Western News: April 2009
This issue:
WERC welcomes two mechanical engineers
Western Engineering is pleased to announce the addition of two more team members to its mechanical engineering group. Wyatt Bellman specializes in mechanical and plumbing systems. Scott Lewis brings mobile equipment and automotive expertise.
 Wyatt Bellman joined Western's team in March 2009 and is a Mechanical Engineer specializing in mechanical and plumbing systems. Mr. Bellman also is a licensed attorney in the State of Colorado. His extensive legal background coupled with his engineering experience gives him a firm knowledge of industry practices and valuable analysis and research skills.
As an engineer, Mr. Bellman managed the mechanical maintenance division of a wire rod and rebar steel manufacturing plant, utilizing local recycled metal material. He supervised service, repair and maintenance for hydraulic systems, dust collections systems, material delivery systems, and overhead cranes. He started and managed a retail granite firm
Mr. Bellman’s legal experience included assisting in preparation of construction defect cases and patent law. He also worked on cases involving soil expansive issues.
 Scott Lewis is a Mechanical Engineer with over 22 years experience in the analysis and design of mechanical, electrical and hydraulic systems for mobile equipment applications including underground mining equipment and airport snow removal equipment.
Mr. Lewis has experience designing for custom manufacturing firms as well as high production manufacturing applications. He has failure analysis experience and provides expert testimony in matters involved in litigation. He has extensive manufacturing experience and involvement in a variety of manufacturing processes including foundries, heat treating, stress relieving, welding, and machining. He is skilled in failure mode and effect analysis, root cause analysis, design of experiments and other methodologies associated with Six Sigma business management strategy.
Technical Note: Water Penetration Testing – Masonry
Water penetration through the building envelope is the cause of the majority of construction defect litigation in the United States(i). Water entering through roofs and facades damages interior components and causes the growth of mold and other microbes which can render a structure uninhabitable. Field tests are available to measure absorption and penetration of water into the building envelope through materials and assemblies in affected buildings, which is helpful in determining the causes of water penetration problems.
 Karsten Tube: The Karsten Tube, also known as the RILEM Tube, is a simple absorption test for masonry surfaces that measures the quantity of water absorbed by a small surface area over time.
This test is used as a quality control test and warranty verification test for coatings on masonry walls. It can be used to test coatings, to measure the rate the absorption of masonry units, and to measure the rate of absorption at mortar joints.
Spray and Drip Tests: Spray and drip tests are used to assess the water control features of building assemblies. The American Architectural Manufacturers Association’s AAMA 501.2, Quality Assurance and Diagnostic Water Leakage Field Check of Installed Storefronts, Curtain Walls, and Sloped Glazing Systems, describes a spray test conducted at measured pressure with a calibrated nozzle to detect leaks at seams and boundaries in curtain walls and glazings as quality control during installation. 
This simple procedure is also useful for diagnosing sources of leaks in doors, windows, and flashings in all types of walls. Other more complicated tests involve use of spray racks to apply incident water. Although ASTM E1105, Standard Test Method for Field Determination of water Penetration of Installed Exterior Windows, Curtain Walls, and Doors by Uniform or Cyclic Static Air Pressure Difference is often misused to allege dubious defects, this test and the similar AAMA 502 and AAMA 503 are industry acknowledged field tests for newly installed components and assemblies. Krogstad and Weber (ii) have developed a modified ASTM E1105 spray rack procedure with controlled rate of water flow that is useful in diagnosis of water penetration problems. Krogstad has also developed a test procedure for cavity walls used to evaluate the performance of flashing and weep systems (iii).
Simulated Storm Water Permeance Test: Field-Modified versions of ASTM E 514, Test Method for Water Permeance of Masonry, have been used for many years to measure water permeance of masonry walls in completed structures. Addressing the interest in this useful modification of its laboratory procedure, ASTM published a new standard in 2008, ASTM C1601, Standard Test Method for Field Determination of Water Penetration of Masonry Wall Surfaces. To measure water penetration, a pressure chamber with an integral spray bar is bolted and sealed to one side of a masonry wall. For four or more hours, the chamber is pressurized with air and a constant spray of water is applied. The volume of water in the closed system is recorded at regular time intervals, and the quantitiy of water permeating into the masonry surface is expressed as the quantity of water lost to the wall per unit of time during the test.
 Infrared Thermography: Infrared Thermographic imaging allows for rapid acquisition of global data of minute temperature differences in the surface of a building. This data can be used to make inferences regarding relative moisture content of materials because of heat transfers related to condutance of water and phase change heat loss or gain (iv). The magnitude of temperature differences observed will be related to the temperature differential between the building exterior and interior, so the season and time of day will affect the imaging results. Interior moisture can be readily detected if there is drying to the interior, as evaporative cooling of surfaces can be measured.
David Transue, PE specializes in condition evaluation of structures, material testing and research, construction litigation, and the design of repairs and retrofits for existing structures. He has worked extensively using nondestructive techniques for imaging and investigation of structural components. David's Resume
Please feel free to call me if you suspect water penetration issues or to read the full technical article on this topic. 303-757-4000.
References
(i) Feld, Jacob and K.L. Carper, Construction Failure, 2nd Ed., John Wiley & Sons, Inc. N.Y, N.Y., 1997.
(ii) Krogstad, N. V. and R. A. Weber, “Using Modified ASTM E1105 to Evaluate Resistance of Masonry Barrier, Mass, and Skin Walls to Rain,” in Masonry: Design and Construction, Problems and Repair, ASTM Special Technical Publication 1180, American Society for Testing and Materials, Philadelphia, 1993.
(iii) Krogstad, N. V., “Masonry Wall Drainage Test – A Proposed Method for Field Evaluation of Masonry Cavity Walls for Resistance to Water Leakage,” Masonry Components to Assemblages, ASTM STP 1063, John H. Matthys, ed., American Society for Testing and Materials, Philadelphia, 1990.
(iv) Colantonio, Antonio, “Detection of Moisture and Water Intrusion Within Building Envelopes by Means of Infrared Thermographic Inspections,” Journal of Building Enclosure Design, National Institute of Building Sciences, Washington D.C., Summer/Fall 2008.
Trade Show Exhibiting
NASP - Western will be exhibiting at the NASP Litigation Conference in St Pete, Florida April 2-3. We look forward to seeing you there.
PLRB - Western exhibited at the PLRB conference March 22-25 in Seattle. It was a good show and we had the opportunity to visit with many new friends.
White & Steele - Every year the Denver law firm of White & Steele sponsors a one day seminar for Colorado and Wyoming Claims Professionals. WERC is always happy to engage with local professionals while gaining valuable updates on legal issues impacting the industry in Colorado and Wyoming.
Denver Law Day - The Denver Claims Association sponsored a half day seminar on legal decisions impacting the insurance industry. WERC was able to introduce our newest team member, Wyatt Bellman during this seminar.
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