Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Bathroom Lighting Design
Bathroom Lighting Design
Do you find yourself not wanting to look at yourself in your bathroom mirror in the morning? It may simply be because you have poor lighting. Lighting naturally creates shadows and if you don’t have your lighting properly planned, you may find that your newly remodeled bathroom isn’t the happy place you thought it would be.
I’m writing this article as a result of numerous questions from my neighbor who is remodeling. Being a lighting professional, they have lots of questions for me regarding their bathroom lighting. It really seems to be a daunting task for them. In Bathroom lighting design, there are many decisions to make. From design and placement to what fixture to use to what light bulbs are best. I’d like to take you around the room to give you a rule of thumb when planning your own bathroom lighting design.
Shower Lights
Showers are a space that you no doubt need a form of recessed lighting. It’s very important to use a recessed fixture that is made for the shower and rated to work under conditions of humidity and possible contact with water. In addition you’ll want to use a light bulbs rated to use in the shower. Most products will be clearly marked as such.
Personally, we have a dimmer on our shower light. It allows for a slow wake up by anyone getting into the shower before the light of day. But it’s important to provide enough light to allow you to shave and see what you are doing.
Bathtub Lighting
Depending on the height of your bathtub and if it is separate from your shower, your lighting solutions here will be different. Let’s assume you have a separate bathtub here. If not, you won’t do anything different than what I’ve outlined above. Typically, you will be using recessed lighting above your bathtub area. It is not necessary to have water rated fixtures and light bulbs in this spot. One or maybe two recessed fixtures aimed at the outside of the tub will provide what you need. Aiming to the outside of the tub will provide light to see what you are doing yet will cut down on any glare.
Mirror and Vanity Lighting
This area might be the most crucial spot to get it “right.” Improper lighting when you are trying to apply make-up or shaving can be the pits. Lighting companies have come up with a number of functional and decorative choices for vanity/mirror lighting.
Topping and flanking your mirror with vanity strips is one way to provide light. Insure that you purchase vanity light bulbs that have a lower wattage or frosted glass so you don’t blind yourself. The mistake I’ve seen many make is that their light bulbs are too powerful and then they unscrew several of them to take the light level down. This totally defeats the purpose of having a vanity strip as it is suppose to distribute light evenly.
What we decided to use is our home is wall sconces. And now that I think about it, we used it in all three bathrooms. The master has 3 as we have a long vanity and there are holes cut in the glass where the sconces sit. The other two bathrooms have the sconces flanking the mirror. When you choose to have more than two, it’s important that the spacing be such that the light is coming from either side of each sink. Spacing here is not as critical; just insure that they are evenly spaced. Most folks tent to stand in front of the sink and you wouldn’t want to have the sconce right in front of your face! Their height should be about eye height. This will need to be adjusted slightly according to the type of sconce that you choose. Bottom line is that you don’t want to be able to see the light bulb itself when standing and looking at the sconce.
Ceiling Fixtures
If you are lucky enough to high ceilings in your bathroom, go for a small decorative fixture like a small chandelier. The rule of thumb on the size of chandelier is calculated by taking the width of the room added to the length of the room. (Or if you are installing multiple lighting fixtures, use the dimensions of the area that this fixture is meant to light.) That number should equal the diameter of the fixture. Ie. A master bath that is 15’ X 13’ would need a chandelier or decorative fixture about 28” in diameter.
Recessed Lighting
I’m all for recessed fixtures in your overall bathroom lighting design. What I don’t care for are ceilings that look like swiss cheese. After you’ve planned for all other lighting, it would be prudent to fill other lighting needs with recessed lighting. If using recessed in the toilet area, locate the can in front of the toilet and not right over. No reason to be in the spot light!
Use recessed to light dead areas or to light sitting/reading areas. Yes, some bathrooms are big enough for reading or lounging areas. Above a bench or reading area is a perfect place to insert a recessed fixture. Now, I’m going to throw this in now. My neighbor wants to put a sconce above the toilet for reading purposes. Use the same rule of thumb as mirror sconces and place the fixture at about eye level.
Night Light
Some sort of lighting that can be left on all night is not only a safety solution but will allow you to make the middle of the night trip to the bathroom without totally waking yourself up. Lots of folks use a night light and if you don’t have much space in your bathroom, this is a great solution. I love to use accent lamp lighting when there is room. A small lamp with a long life light bulb or compact fluorescent light bulb in it provides a wonderful accent light day and night. Either place on your vanity or on a small accent table.
There are numerous components to bathroom lighting design. The above should get you started in the process or at least give you the confidence that your electrician is putting junction boxes in the correct spots. One last suggestion I’ll make is to put all of your bathroom lighting on dimmers. Many of us use our bathrooms as a serene get away. To achieve this; lighting is a huge component. Having the ability to dim the lights will provide the perfect atmosphere.
Monday, December 3, 2012
Buying Yourself a New Shower Curtain
People with new homes tend to put off buying a shower curtain at the last minute. Seen as a no frills, no worries problem, people ignore the fact that this single piece on the bathroom requirements list is an excellent place from where individuals can express much about their personality. After all, a shower curtain is the final piece that ties together your bathroom’s décor; it also decorates the most intimate part of your home.
The choice of which shower curtain to buy can be influenced by a variety of factors. Others pick one that blends with the color scheme of their bathroom very well, especially if the bathroom design already takes into consideration the personality of the owner. This makes the choice of a covering for the shower area something that will simply finish off the look of the room. Often, those who prefer dark-colored shower curtains can opt to choose the accent color of the room as the color of the shower curtain.
For other people, the choice of material is one that is extremely important. Other people can opt for the regular plastic shower curtains that have been popularized in movies. Others, however, who have strong environmental advocacies, need not sacrifice good taste. These days, fashionable curtains can come in environment-friendly materials for those who want keep water off the rest of their bathroom without hurting the environment. One such eco friendly shower curtain is made with cotton duck cloth, which is durable and capable of keeping the water inside the shower area. While the cotton used in cotton duck fabric is not organic, these fabrics are bleached with natural hydrogen peroxide and not artificial, chlorine bleach. A shower curtain made of cotton duck cloth dries easily, reducing the possibility of mildew growth that is often present in plastic shower curtains.
For eco friendly shower curtain options, hemp curtains are an excellent alternative. These biodegradable curtains are inherently able to resist the growth of bacteria and mold. They also dry fast, which minimizes moisture in the bathroom. It is the moisture in the bathroom that makes this intimate place susceptible to mold and bacteria elsewhere. As such, a hemp eco friendly shower curtain may very well be the solution to keeping moisture off the tub and the shower. While some people are afraid that hemp shower curtains will simply absorb and even let through water, the truth is hemp shower curtains keep the water in.
