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Important Changes to IPC that All Geoprofessionals Should Know About

GBA Geotechnical Business Committee

New language in the 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC) will explicitly mandate how under-slab plumbing is to be protected from expansive soil, reducing professional liability risk for geotechnical engineers. Rather than wait for local building codes to adopt the 2024 IPC (which will take several years), the Geoprofessional Business Association (GBA) recommends that member-firms address this issue now for project sites with expansive soils and start referencing the new 2024 IPC language now in their geotechnical reports. Details of the code change and GBA’s recommendations are provided below.

Background for Code Change
Geotechnical engineers occasionally get tangled up in litigation related to leaky plumbing. While plumbing design and construction are not within the geotechnical scope of work, when expansive soils are present at a site the geotechnical engineer will need to address potential problems with foundations, floor slabs, and other structures. Water from leaking plumbing can cause expansive clay soils to swell much more than anticipated.

That increased swelling can compound the issue by making leaks even worse, potentially leading to failure of the plumbing and/or structural damage to a building. This damage can be greater, and more expensive to repair, when the floor slab is isolated from expansive soil but the plumbing is not. When these plumbing failures occur, the resulting litigation is often unfairly targeted at the geotechnical engineer of record by association due to the role of expansive soils.

IPC Code Change
To reduce the risk of plumbing failures and resulting litigation, changes in the next edition of the IPC have been made that prohibit the use of plumbing that is directly or indirectly in contact with soil in the active zone below floor slabs that are isolated from expansive soil (e.g., slabs that are over a crawlspace or voidforms). In these cases, the plumbing below the structure must be entirely isolated from contact with the soil. Prior to this code change, plumbing that is only partially isolated (i.e., proprietary products are used to create indirect contact between the plumbing and the expansive soil) has been allowed by building officials. However, there are concerns about those products failing because they do not actually isolate the plumbing from expansive soil movement. The full text of the new code requirements is provided below.
These improvements to the IPC were proposed by the Structural Engineers Association of Texas (SEAoT). SEAoT also submitted to the IPC a 14-page rationale statement for the change which was based on a review of the state of the art, recent litigation, a publication from the Foundation Performance Association, and various products on the market. SEAoT’s proposal was supported by GBA, the American Institute of Architects, the American Council of Engineering Companies – Texas, and several individual engineers from various design disciplines. A representative of GBA testified during the International Code Council’s hearings on these changes earlier this year. GBA’s tehttps://www.aia.org/stimony was provided by Steve Wendland, PE, PG, DGE, a member of the GBA Board of Directors, who summarized the litigation experiences of GBA member firms that had dealt with this problem.

Reduce Your Risk – Take Action Now
New editions of codes are typically not put in force by local governments until a few years after their publication, but GBA member firms can act now to reduce their risk as the standard of care changes. Rather than waiting years for these new plumbing code provisions to be enacted by the local government, GBA recommends that member firms act now for project sites with expansive soils. Taking this action now will also be beneficial for projects where the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) is in force; the UPC will not be making similar changes. For geotechnical reports on projects with expansive soils where the floor slab will be above a crawlspace or void forms, GBA recommends that the reports include recommendations that are consistent with this new section of the 2024 IPC, regardless of whether the IPC or the UPC is locally adopted. Specifically, the following (or similar) text could be used in a geotechnical report:

•      The expansive soils at this site will undergo shrink and swell with changes in moisture content. This soil movement can damage plumbing below the structure, especially where it connects to or penetrates the structure. Damaged plumbing will leak, causing significantly more swelling of the soils, leading to possible failures of the plumbing or structural damage to the building. The project mechanical engineer should account for this concern in their designs.
•      Where slabs are isolated from expansive soils by an under-floor voidspace, such as with a crawlspace or a space created by voidforms, under-slab plumbing should be suspended so that plumbing, hangers, and supports are isolated from the expansive soil by a voidspace. The void space should be a minimum of [insert dimension] inches vertically clear above the subgrade and a minimum of [insert dimension] inches horizontally clear between the subgrade and any plumbing, hangers, or supports. To protect and maintain the voidspace, soil below it should be sloped or benched on a minimum of [insert number] units horizontally for every 1 unit vertically, or structurally retained in accordance with an approved design methodology that accounts for lateral expansion of expansive soil.
•      It should not be permitted for the plumbing, hangers, and supports below the slab or below the framing to be in contact with soil or any assemblage of materials that is in contact with soil within the active zone. As a clarifying exception to this recommendation, it is acceptable for plumbing to be suspended by a deep foundation system. These recommendations for isolation of plumbing can be met by installing anchors and plumbing within a crawlspace after an isolated slab is installed. It should not be permitted for a slab and plumbing to be lifted off the subgrade as an assembly to create the voidspace unless the under-floor space is a crawlspace with access to allow inspection of plumbing after lifting. At each location where a plumbing line transitions to a buried condition beyond the perimeter of the foundation, an adequately flexible expansion joint should be provided in the plumbing system to accommodate the effects of expansive soil swelling and shrinking. The flexible expansion joint should also be isolated from soil and accessible for maintenance. These recommendations for isolation of plumbing do not apply to the portions of a plumbing system that provide drainage of an under-floor space.
•      Several proprietary or patented systems are available on the market which are intended to isolate plumbing from expansive soil subgrades. However, many of these systems do not meet these recommendations. The project mechanical engineer should only use plumbing isolation systems on this project that are compliant with these recommendations.

