L.R. Kimball

Pat Kane Wins ASCE Engineer of the Year

ASCE named M. Patrick Kane as their 2012 Engineer of the Year. Pat is a manager of the Transportation Division at L.R. Kimball, a position he has held since January 2000. Pat is responsible for business development, sales strategy, and execution in the transportation sector, as well as transportation operations management for the regional office. Pat has an MBA from Robert Morris University and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering Technology from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown.

Pat has been a member of ASCE since 1990. He served as president of the Pittsburgh Section from 2004-2005. He also chaired the Construction Legislative Council of Western PA from 2004-2005, where he represented ASCE, as one of thirteen member organizations, on behalf of the construction industry. He is currently serving as a board member of the American Society of Highway Engineers.

Pat is a licensed professional engineer in Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. His other professional affiliations include ASHE- American Society of Highway Engineers; ABCD – Association for Bridge Construction and Design; and ACEC-PA – American Council of Engineering Companies (Pennsylvania).

Next Generation 9-1-1 Security (NG-SEC) Audit Checklist

by Lori Kleckner

We are deviating from our series (slightly) to highlight the recently published Next Generation Security (NG-SEC) Audit Checklist. The Audit Checklist is designed as a companion to the NG-SEC Standard and utilized as a means to conduct a NG-SEC audit. The checklist is a reflection of the requirements and best practice provided in the NG-SEC Standard. 

The audit is in the format of questions to ask, 396 questions to ask. Each question is comprised of:

1. Question number
2. NG-SEC Standard - Reference to the NG-SEC Standard section pertaining to the question
3. Audit Area - The question to ask
4. Compliance Type  - Indicates if the audit area is a requirement or a best practice
5. Compliance Finding - Recorded as Comply, Does not comply, or Not Applicable
6. Comment - Provided for comments to support or clarify findings if needed

Although this establishes a sound method for conducting an audit, it should be understood that this is intended for a person well versed in security and the NG-SEC Standard. It is highly technical. For PSAPs without specialized security personal, it is recommended that a third-party be engaged to conduct the audit. In either case of a self-audit or a third-part audit, the NG-SEC Audit Checklist is the form that should be utilized. 

Consider an Assessment

If the thought of an audit is too daunting, consider an assessment. The NG-SEC checklist can also be used as a tool to provide insight for where you are today, and what should be put in place before your ESInet is built. This will demonstrate the areas that should be focused on to provide a safe and secure network.

The NG-SEC Audit Checklist is located at: http://www.nena.org/?page=NGSecurityChecklist

 The NG-SEC Standard is located at http://www.nena.org/general/custom.asp?page=NG911_Security

Next month we will return to highlighting sections of the NG-SEC standard. Our topic will discuss Change Control and Documentation. The blogs are intended to provide insight and assistance with understanding NG-SEC and providing awareness of areas that are commonly found to be non-compliant during assessments.

DB's Corner: Cool Terms

 by Dennis Buirge

 
There are times during specification editing when the following question comes to mind: How many contractors truly know the meaning of that sentence I just wrote?  Language in some specification software packages incorporate terms not normally used by the general public.  Does the following sentence, which incorporates terms found in some construction related project manuals, make sense to you?  "Use laitance to verify that the deleterious substrate is acceptable to code required dunnage." 

This blog identifies and defines three of these not so commonly used specification related terms. 

LAITANCE:  This is a result of the improper placement and finishing of concrete.  When concrete is placed containing excessive water, when the concrete mixture is overworked, when improper or excessive finishing is performed, or when any combination of the aforementioned occurs, a wear layer of cement and aggregate fines can accumulate on the concrete wear layer.  A milky white substance, which we call laitance, is the accumulation of fine particles on the surface of fresh concrete and is caused by the upward movement of water.  The root word of laitance, lait, is French based and means milk.  What happens if the laitance is not removed?  The base concrete without any subsequent finish covering can cause dusting.  If any type of coating or paint is to be applied to the laitance bearing concrete that finish material will not properly bond to the concrete due to laitance interference, since concrete requires a clean and sound substrate; the coating most likely will delaminate over time.  If any finish flooring such a vinyl tile is to be applied, the flooring will again over time delaminate, since the adhesive is bonding to the laitance and not to the concrete.  Therefore, various finish flooring specifications should include a paragraph in PART 3 - EXECUTION requiring the removal of any laitance.  Wording in the Examination or Preparation Articles might be something like the following:

Examination:  Verify that finishes of substrates comply with tolerances and other requirements specified in other Sections and that substrates are free of cracks, ridges, depressions, laitance,, and deleterious deposits that might interfere with floor covering adhesion.

