Blower door testing in Oregon is relatively new and the requirement has created a fair amount of questions for compliance and how the test is performed. Learn the ins and outs of how the test is performed and how the ASHRAE 90.1 criteria is applied in order to satisfy the energy code.

Mike Poirier is the Vice-President of QED LAB, Inc, an AAMA accredited testing laboratory and field testing agency headquartered in Troutdale, Oregon. QED LAB has tested over 900 buildings for airtightness in both commercial and residential configurations, equating to over 45 million square feet of air barrier and over 3,100 residential units. Mike is a Level 2 certified infrared thermographer and a Level 3 certified blower door testing technician with over 20 years experience in the building science industry. He has tested projects across 12 states in the US, as well as in Mexico and Thailand, including projects for the US Army Corps of Engineers. Mike was a presenter at the 2023 ABAA Building Enclosure Conference and is scheduled to present at the 2024 conference in May.

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Mass timber is both an innovative building material and a fundamentally familiar material. This course will cover some of the challenges which can be encountered when using this material with an emphasis on the construction process. This course will address the nature of wood material and how it reacts to moisture and relate that to the practical use of mass timber as a construction material. The standards applying to mass timber moisture content during both manufacturing and fabrication and then erection and construction in general will be reviewed. The course will identify the portions of mass timber elements at greatest risk of damage from moisture exposure during the construction process and the variable conditions not directly related to mass timber which make weather protection more difficult. Finally from a practical standpoint a contractor’s basic Weather Protection Plan will be described along with a discussion on cleaning processes for mass timber.

Bill Melrose has spent 45 years in the construction industry in all roles on site for both contractors and a subcontractor. He is a Licensed Civil Engineer in Oregon and has been the Oregon Division Quality Manager for Swinerton Builders for the last 5 years. During his time at Swinerton Builders he has been directly involved in over 15 Mass Timber Projects in the Portland Area, and has assisted with other projects in other locations. Bill visits active projects 2 to 3 time per week to assess the effectiveness and adjustments of the weather protection plans as it relates to both mass timber and the final roof installations.

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Building science is a dynamic field that integrates age-old practices with cutting-edge research, offering critical insights into the design and construction of buildings. While some principles have been established for centuries, our understanding of building science continues to evolve as new research and industry experiences emerge. In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of its value, especially in addressing the complexities of modern construction and mitigating risks. Our local Building Enclosure Community (BEC) is a leader in this field, with a vibrant network of professionals dedicated to advancing building science knowledge. Given the breadth and ongoing development of the field, grasping the fundamentals is crucial for project success. In this session, we will explore core concepts of building science and use real-world examples to illustrate their practical application.

Casey McDonald is an Associate, Sr. Project Manager with RDH Building Science. He has a wealth of experience in a variety of enclosure-related disciplines including complex façade systems, mass timber construction, thermal and hygrothermal analysis, and air tightness control. Casey's strong technical proficiencies, cooperative approach, and committed focus on helping make buildings better has earned him a reputation as a valued figure in the local building community.

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For our October 1, 2024 Portland BEC meeting, we have arranged for a unique opportunity to tour the ongoing construction of the OHSU Hospital Expansion Project (OHEP). This 14-story, $540M immediate care facility features approximately 500,000 sf of programmed space and parking, planned accommodations for up to 192 beds, 250,000 sf of unitized curtain wall, 10,000 sf of vegetated roof, and three (3) bridge connections to adjacent campus buildings. The exterior enclosure that will be visible and discussed during the tour is composed of aluminum and glass unitized curtain wall, panelized framed walls with exterior metal panel, hot-rubberized asphalt vegetated roofing, and single-ply roofing.

Since this is an active construction site, our tour will need to start at 3:30pm after most trades have left the site. The tour will be approximately 1-hour long starting with a brief intro to the project, then breaking into three groups each visiting three stations in various locations throughout the building to view/discuss the variety of enclosure systems and detailing. With any luck, folks will be able to observe unitized curtain wall being actively installed! At each station, a representative from NBBJ (Project Architect), Morisson Hershfield (Enclosure Consultant) or RWDI (Enclosure Commissioning Provider) will lead a discussion and brief Q&A on the systems being installed at those stations.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) will be required to be worn during the tour. Additionally, transportation up to the site will be provided by shuttle bus from/to the South Waterfront trade parking lot as parking at the site is a challenge. More information regarding PPE requirements and parking will be distributed in the days before the tour.

Due to space and safety constraints, this tour is limited to 35 attendees.  Please follow the link below to register for the event.

Please note that this meeting will occur on a Thursday

Architectural Aluminum Framing Systems can be broken down into a number of subcategories. These are: Storefront, Curtain Wall, Window Wall, Overhead or Sloped Glazing, Windows, Entrances, Interior Frames and Sliding Storefronts. The first three categories: Storefront, Curtain Wall and Window Wall are most commonly used for fixed exterior glazing on commercial applications. Each shares some common characteristics but for the most part, each is very different and designed for specific applications.

In this presentation we will focus on these first three systems, reviewing the unique features and characteristics of each; advantages and disadvantages of each and review examples of applications each was designed for. Upon completion of this presentation, you will have an appreciation for the uniqueness of each system and understand how to select the correct one based upon each specific project.

Henry earned a degree in Marketing and English from Georgia State University and an MBA in Management from Kennesaw State University. Beginning his career in commercial construction, he has been with Kawneer for 28 years.

A regular speaker at industry and trade association meetings, Henry has several articles published and is Chairman of the largest Division 8 trade association.

Installing a solar roof system on a building should be a decision that rewards the building owner with energy savings as well as piece of mind knowing they are doing their part to help the environment. What many building owners may not realize is that installing a solar roof system could damage their roof, void their roof warranty and end up costing them more in the long run. “Solar Roof Systems- The Good, The Bad and The Ugly” will identify the potential issues with a rooftop solar installation, what questions they should be asking and how to avoid serious, costly problems.

