Air Barrier Technical Library
- ABAA TECHNICAL BULLETINS
- ABAA TECHNICAL ARTICLES
- AIR BARRIERS
- BUILDING ENVELOPES
- VAPOR BARRIER
- MOISTURE / HUMIDITY
- VENTILATION
- MOLD
- INSULATION
- ENERGY EFFICIENCY / CONSERVATION
ABAA TECHNICAL BULLETINS
CODE UPDATES (ABAA Technical Bulletin – 2011-01)
The following document is an overview of the requirements of Air Barrier Materials, Air Barrier Assemblies, whole building testing, and Water Resistive Barriers in ASHRAE 90.1-2010, ASHRAE 189.1, 2012 IRC, 2012 IECC and 2012 IBC.
APPLICATION OF TRANSITION MEMBRANES IN BUILDING ENVELOPE DESIGN (ABAA Technical Bulletin – 2011-02)
The following Technical Bulletin is a overview on the application of designing transition membranes into the building assembly.
ABAA TECHNICAL ARTICLES
AIR BARRIERS
- "Continuing Problems with Air Barrier Systems" - The Construction Specifier December 2011
http://www.kenilworth.com/publications/cs/de/201112/files/62.html - NEEC - Air Barrier Management Fact Sheet, July 2011
NREC-Air-Barrier-07-2011.pdf - "Air Barriers: An Evolution" April 2010
http://www.masonrymagazine.com/Features/air-barriers-an-evolution.html - The High Performance House – What Does It Take? – Part One
www.homeenergy.org/archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/99/990308.html - Handling Framing Details in High – Performance Homes – Part Two
www.homeenergy.org/archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/99/990512.html - The air barrier defined.
www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/ibp/irc/bsi/86-air-barrier.html - Air barrier systems: Construction Applications
www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/ibp/irc/bsi/86-construction-applications.html - The difference between a vapour barrier and an air barrier.
www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/obj/irc/doc/pubs/bpn/54_e.pdf - Air Barrier Systems in Buildings
www.wbdg.org/resources/airbarriers.php - Moisture Control for Buildings
www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/building_america/pdfs/db/33288.pdf - Let's Talk about ... Moisture and Mold
www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/building_america/pdfs/db/33182.pdf - A Method of Evaluating Air Barrier Systems and Materials
www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/ibp/irc/ctus/ctus-n46.html - Guidelines For Delivering Effective Air Barrier Systems
www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/inpr/bude/himu/coedar/upload/Guidelines-for-Delivering-Effective-Air-Barrier-Systems-PDF.pdf - Design Considerations for an Air Barrier System
www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/inpr/bude/himu/coedar/upload/Design-Considerations-for-an-Air-Barrier-System-OAA.pdf - Air Sealing in Occupied Homes
www.homeenergy.org/archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/95/951111.html - Air Barriers
www.buildingscience.com/documents/reports/rr-0403-air-barriers - Structural Requirements for Air Barriers
www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/publications/en/rh-pr/tech/91-201.pdf - Air Barrier Materials and Systems: What is the Difference? Is There a Difference?
www.icr.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/fulltext/prac/nrcc44978/nrcc44978.pdf - Guide to Insulation Sheathing
www.buildingscience.com/documents/guides-and-manuals/gm-guide-insulating-sheathing/view?searchterm=insulation sheathing - Single Wythe Block Construction
Analysis on how single wythe block can meet the requirements for the energy code for various states
A report has been generated to provide guidance.
single_wythe_block.pdf
BUILDING ENVELOPES
- Wrap it up: Building Houses with the Skin on the Outside
www.homeenergy.org/archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/99/991108.html - Energy Efficient Remodeling – Grab the Opportunity!
www.homeenergy.org/archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/95/950110.html - Controlling the transfer of heat, air and moisture through the Building Envelope.
www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/ibp/irc/bsi/90-controlling-heat.html - Wind and air pressure on the Building Envelope
www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/ibp/irc/bsi/86-air-pressures.html - Joe Lstiburek & Betsy Pettit: Better Building
www.housingzone.com/pb/article/joe-lstiburek-amp-betsy-pettit-better-building - Wind Safety of the Building Envelope
www.wbdg.org/design/env_wind.php - The New Building Crisis: A Survival Guide
www.rd.com/content/openContent.do?contentId=14117 - Are Your Houses Too Tight?
