Indianapolis Chapter CSI - July 2017 Newsletter

THE WINNER'S CIRCLE

Indianapolis Chapter CSI Newsletter

July 2017

"What is more gentle than a wind in summer?."

Deep Thoughts

- John Keats

Please let us know if you have any ideas for future newsletters.

Your Humble Narrator,

Mike Halstead
Indianapolis CSI Newsletter Co-Editor

Mild Mannered Reporter,

Ryan Muzzillo
Indianapolis CSI Newsletter Co-Editor

The Insider

I'm looking forward to another successful CSI Indy Trade Show at the JW Marriott on September 28 - our 43rd Annual open house of new products and old friends. It takes a lot of work by a very dedicated team every year to make this happen - so a hefty thanks to Brian Detty and his motley crew. Registration for attendees is already posted online and we have sold 85 of the 93 booths - a little disappointed yours truly didn't sell out the booths before the 4th of July but no excuses here - I'm your Huckleberry. It's time for the last push for product reps to fill the show - so send me your money before we are all sold out! Don't forget this year we have special bonus offers - a joint venture with the AIA Regional Conference that will be in Indy plus our legal partners Drewry Simmons Vornehm will be conducting a seminar on the new 2017 AIA Documents. Primarily we need architects, contractors, spec writers, engineers, interior designers and anyone in the construction industry to attend and maybe learn a little somethin' somethin' and reward our sponsors for their patronage. Our Chapter maintains our vitality because of the consistency of our excellence in all our endeavors - and the Trade Show is no exception. So come out, come out, wherever you are!

July 20 we will have a guided tour and program regarding the new Roche "Building R" Laboratory facility in another joint venture with AIA Indianapolis. Contact Captain Jack Morgan for details. Little did you know that Captain Jack is quite the songbird - I was at First Baptist Church last Sunday (yes I know - your all surprised, I was working) and he led the choir very enthusiastically and he could be heard in the parking lot. August 17 our program will be Mold Control in Walls and October 19 we will have a presentation on Drawings and Specs. And don't forget that really, really big show CSI National "Construct" September 13th through the 16th in Providence, Rhode Island.

My disappointment that none of you submitted a Buck Wilhite story is only surpassed by my pleasure in reading Lynn Molzan's account last month. So get off your hands and write to me - dang it - it's not that hard. Come on Lovemaster! Show me some love. Thanks again to Pete Baker & Terri Truitt for all of their planning for the Awards Banquet - and how about some love for Gayle Baker? And our Member of the Year - Andrew Huehls. It was so festive even Joltin' Joe McGuire attended - son in tow. And congratulations to Dave "DJ" Fryman - he has a new job at EFCO! Sounds like a new Platinum Sponsor? Does that mean he has to take orders from Gerhart Wolfgang and A2Z?

I realize the 4th of July is already behind us but I'm still celebrating. And my celebrating includes much respect for my favorite Americana items - the US Chopper from Easy Rider and the MC5's Wayne "US" Kramer Stratocaster Guitar - both of which I have provided in the newsletter for your pleasure and mine. I would like to see your Americana - shed me some cool photos of your favorite Uncle Sam memorabilia and I will keep adding it to future newsletters. And kids - it's going to be a long hot Summer - the corn is already knee high in July. Almost time for ripe Indiana tomatoes. No whizzing on the electric fence.

I will be in Paris while you read this - I will be thinking of you all. Donald Trump will also be in Paris while I'm there. Coincidence?

- Your Humble Narrator

Upcoming Events

Programs Committee

First Annual Shooting for Education, Indianapolis Chapter CSI Education Foundation Sporting Clays

Monday, July 17, 2017 from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM EDT

Join the Indianapolis Chapter CSI Education Foundation for the first ever Shooting for Education! The CSI Indy Education Foundation provides scholarships and support for Indiana students of the building industry.

Indiana Gun Club

Indianapolis Chapter CSI Education Seminar: Roche Diagnostics Tour

Thursday, July 20, 2017 from 2:45 PM to 4:30 PM EDT

Indianapolis Chapter CSI and the Indianapolis Chapter of AIA will offer a tour of Roche Diagnostics' recently completed "Building R" laboratory building, on their Northeast Indianapolis Campus.

