April 27, 2007

Opinion

Pushing the envelope requires consideration of challenges

For a generation now, our industry has been “pushing the envelope” and stressing the need for a science-based approach to the building envelope. Why? The cost of envelope failure is simply too high to ignore.

Today, thanks in large measure to the efforts of industry groups such as OBEC and others, Building Science is emerging as a bonafide discipline, and specialists in the field of Building Science are pursuing accreditation to become a BSSO (Building Science Specialist Ontario).

The challenge that we must accept, moving forward, is how to translate or transfer the technologies developed over the past generation into field applied success.

BUILDING SCIENCE

Brian Shedden

Whether new construction or restoration, our collective ability to communicate the nuances of an air barrier vs. a vapour barrier, a capillary break vs. flashing and the like will in large measure determine the success that the current generation of builders has in improving the function and life of the building envelope and those who depend on the building envelope: everyone.

Far too often, we rely on a detail and a spec in a set of project documents in the fervent hope that, as Yule Brenner once said “So let it be written, so let it be done”.

Like any other science-based discipline, Building Science requires that we get our hands dirty. A 95 per cent successful application of the vapour barrier has significantly different outcomes than a 95 per cent successful application of the air barrier, and unless the trades applying the system understand the difference, failure is an option.

In a world where it is generally accepted that knowledge is power, why is it that the construction industry is so accepting of a knowledge gap between those at the top of the project pyramid and those at its base?

Consider this: When was the last industry education function that you attended where actual trades people were present to receive the education?

Most of us operate in an environment where the lowest price gets the contract. Without debating the merits of that process, what are we actually getting with the lowest price?

Sure, materials and their manufacturers are a pretty reliable source of getting exactly what you want, but the minute the packaging is open, that reliability can begin to degrade. Why? What we do with those materials in the field, under the real world conditions of a work site and the oft times punishing environment of the area in which we are working, all exist outside of the ideal conditions that created our materials.

Further, the quality control of the materials in situ are now the domain of a person likely least able to assess design intention and actual installation.

So, what are you doing in your firm to address this challenge? Is continuing education part of your corporate culture from top to bottom? Are you ready to take up the challenge and capitalize on the power of information? I hope so.

Brian Shedden, Building Science Specialist Ontario, is vice president of client services at J. McBride & Sons Ltd.

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