SYMPOSIUM PRESENTS NEW RESEARCH AND PRACTICES FOR BUILDING ENVELOPE CONSTRUCTION AND REPAIR

Proper construction and renovation of building envelopes has been an important issue in B.C.'s coastal climate since the mid-1990s. In response to this issue, the housing industry has joined forces to learn more about the factors involved, to devise better ways to build and repair building envelopes, and to reduce the possibility of future moisture damage in B.C. homes.

A number of research initiatives are now coming to completion, resulting in a huge body of knowledge and expertise about building envelopes. The next step is to implement this new knowledge into practice, and to continue to build on the best practices and quality control protocol that has been established. New products and practices in the residential construction industry will enable homeowners to build, repair or buy homes with increased confidence.

Several research projects funded and managed by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), the Homeowner Protection Office (HPO), and other organizations in the residential construction industry will be discussed this October, in the first-ever Building Envelope Research Symposium. The symposium was developed by CMHC and the HPO to be a principal vehicle for disseminating the results of building envelope research completed in 2001.

The Building Envelope Research Symposium is funded by CMHC and the HPO, and will be presented in partnership with the Building Envelope Research Consortium (BERC), the Urban Development Institute (UDI), and the BC Building Envelope Council (BCBEC).

Builders, developers, architects, engineers, contractors, renovators and representatives from across the residential construction industry and the government will attend this one-day seminar, to learn about new research pertaining to the construction and repair of building envelopes. Topics will include:

The Latest Research Results on High-Rise Buildings

A look at what has been learned about the building envelope performance of high-rise residential buildings. Also, new guidance on selecting materials and construction techniques.

Rain screen Performance Monitoring Results

A review of actual performance results for rain screen walls.

Building Envelope Rehabilitation

New guidelines for the evaluation and repair of building envelopes, and a look at case studies which show the successful use of creative design solutions instead of extensive repairs where possible.

Building as a System-Effective Ventilation

Buildings function, and should be considered, as entire systems. This session will look at how the building envelope, mechanical (heating, cooling, ventilation) systems, and occupants interact to influence overall building performance and occupant comfort.

Understanding How Wood Decays & How Metals Corrode

This session will help ensure that each material used in the home will function properly within its environment.

Designing Fast-Drying Walls

While deflection and drainage are the primary means of shedding rain, walls must also be capable of diffusing small amounts of trapped moisture in order to ensure long-term performance.

Updates to CMHC's BC Best Practice Guide

This guide provides designers with key moisture management principles and building envelope design guidance.

CMHC's Quality Assurance Protocol

Quality assurance procedures for the entire development process to help ensure high performance of the project. Attendees of the symposium will take away additional tools to improve the construction and renovation of building envelopes in B.C. homes. The symposium will include lectures, interactive workshops, discussion opportunities, and product demonstrations in order to foster the most complete understanding of the new research.

"Through broad consultations with industry representatives, we have developed high-quality research products to assist all industry stakeholders with building envelope issues. Homeowners will also benefit from improved building envelope construction and renovation techniques resulting from this recent research," said Mark Salerno, a Senior Consultant for Research and Technology Transfer with CMHC.

Bob Maling, Director of Licensing and Registrar for the Homeowner Protection Office added that, "on-going building science research and education is key to improving the quality of residential construction and restoring consumer confidence in the long term. Partnerships with other government agencies and industry to research emerging issues in building envelope construction and then transfer that knowledge to those people who implement it in the field helps bring about these goals."

Several gains have been made in the construction of building envelopes over the past five years, including the implementation of a Best Practice Guide, a Quality Assurance Protocol, and the initiation of the Builder's Tool Box building envelope construction educational program and Model Buildings Program. Future plans for research include the printing of industry publications and the establishment of further training for the residential construction industry. The results of these projects will be presented at future symposia planned for the industry.