The First Facility Management Blog

The Building Enclosure Moisture Management Institute (BEMMI) was recently formed and officially began operation January 1, 2010. BEMMI is organized to represent manufacturers and suppliers of drainage space materials used in exterior walls in commercial building construction markets. The mission of the organization is to promote the growth of the engineered rain screen products industry to improve moisture management in building enclosures through technical advocacy.

The BEMMI members have already formed a Technical Committee which is working on several industry issues, and have identified several national and state code issues as top priorities for the Institute. John Woestman, a member of the BEMMI staff with extensive experience in the codes and standards and building products arena, will serve as BEMMI’s Technical Director.

“The formation of the BEMMI in January will assist manufacturers with representation in the major code and standards organizations,” commented Executive Director, Michael D. Fischer. “As an industry, rain screen producers will be able to speak with one voice to the regulators, code officials, and in the standards bodies to promote this rapidly growing building product used to provide both drainage and ventilation in high performance building enclosure systems.”

The BEMMI membership recently elected Michael Coulton, the director of marketing and product development for Benjamin Obdyke as president of the Board. Others named to officer positions include vice president Marcus Jablonka of Cosella-Dörken and Steve Samec of Masonry Technology, who was tabbed to serve as secretary/treasurer. “I am proud to be asked to lead this new initiative,” said Coulton, adding, “BEMMI will be poised to advance consensus standards for new technologies and products that will provide a means for producers of rain screen products and systems to promote sound building science and construction methods.”

Richard Lolley, CEO of Advanced Building Products, applauded efforts by industry members to collaborate on technical issues, saying “working together in a consensus process will allow the industry to succeed at a level we could never do by going it alone.” Lolley added that this collaboration will accelerate acceptance of rain screen science into mainstream building practice.

BEMMI is the North American trade association that represents the rainscreen industry’s manufacturing and marketing companies and their material suppliers. BEMMI is headquartered in New York, NY. The founding member companies of BEMMI include: Benjamin Obdyke, Cosella-Dörken Products, Masonry Technology, and Advanced Building Products.

The Web Exclusive comes from Doug Todd, North America market manager, Dow Building Solutions.

Continuous insulation—”ci” for short—is a term facility managers will be hearing more often in the planning stages of their new construction and major renovation projects. Like a coat that provides greater warmth when it’s zipped rather than not, “ci” covers the entire wall surround—not just the cavity spaces between the framing studs. “Ci” is a proven energy saver that is gaining attention across the U.S.

For at least 20 years ASHRAE has mandated “ci” for the coldest U.S. climate zones—places like northern North Dakota, northern Wisconsin, and Alaska. Now, changes to the ASHRAE 90.1-2007 Energy Efficiency Standard make “ci” a prescriptive requirement for above-grade, steel frame commercial construction in six out of eight climate zones, which is essentially all of the U.S. except for its southernmost points. See this link for climate zone breakdown.

In terms of LEED certification, in version 3.0 of the LEED rating system, the Energy and Atmosphere (EA) credit category now uses ASHRAE 90.1-2007 as its baseline. And the range of points for EA Credit 1 has increased from 1-10 to 1-19.

There are wall systems on the market that make it easier to integrate “ci” into building plans. These types of systems are gaining traction across climate zones as architects, contractors, and facility managers discover that they can improve thermal efficiency with less labor and cost than traditional gypsum wall systems or alternative “ci” components.

Why “ci”?
Heat transfer through steel studs can decrease effective R-value of cavity insulation by more than 50% (see Figure 1). If not addressed, the issue can overwork a facility’s HVAC system, requiring much more energy to heat and cool than it should.

Figure 1

Energy loss is most pronounced in wall systems that place batt insulation on the interior wall between the studs and use un-insulated sheathing on the exterior, such as gypsum board. This configuration, while very common in the vast majority of commercial structures, encourages heat transfer through steel studs (see Figure 2). Left unprotected by insulation, the building’s steel frame turns into a kind of thermal super highway, where indoor heat moves out during winter and outdoor heat moves in during summer.

Figure 2

Heat transfer through steel framing also encourages condensation within the cavity. The moisture build up further reduces the effectiveness of the batt insulation and if it does not dry out, can lead to mold and mildew, as well as material degradation.

Adding thicker insulation between the studs will not significantly improve thermal performance. In fact, it’s physically impossible to design an R-19 steel stud wall system with R-19 rated batt insulation alone.

A Different Approach
Wall systems that integrate “ci” represent a fundamentally different approach to steel frame wall construction. Those that combine “ci,” an air barrier and moisture-resistant barrier in a single-source solution can help to reduce materials and labor costs, as well as installation time.

One system, the THERMAX Wall System from Dow Building Solutions, integrates an acrylic-coated polyisocyanurate foam sheathing, flashing and spray polyurethane foam in a single-source solution.  Lightweight, rigid foam insulation panels installed outboard of the stud deliver a high level of heat resistance to the entire envelope—not just between the studs. The effect is to shut down the thermal superhighway of heat transfer. The sheathing’s facer protects against moisture intrusion. Seams, windows, doors and other thru-wall penetrations are taped with flashing for further moisture protection. Sealing the interior wall cavity with spray polyurethane foam effectively reduces air infiltration through building gaps, cracks and pinholes that can account for up to 38% of heat transfer in a typical building.

Whether it’s for new construction or a major re-model, the choice of insulation affects a facility’s energy efficiency long after construction ends.  By combining “ci” with air sealing, these types of wall systems go beyond the ASHRAE 90.1 standard and moves closer to the ultimate goal of carbon neutrality in building operation.

