As a building owner, general contractor, or architect-of-record, how do you know if the air barrier installation is good? Since the installer showed up, did some work, left and sent an invoice, we must be covered right? Inspection of air barriers is key to verifying your building IS covered. More importantly, the air barrier inspection should include fundamental elements in preparing for the inspection, gathering specific information, observing actual installation, checking transitions and testing basic workmanship. Walk through the air barrier inspection process for fluid-applied and self-adhered membranes with actual field photos, question polls and “tricks of the trade” on crucial items that cannot be missed, so you confidently know your building IS covered.

Learning Objectives:

1. Breakdown the complete preparation process for an air barrier inspection, including evaluation of the similarities and differences between the project specifications and the manufacturer’s requirements.
2. Describe the pertinent information to record on the materials and site conditions, understanding the relevance to the documented air barrier.
3. Comprehend the specific installation processes and preferred or best practice methods. Examine the level of repair or rework in common installation deficiencies.
4. Devise testing strategies for air barrier installation workmanship.

Pamela Jergenson, FCSI, CDT, CCS, CCCA, BECxP, CxA+BE, CABS

BECx Technical Manager/ Principal Consultant, Building and Structure Sciences Group, Braun Intertec

Ms. Jergenson is the Building Enclosure Commissioning Technical Manager and a Principal Consultant in the Building and Structure Sciences Group at Braun Intertec. Pam has over 30 years in investigation, testing, survey design, construction observation, construction contract administration and enclosure commissioning of new and existing building enclosure projects with expertise in exterior walls. She is a building enclosure consultant for building owners, architects and contractors in a variety of sectors. Pam is a Construction Document Technologist, Certified Construction Specifier (CCS), and Certified Construction Contract Administrator (CCCA) from Construction Specifications Institute (CSI); Building Enclosure Commissioning Process Provider (BECxP) and Accredited Commissioning Authority + Building Enclosure (CxA+BE) from University of Wisconsin-Madison, Certified Air Barrier Specialist (CABS), ABAA trained under the the Whole Building Airtightness Training Program and ABAA Licensed Field Auditor and Certified Speaker with Air Barrier Association of America (ABAA).