Of course, all of these locations will also need to meet ADA standards and provide a finished joint that is flush within 1/4" of adjacent surfaces if the joint top is flat or 1/2" if it is beveled. If the floor joint occurs along a section where the floor is not level or otherwise uneven on adjoining sides, then that adds another item to the criteria for selecting a manufactured product since it will obviously have to accommodate that unevenness. In light-duty situations, a compressible filler or special sealant may be appropriate. In most cases, however, the criteria for floor joints will more likely dictate a covered system, with or without concealment, in order to remain reliable over time. These covers may use a single or double cover "wing" which slides, may be hinged to accommodate uneven conditions, or may have particular features for floor edge conditions. Floor joints that meet seismic requirements will also meet many other criteria, but should be selected based on the seismic requirements of the building first.

Interior wall and ceiling systems. Since interior walls and ceilings are subject to less impact from usage than floors, the joint treatment is usually simpler. As mentioned earlier, there are benefits to selecting a coordinated system from the same manufacturer that includes the floor, wall, and ceiling joint in order to achieve a consistent, unified appearance and design. These coordinated systems will pay particular attention the detail of the meeting points or corners of the joints where the different surfaces intersect. After that, consideration should be given to the need for general durability, vandal resistance, or seismic consideration which is usually the most stringent criteria. Many choices are available in both compressible filler and cover plate systems in regards to appearance, sight lines, and colors. Hence, it is likely that it will be readily possible to select something consistent with the overall interior design of a particular project. The key from a design standpoint is to actively review the choices and use the joint as a design element that either blends in with the surroundings or accents them. Either way, it is an element that should definitely not be ignored in the design.

Exterior wall systems. Here, we are dealing with the building envelope, which means the joint needs to accomplish all of the things that the rest of the wall does from a building enclosure standpoint. Sealing out water and wind are, therefore, among the first criteria while overall durability and vandal resistance will likely come into play as well. Fillers and covers are both commonly used in this situation with a variety of colors and finishes readily available. If the building is designed for seismic forces, the choice of manufactured products may be reduced somewhat, but appropriate selections can still be made that satisfy the other general criteria as well.

Exterior floor and parking systems. (See figure 9.) These joints may come under the greatest level of exposure from a variety of sources including the weather, vehicular traffic, or other conditions. Solid elastomeric filler may be appropriate for certain conditions such as the need for relatively quiet sounds as vehicles drive over them. In other cases, heavy-duty metal cover plates may be more appropriate for heavy vehicle loads or seismic forces. Finishes and colors may be a bit more limited, but certainly acceptable for this application.

An exterior floor joint with a cover shown in BIM detail on the lower right and installed at Target Field, Minneapolis, MN Photos and BIM illustration: Jason Englund