University of Michigan Design Guideline 265100 (Interior)
University of Michigan Design Guideline 256500 (Exterior)
IES Standards in Public Review
Psychological and Visual Perception of Campus Lightscapes Based on Lightscape Walking Evaluation:
— Charles Louis de Secondat, Baron de La Brède et de Montesquieu
Heat tracing is a process used to maintain or raise the temperature of pipes and vessels in order to prevent freezing, maintain process temperature, or ensure that products remain fluid and flow through the system properly. Without electric heat tracing; much of the earth would be uninhabitable.
Heat tracing works by using an electric heating cable or tape that is wrapped around the pipe or vessel, and then insulated to help retain the heat. The heating cable is connected to a power source and temperature control system that maintains the desired temperature by regulating the amount of heat output from the cable. Heat tracing is commonly used in industrial applications where temperature control is critical, such as in chemical plants, refineries, and oil and gas facilities.
There are several types of heat tracing, including electric heat tracing, steam tracing, and hot water tracing, each of which have their own unique advantages and disadvantages. The selection of the appropriate type of heat tracing depends on the specific application and the required temperature range, as well as factors such as cost, maintenance, and safety considerations.
Heat Tracing for Piping Specification | NECA Standards (N.B. Link unstable)
2026 NEC CMP-17 Public Input Report | 2026 NEC CMP-17 Second Draft Report
Capturing snow flakes as the fall out of the sky
[📹 Dmitry Dotsenko / dots_foto]pic.twitter.com/e3rwNUGLmK
— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) January 29, 2025
Today we review the literature for snow and ice management (and enjoyment) produced by these standards-setting organizations:
Accredited Snow Contractors Association
American Society of Civil Engineers
American Society of Mechanical Engineers
ASTM International
Destructive Deep Freeze Strikes Cold and Hot Regions Alike
Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineers
Electrical Heat Tracing: International Harmonization — Now and in the Future
Indiana University.
The most beautiful college campus in the country covered in snow. pic.twitter.com/Tp33cQgKuq
— Alex Paul Photo (@alexpaulphoto) January 11, 2025
International Code Council
International Building Code: Chapter 15 Roof Assemblies and Rooftop Structures
National Electrical Contractors Association
National Fire Protection Association
Winter is Coming: Is Your Facility Protected? (Holly Burgess, November 2022)
National Electrical Code: Articles 426-427
National Floor Safety Institute
Snow and Ice Management Association
Underwriters Laboratories
Manufacturers:
Chromalox Electrical Heat Tracing Systems Design Guide
It is a surprisingly large domain with market-makers in every dimension of safety and sustainability; all of whom are bound by state and federal regulations.
Join us at 16:00 UTC with the login credentials at the upper right of our home page.
Red surely made the most of his snow day! 🛷 ☃️
Who’s team snow on campus? ❄️ pic.twitter.com/F03KX1XyaR
— The Catholic University of America (@CatholicUniv) January 14, 2025
There have been several recent innovations that have made it possible for construction activity to continue through cold winter months. Some of the most notable ones include:
Overall, these innovations have made it possible for construction crews to work through the winter months more comfortably and safely, which has helped to keep projects on schedule and minimize delays.
Somewhat related:
Capturing snow flakes as the fall out of the sky
[📹 Dmitry Dotsenko / dots_foto]pic.twitter.com/e3rwNUGLmK
— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) January 29, 2025
Map showing what states can actually drive in snow pic.twitter.com/qgKEhLtKbr
— Midwest vs. Everybody (@midwestern_ope) February 7, 2025
Electrical heat tracing: international harmonization-now and in the future
C. Sandberg
Tyco Thermal Controls
N.R. Rafferty – M. Kleinehanding – J.J. Hernandez
E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Company, Inc
Abstract: In the past, electrical heat tracing has been thought of as a minor addition to plant utilities. Today, it is recognized as a critical subsystem to be monitored and controlled. A marriage between process, mechanical, and electrical engineers must take place to ensure that optimum economic results are produced. The Internet, expert systems, and falling costs of instrumentation will all contribute to more reliable control systems and improved monitoring systems. There is a harmonization between Europe and North America that should facilitate design and installation using common components. The future holds many opportunities to optimize the design.
CLICK HERE to order complete paper
“No hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle.”
— Winston Churchill

…”The curiosity and impatience of my master were so great, that he spent many hours of his leisure to instruct me. He was convinced (as he afterwards told me) that I must be a Yahoo, but my teachableness, civility and cleanliness, astonished him; which were qualities altogether opposite to those animals…”
That’s great!
The horse lies down with its owner. pic.twitter.com/lCB85DSkAl
— The Figen (@TheFigen_) February 10, 2025
IES Standards Open for Public Review
Standard Practice on Lighting for Educational Facilities
Recommended Practice: Lighting Retail Spaces
IES Method for Determining Correlated Color Temperature
Today we feature the catalog of the Illumination Engineering Society — one of the first names in standards-setting in illumination technology, globally* with particular interest in its leading title IES LP-1 | LIGHT + DESIGN Lighting Practice: Designing Quality Lighting for People and Buildings.