Here is the final text of the new section that will be added to the 2024 IPC. The code changes are published on the International Code Council (ICC) website at https://www.iccsafe.org/products-and-services/i-codes/code-development-process/2021-2022-group-a/. Please note that the section numbers that are shown below may change before final publication:

               305.8 Expansive Soil. Where expansive soil is identified under buildings in accordance with Section 1803.5.3 of the International Building Code, but not removed in accordance with Section 1808.6.3 of the International Building Code, plumbing shall be protected in accordance with Section 305.8.1 or 305.8.2.

             305.8.1 Non-Isolated Foundations. Under foundations with slabs that are structurally supported by a subgrade, it shall be permitted for plumbing to be buried.

            305.8.2 Isolated Foundations. Under foundations with a slab or framing that structurally spans over an under-floor space which isolates the slab or framing from the effects of expansive soil swelling and shrinking in accordance with Section 1808.6.1 of the International Building Code, the plumbing shall be suspended so that plumbing, hangers and supports are isolated, by a voidspace, from the effects of expansive soil swelling and shrinking.
Exception: It shall be permitted for plumbing to be buried if the plumbing provides drainage of an under-floor space.
To protect the voidspace, soil shall be sloped, benched or retained in accordance with an approved design methodology.
It shall not be permitted for the plumbing, hangers and supports below the slab or below the framing to be in contact with soil or any assemblage of materials that is in contact with soil within the active zone. It shall not be permitted for a slab and plumbing to be lifted as an assembly to create the voidspace unless the under-floor space is a crawlspace with access to allow inspection of plumbing after lifting.
Exception: It shall be permitted for the piping, fittings, hangers, and supports below the slab or below the framing to be
in contact with structural elements of the foundation that are designed to resist the effects of expansive soil swelling
and shrinking in accordance with Section 1808.6.1 of the International Building Code.
Organic materials subject to decay shall not be used for hangers, supports and soil retention systems. Materials subject to corrosion shall not be used for hangers, supports and soil retention systems unless protected in an approved manner.
Where plumbing transitions to a buried condition beyond the perimeter of the foundation, an adequately flexible expansion joint shall be provided in the plumbing system to accommodate the effects of expansive soil swelling and shrinking.

Summary
Expansive clay soils can be even more challenging when mixed with leaky plumbing. Such a failure and the resulting litigation was documented in GBA Case History 108 (podcast here). Changes that will be made to the 2024 IPC will reduce the risks caused by this situation. Until that new code is in force, geotechnical engineers should consider adding guidance on the topic, as summarized above, to their geotechnical reports.

Notice of Changes: Future GBA Conference Schedule

Forward
For more than 50-years, GBA has delivered two conferences annually, one in the Fall and one in the Spring. This will not change because GBA conferences provide timely and valuable information that our members use to manage risk and optimize business performance and our conferences promote networking to enhance collaboration and lessons learned.

Background

During the COVID pandemic, GBA held three Conferences and  one Winter Leadership Summit using virtual platforms. This was a “silver lining” for GBA and our member firms as the virtual environment delivered high-value content deep into our member firms. In fact,  the attendance of GBA Conferences during the pandemic far exceeded  our expectations with more than twice the number of people attending virtually as normally attend a GBA conference in person.

GBA’s Board of Directors is continuously looking for innovative ways to provide value to our members in support of our purpose and strategy, and one way is to build on the success of virtual conferences.

A New Direction

Building on the successes of the virtual platforms and in support of GBA’s purpose and strategy, the Board of Directors has chosen to hold the 2022 Spring and 2023 Spring Conferences as hybrid events, which will include both in-person and virtual attendance options on our normal Friday/Saturday schedule.

Additionally, the Board decided the 2022 Fall Conference will be delivered entirely as a virtual event, with the goal of delivering high-value presentations, collaboration opportunities, and networking events to a larger audience of GBA members and avoiding travel and a weekend commitment by attendees.

All involved in these decisions recognize this is not how we have normally held conferences, and the new format may be difficult for some. This will be an opportunity to try a new approach that we hope will benefit more employees of member-firms, have a greater impact on your risk management and loss prevention, all while elevating our profession.

Looking to the Future

GBA will evaluate the effectiveness of the virtual 2022 Fall Conference before making decisions about future Fall events.

Please Join Us:

Please plan now to join your geoprofessional associates at our future conferences:

GBA 2022 Spring Conference
April 7-9, 2022*
Marriott Marquis, San Diego Marina Hotel
San Diego, California
A Hybrid Event

GBA 2022 Fall Conference
October 25-27, 2022**
A Virtual Event

GBA 2023 Spring Conference
April 20-22, 2023
Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort and Spa
Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
A Hybrid Event

* registration (both live and virtual) will be available January 24, 2022
** tentative conference dates to be confirmed by January 1, 2022

NEW! Best Practices: Software Validation

Surveys indicate most GBA Member-Firms do not have a formal process for validating software or spreadsheets before they are used. This Best Practices document reviews the risks of using commercial software and spreadsheets blindly or without validation which may lead to inaccurate results and exposure to loss and litigation. It also provides recommended practices to manage risk by increasing accuracy of spreadsheets and software that you can start implementing now.

