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CONTRACTORS INFORMATION CENTER
CLIENT JOB REVIEW CENTER

Contractor's Information Center-- CIS

Welcome to the contractor's support center. If you are new to this service then please take a moment to read this brief description of what's here.
This page, still under development, has two divisions--a contractor's center and a client's job status service. Both require log in with passwords
released by my office upon written (email is fine) requests. A public area (below) is open for 24/7 use by contractors who have:

• lost or damaged specifications and plans and need a quick check of standard details frequently in many plans released
• quickly check on updated or new  specification information I have emailed you about without logging in
• if your new to bidding our work then it's an effective, quick way to orient yourself to much of what to expect in most plans we issue.

The tech data shown is, in many cases, unique to my design company and , as such, will not show up in the wide range of standardized detail
sources available to landscape contractors as well. (Sweets, Time Saver Standards for LA's, etc) Here are links to a few of those excellent sources
as well:
Sweets Bld Products Network--Master(specification) format 2004
Time Saver Standards for Landscape Architecture
Landscape Construction
 

Helpful links related to this area
metric conversion site
grading slopes expressed in 3 formats

The login portion of the Contractor service will have a download center for plans and specifications that can be bid on and related instructions.
An example only is below for your information.
 

Contractor information by category:
this information is designed , hopefully, to answer all of your questions re plans and specification documents. If  however, after reviewing all the
information made available here you still have questions ,then email or call/fax our office 1-850-927 4897 and we will assist you 1- re tech
questions regarding bid documents or 2- either solving a construction question or arrange for an on site meeting asap.

PLANTING DESIGN
Common Landscape Irrigation Design Standards in either graphic or link format
links to irrigation products we frequently specify by name--links to tech support information
PLANT STANDARDS
ANLA Standard for Nursery Stock
ISHS-International Society For Horticultural Sciences
PLANT FINDERS--temperate--tropical--arid--specialties (bonsai--espalier, large trellis specs, vines, bulbs, orchids, salt tolerant, bogplants)
general wholesale container and tree farms
monrovia usa--azuza & visalia ca--dayton,oregon--lagrange,nc--cairo ,ga
plant finder west--west coast usa--ca-nev-new mexico--arz--idaho--utah--montana-oregon-washington, british columbia.
fngla--florida nursy growers assoc--florida wide--parts of texas and ga.
hardwoods-deciduous-conifers

large palms--medjools--canary island dates--sabal palmetto suppliers--butia--chinfans--european fan--raphis,--cold hardy rated
datepalm.com--texas--florida locations
treemart
south coast growers--california--florida locations
bonsai:
american bonsai nursery
water lilies--hardy-tropical-lotus-marginals--holland bulbs
texas water lilies.com wholesale delivery worldwide
holland bulbs wholesale

horticulture tech centre
mobot-best of breed temperate zone plant id and profile
florida hort center--edis-ufal
australian flora online
espalier techniques and best plant selection
 

Planting Design Standards--PITS format

Larger Tree Planting--4.5 caliper and up (16-18'OA)--refer to drawing PDS lTP 018

Planting options explained  (All Rainbird Corporation products) for more information go to www.rainbird.com or call 1-800-458-3005 (RB tech center)
Read specifications and plans carefully for actual numbers of these units installed in each application. Root containers may be fabric bags, balled burlap,
bio degradable wood box's or bare root.

Option 1--36" RWS(root watering system) poly container w/ swing assembly, .50 gpm internal bubbler head and check valve for larger trees and palms
Option 2--18" RWS(root watering system) poly container w/ swing assembly, .50gpm internal bubbler head and check valve.for medium to smaller trees
Option 3- 10" RWS(root watering system) poly container w/swing assembly, .50gpm internal bubbler head and check valve for shrub  planting
Option 4- Traditional 1-2gpm bubbler head or single emitter device as specified on a .50 pvc riser
Option 5-90-30 day slow release water gel packs w or w/o perforated or non perforated canisters w/caps
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Larger Tree Planting--4.5 caliper and up (16-18'OA)--refer to drawing PDS MST 078
 

Three step transplanting method for trees--shrubs and vines--refer to LS 9.07 (transplanting) and drw no MST TP 008. this will be in all job
specs with transplanting involved.

ISHS standardized terminology for large palm tree installation specifications.(english)
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Staking detail for large palm tree installation. Note that a minimum of three braces are required. If soil conditions require more bracing then your free to use as many as your judgment dictate. Where "packing" is specified on plans and trunk locations are too close for individual bracing then  perimeter
palms may be braced only. You must get written permission to do this if bracing of all palms is called for. Generally the RWS Rainbird option 1 will be
specified but if budget considerations require it, then the more traditional method of 1 x 2gpm adjustable bubbler head will be specified
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Shrub-ground cover summary A--Shrub and ground cover planting conform to ANLA standards. After reading specific job specifications if you still
aren't clear about a detail refer to their excellent coverage of this area. Refer to your contract bill of quantities for specific detail on plant names,sizes,
location and quantities.

