What we're reading, following & covering

Hurricane Irma: More stringent building codes paying off

March 8 | Facilities Net

Hurricane Andrew in 1992 was an early catalyst for changes to the building code, says Allen Douglas, executive director with Florida Engineering Society. Andrew resulted in about 65 deaths in the United States, and $25 billion in damage, according to the National Hurricane Centers. At least some damage resulted from lax enforcement and builders not building to code, Douglas adds. The Florida Building Code, established in 2002, forms the basis for today's code, Miccolis says. While the code was in effect when Hurricane Charley hit in 2004, as well as Hurricanes Rita and Wilma in 2005, few new buildings had been constructed according to it. All three hurricanes caused multiple fatalities and billions in damage. Read more.

Will County to explore school security issues

March 7 | The Chicago Tribune

Will County officials said they will consider working with the sheriff's department to see if they can improve security in area schools, in the wake of the Florida high school shooting. The issue will likely be explored at a future joint session of the Public Health and Safety and the judicial committees. Board member Ray Tuminello, R-New Lenox, made an impassioned plea at the Executive Committee meeting on March 1, and called on his colleagues to have an open discussion about it and "get people thinking about this." Read more.

Flood house rotting, not gutted following 2016 flood

March 7 | WBRZ 2

A flood-damaged house has been left to rot. The floors were ripped up in August 2016, but the rest of the house was left standing. Grace Battley lives next to the property on Hickcock Drive in Baton Rouge. She called 2 On Your Side to inquire further about her concerns. "Nobody's gutted this house over here and the mold has taken over," she said. The homes in the neighborhood off Hooper Road got about eight feet of water. As every day passes, Battley becomes more and more disgusted with what is festering next door. "I was concerned about my health," she said. Read more.

Tenants told to leave Switzkill Farm because sprinklers don't work

March 7 | The Altamont Enterprise

The shutting down of a town-owned building last week by the newly appointed building inspector, forcing its two tenants to leave, has riled several Berne officials and created further strife around the town-owned property of Switzkill Farm. The two tenants, Nelson Kent and Diane Pool, were asked to leave by building inspector Chance Townsend, who was appointed at the beginning of the year, after he discovered smoke detectors and a sprinkling system weren't working; he issued an order to vacate, said Berne Supervisor Sean Lyons. Read more.

Company builds unique sprinkler system to stop mass shooters

March 6 | CBS 46

A company out of Minnesota is developing technology that it said could stop school shooters. The idea is to use sprinklers against would-be gunmen. The Crotega Threat Suppression System uses high tech sensors to detect gunshots, and then uses a vinegar-based mixture from a sprinkler to irritate the eyes, nose, and mouth of the gunman. So far, the system has only been installed at an engineering firm, in Minnesota. Mark Brengman fully supports the defense system for his business. Read more.

Los Angeles faith leaders support stronger building codes

March 6 | For Construction Pros

The leaders of the Grant and Bethel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Churches in Los Angeles, as well as The Row Church in Los Angeles, recently sent letters to the LA City Council calling on the council members to support efforts that would strengthen the city's building codes for fire safety reasons. The efforts include a draft ordinance that would encourage the use of the safest and most durable materials in the construction process in order to protect Los Angeles' most vulnerable communities. "We live in a city with great threats of natural disaster, such as fires and earthquakes, and making sure that our people have the best possible chances of survival is a righteous and grave responsibility," says Pastor Michael Eagle of the Grant AME Church in the letter. Read more.

Building fire codes

March 6 | Fire Rescue

Each column, a new author will feature an article from one of the International Code Council (ICC) building, fire, mechanical, plumbing, residential (one and two family), energy conservation, and existing building codes or standards [National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM), Underwriters Laboratories (UL)] that affect fire protection and building systems (or lack thereof) disturbing our battlefield, the fire ground. While the code development process (three-year cycle) may be a tedious undertaking, its impact on occupants and firefighter safety is paramount. New construction techniques and materials ae well as innovative building technologies at times run ahead of a code ratification. Read more.

Could access to more daylight make us more intelligent

March 5 | Insights and Inspirations

The evidence continues to grow that daylight in our buildings matters a great deal for human health as well as productivity. Just last week a new study from Michigan State University (MSU) provides new data that access to high levels of light (such that is provided on a sunny day) also improves mental acuity and memory. Conversely, low light levels, simulating those experienced by occupants in buildings and during Midwest winters, were shown to inhibit learning and cause a change in the brain's structure. According to Joel Soler, one of the researchers from MSU who carried out this study "Dim light is producing dimwits!" Read more.

Classroom barricade devices: A dangerous violation of federal laws

March 5 | Campus Safety

Whether you see the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as a victory or a compromise largely depends on whether you are one of the 53 million Americans who has a disability. While there is no question that the passage of the ADA in 1990 significantly improved access to buildings, transportation and employment, it wasn't nearly as comprehensive as most Americans assume. It generally isn’t until we experience a situation that restricts our mobility or that of a loved one that we suddenly appreciate just how many accessibility challenges remain in spite of the ADA. Read more.

