(update: 3/7/13, finalized; 12/21/12, final edits on permissions; 12/10/12, new section on Referencing the Standards; 3/16/12, added a new section on Reading the Standards)
Using the StandardsAuthor: John Leeke
Contributors: Steve Schoberg, Patrick Roach, Bob Yapp
Architects can reference the Standards in a way that helps achieve the goals of their project and controls the work while underway. They can serve as an aid to determine appropriate treatments and to provide criteria for a testing and inspection regimen on individual projects.
Window specialists, tradespeople and contractors experienced in window preservation work can use the Standards to help guide the development of their own knowledge and skills. Tradespeople not experienced in window preservation work can use the Standards to begin learning window preservation work. Contractors just getting into window preservation may find them especially useful as part of their employee training program to help bring their workers up to speed quickly.
Building owners and contractors can use the standards to document recommended and selected treatments, demonstrating due diligence by the contractor and acceptability by the customer. The project documentation and the Standards can follow the ownership of the building so when a new owner finds a less than ultimate window repair, they will be able to see in the documentation that the repair is the one that was chosen and thoughtfully justified at the time. This may help save a reputation of a particular contractor and also shows the new building owner and future contractors what was done and for what reason.
Businesses can make the Standards a part of their marketing program to attract interest in their work, for example by stating that they do work that meets the National Window Preservation Standards. The Standards can be used in marketing to make it clear to potential customers that a business is different from others that do not follow the Standards.
Educators can use the Standards as part of their preservation trades training programs, to guide the development of their students knowledge of the general principles and the specific methods of window preservation.
Building owners can use the Standards to help direct their maintenance staffs in effective window maintenance and repairs.
Preservation commissions can use the Standards to educate their constituents and demonstrate that window preservation is indeed possible, and to document justifications for their decisions and actions. Commissions with an education initiative can keep multiple copies on hand for lending out.
Homeowners can use the Standards to guide their own do-it-yourself work and to judge the character and quality of the work done on their windows by others.
Reading the StandardsEach individual treatment standard has these topics:
Reference:
Identifies sources that were used to develop the standard, or where further detailed information can be found in recognized publications and on the internet.
Author, Contributors:
The principle writer of the standard, and those who assisted in the development or writing of it. Most standards are authored by a practicing tradesperson who has decades of experience and who has done the treatment hundreds of times.
Description:
A brief write-up on the standard using common English language without jargon along with special considerations, such as when it is appropriate to use, or not use, the standard.
Typical Procedure:
The series of steps taken to accomplished the desired result of the method, including what needs to be done, but not necessarily how to do it. The purpose is to have enough information about the procedure so that a person who is not trained in the method could recognize whether or not the procedure is being followed by the tradesperson.
Materials:
A listing of the basic materials and types of products used in the treatment. Only generic descriptions of manufactured products are included. Specific product names or brands are not included to assure the Standards are objective and without conflict of interest.
Quality of Results:
Here are statements and simple tests that can be used to judge the character and quality of the completed work.
"Best Work" is the highest quality that can be achieved by workers with decades of experience, and is the ultimate goal of all window preservation work.
"Adequate Work" describes the results of less experienced workers that are reasonably sufficient to achieve an acceptable level of quality. "Adequate Work" assumes the worker is always striving to do better work and is actually achieving better results each time a treatment is done. "Adequate Work" results that are the same time after time are not acceptable and do not meet the standard. "Inadequate Work" is a result that indicates the work does not meet the standard and that the work must be redone to achieve an acceptable level of quality. "Inadequate Work" may not be left standing as the final result.
Referencing the Window StandardsReference Format to cite the entire set of Standards:
Organization Designation / Title / Edition and Version / Publisher / Publication Year / Publisher Website
Example:
WPSC, "National Window Preservation Standards," 1st Edition Ver. 1.0, WPSC Window Preservation Standards Collaborative, 2013,
http://www.WindowStandards.orgReference Format to cite an individual treatment Standard:
Organization Designation / "Title" / Edition and Version /
Treatment Title / Treatment Classification / Treatment Type / Publisher / Publication Year / Publisher Website
Example:
WPSC, "National Window Preservation Standards," 1st Edition Ver. 1.0,
Glaze Wood Sash, Repair, Contemporary, WPSC Window Preservation Standards Collaborative, 2012,
http://www.WindowStandards.orgFair Use of the StandardsThese Standards are copyrighted by the WPSC. The fair and reasonable use of the Standards includes:
Professional Specifications, Scopes of Work, Work Write-Ups, Reports:
The Standards may be referenced as indicated above. A published printed copy of the Standards may purchased and included with each copy of your specification or report, or readers of the specification or report may purchase a copy of the Standards. Small or large excerpts may NOT be reproduced in any form for any purpose. Copyrights to all of the Standards are held by the WPSC. Copyrights of some parts of the standards are held by others and reproduced here with specific permissions that do not include passing along rights to others.
Individuals:
Any person may purchase a copy of the Standards and use it for their own reference or study. If a friend or colleague wants photocopies or scans, please ask them to obtain their own copy.
Educational Programs:
Institutions may purchase single or multiple copies for their libraries, sell copies in their bookstores or require students to purchase copies. Single or multiple pages may not be photocopied and handed out or compiled into other documents without explicit written permission from the business director of the WPSC.
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