Electronic Blueprint - testing the 'black box'
Electronic Blueprint and ENVIROSPEC provide building specifications
and training, on safe and sustainable buildings, for architects, engineers and
builders. Addressing the Concrete Institute of Australia (CIA), Rod Johnston provided
a personal perspective of 40 years of engineering developments and the "tools" that
assist our professionalism. He stated: "The Black Box is the repository of our engineering
knowledge and experience. It is what makes us engineers the "can do" people. It
distinguishes us from the other disciplines - The artistry of the architect and the
seriousness of the scientist. It comprises our:
- Ethics.
- Professional heritage.
- Procedures.
- Building Regulations and Standards.
- Experience and 'gut-feel'."
Among the many "tools" in the "black box" are regulations, standards and design documents.
In particular, he spoke of the proposed protocol for testing structural standards and BCA
referenced design documents, to ensure an acceptable structural reliability (indicator of
safety). "When a manufacturer or industry organization gets their design guides referenced
in the BCA, design engineers need assurance that the levels of safety will be consistent
with other more-commonly used standards... The structural reliability indices that result
from design in accordance with the BCA and various Australian Standards may be used as a
guide for other documents to be referenced."
For further information contact:
Electronic Blueprint
phone: +61 2 4360 2255
fax: +61 2 4360 2256
web: www.electronicblueprint.com.au
|
