Interior + Exterior finishes and systems

What is the R-value

the resistance to heat flow (higher is better)

What is the U-value

measures the rate of heat transfer (lower is better)

what direction does heat travel

warm towards cold

R-values for the different climate zones (not exact but i didn’t understand the slides)

1-2= R-13

3-4= R-13 or R-20

5-8= R-25 or higher

what causes thermal bridging?

lack of continuous insulation between two materials in a wall assembly (most common with metals) that lowers the wall’s r-rating

how do you stop thermal bridging?

add continuous insulation on the exterior sides of studs outside the sheathing

what are the 3 ways heat moves

Conduction, convection, and radiation

conduction is:

heat flowing directly through molecular contact (denser materials are more conductive)

convection is:

heat rising and cold air sinking causing a current… occurs in air gaps or loose/void areas in insulation

radiation is:

heat transfer through electromagnetic waves from the sun that mostly effects roofs in hot climates

what are the different types of insulation

Batt, rigid foam board, spray foam, loose fill/blown in, ICFs, SIPs, and radiant barrier

Characteristics of batt insulation:

cheap, fills cavities and voids between studs, compression or gaps reduce thermal performance, cannot air seal or solve thermal bridging

Characteristics of rigid foam board:

solves thermal bridging, may be an air/vapor barrier if properly taped, requires careful flashing details to control water movement

Characteristics of spray foam:

fills gaps, good air seal, act as a vapor barrier, adds structural racking strength, more expensive

Characteristics of loose fill/blown in:

used in already built walls or irregular cavities, requires special equipment to be blown in, may settle overtime and lose thermal performance, must be sealed or else mold will grow

Characteristics of ICF:

poured concrete with steel rebar reinforcing between two pieces of foam, great thermal performance and sound proofing, requires treatment and sealant to be insect + waterproof, more expensive

Characteristics of SIP:

foam core between two OSB boards, so airtight that it legally requires mechanical ventilation, requires treatment and sealant to be insect + waterproof, more modern

Characteristics of Radiant Barrier:

an aluminum foil-like film that reflects radiation away, placed on attic underside of roof deck, simple, dust accumulation may lower performance

What is condensation

forms within a wall when warm humid air reaches a surface with a temperature below the dew point (think of a glass of ice water in the summer)

What is the vapor barrier

controls the diffusion of moisture/water vapor to prevent condensation within a wall

where should the vapor barrier be placed in a cold climate

on the warm side (interior) of the insulation

what is the air barrier

stops bulk air movement that may carry large amounts of moisture, must be continuous at every possible gap, most important for energy performance of a wall

What is WRB

continuous, allows water that has penetrated behind classing to accumulate and shed, making the wall dry out as long as there is a drainage plane or air gap

Where does the WRB get placed

behind cladding and overtop sheathing

which products are WRB AND air barriers at the same time

fluid applied membrane, self-adhered wrap, taped rigid foam board, gypsum sealed sheathing

How do ice dams form

heat escapes from conditioned spaces into the attic, causing a warm roof deck that melts snow. That melt runs down the roof and re-freezes at the eave (the very edge).

how do you avoid an ice dam

insulation at the ceiling plane/continuous insulation above deck, air sealing to keep warm inside…soffit and ridge vents to let cool air flow through the deck and keep it cold and dry

What are the layers/materials in chimney flashing

step flashing woven with shingles + counterflashing embedded into the mortar joint lapped over the top

what exactly does counterflashing do

it prevents water from running behind the step flashing

where does insulation get placed in low slop/commercial roofs

most commonly above the structural deck

what are the various purposes of a parapet

protect people from falling, stop fire spreads between buildings, conceal wall joints and mechanical equipment, anchor drainage scuppers

Methods for roof drainage

1/4” - 1’ roof slope, interior drains at low points of the roof, scuppers cutting through parapet, emergency overflow drains set 2” higher if primary drains fail

ways to seal penetrations in roof deck

pipe boot/pipe flashing is a rubber or metal sleeve around pipes, skylights or HVAC systems have raised curbs @ 8” or higher to keep water from pooling

What is A occupancy for

Assembly such as theaters, stadiums, or restaurants with more than 50 people

What is B occupancy for

Business such as offices or banks

What is E occupancy for

Education like preschool to 12th grade

What is I occupancy for

Institutional such as hospitals or jails

What is R occupancy for

Residential: r-1= hotels r-2= apartments r-3= single family

What is S occupancy for

Storage such as warehouses

What are the different types of construction

1A, 1B, 11A, 11B, 111, 1V, and V

What is IA construction

aka fire resistive, it is the highest non combustible wall type

what is IB construction

aka fire-resistive it is the next most non combustible wall type

what is IIA construction

aka non combustible, it is moderate and has materials that do not need to be fire protected

what is IIB construction

ala non combustible, it has a low rating of 0 hours and materials that do not need to be fire protected

what are type III, IV, and V construction

these all allow wood in some way, whether is it only interior or for the whole framing, they have the lowest fire rating and are not often used for commercial buildings (except MAYBE IV since it is heavy timber)

