Role of WRB in open-joint cladding design

Importance of UV stability The exterior of the Collaborative Life Sciences Building (CLSB) in Portland is made up of prefinished perforated panels of aluminum, engineered in a corrugated profile. If wind, rain, and snow can get through the open joints, it goes without saying UV light can also do so because the wall assemblies are […]

Fenestration and glazing: Seismic performance specification considerations

By Amy Becker Photo courtesy Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA) Specifiers and design professionals should always consider seismic performance attributes for buildings in areas that previously have experienced the damaging effects of earthquakes. After seismic activity has occurred, building occupancy and soil conditions may lead to seismic mitigation even if there is novisible damage. […]

Maintaining continuity: Keeping air/moisture barriers continuous at movement conditions

All images courtesy Sto Corp. by John ChamberlinAt this point, most design/construction professionals have a pretty good understanding of the need for well-designed air and moisture control layers in wall assemblies. Water-resistive barriers (WRBs) have been in use for decades; in more recent years, a number of new systems have popped up that combine these […]