CAM TECH School of Construction - March, 2006 Newsletter

March 2006

It's Continuing Education Time Again!
We are offering CE on April 1 & 2 and July 29 & 30. Only $199 for the full 14 hours!
Register today!
CAM TECH School of Construction - Continuing Education
(Click on the link above for a printable registration.)

Cam Tech does not endorse any of these companies or websites. This is a list of construction-related news, companies and websites provided for your convenience. Cam Tech is not responsible for the content of the following websites.

Green building standard revision proposed
The U.S. Green Building Council is working with the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers to establish a new minimum standard for ecologically friendly building. The proposed new standard would apply to new commercial buildings and major renovation projects, and would address factors including water use efficiency, energy efficiency and a building's impact on the atmosphere. Commercial Property News

Understanding concrete, and when to repair it
Despite their strength and permanence, Peter Emmons, president of Structural Group, advises regular maintenance and repair of concrete structures because the material is highly susceptible to both weather and man-made forces. Proper mixing and curing is essential from the start -- as it affects the material's life span -- and even minor cracks should be addressed immediately. Buildings.com

More parking decks "steeling" the show

Steel is being used more frequently for parking structure construction, allowing for quicker and easier building, improved performance, high security, longevity. Steel's high weight to strength ratio is also allowing architects to implement more visually pleasing designs that help remove the stigma often assigned to parking areas. Buildings.com

Wetland protection challenges to go before Supreme Court
Two cases seeking to strike down federal rules that protect about half of the nation's wetlands and streams from development and pollution are slated to go before the U.S. Supreme Court this week. If the court rules in favor of the landowners, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency would have to abandon rules that have been used for more than 30 years to protect wetlands and water quality in streams. USA TODAY/Gannett News Service

E-construction holds big promise, but still in infancy

E-construction is gaining prominence as representing the future of cost-efficient building, offering big opportunities to save time and money, reduce claims and boost quality, particularly for complex buildings. The movement, also known as building information modeling, virtual building and other titles, still has many obstacles however, and experts say it may be 10 to 15 years before it is the norm for commercial buildings. Engineering News-Record

As Las Vegas grows, residents invest in community
Beyond the glitz of the Strip, Las Vegas is "growing up," and working to establish a more traditional sense of community. As one of the nation's most rapidly expanding metropolitan areas, residents, families and businesses are investing time and money into the area to make it more attractive for long-term living. USA TODAY

Acoustical ceiling products abound with new advancements

Acoustical ceiling products have undergone extensive advancements, with new features including sculpted ceilings, ceiling clouds and even transparent ceilings. Most of the ceilings are made of mineral fiber or glass fiber and are lightweight and easy to install. Buildings.com

January Construction Holds Steady
The value of new construction starts in January, at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $658.3 billion, was unchanged from December, according to McGraw-Hill Construction, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies. The pattern of activity by major sector was varied - nonresidential building retreated, residential building stayed even with its December pace, and nonbuilding construction registered moderate growth. On an unadjusted basis, total construction in January was reported at $46.0 billion, up 8% compared to the same month a year ago. McGraw Hill

Young Engineers Sound Off on Rebuilding New Orleans
The planned rebuilding of New Orleans has sparked the imaginations of civil engineering students.
ENR.com spoke to four students with strong feelings about Hurricane Katrina�s devastation of New Orleans. Two of them had connections to New Orleans or the aftermath of the disaster.
What did they say? Go slow but not too slow in rebuilding flood protections, make the people of New Orleans feel safe and instill in elected officials and residents a new culture of prevention, the students suggest. Do that and the result of rebuilding could be a triumph of solid design and good sense.Engineering News Record

Campaign for Clean Air Is Producing Power That's Lean and Green
By the time the year is through, the clean diesel movement will have made significant strides. Since 1996, when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency began regulating off-road diesel tailpipe emissions, pollutants from many of the engines powering heavy construction machines have been cut by more than 80%. By this time next year, over-the-road trucks will be more than 90% cleaner as well. Diesel fuel with an �ultra low sulfur� rating will be required on highway vehicles later this year, and the chrome exhaust stacks that flank the cabs of most trucks won�t be spewing clouds of black smoke into the air, thanks to new particulate filters.Clean Air Campaign

Contractors Lift 1,700-Ton Span into Place
Contractors working on the new San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge's eastern span pulled off a 1,700-ton mega-pick that began the evening of Feb. 7 and continued into the following morning. Local subcontractor Bigge Crane & Rigging Co. used 10 strand jacks to hoist a 200-ft-long, 85-ft-wide, 20-ft-tall steel "tub" girder off a barge and set it on temporary steel towers. Under the supervision of Kiewit-Pacific led prime contractor KFM, the 150-ft lift took 11 hours. The girder links the eastbound side of the bridge's 1.3-mile-long "skyway" with its still-unbuilt signature suspension span. A similar westbound lift is scheduled in June. Electronic controls that tie together the jacks made the delicate operation possible. "You hit 'enter' and away it goes," says Gedge Knopf, sales manager for Bigge. Heavy Lifting

6 Months Later, New Orleans Far From Whole
NEW ORLEANS - They're throwing Mardi Gras beads again - so many strands, they're landing in tree branches and getting snagged on the trellised balconies of the French Quarter.
You'll find them adorning the arms of Spanish statues. Tourists are wearing them, but these days so are contractors and the National Guard. It's hard to walk on Bourbon Street without stepping on them. You're likely to crunch them underfoot, long necklaces of plastic pearls brightening the asphalt.
At the corner of Bourbon and St. Peter, Pat O'Brien's is once again serving its syrupy, yet potent Hurricane cocktail. At Tropical Isle, you can get an equally potent Hand Grenade in a tall, plastic go-cup.McGraw-Hill Construction | ENR

"Look up and not down. Look forward and not back. Look out and not in. Lend a Hand." Edward Everett Hale

"Look up and not down. Look forward and not back. Look out and not in. Lend a Hand."
Edward Everett Hale