Ted Miller lost his courageous 10-year battle with Stage IV cancer on October 9, 2012. His monthly “Ted’s MCM Corner” feature will be carried on by his devoted employees. You can read about Ted’s passing on our blog at www.millerclapperton.com/blog/tsm.
Challenges Part 1 – Supplemental Framing
Back in the mid-1970s, when MCM panels were just beginning to be utilized by designers it was a simpler time in the construction industry for many reasons. The MCM panels seemed to be utilized in large con- tiguous areas. These areas were generally fl at and the geometry relatively simple.
However, the advent of the following combined to allow the MCM panels to become more complex:
• The “coming of age” of AutoCAD allowed designers to select very complex shapes.
• Combining AutoCAD with the introduction of Computer Aided Machining Centers also allowed for more complex panels to be utilized.
I will suggest to you that in the fi eld of design,
when something becomes possible, it will eventu- ally be done. One of the consequences of the use of more complex MCM panels and combining them with other “design friendly” materials is that the depth of wall sections at various points along a wall elevation will become complex. In earlier years, we may have utilized a simple
one-depth hat-shaped subgirt outboard of the wall sheathing for the entire supplemental framing sys- tem. Today, it is not unusual to have four or fi ve wall section depths on the same wall. This change requires that a full-service highly
engineered wall system subcontractor develop a new set of skills to solve the inherent problems of varying depth wall substrates. Outlined to the right are a few of the supplemental
wall framing systems that have been developed for MCM panel systems. As the number and complexity of panel types con-
tinues to increase, the MCM fabricator/subcontrac- tors who are able to develop economical and easy to install supplemental framing systems will become or continue to be the leaders in the industry.
For more information on The Miller-Clapperton Partnership Inc., Austell, Ga., visit www.millerclap perton.com.
CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT: Direct attachment system into primary framing system; One layer of supplemental framing over the primary framing system; Multiple component supplemental framing system with continuous insulation; Adjustable multiple component supplemental framing system with continuous insulation.