lean & green schools

The question is simple: How do we lower the cost of everything on a school construction project without sacrificing the quality of those materials? Cost pressures dictate we find a way to continue to add more technology, more “green” solutions, support new teaching styles and many other demands. It’s a question of increasing the result of the value equation: lower the cost while maintaining or even increasing the worth (customer-perceived) of the product in question. I will show you here how you can save 10-15% on the cost of wood casework for science facilities…without sacrificing the worth or quality of the casework.

The solution: For science casework it is actually as simple as the initial question. Most vendors (as they would in any industry) try to lower the cost of their existing products, in particular searching for cheaper materials (often imported) that also cheapen the casework. This is not the solution because it lowers the value equation, giving you even less worth for the lower price.

Issues With Imported Wood Products

• Often have higher levels of added urea-formaldehyde than acceptable.
• Often are not grown and harvested in a sustainable manner.
• Typically are inconsistent thickness, affecting fit and function of cabinets.
• Are often made with lower quality glues that cause plywood to split or de-laminate during a building air flush,
  or even during normal use.
• Core voids decrease impact resistance and stability of the panels.

The solution: Start with a blank sheet of paper. Re-design the casework construction to actually maintain or increase the worth. The product below is NOT proprietary:

• The raw material is readily available in the marketplace from Columbia Forest Products, one of the largest plywood manufacturers in North America.
• There are no patents or other “protections” on the design.
• The manufacturing technology has been in place and in use for years throughout the country.
• Anyone can build this casework, so it is appropriate for public bid projects.

New Style of Science Casework Savings….

Use CAN/AM GOLD SAP plywood from Columbia Forest Products

• North American made of white hardwoods (similar in appearance but not just one species).
• Improved yield.
• Controlled moisture content for enhanced stability.
• CARB Phase 2 compliant for formaldehyde emissions.
• Dramatically cost-effective without sacrificing quality, stability or mechanical characteristics.

Use the same plywood throughout the cabinet

• Manufacturers often use different grades of material in different locations in a cabinet depending on how visible they will be. Per square foot cost of the material panel may be less, but it is inefficient and does not optimize yield, not to mention the inside of the cabinet does not usually look good. (Using the same material throughout does optimize yield while also improving the appearance of the cabinet inside and out.)
• Use a separate sub-base
  - Speeds installation. Sub-base is installed and leveled for complete elevations while other trades are still working. Cabinets can then be easily and quickly installed when they arrive.
  - Dramatically improves plywood panel yield.
  - Provides a barrier to water wicking up the cabinet in case of a water line break in the classroom.

Use a UV cure, flat line, roller-applied finish

• Manually-sprayed finished typically give poor coverage, are inefficient and even water-based versions still have VOC emissions.
• The “greenest” way to finish a cabinet, relating to emissions and material usage. (Spray flat line finishes still have reclaim issues.)
• Applies a consistent, computer-controlled thickness of finish, actually bonding it into the underlying wood veneer for improved coverage and wear.  (Spray flat line finishes do not ensure the finish actually bonds to the wood.)
• Dramatically improved chemical resistance as shown by testing to the standards of the Scientific Equipment & Furniture Association (SEFA).
• UV curing dries the finish immediately. There won’t be finger prints showing or dust trapped in the finish; sprayed finish can take 24 hours or longer to finish, especially in the humidity of the summer.

Don’t stain the wood

• Staining the wood, instead of using a natural finish…doubles the labor cost alone.
• On bid day, no one knows if a stain color or a natural finish will be used.
• Since 80% of projects end up with a stain, all quotes are assumed to include stain, driving bids up.
• OR bidders hope they can convince you not to stain; if they are wrong they will try to protect their profit in
  other ways that will affect the quality of your cabinets and/or the installation of them on the job.

For more information on this new, non-proprietary science casework (including ready-to-use specifications), just request it at: news@diversifiedwoodcrafts.com

- Dave Withee