PRINCIPLES/DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
Perreault points out the importance of the environmental conditions during construction and the
effect they can have on building components. Most building materials need to be protected from
sun, heat, cold, wind and rain prior to their use and after they are installed, but before the exterior
cladding is erected. Many of these materials will be affected by such exposure, degrading their in-
use performance. These material issues can be dealt with through proper storage of construction
materials, protection of partially completed work and scheduling of construction activities.
The CMHC Seminar on High-Rise Buildings makes a very valuable point on design philosophy, i.e.,
the designer must always assume that some degree of imperfection will exist in wall components.
The design process must involve an evaluation of the locations and potential consequences of
these imperfections, such as the degree and duration of wetness at critical locations, and then
assure that the performance will not be compromised by these imperfections, or if it will, modify the
design to accommodate them. The aim of the designer should be to minimize gross defects in the
thermal envelope integrity and to tolerate the minor defects that inevitably occur.
References
AAMA, "Installation of Curtain Walls," Aluminum Curtain Wall Series 8, American Architectural Manufacturers
Association, Des Plaines, IL, 1989.
Brand, R., Architectural Details for Insulated Buildings, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 1990.
CMHC, "Exterior Wall Construction in High-Rise Buildings, "Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
CSI, Manual of Practice, The Construction Specifications Institute, 1989.
Handegord, G.O., "Design Principles," Construction Details for Airtightness, Record of the DBR Seminar/
Workshop, Proceedings No.3, NRCC 18291, National Research Council of Canada, 1980.
Kudder, R.J., K.M. Lies, K.R. Holgard, "Construction Details Affecting Wall Construction," Symposium on Air
Infiltration. Ventilation and Moisture Transfer, Building Thermal Envelope Coordinating Council, 1988.
O'Connor, T.F., "Design of Sealant Joints," Building Sealants: Materials. Properties and Performance, ASTM
STP 1069, Thomas F. O'Connor, Editor, American Society for Testing and Materials, Philadelphia, 1990.
Perreault, J.C., "Application of Design Principles in Practice," Construction Details for Airtightness, Record of
the DBR Seminar/Workshop, Proceedings No.3, NRCC 18291, National Research Council of Canada, 1980.
Perreault, J.C., "Service Life of the Building Envelope," Performance of Materials in Use, NRCC 24968,
National Research Council of Canada, 1986.
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