Be it through designs or materials used, unique shower curtains are well-within reach. Many big-name home store outlets and specialty stores carry a huge line of shower curtains to choose from any day. However, for those who are looking for exact specifications for their shower curtain, there are those who accept orders for custom shower curtain. It may be good to check with your local home store if they have selected custom suppliers who may be able to meet specific materials and design needs. These custom suppliers may allow you to specify designs, even replicate meaningful photographs that will be projected into the design on the photographic shower curtain. Otherwise, the variety available on retail stores can give those who are environmentally friendly or more design chic to find something to finish off the clean look of their bathroom havens. The options are endless, allowing homeowners to change from one fashionable shower curtain to another.
Responsibilities of Demolition, Grading, Excavation and Hauling Contractors
The responsibilities of demolition, excavation, grading and hauling contractors cover demolition, excavation, grading and hauling efforts in all kinds of residential, commercial and civil engineering construction projects. These contractors also offer bob cat services for use in the demolition, excavation, grading and hauling efforts in such residential, commercial and civil engineering construction projects.
The origin of the term "bob cat services" was in association with the services provided by the heavy duty machinery manufactured by the Bobcat Company. These were comprised mostly of hydraulic equipment, compact excavators, compact tractors, skid steer loaders and compact utility vehicles and similar equipment usually needed for construction demolition, excavation, grading and hauling. As the years passed, however, the term "bob cat services" has also evolved to now denote services offered by all kinds of heavy duty equipment utilized by demolition, excavation, grading and hauling contractors, including those equipment that have been manufactured by other companies.
In renting out bob cat services, demolition, excavation, grading and hauling contractors take on the responsibility for the optimum operation of all the machinery involved as well as the necessary training of the machine operators and other construction workers who will be on the site. The training covers all safety procedures that need to be strictly followed and all protective measures that need to be taken so as to avert accidents in relation to the use of the machines.
The responsibility of demolition service contractors covers the tearing down and removal of structures that are not necessary or no longer wanted on a site. This is usually because there is a new project that is about to be put up in the area. There are also cases when a certain structure has been condemned for demolition after it has been deemed unsafe. Demolition contractors are able to hack into concrete and high strength steel beams and can transform these into rubble with the use of high tech hammers, shears and multiprocessors.
Demolition service contractors are capable of wrecking not only single storey buildings but also high rise buildings with multiple floors. They demolish practically any permanent structure, including foundations, concrete footings, concrete vaults and all types of paving. Even swimming pool removal is something that demolition contractors can take on. This particular job may also need excavation services, though.
The responsibility of excavation service contractors covers the digging up of various kinds of matter embedded in the ground. Heavy duty equipment that are particularly designed to move earth are used, including hydraulic compact excavators, cranes and backhoes. An example of an excavation job is tree removal.
Site excavation is necessary for all kinds of residential, commercial and civil engineering construction projects. Excavating is always a part of the preliminary stages in the making of ditches, bridges, roads, landscapes, buildings and homes. With site excavation, obstructions in the ground are eliminated so that site grading can begin and the installation of the project foundation can be done. In certain cases, site excavation is used to determine the kind of soil and other substances underground at a site. The depth of the digging is dictated by the specific purpose of the excavation and the kind of project that is being undertaken.
The responsibility of grading service contractors covers the leveling off of the ground as part of the preparatory procedures for all kinds of residential, commercial and civil engineering construction projects. Site grading is the next step after site excavation.
The responsibility of hauling service contractors covers all kinds of debris removal. Using bob cat services, hauling service contractors clean up all of the rubble that is the result of demolition, excavation and grading procedures.
It is evident that the responsibilities of demolition, excavation, grading, hauling contractors are indispensable in all residential, commercial and civil engineering construction projects.
3-D Construction Enterprises
3837 Northdale Blvd., Suite 199
Tampa , Fl 33624
Phone 813 294 7936
Email tampademo@aol.com
Website: http://www.3-dconstructionenterprises.com
The origin of the term "bob cat services" was in association with the services provided by the heavy duty machinery manufactured by the Bobcat Company. These were comprised mostly of hydraulic equipment, compact excavators, compact tractors, skid steer loaders and compact utility vehicles and similar equipment usually needed for construction demolition, excavation, grading and hauling. As the years passed, however, the term "bob cat services" has also evolved to now denote services offered by all kinds of heavy duty equipment utilized by demolition, excavation, grading and hauling contractors, including those equipment that have been manufactured by other companies.
In renting out bob cat services, demolition, excavation, grading and hauling contractors take on the responsibility for the optimum operation of all the machinery involved as well as the necessary training of the machine operators and other construction workers who will be on the site. The training covers all safety procedures that need to be strictly followed and all protective measures that need to be taken so as to avert accidents in relation to the use of the machines.
The responsibility of demolition service contractors covers the tearing down and removal of structures that are not necessary or no longer wanted on a site. This is usually because there is a new project that is about to be put up in the area. There are also cases when a certain structure has been condemned for demolition after it has been deemed unsafe. Demolition contractors are able to hack into concrete and high strength steel beams and can transform these into rubble with the use of high tech hammers, shears and multiprocessors.
Demolition service contractors are capable of wrecking not only single storey buildings but also high rise buildings with multiple floors. They demolish practically any permanent structure, including foundations, concrete footings, concrete vaults and all types of paving. Even swimming pool removal is something that demolition contractors can take on. This particular job may also need excavation services, though.
The responsibility of excavation service contractors covers the digging up of various kinds of matter embedded in the ground. Heavy duty equipment that are particularly designed to move earth are used, including hydraulic compact excavators, cranes and backhoes. An example of an excavation job is tree removal.
Site excavation is necessary for all kinds of residential, commercial and civil engineering construction projects. Excavating is always a part of the preliminary stages in the making of ditches, bridges, roads, landscapes, buildings and homes. With site excavation, obstructions in the ground are eliminated so that site grading can begin and the installation of the project foundation can be done. In certain cases, site excavation is used to determine the kind of soil and other substances underground at a site. The depth of the digging is dictated by the specific purpose of the excavation and the kind of project that is being undertaken.
The responsibility of grading service contractors covers the leveling off of the ground as part of the preparatory procedures for all kinds of residential, commercial and civil engineering construction projects. Site grading is the next step after site excavation.
The responsibility of hauling service contractors covers all kinds of debris removal. Using bob cat services, hauling service contractors clean up all of the rubble that is the result of demolition, excavation and grading procedures.
It is evident that the responsibilities of demolition, excavation, grading, hauling contractors are indispensable in all residential, commercial and civil engineering construction projects.
3-D Construction Enterprises
3837 Northdale Blvd., Suite 199
Tampa , Fl 33624
Phone 813 294 7936
Email tampademo@aol.com
Website: http://www.3-dconstructionenterprises.com
Sunday, December 2, 2012
How to remove mold from drywall
How to remove mold from drywall
You need to kill mold and then prevent it's future growth. To remove mold from drywall and other materials you need to kill mold spores and concentrate on mold prevention.
Mold remediation equipment is the primary objective. You must throw away all material with water dammage or mold to remove mold. You should never leave any wet contents behind. Try to cut the drywall 5 feet beyond the last visible area of the mold. Have a garbage bag handy to remove it and seal it with blue tape. Dispose of your moldly material in an outside dumpster and heppa vac the area.