Surface Preparation:  Prepare concrete leaving sound surfaces free of laitance, glaze, efflorescence, curing compounds, form-release agents, deleterious films, and other contaminants incompatible with finish flooring system materials.

DELETERIOUS:  There are many problems that can occur during an installation, application, and construction of various products.  When something is harmful or its use causes trouble, often in a subtle or an unexpected way, it can be considered deleterious.  One can better understand a term when considering synonyms and antonyms, some of which for deleterious are as follows:  Synonyms - adverse, bad, damaging, dangerous, harmful, injurious, and noxious; and Antonyms - advantageous, beneficial, benign, favorable, innocent, inoffensive, and safe.  The reference of deleterious in specifications is used as an adjective and should include a noun such as film, deposit, effect, result or like term.  The word deleterious occurs in both of the aforementioned examples for laitance.

DUNNAGE:  During construction it is always beneficial to have shop-fabricated and manufactured materials delivered to the site, stored, and handled unharmed and ready for incorporation into the project.  The term dunnage is taking from the shipping industry where it means ‘pieces of wood, matting, or similar material used in stowing cargo in a ship’s hold’ with another definition being ‘loose packing material used to protect a ship’s cargo from damage during transport’.  The Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA) defines dunnage as “materials or devices used in the securing and/or bracing of products during shipments”.  During a quick internet investigation, I was unable to find a synonym or antonym for dunnage.  The following MasterSpec example using the term dunnage in a specification most likely would be found in the Delivery, Storage, and Handling Article in PART 1 - GENERAL:  Store materials to permit easy access for inspection and identification.  Keep steel members off ground and spaced by using pallets, dunnage, or other supports and spacers.  Protect steel members and packaged materials from corrosion and deterioration.

Next time: When editing, reading, or interpreting specifications, you should understand the meaning of these three less commonly used, construction related terms; cool terms I like to use.

700 MHz D Block Spectrum Allocated to Public Safety - Legislation includes NG9-1-1 funding as well

It appears that Congress is poised to allocate the long awaited and long overdue public safety spectrum. Though nothing has officially been released to this point, sources close to Congress have confirmed that new legislation is being rolled out that will allocate the 700 MHz D Block spectrum to public safety and provide $7 billion in federal funding for the deployment of a nationwide Public Safety broadband LTE network. D Block contains the 10 MHz of spectrum immediately adjacent to that which is already licensed to the Public Safety Spectrum Trust (PSST) to first responders across America. The Public Safety Broadband Network (PSBN) will reside in the full 20 MHz of broadband spectrum necessary to meet current and future needs. Further, it appears that this will come without public safety having to forfeit its existing 700 MHz narrowband spectrum.

It is also reported that the legislation would create an independent First Responder Network Authority to develop the public safety network. The Authority will be housed under the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), but will have separate leadership, including a board with public safety, commercial, federal, state and local expertise to oversee the D-Block license and development of the network.

Additionally, the legislation includes a provision for $115 million in funding to support the build-out of Next Generation 9-1-1 technologies and reauthorization of the National 911 Office.

Senator Rockefeller, who was an instrumental player in developing this legislation and who has led the charge for allocation of the spectrum, was quoted as saying,

“This is sort of a huge day for America…Days like this don’t come around very often. This doesn’t cost the taxpayers a dime. It will save endless numbers of lives of first responders. ...With this new high-tech capability, firefighters will be able to instantaneously download floor plans before they go into the buildings to see what they’re up against. Cops will have access to criminal histories before they approach a suspect all on handheld devices which will be available at every level all across the country in one, integrated, truly national first responders communications system. EMTs will be able to communicate potentially life-saving information to doctors in the emergency room before they get there — descriptions and pictures of the wounded. It’s the best kind of reform.”

This legislation is reportedly set to be voted on in the upcoming days as part of a bill that will extend the payroll-tax cut and unemployment benefits — legislation for which there is a looming deadline and heated partisan debate.¹

Download a copy of the proposed legislation (see Section 6000) here: http://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20120213/CRPT-112hrpt-HR3630.pdf

There remain a number of questions; however, keep an eye on this blog for updates.

