Architecture, Engineering & Planning EVstudio | Denver & Evergreen Architect | Colorado & Central Texas | Blog » Building Technology

Reducing Holdowns Using OSB Exterior Sheathing

Jim Houlette — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 21:20:56 +0000

Tired of all the holdown straps?

You can eliminate many of the metal holdown straps from the upper floor wall to the main floor wall by modifying your OSB wall sheathing layout. When the OSB wall sheathing is continuous over the floor framing section or lapped with the rim board uplift loads can be transferred.

If you are utilizing prefabricated wall panels you can still have the OSB extend to the middle of the rim board. Just have the OSB extend below/above the plates as build in the shop. The only caution is, extra care is needed to prevent the overhanging OSB sheathing from being damaged during shipping.

This concept can also be utilized at the foundation sill plate to help reduce uplift loads that would otherwise require embedded straps such as STHD10RJs. In that situation, cross grain bending is not desired on the sill plate as the load transfers to the anchor bolts. The cross grain bending can be removed from the equation using mud sill anchors (MAS) attached to the exterior face of the OSB sheathing in lieu of anchor bolts. A great solution when utilizing prefabricated walls.

Typically, when building with wood you want many smaller fasteners that distribute the load out evenly rather than a few large fasteners concentrating the load.

EVstudio | Architecture and Engineering | Denver and Evergreen

Originally posted 2009-07-31 00:01:56.

Repairs to Concrete Foundations Made Simple Using Carbon-Fiber Kevlar Grid Straps

Jim Houlette — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 21:20:52 +0000

From Fortress Stabilization Systems

EVstudio recently met with Pinnacle Construction where they introduced us to Carbon-Fiber and Kevlar Grids used to repair foundation walls. Carbon-fiber has recently been introduced into the construction industry due to its very high tensile strength, lightweight and workability. Sections of the grid can be adhered to the concrete surface using a high strength epoxy bonding agent.

Fortress Stabilization Systems appears to be the leader in introducing this new technology to the construction industry, applying it to many different situations from bridges to basements. The most useful application for residential would be the Carbon Staples, Kevlar Neckties, and various shapes of Carbon-Fiber/Kevlar grids used to control cracks and provide additional strength to an otherwise failing foundation wall.

EVstudio's structural department is very excited to research more about Carbon-fiber and other applications it can be used in. Carbon-fiber is a great alternative to commonly used steel repairs.

From Fortress Stabilization Systems

Originally posted 2010-03-02 00:01:01.

Historic Preservation and Sustainability – One Strategy Contributing to Both Goals

Elicia Ratajczyk — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 21:20:51 +0000

Dean and I had a very interesting meeting with the Heritage Resources Program Leader for the Rocky Mountain Region of the U.S. Forest Service last week and during our meeting we began discussing the idea of sustainability and historic preservation. This very topic will be the theme of the upcoming 2010 Saving Places Conference which is presented annually by Colorado Preservation Inc. and has become something of a hot (and sometimes controversial) topic in historic preservation circles as of late.

Both Sustainability and Historic Preservation are passions for me personally, and have played a huge role in my pursuit of architecture. I believe that sustainability is much more than “green building” and must effectively balance environmental, economical & social concerns in order to be successful. As a very important social concern in the built environment, I view the practice of Historic Preservation as both the source of many important sustainability concepts, methods and strategies and also as a valuable Green Design strategy in and of itself. Not much more than 100 years ago, most buildings were built according to many of today’s “green” standards out of necessity. They were built according to long standing practices that took the natural forces, site considerations and efficiency of the building and it’s site into account because that was the only way that you could afford to build. Materials, transportation and resources were not as readily available as they are today. In addition, they were built using local materials and craftsman who were experts in using regionally important practices, a concept only added to the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Rating Systems as of 2009! It is a broadly held misconception today that all old buildings are not energy efficient. It wasn’t until somewhat recently (starting in the 50’s & 60's), that buildings and their systems started becoming seriously inefficient with the widespread availability of cheap materials and energy which made it economical to build this way. Many historic buildings have terrific thermal envelopes and incorporate great green building strategies such as passive solar design & natural ventilation. Preserving an existing historic building can be a very effective sustainable design strategy for today and can preserve local cultural resources, conserve natural resources, keep tons of waste out of the landfill and often save money at the same time!

It is important, however, to approach a Historic Preservation project with sensitivity when considering incorporating green building strategies. Slapping some PV panels onto the building would be an even less successful green strategy in a historic preservation project than it is in any green building project. Depending on the intended use of the project after completion and the historic preservation goals for the project, there is a broad range of green building strategies that could be incorporated into the project. For example, beyond upgrades to the buildings equipment and fixtures, alternative power sources such as geothermal, remote wind power or remote ground mount PV installations could be considered (especially for remote or “off-grid” locations) that are hidden underground at the building site. In addition, rigid insulation and wiring can be effectively hidden behind traditional plastering methods at building interiors to upgrade the thermal envelope and systems, if necessary. These are just a couple examples of how the addition of new technologies can be incorporated into a project without compromising the integrity of the preservation goals. The important and pivotal piece of the success of the project becomes the prioritization and communication of the project goals. Effective project planning, prioritization of the project goals and a little bit of creativity and innovation can lead to a very successful and sustainable historic preservation project!

Originally posted 2009-10-15 00:15:30.

Latch Required in Fire Doors – Opening Protectives

Sean O'Hara — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 21:20:50 +0000

Under the International Building Code, fire doors and swinging pairs of fire doors must be provided with an active bolt that can secure the door when locked.

One spot where this could be easily overlooked is restrooms shared between spaces where the restrooms do not have lockable doors. If a door is in a fire wall, you need to be able to latch it closed.

Originally posted 2009-04-30 23:09:12.

Foundation Wall Height Design Considerations for Residential Garages

Kacy Landsittel — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 21:20:46 +0000

There are many ways that openings like doors and windows come into consideration with respect to how we, at EVstudio, design foundation walls. More specifically, there are special criteria that go into a foundation wall design for residential garages because the threshold of door openings are at grade elevation. It is firstly critical that the wall maintain a minimum height of 6 inches above grade to prohibit moisture penetration to the typical wood framed structure it supports and of course the interior too. The foundation wall has to also maintain proper frost depth, which is a specific distance below grade, determined by local building codes and varies by location and state. Typically in our plans, the heights of a foundation wall are all relative to the finished floor elevation. However, when it comes to incorporating a swing door or an overhead door, the distance that a portion of the foundation wall we specify to be dropped is relative to the wall at that particular location.

There are some general rules we go by and different circumstances can result in a variety of solutions. For a typical above grade garage accommodating one car length in depth, we normally set the top of foundation wall height a minimum of 6-12 inches above the lowest point of the top of the garage floor slab. There are a variety of reasons the top of foundation wall is set to where it is and some architects and builders take that into consideration on a case by case basis, others just conform to standard practices. Also, we specify to slope the garage floor, and is usually 4-6 inches of fall from back to front depending on the depth of the garage and the presense of any floor drains. The result then at the rear of the garage is that the foundation wall ends up at 2-8 inches above the rear of the garage floor. For the allowance of a swing door or an overhead garage door, whether it is at the rear of the garage or the front, not only does the foundation wall need to be lowered for the purpose of the door threshold, but it also needs to be dropped further to allow for the floor slab to be thickened for structural support of the slab itself, stabilization of the adjoining foundation walls, and also the load of vehicles above. This thickened slab is formed and poured after the foundation walls have cured, which is why specifying the distance of the drop itself is important for the workers in the field who set up the form work for the concrete that is to be poured. We set the vertical depth of the thickened slab at a minimum of 8 inches below the 4 inches of actual floor slab, or 12 inches below the lowest top of slab height .

