Things to consider when zoning your workspace

June 1, 2010  |  Resources

Compiled by Juli Case My company will be moving our awning shop to a new location. How should I zone my shop? The answer is going to depend on two things: (1) what kind of work is done in your shop, and (2) what your city has to say about it. First, consider whether you … <div><a href="https:…
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Explaining prevailing wages for federally funded jobs

June 1, 2010  |  Resources

Compiled by Juli Case I’m working on a government job and I’m told I have to include the “prevailing wage” on the bid. What’s that? The Davis-Bacon Act requires that federally funded construction jobs pay workers the prevailing wage, which are determined by the U.S. Dep…
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Accessing a fabric’s flame spread

June 1, 2010  |  Resources

Compiled by Juli Case The local fire marshal is asking what the flame spread is on the fabric I’m using. The material is certified to NFPA 701; is that the same thing? No. Flame spread is the propagation of flame away from an ignition source and over a surface. The flame spread number comes fr…
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Defining HDPE fabrics

June 1, 2010  |  Resources

Compiled by Juli Case We were looking at some shade cloth material and it said it was made from “HDPE.” What does that mean? HDPE is the abbreviation for High Density Polyethylene. From a chemical standpoint, that means there is less branching that occurs in the molecular composition of …
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Explaining UV-protected materials

June 1, 2010  |  Resources

Compiled by Juli Case My company makes temporary shelters, and I’m wondering: When the product literature on a fabric says that the material has been UV protected, does that mean the fabric itself has been protected or that it offers protection from sunlight? Given enough time, sunlight tends …
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Having fabric tested to UL specifications

June 1, 2010  |  Resources

Compiled by Juli Case My client wants me to use a fabric that is tested to a UL specification. Does that have to be done at UL? Underwriters Laboratories is an independent organization that specializes in writing safety-related specifications. If your client wants a material that is certified by UL …
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Finding suppliers through CSFM certificates

May 1, 2010  |  Resources

Compiled by Juli Case I’m trying to track down a fabric, and all I have is a number from its CSFM certificate. Can this lead me to the supplier? Yes, it can. The California State Fire Marshal’s (CSFM) office publishes lists of companies currently certified by them for flame-retardant fab…
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FED-STD-191A, Method 5120

May 1, 2010  |  Resources

Compiled by Juli Case We’re trying to compare some fabric test methods, but have been told that the methods we’re using are out of date. Is method 5120 still valid? You’re talking about a federal test method, specifically a method within Federal Test Method 191A. FED-STD-191A was a…
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SIC codes for awning companies

May 1, 2010  |  Resources

Compiled by Juli Case Which SIC codes are used for awning companies? SIC stands for Standard Industrial Classification, a method that was used, beginning back in the 1930s, to gather data on the United States economy. Companies are grouped by a category, determined by what products they produce or h…
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Awnings that handle the snow

April 1, 2010  |  Awnings & Canopies, Resources

Compiled by Juli Case We had a lot of snow this winter, and now I have a customer who wants an awning that can ‘handle’ snow without collapsing or that can even melt snow. Do those things exist? We’ve never heard of an awning that can melt snow. It’s an interesting concept, b…
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