 

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¹ D-Block allocation to public safety is 'done.’ Police Senior Editor Doug Wyllie. http://www.policeone.com/police-products/communications/articles/5098920-D-Block-allocation-to-public-safety-is-done/

The Secret of Better Air Quality

by Scott Roberts

Some secrets are hard to keep while other things, like the USA’s improved air quality, seem to be secrets in spite of themselves.  Yet, according to the EPA, the air is much, much better.   For instance, 60% less of the 6 main pollutants (ozone, PM_2.5, PM₁₀, lead, NO₂, CO, and SO₂) in 2008 compared to 1970.  In contrast, over the same period, population and energy consumption grew by 45% and miles driven increased by 163%.  It’s a real success story but one lost amidst the air stories of today.  You know, stuff like climate change. 

Thanks to shale gas, there is a plentiful supply of natural gas and its use can lead to even better air across the country.  For example, natural gas vehicles produce 90+% less CO, 25% less CO₂, and up to 60% less NO_x.  Since cars emit over half of the pollution in our air (80% if you live in a city) this is significant.  All of that plus the prosperity of producing energy at home. 

Emissions from oil and gas exploration were not a big deal so long as it was taking place in the Saudi desert or the jungles of Venezuela, but now, with the Marcellus, concerns are being raised.  Things like methane leaked during drilling and emissions from rig engines or compressors.    EPA now requires operators to inventory releases and submit the information.  PADEP recently announced requirements for Pennsylvania’s Marcellus industry to complete a more exhaustive inventory.  Producers and state governments struggle with 30+ years of EPA flip-flopping on what emissions should be ‘aggregated’ or summed together and which should be treated separately. 

Permitting for new wells and the infrastructure necessary to bring the gas to market is crucial.  But the science is unique, the rules complicated and processes can vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.  High quality work by seasoned professionals will help get permits in a timely fashion. 

With thousands of wells, each with tens of features to consider, and thousands of miles of pipelines with hundreds of compressors each having tens of features, the inventory task is huge.   Efficient data management will be as important as accurate collection.   Wise selection of the type of data management systems can make the job easier and can provide managers with new viewpoints.  For example, a geographic information system (GIS) allows data users to use the data collected to see trends across broad areas and varying topography. 

The next time you see a woe-is-me news story about shale gas and air pollution think about the ‘secret’ of our success.  This is not some kind of insurmountable problem.  With their can-do spirit America’s engineers can help us all breathe easy about being energy secure.

{DB's Corner - #9} Mood Writing

 by Dennis Buirge

Various English subjects such as grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and syntax have always been my worst topics of study with little to no interest over decades.  More learning regarding proper English usage has occurred during specification writing than any previous attempt.  Of particular interest to preferred specification writing techniques is the sentence mood.  Depending on which internet sites are reviewed, 4 major moods seem to be identified, (imperative, indicative, interrogative, and subjunctive) along with several minor moods (infinitive, declarative, exclamative, optative, and that one seeming to be so pervasive today … cursing).

The four major moods in alphabetical order are defined as follows:

• Imperative - to express a request or command, such as ‘paint the walls a white color’
• Indicative - to make a factual statement, such as ‘the architect designs the building’
• Interrogative - a question, generally initiating with the W words of who, what, where, when, why, and how, such as ‘who builds the building?’
• Subjunctive - to show a wish, doubt, or anything else contrary to fact or action that has not yet occurred, such as ‘the Owner requested the Contractor submit his payment application before the end of the month’. 

 According to the Project Resource Manual (PRM), only the indicative and imperative moods are referenced regarding proper specification writing.  So what is the major difference and what does The Construction Specification Institute (CSI) recommend as the preferred specification writing mood(s)? 

The older method, and one used by those who have not been trained via CSI philosophies, is the indicative mood.  This method generally starts with a noun and then identifies the action, causing a longer sentence than the imperative mood.  An example of the indicative mood would be, ‘The general contractor shall secure drywall with metal screws.’  This type sentence structure can cause unnecessary wordiness, repetitiveness, and monotony.  The imperative mood on the other hand generally starts with a verb and then identifies the action.  An example of the previous sentence in the imperative mood would be, ‘Secure drywall with metal screws.’  This type of sentence structure is concise, is readily understandable, and is the recommended mood by the PRM. 

On occasion however, use of the indicative mood becomes mandatory and must be used in a project manual to clearly identify work scope responsibility, such as when identifying either a scope to the Owner or Contractor and during projects involving multiple prime contracts.  The imperative mood cannot be used in those cases to clearly delineate accountability.  This condition of using the indicative mood occurs primarily in Division 00 Documents and Division 01 Sections.  One example is where some Owner’s may provide their own or certain temporary utilities and controls or require the Contractor to do so. 