Roche Diagnostics

Indianapolis Chapter CSI July Meeting: Roche Diagnostics "Building R" Laboratory Project

Thursday, July 20, 2017 from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM EDT

This presentation will be a follow up to the afternoon tour of the Roche Diagnostics "Building R". Randy Schumacher, AIA, Project Architect with CSO Architects, will be discussing the design of this project. This will be a joint meeting with AIA Indianapolis.

Willows on Westfield

CSI Indpls Trade Show 2017

Thursday, September 28, 2017 from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM EDT

Join 500+ Architects, Spec Writers, Interior Designers, Engineers, Contractors, and Sub-Contractors by attending Indy's best Commercial Construction Product Showcase! The CSI Indpls Trade Show will bring together hundreds of industry representatives to showcase their products, materials, and services as well as network!

JW Marriott

Indianapolis Chapter CSI Trade Show - Exhibitor Registration

Thursday, September 28, 2017 from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM EDT

This is a chance for exhibitors to sign up for booths to the 43rd Annual CSI Indianapolis Trade Show, #DESIGNINDY2017. It will be held at the JW Marriott Indianapolis on Wednesday, September 28, 2017 from 3-7pm.

JW Marriott

YouTube Channel

Visual Education

The Indianapolis Chapter CSI has entered into a new phase of the digital communication era, and now has a dedicated YouTube Channel for the benefit of our membership.

View from the Tower

First of all I want to thank everyone for their support and the opportunity to serve the Indy CSI.

So let's "cut to the chase" the two things I will focus on this year are marketing CSI and getting all our members certified. We need to put some skin in the game. We all have watched our membership drop in the last 10 years, both at a local and national level.

Just maybe we lost or forgot what CSI really means. If someone were to ask you what is CSI, what would be your story?

Let me tell you my story: CSI is involved in every construction project in America today, large and small, CSI is involved in every product selected for every construction project, CSI is involved in how every piece of the puzzle is put together and the sequence and CSI is involved in all the contract documents including drawings, specification and contracts. Gang this is not chump change......

This is where marketing comes in. I think CSI has reached a plateau. I have, in the last several months, put out feelers regarding partnering with a professional group to help us in this process and for the most part the response has been very positive. I know it has been said that we're a volunteer group. It's time we look farther down the road. Our volunteers are getting "burnout". It's time we give ourselves some relief.

At the August Board of Directors meeting I have invited Scott Grimes with the Mattison Corporation to attend and to discuss a possible relationship, how it works and the cost.

I want us and future members to view CSI as something with great value that people will want to make an investment in, not something given out freely just to increase membership on a short term basis. I want CSI to be the organization that will serve each member for their entire career.

Regarding certification and the reasons for it. If you want to increase your knowledge, gain the upper hand in negotiations, increase your paycheck and much more, get certified.

Each month, in the newsletter I will publish a case study where bad specifications and plans were the cause for a law suit. Please check out the new "Legal Corner" of the newsletter.

I look forward to a very exciting year and I hope, when we look back, we will see the point in time when CSI "moved ahead of its game".....

Gene King, CSI, CCCA

Indianapolis Chapter CSI - President 2017-18

Table Tops

Kent Hughes

Indianapolis Chapter CSI

The Indianapolis Chapter of CSI is accepting reservations for Table Tops for upcoming Chapter meetings. The list of programs for upcoming Chapter meetings is published in this newsletter, the web site, or contact Program chairman Jack Morgan - [email protected] , if you would like to target a particular meeting, be sure to make your reservation early. We do have a limit of four spaces available for Table Tops in a standard meeting room and 10 if we have a double room.

Table Tops are an opportunity to promote your company, products, or services to all attendees of our regular chapter meeting during the social hour. There is a maximum of 20 minutes for Table Top presentation at a regular Chapter meeting. You have the floor for maximum of five minutes after dinner before the speaker to communicate to the entire group if there are four presenters. If there is a greater demand, the 20 minutes will be divided by the number of presenters and rounded down to the nearest 30 seconds.

The Table Top presentations are FREE, one time, to new members, and cost current Indianapolis Chapter members only $75. Non-members get the same opportunity for $125. A 30 by 60 table with a cover and skit will be included. All proceeds go to support the Chapter. Payment is due at the time of setup.

