Author Archives: mike@standardsmichigan.com

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Structures

9-11 Commission

Today we examine best practice literature for education building structures developed by accredited and consortia standards developers such as ASCE, ACI, AISC, ASTM, AWS, CRSI, ICC, NFPA and IEEE.   The US education industry among the top three largest building construction markets; with annual new and renovated building construction running close to $100 billion annually.

We limit our coverage to low-risk regions in the US, such as areas with minimal seismic activity, low risk of flooding and moderate weather conditions.  Another huge topic which we will likely break up into separate modules in the fullness of time.  For now, we sweep through the basics:

Foundation

  1. Site Analysis:
    • Conduct soil testing to determine its bearing capacity and composition.
    • Ensure the site is properly graded and drained to prevent water accumulation.
  2. Foundation Type:
    • Slab-on-Grade: Common in residential buildings. A concrete slab is poured directly on the ground.
    • Basement: Provides additional living space and storage, common in residential buildings.
  3. Design and Preparation:
    • Use rebar reinforcement to strengthen the concrete.
    • Install vapor barriers to prevent moisture from seeping through the foundation.
    • Properly compact the soil to prevent settling and shifting.
  4. Concrete Pouring:
    • Use high-quality concrete mix suitable for the local climate.
    • Ensure proper curing of the concrete to achieve maximum strength.
    • Use expansion joints to accommodate temperature changes and prevent cracking.
  5. Waterproofing and Insulation:
    • Apply waterproofing membranes or coatings to protect the foundation from water damage.
    • Insulate the foundation to improve energy efficiency and prevent frost heave in colder climates.

Ironwork

  1. Materials:
    • Use high-quality steel that meets industry standards (e.g., ASTM specifications).
    • Ensure the steel is properly treated to resist corrosion, especially in humid or coastal areas.
  2. Design:
    • Follow structural engineering guidelines and building codes for the specific type of building.
    • Use appropriate load calculations to determine the size and placement of steel beams, columns, and reinforcements.
  3. Fabrication and Assembly:
  4. Erection:
    • Use proper lifting equipment and techniques to safely erect steel structures.
    • Align and level steel components accurately before final fastening.
    • Use bolted connections where possible for ease of assembly and future maintenance.
  5. Inspection and Quality Control:
    • Conduct regular inspections throughout the construction process to ensure compliance with design specifications and building codes.
    • Perform non-destructive testing (e.g., ultrasonic testing) on critical welds and connections.
  6. Protective Coatings:
    • Apply protective coatings (e.g., galvanization, epoxy paint) to steel components to prevent corrosion.
    • Maintain the protective coatings over the lifespan of the building.

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Related:

Category Archive

Post 9-11 Standards

Following the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center, U.S. standards developers — the International Code Council (ICC) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) topmost among them — responded with revisions to technical standards based on thirty findings of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). These changes aimed to enhance structural integrity, fire safety, and evacuation procedures in high-rise buildings.

Increased Structural Robustness: Codes were updated to improve resistance to progressive collapse, where the failure of one structural element spreads to others. This included increasing the minimum thickness of steel beams and columns and adding more connections between structural elements.

Concrete Reinforcement: Structures like One World Trade Center adopted reinforced concrete cores and thicker structural elements to withstand extreme events.

Fire SafetyEnhanced Fire Resistance: Higher standards for fire-resistant materials were introduced, including mandates for fire sprinklers and smoke alarms in high-rise buildings.

Fire Protection Systems: Improved requirements for active fire protection systems, such as sprinklers, to mitigate fire spread.

Egress and EvacuationElevator Requirements: Elevators are now required in high-rise buildings over 120 feet tall to aid firefighters in accessing upper floors without climbing stairs with heavy equipment.

Additional Stairways: High-rises over 420 feet must include an extra stairway to ensure multiple egress paths.

Exit Path Markings: Self-luminous or photoluminescent exit path markings were mandated to guide occupants to exits during low-visibility emergencies, applied to both new and existing high-rise buildings.

Increased Exit Spacing: Exit enclosures must be spaced farther apart to prevent a single event, like a fire, from blocking multiple exits.

Emergency Communication and PreparednessImproved Communication Systems: Codes now require better communication systems for emergency responders to coordinate during crises, addressing the breakdown in communication during 9/11.

Evacuation Procedures: Elevators can now be used for evacuation in some fire scenarios, a shift from the traditional reliance on stairs, improving evacuation efficiency.

Blast-Resistant Features: Designs for high-profile buildings, like One World Trade Center, incorporated blast-resistant bases (e.g., a 185-foot concrete base) to protect against street-level attacks.

