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.

Relevant MEWPs Courses in the Market

In any working at heights industry, there would most likely be occasions where mobile elevating equipment or machineries would be used. It is important to ensure complete safety when using such equipment or machineries which are heavy, expensive and dangerous.

Those involved in this industry should take on relevant MEWP courses before indulging in the related operations.

Course training

MEWP or mobile elevating work platform courses allow one to understand the mechanics and electronics of such machineries and equipment to use them safely and effectively. Work can be handled and completed well when the right knowledge and skills are applied; this comes through taking up the appropriate MEWPs courses which are available in the market.

The MEWP Operators training course is a one-day course that is IPAF accredited. It is the agency's most popular MEWPs course which can attract as many as 90,000 delegates every year at all IPAF approved training centers.

The course may be short but it covers sufficiently on the duties, responsibilities and safety aspects of the workers at height with relevant knowledge on the necessary MEWP equipment and tools.

MEWP courses would cover static vertical, personnel platform, static booms, van trucks, trailer mounts, mobile verticals, mobile VPP and booms.

Qualification

When the course candidates successfully complete this MEWP training, they would receive the coveted IPAF photocard, certificate, Operators Safety Guidebook as well as the PAL Card log. These esteemed entities would enable the candidates to be marketable in the construction industry for 5 years. After which, retraining or upgrade courses are highly recommended.

This qualification is necessary as part of the Work at Height regulations requirement by the state to ensure complete safety and successful development during and after the project. This MEWP qualification would equip the candidates with the relevant technical information on MEWP, tools, resources, safety and health issues with practical sessions for experience before entering the work field.

Supplementary courses

In line with the MEWP training, there are other related training courses to supplement the knowledge and skills picked up at MEWPs courses. These include PAF Scissor Lift, Scissor and Boom, Cherry Picker and Ladder Safety courses.

These are all IPAF approved courses which are relevant to the construction and development industry. There are more than 500 training centers which are IPAF approved worldwide to cater to the global development industry. These courses are recognized by many nations such as UK and USA. Their programs are certified by TUV which is ISO 18878:2004.

DIY Bathroom Renovation - Making the Right Move

Most homeowners would prefer to show their own style when it comes to bathroom renovation. But the problem is not a lot of homeowners know how to renovate their own bathrooms. Bathroom renovation takes a lot of skill and motivation to pull the pieces together and can be rewarding for the right person. If you are the type who wants to learn new things and if you love to doing hands on work, then DIY bathroom renovation could be right for you.

Some Reasons Why You Should Do it Yourself

Bathroom renovation is not only challenging but can help you save a lot of money from operation costs and other expenses. One can do his or her own color scheme selection, project planning and management, demolition, repairing or replacing the fittings. An expert can do all of this for a price, but if you feel up for a new challenge, then you sure want to do it on your own. For electrical jobs and plumbing, you might want to hire a professional to assist with the project and planning.

The Actual Planning of a Bathroom Renovation

Before you jump start with your projects, the first thing you needed to do is to determine what type of construction are you going to do? Do you need to renovate the entire room or you are just planning to make some little adjustments? When you figure this out the next thing you should consider is the premises. You should also consider the number of people who are going to use the bathroom as well as the family requirements or needs.

Designing your own bathroom is made easy using a computer software where you can layout and design your bathroom. You can also ask a qualified professional to help you with the design or give you some helpful insights. After planning the layout of your bathroom, check if the water proofing is okay before you continue. Consider changing the color scheme, cabinets and re-tiling.

The Time it will Cost You

Usually it will take you around two to three weeks to renovation your bathroom. But major construction could take a month to do so. The amount of work required would also determine the duration that you need to finish the project.

If you decide to reconstruct your entire bathroom, you need to seek advice about legal issues. Ask your local authorities about the requirements on how to get a construction permit. But for minor jobs and make over, you don't need to secure a permit.

The Risks of Cutting Corners in Car Park Smoke Ventilation Systems

Current examinations of car park ventilation systems have revealed some alarming shortcomings, especially in the application of jet fan systems. These failings vary from poor design with major areas of the car park left unventilated by designs which should control smoke in the event of fire but have no chance of doing so.

Popular belief is that due to the amount of time that jet fan systems have been around and the fact that they now represent around 95% of recent installations, people feel that it cannot be too difficult to design these systems themselves and then simply buy the fans. Even systems designed and fitted by supposed industry specialists have been found to be lacking in their effectiveness.

Many issues have been identified as lack of knowledge regarding fan installations or simply a misunderstanding of regulations. An example of a jet fan system installed and investigated involved, quite correctly, two axial main extract fans installed in parallel discharging into a common plenum; however they were installed without non-return dampers fitted to the fans. If one of these fans were to fail, the result would not only be in the loss of performance from the failed fan, but also severely reducing the effectiveness of second fans performance due to air short-circuiting through the failed fan.

Furthermore, there have been circumstances where the fire strategy has been inadvertently or deliberately disregarded. For example, the fire strategy of one project called for an enhanced smoke control system to guarantee that access lobbies were free of any smoke contamination in the case of a fire ever occurring in the car park. In actuality what was installed was an extremely rudimentary smoke clearance system which bore no resemblance to a smoke control system. The particularly worrying issue in this example is that this was missed by the client, the building control officer and consulting engineer; it was only recently discovered by the fire officer and we were called in.

How does this happen? Fundamentally due to cost, and a "design & build" culture in which the original objectives determined by the architect, consulting engineer and fire engineer have been disregarded or forgotten against a background of Value Engineering.

This is not to say there is anything wrong with Value Engineering when the original strategy and objectives are adhered and met; however these can and are easily overlooked and conveniently forgotten when the contractor, guided by an enthusiastic pseudo-specialist, is led to believe that tremendous savings can be made by cutting some corners. It can all seem highly believable when informed by a 'specialist' that the system is 'code compliant' and fully meets all the required building regulations, and this may very well be the case. However what has been ignored is the enhanced design specification agreed upon at the original design stage and against which relaxations were granted by building control regarding the requirement for sprinklers and the ventilation of access lobbies.

After a period of time, even be it only a few months, the error may be identified, at which stage the wonderful savings first purported become nothing but a drop in the ocean in comparison to the costs to correct the issue; these delays can not only delay the handover of the building but if the shortcomings are not identified, the safety and lives of the occupants of the building could be put in danger.