Ever since reports of shortage of face masks, PPE and ventilators have come out, 3D printing firms or institutes with a machine have come forward to fulfil those requirements with whatever limited resources and manpower they had. Doctors and hospitals are working closely with them to get the products customised as per their requirements. In a telephonic call with Mint, Rajiv Bajaj, Managing Director, Stratasys India and SEA elaborates on the companys involvement in 3D printing initiatives in India, tie-up with a leading Indian university and the advantage of being a global 3D printing firm in Indian 3D printing space.

The way 3D printing community has come forward in India to help doctors and caregivers is incredible. In what way is Stratasys involved with these initiatives?

Beauty of 3D printing is that there is no fixed way of manufacturing. So if there is a problem they can just redesign the product and start printing in the next few hours. Coming to our involvement, currently there are a lot of formal discussions going on about design of ventilator design, face masks and other personal protection equipment. Similarly, there are lot of informal groups that are working in the country to come out with a viable solution. There are over 100 groups on WhatsApp where IIT and NIT students are collaborating on designs for medical equipment. Doctors too are part of these groups and they are helping them by validating these designs. We are part of both formal and informal groups.

For instance, when National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Surathkal reached out to us for assistance with development of some ventilator splitters as their 3D printer wasnt giving them the desired output, we took permission from authorities to open our office and send our industrial printers along with materials. They utilised them to come out with 3D printed components for circuit splitters, floor regulators and PPE. They have installed our printer at George hospital so they can print splitters close to the ventilators.

Stratasys has recently partnered with GNA University, Punjab. Can you elaborate on the nature of this partnership?

GNA University is our existing customer and they are using our 3D printer for a lot of industrial and educational applications. During this time, they wanted to extend the same for face masks and visor design. Stratasys has opened up our designs for visors and face masks, allowing anybody to download the STL and print them. The next step is to enable them to induction mould the same design to increase the volumes to meet the demand they have been facing.

Does being a global company active in various countries during crisis help in dealing with the challenges faced by 3D printing community in India?

We were able to utilise the best practices that we learned in other places like China and Hong Kong. Our company came up with some ready designs for face masks and visors, and we put it out for use by anyone. People across the globe, including India, have downloaded those designs and manufactured them using the 3D printers they have. In addition to all this, we are also working with some top tier automotive companies who have 3D printers for manufacturing automotive components. We are helping them print masks and create prototypes for ventilators. Also, we have special materials which are certified for touch with the human skin.

Did you face any shortage of printing material due to supply chain disruption and lockdown? How did you manage the shortage?

There have been some challenges, but we were able to deal with them through collective efforts. Whatever stocks we had in our offices we have made them available to our customers. Similarly, whatever stocks our partners had were also made available to the customers. We have an install base almost 900 printers in the country. And all our customers we have reached out for machine or parts have been very forthcoming in supporting these efforts for the industry.

There is a huge shortage of medical equipment and the initial supply of 3d printed equipment has been very low. What is potential for scaling up to produce more?

3D printing, by virtue of the way the technology works, is best suited for batch production kind of scenario. When there are requirements of mass production running into lakhs, you have to combine the benefits of 3D printing technology with conventional manufacturing. However, during lockdown regular manufacturing setup will not be available to them. To meet immediate requirements of PPEs and medical equipment, hospitals can install 3D printers on the premises and customise them according to their requirements.

Do you think the current crisis will boost adoption of 3d printing in India?

We dont want to see the pandemic as an opportunity. But looking at the broader understanding of what does one need to quickly ramp up product design development and make changes on the fly as the situation demands, people have started to realised that 3D printing can be of great use as they can work out alternatives in short span of time.

Continued here:
Beauty of 3D printing is that there is no fixed way of manufacturing - Livemint

Kathy Wells McNeil only had to watch the international news over the winter months to realize she did not want to get caught flatfooted when the fast-spreading COVID-19 virus reached Sudbury.

Two months ago, the owner and CEO of Total Nursing Care placed a call to have a local glass installer attach a large plexiglass screen to the reception counter of her occupational testing clinic on Regent Street.

We got a jumpstart on most people in town because we had all our PPE (personal protective equipment) ordered, sanitizer, masks, gowns and gloves provided to all of our staff. Kind of the last thing we did was put the plexiglass in.

Wells McNeils company provides home health-care services, but also operates an occupational testing facility, performing medicals, drugand alcohol testing, pulmonary tests and electrocardiograms for mining companies and the railways.

With the aim of keeping her staff safe, Wells McNeil, a registered nurse, performed a risk assessment of the most heavily trafficked and high-touch areas of her clinic, including the front desk.

Having that barrier there, our office staff doesnt have to be gloved, gowned and masked all day. They can work in that area and feel comfortable.

Want to read more stories about business in the North? Subscribe to our newsletter.

The pandemic crisis has brought out the ingenuity and flexibility of Canadian industry and large and small businesses in pivoting their production and manufacturing capabilities to meet the needs of front-line workers in health care, emergency response, retail and other essential services.

