Mishandling AI Tools Puts Engineers at Risk for Ethics Violations May 20, 2025 WITH THE PROLIFERATION of artificial intelligence (AI)-powered tools in today’s engineering workforce, a case study relating to the downfall of IBM’s $4 billion health care AI system offers a message of caution for engineering professionals when engaging with new technologies. SITUATION Longtime followers of the television quiz show Jeopardy are likely to recall watching the […] Read More
Roof Decks A to Z Part 20: Cinder Concrete on Ribbed/Expanded Metal Lath May 20, 2025 CINDER CONCRETE IS a cast-in-place deck type (also referred to as job-cast concrete). This article concerns itself with cinder concrete placed atop ribbed and expanded metal form (also known as wire lath; Fig. 1). This system was used to support concrete floors and roof decks before the advent of ribbed/ fluted steel form deck (Fig. […] Read More
Online Exclusive: Blast from IIBEC’s Past! April 04, 2025 Online exclusive Over the course of more than four decades, IIBEC Interface has brought readers the best technical content in the building enclosure industry, and last year, we again raised the bar debuting an initiative years in the making: we proudly presented to our members the reimagining of IIBEC’s The Hub. Now a fully searchable […] Read More
Spring Online Exclusive: Validating Thermal Performance of Existing Assemblies Using In-Situ Measurements April 04, 2025 Validating Thermal Performance of Existing Assemblies Using In-Situ Measurements BACKGROUND AND INTRODUCTION The thermal performance of existing building enclosures is often difficult to determine with a high level of validity. This can create confusion and uncertainty in maintenance or retrofitting projects. For older buildings, the challenge to get information often comes from incomplete or […] Read More
Thermal Performance of Spandrel Assemblies in Glazed Wall Systems April 04, 2025 Thermal Performance of Spandrel Assemblies in Glazed Wall Systems GLAZED WALL SYSTEMS, such as curtainwalls and window walls, comprise transparent, translucent, and opaque areas. The opaque areas, known as spandrel assemblies, shown in Fig. 1, are often used to hide building components such as slab edges, mechanical equipment, and suspended ceilings. Spandrels are increasingly insulated […] Read More
Thin Brick Insulated Precast Wall Systems: A High-Performance Solution Feature March 13, 2025 Thin Brick Insulated Precast Wall Systems: A High-Performance Solution Feature By Jim Schneider, LEED AP ARCHITECT LUDWIG MIES van der Rohe once famously said, “Architecture starts when you carefully put two bricks together. There it begins.”1 There is elegance in that statement, and certainly the humble masonry brick has been an important part of […] Read More
Self-Adhered Membrane Applications: What Does It Really Mean to Stick? March 13, 2025 Self-Adhered Membrane Applications: What Does It Really Mean to Stick? Finally, the third main characteristic of any PSA, regardless of specific chemistry, is tack. This is the spontaneous ability of an adhesive to stick to a surface with no pressure applied or time to dwell on the surface. When handed a self-adhered membrane, the […] Read More
Blindside Waterproofing Systems for Hydrostatic Conditions: Lessons Learned & Good Practice March 13, 2025 Blindside Waterproofing Systems for Hydrostatic Conditions: Lessons Learned & Good Practice INTRODUCTION With the increasing demand for housing and expansive growth of multi-unit residential building (MURB) developments in downtown Toronto and neighboring communities, the number of below-grade levels, particularly for parking, continues to extend deeper. Blindside below-grade waterproofing has become an essential component of […] Read More
Condo Chronicles: Navigating Condominium Fenestration Replacement and Restoration Projects February 21, 2025 Navigating Condominium Fenestration Replacement and Restoration Projects IN THE EVER-EVOLVING world of architectural design and construction, condominium fenestration replacement and restoration projects are complex endeavors that require strategic planning, expert execution, and an understanding of the intricate dynamics at play within a condominium complex. Challenges arise from the blend of shared ownership, communal living, […] Read More
Ensuring Installation Quality: Field Testing Methods for Building Enclosure Components February 21, 2025 Field Testing Methods for Building Enclosure Components THIS CASE STUDY illustrates some of the testing methods which can be employed in a new construction project to assess the adequacy of the installation of the building enclosure components. The testing techniques include ASTM D4263, Standard Test Method for Indicating Moisture in Concrete by the Plastic […] Read More
