Galbraith/Pre-Design, Inc. Design Build Construction Blog

27th August, 2021 Mark Galbraith Construction Process, Contractor Safety, General Contracting

With longer daylight hours and warmer weather, summer is the prime building season across the country. You don’t have to combat the constant rain of spring or the frozen ground of winter. It’s also a time for construction companies to find more interested seasonal workers to hire larger teams to accommodate for larger construction projects.

However, longer hours in the sunlight and rising temperatures means your team will be working for extended periods of time in the heat, increasing the hazards that come along with summer weather. Heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke are all significant dangers that construction foremen, supervisors, and managers need to be aware of to keep all employees safe.

Outdoor Construction Workers are at a Higher Risk for Heat-Related Illnesses

Due to the nature of the job, employees working at outdoor job sites are exposed to the elements. For most of the United States, the warmest days of the year occur sometime between mid-July and mid-August. That’s right in the middle of many building projects.

With the extent of the physical labor required at the job site in combination with the temperature, humidity, sunlight exposure, and in some cases, lack of wind, thousands of workers suffer from heat-related illnesses each year. Roofing projects in particular are dangerous with temperatures on these surfaces reaching higher than 150°F. 50%-70% of outdoor fatalities occur in the first few days of working in hot environments due to the body’s need to build a heat tolerance gradually.

Monitor Outdoor Construction Workers for These Heat-Related Disorders

It’s essential to be aware of the risks for the heat-related disorders that are up against your employees. Below are the top three.

Heat Stroke

Categorized as the most serious heat-related disorder, heat stroke occurs as a result of prolonged exposure to or physical exertion in high temperatures, increasing internal body temperatures to 104°F or higher. This heat injury requires emergency treatment. If untreated, heat stroke can damage the brain, heart, kidneys, and muscles, sometimes resulting in death.

Symptoms of heat stroke include:

High body temperature
Altered mental state or behavior
Alteration in sweating
Nausea or vomiting
Flushed skin
Rapid breathing
Racing heart rate
Headache

If you believe one of your employees is suffering from heat stroke, call 911 and take immediate action to cool the overheated person. You can bring them indoors where there is A/C or move them to a shaded area. Remove excess clothing and cool the person with whatever means available, whether that is with ice, cool water from a hose, or pouring cold water bottles onto towels and laying them on the person’s head, neck, armpits, and groin.

Heat Exhaustion

This mid-level heat-related injury occurs when the body overheats due to high temperature exposure (sometimes combined with high humidity and physical exertion). Without proper treatment, heat exhaustion can lead to heat stroke, mentioned above.

Symptoms of heat exhaustion include:

Cool, moist skin
Heavy sweating
Faintness
Dizziness
Fatigue
Weak and rapid pulse
Muscle cramps
Nausea
Headache

If someone on the job site is experiencing heat exhaustion, have them stop all activity and rest in a cooler location (like a shaded area or indoors with A/C). Have them drink cool water or a sports drink. If symptoms worsen or don’t improve within one hour, seek immediate medical attention and follow the steps above for heat stroke.

Heat Cramps

Because of the high level of physical activity on a construction site, workers may experience painful, involuntary muscle spasms—more intense and prolonged than your typical nighttime charley horse. Fluid loss due to high temperatures and electrolyte loss due to intense exercise contribute to heat cramps.

If you suspect your construction workers are experiencing heat cramps, have them briefly rest and cool down. They should drink clear juice or an electrolyte solution like a sports drink. Massaging the cramping area also helps the affected muscles. The employee should not resume strenuous activity for several hours after the heat cramps occur. If symptoms do not improve within one hour, they should call their doctor and make an appointment to be seen.

Improving Outdoor Construction Safety

Workers who are not fully acclimated to the hot weather, 65 years of age or older, are overweight, have heart disease or high blood pressure, or take certain medications are all at a greater risk for one of the heat-related illnesses above.

You can be directly responsible for keeping your outdoor contractors safe by:

Increasing the number of workers per task need at the job site
Offering air-conditioned/cooler areas for recovery times
Having all foremen, supervisors, and managers trained in identifying heat-related symptoms
Providing adequate amounts of cool, drinkable water
Encouraging workers to hydrate frequently to the point of never becoming thirsty
Telling contractors to wear light-colored, loose-fitting, breathable clothing as well as UV protected glasses and brimmed headwear
Planning for those on the job sites to do the hardest work in the morning when it’s coolest
Implementing a buddy system where co-workers keep an eye on each other to identify early symptoms of heat-related illnesses

By educating yourself and your employees on the causes and symptoms of heat stroke, heat exhaustion, and heat cramps, your team will be more prepared to identify and prevent these heat-related illnesses from occurring on your job sites. In turn, this makes outdoor work for your contractors safer, allowing you to beat the heat.