Makers and installers of glass and plastic safety barriers have been particularly busy. Health-care providers are certainly top of mind for Gerry Rainville, president of Cosmos Glassin Sudbury.

Normally at this time of year, before the construction season starts, staff in his nine-employee shop in Sudburys north end would be off on vacation.

Were a seasonal business. From January to March, April, theres really not much to do.

That's all changed since mid-March when the outbreak took hold, non-essential business and activity was locked down, and the calls started coming in for protective screens.

Weve been quite busy, going from the thought of possibly laying people off to almost needing an extra set of hands, said Rainville.

Were pretty much full bore.

Whenever he fields a call from Health Sciences North, thats my priority, said Rainville.

He estimates hes provided 30 to 40 custom-ordered barriers for the hospital, but also for pharmacies, doctors offices, grocery store chains, and various office spaces.

Dating back to the H1N1 influenza outbreak in 2009, Rainville estimates hes built 90 per cent of the protective barriers for the hospitals aluminum-framed nursing stations and reception desks.

But theyve also been heating and molding plexiglass for counters and tabletop screening stations.

Were able to turn them around fairly quickly, said Rainville. Some of the desks have higher raised platforms so everything is custom designed and installed for those ones.

Some customers prefer a basic shield, hanging down from the ceiling on chains, while others want more complex configurations between work stations.

Hes also sold plastic sheets to retailers like Canadian Tire and Costco, which have installed their own protective barriers for cashiers.

For customers, Rainville will sometimes personally go out to do measurements for an installation, or people can give their dimensions over the phone and he'll leave the fabricated product outside for curbside pickup.

While hes experienced no problems sourcing plastic from his southern Ontario supplier, there has been issues ordered the round disc-like speak-throughs.

With only one supplier in Canada, theres a backlog on orders well into May. Rainville rectified that by approaching a local metal fabricator who laser cut about 50 replicas in a couple of days. Thats where Ive been buying them.

Hospital installations are also a big part of Michael Valentis business, Northland Glass & Metal in North Bay.

Before COVID-19 hit, installing glass and plexiglass screens amounted to about five per cent of his business almost nothing, he said.

For North Bay Regional Health Centre, the company has been making and installing protective glass for individual nursing stations and more extensive floor-to-ceiling glass barriers in excess of 15 metres long, as the hospital has been reconfiguring its emergency room space.

Weve been in the hospital every few days putting in different screens and changing pathways for doors so people cant just walk down a hall, said Valenti.

As president of three companies engaged in roofing, siding, and exterior building work, hes managed to keep 90 per cent of his employees busy on essential service sites with a slate of Ontario Provincial Police detachment work and for the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission.

On the glass and metal fabricating side, his 22 employees have been active both in the shop and in the field, cutting and installing plastic screens for themselves and other contractors.

We used to sit on a skid of 25 (sheets of plastic) for two months and were going through 50 sheets a week, he said.

Valenti suspects protective screens could develop into a new business line in the years ahead.

I think its going to change the way people work and the way they operate.

The clients that we work for have been taking the long-term approach. Its not something theyve just thrown up to get by;its some thought-out planning to prepare for now and in the future.

Thats something Wells-McNeil has strongly considered.

The plexiglass is not going anywhere. Its the new norm now, for sure, she said, as part of their in-house health and safety procedures to manage client flow in the office and wearing personal protective equipment for pulmonary tests.

Wells-McNeil views this time as a teaching moment for businesses to be more mindful of infections, diseases and other viruses and being more proactive in preventing their spread.

Im hoping we can get to one day, a year from now, to where we can shake hands again, where the scare is not there anymore. But I do feel that some of these changes are definitely going to be permanent, and I think theyre going to be good changes.

See the article here:
Busy glass installers providing that extra barrier of safety - Northern Ontario Business

Dublin, April 17, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Industrial Adhesive Market - Global Outlook and Forecast 2020-2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Changing construction practices and the increasing use of innovative building materials are key factors, which are likely to increase the demand for epoxy adhesives and its related formulations. Epoxy resins are known for their durable adhesive nature. They resist extreme climate conditions or chemical spills, thereby making them ideal products with strong withstanding pressure. Epoxy resins are durable and can be used with various materials such as wood, metal, glass, or tiles. While epoxy adhesives are key raw materials for interior works in both household and commercial construction, the growth of the global furniture market, which hit around $554 billion in 2019, is expected to boost the industrial adhesive market.

The following factors are likely to contribute to the growth of the industrial adhesive market during the forecast period:

Key Vendors

The study considers the present scenario of the industrial adhesive market and its market dynamics for the period 20192025. It covers a detailed overview of several market growth enablers, restraints, and trends. The study offers both the demand and supply aspects of the market. It profiles and examines leading companies and other prominent companies operating in the market.

This research report includes a detailed segmentation by technology, product, end-users, and geography. APAC is leading the industrial water-based adhesives market, followed by North America and Europe. Their demand is increasing from automotive & transportation, building & construction, paper & packaging, labels, woodworking, and other application segments. The growing awareness of the green economy is likely to create more opportunities for water-based industrial products. Although the market is growing, the limited usage in high-end applications is inhibiting growth.

