BC Energy Step Code encourages higher levels of thermal insulation and air tightness to improve the overall energy efficiency of buildings. While there are various ways to achieve that objective, locating all the thermal insulation and air barrier outboard of the building structure will allow the structure of energy efficient buildings be maintained at close to indoor temperature year around due to full exposure to indoor heat. The associated benefits range from excellent condensation resistance, high drying potential, minimized framing dimensional changes, uniform interior surface temperature, and the inherent increased long-term durability. Furthermore, in such approach, the building envelope control layers will be immune from possible damages due to future repairs/alterations/renovations to the interior sides of the building and services.
There is a consensus in the industry that fully exterior insulated building envelope delivers a high-performance outcome for end users, buildings, and the environment. However, despite all its benefits, this holistic building practice so far only has had a small share in BC construction market. Speaking with various builders, architects, building inspectors, energy advisors, etc. the following three challenges were identified when designing and constructing fully exterior insulated buildings:
- Structural support and building envelope detailing around windows/doors
- Cladding attachment and the associated cost
- Addressing thermal bridging at transitions
Township of Langley is hosting two, half-day workshops on Feb. 22 & 23, 2024, tailored towards the design and construction of fully exterior insulated building envelope. Hamid Heidarali and his team will deliver the workshops utilizing an interactive learning format.
Workshop # 1 on Feb. 22, 2024 will start with an introduction to building envelope, the current energy efficiency trends, and the importance of holistic approach to energy efficiency when dealing with higher levels of BC Energy Step Code. Following to that, practical, holistic, and insightful solutions for addressing the above-mentioned three challenges will be presented based on several recently completed, fully exterior insulated wood-framed buildings in BC.
Workshop #2 on Feb. 23, 2024 will focus on bringing the learning of workshop #1 into practice by dividing participants into several groups to collaborate with their counterparts in developing various full-scale, coloured exterior insulated details based on the concepts covered in workshops # 1 and # 2. During this highly interactive session, Hamid Heidarali and his team will visit each group, review their details, and provide tailored comments and feedback.
Highlights of the Workshops
- Great emphasize on the integrated design process via various brainstorming sessions and group works
- Highly interactive and collaborative learning format
- Around forty mobile building envelope assembly mock-ups
- Wide range of building envelope products and systems
- An intuitive and easy-to-follow PowerPoint presentation capturing case studies, photos, videos, and details
The workshops are suitable for builders, architects, designers, building inspectors, energy advisors, window manufacturers, contractors (carpentry, insulation, cladding, etc.), real estate agents, and whoever interested in high performance building envelope practices. The workshop creates ample opportunities for these industry groups to collaborate with each other via an integrated process, share different points of view, and collectively develop holistic solutions.
More information can be found here. We look forward to seeing you there.
