Beneath the streets of thousands of cities and towns across America lies a hidden hazard: aging lead pipes that still carry drinking water into homes, schools, and businesses. The crisis in Flint, Michigan, brought national attention to this problem, but lead plumbing is not isolated to any single community. The choice of piping material for […]
Moisture damage at the base of interior walls has long been one of the most frustrating problems in construction. When gypsum wall board contacts a concrete floor directly, it acts like a wick, drawing moisture upward through capillary action. A single plumbing leak, a flood from a burst pipe, or repeated mopping in a hospital
When selecting rigid insulation for high-performance building envelope assemblies, professionals must balance thermal efficiency, fire safety, moisture management, and environmental impact. Among the available options, phenolic foam insulation has emerged as a distinctive material that offers compelling performance characteristics. Kingspan Kooltherm, a phenolic foam rigid insulation product, has gained attention in the building science community
For years, builders and building scientists have treated oriented strand board (OSB) as a reliable air barrier material. Taped seams on OSB wall and roof sheathing have been a standard strategy for achieving low blower-door numbers in high-performance construction. But a growing body of evidence from researchers and practitioners across North America and Europe suggests
When it comes to improving the thermal performance of a building envelope, exterior insulation is one of the most effective strategies available. Mineral wool insulation, installed on the outside of the wall sheathing, offers a unique combination of thermal efficiency, moisture management, and fire resistance that sets it apart from traditional foam boards. This article
In recent years, the construction industry has faced growing scrutiny over the health and environmental impacts of insulation materials. While insulation remains essential for energy efficiency and comfort, a growing body of research has raised legitimate concerns about the safety of some of the most commonly used products. From fiberglass classified as a potential carcinogen
The construction industry stands at a pivotal moment where environmental responsibility meets practical building performance. Bio-based building materials offer a compelling pathway forward, combining renewable resources with proven structural capabilities that rival conventional options. These materials, derived from living organisms and plant-based sources, represent one of the most promising developments in sustainable construction methods available
When it comes to below-slab insulation, builders have traditionally reached for extruded polystyrene (XPS) or expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam boards. But a growing number of construction professionals are discovering the benefits of rigid mineral wool as an alternative. Rigid stone wool insulation, such as Rockwool Comfortboard 80, offers compelling advantages for slab-on-grade applications including fire
The topic of insulation choices in residential and commercial construction goes far beyond simple R-values and installation methods. Behind the scenes, a complex regulatory landscape governs the chemicals used to manufacture foam insulation products, with significant implications for both thermal performance and environmental impact. Recent regulatory developments have highlighted the tension between industry capabilities and
Installing heating and cooling ducts in a vented unconditioned attic is one of the most common HVAC mistakes in residential construction. Despite decades of advice from building scientists, builders in slab-on-grade regions across the southern United States continue to route ducts through attics that swing from freezing cold in winter to scorching hot in summer.
