Glazing Systems: I have been doing it this way for 30 years, it’s gotta be right!?
Wednesday May 8, 2:15pm – 3:15pm
Regency Ballroom
From water penetration and air leakage to occupant comfort, thermal controls to acoustics, building performance begins with the enclosure. Problems at material interfaces, glazing system complexities, and struggles with installer competency along with a lack of quality system process controls can increase opportunities for failures and defects in glazing projects.
In general, many facets of installation in the construction industry rely on a contractors trust that their people will control quality. Many times, we hear “Bob makes sure the frames are installed right because he has been doing this for years”. In other words, too often, the people are the process, which allows room for inconsistency. With the growing complexities of glazing systems and less availability of skilled labor, defined quality systems and written process controls are needed to provide a cognitive net to avoid enclosure defects and failures.
This presentation will provide insight specifically on glazing contractor and stakeholder perspectives with a focused panel presentation to address how a well thought out and implemented quality systems approach can raise the glazing industry to a higher standard of performance. Using a panel presentation format and project examples, this will offer attendees a fresh approach to ensure high quality glazing installations for building enclosures that will look and perform as intended. We will review the North American Contractor Certification (NACC) and Architectural Glass & Metal Technician (AGMT) certification programs that are specific to the glazing industry and discuss opportunities to collaborate with ABAA and the ABAA Quality Assurance Program (QAP).
Learning Objectives:
- Describe the risks that can be created by failed or faulty commercial glazing installations and review the lack of quality control construction procedures that are needed industry wide to elevate installer performance.
- Explain how a systems approach that utilizes industry best practices when executed with process controls for glazing contractor shop and field operations can greatly improve glazing project outcomes.
- Discuss the connection of installation practices to the overall performance of building enclosure to provide manufacturers intended system aesthetics, safety, and performance.
- Summarize the NACC and AGMT certifications and collaboration opportunities with ABAA.
Adam Ugliuzza, P.E.
Sustainable Building Partners, Lemoyne PA
Adam brings 16 years of engineering experience focusing on building science and construction. He is also an ABAA Board Member. Experience includes enclosure consulting/commissioning services for new and existing construction, in addition to forensic investigations to determine root cause of building performance issues. He brings industry leading expertise in whole building airtightness testing, which is at the forefront of high-performance building construction. His project work spans across the United States and abroad providing professional building enclosure consultation in both the residential and commercial space for all types of construction, ranging from multi-family wood/timber framed buildings to high performance institutional/healthcare facilities to high-rise construction.
Jeff Dalaba
Administrative Management Systems, Inc. (AMS), Sackets Harbor NY
Jeff Dalaba is the Program Development Director for the North American Contractor Certification Program (NACC) and Architectural Glass and Metal Technician Certification Program (AGMT) with Administrative Management Systems (AMS, Inc.) in Sackets Harbor, New York. He has provided development leadership in coordination with the NACC Program Certification Board and committees of glazing industry experts, since the 2014 inception of the NACC Program to compile the industry provided best practices into the ANSI Accredited Certification Program. He also leads the AGMT Personnel Certification that tests both written knowledge and physical abilities of glazing technicians, a first for the glazing industry. Since joining AMS in 2010 Jeff has also worked with various glass and fenestration product certification programs including the Window and Door Manufacturers (WDMA) Hallmark and NFRC certifications, Insulating Glass Certification Council (IGCC) certifications, Safety Glazing Certification Council (SGCC) certifications, and the Florida Building Commission High Velocity Hurricane Zone Protocol. In these roles he helped develop enhanced processes and efficiencies in the operations of these programs for AMS. In 2021 US Glass recognized Jeff in the list of The Glass and Metal Industry’s Most Influential People. Jeff has served in executive management roles for 28 years. He is also a US Navy veteran who has served on a Fast Attack Submarine and completed 4 deployments in the North Atlantic, Arctic Ocean and has spent months under the polar ice cap.