Monthly archive

Please note that this meeting will occur on a Thursday

Architectural Aluminum Framing Systems can be broken down into a number of subcategories. These are: Storefront, Curtain Wall, Window Wall, Overhead or Sloped Glazing, Windows, Entrances, Interior Frames and Sliding Storefronts. The first three categories: Storefront, Curtain Wall and Window Wall are most commonly used for fixed exterior glazing on commercial applications. Each shares some common characteristics but for the most part, each is very different and designed for specific applications.

For our October 1, 2024 Portland BEC meeting, we have arranged for a unique opportunity to tour the ongoing construction of the OHSU Hospital Expansion Project (OHEP). This 14-story, $540M immediate care facility features approximately 500,000 sf of programmed space and parking, planned accommodations for up to 192 beds, 250,000 sf of unitized curtain wall, 10,000 sf of vegetated roof, and three (3) bridge connections to adjacent campus buildings.

Building science is a dynamic field that integrates age-old practices with cutting-edge research, offering critical insights into the design and construction of buildings. While some principles have been established for centuries, our understanding of building science continues to evolve as new research and industry experiences emerge. In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of its value, especially in addressing the complexities of modern construction and mitigating risks.

Mass timber is both an innovative building material and a fundamentally familiar material. This course will cover some of the challenges which can be encountered when using this material with an emphasis on the construction process. This course will address the nature of wood material and how it reacts to moisture and relate that to the practical use of mass timber as a construction material. The standards applying to mass timber moisture content during both manufacturing and fabrication and then erection and construction in general will be reviewed.

Blower door testing in Oregon is relatively new and the requirement has created a fair amount of questions for compliance and how the test is performed. Learn the ins and outs of how the test is performed and how the ASHRAE 90.1 criteria is applied in order to satisfy the energy code.

As jurisdictions across North America introduce more stringent building energy performance standards (BEPS)—such as the BC Step Code and Seattle 2018 update—developers, architects, and contractors are left wondering the best way to meet the new benchmarks while controlling costs. This balance can seem daunting, especially when it comes to incorporating manufactured components, such as windows. Fortunately, a general understanding of the impacts of high-performance fenestration can help keep a project on track.

In new and existing building envelope inspections, Torrance has observed the results of severe catastrophic decisions regarding air barrier design and installation procedures.

The Commissioning process has historically attached itself to the active systems, leaving the primarily passive envelope systems undefined and unchecked. However, due to the significant changes in City and State Energy Codes across the US which are addressing envelope design requirements to meet air leakage control and thermal performance targets, a new light has been directed at the importance of commissioning the passive systems. The code changes are requiring designers and contractors to deliver higher performance of their buildings, especially from the building envelope.

Management of moisture, air, vapor, and thermal performance, as well as wind resistance requirements, are critical at the wall-to-roof interface. This session will provide guidelines to successfully navigate these often-competing interests and provide strategies for achievable performance through design and specification, without compromising the aesthetics with distracting details, for commercial building wall systems.

Building codes are evolving to create more stringent standards for energy efficiency. Passive techniques were used in building design for centuries to help moderate indoor temperatures before heating and cooling systems become prevalent. Now, passive techniques are making a resurgence because of their effectiveness in achieving ideal indoor environmental conditions. Join us to learn about passive techniques that meet energy codes, including thermal mass, proper day-lighting, and thermal bridging. Hear lessons learned from real-world projects that incorporate passive energy techniques.