We look forward to seeing you at AIA25

Roofs comprise a large portion of a building’s opaque building enclosure. Therefore, it is a part of the building that can have a sizable impact on the overall building performance, especially as it relates to energy efficiency and total carbon emissions. For low-rise buildings, that impact can be even larger.

• This presentation will dive into the details of how designers can take a code compliant low-slope roof assembly to 
the next level. It will show how material choices can impact the total carbon footprint of a project, specifically the embodied carbon. Examples will highlight ways to improve the energy efficiency of a roof assembly and the impact on overall building performance across climate zones using environmental product declarations (EPDs) and energy analysis tools.

Large scale storm events are becoming increasingly common. Local municipalities are tasked with implementing stormwater management requirements into their codes to help reduce the impact of large precipitation events on their communities.

• This presentation will explore how to identify projects that may be good candidates for on-structure or rooftop stormwater management, tools that can help meet these challenges and how they can be incorporated into the overburden assemblies we already specify.

Building science tells us how buildings perform, especially with moisture movement.

• This presentation will help designers better understand how moisture moves through airflow and by diffusion. We will discuss permeability of materials and its impact on the performance of enclosure assemblies. Strategies for detailing assemblies to meet both designer’s code-mandated responsibilities and airtightness testing requirements will be discussed, highlighted by project examples demonstrating the impact of different approaches on the moisture performance of the enclosure.

Recent changes in building codes challenge designers of wood-framed, mid-rise multi-family projects to meet life safety, indoor air quality, and energy efficiency requirements. NFPA 13 sprinkler requirements and exceptions have the potential to increase condensation risk, particularly with vented low-slope roof assemblies especially during Value Engineering.

• This presentation will explore code compliance paths and building science principles to reduce condensation risks and demonstrate roofing systems that are both durable and code-compliant.

Roofs are critical to the overall performance of a building enclosure. However, high performance roofs require all the components of the roof assembly to work together as designed.

• This panel discussion will provide insights on what needs to be included in your roof specification from an architect, building enclosure consultant, contractor and manufacturer. Topics will include when to use a coverboard, the choice of insulation facers, membrane thickness, and the importance of quality control.

How does resilience get incorporated into a building enclosure?

• This presentation will look at minimum specification requirements compared to future looking codes and how to develop a more robust design, including through specification of quality control. It will highlight different assemblies for the roof and wall, looking at their expected performance based on lab and actual exposure. Come learn how to future proof your building with a robust whole building air and water barrier.

As the saying goes, when nature is at its worst, buildings need to be at their best. Roofs are designed to keep weather out. As weather gets more extreme, roofs are being asked to withstand more.

• During this presentation, you will learn about the new wind requirements in ASCE 2022, ways to design roofs to resist high winds, best practices for designing for very severe hail, and ways to manage water from large rain events.

If it isn’t broken, why fix it? Modified bitumen roof assemblies have been around since the 1970s, making it one of the oldest roof technologies still in use. Come understand the reasons for its long-term success and the advantages that it brings to projects today.

• This presentation will use case studies to show how chemistry impacts performance, application, the many ways to cap mod-bit assembly, and why it was the right choice for these projects.