Winter 2021

Building Enclosure

The Winter 2021 edition of Building Enclosure features a look at some new climate regulations included in the 2021 energy codes and what those regulations could mean for building products. We also discuss other aspects of commercial buildings such as resiliency and electronic leak detection.

CEU: Commercial Rooftop Solar Design Explained

Jennifer Keegan

November 2, 2020

One Comment

This course will explain the importance of each of these questions and offer actionable insights into roof system design that can maximize solar output and provide long-term performance of the roof system that can outlast the life expectancy of the PV arrays.

Recent Advances in Electronic Leak Detection

Locating Breaches in Waterproof Membranes has Never Been Easier

David Vokey

December 7, 2020

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Historically, architects and other designers have often called for a flood test to be carried out on horizontal waterproofing systems when the membrane is under a green roof, wear-course or topping slab where direct inspection of the roof membrane is difficult or impossible

Rooftops, Resiliency and Performance in the Extreme

Tiffany Coppock

December 16, 2020

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From a historic hurricane and wildfire season to unprecedented social distancing efforts in commercial buildings, extreme conditions pose challenges when it comes to designing resilient, high-performing commercial enclosures—particularly commercial rooftops

The Beauty and Stamina of Natural Materials

Charles McGowan

November 6, 2020

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In recent decades, the enduring qualities of zinc have gained interest and use in North America

New Climate Regulations Spell Changes for Building Products

Every Building Impacts the Environment in both Direct and Indirect Ways

Justin Koscher

Walter Reiter

November 11, 2020

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From initial construction to eventual renovation or replacement, every building uses energy, water, and raw materials while generating waste and atmospheric emissions throughout its life cycle

How to Quantify a Percentile of Rain Events

Daniel Overbey

September 30, 2020

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When it comes to assessing the impact of low-impact development and green infrastructure practices, site development teams are frequently asked to determine the percentile of rainfall events that can be managed by the site development solution

Analyzing the New 2021 Energy Codes and Beyond

Lindsay Lewis

January 14, 2021

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The energy efficiency of buildings is the main goal of these code changes, with the hope that the efficiency of all buildings (residential and commercial) will rise by about 10 percent