Hawaii is experiencing a building boom and with it comes
adventures. One such issue popped on my
radar this week with an almost completed residential skyscraper using a window
in an application that to me is downright scary. At the Ritz Carlton Residences on Waikiki
Beach, the windows go floor to ceiling, but they project out at the bottom
(floor level) at least 4 inches. (Window
opens out, not up) That may seem
harmless in print, but looking at it in reality it makes no sense at all. The opening is at the floor, and surely large
enough for almost anything to fall through it and be a dangerous projectile for
those on the ground. In fact at least
one cell phone has already fallen through.
But the bigger safety issue to me is the human factor. While a child or an adult can’t fall through
a 4” opening the fact that the window opens outward momentum from a human can
potentially push them right through.
Amazing this design meets code because there is a 3” lip at the floor in
front of the window. Because it meets code,
the city planners say their hands are tied.
Thankfully there’s now a push locally from home inspectors (props to
Wayne Blackburn of Inspector Homes for leading the charge) and others to get this
issue addressed. For me it’ a common
sense thing- I just can’t grasp why a designer would choose this style of
window for this application and why no one is thinking of the liability that
will certainly come. I am not a big
window guy, maybe this design is common, but I’ve never seen it in an
application like this. The Honolulu Star
Advertiser has a great story on it, but it’s behind a paywall so I can’t link
here. I’ll keep following the process,
as this structure is due to officially open in April.
UPDATE: Wayne Blackburn of Inspector Homes provided this picture to me so you can see exactly what I am talking about. Thank you Wayne!
UPDATE: Wayne Blackburn of Inspector Homes provided this picture to me so you can see exactly what I am talking about. Thank you Wayne!
Elsewhere…
-- Great news on an honor being bestowed on one of the best our
industry has. Julie Schimmelpenningh of
Eastman is receiving the Award of Merit from ASTM International. This is the highest award an individual can
get and it so deserved. The time,
effort, and care Julie puts into representing her company and our industry is
incredible. It is awesome she is being
recognized for those efforts!! Congrats
Julie!
-- One of the commercials during March Madness basketball was
for a business insurance company called CinFin, also known as Cincinnati
Financial. The commercial featured a
glass facility- looked like a fabricator actually. So who was it? Which company got featured? If it’s you don’t be shy and let me know… and
way to go on getting featured in the commercial… hopefully you got a break on
rates!
-- Really excited about the news on the expansion of GlassBuild
America. I really love that things are
progressing in our industry so well that the show can grow. The event this year is later than normal-
October 19-21 in Las Vegas, and it will be the perfect place and time to wind
down 2016 and budget, prep, and plan for 2017.
Can’t wait.
-- Last this week… would you hire a photographer for your
vacation as noted in this story. It’s
becoming a bit of trend where people are hiring professionals to documents
everything on their trips- the reason I find this at all interesting is in the
digital and smart phone era, picture taking has taken off, everyone thinks
they’re a pro now. I guess not
“everyone” is after all.
LINKS of the WEEK
THIS is an awesome story!
The first movie I ever saw in a theater was the original Willy
Wonka. Now it looks like the Chocolate
Factory is coming to life at Universal Studios.
VIDEO of the WEEK
My son has totally gotten me back into watching Saturday
Night Live (though I watch the next day.. I’m too old to stay up…lol) and it’s
been good. This past week Ariana Grande
was guest host and this performance, which I also believe she did on the Jimmy
Fallon show was great.
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