Carola Voelker is the CEO of Centroplan USA LLC (US branch of the German Solar EPC Company - Centroplan); a partner of Sika Corporation to develop rooftop solar solutions. Carola has been working in the Solar arena since 2009, gaining experience in solar module quality testing and failure analysis at Fraunhofer research Centers both in the US and Germany. In recent years, she has overseen several large-scale solar installations in the US. She has also been an integral member of the SarnaRoof Solarmount 2 (SSM2) development team since its inception.

Centroplan values their strong bonds to Fraunhofer ISE – Europe’s largest research Center for Solar Energy Systems; as well as to the VDE – the leading Certification Center for Electric Material in Germany, including Solar Installations.

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This course will provide a brief history of significant historical fires and how these have influenced the development of our current model building codes. Some more recent fires will be discussed, reinforcing the importance of mitigating fire propagation in cladding assemblies. A review of the five main building types will lead into a discussion of material combustibility followed by an overview of the Code requirements around flame propagation. NFPA 285 – “Standard Fire Test Method for Evaluation of Fire Propagation Characteristics of Exterior Wall Assemblies Containing Combustible Components” is now in its 4th edition. The course wraps up with a discussion of the fire propagation test, how to navigate manufacturer NFPA 285 compliance information, and when the use of engineering judgements may be required.

Dave Young brings more than 35 years of building enclosure consulting experience to his teams and projects. His capacity to demonstrate a depth of experience includes single-family homes, multi-family residential, Class-A high-rise commercial, institutional/public sector, and mission critical projects--in both Canada and the U.S. Inherently meticulous and detail-oriented, Dave leverages his ability to think holistically about new building construction and building enclosure rehabilitation, repair, maintenance, and forensic investigation. He is a trusted partner among his clients and stakeholders, known for having an unparalleled level of know-how and thoughtfulness while navigating unknowns. His notable high-performance projects include the Multnomah County Central Courthouse, the new 35-story Ritz-Carlton Tower in Portland and the custom curtainwall for the PDX Terminal Core Redevelopment at the Portland International Airport.

Dave holds a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, and is a licensed professional engineer in OR, WA, ID, and NE. He is a Principal at RDH Building Science Inc. and is a Past-President of the Portland Building Enclosure Council.

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This course provides an overview of sheet metal detailing and fabrication, including a review of the SMACNA manual. The presentation will take an in depth look at the fabrication process, industry standards for selection of gauge and material for various applications, and common deviations from industry practices in construction documents.

James Slater has worked in the Architectural Sheet Metal industry for over 25 years and is the current Director for the Architectural Metal Division at McKinstry Co overseeing operations throughout the greater PNW region. He has a BA in Architecture and a BS in Construction Management both from the University of Washington.

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LEED v5 introduces innovative changes that enhance building performance by emphasizing decarbonization, quality of life, and ecological conservation. This presentation will address the new Fundamental and Enhanced Commissioning requirements for building enclosures, comparing them to LEED v4 and v4.1. Featuring insights from an EA TAG member involved in the development process, the session aims to debunk myths about the new requirements, provide implementation strategies, and promote wider adoption of BECx within the LEED v5 Rating System.

Steve is a building science specialist with over 24 years of experience who focuses on passive design, energy efficiency and material resiliency which help create sustainable and durable buildings. He has extensive experience in both building enclosure consulting and enclosure commissioning having provided building enclosure services on high performance building projects across multiple market sectors on projects in the U.S., Canada, South America, Europe and China.

He is a LEED Fellow and serves on the USGBC LEED Energy and Atmosphere Technical Advisory Group focused on development and implementation of LEED v5. Steve is also actively involved in research and publications on improving consulting practices and the science of building enclosures with a focus on the connection between passive and active energy systems in buildings.  

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Typical industry standard recommendation for slate replacement is at a 20% or more failure threshold. There are no field or lab tests that currently predict the remaining lifespan of existing weathered slate. However, ASTM C406 Standard Specification for Roofing Slate establishes the “grade” of new roofing slate, associated with projected life expectancy. Peter Meijer Architect PC sent slate samples to several labs to conduct C120 Standard Test Methods of Flexure Testing of Slate, C121 Standard Test Method for Water Absorption of Slate, and C217 Standard Test Method for Weather Resistance of Slate. These test results gave a gauge to the existing slate’s performance. A critical aspect of determining the life expectancy of archaic/older material is understanding the limitations associated with modern ASTM test methods. ASTM standards are not always accurate predictors of slate quality but are good sources of empirical data. Peter Meijer Architect PC used our experience and broadened our research into longevity by including testing means and methods from Europe and other countries with a longer history of slate testing. The standards in use on the market to certify slate are the British Standard Institute, BS EN 12326-1:2014, Slate and Stone for Discontinuous Roofing and External Cladding, and the United States ASTM C406.

Peter Meijer. principal, has over 30 years of professional experience with an emphasis on the preservation and assessment of older, existing, and historic buildings. As a professional architect with a background in scientific research, He has developed his career with a focus on the unique building sciences associated with existing and historic resources. He has become a well-regarded expert on the diverse issues affecting older buildings both regionally and nationally.

Hali Knight has 10 years of professional experience, primarily with a focus on restoration and building enclosure design for existing and historic structures. While at Peter Meijer Architect PC (PMA), she has led many projects that include assessments and repair recommendations for historic materials such as masonry, slate, and terra cotta. Many of PMA's projects use material testing and on-site evaluation as tools to direct building enclosure repair methodologies and priorities. In addition to restoration work, she has worked on several large-scale renovation projects that include seismic upgrades and tenant improvements.  

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