What factors should be considered when researching materials/products?
- Product performance
- Product quality
- Manufacturer
- Install and code requirements
- Product availability, project schedule
- Costs
- Project conditions
What are common sources and methods for obtaining product information?
- Manufacturer’s website
- AHJ and code agency websites
- Product standards websites (ANSI, ASTM, ASHRAE)
- Printed catalogs
- Product datasheets
- Trade shows
- Product representatives
What federal, state and local code requirements affect product selection?
Regulations - building codes, land development regulations (zoning), accessibility (law), FEMA
When is a meeting with AHJ needed for code modification?
When codes create conflicts that require interpretation, when interpretation is different than specified code requirement
- may require coordination with product rep, reviews from other projects with similar code modifications
What documents are reviewed when selecting products to meet applicable code requirements?
Design drawings, references, product literature, ratings of materials and product certifications with applicable codes
*product reps can provide technical assistance
What OWNER requirements should be evaluated for product suitability?
- Historic preservation
- Aesthetics
- Cost effectiveness (life cycle cost, funding)
- Functional/operational
- Productive
- Safe/secure
- Sustainability
- Resilience
- Accessibility
How can products from different manufacturers be compared for acceptability?
- Finding product data from both manufacturers
- Verifying criteria are aligned with same testing
- Verifying code minimum requirements
- Verifying owner’s minimum requirements
How can products expected performance be determined with site conditions?
- Environmental Severity Classification (seismic, flooding, snow load, wildfire risk, rainfall amounts)
- Energy Code (IECC, climate zone)
- Wind Loads (ASCE 7)
- Salt Exposure (costal salt water, de-icing chemicals)
What site conditions should be reviewed with product performance testing?
- Temperature, humidity
- Wind and sun exposure
- Seismic risk
- Exposure to hazardous materials
- Application and install location
- Space constraints
- Frequency of use, maintenance program
- Security, theft concerns
What value can product representatives provide as consultants for product selection?
- They are experts on their products and information, can act as selection advisor in design and solution advisor during construction
- They are aware of industry trends, competitor’s comparable products, issues in field, train/certify install
What types of information are available on manufacturer’s websites?
- Catalogs
- Product data sheets, safety data sheets
- Install instructions
- Environ. product declarations, health product declarations
- Test reports, evaluation service reports
- Drawing details, BIM objects
- Guide specs, continuing education, whitepapers
- Product rep contact info
How can product properties/limitations be compared with design criteria?
Documented properties (from testing and data sheets) should be compared against design criteria, product rep can help with comparisons
What should be analyzed in product manufacturer guide specs for biases and accuracy?
- Typos, incorrect/non-applicable or outdated testing standards, proprietary requirements, means and methods specified
- Confirm intent of guide spec - marketing, info listing, legal protection, install instructions?
What is the difference between a reference standard and code?
- Codes: mandatory, developed and maintained by org. with industry input, enforceable after adoption by AHJ
- Regulations: mandatory, developed by AHJ, may impose fines if fail to comply
- Standards: voluntary unless adopted by codes and regulations, based on research and testing by private org.
What are advantages of using reference standards?
- Quality assurance - developed by experts, extensive research
- Uniformity - consensus of manufacturers in field
- Reduced conflict and duplication - standard development and adoption
- Reduced work - saves time writing specs
What is the risk of specifying 2 or more standards?
Duplications and conflicts - one standard may conflict with another increasing possibility of using an inferior product
What are sustainability metrics for products?
- Site optimization
- Energy performance/conservation
- Water use/conservation
- Materials/resources (reduce, reuse, recycle, regional, renewable)
- Environmental quality (air, acoustics, thermal, lighting)
- Historic preservation and rehabilitation
How to determine if a more sustainable product can meet project goals?
- Evaluate products entire anticipated life span, environmental performance
- USGBC LEED, WELL, Living Building Challenge, Green Globe all look at PROJECT performance