Try hiring a pro if you have a bigger problem. Do research about environmental scientists services. These mold companies are going to be the best bet for consultation. These companies are also known as mold inspection firms, remediation contractors and inspectors or hygenist.
To remove mold you may want to hire a professional or use an organi solution or mold killer.
Mold Killers as they are sometimes known as are perfect for smaller mold problems. The cleaners tha block mold and also block mold and mildew are the ones you want to use. Look for an organic product and can prevent mold amplification. This will be a great security for you and your home.
Finding out how to remove mold can be a challenge. Probably because they find more mold when they get deeper into the project.
Having a environmental consulting service who is certified is a big plus. By offering protocols these mold consultants can help remove mold, black mold, and other harmful problems. They will offer to assist with giving you instructions, finding a mold remediation expert and identifying mold species indoors.
Markus Skupeika
Discover what the pros use to kill mold an all natural solution.
Find more information about mold removal and safe protocols to follow
You need to kill mold and then prevent it's future growth. To remove mold from drywall and other materials you need to kill mold spores and concentrate on mold prevention.
Mold remediation equipment is the primary objective. You must throw away all material with water dammage or mold to remove mold. You should never leave any wet contents behind. Try to cut the drywall 5 feet beyond the last visible area of the mold. Have a garbage bag handy to remove it and seal it with blue tape. Dispose of your moldly material in an outside dumpster and heppa vac the area.
Try hiring a pro if you have a bigger problem. Do research about environmental scientists services. These mold companies are going to be the best bet for consultation. These companies are also known as mold inspection firms, remediation contractors and inspectors or hygenist.
To remove mold you may want to hire a professional or use an organi solution or mold killer.
Mold Killers as they are sometimes known as are perfect for smaller mold problems. The cleaners tha block mold and also block mold and mildew are the ones you want to use. Look for an organic product and can prevent mold amplification. This will be a great security for you and your home.
Finding out how to remove mold can be a challenge. Probably because they find more mold when they get deeper into the project.
Having a environmental consulting service who is certified is a big plus. By offering protocols these mold consultants can help remove mold, black mold, and other harmful problems. They will offer to assist with giving you instructions, finding a mold remediation expert and identifying mold species indoors.
Markus Skupeika
Discover what the pros use to kill mold an all natural solution.
Find more information about mold removal and safe protocols to follow
New Codes and Standards Drive Green Building Success � and Future
Green building is all about performance, explaining why savvy building professionals are so focused on data and measurement today. Whether it’s R-values, efficiency ratings, or solar heat-gain coefficients, comparisons of product and system performance are central to sustainable design.
These evaluations invariably start with building codes and standards – the authoritative benchmarks of performance. Whether it’s the International Codes, ASTM standards or ASHRAE 90.1, codes go everywhere that LEED and other voluntary programs don’t. "The codes are the foundation of any sustainable building strategy," says Allan Bilka, RA, a senior staff architect with the International Code Council (ICC). "Green and sustainable building rating systems would be ineffective without this foundation."
Yet while many architects know how important code evaluations are, programs like LEED – though only applied to a tiny fraction of the building stock – remain foremost in their minds. Is the basis of green building getting lost in the shuffle? Experts in codes and green building worry that’s the case, and they encourage building teams to get back to basics.
Take ASHRAE 90.1, for example, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-conditioning Engineers energy standard that covers everything from boiler efficiency to lighting to fenestration. The 2007 version of this energy mandate also calls for "air sealing" of joints and openings, a standard that underlies new rules on air barriers requirements adopted by many state codes. NIST projects that air barriers will cut natural gas and electricity use by about 40 percent and 25 percent, respectively – a huge reduction in our carbon footprint.
Not only will air barriers slash carbon emissions and improve indoor environmental quality (IEQ), but also they’ll become central to greener performance. No surprise, then, that new standards on air-tightness and leakage rates are being developed by ASTM.
An international green code
While air barriers are big news, the biggest announcement in green building came from the ICC last year, when they unveiled the new International Green Construction Code (IGCC). Developed with the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and ASTM International, the IGCC will help architects meet the AIA’s "2030 Carbon Neutrality Goal" and, through ASTM, strengthen the scientific basis of green building.
The IGCC will be the first model code for new and existing buildings that mandates performance and prescriptive solutions. Also involved in its development were ASHRAE, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), and the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES). The new code won’t be final, however, until 2012.
Still, project teams can start today with an alternative jurisdictional compliance option that will be incorporated within IGCC: Standard 189.1-2009, Design of High-Performance Green Buildings, Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings. Created by ANSI and ASHRAE with the USGBC and IES, Standard 189.1 takes green building to a new level.
For example, on the critical topic of air barriers, Standard 189.1 mandates the air-leakage performance requirements proposed for ASHRAE 90.1, guaranteeing those big efficiency gains estimated by NIST. To meet the new rules, building air barrier materials must not allow air leakage exceeding 0.004 cfm/ft2 at 0.30 in. water – per ASTM’s standard E2178 – according to David Kent Ballast’s authoritative Architect’s Handbook of Construction Detailing. For building assemblies, Ballast writes, the requirement is less restrictive, at 0.04 cfm/ft2 at 0.30 in. water, which can be tested with ASTM E1677. For an entire building, air leakage should be tested per ASTM E779 at less than 0.4 cfm/ft2.
Several states and Canada also refer to these air leakage rules and ASTM standards, and they will become more important over time. The Massachusetts Energy Code and the National Building Code of Canada prescribe material air leakage not exceeding 0.004, and Minnesota Residential and Commercial Energy Code has proposed meeting the same minimum performance. Wisconsin prescribes that leakage through assemblies not exceed 0.06 cfm/ft2 in its state energy code.
Clearly, knowledge of ASTM’s protocols is vital to building green today – and more than ever when IGCC is published. "It’s the testing standards that feed into sustainability," says Sto Corp.’s Terry L. Viness, P.E. "They help us make better choices about the sustainability of our products. And products not listed in the code, or not evaluated by an approved entity, should be scrutinized before they are used."
It’s the energy, stupid
In addition to IGCC and the tightening of air barrier rules, a flurry of local green-building ordinances and the sweeping mandates like the ICC’s International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) press building teams to make their buildings greener.
Dig down a bit, and new green standards from groups like ASTM, UL and the Canadian Construction Materials Center (CCMC) provide essential metrics for every type of material, assembly and system. On top of all that, there are now valuable, consensus-based model codes for sustainability, including the National Green Building Standard, published in 2008 by ICC, the National Association of Home Builders, and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
Since codes and standards provide a scientific, performance-based rationale for green building, what principles underlie the new rules? Energy efficiency and building durability, say experts like John Tooley, senior building science consultant with Advanced Energy, Raleigh, N.C., are two of the most crucial aspects of green design. They are central to successful building operations, and so should drive design-phase decisions.
Durability is hard to quantify, yet codes and standards present minimum criteria for a product’s ability to resist rot, freeze-thaw cycles, exposure to sunlight, and the like. A Canadian process standard is currently in development to codify a way to assess durability, but in the meantime, durability criteria are available to inform life-cycle analysis (LCA) and other green building choices.
