This session will explore several different types of interior finishes and information that is required from interior designers and product representatives in order to provide a complete and correct specification section. Several interior specifications – Ceramic Tiling, Acoustical Panel Ceilings, Tile Carpeting and Wood Panels – will be covered as examples of interior specifications that require more than just selecting the material color/pattern/texture. The session will also focus on the differences between product data sheets, sometimes mis-labeled as “specs”, information on product websites and true CSI specification sections. Installation and industry standards that should be referenced as well as coordination with other specification sections will be discussed. Finally, items frequently forgotten in the specifications, such as transition strips, underlayment, surface preparation, mockups and protection will be identified.
Upon completion of this session, participants will be able to:
1. Identify the elements of a typical interior finish specification section
2. Determine how to find the necessary information on manufacturers’ websites
3. Assess what questions to ask in order to provide a complete specification section
4. Discuss common examples of what can go wrong in interior finish specifications
Speaker
Ivette Ramirez Bruns, CSI, CCS, is currently Senior Associate|Specifications at Ratio Architects, Inc. She has been an active member of the Indianapolis Chapter of CSI since 1995. She has held several positions with the Indianapolis Chapter including Board Member, Secretary, Education Committee Chair, and Membership Chair and is currently President-Elect. She has also been involved with the CSI Great Lakes Region including Great Lakes Region President, Education Committee Chair, Awards Committee Chair and Presenter at several GLR Conferences. She helped update the most recent GLR Strategic Plan and is working to update the CSI Indianapolis Chapter Strategic Plan. She has been on the committee to organize several GLR Conferences and was on the Host Committee for CONSTRUCT in Indianapolis in 2009. Her primary focus in her career is to educate those that work with her and inspire those coming into the industry to continue learning more about the technical information and specifications behind the design.