Scope summer 2013

2013 OFFICERS

the

SCOPE Summer 2013

President: Bryan Smith, CSI, CDT 303-887-0480 President Elect: OPEN Past President: Mitch Denman, CSI, CDT 720-238-7872 Secretary Mike Young, CSI, CCCA 720-977-6258

Message from the President: Service is an embodiment of true leadership.

Leadership vs. Participation

By Bryan Smith, President

If you haven’t already heard, a swift kick in the pants, a thoroughly motivating, blog article has been posted to our Denver CSI Blog page. Quick synopsis? How to get Treasurer: Dan Galanaugh, CSI. CDT the most out of your CSI membership. If you know Mike Young (our guest blog 720-977-6366 author) you know the heart with which he penned his ‘COME ON’ blog article was only out of the best intentions. Essentially, Mike wrote said blog article because he !st Vice President: Morayma Salas cares. Mike’s article was a reaction in response to the available leadership positions within the chapter (President-Elect and several Committee Chairs) 2nd Vice President: and the lack of participation we are experiencing to fill those positions.

Carla Styles 720-235-2727 DIRECTORS: Ann Baker, CSI, CCS, CCCA, LEED AP, SCIP 303-295-1717 George Feathers, CSI. CCCA, LEED AP

What does leadership in the Denver Chapter of CSI look like? Brace yourself because the answer may shock you as much as it did me… The answer? Leadership within OUR chapter looks like (and is) a group of people dedicated to helping each other leave something better than it was when they found it. Our formula (if we had one) would be that simple.

Take me for example, I will have been a member of CSI for five years in Novem-

Cynthia Workman-Snow, CSI ber and they are letting me be the chapter President. The honor is humbling yes, 303-922-9338

however I will not pretend for a moment our chapter does not work collectively as a team on most everything the chapter does. When I learned I was in line to become chapter President I did some soul searching the year prior and the conclusion I Tom Marks,CDT,LEED GA came to was this. We’re going to do everything as a team anyways. We have Steve Dawson been as long as I have been a member. Why would it change now?

Jeff Stickney, CSI, MBA

COMMITTEE CHAIRS: Table Tops Rick Felton, CSI, CCPR Academic Affairs: Jeff Stickney, CSI, MBA Awards: Mike Young, CCCA Certification: Mike Young, CCCA

From what I have witnessed since my first year of Board meeting, attendance (notice I didn’t say involvement) was the people who collected as the ‘Board of Directors’ really turned out to be a team of people with different distinguishing titles, all willing to help others achieve their goals, and I liked that!

If our traditional terminology is misleading we can change it. No one goes it alone in our chapter leadership unless they choose to. Our ‘Board’ meeting could easily be called ‘Team Meetings’. We have decades of CSI experience in our leadership group. cont.

Education: Tom Quammen Historian/Member Recognition: David Bishton, RA, CSI, CCS, CCCA

Leadership vs. Participation, cont’d.

I invite you to get involved and you will increase the value of your membership in doing so. We simply need more members to show up and contribute if we want to continue along the already paved path our predecessors worked diligently to achieve. When I served as Programs Chairperson for two years I devoted approximately 2-3 hours a month organizing speakers for our monthly membership.

Long Range Planning: Greg Markling, FCSI, CCS, CCCA, LEED AP, SCIP Please contact me with your interests and questions.

Membership: Cynthia Workman-Snow, CSI, USGBC

Bryan Smith, CSI, CDT 303-887-0480

Programs: Carla Styles, CSI Construct Denver Mike Young, CCCA Publications/Website: Ann Baker, CSI, CCS, CCCA, LEED AP www.denvercsi.org

SOUTHWEST BY DENVER David A. Bishton, RA, CSI, CCS, CCCA, Southw west Region President

SCOPE: Jody Yehle, RA, CSI, LEED AP Social Media: Liz O’Sullivan, CSI, CCS, CCCA, LEED AP, AIA Technical: Tom Quammen, CSI Fellowship: Mike Young/Liz O’Sullivan Golf Tournament: Jeff Stickney, CDT Budget Committee/Audit: Dan Galanaugh, CSI. CDT Nominating: Bryan Smith, CSI, CDT By-Laws: Mike Young Liaison: OPEN Marketing: OPEN

The May 16-18 Southwest Region Conference was:

• • Communications: OPEN • • Plant Tours: • OPEN • EXECUTIVE SECRETARY •

ENERGETIC A CORNUCOPIA OF BUILDING INFORMATION & GOOD PROJECT MANAGEMENT AN IDEA CENTER FOR CHAPTER TEAMS POSITIVE A GATHERING OF CSI’s KNOWLEDGE BASE IN THE SOUTHWEST A LOT OF GOOD WORK FUN!

