WEIRD WEDNESDAY: There's Something Fishy About This Desk

Danish office furniture designers SØren Kjær has introduced MILK, "a desk that will redefine what is expected of office furniture in the 21st century." Produced by Danish office furnishings giant Holmris, MILK offers an unusual synthesis of design, function, and customizable features.

Kjær was inspired to create MILK when he recognized a need for a desk that combined a sleek aesthetic with smart function and quality construction.

MILK is comprised of a monolithic rectangular top, finished in white or black high gloss lacquer that rests on a sleek aluminum pedestal base. The base is available in stationary or mobile versions. The mobile base allows the user to raise and lower the desk height at the touch of a button, adjusting electronically to accommodate sitting or standing. MILK easily adapts to users of different heights for ergonomic purposes.

The desk surface is customizable as well. Each top incorporates four built-in containers that offer numerous organizational possibilities. These cubbies are inset into the surface of the desktop, giving the user a place to keep essentials close without sacrificing desk space.

These containers can be customized in a number of ways. MILK offers lids in aluminum, chrome, black, purple, white, and frosted acrylic, or glass. A power supply can be threaded into a cubby, creating a discrete spot to charge an iPod or cell phone.

One or more of these dedicated cubby spaces can be further personalized with practical and playful accessories. MILK has created a built-in waste bin; pencil holder; shallow and a deep divided accessory trays; and even a fish tank.

MILK’s built-in cable exits allow power cords, firewires, and broadband cables to be neatly bundled together and kept hidden underneath the desk, while still being easily accessible from the desktop. A slot is integrated into the body of the desktop, creating a handy shallow space to store folders, notepads, and files that are in constant rotation for quick and easy access.

The product is on display at dkVOGUE’s New York contract showroom. Kim Nielsen, founder and CEO of dkVOGUE observes, “With its distinctive combination of adaptable elements, modern design, and exceptional Danish craftsmanship, this desk is truly an industry first.” dkVOGUE is the exclusive distributor of the product in the U.S.

Largest Southern California Security Company Reintroduces Janitorial Services

Universal Services of America (USA), a full range of building services including janitorial, maintenance, and security, re-opened its janitorial division—Universal Building Maintenance. This division was originally started back in 1965 and operated in southern California successfully for approximately 25 years. The addition of building maintenance makes Universal Services of America one of the largest, full service facility service companies, which includes the operation of security firms Universal Protection Service (UPS), UPS Security Systems, and UPS Fire/Life Safety Services.

Brian Cescolini and Steve Jones, the owners of Universal Protection Service have partnered with Mark Olivas, the former managing director for the western region for One Source Building Services to re-open Universal Building Maintenance.

"With the recent consolidation of the two largest janitorial firms in the US," said Cescolini, president and chief executive officer of Universal Services of America. "We spoke with our clients and they welcomed a better option."

Steve Jones, CEO of Universal Services of America is committed to "building the perfect company from the ground up, one that is focused on the customer and its people."

"I have admired Universal Protection Service for the last 10 years and I feel that no other company really understands the customer like Universal Protection Service, " said Mark Olivas, president of Universal Building Maintenance. "My goal is to use their customer service philosophy, their resources, and their technology to build an unmatched janitorial firm. I love that we are not trying to change a culture but instead we get to create it from the ground up.

"Universal Building Maintenance will become in the janitorial industry what Universal Protection Service is in the security industry, a highly flexible and innovative customer focused organization," Olivas continued.

Universal Building Maintenance will have offices in Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego to start and will expand when the opportunities present themselves. Universal Protection Service offers security solutions the Denver area from its office located in Aurora, CO and provides services to the Denver branch of CB Richard Ellis, based in the Denver Technological Center.

NeoCon 2008 Attracts Over 50,000 To The Windy City

The 40th annual NeoCon World’s Trade Fair, North America’s largest conference and exhibition for interior design and facilities management at The Merchandise Mart Chicago, attracted approximately 50,500 attendees from around the world. However, this represented a 4% dip from the previous year's show.

“This year’s NeoCon proved that the furniture industry is strong and is investing heavily in new product introductions,” said Mark Falanga, senior vice president, Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. (MMPI). “With only a slight dip, NeoCon’s attendance was still up 15% from 2005, which is very impressive. With more than 1,200 exhibitors and 352 Best of NeoConNeoCon has remained the show for the industry.”

Leaders from throughout the contract industry commented on NeoCon 2008, hosted from June 9-11:

“Our industry has seen an amazing amount of change in the four decades since the first NeoCon fair. NeoCon and The Merchandise Mart have provided a stable anchor in the midst of this change, ” said Jim Hackett, President and CEO of Steelcase.

“NeoCon has played a vital role in the evolution of the workplace and the growth of our industry. Herman Miller's Action Office was publicly introduced at that first NeoCon, and the years since have proven the event continues to be North America's premier showcase for innovative, problem solving design, " offered Brian Walker, CEO of Herman Miller.

“Traffic is very strong this year. We’ve had a terrific response from buyers and sellers,” commented Peter Brunelle, President and CEO of Inscape.

In addition to the showroom, NeoCon assembles groups of industry experts, leaders, and innovators to provide insight into different areas to keep attendees on the cutting edge of their industries. This year’s line up of keynote speakers included: Steven Levitt, author of Freakonomics; Robert F. Kennedy Jr., environmentalist and author of the New York Times bestseller Crimes Against Nature; and Scott Wilson, former Global Creative Director at Nike and Design Director at Motorola.

Next year's NeoCon World’s Trade Fair will be held June 15-17, 2009, at The Merchandise Mart.

Discussion On Door Component Substitution Slated For Early July

In an effort to spur industry communication on the increasingly important topic of component substitution for door certification and testing, the AAMA Door Component Interchangeability Task Group is hosting an all-day open discussion forum on July 8.

The American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA), located in Schaumburg, IL, is hosting the forum to further the development of guidelines to be used for side-hinged entry door component structural substitution/ interchangeability. These guidelines will then be used by the industry to craft procedural guides, certification, and other possible programs. In addition to members of the Task Group, representatives of the Association of Millwork Distributors (AMD) and Window and Door Manufacturers Association (WDMA) have been invited to attend.

“The exterior side-hinged door segment of our industry has voiced concerns about the requirements for full door system testing. AAMA and representatives from AMD have been diligently working to develop a program that allows the substitution of qualified pre-hung door components within approved door assemblies. This work has reached a stage where the development can be enhanced and accelerated with expanded input,” according to Rich Walker, AAMA president and CEO.

AAMA can accommodate other interested parties that are willing to contribute to the development of the guidelines. To request to be added to the meeting roster, interested facility managers call (847) 303-5859, ext. 225 by June 27, 2008.