The acrylic segment is expected to have high demand across several industries. The cost-efficiency of acrylic adhesives and high growth in APAC is expected to drive the segment growth. Acrylic ones have replaced epoxy adhesives on account of their high strength and remarkable toughness. Factors such as cost-effectiveness and high resistance are the driving factor for their usage in the manufacturing and fabricating industry.

The increasing usage of structural adhesives is boosting the demand for epoxy across the world. Epoxy has a wide number of applications and acts as a major revenue generator in the industrial adhesive market. Epoxy is most commonly used in aerospace, automotive, building and construction, and semiconductor industries. China, South Korea, and Japan are the largest epoxy markets because of the growth of aerospace and semiconductor industries in the APAC region.

The increasing demand for industrial adhesives in the construction segment is directly proportional to the growth of the building and construction sector. They are used in several tasks in the construction market, including repair and installation of acoustic ceiling panels, floor tiles, and continuous flooring installation. The construction industry is estimated to grow by 4% by 2023, driven by APAC and Latin America. Hence, the increase in the value of construction is expected to provide opportunities for the adhesive industry.

Regulatory pressures on the automotive industry are increasing across the world. The growth of the automotive industry in APAC, Latin America, and MEA until the last decade was uninhabited due to the lack of strong policies and regulations on emissions and other environmental impacts. However, with globalization, several foreign players are scaling up their operations and expanding their footprint in several countries to benefit from favorable FDI and other corporate-friendly policies. Europe and North America are facing increased competition from APAC-based vehicle manufacturers. However, the decrease in the demand for new vehicles in the last few years has reduced the growth of epoxy industrial adhesives.

Furniture adhesives are used for waterproofing and improve the quality of doors and windows. The furniture industry is expected to grow by over 6% during the period 2018-2023. Rapid urbanization and an increase in disposable incomes are the factors that boost the furniture market in the APAC region. Adhesive technologies used in woodworking are generally EVA and PU hot-melts, and dispersions.

Story continues

Key Market Insights

Key Topics Covered:

1 Research Methodology

2 Research Objectives

3 Research Process

4 Scope & Coverage4.1 Market Definition4.1.1 Inclusions4.1.2 Exclusions4.2 Base Year4.3 Scope of The Study4.3.1 Market Segmentation by Geography

5 Report Assumptions & Caveats5.1 Key Caveats5.2 Currency Conversion5.3 Market Derivation

6 Market at a Glance

7 Introduction7.1 Overview7.2 Raw Material Insights7.3 Key Insights7.4 Impact Of Covid-197.4.1 Macro-Outlook

8 Market Opportunities & Trends8.1 Use Of Epoxy In Construction Industry8.2 High Demand For Smart Vehicles8.3 Lightweight Packaging

9 Market Growth Enablers9.1 Increasing Demand From Construction9.2 Consistent Demand In Packaging Industry

10 Market Restraints10.1 Decelerating Sales In Automotive Industry10.2 End-User Variability

11 Market Landscape11.1 Market Overview11.1.1 Key Insights11.2 Market Size & Forecast11.3 Five Forces Analysis11.3.1 Threat of New Entrants11.3.2 Bargaining Power of Suppliers11.3.3 Bargaining Power of Buyers11.3.4 Threat of Substitutes11.3.5 Competitive Rivalry

12 Adhesive Technology12.1 Market Snapshot & Growth Engine12.2 Market Overview12.3 Waterborne12.3.1 Market Overview12.3.2 Packaging Industry12.3.3 Market Size & Forecast12.4 Solvent-Based12.4.1 Market Overview12.4.2 Wooden Furnitures12.4.3 Other Consumer Goods12.4.4 Market Size & Forecast12.5 Hotmelt12.5.1 Market Overview12.5.2 Packaging industry12.5.3 Construction Industry12.5.4 Electronics Industry12.5.5 Market Size & Forecast12.6 Others12.6.1 Market Overview12.6.2 Thermoset Adhesives12.6.3 UV Curing Adhesives12.6.4 Market Size & Forecast

13 Product13.1 Market Snapshot & Growth Engine13.2 Market Overview13.3 Acrylic13.3.1 Market Overview13.3.2 Market Size & Forecast13.4 PVA13.4.1 Market Overview13.4.2 Market Size & Forecast13.5 PU13.5.1 Market Overview13.5.2 Market Size & Forecast13.6 Styrenic Block13.6.1 Market Overview13.6.2 Market Size & Forecast13.7 EPOXY13.7.1 Market Overview13.7.2 Market Size & Forecast13.8 EVA13.8.1 Market Overview13.8.2 Market Size & Forecast13.9 OTHERS13.9.1 Market Overview13.9.2 Market Size & Forecast

