Author: Vertical Access

APT Northeast Chapter 2011 Annual Meeting and Symposium: A Synopsis

Last modified: February 11, 2011

The Association for Preservation Technology Northeast Chapter (APTNE) held its 2011 Annual Meeting and Symposium on February 4 in Boston. The meeting was well attended, with over 200 people braving the mid-winter weather to make it to the full-day event.

The theme of the symposium presentations was “The Use of Substitute Materials on Historic Preservation Projects.” Henry Moss introduced this topic in his excellent keynote talk, which raised thought-provoking questions about authenticity, transience and levels of substitution. Moss used examples from New England and the United Kingdom to illustrate a shift in thinking about replacing materials to replacing assemblies and the contributions of material sciences and building physics to the discussion of substitution.

Following the keynote presentation, two papers were given that presented the challenges and concerns in considering replacement materials from the perspective of local preservation planning commissions. Mary O’Neil, an Associate Planner with the City of Burlington, VT, and Catherine Albert, a recent graduate of the Graduate Program in Historic Preservation at Columbia University, presented case studies illustrating preservation issues related to replacement of siding and windows, respectively.

The next two presentations provided contrasting views on substitution, illustrating the importance of evaluating each potential treatment in light of the specific conditions, goals and needs of the project. Art Femenella’s case study of the restoration of a Lalique cast glass façade demonstrated why a substitution system was necessary in light of the design flaws of the original installation. The next presentation, on the repointing of historic brick masonry at Fort Jefferson, showed that after thorough analysis, numerous mock-ups and field applications of various mortar systems, the most appropriate replacement mortar was found to be the one closest to the original mortar.

The afternoon presentations reviewed a range of substitute materials that have been used to replace or in conjunction with historic masonry. John Fidler provided an update on his ongoing study of glass fiber-reinforced plastic (GFRP) substitute materials. Providing many examples of the use of GFRP in England, where it has been in use for 45 years, Fidler has drawn some conclusions after 30 years of observation. Based on visual assessment, painted GFRP adjacent to other materials that are painted may be acceptable, but other applications are typically undesirable. In addition, when considering the use of GFRP to replace historic masonry, other factors such as the mechanical and chemical properties must also be evaluated.

Michael Edison also took a historical view of replacement materials, demonstrating how composite patching mortars can be used as a substitute material for historic stone and terra cotta. As Edison showed in several case studies, cast-in-place composite repair mortars have a 30-year track record as a viable substitute material for replacement of masonry units.

Brent Gabby’s presentation on cementitious materials within historic masonry systems showed how a variety of substitute materials can be used as part of the structural system to help preserve historic buildings. Gabby used case studies to illustrate the use of poured-in-place concrete, pre-cast concrete, CMU, lightweight concrete panels and shotcrete. These materials can be creatively used as back-up, roof framing and to stabilize masonry so that the original or repaired masonry façade and architectural finishes are preserved.

Finally, Roy Ingraffia and Kyle Normandin introduced a restoration mortar that can be used to meet a wide range of masonry repair needs. Using marble repairs at the New York Public Library Steven Schwarzman Building and sandstone repairs at St. Mark’s Church in Philadelphia as case studies, the presenters showed how Lithos Arte can be trowel applied or cast in place and then sculpted and carved to create appropriate and compatible masonry repairs.

Overall, the symposium offered an interested selection of presentations, from the philosophical groundwork for substitution and preservation planning to replacement systems specific substitute materials. The lively questions and answer discussions after the sessions and during the breaks testifies to the success of the symposium.

Vertical Access Top 10 of 2010: Project 4 – Boston College Burns Library Turret Investigation

Last modified: February 10, 2011

Turret at top of Burns Library Tower, June 2010

In June 2010, Vertical Access conducted an investigation of the colonettes and free-standing pinnacles at the turrets at the top of Boston College’s Burns Library Tower. This was a follow-up inspection to VA’s original investigation of the the Burns Library Tower completed in July 2007. At the time of the original inspection, vertical cracks were observed and documented on some of the projecting architectural limestone elements that adorn the tower, including the colonettes and free-standing pinnacles. As part of the recent investigation, cracks and spalls caused by the ongoing corrosion of the original mild steel dowels and more recent anchors were documented.

