Wood Versus Steel Versus Static Versus Dynamic January 21, 2026 By presenting the comparison of fastener pullout resistance, this article compares and quantifies which wood deck is more reliable for low-slope roof systems, while also demonstrating which deck provides greater reproducibility when evaluated under laboratory conditions. Read More
Emerging Materials: Benefits and Limitations of MgO-Based Sheathing Products January 21, 2026 Generally, practitioners in the space of building enclosures are likely to be familiar with concrete (calcium silicate or portland cement with aggregate) and gypsum (recrystallized calcium sulfate) and the conditions under which one or the other can be used without risk of compromising the function of the materials. In contrast, cements based on MgO, which differ in key ways from both cement and gypsum, are less widely understood and may be unnecessarily avoided or used incorrectly. Read More
The Silent Killer of Roofs: Water Intrusion and the Case for Proactive Leak Detection January 21, 2026 This article highlights years of compiled information, demonstrating avoidable construction errors within the industry that can be easily mitigated utilizing ELD and proper moisture monitoring. Read More
Advancing Sustainable Roof Restoration: Enhancing Roof Re-Covers with Embodied Carbon Analysis and Innovative Material Choices January 16, 2026 By Milirsan Pugalendiran, RRO, PEng, and Michelle Christopherson, DipT, ENV SP WHILE THE BUILDING industry’s sustainability discourse has increasingly focused on new construction, a significant opportunity lies quietly in the vast inventory of existing buildings. Roof re-covering—which focuses on membrane replacement rather than full-system tear-off and replacement—is a well-established strategy for extending roof life and […] Read More
Engineering Tomorrow’s Envelopes: Smart Blue Roofs Pioneering Sustainable Building Practices January 16, 2026 By Jason Paulos, MBSc, LEED AP; Sal Alajek, RRO, PEng; and Sidney Picco, MSc and BASc INTRODUCTION Urbanization has altered the natural hydrological cycle, leading to significant challenges in managing stormwater in densely populated areas. The reduction in green spaces has resulted in increased surface runoff, higher solar radiation absorption, and diminished evaporation rates, all […] Read More
Forward-Thinking, Solar-Ready Commercial Roof Design January 16, 2026 By Samantha Corbel, PE; Jacob Ringer, EIT; and John Karras, PE RECENT ENERGY CONSERVATION code updates in various North American jurisdictions have introduced requirements for new and significantly altered roofs to be solar-ready. In Appendix CB, the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)1 defines the term “solar-ready” as having “a section or sections of the […] Read More
Anchored Brick Veneer: What Can Go Wrong and How to Prevent This December 02, 2025 Anchored Brick Veneer: What Can Go Wrong and How to Prevent This ANCHORED BRICK SYSTEMS Anchored brick veneer is a cladding system that is designed with a structural backup wall where the brick is then structurally tied (or anchored) to the backup wall. The brick veneer acts as a rainscreen, with an air cavity and […] Read More
Examining Methods for Preserving and Improving the Energy Performance of a Historic, Aluminum-Framed Curtainwall System December 02, 2025 Examining Methods for Preserving and Improving the Energy Performance of a Historic, Aluminum-Framed Curtainwall System WHEN COMPARED WITH modern counterparts, historic, aluminum-framed curtainwall systems perform poorly with respect to energy transfer. These older systems are ideal candidates for replacement with more thermally efficient systems during building retrofits. However, there are situations where replacement of the […] Read More
Metal Retrofit: The Structural Nuances of Purlins and Subpurlins You Should Not Overlook November 03, 2025 WHEN AN EXISTING metal roof has reached the end of its life, retrofitting often proves to be the easiest, least invasive, and most cost-effective way to replace it. Beneath the surface of any successful retrofit, however, lies a structural story worth exploring. Understanding the framing components—especially the roles of purlins and subpurlins—is key to ensuring […] Read More
Achieving Building Enclosure Durability Using CSA S478 November 03, 2025 Achieving Building Enclosure Durability Using CSA S478 BACKGROUND The standards division of the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) develops consensus standards and guideline documents for, among other industries, the design and construction of buildings. Authorized by the Standards Council of Canada, CSA creates technical committees formed of industry experts representing various viewpoints affecting the standards or […] Read More
