Past Meetings

January 2023 Monthly Meeting

When
-
Meeting Title
Electronic Leak Detection
Location

Live Zoom Webinar. Register at link below.

Presenters
Shaun Katz
Description

This course will cover Electronic Leak Detection (ELD) testing methods used for quality assurance of roofing and waterproofing membranes. Participants will learn about the principles outlined in the ASTM Standard Guide D7877 and ASTM Standard Practice D8231 and will be able to identify which assemblies are compatible with electronic testing and active monitoring.

Shaun Katz has been with Detec Systems for 7 years and has over 20 years of experience in customer service, sales and business administration. Shaun has assisted contractors, architects, engineers and consultants, manufacturers, facility managers and building owners with forensic leak investigation, as well as leak detection testing in new construction. He has performed presentations and demonstrated ELD throughout the world, and won the 2020 Presenter of the Year Award from the Chicago chapter of IIBEC.

His goal is to provide a basic understanding of Electronic Leak Detection and to assist design teams with ensuring valid and conclusive ELD.

1 AIA LU/HSW

December 2022 Monthly Meeting

When
-
Meeting Title
Introduction to Building Science Advisor (BSA)
Location

Live Zoom Webinar. 

Presenters
Michael Lubliner
Description

The Building Science Advisor (BSA) is a rule-based expert system web-based tool developed to assist building professionals in designing energy efficient and durable residential wall systems for new or retrofit construction. When examining new construction and based on location, the BSA will assess the proposed design. For proposed retrofits, the BSA provides recommendations on how to address the retrofit in a manner that will not create a durability problem. The capabilities of the BSA will be demonstrated. Your feedback and guidance are sought on how to improve the tool and what additional features are needed to make this tool useful for your everyday activities.

Lubliner is internationally recognized for his 40 years of significant contributions to residential building science research, demonstration and deployment (RD&D), of emerging technology and building systems engineering. He has worked with leading industry partners to promote best practice associated with; building enclosures, fenestration, HVAC systems, domestic hot water (DHW), lighting, MEL’s and renewables.

He uses his effective and passionate communications style and SME knowledge and wisdom from the “school of hard knocks”, to communication with a broad group of residential construction industry stakeholders. These stakeholders include; federal, state and local governments, utilities, community developers, general and subs-contractors, supply chain manufacturers/distributors, building code officials, consumer DIY and others.

Lubliner helped to design, implement and evaluate utility energy efficiency efforts as well as EPA Energy Star, EPA Indoor Air Plus, HUD Healthy House, DOE NZEH, and Washington state energy codes. He has a long history of building science support to large and small site built builders and factory built HUD-code/modular builders client.

He has collaborated with progressive not for profits affordable organizations such as King and Pierce County Public Housing Authorities and Habitat for Humanity towards improving environmental equity. In 2018-2020 he provided technical support to over 5000 Washington state residential energy code clients (WSEC-R) hotline clients.

1 AIA LU/HSW

November 2022 Month Meeting

When
-
Meeting Title
Contemporary Masonry Design
Location

Live Zoom Webinar.

Presenters
Cole Cabler
Description

By understanding masonry’s modular design, colors, textures and technical detailing issues, architects can open the door to innovative new building designs. Using creative design examples, this seminar will review innovative ways to use brick and stone masonry to create new exciting building aesthetics. Standards and methods for upholding industry requirements for structural integrity, movement, moisture, and thermal control will also be integrated in the discussion of material systems.

Cole Cabler is the Regional Director of the International Masonry Institute. He has vver 15 years of experience in the architecture industry as both a project designer and project manager. He’s worked on myriad projects throughout his career, ranging from office to civic and residential buildings.

1 AIA LU/HSW

October 2022 Monthly Meeting

When
-
Meeting Title
When to Use Storefront and Curtain Wall
Location

Live Zoom Webinar.

Presenters
Bud Henson
Description

Architectural Aluminum Framing Systems have grown and multiplied over the years to meet the changing demands of building envelops. This industry started by meeting the demand for a sustainable storefront solution in the early 1900’s. Today architects are faced with selecting from a wide range of system options. Two major types of framing systems are Storefronts and Curtain Walls. In some cases, these systems could occupy the same space but in others, selecting the wrong system could have harmful consequences. This presentation will help attendees determine the correct system and understand why a storefront or curtain wall should be used.

Bud Henson is Vice President of Window Tech., Inc., a full-service manufacturer's representative in the Pacific Northwest. Bud's primary responsibilities include working with/supporting architects with selecting and detailing aluminum glazing systems.

September 2022 Monthly Meeting

When
-
Meeting Title
Portland BEC Half Day Symposium (Hybrid)
Location

Revolution Hall
1300 SE Stark
Portland, OR 97214

Presenters
Andrew Dunlap
Laverne Dalgleish
Description

3.5 LU/HSW learning credits

Schedule

  • 8:45 – 9:15 Sign In & Welcome
  • 9:15 – 10:15 Oh no! What did I miss? How to properly specify an air barrier system Laverne Dalgleish 1.0 LU/HSW
  • 10:15 – 10:30 Break
  • 10:30 – 12:00 “By Others”: The Elusive Subcontractor Responsible for Transitions Andrew Dunlap 1.5 LU/HSW
  • 12:00 – 12:30 Lunch
  • 12:30 – 1:30 Air Barrier Material Evaluations & Testing Laverne Dalgleish 1.0 LU/HSW

Presentation Overview


Oh no! What did I miss? How to properly specify an air barrier system Laverne Dalgleish

Design and Construction documents are one of the first steps towards achieving an effective layer of airtightness to manage moisture and air movement. The importance of a proper specification cannot be understated and a well-articulated document will ensure that the owner is provided with materials, performance and quality. The presentation will review some of the consideration and language that should be reviewed prior to developing a specification and will outline code requirements, performance requirements, what can be done for quality and ensuring material selection meets the intent of design and for crucial coordination with other components of the enclosure.