Read More:  HERE

Toddies with Tom ~ November 12, 2021

                                                                                                          YOU ARE INVITED!

                                                                                          Toddies with Tom ~ November 12, 2021

You are cordially invited to join GBA’s President Tom Blackburn for a casual afternoon of information and social networking with friends and colleagues from across GBA. Tom will introduce you to friends as we wind down the week and toast the weekend with a seasonal beverage.

Please join us for a fun and informative hour.

Date: November 12, 2021
Time: 5:00 PM Eastern

Request Link: HERE

Topics will include:

Double Down on Risk Management and Loss Prevention – David L. Coduto, President and CEO (Terra Insurance Company). Investment in risk management and loss prevention provides significant ROI. Mr. Coduto will share risk management and loss prevention tips and claims statistics with the audience to illustrate the benefits of proactive risk management.

Introduction to Peer Groups – Stu Thompson, P.E., (CTL Thompson, Inc) Chair of the Peer Review Committee. GBA created Peer Groups for CEO’s to share information and support one another while confronting the challenges of leading in their respective firms. It is an opportunity to both give and receive best practices and solve common problems together. GBA has expanded this effort by forming Peer Groups for Chief Operating Officers (COO’s), Chief Financial Officers (CFO’s) and Human Resources Managers of Member Firms. Each Peer Group is limited in size and GBA provides a facilitator. Topics are selected by the participants and focus on the most pressing issues.

What’s up with EIT? – Jeff Gebhard, P.E., (Braun Intertec) Chair of Emerging Issues and Trends Committee Fresh off Halloween, join us as we peer into our crystal balls and decipher the issues that may impact our profession in years to come! We’ll review some of the trends discussed during our recent meeting held concurrent with the Fall meeting. We’ll also share highlights from our last Crystal Ball Workshop as we prepare for our next Workshop in 2022. We want to hear what you think will most impact your operations as we consider issues of staffing, supply chain, engineering education, client management, work-from-home, artificial intelligence and more!

Tom’s Toddy Toast: Spiced Citrus Mulled Wine
As winter weather sets in for most of the country, and we gather with family and friends for the holidays, mulled wines have been a favorite since the 2nd Century AD when Romans created the drink to fortify themselves against the cold.

Ingredients:
• 1 bottle cheap red wine
• 1 shot of Port
• 1 orange, cut into wedges and pierced with cloves
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon **
• ½ teaspoon nutmeg **
• 1-3 tablespoons of brown sugar (based on preference)

Mixology Instructions: Heat all of the ingredients together on medium for 20 minutes. DO NOT BOIL! Remove from heat and serve warm.

**Ground spices can make the wine gritty. Use whole spices when possible or remember to strain the mix before serving to improve the look**

For those in a more festive mood, cranberries, cherries, pomegranates, apples and pears may be switched in to enhance the flavors.

Food pairings: Stilton or cheddar cubes and grapes make a great snack, but lately my go-to has been cucumber slices with a drop of cream cheese and topped with smoked salmon. For the more adventurous, figs wrapped in bacon is a perfect compliment for this strong flavored cocktail.

History of Mulled Wine: While some thought the spices carried medicinal benefits, the drink was created to help extend the life of lesser quality wines. Long before the Clean Water Act and disinfection processes changed our life expectancy, it was safer to drink wine than water. But what to do with the “bad” batches? Ancient Greeks devised a way to upcycle the wine by adding spices to improve the flavor. I suspect any medicinal value was derived from the vitamin C and antioxidants in the oranges, apples, pears, and pomegranates. Heating the mix helped blend the flavors and warm your guests before sending them out into the cold. While freezing may be less of a concern to modern consumers, mulled wines live on for their storied history and association with our fond memories of holidays spent with good company.

Bonus Info: Can you reheat leftover mulled wine? Yes! Just remember not to boil it

GBA Fall Conference Recordings Available On-Demand

Those that attended GBA’s 2021 Fall Conference agreed that the presentations were educational, entertaining, and inspiring. Now you can watch, listen to, and learn from these speakers too, on your own schedule.

These videos are available for all GBA members on-demand at your convenience.

