, CSI, CCS, SCIP, is a senior architectural specification writer at ARCOM. Read more about Tim in this profile on our website.

ARCOM Acquires SPECTEXT Master Specification System

2011-03-01T14:11:00.006-07:00

ARCOM announced today that it has acquired SPECTEXT® from The Construction Sciences Research Foundation, Inc. (CSRF).

SPECTEXT is a master guide specification writing system designed to provide a method of preparing accurate construction specifications for projects. Its content is designed for medium-sized construction projects, particularly environmental and utility engineering, with additional provisions for multiple contract and construction management work. SPECTEXT II, an abridged version of SPECTEXT, is designed for less complex facilities, such as light commercial, multi-family residential, and low-rise buildings.

“SPECTEXT has achieved a significant market share, particularly among certain engineering disciplines,” stated Christopher Bushnell, President and CEO of ARCOM. “The SPECTEXT product line will complement the MasterSpec master guide specification system, which ARCOM will continue to support. We will apply our specification expertise to maintaining and expanding the SPECTEXT content, particularly in the engineering disciplines, as well as bring our leading-edge specification automation software to SPECTEXT users,” he continued.

ARCOM will assume the operation of SPECTEXT immediately. The existing SPECTEXT Support Center will continue to respond to and serve both existing and new clients. “We are confident that under ARCOM the SPECTEXT Support Center will continue to provide users the best in customer service,” stated Garry Zettersten, Executive Director of CSRF. “Additionally, ARCOM’s investment in SPECTEXT will result in content improvements while retaining the technical composition and ‘single voice’ language that SPECTEXT users rely on,” he added.

ARCOM and CSRF also jointly announced the establishment of a strategic alliance, and the endorsement of SPECTEXT by CSRF. “The SPECTEXT product line has the full endorsement of CSRF,” Mr. Zettersten said. “CSRF thanks all of its loyal subscribers and supporters and assures users that they can continue to rely on SPECTEXT products for their needs,” he continued. “CSRF will continue to focus on projects that enhance communication within the industry. We are joining with ARCOM in a strategic alliance to facilitate achieving this goal,” Mr. Zettersten stated. As part of the strategic alliance, ARCOM will be the exclusive marketing, sales, and distribution partner for all new products and services that CSRF develops.

For more information, visit the ARCOM website at www.arcomnet.com, or contact Angie Matinkhah, MArch, CSI, Assoc AIA, ARCOM Vice President of Marketing and Sales at amatinkhah@arcomnet.com.

Employee Profile: Joseph Berchenko, Senior Architectural Specification Writer

2011-02-22T14:08:00.000-07:00

Joe came to ARCOM's Virginia office from Lincoln, Nebraska, with nearly 30 years of experience in the construction industry. After receiving a Masters of Architecture degree from the University of Nebraska, Joe served as the City of Lincoln's commercial plans examiner for 10 years. Anxious to broaden his horizons, he then joined the firm of The Clark Enersen Partners, Architects, where he learned the art of spec writing.

"I spent countless hours studying the 'green sheets,' as we called the MasterSpec Evaluations," Joe said. "It was like getting a second college education. I never imagined that one day I'd be writing them myself."

His career also includes work for Bahr, Vermeer and Haecker, Architects, in Lincoln and Omaha, as well as several years practicing as an independent spec writer. Joe lives in Alexandria with his wife, DeAnn, and their two cats, Calvin and Hobbes. Their son, Dan, lives in New York.

ARCOM at LA-CSI and CSI-SLC Local Trade Shows

2011-02-14T15:22:00.000-07:00

This Wednesday, ARCOM will be at both the Salt Lake City CSI 2011 Symposium and Tradeshow and the Los Angeles CSI NITE 2011. In Salt Lake City, you can find us at booth E3 from 10:45 to 12:30. In Los Angeles, we will be exhibiting from 5:00 to 7:00 at booth 32. As always, if you are attending either show, please stop by the booth and say hello!

Altarix—ARCOM’s New Specification Productivity Tool—What Makes it Different?

2011-02-14T13:58:00.001-07:00

ARCOM recently announced its revolutionary Altarix™ product, a new productivity tool in its SpecWare® suite of specification software. What makes Altarix different?

