The DHI Conference is next week, October 14-19, in Las Vegas. Unfortunately I am unable to attend but feel it is important to still support my industry from afar.
Last year I was lucky enough to go to DHI in New York City. Flights
from FL to NYC were inexpensive and my BFF was going so we were
splitting the cost of a hotel room. This year door and hardware professionals from the West Coast will have an easier and less expensive time getting to the show in Vegas. Either having the show at the midpoint of the U.S. or alternating having the the show on opposite coasts is only fair.
My BFF is still going and the cool thing is I will be able to follow along on Social Media (SoMe). A lot of other peeps I have met through SoMe will also be tweeting, posting on Facebook and LinkedIn and probably Instagram so I will be able to see a lot of what is happening. It won't be the same of course as being there as I will miss the Solution Sessions DHI is offering along with the Forum for the Future, always a great event. But through Social Media people at the show will have the opportunity to share what the door and hardware industry is all about, not only to those of us in the industry but to the rest of the world.
My heart breaks every time I read an article about a fire that spread because a fire door wasn't in good functioning order or a person, without proper knowledge, left the door open for some reason. DHI was instrumental in encouraging the IFC and NFPA to adopt annual inspections on fire door assemblies and certain egress doors and continues to educate and promote these new codes.
As you walk through buildings start paying attention to any door marked with an exit sign. Is the opening blocked in some way? Is it chained or bolted? If there was a fire would you know where to go and is there a clear path to the exterior? These are all important factors in the continuing education to save lives. This is one of the many reasons I support the Door and Hardware Institute because what they do matters and truly can save lives.
Ok jumping off the soap box now :) If you are going to the DHI show next week please leave your twitter handle or facebook link in the comments below so I can follow along. Tag all tweets with #DHI2012 to make it easier for those of us in the industry to search.
As an aside I also want to congratulations Lori Greene as she will be receiving the DHI Fellow Award this year! If you don't know Lori she is a force in our industry. Lori started a blog I Dig Hardware back in 2009. She can untangle the mind boggling words of building codes and specifications into understandable language. I use her blog as a resource, weekly if not daily.
Remember what happens in Vegas, at the DHI Show, doesn't stay in Vegas. Share the knowledge and have a great show!
Leaded glass is
the most expensive single construction item in a room requiring radiation protection and little thought is given to the size. With
production limited to four countries around the world (none of them being the
USA), most manufacturers/distributors keep limited stock quantities on
hand, it’s more important than ever to design with stock sizes in
mind.
Each manufacturer
has common and differing stock sizes. The two most prominent lead glass producers are located in
Germany (Schott) and Japan (Nippon). Nippon produce sizes up to 96’’ wide
by 48’’ high. Schott's produce sizes up to 84’’ wide by 42’’ high.
Where lead glass is concerned, bigger is not necessarily better. Many times, the
size and placement of the view window can create not only unsightly clutter but the reflect in the cost.
The difference
between a piece of 96’’ x 48’’ with 1/16’’ (2.00mm) lead equiv. & a piece of
84’’ x 42’’ with 1/16’’ (2.10mm) lead equiv. is only a 1080 sq. in. (7.5 sq. ft.), but with a current price
difference of about $50.00 /sq. ft., there could be significant savings.
Here is a chart to help determine the location and size for a view window frame.
It is that time of year again! On October 8th and 9th a-fabco will be mingling with physicists, engineers, architects along with many other building industry professionals at the Florida Healthcare Engineering Association Annual Meeting and Trade Show. This year FHEA celebrates their 50th Anniversary with a Gala on Tuesday evening.
We will have a sample of a lead lined integral blind at the show which seems to be the newest up and coming product being specified by architects in healthcare facilities.
If you are going to the show please stop by Booth 513 and say hi to Jerry and David. Sadly I will be skipping the show this year as someone needs to stay back in the office :)
I forget why I decided to figure out how many years I have been voting but I did and I was a little shocked by the number. I have been voting for 32 years!
I have a memory of standing outside the voting curtain while my mom voted. Another memory includes being able to eat a boxed lunch in our classroom because the school I attended was a polling place. My mom was very active in her local community and taught us, by example, that every voted counted.
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| conservapedia.com |
The first election that I was able to vote in was the 1980 Presidential election between Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan. The most difficult election was in 1984. Not the November election but the local election in March. My mom had just died and my brother and I discussed if we were going to go vote. My mom had volunteered at the polls so we knew a lot of people would want to share their memories. I wasn't sure I could handle it however I was pretty sure I would disappoint my mom terribly if I didn't vote. So off my brother and I went and many kinds words were shared with us about our mom.
Since then it doesn't matter where I have lived I always take the time to research the issues and people and vote. Sometimes those amendments take 10-12 readings to make sure I understand all the legalize. I think I have only missed one or two local elections since 1980 but never a Presidential election.
Your vote does matter.
