By Brian Sullivan, Sullivan Engineering, LLCbsullivan@sullivanengineeringllc.com

As we approach the end of winterand the onset of spring, it is time toassess the effects that this harsh winterhas had on the building envelopes of ourproperties.

FAÇADES: Subfreezing tempera-tures, elevated wind speeds and signifi-cant snowfall all team up to wreak havocon building façades.

Cracks, in masonry units as well asmortar joints, that occurred due to aging,shrinkage, UV exposure, weathering,etc., allow water to accumulate. As waterfreezes and expands, the effect on the

surrounding masonry results in larger cracks, spalling or popped mortar joints.This, in turn, increases the quantity of water accumulation and ice expansionduring the next freeze/thaw cycle.

Unlike typical rainfall, snow clings to vertical surfaces of masonry façadesallowing for a prolonged period of absorption. Furthermore, since snowfall isnot usually followed by a period of warm weather, the walls do not dry out veryquickly. As a result, when we have sustained snowfall followed by heavy rain,as we did on February 1st, the masonry walls already saturated allow waterinfiltration relatively quickly.

A side effect to the significant amount of snow and ice accumulation thisyear, is the amount of de-icing salts utilized to treat sidewalks and roads. As

Continued on page 4

A SKYLINE RESTORATION PUBLICATIONVOLUME 1 • ISSUE 4 • WINTER 2011

SKYLINES@SKYLINERESTORATION.COM

InternationalConcrete Repair

Institute(ICRI)

National RoofingContractorsAssociation(NRCA)

New YorkAssociation ofRealty Managers

(NYARM)

ProfessionalWomen inConstruction

(PWC)

Real EstateBoard ofNew York(REBNY)

ScaffoldingIndustry

Association(SIA)

The New YorkLandmarksConservancy

USGreen Building

Council(USGBC)

Skyline Restoration Inc. - 1120 37th AVE, LIC, NY 11101 - T: 718.937.5353 - F: 718.937.5784 - skyline@SkylineRestoration.com - www.skylinerestoration.com - MEMBERS OF:

Effects of Harsh WeatherOn the Building Envelope

Photo:AlexanderPouris

THE VIEWS AND/OR OPINIONS CONTAINED WITHIN ARE THOSE OF THE DRAFTER AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE VIEWS AND/OR OPINIONS OF SKYLINE RESTORATION INC.

Sikalastic Traffic SystemsSikalastic Traffic Systems offer a full range of polyurethane,elastomeric, crack-bridging, waterproofing solutions forconcrete and plywood decks exposed to vehicular andpedestrian traffic. Page 2

By David May, RA, LEED AP, PrincipalSUPERSTRUCTURES

Engineering + ArchitectureDMay@superstructures.com

NYC Local Law 11 Cycle 7 is Different –Don’t Be Caught Off-Guard

After 30 years and six cycles, the reportingrequirements for the current Cycle 7 havechanged significantly. With the introduction of“Sub-cycles” and their staggered reportingdeadlines, building owners need to avoid beingcaught off guard. (See the table on page 2 toconfirm your building’s Sub-cycle).§ Sub-cycle 7A - (2/21/2010-2/21/2012):February 21, 2011 marked the mid-point ofSub-cycle 7A. Owners with buildings in Sub-cycle 7A have 12 months remaining in whichto file Cycle 7A critical examination reportswith the DOB. Any Cycle 6 SWARMP (safewith a repair and maintenance program) con-ditions that have not been repaired at thetime the report is filed with the DOB willdefault to UNSAFE, triggering violations andpotential penalties. If your building falls inSub-cycle 7A and has un-repaired Cycle 6SWARMP’s, you should take action now.

§ Sub-cycle 7B - (2/21/2011-8/21/2012):February 21, 2011 marked the start of Sub-cycle 7B. Sub-cycle 7B is only 18 monthslong. The Sub-cycle 7B reporting period endson August 21, 2012, and not in February, ashas been the convention for the past 30years. This which will certainly catch somebuilding owners by surprise. If your buildingfalls in Sub-cycle 7B, you should developyour compliance strategy now, particularly ifyour building has unrepaired Cycle 6SWARMP’s.

§ Sub-cycle 7C - (2/21/2012-2/21/2013): ThisSub-cycle does not officially commence until

Continued on page 2

In this new sectionof SKYlines, we willinform our readersof the latest newsfrom theEngineeringcommunity and theDepartment ofBuildings. We willtry to answer themost frequentlyasked questions.