If you’re looking for a partner who values relationships with their clients as much as you value the safety of your employees, contact GALBRAITH/Pre-Design, Inc today. We look forward to working with you on your next commercial, industrial, or institutional design-build project.

22nd July, 2021 Allan Galbraith Construction Process, Green Building

78% of people are more likely to purchase a product that is clearly labeled as environmentally friendly. 96% of people feel like their actions, such as their buying power, can make a difference. It’s no wonder larger brands like Amazon, McCormick, HP, and Pratt & Whitney are moving sustainable business practices to the top of their priority list.

In 2018 alone, the construction industry produced about 60 million tons of waste in the United States, which begs the question: What are you doing to reduce waste and become more sustainable in the construction industry, and have you considered green building?

Green Building Continues Its Ascent in the Global Marketplace

Green building is a resource-efficient method of construction that produces healthier buildings that have less impact on the environment and cost less to maintain. This sustainable approach to construction accounts for a building’s entire life cycle: siting, design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation and demolition.

Client demands largely trigger the growth of green buildings, which as we’ve seen from the consumer to the commercial level, doesn’t seem to be slowing down.

Green Building Techniques Increasing in Popularity

Clay Plaster and Brick

Clay material is extremely versatile and can be used in many different ways in construction. Clay plaster can be used in place of regular plaster as well as paint as it doesn’t give off any harmful toxins during and after application and installation. It also helps to fight humidity and indoor airborne toxins that may be found in buildings. Like clay plaster, clay brick doesn’t release harmful toxins. It can be recycled and is known for its low maintenance, permanence, and durability. Clay bricks are also energy efficient as they aid in temperature stability.

Recycled Glass

Glass is 100% recyclable and can be recycled endlessly without loss in quality or purity and can be substituted for up to 95% of raw materials. Recycled glass is a great material to use when building infrastructure as it can be quite harmful to the environment when discarded. Glass produced from recycled glass reduces related air pollution by 20% and related water pollution by 50%.

Mycelium

Mycelium comes from the root of a mushroom and while it is widely used as an eco-friendly alternative for packing materials, it is slowly rising in popularity as a good material to use for construction. Mycelium can be made into bricks or used for insulation. The tissue of mycelium is fireproof, non-toxic, water-resistant and it has proven to be stronger than concrete.

Reclaimed or Recycled Wood

Reclaimed or recycled wood can be used in green builds for a more natural look while still reducing an ecological footprint by using used wood instead of new wood. It also reduces the devastating impact of deforestation and has much lower emissions than the logging, transport and processing of new wood. Plus, with the rising cost of building materials, using recycled wood cuts costs.

Recycled Steel

Steel is one of the most recycled materials in the world. It’s extremely strong and durable and doesn’t lose its properties after being recycled, making it the perfect material to use for a strong, green build. In fact, steel can be recycled indefinitely and be used for green roofs. Even after incineration, steel can be recovered for recycling.

AshCrete

AshCrete is used as an alternative to concrete and is made out of 97% recycled material. Since AshCrete has smaller pores and requires less water in the mixture, it’s a material that’s found to be stronger than Portland concrete. The fine particles within AshCreate reduce permeability—one of the main causes of premature failure in concrete projects.

Straw Bale

Straw might not be the first thing that comes to your mind when you think about building materials (especially knowing what happens in The Three Little Pigs). In reality, straw is an excellent material to use for green buildings. The bales are made from waste products and are a less expensive way to achieve thick walls in your building. It’s renewable and has great insulation properties that can be used for temperature stability, making it energy efficient. The harvesting of straw is an environmentally friendly process and the material is 100% biodegradable when the time comes.

Bamboo

Due to its lightweight and elasticity, the use of bamboo as a building material is popular in areas of the world where earthquakes, hurricanes, and typhoons strike more frequently. Bamboo is one of the strongest building materials, having the same strength ratio as steel and almost twice the compression ratio of concrete. Just like straw, harvesting bamboo is an environmentally friendly process since it grows fast and reduces pollution white it grows.

Ferrock

Ferrock is made out of ground-up glass and recycled steel that was turned to dust. Both of these materials combined make this concrete-like material. Ferrock not only acts as a strong cement but it helps to reduce CO2 and aids in reducing pollution. Plus, Ferrock costs less in transportation and labor movement as it weighs 10-25% less than normal cement.

Cork

Cork’s multifaceted use in green building construction is making it one of the best up-and-coming materials. It can also be used for walls, floors, and ceilings. With its 200 million air cells per cubic inch, it acts as a cushion absorbing vibrations and direct impacts. While cork is eco-friendly, it’s also water and mold-resistant. It can be used for insulation, is renewable, and can be reused without losing its properties.