Energy efficiency, on the other hand, is low-hanging fruit. "Energy codes haven’t been in the spotlight like they are now, and they’re changing, reflecting work going on at ASHRAE and other organizations, and the political climate is influencing that," says John Edgar, Sto Corp’s Technical Manager – Building Sciences in Atlanta. Paraphrasing a quotation attributed to 2030 Challenge creator Ed Mazria: "Building green isn’t about bicycle racks. It’s the energy stupid."
This trend affects more than HVAC system design. The IECC, for example, specifies R-values for insulation and enclosures based on climate zone. ASHRAE 90.1 calls for "continuous insulation," known by the shorthand ci, in six of eight U.S. climate zones. This requirement has led to more use of exterior insulated claddings, such as insulated metal panels and EIFS, which deliver the R-values and moisture control traits encouraged by the energy standard.
Continuous insulation, explained
A few ideas behind today’s green codes and standards are universally acknowledged, and one is continuous insulation. "A desire to increase energy efficiency is driving this trend, but durability was one original motivation," says John F. Straube, Ph.D., P.Eng., a building science engineer. "It is now in the codes for energy reasons, but it’s also more durable, too, because critical, moisture-sensitive components are maintained at closer to room temperatures."
In fact, ci is a requirement for most wood and steel-framed wall construction in the United States, says Straube. Based on requirements in the ASHRAE standards or in the International Building Code (IBC) and the International Residential Code (IRC), the continuous insulation in wood-frame and steel-frame construction should match the demands of the project’s climate zone.
For example, steel-framed walls in Climate Zone 5 – which covers Chicago, Las Vegas and Boston – require an R-value of 7.5 to meet the 2009 IBC and IECC. To meet the 2009 version of ASHRAE 189.1 or the upcoming IGCC code mandates, bump up the minimum to R-10 for those cities. Wood-framed walls fall into a similar range of ci insulating values.
Green performance attributes – and codes
With widespread use of techniques like continuous insulation, the energy efficiency and durability of today’s buildings will improve dramatically across the industry, making the world a notch greener. Yet, they’re not the only areas where codes and standards propel the green building movement. Other drivers include water and raw material usage, and new local codes and national standards are helping define what constitutes true conservation. Human health and safety is another key area, and building codes and standards – which first and foremost are created to protect the public welfare – are rapidly changing to keep up with new concerns, such as material content with urea formaldehyde or volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Few products have code recognition for overall sustainability, but some may have listings or certifications that ensure their green traits. Testing by the government and recognized groups like Franklin Associates and IAS help verify product claims, though some private labeling organizations may not list products strictly based on performance alone.
Codes and standards are different. They offer third-party, neutral, impartial and consensus-based answers – a hefty counterweight to "greenwash" and competing claims so common in the arena of sustainability. The ICC codes, for example, list products that meet key performance and durability criteria, providing a quick yes-or-no reference for products.
In assessing materials and systems for green buildings, a detailed review of relevant standards and codes is clearly essential, says John Amatruda, RA, a partner with Viridian Energy & Environmental, Norwalk, Conn. So for project planning, the questions are: Which of the selected products have code recognition? Which of them meet the key standards that drive durability, resource efficiency and human well-being in the final built project?
Standards of performance
Drilling down to a few examples illustrates how codes and standards help ensure success in green building. Let’s start with a few important drivers.
Durability. Robust building materials are central to sustainability, especially when they are hidden deep within construction assemblies. If the building is designed to last 50 or 100 years or longer, then the structure, insulation and membranes must last that long, too. If not, the design must provide the needed redundancy.
One example is sealants and adhesives. While new products may last five times as long as the materials they replace, they rarely last the full life of the building. "Modern sealants will last 20 years, so it’s easier now for people to use sealants instead of flashing," says Roger G. Morse, AIA, president of Morse Zehnter Associates, Troy, N.Y. "But ultimately they’ll fail. So to make it a sustainable building, they also needed to use metal flashing to keep water out, and other simple, reliable materials."
In the case of air barriers and water-resistive barriers, this is especially critical. If the barrier fails, a cascade effect will undermine the energy efficiency and safety of the entire, formerly green building.
For barriers as for any other product, the starting place in the IBC and the IRC is Acceptance Criteria (AC). In this case, AC-212 includes durability measures including accelerated aging and weathering results, water-penetration resistance, racking strength, combustibility and air leakage rates. If the product passes the tests, it gets an ICC-ES Evaluation Report describing the criteria and recognizing that it’s an accepted method or alternate. For example, StoGuard is recognized as an acceptable alternate to code-mandated water-resistive barriers.
Fire resistance. As an essential aspect of building durability, fire resistance is a basic element of sustainable design – yet one that is often overlooked.
In this case, too, the architect or building team should ask, "Does the product have an ICC-ES Evaluation report?" If the answer is no, the manufacturer may not have performed the large-scale fire tests required to demonstrate that their product can be used in non-combustible construction (NFPA 285), and they may not have done any large-scale fire-resistance rating tests (ASTM E119). If the substrate is masonry or concrete, this may be a moot point – but if it’s frame construction, it is a risk.
Energy efficiency. High-efficiency building systems are important for sustainability. For a truly sustainable building, however, the enclosure also must be engineered and tuned to control a variety of interrelated performance variables. Air tightness and high R-value are critical, as is preventing thermal bridges and excessive solar gain.
Codes and standards establish minimum criteria, it is often argued. However, so do all prescriptive standards, including LEED ratings, by definition. More important, the codes provide a framework for what is allowable and prudent – often with built-in advice on how to exceed the minimum. For example, minimum R-values given in the codes can be improved upon by using continuous exterior insulation, such as in an EIFS insulated cladding, with expanded polystyrene panels of up to 12 inches thick, for R-values up to R-48. This approach meets fire-safety codes, is easy to construct, and even meets the call for "ci" – continuous insulation – in ASHRAE 90.1.
Air tightness. When required, an airtight envelope is critical to energy conservation and sustainability. Interest in this approach has led to prescriptive and performance-based codes for air barriers and other assemblies over the last few years.
Key performance criteria for air barriers are listed in the CCMC Technical Guide for Air Barrier Materials, and, when the air barrier is intended to perform as a water-resistive barrier, ICC-ES AC 212, Acceptance Criteria for Water-Resistive Coatings Used As Water-Resistive Barriers over Exterior Sheathing. In addition to detailing a continuous, structural air barrier, architects should select air-barrier materials such as StoGuard, a fluid-applied, waterproof air barrier material that meets both of these criteria. Basically, that means the material is recognized as a water-resistive barrier in the United States and as an air barrier material in Canada.
A close reading of the codes will often shake even the firmest assumptions about green building. For example, the proposed Washington State Energy Code amendments would rule out building wraps and papers because they’re not continuous and can’t withstand positive and negative wind loads. Similar to the Canadian code, which often presages code changes in the U.S. geared toward energy efficiency or sustainability, the amendments would apply to buildings greater than five stories tall.
