Advanced Threats Met with Advanced Technology
Section 5: Durability and Functionality, Building Standards and HSW
A shift to well-being and health objectives in new construction
New construction is seeing a movement toward health, safety and wellness. While the COVID pandemic may be accelerating this, it is not a temporary shift. Consumers are looking for healthier homes and places to work.
During the pandemic, people have spent an unprecedented amount of time in their homes; many in the workforce found a way to work from home. According to recent surveys, roughly one-tenth of working-age adults in the U.S. are planning to move, and about 30 percent of Americans working from home are interested in moving in order to have a dedicated home office.
Builders offering high-performance homes have found that an emphasis on health and wellness benefits is a better way to convey value. While the shift still certainly includes energy efficiency, people have responded more to the acknowledgment of the desire for homes built for occupant well-being.
Builders are recognizing buyers’ desire for health and wellness benefits in new homes and buildings and using the best WRBs on the market.
WRBs are an essential part of meeting those needs in new buildings. These issues are driving new WRB solutions that meet bulk water blockage and drainage needs and also satisfy the requirements for today’s wall systems. A higher level of performance is expected, and it is critical to have greater control of interior environmental conditions.
WRB technology and ASTM and other requirements
The 2018 IBC in Section 1402.2 calls for exterior walls that “provide the building with a weather-resistant exterior wall envelope… designed and constructed [so] as to prevent the accumulation of water within the wall assembly by providing a water-resistive barrier behind the exterior veneer … and a means for draining water that enters the assembly to the exterior.”
According to Section 1403.2, a WRB comprises at least one layer of “No. 15 asphalt felt, complying with ASTM D226, Standard Specification for Asphalt-Saturated Organic Felt Used in Roofing and Waterproofing, for Type 1 felt or other approved materials … attached to the studs or sheathing.”
Several materials meet the ASTM air leakage requirement, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they will hold up in the field once installed as part of a system. A WRB material needs to withstand conditions of the jobsite and installation. It just takes one tear or unsealed connection to compromise an entire system.
Air barriers are increasingly being used in commercial construction because of awareness of their ability to support sustainable, comfortable buildings and because of changing codes, but not all air barriers are comparable in performance or design.
Section 6: Conclusion
WRBs contribute to health, safety and wellness for building occupants, and they are essential in protecting new buildings from the elements. They work best as part of a wall assembly in dry and tight wall cavities that drain outside and help keep the inside of the building dry. An examination of performance and features shows that a few products on the market offer cutting-edge drainage features that best address durability, as well as providing environmental and health benefits. WRBs are an essential step in the construction of new buildings in a variety of climates, but it is up to the builder to employ experience and research based on the area and type of structure, and in the end, to use good judgment.
Climate change prompting changes in construction
Climate change is a key concern when planning new construction. Extreme weather events—droughts, wildfires, heat waves, flash floods, ice storms and hurricanes—must be considered when building new houses, businesses and centers. Widespread changes in weather patterns will become more frequent and intense, according to the EPA. Recent hurricanes with relentless rainfall and 100 mph winds illustrate why architects and developers are planning for a future with more and stronger storms and other climate-related disasters.
Modern WRBs reflect the needs of a changing environment and considerations for climate change in the future.
Many building designers now view climate change as a real and present problem; it’s no longer a distant or unfounded idea. Approaches have changed to reflect concepts of climate resilience—the idea that buildings should be designed to endure the impact of rising sea levels, increasing temperatures, and climate disasters. Many in the industry are designing structures to withstand rising waters and powerful storms, and WRBs are integral to this effort.
Destructive weather events born of natural disasters, climate change, environmental degradation, population growth and migration call for design innovation. AIA said in 2017 position papers that it supports and empowers members to create sustainable, resilient, and adaptable communities through the power of design.
AIA’s Resilience and Adaptation Initiative brings members a growing awareness of emerging issues with resources and education as well as providing an advocate for policies that support new practices, benefiting both clients and communities.
In their design practices, architects have an important role in addressing our rapidly changing climate. Through case studies and strategies for hazard mitigation, climate adaptation and community resilience, AIA’s Resilience and Adaptation online education series tackles the shocks and stresses that prevent our communities and clients from thriving.
Resilience Network
The Resilience Network is a forum for knowledge-sharing and networking on topics related to hazard mitigation, climate adaptation and community resilience with opportunities for project participation. Ready to engage? Members start by completing a profile to share their specific interests and expertise in sustainability, hazard mitigation, resilience, and climate adaptation.
Background on AIA's Resilience and Adaptation Initiative
AIA’s Resilience Initiative is rooted in AIA’s boots-on-the-ground disaster response of the AIA Disaster Assistance Program and AIA Communities by Design assistance program, and strives to prevent the disastrous damages by making better choices during design and development. The Resilience and Adaptation program promotes a multidisciplinary, systems-based design approach to addressing the social, economic and environmental shocks and stresses to achieve sustainable, resilient and adaptable communities.
In 2014, the AIA Board of Directors adopted its first position statement on resilience and in 2015, AIA members and other experts convened to create a roadmap for AIA’s strategic initiative. They honed in on the following priorities: 1) education and member resources and 2) policy and advocacy. Reframing Resilience takes a comprehensive look at what changes need to be made to create a more resilient built environment.
AIA has collaborated and partnered with federal agencies and worldwide organizations, including the Resilience Building Coalition (a coalition of more than 50 signatories of The Building Industry Statement on Resilience, each committing to investment in research, education, advocacy, response efforts, and comprehensive planning for more resilient communities), the Rockefeller Foundation’s 100 Resilient Cities initiative, and the Architects Foundation’s National Resilience Initiative to advance the resilience and adaptability of our communities.
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