Past Meetings

December 2011 Monthly Meeting

When
-
Meeting Title
Optimizing performance in Commercial Fenestration
Location

University of Oregon-Portland
White Stag Building
70 NW Couch, Room 142/144

Presenters
Michael Gainey, Azon USA
Description

December’s presentation will outline two technologies related to high performance glazing. Speaker Michael Gainey, from Azon USA in MI, will discuss structural thermal barriers for aluminum window framing, and warm-edge spacer technology for insulating glass.

Michael Gainey is a 25-year veteran in the architectural and structural glazing industry working on both large and small projects across North America. He is a member of the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) and serves on committees of the Glass Association of North America (GANA), as well as the Insulating Glass Manufacturer's Association (IGMA). Mike is a frequent speaker at building enclosure councils and provides informative technical seminars regarding structural thermal barrier technology for high performance architectural aluminum fenestration and glazing. His project involvement includes several sustainable buildings in North America such as Vancouver’s Living Shangri-La, Toronto’s 18 York Street, and New York’s MoMA.

November 2011 Monthly Meeting

When
-
Meeting Title
Application of Spray Foam Insulation
Location

University of Oregon-Portland
White Stag Building
70 NW Couch, Room 142/144

Presenters
Mac Sheldon, Demilec USA
Description

Mac Sheldon will present information on the use of spray foam insulation. He will focus on design considerations pertinent to thermal performance and evolving energy codes.

Spray foam insulation provides the opportunity to contribute to the thermal barrier, air barrier, and moisture barrier of envelope assemblies. However, it also presents challenges for proper design and installation. Topics will be examined relating the use of open and closed cell spray foam and methods for installation and common applications for wall and roof assemblies.

Mac Sheldon sits on the Board of Directors for the Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance (SPFA) and the Codes and Standards committee for the Center for the Polyurethane Industry (CPI). He is currently on the Technical Oversight Committee for SPFA and the Industry Advisory Council for the Cold Climate Housing Research Center in Fairbanks. He is certified in WUFI, WUFI 2-D, and WUFI-Plus, as well as HERS (RESNET).

October 2011 Monthly Meeting

When
-
Meeting Title
Envelope Consultants Panel 2 of 2
Location

University of Oregon-Portland
White Stag Building
70 NW Couch, Room 142/144

Presenters
Sean Scott
Dick Burnum, Hoffman Construction
Randy Miller, Portland Public Schools
Isaac Tevet, Ankrom Moisan Architects
Description

The second of two BEC presentations for this year focusing on what project specific conditions warrant using an enclosure consultant and what conditions do not warrant inclusion of an enclosure consultant. The first panel discussion focused on the working relationship setup and strategies, and the second panel discussion (October 2011) focuses on working management and roles.

The subject matter of both panel discussions is decided on every project, even if it's by default in replicating past similar project decisions. Thus, hearing from various industry partners on this topic is pertinent.

The panel is balanced on this topic and audience participation via questions and comments is encouraged throughout. Please arrive with questions for the panel. The learning objectives below will form the initial questions for the panel members to start the discussion. The intent of this discussion is not to change viewpoints or debate. Instead, the intent is to have a discussion on a topic that numerous Architecture firms are currently discussing on most projects.

Alternative tools and strategies when enclosure consultants are not engaged will be explored as well as tools to maximize project value if enclosure consultants are engaged.

September 2011 Monthly Meeting

When
-
Meeting Title
Using an Enclosure Consultant, Part 1: Working Relationship Setup and Strategies
Location

University of Oregon-Portland
White Stag Building
70 NW Couch, Room 142/144

Presenters
Sean Scott, AIA
Marty Houston, AIA
Dennis Wilde
Charles Dorne
Description

The first two BEC presentations for this year focus upon what project specific conditions warrant using an enclosure consultant and what conditions do not warrant inclusion of an enclosure consultant. The first panel discussion focuses more upon the working relationship setup and strategies, and the second panel discussion (October 2011) focuses more on the working management and roles.

