Building Codes, Trade Standards and Common Sense trump manufacturers instructions

When ABT channel drain manufacturer installation instructions clearly violate the building codes and accepted trade practices, then common sense should prevail... that is if the contractor has any.

ABT Channel Drains

The installation instructions and components for the ABT Channel Drain system, instructs the installer to drive rebar directly into the soil.  Alternatively, the instructions state that a galvanized U bracket can be used directly against the earth as a brace.

Click on image to view a larger version

These instructions violate every tenant of concrete construction, building codes and accepted trade practices.  Just because a company came up with a "brilliant marketing idea" does not make it acceptable or correct. 

Click on the image to see a larger image of the rebar in direct contact with the earth.

What is a Contractor to do?

First and foremost, the building codes ALWAYS prevail.  The International Building Code (IBC) has adopted and incorporated the American Concrete Institute Standard ACI 318, directly into the building code.

ACI 318 states that reinforcing steel in concrete shall maintain minimum clearances to earth.  Driving reinforcing bars directly into the earth, clearly violates both the IBC and ACI 318.

Secondly, common sense should prevail.  Though it may be fast and easy, a manufacturer's instructions should not be followed when they clearly violate the law.

A Solution?

Had the manufacturer supplied or specified a non-corrosive plastic stake, then all would have been good.

Alternatively, smooth bar dowels could have been used as stakes and removed once the channels were secured with concrete.

The contractors reasoning, "That's what they sell.  Besides, it will be 20 years before the rebar rusts and the concrete cracks," is lame.  

Especially when he knows that he is violating the building code.

Paolo Benedetti, SWD 
Aquatic Artist, Watershape Consultant, Expert Witness, International Construction Management 
"Creating water as art."™ 
Aquatic Technology Pool and Spa©
Contact the author at: info@aquatictechnology.com or 408-776-8220 

©www.aquatictechnology.com All rights reserved.

ANSI A108.5 Exterior Floor Tiles Require 95% Thinset Mortar Contact

Loose or hollow sounding floor tiles are usually a result of improper tile installation practices.

ANSI A108.5 (2005) 

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has established trade standards for the installation of Ceramic Tiles.  This standards also includes quarry pavers (natural stone tiles).  It has been in effect for decades, and was most recently reaffirmed in 2005.

ANSI A108.5, Section 3.3.2 states that in exterior or shower installations, the average uniform contact area shall not be less than 95% (upon the inspection of three tiles).

Shortcuts

Let's face it, humans beings are like electricity and water - they will take the path of least resistance and effort.

Tile setters must be reminded that tiles installed in exterior floor and shower applications, must achieve 95% contact with the setting material.

This means that the tile setter must knock down the trowel gauge marks on ceramic tiles, quarry pavers and natural stone tiles.  Leaving the trowel marks in place will mean only 50% contact.  

Why do they do this?  It saves them 50% on their thinset costs.  They are lazy.  No one ever taught them how to do it correctly.  They have never been involved in a construction defect case.

Improperly Set Travertine Quarry Tiles - click on image to enlarge

Improperly Set Marble Quarry Tiles - click on image to enlarge

Additionally, it will leave voids behind the tiles where moisture will collect.  This moisture can lead to freeze damage, saturated or loosening thinset.  Loose thinset may result in cracked tiles.  

Porous tile or natural stones, such as terracotta or marble, may develop or exhibit efflorescence.  The efflorescence will bleed up through the tile from this moisture trapped underneath.  By ensuring a solid void free substrate, there will be little place for the water to collect, nor air pockets to foster efflorescence.  

Efflorescence requires calcium, water and air in order to form.  Since efflorescence crystals cannot push into the concrete deck, they will manifest themselves on the surface of the tiles or the grout.  The efflorescence will continue to form until all of the calcium has been activated.  That means that it may never actually cease.

Sound Practices equal Sound Tiles
 
If quarry tiles are not gauged (cut to a consistent thickness), it means that the masons may need to back buttered the tiles as well, to ensure complete contact.

Well cleaned and saturated tiles will also ensure a good tight bond with the substrate.  No thinset mortar will adhere to dust, dirt or dry tiles.

A little care and periodic inspection of tiles as they are set (lifting installed tiles to inspect the contact coverage), will verify and ensure that your clients enjoy a trouble free deck for years to come.

Paolo Benedetti, SWD 
 Artist, Watershape Consultant, Expert Witness, International Construction Management 
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.

ANSI/APSP-12 Swimming Pool Plaster Workmanship Standards

ANSI/APSP-12 Swimming Pool Plaster Workmanship Standards 

The general public and pool industry at large need to know how and why, otherwise unacceptable workmanship finds it’s way into becoming “the minimally acceptable standard.”

In July 2014, the APSP (Association Pool & Spa Professionals) and the NPC (National Plaster's Counsel) announced a “joint” committee to write a new plaster workmanship standard, under the guise of APSP/ANSI-12.  

Because APSP is aligned with ANSI (American National Standards Institute), the resulting standards to would in effect become “statute” in many regions of the country.  Through ANSI's affiliation with the ICC (the International Code Counsel ironically publishes the International Building Code, which has been adopted across the US), this may just become law in your state. 

You can see where this is going.  It is a end around run on consumer rights and justifiable workmanship.  This forces consumers to settle for inferior workmanship, just because it meets the industry's own minimum acceptable level.  

Their proposals for this standard include defining acceptable "deviations" and explanations as to why pool plaster cannot achieve the levels of performance delivered by other plaster trades. 

These defined deviations will be governed by "accepted trade practices" and not by the BEST AVAILABLE PRACTICES.   

Again, locate and identify the lowest common level of performance and make that acceptable.  If a consumer has a project with poor workmanship, they will be forced to accept poorest quality job that the NPC can justify.

Fox in the Hen House

Trade associations writing their own workmanship standards is self-serving and against the general interest of the American public.  Even if a standard is written with the absolute lack of personal biases and interests, the end result will still be a self-serving document.   

This is what I take offense with… putting the fox in charge of the hen house.

In other words, "how bad can it get and still be defensible?"

Paolo Benedetti, SWD Aquatic Artist, Watershape Consultant, Expert Witness, International Construction Management 
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.