Built Environments

Does a 1.5 mm gap drain as well as a 10 mm gap? The short answer is yes. Gap size actually matters less than other factors such as water application rate, water absorption, drainage patterns, drainage distance, and gap continuity. This is especially true when assessing drainage efficiencies in accordance with ASTM E2273. The brainchild of the EIFS industry, this standard demonstrates how a lot of water poured down an orifice results in a lot of water being released at the base of the wall. In other words, this approach measures displacement more than it does free drainage under real in-service conditions. A truer measure is gained by assessing drainage at lower application rates. This graph shows drainage efficiencies of 10 mm and 1.5 mm gaps under standard flow, low flow, and high flow conditions. We tested two full-scale walls for each flow and gap condition. The 10 mm gap was achieved with HDPE furring strips, installed vertically. The 1.5 mm gap employed a commonly used drainage wrap. Under all three flow scenarios, the 1.5 mm gaps achieve the minimum criterion of 90% efficiency. Higher flows result in higher efficiencies, lower flows result in lower efficiencies. So, less water - not more - is the greater rigor. Built Environments #buildingscience #materialsscience #buildingmaterials #buildingproducts #buildingdurability #durability #buildingenclosures #buildingenvelopes #drainage #rainscreens #walls #testing #standards #producttesting   

Ever wanted to see what an NFPA 285 test looks like? It is definitely one to remember and something that few get to see in person. This test is used to simulate a multi-story building with an exterior wall that has window opening placed into it. The fire is initially started within the room and then an additional burner is placed at the window header to accelerate the initial flame spread for the test at a controlled. The photo below was taken during a burn test ICC NTA, LLC in Bryan, TX a few months back for a client with my friend Joseph Briski at the fire lab. If you want to see the full video, please check out the initial comment below this post (welcome to algorithms) and while you are there please like and subscribe to the Built Environments channel for more video updates. But we plan to do additional videos and follow up, especially on fire. So what questions about NFPA 285 that weren't answered and you still have? Leave them in the comments below.

Filming and testing commercial grade panels for fire resistance. It is amazing to see what goes into bringing a building product to market! Some BTS from my latest fire testing safety series I produced and shot in Bryan, Texas at the ICC NTA, LLC with Built Environments

Last week I stepped out of the lab to participate in Built Environments’ development of a scaled-down version of NFPA 285. After seeing the test first-hand, I am genuinely impressed. Here, we’re burning a 5’ x 5’ assembly, representing a one-tenth scale of full 14’ x 18’ test walls. We tested three walls in relatively quick succession to glean solid insights on different header conditions - ultimately achieving ‘good’, ‘better’ and ‘best-case’ scenarios. We’re using these tests to optimize wall configurations ahead of full-scale burns. I’ll get ahead of the skeptics by saying we’re not claiming true indication of full-scale performance. It’s an approximation with high potential for invaluable insights, especially when assessing multiple assembly scenarios. Information is gained quickly and cost effectively while hedging our bets on full-scale assembly performance. Built Environments #buildingscience #materialsscience #materialscience #buildingmaterials #buildingproducts #buildingenclosures #buildingproducts #construction #constructionmaterials #NFPA #firetesting #fire #flamespread #flamespreadtesting #combustiblematerials #roguetesting, #NFPA285

“For water resistance, overdriven is when the head of the fastener breaks the blue water-resistive overlay so that wood is visible.” LP WeatherLogic Installation Instructions 12/2023. A home on the coast of South Carolina - its enclosure riddled with holes, excessively. Where fasteners are clearly over-driven, the sheathing is already degrading; and to a lesser extent where fasteners are set flush, proud, and still exposed. Fastening excessively only compounds the problem. Add to this the installed tape and transition to foundation - simply inexcusable. I’ll keep saying it. Water resistance and water penetration resistance of WRB panels require treatment of all exposed fasteners - not just those that are over-driven. Built Environments #buildingproducts, #buildingscience, #buildingmaterials, #materialsscience, #materialscience, #materials, #manufacturing, #producttesting, #tapes, #flashing, #buildingenclosures, #buildingfailures, #buildingdesign, #walls, #sheathing #waterresistance #WRB #fasteners

As residents and businesses begin the long road to recovery in our home state of North Carolina, we encourage our fellow building products manufacturers and suppliers to make plans to support the massive rebuilding efforts that will be needed in the months and years ahead. Thousands of homes and buildings have been lost. We stand ready to store and ship materials from our warehouses in Wilmington, NC as soon as local communities are ready. Contact Ryan Miller if you'd like to partner with us. 919-521-3385 RMiller@USMgO.co