So You Want to Be a Forensic Expert? (Jan/Feb 2010)
Enjoyed the referenced article. Regarding photography, use a good quality camera, consider composition, including camera angle and try to avoid distortion. Often it is good to have a scale reference, such as a ruler or scale with large enough numbers to be seen in the photo. It is good to use a wide angle to provide a reference for the location and then a close-up to show the detail. I keep all original files in a separate folder so that the meta data is available if requested. Make high quality prints at least 8" by 10". I adjust the contrast and light balance to try to get the best looking photo, but as I said the original is always available upon request.
I have never been involved as a forensic witness, but have been an expert witness. One time, while giving a deposition in our office, one of the attorneys asked for a copy of a letter, which made it necessary for me to leave the room. When I returned, I heard one of the attorneys remark how refreshing it was to have an expert witness who was telling the truth. I took that as a personal compliment, but it is a damning assessment of our profession.
Carr Baldwin, PE, President, E C I of Ishpeming
Great Article. Thank You, Mark Passamaneck!!!
Don D
atta-boy ('n atta-girl)
Just responding, which I have to agree I never do. I was thumbing through this month’s issue I had to let you know I enjoy it when I have a few minutes at lunch to pick up ideas and news from your publication. Keep up the good work. Don’t think we’re not reading, we’re just swamped!
Christopher Licking
FMS Engineering
“A Custom-made Gap,” October 2009
The Secretary of the Interior Standards does not preclude upfitting a historic structure to include energy-efficiency retrofits. In fact, their website offers many suggestions to improve the energy efficiency of a historic structure. Being in Charleston, we do a lot of preservation projects and many LEED projects. The Secretary’s standards let you do many things; the biggest concern often is that anything done to the structure be reversible. The Secretary’s standards even include a policy on the use of spray foam insulation. Unless there is an interior conservation easement, the standards often not apply to the interior of the building as well. Here in Charleston I have been involved with the National Trust, the Historic Charleston Foundation, and Chair of the Buildings Subcommittee for the City of Charleston Climate Protection and Sustainability Plan. We have developed a “Charleston Standard” for energy retrofits of historic structures that our State Historic Structures Office is now using as a basic guideline for the state and we hope will become a model for the nation at some point. I hope this helps. There is much that can be done to improve the energy efficiency of historic structures, adapting them to new uses while preserving their historic character, fabric, and significance.
Dennis Knight
Liollio Architecture
"Peer to Peer," September 2009
I want to give praise for the excellent Peer to Peer article, "Understanding the VGB Pool & Spa Safety Act.” It is a familiar topic for me, being a PE in Oregon involved with pool circulation system design and occupied on many pools this year for VGB compliance. Terrence LeBeau presents the topic very well and deserves many thanks.
Lew Seagraves, PE
Consulting Engineer
Damascus, Oregon
“Hot Water Time to Tap,” September 2009
I just read Winston Huff’s article in the September issue of PS&D. Kudos to Winston on a well-written article that lays out the issue and solutions very clearly. For a couple of years now, I have been working on this issue as it relates to the water wasted waiting for hot in residences. It appears that this can be a very significant waste of a very precious resource. Indeed, lower flow rates can exacerbate user frustration and inconvenience. I am very pleased to see that the issue can be addressed in multifamily and commercial buildings where Plumbing Engineers have the opportunity to make buildings that function better and waste less water. As for single-family residential construction, we have a big educational task ahead of us for builders, architects, and contractors.
Craig Selover
Masco Corporation
“Accepted Engineering Practice: What’s That?” September 2009
I’d like to thank you for writing an excellent and provocative article. The basic premise asked is who decides what is accepted engineering practice. This is an excellent question but of course, because of its complexity, has no answer. There is no single body at this time that could establish adequate plumbing criteria under most circumstances. Any “rules” for adequate design must cover a great many systems. The question raised in the article is basically one of jurisdiction. As Mr. Murphy adequately wrote, who will be the arbiter of “adequate design?” I would like to discuss some of my thoughts about a few of the unsolvable issues from whoever would be selected.
