Vertical Access has increasingly been asked by clients to incorporate our nondestructive testing expertise into building inspections. One such NDT method that has become popular lately is infrared thermography. Over the last year, VA has captured and analyzed thermal images from seven buildings at Buffalo State College and from a decommissioned power plant in Lansing, Michigan.

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New York City has gone further than all other jurisdictions in the United States in establishing protocols regulating the use of Industrial Rope Access (IRA). As outlined in a fact sheet published by the Department of Buildings, in New York City IRA may be used only for visual inspection and/or non-destructive investigation. In addition, a valid rigger's license (special rigger or master rigger) and CD-5 permit is required to perform inspection or investigation work using IRA.

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Philadelphia is the ninth American city to enact some sort of façade inspection legislation. To review the other cities and their relevant ordinances and reporting requirements, see our Façade Ordinance information webpage. For information about how Vertical Access can help, contact kent@vertical-access.com.

The inaugural Guastavino Biennial Prize is open to interested students and professionals under the age of 35. The aim of the competition is to promote projects along two main themes of research: first, constructions by the Guastavino company around the world; and second, the history and development of the Catalan vault. The deadline for the initial submission is June 15, 2010. All documents must be submitted through the website: www.guastavino.cat. The jury will award one prize and two awards of distinction in November 2010.

For more information on the competition:  download the PDF (2.6 MB)

Valencian architects Fernando Vegas and Camilla Mileto visited New York again the week of April 5th. While there, Kent got together with them several times, including a visit to the Guastavino "Tile House" in Bayshore, Long Island, and a mortar-gathering trip to the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine.

For the trip to Bay Shore, they were joined by Fernando and Camilla's former student, Vicente Galvan and Derek Trelstad, from Robert Silman's office.

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