14 End-User14.1 Market Snapshot & Growth Engine14.2 Market Overview14.3 Packaging14.3.1 Market Overview14.3.2 Pressure Sensitive Labeling14.3.3 Market Size & Forecast14.4 Construction14.4.1 Market Overview14.4.2 Market Size & Forecast14.5 Automotive14.5.1 Market Overview14.5.2 Market Size & Forecast14.6 Woodwork Industry14.6.1 Market Overview14.6.2 Market Size & Forecast14.7 Others14.7.1 Market Overview14.7.2 Market Size & Forecast

15 Geography15.1 Market Snapshot & Growth Engine15.2 Geographic Overview

16 APAC

17 Europe

18 North America

19 Latin America

20 Middle East and Africa

21 Competitive Landscape21.1 Competition Overview

22 Key Company Profiles

23 Other Prominent Vendors

24 Report Summary24.1 Key Takeaways24.2 Strategic Recommendations

25 Quantitative Summary

26 Appendix26.1 Abbreviations

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/krgkie

Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.

CONTACT: ResearchAndMarkets.comLaura Wood, Senior Press Managerpress@researchandmarkets.comFor E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900

View original post here:
Global Industrial Adhesive Market - Outlook and Forecast to 2025 - Yahoo Finance

Video of the courthouse constructionprovided by reader Walt Shelley.

County of Humboldt press release:

Heavy equipment will be used early on Sunday morning to install two new air handler units on top of the Humboldt County Courthouse and the public is advised to stay out of the area until construction is complete, expected to be later in the day.

The air handler installation is part of a larger project to remodel the fifth floor of the building and move the District Attorney-Victim Witness Program to the top floor.

The courthouse is scheduled to be vacated by 6:30 a.m. and movement of heavy equipment will begin shortly thereafter. Streets around the courthouse will be blocked until roughly 8 a.m. California Highway Patrol will block 4th and 5th streets, and Humboldt County Public Works will barricade 3rd and 6th Street, and I Street.

The public is advised to stay out of the area until construction is complete to ensure proper social distancing in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Video and photo provided by First District Supervisor Rex Bohn.

Go here to read the rest:
(VIDEO) That Low-Flying Helicopter is Helping With Construction at the Humboldt County Courthouse - Lost Coast Outpost

The global impact of Covid-19 has made clear to everyone the importance of scientific research for peoples health and wellness. It is now clear that it is essential for scientists and researchers to have advanced laboratories, spaces and technologies at their disposal where they can work safely and respond to the challenges of the future. This is the context in which the results of the international design contest held by Fondazione Human Technopole and Arexpo were presented recently in Milan for construction of the new Human Technopole Campus, an Italian life sciences research institute to be located in the heart of Milans MIND Milano Innovation District on the former Expo site.The main headquarters and heart of the Human Technopole Campus will be designed by Italian studio Piuarch, founded by architects Francesco Fresa, Germn Fuenmayor, Gino Garbellini and Monica Tricario.

The new Human Technopole Campus will cover about 55,000 square metres and include buildings already present on the former Expo site in Milan, such as Palazzo Italia, the iconic building designed by architects Michele Mol and Susanna Tradati of Nemesi&Partners for Expo Milano 2015, the Northern Pavilion and the Southern Pavilion. The entire campus is designed to maintain continuity with the spaces around the Decumano and the Cardo, keys to the layout of Expo 2015, preserving their visual relationship with Palazzo Italia. The new building will be the principal centre of scientific work on the campus, ten floors high with 35,000 square metres of floor space, including over 16,500 square metres dedicated exclusively to laboratories for scientific research and 3,000 square metres of terraces and green roofs. It will consist of two functional, adaptable volumes arranged around a central space referred to as common ground which will form the heart of the entire construction, not only due to its spatial position in the building but for its important function as a centre of distribution leading to laboratories and offices in the two main volumes. On the ground floor, the common ground will be partly open and partly glassed-in, rising all the way up to the roof to create a space flooded with natural light, with walkways and ramps connecting different levels in the building.The first to ninth floors will contain administrative offices and research centres, with biochemistry and molecular biology laboratories, advanced scientific instruments and workstations for researchers. The tenth and last floor will contain common areas such as a dining room, public meeting rooms and classrooms for hosting events and educational activities, as well as management offices and terraces providing access to the green roof that is the buildings most iconic element. With assymmetric gables and a series of south-facing green terraces, the green roof offers a number of benefits: the presence of greenery and of a photovoltaic installation, proper management of rainwater, and panoramic views over the city of Milan that allow the building to establish an uninterrupted visual dialogue with the city.

(Agnese Bifulco)

Images courtesy of Piuarch

Winner: PiuarchFounding partners: Francesco Fresa, Germn Fuenmayor, Gino Garbellini and Monica TricarioProject: Human Technopole HeadquartersLocation: Milano Innovation District MIND - Milano Italy

Numbers areas, height, division by functionTotal new building area: 35,000 sq.m.Laboratories and support areas 16,500 sq.m.Offices 5,800 sq.m.Common areas, distribution and services 6,700 sq.m.Canteen and cafeteria 1,000 sq.m.Technical rooms, storage and parking 5,000 sq.m.Terraces and greenery covered areas: 3,000 sq.m.

