Report called for waterproofing fix

ELLIOT LAKE – Before their purchase of the Algo Centre Mall, Elliot Lake Retirement Living was told a waterproofing membrane would be the best course of action in the battle against leakage, but didn’t implement the repairs.

Nicholls Yallowega Belanger Associates and Halsall Associates Limited (both Sudbury based engineering firms) submitted a building condition assessment of the mall for Retirement Living (ELRL) on Nov. 12, 1998.

ELRL purchased the mall for $4 million in February 1999.

In the report, two repair options for the mall’s leaky roof were proposed – costing approximately $2.9 and $2.1 million respectively.

The cheaper option suggested installing a waterproofing membrane over top of the concrete topping, while the more expensive recommendation called for the removal of the topping before application of a membrane.

Neither suggestion was implemented.

Albert Celli, an engineer with Halsall, testified at the Elliot Lake Inquiry on Friday that Algoma Central Properties’ method of patching the cracks as they happened could be an effective means of preventing damage.

If a pre-qualified contractor inspected the repairs, Celli believed the mall’s structural stability would have been protected.

“There are many elements to consider when performing those types of repairs,” he said. “A contractor would factor the role of the weather or temperature, for example, in the repair process.”

ELRL didn’t install a waterproofing membrane at any point during their ownership and it’s not known whether a pre-qualified contractor was on-site during repairs to the roof.

When Celli inspected the mall in 1998 he said the building was structurally sound.

Rusting of beams was limited to the surface and expansion joint cracks were being dealt with by the mall’s maintenance staff, he said.

While they provided repair options to ELRL, they did not warn of potential long-term damage if their recommendations were ignored.

“Given the state of the mall at the time of our inspection, speculation about future damage was not warranted,” he said.

Celli said the mall was not a public safety concern and the leaking didn’t cause danger when he reviewed the mall.

If Celli thought the mall posed any danger, he assured their report would have been submitted to the city.

Halsall signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with ELRL regarding their report, but Celli insisted it wouldn’t prevent matters of a safety concern from being reported.

“This (NDA) wouldn’t matter. It wouldn’t prevent me from speaking up.”

Use A Candle To Weatherproof Labels

When mailing a package, it’s important to make sure the shipping label is legible, even if it gets soaked in the rain. Luckily, all you need is a candle to cover it with a weatherproof barrier.

Once you’ve printed your label or written out the shipping address on the box, wait for the ink to dry then rub it with the soft bottom edge of a candle. This will create a thin wax layer over the ink, causing water to bead and run off of the label instead of soaking into it. This won’t protect your package from prolonged exposure to the elements, but it’ll keep the ink from running during an unexpected sprinkle.

Check out the source link for more creative uses for candles.

Simple Smart Housekeeping Tips: 5 Ways to Put Your Old Candles to Work [Apartment Therapy]

Use a Candle to Weatherproof Shipping Labels

Shep McAllister

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When mailing a package, it’s important to make sure the shipping label is legible, even if it gets soaked in the rain. Luckily, all you need is a candle to cover it with a weatherproof barrier.

Once you’ve printed your label or written out the shipping address on the box, wait for the ink to dry then rub it with the soft bottom edge of a candle. This will create a thin wax layer over the ink, causing water to bead and run off of the label instead of soaking into it. This won’t protect your package from prolonged exposure to the elements, but it’ll keep the ink from running during an unexpected sprinkle.

Check out the source link for more creative uses for candles.

Simple Smart Housekeeping Tips: 5 Ways to Put Your Old Candles to Work | Apartment Therapy

Joule Hotel, Dallas opts for Heatray CR53 weatherproof umbrellas from Celmec

Celmec International has installed its Heatray CR53 weatherproof umbrellas in the luxury Joule Hotel, Dallas.

The weatherproof umbrellas were installed on the 10th floor of the hotel, which is home to the pool and bar area, a hot spot for guests.

To ensure the area can be enjoyed during the chillier months, the hotel decided to install the weatherproof umbrellas.

The weatherproof umbrellas now ensure that the trendy rooftop area is water tight, warm and protected from the elements.

The weatherproof umbrellas feature the following weather protection accessories:

• Roof infills
• Side covers
• Linking gutters
• Perimeter gutters
• Wind columns
• Door sections
• Electric radiant heating panels

The rooftop area now attracts hotel guests throughout the year, and enhances their overall experience.

Can I use an ‘indoor’ TV outside?

Sadly, not my house.

(Credit:
SunBriteTV)

CNET reader Jason asks:

We have a covered porch that’s screaming for a television. I’m not worried about the “elements” as much as I am about the extreme heat and cold. Here in North Texas, we can see summer temps as high as 110 degrees and winter temps in the teens.

I know there are “weatherproof” televisions out there, but they are expensive. Is that my only route, or are there certain TVs that do better in the heat or cold of outside?

Good question.

Outdoor televisions, from companies like SunBriteTV, are definitely expensive, often many times more expensive than a comparable-sized “indoor” TV.

The biggest issue with getting a TV to survive outside is not keeping out the moisture (relatively easy) or even protecting the delicate bits from the sun’s rays (same). The trick is getting the heat out.

All TVs are designed to work within a certain temperature range. Not coincidentally, this is about the same range you work best at as well. All generate heat, and thanks to years of development, most don’t need big fans to run well at room temperature.

Start pushing the edges of that temperature range, though, and bad things start to happen. In the cold, once the TV warms up with normal usage, water can condense and creating shockingly bad problems. The cold can also affect how the liquid crystal itself operates. In the heat, the lifespan of internal components drops precipitously.

