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Author Message Tracy Van Niel Senior Member Username: tracy_van_niel Post Number: 53 Registered: 04-2002 Posted on Thursday, November 20, 2003 - 08:42 am:    The thread on the construction dictionary (and terminology) made me chuckle. Do any of you have any favorite typos? A couple of the ones that have showed up on some of our projects are: Revolting doors (instead of revolving ones) Vitreous bowels (instead of bowls) and on the title sheet of the drawings at an engineering firm that I worked for many, many years ago ... Department of Pubic Works (instead of Public) Richard Howard, AIA CSI CCS Senior Member Username: rick_howard Post Number: 8 Registered: 07-2003 Posted on Thursday, November 20, 2003 - 10:39 am:    A drawing note referring to a "well-hung unit heater" and wording in the Notice to Bidders saying, "the work may commence once the Contractor has been executed." I think that last one was a premonition of difficulties ahead. David R. Combs, CSI, CCS, CCCA (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Thursday, November 20, 2003 - 11:58 am:    Some of my favorites (yes, these really appeared on a set of Drawings): Laundry Shoot Butt-faced Glass (presumably after it got drunk) CUM (instead of CMU) And, of course, the typicals: - insure instead of ensure - provide and install - lack of capitalization on words such as Architect, Owner, Contractor, Drawings, Specifications, Contract Documents, etc. . . . and too many others to recall at the moment. Helaine K. Robinson CCS Senior Member Username: hollyrob Post Number: 18 Registered: 07-2003 Posted on Thursday, November 20, 2003 - 12:37 pm:    Electrical engineer designating lighting fixture types as FAA, FAB, FAC and so on... Jerome J. Lazar, RA, CCS, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: lazarcitec Post Number: 22 Registered: 05-2003 Posted on Thursday, November 20, 2003 - 12:57 pm:    Very funny stuff, it is always enjoyable to read a funny post esp. when it relates to our industry, maybe Colin could start a humor thread, as it relates to the industry, without the major vulgarity. I for one still find it useful to tell a humorous joke on a job site or email a colleague or an adversary during battle. Humor is still the best medicine. John Regener, AIA, CCS, CCCA, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: john_regener Post Number: 136 Registered: 04-2002 Posted on Thursday, November 20, 2003 - 05:49 pm:    My vocabulary has be corrupted by: "incandecent" for "incandescent" "condominimum" for "condominium" "dullbozer" for "bulldozer" (by my son at age 4) I have to be careful because I spent a couple of years with a large shipping organization (US Navy) living with boatswain's mates who a have a "colorful" language all their own. David E Lorenzini Senior Member Username: deloren Post Number: 23 Registered: 04-2000 Posted on Thursday, November 20, 2003 - 06:24 pm:    My favorite typo occured when a friend tried to be helpful by typing a specification for my college class in specification writing. I had to smile when I saw "can't strip" in the roofing section. David Stutzman Member Username: david_stutzman Post Number: 12 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Thursday, November 20, 2003 - 06:36 pm:    I like the spec typist's idea of being helpful by carefully searching a spec section one of my colleagues wrote to change every occurrence of "sex bolt" to "set bolt." I've enjoyed reading all these contributions. Its wonderful to finish the day smiling. Richard L Matteo Junior Member Username: rlmat Post Number: 2 Registered: 10-2003 Posted on Thursday, November 20, 2003 - 06:54 pm:    I'm sure we could probably fill a large notebook with all the spec typos. The other thing we have to remember, at least in my experience, (as someone who spent a year and a half as an english major)is that many Architects cannot spell to begin with. My favorite typo today has to be the one about executing the Contractor!! John Regener, AIA, CCS, CCCA, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: john_regener Post Number: 138 Registered: 04-2002 Posted on Thursday, November 20, 2003 - 07:01 pm:    Architectural terms and what they really mean (published several places ... not my work) ____________________ ARCHITECTURE TERMS (and what they really mean) Sense of Entry: The front door is big and far away. Human Scale: less than 400 feet tall. Skewed Grid: The design looked too boring with a regular grid. Pedestrian-Oriented: Doesn’t have enough parking. Contextual: Is surrounded by a lot of other buildings the architect couldn’t tear down. Theoretical: Nobody in their right mind would ever consider building the crazy thing. Signature Building: You can’t afford it. Less Is More: The designer ran out of ideas. Classically Proportioned: Traced out of a book of Greek architecture. Postmodern: Traced out of a book of Roman architecture. International Style: No country will take responsibility for it. Deconstructivist: The backhoe ran into it during construction ­- and they liked it. Seismically Designed High Rise: In an earthquake, the structure will not collapse, but will drop all of its glass and stone panels into the street turning pedestrians into a stew-like mush of pureed flesh. Jury: Firing squad. Design Review Board: Failed architecture majors. Architecture Student: Egotistical masochist with no money. John Regener, AIA, CCS, CCCA, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: john_regener Post Number: 139 Registered: 04-2002 Posted on Thursday, November 20, 2003 - 07:15 pm:    SHORTFORM GENERAL CONDITIONS OF THE CONTRACT Article 1 The work we want did is clearly indicated on the attached plans and specifications. The Architect, who has had plenty of college, has spent a lot of time drawing up these plans and specifications, but nobody can think of everything. Once your bid is submitted to the Owner-that's it brother! From then on, anything wanted by the Architect, the Owner, or any of his friends, or anybody else except the Contractor, shall be considered as shown, specified, intended, or implied, and shall be provided by the Contractor without any expense to anyone except the Contractor. Article 2 If the work is done without extra expense to the Contractor, then the work will be taken down and done over again until the extra expense to the Contractor is satisfactory to the Architect. Article 3 The contract drawings are intended