Self-Drying Roofs July 11, 2020 The concept of a self-drying roof has been discussed, tested, and modeled since the early 1960s. The concept is fairly simple: Moisture originating from interior water vapor collects over the colder winter months, when the vapor drive is from the inside to the outside, and can dissipate during the warm/hot summer months when the vapor […] Read More
The Bright Future of Building Enclosure Commissioning July 11, 2020 42 • IIBEC InterfaceCEJuly 2020 Figure 1 – Roof assessment and review of detailing ahead of roof replacement. Building enclosure commissioning (BECx) is maturing as an industry, with the future of certification being driven by the International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants (IIBEC). Updated language by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) clarifies the needed […] Read More
How Technology is Revolutionizing Complex Roofing Assessments June 11, 2020 OVERVIEW Roofing assemblies have progressed through the evolution of many different types of materials. The diversity of roofing materials requires consultants to have a keen knowledge of the various types, along with an understanding of how wind, hail, or other perils—natural or manmade—can affect those materials. Roof consultants and engineers can generally determine, after a […] Read More
Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3) Brings Industry Together with Accelerated Needs for Technology June 11, 2020 In 2017, a group of roofing industry professionals came together to talk about technology in roofing. The individuals, including members of National Roofing Partners (NRP) and RoofersCoffeeShop®, met that July at BuiltWorlds in Chicago, a network and community focused on technology and innovation in construction. They quickly saw the need for an organization that could […] Read More
Anatomy of Construction Litigation Part III-Preparing a Repair Scope May 15, 2020 Could the construction of new buildings really be that bad? The fact is (and anyone who provides an honest evaluation of constructed buildings should agree), many of the alleged defects simply represent deviations from the contractor’s instructions. Some deviations actually have a consequence such that a repair is warranted, while many do not. This paper will discuss the third element of a typical construction litigation case, the repair scope, and it will provide commentary based on direct involvement in numerous cases in which the author has provided expert services to both plaintiff and defense parties. Parts I and II of this series discussed the identification of defects and the expert report, respectively. Part IV will discuss the testimony aspects of construction litigation. Read More
Potential Issues Encountered During Installation of Air and Weather-Resistive Barriers May 15, 2020 BACKGROUND A variety of materials and technologies are currently being used in exterior wall construction of structures to form a membrane on the exterior face of the backup wall/substrate to function as a barrier to prevent air and/or moisture infiltration into building interiors. In general, regardless of the design intention of the wall assembly— whether […] Read More
Change Is Still “Up in the Air” May 15, 2020 INTRODUCTION In recent years, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs, colloquially known as drones) have seen a rapid increase in technical innovation of concern to the building enclosure community. At times, development has inundated parties with information on how the devices can aid in research and testing. The remote sensing community has changed and grown with the […] Read More
Understanding Acoustics for Dynamic Building Enclosures With Wind-Driven Kinetic Façade Systems May 15, 2020 24 • IIBEC Interface A August 2020 Figure 1 – Wind-driven kinetic façade systems create an ever-changing exterior. Translucent flapper panels, such as on Pittsburgh Children’s Museum’s “Articulated Cloud,” allow natural light to enter the interior, while reducing unwanted solar heat gain and glare. The museum’s façade system was collaboratively designed and built by artist […] Read More
Anatomy of Construction Litigation: Part IV – Expert Testimony May 15, 2020 DISCLAIMER The issues described in this paper are considered to represent the realities of construction litigation. The opinions expressed are not intended to offend any particular participant of this process. Rather, it is the author’s intent to promote open discussion and/or debate among participants regarding improving on the “defective” (but sometimes necessary) process of construction […] Read More
