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Buildings

Air Leakage and Moisture Intrusion in Single-Wythe Masonry Walls

Buildings, Commercial, Moisture /

While water is life-sustaining to humans, it is detrimental to buildings; especially ones made from single-wythe concrete masonry walls.  It causes paint to fail, cracks to form in mortar joints, and blocks to spall.  These deficiencies are unsightly and reflect poorly on brand, and over time, moisture intrusion can result in the complete deterioration and […]

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Use of Fire Resistive Coatings in Building Construction

2 Comments / Buildings, Commercial, Fireproofing /

Fire resistive coatings generally refers to a broad group of materials known as sprayed fire resistive materials (SFRM).  These coatings provide protection to structural steel in buildings and other structures by serving as an insulative layer in the event of a fire.  The coatings are rated by how long they provide such protection, typically from

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Problem Solved: My Paint Looks Bad — Can I Prove It Has Faded?

Buildings, Coating Assessment, Commercial /

As a building owner, if you begin to suspect that the paint on your building has faded and become dull, your next concern may be whether there is a way to prove that has occurred. Additionally, you will want to know if you have any recourse with the manufacturer if those assumptions are correct. Most

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quality of coating application leak detector

Localized Assessment of Air Leakage in Building Air Barriers

Buildings, Commercial, Concrete Walls, Inspection, Instruments /

ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Energy Standard 90.1-2010 and the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code require that building envelopes be designed to limit uncontrolled air leakage into and out of buildings. Air leakage in buildings is controlled at the time of construction by installing air barrier systems.  ASTM E1186-17, “Standard Practices for Air Leakage Site Detection in Building Envelopes

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slip-coefficient

Slip Coefficient of Bolted Connections: What is it and Why is it Important?

Bridges, Buildings, Lab Testing /

Nearly every structure is an assemblage of individual parts or members that must be fastened together, usually at the ends of the member, by some means.  Welding is one such means and is quite effective.  The other usual means is to use fasteners such as rivets or bolts.  This article is concerned with bolting, in

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rilem test tube

Wind-Driven Rain Resistance Testing of Exterior Coating Systems

2 Comments / Buildings, Coating Assessment, Commercial, Concrete Walls, Lab Testing /

Controlling moisture intrusion from blowing rain is a fundamental part of designing a functional and durable building. Driving rain is typically the largest source of bulk moisture for above-grade building assemblies.1 Inadequate wind-driven rain resistance can lead to moisture intrusion in building assemblies that are intended to stay dry, causing problems for building owners and

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permeability

The Significance of the Permeability of Paints

Buildings, Commercial, Concrete Walls, Lab Testing /

Permeability of Applied Paints & Coatings… Do I want a permeable coating or not? The answer to the question posed is based on the substrate and the service environment. All paint and coatings are permeable to water, just to different degrees. A high resistance to permeability is likely desirable for lining applied to the interior

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preparation standards

Cleaning and Painting – Verifying Quality in the Field

Buildings, Commercial, Inspection /

The paint systems used on buildings are selected from published performance data, manufacturer’s recommendations, previous experience, and referrals from others.  At the manufacturing facility, the raw materials are blended together in specific proportions in a well-controlled environment, and systematic tests of product quality are made throughout the process.  Despite the controls exercised over manufacturing, the

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masonry substrates

Building a Formula for Removing Coatings from Masonry Surfaces

2 Comments / Buildings, Coatings /

Frequently during the life of a building constructed of concrete masonry units (CMU) or brick, it is no longer feasible to refurbish the exterior by pressure washing and applying more coats of paint (Photo 1 below). This occurs because: The existing coating becomes too thick or too poorly adhered to support the weight and curing

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