Load-bearing tower
Doka’s newest product, the Staxo 100, is a high-performance load-bearing tower for commercial and heavy civil construction. This galvanized steel frame shoring system, which is already being used in Europe, uses a small number of system components for easy handling, and the units can be assembled in a variety of ways to fit a range of field conditions. The product can handle a leg-load capacity of up to 90 kips per leg and is designed to adapt to varying layouts, floor shapes, and loads. The frames come in three different heights and contain provisions for height adjustment within a fraction of an inch. The towers also include a built-in ladder system and tie-off points for personal harnesses.
Doka USA, www.dokausa.com
Digital file management system
Bluebeam Software, Inc., released the new Bluebeam PDF Revu 8, a file management system designed to make sharing, reviewing, and managing project drawings and documents easier. The program integrates PDF creation, markup, and editing into a shared digital space that reduces the need to print files.
Bluebeam Software, Inc., www.bluebeam.com
Updated BIM Software
The newest version of Tekla Structures BIM software, Tekla Structures 16, was recently released to the public. Tekla Structures BIM software provides a dynamic and data-rich 3D environment to be shared by contractors, structural engineers, steel detailers, fabricators, concrete detailers, and manufacturers, and enables a high level of production control. Tekla Structures 16 includes improvements in workflow, solutions for cast-in-place concrete, IFC data exchange, utilization of reference tools, and more. The program was built according to Microsoft’s Windows 7 certification, allowing for more efficient online delivery of the software.
Tekla, Inc., www.tekla.com/us
Structural concrete-focused support blog
ADAPT recently an-nounced the creation of a new technical support blog at www.adaptsolutions.wordpress.com The blog was designed to make ADAPT’s technical knowledge base of post-tensioned and conventionally reinforced structural concrete more accessible. Users now have a two-way portal of communication to access information about the software, explore frequently asked questions, watch product videos, learn about known bugs, and more. Several blog categories are password protected; to obtain a password, e-mail support@adaptsoft.com or call 650-306-2410.
ADAPT, www.adaptsoft.com
Moisture control manual
ASTM International released the newest edition of Manual 18, Moisture Control in Buildings: The Key Factor in Mold Prevention. This second edition contains 28 chapters that focus on major issues in the process of moisture-resistive construction including fundamentals, applications, construction principles, and recommendations and implementation. This new edition includes three all-new chapters: Details and Practice, Quality Management in Design and Construction, and Development of Methods for Assessment of Moisture-Originated Damage. A companion CD is included and contains additional resources.
ASTM International, www.astm.org
Lateral design and bracing software
LateralWorx 2010, a new lateral design and bracing software tool, was recently released by Structural Soft and iLevel by Weyerhaeuser. This tool for wood-framed structures features the iLevel Shear Brace prefabricated wood shear panel. The program is designed for single- and multi-family homes and light commercial buildings and helps engineers save time when calculating lateral loads and designing shear walls. Using a CAD interface, the program allows engineers to import architectural plans for lateral analysis and design. The software’s unique features include the functionality to design structures with multiple plate heights and diaphragms within the same floor and the ability to address difficult shear transfer conditions and plan irregularities.
Weyerhaeuser Company, www.weyerhaeuser.com