to be correct. If drawn wrong, it should be discovered by the Contractor, corrected, and done right at his own expense. It won't cut no ice with the Owner or the Architect if the Contractor points out the mistakes which the Architect has drawn on the plans. Article 4 The Contractor is not supposed to make fun of the Architect, his plans, or specifications. If he does, then the same consequence shall apply as stated in Article 3 above. Article 5 Any Contractor walking around the job site with a smile on his face will be subject to a review of his bid. Article 6 If the Contractor doesn't find all the Architect's mistakes prior to making his bid on this job, or if he doesn't have enough sense to know that the Architect is going to think up a bunch of new stuff that has to be done before the job can be deemed complete, then the Contractor shall provide any such items without extra expense to the Owner or Architect. Article 7 Any evidence of satisfaction on the part of the Contractor shall be considered as just cause for withholding final payment. Helaine K. Robinson CCS Senior Member Username: hollyrob Post Number: 19 Registered: 07-2003 Posted on Friday, November 21, 2003 - 10:43 am:    I got into this business in 1979 as an estimator for a wall and ceiling contractor. I remember some gag definitions which circulated then, one was Engineer's Estimate defined as the cost of construction in Heaven. Helaine K. Robinson CCS Senior Member Username: hollyrob Post Number: 20 Registered: 07-2003 Posted on Friday, November 21, 2003 - 11:52 pm:    Just to show that it's not just our field which mangles the language, this is currently on the Washington Post website's front page: "Al Qaeda Group Claims Turkey Role" Heather Huisinga, CSI, CCCA Senior Member Username: huisinga Post Number: 27 Registered: 05-2002 Posted on Monday, November 24, 2003 - 10:56 am:    Project Manger (Manager - spell check--what a novel idea!!) William C. Pegues, FCSI, CCS Senior Member Username: wpegues Post Number: 244 Registered: 10-2002 Posted on Monday, November 24, 2003 - 11:09 am:    But manger is a perfect example of why spell check does not help you - its a perfectly fine word. You can make yourself look totally incompetent relying on spell check systems. Joe Edwards, P.E., FCSI, CCS (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Monday, November 24, 2003 - 01:37 pm:    The humor from the errors is great. Here are a few I have come across in my years of working with architects and engineers: - On the drawings prepared for the expansion of existing men's and women's locker rooms at a wastewater treatment plant were a baptismal font and the piping to and from the font. - And my all-time classic from an engineer: "The Contractor, his employees, his sub-contractors, sub-sub-contractors, etc. and their employees, and all suppliers and their employees shall abide by al Federal, State, and local laws, rules, regulations and codes with which the Contractor agrees with." Joe Edwards, P.E., FCSI, CCS (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Monday, November 24, 2003 - 01:42 pm:    The humor from the errors is great. A few of the classics I have encountered in my years of working with architects and engineers to prepare documents for my employer: - The drawings for the expansion of the men's and women's locker rooms at a wastewater treatment plant included a baptismal font and plumbing to and from the font. - My all-time classic from an engineer: "The Contractor and his employees, his sub-contractors, sub-sub-contractors, etc and their employees, and his suppliers and their employees shall abide by all Federal, State and local laws, rules, regulations and codes with which the Contractor agrees with. William C. Pegues, FCSI, CCS Senior Member Username: wpegues Post Number: 245 Registered: 10-2002 Posted on Tuesday, November 25, 2003 - 04:27 pm:    Not a typo, but frequently I find that the short cut to note an undetailed condition as 'similar to' would be better labeled 'different from' since by the time it evolves its not really similar to anything else. Reid Pierre Condit Intermediate Member Username: pierre Post Number: 4 Registered: 10-2003 Posted on Tuesday, November 25, 2003 - 04:56 pm:    Taking Mr. Peques seriously-- then after "different from" wouldn't one have to list every detail in the drawings? . . . But there is a genuine typo in the above message: "its" without an apostrophe, like his, her and their or theirs, is a possessive adjective and requires no apostrophe. But Mr. Peques intended "it's," the contraction of "it is." Usually this error is reversed though: people write "it's" when they intend the possessive adjective and generally never fail to include the apostrophe when the contraction is intended. In my opinion, this is the most common error consistently made in current English usage. I even saw it recently in a CNN caption. Kenneth C. Crocco Intermediate Member Username: kcrocco Post Number: 5 Registered: 04-2003 Posted on Tuesday, November 25, 2003 - 06:02 pm:    I'm giving a presentation to architects and was wondering if any of you would object to me using some of these favorite typos. Do you think I need to give the sources? (or maybe the authors don't want to be known) I have seen the "trash shoot" similar to laundry shoot listed earlier in posting no. 8. i wonder if it was intentional. anyway if anyone wants credit, i will certainly oblige Colin Gilboy Senior Member Username: colin Post Number: 101 Registered: 05-2000 Posted on Tuesday, November 25, 2003 - 06:12 pm:    Kenneth, In general anything posted in a public discussion area (such as this discussion forum) can be used as appropriate. I would appreciate a reference to the 4specs discussion forum (and to 4specs) as technically we have the copyright on the documents. Anonymous   Posted on Tuesday, November 25, 2003 - 07:13 pm:    "its" without an apostrophe. "You can make yourself look totally incompetent" William C. Pegues, FCSI, CCS Senior Member Username: wpegues Post Number: 246 Registered: 10-2002 Posted on Sunday, November 30, 2003 - 12:34 am:    That's what Reid makes his mistake with - taking anything in this thread seriously. One of the problems common with online live input is typos from quick input. Given the length of time I have been doing this I have probably committed more errors like that than most of the posters here combined. Anonymous on the other hand, seems to take himself far too