Changes were debated to balance safety with construction costs, with some measures (like exit markings) having minimal cost but significant benefits.  Not all proposals were adopted due to cost concerns or feasibility, but they spurred further structural design advancements.  These changes reflect a shift toward designing buildings to withstand extreme, unpredictable events like terrorist attacks, beyond traditional natural disaster scenarios.

Our work in the NFPA catalog | Our work in the ICC catalog | Our work in the ASCE catalog

Secure perimeter management

Annual Financial Reports | Facilities & Planning | UVU Police Department

Core Concepts for Crowd Security

Vigilant crowd monitoring. Continuous oversight to detect and address potential risks in student assemblies.

Layered access controls. Multi-tiered entry points to regulate flow and prevent unauthorized intrusions during events.

Trained security patrols. Dedicated teams circulating through crowds to ensure order and quick response.

Emergency egress protocols. Clear pathways and drills for safe evacuation from congested areas.

Threat assessment teams. Proactive evaluation of crowd dynamics to identify and mitigate hazards.

Visible deterrence measures. Uniformed personnel and signage to promote compliance in high-traffic zones.

Incident response readiness. Coordinated plans for handling disruptions in student gatherings.

Secure perimeter management. Fortified boundaries to contain and protect crowds on campus grounds.

Crowd flow optimization. Strategic routing to avoid bottlenecks in hallways or event spaces.

Community safety culture. Fostering awareness and participation among students for collective security.

Our coverage of relevant standards:

National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security

Planning and Managing Security for Major Special Events

Campus Surveillance

Life Safety Code

door (n.)

Elevator Safety Code

International Fire Code

Means of Egress

Guide to Premises Security

K-12 School Security

I-Code Group B Committee Action Results

Code Development Schedule

Complete Monograph (2630 Pages)

Voting Results

IBC Rebuttal on G153-25 Performance Electrical Design

(response with hyperlinks to supporting research)

 

Partial listing.  We have until July 15th to comment on committee action

Our proposal G153-25: Page 754

Michigan Modular G195-25: Page 859

“Clinical Need” definition for enhanced security: Page 765

“Electric Vehicle Charger” definition by the  National Parking Association/Parking Consultant’s Council: Page 457

“EV Charging Space” definition: Page 458

“EV Supply Equipment” definition: Page 460

ADM20-25 Authority of building official in natural disasters and high hazard regions, p141

ASM3-25 Electrical equipment re-use, p195

G2-25.  New definition for Animal Housing Facilities, p438

S57-25.  Quite a bit of back and forth on wind and PV “farms, p1053, et. al (“Wind and solar farms are different from animal and produce farms” — Mike Anthony)

G143-25 Lighting Section 1204L remote rooms, windowless rooms, University of Texas Austin student accommodation costs, p. 737-

PM31-25 Housekeeping and sanitation in owned property as law, p1794

PM50-25, Sleeping units to be private, p.1829

RB146-25.  Energy storage systems installed in garages, requirements for physical protection, p. 2195

RB144-25, Load capacity ratings and compliance with NFPA 855, p. 2186

RB143-25, Working roof walking access around solar panels, p. 2180

SP1-25 New definition of base flood elevation for purpose of correlating requirements for electrical safety, et. al, p. 2578

Landing Page for Group B 2025

cdpACCESS 

Link to Track 1 and Track 2 Webcast

Performance-Based Electrical Power Chain Design

Zoning

2021 International Wildland-Urban Interface Code

International Code Council: 2024 Group A Proposed Changes 

ISO 37101 Sustainable development in communities

“The Architect’s Dream” 1840 Thomas Cole

Today we examine the catalog of several ANSI-accredited, consortia and ad hoc standard developers with titles relevant to the planning, construction and management of the built environment of education communities nested within human settlements characterized by a high population density, extensive infrastructure, and various economic, social, and cultural activities.  In other words, from the point of view of a campus as a “city within a city” with attention to infrastructure.

College town zoning regulations

Several organizations and bodies in the United States that develop model codes and standards related to zoning and land use. These model codes and standards are often adopted or referenced by municipalities in their zoning ordinances. Here are some prominent organizations and their model codes:

American Institute of Architects

AIA Handbook of Professional Practice 15th Edition

American Planning Association

Zoning Practice Manual

American Society of Civil Engineers

Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures

American Society of Landscape Architects

Sustainable Sites Initiative Rating System

Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers

2028 National Electrical Safety Code

Optimization of Transmission Line Right-of-Way

Reducing the duration of right-of-way acquisition process for high voltage transmission power lines projects

Diminishing the Right of Way (RoW) With Multi Voltage Multi Terminal Transmission Tower

Information System for the Vegetation Control of Transmission Lines Right-of-way

Partially underground transmission circuits: safety issue for current and future power systems

International Code Council

International Zoning Code

International Standardization Organization

Sustainable cities & communities

National Fire Protection Association

Code ignis MMXXVII

National Institute of Standards and Technology

Technical Requirements for Weighing & Measuring Devices

Each of the foregoing titles have some bearing upon decisions about land use.  However, keep in mind, that zoning regulations are primarily established at the local level by municipalities, cities, and counties, rather than through national standard bodes. These organizations and their codes provide guidance and best practices for zoning, but specific regulations can vary significantly between different jurisdictions.  They are frequently incorporated by reference into regulations by governments at all levels.

