Comments on: Fixing Window Leaks in Tall Buildings http://chicagowindowexpert.com/2010/04/06/fixing-window-leaks-in-tall-buildings/ Nobody knows more about windows. Tue, 24 Apr 2012 20:21:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jimmy Otero http://chicagowindowexpert.com/2010/04/06/fixing-window-leaks-in-tall-buildings/comment-page-1/#comment-4872 Jimmy Otero Sun, 06 Nov 2011 23:29:45 +0000 http://chicagowindowexpert.com/?p=2005#comment-4872 Mark, Good morning. I hope the “freakish” snow storm hasn’t impacted you too bad. Thank you for such a swift reply. I totally agree with you about the under regulating. Edwards AFB is in the Mojave Desert. The typical weather forecast calls for winds to be variable, 5-5 MPH with 25 MPH gusts (5-20 MPH winds are considered normal, but “an unpleasant part of the desert”). Folks here don’t get concerned unless winds reach or gust 50 MPH (about 15% of the year). I am authorized by OSHA to teach 10-Hr and 30-Hr (OSHA 500). However, wind strengths are never discussed, nor have I heard them discussed. I heard that there is an ANSI standard that covers wind, but until I see it, I’m treating that as a rumor only. I once stopped a window washing operation due to what I perceived was too strong winds (by referencing a nearby wind sock). This was at the Los Angeles Unified School District headquarters (I was the safety director there). I took a lot of heat initially, but once everybody cooled down, we contacted the mobile scaffold manufacturer (probably our only authority for any operation). The wind sock indicated 20 MPH, the manufacturer said they restrict ops at 14 MPH. As far as a competent person goes, I sure wouldn’t sign a statement claiming that operations in the winds were safe. The fact is, we have tower climbing, craning, scaffold, and other forms of high work that would also be affected by winds. Thanks again for your insight. It’s always good to hear from informed people. Best regards, Jimmy Otero Mark,

Good morning. I hope the “freakish” snow storm hasn’t impacted you too bad. Thank you for such a swift reply. I totally agree with you about the under regulating. Edwards AFB is in the Mojave Desert. The typical weather forecast calls for winds to be variable, 5-5 MPH with 25 MPH gusts (5-20 MPH winds are considered normal, but “an unpleasant part of the desert”). Folks here don’t get concerned unless winds reach or gust 50 MPH (about 15% of the year). I am authorized by OSHA to teach 10-Hr and 30-Hr (OSHA 500). However, wind strengths are never discussed, nor have I heard them discussed. I heard that there is an ANSI standard that covers wind, but until I see it, I’m treating that as a rumor only.

I once stopped a window washing operation due to what I perceived was too strong winds (by referencing a nearby wind sock). This was at the Los Angeles Unified School District headquarters (I was the safety director there). I took a lot of heat initially, but once everybody cooled down, we contacted the mobile scaffold manufacturer (probably our only authority for any operation). The wind sock indicated 20 MPH, the manufacturer said they restrict ops at 14 MPH.

As far as a competent person goes, I sure wouldn’t sign a statement claiming that operations in the winds were safe. The fact is, we have tower climbing, craning, scaffold, and other forms of high work that would also be affected by winds. Thanks again for your insight. It’s always good to hear from informed people.

Best regards,

Jimmy Otero

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