Executive Summary: One of the most basic properties of a beam is its section modulus. How does the section modulus, S, come into play in structural design? And, why should I care? What is a beam? Keeping it simple here, a beam is a horizontal member supported at...
Is that a “Pinky Ring”?
Yup. It’s a “pinky ring”. Get over it. Respect it. Keep reading. I wear one on the outside finger of my right hand. If you live in Canada, there’s a good chance you’ve seen an engineer or two wearing one also. The story is a classic. A classic tragedy,...
Spearin Doctrine – a Landmark Construction Law Case
Have you ever had a project you were building according to plans and specifications and it just couldn’t be built the way they drew it up? George B. Spearin did in Brooklyn, New York. He sued the federal government in 1918 and won – click here to see it in Wikipedia....
A Quickie on DEF
Executive Summary: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency implemented a rule on May 11, 2004 [QR1] which rocked the construction industry. It has made DEF (Diesel Exhaust Fluid) a household name. What is DEF? What is DEF? DEF is an acronym which stands for Diesel...
Escrowing Bid Documents: What, Where, How, Why, & When?
Executive Summary: Escrowing your bid documents and estimate calculations allow the contractor and owner to review all documents relied upon and created by the contractor as of bid day. If this method of price evaluation is accepted by the owner, it can be an...
Top 3 Reasons to Leave Spreadsheets
Executive Summary: The electronic spreadsheet is arguably the most common tool used in the industry for everything from construction documentation to estimating to human resources. Here are the top three reasons not to use them in some instances. What you’re using...