For more information on this meeting and the door certification program efforts, please call 847-303-5664, or email John Lewis, technical director at jlewis@aamanet.org.

DuPont, Customers Help Rebuild Town

DuPont and four time NASCAR Cup Series Champion Jeff Gordon recently announced that DuPont will partner with customers and make an initial donation of more than 30 innovative products and services worth nearly $750,000 to help rebuild homes and businesses in tornado-ravaged Greensburg, KS.

The town was leveled by one of the largest tornadoes in U.S. history in 2007. Very few structures remained in the aftermath of the deadly EF5 tornado and more than 1,500 people, who were displaced, are waiting to return to their homes. Greensburg residents are rebuilding their town using sustainable materials.

“DuPont employees and customers have come together to help the families in Greensburg. We cannot possibly imagine what this community has suffered but we can help. We care about protecting lives, we care about building homes, and we care about safeguarding communities,” said Tom Schuler, vice president and general manager, DuPont Building Innovations. “We are pleased to support the people of Greensburg with sustainable products that will help make a difference in the renewal of the town.”

The materials, which include key end use products from DuPont customers, will provide a number of benefits to homeowners in Greensburg for safety and energy efficiency, using sustainable materials for both inside and outside their homes.

“DuPont's involvement in Greensburg marks a great partnership for the city. I look forward to continued support from them as we rebuild our sustainable city,” said Steve Hewitt, Greensburg city administrator.

“DuPont's leadership in creating quality products and their generous contributions are making it possible for the Habitat organization to offer affordable home ownership as a hands-up solution in the Greensburg community. We are tremendously grateful to DuPont and their business partners for their leadership and support,” said Linda Stewart, executive director, Wichita Habitat for Humanity, Inc.

Key DuPont customer donations include carpet from Mohawk and air conditioning systems from Johnson Controls.

Inspired by Greensburg residents’ desire to rebuild “green,” Planet Green television network is chronicling the rebuilding of Greensburg. The epic docu-series is a mixture of human stories and building and engineering. "Greensburg" will air on Planet Green every Sunday for 12 weeks. The series will document the story of a community coming together and the enormous scope of rebuilding a small city.

WEB EXCLUSIVE: Benefits of Resilient Vinyl Flooring

This Web Exclusive comes from Robert Krebs of the American Plastics Council.

The innovators of today’s interior vinyl products artfully blend traditional materials with advanced technologies to produce versatile, durable, and beautiful flooring. Many interior designers and architects recognize resilient vinyl flooring as an important material in their palette, particularly when creating spaces sustaining heavy traffic or that have to be kept meticulously clean. Design flexibility provides an added bonus.

Vinyl flooring is referred to as "resilient," because it characteristically bounces back from the weight of objects compressing its surface. This feature also contributes to favorable acoustics and comfort underfoot. Originally used only in high-traffic areas, vinyl flooring is now used in just about every hard-surface application. Durability, ease of maintenance, and moisture resistance top the list of attributes explaining its wide acceptance.

Commercial vinyl flooring is manufactured in either 12" or 9" square tiles, or continuous sheets 6' or 12' wide. Floor tile is sold as either solid vinyl or vinyl composition tile (VCT). Sheet flooring can be homogeneous, inlaid, or layered composite.

Vinyl flooring formulations differ widely, and many are proprietary. The actual vinyl content of these floors ranges from 11% to 55%. Other raw materials used include: fillers such as limestone, calcium carbonate, or clay; plasticizer additives to soften the vinyl and provide flexibility; stabilizers to minimize degradation and discoloration from heat and light; and pigments.

Versatility In Design
Vinyl sheet and tile flooring creations come in myriad styles and extensive color palettes, but the material’s versatility is particularly evident in the seemingly limitless, often intricate patterns flooring manufacturers are capable of producing. Tile can be custom cut and laid out in patterns using different colors or finishes. Corporate logos can be made from VCT to become part of the floor design, as can geometric icons or other shapes. The latter can be used, for example, to guide traffic in a hospital, school, or retail setting.

Custom designs are easily created using vinyl sheet and strip plank flooring, as well. Designers have been known to generate CAD drawings of the floor pattern they want from just a fabric sample as their inspiration. Virtually any look can be obtained to suit any decor, including classic looks simulating wood and ceramic tile.

Performance
Facility managers can (and should) expect long-lasting beauty, even in heavily traveled areas, from properly specified, installed, and maintained vinyl floors. New technologies have improved resilient flooring’s performance, making it tougher than ever—resisting rips, tears, gouging, scratching, scuffing, staining, indentation, and other physical abuse.

A floor’s durability is rated according to standards judging criteria such as: abrasion, gouge, puncture, cut, and impact resistance; how dynamic and static loads affect the life of the floor; how color is affected by heat and light exposure; and chemical resistance. Upon request, vinyl-flooring manufacturers can provide much of this information, showing exactly how their products measure up to these various performance standards.

A single flooring product may not meet the demands of every location in a building, so specifiers must check with the manufacturer to determine the best product for a particular application. Manufacturers can also recommend proper installation and maintenance techniques for ensuring the new floor performs as intended.

Some of the areas in which VCT manufacturers provide guidance include:
Loads. Consideration should be given to a floor’s ability to recover from indentation after a load has been placed on it for 24 hours. Test results show load limits to which products can be subjected with no permanent indentation after load removal.

Chemical and stain resistance. Special vinyl flooring formulations can be used in areas prone to chemical and staining reagent exposure. Manufacturers can provide test results for a variety of chemicals and reagents on individual product lines. In general, vinyl floors resist alkalis, acids, alcohols, oils, greases, and aliphatic hydrocarbons. Ketones, esters, and chlorinated and aromatic hydrocarbons may cause softening. Some rubber materials, such as rug backings and car tires, cause staining.

Static dissipation. Not many people realize a person walking across a flooring surface can generate a static charge amounting to several thousand volts of electric potential. While not a problem in most venues, it is definitely to be avoided where sensitive electronic equipment is manufactured or operated, as in clean or computer rooms, around fiber optics, and in pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities.

Specifically designed to dissipate unwanted static charges from the human body, electrostatic discharge (ESD) flooring allows electrical charges to flow safely to ground to avoid damaging sensitive equipment or creating an unwanted spark in a highly flammable area. ESD floors based on dense, homogenous, static-dissipative vinyl tile are extremely durable, resist the effects of common chemicals and solder, and are not conducive to bacterial or fungal growth.

Slip resistance. Specifying the appropriate floor surface can play a significant role in preventing slips and falls—and associated injuries, workers’ compensation claims, lost productivity, and lawsuits. Tile and sheet vinyl floors are available with enhanced slip-retardant surfaces suitable for a variety of commercial and institutional applications. Manufacturers recommend flooring with enhanced slip resistance for ramps, showers, and locker rooms, as well as areas of high humidity.

