Interesting interpretations and snafus

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Author Message Sheldon Wolfe Senior Member Username: sheldon_wolfe Post Number: 234 Registered: 01-2003 Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - 11:02 am:    Horror stories and amusing anecdotes often are the best way to learn something. I'm sure we all have our favorite goof-ups; I'm starting this thread so we can put them all in one place. My initial offering is a contractor's literal interpretation of what the drawings seem to show. It illustrates the need to think about what we draw. Stair tread Ronald L. Geren, RA, CSI, CCS, CCCA, SCIP Senior Member Username: specman Post Number: 406 Registered: 03-2003 Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - 11:16 am:    Now that's hilarious! Don Harris CSI, CCS, CCCA, AIA Senior Member Username: don_harris Post Number: 113 Registered: 03-2003 Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - 11:18 am:    Are you really putting the onus of this mistake on the Architect's drawing? This is a standard detail designation with a standard leader pointing to the detail. This is absolutely, completely, unequivocally, the contractor's problem. And on top of it all, the risers look to be substantially short of code required height. How come the contractor didn't make an imprint of the arrow head at the threshold, and where is the dashed line? The contractor obviously had some additional forming to do that was completely neglected. This is NOT the architect's problem. Wayne Yancey Senior Member Username: wyancey Post Number: 295 Registered: 05-2005 Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - 12:01 pm:    Sheldon, What was the GC's explanation and did they do this one time? Thanks Sheldon Wolfe Senior Member Username: sheldon_wolfe Post Number: 236 Registered: 01-2003 Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - 10:36 pm:    Wayne: I don't know where it happened or why. The picture was sent by a friend at another firm. Don: Good grief, take a deep breath! I had intended this to be something a little less serious. Yes, the contractor's brain may have a twelve-inch slump. No, I wouldn't blame this on the architect. The point of the thread is that clear communication is important, we must think about what the person in the field will think, and sometimes the results are interesting. And sometimes it's impossible to guess. ;-) Don Harris CSI, CCS, CCCA, AIA Senior Member Username: don_harris Post Number: 114 Registered: 03-2003 Posted on Thursday, March 01, 2007 - 08:42 am:    Sorry, after my posting I was hoping your tongue was lost deep in your cheek somewhere. Russ Hinkle, AIA, CCS Senior Member Username: rhinkle Post Number: 17 Registered: 02-2006 Posted on Thursday, March 01, 2007 - 11:45 am:    So it took less than 18 hours for the stair picture to make it to me from another source, with serious discussion about paying attention to what we draw. I'm with you, it's just funny. I can't help myself but chuckle when I look at the picture. Sheldon Wolfe Senior Member Username: sheldon_wolfe Post Number: 237 Registered: 01-2003 Posted on Saturday, March 03, 2007 - 12:35 am:    You'll be glad to know that the contractor who built the stair referred to in my first post was severely reprimanded and told to rebuild the stair. After much apologizing for not reading the detail correctly, the contractor did as instructed - tore out the stairs and built them again. Much better. (Thanks, Wayne and ???) Richard A. Rosen, CSI, CCS, AIA Senior Member Username: rarosen Post Number: 7 Registered: 08-2006 Posted on Tuesday, March 06, 2007 - 03:40 pm:    A true testimonial to low bid contracting. Stansen Specifications Senior Member Username: stanspecs Post Number: 13 Registered: 11-2002 Posted on Friday, March 23, 2007 - 06:32 pm:    Just found a good one while editing a structural engineer's masters. They refer to NAAMM's "Metal Stairs Manuel". Wonder whether they got his permission? Mark Gilligan SE, CSI Senior Member Username: markgilligan Post Number: 146 Registered: 05-2005 Posted on Saturday, March 24, 2007 - 03:01 am:    The NAAMM Manual is a good resource, but is it written in enforcable language or should it be excluded from the specification? In the past I have been able to specify design build stairs without referencing this manual. Lynn Javoroski CSI CCS LEED AP SCIP Affiliate Senior Member Username: lynn_javoroski Post Number: 524 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Monday, March 26, 2007 - 09:21 am:    I have to wonder if there isn't more than one Manuel at NAAMM, too. Shouldn't they clarify which Manuel they are referencing? Gary L. Beimers, FCSI, CDT, CSC Senior Member Username: gbeimers Post Number: 10 Registered: 05-2005 Posted on Monday, March 26, 2007 - 09:38 am:    Perhaps in this case. . . E.Manuel Lynn Javoroski CSI CCS LEED AP SCIP Affiliate Senior Member Username: lynn_javoroski Post Number: 525 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Monday, March 26, 2007 - 09:43 am:    I guess some would think that NAAMM is a god... Sheldon Wolfe Senior Member Username: sheldon_wolfe Post Number: 280 Registered: 01-2003 Posted on Wednesday, September 12, 2007 - 01:17 pm:    Another interesting interpretation of drawings, this one courtesy of Lynn J. clouds. (I know there is a rational explanation, but I prefer the funnier view.) Jerome J. Lazar, RA, CCS, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: lazarcitec Post Number: 432 Registered: 05-2003 Posted on Wednesday, September 12, 2007 - 03:03 pm:    Sheldon - your clouds image just made my day, and this has been a crappy day, I've always said that humor makes even the worse of times better, thanks for the laugh - even though the image is way too true.