This year Burnham celebrates its 20th anniversary and we’d like to take this opportunity to share with you the story of how Burnham Nationwide came to be, where we are headed and how Daniel Burnham’s message has inspired us along the way.

 > Fast forward 6 years…

It’s 1998 and at Burnham Nationwide we have fully embraced Daniel Burnham’s sentiment to make no little plans. We’ve aimed high and made some big strides, and most importantly learned from our experiences. After the first couple years in business it became quite clear to us that in order to succeed we would need to develop partnerships with leading architects, contractors, and building managers who understood our values and appreciated our platform for managing their compliance obligations. Like many other companies, we recognized the importance Customer Relationship Management (CRM) would have in our future growth and success.

Big Changes in Technology  Service Lines and Locations

 Information systems that had been developed to manage the Chicago process were at their limit, for example: we needed bigger and better bandwidth. Working with Siebel Systems we developed a robust CRM system that would effectively manage our information and enhance the special experience in which our reputation was built.

 The Code Group was launched in 2001, and focused on developing a deeper understanding of building codes. This commitment has enabled Burnham to better define our technical services, and provide us with the credentials to provide services beyond that of a typical “Permit Expeditor”.

 Physically, we needed to be in more places to service our growing client base. We opened our first satellite office in New York City, a temporary office in St. Louis, and Detroit followed shortly thereafter. We also began efforts to find partners for offices in Seattle, Denver and Los Angeles.    

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In designing a structure to meet the highest ADA building requirements for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the overall result can truly be said to be the sum of its parts.

Strict adherence to the smallest of details needed to meet regulatory standards reflects the workmanship in complying with the highest rigors to design an ADA-adherent edifice. Take handrails, for example—literally, if you like, take a tape measure to these elements to begin to understand the strict nature of ADA adherence!

Generally speaking, ADA guidelines call for handrails to be installed between 34 inches and 38 inches from the surface—that is to say, the ground, ramp or sidewalk. Many regulators recommend splitting the difference in case of any confusion, suggesting installation at the 36-inch mark.

Ah, but then it gets trickier when allowing for handrail surroundings. ADA guidelines place peripheral posts—vertical or horizontal—at no greater a height than of 8 feet. It is recommended that posts be placed every six feet from center to center to ensure compliance.

Handrails or grab bars, along with any adjacent wall or surface, must be free of anything sharp or abrasive. ADA building requirements also call for 3/16” holes to be drilled onto handrails in mounting them to their brackets. Affixing handrails and grab bars to their respective brackets disallows rotation.

To the untrained eye, adherence to such minor details into overall construction can easily be missed. Even without such mandates, Burnham Nationwide has built its reputation on paying attention to details large and small in designing projects to the highest of specifications. Think of Burnham as you plan your next design project. For further insight, it might be helpful to contact a Burnham specialist to see what they have to offer and how they can help you understand the ADA building requirements pertinent to your job site.

Adherence to ADA standards is crucial, heightening the importance of having a designing partner of the highest caliber. Since its inception, Burnham has built its reputation on adhering to the highest workmanship standards.

Beyond merely following the law, ADA compliance also is critical to a company’s bottom line. Since ADA passage in 1980, a cottage industry of sorts has emerged centered on lawsuits filed for noncompliance. Much of this litigation revolves not around the ubiquitous ramps, but the less visible handrails that are central to ADA compliance. Retailers and restaurateurs have been especially hit with mounting litigation over inadequate handrails, as attorneys aggressively secure clients looking to file lawsuits in search of financial recovery. Sometimes, the pickings are easy. In one notable case in California, one plaintiff went down a stretch of highway to find noncompliance, filing 20- lawsuits in one 24-hour period as a result!

ADA noncompliance can result in thousands of dollars worth of fines. In terms of litigation, expenses could easily be exponentially greater. In another example, one plaintiff in Fort Pierce, Fla., was awarded $1 million in damages in 2010 after suing her apartment complex over a faulty handrail.

For the sake of your business, it is important to ally yourself with a reputable consultant. With more than 50,000 building permits under its belt since its 1989 founding, Burnham Nationwide has ample experience with ADA compliance. Our very name alludes to a commitment to quality projects, honoring famed Chicago architect and urban planner Daniel Hudson Burnham who imbued greatness to every endeavor—big or small. So think about Burnham Nationwide as you contemplate your next project, and don’t forget to “like” us on Facebook!

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This year marks the fifteenth anniversary of the U.S. Green Building Council. Currently the leader of the green building industry, this organization, as you know, is responsible for running and overseeing the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) ratings. Projects that have been awarded LEED certification exist all over the world, and to help mark their fifteenth year anniversary, we are including this brief look at USGBC history.

