Dates:
Session 1: Friday November 18, 2022 – 10am to 12pm (PDT)
Session 2: Friday November 25, 2022 – 10am to 12pm (PDT)
Session 3: Friday December 2, 2022 – 10am to 12pm (PDT)
Session 4: Friday December 16, 2022 – 10am to 12pm (PDT)
If you are a designer or builder who wants to achieve a high-performing, durable Passive House building, you need to understand control layers. Control layers are materials and systems of materials that are specially designed, selected, and detailed to control water, vapour, and air. They are placed throughout the building, from the roof, walls, and floor to the below-grade enclosure assemblies, details, and interfaces. They consist of membranes and other materials typically described as air barriers, vapour barriers, and water-resistive barriers, or collectively as critical barriers.
The design, selection, and placement of control layers can be challenging. Given the highly insulated nature of passive house buildings, even small mistakes in water and air control can create problems. Simply adding insulation to traditional wall and roof assemblies is risky, so air and vapour control practices must be adjusted to consider the assembly layers and details. Therefore, to design and construct effective passive house buildings, designers and builders must understand the building science behind control layers.
This four-part seminar series will help designers and builders of large, multifamily passive house building enclosures—whether residential, commercial, or institutional—to better understand the building science behind water, vapour, and air control layers. The series focuses on wood, steel, and concrete buildings and construction types in all climate zones of Canada.
Session 1: Introduction to Control Layers for Passive House Wall Assemblies will introduce the concept of building enclosure control layers and provide examples from passive house buildings of air barrier systems, vapour retarders/barriers, and wall/roof water management. The session will also cover placement of vapour control with different types and varying thicknesses of insulation and water control for walls, including rainscreens and water-resistive barrier materials. PHI Code
Session 2: Controlling Water and Vapour – From Rainscreens to Vapour Barriers will take a deeper dive into rainwater control and detailing as well covering vapour control for walls. PHI Code
Session 3: Control of Air – Air Barrier Systems and Material Selection will cover wall air control/air barrier systems and materials. PHI Code
Session 4: Controlling Water on Roofs and Below-Grade will focus on the special building enclosure control practices for roof and below-grade assemblies. PHI Code
Each two-hour session will include 90 minutes of live web-based instruction and demonstrations plus a 30-minute Q&A.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the challenges with building enclosure assembly design and detailing for passive house projects.
- Describe and identify building enclosure control layers within highly insulated passive house roof, wall, floor, and below-grade assemblies and details.
- Design and sketch appropriate building enclosure control layers within passive house building enclosure assemblies and details.
- Specify appropriate building materials for different control functions suitable for the higher demands of passive house projects.
Important: OAA members can register for any Passive House Canada course at a discounted PHC member price that represents a savings of more than $1,400 for the Pathway to Passive House Designer/Consultant Certification (120P). Learn more here.
Webinars 80% Attendance Policy. Members are required and MUST attend at least 80% of a webinar in order to qualify for Continuing Education learning hours.