Lessons Learned: Trades that Need to Include an AVB Discussion in their Specification & Preinstallation Meetings

When designing a building envelope wall system, specifying, detailing, and having a pre-installation discussion about the backup substrate and façade elements, considering the water, air, vapor, and insulation systems detailing, is critical. This involves careful coordination with all façade trade elements, consideration of construction and installation tolerances, addressing the installation requirements for the substrate wall, water and air resistive barriers, insulation, and façade support system, and learning lessons from each installation. Each component must be thoroughly understood and specified within their respective specification sections to ensure comprehensive detailing. By understanding the necessary connections, material compatibility, tested systems, and limitations of construction materials, you can develop pre-installation conversation points within each building envelope and substrate meetings to proactively develop an advanced conversation about detailing, grasping the construction requirements for each component and incorporating lessons learned will enhance future detailing and specifications will significantly improve the chances of project success.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify early structural design considerations needed to maintain air, vapor, water, insulation, and rainscreen systems in bid documents.
2. Incorporate construction tolerances when detailing substrate walls and control layers for various façade systems.
3. Recognize common substrate and façade wall systems and the detailing needed to coordinate drawings and specifications.
4. Apply lessons learned on continuity, fastening, membranes, and system tolerances to improve coordination and guide pre-installation meetings.

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Corey Zussman, AIA, NCARB, ALA (IL, IN, WI), RBEC, RRC, REWC, RWC, RRO, CABS, CCQM, CDT, CQM, CxA+BE, BECxP, LEED AP BD+C, Level II Thermographer, QA/QC Vice President, AECOM Hunt Construction

 As a forensic architect registered in several states, Corey Zussman has practiced in the construction industry for over 30 years. He specializes in the building envelope, restoration, preservation, life safety, and interior finishes. While working on over 2000 projects, Corey conducts constructability reviews, pre-installation meetings, comprehensive envelope meetings, and construction observations. He has also become known for providing educational opportunities throughout the industry and has produced more than 200 “lessons learned” papers. Topics include building envelope and life safety concerns, enabling Corey to proactively address issues during design review, pre-construction, and construction. In addition, he has over 15 industry articles about building envelope and life safety topics. He is also a frequent presenter at local and national conferences and associations with over 50 AIA accredited presentations.