The USGBC was formed as part of a vision. Its founders wanted to improve the way that we live on the Earth. They wanted our buildings to work at sustaining rather than depleting our planet. Part of The USGBC’s fundamental purpose was to make green buildings a cultural norm. Part of their vision was to make green building so commonplace that eventually anyone working on a building project would embrace its methods and technologies.

No USGBC history would be complete without looking at the personal histories of the organizations’ founders. Most interviews with the principals of this organization reveal that these individuals have had a relationship with the environment or with nature that originated during their childhood. The concept of green building has existed since the 1980’s. However, the core of the USGBC was formed in the 1990’s when then president Bill Clinton asked members of the American Institute of Architects to work on greening the White House. Several of the people involved in that project branched off and helped to form the USGBC.

While working on formalizing their building standards and certification levels, they also engaged in a number of community rebuilding projects. After Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, members of the USGBC went to this city to help with its rebuilding efforts. They were primarily able to focus on the schools in that area, and they helped to rebuild many of them in ways that made them healthier, sturdier, and more environmentally friendly than the buildings that had been destroyed.

After a tornado destroyed Greensburg, Kansas in 2007, the members of the USGBC arrived to help rebuild this small town. They worked to make this city a green model that has been noticed by developers and architects from around the world. USGBC has helped to quantify and define the effects of using green technologies in building. This pragmatic approach has helped many developers to understand the cost and environmental benefits of these technologies, and thus, it has encouraged many developers to embrace these technologies. Over the last fifteen years of USGBC history, they have brought green construction from relative obscurity to its current central role in society.

Now, this organization wants to promote green building at a rate that competes with the speed of global warming. Currently, they claim that only three percent of building efforts are green enough. However, the USGBC is working on ways that they can continue to promote LEED standards on a larger scale. For instance, they are trying to figure out how to create infrastructure elements that can be used to make entire cities greener. Ideally, they want projects to be just as concerned with how people get to their buildings and with the environmental impacts of the areas around their buildings as they are with their own green materials and building technologies.

The ultimate goal of the USBGC is to address two large issues: the effects of the industrial revolution and the effects of the world’s quickly growing population. In order to do that, they must stage not only an environmental movement but a cultural movement. They are searching for universal solutions that can endow people’s lives with meaning while also revitalizing their neighborhoods and improving the environment.

Bob Berkebile, one of the principal architects with the USGBC, has referred to Einstein’s comments about man and nature. According to Berkebile, Einstein identified an adversarial split between men and nature. Einstein claimed that if people were able to break free of this illusion, they will be able to finally see the universe as a friendly place. USGBC history is relatively short. However, their goals are immense, and the organization will undoubtedly be around a long time as they strive to reach their goal of creating sustainability within a generation.

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Professional code consulting services can save you a lot of time and money. Such a service will analyze the building plan and then work with the company to make sure that all aspects of the construction or renovation comply with local regulations. While it may cost a bit of money to hire such a service, it is more than worth it in the long run.

One particularly important service is getting a third party analysis of your proposed building plan. This analysis will help to pinpoint any aspects of the plan that would not meet municipal and ADA regulations. For minor home alterations, a permit may cost anywhere from $40 up to a few hundred dollars. However, the cost of submitting a permit for a large building will generally be a few thousand dollars. If the permit is rejected because some aspect of the building plan does not meet municipal regulations or ADA regulations, then the money spent on the permits will be lost.

It is also important to realize how much time can be lost by applying for a permit and then having it rejected. For minor home repairs, a permit may take up to two weeks to process; commercial building permits will always take longer than this. Having a permit rejected means that you not only lose money but also a lot of time.

Due diligence surveys for existing structures are also very useful. A thorough survey will ensure that the building does not in any way violate local laws and regulations. Consider the fact that constructing an apartment building may cost anywhere from $100 to $140 per square foot; larger commercial buildings cost more than this. You will naturally want to make sure the job is done right so that it will not have to be redone. You should also realize that you could be fined or even sued if some aspect of the construction is not up to par. The cost of this is hard to estimate, but it can be enough to bankrupt your business.

These are just a few examples of how code consulting services can save you a lot of time, hassle, and money. If you are looking for a professional service of this nature, then Burnham Nationwide is a good option. The company is well equipped to work on either residential or commercial projects and has the expertise needed to make sure the construction work goes well and that there are no errors the first time around.

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When constructing or renovating a building, it is very important to be aware of ADA requirements. These requirements are quite specific and ensure that physically disabled people are able to access all parts of the building. Keeping ADA building requirements in mind when planning the construction or remodeling will help you to get a permit faster and avoid having to redo a large portion of the work. Following is a quick overview of important ADA requirements regarding elevators.

