About Your SpecLink & PerSpective Updates

SpecLink+ Statistics:

• 580 sections total, 269 updated or new (46%)
• 5 new non-proprietary sections
• 524 non-proprietary sections, 248 updated or new (47%)
• 56 proprietary sections, 21 updated (37%)
• 42 sections with built-in checklists
• 96,541 paragraphs
• 105,060 internal links (targets and consequences)
• 26,670 notes to specifier
• 15,347 notes with live hyperlinks to Internet web pages
• 2,120 external documents referenced, with live hyperlinks to order information
• 955 ASTMs referenced, 100% verified this quarter, 29% updated
• 1,167 other documents referenced
• 183 standards organizations referenced
• 2,396 manufacturer listings, with live hyperlinks to their web sites.
• 946 unique manufacturers listed in 369 non-proprietary sections

PerSpective Short Form Statistics:

• 16 sections corresponding to MasterFormat 1995 divisions
• 10 sections updated (63%)
• 8,304 paragraphs
• 6,785 internal links (targets and consequences)
• 1,559 notes to specifier, 1,018 with live hyperlinks
• 362 external documents referenced
• 224 ASTMs referenced, 100% verified this quarter
• 138 other documents referenced
• 43 standards organizations referenced

PerSpective Performance Statistics:

• 161 sections, 17 updated (11%)
• 17,381 paragraphs
• 18,462 internal links (targets and consequences)
• 4,012 notes to specifier, 920 with live hyperlinks
• 188 external documents referenced, with live hyperlinks to order information
• 50 ASTMs referenced, 100% verified this quarter
• 138 other documents referenced
• 39 standards organizations referenced

*Documents issued more than two years ago are verified quarterly, as are annual or semi-annual publications. The documents not verified this quarter were updated within the past two years.

New SpecLink Section

SECTION 12 9313 (02871) - BICYCLE RACKS:

Tubular steel racks for outdoor bicycle parking.

This section covers standard steel bicycle parking racks. These racks install by either anchor in-ground or by surface flange. Custom designs can be added by referencing a particular manufacturer's model number. This section does not cover bike "banks" or storage lockers.

Bicycle racks may qualify for a possible LEED credit if specified in conjunction with changing rooms for commercial application. Review LEED SS credit 4.2 for more information regarding bike racks and LEED.

SECTION 07 4646 (07466) - FIBER CEMENT SIDING:

Wood fiber cement; lap, panel, shingle panels, individual shingles, simulated masonry panels.

Wood fiber cement panels and boards are suitable for exterior use on walls only (not roofs). Some products are commonly made by several manufacturers, such as lap siding and panel siding. Other products are limited to one or more manufacturers, especially special aesthetic styles. If factory finishes are required, verify availability, since manufacturers differ widely on factory finish options.

SECTION 08 4126 (08450) - ALL-GLASS ENTRANCES AND STOREFRONTS:

Includes tempered glass with patch and rail fittings; swinging, balanced, and sliding doors.

The term "entrance" is usually used to refer to doors with associated sidelights and/or transoms. Storefronts refer to more extensive fixed glazing, with or without doors. This type of storefront may be over one story high but only with professional engineering design. For extensive multi-story or extreme floor-to-floor height use the section on Structural Glass Curtainwall.

These entrances and storefronts are usually fabricated by glass fabricators using fittings manufactured by others. The manufacturer listings allow specifying of both the fitting manufacturer and the fabricator.

SECTION 09 2700 (09230) - PLASTER FABRICATIONS:

Glass-fiber-reinforced gypsum; stock and custom; interior use only.

This section includes glass-fiber-reinforced gypsum fabrications for installation in conjunction with gypsum board, gypsum plaster, gypsum veneer plaster, and portland cement plaster. Gypsum fabrications are for interior use only. Many manufacturers make the same designs in several other materials, such as glass-fiber-reinforced concrete, cast stone, and fiberglass, which could be used in weather-exposed applications.

This section includes a place to list the model numbers of a particular manufacturer as the 'basis of design," if not shown on the drawings.

Many manufacturers offer custom items as well as stock catalog items; verify lead times on custom items.

SECTION 26 3100 (13630) - PHOTOVOLTAIC COLLECTORS:

Preassembled, framed modules; no electrical equipment.

These products are ready-made, framed assemblies intended for mounting on poles, racks, or other supports. These are not intended for installation in curtainwall or flat on roofs.

This section includes two methods of specifying photovoltaic collectors: 1) by performance, both of the overall array and the individual modules, and 2) by detailed description of specific manufacturers' product characteristics. Both methods can be used together if desired -- in that case, the specifier is responsible for ensuring that the specification does not contain conflicting requirements.

Equipment like batteries, inverters, power conditioners, and supplementary generators must be specified in other sections, or added to this section by editing.

Substantially Revised SpeckLink Section Update

SECTION 09 2116 (09260) - GYPSUM BOARD ASSEMBLIES:

Update: NEW ULTRASTEEL STUDS

There is a revolution happening in interior metal framing! UltraSteel™ framing by Dietrich Metal Framing and Clark Steel Framing is brand new this year. You may have already been approached to specify it -- or it may have already have been provided on a project without any request for substitution. Section 09 2116 (09260) - Gypsum Board Assemblies now includes an standard option for UltraSteel for studs only, treating it as an exception to the traditional ASTM standards, with explicit language and optional submittals. If you don't want to allow this option, you'll need to exclude it -- and possibly add language prohibiting it. The reason SpecLink includes it is that UltraSteel has been adopted by Dietrich and Clark, who claim 70 percent of all steel stud business in the U.S. UltraSteel costs the manufacturer less -- it uses less steel -- so they are going to provide it unless otherwise specified. By the end of 2006, Dietrich will provide only UltraSteel; Clark will be completely converted by mid-2007.

UltraSteel is a patented process that makes thinner metal stiffer so that it can meet the limiting height performance criteria of ASTM C 754. On the other hand, because the metal is thinner the product does not comply with the generic, non-engineered approval of ASTM C 645 -- the metal is thinner than the minimum base metal thickness requirement. The rationale for accepting this exception is that the critical factor in determining the limiting height is not the minimum thickness but rather the section properties and the yield strength -- this product uses 40 ksi yield strength steel rather than the minimum of 33 ksi required by the ASTM. The reason SpecLink treats this as an exception is that the two ASTM standards constitute "rule-of-thumb" criteria, developed to avoid repeated structural testing. Since this product does not comply with the rules of thumb, the structural testing becomes necessary. Since ASTM C 645 allows manufacturers to vary the configuration and thickness of their studs and tracks as long as they provide the testing and data to verify the capabilities, Dietrich and Clark have chosen to do so without attempting to gain approvals as a substitution or to get the local authorities' approvals. However, they do have test reports by ICC-ES certified facilities and will soon have full ICC Evaluation Reports.

As of 7/06, this product is only UL-listed for 1 hour walls. Other tests are in the works or completed but not yet published. Other claimed advantages of the product relate to ease and speed of installation and somewhat improved acoustical performance. For more information, contact Dietrich at (412) 281-2805, or askforhelp@dietrichindustries.com, or www.dietrichmetalframing.com.