Abstract: Building owners, designers, and contractors are becoming increasingly aware of the effect of the building enclosure on energy use. With rare exception, however, green building rating systems, energy standards like ASHRAE 90.1, and...
The combination of ever-increasing owner program requirements, focus on energy-efficient buildings, and expanded architectural design options makes building construction more complicated every day. Architectural features, use of multiple wall...
Buildings in the U.S. are responsible for nearly 50% of the total, nationwide energy consumption and approximately 35% of total CO2 emissions. Further, CO2 production from buildings is increasing at a greater rate than both industry and...
When discussing moisture-related problems in high-humidity buildings, natatoriums and museums typically come to mind as the most challenging building types. However, specific design requirements for temperature, relative humidity (RH), and air...
Whether you are selecting windows for a residential house or for a large commercial project, you need to know a few things before you make your selection. Do you know what you are really getting with a window having a particular performance...
Thermal bridging in buildings can contribute to a multitude of problems, including, but not limited to, added energy use during heating and cooling seasons and interior surface condensation problems.|Thermal bridges are discontinuities in any...
Air barriers in building enclosures are still not widely mandated by building codes in the United States. However, acceptance of incorporating air barriers into new building enclosures is growing within the building design and construction...
Glass-and-metal curtain walls can provide an attractive, durable and cost-effective cladding solution, but in many buildings, they are plagued with problems ranging from air and water leakage to falling trim covers. The first two articles in this...
Abstract: Glass-and-metal curtain walls can provide an attractive, durable and cost-effective cladding solution, but in many buildings, these wall systems are plagued with problems ranging from air and water leakage to falling trim covers. The...
Exterior wall construction has evolved during the past century and a half. We have moved from massive masonry walls that support the floors of a building to slender walls that hang off the slabs. The heavy load-bearing masonry walls of the past...