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Peameal Bacon
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Magenta Monday
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“There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy”
Jesus College, Oxford: Founded in 1571 by Elizabeth I | Sacred Spaces
A hymn written by Frederick William Faber, an English theologian and hymn writer, in 1854. Originally published in his collection Oratory Hymns, it reflects Faber’s journey from Anglicanism to Roman Catholicism, emphasizing God’s boundless love and mercy. The hymn draws inspiration from Psalm 36:5 and Faber’s desire to convey divine compassion transcending human judgment.
Set to various tunes, notably Wellesley and Beecher, its simple yet profound lyrics celebrate God’s inclusive grace, urging believers to trust in divine forgiveness over rigid legalism.
Faber’s work was influenced by the Oxford Movement, which sought to renew Catholic elements in Anglican worship, and his hymns remain widely sung across Christian denominations. The hymn’s enduring appeal lies in its message of hope, reminding worshippers of God’s limitless love, which surpasses human limitations and extends to all creation, fostering unity and compassion.
As we enter examination season, it’s great to see our students having a well-earned break in the sun-filled Second Quad. Sending everyone best wishes and good luck for their exams! #youvegotthis #jesuscollegeoxford #finals pic.twitter.com/xmLUilyDhu
— Jesus College Oxford (@JesusOxford) May 18, 2025
1 The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.
2 For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful.
3 The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good.
4 He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil.
5 Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.
6 Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O Lord, thou preservest man and beast.
7 How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.
8 They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.
9 For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.
10 O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.
11 Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me.
12 There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.
History of Western Civilization Told Through the Acoustics of its Worship Spaces
Charlie Kirk (August 12, 2025): “Has U.S. President Donald Trump gone too far?”
Structures
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
- Site Analysis:
- Conduct soil testing to determine its bearing capacity and composition.
- Ensure the site is properly graded and drained to prevent water accumulation.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- 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.
- 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.
- Fabrication and Assembly:
- Ensure precision in cutting, welding, and assembling steel components.
- Use certified welders and follow welding standards (e.g., AWS D1.1/D1.1M).
- Pre-fabricate components where possible to ensure quality control and reduce on-site labor.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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:
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:
Michigan Wine
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Geomatics
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“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.
The United States Technical Advisory Group Administrator on behalf of ANSI is the InterNational Committee for Information Technology Standards. CLICK 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
Electrical Energy Storage
Electrical storage system resides at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Vail Access Project
Today at 15:00 UTC we refresh our understanding of stabilized technical standards for electrical energy storage systems (ESS) for industrial and commercial applications. Adhering to these standards ensures ESS reliability, protects personnel, and supports the growing adoption of energy storage in industrial and commercial settings.
Ω NFPA 855 – Standard for the Installation of Stationary Energy Storage Systems: This U.S.-based standard provides comprehensive guidelines for ESS installations, focusing on safety for lithium-ion, flow, and other battery technologies. It covers system siting, fire protection, ventilation, and thermal management. NFPA 855 mandates minimum clearances from buildings and exposures, requires fire detection and suppression systems (e.g., sprinklers or gas-based systems), and specifies exhaust systems to manage off-gassing risks. It also addresses commissioning, maintenance, and decommissioning to prevent hazards like thermal runaway.
Ω NEC (NFPA 70) – National Electrical Code, Article 706: Article 706 of the NEC governs ESS electrical design, emphasizing safe integration with power systems. It requires proper grounding, overcurrent protection, and disconnecting means for battery systems. The standard specifies wiring methods, labeling for hazard awareness, and compatibility with grid interconnection. For commercial and industrial ESS, it mandates compliance with voltage and capacity limits, ensuring systems are designed to handle high-power demands safely. 2026 CMP-16 Public Input Report | 2026 CMP-16 Second Draft Report
Ω UL 9540 – Standard for Energy Storage Systems and Equipment: UL 9540 certifies the safety of ESS, including battery packs, inverters, and control systems. It requires systems to undergo rigorous testing for electrical safety, fire resistance, and thermal runaway prevention. For large-scale commercial installations, UL 9540A, a test method for evaluating thermal runaway fire propagation, is critical to ensure systems can contain or mitigate fire risks. Compliance is often required for local code approvals.
Ω IEEE 1547 – Standard for Interconnecting Distributed Resources with Electric Power Systems: For ESS connected to utility grids, IEEE 1547 specifies requirements for interconnection, including power quality, voltage regulation, and anti-islanding protection. It ensures ESS can safely operate in parallel with the grid, providing ancillary services like frequency regulation or peak shaving without compromising grid stability.
Ω Local Building and Fire Codes: Beyond national and international standards, local jurisdictions — such as college town sustainability initiatives — often enforce additional requirements. Apart from the primary goal of saving energy specific design and construction requirements may apply. These may include specific setback distances, fire-rated enclosures, or emergency response plans tailored to the facility’s size and location. City of Ann Arbor Construction & Building
Compliance with these standards involves collaboration among engineers, installers, and inspectors. Systems must be designed with robust BMS, cooling, and fire mitigation, constructed with high-quality materials, and regularly maintained to meet safety and performance expectations.
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Related, but not covered today:
Utility scale (high voltage) owned and operated by merchant utilities.
Ω IEC 62619 – Secondary Cells and Batteries Containing Alkaline or Other Non-Acid Electrolytes: This international standard focuses on the safety of lithium-ion batteries used in industrial ESS. It outlines requirements for cell and module testing, including electrical, mechanical, and environmental stress tests to prevent failures like short circuits or fires. IEC 62619 also specifies battery management system (BMS) requirements to monitor voltage, temperature, and state-of-charge, ensuring operational stability.
Ω IEC 62485-2 – Safety Requirements for Secondary Batteries and Battery Installations: This standard applies to stationary battery systems, addressing electrical safety, installation practices, and maintenance. It emphasizes protection against electric shock, overcurrent, and short-circuit risks, requiring robust insulation and fault detection systems.
New update alert! The 2022 update to the Trademark Assignment Dataset is now available online. Find 1.29 million trademark assignments, involving 2.28 million unique trademark properties issued by the USPTO between March 1952 and January 2023: https://t.co/njrDAbSpwB pic.twitter.com/GkAXrHoQ9T
— USPTO (@uspto) July 13, 2023
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