Member Spotlight: Paul Whitenack
Senior Quality Manager at JE Dunn Construction, covering the Upper Midwest and Great Plains area. My 30 years in the industry began as a design and project architect, progressed through forensic evaluation and enclosure consulting, and are now focused on the quality and building science aspects of construction. The common thread in my career path has always been the pursuit of high performing enclosure systems.
When did you earn your Certified Air Barrier Specialist (CABS) certification from the Air Barrier Association of America (ABAA)?
A: January 2023
What inspired you to pursue the CABS program with ABAA?
A: As a “building science geek”, I thought about pursuing certification for a few years before actually doing so. Most of my professional focus is centered upon helping JE Dunn’s construction teams deliver effective and durable building enclosures, so it made perfect sense to become certified. When I encountered a colleague who was serving as an ABAA auditor on a project we were building, I finally decided to pursue my own certification.
Name: Paul Whitenack
Title: AIA, CABS
Company: JE Dunn Construction
City: Minneapolis, MN
ABAA member for 2 years
How has the CABS certification impacted your career or professional development?
A. Studying and preparing for the exam sharpened my knowledge of air barriers and the associated systems of the building enclosure. Having the CABS certification on my resume adds credence and credibility to the document reviews and site observation reports I prepare.
What are some of the challenges you’ve encountered in air barrier field and how as your certification helped you address them?
A. I live and work in perhaps the most challenging climate for exterior enclosures in the continental United States. Construction projects in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the Dakotas are subjected to annual temperature ranges in excess of 120 degrees, high wind and driving rain, accumulating ice and snow, and seasonal vapor drive reversal. Ensuring that the best quality control layers are properly specified, designed, and constructed is the best way to ensure that our buildings will be capable of withstanding all of the challenges imposed by our northern climate. By achieving and maintaining CABS certification I have been able to sharpen my focus on the air barrier and other control layers, while helping team members across the design and construction team do the same.
What advice would you give to someone considering pursuing the CABS certification with ABAA?
A. Begin from an understanding that air barriers and other control layers are interconnected aspects of an overall assembly, then expand your experience to other aspects of the design and construction process. If you are primarily a designer, get out into the field and witness them as they are installed in various weather and seasonal conditions. If you are more involved in the construction industry, expand your focus to the designer’s perspective to understand which systems are best suited to each building type, location, and anticipated life cycle.
In your opinion, what are the most crucial aspects of effective air barrier system design and installation?
A. Controlling unwanted air and liquid water transport while allowing for vapor transmission as needed to promote drying. Selecting and detailing an assembly that is simple and straightforward to maximize constructability.
Any additional insights about your certification experience or working in the air barrier industry?
A. It is a constantly changing environment, with new and innovative products and materials appearing every year, and innovative design and construction methods as well. I find the continual evolution exhilarating and I’m always inspired by the dedication and care that I see from my peers and collaborators as we continually strive to improve our knowledge and the tangible, constructed results.