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I’ve been following the building envelope discussions as well as I’m able, and between missing posts and personal attacks, I’m confused and I no longer even have a clear picture of the different positions. I claim no expert knowledge in this area, and it isn’t a subject that I deal with in depth in my area. I would like to have a good basic understanding, though; as a professional, I don’t want to make a mistake through inadequate or incorrect information. I would appreciate it if any of the combatants would like to suggest one, two, or three sources they have found to provide reliable information, as a starting point (I’m sure many other sources will be referenced in bibliographies etc.) Let’s exclude codebooks. What is the cutting edge? And please, no attacks of any kind. I’m not in any camp, just trying to figure this stuff out.
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...Adrian...I followed some of the links to some of these sites discussed... and i found two good books ,
the first one I won at a Builder's breakfast..
"Builder's Guide Cold Climate" by Joe Lstiburek.. I was pleasantly surprised when i read it, when I went to Joe's site,, "Building Science" i came away thouroughly disgusted because it was full of rants about how wrong the building industry was with current practise... i felt they were long on tearing down other viewpoints and short on practical information....this book is the complete opposite.. full of solid information and some theory and definitely something to start with as basic reference..
the next one i bot was Gene Leger's "Complete Building Construction" this is more of a how-to on exactly what it says it is... this should be in every builders library as another basic reference.. but it doesn't say much about heating, cooling.. and is limited in discussion of vapor movement and ventilation....good sections on cold climate foundations and insulation.....have to read some more to find some other hidden jems.....
those are the only current books i have (and Gene's was basically a reprint of 1978) but i have a library full of other common references..
Architectural Graphic Stds, my editions are the 6th, and the 7th..
Heating , Ventilating and Air Conditioning by McQuiston &Parker (mine is 1977)
Architectural Graphic Standards is available on CD now for about $350... my editions cost about $70 in the '70's
Apparently FredL has , or will have , a book , but i don't know anything about it....
and Joe Fusco has some good poop on his website, just click on his Logo and it'll take you right there..
those are the ones i use... plenty more out there..
b even frogs like to read.. Kermit
*And Don't forget the best of fine homebuilding "Energy-Efficient Building"
*Actually from a practical construction viewpoint as differentiated from the highly theoretical and self-serving that some post here I like the material put out by the University of Alaska and the Alaska Housing Finance Corp. Research and Information Center. They have done a good deal of research, have some internationally recognized arctic construction experts on staff and put out a quantity of material on what is proven to work. If it will work in the Arctic of Alaska, Canada and Scandanavia then it should be seriously considered for elsewhere as well. I collect their literature and use it as my primary reference.Their addresses are:Alaska Cooperative Extension ServicePOBox 756180Fairbanks, AK 99775Alaska Housing Finance Corp.Research and Information Center520 E 34th AveAnchorage, AK 99503Due to the huge population expansion in the North over the past 30 years there has been a substantial effort to understand just how to build a house there. This is an ongoing project that comes up with better and better answers as knowledge increases. They also have no self-serving motive except to maintain their positions as information sources and, for AHFC, to help folks have enough money to pay their mortgages.An example of the change is in interior ventilation. They used to recommend the established standards. With increasing knowledge about the biological pollutants in homes there is increasing push to get more fresh, conditioned air into the living spaces.
*Thank you, gentlemen. I'm going to post a couple of websites here that may be of interest also.Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (similar to your suggestion FredB). They have a huge amount of info available, a lot of it available for download, including a lot on attics, basements, air barrier systems, air quality, moisture control in general etc. http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/cmhc.html look for Research Highlights-Technical SeriesCanadian National Research Council. They have an Institute for Research in Construction, including a Building Envelope and Structure Program, and an Indoor Environment Program http://www.nrc.ca/ircCanadian Homebuilders Association; jumping off place for the R2000 program, lots of energy efficiency/ air quality issues http://www.chba.caI'm adding these sources to the list because I agree with FredB, Canada is a challenging climate to build in. There is a lot of good stuff here.
*I just wanted to get this back to the top so I could copy it before the system sent it to the breaktime in the sky. Pardon me.