High Performance Building Envelope
Track 2
Tuesday, May 2, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
This session is designed for building/property/facility managers, building owners, developers, 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.
Learning Objectives:
- How better building envelope can reduce energy demand on heating and cooling and reduce energy.
- The significance of each part of the building envelope (top, bottom, vertical shafts and the walls) relative to the efficient operation.
- Identifies problems that can occur with the lack of compartmentalization and/or decoupling between floors in buildings over 3 stories.
- Learn how a better building envelope can reduce energy demand on heating and cooling and reduce energy.
Steven Tratt, ABAA, BPI, NAIT, A/D Firebarrier Certified, CMHC, CUFCA
WTI / Canam Building Envelope Specialists, Beachwood, OH
Steven Tratt, National Sales Manager, Lead Assessor-Steve has over 30 years of experience in the building envelope air barrier industry as well as the insulation and thermal 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, Multi-family, and government markets. He was on the taskforce that wrote the US Army Corps of Engineers Air Leakage Test Protocol for Building Envelopes. He has trained building envelope retrofit contractors in Canada, USA, Ireland, England, and Australia and has made numerous presentations to a wide variety of trade associations. Currently he has been involved in organizing and presenting air barrier seminars for architects, engineers, building owners and facility managers throughout Canada and the United States.
His certifications and qualifications include, Construction Management (NAIT), BPI Certified Building Analyst Professional and Building Envelope Professional, A/D Fire barrier Certified, CMHC Mold Remediation Certified, Six Sigma Certified, Member of CUFCA (Canadian Urethane Foam Contractors Association), Member of ABAA (Air Barrier Association of America).