Tremco Commercial Sealants & Waterproofing has unveiled its new state-of-the-art, fully automated Sustainable Building Solutions Test Facility.
The facility is designed for controlled testing of air and moisture infiltration/exfiltration in air barrier systems and building enclosures. Such penetrations lead to energy loss, structural deterioration, and poor indoor air quality. Developed in collaboration with the Air Barrier Association of America (ABAA) and working in conjunction with building scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), the Sustainable Building Solutions Test Facility is a technically advanced and fully automated laboratory designed to measure energy loss and sustainability of the built environment.
“This test facility is a testament to Tremco’s commitment to the sustainability of the built environment,” said Chuck Houk, president of Tremco Commercial Sealants & Waterproofing. “Most building envelope problems are moisture-related, either caused by air leakage or exterior moisture penetration. The testing done at this facility will help to ensure building materials are performing at optimal levels and eliminate some of the trial and error as well as risk associated with building design and construction.”
Components tested at the facility will be exposed to different levels of wind conditioning and moisture to determine resistance to specific elements, including rain, high winds, and other environmental conditions. Specifically the facility will conduct ASTM E2357, E283, and E331 tests. It will do so using 300 to 400 channels for simultaneous data control, precise measurement devices, and infrared photography.
In addition to testing air barrier assemblies, the facility has the capability to test the following connection points between air/vapor building protection systems to assure continuity throughout the building enclosure:
- Roof-to-wall tie-ins
- Foundation-to-wall tie-ins
- Corners
- Window-to-wall interfaces
- Penetrations
Related Stories
75 Top Building Products | Apr 22, 2024
Enter today! BD+C's 75 Top Building Products for 2024
BD+C editors are now accepting submissions for the annual 75 Top Building Products awards. The winners will be featured in the November/December 2024 issue of Building Design+Construction.
Sponsored | BD+C University Course | Jan 17, 2024
Waterproofing deep foundations for new construction
This continuing education course, by Walter P Moore's Amos Chan, P.E., BECxP, CxA+BE, covers design considerations for below-grade waterproofing for new construction, the types of below-grade systems available, and specific concerns associated with waterproofing deep foundations.
Biophilic Design | Jan 16, 2024
New supertall Manhattan tower features wraparound green terraces
At 66 stories and 1,031.5 ft high, The Spiral is BIG’s first supertall building and first commercial high-rise in New York.
75 Top Building Products | Dec 13, 2023
75 top building products for 2023
From a bladeless rooftop wind energy system, to a troffer light fixture with built-in continuous visible light disinfection, innovation is plentiful in Building Design+Construction's annual 75 Top Products report.
ProConnect Events | Jan 17, 2023
3 ProConnect Single Family events for Home Builders and Product Manufacturers set for 2023
SGC Horizon, parent company of ProBuilder, will present 3 ProConnect Single Family Events this year. At ProConnect Single Family, Home Builders meet in confidential 20-minute sessions with Building Product Manufacturers to discuss upcoming projects, learn about new products, and discover practical solutions to technical problems.
Sponsored | Resiliency | Dec 14, 2022
Flood protection: What building owners need to know to protect their properties
This course from Walter P Moore examines numerous flood protection approaches and building owner needs before delving into the flood protection process. Determining the flood resilience of a property can provide a good understanding of risk associated costs.
75 Top Building Products | Nov 30, 2022
75 top building products for 2022
Each year, the Building Design+Construction editorial team evaluates the vast universe of new and updated products, materials, and systems for the U.S. building design and construction market. The best-of-the-best products make up our annual 75 Top Products report.
Building Materials | Nov 2, 2022
Design for Freedom: Ending slavery and child labor in the global building materials sector
Sharon Prince, Founder and CEO of Grace Farms and Design for Freedom, discusses DFF's report on slavery and enforced child labor in building products and materials.
Building Materials | Aug 3, 2022
Shawmut CEO Les Hiscoe on coping with a shaky supply chain in construction
BD+C's John Caulfield interviews Les Hiscoe, CEO of Shawmut Design and Construction, about how his firm keeps projects on schedule and budget in the face of shortages, delays, and price volatility.
