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Building Science Workshop
Session Outline and Objectives
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Registration and
Continental Breakfast: 7:00 - 8:00 a.m. |
| 8:00 - 9:00 |
Historical
Perspective
- Understanding the evolution of
building systems, enclosures,
assemblies and materials.
- Understanding the role of
disaster and failure in the
evolution of building design.
- Understanding why codes and
regulations are reactive, not
proactive.
Questions:
- Are the buildings of today
significantly more efficient than in
the past?
- What is the key component of
sustainability?
- What is the major issue
affecting durability?
- How does energy conservation
affect durability?
- What is durability guidance
based on?
- What is the largest source of
water affecting durability?
Background Reading:
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| 9:00 - 10:00 |
Rain
Control
- Understanding rain as a design
load.
- Understanding rain control
strategies.
- Understanding the consequences
of failure to control problems with
brick, stucco, EIFS, manufactured
stone veneer and curtain walls.
Questions
- What types of claddings should
be installed using the rain screen
method?
- What is the single most
important factor in the design and
construction of durable buildings?
- What exterior claddings pass
rainwater?
- What element controls
penetrating rainwater?
- What is the key characteristic
of a drainage plane?
- What is the most common drainage
plane?
Background Reading:
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Break 10:00 - 10:15 |
| 10:15 - 11:15 |
Air
Control
- Understanding airflow control in
terms of smoke, energy, durability,
health, and comfort.
- Understanding buildings as 3-D
airflow networks.
- Understanding and controlling
pathways and pressures.
Questions
- What three things power
unplanned airflow in buildings?
- What is an air barrier?
- Where can an air barrier be
located?
- How are air barriers tested?
- What is an air retarder?
- How do you test a big building
for air leakage?
Background Reading:
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| 11:15 - 12:15 |
Heat, Air
and Moisture Movement
- Understanding the mechanisms of
heat, air, and moisture movement.
- Understanding the role of heat,
air and moisture in building
failure.
- Understanding integrated design
for the control of heat, air and
moisture.
Questions
- Is water vapor migration through
assemblies typically greater by
airflow through gaps and holes or by
diffusion?
- What are the three major
strategies for reducing the risk of
moisture damage?
- What are the environmental loads
that affect moisture control?
- What is the key relative
humidity level at a surface to
control mold?
- What is the most important
source of moisture that should be
controlled?
- What is the key to rainwater
control?
Background Reading:
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Lunch 12:15 - 1:15 pm |
| 1:15 - 2:15 |
Roofs
- Understanding how to select
appropriate roof systems for
different climates and occupancies.
- How to identify critical
elements.
- Learning from past successes and
failures.
Questions
- In a roof assembly, where should
the air barrier be in relationship
to the rain control barrier and the
thermal layer?
- What is the primary purpose of
attic or roof ventilation in a cold
climate?
- What is the primary purpose of
attic or roof ventilation in a hot
climate?
- What environment should vented
attics be coupled to?
- Where should ductwork be
located?
- What is the most effective way to
control ice dams?
Background Reading:
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| 2:15 - 3:15 |
Foundations
- Understanding how to keep ground
water and soil gas out of building
foundations.
- Environmental control for
building assemblies.
- Understanding the conflict
between structural engineering
approaches and environmental control
approaches.
Questions
- In what direction does a
basement wall dry?
- What is the fundamental
principle of groundwater control?
- Where should a perimeter drain
be located?
- What is the function of crushed
stone under a slab?
- What is the function sheet
polyethylene under a slab?
- What is the function of a vent
stack?
Background Reading:
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Break 3:15 - 3:30 pm |
| 3:30 - 4:30 |
Repair and
Retrofit
- Insulating mass wall buildings
and freeze-thaw damage.
- Foundation retrofits.
- Interior and exterior enclosure
repair approaches.
Questions
- What type of insulations and how
thick should they be on mass walls?
- What is the problem associated
with porous materials?
- What is rising damp?
- What leads to large hydrostatic
pressures in porous materials?
- What was historically the
material of choice to address
leaking walls?
- Where are drained walls
typically found?
Background Reading:
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| 4:30 - 5:30 |
HVAC
- Understanding the primary
function of HVAC.
- Understanding the effect of
climate on HVAC design and
operation.
- Understanding and managing the
conflict between green architecture,
IAQ and energy efficiency.
Questions
- What impact does it have on
energy use, equipment and duct size
if the heating system is oversized?
- What impact does it have on the
energy use, equipment and duct size
if the air conditioning system is
oversized?
- What is the function of a space
conditioning system?
- What temperature defines
comfort?
- What is the best HVAC system?
- What is the most difficult to
control HVAC system?
- What can an ERV never do?
Background Reading:
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For more information about the workshop,
contact:
info@home-performance.org.
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