OVERVIEW
The building enclosure manages everything that might get into and out of a building: water, wind, light, sound, air, pests, and people. Assemblies are the foundations, above-grade walls, and roofs that make up the enclosure, and how they’re put together makes all the difference to how well the building performs—and for how long.
Here you’ll learn the importance of continuity at assembly transitions, and how to help ensure that the whole team—from architect to structural and mechanical engineers to construction managers and subcontractors—is educated about moisture risks and is accountable for quality work.
IN-DEPTH
Filter results:
- (-) Remove Blog Post filter Blog Post
- (-) Remove Feature Article filter Feature Article
- News Analysis (4) Apply News Analysis filter
- News Brief (11) Apply News Brief filter
- (-) Remove Op-Ed filter Op-Ed
- Primer (14) Apply Primer filter
- Product Review (18) Apply Product Review filter
- Reports, Courses, Study Guides, Live Webinars (2) Apply Reports, Courses, Study Guides, Live Webinars filter
- (-) Remove Webcast filter Webcast
-
What Makes the Building Envelope Green? BuildingGreen’s Guide to Thermal & Moisture Protection Products
Feature Article
From insulation to flashing tape to cladding, we look at the attributes of the greenest building envelope products.
-
Go with the Flows: The Promise and Peril of Hygrothermal Modeling
Feature Article
Tools modeling heat and moisture flows in building envelopes, such as WUFI, offer vital information for architects and engineers-but their misuse can do harm.
-
The Hidden Science of High-Performance Building Assemblies
Feature Article
Any four walls and a roof make an enclosure, but for efficiency, comfort, and durability, those elements have to be meticulously designed and installed.
-
Bringing Nature Indoors: The Myths and Realities of Plants in Buildings
Feature Article
Some proponents of indoor plants promise that they will clean the air and promote occupant health and productivity. But will they? Scientific backing for these claims is still being developed, but some of the results are promising.
-
Antimicrobial Chemicals in Buildings: Hygiene or Harm?
Feature Article
Carpets, door handles, and a myriad of other building products now contain pesticides targeting fungi and bacteria, offering potential benefit to the indoor environment, but also raising health concerns. This article asks whether antimicrobial products live up to their marketing claims and whether relying on them is a sound path to a hygienic environment.
-
Treated Wood in Transition: Less Toxic Options in Preserved and Protected Wood
Feature Article
Following the recent phaseout of CCA, the dominant wood preservative of the last 30 years, the treated wood industry is in major transition. Some current wood treatment technologies present familiar environmental problems, while less-toxic alternatives are just entering the market.
-
Wingnut Real-World Testing of Basement Waterproofing
Blog Post
A basement testing of UGL Drylok Extreme, Koster NB1 Grey, Xypex Concentrate negative-side waterproofing
-
Pete’s Puzzle: Mold on Painted Clapboards is Food for Thought
Blog Post
There is mold on the factory-primed, latex top-coated wood clapboards on the south but not the north side of our house
-
Combining Sheathing With a WRB and Air Barrier
Blog Post
How well do Zip and ForceField sheathing integrate a structural panel with bulk water and air management?
-
Installing Basement Waterproofing from the “Negative” Side
Blog Post
Of course the best way to waterproof any below-grade assembly is from the exterior—but what works if you have to go from the interior?
