Once again, my CSI membership paid for itself. This time, however, it was in a way I never would have imagined 24 years ago when I first joined the organization.
At it’s October dinner meeting, the Central Virginia Chapter of CSI hosted a program on NFPA 285 and its inclusion in the International Building Code. More fully known as NFPA 285: Standard Fire Test Method for Evaluation of Fire Propagation Characteristics of Exterior Non-Load-Bearing Wall Assemblies Containing Combustible Components, the standard establishes the testing protocol for evaluating multi-story wall assemblies in buildings of all but Type V construction.
Here’s how I once again benefited from my CSI membership. My design student daughter often seeks my counsel regarding her projects, at times to get an idea whether she’s going in the right direction, and others when she simply wishes to show me what she’s up to. This morning, I received an e-mail from her asking my opinion as to whether insulated concrete forms (ICF’s) would be an appropriate material for her project on tornado resistant design. Knowing that my firm often recommends the use of ICF’s, she knew I would have an opinion on the subject.
In this particular instance, I believe the ICF wall would not be the appropriate system. For starters, she needs the wall to be impact resistant, so a hard, almost structural, cladding would be necessary. Secondly, I went on to explain, the wall assembly would have to be tested under NFPA 285. This is something I would not have been aware of had I not been an active member of CSI. My thanks to Kirby Davis of the Dallas Chapter for making me aware of that which has been largely unenforced locally at Construct 2012 in Phoenix in September.
And so, my membership paid for itself in allowing me to pass a bit of knowledge on to the next generation. I find this tremendously rewarding.
Membership in CSI is easy to come by. Simply ask a current member, or contact the Institute ( www.csinet.org ). You will be welcomed.
Charlottesville Architect 
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