Michelle Duran Phone: 720-962-8642 mdurancsi@qwestoffice.net Many thanks go to those who played such a key role in making it possible.

Mike Young, CSI, CCCA: kept the plates spinning http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zhoos1oY404

Building Construction Industry Leadership in the Southwest.

SOUTHWEST BY DENVER, cont’d.

Michelle Duran: exec. secretary of the chapter managed countless details with aplomb (look it up). Denver organizing committee: Dean Leschak, CSI, CDT Mitch Denman, CSI, CDT and Chapter President Carla Styles, CSI, Bryan Smith, CSI, CDT Dan Galanaugh, CSI, CCCA Andy Townes, CSI, CCPR, Albuquerque Chapter.

Max Saul, FCSI who gave us all a sense of our place in CSI history.

Construct Denver trade and education fair participants. Springhill Suites Denver, a gracious host for all guests.

Do you feel the winds of change? If you haven’t yet, you will soon. There is a rejuvenated focus as we move into FY2014, with the entire organization of CSI zeroing in on its mission of: • Building information management • Educating project teams • Improving building performance We are still the BIG TENT in the industry - networking via CSI connects us like no other organization. Strengthening Regional Ties was a great theme for the fellowship we shared last month. FY2014 Officers are ready for the challenge: • • • •

Jori Smith, CSI, CDT, LEED AP (Albuquerque), Dean Leschak, CSI, CDT (Denver), Robin Snyder, CSI, CCS, SCIP (Phoenix), and yours truly (Denver).

We want to see all our chapters succeed and will support them in every way possible. We also want to include and involve the CSI members not affiliated with a chapter wherever they live in the great Southwest.

Our new board will include chapter presidents: • Albuquerque – Chuck Lowery, CSI* • Denver – Bryan Smith, CSI, CDT • El Paso – Dan Mireles, CSI, CCCA* • Las Vegas – Jorge Schapira, CSI, CDT, AIA, LEED AP • Phoenix – R. Brian McClure, CSI, CDT, RA • Pikes Peak – Andy Baturevich, CSI • Salt Lake City – Tonya Dodge, CSI* • Tucson – Randy Harris, PE, CSI, CDT* * designates repeating as chapter leaders in FY2014 let’s thank & support them at every opportunity!

Who else is in the mix? YOU, OUR SOUTHWEST REGION MEMBERS - STAY TUNED FOR OPPORTUNITY! And be ready for a great event next year as we gather in El Paso for Southwest Region Conference 2014.

We are: Building Construction Industry Leadership in the Southwest.

UPCOMING EVENTS

ROOFING SEMINAR!

SOCIAL HOUR! WHERE?

Phantom Canyon Brewing Company 2 E. Pikes Peak Ave. Colorado Springs WHEN? Wednesday, August 28, 2013, 5:00 to 8:00 PM

The Pikes Peak Chapter of CSI invites you to come and enjoy an evening of good cheer with beer!

Come raise a glass with us, meet people, and support a good cause, all on the same night. We’re kicking off the new fiscal year by meeting at the Phantom Canyon Brewing Company for a Happy Hour Event. So come on down, have some fun, have a pint or three, and meet some great folks.

WHY? Meet and greet fellow professionals in the construction industry in a casual and festive setting. Contribute to the Pikes Peak Chapter’s Herald R. Holding Memorial Scholarship Fund to help ensure the future of our construction industry by supporting students at our local community colleges. Have your friends meet your fellow CSI Members so they can learn more about the Organization.

HOW? Just show up! It will be a cash bar setup. Have dinner if you like. We will have space reserved on the second floor. You can also visit the new rooftop patio. Phantom Canyon’s Happy hour goes until 6:00, with $2.75 pints.

(A Donation Jar will be available for contributions to the Herald R. Holding Scholarship fund.)

Awards At the June membership meeting, President Mitch Denman presented a few awards to Board Members for their service to the Denver Chapter - Michael Young, CSI, CCCA – Prestigious Jackie Ninneman Award for serving as Past President of the Chapter, Certifications Chair, Regional Conference Chair, Chief-author of the Chapter Bylaws, and for serving on the BTEP and CDT+G Institute Task Teams.

- Gregory J. Markling, SCIP, FCSI, Lifetime Member, CCS, CCCA, LEED AP, NCARB – Chapter Distinguished Service Award for serving as Institute President.