Applicable Sustainable Building Practices

As consumer demand for green building and building methods increase, sustainable building practices must as well. Looking for further information on sustainable construction? Check out our blog, Sustainable Construction 101, here. And, if you’re in search of guidance on how to go green on your next construction project, give us a call today.

18th June, 2021 Allan Galbraith Commercial Design, Commercial Office Construction, Hybrid Office

It goes without saying that this past year has been hard on many companies and employees, regardless of the industry. When taking a look back to March 2020, the hot topic in most workplaces was the transition to remote work. The internet was buzzing with words like “quarantine,” “social distancing,” and the infamous “COVID-19.”

Now, a whole 15 months later, we are finally seeing a light at the end of the tunnel and getting back to “normal.” The internet is now stirring with words such as “back to work” and “hybrid workplace.” As more and more employees are breaking out of their home offices and returning to the in-person workplace, there is an increasing need for workplace design and construction that encompasses safety, efficiency, and the tools necessary to collaborate with virtual teams.

Luckily, Galbraith is specifically positioned to update your office space or build new spaces with the latest workplace aspects to accommodate our new normal. Check out our past designs here.

How many employees are expected to return to work, in-person and hybrid?

While companies and employees are talking about getting back to work, we often wonder: How many are actually getting back to the in-person workplace and how many are switching to a hybrid format?

Lucky, Deloitte surveyed 275 clients in April of 2021 and asked these exact questions.

Here are some key findings from the survey:

64% plan to physically return to the workplace (either fully or hybrid) in 2021.
As employees return, 91% of clients will require masks and 89% will require social distancing.
For clients that have already started the process of returning to the physical workspace, 89% will return to the workspace in 2021.
67% will have enhanced health and safety protocols.

The Latest Trends in Workplace Construction

From the Deloitte survey, we know that many businesses are planning to get back to the physical workplace. This includes all employees fully returning and those that are remaining at or switching to a hybrid format. Both of these plans may come with safety protocols that need to be implemented or just a general change in how the workspace is structured.

With that, here are some workplace design/construction trends that are happening in 2021:

Sanitization procedures. Many companies are enforcing safety in the workplace and that includes keeping hands clean to prevent the spread of germs. Because of this, many workplaces have an abundance of sanitizer dispensers located throughout the space.
Hot desking. “Hot desking” is when a company does not assign specific workspaces to their employees. Instead, when employees arrive for work, they choose any desk that is available to them. This has been around for a while but is making a resurgence in 2021 so that desks and chairs can be deep cleaned every night.
Biophilia. Biophilia is a type of design that many companies are considering now that they’re bringing employees back to the physical space. Biophilia works with design that is centered around outdoor spaces. For companies utilizing this kind of workplace, construction is beneficial since CDC guidelines have had a trend of allowing for more people to congregate outside than inside.
Dividers, Boundaries, Shielding, etc. Implementing more dividers and boundaries within the workplace complies with the social distancing protocol that companies are looking to implement. There is an upward trend in allowing employees to have separate spaces from one another to ensure proper distancing.
Flexible spaces. While some companies might opt for more separation of their employees and implement dividers, boundaries and shields, others might opt to bring their employees together, but in the safest way possible. This is where flexible spaces come in. Flexible spacing includes workspace optimization so that employees have plenty of room to move around and allow for co-working spaces to still exist.

Whether you’re looking to remodel your existing space or build an entirely new workplace, our team at GALBRAITH is happy to help answer any questions you may have about the process. Contact us, and schedule your free consultation today!

20th May, 2021 Mark Galbraith Construction Process, Food Processing

It’s no surprise that safety is one of the most significant concerns for food processing plants. And today, it’s never been as essential to ensure that your food processing plant is safe and clean.

One of the most accessible and most proactive approaches to manufacturing plant safety is the facility’s construction and design. If a food processing plant’s layout isn’t optimized, efficiency and safety are at risk. Having an expert build a processing facility’s plant and implementing an efficient layout can lead to fewer safety hazards and an improved workflow.

How to Optimize Your Food Processing Plant

First, you should research the constantly changing regulations and trends in the food processing industry.

Over the last year, workplace safety standards have changed drastically, and food processing plants have stringent guidelines they must accommodate to maintain safety standards.

Some considerations you must take into account:

Regulations from governmental entities, such as the Food and Drug Administration and the United States Department of Agriculture
Applicable local and state environmental and building permits
Ecological safety (food storage and disposal) and local weather conditions
HVAC system sanitation and odor-controlling functionalities
Your return on investment

It’s also important to ensure that you’re meeting the hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP) layout practices for safety and handling requirements.

Next, ask yourself what your personal needs are. Are you planning a completely new facility? Or are you renovating an existing food processing plant? Regardless, your plant layout should minimize the risk of biological, chemical, and physical working hazards.