Once we have determined what height the foundation wall needs to be above the lowest top of slab height and take into account the 12 inches of thickened slab, the drop in the wall for an overhead garage door is pretty easy to calculate. For the graphic example above, I have set the foundation wall height at 8 inches above the lowest point of my top of slab height, so the net distance for dropping the foundation wall is 8 inches plus 12 inches, or 20 inches. While an above grade garage will usually have a continuous foundation wall height, we specify the necessary drops in it so doors can be incorporated. All in all, each project requires its own analysis to determine foundation wall heights and these design considerations are critical for every project.

Originally posted 2009-11-01 02:00:36.

How Can You Tell if a Door is Fire Rated

Sean O'Hara — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 21:20:45 +0000

When you're putting together code reviews for remodels and additions in commercial projects, its often important to know which existing doors are rated.

Figuring it out is pretty simple, in order to qualify as a rated door it has to be labeled. So look at the door (typically the hinge side) and there should be a metal plaque with the rating on it. If the plaque has been painted over, clean it off. If you don't find a label, then chances are its not rated.

Originally posted 2011-08-18 00:01:24.

Understanding R-Value and Insulation

evstudio — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 21:20:42 +0000

This post is provided by Earthcore SIPs.

There are many conditions that determine the effectiveness of any building material to provide comfort and energy efficient performance. R-Value is only one of these factors or measurement tools.

R-Value is the measure of resistance to heat flow through the defined material. The higher the R-Value the less heat will transfer through the wall, making the system more energy efficient.

R-Value is determined by testing or by the addition of tested components. When “effective” R-value is used, it represents that at a given condition or circumstance, the system performs the same as a product with the “real” R-value.

It is important to understand the conditions at which the “effective” R-value was determined, and see if your application is the same. For example, a masonry wall may have a high “effective” R-value for a 5 hour test period, but have a very low R-value during a 24 hour test period. Where “real” R-value products will have the same R-value during both test periods.

There are several items to consider when evaluating R-Value and it’s effect on your project

Effective R-Value

An example would be masonry products. Masonry product have a very low R-Value but have a high thermal mass. Foam type products have a high R-value but low thermal mass. There is not a standard measurement or number for the energy effectiveness of thermal mass. While R-value resists the flow of heat, thermal mass delays the transfer of heat but does not reduce it. During a short period, thermal mass has the same “effective” R-value, so it is sometimes advertised with this R-value rating. It is not a real R-value but, under those conditions, an “effective” R-value. Please review other technical bulletins for more details and other related items.

Installed R-Value vs Advertised R-Value

It should be noted that R-Value of an item is the value that was tested in a laboratory and is real, but the item may not perform at the same R-value when installed. Most insulating materials obtain their insulating values from trapped air spaces, often the higher the density of air pockets, the higher the R-value. If these air spaces are compressed, a lower R-value will result. For example, batt type insulation may be rated at R-19 in its free state, but requires a 6 ½” thickness to obtain that value. When this material is installed in a 5 ½” frame cavity, the batt is compressed and the R-value is less than R-19. Likewise, putting two batts in the space for one does not increase insulating value; it might even reduce the R-value. Review the Technical Bulletin on Air Infiltration in Insulation for more related information.

Nonuniform Material

Whole wall R-value is the term used to describe the average R-value for the total wall taking into consideration variations and non-uniformity’s in the insulating material. Often, the R-value of the insulating material is advertised without stating the effect of the total system.

An example would be installing an R-19 batt insulation in a 2×6 frame wall. The resultant “whole wall R-value” is the average of the R-19 insulation and the R-5 stud. Tests have shown that the actual “whole wall R-value” of an R-19 wall system to be R-13.7, much less than the R-19 advertised. This applies to all non uniform wall systems.

The R-value of building materials may be effected or altered by the following items.

Non uniform material
Thermal shorts
Material compression
Air infiltration in the insulation
Humidity
Temperature swing or range of environment
Effects of time and aging.

Along with R-Value, several other factors need to be considered to determine the overall energy efficiency of a building structure.

Thermal Mass
Air infiltration in the building
Radiated heat gains
Internal heat gains
Latent and Sensible heat transfer

Originally posted 2010-03-05 00:01:00.

