Phone Apps for Construction
Design and Construction Books
Construction Magazines
Ned's Favorite Books
Misc Stuff to Buy
Gift Ideas
Phone Apps for Construction.
Current apps available are:
Steel Shape: Hot Rolled Steel Shape Dimensions and Attributes
Wood Beam: Design Simple Wood Beams
Steel Beam: Design Simple Steel Beams
Conv Units: Unit Conversion for Common Construction Quantities
In Development:
ADA Code: Accessibility and ADA
Code Help for IBC 2009
Strategy: Use Personality Profiles to
Better Communicate
Design and Construction Books:
2006 International Codes on CD ROM - Complete Collection (PDF)
. Most
construction people never really learn about codes, they just rely on
the kindness of strangers (code officials, architects, project managers,
etc). While learning to read code language doesn't come easily, I
recommend you give it a try. The codes are expensive, so maybe your
company will buy these for you. By the way, typically the most current
version is adopted by the governing body, so you can rarely buy the
appropriate code books used. Make sure you know the governing code in
the area you work before you start on this adventure.
National Electrical Code 2005 Handbook Spiral Edition (NFPA 70)
- If you work in an area where the 2005 NEC is the controlling
electrical code, like it is for me, you really should have access to a
copy. It's not simple to understand, but over time more and more can
become clear.
The
2007 Means Building Construction Cost Data: Western Edition (Building Construction Cost Data Western Edition)
book gives great
information about levels of production and costs for many tasks on the
jobsite. The current year books are expensive, so you may want to get a
version from a few years ago. The labor rates will have changed, but the
type of crew and the unit production for the task will likely stay about
the same. We don't get that much faster from year to year, do we? It's
really valuable to review this book as you consider how quickly work
will get done on the jobsite and how many people should be onsite to be
staying on schedule.
Architectural Graphic Standards
by the American Institute of
Architects provides all kinds of design information and details that are
handy to check. Many times I've found myself checking this book when I'm
trying to build something I haven't worked with before. The price of the
book is high, so you may want to pick up a used version. It's a good
reference to have on your shelf.
Land Development Handbook (Handbook)
shows an incredible amount of information
for all aspects of site work. The focus is on the design of site work
systems, but gaining the insight on how and why things were designed can
be helpful. Again, the book is expensive, so you may want to purchase a
used copy.
Metal Building Systems: Design and Specifications
, Newman, a good book to help you
understand all aspects of pre-engineered building systems. If you work
with this type of buildings, you will learn a great deal from reviewing
this book. Again, it's an expensive book, so you may want to pick up a
used copy.
The Art of Construction: Projects and Principles for Beginning Engineers and Architects (A Ziggurat Book)
by
Mario Salvadori does a fantastic job of clearly explaining the basic
physical concepts of how buildings work. If you struggle to see
structural concepts, this book shows you how to build simple models that
clearly illustrate the theories.
2005 ASHRAE HANDBOOK : Fundamentals : Inch-Pound Edition (2005 ASHRAE HANDBOOK : Fundamentals : I-P Edition)
provides theory and practical
technical information. If you want a much deeper understanding of HVAC
systems, you may want to pick up copies of this on the other three
ASHRAE handbooks. Since these handbooks are updated every four years,
used copies are available at great discounts.
Noise Control Manual for Residential Buildings (Builder's Guide)
by David Harris, if you build multi-family
residential projects, this book provides great tips and a general
understanding of noise transfer between units and how to avoid it. Since
most occupant complaints in multi-family housing units concern noise
from neighbors, an understanding of the subject will help you. So many
of the tips found in the book have to do with construction field
details, things a Construction Supervisor could probably do several
different ways without anyone really paying attention, but one of those
ways will greatly reduce noise transfer. So I highly recommend this book
if you work in multi-family projects.
Construction Magazines:
Engineering News Record seems to be the top commercial and industrial
construction magazine. The emphasis tends toward executives and owners
of construction companies, but lots of valuable information gets
delivered in each issue. You may be able to read copies that your
company receives, to see if you like it.
Most magazines in the construction field are free. I suppose the
advertisers really want to hit a targeted audience, so they send the
free magazines to anyone interested in reading them. A great site to see
all the free construction magazines is
TradePub.com.
I encourage you to sign up for a couple of the free magazines and look
over them.
Engineered Systems usually impresses me each month with practical
insights on HVAC systems. By reading it, I keep abreast issues about
HVAC that I'd otherwise know nothing about. I've learned that by knowing
a bit more about HVAC than most people, my customers get a better vaule.
Plumbing and Mechanical and
PM Engineer both focus on the plumbing
and HVAC trades. The practical information helps me better understand
what's going on with my projects. As I've noted elsewhere, most general
construction supervisors and managers know little about Mechanical,
Electrical and Plumbing...see this as an opportunity.
