The Building Science Aspects of Enclosure Detailing and Tie-Ins

The building enclosure is made up of many material types, with the predominant need of protecting the building from water infiltration. In addition, materials and tie-ins are critical to control air flow, understand thermal bridging and risks of surface condensation, and the control and flow of moisture by vapor diffusion. Sequencing of the details and tie-ins also have to consider sequencing by the trades, material compatibility, and durability, including impacts of seasonal cycling.

This talk will focus on looking at the full building science considerations of detailing, including materials that play one or more role as a control layer for heat, air and moisture. The speaker will also discuss constructability and trade sequencing considerations. These are critical things to understand in designing and configuring details, in addition to how they are presented in design drawing and shop drawing sets. This includes understanding how to integrate manufacturer standard details at interfaces such as roof to wall between roofing and wall air and water barriers and cladding.

Learning Objectives:

1. Gain building science knowledge in configurations of details and what elements are controlling which types of flow paths for heat, air and moisture.
2. Have a deeper understanding of detail sequencing considering material compatibility, as well as sequencing of the trades.
3.  Gain knowledge in layering for durability, while also examining the build up of layers and thicknesses against construction constraints.
4. Be able to describe and detail layering and sequencing critical to understand in design drawings and shop drawings for building enclosure systems.

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Paul Totten, PE, LEED AP, Senior Vice President, WSP

Paul E. Totten is a Senior Vice President at WSP and leads the Building Enclosures Division. He has over 28 years of experience in the fields of structural engineering, building enclosure design and commissioning, and building science. He has concentrated his expertise on the evaluation and analysis of heat, air, and moisture transfer, and the cumulative effect these elements have on building components and building operation.