November 2025 Monthly Meeting

For the November 2025 monthly meeting the Air Barrier Association of America and the Portland BEC will be collaborating on a half-day, in-person only symposium. The event will be at the EcoTrust Building in our usual space. 4 AIA HSW continuing education credits will be provided by the ABAA. This event will include lunch and some afternoon snacks. Attendance is limited and there will be a $25 registration fee.

11:00 - 12:00 PM - Lunch and Networking

12:00 - 1:00 PM - Presentation
Brian Stroik, FABAA, CABS, CRIS, Performance Excellence & Quality Consultant, American Contractors Insurance Group
Trust but Verify: Quality Control for Your Air Barriers
Modern construction is more complex, with layered systems, tight schedules, and higher expectations. This session outlines how quality assurance programs and trade-specific quality control—starting before installation and continuing through completion—help ensure durable, high-performing air barriers. 1.0 LU/HSW

1:00 - 2:00 PM - Presentation
Andrew Dunlap, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, Senior Principal, Building Technology Studio Leader, SmithGroup
Locating That Elusive Point of Condensation: A Review of Hygrothermal Evaluation Fundamentals.
This presentation will review the various types of Hygrothermal modeling tools available to assist designers in developing a building’s exterior enclosure. Variables such as the interior and exterior climate (temperature/humidity), material permeance, wall assembly types, and transitions between adjacent construction will be explored. Understanding the impact of the decision to use various modeling techniques such as 1D/2D/3D and transient versus static modeling will be discussed. 1.0 LU/HSW

2:00 - 2:15 PM - Break

2:15 - 3:15 PM - Presentation
Brian Stroik, FABAA, CABS, CRIS, Performance Excellence & Quality Consultant, American Contractors Insurance Group
A Sticky Subject - Adhesion of Air and Water Resistive Barrier Materials
Adhesion is critical for barriers to resist wind, stack effect, and pressurization. This session reviews 15 years of field research on adhesion performance across materials and substrates, comparing real-world results with lab testing. Attendees will learn how this data informs specifications and quality control on job sites. 1.0 LU/HSW

3:15 - 4:15 PM - Presentation
Andrew Dunlap, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, Senior Principal, Building Technology Studio Leader, SmithGroup
Failure is Not an Option: Air Barrier Continuity Strategies for Storefront and Curtain Wall Systems
Critical details that typically cause building performance-related issues will be focused on one of the largest failures of building enclosures: wall-to-window connections specific to curtain wall systems and storefronts. A step-by-step look at each critical detail regarding the sequence of construction and the various connections to ensure airtight/watertight and thermally protected details. Real-life photos and job conditions will highlight the realities of the construction process to show typical errors found and how those errors can be addressed correctly. 1.0 LU/HSW

4:15 - 5:00 PM - Networking