Burns Library Tower, during Vertical Access’ 2007 investigation

This project highlights Boston College’s proactive approach to the repair of their historic buildings. Although a restoration project was not planned for Burns Library, Boston College commissioned a comprehensive hands-on investigation of the building, with a follow-up inspection at an appropriate time. The project also highlights VA’s continued involvement with the preservation work undertaken by Boston College and led by architect Wendall Kalsow of McGinley Kalsow & Associates and conservator Ivan Myjer of Building and Monument Conservation. Vertical Access partner Evan Kopelson will present with Wendall and Ivan a paper entitled “Architectural Preservation at Boston College Campus: A Systematic Approach” at the International Facility Management Association Facility Fusion 2011 conference. The presentation will focus on the work completed at Gasson Hall and how this project fits into Boston College’s ongoing preservation efforts at the historic central campus area.

Read about Project 1: Union Theological Seminary Brown Tower
Read about Project 2: University of Buffalo Alumni Arena
Read about Project 3: United States Capitol Dome

Kent Diebolt elected to APT Northeast Chapter Board

Last modified: February 9, 2011

Vertical Access founder Kent Diebolt was elected to the Association for Preservation Technology Northeast Chapter (APTNE) Board of Directors at the 2011 Annual Meeting of the chapter. Kent has had a long involvement with the Association for Preservation Technology International (APTI), serving as a Director, Vice President and then President of the APTI board between the years 1998 and 2005. During that time he helped organize conferences and symposia related to historic roofing, Guastavino structures and monitoring of historic buildings. He also co-chaired the APTI committee for the 2007 conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Serving on the APTNE board, Kent hopes to contribute to program planning and outreach to students and emerging professionals. He joins a dedicated group of board members representing preservation architecture, engineering, conservation, planning, materials and contracting.

Vertical Access’ Top Ten of 2010: Project 3 – United States Capitol Dome

Last modified: February 7, 2011

Lantern of the United States Capitol Dome

In May 2010, Vertical Access documented the existing condition of all of the cast iron ornament and panels at the exterior of the United States Capitol dome. As with a similar investigation of the cast iron ornament that VA did in 2007, VA performed the work for the Architect of the Capitol, which is managing a phased rehabilitation of the dome. Hoffmann Architects is the associate architect for the rehabilitation project. One of the challenges of working on the dome was dealing with the 50 plus mile per hour gusts of wind. Fortunately, Vertical Access technicians were able to work on the leeward side of the dome for part of the investigation. In the end, the wind conditions grounded the VA crew for a half-day over the four days of site work.

Kelly Streeter using TPAS at the United States Capitol Dome

For the recent survey of the cast iron dome, VA customized TPAS to include drop down menus with fields for each type of cast iron element and longitudinal and latitudinal location on the dome. The customized TPAS blocks automated the process of naming photographs with building location and element identification information. The customized TPAS blocks also included information about the conditions documented in 2007 so that changes from the previous survey could be evaluated.

Read about Project 1: Union Theological Seminary Brown Tower
Read about Project 2: University of Buffalo Alumni Arena

Vertical Access’ Top 10 of 2010: Project 2 – University of Buffalo Alumni Arena

Last modified: February 1, 2011

The second project Vertical Access completed in 2010 and would like to highlight is the exterior investigation of Alumni Arena on the north campus of the University of Buffalo. VA performed the work for DiDonato Associates in April, focusing on the exterior masonry walls.