There are lots of other good magazines at
TradePub.com,
so look around and sign up for what interests you.
Ned's Favorite Books:
Bonhoffer, Dietrich.
The Cost of Discipleship
. New York: Collier Books, 1959. Martyred as
a spy against Hitler, Bonhoffer examines faith and grace in this book.
Borowski, Tadeusz.
This Way for the Gas, Ladies and Gentlemen (Penguin Classics)
. New York: Penguin Books,
1967. Compelling short stories written about life inside the camps of
the Holocaust.
Chapman, Gary. The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate
.
Chicago: Northfield Publishers, 1992. A presentation of the five love
languages with many examples and illustrations.
Covey, Steven. Seven Habits of Highly Effective People: Restoring the Character Ethic
.
New York: Simon and Schuster, 1989. A bestseller that has helped
millions to be more effective.
Dickens, Charles.
David Copperfield (Penguin Classics)
. Several editions available. Sometimes called the
best novel ever written in English, David Copperfield prods us to
see life from other points of view.
Dobson, James. The New Dare to Discipline
. Colorado Springs, CO: Focus on the Family,
1992. The best book I’ve found for the tough job of raising children.
Dolgun, Alexander.
Alexander Dolgun's story: An American in the Gulag
. New York: Alfred
A. Knopf, 1975. A sobering tale of how one’s life can change quickly,
from carefree to torture victim to a labor camp worker.
Dostoevsky, Fyodor.
The Idiot
. Several translations available. A great novel that makes
you think and feel deeply.
Foster, Richard.
Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth
.
San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1988. A challenging book that discusses
the specifics of relating to God.
Frankl, Victor.
Man's Search for Meaning
. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1959.
Frankl’s remembrances from Auschwitz and his approach to psychotherapy.
Should be required reading.
Lamott, Anne.
Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith
. New York: Pantheon Books,
1999. A book that will make you laugh out loud while challenging your
preconceived notions of how the world works.
Lewis, C.S. Mere Christianity
. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1943. Lewis examines the
concepts of God and Christianity in the clearest of terms.
Lewis, C.S. The Great Divorce
. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1946. A thoughtful and
non-traditional view of what may happen after we die.
Lewis, C.S. The Screwtape Letters
. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1942. One of the
most creative books ever written, it should be read by everyone.
Zondervan NIV Study Bible
.
Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1985. A great Study Bible, with notes and
commentary.
Peck, M. Scott. People of the Lie: The Hope for Healing Human Evil
. New York: Simon
and Schuster, 1983. Peck’s case studies of human evil illuminate and
fascinate. A brilliant book.
Peck, M. Scott. The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth
. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1978. A bestseller
that millions have used to think more deeply about their lives.
Peterson, Eugene.
The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language (New Testament with Psalms and Proverbs)
. Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 1993. A marvelous
paraphrasing of the New Testament which makes the stories come alive.
Solzhenitsen,
Alexander. One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovitch (Signet Classics)
. New York:
Signet Classic, 1998 reprint. Solzhenitsen chronicles one single day in
the Soviet labor camps.
Strobel, Lee. The Case for Christ
. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1998. Easy to read and
well-documented, anyone curious about Jesus will learn much from this
book.
Teresa, Mother. The Joy in Loving: A Guide to Daily Living
. New York: Penguin Books, 1996. A book of quotes that
challenges and inspires.
Tolstoy, Leo. Anna Karenina (Barnes & Noble Classics)
. Several translations available. One of the greatest novels
ever written. After reading it, I decided to marry Debby!
Zinsser, William. On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction
. Construction
Supervisors have to write sometimes. They distinguish themselves if they
write good English. This book explains the basics of clear, simple
writing in terms you will understand. I think everyone should read this
book.
Misc Stuff to Buy:
Vent and Drainage Slide Rule available from the American Society of
Plumbing Engineers helps you know the correct pipe and vent size for a
given number of drainage fixture units, how to determine how many
drainage fixture units are in the system, and how the drainage pipe
slope affects the capacity. If you do lots of plumbing work, this slide
rule will be handy.
Water Pipe Size Calculator available from the American Society of
Plumbing Engineers helps you know the correct pipe for various water
velocities, pressure losses, and water service fixture units. This 9"
circular slide rule can help you understand water flow much better.
The
Trane Ductulator helps you understand the flows in round and
rectangular ducts at various velocities and air volumes. Since ducts
often have to be resized to pass pipes and obstructions, I've found this
circular slide rule to be helpful to have a sense of what options may be
available. The Ductulator is a hand held rotating calculator.
Of course, all the items above can also be found on
Ebay, if you want to get even
better pricing.
Gift Ideas:
I found a site with the
Top Ten Gift Ideas for Construction Workers and thought it worth sharing here.
