Did Desert Crete Decking Help Foil Arsonist In Monterey Firebombing?

Several years ago one of my clients had me install Desert Crete on one of his properties. (Desert Crete is the only decking system he uses, because of it's resistance to damage and easy care for his apt communities.
In October 0f 2009, someone came onto the property and at several locations threw Molotov cocktails onto the building, in an apparent attempt to harm someone...

25 Displaced After "Suspicious" Apartment Fire in Monterey

Posted: Sep 30, 2009 4:38 AM PDT Updated: Sep 30, 2009 9:03 PM PDT

MONTEREY, Calif -Early Wednesday morning the Monterey Fire Department responded to an apartment complex fire at 2000 David Avenue in Monterey.
Four apartment units were severely damaged, three cars were destroyed and 20 to 30 people have been displaced. The American Red Cross is helping the residents and a temporary shelter has been set up at Hilltop Community Center in Monterey.
The fire department says that the fire started around 3:30a.m.  It was contained in about 30 minutes but crews remained on scene hours after the fire was contained.
No injuries have been reported.
6 engines, 2 trucks, and 30 firefighters were on scene to fight the fire.
The origin of the fire is considered "suspicious" and it is under investigation by the Monterey Police and the Monterey Fire Departments.

We had put Desert Crete decking on a deck over a garage, and on the walkways on the 2nd floor.  I remember talking with the owner about the construction methods necessary to achieve Class A/One Hour fire resistant constrution, as walkways and stairs must be fire resistant constructed materials. The deck and walkways were covered in plywood and then we installed Desert Crete in the methods described in the ICC-ES report #1661.

So that's that then right? Well my client called me up to ask about fixing up some fire damaged decks. I took a ride up to Monterey to walk the job with him. This is what I observed...

                                           Joists under walkway at 2nd floor

                                 Garage joists and plywood severely fire damaged. 

                                  This pic was taken on the deck over the garage.
                                 The fire ran up into the wall, damaging the 1st floor
                                 apt, then continued up into the 2nd floor apt.

                                    I have not seen the walkway yet. I fully expect to see

                                     damaged Desert Crete. The roof of the garage is 

                                    covered in plywood, as the fire dept chopped holes in it to

                                   fight the flames. 

                             Paint melted on the stucco wall under the walkway.
                                                  LETS SEE THE WALKWAYS!

                                This walkway is directly above the garage deck.
                             There is no sign of fire damage to the decking at all!

                                   Second area of walkway where fire below
                                 damaged joists and plywood. No fire damage evident
                                   at all. 

Did the Desert Crete decking system stop this fire before lives were lost? I can't say and neither can anyone else. But you decide what is best for your building; a Class A and One Hour ICC-ES rated system or some crap from the cheapest bidder you can get? It's just your liability at risk...

ROOFTOP DECK IN Newport Beach CA becoming a seal hangout?

You Tube Video-Seal On Rooftop Deck click to view

Click here to read the Blog posting by Mike on the whole seal story

                               "HEY I GOT NO OPPOSABLE THUMBS, HELP A SEAL                OUT, OPEN THE DAMNED COOLER & GET ME A BEER!"

Maybe the seals are getting smarter, why hang on the hot sand beach when on this rooftop deck there's beers, a view, some comfy chaise loungers...just need some seal hotties to make this a great day to hang on the deck.

Hope it's a Desert Crete seal poop resistant deck!

EPA Lead Rule Takes Effect

April 22, 2010 is the effective date for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Lead  Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) program, which requires contractors who work in pre-1978 homes, schools and day-care centers to be certified in lead-safe practices.
On Tuesday, Kansas and Rhode Island adopted their own RRP programs in lieu of the federal program, bringing the number of authorized state programs to six. The other states are Mississippi, Wisconsin, Iowa and North Carolina.
Effective today:
• Renovation firms must be certified by the EPA.
• Individuals must be trained in lead-safe work practices.
• All training providers must be accredited by EPA.
Contractors who perform renovation, repairs, and painting jobs in pre-1978 housing and child-occupied facilities must, before beginning work, provide owners, tenants, and child-care facilities with a copy of EPA's lead hazard information pamphlet Renovate Right: Important Lead Hazard Information for Families, Child Care Providers, and Schools (PDF) (en español). Contractors must document compliance with this requirement. EPA’s pre-renovation disclosure form (PDF) may be used for this purpose.
As of today, federal law requires contractors to be certified and to use lead-safe work practices. To become certified, renovation contractors must submit an application and fee payment to EPA.
Contractors may read about how to comply with EPA's rule in the EPA Small Entity Compliance Guide to Renovate Right (PDF) (34 pp, 2.5MB) | en español (PDF) (34 pp, 1.3MB).
Contractors may read about how to use lead-safe work practices in EPA's Steps to Lead Safe Renovation, Repair and Painting (PDF) (36 pp, 878K) | en español (PDF) (36 pp, 1.5MB).
EPA expects about 150,000 contractors to be trained by today, leaving an additional 50,000 or more to be trained going forward. Training will continue after today, although enforcement will begin immediately.
Note: Contractors and training providers working in Wisconsin, Iowa, North Carolina, Mississippi, Kansas and Rhode Island must contact the state to find out more about its training and certification requirements.
For more information, visit http://www.epa.gov/lead/.

Get Into PCBC's Exhibits for Free!

Passing it On....Your Free Pass to PCBC Exhibits!

Come to PCBC® 2010 and Experience a Bold New Exhibit Floor
For over 50 years PCBC has been attracting exhibitors to share their innovative products with the nation's top builders. These are products designed to improve the homebuilding process, increase energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions, enhance home and community design, and solve unique construction challenges.

With the building industry facing unprecedented change; from the economy, the market and the buyer, PCBC 2010 offers you more opportunities to access the information you need to be ready for what’s next. By breaking down the walls between learning, exploring, practicing and doing we’re helping transform the exhibit floor into a Learning Laboratory.
Three Days of Exhibit Hall Access
Wednesday, June 9 | 10:00am – 5:00pm
Thursday, June 10 | 10:00am – 5:00pm
Friday, June 11 | 9:00am – 3:00pm

The Learning Laboratory

THE TOWN SQUARE – Information Central
With so much to explore at PCBC 2010, The Town Square offers the perfect place to start. Watch a live media event or participate in social media activities or join us for the Curator-Led Tours which offer a unique in-depth exploration of products and processes as industry experts guide you on a tour of their favorite solutions at PCBC.

GREEN STANDARDS PAVILION – What You Need to Know Now
The mandatory California Green Building Standards Code takes effect January 1, 2011. Are you ready? Learn about the scope of the California Green Building Standards Code and find the solutions at the Green Standards Pavilion. Here you will discover the answers through brief but concentrated Q&A sessions with code experts, informative displays, and product solutions covering the areas addressed by the mandatory code.

THE EXHIBITORIUM – A Learning Theatre
What does the future bring? The Exhibitorium provides you with latest solutions to today’s issues. Find the answers as we explore the new world of Smart Grids and Renewable Energies; the newest solutions in the world of Building Science; and the many opportunities of Energy Retrofitting. The Exhibitorium, offers a venue for the conversations of tomorrow, without leaving the exhibit floor.

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How to Register:
1. Visit http://www.pcbc.com/go/freepass
2. Click on "Register Now"
3. Login
4. Add Discount Code: EPASS2(at Checkout - look for the orange discount box on the right side)

5. Complete Checkout
No credit card is necessary unless you add a conference show pass or ticketed event. Just enter your Discount Code at Checkout to remove the fee.

Help Wanted in Florida-Sales/Estimator

Passing it on from a Google alert...

Waterproofing Estimator

About the Job

M&P Reynolds is a very highly motivated, highly charged group of professionals, with an attitude of success and always in the forefront of our industry.​

M&P Reynolds has over 25 years to our credit and a lengthy customer base, that reads like a Who's Who in Florida construction.​

We provide our customers with a very high standard of quality and outstanding service, which coincides with today's market place values.​

Establishing ourselves as South Florida's leader in Paint, Waterproofing, and Restoration, our sales, service and administration departments focus on working together as a team and now we're looking for another motivated individual to join us as a team member.​

Job Requirements:
-Must have at least 5 years in painting or waterproofing estimating experience.​
-Must have experience working with OnCenter software.​
-Must have at least 2 years experience in the South Florida construction industry.​
-Must have experience with multi family residential (Condo, apartments 200-500+​ units) as well as commercial buildings.​

Job Purpose:
Prepares cost estimates by analyzing proposals and requirements.​

Duties:
* Prepares work to be estimated by gathering proposals, blueprints, specifications, and related documents.​

* Identifies labor, material, and time requirements by studying proposals, blueprints, specifications, and related documents.​

* Computes costs by analyzing labor, material, and time requirements.​

* Resolves discrepancies by collecting and analyzing information.​

* Presents prepared estimate by assembling and displaying numerical and descriptive information.​

* Prepares special reports by collecting, analyzing, and summarizing information and trends.​

* Maintains cost data base by entering and backing up data.​

* Maintains technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing technical publications.​

* Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.​

Skills/​ Qualifications:
Analyzing Information, Estimating, Planning, Reporting Research Results, Data Center Experience, Strategic Planning, Attention to Detail, Informing Others, Requirements Analysis

APPLY TO THIS JOB BY CLICKING HERE 
 

Someone's Gonna Pay for this one...Extensive Construction Defects Financially Impractical to Repair, Building Will Be Torn Down

OUCH! Defects in the slab will force this apt building to be emptied of tenants and torn down...

See more news releases in: Real Estate, Residential Real Estate, Construction & Building, Public Safety

 

Belltown Apartment Building to Be Vacated and Dismantled

 

 

Owner cites expert reports on construction defects in nine-year-old building

SEATTLE, April 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Carpenter's Tower, LLC, the owner of the 25-story McGuire Apartments in the Belltown area of Seattle, today announced plans to vacate the building at Second Avenue and Wall Street over the next several months due to extensive construction defects which are financially impractical to repair.
"While there are no imminent tenant safety issues, the experts involved in the investigation and repair of the building have indicated that there will be structural issues that could present safety issues by 2011 and beyond," said Brian Urback, with Kennedy Associates, the real estate advisor for Carpenter's Tower.  "The McGuire is not in imminent danger of a structural failure and the experts have advised that the building be vacated by the end of 2010.  Under the circumstances, we are taking steps to vacate the building over the next several months and to help our tenants relocate.  Since the necessary repairs are impractical, the decision of the owner is to dismantle the building."

READ THE REST BY CLICKING HERE