In another example, even using the indicative mood is not sufficient where using “Contractor shall” when more than one Contractor is under contract will lead to work scope ambiguity.  If the scope is to be performed by a particular Contractor, then proper language could be “General Contractor shall”, which identifies the specific Contractor responsible for the action.  In the case of temporary heating where multiple Contractors could be responsible at different times during construction, the specification should identify who and when, such as the “General Contractor” shall provide temporary heating until the building is fully enclosed, at which point scope responsibility transfers to the “Heating Contractor”.  The indicative mood in these examples gives clear, complete, concise, and correct communication and is better than the imperative mood.  In Divisions 02 through 49, use of the imperative mood is preferred, since particular work scopes and Contractors are generally defined via Division 01 specification Sections. 

In summary, use the imperative mood as the standard method and the indicative mood when identifying scope by either the Owner or Contractor and with multiple prime contracts to clearly define scope responsibility for each Contractor.

Network & Remote Access

By Lori Kleckner

This installment of our security series focuses on section 9 of NENA Security for Next-Generation 9-1-1 Standard (NG-SEC), designed to be used by public safety agencies as a guideline for securing their systems. As today’s emergency services networks are implemented, it is important to identify, document and protect them. Solutions should also be in place to address equipment and circuit fail-over. Network and remote access security addresses several security issues and strategies for mitigation.   

As part of this series, L.R. Kimball has been sharing some common findings of non-compliance with NG-SEC as observed during our PSAP assessments. In the area of network and remote access it is prevalent to find both the absence of firewalls and firewalls that are not properly configured. Accurate network diagrams are generally not made available to the PSAPs. Network redundancy is minimal. This is obviously problematic.

It is difficult to protect the network and associated assets without first defining the network. Once the boundaries of the network are understood (and documented), actions should be taken to secure those boundaries. Firewalls should be in place at each boundary of the network. Firewalls should be configured based on business need of traffic, minimizing the number of ports open and protocols permitted to ingress and egress the network. Following a defined process for maintaining the firewall to assure only appropriate network traffic is entering or leaving the network, is a defense against issues arising from both known and emerging threats.

Remote access to the network is an area requiring close scrutiny to determine the business need. Any access to the network has the potential to introduce malicious activity both intentional and unintentional. Remote access, whether for third-party maintenance access or remote employees, must adhere to polices and the intent of the firewall must not be circumvented.

Network redundancy and diversity often requires consideration of the options available to the PSAP. Redundancy includes duplication of equipment and circuits. Advantages of redundancy are realized during maintenance of equipment and in the event of an unforeseen failure. Redundancy will provide the resources to remain operational while repairs are enacted. In the same manner, the ability to provide an alternate route for network circuits to achieve diversity in the event of an outage, supports maintaining high availability needed to provide emergency call services.

The importance of network and remote access, as well as addressing availability through redundancy and diversity are issues facing today’s IP-connected PSAPs. With strong policies in place and the commitment to follow through, the availability of emergency call services is greatly increased.

Visit our blog next month to gain an overview of change control and documentation.

Progress in Williamsport, PA

Until recently, most Pennsylvanians would think of the Little League World Series when they heard of Williamsport.   A few may think of small airplanes since, from the 1930’s to the 1960’s, the region was the home of the Piper Cub.   Others may think of the ‘Millionaires’, the curious name of the Williamsport High School’s sports teams, and some of those may even link the moniker to the late 1800’s when, thanks to the lumber industry,  Williamsport sported more millionaires than any other town in America.      However, today the name ‘Williamsport’ is being linked with prosperity, growth, opportunity and progress. 

Modern Williamsport’s renaissance is driven by energy.   Like other smaller metro areas, the region’s biggest employers are in the health care, education, retail, and manufacturing sectors.  However, the region is also the gateway into a large part of the Marcellus Shale fairway.  The county has 15 separate businesses in the mineral extraction business and the 491 employees of those companies enjoy an average annual wage of over $71,000, more than twice the county average.  Combine these jobs with the 8915 manufacturing jobs paying roughly the state average wage ($45,000 annually) and you have healthy and sustainable micro economy and the very picture of prosperity. 

Prosperity leads to opportunity and opportunity leads to growth.  Visible and tangible growth is progress.  In Lycoming County, bridges are being rebuilt, rail lines restored and the airport improved.  Local businesses and local governments are investing in improvement projects, revitalization of the downtown, and construction of new hotels, new single and multi-family housing, sprucing up parks and the library, and improving municipal services.    

