Update on the Current Building and Energy Codes That Affect the Air Barrier Industry Building and energy efficiency codes can have huge impact on the Air Barrier Industry, affecting the specification and installation of air and water-resistive barrier systems. Following the code change process is a daunting task and even apparently small changes can have […]

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 […]

Adam Ugliuzza, Partner of the Building Enclosures Group for Sustainable Building Partners, will be hosting an open forum, focusing on pre-and post installed balconies and canopy details in real-world applications. Send project-specific issues with an example picture or detail to lhardman@airbarrier.org (redact sensitive information). The webinar will be interactive, and solutions will be provided on […]

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 […]

Sink or Swim: Effective Natatorium Envelope Design Thru Case Study Participants will develop a comprehensive understanding of the potential risks involved in designing roof and wall assemblies over pools and other corrosive environments. The session will cover effective design strategies to mitigate moisture damage by managing air, temperature, and vapor control. Key roof assembly elements—such […]

Prefabrication of exterior wall systems and assemblies is a growing trend in the construction industry. There are many terms used to describe this process (panelized, modularized, unitized, etc.) and the definition and scope of prefabrication can be as unique as the project itself.  For many projects, the exterior walls are anticipated to be panelized or […]

This presentation will outline the general use of ultrasonic measurement devices, discuss considerations related to in-situ measurements and substrate impacts, and present preliminary findings along with planned next steps for the study. Presenters: Sarah Flock, Principal - Raths, Raths, & Johnson / Andrew Dunlap, Vice-President, Building Technology Studio Leader - SmithGroup This webinar is exclusive […]

“Systems thinking” is a term that is discussed at times in Building Science. But what if systems thinking asks us to consider more factors in the long term viability of enclosure integrity? While the relationship between structural movement and a structure’s usefulness to its intended purpose has been well developed throughout the history of design […]

This course examines how modern building codes and airtight construction practices are increasing the importance of moisture-aware roof design in cold-climate environments. Participants will explore building code requirements and the growing risk of moisture entrapment in roofing assemblies. The course introduces hygrothermal modeling as a predictive tool, using WUFI to analyze roof assemblies' long-term performance. […]

Thermal innovations are necessary as energy codes evolve. In this seminar, we discuss innovative design strategies to address thermal bridges in wall assemblies and the impact they have on air barriers. Learning Objectives: Discuss the thermal impact veneer anchors have on the overall R-Value and air leakage of a project. Discuss traditional shelf angles to […]

These terms are often described as simple—so why is there so much confusion? This presentation explains what air barriers, vapor barriers, and water-resistive barriers are, and when a single material may serve more than one function. That overlap is often where misunderstandings arise. The session explores which barriers are critical, which may be less so, […]

Did you know that the ABAA has developed a set of educational construction details for the challenging roof-to-wall air barrier connection? These conceptual details have been developed by the Transitions, Terminations, and Flashings committee to act as a technical resource for the industry and we are excited to talk about them! A tremendous amount of […]

Building façades play a critical role in shaping energy performance, occupant comfort, durability, and architectural identity. This course explores how façade and cladding systems influence building efficiency through thermal control, daylighting, solar management, and material selection. Participants will examine performance-driven design strategies that balance aesthetics with measurable building outcomes, while also considering constructability, code compliance, […]

Poorly detailed and designed parapets can lead to significant building degradation if not monitored. To enhance the quality and longevity of this critical juncture, there are a few specific design criteria for parapet detailing we need to consider. The discussion regarding what to include should start during the design phase, as early decisions can significantly […]

Clear documentation can facilitate the coordination and leverage the unique expertise of each team member. We will highlight common oversights or omissions in design drawings, specifications, and construction of air barrier systems that may lead to issues on site, and we will discuss best practices for developing these documents to clearly show the design intent […]

The air barrier test of a recently completed for the University of Washington project measured at .056 cfm/sf for an envelope area of 85,250 sf. The successful test was a result of several people and processes, including preconstruction review of drawings, creating a standalone mock-up prior to the building, pre-installation meetings, regular inspections by the […]

The roof to wall intersection is the junction where building aesthetics meets structural performance, air and moisture management, energy efficiency, construction trade sequencing, and operational maintenance. At such a critical interface, proper parapet detailing, installation coordination, and execution are paramount. How do you achieve performance at the roof to wall interface without compromising the aesthetics […]

Today’s buildings face increasing complexity due to multi-layer assemblies, multiple trades, limited field training, tight schedules, and higher performance expectations, all within cost-sensitive projects. In contrast, earlier buildings were simpler, relied on skilled apprenticeship models, and were designed to lower performance standards. Modern occupants demand precise environmental control, high indoor air quality, energy efficiency, and […]

In this course, we'll learn about the science behind thermal, air, and moisture control for steel stud construction. We'll interpret the code requirements for building envelope design and performance and discover how polyiso meets requirements and outperforms traditional methods for optimum control. We'll examine how professionals are looking to a better future and understand building […]

The presentation will review building enclosure assemblies that have experienced failures as well as building enclosure assembly designs that would have resulted in failures and the changes to the design that avoided the failures. Basic building science and physics will be reviewed. Live hygrothermal analyses will be run to show which building enclosure assemblies work […]

Air barrier requirements have been included in IECC and ASHRAE 90.1 for nearly two decades, but whole building airtightness testing has only recently become a code requirement in many jurisdictions. While both codes now require testing for certain building types, they provide multiple compliance paths and limited guidance on selecting the most appropriate testing method. […]

Over the course of 14 years, Walsh Construction Company has been on a journey of learning and discovery regarding effective strategies to create airtight building enclosures. We have learned from our mistakes, learned from our partners and learned that air tightness is not just about the enclosure, but is heavily tied into mechanical system interface […]