architecture - engineering - construction
AECinfo.com

2021 February

2021 February


How Can Artificial Intelligence (AI) Improve Security Entrances?

February 26, 2021

How Can Artificial Intelligence (AI) Improve Security Entrances?

With the evolving dynamics of cloud storage and the ability to harness and proactively employ an ever-increasing pool of big data, artificial intelligence (AI) has significantly impacted video surveillance, which has been among the biggest beneficiaries of faster processing and impactful analytics. Even building automation, fire systems, intrusion detection, and physical and network access control have AI built into many core competencies.

Read more


New podcast looks at window shade fabrics selection to balance aesthetics and performance

February 24, 2021

New podcast looks at window shade fabrics selection to balance aesthetics and performance

Is the selection of window shade fabrics purely about aesthetics and color? Not at all, and that’s a big misconception. Many factors influence these decisions. To discuss what those are and bring insights to listeners, host Tyler Kern talked everything fabrics with Jeff Miller, Director of Architectural Shading Solutions for Draper, and Colin Blackford, Director of Business Development for Mermet USA. Quantifying its performance, which includes many components, is key to choosing the right fabric.

Read more


Weather Resistant Planters

February 22, 2021

Weather Resistant Planters

Outdoor planters should be able to withstand the UV rays of the sun and other outdoor elements. Still, most landscaping products are not made to withstand the wear and tear provoked by nature and the general public. It doesn't take long for standard planters to start fading if left in the sun day after day. TerraCast® resin planters are treated with a UV inhibitor, which means they will not need painting or refinishing because they will not fade, chip, or peel.

Read more


Bollards for Campus Safety: A strategy for successful traffic management

February 17, 2021

Bollards for Campus Safety: A strategy for successful traffic management

Colleges and universities often function like small towns. University planners oversee construction of many of the same facilities and amenities found in typical cities. Along with learning centers and student living quarters, post-secondary institutions now increasingly include shops, banks, restaurants, pubs, large sports venues, and business offices. Creating campus safety means integrating these into the ebb and tide of students that surge through a busy campus. This can represent an increased strain on institutional infrastructure, as colleges and universities must plan for high levels of both pedestrian and non-motorized traffic, buses, and a larger-than-average proportion of young drivers on the road. These demands make traffic safety on campus both uniquely challenging and of critical importance.

Read more


Glass door security options: developing an all-glass bulletproof door

February 15, 2021

Glass door security options: developing an all-glass bulletproof door

'Frameless' all-glass doors are broad and inviting—practically the standard for modern offices. It’s important to know, however, that startlingly few glass door security options both fit and meet aesthetic demands while still providing significant safety.

Read more


How to Properly Install and Weld Thermoplastic and Metallic Waterstops

February 12, 2021

How to Properly Install and Weld Thermoplastic and Metallic Waterstops

Today we're going to cover how to weld PVC and TPV waterstops. Before we can show you how to weld waterstop we need to go over waterstop welding safety as well as some of the tools you'll need.

Read more


Daylighting Benefits: Give Your Building's Occupants a Boost

February 10, 2021

Daylighting Benefits: Give Your Building's Occupants a Boost

We all know the dread of walking into a dark, dreary, windowless space, or working in an area where there's no access to natural light. Without cues from the sun and the natural world, we can feel tired and depressed, and this lack of light can even have an effect on our sleep patterns. Luckily, that's where daylighting systems come into play - the natural light they bring into a space doesn't just help with energy costs, it also boosts our well-being.

Read more


Acousti-Mat® - the sound control solution for your mass timber project

February 8, 2021

Acousti-Mat® - the sound control solution for your mass timber project

Mass Timber continues to revolutionize the construction industry. Maxxon has performing sound tests and providing sound control, Acousti-Mat® Systems since the trend emerged in the United States.

Read more


Designing Radiation Shielding for NDT and Other Industries

February 5, 2021

Designing Radiation Shielding for NDT and Other Industries

Our lives are impacted by industrial x-ray and Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) as they play a crucial role in ensuring safety and reliability of everything from aircraft parts, to bridges and power stations. However, this also puts equipment operators and sensitive components at risk of being exposed to harmful radiation. MarShield designs and manufactures custom modular radiation shielding rooms, protecting all stakeholders by maintaining a safe work-place environment.

Read more


STC or OITC? How to select the proper sound rating for automatic smoke vents

February 3, 2021

STC or OITC? How to select the proper sound rating for automatic smoke vents

Diving into the world of acoustical ratings is like opening a can of alphabet soup. You’re unsure which letters will float to the top, what their significance is and how to unscramble and define the mishmash of letters staring at you. While there is a jumble of letters, the critical ratings for determining the acoustical quality of building products fall into two groups: Sound Transmission Class (STC) and Outdoor-Indoor Transmission Class (OITC). Depending upon the structure being built and the application of the products, the difference in the ratings is essential for architects, designers and construction teams to understand.

Read more


Do You Need to Increase the Weight Capacity of Your Elevator?

February 1, 2021

Do You Need to Increase the Weight Capacity of Your Elevator?

We take elevators for granted in our daily lives and use them without thinking twice if they are secure. Elevator test weights are essential for ensuring safety and are a critical component in the testing and certification of elevators. Mars Metal offers a broad range of casting abilities and can provide custom test weights to meet your exact requirements.

Read more