Seabec

2015 September Member Meeting

Thursday, September 17, 2015

Thermal Enclosure Verification under LEED Midrise: Lessons from the Field

Speaker: Alistair Jackson, O'Brien & Company

One of the strengths of the LEED for Homes Midrise program is the field verification component, bringing better building performance through a measure of quality assurance, field training and capacity building to the construction of multifamily building thermal envelopes. In pursuit of sound and durable envelope design, under constraints of codes and regulations, and sometimes arbitrary input from Design Review Boards and other stakeholders, even the best design teams run into envelope design details that might appear to work on paper (if you close your eyes and cross your fingers), but don't function in the three dimensional world. Fuzzy design can sometimes lead to eye-rolling in the job shack, and sometimes to bizarre and awe-inspiring little pockets in building enclosures where the forces of building science might conspire to bring together the bane of buildings - warm, moist air and cold surfaces, hidden from prying eyes.

This session takes a light-hearted and educational look at 10 "teachable moments" from recent multi-family projects in and around Seattle. We highlight examples of how architectural and structural details can create confusion in construction, resulting in discontinuity in the air barrier, and misalignment between the air and thermal barriers in current, typical wall and roof assemblies. We'll look at how these issues were resolved in the field, with some quantification of the impact of those solutions. We'll also present tips on how the use of the LEED Midrise Thermal Enclosure Checklist as a plan review tool to help take a more LEAN approach, by optimizing the value stream.

The session is richly illustrated with photos from the field (don't worry; only the guilty will recognize their own work) and drawing details to illustrate improved design solutions.

Thermal enclosure verification (or envelope commissioning) is a key component of an integrated project delivery process. By sharing what we see in the field, we seek to add another iteration of continuous improvement to the design of the next generation of multifamily buildings.

Alistair brings over 20 years of experience in the field of sustainability to his role as a Principal of O'Brien & Company. He leads the residential services team and brings strategic and business management leadership to O'Brien & Company. He applies his knowledge and understanding of sustainable design and green building science to provide technical consulting, diagnostics and green building certification to residential projects at all levels of performance. 

He is an experienced trainer, presenter and facilitator (LEED Faculty 2008-2011). He has applied those skills to support the development of green building programs from Puget Sound to California and Hawaii and to the delivery of trainings to enhance green building capacity in the affordable and market rate housing industry. In 2007, O'Brien & Company was selected as a Provider of LEED for Homes certification. Alistair has acted as lead consultant, Green Rater or Quality Assurance Designee on the support, verification and certification of more than 2,500 LEED for Homes certifications. 

Date: Thursday, September 17, 2015

Schedule:
11:30-11:45 AM: Networking/Lunch
11:45-12:00 PM: Seabec Business & Announcements
12:00-1:00 PM: Speaker Presentation

Location: GGLO, 1301 First Avenue, Suite 301, Seattle, WA 98002

Refreshments: Ken Britton with BASF

Approved for one hour of AIA continuing education credits and LEED USGBC credits.

If you will be attending, please help us plan refreshments by completing the RSVP link below by September 14th.

Seattle Building Enclosure Council PO Box 725 Mercer Island, WA 98040 www.seabec.org