Filed under: Building Automation, Technology | Tags: Architecture, Building Automation
I was interested to find this new technology from EnOcean that provides wireless building automation systems. This could be big for the emerging market of existing building green retrofits. For example, it could now be easier to retrofit an existing hotel to wirelessly turn off the lights and turn down the A/C in unoccupied rooms. Perhaps urban or higher security areas will ‘wait and see’ if there are any security concerns from using wireless technology for this purpose. Could a hacker turn off the A/C in a larger building that uses this technology? I’m sure these concerns are being addressed, but it will interesting to see this technology develop as we might see a variety of building performance data being transmitted wirelessly in the future. Check out EnOcean.
Filed under: Materials and Methods
For some reason, I remember this as being the first thing I learned on the first day of working as an architect. I was drawing floor plan modifications and I was instructed to place typical doors 4″ or 100mm from wall intersections. I proceeded to get the explanation depicted in this sketch for why this condition is most typical. 
Filed under: Travels and sightings
Here is a lesson in remembering to write down information you will inevitably forget. I sketched this figure in Italy. I believe I was on a day trip from Rome several years ago. I failed to note where I was creating this sketch. Now it will forever be a mystery where I created this fun drawing. If you ever come across this guy, let me know where he resides.
An inventor has created this escape harness for the high rise floors of skyscrapers. Upon first look, this is a goofy contraption, but the intention to address life saving strategies for true disaster situations in skyscrapers is a marvelous thought. Let’s be clear..buildings should have redundant internal evacuation methods (i.e. wide stairs, emergency power, smoke purge, etc.) to safely address any emergency. However, if another unthinkable disaster occurred to a skyscraper, I would hope every possible life safety innovation, perhaps including this harness, would be available to save lives.
Watch out for some Chinese manufactured drywall. I first spotted this on the local news. It appears to have moved to a congressional hearing. Certain home builders evidently looked to save a buck by trying out chinese drywall. Evidently certain kinds imported from China contained small amounts of sulfer. From Popular Mechanics here:
…some Chinese drywall contains strontium sulfide, a material absent from most samples manufactured in the United States. The EPA tests for this material are still pending, but scientists suspect that this compound, which releases sulfurous gases, could be the cause of homeowner complaints that range from nosebleeds and respiratory ailments to black coatings tarnishing shower fixtures and corroding air-conditioner coils.
Here are a few sketches I created while reviewing wood framed windows. Please check out Francis Ching’s Building Construction Illustrated for the complete representation of these systems. Remember wood windows relative to conductivity.. Aluminum is fabricated more reliably, but wood is a more effective thermal insulator.
Wood window within masonry wall assembly:
Wood window within wood wall assembly:
