Design and Installation Considerations for Resilient Air Barriers
Air barriers for exterior wall cladding systems commonly serve additional purposes beyond restricting air flow, also providing weather resistance or serving as a vapor retarder. As such, there are many types and configurations available to designers and installers: vapor permeable or impermeable, fluid-applied or sheet membrane, reinforced or non-reinforced, adhered or non-adhered, or various combinations of these and other materials. Air barriers can impact occupant comfort, energy performance, moisture migration, and even bulk water infiltration when serving as the weather resistive barrier, requiring stronger resilience than the cladding assemblies that typically cover these barriers. In this webinar, we will review common failure mechanisms of air barriers and discuss the considerations designers, specifiers, and installers should be aware of when selecting and installing resilient air barriers in exterior wall cladding systems. We will also explore lessons learned from new construction challenges, investigations of recently constructed buildings, and repairs after air barrier failures for future design and construction considerations.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After attending this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Understand the different types of air barriers available for exterior wall cladding systems.
- Recognize common building performance problems resulting from air barrier performance problems.
- Recognize detailing and installation challenges and the common failure mechanisms of air barriers.
- Understand concepts for selecting and installing resilient air barriers.
Participants will earn 1.0 AIA CES Learning Unit (LU/HSW) for attending the live webinar. 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
Amrish Patel has extensive experience investigating, rehabilitating, and designing building enclosure systems, particularly for roofing and waterproofing. He consults with clients to help evaluate building performance and moisture control problems. His work experience also includes construction litigation support and consulting on building enclosure systems for a wide range of projects, including residential and commercial buildings, parking structures, plazas, schools, hospitals, and other structures in both public and private sectors.
View All Events