Architectural Testing

Open House & Educational Symposium
New England Laboratory, Chelmsford, MA

50 Boston Area Building Professionals Compete in Air Barrier Design, Learn Latest Building Envelope Techniques

CHELMSFORD, MA – A two-day building envelope educational symposium and design challenge, hosted by Architectural Testing, Inc. (ATI) at its New England Regional Laboratory in Chelmsford, MA, received capacity attendance by 50 area architects, engineers and representatives of product manufacturers specializing in the design and construction of the all-important building envelope air barrier.

Held May 21 and 22, and co-sponsored by the Building Enclosure Council (BEC) of the Boston Society of Architects (BSA), the event began with an educational symposium on current building envelope code changes, testing protocols and the advantages of Building Envelope Commissioning (BECx). The symposium headliner was Kevin Knight, ATI Associate Director of Building Envelope Commissioning – an internationally recognized building enclosure authority – who spoke on the importance of BECx from the inception of a project through occupancy in order to fully realize the promise of green construction and LEED™ credentials.

On the second day, ten teams of practicing design and construction professionals participating in the BEC/BSA 2010 Air Barrier Design Challenge observed the performance testing of 4’ X 8’ building envelope mock-up panels at the IAS and AAMA-accredited ATI facility. The panels were designed and built by each team to minimize energy-robbing air infiltration and potentially damaging water penetration.

“The design challenge afforded a unique learning opportunity and technology exchange for air barrier construction and testing,” said J.P. McDonald, Director, ATI Regional Operations at Chelmsford. “There was healthy competition among the teams as to methods and materials that constitute effective building envelope design.”

“We were also glad to hear from virtually everyone that our new Boston area facility is a welcome addition to the New England fenestration industry that will eliminate most of the logistical problems in shipping products for laboratory testing, as well as for the staging of field testing of installed components,” McDonald continued.

ATI’s 11,000 square-foot Chelmsford laboratory is fully equipped to conduct testing of the basic window and door performance attributes of resistance to wind loading, water leakage, air infiltration and forced entry. A test report enables certification and compliance labeling of products per the omnibus AAMA/WDMA/CSA 101/IS2/A440 North American Fenestration Standard, mandated by the International Building and Residential codes. Additional tests can be conducted for resistance to impact from wind-borne debris (critical for products intended for use in hurricane-susceptible zones, as required by Miami-Dade TAS test protocols), negative pressures and for the performance of mulled assemblies.

For more information, contact J.P. McDonald, Director – Regional Operations, at the Architectural Testing New England laboratory (978.244.9300).

FEATURED SPEAKERS

Scott Warner Executive Vice President Architectural Testing		Scott Warner is the Executive Vice President of Architectural Testing, Inc. He has 30 years of product testing and certification experience with extensive concentration in the evaluation of fenestration products. He is actively involved in standards writing organizations such as AAMA, WDMA, NFRC and ASTM. Mr. Warner is the chairman of the AAMA Methods of Test and Field Testing Task Groups. These task groups are responsible for the publication of AAMA 502, AAMA 503, and AAMA 511. As Chair of the AAMA 511 task group Mr. Warner lead a group of manufacturers, consultants and other industry leaders in the development of the first forensic procedure for the evaluation of windows and doors. Scott recently served as the AAMA First Vice President of the Architectural/Heavy Commercial and Commercial Window Council and currently is the President of the AAMA SE Region. His involvement in AAMA was recognized in 1997 when he received the Architectural Products Group Distinguished Service Award and again in 2004 when he received the AAMA Outstanding Member Award. Scott is a graduate of the Pennsylvania State University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.


J.P. McDonald Director – Regional Operations Architectural Testing		J.P. McDonald is Director of Regional Operations of the New England lab located in Chelmsford, MA. This marks our 10th laboratory location nationwide. J.P. has extensive knowledge in fenestration testing. Before his time with Architectural Testing Inc. he worked with Solutia Inc. as a Testing Specialist in laminated glass areas such as hurricane impact resistance, thermal, and acoustic applications. His years as a staff engineer with the Hurricane Test Laboratory in Riviera Beach, Florida helped him build his knowledge base of the AAMA test standards and the Florida Building Code.


Kevin Knight Associate Director – Building Envelope Commission Architectural Testing		Kevin Knight is a building enclosure authority with over 25 years experience in the field as a researcher and as a trainer. Services he has provided include commissioning of building enclosures, on-site inspections, testing, and critiques on building enclosure problems for architects, engineers, owners, builders, and manufacturers. Kevin is the Associate Director for Building Envelope Commissioning for Architectural Testing, Inc. He has collaborated with federal and provincial governments, utilities, universities, schools, health care, and private sector companies on many projects. Kevin is the co-inventor of patented testing equipment used for finding leaks in air/vapor barrier and roofing membranes. He has had numerous papers published and is a frequent lecturer on building science. He currently sits on the ASTM E06 subcommittee and the ULC Standards Committee for Air Barriers, is a founding member of Air Barrier Association of America (ABAA), is a contributing editor for the Journal of Architectural Coatings, and a Board Member of the Building Environment and Thermal Envelope Council (BETEC).