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.
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.
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.
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.