My D-i-l never wanted to be a farmer’s wife. I think she is killin’ it. pic.twitter.com/uBpRRqhG44
— Leslie (@Hopeleslie1234) August 10, 2024
My D-i-l never wanted to be a farmer’s wife. I think she is killin’ it. pic.twitter.com/uBpRRqhG44
— Leslie (@Hopeleslie1234) August 10, 2024
Standards Michigan, spun-off in 2016 from the original University of Michigan Business & Finance Operation, has peppered NFPA 70 technical committees writing the 2016-2026 National Electric Code with proposals to reduce the size of building premise feeder infrastructure; accommodating the improvements made in illumination and rotating machinery energy conservation since the 1980’s (variable frequency drives, LED lighting, controls, etc.)
These proposals are routinely voted down in 12-20 member committees representing manufacturers (primarily) though local inspection authorities are complicit in overbuilding electric services because they “bill by the service panel ampere rating”. In other words, when a municipality can charge a higher inspection fee for a 1200 ampere panel, what incentive is there to support changes to the NEC that takes that inspection fee down to 400 amperes?
The energy conservation that would result from the acceptance of our proposals into the NEC are related to the following: reduced step down transformer sizes, reduced wire and conduit sizes, reduced panelboard sizes, reduced electric room cooling systems — including the HVAC cooling systems and the ceiling plenum sheet metal carrying the waste heat away. Up to 20 percent energy savings is in play here and all the experts around the table know it. So much for the economic footprint of the largest non-residential building construction market in the United States — about $120 billion annually.
The market incumbents are complicit in ignoring energy conservation opportunity. To paraphrase one of Mike Anthony’s colleagues representing electrical equipment manufacturers:
“You’re right Mike, but I am getting paid to vote against you.”
NFPA Electrical Division knows it, too.
Rightsizing Commercial Electrical Power Systems: Review of a New Exception in NEC Section 220.12
Michael A. Anthony – James R. Harvey
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
University of Houston, Clear Lake, Texas
For decades, application of National Electrical Code (NEC) rules for sizing services, feeders and branch circuits has resulted in unused capacity in almost all occupancy classes. US Department of Energy data compiled in 1999 indicates average load on building transformers between 10 and 25 percent. More recent data gathered by the educational facilities industry has verified this claim. Recognizing that aggressive energy codes are driving energy consumption lower, and that larger than necessary transformers create larger than necessary flash hazard, the 2014 NEC will provide an exception in Section 220.12 that will permit designers to reduce transformer kVA ratings and all related components of the power delivery system. This is a conservative, incremental step in the direction of reduced load density that is limited to lighting systems. More study of feeder and branch circuit loading is necessary to inform discussion about circuit design methods in future revisions of the NEC.
CLICK HERE for complete paper
Stochastic hybrid models for predicting the behavior of drivers facing the yellow-light-dilemma
Paul A. Green | University of Michigan
Daniel Hoehener & Domitilla Del Vecchio | Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract: We address the problem of predicting whether a driver facing the yellow-light-dilemma will cross the intersection with the red light. Based on driving simulator data, we propose a stochastic hybrid system model for driver behavior. Using this model combined with Gaussian process estimation and Monte Carlo simulations, we obtain an upper bound for the probability of crossing with the red light. This upper bound has a prescribed confidence level and can be calculated quickly on-line in a recursive fashion as more data become available. Calculating also a lower bound we can show that the upper bound is on average less than 3% higher than the true probability. Moreover, tests on driving simulator data show that 99% of the actual red light violations, are predicted to cross on red with probability greater than 0.95 while less than 5% of the compliant trajectories are predicted to have an equally high probability of crossing. Determining the probability of crossing with the red light will be important for the development of warning systems that prevent red light violations.
CLICK HERE to order complete article
Bridge Michigan: Researchers say a copper shortage could imperil Michigan’s EV future
Copper can’t be mined fast enough to electrify the US
Copper cannot be mined quickly enough to keep up with current U.S. policy guidelines to transition the country’s electricity and vehicle infrastructure to renewable energy, according to a University of Michigan study.
The… pic.twitter.com/wm2qNrlAZB
— Michigan News (@UMichiganNews) May 15, 2024
Related:
Since so much of what we do in standards setting is built upon a foundation of a shared understanding and agreement of the meaning of words (no less so than in technical standard setting) that time is well spent reflecting upon the origin of the nouns and verbs of that we use every day. Best practice cannot be discovered, much less promulgated, without its understanding secured with common language. |
Hanging with grandad just like the old days 😂 pic.twitter.com/fQVarEQ5Iw
— Alexandra Churchill ✌🏼⭐️⭐️ (@churchill_alex) December 2, 2023
Virginia Woolf: pic.twitter.com/8IPw1Fmevk
— Dr. Maya C. Popa (@MayaCPopa) May 25, 2023
Cambridge: English language education in the era of generative AI
The Great Lakes contain enough fresh water to cover the land area of the entire United States under 3 meters of water.
