Limit of Moderate Wave Action?

I-CODES AND COASTAL A ZONES The 2018 International Codes (I-Codes) treat Coastal A Zones like Zone V if a Limit of Moderate Wave Action (LiMWA) is delineated on FIRMs. If a community designates an area as a Coastal A Zone through its building code or foodplain management regulations, buildings in that area are required to…

Hell Freezes

The following is an actual question given on a University of Washington engineering mid-term. The answer was so “profound” that the Professor shared it with colleagues, and the sharing obviously hasn’t ceased… Bonus Question: Is Hell exothermic (gives off heat) or Endothermic (absorbs heat)? Most of the students wrote Proofs of their beliefs using Boyle’s…

A Better Nail

BOSTITCH HurriQuake(TM) nail. This nail out preforms all other nail gun fasteners. The innovative design excels in withdrawal values. The building code evaluation lists the withdrawal value of 50 pounds per inch for the 0.113 inch diameter (8d box or cooler equivalent diameter) the value for a 8d box is 20 pounds per inch, and…

Flood Vents

Enclosed spaces in a non-velocity flood zone require flood vents. The purpose of these vents is to equalize pressure in the event of a flood event. In the past foundation ventilation products or soffit vents have been used for this purpose. The International Building Code uses ASCE 24-05 as a reference for flood vents. ASCE…

Overdriving Fasteners

The fasteners must be installed with the heads flush to the panel surface. If overdriving occurs, no more than 20 percent of the fasteners are permitted to be overdriven more than 1/16 inch (1.6 mm). It is recommended that where nail heads occasionally are more than 1/16 inch below the surface, an additional nail should…