Introduction to Control Layers for Passive House Wall Assemblies

DATE:
Friday November 27, 2020 – 10am to 12pm (PST)

Course description

If you are a designer or builder who wants to achieve a high-performing, durable Passive House building, you need to understand control layers. Control layers are materials and systems of materials that are specially designed, selected, and detailed to control water, vapour, and air. They are placed throughout the building, from the roof, walls, and floor to the below-grade enclosure assemblies, details, and interfaces. They consist of membranes and other materials typically described as air barriers, vapour barriers, and water-resistive barriers, or collectively as critical barriers.

The design, selection, and placement of control layers can be challenging. Given the highly insulated nature of passive house buildings, even small mistakes in water and air control can create problems. Simply adding insulation to traditional wall and roof assemblies is risky, so air and vapour control practices must be adjusted to consider the assembly layers and details. Therefore, to design and construct effective passive house buildings, designers and builders must understand the building science behind control layers.

Building Enclosure Control Layers - Session 1 of 4 Part Series
Session 1 will introduce the concept of building enclosure control layers and provide examples from passive house buildings of air barrier systems, vapour retarders/barriers, and wall/roof water management. The session will also cover placement of vapour control with different types and varying thicknesses of insulation and water control for walls, including rainscreens and water-resistive barrier materials.

This two-hour session will include 90 minutes of live web-based instruction and demonstrations plus a 30-minute Q&A.

*To register for the full series, please click here.

Learning Outcomes

Understand the challenges with building enclosure assembly design and detailing for passive house projects
Describe and identify building enclosure control layers
Design and sketch appropriate building enclosure control layers within passive house building enclosure assemblies and details
Specify appropriate building materials for different control functions suitable for the higher demands of passive house projects

Recommended for

Passive House Designers and Consultants
Builders, architects, architectural technologist and engineers
Building officials and planners
Trades
Students
Anyone interested in the subject
.

Prerequisites / required background knowledge

No prerequisites are necessary, but a basic understanding of passive house principles, including Passive House Canada 120A, would be beneficial.

Learning resources provided

Digital copy of course slide
Webinar recording for 20 days after the event has ended

Course Instructors

The instructor for this course will be Graham Finch.

Register soon

Ifinsufficient registrations are received by 14 days before this course isscheduled to start, it may be canceled. While we do our best to plan ourcourse schedule well in advance, course dates, venues and instructors aresubject to change.

Cancellation and Refund Policy

Important: please read our refund policy, availablein our Course and Exam FAQs page.