As soon as you’ve considered the above factors, you can begin the actual pre-design phase. If these steps are skipped in the planning phase, food hygiene issues can lead to significant financial losses and sometimes legal prosecution.

An Optimized Food Processing Plant Layout

To build a food processing plant that increases safety and efficiency, it’s important to:

1. Take measures to reduce the possibility of microbial contamination around food items.

2. Discover which areas in the food production process are most prone to contamination.

3. Establish a plant layout that:

Minimizes worker traveling and food movement distance
Enhances production efficiency
Encompasses an easily accessible waste generation system

4. Determine which areas in your facility call for differing levels of temperature and humidity control.

5. Optimize the lighting in each area of your plant to reduce the risk of physical hazards.

6. Ensure that your facility is resistant to pests.

7. Consider the placement of floor drains and proper ventilation in food processing areas.

8. Group storage spaces for food products that require refrigeration to maximize energy efficiency.

9. Create a list of the equipment in your facility that will require protective surface coatings.

10. Review the standards for cleaning and sanitizing your facility and optimize the layout to decrease the time spent on housekeeping tasks.

Make sure your team also considers where your suppliers will deliver raw ingredients to your facility and where the finished goods will leave your processing plant.

Expert Food Processing Plant Construction with GALBRAITH

If you’re still not sure where to start, don’t worry. Developing a food processing plant for safety is a task with many moving parts and considerations. The GALBRAITH team is ready to help, spending the last several decades providing the highest-quality food processing facilities for industry-leading manufacturers.

Whether you’re looking to remodel your existing space or build an entirely new plant, our team is happy to help answer any questions you may have about the process. Contact us, and schedule your free consultation today!

26th April, 2021 Mark Galbraith Construction Process

We’re sure you’ve heard about the current shortages, long delays, and price spikes in construction materials as a result of the pandemic.

At the end of 2020, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Commercial Construction Index reported that an astounding 71% of contractors were facing a shortage in at least one type of material. Looking further, 52% of 1,489 AGC member contractors have reported a project delay due to a shortage of construction materials, parts, or equipment. And some materials, such as lumber, have increased as much as 170% in price throughout the process.

The issue has grown unexpectedly and quickly, and many industry professionals are unsure of where to go next in dealing with the shortages and price spikes while demand is only growing. It’s important to understand everything that is contributing to the problem to recognize where we can go to help remedy it.

Why the Construction Materials Crisis is Happening

From the outside looking in, it may be easy for one to think that the increase in price of construction projects is to make up for a lack of business as the economy took a big hit since the start of the pandemic. However, it’s quite the opposite.

The industry is trying to find a balance between the surge in demand for new projects and supplies becoming more limited and therefore, more expensive. Contractors have to bill in reflection of the price of the materials that the project requires.

These materials are increasing in price for their own set of reasons:

Delivery methods have become limited. Container and trucking shortages across the nation have also contributed to a decrease in avenues for construction materials to get from one place to another, causing significant lead time issues.
The supply chain is turning to regional sources. Many local contractors rely on global manufacturers to provide specialty materials for their projects. But in today’s world, these sources are either heavily delayed or unavailable, so contractors are turning to regional suppliers who already offer limited availability and putting a heavier demand on their resources.

Another large underlying issue that the industry is currently facing involves the extreme labor shortage. Timelines are being pushed with the limited amount of manpower available on the jobsite, in addition to the problems mentioned above.

What Contractors Can Do

To help in the current situation the construction industry is facing, a main driver in sticking to scheduled project timelines, efficiently maximizing your available labor, and utilizing your resources and supplies effectively is prefabrication, or modular construction.

The prefabrication process in the construction industry involves constructing subcomponents of a structure within controlled environments and bringing them to the jobsite as whole pieces for further completion of the project.

The benefits of using this method include:

Significantly less waste. Building materials are stored, used, and put together without being exposed to weather elements that could cause damage and leave them to be wasted.
Accelerates timelines. Similarly, weather can negatively impact turnaround times and steps in the process by causing unwanted delays. When working exclusively out of these conditions for a large portion of the project, this is avoided. Other parts of the project can be happening at the jobsite or at another facility at the same time, as well.
Maximizes labor availability. Prefabricated processes typically offer much safer environments for construction workers, avoiding injuries that could decrease their availability. Working in controlled environments also leads to an increase in efficient labor.

All of these factors can easily contribute to keeping your construction project on the right track, the whole way through, balancing some of the current issues that are tipping the scale in the wrong direction.

What the Supply Chain Can Do

Before COVID-19 struck our nation, many of our supply chain organizations were utilizing a “just-in-time” business model. They were used to the steady demand in resources and materials without expecting a major spike to happen.

