IIBEC Online Education

Structural engineers consider movement joints as a separator or physical break between adjacent buildings (or portions of buildings), while building enclosure designers require movement joints to connect the thermal, moisture, air, and water control layers. Often architectural drawings include a premanufactured movement joint sized to accommodate the anticipated structural movement of the joint. A common challenge is understanding how the movement joint system, which often includes complex geometry, interfaces with the adjacent building enclosure systems that are being connected. The speakers will address how to detail, develop, and construct movement joint systems to maintain enclosure continuity and prevent leakage. The presented approach is based on the speakers’ combined experience investigating failed movement joints, and applying lessons learned to the design and construction of movement joints in new design projects. In this presentation, the speakers will review how movement joints fail from a building enclosure perspective and identify key details and requirements for movement joint systems that are required to maintain a continuous envelope across multiple enclosure systems. Luke Niezelski, PE Simpson Gumpertz & Heger, Inc. | Waltham, MA Luke Niezelski joined the building technology division of Simpson Gumpertz & Heger Inc. (SGH) in 2014. He is licensed in Massachusetts as a professional engineer and is experienced in the investigation/assessment, design, construction administration, monitoring/inspection, and field-testing of historical and contemporary building enclosure systems. Niezelski has been involved in various Boston high-rise construction projects and is routinely collaborating with architects, owners, and contractors on complex building enclosure designs. Sophia B. Salah Simpson Gumpertz & Heger, Inc. | Waltham, MA Sophia Salah is a professional engineer licensed in Massachusetts and California and has practiced building enclosure engineering for over ten years with Simpson Gumpertz & Heger. Through her work, ranging from hospitals and health care facilities to commercial and residential buildings, Salah has extensive experience in both the investigation and design of complex enclosure systems, including below-grade waterproofing, plaza waterproofing, roofing, opaque cladding, curtainwall, and fenestration systems. As more buildings are being constructed in complex geometries and adjacent to existing buildings, Salah works with architects and contractors to provide a continuous building enclosure across movement joints. Read more

IIBEC is proud to partner with the U.S. Department of Energy for the Better Buildings’ Building Envelope Campaign! The campaign is an opportunity for building owners to save energy and money by recognizing the role a high-performing building envelope plays in an energy-efficient building. In this webinar, you’ll get an introduction to the campaign and be part of an interactive discussion about the new building envelope performance metric and the corresponding assessment tool. This campaign is ongoing and open to new participants. Read more

These 5 sessions were originally presented at the 2023 IIBEC International Convention & Trade Show in Houston, Texas.  The courses include the recording of the session, a summative assessment consisting of 10 multiple-choice questions, and surveys required to claim continuing education credit. The bundle includes the following courses:  Recertification Resurgence—Mitigating Risk in our Nation's Older Structures Building Codes- Implications for Repair of Buildings and Building Enclosures Building Fire Safety: No Singular Solution, It Takes a Village Historic Industrial Building Reuse and the Building Enclosure Six Frequently Misunderstood Topics Related to Commercial Building Enclosures Read more

An enclosure that is appropriately responsive to its environmental loading conditions is one of the most fundamental measures of satisfactory performance for the built environment. Some loads are directly experienced by enclosure components and materials themselves, while other loads are experienced because material deformations or deflections influence those components and materials. While the relationship between structural movement and a structure’s usefulness to its intended purpose has been well understood throughout the history of design and construction, that understanding has not always translated well into satisfactory enclosure performance. Drawing on experiences in post-construction forensic investigations, troubleshooting during construction, and efforts to influence design detailing, this presentation will discuss key factors in applying engineering mechanics for the benefit (or detriment) of enclosure performance. Specific aspects to be shared will include the cross-party dynamics in design and construction that give rise to current challenges, case studies of failures as a result of insufficient consideration, and areas for improvement across the design and construction industry. Jonathan Porter, PE, AAIA Kraus-Anderson Construction Company | Minneapolis, MN Jon Porter is the director of building science for Kraus-Anderson Construction (KA). In his role at KA, Porter focuses on building performance, particularly the exterior enclosure and interior finishes. He serves as a technical resource to project teams in relation to means and methods, constructability, building materials technology, workflow and sequencing, proper installation techniques, and testing and acceptance protocols. A licensed professional engineer in the state on MN, Porter has more than 24 years of design and construction experience, including roles in forensic investigation of design and construction failures and as an owner’s representative. Read more

This presentation was initially provided at the 2021 Convention in Phoenix, Arizona.  This presentation will highlight specifically how U.S. codes and standards create assurances that energy efficiency improvements do not compromise fire safety by controlling the use of combustible building products in commercial buildings. Examples of approved assemblies in a variety of exterior walls for different construction configurations will be provided. There will also be a focus on how fire safety can be maintained throughout the design process and construction phases using code compliance techniques like engineering judgments for wall assemblies. Adequate time will be allowed for an interactive discussion of current industry resources and topics of interest to the audience. Jeffrey H. Greenwald North American Modern Building Alliance | Tampa, FL Jeffrey H. Greenwald is an association executive with over 20 years of association management and advocacy experience. Prior positions include as an executive director, vice president for engineering, and vice president for research and development with four national associations. Greenwald is an innovative leader with demonstrated success in strategy development and execution, building code development, credential management, marketing, public affairs, and research and development. Lorraine Ross Intech Consulting, Inc. | Tampa, FL Lorraine Ross has been involved in all aspects of the building products industry for over 30 years, including manufacturing, technical service, and regulatory issues such as building code development, compliance, and testing laboratory experience. As president of Intech Consulting Inc., she is actively involved in building and fire code development through the International Code Council, NFPA, and a variety of state code development activities, particularly regarding foam plastic insulation. Currently, she is a member of the Florida Building Commission Roofing Technical Advisory Committee. Lorraine has delivered many presentations on building code topics at a variety of industry conferences. Read more

Cladding and building enclosure component connection details are important to the overall performance of a building enclosure, including its resistance to loads and durability. However, they must also be coordinated with energy code insulation requirements, which are increasingly requiring and recognizing the benefits of continuous insulation. Continuous insulation provides a means to improve energy efficiency (minimize thermal bridging) and provide a thermally stable and dry environment for the enclosed building components when coordinated with improved water and vapor control methodologies in the latest building codes. But, cladding connection must extend through this layer of continuous insulation. This presentation will review the research and latest prescriptive code requirements for attaching claddings through a layer of exterior continuous insulation. It will also present a generalized design procedure that can allow various types of connections through foam plastic insulating sheathing, including the attachment of cladding, furring, and even structural components like roof and deck ledgers. These building code advancements provide building enclosure designers with the means to efficiently design and detail various cladding and component connection options in coordination with energy code requirements to maximize the continuity of the thermal enclosure and overall integrity of the building enclosure. Jay Crandell, PE ARES/ABTG | Shady Side, MD Jay Crandell has over 30 years of experience in construction, engineering, and innovative building technology research for private and public sector clients. He has conducted benchmark studies of major natural disasters and conducted research to address significant structural, energy, and building science challenges. His work has helped to propel many innovative technologies into the International Codes and consensus standards. He is widely published on various engineering, construction, and building science topics. For additional information visit www.aresconsulting.biz and www.appliedbuildingtech.com. Read more