While improving energy efficiency is the key goal, the other benefits of air barriers, such as helping control the interior environment, providing a durable design, and creating a high-performing building, should all be closely considered in air barrier material selection.
While energy-efficient buildings are created by insulating from the bottom up, getting the best possible insulation for the project starts by understanding the material from the inside out. Current tests highlight the moisture absorption traits of rigid foam insulation but not the water expulsion traits, and therefore may be misleading.
High-density polyiso cover boards offer compressive strength that protects the low-slope commercial roof system from traffic, puncture, hail damage, and other impacts of weather. These easy-to-install, lightweight boards can also increase the roof system’s durability.
A November 2016 fire destroyed the Brantford Gymnastics Academy in Ontario. A new, custom-designed structure with a standing seam roof system and insulated metal panels (IMPs) on the exterior walls was determined to be the best option, as it would meet the insurance requirements and ambitious construction timeline.
The Building NX retrofit at Humber College, Toronto, has been awarded the Zero Carbon Building—Design certification by the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC). It is the first retrofit in the country to achieve this certification.
An exterior insulation and finish system (EIFS) is considered a general class of nonloadbearing building cladding assembly providing exterior walls with an insulated, water-resistant, and finished surface in an integrated composite material system. It is widely used throughout the country.
The CSC Winnipeg is having a presentation on “Spray foam for Canadian Construction”. Starting at 11:30 a.m., the event will take place on February 13, at the Viscount Gort Hotel.
Completed in the summer of 2018, Valleyview Town Hall in Alberta is the result of extensive collaboration between the municipality, contractor, and a team of designers and consultants working together to achieve the Passive House standard in a northern climate. This structure aims to become the first commercial building to achieve Passive House certification in Alberta and the first commercial building to obtain Passive House Plus certification in the world.
Structural thermal breaks (STBs) address thermal weaknesses in the building envelope by ensuring continuous insulation (ci), thereby improving the overall thermal performance. They are also changing the design philosophy to an “envelope-first approach.”
The world’s first Passive House car dealership is nearing completion in Red Deer, Alta. The client’s major requirement was any decisions made in pursuit of Passive House certification must not compromise customer or vehicle service. This was challenging and demanded the best of the whole design team.
