Air-Tight Solutions: Air Barrier Selection, Trends, Challenges, and Quality Assurance
Avoiding problems with air infiltration
Sponsored by GCP and Clopay | Presented by Mary C. Arntzen, P.E. and Luke A. Niezelski, P.E
Webinar On-Demand
Air barriers are naturally difficult to repair due to their integration within the wall assembly and the care required to design and build exterior walls that control air, water, water vapor, and heat. To avoid expensive and time-consuming repairs, project teams need to pay special attention to air barrier design decisions at the front end of a project. The alternative can be costly—an overclad project to control air movement in an exterior wall assembly for just a two-story office building can be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. In this webinar, we will review code requirements and air barrier options for enclosure projects, share observed trends in the industry, and highlight common mistakes in designing and constructing air barrier systems. We will also share recommended approaches for designing and testing air barrier products and systems to help stakeholders avoid problems with air infiltration once the building is in service.
Photo courtesy of Simpson Gumpertz & Heger Inc.
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Mary C. Arntzen, P.E., is a Senior Project Manager with Simpson Gumpertz & Heger and has experience in designing, investigating, and rehabilitating building enclosure systems and frequently provides construction-phase services. She serves as a project manager for various large and complex projects, often working directly with owners, architects, construction managers, and developer clients, as well as subcontractors, manufacturers, and other consultants. Her experience also includes reviewing glass-and-metal curtain wall systems, windows, roofing, plaza waterproofing, cladding, and below-grade waterproofing systems. |
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Luke A. Niezelski, P.E, is a Senior Consulting Engineer with Simpson Gumpertz & Heger’s building technology group. He is experienced in investigating, assessing, and designing historic and contemporary building enclosures. He also provides construction administration, monitoring/inspection, and field-testing services. Luke has been involved in various Boston high-rise construction projects and is routinely collaborating with architects, owners, and contractors on complex building enclosure designs. |
Originally published in Building Enclosure
Originally published in April 2024
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- Review air barrier types, properties, and characteristics.
- Explore the advantages and disadvantages of different air barrier types and become familiar with recent trends.
- Recognize common pitfalls related to the design and construction of air barrier systems and how to avoid them.
- Cover how to implement testing and QA/QC measures into your projects.