The slip resistance of a floor surface is measured by its coefficient of friction. The higher the coefficient, the less slippery the surface. Suitable VCT products are available in both sheet and tile, with abrasives in the material or a raised profile. While flooring with a raised profile is appropriate in high traffic areas where enhanced slip resistance is needed, it is potentially more difficult to clean than smooth surfaces.

Healthcare Settings
A study published in the American Journal of Infection Control suggests the use of easy-to-clean surfaces like vinyl flooring in healthcare settings is a sensible approach to controlling pathogens.1 Vinyl is one of the few materials that can stand up to the magnitude of cleaning these settings require.

Sheet vinyl floors help maintain stringent hygienic conditions, receiving high ratings where infection control is an issue because the seams can be chemically sealed or heat welded to keep out moisture and dirt. With fewer seams than most other hard surface flooring, vinyl gives bacteria fewer places to settle in and grow. For this reason, vinyl has even been specified in the bone marrow transplant units of hospitals.

Vinyl is also flexible enough to be extended up a wall to form a wall base, keeping dust from collecting where walls intersect the floor. Vinyl flooring is nearly impervious to water. Disinfectant cleaners can provide a sterile surface without damaging the floor, and most stains are easily removed.

To understand the criteria driving decisions about material choices among healthcare interior designers, The Vinyl Institute commissioned a survey of Healthcare Forum members of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA). Aesthetics, durability, and ease of maintenance were repeatedly called out as being paramount.

Respondents said they specify vinyl flooring most often for the public or community spaces in healthcare facilities. VCT is the most frequently specified, followed closely by sheet vinyl and broadloom carpet. Asked to rate the top five characteristics influencing their decision to specify VCT, three-quarters of respondents said initial cost, 73% chose it for durability, 69% for aesthetics, 68% because the client preferred it, and 51% for ease of maintenance. These numbers reflect a material with a strong balance of very desirable characteristics.

For patient and long-term care resident rooms, sheet vinyl is the flooring material of choice, followed by VCT. Sheet vinyl is selected because of its aesthetics, durability, ease/cost of maintenance, client preference, and infection control. Vinyl plank flooring products are growing in popularity, ranking third in the survey among preferred materials for patient and resident rooms. The trend toward designing these spaces with a warmer, more residential feeling is likely driving this material’s popularity.

Prolonging Life
The vinyl floor’s wear layer is key to maintenance. The thickness is generally measured in mils, or thousandths of an inch. Higher-quality vinyl floors may also employ a high-performance wear layer, while lower-priced floors generally feature a vinyl wear layer to protect the underlying pattern. In general, a high-performance wear layer makes the floor easier to clean and more stain resistant.

Some of the greatest abuse to any floor comes from tracked-in dirt and abrasive grit, which wears away any floor’s surface. The good news is that proper cleaning and maintenance are the only things required to combat dirt and preserve vinyl flooring’s utility and beauty.

Floors should be swept or mopped daily to remove gritty dirt. Damp mopping should be done with a neutral detergent. Mop treatments with petroleum solvents or silicone compounds should be avoided as they can create slippery conditions. Spills should be wiped up before they dry with a clean white cloth dampened with warm water. To control tracked-in dirt, grit, or stains from asphalt and oil in driveways, non-staining doormats should be placed at entrances. Some rubber or foam-backed doormats can cause surface staining.

Periodic spray buffing and the application of a high-quality commercial floor polish are also part of the regimen to resist staining and maintain a desirable appearance over time.

Resilient vinyl flooring’s proven long-term durability and safety features, aesthetics, moisture resistance, and low maintenance requirements are indicative of a cost-effective material with a strong balance of desirable characteristics. With vinyl, designers can be assured of delivering performance as well as beauty for the right price.

Notes
1. Noskin, Gary A.; Bednarz, Patrice; Suriano, Terra; Reiner, Sandra; Peterson, Lance R.; “Persistent contamination of fabric-covered furniture by vancomycin-resistant enterococci: Implications for upholstery selection in hospitals,” American Journal of Infection Control, August 2000.

Krebs is director of communications for the Plastics Division of the American Plastics Council.

Furniture Sustainability Standard Open For Comment

The Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association (BIFMA) International and NSF International (NSF) have announced the release of BIFMA E3-2008 Business and Institutional Furniture Sustainability Standard to the NSF consensus ballot process and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) public comment period.

The ballot process will close on July 1, 2008.

BIFMA and NSF partnered on the development of this standard over a year ago gathering a broad and diverse group of stakeholders in the consensus process. ANSI mandates openness, balance, due process, consensus, and a right to appeal in the development of consensus standards. Representatives from academia, the A&D community, end users, regulatory agencies, federal and state government, certification bodies, non-governmental organizations, manufacturers, suppliers, and others have been engaged in development of the standard.

“By employing this open and balanced consensus process, we’ve ensured that a broad range of perspectives have been considered in this standard,” said Thomas Reardon, BIFMA’s executive director. “I applaud the dozens of individuals who have lent their time, talents and knowledge to the creation of this important standard that will guide the development of more sustainable furniture products and processes going forward.”

BIFMA E-3 2008 takes a holistic view in evaluating product sustainability, considering multiple attributes including materials and natural resource utilization, energy, renewable energy, greenhouse gas impacts, human and eco-system health, material toxicity, and social responsibility. Modeled after the LEED building rating system, furniture products are evaluated against a variety of credit criteria (after first meeting certain prerequisites), accumulating points toward increasing levels of recognition associated with reduced environmental impact.

Following two years of development, the standard is now entering the official NSF consensus body vote and an open, ANSI public comment period to last 45 days. The balanced consensus body responsible for the standard will consider all input received during this period. Interested parties are invited to review the standard and provide comment by visiting this link.

“Once this standard completes the ANSI standards development process and becomes an American National Standard, it will not only help furniture manufacturers demonstrate their commitment to the environment, it will also help consumers understand the sustainable benefits of the furniture,” said Jane Wilson, NSF director of standards.

About Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association (BIFMA)
Established in 1973, the Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association (BIFMA) International is a not-for-profit organization that provides a forum for members to cooperate and collaborate on appropriate industry issues.

About NSF International NSF International, an independent, not-for-profit organization certifies products and writes standards for food, water and consumer goods. Founded in 1944, NSF is a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Food and Water Safety and Indoor Environment and an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited standards developer. Additional services include safety audits for the food and water industries, management systems registrations delivered through NSF International Strategic Registrations, organic certification provided by Quality Assurance International and education through the NSF Center for Public Health Education.

Gerflor Extends Market Reach In U.S.

The flooring company has established exclusive agreements with numerous sales representatives to extend its reach within the U.S. resilient flooring market.