ENGINEER’S CORNER

ISSUE 4 • WINTER 2011

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February 21, 2012. However, Sub-cycle 7C is only 12months long. The Sub-cycle 7C reporting period ends inFebruary 2013, which is just 24 months from now. Now is theright time to develop your compliance strategy – especially ifyour building has un-repaired Cycle 6 SWARMP’s.

Staggered Filing Periods:Cycle 7 is broken into three Sub-cycles, based on the

last digit of a building’s “Block” number (as in Block and Lot).

Cycle 7 Last digit of FilingSub-cycle “Block” number Period7A 4,5,6,9 2/21/2010 – 2/21/20127B 0,7,8 2/21/2011 – 8/21/20127C 1,2,3 2/21/2012 – 2/21/2013

For further information on NYC Local Law 11 visit:http://www.nyc.gov/html/dob/html/safety/facade_safety_program.shtmlhttp://www.nyc.gov/html/dob/downloads/rules/1_RCNY_103-04.pdfFor detailed information, and updates, visit:http://www.superstructures.com/index.php/local-law-11(Click on “Local Law 11” tab)

ENGINEER’S CORNERContinued from page one

In 2010 Sika Corporationintroduced Sikalastic TrafficSystems. Sikalastic TrafficSystems offer a full range ofpolyurethane, elastomeric,crack-bridging, waterproofingsolutions for concrete andplywood decks exposed tovehicular and pedestriantraffic. Applications for thisproduct line include multi-storyparking garages, parkingdecks and ramps, foot bridgesand walkways, mechanicalrooms, stadiums and arenas,plaza and rooftop decks, andbalconies. Complete singleand two component systemsin standard gray, charcoal andtan as well as optional highperformance aliphatic topcoats offer applicationflexibility as well as customand decorative options.

The Sikalastic TrafficDecoflake Systemincorporates the clear versionof Sikalastic 748 PApolyaspartic and SikafloorDecoflake blends to provide aunique decorative balconysystem that is much easier tokeep clean than typicalpolyurethane systems.Sikalastic 748 PA as well asSikalastic 735 AL and 736 ALLo-VOC single componentaliphatic top coats are alsoavailable in custom colors.

The introduction of theseproducts is the result of nearlytwo years of coordinatedefforts on the part of sales,marketing, R&D and techservice, including extensivefield tests throughout thecountry as well as exhaustivelaboratory and other testing inLyndhurst. The products beatcompetition in criticalperformance areas and are

fully compatible with Sikasealants and mortars. Theproduct line provides Sikasignificant opportunity tocapture volume business inthe parking garage market aswell as close projectspecification sales that

incorporate the full range ofSika’s repair and protectionsolutions.

To learn more about hisproduct line, please contactJoe Vullo, Metro NY SeniorProject Representative at516-680-4198.

By Joe VulloMetro NY Senior Project

Representative

1. 40,000 sf Sikalastic 710/715 TrafficSystem at Hope Garage in Memphis, TN.

2. 5,000 sf Sikalastic 720/745 TrafficSystem on parking ramp at UCLA.

3. Unique in the marketplace is Sikalastic748 PA polyaspartic top coat. Itsextended pot life and 100% elongation(ASTM D-412) make it an excellentsolution for stadiums, balconies andother applications requiring superiorcleanability and stain resistance. -Special thanks to Bruce Baker inLyndhurst tech service for the extraeffort in preparing this mockup todemonstrate superior solutions forstadiums for a group of ownersresearching options for their half-millionsquare foot project.

4. 12,000 sf Sikalastic 710/735 TrafficSystem in custom Seafoam forcondominiums in Oak Brook, IL.

5. 7,000 sf Sikalastic 710/735 TrafficSystem in custom tan on dome roofalong with matching Sikagard 550W aswell as Sika repair and corrosionmaterials at a municipal water storagetank in Brisbane, CA.

6. Decoflake Sahara patterns.

Sikalastic Traffic Systems

This year's World of Concreteconvention in Las Vegas,Nevada -- January 17-21 --presented professionalopportunities to theattendees, among them, eightSkyline Restorationassociates.This annual internationalcommercial constructiontrade show, for the concreteand masonry industry,attracted over 48,000professional registrants andshowcased over 1,200 indoorand outdoor exhibitors,offering innovative productsand technologies that canhelp the construction andrestoration industries tobetter serve their clients.The 2012 convention isscheduled for January 23-27,at Las Vegas ConventionCenter.

1. 2. 3.

4. 5. 6. Photos: Sika Corporation

By Daniel CallahanSkyline Restoration

daniel@skylinerestoration.com

Skyline Restoration recently complet-ed a project at 1515 Broadway (The MTVBuilding) that posed unique rigging chal-lenges.

