Building Enclosure Consulting

Duration: The educational seminar runs for approx. 1 hour running time plus introductions and presentations, although your results may vary.  Attendants typically commented about very rich content delivered at a very high rate of speed, which required them to pause slides often so they can digest them. The original source seminar consisted of 306 slides.  One attendant compared it to taking a sip from a fire hose.

Comments: Curtain Wall 101. Presents curtain walls, their fundamental classification, and challenges and solutions associated with them. The structural role of curtain walls, fundamental classification of curtain walls, glazing types and their modes of failures are analyzed, relevant building code requirements, tests of curtain walls, and main sources of water leakage are discussed. Structural role of curtain walls and their comparison with load-bearing walls and the importance of movement and adjustment of joinery are briefly explained. The seminar presents a fundamental classification of curtain walls by function, materials, place of assembly, mullion type, glass type, attachment, access, and configuration. Primary façade design principles are classified and demonstrated on curtain wall components, with emphasis on a structural safety and a holistic approach. Both classifications were developed by the author for purposes of curtain wall specification and education of designers. Sources of misunderstanding and confusion are explained, ranging from the uncoordinated design delegation, through a general lack of knowledge of façade functions among construction professionals, to the structural aspects unique to curtain walls. The most typical challenges are illustrated by cases of field failures from the author’s forensic practice. Glazing types and their modes of failures are analyzed, and dangers associated with their misunderstanding on example of building code inadequacies are presented. Relevant building code requirements are listed on example of the Florida Building Code. Tests of curtain walls are visited, and main sources of water leakage are indicated. The lecture is elementary in nature to optimally address the average professional audience. Both a curtain wall and a sloped glazing remain an exclusive domain of a high-rise, high-end construction. As a result, a limited number of construction professionals are familiar with their design, inspection, and troubleshooting. Rapid technological advancements of coating technology, architectural glass, and the structural glass engineering create a widening educational lag. Educational opportunities and literature on the subject remain scarce. The resulting confusion among some professionals is unfortunately reflected in and demonstrated by failures of existing buildings.

Audience: This version of the seminar was slanted for architects. (There were other versions slanted to real estate managers, insurance adjusters, and contractors). However, this seminar really took off only after Kaz delivered it at the famous Joe Lstiburek’s Summer Camp. Since then, building enclosure consultants  remained the most interested attendees, because Kaz shares knowledge and experience of an European facade engineer, unavailable otherwise to professionals.

Learning objectives: 1. Fundamental classification of curtain walls. 2. Sources of misunderstanding and confusion. 3. Glazing types and their modes of failure. 4. Relevant building code requirements.

Table of contents

Trailer. .
Link for those who don’t see the trailer in the window above: http://youtu.be/QJhAHEkU-9U

Self Reporting Form: The old form is available for download. AIA spent our dues on frequent changes of their website, making it even less intuitive every time, so the specific steps had varied already by the time I was finished with the form. Please note that jurisdictions may vary with their acceptance of self-reported units, please check with your state first.

HSW: Yes, over 75%  in 1 category: Salutary physical effects among users.

Sustainable Design: NO.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: The seminars focus on areas typically overlooked by architects and engineers in process of building envelope design. The topics are chosen on basis of observations derived from both forensic investigations of failed assemblies and peer reviews of architectural documentation.

Version.  It’s still the very first version recorded on DVD (Dec 2011). Kaz developed this seminar around year 2006. He never updated the DVD, although the actual live seminar has evolved since then. At some point it was registered with AIA for learning units and the required AIA slides were added, please ignore them, as we no longer have time to report individual learning units.

Packaging:  May vary. We will probably switch to cardboard sleeves soon.

How Can I get it? We  sell them directly via the form below, as well as they will be available through third-party re-sellers soon:
Price:
We also encourage a purchase of several DVDs at a discount. If you plan to purchase, please approve the applicable terms and conditions. When you press the “Buy Now” button, you will be taken to the checkout webpage.

DVD cover “Curtain Walls .”