www.energyconservatory.com/articles/articles2.htm - Low-Permeance Materials in Building Envelopes
www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/ibp/irc/ctus/ctus-n41.html - Service Life of the Building Envelope
www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/ibp/irc/bsi/84-building-envelope.html - Integrating the Window with the Building Envelope
www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/ibp/irc/bsi/88-window-envelope.html - Air Pressure and the Building Envelope
www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/inpr/bude/himu/coedar/upload/Air-Pressure-and-the-Building-Envelope.pdf - Building Envelope – Keeping Walls Dry – Part 1
www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/inpr/bude/himu/coedar/upload/Keeping-Walls-Dry-Part-1.pdf - Building Envelope – Keeping Walls Dry – Part 2
www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/inpr/bude/himu/coedar/upload/Keeping-Walls-Dry-Part-2.pdf - Impact of Air Leakage on the Thermal and Moisture Performance of the Building Envelope
www.ornl.gov/~webworks/cppr/y2001/pres/111606.pdf - Details: Airtight Framing
www.coastalcontractor.net/pdf/2006/0601/0601deta.pdf - Weather-Tight Exteriors
www.coastalcontractor.net/pdf/2004/0409/0409weat.pdf - Investigation of the Impact of Commercial Building Envelope Airtightness on HVAC Energy Use.
www.nist.gov/customcf/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=101325
VAPOR BARRIER
- Beauty and the Beast Upstairs
www.homeenergy.org/archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/95/950309.html - Out, Out Dammed Ice!
www.homeenergy.org/archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/96/961109.html - Vapour Barriers in Home Construction
www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/ibp/irc/cbd/building-digest-9.html - Vapour Barriers: What are they? Are they effective?
www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/ibp/irc/cbd/building-digest-175.html - Air leakage control
www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/ibp/irc/bsi/86-air-leakage.html - Control of air leakage is important
www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/ibp/irc/cbd/building-digest-72.html - Air leakage in buildings
www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/ibp/irc/cbd/building-digest-23.html - Humidity in Canadian Buildings
www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/ibp/irc/cbd/building-digest-1.html - Humidified Buildings
www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/ibp/irc/cbd/building-digest-42.html - Vapor Barriers and Wall Design
http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/reports/rr-0410-vapor-barriers-and-wall-design - Understanding Vapor Barriers
www.buildingscience.com/documents/digests/bsd-106-understanding-vapor-barriers/?searchterm=vapor barriers - Vapor Barriers and Wall Design
www.buildingscience.com/documents/reports/rr-0410-vapor-barriers-and-wall-design
MOISTURE / HUMIDITY
- Moisture Control in Bathrooms
www.homeenergy.org/archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/98/980310.html - Moisture and Mobile Home Weatherization
www.homeenergy.org/archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/95/950711.html - Fundamental of Moisture in Houses
www.homeenergy.org/archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/95/951108.html - Moisture problems in houses
www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/ibp/irc/cbd/building-digest-231.html - Moisture Sources in Houses
www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/ibp/irc/bsi/83-moisture-source.html - Building Science: Understanding Heat Flow
www.housingzone.com/pb/article/building-science-understanding-heat-flow - Building Science: Understanding Air Flow
www.housingzone.com/pb/article/building-science-understanding-air-flow - Building Science: Moisture Flow
www.housingzone.com/pb/article/building-science-moisture-flow - Building Science: Clearing the Air
www.housingzone.com/pb/article/building-science-clearing-air - Moisture Control for Buildings
www.buildingscience.com/documents/reports/rr-0205-moisture-control-for-buildings - Relative Humidity
www.buildingscience.com/documents/reports/rr-0203-relative-humidity - Humidity Control in the South
www.buildingscience.com/documents/reports/rr-9302-humidity-control-in-the-humid-south - Measuring Humidity in your Home
www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/maho/yohoyohe/momo/momo_002.cfm - Moisture and Wood-Frame Building
www.cwc.ca/NR/rdonlyres/1CE8A817-56C8-4E56-A083-3CD9125638B2/0/BP_1moisturee.pdf
VENTILATION
- Unventing Attics in Cold Climates
www.homeenergy.org/archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/99/991111.html - Reexamining Roof Ventilation
www.homeenergy.org/archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/00/001110.html - Forum Brings Fresh Air to Ventilation Issues
www.homeenergy.org/archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/00/000511.html - Ventilating Attics to Minimize Icings at Eaves
www.homeenergy.org/archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/95/950310.html - Mechanical Ventilation for the Home
www.homeenergy.org/archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/96/960307.html - Ventilation of houses.