This past year has put a spotlight on the need for resiliency in the supply chain. We have a unique opportunity to learn from this experience. Building a resiliency plan is essential in being prepared for major disruptions to occur. This includes reevaluating business models, processes, and workflows and building manufacturing and distribution facilities to help alleviate the vulnerabilities that led us to this major shortage in supply for construction materials.

How to Guarantee a Secure Construction Project

Despite the challenges that the construction industry is facing, GALBRAITH/Pre-Design, Inc. is devoted to providing the highest quality service, efficiency, and trust in each of our construction, renovation, or pre-design projects. We’re proud to utilize sustainable, efficient, and cutting-edge technologies and processes to stick to timelines and exceed expectations, while developing relationships with the most-reliable suppliers on the East Coast. Contact us today for a FREE consultation!

23rd March, 2021 Mark Galbraith Construction Process

Sustainable Construction
As a whole, the construction industry uses large amounts of global resources and contributes heavily to pollution. It is reported that building and construction companies can contribute up to the following amounts across various industries within a single economy:

25-40% of total energy consumed
30% of raw materials used
30-40% of global greenhouse gas emissions used
30-40% of solid waste generated

It’s clear why sustainability has been deemed a major goal and responsibility for the construction industry.

Sustainable construction has been developed as a solution and entails utilizing renewable and recyclable materials and resources, reducing waste and energy consumption where applicable, and protecting the natural environment at each job site. End results of sustainable construction projects provide a structure that is environmentally-friendly in the long-term.

How Sustainability Fits Into the Realm of Construction

As an upfront barrier, various sustainable efforts or resources can come with a higher cost. What’s important to recognize is that this initial cost that may be higher than typical usually leads directly to less expensive ongoing costs throughout the rest of construction and the building’s lifetime.

Ways of Implementing Sustainable Construction

There are a few processes and opportunities that construction companies have in the U.S. to achieve higher sustainability:

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design): Registrations for this certification/rating system have increased every year since the program was established in 1993. As of the end of 2019, the number of registrations had amounted to roughly 70,000. Learn more about the green building initiative and certification.

Minimize waste: Although construction waste can be inevitable, the amount that can be minimized may surprise you. A simple step is to use materials or suppliers that don’t require an unnecessary amount of packaging. Utilizing recycled materials for various components can also reduce the amount of waste produced. It’s additionally important to train your employees to separate and categorize project waste as it’s developed. Using renewable energy to power operational components or using onsite water treatment plants are another two ways of reducing the waste at your construction job site.

Green building materials: It can be very helpful to establish a network of vendors that use green building materials that support sustainability efforts. Some of these building materials include wood, recycled metals, sustainable concrete, mud or wool bricks, or even straw bales.

Prefabrication: Modular construction has gotten popular in recent years within the industry. Building individual parts of an overall project or structure within a controlled environment and then transferring it to the job sites keep projects on track for timing, budgeting, and materials used—all contributing to a sustainable build.

Standardized processes: If you approach each construction project differently, your team could spend unnecessary time getting up-to-speed on the process for that particular construction. No need to reinvent the wheel—you can still accomplish completely custom builds, specific to your client’s needs while using a standardized process. Your projects can get completed more quickly, efficiently, and with less waste due to errors.

Optimal equipment performance: Plan your team’s workday to optimize each piece of equipment and exactly when it should be used—every minute that a piece of machinery is idling or used inappropriately contributes to higher energy costs and carbon emissions. Looking for ways to reduce the use of heavy machinery where applicable can help for long-term effects.

Benefits of Sustainable Construction

Implementing sustainability measures in your construction process has far-reaching benefits for both your business and external factors:

Environmental: The use of renewable energy, green building, and sustainable resources helps in fighting against climate change and improves waste management and high carbon footprints. The World Green Building Council stated:

- - “Green buildings can not only reduce or eliminate negative impacts on the environment, by using less water, energy or natural resources, but they can—in many cases—have a positive impact on the environment (at the building or city scales) by generating their own energy or increasing biodiversity.”

Financial: Despite the initial cost being higher on some fronts of sustainable construction, green buildings are reported to see a 7% increase in their value versus traditional buildings. Utility bills are also likely to be cheaper.

Social: Sustainability is a high priority across virtually every industry in today’s world. Your team can rise above the competition if your construction process involves sustainable methods. Worker productivity is also likely to increase with these measures in place.

Looking for another way to save time and money on your next construction job? Design-build. Learn how the process works here, and give us a call today to get started on your next project!

14th December, 2020 Mark Galbraith Commercial Design, Construction Process, General Contracting

Hybrid Consruction For generations, building owners have debated over the advantages of one construction method over the other. Conventional wisdom was that traditional construction could meet requirements for irregular layouts, heavy loads, and multiple stories; while pre-engineered construction introduced advantages of shorter construction time and consistent engineering standards.

