San Francisco Chronicle & Los Angeles Times Utilize Our Expertise in Understanding the Berkeley Deck Failure

No one wants to see a headline like this, with 6 dead & 7 others seriously injured.
Both the LA Times & San Francisco Chronicle have used us as a source
on their investigative articles. 

DeckExpert.com provides consumers with information, videos articles and more for buyers to make informed decisions on deck systems. We also provide articles to major trade magazines for the HOA, Construction and Architectural industries. 

Now we are pleased to say our expertise is helping reporters understand the problems that caused the recent Berkeley deck tragedy where the a waterproofed balcony, only 7 years old, failed catastrophically and thirteen people plunged to the ground, killing six and seriously injuring the other seven survivors.

Both the the Los Angeles Times and the San Francisco Chronicle have interviewed us for their investigative articles into the how and why this tragedy occurred.

From the Chronicle  article-“This is all a vicious combination,” Leys said. “The penetrations, the drainage and lack of ventilation underneath — they all combined in a catastrophic failure.”
Read the SF Chronicle article by award winning reporter Jaxon Van Derberken here  http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Blueprints-show-Berkeley-balcony-was-designed-for-6336566.php

From the LA Times article- "Balconies just don't fall off a building like what we saw without having a few years of deterioration," said Bill Leys, a former deck waterproofing contractor who now inspects decks in San Luis Obispo for his company, DeckExpert.com.

Read the LA Times articles here. http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-berkeley-balcony-collapse-20150623-story.html

Simpson Gumpertz & Heger Hosts ROOFING AND WATERPROOFING SYMPOSIUM: Practices, Methods, and Systems for New and Existing Buildings

saw this on a press release....

Simpson Gumpertz & Heger Hosts

ROOFING AND WATERPROOFING SYMPOSIUM
Wednesday, 14 April 2010 at the San Jose Marriott, San Jose, CA

Registration / Breakfast		8:00 am - 8:30 am
Presentations and Discussions		8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Cocktail Reception		5:00 pm - 6:30 pm

Roofing and waterproofing systems, with or without an established track record, pose a challenge for designers and builders. Led by a team of nationally recognized experts in roofing and waterproofing, this day-long symposium will provide architects, engineers, owners, and contractors insight and knowledge about effective ways to design and build roofing and below-grade waterproofing systems for new and existing buildings. Topics include:

• Lessons learned through investigation and design of roofing materials
• Specialized roofing and waterproofing in an urban environment
• State-of-the-art systems for below-grade waterproofing
• Updating well-established practices and using them with new materials
• Green roofing - how to design for the special requirements of green roofs

SGH is registered with the AIA Continuing Education System. This symposium qualifies for 6.5 LU hours (all of which are HSW, and 1.5 hours qualify for Sustainable Design credits).
To register, visit www.sgh.com/RFWPS

• Register before 1 April for Early Registration Discount
• Register two or more employees at Discounted Rate

Session 1: Below-Grade Waterproofing

• System concepts (positive side, blind side, and negative side)
• Geotechnical and drainage consideration
• Waterproofing assemblies (membranes, joint treatments, admixtures, and grouting)
• New below-grade waterproofing technologies

Session 2: Plaza Waterproofing

• Reliable plaza deck assemblies
• Appropriate and inappropriate variations of basic systems
• Designing details using proven concepts

Session 3: Low Slope Roofing

• Overview of low slope roofing systems commonly used in California
• Roof design principles - wind uplift, drainage, and energy requirements
• Recommendations for roof and roof flashing design

Session 4: Specialized Roofing

• Cool roofing and photovoltaic design
• Sustainable low slope roofing systems
• Non-conventional roof designs (metal roofs and vegetative roofs)