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Here are some community colleges in the United States that are embedded within cities, offering students the advantages of an urban setting:

  1. City College of San Francisco – San Francisco, California
  2. Los Angeles City College – Los Angeles, California
  3. Borough of Manhattan Community College – New York, New York
  4. Miami Dade College – Wolfson Campus – Miami, Florida
  5. City College of Chicago  – Chicago, Illinois
  6. Seattle Central College – Seattle, Washington
  7. Austin Community College – Rio Grande Campus – Austin, Texas
  8. Houston Community College – Central Campus – Houston, Texas
  9. San Antonio College – San Antonio, Texas
  10. Portland Community College – Cascade Campus – Portland, Oregon
  11. Washtenaw Community College – Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti, Michigan

These community colleges not only provide access to higher education but also offer the benefits of being located within major urban centers, including proximity to job markets, cultural institutions, and public transportation.

Top Deck View

Grand Pump Room

University of Bath: Department of Estates

BSI Group Standards Catalog

BSI Group Standards Catalog

*After the Roman period, Bath remained a small town until the 18th century, when it became a fashionable spa destination for the wealthy. The architect John Wood the Elder designed much of the city’s Georgian architecture, including the famous Royal Crescent and the Circus. Bath also played an important role in the English literary scene, as several famous authors, including Jane Austen, lived and wrote in the city.   During the 19th century, Bath’s popularity declined as other spa towns became fashionable. In the 20th century, the city experienced significant redevelopment and preservation efforts, including the restoration of its Roman baths and the construction of a new spa complex.

Today, Bath is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a popular tourist destination known for its historical and cultural significance.

Geomatics

“Midvinterblot” | Carl Larsson (1853-1919)

The Swedish Standards Institute for Standards is the Global Secretariat for ISO TC/211 which leads standardization in the field of digital geographic information.  Standardization titles developed by this committee aims to establish a structured set of standards for information concerning objects or phenomena that are directly or indirectly associated with a location relative to the Earth.   These standards may specify, for geographic information, methods, tools and services for data management (including definition and description), acquiring, processing, analyzing, accessing, presenting and transferring such data in digital / electronic form between different users, systems and locations.

Strategic Business Plan

 

 

The United States Technical Advisory Group Administrator on behalf of ANSI is the InterNational Committee for Information Technology StandardsCLICK HERE for more information.

We maintain all ISO projects on the standing agenda of our Global and ICT colloquia which are open to everyone.  You may communicate with Jennifer Garner (jgarner@itic.org) if you wish to participate in standards-setting activity from the United States point of view.   Keep in mind that our network of education communities outside the United States is significant and long-standing.

Issue: [16-141]

Category: Global, Information & Communications Technology

Colleagues: Mike Anthony, Jim Harvey, Jack Janveja, Richard Robben

Land Measurement

In the United States, land surveying is regulated by various professional organizations and government agencies, and there are several technical standards that must be followed to ensure accuracy and consistency in land surveying.

The best practice for land surveying is set by the “Manual of Surveying Instructions” published by an administrative division of the United States Department of the Interior responsible for managing public lands in the United States. The manual provides detailed guidance on the procedures and techniques for conducting various types of land surveys, including public land surveys, mineral surveys, and cadastral surveys.

George Washington, Surveyor of Western Virginia

Manual of Surveying Instructions

Another important set of model standards for land surveying is the Minimum Standards for Property Boundary Surveys* published by the National Society of Professional Surveyors. These standards provide guidance on the procedures and techniques for conducting property boundary surveys, including the use of appropriate surveying equipment, the preparation of surveying maps and plats, and the documentation of surveying results.   Land surveyors in the United States are also required to adhere to state and local laws and regulations governing land surveying, as well as ethical standards established by professional organizations such as the American Society of Civil Engineers.


* Local variants

California: Minimum Standard Detail Requirements for ALTA/NSPS Land Title Surveys

Michigan: Minimum Standard Detail Requirements for ALTA/NSPS Land Title Surveys

 

The Morrill Land-Grant Act of 1862 granted each state 30,000 acres of federal land for each member of Congress from that state to establish colleges that would teach agriculture, engineering, and military tactics. This legislation led to the establishment of many public universities, including the Texas A&M University, the University of Wisconsin and Michigan State University.

International Zoning Code

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