Today you can get both in one building—not an imitation of one embedded in the processes of another, but a true hybrid construction process that allows the strengths of each to play a valuable role.

This works because our partner, Butler Manufacturing™, takes a unique approach. Butler provides the necessary value engineering that brings these construction methods together for maximum efficiency and savings. The company manufactures all the parts in one manufacturing facility, so you receive a completely integrated product from a single source. A hybrid building solution integrates three types of primary structural steel (mill beam, three plate members and truss girders or hybrid combinations) with secondary structural members—either Zee purlins, truss purlins, or bar joists. Mezzanine or multi-story floor members are also included in a comprehensive structural design.

The Butler hybrid building solution integrates any wall material—such as masonry, EIFS, brick, glass, concrete, or metal wall systems—with a conventional or structural system to create the desired architectural effect.

Our partner manufacturer’s high performance, standing-seam metal roof system (MR-24® Roof System) is easily integrated into a hybrid building design. The MR-24 Roof System has a documented life of up to 60 years and is virtually maintenance-free. The Butler hybrid building solution can also accommodate building designs that call for a roof solution using a metal deck.

The Advantages of True Hybrid Construction

An engineering consulting approach ensures better results and fewer problems in construction
Upfront planning allows for more flexibility to design
Allows for a true design/build approach
Reduces complexity by using the best construction method to fit the building design
Provides a single source for manufacturing and engineering

Design-Driven

By using our fast-track design/build construction services, clients of GALBRAITH/Pre-Design, Inc. are able to occupy their finished facilities well ahead of standard design/bid/build construction timelines. Our design/build capability alleviates anxiety caused by the coordination and interaction of disciplines required to achieve a finished structure. At the same time, we give you the ability to remain involved at any level you desire.

Most problems that occur during construction are linked to design. By taking a more active role in the design stage, Butler Manufacturing and GALBRAITH can use a true hybrid process to reduce the chances of these problems occurring. The preliminary design stage is the critical portion of your project. That’s when the value engineering associated with the hybrid process can have maximum impact.

The Right Combination

When your needs exceed the ideal conditions of either traditional or pre-engineered construction alone, we can bring the two together in ways that no one else can to deliver a building that meets your needs.

With decades of experience in successfully completing hybrid design/build projects in Pennsylvania and surrounding states, GALBRAITH is your single source solution for commercial, industrial, and institutional construction projects throughout the Mid-Atlantic. Here are some of the reasons our clients appreciate working with GALBRAITH/Pre-Design, Inc.:

Over the past 25 years, we’ve developed systems and processes to deliver projects on-time and within budget.
We adapt to your schedule and workflow to minimize disturbance to your operations.
We focus on preventative problem-solving.
We have experience in 8 states.
We primarily use our own crews to control project timeline, budget, and quality.
We build relationships not transactions.
We use quality assurance checklists.

For more information call 717-776-6337 or send us an email at build@gp-inc.com.

25th November, 2020 Mark Galbraith General Contracting, Roofing Repair

Extending the Life of Your Metal Roof

Studies show that a properly installed and maintained metal roof system has a service life of 60 years or more. A preventative maintenance program is a key factor in maximizing the life expectancy and dependability of your roof system. Periodic inspections should begin as soon as your building is complete and continue throughout its service life.

Roof Repair or Maintenance Safety

Whenever you perform maintenance on your roof system, safety must be the primary concern. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires fall protection and personal protection equipment (PPE) for all maintenance personnel, and your state and local regulations may impose additional safety requirements. Failure to follow these laws can result in serious injury and substantial fines.

A completed metal roof is a safe walking surface except near the edge of the roof and when any moisture (dew, frost, snow, ice, etc.) makes the surface of the roof very slippery. Steep slopes can also make the roof tough to navigate without proper safety equipment. Appropriate safety measures and extra caution should be exercised whenever these conditions are present. When performing building maintenance, the following precautions should always be taken:

Always use fall protection
Do not walk on skylights
Do not walk on wet roof panels
Do not walk, step or sit on skylights or the ridge cap
Do not walk in gutters
Guard all roof openings and skylights

Roof Inspections

Metal roof systems should be inspected semi-annually. In addition to scheduled inspections, roof inspections should be conducted after the following events:

Exposure of the roof to severe weather conditions, such as strong winds, hail or continuous heavy rain. Examine the roof for severely ponded conditions, debris, and any other damage to the roof components that may allow moisture to infiltrate. The roof panels should be carefully examined for punctures or loose fasteners.
After repair or replacement of rooftop equipment, rooftop work by other trades and after any excessive foot traffic.

