“Best
practices” is a term we hear a lot about, but what does it mean? The
better question might be, “Whose best practices?” If you put 10
tradespeople in a room, you can get up to 10 best practices on how to do
a task. ASTM standards are defined as consensus standards, but in
reality there is little consensus. ASTM stands for American Society for
Testing and Materials, and many committee members have never installed
the assemblies where they make the rules on installation. There has been
a gradual shift to marginalize members with installation experience.
Best
practices can be about assembly performance or means and methods to
construct that assembly. A means and methods example would be hanging
drywall panels. Should you hang the panels and finish screwing off as
you go, or go back to put in all the screws at one time? To me, the
latter makes the most sense, as it would save a few motions. Since I am
not a drywall hanger, it might be best to keep my opinion to myself.