Progress doesn’t just happen.  Goods and services are required.  The knowledge of the architect and engineer needs combined with the skill of the construction worker.  Once the construction phase is complete then others operate and maintain the project.  In this way the very act of progress, of growth, becomes the driver for prosperity and creates new and different opportunity.  The recent opening of L. Robert Kimball’s Williamsport office,  after successfully working on projects like the Trade and Transit Intermodal Center,  the Church Street Transportation Center, the new Kohl’s and Cinemaplex, and  the Armed Forces Reserve Center, is evidence of this very phenomenon.   

I expect that Williamsport will remain famous for the Little League World Series.  After all, it is one of the best sporting events on earth.  I also expect, and have witnessed, this same progress in other Pennsylvania communities.   This progress is being founded on prosperity created in the community and it is a sustainable prosperity which will create new opportunity.    That is, to borrow a phrase, ‘rest of the story’ about Piper Aircraft.    In 1930, William T. Piper, fresh from success in exploring for oil near Bradford, Pennsylvania, bought a bankrupt aircraft manufacturer to make his vision of a low-cost airplane, the Piper Cub, take flight.  Success breeds success and prosperity breeds prosperity. 

DB'S Corner - 'Sure' Terminology

 by Dennis Buirge

 
 

This blog relates to specification writing, specifically vocabulary, and identifies the correct definitions of several heterographic terms (having same pronunciation, but different spellings and meanings) that may cause words to be incorrectly used within various documents created by the Architect/Engineer.  Are you ‘sure’ when completing the following sentence using the terms assure, ensure, and insure?  Please [assure, ensure, or insure] the Owner that the Contractor will [assure, ensure, or insure] to [assure, ensure, or insure] the project. 

It is possible to find definitions from various sources, but when relating to construction documents, referring to the Project Resource Manual (PRM) created and distributed by The Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) is most appropriate.  The PRM defines each of the ‘sure’ terms as follows:

    -   Assure:  to give confidence to or convince a person of something.

   -   Ensure:  to make certain in a way that eliminates the possibility of error.

   -   Insure:  to issue or procure an insurance policy.

Starting out with the easiest word first, only use the word insure when dealing with insurance.  It is as simple as that!  This word has been observed on occasion in CDs, when in many occasions the correct word would have been ensure.  The word insure is most likely to be found in Division 00 documents and Division 01 specifications.  When dealing with Division 02 and higher Division specifications, ensure is most likely the appropriate word to be used.  Within each specification Section, the word ensure would most likely be found within [PART 3 - EXECUTION] text, when a work scope is being identified.  While [PART 1 - GENERAL] mostly deals with procurement procedures, [PART 2 - PRODUCTS] is an explanation of materials, system components, fabrication, and finishing.  Only the term assure is used with reference to a person in the sense of “to set the mind at ease”.  Of the three ‘sure’ verbs, it has been my experience that assure is the least used term in specification writing. 

Can you now correctly use the appropriate word in each of the following sentences as they relate to safety? 

   1.   The Contractor is obligated by Article 11 of the General Conditions to (assure, ensure, insure) the project, property, and workers against possible damage or injury. 

   2.   The Contractor should make every effort to (assure, ensure, insure) employees and subcontractors that safety is beneficial to everyone working on the project, whether at the site or in the office.  [One office safety procedure is to use a stapler remover and not one’s fingernails.] 

   3.   The Contractor is compelled to (assure, ensure, insure) that proper conditions are taken at the site to reduce injury and damage; the Architect is not responsible for site safety. 

Summary:  Be ‘sure’ to use the correct word in each application, whether writing, working on, or interpreting contracts, drawings, specifications, or shop drawings, when preparing project correspondence, and when promoting products to the professional community. 

Regarding the correct term usage in the aforementioned sentence examples, question 1 is insure, question 2 is assure, and question 3 is ensure.  The answer to the initial question in the first paragraph is the listed order of the ‘sure’ words: assure, ensure, and insure. 

Next Blog Topic: What mood are you in?

DB's Corner: ASTM

By Dennis Buirge

It would be surprising to find someone using construction documents who has not ‘heard’ of ASTM standards.  How many, though, have an introductory understanding regarding the meaning of those letters and numbers?  Specification writers in particular are familiar with those 4 letters, ASTM, as standards are frequently used when preparing a specification, especially in the ‘reference standard’ method.  The intent of this blog is to give an introduction to various meanings so that one could at least call themselves an introductory neophyte regarding an understanding of ASTM standards. 