1. Would there be different committees for various systems? This would imply the setting of minimum requirements for each major system. The methodology should be one of how, not what.
2. How would the applicable codes interact with the various requirements?
3. Who would make up this committee? What are the basic decisions for selecting these councils? Would the membership change?
4. Who will decide what is adequate or accepted engineering practice?
5. What about appeals, of what and to whom?
Mike Frankel
“Origins of the Gap,” July/August 2009
I enjoy reading Michael Smith's articles. This one in particular really hits home. I obtained my engineering degree and worked and a plumbing designer/project manager for ten years in the office. I was laid off and obtained my plumbing license which was not an easy task. For the past six years I have been installing plumbing in those conditions mentioned in the magazine. I really would not change it for the world. I do not want to go back to sitting at a desk drawing on a computer all day. It is something to hear people complaining that it is either too hot or cold outside and they work in an office building all day. You are right—there is a gap. The plumbing designer should actually install the plumbing, not just spend time with the plumber. I know this is not possible without a plumbing license, but it is the best way. If I had to go back to design, I sure have a better understanding. Michael Smith, keep writing your articles. I really enjoy reading them. Thanks for your time.
Lori Pink
Oakridge Plumbing Inc.
“Code Update,” June 2009
Just a quick note to say that I especially enjoyed Dan Murphy’s article in June's PS&D. It hit close to home as Schier has spent the last 3 years banging our heads against the brick wall of the status quo regarding grease interception. "Not on my watch" is a phrase we're all too familiar with. Thanks for the pep-talk!
Luke Ismert
Schier Products
“The Green Column,” April 2009
“The Green Column” in the April 2009 PS&D is a most thought-provoking article. This kind of comprehensive content is what makes PS&D a must read for everyone seeking to be more effective in the contemporary world of Plumbing Design (and, might I add Plumbing installation—pass along your old copies to the Plumbers in the field!). Because of the challenges that derive from the misinformation which people outside the Plumbing field bring with them, it is especially important for the Plumbing Design Professional to know the details of the water-saving products we specify. The challenge to you is to know the ones that work better and know why! Remember, part of our job is to help the under-informed make decisions that are good for them based on their vision and our accurate knowledge. Get involved with a movement that integrates building construction with conservation and forget about the politics! The population is getting larger; the earth is staying the same size—duh! You don’t have to be a Plumbing Engineer to figure out that we need to be able to do more with the water (and other resources) that we have.
…and to think about it, when we do our job, we all play a role in a better future for those who came after us. ‘Not bad for a day’s work…
Steven T. Mayer CPD, CMGI, LEED AP BD+C
Senior Plumbing/Fire Sprinkler Designer
Richmond, VA – Clover, SC
“Preventing Vortexing,” March 2009
The March 2009 issue contained an article by Roy Ahlgren titled “Preventing Vortexing in Cooling Towers.” Vortexing is an issue often encountered in our work as consultant to local and regional governments in the area of water and wastewater, as well as in our role as consultant to the U.S. Military in the storage and handling of jet fuel, fuel distribution piping, and storage tank design. We would like to know the origin/history of the graph of “Velocity vs Minimum submergence required” which accompanied the article. The origin, history and development of the graph would make a great topic for discussion with the many groups of engineers with which we work.
Mike O'Connor
Austin Brockenbrough & Associates LLP
From Roy Ahlgren:
It's always nice to hear that someone actually reads those articles! My source for the submergence versus flow velocity graph was the ITT Gould's Pump Manual, "GPM3". I no longer have a copy of that book, so I can't cite the actual page number. Another ITT Gould's publication has it in somewhat briefer form, ITT Gould's Pump TTECHWP, page 34. I can't comment on the origin/history/development of that data, but I'm sure that someone at ITT Gould's could. You can find the ITT Gould's office nearest you on their website, www.gouldspumps.com. Some excellent background information on the topic is available in the McGraw-Hill "Pump Handbook", Section 10.1 "Intakes, Suction Piping, and Strainers", and in the same book, Section 10.2 on "Intake Modeling".
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