Sealing the Deal: Achieving Airtightness in Modern Enclosures
As we approach the limits of how much insulation can feasibly be installed in buildings, energy codes and guidelines have stepped up efforts to reduce air leakage. Building airtightness has emerged as a critical factor in reducing energy use, improving occupant comfort, and meeting sustainability goals. Recent codes and standards have set increasingly rigorous air leakage limits, requiring project teams to rethink how airtightness is addressed from early design through final construction.
In this webinar, we will explore how project teams can successfully achieve low air leakage results in new construction projects through proactive efforts in design and construction. The presentation will highlight a case study of how a 144,000 gsf middle school in Massachusetts achieved exceptional whole-building airtightness performance. We will contrast this success with lessons learned from real-world examples of air leakage challenges encountered when designing and installing air barriers on other projects. Attendees will gain practical guidance on how to review details for airtightness, coordinate enclosure transitions during pre-construction, and implement effective quality control procedures. They will increase their understanding of how to inspect the air barrier installation and how to verify the success of the air barrier system with field testing.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After attending this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Understand airtightness requirements in current energy codes and standards.
- Identify common air leakage pathways and analyze enclosure details to improve airtightness across different systems and transitions.
- Apply practical detailing and coordination strategies to improve airtightness outcomes during design and construction.
- Implement quality assurance and testing procedures, including mockups and field performance testing, that verify airtight enclosure performance.
Participants will earn 1 AIA CES Learning Unit (LU/HSW) for attending the seminar. Registration is free. Please note that space is limited – email events@sgh.com to join our waitlist if the session is closed when you register.
About the Speaker
Colleen Stuber-Zukanovic has extensive experience in the AEC industry, specializing in building enclosure consulting. Her experience includes new construction consulting as well as existing building consulting on exterior wall renovations, roof replacements, roof and wall assessments, and existing condition investigations. She uses her past experience working on the architect’s side as well as on the owner’s side to bolster her expertise in building enclosure commissioning.
Lincoln Taylor has experience in investigation, design, rehabilitation, and field observations of historic and new construction buildings, with a focus on building enclosure performance. He works on a wide range of projects, including higher education, residential, mixed-use, laboratory, and commercial developments, providing services such as enclosure commissioning, field performance testing, hygrothermal analysis, and construction-phase consulting. His work frequently involves evaluating enclosure systems in the context of evolving energy codes and performance requirements.
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