“We are pleased to work with Gerflor whose trusted reputation in providing quality flooring and cutting edge designs is matched only by their product innovation,” said Al Buchholz of Buchholz Associates in Chicago. “When a job calls for aesthetic resilient flooring that is durable, hygienic and sustainable, Gerflor is an excellent choice.”

With the exclusive agreements, Gerflor has added the following companies to its distributor network: Action Commercial Sales of Orange, CA becomes the exclusive representative of Southern California; Buchholz Associates of Chicago, IL becomes the exclusive representative of Illinois; Hi Tec Flooring of Houston, TX becomes the exclusive representative of east Texas and Oklahoma; Indiana Carpet Decorators of Indianapolis, IN becomes the exclusive representative of Indiana; and Spartan Surfaces of Lancaster, PA becomes the exclusive representative of Delaware, Maryland, Northern Virginia and Washington DC.

About Gerflor
Gerflor has the largest collection of commercial vinyl flooring products in the world, with innovative offerings ideally suited to the, healthcare, education sports, retail, leisure, corporate and industrial sectors. Founded in 1937 and headquartered near Lyon, France, Gerflor provides unique product and design solutions and is present in more than 90 countries around the globe with over 1500 employees. Gerflor's environmental record includes 'A' rated Green Guide (BRE) certification, outstanding whole life cycle performance, as well as full compliance with ISO 14001 and ISO 9001 standards.

ANTRON Carpet Fiber Recertified An EPP

INVISTA recently announced recertification of its ANTRON® carpet fiber as an Environmentally Preferable Product (EPP) by Scientific Certification Systems (SCS). Originally certified in 2002, ANTRON carpet fiber was the first carpet face fiber to achieve EPP certification. It is the only carpet fiber to achieve recertification for three consecutive cycles.

The recertification was based on a cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment (LCA) conducted by Boustead Consulting Ltd., a third-party research firm with more than 35 years of experience in LCA consulting worldwide. INVISTA engaged the firm to study and analyze environmental impact data for all INVISTA plants worldwide that produce ANTRON carpet fiber.

“The results of this study provide us with a truly comprehensive global analysis of the environmental footprint of ANTRON carpet fiber, from the cradle to finished fiber,” said Henning Bloech, manager of environmental initiatives. “These data will become the benchmark for managing the key factors that contribute to sustainable carpet fiber production. The global eco-profile provides us with a thorough, rigorous approach to maintaining our current environmental certifications, and will also enable our understanding as we continually work to improve manufacturing processes and develop new product offerings.”

“Receipt of EPP certification for Antron carpet fiber is an important accomplishment for our business, as it validates our efforts to lead the industry with credible environmental offerings,” said Bobby Berrier, vice president, commercial interiors for INVISTA. “It’s a great example of the diligence we put behind our claims. It took a tremendous amount of time, effort and investment; but we believe it is the right approach, given the need for greater transparency among the many claims that are made in our industry today.”

“Consistent with our guiding principle of integrity, INVISTA strives to make no marketing claim unless we can back it up with validated facts derived from sound analytical methodology,” continued Berrier. “It is the way we operate. For the ANTRON carpet fiber brand, it permeates all we say and do.”

EPP Certification takes a holistic approach to environmental stewardship, rather than focus on a single attribute. Upon review of the data, ANTRON carpet fiber achieved EPP certification after SCS concluded that ANTRON carpet fiber meets or exceeds the stringent EPP requirements in all five areas of evaluation: product manufacturing, resource conservation, human health impacts, end-of-life responsibility, and product performance.

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has approved new standards for sustainable carpet, known as NSF-140-2007, which is the first multi-attribute standard for environmentally preferable building materials in the construction industry. Using up to 25% EPP materials contributes points toward certification under this American National Standard in the same proportion as post consumer recycled content or bio-based materials. Therefore, carpets with EPP certified ANTRON carpet fiber can earn up to 6 points under NSF-140 credit 8.2.1. (To read more about NSF 140-2007, read "Sustainable Carpet" from TFM March 2008.)

The program manager of material content and sustainable choice certification for Scientific Certification Systems, Ed Wyatt, said, "We congratulate INVISTA for being the only carpet fiber manufacturer to achieve EPP recertification. Since 2002, we have been impressed with the company's dedication to achieving this rigorous standard by continuously reducing the environmental impact of ANTRON carpet fiber, to meet or exceed the evaluation criteria for recertification. EPP certification assures architects, designers and facility managers they are making sound environmental specification decisions when selecting carpet manufactured with ANTRON carpet fiber."

Where Is The Next Winner?

Cooper Lighting has announced a call for entries for its 32nd annual SOURCE Awards national lighting design competition. The competition, which focuses on furthering the understanding, knowledge, and function of lighting as a primary element in design, is open to all lighting designers, architects, engineers, professional designers, and consultants who use Cooper Lighting fixtures in an interior or exterior design project. Students currently enrolled in any of these disciplines are also eligible to enter projects based on conceptual lighting designs utilizing Cooper Lighting fixtures and are judged in a separate student category. This year’s competition will also seek a creative use of fixtures providing energy efficient design solutions in addition to standard projects.

The competition requires the primary and predominant use of any or all of the Cooper Lighting brands, which include Halo, Metalux, Portfolio, Neo-Ray, Corelite, Sure-Lites, Lumark, McGraw-Edison, Fail-Safe, Lumière, Shaper, IRiS, Ametrix, RSA, io Invue, MWS, DLS, and Streetworks.

Projects will be judged on the blending of aesthetics, creative achievement, and technical performance and to the degree which the lighting met project constraints and design concept goals. There will be no minimum or maximum number of awards given, as each project will be judged on its own merit. Award categories will include: winner, honorable mention, and award of recognition.

Judging for the 32nd Annual SOURCE Awards competition will take place in February 2009, by a professional, independent panel of lighting and design professionals as well as a representative of the SOURCE, Cooper Lighting’s educational center. Student winner(s) will receive a crystal trophy and a monetary award ($1500), and professional winner(s) will also receive a monetary award ($2000) and a crystal trophy along with local and national recognition through publicity and advertising. Both student and professional winners will also receive an invitation to attend a lighting seminar at the SOURCE, located at Cooper Lighting’s headquarters in Peachtree City, GA. The faculty adviser of the student winner will also be invited to attend a seminar. Entries must be postmarked on or before January 1, 2009.

Over the competition’s 31-year history, winners have been awarded well over $600,000 in addition to receiving industry wide recognition. Past entry applications have included commercial offices, retail stores, galleries, libraries, banks, restaurants, convention centers, entertainment facilities, and residences. To download a complete list of rules, visit the company website at www.cooperlighting.com or contact Cooper Lighting, 1121 Highway 74 South, Peachtree City, GA 30269 or call 770.486.4800.

