Lessons learned – Trades that need to include an AVB discussion in their specification and preinstallation meetings
Wednesday May 7, 4:00pm – 5:00pm
When designing a building envelope wall system, specifying, detailing, and having a pre-installation discussion about the backup substrate and façade elements, considering the water, air, vapor, and insulation systems detailing, is critical. This involves careful coordination with all façade trade elements, consideration of construction and installation tolerances, addressing the installation requirements for the substrate wall, water and air resistive barriers, insulation, and façade support system, and learning lessons from each installation. Each component must be thoroughly understood and specified within their respective specification sections to ensure comprehensive detailing. By understanding the necessary connections, material compatibility, tested systems, and limitations of construction materials, you can develop pre-installation conversation points within each building envelope and substrate meetings to proactively develop an advanced conversation about detailing, grasping the construction requirements for each component and incorporating lessons learned will enhance future detailing and specifications will significantly improve the chances of project success.
Learning Objectives:
- Discuss and dissect early structural design considerations to maintain the air, vapor, water, and insulation control systems, as well as the rainscreen façade support system to ensure adequate bid document detailing.
- Understanding and include construction tolerances for systems and components to properly detail the substrate wall and air, vapor, water, and insulation control systems for different types of building façade installations.
- Review different types of substrate and façade wall systems and their associated detailing to coordinate with the Specifications and detailing.
- Apply different requirements and lessons learned about continuity, structural fastening detailing, wall membrane requirements, limitations and tolerances of systems, and what is needed for drawing and specification coordination and determine what discussion points to make during each pre-installation meeting of corresponding substrate and façade elements.
Corey Zussman, AIA, NCARB, ALA, RBEC, RRC, REWC, RWC, RRO, CDT, CQM, CxA+BE, BECxP, CABS, LEED® AP BD+C Level II Thermographer
AECOM Hunt, Chicago, IL
As a forensic architect registered in several states, Corey Zussman has practiced in the construction industry for more than 30 years. He specializes in building envelope, restoration, preservation, life safety, and interior finishes. While working on over 2000 projects, Corey conducts constructability reviews, pre-installation meetings, comprehensive envelope meetings, and construction observations. He has also become known for providing educational opportunities throughout the industry and has produced more than 200 “lessons learned” papers. Topics include building envelope and life safety concerns and enable Corey to proactively address issues during design review, pre-construction, and construction. In addition, he has over 15 industry articles about building envelope and life safety topics and is also a frequent presenter at local and national conferences and associations with over 50 AIA accredited presentations.