Product Evaluation ACT 380 1

Objective O Emphasize the importance of proper product evaluation and selection O Develop insight into effective procedures, methods, and techniques in evaluating and selecting products 2

Major Topics O Establish the Requirements O Safety & Protection O Functional Characteristics O Material Compatibility O Codes, Standards, and References O Identify Products O Manufacturers O Code Requirements O Installation Requirements O Product Characteristics O Evaluate Products O Installation Requirements O Maintenance O Qualifications O Price O Warranty 3

Product Performance Requirements O Safety and Protection O Fire safety O Life Safety (other than fire) O Property Protection/Security O Accessibility 4

Functional Characteristics O Strength O Durability O Stain Resistance O Transmission Characteristics O Waste Products & Discharge O Operational Characteristics O Aesthetic Properties O Acoustic Properties O Illumination O Ventilation O Measurable Characteristics O Material Properties 5

Practical Characteristics O Interface Characteristics (compatibility with other materials) O Service O Replaceability O Personnel Needs 6

Example of Compatibility Issues O Copper flashing used on structure containing aluminum windows O When condensation drips from the copper flashing it will cause the aluminum window frame to corrode (galvanic series) 7

System Compatibility Issues O A 5 foot light fixture has been selected to be used with a suspended ceiling system O The ceiling suspension system and acoustical panels selected must be compatible with the light fixture 8

Cost O Material cost O Installation cost O Initial cost – material & installation O Life-Cycle cost/ Value engineering 9

Legal Requirement O Case Studies O Other Legal Studies O Failures O Errors & Omissions O Problems O Legislation 10

Codes, Standards, and References O Codes & Regulations O Standards O Testing, Inspection O Indexes O Directories O Symposia, Technical Meetings O Research and Development 11

Checklist Approach O Often a “checklist” approach is used to determine product requirements O Example problem: You are to select a floor covering for an assembly room in an electronics manufacturing plant. What are some of your considerations in selecting the proper product? 12

Possible Considerations O Fire Safety- Class A material, flame-spread rating 0-25 O Accessibility- wheelchair accessible O Strength- subject to loads from 2-wheel dollies (hand trucks) O Durability- no chemicals will be used in this room O Stain resistance- high degree of sanitation required (washed often- considerable amount of foot traffic) O Aesthetic properties- owners prefer light colors with low light-reflectivity O Material properties- static resistance of 2.5KV O Interface characteristics- compatibility of material to subsurface O Service – 10 year life minimum 13

Products Which May Be Suitable O Resilient tile flooring O Resilient sheet flooring O Resinous flooring 14

Identifying Products O A generic product that meets project conditions and satisfies criteria is selected initially (e.g., “high-pressure plastic laminate” and not “Formica”) 15

Resources for Identifying Products O Manufacturer’s product data O Sweet’s Catalog O Manufacturer’s representatives O Professional and Trade associations O Technical manuals O Trade shows 16

Evaluating Products O Once a few possible products have been identified, the A/E should evaluate each and select the most appropriate for the given project O Selection Criteria: O The top priority is whether the product meets code requirements O Next is the visual acceptability (are designs & colors satisfactory) O Does manufacturer recommend this product for the intended use O Does the product have limitations/advantages O What is the product performance history 17

Installation Requirements O Considerations: O Do installation requirements address this projects site conditions (weather, if portion of the site is occupied) O Is there any need for special skilled installers O How will damaged goods (during shipping or construction) be replaced O Will product fit through existing openings O Does the product emit any fumes or odors during installation 18

Cost O Installed cost is a key concern; although a product may not be costly, sometimes installation is very costly O Life-cycle cost is sometimes a more appropriate measure of value 19

Maintenance Requirements O Maintenance can add a large amount of money to the product selected O Sometimes details are OVERLOOKED that cause problems later (motor placed out of reach for maintaining, filters needing replacing- no access to them planned, is a special mechanic required to service equipment- often costly and time sensitive to locate and bring to the project site) 20