seriously. Anonymous   Posted on Monday, December 01, 2003 - 08:41 am:    Once by being careless with spell check in a document, the name of my boss was changed from "Heidrich" to "Headlice". Helaine K. Robinson CCS Senior Member Username: hollyrob Post Number: 21 Registered: 07-2003 Posted on Monday, December 01, 2003 - 09:51 am:    Seen on a remodeling company van this morning: FREE ESTIMENTS! Anonymous   Posted on Monday, December 01, 2003 - 11:19 am:    Document typo: Should have read "storm shutters" but said "storm shitters." David R. Combs, CSI, CCS, CCCA (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Wednesday, December 03, 2003 - 08:44 am:    The following were all found in the same Spec section from the same consultant (just yesterday): "proved" instead of PROVIDE "chare" instead of CHARGE "will" instead of SHALL (but then again, what consultant isn't guilty of that one?) "wit" instead of WITH "alar" instead of ALARM "toe" instead of TO And since they are all legitimate words, none of them would be caught by the spell-checker. (Or, apparently, the consultant who actually prepared the document!) This illustrates why I am a staunch proponent of receiving electronic files of consultants' specifications. Not pdf files, not hard copies, but the original Word or WP document file. This affords one the opportunity to correct such embarrassments, before the product is put out on the street. D. Marshall Fryer Intermediate Member Username: dmfryer Post Number: 5 Registered: 09-2003 Posted on Wednesday, December 03, 2003 - 02:41 pm:    I just saw a drawing this morning for an asphalt parking lot with a "compacted grave subbase." I almost died laughing. D. Marshall Fryer Advanced Member Username: dmfryer Post Number: 6 Registered: 09-2003 Posted on Wednesday, December 03, 2003 - 02:56 pm:    Also, I remember a while back seeing a note for "tapired insulation" on the roof of a zoo exhibit building! Tom Heineman RA, FCSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: tom_heineman Post Number: 21 Registered: 06-2002 Posted on Wednesday, December 03, 2003 - 07:39 pm:    This is only an urban legend, I'm afraid: "The stairway shall be built by skilled carpenters with red oak noses." John Regener, AIA, CCS, CCCA, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: john_regener Post Number: 140 Registered: 04-2002 Posted on Thursday, December 04, 2003 - 12:43 am:    STUPID SPELL CHECKER DITTY (author unknown) Eye halve a spelling chequer It came with my pea sea It plainly marques four my revue Miss steaks eye kin knot sea. Eye strike a key and type a word And weight four it two say Weather eye am wrong oar write It shows me strait a weigh. As soon as a mist ache is maid It nose bee fore two long And eye can put the error rite Its rare lea ever wrong. Eye have run this poem threw it I am shore your pleased two no Its letter perfect awl the weigh My chequer tolled me sew. C. R. Mudgeon Senior Member Username: c_r_mudgeon Post Number: 11 Registered: 08-2002 Posted on Thursday, December 04, 2003 - 09:51 am:    The following appeared in a project manual - no kidding! It's interesting how the author tries to explain what's to be done after first stating that all of the words mean the same thing. BTW, there was no definition of "Trade Contractor". The words "Furnish", "Provide", "Include", "Supply", "Erect", "Deliver", "Install", "Apply", "Lay" or "Place": These words are intended to be synonymous and to indicate that the material or work specifically mentioned is to be furnished and installed completely by this Contractor and incorporated into the Project. Whenever a material is to be furnished by this Contractor and installed by another Contractor, or installed by this Contractor and furnished by another Contractor, it will be specifically specified. Contractor: Wherever the term General Contractor appears in the Project Documents, it shall mean Trade Contractor. There will be no General Contractor on the project. Wherever the term "General Contractor" is used within the Bid Documents, it shall mean that this work shall be provided by the "Contractor" responsible for such work. D. Marshall Fryer Senior Member Username: dmfryer Post Number: 7 Registered: 09-2003 Posted on Thursday, December 04, 2003 - 10:06 am:    Wow! I am particularly partial to the "specifically specified" line. I don't think we can dismiss all that garbage language as a typo, though. Perhaps we need another new thread, where we can expose really bad spec language to the ridicule it deserves. Anonymous   Posted on Thursday, December 04, 2003 - 12:24 pm:    Sounds like C.R.M.'s definitions were generated by a Construction Manager who was too lazy (or didn't know how) to write (or re-write) the specifications correctly. Hence the blanket statements provided. Common old CM trick - do as little as possible, to maintain as little responsibility as possible, and to give the appearance of having delegated a maximum of work in order to justify their fee. (Not all CMs, just a few that I've dealt with in the past.) David Axt, AIA, CCS, CSI Senior Member Username: david_axt Post Number: 201 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Thursday, December 04, 2003 - 12:39 pm:    Anon says, "Common old CM trick - do as little as possible, to maintain as little responsibility as possible, and to give the appearance of having delegated a maximum of work in order to justify their fee. " You got that right mister! My favorite typo was on the structural drawing notes years back. "Engineer not responsible for Contractor's erections." Anonymous   Posted on Thursday, December 04, 2003 - 12:57 pm:    I like reading these typos and it's fun to laugh at ourselves, but it shows that we, as specifiers (or spec editors or whoever is writing these typos), are not doing our job to write legal enforceable documents of good quality. Have we lost the art of writing quality documents? C. R. Mudgeon Senior Member Username: c_r_mudgeon Post Number: 12 Registered: 08-2002 Posted on Thursday, December 04, 2003 - 01:35 pm:    Anon: Good question, and one that probably has a disappointing answer. The definitions in my previous post came from an office with a CCS. Many specifiers may be good at analyzing and choosing materials, but too many do not follow the rules set forth in the Manual of Practice. Lynn Javoroski Senior Member Username: lynn_javoroski Post Number: 36 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Friday, December 12, 2003 - 