ABAA

Air Barrier Embodied Carbon: A Critical Review 1.0 CEU/HSW
2026-01-22 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Detroit)
Air Barrier Embodied Carbon: A Critical Review
The session will start with a review of embodied carbon impacts applied to air barriers. This will include a comparison of published air barrier embodied carbon values, varying assessment methodologies, and their limitations. A recommended approach of evaluating embodied carbon impacts based on clear field and linear/point impacts similar to modern thermal performance analysis will be presented. The impacts of this approach will be illustrated using example building envelope assemblies. A number of common project air barrier considerations will be discussed including: the use of membranes under exterior spray foam applications, the use of liquid applied air barriers on masonry when applying interior fibrous insulation, and the use of loose sheet vs liquid applied or self-adhered air barriers. This session will be of interest to a range of participants: manufacturer’s will be interested in the review of environmental product declarations (EPDs) and how it may affect their systems; professionals will be interested in the insights and approaches offered and application to their practices in selecting systems and reporting embodied carbon impacts. The session be a great targeted introduction for contractors and others in the industry with an interest in embodied carbon applications to their field of work.
Learning Objectives:

Identify the embodied carbon impact stage for air barrier
Determine Clear Field vs Linear Impacts
Illustrate the impact of air barrier on the embodied carbon of building envelope assemblies
Identify the impacts of common air barrier strategy selections

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Dr. Randy Van Straaten, PhD, P.Eng, President, Building Science Specialist, Building Enclosure Labs, Inc
Dr. Randy Van Straaten is the President and a Building Science Specialist at Building Enclosure Labs Inc. (BELi) in London, Ontario. Previously, Randy worked at RDH Building Science, where he managed their life cycle analysis services. Randy recently completed a life cycle assessment study for BC Housing and has been lecturing on sustainability, with a focus on operating and embodied carbon of building envelopes. He recently taught Building Science for Retrofits at George Brown College and Building Performance at Toronto Metropolitan University.