Architectural Design: PiuarchStructural Design: 3TI ItaliaSystems Design: SeingimInfrastructure Design: J+SUrban Design: ArchimiMedical Labs Consultant: Massimo Acerboni, engineerLandscape Design Consultant: Cornelius Gavril

Read more from the original source:
Piuarch's Human Technopole Campus research building on the former Expo site in Milan - Floornature.com

Big things come in small packages, and that saying extends to your bathroom. You may not have a lot of square footage in this room, but that doesnt mean it has to look like a broom closet. There are many ways to make it as stylish, inviting, and relaxing as much larger bathrooms.

The key is to select the right elements. Your bathroom accessories shouldnt look like you chose them solely because they were small or slim enough to fit (although you should avoid big, bulky items that take up too much visual space). Dont be afraid to incorporate some of the same elements you see in designer bathrooms. In fact, we rounded up three interior designers to provide tips on renovating and decorating your cozy bathroom with a list of small bathroom design ideas.

But first, these are the 15 best items to make a small bathroom look and feel bigger.

Excerpt from:
Small Bathroom Ideas: 15 Items to Make it Look BIGGER - Heavy.com

UNC followed up last weeks reveal with another video on Sunday that gave viewers a glimpse inside the buildings new Jumpman Experience Room, a collaboration between UNC and Jordan brand.

Thats pretty cool, Forty Nine Degrees Vice President Brad Hart said. Its a room that I think is going to catch a lot of eyes. Theres a lot of details in it with the shoes.

The room features a wall of nearly three dozen variations of Air Jordans and an illuminated seating area next to UNC and Jordan logos that appears to be a spot for future recruits to take pictures during their visits to Chapel Hill.

The football team tweeted a response from former North Carolina mens basketball star Michael Jordan once he was able to see the finished product.

The new Jumpman experience that was designed for the Tar Heels football team is a reminder of the rich tradition of the program that will serve to inspire players as they build the team into a championship contender, Jordan said in the tweet.

Although it only took about three months to design, produce and install the renovations which wrapped up in the final days of March, just before many of the COVID-19 preventive measures took effect the project has really been in the works for over a year now, ever since head coach Mack Brown made his return to Chapel Hill near the end of 2018.

Rick Steinbacher, a senior associate athletics director in charge of capital projects and facilities, worked with Brown and others at UNC since the coachs return to help identify a step-by-step process for what North Carolinas vision for the future branding of the team was.

Initially, after Brown rejoined the Tar Heels, the teams player lounge was touched up, and the following summer, the weight room and locker room were both renovated. The Kenan Football Centers upgrades were just the latest step in Browns process of bolstering the schools recruitment efforts.

Coach Brown was very clear: I want it to be cool. I want it to be modern. I want a high school student to come in and think its warm, welcoming and inviting, Steinbacher said.

And Hart knows from his experiences how much of a jolt a new facility like this can bring to a program.

It definitely has an impact, and we hear that from schools we work with all the time: Man, we showed our recruits, and they were blown away, Hart said.

Although Steinbacher didnt want to speculate on the cost of the renovations he, like many others across the country, is working from home and didnt have the exact numbers with him he was able to confirm that the project was funded by the Rams Club through donations in support of the football program.

As UNC continues to put together one of its strongest football recruiting classes ever for 2021, the upgrades to the Kenan Football Center will certainly serve as the latest round of ammunition in Browns arsenal to impress potential Tar Heels.

@McMastersJ

@DTHSports | sports@dailytarheel.com

Go here to see the original:
'I want it to be cool': UNC previews renovations to Kenan Football Center - The Daily Tar Heel

A highly efficient vibration isolation solution was provided for a major luxury high-rise project in Manhattan, New York City to prevent vibrations from a train tunnel under the property.

The Rushmore Building on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, is a 41-storey luxury condo complex developed by real estate developer Extell as part of New York Citys largest construction project in the last 50 years. The overall project consists of 18 high-rise buildings and 7.9 million square metres of floor space.

The construction of the Rushmore presented a massive challenge as the two-towered high-rise was to be constructed directly over an AMTRAK railway tunnel. The tunnel consists of two railway lines carrying 25-ton axle loads and a planned future metro line, leading to concerns about rail-generated vibrations.

In addition to mounting a two-tower high-rise complex above a train tunnel, key challenges also included decoupling individual floors from vibrations, and meeting compliance requirements for ceiling height with smaller distance between the floors.

A developer and manufacturer of materials for vibration mitigation and isolation, Getzner Werkstoffe GmbH is also an experienced consultant in construction engineering issues related to vibration and isolation. Thanks to Getzners technical expertise in vibration isolation, the end result is a smart system using elastic materials, which ensure high levels of cost effectiveness, noise protection and comfort.

Getzner Werkstoffe worked with their North American partner Soundown Corporation during the 2007-2008 implementation period to develop and successfully install a suitable vibration isolation solution.