WEB EXCLUSIVE: Cool Schools In Texas

In an interview with Farshad Shahsavary, P.E., C.E.M, Austin Independent School District, he gives details on the school system's recent HVAC adaptations.

What is your position? How many years have you been in the facility management profession?
I am the energy coordinator/ mechanical engineer for the Austin Independent School District (AISD), construction management department. I have been in facilities management for three years and have been a mechanical engineer for 19 years.

Please give a brief description of the facility/facilities involved in this project.
The AISD has approximately 600 portable buildings serving grades K-12 throughout the city of Austin, Texas, and in Travis County. Each building consists of two classrooms, giving the AISD a total of 1,200 portable classrooms. The project involved installing Telkonet SmartEnergy, an energy management system, in all of the AISD's portable buildings.

Why was the decision made to pursue this project for the facility?
The decision to install an energy management system was part of a larger overall project originated by the state of Texas energy office and the City of Austin. The project included replacing all lighting and upgrading the HVAC controls in each of the portable buildings.

We had identified that the school district was wasting energy in the portable buildings by continually running the air conditioning, even when the classrooms were unoccupied. One of the problems was that during the summer months, the portables became much too hot if the air conditioning was turned off —reaching up to 100°-120°—and there was a danger that the buildings would start to decompose!

Please describe the decision-making and research process for this project.
While this has been a long-term project (the City of Austin completing the lighting portion of the project over two years ago), the energy management solution for the portable buildings had not progressed until early 2007. At this point, I became involved with implementing a plan to save energy in the portable buildings.

What was the vendor selection process like? Did you feel limited?
The City of Austin proposed Smart Systems International (SSI), now Telkonet, as the vendor. We reviewed their proposal in detail and met with SSI, who explained their energy management system (now called Telkonet SmartEnergy™) and how the thermostats and occupancy sensors worked. I was satisfied that SSI’s system was the fastest, easiest way to complete the project. At the time, SSI met our needs and any potential limitations were outweighed by the benefits.

Also, as a result of our close working relationship with the City of Austin, we trusted their recommendation to use SSI’s energy management system and knew they had gone through an extensive evaluation process before making this recommendation.

What led you to choose the specific solution that you did?
Our principal concern was to ensure that SSI’s energy management was effective in saving energy, so we implemented a pilot project where we installed their system in 30-40 portable buildings in the summer of 2006. We conducted audits to collect the energy data and determine the system’s effectiveness. Although the final detailed report is not yet available, the pilot gave us a clear indication that the installation would meet our needs and goals. As a result, we made the decision to implement the Telkonet SmartEnergy solution throughout the entire school district in all the portable buildings.

What benefits have you reaped as a result of this project?
With SSI’s energy management system, we are realizing a number of benefits. We are saving energy, reducing our utility bills, increasing the lifespan of the portable buildings, and helping the City of Austin reduce the amount of energy they need to generate. In the summer months, the temperature inside the portables is now controlled at an optimum temperature of 85 degrees. Previously, we either had to run the AC all the time, constantly wasting valuable energy, or shut it down completely.

What economic benefits have you reaped as a result of this project?
We estimate the energy savings to be significant, reducing our costs by about $200,000 per year.

Did you encounter any unexpected highlights or challenges while implementing this project?
The only challenge we encountered was how best to schedule the installation of the new thermostats and occupancy sensors so we would not disrupt the teachers when school was in session. We worked around this by installing the system when classes were not in session and during holiday periods.

The installation process went much better than we anticipated. The City of Austin hired Honeywell as a subcontractor, who removed the old thermostats and replaced them with SSI’s thermostats, which were wired to their occupancy sensors. All of the thermostats were already preprogrammed by SSI.

How did this project require you to change your operations and maintenance practices?
The thermostats and occupancy sensors work together to sense when a room is occupied or vacant. They also take into consideration a variety of factors, including external temperature, room conditions, and humidity levels, to ensure that the temperature inside the portables is energy efficient.

The system incorporates Recovery Time™ (RT) technology that performs constant real time calculations to adjust and maintain a room’s temperature based on occupancy. We anticipate that our HVAC units will be subject to less wear and tear, helping to extend the units’ lifespans and reduce maintenance.

What has been the reaction to the project from others in your organization?
Initially, our maintenance staff was reluctant about this change; they were concerned about how the new system would work, how long the thermostats would last, and the long-term impact. However, they are now seeing that this program is working as planned. We also have a maintenance agreement with our installer, who will replace any thermostats as needed, and will assist in training our maintenance personnel.

How have the community and customers responded to this project?
As we have tried to keep this project as low profile as possible, the changeover to the new energy management system has been pretty non-existent. We haven’t seen any reaction either way, which means that the transition has been smooth.

One issue, however, was that the teachers liked being able to control the air conditioning in the rooms. Although they now have less latitude, they can control the temperature within 3°-4° of our preferred temperature setting, giving them some control.

What was the most professionally rewarding aspect of this project?
On a personal level, it has been very rewarding to manage this project from the beginning to the end—setting up the system, getting it working, and seeing the energy savings as a result of all of our efforts. The investment was minimal compared to all the benefits that we will be reaping. It’s been a win-win for the AISD and the City of Austin.

This interview was the last in the Facility Fix series by former editor Jillian Ruffino. For more facility fix interviews, please visit http://www.todaysfacilitymanager.com/facfix.php

BONUS WEIRD WEDNESDAY: Which came first? The bedbug or O'Reilly?

Here's another item for the "news to make your skin crawl" file. In New York City, the offices of Fox News are waging a new kind of battle. It's not about ratings, bias, or credibility; it's against bedbugs. A veteran employee for the company is suing Fox after experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder as result of the pest infestation.

From Reuters:

Jane Clark, 37, a 12-year veteran of Fox News, a unit of News Corp, said she complained to human resources after being bitten three times between October 2007 and April 2008. She said she was ridiculed and the office was not treated for months.

Beacon Capital Partners, which owns the tower in midtown Manhattan, said in a statement that it had not been made aware of the problem and that it was the responsibility of tenants to manage infestations.

Clark, who says she's been diagnosed with PTSD and can no longer work, has filed a separate workers compensation claim with News Corp, and the company is paying her medical bills and lost wages. A News Corp spokeswoman declined to comment because News Corp was not named in the lawsuit.

She said she believed a colleague who used her workstation on weekends, and who no longer works for Fox News, brought the infestation to the office. Clark's home was never infested.

Clark says she suffers nightmares and keeps a flashlight at her bedside so she can check for bugs during the night.

The suit names the owner and manager of the office tower in Manhattan where Fox employees worked. She has filed a separate workers compensation claim against Fox, Reuters reports.