Watch Now

Download the handouts

Recordings Include:

FA21-01 Lessons Learned from the FIU Bridge Collapse

On March 15, 2018, six people lost their lives after the partially  constructed pedestrian bridge at Florida International University in Miami collapsed. This case study presented by Aaron J. Mann, Esq., explores the evolution of this project, including decisions made and discussions that took place in the crucial days and hours before the collapse. Rather than a purely technical discussion about the structural shortcomings of the bridge, this presentation focuses on the ethical issues encountered in the final days of the project, the investigations and lawsuits that followed, and the impact to the project team. It is our hope that we can all learn from this tragedy. (58 minutes)

FA21-02 West Fork Upper Battle Creek Diversion

Jason Thom, P.E. (DOWL) Project Award of Excellence Winner, presents this project.  The WFUBCD construction project consisted of three miles of new access road, two miles of large diameter pipeline, a concrete core rockfill diversion dam, and the pipe outfall channel. It began in 2018 and was completed on time and 1% under projected cost of $47,782,000 in 2020, despite logistics challenges and because of innovative technologies. (48 minutes)

FA21-03 Emerging Leaders Class Outro:

Vice-Chair Tiffany Vorhies, NACE CIP-2 (SME) moderates this full force  team of ELC panelists, who share how being a part of this class has brought value to their firms and enhanced their personal and professional development through connection, problem-    solving, and leadership opportunities. As expected, these emerging leaders bring energy, enthusiasm, and a few surprises. (37 minutes)

FA21-04 Emerging Leaders Class Recognition Ceremony:

This conference is a reunion for us all. And it’s a special reunion for our Class 4 Emerging Leaders  who,
having worked closely together for two years, almost completely remotely. We celebrate their  accomplishments         
as a team and recognize each of them individually. (13 minutes)

 

 

 

 

FA21-05 Instant Memory Training for Success: The ABC’s and 123’s for Developing a Powerful Memory

Learn from the world’s leading memory skills expert! In this fun and interactive presentation, U.S. Memory Champion Chester Santos (International Man of Memory) helps you develop life changing skills. Learn how to easily remember names to facilitate building better relationships. Chester also helps to fuel your professional and personal development by unlocking your mind’s hidden power to easily remember facts/figures, processes/procedures, famous quotes, foreign languages, exam/training material, and much more. This is an entertaining, educational, and “memorable” program! (72 minutes)

FA21-06 Joining Forces in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: A Conversation Among Consultants

Diversity, Equity, and inclusion (DEI) is an important topic in our industry, especially in light of changing demographics and the competition for talent. In this panel discussion moderated by  Veronica De Freitas, P.E. (Universal Engineering Sciences, LLC), a geoprofessional industry leader, Michael E. “Mike” Hutchinson, LG, LHG (GeoEngineers, Inc.), joins a DEI professional consultant, Jahmad Canley (Potential Unleashed), to discuss the challenges and opportunities they have encountered while working together to create a sustainable and inclusive culture; their experiences in executing diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies in a technical organization; success stories; and ideas for how each of us can help foster a more inclusive working environment at our own firms. (51 minutes)

FA21-07 Communicate with Strength: Key Words That Undermine Your Effectiveness

Got the right words? Laugh and learn in this session filled with the latest solutions in effective communication, based on neuroscience principles. What are you saying that’s causing your staff and clients to subtly feel uncooperative or defensive? Karen E. Purves, M.A.(Innovative Impact) tells you and gives you replacement words and phrases that lead to more efficient messaging and smoother collaboration. Her goal is to educate and inspire geoprofessional leaders to communicate in a more effective manner with employees, clients, and family/friends and to leave you with an immediate, specific action plan. (50 minutes)

FA21-08 Business Effects of Shifting Cannabis Rules and Regulations

With even more states trending towards the legalization of medical and recreational cannabis, the rules and laws related to cannabis use in the workplace are also evolving, causing employers to face a host of challenges in response. Rochelle Doyea, Esq. (Cairncross & Hempelmann) and Terence Scanlan, Esq. (Cairncross & Hempelmann) discuss significant changes made to several  states’ anti-discrimination laws; how these changes impact employers’ obligation to accommodate cannabis medical treatments; best practices for employers’ drug testing procedures and policies in compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements; and the employers’ duty to accommodate on- or off-duty medical or recreational cannabis use. (49 minutes)

FA21-09 Engineering Challenges of the 21st Century :An Overview of Engineering Change Lab-USA

The world is facing an unprecedented wave of change. Accelerating technological progress,  rapidly evolving societal needs, and growing environmental imperatives (including climate change) present significant, existential challenges and opportunities.

This presentation by Michael P. “Mike” McMeekin, P.E., ENV-SP (Engineering Change Lab-USA) provides an overview of ECL-USA, its history, vision/mission, and key learnings about the future of engineering. We also focus on the topics of ECL-USA’s most recent summits: the future of engineering licensure, climate change and the future of engineering, and the engineering firm of the future. (51 minutes)

FA21-10 Dam Safety, Dam Politics: An Historical Perspective:

Drawing from the author’s award-winning book “Heavy Ground: William Mulholland and the St. Francis Dam Disaster,” this provocatively illustrated presentation by Donald C. “DC” Jackson, Ph.D. (Cornelia F. Hugel Professor of History, Lafayette College) provides an account of how and why the St. Francis Dam came to be built, its relationship to LA’s municipal water supply system and California’s 1917 dam safety law, the geological  character of the site and the cause of the dam’s tragic collapse, political factors influencing post-failure investigations, and how these investigations related to the impending Congressional passage of the Boulder Canyon Project Act (which authorized what is known today as Hoover Dam). (62 minutes)

Watch All the Presentations HERE

New Podcast Episode: Case History #105 – Friends Don’t Sue Friends….Most of the Time

2021 Photo Contest Winners Announced

GBA is committed to promoting the value of geoprofessionals and for our 2021 photo contest we asked Members to share: “How do you depict the day in the life of a Geoprofessional?”

