The following three considerations are general techniques that should be followed: 1. Usually only two FAST diagrams are of interest: the diagram that represents an existing plan, program, or design, and the diagram that represents the proposed concept. When diagramming something that exists, be sure not to slip off on a tangent and include alternatives […]
City and countryside
The historical record shows how important it was for hydraulic engineering to have social utility in Antiquity. Its effects must be recognized by the beneficiaries — but often these beneficiaries are far from the hydraulic projects themselves. If they are in the countryside, they may easily recognize the utility of large irrigation canals, such as […]
Know the pros and cons of carpeting
Carpeting is not my first choice for a floor covering. In general, inexpensive carpeting doesn’t last long, so it tends to be a significant part of the waste stream clogging our landfills. Fortunately, efforts are now being made to recycle some of the millions of yards of carpeting that are replaced every year. If you […]
Control of Production Variability
The standard EN 13108-21 contains a second element of FPC—namely, the control of production variability. This control is applied through the determination of the running mean deviation from the target and is described in Item A.5 of the standard. It involves monitoring systematic trends at the production stages of asphalt mixtures to prevent permanent one-sided […]
Collector Installation at a Glance
Solar hot-water systems involve a fair amount of labor-intensive planning and plumbing, but a typical collector installation is fairly straightforward. On this membrane-covered shed roof, (1) the first step was to erect the aluminum frames that hold the panels. The frames are adjusted to a fixed angle that maximizes the collector’s solar gain and are […]
Appendix A: Span Tables
Using Span Tables Table One is an abbreviated version of Table R502.3.1(2), from the International Residential Code for One — and Two — Family Dwellings. This particular table, just one of many in IRC codebook, is for floor joist spans for common lumber species, and assumes that we are designing for a residential living area […]
Installing casing
Casing hides the joint between the dry — wall and door jamb or window surround It comes in many styles, from 1 x square — edged stock in varying widths to milled casings (see the drawing above). When casing doors, I buy 14-ft. lengths to cut down on waste. Sometimes door casing is available in […]
Install the interior-door hardware
Interior-door handles and locks are installed in essentially the same manner as those used on exterior doors. Most interior doors just require a handle and a latch, or what is commonly known as a passage-door lockset. However, for bedroom and bathroom doors, you may want a privacy lock—an interior lockset that locks when you push […]
Wall-to-Wall Carpeting
Basically, there are two types of wall-to-wall carpeting. Conventional carpeting is laid over a separate rubber or foam padding and must be stretched and attached to tackless strips around the perimeter of the room. Cushion-backed carpeting, which has foam bonded to its backing, doesn’t need to be stretched—it’s usually glued down—so it’s generally easier to […]
Chance-Constrained Water-Quality Management
Water-quality management is the practice of protecting the physical, chemical, and biologic characteristics of various water resources. Historically, such efforts have been guided toward the goal of assessing and controlling the impacts of human activities on the quality of water. To implement water-quality management measures in a conscientious manner, one must acknowledge both the activities […]