All in the Details: Key Words During GANA's CGEC in Atlanta

Project managers, estimators and others working in the glass and glazing industry have traveled to Atlanta this week to take part in the Glass Association of North America's (GANA) Contract Glazing Educational Conference (CGEC) at the Hilton Atlanta Airport Hotel.

The best word to describe this morning's opening sessions was "details"-detail in everything from project management to glass products.

Greg Carney, technical director for GANA, was today's first presenter, led a discussion on the procurement process chapter of the GANA Project Managers Reference Manual. He began by asking the audience who had examined the glass in their hotel windows. Not surprising, everyone had. As he asked other questions such as who knew the make-up of the outboard lite, the strength of the glass used and even how the age of the insulating glass unit, people began sitting.

"These are all details," said Carney, as he explained how critical attention to detail is also in the procurement process of project management. Carney covered areas such as creating a project checklist, contract and schedule requirements, submittals, approvals and many others, well as the project manager's roles and responsibilities.

Under specification requirements, for example, Carney stressed the importance of crosschecking the architectural drawings and the specifications to ensure conformity.

"If you don't check the documents to make sure that what everyone says is going to be on the building is there, you're going to be in trouble," said Carney.

He encouraged everyone to pay attention to all of the details in all of the stages. "The procurement process is complex and difficult to manage," Carney said. "Success is found with constant and extreme attention to detail."

A panel discussion on coatings and glass performance followed. Moderated by Carney, the presenters were Mike Rupert with PPG, Don McCann with Viracon and Rosie Hunter with Guardian. Rupert spoke first about the two different types of coated glass-pyrolytic and MSVD-and the processes by which each are made. McCann followed with a discussion about glass trends, especially energy efficiency and sustainable products.

Hunter talked about some of the different types of coated glass products currently available, including scratch-resistant coatings, low-maintenance coatings for interior applications, UV-blocking coatings and laminated glass and high-performance coatings.

Sessions will continue this afternoon and run through tomorrow.