Alumni Arena, also called the Health, Physical Education & Recreation Building, was designed and constructed in two phases. The main field house on the south side of the structure was constructed as part of Phase I in 1982. This portion of the building was designed in 1978 by a project team including architect Robert Traynham Coles and structural engineer Sargent Webster Crenshaw & Folley. Phase II was designed by Robert Traynham Coles with consulting engineer Ammann & Whitney in 1982 and constructed in 1985. The Phase II project comprises the north half of the building and includes pool facilities, ball courts, locker rooms and other physical education spaces. Overall, Alumni Arena is over 500 feet long in the north/south direction and 426 feet wide in the east/west direction, with the highest exterior walls reaching nearly 80 feet at the field house. A distinctive feature of the building is the space frame truss employed in the field house. The general wall construction at both the Phase I and Phase II portions of Alumni Arena consists of concrete masonry unit (CMU) back-up separated from the face-brick by an air cavity.

Vertical Access used a combination of aerial platforms and industrial rope access to perform the hands-on investigation of Alumni Arena. As part of the investigation, VA used a wall tie locator to map out the location of wall ties at representative areas. VA documented existing conditions using TPAS. The annotated drawings produced with TPAS helped to identify fault patterns. Quantities collected during the survey with TPAS were used to produce repair budget costs. After analysis of the initial survey data, VA performed additional investigative work using borescopes. The purpose of the borescope investigation was to confirm the presence of wall ties and connections between relieving angles to the back-up masonry at representative areas. See video footage from two borescope probes here.

 

Read about Project 1: Union Theological Seminary Brown Tower.

Kent Diebolt and Kelly Streeter Provide Testimony to OSHA at the Department of Labor

Last modified: January 30, 2011

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) held a week long public hearing on OSHA’s Proposed Rule on Walking-Working Surfaces and Personal Protective Equipment (Fall Protection Systems), Docket No. OSHA-2007-0072 last week.  VA Partners Kent Diebolt and Kelly Streeter both provided testimony to the panel on the last day of the hearing.  Kent’s presentation concentrated on the incredible safety record of Industrial Rope Access, as recorded by IRATA, the International Rope Access Trade Association.  Kent provided several exhibits that will become a part of the permanent record, including standards and documents published by IRATA, the Society of Professional Rope Access Technicians (SPRAT) and ASTM.

Kelly’s testified on behalf of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z359 committee in her role as the chairperson for the Z359.7 committee on the safety requirements of descending devices.

The goal of the testimony was to educate the panel as to the wide range of industries, equipment and techniques that are affected by the limitations contained in the proposed rule.

Download Kent’s written testimony here.

SPRAT Certifications for Vertical Access Technicians

Last modified: January 27, 2011

Vertical Access recently conducted an in-house industrial rope access training course leading to third-party certifications by the Society of Professional Rope Access Technicians (SPRAT). VA’s chief rigger Mike Gilbert led the training, which took place over four days at Cornell’s Lindseth Climbing Wall. As part of the training, technicians reviewed basic rope access techniques that we most often use in our site work as well as more advanced skills that are less often used, such as passing knots, rope-to-rope transfers, redirects, rebelays and horizontal aid traverse. The training also covered rope rescue techniques and mechanical advantage systems used for raising or lowering a casualty or other load.

Kevin performing a changeover from ascent to descent

Following the training course, Vertical Access brought in an independent SPRAT Evaluator to test the VA technicians. The certification process includes a written and oral examinations to test knowledge of safe practices for industrial rope access and an understanding of the equipment and principles involved with rope access work. The main part of the evaluation is the skills test, in which each candidate must demonstrate a broad range of rope access skills.

Donn working through a rebelay

Keith Luscisnki tested to and was certified as a Level III Supervisor, responsible for the overall rope access operations on site. Keith joins Kelly Streeter and Mike Gilbert as Level III Supervisors for Vertical Access. According to SPRAT’s Safe Practices for Rope Access Work, all site work must be performed under the supervision of a Level III Supervisor. Donn Hewes and Kevin Dalton tested to and were certified as Level I Technicians, rope access workers with the appropriate training, skills and qualifications to perform work under the direct supervision of a Level II Lead Technician or Level III Supervisor.

