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. […]