In his March 18, 2008 article, "Bedbugs at Fox News," Jacques Steinberg reports, "In an interview on [March 17, 2008] Warren Vandeveer, senior vice president for operations and engineering at Fox News, said the cable channel had realized it had a problem a few weeks ago, when an employee “caught a bug and showed it to us.” An exterminator determined that the incursion was limited to a “very small area in the newsroom.” But the source of the bugs was not determined until the exterminator inspected the homes of about 20 employees. Mr. Vandeveer said the exterminator later described one employee’s home as having “the worst infestation he had seen in 25 years in the business.”

And this from the Web site, Gothamist:

Fox swears the bed bugs have been “totally eradicated,” but the annoying thing about bed bugs is their tenacious ability to survive for months between feedings, and in some cases they can live up to a year before sucking blood again. The bed begs have clearly refused to let New Yorkers rest, but their sudden infiltration of Dick Cheney's favorite news source can mean only one thing: Al Qaeda training.

UPDATE: A tipster tells Gawker that the employee who caused the bedbug infestation has been terminated; he's described as "a satellite desk guy who was greasy and gross." Is that even legal? If New Yorkers can now be fired for a bedbug infestation, then the bedbugs have already won.

WEB EXCLUSIVE: Signs Of Success For FMs

This Web Exclusive comes from Ernest Dwight of SouthWood Corporation.

As a facility management professional, your goal is to provide a consistently pleasant experience to users of the facility. Creating an inviting and attractive atmosphere is important to that goal. But equally important is to ensure that the facility environment matches your organization's brand identity. A mismatch between environment and brand identity leads to an uncomfortable confusion, rather than the pleasant experience you are striving for.

Signage plays an important role in retaining brand identity while guiding facility users to accomplish what they need to accomplish. Signage is a first impression for those who don't know you and a reinforcement of expectations for those who do. It is a unique chance to create value and enhance image.

The intention of signage is not just to get noticed. Going to a black-tie dinner in overalls would get you noticed, but what would it do for your image?

There are four basic types of signs:

1. Identification signs that name a facility or location;
2. Directional signs that guide people to a facility or location;
3. Informational signs that provide necessary facts, such as hours of operation, golf-course hole layouts, or how to use exercise equipment in a health club; and
4. Regulatory signs that tell people what is permitted and what is not permitted, such as stop signs, swimming pool rules and restricted areas.

These four functions are critical to effective signage. The signs should clearly identify, direct, and inform customers, visitors, and guests.

The implied message of signage must be one of quality and image consistent with the business brand. Not only must the graphics reinforce the marketing image of the business, design and materials must appropriately reflect the architectural flavor of the building or development. Don't overlook the viewing and site conditions which impact the appropriateness of every solution.

Consistency throughout the property is also important to an effective signage program. An assortment of shapes, colors, materials, and typefaces creates a look of clutter and confusion. All signs should convey a consistent look and project the same image regardless of their purpose or location.

A proliferation of wordy signs detracts from the visual appeal of your property without offering any real value to your visitors. Keep your message simple and use fewer signs so that they will be noticed and read easily.

It is often difficult for staff members who know the exact location of everything to see the property from a first-time visitor's viewpoint. Seeking assistance from an outside source can uncover existing signage problems and help avoid future problems. Professional sign planners determine what signs are appropriate by systematically identifying sign types, then developing a hierarchy within each type. They list all the facilities that need identification, and then assess the need for directional signs to help people find these facilities, informational signs dealing with use of the facilities and regulatory signs that control access to or use of the facilities.

After the planning process defines signage needs, designers use known size criteria for message legibility, as well as building, zoning and traffic considerations to develop concepts that reflect the property's architectural identity and image. Designers compare each sign type to others in the program to ensure that a cohesive and consistent look is maintained.

It isn't necessary for you to submerge yourself in the technicalities of signage. What is important is that you are able to assess what you need and how it can make a positive contribution to your facility.

Flexibility At A Las Vegas Theater

A landscape interior metal fabric solution from Cambridge Architectural, a full-service provider of architectural metal fabric applications, defines and separates space within the Theatre for the Performing Arts at the new Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. The newly renovated theater, formerly the Aladdin Center for the Performing Arts, is designed to house Broadway-style shows for extended runs.

Cambridge Architectural's innovative mesh application provides "house reduction" in order to produce more intimate seating for smaller crowds. Retractable panels of metal fabric allow larger areas of the theatre to be reconfigured to suit the space requirements of an event. Specifically, the metal fabric application allows the 7,500-seat theatre to be effectively reduced to seating for 2,800 through the use of glistening mesh partitions that carve out interior space.

"The former theatre was 30 years old and needed to have the flexibility to be used in several size configurations to maintain its viability," explains Lendall Mains, architect, Lendall Mains Architect, Las Vegas, NV. "The new functionality and unique look of the mesh panels helped create an effective method of house reduction that revived a tired building for use in an ever- changing Las Vegas market."

"This project was a perfect demonstration of our ability to solve unique problems with architectural mesh," explains Heather Collins, director of marketing for Cambridge Architectural. "There were three important design considerations for this project aside from a striking visual appearance: The customer required acoustic transparency so that the finely tuned theater acoustics were not affected; the system had to be easy to operate with a minimum of training; and since there is little storage space, the screens needed to be self-contained. The mesh panels were also to be wash-lighted with RGB LED's and with projection from the stage. The system provides transparency while still offering a visual division of the space."

In addition to aesthetics, the metal fabric application maintains many functional benefits, one of which is fire resistance. Traditional fabric curtains could not be used for the theatre due to fire code issues. The woven stainless steel mesh application solved this problem.

"We have more than 25 years of venue experience, so we know that curtaining off a wall doesn't work," said Denise Perry, Senior Vice President of Finance and Business Development for BASE Entertainment, which operates the facility. "Cambridge provided a material that worked very well for this purpose."

The custom Space Sculpting mesh solution is comprised of 23,000 square feet of flexible metal fabric in Cambridge's Scale and Mid-Balance patterns. The two types of woven metal mesh were attached using Cambridge's Reelease attachment method, designed specifically by Cambridge engineers for this project as a solution for raising and lowering the metal fabric panels at the touch of a button. A concealed, overhead-mounted, motorized reel both unreels the metal fabric downward and retracts it upward for hidden storage.

When deployed, the metal fabric partitions are secured at the floor by small magnets concealed in steel handrails. As a demonstration of the versatility of designing with metal fabric, Cambridge's Scale pattern, featuring 62% open area, was specified in the upper panels to facilitate ventilation.

"We needed a material that was acoustically transparent and provided airflow, but also had a solid appearance," said Georgina Sperber, design architect, M&J Architects, which specializes in the performing arts. "Cambridge's mesh fit the bill."

