Do You Know The Various Methods Of Waterproofing?

If the health and safety of house and your family members are considered, then one can never ignore the importance of waterproofing. Water leaks, iron bacteria, radon, high level of humidity, mildew and mold are taken to be the signs that waterproofing is required. If such issues are ignored for a long time, they have a serious impact on the individuals' health and can even cause structural damage to your home. If you want to increase the worth of your house, it is high time that you get that waterproofed so that it is prevented from various water seepage issues.

If you use the best waterproofing products and hire the well experienced professionals for your project then you will see a considerable change in the living space of the basement. Some people opt for interior waterproofing whereas some go for exterior waterproofing. With the increasing demand of waterproofing by the homeowners, it is high time that one bids farewell to living with musty smells and get the problem solved immediately.

Different methods of waterproofing are employed when sorting the issue so that the best results can be obtained. Before initiating the project, the contractors send an examination team at the individual's disposal so that they can get an idea about the project. Once they have examined and have presented the estimates, an agreement is signed between the two parties before the project officially commences.

When it comes to interior basement waterproofing, it is usually achieved by using either French drain or installing sealed square next to the footing. Sometimes the sealed drain tile system is also employed along with the wall vapor barrier. The advantage of using this system is that it keeps the basement mold free over a long period of time.

There have been cases when the issues related to soil gases and mildew has been sorted out by employing the same technique. The drains are installed in such a manner that the water under the slab is pumped and is expelled outside. There are certain contractors that opt for pipe and stone waterproofing system to get rid from the problem of wet basement. Under this system, perforated tiles are used instead of the square ones. The function of this system is almost the same. Water can be easily directed to the sealed sump pit from where it is expelled outside.

The exterior water control can be broadly categorized into two main groups knows as water proofing and damp proofing. The process of damp proofing is fairly simple. The professionals simply spray the asphaltic layer in new homes that tend to enhance the permeation of bare concrete. Waterproofing is different from the former in a way that it can be performed not just only on the newly constructed homes but can be carried out on the old houses as well. To get this done, full excavation is required followed by the usage of polymer sealer that waterproofs the wall. Once the exterior waterproofing is carried out by the professionals, you will see that water will not be able to enter through the walls that used to result in leaky basements.

Industrial Floor Coatings Contain Toxic Isocyanates

As we walk through life many of us are unaware of the paint & coatings chemicals we are exposed to on a daily basis. Adding to this, manufacturers themselves are unaware of the toxicity of their own products. We don't see or even smell sometimes the toxicity of a known carcinogenic until its started wreaking havoc on our immune system or nervous system.

A daily scenario exists for most of us as we get in a car where we are subjected to 13 highly toxic substances including: formaldehyde, benzene, arsenic and dioxin/furans. Or take isocyanates, which are almost always used to produce urethanes and polyurethanes. Most commonly used chemicals during production phase and by products of polyurethane production include: phosgene, isocyanates, toluene, diamines, and the ozone-depleting gases methylene chloride and CFCs, in addition to halogenated flame retardants and pigments. Polyurethane production has been a large contributor to the deterioration of the earth as well as the people who absorb its toxins.

Polyurethane with its accompanying toxic isocyanates can be found in anything from boats, plumbing, beds and industrial floor coatings, which pose a serious risk to those that work in large factories. A typical scenario might be Boeing, which has thousands of employees and thousands of square footage of floor space that's been coated with a protective seal to make it easy for cleaning and adds to longevity.

In these industrial scenarios someone has to apply the polyurethane and then lots of people have to work on it for years, giving lots of opportunity for exposure and toxic intake of isocyanates. Isocyanates have been known to cause vomiting, blurry vision, headaches and potentially leading to cancer as well. Given, we may be a petrochemical based society; there are still several alternatives in creating a sustainable environment by using bio-friendly solutions.

The first tool for change is education. An educated public that knows the difference between toxic and non-toxic floor coatings or even household items will make better choices. Currently the EPA and its European Counterpart are making new demands on manufacturers to openly educate their customers on the dangers of polyurethane and toxic isocyanates. Eventually it is anticipated that laws will be put in place completely eliminating the use of isocyanates and polyurethane which contains it.

