High performance EIFS sheathing product passes critical fire protection testing

According to Building Enclosure Online: Texas-based Priest & Associates Consulting, LLC., through an engineering evaluation, determined that current code-evaluated exterior insulation and finish systems (EIFS) adhered to DensElement Barrier System are compliant with NFPA 285. According to their evaluation, it can safely replace exterior gypsum sheathing in current code-evaluated EIFS designs. Brent Paugh, President of … Continue reading High performance EIFS sheathing product passes critical fire protection testing →

Canada: Crumbling & cracking concrete cladding causing concern

Vancouver, British Colombia played host for a couple decades to a dramatic uprising of concrete-clad condos that permanently altered the city's skyline. Developers rushing to sell units to (oftentimes foreign) investors and empty-nesters cut corners, leading to years of litigation followed by tougher standards and improved oversight — particularly regarding the building envelope. Despite the … Continue reading Canada: Crumbling & cracking concrete cladding causing concern →

Large installation art piece imagines a facade of bricks torn in two

Deezeen recently featured a profile of a recent art installation by British artist Alex Chinneck titled Six Pins and a Half Dozen Needles. Chinneck's piece is located at a mixed-use development in Hammersmith called Assembly London. In essence, it appears as if an entire section of brick cladding has been ripped in two — much … Continue reading Large installation art piece imagines a facade of bricks torn in two →

How a Building Scientist tackles mold on the exterior of his home

Peter Yost is a building scientist and regularly blogs at Green Building Advisor. A recent post of his chronicled his adventures dealing with some sort of bio-organic growth on the recently added siding at his home — but just at the south side, not the north. Mr. Yost's wife first noticed the issue and began … Continue reading How a Building Scientist tackles mold on the exterior of his home →

Is there such thing as a “perfect wall” design?

Guess it all depends on the criteria being used to define what "perfect" really means, but if there is one person on this planet of ours that might have a clue what the perfect wall is, it is Joseph Lstiburek. At the wonderfully named Let's Fix Construction website, building scientist extraordinaire Lstiburek contributed an article with … Continue reading Is there such thing as a “perfect wall” design? →