Management and Design Strategies for High Performance Building Enclosures + Construction Phase Moisture Management

Wednesday, April 17th: 1:15-2:45 PM

Presenters: Randall Walter, Nick Karas

More details on each presenter/presentation below.

Strategy and Design for Thicker Enclosures

Presenter: Randall Walter, Hans Porschitz, Benson Woodworking Company Inc.

Join us to explore future state of bio based insulated wall design and the associated challenges and performance opportunities. Throughout the presentation we will explore the balance between the science and aesthetics as we share examples from recent projects. Topics to include: location of glazing within the thickness of the wall, air sealing approaches, protecting insulation from infrastructure, penetration details, solar shading and natural light control.

Construction Phase Moisture Management

Presenter: Nick Karas, Alex Larson, Keene State College; Hans Porschitz, Benson Woodworking Company Inc.

We intend to share our findings on the cause of and effect of interior relative humidity and moisture. Our research includes at least 8 areas of data that were collected during the full course of a 3 month construction process of a tightly sealed home. Our presentation will include raw data, graphical comparison, data analysis, daily job work log, pictures, and discussion on the importance of moisture control. After a summary of our findings, we will discuss specific areas and times of concern regarding high and low humidity and moisture, as well as their associated origins. We will conclude with recommendations of control measures necessary to keep moisture levels within desirable parameters