With over 90 photos submitted this year, the pride of geoprofessionals was on full display.

We think you will agree, these vibrant photos capture our members in field activities, meeting with colleagues and clients, and observing safety in some amazing locations.

All winners’ photos will be featured on our website and during the 2021 Fall Conference in October. Thank you to all who submitted photos.

And the winners are:

Grand Prize Winner

Photographer: Luke Ducey (Geotechnolology)
 Description: Drilling piers for the St. Louis Arch Grounds early morning. Museum renovation and expansion. Downtown, St. Louis, Missouri.
Congratulations Luke Ducey . Luke will receive a $100 gift card, Grand Prize winner’s plaque and be recognized during GBA’s 2021 Fall Conference.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall Runner Up:

Photographer: James “Jim” Potts, EIT (DOWL)                                                                         

Description: DOWL Geologist, Paul Pribyl performs peat probes in a wetland along the proposed Sterling Highway MP 45 to 60 Project. Jim will receive a plaque, $50 gift card and be recognized during GBA’s 2021 Fall Conference.

 

 

 

Overall Second Runner Up:

 

 Photographer: Paul Glasser, CPG (SME)

Description: Barton Malow/Homrich demolishing former Premier Parking Deck to make way for new skyscraper at the former J.L. Hudson’s Site. Hardman Construction installing  additional bracing/rehabilitating existing tiebacks. Paul will receive certificate, $50 gift card and be recognized during GBA’s 2021 Fall Conference.

 

 

 

Geotechnical Category Winner:

Photographer: David A. Belcher, P.E.   (Terracon)

Description: A 60-inch diameter auger drilling into bearing material (gray shale) for a bridge crossing a shallow creek onsite.

Amazon DDX3 site at DFW Airport Dallas/Fort Worth, TX.

 

 

 

 

Environmental Category Winner:

Photographer: Eric Nunn, P.E. (Inberg-Miller Engineers)
Description: Inberg-Miller Engineers performed an environmental and geotechnical investigation at a proposed commercial development in Casper, Wyoming.IME advanced 12 test borings at the proposed site and collected soil samples.

 

 

 

 

Construction Materials Testing and Inspection Category Winner:

 

Photographer: Travis Wambeke, P.E., P.G. (GeoProfessional Innovation)
Description: Early morning Concrete placement; this crew amassed at 3am, 500+ cy concrete slab placement, the future home of a 155,000+ ft2 manufacturing facility.

Safe Working Practices Winner:   

                                                                                               

Photographer: Luke Ducey (Geotechnology)
Description: Wearing a beekeeper’s hat as PPE to try and avoid  getting stung by wasps that made nests in well caps while sampling groundwater.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Client Collaboration Category Winner:

 Photographer: Ennis Smith (SME)
Description: Ean White explaining Army Corp DCP results and hand auger findings at                                                                                            the I-75 project on Corporate Drive in Troy, Michigan.

 

 

 

General Interest Category Winner:

Photographer: Courtney Leigh Newcity (ECS Southeast, LLP)                                                                         
Description: Courtney, a geotechnical engineer loves to explore places before they are built on. This is one of her series of photos called “Abandoned Georgia”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you to all who submitted photographs and to the photo contest selection committee:

Saiid Behbodi, P.E., G.E. (PBS)
Jeremy L. Larsen (Kleinfelder)
James Landrum, P.E. (Ollson)
Sara Menase (GBA)
Lindsay Pearsall, CPC, CTS (Aspect Consulting)
Fernando Pons, P.E., LEED AP (PONS&ASSOCIATES)
Mitch H. Quick, P.E.(STRATA)
Jeff Stewart (O’Neill Service Group)

 

 

 

Toddies with Tom September 17 , 2021

You are cordially invited to join GBA’s President Tom Blackburn for a casual  afternoon of information and social networking with friends and colleagues from across GBA. Tom will introduce you to friends as we wind down the week and toast the weekend with a seasonal beverage. Please join us for a fun and informative hour.

Date: September 17, 2021
Time: 5:00 PM Eastern
Register: E-mail GBA Here

Topics will include:

Welcome Tom Blackburn (Blackburn Consulting) GBA President

“What Makes Consulting Firms More Valuable?” Rebecca Zofnass, (EFCG)

“Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Geoprofessions” Veronica DeFreitas, P.E., (Universal Engineering Sciences, Inc.) Chair of DEI Committee. Ms. DeFreitas will share the results of GBA’s research regarding the pipeline of the profession, recent GBA podcast episodes on the topic, and our planned initiatives to help Member-Firms promote DEI best practices. Our most recent initiative includes a Best Practice document for promoting DEI in your organization.