Mid-Balance was chosen for the remainder of the metal fabric screens because the tighter, 52% open area of the mesh is more receptive to wash lighting and projection, as color-changing LED lights are used to illuminate the metal fabric.

A total of 40 screen units were fabricated, varying in width from 10 feet to 12 feet, and in lengths from 13 feet to 68 feet. Cambridge performed all of the system design and fabrication, including a touch-screen control system.

"This was certainly a complex undertaking, and Cambridge brought the research and ingenuity that was required for the implementation of this new system," continues Mains.

"Planet Hollywood is a great example of a custom house reduction design that has become an integral part of our product offering," says Collins. "This new method of house reduction is a perfect solution for any theatre that needs flexibility to attract and accommodate different types of acts and their audiences. Cambridge's Reelease attachment system and corresponding
metal fabric patterns make this possible."

The Planet Hollywood Theatre for the Performing Arts was completed in the spring of 2007. The new theatre is a rare mid-sized venue in the Las Vegas market, fitting between the larger concert arenas that seat more than 10,000 and the smaller showrooms that seat fewer than 1,200. It is the largest theater of its kind in the United States.

"In such a large space, the use of architectural mesh allows us to have three or more configurations in the room," explains Denise Perry.

Cambridge Architectural's Space Sculpting applications maintain the ability to carve out space while providing visibility, light and air flow. The aesthetic flexibility of Cambridge Architectural solutions allows for creative architecture that responds to the architect's imagination.

"We love Cambridge. They have been contributing to every phase of the project," adds Perry.

FRIDAY FUNNY: Culture Differences Extend Even To Toilets

While perhaps more in the realm of weird than funny, a story out of Beijing recently illustrated how cultural differences can apply to most anything and everything. A Reuters report in March reported on the fact that Olympic organizers in the host city have had to refit toilets at several Olympic venues. This was in response to foreign athletes' complaints about having to squat, rather than being able to sit, on the toilets.

Shown here is the National Aquatics Center (nicknamed Water Cube) in Beijing, which is one of the venues where toilets were an issue.

To read the rest of the story by Liu Zhen, click here...

ASHRAE Publishes Nation’s First Airplane Cabin Air Quality Standard

Proper air quality is essential for general health and well-being in indoor spaces. Recognizing this, most people will take steps to address air quality in their homes and workplaces, but what about when on board an airplane when passengers have no control in a very high-density environment?

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) addresses air cabin air quality in its new Standard 161-2007, Air Quality Within Commercial Aircraft. The standard, which covers issues such as temperature, cabin pressure, air contaminants, and ventilation rates, can be voluntarily adopted by individual airlines or the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), or advocated for by airline passenger and employee groups.

“Compliance with this standard will go a long ways toward ensuring good air quality for passengers and crews,” says Byron Jones, chair of the committee that wrote the standard. “Aircraft passengers and crew make up a wide cross section of the general population, ranging from the very young to the very old, from the healthy to infirm. And unlike many other indoor environments, occupants do not have the ability to remove themselves from the environment, which is at a lower pressure and relative humidity than that found in many other environments. Standard 161 will help create a healthier, more enjoyable ride for the great variety of passengers on board.”

The standard also addresses chemical, physical, and biological contaminants that could affect air quality as well. Methods of testing are provided for ensuring compliance with the standard’s requirements.

Standard 161 applies to commercial passenger air-carrier aircraft carrying 20 or more passengers. It is intended to apply to all phases of flight operations and to ground operations when the aircraft is occupied by passengers or crew members.

Report From Germany: Upward Trend In Office Furniture Continues

The German office furniture industry maintained its growth course in the first quarter of 2008. The manufacturers, who are members of the BSO (Association of Office, Seating and Object Furniture/Verband Büro-, Sitz- und Objektmöbel), increased their turnover in the months January to March 2008 by 10.2% compared to the same period the previous year.

Commenting on this positive development, BSO Chairman Hendrik Hund, pointed out: “The investment restraint of previous years has led to strong backlog demand at many companies. We are now benefiting from this. For some time now, the quality of office furnishings and furniture has increasingly become the focus of customers’ attention. In particular, high ergonomic value furniture in high quality, attractive design is enjoying strong demand.”

In the past two years, the manufacturers of office furniture were already clearly able to increase their turnover. In 2007, the BSO members reported sales growth of 14.7%. This led to a rise in the office furniture production volume to 2.12 (1.85) billion Euro.

In 2007 the office furniture manufacturers benefited from the increased interest in connection with both the domestic market as well as exports. In contrast, foreign suppliers did not contribute to the growth of the domestic market.

While the BSO members in Germany reached sales growth of 14.5% (according to figures released by the Federal Statistical Office), imports were in decline. Imports of wooden and steel framed furniture fell by 2.6% compared to the previous year, while imports of swivel chairs declined by 0.2%.

The most important export markets for German office furniture were the other neighboring countries of Holland, France, Switzerland, and Austria. In terms of exports beyond the borders of the European Union, business and trade particularly with Russia and the Gulf states developed at a positive level.

According to observations by the BSO, in both regions the high quality associated with “Made in Germany” continues to apply as a powerful sales argument. In the area of office chairs, the export quota of total turnover achieved by the BSO member companies in 2007 was 41.7%. Nevertheless, 23.1% of framed furniture, which is more difficult to transport due to its bulky volume, was exported abroad.

The productivity factors for the German office furniture manufacturers also developed at positive rates last year. In this connection, the BSO member companies increased sales per employee by 9.0% and sales per rendered working hour improved by 8.4%. In 2007, for the first time in many years, additional staff and employees were taken on once again. Compared to the previous year, the number of employees increased by 4.9% to around 12,600.

Due to the turbulence on the financial markets and slight decline in worldwide economic activity, the BSO expects lower growth compared to last year. Currently the association assumes an average growth rate of 4% to 6%.

As Chairman Hund also explained, the trend in raw materials prices is a cause of concern for the German office furniture producers. In order to compensate for the rising costs of metals, wood, and plastics, which in some cases have reached double figure percentage increases, as well as the increases in energy and logistics costs, the beginning of the year already saw office furniture prices rise by an average of 5%.

According to the BSO, the fact that the prices have not increased further is in particular due to the increased efficiency of company procedures and processes. Further increases in material costs will however necessitate a renewed price adjustment by the end of the current year at the latest.

FRIDAY FUNNY: Rainn Predicted for HON Showroom During NeoCon

The HON Company’s Chicago office furniture showroom will have a well-known “Office” visitor on Monday, June 9, 2008 during the NeoCon® World’s Trade Fair. Rainn Wilson, best know for his current role as eccentric paper salesman, “Dwight Schrute,” on NBC’s Emmy award-winning series, The Office, makes a day-long appearance in HON’s Showroom in Suite 1130 in Chicago’s Merchandise Mart.

