As some of you know, I got into full-time specification writing late in my career as an architect, which seems to be a fairly common path for many specifiers. Now, I am leaving Cannon Design tomorrow to pursue an even later in career course change writing architectural door hardware specifications for Ingersoll Rand. Its hard to believe that I have been doing this task long enough, more than a decade now, to be thought of by some in my hometown as somewhat of an expert in specifications. That always makes me laugh, especially when I read this discussion board, or attend a regional or national CSI event. The real experts are you who have been doing this for multiple decades, not just one.
So I wanted to express my thanks to everyone who has helped me here and through CSI go from real dumb to real smart real fast about this complex and fascinating subject, specifications. Ive never sought advice here or behind the scenes from any of those who regularly post here without receiving a thoughtful and often thought provoking response. Your collective generosity and kindness is as impressive as your knowledge and expertise.
Its amazing: no matter how obscure, perverse, or geeky ones interest, there is a place to explore and learn about it on the internet. And I guess door hardware is even more obscure, perverse and geeky than what I have been doing here for the last few years, so I probably need to find 4doors.com (no doubt an esoteric automobile site) or some other such thing for more learning opportunities. But fear not, I plan on lurking around here occasionally reading the discussion, and I hope to see many of you at CSI events down the road.
Wow - that is another turn. Knowing as little as I do about door hardware, I’m somewhat in awe. I hope that you’ll allow me to ask questions!
Seriously though, you’ll be able to teach them something about writing a good specification, not just good hardware sets. It’s very frustrating to get a document back from a hardware consultant that is poorly written, from both a spec practices standpoint and a word processing standpoint. None of them seem to understand how word processing works or what good spec language is.
Perhaps you’ll produce the first ever set of IR hardware specs that aren’t laced with “lock-outs” of hidden proprietary requirements to shut out Assa Abloy distributors. We all know about the cast iron cylinders in LCN closers. And that Sargent exit devices aren’t competitively priced.
And perhaps you’ll convince them that the “Preamble” is just as important as the hardware sets!
I guess “congratulations” is the right word, hard as it is to say here.
George I am deeply grateful for your kindness and friendship, and the great help you have been to me. Always a pragmatic and well founded, logical answer based on wealth of history and successful projects.
We have good Rand people in our area, but I’ll check with you, if you don’t mind. The very best to you-- I’m sure this is a good move for you-- and as Lynn notes, much to do via teaching.
Congratulations and much success in this new career branch!
For some reason the term expert has never been one that I wanted associated with myself. I always chuckle when I hear someone referred to as an expert. It goes back to an instructor I had in college who told us “I never want to be called an expert at anything because “X” is an unknown quantity and a “spurt” is a drip under pressure!”
If you write a spec for IR that includes Assa products, you will be back working for Cannon Design faster then you can say “IR employees cant write open specs?”
Once upon a time for Virginia publicly funded projects I developed a matrix of hardware to comply with the states 3-manufacturers and 3 products edict. The schedule would refer back to the matrix for specific product selection. It was a truly awful way to specify hardware but it made the state reviewers at the time happy.
Looking forward to you blessing us with many closed proprietary IR specs in the future!
George, that “unregistered guest” above about congratulations being correct, is mine-- goofed not having my name on it. Please do let me know where I can get in touch.
Thanks for the kind comments. I finally got my email straightened out: you can keep in touch at geverdin@irco.com (note they drop the final “g” because of an eight character limit)
That’s really interesting. I worked on door & hardware specs (in-house) early in my career and did it for about 25 years, then in the mid 90’s I started doing full-blown specs, in-house,including doors & hardware up until 2000.
Now after 11 years of writing in-house specifications, the last 8-1/2 in CA, my current employer has decided that I’m a luxury they cannot afford, due to what appears to be a temporary lack of work. They want to hire me back as an outside consultant when they do get work, but in the meantime I’m seeking other opportunities and they may be in for a surprise when they come looking for me in 2 to 3 months
Colin, I’m not sure if this is the appropriate place to put this, but if anyone knows of any opportunites in the Southern CA area I would apprciate it.
As my employer e-mail will probably go away at the end of this month, my personal e-mail will be rm4matt@ca.rr.com at least thru March