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ARCAT specNEWS No. 31 - Mid-November 2007
by Mark Kalin FAIA FCSI
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In this Issue
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| At Greenbuild in Chicago last week, attendance was reported at 22,400 with 9,000 of those as full program registrants. Although spirits were high, the registration staff was overwhelmed with up to 3-hour delays and overbooked conference rooms. Attendees report that those not able to get into their sessions have been offered a copy of the Conference Proceedings at no charge. Registrants were also given a copy of an exceptional new book by Paul Hawken titled Blessed Unrest. Also announced was Greenbuild 365, a new educational initiative for year-round training on the USGBC.org website and an eventual credit rating system which would be customized by building type. Proposals for educational sessions at next year's Greenbuild in Boston may be submitted on the USGBC website, with a reported deadline for submissions of January 18. |
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| The Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Wednesday, Nov. 7 at Greenbuild in Chicago. The new MOU provides an open exchange of information regarding "green" or "sustainable" building and maintenance practices during the entire facility lifecycle. It articulates several areas of joint interest, including development of documentation practices and procedures that achieve sustainability in construction. Key to this, said CSI executive director, Walt Marlowe, is the opportunity for members of each organization to collaborate on the development of practices and procedures to achieve sustainability in construction. |
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| On a water heater waiting for delivery on a sidewalk in Providence, Rhode Island was the label: Gas Water Heater LSN 0419, SCAQMD Rule 1121 Notice: This product is manufactured for sale subject to product variance. It cannot be sold or installed under the SCAQMD after December 31, 2007. Apparently the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) regulations from California are requiring new labels from manufacturers. Are manufacturer's shipping non-complying products from California eastward or are they labeling all their products this way? |
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| On November 11, the Integrated Project Delivery Guide (jointly developed by AIA's Contract Documents Committee and the AIA California Council) became available as a tool to assist owners, designers and builders to move toward integrated models and improved design, construction and operations processes. The goal of the Guide is to identify the characteristics of IPD and to provide specific information and guidance on how to utilize IPD methods to achieve enhanced design, construction and operations processes. The Guide begins with introductory material about the principles of IPD and points of consideration in a generic sense, moves through a study of implementation of IPD and culminates with discussion of application of general IPD principles within the specific framework of common delivery models used in the marketplace today. To download the IPD Guide in PDF format, go to www.aia.org/ipdg You will need to register y! our email address to obtain the guide. |
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New AIA Contract Documents
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| The American Institute of Architects has updated the AIA Contract Documents to reflect current practices in the industry. Changes in the 2007 Update: The B141-1997 and B152-1997 owner/architect agreements are replaced with AIA B101-2007, a one-part agreement for traditional basic and additional services. Removal of mandatory arbitration - the documents no longer require architects to resolve disputes through arbitration. Additional insureds provisions - contractors will add owners, architects and architects' consultants as additional insureds under their general liability policies. You may purchase the new AIA Contract Documents at www.aiacontractdocuments.org |
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The term outsourcing is widely understood to mean sending work overseas. Reportedly 18 of the largest 20 architectural firms in the United States use outsourcing to varying degrees to produce renderings, design drawings and construction documents. Troubled by state registration laws which require architects to only stamp work for which they have direct responsibility, the more polite term for outsourcing is now worksharing. In reading the contracts, the overseas providers deem themselves drafting services performed under the responsible control of licensed architects (the firm using their services). The services are not offered to the general public, only to registered professionals, and under most state statutes the offshore service provider will not be deemed to be practicing architecture and need not be licensed.
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