SPEAKERS

Kenneth Klein, PE - Senior PrincipalKenneth Klein has more than 25 years experience in designing and investigating waterproofing of commercial, institutional, and residential buildings. His work addresses issues related to the integrity of curtain walls, roofs, plaza deck, and below-grade systems on a wide-range of structures from residential and high-rise buildings to buildings of historic significance. Mr. Klein has consulted with architects, contractors, and building owners to analyze and repair water intrusion problems and construction defects. Well known in the industry, he has frequently presented to groups of attorneys, contractors, architects, and other design professionals regarding building envelope design and remediation.
Daniel Gibbons, PE - Senior Project Manager
Daniel Gibbons has 13 years of experience in the investigation and design of commercial, institutional, and residential buildings for waterproofing issues including roofs, plaza areas, below-grade spaces, and exterior walls. He has consulted with architects, contractors, and building owners to analyze and repair water intrusion problems and construction defects. Mr. Gibbons has lectured and written widely on topics related to roofing and waterproofing systems.
Jonathan Stafford, PE, RRC, LEED AP - Senior Staff II
Jonathan Stafford has 12 years of experience in the investigation and design of major commercial, institutional, and residential buildings for waterproofing issues including roofs, plaza decks, and below-grade spaces. He consults with architects, contractors, and building owners in the design of the building envelope for new projects and to analyze and repair water intrusion problems and construction defects for existing structures. Mr. Stafford is a licensed Professional Engineer in California and is a Roof Consultants Institute (RCI) Incorporated Registered Roof Consultant.
Dean Larsen, RRC, RRO - Staff VIDean Larsen has over 20 years of experience in the investigation and design of roofing, waterproofing, and building enclosure elements on commercial, institutional, manufacturing, historic preservation, and residential projects. He has consulted with architects, contractors, building owners, manufacturers, and insurance companies analyzing and repairing water intrusion problems, construction defects, and storm damage. Mr. Larsen is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC) and a past member of the Board of Directors of RCI Incorporated.
Szymon Zienkiewicz, RRO, LEED AP, CTI - Staff IISzymon Zienkiewicz joined SGH in 2007. Mr. Zienkiewicz has experience in the investigation, repair, design, and rehabilitation of building envelopes with particular emphasis on roofing and waterproofing. He is currently the Treasurer of the Southern California RCI Chapter and is actively involved on the Education Committee. He is also a member of ASTM Technical Committee D08 on Roofing and Waterproofing, a LEED-Accredited Professional and a Certified Tile Installer for Moderate Climate.
SYMPOSIUM VENUE / LODGING
The conference will take place at the San Jose Marriott Hotel located in downtown San Jose, three miles from San Jose Airport. The symposium will be held in the Blossom Hill room 1-3. Registration is from 8:00 - 8:30 am, and the symposium will begin promptly at 8:30.
San Jose Marriott Hotel
301 South Market Street
San Jose, CA 95113
408.280.1300
www.sanjosemarriott.com

ONLINE REGISTRATION

Please click here to register for the Symposium.

• Register before 1 April for Early Registration Discount
• Register two or more employees at Discounted Rate

Division7Trafficcoatings.org is born...Plus an Open Invitation to Those in The Industry to Consider Forming and Joining a Trade Group

One of the things I want to see happen is manufacturer's and installers of waterproof deck coatings (known as Division 7-Traffic Coatings in the Construction Specifications Institute parlance), form a trade group of sorts, that comes together for the benefit of all of us in the industry who are seeking to make it a better industry to be in.

I envision a group that shares a dream of providing education, standards, certifications to the members of the group. Trade secrets are important and boundaries established of course, but think about the possibility of being able to be playing on a level playing field with your peers.

A trade group could also represent our unique interests to state and local officials, ensure building codes are followed and help shape the future of the deck coating industry! The possibilities are endless...plus, with a group, every member could vote on what the group should be doing and where it should go.

So I have, to start it off and get going, initiated a purchase of $10.00 to buy the domain name www.division7trafficcoatings.org, in order to preserve it for use.

I thought a name like Division 7 Traffic Coatings Trade Association would be suitable for such a group, with the main eligibility requirement for membership being that as a manufacturer or installer, you have to make or install Division 7 listed Traffic Coatings. Maybe membership to manufacturer's would be limited to those listed in the CSI or ICC-ES listings?

What does the community think? I've spoken with a couple manufacturer's who indicated a interest...a couple of installers too. What about the rest of you? Readers, take our poll please, and vote if you would support a trade group of deck coating manufacturer's and installers?