Codes in Conflict: Building Science & Safety in Wood-Framed Construction

Recent changes in building codes challenge designers of wood-framed, mid-rise, multifamily projects to meet life safety, indoor air quality, and energy-efficiency requirements. NFPA 13 sprinkler requirements and exceptions, for example, have the potential to increase condensation risk—particularly with vented low-slope roof assemblies and during value engineering. If these changes are affecting your practice, be sure to join us for this session. This is an opportunity to examine code-compliance paths and building science principles to reduce condensation risks and create durable, code-compliant roofing systems.

Learning Objectives

  1. Explore code changes and how they impact durability in roofing assemblies.
  2. Learn about a vapor control strategy that meets code requirements for life safety, indoor air quality, and energy efficiency. 
  3. Examine how value engineering decisions related to sprinklers can affect roof performance.
  4. Discover how hygrothermal modeling can inform the amount, type, and placement of insulation in a roof assembly.