It finally happened

Log Out | Topics | Search Moderators | Register | Edit Profile

Author Message James Sandoz, AIA, CSI, CCS, CCCA Senior Member Username: jsandoz Post Number: 298 Registered: 06-2005 Posted on Thursday, June 11, 2020 - 09:56 pm:    For years I joked that someday an architect would give me a picture of something and ask that I write a specification for it. Today that came to pass. When asked what the client's preferred fire extinguisher cabinet is so I could complete the specification for it I received this: Lynn Javoroski FCSI CCS LEEDŽ AP SCIP Affiliate Senior Member Username: lynn_javoroski Post Number: 2244 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Thursday, June 11, 2020 - 09:58 pm:    Words fail me Ellis C. Whitby, PE, CSI, CDT, AIA, LEED Senior Member Username: ecwhitby Post Number: 532 Registered: 03-2003 Posted on Friday, June 12, 2020 - 08:05 am:    They could't be bothered to open the cabinet & read the manufacturer & model info? And fuzzy photo at that. James Sandoz, AIA, CSI, CCS, CCCA Senior Member Username: jsandoz Post Number: 299 Registered: 06-2005 Posted on Friday, June 12, 2020 - 08:58 am:    Fuzzy, yes. I was told there are dozens of images in a project folder and none of them are dated or have any other meta data. When or exactly where they were taken is no longer known. When I was a lowly grunt (aren't I still?) going out in the field I, and my colleagues,carried a clip board with a paper tablet, not an electronic one, and recorded every image/picture we took. We took fewer but more useful images then. We would take a site or floor plan we had drafted in the office, or occasionally, make a sketch on the tablet to locate each image. This is similar to what we expect of the contractor for construction progress photos except this was to record the existing conditions. When I ask a project architect why something like that hasn't been done at the outset the answer I get is "we didn't have time" or "it wasn't in the budget," Once again, if you don't have time to do it right in the first place when are you going to have time to correct it? In other news, happy Friday, everybody! Margaret G. Chewning FCSI CCS Senior Member Username: presbspec Post Number: 332 Registered: 01-2003 Posted on Friday, June 12, 2020 - 09:05 am:    And a flush trim type cabinet mounted to the face of the wall at that. Interesting that he picked a unit that was mounted incorrectly. ken hercenberg Senior Member Username: khercenberg Post Number: 1285 Registered: 12-2006 Posted on Friday, June 12, 2020 - 09:21 am:    So they want to surface mount a recessed box? If a picture is worth a thousand words can you just put this photo in Part 2 and send a bill? Ellis C. Whitby, PE, CSI, CDT, AIA, LEED Senior Member Username: ecwhitby Post Number: 533 Registered: 03-2003 Posted on Friday, June 12, 2020 - 09:50 am:    James: Exactly. Working in primarily CCA, I often hear "we didn't have time" and "it wasn't in the budget." It's funny that somehow the same organization finds time to change parts of the design numerous time during production, and often during construction. "Have they installed that stone floor yet? .... Why yes, as I indicated in the Site Observation report I issued to you two months ago." Robin E. Snyder Senior Member Username: robin Post Number: 806 Registered: 08-2004 Posted on Friday, June 12, 2020 - 11:51 am:    This is everyday for me. All day, everyday. Paul Sweet (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Friday, June 12, 2020 - 11:45 am:    It looks like the architect has an ADA issue as well. Nathan Woods, CSI, CCCA, LEED AP Senior Member Username: nwoods Post Number: 819 Registered: 08-2005 Posted on Friday, June 12, 2020 - 12:23 pm:    So awesome. Michael Chusid, RA FCSI CCS Senior Member Username: michael_chusid Post Number: 539 Registered: 10-2003 Posted on Friday, June 12, 2020 - 12:30 pm:    Suggested Spec: "Provide type shown on Drawings." Michael Chusid, RA FCSI CCS 1-818-219-4937 www.chusid.com www.buildingproduct.guru John Bunzick Senior Member Username: bunzick Post Number: 1815 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Friday, June 12, 2020 - 12:33 pm:    This is why I never asked the project architect what cabinet style they wanted. They just got one. I managed to get away with in being an in-house spec writer. guest (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Friday, June 12, 2020 - 01:31 pm:    Margaret/Ken-The flush trim is an intended design element! Pic looks like protruding more than 4-inches? In path of travel/circulation? Oops! How many of you specifiers make/specify the correct selection for the specific project application? I typically have to, because designer doesn't (I guess no time?)...nor do they typically review specs before bidding (again no time?), to ensure it reads what they intended/want! Specs are only read (in-field) during construction when there's a problem and designers are looking to specs to save their "backsides"! Don't we provide such a great life-saving service...and at low-cost I might add? ken hercenberg Senior Member Username: khercenberg Post Number: 1286 Registered: 12-2006 Posted on Friday, June 12, 2020 - 01:44 pm:    I enjoy it when reps call me to let me know that the specs don't reflect what they agreed to with the designer and already priced to the Contractor. The rep can communicate the product model and options to me but the architect can't? Architect's response: "Oh yeah, we changed that. Guess we should have let you know, huh? You're not going to bill my project are you?" James Sandoz, AIA, CSI, CCS, CCCA Senior Member Username: jsandoz Post Number: 300 Registered: 06-2005 Posted on Saturday, June 13, 2020 - 11:17 am:    "You're not going to bill my project are you?" The hell I'm not and I'm going to tell the project principal why I'm doing so.