Air tightness testing is becoming more prominent in building codes across the country with an ever increasing focus on energy conservation and indoor air quality control. This presentation focuses on how to select and perform building airtightness tests. During design, properly specifying an air tightness test requires the design team to be able to identify the air, thermal and vapor control layers throughout the building to determine the building enclosure and understand the various air tightness tests available.

Drained- and Rain-Screen cladding design has become commonplace over the last number of years, at least in many of our Northern-US practice areas. As a result, the industry has shifted much of its research and design effort to the further advancement of both the structural attachment methods for cladding and the improvement of the thermal properties of the attachment. The market today is filled with a variety of clip systems, thermally efficient girts, and other solutions for achieving both structural and thermal load resistance requirements.

Subgrade waterproofing presents unique challenges in that corrections can be difficult post installation. This panel discussion will examine common problems and what steps can be taken to avoid them. The panel will examine remediation techniques and strategies for mitigating problems in existing buildings and remodels.

The panel will include perspectives from Designers, Installers, and Manufacturer Representatives, as we review questions and project examples.

Grant Park High School in Portland, Oregon is a multi building campus featuring buildings and additions built over a period of time from 1923-1966. Composed largely of concrete frame structure with brick infill, the cladding has exhibited an accelerated degree of masonry spalling at a number of the buildings on various different elevations.

In a world where energy-efficiency and sustainable solutions are increasingly prioritized in building projects, it is important for architects, contractors and all building professionals to make informed decisions when selecting components of the building envelope. In an effort to assist building owners and design professionals in the selection of fenestration products, the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) has designed a rating system in which all products are evaluated under equal terms, enabling a fair comparison of products from different manufacturers.

Jonathan Smegal’s work for RDH includes laboratory research, hygrothermal modeling, field monitoring of wall performance, and forensic analysis of building failures. Jonathan has managed more than a dozen full scale field tests of wall and roof performance including test huts, test trailers, test houses, and production homes in various locations throughout North America.

Continuous exterior insulation, when used correctly, can resolve multiple building performance challenges. In this presentation, we will look at two topics: condensation and effective R-values. Condensation can lead to mold or rot on building enclosure surfaces, as well as within the enclosure’s inner layers. You will learn how to assess and minimize condensation risk in various assemblies, including how to reduce risk using continuous exterior insulation.

In the roofing industry there is a difference between wind speeds and wind pressure on the roofing system. This presentation takes a look at these differences and suggests ways in which specifications can be written, and roof systems designed, to meet the local code requirements.

The theme for SeaBEC's 2017 symposium is, “Advancing Building Enclosure: Beyond Code Conformance.” The Symposium will focus on topics elevating building enclosure design and construction above code standards and minimums. Six hours of AIA continuing education credits are expected.

Keynote Anthony Powell, director of Antartica, A Year on Ice

From Code to Construction Marty Houston, Walsh Construction

Washington Residential Energy Codes Luke Howard and Gary Nordeen, Washington State University

The tragic fire in London, UK, raises issues with respect to claddings and continuous insulation in high performance buildings as well as retrofits. The first part of this session addresses the physics of the fire in London and why such an occurrence is unlikely in the United States and Canada.