Truth is Concrete September 21, 2021 It is not unusual to identify a lifestyle with a material or a technology: when we say Stone Age or Bronze Age or computer age, we identify ourselves with the material or technology that helped us to change our living patterns. But in spite of the long history in the use of concrete to build […] Read More
Integrating Fluid-Applied Air- and Water- Resistive Barrier Membranes and Accessories with Elements of the Building Enclosure September 20, 2021 12 • IIBEC Interface August 2021 The primary element of the building enclosure that restricts air movement is referred to as an air-barrier material, which is used in conjunction with transitional components, known as accessories, to create an air-barrier system. The function of an air-barrier system is to reduce or restrict air movement between different […] Read More
Installation Weather-Resistive Barriers: A General Contractor’s Perspective September 20, 2021 24 • IIBEC Interface August 2021 IN THE BEGINNING In the beginning there was nothing! In 2000, air barriers were a new concept for the building industry across the United States. Even in 2006, when I would call a design professional firm and invite them to a seminar on air barriers, the response was first […] Read More
Importance of Air-Barrier Material Properties by Material Category: What You Need for Them to Work September 20, 2021 24 • IIBEC Interface August 2021 IN THE BEGINNING In the beginning there was nothing! In 2000, air barriers were a new concept for the building industry across the United States. Even in 2006, when I would call a design professional firm and invite them to a seminar on air barriers, the response was first […] Read More
The Assembly Line of Roof Consulting: Moving Beyond Cut-and-Paste Approaches and Getting Back to True Design September 20, 2021 34 • IIBEC Interface August 2021 Development of automated systems such as roof uplift calculators, pre-engineered computer-aided design drawings, and copy-and-paste specification preparation has all but eliminated the art of traditional roof design engineering. These advancements certainly have driven the industry forward, and the achievements that have been accomplished should not be diminished; however, if […] Read More
The Art and Science of Snow Mitigation on Metal Rooftops September 20, 2021 Each year, rooftop avalanches cause costly property damage, personal injury, and even death. Snowpack can suddenly release and dump tons of snow below the eaves in a matter of seconds, endangering building elements, adjacent roofs, landscape, vehicles, property, and pedestrians. Nonexistent or inadequate snow retention systems create safety issues and potential liability for building owners, […] Read More
Tornados Versus the Building Enclosure September 20, 2021 September 2021 IIBEC Interface • 17 The intent of any building code is to provide the minimum legal requirements related to (a)constructing a buildingat a reasonable level of safetyand (b) providing protectionto the general public and property. As design professionals, we are tasked with ensuring that the structural frame can resist against earthquakes, fires, and […] Read More
Not Your Average Roof Replacement Case Study September 20, 2021 As design professionals specializing in forensic and restoration projects involving building enclosures, it is perhaps a familiar concept that our work benefits from excellent project team relationships—with building owners and staff, contractors and subcontractors, material manufacturers and suppliers, and local experts—and from a shared vision among the project team of successful end products and the […] Read More
How to Give Owners What They Want Through Performance Specifications May 25, 2021 There are numerous sources of potential building enclosure failures. These failures have caused building repairs and litigations to become a billiondollar annual industry and are one of the main reasons why the industry needs performance specifications. This article will explain building owners’ directives and discuss properly executing the project requirements as part of the performance […] Read More
