Mike Steffen of Walsh Construction Co. will discuss the thermal barrier as it applies to enclosure design and construction. Insulation approaches and materials will be reviewed and the problem of thermal bridging will be discussed. Several case studies will be presented to illustrate the application of thermal barrier design principles on recent projects.

High energy costs are placing increased emphasis on energy conservation within the built-environment driving the need for high performing building assemblies. Air barrier systems are critical to fulfilling these requirements and yet critical transitions often compromise their performance. This month's presentation will build on last month's discussion on air barriers and explore the importance of properly interfacing the air barrier at key building transitions as well as other building conditions where the continuity of the air barrier system may not be self evident.

Time permitting, considerations for retrofitting existing buildings to limit air leakage will also be addressed.

High energy costs are placing increased emphasis on energy conservation within the built-environment; hence there is an increasing need for high performing building assemblies. The building envelope, which separates the indoor controlled environment from the exterior natural environment, must adapt to fulfill these requirements. Are the available codes and standards adequate? This month's presentation will provide an overview of current codes and standards and will discuss the updates and changes that are being applied to design and construction practices. Specifically, Claude Louvouezo of Morrison Hershfield and Rob Kistler of The Facade Group will discuss current directions in building performance.

The May program will feature a panel discussion of the current City of Portland's requirements for veneer on metal studs. This typical construction of metal studs and sheathing, clad with metal panels or brick veneer, must document how the system will accommodate the buildings seismic movement without having material falling off the building. This seemingly simple requirement has significant architectural implications.

The panel will be comprised of: Jed Sampson - Section Manager of the City of Portland's Structural Engineering Group Amit Kumar - Structural Engineer with the Bureau of Development Services Dave Bugni - Structural Engineer and member of the Structural Advisory Board Steve Mortensen - Architect with YGH. The panel will be moderated by Rob Kistler

If you are planning to design a brick veneer building in the city of Portland, this meeting will provide direction on how to meet the current structural requirements during the process.

Dan Braun - Vice President, Regional Operations, Architectural Testing will be presenting information regarding Curtain Wall and facade Performance Mock-Up Testing and Field Testing. The presentation will discuss reasons for testing and cover specific methodology and information to help you better understand testing as a quality control tool.

Design criterion is a term that is often used when establishing how a new building should be designed and constructed based upon the use and function of the building. A similar process is practiced when considering individual components and assemblies that cover a building, including roof systems. This presentation is intended to offer information that should be considered vital when determining the selection of a roof system for new construction, as well as replacement of roof systems on existing buildings. Ten general categories will be presented which represent criteria that can impact decision making, including geography, code requirements, budget, aesthetics and established system performance.

Steven L. McBride, President of Professional Roof Consultants, Inc. will be presenting the topic of Key Considerations in Roof System Selection. Primary responsibilities, aside from corporate management, include investigation and design for roof, waterproofing and building envelope projects, organizing and implementing roof management programs, performing detailed investigations and evaluations and managing office standards.

Most cities develop in very similar ways, regardless of climate. Vegetation and soil are removed and covered with impervious surfaces in the form of rooftops and pavement. These surfaces then facilitate the undesirable effect of storm water runoff, which carries urban pollutants swiftly to receiving waters and infrastructure systems. The basic things we design, build and do in our cities are the cause of many health, economic and environmental concerns. These contribute to air quality degradation, urban heat island affects, human health impairment, energy consumption, water pollution and the loss of fauna, flora and aquatic life. Designing with and re-introducing natural elements such as soil, water and vegetation on rooftops, streets, sidewalks and parking lots is showing promise in Portland, Oregon. These design techniques are being tested on city streets and private development. Monitoring results show efficient management of precipitation and storm water runoff. Other attributes have been observed including and perhaps most important, public acceptance.

Tom Liptan is a registered Landscape Architect and Environmental Specialist for the City of Portland, OR, Bureau of Environmental Services, Sustainable Storm water Management Program. He has been the impetus behind the research and development of new urban design techniques, codes and policies in the city. The success and recognition of these approaches has spread internationally. Tom has lectured at conferences in Sweden, Denmark, England, New Zealand and many cities throughout North America. In 2004 the U.S. Embassy in Denmark sponsored his participation at the Union of Baltic Cities Environmental Workshops for cities preparing to enter the European Union. He has assisted numerous municipalities, developers, consultants, multi-state corporations and government agencies with acceptance of Eco-roofs and other Landscape Approaches used for storm water management and healthy city development. He has presented papers at several universities and symposiums including Harvard University, School of Design. His work has been recognized in various media and he has received numerous awards. He contributed to; Handbook of Water Sensitive Planning and Design, Robert France ed. (Lewis Publishers, 2002) and Green Roofs, Ecological Design and Construction, Earth Pledge, Siena Chrisman, ed. (Schiffer Publishing Ltd. 2005).

With increasing demand for glazing systems to enhance a building's envelope and appearance, more emphasis is being placed on glass to act as a medium for aesthetic expression, re-establishing the visual connection between the indoor and outdoor environment, act as a thermal barrier, act as a solar barrier and be readily available on the open market. In many instances these demands can be met with a variety of glass coatings. How do we start to identify and select these coatings and glass products?

This presentation will assist in navigating the (sometimes complex) array of coated glass products widely available on the market.

Dave Young of RDH Building Sciences, Inc. will discuss requirements of the 2007 Oregon Structural Specialty Code pertaining to the need for air barriers. Various different methods of achieving airtightness will be explored along with commonly used air barrier materials. The presentation will also look at problems and failures with various air barrier conditions and lack of airtightness in buildings.

This Month's Meeting: Sealant Adhesion and Compatibility with Self-Adhered Membranes. The September 13, 2007 BEC meeting will be a follow up of the presentation given last June which focused on sealant adhesion and compatibility with self adhered membranes. Ken Roko and Dave Young will discuss some additional results, their findings and the outlook for the interface of these materials.