Pipe sizes are standardized in North America through Nominal Pipe Size (NPS). This article provides charts of pipe sizes (inside diameter, outside diameter, wall thickness, and weight) for steel, stainless steel, and PVC pipes.

F_F and F_L numbers are used to measure the flatness and levelness of concrete floors. Architects should understand what the numbers mean and how to specify concrete floor flatness and levelness. This article includes recommendations for flatness and levelness based on program type.

Lighting control systems give building managers more control over energy use and allows them to easily make changes to programming via software. Learn about the various commercial lighting control protocols available.

Selection of the correct type of mortar for a ceramic tile installation is critical for the longevity of the finished product. Learn about the different types of mortar that can be used for wall and floor tile or stone installations.

A list of Plumbing Industry Resources and links to technical information available on their websites.

Learn how to calculate slopes in degrees, percentage, and gradient. We also provide a table of slopes commonly used in architecture and construction.

Architectural and engineering scale factors for use in Computer Aided Design.

A table of lumber sizes that includes the actual lumber sizes.

Concrete masonry Unit (CMU) sizes for standard CMUs - includes both nominal and actual dimensions. Covers concrete block sizes from 4" CMU through 12" CMU.

Covers insulation R-values and R-factors for other common building materials. We also discuss U-Factors.