So the trick with an outdoor TV is to seal it up against the elements, but at the same time allow the heat generated to escape. Usually this means extensive heatsinks, fans and a bespoke cabinet design. Many models have built-in heaters to maintain a specific operating temperature and other features to help them survive in the wilds of your back yard.

So it’s less the “elements” you have to worry about than the temperatures.

But let’s say you don’t want to spend $4,300 on a 46-inch TV.

(Before I proceed, let me be very clear and say that using an indoor TV outside is a fantastic way to void your warranty and shorten the life of your TV. It will break. Don’t say I didn’t warn you, and don’t blame me — or the lovely people who pay me — when your TV craps out).

Certain TVs are rated for a wider operating temperature than others. For example, I found multiple Panasonic models rated up to 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35C) and multiple Samsung and LG models rated up to 104F (40C). However, I still wouldn’t leave them outside. All are clear in their inability to handle condensation. Condensation will happen if you cover the TV or not.

You can find this temperature info either on the specs page on their Web sites, or by downloading the manual (it’s listed at the end).

My advice? Buy an outdoor TV; they’re built to do what you’re looking to do. They’re expensive for a reason. If you don’t want to heed that advice, get a TV that can withstand some heat, and put it on a dolly. Not remotely sexy, and it will require some extension cords, but where there’s a will, there’s a way. Get an LCD, as they’re brighter and generally do better in well-lit areas. Get something cheap, too, as it will probably break.

Take this TV outside only when you need it, and leave it inside when you don’t. Keep it out of the sun and maybe it will last longer than a season.

Got a question for Geoff? Click “Geoffrey Morrison” below then click the E-mail link in the upper right to e-mail, wait for it…Geoffrey Morrison! If it’s witty, amusing, and/or a good question, you may just see it in a post just like this one. No, I won’t tell you what TV to buy. Yes, I’ll probably truncate and/or clean up your e-mail. You can also send me a message on Twitter: @TechWriterGeoff.

Gloucester’s Fleece Hotel made weatherproof after repairs

14 June 2012
Last updated at 12:45 ET

Parts of The Fleece complex are Grade I listed and are more than 500 years old

Parts of an historic hotel have been made weatherproof as work continues to redevelop a complex in Gloucester.

The Fleece Hotel on Westgate Street is undergoing a £350,000 facelift to bring the buildings back into use.

Serious defects at the Salt Loft and Kitchen Block have been rectified to allow the building to dry out. Precise repair work will now be planned.

Gloucester City Council acquired the complex last year after the building had been empty for about 10 years.

Demolition work

Parts of the building are Grade I listed and are more than 500 years old.

In this latest stage of work, parts of the roof have been repaired and replaced to secure the Salt Loft against the elements.

English Heritage and the authority’s conservation team will now work together on a repair plan.

The city council said some demolition work would take place on parts of the hotel deemed insignificant by the archaeological team and a number of consultees.

Once urgent repair works are completed the authority will be seeking a partner to complete the restoration.

Joule Hotel, Dallas opts for Heatray CR53 weatherproof umbrellas …

Celmec International has installed its Heatray CR53 weatherproof umbrellas in the luxury Joule Hotel, Dallas.

The weatherproof umbrellas were installed on the 10th floor of the hotel, which is home to the pool and bar area, a hot spot for guests.

To ensure the area can be enjoyed during the chillier months, the hotel decided to install the weatherproof umbrellas.

The weatherproof umbrellas now ensure that the trendy rooftop area is water tight, warm and protected from the elements.

The weatherproof umbrellas feature the following weather protection accessories:

• Roof infills
• Side covers
• Linking gutters
• Perimeter gutters
• Wind columns
• Door sections
• Electric radiant heating panels

The rooftop area now attracts hotel guests throughout the year, and enhances their overall experience.

General Dynamics gets JetBlue LiveTV contract

CHARLOTTE, N.C.

General Dynamics said Tuesday that its armament and technical products business received a contract with a potential value of more than $10 million from JetBlue Airways.

The General Dynamics Corp. unit will develop and produce tri-band radomes for JetBlue Airways Corp.’s LiveTV subsidiary, which will be used in on-board entertainment and communication systems for commercial airlines.

Radomes are weatherproof enclosures that can be penetrated by micro or radio waves, while protecting antennas and electronic surfaces from the elements. General Dynamics has designed and manufactured radomes for more than 60 years.

Development work on the JetBlue radomes will begin immediately. Production work is expected to start late this year at the General Dynamics facility in Marion, Va.

In afternoon trading, shares of General Dynamics rose 73 cents to $69.93.

Mission Workshop Weatherproof Fitzroy Rucksack Protects Your Precious Laptop

November 13th, 2011
by: Range

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The holy grail in laptop bags is finding one that’s completely weatherproof and still manages to look good. Having a completely weatherproof bag can put your mind at ease, especially if you lug your tablet and laptop around daily. The Fitzroy Rucksack from the Mission Workshop is such a bag and it’s available now.

It is made from waterproof fabrics and has a military spec construction. This coupled with a lifetime warranty should make it almost bomb-proof. Okay, it’s not bomb-proof, but it should keep your laptop safe from most of the elements. There are multiple compartments, urethane coated zippers, and an internal frame sheet to give the back a bit of stability. The large zippered pocket will fit most 17″ laptops, and the smaller pockets hold your other gadgets and gear.

The Fitzroy Rucksack is made in the USA and sells for $219 (USD) over at the Mission Workshop store.

[via Bless this Stuff via PicoCool]

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