We collect 15 video presentations about Great Lake water safety and sustainability prepared by the 8 Great Lake border state colleges and universities and their national and international partners in Canada.
Great Ladies 👏 pic.twitter.com/dQeKH3rFeV
— The Figen (@TheFigen_) February 8, 2025
When the wicked problems of peace and economic inequality cannot be solved, political leaders, and the battalions of servile administrative muckety-mucks who report to them, resort to fear-mongering about an imagined problem to be solved centuries hence assuming every other nation agrees on remedies of its anthropogenic origin. We would not draw attention to it were it not that large tranches of the global academic community are in on the grift costing hundreds of billions in square-footage for research and teaching hopelessness to our children and hatred of climate change deniers.
Before the internet is scrubbed of information contrary to climate change mania, we recommend a few titles:
“Gulliver’s Travels” Jonathan Swift | Start at Chapter 5, PDF page 235
The Mad, Mad, Mad World of Climatism: Mankind and Climate Change Mania
Climate Change Craziness Exposed: Twenty-One Climate Change Denials of Environmentalists
Reliability Analysis for Power to Fire Pump Using Fault Tree and RBD
Robert Schuerger | HP Critical Facilities (Project Lead, Corresponding Author)
Robert Arno | ITT Excelis Information Systems
Neal Dowling | MTechnology
Michael A. Anthony | University of Michigan
Abstract: One of the most common questions in the early stages of designing a new facility is whether the normal utility supply to a fire pump is reliable enough to “tap ahead of the main” or whether the fire pump supply is so unreliable that it must have an emergency power source, typically an on-site generator. Apart from the obligation to meet life safety objectives, it is not uncommon that capital on the order of 100000to1 million is at stake for a fire pump backup source. Until now, that decision has only been answered with intuition – using a combination of utility outage history and anecdotes about what has worked before. There are processes for making the decision about whether a facility needs a second source of power using quantitative analysis. Fault tree analysis and reliability block diagram are two quantitative methods used in reliability engineering for assessing risk. This paper will use a simple one line for the power to a fire pump to show how each of these techniques can be used to calculate the reliability of electric power to a fire pump. This paper will also discuss the strengths and weakness of the two methods. The hope is that these methods will begin tracking in the National Fire Protection Association documents that deal with fire pump power sources and can be used as another tool to inform design engineers and authorities having jurisdiction about public safety and property protection. These methods will enlighten decisions about the relative cost of risk control with quantitative information about the incremental cost of additional 9’s of operational availability.
CLICK HERE to order complete paper
“The world is changed by examples, not by opinions.”
– Marc Andreesen (Founder of Netscape, the first dominant web browser)
Bricklayers, sometimes known as masons, are skilled craftsmen that must be physically fit, have a high level of mathematical skill and a love for precision and detail.
Bricklaying standards are guidelines and specifications that ensure the quality and safety of bricklaying work. These standards are often established by industry organizations, regulatory bodies, or national building codes. While specific standards may vary by region, some core bricklaying standards include:
Building Codes: Compliance with local building codes is essential. These codes provide regulations for construction practices, including specifications for masonry work. Bricklayers must adhere to the building codes relevant to the specific location of the construction project.
ASTM International Standards: ASTM International (formerly known as the American Society for Testing and Materials) develops and publishes technical standards for various industries, including construction. ASTM standards related to bricklaying cover materials, testing procedures, and construction practices.
Masonry Construction Standards: Organizations like the Masonry Standards Joint Committee (MSJC) in the United States publish standards specifically focused on masonry construction. These standards address topics such as mortar, grout, reinforcement, and structural design considerations.
Quality Control: Standards related to quality control in bricklaying include specifications for mortar mixtures, proper curing of masonry, and guidelines for inspecting finished work. Adherence to these standards helps ensure the durability and longevity of the masonry construction.
Safety Standards: Occupational safety standards, such as those outlined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in the United States, are critical for protecting workers on construction sites. These standards cover aspects like fall protection, scaffolding safety, and the proper use of personal protective equipment.
Brick and Block Standards: Standards related to the dimensions, composition, and properties of bricks and concrete blocks are important for achieving structural integrity. These standards specify characteristics such as compressive strength, absorption, and dimensional tolerances.
Construction Tolerances: Tolerances dictate acceptable variations in dimensions and alignments in bricklaying work. These standards help ensure that the finished structure meets design specifications and industry-accepted tolerances.
Testing and Inspection: Standards related to the testing and inspection of masonry work help verify that construction meets specified requirements. This includes procedures for mortar testing, grout testing, and overall quality inspections.
It’s important for bricklayers and construction professionals to be aware of and follow these standards to guarantee the safety, quality, and compliance of their work. Additionally, staying informed about updates to industry standards is crucial as they may evolve over time to reflect advancements in materials, techniques, and safety practices.
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
Standards Michigan Group, LLC
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Ann Arbor, MI 48104 USA
888-746-3670