Another opportunity for a Table Top is during an Education Seminar. The cost is if you combine it with the Chapter meeting and Education Seminar the cost would be $100 for current members and $150 for non-members.

If you would like to schedule a Table Top for a future meeting or seminar, contact:

Kent A. Hughes RA CDT - American Structurepoint

[email protected] - 317.690.5820

Be sure to put 'Table Top Request in the subject line

Certification Quiz
Jack Morgan - Quizmaster

1. True or False: The definition of Facility is the completed project as a constructed entity intended for a specific purpose or function

a. True

b. False

2. Which of the following is not a Delivery Method?

a. Design-Bid-Build (D-B-B)

b. Construction Management-Contractor (CMc)

c. Turn Key (T-K)

d. Owner-Build (O-B)

3. True or False: MasterFormat's organization is broken down into two Groups: Procurement and Specifications.

a. True

b. False

4. Which of the following is a type of bond used on construction projects?

a. Bid Bond

b. Performance Bond

c. Payment Bond

d. All of the above.

5. Which of the following definitions from the Facility Life Cycle defines Design Development?

a. Site plan and area relationships may be defined; general size, shape, and massing of elements determined; elevations and exterior finishes established; and conceptual design criteria for structural, mechanical, and electrical systems identified.

b. The A/E prepares documents that will be used to file for permits and approvals from AHJ's and to obtain prices upon which a bid or negotiated contracts can be based.

c. The documents fix and describe the size and character of the entire project, including architectural, structural, mechanical, and electrical systems.

d. Allows for the prospective contractor to examine procurement documents, visit the site, request clarifications and interpretations, propose substitutions, and finally, prepare a bid or price for executing the work.

Notes from CSI Great Lakes Conference
William T. McGuire

Example of why attend: in our newly built hotel, I really wished for a tour with a specifier knowledgeable about hotel construction, for a knowledgeable discussion about what is being built - now. I met Phil, the specifications architect for Marriott during the Saturday Regional Meeting meal held at the National Football Hall of Fame, Canton, OH. I collected his contact information. Among professionals - such events happen.

Notes

"Are you acting on the solution or just admiring the problem." *A case for oratory time-keeping.*

Invitations - Because no one accidently wonders into CSI Monthly Meetings.

Create "touchpoints"-- invite Young Professionals and students: Golf Outing, Fund Raisers, Trade Show (My Action: Contact Mr. Wurtz, Ivy Tech BCOM Chair, CSI-Indy Trade-Show proposed as the "Fall Semester Field Trip" for his code construction and blueprint reading classes? Talk to Joel Young about IUPUI & Ball State)

Membership

Question to answer: How to get Millennial's (13yrs - 35yrs) eyes on what CSI has to offer? My list:

Better opportunity - by meeting other professionals
A Professional/Social society you can connect locally and wherever you find work nationally.
Professional certifications and education to professionally improve - recognition of excellence
A professional venue for volunteering - connecting with local construction community.
Quality meeting programs - a must-have item.

"Specification Writers are often poorest paid, carried on overhead, and the first fired - because they are not a billable item. Maybe we need to call them "Technical Product Researchers" to give them more value and credibility."

The local chapter should welcome new members with a phone call.

Call Members who are not going to meetings - need to coordinate with "checker-inner" committee.

Involving more people in creating/presenting Program - more staff = more people with a reason to attend.

Treasurer Training: "It's essential to know the basics of bookkeeping."

Secretary Training: "Don't record conversations: record what happened - decisions made."

Do other Institutes and Associations influence CSI-Indy?

Indiana Subcontractor Association
Central Indiana Lean Construction Institute (LCI)
LCI Central Indiana Community of Practice
Construction Industry Institute
Indiana Builder's Association (BuildIndiana.org)
Association of Licensed Architects
Indiana Chapter of International Interior Design Association (IIDA)
Indiana Chapter of American Society of Landscape Architects
Indiana Construction Roundtable

Discussion of Specification Writer challenges

Well prepared specifications are a "delayed-benefit-realization-value." Is there substantiating data that proves it helps the back-end cost avoidance of lawsuits and insurance claims?

"Money spent to win the contract has priority over money spent completing won contracts."

