The Metal Building Manufacturers Association (MBMA) released a new guidebook, Metal Building Systems - Best Practices to Comply with Whole-Building Air Leakage Testing Requirements.
The free publication identifies procedures for metal building manufacturers and contractors to improve the ability of having metal buildings pass whole-building air leakage testing requirements.
“Whole-building air leakage testing is specified in the latest energy code updates,” says Tony Bouquot, MBMA general manager. “As more and more states and municipalities adopt these codes and testing requirements, this new guide will help manufacturers, builders, and owners to meet these demands by following some basic steps.”
Material from the guide was drawn from air leakage testing performed in the field, which has shown that certain parts of a building need special attention. These include:
- Dissimilar material interfaces, such as wall bases, doors, and windows
- Intersections/changes in air barrier configuration, including wall-to-roof interfaces, and wall corners
- Penetrations, including canopy framing members, mechanical (HVAC), electrical, and plumbing
The document includes detailed drawings and images, along with appendices that include a project checklist, overhead door specifics, and applicable codes, test methods, and material requirements.
Related Stories
| Apr 5, 2011
SSPC, AISC announce joint standard for paint shop certification
SSPC: The Society for Protective Coatings and the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) are pleased to announce a joint certification standard for shop application of protective coatings. The standard, "Certification Standard for Shop Application of Complex Protective Coating Systems," describes requirements for certification of firms that shop apply complex painting systems.
| Mar 10, 2011
Steel Joists Clean Up a Car Wash’s Carbon Footprint
Open-web bowstring trusses and steel joists give a Utah car wash architectural interest, reduce its construction costs, and help green a building type with a reputation for being wasteful.
| Mar 8, 2011
ThyssenKrupp Nirosta, Christian Pohl GmbH supply stainless steel to One World Trade Center
Corners of the One World Trade Center 's facade will be edged with stainless steel made in Germany. ThyssenKrupp Nirosta (Krefeld) produced the material at its Dillenburg plant using a customized rolling and heat-treatment process. Partner company Christian Pohl GmbH (Cologne) fabricated the material into complex facade elements for the corners of the New York City skyscraper.
| Feb 22, 2011
Military tests show copper increases HVAC efficiency, reduces odors
Recent testing, which is being funded by the Department of Defense, is taking place in military barracks at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Side-by-side comparisons demonstrate that air conditioning units made with copper suppress the growth of bacteria, mold, and mildew that cause odors and reduce system energy efficiency.
| Dec 17, 2010
Gemstone-inspired design earns India’s first LEED Gold for a hotel
The Park Hotel Hyderabad in Hyderabad, India, was designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill to combine inspirations from the region’s jewelry-making traditions with sustainable elements.
| Dec 7, 2010
Product of the Week: Petersen Aluminum’s column covers used in IBM’S new offices
IBM’s new offices at Dulles Station West in Herndon, Va., utilized Petersen’s PAC-1000 F Flush Series column covers. The columns are within the office’s Mobility Area, which is designed for a mobile workforce looking for quick in-and-out work space. The majority of workspaces in the office are unassigned and intended to be used on a temporary basis.
| Nov 5, 2010
New Millennium’s Gary Heasley on BIM, LEED, and the nonresidential market
Gary Heasley, president of New Millennium Building Systems, Fort Wayne, Ind., and EVP of its parent company, Steel Dynamics, Inc., tells BD+C’s Robert Cassidy about the Steel Joist Manufacturer’s westward expansion, its push to create BIM tools for its products, LEED, and the outlook for the nonresidential construction market.
| Oct 11, 2010
MBMA Releases Fire Resistance Design Guide for metal building systems
The Metal Building Manufacturers Association (MBMA) announces the release of the 2010 Fire Resistance Design Guide for Metal Building Systems. The guide provides building owners, architects, engineers, specifiers, fire marshals, building code officials, contractors, product vendors, builders and metal building manufacturers information on how to effectively meet fire resistance requirements of a project with metal building systems.
| Sep 13, 2010
7 Ways to Economize on Steel Buildings
Two veteran structural engineers give you the lowdown on how to trim costs the next time you build with steel.
