Tempo:
Straight stairs make it easier to move large objects, and can be fitted with lifts when persons with disabilities need access to another floor level. Stairs can be built on site in rough form for use during construction, then finished when the house is nearing completion. Alternatively, a temporary stair or ladder can be used during construction and replaced with a finished stair when the house is complete. In the latter case, the stair design must account for the thickness of the floor finishes and the stair opening must provide extra room in which to manoeuvre the finished stair.
Moisture, Air Leakage, Vapour Diffusion and Heat Transfer Control In modern wood-frame houses, continuous insulation is needed to provide energy efficiency and comfort. A continuous air barrier system will restrict air movement into and out of a house, help provide thermal comfort, reduce heat loss and avoid moisture condensation in the walls and ceilings that can cause damage. A vapour barrier prevents water vapour from migrating into the framing and insulation. A sheathing membrane is installed over the exterior sheathing to prevent inward migration of water that penetrates beyond the cladding. The membrane should also allow vapour that has migrated from the conditioned space to dissipate to the exterior. The functions performed by various materials in the building envelope are described in the following sections. See Chapter 5 for more information on this topic.
Water Penetration Control
Cladding (wood siding, brick, vinyl siding, stone, stucco, etc.) forms a first plane of protection and is detailed to limit the amount of water that gets past it.
The sheathing membrane is a second plane of protection that prevents water from entering the building envelope and allows water vapour to drain and diffuse out of a wall assembly. Several materials can be used as sheathing membrane including asphalt-impregnated paper (tar paper), spun-bonded polyolefin (housewrap) and self-adhering or liquid waterproof membranes. A rainscreen (a drained and vented air space acting as a capillary break between the cladding and sheathing membrane) is required in wet climates, to allow water that gets past the cladding to drain to the exterior and to allow the space to dry. A rainscreen design is recommended for all walls that will frequently be wet.
Air Leakage Control
The air barrier system must be continuous around the entire surface that separates the conditioned (heated or cooled) environment from the unconditioned (outdoor) environment. Therefore, the components that make up this “environmental separator” (such as walls, windows, doors and membranes) must be sealed to each other to make the air barrier system airtight. Consideration must be given to how the connections are made, for example, around rim joists between floors during the design. The air barrier system must be capable of resisting wind loads. For house construction in Canada, the primary material used in the air barrier system is most often 0.15 mm (6 mil) polyethylene installed on the interior (warm side) of the insulation with all joints and penetrations taped or sealed. In this case, the polyethylene also serves as the vapour barrier. It resists wind loads by being supported by the insulation and the drywall.
Moisture, Air Leakage, Vapour Diffusion and Heat Transfer Control In modern wood-frame houses, continuous insulation is needed to provide energy efficiency and comfort. A continuous air barrier system will restrict air movement into and out of a house, help provide thermal comfort, reduce heat loss and avoid moisture condensation in the walls and ceilings that can cause damage. A vapour barrier prevents water vapour from migrating into the framing and insulation. A sheathing membrane is installed over the exterior sheathing to prevent inward migration of water that penetrates beyond the cladding. The membrane should also allow vapour that has migrated from the conditioned space to dissipate to the exterior. The functions performed by various materials in the building envelope are described in the following sections. See Chapter 5 for more information on this topic.
Water Penetration Control
Cladding (wood siding, brick, vinyl siding, stone, stucco, etc.) forms a first plane of protection and is detailed to limit the amount of water that gets past it.
The sheathing membrane is a second plane of protection that prevents water from entering the building envelope and allows water vapour to drain and diffuse out of a wall assembly. Several materials can be used as sheathing membrane including asphalt-impregnated paper (tar paper), spun-bonded polyolefin (housewrap) and self-adhering or liquid waterproof membranes. A rainscreen (a drained and vented air space acting as a capillary break between the cladding and sheathing membrane) is required in wet climates, to allow water that gets past the cladding to drain to the exterior and to allow the space to dry. A rainscreen design is recommended for all walls that will frequently be wet.
Air Leakage Control
The air barrier system must be continuous around the entire surface that separates the conditioned (heated or cooled) environment from the unconditioned (outdoor) environment. Therefore, the components that make up this “environmental separator” (such as walls, windows, doors and membranes) must be sealed to each other to make the air barrier system airtight. Consideration must be given to how the connections are made, for example, around rim joists between floors during the design. The air barrier system must be capable of resisting wind loads. For house construction in Canada, the primary material used in the air barrier system is most often 0.15 mm (6 mil) polyethylene installed on the interior (warm side) of the insulation with all joints and penetrations taped or sealed. In this case, the polyethylene also serves as the vapour barrier. It resists wind loads by being supported by the insulation and the drywall.
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