Join Jake and Steve as they chat with Ross Trethewey, of TE2 Engineering and This Old House, at Building Science Summer Camp 2023.

Check out TE2 Engineering

Steve calls SketchUp his electronic clay model which he can use with his builder, his enclosure consultant, and his clients. Pete gives up the dirt on WebSoilSurvey, the 1st tool he uses on every project design/spec review. Jake heads home for his favorite tool - his new Aarow Building office. Last but not least: Steve returns with his 2nd favorite tool--the field. Getting out to job sites and seeing his design work play out as a process--no substitute and this tool is key to Pete and Jake as well.

NOTE: You have to listen to the entire podcast to understand the Good Fellows reference...but it is worth the wait. Has Pete seen it yet? He is still not sure...

Pete's Resource(s):

1. Sketch-Up: 3-D rendering of 2-D plan set - https://www.sketchup.com

2. WebSoilSurvey: https://websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov/app/

3. Aarow Building Office: https://buildshownetwork.com/contents/how-our-office-has-improved-our-business

4. THE "FIELD:" https://buildshownetwork.com/go/stevebaczek

5. What might be the Frank Lloyd Wright quote Steve is seeking: "An architect's most useful tools are an eraser at the drafting board, and a wrecking bar at the site."

6. Good Fellows - the movie: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goodfellas 

What should we monitor, and what do we do about elevated levels of indoor pollutants? Air temperature, relative humidity, parts per million CO2, PM 2.5

Pete's Resource(s):
- "Measuring (and Understanding) Humidity" - https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/article/measuring-and-understanding-humidity

- "Inhalable Particulate Matter and Health" - https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/resources/inhalable-particulate-matter-and-health

- World Health Organization "Radiation - Electromagnetic Fields" - https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-electromagnetic-fields

- IQAir Visual Pro - https://www.iqair.com/ca/air-quality-monitors

The top leading edge of a PSA tape running horizontally is not weather-lapped or mechanically attached, depending solely on the adhesion of that top edge to the substrate to keep water out of the WRB/PSA tape system. Are ALL PSA tapes in WRB systems self-terminating? Is there a way to quantify the top-edge adhesion that makes the tape self-terminating? The boys go at it over this one!

Pete's Resource(s):

1. Pete's blogs on Wingnut PSA Tape Testing - Pete wrote over a half dozen blogs on his tape testing. Go to www.buildinggreen.com and search using the term "wingnut tape."

2. GBA Blog: Housewrap Tape Problems (Jeff Hoch) - https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/article/housewrap-tape-problems

3. GBA blog: Combining Sheathing with a WRB and Air Barrier  - https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/article/combining-sheathing-with-a-wrb-and-air-barrier

4. Pressure Sensitive Tape Council (PSTC) Test Methods - https://pstc.org/test-methods/

Our homes use way more water than you think they need to. The boys dive deep into water efficiency and performance, from toilets to showerheads to hot water recirc systems.

Pete's Resource(s):

1. EPA Water Sense: https://www.epa.gov/watersense

2.  2016 AWWA Residential End Uses of Water - https://www.awwa.org/Portals/0/AWWA/ETS/Resources/WaterConservationResidential_End_Uses_of_Water.pdf

3. Gary Klein Efficient Hot Water Systems - https://coloradowaterwise.org/Resources/Documents/Green%20Plumbers/Gary_Klein_Protocol_for_Evaluating_a_HWDS.pdf

4. BuildingGreen Water Efficiency: https://www.buildinggreen.com/water-efficiency

Despite how consistently and relentlessly the boys have dissed ICFs, this episode takes ICFs seriously and fairly (or as best as Jake, Steve, and Pete are capable of...).

Pete's Resource(s)

1. "Costs & Benefits of Insulating Concrete Forms for Residential Construction" (https://www.huduser.gov/publications/pdf/icfbenefit.pdf): A bit dated but still useful given that the PATH program (Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing) is a decent backdrop for a fair analysis of this building technology.

2. "Air Leakage of Insulated Concrete Form Houses" (https://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/72627): Interesting that this energy modeling research reports less than significant air leakage advantage of ICFs compared to wood frame single-family houses.

Four Cool Questions: 

1 - Airtight Drywall Approach from Aussie Sean; 

2 - Continuous Insulation (moving from below-grade to above-grade walls) from UBIP buddy Ian;

3 - Frost Protected Shallow Foundations (anonymous) ; 

4 - Roof penetrations from Jake's IG buddy Jeff

Pete's Resource(s):

1. Myron Ferguson ADA YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mhv9iFE3AY4

2. "A Slick Transition from Foundation Insulation to Wall Sheathing" - https://www.protradecraft.com/detail/slick-transition-foundation-insulation-wall-sheathing

3. "Revised Builder's Guide to Frost Protected Shallow Foundations" - https://www.homeinnovation.com/~/media/Files/Reports/Revised-Builders-Guide-to-Frost-Protected-Shallow-Foundations.pdf

4. "Which Penetrations Cause Roof Damage?" - https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/which-roof-penetrations-cause-water-damage/

NOTE/CORRECTION: Pete got one of his units of measure wrong when stating the standard for an airtight building material. He stated "per meter.." (linear) when the correct metric is "per meter SQUARED..." (area) (See https://www.wrmeadows.com/air-barriers/technical-bulletin-standards-explained-astm-e-2178-standard-test-method-air-permeance-building-materials/)

This week the UBIP takes on the topic of control. Jake tries to convince Peter and Steve that the hierarchy we address the four control layers is wrong. Can Jake turn Peter or Steve to his dark side of ideas? Probably not, but the conversation is still valid. Where do you land?

Lots to consider from frame to finish in terms of materials and connection to main structure. The boys agreed that--for bulk water management--attaching the deck ledger to the main structure should be done either for lateral stability only or with the ledger spaced out from the main structure.

Pete's Resource(s):

1. FPL Deck Guide: https://www.fpl.fs.usda.gov/documnts/pdf1997/falk97d.pdf (dated, yes, but seminal and it's written by an FPL great: BoB Falk)

2. AWC Residential Wood Deck Design - https://awc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/StructureMag-DCA62012-StructuralSpecifications-1704.pdf

3. BSC Information Sheet 304 - Integrating Deck Ledger Board with Drainage Plane - https://buildingscience.com/documents/information-sheets/integrating-deck-ledger-board-with-drainage-plane

Space conditioning loads can be managed by building professionals through building enclosure and mechanical system efficiency--easy-peasy. But what about the loads determined by occupants and their behavior: domestic hot water, appliance, lighting and plug loads? The boys load up to tackle all kinds of issues and loads connecting energy efficiency and thermal comfort; connecting generation and distribution; connecting human behavior and energy efficiency.

Pete's Resource(s):

1. Thermal Comfort Research in Autos and Buildings: Center for the Built Environment - https://cbe.berkeley.edu/research-category/indoor-environmental-quality/personal-comfort-systems/

2. Texas hill country research and innovation, including water collection: Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems - https://www.cmpbs.org

3. Residential Program Guide - https://rpsc.energy.gov/energy-data-facts

4. GBA "Tackling the Plug Load Problem" - https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/article/tackling-the-plug-load-problem