Tips

Creative ADA Railing Solution

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Illustration from www.access-board.gov 505.10.1

Often we’re asked to provide railings for ramps and stairs in public areas. We usually have to explain why the railing used for fall protection is not sufficient per code to meet “handrail” requirements. This is particularly true in a situation where you are attempting to meet ADA standards such as for a ramp. Handrails have specific diameters, heights, returns and extensions that must be met. You can read all about them here. The illustration to the right was taken from that document. Railings for fall protection have different height requirements, have requirements for spindle spacing and often due to the need for lateral strength, have a heavy, reinforced top rail. That top rail often doubles as a protective cap if the railing is wood. This makes the top rail far to wide for a proper grip, even if the other requirements are met.

Once you know the requirements, it’s pretty easy to spot the failed attempts. It’s amazing how many public buildings have these issues. There are several I’ve noticed at municipal structures around Marshall County. (Though fortunately, nothing as bad as the one to the left!) What’s particularly sad is when an obvious attempt at compliance has been made, but the execution has ended up subpar. A contractor is hired without checking references and a “plan” is created based on assumptions, resulting in partial or limited compliance. This often means expensive installations are completed that don’t meet the requirements. Many compliance officers are not as versed in the requirements as they should be.

Custom metal railings can be expensive. Ditto for some of the piece-together plastic systems found online. Because of the varying slopes, and direction changes of ramps, often the specific angles that are needed are not available. I found a creative handrail at the Round Barn in Baroda, Michigan this weekend. In general, wood railings are installed ignoring the code requirements for looped returns at the ends of the stairs or ramp. In this case, the installer mitered a wood railing together to provide a looped return.

I think they can be forgiven for not leveling the railing at the end. The ramp is pretty low slope. The only possible negative I see here is that the bottom corner could still provide a catch point for clothing and the rules would say it should either close the loop or return to the wall. Technically it does close the loop so it may meet the letter if not the spirit of the regulation.

But I want to commend them on finding a creative and cost effective solution to the railing requirements. “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery” [Charles Caleb Colton] and I will keep this installation in mind in the future when I need a budget solution to the railing requirements.

If you have an ADA compliance situation that you would like us to check out for you, let us know. We are well versed in the requirements and are not too proud to refer you to an Architect or other expert in cases that are outside our expertise and experience.

Blast from the Past: Dr. James Ford Museum

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I was cleaning house at the office the other day and ran across this invitation. Richard Ford was always kind enough to include us in events such as this. He made it a point to contact me and explain that the invitation applied to everyone at Easterday Construction that worked on the project, inviting them to come for the celebration and bring their wives to share what they had helped achieve. Our work mainly revolved around the structure and infrastructure, so most of the field crew had not see what the completed project looked like. This was their chance to see the home with the finishes in place, the museum displays up and running and to accept the kudos Richard was always sure to give. It is always nice to have your skills and accomplishments acknowledged and Richard did this deftly.

The museum is now under the Honeywell Foundation’s property umbrella. The duplex next door has been torn down to provide a parking lot for the Library across the street. This opens the home up to be seen from State Road 15. The home is starting to show a little bit of age, but in reality that just makes it look more lived in and more settled. Richard would still be proud of what he accomplished there.

If you haven’t visited this museum, it is worth your time. Make it a day and visit the Twenty restaurant at the Charley Creek Inn. If it’s a summer day, you can have lunch in the Courtyard. The Charley Creek Gardens are also open to the public. These are all projects Richard completed that continue to benefit the City of Wabash.

You can find out more about the Dr. James Ford Historic Home at their website here. You can find out more about Easterday Construction Co., Inc.’s part in it’s restoration here and here. There is a little more about the relationship Easterday Construction enjoyed with Richard Ford here.

Burr Oak Revival

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Burr Oak Whistle Stop

Did I call it, or what? A few years back I wrote an article here that went viral. Well, it got picked up by the Culver Citizen and the MCEDC newsletter anyway… The post, “If it Ain’t Burr Oak, Don’t Fix it” talked about the potential renaissance for Burr Oak, citing the access to electric, rail, State Highways and proximity to Culver. Since that article was written, the sub station renovation is nearly complete. I drive through there several times a day every weekday and I can tell you the train traffic has increased as well. And apparently Kevin Overmyer has decided to lead Burr Oak’s renaissance. Last year he began hosting events in the family barn with Burr Oak Barn Rental and this year he renovated the old General Store building and opened it as the Burr Oak Whistle Stop this past July. (Grand Opening article here.)

My article title came from my friend, Eric Freeman, who enjoyed a good play on words. In the case of the Whistle Stop, Kevin Overmyer decided there was something broken there and he took it upon himself to fix it. He remembered the history of the building from his childhood and was disheartened by the building’s deterioration. With the work he has done, it is nearly unrecognizable.

Is Burr Oak likely to see a true renaissance from these small beginnings? Hard to tell. Does Kevin have other plans for the Town? He’s not saying. But there is another commercial building there that could be put back into operation and the drive-by exposure is pretty good there. Maybe he’s started something. At the quarterly County Development for the Future meeting MCEDC hosts, I asked Kevin if he was planning to start giving a report on Burr Oak and it’s goals and progress. He just laughed, but there was a twinkle in his eye and he didn’t say no.

I’ll have to let Eric know that Burr Oak may be looking for a Mayor soon. Though he may have to run against Kevin, who’s always been a shrewd politician…

Culver Citizen Article 1-16-14

Solar Eclipse

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As the hype grows, I’ve been thinking about the solar eclipse on August 21st. Thanks to Waffle House, I found this handy map (see right) in case you want your eclipse viewing “Smothered & Covered”. I heard on the radio that Krispy Kreme was planning competing events. Chocolate Glaze! Unfortunately, Indiana will be mostly bypassed for the total eclipse. We’ll only get a side view. That should still be cool and weather permitting, I’m sure I’ll step out side to check it out.

