'Plugging the gaps' Series
'Plugging the gaps' Series

Masterclass Series | 'Plugging the Gaps’ Understanding comfort & condensation in the Tasmanian context | Launceston

May & June 2024 

Room 302, UTAS, Launceston - details TBC

Welcome to the Australian Institute of Architects four-session 'Plugging the Gaps' Series. 
With overwhelming positive feedback on this series, we are running it again for our Launceston and northern Tasmania practitioners. Interstate practitioners are wlecome to enrol for the webinars!

Each session in this series will provide a comprehensive overview of each of topic: thermal bridging, vapour control, air control, and water control. Over each session in this series, practitioners will be involved in round table discussions after a short presentation on one topic. A case study may be referred to with the opportunity to break down the design and detailing related to the topic, to improve participant understanding. Each session will run for 2 hours comprising a half-hour presentation of the topic & case study followed by discussion, specific participant project queries and general questions.

Each session in this series comprises a two-hour (2 formal CPD-point) in person event, and the full series provides a total of 8 formal CPD points.
In person attendance is recommended for the best learning experience for participants and must be purchased as a series. Tea/snacks will be provided.

Please note: Given the content of this series, priority will be given to practicing architects with the event available via webinar to students. The webinar format will enable you to ask questions and be involved in discussion.
A small number of places will be retained for interested final years students for in person attendance. If you are a student and interested, please email tash.lowry@architecture.com.au and we will be in touch!
Attendance will be capped to ensure the best round table experience.

Each 2 formal CPD-point session can be purchased individually as a webinar. Refer to individual events to register.

Follow the links below to secure your enrolment:

'Plugging the Gaps' Series: Complete In Person Series Offer

'Plugging the Gaps' Session 01: Thermal Envelopes -15 May 2024
'Plugging the Gaps' Session 02: Vapour Control -29 May 2024
'Plugging the Gaps' Session 03: Air Control -12 June 2024
'Plugging the Gaps' Session 04: Water Control -26 June 2024

Please note: The information provided throughout the series is based on current research and understanding at time of series delivery. It is expected that participants will research and identify their own solutions based on individual circumstances.

Overview

Dr. Mark Dewsbury of UTAS and Dr. Steve Watson of RED Sustainability will deliver this four-session series to build on the existing knowledge base of Architects, relating to the complications and solutions for preventing condensation in the Tasmanian context while improving the quality and performance of buildings. Each session in this series will provide a comprehensive overview of each of topic: thermal bridging, vapour control, air control, and water control. Over each session in this series, practitioners will be involved in round table discussions after a short presentation on one topic. A case study may be referred to with the opportunity to break down the design and detailing related to the topic, to improve participant understanding. Each session will run for 2 hours comprising a half-hour presentation of the topic and case study followed by case study discussion and general questions. The sessions will have a tea/snack break. The numbers will be capped for the round table discussions.

'Plugging the Gaps': Thermal Envelopes

The aim of the thermal control layer is to control the flow of heat into or out of the building. Typically in a cool climate the aim is to retain heat within the building for as long as possible. The session will cover issues of: continuity of the thermal control layer; windows, walls, roofs and floors as elements of the thermal control layer; and strategies to avoid bridging of the thermal control layer.

'Plugging the Gaps': Vapour Control

The aim of the vapour control layer is to control where water vapour travels within the building and to try to minimise the risk of condensation occurring within the building or within the interstitial spaces of building elements. The session will cover: fundamentals of humidity and water vapour; vapour permeability of materials; ventilation within the building structure, and the relationship between Vapour Control and thermal envelope of the building.

'Plugging the Gaps': Air Control

The aim of Air control in a building in a cool climate is primarily to control heat loss through unwanted infiltration of outside air. This session will cover; building sealing strategies; air control membranes; air leakage standards and testing; and the importance of introduced mechanical ventilation in well-sealed buildings.

'Plugging the Gaps': Water Control

The aim of water control is to prevent water ingress into a building and to avoid moisture entrapment within the building elements. The session will explore the rain screen concept; sarking membranes and the relationship to vapour control; and will wrap up the series by considering the relationship between all control layers discussed across the masterclass series.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this course participants should be able to:

  • Build on existing understanding of thermal, air, and vapour control layers
  • Understand the implications of, and ways to minimise, thermal bridging through the building envelope.
  • Identify key condensation risks during design and documentation.
  • Apply design and detailing strategies to minimise condensation risk and improve building performance
  • Educate clients on how to actively contribute to reducing the risk of condensation
  • Identify key information to include on detailed documentation drawings


NSCA 2015 Performance Criteria

This course will deliver outcomes related to the following Competencies from the 2015 National Standard of Competency for Architects:

Design: Schematic Design
4.4 Inclusion of expertise of relevant specialists and consultants in developing the project design.
4.5 Investigation and integration of appropriate structural, construction, service and transport systems in the project design. 
4.7 Coordination and integration of appropriate environmental systems, including for thermal comfort, lighting and acoustics.

