I just have to vent, but since I don’t want to embarrass either my office or yours, let’s keep this anonymous.
I had an associate (!) in my firm ask me why she couldn’t seem to find a copy of the Barcelona building code published in English anywhere. (I responded that I doubted anyone could find a Spanish-language version of the Chicago building code, but she didn’t get the comparison) Yale-educated architect, by the way…
Someone in a former office once directed a drafter to detail a 4-inch stainless stud wall. He did not understand the difference between metal studs and stainless steel studs.
Today, I had someone ask, “What is the thickness of paint?”
This is not a question, but it was the silliest answer I have received to my question:
“Because the salesman said so!”
From a couple of years ago (from someone working on a project in coastal Louisianna):
“Have you spec’ed anything on hurricane-resistant glazing before? We may need to add that to the project. Would we just make the windows hurricane resistant that face the direction of the wind or would all the windows need to be hurricane resistant?”
Just the exterior ones
I had a 40 year old graduate architect once ask me how do work the Sweet’s Catalogs.
When I was doing design work…I had a principal of the firm ask me “why can’t we put the drinking fountain in the mens room?”
Several years ago, a partner in our firm asked me why we couldn’t prepare “standard” specifications for various project types that we could use over and over, without editing, so they wouldn’t have to budget so much money for spec preparation. My reply?
If we did that, we’d have to call them “Generalizations” instead of “Specifications”.
He got my drift and has never mentioned it again.
Jerry,
For the same reason one can’t prepare “standard” drawings…that can be used over and over…without editing…so they don’t have to budget so much for design!
I had the principal of a firm respond to my question about the finish on aluminum storefront framing by saying, “We want a Kynar anodized finish.” I explained that there is a fundamental difference between the painted finish based on a fluorpolmer resin (“Kynar”) and an anodic metallic finish. His response was, “I don’t keep up with new technologies.” He’s about 40 years old.
To Anon #1,
Remember JFK’s quote when he received his honorary degree from Yale…
“I now have the best of both worlds…a Harvard education and a Yale degree.”
Jerry: and specs are budgeted at what? 3% of the design budget? doesn’t that just about buy morning coffee for the team meetings?
A number of times over the years, I have had clients ask if I can specify “90-mile per hour construction” for roof assemblies. My reply is, “Do you really want it that fast?”
Anne…I do believe you’ve hit the nail on the head! Coffee is free at our office…so they expect the specs to be free as well! NOW it all makes sense!
A contractor suggested substituting two 24" diameter storm sewers for the 48" diameter sewer shown on the site plan. Do the math: 24+24=48.
Not a silly question but a silly requirement.
Paint all electrical, mechanical and utility closets with 2 coats sprayed white paint regardless of the Interior Designer directive per drawing Finish Schedule.
I love that! the idea that we could have a requirement in the specs that says “no matter what you see on the drawings, do it this way…”
(actually my boss has told me to do that in a few cases – “put something in the specs to cover this, so no matter what is on the drawings…”)
Ms. Whitacre-- is that then “complementary”, supplementary" or “substractive”?
“Subversive.”