Air Barriers are an extremely important component of a high-performance building enclosure system. For the most part, these systems are non-maintainable components and repairs can typically only be made with the removal of the exterior cladding system. To ensure a performing system, proper design, detailing and ultimately the proper installation of these systems is extremely important. You have one chance to get it right. Come learn about important design considerations, how to properly detail critical interfaces, key items to include in your specifications, proper installation techniques, quality control and testing parameters for a variety of air barrier systems in use today.

Learning Objectives:

1. Discuss how air barriers are part of a high-performance building and how they control air and moisture movement, improve insulation performance and reduce energy needs of buildings.
2.  Review key design considerations, critical interfaces for continuity, material performance requirements and specification language for the proper design and selection of the air barrier assembly.
3. Identify the typical installation requirements of a variety of air barrier materials and assemblies and common installation issues observed in the field.
4.  Discuss the importance of proper construction sequencing, coordination of sub-trades, testing and inspection criteria, how to identify installation defects and remedial action required during the construction phase

Denali Jones, P.E.

Denali is an engineer focused on building enclosures for his entire career. After working for a manufacturer he transitioned into consulting, working for one of the leading building science firms in North America for over a decade. Denali’s work focused on finding practical and performance driven solutions to complex enclosure problems, ranging from high-rise office towers to hospitals, multifamily, manufacturing facilities, and everything in between. He has extensive experience in all aspects of enclosure design, including roofing, glazing systems, horizontal waterproofing, below grade waterproofing, air barriers, and rainscreen wall assemblies with just about any type of cladding. Denali also is an industry leading expert in whole-building air leakage testing, having helped develop several test standards and code language around testing requirements. He was instrumental in developing ABAA’s whole-building air leakage testing training program and is the lead instructor for this program. Denali now serves as the technical director for ABAA, focusing on driving the adoption and advancement of air barriers both at a committee level as well as providing support for ABAA members in answering technical questions or delivering presentations and training.