LEED Project Team Formation is an Important First Step in any LEED Certification Project

Elicia Ratajczyk — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 21:20:37 +0000

The first step in preparing for the LEED Certification process on a building project is the formation of the LEED Project Team. Integrated design is one of the most important sustainability strategies and a good project team will become the key to an integrated, efficient, cost-effective and ultimately successful sustainable design and LEED Certification project. It is important to include as many of the Project Team members as may be needed early in the process because this allows for a more seamless flow of information and work and allows for the valuable input of multiple experienced and knowledgeable stakeholders in the project from the onset. Every project will have a different team formation because every project will have different needs and sometimes multiple roles may be filled by a single team member. The following list includes some of the most common team members that may be included on a LEED project:

Project Administrator – By default, the person who registers the project with the USGBC will become the Project Administrator for LEED Online. This person should be a LEED-AP (accredited professional), if possible, and should be experienced and knowledgeable about LEED certification projects and process. This person is responsible for managing the assignment of team roles in LEED Online and the management of all of the LEED documentation and coordination throughout the LEED certification process.
Developer / Owner – This is the person responsible for making the final decisions for the project including all strategies, targets, project goals, financial decisions etc.
General Contractor – This is the person responsible for the construction of the project and plays a key role in assuring that all of the LEED strategies and design elements are effectively and efficiently carried through to reality. It is helpful if this person has previous experience with LEED or green building projects but not essential if they are included in the process from the beginning of the project and there is a LEED-AP or experienced Project Administrator on the project team.
Sustainability Consultant – This person is knowledgeable and experienced with LEED, green building or sustainability projects. This person should be a LEED-AP as well and will provide valuable knowledge, resources and structure to the LEED certification process.
Architect / Designer – This is the person responsible for the architectural design of the building. An architect with experience in LEED or other green building or sustainability projects can skillfully include highly effective, low-cost sustainability strategies into the design of a high performance building such as passive solar design, reduced building footprint, etc.
Landscape Architect – This is the person responsible for the landscape planning of the site and can also skillfully include a number of highly effective, low-cost strategies into the design that will benefit the project goals and LEED certification.
Engineers – This category may include Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering and MEP (Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing) Engineering. The engineers are responsible for a large portion of the LEED criteria, including both pre-requisites and credits and are the key to designing a truly integrated and efficient building design.
Energy Modeler – This team member will model the energy usage of the building according to the required standards and utilizing the required software platforms that conform to LEED criteria and a myriad of additional modeling needs that may be included in the project goals such as analysis for tax incentives, energy rebates and additional building or energy certifications for the project.
Commissioning Authority – This is the person responsible for organizing, coordinating & overseeing the Commissioning of the building after construction and according to the LEED criteria, must have previous experience on a minimum of two LEED projects. Although the commissioning does not take place until after the major building systems have been installed and are operational, it is very helpful to include this team member early in the process so that they can provide valuable information, resources, real-world experience and knowledge from their previous LEED projects.

These team members are essential to the success of a LEED certification and building process and each of the above mentioned roles should be filled in some capacity. As previously mentioned, it is possible that a single team member may fulfill several of the above mentioned roles. For example, it is common for the MEP Engineer to also be the Energy Modeler and even sometimes the Commissioning Authority or for the Architect or Designer to be the Project Administrator and/or Sustainability Consultant. The following list includes some more team roles that are helpful to a LEED certification project and should be included in the Project Team meetings whenever possible:

Broker / Real Estate Agent
Marketing / PR Director
Financial Manager / Cost Consultant
Facility Manager
Suppliers
Key Sub-contractors
Key Stakeholders (building tenants, users, community members)

EVstudio includes several LEED-AP’s who are experienced on previous LEED certification projects. In addition, EVstudio incorporates green building practices and sustainability strategies into our design strategies for each project. There are many strategies that improve livability without increasing cost. It is our philosophy that sustainable design is sensible design and that many of the most effective strategies require great designers, not great amounts of money.

Originally posted 2009-09-12 00:24:19.

