Waterproofing ICF Foundations: Two Steps Forward, Three Steps Back November 08, 2017 Try to imagine that you are a homeowner in the 20th year of a 30-year mortgage, and suddenly you learn that you have to spend tens of thousands of dollars to fix a serious problem with your house. Or even worse, imagine that you have just recently purchased a 20-year-old house and therefore have no […] Read More
Subgrade Waterproofing: A Case Study in Selecting the Right Materials and Techniques for the Job November 08, 2017 Severe weather can cause extensive damage to a structure’s roof, foundation, interior, and more if they are not properly waterproofed. However, protecting a building’s concrete foundation from potentially unforeseen water infiltration and other corrosive elements is one of the most important aspects of maintaining a structure’s overall integrity. Subgrade waterproofing plays an extremely important role […] Read More
Simplifying Moisture Measurement in Concrete October 08, 2017 Most people familiar with applying coatings, adhesives, or other moisturesensitive materials to concrete surfaces understand the frustration of assessing when the concrete has been adequately moisture-conditioned. That is to say, how do we know when the concrete is “dry” enough to install the material? Although there are numerous ways to measure moisture levels in concrete, […] Read More
Your First Step to Coating Success: Substrate Preparation October 08, 2017 1 0 • R C I I n t e r f a c e O c t o b e r 2 0 1 7 This article was written from a presentation given on July 19, 2016, at the International Roof Coatings Conference in Philadelphia, PA, sponsored by the Roof Coating Manufacturers Association. The […] Read More
Don’t Mess with Mr. Hyde: Modern Hygrothermal Performance Assessment October 08, 2017 Recent changes in energy efficiency requirements make white roofing more and more popular, as it can reduce the cooling demand in warm and hot climate zones. Also, recent research has shown that the downside of the application of a cool membrane makes a huge difference regarding moisture management. Using the hygrothermal performance assessment tool WUFI, […] Read More
Moisture Analysis in Unconditioned Concrete October 08, 2017 INTRODUCTION Moisture-sensitive materials such as adhesives and coatings (simplified as “coatings” for this article) are routinely applied to concrete surfaces in exterior plazas, roof structures, concourses, retention structures, parking garages, etc., for various purposes, including waterproofing and protection. The service environments for the coatings are often unconditioned—that is, in situations where the temperature and moisture […] Read More
Roof Decks: A to Z Part X: Precast Hollow-Core Concrete Planks September 15, 2017 Hollow core planks are precast, pre-stressed concrete members with continuous voids provided to reduce weight and cost (Figure 1). These slab systems are patented regarding the manufacturing technique and are licensed to the various producers in many locations worldwide. There have been several iterations of hollow-core systems over the decades, with patents found dating back […] Read More
Fire Resistance of Exterior Cladding Materials September 08, 2017 The Grenfell Tower fire (Figure 1) that occurred in London on June 14 is the most recent tragic example of a safety issue that has been plaguing the building industry for some time—specifically, the use of combustible materials with a high propensity for flame spread as part of a building’s exterior wall system. Accounts of […] Read More
Case Study: Improper Use of Self-Drilling Tapping Screws in Stucco Cladding August 08, 2017 Introduction Consider a large wood-framed, stuccoclad school building constructed circa- 2009 in a small coastal town in Northern California. The structure is highly exposed to storm winds blowing in from the Pacific Ocean. As evidenced by Photo 1, building envelope failures have resulted in extensive deterioration and fungal growth within weather-exposed wall assemblies. Presumably in […] Read More
Structural Design and Load Testing of Façade Access Equipment August 08, 2017 INTRODUCTION Façade access equipment is used on mid- and high-rise buildings to wash windows, perform maintenance, implement repairs, and replace glazing. Design of this equipment is governed by both the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and state and local laws, including building codes. Before façade access equipment is put into initial service, OSHA requires […] Read More