Foot traffic should be kept to a minimum. Where frequent or heavy traffic is anticipated, you should install a roof service way to protect the roof. This is necessary where regular servicing of rooftop mechanical equipment is required.

Roof Damage from Equipment Drainage

Corrosive conditions can occur when water from air conditioner condensate lines, copper flashing, lead and other heavy metals is drained directly onto aluminum, aluminum-coated steel, and/or aluminum-zinc alloy coated steel roofs.

Common causes of the damage include:

Copper in direct contact with roof
Drainage from copper onto the roof
Condensate drainage from air conditioners
Copper cable from lightning rods
Rust particles
Lead flashing on vent pipes
Black steel from gas pipes or RTU supports

If any of these conditions occur on the roof, special coatings may be required on adjacent panels to maintain the life of the roof.

Restore Sealants Around Roof Openings

Sealants around roof openings for mechanical equipment, vents, and flexible pipe flashings are

particularly susceptible to deterioration from weathering. These areas should be inspected frequently and resealed as needed.

Ice and Snow On Your Roof

Excessive ice and snow build-up should be removed from the roof immediately to prevent damage from the freeze/thaw cycles and possible overload. Heavy and/or repeated snow storms can create packed snow that imposes unusual and excessive loads on any building structures.

It’s important to keep drains and gutters clear of ice and snow to facilitate melting runoff. Heat tapes in gutters and downspouts may assist in preventing ice buildup.

Snow/Ice Removal

Every situation is different, so careful planning is necessary before snow removal can begin. It is

important to remove the snow in a pattern that will not cause an unbalanced load condition on the roof that could lead to a damaged roof or a roof collapse. Also, sliding snow and ice can create a safety hazard for both personnel and equipment.

GALBRAITH/Pre-Design, Inc. is a commercial general contractor with extensive experience providing building maintenance services for hospital and medical facilities. Several members of our team have the Certified Healthcare Constructor (CHC) and Infection Risk Assessment (ICRA) certificates. For industrial and plant maintenance, the GALBRAITH team holds Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) and Safe Quality Foods (SQF) certification.

GALBRAITH/Pre-Design, Inc. is an authorized Butler Builder. With decades of experience in successfully completing design-build projects in Pennsylvania and surrounding states, GALBRAITH is your single-source solution for commercial, industrial, and institutional construction projects throughout the Mid-Atlantic.

For more information on the Butler MR-24® Roof System, visit www.gp-inc.com.

21st October, 2020 Mark Galbraith Construction Process, General Contracting

How to select your project delivery method, contractor, and construction method.

A construction project can be a long and arduous process. But there are three things you can do today to get started in the right direction. These basic steps, with some research and planning, will prepare you for future success.

Every construction project begins with these three decisions:

Selecting a delivery method
Selecting a contractor
Selecting a construction method

Project Delivery Methods

The three most common project delivery methods available include:

Design-Bid-Build – The owner solicits proposals and pricing from architects and/or engineers to design the project. Once design is determined, the owner bids the project to contractor to construct the building. The owner must manage two separate contracts which often creates an adversarial relationship between the designer and contractor. The process is time-consuming and requires the owner to be involved in day-to-day project management.
Construction Management at Risk – Construction Management at Risk is a delivery method which entails a commitment by the construction manager to deliver the project within a guaranteed maximum price based on the construction documents and specifications at the time. An adverse relationship between the construction manager and the architect can lead to some of the same issues that arise in the design-bid-build method. Incomplete and/or inaccurate drawings can result in changes orders that exceed the guaranteed maximum price.
Design-Build – The design/build method is simply the fastest, most efficient, most cost-effective building process you can use. The owner selects one company, the design-builder, as the single source for design and construction. The designer and contractor work together from the beginning, as a team, providing project recommendations that fit the owner’s schedule and budget. Any changes can be addressed by the entire team, leading to collaborative problem solving and innovation. More than half of all projects today are built using the design/build method.

Selecting a Construction Contractor

The most important criteria for selecting a general construction contractor are a good reputation and the use of high-quality construction methods and materials. Consider construction companies that can handle every phase of your building project, as well as offer complete design-build expertise. Your contractor should be able to balance risk and responsibility appropriately and clearly define expectations regarding costs, schedules, quality, and safety compliance.

With decades of experience in successfully completing design-build projects in Pennsylvania and surrounding states, Galbraith is your single-source solution for commercial, industrial and institutional construction projects throughout the Mid-Atlantic. Here are some of the reasons our clients appreciate working with Galbraith/Pre-Design, Inc.:

Over the past 25 years, we have developed systems and processes to deliver projects on time and within budget.
We adapt to your schedule and workflow to minimize disturbance to your operations and your bottom line.
We focus on preventative problem-solving.
We have experience in working in 8 states and are familiar with local regulations.
We use primarily our own in-house crews and do not subcontract every aspect of your project
We focus on building relationships, not transactions.
We use quality assurance checklists throughout your project.

