When it comes to multilayered dry-joint rainscreen systems, designers face a potential loophole in the specification/installation process. Should a leak occur in a rainscreen design, before or after the project’s completion, the owner is faced with a costly dilemma. The problem usually occurs when there are different subcontractors for...
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Hundreds of years ago, buildings were thought of much more simply—as shelter, meant to protect people from the elements. Today, that purpose holds, but the technology, practices, and materials that go into high-performing building enclosures have evolved to do more.
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Construction tapes and flashings are used to span joints and gaps, typically in conjunction with a primary water-resistive barrier (WRB) or air barrier.
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Auditoriums and computer rooms that do not require daylight now occupy basements that formerly housed mechanical plants and vehicle parking. These sensitive occupancies require the spaces be waterproofed to prevent water from migrating through the basement walls and slab in contact with the wet, adjoining soil.
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Concrete formwork may represent close to half the cost of a concrete structure. For cost-effective building, contractors select forming panels that will stand up to the job and to multiple uses. How do design/construction professionals select the right material for the job?
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How inviting is a facility’s entrance? Many factors play a role in welcoming students, tenants, patients, or guests to a building—flooring at the entrance is an important one in creating a first impression.
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This article is about prescriptive specifications and focuses on 100-mm (4-in.) interior concrete slab on grade for schools, offices, hospitals, libraries, and other commercial buildings that will receive moisture-sensitive or bonded floorcoverings.
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As this article was being written, the country had just gone through one of the most active hurricane seasons on record, with numerous powerful storms making landfall throughout the Gulf Coast, Southeast and Southwest shores, and the Caribbean.
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This year is shaping up to be a record-breaking one for tornadoes and severe weather. In just the first nine months, nearly 1300 tornadoes swept across the country. Since 2009, the International Building Code (IBC) has included standards for tornado shelters. However, not until the 2015 edition did it...
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Vapor intrusion occurs when there is a migration of chemicals containing vapor from a subsurface source such as soil, groundwater, or soil vapor into an overlying building (Figure 1). As a result of past activities, some areas are more prone to the risk of vapor intrusion for its surrounding...
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