“Post Graduation– What’s Next for GBA’s Emerging Leaders Class?” Tiffany Vorhies, NACE CIP-2 (SME) and Ryan White P.E., G.E. (PBS Engineering + Environmental) Vice Chairs of Emerging Leaders Class 4
As Class 4 prepares to graduate, we will learn from the Emerging Leaders Class Vice-Chairs about the future of podcasts, graduates participation in DEI initiatives and plans to deliver GBA’s message to the geoprofessional community. Tune in for an update on what the future holds for this outstanding class of emerging leaders.

Tom’s Toddy Toast: Summer Rye                                                                                                                     
This month Tom suggests we all enjoy the refreshing taste of the Summer Rye as the days get shorter and we gather enjoy each other’s company.

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ oz your favorite rye whisky
• ¾ oz elderflower liquor (optional)
• ¼ oz simple syrup
• 1 oz apple juice
• Splash of champagne (optional)
• Add: apple slices to garnish

Mixology Instructions: Fill a shaker with ice cubes. Add rye whisky, elderflower liquor, syrup, and juice. Shake and strain into a champagne glass. Top up with champagne. Garnish with apple. Let the sweet apple flavors and hints of spice prepare you for the cool fall nights.

Food pairings: Dark Chocolate is a favorite food to pair with anything. Lucky for us it’s also a good pairing for the full-bodied flavor of rye whisky. For those who want something more substantial, consider a strong cheese or smoked meat board. Keep it rich and bold to complement the flavor palate of the whisky.

History of the Rye Whiskey: Rye whiskey was historically the prevalent whiskey in the northeastern states, especially Pennsylvania and Maryland. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was the center of rye whiskey production in the late 1700s and early 1800s. By 1808, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania farmers were selling one half barrel for each man, woman and child in the country. By the 1880s, Joseph F. Sinnott’s distillery, Moore and Sinnott, located in Monongahela, Pennsylvania, was the single largest producer of rye whiskey, with a capacity of 30,000 barrels a year.
Rye whiskey largely disappeared after Prohibition. A few brands, such as Old Overholt, survived, although by the late 1960s former Pennsylvania brands like Old Overholt were being distilled mostly in Kentucky.

Differences between rye and bourbon: Rye grain is known for imparting what many call a spicy or fruity flavor to the whiskey. Bourbon, distilled from at least 51% corn, is noticeably sweeter and tends to be more full-bodied than rye. As bourbon gained popularity beyond the southern United States, bartenders increasingly substituted it for rye in cocktails such as the whiskey sour, Manhattan, and Old Fashioned, which were originally made with rye. All other things being equal, the character of the cocktail will be drier (i.e., less sweet) with rye.

 

New Podcast – Case History #86: Dream Home or Nightmare?

GBA Emerging Leaders Class

GBA has published over 100 case histories based on real-life events that have happened to geoprofessional firms. GBA Case Histories are unique because our members share real-life stories of problems that impacted their businesses. They also include the outcomes of corrective action, and lessons learned.

This episode in the series explores Case History #86 where the GBA member firm conducted a geotechnical engineering study and performed COMET services during earthwork for a builder on a single-family home in an area where expansive shales are interbedded with sandstone. The member firm advised for slope-stability analyses. Eight months after construction was complete, the foundation started to move, creating distress in the slab and some walls. Remediation attempts were unsuccessful and as a result the project went to litigation.

Listen to Podcast: New Podcast – Case History #86: Dream Home or Nightmare?

Hooked on Environmental Engineering

Board Member Spotlight – Brad Melocik

My father was an engineer. As a child, I had no idea what he did at work, but he was an amazing problem-solver and could fix anything. For that reason, I held him, and his title, in high esteem. Through my childhood and into high school, I had an affinity for water—I enjoyed fishing, surfing, water skiing—and that love of water eventually bled into the classroom, where I was fortunate enough to take classes in marine biology and Chesapeake Bay biology. I was introduced to books like The Last Waterman, where I learned that the area where I lived in Maryland had been teeming with fish and wildlife before development and pollution.

These experiences helped me realize the importance of the relationship between human society and the natural environment; with an interest in water and a desire to study the environment, I attended the University of Florida and aimed at becoming an environmental engineer. As I completed the requisite courses of the standard engineering curriculum, I quickly learned which areas of study piqued my interest and, just as importantly, those area of study that did not. With the fundamental courses successfully behind me and the opportunity to select more of my  own classes to suit my interests, I gravitated to all things water resources. Finally, as I moved into my senior year, I secured an internship at a small local engineering firm working on the St. Johns River in South Florida to develop water quality sampling devices. Not long after, I was able to work on those farms and irrigation channels for the installation and implementation of the devices that I had been developing… and I was hooked!

My passion really grew after graduation, when I moved back to Maryland and got a job working for a medium-sized engineering firm in their transportation department. My new boss asked me if I had a pair of waders (of course I did) and then asked if I could show up early (5 a.m.) on my first day. Over the next five years I was lucky enough to work in the field performing geomorphic assessments and scour analyses for bridge structures, which fueled my passion. As part of my training, I had the opportunity to travel west to Colorado to attend Dave Rosgen’s Wildland Hydrology courses in stream morphology and restoration, which in turn developed into a newfound love for the mountain west.  After a few hunting trips to Wyoming and Montana that solidified my feelings, I realized that I needed to move to an area where I could experience the mountains.