In another proposed amendment, Washington State could be the first U.S. jurisdiction to require whole-building "leak testing" to ensure the air barrier works as designed.
IEQ and toxins. Keeping outdoors and indoors separate is a key aspect of green building now mandated in many codes. Just as important, however, are indoor-air quality and other environmental factors. In addition to moisture and mold, building products should not bring unsafe levels of toxins or VOCs into occupied areas. Codes vary in their approach to VOCs, however, as do the numerous private groups that certify VOC levels for building materials and products.
Many green building professionals have chosen to meet one of the most stringent standards for VOCs, California’s SCAQMD Rule 1113, published by the South Coast Air Quality Management District. For architectural coatings, for example, Rule 1113 limits VOC levels to 50 grams per liter – just one-fifth of the Environmental Protection Agency’s allowable limit of 250 g/L.
Numerous products meet these more stringent limits, in part because architects have promoted and adopted the code in their own work. Systems such as StoTherm EIFS meet the SCAQMD rule, as does the spray-applied StoGuard air barrier.
When the codes aren’t there
It’s hard to argue that codes and standards, when carefully applied, don’t do a great deal to improve green building. They are vital to ensuring the integrity and durability of a building, for everything from weather and fire to building movement and freeze-thaw cycles, and much more.
Yet sometimes codes and standards won’t answer a critical question, because they haven’t kept pace with every advance in construction materials and methods. So what does the project team do when codes and standards don’t help? The answer, surprisingly, is often still in the codes.
For example, there is currently no standard for the durability of an air barrier. Clearly, however, this important system must resist rot, movement, wind loads, and more. So to ensure their building enclosures work as part of a sustainable design, many architects and engineers have applied water-barrier standards, such as AC212 and ASTM 2570, which covers their use under EIFS.
Similarly, continuous exterior insulation is subject to many factors that might compromise its effectiveness or appearance, such as impacts and scratches. Since there’s no standard for exterior ci, many architects apply ASTM E2568, providing a baseline standard for ci performance.
Codes and greenwash
Why does it matter to apply codes and standards? Ask the professionals who use them everyday in their CDs and spec books. First, they help cut through the misinformation and greenwashing that plagues the sustainability marketplace.
Behind the codes and standards are rigorous testing methods developed in a public forum with independent laboratories, code officials, building consultants, and industry input. They give projects a baseline and benchmark for performance from third-party, neutral, impartial and consensus-based resource – exactly what you need in the politically charged, often confusing arena of sustainability. (As one manufacturing executive quipped, "Codes are the Switzerland of the building world.")
The increased use of life-cycle analysis and regional adaptations of the LEED rating system demonstrate that codifying and calculating sustainability is a complex process. And just by following one standard or another, architects can’t instantly make a building green.
But architects and project teams can achieve sustainability by looking for codes and standards that increase durability, reduce energy and materials needed, and make buildings safer and healthier for occupants. New editions of the codes may include new language and provisions for better, greener decisions. The new omnibus ASTM standards for EIFS adopted by the ICC offer a powerful example: When used as a design guideline, this new provision leads to more durable, energy efficient structures with better IEQ.
Those omnibus standards will help make us green, but it’s just one more example. Behind the next 200-year building are materials and construction approaches that have been proven to work – and put into North American codes and standards.
About Sto Corp.
Sto Corp., based in Atlanta, Georgia, is an innovative leader and producer of a broad range of versatile cladding and coating systems for building construction, maintenance and restoration. Sto Corp. is ISO 14001:2004 (environmental management) as well as ISO 9001:2008 certified and operates production plants strategically located to serve more than 200 distributor shipping locations across North and South America. At research and development laboratories in the U.S. and Europe, Sto continues to revolutionize the industry with the highest quality products and application technology. Sto is also the world’s largest manufacturer of exterior thermal insulation systems with 27 subsidiaries operating at 21 factories worldwide.
If you are looking for more information on continuous insulation and , EIFS please visit www.stocorp.com or call toll free (800) 221-2397.
These evaluations invariably start with building codes and standards – the authoritative benchmarks of performance. Whether it’s the International Codes, ASTM standards or ASHRAE 90.1, codes go everywhere that LEED and other voluntary programs don’t. "The codes are the foundation of any sustainable building strategy," says Allan Bilka, RA, a senior staff architect with the International Code Council (ICC). "Green and sustainable building rating systems would be ineffective without this foundation."
Yet while many architects know how important code evaluations are, programs like LEED – though only applied to a tiny fraction of the building stock – remain foremost in their minds. Is the basis of green building getting lost in the shuffle? Experts in codes and green building worry that’s the case, and they encourage building teams to get back to basics.
Take ASHRAE 90.1, for example, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-conditioning Engineers energy standard that covers everything from boiler efficiency to lighting to fenestration. The 2007 version of this energy mandate also calls for "air sealing" of joints and openings, a standard that underlies new rules on air barriers requirements adopted by many state codes. NIST projects that air barriers will cut natural gas and electricity use by about 40 percent and 25 percent, respectively – a huge reduction in our carbon footprint.
Not only will air barriers slash carbon emissions and improve indoor environmental quality (IEQ), but also they’ll become central to greener performance. No surprise, then, that new standards on air-tightness and leakage rates are being developed by ASTM.
An international green code
While air barriers are big news, the biggest announcement in green building came from the ICC last year, when they unveiled the new International Green Construction Code (IGCC). Developed with the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and ASTM International, the IGCC will help architects meet the AIA’s "2030 Carbon Neutrality Goal" and, through ASTM, strengthen the scientific basis of green building.
The IGCC will be the first model code for new and existing buildings that mandates performance and prescriptive solutions. Also involved in its development were ASHRAE, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), and the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES). The new code won’t be final, however, until 2012.
Still, project teams can start today with an alternative jurisdictional compliance option that will be incorporated within IGCC: Standard 189.1-2009, Design of High-Performance Green Buildings, Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings. Created by ANSI and ASHRAE with the USGBC and IES, Standard 189.1 takes green building to a new level.
For example, on the critical topic of air barriers, Standard 189.1 mandates the air-leakage performance requirements proposed for ASHRAE 90.1, guaranteeing those big efficiency gains estimated by NIST. To meet the new rules, building air barrier materials must not allow air leakage exceeding 0.004 cfm/ft2 at 0.30 in. water – per ASTM’s standard E2178 – according to David Kent Ballast’s authoritative Architect’s Handbook of Construction Detailing. For building assemblies, Ballast writes, the requirement is less restrictive, at 0.04 cfm/ft2 at 0.30 in. water, which can be tested with ASTM E1677. For an entire building, air leakage should be tested per ASTM E779 at less than 0.4 cfm/ft2.
Several states and Canada also refer to these air leakage rules and ASTM standards, and they will become more important over time. The Massachusetts Energy Code and the National Building Code of Canada prescribe material air leakage not exceeding 0.004, and Minnesota Residential and Commercial Energy Code has proposed meeting the same minimum performance. Wisconsin prescribes that leakage through assemblies not exceed 0.06 cfm/ft2 in its state energy code.