Documentation: Detailed Design
5.6 Integration of relevant technical services, environmental and transportation systems. 

Documentation: Documentation
6.5 Nomination of quality and performance standards with regard to selected materials, finishes, fittings components and systems

NSCA 2021 Performance Criteria

This course will deliver outcomes related to the following Competencies from the 2021 National Standard of Competency for Architects:

PROJECT INITIATION AND CONCEPTUAL DESIGN
PC 24 Be able to prepare and analyse project development options in response to a project brief – its objectives, budget, user intent and built purpose, risk and timeframes, including environmental sustainability considerations.
PC 28 Be able to draw on knowledge from building sciences and technology, environmental sciences and behavioural and social sciences as part of preliminary design research and when developing the conceptual design to optimise the performance of the project.
PC 31 Be able to identify, analyse and integrate information relevant to environmental sustainability – such as energy and water consumption, resources depletion, waste, embodied carbon and carbon emissions – over the lifecycle of a project
PC 33 Be able to investigate, coordinate and integrate sustainable environmental systems – including water, thermal, lighting and acoustics – in response to consultants’ advice.

DETAILED DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTATION
PC 37 Be able to produce timely, accurate, complete and comprehensible documentation of the design so that it can be constructed.
PC 39 Be able to integrate the material selection, structural and construction systems established in the conceptual design into the detailed design and documentation.
PC 41 Be able to coordinate and integrate input from specialists and consultants into the detailed design and documentation.
PC 46 Be able to produce project documentation that meets the requirements of the contract and procurement process and complies with regulatory controls, building standards and codes, and conditions.
PC 47 Be able to complete and communicate on-time, accurate documents for relevant stakeholders, including drawings, models, specifications, schedules and construction documentation.

DESIGN DELIVERY AND CONSTRUCTION PHASE SERVICES
PC 58 Complete documentation – including specifications, drawings, schedules, reports, certification and approvals – and other project information for issue to the client and relevant authorities, as required under the construction contract and relevant building and planning codes.
PC 59 Understand and mitigate risks associated with preparing and recording documentation.




Speaker

DR. MARK DEWSBURY
UNIVERSITY OF TASMANIA

Since Dr Dewsbury’s first meeting with representatives from the Tasmanian Government, ABCB and BRANZ in 2008, he has been actively pursuing concerns about moisture and mould in Australian buildings that have resulted from design decisions and building regulations, that have often not kept pace with expectations of building occupants, construction systems, energy efficiency requirements and construction stage water control. Whereas Australia has a long-standing nationwide mould problem in buildings, since 2009 the World Health Organisation has stressed that any visible presence of mould within the built environment will affect occupant health. Other nations have adopted transient hygrothermal and bio-hygrothermal simulation tools with Mould Growth Indices (MI) as a key indicator for the suitability of building envelope systems. These tools have also been designed recognising relative humidity control, via structured ventilation, as a key component of surface and interstitial mould mitigation in new energy efficient buildings. Recognising these trends Dr Dewsbury was one of the first researchers in Australia to use non-transient envelope simulation tools, from 2014 and transient simulation tools since 2017. This has included collaboration with the developers of the UK JPA software until 2017 and the developers of the WUFI suite of tools, the Fraunhofer Institute of Building Physics since 2016..
  

Speaker

DR. STEVE WATSON
MANAGING DIRECTOR, RED SUSTAINABILITY CONSULTANTS

Steve is the founder and Managing Director of RED Sustainability Consultants. He has been active in sustainable design, research, education and consulting for the past 24 years since graduating from Architecture, at the University of Queensland.  In the area of sustainable design and energy efficiency Steve’s expertise in the residential and commercial building sector is extensive.  He has consulted on projects ranging in scale from small single dwellings through to large, multi-million-dollar government and institutional projects. Steve’s work has had a focus on the front-loading of the building design process for better implementation of ESD strategies, as well as a focus on the environmental upgrading of existing residential and commercial building stock.
  

Price 

FORMAL CPD: 
4 session Series - Non Members $180
4 session Series - Members $80
4 session Series - Student Members $80  (please contact Tas Chapter prior to registration)
  

Refunds and Cancellations 

Please refer to our terms and conditions for information about refunds and cancellations. By registering for this event you are agreeing to these terms. 
  
 

What Do I Do Next?

1. Remember this is a live series of events. Be sure to mark this series in your calendar and ensure your attendance. 2.     You will receive an automated registration email upon purchase. Follow the link in this email to take you to the course material on our online CPD platform.
3. You may have to click the green "log in via members site"  button to log into the online CPD platform. (Please do not input your credentials into the CPD site. Instead, to log in hit the “log in via members site” green button). You may be redirected to our members portal to log in with your credentials there.
4. Accept the T&Cs if it is your first time on the online platform, and hit “my dashboard” to find your purchased course.
5. Undertake your course at your own pace.
6. Once you have completed all the course material, you will be prompted to complete your assessment and feedback, after which your formal CPD certificate will be made available