How does one spec Tin? What questions should one ask when you see “tin cladding” on a drawing note?
The question would be, send me a product data sheet. This really could be almost anything, thin sheet laminated to anything from a honeycomb core to a phenolis core…or a sheet metal substrate like steel with a tin coating. Or it may not be tin at all, could be zinc. You have no way of knowing.
Robin, this is meant to be lighthearted…
I would ask what the %&&^$# are you talking about?
Some really old school types might call galvanized steel “tin”
I basically said the same thing. I just wanted to make sure there wasn’t something i didn’t know regarding “tin”
From Larry Peters with Copper Development Association:
Ken
Im not familiar with anyone actually using solid (or sheet, or tube, etc.) tin architecturally.
What was once called tin roofing, was actually tinplate. That is, tin plated iron or possibly steel.
At some point (roughly turn of the 19th to the 20th century) many (most?) started to misapply the term words tin roofing to products made of either
terne coated (20 % tin, 80% lead) iron and ultimately to galvanized (zinc) coated steel.
Chapter 3 of Metals in Americas Historic Buildings: Uses and Preservation Treatments, published by the US Department of the Interior would be a great publication to reference
There is actually tinned copper, too. Although KME sells such a product to the architectural market, by far its greatest use is electrical.
Sincerely,
Larry Peters
Project Manager, Building Construction
Copper Development Association Inc.
P.O. Box 1206
Decatur, GA 30031
www.copper.org
office: 404.373.0324
New E-mail Address: Larry.Peters@copperalliance.us
Robin,
I’m with Dewayne on this one. It’s likely a baby architect who doesn’t know the different metals and is relying on marketing literature or design-speak.
I’d bet on clear anodized aluminum.
It’s like wrought iron (gutters, downspouts, fencing). Either an OF who learned architectural notations in the 50s or a younger person who is being “mentored” by an old coot or told to follow the existing Drawings.
Probably something found on Pinterest.
Perhaps “Tin” is a color, not a material.
Like when I bought “brass” accessories for my home, and was surprised to discover they were plastic with some shiny non-metallic finish. Or ordered the “oak” bookcase that turned out to be particle board with a printed surface.
I like Sheldon’s comment. I am increasingly asked to specify (which means someone shows me an image he or she found on the internet) a new and AMAZING “product.” Too often it is something seen on a vendor’s or distributor’s web site. Too often also it is a product not intended for commercial use, never mind institutional like a hospital. I asked a designer once (and not totally rhetorically), “Would you have this piece of c**p in your house?”
I have two rules (a lot more really, but two) that have recently become my mantra:
- I specify manufacturers not vendors
- I specify, I do not select, i.e. don’t show me a picture of something and ask me to write a specification for it.
Yes, in the past I have given presentations in the office about how to select products and present useful information to the specifier. Perhaps it is time for a re-run.
James, I would love a copy of that presentation!
I think the most likely material that they are looking at is zinc-tin alloy-coated copper, the Freedom Gray product offered by Revere Copper. This is probably the most readily available sheet metal with a “tin” color.
I have seen Tin appear on architecturals, but was not in scope so I can not comment beyond that. Was on a campus with rigid “campus gothic” design standards; extensive ornamental copper and bronze, slate shingles, stone… etc. Whatever was used looked like a dull dark gray zinc/patina (perhaps it was zinc?).
For what its worth, I have a sample of lab grade tin. Its soft like lead but has not developed a patina; still halfway “bright” after +15yrs of being kept in storage.
Same here, James.
Sheldon, please send you e-mail address to me: specwriterjs@gmail.com