From its prospectus:
“…LIGHT + DESIGN was developed to introduce architects, lighting designers, design engineers, interior designers, and other lighting professionals to the principles of quality lighting design. These principles; related to visual performance, energy, and economics; and aesthetics; can be applied to a wide range of interior and exterior spaces to aid designers in providing high-quality lighting to their projects.
Stakeholders: Architects, interior designers, lighting practitioners, building owners/operators, engineers, the general public, luminaire manufacturers. This standard focuses on design principles and defines key technical terms and includes technical background to aid understanding for the designer as well as the client about the quality of the lighted environment. Quality lighting enhances our ability to see and interpret the world around us, supporting our sense of well-being, and improving our capability to communicate with each other….”
The entire catalog is linked below:
Illumination technologies run about 30 percent of the energy load in a building and require significant human resources at the workpoint — facility managers, shop foremen, front-line operations and maintenance personnel, design engineers and sustainability specialists. The IES has one of the easier platforms for user-interest participation:
IES Standards Open for Public Review
Because the number of electrotechnology standards run in the thousands and are in continual motion* we need an estimate of user-interest in any title before we formally request a redline because the cost of obtaining one in time to make meaningful contributions will run into hundreds of US dollars; apart from the cost of obtaining a current copy.
We maintain the IES catalog on the standing agendas of our Electrical, Illumination and Energy colloquia. Additionally, we collaborate with experts active in the IEEE Education & Healthcare Facilities Committee which meets online 4 times monthly in European and American time zones; all colloquia online and open to everyone. Use the login credentials at the upper right of our home page to join us.









Issue: [Various}
Category: Electrical, Energy, Illumination, Facility Asset Management
Colleagues: Mike Anthony, Gary Fox, Jim Harvey, Kane Howard, Glenn Keates, Daleep Mohla, Giuseppe Parise, Georges Zissis
* “Brownian Motion” comes to mind because of the speed and interdependencies.
LEARN MORE:
Illuminating Engineering Society Welcomes New Director of Development
Shayna Bramley Brings 21 years of Lighting Industry Experience to IESTo learn more, to go: https://t.co/YApdTPvR8E pic.twitter.com/PGDCtO4jrC
— Illuminating Engineering Society (@The_IES) December 26, 2018
The LD+A editorial and sales team members just couldn’t resist visiting Bugsy and Meyer’s Steakhouse (covered in the December 2021 issue) while in Las Vegas for LightFair! Read up on the details of the shadowy project here: https://t.co/7eoLPT69Dx #TheIES #LightFair2022 #lighting pic.twitter.com/uWmolsNpMz
— Illuminating Engineering Society (@The_IES) June 22, 2022
It’s the first day of #EngineersWeek 2025! Join the NAE this #Eweek2025 for a celebration of outstanding #engineering to inspire, engage and empower the next generation of engineers.
Stay connected with @theNAEng this #Eweek2025 here: https://t.co/OaxeE1t7GY pic.twitter.com/J3Pjv29uco
— National Academy of Engineering (@theNAEng) February 16, 2025
Ferris State University was awarded a $15,000 prize in the 2023 Surveying Education Award competition. Learn more about the university’s Surveying Engineering program: https://t.co/4OxbZC7gVJ pic.twitter.com/TwPnyqpAPn
— NCEES (@NCEES) November 20, 2023
Electrical Engineering License: Example Questions
Electric Machines Motors & Generators
Digital Electronics
Power Systems
Stability Analysis
Communication
Illumination
Cost Analysis and Project Economics
Mechanical Engineering License: Example Questions
Civil Engineering License: Example Questions
“It’s a fine line between Saturday night
and Sunday morning” – Jimmy Buffett
“Rather a bottle in front of me
than a frontal lobotomy” — Some guy
Many people are surprised to learn what counts as a “drink”. The amount of liquid in your glass, can, or bottle does not necessarily match up to how much alcohol is actually in your drink. Even before the United States federal government withdrew from regulating alcohol, the conversation, and degree of agreement and attitude, remains remarkably regionally specific:
Missouri University of Science & Technology: What is a Standard Drink?
University of South Alabama: What is a Standard Drink?
Stanford University Office of Alcohol Policy and Education
Other nations serve alcohol to students on campus in university owned facilities.
I didn’t know that🤔 pic.twitter.com/rMT3X2fCN0
— Alix (@AlixG_2) August 17, 2024
— Dr. Maya C. Popa (@MayaCPopa) May 26, 2023
Casual reminder that Wisconsin has more bars than grocery stores pic.twitter.com/dG8YYRkoKd
— Midwest vs. Everybody (@midwestern_ope) March 30, 2025
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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