Committee on the Environment

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Rain Water Penetration Principals: Clarifying Terminology

  • 1.  Rain Water Penetration Principals: Clarifying Terminology

    Posted 05-21-2015 08:44 PM
    This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Committee on the Environment and Technical Design for Building Performance Knowledge Community .
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    The TDBP (Technical Design for Building Performance Knowledge Community) workshop Rain Water Penetration Principals: Clarifying Terminology was recently held at the Atlanta 2015 AIA convention (workshop WE102).  The presenters were David Altenhofen AIA, Michael Lough AIA, and Drake Wauters AIA.  The importance of rain water control at the building enclosure was reviewed from both a historic and client based perspective and from a theoretical and more technical perspective.  Interrelated action such as wind pressure, heat transfer, air leakage, vapor drive, and wetting and drying cycles were discussed.  Numerous breakouts and open discussions were centered on building performance, industry trends, and stakeholder concerns.  Practitioners in the audience with backgrounds in general practice, specialization, and client representation drove discussions on several matters especially building performance and client expectations.  Terminology of building enclosure elements and systems were reviewed along with an open discussion on the need for clarification of the terms and some examples of terms that are often misunderstood or used for such wide ranging assemblies that their definitions are no longer clear.  In response to the discussions on terminology TDBP will form a subcommittee or working group to help clarify certain terms and advocate within the AIA that such terms be more concisely and defined to help enhance their value to stakeholders and support architects in their practices.  For instance, that terms such as Rain Screen mean one thing to owners, architects, manufacturers, builders, and commissioning agents.  Please contact any advisory group member at TDBP for more information on this initiative.

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    Drake A. Wauters, AIA
    TDBP Advisory Group / Founding Chair
    Principal AEC Consultant
    McLean, Virginia
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  • 2.  RE: Rain Water Penetration Principals: Clarifying Terminology

    Posted 05-22-2015 07:15 PM
    I suggest you look at the work of Joe Lstiburek and John Straube who have both done extensive work in this area. See www.buildingscience.com and www.buildingsciencelabs.com.

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    William Burke AIA
    San Francisco CA
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