"Well prepared specification benefits the "real" owner." What % of owners keeps the building they built?

Providing Better Program for Members

Incorporate disasters into presentations:

What went wrong between drawings and construction?

"Who do we blame this on?" My game show!

Meetings need to be short and concise

If a guest learns something new, makes a new friend, they tend to come back.

20 slide - 20 seconds per slide - show and tell

Employed young professionals don't want to leave the office during work hours to attend presentations.

Paid travel expenses for good speakers is worth it for better programming.

Put in Chapter Presentations (later in the Bulletin) what projects members are working on - news people want.

Summary: Very valuable event to attend. I'm still learning how construction specifications "should be done" - and getting glimpses of the shenanigans involved in how it's "really done."

Team CSI Walks for Fun in the 21st Annual Sickle Cell 5K Walk and Run

Last year Team CSI found another way to demonstrate that we are the Fun Group. We had so much fun that six of us did it again this year. We participated with 574 others in the 21st Annual Sickle Cell 5K Walk & Run on Saturday, June 24th, at Riverside Park, Indianapolis. It is a fund raiser for Martin Center Sickle Cell Initiative. Team CSI consisted of David and Carin Young, Christine Walter, Diane Schildknecht, Angie Julian, and Chuck Thompson. Carin Young motored away at the start and finished Third in the Women's Walk. The rest of us just had fun and enjoyed the beautiful morning. Join Team CSI next year!

Chapter Photos
Capturing Memories

notebook

Board of Directors' Minutes

Online Archive

Minutes of the Indianapolis Chapter CSI Board of Directors can be read here. Please contact the president with any comments or questions.

Legal Corner

Issue:

Subcontractor's disregard of markings on structural drawings. Goodrich Quality Theaters, Inc.,v. Fostcorp Heating and Cooling, Inc. Court of Appeals of Indiana (2014).

Summary:

For an IMAX theater project, the general contractor retained Wilson Iron Works as the subcontractor for structural steel and roof decking, including joists and joist girders.The contract documents included drawings and the Steel Joist Institute manual.

The structural drawings for the roof framing were plan view depictions showing the joist girders. In certain locations on these drawings the architect used a dashed line in the shape of an hour glass, together with the word opening" and a dimension, to mark where the HVAC ductwork would pass through. The architect's intent was to indicate that these girders should have non-standard openings.

Wilson Iron Works was not familiar with the hour glass marking, and therefore chose to ignore it. Wilson submitted shop drawings indicating standard joist girders only; the architect approved these drawings. Wilson eventually installed the standard girders. Ultimately these had to be custom -- modified in place, at considerable additional expense.

In subsequent litigation, Wilson pointed out that according to the Steel Joist Institute manual, which was an incorporated contract document, the industry -- standard marking "SP" is supposed to be used to mark a joist girder that is non-standard, and there should be an accompanying note or detail drawing showing the manner in which the joist girder is non-standard. The general contractor contended that a court must strive to treat all parts of a contract as meaningful; thus it would be erroneous to disregard the hour glass markings. Moreover, the general contractor directed the court's attention to the contract clause requiring the contractor (in this case, by flow down, the subcontractor) to bring contract ambiguities to the attention of the architect for resolution.

Decision:

The court of appeals ruled in favor of the subcontractor. The court held that there was no ambiguity in the contract documents because the SJI manual stated how non-standard girder joists should be indicated, and that method was not used. In addition, the court found it persuasive that the hour glass notation was not explained in any legend on the drawings, and that the contractor and architect had approved the shop drawings.

Comment:

This is a troubling decision. Subcontractors and suppliers should not have a free pass to ignore content in the contract documents. It may well be the case that the hour glass notation was contrary to industry standards and the SJI manual. That does not reduce the need to bring it to the designer's attention. The contract provisions requiring resolution of ambiguities and highlighting of non-conformance in shop drawings (doing nothing about the hour glass markings was essentially non-conforming) were in effect written out of this construction contract. In this case the consequence of ignoring the hourglass marking was substantial additional expense, but in other cases a strange or novel marking could be intended to require a critical structural feature with implications for public safety. Here the problem came to light during construction, allowing for a fix; in other cases the non-compliance might have been overlooked until a failure occurred.