01:34 pm:    One language error that sprang into my mind from years ago is a "repelling wall" on a fire training station. I'm PRETTY sure the Architect meant "rappelling wall", although the first description does have some intriguing mental images... Anne Whitacre, CCS CSI Senior Member Username: awhitacre Post Number: 68 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 - 07:06 pm:    my favorite, also from years ago (and the beginnings of spell check) was "Vegetable Soup" used as a lubricant in fresh water piping instead of "vegetable soap". No one caught it until the Contractor submitted "chicken soup" as a substitution. Lynn Javoroski Senior Member Username: lynn_javoroski Post Number: 37 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Wednesday, December 17, 2003 - 04:14 pm:    This one appears quite often on Drawings: "flourescent" lighting. Maybe it's for that slightly hazy look that makes us older folks look better in photos? Jim Brittell, AIA, CSI (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Wednesday, December 17, 2003 - 06:31 pm:    For several years, the California Title 24 accessibility code had a diagram of an accessible shower stall that had a "soup dish". I always wondered if it was for people with an eating disorder.... Helaine K. Robinson CCS Senior Member Username: hollyrob Post Number: 33 Registered: 07-2003 Posted on Tuesday, January 20, 2004 - 04:09 pm:    Potable stage panels http://www.schoolconstructionnews.com/product/product.html Product of the Month Liberty by American Harlequin Corporation is a performing arts floor composed of sprung floor panels that can be fitted as a permanent floor or used as potable stage panels for touring. Lynn Javoroski Senior Member Username: lynn_javoroski Post Number: 48 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Tuesday, January 20, 2004 - 04:36 pm:    In about a month, I'm going to do a short seminar for the architects in my office on language in general and spec language in particular. Some of these will surely be used to lighten up the hour! I'll take any more you can pass along. Thanks! Reid Pierre Condit (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Tuesday, January 20, 2004 - 06:45 pm:    This sounds like a very worthwhile endeavor. I would love to hear what you have to say to architects about language in general. Would you consider posting your lecture notes? BTW, are you a nominalist or a metaphysical realist? A retired contractor, who consulted with my employer on CA issues, once asked me that question. I responded by saying I was a methodological nominalist. What would you have said? Anne Whitacre, CCS CSI Senior Member Username: awhitacre Post Number: 77 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Tuesday, January 20, 2004 - 06:56 pm:    oh.. and there was another one I forgot. My former partner (an estimator) was a terrible speller and decided to use spell-check "just in case". Well... on her 30 page estimate for a building at a local private college... the major funding donor's name "Piggott" was spell-checked into "Piglet" on every page of the document. she (of course) didn't review her stuff after it was printed, and so 40 copies were made, bound and distributed... for the major fund raising meeting for The Piglet Building! (needless to say, her architectural client was NOT amused.) John McGrann Advanced Member Username: jmcgrann Post Number: 12 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Wednesday, January 21, 2004 - 09:16 am:    "Tampered Backfill" from a civil engineer's standard detail of a buried pipe was last week's new discovery. Sort of explains why utility trenches often settle below the adjoining grade. Sheldon Wolfe Senior Member Username: sheldon_wolfe Post Number: 49 Registered: 01-2003 Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2004 - 12:21 pm:    I found this on the West Virginia University construction standards website a while back, but it has since been removed. TREATED LUMBER Treatment - Posts and door frames as required shall be pressure treated with "Womanized" CCA preservative in accordance with American Wood Preserver's Association Standard C2 latest editions. Anonymous   Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2004 - 03:31 pm:    What? You mean they're not calling for the studs to be "Womanized" too? Sheldon Wolfe Senior Member Username: sheldon_wolfe Post Number: 50 Registered: 01-2003 Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2004 - 04:12 pm:    Womanized studs. Hmmmm, interesting image... Lynn Javoroski Senior Member Username: lynn_javoroski Post Number: 49 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2004 - 04:39 pm:    Aren't all married men "womanized studs"? Anonymous (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2004 - 04:53 pm:    "Womanized stud" sounds like an oxymoron to me.... Lynn Javoroski Senior Member Username: lynn_javoroski Post Number: 50 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Friday, January 23, 2004 - 01:11 pm:    Sheldon, see what you started? D. Marshall Fryer Senior Member Username: dmfryer Post Number: 21 Registered: 09-2003 Posted on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 10:45 am:    How about "Insulting glass" (in lieu of insulating), found in MasterSpec Section 08550, subparagraph 1.8 A. 6. David Axt, AIA, CCS, CSI Senior Member Username: david_axt Post Number: 227 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 01:36 pm:    Don't you just hate it when the glass starts mouthing off? Lynn Javoroski Senior Member Username: lynn_javoroski Post Number: 51 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 01:41 pm:    Sassy Glass? Anonymous   Posted on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 02:34 pm:    Yeah, glass can be a real pane.... David Axt, AIA, CCS, CSI Senior Member Username: david_axt Post Number: 228 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 05:26 pm:    ....in the glass! Randy Cox Junior Member Username: builderrandy Post Number: 2 Registered: 01-2004 Posted on Monday, February 02, 2004 - 04:19 pm:    I just found a typo in a standard letter I've been using for the past two years... letting subcontractors know "we will sing and return one copy of the contract..." Anonymous   Posted on Monday, February 02, 2004 - 06:02 pm:    Do they hum a few bars and let you fake it? Anonymous (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Monday, March 22, 2004 - 07:51 pm:    I just