SPRAT is a membership organization that promotes the development of safe practices and standards for rope access work in the United States, Canada, Mexico and beyond. Vertical Access is a member of SPRAT and active in its leadership committees.

Vertical Access’ Top 10 of 2010: Project 1 – Union Theological Seminary Brown Tower

Last modified: January 26, 2011

As we start 2011, Vertical Access would like to thank our clients with whom we have collaborated by in the past year by highlighting ten projects completed in 2010.

The first project, performed in January 2010, is the Brown Tower at Union Theological Seminary in New York, NY. Union Theological Seminary (UTS) was constructed in 1910 and is comprised of a quadrangle of connected structures. It was designed by Allen & Collens, who later designed nearby Riverside Church, in a Collegiate Gothic style. The Brown Tower rises from the southeast corner of the UTS quadrangle. Like the adjoining buildings of the seminary, the exterior masonry is Manhattan schist with limestone trim and ornament.

Working for the New York office of Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Vertical Access performed a hands-on investigation of the tower’s four facades. Because of concerns about the attachment of cast stone pinnacles at the four corner spires and other projecting elements, hands-on access was critical to perform the investigation. Vertical Access documented existing conditions at the pinnacles and other areas of the exterior masonry using TPAS. Three VA technicians were on site for two days, to complete the work.

Union Theological Seminary Brown Tower, photography by Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc.

Helmet Video Cam

Last modified: January 25, 2011

On a recent project with Gale Associates in Boston, Vertical Access used a helmet video camera to perform a close examination of existing conditions. The helmet camera is a compact, high-definition video camera made specifically for use in extreme locations. For this project, a VA technician used Gale’s helmet camera on five drops over the course of one day, recording the audio and video to the camera’s SD card.  Watch an excerpt of the video below (footage provided by Gale Associates).

After this onsite use and review of the video footage, we are very impressed with the ease of use and picture quality and are incorporating the helmet cam in the services we provide. Wireless transmission to a monitor on-site is coming soon. This would allow a VA technician to observe conditions up-close with the video while simultaneously transmitting the live video and audio wirelessly to a monitor on site where our clients and project team members could interact with the inspector. This technology will net dramatic savings in project setup time compared to traditional video while increasing the quality of our deliverable.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CQL75qEn0k&w=450&h=345]

2011 SPRAT Conference

Last modified: January 18, 2011

by Mike Gilbert

The Society of Professional Rope Access Technicians (SPRAT) is an organization comprised of individuals, companies, and agencies that have a stake in the safe development of rope access standards and practices. Although SPRAT is based in the United States, its scope is international. Currently, SPRAT members hail from the US, Canada, Mexico, and Europe. The membership includes individual practitioners, companies that provide rope access services, training or equipment, and government agencies.

SPRAT supports rope access practitioners with certification programs, regulatory support, networking, and opportunities to participate in developing industry-consensus standards.

This year’s SPRAT Conference was held the second week of January in Vancouver, British Columbia. The annual conference is a two-day affair.

The first day is given over to SPRAT business, with committee meetings and reports. I participated in the Certification Requirements Document Committee, and the Safe Practices Document Committee meetings.

I took on the task of performing an editorial review of the two documents. I will be looking mostly for inconsistencies in nomenclature, but I’ll also keep an eye out for other editorial or substantive violations of parallel construction. The Safe Practices document informs the Certification document, and the Certification document implements the Safe Practices, so the two need to stand in complete agreement. Since they are overseen by separate committees, and adopted in separate ballot initiatives, they do not always reflect each other as accurately as we would wish.

The second day of the conference consists primarily of technical presentations by SPRAT members. Nine presentations covered a wide range of topics, ranging from a review of OSHA’s proposed changes to the regulations governing fall protection in general industry, to a humorous look at the characteristics desirable in the “perfect rope access technician”. There were two project case studies, a presentation on leadership in management, three presentations focused on rope access equipment, and an evaluation of rope access in the U.S. regulatory framework. Continue reading 2011 SPRAT Conference →