Selecting a Construction Method

There are three construction methods available.

Conventional Construction – Requires the building components to be cut, fitted, welded, and assembled on-site. This process is time-consuming and can be more expensive.
Systems Construction (Pre-Engineered) – The steel building components are pre-engineered at the factory to fit together precisely. Systems construction components include structural, roof, and wall systems. The pre-engineered facility is designed to your exact specifications and delivered to the job site ready to be assembled. The process is quick, efficient, and usually less expensive.
Hybrid Conventional – Uses the best advantages of both the conventional and systems construction to provide the flexibility and efficiency needed to meet the needs of the project.

GALBRAITH partners with Butler Building Systems, the world’s leading producer of engineered steel building solutions. For more than 100 years, the name Butler has been synonymous with building innovation. Every Butler Building is designed, engineered, and manufactured to exact specifications, assuring fast assembly and long-term performance. Here are some of the highlights of our partnership:

Materials made from 30%-70% recycled steel
Minimal waste with made-to-order building systems
Energy-efficient roofing and wall systems
Durability from a 60-year roof system (MR-24®)
Reduction of the heat island effect with cool roof colors
Streamlined construction schedules
Design flexibility to accommodate any wall system
Hybrid building solutions combining conventional and pre-engineered structures

For more information, contact us today at 717-776-6337 or email build@gp-inc.com.

13th March, 2020 Mark Galbraith Commercial Design

The Latest Trends in Commercial Office Space Design

Take a look at your office space. Is it stuck in traditional and outdated style and functionality? Maybe it’s time for a refresh, or maybe it’s time to look for a new space altogether. In any case, updating your commercial office design to today’s standards and trends is a worthwhile measure.

5 Key Elements to Functional and Appealing Commercial Office Design

When it comes to designing modern commercial office space, there are a few key elements you’ll want to keep in mind.

1.) Sustainable characteristics. Your space will reflect who you are as a company and as a brand. With sustainability taking up such a large part of today’s conversation, it’s important for you to represent your support in the effort. With natural elements weaved into your office design such as plant life and windows to let in natural light, or fireplaces and water fountains, offer ways to break down the barrier between work and nature that your employees may feel being stuck inside each day. This is also a huge part of being able to resell the space down the road.

2.) A sense of community. You can use your commercial office space as an opportunity for your employees to collaborate productively and in an open-concept environment. A traditional office design holds 40 percent of the operations privately, and behind walls. Today’s trends call for a design that includes less than 17 percent of operations occurring behind closed doors. This design includes more open cubicles and less private offices; enhancing collaboration efforts and reducing the money and labor needed for more drywall. Instead, those efforts could be put to use to make community rooms designed for team sessions, brainstorming meetings, and more.

Brainstorming at LinkedIn Offices in New York – Photo: Eric Laignel

3.) Wood: The new norm. For similar reasons as with the sustainability movement, wood is a highly desired style and element to add to today’s office spaces. With Millennials and Generation Z becoming the largest parts of today’s workforce, they’re looking to work in places that match company values that are important to them. Wood represents a natural environment, as we mentioned before, but also adds character, warmth, and depth to an office space that is missing when white drywall and black metal make up the overall feel of the space.

4.) Dynamic, flexible abilities. Another major trend in modern commercial office design is creating opportunities for employees to work in ways aside from sitting in front of their computers in the same chair, in the same space every day. People are looking for ways to be flexible. Today’s world comes with an increase in awareness of the unhealthy side effects of desk jobs when it comes to ergonomics, so many people are looking for places to work that offers ergonomic features such as stand-up desks.

At ProxyClick, using stand-up meeting stations not only gave their employees more options for ways to spend their time at required meetings, but also cut down on unproductive meeting time by 34 percent.

Going further, what’s known as the Dynamic Flexibility design trend offers moveable elements in an office space, such as walls, furniture, screens, etc. that can be easily moved around in the area to fit the multidisciplinary needs of a business’ daily schedule. Rooms can be changed in just a few minutes to be used for various projects; from meeting rooms to quiet workspaces, to video production studios, and more, when the space doesn’t allow for all of those places to exist independently.

5.) Technology-based spaces. The modern workspace can’t exist without support for its technological needs and activities. Including power outlets and screens in several places throughout the commercial office space is now a standard requirement. This allows your employees to be able to use advanced tools in several spaces throughout the office and easily share with others.

Whether you’re looking to start a project for a new commercial office space, or just have a few questions about how you can update where you work now, we can help you find the right answers. Schedule a free consultation today!