Wilson, one of the most recognizable faces from the network’s “must see TV” Thursday lineup, will appear in the HON showroom from 10-11:30 a.m. and 1-3:30 p.m. at NeoCon. During this time, fans will have the opportunity to meet Wilson and obtain autographs and photos. NeoCon® World’s Trade Fair is the largest exhibition of contract furnishings for the design industry in North America.

“From several notable and exciting product launches to Rainn’s appearance on Monday, The HON Company showroom is a ’must see’ stop on any NeoCon visitor’s agenda,” says Don Mead, The HON Company’s vice president of marketing. “Rainn and The HON Company are a perfect fit. HON is one of the largest contract furnishings manufacturers in the United States. Rainn is one of the most popular characters, not only on The Office, but on prime-time TV,” said Mead. “Who better to help us roll out our new products at this year’s show? We’re excited he is able to join us in Chicago while we introduce a number of innovative, new products to the contract design community. We’re certain NeoCon 2008 will be HON’s best show yet.”

Before joining the cast of The Office, Wilson first gained positive acclaim from television fans and critics alike as somber mortician’s apprentice “Arthur Martin” on HBO’s Emmy-winning series, Six Feet Under. He has also guest-starred on other television programs and has a number of film credits to his name, including a hilarious cameo in the Oscar-winning film, Juno.

WEB EXCLUSIVE: Floor at Alamodome Gets A Facelift

Today's Web Exclusive comes from Greg Schwietz, president of L&M Construction Chemicals.


For facilities of many types, a new tweak on a tried and true flooring material is paying off with maximized durability, minimized maintenance, and an aesthetic that often draws compliments. Concrete, which has performed structurally underfoot for well over a century, is now emerging as a highly attractive, long wearing, easy to maintain, affordable flooring option.

Just about any structurally sound concrete floor, old or new, can be smoothed, dry polished, and hardened and densified (a process that chemically changes the composition of the top wear surface). This floor finish option does not require waxing, sealing, or frequent maintenance other than simple mopping to maintain a highly polished, scuff-free look. The concrete polishing system, which can also include color dying of the surface wear layer in a broad range of hues, can result in substantial savings in installation and annual maintenance costs over alternative flooring options such as stained or sealed concrete, VCT, stone or terrazzo.

When the architectural firm Marmon Mok looked for a way to revitalize the 102,000 square foot concrete floor plaza level of the Alamodome, it consulted with StoneCare of Texas, of San Antonio. The firm was looking for a solution that would wear well and require only minimal maintenance. The firm had designed the popular, multipurpose domed stadium, which opened in May, 1993, and retained responsibilities for overseeing all upgrades.

The facility, which hosts sporting events, concerts, conventions, and trade shows, can seat up to 65,000 and is expandable to over 72,000 seats. The floor, which circles the perimeter of the seating, was showing signs of age and had many layers of wax over bare concrete. Repeated waxing over the years had darkened the floor’s appearance and was absorbing some of the natural ambient lighting.

StoneCare of Texas had the solution: Dry polished concrete. This new method offers a mechanical, dust-free, water-free polishing floor system that features a diamond grind, dry polish and densify process that can be performed start-to-finish in eight to 10 hours.

The dry polish process, FGS PermaShine, uses HEPA filter vacuum air purification technology to collect the dust generated during the dry abrasive grinding and smoothing process. The dust is captured and collected in lightweight bags that can be easily and safely disposed of in a landfill. The filter and collection system can keep a jobsite virtually free of any airborne dust, eliminating any need for special protection or isolation of the work area.

The process uses a series of progressively finer diamond disks in the grinding machines, enabling a polish up to a very high degree of shine. After the floor is polished for the final time, it is still somewhat porous. To achieve maximum durability, the installer applies a water-based, solvent free, VOC-free, odorless and non-toxic penetrating hardener/densifier.

The hardener/densifier chemically reacts with components in the concrete to form a dense, hard crystalline compound in the top wear layer (about 1/16 of an inch) that adds strength and wear resistance and helps preserve the highly polished look over the life of the installation without completely sealing the surface. The top wear surface continues to breathe, enabling excess moisture to escape from within. The chemical interaction also eliminates dusting and micropitting of the concrete surface by abrasion over time. Yet, because the floor is no longer porous, spills do not penetrate and wipe right up completely.

The rejuvenation of the floor at the Alamodome took about eight weeks, with the installers averaging about 3,000 square feet per shift, with work proceeding in a circle around the circumference of the dome.

“Stadium management is very pleased with the degree of shine and how it illuminates all the corridors. The Alamodome now is much brighter and cheerier,” notes Bibi Nunez, project manager at Marmon Mok.

The resulting polished concrete floor meets the NFSI (National Floor Safety Institute) standards for certification as a “high traction” floor, retaining its non-slip qualities when wet, which could satisfy similar requirements at restaurants, healthcare facilities, manufacturing plants, supermarkets and auto showrooms, The floor also complies with ADAD and OSHA requirements for interior floor surfaces.

There are a couple of green perks, as well from the environmentally friendly process. A dry polished concrete floor can contribute to up to five LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environment Design) credits under various categories, including Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, and Low Emitting Materials, on projects all the way up to Platinum. And depending upon the color of the dye selection, the finished floor can reflect up to 35% of lighting which reduces the heat output from the lamps, reducing any demand on an air-conditioning system and can reduce overall lighting costs, to boot.

Though the Alamodome did not dye the floor, after a floor is polished almost to the desired degree and before application of the hardener/densifier, it can be permanently dyed with a specifier’s choice of color. Dye concentration can range from a relatively subtle 25% all the way up a rich and vivid 100%. Decision makers can also specify the level of shine and choose to incorporate logos or other designs achievable by dying adjacent spaces different colors.

Dyed or not, dry polish and densified concrete retains its “just finished” appearance for the life of an installation without the upkeep required by other flooring options, including stained and sealed concrete, VCT, stone and terrazzo. FGS PermaShine floors have been proven to save as much as 65% on on-going maintenance expense, which is typically the most costly factor in the life of a finish.

Schwietz (gschwietz@lmcc.com) is president of L&M Construction Chemicals, which produces chemical treatments for the construction, repair and protection of concrete and is the developer of the FGS/PermaShine concrete polishing system.

CoreNet Global Presents Award To Herman Miller

The real estate organization presented an Industry Excellence Award to Herman Miller, Inc. earlier this month for the company's Space Utilization Service. This inaugural award highlights corporate real estate industry performance and innovation. It also qualifies Herman Miller for the distinguished H. Bruce Russell Global Innovator's Award, which will be announced by CoreNet Global in November.

The Space Utilization Service is based on a patent pending, wireless t