Polyurethane mats for highly efficient vibration isolation

Getzner Werkstoffe developed a completely new method for the elastic mounting of the skyscrapers. All the individual floors of the 41-storey building are elastically mounted with two storeys completely decoupled in terms of vibrations, similar to drawers that can be removed. The ground floor and mezzanine level are mounted on 9cm polyurethane Sylomer blocks, with neither of the two floors connected with the building in a fixed manner.

Sylomer mats were also used on the sides of the loadbearing columns to protect against the influence of wind. Working with the architects and structural engineers, Getzner prepared detailed load distribution plans, with loads on each of the 350 bearing points precisely determined. The ground floor was constructed using support beams with the isolation recessed in the ceiling of the first floor. The new construction method with T-beams helped minimise the built-up height.

Feedback from the general contractor

Our project team was very impressed with the cooperation with Getzner and Soundown during the course of the planning and coordination. Both firms were extremely flexible and proactive in getting all participants involved in the project and coordinating the work together.

Thanks to this approach, it was possible to devise an isolation system for the building, which is successfully integrated into the structure itself. Installation on-site went very smoothly and quickly, without interruptions. If vibration isolation is what you need, I would not hesitate to recommend Getzner, Soundown and Sylomer products, says David Ridoutt, Project Manager.

Visit link:
Vibration isolation successfully provided for luxury high-rise complex in Manhattan - Architecture and Design

Spring is a wonderful time to be an outdoors person, but Spring also has brings times that make heading out to fish, hunt or hike not as much fun. Then throw in the confinement that many of us are feeling due to the Covid-19 virus, and you may be experiencing a little cabin fever. If thats the case, then here are a couple of activities that might help you get through, until the weather is a little better.

Put up a Martin house

Purple Martins are the only bird species in the eastern half of North America entirely dependent upon human-supplied nesting cavities for reproduction. It can be a challenge to establish a Purple Martin colony, but once a colony is established the tiny swooping acrobats will provide joy and insect relief for the new landlords.

If you are new to the purple martin game, then the suggestions below will help you succeed.

Educate yourself Learn everything you can about Purple Martins. Talk with other martin landlords and visit the web site (www.purplemartin.org) of the Purple Martin Conservation Association, an international nonprofit organization dedicated to aiding Purple Martins through landlord education and scientific research. Read the book: Enjoying Purple Martins More by Richard Wolinski and/or the Stokes Purple Martin Book, by Donald & Lillian Stokes.

If you want more information, then join the PMCA and receive the informative Purple Martin Update magazine.

Choose the right location Martins have very specific space requirements. One of the main reasons people fail to attract martins is that they place their martin housing incorrectly.

Martin housing should be in the center of the largest open spot available, about 30-120 feet from human housing. Place the housing where you can see it so you can enjoy watching and hearing the martins.

There should be no trees within 40 feet, preferably 60 feet, of the housing. In the southern half of their breeding range, martins are less fussy about house placement, so sometimes housing can be within 25 feet of trees and still attract martins. But the farther housing is placed from trees, the better. Housing height should be in the range of 10-17 feet. Dont attach wires to the house or pole, especially if they lead to trees, buildings, or the ground. Predators can use the wires to access the housing.

Put up manageable housing Your chances for success will be better if your housing is easy to manage. Choose a pole that telescopes, or is equipped with a winch or rope & pulley, and housing that has easy access to the compartments. Houses and gourds should be white, or a light color. White housing attracts martins best and reflects sunlight, keeping nestlings cooler.

Cavity floor dimensions should be at least 6 x 6, but larger cavities (7 x 12) are preferred by martins, and offer better protection from predators and rain. Unfortunately, larger compartments are also attractive to European Starlings, but a modification to the entrance hole will minimize starling problems. A round entrance hole of 2-1/8 is preferred by the martins, but they will use a range from 1-3/4 to 2-3/8. Make sure there is adequate ventilation and drainage in each nest cavity. Many houses can be improved if need be.

Add insulation to the attic, remodel interiors to offer double-size compartments, and add porch dividers to houses with shared porches. Dividers help keep males from claiming extra compartments, and can double occupancy rates. They also keep nestlings from wandering to other compartments where they can get lost and die, or steal food from younger nestlings, causing them to starve.

Open housing at the right time Adult martins are rarely attracted to new breeding sites they return to the sites where they bred previously. Typically, it is subadult martins (last years young) that colonize new sites, and they begin arriving about 4 weeks after the first adults in the northern third of the martins breeding range, 6 weeks after the adults in the middle of the range, and 8 weeks after the adults in the southern third. At uncolonized sites then, opening housing when the scouts are due decreases chances of attracting martins by giving

House Sparrows and starlings 4-8 weeks to claim the site before the subadult martins arrive.

To improve your chances, keep housing closed until its time for subadults to arrive (purplemartin.org offers migration-timing map for adult arrival).

