'Know The Score: Building Codes'
a write up on the Building Code Discussions Group by IRED.com
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BUILDER
MAGAZINE features the BCDG! Builder
Magazine- The Magazine of the National Association
of
Home Builders, featured your BCDG in its January 2002
issue. "It's
the Law"
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Imad:
It was also my extreme pleasure to finally meet you. Your
work on the Building Code Discussions Group is very much
appreciated. It must give you great satisfaction to know
that you have created something that has such great value
to all of us. Keep the faith in good code.
Chuck Daleo, Code Consultant
I work for the Pacific ADA Center. We are nonprofit center providing information to the community with the goal of facilitating voluntary compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and similar disability rights legislation. This information is provided primarily via a toll free hotline (800-949-4232). For the past several years, we have relied on your BCDG- “Disabled Access/ADA/ANSI” forum as a valuable reference tool. The contributing members possess a considerable amount of knowledge and well-informed opinions on the subject of disability access.
Don Risdall
DBTAC: Pacific ADA Center
www.adapacific.org
It doesn't get much better than this! Naffa International,
Inc. is the one-stop for code compliance
information. Principals of this group host a discussion
group for building code questions. This is no sissy group
either. The participants are usually all professional
engineers, designers, architects, contractors and building
officials. It doesn't get much better than this. http://www.NAFFAinc.com: http://www.turnbow.net
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Building
Code Discussion Group (BCDG): Intelligent, advertising-free discussions
about all phases of construction, including answers
to building questions. Click "Guest" to read messages,
or become a member to post.
About.com, Architecture |
I
am really impressed by the quality of responses to the
queries. As a professional engineer and an expert witness
in this area for over 40 years, I have rarely seen a
service that gives real advice. Keep up the good work.
Charles E. Turnbow, J.D., P.E.
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Thanks
so much for hosting this forum. It is truly an invaluable
resource for those of us in remote locations who have
little other contact with our colleagues. This is
a very good interface which I intend to use often
and have recommended it to my staff. It allows
me to quickly and economically "discuss"
building code issues with others that are in the trenches
and dealing with similar issues on regular basis.
Thanks for a job well done and keep up the great work!
Chris Roust, Architect/Building Official, Juneua,
AK.
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Imad:
Without a doubt, your Building Code Discussion forum
is the definitive web location for building related
topics and issues. This is the ONE place I keep visiting
to stay on top of my profession. I can't help but
think, that the new folder will only foster the building
department related discussions so many of us deal
w/every day. THANK YOU.
Harry Chartier, CBO, City of Sitka, AK
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I
find the group to be professional and responsive. No
doubt the structure of it helps. Over the months I have
visited several regarding the code. The two AIA sites
have not been useful and I have stopped using them.
I use the ICBO one dedicated to the IBC but there is
not much going on there. I gave up on the sprinkler
site too. Anyway, congratulations and keep up the good
work.
Terry Patterson, AIA, Professor- OSU
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I
can't tell you how wonderful it is to have a code
forum where you can ask questions, get answers, and
discuss these issues. Thank you for this forum!
Ellie Ross, University of California System
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Dear
Sir:
We are very impressed with your forum and would like
to assist where appropriate. Thanks,
Jerry Razwick
Technical Glass Products
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I've
been ICBO-certified for 17 years and I am an ICBO
member. I follow this forum more often than any other
web site discussion area(s). This site is EXTREMELY
VALUABLE for us all. KEEP IT GOING! Sincerely,
Dennis G. Nolan, Project Coordinator
Nevada State Public Works Board
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in Sweden
Building codes, regulations and standards in U.S.A.
"For
further advice; there is a comprehensive web site
called "The World of Building Codes" where
you also can join the Building Code Discussions Group
Message Board and for instance, order recommended
books from the Building
Code Bookstore"
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Thanks
Imad. This forum has been very beneficial to me and
I guess that is why I have chosen to participate as
much as I do. I have used information from this forum
as an instructional tool for my other plans examiners.
I have visited other code forums and the "Building
Code Discussion Group" is the ONE I chose to participate
in because of the diverse membership that uses all
three model building codes. This forum goes along
with what the three model code associations are trying
to accomplish. The ICC is standardizing the model
codes and this group has the ability to standardize
the use of the new codes.
