Engineering Newsletter - February, 2006

In the February NEWSLETTER we will discuss the requested minimum parameters for a concrete walk. There are two questions that determine the walk arrangement: Is the parcel residential or commercial and is there a tree lawn? With a tree lawn it is desirable to have a tree lawn of 8’ width with a 2’ width the minimum. The walks would be 4’ wide for residential and 6’ wide for commercial. The cross slope would be ¼" per foot. Sidewalks that are installed with out tree lawns would have a desirable width of 6’ in residential areas and 8’ in commercial areas. All slopes again are ¼" per foot. In special condition areas walks are wider to accommodate increased foot traffic. The downtown walk is desired to be 20’ wide with a 10’ wide minimum to allow for the increased interaction of foot traffic.

The concrete strength should be 4000PSI with depths of 4" in non-traffic bearing areas and 6" in areas that will have traffic such as aprons and ramps. All concrete shall have a 2" deep stone base and have curing agent applied.

WEB LINK of THE MONTH, Gives exact time

http://nist.time.gov/timezone.cgi?Eastern/d/-5/java

As always, you can count on McSteen and Associates, a multi-faceted second-generation family business that has been serving Northeast Ohio since 1970 to help you better design your project. The McSteen & Associates Engineering and Surveying Departments will design a quality product, using the experience gathered over many years of dealing with government agencies, in a manner readily accepted by the City Councils, County Engineers Office and the Recorders Office. The management team consisting of Terry Feller, President and Registered Professional Engineer and Surveyor, Tim Feller, Vice President and Registered Professional Surveyor and Debbie Feller CFO and Certified Public Accountant and the 62 employees in the offices in Cuyahoga, Lake, Summit, and Franklin counties will handle your project needs. A new office in western Cuyahoga County has recently been added to allow us to provide even more effective services. Local knowledge of the area, extensive records and experience with the area governments allows McSteen & Associates to go the extra mile to protect your investment.

Whether your needs are Mortgage Location and Boundary Surveys, Elevation Certificate, Commercial and Industrial Surveys or complete Engineering Design we are well staffed to provide the professional product you need. Each project will receive the personal service associated with working with a well-established family owned and operated business.

Humor of the Month:

Three men are sentenced to death for various crimes against a mythical and oppressive state. One is a priest, another is a drunkard and the third is an engineer. The first to face the executioner is the priest. When asked if he wanted to lie face down or face up on the guillotine, he said, "I’ll lie face up to look to the heavens for I have nothing to fear. When the blade was released it stopped half way down. The executioner exclaimed, "This must be divine intervention, you are pardoned." The drunk was next and he too wanted to lie on his back hoping to have the same luck as the priest. Again the blade fell half way and stopped. The executioner again exclaimed, " The Lord is generous today, you are pardoned."

Finally it was the engineer’s turn. He also chose to lie on his back. He lay on his back looking up at the heavy blade and just before the executioner pulled the rope to release the blade the engineer shouted," Wait, I think I see your problem."