Specific Requirements

Every building that is over three stories in height must have at least one elevator. Large buildings may have a service elevator; if this building is only for employees, then it does not necessarily have to meet ADA requirements regarding wheelchair space. However, all other elevators in the building must have a 54″ depth by 80″ width. In short, there should be enough space for a wheelchair-bound individual to enter, maneuver to reach the controls, and then exit the elevator.

The call buttons must be either raised or flush, and they have to be at least three quarters of an inch in diameter. Furthermore, the buttons both inside and outside of the elevator must be within the reach of a person who is in a wheelchair or power scooter. All public buildings are also required to have raised and Braille floor designations on both jambs.

The elevator must stay open automatically for at least three seconds and the two-way communication device in the elevator cannot be more than 48″ from the floor. There must also be both a visual and audible signal indicating that the elevator has reached a designated floor. This signal must also indicate which elevator is answering the call.

Staying abreast of all the ADA building requirements can be a challenge. However, there are companies that can help you review building plans and make sure that the elevators and other aspects of the building are ADA compliant. Burnham Nationwide specializes in providing services of this nature and can ensure that the plans for the construction or renovation of a building meet all ADA requirements.

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Developers are becoming increasingly interested in green building technologies. Some of them want to utilize these green building methods so that they earn LEED points. Others are interested in how it impacts the resale value of their project, while still others want to include these technologies because they reduce carbon emissions and improve the environment of the planet. However, with new advances being made everyday, it can be difficult to decide which green elements to include in your next project.

The consultants at Burnham keep a close eye on technologies that are being tested and developed. They strive to understand which of these technologies will be the most relevant for their clients’ projects. In some cases, they even find it advantageous to study how these technologies are being utilized in other countries. Japan, for instance, is doing some groundbreaking work in the arena of green technology.

One of the green building technologies becoming more popular in Japan is the fuel cell. These devices create electricity and heat by utilizing hydrogen. Because they rely on electro-chemistry instead of the burning of fuel, they have a very efficient rate of conversion. Some are as efficient as 87 percent. Currently, in the United States, these cells are sometimes used in commercial buildings, and some smaller PEM (Polymer Electrolyte) cells are used in transportation. In Japan, however, more and more of these cells are being used in residential homes. In fact, 3,000 of these cells have been installed in Japanese homes since 2008. They reduce a home’s fuel consumption by 24 percent, and they reduce a home’s CO2 emissions by almost 40 percent. However, these units can cost up to $30,000. Technological advances will lower their price to about $5,000 by the year 2015. As this market matures, Burnham will have a close eye on it to ascertain when and how it will become a useful feature for their clients.

The team at Burnham also keeps a close eye on other emerging technologies. Whether you are interested in integrating Japanese HVAC technology into your next project or learning more about air cleaning paint, the team at Burnham has the answers that you need. They study green building technologies, and they know which ones offer the best environmental benefits and the best return on investment for your project.

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Meeting the ADA building requirements in a bathroom can be difficult for a building manager, business owner, or homeowner. It can be a rather overwhelming task to ascertain which requirements need to be met in which bathrooms and how to best meet those requirements. As part of the Burnham special experience, clients are guided toward the requirements that they need to follow, as well as given ideas about how to best meet those requirements.

The ADA requirements deal with everything from grab bars in toilet stalls and shower stalls to the correct placement of mirrors. However, none of the requirements are cut and dry. They all include numerous exceptions to the rules, which are necessary to know but can also be difficult to understand. For instance, one of the ADA building requirements mandates that the grab bar on the side wall of a toilet stall be a minimum of 42 inches in length, a maximum of 12 inches from the back wall, and extend a minimum of 54 inches from the rear wall. The guidelines concerning grab bars along the rear wall of the toilet stall are just as specific. However, there are exceptions for the length of the rear bar in cases where the wall space does not have room for the minimum length due to recessed nearby fixtures. The guidelines concerning grab bars in showers are just as specific, and there are an additional set of guidelines that govern seats and controls in showers and baths.

On the other hand, if your bathroom is only going to be used by a single occupant and is only accessed through a personal office area, it is not a requirement to follow all of these rules. However, the requirements do state that the walls in the showers must be made strong enough to accommodate the addition of grab bars in the future. Even mirrors must be hung a certain distance from the ground.

When creating a bathroom in a public facility, it is important to follow the ADA building requirements. However, without the right consultant to guide you, the process may be cumbersome and tricky. The staff at Burnham is available to answer all of your questions and help you with this process.

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Meeting the ADA building requirements during construction is only the first step in creating a building that is accessible for everyone. Facility managers and city employees must continue to work hard to keep their facilities and walkways accessible at all times. They must ensure that their elevators, lifts, toilets, entrances, and other accessible features remain in working order at all times. Those who live in cold climates also face the unique challenge of keeping their ramps, walkways, and parking spaces free of snow and ice so that they too remain clear for the public.