ATAS International Inc., a manufacturer of metal roofing and wall and ceiling panels, was honored by the state of Virginia with a 2009 Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award during the Environment Virginia Symposium, which took place in April 2009 in Lexington, VA. Presented by Virginia Secretary of Natural Resources L. Preston Bryant Jr., the award is for the Better Living Building Supply: Better Living Phase II in Charlottesville, VA. The Phase II of this project, which consisted of the Mill Shop for the Better Living Inc. store, was the Silver Medal Winner in the Environmental Project Category.

An example of the ATAS InSpire wall product is shown here.

ATAS, which is headquarters in Allentown, PA, contributed its InSpire Wall to the Better Living Building Supply. InSpire consists of transpired solar collector metal wall panels mounted a few inches from the building’s outer wall. The perforations in the wall panels allow outside air to travel through the face of the panel. Solar heated air at the surface of the panel is then drawn through the perforations where it rises between the two walls and enters the building’s ventilation system. In the summer, InSpire helps to keep the building more comfortable by preventing normal solar radiation from striking the building’s main wall. Hot air is thermally siphoned up the wall and vented through holes at the top of the system, leaving the main wall cooler. By-pass dampers in the summer allow fresh air to be drawn into the building, maintaining indoor air quality. About 2,240 square feet of the 0.032-aluminum InSpire wall system clads the southern wall of the facility. Because of InSpire, the southern wall collects solar heat for use inside the facility. This means the traditional HVAC system is used only for supplemental heat.

The 24,000 square foot Better Living Building Supply Mill Shop was constructed from a pre-engineered metal building design. Other sustainable features include water efficient fixtures; rainwater collectors that include an 80,000 gallon storage tank under the parking lot for use in the sprinkler system and site irrigation; no- or low-VOC materials for the building interior; recycled materials; and recycling more than 75% of the construction materials.

Those recognized along with ATAS for their involvement in the sustainable aspects of the project include: architect of record and LEED consultant, The Gaines Group PLC, Charlottesville; general contractor, Mathers Construction Team, Waynesboro, Va.; and commissioning agent, F7 Engineering Group LLC, Charlottesville.

About The VA Awards Program

The Governor’s Award program is co-sponsored by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Virginia Manufacturers Association’s Outreach Committee, and Dominion Virginia Power.

Twenty three entries were recognized with awards in the categories of Environmental Program, Environmental Project, and Land Conservation. The program recognizes the significant contributions of environmental and conservation leaders, and the awards are given to businesses and industrial facilities, not-for-profit organizations, government agencies, and individuals.

Other 2009 winners included: U.S. Army Garrison  Center in Fort Lee for its Pollution Prevention Program; the YMCA at Virginia Tech for its Ytoss? program to divert campus items from landfill; and Canon Virginia for its cartridge recycling program. All winner profiles can be found here…

American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) has begun a 12-month review to evaluate AAMA 520, Voluntary Specification for Rating the Severe Wind-Driven Rain Resistance of Windows, Doors and Unit Skylights. The final document is expected to be published next summer, in advance of the 2009 hurricane season.

According to John Lewis, AAMA’s technical director, once final revisions to the introduction for AAMA 520 are approved by the AAMA Southeast Region Technical Committee, a preliminary copy will be shared with AAMA-accredited testing laboratories and other members to ensure the specifications are clear and the test protocols yield repeatable results.

“The participants’ input will help validate testing equipment and procedures and evaluate a selection of current, hurricane impact-resistant windows,” says Lewis. “Without a doubt, once released, these specifications will represent the most stringent test standards of their kind in the industry today.”

Says AAMA’s president and CEO Rich Walker, “Following the 2004 hurricane season’s destructive power and the property damage of wind-driven rains, the Florida Building Commission sought out AAMA’s Southeast Region organization. At the FBC’s urging, we have assessed current test methods and developed a standard of performance for testing windows to enhance their ability to resist water penetration under hurricane conditions. The resulting document will serve as an elevated performance characterization but is not intended for building code adoption and enforcement.”

Lewis explains that the majority of door and window testing is based on AAMA/WDMA/CSA 101/I.S.2/A440. “This standard relies on static pressure tests for evaluating structural performance and resistance to water penetration. The goal of AAMA 520 is to better replicate hurricane conditions using a rapid pulsating test with computer-controlled cycling of high and low pressures.”

Scott Warner, AAMA Southeast Region president and executive vice president of Architectural Testing, Inc. in York, PA, also notes that AAMA is simultaneously working with ASTM to modify the existing ASTM E 2268 Standard Test Method for Water Penetration of Exterior Windows, Skylights and Doors by Rapid Pulsed Air Pressure Difference, which is referenced in the AAMA 520 voluntary specification.

“AAMA’s ongoing and collaborative efforts are paving the way for products to be better able to withstand the onslaught of a hurricane — something of interest to code officials, architects, builders, and insurance companies who serve the 53% of Americans (153 million in all) that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) reports as living within coastal regions.” Walker concludes, “With so many people affected by this, it’s critical that we have full confidence in these guidelines.”

To learn more about AAMA 520, Voluntary Specification for Rating the Severe Wind-Driven Rain Resistance of Windows, Doors and Unit Skylights, visit www.aamanet.org.

AAMA is the source of performance standards, product certification, and educational programs for the fenestration industry.(SM)