Masonry Magazine July 2003 Page. 20
Building Codes
Qualified **applicators**, like those that are ABAA certified, **are key.**
Mason contractors need to be aware that air barrier systems may be mistakenly given to another trades, or worse, to installers who do not understand the intent of air barrier systems. That can easily lead to site coordination and performance issues.
Josh Babiasz, project field engineer on the Marquette Library project for Opus North Corporation (Milwaukee), credits a "perfect" installation to ease of application and Dentinger's experienced bricklayers. "It's a part of their training, and they do this a lot."
However, "It is important that someone goes back and looks at air barrier installations for gap bridging and other imperfections before the masons install their veneer," says lead exterior shell architect Kevin Anderson of Potter Lawson & Flad, LLC, the architects of record for Madison, Wisconsin's 400,000 sq.ft. Overture Center for the Arts, where the air barrier system was the equivalent of covering an entire city block.
Detailing and sequencing are equally important, says Mike Young, President of Waukesha Air & Vapor Barrier, Inc., which installed Overture's air barrier system. "Qualified applicators, like those that are ABAA certified, are key. People who know what it is supposed to accomplish provide real value."
Kinateder notes that since the air barrier adds another step to the wall assembly, "In order for us to maintain control of our productivity and to be sure that the wall is functioning as intended, we need to be involved in the installation."
It starts with scheduling, he says. "One of the reasons we started installing air barriers was because we were worried about coordination issues. We now install as a sub for other contractors, and we really give their scheduling needs the highest priority." Sharing scaffolds isn't a problem, because he has faith in his trained bricklayers. "We wouldn't let anyone on our scaffold without the proper training."
Whether driven by code or design, air barriers are creating good business opportunities for contractors, while giving their clients more watertight and energy efficient masonry structures. Practitioners and proponents say it is a matter of "when," not "if," air barriers become standard practice. "If it's going to be dictated - and it obviously is," says Bill Dentinger, "mason contractors better get it."
For more info contact Pat Conway, AIA, CSI at pconway@miweb.org or (608) 437-6871. ABAA can be reached at www.airbarrier.org.
FREE GUIDE FOR MASONS
MASONPRO, of Northville, Mich., is now offering a free guide called "Guide to Inspecting Residential Brick Veneer." The knowledgeable staff at MASONPRO have assembled the information as a professional courtesy for the residential construction building industry. Their intention is to provide masons and other industry professionals with details and descriptions of sound masonry practices that meet and/exceed local, state and national building codes.
The 10-page guide provides isometric drawings along with descriptive call-outs that identify the main building components. The booklet also provides detail drawings for common residential construction including flashings, weeps and wall ties.
For free copies of this guide, which are available in English and Spanish, visit www.masonpro.com or e-mail jeff@masonpro.com.