For now it's important to simply read labels and do a little research before buying. A large corporation who wants to buy industrial floor coating may want to consider an eco-friendly alternative, which won't make workers sick and will endure the rigors of manufacturing and weather. A simple Google search for non-toxic polyurethane or non-toxic floor coatings can go a long way in making an educated decision.

Design And Drafting Services

What is the scope of a Design and Drafting Services firm? Does it vary with the industry?

Puzzling as a term? Normally Designers use Drafting as a service. So the obvious question is: who would hire the combo of Design and Drafting Services?

The answers vary with the Industry:

Architecture: Some architectural firms restrict themselves to Design and Drafting Services, and stay away from the process of implementation like tendering, permits, project management, for various reasons, like:

· Creative freedom

· Boutique practice

· Project scale

· Client (many Government projects call for separate bids for Design, Drafting, Tendering, Project Management, Site Supervision, etc.)

Engineering: In Engineering services, Design and Drafting go hand in hand. In fact CAD, CAM and CAE software have many design support features for Engineers, like calculations, strength of materials, and modeling curves. Also, the Engineering Industry, being more machine-oriented, is more organized. Hence most Engineering Design consultancy firms deliver Design and Drafting Services.

What are the responsibilities of a Design and Drafting Services firm? Does they vary from a Full Services Consultancy?

Broad responsibilities of a Design and Drafting Services firm are:

· Understanding and documenting the Project brief

· Creating a design to satisfy the project needs

· Review the design with the client and other stake holders to an agreeable look and feel

· Translate the agreed design in the form of drawings for different stages of the project: SD, DD, CD, Permit Set, Bid Set, and As-Built Set.

· Coordinate drawings from all service consultants and vendors into the final drawings

· Ensure that the drawings accurately represent the agreed design

Yes, they do vary from a Full Services Consultancy in 3 ways:

1. Exclusions: Some services are excluded from the scope of a Design and Drafting Services firm, like:

o BOQ and Tender documentation

o Vendor selection, negotiation and Contract award

o Project Management, Scheduling and Tracking

o Site survey, soil testing, quality assurance and supervision

o Coordination with Consultants, Vendors and Property Managers

2. Tolerance: A Full services consultancy has a chance to make up for imperfection in drawings by correcting them at site. A Design and Drafting Services firm is liable for any errors in the design and documentation

3. Accountability: A Full services consultancy is accountable for all aspects of the final outcome of the project - its look, feel and performance with respect to the design intent and the project targets of time, money and quality. A Design and Drafting Services firm's liability is, however, limited to what it produces on paper. If the final Construction Documentation delivers the design intent correctly as agreed upon in the Design Brief, then it is deemed to have done its job, irrespective of the success or failure of the project.

What are the Benefits of hiring a specialized Design and Drafting Services firm?

A few pointers to help the client make an informed decision of hiring a Design and Drafting Services firm versus a Single Agency are:

1. Creativity: Designers feel more creative freedom when unburdened of material constraints

2. Accuracy: Being liable for the documentation rather than the finished site, ensures error free drawings, which is the first step for on-time, quality project implementation

3. Discipline: Dealing with a dedicated agency ensures project discipline at the client's end, too. In an industry when the human mind can never stop thinking of an improved idea, changes will never end, and neither will the project, unless controlled. This segregation, and the fact that changes after documentation will cost the client more time and money, do act as a reasonable deterrent to changing a finalized design.

4. Records:The client also ends up with an accurate As-Built Drawings set, which records his site accurately - a necessity for any future actions on the site - addition, alteration, sale or lease.

In an informed society and a progressive AEC Industry, Design and Drafting Services play a key role in ensuring the progress wheel moves smoothly.

The AEC Associates are, as the name suggests, your partners in the ever dynamic and invigorating AEC domain; your service providers for all disciplines of the architecture, engineering and construction industry. We will assist you in all your drawing, drafting, documentation, CAD/BIM and value added services. A well-knit consortium of professionals, our combined experiences spans across continents, millions of square feet in construction spread through a wide gamut of executed projects.

