Building acoustics is an area we hear about more and more frequently and often with respect to litigation. Tobin Cooley of Listen Acoustics will be presenting some of his knowledge on building acoustics. Tobin will discuss what is considered to be normal levels of noise in multi-family occupancies and discuss some of the issues to be concerned with in designing multi-family residential occupancies as well as various types of testing that can be done. He will also perform a listening example of the difference between various window types in reducing train or freeway noise.

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.

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.

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?

John Reynolds will be joining us from the University of Oregon to discuss passive cooling and heating. Oregon's climate offers architects the opportunities of both passive solar heating and passive cooling. Passive and energy-conserving buildings seek to manage the available thermal energy by lowering peaks and filling valleys in order to maintain comfortable conditions for the occupants. Thermal mass and glass are two of the more powerful tools designers can use to control these conditions.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.