Thanks again,
Jack L Speelman, CBO
Senior Plans Examiner City of Sparks, NV
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I
have to agree, this forum is the BEST source of information
I have found anywhere. Keep up the good work.
H. Boeckmann, P.E.
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Greetings
from Texas! I just became acquainted with this discussion
group and I'm very impressed. I intend to be
a regular participant, as time permits.
Rick Baudoin, Administration & Inspection Manager
Texas Dept. of Licensing & Regulations.
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I
have used this forum several times since you suggested
I use this. I have received some good information and
have given, I hope, the same. The different ideas and
answers are good. It helps you to think out the problem
you have or someone else has. It has helped on a couple
already. This is a great tool, thanks for the suggestion!
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I
am an attorney who has had a number of code-related
issues pop up over the years (I've been doing more and
more work for an electrical contractor, for example).
Your forum seems like a good resource for information
and also to find knowledgeable people to bounce ideas
off.
David Butler, Attorney/Partner, Alpert Butler &
Sanders, P.C.
West Orange, NJ
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Thanks for the use of your software, CodeBuddy� Version
2.0. The software provides quick access to Uniform Building
Code requirements for Occupancy R buildings. Its summaries
and illustrations helped my understanding of those sections
of the UBC. I also appreciate this company's sponsorship
of the internet "Building Code Discussion Group" (http://bcodes.infopop.net)
where I was able to get code questions answered and
where numerous discussions of code related topics were
available for my review.
Terry Patterson, Architectural Professor, University
of Oklahoma
"Illustrated 2000 Building Code Handbook"
developer, McGraw-Hill- publisher
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Imad:
I am sorry that I have not been responding or participating
recently in this valuable forum. This is due to me changing
jobs as I have resigned my post as the assistant building
official with the County of Los Angeles and assumed
the post of building official with the City of Long
Beach. As I am getting a little breather now, and knowing
how valuable your forum is in assisting me with my new
duties, I want to begin again my contribution as well
as benefiting from the ongoing discussions.
Fady Mattar, P.E.
Superintendent of Building & Safety (Building Official),
City of Long Beach, CA.
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Name=Harry
Chartier, Building Official
City=Sitka, Alaska
DiscussionsLayout=2 (Very Good)
EaseofSiteNavigation=2 (Very Good)
EaseofSigningUp=3 (Good)
HelpfulInfoFound=1 (Best)
MostBenefittoMe=Building Code Discussions, Construction
Type, Fire Resistive Const., General Information.
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Name=Charles
G. Nai, Building Inspector
City=Enfield, CT
SiteLayout=1(Best)
EaseofSiteNavigation=1 (Best)
HelpfulInfoFound=1 (Best)
MostBenefittoMe=General Information
IwillBookMarkYourSite=Yes
Comments_FeedBack=Quite impressed ! Very nice layout,
interesting features. A wealth of info. Thanks !!
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Name=Keith
Utter, Building Official
City=Montague, N.J.
DiscussionsLayout=2 (Very Good)
EaseofSiteNavigation=2 (Very Good)
EaseofSigningUp=2 (Very Good)
HelpfulInfoFound=2 (Very Good)
MostBenefittoMe=Building Code Discussions
Comments_FeedBack= I am relatively new at this internet
thing, but am enjoying responding to various message
boards at a number of sites. This site is the most
code specific. I think the future of the codes are
going to increase the use of these sites as we enter
into the International Codes.
Is there or will there be a area that would contain
resumes or background information on members so that
you may search for particular expertise or perhaps
know the background of the respondent's. (This was
done since the message was posted)!
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Name=David
D. Ross, Architect
City=San Francisco, CA
DiscussionsLayout=2 (Very Good)
EaseofSiteNavigation=2 (Very Good)
EaseofSigningUp=2 (Very Good)
HelpfulInfoFound=2 (Very Good)
MostBenefittoMe=Building Code Discussions
FeedBack=I appreciated that they took the time to review
my CAD files and discussed my questions with a lot more
depth than at typical discussion group level
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Name=Bill
Sherman, Engineer-Structural
City=Denver, CO
DiscussionsLayout=2 (Very Good)
EaseofSiteNavigation=2 (Very Good)
EaseofSigningUp=2 (Very Good)
HelpfulInfoFound=3 (Good)
MostBenefittoMe=Building Code Discussions
IwillBookMarkYourSite=Yes
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Name=Tom
Liberty, Chief Building Inspector
City=Atwater, CA
DiscussionsLayout=2 (Very Good)
EaseofSiteNavigation=2 (Very Good)
EaseofSigningUp=1 (Best)
HelpfulInfoFound=1 (Best)
MostBenefittoMe=ADA & Access, Building Code Discussions,
Construction Type, Fire Resistive Const., Occupancy-related,
M/P/E, See what others are doing.