If your specification Section incorporates a PART 1 Article entitled ‘References’ and includes “ASTM - American Society for Testing and Materials”, you are now about a decade behind the times.  With ASTM founded in 1898 as the American Section of the International Association for Testing and Materials, it predates other standards organizations such as BSI (1901), DIN (1917), ANSI (1918) and AFNOR (1926).  The organization's headquarters located in West Conshohocken, PA, is about 5 miles NW of Philadelphia.  ASTM currently includes members from more than 120 nations, and with about one of every five members living outside the United States and the standards being used around the world in many applications, a new name, ASTM International, Inc. was established in 2001.  In addition, a new logo was included to underscore their international scope and message.  There are now about 12,000 standards that can be searched for titles, scopes, adoptions, referenced documents, index terms, number of pages, and prices on the ASTM website. 

In a specification, one might see a standard reference of ASTM B 221, where there is at least a letter and up to a four digit number, but may also include a dash and a two digit number.  So what is the meaning of that designation in ASTM standards?  The first letter identifies a general designation, followed by its serial number, which is separated from the standard’s year designation by a dash.  The general designation legend is as follows:  A = Ferrous Metals, B = Nonferrous Metals, C = Cementitious, Ceramic, Concrete, and Masonry Materials, D = Miscellaneous Materials, E = Miscellaneous Subjects, F = Materials for Specific Applications, G = Corrosion, Deterioration, and Degradation of Materials, and H = Joint Committee and District Recipients.  One would then know that ASTM B 221 falls into the nonferrous metals category and happens to be extruded aluminum; B 209 identifies sheet aluminum.  The year need not be referenced in Divisions 02 - 49 specifications, if there is a statement in Division 01 that the most current standard at the time of bidding is valid. 

All ASTM standards fall into 15 sections with each section containing many volumes.  The example for construction relates to its falling in Section 4, where there are 13 volumes (4.01 - 4.13).   If one were interested in obtaining all 12,000 standards in all 82 volumes, get out your checkbook, as the 2010 edition is available for approximately $9,700 (verify actual amount with the ASTM website).  About 1,300 construction related standards in a 4 volume set are available, however their website indicates only electronic files are now available and no longer in book form.  The beginning of each construction related volume first includes an alphabetic listing of standards by “content” and then by “list of subjects”, which identifies each standard in one of the six different types explained in the next paragraph. 

The standards are uniform in format and follow the same rigorous approval procedures.  In general, there are six different types of ASTM standards: Test Method - a definitive procedure that produces a test result [Example - E 283-04 Standard Test Method for Determining Rate of Air Leakage Through Exterior Windows, Curtain Walls, and Doors Under Specified Pressure Differences Across the Specimen]; Specification - an explicit set of requirements to be satisfied by a material, product, system, or service [Example - B 2-08 Standard Specification for Medium-Hard-Drawn Copper Wire]; Guide - information or series of options that does not recommend a specific course of action [Example - C 1193-09 Standard Guide for Use of Joint Sealants]; Practice - a definitive set of instructions for performing one or more specific operations that does not produce a test result [Example - A 807-08 Standard Practice for Installing Corrugated Steel Structural Plate Pipe for Sewers and Other Applications]; Classification - a systematic arrangement or division of materials, products, systems, or services into groups based on similar characteristics such as origin, composition, properties, or use [Example - D 448-08 Standard Classification for Sizes of Aggregates for Road and Bridge Construction]; and Terminology - a document comprising definitions of terms; explanations of symbols, abbreviations, or acronyms [Example - D 16-08 Standard Terminology for Paint, Related Coatings, Materials, and Applications]. 

In addition to all of the aforementioned information, there can still be up to 5 callouts with additional numbers and letters that could cause severe confusion.  One example for a classification type standard would be: ASTM D 4066-01 PA0610G33A49360UA067.  Have fun with that one!  Anyone seeking more detailed information regarding ASTM standards can ‘google’ various websites. 

Lastly, MasterSpec and other specification software generally incorporate ASTM standards that include references to both Imperial and SI (metric) units.  An example relating to guy and tie wires for planting stabilization in Section 329300 would be ASTM A 641/A 641M.  If the project manual is not specifying SI units for the project, the specification writer(s) SHOULD NOT include those SI references.  The previous example would be correctly written as ‘ASTM A 641’.  Removing those SI references could be physically deleted or ‘turned off’ via electronic software. 

Next Blog:  Are you sure?