saw a set of plans for a building that include a "BOOSER PUMP ROOM". Don't they know booze is spelled with a 'z'? Helaine K. Robinson CCS Senior Member Username: hollyrob Post Number: 54 Registered: 07-2003 Posted on Monday, May 24, 2004 - 01:30 pm:    BAD tresses! Was this a bad hair day? http://www.enquirer.com/midday/05/05252004_News_mday_churchroof25.html Four workers from subcontractor E.W. Construction of Waynesville were connecting tresses at the future site for the Fellowship of Praise Church of God at U.S. 22/Ohio 3 and Strout Road when the roof gave way Friday afternoon.... <snip> Spurling said it is also possible that there were some bad tresses that weakened the roof. OSHA is also investigating whether the wind could have been a factor, Gilgrist said. Anonymous   Posted on Thursday, October 07, 2004 - 01:13 pm:    The Amazing Human Mind I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdgnieg The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh? Yaeh and I awlyas thought slpeling was ipmorantt !.!.! Joanne Rodriguez, CSI, CDT, LEED AP Member Username: joanne Post Number: 3 Registered: 09-2004 Posted on Thursday, October 07, 2004 - 10:33 pm:    I come to this site to find the specifiers drinking so early in the day! It is noon somewhere... Anne Whitacre, CCS CSI Senior Member Username: awhitacre Post Number: 144 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Tuesday, December 14, 2004 - 06:17 pm:    we just got an RFI to approve "Doug Fur" soffits. I'm inclined to reject them unless I get the mink I wanted in the first place.... (it is winter, and the project is in Wisconsin...) George A. Everding, AIA, CCS, CSI Senior Member Username: geverding Post Number: 6 Registered: 11-2004 Posted on Tuesday, December 14, 2004 - 06:32 pm:    Ethical question- I wonder if using Doug fur soffits is "green". After all, it is a renewable resource because you can always breed new Dougs. On the other hand, somehow raising Dougs just to slaughter them for their pelts seems, somehow, slightly cruel to me. Sheldon Wolfe Senior Member Username: sheldon_wolfe Post Number: 104 Registered: 01-2003 Posted on Tuesday, December 14, 2004 - 06:39 pm:    Why is it "furring"? Wouldn't "firring" make more sense? As in using strips of fir? I know a couple of contractors who set their joyces in joyce hangers... Shelby N Gordonswyth Senior Member Username: shelbyng Post Number: 19 Registered: 08-2004 Posted on Tuesday, December 14, 2004 - 06:41 pm:    Dougs aren't prized just for their fur. They can make a really good hot dog... Shelby N Gordonswyth Senior Member Username: shelbyng Post Number: 20 Registered: 08-2004 Posted on Tuesday, December 14, 2004 - 07:02 pm:    It's called furring 'cause the framing don't stick out fur enuf... Lynn Javoroski Senior Member Username: lynn_javoroski Post Number: 167 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Tuesday, December 14, 2004 - 07:06 pm:    I think the Dougs would have something to say about their prize fur - to say nothing about their hot dogs...(or is that hot dougs)? And to some folks I know, I work in "arch-i-tec-shur" (think Triumph)... I don't know how we got from putting fur on something to putting sticks on something, although in both cases I guess you are sort of sheathing that something... Shelby N Gordonswyth Senior Member Username: shelbyng Post Number: 21 Registered: 08-2004 Posted on Tuesday, December 14, 2004 - 07:11 pm:    No, no, not "hot dougs." You never heard of a Doug Frank? Ralph Liebing Senior Member Username: rliebing Post Number: 120 Registered: 02-2003 Posted on Wednesday, December 15, 2004 - 07:03 am:    Shelby/Lynn/Anne/George/Sheldon-- please advise what brand, and where you got the obviously well "stocked" egg nog you all have been dipping into. Happy Hollydays! Doug Frank FCSI CCS Senior Member Username: doug_frank_ccs Post Number: 91 Registered: 06-2002 Posted on Wednesday, December 15, 2004 - 08:14 am:    Thanks for the mention Shelby and, George, you Can’t “always breed new dougs”! I promise any value my pelt may have had has long since diminished with age and exposure to the elements. and Yes, I have been referred to as “Hot Doug” on occasion. Happy Holidays Helaine K. Robinson CCS Senior Member Username: hollyrob Post Number: 104 Registered: 07-2003 Posted on Wednesday, December 15, 2004 - 11:32 am:    As long as we are merry-making, I was just sent this specification section for Season's Greetings (authorship unknown)- please excuse lost formatting: Section ‘0-‘0-‘0 ‘ à‘ à‘ à SEASONS’ GREETINGS PART 1 - GENERAL 1.1 SUMMARY A. This Section includes: 1. November. 2. December. 3. January. B. Related sections include: 1. The other months. 2. Your birthday. 1.2 DEFINITIONS A. Season: 1. One of the four periods of the solar or lunar year beginning astronomically at an equinox or solstice. 2. A period of the year immediately before and after a noteworthy event or occasion. 3. Seasonings, including frankincense, myrrh, galbanum, and cinnamon, are specified in another section. B. Greeting: 1. An expression of friendly or respectful regard. 2. More than “Hi!” but less than trumpet fanfare. 1.3 SUBMITTALS A. Submit the following, in accordance with local tradition or family custom: 1. Strong handshakes. 2. Damp hugs. 3. Hot beverages. 4. Wrapped packages. 5. Lit candles. 1.4 QUALITY ASSURANCE A. Qualifications: 1. Engage participants both experienced and inexperienced and, if available, pre-verbal. B. Pre-Installation Conference: 1. Schedule timers. 2. Match height of each proposed installation to height of proposed installer. C. Ensure maximum sincerity. D. Regulatory Requirements: 1. Comply with murmurings of your internalized mother: a. Dress warmly. b. To greatest extent possible, take public transportation. c. Call when you get there. d. Express thanks. e. When in doubt, don’t. f. Get your muddy shoes off my nice clean kitchen floor. E. Guarantee: 1. Not applicable. PART 2 - PRODUCTS 2.1 MATERIALS A. Good health. 1. Where good health is not available, provide: a. Disposable Paper Nose Wipes: 1) Kleenex by Kleenex. 2) Store Brand by Store. 3) Charmin by the yard. b. Hot Liquid: 1) Chicken broth by Mom. 2) Beef Barley by Campbell’s. 3) Toddy by Myer’s Rum. 4) Schnapps by Uncle Max. B. Cheerful household. 1. Suspend sensationalist or alarmist media. 2. Do homework before it’s due. 3. If you can’t agree, change the subject prior to busting a gut. 4. Spend within your budget. 