What do fire ratings show

the fire resistance of an entire assembly, not just one part or material

What benefits do fire rated assemblies bring

ability to separate occupancies, reduce structural collapse, slow fire spread, and give people more time to escape

What is a fire barrier

a 1-3hr rated wall assembly that extends from floor to floor or up into the roof to separate occupancies with fire rated doors and exit enclosures

what is a fire partition

a 1/2-1hr rated wall that is often one level subdividing spaces within the same occupancy type

What are the fire extinguisher classes

Class A- ordinary combustibles (most common)

Class B- flammable liquids + gases

Class C- Energized Electrical Equipment

Class D- Combustible metals

Class K-C Commercial cooking oils + grease

What is exit ACCESS

the unprotected path to the exit such as hallways or rooms

What is the EXIT

fire-rated protected space such as stair cores and doors

what is the exit DISCHARGE

from the exit to the public such as sidewalks

What is a dead end coridoor

when occupants must turn in the opposite direction to find an exit because there isn’t one

How far apart must exits be

at least half of the diagonal dimension of the floor

what way must doors swing

in the direction of egress (outdoors)

What is a wet pipe sprinkler

pipes are always full of water, fastest and most common

what is a dry pipe sprinkler

compressed air is in the pipes for areas that reach freezing temperatures

what is a deluge sprinkler

open heads all go at once for high hazard areas

what is a pre-action sprinkler

detection signal is required to go off such as libraries or data center

Standard Partition interior wall

metal studs with gypsum, non loading bearing, most common

Shaft wall interior wall

fire-rated for elevator cores or mechanical shafts, built from one side

demountable interior wall

modular and reconfigurable for offices that regularly change floor layour

How does sound travel through a wall

gypsum face, studs, outlets, top + bottom tracks, any pipes or holes

how to improve acoustic performance of a wall

add batt insulation, staggered or double-stud wall, add more gypsum layers, mount gypsum to resilient channel

resiliant channel

a thin, hat shaped metal channel screwed to the studs and gypsum board (gypsum is not directly touching the studs).

Fire wall

extends from foundation to ceiling to divide the building up into segments that get treated like their own building

smoke barrier

keeps and fire and smoke out in areas where occupants cannot self evacuate like a hospital

saft wall

encloses exit stairs or elevator hoistways

corridor walls

between offices and corridors, ratings change depending on occupancy load and sprinkler use

risers

the vertical segments of stairs (always 1 more than treads) typically 7”

treads

the horizontal segments of stairs, typically 11”

properties of handrails

assist movement up and down stairs, extends one tread depth past bottom tread and 12” past top riser, if stair width exceeds 44 in they are required on both sides

properties of guardrails

required where the landing is 30” or higher above grade, 4” sphere should not be able to pass through, prevents falls from open edges, does not have to be grabbable

properties of accessible ramps

max slope is 1:12” with a max rise per run of 30”, landing size must be 60” long and at least as wide as the ramp (usually 60” but has a min of 36”), with a 5’ circle for turning around, required at top and bottom of runs

hydraulic elevator

a car supported by a piston that is moved by or against fluid under pressure

-buildings up to 6 stories

-has an elevator pit and machine room

MRL

traction elevator with compact motor inside hoistway

-no machine room

-5 to 25 stories

-most common and modern

Geared traction elevator

electric motor drives a gearbox that turns a sheave, steel cables loop over sheave supporting cab and counterweight

-penthouse required

-5 to 15 stories

gearless traction elevator

high speed motor connects directly to sheave

-fastest and most efficient

-large deep pit

-penthouse required

typical minimum size for elevator

W- 5’8”

D- 4’3”

typical commercial size for elevator

W- 6’8” to 7’0”

D- 5’0” to 5’6”

typical elevator size in hospital

W- 5’0” to 8’0”

D- 7’0” to 9’0”

What floor should be used in a high traffic lobby with wet entry

textured porcelain tile with high slip resistance. 

What floor should be used with high traffic and acoustic resistance

LVT (luxury vinyl tile)

What flooring do wet areas need

tile on cement backer board

when should hardwood floors be avoided?

with high rolling loads or moisture present

properties of carpet floors

acoustic and thermal performance, comfortable, poor in wet or high traffic zones

properties of acoustic lay-in tile ceiling

good acoustic performance, common in classrooms or offices

properties of exposed concrete slab ceiling

hard and reflective with no acoustic absorption, provides easy access to mechanical equipment

properties of gypsum ceiling

offers a clean look, but access areas are required which can make the ceiling appear cluttered

properties of wood slats or acoustical baffle ceiling

gives good texture to ceiling but complicates mechanicla access areas

What might cause moisture failure in flooring

flooring adhesive or uncured concrete, tile on gypsum, exterior walls with poor vapor control