Not-So-Off-the-Wall Design: How to Build Durable Energy Efficient Walls

Thursday, January 21 | 1:00 - 2:00 PM
Location: South 232

Format: Building Knowledge 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): 
Vladimir Kochkin, Home Innovation Research Labs, Upper Marlboro, MD | 
Brian Lieburn, Dow Building Solutions R&D, Plain City , OH

What It’s About:
High performance homes are now required by model codes (2012/2015 IECC) and promoted by voluntary standards, such as the NGBS and Energy Star, yet market penetration for energy efficient walls with an R-value of 19+ is still less than 20% of all new homes. This advanced session will present best practices for building walls that are energy efficient, durable and cost-optimized and that can be implemented easily in the field. It will cover the pros and cons of various options so you can make informed design and material selections. Information presented is based on the new "Construction Guide to High Performance Walls" – a manual developed with the input from a range of experts across the industry to help achieve more standardization.

What You'll Learn:
Learn best practices and specific solutions for integrating exterior rigid foam insulation, including details for window installation, siding attachment and WRB integration. 
Examine advanced framing packages that combine tried-and-true techniques with new approaches for increasing the wall system's R-value while controlling costs. 
Know where energy efficient options and materials can conflict in installation practices and lead to product failures or building inspector red flags for non-compliance. 
Understand the selection of vapor retarders for energy efficient walls and other moisture performance considerations.

Continuing Education: NAHB - 1.00 CE hour(s), NKBA - 0.1 CEU(s)