Aqua designs for international projects require specialized training and knowledge.
International Codes
Many international locations have few, if any, aqua design codes or standards. So what codes should apply?
In this litigious society we live in, designers should do their best to comply with the most stringent published code. Most of those codes reside right here in the United States. The leader for commercial pool standards is the State of California.
Avoiding Litigation
If the designer is based in the United States, a reasonable line of legal questioning in foreign litigation would be:
"Are you trained to design and build projects that are compliant with the more stringent US codes and standards?"
"In the absence of local regulations or building codes, wouldn't it be prudent to design and build to those same margins of safety?"
"So, by not designing to those same US standards, you are saying that a life in this foreign country is worth less than a life in the US?"
Keep in mind that in many foreign countries, errors and omissions are often construed as criminal negligence. A designer may not just be trying to avoid financial losses, but jail as well.
Bottom Line
When designing foreign projects, it is best to design a project to be in compliance with the most stringent standards or codes that exist, unless they are in direct conflict with a local regulation.
The standards established by the ADA, IBC, NEC, ISPSC, APSP, NSF, ACI, TCNA, ANSI and VGBSA may not be the adopted code in a foreign locale. However, these standards were established for a reason - life safety and user convenience.
Don't the people in foreign countries deserve the same levels of protection?
Paolo Benedetti, SWD -
Aquatic Artist, Watershape Consultant, Expert Witness, International Aquatic Designer and Builder
Contact the author at: info@aquatictechnology.com or 408-776-8220
"Creating water as art."™
Aquatic Technology Pool and Spa©
©www.aquatictechnology.com
All rights reserved.
Monday, September 9, 2013
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Full-Time Swimming Pool Expert Witness
Should you hire a full-time swimming pool expert witness or someone who is still active in the business who is a part-time expert witness?
Out of Touch
That's a rather straight forward question with an obvious answer. A "professional" expert witness has retired from the business. They spend all of their time examining projects, writing reports and providing testimony.
So how do they stay up to date with the current trends in the industry?
How do they learn about the innovations in construction techniques?
Where do they get exposed to the new products that make past technologies obsolete?
When did they last actually build something utilizing state of the art methods?
What was the last project that they actually designed or engineered?
How do they stay up to date on the newest codes, industry standards and acceptable trade practices?
The longer they have been a full-time expert witness, the longer they have been out of touch with the industry. Though they may be able to stay up to date on the broad scope of changes, the nuances of change pass them by.
In-Touch
Those that are part-time expert witnesses, usually have full-time jobs actually designing, consulting, managing or constructing swimming pools.
Because they are active in the industry, they are current on all of the standards, codes and acceptable trade practices. Because they are on the leading edge of design innovation, they are up to date with the technological changes and techniques required to execute these new designs.
The expert witness you need to hire, is one who is still practicing in the industry. Someone who is out in the trenches, resolving design issues and building projects on a daily basis.
Contact the author at: info@aquatictechnology.com or 408-776-8220
Paolo Benedetti Aquatic Artist, Watershape Consultant, Expert Witness
"Creating water as art."™
Aquatic Technology Pool and Spa
©www.aquatictechnology.com All rights reserved.
Out of Touch
That's a rather straight forward question with an obvious answer. A "professional" expert witness has retired from the business. They spend all of their time examining projects, writing reports and providing testimony.
So how do they stay up to date with the current trends in the industry?
How do they learn about the innovations in construction techniques?
Where do they get exposed to the new products that make past technologies obsolete?
When did they last actually build something utilizing state of the art methods?
What was the last project that they actually designed or engineered?
How do they stay up to date on the newest codes, industry standards and acceptable trade practices?
The longer they have been a full-time expert witness, the longer they have been out of touch with the industry. Though they may be able to stay up to date on the broad scope of changes, the nuances of change pass them by.
In-Touch
Those that are part-time expert witnesses, usually have full-time jobs actually designing, consulting, managing or constructing swimming pools.
Because they are active in the industry, they are current on all of the standards, codes and acceptable trade practices. Because they are on the leading edge of design innovation, they are up to date with the technological changes and techniques required to execute these new designs.
The expert witness you need to hire, is one who is still practicing in the industry. Someone who is out in the trenches, resolving design issues and building projects on a daily basis.
Contact the author at: info@aquatictechnology.com or 408-776-8220
Paolo Benedetti Aquatic Artist, Watershape Consultant, Expert Witness
"Creating water as art."™
Aquatic Technology Pool and Spa
©www.aquatictechnology.com All rights reserved.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)