HAVAN eLearn

Until several years ago, a typical wood-framed house, built under Part 9 of the BC Building Code and Vancouver Building Bylaw, mainly incorporated wooden structure, steep roofs, and relatively small-sized punched windows. This trend has started to change in the recent years, specially in a wide range of custom-made houses in the lower mainland. Incorporating steel beams and columns within the exterior walls or penetrating through them, large flat roofs, and big windows and curtain walls that span from floor to ceiling, are among some of the features of these recently adopted contemporary house designs.

The commonly incorporated HVAC and Building Envelope design/construction practices, in many cases, are not the optimum approach for these contemporary houses. In other words, these contemporary houses, demand specific attention and considerations when it comes to HVAC and Building Envelope design/construction. Experience has shown that in the absence of a holistic and tailored approach towards the HVAC and Building Envelope design/construction of contemporary houses, there would be a risk of compromised thermal comfort of the occupants, condensation, energy loss, and moisture related damages.

This presentation, built upon interesting case studies, 3D drawings, assembly/material samples, and photographs, will:

• Discuss the differences between a typical house VS a contemporary house when it comes to HVAC and Building Envelope considerations.
• Highlight examples of compromised thermal comfort, moisture performance, energy performance, and durability, due to the lack of proper design/construction of HVAC and Building Envelope in some of the contemporary custom-made houses.
• Demonstrate the optimum HVAC and Building Envelope design/construction practices applicable to the contemporary houses.

Key Learning Objectives:

1. Key factors that must be kept in mind during the design and construction of HVAC and Building Envelope in the contemporary houses, when it comes to thermal comfort, moisture performance, energy performance, and durability.
2. Optimum HVAC and Building Envelope design/construction practices for contemporary houses that incorporate steel beams and columns, flat roofs, and large windows/curtain walls.
3. Effective coordination measures between the HVAC and Building Envelope disciplines in the contemporary houses.

Approved for 1.5 CPD Credit in Construction Technology

Note: If you have already taken this course in person, repeating it online will not qualify for additional CPD points.

This course expires 90 days after purchase date.