ADA building requirements that cover keeping these features in accessible condition are outlined by the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG). However, their maintenance is overseen by the Department of Justice (DOJ). The DOJ permits access or service to be interrupted for occasional maintenance and repair, but they stipulate that snow and ice must be removed as quickly as possible to ensure continued access. If access must be interrupted for an extended period of time, the facility must make amendments to help people access their facilities in different ways.

In the case of interrupted access to a walkway or path, city officials can identify other routes for mobility impaired pedestrians to take. If the lift to a library is not working due to ice or other issues, the employees at that facility should help their mobility impaired patrons retrieve library materials. If snow or ice is limiting access to the programs and amenities in a certain building, the building’s managers need to remove it as soon as possible. If they cannot get rid of the snow or ice quickly, they should make alternative arrangements for their patrons.

Snow removal is an unavoidable part of living in a cold or snowy climate. However, it can be minimized by taking certain steps. For instance, when designing trails or walkways, developers should pay close attention to the technical provisions of the surface. They should consider the path’s slope, its cross slope, its treads, the available passing space, and any obstacles that may occur on the path.

The type of material that is used on the walkways is also important. ADA building requirements include regulations about which types of surfaces make a walkway useable for those in wheelchairs or those with other mobility impairments. These surface coverings differ depending upon whether the surface is indoors, outdoors, on a ramp, or on a walkway. The surface must have a friction coefficient that falls within an acceptable range. Some surface materials that do not provide enough resistance from slipping may be coated with other materials that make the surface more slip resistant. Developers should also closely examine the different needs of different types of walkways. For instance, the rolling resistance that is necessary on a ramp may require the ramp to be coated with a different material than a nearby flat path.

Selecting the best surface materials is essential, regardless of the climate where you live. However, people who live in snowy climates also have to address snow removal in their designs. Traditionally, this task was the work of city employees or facility staff members. Now, however, certain types of technology can be implemented into these walkways to make the snow and ice melt more quickly.

Project developers or contractors can integrate snow melting systems into their surfaces. These melting systems can include radiant heat, solar-thermal systems, geo-thermal heating systems, and permeable pavement options. If integrated correctly, these elements will encourage the snow and ice to melt quickly to make these areas accessible faster. Some of these options can earn a project LEED points. To discuss the best ways to integrate these elements into your project, you can discuss your options with a consultant from Burnham Nationwide. As part of the Burnham special experience, they can help you to analyze the long term cost benefits of including snow melting systems under pathways as opposed to paying excessive snow removal costs.

Systems that melt snow can even be included retroactively in most projects. However, it is substantially cheaper to include these elements into the initial stages of the project. Thus, if you are in the infancy stages of your project, you should consider the benefits of including these types of systems immediately.

ADA building requirements are an important part of making places accessible for everybody. However, it is also essential to maintain the accessibility of these areas. This is particularly challenging in snowy climates. Building managers and city officials must ensure that they implement snow clearing programs. However, they can minimize the cost of these snow removal teams when they integrate snow melting elements into their projects.

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A third party inspection is one that is performed by an organization other than the one who is developing the project and other than the entity that oversees the project. In some municipalities, an approved third party inspection can be done in lieu of an inspection by the governmental body that oversees construction in that area. In other cases, developers or contractors may wish to have an independent entity like Burnham do an inspection prior to submitting their project to its formal inspection.

In the District of Columbia, as well as some other places, some non-governmental entities are allowed to do plan reviews and field inspections. They can certify that the project has met the correct construction codes, and they essentially take the role of government for a project. The third party agency can be a corporation, a partnership, or an individual, but it must be registered in the correct district. Furthermore, it must also maintain certain requirements in order to continue to perform inspections.

However, most third party inspections are actually done prior to the official inspection. These inspections offer a project developer the chance to ensure that his or her project meets all of the necessary building codes. If a mistake is detected, it can be quickly amended before the project has to undergo their official inspection. This allows the project to pass their inspections more quickly and with fewer problems.

Most third party inspections for commercial projects start with a walk through of the property and a visual inspection of it. The third party may also meet with the owner or contractor and review the project’s plans. They can examine the project’s construction methods, their plans, and they can even monitor the performance of the project’s contractor. After the inspector completes their analysis, they can provide the project manager with a list of potential problems and can advise on how to improve these pitfalls. The inspection can be comprehensive, or it can simply examine a small element of the project. Some of the areas that you may consider having inspected include air conditioning units, concrete, floors, heaters, skylights, stairways, and much more. If you are interested in a third party inspection or further details of how it could benefit your project, you should contact the team at Burnham.

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