A Committee of the Boston Society of Architects, cooperating with BETEC, The National Institute of Building
Sciences and the American
Institute of Meeting
Architects. Agenda & Meeting Notes3
Monthly
Monthly Meeting Agenda & Notes
April 27, 2015
Chair:
Incoming Chair:
Past Chair:
Brian H. Neely bhn@gainc.com
Hannah Durschlag, hdurschlag@vidaris.com
Anita Simon, ASimon@wje.com
Location: Boston Society of Architects, 290 Congress Street
AGENDA
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Welcome New Attendees - Introductions, a BSA tradition
Visit us at www.bec-boston.org and www.bec-national.org
Join our Linked-In Group to receive announcements and join online discussions:
http://www.tinyurl.com/bec-boston
Distribute Journal of Building Envelope Design - JBED, sign up for your free copy by
sending your mailing address to https://www.jbed@nibs.org
Distribute Sign-In Sheet for AIA LU's and for BBRS Building Official CEU’s
Business Meeting
THIS MONTH’S PRESENTATION
Testing of Roof and Waterproofing Membrane
We will discuss the various methods used in determining the watertight integrity of the
roofing and waterproofing membranes, such as Electronic Roof Testing, Flood Testing, and
Spray Testing. We will also discuss moisture detection beneath the roof and visual inspection
requirements in addition to testing requirements. We will review the advantages and
disadvantages of each of the systems and what types of membrane each type of test can be
performed on.
Henry R. (Bob) Heywood of Thompson & Lichtner has been concerned almost exclusively with
the identification, analysis, and solution of weatherproofing design and construction
problems in building envelopes, from below grade to roofs. He has been responsible for the
conduct of hundreds of investigations of water leakage through building facades, including
windows, curtain walls, doors, masonry, panel systems, roofs and sealants. He devised special
field testing procedures to isolate sources and paths of water penetration into low-rise and
high-rise structures. He conducted laboratory research to evaluate compatibility and
durability of weatherproofing materials. Mr. Heywood has investigated weatherproofing
failures in roofing membranes, exterior wall insulation and finish systems, window and curtain
wall systems, sealants, adhesives and flashings. Based on extensive practical experience
gained in these investigations, he has provided advisory services to owners, architects and
contractors concerning all phases of weatherproofing protection of new and historical
Monthly Meeting Agenda & Meeting Notes
April 27, 2015
building structures, with special emphasis on the detailing necessary to achieve effective
performance.
BEC STEERING COMMITTEE
Update from the Steering Committee on upcoming events and projects. Below is a
summary of issues discussed. If you would like to participate in any of these groups, please
contact Brian Neely (bhn@gainc.com).
A) Programs: Wolcott, Peter - Peter.Wolcott@jacobs.com
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Goal: Focus programs in series so that topics relate to each other.
o Jan thru June: Best Practices – What works and What doesn’t
o March- Spray Polyurethane Foam Best Practices with Wagdy Anis
o April - Bob Heywood of Thomson & Lichtner
o May – Mineral Wool with John Straube
o June – Roof to Wall Transitions with Ed Stewart
o July - December: To Be Decided
Write summaries of presentations for website postings
Solicit speakers and seek confirmation of their willingness to present; communicate
with speakers to request a draft of their presentation (to confirm content is
appropriately technical and relevant), answer presenter questions leading up to
their date, obtain PDF of their presentation, and coordinate getting presentation
onto BSA website.
Peter will work with Brian on the immediate need to firm up speakers and their
topics for JAN through MAY
B) Outreach: Matt Root - matthew.root@csgrp.com
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Goal: Better communications with other groups ( ie- BEC’s, AGC, CSI)
C) Communications: Harrison Morse - hmorse@aawindowproducts.com
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Goal: Postcard handout to help advertise the mission of Boston BEC group with a list
of upcoming lectures.
Post presentations and synopsis on website
LinkedIn: Brett Farbstein
D) Sponsorship: Doug Lamm - dlamm@alum.mit.edu
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Goal: Allow advertising at meeting of sponsors as a way of attracting financial
support.
Seek sponsors for hosting speakers, a potential BEC holiday party or other
gatherings, send Boston BEC members to BETEC or BEST 4 (April 13-15 in Kansas
City), and general contributions to the BSA and our committee
E) BEC Social – Anita Simon
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Goal: Plan a potential BEC holiday party or other gatherings
F) BSA Code Committee Liaisons: Jeff Wade & Larry Abatiell
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Will provide report of relevant discussion at BSA Codes Committee meetings and
also represent BEC code-related concerns or questions
Monthly Meeting Agenda & Meeting Notes
April 27, 2015
G) BETEC Code Committee Liaison: Jonathan Baron
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Jonathan is a BETEC member and has attended past BETEC board meetings; he will
continue to stay involved on behalf of the Boston BEC
BEC SPONSORSHIP
TBA
NFPA - FOAMED PLASTIC INSULATION & MEMBRANES
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National: The 2009 and 2012 International Building Codes requires the testing (to NFPA
285) of cavity wall assemblies with plastic foam insulation, with some exceptions. Few
assemblies have been tested to this standard. There is also a new provision in the 2012
International Building Code requiring weather resistive barriers to pass NFPA 285. A
proposed code change has been submitted to NIBS to allow Foam Plastic insulation if
fire stopped, as allowed in the Canadian Building Code.
Local: A group of BEC members is investigating whether a change to the Massachusetts
code regarding foam plastic should be proposed (there is no need to address
membranes, since Massachusetts has not adopted the 2012 code.) Two possible
proposals are under consideration: one to remove requirements for NFPA 285
compliance entirely and one to remove the requirement in sprinklered buildings. A
meeting with BRSS staff or state code officials has been suggested as a way to begin
the process.
Draft code language allowing foam plastic insulation without NFPA 285 compliance is
being prepared for review.
BEC- AWARD 2015
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The BSA is incorporating the BEC award into their 2015 Design Awards program. As part
of the 2015 Sustainable Design Award, they are creating a special award within that
program to acknowledge excellent building enclosures. The BEC is co-sponsoring the
Sustainable Design Award program.
BSA COMMITTIES
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3D Laser Scanning Committee
Code Council Joint Meeting
NIBS/BEST CONFERNCE
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BEST 4 Conference – Kansas City, Missouri April 13-15, 201
Philadelphia was chosen for the 2018 conference.