Feature
Building Commissioning: The Key to Buildings That Work
Today's buildings contain many sophisticated systems for controlling comfort conditions and lighting, moving people and equipment, providing security from intruders, and enhancing occupant safety. Building envelope and structural systems are also more complex, with engineered membranes and coatings, selective-surface glazings, and other features.
Designing and installing these systems requires specialists who may have only a limited understanding about how each system affects other aspects of the building. Building Commissioning is a process that documents the owner's needs and intentions, and then verifies that those intentions are fulfilled. This process, carefully carried out, has the potential to enhance building performance significantly, including environmental measures.
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What's Happening
Skanska First With ISO 14001 Certification
Skanska USA, a family of some two dozen companies involved with commercial construction, civil engineering, construction management, and home building, has recently completed ISO 14001 certification for all U.S. operations.
State Forests in Northeast Gaining Certification
On January 21 the State of New York gained Smart Wood certification for all of its "multiple-use" public forest lands, a total of more than 700,000 acres.
Newsbriefs
Newsbriefs
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Newsbrief (cont.)
Awards & Competitions
Product Review
New Demand Water Heater from Rinnai
Rinnai, a Japanese manufacturer of high-efficiency, through-the-wall-vented gas space heaters, has introduced a unique demand water heater, The Rinnai Continuum 2424, to the North American market.
USG’s New Fiberock Sheathing
Fiberock Aqua-Tough Sheathing, a new product from gypsum products giant USG, is made from 100% flue-gas gypsum. Strength, durability, and integral water resistance are selling points for this unfaced gypsum sheathing.
Textile Ducting from KE Fibertec
KE Fibertec, a Danish company that has recently entered the North American market, offers an alternative to standard metal supply ducting. They produce fabric ducting designed for exposed applications.
A Complete Recycled Plastic Deck System
U.S. Plastic Lumber now offers a complete deck system made of recycled high-density polyethylene under the Carefree brand. The brand consists of code-approved decking and guardrail products and the new Carefree Structural Lumber.
From the Library
From the Library
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