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Name=Barry
D. Yatt, Architect
City=Washington, DC
SiteLayout=1(Best)
EaseofSiteNavigation=2 (Very Good)
HelpfulInfoFound=1 (Best)
MostBenefittoMe=General Information, Fire Resistive
Const.
IwillBookMarkYourSite=Yes
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Name:
Ed Ruff
City=Richland, Washington
SiteLayout=3 (Good)
EaseofSiteNavigation=2 (Very Good)
HelpfulInfoFound=2 (Very Good)
MostBenefittoMe=General Information
IwillBookMarkYourSite=Yes
Comments_FeedBack=For some reason, your home page
is VERY slow to load.
The screen remains white for a long time...I have
to push the "Stop" icon on the browser toolbar
before any part of the page becomes visible. Don't
have this problem with your sub-tier pages.
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Name=Robert
Chiu
Profession=Educator
City=SANTA ANA, CA
SiteLayout=1(Best)
EaseofSiteNavigation=1 (Best)
HelpfulInfoFound=1 (Best)
MostBenefittoMe=General Information
IwillBookMarkYourSite=Yes
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Name=Debbi
Profession=Home
Owner
City=Edison, NJ
DiscussionsLayout=1(Best)
EaseofSiteNavigation=1 (Best)
EaseofSigningUp=1 (Best)1
HelpfulInfoFound=1 (Best)
MostBenefittoMe=General Information
FeedBack=Thank you for letting those of us "not in the
business" the opportunity to have the inside track to
understand what we're not being told by the "experts"
we hire and a place to come for honest advice! |
Name:
Chris Warrick, Building Official
City: Ukiah, CA
DiscussionsLayout: 2 (Very Good)
EaseofSiteNavigation: 2 (Very Good)
EaseofSigningUp: 1 (Best)
HelpfulInfoFound: 2 (Very Good)
MostBenefittoMe: See what others are doing
IwillBookMarkYourSite: Yes
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Name:
Brian W. Meek, Building Official
City: Yreka, CA
DiscussionsLayout: 1(Best)
EaseofSiteNavigation: 1 (Best)
EaseofSigningUp: 2 (Very Good)
HelpfulInfoFound: 1 (Best)
MostBenefittoMe: General Information
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Name:
Neil McCain, Educator
City: Grants Pass, OR
DiscussionsLayout: 1(Best)
EaseofSiteNavigation: 5 (Fair)
EaseofSigningUp: 5 (Fair)1
HelpfulInfoFound: 1 (Best)
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Name:
Dennis G. Nolan, Plan Checker
City: Dayton, Nevada/USA
DiscussionsLayout: 2 (Very Good)
EaseofSiteNavigation: 2 (Very Good)
EaseofSigningUp: 1 (Best)1
HelpfulInfoFound: 1 (Best)
MostBenefittoMe: ADA & Access
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Name:
Charlie Robinson, Builder
City: Guadalupe,CA
DiscussionsLayout: 1(Best)
EaseofSiteNavigation: 2 (Very Good)
EaseofSigningUp: 1 (Best)1
HelpfulInfoFound: 1 (Best)
MostBenefittoMe: Building Code Discussions
Date: 5/24/99
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Name:
Charles E. Turnbow, J.D., P.E., Expert Witness
City: Apple Valley, CA
DiscussionsLayout: 2 (Very Good)
EaseofSiteNavigation: 3 (Good)
EaseofSigningUp: 1 (Best)1
HelpfulInfoFound: 1 (Best)
MostBenefittoMe: ADA & Access
IwillBookMarkYourSite:
Comments_FeedBack:
Date: 6/11/99
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Name:
Fred Wilkie, Plan Checker
City: San Luis Obispo,CA
DiscussionsLayout: 2 (Very Good)
EaseofSiteNavigation: 2 (Very Good)
EaseofSigningUp: 2 (Very Good)1
HelpfulInfoFound: 1 (Best)
MostBenefittoMe: ADA & Access
Date: 6/11/99
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Name:
LG Nelson, Plan Checker
City: Vancouver, WA
DiscussionsLayout: 2 (Very Good)
EaseofSiteNavigation: 2 (Very Good)
EaseofSigningUp: 1 (Best)1
HelpfulInfoFound: 1 (Best)
MostBenefittoMe: Building Code Discussions
Date: 6/25/99
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Name:
Todd Andersen, Architect
Company: Rolph Jensen Group
DiscussionsLayout: 1(Best)
EaseofSigningUp: 1 (Best)1
HelpfulInfoFound: 1 (Best)
MostBenefittoMe: General Information
Date: 7/3/99
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Name:
Greg Swob, Building Official
City: Colby, Kansas/ USA
DiscussionsLayout: 1(Best)
EaseofSiteNavigation: 2 (Very Good)
EaseofSigningUp: 1 (Best)1
HelpfulInfoFound: 1 (Best)
MostBenefittoMe: General Information, ADA & Access
Date: 8/9/99
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Name=Carolyn
R. Williams, CPCA, CFI
City=Richmond, VA, USA
DiscussionsLayout=1(Best)
EaseofSiteNavigation=1 (Best)
EaseofSigningUp=1 (Best)1
HelpfulInfoFound=1 (Best)
MostBenefittoMe=General Information
FeedBack=Excellent resource for sharing information,
code interpretations/opinions, philosophical discussions,
etc. Have already been delighted with what I've gained
from this forum already; and look forward to much
more to come!
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Name=Richard
D. Bowen, AIA
Profession=Architect
City=Los Alamitos, California, USA
DiscussionsLayout=2 (Very Good)
EaseofSiteNavigation=2 (Very Good)
EaseofSigningUp=1 (Best)1
HelpfulInfoFound=1 (Best)
MostBenefittoMe=Building Code Discussions
MostBenefittoMe=General Information
MostBenefittoMe=See what others are doing
MostBenefittoMe=Software Info. on CodeBuddy
FeedBack=I have placed a couple of questions for review
and have received a lot of good information. I too
like to twist and turn the codes to see where they
will go and have fun reading about those twists and
turns. KEEP IT GOING.
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Name=B.K.
Profession=Designer
City=Birmingham, Alabama
DiscussionsLayout=1(Best)
EaseofSiteNavigation=1 (Best)
EaseofSigningUp=1 (Best)1
HelpfulInfoFound=1 (Best)
MostBenefittoMe=Building Code Discussions
FeedBack=As a designer I enjoyed seeing this forum!
A lot of designers today don't educate themselves
with code-related issues. I found the forum to be
a great site for designers, architects and code officials--
where we can really TALK and stop being cold to one
another!
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Name=Jay
Peters
Profession=Educator
City=Los Lunas, New Mexico
DiscussionsLayout=2 (Very Good)
EaseofSiteNavigation=2 (Very Good)
EaseofSigningUp=2 (Very Good)1
HelpfulInfoFound=1 (Best)
MostBenefittoMe=See what others are doing
FeedBack=As an instructor, I travel across the
country assisting contractors, journeymen, and inspectors
with mechanical and plumbing codes, duct sizing, heat
loads, licensing exams, etc. It has been very educational,
not to mention enjoyable, getting a well rounded education
from everyone else. By reading the Q&A's in this
forum I am reminded that I can learn something new
everyday. As a member of SBCCI, ACCA, IAPMO, ICBO,
ASHRAE and several others, I tend to jump around on
the internet and otherwise, but this forum (Building
Code Discussions Forum) has a little of everything.
Thanks & please keep it up to everyone!
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Name=Louis
A Marks, Jr.
Profession=Building Official
City=NEWPORT NEWS, VA
DiscussionsLayout=1(Best)
EaseofSiteNavigation=2 (Very Good)
EaseofSigningUp=1 (Best)1
HelpfulInfoFound=1 (Best)
MostBenefittoMe=ADA & Access
MostBenefittoMe=Building Code Discussions
MostBenefittoMe=Fire Resistive Const.
MostBenefittoMe=General Information
MostBenefittoMe=See what others are doing
MostBenefittoMe=Structural
FeedBack=I think it is the best site going! ICBO gives
great support but neither BOCA or SBBCI seem to be
supportive. Idea is to get ICBO, BOCA & SBBCI
to use this site as the point to answer questions.
