From Huffington Post Comes News about an EPA Settlemement over Mercury in Cement

From the Huffington Post comes this news about Cement Plants and mercury emissions. Many deck coating manufacturer's use cement based products as their material of choice for decking, sloping, waterproofing etc.

How will the changes effect cement prices, and deck coating material prices? Isn't our health and welfare paramount over manufacturing concerns?

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — Federal regulators have settled a lawsuit with environmental activists and nine states over standards for mercury emissions from cement plants, the plaintiffs announced Friday.

Earthjustice, an environmental law firm based in Washington, sued the Environmental Protection Agency in 2007 on behalf of activist groups. The firm said existing federal regulations that exempted older cement kilns failed to impose adequate mercury pollution controls.

Nine states, including New York and Michigan, also joined the suit, contending the agency had not based its standards on the latest pollution control technology.

About 150 kilns around the nation generate nearly 23,000 pounds of airborne mercury a year, according to Earthjustice. Mercury, a toxic metal that can damage the brain and nervous system, is generated from the raw materials and some fuels used in cement-making.

The agency had issued mercury regulations for cement plants three years ago, but they applied only to kilns built after Dec. 2, 2005. Most operating kilns, however, were built earlier and were exempt.

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From Los Angeles Based Commercial Real Estate Inspector Bob Pace Comes His Article "Don't Overlook the Exterior of a Building"

I found an interesting read at this website (click our headline to read all of it) from a commercial building inspector, he basically affirms my statements about decks, leaks, drains/scuppers and railings...

Exterior doors vary from the usual metal frame and glass entry doors to metal roll up doors for loading and unloading and metal pedestrian fire escape/exit doors. In my experience, exterior door thresholds, that portion on the flooring that you step across when you walk through a door, are the main source of water intrusion at doors.

A problem with thresholds usually occurs when they are level with the exterior. This is often a source of moisture intrusion. The industry standard is that the threshold is to be above the exterior level by at least 1.5 inches. This is to allow for a proper moisture barrier. Rarely is this the case.

Exterior decks can be of many types. Tile, stone, waterproof material, concrete and metal are the most common for a commercial building. My biggest issue with decks is the waterproofing, especially if it is over occupied space. I look very closely at the transitions such as connections to the building and railings with special attention to the door thresholds. These areas usually require regular maintenance such as resealing the waterproof decking surface every 3 to 5 years depending on the material and foot traffic. In a very heavy traffic area this may need to be done more often.

Another area I pay particular attention to is the drainage. This can be an issue with enclosed decks with surface drains. Enclosed decks are the decks with solid walls for railings. The only place water can get out is through surface drains. If any leaves or debris get on these drains this can create a dam in a very short time during a heavy rain. These drains can clog up very easily and the deck can quickly become a tub. I really try to make sure the interested parties understand how important it is to keep these drains free flowing and to maintain them. I speak here from hard won experience.

In my experience, railings around decks generally have two main areas of concern. One is the height. Some of the very old deck rails dont feel safe specifically, any railing type or style that is less than 36 inches tall. The other is spacing. The City of Los Angeles recommends that the spacing between rails be no wider than 4 inches. The other possible issues are rusted, damaged or loose railings.

See their website at http://www.commercialrealestateinspectors.com

Versatile, a Manufacturer Has Interesting Video Training Series Online

VERSATILE has an impressive number of training videos on line at it's website; click our headline to go to their library of videos page. We put one on here for you to see, hope they don't mind we're promoting their stuff by putting this up...

San Diego's TV 10 Turns Up Contractor Involved In Fraud

San Diego's TV 10 turns up this fraud involving a contractor who has already been accused of fraud...


Lauren Reynolds
10News I-Team Reporter
SAN DIEGO -- The 10News I-Team confronts Janice Culp outside her business on Sports Arena Boulevard."Hi, Janice Culp, I'm Lauren Reynolds from Channel 10 News, I need to talk to you about running Sunco. Are you afraid to talk to us?"Culp ignores our questions and ducks back into Sunco Construction, the company employees say she runs along with her husband Keith Marbury and brother Dale Culp.

Watch the I Team video by clicking here

Read the rest at TV 10's I Team Investigations page by clicking on our headline...

Waterproofers torch results in burned down building, millions in lawsuits, and all because of violations of the Building Safety Code that were let by?

From Calgary Canada comes this huge lawsuit involving a waterproofer's employee on their second day of employment, burning down a condo project...

It is alleged that the City is liable too, as they initially rejected the building as being in violation of safety codes, but eventually accepted the project, contrary to the building safety code.

I would take that to mean if there is a violation of an ICC approved product or assembly that was installed, and it doesn't meet the building safety code, the City will take liability on for the damages that occurred by allowing it to go by without ordering the problem corrected.

by Daryl Slade, Calgary Herald

Published: Friday, January 16, 2009

A condo complex in Erlton was a "five-storey pile of kindling" ignited by a worker using a propane torch on his second day on the job, court heard during the opening address of a 16-week civil trial.

Lawyers Jim Rose and Donald Chernichen, representing the owners who lost their homes and belongings in the city's largest fire, are seeking $21.7 million in damages. The massive May 30, 2002, blaze left 300 Calgarians temporarily homeless.

According to court documents, it was Karl Swan, an employee of Cactus Waterproofing and Roofing, who started the fire while working in the southwest corner of the Waterford D building that afternoon.

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Quality Systems, Inc. offers online continuing ed course for polymer surface systems

FROM PAINT SQUARE's NEWSLETTER COMES THIS OFFERING-

Monday, December 22, 2008

Polymer-Concrete CEU offered

Quality Systems Inc., the manufacturer of PERMA-CRETE® products, is offering a fully accredited, online continuing-education course (CEU) on polymer-concrete surface systems for architects, specifiers, and engineers.

The company said the course, “Polymer Concrete Surface Systems: A Green & Sustainable Solution,” can be accessed on the website located at www.aecdaily.com/sponsor/permacrete.

Acrylic-polymer concrete products are applied to concrete, masonry, aggregate, foam, and steel, and provide an architectural surface offering strength and flexibility. Typical applications include commercial and residential buildings and vehicular and pedestrian traffic surfaces.

More information: www.permacrete.com.