This led my wife, Allison, and I to travel to Alaska in March of 2004 to visit some friends in Anchorage and to see if we could possibly make a life for ourselves amongst the mountains of Alaska. I had previously spent nearly a month in Alaska during the summer of my freshman year in college, and this trip reminded me of why Alaska is so special. The sun was shining, the mountains came right down to the water, and the people were friendly and helpful. While we were there, our friends had a party and invited their friends in the engineering field. That night I learned about DOWL, and my life would change forever.

We moved to Anchorage in June of that year, and I started my career at DOWL a couple weeks later as a member of the transportation group, where my work included managing the drainage aspects of projects, but also working on retaining walls, sidewalks, roadways, culverts, etc.  The experience was invaluable, and I was able to see these projects through multiple lenses, make connections in the industry, and learn how to manage multi-disciplined teams.

Now, as a professional with more than 20 years of experience under my belt, I’m enjoying the time spent with GBA activities. My journey with GBA began in 2007, when I enrolled in Fundamentals of Professional Practice (FOPP), and continued in 2011, when I joined GBA’s New Leaders Committee. My experience with GBA has been a great one. I felt a connection with my fellow committee members immediately, and I enjoyed attending the GBA conferences. Eventually I landed in the Emerging Issues and Trends Committee and later served as Chair. The connections and work I do with GBA continues to challenge me to move forward and think differently. The conferences and committee work give me time to step back, look at the big picture beyond deadlines and project budgets, and focus on things like employee retention, technology, and engaging myself and others around me. My GBA friends have been a great help, readily providing me with assistance, guidance, and answers to my questions. This group fosters a community within the geoprofessional field that brings me back time and time again. I am grateful for the opportunity to expand my involvement with GBA and look forward to contributing in meaningful ways to this empowering organization.

When I am not working, I can be found with my family at the hockey rink or outside  enjoying the great outdoor opportunities that Alaska has to offer. Mountain biking, hiking, fishing, and hunting bring me closer to nature and help me maintain perspective and balance in my life. My happy place is a cabin in Cooper Landing, about 100 miles from Anchorage; it’s the perfect mix of remote wilderness, mountains, river – and community. Somehow, through perseverance, dedication, and a dash of luck, I’ve been fortunate enough to find myself in the type of place I dreamed of years ago when I left Maryland at the onset of my professional journey.

 

New GBA Case History: Suspiciously variable test results?

Resource Collaboration Committee                                                                                     

A public-school district (the “District”) retained the Member Firm to perform geotechnical-engineering studies for several buildings at two schools. The Member Firm’s geotechnical reports both contained identical recommendations for “select” fill to be used in constructing the building pads for the schools.

The District retained different design teams for the two schools and the Project Specifications for the two schools, not surprisingly, differed significantly, and neither were completely consistent with the recommendations that the Member Firm provided in their geotechnical-engineering report.

A field representative testing compaction of the building pad fill identified inconsistencies and discovered onsite mixing of native soil with import material, a clear violation of the geotechnical recommendations. The earthwork sub-contractor was forced to remove and replace the structural fill for all the nearly completed pads which triggered a legal dispute. The Member Firm avoided losses emphasizing the importance of field representatives that know project specifications, observe daily field activities closely, and communicate with project management to identify construction defects and potential risks.

Lessons Learned include:
• Project Risk is Inversely Proportional to Project Size, and Complexity, and Budget
• Trust Your Gut
• If You See Something, Say Something
• Half a Loaf Isn’t Always Better than None
• Protect Yourself. Don’t Rely on Others

Case Histories are real-life stories about GBA member-firm experiences. They provide background, problems, outcomes, and lessons learned. There is no easier way to learn expensive and time-consuming lessons than from others that went through the pain first and shared their experiences so we can all learn.

GBA Case Histories are free to all members.

Download Case History #110: HERE

Vic Donald Selected for Professional Practice Ethics and Leadership Award

 

On July 15, 2021, Victor “Vic” Donald, P.E., M. ASCE (Terracon)  was notified of his selection as the 2021 winner of the Professional Practice Ethics and Leadership Award for “his superior ethics, innovative spirit, and love of learning and leadership that has shaped and forever changed the engineering profession.” This annual award is bestowed on one professional engineer annually through a joint award between GBA and ASCE.

Please take a moment to congratulate Vic Donald on this prestigious award and significant milestone in his career.

In 2005, GBA and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) instituted the Professional Practice Ethics and Leadership Award to promote and recognize civil engineering leadership in professional practice and ethics. The Foundation for Professional Practice, also established by GBA and ASCE, donated the funds to support this annual award which recognizes an engineer-leader for a specific accomplishment or for lifetime achievements that demonstrate superior ethics and leadership while participating in professional practice or service to the public.

Mr. Donald will be presented with an award and honorarium, and he will be recognized at GBA’s 2021 Fall Conference to be held October 21-23 at the Westin Lake Las Vegas Resort and Spa. He will also be recognized at a future ASCE event.

