Addressing Discontinuities of the Rainscreen  

No single person can ensure that a building performs as designed, it takes a village of people working together and coordinating all aspects of the construction. Moisture damage is the single most problematic issue in buildings and as we move towards higher performing buildings, these moisture issues are expected to increase. We have used rainscreens in buildings for decades, yet rainscreens are often misunderstood.

Although considered by many to be the gold standard for wall design, the definition of rainscreen, and best practices for the design has little consensus within codes, industry & test standards, or among design professionals and manufacturers. A new industry-led association, RAiNA (Rainscreen Association in North America), is seeking to address some of these discontinuities within the industry.

This course will bring to life the village that navigates rainscreens and cover elements from moisture management strategies to maximizing thermal efficiency through the mitigation of thermal bridging.

Photo courtesy of RAiNA

Todd Kimmel is the Chairperson of the Rainscreen Association in North America. He has over 20 years of experience working on façade systems and the building enclosure, holding technical leadership positions for multiple leading product manufacturers. Todd is a certified passive house designer and currently sits on the board of directors for New York Passive House.