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Carbonic Macerated Coffee
Wine flavored coffee -- it had to happen. Ahead of tomorrow's Beaujolais Nouveau Day we reflect upon "enlightened" coffee varieties and preparations that classically “pair” with wine — either as contrast or complement. Anaerobic or carbonic-maceration coffees (very “winey” ferments). Many modern specialty lots taste like red fruit jam, Concord grape, or even Lambrusco. As with the wine itself: not for coffee snobs.
Plenums & Ceilings
Today at the usual hour we explore the literature, standards and codes that inform the design, construction, safety and sustainability of interior ceiling structures. Use the login credentials at the upper right of our home page.
Science of Learning Research Classroom
"See inside the University of Melbourne's new high-tech classroom, which is shedding light on how students learn."
Ceiling Heights
Sam Zell, the founder of Equity Group Investments, was an active alumnus of the University of Michigan, earning both his B.A. (1963) and J.D. (1966). While an undergraduate, he managed apartment buildings and became a notable figure in campus entrepreneurship. Zell and his fraternity brother Robert Lurie maintained a lifelong partnership. His legacy includes support for research into building sciences at other universities that inform best practices in our own domain.
Quadrivium: Autumn
Educational settlements are where people come to feel at home in beautiful surroundings. The catalog that informs the safety and sustainability of these "cities-within-cities" changes 100 to 1000 times per day. Titles are time-sensitive, copyright protected and land in public law. We monitor the action continuously to formulate response to public consultations. Topics appear on our CALENDAR and explored every day at 16:00 UTC. Recommend refresh of this web page once or twice to see timeliest information.
Designing Lighting for People and Buildings
The Illumination Engineering Society provides an active standards development platform. Many of its titles are frequently cited in standards catalogs, design guidelines, construction contracts, and energy regulations across various levels of government. During today's session we will browse through titles in its catalog that apply to lighting for educational facilities -- RP-3-14 in the IES catalog.
Fire Alarm & Signaling Code
There are hundreds of fire alarm shops, and thousands of licensed fire alarm technicians in the education communities guided by this core title in the NFPA catalog. For athletic facilities (such as large stadiums and gymnasiums) we take particular interest in Chapter 24 requirements for Emergency Communication Systems in enclosed and open air spaces. Public comment on the First Draft of the 2028 Revision will be received until June 3, 2026.
Current Issues & Recent Research
We examine the proposals for the 2028 National Electrical Safety Code; including our own. Public comment on proposed changes will be received until March 24th. The 2026 National Electrical Code which has recently been released for public use (public input on the 2029 revision will be received until April 9, 2026).
Interior Finishes: Ceilings
Committee Action Hearings on the 2025 Group B tranche of titles heard in Cleveland October 22-30. ICC Administrative Staff is compiling the results and will release a summary report soon. (Our proposal for new performance electrical design concepts was on the agenda).