Big Green: Building envelope commissioning

[Terry Brennan]

Hi folks,

 

I've had a fair amount of experience in both new buildings and existing
buildings.  In existing buildings we're usually doing forensics on a failed
building.  In new buildings we are usually involved in three phases - design
assistance (helping the architect detail the intersections and get things in
the specs and drawings), inspection and testing during construction (meeting
with contractor, subs, CM; inspecting at critical events, documenting
acceptable installation and areas where there are problems, documenting
remedies;  this often will include testing a mock-up or the first corner
room where wall and ceiling air barriers come together using fan
pressurization and theatrical fog) and finally pressure testing the building
to see whether the airtightness spec has been met and to identify any large
air leaks that may result in future problems.

 

At this stage of the game there are often arguments about whose job it is to
seal around the penetration, attach the roof system air barrier to the wall
air barrier.  The specs and drawings may not be clear in some areas.  A lot
depends on the interest the contractor has in learning how to make an
airtight enclosure.

 

I have not written any articles on inspection but have a two part article on
pressure testing large buildings in JBED summer 2007 and winter 2008.  JBED
can be downloaded for free from the whole building design guide website.

 

Terry Brennan

 

From: biggreen-bounces at lists.biggreen.org
[mailto:biggreen-bounces at lists.biggreen.org] On Behalf Of John E. Beeson
Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2008 11:24 AM
To: biggreen at lists.biggreen.org
Subject: Big Green: Building envelope commissioning

 

Anyone had any experience with this?  

We are installing a spray-on air-barrier within our building thermal
envelope.  We'd like to ensure proper installation and some form of
verification that it is working.

For the basic wall areas, it seems straight forward: the spray-on
air-barrier is continuous and complete. 

For other areas (penetrations, junctions, openings, etc), it seems harder to
identify roles and responsibilities for verification of a continuous
barrier.

Anyone had experience with this? 

John 

P.S. Apologies for any cross postings. 

QUINN EVANS | ARCHITECTS 

John E. Beeson, LEED AP 

219 1/2 N. Main Street 
Ann Arbor, MI  48104 
jbeeson at quinnevans.com 
 <file:///\\www.quinnevans.com> www.quinnevans.com 
d 734 926 0425 
v 734 663 5888 
f 734 663 5044 

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