The Genesis of the Technical Services Information Bureau

From time to time, architects and building owners who have utilized the services of the TECHNICAL SERVICES INFORMATION BUREAU will ask if we are a publicly funded Federal or State agency - or in other words, what is the source of our financial support?

Every major industry benefits from having an entity that creates standards, works on code development and monitors the ethics of its members. The masonry industry has the BRICK INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION and the NATIONAL CONCRETE MASONRY ASSOCIATION; the gypsum industry has the GYPSUM ASSOCIATION, the cement industry has the PORTLAND CEMENT ASSOCIATION, the ceramic tile industry has the TILE COUNCIL OF AMERICA and the CERAMIC TILE INSTITUTE. I could go on but you get the idea.

In 1952 the subcontractors affiliated with the PLASTERING INSTITUTE, concerned with maintaining a high level of craftsmanship and keeping the quality of construction from diminishing, established the PLASTER INFORMATION BUREAU (PIB).

The mission of PIB was to provide accurate and unbiased information to design professionals so that they might better detail and specify better quality plaster construction. Two architecturally trained technical representatives; both with extensive experience with gypsum and portland cement plastering were employed. Initially it was Walt Pruter, who directed operations of the PIB, then a couple years later, J.R. Gorman, who took over when Pruter moved on to expand the bureau's services to include lathing and steel stud framing.

Gorman focused particularly on plaster issues and Pruter on furring and lathing Issues. In actuality, both men proved capable of discussing all aspects of furring, lathing and plastering. For the next thirty years the lath and plaster subcontractors who remained dedicated to quality wall and ceiling construction and employed only trained and experienced union craftsmen, continued to financially support the activities of the PLASTERING INFORMATION BUREAU and the FURRING AND & LATHING INFORMATION BUREAU.

During this time the bureaus had become actively involved with ASTM, the INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF BUILDING OFFICIALS and the CONSTRUCTION SPECIFICATIONS INSTITUTE. In addition to their ongoing work with architects and engineers, the Bureau representatives were instrumental in modifying ASTM Standards and in initiating several code changes.

In 1978 these two organizations were instrumental in compiling and getting published THE MANUAL OF LATHING AND PLASTERING. A second edition was published in 1982 and a third in 1988.

The name of the original subcontractors association that opted to undertake supporting a positive informational program not affiliated with manufacturers was the SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PLASTERING CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION. This association merged with the SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA DRYWALL CONTRACTION ASSOCIATION (SCDCA), with the merging of these two associations became WESTERN WALL AND CEILING CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION (WWCCA). In the early 1990's, WESTERN LATH/ PLASTER/DRYWALL INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION (WLPDIA) decrease operations, and the WWCCA took over the responsible party.

To assure perpetuation of the informational and educational program established by the two Information Bureaus, it was decided by the WWCCA board to restructure the association, which meant hiring new men as technical representatives and to retain the original representatives as consultants.

Michael Logue, the new Director of Technical Services, felt that a new name, which was descriptive of the expanded services, was in order so the program is now identified as the TECHNICAL SERVICES INFORMATION BUREAU. The TSIB is independent and not associated with any manufacturer or group of manufacturers. The technical representatives continue to do research, participate in the code change process and standards development. They consult regularly with design professionals, lecture to architectural schools, AIA and ICBO chapters and attend job site conferences to assist in solving job issues. The TSIB program of informational seminars for architectural firms is always in demand, with a schedule that is booked for a couple months in advance.