ICBO has good site but SBBCI & BOCA have poor
chat sites and are hard to access. With the coming
of IBC & IRC a central site like this one is needed.
I left comments on both BOCA & SBBCI and neither
site seems interested. Keep up the good work.
I am going to see if I can get the Virginia Code Officials
to give you a good link.
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Name=Scott
Ward
Profession=Building Inspector
City=Ukiah, CA
DiscussionsLayout=1(Best)
EaseofSiteNavigation=1 (Best)
EaseofSigningUp=3 (Good)1
HelpfulInfoFound=1 (Best)
MostBenefittoMe=ADA & Access
MostBenefittoMe=Building Code Discussions
MostBenefittoMe=Fire Resistive Const.
MostBenefittoMe=General Information
MostBenefittoMe=Occupancy-related
MostBenefittoMe=See what others are doing
MostBenefittoMe=Structural
FeedBack=Great site! Helps to have a sounding board
and feed back to know that there are others with similar
situations and dilemmas.
Scott (Houndman1)
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Name=Gary
Lampella
Profession=Building Official
City=Tigard, OR
DiscussionsLayout=2 (Very Good)
EaseofSiteNavigation=2 (Very Good)
EaseofSigningUp=1 (Best)1
HelpfulInfoFound=2 (Very Good)
MostBenefittoMe=Building Code Discussions, Construction
Type, Fire Resistive Const., Occupancy-related
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Name=
Jurgen Dostert
Profession= Other
City=Oakland, CA
DiscussionsLayout=2 (Very Good)
EaseofSiteNavigation=5 (Fair)
EaseofSigningUp=1 (Best)1
HelpfulInfoFound=1 (Best)
MostBenefittoMe=ADA & Access
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Name=
Daniel Markey
Profession=Designer
City=San Jose, CA
DiscussionsLayout=2 (Very Good)
EaseofSiteNavigation=2 (Very Good)
EaseofSigningUp=1 (Best)
HelpfulInfoFound=1 (Best)
MostBenefittoMe=ADA & Access, Building Code Discussions,
Fire Resistive Const., Occupancy-related
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Name=NAT
Profession=Facilities Manager
City=ESSEX, U.K.
SiteLayout=3 (Good)
EaseofSiteNavigation=1 (Best)
HelpfulInfoFound=1 (Best)
MostBenefittoMe=General Information
IwillBookMarkYourSite=Yes
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Name=Daniel
L. Miller
Profession=Architect City=Dayton, Ohio
DiscussionsLayout=1(Best)
EaseofSiteNavigation=2 (Very Good)
EaseofSigningUp=1 (Best)1
HelpfulInfoFound=1 (Best)
MostBenefittoMe=Building Code Discussions
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Name=Joel
Baker
Profession=Building Official
City=Roanoke, Virginia
DiscussionsLayout=1(Best)
EaseofSiteNavigation=2 (Very Good)
EaseofSigningUp=2 (Very Good)
HelpfulInfoFound=1 (Best)
MostBenefittoMe=Building Code Discussions
MostBenefittoMe=Fire Resistive Const.
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Name=Mike
Montgomery
Profession=Architect
City=Phoenix, AZ
DiscussionsLayout=1(Best)
EaseofSiteNavigation=1 (Best)
EaseofSigningUp=1 (Best)1
HelpfulInfoFound=1 (Best)
MostBenefittoMe=ADA & Access
MostBenefittoMe=Building Code Discussions
MostBenefittoMe=General Information
MostBenefittoMe=Occupancy-related
FeedBack=This site is quite easy to navigate, but I
also like the way the icbo.org site is structured, in
that the discussion thread appears in a new window with
the original question and all responses visible at the
same time. This lets the reader just scroll back and
forth, instead of having to leave one message to read
the next. I like the e-mail notification when a response
is posted.
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Name=Chuck
Saunders
Profession=Other
City=Overland Park, KS
DiscussionsLayout=2 (Very Good)
EaseofSiteNavigation=2 (Very Good)
EaseofSigningUp=2 (Very Good)
HelpfulInfoFound=1 (Best)
MostBenefittoMe=Building Code Discussions
MostBenefittoMe=Structural
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