Clearly, knowledge of ASTM’s protocols is vital to building green today – and more than ever when IGCC is published. "It’s the testing standards that feed into sustainability," says Sto Corp.’s Terry L. Viness, P.E. "They help us make better choices about the sustainability of our products. And products not listed in the code, or not evaluated by an approved entity, should be scrutinized before they are used."
It’s the energy, stupid
In addition to IGCC and the tightening of air barrier rules, a flurry of local green-building ordinances and the sweeping mandates like the ICC’s International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) press building teams to make their buildings greener.
Dig down a bit, and new green standards from groups like ASTM, UL and the Canadian Construction Materials Center (CCMC) provide essential metrics for every type of material, assembly and system. On top of all that, there are now valuable, consensus-based model codes for sustainability, including the National Green Building Standard, published in 2008 by ICC, the National Association of Home Builders, and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
Since codes and standards provide a scientific, performance-based rationale for green building, what principles underlie the new rules? Energy efficiency and building durability, say experts like John Tooley, senior building science consultant with Advanced Energy, Raleigh, N.C., are two of the most crucial aspects of green design. They are central to successful building operations, and so should drive design-phase decisions.
Durability is hard to quantify, yet codes and standards present minimum criteria for a product’s ability to resist rot, freeze-thaw cycles, exposure to sunlight, and the like. A Canadian process standard is currently in development to codify a way to assess durability, but in the meantime, durability criteria are available to inform life-cycle analysis (LCA) and other green building choices.
Energy efficiency, on the other hand, is low-hanging fruit. "Energy codes haven’t been in the spotlight like they are now, and they’re changing, reflecting work going on at ASHRAE and other organizations, and the political climate is influencing that," says John Edgar, Sto Corp’s Technical Manager – Building Sciences in Atlanta. Paraphrasing a quotation attributed to 2030 Challenge creator Ed Mazria: "Building green isn’t about bicycle racks. It’s the energy stupid."
This trend affects more than HVAC system design. The IECC, for example, specifies R-values for insulation and enclosures based on climate zone. ASHRAE 90.1 calls for "continuous insulation," known by the shorthand ci, in six of eight U.S. climate zones. This requirement has led to more use of exterior insulated claddings, such as insulated metal panels and EIFS, which deliver the R-values and moisture control traits encouraged by the energy standard.
Continuous insulation, explained
A few ideas behind today’s green codes and standards are universally acknowledged, and one is continuous insulation. "A desire to increase energy efficiency is driving this trend, but durability was one original motivation," says John F. Straube, Ph.D., P.Eng., a building science engineer. "It is now in the codes for energy reasons, but it’s also more durable, too, because critical, moisture-sensitive components are maintained at closer to room temperatures."
In fact, ci is a requirement for most wood and steel-framed wall construction in the United States, says Straube. Based on requirements in the ASHRAE standards or in the International Building Code (IBC) and the International Residential Code (IRC), the continuous insulation in wood-frame and steel-frame construction should match the demands of the project’s climate zone.
For example, steel-framed walls in Climate Zone 5 – which covers Chicago, Las Vegas and Boston – require an R-value of 7.5 to meet the 2009 IBC and IECC. To meet the 2009 version of ASHRAE 189.1 or the upcoming IGCC code mandates, bump up the minimum to R-10 for those cities. Wood-framed walls fall into a similar range of ci insulating values.
Green performance attributes – and codes
With widespread use of techniques like continuous insulation, the energy efficiency and durability of today’s buildings will improve dramatically across the industry, making the world a notch greener. Yet, they’re not the only areas where codes and standards propel the green building movement. Other drivers include water and raw material usage, and new local codes and national standards are helping define what constitutes true conservation. Human health and safety is another key area, and building codes and standards – which first and foremost are created to protect the public welfare – are rapidly changing to keep up with new concerns, such as material content with urea formaldehyde or volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Few products have code recognition for overall sustainability, but some may have listings or certifications that ensure their green traits. Testing by the government and recognized groups like Franklin Associates and IAS help verify product claims, though some private labeling organizations may not list products strictly based on performance alone.
Codes and standards are different. They offer third-party, neutral, impartial and consensus-based answers – a hefty counterweight to "greenwash" and competing claims so common in the arena of sustainability. The ICC codes, for example, list products that meet key performance and durability criteria, providing a quick yes-or-no reference for products.
In assessing materials and systems for green buildings, a detailed review of relevant standards and codes is clearly essential, says John Amatruda, RA, a partner with Viridian Energy & Environmental, Norwalk, Conn. So for project planning, the questions are: Which of the selected products have code recognition? Which of them meet the key standards that drive durability, resource efficiency and human well-being in the final built project?
Standards of performance
Drilling down to a few examples illustrates how codes and standards help ensure success in green building. Let’s start with a few important drivers.
Durability. Robust building materials are central to sustainability, especially when they are hidden deep within construction assemblies. If the building is designed to last 50 or 100 years or longer, then the structure, insulation and membranes must last that long, too. If not, the design must provide the needed redundancy.
One example is sealants and adhesives. While new products may last five times as long as the materials they replace, they rarely last the full life of the building. "Modern sealants will last 20 years, so it’s easier now for people to use sealants instead of flashing," says Roger G. Morse, AIA, president of Morse Zehnter Associates, Troy, N.Y. "But ultimately they’ll fail. So to make it a sustainable building, they also needed to use metal flashing to keep water out, and other simple, reliable materials."
In the case of air barriers and water-resistive barriers, this is especially critical. If the barrier fails, a cascade effect will undermine the energy efficiency and safety of the entire, formerly green building.
For barriers as for any other product, the starting place in the IBC and the IRC is Acceptance Criteria (AC). In this case, AC-212 includes durability measures including accelerated aging and weathering results, water-penetration resistance, racking strength, combustibility and air leakage rates. If the product passes the tests, it gets an ICC-ES Evaluation Report describing the criteria and recognizing that it’s an accepted method or alternate. For example, StoGuard is recognized as an acceptable alternate to code-mandated water-resistive barriers.
Fire resistance. As an essential aspect of building durability, fire resistance is a basic element of sustainable design – yet one that is often overlooked.
In this case, too, the architect or building team should ask, "Does the product have an ICC-ES Evaluation report?" If the answer is no, the manufacturer may not have performed the large-scale fire tests required to demonstrate that their product can be used in non-combustible construction (NFPA 285), and they may not have done any large-scale fire-resistance rating tests (ASTM E119). If the substrate is masonry or concrete, this may be a moot point – but if it’s frame construction, it is a risk.
Energy efficiency. High-efficiency building systems are important for sustainability. For a truly sustainable building, however, the enclosure also must be engineered and tuned to control a variety of interrelated performance variables. Air tightness and high R-value are critical, as is preventing thermal bridges and excessive solar gain.