“By Others” The Elusive Subcontractor Responsible for Transitions Andrew Dunlap

This course will take you through a multitude of details with a review of assembly environmental separators that will show common enclosure assembly discontinuities and provide an education on common system transition methods.


Air Barrier Material Evaluations & Testing: Why Peanut Butter Is Good For A Sandwhich But Not For Your Air Barrier Laverne Dalgleish

Air barrier technology has been around for decades, but the use of air and water resistive barrier material in buildings is fairly new. Some air and water resistive barrier materials have been used in other applications for years and now are being used for the air and water control layer. Now that the application has changed, does the material still perform in the new application? As the air and water resistive barrier industry has grown over the past decade, new materials have come on the market. These materials have a short track record, but should you shy away from using them? This presentation shows how you can sort out the different materials and how you can get help in choosing the right one for your project.


Cost

This event is free to Portland BEC Members. For non-members the cost is $50, which includes membership.

Registration

Registration

This event will be both in person and streamed online.

In-person attendance will be limited to 50. 

Streaming will be hosted by the ABAA through GoTo Webinar. 

June 2022 Monthly Meeting

When
-
Meeting Title
Spontaneous Glass Breakage
Location

Live Zoom Webinar.

Presenters
David Nicastro
Description

All buildings use glass in the building envelope, and all will have some breakage during their service life. But sudden, unexplained breakage is not normal, expected, or acceptable. Spontaneous breakage is most likely caused by a defect in manufacturing, fabrication, or installation, including surface scratches, edge defects, thermal shock, edge contact, and inclusions. This presentation will synthesize a practical understanding of the causes of spontaneous glass breakage based on theoretical behavior and failure case studies, and will include diagnostic methods, prevention, and mitigation strategies.

David H. Nicastro, P.E., F.ASTM, is a licensed professional engineer specializing in durability and failure causation theory. He analyzes existing buildings and designs remedies. He is the founder of Building Diagnostics and Engineering Diagnostics, which grew to be an Inc. 500 firm by 2000. He also founded The Durability Lab, a testing center housed at The University of Texas at Austin to study the durability of building components, identifying factors causing premature failure. Mr. Nicastro is the past chairman of ASTM Committee C24 on Building Seals and Sealants, and has published over 50 articles and books on durability and failure of building materials.

1 AIA LU/HSW

This course was not recorded at the request of the speaker.

May 2022 Monthly Meeting

When
-
Meeting Title
The Big Disconnect - The Importance of Wall to Roof Connections for the Air Barrier
Location

Live Zoom Webinar. Pre-registration is required at the link below.

Presenters
Roy Schauffele
Description

As more states, jurisdictions and the design community require air barriers, the issue of connecting the wall air barrier assembly to other building assemblies, such as below grade, window systems and roofs need to be completely understood in order to design and construct a functioning building enclosure.

One of the most often missed or not well executed details is the connection between the wall air barrier and roof assembly. With a myriad of roof systems, wall configurations and the growing number of wall air barrier products, it can be difficult to navigate the process in regards to what systems work best with each other and the chemical compatibility of these systems.

This presentation will focus on things to consider from a design standpoint, along with practical approaches to ensuring a robust connection is constructed and executed.

Roy Schauffele is an internationally published author and speaker in the fields of energy conservation and sustainable building envelopes including insulation, air barrier technology, roofing & waterproofing, vegetative & cool roofing, all with an eye towards improving building science, performance, and quality of life. He is the acknowledged inventor of “The Perfect Wall” which is now the nationwide building code standard for wall construction.

He is President and founder of Division 7 Solutions, Inc, now entering its 35th year of continuous operations.

Roy currently serves, at the request of the ABAA (Air Barrier Association of America) Board and Executive Committee, as the Executive Advisor to the ABAA. He has served on the ABAA Executive Committee as a Director at Large of the ABAA, after 3 terms as Chairman, also the first Regional ABAA Regional Advocate. As an appointee by the City Council of San Antonio, he has served as a Technical Advisor to Build San Antonio Green (BSAG) and was an award winner in 2012 for his Technical Contributions to BSAG and was named the (2016) Individual Green Practitioner for Sustainable Education and Outreach.

Globally, he is the only person to be a Fellow of both CSI and ABAA, and he was the first to become a Certified Air Barrier Specialist. He continues to be a requested national speaker on all items related to Division 7 Thermal & Moisture, and especially on air barriers, roofing, insulation, energy conservation design, and sustainability.

April 2022 Monthly Meeting

When
-
Meeting Title
So, You Have a Leak. Understanding Water Ingress and Associated Envelope Failures
Location

Live Zoom Webinar. Pre-registration is required at the link below.

Presenters
Caroline Segsworth
Description

In this course we will present a basic guideline for identifying and understanding water ingress in new and existing buildings. We will review the different modes of water-related building enclosure failures, discussing how to identify and approach repair of both unique and systemic issues, in the context of multiple different building typologies, materials, and typical assemblies. The course will present a number of case studies, highlighting issues that may arise both during and after construction, as well as after many years of operation and occupancy. Using these case studies in hand with the understanding gained on modes of failure, attendees will learn how to avoid common mistakes in design and construction that may compromise durability and performance of the building enclosure in the long run.

Caroline has over 15 years of experience in the building design and construction industry. She joined Morrison Hershfield in 2014, relocating to our Portland, Oregon office in 2016. Caroline has worked in the fields of architecture and building envelope consulting throughout the Pacific Northwest. She brings a multidisciplinary approach to building science and endeavors to incorporate new technologies and innovative problem solving into building design, construction, and rehabilitation.