www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/ibp/irc/bsi/83-house-ventilation.html - Ventilation Principles
www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/projects/irc/cope/principles-ventilation.html - Preventing Ice Dams
bct.eco.umass.edu/publications/by-title/preventing-ice-dams/ - Residential Ventilation: Too Little, Too Much, or Just Right?
www.buildingscience.org/resources/mold/read_Before_You_Ventilate.pdf - Why Houses Need Mechanical Ventilation Systems
www.irc.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/pubs/ctus/14_e.html - Current Approaches for Mechanical Ventilations of Houses
www.irc.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/pubs/ctus/15_e.html - Factors Affecting the Performance of Ventilation Systems in Large Buildings
www.irc.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/pubs/ctus/33_e.html - Evaluating Ventilation in Multifamily Buildings
www.homeenergy.org/archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/94/940710.html - Improving the Evaluation of Building Ventilation
www.nist.gov/bflpubs/build95/PDF/b95048.pdf - Myths about Building Envelopes
www.nist.gov/bflpubs/build99/PDF/b99042.pdf - Ventilation
www.amerispec.ca/english/brochures/ventilation.htm - Residential Ventilation and Latent Loads
www.buildingscience.com/resources/articles/Residential_Ventilation_Latent_Load.pdf - Airflow in the Ventilation Space Behind a Rain Screen Wall
www.ornl.gov/~webworks/cppr/y2001/pres/122262.pdf - Forum Brings Fresh Air to Ventilation Issues
www.homeenergy.org/archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem00/000511.html
MOLD
- Drying out a crawlspace
www.homeenergy.org/archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/00/000115.html - Better Breathing Thanks to Good Science
www.homeenergy.org/consumerinfo/breathe/bestbreathe.html - Moisture Control in Bathrooms
www.homeenergy.org/archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/98/980310.html - Sick Houses : Using Diagnostic Tools to Improve Indoor Air Quality
www.homeenergy.org/archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/97/971107.html - Rain Penetration and Moisture Damage in Residential Construction
www.irc.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/pubs/cdb/bsi83-1_e.html - Dealing with Moisture Problems
www.homesandcottages.com/homeowner/archive_featarticle_detail.php?article_id=24 - Beating the Mould Challenge.
www.homesandcottages.com/homeowner/archive_featarticle_detail.php?article_id=131 - Indoor Air Quality and Mold Prevention of the Building Envelope
www.wbdg.org/design/env_iaq.php - Moisture Management
www.housingzone.com/article/CA466887.html - Tips for Controlling Mold
www.housingzone.com/article/CA664468.html - Winning the War Against Mold
www.housingzone.com/article/CA466342.html - Water Management – control moisture problems, and you can control mold.
www.housingzone.com/article/CA462083.html - Mold: A growing concern!
www.housingzone.com/article/CA467776.html - What you need to know about mold
www.buildingscience.com/resources/mold/mold_need_to_know.pdf - Mold Testing
www.buildingscience.com/resources/mold/mold_testing.pdf - Mold Remediation in Occupied Homes
www.buildingscience.com/resources/mold_remediation.pdf - Mold: Causes, Health Effects and Clean-Up
www.buildingscience.com/resources/mold_causes.pdf - Moisture, Building Enclosures, and Mold – Part 1
www.buildingscience.com/resources/Mold_part_1.pdf - Moisture, Building Enclosures, and Mold – Part 2
www.buildingscience.com/resourcesMold_part_2.pdf - Humidity Control in the Humid South
www.buildingscience.com/documents/reports/rr-9302-humidity-control-in-the-humid-south - Mold and Moisture Dynamics
www.wbdg.org/design/moisturedynamics.php - Dangers of Mold lie in Ambiguity
www.windowanddoor.net/pastarticles.php?id=56 - Combating Mold and Mildew
www.rd.com/content/openContent.do?contentId=18292 - Mould
www.amerispec.ca/english/brochures/5_mould.htm - Air Pressure and Building Envelopes
www.buildingscience.com/resources/walls/air_pressure_envelope.pdf - Fighting Mold – The Homeowners Guide
www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/maho/yohoyohe/memo/memo_005.cfm?renderforprint=1 - Should You Test the Air in your Home for Mold?