5. If you spill it, wipe it up. 6. Where cats are present, install catnip. 7. Take the dog for a walk. C. Fine food and drink. 1. Contractor’s option; but see Article 2.1 G below. D. Satisfying charitable acts. E. Music performance. 1. Preferably live and unrehearsed, but manufactured is an acceptable alternate. 2. Run it backwards. F. Indoor comfort. 1. Use alternately with materials specified in Division EEE-HA! Section, “Outdoor Adventure”. 2. Comply with Article 1.3 A above. G. Chocolate. 1. Liquid. 2. Solid. 3. Frosting. 4. With nuts. 5. Without nuts. PART 3 - EXECUTION 3.1 APPLICATION A. In accordance with “Quality Assurance” article in Part 1 of This Section, apply all materials liberally; indeed, with abandon. END OF SECTION CONTRACTOR INFORMATION Sheet Of ______ Name Position Phone Fax Mailing Address PROJECT INFORMATION Street Address Description of Work PLAN CHECK INFORMATION Type of Check Plans Examiner Date Bidder Design Item a. Supplier b. Engineer Who Will Stamp Plans and Calculations c. Engineer’s Telephone Number a. Date of Submittal to City b. Sheet # Remarks 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Richard A. Baxter Intermediate Member Username: rbaxter Post Number: 4 Registered: 12-2004 Posted on Wednesday, December 15, 2004 - 12:23 pm:    I once saw a floor plan for a store where the basement level was labeled the "Loser Level."...Kind of harsh, I thought. Linton D. Stables, III, CSI, CCS Member Username: lstables Post Number: 3 Registered: 09-2003 Posted on Thursday, December 16, 2004 - 10:27 am:    I just got an e-mail from a product rep who attached his resume "covering his back round" in his field of expertise. In thinking about this I realized that in writing specs I am often covering my back round (or that of my firm) so maybe this is one of those typos with a deeper meaning. Helaine K. Robinson CCS Senior Member Username: hollyrob Post Number: 111 Registered: 07-2003 Posted on Monday, December 27, 2004 - 07:42 am:    Courtesy of my students: Dodge "Plant" Room "Reflective" Ceiling Plan "Drawaings" the contract goes into "affect" "plump" and level More to come.... Helaine K. Robinson CCS Senior Member Username: hollyrob Post Number: 112 Registered: 07-2003 Posted on Monday, December 27, 2004 - 07:45 am:    Fiberglass batts shall be 3 inches "think" "...any impurities that the owner dislikes shall be repaired or replaced." Helaine K. Robinson CCS Senior Member Username: hollyrob Post Number: 113 Registered: 07-2003 Posted on Monday, December 27, 2004 - 09:15 am:    award of a "Contact" Helaine K. Robinson CCS Senior Member Username: hollyrob Post Number: 118 Registered: 07-2003 Posted on Monday, December 27, 2004 - 05:28 pm:    Section 09912 Interior 'Patinting" Helaine K. Robinson CCS Senior Member Username: hollyrob Post Number: 119 Registered: 07-2003 Posted on Monday, December 27, 2004 - 05:33 pm:    General Contitions David Axt, AIA, CCS, CSI Senior Member Username: david_axt Post Number: 398 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Monday, December 27, 2004 - 06:12 pm:    We once set out a set of drawings for "___________ Pubic School" in the title block. This kind of begs the question of sex education in schools. David R. Combs, CSI, CCS, CCCA, MAI Senior Member Username: davidcombs Post Number: 95 Registered: 08-2004 Posted on Friday, January 20, 2006 - 02:36 pm:    Not a typo per se, but funny nonetheless: Just received this e-mail message (from someone working on a project in coastal Louisianna): "Have you spec'ed anything on hurricane-resistant glazing before? We may need to add that to the project. Would we just make the windows hurricane resistant that face the direction of the wind or would all the windows need to be hurricane resistant?" Julie Root Senior Member Username: julie_root Post Number: 38 Registered: 02-2004 Posted on Friday, January 20, 2006 - 02:59 pm:    Well....it is not such a funny question. Having lived through several hurricanes and just come from visiting coastal Mississippi you can definately tell the direction the wind was blowing. The windows were blown out of windows on the south and east side of buildings not necessarily the north and west side of building. It is very facinating and it has to do with the fact that hurricane winds move counterclockwise. The wind is substantally slowed down when it hits land so while window on the west and north experience less force. Growing up when preparing for a hurricane we opened the windows just a bit to release the pressure build up so the windows would survive bearing something being blown into it. Which is the main reason you make all the windows resistant. Another interesting observation....Buildings right on the coast are blown through to the structure at the first floor, but intact at the second (except for the windows on the south and east). This is from the tide surge not wind. Margaret G. Chewning FCSI CCS Senior Member Username: presbspec Post Number: 86 Registered: 01-2003 Posted on Friday, January 20, 2006 - 03:26 pm:    Something tells me this person wasn't there for Katrina and has never lived on the coast (Gulf or Atlantic) before! Ralph Liebing, RA, CSI Senior Member Username: rliebing Post Number: 301 Registered: 02-2003 Posted on Friday, January 20, 2006 - 03:30 pm:    Oddly enough we came on this "revelation" earlier in the week-- window film mentioned in relation to not only security concerns but also "storms, seismic shocks or explosion blasts". May not save the window glass from breaking, but may prevent it from becoming an added hazard. www.dupontteijinfilms.com/cntMarketsWindowsLearn.htm George A. Everding, AIA, CSI, CCS, CCCA Senior Member Username: geverding Post Number: 103 Registered: 11-2004 Posted on Friday, January 20, 2006 - 04:07 pm:    All the windows, indeed. Like the sign in my dentist's office: "No, you don't need to floss all your teeth - just do the ones you want to keep" J. Peter Jordan Senior Member Username: jpjordan Post Number: 170 Registered: 05-2004 Posted on Friday, January 20, 2006 - 05:33 pm:    While Ms. Root is indeed correct about the overall direction of the winds in a hurricane, it should be noted that at any particular location the winds could come from several directions. Should the eye pass in a northerly direction over your location along the Gulf Coast from Beaumont, TX to Pensacola, FL, the initial winds would be moving from east to west; after the eye passes over, the winds would be blowing west to east. If you live