Working with IIBEC Consultants March 01, 2023 Working with IIBEC Consultants from IIBEC on Vimeo. Read More
A New Climate-Resilience Tool for the Commercial Roofing Community September 19, 2022 This paper focuses on the effects of climate change on Canadian low-slope membrane roofs and provides an overview of CSA A123.26, Performance Requirements for Climate Resilience of Low Slope Membrane Roofing Systems,1 a new standard that can help the roofing industry prepare for and mitigate those effects. Although this article is focused on Canada, a […] Read More
Moisture and Durability in Green Standards September 18, 2022 18 • IIBEC Interface April 2022 ABSTRACT Recent changes in building model energy codes include enclosure criteria that minimize building enclosure thermal loads and, in turn, reduce a building’s energy consumption. These changes require modifications in traditional building enclosure designs to meet evolving energy code requirements. Unfortunately, some code-compliant energy-efficient designs may adversely impact a […] Read More
Reducing Runoff: An Experimental Study of Modular Green Roofs September 18, 2022 12 • IIBEC Interface July 2022 Vegetated or “green” roofing has many well-established benefits. Chief among them is their capacity to reduce stormwater runoff in urban places where land is at a premium and little pervious ground surface remains. The often-overlooked roof surface can be transformed from a liability to an asset when covered with […] Read More
Keeping the Olympics on Schedule February 22, 2022 In anticipation of the 2002 Winter Games February 8 through 24, Salt Lake City, Utah erected buildings to host the various events. On every building, of course, is a roof—and that’s how one roofing systems manufacturer became involved with the Olympics. For the speed skating events, the city proposed to construct an Olympic Ice Oval, […] Read More
Prefabricated Systems: Where Intention and Reality Collide September 25, 2021 Prefabricated building enclosure components provide a means to reduce construction costs, accelerate schedules, and improve quality control in modern construction. They also reduce environmental impact, increase safety, and allow better project cost controls. However, without proper design, coordination, and planning, these benefits can be undermined or unrealized altogether, and unforeseen consequences can result. This paper […] Read More
Climate Benefits and Building Energy Efficiency Gains From Improved Roofing Insulation in Cold Climates September 21, 2021 The high thermal resistivity of polyisocyanurate insulation is attributed to its closedcell structure that is filled with low-thermal-conductivity blowing-agent vapor. However, existing polyisocyanurate products exhibit a decrease in their thermal-resistance values at lower temperatures due to the condensation of the blowing agent vapor. Because use of insulation with higher thermal resistivity can lead to improved […] Read More
A Modern Makeover – A Failed, Tired Masonry Façade Gets a New High-Performance Look April 25, 2021 BACKGROUND Occasionally, building renovation projects present an opportunity to renovate old, tired, worn out, or outdated features and totally transform the facility into something completely new or different. Such is the case with the transformation of a circa-1980s office building and research facility into a modern, more energy-efficient, transformed structure (Figures 1, 2, and 3). […] Read More