- David A. Bishton, RA, CSI, CCS, CCCA, NCARB – Chapter Continuous Service Award for serving as Southwest Region President.

- Dean E. Leschak, CSI, CDT, CCPR – Chapter Continuous Service Award for serving as Chair or on the Committee for Symposium/Construct/Regional Conference year after year, after year (since before I was a member of CSI, so I don’t even know how many years).

- Ann G Baker, RA, CCS, CCCA, LEED AP, SCIP – Certificate of Appreciation for serving as Chapter Vice President and the Chapter Web Master, while serving on the Institute Certifications Committee.

- Elizabeth L. O’Sullivan, CCS, CCCA, LEED AP, CSI, AIA – Chapter Publication Award for implementing the Chapter’s Blog, Facebook Page, and for serving as the Social Media Committee Chair, while serving on the Building Technology Education Task Team at institute.

- Carla Styles, CSI – Certificate of Appreciation for serving as Chair of the Programs Committee.

- Jeffrey Scott Stickney, CDT, MBA, CSI – Certificate of Appreciation for serving as Academic Affairs Committee Chair - Jody Yehle, CSI, RA, LEED AP – Certificate of Appreciation for serving as the SCOPE Editor.

- Thomas K. Quammen, CSI – Certificate of Appreciation for serving as Chair of the Educational Committee.

- Jon Willis, CCS, CCCA – Certificate of Appreciation for serving as Technical Committee Chair.

- George Feathers III, CSI CCCA, LEED AP – Outstanding Service Award for serving as a Chapter Director.

- Rick W. Felton, CSI, CCPR – Outstanding Service Award for serving as a Chapter Director.

- Cynthia Ann Workman-Snow, CSI, CDT – Outstanding Service Award for serving as a Chapter Director and Membership Committee Chair.

- Dean E. Leschak, CSI, CDT, CCPR – Outstanding Service Award for serving as a Chapter Director and on the Regional Conference Committee.

- Daniel T. Galanaugh, CDT – Outstanding Service Award for serving as Chapter Secretary and Chapter Treasurer.

- Michelle Duran – Certificate of Appreciation for serving as Denver Chapter Executive Secretary and Regional Conference/Construct Denver Coordinator.

- Bryan Smith, CSI, BS – Outstanding Service Award for serving as Chapter President Elect, and Nominating Committee Chair.

- Mitch Denman, CDT – Certificate of Merit and Appreciation for serving as Denver Chapter President.

Finally, all the sponsors received Certificates of Appreciation forsupport and service to the Denver Chapter as a Sponsor in FY2013.

Certification Congratulations to the following successful exam candidates from the Spring 2013 exam! When you see one of these folks, be sure to pat them on the back - this is quite an achievement!

CDT – Denver Chapter Member CCPR – Denver Chapter Member Paul Collyer Sarah Ponko Stacy Roberts CDT – Pikes Peak Chapter Jeffrey Stickney Member Cynthia Workman-Snow Joni Milton

CDT – Non-members in Colorado Sharon Clark-Wilson Jesse McLean David Rosenthal

Absolute zero And then there are dimensions…

by Sheldon Wolfe In the last article, "Absolute nonsense", I wrote about the great number of words available to express fine distinctions of meaning, and how, properly used, they can be quite precise. In daily use, however, words often are used incorrectly, and most would agree that many disagreements are based on different interpretations of what we say.

In contrast, we usually think of numbers as being exact. After all, it's easy to look at a set of drawings and determine the exact number of doors, or windows, or any other object. Dimensions, however, cannot be precise, even though they are stated as if they were.

Anyone who has done construction of any type, from building a house down to replacing a deck board, knows that dimensions are not absolute. A tape measure may have marks denoting thirty-seconds of an inch, but it seems the length you're measuring never falls exactly on one of the marks. If you look closely, you'll see the marks themselves have width, so where does the exact measurement occur? In the center of the mark, or on one side? You'll also notice that tape measures that do show thirty-seconds of an inch show them only in the first few inches. After that, the old expression "close enough" seems to rule.

It is possible to specify an exact dimension, but in practice, it's impossible to meet that specification. All things are manufactured to nominal dimensions, and all measurements are nominal. In most cases, today's tolerances are good enough that we don't need to worry about them. One problem arises when the individual tolerances of several things are added together. For example, if two panels are required to align within a sixteenth of an inch, the difference between adjacent panels won't be noticeable. Using only that tolerance, however, could result in the first and last of sixteen panels being an inch out of line. That's why we often see a series of tolerances, e.g., 1/4 inch in 10 feet, 3/8 inch in 20 feet, and 1/2 inch in 40 feet.