3 Tips When Buying a Mass Flow Meter

Choosing a mass flow meter requires a bit of knowledge about what is being measured. Both gas and liquid can be quantified using gauges that compute the flow at kilograms per second or liters per second in relation to the density of the material. Each device is different and you can't use the same meter for both wastewater plant and potable water, for example. But choosing one that's perfect for you will not be as difficult if you follow the tips below.

Make a checklist
What is the material to be measured: is it liquid or gas? If so, what type of liquid or gas are you working with? Is the liquid dirty or clean? Do you want the process the information manually or remotely? What about the temperature conditions of the plant and the material, are they hot or cold? Measuring hot water may need a gauge that will compensate for the change in temperature to get an accurate reading. Make sure you consider in your checklist the following: the liquid viscosity, corrosive and conductive properties, toxicity if applicable, and type of piping. When dealing with gases, make sure you list down if it's wet, corrosive, toxic, combustible, or clean.

There are numerous mass or water flow meters to choose from such as coriolis, differential pressure, energy, magnetic, open channel, optical, massive displacement, thermal, turbine, ultrasonic, variable area and vortex. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Narrowing down prospects
There are so many companies offering these devices but the best manufacturers have the best engineers to help you identity plant specifications through an easy-to-follow guide will help determine the perfect product for your needs. You also want a company with strong local presence with qualified partners in North and South America, Asia, Europe, Africa and the Middle East. This is to minimize the potential shut-down time when the mass flow meters encounter a snag since the manufacturer can immediately send in engineers. Also, the manufacturer should be able to offer you a competitive rate along with technical training of your staff, application assistance or taking care of the repair and maintenance.

Saving on costs
The process of listing down the plant specifications will entail cost, if you consider the number of manpower hours alone. Then you have to find the perfect technology that fits your need. An educated estimate would place the expense somewhere between 30 to 40% of the sales cost. There are online configuration processes like the Smart Matrix which will allow you just point and click to determine which mass flow meter would be the ideal apparatus for your plant needs. Once you have the suggested product, you can then research the technical information online or ask the installing engineer to explain the features for you.

Quick Start Woodworking Business Guide

In this guide you will learn how to quickly start your own woodworking business. Because of the move towards artisan and handcrafted goods the market for wood products has been booming as of late. However many woodworkers are yet to fully capitalize on the sales opportunity that the internet presents. Woodworking can provide you with a comfortable side income or a good full time business depending on how big you want to grow your woodworking business.

The first thing you need to do when setting up is to decide what it is that you want to sell. There are a huge number of different wooden products that you can sell but some of the best opportunities right now exist in the eco market, products targeting retired consumers, the baby market, the garden market and kitchen goods.

One of the best ways to decide what you are going to sell is to take a look at what your competition is selling. You can find out this information by browsing through the online marketplaces etzy and eBay. This can provide you with a lot of useful information about what is selling well and what kinds of prices these products commands. Not only this but you can also gain useful information about the way a product should look and how to construct. When browsing also take a look at the size and the shipping costs for each sized product. Make a note of this information as it will be useful when listing your own product. It will also give you a good idea of how much to allow for shipping.

Once you have decided what you are going to construct you need to get your hands on some plans. There are a number of different places to look for plans but two of the best are your local library and the internet. When you obtain the plans for your product take a look at what materials and tools you will need to construct the product. Check these against the tools that you have in your home. If you do not have the requisite tools you will need to balance the potential profits against the costs involved in purchasing these products.

Next you will need somewhere to work. You don't need a lot of space but you will need some. A small garage, basement or shed is perfectly fine to get started in. As your operation grows you may find that you want to rent a designated space but when you are starting you should save your money to reinvest in the business. Your workspace should be well sheltered, well insulated and ventilated.

Once you have designed your first product, photograph it and write a short description. Make sure to include any unique features of the product in particular those that relate to the material used or the design. Once you have a photograph and description list your product on either Etzy or eBay. As you product sells you can produce more of the same item. Always have one or two of each item available for shipping but do not build out too much stock at first so that you don't need to store them and you will have less wastage.

Starting your own woodworking business does not need to be expensive or difficult. By producing your first products at home you will reduce your costs and potential risk. As your business grows you can expand your operation and take on other employees. The internet offers the best opportunities to reach a wide range of customers easily and inexpensively.