If you like taking some trips on the engineering side there are a few sites offering a lot of information that comes in handy for most any kind of building activity.

Daniel C. Smith, PE has some great definitions and specifications on its FAQ page.

For some free downloads and a lot more try Engineering.com. From solar energy to beams to handy calculators you can get lost for awhile here.

The BLM has an area devoted to standards related to various functions in CSI format. So you can download specifications for everything from general requirements to miscellaneous. These can come in handy as starting points for developing your own standards to include in contracts for example.

A really handy site is USG’s Design Studio where you can put in the desired characteristics of an assembly and the site will deliver the specifications to build it including CAD drawings. There is also a section devoted to LEED and seismic and sustainable ceilings.

Finally, for a CSI-related list of manufacturers and the specs, pictures and even CAD of their products there is Sweets Network. You can browse, or search, CSI categories and research products that are currently available to be used for those building efforts.

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