Codes and standards establish minimum criteria, it is often argued. However, so do all prescriptive standards, including LEED ratings, by definition. More important, the codes provide a framework for what is allowable and prudent – often with built-in advice on how to exceed the minimum. For example, minimum R-values given in the codes can be improved upon by using continuous exterior insulation, such as in an EIFS insulated cladding, with expanded polystyrene panels of up to 12 inches thick, for R-values up to R-48. This approach meets fire-safety codes, is easy to construct, and even meets the call for "ci" – continuous insulation – in ASHRAE 90.1.
Air tightness. When required, an airtight envelope is critical to energy conservation and sustainability. Interest in this approach has led to prescriptive and performance-based codes for air barriers and other assemblies over the last few years.
Key performance criteria for air barriers are listed in the CCMC Technical Guide for Air Barrier Materials, and, when the air barrier is intended to perform as a water-resistive barrier, ICC-ES AC 212, Acceptance Criteria for Water-Resistive Coatings Used As Water-Resistive Barriers over Exterior Sheathing. In addition to detailing a continuous, structural air barrier, architects should select air-barrier materials such as StoGuard, a fluid-applied, waterproof air barrier material that meets both of these criteria. Basically, that means the material is recognized as a water-resistive barrier in the United States and as an air barrier material in Canada.
A close reading of the codes will often shake even the firmest assumptions about green building. For example, the proposed Washington State Energy Code amendments would rule out building wraps and papers because they’re not continuous and can’t withstand positive and negative wind loads. Similar to the Canadian code, which often presages code changes in the U.S. geared toward energy efficiency or sustainability, the amendments would apply to buildings greater than five stories tall.
In another proposed amendment, Washington State could be the first U.S. jurisdiction to require whole-building "leak testing" to ensure the air barrier works as designed.
IEQ and toxins. Keeping outdoors and indoors separate is a key aspect of green building now mandated in many codes. Just as important, however, are indoor-air quality and other environmental factors. In addition to moisture and mold, building products should not bring unsafe levels of toxins or VOCs into occupied areas. Codes vary in their approach to VOCs, however, as do the numerous private groups that certify VOC levels for building materials and products.
Many green building professionals have chosen to meet one of the most stringent standards for VOCs, California’s SCAQMD Rule 1113, published by the South Coast Air Quality Management District. For architectural coatings, for example, Rule 1113 limits VOC levels to 50 grams per liter – just one-fifth of the Environmental Protection Agency’s allowable limit of 250 g/L.
Numerous products meet these more stringent limits, in part because architects have promoted and adopted the code in their own work. Systems such as StoTherm EIFS meet the SCAQMD rule, as does the spray-applied StoGuard air barrier.
When the codes aren’t there
It’s hard to argue that codes and standards, when carefully applied, don’t do a great deal to improve green building. They are vital to ensuring the integrity and durability of a building, for everything from weather and fire to building movement and freeze-thaw cycles, and much more.
Yet sometimes codes and standards won’t answer a critical question, because they haven’t kept pace with every advance in construction materials and methods. So what does the project team do when codes and standards don’t help? The answer, surprisingly, is often still in the codes.
For example, there is currently no standard for the durability of an air barrier. Clearly, however, this important system must resist rot, movement, wind loads, and more. So to ensure their building enclosures work as part of a sustainable design, many architects and engineers have applied water-barrier standards, such as AC212 and ASTM 2570, which covers their use under EIFS.
Similarly, continuous exterior insulation is subject to many factors that might compromise its effectiveness or appearance, such as impacts and scratches. Since there’s no standard for exterior ci, many architects apply ASTM E2568, providing a baseline standard for ci performance.
Codes and greenwash
Why does it matter to apply codes and standards? Ask the professionals who use them everyday in their CDs and spec books. First, they help cut through the misinformation and greenwashing that plagues the sustainability marketplace.
Behind the codes and standards are rigorous testing methods developed in a public forum with independent laboratories, code officials, building consultants, and industry input. They give projects a baseline and benchmark for performance from third-party, neutral, impartial and consensus-based resource – exactly what you need in the politically charged, often confusing arena of sustainability. (As one manufacturing executive quipped, "Codes are the Switzerland of the building world.")
The increased use of life-cycle analysis and regional adaptations of the LEED rating system demonstrate that codifying and calculating sustainability is a complex process. And just by following one standard or another, architects can’t instantly make a building green.
But architects and project teams can achieve sustainability by looking for codes and standards that increase durability, reduce energy and materials needed, and make buildings safer and healthier for occupants. New editions of the codes may include new language and provisions for better, greener decisions. The new omnibus ASTM standards for EIFS adopted by the ICC offer a powerful example: When used as a design guideline, this new provision leads to more durable, energy efficient structures with better IEQ.
Those omnibus standards will help make us green, but it’s just one more example. Behind the next 200-year building are materials and construction approaches that have been proven to work – and put into North American codes and standards.
About Sto Corp.
Sto Corp., based in Atlanta, Georgia, is an innovative leader and producer of a broad range of versatile cladding and coating systems for building construction, maintenance and restoration. Sto Corp. is ISO 14001:2004 (environmental management) as well as ISO 9001:2008 certified and operates production plants strategically located to serve more than 200 distributor shipping locations across North and South America. At research and development laboratories in the U.S. and Europe, Sto continues to revolutionize the industry with the highest quality products and application technology. Sto is also the world’s largest manufacturer of exterior thermal insulation systems with 27 subsidiaries operating at 21 factories worldwide.
If you are looking for more information on continuous insulation and , EIFS please visit www.stocorp.com or call toll free (800) 221-2397.
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Where Is The Best Place For A Chandelier
Many people wonder where they should put a chandelier. There are plenty of spaces all around the home that would work well with a chandelier or other type of hanging light. In many cases, a chandelier is the only type of light that would look sensational. This article acts as a guide to the best places in the home for a chandelier and if a chandelier isn't appropriate, what are the best lights to use. Read on to find out more!
Entrance Hallway
This can work very well with a chandelier so long as the space is large. Small, narrow hallways would be overshadowed with a chandelier, especially if the ceiling was quite low. Although a chandelier can certainly provide a dramatic feature as you enter the home, only a very particular type of hallway can benefit. Modern houses tend to have narrow hallways and in these it is much better to avoid hanging lights altogether and instead go for spot lights or wall lights.
Sitting Room
This is usually the perfect place for a dazzling chandelier. Again you have to be careful that there is room for a tall person to walk underneath the spot where it would hang, and that you buy the right size for the room. Having a chandelier that is too large for the room looks even worse than having one that is too small for the space. You must measure up extremely carefully beforehand if you are to get it right. If there is not enough room for a chandelier then table lamps and floor lamps can look fantastic in a sitting room. You can buy them in all shapes and sizes and to match any type of interior design too. If the room is very large then a chandelier as well as a few lamps may be required.
Kitchen
In the kitchen a chandelier is generally not suitable, unless there is a large amount of space over the kitchen table where the majority of dining and eating takes place. Otherwise a kitchen needs a large amount of task lighting so cooking is easy to do. If you do want some mood lighting in your kitchen as well as task lighting then you could always find some dimmer switches for the main lights. These can be turned up high when cooking and turned right down low when eating or entertaining.