How and why air admittance valves are used

March 5 | Plumbing Supply

Air admittance valves can make dreams come true! Well, sort of. In the course of designing a new home, or renovating an older one, it's not unusual to have ideas challenged and plans scrapped. Quite often it's the plumbing situation that determines whether dream becomes reality; and it's not always about water. Venting is an important part of plumbing: not only does it remove unpleasant and dangerous gases from the structure, it also equalizes air pressure within the drain system, preventing vacuums and the siphoning of water out of traps. Read more.

Fire safety: Finding flammable building panels a difficult task

March 4 | Democrat & Chronicle

A horrific fast-moving fire that claimed 72 lives last June in a London high-rise called Grenfell Tower sparked questions worldwide about the safety of skyscrapers. How many other buildings are clad with the same flammable aluminum panels that doomed Grenfell Tower, and where are they? Are there any here? Not long after the London fire, the Democrat and Chronicle began looking into the aluminum cladding of one Rochester high-rise. Read more.

A guide to energy efficiency

March 4 | Gambit

Criteria for a new home may include a spacious kitchen with new appliances, deep closets and glossy wood floors, or, for this writer, at least one coffee shop within walking distance. The eco-friendly and energy-efficient elements of a home often are overlooked, even though they can help save money. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the average American spends $2,000 on energy costs each year, and $200 to $400 of that is caused by drafts, air leaks around openings and outdated ventilation systems. Read more.

Need grows for new Colbert jail

March 4 | Times Daily

While it wasn't an everyday occurrence, employees of the Colbert County Board of Education often noticed water dripping from their office ceiling. They didn't have to smell the odor from the drip to know its cause. Colbert County inmates, housed in the jail on the floor above them had stopped up the toilets. "It was an aggravation to say the least," former education superintendent Roger Moore said. "The floors got soaked, and it (toilet water) didn't have but one place to go and that was (to drip down onto) the second floor. It would leak on our desks, and documents would get destroyed." Read more.

Garcetti wants better earthquake safety for L.A's day cares centers, private school and steel towers

March 2 | Los Angeles Times

Mayor Eric Garcetti on Friday called for Los Angeles to significantly improve its planning for a major earthquake, saying the city should consider mandatory retrofits of steel-framed buildings and earthquake evaluations of private schools and day care centers. Los Angeles already has some of California's strongest quake retrofit laws, which cover brick buildings, concrete-frame structures and wood-frame apartments. Friday's announcement marks the first time Garcetti has specifically raised the possibility about whether the city should require the retrofitting of vulnerable steel buildings built before the 1994 Northridge earthquake. Read more.

Can manufactured housing ease America's affordable housing crisis

March 2 | Curbed

America's affordable housing crisis is driven in large part by the simple fact that there aren't enough homes in America right now to satisfy demand. High construction costs and labor shortages mean builders can't build fast enough to keep up with household formation, and Americans who already own homes are reluctant to sell an asset that is appreciating rapidly. This has pushed home prices to or beyond their pre-financial collapse peaks, leaving prospective homebuyers without an affordable option. While there's no easy fix, signals within the federal government suggest one solution is getting increased attention, manufactured housing. Read more.

Modified shipping container safety practices

March 2 | MySA

Falcon Structures CEO Stephen Shang will give an informative talk about using shipping containers in construction at the 35th Annual World of Modular Conference, hosted by the Modular Building Institute. The conference will take place March 22-25, 2018, in Hollywood, Florida, at the Diplomat Beach Resort & Spa. Mr. Shang is slated to present at 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. on Sunday, March 25. The talk, titled "Safe Use of Modified Shipping Containers," will focus on the progress the shipping container-based structures industry is making towards clear, sensible coding. Read more.

Sandy Springs officials torch house bill as increasing fire danger

March 2 | Reporter Newspapers

A proposed state law that would wipe out restrictions on building wood-frame apartments in Dunwoody and Sandy Springs was torched by officials at March 2 press conference as increasing fire dangers. Organized by a concrete industry group, the press conference was staged inside a Sandy Springs firehouse and had Fire Rescue Chief Keith Sanders showing a video of a wooden "doll house" burning much faster and more completely than a concrete-board version. Some other speakers included state Sen. Read more.

Homes made of concrete tubes could solve the housing crisis

March 1 | BBC

This story is from Living in a Box, an episode of Business Daily on BBC World Service. It was presented by Manuela Saragosa. To listen to more episodes of Business Daily please click here. Adapted by Sarah Keating. There are a lot of people in Hong Kong, 7.4 million to be more specific, all in an area that's 106 sq km (41 sq mi). Alongside a dense population, prices have soared at breakneck speed, leaving many unable to afford the dizzy heights of property prices. Read more.