Proceedings of a Seminar on the Introductory Remarks James R. Wright' National Bureau of Standards, Introductory remarks were made by the author to the attendees of a seminar on the Key words: Accelerated testing; insulating glass units; standardized testing. Gentlemen: In welcoming you here to participate in the seminar on Durability of Insulating Glass, of which the National Bureau of Standards is privileged to be a co-sponsor with ASTM Committee E-6, the Building Research Institute, and the Construction Specifications Institute, I am much impressed that one type of product, among the hundreds that compose the fabric of a building, should receive such manifest attention and consideration, looking toward improved durability in service applications. That is not to say that many other products might not also benefit from similar attention; I point out simply that in the case of insulating glass units, a worthy and necessary step forward is being attempted here and now. I wish you success and effective action in this direction. The seminar program is designed to bring you contributions from architects, builders, and large users of insulating glass. The contributions are from: four sources primarily concerned with testing methods for evaluating units; four sources of similar interests as producers of units or component materials; and one source from a leading manufacturer of windows who is well aware of his dependence, and the dependence of his customers, on the quality of insulating glass units that he can incorporate in his finished product. These contributions will be made richer by those from highly respected laboratories of two other countries-from the Division of Building Research of the National Research Council of Canada, and from the Norwegian Building Research Institute. It is gratifying to have representatives from these organizations here, and we welcome them cordially. With the wide spectrum of information that will be put before you, we can be encouraged as to the prospects for useful action stemming from this seminar. Nevertheless, one must not expect automatic success. As I visualize it, yours is one of the more difficult of technological tasks to ascertain, on a sound and reliable basis, by means of accelerated laboratory tests, in as short a time as possible, the prospective durability in service of sealed insulating glass units. The goal, of course, is assured, satisfying performance for periods up to or beyond the expected life of a building. The fact that this seminar has been convened, and so well attended, attests that this goal has not been generally and adequately met at this point in time. Speaking now as Chief of the Building Research Division of the National Bureau of Standards, I can say that the Division has had considerable experience in accelerated tests to ascertain durability of building materials in service, and we know something of the problems, and the efforts needed to solve them. One instance that may be cited is a project undertaken to study the durability of asphalt roofing materials, accomplished by means of a research associateship sponsored by the Asphalt Roofing Industry Bureau, research programs sponsored by NBS, and related projects sponsored by other Federal agencies. We have learned much from this combined research effort, and have replaced tests requiring months to produce qualitative data with tests that yield quantitative results in a few hours. The Materials Durability Section of the Building Research Division conducts studies on the durability of plastics, organic coatings, polymeric coatings, metals, and inorganic building materials. However, time does not permit more than a mention of this fact. 1 Chief, Building Research Division. Out of this experience, I would suggest to you that a concerted effort by your industry, however or whenever launched, would be the most promising course of action. It is interesting that the program of certification established by Sealed Insulating Glass Manufacturing Association could be a nucleus for such an undertaking, provided that developmental or evolutionary research was given ample support. In closing these introductory remarks, I would like to mention an important practical matter that must be well appreciated among you. The cost of laboratory testing of one manufacturer's lines of sealed insulating units is at present quite considerable, and the testing capability required to test all manufacturers' products in a reasonable time does not exist at present. There is, therefore, an urgent need to develop standardized testing methods, and apparatus capable of standardized testing of large numbers of units, effectively, uniformly, quickly and at lowered costs. I would suggest to you that contributions in this direction, that might be accomplished through the action of this seminar, would well justify it, quite apart from the cooperative understanding and concerted effort that it is hoped the seminar will engender. Introductory Remarks Willis MacLeod American Society for Testing and Materials, Introductory remarks were made by the author to the attendees of a seminar on the Durability of Insulating Glass. The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) was a cosponsor of the seminar held at NBS on November 14-15, 1968. Key words: Insulating glass units, standards, uniform test methods. It is indeed a privilege to welcome you on behalf of the American Society for Testing and Materials which, along with the National Bureau of