It's frustrating when manufacturers' specifications don't indicate tolerances. If an aluminum extrusion is shown as 1/8 inch thick, what does that mean? Is it 1/8 inch minimum, or 1/8 inch plus or minus? If the latter, how much is the plus or minus? If the manufacturer refers to a dimension as nominal, does that mean it's within the limits established by a standard, or does it mean the dimension will be whatever it happens to be? Many times, tolerances are established by industry standards. That's great, but you have to know that what the standards are, and you have to know that the manufacturer complies with them.

Conversions and divergence It looks like metrication won't happen soon in the US, if ever. Until then, we sometimes are required to state two dimensions, one in United States customary units, the other in metric. Conversion factors make it relatively easy to change from one system to the other, but stating both if only one will be used introduces another opportunity for error.

cont’d.

Stating numbers in both systems makes no sense at all when talking about rounded numbers. Does the statement, “The 10,000 square meter (107,639.1 square feet) building… ” really mean the building was exactly 10,000 square meters? It’s possible, but I doubt it.

When using rounded numbers, units of both systems should be rounded. In this example, the area in square feet should be rounded to 107,000, or even 100,000.

One of the problems with customary units is their origin. The foot was based on - surprise! - the length of a human foot; the inch on the width of a thumb; a yard on the distance from nose to end of a thumb; the mile on 1,000 (mille) paces of two steps. Even if everyone had identical body measurements, those units of measure didn’t work as a system, so the numbers were fudged over time until a foot had twelve inches, a yard had three feet, a mile had 5,280 feet, and so on. There was no reference standard until about 1845, when the British government created a bronze yardstick, marked in feet and inches. Of course, even then it was known that the master yardstick would vary in length with the temperature, but it was, as we say, close enough.

Meanwhile, about 1795, the French created the metric system. Instead of being based on body parts, it originally was defined as 1/10,000,000 of the distance from the North Pole to the equator along a specific meridian. Although more rational than other systems of measurement, it had its own problems, not the least of which was that it was just a bit difficult to measure. In addition, the earth is not a perfect sphere. Regardless, a physical standard meter stick was, for most purposes, close enough (sound familiar?).As scientists began measuring ever larger and ever smaller objects, the metric system was found wanting. The current definition of a meter was stated in 1983 as “the length of the path travelled by light in vacuum during a time interval of 1/299,792,458 of a second.” Which leads to the question, “How long is a second?” The answer, defined in 1967, is “the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium 133 atom.”

The two points of this little side trip are that what passes as absolute measurement is, for all practical purposes, impractical, and that for building construction, “close enough” is a useful term. In defense of measurements based on fractions rather than decimals, it is easier to find a quarter, an eighth, or a sixteenth of a given length than it is to find a tenth; simply keep dividing in half until you get where you’re going! Measuring a tenth or hundredth of that same length requires an estimation that by nature is imprecise.

If dimensions aren’t precise, what good are they?

Drawing dimensions always have been an expression of an ideal, stated as if they were exact, ignoring the reality of measurement, fabrication, and tolerances; they remain so today, despite the continuing improvements in theoretical precision.

Software modeling now makes it possible to produce very accurate measurements that are at once impressive and meaningless. Fortunately, software has the ability to round off numbers, so drawing dimensions appear in practical terms, such as 30-1/4, rather than 30.24837906 inches.

No matter how precise the model or calculation, printing often introduces distortion, sometimes greater in one direction than another. Further distortions can be introduced by expansion or contraction of the paper due to humidity and, to a lesser extent, temperature. Together, these problems necessitate the “do not scale” warning found on most drawings. In practice, scaling is accurate enough for most measurements, because waste factors, often ten percent, are more significant than errors resulting from scaling.

Much of construction does not require extreme precision. Partition framing and thickness, opening locations, curves, and other elements can be off quite a bit before an error becomes significant. Smart design incorporates tolerances to minimize the problem; anyone who has had to tear out a wall because the width of a corridor was a quarter of an inch less than required by ADA won’t dimension exactly to ADA requirements again!

Isn’t it odd that words have precise meanings, while numbers are approximations? © 2013, Sheldon Wolfe, RA, FCSI, CCS, CCCA, CSC Leave your comments at http://swconstructivethoughts.blogspot.com/ and http://swspecificthoughts.blogspot.com/.

Many Thanks to our Chapter Sponsors