IRRIGATION DESIGN
Common Landscape Irrigation Design Standards in either graphic or .pdf format links
 links to irrigation products we frequently specify by name--links to tech support information
RAINBIRD 2008 CATALOG--DRIP COMPONENTS GUIDE
RAINBIRD DRIPLINE DESIGN GUIDE.pdf
RBIRD XSCPE PRODUCT SUMMRY .pdf
RAINBIRD LOW VOLUME DESIGN GUIDE
CYCLE STOP VALVES--BEST OF BREED

graphic image details

1-LSSPEC 9.02--Schematic of a typical centrifugal pump irrigation system

2-LSSPEC 9.02--Schematic of typical city water system

Rainbird high volume rotors and pop up product lime in customized summary format

LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION
Common Landscape Construction Design Standards in either graphic or .pdf format links
links to products we frequently specify by name--links to tech support information

Edging summary B--illustrates all 6 basic classes of landscape edging types commonly used . Consult plans and specifications for specific application.
Most plans typically have several types of edging solution you will find here. Custom edging will occur from job to job and is not shown here.
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Contractor's roadway curb summary A has 8 basic roadway type curbs-- six poured concrete and two with cut stone options. " Landscape curb" refers
to lighterweight type bed edging details for the most part but some extruded curb in this catagory has been used in lighter traveled private estate roads
with good success.
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Landscape curb summary--a more lightweight curb is specified when curbing is limited to bed and walkway edging. Many shapes possible with
steel templates that extrude a continuous shape along predefined, prepared setouts with integral iron oxide powder colors often mixed into the product at
specified rates. Further options are a variety of texture and pattern "stamps' that are easily embedded into the fresh extrusion. Reinforcing with a continuous
no 3 or 4 rebar is often called far only when the curb height is 6"or greater.  extrusion is not possible or very difficult for low curbs and generally not necessary.
Check your specs carefully for specific information re shape, color, reinforcing and plan configuration with horizontal geometry included.
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Permeable paving comes of age. Make sure you read and understand all the new tech specs on numerous types of pervious paving. It's going to show up
a lot more on jobs because of it's huge advantage of both reduction in drainage system costs and it's great promise as a means of " scrubbing" storm water before it's returned to the aquifer. Porous concrete or no fines concrete can be very tricky to install because it's not nearly as easy to handle as conventional
concrete with a lot of sand and water in it. All of the samples below have either been used here or will be, they are:
1-- a sectional view of no fines or pervious concrete.  2---a plan view of no fines concrete with my quarter for scale    3--- a section of the emerging European two level porous asphalt that has tremendous noise reduction qualities besides its excellent drainage features.  4--grass blocks with permeable base
material and 5-- interlocking masonry units with pea gravel infill and  a permeable base.
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Concrete pavement summary. All of these features have been used by me in the past and could be in your current job specifications. The chart below
provides a quick reminder of the wide array of possibilities with this form of pavement. If porous concrete is involved then I remind you that your sub will have
to submit three recent examples in writing of his porous work before getting a green light.
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Asphalt is a flexible pavement and, unlike concrete surfaces, is a lot more susceptible to sub grade conditions. This is particularly true of non pervious
or the more traditional form of asphalt paving. Porous asphalt, on the other hand,  is far less vulnerable to sub grade limitations because of it's 18-24 "
coarse gravel retention bed which, in conjunction with a 4-8" choker course, gives the porous surface course excellent load bearing characteristics.

Recent designs with asphalt paving may also have the Cultec option shown below. These are interconnected vinal chambers that have several advantages
over a traditional 24" coarse gravel retention bed for porous asphalt design. The Cultec solution generates about twice the quick storage capacity that is so
important in storm water management and will be far less vulnerable to failing over the years from "silting up" as the gravel bed may well do over time.
Take note of a few basic spec requirements for all asphalt work:

• a perc test is required and we will need a copy emailed to us for the record. If a test fails we may have to go to an alternate design
• asphalt concrete base ACB, is required for all asphalt paving sub base installations. no loose, non treated sub base material will be allowed.
• questions about reheating or structured asphalt can be answered here.

Parking Lot dimensions overview- there are so many conflicting, confusing diagrams of basic parking lot dimensions that I have provided a few
links to what I consider several of the best sources on the subject and a diagram a UK traffic engineer based in Manila and I put together a few years ago
that I feel reads better than most. Again, I stress this information is only a guide and most of the details will be in your specs re surface-- curb types/
drainage provisions, grading plans, lighting, planting, etc..
Parking lot dimensions for 90-60-45-30 degree angle parking--ULI based (Urban Land Institute---Chris Walpole PE)
Parking requirements per floor space--ULI based
Bicycle rack layout
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Many diagrams like this exist in print and net version and  vary considerably due to individual preferences by various bodies that put stats
like this together. This is a traffic engineer friend of mine's version and It's what I've used for a long time with very few problems. "Compact"
parking dims vary widely but a stall dimension of 8 x 18' is pretty average. I avoid "compact" zones because they rarely work out that way.
Dimensions shown are in feet and based on a standard 9 x20' stall--- double dimensions relate to one and 2 way provisions
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Residential-collector class sightline zones are very important. Local government entities are increasingly limiting and modifying what is allowed in their defined sight cone zones eg. street signs, fire hydrants, tree trunks to canopies, ug electrical  transformer box's, etc. Our plans always allow for these
zones re grading, furniture placement and planting. If your plans indicate sight zones then read the specifications carefully re allowed material in these
sensitive areas. My sketch below is a set of average conditions and vary with local codes. These guidelines are adjusted for customized streetscape schemes with zero lot lines, narrow street dims, pedestrian streets, rear lot service corridors, etc.
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Client Job Review Center  CIC

Under development--call for information on completion date

Welcome to our (near) future Client Job Review Center (CIC)
This will be a private section of the web site with login required. Clients with jobs in progress can have a look at their current development by
using a pin number to access their account. At that point they can either open and inspect their files in either .pdf or acad format and comment
on them if desired. This portion of the site will be monitored daily for comments and replies  to same.

Kent McCoy Landscape Architect
www.kentmccoy.com
email: kentmccoy40@gmail.com
phone / fax 850 927 4897

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