Standards, the Building Research Institute, and the Construction Specification Institute is a cosponsor of this Seminar on the developing technology in research and testing of insulating glass window units in building and housing construction. The American Society for Testing and Materials, organized in 1898 and incorporated in 1902, was formed for "the promotion of knowledge of the materials of engineering and the standardization of specifications and methods of testing." There are about 16,000 members in the Society and 100 main technical committees which develop standard methods of test and specifications for materials and products and recommend practices. The Index of ASTM Standards lists more than 4,000 standards and specifications covering the materials of engineering. These are developed under procedures representing a consensus of the producing, consumer, and general interest participant in the technical committee having jurisdiction for the standards. For this reason, a large majority of the present U.S.A. Standards was developed by ASTM. The Durability Task Group, Subcommittee VIII of ASTM Committee E-6 initiated the Seminar. Our distinguished Chairman of the Seminar Committee, Mr. McKinley, is a member of ASTM Committee E-6 on Methods of Testing Building Construction which originated and has spearheaded this project presenting to you a program of knowledgeable and competent authorities including our colleagues from Canadian and Norwegian Building Research on the subject of double glazed window unit durability. It is our expectation that these presentations and deliberations will lead to the development of uniform test methods for measuring in meaningful terms the serviceability and durability of insulated glass units in order to insure levels of serviceability commensurate with the several types of building construction in which they are used. ASTM is organized and stands ready to respond to any conclusions resulting from the Seminar. 1. Panel Discussion I Introduction of the First Panel Robert W. McKinley Thank you, Mr. MacLeod. Mr. MacLeod's realization of the need for this Seminar helped very much to get things launched and to obtain ASTM sponsorship. I hope that members of the Building Research Institute and of the Construction Specifications Institution will understand if we do not take time now to detail their help. We do appreciate their sponsorship. The program now is under way. You will find the qualifications of our first panel summarized in the biographical sketches that came in your registration packet. I call upon our first panel, the members of which are: Mr. Harold J. Rosen, Chief, Specifications Department, Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill, Architects and Engineers; Lynford K. Snell, Jr., Architect, Federal Housing Administration, Washington, D.C.; Willard Bryant, Assistant Director Technical Services, National Association of Home Builders, Washington, D.C. Our primary target during the seminar is an exchange of information and an understanding... and we're starting with the consumers, the users of insulating units, in order that we may understand what they believe their needs to be and what we may do to help them satisfy those needs. Mr. Rosen. 1.1. The Roles of Architects, Manufacturers, and H. J. Rosen1 Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, New York, New York 10022 Architects, manufacturers, and contractors can play distinct roles in the prevention of product failure. If each fulfills his own obligations as set forth in the AIA policy statement of a few years ago, he will be contributing to the life of the product. Another way to diminish the problem of failure would be for these three parties to join together in research for methods of preventing such failure. Key words: Design; installation; materials failure; production. 1. Introduction Mr. Chairman, for the next two days apparently you are going to hear a good deal in depth and in detail about the problems of insulating glass.. and I would think that although the program indicates that I am to talk about how one gets involved with additional cost as a result of a failure of insulating glass, that I can best address myself to the subject if I speak about the area of involvement of each of us-architects who design, manufacturers who produce, and contractors who install. I think if we all understood our relationship and our responsibility, we would have an area of agreement and perhaps in that way reduce the problem. 1 Chief, Specifications Department. Now, where does responsibility lie when materials failure occurs? It is with the architect who selects the material, the manufacturer who produces and furnishes it, or the contractor who installs it? Each of the parties has an obligation to the owner in selecting, furnishing, and installing the product. Too many times we think only in terms of a product failure involving the product itself because of certain inherent defects. We fail to recognize that product failure can also be attributed to a poor design on the part of the architect or improper installation on the part of a contractor. Who is responsible for fogging of insulating glass when it occurs after three or four years of service? Who is to be responsible for cracking of insulating glass after the one year guarantee runs out? Architects and engineers are prone to think that their judgment is infallible and that they can do no wrong. But they should also remember that a judicial decision in a court of law will be resolved on the pertinent facts of a particular case. Thus architects, manufacturers, and contractors fare no better or worse than anyone else when they enter into contractual relationships. We cannot resolve here today a hypothetical case of who is responsible for insulating glass that has "gone sour" for one reason or another. We can join in research for methods of preventing materials failures rather than try to fix responsibility after a failure occurs. 