along the east coast of Florida or along much of the Texas coast (like Corpus Christi where I grew up), a hurricane moving in a westerly to northwesterly direction would result in winds from north to south before the eye and south to north afterward. During Hurricane Carla the tree in our front yard almost blew down in one direction. While the eye passed over, my dad went out and straightened it up so that it was able to blow over in the other direction when storm conditions resumed. What is also missing in the equation is that hurricanes will commonly spawn locally heavier gust conditions, even tornados, with locally random wind direction. I also have heard of coastal residents cracking windows before a storm; however, the pressure differential during a storm is generally not enough to cause damage, especially in older houses that are not nearly so air tight. The pressure just doesn't change that rapidly. You are in much greater danger from the beauxaux across the street who left their smoker out for the wind to pick up and blow into your house. I have heard of roof-top package units with multi-ton capacity being moved across the roof in such conditions. It should also be noted that while the glazing itself should be hurricane resistant (generally 9/16" laminated will comply with windstorm along the Texas coast), the entire assembly needs to be secured to the building structure and the glazing channel needs to be designed to take extreme deflection. Although the glass may shatter, the shattered laminated lite is required to remain in the frame (with the frame secured to the structure) through a series of dynamic cycles of positive and negative pressure. We are looking at some of the US anti-terrorist force protection requirements right now, and my take is that for most facilities, hurricane/windstorm requirements are much more rigorous. John Bunzick, CCS, CCCA Senior Member Username: bunzick Post Number: 459 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 09:12 am:    I, too, have noticed that hurricane requirements can be more rigorous than blast. One reason is that blast pressures are of extremely short duration, and occur once. Hurricane requirements include pressure cycling after the glass is impacted. When you see these tests done, it is quite impressive what we have been able to accomplish technically. You would never have thought that windows could be so strong. Since this thread is so far away from it's title, I'll through this out, too. A firm has been experimenting with a way to treat mold-infested homes using the same chemical that was used to treat the anthrax contamination in the USPS. Apparently, this chemical kills the mold spores, truly getting rid of them in a way that scrubbing doesn't. For the sake of so many who lost so much, it would be wonderful if this approach proved useful, avoiding having to demolish structures solely to remove mold. David R. Combs, CSI, CCS, CCCA, MAI Senior Member Username: davidcombs Post Number: 96 Registered: 08-2004 Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 11:09 am:    Ms. Julie, My sincerest apologies; I did not intend to make light of your situation and recent experience. Mr. Jordan recognized my point exactly: The building never knows from which direction the wind (and resulting flying debris) will come, and the hurricane does not discriminate. Hurricanes are cyclical in nature – the winds are capable of coming from ALL directions at any given time, depending on the location with respect to the eye. Property owners along the coast are not furnished with the foresight to know on which side of the storm eye they will be (and therefore implement the necessary protective measures only on that side of their building accordingly), nor the ability – upon receipt of the storm warning - to mobilize equipment and resources to rotate their building to quickly turn the protected side towards the storm. The Building Code recognizes this – hence ALL windows must meet the missile impact test. It’s sort of like asking: “on which side of a rated drywall partition should the Type X gypsum board be installed?” The fire is unpredictable and does not discriminate, and the wall is not afforded the luxury or ability of turning its “protected” side to the fire in order to save itself. That’s why the Type X goes on BOTH sides. The humor I saw in this was that of irony: the person who asked this question has at least 8 – 10 years experience, probably more, and has been working on this project off and on for two years. Not only did they not grasp the logic, they obviously never looked at the code either. And the job goes out to bid next week. Julie Root Senior Member Username: julie_root Post Number: 39 Registered: 02-2004 Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 11:47 am:    no apologies needed...if you read in my post I did note that the reason for making all the window resistant is that objects can come from any direction (i.e. missle impact vs. only a wind test). I have seen impacts on the cities that get the winds first from the water. There is no doubt in my mind that the winds coming off the water from the counterclockwise condition are stronger. Even after the winds change when the eye passes those winds have already been on land and they are not as strong...granted they are still strong and tornados in the middle of hurricanes are awful....been through that before too...Why do think I now live in CA. I would rather live through an earthquake any ole day. At least you can live through a natural disaster in January wearing shorts! I also am a bit sensitive to this issue of second guessing or make such fun of questions lately because I am seeing professionals of every experience level more and more afraid to 'ask questions' hence projects get to bid with issues not properly addressed. I know this is not the discussion for this topic, perhaps I will start another one on asking how people Wayne Yancey Senior Member Username: wyancey Post Number: 96 Registered: 05-2005 Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 04:44 pm:    "Connect lovers with concealed fasteners" when I meant to say "connect louvers with concealed fasteners." Abbreviated,imperative language though. Wayne Helaine K. (Holly) Robinson CSI CCS CCCA Senior Member Username: hollyrob Post Number: 204 Registered: 07-2003 Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 04:51 pm:    From Media Notes by Howard Kurtz in the Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/linkset/2005/04/11/LI2005041100587.html If Only the Democrats Had Known The Exponent, the student paper at Purdue University, carried a routine wire-service item that began: "Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito told senators Monday that good judges don't have an agenda." The final sentence said: "His motive for shooting John Paul in the abdomen on May 13, 1981, remains unclear." A subsequent correction, as noted by the Web site Regret the Error, said nothing about the charge of attempted assassination. The item, the paper said, merely "contained a sentence that was not intended to be part of the brief." Anne Whitacre, CCS CSI Senior Member Username: awhitacre Post Number: 289 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 04:55 pm:    it seems to me that back when braces (for teeth) were metal, they could be "concealed fasteners for lovers"... this isn't a typo, but I did just see a review of a set of drawings today in which the reviewer remarked that the building materials were only "whimsically connected to the budget for the project". Anne Whitacre, CCS CSI Senior Member Username: awhitacre Post Number: 290 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 04:56 pm:    oh ... and I forgot this one. I was looking for the roof plans in a project set and found them on sheets titled: "Floor plan: roof" (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 05:12 pm:    Not a typo, but along the lines of Wayne's "connect lovers with concealed fasteners..." I received a love letter in three part format, Section 10200 - Lovers and Scents. I married that man. Jonathan M. Miller, CSI..... (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 01:46 pm:    Ran across this one at www.wicanders.com...... NOTE: The floor was vanished after installation, to achieve a uniform surface, before gluing the tile you should apply the same coats of varnish applied on floor. David R. Combs, CSI, CCS, CCCA Senior Member Username: davidcombs Post Number: 116 Registered: 08-2004 Posted on Tuesday, April 04, 2006 - 04:06 pm:    In the Honors and Awards Gala Brochure from the Convention, page 5: "Environmental Stewarship Award" Lynn Javoroski CSI CCS LEED AP SCIP Affiliate Senior Member Username: lynn_javoroski Post Number: 326 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Tuesday, April 04, 2006 - 04:53 pm:    at least it wasn't "...Sewarship..." Ronald L. Geren, RA, CSI, CCS, CCCA, MAI Senior Member Username: specman Post Number: 228 Registered: 03-2003 Posted on Tuesday, April 04, 2006 - 05:09 pm:    During my tour in Kuwait, I ran across numerous typos where the companies "tried" to put the English translation into their signage. As a matter of fact, all commercial vehicles working on US military installations in the SWA theater must indicate, in English, the company's name for force protection reasons. My favorite was "Sweage Pumping Service". On a Kuwait City public beach a sign stated that cooking was "Prohepeted". Helaine K. (Holly) Robinson CSI CCS CCCA Senior Member Username: hollyrob Post Number: 223 Registered: 07-2003 Posted on Tuesday, April 04, 2006 - 06:59 pm:    Didn't you all see the postcard in our convention bags advertising "book singings" at the CSI Bookstore? Ronald L. Geren, RA, CSI, CCS, CCCA, MAI Senior Member Username: specman Post Number: 229 Registered: 03-2003 Posted on Tuesday, April 04, 2006 - 07:01 pm:    Nor did I hear them. John Regener, AIA, CCS, CCCA, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: john_regener Post Number: 246 Registered: 04-2002 Posted on Tuesday, April 04, 2006 - 09:22 pm:    I went hoarse after an hour "signing" my book at the convention. I only wish I had more than one tune to go along with "clear, correct, complete and concise." Maybe SPUTT can include lyrics and music when the instruction phase for the new formats is implemented. Lynn Javoroski CSI CCS LEED AP SCIP Affiliate Senior Member Username: lynn_javoroski Post Number: 327 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Wednesday, April 05, 2006 - 08:39 am:    What? No CSIngers? No MasterForminstrels? Such disappointment... Richard Howard, AIA CSI CCS Senior Member Username: rick_howard Post Number: 70 Registered: 07-2003 Posted on Wednesday, April 05, 2006 - 09:07 am:    If I had known there would be singing, I might have made it to Las Vegas. I'd be happy to represent CSI as liaison to SPEBSQSA. May I sugggest for our official CSI song, the ballad "Crazy." Doug Frank FCSI CCS Senior Member Username: doug_frank_ccs Post Number: 147 Registered: 06-2002 Posted on Wednesday, April 05, 2006 - 09:24 am:    How about this for an Official Song? (sung to the tune of Barry Manilow’s “I Write The Songs”) I write the specs that make contractors cringe. I write submittals and other special things I write the specs that make subcontractors cry. I write the specs, I write the specs. David R. Combs, CSI, CCS, CCCA Senior Member Username: davidcombs Post Number: 117 Registered: 08-2004 Posted on Wednesday, April 05, 2006 - 02:10 pm:    Doug, Keep your day job. Tracy Van Niel Senior Member Username: tracy_van_niel Post Number: 169 Registered: 04-2002 Posted on Wednesday, April 05, 2006 - 02:36 pm:    I have to ask: What does SPEBSQSA stand for? Richard Howard, AIA CSI CCS Senior Member Username: rick_howard Post Number: 71 Registered: 07-2003 Posted on Wednesday, April 05, 2006 - 02:52 pm:    Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America. Robin E. Snyder Senior Member Username: robin Post Number: 40 Registered: 08-2004 Posted on Wednesday, April 12, 2006 - 01:11 pm:    I have a "Duck Shaft - refer to mechanical drawings..." Marc C Chavez Senior Member Username: mchavez Post Number: 147 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Wednesday, April 12, 2006 - 01:18 pm:    At my first job one of the young architects drew the ass end of Daffy Duck protruding from a wall and labeled it "Through Wall Duck" The boss sauntered in and stamped the set and sent it out for reproduction (without seeing this detail.) When discovered in the field we all had a good laugh (except the boss) who was spitting nails. Oh well! Review your drawings prior to stamping. George A. Everding, AIA, CSI, CCS, CCCA Senior Member Username: geverding Post Number: 146 Registered: 11-2004 Posted on Wednesday, April 12, 2006 - 01:21 pm:    Are you allowing the use of "Duck Tape"? (NOT necessarily a typo, see History of Duct Tape)