How has the Field Auditor certification impacted your career or professional development? 

A. The certification has significantly advanced my knowledge of installation techniques, expertise in troubleshooting, and identifying potential failures. Because of the extensive testing and review required of this specific system type, I gained a deep familiarity with Air Barrier Systems. This hands-on experience has built a level of comfort and proficiency that goes beyond what is typically gained in the standard BECx role.

What are some of the challenges you’ve encountered in your role as a Field Auditor and how has your certification helped you address them? 

A. The greatest challenge has been managing requests from project team members for additional reviews of details, materials, and assemblies that fall outside the scope of the QAP, such as roofing and waterproofing.

What advice would you give to someone considering pursuing the Field Auditor certification with ABAA? 

A. This role provides a valuable opportunity to gain a deep understanding of the optimal performance, application, and design of air barrier systems. It allows you to specialize in this specific system, moving beyond a generalist approach and developing expert-level proficiency.

In your opinion, what are the key elements of a successful air barrier audit? 

A. To build strong rapport with individual project members, it’s essential to acknowledge field conditions, utilize test data for insightful comments and reviews, be punctual, and maintain clear communication. Additionally, always ensure to complete the post-audit job report.

Describe how understanding continuity and component compatibility has improved your work quality, and the work quality of the installers

Understanding continuity and component compatibility has significantly enhanced the quality of my work and that of the installers. When it comes to continuity, having open conversations with contractors and installers about where they’re seeing issues lets us work together more effectively. I can share my insights, and I also learn from their hands-on experience. This back-and-forth helps everyone understand how important every little detail is. As for component compatibility, it’s crucial for making sure an air barrier system works. If the components don’t play well together, the system will fail, no matter how carefully it’s installed. Catching this early on gives contractors a chance to ask for more direction or to talk through any missed details, so we can fix potential issues before they become real problems.

Do you foresee an increased demand for improved performance and quality assurance in the air barrier/construction

The potential for performance improvement is narrowing because buildings still need to breathe. While you can manage that with mechanical systems, it means those systems must work perfectly for the entire life of the building. Pushing performance beyond Passive House standards can raise concerns about the building’s environmental health. On the other hand, the need for quality assurance is only going to grow as more air barrier systems get installed across the U.S. and internationally. These systems are key to achieving net zero energy buildings, so getting the installation right is crucial for cutting carbon emissions and reducing energy use in our built environments.

Any additional insights about your certification experience or working in the air barrier industry?

A. There’s a complex interplay of technical, physical, and scientific principles behind how these systems perform, beyond what most people realize. These factors must be carefully considered during both the design and installation phases. It’s not just about applying “paint or wallpaper”—it involves intricate, specialized knowledge.