2. Architect's Role Now what is the architect's role in the selection of materials? When a man practices architectural engineering, he is expected to have an adequate knowledge of the science of design and construction and to exercise reasonable care, judgment, and technical skill to see that the design is properly executed and the work properly done. Court decisions have held that an architect is responsible for proper selection and application of materials, and for adequate research, and that reliance on advertising literature of the manufacturer or other respresentations of the manufacturer, do not necessarily protect the architect. About two or three years ago, the AIA issued what it calls a policy statement on building product development and uses, and it makes the following observations concerning the obligations of each of the parties: Now first, with respect to what the architect is obligated to do-He is expected to inform himself with respect to the properties of the products he specifies, though he is entitled to rely on manufacturers' written representations. He is advised to seek the technical opinion of the research or application engineering departments of the manufacturer when his intended use is not clearly included in the printed data of the manufacturer. He is further responsible for uses contrary to supplementary written information on proper use in installation procedures of the manufacturer. The architect's use of a product and its installation should extend to its compatibility with and relationship to adjacent materials and assemblies, notwithstanding the manufacturer's similar obligations. Now the AIA hasn't any guide rules on what to do when we are confronted with two major insulating glass manufacturers, each advocating a different method for installing insulating glass in a structural neoprene gasket. Perhaps if you want to ask me separately what I think about it, I'll give you that kind of information. 3. Manufacturer's Role Now how about the role of the manufacturer? The AIA in the same policy statement suggests that manufacturers be guided by the following rules: The manufacturer should supply the architect with all essential data concerning his product, including pertinent information which would involve its installation, use, and maintenance. Particularly important is information on the product's compatibility and interfitting with interrelated products, as well as precautions and specific warnings on where the products should not be used, based on conditions of known or anticipated failures. Whenever the manufacturer has specific knowledge of a new proper use of his product, he should furnish such information in writing to the architect. The manufacturer is expected to recognize that he is responsible for the failure of his product to perform in accordance with his written data supplied by him or his authorized representative, as well as for misrepresentations of such data. And, finally, the manufacturer is expected to investigate the relationship of his product to other components likely or logically expected to be used in association with his product. Such information should be available to the architect. 4. Contractor's Role Now, how about the contractor? A contractor's basic responsibility is to perform substantially according to the drawings and specifications set forth by the architect. A contractor who has, in fact, performed substantially and built the building accordingly, would be absolved from any legal responsibility. Now the AIA policy statement sums up the contractor's obligations as follows: It is the responsibility of the contractor to inform himself concerning the application of the product he uses and to follow the directions of the architect and manufacturer . . . and in the event of disagreement, between the contract documents and the manufacturer's directions, the contractor is expected to seek written instructions from the architect before proceeding with the installation. If the contractor has knowledge of, or reason to believe the likelihood of a failure, he is expected to transmit such information to the architect and ask for written instructions before proceeding with the work. This policy statement outlines the AIA's position. 5. Conclusion Today's sophisticated construction techniques and esoteric materials require knowledgeable persons on the staffs of architectural, manufacturing, and construction firms. These skilled people must be able to cope with the problems related to building products and their incorporation into complex designs. To reduce the problems the following do's and don'ts are suggested as a guide to selecting materials and reducing the possibility of a materials failure. Do be certain that the manufacturer knows how his material or equipment will be used. Don't use an unfamiliar material unless it is known to have been used successfully in installations similar to the proposal under review. Don't rely on a manufacturer's statements and claims as the only basis for using the material. |