IIBEC/AEI BES 2022: The Sky Is Falling: Cladding System Failures ($95.00 Member/$110.00 Non-member)

The Sky Is Falling: Cladding System Failures was originally presented at the 2022 IIBEC/AEI Building Enclosure Symposium.  This course includes the recording of the session as well as a summative assessment consisting of 10 multiple-choice questions.

Course Start Date: November 30, 2022

Course Expiration Date: November 30, 2025

Course Prerequisites: None

Knowledge Level: Advanced

Continuing Education Credit Statement: This course is approved for 1.0 IIBEC CEH.  This course is approved for 1.0 AIA LU HSW.  
A passing score of 100% on the summative assessment (unlimited attempts) is required in order to earn Continuing Education Hours and AIA LU HSW credit. After completing this course, learners will be able to download a Certificate of Completion.  Learners are responsible for self-reporting IIBEC CEH credit by uploading their Certificate of Completion to their IIBEC Portal.

Description
An emergency situation resulted from an all-too-common and ongoing problem in the building enclosure industry. Many cladding systems are specified with a performance specification, with the design professional of record delegating the final design, testing, and attachment details for the system to the system’s manufacturer or installer. Many of the systems are proprietary and locally manufactured. In the case study presented, a new aluminum composite material cladding system was specified and installed as part of a new downtown midrise building. The system was designed based on details by a well-known industry leader where attachment methods and details have a track record. The installed system was a substitution that was locally manufactured, though approved based on the required submittals, including detailed shop drawings, third-party engineering, and independent laboratory testing reports. Toward the end of the project, pieces and panels from the cladding system began blowing off of the building during high-wind events. This emergency situation resulted in the general contractor and project team needing to respond quickly to determine the cause, make the area safe, and implement repair solutions. This session will discuss issues from system design through system approvals, forensic investigation, and repairs.

Learning Objectives

1. Discuss optimal design and construction process in relation to specified delegated design of cladding systems.
2. Explain how specific cladding system failures may result in life-threatening emergency scenarios.
3. Define the need and role of an experienced design professional throughout the entire design and building process.
4. List the required steps in a forensic evaluation of a failed building cladding system.
5. Explain how specific repair solutions were successfully implemented in the case scenario presented

Speakers/Authors

Timothy Mills, PE, LEED AP
TAM Consultants Inc. (a Terracon Co.) | Williamsburg, Virginia

Timothy A. Mills, PE, graduated with a BS degree in engineering from Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute of New York in 1983. Prior to forming TAM Consultants in 2002, Mills worked with a number of multidiscipline design and inspection firms. He specializes in forensic investigations and building envelope consulting. Tim has published numerous articles and completed more than 1000 building inspections. He is an instructor for the Air Barrier Association of America (ABAA) training courses that certify contractors in the proper installation of air barriers, as well as a certified ABAA Auditor in the quality assurance program. TAM Consultants became part of Terracon Consultants in 2020.

Michael J Lucas, PE
TAM Consultants Inc. (a Terracon Co.) | Williamsburg, Virginia

Lucas is a civil and structural engineer with over five years of experience in building enclosure science and restoration services. Prior to joining Terracon, he worked with firms in Chicago, Illinois, where he conducted critical examinations of high-rise building facades; conducted water infiltration investigations, testing, and troubleshooting of various enclosure-related elements; and assisted with the design and analysis of structural building members under a licensed structural engineer. Lucas gained valuable experience reviewing facades via pipe and swing stage scaffolding. He created field reports that coordinated project statuses and condition assessments. He set up, managed, and successfully completed exterior facade restoration projects. His projects also required the review and markup of American Institute of Architects and Engineer Joint Contract Documents Committee (EJCDC) applications for payment, computer-aided design drawings of site plans, building elevations and repair details, and the review and development of bidding documents and material specifications.

Reviewer
Joseph Bukovec, RWC, RRO, PE
2022 Building Enclosure Symposium Committee Member

AIA CES Provider statement

IIBEC is a registered provider of AIA-approved continuing education under Provider Number G024. All registered AIA CES Providers must comply with the AIA Standards for Continuing Education Programs. Any questions or concerns about this provider or this learning program may be sent to AIA CES (cessupport@aia.org or (800) AIA 3837, Option 3). This learning program is registered with AIA CES for continuing professional education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product. AIA continuing education credit has been reviewed and approved by AIA CES. Learners must complete the entire learning program to receive continuing education credit. AIA continuing education Learning Units earned upon completion of this course will be reported to AIA CES for AIA members. Certificates of Completion for both AIA members and non-AIA members are available upon request.