Altarix is easy and intuitive to use, with a sleek interface that is more than just a document processor. Altarix provides standard functions like the ability to:

Add, delete, and edit specification text
Select options and automatically add punctuation
Globally format all sections in a project
Globally set headers and footers for a project

But Altarix goes beyond these basic capabilities and provides tools specially designed for specifiers, allowing them to:

Add project notes and automatically track their status and resolution
Insert specification sections into a project from another project
Easily jump from one location in a specification section to another location
Track completion progress for each specification section

Specifiers have complete control over their documents and can change the specifications as fast as clients change their mind. Specifiers can produce complete project manuals with Altarix’s unique capability to:

Track important design and code criteria in an easy to use, centrally located project summary
Generate an on-demand table of contents that keeps track of specification sections in the project as they are added and edited
Generate on-demand reports, including a complete submittals log

Integrated into the Altarix platform is ARCOM’s SpecAgent companion resource. Released last year in the Microsoft Word version of Masterworks, SpecAgent provides a wide variety of resources needed by specifiers side-by-side with the specification sections they are working on:

Manufacturer’s contact information and links to websites
Product information, photos, catalogs, and data sheets
List of referenced standards and links to providing organizations
Lists of relevant references
Product comparison tables

The Altarix editor and the SpecAgent companion window.

And, of course, the specifications are MasterSpec—the most widely used and comprehensive specifications available in the industry.

“Altarix is designed for specifiers/by specifiers for easily and quickly creating project manuals,” said Christopher Bushnell, ARCOM’s President and CEO. “Its built-in editing capabilities and specification resources are just the tools that specifiers need, provided as they need them during the specification process. We also decided that Altarix should be just as easy to use as a mobile app, since specifiers spend countless hours in front of a computer screen.”

ARCOM plans to release Altarix in May of 2011, at the AIA Convention.

Can't Find Your Update Email?

2011-02-11T13:30:00.000-07:00

If you manage ARCOM updates for your company and you missed the latest update email, don't worry! All current MasterSpec and Linx updates can be downloaded directly from ARCOM's Web site at any time, regardless of whether you still have the update email.

Simply go to the download area of our website. From there, you can download all of the most current MasterSpec, Masterworks, or Linx (software and database) updates. And remember, if you have any questions on how or what to download, contact ARCOM technical support at support@arcomnet.com, or call Joshua Coffey at 800.424.5080 ext 228.

MasterSpec Architectural Review Committee Meets This Weekend

2011-02-04T08:19:00.000-07:00

Today and tomorrow, the MasterSpec Architectural Review Committee (MARC) meets at ARCOM's Alexandria, VA, office. To read more about these dedicated professionals who put each MasterSpec section through an extensive peer review process, read this previous SpecTalk post that discusses how the committees work.

Firm Profile: Robert Schwartz and Associates

2011-02-02T14:17:00.000-07:00

Architect: Rafael Viñoly Architects PC, 50 Vandam Street, New York, NY 10013

History
After gaining a wide range of experience in the architecture and design industry, Robert Schwartz had the privilege of learning under Harold J. Rosen, who literally wrote the book on specifications writing. With that experience, Schwartz decided that he wanted to focus his architectural career on specifications. He founded Robert Schwartz and Associates (RSA) and began providing Project Manual preparation, technical services, building system selection, and eventually LEED project implementation. Now, more than 40% of RSA's current projects are on track to be LEED certified.

Company Profile
RSA's clients include both large and small firms from all related disciplines of the design, architecture, and construction industries. RSA offers the combined skills of a technical team with experience on more than 2500 projects in building types ranging from education, research laboratories, health services, urban centers, commercial, military, government, housing, religious, corrections, transportation, and restoration projects.

While encouraging individual creativity, the firm depends on teamwork and believes constant collaboration among many disciplines is the reason it has delivered innovative results for clients, who value personalized service bringing them state-of-the-art technologies, skills, and excellent project results.

Current Challenges and Solutions
RSA's clients expect specifications that are relevant, written with a combination of knowledge and experience. They demand a Project Manual that is produced to a level that is consistent with the level of work of their peers and is edited specifically for each project.

Using MasterSpec and tools such as Linx and Masterworks have greatly increased RSA's accuracy and contribute to a more concise and consistent work product. The best way to do this and minimize risk to RSA's clients, and RSA itself, is starting from a consistent and up-to-date master document and database. MasterSpec satisfies that criteria for RSA, and the company uses MasterSpec on nearly every project.