The height of the building, soaring toover 750’, required that the rigging crewbe experienced to the point of perfection.

To add to the challenge, the shape ofthe building required a three-point systemincluding beam extensions beyond ful-crum point of up to 14’ in length to reachthe outside edge of the building’s “fins”.

One final obstacle was to reach thepeak of the “fins”. The pipe scaffoldingthat would support the outrigger beamswould have to be 80’ high from the near-est roof landing. All this at the leadingedge of the observation deck, 700’ aboveTimes Square.

Skyline Restoration’s rigging crewwas up to the challenge and never hadany doubt that they would be successful.

To approach the complexity of the rig-ging required the development of a con-cept that an engineer would be able totranslate into a working drawing to beapproved by the Cranes and Derricks ofDOB.

Following several site visits, sketchesand discussions between the writer andField Supervisor, Jhony Ramos, SkylineRestoration developed a workable designfor the rigging.

The three-point system consisted oftwo intersecting towers erected at thebroad wall of the fin supporting one beam,which in return supports a near cable droppoint. A second tower supported a beamthat picked a cable drop point on theopposite side of the tower at the outer-most point. A third tower was erected onthe opposite side of the fin at roof level,three floors above and 14’ back from theleading edge point supporting the thirdcable drop.

Wind presented a major challenge aswell. The rigs required attachment to thewall at intervals to avoid the rig from beingdestabilized, by utilizing the building’s

existing window washer channels andmodified C-clamp, for a movable trackingsystem.

In addition, the electric cables had

to be re-enforced at intervals to avoidstretching and breakage.

The project was a success in a workenvironment that had no margin for error.

ISSUE 4 • WINTER 2011

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Working on the EdgePROJECT

Otherwise known as “the fin building”this unique design in the heart of

Times Square is the most prominentbuilding in the square and is owned and

operated by SL Green Realty Corp.

Photos:AlexanderPouris

snow and ice are stockpiled at the base of a building wall, salts willmigrate from the melting snow and ice into the brick masonry, rapid-ly eroding the exterior face of the brick.

ROOFS: As we have observed this winter, heavy, wet snow canhave a significant impact on roofs, particularly low-slope roofs (a.k.a.flat roofs). In addition to potential structural failure, the increasedburden of heavy snow on roofs can open seams and cause tears inthe roof membrane, particularly at slope transitions (i.e. flat roof tovertical penetration) near expansion joints, equipment and pipe pen-etrations, as well as parapet and bulkhead walls.

Roof membranes can also be torn by the introduction of foreignobjects resulting from winter storms. HVAC panels, gutters, etc. dis-placed by wind and snow loads can create several voids in a mem-brane as they tumble across the roof surface. Likewise, the end of ametal shovel can do the same during well intentioned snow removal.

TEMPORARY STRUCTURES AND FIXTURES: The weight of snow,ice and icicles can have a dramatic effect on temporary structuresand fixtures. Signs, canopies, awnings, and all temporary structuresattached to the façade may have experienced movement or failureat attachment locations due to the added weight. Similarly, scup-pers, gutters, leaders and coping covers may loosen due to this sig-nificant burden. Snow and ice accumulation on window-mounted airconditioning units may have caused significant stress to windowframes if the units were not properly supported.

NOWWHAT? As weather permits, building owners and managersshould perform a thorough inspection of the building envelope toidentify any significant deficiencies and contact their building enve-lope expert with any questions or concerns. For more information onthis topic, feel free to check out Sullivan Engineering’s website

Effects of Harsh WeatherSkyline Restoration Launched Its NewWebsite SkylineRestoration.com

ISSUE 4 • WINTER 2011

Photo:NasKarasPhoto

Photo:EvaHatzaki

SAVE THE DATE Monday, July 18, 2011

Continued from page one

Thanks to all our friends and colleagues who accepted our invitation,Skyline Restoration’s party at Kellari Taverna, on December 17, was ajoyful holiday event.

... And a Happy New Year!

New SkylineRestorationOfficesin ManhattanSkyline Restoration is pleasedto announce the opening of itsnew branch office,conveniently located inmidtown Manhattan, at 1140Avenue of Americas.

Skyline Restoration's3RD ANNUAL GOLF CLASSIC

benefiting SmileTrainThe Village Club of Sands Point

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www.sullivanengineeringllc.com

On January 2, 2011 Skyline Restoration launched its new website with anextensive selection of current and completed projects. In addition to theprojects and profile pages, the “news” page covers our events andfeatures all past issues of SKYlines. The “clients list” page features thenames and links of clients and professionals we collaborated with overthe years.