Over the past week, I have spent a majority of my time on the
roof of a steel building in the final stages of a standing seam roof retrofit
on a federal defense installation. The
experience has been a great one for me as I am but an "infant" in the
metal construction industry. I have been
intrigued by the many requests and discussions on the proper fasteners for this
particular roof design, what are the safety measures in place once the roof is
completely installed and would a "clip" be able to hold in place
critical infrastructure during a natural disaster-particularly a typhoon or
tropical storm. The short lectures and
insight had me asking if there was a way to use technology to get to the heart
of these issues and answer some of the arguments on the job site. While the debates should be minimal because
of contractually mandated submissions and approvals by competent professionals,
there still can be discussions to drive future decision making processes.
Timing is everything in this business.
It
just so happens I came across an interesting initiative of the American
Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) that may have answered my questions
related to the "steel biz". The AISC has launched its first mobile app called Build-A-Bolt. The app reportedly helps steel construction
industry professionals select the right structural bolt, washer, nut
combination and can be used in the field to determine bolt grade and
manufacturer. Apparently the app is also useful for detailers and specifiers in
providing dimensions and fastener compatibility. Best of it all-the app is free. You can find it on the AISC website and is a
must for your field Smartphone, iPads or computers. We can expect more steel
apps to be rolled out in the near future, thanks in large part to the AISC and a
new Steel Apps contest at www.aisc.org/steelappscontest giving the opportunity
to win cash prizes, totaling $9,000. I expect this type of technology will help
me grow and become "mature" in this metal business in no time.
To find out more about how GET, LLC and MCR Guam Inc. can help your next project, give us a call at 671-483-0780 or our website for more information.