Read More about GBA and ASCE’s Professional Practice Ethics and Leadership Award: HERE

 

NEW! GBA BUSINESS BRIEF – Fiscal Year 2020-2021 Financial-Performance-Survey Report

We are coming out of the most disruptive business cycle in recent history due to the COVID-19 pandemic but most of our members report record financial performance.

How does your firm stack up?

For more than 15 years, GBA has been collecting key financial metrics from member-firms so our members can measure their success, improve business performance, and optimize efficiency. The newest GBA Business Brief — available only to members is free for all members and compiles data from GBA Business Practices Committee’s 2020-2021 Financial-Performance Survey, in a short report, covering key financial-performance issues of surveyed firms.

This report includes more data and trendlines so our members can track their progress on key financial indicators for companies that match your firm’s size.

In the spirit of our Association, GBA publications are a collaborative effort of GBA Member-Firms. They are provided to GBA   Members to make them stronger, smarter and more successful and they are FREE to all members.

 

 

Download Business Brief: FY 2020-2021 Financial-Performance-Survey Report

Toddies with Tom July 9, 2021

You are cordially invited to join GBA’s President Tom Blackburn for a casual afternoon of information and social networking with friends and colleagues from across GBA.

Tom will introduce you to friends as we wind down the week and toast the weekend  with a seasonal beverage. Please join us for a fun and informative hour.

Date: July 9, 2021
Time: 5:00 PM Eastern
Register: E-mail GBA Here

Topics will include:

Welcome Tom Blackburn, P.E., G.E., F.ASCE; F.ACEC (Blackburn Consulting) GBA President

“Critical Success Factors for a Healthy Business” David Coduto (Terra Insurance Co)
Terra Insurance Company is the highest rated professional liability carrier in the United States according to AM Best’s capital adequacy ratio analysis (BCAR). According to Best, our loss ratios are fractions of those of our competitors, and we believe that the CSF concept has helped us get there. When these factors are implemented in an engineering firm (along with other risk management and loss prevention measures and techniques), they tend to drive down expensive claims and enhance profitability. (10-minutes)

“How Do Member-Firms Keep Track of Subsurface Data?” – Carrie Foulk, P.E., G.E. (BSK Associates) Chair of Geotechnical Business Committee
Ms. Foulk will discuss what geoprofessional firms are using to provide easy access to their previously acquired subsurface exploration data. What software systems are available or are being developed to provide a graphical database? What are our member firms using? (10 minutes)

“Introduction to GBA’s Resource Collaboration Committee” Chuck Gregory, P.E. (Terracon Consultants, Inc.) Chair of the Resource Collaboration Committee. The mission of the RCC is to Collaborate with other GBA Committees, GBA Staff and non-GBA sources to facilitate updates of most valuable reference material. Mr. Gregory will give us an update on Case Histories Made Easy. (10 minutes)

Tom’s Toddy Toast: Summer Shandy
This month Tom suggests we all enjoy the refreshing taste of the Summer Shandy as we relax and enjoy each other’s company.

Ingredients:

• 8-12 oz of your favorite summer beer. For best results, consider lighter beers like wheat beers, pilsners,  and light lagers

• 6-12 oz your favorite fruit juice or soda, though lemonade, lime soda, and ginger ale are traditional go-to’s. Bonus: consider watermelon, cranberry ginger, or pineapple for a refreshing new summer flavor

• Add: Orange, lemon, or lime slice for garnish

Mixology Instructions: Pour the beer into the glass, about half full. Pour the lemonade or soda into the glass. Add garnish. Voila! A frosty glass or mug keeps the drink cooler in hot summer weather.

Food pairings: Keep it light! Shrimp quesadillas, fish tacos, pineapple salsa & chips or light summer salad fresh from the garden

History of the Shandy: First appearing in Britain in the 1850s as a shandygraff, the shandy was born of innovation. Facing shortages of critical beer supplies, inn keepers needed a way to fill demand from thirsty customers. Though often relegated to the working classes and their shandy-antics, a version of the shandy has popped up across the globe. It’s German cousin, the radler, was born of a need to satisfy a crowd of bicyclists in need of refreshing beer to quench their thirst and their spirits. The renowned author Charles Dickens noted the shandy was “the perfect alliance between beer and pop.” The shandy maintains its widespread popularity due to its simplicity, easy availability of ingredients, and ability to change flavors to suit every taste.

 

Annual Report Published

GBA’s FY2020-2021 Annual Report was prepared for the Board of Directors and all Member-Firms to report progress and highlight key accomplishments of the Association during the fiscal year 2020-2021. It is intended to keep all members current with significant accomplishments of the Board, Committees, and Task Forces and all the volunteers that support it.

Includes Updates on:

• Association Membership                                                             
• Annual Awards
• Conference Attendance
• New and Updated Publications and Podcasts
• Alliance Organizations
• Association Finances
• GBA Committees
• Other Notable Accomplishments
• Plans for Fiscal Year 2021-2022

Please check it out and share your thoughts with us HERE

Download Annual Report: HERE