Juan, you must be using Zoom! I encountered that same challenge - trying to keep meetings under the 40-minute mark. It is a good motivator to be efficient!
On the topic of working remotely, as more and more firms make the decision to go remote (and, as more and more regions issue mandatory movement restrictions), it obviously puts burdens on networks and leads to new security challenges. Our firm utilizes a VPN, the functioning of which is dependent on the individual users' internet speeds and maintaining system security. As much as possible, we have been encouraged to pull local copies of files off our of server and work on them remotely via our desktop or local drives, and then upload files back to servers at the end of the day, to minimize the burden on our VPN. Obviously this works better for certain things (AutoCAD), and not as easily for others (shared Revit models). But it does help ease the burden on our network.
Our firm also just implemented 2-step authentication on its VPN and other cloud based / internet-based systems that employees need to use from home. We had a string of email hacks in the past 2 weeks, as predatory individuals and groups take advantage of everyone who is now working from home networks that are typically far less secure than commercial networks. If your firm hasn't done this already, I highly recommend that they investigate implementing multi-step authentication either internally or with their IT providers.
Lastly, many AHJ's are suspending in-person building inspections. A local municipality that we conduct a lot of work in (Kalamazoo, MI) recently
asked that design professionals (architects and engineers) start providing a version of their field reports to the city inspectors so that they may remotely issue their construction inspection approvals based on these reports. We don't assume to do construction inspections for the AHJ's; we conduct general construction observations to ensure that the construction work complies with the intent of the CD's.
This request, therefore, is a huge liability concern for us. But these are unprecedented times.
It is important that firms do what they can to help keep construction projects moving forward. Over the past few days, our firm leaders have been working with our insurance carrier and their attorney to develop documents that (hopefully) strike a balance between providing inspectors what they request to conduct their project inspections remotely, while still assuming excess liability. Below is the process we have developed so far. I would be interested to know if other firms have been asked to do this in their locales and what their approach has been.
- Contract Amendment: The owner must first sign an amendment to the contract, indemnifying the A/E from any additional liability. This simple one-page form notes that we will charge hourly for these additional site observations. I'm told that it is VERY important that we bill for this time separately from our base contract for liability reasons, NOT because it generates additional fee.
- Architect's Report: The A/E will use a modified version of a field report form when conducting site observations for the City. Lots of photos and videos are encouraged to be taken and attached to these reports.
- Contractor's Report: There will be a document that must be signed by the trade contractors, explaining that the Contractor is representing that the designated portion of the work has been constructed in accordance with the CD's. This serves the purpose to give them a level of responsibility for these approvals too.
Work with your insurance, legal team, clients, CM, and inspectors to best understand what type of inspections they do and what they may be looking for during this time. Your CM will know when each inspection is needed. Some common inspections are listed below:
- Footings – Looking for placement of rebar and anything that looks out of place.
- Foundations – Same as Footings.
- Framing – Studs that are structurally compromised, slip connections, bridging, verification studs and framing meet design.drawings. Floor penetrations fire caulked in stud walls. Anything that looks out of place. ADA clearances.
- Insulation – Correct R Value and Sufficient Coverage.
- Plumbing – Proper Air Tests Completed, Proper Venting, Proper Fittings and Connections, Proper protection from drywall screws, proper supports and blocking.
- Electrical - Open circuits, missing fittings, proper means and methods, uncompromised, conduit supported within 18" of box, check grounds in boxes, loose connectors, etc…
- Shafts – Fire Stop of Penetrations and at floors and ceilings. No Breeches in fire containment. Ductwork and Fittings tight, Insulation on ductwork, plumbing, etc….
- Overhead Inspections – Before Ceilings go in. Pretty much the same as above items.
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Shawn Cencer AIA
Project Architect
Diekema Hamann Architecture + Engineering
Kalamazoo MI
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-21-2020 00:22
From: Juan Martinez
Subject: Coronavirus
Same here. In our first week working from home, I managed to squeeze 18 virtual meetings. Worked hard to them under 40 minutes
Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone
Original Message------
Like many, my employer made the decision last week to close its 3 physical offices (2 in Michigan, 1 in Arizona). Monday was the first day of remote work for about 80 employees. Our primary sectors are medical, education, and federal government work. So it will be interesting to see if our current projects continue, or if they get shelved. Like many, we had a pretty good back log going into this (about 8 months out). Hopefully that doesn't completely evaporate.
I don't know how useful it may be for you, but I do know that there was a CACE discussion about components' response to Coronavirus on Tuesday. I did not listen in, but you might check out the recording that was posted of this webinar:
2020_0316 CACE Discussion: Components' Response to the Coronavirus
Related, there is another webinar today at 2:00pm (EDT) about how to encourage, promote, and provide online CES courses.There is no need to pre-register for this webinar. Just visit the virtual webinar space up to 15 minutes before the webinar start time, and you will be able to join the event from this page: aiaces.adobeconnect.com/newdiscovery/?proto=true
I'm guessing these are more component-based discussions, as opposed to specific firm discussions. But the two are inter-related.
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Shawn Cencer AIA
Project Architect
Diekema Hamann Architecture + Engineering
Kalamazoo MI
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