BEC-Iowa January Meeting

Title of Presentation
High Performance Building Envelope

Presenter
Steve Tratt, National Sales Manager
Tremco, Inc./Canam Building Envelope Specialists

Bio for Presenter
Steven Tratt has over 26 years of experience in the building envelope air barrier industry, including expertise in air leakage testing and weatherization materials. He has worked extensively in the custom design of building science solutions for the education, healthcare, commercial and government markets. His material expertise includes two-component polyurethane foam insulating air sealants, door and window weather‐stripping, fire-stopping systems and air tightness testing equipment. Steve has trained building envelope retrofit contractors in both Canada and The United States and has made numerous presentations to a wide variety of trade associations. Currently Steve is involved in organizing and presenting air barrier seminars for architects and engineers.

Abstract / Summary of Presentation
High Performance Building Envelope
This session is designed for architects and other design and construction professionals interested in increasing their knowledge of the application and use of air barriers in the building envelopes of commercial and multi-family residential buildings. Researchers, architects and code writers have shown that attention to specific details in both new and retrofitted envelopes result in better performing buildings with better comfort and long durability as well as lower energy consumption.

Air leakage through the building envelope is silent, invisible and cunning. It causes numerous building envelope problems including wetting of cavity materials, spalling of masonry, premature corrosion of metals, blistering of paint, icicles, staining of contraction. Continuity is important but strength is even more important.

In buildings, the air barrier system must be designed, and specified on plans. It has specific performance criteria and specific material requirements.

The presentation will cover these objectives:
1. How better building envelope can reduce energy demand on heating and cooling and reduce energy.
2. The significance of each part of the building envelope (the top, bottom, vertical shafts and the walls) relative to the efficient operation.
3. What problems can occur with the lack of compartmentalization and/or decoupling between floors in buildings over 3 stories?
4. Discover the materials and methodology used in air sealing commercial and low to high rise multi-family buildings.

Attendees will earn 1 CEU.

A remote option is available for those who are unable to attend in person