Bedrooms
Generally chandeliers aren't used in bedrooms although there isn't really a reason why they shouldn't be. Often bedrooms are not decorated in a formal or grand way and that is perhaps the reason why alternatives to chandeliers are used. Furthermore the chandelier won't be seen as much when placed in a bedroom as when placed in one of the reception rooms downstairs. If you do want a chandelier in the bedroom then matching the size and decor is important.
Bathrooms
Because of the amount of humidity in the bathroom and all the water, hanging lights of any kind shouldn't be used. Instead you should use lights that are designed for bathroom use only and they should be inset into the ceiling or the walls. It is a good idea to use some kind of lighting around or above the main mirror as it is here you will need to carry out tasks such as applying makeup or brushing teeth. If you are able, try and use dimmer switches in the bathroom as well so that you can have a relaxing bath if you so wish with mood lighting.
When it comes to hanging a chandelier, there isn't really a right or wrong place to hang it; it is just that some places are better than others. Chandelier lighting is quite grand and looks dazzling if used correctly. A ceiling fan light, lamps or wall lights could all be used instead however in any room of the house.
The History of Plastics and Plastic Surgery
While the subspecialty of medicine known as Plastic Surgery is universally known, there are few who would not know what Plastic Surgery is or does. But yet, I will occasionally get asked questions by new patients such as...'now tell me where the plastic goes'...or...'will the plastic used in the operation get infected?' Indicating that a perception stills exists for some that Plastic Surgery is about using plastic materials to get the desired results.
While the time periods of development for both Plastic Surgery and plastic materials are similar, there is no direct link between the two. Plastic Surgery was not given its name because it used plastic materials in surgery. The Greek word, 'plastikos', whicih means to mold, shape, or give form to is the meaning behind the naming of the medical specialty Plastic Surgery. And this is certainly an accurate description of what Plastic Surgeons do...cut, shape, and mold tissues to give human body parts recognizeable forms whether it be for reconstructive purposes or for cosmetic alterations. Plastic Surgery organized itself into a formal society in 1931 with the formation of the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, recently condensed to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. It's first formal training program began several years earlier in 1924 with the establishment of the first plastic surgery residency at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. Formal board-certification in Plastic Surgery started in 1937 which dramatically raised the standards for the specialty.
Plastic materials developed right around the same time frame as Plastic Surgery. The earliest true thermosetting plastics had their beginning in the late 1800s with the commerically successful product known as Bakelite introduced in Britain in the early 1900s. But DuPont with its polyamide (nylon 66) plastic in the 1930s popularized the material here in the United States. New plastics followed quickly such as polystyrene and polymethyl methacrylate. (acrylic). All these plastic materials become tremendously popular and necessary during World War II as components of many military products such as aircraft canopies and radar units. And here is where Plastic Surgery and plastic materials share yet another similarity...their development was propelled by wars, WWI and WWII. Military conflicts and the need for personal protection (plastic materials) and in the treatment of their war-related injuries (Plastic Surgery) served as a catalyst for both of their developments.
A final sidenote of both of their pre-WWII history is that they similarly converged to deal with a growing problem in the 1930s...motor vehicle accidents. As cars became more common, so did auto accidents and injuries from the shattering of glass windshields. Severe facial lacerations from the shattering of glass windshields was common at the time. Plastic surgeons were a loud voice about this problem and spurned manufacturers, such as DuPont and Monsanto, to develope more-shatterproof windshields. As Plastic Surgery performs many huundreds of different operations from the face and throughout the body, very few have ever actually required plastic materials to make the operation successful. While breast and facial implants, which are very common and popular cosmetic operations today do use synthetic materials, they are a silicone-based rubber material. Technically, not a plastic material in the organic chemistry sense. Only one operation in all of Plastic Surgery has ever really used a plastic material and that is an acrylic cranioplasty where a section of the skull is replaced by a 'plastic piece'. While not as commonly done today, acrylic cranioplasties are still done by some Plastic Surgeons and neurosurgeons as well.
------
Dr Barry Eppley is a board-certified plastic surgeon at Clarian North and West Medical Centers in Indianapolis, Indiana. He writes a daily blog on trends and topics in plastic surgery at http://www.exploreplasticsurgery.com
While the time periods of development for both Plastic Surgery and plastic materials are similar, there is no direct link between the two. Plastic Surgery was not given its name because it used plastic materials in surgery. The Greek word, 'plastikos', whicih means to mold, shape, or give form to is the meaning behind the naming of the medical specialty Plastic Surgery. And this is certainly an accurate description of what Plastic Surgeons do...cut, shape, and mold tissues to give human body parts recognizeable forms whether it be for reconstructive purposes or for cosmetic alterations. Plastic Surgery organized itself into a formal society in 1931 with the formation of the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, recently condensed to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. It's first formal training program began several years earlier in 1924 with the establishment of the first plastic surgery residency at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. Formal board-certification in Plastic Surgery started in 1937 which dramatically raised the standards for the specialty.
Plastic materials developed right around the same time frame as Plastic Surgery. The earliest true thermosetting plastics had their beginning in the late 1800s with the commerically successful product known as Bakelite introduced in Britain in the early 1900s. But DuPont with its polyamide (nylon 66) plastic in the 1930s popularized the material here in the United States. New plastics followed quickly such as polystyrene and polymethyl methacrylate. (acrylic). All these plastic materials become tremendously popular and necessary during World War II as components of many military products such as aircraft canopies and radar units. And here is where Plastic Surgery and plastic materials share yet another similarity...their development was propelled by wars, WWI and WWII. Military conflicts and the need for personal protection (plastic materials) and in the treatment of their war-related injuries (Plastic Surgery) served as a catalyst for both of their developments.
A final sidenote of both of their pre-WWII history is that they similarly converged to deal with a growing problem in the 1930s...motor vehicle accidents. As cars became more common, so did auto accidents and injuries from the shattering of glass windshields. Severe facial lacerations from the shattering of glass windshields was common at the time. Plastic surgeons were a loud voice about this problem and spurned manufacturers, such as DuPont and Monsanto, to develope more-shatterproof windshields. As Plastic Surgery performs many huundreds of different operations from the face and throughout the body, very few have ever actually required plastic materials to make the operation successful. While breast and facial implants, which are very common and popular cosmetic operations today do use synthetic materials, they are a silicone-based rubber material. Technically, not a plastic material in the organic chemistry sense. Only one operation in all of Plastic Surgery has ever really used a plastic material and that is an acrylic cranioplasty where a section of the skull is replaced by a 'plastic piece'. While not as commonly done today, acrylic cranioplasties are still done by some Plastic Surgeons and neurosurgeons as well.
------
Dr Barry Eppley is a board-certified plastic surgeon at Clarian North and West Medical Centers in Indianapolis, Indiana. He writes a daily blog on trends and topics in plastic surgery at http://www.exploreplasticsurgery.com
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