At active sites, the first martins usually show up within a week or two of previous years arrival dates. The strategy at active colony sites is to have your housing ready, but keep it closed until some martins return. Martin migration is a drawn-out affair, with birds arriving for 8-12 weeks in the north, 16-20 weeks in the south. Martins can arrive and begin nesting up through the end of June, rangewide, so keep your housing ready; dont close it up, or let other birds use it.

Dont Close it Too Soon Dont close the entrances, or take the housing down, until late

August, as fledglings will be searching for next years breeding sites in late summer.

Increase Your Chances A few things can be done to make your site more attractive to Purple Martins. Offer a combination of houses and gourds. Play a dawnsong recording. Add a Purple Martin decoy or two. Place 1-2 of nesting material in the bottom of each compartment.

For information on the Purple Martin Conservation Association and receiving the quarterly Purple Martin Update magazine, visit the web site: http://www.purplemartin.org.

Build a Wood Duck Box While the weather has been hit or miss for fishing, turkey hunting or anything else outside. How about dusting off those saws, hammers and nails and building a nesting box for one of North Americas most beautiful sites, a pair of wood ducks, Aix sponsa, cruising a pond or flooded creek bottom.

Many consider the wood duck the most picturesque of waterfowl, with the incredible green and white iridescent plumage, orange eye and cackling muted squeal gave them away.

Maybe no other wildlife story is as successful as the return of the beautiful little duck. On the verge of extinct in the late 1800s, conservationists stepped in and limited hunting, but that didnt fix the decline.

Bottomland forests, critical feeding and nesting habitat for woodies, were disappearing and wood ducks, which utilize natural tree cavities for nest sites, didnt have suitable locations for nests. The wood duck population plummeted and wood ducks were considered rare in many parts of North America. By 1916, hunting of wood ducks was prohibited in 22 states and by 1918 wood duck hunting was closed nationwide with the passing of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The wood duck season remained closed for over 20 years (1918 1941).

In 1937, the U.S. Biological Survey (USFWS) tested the first wood duck boxes in Illinois. Wood ducks proved to be very adaptable, and over 50% of the boxes were used the first year. The success of those first 486 boxes prompted the expansion of wood duck boxes throughout North America. Nearly 75 years later, its estimated that wood duck boxes produce 100,000 150,000 additional wood ducks each year.

While you are waiting for the rain to stop, or your favorite fishing lake to return to some more normal levels, head to the wood shop and make a box or two. Its easy, fun and if you are lucky enough to get a family of woodies to move in, you have just helped to make sure this delightful duck has a place to bring up the next generation.

Waterfowl scientists with Delta Waterfowl recommend wooden boxes because they are less prone to extreme heat build-up that could endanger a hen or her eggs. This is especially important for folks in the southern U.S., where temperatures regularly exceed 90 F during the nesting season.

The cedar box, designed by Minnesota wood duck expert Don The Duckman Helmeke, has been found productive and safe for wood ducks throughout North America. You can use just about any type of wood to build your nest boxes, but cedar and cypress are more weather-resistant and will last longer. We also recommend installing a predator guard on each wood duck box post. Boxes are more beneficial to wood duck populations if they improve nest success over natural cavities. Cone-style predator guards are very effective at reducing mammalian predation, especially when you install your boxes on land.

Here are a few wood duck box basics when picking a location for your wood duck box(es). First, there must be adequate wetland habitat nearby for the hen and her ducklings. Though wood ducks may nest a mile or more from water, ducklings are more likely to survive if overland travel is minimized. Also make sure there are clear flight lines to the box opening and an easy path to the water. If youre installing multiple boxes, try not to install them within sight of another box.

Perhaps most important is selecting a site that can be easily accessed for annual maintenance. Annual maintenance (i.e., clean out and replace wood chips) is critical if you want to ensure your wood duck boxes are consistently productive. If boxes are hard to access, boxes often become neglected and use by wood ducks will decline. We recommend performing maintenance in late winter, just before wood ducks begin searching for nest sites. This date changes with latitude, as boxes in the southern U.S. should be maintained by late January. In northern states, the first wood ducks usually return around mid March.

Once you find the right location, a wood duck box can be mounted on a variety of surfaces including trees, posts, and the side of your house or barn. Though it seems natural to install them on trees, the safest location is on a wood or steel post with a cone-style predator guard.

Nest boxes can be installed on land or in water. On land, a shoreline installation is fine, but not necessary. Wood ducks have been known to use tree cavities and nest boxes up to a mile away from water. Land-based boxes can be monitored on a walk-up basis, do not require boats or waders, and eliminate worries about varying water levels and bending of poles from ice-out conditions in the north.

A hen wood duck usually lays one egg per day until her clutch is complete. The normal incubation period for a wood duck is usually 29 -30 days. Once some of the ducklings hatched- the entire brood will leave the following morning. This is called Jump Day and is one of the most interesting sites in the wild kingdom. Urged on by mother ducks calling the baby ducklings take the leap of faith and tumble to the water or ground below. After all of the ducklings are out, mom leads them to water, where they will spend the rest of their childhood.