The subject matter of both panel discussions is decided on every project, even if it's by default in replicating past similar project decisions. Thus, hearing from various industry partners on this topic is pertinent.

The panel is balanced on this topic and audience participation via questions and comments is encouraged throughout.  Please arrive with questions for the panel. The learning objectives below will form the initial questions for the panel members to start the discussion.  The intent of this discussion is not to change viewpoints or debate.  Instead, the intent is to have a discussion on a topic that numerous Architecture firms are currently discussing on most projects.

Alternative tools and strategies when enclosure consultants are not engaged will be explored as well as tools to maximize project value if enclosure consultants are engaged.

June 2011 Monthly Meeting

When
-
Meeting Title
Liquid Flashing and EFVM
Location

University of Oregon-Portland
White Stag Building
70 NW Couch, Room 142/144

Presenters
Mike Schilling, Snyder Roofing

May 2011 Monthly Meeting

When
-
Meeting Title
Osmosis and Blistering of Polyurethane Waterproofing Membranes
Location

University of Oregon-Portland
White Stag Building
70 NW Couch, Room 142/144

Presenters
David Young, PE
Description

This month our Portland BEC President, Dave Young, will present information on blistering in polyurethane membranes.

Water-filled blisters under cold-applied, asphalt-modified elastomeric polyurethane waterproofing membranes have been discovered on numerous buildings in the Pacific Northwest in recent years, often requiring replacement of the membrane. This presentation explains the phenomena of osmotic flow through polyurethane waterproofing membranes and presents strategies for addressing this problem through design.

Mr. Young has focused his career on building enclosure consulting over the past 21 years. His experience includes low to high-rise commercial, institutional, and multi-family residential buildings. Dave is a licensed professional engineer in Oregon and has a Bachelor degree in civil engineering from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. He is a principal of RDH Building Sciences, Inc.

April 2011 Monthly Meeting

When
-
Meeting Title
Application of Continuous Insulation in Walls for 2010 Oregon Energy Code
Location

University of Oregon-Portland
White Stag Building
70 NW Couch, Room 142/144

Presenters
Mark Campion
Description

This month Mark Campion will present information on the application of continuous insulation in walls per the 2010 Oregon Energy Code requirement.

The 2010 Oregon Energy Efficiency Specialty Code introduced a new prescriptive requirement for thermal envelope performance, continuous insulation. Continuous insulation requires special consideration in its installation. Designers and contractors in Oregon have little experience with the design and installation of continuous insulation. The intent of the presentation is to provide an overview of the code requirements and provide guidance on code compliance, including alternate methods, design considerations and resource assistance for the design community.

Mark Campion is a policy analyst for the Oregon Building Codes Division. He is the primary contact person for COMCheck compliance software and is well versed in the compliance requirements.

March 2011 Monthly Meeting

When
-
Meeting Title
Wood-Framed Walls Research
Location

University of Oregon-Portland
White Stag Building
70 NW Couch, Room 142/144

Presenters
Marty Houston, AIA
Description

This month’s presentation is a summary of a research study conducted by Walsh Construction Company and Building Science Corporation to evaluate highly insulated wood-framed walls for the Pacific Northwest. With changing energy codes, the 2030 Challenge and the need to reduce energy consumption, design teams and owners are considering exterior wall assemblies with ever-increasing amounts of insulation. The study evaluated exterior wall assemblies that provide a high insulating value while acknowledging the hygrothermal implications of increasing the insulating value. A series of walls was examined for overall performance factors including cost, material use, insulating value, constructability and durability.

Martin Houston, AIA, is the Quality Director for Walsh Construction Co. (WCC) in Portland, Oregon. He has a B.Arch. degree from the University of Cincinnati, holds a California architect’s license, is a LEED Accredited Professional and is trained in Building Science Thermography. With WCC since 2006, Martin’s focus includes ensuring overall building quality while concentrating on high performance envelopes and emerging technologies for building envelope commissioning and diagnosis.