Looking Forward
According to Schwartz, "My clients and I feel confident knowing that if asked 'Do you use a nationally recognized master specification system as the basis of your specifications?' I can answer yes."

ARCOM at the AHR Expo

2011-02-01T11:39:00.000-07:00

The International Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigerating (AHR) Expo is happening right now in Las Vegas, Nevada. Come by the ARCOM booth (#1640) and say hello. ARCOM staff pictured above, left to right: Jerry Perez, Kelley Stephens, Ken Chappell, and Dennis Johnson.

Wind Resistance of Custom Roof Edge Flashing

2011-01-26T13:54:00.000-07:00

Sheet metal flashing and trim specified in recently updated Section 076200 "Sheet Metal Flashing and Trim" (Section 07620 "Sheet Metal Flashing and Trim") consists of custom sheet metal components that are formed or fabricated in the field or at the fabricator's shop. The necessary purpose of flashing is to prevent moisture penetration into vulnerable building walls or roofs.

Wind resistance of sheet metal roof edge flashings, traditionally called gravel stops and fasciae caps, is an important consideration for low-slope roofing system design. The failure of roof edge flashing is frequently cited as initiating roofing membrane failures during high-wind conditions. FM Global reports: "The majority of (low-slope) roof covering failures involve improperly designed or constructed perimeter flashings."

Low-slope roofing systems depend on metal roof edge flashing to cover edge terminations of roofing membranes on roofs without parapets. Various terms exist for roof edge flashing. The term gravel stop, which is traditionally used with built up roofing and carried on with ballasted elastomeric and thermoplastic roofing membrane, is slowly giving way to the generic term roof edge flashing.

Fascia caps are a type of roof edge flashing that terminates a raised perimeter edge of roofing membranes on roofs without parapets.
Scuppers allow water to overflow from the roof surface. They may be integrated into roof edge flashing or pass through parapets as a component of the roof-drainage systems.

Standard industrial practices and details for sheet metal flashing and trim are embodied in two volumes of the National Roofing Contractors Association's (NRCA) four-volume The NRCA Roofing Manual and in the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association's (SMACNA) Architectural Sheet Metal Manual. The Copper Development Association (CDA) also has recommendations in its Copper in Architecture Handbook. FM Global and the Single Ply Roofing Industry (SPRI) also offer guidance on minimum metal thicknesses for different applications.

FM Global has developed standard tests for roof perimeter components. These tests simulate the effects of wind gusts by applying external negative pressure outward on the fascia leg and upward on the top side of the roof edge component. An FM Approvals' listing is required for "roof perimeter flashing," including copings and roof edging products if the Project is FM Global insured. An FM Approvals' listing can also be used to set a minimum quality standard.

The NRCA has an FM Approvals testing program for particular NRCA standard zinccoated (galvanized) steel sheet and aluminum formed profiles and listed fabricators who are capable and authorized to produce these products. The term products here is used because FM Approvals classifies roof perimeter flashings as products that are fabricated by approved fabricators.
SMACNA and the CDA do not have testing programs or authorized fabricators for their flashing details.

SPRI ES-1, Wind Design Standard for Edge Systems Used with Low Slope Roofing Systems, is standard for testing the wind-load performance of roof edge flashing and copings, and it includes three tests for judging their quality and durability. The tests measure the resistance of roof edge components to uplift and outward forces generated by wind events, and the International Building Code requires the testing of edge securements for low-slope roofs according to this standard.

Manufacturers of manufactured, proprietary roof edge flashing and copings routinely perform SPRI ES-1 testing; however, custom shop- or field-formed products cannot be readily or economically tested. Therefore, these fabricators generally have not tested their products.
The NRCA, however, has a testing program for particular NRCA standard zinc-coated (galvanized) steel sheet, aluminum, and copper formed profiles and listed fabricators who are capable and authorized to produce these profiles.
SMACNA and the CDA do not have testing programs or authorized fabricators for their flashing details.

Gutters, downspouts, counterflashings, and reglets are generally not covered by wind-resistance requirements.

Tim Werbstein, AIA, CSI, CCS, SCIP, is a senior architectural specification writer at ARCOM. Read more about Tim in this profile on our website.