Rafn Company : Commercial General Contractor : Blog

Using Drones to Survey Existing Conditions

12/21/2017
2017Q4, SAFETY, QUALITY, FUTURE

On a current project in downtown Seattle now undergoing repairs to a 10 story concrete façade, the initial conundrum was to determine the most economical method for the structural engineer to inspect and document the existing conditions. After looking at the costs of two swing stage drops or a …

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Ground Improvement Using Rammed Aggregate Piers

12/14/2017
2017Q4

You walk out onto the construction site where a large excavator is beginning to dig down for a new building foundation. You’ve worn tall rubber boots, but a nervous feeling sets in as you begin to sink in the mud. If this site can’t even support your weight, how will it ever support the weight of the…

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How City Policy Contributes to Energy Efficient Buildings

12/07/2017
2017Q4, GREEN, FUTURE

Though we may take different paths to get there, we are all headed toward the same goal: reducing the carbon footprint of the built environment as we build for the future. In this article we will look at how Brussels, Belgium, Vancouver, Canada, and Seattle have implemented code changes to promote…

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Solar In Seattle

11/30/2017
2017Q4, GREEN

The 2015 Seattle Energy Code mandates the use of on-site solar infrastructure for buildings or additions over 5,000 square feet of gross conditioned floor area. This mandate can be found in code section C411 - Renewable Energy. The code allows for either photovoltaic systems, i.e. electrical…

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Prepped for Silica Compliance

09/25/2017
2017Q3, SAFETY

In the Tidbits section of our last newsletter, we shared a little about OSHA’s then upcoming rules for construction workers to reduce contact with respirable crystalline silica. The goal being to greatly diminish lung cancer, silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and kidney disease in c…

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