Picture of Sanford Stadium from ajc.com article

My friends around Atlanta are planning parties and events. Any excuse for a party and a day off work, right? The University of Georgia is planning a party in Sanford Stadium. (Article here) Do you tailgate for an eclipse? Knowing the Bulldogs, the answer to that will be a resounding YES! Ha!

Nest Thermostat asking to activate their eclipse rush hour savings

One of the other interesting tie-ins I saw was with the Nest thermostats. I’ve talked about them before here. They’ve been through a few updates since then and I chose to install one in my home. So far I’ve been pleased. More than similar devices, I have observed Nest really trying to make the green connection and not just personal energy cost savings. They send out a report on how many “leafs” you earn each month for energy savings along with a comparison to other Nest owners. There is a running total on their website showing their estimate of how many Kwh of energy that has been saved by their devices.

The tie-in to the eclipse is that in their blog, Nest repeats a report that suggests the solar eclipse, as it blocks out solar panels, will reduce green energy production by as much as 9,000 MW resulting in traditional systems coming back on line to pick up the slack. “At Nest, we think of these high-demand times on the energy grid as rush hours.” They suggest that if you opt in, their thermostats will automatically cool your home a little extra before the event so that it can reduce the load during the event. Personally I think that’s as much marketing as an actual need, but it’s still an interesting concept and it’s another reminder of how the Internet of Things continues to find new ways to work for us.

For those of you in Culver, there is going to be presentations this Saturday at the Culver Union Township Public Library at 10:30 and noon talking about the eclipse. (The noon event was added after the flyer came out.) Dr. Angela Meyer from Culver Academies will give the presentation. Those that attend will receive NASA approved viewing glasses for Monday’s eclipse. This should be an informative event!

Maybe I’ll see you out in the semi-darkness on the 21st. That is if I don’t accept an invitation to go to Atlanta and get the full effect! While I doubt this will be any kind of life changing event, it is one of those cool and rare physical phenomenons of which we should all take advantage. Hopefully for most of us it’s not literally a once-in-a-lifetime event, but it is pretty rare… And unlike most astronomical events, you don’t have to get up in the middle of the night to see it! Bonus!

Why it’s Important to Hire a Professional Construction Company

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Guest Writer, Sam Socorro submitted this article. Thanks Sam! – Kevin

Whether you’re planning to build your home, a shop, garage, business or if you’re planning on renovating, you might be tempted to save yourself some money by doing the work on your own or with helpful friends and family.  If you’re a skilled tradesperson, this idea can actually benefit your savings account in the end, but if your expertise lies outside of construction, you could be setting yourself up for disaster.  When building or handling a renovation, there will undoubtedly be interruptions, issues and unforeseen complications that the average person isn’t equipped to handle efficiently.  Skilled tradespeople are worth their weight in gold when it comes to having a project done properly, up to code, and within a set budget and time frame.  Here are some reasons why researching and hiring a local construction company can be your best bet.

  1. You can see examples of their work

Most construction companies can show you examples of projects that they’ve completed in a book or online, but if your company is local, you have an even better way of determining that their work is up to your standards.  Ask them what projects they’re either working on or have completed that you might be able to take a gander at.  You can ask them for references as well, and talk to their customers who can give you advice on what they wish they’d known before starting, or about what they loved about their chosen construction company.  Doing some background digging can reassure you that hiring a professional is the way to go for your building project.

  1. Communication is key

With a professional construction company, you’re more likely to have information before or when you need it, and you’ll be kept in the loop throughout the project.  A good crew will be able to answer your questions or direct you to someone who can, and that person should be regularly available to you.  They’re going to be busy, but you should anticipate having your messages returned within 24 hours.

  1. Your project can be completed on time

Hiring out your job means that your time can be spent at your regular job and your vacation time can be just that; vacation.  A construction company will have the knowledge and experience to complete projects in a timely manner and that will ultimately save you money in the end.  Hiring professionals means that your project will be completed far faster than if you attempt to tackle it yourself.

  1. Your crew will have the expertise to deal with problems

If you haven’t had the experience working in this trade, running into even a common problem will in all likelihood completely derail you.  A professional, by comparison, will have run into similar problems during his or her years of employment and will quickly and efficiently come up with a plan to correct any issues and get the job done in spite of setbacks.

  1. A professional will understand building codes

Even if you do understand the ins and outs of your project fairly well, do you understand the local bylaws and building codes?  Doing a project that doesn’t fall within the guidelines of your county can cause you to spend a lot more time and money on the project than you originally budgeted for.  A professional construction company will have a good grasp of what falls within the county guidelines and can help correct your plans so that there are no future issues with your neighbours, town, or MD.

  1. Professional expertise is at hand when its needed

You may be a jack of all trades and fairly handy, but hiring a professional construction company means that you gain the expertise of a variety of trades.  The construction company will have access to electricians, plumbers, dry wallers, painters, carpenters, and any other industry tradesperson who is required for the job.  Even if they don’t retain people in every trade on their payroll, they will have far easier access to retaining these people for the job when the time comes for their particular skills.

It makes good sense to hire a professional construction company for all of your building needs to save you time, stress and money in the end.

This article was written by Sam Socorro from Steam Shower Store. Sam has been writing articles for over 10 years and is a commanding voice in the health and fitness community with her articles high in demand.