Keynote: Why Air Barrier Specialists Need to Understand Water
Tuesday, March 26, 3:00 – 5:00pm
It’s been said that the three biggest problems in buildings are water, water, and water. Moisture is involved in everything from rot to corrosion to buckling to bugs. But what does that have to do with air? In his keynote presentation, John Straube will take a closer look at different materials used to control air or water (or both!), and how material properties impact assembly design and performance, product specification, and inspection activities.
Learning Objectives:
- Recognize the differences and relationship between vapor, air, and thermal control.
- Understand key building science principles that determine how water vapor and liquid water move through materials and assemblies.
- Identify critical details and transitions that impact rain and air control.
- List common moisture-related problems and their impacts on buildings and building occupants.
John Straube
RDH Building Science Inc.
John Straube is a Principal at RDH Building Science, where he heads forensic investigations and leads research projects in the areas of low-energy building design, building enclosure performance, hygrothermal analysis, and field monitoring of wall assemblies. He is also a prolific writer and a noted public speaker. As one blogger wrote after attending a keynote speech: “he clearly loves what he does.”
In addition to his work with RDH, Dr. Straube is a cross-appointed faculty member in the School of Architecture and the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Waterloo. Dr. Straube’s leadership as a building scientist and an educator has been recognized with multiple awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award in Building Science Education from the National Consortium of Housing Research Centers (NCHRC) and the Professional Leadership Award from the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA).