Don’t Eat Your Sweater: Building Science & Best Practices for Continuous Insulation

Wednesday, January 20 | 8:30 - 11:30 AM
Location: South 233

Format: Master Session 
Level of Content: Advanced 

Appropriate for: Designers, Architects, Engineers & Planners, Subcontractors & Specialty Trade Contractors, Single Family - All

Track(s): Building Science, Performance & Systems

Speaker(s): 
Jay Crandell, d/b/a ARES Consulting, West River, MD, MD | 
Joseph Lstiburek, B.A.Sc, M, Building Science Corporation, Westford, MA

What It’s About:
This Master session is an entertainingly technical look into one of the most controversial yet important subjects affecting modern housing construction: insulation. It will discuss the various materials and techniques for integrating foam sheathing (continuous insulation) onto wall assemblies for code compliance and durability. It will provide useful guidance for multiple wall functions and components including water-resistive barriers, air barriers, vapor retarders, window and cladding installation and coordination with continuous insulation. You will leave this session with a better understanding of applications from minimum code compliance to the "perfect wall" and "net zero" buildings.

What You'll Learn:
Learn how to integrate continuous insulation into wall assemblies for energy and building code compliance. 
Learn how to use foam sheathing together with vapor retarders and water-resistive barriers to control moisture risk in wall assemblies. 
Learn how to integrate wall components (siding, windows and doors) with practical details and code-compliant fastenings and flashing. 
Learn how to adjust approaches based on climate zone.

Continuing Education: NAHB - 3.00 CE hour(s), NKBA - 0.3 CEU(s), AIA - 3.00 LU hour(s)