Apply for a Controlled Hunt The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservations popular controlled hunts program is open to online applicants now.

The controlled hunts program offers once-in-a-lifetime elk and antelope hunts, highly sought-after buck hunts, and a range of other quality deer and turkey hunting opportunities through randomized drawings that only cost sportsmen $5 to enter. Opportunities offered through the program include hunts on Department or other government-owned or managed lands where unrestricted hunting would pose safety concerns or where overharvest might occur.

The online application process takes just a few minutes and must be completed through the Wildlife Departments website at wildlifedepartment.com. Applicants have until May 20 to submit their applications.

You just cant beat $5 for a chance at an Oklahoma big game or gobbler hunt in the unique areas offered through this program, said Wade Free, assistant director of operations for the Wildlife Department. Whether you want to hunt a bull elk in the Wichita Mountains, an antelope in the Panhandle or a trophy buck at locations across the state like the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant, the controlled hunts program is one of the best things going in Oklahoma hunting.

All applicants, including lifetime license holders, must pay the $5 application fee to enter the controlled hunts drawings. The fee is paid only once per person per year regardless of the number of categories entered.

Applications are offered online through a secure process that only accepts applications once they have been filed correctly, and a print-out confirmation page is available for sportsmen to document their submitted application.

Log on to http://www.wildlifedepartment.com and follow the Controlled Hunts link for complete application instructions, including tips on enhancing chances of being selected as well as a full listing of available hunts for elk, deer, antelope and turkey.

Read the rest here:
Conservation Activities for those with Cabin Fever | Sports | swoknews.com - The Lawton Constitution

Public Bathrooms for Children: Design Tips and Inspiration

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Whatsapp

Mail

Or

+ 14

We often use the term accessibility when designing spaces for the elderly or for people with special needs. However, to guarantee effective universal design for children, it is necessary to understand and cater to their specific needs as well, especially through ergonomics, safety, lighting, colors, and some particular accessories. In this article, we will cover the most important parameters to consider when choosing dimensions and materials in public bathrooms for young children.

When it comes to a residential renovation,onlysmall adaptations are necessary for children to have the autonomy to use the toilet and sink safely. A stool and a toilet seat cover,attached to the toilet bowl, are effective short-term interventions. In the case of public bathroom projects in schools, parks, gyms, or family areas in shopping centers, for example, there are other important points to consider.

Everycountry has unique rules and instructions regarding safety elements and dimensions to use fordifferent types of construction. For illustrative purposes, we will use toilets for school children in Brazil as an example. Among other technical specifications, the following are recommended:

One of the most important elements toensure safety is the floor, whichmust be non-slip and waterproof. All the coatings must be easy to clean and maintain, even on partition walls thatare only 1.50 meters in height. For the safety of the children, it is essential to check the edge of the floor (especially near the sink area) to eliminate water accumulation. Dimensioning the number of drains correctlycontributes heavily to this end.

As with any type of building at any scale, good lighting is essential. It can contribute to a feeling of security and well-being, two very importantemotions for strengthening children's self-esteem in such an important periodin the formation of their personality.

A reference value for bathrooms, recommended by MEC Brazil, is to make the area of the window at least 1/8 of the total floor area. This formula can also be applied to the natural ventilation of the environment.

Generally, go for bulbs that are cold and intense. Diffuse lighting is the most effective method for ensuring the same level of lighting and comfort at any time of the day (or night). Including enough lightbulbs to light every stall is another key consideration in designing children's bathrooms. Check out some tips for lighting indoor spaces for kids here.

In nurseries,where there is usually a mixture of ages,designers might consider installing sinks at different levels, adapting them to the different heights of the children who will use them.

The sink surface should be installed approximately 40 centimeters from the floor. Additionally, the shape of the faucetis a primary consideration, as the faucet handle or lever must be easy to use forchildren whose motor coordination is not yet fully developed. Designers may even avoid water temperature adjustment systems so as not to add additional difficulty in this phase of learning self-care.

In children's bathrooms, whether unisex or divided by gender, toilet and urinal cups should be installed according to the guidelines of each provider, but always keeping in mind that the average height of a 3-year-old is approximately 95 centimeters.

There are three types of users in children's restrooms: infants, toddlers, and older children. Each one has different needs since they are in very specific periods of development.

For children with special needs, specific toilets and showers should be offered, as well as a bath chair and a sink. The space must be dimensioned so that it is comfortable for the child and their caregivers.

Ideally, bathrooms should be a calm and relaxing environment, especially those with areas for bathing. If your project aims to convey this kind of feeling, you should try to use primarily light colors. If, on the other hand,your design seeks a stimulating environment, it is possible to innovate and take advantage of the many possibilities for colors and shapes offered by cladding for wet areas.

It is important to emphasize once again that we have used illustrative benchmarks in this article. Whenever you design equipment for collective use (children or not), we recommend consulting the specific manuals for each country and type of project.

See also an article on designing safe bathrooms for the elderly.

References

View post:
Public Bathrooms for Children: Design Tips and Inspiration - ArchDaily