Feng Shui Elements in Home Design

Dean Dalvit — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 21:20:35 +0000

With a lot of the design that we do here at EVstudio, we are often asked about Feng Shui and how it may apply to the design of a residential home. For the uninitiated, Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese strategy to align the energies that flow between the heavens and earth. Feng Shui strategies are commonly applied in the fields of architecture and interior design by developing spaces and the objects within the space specifically to channel these energies in order to improve the quality of one's life. While you can imagine the depth of the superstition that has evolved around these strategies over the millennia, one thing is for certain: Good Feng Shui is good design.

In the same way that North American ancient tribes would build their homes facing south, believing that the sun gods would nurture their lives (when in fact, it's good solar orientation and the basis of good passive solar design because of the solar angles of the Sun's path through the sky throughout the year), Feng Shui is a culmination of thousands of years of refined design techniques that truly do result in a better quality of life within the building , regardless the belief systems that got it there.

As a result, we try to learn from the ancients wherever we can and implement these good design strategies into our modern day design. Recently, we were charged with the task of determining the Feng Shui qualities of an existing plan that was found in a plan library on the internet for a client who is very interested in having a home steeped in Feng Shui. Like many other program requirements, this is almost always going to result in the need for changes to an existing plan, or an alltogether new custom design solution that is unique to the client.

In any case, with the help of Elicia here in our Evergreen office we put together a Feng Shui analysis for the plan and below, you can get a sense of the elements that are affected by the energy flow:

Feng Shui Study for a Small Home

The basic idea here is to encourage a positive flow of energy through the home. When people discuss "good flow" in any existing home as they traverse the spaces, one has to wonder how the two terms may be connected linguistically. The reason is because when you experience a space with good Feng Shui, it just feels good. The space does "flow" and the reasons for this are built into the design of the space - whether or not the architect ever intended for it to be good Feng Shui.

Obviously, when good Feng Shui is intended, the results are far less coincidental and to many of us, far more obvious. Volumes have been written about the history, magic and science of Feng Shui and it has even created a career path for consultants to specialize in Feng Shui design. Our approach here at EVstudio is to capture the fundamental understanding of the techniques and strategies, and apply them in the context of the everyday architecture that we create. For those who seek deeper levels of Feng Shui design, we can oblige them as well by applying deeper studies and applying more of the philosophical tenets of the methodology into the architecture.

This is a topic that will warrant much further discussion in future posts, but for now you at least have a taste of how Feng Shui can be applied to Architecture.

Originally posted 2009-01-09 13:34:58.

The Six Components of Successful Daylighting Part III

Anthony Ries — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 23:46:37 +0000

Presented today are the last two components of successful daylighting:

Integrate the daylighting scheme into the architecture
Integrate the daylighting scheme with building systems

These final two points remind us that architecture is synergistic, that is it becomes more than the sum of its parts. They tie the entire daylighting strategy together and their implementation can make or break a design.

Integrate the daylighting scheme into the architecture

Daylighting provides an excellent opportunity to give intentional and unique form to a building. The north, south east and west façades of the building are all in need of different daylighting strategies. This makes it easy to create a solution that is eclectic. At the same time it gives the opportunity to create a dynamic façade that is consistent in fundamentals yet different in the details.

Integrate the daylighting scheme with building systems

Last time we touched on daylight controls. Integrating daylighting systems with building systems goes beyond simple controls. It also has to do with the difference in the color temperature of daylight versus that of electric light. To improve the cohesiveness of the lighting design it is important to specify lighting that is compatible with natural light.

Since reducing electricity use is one of the reasons for incorporating daylighting into a building it is important to have simple controls that dim or switch off the electric light when it isn’t needed. Simple controls are easy to repair or replace and contribute to the success of a daylighting strategy.

Lastly the combination of daylight and supplemental electric light provide an opportunity to reinforce a particular lighting strategy or to play off of it. Realizing the passage of time is a side effect of using natural lighting solutions. This passage of time creates an opportunity to differ the electric lighting strategy in the morning, evening and night to help reinforce the passage of time, something that many occupants are missing in modern buildings.

Originally posted 2010-03-20 00:01:20.