www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/maho/yohoyohe/memo/memo_006.cfm?renderforprint=1 - Water Damage, Mold and House Insurance
www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/maho/yohoyohe/memo/memo_007.cfm?renderforprint=1 - How To Clean-Up The Mold:
www.gcrc.meds.cwru.edu/stach/cleanup.htm - Mold & Mildew – Cleaning up your Flood Damaged Home
www.fema.gov/pdf/reg-x/mold_mildew.pdf - Mold & Moisture – Should you be Concerned?
www.hud.gov/offices/lead/helpyourself/Mold.pdf - A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and your Home.
www.epa.gov/iaq/molds/images/moldguide.pdf - Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings.
www.epa.gov/iaq/molds/images/moldremediation.pdf - Mold and Moisture
www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/tfs/guideh.html - Indoor Air Quality and Mold Prevention of the Building Envelope
www.wbdg.org/design/env_iaq.pdf - Indoor Air – Mold
www.epa.gov/cgi-bin/epaprintonly.cgi - Sick Houses – Using Diagnostic Tools to Improve Indoor Air Quality
www.homeenergy.org/archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem97/971107.html
INSULATION
- Snowy and Icy Indicators of Wasted Money
www.homeenergy.org/consumerinfo/roofs/index.html - First Step in Cellulose Sealing : Spot the Style
www.homeenergy.org/archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/98/980508.html - Home Energy's Consumer Guide to Insulation
www.homeenergy.org/archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/96/960908.html - The Insulation Industry's Dirty Secret
www.homeenergy.org/archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/oo/001112.html - An Insulation Roundup
www.homeenergy.org/archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/00/001113.html - Choosing Insulation
www.housingzone.com/article/CA496439.html - Prevent Ice Dams
www.rd.com/cotent/openContent.do?contentId=19396 - Insulation, Sheathings and Vapor Retarders
www.buildingscience.com/documents/reports/rr-0412-insulations-sheathings-and-vapor-retarders - Vermiculite Insulation Containing Amphibole Asbestos
www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/iyh-vsv/prod/insulation-isolant-eng.php - Air Leakage Control
www.oee.nrcan.gc.ca/Publications/infosource/pub/renovate/airleakage/
english/airleakage.pdf
ENERGY EFFICIENCY / CONSERVATION
- ASHRAE Standard 189.1 - Standard for the Design of High-Performance, Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings
blog.betterbricks.com/design/2010/02/standard-189-1-for-the-design-of-high-performance-buildings-adopted - Building Better - How High-Efficiency Buildings Will Save Money and Reduce Global Warming (March 2010)
BuildingBetter_ReduceGlobalWarming.pdf - Temperature Gradients through Building Envelopes
www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/ibp/irc/cbd/building-digest-36.html - Thermal Bridges in Buildings
www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/ibp/irc/cbd/building-digest-44.html - Heat Transfer at Building Surfaces
www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/ibp/irc/cbd/building-digest-52.html - Thermal Resistance of Building Insulation
www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/ibp/irc/cbd/building-digest-149.html - Energy Conservation in Canadian School Building
www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/ibp/irc/cbd/building-digest-209.html - Performance Testing Standards for building
www.irc.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/pubs/cbd/cbd210_e.html - The National Research Council of Canada: Energy Efficiency Pioneer
www.energy-econergie.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/case_study.pdf - Interior Lighting Design and Energy Conservation
www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/ibp/irc/cbd/building-digest-192.html - Space Heating and Energy Conservation
www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/ibp/irc/cbd/building-digest-142.html - New Energy Codes and Their Impact on Lighting Design
www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/ibp/irc/bsi/92-energy-codes.html - Rehabilitation of Solid Masonry Walls
www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/projects/irc/masonry-rehabilitation.html - Energy Education: A Kilowatt is a Terrible Thing to Waste
www.homeenergy.org/archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/95/950913.html - Energy Savings Rise High in Multifamily Buildings
www.homeenergy.org/archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/95/950908.html - The Key to Persistence
www.homeenergy.org/archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/95/950912.html - Making Low Income Housing Affordable: The Northgate Retrofits
www.homeenergy.org/archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/93/930308.html - Selecting Windows for Energy Efficiency
www.homeenergy.org/archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/95/950708.html - Energy Efficient Retrofit- The Building Envelope
www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/renoho/refash/refash_006.cfm - Energy Efficient Upgrade – Mechanical Systems
www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/renoho/refash/refash_006.cfm - ASHRAE Mulls Continuous Air Barriers
www.bdcnetwork.com/article/ashrae-mulls-continuous-air-barriers